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 3
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cause of all their loss of home and its association, and what was a still greater source of chagrin-the withering contempt with which they had been treated hy their masters, the Iroquois. They found their former allies and neighbors already in possession of the territory, but as the Delawares had moved, sub- ject to orders of the Chiefs of the Six Nations, the Shawanese, who were also in subjection, interposed no obstacles to a peaceful settlement of their unfor- tunate and crest-fallen neighbors. Thus, through a succession of events, which were brought about after many years, did it occur that these two tribes came to occupy the fairy land of Northumberland. For many years did these two tribes dwell together undisturbed by foes without, or interne- cine strife within, with nought but the Susquehanna to divide their territories. But an event occurred, insignificant in itself, frought with direful conse- quences to many a dusky warrior, that dissevered the friendly relations, and necessitated the establishment of a more formidable barrier between the two tribes. While the warriors of the Delawares were hunting among the mountains, a number of their squaws, were gathering wild fruits, along the margin of the river, below town, where they found suite Shawanese squawe, who had crossed the river in their canoes, upon the same errand. A papoose, belonging to the Shawanese, having taken a large grasshopper, a quarrel arose among the children for possession, in which the mothers took part. A sanguinary battle ensued, in which a number were killed, and the Showanese finally forced across the river. Upon the return of the warriors, both tribes prepared for battle, to avenge the wrongs sustained by their wives. The Shawanese crossed over and engaged the Delawarex. After a bloody fight, in which many hundred were killed, the Showanexe were driven back to their own side of the river, shortly after which they left their country and removed to the Ohio. The Delawares were now left in undisturbed possession of the entire valley, their numbers being rapidly augmented by the liberal circulation of the story of their achievements over the Shawnnese.
The Delawares arriverl in this valley, in 1740, during the reign of the humane and noble Shikilemo, the far-famed chief of the subsidiary tribes or detachments, that have been settled here by order of the Six Nations. Not- withstanding the wrongs inflicted upon his people by the whites, and the Penn government in particular-of which the many instances of deception and chicanery, afforded the most irrefragable proof -- he was ready to receive, with open arms, the humble disciples of Christ, who as early as 1746, found their way here, to dispense the doctrine of charity and fair dealing. How it must have tested the eredulity of these upright heathen, to have given full credence to the words of his teachers. Often had his people trusted implicitly their more enlightened fellow beings, and as often had found themselves the dupes of avaricious, unprincipled tricksters. It is not claimed that the speculator of to-day is entitled to greater immunity from the charge of dis- honesty, than the Penns, whose fame for uprightness had been heralded far and wide in advance ; but it is claimed, that the rascals have not all lived iu the 19th century. We have only to examine some of the records their own time has made, to have our pride for the Proprietarics hopelessly dashed. Look, for instance, at the following, showing the consummation of a robbery. without parallel, except in the machinations of a Tweed, who, to-day is n fugitive from home, not daring to let himself be known among civilized men. The Indenture reads as follows : "We, (here is given the nnpro- nouncable names of thirteen Indian Chiefs, ) right owners of all lands, Quig- quingus, culled Duck Creek, into Upland, called Chester Creek, all along hy the west side of the river Delaware, and so between the said creeks, as far as a man can ride with a horse in two days; for and in consideration of these fol- lowing goods, to us in hand paid, and secured to be paid by WILLIAM PENN, Proprietary and Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, and territories thereof, viz. : 20 guns, 20 fathoms of match-coat, 2 fathoms of Stroudwater, 20 blankets, 20 kettles, 20 pounds of powder, 100 pounds of lead, 40 toma- hawks, 100 knives, 40 pairs of stockings, 1 barrel of beer, 20 pounds of reil lead, 100 fathoms of wampum, 30 glass bottles, 30 pewter spoons, 100 awl blades, 300 tobacco pipes, 100 hands of tobacco, 20 tobacco tongs, 20 steels, 300 Bints, 30 pairs of seissors, 30 combs, 60 looking-glasses, 200 needles, one skipple of salt, 30 pounds of sugar, 5 gallons of molasses, 20 tobacco boxes, 100 jews-harps, 20 hoes, 30 gimlets, 30 wonden screw boxes, 100 strings of beads, do hereby acknowledge, etc. ; given at New Castle, second day of the eighth month, 1685." This was one of Mr. Penn's first purchases, and, as will be observed by those familiar with the geography of Eastern Pen- sylvania, it included nearly all of the valuable lands of Delaware, Che-ter and Bucks Counties. The object sought here, is not to cast any blot upon the fame which, whether justly or nujustly, has been given to Penn ; but that those who had been aserihing to the Indians, attributes of beasts, may be enabled to judge Indian character a little more leniently.
