History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 13

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

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With all the appeals that could be made by the Committee of Safety to the Supreme Executive Council, that body was slow to take any steps for the better protection of the frontier, and the inhabitants were kept in a constant state of alarm, because they

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had good reasons for believing that the savages contemplated attacking them. Efforts were made by Capt. John Brady and others to make a treaty with the Monsey and Seneca Indians, who were known not to be on very good terms with the Dela- wares. The Indians agreed to a conference, and on an appointed day assembled at Fort Augusta to the number of 100 or more, dressed in war costume. It had been the custom at all former treaties to make large presents, but as the people, owing to their impoverished condition, had nothing to give, the Indians refused to treat. They left the fort apparently in good humor to return to their towns up the river. It was after their departure that the incident of Brady's upsetting a whisky barrel at Derr's trading post occurred. Fearing that Derr would furnish them with liquor, and dreading the consequences, he followed them, and, as he anticipated, found the Indians engaged in drunken revelry at the post. A barrel of rum stood at the door with the head knocked out, which Brady promptly overturned. Derr had thoughtlessly given it to them, because they complained of not receiving a treat at the fort. Que Indian who witnessed the spilling of the rum, but was too drunk to prevent it, told Brady with a horrid grimace that he would one day regret his act. From that day Brady was a marked man. Derr's trading post stood on the great path leading up the river, on what is now the site of Lewisburg.

Soon after this fruitless conference the Indians left their habitations at the Great Island, which seems to have been their headquarters, and retired further north. Before leaving they cut down their corn and destroyed everything that might be of service to the whites.

FIRST INDIAN MURDERS.

As time wore on the Indians grew more bold and threatening, and during the sum- mer, autumn, and winter of 1777, the settlers were kept in a continued state of excite- ment on account of the rumors which filled the air. It is much regretted that no full record of the names of those killed, and carried into captivity, have been pre- served. The only record we have of those dark and bloody days consists of letters hur- riedly written by militia officers in command of small companies scattered through the valley, and directed to the Executive Council at Philadelphia, and preserved in the Colonial Records and Archives of the State. As many of these letters were based on rumors, the statements were sometimes exaggerated, and frequently barreu of details.

On a Sunday morning in June, 1777, Zephaniah Miller, Abel Cady, James Arm- strong, and Isaac Bouser left Antes Fort and crossed the river into the disputed ter- ritory, with two women, for the purpose of milking several cows that were pasturing there. It did not occur to the party that Indians were lurking there, and that the cow with the bell was kept back as a decoy. They were there, however, and the cow was detained for the purpose of luring them on. Cady, Armstrong, and Miller started to find her. As soon as they entered the bushes they were fired on by the cou- cealed foe, and Miller and Cady fell severely wounded. £ They were pounced upon and scalped in the twinkling of an eye. Armstrong, who was injured in the back of the head, succeeded in getting away. When the shots were fired Bouser and the women ran and concealed themselves.

The firing alarmed the militia in the fort, and a number hurried across the river,

John white

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despite the orders of Colonel Antes, who feared it might be a decoy to draw the force away, when the fort would be assailed from the other side. Reaching the shore they soon found Cady and Miller where they fell. Cady was not dead. He was carried to the river bank, where his wife, who was one of the milking party, met him. He reached out his hand to her and almost immediately expired. Armstrong was taken across the river to the fort, where he lingered in great agony till Monday night, when he died.

As this party was on the land claimed by the Indians, they no doubt took advan- tage of this fact as an excuse for attacking them. Having secured two scalps they quickly fled, and when a pursuing party was organized and crossed the river, they were some distance away. The pursuers, however, moved swiftly and soon came in sight of them at what was known at that time as the "race ground." The Indians stood and fired, then broke and fled, pursued by the whites. They ran across what is now the western part of Jersey Shore and escaped in the swamp. It was danger- ous to enter the tangled thickets and the pursuers returned. They fired several times at the retreating foe, however, and thought they did some execution, as marks of blood were seen on the trail as if they had dragged away their killed or wounded. The Indians probably fled in the direction of Pine creek and then ascended that stream to their hiding places.

EXCITEMENT AND ALARM.

This affair caused great excitement in the settlements along the river, and the authorities called upon the militia to be on the alert. Scouring parties were sent out to look for Indians. In the meantime the authorities at Philadelphia were call- ing for reinforcements for Washington's army, and the people of Northumberland were begging for help to protect them from the savages. The situation was truly alarming and discouraging.

