History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 11

Author: edited by John F. Meginness
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1650

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They tarried here to the 24th, when they broke camp and moved up the river. The Bishop says they "passed the Loyalsock at the spot where the sainted disciple [Zinzendorf] visited thirty years ago, and Lycoming creek, which marks the boundary line of lands purchased from the Indians." At both places he found white settlers, but he does not mention their names. After passing Lycoming creek and " the site of the old Indian town," their "cattle were driven to grass into the woods." The Bishop undoubtedly has reference to "French Margaret's Town," which appears to have been destroyed at that time. He also speaks of the Indian town of " Quenisch- aschachki," which stood on, or near, what is now the site of the village of Linden. From his brief remarks concerning it we infer that it, too, had been destroyed. It must have been a place of some note in aboriginal times, because it was frequently visited by the Moravian missionaries prior to 1754. Nathaniel Davis, a converted Indian, lived there six years, and there Grube and Mack visited him in 1753. At the time of their sojourn in the town two Shawanese Indians, who where opposed to the whites, had demanded Grube of Davis that they might murder him, alleging that he was an evil spirit. Davis informed them that he (Grube) was his guest, he had heard nothing evil from him, but he was very kind to his (Davis's) children, and he would protect him. This caused the Indians to desist from their murderous in- tentions. The name of this Indian town is perpetuated by a creek which falls into the river near where it stood.

Continuing their journey, the Bishop notes in his journal that they "encamped

Watson

THE CLAIM OF CONNECTICUT.

above Larry's creek" on the 24th. Here Newholecka's wife visited them. Her hus- band was a Delaware chief and lived at the Great Island. She was acquainted with some of the Indians in the Bishop's party. Owing to the illness of the chief he was unable to accompany her.

On the 25th of June they encamped " opposite Long Island." This was prob- ably on the ground now occupied by the borough of Jersey Shore. The Bishop makes this entry in his journal concerning the place: "Here rattlesnakes seemed to hold undisputed sway, and they were killed at all points. Not more than a half- hour after our arrival a horse was brought in that had been bitten in the nose. His head swelled up frightfully, and as it rained the remedy failed to take the proper effect and the poor animal perished the next day, as we lay in camp at the lower end of Long Island and halted there on the 26th. Here I assembled all the men, told them that we had progressed but thirty miles during the past week, and that if we failed to make more rapid headway our company would come to serious want."

The conditions of the country have undergone great changes since this motley caravan camped on the site of the town one hundred and twenty years ago. A rattlesnake would now be a rarity.

The Bishop and his party continued their journey to Great Island and over the mountains to their new home in Ohio. While tarrying at the Great Island on the 28th the Bishop, by request, preached to " the English settlers from the Bald Eagle creek, and the south shore of the West Branch." He informs us that " a goodly audience assembled," and as "no ordained minister of the Gospel had as yet settled in the neighborhood," he was requested to administer the rite of baptism to "the new born daughter of a Frenchman, Fourney by name, calling her Conigunda, and to the son of a Catholic, Antoine White," whom he named John. As Conigunda was probably born in the latter part of June, 1772, as the Bishop speaks of her as a " new born daughter," her birth must have occurred in the settlement near the mouth of Bald Eagle, and less than a year after the birth of Mary Scudder (May 21, 1771) at Muncy, who has always been claimed as the first female white child born in this valley west of the Muncy Hills.

THE REVOLUTION BEGINS.

The breaking out of the Revolution caused much excitement in the country, but it did not stop the tide of emigration to the West Branch valley, and the region beyond the line laid down by the treaty of 1768. No portion of the Province seemed to fill up more rapidly than the "New Purchase." It was an El Dorado to those seeking homes and thither they bent their footsteps, prepared to brave all dangers. They were patriotic, however, and when the government called for aid they were ready to furnish their quota.

With the beginning of the war the Proprietary regime soon ceased and the State government took its place. The first movement looking to its organization was the "Meeting of the Provincial Deputies " at Philadelphia on the 15th of June, 1774. Notification of the meeting was given in a letter from the committee of correspond- ence, addressed to William Maclay, William Plunkett, and Samuel Hunter, at Sunbury, on the 2Sth of June, 1774. They were the highest officials of the new 6

HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

county, and to them the wishes of the committee were conveyed. In compliance with instructions the different townships chose a Committee of Safety which met July 11, 1774, and selected William Scull and Samuel Hunter to represent Northumberland county. The delegates to the Provincial Convention of January 23, 1775, were William Plunkett and Casper Weitzel, of Sunbury; to the Provincial Conference of June 18, 1776, William Cooke, Alexander Hunter, John Weitzel, Robert Martin, and Matthew Brown; and to the Constitutional Convention of July 15, 1776, Will- iam Cooke, James Potter, Robert Martin, Matthew Brown, Walter Clark, John Kelly, James Crawford, and John Weitzel. The latter were elected on the 8th of July. At this meeting Thomas Hewitt, William Shaw, and Joseph Green served as judges. In accordance with the ordinance of the Constitutional Convention, the old justices were superseded by new ones on the 3d of September following.

