USA > Pennsylvania > Notes and queries historical, biographical, and genealogical, Vol. I > Part 27
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Of this country I cannot give you a very flattering account. Times are ex- tremely dull, business of every descrip- tion stagnated, and no prospect of a re- suscitation. You can have no conceptive idea of the general depression felt here. Money has become extremely scarce, and consequently of great value ; laborers' pay 25 cents per diem, and I am told the farmers have come to the conclusion of paying but 50 cents per day for cradlers and reapers. Lumber and all kinds of produce are of such little values that those who have cannot effect sales at any price.
Missouri is, I presume, the greatest
scope of country in the U. States, What a boundless field for enterprise ! While these old States are on the retrograde or at most but stationary. the march to the Anprovement in the Western biates is ac. celerated toa ratio which at once astonishes their most sanguine friends. My opinion is, that the day is not far distant, when the Western States, in point of wealth and greatness, will totally eelipse the Eastern States, and effect for themselves a name and praise throughout the habi- table globe. I beg your frequent communications; besides the pleasure of hearing from yourself, Iam very anxious to have a description (which, may I not say, without the imputation of flatter- ing, you are so capable of giving) of the countries through which you have travelled and now located in, and also an account of the manners and customs of the people.
Your father has had much uneasiness of mind on account of the absence from his paternal roof of yourself and brother. I know it would give him un- speakable satisfaction if you would re- turn home again. He has frequently unbosomed himself to me (and indeed I have frequently heard him preferring his petitions at a Throne of Grace, for your temporal and eternal happiness) and I can assure you, with confidence, that towards you his offections are very strong. If you should continue absent, let me, with the feelings of a friend, request you to write occasionally to your father, and keep him advised of your residence.
No doubt you would be anxious to have a political sketch. Democracy has gained the most signal triumph in Penn'a the last year. The Republican candidate for Governor, J. A. Shulze, had a majority of 25,000 votes over the Fed . eral candidate, A. Gregg. The State has been completely revolutionized, and the Democracy of this State completely fixed for the next nine years at least. The Presidential question is now agitated. Gen. Jackson has almost the unanimous voice of Pennsylvania. So sanguine are his advocates in this county that proscrip- tion follows opposition to him.
By the next or the following mail, I purpose sending you a package of news- papers, believing that they will afford
195
Historical and Genealogical.
you a satisfaction in calling to
mind objects with
which you
were conversant, and may help you to realize old times. Excuse this crude and ill-digested scrawl, wrote in great haste, without time to correct or transcribe; and believe me to be, very rc- spectfully and truly your friend,
JOHN DAVIES.
Mr. J. B. Meetch.
P. S .- I shall expect a letter from you when and as often as convenient. Your father will write to you shortly.
TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS
In Shoop's Church Burial Ground.
III.
Meyers, Barbara, w. of C., b. Sept. 17, 1796; d. August 3, 1861.
Moyer, Danl. F., s. of Danl. and Mary, b. May 15, 1829; d. Aug. 20, 1846. Moyer, Mary, w. of D., b. May 23, 1808; d. Nov. 30, 1835. Orth, John Conrad, b. May 25, 1747; d. Feb. 10, 1824.
Orth, Catharine, b. Oct. 4, 1758; d. Mar. 24, 1815. Orth, John, b. May 1, 1799; d. Jan. 1, 1850.
Parthemore. John, sen., b. Feb. 27, 1788; d. June 27, 1812.
Parthemore, Catharine, w. of J., b. Dec. 27, 1739; d. Oct. 17, 1817. Parthemore, John, b. Sept. 17, 1766; d. Oct. 11, 1816.
Parthemore, Esther, w. of J., b. Nov. 12, 1763; d. Oct. 31, 1846.
Parthemore, John Frederick, b. Sept. 11, 1771; d. April 14, 1843.
Parthemore, Catharine, w. of J. F,, b. Nov. 19, 1784; d. April 14. 1843. Peck, Jacob, b. April 14, 1784; d. Aug. 16, 1868.