Under date of September 10, 1777, Colonel Hunter informed the Executive Council that, although the " first class of militia" were held in readiness to march to join Washington's army, the inhabitants were greatly in, fear of the Indians coming upon them. There were rumors that two hundred hostile Indians were concentrated "about forty miles above the Great Island." Col. Cookson Long had been sent with his company to ascertain if the report was true. The Colonel closed by saying that he wanted "five hundred stand of arms," and Captain Lowdon, who was the member of Council from this county, would state the facts to Council.

On the 27th of October, Colonel Hunter acknowledged the receipt of £750 for the use of the militia on the frontier, and 500 pounds of powder and 1,200 pounds of lead, " but no rifle guns." Ammunition without guns was useless.

Referring to the order of Council to disarm all persons who had not taken the oath of allegiance, Colonel Hunter said he "could not with any propriety take the army from those on the frontiers," because " they were willing to stand in their own defence against the savages, yet never said they would not take the oath, but wanted time to consider." Colonel Kelley, he continued, was on the frontier with fifty men looking for Indians. Favorable reports would encourage the people to go back to their habitations. "Since the first alarm," he adds, "upwards of 500 women and

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children assembled at three different places on the West Branch of the Susquehanna, viz: at the month of Bald Eagle, Antes mill, and Lycoming."

BUILDING DEFENSIVE WORKS.

Several brave parties, among them William King, Robert Covenhoven, and James Armstrong, had commenced the erection of a stockade near Lycoming creek for the protection of refugees. It consisted of logs eight or ten feet long, planted in the ground side by side, with the tops leaning outward, so that the works could not be scaled. It covered, perhaps, half an acre, and was located near what is now known as Fourth and Stevens streets, Williamsport. It was at this place where the women and children alluded to by Colonel Hunter were assembled. The work was not completed, owing to the evacuation of the valley, which soon followed, but that it served as a temporary place of resort is not doubted.

COOKSON LONG'S COMPANY.

The muster roll of Capt. Cookson Long's company, of the Second Battalion, county militia, has been preserved, and may be found on page 329, Vol. XIV, Penn- sylvania Archives. That the reader may see who composed that company of rangers along the river at that time it is reproduced in full. Many familiar names will be recognized, as descendants of these rangers dwell in the county to-day. Other names are strange, because the owners were either killed or left the valley when their terms of service expired.

Captain, Cookson Long.

First Lieutenant, James Hayes.

Second Lieutenant, Joseph Bonser.

Ensign, Joseph Newman.

Privates .- Robert Covenhoven, James Covenhoven, Ebenezer Cook, Peter Wy- koff, George Barclay, Joseph Wykoff, William Jones, Peter Styker, William Snodgrass, Joseph Gannon, Frederick Leefe, Cornelius Low, James White, Ezekiel Brown, Thomas Silverthorn, Thomas Johnston, Ebenezer Green, John Andrews, Alexander Fullerton, Joseph Cowan, Adam Wisner, James Ramsey, George Stech- man, Samnel King, Matthew Cunningham, Michael Brown, Henry Dougherty, Johnston Cheney, Benjamin Jordan, Samuel Blair, Ralph Slack, Joseph Hall, Ed- ward Collopy, Joshua Napp, Philip Cotner, Henry Hill, David Richards, Robert Wilson, Abel Slaback, William Slaback, Henry Stryker, Patrick Donahne, John Muckilvaine, John Dunlap, John Williams, John King, Adam King, John Muck- ilear, Michael Seele, Peter Roddy, John Luce, Patrick Hughes, William Wyley. Andrew Donaldson, Thomas Clarke, Zephaniah Miller, James Van Camp, Richard Matlock. Cornelius McMickel, William Camel, Robert Fleming, blacksmith, John Reed, James McMickel, William Reed, John Kinkade, Andrew Boggs, Robert Flem- ing, Creek, William Dewitt, Isaac Reed, James Dunn, Barnabas Camel.

ANTES FORT.

