USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania > Part 9
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Susquehanna
Colonel's
& Quarters
Soldiers Saldiere
1% Staty \# Stery
shiplos
N 26 00 E 143 Feet
81
THE COLONIAL PERIOD.
the possession of Captain John Buyers, of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, which bears the following indorsement: "A view of the 'old house' at Fort Augusta, one mile above Sunbury, Pennsylvania, at the junction of the North and West Branches of the Susquehanna, in the year 1825. Painted by Mrs.
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COLONEL'S QUARTERS, Fort Augusta.
Amelia Donnel." This is believed to be the only picture of any part of the fort now extant, and is here published for the first time. If the author's inference regarding the date of the plan is correct, the building represented was erected in 1756, and was, until the time of its removal, the oldest house in the upper Susquehanna valley. It fronted toward the interior of the fort.
82
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
That part of the porch north of the door was originally inclosed, and formed a small apartment with one window on the north; in this apartment reliable tradition asserts that the first court for Northumberland county was held.
The close of the French and Indian war and the collapse of Pontiac's conspiracy were followed by the disbandment of the provincial forces and virtual evacuation of the frontier posts; a feeling of security pervaded the border communities, the conviction became general that a period of tran- quility was at hand, and the progress of settlement on the northern and west- ern confines of the Province early rendered further concessions of territory from the Indians necessary. One important result of the war was the reces- sion of much the larger part of the purchase of 1754; this was done at a treaty at Easton in October, 1758, when the chiefs of the Six Nations also executed a release for the territory east of the Allegheny mountains and south of a line northwest and west from a point on the Susquehanna river one mile above the mouth of Penn's creek. The next purchase, the last and most important under Proprietary auspices, was consummated at Fort Stan- wix, now Rome, New York, November 5, 1768; the territory ceded was bounded on the north and west by the North Branch of Susquehanna, To- wanda creek, Lycoming creek, the West Branch of Susquehanna, and the Alle- gheny and Ohio rivers from Kittanning to the line of the State.
The first survey in Northumberland county within the bounds of the purchase of 1768 was the manor of Pomfret. The warrant was issued, October 29, 1768, and the survey was made on the 19th of December in the same year by William Scull, deputy surveyor. The manor was bounded as follows: Beginning at a sugar tree marked T. R. P. on the east bank of the Susque- hanna river at the south side of the mouth of Shamokin creek; thence up the east bank of the Susquehanna river and the North Branch thereof eleven hun- dred eighty-two perches to a beech marked T. R. P. eight perches northeast of a small run; thence south ten degrees east two hundred eighty perches to a small hickory marked T. R. P .; thence north eighty degrees east eight hundred forty-four perches to a chestnut oak marked T. R. P .; thence south ten degrees east four hundred perches to a pine marked T. R. P .; thence south sixty-seven degrees west eight hundred sixty-five perches to a post; thence south eighty degrees west seven hundred perches to the place of beginning, embracing four thousand seven hundred sixty-six acres and allow- ance of six per cent.
The officers' lands were next surveyed. The officers of the First and Second battalions of the Pennsylvania regiment who had served in Bouquet's expedition formed an association* at Carlisle in 1764 and entered into an agreement to "apply to the Proprietaries for a tract of land, sufficiently extensive and conveniently situated, whereon to erect a compact and defensi-
*The minutes of this association are published in the Collections of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Vol. I .; extended treatment of the subject is given In Linn's Annals of Buffalo Valley, pp. 26-32.
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THE COLONIAL PERIOD.
