USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > History of Washington County : from its first settlement to the present time, first under Virginia as Yohogania, Ohio, or Augusta County until 1781, and subsequently under Pennsylvania > Part 3
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SURVEYORS.
David Steel, William Crawford, Edward Sharp, Gabriel Green, Samuel Finch, John Harry, and Daniel Leet were appointed survey- ors, who acted as such for several years.
On the 17th of April, 1776, Daniel Leet produced a commission from the College of William and Mary to be Surveyor of the County of Augusta, which embraced the county itself and the district subse- quently divided into three counties. He took the usual oaths in open conrt, and gave as his securities for the fulfilment of the duties of his office, George Rice and George McCormick, Esquires.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
It appears that in the early history of our country, these certifi- cates or commissions from a college were absolutely necessary, for in examining the records of Culpepper County, Virginia, is the follow- ing record : 20th July, 1749 (O. S.), George Washington, Gent., produced a commission from the President and Master of William and Mary College appointing him to be a surveyor of Culpepper County, which was read, and thereupon he took the usual oaths to his majesty's person and government, and other oaths according to law.
MILITARY OFFICERS.
All military officers were required, in open court, to take the test and other oaths. Among the list of officers commissioned is the name of the notorious Simon Girty, who subscribed these oaths February 22d, 1775, in Pittsburg, and yet proved recreant to all his obligations, renounced civilized life and assisted the Indians in torturing the noble and heroic Col. William Crawford, at Sandusky, in 1782, where he suffered the most terrible death which Indian ingenuity could devise.
GRIST-MILLS.
Before a mill could be erected, so tenacious was the law of the rights of individuals, that it required the sheriff to summon twelve freeholders of the vicinage to meet on the land to determine if any of the adjoining lands would be affected by the back-water from the dam, and the jury there assembled were to value the damages and make report to the court. Applications were made by the following persons, and confirmed by the court, establishing mill-seats at the localities designated : Paul Froman on Mingo Creek; Col. John Campbell on Campbell's Run emptying into Chartiers' Creek on the west side near the mouth of Robinson Run ; Nicholas Pease on Chartiers' Creek ; Basil Brown on Big Redstone Creek; Dorsey Pen- tecost on the eastern branch of Chartiers' Creek. These mills were erected from 1777 to 1781.
SALT.
The early condition of the inhabited country west of the Laurel Hill can be easily imagined from the decree of the court in refer- ence to this article.
In 1778, November 24, the court ordered that Isaac Cox be empowered to account with all persons that hath neglected any business relation to this (Youghiogheny) county's salt, lodged with Israel Thompson, of London County, and that he receive the remainder of said salt and transport it to this county and issue the same to the inhabitants to whom it is due, at six pounds ten shil- lings per bushel, and the profits thereon shall be his full satisfaction for his said services, and that the said Colonel Cox shall also pay
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
all demands on said salt, either for the original purchase or other- wise.
On September 29, 1779, the court ordered that Col. John Canon have the public salt, which now lies at Alexandria, brought up to this (Youghiogheny) county and distribute it to the persons entitled to receive it, and that he be authorized to contract for the carriage on such terms as he can, taking care in the distribution to fix the price so as to raise the money due thereon for the original cost. January 3, 1780, Benjamin Kuykendall was directed to bring up two hun- dred bushels of salt from Alexandria on the same principles.
COTTON AND WOOL CARDS.
Intimately connected with the foregoing subject was that of cot- ton and wool cards, provided for at the public expense, under the direction of the court, as the sequel will show.
May 27, 1778, the court ordered Isaac Cox, Thomas Freeman and Andrew Swearingen, to distribute the CARDS assigned for this county, upon proper and suitable satisfaction produced to them. On the 24th of June, of the same year, Col. John Stephenson and Isaac Cox were directed to distribute one-half of the foregoing cards to the battalion of Col. Stephenson. In the distribution of the cards the Committee were instructed to conform to the Governor's letter of November 26, 1777, which provided that if there are more women in either battalion, the Committee were to supply according to the num- ber of persons who had the right to obtain the same.
COUNTERFEIT MONEY.
