History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 26

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

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transaction of business, and gradually culminated in a movement for the erection of a new county.

Residents in and around Sunbury looked upon a movement of this kind with alarm, for they realized that if it proved successful the county of Northumberland, however vast her territory, would be shorn of her most populous townships, and they would suffer in a pecuniary degree. The great bulk of population was in the valley of the West Branch, extending as far west as the present site of Lock Haven and Bald Eagle valley. It was indeed an attractive region, and it did not require much foresight to show that it was destined to still become more rich and populous.

What could be done to stay this growing sentiment in favor of dismemberment ? Muncy, Lycoming, Pine, Bald Eagle, and Washington were the only townships on the upper waters of the West Branch at this time. Still the work of reduction in the size of townships was demanded by the increase of population. At February sessions, 1786, Loyalsock township was formed from that portion of Muncy town- ship lying between Loyalsock and Lycoming creeks. This was the beginning of the work of disintegration of the great and original township of Muncy, and it was continued at intervals down till within recent years. Loyalsock, though not so large as many others, finally contributed the ground on which the city of Williamsport was founded.

With the erection of the foregoing township it might be supposed that the work would be suspended for a time. But not so. A feeling of unrest pervaded the settlements, and a carving up of more territory was demanded for the better accom- modation of the people in the administration of local laws. Accordingly at May sessions, 1786, three more townships were formed on the south side of the river and named, respectively, Nippenose, Bald Eagle, and Upper Bald Eagle. These town- ships, like the others erected about the same time, have all been subjected to a great curtailment of their territory, and one of the Bald Eagles has been absorbed or wiped out.

A NEW COUNTY PROPOSED.

Still the feeling of uneasiness was not allayed. A movement for the erection of a new county, to embrace that portion of Northumberland county lying west of Muncy Hills, was commenced in 1786, and pushed with great vigor for fully nine years before success crowned the efforts of the projectors. It met with violent opposi- tion from the beginning, because the people of Sunbury, Northumberland, and that portion of the territory now embraced by Union county feared that the loss of such a valuable section would be a serious detriment to them. An examination of the proceedings of the Assembly from 1786 to 1795 gives a clear insight of the fierce struggle that was waged during the nine years that elapsed. Owing to the meager- ness of the reports, however, much that would be exceedingly interesting now was not preserved.

The first record we have of the beginning of the fight is an entry in the journal under date of September 25, 1786, which reads as follows: "An act for erecting the northern part of the county of Northumberland into a separate county was engrossed and brought in for the Speaker to sign." A careful examination of the

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minutes preceding this entry failed to disclose when and by whom the bill was intro- duced, and whether its consideration had elicited any discussion before its passage, for it must have passed, else it could not have been "engrossed and brought in for the Speaker to sign." But that such a bill had been under consideration is shown by a brief entry in the Journal September 12, 1786, that a " petition from a number of inhabitants praying against a division of Northumberland county was received and filed."

The next entry relating to the bill was made under date of November 16, 1786, and reads:

A motion made by Mr. Dale, seconded by Mr. Antes, and adopted, in the following words:

WHEREAS, By an act passed the 25th of September last, entitled, " An act for erecting the northern part of the county of Northumberland into a separate county," it appears by the second section of said act, that the line to be run from the mouth of Nescopeck to the line which divides the waters of the East Branch of the Susquehanna from those of the West Branch, is to be run to a point due west, which said line is an error in the engrossed act, and totally inadmissible, therefore

Resolved, That Mr. Antes, Mr. Dale, and Mr. Brackenridge be a committee to bring in a bill to remedy the defect in the aforesaid act.

The advocates of a new county, it seems, were determined and active, and if they failed in securing the first object of their wishes, they had another proposition to submit, as the following entry in the journal on the 22d of December, 1786, will show:

A petition from a number of inhabitants of the county of Northumberland was read, stat- ing the many grievances they labor under, by reason of the courts of justice in and for said county being held at Sunbury, and praying the petitions presented to the former House of Representatives for a removal of the seat of justice from the said town may be taken into con- sideration by this House. Ordered to lie on the table.

