History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 15

Author: Egle, William Henry, 1830-1901
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1046

USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical > Part 15
USA > Pennsylvania > Lebanon County > History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical > Part 15

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Maxwell, Richard, 23, New-Ing., June 12, cord.

Miller, Joseph, 17, l'enn'a, May 17, lab.

Morrow [ Murray], John, 21, Scot., May &, lab. Noble, William, 30, Eng., June 3, plasterer. O'Bib ti, Patrick, 28, Ir., May 15, Lol, Reily, Bryan, 20, Ir., May 17, lab. Welch, John, 30, Ir., May 18, lib. Vi Hey, Jantes, zu, fr., Jaay if, av.

OFFICERS OF NEW LEVIES, 1.59.

Ciptuns.

Robert Boyd, April 26, 1759.

Samuel Jones, May 5, 1750.

William Johnston, May 11, 1759. James Arni-trong, May 13, 1,59.

Lieutenants.

Willian Boyd, April 23. 1759. George Mc Knight, May 5, 1750. James Fulton.

David McAllister, April 20, 1739. John Forster, May 11, 1759. Charles Stewart, May 13, 1759.

Ensigns.

Clears Campbell. April 21, 1757. Memucan Hughes, May 2, 1759. Hugh Mckean, May 1, 1759. John Foulke, May 4, 1759.

John Mallen, April 28, 1759.

OFFICERS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENT, 1759.

Colonel. James Burd.

A return of Capt. Robert Boyd's company May and June, 1759, with name, age, chere born, ditte of enlistment, and occupation :

Allieve, Thomas, 20, Ir., May 3, miller. Bane, Reuben, 20, Penn'a, Mas 2H, tanner.

Birger, John, 21, Ir., May IT, Better,

Breckill, Heurge, 24, Ir., May 7, 1ib.

Bork, John, 25, Ir., May 8, lab. Campbell, John. 22, Chester, Penn'a, June 13, lab. Clark, Nathaniel, 25, Eng., Mlay's, weaver.

Coney, Juhu, 27, Ir., June 2, lah.

Dorranghi, James, 20, Chester, Penu'a, Mas II, lab. Doyle, Jamie-, 38, Ir., May 7, lab. Fillson, Samuel, 18, Chester, Penn'a. June 6, tailor.

Forrester, George, 38, Ir., May 8, tailor.

Fulton, William, 26, 1r., May 22. weaver.

Goudling, William, 25, Ir., May i, lah -" Died June 3d. ' Gunning, Alexander, 20, Ir., May T, lab. Hamilton, James, 21. Chester, Penn', May 21, lab. Hempl:ill, Edward, 38, Ir., May 24, lab.

Hervey, Thomas, 38, N. Y., Mo 5, shoemaker,

How -!! , Charles, 20, Ir., May SI, lab. Hutchinson, John, 28, Ir., May 20, lab. Jenning», Heury, 40, Ir., May 4, lab McFarran [McPharan], Matthias, 20, Penn's, May 28, lab, MeIlvaine, Joseph, 35, Ir .. May 15, Inb. McLachlan, John, 20, Ir., May 16, lib. McQuaid, Patrick, 22, Ir , May i, lab. Matthi is, George, I., Chester, Penn'a, June 2, lah. Matthie. William, 22. Ir , June II, lab. Moriand, Patrick, 20, Lancaster, Penn'a, May , lab. Neal, Andrew, 25, Ir , May 4, lab. Parker, Jamies, 30, Scot .. May s, lab. Kamsey, James, 15, Penn'a, May 22. weaver.

Richardson, Willian, 23, Lancaster, Penn's, May 4, lub,

Robeson, Matthew, 20, Ir., April 30, lab. Sandford, Robert, 23, Chester, Penn'a, May 25, lab, Shadioch, Charles, 20, Ir., May .,I, lab. Sharp, John, 25, Penn'a, May 21, Lib. Small, John, 22, Che-ter, Penn'a, May 1, Jab. Smith, Conra.1, 22, Ber., May 22, 1.1 .. Sain, Thomas, 23, 1r., Muy Ja, s. Loolmaster.