The law authorized the court to appoint suitable persons to decide upon counterfeit money. Accordingly, we find that in 1779 Thomas Gist, Thomas Warren, and John Irwin, of Pittsburg, Matthew Rit- chie and Dorsey Pentecost, of the then county of Westmoreland, but in 1781 were residents of Washington County, were appointed and sworn in as judges of counterfeit money
ALLEGIANCE.
1778, June 22d. Rev. Edward Hughy produced a license from the Presbytery of Londonderry, in the kingdom of Ireland, to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which was read in opeu court, whereupon the said Edward Hughy came into court and took the oath of alle- giance and fidelity to this commonwealth. The Presbytery of Done- gal reported to the Synod of Philadelphia, May 19th, 1773, that they had received the Rev. Mr. Hughy as a member, and that on May 14th, 1774, they had suspended him for unchristian conduct and character.
1778, August 28th. Rev. William Renno, a minister of the Gos- pel, also came into court and took the required oaths.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
NATURALIZATION.
In the office of the Secretary of State, at Harrisburg, is a list, showing the names of those who were naturalized in the year 1765. The requisitions were entirely different to those of the present time, and were then considered as a religious rite or ceremony. The certifi- cate of the Prothonotary reads thus :-
I do hereby certify that at a Supreme Court held at Philadelphia, before William Allen, William Coleman and Alexander Stedman, Esqs., judges of the same court, from the 24th of September to the 26th of October, 1765, between the hours of nine and twelve o'clock in the forenoon of each day, the following persons being foreigners, and having inhabited and resided for the space of seven years in his majesty's colonies in America, and not having been absent out of the said colonies for a longer space than two months at one time, during the said seven years, and having produced to the said court certificates of their having taken the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper within three months before the said court, took and subscribed the oaths, and did make and repeat the declaration, according to the di- rections of an act of Parliament, made in the thirteenth year of the reign of his late majesty, King George II., entitled " An act for naturalizing such foreign Protestants and others therein mentioned, as are settled or shall settle on any of his majesty's colonies in America, and therefore were ad- mitted to be his majesty's natural born subjects of the kingdom of Great Britain.
EDWARD SHIPPEN, Prothonotary.
PASSPORTS.
The court, upon application, granted passports, indorsing the cha- racter of good and true citizens. To preserve the form used I sub- join one.
1778, May 26th. Tacitus Gillard, Esq., came into court, and pro- cured a passport from the Board of War, and desired that the same might be entered on the minutes of the court of Youghiogheny County, as a testimonial of his allegiance and fidelity to the United States of America, which is granted, and is as follows :-
WAR OFFICE, YORKTOWN, October, 15, 1777.
To all Continental officers, and others whom it may concern :
Tacitus Gillard, Esq., late an inhabitant of the State of South Carolina, being on his way to Florida, or some of the countries or places on this side thereof, or adjacent thereto, where he purposes to form a settlement; and having applied for a passport to enable him to go and travel through the parts of the country in allegiance to and in amity with the United States of America, and having produced the testimonial of his having taken the oaths of allegiance and fidelity to the said States; these are to permit the said Tacitus Gillard, Esq., freely to pass with his family, servants, attendance, and effects down the Ohio River, and all persons are desired not to molest the said Tacitus Gillard, Esq., and his family, servants, and effects on any account or pretence whatever.
By order of the Board of War.
RICHARD PETERS, Secretary.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
BENEVOLENCE OF YOUGHIOGHENY COUNTY.
The court felt it to be their duty to provide for the soldiers' wid- ows and the orphans of soldiers, who had been engaged in the Conti- nental service, and they accordingly appropriated out of the county funds, a monthly allowance for the purpose. A few examples will suffice.
Eleanor Lindsey was allowed for herself and her five children, five pounds per month ; John Sherley's widow, forty shillings per month ; Bridget Blackstone, three pounds per month ; and William Shaw's wife and six children, six pounds per month.
MARRIAGE EXTRAORDINARY.
1778, April 28th. Thomas Gist came into court, and being sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, sayeth that in the year of our Lord 1772, in the month of April, to the best of his recol- lection, in the presence of Joseph Beeler, John Stephenson, and George Read, he solemnized the rite of matrimony between Isaac Meason and Catharine Harrison, according to the rites and ceremo- nies of the Church of England, he, the said deponent, being a magi- strate in the State of Pennsylvania, and that he was under an oath not to divulge said marriage, except lawfully called on for that pur- pose.