The proposition by the inhabitants of the upper part of the valley, which now embraces Lycoming and Clinton counties, to remove the seat of justice from Sun- bury, in the event of a new county being refused, is what stirred up and intensified the opposition. The House, however, appears to have regarded the prayer of the petition- ers with favor, for an entry in the Journal on the same day informs us that " the bill or supplement to the first act was read three time by paragraphs, and debated, and ordered to be engrossed." And on the 27th, we learn from the same authority, " the supplemental act erecting a new county" was "brought in and the Speaker directed to sign it."

As to its final disposition the records are silent, although we would infer from the language used, that the question was settled and the bill was about to become a law. That it failed at the last moment there is no doubt, but through what influences we are left in ignorance. Evidently the Speaker, although " directed," did not "sign it;" or if he did, the President of the Supreme Executive Council, who was virtually the Governor, and exercised dictatorial powers greater than those exercised by a Governor under the present Constitution, throttled it. Most likely the latter, as sufficiently powerful influences, through a combination of interests, landed or otherwise, were brought to bear from Sunbury to override this act of the Assembly. Those were the days when more corruption existed than at the present time, though we are in the habit these modern days of proudly pointing to the

Last. Brown

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fathers of the State and the Republic as shining exemplars of purity in politics and legislation.

Although defeated at the moment when victory seemed sure, the friends of the movement for a new county or a new county seat were not dismayed, and did not give up the fight, for we learn by an entry in the Journal of February 27, 1787, that a " petition of 385 inhabitants of Northumberland county was filed, praying that the seat of justice may be removed from Sunbury to Northumberland."

THE BEGINNING OF BITTERNESS.

This was a bitter pill for the Sunburyites, for they entertained an intense hatred of their rival across the river, and even at this day the mellowing influences of more than a century have failed to eradicate all feeling of antagonism. On the 1st of March following, the same authority informs us, "the petition was referred to Mr. Heister, Mr. Antes, and Mr. Dale to report." Samuel Dale and Frederick Antes were the Representatives of Northumberland county.

On the 9th of March, 1787, a petition signed by 576 "inhabitants of North- umberland county, praying for the seat of justice to be removed from Sunbury," was received and filed. The subsequent day a report on the petition signed by 385 persons was read and laid on the table, but the minutes do not state its purport. On the 17th of March the report was called for, and the committee instructed to "bring in a bill removing the seat of justice from Sunbury." There is nothing in the minutes to show what action the committee took, but it is obvious that noth- ing was done in answer to the prayer of the 385. It was, very likely, quietly allowed to slumber in a pigeon hole till adjournment. We hear nothing more of the movement until November 16, 1787, when the minutes inform us that "petitions were filed for dividing Northumberland county." The number of signers is not given, probably because the "prayer" had become on old one.

The fight was renewed at the next session, for under date of March 6, 1788, there is an entry of a petition having been received, praying for a division of the county. And, as if to vary the monotony, six days later a petition " against a division " was received, but its strength is not mentioned.

On the subsequent day, the 13th, a petition containing the names of 682 persons "residing west of Muncy Hills," was presented. The petitioners prayed for the erection of a new county, "and that Loyalsock be the division line on the north side of the West Branch, and the White Deer mountains on the south side of said river." The petition was referred to the " committee appointed March 3d," which had the prayer of the 385 under consideration.

A STRONG APPEAL DENIED.

Nothing more is heard of the matter till the 20th of November, 1789, more than a year and a half, when the inhabitants, evidently tired of waiting, appealed to the Assembly in force, for the minutes tell us that on that day a "petition from 996 inhabitants of Northumberland county, residing on the west side of the Susquehanna, was read, praying for a division of said county," and laid. on the table. This pon- derous array of names for that time must have embraced every settler west of Muncy Hills to Bald Eagle valley, and it would be interesting to have a copy of the docu- 13

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ment at this day, to see the names of the signers. But as a century has passed it has very likely long since perished.

