History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 27

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 27
USA > Pennsylvania > Lebanon County > History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical > Part 27

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).

to the eall from Pennsylvania, he accepted its Presi- deney, when at once it was malicion-ly reported that he was inimical to the independence of the States. At this juncture his compatriots in arms sought his defense. The Ninth Battalion, commanded by Col. John Rodgers, of Hanover, as brave and gallant an officer as ever wielded a sword, met and issned the following :

" HANOVER, November 28, 1782.

" To the Colondla of the Lancaster County Militia :

" DEAR SIR : The offi ers and representatives of the ninth battalion of Lancaster County militia, upon consultation, have concluded, fram the complexion of the present House of Assenibly, that the Constitu- tion and Liberty of the State are at stake in some measure, and sensible of the importance of what has cost us so much blood and treasure, we have thought it incumbent upon us to exert ourselves for their preser- vation as far as our influence extends, and to warn all who would wish to be five from the dangers that seem to impend, not doubting at the same time but you are ready to take the alarm, as you must be seusible of the same danger. We do not think it necessary to multiply words tending to inspire your spirit, for we are of opinion that you possess the same and have been only waiting to know the sentiments of your fellow friend- to Liberty. Let us not then coolly and simply suffer any of our rights to be taken from us by any men, especially as our Constitution invests us with full power to oppose any such attenipt. Perhaps our fears are groundless; but in case of apparent danger, which nodoubt- edly is our present case, a wise man will be on his guard ; and therefore let such a number of persons as you will please to appoint miret us at Manheim on the 15th day of January next, in order that we may uit- tually contrive such oleasures as may have a tendency to preserve our good and estimable Constitution, and our dear Independence and sweet Liberty. De active and do not fail to fulfill our request. By order of the whole. "JOHN RODGERS, Colon-l."

" In purenance of the foregoing circular, the deputies from the differ- eut battalions metat Manheim, on the 15th of Jannary following. There were present at that meeting the following :

" Colonels .- Thomas Eilward+, Zeigler, Alexander Lowry, George Russ, John Rodgers, and Robert E!der.

" Majors .- Jacob Cook, Kelly, Hays, dod Herr.

" Cuplains,-Ewing, Joseph Hubley, and Laird.

" Mr. Clark, and Mr. Chambers.

"On inotion, Colonel Rodgers was unanimionsly chosen Chairman and Captain Joseph Hubley, Secretary.

" Colonel Rodgers made a neat god appropriate speech explaining the objects of the meeting, that a rumor wns'in circulation calculated to do much injury, ' that the President of the State of Pennsylvania was hus- tile to the Independence of America.'

" Un mution, this question was put to each bartalion :

" Is it the opinion of the members present that they approve of the arguantment of John Dickinson, Enq., as President of the State of Peno- sylvania, or not ?

"Answer. The members of the Second Battalion are unanimously of the opinion that a better choice of a President could not be made.

" Colonel Zeigler-same opinion.

" Seventh Battalion-Same.

" Eighth Battalion-Same.

" Ninth Battalion-We hope the Assembly have made a good choice, and if they have we thank them.

" Colonel Elder agrees in opinion with the Ninth.

" The following resolves. after being daly prepared and unanimously ACTveil to, were ordered to be forthwith cumininincated to the Assembly, the supreme Executive Couned, and to every battalion in the State.

" Resolved, unanimously, That the people have a right to assemble to- erther for their coonnon good. to instruet nur Representatives, and to apply to the Legolatore for fedreas of griev inces, by address, petition, or remonstrance.

" Resolved, un timouely, That in the opinion of the deputies from the different battalions now met, that the complexin of the present House of Aweekly is such that we have no reason to doubt that the Indepen- dence And C netitation of this site are safe, and that we highly ap- prove of the appointment of his Excellency John Dickinson, E-q., as President.

-- +

.. -

109

GENERAL HISTORY.

" Resolved, unanimously, That we approve of Colonel Rodgers' calling this Dieeting, as it has tended to remove doubts and unjust charges that were in circulation to the disalvantaze of his Excellency the President of this State, and two of our Members of Congress, James Wilson aud John Montgomery, Esquire -; and we conceive attch meetings have a tendency to suppress false and malicious reports, and that thereby virtua miay meet with its Just reward and vice De depicted in its true dleformity. " JUIN HODGEES, Chairman.