Peck, Fannie, w. of J., b. Feb. 17, 1788; d. June 24, 1858.
Peck, Jacob, b. Sept. 13, 1805; d. June 12, 1875. Peck, Elizabeth, w. of J., b. Sept. 15, 1806; d. Nov. 8, 1860.
Peck, Annie, b. May 18, 1823; d. March 25, 1849. Peck, Rebecca, b. March 16, 1828; d. March 10, e849,
Poorman, Jacob, b. Jan. 7, 1742; d. Jan. 11, 1784.
Poorman, William, b. Nov. 26, 1780; d. June 3, 1852.
Poorman, Anna C., w. of Wm. b. July 17, 1786; d. May 14, 1837.
Poorman, Catharine B., b. Nov, 2, 1780; d. Juue 12, 1860.
Phillippi, John Adam, b. Nov. 18, 1711; d. June 20, 1789.
Roop, Catharine, d. of Jacob Shultz, b. Oct. 22, 1789; d. Oct. 1819.
Reichert, Jacob, b. April 6, 1808; d. May 14, 1844.
Reichert, Sarah, w. of J., b. Aug. 29, 1813; d. May 28, 1837. Reichert, Frederick, b. Jan. 8, 1829; d. Oct. 14, 1877.
Reichert, Mary Ann, w. of Fred. J., b. Jan. 14, 1829; d. July 1, 1856.
Reichert, Louisa, w. of Fred. J., b. Dec. 18, 1839; d. Jan. 28, 1869. Rife, Catharine, d. of Abraham, b. Nov. 20, 1814; d. July 10, 1840. Shoop, Christopher, b. Nov. 10, 1743; d. Jan. 13, 1820.
Shoop, George, b. March 25, 1749; d. June 18, 1797.
Shoop, Louisa, b. Dec. 4, 1750; d. Nov. 9, 1785.
Shoop, John, b. April 24, 1754; d. July 24, 1814. Shoop, John, b. May 25, 1771; d. March 15, 1826. Shoop, Margaret, b. Feb. 8, 1772; d. May 13, 1808. Shoop, Daniel, b. Feb. 15, 1774; d. Nov. 17, 1807.
Shoop, Susan, wife D., b. Oct. 1, 1774; d. April 9, 1836.
Shoop, Jacob, b. Feb. 10, 1778 ; d. Nov. 11, 1844.
Shoop, Christopher, b. Jan. 8, 1785; d. ·Sept. 8, 1832. Shoop, John F., b. July 22, 1785; d. Sept. 3, 1835.
Shoop, Mary, w. of J. F., b. Feb. 5, 1792; d. March 5, 1870.
Shoop, Elizabeth, w. of A. and daughter of John and Cath. Waser, b. Oct. 30, 1789; d. Oct. 30, 1827.
Shoop, John, b. Sept. 18, 1816; d. Feb. 16, 1817.
Shoop, Rebecca, d. of Jacob and Elisa- beth, b. Dec. 28, 1825; d. Jan. 21, 1843.
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Historical and Genealogical.
Shoop, Sarah Ann, d. of Jacob and Eliza- beth, b. May 25, 1828; d. Feb. 2,1848, Shoop, Josiah, b. Sept. 22, 1820; d. Jan. 12, 1829.
Shoop, Jonathan, s, of Fred. and Mary. b. Dec. 25, 1824; d. Mar. 9, 1846. Schmidt, Michael, b. Feb. 8, 1721; d. May 9, 1796.
Schmidt, Christina, b. Sept. 4, 1720; d. March 7, 1794.
Schmidt, Lorenz, b. Nov. 6, 1734; d. Nov. 6, 1789.
Shout, Fannie, w. of Jacob, b. Dec. 21, 1821; d. May 12, 1861.
Spitler, Catharine, w. of Martin, d. Au- gust 8, 1775; d. August 31, 1853. Stine, John Frederick, b. March 14, 1760, d. Sept. 7, 1828.
