History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 58

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

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William Ellery, a delegate from Rhode Island, wrote an interesting account of his trip to Philadelphia after leaving York, June 28, 1778. He was accompanied by Eldridge Gerry and Francis Dana, of Mas- sachusetts, and Richard Hutson, of South Carolina. In giving a report of his trip he stated that they went to Philadelphia by way of Wilmington and Chester because all the public inns would be occupied at night by other delegates and people who were re- turning to their homes in Philadelphia, after that city had been evacuated by the British. They crossed the Susquehanna River at McCall's Ferry. With some other delegates and citizens they celebrated July 4, at City Tavern, Philadelphia.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

was born in Philadelphia in 1728, of Ger- County, and died there in 1824, at the age man parentage. He had served with of 95.

prominence as a member of the Provincial Assembly, and when hostilities opened DEATH OF PHILIP LIVINGSTON. with the mother country, in 1775, he was a The death of Philip Livingston, the distinguished patriot and signer of the Declaration of Independence, was the sad- dest event recorded during the sessions of Congress at York. This occurred early on the morning of June 12, 1778. He had been re-elected a delegate to Congress from the State of New York. At this time Livings- ton's health was in a precarious condition, member of the Committee of Safety of his native city. He was chosen as treasurer of the United States soon after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, and held that office until 1789, a period of thirteen years. This trust was one of great responsibility, and his faithful services to his country through those long years of Revolutionary struggle command the ad- but Governor Clinton urged that he repair

miration of every true American. Pos- sessed of ample means, his devotion to his country stamps him as a pure patriot. In 1780, Michael Hillegas was one of the original subscribers to the Bank of Penn- sylvania, organized chiefly for the relief of the government, his subscription being 4,000 pounds. He was one of the original members of the American Philosophical Society, and died on September 29, 1804.

at once to Congress in order to take the place of a retiring member. It seemed ne- cessary that Livingston should make the long journey in his enfeebled condition.

He bade farewell to his family and

Arrives friends, and started on horseback

at with a single companion and ar-

York. rived at York, May 4, 1778. On the following day, Congress re- ceived the encouraging news that the King CHARLES THOMPSON, secretary to Continental Congress at York, was born in Ireland, in 1729, and came to America in 1740. He obtained a liberal education and conducted a classical school at New Castle, Delaware. In 1774, he was married to a of France had formed a treaty of Amity and Commerce and a treaty of Alliance with the United States. The people of the inland town of York and the distinguished patriots then in session here, were in ecstasy over the news which had sister of Benjamin Harrison, a signer of the been sent to Congress by Benjamin Frank- Declaration of Independence, from Vir- lin, the American commissioner at Paris. ginia, and settled in Philadelphia. The Livingston joined in this rejoicing and on same year he was elected secretary to the the same day took his seat in Congress, first Continental Congress and held that position continuously until the adoption of the National Constitution in 1789. When Congress adjourned from Philadelphia to York, he accompanied that body and was influential in all the legislation passed while

in session here. When John Hancock re- they watched his condition and rendered

signed the presidency, Thompson presided over Congress until Laurens was inducted into office. During his long career in the secretaryship, he kept voluminous notes of the proceedings of Congress. These he in- tended to publish in permanent form, but changed his mind and destroyed all his manuscripts, fearing that the reflections he might cast upon some of the eminent might affect the future history of the coun- try. He was the author of several books and pamphlets, mostly of a religious char- acter. Late in life, he resided at his country home in Lower Merion, Montgomery

but the effect of the journey caused a re- lapse two days later. In his humble lodg- ings at a village inn he was tenderly cared for by his fellow delegates. There were four members in Congress at that time who were physicians, and with eager interest all medical aid that was possible. These men were Josiah Bartlett, of New Hamp- shire: Oliver Wolcott, of Connecticut ; Jonathan Elmer, of New Jersey, and Joseph Jones, of Virginia.

