History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 61

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

USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 61

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

the greatest events in the whole history of the Revolution occurred. The historic im- portance of York as the temporary seat of the national government has never been fully set forth by historians. In the preced- ing pages an effort has been made to give in detail the transactions of Congress and the current events during the darkest period of the Revolution, which ended in the dawn of independence. When Congress assem- bled at York, it was composed of no more than thirty members. At stated times, newly-elected delegates arrived, taking the

Few of the American patriots who organized this legislative body in 1774, be- lieved that its deliberations would result in creating a new nation on the western conti- nent. It first met to adjust the grievances against the mother country and issued a Declaration of Rights in 1774. This Con- gress petitioned the King and Parliament, places of those who had returned to their

--------

Ja Smith

A copy from a drawing formerly in the Emmett collection in New York and now in the possession of the Historical Society of York County, It is supposed to be the only authentic portrait of James Smith in existence.

339

CONTINENTAL CONGRESS AT YORK

homes. There were never more than forty this country and settled in Chester County, members present at one time. In all there were sixty-four delegates from the thirteen original states who occupied seats in Con- gress from the time it came to York until it returned to Philadelphia. Twenty-six of these had, the previous year, signed the Declaration of Independence.

The following is the list of delegates at York: New Hampshire-Nathaniel Folsom, George Frost, John Wentworth, Dr. Josiah Bartlett.

Massachusetts-Samuel Adams, El-

bridge Gerry, James Lovell, John Adams, Francis Dana, John Hancock, Dr. Samuel Holten.

Connecticut-William Williams, Elipha- let Dyer, Richard Law, Titus Hosmer, Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntingdon, Dr. Oliver Wolcott.

Rhode Island-Henry Marchant, Wil- liam Ellery, John Collins.

New York-James Duane, William Duer, Francis Lewis, Gouverneur Morris, Philip Livingston.

New Jersey-John Witherspoon, Dr. of the "draught of instructions" to the Pro- Jonathan Elmer, Abraham Clark, Dr. Na- thaniel Scudder.

Pennsylvania-Robert Morris, Daniel Roberdeau, James Smith, Jonathan Bayard Smith, William Clingan, Joseph Reed.

Delaware-Thomas Mckean.

Maryland-Charles Carroll. Samuel Chase, Benjamin Rumsey, George Plater, William Smith, James Forbes, John Henry, Jr.

Virginia-Francis Lightfoot Lee, Rich- ard Henry Lee, John Harvie, Benjamin Harrison, Dr. Joseph Jones, Thomas Ad- ams, John Bannister.

North Carolina-John Penn, Cornelius Harnett. Dr. Thomas Burke.

South Carolina-Henry Laurens, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Arthur Middleton, John Matthews, Richard Hutson, William Henry Drayton.

Georgia-Edward Langworthy, George Walton, Dr. Nathan Brownson, Joseph Wood.

he came to Pennsylvania in 1729, and soon afterward settled on the west side of the Susquehanna in what is now York County. John Smith died in the neighborhood of York in 1761. His eldest son, George. studied law at Lancaster, but shortly after his admission to the bar (1740) was drowned in the Susquehanna while bath- ing. The third son, Arthur, was a farmer, and removed to western Pennsylvania prior to the Revolution. James, the second son, received a liberal education, having been placed under the charge of the Rev. Dr. Alison, provost of the College of Philadel- phia. After completing his studies in Philadelphia, he began to read law at Lan- caster, where he was admitted to the bar in 1745. He subsequently went to the Cumberland Valley, where he practiced both law and surveying, remaining four or five years, and then settled at York. When the Revolution began, Smith became one of the first advocates of independence. He was chosen a member of the Provincial Deputies, July 15, 1774, and was the author

vincial Assembly. He was a member of the Provincial Convention of January 23. 1775; of the Provincial Conference of June 18. 1776: and of the Convention of the 15th of July following. In 1775 he was commis- sioned colonel of the First Battalion of As- sociators of York County, and throughout the Revolutionary struggle was largely in- strumental in organizing troops for the patriot army. In 1776 he was elected a delegate to the Continental Congress, and his name is affixed to the Declaration of Independence. He was re-elected the fol- lowing year and took his seat while Con- gress was in session at York. He was elected a member of the Assembly in 1779. and November 20, 1780, commissioned judge of the High Court of Appeals.

