History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 35

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 35

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We last took leave of John Fries and his friends on their march from Conrad Mark's tav- ern by the way of Millerstown to Bethlehem. They were a little in the rear of the Northamp- ton contingent, and arrived at the bridge while the committee of citizens were gone to the tav- ern with the men deputed to confer with the marshal. They did not halt any length of time on the south bank of the river, but pushed across and continued on to the tavern, where the pris- oners were confined. Meanwhile, the committee of conference, on the part of the marshal, had started on their return accompanied by the two released prisoners and their three friends. When they reached the lower part of the village, they met the force of John Fries marching up the main street. They stopped him to hold a parley and endeavored to prevail upon him and his men not to continue their march up into the town; but they disregarded their appeal and said they were determined to go on. One of the men, supposed to have been Fries, said, "This is the third day that I am out. I had a fight yesterday, and I mean to have one to-day if they do not let the prisoners clear." They now resumed the march. The force consisted of two companies of riflemen, and one of mounted men, numbering in all about one hundred and forty. The horse- men marched two abreast armed with drawn swords. The footmen carried rifles, at a trail,

in single file. One of the companies was com- manded by a Captain Stahler, and wore tri- colored cockades on their hats. Fries marched in front of the riflemen and was apparently in com- mand.

The appearance of this large armed force, so close at hand, created great confusion and excite- ment, not only at the tavern but throughout the town. A conflict between them and the mar- shal's posse was now thought inevitable. The inhabitants and strangers in the town flocked around the scene of action to watch the course of events. The marshal had a force of less than twenty men to protect eighteen prisoners, who were merely placed in different rooms in the tav- ern, without being further restrained of their liberty. When the insurgents were known to be coming, the prisoners were told their friends were at hand prepared to take them away, but they did not wish to be rescued: The force arrived about one o'clock in the day; marched into the yard in front of the tavern; halted, the horsemen dis- mounting, and the riflemen passing around the house drew up in the rear of the horses and rested on their arms. The men kept well in ranks, and appeared to be under good control. The mar- shal doubled his guard over the prisoners and stationed two at the bottom and two at the top of the stairs, armed with pistols. Fries went into the tavern, accompanied by two of his men, and requested the sentinel at the foot of the stairway to let him go up to see the marshal. Word was sent up to Colonel Nichols, who came forward and told the guard to let Captain Fries pass up. When he came to the marshal, Fries informed him he had come for the prisoners, and demanded their release. The marshal replied this was out of his power, but if he were determined to take them, he must get them the best way he could. Soon after Fries and his force arrived, Captain Jarrett came up, and the men saluted him with cheers. He had been to Philadelphia to surren- der himself and be discharged on bail, and had just returned. He had an interview with the marshal who requested him to get the men to withdraw. This he promised to do, but he either had no influence or did not choose to exercise it. He remained about there some two hours, but took no steps to quell the disturbance. After the interview with the marshal, Fries returned to the guard and told his followers the result of it. Upon learning this they became quite violent and expressed a determination to have the pris- oners at every risk. They abused Eyerley, the commissioner, and all who had assisted him, and towards them appeared to be more enraged than at the marshal.

The insurgents now prepared to take the pris-

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

oners by force if they should not be given up peaceably. Fries told his men that four or five of the sentinels had to be passed, and begged them not to fire until the marshal's posse had fired upon them ; he would go on before them and ex- pected to get the first blow. He cautioned them a second time, not to fire first, and promised to give the word as soon as he was fired upon, when they must help themselves. He then gave the command, and his men followed toward the tav- ern. They came on with a rush and succeeded in getting into the entry in considerable numbers, where they were met by the marshal's posse., A struggle took place between them, which resulted in the posse clearing the entry of the enemy. Es- quire Horsfield came down stairs while the con- test was going on, and, seeing that great excite- ment prevailed, he made his way through the crowd up-stairs again to the landlord, Mr. Lev- ering, and prevailed upon him to close the bar, as liquor stimulated the disturbance. This re- pulse maddened the crowd, and they returned to the charge with greater fury than before, yelling and uttering savage shrieks. They struck the butts of their rifles on the ground, and fairly jumped with rage. They came to the door and a number entered and filled the hall. Those who remained outside pointed their rifles up at the windows to intimidate, and one, who en- tered thrust the muzzle of his gun up the stair- way, threatening to fire. They shouted their de- termination to have the prisoners. These pro- ceedings caused great consternation among the marshal's posse, who began to grow alarmed for their own safety.

