History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended, Part 22

Author: Gibson, John, Editor
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended > Part 22

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to have been no complaints as to the billeting of soldiers in York. A bill was passed by the Assembly to equalize the burden of quartering soldiers on the public houses. Another trouble that embarassed Lord Londoun in Pennsylvania was the continued troubles regarding militia law and the bill appro- priating £100,000 for his Majesty's use, on account of the continued differences between the Governor and Assembly .*

By a letter from Col. John Armstrong to Governor Denny, October 11, 1757, he says: "I shall immediately put in execution your Honor's order in regard of the new company in York County, which can be conveniently done by an express from Fort Morris." And on October 17, "Captain Hamilton is now at Littleton, settling with and paying off his company at that place. He has orders to repair with all expedition to Marsh Creek, in York County, in order to discharge the new company there stationed, which I should have done in his absence, only to give him (as he is acquainted) an opportunity of en- listing some of them for three years, which it's probable he may do."t

In December, 1757, Hance Hamilton, under a commission dated December 6, 1757, with Lieut. Jacob Snyder and Ensign Hugh Crawford, was posted west of the Susque- hanna, ¿ and David Jameson, with Lieut. Wm. Reynolds and Ensign Francis Johnston, at Fort Augusta.

A letter from William Pitt, Secretary of State, to Governor Denny, dated Whitehall, December 30, 1757, states: "The King had judged proper that the Earl of Loudoun should return to England and his Majesty had been pleased to appoint Major-General Abercrombie to succeed his lordship as Com- mander-in-chief of the King's forces in Amer- ica, and General Forbes to command those in Pennsylvania and the South." This was received and read in Council on the 7th of March; 1758.§

April 11, 1756, Huntington, || Rev. Thos. Barton, wrote to Rev. R. Peters: That they were all in confusion; within twelve miles of his house, two families, consisting of eleven persons, were murdered and taken. And in the counties of Lancaster and Cumberland, the people were daily alarmed with fresh ravages and murders. The poor inhabitants were flying in numbers into the interior parts. He prevailed upon the inhabitants of Cone- wago and Bermudian to assemble themselves

* III Archives, 235, 236.

1VII Col. Rec., 179.

ĮBancroft's History, United States.

VII Col. Rec., 359 et seq.

*VITI Col. Rec., 402, 464, III Archives, 120. +III Archive», 290, 297.

ĮVIII Col. Rec., 26.

¿VIII Col Rec., 26.

"Huntington Township, now Adams County.

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.

107

together and form themselves into compa- nies to guard the frontiers of this county, till they saw what would be done by the troops, who were going upon the western expedition. He hoped by this means to be able to keep the settlements from breaking up. That Mr. Alricks told him he was determined, pro- vided he could obtain the Governor's permis- sion, to go out to Ohio a volunteer in defense of his King and country, and as he was cer- tainìy a man of resolution and valor, a man who could undergo hardships and fatigues, and moreover a man whom had an interest with, and an influence upon the county peo- ple, and is likely to raise a number of them as any man, he stood well entitled to a com- mission .*

George Stevenson wrote to Richard Peters, York, April 30, 1758 : That Archibald Mc- Grew signified his inclination to serve his King and country in the station of Captain of a company of rangers in the pay of this province for the ensuing campaign. Mr. Stevenson certified that he had known Mr. McGrew in his private character as a neigh- bor, as a juryman in court and as a Coroner. He also commanded one of the companies in the pay of this county the last fall, in all which stations he had behaved himself to the satisfaction of the people as well as Steven- son's. That he could raise a company who would go with him in defense of our good cause as much from principle as love of re- ward. He thought four or five good com- panies could be raised in a very short time here if proper officers were chosen. That he had brought about a resolve of the Justices and Commissioners that forty-five men be immediately raised, paid and maintained at the expense of this county, to range along the frontier for the defense of the inhabitants. "But, what is most remarkable, four leading Quakers (John Wright the first), have signed the resolves, and we have spent but four hours in our deliberations, therefore I con- cluded our very little Government here have outdone the lower county little Government, if not in unanimity, surely in dispatch. "+