The Supreme Executive Council ap- pointed Colonel Smith a brigadier-general of the Pennsylvania militia, May 23, 1782. vice General Potter promoted. He was ap- pointed one of the counsellors on the part of Pennsylvania in the controversy be- tween that State and Connecticut. Febru- ary 16. 1784. In the following year the As- sembly elected him to Congress, in the

JAMES SMITH, signer of the Declara- tion of Independence, was born in the north of Ireland. His father, John Smith, was a well-to-do farmer, but. induced by his brothers, who had previously emigrated to place of Matthew Clarkson, resigned, but

340

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

his advanced age obliged him to decline a after the Revolution show that he was a re-election. Smith relinquished the practice man of strong intellect, literary training, of law in 1801, and from that period until and an able lawyer. his death lived in quiet retirement. He died at York on the IIth day of July, 1806. CHAPTER XX. With an uncommonly retentive memory, with a vein of good humor and a fund of WHISKEY INSURRECTION. anecdotes, his excellent conversational The Law Opposed-Troops Called Out- Ended Without Bloodshed. powers drew around him many who en- joyed his sharp wit and lively manners, and made his old age bright and cheerful. James Smith married, in 1752, Eleanor, daughter of John Armor, of New Castle, Delaware. She and two children survived him several years.

During the Revolution, James Smith owned and occupied a dwelling house on the west side of South George Street near King. When Congress was in session at York, his home was a place of meeting of the distinguished statesmen who were then serving as delegates and on important com- mittees. His law office, a two-story build- ing which stood on the corner of South George Street and Mason Alley, a short distance north of his residence, was used as a meeting place of the Board of War, when it was presided over by John Adams, of Massachusetts. In 1805, his law office, con- taining his library, many valuable docu- ments and letters which he received from distinguished men, was destroyed by fire.

James and Eleanor Smith had five chil- dren: Margaret, the eldest, was born Sep- tember 14. 1753, married James Johnson, whose grandson, Dr. William Johnson, for many years was a practicing physician at York. Mrs. Johnson died at York, January 18, 1838. Mary, the second daughter, mar- ried James Kelly, a member of the York County Bar, and died at York, September 4, 1793. George, one of the sons, was born April 24, 1769, died unmarried at the age of 32, when his estate was inherited by his brother. Arthur died before he grew to manhood. James, the other son, owned considerable property and died without descendants, leaving his property to his cousins. The remains of James Smith, to- gether with his wife, who died July 13, 1818, and some of his children, were buried in the Presbyterian churchyard, on East Market Street, York.

The public documents which he prepared and the speeches he delivered during and

What is known as the Whiskey Insur- rection was an episode in the history of Pennsylvania rather than an important event, but it caused a great commotion throughout the whole country. In order to raise a revenne to pay the debts incurred by the Revolution, a tariff was imposed upon certain products and taxes were laid on the manufacturing interests of Pennsyl- vania and the other states. As this was before the days of railroads and canals, the rapid transportation of products was un- known. During the War for Independence and the years which immediately followed it, the farmers of southern and western Pennsylvania found it profitable to manu- facture their rye and corn into whiskey. This product sold readily in the Baltimore and Philadelphia markets. It was hauled there by farmers in large teams. In York County and throughout the southern tier of counties west to the state of Ohio, as early as 1790, and for twenty years later, many farmers owned copper stills, in which they made whiskey from their own cereals.

In March, 1791, Congress laid a

The Law tax of twenty-five cents a gallon Opposed. on whiskey. This tax was con- sidered heavy by the farmers in the eastern part of the state, but it was not violently opposed by them. The farmers of Westmoreland, Fayette, Allegheny and Washington Counties in the southwestern part of the state were sternly opposed to the tax, and openly attacked the excise officers, while in the performance of their duties. Delegates from the counties named met in Pittsburg and passed resolutions against the excise law. Their opposition continued for several years, but there were no serious disturbances until 1794. Presi- dent Washington sent a commission for the purpose of reasoning with these disturbers of the law, and if possible settle the diffi- culties amicably.