Henry Livingston, one of his sons, was then serving as an aide on the staff of Gen- eral Washington, at Valley Forge. A courier was sent in haste to this encamp- ment to notify the son of his father's illness. Colonel Livingston immediately came to York. The ravages of disease had borne hard on the system of his father, and after a lingering sickness of a little more than

PHILIP LIVINGSTON

Signer of the Declaration of Independence, who died and is buried at York

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CONTINENTAL CONGRESS AT YORK

one month, Philip Livingston died in the sixty-third year of his age. Gouverneur Morris, another New York delegate then in Congress, three days after Livingston's death, dispatched Governor Clinton, of New York, a letter in which he said in part : "I am sorry to inform your Excellency and the State of New York of the death of my worthy colleague, Philip Livingston. Almost immediately after his arrival here at York, he was confined to his room with a dangerous malady from which time there seemed to be no chances of recovery. He grew steadily worse and on Friday last, at 4 o'clock in the morning, paid the last debt to nature."

Philip Livingston died of dropsy. His His body was taken in charge by Burial. Francis Lewis, Gouverneur Morris and William Duer, the other dele- gates from New York, and buried at 6 o'clock on the evening of the day of his death. The Rev. Dr. George Duffield, then chaplain of Congress, officiated at this sad funeral. By invitation of Congress, the three village pastors were present, Nicholas Kurtz, representing the Lutheran congre- gation; John Ettwein, the Moravian, and Daniel Wagner, the German Reformed. The entire delegation in Congress attended the funeral, each with crepe around the arm, which, by resolution, they were re- quired to wear for a period of thirty days. The remains of the distinguished dead were buried in the graveyard to the rear of the German Reformed Church, on West Mar- ket Street, York, just as the sun was sink- ing behind the western horizon.

The remains of Philip Livingston lay en- tombed in the Reformed Churchyard at York, for a period of seventy-eight years. January, 1856, they were removed to Prospect Hill cemetery, a short distance north of York, where they now lie, the spot being marked by a marble shaft, on the face of which is the following inscription :

Sacred To the memory of the Honorable PHILIP LIVINGSTON, Who died June 12, 1778, Aged 63 years, While attending the Congress of the United States, at York Town, Penna., as a Delegate from the State of New York. Eminently distinguished for his talents and rectitude, he deservedly enjoyed

the confidence of his country, and the love and veneration of his friends and children. This monument erected by His Grandson, Stephen Van Renssalaer.

Livingston was born at Albany, January 15, 1716, and was the youngest of four sons. His great-grandfather īvas a celebrated divine in the church of Scotland and his grandfather, after emigrating to America, came into possession of a large manor on the Hudson. At his death, this manor was inherited by Philip Livingston, father of the signer. Philip Livingston, the son, was gifted with extraordinary mental endow- ments, and after his graduation from Yale College, in 1737, became a prosperous merchant in the city of New York. He served nine years as an alderman and was a member of the Colonial Assembly during the French and Indian war. At the open- ing of the Revolution, Livingston became an ardent patriot and was one of the earliest in New York to oppose British op- pression and favor the freedom of the colonies. In 1774, he was chosen a member of the first Continental Congress which met at Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia, and was re-elected to the second Congress which convened at the same place the following year. In 1776, he was one of the fifty-six persons who signed the Declaration of In- dependence.

On June 14, 1778, the following touching letter was written at York to Dr. Thomas Jones, by Henry Philip Livingston, a son of the statesman, who was the second of the signers to die since they had penned their names to the Declaration of Independence at Philadelphia, July 8, 1776:

I sincerely lament that Providence has made it neces- sary to address my friends on so mournful an occasion as the present. Oh, for words to soften their distress and lessen the bitter pangs of grief. I feel myself un- equal to the duty and utterly at a loss what to say.

My dear friend, have you received my letter of the IIth? It was written with intent to prepare the minds of the family for the melancholy subject of this, and to prevent in some measure the effects of a too sudden impression. Unhappily, my apprehensions were not ill founded, for the disorder was too malignant and ob- stinate to struggle with.

Must I tell you! My dear father expired early on the morning of the 12th, and was. buried the same evening. The funeral was conducted in a manner suit- able to his worth and station, being attended by all the military in town, the Congress, the strangers of distinc- tion, and the most respectable citizens.

My dear mother and sister, grieve not immoderately

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

even at the loss of an excellent husband and parent. Consider that worth and excellence cannot exempt one from the lot of human nature, for no sooner do we enter the world than we begin to leave it. It is not only natural but commendable to regret the loss of so tender a connection, but what can an excess of sorrow avail. I hope to set off for Hurly in two or three days, and I hope, dear sir, by your influence and consolation to find the family as composed as this distressing event will allow.