Thomas, John, 23, Eng., May 1, smith.

Tong. l'eter, 40, Ger., May 30, 11b. Tornage, Richard, 25, Eug., May s, lah.

Travers, Francis, 22, Ir., May 17, smith. Travers, John, 20, Chester, Penn'a, May 11, tuilor. Wells, Robert. 22, Ir . May 15, Inh. Willson, Juhn, 20, Chester, Penn'a, My 7, Jab. . Willson, Robert, 24, Ir., Juno 11, Inb.

The following belonged to Major James Burd's com- pany in 1759:

Arliuger, Stephen. Dill, Richard.

Johnston, Robert. Moore, Jamies.

Dobson, Matthew, die. April 13, 1736.

McKee, William. Nesmith, John. Rimby, Conrad.

Finny, Thomas.

Fitzer, George Adam. Rourk, Michael.

Goodwin, Elward. Gottheb, George. smith, Richard. Vernin, Heury. Young, Andrew.

Holmes, George.

In 1760, among the officers of the Pennsylvania regiment were :

Colonel. James Burd, April 12, 1760.

Lieutenants.

George Dixon, April 23, 1760, John Baird, April 19, 1760. Eusign4. Arthur Wallure, April 30, 1760. William Mcclure, May 11, 1760. David Harris, May 10, Hod. Matthias Mease, April 24, 1760.

Of the officers of the Pennsylvania regiment, com- manded by the Hon. John Penn, Governor of the Province, in 1764, we have the following. It may be here stated that the officers thereof participated in the land grants by the Proprietaries for services in Bou- quet's expedition 1763-61 :

FIRST BATTALION. Surgeon. John Wiggins, Dec. 20, 17/3.

Licutenants. James Hayes, Nov. 20, 1763. John Lycan, July 15, 1763, Ensigns.

Alexander Boyd, Nov. 20, 1703. . William McMeen, Dec. IN, 1783.

James Forster, Aug. 4, 1763.

SECOND BATTALION. Surgeon. William Plunket, Sept, 7, 1763. Quartermaster. Robert Clark, June 7, 1764. Cuptuinx. Samuel Lindsay, July 13, 1763 Timothy Green, July IS, 1763.

Lieutenants. -

William Marley, July 4. 1755. James McAllister, July 17, 1763. Charles Stewart, July 18, 1763. Envigrx.

Willit Bachanan, July 14, 1703. Theuns Askry, Inly 15, 1763. Thomas Completion, Nov. 1, 1763.

On the 1st of June, 1764, there were stationed on the frontiers of Lancaster County Provincial troops as follows : At David Putten's, Faxtang township, Capt. Samuel Hunter, 1 sergeant, 15 nien.

GENERAL HISTORY.

Monody Gop, Hanover township, Lieut. John Ly- can-, I sergeant, 15 men.

Fort Hunter, Paxtang township, Ensign James For-ter, 15 men.

John Cameron's. Hanover township, Capt. Timothy Green, I sergeant, 15 men.

John Me Furling's, Hanover township, Lieut. Charles Stewart, 1 sergeant, 15 men.

Godfried Young's, Hanover township, Ensign Thoma- Campleton, 15 men.

CHAPTER VII.

The French and Indian War (continned)-Gen. Forbes' victory-Con- spiracy of Pontiac.