The journal shows that it was not ignored, for it was soon read the second time and referred to a committee to report. We are not informed who composed the committee, but they evidently felt that a petition containing the names of nearly 1,000 citizens could not be lightly treated, and on the 20th of December, 1789, they submitted the following elaborate report:

That to your committee it appears the legislature should rather decide upon fixed and determinate principles, than upon a bare expression of the wishes of even many citizens ; for although, in matters of local concern, those immediately interested can best feel, and, feeling, can point out the particular inconveniences of their own situation, yet they may not always impartially consider or be deeply affected with the increased disadvantages to others resulting from their gratification. With the legislature it then rests to determine how far the particular cases may accord with the general interests and harmony of the whole.

To your committee it appears that, in determining questions of this nature, regard should be had to the number and ability of the inhabitants, as well as to the extent of country and the particular situation with respect to rivers, chains of mountains, and other natural circumstances; that attention should also be paid to future probable divisions.

In applying these principles to the present instance, your committee are of opinion that the population of Northumberland will not justify a division of that county, or enable the inhabitants to support double county charges; nor can its extent form a reasonable ground for division, when in connection with sufficiently numerous settlements.

The situation of the country requested to be erected into a separate county is more conven- ient to the present seat of justice than many parts of other large counties, and the river Susquehanna forms the single obstruction in the way.

If regard is had to the counties which may in future be erected, or to the inconveniences which would immediately attend the remaining part of Northumberland, this division will prove itself the more inexpedient, since the remaining part will constitute the most irregular figure, encompassing the new county on three of its sides, whilst the officers of justice must as a consequence be compelled in some instances to take circuits round it to avoid the release of their prisoners by carrying them through this county in a direct course.

From the best information your committee can obtain, when the population of Northumber- land shall authorize a division, it must be widely different from the one now desired.

The committee will farther hazard an opinion, that many divisions and attentions of the lines of counties will be necessary, when, from a map of the State accurately defining the waters, ridges of hills and mountains, and the present lines of counties, the members of the legislature can, from due information, decide on their propriety; until then, divisions must ofteu be made injudiciously, and until then (unless pressing reasons operate to the contrary) the erecting of new counties should be deferred.

Influenced by these general and special reasons, the committee submit the following resolution :

Resolved, That the prayer of the petition from Northumberland county for a division of the same can not be complied with.

Ordered to lie on the table.

This strong report against the appeal of the inhabitants of this portion of the valley for separation from the mother county had a depressing effect at the time; and to strengthen the opposition, the report was supplemented, August 24, 1789, by a "petition from divers owners of land in the county of Luzerne [erected Septem- ber 25, 1786] remonstrating against an act for erecting the northern part of the county of Northumberland into a separate county."

Why the owners of land in Luzerne should object to the division of an adjoining county does not appear, but it was doubtless a part of the scheme of certain indi- viduals to bring all the opposition they could to bear against the movement.

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The same day this petition was presented to the Assemby, one "from John Van Campen, agent for the citizens of this State residing in the county of Northampton, owners of land in the county of Luzerne, was read remonstrating against the act to set apart the northern part of Northumberland county into a separate county."

From the tenor of this "remonstrance," it can easily be inferred that a combina- tion of land interests was at the bottom of the opposition to the movement, but for what reasons we have no means of determining at this day. It is well known, how- ever, that land speculation was rife at that time, and Quaker residents of Philadel- phia and along the Delaware controlled large bodies of land on the upper waters of the Susquehanna and in Luzerne county. Prominent among them was Robert Morris, "the financier of the Revolution," and others of high standing. Morris was the owner of thousands of acres in what is now Lycoming county, although they soon passed into other hands. It is possible that these great land speculators had personal or financial reasons for opposing the further dismemberment of Northum- berland county, and through their great influence were able to control the committee and the Assembly.