" J. HUBLEY, Secretary."

A history of the struggle for independence would be imperfect without some reference to the war-meas- ures of the government, the most important of which was the issuing of the so-called Continental money. When the Congress began to feel in -ore need of funds it adopted the device, so dear to the ignorant heart, of " making money." Que patriotic member declared that he would never con-ent to tax the people as long as he could " get a cartload of money by simply going to the printing office for it." Ignorance like this gave birth to the Continental curren.ey. The Congress solemnly resolved that the stuti it had printed "ought to pa-s current in all payment- and dealings, and be deemed equal in valne to the Span- ish milled dollar -. The curreney did what it ought to for nearly eighteen month -. Until fourteen mil- lion dollar- had been issued there was no great depre- . ciation. Prices rose, but only a trifle. Early in 1777, however, this limit was passed : five million dollars more was printed off, and the whole volume of the curreney sank sixty-six per cent. below par. This shrinkage must be something of a puzzle to infla- tionists of to-day, for all the conditions which they deem necessary to be observed in issning paper were true of our forefathers' rag-money. The Continental bills were based on the faith and resources of the eountry. Congress, early in 1777, called publie atten- tion to the fact that the people were bound to redeem the currency according to the full value expressed in the respective bills. Moreover, the State Legislatures passed law- inflicting penalties and forfeitures upon persons who sold anything for these bills without taking them at par, and they were solemnly declared to be "a lawful tender" for all debts. Nevertheless, . they went steadily down. Aug. 15, ITTF, an issue of one million dollars enabled the authorities to buy three hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars worth of gold. Nov. 7, 1777, an issue of the same amount passed eurrent for only two hundred and fifty thou- sand dollars in cash. By April, 177%, one goldl dollar was worth six in paper. The military successes of the year and the aid given by France caused a tiny appreciation. In November, 1778, Congress got nearly one million seven hundred thousand dollars worth of ammunition for only ten million dollars in paper. This showed a depreciation of only eighty- three per cent. But in May, 1779, ten million dollars' of new paper brought only four hundred and sixteen thousand dollars in cash. Twenty-four dollar bill- Were worth only one real dollar. In November mat- ters were .till worse. An issue of ten million dollars

brought less than two hundred and sixty thousand dollars in cash. A year from this date the paper dollar, based on the faith and resources of the whole country, was worth just one cent. In May, 1781, it was worth one-fifth of a cent. These figures are taken from a table compiled by Thomas Jefferson. A writer in the Philadelphia Packet, in Fish, says, " 1 had money enough to buy a hogshead of sugar. I sold! it again and got a good deal more money than it co-t mne ; yet what I sold for when I went to market again would buy but a tierce. I sold that, too, for a good deal of profit. yet the whole of what I sold it for would afterwards buy a barrel. I have now more money than I ever had, and yet I But not so rich as when I had less. I am sure we shall grow poorer and poorer unless we fall on some method to lower price-, and then the money we have to spare will be worth something."

On the 12th of March the first news was received of the signing of the treaty of Nov. 30, 1782, ac- knowledging the independence of the United State -. This was the first measure necessary in the negotia- tions for peace between all the belligerents. On the 20th of January, 1783, the preliminary treaty of peace was signed. On the 11th of April Congress issued a

proclamation enjoining a cessation of hostilities, and on the 16th of the same month the Supreme Execut- tive Council made public announcement of the happy event at the court-house at Philadelphia. The State flag was hoisted, church bells were rung, and expres- sions of joy at the happy relief from the miseries of war, were universal.

CHAPTER XVIII.

The Formation of the County of Dauphin-Remonstrances Against- A.t for Erection of-The County in Hist-opposition to the Federal Constitution.

