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 59

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 59

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In 1729 Lancaster County was organized, including York County and all the country lying west. The unbroken wilderness

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THE SCOTCH-IRISH.

west of the Susquehanna had already been entered from Maryland by intruding survey- ors and others from Lord Baltimore's colony. It was a vast tract of land extending from the river to the Blue Ridge. It was hilly, interspersed with high plateaus, deep grooved valleys and ravines; wild streams, bordered with extensive forests of chestnut, ash, hick- ory, oak, sassafras, poplar, dogwood, birch and beech, drained the remote interior and wound by devious courses through a secluded country unfrequented and unexplored. The Colonial Assembly of February 28, 1728, characterized country like it "barren or un- inhabited." They designated the uninhabited parts of Chester County (those near the Car- narvon Hills) " barrens." In fact, the unin- habited portions of the province beyond the mountains were described thus. I cannot quibble with those who think the name of " barrens" a title which has long misrepre- sented the "Lower End," grew out of the Indians having burned the timber for hunt- ing purposes. The character of the Indian refutes such an idea. The surface and soil were indeed like to that in old Ulster, Ireland. The hills were steep and stony. The land, when cleared, was thin; broken rocks pro- truded everywhere, and winter swept the hill-tops mercilessly. It is conjectured by many that the striking similarity between the two regions had much to do with winning the Scotch-Irish to the unkindly country. Prior to 1720 the country of Chanceford, Lower Chanceford, Fawn, Hopewell and Peach Bottom had remained unknown, save to the prowling Indian, who hunted game in its fastnesses, or had his solitary wigwam near its pure springs of water. The dismal owl and catamount echoed the hills, and fero- cious wolves roamed the rocky ridges undis- turbed. Early in 1721 the woodsman and Maryland surveyor broke the primeval si- lence with voice and ax. The country was in dispute. The Calverts claimed it by their charter. The parallel 40° north latitude runs through Lower Windsor Township. The grant of Maryland, it was claimed, extended to it. Among the first surveys of Maryland was one, "Son James' Park" (named after King Charles' son), surveyed along the river and stretched from "Rapid Creek" to "James Creek." This tract included the romantic and picturesque scenery from some stream near Muddy Creek " flowing into the Susque- hanna " to the stream with the waterfall at York Furnace. I have in my possession a Lord Baltimore survey mark-a copper im- age-found on Duncan's Island ninety-eight years ago. It was intended for and was used

in establishing permanent points or corners. It clearly shows the course and bearing of one Seldon's compass, surveying north-Sel- don's name is stamped upon it, together with degrees and minutes. Disputes multiplied between Pennsylvania and Maryland. August 17, 1724, Maryland, through Charles II, granted to Thomas Larkin and Benjamin Tasker the famous " Solitude " tract, embrac- ing the country north of Muddy Creek, west of Son James' Park, 5,000 acres. The north- ern point was in a swamp near the large spring on the property of John Bair, Esq .; the western upon lands owned by the Misses Pedan, sisters. This northern corner was at one time lost, and another adopted, 100 chains northwest. Through this an impor- tant series of lawsuits began among the Scotch-Irish, notably that of "Ankrine and McIlhenny." In 1874, while workmen were ditching the marsh, the "old corner" was found buried in muck two feet below the surface.

Troubles were increasing between the set- tlers and proprietaries. Pennsylvania, in order to cut off further encroachments on the part of presumptuous Marylanders, began June 19, 1722, opposite the mouth of Conestoga Creek, to survey the south- ern boundary of Springetsbury Manor, including the valley of York and Wrights- ville. As time went on the feuds became more violent, and some blood was shed. By 1730 the continual uproar between those claiming title under Baltimore County, and those under Lancaster County, began to attract general attention. Such a state of affairs, such tumultuous excitement, kept peaceable and quiet settlers out of the terri- tory. Not so the Scotch-Irish; to them it had allurements. What were they? They would "rather fight than eat." Mitchel and Wor- ley, their kinsfolk, had been through its woods. "It looked like Ireland." The quarreling settlers (interlopers) were already called "wild Irish." The land was in con- tention. Timber was sparse upon the high lands. A home could be selected without money. There was an open chance to take possession where they might find it. No rents to pay; nor would they be compelled to recognize authority. The clannish nature could be gratified; they could join their lands and live in common. Together they could watch the furore of the borders, and evade the law. To them our "lower end" of York County was most temptingly desirable; to it they came. Being a law unto themselves, they summarily enforced the squatter law in many instances. They chafed under author-