Richard Peters wrote under date of 3d of May, 1758, that, in compliance with the recommendations of the gentlemen who had written in favor of Mr. McGrew, the Governor had granted him a Captain's Commission- his Lieutenant, Alexander McCain, and his Ensign, James Armstrong. "You write that four or five companies can be easily raised in York County, and offer your services in raising them. Col. Armstrong and I were

considering. before your letter came, with great care, what persons might be the like- liest to raise companies fit for the service and most acceptable to the people, and being asked our opinion by the Governor and Council were mentioned Thomas Armour, Robert Stevenson, Joseph Armstrong, David McConoway* and Thomas Minshall. " "Thomas Minshall was nominated thinking Mr. James and John Wright would be obliged by it, and assist him in raising his company. Mr. Armour, Robert Stevenson and Mr. Min- shall, if they accepted, must each, or two of them, have, at least, one German subaltern officer to engage the German inhabitants. Mr. Robert Stevenson must have Mr. Benja- min Smith, of Slate Ridge, either for his Lieutenant or Ensign. Sheriff Thomas Hamil- ton's commission is so far made out as to have his name inserted, leaving it to him to be appointed under the Captain that may be in Marsh Creek, provided it be either Mr. David Conaway,* or Mr. Joseph Arm - strong. In filling up the commissions take care that the date of the Lieutenants' and Ensigns' be the same with the Captains, as the rank is settled here, and cannot be altered, and the Sheriff, Hamilton, be the first of the Lieutenants. And if any of the gentlemen should refuse, and a good German Captain cannot be obtained for the benefit of the service, then, in that case, Mr. Hamilton is to have a good company. But if one full set of officers of German farmers and free- holders can be had and it is judged the best for the good of the whole, pray let it be brought about. The ministers should be de- sired, in different and proper parts of the country, and at proper distances, as their congregations may be seated, to appoint meetings and animate the people to raise levies with all possible dispatch, as they are designed by one vigorous effort to dis- possess the enemy, regain the Indians, and establish a durable and advantageous peace. The great regard for the inhabitants of the County of York had induced the Governor and Council to reserve their commissions, though there are many persons applying of good interest and proper for the service.

"Six hundred pounds are sent with Mr. Mc- Grew to be delivered, after taking his share, to yon, and by you to the Captains, who shall be named in the commissions."f Mr. Steven- son wrote to Mr. Peters on May 7, 1758, that the commissions were received on the 6th of May, for the officers of three companies. Mr. Armour and Mr. Joseph Stevenson, begged

*III Archives, 377.

#Ibid, 385.

*McConanghy.

+111 Archives, 387.

