History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 9

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co.
Number of Pages: 900

USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 9
USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 9
USA > Pennsylvania > Wyoming County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 9

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The company was soon afterward chartered by the Connecticut government, and at about this time the pro- ject was conceived of making this, with other territory, a separate province; but the hostile attitude of the Indians, who were then under French influence, defeated its ac- complishment.

After . the cessation of hostilities preparations were

made to settle the valley by the Susquehanna Company, and in 1762 about two hundred settlers established them- selves in it, near the mouth of Mill creek, where they cleared fields, sowed wheat and built log houses. Hav- ing done this, they returned to Connecticut, to make preparations for bringing their families the next spring.

The people of Pennsylvania regarded with jealousy and displeasure these energetic preparations for settlement, and the governor, through Sir William Johnson, again sought to influence the Iroquois to repudiate their sale to the company in 1754. A deputation of the disaffected Indians visited Hartford and protested against the occu- pancy of this territory. The case was presented in Eng- land by both parties, and opinions favorable to both sides were obtained.

On the return of spring the Connecticut settlers, not- withstanding the fact that they had been cautioned by the governor of Connecticut against doing so, returned in largely augmented numbers, with their families, to the set- tlement; and during the summer made rapid progress, ex- tending their settlement to the west side of the river.

In the autumn a party of Iroquois visited the valley, and it was said for the double purpose of exciting in the Delawares hostility to the settlers and getting rid of Teedyuscung, a chief of whose large and growing in- fluence among the Indians they were jealous; treacher- ously murdered him and then induced among his sub- jects the belief that the murder had been committed by the settlers. The result was that these Delawares fell upon the inhabitants of the valley, killed some thirty and caused the precipitate flight of the rest, and plundered and burnt the settlement. After severe sufferings and the death of many of their number the fugitives reached Connecticut again; and thus for a time ended the attempt by the Susquehanna Company to settle the valley. The following are the names of a portion of those settlers:

John Jenkins, John Coinstoek, Ephraim Seely, William Buek, Oliver Jewell, Oliver Smith, David Honeywell, Ezra Dean, Jonathan Weeks, jr., Obadialı Gore, Ezekiel Pierce, Philip Weeks, Daniel Gore, Elkanalı Fuller. Wright Stevens, Isaae Underwood, Benjamin Ashley, Gideon Lawrence, Isaae Bennett, Stephen Lee, Silas Parker, James Atherton, Moses Kimball, Ebenezer Searles, Timothy Hollister, Nathaniel Terry, Ephraim Tyler, Timothy Hollister, jr., Wright Smith, Ephraim Tyler, jr., Isaae Hollister, jr., Nathaniel Chapman, John Dorranee, Thomas Marsh, Rev. W. M. Marsh, Timothy Smith, Matthew Smith, Jonath in Sloeum, Benjamin Davis, Benjamin Follett, George Miner, Nathaniel Hollister, Benjamin Shoemaker, Nathaniel Hurlbut, Simon Draper, Samuel Richards, John Smith, Daniel Baldwin, Stephen Gardiner, Eliphalet Stevens, David Marvin, August Hunt, Pasehall Terry, William Stephens, Thomas Bennet.

Killed by the Indians October 15th, 1763 : Rev. Wil- liam Marsh, Thomas Marsh, Timothy Hollister, Timothy Hollister, Jr., Nathan Terry, Wright Smith, Daniel Bald- win and wife, Jesse Wiggins, Zeruah Whitney, Isaac Hollister. Prisoners : Shepherd and Daniel Baldwin's son.

In 1768, at the general Indian council which assembled at Fort Stanwix, the proprietaries purchased from the Indians the territory which was in dispute, and some of the chiefs executed to them a deed for it. The Indians were ready to sell their land as many times as the whites were willing to pay them for it.

