History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 29

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372

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Immediately after the defeat of

A Petition the provincial forces at Mc- to the Cord's Fort the frontier coun-

Governor. ties of York and Cumberland were in danger of incursions from hostile Indians. Many settlers crossed

154

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

the Susquehanna to places of safety. Others assembled at York, which was fortified for defensive purposes, and companies of home guards were organized for protection. About this time a large number of repre- sentative citizens of York County, which then included Adams, signed a petition ap- pealing to the Governor of Pennsylvania for aid and assistance. Most of the signers were Scotch-Irish or English Quakers. The following is a copy :

To the Honorable Robert Hunter Morris, Lieutenant- Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania and Counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex upon Delaware :

The petition of the inhabitants of the town and county of York :-

Most Humbly Showeth,

I. That your petitioners are sensible that your honor has left no measure (in your power) untried for the protection of our lives and liberties from the outrages of barbarous and savage enemy.

2. That your petitioners hoped their sufferings were at an end when a chain of forts were erected along the frontier for their defence.

3. That notwithstanding this, skirmishes are made, murders and captivities daily committed upon the re- maining inhabitants, who held their possessions in the most imminent danger; in hopes of seeing more happy days.

4. That all our prospects of safety and protection are now vanished, by finding one of our best forts upon the frontier burned and destroyed : and the men who bravely defended it carried into barbarous captivity-and the rest of the forts liable to the same fate which may un- happily be the case before this can reach your honor's hands.

5. That as the County of Cumberland is mostly evacuated and part of this become the frontier, the enemy may easily enter, and take possession of provi- sions sufficient to supply many thousand men and be thereby enabled to carry their hostilities even to the metropolis. Whereas the security of these provisions for the service of his Majesty's forces which may be sent against Fort Duquesne may save an expense of many hundred pounds for the carriage 'of provisions from more distant parts.

Your petitioners therefore most humbly pray, that as your honor has cheerfully embraced every opportunity of delivering us from our miseries, your honor will also recommend our complicated distresses to the Right Honorable the Earl of Loudon, who, upon knowing our truly deplorable condition may be graciously pleased to take some measure to ease our calamities; perhaps to command the recruits now raised in this province for the Royal American Regiment, to be forthwith sent to our relief, whilst the provincials now in pay may go against the enemy to avenge our bleeding cause! And your petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray, etc. James Murphy Leonard Hatton

John Carrell Thomas Collens

Nathaniel McCoy

John Duffield

Richard Saddler

John McKinley

Isaac Sadler Thomas Holmes

Jonathan Lesley

James Hornor

John Sadler William Young

John Holmes David Brown

John Galbreath Patrick Cochren James Moore

Neil McNeighton

James Geerey

John Wilson Jesper Wilson James King

Edward Hatton

Samuel Steel

Samuel McCall

William Smith

Abraham McCarter

John Maxwell

Isack McKinle

John Foods

William Foods

John Scott

David Ritchie

Michael Anderson

James McKroson

Allend Endsly

Robert Hutton

James Dixson

John Hutton

William Boll

William McCreary

Robert Boner

William Ross

William Walker

Francis Betey

Hendrey Donely

John Crooks

Samuel Maclay

William Caldwell

George Leyiston

John Brown

Samuel Houlsworth

James Hamilton

Robert Miller

Robert Hamilton

John Carrol

John Smith

James Carrol

John Boyd

John Gray

Gill Watson

Adam Smith

William Campbell

Samuel Smith

John Wilson

Arthur Miller

Henry Black

Thomas Bracken

William McCreary

William McGrew

John Reade

Archibald McGrew

William Boyl

William Duffield

John Hodge

Alexander Brown

Patrick Hanna

John McGrew

William Love

John Dunbar

Mickel Drumgold

John Healy

John Burns

Robert Walker

John Murphy

John Hunt

Arthur McConeme

Isac Means

John Con

Thomas Murray

John Brown

William Miles

William Cupper

Michael Willison

John Larance

James Wilson

Rev. Thomas Barton

Samuel Thomson

Robert Thompson

Robert McMurdie

John Dickson

Patt. Watson

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William Finey

Samuel Miller Samuel Cooper William Cooper

William Guffock John Peterson

William Bards

George Leekey

Thomas Kneeley

John Mitchell

John Ewens Henry Stevenson

William Parkison John Carnahan John Townsly

William Wattson

John Killbrath Robert Black

William Bar

John Danil William King

Victor King

James Hall

Jackson Nelle John Jamison

John Colbreath

Matthew Knox John Boll

David Watson

George Love George Black Andrew Thompson

Francis Battey

William Biggor

William Simpson

George Latimor James McWilliams

David Maxwell

Allexander Love

John Gilleland

Allexander McCarter

James Dickson

Richard Brown

Samuel Dickson

Robert Farrier

William Carney

Andrew Thomson

Joseph Dodds

David Wattson

Hanes Cealear

William Saddler

Richard Chesney

John Scogdon

Hugh Robson Nicholas Bishop

William Irwin William Hamilton

William Dickson Samuel Dickson

Richard Saddler, Jr.