108

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

to be excused from accepting their commis- sions, not thinking themselves sufficiently qualified. David Hunter was appointed in the room of Stevenson, an able-bodied man, a German, and a man of influence and inter- est. Benjamin Smith, to be one of the sub- alterns; the other, to be appointed by the advice of the principal inhabitants, who were to convene on the next Saturday, to meet Sir John St. Clair on other business. George Stevenson applied to the leading Germans, told them it would look ill, if they did not exert themselves, and desire them to spirit up their people, and name officers who could get men. By this means, he would probably raise a German Company in the room of Mr. Armour's, and on May 8, 1758: That Sheriff Hamilton, chooses to go with David McCon- aughey, rather than with Joseph Armstrong. And if Joseph Armstrong refused, Hamilton was to have his commission. "Mnst the men buy green clothing? I fear this well hurt us very much. I think linen stockings, red below the knee, petticoat trowers reaching to the thick of the leg, made of strong linen, and a Jailor's frock made of the same, would be best. Young men that have clothing, (especially Dutch), will not like to lay out their money for more."* And by letter, dated York, May 15, 1758. "Last Thursday, Sir John St. Clair was here. A great number of the principal inhabitants came together to meet him. Upwards of seventy wagons were engaged for the campaign. Recruiting went on as well as could be expected. Capt. Mc- Grew had near half his men. Capt. Hunter, had about twenty. Joseph Armstrong would not accept. David McConaughy accepted, and set out to recruit on Friday. His sub- alterns were not fixed upon, Sheriff Hamilton was recuiting. He had accepted in the room of Mr. Armour. His subalterns were Victor King, and one McDowell, who was at Kittan- ning, as Sergeant with Capt. Hance Ham- ilton, recommended by him and other reputa- ble persons of the west end of the county. Thomas Minshall's accepting a commission, was very disagreeable to Mr. John Wright, and raised up a worthless fellow, Ludwig Myer, of Conedoghela .; There was a scheme to keep Minshall at home, and thereby oblige the women of Susquehanna, Quakers, who were against his going into the service. The money was almost out. The men want drums, colors, and other common instruments of war. Drums they needed much."¿ On May 21, 1758, David McConaughy had refused his commission. Thomas Minshall, had resigned much against

his inclination, and blamed his Susquehanna friends, who influenced his wife. He would nevertheless forward the expedition to the best of his power. By advice from Mr. Bay, Mr. Armor, Mr. Barton and others, Robert Mc- Pherson, a very worthy young man, took Minshall's commission. His Lieutenant was James Ewing, who had been in the service, and was recruiting in Donegal, and other places where he was acquainted. The Ensign was Peter Meen, who recruited amongst the Germans, in and about York. Adam Finley, Capt. Hunter's Lieutenant, brought fourteen recruits to town, which com- pleted that company. Capt. Hunter took Hadden for his Ensign. By accounts from Capt. T. Hamilton, he had twenty men. Upon the whole four companies from York County, viz: Captains Hunter, McPherson, McGrew and Hamilton, and as all these had their sub- alterns, there were no vacanies in the four companies for the German Cadets.

"The Rev. Mr. McCraddock gave me the pleasure of a visit and preached an excellent war sermon from Mr. Listry's pulpit on Friday last, in the hearing of Messrs. Barton, Bay and Listry; he went with Mr. Barton yesterday, is to deliver another sermon to the same purpose to day from Mr. Barton's pul- pit."* Mr. Barton was the rector of the Huntington Parish, in Adams County, and was appointed July 9, a Chaplain by Gen. Forbes. t

On the 2d day of June, 1758, the return of the garrison at Fort Angusta, shows Capt. David Jameson there with fourteen men fit for duty. On the 6th of June, he was in York.

RETURN OF OFFICERS 1758.

YORK, 6th, June, 1758.

Yesterday Capt. Hunter's men were received by Mr. Jameson, at York, and thirty-four wagons were contracted for with the people. Returns will be made to the Governor, agreeable to his desire, as soon as the Men shall be collected together and pass Muster. The names of the Officers are as fol- lows, viz:

David Hunter, Captain; Andrew Finley, Lieu- tenant; Wm. Hadden, Ensign. Commissions bear date the 25th April, 1758.

Robert McPherson, Captain; James Ewing, Lieu- tenant; Peter Meen, Ensign. Commissions bear date the 10th May, 1758.

Thomas l. milton, Captain; Victor King, Lieu- tenant; Will M. Dowell, Ensign. Commissions bear date the 16th May 1758.

The commissions for the Captains were dated when I received them. The Officers are all sworn. Hunter's and McPherson s Companies are full, and if they had Clothing and Accoutrements, are ready for Action.#

*III Archives, 391. ¡Conedachly ?

ĮIII Archives, 395.

*III Archives, 400. +Ibld, 451.

#III Archives, 408

109

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.

