History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 4

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

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

they were nearer to it than they really were. From the topography of the sur- rounding country we can arrive at no other conclusion.

FRENCH MARGARET AS A PROHIBITIONIST.

The last visit of Moravian evangelists to the dusky inhabitants then living in the territory now comprised within the limits of Lycoming county was made by John Martin Mack in 1753. He was accompanied by several friends, and reached Shamokin from Bethlehem on the evening of the 24th of August of that year. On the 26th he prepared to ascend the river in a canoe, accompanied by "Brother Grube." In his journal, under date of August 27, 1753, he makes this entry :

After dinner we reached Muncy creek, forty miles from Shamokin, where we put up our canoe with an Indian we knew. as the water began to grow rapid. Here we met several drunken Indians who teased us for tobacco, and began to get cross. Finally Brother Grube gave them several cuts and they were satisfied and let us go. We slung our packs on our backs. and by evening reached Otstonwakin. Mack pointed out to Grube the spot where Zinzendorf and his party had pitched their tents. Proceeding several miles further we camped for the night by a creek.

AUGUST 28 .- Towards 9 A. M. we came to a small town where Madame Montour's niece Margaret lives [Newberry] with her family. She welcomed us cordially, led us into the hut, aud set before us milk and watermelons. Brother Grube told her that Mack had come from Bethlehem especially to visit her. "Mother," said Mack, "do you know me ?" "Yes, my child," she replied, "but I have forgotten where I saw you." " I saw you," he said, " eight years ago on the island at Shamokin, when you were living with your brother. Andrew Satte- lihu." Hereupon she bethought herself, that at that time she had come from the Allegheny and was on the way to Philadelphia. She was very friendly to us, and much pleased that we had visited her. She was yet sorrowing for the loss of her son and son-in-law, who were killed last winter in the war against the Creeks. We told her we would leave our packs here and proceed to the Delaware town at Quenischaschacki. "Oh !" she said. " the Indians up there have for some weeks been drinking, and we would undoubtedly find them all drunk." On arriving at the town we found all quiet, aud the people modest and friendly. We visited several huts and inquired diligently about Christian Renatus, and found that he had gone to peel bark for his brother, the Captain, who is building a new hut. We remained until evening. and then returned to Margaret's town, who again furnished us with food. We had a long con- versation with her on many subjects, and she spoke particularly of Andrew Sattelihu, and of her husband, who for six years has drank no whisky, and who had already prevailed upon two men from drinking.

She desired us to visit her very soon again, which we hoped to do. French Margaret is also held in high esteem by the Indians, and allows no drunkard in her town. Her husband is a Mohawk, who understands French well, as also their children, but they do not speak it.

By noon we reached our canoe at Muncy creek, and found that a blanket and some pro- visions wrapped in it had been taken. Having had nothing to eat, we obtained some corn from a woman. Below Muncy creek we visited a small Shawanese town, which a few years ago was built by some families from Wyomick.

"French Margaret " was a Canadian half-breed and a niece of Madame Mon- tour. Her husband was named "Peter Quebec." Previous to 1745 they were living on the Allegheny river, and it was that year that Mack met her on the island in the river opposite Northumberland, where she was visiting. Her place of resi- dence was near the mouth of Lycoming creek, on the west side, and it is noted on Scull's map of 1759 as " French Margaret's Town." The site of her village is now within the limits of the Seventh ward of the city of Williamsport. The fact that she had prohibited the use of liquor in her village shows her to have been a woman

ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION.

of more than ordinary character for the time in which she lived; and this is prob- ably the first recorded instance of the enforcement of prohibition, which shows the doctrine to be of great antiquity. The statement that her husband had not drank rum for six years shows that he was a strict observer of the temperance decree of his wife, which was something unusual for an Indian.

From the testimony of Mack it would appear that the luscious watermelon was introduced early into this country, for Margaret welcomed them to her wigwam by setting "milk and watermelons " before them. A novel feast, it is true, but it was undoubtedly the best this dusky Indian woman could do. She was termed the "lesser Indian Queen," and frequently attended treaty meetings at Albany, Easton, and Philadelphia. Much respect was shown her by the Indians within her little realm, whose confidence she seemed to enjoy.