Stine, Barbara, b. March 28, 1861; d. Au- guse 27, 1828.
Stine, David, b. Sept. 17, 1790; d. July 27. 1828. Stine, Leonard, b. Oct. 11, 1792: d. Sept. 28, 1860.
Stine, Elizabeth, b. July 27, 1794; d. July 30, 1848. Stine, Elizabeth, b. Aug. 2, 1797; d. April 1, 1860. Stine, Mary, b. August 20, 1801; d. July 2, 1832. Schell, Martin, b. Sept. 16, 1763; d. Aug. 19, 1817.
Schell, Catharine, b. Oct. 31, 1761; d. Sept. 15, 1804. Schell, John Adam, b. Nov. 1, 177 -; d. July 8, 1838.
Schell, Emma Elizabeth, d. of Henry and Elizabeth, b. March 12, 1855; d. Dec. 19, 1858.
Shiffer, Hannah, w. of H and d. of Wm. and Jane Ewen, b. Dec. 11, 1800; d. April 25, 1839.
Shitfler, Elizabeth, d. of Mathias, b. Dec. 28, 1807; d. Feb 24, 1834. Shiffler, Christian, b. Jan. 31, 1779; d. July 31, 1841. Shitller, Catharine, b. Nov. 15, 1779; d. Nov. 21, 1855. Shiffler, George, b. Feb. 19, 1803; d. April 3, 1830.
Shiffler, John, b. March 23, 1812, d. Au- gust 1, 1836.
Schaffer, John, b. May 19, 1779; d. Sept. 24, 1836.
Schaeffer, Wilhelm, b. May 24, 1781; d. May 9, 1831.
Schaffer, Daniel, b. Jan. 12, 1792; d. Feb. 15, 1830. Wood, Elizabeth, b. April 25, 1759; d. Nov. 19, 1847. Walborn, Christian, b. Dec. 12, 1759; d. Dec. 12, 1841.
Walborn, Elizabeth, b. Aug. 25, 1765; d. Aug. 25, 1835. Witmer, Magdalena, b. Dec. 17, 1768; d. Dec. 25, 1791.
Waser, John, b. Jan. 7, 1769; d. Feb. 6, 1790.
Waser, Catharine, b. Jan. 31, 1763; d. April 2, 1844.
Wenrick, John, b. May 24, 1789; d. Nov, 11, 1789.
Wentz, Henry, b. Nov. 27, 1821; d. Aug. 10, 1822. Weaver, John, b. Jan. 15, 1800; d. June 14, 1864
Weaver, Elizabeth, b. Oct. 26, 1798; d. Sept. 16, 1867.
NOTES AND QUERIES.
Relating to the History of Dauphin County.
XLVIII.
WHITFIELD AT HARRIS' FERRY .- Mrs. Bell, a granddaughter of John Harris, the pioneer, related that when the celebrated preacher, George Whitfield, was passing through Pennsylvania, about the year 1741, he remained some time in and about Harris' Ferry, and preached repeatedly to the people, who fiocked from all quarters to hear him. So great was the fascination of his eloquence that many of the people neglected the cultiva tion of their farms, and their fields were left unsown. Mr. Harris remonstrated with them, but ineffectually ; and the eon- sequences of their improvidence were likely to prove serious, since nota few, at the end of the season, found themselves in want. Seeing their destitute condition, Mr. Harris sent a considerable quantity of grain to Dickey's mill, and gave direc- tions that meal should be furnished to any of his poor neighbors who might apply for it. Thus were the families of those who had not listened to the prudent coun- sels of Harris saved from distress by his liberal kindness.
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Historical and Genealogical.