"I go with Mr. Jameson to Review, twenty-two Miles West of York, on Thursday, next, there to con- tract for Wagons, in pursuance of power from Col. Bouquet for that purpose, Thirty-five Contracts were signed here yesterday. The bearer, Mr. Lieut. Ewing, goes to buy Clo. hing for Capt. McPherson's Company. . . . I have kept a War office near five weeks, without Fee, Reward or hope thereof; thank God the Expedition looks better than it did; the Store Ships, I hope have brought the arms .* . .

YORK TOWN, ye 6th June, 1758. DAVID JAMESON, TO GOV. DENNY, 1758.

SIR: Agreeable to Orders, I received from Col. Bouquet, I arrived in this Town last Saturday; I. yesterday examined and passed forty-four of Capt. Hunter's Recruits, there is more of them to be in Town this day, then will compleat his Company. Capt. McPherson's Company he informs me is full: Capt. Hamilton and Capt. McPherson's Companies I am informed, is not yet near full; The recruits are so scattered throughout the Country, that I believe that it will be the lat- ter end of the Week before they will arrive in Town. I find it extremely difficult to keep the recruits in order, for want of Sergeants that under- stand duty, and have not so much as a single drum; None of the recruits are furnished with Clothing, or any necessaries for marching. I was desired by Col. Bouquet to try, if possible, to get the Recruits to find their own Arms, but I find this impractica- ble; of the forty-four that passed yesterday, not one- third of them had arms, or could be prevailed on to get them, therefore, I shall find it extremely dif- ficult to get as many arms as is necessary for the men that are to escort the wagons this week to Fort Loudon. + A return of the Garrison at Fort Augusta, commanded by Capt. Levi Trump, the 1st day of July, Anno Domini, 1758. Among the Captains David Jameson; sixteen men fit for duty, total, eighteen; two sick.}

At a meeting of the Provincial Council held at Philadelphia, Monday, the 6th of November, a letter from Gen. Forbes, dated Raystown Camp, the 22d of October, was read. Among other things he said: "The number of the King's troops under my com- mand does not exceed 1,200 men, the greatest part of which must be sent down to the inhabited parts of the country to recruit and fit themselves out for the ensuing campaign. Whether Fort Du Quesne is taken or not, the Forts of Loyal Hanna, Cumber- land, Raystown, Juniata, Littleton Loudon, Frederick, Shippensburgh, and Carlisle, ought to be garrisoned, beside those on the other side of the Susquehanna."§ A letter was read at the meeting of the Council on the 21st of December, from Gen. Amherst, announcing his appointment as Commander in Chief of all his Majesty's forces in North America.

In the month of September, 1758, the army under Gen. Forbes, including the Second and Third Battallions of Pennsylvania, Cols. James Burd and Hugh Mercer, moved against

Fort Du Quesne. David Jameson was Major, under commission dated June 3, 1758, of the Second Battalion. Lieut. William Reyn. olds of his company, was wounded at Grant's defeat, near Fort Du Quesne, September 14, 1758. James Hughes was Ensign. In the Third Battalion, James Ewing was Adjutant; Robert McPherson, Captain; Peter Meem, Ensign; Archibald McGrew, Captain; Alexander McKean, Lieutenant; and James Armstrong, Ensign and Captain, Thomas Hamilton; Victor King, Lieutenant; and William McDowell, Ensign, who had been a Sergeant in Capt. Hance Hamilton'e Compa- pany, at the capture of Kittanning. Of the new levies, there was Capt. Armour of York County .*

The following list appears: "Old Levys," First Battalion, Colonel, John Armstrong; Lieutenant-Colonel, Hugh Mercer; Major, Hance Hamilton. Officers of the Pennsyl- vania Regiment, 1759: Second Battalion, Major, David Jameson, "to have brevet dated 24th April, 1759."+

