History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 32

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158

USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I > Part 32

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THE FRIES REBELLION.

the township, and the people declined to have anything to do with it. There seemed to be a general disposition, among the friends of Mr. Adams in the township, to have a public meeting called notwithstanding the failure of the first attempt-to endeavor to reconcile matters; and Israel Roberts and Samuel Clark both saw Mitchell upon the subject. A few days after, Mr. Chapman again sent word to Mitchell to advertise a meeting, which he accordingly did, and the time fixed was the latter end of Febru- ary, the place, his own tavern. The notice given was pretty general, and a large assemblage was expected.

The Jacob Hoover here spoken of was the uncle of Reuben L. Wyker, who lived near Rufe's store in Tinicum, and was active in assisting Fries. It is said he manufactured cartouch boxes for the use of the insurgents, and otherwise made himself useful to them. He escaped capture by having timely warning of the approach of the troops. George Wyker, also of Tinicum, and uncle of Reuben L., was in Philadelphia at mar- ket, at the time, and there learned that Jacob Hoover was to be arrested, and that a warrant had already been issued. Being anxious to pre- vent him falling into the hands of the Federal authorities, he hastened home, as soon as he had sold out his marketing, to give warning of the danger. He told his father what he had heard in the city. The latter was Nicholas Wyker, who lived on the same farm where Alfred Sacket lived in more recent years, on the hillside near Rufe's store. He immediately set off for Hoover's, whom he found at home, apparently very much unconcerned, but entirely ignorant of the danger that threatened him. Even when told of the ar- rangements made to arrest him, he did not seem to give it much importance ; but, while they were in conversation Hoover looked out the window and saw the troops coming up the road. This re- minded him of the necessity of fleeing. He im- mediately ran out the back door, and, keeping the house between him and them, made his way to a neighboring thicket, into which he escaped. When the soldiers arrived at the house, they surround- ed it and entered, but the bird had flown, and Hoover was nowhere to be found. After a thorough search, the officer gave up the pursuit and returned with his soldiers, much chagrined. Hoover kept out of harm's way until the affair had blown over, when he returned home. He afterward removed to Lewistown, in this state, where he died.

In the meantime the adjourned meeting to be held at Rodrock's tavern, on February 16, at which the returns of the assessments were to be made, came off. All the assessors, except Mr.

Clark, were there and reported the assessments had been nearly completed in all the townships except Milford, where nothing had as yet been done. The assessor of this township had been so much intimidated and threatened he was afraid to go about in the discharge of his duties. Mr. Foulke also expressed some fears of going into the township, as threats had likewise been made against him, and he anticipated trouble. This state of things changed his mind in regard to per- mitting the people of the township to select their own assessor, and he now gave his consent to it, hoping it would conciliate them. He used his in- fluence with the commissioner to induce him to agree to the same, and he finally yielded and gave permission. He notified the assessors, at the same time, that in case the people did not accept the terms offered them, and choose some person to discharge the duty, they would have to go into the township, and assist Clark to make the as- sessments. Proposals were made to the various assessors as to which would assume the duty, but each one had some excuse to give why he could not go, showing great unwillingness to place themselves in the way of danger. The unsettled condition of Milford alarmed them, John Fries and his friends being the terror of these officers.

The time for the meeting advertised to take place at Mitchell's had now arrived, which was held on Saturday, and a great many persons were at it. Everhard Foulke and James Chap- man were present on the part of the assessors. The meeting was called for the purpose of read- ing and explaining the law, as they were extreme- ly ignorant of its provisions and operations ; but they behaved in such a disorderly manner nothing could be done. A general fear appears to have seized upon those present. Mr. Foulke used his best endeavors to remove it, but without avail. In their present state of mind, as he well knew, any explanation of the law on his part would have but little, if any, effect, and he did not even at- tempt it. Among the well disposed citizens pres- ent was Jacob Klein, who, at the request of Mit- chell made an effort to calm the fears of the peo- ple, but he met with no success, for the clamor and noise were so incessant he could not be heard. Israel Roberts proposed to read the law to them, but they would not listen to him, and drowned his voice in their shouts. Conrad Marks, who afterward became an active participant in the dis- turbance, was at the meeting, but it does not ap- pear that John Fries was there, which is hardly reconcilable, with his known activity in opposing the law. The assessors seeing nothing could be done toward satisfying their minds on the sub- ject of the tax, and removing their prejudice and opposition to the law's execution, declined to

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take further part in the meeting and returned home.