BARON STEUBEN AT YORK.

Baron Steuben, the distinguished Ger- man officer, came to York in February, 1778. He was enthusiastically received by Congress and the officers of the army then here. Steuben, who was 48 years of age. had won fame as a soldier in the Seven Years' War, for German liberty, and also had served as an aide on the staff of Fred- erick the Great of Prussia. He was one of the best trained soldiers of Europe, and the object in bringing him here was to train the American soldiers in the tactics used by the triumphant armies of Frederick the Great. Steuben was induced by St. Ger- main, the French minister of war, to join the American cause, while on a visit to Paris in the fall of 1777. Although he held high rank in the Prussian army, he entered into an arrangement with the French min- ister to sail for the United States. Embark- ing in a French gunboat, under the name of Frank, he set sail from Marseilles, Decem- ber II, 1777, and after a stormy passage of fifty-five days, arrived at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, from which town he proceeded to Boston. On December 6, five days after his arrival at Portsmouth, Steuben ad- dressed the following letter to Congress at York :

Honorable Gentlemen :- The honor of Writes to Congress. serving a nation, engaged in the noble enterprise of defending its rights and liberties, was the motive that brought me to this continent. I ask neither riches nor titles. I am come here from the remotest end of Germany, at my own expense, and have given up an honorable and lucra- tive rank. I have made no conditions with your depu- ties in Paris, nor shall I make any with you. My only ambition is to serve you as a volunteer. to deserve the confidence of your general-in-chief, and to follow him in all his operations, as I have done during seven cam- paigns with the King of Prussia. Two and twenty years spent in such a school seem to give me a right of thinking myself among the number of experienced officers; and if I am possessed of the acquirements in the arts of war, they will be much more prized by me if I can employ them in the service of a republic such as I hope soon to see in America. I would willingly purchase, at the expense of my blood, the honor of having my name enrolled among those of the defenders

of your liberty. Your gracious acceptance will be suffi- cient for me, and I ask no other favor than to be re- ceived among your officers. I venture to hope that you will grant this my request, and that you will be so good as to send me your orders to Boston, where I shall await them, and take suitable measures in accordance.

On January 14, immediately after receiv- ing the letter from Steuben, Congress unanimously passed the following resolu- tion :

"Whereas, Baron Steuben, a lieutenant- general in foreign service, has in a most dis- interested and heroic manner, offered his services to these states in the quality of a volunteer,

"Resolved, That the president present the thanks of Congress, in behalf of these United States, to Baron Steuben, for the zeal he has shown, for the cause of America, and the disinterested tender he has been pleased to make of his military talents; and inform him, that Congress cheerfully ac- cepts of his service as a volunteer in the army of these states, and wish him to repair to General Washington's headquarters as soon as convenient."

Letter to Washington.

On the same day that Steu- ben wrote to Congress, he addressed the following let- ter to Washington :

Sir :- The enclosed copy of a letter, the original of which I shall have the honor to present to your Excel- lency, will inform you of the motives that brought me over to this land. I shall only add to it, that the object of my greatest ambition is to render your country all the service in my power, and to deserve the title of a citizen of America, by fighting for the cause of your liberty. If the distinguished ranks in which I have served in Europe should be an obstacle, I had rather serve under your Excellency as a volunteer, than to be an object of discontent to such deserving officers as have already distinguished themselves among you. Such being the sentiments I have always professed, I dare hope that the respectable Congress of the United States of America will accept my services. I could say, more- over, were it not for the fear of offending your modesty, that your Excellency is the only person under whom, after having served the King of Prussia, I could wish to follow a profession, to the study of which I have wholly devoted myself. I intend to go to Boston in a few days, where I shall present my letters to Mr. Han- cock, member of Congress, and there I shall await your Excellency's orders.