In July, 1754, we learn from the Moravian records that " French Margaret, her Mohawk husband, and two grandchildren, traveling in semi-barbaric state, with an Irish groom and six relays of pack horses, halted a few days at Bethlehem on their way to New York. During her stay she attended divine worship, expressed much gratification at the music and singing, and was also pleased to find sisters who were conversant with French." She never returned to her habitation on Lycoming creek.

LATE FROSTS OF THE LONG AGO.

Hard times and the rumors of war continued on the West Branch. The French, who occupied the western part of the Province, were threatening an invasion, and friendly Indians were in a state of alarm. Several of the latter came from the Ohio, and, through Conrad Weiser the interpreter, informed Governor Morris that they desired to settle at Otstonwakin. At the same time the Governor was apprised that a number of white people from New England had formed themselves in a body for the purpose of locating on the Susquehanna and in the rich valley of Muncy.

On the 12th of June, 1755, Weiser notified the Governor that he had just returned from Otstonwakin, where he had been with ten men to fence in a cornfield for the Indians, in accordance with his instructions. When he arrived at the place he found that the Indians who had petitioned the Governor for assistance had mostly deserted the place for want of provisions, and chiefly for having lost all their corn by severe frosts between the 29th and 30th of May last, which was the second frost that had appeared in the valley since their corn was up, and it had been entirely killed. He only found two Indians, with their families, in the town ; they were very thankful for what had been done for them, but as they had no hopes of raising any corn from what they had planted, they thought it useless to have a field fenced. He left them one sack of flour, and on his way down the river left one with the Indians he found at Muncy. On this journey he was accompanied by John Shikellimy, who had succeeded his father as reigning chief at Shamokin. He informed the Indians whom they met of the threatening condition of affairs with the French, and that a declaration of war was imminent.

This was the turning point in Indian affairs on the West Branch. The dusky inhabitants had been forced to leave on account of the continuance of the famine, brought about by late frosts annually destroying their corn ; and as their small stores had been entirely exhausted they could not recover. Hence the abandonment of the valley.

HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

CHAPTER II.

APPEARANCE OF THE PAINTED SAVAGE.

BEGINNING OF INDIAN TROUBLES WORK OF FRENCH EMISSARIES-DECLARATION OF WAR AND A PREMIUM FOR INDIAN SCALPS-FRENCH CAMP NEAR LOVALSOCK-THE CANNON HOLE-BATTLE OF MUNCY HILLS-INDIAN PATHS AND WHERE THEY RAN-THE RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES-THEIR NAMES AND MEANING DECLINE OF FRENCH DOMINATION -TREATY OF 1768-MORE LAND ACQUIRED-SERIOUS TROUBLE ABOUT A LINE-JOB CHILLOWAY DISCOVERS MUNCY MANOR-HIS HISTORY.

THE feeling of unrest among the Indians was gradually increasing, on account of the machinations of the French on the western and northern borders. They yearned to occupy all this portion of the Province and sought every oppor- tunity to poison the minds of the Indians against the English. The Colony was weak and feared being embroiled in a Franco-Indian war. Cumberland county, which had been formed, January 27, 1750, out of a part of Lancaster, took in all the territory on the west side of the Susquehanna. Berks lay on the east side. In the meantime white settlers were gradually working their way up the river and a settle- ment had been made on Penn's creek (now Snyder connty), notwithstanding the threatening attitude of the Indians. The pioneers trusted to the amity which had existed between the Indians and the whites for fifty years. The former claimed that they had been deceived and cheated in the recent treaties, and as French agents were constantly at work among them, they were soon ripe for revolt.

The disastrous defeat of Braddock was followed by war throughout the western part of the Province. The adventuresome settlers at Penn's creek were the first to feel the effects of Indian vengeance. A hostile body of savages, painted and clad in war costume, descended the West Branch and fell upon the Penn's Creek settle- ments. The attack was made, October 15, 1755, three months after the defeat of Braddock, and every person in the settlement, consisting of twenty-five men, women, and children - with the exception of one man who made his escape, though danger- ously wounded -were either killed or carried into captivity. The scene of blood presented in this once happy settlement, is described as sad in the extreme. Their humble cabins were burned. their stock slain, and their fields and improvements laid waste. We are particular in noting this first massacre, for it marks the beginning of the long French and Indian war which followed, and in which the settlers of this portion of the West Branch suffered so severely. The Indians who made this foray were from the Allegheny river, and were induced to come here by the French, who were flushed with their victory over Braddock.