THE BORDNERS OF THE "UPPER END." -- Jacob Bordner was born in 1725 in Lancaster county, and was the son of a Palatine emigrant. He had two sons of whom we have an account: Peter, b. March 11, 1763; d. Decem- ber 24, 1816; and John, b. October 3, 1758; d. Junc 3, 1812; and his wife Su- 1764, sanna, b. d. 1814; Peter Bordner, son of John and Susanna Bordner, was born in Bethel town- ship, Berks county, October 25, 1787 and married in 1808 Margarct Nuvinger, who was bord July 23, 1787. He died Nov. 25, 1867, and she January 13, 1848. Their chsldren werc:
i. Jonathan, b. July 7, 1806.
ii. Mary, b. Oct 26, 1810.
iii. Sarah, b. Feb. 11, 1811.
iv. John. b. Arg. 3, 1812.
v. Margaret, b. Feb. 10 1816.
vi. Francy, b. Sep. 10, 1817.
vii. Susanna, b. April 4, 1817.
viii. Hannah, b. May 29, 1820. ix. Peggy, b. July 14, 1822.
x. Benjamin, b. Oct. 1, 1825; has been a representative of Dauphin county in the Legislature, justice of the peace etc.
ENDERS FAMILY (N. and Q. xxxiv). -- Christian Enders was born July 22, 1740 in Braunigsweiler, Nassau, Ger- many. He married on the 13th of May 1764, Anna Degen of Sippertsfeld, Nas- sau. Their children were as follows:
i. John Henry, b. 1765. ii. John Philip , b. April 26, 1766.
iii. Margaret, b. April 21, 1768.
iv. Anna Elizabeth, b. Dec. 15, 1769.
v. [a son], b. July 1771, d. s. p. vi. George M , b. July 12, 1772. vii. Jolin George, b. March 11, 1774. viii. [a son], b. April 1776; d. s. p. ix. Margaret Martha, b. Jan., 24, 1778. x. Christiana, b. July, 1779. xi. Susannah, b. Feb. 12, 1781. xii. Catharine, b. March 25, 1783. xiii. [a son], b. Jan., 11, 1785. xiv. John Conrad, b. March 17, 1788. Of the foregoing children, George M., John George, Catharine, and John
Conrad, all married,
ived and
died in the "Upper End" of Dau- phin county. Can any one furnish in- formation relating to the other children ? From facts in my possession I note that
Anna Elizabeth married first to Kreeger, and afterwards to one Shoener, a clock-maker. By the first marriage there were two children-what became of their descendants ? Christian married a Mr. Phillips, and another daughter, whose name I . do not know, married a Baughman. Some of the descendants of the latter reside in the neighborhood of Shippensburg, or Mechanicsburg. I hope this will meet the eye of some of them, as I am anxious to prepare a complete gen- ealogieal record. L. J. E.
[We publish the foregoing with great pleasure. It shows that others are awaking to the pride if not necessity of preserving the records of their families. To "L. J. E." as to others, we will give all the information which may come to our hands. We find by our notes, that PHSLIP ENDERS, "the younger," d. October. 1796, leaving a wife Elizabeth, and children under the age of fourteen years, Susanna Philip and John. We may possibly come across other references further on .- W. II. E. ]
HARRISBURG IN 1785.
[From the assessment lists, we have glcaned the names of persons assessed who resided in the new town in 1785, with the valuation of property taxed. ]
John Joseph Henry, lawyer 490
James McNamara, tavern (shoc-
inaker). 50
James Sayers, taylor. 50
Alexander Porter, tavern. 120
George Mires. 50
John Miller, tavern. 78
Murdicy Lincoln ? store, 90
John Joans,
James Dumars, store. 90
Jacob Rigar, tavern.
John Boyd, carpenter 30
George Allen. . 30
Peter Graybil, distiller. 50
John Cremer, millwright. 50
Jacob Strough. 50
John Haker, tavern. 100
Peter Lire. 90
Jacob Weaver 60
Moses Gilmore, store. 60
Adam Nacher, tavern (tanner) 50
William Glass, joiner 30
Leonard Sheets. .
45
David Jurden, smith
30
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Historical and Genealogical.