Early in the next year the Susquehanna Company re-

---------

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

solved to resume possession of these lands. Five town- ships, each five miles square, were divided each into forty shares, to be given to the first forty settlers in each of these townships ; and two hundred pounds sterling were appropriated for the purchase of agricultural implements. Forty settlers were sent to the valley in February, to be followed by two hundred in the spring. On their arrival they found that the Pennsylvanians .had shortly before taken possession of their former improvements and erected a block house for their defense. They had also divided the valley into the manors of Stoke (on the eastern) and Sunbury (on the western side of the river). The Yankees, soon after their arrival, invested the Pennamite block house, with its little garrison, but they were outwitted by the latter, who, under the pretext of a desire to consult and arrange their difficulties, induced three of the leaders among the Yankees to enter the block house and imme- diately arrested theni. They were taken to the jail at Easton, but were at once released on bail and returned. This was followed by other arrests of Connecticut set- tlers, and the release on bail of the persons arrested. In the spring the other settlers arrived ; constructed a fort on the east bank of the river, near the bend below the bridge at Wilkes-Barre, which they named Fort Durkee, in honor of its commander ; erected log houses, and prosecuted their improvements with energy. The Penn- sylvania claimants, finding themselves largely outnum- bered, after one or two ineffectual attempts to dispossess the Yankees left them for a short period without mo- lestation. In this interval overtures were made by the settlers for a settlement of the controversy, but the pro- prietaries refused to negotiate. Early in September the Pennamites came with a large force headed by the sheriff of Northampton county, took Colonel Durkee and several others prisoners, expelled the Yankees, and, regardless of a solemn pledge to respect the rights of property, plun- dered the settlement. The year 1769 closed with the Pennsylvanians in possession of the valley.

In February, 1770, the Yankees, together with a num- ber of men from Lancaster, where some shareholders of the Susquehanna Company resided, again appeared in the valley, and dispossessed the Pennamites. To accomplish this they found it necessary to fire on and besiege a block house in which the latter took refuge, and during the hos- tilities, which lasted several days, one of the Yankees was killed, and several were wounded. The Pennsylva- nians were compelled to capitulate and leave the valley in possession of the Yankees. Settlers came again, crops were planted, and during the summer they were not dis- turbed.

It must be remembered that at this time difficulties were arising between the colonies and Great Britain, and the power and influence of the colonial governors were. on the wane. The authority of the proprietary governor of Pennsylvania declined more rapidly than that of the governors of other provinces, because of the differences between them and the people with regard to the taxation of the proprietary estates, and for other reasons; and in- asmuch as the question of title was between the people

from Connecticut and these proprietaries, the sympathies of the people in other parts of the province with these governors were not as active as would otherwise have been the case. After the explusion of Captain Ogden and the Pennamites from the valley in the spring of 1770, Gover nor Penn called on General Gage to furnish regular troops to reinstate him in possession of the valley, alleg- ing that there was no militia in the province on which he could call. General Gage quite properly declined to al- low the use of the king's troops in a mere dispute con- cerning the title to property, and Governor Penn was compelled to raise forces by his personal exertions, which he finally succeeded in doing. He had in June issued a proclamation forbidding any intrusion on the lands in question, and in September his forces, numbering 140, under Captain Ogden, marched to the valley for the os- tensible purpose of enforcing this proclamation. They entered the valley by an unusual route, divided in de- tachments and surprised the men while at work. They captured a portion, and put the rest to flight. At night they made a sudden assault on the fort, which was con - fusedly filled with men, women and children; and after killing a few made prisoners of the rest, and soon after- ward sent them to prison at Easton, except a few, who were taken to Philadelphia. They then plundered the settlement and withdrew, leaving a small garrison in Fort Durkee. In the following December this garrison was surprised and the fort retaken by Captain Lazarus Stew- art, at the head of a party of Lencastrians, with a few Yankees. Such of the garrison as did not escape were expelled from the valley.