John Stephenson and Joseph Beeler came into court, and being sworn, sayeth that they were present at the marriage of Isaac Mea- son and Catharine Harrison, in the year 1772, in the month of April, and was under a promise not to divulge said marriage, unless legally called upon, or death of either of the parties.
And the said Joseph Beeler says that there was a pre-engagement between the said Isaac and Catharine, that upon divulging the said marriage, contrary to the will of the said Isaac, that said parties should be absolved from any obligation to each other as man and wife.
REFLECTIONS.
In bringing our first chapter to a close, we need but remark that the early or primitive history of this section of the country has almost passed from the minds of the present generation of men. The footprints of time are visible everywhere, and occasionally we procure a solitary landmark, isolated and alone. These we have collected together to perpetuate them as relies of the past. Neither is it to be expected that our forefathers would devote their time and attention in recording facts for future generations. The difficulties they had to encounter, the toils they were required to endure, the constant dread of Indian massacre, all united to prevent faithful and reliable facts from being preserved to guide the historian.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
The advantage to be derived from this chapter is that we became acquainted with the topography of the country, its boundaries, streams, laws, customs, and names of the leading public characters, and thus we are enabled to localize facts, events, and persons.
CHAPTER II.
A GENERAL OUTLINE HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
History of Pennsylvania, from the date of its charter to the present time, embracing a list of all the Indian titles to lands-Historical and statistical facts-The date of the formation of each county of the State, with the num- ber of acres and population in each, and a list of the Governors from the accession of Wm. Penn, its proprietor, in 1681 to 1870.
ON the 4th of March, 1681, Charles the Second granted to Wil- liam Penn a charter for the Province of Pennsylvania, the king having a regard to the memory and merits of William Penn's father in divers services, and particularly in his late conduct, courage and discretion, under James, Duke of York, in that signal battle and victory fought and obtained against the Dutch fleet, commanded by Heer Von Opdam, in the year 1655. In consideration thereof, King Charles II. granted to William Penn, his heirs and assigns, all that tract or parcel of land in America, with all the islands therein contained, as the same is bounded on the east by Delaware River, from twelve miles distance, northwards of New Castletown, unto the three and fortieth degree of northern latitude, if the said river doth extend so far northward, but if the said river shall not extend so far northward, then by the said river so far as it doth extend, and from the head of the said river the eastern bounds are to be determined by a meridian line to be drawn from the head of said river, unto the said three and fortieth degree. The said land to extend westward five degrees in longitude, to be computed from the said eastern bounds, and the said land to be bounded on the north by the beginning of the three and fortieth degree of northern latitude, and on the south by a circle drawn at twelve miles dis- tance from New Castle northward, and westward unto the begin- ning of the fortieth degree of northern latitude, and then by a straight line westward to the limits of longitude above mentioned. This charter is in the office of the Secretary of Pennsylvania, and is written on parchment in the old English handwriting. Each line is underscored with red ink, the borders are gorgeously embla- zoned with heraldic devices, and on the top is a portrait of his majesty. This document is nearly two hundred years old.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Under the provisions of this charter, William Penn, by and with the advice, assent, and approbation of the freemen of the said country, had authority to ordain, make, and enact laws. Accord- ingly, on the 25th of April, 1682, William Penn framed a form of government for the Province of Pennsylvania. It consisted of a preface and twenty-four articles, confirming, unto the freemen thereof, their liberties, franchises, and property.
On the 24th October, 1682, William Penn arrived with an addi- tional number of colonists at New Castle, (now in the State of Delaware), and entered into a solemn covenant with the Indians by purchasing their lands and giving them full satisfaction. It must be remembered that William Markham, his deputy, had preceded him to America, and had entered into negotiations with the Indians on July 15, 1682, but it was stipulated therein that this act was to be publicly ratified by William Penn on his arrival. Conse- quently, the Sachems and their tribes, with Penn and his colonists, met at Coaquannoc (Philadelphia), but the treaty was confirmed at Shackamaxon (Kensington), under the ELM TREE.
In connection with the subject of lands, their extent and limits as purchased from the Indians, it will be proper to remark, that from the arrival of William Markham, deputy of William Penn, until the year 1792, a period of one hundred and ten years, the whole right of soil of the Indians within the charter bounds of Pennsylvania, has been extinguished by the follow thirty-three trea- ties and purchases :-
1 .- 1682, July 15. Deed for lands between the falls of Delaware and Neshaming Creek, confirmed by William Penn, October 24, 1682, under the elm tree.