John Jones Efran Hodge

Robert Dickson

Matthew Elder Andrew Shanen

Anon Torens

Henry Montieth

Samuel Dickson

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FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR

John Montieth

William Lindsey

William Maughlin

William Hill

William Boyd

Robert Hill

Benjamin Beley

William Wilson

Joseph Beley

Samuel Wilson

Robert Moore

Thomas Neeley

John Abbet

John David

Thomas Keinton

William Davison

Alexander White

John Grist

William Moore.

In the fall of 1756 it was de- Indians termined by Governor Morris Defeated at Fort to send an expedition against Kittanning, the headquarters Kittanning. of the Delaware Indians. It was at this place that the prisoners from Fort Granville had been taken. Colonel John Armstrong, of Car- lisle, a brother of Lieutenant Armstrong, who was killed at Fort Granville, was en- trusted with this command, which included the companies of Captains Hance Hamilton, Hugh Mercer, Edward Ward and James Potter. Armstrong started from Fort Shir- ley, near Huntingdon, on the last of Au- gust and arrived before Kittanning on the night of September 7, without being dis- covered by the enemy. On the following morning he destroyed the Indian village and fort, and rescued the prisoners. About forty Indians were killed and a number wounded. This was considered a great victory for the provincial forces and con- vinced the Governor and the Assembly that the American troops understood warfare against the Indians better than the regulars sent by the British crown. In the attack on Fort Kittanning, Colonel Armstrong re- ceived a wound in the shoulder, which was dressed by Dr. David Jameson, of York, who had accompanied the expedition as a surgeon. Captain Hugh Mercer, who after- ward became the bosom friend of Washing- ton, and was killed at the head of his brigade at the battle of Princeton in the Revolution, was also among the wounded. Captain Hance Hamilton's company of Scotch-Irish from York County did most valuable service in the battle of Kittanning.

The Pennsylvania troops raised for the Forbes expedition east of the Susquehanna crossed the river, passing through York and Cumberland Counties to Carlisle and from thence moved to Raystown, now Bedford, where they were joined by the Virginia troops under Washington.

When Forbes arrived at Raystown with his army, in September, 1758, he was car- ried in a litter, as he was already prostrated by the illness that shortly afterward caused his death, but his head was clear and his will firm, and he retained command of the expedition. After Bouquet's disastrous reconnoissance the army reached Loyal- hanna on November 5, and it was decided to FORBES' EXPEDITION. pass the winter there, when news of the weakness of the fort induced Forbes to push Sir William Pitt, the premier of the forward. Passing the field where the bones of Braddock's men lay unburied, the expedi- tion finally reached Fort Duquesne on No- vember 25. The fort had been blown up and abandoned by the French on the

English government, now determined to wrest Fort Duquesne from the French. Brigadier-General John Forbes, an English officer of high reputation as a soldier, was

appointed to command the expedition. Seven thousand five hundred British and American troops were raised for this pur- pose ; of these 2,000 were recruited from Pennsylvania. Forbes arrived at Philadel- phia in April with his British regulars. He proceeded to Carlisle and arranged for a place of rendezvous at Bedford. These Pennsylvania forces were composed of three battalions. The first battalion was com- manded by Col. John Armstrong, of Car- lisle, the hero of Kittanning; the second battalion by Col. James Burd, of the Brad- dock expedition, who resided below Harris- burg; the third battalion by Col. Hugh Mercer, the distinguished soldier who had been wounded at Kittanning. Many of the York County troops served in the first bat- talion, of which Hance Hamilton was lieu- tenant-colonel. Dr. David Jameson, of York. who displayed ability both as a soldier and a surgeon, was major of the second battalion. Rev. Andrew Bay, of Marsh Creek, was chaplain of the third battalion, of which James Ewing, residing near Wrightsville, and who became a brigadier-general in the Revolution, was adjutant. The following named persons from York County com- manded companies in Forbes' expedition : Captains Robert McPherson, Archibald McGrew, David Hunter and Thomas Ar- mour.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

previous day, and Washington's men pioneers. After the defeat of Braddock in marched in and took possession. Forbes renamed the place Fort Pitt (now Pitts- burg), in honor of William Pitt, who had planned the campaign, and, after concluding treaties with the Indian tribes on the Ohio, returned to Philadelphia, where he died shortly afterward. He was noted in the army for his obstinacy, and was nicknamed " The Head of Iron." His expedition to Fort Duquesne ended the French and In- dian war so far as Pennsylvania was con- cerned. The Indians gave no further trouble to our northern and western frontiers until the year 1778, during the Revolution.