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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Shikilemo nevertheless remained the true friend of the missionaries, aud during the time of his reign, which lasted until his death in 1749, the whites had naught to complain of, in the treatment receiverl by them from the red men. Whether this happy condition of things was attributable to the mercy of the Heathen King; to the guarded conduct of the whitea, or to some other cause; it is not worth while to inquire. The fact is palpable, that so long as the whites dealt justly with the Indians, so long were they trented with great consideration and respect by the untutored children of nature. The superior intelligence of the Europeans, coupled with the known skill in ntilizing all means, devised by the sciences and arts, for the advancement of the race, undoubtedly won the admiration of the Aborigines; and had this superior intelligence heen given direction by wisdom, moderated by love, the end of time would have found the red and white men dwelling together in harmony, with mutual advantage to each. The Christianizing influences exerted by Zinzendorf, Mack and others, made an impression upon tbe Indian character, that was not wholly effneed for many years. They were taught faith in Divine promises, and elung to it with a tenacity, that threat- ened death itself could not weaken. Mark the reply of the Christian Indians to the demands of the Six Nations, delivered through Purinos, the King of the Shuwanese. A settlement had been formed nt Gnadeuhutten, now Mauch Chunk, of Indians who had, under the teachings of the Moravians, embraced religion. It was desired, for some purpose, to remove the families of these Indians tu the Susquehanna. Pazinos, with twenty-three of his followers, and three ambassadors of the Iroquois, visited the settlement, and preferred the demand of their masters, that they remove at onee. This demand they refused to comply with. Several responded with true heroism, " What can the Chief's of the Six Nations give me in exchange for my sonl?" said one. " God, who made and saved me, can protect me," replied auother. " I am not afraid of the wrath of man, for not one hair of my hend ean fall to the ground without His will." " If even one of them should lift bis batehet anil say, depart from the Lord and the Brethren, I would not do it," replied another. Some of these taunting replies savored of disloyalty to the Great Head, as the Council at Onondaga styled itself, and exhibited a spirit not en- cournged by Paul, in his exortations obedience to magistrates; but they nevertheless manifested a strong faith in the God they had learned to love, und n love of religion, seldom found at the present day. 'Thus has the history of the Aboriginals of this valley been traced, with an enrnest effort as pos- sible to exhibit their true character. It is found, that there is much to con- denm; but who can be found, with Christ's test of purity, to cost stones at the poor deluded creatures, who, for untold ages, have lived in moral darkness.
From the pen of J. F. Wolfinger, Esq., of Milton, in this County, we append a short sketch of the location and character of the Indian towns in this locality. In addition to the towns named by our authority above, there are to be found indisputable evidences of' Georgetown having been the site of a town of considerable extent.
"Old Northumberland County contained numerous Indian towns, long be- fore any white men saw this region of country. Let us, so far as we have licen able to gather a knowledge of them, look ut those that stood on the north brauch of the Susquehanna River, between our present towns of North- umberland and Nescopeck, in Luzerne County.
" Nishmekkachlo. This town stood on the south side of Montour's Ridge, und somewhere about midway between our present towns of Northumber- land aud Danville-exact spot unknown to the writer of this sketch. I am inclined to think it was the residence of Munuwyhickon, u distinguished Deluwure Chiet who ruled over the Indians of these parts before the great Shikellamy and Sassoonan Chiefs made their appearance at Shokomokin or Shuumoking, the old Indian town on the present site of Sunbury, since onr old writer informs us that Munawyhichon lived somewhere on the north branch, not far from Shaumoking.
" Mahoning. This town stood near the mouth of Mahoning Creek, on its west side, u little below where the publie bridge crosses the said creek, and about a mile below the present town of Danville in Montour County.