WITH the defeat of the French in Canada, their ex - pulsion from the Ohio by Gen. Forbes, and the erec- tion of Fort Pitt on the ruins of Fort Duquesne, the Province of Pennsylvania looked for the enjoyment of a long and undisturbed peace, since her mild and forbearing policy had conciliated the Indians, and their dangerous neighbor :. the French, were removed. Bat the sources in which they conght for safety were fruitful of danger -. The unprotected state of the frontiers, consequent on the di-charge of the forces of the middle and southern colonies, held forth irre- sistible temptations to the whetted appetite of the border savages for plunder. Their hostility had been rewarded rather than chastised by Pennsylvania ; every treaty of peace was accompanied by rich pres- ent-, and their detention of the pri-oners was over- looked upon slight apologies, though obviously done to afford opportunities for new treaties and additional gift -. The mistaken and perverted humanity of the Quakers had softened down their offenses, and its apologies gave them confidence in their allegations of injuries received from the whites. These reasons, however, are insufficient to account for the wide ex- tension of the Indian confederacy, which was prob- ably caused by motives of profonnd poliey. The aborigines beheld the French driven out of their whole country, themselves threatened by forts com- manding the great lakes and rivers, and they felt that an immediate and mighty effort was necessary to re- strain the tide, which now, unimpeded, would -pread it-elf over the continent.

For boldness of attempt and depth of design the Pontiac war of 1703, so named by the frontier inhab- itante, was perhaps unsurpassed in the annals of border warfare. Schemed by such renowned chief-, Kiya-uta, head of the Seneca-, and Pontiae, of the Ottawa-, the numerous tribes lying within the reach of their influence were easily commanded for the prosecution of any new project. Not only in poi- session of these grand facilities to engage numerous warriors for the present purpose, they availed then- selves of additional means to secure a powerful con-

federaey by calling in aid their eloquence to represent the necessity there was for defense of their own rights in making a deadly repulse again-t the eneroachments of the English colonie-, which they represented as having finally in view the hostile displacement or ex- termination of every Western tribe from the region they now occupied.

The grand scheme projected by these Napoleons of the West seems to have been to arouse the tribes sev- erally of the country, and all those they could reach, to join in striking a decisive blow on the frontiers, and, as it were, throw terror into the very heart of the colonies, and thereby effectually and forever re- pulse them from eneroachment- into the valley of the Ohio. A certain day was set apart, it seems, for making the general assault, while the scheme was to be kept in profound silence, that they might come upon their victims in an unguarded hour. All the forts were to be simultaneously attacked, as well as the settlements, and all individuals whom they could come upon, and with one bold sweep, as it were, raze to the earth everything bearing the marks of their doomed enemie -. The sea-on of harvest was chosen that the attention of the people might at the time be drawn to their erops, as well as the work of havoc then be greater by their destruction of them.

When the attack was made it was found not to be simultaneous. That on Fort Pitt and vicinity was made almost two or three day- before the time agreed upon for the general attack, although it was done with the belief at the time that the day had arrived. The misunderstanding was said to proceed from the officiousness of a Delaware squaw, who was desirous that their plans might be deranged: At the grand council held by all the tribes for the appointment of the day for the general attack and making the neces- sary arrangements for it a bundle of rods had been put into the hands of every tribe, each bundle containing as many rods as there were day's till the day when the general attack was to be made. One rod was to be drawn from the bundle every morning, and when a single one remained it was the signal for the out- break. The squaw spoken of had purposely extracted two or three rods unknowingly to the others, think- ing it might materially disconcert, if not defeat their project. From this circumstance was said to arise the untimely action of the Indians about Fort Pitt. But everywhere else the attack had been simulta- neous, so correct and in -neh concert had they moved.

The Shawanese and Delawares appear to have been the most active, and in pursuance of their boll and bloody project, the moment arriving for the general assault, the first intelligence their tated enemies had of the preconcerted work of death was a murderous attack made upon them without discrimination wherever met with. The frontier settlements of Pennsylvania and the neighboring provinces of Maryland and Virginia were immediately overrun

HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

with realping parties, " marking their way with blood and devastation wherever they went, and all the ex- amples of savage cruelty which never fail to accom- pany an Indian war."