COLONEL HANCE HAMILTON, a noted soldier of the Provincial army in the French and Indian War, was an early Scotch-Irish settler west of the Susque- hanna river. He was a bold and audacious frontiersman and soon became one of the most influential citizens of York county. He landed at New Castle, Delaware, with other Scotch-Irish immigrants and about 1732 took up lands near the site of Wrightsville. About this time a thrifty Scotch-Irish settle- ment was being made at Marsh Creek, near the site of Gettysburg. Here Hance Ham- ilton located about 1739 and became a leader of the Scotch-Irish. In 1750 he was a candidate for the office of sheriff of York county. This was the first election for that office. He represented the English and Scotch-Irish settlers, while Richard McAl- lister, who afterward founded Hanover, al- though of Scotch-Irish birth, was a candi- date of the Germans. At that early date all the voters of York county, which then in- cluded Adams, cast their ballots in the court house at York. It was a bitter contest be- tween the opposing factions and required the decision of the Provincial authorities to decide that Hance Hamilton should be com- missioned as the first sheriff of York county. He was re-elected to the same office and after his retirement engaged in agricultural pursuits and owned a grist-mill in Menallen township, now Adams county. His place of residence, together with his Scotch-Irish neighbors, was near the western frontier when the Indian depredations began in 1753. Having inherited a military spirit, Hance Hamilton organized a company to defend the homes and firesides of these

1755, he continually trained his company for military service and in 1756, after a line of forts had been constructed, Captain Hamil- ton marched with his company to Fort Lit- tleton in Bedford county. He was a com- mander of this fort in 1756 and upon hearing of the disaster at McCord's Fort went to the rescue of the Provincial troops there and wrote a description of the disaster. In 1756, Hance Hamilton commanded his com- pany of York county troops in the expedi- tion under Colonel Armstrong and aided that officer in defeating the French and Indians at Fort Kittaning. In 1758 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the First Battalion of the Pennsylvania foot soldiers in the Provincial army which participated in Forbes' expedition against Fort Duquesne. After the close of the French and Indian war Colonel Hamilton continued his occupation as a farmer and miller retaining his interest in the public affairs of York county until the time of his death, February 2. 1772. His will was ex- ecuted four days before his death and his estate is valued at 3000 pounds Pennsyl- vania currency, or about $8,000 in coin. He owned six negro slaves, which were sold at public auction in 1773. He left ten chil- dren, none of whose descendants reside in York or Adams counties. His children were Thomas, Edward, Harriet, Sarah, Mary, Hance, Gawin, George, John and William. One of his sons studied medicine under Dr. John Boyd, of Lancaster, and in 1768 was one of the earliest graduates from the University of Pennsylvania. In his will he left to his son, Thomas, a pair of silver mounted pistols valued at 30 dollars, to his son Hance, he gave a pair of brass barrelled pistols and holster valued at 5 pounds ; one silver-mounted sword valued at 10 pounds ; one silver medal valued at 5s .; to his son Gawin, a silver snuff box, valued at 2 pounds ; and to his son George, a long gun valued at 2 pounds, Ios. George also re- ceived a pair of silver buckles appraised at 12s., and Jolin a silver watch appraised at 5 pounds, Ios. Hance Hamilton was a man of enterprise, great force of character and activity in public affairs. Hance Hamil- ton's remains lie buried in Evergreen Cem- etery, at Gettysburg, and are marked by a head-stone of slate.

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THE REVOLUTION

YORK COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTION.

CHAPTER XII THE REVOLUTION

First York County Troops-Thompson's Battalion-Expedition to Canada-Sixth Pennsylvania Battalion-Battle of Three Rivers - McClean's Company - Grier's Company-Miles' Regiment-Albright's Company-First Pennsylvania Regiment -Battle of Long Island.