Steuben left Portsmouth on the Meets Hancock. 12th of December, 1777, and set out for Boston, where he ar- rived on the 14th, and was re- ceived as cordially as at the former place. He met there John Hancock, who had just retired from the presidency of Congress, and received Washington's reply to his let-

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CONTINENTAL CONGRESS AT YORK

ter, by which he was informed that he must repair without delay to York. Pennsyl- Reaches vania, where Congress was then sitting. since it belonged exclusively to that body to enter into negotiations with him. At the same time, Hancock communicated to Steuben an order of Congress, that every preparation should be made to make him and his attendants comfortable on their journey to York, and Mr. Hancock himself, with great care, made all the necessary ar- rangements. Carriages, sleighs and saddle horses were provided. five negroes were as- signed to them as grooms and drivers, and an agent to prepare quarters and procure provisions.

Duponceau, the learned

Duponceau's Frenchman. who accom- Story. panied Steuben to AAmerica as his secretary and inter- preter. after the Revolution remained in this country, locating in Philadelphia. In 1836 he published the following description of their trip from Boston to York:

"Our party consisted of Baron Steuben and his servant. Carl Vogel, a young lad whom he had brought from Germany, Mr. De Francy, an agent of Beaumarchais, and myself. We traveled on horseback. Not- withstanding the recent capture of General Burgoyne, the situation of the United States at that time was extremely critical. The enemy was in possession of Rhode Island. New York and Philadelphia, with well-organized and disciplined troops, far superior to our own. Our army (if army it might be called) was encamped at Valley Forge. in the depth of a severe winter, without provisions, without clothes, with- out regular discipline, destitute. in short, of everything but courage and patriotism ; and what was worse than all, disaffection was spreading through the land. In this dismal state of things the baron was advised to keep as far from the coast as possible, lest he should be surprised by parties of the enemy or by the Tories, who made fre- quent incursions into the country between New York and Philadelphia. We. there- fore. shaped our course westward, and crossing the states of Massachusetts, Con- necticut. New York and Pennsylvania. we employed about three weeks in a journey of 410 miles in all, which at present would hardly require as many days.'

They stopped on their way, on Sunday, the 18th of January, at York. Springfield, on the 20th at Hart- ford, on the 28th at Fishkill, on Thursday, the 30th, at Bethlehem, on the 2d of February at Reading, on the 4th at Manheim, and arrived on Thursday, the 5th, at York, and remained here until the 19th of February. In his narrative, Du- ponceau relates several incidents of their trip to York. Among these is the amusing story of their experience at Manheim, in Lancaster County, where they lodged for the night before coming to York.

"A great number of inns, in towns and countries, bore the sign of the King of Prussia, who was still very popular. par- ticularly among the Germans. I remember that at Manheim the baron, with a signifi- cant look, pointed out to me, at the tavern where we dined, a paltry engraving hung up on the wall, on which was represented a Prussian knocking down a Frenchman in great style. Underneath was the following motto:

"'Ein Franzmann zum Preuzen wie eine Meucke.'

"'A Frenchman to a Prussian is no more than a mosquito.

"The good baron appeared to enjoy that picture exceedingly, and so, no doubt, did the German landlord to whom it belonged."

In a letter written to Baron de

Steuben's Frank. dated July 4. 1779.

Own Baron Steuben, from his head-

Story. quarters on the Hudson. thus describes his visit to York:

"The arrangements of my equipage de- tained me more than five weeks in Boston. so that I could not set out for York before the 14th of January. I was received there with the most distinguished attentions. A house was reserved for my use, and a guard of honor placed before the door. A day after my arrival, Congress inquired. through a committee of three members, the terms on which I proposed to enter the service. My answer was, that I had no wish to make any arrangements or terms; that I wished to make the campaign as a volun- teer, desiring neither rank nor pay for my- self. and only commissions for the officers of my suite. This was agreed to by Con- gress. as I had expected. A resolution of thanks. in the most obliging terms, was re-

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

turned, with an offer of defraying all my John Hancock the day after his arrival at expenses. My officers received their com- York, Steuben says : missions, and even my secretary was gratified with the rank and the pay of a captain.