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ity, and refused to recognize it. They would not pay quit rents. This is proven by the fact that many of them lived fifteen to twenty years on their settlements before they were granted titles to their lands. The condition and the state of disquiet of the " barrens beyond the river" was very suitable to their wishes, and to it they began to move themselves from Northampton, Chester and Lancaster Counties in 1734. The peculiar eccentricities of the Scotch-Irish are to be accounted for. Usage makes habit, and custom makes law. In Ireland these people had paid no land rents for 119 years. Their homes were theirs by right. Taxes there were none, and over them the only power, save that of God, they recognized was the king's prerogative. There is little wonder that, accustomed to the rights of man upon untaxed soil, and reared to believe in the generosity of their ruler, they should imagine that here, upon the boundless continent of free America, they had equal rights with all mankind to possess its wide domain. In- heriting the blood of contention from stub. born forefathers, they found the possibilities for exercising contrariness in the disputed country west of the Susquehanna. It is not to be denied they made themselves very nn- pleasant to the governor and his tax-gatherers. Hardiest and boldest of the early settlers, they always pressed forward upon the wild fron- tier. They were foremost in the acquisition of dangerous country, and measured their fields beyond the most remote outposts. When they had resolved upon an action no terrors turned them from their enterprise. Independent and fearless, they were fit strength to pioneer civilization into the wilderness, and there lay the foundations of a rugged church. The Indian named the streams, the bays and rivers; he left his records on the rocks and waterfalls. But the Scotch-Irish, bold in his endeavor to uphold sturdy truth, has left his landmarks not so much in sterile fields, old chimney stacks, decaying orchards and lonesome fence rows, straggling through the woods, as upon the history of his times, the character of his posterity, the glory of his country. He too, indeed, has left his rude, though sweet, me- lodious Celtic names, where no devastation nor invasion can be obliterated. They did not build towns, as the Germans did. They clanned upon wide scopes, and never huddled in villages. Where they lived was no "habi- tation without a name"-Allen, Hempfield, Latrobe, Connaught, Conemaugh, Westmore- land, Monaghan, and beyond doubt, Chance- ford. The names they gave were clear-cut and

full of dignity. Go where you will, you will find vestiges of this people in every section of the State. Who knows the names of Armor, Aikin, Taylor, Armstrong, Mitchel, McIn- tosh, Cowen, McConnell, Livingston, McClel- lan, Ross, Graham, Pedan, McKimm, Gal- braith, McPherson, Ewing, Lowery, Stewart, McKellum, McIntyre, McCleans, Mellhenny, McKeen, McCulloch, McCall, Wilson and Bu- chanan-who knows these and does not know the old blood of Graham and Armstrong is in their veins? Peculiar people, these Scotch Irish, poor, but intelligent; needy, but independent; paupers, but princes; men, not weaklings-they had their power within themselves. The influences of education in the schools King James had given to Ulster were upon them. Lancaster County for years drew upon this stock of intelligence for its schoolmasters, and it has not been long since every schoolhouse within her bor- ders had its " Irish pedagogue from York County," or elsewhere. Their big Scotch brains and native wit, their warm, passionate natures, their intense zeal and earnestness, marked them with distinctive individuality. No other nationality had greater integrity of purpose, more enthusiastic ardor or un- daunted force of character. They were young men of vigor and stout principles. Most of them brought young wives from Ireland. The women of their hearts were their only possession, and rich treasures of love and fidelity they were. They were the women who reared boys with broad shoulders and brave, honest hearts. It was they who poured into their breasts the pure impulses of patriotic devotion, and kindled the fires of American independence. Yes, they were poor; they had left Ireland, because to have staid meant to starve. They came to found homes. Homes were their greatest need. They had no homes. They came, leaving no estates in trust; they had no property; they left none behind. They brought the little they had with them-a spinning wheel, a saw, an ax, £10 in money and the hemp clothes they wore. They left nothing but misery, and really had nothing but hope. This explains why few, if any, Scotch-Irish ever looked for or received legacies from the "Ould Kentry." The German had treasure in the "fatherland," but the Scotch-Irish had none. They built stone houses and stone churches. These enduring structures indi- cate they had come to stay; their old grave- yards, likewise, that they had made their resolves to die amid their works. They tilled the land, and when it was starved out in one place they abandoned it and cleared