Almost every fort along the lakes and the Ohio was instantly attacked, and those that did not fall under the first assault were surrounded, and a resolute siege commenced. In a -hurt time, so vigorous were the savages, that eight out of eleven fort- were taken,- Venango, Le Boeuf, Presqu'Isle, with the chain of stockades west of the Ohio,-Fort Pitt, Detroit. and Niagara alone maintaining. These, being better gar- risoned, were prepared to withstand an attack with but little danger.

After the first panie had passed away the refugee settlers associated themselves together, and, under the care of divisions of the regular troops and mi- litia, succeeded in collecting and saving the remnant of their crop -.

During this time Fort Pitt remained in the most hazardons condition. And what may have been its situation already, apprehensions for the worst were entertained, for no accounts from it had been received of late, and in fact nothing definite since it had been attacked, when it had been surrounded by the In- dians " and all communication cut off from it even by message." Placed at so great a distance from the inhabited portions of the Province, and rendered still more inaccessible from the then almost impa-sible mountains that intercepted the way, it could not be conveniently heard from, nor could as-istance be ren- dered it without great expense of labor and time ; and a considerable foree being requisite for their own safety to undertake a march so distant, some delay could not be avoided. Endeavors in the Province to raise men proving nearly abortive, although the As- sembly at the first outbreak of the savages had or- dered seven hundred men to be raised for the protee- tion of the frontiers during harvest, yet all attempts now seemed to have little effect. The delay which had thus been occasioned increased the alarm for those at Fort Pitt, from whour no intelligence still was had, while the audacity of depredating parties was increa-ed as they discovered the settlers fleeing before them and no very apparent effort being made to check them.

All exertions proving fruitless to raise the requisite forces. Gen. Ambert, commander-in-chief of the army in America, promptly dispatched Col. Bon- quet to the relief of Fort Pitt. Gathering together "the shattered remnants of the Forty-second and Seventy-second Regiments, lately returned from the West Indie-," comprising in all scarcely five hundred men, the gallant Bouquet set out for a long and te- dions warch through the forests. His little army were indeed invalids, "reinforced with the last man that could be removed from the hospital," and many were so infrm that about sixty were conveyed in wagons; but these had been brought along more

with a view of being left as reinforcements at the small posts by the way, Accompanying this little force, however, were six companies of rangers from Lancaster and Cumberland Counties, amounting to two hundred, all that could possibly be spared from the Provincial volunteers, who were guarding their own homes from the inroads of the enemy.

Reaching Carlisle, Col. Bouquet found nothing had been done to carry out the orders which had been given to prepare a convoy of provisions on the fron- tiers. All was terror and consternation ; the greatest part of Cumberland County, through which the army had to pass, was deserted, and the roads were covered with distressed families flying from their settlements, and destitute of all the necessaries of life. In the midst of this confusion, says Bouquet in his journal, the supplies required for the expedition became very precarious, nor was it less difficult to procure horses and wagons for the use of the troops. However, in about two weeks after his arrival at Carlisle, by the prudent and active measures pursued by the com- mander, joined to his knowledge of the country and the diligence of those he employed, the requi-ite pro- visions and article- of conveyance were procured, and the army proceeded.

On the 5th of August, Col. Bouquet determined to halt at Bushy Run, now Westmoreland County, and there rest the troop, till towards evening, and pass the deep and dangerous defiles of Turtle Creek during the ensuing night ; but when within about a half-mile from the creek, the advanced guard of the army was suddenly surprised by an ambuscade of Indians open- ing a brisk fire of musketry upon them. Being speed- ily and firmly supported by bringing up the rear, a charge of bayonets was ordered, which effectually routed the savages, when they were pursued a short distance. But no sooner was the pursuit given up than they returned and renewed the attack with re- doubled vigor, while at the moment a most galling fire was opened by the parties who had been con- cealed on some high ground that skirted the flank- of the army. A general charge with the whole line was now made, which proved effective, and the sav- ages were obliged to give way ; but withal to no pur- pose, for no sooner was the pursuit again given up than the Indians renewed the attack with their wonted ferocity. The action continued without intermission the whole afternoon, -a confused and irregular attack by the forces of both parties. The enemy, routed from one skulking-place, would retreat to another. But Col. Bouquet made it an object as much as possible to keep his troops collected, that they might not be broken in upon and dispersed by the enemy. The battle ended with the day, without any decided ad- vantage to either.