In 1774 the difficulties between the King of England and the thirteen colonies were not adjusted by the appeals made to the King and Parliament. As the result of this condition the first Continental Congress with representatives from the different colonies, met in Philadelphia in September of that year. This Congress sent a decla- ration of Rights to the King, but it was un- answered. Soon afterward Massachusetts assembled a Provincial Congress and began to form troops and collect military stores to oppose by armed resistance what was termed the tyranny of the English govern- ment. Gen. Thomas Gage, who had fought under Braddock in the French and Indian war, was in charge of the British troops at Boston.

On the evening of April 18, 1775, Gage dispatched 800

Lexington.

Concord and regulars to Concord, a few miles northwest of Boston, to capture the army stores there. On their way they found a party of armed yeomanry on Lexington Common. A British officer ordered them to disperse and as they remained motionless his soldiers fired, killing seven men, and then proceeded to Concord. By the time they reached Concord most of the stores had been re- moved. In a sharp skirmish, the British regulars were defeated, and as they marched back toward Boston, hundreds of farmers advanced upon them, firing from behind walls and trees after the Indian fashion.

The British lost nearly 300 men, and though reinforced, narrowly escaped capture. This was the beginning of the Revolutionary war.

On the 10th of May, 1775, the second Continental Congress assembled in Phila- delphia and on the same day Ticonderoga and Crown Point, on Lake Champlain, were captured by patriots from the Green Mountains and Connecticut Valley, under Ethan Allen and Seth Warner.

The tocsin of war had now been sounded and American troops began to assemble in the vicinity of Boston. These men had come from farms and workshops and, al- though untrained as soldiers, were eager for armed conflict with the British foe. Meantime reinforcements had arrived from England. General Gage was succeeded by Sir William Howe, who now commanded 10,000 men, and on June 17 the famous bat- tle of Bunker Hill was fought. Although the Americans were defeated, the moral effect of the battle was in their favor.

At this time the American forces around Boston were composed of undisciplined troops. The news of the conflict at Lexing- ton and Concord soon spread from Massa- chusetts to Georgia. It aroused a spirit of patriotism that prevailed throughout the country during the entire period of the war. Continental Congress had taken charge of the assembling of troops in Massachusetts to oppose the British forces of Sir William Howe, and now supported active measures for a war against the mother country. On June 14 this body of patriots adopted a resolution that eight companies of trained riflemen from Pennsylvania, two from Maryland and two from Virginia be raised. and as soon as organized should be marched to the army under Washington at Cam- bridge.

A military spirit had existed in Pennsyl- vania and the adjoining colonies since the French and Indian war. Companies had been organized in nearly all the centres of

158

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

population. The men who composed these companies were trained hunters and skilled marksmen so that when their patriotism was aroused, these sturdy pioneers were quick to respond to the resolution of Congress and the appeals of their fellow- countrymen in New England.

When the news of Lexington and Con- cord reached the county seat at York it was soon transmitted to every section of York County. A similar spirit pervaded the neighboring counties of Pennsylvania. One of the eight Pennsylvania companies was to be recruited in York County. Each com- pany was officered with a captain, three lieu- tenants, four sergeants, four corporals, a drummer and sixty-eight' privates. The captain was to receive twenty dollars per month : a lieutenant, thirteen and one-third dollars; a sergeant, eight dollars; a cor- poral, seven and one-third; a drummer the same; privates, six and two-thirds. All were to find their own arms and clothes.

FIRST YORK COUNTY TROOPS.

The sturdy yeomanry of this section of Pennsylvania were ready for the emergency. Local militia companies had been organized. At this period there were three armed companies in the town of York. From the militia of the county it was decided to select the requisite number of officers and sixty- eight riflemen to form a company. Recruit- ing began at Marsh Creek, at Gettys' tavern, now the site of Gettysburg. Some men came from the Monaghan settlement, where Dillsburg now stands, and still another squad was recruited in the southern part of the county. These men, ready to enlist in the cause of American Independence, came to York, where the company was organized with Michael Doudel as _captain; Henry Miller, first lieutenant ; John Dill, second lieutenant ; James Matson, third lieutenant.

to enlist that there were more than the officers were authorized to accept.

" I'll take only the men that can hit that nose at one hundred and fifty yards," said young Lieutenant Miller, as he chalked a small nose on a barn door.

Horatio Gates, recently appointed adju- tant-general of the army and who had chanced to arrive in York from his home in Virginia on his way to headquarters, de- cided it would be unwise to refuse the en- listment of such courageous men. "They will make soldiers," he said.

