USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > History of Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania. With illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories > Part 14
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"I am pestered with that fellow, Nathamel Holland, Clerk to the Indian Store, at Fort Augusta. He has accused Mr. Dennis MeCormick, my clerk, for Issuing Provisions at that place, with having carried on a trade with the Indians, in consequence of which he has seized all the Rum in Store, and he further says that this Clandestine Trade is carried on by my Particular orders. Mr. Holland has seut an Express to Philadelphia, and Mr. MeCor- mick has come down to me here, and in order that this letter may come to your band soon and safe, I have sent him with it to yon.
"Inclosed is Mr. McCormick's Deposition, which was taken here, as I in- tended to have sent him back to Augusta, if I could have forwarded my let- ters by a safe hand to Philadelphia, but failing of this, I am under the ne- cessity of sending himself.
" Now, Sir, us to a trade being carried on with the Indians By me, for me, by my Clerk, by the Officers, or Garrison of Fort Angusta, or in any manner, or in any way whatsoever, at Fort Augustu, to my knowledge, I hereby declare to be absolutely False, & to the truth of this I am ready & willing to take my outh in any words that the Commissioners, or even that Scoundrell Holland would commit to paper, and further, I cau procure if Necessary the oaths of the Officers and Garrison of Augusta to the same purpose, & of every person living on the Susquehanna, from Harris's to Au- gusta, that I never brought a skin, or any other Indian Commodity whatever to their knowledge from Augusta.
" You will observe by the Deposition that Mr. McCormick did want of an Indian Squa, a thin Indian dressed winter Skin to line a pair of plush britches for himself, which he was getting; if this is the ground of the Complaint, it must appear to his Hon'r the Gov'r & Commisers to be intirely malitious in Holland, & not from a well grounded zeal of serving his Conntry.
" It Really vexes me much to be eternally plagued in this mauner by Hol- land, and the more so that it is an accusation of the highest breatch of trust . for me to break a well known Law of that Government whose bread I daily ent.
" I must, therefore, beg your friendly offers in laying the state of the case clearly before the Governor, if Necessary; and if this affair is represented to my disadvantage, that you would represent it as it really is, & you are fully at liberty to show this letter to any Person whatsoever, as I shall support it in every particular, etc."
From the tone of this letter, it will readily be inferred that Colonel Burd was not in the best humor when he wrote. How the matter was finally adjusted, or whether anything further grew out of it, does not appear upon record. At a conference with the Indians, held at Lancaster, on Monday, the 23d of August, 1762, Governor Hamilton presiding, Thomas King, one of the chiefs and representatives of the Six Nations, rose and said:
"Now all the different tribes of us present, desire that you will call your soldiers away from Shamokin, for we have concluded a peace, and are as one brother, having one head and one heart.
"If you take away your soldiers, we desire yon would keep your trading house there, and have some honest man in it, because our cousins follow their hunting there, and will want a trade, This is the way for us to live peace- ably together.
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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
" Brother Onns ( the name for Peun:) ' I must tell you again, these soldiers must go away from Shamokin Fort. I desire it, and let there only be traders living there; you know who are the honest people; we desire that only honest people may live there, and that you will not he too hard with us, when they may bny our skins and fors, and such things as we may have to sell. This will he the way for us to live peaceably together; but for you to keep soldiers there, is not the way to live penceable. Your soldiers are very often unruly, and our warriors are often unruly; and when such get together, they do not agree, for, as you have now made pence with all our nations, there is no occasion for soldiers to live there any longer."
There is no doubt that the Indians would have been much gratified to have had the garrison removed from Shamokin, as it was a cherished spot where they loved to dwell, and where reposed the mouldering bones of their ancestors. The proposition to place an " honest" man there to keep a store, is a scathing commentary upon the probity of the whites, in their dealings with these dusky children of the forest. Judging from the manner in which they dealt with them, it is doubtful whether a man could have been found who would have conducted business in accordance with this old Indian's iden of "honesty." It seemed that they were destined to be cheated on every occasion, and in the most shameful manner, too.