ble town." In pursuance of this agreement an application was made to the Proprietaries on the 30th of April, 1765; as stated therein, their object was, "to embody themselves in a compact settlement on some good land at some distance from the inhabited part of the Province, where, by their industry they might procure a comfortable subsistence for themselves, and by their arms, union, and increase become a powerful barrier to the Province." They requested the Proprietaries to make a new purchase from the Indians, and apportion among them forty thousand acres of arable land on the West Branch of the Susquehanna. Four years elapsed before their plans were realized. On the 3d of February, 1769, it was ordered by the Board of Property "That Colonel Francis and the officers of the First and Second battalions of the Pennsylvania regiment be allowed to take up twenty-four thousand acres, to be divided among them in distinct surveys, on the waters of the West Branch of Susquehanna, to be seated with a family for each three hundred acres within two years from the time of survey, paying five pounds Sterling per hundred and one penny Sterling per acre." The officers acceded to the terms proposed at a meeting at Fort Augusta in the latter part of February, and appointed Captains Hunter and Irvine to accompany William Scull in making the surveys of their lands east of the West Branch. At a meeting of the officers at Harris's Ferry on the 16th of May he reported having surveyed six thousand ninety-six acres, which were apportioned to Lieutenant Colonel Turbutt Francis, Ensign A. Stein, Captain Samuel Hun- ter, Captain Nicholas Houssegger, Lieutenant Daniel Hunsicker, Captain William Piper, and Lieutenant James Hays, all of whom were officers in the First battalion except Captain Piper, of the Second. Colonel Francis's tract embraced the site of Milton; Ensign Stein's, the mouth of Muddy run; Captain Hunter's, the mouth of Warrior run; Captain Houssegger's, the site of Watsontown, above which were those of Lieutenant Hunsicker, Captain Piper, and Lieutenant Hays.
Applications for lands in the new purchase were first received at the pro- vincial land office on the 3d of April, 1769, agreeably to the following advertisement :-
The land office will be opened on the 3d day of April next at ten o'clock in the morning to receive applications from all persons inclinable to take up lands in the new purchase, upon the terms of five pounds Sterling per hundred acres and one penny per acre per annum quit-rent. No person will be allowed to take up more than three hun- dred acres without the special license of the Proprietaries or Governor. The surveys upon all applications are to be made and returned within six months and the whole pur- chase money paid at one payment, and patent taken out within twelve months from the date of the application, with interest and quit-rent from six months after the applica- tion. If there be a failure on the side of the party applying, in either procuring his survey and return to be made or in paying the purchase money and obtaining the patent, the application and survey will be utterly void, and the Proprietaries will be at liberty to dispose of the land to any other person whatever. And, as these terms will be strictly adhered to by the Proprietaries, all persons are hereby warned and cautioned
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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
not to apply for more land than they will be able to pay for in the time hereby given for that purpose.
By order of the Governor,
JAMES TILGHMAN, Secretary of the Land Office.
Philadelphia Land Office, February 23, 1769.
N. B. So long a day is fixed to give the back inhabitants time to repair to the office .*
As it was evident that several applications might be made for the same location, all were put together in a box or trunk and thoroughly mixed, after which they were drawn out, one by one, by a disinterested person. In this manner questions of priority were obviated. The land desired was usually described by natural boundaries or characteristics, proximity to streams or mountains, etc. Delaware run, Warrior run, Muddy run, Limestone run, and Chillisquaque creek were referred to by their present names, which had thus gained general currency prior to 1769.
There was an immediate and rapid influx of population to the territory thus opened to purchase and settlement. Although that part of Northum- berland county south of Mahanoy mountain was included in the purchase of 1749, it was not settled to any extent before the Indian war, during which the few inhabitants were compelled to seek safety beyond the Kittatinny range. After the restoration of peace the valleys of Mahanoy creek and its tributaries, Stone valley, and the Mahantango region early received a large German immigration, which also extended to the northern parts of the county and has since found a large element of its population. Between the North Branch of Susquehanna and the Muncy hills the pioneers were principally Scotch-Irish; this nationality was also represented in the valleys of Boyle's run, Hollowing run, and Shamokin creek, while many families of English or Welsh origin found their way into the territory now comprised in Rush, Shamokin, and the adjoining townships. The Germans were principally from Berks county, the Scotch-Irish from Lancaster, the English and Welsh from New Jersey. So rapid was the settlement of the region drained by the Susquehanna river, the North and West Branches, and their tributaries, that the county of Northumberland was erected on the 21st of March, 1772, less than three years after the purchase of 1768 was opened. Two townships, Augusta and Turbut, originally comprised its present area; the following lists of pioneers have been compiled from the earliest assessment records of these townships now extant.