The officers, upon this occasion, met with a signal failure in their attempt to induce the people to acquiesce in the assessments, and the result of the meeting gave encouragement to the opposition. In the subsequent trial of John Fries before the United States Court, Mr. Chapman, who was a witness on the part of the Government, gives the following account of what took place at this meet- ing, so far as it fell under his own observations. He says :

"I got there between one and two o'clock. Just as I got to the house, before I went in, I saw ten or twelve people coming from towards Hoov- er's mill; about the half of them were armed, and the others with sticks. I went into the house and twenty or thirty were there. I sat talking with some of my acquaintances that were well disposed to the laws. Conrad Marks talked a great deal in German ; how oppressive it was, and much in opposition to it, seeming to be much en- raged. His son, and those who came with him, seemed to be very noisy and rude; they talked in German, which as I did not know sufficiently, I paid but little attention to them. They were making a great noise; huzzaing for liberty and Democracy, damning the Tories, and the like. I let them go on, as I saw no disposition in the peo- ple to do anything toward forwarding the busi- ness. Between four and five I got up to go out ; as I passed through the crowd towards the bar, they pushed one against me.

"No offer was made to explain the law to them while I staid; they did not seem disposed to hear it.

"They did not mention my name the whole time of my being there, but they abused Eyerly and Balliet and said they had cheated the public, and what villains they were. I understood it was respecting collecting the revenue, but I did not understand near all they said. I recollect Conrad Marks said that Congress had no right to make such a law, and that he never would submit to have his house taxed.

"They seemed to think that the collectors were all such fellows; the insinuation was that they cheated the public, and made them pay, but never paid into the treasury. After getting through the crowd to the bar, I suppose I was fifteen min- utes in conversation with Mitchell; he said per- haps they were wrong, but the people were very much exasperated. Nothing very material hap- pened, and I asked Mr. Foulke if it were not time to be going. So I got into my sleigh and went off ; soon after they set up a dreadful huzza and shout."

Israel Roberts and other witnesses, on the part

of the prosecution at the trial of Fries, and who was present at the meeting at Mitchell's, testi- fied as follows:

"At the last meeting at Mitchell's there ap- peared a disposition to wait till they should have assistance from some other place. It was said that a letter had arrived to George Mitchell, from Virginia, stating there were a number of men, I think ten thousand, on their way to join them; the letter was traced from one to another, through six or eight persons, till at last it came from one who was not there. Some of the com- pany at that time were armed and in uniform. I do not recollect what was said when the letter was mentioned, but they appeared to be more opposed to the law than they were before.

"At the meeting at George Mitchell's, at which Mr. Foulke and Mr. Chapman were present, which was held for the purpose of explaining the law, there were a number, about twelve came up in uniform, and carrying a flag with "Liberty" on it. They came into the house and appeared to be very much opposed to the law, and in a very bad humor. I proposed to read the law to them; and they asked me how I came to advertise the meeting; I told them I did it with the consent of a few others; one of them asked me what business I had to do it; I told him we did it to explain the law. He looked me in the face and said, 'We don't want any of your damned laws, we have laws of our own,' and he shook the muzzle of his musket in my face, saying, 'This is our law and we will let you know it.' There were four or five who wished to hear it, but others forbid it, and said it should not be read, and it was not done."