With the first dawn of morning the war-whoop was again raised, and in a moment there seemed a thou- sand startling yells to break n. every direction around. At thi- signal a rush was made by the Indians on all

GENERAL HISTORY.

sides, but the lines ready formed were not to be taken by surprise, and efectually repulsed the savage in every attempt. Betaking themselves to the trees, the Indians poured an ince-sant fire with great precision into the little army. Fatigued with the previous day'> march and the battle of the preceding evening. combined with the exposure to a hot August sun, with no water within their reach, the troops began indeed to be dispirited. Attacked with a dogged determina- tion, and fired upon without intercession, they could neither retreat nor proceed. It became obvious, therefore, that a desperate effort must be made to save the army from total destruction. The commander happily bethought himself of a stratagen, that might prove successful, which, as the troops were still dis- po-ed in a circle from the previous night, consisted in making a manœuvre of the appearance of a precipi- tate retreat from one side so as to entrap the assailants in pursuit, who would rush as thoughtless within the inclosure of lines which lay in ambuscade.

The snare was set in direction of the enemy's dead- liest fire, and most happily succeeded in enticing them from their places of concealment. Before aware, they were under a most destructive fire of the troops; and ere they could retreat, they received so deadly a , charge from the regulars that they fled with the utmost precipitation. This secured the victory. The woods around were immediately abandoned by the others, and the conflict ceased.

This had been the whole Indian force from Fort Pitt, who, after lying around that place for three months, keeping up a vigorous siege, and being on the alert for a force to come against them from the settlements, early became apprised of the approach of Col. Bouquet, and informed duly by their spies of the movement of the enemy. they determined, as was expected, to await them ou the most advantageous ground, aware that if they succeeded in deleating the troops, the extent of country they had already gained -way over by their sudden and bold movements would not only be maintained, but a probability fol- 1 low that they might strike consternation into the very heart of the settlements. It is indeed impossible to say what influence might have been exerted over the' settlements of Pennsylvania in particular had this little army been cut off. It is certain possession of the country might not have been regained till the work of destruction had been completed west of the mountains. But so -tunning were the results of this battle to the savages, di-may at once seized them and conlidonee was lost. Though looked upon as a small engagement, there doubtless hung upon it results nigh as important to the colonies as the issue of the

more renowned battle ou the Plains of Abraham, when a Wolfe and a Montcalm met to decide the destinies of their respective nations. The little battle of Busby Run was the means of disheartening the Indians and causing them to abandon designs which. if they had continued to execute with the same rigor

that had characterized them for a little more than three months since they had commenced the assault. might have effected much that would be fearful to relate.

In this engagement Col. Bouquet lost about tifty men and had sixty wounded, the savage> about sixty of their best warriors and many of their most distin- guished chiefs. Their forces were made up with war- rior from the Delaware, Shawanese, Mingo, Wyandot, Mohiccan, Miami, and Ottawa tribes, and doabtless the flower of their nations, for the importance of the issue of the first decisive engagement had most likely been well weighed by them, and therefore an effort made tor the victory.

The army again pursned their route, and in four days reached Fort Pitt, with but little interruption, except " a few scattering shots from a disheartened'and flying enemy." The Indians immediately withdrew and re- tired beyond the Ohio. Fort Pitt relieved, found its little group of inhabitants again breathing the open air after a constant siege of more than three months, and the uplifted tomahawk and scalping-knife of the red savage was stayed.

CHAPTER VIII.

The French and Indian War (continued !- The so-called " Paxtal.g Boys' Insurrection"-The Manor of Cota-toga-The Conduct of the Provincial Assembly-The Perfidy of the Friendly Indians-Inse u. rity of the Frontiers from their Marandings-Destruction of the In- dians at Conestoga and Lancaster.