By the 5th of November, the whole army had arrived at Loyal Hanna, fifty miles from Fort DuQuesne. Gen. Forbes, on the 26th of November, 1758, from Fort DuQuesne, then Pittsburgh, had the pleasure and honor of acquainting the Gov- ernor with the signal success of his Majes- ty's troops over all his enemies on the Ohio, by having obliged them to burn and abandon their Fort DuQuesne, which they effected upon the 24th inst., and of which he took possession with his little army the next day. The enemy having made their escape down the river, part in boats, and part by land, their forts and settlements on the Mississippi being abandoned, or at least not seconded by their friends, the Indians, who had previously been engaged, to act a neutral part, and who seemed all willing and ready to embrace his Majesty's most gracious protection. ±

A letter from Col. Burd, of tlie 2d of De- cember says: "I have the pleasure to inform you, that on Friday last, our army being within ten miles of Fort DuQuesne, the enemy thought proper to blow up the Fort, and went off bodily in their battoes. They entirely destroyed the works and rendered everything useless."§

INDIAN ABDUCTIONS.

In the year, 1755, occurred the abduction and massacre of the Jemison family, in

*III Archives, 410. +Ibid, 412. #Ibid, 431 VIII Col. Rec., 244.

Ibid, 236.

*II Archives, N. S., 559-565. +Ibid. 577, 583.

#VIII Col. Rec., 232.

¿Ibid. 234.

110

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

Buchanan Valley, now Adams County, The father, the mother and the daughter and the sons were carried off by the Indians. All were killed but the daughter, who was car- ried into the Indian country, brought up among them, and married an Indian chief, and was living in the year 1824. An account of this abduction and of its horrors and dis- tresses, and the subsequent life of the daughter among the Indians, was published in the last mentioned year, entitled, "The Tragical History of Mary Jemison." Emi- grants to the territory of that part of New York, now embraced by the counties of Genesee and Wyoming, found the wife of an old Indian warrior to be a white woman, called the White Woman. She was possessed of a large tract of land. Her associates and children were Indians. This was in the year 1823, and she was then eighty years old; to them she recited her history, which was published in book form. We are indebted to the Gettysburg Compiler of December 4, et seq., 1879, for a graphic account of this cap- ture and massacre. The following facts in Mary Jemison's case appear: The first settle- ments on the southwestern portion of York, now Adams County, were made by the Scotch- Irish. The father of Mary Jemison was one of these settlers. He settled near Marsh Creek, cleared and cultivated a large farm and resided there ten years. His family consisted of four sons and a daughter. One day in the Spring of 1755, they were alarmed by the discharge of a number of guns. William Buck, a neighbor was killed. Jemi- son was seized, as also were the mother and two brothers, the sister and neighbors with them. The marauding party consisted of six Indians and four Frenchmen. They were Shawanese Indians. The two older brothers escaped. The captured family suffered un- der great distress from fatigue and want of food. They were lashed by the Indians, and hurried, or rather dragged to a fort in Cum- berland County, either Fort Conococheage, or Fort Chambers. Eight of the captives were murdered and scalped. Mary Jemison and the little child of Mrs. Buck were spared. After a painful journey of seven days and a half they reached Fort DuQuesne. Mary Jemison was taken possession of by two Indian squaws and treated as one of the tribe. They were of the Seneca Nation. At first she had a desire to escape whenever she met persons who talked English. When she was fourteen or fifteen years of age, she was married to a Delaware Indian, to whom she became attached, and to whom she bore children. She said that the labor required

of her was not severe. But she had another time to undergo an exhausting and fatiguing journey of several hundred miles from the Ohio river to the Genesee. The Senecas were the allies of the French. The war came to an end in 1760. In the meantime her husband had died. She defended the moral character of the Indians and evaded opportunities of being released by the whites. In 1763 she married an old Seneca warrior. She was twenty years old and he was fifty-five. He died at the age of one hundred and three. The war of the Revolu- tion again subjected her to hardships. The Six-Nations joined the English. After the Revolution she refused to return to the whites, and was given a large tract of re- served land. She was known as Dick-e-wa- mis, or the White Woman of the Genesee.