Philip Schlaungh was so much frightened he mounted his horse when the second rush was made, and rode for Easton as fast as his animal could carry him. Esquire Horsfield begged the marshal "for God's sake" to deliver up the pris- oners, and worked his way down the stairs to be ready to make his escape. The marshal and his friends, up-stairs at this time in charge of the prisoners, consulted with Judge Henry and others as to what was best to be done. He was advised to surrender the prisoners to Fries. This he re- fused to do, but said he would march them to Philadelphia, and if the mob thought proper to take them from him, on the way, it would be their act, not his, and he told them to prepare immedi- ately to start for the city. Several refused to go, saying they would not thus endanger their lives, but if he would suffer them to return to their homes they would meet him in Philadelphia on Monday or Tuesday following. Fries was still demanding their release and threats of bodily harm were made against Eyerley, Henry and others, in case the prisoners were not given up.

The marshal, considering the lives of these gen- tlemen in danger, rather than expose them to injury, concluded to deliver the prisoners to Fries, and they were released and turned over to him. In a few minutes there was not an armed man on the ground, while the people of the town and neighborhood, who had collected as wit- nesses of the proceedings, quietly dispersed and returned to their homes. The contest was blood- less and the insurgents won.

THE PRESIDENT ISSUES HIS PROCLAMATION.

Immediately, after the rescue of the prisoners at Bethlehem, John Fries returned to his home in Milford township, but far from satisfied with the part he had taken in the affair. The excite- ment having subsided and reflection assumed its wonted sway, he doubted the propriety of his course, and began to have fears that he and his friends had gone beyond legal resistance. Like every man, who places himself in the wrong, he was anxious to unburden his mind by talking with others upon the subject, in the hope of jus- tifying his conduct. For this purpose he went to see John Jamison, an old acquaintance, two days after the occurrence, to whom he gave a full ac- count of the affair at Bethlehem, and the part he took in it. He threw the blame upon the Ger- mans, who he said, he could do nothing with as they had gotten the idea into their heads General Washington was opposed to the law, and there- fore they need not allow it to be carried into ex- ecution.

An effort was now made to harmonize matters so the assessments could be taken, thus putting an end to the disturbance that had so long agitated this and neighboring counties. It was agreed among the leading men in the disaffected dis- tricts of Bucks the proper course would be to meet and choose a committee from the three counties. For this purpose a meeting was called at the tavern of Conrad Marks, Monday, March 15th, which some 200 people attended from the three counties. A committee of four men from each county was appointed, with authority to con- sider the situation, and report what was best to be done under the circumstances. We have not been able to secure the names of all on the com- mittee, but among them were: John Jamison, George Kline, Daniel Roberts, Conrad Marks, Dr. Baker, a man named Davis and Captain Jar- rett. They advised the people to desist further opposition to the assessors and other officers in the execution of their duties, and enjoined upon them to give due submission to the laws of their country. This seemed to be the sentiment of all present at the meeting, and no dissent was ex-

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THE FRIES REBELLION.