On his way home from the meeting, Mr. Chap- man stopped at the public house of Jacob Fries, who then kept the tavern more recently occupied by George L. Pheister, at the east end of Trum- bauersville, where he waited for Mr. Foulke to come up, who arrived soon after. Clarke was also there. Mr. Chapman had a conversation with him upon the subject of taking the rates in the township, when he declined to have anything more to do with it. He gave as a reason for this course that it would not be safe for him to undertake the assessments, and that he did not feel justified in endangering his life in order to assist to have the law carried into execution. He thus washed his hands of the whole business, and resigned his commission. It was now evident to Chapman and Foulke that the other assessors would be obliged to make the assessments in Mil- ford, if they were made at all, and they deemed it their duty to take immediate steps to have it done. They agreed to meet the assessors at Quakertown, on March 4, in order to commence

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the work, and, before they left for home, Mr. Chapman asked each one to be present at the time and place appointed. When the day arrived for the meeting, but three of the assessors attend- ed, Rodrock, Childs and Foulke, in addition to the principal, Mr. Chapman. They waited until evening without transacting any business, ex- pecting others would arrive but none came, when they adjourned to meet at the house of Mr. Chap- man, at nine o'clock the next morning.

As soon as it became noised about that the as- sessors had resolved to come into the township to take the rates, those opposed to the law renew- ed their activity against it. The people were told by the leaders that the assessments must not be made, and force would be used to prevent it, if necessary. The information that the assessors, who were now looked upon as enemies to republi- can institutions were coming, increased the excite- ment, and the people began active measures to oppose them. Captain Kuyder, who was in com- mand of a company of militia, called them into service to assist in driving the assessors out of the township. He notified his men to meet him at his mill, on March 6, where some fifteen or twenty assembled. Early in the morning, while he was abroad in the neighborhood, he met his acquaintance, William Thomas, whom he invited to go to the mill and see his men. He accepted the invitation and accompanied the captain there. His men were getting together. When he ar- rived he found a number already assembled, a portion of them armed and others soon came up. After remaining a little while the captain or- dered his men to take up the march for the tavern of Jacob Fries, Trumbauersville.

By the time they reached the village a consider- able number of stragglers had been attracted, who helped to swell the throng. They marched along the main road until they came to the tavern, when they drew up in front of it and halted. Here a number more joined them, making about thirty in all. The people assembled expressed a desire to see the assessors, whom they knew were some- where in the township making assessments; and a couple of horsemen were sent off to hunt them up and notify them they were wanted. They were instructed, in case they should find them, to take them prisoners, and either conduct them to Quak- ertown or bring them to Fries' tavern. Soon after the messengers had left, it was proposed that Captain Kuyder's company and the rest of the people assembled, should march to Quakertown and they immediately started down the road for that place. They presented a somewhat martial, but very irregular, appearance; the greater part being either armed with guns or clubs and ac- companied with drum and fife. As they passed

through the country they attracted much atten- tion, and the sounds of their martial music were heard "far o'er hill and dale." They, who were not cognizant of the movement, and hardly knew what to make of the demonstration, went to the roadside to see what was going on. As they marched along the road they increased in number, and, by the time they reached their destination, there were more than a hundred in the company. This movement was the overt acts of resistance, and had an important bearing on the subsequent conduct of those who became insurgents in name and deed.

The three assessors, Chapman, Foulke and Childs, met, on the morning of March 5, at the house of Mr. Chapman as had been agreed upon, and thence proceeded into Milford township to make the assessments. They thought it advisable to call upon Clark, in the first instance, and see if they could not prevail upon him to go with them and divide the township, so as to complete their work in a short time. When they arrived at his house he was absent from home, and it was thought best for Mr. Chapman to go in search of him. Learning he had gone to assist one of his neighbors to move, he went to Jacob Fries' tavern to wait for him to return. In a little while he came. Upon being asked to assist in assessing the township he positively refused, saying he might as well pay his fine, even if it should take all the property he had. Finding that nothing could be done with him the subject was dropped. While Mr. Chapman was at the tavern, John Fries came up. After passing the compliments of the day, Fries remarked to him he understood he had been insulted at one of the meetings in the township, which, he said would not have been the case had he been present, and expressed his regret at the rudeness with which the assessor had been treated. The following interview then took place between the two, as sworn to at the trial of Fries:

"I told him (Fries) I thought they were very wrong in opposing the law as they did; he signi- fied that he thought they were not, and that the rates should not be taken by the assessors. I told · him that the rates would certainly be taken, and that the assessors were then in the township tak- ing them. I repeated it to him, and he answered. 'My God! if I were only to send that man (point- ing to one standing by,) to my house to let them know they were taking the rates, there would be five or seven hundred men under arms here to- morrow morning by sunrise.' He told me he would not submit to the law. I told him I thought the people had more sense than to rise in arms to oppose the law in that manner ; if they did, government must certainly take notice of it, answer was, 'if they do, we will soon try who is and send an armed force to enforce the law. His

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the strongest.' I told him they certainly would find themselves mistaken respecting their force; he signified he thought not; he mentioned to me the troop of horse in Montgomery county, and the people at Upper and Lower Milford, and something about infantry who were ready to join them. He said he was very sorry for the occasion, for, if they were to rise, God knew where it would end; the consequences would be dreadful ; I told him they would be obliged to comply; he then said huzza, it shall be as it is in France, or something to that effect. He then left me and went off."

While Mr. Chapman was waiting for Clark at Jacob Fries' tavern, and holding the strange interview with John Fries, the other assessors were engaged in taking the rates around the town- ship. The first house they came to was Daniel Weidner's, at the west end of Trumbauersville, and occupied by Geo. Zeigler, 1859. Childs went in first and told Mr. W. that he had come in order to take the assessment under the revenue law of the United States. He appeared to be in a bad humor at the proceeding, and declined to give any information of his property. The assessor reasoned with him, and pointed out the impro- priety of his conduct and what would be the con- sequence of his opposing the law. He was told he might have ten days to consider the matter, at the end of which time he would be able to deter- mine what he ought to do. He professed not to know whether the law was in force, and said many other things in extenuation of his conduct ; charged the assessor with receiving very high wages, &c. Mr. Childs explained that the law was in force and how a committee of Congress had reported against the expediency of repealing it. At last, Weidner, overcome by persuasion, or argument, consented to be assessed and gave up his property, saying to the assessor, "take it now, since it must be done." Childs then continued on his round, walking and leading his horse from house to house, until he reached Mitchell's tavern, where he found the other two assessors, who had arrived a little while before. Weidner got there in advance and was again railing out against the law; and said that the houses of high value were to pay nothing, while smaller ones, and of small value, were to pay high. He was again reasoned with, and finally became apparently reconciled, and gave up an ad- ditional piece of property to be assessed. He seemed to take the matter much at heart, how- ever, and exclaimed, "They will ruin me; what shall I do?" The assessors then continued on their way toward Jacob Fries' tavern, where they were to meet the principal assessors by appoint- ment, assessing several houses as they went along.

They had assessed some fifty or sixty houses in the whole, up to this point, and had done it with- out opposition. In every case but one the people were at home, and there a notice was left. They arrived at the tavern a little before dinner. As Mr. Childs was going into the door he was met by John Fries, who shook him by the hand, said he was glad to see him, and asked him to take a drink.

The assessors dined at Jacob Fries'. After dinner, and while they were sitting at the fire, John Fries came into the room. He addressed himself to Mr. Foulke and Mr. Chapman, and said they were men he greatly esteemed, and was sorry they had placed themselves in that position. He here proclaimed his opposition to the law ; and said "I now warn you not to go to another house to take the rates; if you do you will be hurt." Without waiting for a reply he turned upon his heel and went out of the room. He seemed irri- tated and in anger. He said nothing more to them while they remained there. After a confer- ence, the assessors concluded to pay no attention to the threat of John Fries, but proceed with the assessments. While at the tavern, Mr. Childs took the rates of Jacob Fries' house to which no opposition was made. It was then agreed that Rodrock and Foulke should go together, and Childs by himself to assess the houses of some who were known to be quiet and orderly people. They then mounted their horses and rode away in dis- charge of their duty. They found a marked dif- ference, between the English and German, to be assessed ; with the former they had no difficulty, except at one place, where the family said there were some bad people living in the neighborhood who would do them injury if they submitted to the rates. Messrs. Rodrock and Foulke continued on until about sunset without meeting any hinder- ance, or seeing any sign of opposition to the execu- tion of the law. They were now going to the house of a man named Singmaster, and, as they turned down the lane out of the public road, they heard some person halloo to them; when stopping and looking round, they saw John Fries and five men coming toward them. Fries was in front, and upon coming up he said he had warned them not to proceed with the assessments, but as they would not obey him he had now come to take them prisoners. Rodrock asked him by what authority he had stopped them, to which he made no reply, but immediately grappled for the bridle of the horse. He wheeled the horse around at the moment, which caused Fries to miss the bridle and catch the rider by the coat tail, but the latter succeeded in tearing away and freeing himself from his grasp. Fries then rode off, but, before he had gone far, he turned about and approached