The consternation caused by this bloody affair was very great, and struck terror in the other settlements lower down the river. It was the first that had occurred in the Province of Pennsylvania east of the Alleghenies. In the latter part of October,

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ANSayand

APPEARANCE OF THE PAINTED SAVAGE.

1755, Andrew Montour and the old chief Monagatootha, who still remained friendly to the English, were sent for by a band of Delawares to visit them at the Great Island. This historic spot lies in the river a short distance east of Lock Haven, and was the headquarters of hostile bands and marauding parties while the war lasted. They obeyed the summons at once, and were accompanied by three other Indians, making five in the party. On reaching the island they found six Delawares and four Shawanese awaiting them. These Indians informed them that overtures had been made by the French to unite with them in a war upon the English. They farther informed them that a large body of French and Indians had crossed the Allegheny mountains for the purpose of killing and scalping the settlers.

MISSION TO THE GREAT ISLAND.

Montour and party, on learning this startling intelligence, hastened back and lost no time in reporting what they had learned to Governor Morris, at Philadelphia. They furthermore informed him that it was the intention of the French to overrun this portion of the country and erect fortifications at important points the better to enable them to hold it; and that it was their intention to seize Shamokin (now Sunbury) and make it their headquarters on the Susquehanna.

In the meantime the evil disposed Indians were not idle. About the 1st of November they appeared in considerable numbers on the West Branch and killed several white people who had risked staying in the hostile country. The ontlook became more alarming from day to day. That something must be done, and that speedily, to meet the red horde, was apparent to all.

Sometime in the following month of November, an important council of the pro- vincial authorities was held at Philadelphia to consider what system of defence had better be adopted. Among the friendly Indians present was the old chief Scar- royady, who took a deep interest in affairs at that time. He informed the council that two messengers had recently come from Ohio to the Indian town at Great Island, where they found a white man "who accidentally happened to be there." Who he was, or what the object of his visit to that place was at that time, is not stated. These Indian messengers, the chief stated, were greatly enraged at seeing the white man and insisted on having him killed. The friendly Indians would not permit him to be injured, and informed the emissaries of the French that they would protect him while he was with them, as they had lived on good terms with the English and did not desire to shed blood. This positive declaration by the friendly Indians doubtless saved his life. It is inferred from subsequent events that these messengers were successful in their mission to estrange the savages.

The Indians who were opposed to war advocated the building of a defensive work at Shamokin, and recommended the same to Governor Morris. Andrew Mon- tour endorsed their recommendation, but, owing to the scarcity of means, and a rather vacillating course on the part of the authorities, no action was taken until the last minute. Accordingly, on the 14th of April, 1756, Governor Morris issued a declaration of war against the Delaware tribe of Indians, "and others in confederacy with them," in which he recited at considerable length the " cruel, savage, and per- fidious manner" in which they had " killed and butchered great numbers of the inhab- itants, and carried others into barbarous captivity," and destroyed their habitations 3

HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

and laid waste the country. He reminded them that notwithstanding the friendly remonstrances made to them by the government, and the interposition and ." positive orders of our faithful friends and allies, the Six Nations," they (the Delawares) had continued their cruel acts of hostility, "sparing neither age nor sex;" therefore, by and with the advice and consent of the Council, he issued his proclamation and warned the said Delaware Indians and all others associated with them, that if they did not desist from their acts they would be considered "enemies, rebels, and traitors to His Most Sacred Majesty," and he required all his subjects of this Province and of neighboring Provinces, "to embrace every opportunity " to pursue and kill all Delaware Indians, or their confederates, that might be found committing hostilities of any kind in the Province.

REWARD FOR INDIAN SCALPS.