The set-back the petitioners received by this report of the committee had a dampening effect on them, and they saw very clearly that such powerful influences were arrayed against them that it would be useless to renew the fight immediately. The matter therefore was allowed to rest for a few years, but the spirit of the inhabitants was not broken. They were determined to await a more favorable opportunity, when the fight for division would be renewed and prosecuted with greater vigor.

THE GENESEE SPECULATIONS.

About this time attention was drawn to the great land operations in the vicinity of Painted Post and the Genesee country. The richness of these lands, which belonged to the Seneca Indians, had been noted by close observers during the Sul- livan invasion, and since by commissioners to attend Indiau treaties. A few residents in the West Branch valley, impelled by a spirit of adventure, made their way through the wilderness and settled in the vicinity of Painted Post about 1788-89. Among them was Samuel Harris who was an early settler at the mouth of Loyal- sock.

In November, 1788, the State of Massachusetts, in consideration of £300,000, conveyed to Oliver Phelps and Nathanial Gorham all its right and title to the Genesee lands. The purchasers immediately caused them to be surveyed and placed on the market. John L. Sexton, the historian of Tioga county, states that that portion of the Phelps and Gorham purchase was surveyed by Frederick Sexton, Augustus Porter, Thomas Davis, and Robert James, in the year 1789. While they were engaged in the survey they made their headquarters at the house or cabin of Samuel Harris. There were only two or three white settlers there at that time, Harris and his son William being of the number. The survey was completed, November 18, 1790, when by deed Phelps and Gorham conveyed 1,250,000 acres to Robert Morris, of Philadelphia, and on the 11th of April, 1792, he (Morris) conveyed to Charles Williamson about 1,200,000 acres of this land, which has since been known as the Pultney estate. It was about the time

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these immense land negotiations were pending that the movement to erect a new county out of the northern part of Northumberland was defeated. The ter- ritory of the latter county at that time extended to the line of the State of New York and bounded the great Morris estate. Whether these immense land specula- . tions had anything to do with defeating the new county is unknown, but in view of what followed, the reader can draw his own conclusions.

THE WILLIAMSON ROAD.

In the meatime Williamson had taken up his residence at Northumberland. He was really the secret agent of Sir William Pultney, of Bath, England, and had determined to occupy the land. A company of about 500 emigrants had been formed in England to settle on the land as colonists. On being advised of their coming Williamson set about devising a plan to open a road through the wilderness over which to take the colonists. He applied to the legislature for assistance and a bill was passed appropriating £100. It was a small sum and grudgingly given. His road commenced at Loyalsock, ran through where Williamsport was afterwards built, up Lycoming creek to Trout run, thence over Laurel Hill to the Block House, and one to the point of destination. The draft is now preserved in the Land Office at Harrisburg.

His plans being perfected, Williamson secured the services of two brothers, Robert and Benjamin Patterson, as scouts. They had done distinguished service as soldiers in the Revolutionary army, and especially in repulsing the invading Indians on the West Branch, and within the present limits of what are now Lycoming, Clinton, and Tioga counties. The Patterson brothers then resided at Northumber- land. Their father, William Patterson, had distinguished himself in the French and Indian wars, and commanded the whites in the battle of Muncy Hills. At this time (1792) their father was dead, and their mother had married Marcus Hulings, who subsequently died and was buried at Painted Post. Mrs. Hulings was a Booue, a near relative of Daniel Boone, the celebrated frontiersman.

Operations were commenced on the road in May or June, 1792. The colonists accompanied Williamson and assisted in the work. The journey and work were arduous. It was the custom of Williamson to establish depots for supplies on the route, by erecting log houses to protect the women and children, and to advance the road makers, axemen, etc., to prepare the way. He accordingly established one of his commissary stations at Williamsport, one at Trout Run, and one at Liberty, now known as the Block House, and others on the way as they progressed. The road was not fully completed until the summer of 1796.