In a patriotic letter, dated April 20, 1775, and directed to John Lowdon and Samuel Maclay, Charles Weitzel announced the beginning of the struggle for liberty, and called their attention to the importance of holding a meeting "in order to form some regular plan, in conjunction with our countrymen, to give every opposition to impending tyranny and oppression, either by force or otherwise." The appeal had a good effect. June 15th Thomas Willing announced by letter that Congress had resolved that as many of the best marksmen as possible should be raised and for- warded to Boston. For this purpose it was expected that out of the force required Northumberland and Bedford counties would raise one company. John Lowdon was commissioned captain and instructed to raise a company of riflemen. He per- formed the duty assigned him with alacrity. In the list of privates the following names of residents of what is now Lycoming county are recognized: Samuel Brady, Robert Carothers, Thomas Kilday, Edward McMasters, Timothy Murphy, Peter Pence, John Robinson, George Saltsman, George Silverthorn, Henry Silverthorn, John Shawnee, (a Shawanese Indian,) John Smith, Arad Sutton, and James Sweeney.

The company rendezvoused at Sunbury; marched thence to Reading and Easton; thence through the northern part of New Jersey, crossed the Hudson at New Wind- sor, not far from West Point; thence through Hartford, to Cambridge, where it arrived about the 8th of August, having started on the 8th of July. Of the members of the company one writer informs us that "thirty came from the Great Island." This evidently means from the West Branch valley, as there were not inhabitants enough at that time about the island to have contributed such a large number. The company on its arrival at Cambridge became part of the battalion of riflemen com- manded by Col. William Thompson, of Carlisle. This battalion became the Second Regiment " of the Army of the United Colonies, commanded by his Excel- lency, General George Washington," and, on the 1st of January, 1776, the First Regiment of the Continental Army. Thatcher in his Military Journal thus describes the company: "They are remarkably stout and hardy men, many of them exceeding six feet in height. They are in rifle shirts and round hats. These men are remarkable for the accuracy of their aim, striking a mark with great certainty at 200 yards distance. At a review a company of them, while on a quick advance, fired their balls into objects of seven inch diameter, at a distance of 250 yards. They are now stationed on our lines, and their shot have frequently proved fatal to British

THE CLAIM OF CONNECTICUT.

officers and soldiers." In the Hand papers there are many references to this com- pany. Gen. Edward Hand was then lieutenant colonel and afterwards colonel of the regiment.

On the 14th of March, 1776, the company left Cambridge with the battalion which was detached by General Washington, with five other regiments under Gene- ral Sullivan, to prevent a landing of the British at New York, when they evacuated Boston. They arrived at Hartford on the 21st, and at New York on the 28th. The company was stationed on Long Island during May and until June 30th, when it was mustered out of service on the 1st of July, 1776.

The company, however, re-enlisted almost to a man for the term of two years, but in October the limit was extended to the close of the war. Captain Lowdon, who became a member of the Supreme Executive Council, was succeeded as captain by James Parr. Thirty-two of his company were enlisted out of the old battalion and fourteen from the flying-camp.

The company was in the battle of Long Island. Col. James Chambers, who succeeded General Hand in command of the First Regiment, wrote as follows from "Mount Prospect Camp," June 18, 1777: "We have a partisan regiment-Colo- nel Morgan commands-chosen marksmen from the whole army compose it. Captain Parr, Lieutenants Lyon and Brady, and fifty men from my regiment are among the number."

Morgan's famous riflemen included many men from Northumberland county, drawn from the companies of Captain Parr, of the First Pennsylvania, and Captain Boone, of the Twelfth. They joined the northern army in August, 1777, and took part in the battles of Saratoga, September 19th and October 7th. For accuracy of aim some of these riflemen were remarkable. Timothy Murphy, who came from the - town of Northumberland, achieved great distinction in that battle. William L. Stone in his "Campaign of General Burgoyne," page 61, says: "Brigadier General Frazer, who had been stationed on the right, noticed the critical situation of the center, and hurried to its succor with the Twenty-fourth Regiment. Conspicu- ously mounted on an iron grey horse, he was all activity and vigilance, riding from one part of the division to another, and animating the troops by his example. Per- ceiving that the fate of the day rested on that officer, Morgan, who, with his riflemen, was immediately opposed to Frazer's corps, took a few of his sharpshooters aside, among whom was the celebrated marksman, Tim Murphy, men on whose precision of aim he could rely, and said to them: 'That gallant officer yonder is General Frazer; I admire and respect him, but it is necessary for our good that he should die. Take your station in that cluster of bushes and do your duty."