"Montour's Ridge, a pretty high and beautifully formed elevation of earth, runs north-eastward from a point near Northumberland, but leaves a nice valley of beautiful land between its base and the north branch of the Susquehanna River. This valley, as we approach Danville from Northumber- Innd, gets narrower, until it ends in what is called "the marrow grounds"-just wide enough for the public road to pass conveniently along the foot of the ridge. And it was the eastern end of this 'Narrows,' where the old Indian town of Mahoning stood. Montour's Ridge ut this point preseuts to the eye of the beholder, a high, hold, imposing appearance, and becomes more and more so, until it, just on the north side of Danville, terminates very suddenly,
with a high wall-like face, towarrts the east; and then sweeping sharply around, it runs north for several miles, with the same high wall-like face ou the west side of the small and narrow but beautiful valley of Mnhoning, and its creek of the same name. Every traveler who visits Danville, louks with admiration upon this high, bluffy and picturesque termination of Monteur's Ridge, and is delighted with the rich and beautiful dark green foliage of its thickly grown evergreen, pine and spruce trees, that crown its top and sides, (excepting a cleared or bare spot on its top just north of Danville) and towards the close of every sunny day, throw a dark, rich shade over the sung little valley nt its hase. Its scenery looks wild and romantic, even in our day, but must have been far wilder and grander, when the Indians roamed over the ridge in pursuit of wild turkeys and deer, and of the fish that swam in the waters close by.
"Montour's Ridge, at Danville, looks as if Noah's deluge, or some other great commotion of our earth's waters, had burst a passage way through the ridge at this point, and so made this valley, for the ridge itself reappears quickly again, with a sloping, but nearly an equally elevated face on the east side of Danville, and then runs on enstward to and beyond the town of Bloomsburg, in Columbia County, where it gradually slopes down and disappears. Maho- ning was, therefore, n choice spot for an Indian town, of more than common note among the Indians,
"Toby's Town. This town, so called after a large and powerful Indian by the name of 'Toby,' stood on 'Toby's Run' a little above the Insane Asylum, abont two miles above Danville. But whether it stood on the banks of the Susquehanna River, near the mouth of' Toby's Ruo, or on top of the high ridge of earth there, along the river, I am not able to say. I passed along there in my boyhood days, on my road to and from Reading, and heard various stories about Toby and his town, but I can give no satisfactory account of theni.
"Clasenwango. This town stood still farther up the river, but on the south side of the river, and about half way between Danville and the town of Catnwissa, but I cannot state where it stood. Who can?
"Catawissa. This town stood at the mouth of Catawissa Creek, where the town of Catawissa, in Columbia County, now stands. This is evident from the fact that many Indian arrow heads, flint stones, smoke pipes, etc., have been plowed up there, and some are still found there in the fields around the town. The mountains, along whose sides the Catawissa railroad now runs, imust have fornied fine hunting grounds for these Indians.
"Oskohary. This towu stuod still further up the north branch of our Susquehanna River, somewhere this side of the old Indian town of Nishibeckon, now the town of Nescopeek, in Luzerne County, but I am unable to fix the site of Oskohary. Who can do that?
" This sketch of Nishmekkachlo, Mahoning, Toby's Town, Classawango, Catawissa and Oskohary, is imperfect in many respcete, and I have written it just to draw attention to these old Indian towns, and get some of our citizens to give us what traditional accounts they have had, as to the exact spots where said towns stood, and what Indian tribe or tribes dwelled there, and what were the names of their Chiefs, and also what the names of these Indian towns signified; sinee Indian names generally have some peculiar meaning, just as the Jewish numes of olden times had among the Jews-as we learn from the Bible. And so I, in common with others, would be pleased to see our newspaper editors publish this sketch, and add to it such fragmentary informa- tion as they are able to gather up, concerning these ancient habitations of the red meo on the north branch of the Susquehanna River. There certainly must be some traditional accounts, still existing in and around each of these neighborhoods, as it regards the suid towns, and that, whatever it may be, would be very interesting in fixing the exact spots where they stood, and the like. My father lived in Northumberland when I was a boy and often took me along np to Danville in a sulky or buggy, to see an uncle of mine who then resided on a farm on the banks of the river above Danville; and in passing up and down between these towns, I often heard from my father and other persons, interesting stories about the Indians who once lived along Montour's Ridge; but I am unable to recall any particulars worthy of note. And so I must now leave my sketch to be corrected and completed by others who have hetter knowledge of these matters than I have. But I cannot close my remarks, without asking the reader to look at and admire the beauty of our Indiun names, for we have no words in any of our lauguages-Greek, Latin, English or German-that are more beautiful than Nishmekkachlo, Mahoning, Classuntango, Cutawissa and Oskohary ;-- and our Indians acquired the knowledge of all these significant and beautiful words, without the aid of houks, ur any school, nendemy, or college. What do our literati, io this honstful nge of schools think of that ? How does it hormonize with their theories-that we must have books and schools to learn languages ?"
