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 4
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This settled the question of jurisdiction aud pre-emption, and it would ap- penr, to one not conversnot with the ways that were durk, of the Inod specu- lators of Pennsylvania, that the way was clear for those who had settled under the auspices of the Susquehanna Company, to transfer their allegiance to the acknowledged authority, Pennsylvnoin, and continue on in their work of pioneer life. But not so, as it will appear from a further examination of this subject. After the massacre of the Yankees in October, 1763, His Majesty inhibited any further attempts at settlement within the prescribed limits, until the troubles with the Indians should become quieted. The Trenty at Fort Stanwix settled the difficulties, and immediately the Susquehanna Company perfected arrangements for re-julibiting the lands formerly occu- pied by their agents. In pursuance of this design, it was resolved to lay out five townships, of five miles squme, and that there should be granted to two hundred settlers, who were required to occupy and hold them against intrn- ders. The Proprietory Government commissioned Charles Stewart, Capt. Amos Ogden and John Jennings, to lay out two manors, one on the west side of the river to be called the " Manor of Sunbury ;" one on the cast to be called the " Manor of Stoke." These parties were given a loan of one hundred acres of land each for seven years, on condition that they established an Indian
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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
trading-house and held the land against intruders. These men took posses- sion of the houses that had been erected by the murdered Connecticut settlers and of course the way was open for a quarrel of the greatest magnitude when the Connectieut people should return, which they did in the month follow- ing the advent of Stewart, Ogden and Jennings. Finding their houses and improvements occupied by the Pennamites, they erected a block-house, and resolved to drive away the Pennsylvania party. They surrounded Ogden's block-bouse and demanded the surrender of its inmates. The wiley Ogden requested a conference, which was readily granted, when Sheriff Jennings immediately arrested the whole party, and carried them off to Easton jail. Here was an evidence of loyalty it is refreshing to contemplate. The Con- necticut people to the number of forty, all determined men, bent on the de- struction of the Pennsylvanians, in a moment of time, when confronted with the Majesty of civil law, snrrendering themselves to one man and submitting to be marched off to jail ! The prisoners were released at once on bad and returned to complete the work they had commenced. Ogden returned and arrested thirty-three and took them to jail, from whence they were at once released on bail, only to renew the struggle over the prize. In the spring of 1770, the Connecticut people were reinforced by one hundred and sixty of their friends, all of whom set to work erecting houses and clearing land. On the 24th of May, Ogden and Jennings returned, but finding the opposition too strong, proceeded to Easton and reported the condition of things to the Governor. The Susquehauna people desirous of peace, at- tempted to open negotiations looking to a peneeful settlement of the difficul- ties and in furtherance of this sent Col. Dyer and Major Elderkin with full powers to Philadelphia, to adjust all matters in dispute relative to Wyoming lands. This effort proved abortive and in the mouth following Col. Francis with an armed force, appeared in the valley and demanded the surrender of the Connecticut men, but the settlers being strongly fortified no attention was paid to the Colonel's demand. In September, Sheriff Jennings appeared with a force of two hundred, when the settlers surrendered. Articles of capit- ulation were drawn up, and it was stipulated that four of the number should be delivered up as prisoners, that seventeen of their number should be per- mitted to remain to gather the crops of grain, that all other men, women and children should depart for Connecticut, and that all private property should be respected. The sufferings of these poor people, forced from their homes, just as the inclement season was coming upon them, were terrible. One mother, it is said, roasted the body of her dead child und fed the flesh to her surviving children, to keep them from starving.
Ogden, to his disgrace as a man and soldier, violated the stipulations and entered upon the property of the fugitives, capturing everything salable and disposing of it for himself and followers. He seized everything worth moving so that the seventeen men lett to gather the grain, having no means of sub- sistence for the winter, were forced to follow their friends to Connectieut. Ogden, well satisfied with his success, left a few men in charge of the fortifi- cations, and moved with his force to the country below the Blue Ridge and disbanded, supposing he had effectually stopped any settlement in Wyoming by the Connecticut people. For four months the territory which had been the subject of such bitter disputes, remained in the possession of the Penna- mites. But in the spring of 1770, a hand of rangers from Paxton, who had become dissatisfied with the Proprietary Government, under the leadership of Lazerus Stewart, of Lancaster County, affected an arrangement with the Susquehanna Company, and proceeding to the valley took possession. Ogden, who had been recruiting at Philadelphia from the effects of his arduons labors, in driving defenseless women and children to the forest to perish, was greatly astonished at the turn of events, and hastily collecting a body of men returned to Wyoming. Major Durkee, who had been captured by Ogden the fall before and imprisoned, had in the meantime returned and united with Stewart. The result was a capture of Ogden and his men, all of whom except six, who were left to enre for the Pennamites' property, departed. The Yankees were as forgetful of plighted pledges as the Penna- mites, and ejected the six men, taking possession of their effects.