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another, farming likewise until it would no longer grow their crops. Corn, buckwheat and flax were about all they could grow. The sickle was their "Champion" mower, the flail their steam-thresher and the palms of their hands their patent corn-sheller. Piety and industry was the story of their daily life. The "good old times" they had, the trials and hardships, withal, the contentment and happiness in their simple lives, their strug- gles for a homestead and patrimony, are subjects for delightful contemplation, and have afforded themes for endless winter night tales by the fireside.

What were their influences upon the early times and the men with whom they dwelt? What were their relations to the land they had joined others in occupying? Indeed, what mysterious agencies evolved the possibilities of American greatness through them? The correctness of their judgment, the unchange- ableness of their decisions, the nobility of their convictions, their intellectuality and depth of spirituality, joined to vital physical force-these were the bases of their influence and character. Ever since mankind began to band in families, in clans, and finally into that vast organization we call society, the energy of events was moulding and shaping a people-population eventually-for a great new continent. The ages grew necessities and the world contributed to the upbuilding and glory of American nationality. Out of the old loins children of fate came-came to an inheritance of fame and fortune upon our native soil. To Europe we trace our forefathers and all there is of American gene- alogy. The Atlantic slope appropriated to its grand expanse the best head and heart of Teu- tonic, Gallic, Anglican and Celtic monarchies. The voluminous past is only known. If you were to ask what in it were the mightiest forces employed in laying the foundations of our republic, of vitalizing its genius of strength, of surmounting its imposing struc- ture with the glory of American ideas, I would answer, there were four. These were the four: the Puritan, which was pure; the Huguenot and Waldense, which was sturdy; the Quaker, which was passive, devout; the Scotch-Irish, which was belligerent and God-fearing; the Puritan for intellectuality and courage; the Huguenot for labor and worth; the Quaker for peace and unselfishness; the Scotch-Irish, for impetuosity, fire, valor, war, freedom, heart. Where the Puritan would build a church, the Waldense would plant a field. Where the Quaker would turn his cheek to a smiting blow, the Scotch-Irish would knock down and paralyze. While the New Eng- lander would give birth to pure principles and

lead out the virtuous ideas of liberty, the powerful Scotchman backed them up with muscle. While the German lived in fertile valleys, growing rich, the Scotch-Irishman dwelt upon the poorest hills, producing brains. While the Quaker loved freedom, he hated strife. The Scotch-Irish rushed boldly in, quelling disorder, battering the heads of cropped bullies, silencing the mouths of blatant pugilists, grasping the throats of hoarse tyrants, crushing the breath out of every kind of arrogance, despotism or trea- son. They have all filled a wise purpose and these four are the bed rock of American society in its every relation to politics, religion, peace or war. It is difficult to say that one could have done well without the other; or that our national character would have so grandly developed to what it is, had any been left out. This we can say: none were dere lict in their heaven-imposed duty. But as our choicest blessings of freedom were secured to us by force of arms, the sons of Graham and Armstrong performed their conspicuous part with determination, bravery and honor.