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13
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
CHAPTER V. CIVIL WARS OF 1769-1784.
WAR, the arrangement of erentures of God's perfect skill in opposition, for the purpose of destruction of their own species, would seem to be the perfection of Satan's machinations for the destruction of the human race, and the peopling of his domains. War, when. waged between nations and people of different races, for the redress of some rend evil that every other menns have failed to remedy, can senrcely receive the sanetion of the really good; but when the scene of strife is brought to the fireside, the home of the defenseless ; when the contestants are brethren, often of the same blood, and women and children became the hapless victims, to the vengeance of neighbors, then it is that we see it in all its hideous, horrid forms. No hor- rors can equal those ut civil war, when brethren wrought up to the superla- tive of fiendishness, ruthlessly and malicionsly seek the blood of their own kind, devastate the homes of those with whom they have dwelt ou amicable terms. Man suddenly hecomes transformed to a beast ; feelings of friendship are turned to hntred ; love to bitteruess of gaul, and the thust for blood is insatiable. Few of the people of the fair vales of the Susquehanna, reabize that here, about their homes, one hundred years ngo, was the scene of a strife, which, for noprovoked cruelty and true fiendlishness in its details, has no parallel in the history of the world. Fewer still are able to clearly under- stand the cnnse. To enter fully into an examination of all the canses, and follow them up to a conclusion, would occupy much time and space; more than the reader of to-day would feel warranted in devoting to nu examina- tion of a matter, in which, although their ancestors were deeply interested ; happily now the effects have all bevo retooved, and the gulf bridged over, that for years divided the dwellers within the little community designated on the maps as Wyoming Valley.
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Wyoming, until 1786, was embraced within the limits of Northumberland County. After 1772, all civil writs against the invaders from Connecticut were issued aod executed by the civil officers of this County. The last mili- tary expedition of any magnitude ngniust Wyoming, under the sanction of the Proprietaries, was commanded by Col. William Plunket, and rendez- voused at Fort Augusta. Many of the ancestors of those now living here, marched with the intrepid Plunket, and doubtless the blood of some dyed the soil of the valley, oo that memorable occusioo, when, in mid-winter, nn effort was made to dislodge the Yankees. Hence it is, that a narration of some of the events of this war, will possess au interest to those descendants of the Pennamites who dwell in this County. ( For information of this war, we are largely indebted to Pierce's History of Wyoming, in which we find the results of many montbs' arduons and earnest research. Undoubtedly some portions may be slightly tinged with prejudice, but as a whole, the record furnished is as impartial as it is possible to obtain.)