Williamson founded the city of Bath and became a prominent man. He was a Scotchman by birth and an officer in the British army. He took the oath of alle- giance in 1792. After transferring the vast estate to the Pultneys he set sail for the West Indies and was lost at sea.

Robert and Benjamin Patterson located near Painted Post in 1797, and both died in that township. The road they assisted in building became a great thoroughfare. The Block House was built of round logs, and was about 20x40 feet in size. In front of it was erected a huge bake oven, where bread was baked for the colonists and road builders.

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LYCOMING COUNTY ORGANIZED.

Samuel Harris, on account of his prominence among the early settlers near the mouth of Loyalsock, deserves more than a passing notice. He was a son of the first John Harris, born May 4, 1733, at Harris's Ferry. Shortly before the beginning of the Revolution he settled at Loyalsock and took an active part in the affairs of the new county of Northumberland. When he emigrated to Painted Post is not positively- known, but it must have been about 1788-possibly later-as the surveyors when engaged in surveying the Phelps and Gorham tract in 1789 made their headquarters at his house. He afterwards removed to Cayuga Lake, where he died. In the cemetery at Seneca Falls, on the shore of the lake, is a monument erected to his memory.

A NEW COUNTY AT LAST.

The movement for the erection of the new county was resumed in 1794, for we find this entry in the Journal of the House of Representatives under date of February 15th of that year: "Petition from a number of inhabitants of the county of North- umberland was read, praying that in case a new county should be erected out of the same, the seat of justice within the same may be fixed on the west side of Lycoming creek, at the mouth thereof. Ordered to lie on the table."

From the tenor of the petition it would seem that the question of a new county had already been under consideration before it was presented, but a diligent search of the meager records failed to show that it had. Probably reference was had to the old question of division, which the petitioners understood was to be revived.

We hear nothing more of the matter until February 26, 1795, a few days over one year, when the following appears on the Senate Journal:

Mr. Hare, from the committee appointed to consider and report on the petitions praying for a division of Northumberland county, made report, and the same was read, as follows:

The committee appointed to consider the petitions praying for a division of Northumber- land county, report: That as, from the great extent of Northumberland county, much inconvenience is suffered by many of the inhabitants of that county from their great distance from the present seat of justice, the committee are of opinion that the prayer of the peti- tions ought to be granted, and they therefore recommend the adoption of the following resolution :

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to bring in a bill for dividing Northumberland county in a manner that may appear most convenient to the inhabitants thereof.

The committee consisted of the following Senators: William Hepburn, North- umberland, chairman; Robert Brown, Northampton; John Kean, Berks; Robert Hare, Philadelphia, and Zebulon Potts, Montgomery. Much of the credit for securing the favorable report and final passage of the bill belongs to Senator Hepburn. He was elected as a State Senator from Northumberland at a special election held January 8, 1794, by sixty-four majority over Rosewell Wells, to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator William Montgomery. Hepburn held the office till April 20, 1795, when he resigned and was succeeded by Samuel Dale. The members of the House this year (1795) were Flavel Roan, Hugh White, and Robert Martin. John Brady, son of Capt. John Brady, killed near Muncy April 11, 1779, was sheriff, and the last officer of Northumberland who exercised authority over what is now the territory of Lycoming county. Senator Hepburn resided on a farm now embraced within the cor- porate limits of the city of Williamsport, and he naturally took a deep interest in the organization of the new county, the reasons for which will subsequently appear.

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The committee having the matter in charge was not tardy. On the 7th of March, 1795, according to the following record, the bill was reported, as appears from the following entry: "Mr. Kean, from the committee appointed for that purpose, reported a bill entitled ' An act for erecting part of the county of Northumberland into a separate county,' and the same was read the first time."

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 26

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