A PROPOSITION to divide the county of Lancaster was discussed about the commencement of the Revo- lution. but that ordeal of arms for several years quieted the agitation for the formation of a new county. When. towards the elose of the war, the courts were crowded with business, when military fines were being >ued out against non-associators, compelling many of the citizens from remote sections of the county to appear at the county town, the question of the for- mation of a new county embracing that portion of Lancaster County north of the Conewago with a por- tion of the county of Berk-, seriously disturbed not only the citizens of both counties, but the .1 -- embly, and petitions pro and con were frequently presented. The county of Berks was early in the field ; they were not in favor of a dismemberment, and at the se -- ion of 1782 several remonstrance- bearing upon this point

110

HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

had the effect of confining the new county enterprise to Lancaster County alone. At the ensuing session of the Assembly the subject of a division was again agitated, when the following petition, prepared by Judge Ja-per Yeates, of Lancaster, was presented. The remon-trance. however, is only worth preserving as a part of the history of those times :

" To the Honorable the Representderes ut the Freemen of the Common wealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met;

" The Remonstrance and Pe dona of Divers Ferchuiders and Others, Juhali- tants of the County of Lawenter, M ! Humbly Sheweth :

"That your petitioners conreive themselves bound to remonstrate against the prayers of two petitions propose to the Legislature at the last session respecting la division of the said county of Lancaster, and beg leave to su gest to your Her ade Budy the following remarks:

" That a frequent division of conutas must naturally . caston a dis- trust in the futh of government-persous who, conbding in the acts of the Legislature, having purchased landed property near a county town long established by law, suffering considerable losses fr ou such division.

" That the creating new counties necessarily tends to increase the pubhe expenses, and to derange in some sort the policy of a govern- mient.

- " That nothing but the most manifest public experience arising from the welfare of the commmaity at large, independent of individual in- terests, can justify such measures in an old established county ; and that though the bringing the court- of justice near to the doors of every man may in some wise coudnce to his private interests, yet in other instances a remotene-s of the station may be in some degree advantageous, as it tends to repress a litigions spirit in many who might be desirous of vex- ing their neighbors at low at a much less expense.

" Your petitioners beg leave further to oberrve, that as to the petition which points out the precise limits of a uew county attaching thereto a part of Berks county, your petitioners concur fully in the state of facts submitted to your houvrable Honse by the inhabitants in general of the waid county of Derks in their late petition and remonstrance, to which we linmily refer you.

"A- to the erecting of i county town at Harris' Ferry, we submit to the wisdom of the Legislature the propriety, expedience or justice of the measure. If a central situation has been ever deemed miost eligible and convenient to the public at Lirze for the site of a county town, the spot proposed is deficient in this particular, the western boundary not exceeding one mile. If the trade of the back country on the susque- hanna is the real object of the petitioners, the streams of traffic will equally find their way to the capital of the state, whether there be a new county town erected pursuant to their wishes or not; and if the . of the sail river susquehanna to the State of Pennsylvania and to the inhabitants who live beyond Peter's Mountain find themselves aggrieved by their remote situation, it is submitted to the Legislature whether it would not be more natural and easy to attach that settlement to North- umberland county. It is appr.ben ted with que deferere to the seuse of your Hono ble House, that measuring the petition for a county town at Harris' Ferry by the large scale of national god, and letracting therefrom a few individual interests, the prayer of that petition will be thought utterly inadmissible.

" Your petitioners take the libeny of adding that the present bounds . of the county of Lanca-ter are not found to be inconvenient or unrea- sinable.

" That it will be utterly impracticable by the House to gratify the wishes of individuals in every instance when they complains of being aggrieved.

"And that when the division of counties is forced as a measure, of course your Honorable House will have much of their time engrossed by petitious for such divisions from the interested views of private peo- ple, which the claims of the public demand for objects of much greater magnitude.

"That in the present exhausted state of the country at large, when the public lemumis occasion the levying of heavy taxes, it would be highly grievous to many that new assessments should be laid for the purpose of building court-house and Jul. and other expenses incident to A new county ; for though many live s.zopd the petition, it may fairly Le presumed there are many others Within the several districts averse to such a llitiot al impositions.

" Whereupon your petinoners m. : humbly pray thit your Honor- able Boly, upon full deliverstica hel of the two petitions herein first before noted, will not grant the prayer- thereof or either of them."