A month later, or in January, 1771, Captain Ogden again appeared in the valley, with the sheriff of North- ampton county and a posse, Tor the arrest of Captain Stewart. Admission to the fort was demanded and re- fused. The fort was finally fired on by Captain Ogden, and the fire was returncd, killing Nathan Ogden, his brother, and wounding several of his men. During the ensuing night the fort was evacuated by Captain Stewart, and the next day was occupied by Captain Ogden.

For six months the valley remained in possession of the Pennsylvanians, during which time their number was augmented till it reached a total of eighty-three.

In July of the same year Captain Zebulon Butler and Lazarus Stewart, with seventy Connecticut men, entered the valley and at once took measures to repossess it. They besieged and closely invested Fort Wyoming, which had been built and occupied by Captain Ogden, about sixty rods above Fort Durkee. Notwithstanding the close and vigilant investment of the fort by the besiegers, whose number was constantly augmented by recruits from Con- necticut, Captain Ogden by a bold and cunning stratagem escaped alone and went to Philadelphia for assistance. An expedition was sent for that purpose, but it was am- bushed by the vigilant besiegers and its supplies were captured, though a portion of the men were allowed to enter the fort. The besieged managed to send another message for assistance, but the supplies of the garrison failed, and it capitulated when the detachment for its

THE SETTLERS FROM CONNECTICUT-"PLUNKETT'S BATTLE."

relief was within ten miles of the fort. During the siege several of the garrison were killed and a number were wounded, and among the latter Captain Ogden himself severely. The loss of the besiegers is not known. During the remainder of the summer and autumn the settlers from Connecticut increased largely and made ample prep- arations for defense, but during the succeeding four years they were not again disturbed by hostile incursions.

This interval of peace was also one of prosperity and happiness. The settlement received accessions of im- migrants from Connecticut; churches and schools were established; and when it appeared that there was no prospect of establishing a separate colony, or of being immediately recognized by the General Assembly of Con- necticut as a portion of that colony and enjoying the pro- tection and benefit of its laws, the people adopted a gov- ernment of their own, which was in all respects purely democratic-the legislature consisting of an assembly of all the people. Efforts were made by the settlers to effect · a reconciliation with the proprietary government, but all overtures were rejected. The General Assembly of Con- necticut also made an effort to negotiate a settlement, and sent commissioners to Philadelphia for that purpose, but Governor Penn declined to entertain their propositions. The General Assembly then submitted the case to eminent counsellors in England, and an opinion in favor of the company was given.

The Legislature of Connecticut then, in 1773, adopted a resolution asserting the jurisdiction of the colony and expressing a determination to maintain it. On applica- tion of the company the territory was declared to be a part of the colony of Connecticut, erected into the town of Westmoreland and attached to the county of Litchfield. The laws of Connecticut superseded those which had been adopted by the settlers, and the town was represented in the General Assembly of Connecticut. Proclamations were issued by the proprietary governor and by the gov- ernor of Connecticut, each forbidding any settlement under the authority of the other.

The following are names of settlers who were enrolled prior to 1773; those of the forty who settled in Kingston in 1769 being marked with an asterisk:

David Whittlesey, Job Green, Philip Goss, Joshua Whitney, Abraham Savage, Ebenezer Stearns, Sylvester Cheesebrough, Zephaniah Thayer, Eliphalet Jewel, Daniel Gore, Ozias Yale, Rowland Barton, Henry Wall+, Gideon Lawrence, Asa Lawrenee, Nathaniel Watson, Philip Weeks, Thomas Weeks, Asher Harrot, Ebenezer Hebbard, Morgan Carvan, Sam- nel Marvin, Silas Gore, Ebenezer Northrop, Joshua Lampher, Josepli Hillman, Abel Pieree, Jabez Roberts, Jonathan Carrington, John Dor- ranee, Noah Allen, Robert Jackson, Zebulon Hawksey, James Dunkin, Caleb Tennant, Zerubabel Wightman, Gurdon Hopson, Asa Lec, Thomas Walworth, Robert Hunter, John Baker, Jonathan Orms, Daniel Angel, Elias Roberts, Nicholas Manvil, Thomas Gray, Joseph Gaylord, William Churchill, Henry Strong, Zebulon Fisbee, Hezekiah Knap, John Kenyon, Preserved Taylor, Isaae Bennett, Uriah Marvin, Abisha Bingham, Moses Hebbard, jr., Jabez Fisk, Peris Briggs, Aaron Walker, James May, Sam- nel Badger, Jabez Cooke, Samuel Dorranee, John Comstock*, Samnel lotehkiss, William Leonard, Jesse Leonard, Elisha Avery, Ezra Buel, Gershom Hewit, Nathaniel Goss, Benjamin Hewit, Benjamiu Hewit, jr., Elias Thomas, Abijalı Mock, Ephraim Fellows, J. and E. Arnold, Benjamin Ashley, William White, Stephen Hull, Diah Hull, Joseph Lee, Samuel Wybrant, Reuben Hurlburt, Jenks Corah, Obadiah Gore, jr., Caleb) White, Samuel Sweet, Thomas Knight, John Jollee, Ebenezer Norton, Enos Yale, John Wyley, Timothy Voree, Cyrus Kenney, John Shaw, James Forseythe, Peter Harris, Abel Smith, Elias Parks, Joshua Max- field, John Murphy, Thomas Bennet*, Christopher Avery, Elisha Babeoek, John Perkins, Joseph Sloeum, Robort Hopkins, Benjamin Shoemaker,

jr., JJabez Sill, Parshall Terry, John Delong, Theophilus Westover*, John Sterling, Joseph Morse, Stephen Fuller, Andrew Durkee, Andrew Med- calf, Daniel Brown, Jonathan Buck, David Mead, Thomas Ferlin, William Wadsworth, Thomas Draper, James Smith, James Atherton*, jr., Oliver Smith*, James Evans, Eleazer Carey, Cyprian Lathrop*, James Nesbitt, Joseph Webster, Samuel Millington, Benjamin Bndd, John Lee, Josiah Dean, Zophur Teed, Moses Hebbard, Daniel Murdock, Noah Lee, Stephen Lee, Daniel Haynes, Lemnel Smith, Silas Park, Stephen Hungerford, Zerubabel Icormn*, Comfort Goss, William Draper, Thomas MeClure, Peter Ayres, Solomon Jolinson, Phineas Stevens, Abraham Colt, Elijah Buck*, Noah Read, Nathan Beach, Job Green, jr., Frederick Wise, Ste- phen Jenkins, Daniel Marvin, Zachariah Squier, Henry Wise, Simcon Draper*, John Wallsworth, Ebenezer Stone, Thomas Oleott, Stephen llinsdale, Benjamin Dorchester, Elijah Witter, Oliver Post, Daniel Cass, Isaae Tracey, Samuel Story, John Mitchel, Samuel Orton, Christopher Gardner, Duty. Gerold, Peris Bradford, Samuel Morgan, John Clark, Elijah Lewis, Timothy Hopkins, Edward Johnson, .Jacob Dingman, Captain Priuee Alden, Benedict Satterlee, Naniad Coleman, Peter Com- stoek, John Franklin, Benjamin Matthews, John Durkee, William Gal- lop, Stephen Hurlbut, Stephen Miles and Ezra Dean.

The colonists in the valley enjoyed two years more of repose and prosperity. About the year 1771 a settle- ment was made by Connecticut people at Muncy, on the west branch of the Susquehanna, about sixty miles above its confluence with the east branch at Northumberland. In September, 1775, this settlement was attacked by a force of Northumberland militia, commanded by Colonel Plun- kett. One man was killed, several were wounded, and the rest of the settlers were made prisoners and taken to Sunbury. At about the same time some boats from Wyoming, as they were descending the river, were at- tacked and plundered by the Pennsylvanians.