To arrive at a entisfactory understanding of the grounds of differences between the Colonies of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, which resulted in the civil wars, styled by some, the Pennamite and Yankee wars, it will be necessary to view the deeds made by the king, and the bounds of the terri- tory conveyed by each. One grent source of evil was the imperfect knowl- edge of those vast possessions, on the part of those claiming the right to convey by charter, title to lands here. In 1620, King James I. granted to the Plymouth Company, n Charter for the ruling and governing of New England, in America. In 1628, the Plymouth Company granted to the Massachusetts Colony their territory. In 1631, the President of the Ply- month Company, granted a large truet to Lord Say and Seal, to Lord Brook, and others, which was purchased by the Connecticut Colony. Those Char- ters or grants innde the South Sea their western bonodary. The location of the South Sea, or Pacitie Ocean, was of course unknown at that time. April 20th, 1662, King Charles II. renewed and confirmed this Charter to the Connecticut Colony, and distinctly recognized it as a part and parcel of the old grant of 1620, by James I. to the Plymouth Company. Nineteen years after, in 1681, March 4th, this same king, granted by his letters patent to William Penn, in consideration for a debt dne his father, Admiral Penn, his heirs and assigns, all that tract of Innd lying between a point on the south, twelve miles north of New Castle, and n line on the north, dividing the 42d and 43d degrees of north Latitude, aud extending westward tive degrees of Longitude from the Delaware River. Thus a tract of country, extending from worth to south a whole degree of latitude, and from east to west five degrees of longitude, was granted to the Connecticut Colony in 1662, and to. William Penn in 1681. Of course, both grantees elnimed the Innd under their Charters, nud with the exception of a difference in dates, each with equally strong grounds. But by the direction of the Crown, and in accordance with a custom long established, two other requisites
were essential to secure the validity of a title- purchase from rightful owners, the Indians, and ocenpancy. William Penn and his successors, purchased various tracts of land from the Indians, and obtained deeds for the same. November 5th 1768, the Proprietaries procured from the Six Nations at Fort Stanwix, a deed for all the lands not previously sold to them, lying within the province of Pennsylvania ; this purchase included the controverted mod. In January, 1769, Stewart, Ogden and Jennings, on behalf of the Proprietary Government, took possession of the Susquehanna lands. Thus the three essentials-a Charter, purchase and settlements-were perfected ou the part of the Pennsylvania government. Connecticut based her claim on a Charter, obtained in 1662, nineteen years before the date of Penn's Charter- a purchase made by the Susquehanna Company, nt Albany, July 11th, 1754, nod occupancy, established by the settlement of Jenkins, Buck and others, in August, 1762. House- were erected, grain sown, but owing to the diffi- eulty of obtaining supplies, these settlers were compelled to return to Connec- ticut during the severe weather of winter. In the spring of 1763, they re- turned to Wyoming and erected other buildings; hut on the 15th of October, many of them were murdered and the rest driven off, probably by the Six Nations, encouraged by the Pennsylvania authorities. Thus it will appear, that the Connecticut people had made good their claim by complying with the three pre-requisites, viz: charter, purchase and settlement, in advance of the Proprietaries. The Charter of the former pre-dated the latter by nineteen years; the purchase hy fourteen years; and the settlement by seven years; so that unless custom and law should go for naught, the Connectient claim was founded on right, and could not be controverted by the Pennsylvaniaus. Other circumstances, however, wonkl seem to favor a different view. On the 30th of November 1664, his Majesty's Commission uppointed "to decide boundaries betwixt the Duke of York, and Connectient Charter," with the approbation and assent of the agents of the Connecticut Colony, fixed n line east of the Hudson River, to be the western bounds of said colony. Again, in 1683, the Commissioners of Connecticut, with the Governor of New York, fixed upon a new line, which constitutes the present limits between the two States, and it was declared that the line fixed upon, "shall be the western bounds of the said Colony of Connecticut." This would appear to settle the question of right to any lands west of the line agreed upon, but the invincible Yankees were not to be thus thwarted in their design upon the fair vnle of Wyoming and its surroundings, and claimed, that by virtue of their Charter, they overleaped the province of New York, nod that the agreement made in 1683, did not invalidate their eluim to what was beyond. This construction of the Charter, led to the unhappy differences that resulted so disastrously to hundreds of poor pioneers, who ventured their all, and life itself, in their engerness to possess themselves of some portion of the valuable territory. The ablest men of England and America were drawn into the controversy. The question was viewed and discussed in every possible light, but no solu- tion could be determined upou that would satisfy the contestants. At last, five Commissioners were appointed by Congress, who in 1782, met at Trenton, and for forty-one days, patiently listened to arguments pro and con. On the 30th dny of December, 1782, after a careful investigation, the Commission delivered their decision in these words: "We are unanimously of the opinion, that Connecticut has no right to the land in ecotroversy. We are alsu unanimously of the opinion, that the jurisdiction aud pre-emption of all the territory lying within the Charter of Peunsylvania, and now claimed by the State of Connecticut, do of right belong to the State of Pennsylvania."
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