An appliention was made to General Gage, by the Proprietary Govern- ment for assistance to dispel the Yankees, but without effect. In May of 1770, Col. Zebulon Butler with a number of followers arrived from Connec- ticut greatly augmenting the force. Peace now for a time reigned. The people applied themselves assiduously to the work of building houses, sowing grain and making preparation for winter. But the enemy that was to scatter desolation where all was peace and plenty, was near at hund. In September Ogden, with a large force, entered the valley and captured several settlers in the field at work. The people in the fort were thrown into the greatest consternation, at the sudden appearance of so strong a force,
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and became easy vietims to the impetuous Ogden. The Yankees were all eap- tured, some confined at Easton, others in Philadelphia. Ogden again retired from Wyoming leaving twenty men to hold possession, but he had scarcely dis- appeared beyond the mountains ere Captain Lazerus Stewart, at the head of thirty men, broke into the fort in the night, drove the half-awaked, half- naked garrison out and took possession.
The year 1771 opened with another vigorons effort on the part of the Pro- prietaries to regain possession of the valley. Ogden, with one hundred men, reappeared, accompanied by Sheriff Hacklein of Northampton County, who bore a warrant for the apprehension of Stewart. To the Sheriff's demand for a surrender, Stewart returned an emphatic refusal. An attack was made by Ogden, which was repulsed with the loss of one killed. The night following, Stewart, with twenty-six men, left Fort Durkee. He felt con- scious of having irritated the Pennsylvania Government to such an extent that his life would doubtless be in jeopardy if captured, and chose to put distance between himself and the eivil officers. The garrison surrendered and again Ogden held possession of the disputed lands. He had so often accomplished the same result, hoping that it had been final, and leaving, found his hopes dispelled by the ubiquitous Yankees, that he resolved to remain and hold possession. For two months, he was undisturbed, but soon his illusive dream of peace vanished, and he found himself, in Aprd of 1771, closely besieged in Fort Wyoming, by Captains Butler and Stewart. So closely was he pressed that no opportunity was afforded for obtaining water or food, and it soon became evident that without some suecor, they must again fall into the hands of Butler. The man's energy and bravery were equal to the emergeney, however, and during the night he entered the river and floated down beyond the sentinels and escaped to Philadelphia. Great excitement prevailed on his arrival in the city of Brotherly Love, and prompt measures were taken, and soon a strong foree, with provisions, under command of Captains Dick and Morris, were on the way to the relief of the beleagured garrison. But the Yankees were not asleep. Intimation of the approach of the Pennsylvanians reached these vigilant officials, and measures were taken to intercept Ogden. An ambush was laid, the pack-horses with all the pro- visions were captured, while the men were left to escape to the fort, where the garrison was on the verge of starvation. In this condition their final subju- gation was only a matter of time. They capitulated and Butler and Stewart, more merciful than their prisoner, observed the terms of capitula- tion and left them to pursue their way unmolested. The valley was now in possession of the Yankees. The fortunes of war had been varied, resulting in success to one party to-day, the next disaster, and so continuing for the two years that it had been prosecuted, and naught but the unquenchable enthusiasm of such men as Ogden on one side, and Lazerus Stewart on the other withstood the varied, and very questionable success that attended their exploits. Happily, the war was ended for a time at least, and the people began to direct their attention to more peaceful pursuits, and to developing the latent resources of this truly inviting spot. Up to this time there had been no form of government or established discipline in Wyoming. | The society, composed almost entirely of men who had lost the culture, noticeable in men who are daily thrown in contact with the softer sex, was rough and uneouth. One thing observable in the settlers along the Susquehanna, was the absence of a certain disturbing element, found in most frontier settlements, the idle and shiftless, who follow after pioneers and are but drones in the busy life. Every man appeared to be imbued with n determination to make the most of circumstances, and recover the prestige lost during the struggle for possession between the contending factions. Almost the first thing to which the attention of our forefathers was directed, the moment they had emerged from the clouds of war, was the establishment of schools and churches, for the better support of which permanent arrangements were per- fected. The original settlers were composed of Presbyterians and Baptists almost exclusively, two societies that at that day could readily and easily fraternize, thus securing unity of action in the great work to be performed. The Presbyterians were generally of Scoteh-Irish origiu; the Baptist enii- grated from the New England Colonies,-thus bringing together for the advancement of the race the energies of two classes of people, more liberally endowed with all the attributes of true moral and physical manhood, than any other people, probably in the civilized world. What a source of regret that anything should oceur to mar the harmony here prevailing! Who could estimate the good this combined effort might have accomplished, if per- mitted to develop its full strength. But Satan was lurking about this Eden, in the form of the avaricious speculator, and was even then infusing his poisoning jealousy into the minds of some. A further account of this eivil strife will be reserved for another chapter.