The soldiers were not removed from Fort Angusta. Such a course would have proved very bad policy, for the enp of the Indian's destiny was not full, and bloody scenes were yet to be enneted, before he turned his face for the last time upon the blue hills of Shamokin. In 1765, a number of men from Cumberland, in the neighborhood of Carlisle, went up to Shamokin, for the purpose of murdering what Indians they might find there. On the alarm being given, they hastily collected their families together and fled. They eame to Shamokin and appeared on the opposite side of the river, next the Blue Hill. Three of them, says Lieutenant Graydon, came over to the fort, and reported that they were from Cumberland County, and that there were fifty of them in company. They alleged that their object was to look at the land on the river, and at the Great Island, where some of them proposed to go and settle. Some of the party returned before they got that far; others went on to the Great Island. Some of them settled where Lock Haven now stands.
" We cannot conjecture," continues the Lientenant, "what these people's intentions were, but they seemed very inquisitive about Indians, which made us suspect that they had a design against those who were about us."
The names of the three men that came over to the fort, were: John Woods, James McMein, and James Dickey. About this time, a number of Indian families intended settling on the Great Island, and erecting eabins. Whether they went is not definitely known, but it is supposed they did. William Maelay seems to have been the next commander of Fort Augusta, and Colonel Hunter succeeded him. The time when Colonel Hunter assumed the command is not stated, but it was probably about 1770.
Colonel Hunter had command of Fort Angusta during the time of the Revolution, when it was the great point to which all the settlers of both branches converged, when compelled to abandon their homes in the wilder- ness by the attacks of the savages. All the forts erected along the west branch, were under his supervision, and the duties that devolved upon him were great. He may be considered the watchful guardian of the frontier. Scenes of the most thrilling character were enacted at that period. A fine brick mansion now stands on the identical spot formerly occupied by the fort. It was subsequently owned by Miss Hunter, a lineal descendant of the old colonel. It is now owned by Col. J. W. Cake. Truly, it is built on sacred ground.
Early in the war of the Revolution, the Seneca and Monsey tribes were in considerable force, and Pine and Lycoming Creeks were almost navigable to the State line for causes. Fort Angusta at that time was garrisoned by about fifty inen, uuder Colonel Hunter. They were called "a fearless few."
Captain John Brady, at this time, suggested to his friends at Fort Augusta, the propriety of making a treaty with the Seneca and Monsey tribes, knowing them to be at variance with the Delawares. By doing so, it was thought that their friendship and assistance might be seeured against the Delawares, should they commence any inroads upon the settlements. His proposition was approved ef, and petitions were sent to the Council praying the commis- sioners might be appointed, and Fort Augusta designated as the place of holding the conference. The request was granted, and commissioners were appointed. Notice was given to the two tribes, by Brady and two others selected for the purpose.
They met the chiefs and laid before them the proposition, They appeared to be delighted, and listened to the proposal with pleasure. After smoking the pipe of peace and promising to attend at Fort Angusta on the appointed day, they led them out of the camp, shook hands with them cordially, and parted in seeming friendship.
Brady was very shrewd, feared to trust the friendship so warmly expressed, and took a different route in returning with his company, to guard against being waylaid and surprised.
On the day appointed for holding the treaty, the Indians appeared with their wives and children. The warriors numbered about one hundred, and were dressed in their war costume. Care had been taken to make the fort look as fieree as possible, and every man was at his post.
In former treaties, the Indians had received large presents, and were ex- pecting them here; but finding the fort too poor to give anything ef value, (and an Indian never trusts,) all efforts to form a treaty with them proved abortive. They left the fort, however, apparently in good humor, and well satisfied with their treatment, and taking to their canoes, proceeded home- ward. The remainder of the day was chiefly spent by the officers and people of the fort in advising meons of protection against anticipated attacks of the Indians. Late in the day, Brady thought of Derr's trading-house, and foreboding evil from that point, mounted a small mare be had at the fort, and erossing the north branch, rode with all possible speed. On his arrival, he saw the canoes of the Indians on the bank of the river near Derr's. When near enough to observe, he saw the squaws exerting themselves to the utmost at their paddles to work to his side of the river; and that when they landed they made for thickets of sumach, which grew in abundance on his land to the heighth of a man's head, and very thiek upon the ground. He was not slow in conjecturing the canse. He rode on to where the squaws were landing, and saw that they were conveying rifles, tomahawks and knives, into the sumach thiekets, and hiding them. He immediately jumped into a canoe and crossed to Derr's trading-house, where he found the Indians brutally drunk. He saw a barrel of rum standing on end before Derr's door, the head ont. He instantly overset it, and spilled the rum, saying to Derr, "My God, Frederick, what have you done?" Derr replied: Dey dells me you gif um no dreet town on the fort, so dinks as I gif one here, als he go home in bease!"