Augusta township originally embraced that part of Northumberland county south of the North Branch of Susquehanna; the following is a list of taxable inhabitants in 1774: William Boyle, Sebastian Brosius, Edward Biddle, John Clark, Jacob Conrad, Robert Conn, Adam Conrad, Uriah Clark, Sebastian Crevous, George Cliver, Henry Cliver, William Clark,
*Smith's Laws, Vol. II. p. 168.
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THE COLONIAL PERIOD.
Frederick Dunkelberger, Robert Desha, William Davis, John Doane, George Eccle, Lawrence Eichinger, Martin Epley, Philip Everhart, David Fowler, John Fisher, William Forster, Peter Ferst, Henry Ferst, Anthony Fricker, David Fox, Samuel Flowers, Valentine Geiger, Peter Gearhart, Charles Garmont, Solomon Green, Stophel Gettig, Alexander Grant, Nicholas Gron- inger, Charles Gough, Ellis Hughes, Samuel Harris, Samuel Hunter, Max Haines, Jacob Haverling, Charles Hufty, George Hymn, John Harrison, George Hawke, Adam Haverling, Anthony Hinkle, Thomas Hughes, Reuben Haines, Henry Hollier, Philip Johnston, Gasper Kobel, Daniel Kobel, Samuel Krooks, Henry Kobel, Henry Kries, Peter Kobel, Henry Keller, Andrew Ketterley, Nicholas Kofield, Jacob Karron, James Logan, Martin Lister, Gottlieb Lefler, E. Lewis, John Liss, Jonathan Lodge, Benjamin Lightfoot, William Maclay, Joseph McCarrell, Robert McBride, William Murdock, Arthur Moody, David Mead, Jacob Martin, John Moll, John Miller, Jacob Minium, Thomas McGahan, Patrick McCormick, Hugh Mckinley, David McKinney, Nicholas Miller, Eli. Mead, James McNeill, James Mc- Clegg, Joseph McDonald, Isaac Meyer, John Moore, Christian Mowry, David McNear, John Musser, George Overmeier, John Peiffer, John Philips, Sam- uel Pearson, James Parr, Jacob Read, Frederick Reely, Zachariah Robins, Cornelius Row, Henry Reigert, John Ream (butcher), John Ream, Michael Redman, Robert Randall, Thomas Runyon, Valentine Rebuck, George Reitz, Gustavus Ross, Joseph Shippen, Matthias Slough, James Starr, John Simp- son, David Shakspeare, William Scull, Casper Snavely, Samuel Shakspeare, Stephen Sutton, Thomas Steinbach, John Sober, Daniel Smith, Gaspar Schneider, George Shellam, Michael Shaffer, John Shaffer, Nicholas Shuter, Peter Smith, Abraham Stein, Jacob Schertz, Conrad Schneider, John Spoon, Stophel Stump, John Titsal, Michael Troy, George Vaughan, Peter Whit- more, Samuel Weiser, Frederick Weiser, Stophel Whitmore, George Wolf, Jonas Weaver, Michael Weaver, Aaron Wilkerson, Frederick Wimbolt, John Weitzel, James Wild, John Wall, Peter Withington, Francis West, Mordecai Yarnall, Francis Yarnall, Ellis Youngman, Jonas Youghan, Jacob Zartman, Henry Zartman, Nicholas Zantzinger.
The following were assessed as single men: John Barker, Nicholas Bierly, John Brentlinger, Adam Christy, James Chisnall, Charles Charter, William Crooks, George Calhoon, Joseph Disberry, Michael De Armond, John Elser, James Ellis, Ellerton Fowler, John Forsyth, John Feucher, Jacob Graff, Joseph Gray, James Gayley, Richard Grosvenor, William Gray, George Grant, Jacob Hill, David Harris, Henry Hide, Nicholas Harmer, James Hamilton, John Harris, Jr., William Harp, John Hardy, George Kiest, William Kennedy, David Johnston, Dennis Leary, Aaron Lane, Jesse Lukens, Charles McCann, John McCord, Abraham McGahan, George North, Casper Reigert, William Robins, Jacob Ribble, John Robinson, Richard Robinson, Lawrence Steinbach, James Silverwood, John Teel, Hugh Turner,
86
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
William Trummer, Michael Tobin, Philip Valentine, William Wilson, Casper Weitzel, John Wiggins, Peter Yarnall, Ludwig the tar burner.