34I

WAR OF 1812

Not being able to quiet the insur- dent Washington, accompanied by Alex- Troops Ordered Out. rectionists, Washington ordered ander Hamilton, secretary of the treasury, an army of 15,000 men from the proceeded to Carlisle in September, 1794, states of Pennsylvania, New Jer- and there reviewed the troops. The Presi- sey, Maryland and Virginia to dent was met at Carlisle by William Find- march into that region and quell the lay, of Westmoreland, and David Reddick. violators of the law. After Governor of Washington County, who assured him Mifflin had sent Chief Justice Mckean and that order could be restored without the aid General William Irvine into the lawless of militia force. Not being entirely satisfied region, he called together a special session of the Legislature, in order to act in har- mony with the plan of the National Gov- ernment. Five thousand Pennsylvania militia were ordered to be called out. Ac- cording to the directions of the President, Carlisle was made the place of rendezvous for the Pennsylvania and New Jersey troops, and Cumberland, Maryland, for the troops from the other two states. Gov- ernor Henry Lee, known as "Light Horse Harry" of the Revolution, was to command

with the report of the commission, Presi- dent Washington left Carlisle, October II, and proceeded to Fort Cumberland, where he met General Lee and reviewed the Vir- ginia troops. They moved to Bedford, where Washington remained three days and reported to the committee, represent- ing the insurrectionists of western Pennsyl- vania that no other offensive measures would be resorted to if they obeyed the laws of the Government. After delegating to General Lee power to conduct negotia- the entire force, which, after concentration, tions. Washington left Bedford, October was to'move across the mountains into the enemy's country.

Colonel Alexander Russell, brigade in- spector for York County, was ordered to raise twenty-two cavalry and 550 infantry, rank and file. These troops, after being armed and equipped, rendezvoused at Car- lisle with the other militia from Pennsyl- vania. The York County troops belonged to the Third Brigade, Fourth Division, Pennsylvania Militia. This brigade was composed of troops from York, Cumber- land, Lancaster and Franklin Counties, and were commanded by Brigadier-General James Chambers. They remained in service about two months.

Meantime a meeting of the leading citi- zens of southwestern Pennsylvania had been called to discuss the disturbed con- dition of affairs. Among the persons who attended this meeting were Albert Gallatin, who for nine years served as secretary of the United States treasury; James Ross, the distinguished lawyer, who had been born in York County, and James Edgar, formerly from York County, then an asso- ciate judge in the new county of Washing- ton.

No Conciliatory measures had Bloodshed.

been adopted through the in- fluence of these men, which eventually resulted in quelling the insurrection without bloodshed. Presi-

22, on his way to Philadelphia. He passed through York in October and reached Philadelphia on the 28th. Some of the troops under Lee moved as far west as Uniontown, the seat of justice of Fayette County. November 17, the people of west- ern Pennsylvania, in answer to the procla- mation of President Washington, gave up their opposition to the excise law and quiet was restored without bloodshed. "The

entire military force was ordered to return home, except a detachment under General Morgan, of Virginia, which was kept at Pittsburg during the winter to preserve order. Governor Mifflin came to York and met the county officers and other repre- sentative citizens for the purpose of dis- cussing measures to bring out the military force in obedience to the call of the Presi- dent of the United States.

CHAPTER XXI WAR OF 1812.

Cause of the War-Call for Troops-Ren- dezvous at York-Battle of North Point -The Star Spangled Banner.

The war of the Revolution ended in the independence of the thirteen American colonies. The relations between the United States and the mother country were in a strained condition the next thirty years.

342

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

During most of that period all of Europe teer soldiery, as well as militia, quickly was engaged in wars, brought about by responded to the call for troops. Such was Napoleon Bonaparte, which eventually in- the enthusiasm of the hour, that in response volved the United States. This resulted in a second war with England. It is known to American history as the War of 1812.

The prosperity of the United Cause of States, after the achievement of in- dependence, was interrupted by the War. war between England and France, during the career of Napoleon. Those nations mutually declared each other's ports to be in a state of blockade, which closed them against American com- merce. The British government claimed the "right of search" -- to take from Ameri- can vessels the sailors they claimed to be of English birth and impress them into their William Reed, a native of York County, was adjutant-general of Pennsylvania under Governor Snyder. At this time he resided at Fairfield, in Adams County. He had previously served as brigade inspector service. The American people demanded "free trade and sailors' rights," and the out- rages perpetrated were so great that they insisted upon a surrender of the British claim of search. The government of the of militia for York County. In response to United States refused to negotiate on the the orders of the governor, General Reed speedily organized the State militia, which was formed into two brigades, commanded by Generals Isaac Morrell and Adamson Tannehill. subject, an embargo was laid upon all ships in American ports, and war was declared by Congress against Great Britain, June 18, 1812.