Alex. Barr, mason. 30
George Reddigh . 30
Andrew Armstrong, goal keeper 60
Cunrod Bumbaugh. 100
John Hoge, tavern. 180
Alexander Power, store. 150
Jacob Wydman.
45
Michael Copp, coroner
78
James Floyd. 30
George Ervine, store keeper 100
Malcum Boyce, tanner 60
Richard King, mason. 78
James Beatty 90
James Duncan, taylor. 100
John Harris, tavern and ferry
Alexander Graydon, prothonotary. .
HARRISBURG BUSINESS MEN 80
YEARS AGO.
[From the files of the Oracle of Dau- phin, and the Morganrothe, we have gleaned the following facts -- chiefly through the advertisements in the news- papers referred to, the date merely refer- ring to the advertisement. ] 1794.
Robert Irwin, on Market street, general merchandise. The year following the business was conducted by the firm of Irwin & Howard.
John Kean, dry goods and groceries, at his three-story brick house.
Gregg & McConnell, dry goods, &c., on Front street. [Thomas Gregg and Robert McConnell dissolved partner- ship in 1/796.]
John Wyeth, book store, Mulberry street. This was then next to Front street, the principal business street in the town.
1795.
Gustine & Ripton, merchandisc, the cor- ner brick house, Front and Chestnut streets.
Stewart & Weir, merchandize, at the sign of the Lion and Unicorn, on Second street.
Thomas Murray, dry goods, &c., Market street, a few doors below the Court House.
Henry Fulton, merchant, Front street. Thomas Forster, dry goods and groceries, at the bank [Front street. ] Jacob Singer, dry goods, &c., at his store in Market Square. Lepelletier & Benoist, merchandizc, at
their new store on the bank. [On the 29th of August, 1796, the part- nership was dissolved, Mr. Benoist retiring. ]
1796.
John Irwin, reed maker, at the house of Mr. Christopher Sees, on the bank. Jacob Fridley, hatter, removed his shop to the store lately occupied by Col. Forster, next to Mr. Whitehill, on the bank. [This was on Front street below Cherry alley. ]
Samuel and Obed Fahnestock, merchan. dise. [No location is given. ] Jacob Burkhart, merchandise, &c., Mar- ket square; opposite to the tavern lately occupied by Mr Greenawalt. Valentine Egle, hatter, Front street, be- low Mr. Harris' stone house.
Samuel Lightner, auctionecr, at the house of Mr. Philip Brindle on the bank. "Vendues will be held every Satur- day morning at Ten o'clock, where articles of every description will be received on the usual commission," &c.
George Brenizer, groceries, near the old stone house of Mr. John Harris.
Browne, Jones & Co., on the 14th of De cember, take possession of the store occupied by Dr. Gustine, Chestnut and Front streets.
Hoyer & Burckhart, merchandize, &c., Market square. Conrad Bombaugh, merchandize.
1797.
Steel & Eby, hatters, house of Mrs. Boyd Front street corner of Walnut.
Jesse Lees, from Philadelphia, Windsor chair maker and painter, Mulberry street.
John McCulley, coppersmith, "in the brick building formerly occupied as a store house next door below Harris' noted Stone Tavern." [This was the Hise house torn down when Wash- ington avenue was opened. ]
George Youse, coppersmith, "living be- tween the Market square and Front street," on Market street.
David Thome, merchandize, Front street, next to the sign of the Black Bear; sold out 31st of May.
Francis Dalzel and Samuel Awl, mer- chandize, Chestnut and Front streets, dissolve partnership 19th of June.
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William Potts, tanner and currier, Front street.
Joseph Doll, clock maker and silversmith, Second street next door to Irwin & Howard's store.
Dr. John Luther, apothecary, south east corner of the Market Square.
John Fry, lately from Europe, shoes, etc., at the house adjoining James Dunean, on Chestnut street.
Jacob Shrom (on the 15th of November), offers for sale or to let, his tan-yard, &c., adjoining the publie ground on Walnut street.