perienced. The people of Lower Milford were now in favor of having the assessments made, but, Mr. Roberts, upon being consulted, was not will- ing they should choose an assessor, but if Mr. Clark, who had not yet given up his commission, would take the rates, it would answer every pur- pose. A second meeting was advertised to be held at George Mitchell's tavern on March 25th, to take the sense of the people upon the sub- ject of permitting Clark to make the assessments. Fries was at the meeting held at Conrad Marks, and, as it does not appear he took any part in the proceedings, he probably quietly acquiesced with others in the peaceable measures adopted. Upon this occasion he and Mitchell had some conversa- tion on the subject, when he admitted his former resistance to the law, a fact he never denied. He now expressed a willingness to give in his submis- sion, and allow the law to be enforced. Appar- ently wishing to make some amends for his former harsh treatment of the officers, he told Jacob Hu- ber that his house should not be assessed until he had given the assessors a dinner, and that if he were not at home when they came, his son would be there to provide for them. With this the op- position to the law in Milford ended, and from that time forward to his arrest, there was no better ordered citizen in the county than John Fries. He returned to his usual occupation, ven- due crying, and, if his present good conduct be any evidence, he had entirely repented his pre- vious course.

The marshal kept Judge Peters fully informed of the operations of the insurgents, and also of his own movements. Immediately upon the res- cue of the prisoners at Bethlehem he announced the fact to the judge, who laid the matter before the Federal authorities without delay. Upon be- ing thus officially informed of the truth of what had heretofore reached him in the shape of ru- mors, although pretty well authenticated, the President called his cabinet together to deliberate upon the steps to be taken in relation thereto. They were now fully cognizant of the resistance that had been offered to the law, and were satis- fied it could not be executed in the disaffected dis- tricts unless the opposition should end. It was now determined the President should issue his proclamation, and endeavor, by this mild means to call the deluded disturbers of the peace back to their duty, before a resort was had to harsher measures. For this purpose he caused to be is- sued, from the seat of government at Philadel- phia on March 12, 1799, the following :

By the President of the United States of America: PROCLAMATION.

"WHEREAS, combinations, to defeat the execu-

tion of the laws for the valuation of lands and dwelling houses within the United States, have ex- isted within the counties of Northampton, Mont- gomery and Bucks, in the State of Pennsylvania, have proceeded in a manner subversive of the just authority of the government, by misrepresenta- tions to render the laws odious, by deterring the officers of the United States to forbear the execu- tion of their functions, and by openly threaten- ing their lives. And, whereas, the endeavors of the well-effected citizens, as well as of the ex- ecutive officers to conciliate compliance with these laws, have failed of success, and certain persons in the county of Northampton, aforesaid, have been hardy enough to perpetrate certain acts, which, I am advised, amount to treason, being overt acts, of levying war against the United States, the said persons exceeding one hundred in number, and armed and arrayed in warlike man- ner, having, on the seventh day of the present month of March, proceeded to the house of Ab- raham Levering, in the town of Bethlehem, and there compelled William Nichols, Marshal of the United States, for the District of Pennsyl- vania, to desist from the execution of certain legal processes in his hands to be executed, and having compelled him to discharge and set at liberty, certain persons whom he had arrested by virtue of a criminal process, duly issued for offenses against the United States, and having impeded and prevented the commissioners and assessors, in conformity with the laws aforesaid, in the county of Northampton, aforesaid, by threats of per- sonal injury, from executing the said laws, avow- ing, as the motive of these illegal and treasonable proceedings, an intention to prevent, by force of arms, the execution of the said laws, and to with- stand, by open violence, the lawful authority of the United States. And, whereas, by the Consti- tution and laws of the United States, I am au- thorized, whenever the laws of the United States shall be opposed, or the execution thereof ob- structed in any state, by combinations too power- ful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or by powers, vested in the marshal, to call forth military force to suppress such combinations, and to cause the laws to be duly executed, and I have accordingly determined so to do, under the solemn conviction that the es- sential interests of the United States demand it.

"Therefore, I, John Adams, President of the United States, do hereby command all persons, being insurgents as aforesaid, and all others whom it may concern, on or before Monday next, be- ing the eighteenth day of the present month, to disperse and retire peaceably to their respective abodes; and I do, moreover, warn all persons whomsoever, against aiding, abetting or comfort-

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ing the perpetrators of the aforesaid treasonable acts, and I do require all officers and others, good and faithful citizens, according to their respec- tive duties and laws of the land, to exert their ut- most endeavors to prevent and suppress such dan- gerous and unlawful proceedings.