" Within a few moments, a rifle ball cut the crouper of Frazer's horse, and another passed through his horse's mane. Calling his attention to this Frazer's aide said: ‘It is evident that you are marked out for particular aim; would it not be prudent for you to retire from this place?' Frazer replied, 'My duty forbids me to fly from danger.' The next moment he fell, mortally wounded by a ball from the rifle of Murphy, and was carried off the field by two grenadiers." "The distance between Frazer and Murphy," adds Stone in a footnote, "when the latter fired, was about one quarter of a mile. In those days this was considered a great shot." There has been some dispute as to the killing of Frazer by Murphy, General Mattoon, who was

HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

a lieutenant in the battle, taking the position that he was killed by an "elderly man with a long hunting gun." See his letter in Stone's Burgoyne, page 373. Subse- quent investigation, however, has pretty clearly established the fact that Frazer was killed by Murphy.

It is not pertinent to our work to give the names of all the officers of the com- panies of "Associators and Militia" for Northumberland county; therefore only such as relate to this territory are noted. The county lieutenants, however, were: Samuel Hunter, William Wilson, and Bernard Hubley, Jr. The First Battalion was commanded by Samuel Hunter, with the rank of colonel; the second by Col. James Potter.

The Fifth Company of the Second Battalion was officered as follows: Captain, Cookson Long, January 24, 1776; first lieutenant, William McElhatton, January 24, 1776; second lieutenant, Robert Fleming, January 24, 1776; Ensign, Robert Flem- ing, Jr., January 24, 1776.

Sixth Company .- Captain, Samuel Wallis, January 24, 1776; first lieutenant, John Scudder; second lieutenant, Peter Jones, January 24, 1776; ensign, James Hamp- ton, January 24, 1776.

Eighth Company .- Captain, Henry Antes; first lieutenant, Thomas Brandon; second lieutenant, Alexander Hamilton; ensign, Simon Cole. All were appointed, January 24, 1776. Under date of March 13, 1776, these same company organizations were continued with the same officers. In October the organizations were still in force with but few changes in officers.

Each captain was ordered by the Committee to return at least forty privates, and each battalion consisted of six companies. They were held in readiness to move on short notice.

THE PINE CREEK DECLARATION.

The spirit of patriotism ran high among the majority of the settlers on the West Branch at this time, and when it was rumored that the Continental Congress contem- plated declaring the colonies independent the leading Fair Play men, living on the forbidden territory west of Lycoming creek, were greatly elated. As they lived on Indian lands, outside of the jurisdiction of all provincial law, they at once set about making preparations to indorse the proposed action of Congress by an emphatic expression of their sentiments. Accordingly, on the 4th of July, 1776, they met in mass meeting on the plain a short distance west of Pine creek. From the meager accounts that have been handed down, the meeting was organized, when its object was stated by one of the leading men. The proposition was warmly discussed and a number of patriotic speeches made, when it was decided to indorse the proposi- tion under discussion in Congress by a formal declaration of independence! A. series of resolutions was drawn up and passed, absolving themselves from all alle- giance to Great Britain, and henceforth declaring themselves free and independent!

The result of this meeting was the most remarkable coincident of the Revolu- tionary struggle. The declaration was proclaimed about the same time the Declar- ation was signed in Philadelphia. It was remarkable that the Continental Congress and the Squatter Sovereigns on the West Branch, separated by more than 200 miles, and without any knowledge of what each other was doing, should declare for

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freedom and independence about the same time. The coincidence stands without a parallel in the annals of history!

It is regretted that the names of the officers of this meeting, and the record of the proceedings, have been lost. The names of the following who were present and participated have been preserved: Thomas, Francis, and John Clark, Alexander Donaldson, John Jackson, Adam Carson, Henry McCracken, Adam De Witt, Robert Love, and Hugh Nichols. Among the names will be recognized several whose descendants still live in that part of Clinton county. Their ancestors, notably Hamilton, Love, and Clark, were men distinguished for their ability and representa- tive character, and did much in their day to give tone and stability to the new settle- ment.

APPEARANCE OF FITHIAN.