Obed Fahnestock, general merchandize. next door to Gen. Hanna's, on the bank.
Patrick McFaddin, "taylor and habit. maker," Market street, next below John Stoner's.
1798.
Mrs. Wright and Daughter, opposite the King of Prussia Tavern [Second street ], execute all kinds of mantua- making, dc.
Irwin & Howard removed their store from Market and Second to the one on the bank, formerly Robert Irwin. Obed Fahnestock removes his "general assortment of wet and dry goods" from his brick house on the bank to the house he formerly occupied, op- posite the sign of the King of Prus- sia, in Second street.
Gray & Clarke, "Taylors and Ladies' Habit-makers," from London, and last from Baltimore, commenced busi- ness, July 11th, at Mr. Alexander Blackburn's.
1799.
Henry Beader, hatter, Mulberry street. Leonard Sommers, from Germantown, coach-maker, in the house formerly occupied as a Printing Office [on Second street near Mulberry. ] John Banes, shoemaker, next door to the Oracle Printing Office, on Second street.
Samuel B. Davis, book-binder, next door to Mr. Henning's tavern, Mulberry street.
John Chamberlain, potter, Front street. Jacob Henning, hatter, next door to Henning's tavern, Mulberry street. Martin & Elliott, bakers, adjoining the
house lately occupied by the Widow Boyd.
Peter Keller, brass founder and rope maker, next door to Berryhill's tavern, Market square.
Allen Hays, clock and watch maker, on Front street, next door to the sign of the Black Horse.
Christian Klein, gunsmith, from Lancas- ter county, in the house lately occu- pied by Joseph Doll in Market square.
Henry Fahnestock, dry goods, on Sec- ond street, south of the upper mar- ket house.
1802.
Jonathan Whitman, from Reading, cop- persmith, at the house of Jacob Mish on the bank, next door to Esquire Bucher's, and two doors from Mr. Ebright's tavern.
John Shoch, boot and shoemaker, Front street.
George Youse, tinman and copper smith, living on Market street, between the Square and Front street.
Abraham Boylue, from Philadelphia, taylor, in Mulberry street, nearly op- posite Jacob Henning's tavern.
Puglia & Marshall [ Josepb], merchan- dize, dissolve partnership 18th of September.
1803.
Daniel and Peter Fahnestock, on 6th of January dissolve partnership. Leonard Sommers, coach, chair and har- ness maker.
James Ph. Puglia, sworn interpreter of foreign languages for the State of Pennsylvania, conveyancer and sur- veyor.
Michael Reutter, in April, opened at the house of Mr. John Norton, near the upper market house, a complete apoth- ecary shop.
Henry Leffert, boots and shoes, in April, removed from his late dwelling in Chestnut steeet, to the house of John Boyce, opposite Henning's tavern, in Mulberry street.
John Fry, "cheap shoe store," has re- turned to his brick dwelling house corner of Second andChestnut streets, and opposite Mr. Duncan's store. [This house is yet standing-re- eently Dr. Heisley's. ]
200
Historical and Genealogical.
James Ph. Puglia, new drg goods storcat Hailman's house in Market street near the bank.
George Ronppe, burr mill stones, in Sec- ond street next doorabove the Golden Eagle tavern.
William Irwin, in April removed his nail factory from the bank to Market street, between Samuel Elder's tavern and John Howard's store.
Jacob Eichholtz, coppersmith from Lan- caster, Front street, next door to Henry Fisher, sadler.
John Downey, store, formealy occupied, by Mrs. Wickersham, Market Square next to Rowland's tavern.
NOTES AND QUERIES
Edating to the History of Dauphin County.
XLIX.