Because of these acts the people of Northumberland were apprehensive that the Yankees might make a de- scent on Sunbury, burn the town and liberate the pris- oners ; and one of the consequences of this apprehension was the organization of a force for the invasion and sub- jugation of the Wyoming valley. This force was raised by Colonel Plunkett, under orders from Governor Penn, and consisted of seven hundred men well armed and furnished with ample supplies. In December, 1775, this force ascended the river in boats to the Nanticoke rapids, where it disembarked and passed on the west side of the river through the gorge by which the Susque. hanna escapes from the Wyoming valley. Near the point where the gorge opens into the valley Colonel Plunkett found the vigilant Yankees, posted in an advan- tageous position and protected by breastworks ; and, though inferior in numbers, they gave his forces such a warm reception that they fell back, with the loss of some killed and wounded. A boat was then brought up and an attempt was made by Colonel Plunkett to cross the river. In anticipation of this movement Colonel Zebulon Butler, who commanded the force in the valley, had stationed a party of men under Lieutenant Stewart in ambush on the east side of the river ; and these gave the party in the boat, as it attempted to land, a volley which wounded -several and killed a dog. Finding every ap- proach to the valley guarded, the forces of Colonel Plun- kett fell back to their boats, abandoned the expedition and returned to their homes.

At this time the Revolutionary war had commenced, and during its continuance the contest for the possession of this valley was suspended. It was renewed, however, immediately after the surrender of Cornwallis.

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

It will be remembered that in 1776 the proprietary government was superseded by that of the State, and on the cessation of hostilities the Supreme Executive Council at once petitioned Congress to adjust the ques- tion of jurisdiction. A board of commissioners was ap- pointed for that purpose, and after a long session at Trenton they decided, in December, 1782, that the juris- diction belonged to Pennsylvania, and that Connecticut had " no right to the land in controversy." Soon after- ward magistrates and troops were sent into the valley, and measures were taken to dispossess the settlers of their lands and improvements. The settlers claimed that only the jurisdiction of the territory had been decided by the decree at Trenton, and that the titles of individuals to the soil were not affected thereby. The conduct of the sol- diers and magistrates was from the first exceedingly arrogant and oppressive, and as time went on the people came to regard endurance as no longer a virtue and re- solved on forcible resistance. Upon this they were treated as insurgents, and on the 12th of May, 1784, they were plundered of their property a .. d one hundred and fifty families were driven from the valley. Such was the cruelty with which they were treated that the sympathies and indignation of the people in other parts of the State were aroused; the soldiers were discharged and the set-

tlers invited to return. Many of the discharged soldiers lingered in the valley. living by plunder, and on the 20th of July a party of them attacked some of the settlers, kill- ing two and wounding several. This was followed by hostilities toward the Yankees, which were resisted by them. In the course of the summer and autumn several engagements took place between the settlers and the military forces which were sent against them, in which several were killed and wounded. The people of the State became weary of this contest, and their sympathies became more actively enlisted in behalf of the inhabitants of the valley. By the middle of October the hostile force in the valley numbered only forty men, and so un- popular and even odious had the proceedings against the people there become that not a recruit could be induced to join them. On the approach of winter the commander of these forces, finding himself unable to procure either sup- plies or recruits, discharged his men and abandoned the valley. Thus ended the last military demonstration against the people of Wyoming.

During the succeeding two years the people were pros- perous and happy, and the population rapidly increased by the influx of immigrants not only to the valley but to the circumjacent regions.

The territory now included in Wyoming and Lacka- wanna counties had become settled to some extent along the valleys of the two principal streams and their tribu- taries. These regions, however, had not been the scene of hostilities between the contending parties, although three of the Susquehanna Company's townships were in- cluded in what is now Wyoming county.