PLATE 11.
LAW. BUILDING, SUNBURY, NORTHUMBERLAND CO., PA. PROPERTY OF S.P. WOLVERTON.
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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
CHAPTER VI.
THE CIVIL WAR OF 1769-84, CONTINUED.
Our fathers crossed the Ocean's wave To seck this shore: They left behind the coward sinve To welter in his Hving grave ;- With hearts nnbent, and spirits brave. They sternly bore Such tofts as meaner souls had quelled : But Amily like these, such tofts Impelled Tu sonr .- Percient.
As early as 1771, says Pearce, two townships on the West Branch were settled by emissaries of the Susquehanna Company, and named Charleston and Jurlea, to which a few settlers were enticed, and formed a nucleus, about which, in 1774, people to the number of about one hundred gather. By Act of the Connecticut Assembly, approved in January, 1774, the Wyoming terri- tory, was erected into a town to be called Westmoreland. The towns of Charleston and Juden were incluiled within the limits of this town, as was nearly all the territory of Northumberland, which was annexed to Litehheld County. This act of Connecticut aroused the energies of the proprietaries to make another attempt to wrest the territory from the Yankees. Accordingly, in September of 1775, Col. William Plunket, at the head of five hundred Northumberland militia, moved up to the West Branch of the river from Sun- bury, and exhibited his bravery by utterly breaking up the infant settlement, killing one man and taking the rest prisoners, confining them in Sunbury jail. Col. Plunket, flushed with his victory over the settlement at Muncy, where with five hundred soldiers he cuptured a few meu and put to flight a number of women and children, determined, with the sanction of the Proprietary government, to move up the North Branch and destroy the settlements at Wyoming. So greatly was he elated with his brilliant success, that he was utterly forgetful of the ordinary dictates of prudence and collected together seven hundred men in mid-winter and started ont on the rash expedition. He found the Yankees on the alert, who under the command of Captains Butler and Stewart, soon cooled Plunket's military ardor, The prestige of his former success, availed not agajust a determined resistance on the part of two hundred determined men, and the erest-fullen tory retired down the river, having lost several killed and wounded. This military expedition was accom- panied by William Cook, Esq., Sheriff of Northumberland County, who was armed with sundry writs for the arrest of certain offenders. But the worthy sheriff' was not afforded an opportunity to serve his writs and he returned with Plunket. In the meantime Congress had been petitioned by the settlers for some redress. This body being then in Philadelphia, it was resolved, that the Assemblies be requested to take the most speedy means to prevent hostili- ties. This resolution produced but little effect on the government of Penn- sylvania, as evidenced by its action in authorizing the expedition under Plun- ket, which resulted so disastrously. On the 20th of December Congress took further cognizance of the matter, and resolved upon the following: "WHEREAS a dispute subsists between the Colonies of Connecticut and Pennsylvania relative to lands on the Susquehanna River, which dispute it is apprehended if not suspended during the present troubles of the Colonies, will be produc- tive of pernicious consequences, it is Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Congress, and it is accordingly recommended, that the contending parties immediately suspend all hostilities, and avoid every uppeurance of force until the dispute can be legally decided ; That all property taken and detained be immediately restored to the original owners ; That no interruption be given to either party to the free passing and repassing of persons, behaving them- selves peaceably, through the disputed territory, as well by lund as by water, without molestation of either persons or property ; That all persons seized and detained on necount of said dispute ou either side, be dismissed and per- mitted to return to their respective homes, and that things being put in the same situation they were before the late unhappy contest, they continue to behave themselves penceably on their respective possessions and improvements until a legal decision can be had on said dispute, or this Congress shall take further order thereon, and nothing herein done shall be construed in prejudice of either party." This resolution was passed before Plunket had progressed far in his contemplated movement against Wyoming, but it produced but little effect ; no counter orders being sent to him by the anthorities, he continued on his course, with the results already known. It is apparent that the Proprietary government from some cause, had an interest involved that might suffer if the dispute was left for settlement to a legal tribunal, and preferred, by the last resort of Revolutionists, to obtain forcible possession. And