Turbut township originally embraced all that part of the present area of Northumberland county north of the North Branch, with considerable adja- cent territory to the east. The following are the names of taxables at the first assessment of which there is any record; while the year is not given, it bears satisfactory intrinsic evidence of having been taken before the close of the colonial period and prior to the year 1775: John Blair, Frederick Blue, William Blue, James Biggar, Michael Bannart, James Brandon, Samuel Bailey, Thomas Batman, John Black, Garret Berry, George Ben- nett, Hawkins Boone, Michael Bright, Dominick Bradley, John Brady, John Buyers, John Bullion, Michael Bradley, John Boyd, William Bailey, Will- iam Bonham, Isaac Coldron, John Curry, James Carscaddon, Adam Clark, Robert Curry, John Clark, James Cochran, Andrew Clark, William Clark, Nathaniel Coltart, Joseph Carson, James Clark, John Comfort, John Cheney, John Clark, James Crawford, Anthony Carney, John Cochran, Michael Campbell, David Carson, Charles Cochran, William Cooke, William Caldwell, Abraham Carr, David Chambers, Matthew Cunningham, Cornelius Cox, George Calhoon, William Clark, John Chambers, Johnson Cheney, John Carothers, John Chattam, Cain Callender, Philip Davis, John Denny, Peter Dougherty, Henry Dougherty, John Dixon, James Durham, Neal Davis, John Donald, David Davis, John Dunlap, Michael Dowdle, Henry Dougherty, Margaret Duncan, William Davis, John De France, Thomas Dean, John Dougherty, Adam Dean, Josiah Espy, James Espy, Thomas Egan, John Evison, John Emmitt, Alexander Emmons, John Eason, Robert Eason, Alexander Fullerton, Garret Freeland, William Fitzsimmons, Barna- bas Farran, Benjamin Fulton, Abraham Freeland, Jacob Follmer, Ephraim Fowler, Conrad Foutz, George Frederick, George Field, William Fisher, John Freeman, William Forster, Philip Frig, William Gillespie, John Gil- lespie, John Gilliland, Alexander Gibson, John Gray, Thomas Gaskin, James Goudy, Samuel Gordon, Paul Geddis, Charles Gillespie, William George, Thomas Ginning, James Galloway, Alexander Grant, Robert Galbraith, Ber- tram Galbraith, John Gray, Robert Gilfillan, Reuben Haines, George Hamil- ton, Thomas Hughes, James Harrison, David Hays, John Hood, Henry Hoff- man, Marcus Hulings, Jacob Hammersley, Simon Hemrod, William Harrison, James Hays, Michael Hendershott, William Hutchison, John Hambright, James Hunter, Thomas Hewitt, Caleb Horton, Samuel Hunter, Jacob Haines, Joseph Herbert, Samuel Harris, Hugh Hamilton, Benjamin Hemling, Will- iam Hannah, George Haines, William Hoffman, David Ireland, George Irwin, Richard Irwin, Francis Irwin, Archibald Irwin, George Irwin, Matthew Irwin, John Irwin, Owen Jury, Benjamin Jones, William Johnston, Henry Johnston, Thomas Jordan, Peter Jones, John Johnston, Benjamin Jordan, Patrick Kearney, Moses Kirk, Daniel Kelley, David Kennedy, Robert King,
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THE COLONIAL PERIOD.