Call for James Madison, the President of the United States, issued a procla- mation calling on the militia of Troops. the several states. In May, 1812, a call for 14,000 men, as the quota of Pennsylvania of 100,000 militia, had been ordered, by an act of Congress, and Gov- ernor Snyder had issued his general orders for their organization. Volunteers from all parts of the state had tendered their services to the government by the time war was declared.

to the Governor's call, three times as many troops tendered their services as were re- quired. At this time there were residing in York County, about 400 soldiers, who had fought in the Revolution, more than a quar- ter of a century before. Some of the men were past middle life, and many of them volunteered their services to defend their country against an invading foe. Among these men were General Henry Miller, who had won distinction as an officer under Washington, and Colonel John Clark, who, after a brilliant career in the field, had served on the staff of General Greene.

The early events of this war took On the place along the Canada frontier, Frontier. extending from the northwest- ern boundary of New York State west to Fort Dearborn, the present site of Chicago. The British land forces, which had been sent to this region by way of the St. Lawrence River and the Lakes, in 1813, menaced the whole northern frontier. Meanwhile, during this year every naval battle was a victory for the Americans. In the course of six months, in six fights with American vessels, the British had lost six ships and taken none. This was because of the superiority of American ships and the fact that the American sailors were more accurate in their firing. These victories on the sea gave the American navy great prestige and influence, for dur- ing the previous ten years, England had declared herself "mistress of the seas."

The Federalist party at this time, largely represented by New England statesmen, had opposed a declaration of war, but both the United States senators and all the repre- sentatives in Congress, except two from Pennsylvania, voted with President Madi- son and his party in favor of hostilities with England. Simon Snyder, a native of Lan- caster County, who spent his early man- hood in York, was the Governor of Penn- In the summer of 1813, our sylvania. He had been chosen to that Harrison's contest with Great Britain was position by the Republican party, which Victory. complicated with an Indian war which could not be had elected Madison President of the United States. The sentiment in this state avoided. At this period of the war, instead was almost unanimous for war. The volun- of conquering Canada, it looked as though

----

------------

343

WAR OF 1812

the United States government would lose Washington. the entire northwest territory. The defeat of the British and Indians by General Har- day, and burned the executive mansion, rison at the battle of the Thames, where Tecumseh, the noted Indian chief, was

national capitol and all the other public buildings except the patent office. The killed, averted further trouble with the army under Ross and fleet under Admiral Indians. The British, however, began to Cockburn sailed down the Potomac and up the Chesapeake, and landed at North Point,

invade New York State, but were defeated by General Macomb in the battle of Platts- fourteen miles southeast of Baltimore.

burg, and Commodore Macdonough, who destroyed their fleet on Lake Champlain, in Rendezvous July, 1814. Immediately after the British army had landed on the at York. Chesapeake and marched to- ward Washington, in re- vade Canada by way of the Niagara River. sponse to the orders of the President, Gov-

Meantime, the Americans began to in- General Winfield Scott crossed the river and won the bloody battles of Chippewa on July 5, and Lundy's Lane, July 25. During the threatened invasion of our northern frontier, Governor Snyder was ordered to send 1,000 troops from the counties of Cum- berland, Franklin and Adams to the Niagara frontier to join the army under General Scott. There were a few soldiers from the northern part of York County who served in this campaign. Most of the Pennsylvania militia, by order of President Madison, were held in reserve within the state for the purpose of meeting the enemy who might come up the Delaware River or Chesapeake Bay. The two divisions of the state militia were encamped at different places in Pennsylvania at brigade rendez- vous.

After the defeats along the War in the South. northern frontier, the British army transferred the seat of war to the south. The Indians were incited to hostilities in Alabama. After seven months of hard fighting, An- drew Jackson, with United States regulars and Tennessee militia, defeated them at Tallapoosa, in March, 1814. This broke the Indian power in the southwest. During the same month, Napoleon had been over- thrown by his defeat at Waterloo. This enabled England to send more troops to America.