"In testimony thereof, I have caused the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed to these presents, and signed the same with my hand. Done at the city of Philadelphia, the twelfth day of March in the year of our Lord, 1799, and of the Independence of the said United States of America, the twenty-third.

"By the President : "(Signed) JOHN ADAMS. "(Signed ) TIMOTHY PICKERING, "Secretary of State."

The proclamation reached Milford township, on the fifteenth of March. Its appearance cre- ated a good deal of excitement and talk among the people, who were now convinced the govern- ment was disposed to treat the late disturbance with more seriousness than the participators in it had believed. It was reported to the meeting at Conrad Marks, on the eighteenth, where it became the subject of discussion and conversation. On the evening of the day, it first made its ap- pearance in the township, George Mitchell car- ried a copy down to Frederick Heaney's to whom he read it, who agreed to submit to it; and he made no further opposition. Soon after the ap- pearance of the proclamation, a statement of the part John Fries had taken in opposing the law was published in the newspapers; Israel Roberts carried a copy to him to read what was said of him. ~ The account of his conduct, as published, seemed to affect him greatly; and, upon being questioned he admitted he had never before con- sidered the matter in such serious light as he had within a few days. He said he had not slept half an hour for three or four nights, and that he would give all he was worth in the world if the matter were settled and he clear of it. He ex- pressed a willingness to surrender himself if the government would send for him.

The meeting advertised at George Mitchell's tavern, on March 25th was held at that time. About forty persons were present, among them, John Fries and Frederick Heaney. It was agreed that Clark should make the assessments. Neither Fries nor Heaney voted upon the question, but both expressed a willingness that others should do so, and in fact, hoped they might vote for him. They seemed to yield entire obedience to the authorities, and appeared sensible of their previous misconduct. In Northampton county, the reception of the President's proclamation had the same good effect as in Bucks, and almost

wholly quieted the disturbance. But little op- position to the law took place after that date, the most serious being the attack on Mr. Balliet, a collector. He was waylaid upon his return from Bethlehem, whither he had been on busi- ness, and so severely beaten a physician was brought from that place to attend him. His injuries however, proved not to be very serious, and he soon recovered. About the same time Henry Hartman, Adam Stephen and Henry Shankweiler, of Millerstown, went to Philadel- phia, and surrendered themselves to the Federal authorities, and entered into bail before Judge Peters for their appearance. These men were among the most violent opposers of the law in Northampton county. The opposition to the law had the effect of causing a repeal of the pro- visions of the house tax, requiring a statement of the windows of each dwelling, at the sessions of 1798-99, and before the most serious disturbances had taken place.

The reader, no doubt, will be as much aston- ished as the writer, at the course of the govern- ment after this period. From and after March 25th John Fries and his aiders and abettors gave their entire submission to the authorities, and comported themselves as quietly as the best cit- izens. They allowed their property to be as- sessed, and acquiesced in the law being carried into execution. Under all the circumstances it does not appear that the extreme measures after- wards pursued were called for, but that a lenient government, such as ours professes to be, should have overlooked the faults and even offences of the past, in consideration that a very obnoxious law, and at best of questionable propriety, was allowed to go into full force and effect. The pursuing of Fries, in this view of the case, had the appearance of persecution, which created greater sympathy, in his behalf, than would oth- erwise have been extended to him.

The President's proclamation gave the pro- ceedings of the insurgents, in Bucks and North- ampton, an importance they otherwise would not have received; and, from this time forward to the conclusion of the "Rebellion;" it was a Na- tional affair, and attracted the attention of all sections of the Union. Many expected to see another "Western Insurrection" or a "Shay's Re- bellion," with a more disastrous termination. The timid friends of republican government were alarmed lest this disturbance might be a rock on which the ship of State would founder and go to pieces, while the enemies of our institutions predicted such would be the result, and appeared delighted at the prospective overthrow of the government.