That portion of the proposed new county in and around Middletown and at Lebanon were alsoopposed to the new county if Harris' Ferry was to be the county-seat. We have referred elsewhere to the op- position from Lebanon. The following memorial of the inhabitants of Middletown is herewith given. It must be acknowledged there was some grounds for the course taken, as the latter place was a village of considerable size, and of nousnal business importance, while Harrisburg contained ouly a handful of people, and at that period was of little account. The me- morial reads,-

" To the Honorable the Representatives of the Freemen of the Common- mensity of Pennsylvania in General Assembly : The petition of the inhabit- ants of Lancaster County humbly sheweth, That

" WHEREAS, The snid county being very extensive, and the increase of the inhabitants becomes very great, renders the attendance upon courts and other business burdensome and expensive to your petitionere, occasioned by their situation being so far distant from the county towo. And ichereus, It seems to be the intention of a respectable number of the inhabitants of the county to make application to the honorable house for redress of this burdensome grievance, to have the county divided into two separate counties for the ease and welfare of the said inhabit- ants; and when any grievances or inconveniences arise to the inhab- itants of the State, petition to the honorable house is the mole to make them known to your honors; and as by experience we are made sensible of your string inclination to remove any inconvenience that at any time and from time to time may arise to your constituents ; you first being made sensible that the inconvenience complained of is real and well funded, and if you should be of opinion, after mature considera- tion, that it is real and well founded, we make no doubt but that you would permit us humbly to intimate to you our ideas of the mode of re- liet which we would beg leave to do, leaving the ultimate determination to your better judgment. If you should think proper to divide the county we would presume to recommend the town of Middletown, in the lower end of Paxton township, as by far the most proper place for the county town for many clear and obvious reasons, which we think would naturally occur to the honorable house, but lest they should not, we beg to mention oure: First. Middletown will be as central as any other place that can be thought of. Then its situation upon the river Susquehanna, accommodated with the finest, indeed, we may venture to sly. the only fine safe harbor upon the -aid river, and the public utility city of Philadelphia in particular, is nuquestionable: that river being a fine navigable river for boats from ten to twelve tons burden coming down said river, the river Fumata and other streamis leading into the Susquehanna some hundreds of miles, from a fine fertile country on all slew of the river; and we must further presume that the time is not far distant when a communication will be elected from this river to the western waters and the great Lake Erie, attemied with very trifling land carriage between the heids of the two waters. Another great advantage to the State, and particularly to the city of Philadelphia, will naturally acrue, and that is instead of great quantity of produce of different kind being carriedl from the counties of York and Cumberland to the town of Baltimore, they will be carried through the channel of the town of Mid- dletown to the city of Philadelphia. It may not be unproper to observe that Middletown is situated at the very lowest end of the navigable water of said river Susquehanna, so that the trade of that extensive river will at all events centre in that town and be carried from thence to the city of Philadelphia, and consequently will draw off from the city a very considerable quantity of merchandise of all kinds to the new country upen and beyond the susquehanna River. And, further, that it is not improbable that in time the travle will be carrien from Middle- town to the city of Philadelphia, by water carriage, hit the river Swa- tara aml other waters to the river schuylkill, as we stand informed that this water communication was viewed some years ago by a number of gentlemen of eminence appointed by the House of Assembly for that purpose Jud reportel very practicable. And also that Middletown has the great advantage of being seated upon such high ground that they Tired never to la apprehensive of an inundati a even in the lowest part of the town by the overflowing of Susquehanna and awetin Rivera

"That the honorable house may appoint Middletown for the county

111

GENERAL HISTORY.

town is the earnest desire of vour petitioners, and by granting the samo we n+ in duty bonud shall ever pray, etc.

" Later fer County, March y . 20. 1754. " Ezra Patterson.

Jacob Schneuler.

Ludwig Sulwink. Daniel Croll. Frederick Sey bold.

Charles Brandon.

Nicholas Cas-el.

Anthony Baume.

Jacob shrader.

John McCann.

John Burnharter.

Martin C'ox.

George Miller.

Daniel Walter.

Edward Moyer.

Jamies Moon. Thomas I'dminston.

Jarob Shant ?.

Jarob Smith. Henry Mekan, Jr. Daniel Dorwdel.

Lennox Stawl. Jucob Kraft.

Jacob flershey.

Frede: ick Schuyler.

John Nobel.

Sebastian Heuderle.

Emanuel Conrad.

James Var Hoerst.

John Bu hen-tose.

James Forster. 1

Juhu Rowmao.

Daniel Weyister."