2 .- 1683, June 23. Deed for lands between Pennepack and Nesha- ming, and to run two days' journey with a horse, backward up into the country.
3 .- 1683, June 25. Wingebone's release for lands on the west side of Schuylkill, beginning at the first falls and backward on the same as far as his right extended.
4 .- 1683, July 14. Deed for lands between Schuylkill and Chester Creek.
5 .- 1683, July 14. Deed for lands between Schuylkill and Pennepack. 6 .- 1683, September 10. Kake Tappan's deed for his half of all his lands between Susquehanna and Delaware, on the Susquehanna side.
7 .- 1683, October 18. Machaloha's deed for lands between the Del- aware River and Chesapeake Bay, and up to the falls of the Susquehanna.
8 .- 1684, June 3. Manghenghsin's release for his land on Perkioming. 9 .- 1684, June 7. Richard Mettammicont's release for lands on both sides Pennepack on Delaware River.
10 .- 1685, July 30. Deed for lands between Pennepack and Chester
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Creek, and back as far as a man can go in two days from a point on Conshohocken hill.
11 .- 1685, October 2. Deed for lands between Duck and Chester creeks, and backward from Delaware, as far as a man could ride in two days with a horse.
12 .- 1692, June 15. Acknowledgment of satisfaction for land be- tween Neshaming and Poquessing crecks, and back to the bounds of the Province.
13 .- 1696, January 13. Dongan's deed to William Penn for lands on both sides of Susquehanna, from the lakes to the Chesapeake Bay.
14 .- 1697, January 5. Taming's deed for the lands between Penne- pack and Neshaming, and as far back as a horse can travel in two summer days.
15 .- 1700, September 13. Deed of the Susquehanna Indians for the lands on both sides of the Susquehanna and next adjoining the same, and comprising Dongan's deed (No. 13)
16 .- 1701, April 23. Ratification of Dongan's deed and the deed of September 13, 1700 (No. 14), by the Susquehanna, Shawnese, Potomae, and Conestogoe Indians.
17 .- 1718, September 13. Deed of release by the Delaware Indians, for the lands between the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers, from Duck Creek to the Lehigh hills.
18 .- 1720, December 16. Controversy respecting the boundary of the lands, arising from the distance which a man and horse can each travel in a day, and satisfactorily arranged by deed.
19 .- 1726, May 31. Deed for lands on both sides of Brandywine Creek.
20 .- 1732, September 7. Deed for lands between Lehigh hills and Kittatinny Mountains, between Schuylkill and its branches, and the branches of Delaware.
21 .- 1736, October 11. Deed for the river Susquehanna and the lands on both sides thereof, eastward to the head of the branches, or springs running into the Susquehanna, and westward to the setting of the sun, and from its month to the Kittatinny hills.
22 .- 1736, October 25. The preceding deed declared by the In- dians to include the lands on the Delaware, and northward to the Kittatinny hills.
23 .- 1737, August 28. Deed comprising the walking purchase, or, as far as a man can go in a day and a half from the westerly branch of Neshaming up the Delaware.
24 .- 1749, August 22. Deed for lands from the Kittatinny Mountain to Mahanoy Mountain, and between Susquehanna and Delaware on the north side of Lackawaxen Creek.
25 .- 1754, July 6. Deed at Albany for the lands on the west side of Susquehanna, from Kittatinny Mountain, to a mile above the mouth of Penn's Creek, thence northwest and by west, as far as the Province extends to its western boundaries.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
26 .- 1758, October 23. Deed of surrender of part of the purchase of 1754, and new boundaries declared and confirmed from Penn's Creek, northwest and by west, to Buffalo Creek, then west to Alleghany Mountain, and along the east side thereof, to the western boundary of the Province.
27 .- 1768, September 5. The end of Nittany Mountain assumed as a station, per deed made, and surveys not usually made north thereof.
28 .- 1768, November 5. Deed at Fort Stanwix, commonly called the new purchase.
29 .- 1784, October 23. Deed explaining the boundary at the treaty at Fort Stanwix and Pine Creek, declared to have been the boundary designed by the Indians.