all propositions of the settlers, as well as the general government, were treated with contempt, by these exemplary descendents of William Penn. But a storm-cloud was arising in the east of such magnitude as to fill with apprehen- sion the minds of all, and cause our Susquehanna people to forget for a time, their local differences, in the consideration of the momentous question of in- dependence, beside which the troubles of the Yankees, dwindled into insig- nificance. From the attitude assumed by the Indians it hecame manifest, that the Six Nations had formed a coalition with the English to wage war upon the Colonists, and from the exposed position of the people of Northumber- land County, it became necessary to devise some means of defense in case of mo- lestation from their neighbors, whose territory they were occupying. In further- ance of this design, fortifications were erected at various places along the river, and every available means of defense was brought into requisition, to be ready for use in cases of emergency. In the busy preparation for war the people were not unmindful of the demands of posterity, and every facility within reach of their limited resources was provided for the education of the young, for putting the eivil government in working order; and much progress was made during the six years that intervened from the date of PInnket's expedi- tion until 1782, notwithstanding the entire valley had been devastated with the fire, sword and tomahawk. An examination of the conduct of some of the officers of the British Army during the struggle for Independence, exhibits a ferocity and fiendishness seldom paralleled, never exceeded elsewhere. But as inhuman as was their conduct, as devoid of all feeling of humanity as they appeared to he, their atrocity pales before the recital of the acts of the beast Butler and savage Brandt, at the massacre of Wyoming. It seems to be fitting that the atrocity of such fiends should be faithfully portrayed, that their conduet may be contrasted with the more despicable of every age, and enable the present generation to see to what extent man can debase himself when under the power of the Devil, even when surrounded with the moral and healthful atmosphere that pervaded the entire Christian world during the eighteenth century.
THE MASSACRE ON THE SUSQUEHANNA.
As early as the 8th of February, 1778, General Schuyler wrote to Congress: "There is too much reason to believe that an expedition will be formed, by the Indians, against the western frontiers of New York, Virginia and Penn- sylvanin." The next month he informed them, " A number of the Mohawks and many of the Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas, will commence hostilities against us as soon as they can ; it would be prudent therefore to take measures to carry the war into their country-it would require no greater body of troops to destroy their towns, than to protect the frontier inhabitants." No effective measure being taken to repress the hostile spirit of the Indians, numbers joined the tory refugees, and with this commeneed their horrid depredations and hostilities upon the back settlers, being headed by Colonel Butler, and Brandt, an half-blooded Indian, of desperate courage, ferocions and cruel beyond example. Their expeditions were carried on to great advantage by the exact knowledge which the refugees had of every object of their enterprise, and the immediate intelligence they received from their friends on the spot. The weight of their hostilities fell upon the fine new settlement of Wyoming, situated on the eastern branch of the Susquehanna, in a most beautiful country and delightful climate. It was settled and cultivated by a number of people from Connecticut, who elaimed the territory as ineluded in the original grant to the Connecticut Colony from Charles II. The settlement consisted of eight townships, cach five miles square, beautifully placed on each side of the river. It had so increased by a rapid emigration, that the settlers sent a thousand men to serve in the Continental army. To provide against the dangers of their remote situation, four forts were erected to cover them from the incursions of the Indians. But it was their misfortune to have a considerable mixture of royalists among them; and the two parties were actuated by sentiments of the most violent animosity, which was not confined to particular families or pinces ; but peraieating every spot where least ex- pected, served equally to poison the sources of domestic security and happiness, und to cancel the laws of nature and humanity.