He concluded his long and savage declaration of war, after numerous whereases, in these words, which are quoted verbatim, thinking no doubt that bombast would immediately frighten the Delawares into peaceable submission:

The Commissioners appointed with me to dispose of the sixty thousand pounds lately granted by act of General Assembly for His Majesty's use, have, by their letters to me of the 10th inst., agreed to pay out of the same the several rewards for prisoners and scalps herein speci- fied ;.... I do hereby declare aud promise, that there shall be paid out of the said sixty thousand pounds to all and every person, as well Indians as Christians not in the pay of the Province, the several and respective premiums and bounties following, that is to say: For every male Indian enemy above twelve years old who shall be taken prisoner and delivered at any forts garrisoned by the troops in the pay of this Province, or at any of the county towns, to the keepers of the common jails there, the sum of one hundred and fifty Spauish dollars or pieces of eight; for the scalp of every male Indian enemy above the age of twelve years, produced as evidence of their being killed, the sum of one hundred and thirty pieces of eight; for every female Indian taken prisoner and brought in as aforesaid, and for every male Indian prisoner under the age of twelve years taken and brought in as aforesaid, one hundred and thirty pieces of eight; for the scalp of every Indian woman, produced as evidence of their being killed, the sum of fifty pieces of eight; and for every English subject that has been taken and carried from this Province into captivity that shall be recovered and brought in and delivered at the city of Philadelphia to the Governor of this Province, the sum of one hundred and fifty pieces of eight, but nothing for their scalps.

This "declaration " was signed by Robert H. Morris, Governor of the Province, attested by Richard Peters, secretary, and the "great seal " attached, with the motto " God Save the King," under date of October 14, 1756. It caused a ripple of excitement among the people, while the Quakers, whose sympathies were with the savages, were shocked at the idea of offering a premium for their scalps. Morris only served from 1754 to 1756 as lieutenant governor of the Province. He died, February 20, 1764, in the sixty-fifth year of his age. One of his biographers says that he was "sometimes inconsiderate in the relations of life; often singular, sometimes whimsical, always opinionated, and mostly inflexible." His proclama- tion was too bombastic to have a good effect. Had he ordered defensive move- ments sooner and threatened less, he might have accomplished more important results and saved the scalp of many a white settler. As it was feared, his procla- mation only intensified the vindictive feelings of the Indians and caused them to commit greater atrocities.

Having declared war it now behooved the Governor to act promptly in ordering

APPEARANCE OF THE PAINTED SAVAGE.

defensive operations; instructions were issued for Colonel Clapham to proceed to Shamokin with his regiment and build a fort. He had repeatedly promised the friendly Indians to do so, but had always delayed beginning the work. Soon after the massacre at Penn's creek the Indian town at Shamokin was abandoned and the Moravian mission destroyed. The Indians who lived there sought other places and the Moravians fled to Bethlehem. When Colonel Clapham arrived he found the place wholly deserted and all the cabins, wigwams, and buildings burned.

The work of building Fort Augusta was commenced in July, 1756, and rapidly pushed. It was carefully laid out by English engineers on a large scale, with pali- sades, bastions, ravelins, ditches, curtains, counterscarp, mess house, quarters, and a house for the commandant, and became the strongest and most important defensive work constructed by the colonial authorities between the Delaware and the Alle- gheny rivers. It became an important factor in the early settlement of the West Branch region, and the place of refuge for many a settler flying from what is now Lycoming county to escape the tomahawk and scalping knife. When fully manned it mounted sixteen cannon, and a garrison was kept there till after the close of the Revolution. On the restoration of peace it was dismantled and its ramparts leveled. Not a hillock (excepting a slight mound over the magazine) now remains to mark its site.

APPEARANCE OF THE FRENCH.

The building of this great work was commenced just in time to save all this part of the Province, through to the Allegheny river, from French domination. Before it was fairly finished a French expedition was organized and sent to Chinkleca- moose (where the town of Clearfield now stands) with instructions to descend the river and capture the fort. Rumors to this effect reached the commanding officer at the fort and he straightway informed the Governor. This party of invasion was said to consist of 800 men, and it is so stated in the Colonial Records, but it is doubtful if it was one-eighth of that number. Owing to the meagerness of the records it is impossible to state the strength of the invading party with accuracy. According to tradition this force was armed with four small brass cannon. Floats, or log rafts, were built and on them the French and Indians descended the river to a point near the mouth of Loyalsock, where they disembarked on the south side. This was near where the great Indian path emerged from Bald Eagle mountain through the gap. Here the party encamped on a level piece of ground, not deem- ing it safe to descend the river any further until the strength of the colonial forces below was known. A small scouting party, with a few French engineers, was then detailed and marched over the Indian path which led to Blue Hill, opposite Fort Augusta, where they concealed themselves and carefully reconnoitered the position of the English.