Next day the Indians started off. They did not soon attack the settle- ments, but carried arms for their allies, the English, in other parts.
As the Revolution had become general, the most active preparations were made to devise means of defence. Companies of volunteers were raised, and every landable effort used to induce the patriots of that period to march to the defence of their country. A central committee of safety was established at Philadelphia, and committees in the various counties were organized and under the control of the central committee. The subordinate committees were in correspondence with the central one, and kept it posted np in every movement in their respective distriets. A committee of safety for Nerthum- berland County was appointed. They held regular meetings, and kept a record of their proceedings in a large hook, kept for the purpose. This book was given to Joseph G. Wallace, of Lewisburg, (deceased,) many years ago, by his uncle, Captain Gray, a Revolutionary hero. It contained the names of the principle men of the County, the business transacted at their meetings, etc., which was very interesting. This book, it is to be regretted, has been carried off and probably lost.
Sherman Day examined the book some fifteen years ago, when he was col- lecting his Historical Collections of Pennsylvania, and made a few extracts from it. He was compelled to be as brief as possible, as the limits of his work would not permit of lengthy extracts. To him, then, are we indebted for all that has been taken from that interesting, as well as official document.
From it we learn that on the 8th of February, 1776, the following gentle- men, being previously nominated by their respective townships as they then existed, to serve in the committee for the space of six months, met at the bonse of Richard Malone, at the month of Chillisquaque Creek : For Augusta town- ship, John Weitzel, Esq., Alexander Hunter, Esq., Thomas Ball; Muhon- ing township, William Cook, Esq., Benjamin Allison, Esq., Mr. Thomas Hewet; Turhnt township, Captain John Hambright, William MeKnight, William Shaw; Muncy township, Robert Bobb, Esq, William Watson, Jehn Buckalew; Bald Eagle township, William Donn, Thomas Hughes, Alexan- der Hamilton; Buffalo township, Mr. Walter Clark, William Irwin, Joseph Green; White Deer township, Walter Clarke, Matthew Brown, Marcus Huling.
Captain John Hambrigh was elected chairman, and Thomas Ball, clerk. The field-officers of the battalion of the lower division of the counts, were Samuel Hunter, Colonel ; William Cook, Lieutenant-Colonel ; Casper Weitzel, First Major; Mr. John Lee, Second Major. Those of the upper battalion appear to have been William Plunket, Colonel; James Murray, Lientenant-Colonel; Mr. John Brady, First Major; Mr. Cookson Long, Second Major.
42
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Each captain was ordered to return at least forty privates. Each hattal- ion consisted of six companies. The captains of the lower battalion were Nicolas Miller, Charles Gillespie, Hugh White, William Scull, James McMahon, William Clarke, and afterwards Captain John Simpson; and of the upper or Colonel Plunket's battalion, Henry Antes, Esq., Samuel Wallis, John Robb, William Murray, William MeAlhatton, Simon Cool, David Berry.
THE FIRST PHYSICIAN.
The first physician on the territory of Sunbury was probably Dr. William Plunket. He was related to Samuel Plunket, High Chancellor of Ireland, and was very wealthy. While under the influence of' liqnor, he, in company with some others, assassinated an English nobleman, and fleeing from justice was smuggled, it is said, on shipboard, from England, in a harrel. Before he left Europe, he was one day in a nail factory, and attracted the attention and sarcasm of a nobleman, in another part of the establishment, who made a bet with one of his comrades that Plnuket could not tell the time of day, and sent a servant with his watch to settle the question. Plunket quietly put the watch in his own pocket and told the servant to tell his master to call for it in person, and he would give him the time of day until he was satisfied. The nobleman never came for it, and the Dortor kept it as his life-long companion. He settled at what was then called Harris' Ferry, now the site of Harrisburg. He married a daughter of John Harris, Sr., father of John Harris, who assisted in laying out the city of Harrisburg. Dr. Plun- ket was a Tory. He and his son-in-law could never agree on the question of American independence. One of his daughters married Samuel Maclay, who was the brother of William Maclay, who was the maternal grand-father of Dr. Awl, now one of the oldest citizens of Sunbury. Annther daughter married Mr. - Richardson ; and another a Mr. Bell, both of whom be- came prominent men and members of Congress. The reason why Doctor Pluuket maintained loyality to the old country was, doubtless, because he bore the title of Baron Fingal, which he would have instantly forfeited by espousing the American cause. Dr. Plnuket was a judge and surveyor, as well as a physician. His office was that of the late Ebenezer Greenough, on Frout street, adjoining the Episcopal church, now occupied by the venerable David Rockefeller. Dr. Plunket was very tyrannical and cruel in his treatment of offenders. Before the whipping-post was erected, he used to put the heads of criminals through a rail-fence, and thus satisfy the offended law by executing the sentence of the court.