The President caused his proclamation to be

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THE FRIES REBELLION.

immediately sent to the Governor of Pennsyl- vania, then in Philadelphia attending upon the session of the legislature, and Governor Mifflin transmitted a copy to the assembly, accompanied by the following message :

Message of the Governor of Pennsylvania, to the Two Houses of Assembly :

"Gentlemen :- It is announced, by proclama- tion issued by the President of the United States, dated the 12th inst. that combinations, to defeat the execution of the laws for the valuation of lands and dwelling houses within the United States, have existed in the counties of North- ampton, Montgomery and Bucks, in the State of Pennsylvania: That in the judgment of the Pres- ident it is necessary to call for the military force in order to suppress the combinations aforesaid, and cause the laws aforesaid to be duly executed ; and that the President has accordingly determined to do so, under the solemn conviction that the essential interest of the United States demands it.

"Though I have received no communication from the President on this important occasion, yet it is my duty, as executive magistrate of Pennsyl- vania, to call your attention to the subject, that if any means ought to be taken on the part of the state to co-operate with the Federal gov- ernment, they may be devised and authorized by the legislature.

"(Signed) THOMAS MIFFLIN. "Philadelphia, March 14, 1799."

The matter was referred to a committee of the House, which made report condemning the dis- turbance in the strongest terms, but proceeded to say, that as the President had taken proper steps to quell the insurrection, they did not deem it necessary for the State to take any action in the matter; but whenever it should become neces- sary to co-operate with the general government they would do so cheerfully. To the report was added the following resolution, but was stricken out on its passage :

Resolved, "That the Governor be, and is hereby requested to cause full and due inquiry into the causes of the said riots, to be made, and to make special report to this House thereupon, and particularly of any circumstances which may be alleged, or discovered, tending to show the origin of the same agency of foreign incendiar- ies, in the seditious views of domestic traitors."

TROOPS CALLED OUT TO SUPPRESS THE IN- SURRECTION.

While the legislature took no further action concerning the house tax troubles, the represen-

tatives from Northampton county issued an ad- dress to the people of the state, in which they say that, on a recent visit to their constituency, they found nothing that "looks like an insurrec- tion." They were highly indignant at the course of the Federal government, as were the people of the state, generally. There was now a change of policy ; the "Fries Rebellion" was relegated to the military arm for treatment.

On March 20th the secretary of war made the following requisition on Governor Mifflin for militia to assist in quelling the insurrection : "WAR DEPARTMENT, March 20, 1799.

"SIR :- To suppress the insurrection now ex- isting in the counties of Northampton, Bucks, and Montgomery, in the State of Pennsylvania, in op- position to the laws of the United States, the President has thought it best to employ a mili- tary force, to be composed, in part, of such of the militia of Pennsylvania whose situation and state of preparation will enable them to march with promptitude. As the corps of militia first desired on this occasion are the troops of cavalry belong- ing to this city, and one troop from each of the counties of Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Mont- gomery, and Lancaster, these troops I have the honor to request your Excellency will order to hold themselves in readiness to march, on, or before the 28th instant, under the command of Brigadier General Macpherson.

"I have the honor to be, with the greatest re- spect, your Excellency's most obedient servant. "(Signed) JAMES MCHENRY. "His Excellency, THOMAS MIFFLIN."

Upon receipt of the secretary of war's com- munication, Governor Mifflin addressed the fol- lowing letter to the adjutant-general of the state, directing him to issue general orders for complying with the President's request :

"Philadelphia, March 20, 1799, 3 o'clock p. m.

"SIR :- The Secretary of War has this moment communicated to me, the President's intention to employ a military force, in suppressing the in- surrection now existing in the counties of North- ampton, Bucks and Montgomery, with a request that the Troops of Cavalry, belonging to this city, and a troop from each of the counties of Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Montgomery and Lancaster, may be ordered to hold themselves in readiness to march on, or before, the 28th in- stant, under the command of Brigadier-General Macpherson.

"You will, therefore, issue general orders for complying with the President's request; and com- municate by express with the commanding of- ficers of the several corps. As soon as the troops are ready to march you will make your report to

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 35

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