The warnings to the fated settlement were frequent; spies in every garb appeared among the settlers and their suspicions were aroused. The Indians by no means being novices in the art of deception, small parties would frequently appenr, making every manifestation of sincerest friendship, and lulling the inhabitants into a fancied state of security, and, at the same time, keeping the enemies of their dupes fidly advised of all that it was essential to. the accomplishment of their nefarious schemes. The settlers, however, soon took the alarm; Colonel Butler had several times written letters to Con-
16
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
gress und General Washington, aequainting them with the dangers to which the people were exposed, and requested assistance ; but the letters never renched their destination, having been intercepted by the tories. A little before the main attack, some small parties made sudden irruptions, and com- mitted several robberies and murders ; and from ignorance, or a contempt of all tie- whatever, massacred the wife and five children of n settler sent for trial to Connecticut, in their own canse. On the third uf July, the enemy suddenly appeared in full force on the Susquehanna, hended by Colonel Butler, a Connecticut tory, and cousin to Zebulon Butler, the second in com- mand in the settlement. He was assisted by most of those lenders, who had made themselves terrible in the frontier war. Their force was about sixteen hundred strong, one-fourth of which was composed of Indians, lend by their own chiefs. The whites were >w disguised as to he hardly distinguishable from the Indians. One of the smaller forts, garrisoned mainly hy tories, was given up. Another was carried by assault, and all, except the women and children, mussnered in the most inhuman manner. Colonel Zebulon Butler, leaving a small number to garrison Fort Wilkesborough, crossed the river with about four hundred men to Fort Kingston, whither the women, children, and all non-combatants, crowded for protection. He suffered himself to be enticed from his fortress by his cousin, and agreed to march out and hold a conference with the enemy in the open field, ut so great a distance from the fort, as to he beyond all protection from it. Upon their withdrawing, according to their own proposition, in order to holil a parley for the conclu- sion of a treaty, he marched out about four hundred armed men, nearly the whole strength of the garrison-so great was his distrust of the enemy-to guard him to the place for holding the parley. On his arrival, Ire found nobody to treat with, and advanced toward the foot of the mountain in pursuit of a flag, to show the enemy his desire to comply with all that they could ask. Suddenly he was freed from his delusion, by being surrounded and fiercely attacked from all sides. He fought with bravery, notwithstanding the surprise, and at the end of three-quarters of an hour, evidently was becoming master of the situation, when a soldier, under a misapprehension of orders, or overcome by fear for personal safety, eried aloud, "the Colonel has ordered n retreat." This exhibition of poltroonery decided the fate of the heroic band. In the state of confusion that ensued, an unresisted slanghter commenced, whde the enemy broke in on all sides unobstructed. Colonel Zebulon Butler, and about seventy of his men escaped ; the men got across the river to Fort Wilkesborough; the Colonel made his way to Fort Kingston, which was invested the next day on the land-side. The enemy, in u spirit of heartless barbarity, sent the bluely scalps of one hundred and ninety-six of their late comrades into the fort, to despirit the already demoralized garrison. In the evening, the Colonel quitted the fort with his family, and went down the river, being probably the only officer that escaped. Colonel Nathan Dennison, who succeeded to the command, seeing the impossibility of an effectual resistance, went with a ting to Colonel Butler, to know what terms he would grant on a surrender ; to which application, Butler responded, with a savageness that would have shamed the most inhuman of his savage followers -the hatchet. Dennison having defended the fort, till most of the garrison were killed or disabled, surrendered at discretion. Some of the unhappy persons were carried away alive; but the most were shut up in houses and barracks, and consumed; while their less than savage conquerers danced around in hellish glee. The savages then crossed the river to the only remain- ing fort, Wilkesborough, the inmates of which, in hopes of merey, surrendered without demanding any conditions. Here were stationed about seventy Con- tinentol soldiers, who had been engaged in the defense of the frontiers; these were butchered in the most inhuman manner; the butchers using every ingennity to aggravate and prolong the tortures of their vietims. The remaining men, women and children, were confined in houses, and suffered death by being burned together.
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