During the summer of this momentous year the Rev. Philip Vicars Fithian made his horseback journey through this valley, and left a charming account of it in his journal. He was licensed to preach by the First Presbytery of Philadelphia, November 6, 1774. On the 4th of April, 1775, he received an honorable dismission from the presbytery, as there were no vacancies within its boundaries, and he soon afterwards started on a horseback journey through Delaware, Maryland, Pennsyl- vania, and Virginia, preaching by the way and conferring with the people as an evangelist. Monday, July 24th, he passed over " Muncy Hills and Muncy's beau- tiful creek to Mr. Crownover's on the bank of the river." The residence of Crown- over was really on Loyalsock creek. Here he remained over night and made an entry in his journal as follows:

This gentleman came from Stonybrook, near Princeton, in New Jersey, and is intimately acquainted with many there. He has here a large and most excellent farm, is yet busy with his harvest, seems to be a moderate, pleasant person, and which I shall always after this voy- age admire; he has a clever, neat woman for his wife. Opposite to this farm is a very high hill on the other side of the river uuder which the river runs without any level country.

Bald Eagle mountain is the "hill" he has reference to. The following morn- ing, Tuesday, July 25th, he entered in his journal:

I slept soundly and fine without being disturbed by either a bug or a flea. And the house is as poor and as much surrounded with woods and brush as other houses, where, through entire carelessness, I am surrounded by numberless numbers of these iusects. A very foggy morning ; I drenched myself with a most stinging bitter, and left Mr. Crownover's by eight ; expenses, 3s 8d.

I rode up the river, course west and to the southward of west, over several fine creeks and rich lands to Lycoming creek, all the way a good wagon-beaten road. Here the Pennsyl- vania "New Purchase " ends and the "Indian land " begins. On I rode, however, ou a worn path, over the enemy's country, with much reverence and am now at one Ferguson's, on the very bank of the river, and scribbling this while my horse, who is now my only agreeable com- panion, eats a sheaf of oats.

Since I left Muncy there is on the other side of the river, and to the very edge, a high ridge of hills, which makes that side uninhabitable. I rode on to Pine creek, on both sides of which is a large, long clearing, said to be anciently Indian towns, clear, level, and unbroken, without even a stump or hillock- only high, thick grass. On this common I saw many cattle and droves of horses, all very fat, wantonly grazing. In passing over this creek I met an Indian trader with his retinue. Himself first on horseback, armed with a bright rifle and apparatus, then a horse with packs, last his men with baggage. Meeting these in the dark part of a lonely road startled

HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

me at first. On I rode over a part of the river on to the Great Island, and thence over the other branch to Esquire Fleming's. He was out, but his daughter, Miss Betsy, was at home. She was milking. She is chatable, and I was soon entered upon useful business.

The compliment he pays Mrs. Crownover for her excellence as a housekeeper can not fail to be very gratifying to her great-granddaughters of to-day, one of whom at least lives on the very spot where her house stood at the time of Fithian's visit, and they are noted for their neatness and cleanliness as housekeepers.

He speaks of there being a "good wagon" road from Loyalsock to Lycoming creek. As this was 117 years ago, and only a few years after the first road view had been ordered by the court, it shows that the "road masters" had either succeeded well in having a highway constructed, or the reverend traveler had a poor conception of what constituted a good road. There were swamps at that time east of Williams- port which were regarded by travelers a few years later as almost impassable.

The Ferguson Mr. Fithian speaks of resided a short distance above the present borough of Jersey Shore. He was an early settler on the Indian lands and an original Fair Play man. Some of his descendants are still living in that part of the county. There were very few settlers between Loyalstock and Pine creek at that time.

When the first white men came they found the "clearings," or "barrens," " as they were called, on both sides of Pine creek. But the most extensive "clearings" were above the creek. The lack of timber on these grounds led many to believe that the land was poor, and it is on record that several parties, after living there a short time, abandoned their claims and sought other places in the hills. It was on this opening that the famous meeting was held two weeks before he passed through, that declared for independence.

Mr. Fithian spent several days very pleasantly at the house of "Esquire Fleming" and enjoyed himself greatly, if we may judge from what he entered in his journal. He then passed up the Bald Eagle valley and over the mountains to the Juniata and on to his home in New Jersey.

SETTLERS ON MUNCY MANOR.

CHAPTER VI.

SETTLERS ON MUNCY MANOR.