The Puritan came with his laws, the Vau- dois with his wheat, the Quaker with his fel- lowship, the Scotch-Irish with his shoulders and arms. They all came with their Bibles; and here is the genius of our strength. They all came with pure, unfettered thought, and on their coins, as in their breasts, they wrote: "In God we trust;" and here is the glory of the American national idea. Jehovah has blessed the constitution of the Pilgrims, the fields of the Teuton, the brotherhood of Will- iam Penn, the zeal and fidelity of the Celt. The one believed in prudence and preaching; another in perseverance and plowing; another in peace and persuasion; the Scotch-Irish in pluck and power. They all believed in prayer and Providence. The Scotch-Irish always asserted, "God helps him who helps himself," and depended outside of himself only for the blessing that would reward his integrity of purpose. They knew it a good thing to trust in Providence, but they were practical, and, as one of their deacons said whose horse ran away with him, "I held on to Providence till the harness broke, then I jumped out." The Puritan gave wisdom to counsel, the German sobriety to judgment, the disciples of George Fox simplicity to worship, the Scotch-Irish dignity to impulse and fortitude to every struggle. Born to all the attributes of true men, they were workers; an earnest worker is a God-fearing man; courageous thinkers, they were good preachers; good preachers, they were heroic fighters. Beneath rugged exteriors gleamed the sunshine of gentleness and affection, tenderest sympathy and un-

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selfish generosity. They carried fine metal in their tongues, and high spirit in their breasts. With towering wrath for treason, they had all the graces of love and loyalty. When through the land the fiery whirlwind swept that British guns had flashed at Lex- ington, righteous indigation blazed upon their arms and seized the flaming women in their homes. The Scottish nature was aroused -the soul burned-down the old flint-lock came and hurrying to the scene of action, Scotch Irish were among the first to hurl their hate on English foes. American patriots and Scotch-Irishmen are synonymous. Their devotion to this land of liberty, the freedom with which they gave their lives and sons a sacrifice to virtue and independence, will stand as long as time endures, and the names of Ewing, Warren, McCulloch, Montgomery and Hamilton live immortal. Christianity always called strong men to do her office, make her history and career. Freedom ever called upon the monarchs of the land for bat- tle. and never called in vain. When freedom called from Concord hills, the plow stopped in the furrow, and from a thousand fields went war's proudest heroes. The character of the Scotch-Irish was the character of the Revolution. Hardiest, they were most enduring in every conflict. Brave, they were ever bayoneting or clubbing guns with their enemies. Devout, the hymns of Calvin and psalms of David arose in every camp. The Scotch Irish of Maine, New Hampshire, Ver- mont and Pennsylvania had no superiors in strength or resistless madness in attack. Their "on! on! " was slaughter, and their charge death. Go, read of that Ticonderoga Ethan Allen; of Stark, whose "Mollie Stark would be a widow," if, ere the sun went down, the day was lost at Bennington; of that Long Island, where York County men fought nobly and went down. Read of that Brandywine and Saratoga. Take up the records of the army in the North, and restore that Valley Forge and all the crnel rigor of an eight years' war, and from the horrid day at Lex- ington to that famous day at Yorktown, where Cornwallis laid his laurels at the feet of Washington, you will find Scotch-Irish cov- ered themselves with glory, and won the abiding praise and love of a grateful nation. Future generations will revere them even from the French and Indian war to that great Rebellion in which God cursed with His wrath the crimes and iniquities of the times. They joined in every great attempt. They signed that sacred chart, the Declaration of Independence, and in its risks and dangers took their part. In that immortal assemblage (born in Pennsylvania, Scotland or Ireland),

sat George Ross, George Taylor, of North- ampton. James Smith, of York, James Wil- son, John Witherspoon, Matthew Thornton and Thomas Mckean. These were the in -- fluences and resultants of King Jame 3. brought out of enfeebled Ireland to be ur l as chief corner-stones in that enduring tem,