William Kennersley, John Lytle, Robert Low, William Layton, Robert Luckey, Robert Luckey, Jr., James Luckey, Joseph Leech, Jonathan Lodge, Thomas Lemon, Charles Lomax, Hugh Logue, Cornelius Lamerson, Aaron Levy, Andrew Levy, Robert Luckey, William Linton, Robert Love, Charles Lamerson, Widow Lukens, Richard Malone, John Montgomery, William McKnight, Jacob Miller, Robert McCallan, William Mc Williams, William Murray, Robert McCandlish, Robert McFarling, James McBrier, Judah Miller, John McHenry, John Martin, John McWilliams, James Mur- phy, Robert Mc Williams, John McClenachan, Hugh McWilliams, Thomas Mahaffey, Robert Moodie, James Murray, John Murray, George McCandlish, James McClung, John McClintock, Alexander McMath, James McKnight, Gowan McConnell, Isaac Miller, John Minger, Samuel McKee, James Mahaffey, John Miles, Darius Mead, James McMahan, Adam Mann, William Marshall, Robert McCully, Hugh McCormick, James McClenachan, William Montgomery, George Miller, Frederick Maus, John McFadden, William Mur- dock, Samuel Mann, William McKim, Robert Martin, Peter Martin, Laughlin McCartney, John McAdams, John Moore, John McCulloch, John McGuffy, John Martin, Alexander Murray, John Neilson, James Neely, Thomas Orr, Samuel Oaks, Joseph Ogden, William Piper, William Plunket, Barnabas Parson, Robert Pedrick, Stephen Philips, Edmund Physick, John Pollock, William A. Patterson, William Patterson, Mr. Patton, Samuel Purviance, Robert Poyles, Robert Reynolds, Isaac Robison, Ellis Reed, John Richey, Matthew Reese, Joseph Reynolds, Andrew Russell, Mungo Reed, William Ross, Alexander Roddy, Richey & Company, William Reed, Andrew Robi- son, Archibald Simpson, Benjamin Sterritt, Thomas Staddon, Samuel Shaw, Alexander Speer, James Semple, John Simpson. This list is evidently not quite complete.
Thirty-two indentured servants and five slaves were reported; the latter were accredited as follows: William Maclay, one; Garret Freeland, one; James Hays, one; David Ireland, one, and William Plunket, one.
These were the pioneers of Northumberland county. With the imple- ments of peaceful industry they invaded its territory, took possession of its soil, removed the primeval forest, and initiated the development of its agri- cultural resources. The terms upon which the "New Purchase" was opened rendered it possible for men of limited means to buy land, improve it by their own labor, and acquire a home; the opportunity was eagerly embraced, and thus the early population of the county was composed almost entirely of people in humble circumstances. Contemporary assessment records show that a horse and cow and eight or ten acres of cultivated land constituted the taxable property of the great majority of the farmers of that period, and the man who brought with him several horses and cows and means enough to employ others to assist him in clearing his land was evidently regarded as rich by his neighbors.
88
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Many interesting characteristics of pioneer life in this county are reflected in the journal of Philip V. Fithian, a licentiate of the First Presbytery of Philadelphia, who made a journey through Delaware, Maryland, Pennsyl- vania, and Virginia in the summer of 1775. The journal, edited by John Blair Linn, was first published in 1883-84 in Dr. W. H. Egle's Historical Register. He traveled horseback; passing through the Cumberland valley he arrived at John Harris's on the Juniata on the 24th of June, 1775 (Saturday); on the following Monday he rode to Eckert's tavern, within the present limits of Snyder county, and thence to Sunbury. The journal is as follows :-
Tuesday, June 27 .- Rode from the clever Dutchman's to Sunbury over the Susque- hanna, fifteen miles. I think the river is a half a mile over, and so shallow that I forded it; the bottom is hard rock. Sunbury is on the northeast bank. It is yet a small village, but seems to be growing rapidly. Then I rode on half a mile to one Hunter's, within the walls of Fort Augusta. Then I rode onward to Northumberland about a mile, but on the way crossed the river twice.
Here are a number of boatmen employed in going up and down the river to Mid- dletown and back. With these and others from the country, this infant village seems busy and noisy as a Philadelphia ferry-house. I slept in a room with seven of them, and one for a bed-fellow. He was, however, clean and civil, and our bed good and neat. Some of them suspected me of being a clergyman, and used me with profound respect. "Your Reverence," was the preface of almost every sentence. One of them, a genuine Quo-he, coaxed me by persuasion and complaints out of a sixpence as charity.