One of the most striking events of Plunket's life, was his daring raid against the squatters, who, claiming the land under the old Penn purchase, had begun settlements in the vicinity of Wyoming. Threats of invasion were sent and returned, until finally Plunket raised a company, marched up towards Wyoming and met the settlers.
The following account of the result is obtained from Dr. Wm. M. Aw}, of Columbus, Ohio, (now in his seventy-eighth year,) who remembers hearing the same related to his father, Samuel Awl, by Samuel Harris, who was a participant in the transaction :
As the parties approached each other, William Maclay, a Lieutenant of Captain Plunket's company, raised his gun and was about to shoot a des- perate character known as Simon Gurty, for whose head, it is understood, a re- ward had been offered. Gurty at once took in the situation, and saw that he could save himself, if at all, only by strategy, and instantly eried out-" Is Sam. Harris in this company ?" This question had its desired effect and caused a few seconds delay, which Gurty instantly embraced, and "by a nim- ble use of his legs soon put himself' beyond the reach of uny ordinary shoot- ing-iron."
Scarcely had Gurty escaped, when a great commotion began in the crowd, and it was discovered that Cupt. Plunket was dashing around among the so- called intruders, crying out, "Surrender, you rebels," or words to that effect, at the same time brandishing a large sword and threatening instant annihila- tion to all who might daro to make any show of resistance. It was a very daring feat, but was quickly and most efficiently performed. The result was that Capt. Plonket and his company captured the enemy, and both parties enme down to Chillisquayne, and "most of them got on a drunk," when Wm. Maclay and a servant man by the name of John Ray packed the guns into a canoe and brought them down to Sunbury, after night.
After the death of his wife, Dr. Plunket emplayed Betty Wyley as house- keeper during the remaining years of his life.
He died in Sonbury, in 1801, having been blind for several years pre- vious, during which time he had rones stretched around his yard for a guide und support. His remains were interred in the old Sunbury burying-ground.
BLOODY SPRING.
The following extraet from a memorandum made in 1802, by Colonel Samuel Miles, of the Revolutionary army, explains the circumstance from which this spring received its name:
" In the summer of 1756, I was nearly taken prisoner by the Indians. At about half-n-mile distant from the fort stood a large tree that bore excellent plnms, in an open piece of ground, near what is now called the 'Bloody Spring.' Lient. S. Atlee ( Samuel John Atlee, Col. of Musketry Battalion, and taken prisoner at Long Island) and myself, one day took a walk to this tree to gather plums. While we were there a party of Indians lay a short distance from us concenled in the thicket, and had nearly gotten between us and the fort, when a suldier belonging to a bullock guard not far from us came to the spring to drink. The Indians were thereby in danger of being discovered, and in consequence thereof, fired at and kdled the soldier, by which means we got off' and returned to the Fort in mneh less time than we were coming out."
It is said that the blood of this unfortunate man ran down into the spring, and colored its waters a crimson hne, and it was named the " Bloody Spring," in commemoration of this tragical event. The name is preserved to this day, and many enrious legends are related' concerning it. It is on the original Grant farm, now owned by Mrs. William I. Grenough. The peculiar rocks around the spring have been disturbed in building the railroad, and much of its romantie beauty is lost.
Whether there was more than this one man murdered here, there is no account upon record. This single murder is well authenticated, however, and it is supposed that it alone gave rise to the name. The following beau- tiful legend is perhaps worth preserving:
THE LEGEND OF THE BLOODY SPHING.
Bright anoset Hogers on the western hills, A flood of golden light the valley fills, The Susquehanna's rudlant waters Ibrow Back to the sky In joy, Ils crimson glow. Dim grow the shadows in the woodland deep, Where the wild pigeon seeks his place of sleep;
Son stenis the Sun's last slant and fading mays Through the grape arbor's tangled leafy maze That shades, with many a graceful thick festoon, The limpid fountain from the hents of noon, As bubbling up amid the moss so green Its sparkling waters shine like sliver sheen ; And dashing on In many a bright cascade, Sillls its sweet music In the lealy glade.