On the point of a high bluff, just below the mouth of Antes creek, the famous Col. Henry Antes built a stockade in 1776. It became a place of some note and was frequently occupied by settlers for safety. A small body of armed miltia was

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stationed here for some time, and it was here that Job Chilloway caught the sleep- ing sentinel, the circumstance of which has been related. No records remain to show the size of the enclosure, or whether cannon were ever mounted on its ram- parts. Tradition informs us that there was a small cannon brought from Fort Augusta and placed in position; and the finding of an iron cannon ball years after- wards, near the base of the hill, leaves little room to doubt the truth of the tradition.

Colonel Antes was conspicuous as one of the defenders. He was born near Pottsgrove, Montgomery county, October 8, 1736, and when quite a young man came here and settled. July 29, 1775, he was appointed a justice of the peace; Jan- uary 24, 1776, captain of the Eighth Company, Second Battalion, Associated Militia, Col. James Potter; and on the 13th of March he commanded a company in Col- onel Plunkett's regiment in his unfortunate raid on Wyoming. March 13, 1776, he was made captain of the First Company, Third Battalion; April 19, 1776, captain of a company in the Second Battalion of Associators. May, 1777, he was commis- sioned lieutenant colonel of the Fourth Battalion by the Supreme Executive Coun- cil. His commission was beautifully engrossed on parchment and signed by Thomas Wharton, president of Council, and Timothy Matlack, secretary. It was kept by his descendants a long time as a precious relic.

Soon after locating he built a grist mill at the foot of the hill on which his stock- ade was erected. This was before Wallis built his mill on Carpenter's run. It was the first mill in the western end of Lycoming county, and was gladly welcomed by the early settlers. The original was long since destroyed, but the site is occupied by one of modern construction. Before his mill was erected, when the fort was being built, coarse flour was made by grinding wheat in a large iron coffee mill, and the bran was removed by a hair sieve. One person was kept running the mill all the time in order to keep up the supply of flour. This primitive mill was kept as a relic of pioneer days until 1865, when it was lost in the great flood of that year.

Colonel Antes was first elected sheriff of Northumberland county in October, 1782. He gave his brothers Frederick and William Antes " as sureties for the faith- ful performance of the duties of his office." He was re-elected in 1783, and on the 22d of November he gave the same sureties on his bond.

Colonel Antes was married twice. By his first wife, Maria Paulin, whom he mar- ried, May 11, 1756, he had five children. She died in March, 1767. On December 8th of the same year he married Sophia Snyder. By her he had eight children.

This distinguished patriot, soldier, and civil officer, died, May 13, 1820, aged eighty-three years, nine months, and five days, and was buried in the little cemetery on the hill near where his fort stood. In recent years searches were made for his grave, but no trace of it could be found. It is greatly lamented by his friends that an humble stone at least was not reared to mark his last resting place.

THE BROWN-BENJAMIN TRAGEDY.

In the autumn of 1777 a band of hostile savages appeared on the Loyalsock and committed an atrocious outrage. Daniel Brown was among the earliest settlers in this part of the county. He had two daughters married to two brothers named Benjamin, and they lived near the cabin of their father-in-law. On the alarm of

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the approach of the Indians, the Benjamins, with their families, fled to the residence of Mr. Brown and made preparations to defend themseves. The Indians made an attack on the house but met with a stout resistance, which was kept up for some time. During the fight an Indian was killed by a shot from a gun in the hands of one of the Benjamins. This greatly enraged the assailants and finding they could not dislodge the besieged, they managed to set fire to the house. The flames made rapid headway and a horrible death stared the inmates in the face if they remained inside. What was to be done? Remain inside and be consumed, or come forth to be dispatched by the tomahawks of the savages? Either alternative was a fearful one.

The Benjamins finally decided to come forth and trust themselves to the mercy of their foes. Brown refused, and remaining in the building with his wife and one daughter, all three were consumed. When the Benjamins emerged from the door one of them carried his youngest child in his arms. A burly savage brandished his tomahawk and with a fiendish yell buried the glittering steel in the brain of Benja- min. As he fell his wife, who was by his side, shrieked and caught the child in her arms. His scalp was quickly torn from his head and exultingly shaken in her face. The remainder of the survivors were seized and carried into captivity. This horrible tragedy occurred on what was long known as the Buckley farm, on Loyalsock.