CAPT. JOHN BRADY AMONG THEM-HIS STOCKADE FORT- THE MCKINNEY AND SCUDDER FAMILIES-FIRST WHITE CHILD BORN THERE-COMMITTEE OF SAFETY AND ITS TROUBLES -THE ROBB CASE AND HOW IT ENDED-BEGINNING OF TROUBLE-SEIZURE OF SALT - THE STILLING OF WHISKEY-ROLL OF CookSON LONG'S COMPANY OF MILITIA-THE BROWN- BENJAMIN TRAGEDY-TROUBLE ABOUT THE ELECTION OF MAGISTRATES-A PETITION TO COUNCIL.

A S the Revolution was now in progress, and the future outlook not encouraging to the Proprietary interests, John Penn, who was then acting Governor of the Province, gave orders on the 15th of May, 1776, to have Muncy manor divided into farm tracts aud sold. A number of parties had squatted on this fine body of land and made improvements, with the object of ultimately becoming possessed of them by priority of right when they would come into market. Among them was Capt. John Brady. He built a log house, which was stockaded, and afterwards known as "Brady's Fort."

The survey was made in accordance with the order of Penn. A copy of the report is given herewith, showing the size of each tract into which the manor was divided, and the names of the parties who occupied them :

No. 1.,Containing 300 acres and 139 perches and an allowance of six per cent., etc. Settled on and improved by Mordecai Mckinney.

No. 2 .- Containing 29912 acres and allowance, etc. Settled on and improved by Peter Smith and Paulus Sheep.

No. 3 .- Containing 300 acres and 76 perches and allowance as aforesaid. Settled on and improved by John Brady.

No. 4 .- Containing 300 acres and 61 perches and allowance, etc. Settled on and improved hy Caleb Knapp.

No. 5 .- Containing 301 acres and 105 perches and allowance, etc. Settled on and improved by John Scudder, who is displeased with the manner in which it is laid out, alleging there is not timber sufficient on it for fencing, etc., and desires his lot may be laid out agreeably to the red lines, (which contains 254 acres and 74 perches and allowance, etc.) which would greatly lessen the value of the lot Brady possesses. The S. thirty degrees E. line runs through Brady's improvement, and takes near all the rail timber from Brady's lot, that is on the south side of the Glade rnn, so that upon the whole we judge it most convenient, and to the general advantage of the plantations, that the black line should remain as the boundary between Brady and Scudder. We have therefore laid down Sendder's complaint that it may be judged of by his Honor the Governor.

It is by no means convenient that any of the plantations should cross the creek, as the banks on the north side are high, and the creek in time of freshets flows so very considerable that it is thereby rendered impassable for several days. It is settled on and improved by Jerome Vanest and John Young, as described in the draft, etc.,-in Young's improvement thirty acres, and in Vanest's sixty-seven acres. Signed, JO. J. WALLIS, JNO. HENDERSON.

To John Lukens, Esqr., Surveyor General.

HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

John Penn continued to act as Governor until September 28, 1776, when the new Constitution took effect and the Penn regime in Pennsylvania ended. This was two months and twenty-four days after the Declaration of Independence. The surveys made under his warrants were afterwards legalized by act of Assembly and all trouble as to titles removed.

THE M'KINNEY FAMILY.

Mordecai Mckinney, who appears as the occupant of tract No. 1, came from Middlesex county, New Jersey, in the spring of 1775. He served as a member of the Committee of Safety for six months from August 13, 1776. In 1778 he was appointed a justice of the peace for Northumberland county. At the time of the Indian invasion he fled with his family to Harris's Ferry and never returned. His improvements were destroyed. He had three sons and three daughters : John, who became a major in the Continental Army, and was living at Alexandria, Vinginia, in 1803 ; Mordecai, Jr., who settled at Middletown (he engaged in mercantile pursuits and afterwards carried on business at Columbia and Newport. Judge Mckinney, of Harrisburg, author of Mckinney's Digest, was his son); Jacob, the third son, who settled near Ovid, in the State of New York. Mordecai Mckinney, Sr., had brothers, and quite an extensive relationship among the early settlers in this valley. One of the wives of Rev. Asa Dunham was a niece. John Buckalow married a daughter of Mr. McKinney, October 21, 1773, and removed with him to the vicinity of Muncy. He served as a member of the Committee of Safety six months from February 8, 1776. John Buckalow leased a grist and saw mill from John Hinds, of Muncy township, for four years, and carried them on until compelled to stop by the Indians. He fled with his father-in-law to Harris's Ferry and never returned. Catharine, a daughter, married Cornelius Low. They afterwards settled in the State of New York. Nancy, the third daughter, married Nicholas Elder and they lived at Middletown, Pennsylvania.

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 11

Author: edited by John F. Meginness Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1650

Author: edited by John F. Meginness
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1650