-designed by virtue, builded in the might of the two-fold power vox populi, vor dei, the government of the United States. Can the world leave them go? Can colonies and commonwealths they gave to the Union see them vanish forever? Can those who are their children, or we who live upon their an- cient settlements know so little of them? Should men who were the first in war to pay tribute blood to freedom, should they be for- gotten or lie within their graves their fame unsung? Conscientious and honorable, by them no man was ever cheated of his con.i. dence. Quick to resent an injury, they never forgot the kindness of a friend. With charity for the defenseless, they could penetrate and course skillfully the villainy of a knave. Rigid in . the control of family, they grew sons of wisdom and worth. They trained daughters, wives to first statesmen in the commonwealth. Being patriotic, they were sure tyrrany was the lowest limit of baseness. Being brave, they believed, where justice was the standard, heaven was the warrior's shield. Being noble, they realized "the beauty of truth is, nothing can rest upon it save eternal jus- tice." When the Scotch-Irish deci led they were right, I defy facts to show me they were ever proven wrong. They scanned enemies and friends alike; they saw motives behind every action, and principles beneath every pledge. Their heads and hearts were boldly strung. In politics and government, in theology and ethics, in the capitol and home, in the grain- field as on that other field that drank their life, they prayed to be a "benefaction to mankind." Their prayers were answered. From our hills, from our Susquehanna hills, we can look over the Scotch-Irish realm. Among all people are scattered their de- scendants. Along the slopes their churches stand. The little graveyards with their silent slate slabs show where the last of the Grahams and Armstrongs halted to rest. Their foot prints are to be traced from the Atlantic seaboard to the remote valleys and summits of the Alleghanies. The old patri- archs are gone. If we but follow with half the zeal they pressed on to excelleuce, our foot-prints will yet be seen winding along the earth, till at last they, too, shall be lost upon the sunlit tops of the highest mountains.

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SPECIAL HISTORY.

BY GEORGE R. PROWELL.

ERECTION OF COUNTY-CIVIL LIST-PUBLIC INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS-AGRICUL- TURE-EDUCATIONAL-JOURNALISM-RELIGIONS-HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHIES- BENCH AND BAR-MEDICAL-TOPOGRAPHY AND GREAT FLOODS- GEOLOGY-IRON INDUSTRIES-CENSUS RETURNS-NOTES FROM EARLY COURT RECORDS-SLAVERY AND REDEMP- TIONERS-SECRET ORDERS-FIRE INSUR- ANCE COMPANIES, ETC., ETC.

PRELIMINARY HISTORY.

C YHESTER, Bucks and Philadelphia were the three original counties established at the first settlement of the Province of Pennsylvania, under the direction of its dis- tinguished founder, William Penn. These counties were organized within two months after the arrival of Penn, under the char- ter granted him by Charles II., king of England, on March 4, 1681. It was then, he said, in a letter directed to the inhabi- tants of Pennsylvania, that they should be governed by laws of their own making, and that he "would not usurp the right of any." Chester, the first county formed, obtained its name from the following interesting inci- dent: The landing-place of the proprietary was at Upland (now Chester City), and he resolved that its name should be changed. Turning around to his companion, Pearson, one of his own Society of Friends, who had accompanied him on the ship "Welcome," he said: "Providence has brought us safe here. Thou hast been the companion of my perils. What wilt thou that I should call this place?" Whereupon Pearson, in remem- brance of the city from which he came, in England, exclaimed, "Chester." Penn re- plied that it should be called Chester, and that when he divided the land into counties, one of them should be called by the same name. Bucks, the next county laid out, took its name from a district in England, from whence came a number of passengers in the " Welcome," who located within the limits of that county. Philadelphia is a scriptural

name, and was selected by Penn himself to designate the city which he founded. It means "brotherly love."

By the treaty of 1718, with the In- dians, the western boundary of Chester County was not definitely established until the erection of Lancaster County, from Chester County, by act of May 10, 1729. There were then no authorized settlements west of the Susquehanna, within the present limits of York County. As far as the treaties with the Indians were instrumental in estab- lishing county boundary lines, the Susque- hanna was the western limit of Chester County before 1729. Lancaster County, the first county formed after the death of William Penn, owes its name to John Wright, a prominent and influential settler, who emi- grated from Lancashire, England, and to- gether with Samuel Blunston and Robert Barber, located at the present site of Colum- bia. When the commissioners were appointed to divide Chester County, John Wright was made one of them, and he then petitioned to have the new district called Lancaster County, after his native place. He served for twelve years as the first president justice of the Lancaster Court, and in 1730 obtained a charter to his ferry at the present site of Wrightsville.

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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 59

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