"I will here observe, that in the military organization of the states, the highest rank is that of major-general. Washington is the oldest major-general, being at the same time invested, in his quality of commander- in-chief, with all the privileges of a general field marshal in Europe. His authority is as unlimited as that of a Stadtholder in Hol- land can be. The other major-generals, whose number does not at present surpass nine, are the commanders of corps, armies, wings and divisions. General Gates is com- mander of the Northern army, General Lincoln of the Southern army, and General Sullivan of the forces against the Indians. All are under the orders of the com- mander-in-chief. The second rank is that of a general of brigade. They are the com- manders of brigades, like the major-gen- erals in European armies.

"Upon my arrival in the camp, I was again the object of more honors than I was entitled to. General Washington came several miles to meet me on the road, and accompanied me to my quarters, where I found an officer with twenty-five men as a guard of honor. When I declined this, say- ing that I wished to be considered merely as a volunteer, the general answered me in the politest words, that 'The whole army would be gratified to stand sentinel for such volunteers.' He introduced me to Major- General Stirling and several other generals. Lieutenant-Colonel Ternant and Major Walker were both appointed by Congress as my adjutant-generals. On the same day my name was given as a watchword. The following day the army was mustered, and General Washington accompanied me to review it."

"Please to accept my grateful thanks for all the kindness you have shown me during my stay in Boston. In this very moment I enjoy the good effects of it, having taken the liberty of quartering myself in an apart- ment of your house in this town. My journey has been extremely painful; but the kind reception I have met with from Con- gress and General Gates on my arrival here, have made me soon forget those past incon- veniences. Now, sir, I am an American, and an American for life; your nation has become as dear to me as your cause already was. You know that my pretensions are very moderate; I have submitted them to a committee sent to me by Congress. They seem to be satisfied, and so am I, and shall be the more so, when I find the opportunity to render all the services in my power to the United States of America. Three mem- bers of Congress have been appointed for concluding an arrangement with me tomor- row ; that will not take long, my only claims being the confidence of your general-in- chief."

Freiderich Kapp, the biog-

Interviewed by

Committee.

rapher of Steuben, in re- ferring to the Committee of Congress appointed to wait upon the Baron, says :

"The committee of Congress mentioned by Steuben, which was composed of Doctor Witherspoon, the chairman, and only per- son who spoke French. Messrs. Henry, of Maryland, and Thomas McKean, waited upon Steuben the day after his arrival, and demanded of him the conditions on which he was inclined to serve the United States, and if he had made any stipulations with their commissioners in France? He replied that he had made no agreement with them, nor was it his intention to accept of any rank or pay; that he wished to join the army as a volunteer, and to render such services as the commander-in-chief should think him capable of, adding, that he had no other fortune than a revenue of about six hundred guineas per annum, arising from posts of honor in Germany, which he had relinquished to come to this country ; that in consideration of this, he expected

General Lafayette had left York a few days before Steuben's arrival. General Gates, who had been appointed president of the Board of War, came here on January 19. The fame of Steuben had preceded him to York. He was welcomed and courted by all, and General Gates, in particular, paid him the most assiduous court, and even in- vited him to make his house his home, the United States would defray his neces- which he declined. In a letter written to sary expenses while in their service; that

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CONTINENTAL CONGRESS AT YORK

if, unhappily, this country should not suc- Baron Steuben, his two aides and two ceed in establishing their independence, or servants, for thirteen days. if he should not succeed in his endeavors in Baron Steuben returned to York in June, 1778, for the purpose of having the duties and powers of his department minutely de- fined and settled by Congress. He did not tarry here long, however, but on hearing of the evacuation of Philadelphia by the British, hastened to join Washington, who was laying his plans for a summer cam- paign, which resulted in the victory at Mon- mouth and the transfer of the seat of war to the south. their service, in either of these cases he should consider the United States as free from any obligations towards him; but if, on the other hand, the United States should be fortunate enough to establish their freedom, and that if his efforts should be successful, in that case he should expect a full indemnification for the sacrifice he had made in coming over, and such marks of liberality as the justice of the United States should dictate ; that he only required commissions for the officers TWO PLANS OF GOVERNMENT. attached to his person, namely that of major and aide-de-camp for Mr. De Romanai, that of captain of engineers for Mr. De l'Enfant, that of captain of cavalry for Mr. De Depontiere, and the rank of cap- tain for his secretary, Mr. Duponceau; that if these terms were agreeable to Congress he waited for their orders to join the army without delay."

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 58

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