The committee appointed to provide the necessaries for the company did their work so well that in a few days a company of 100 men was completely armed and equipped for the field without a farthing being ad- vanced from the Continental treasury.

" The spirit of the people on this oc- casion," wrote the local committee of cor- respondence to Congress, "gave the com- mittee encouragement. The men seemed actuated with the greatest zeal and thought themselves honored in having their names enrolled among the sons of liberty who are to fight for their country and in defense of their dearest rights and privileges. The only uneasiness they feel is that they are not this moment at the scene of action. From the spirit of the soldiers we entertain the most flattering hopes that they will prove servicable to the cause of liberty and reflect honor on this county. The principal people here have caught the spirit of the honorable Congress and in their small circle have done everything in their power to animate their neighbors to stand forth in this day of despotism and resist the arbitrary and un- just measures of Parliament with all the power which heaven has given them. And we have the pleasure to inform you that their labors have not been in vain and that the county is ready to strain every nerve to put into execution any measures which the Congress may judge necessary to our com- mon defense. The officers are men of whose courage we have the highest opinion. The captain has behaved very well on this occasion and has done all in his power by advancing money, etc., to forward the com- mon cause."

On receipt of the instructions of Con- gress the York County committee, which was made up of such sturdy patriots as James Smith, Thomas Hartley, George Irwin, John Kean, Joseph Donaldson and Michael Hahn, immediately assembled and took steps to prepare the company for the It would be interesting to record the en- tire muster roll of this band of patriots. front. Everything was done with. the greatest expedition. So many men wanted The official records being defective, all that can be here given are the fol- lowing :

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159

THE REVOLUTION

Captain, MICHAEL DOUDEL. First Lieutenant, HENRY MILLER. Second Licutenant, JOHN DILL. Third Lieutenant. JAMES MATSON. Corporal, WALTER CRUISE.

Privates,

Armor, Robert

Lelap, Daniel

Armstrong, George

Lewis, Abram

Beverly, John

McAlister, John

Bettinger, Christian

MCCrary, John

Brown, John

McCurt, John

Campbell, Thomas

Minshall, Joshua

Clark, John Mill, James

Cline, William

Moore, Edward

Cooper, William

Ramsey, David

Dougherty, George

Russell, William

Donther, John

Shields, Matthew

Evans, Abel

Staley, Jacob Start, Andrew

Ferguson, John

Graft, Robert

Sullivan, Patrick

Griffith, John

Sweeney, Isaac

Halbut, Joseph

Tanner, Tobias

Kennedy, Richard

Taylor, Jolın

Kennedy, Thomas

Turner, Cornelius

The form of enlistment to which every one of these volunteer soldiers appended his signature before leaving York reads: "I have this day voluntarily enlisted myself as a soldier in the American Continental army for one year, unless sooner discharged, and do bind myself to conform in all instances to such rules and regulations as are, or shall be, established for the government of said army."

According to the diary of Rev. John Roth, pastor of the Mora-

Leave for vian Church at York, Captain Boston. Doudel and his company attended religious services at Zion Re- formed Church on the morning of July Ist. They listened to a patriotic sermon de- livered by Rev. Daniel Wagner, the pastor, who enjoined them "to keep God before their eyes continually and then they would be assured of his guidance and protection." At I o'clock in the afternoon, this band of one hundred American patriots started out East Market Street on the long march to join the army under Washington at Cam- bridge.

In answer to the resolution of Congress for eight companies from Pennsylvania, the recruiting of men took place in the other counties of the Province. One company was raised in Northampton County, com- manded by Captain Abraham Miller; one in

Berks County, Captain George Nagel; one in Bedford County, Captain Robert Clug- gage; one in Northumberland, Captain John Lowdon; two in Cumberland, which then included Franklin, commanded by Captain James Ross and Captain Matthew Smith. In all, there were nine companies from Pennsylvania, one more than re- quested by Congress. By order of Conti- nental Congress and the Pennsylvania As- sembly, they were organized into what was termed by General Washington in organi- zing the army, "Colonel Thompson's Bat- talion of Riflemen from Pennsylvania."

THOMPSON'S BATTALION.

Col. William Thompson, who was as- signed to the command of this battalion, was a native of Ireland, born in 1725. He settled in Cumberland County early in life and during the French and Indian war had commanded a company of mounted frontiersmen. When the Revolution opened he was a surveyor residing at Carlisle. The following is the field and staff of this bat- talion when organized on its arrival at Washington's headquarters :

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 29

Author: Prowell, George R. Publication date: 1907 Publisher: J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1372

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372