SQUIRRELS BY THE BARREL .- The Oracle of Dauphin for the 26th of Sep- tember, 1796, makes this statement: Ac. cording to modern prediction, the ensu- Ing winter will be very severe indeed; for never, perhaps, since the memory of man, were there known a greater quan- tity of squirrels than has been in the neighborhood since some days. We are told that during last week several hun- drød per day crossed the Susquehanna from Cumberland into this county. Some of the inhabitants, it is said, who live near the banks of the river, have been enabled to salt barrels of them for their winter's use."
"REED OF ESTURARA"-Among the earliest wills of the first settlers of this section of country is that of Thomas Reed, of Esturara, or Swatara as we now write it, who died in July, 1734. He left a wife Mary, and children :
i. John.
ii. Nathan.
iii. Eleanor.
iv. Alexander.
v. Thomas,
vi. Mary. vii. James.
As this family is one of the earliest in the county and as Reed township perpet- mates the name, we would be pleased to receive some information relating to the foregoing.
IN THE REVOLUTION.
[The following extracts are from the proceedings of the "committee from Lan- caster county" in 1776. They are a por- tion of the history of that interesting period. As the Minute Book of that com- mittee has never been found, these iso- lated extracts deserve preservation in print. No doubt the proceedings referred to is in the possession of the descendants of some member of that famous and patriotic body. ]
Feb. 29, 1776.
A PETITION from several of the As- sociators in Capt. McCallen's Company, in London-Derry Township, and a Peti- tion from Captains Casper Snevely and Robert Patton, of Lebanon Township, representing "That many of the Associa- tors who had heretofore joined in the sev- eral companies associated, agreeable to the Regulations of Association, entered into in May last, have since the expira- tion of the term mentioned in that Asso- ciation, joined themselves to other Com- panies, which said practices tend to create great disorders and confusion in the sev- eral Battalions and Companies already formed," having been laid before the Committee and duly considered.
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee that it be recommended to such of the Military Associators in this county as have formed themselves into Battalions or Companies, in consequence of the Reg- ulations in May last, to continue and re- main in their respective Battalions or Companies; and that no person whatso- ever should begin, excite, cause, join in, or promote any disturbance in the Bat- talion or Company to which he belongs, or in any other Battalion or Company.
This Resolution not to preclude the Military Associators, to proceed to the choice of New Officers in case the Officers already chosen be disapproved of by a majority of such Associators.
March 1st, 1776.
Resolved unanimously, That it be re- commended to the reputable Inhabitants of this County, to sign the articles of As- sociation, framed by the House of Assem- bly, in order that an entire Union may take place throughout this Province, this Board confiding in the Equity and Justice of the Honorable House, that they will
201
Historical and Genealogical.
make such alterations in the Rules and Regulations for the better Government of the Military Associators, the aforesaid Articles of Association, and the Resolu- tions respecting non-Associators, as will remove every reasonable cause of com- plaint concerning the same.
THE LOCATION OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
An Interesting Document by William Ma clay.
[In the New York Daily Advertiser for September 17, 1789, is printed the com munication which follows. It was writ- ten by William Maclay, the first United States Senator fiom Pennsylvania, Con- gress meeting in the city of New York. The permanent location of the Federal Government was then agitating the Con- gress as well as the people of the Union. The rival locations were the Potomac and the Susquehanna rivers. The paper is a valuable one. ]
Messrs. PRINTERS,
It seems generally agreed, that the Sus quehannah is the nearest to the center of wealth, territory. and population, taking our view of the United States on the At- lantic side. So far, no doubt is raised a- gainst it. The objection most strongly urged against this river, is the connection with the western waters. The western country is a large field-some point must be taken as a center. Fort Pitt has been called the Key of this country-let then our arguments point to this object.
From the tide water on the Potowomack to Fort Pitt, following the usual calculation, the distance is 304 miles. From the tide water on Potowmac to Fort Cumberland 200, portage to the three Forks of Turkey Foot 30, water carriage 8, portage at the Falls of Yohiogena 1, down the Yohio- gena to Monongahela 36, to Fort Pitt 15 -in all 304 miles. The rout by the way of Cheat River, between the same places is 360 miles.
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