In August, 1814, General Ross, with an army of 4,500 men, accompanied by a fleet of forty vessels in command of Admiral Baltimore. Cockburn, landed on the coast of Chesa- peake Bay and marched toward the city of Washington. On August 24, General Ross defeated a small body of Americans at Bladensburg, a few miles northeast of

The enemy marched into Washington on the evening of the same

ernor Snyder directed the militia of Penn- sylvania to rendezvous at Marcus Hook, on the Delaware Bay, and at York, Pennsyl- vania, for the purpose of preparing to meet the invading army. The militia from the counties of Dauphin, Schuylkill, Lebanon, York, Adams, Lancaster and Chester, in all 5,000 men, were quickly marched to York. One thousand men rendezvoused at Han- over. After their arrival at York, these troops were mustered into the United States service for the term of six months unless sooner discharged. They were organized into one division, under com- inand of Major-General Nathaniel Watson. The division was composed of two brigades, commanded by Brigadier-Gener- als John Forster and John Addams. These two brigades were organized and ready to camp on the Public Common at York on September 5.

The entire region embraced in southern Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware was in a state of great excitement, similar to that period of the American Revolution when General Howe landed at the head of the Chesapeake and started on his march to Philadelphia, thirty-seven years before. The people of Maryland and southern Pennsylvania had witnessed a light in the sky caused by the burning of the public buildings at Washington.

When the news of this event reached this county, the York

Troops Go. to Volunteers, a military com- pany, commanded by Captain Michael Spangler, and a com- pany commanded by Captain Frederick Metzgar, and also one commanded by Cap- tain John Bair, of Hanover, one under Cap- tain William McClellan, of Warrington

344

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Township, one under Captain Amos, of 28, and arrived at Baltimore early on Tues- Peach Bottom, and another under Captain day morning, August 30. They were as- signed to duty in the Thirty-ninth Regi- ment, Maryland Militia, in General Strick- er's brigade, in United States service, and on September II, with this command, were present at North Point when the British landed. Robert Colbin, of Lower Chanceford, all marched hastily toward Baltimore and vol- unteered their services to defend the city. The company from York, commanded by Captain Spangler, among the Pennsylvania troops, took the most active part in the bat- tle of North Point. The two Hanover com- On the following day, a fierce en- gagement took place between a panies were drawn up in line of battle and Battle

exchanged shots with the enemy. The other companies from York County arrived North in the vicinity of Baltimore in time to view the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British fleet.

Robert Ramsey, of Peach Bot- The Last tom, who belonged to the Defenders. company of Captain Amos; Joshua Kilgore, of Fawn, a soldier in the same company, and William Cowan, of Lower Chanceford, of Captain Colbin's company, and John Trone, of Cap- tain Metzgar's company, from Hanover, each, at the age of about 90 years, in the year 1885, related to the writer their ex- periences on the march to Baltimore and described with eager interest the battle of North Point and the bombardment of Fort McHenry. Henry Sleeger, of East York, a few years earlier, related the experience of the York Company at the battle of North Point. These aged men were the last of the Baltimore Defenders in southern Penn- sylvania.

Captain Spangler's company York was a trained military organ- Volunteers. ization, composed of sixty representative men of the borough of York and vicinity. They had been well trained and were skillful in the manual of arms and military movements. Full of patriotic ardor, they molded bullets, filled their flasks with powder and took up the march for Baltimore, August 29, four days after the public buildings at Washing- ton had been destroyed. When Captain Spangler arrived at Baltimore, he tendered the services of his company to Colonel Ster- ret, commander of the Fifth Regiment, Maryland Militia, which was placed in the brigade of General Stricker, nearly all of whose troops were from the state of Mary- land. The volunteer companies com- manded by Captain Bair and Captain Metz- gar left Hanover, Sunday morning. August

Point.

of large detachment of the British troops, led by General Ross, and General Stricker's brigade of Mary- land and Pennsylvania militia and a few regulars. The fighting was lively and spirited but lasted only a short time, when the American troops were flanked by the enemy and were compelled to retreat toward Baltimore. Two men of Captain Spangler's company were severely wounded and one man of Metzgar's company was struck by a British ball.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 61

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