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the assessor again. He now cursed Rodrock, and, remarked to him, if he had a horse he would catch him. He offered no further insult, but returned to his companions. Mr. Foulke was less fortu- nate. The comrades of Fries surrounded him and secured him without resistance; but when in their power they offered him no injury, but treat- ed him with kindness. When Fries returned to his men and found Mr. Foulke in their hands, he at once directed them to let him go, giving as a reason that as they were not able to catch Rod- rock, they would not detain him. As the assessor was released Fries remarked to him, "I will have seven hundred men together to-morrow, and I will come to your house, and let you know we are opposed to the law." Being at liberty once more the assessors proceeded to the house of Phil- ip Singmaster, who lived on the road leading from Trumbauersville to Philadelphia, half a mile from the former place, and in a house occupied by Zeno Frantz, 1859. They found him at home, and, upon informing him of their business, were per- mitted to assess his house without opposition. While here Mr. Childs rejoined them as had been agreed upon when they parted company at the tavern of Jacob Fries. They now compared opinions, and came to the unanimous conclusion they would not be justified in further attempt to take the rates in Milford township, on account of the violent opposition of the inhabitants, led on by John Fries; and the principal assessor was to give notice of this determination to the com- missioners. They thereupon ceased to make as- sessments in the township and turned their faces homeward on the afternoon of March 6.

Meanwhile the insurgents continued their march toward Quakertown, where they arrived about noon, or shortly after. In a little while the party of Capt. Kuyder was joined by John Fries and companions and several others. They halted at the tavern of Enoch Roberts, the same kept by Peter Smith, 1859, when those on horse- back dismounted, and, as many as could, went into the house. The scene around the tavern was one of noise and confusion, while those inside were no less boisterous. They were hallooing, and cursing and swearing; the most violent were de- nouncing John Adams, the house-tax, and the of- ficers who were to execute the law; some were drumming and fifing, apparently endeavoring to drown the hum of confused voices in the strains of martial music, and numerous other ways were resorted to, to give vent to their feelings. The bar of Mr. Roberts was pretty generously patronized, and liquor flowed so freely that the excitement and confusion were increased. Fries, expecting the assessors to come that way on their return home, he had made up his mind to arrest them if

nothing transpired to interfere with his arrange- ments.

When the assessors ended their conference at Philip Singmaster's, after having assessed him, they started directly homeward, having to pass through Quakertown their most direct road. Messrs. Foulke and Rodrock rode together, while Mr. Childs preceded them a short distance. When they arrived at the village, they found it in possession of the crowd of people already mentioned, under the control of John Fries and Conrad Marks. Some were in uniform and oth- ers in their usual working clothes; some were armed with guns, and others carried clubs. The noise and confusion they made were heard some time before the assessors reached the town. The testimony, given on the trial, shows they were congregated at two public houses, one already mentioned as being kept by Enoch Roberts, whereas the other was called "Zeller's tavern." We have been at considerable trouble to locate this latter public house, but have been unable to do so. The house, in which Rich- ard Green lived, 1859, on the road to the rail- road station, is said to stand on the site of an old tavern which may have been the one the witnesses called "Zeller's." On the other hand it is said, by the old residents of Quakertown, that Enoch Roberts had a son-in-law named N. B. Sellers, who assisted him to keep the public house he then occupied. The name of Zeller may have been intended for Sellers, and is possibly a misprint in the report of the trial, both meaning one and the same place.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 32

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1158

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158