Wednesday June 28 .- A very wet, rainy morning. About twelve o'clock marched into this town, from the Great Island or "Indian land " fifty miles up the river, thirty young fellows, all expert riflemen, with a drum and fife, under Captain Lowdon. They passed on, however, soon to Sunbury, where they remained until Monday. Brave youth! go, through the kindness of the God of battles may you prosper and save your country. I made some small acquaintance with Mr. Doheda, a smart, agreeable Englishman, and one Mr. Chrystie, a dry, sensible, intelligent Scot.
Thursday, June 29 .- I rode up the West Branch two miles, to Mr. Andrew Gib- son's, on the way crossing the river twice, over a fine, rich island shaded with lofty, smooth beech trees; on one of these I carved my name. After dinner I went down the river with two of the Messrs. Gibson in a small boat, for exercise and recreation. The river is perfectly transparent-so clear that you can see, in the deepest parts, the smallest fish. In the evening came the Philadelphia papers. All things look dark and unsettled. The Irish regiments have arrived. Government is strengthening its forces; the Americans are obstinate in their opposition. The Virginians have differed highly with their Governor, and he has thought it necessary to go on board, with his family, of one of his Majesty's ships. The Continental Congress is sitting in Phila- delphia, and recommends Thursday, July 20th, as a day of public humiliation, fasting, and prayer.
Saturday, July 1 .- I crossed the river and rode into town; my landlady received me kindly. From the room where I write this I have a long, full, and beautiful prospect of Sunbury down the river. Now, going either up or down, are many boats, canoes, etc. plying about. In short, this town in a few years, without doubt, will be grand and busy. I find these two infant villages, like other rivals, are jealous of each other's improvements, and Mr. Haines, who is proprietor of this place, is much annoyed.
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THE COLONIAL PERIOD.
Sunday, July 2 .- A rainy, damp morning; but little prospects of service. At eleven, some few came in; we have worship in Mr. McCartney's house. After we begau, many came in from the town, and they gave me good attention. Between ser- mons several gentlemen kindly invited me to visit them: Mr. Cooke, the high sheriff; Mr. Martin, a gentleman who came lately from Jersey; Mr. Barker, a young gentle- man, a lawyer, from Ireland last fall. After one hour and a half intermission we had service again; many more were present than in the morning. Mr. Scull, the surveyor general's agreeable mate, was present at both sermons; Mrs. Hunter, Captain Hunter's lady, who lives on the other side of the water at Fort Augusta, and is burgess [lieu- tenant] for his county, and is with Mr. Scull now, down at Philadelphia, was also present at both sermons with her two small, neat daughters and a beautiful young lady, her niece. I was invited by Mrs. Scull to coffee; present: Mrs. Hunter and the young ladies, Mrs. McCartney and her sister, and Mr. Barker. While we were at cof- fee the post came into town; we have in the papers accounts of the battle of Bunker Hill, near Boston, where the Provincials were worsted; accounts of General Washiug- ton and his aid-de-camp, Mr. Mifflin, leaving Philadelphia for the North American camp. Mrs. Scull very kindly invited me to make her house my home while I shall stay in town. She has a pleasant and valuable garden, the best by far in the town; it has a neat and well designed summer-house. She has a well finished parlor, with many pieces of good painting, four, in special, which struck me much-large heads from ancient marbles of Hypocrates, Tully, Socrates, and Galen.
Monday, July 3 .- No paper to be had in town, and I have only five sheets. Mr. McCartney gave me one pound, five shillings, nine pence for the supply, for which he demanded a receipt, a custom here. Breakfasted with Mrs. Scull; I dined with Mr. Martin, in West Way street, on the river. After dinner Mr. Haines, the proprietor of the town, took me to see a lot he is about to give to the Presbyterian society. It is a fine, high spot on the North Way street, and near the river; also near it is a fine spring of good water. A number of the town gentlemen proposed, if my appointments will allow, to preach in this town on the day of the Continental fast.
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