The Benjamin families lived a few miles northeast of Williamsport. Three brothers and a small sister were taken prisoners. Their names were William, Nathan, and Ezekiel. The name of the one who was killed is not known, and the name of the sister has been lost. After a few years the captured boys were released and returned. The young sister grew up among the Indians, married, and had several children. Long after peace was made her brother William went after her and induced her to return. She remained here some time, but being always dis- contented and unhappy, she was permitted to return to her Indian comrades. What became of the wife of Benjamin, the meager accounts of the affair do not inform us, but it is probable that she was soon afterwards released.

This bloodthirsty attack, when the particulars became noised about, added fresh fuel to the flame of excitement and set the inhabitants wild with terror. That the Indians had entered into an alliance with the British to make an attack in the rear could be no longer doubted, and many families left the valley for better security. What could be done to stay the avenging hand of the savage? This was the grave and imperious question which stared every settler in the face. Must they abandon their improvements to the torch, remain, and be butchered or carried into captivity? The Supreme Executive Council had been appealed to in vain. Nothing, compara- tively, was being done for their protection ; but, instead, the constant cry was for men to reinforce the Continental army. Were ever pioneers in a worse predicament? Helpless to protect themselves; destitute of arms and ammunition; a few poorly clad and half-starved militia all that they could rely upon to stand between them and a powerful and wily foe, backed by the sympathy, encouragement, and gold of a strong nation. Such was the condition of affairs in the territory now composing Lycoming county in the closing months of 1777.

TROUBLE ABOUT MAGISTRATES.

The troubles of the people were not alone confined to the savages. They had

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some difficulty about the election of magistrates, as the following petition, the original of which has been preserved, will show. It was prepared under date of December 2, 1777, and addressed to the Supreme Executive Council, under this head : "The memorial and petitions of the inhabitants of Muncy township in Northumberland county in this State humbly sheweth : "

That WHEREAS, The General Assembly of this State was pleased to pass au act for revising and putting in force such and so much of the ancient laws of this Commonwealth as was agreeable to and consistent with our present Constitution, and for establishing courts of justice within the same, and passed an act for electing magistrates in the several townships in this State, in pursuance of which a number of the inhabitants of this township met and elected two persons for justices of the peace, viz: Messrs. Mordecai Mckinney and Andrew Culbert- son, each having thirty-six votes; but as said election was opposed by about fourteen designing persons, who had a separate election and made return of the same, and both returns being pre- sented to your Honors, we were thereupon informed that you were pleased to order us to hold a new election, which we accordingly did and again elected the same two gentlemen, Mordecai Mckinney and Andrew Culbertson, the former having forty and the latter forty-eight votes, and made return.

We likewise at the same time sent down a petition to your Honors signed by a great num- ber of the inhabitants of our township setting forth the situation of the township on account of waters and other inconveniences, and craving that both the persons chosen might be com- missioned, as they live one at or near each end of the township, as more fully set forth in said petition.

But we are well convinced that the approach of the enemy to our metropolis [Lancaster], where your Honors were then sitting, must of consequence put the House into great hurry and confusion, which we are satisfied has been the reason that our petition has been either post- poned or neglected.

The inconvenience we labor under at present is very great, having no magistrate near us on any side, and though we are content to bear our part of hardships of whatever kind in the time of public calamity, yet we beg that your wisdoms would be pleased to grant us relief as speedily as possible by granting us the prayer of our petition, etc.

That all our trouble may end in prosperity and peace; that government may prosper in your hands, and truth and justice flourish apace, is the earnest desire and prayer of Muncy township. Sigued by William Hepburn, John Coats, Israel Parshall, Nathaniel Barber, James Hinds, James Hepburn, Robert Covenhoven, Albert Covenhoven, Joseph Sutton, David Benja- min, Jonathan Benjamin, Onina Voorhees, John Stryker, Barent Stryker, John Strayker, Richard Hall, Jacob Houck, John Buckalow, James Hampton, Thomas Newman, Sr., Joseph Newman, Daniel Perine, Cornelius Low, Sr., Samuel Gordon, Cornelius Low, Peter Stryker, John Hall, John Covenhoven.

The return of this election, held August 16, 1777, is signed by John Coats as inspector, and Joseph Newman and William Hammond as judges. The petition referred to shows that the first election was held April 25, 1777, and the petitioners claimed that the opposition which they encountered was "by a small body of men who combined together at the apparent instigation of a reputed Tory, and held a separate election in opposition to ours under pretence of being landed freeholders." In the last election the memorialists state that they allowed no one to vote " who had not taken and subscribed to the oath of allegiance;" whereas, "on the other hand the promoters and supporters of the opposition are chiefly persons who have either refused or hitherto neglected to swear allegiance to the States, and may yet make a tool of one who bears the mask of a Whig to support their cause, which they could not with so good a grace do themselves."