The county of Luzerne was erected in 1786. The people were satisfied with the government, and a more kindly feeling was springing up between the inhabitants of the valley and the citizens elsewhere ; but the ques-

tion of title was not yet adjusted, though efforts for an adjustment of it had been made.

About this time Colonel Timothy Pickering became acquainted with the facts in the case, and soon afterward he established his residence in the valley. Through his influence a compromise was effected, and a law in accord- ance with the terms of this compromise was enacted by the legislature. Under this law commissioners for the adjustment of claims met in the valley in May, 1787. Meantime the New England immigrants had become divided. A portion of them (mostly settlers subsequent to the decision of the question of jurisdiction by the Con- gressional commission) strongly opposed acquiescence in the compromise law, and sought by every means to arouse and strengthen opposition to it in others. They had in contemplation the formation of another State out of the territory which had been in dispute, and to that end they had drawn up a constitution and completed a frame of government. The most active leader in that opposition-a man named John Franklin-was finally arrested under a charge of treason in attempting to subvert the government and establish a new State, and taken to Philadelphia. Early in October, 1787, in revenge for this and to procure the release of Franklin, his friends, after several unsuccessful attempts, succeeded in abducting Colonel Pickering. He was taken up the river beyond the mouth of Tunkhannock creek, and kept concealed during nearly three weeks. His captors and guards frequently shifted camp to elude the pursuit which they knew was made. In this time some skirmishing took place between the pursuers and the Yankees at Meshop- pen and Wyso, in which two men were wounded. Failing to accomplish their purpose, they liberated him at Tunk- hannock and he returned to his home in Wilkes-Barre.

The results of these lawless acts on the part of a por- tion of the Yankees were the suspension and, in 1790, the repeal of the compromise act.

Several actions were then commenced in the courts for determining the titles to these lands, but during the eight years that followed none of these were determined. In April, 1799, the Legislature passed another compromise act, which provided for compensation to claimants under titles from Pennsylvania, and for confirmation by certifi- cates of the titles of the Connecticut settlers who were such prior to the decree of Trenton, or their heirs or as- signs. These certificates were issued by commissioners appointed under the law, which limited their action within the "seventeen townships in the county of Luzerne" that were originally surveyed and settled under the authority of the Susquehanna Company. By an 'act of the Legis- lature in 1808 the powers of these commissioners ceased, and thus was terminated the contest concerning the title to these lands, which had continued through nearly half a century, and which at the present day elicits a warm in- terest among the descendants of the contesting parties.

In an address on this subject, delivered recently before the historical society of Pennsylvania, Governor Hoyt tersely says: "The discussion converges upon two propo- sitions, each somewhat paradoxical: 1. In the forum of law Connecticut, with a title regular on its face, failed justly; 2. In the forum of equity the Connecticut settlers, without" other title than the ` possessio pedis,' prevailed rightly." 1

THE ADVENT OF THE PIONEER.

Ano wx

CHAPTER IV.

THE PIONEERS-HOW THEY CAME, SETTLED AND DE- VELOPED THE RESOURCES OF THE COUNTRY.

HE settlement of the valley of Wyoming, which was the first and for many years the only in- habited part of Luzerne county, was com- menced, as elsewhere stated, under the aus- pices of the Susquehanna Company, in 1762. Then about two hundred, mostly from Connecti- cut, came and began their preparations for homes in this region, which was then sixty miles distant from any settlement of civilized people. They were not the effem- inate sons of wealthy parents, who had been reared in the lap of luxury. From their infancy they had by precept and example been taught the industry and economy which had enabled their fathers to thrive among the rocks and hills of their native country. They were the hardy, ac- tive and ambitious sons of New Englanders, and in the exercise of the independent, self-reliant spirit which they had inherited from their sires, they left their paternal roofs and sought homes in this valley, far away in the untamed wilderness of what was then the west.

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History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 9

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York Publication date: 1880 Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co. Number of Pages: 900

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co.
Number of Pages: 900