The only account of this expedition known to exist, is found in the Marquis de Vaudreuil's letter under date of Montreal, July 13, 1757, to the French commandant of Canada, and now in the Archives of France. It gives a minute account of French operations in the Province of Pennsylvania. He speaks of M. de St. Ours with six Canadians and fourteen Indians having been sent on a scout to the "English fort containing a garrison of 600 men," on the Susquehanna. St. Ours, he writes,

HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

" took two scalps within sight of that fort, but he was unable to make any prisoners." This, undoubtedly, was the extent of the French expedition which caused such a fright to the colonial authorities.

That there was a camp at the spot mentioned, nearly opposite the mouth of Loyalsock, there is positive evidence, for the early settlers found French buttons and other trinkets at that place. Near the summit of the mountain, on the Indian path, the remains of camp kettles, spoons, and other utensils were found, showing that a body of French had been there. Probably St. Ours and his party lay here, while the Indians remained in the camp on the bank of the river.

When the scouting party returned from Shamokin and reported that the force was insufficient to reduce the fortification, preparations were made to return to their strongholds on the Allegheny. Here M. de St. Ours was confronted with a serious difficulty. He had floated down the river very easily with his cannon, but he could not return with his flotilla up stream ; and the Indian paths were too narrow to drag his guns back again. What was to be done with them? He did not want them to fall into the hands of the English, as they certainly would, if left in the abandoned camp. After consultation with his comrades it was decided to cast the guns into the river. Deep water, where it was not likely they would be discovered, was found a short distance below the camp, and into it they were thrown and quickly went to the bottom. This place for more than a hundred years has been known as the "Cannon Hole." How the fact of the guns being placed there leaked out is unknown, unless some of the Indians who accompanied the expedition afterwards informed the whites. For many years the "deep hole" has been filled with gravel and the French guns are no doubt buried beyond all hope of resurrection.

The war was continued without cessation for several years, and many white settlers were killed. The West Branch country, particularly that portion included in the limits of Lycoming county, was constantly infested with roving bands of savages bent on pillage and murder. Their headquarters were on and about the Great Island and it became necessary to send expeditions there to dislodge them and destroy their towns.

BATTLE OF MUNCY HILLS.

One of the most important of the early conflicts with the Indians is known as the "Battle of Muncy Hills." A circumstantial account of the affair is found in an old and rare book entitled "Loudon's Indian Narratives," published at Carlisle, Pennsyl- vania, in 1808. The battle occurred in September, 1763. A party numbering over 100 men was made up from among settlers residing in Cumberland and Lancaster counties to proceed up the river as far as Great Island, if possible, to rout the hostile Indians who made that place their headquarters. Under date of August 25, 1763, Lieut. Samuel Hunter, who was then commanding Fort Augusta, noted in his journal the arrival that day of Captain Patterson, Captain Bedford, George Allen, and a company of 114 men, on their way up the river to destroy some Indian towns. Accounts of the number of men in the expedition differ. The same day Lieutenant Blythe, who was also stationed at the fort, left a note, which is on record, concerning the strength of the party. He says that it appeared on the Blue Hill side of the river, opposite the fort, and three men came over and reported that

APPEARANCE OF THE PAINTED SAVAGE.

they were from Cumberland county, and that there were fifty in the expedition. They claimed that the object of their visit was to look at the land along the river and at Great Island, where some of them proposed to settle. They also made particular inquiries regarding the Indians, which led Lieutenant Blythe to believe that they had some design against them. The names of these men were : John Woods, James McMeen, and James Dickey. Of this number we know that McMeen aftewards settled on the river a short distance west of Williamsport and became a man of some prominence.

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 4

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