The memorials were of no avail, however, and the subject being constantly brought to the attention of the Assembly, that body by its act of March 4, 1785, passed the following act, erecting the county of Dau- phin and fixing the county -- eat at Harris' Ferry :

"AN ACT for erecting part of the County of Lancaster into a separate County.

" Whereas, The inbabetance of the upper part of Lancaster County have by Petition set forth to the General Assembly of this state that they have long labored under many inconveniences from their being situated at su great a distance from: the seat of Judicarure in the said County, and have prayed that they may be relieved from the saul incon- veniences by ererting them into a separate County, and as it appears but just aud reasonable that they should be relieved in the premises.

" Be if therefore enacted and it is hereby enacted by the Representatives of the Freemen of the Commoncentth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and by the Authority of the same, That all that part of Lancaster County lying within the Bound- and limits bereafter described shall be erected into theparate County,-that is to say, beginning of the west side of the River Snaquehanna, opposite the month of Conawago Creek ; thence up the middle of saut Creek to Moors Hill; and from there to the head of said creek ; au'l from thence by a direct Line to the Fonth East Corner of Heidelberg Township, where it strikes the Berks County line; thence north west by the Line of Berks County to Mahantango Creek ; thencr aloog the same by the Line of Northumberland County nad Crossing the River Snoquebauna to the Line of Cumberland County ; thence down the So-quehanna on the West Side thereof by the line of Cumberland County, and that part of the Line of York County to the place of beginning, on the west side of the river Susquehanna, to be henceforth known and called by the name of Dauphin County.

"And be it further enacted by the Authorvy aforesaid, That the inhabit- ants of the said Contity of Dauphin shall at all times hereafter enjoy all. und singular the Jurisdiction, Powers, Rights, Liberties, and privileges whatsoever which the inhabitance of any other Connty of this State do, may, or ought to enjoy by the Constitution and Laws of this State.

" And be it further enacted by the authority appresaid, That the district elections for the . vid County of Dauphin suall be h .Il for the Townships of Derry and Londonderry at Hummels Town in the town-hip of derry aforesail, for the township of upper Paxting on the north side of Peter's Monutain at Peter Hoffinan's in said township, for the township of Lower l'axtang on the South side of Peter's Mountain, and West Han- Duver at the Court House of the said County, or at John Harris' until auch Court House shall be erected, and for the Township- of Lebanon, East Hannover. Heidelberg, and Beth-lat the Town of Lebanon in the 1

bail Township of Lebanon, Where they shall elect at the times and under the Regulations stipalat-d and Crected by the Constitution and Itwa of this State, a Councilfor Representative to serve them in General Assembly, C'ensors, Sheriff, Caropera, and Commissioners, which said Officers when daly elected and qualified shall have and enjoy all and cingular -uch powers, Authorities, and privileged with respect to their .ad Conuly as such officers elected in and for any other County, inny, www wrought to de. And the said Elesti n shall be Conducted in the atthe manner and from and Agrepaid- to the same rules and regulations as now are or bereafter may be in force in the other Countries of this >tate.

" And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesail, That the sand County of Dauphin shall elect four members, and the County of Lan- caster shall elect seven Members to represent them respectively in the General Assembly of this Commonwealth from and after the passing of this Act until the shine shall be altered agreeable to the Constitution ' and the Laws of this State.

" And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That the Justices of the Supreme Court of this State shall have like Powers, Jurisdictions, and Authorities in the sand County of Danphin as in the other Counties of this State, and are hereby authorized and impoweren to Deliver the Gaoles of the said County of Dauphin of Capital and other offenders In like manner as they are authorized to do in other Counties of this State.

"Ant be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Justices of the Courts of quarter Sessions and Common pleas now commissioned within the Limits of the County of Pauplun and those that inay here- after be Commissioned, or any three of them, shall and may bold Conrts of General quarter sessions of the Power, and Wall Delivery, and County Courts for holding of pleas, and shall have all ind singular such powers, rights, Jurisdictions, and Authorities, to all intents and purposes, as other Justices of The Courts of Genelal quarter Sessions aund Justices of the County Cuarts for holding of pleus in the other Counties of this State may, can, or ought to have in their respective Counties, which Courts «ball sit and he Lebil for the said County of Dauphin, near Hir- rises Ferry, on the third tuesday in the months of February. May, Angust, and november yenrly for the dispatch of the publick Business of the said County.

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 the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 27

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