An Indian warrior, worried with the chase, In the cool fountain laves his sun-burat free, Hls arrows casts nside his bow unstrings, And on the flowery bank himself he flings. The streamlet's musle, In Its censeless play, Ils charmed senses stents In sleep away, While through his sinsaber Its wild volees been Like the strange melody of some sweet dream- Enchanted notes of a Seropble band Borne on a zephyr from the spielt land. Beside him kucets, with all a wife's fond pride, La.ms-ll-ah, his dark, but beauteous hride, Who, acurce slx mnoous ngo, In desperule war. He stole from the defented Delaware, Bralding a wampuan, her loved brave to grace: And smiling, as the gazes on bis face. To murk the varled changes there express'd, Ashliseful dreams float through his peaceful rest. With wild emotions, ber young bosom thrills, As In a whisper, sweet ns 'mld the hills, Echo the wood notes of the faithful doves, He mintly breathes the name of her he loves. Softly sho bends to kiss the lips that frame The liquid syllables of her own name. But source an Instant had she lingered there, When twanged n bow-string ou the startled nlr. Too surely aimed, the arrow's sony dart" Plereed through her own Into the warrlor's heart, And in each other's embree, closely wound, Lifeless they lle upon the blood-stained ground. Thelr Ilfe-blood gushing to the water's side, Mingles Its erimson with the crystal tide, Uutil the fount, so clear and bright before, Seems to well up a flood of purple gore. Forth from his ambush In the Inurel brake, Hideous In war-palma, springs the Spotted Snake,
A momnent stands, and on his fallen foc,
With all the innllee, rage and hate con throw Into his llend-like eyes, he flereuly ginres; Then from the lifetess bead the scalp he tenrs. Il]& work of denth and vengennee Is complete, Down The deep dell be illes with footsteps fleet; Night draws her suble inantle round the wond, And unrleness covers up the scene of blood. Often, ns v'er the sunnuer's sky is spread The sunset's glorlous canopy of red, Old hunter's spy, this spring's pure waters vie With the deep crimson of the western sky : And oft, ns twilight, from the mountain top", Iler misty vell Into the valley drops, Two dark and Ahulowy forms inny still be seen Reclining on Ils bank of mossy green.
0
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PLATE IX
JOHN
MULLEN.
M. L. BITTENBENDER.
SHAMOKIN IRON WORKS,
JOHN MULLEN & CO., PROPRIETORS.
CORNER FRANKLIN AND INDEPENDENCE STS., SNAMOKIN, NORTHUMBERLAND CO , PA.
43
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
THE INDIAN BURYING-GROUND.
An extensive Indian burying-ground was located at the upper end of Sun- bury, where it seems. that hundreds, and for aught we know, thousands of Indians had been consigned to the grave from time immemorial. Years after the white settlers enme. They found large quantities of Indian relies and im- plements of war, consisting of stone-hatchets, pipes, wampum, etc., that were displacedl by the spring freshets in the river, which washed away the banks. Skeletons, too, in an upright position were thus exhumed in great numbers.
The spot was doubtless chosen because of its adaptation to their religious belief, and in that light was full of meaning and highly romantic. The fact that it was on a neck of land around which the waters formed a semi-circle, the farthest to the west, made it seem like a favored point, from which their spirits could snil to their faneied hunting-grounds, in the regions of the setting sun. Standing there, they could imagine the spirits of their loved ones passing away, over the river, until the shadows of Blue Hill and the over- hanging syenmores of the west branch, hid them everlastingly from humau view.
EXCAVATIONS AROUND SUNBURY.
The hills around Shamokin in various places bear marks of having been excavated, but for what purpose it is now impossible to divine, and nothing is left hut vague conjecture. It is alleged by some, that the Indians were possessed of the knowledge of the existence of some kind of mineral which they used in considerable quantities.
P. B. Masser, Esq., of Sunbury, describes the remains of what appeared to have been a small furnace, covered by a mound, that was chscovered near the bloody spring. It was examined by him in 1854. The bed appeared to have been about six feet square and constructed of stone. It hore every trace of having been subjected to the action of an intense fire, as the sand was baked and blacked in such a manner as not to be mistaken. On giving it a careful examination, several particles of gold was discovered, which he still retains in his possession, A tradition is preserved, that three English- men, at a very early period, came here and erected the furnace.
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