This petition, which contains more signers than the one copied, is dated "Muncy

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township, August 21, 1777." The name of Amariah Sutton appears on it; also William Snodgrass, John Thomson, and Daniel Brown, all of whom were soon after- wards killed by the Indians. Peter Smith, the unfortunate man, approved of it by making his mark.

The above petition is copied from a time-stained paper containing the original autographs of the signers, just as they wrote them one hundred and fifteen years ago. Andrew Culbertson lived on the south side of the river, within what are now the limits of the borough of DuBoistown, and Mordecai Mckinney resided on Muncy manor. When the petitioners speak of the inconvenience caused by "waters," they have reference to Loyalsock creek, which, when swollen, was a turbulent stream and dangerous to cross; and without a magistrate at the upper and lower end of the settlement, they would be subjected to great "inconveniences." It will be noticed that the Benjamin family, several of whom figured in the tragedy, was a large one.

Richard and John Hall were, respectively, the great-grandfather and grandfather of John B. Hall, of Williamsport. They were of English origin and emigrated from New Jersey before the Revolution and located above the month of Muncy creek, and assisted Captain John Brady to build his palisade fort, and when he raised a company of volunteer rangers John Hall was selected his orderly sergeant. Hall was a blacksmith by trade and was the only smith at that time within a radius of twenty miles. His shop stood on the bank of the river opposite Butler's ripples, at Micheltree's Landing, and he had charge of the ferry. Both Richard and John Hall, father and son, were buried in Hall's graveyard.

There are several other signers who were prominent here during and after the Revolutionary period, notably William Hepburn. Albert Covenhoven was the father of Robert Covenhoven, the celebrated scont and guide. Descendants of the Strykers live in Williamsport to-day. Nathaniel Barber was one of the early settlers at Loyalsock.

The prayer of the petitioners was granted, for the records show that commis- sions were issued to Culbertson and Mckinney.

CHAPTER VII.

TOMAHAWK AND SCALPING KNIFE.

THE BLOODY PERIOD PRECEDING THE "BIG RUNAWAY "-TARDINESS OF THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY IN FURNISHING ARMS-THE INDIANS COMMENCE THE WORK OF SLAUGHTER- REMARKABLE ESCAPE OF HAMILTON AND JACKSON-ANOTHER ATTACK-POINTS OF CON- CENTRATION-CAPTAIN BERRY'S EXPEDITION-THE WYCHOFFS-DEATH OF JOHN THOMSON, AND SUBSEQUENT EXPERIENCES OF HIS FAMILY-A BLOODY DAY-COLONEL HEPBURN'S COMPANY-VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF THE MASSACRE. .

W E come now to the most bloody and discouraging period in the history of what is the finest and most beautiful part of Lycoming county-the period preceding what is known in history as the " Big Runaway."

The winter of 1777-78 was a distressing one. On the 23d of December a man

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was tomahawked and scalped near the mouth of Pine creek, and on the 1st of January another met the same fate above the Great Island. Under date of January 14, 1778, Col. Samuel Hunter, writing from Fort Augusta to President Wharton, informed him of the killing of these men, and said that it had caused the inhabitants to collect together for greater safety. Colonel Antes had just visited him to consult as to what was best to be done. Three classes of Col. Cookson Long's battalion were ordered out immediately, with instructions to report to Colonel Antes for orders. These men mostly lived on the West Branch. "Colonel Antes," remarks Colonel Hunter, " is an excellent woodsman, and will use all means to come up with the savages." Colonel Hunter closed his letter by saying that the majority of the inhabitants "did not think it prudent to let any [militia ] out of this county at the present call, when the frontiers are likely to suffer from the savage enemy." A party of Indians numbering eleven were seen about this time above the Great Island, and, as they evidently were bent on mischief, they were pursued by Colonel Antes's command. A light snow had fallen and they were easily tracked and soon overtaken. In a slight skirmish which followed two Indians were killed, when the remaining nine rapidly fled.

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 13

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