Richard Baird, who was "captivated " in April, 1758, from, Marsh Creek, returned, having made his escape some where about the Allegheny Hills. He had been so much beaten and abused by Tedyescung's friendly Indians, that his life was despaired of. Some of them told him that they had been lately to Philadelphia, that they would treat with the English as long as they could get pres- ents, and scalp and captivate as long as the French would reward them; that they loved their white brethron so well that they wanted a few of them to hoe corn for them. Rich- ard Baird was a young man of twenty-two years of age, of Hamilton Ban Township, his habitation being at the foot of the South Mountain, on the southeast side. On Thurs- day, the 13th of April, 1758, about 7 o'clock in the morning, he was at his house with his wife and infant child, and several children. In his field were Samuel Hunter, and Daniel McMenomy, laborers. A party consisting of nineteen Indians came and cap- tivated the laborers in the field, and afterward came to the house. After some resistance they surrendered, on the promise of the Ind- ians not to kill any of them. They tied them and took them up the mountain. The Ind- ians killed the children, and Samuel Hunter, and drove the captured party over the Alle- gheny Mountains, a day and a half, and on Monday night, Baird escaped. In nine nights and days he got to Fort Littleton. On the way he had no food, other than snakes or buds and roots. His affadavit was made at York, on May 12, 1758 .*

In a letter from General Amherst, from Al- bany, June, 15, 1761, it is said: “ Amongst the children lately sent from Canada. that had been in the hands of the Indian's, and

*III Archives, 395.

111

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.

some that had been secreted by the Cana- dians, he found that there were six that were taken in the government of Pennsylvania, and two in Virginia, all of whom he sent to Gov. Hamilton. In the return, appears the name of John Mann, of Marsh Creek, in Pennsylvania, taken in 1758, by Indians .* On the 13th of April, 1758, there was a man killed and nine persons abducted near Archibald Bard's, at South Mountain. On the 21st of May, one man and five women were taken from the Yellow Breeches. On the 29th of May, 1759, Mr. Dinwiddie, and one Crawford, were shot by two Indians in Carroll District, York County.f August 17, 1758, William Waugh's barn wa's burned, in the "Tract," York County, by the Indians. }

PONTIAC'S WAR.

The transfer from the French to the English of the posts between the Great Lakes and the Ohio, led to a war which broke out in 1763, and lasted several years, and took its name from that of the great Indian chief, who planned and conducted it. This war cost the colonies much in men and money, but they gained by the struggle. The exploits of the colonists themselves gave them con- fidence. The Pontiac war gave great alarm to the whole country. Massacres were dreaded, and the towns were crowded with refugees. The forts at Bedford, Pittsburg, and Loyal Hanna, resisted the savages, and the panic was allayed. At a meeting of the Council, on the 20th of June, 1763, Gov. Hamilton laid before the board sundry let- ters of intelligence from the frontiers, con- taining accounts of hostilities, committed by the Western Indians, on his Majesty's sub- jects within the province, and of the suspi- cious behavior of the Indians, settled in the upper part of the Susquehanna. And on the 6th of July, 1763, the Governor laid before the Assembly a letter from Col. Bouquet, at Carlisle : "I am sorry to acquaint you that our posts at Presque Isle, Le Boeuf, and Venango are cut off, and the garrisons mas- sacred by the savages, except one officer and seven men, who have escaped from Le Boeuf. Fort Pitt was briskly attacked on the 22d ; had only a few men killed and wounded, and dispersed the enemy. Fort Ligonier has likewise stood a vigorous attack, by means of some men, who reinforced that small garrison from the militia of Bedford. The Indians expect a strong reinforcement to make new attempts on these two posts. If the meas-

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History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended, Part 22

Author: Gibson, John, Editor Publication date: 1886 Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Gibson, John, Editor
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago
Number of Pages: 1104