BY virtue of a warrant from the commissioners of property, dated " the 1st day of the 12th month | Feb- ruary ), 1717-18," there was "surveyed for the proper use and behoof of William Penn, Esq., Proprietary and Governor-in-chief of the Province of Pennsylvania," a tract of land containing sixteen thousand acres, lying ou the east side of the Su-quehanna River from the month of Conestoga Creek northward. This was the Manor of Conestoga. At the date of its survey by the deputy surveyor of Chester County, Isaae Taylor, there were no Indians dwelling within that re-erva- tion, and this is a fact which our historians have lost sight of, whether ignorantly or designedly we shall not at this time say. Previou- to the laying out of the manor all the Indians had removel higher up the Sn-quehanna, -- the Shawane-e to their brethren west- ward, the Conoys to the Great Island, uniting their destinies with the Six Nations.

A few years later, however, several Indian families located upon the manor on a little stream emptying into the Conestoga near its month, about three miles from the Susquehanna, and about five miles south- east of the present town of China.bia. Fralnata period of forty years their number was increased or diminished by Indian tramps wandering in the guise of friends among the white settlements, intent on

HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

spying out objects for savage cruelty, and claiming to belong to the Conestoga town.

It was during the Pontiac war that the Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania. in reply to the earnest appeal- for help and protection, said he could gire the frontiersmen no aid whatever, but comments their seal and urges them to act with caution ; while the Assembly paid no heed to the supplications of the distressed inhabi- tants, and instead of redress and aid, abused and in- sulted those who asked for protection. One member of that body, Nathaniel Grubb, of Chester County, mikl and placid Quaker, used this bland-like expression in referring to the " back inhabitants," " A pack of insig- nificant Scotch- Irish, who, if they were all killed, could well enough be spared " The leading Quakers, who controlled the affairs of the Province of Pennsylvania from 16:2 until towards the beginning of the Revolu- tion, when Quaker rule and British supremacy sank to rise no more, were de-igning political demagogues, and the private corre-pondence of the Penns them- selve> are proof- of their duplicity and artfulness.

Neither the Governor of the Province or the con- trolling power of the Assembly showed the proper spirit. It was at a time when the tomahawk, the sculping-knife, and the torch were desolating the country. The frontier counties became wretched and deplorable beyond description. "The Indians," said the Paxcang volunteers in their " Apology," " set fire to houses, barns, corn, hay. in short, to everything that was combu-tible ; so that ye whole country seemed to be in one general Blaze and involved in one com- mon Ruin. Great Numbers of ye back Settlers were murdered, sealped, and butchered in the most shoek- ing manner, and their dead Bodies inhumanly man- gled," but further details as given by them are too horrid for recital. "None," further say they, "but those who have been spectators or eye witnesses of these shocking scenes can possibly have any adequate Ideas of our sufferings. Nay, even those very person> who are so hardened and destitute of the common Feelings of Humanity, as to be able to extenuate. these horrid Barbarities, under the Charitable Plea of it- being their Custom of making war, would we doubt not be softened, had they but shared with us in the lightest parts of our sufferings." Then Pax- tang became truly the frontier, for west of the aus- quehanna, so great was the terror, that searcely an inhabitant was left. At this juncture the Rev. John Elder, the long and revered pastor of Paxtang and Derry Churches, organized his rangers, under author- ity, however, of the government. They were mostly members of his own and fianover congregations. The-e brave men were ever on the alert, watching with eagle eye the Indian marauders who, during Pontiac's war. swooped down upon the defenseless frontiers of Cumberland and Lancaster Counties. " High mountain-, >wollen rivers, or great distances never deterred or appalled them. Their courage and fortitude were equal to every undertaking, and woe

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History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 15

Author: Egle, William Henry, 1830-1901 Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1046

Author: Egle, William Henry, 1830-1901
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1046