30 .- 1784, December 21. Deed declaring Lycoming to be the bound- ary.
31 .- 1785, January 21. Deed at Fort Stanwix and Fort McIntosh, for the residue of the lands within the Commonwealth, made October 23, 1784, and January 21, 1785.
32 .- 1789, January 9. Indian cession of lands at Presque Isle.
33 .- 1792, March 3. It is necessary to state that on the 3d of October, 1788, an Act was passed authorizing the Supreme Executive Council to draw on the State Treasurer for a sum of money for defraying the expense of purchasing of the Indians, lands on lake Erie. It is usually called the purchase of the tri- angle from the United States. This triangle contains two hun- dred and two thousand one hundred and eighty seven acres of land.
To the student of Pennsylvania history, these facts are worthy of rememberance, because it gives the date and extent of the purchases made from the Indians. We shall now turn our attention to the government of the Province of Pennsylvania, when in its infancy.
On December, 1682, William Penn, in accordance with the sixteenth article of the frame of his government, assembled all the freemen of this Province at Chester (then called Upland), as well as those of the three territories (as they were called), of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex. At this purely democratic meeting, an act of union passed, annexing the three lower counties (now the State of Delaware) to the Province of Pennsylvania, in legislation.
The Proprietor, by and with the consent of the first Assembly, divided the Province of Pennsylvania into three counties, and named them PHILADELPHIA, BUCKS, and CHESTER, while the Terri- tories retained the names of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex. For each of the counties and territories, sheriffs and other proper officers were appointed by the Proprietor; but the Council and Assembly- men were elected by the people.
On March 10th, 1683, the Council and Assemblymen met in Phila-
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
delphia ; each county having returned three members for the Council and nine for the Assembly.
In the year 1684, William Penn returned to England, leaving commissioners with a President to administer the government during his absence. But this mode of government not proving satisfactory to the three lower counties, its form was changed in 1691; William Markham was appointed Deputy Governor by William Penn. It was at this period that separate legislatures were formed and the Provinces became finally separated.
In August, 1699, William Penn sailed from England to Penn- sylvania, and reassumed the reins of government to the entire satisfaction of the people. On the 28th of October, 1701, he pre- sented the Council and Assembly with a new charter of privileges, and having appointed Andrew Hamilton Lieutenant-Governor, sailed for England. This charter continued the supreme law of the Province until the Declaration of Independence was promulgated July 4th, 1776. A court then assembled at Philadelphia, July 8th, 1776, to form a constitution for the State of Pennsylvania, and on the 28th of September following, a constitution was adopted by re- presentatives for the city of Philadelphia and the counties of Phila- delphia, Bucks, Chester, Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Berks, North- ampton, Bedford, Northumberland, and Westmoreland, being all the counties (eleven in number) which then composed the State of Pennsylvania. It is eminently proper to remark that Benjamin Franklin was President of the Convention which formed the first Constitution for Pennsylvania. Immediately upon his taking his seat, the representatives unanimously passed a resolution inviting the Rev. William White (who afterwards officiated for many years as Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church of this diocese) to perform divine service for the Convention, to jointly offer up their prayers to Almighty God to afford His divine grace and assistance in the important and arduous task committed to them as the repre- sentatives of the people of Pennsylvania, and to offer up their praises and thanksgiving for the manifold mercies and the peculiar interpo- sition of His special providence in behalf of the injured, oppressed, and insulted United States.
This Constitution was the supreme law of the State, from Septem- ber 28th, 1776, the date of its final adoption, until September 2d, 1790, when a SECOND constitution was formed by the representatives of the people. On the 9th of October, 1838, a THIRD constitution was adopted by the people ; the same having been submitted by a vote of the Convention which had previously assembled to make the necessary amendments.
Having thus briefly narrated a concise history of the State, and to which we shall often have occasion to refer in the history of Washington County, I shall now turn our attention to the boundaries of Pennsylvania for the like reason.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Pennsylvania extends from north latitude 39º 43' to north latitude 42°; from 2º 17' east to 3º 31' west from Washington city. It is bounded, in common with the State of Delaware, from the Dela- ware River by a circular line, around New Castle County to the northeast limits of Cecil County, Maryland, . 24 miles. Due north to the northeast angle of Maryland, 2
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