Notes and queries historical, biographical, and genealogical, Vol. I, Part 32

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: s.n.
Number of Pages: 618

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TORYISM AT MIDDLETOWN, 1776.

Prior to the Revolution there were quite a number of Quakers in business residing at Middletown in this county. Among them were William Gibbons and Elijah Wickersham, both natives of Chester county, and both notorious in their opposition to the struggle for Liberty. As to the former, we shall refer hereafter. The evidence which fol- lows refers to the toryism of Mr. Wicker- sham. It may be here stated in his defence, that he subsequently became a quiet and peaceful citi- zen, and highly esteemed in the com- murity.

We have first Elijah Wickersham's letter to Jasper Yeates, of Lancaster, the

chairman of the County Committee, con- cerning the Committee of Paxtang's pro- ceedings against him :

PORT ROYAL, April 3d, 1776.

To Jasper Yeates, Esq., chairman Com- mittee Lancaster County :

DEAR SIR : The 9th Instant I expect the County Committee will take into consideration my appeil from the Judgment of the Committee of Paxtang Township, & I have good reason to be lieve a determination will be made that will settle the matter to satisfaction; at least I am well assured a satisfactory de termination will be given on my part, however disagreeable perhaps those who have so industriously & with so much cruelty endeavoured to ruin me. My design in writing to you is by no means intended to palliate the crime whereof I stand charged, or in the least to influence your Judgment contrary to what may appear from a full hearing. just & Equit- able

The prosecution which has been carried on against me has only been from the most rancarous and implacable motives, and cloaked by the specious name of Liberty and the publick cause; the Authors and abettors of which have nothing else in view but the pleasing hopes of gratifying the most un- bounded hatred & reveuge. This Ma- licious humour I have good reason to be- lieve has not been Sufficiently detected by the Committee of this Township, or I should not have troubled you with an ap- peal from their determination. I should be sorry to be thought obstinate or refrac- tory.'tis a Character I as much contemn as possibly may be. I shall with the high- est satisfaction & pleasure acknowledge any crimes or offenses that I am convicted of, or suffer such pains and penalties as may be dictated by proper- Judges. But then, Sir ! I have always been taught that punishments ought to be proportioued according to the greater or lesser degree of the offences, and if this Doctrine holds good with you, Ihave the highest reason to believe that you will find my offences have, by no means, merritted the Extraordinary sentence pro- nounced against me by the Rev'd Mr. Elder, Chairman of the Committee of Paxtang Township.

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When I firstappeared before this Tribunal and belield a president so respectable as that of the Rev'd Clergyinan, my Heart almost exulted over the malice and hatred of my persecutors, being fully assured that my offenses (had I been guilty of any) would at least be forgiven by a tacit confession. But unhappily, Charity, that great chiacteristik which ought to preside over the Consciences of all good Judges (and especially when supported by those whose duty leads them to inforce this Principle) was dispised and neglected-a determination rash and unprecedented was immediately formed, the contents of which, as a freeman, I could not sign or fulfill, therefore requested the the Liberty of appealing to the County Committee, this request was received with the utmost surprise & contempt, & several threats were used by the chair. man to deter me from making an appeal, & cvery measure taken to distress & har- rass me-two securities were demanded in $500 and myself in £250 to prosecute charge & for my not abseonding. Two good frecholders immediately offered to Bail me, who were intimidated & af- fronted, by telling them the dreadful consequences of bailing a person under so Ignominious a Crime, and that

they would be

looked upon in

bad

light

myself,

and

asked them further if they were able to pay $500, provided I should abscond or omit prosecuting the Charge. Such Lan- guage & such unfair proceedings from the Chairman, in the presence of a large Crowd of People, filled me with the most dreadful apprehensions, Amidst persua- tions to Comply with their Judgment, & threats if I should persist in an ap- peal to the County Committee-my Bail was refused & rejected, & in Order the more to intimidate me to a Compli- ance with their determination, a Mittimuss was drawn up, Sign'd by the Chairman & given to Col. Burd as Coll. of the Bat-

tallion to procure sufficient Guard & commit me a close Prisoner to the Common Goal of the County. Such proceedings, Sir, must alarm every friend to good Order and government. The Charges brought against me are frivilous & Trifling, and if they are Crimes, I am

willing to acknowledge them; but as I said before, let the punishment be pro- portioned to the Crime. The Sentence adjudged at present on me is ncarly like the old statute of "Riding the Black Ram."

Shall be punctual in attending the Committee at Lancaster the time ap- pointed for a hearing. Hopc yon will ex- cuse this long letter. I could not help writing to you, & if you knew my situa- tion you would readily excuse me. God forgive them that are rcal Tories, & I hope He will help poor me who I am convinced am only a nominal one. I am, with Due regard & Esteem,

Your Hub'e Serv't, E. WICKERSHAM.

Proceedings on this appeal from the judgment of Paxtang Township Commit- tee were had before the Committee for the County, at Lancaster on the 9th of April following; and the evidence adduced is herewith given:

Robert McKee, the accuser was first examined, but knew nothing.

John Blair. E. Wickersham s'd he was a Tory, & what would he make of it. This happened last Winter at Capt'n McKec's. Witness s'd lie ought to have the modern Coat, at w'ch Wickersham appeared out of countenance. The con- versation began about his associating a Comp'y in Port Royal. Witn's thought hc wanted to break Capt. McKee's and Col. Burd's Companies, & told him so. He s'ã he had & thought he could do it.

James Putton. Was present when the above conversation passed. The Toast was given in Comp'y at the same Time, "Reformation to our Enemies." Egad, I would rather have Importation than re- formation. The subject previous to this conversation was Wickersham's attempt- ing to raise a Comp'y in Port Royal.

Absalom Holmes. W. called at his House about 2 months ago with Mr. Forbes & George Dougherty. The con- versation turned on the Resolves of Con- gress. After supper was removed, W. s'd when the Congress resolves were speaking of, "Damn the Congress, drink about." WV. appeared gay, and the Ob- servation procecded, in the opinion of Witn's rather from a desire to push the Bottle than to vilify that august Body.

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Next morning W. was charged with what · he had s'd; he replied he did not know he had said so, and was sorry for it ; It was not his Intention to say so. W. appeared to have been making free with his Bottle the evening he made use of such ex- pressions.

Col. Burd. W. admitted in Defenee, that he had s'd, "Damnation or Damn the Congress, Drink about !" but that he had said so in order to have the Bottle pushed about; that it was New Year's Eve, about the small Hours in the morn- ing, and that he held the Bottle and wanted to drink more Wine. W. associ. ated very early; & bought the Drum & Colours.

Andrew Berryhill. W. suppos'd the Faet that he had drank "Damnation to the Congress," & hobbnobbed with Dougherty & Forbes who w'd not prove ag't him - that he had lived with them as good Neighbours before. .

This seems to be the entire evidence in the ease apart from the statement of the Township Committee. The following paper, however, shows what the demands of the Whigs were; but were outvoted by the sympathizers:

"I, Elijah Wickersham, do acknowl- edge that I have made use of indecent and very improper expressions in respect to the Honourable the Continental Con- gress, and am truly and heartily sorry for my misconduct; at the same time dc- claring that I renounce & ever have abhorred the Principles which sueh ex- pressions seem to indicate, and that for the future I shall use my best endeavours to convinee my offended Countrymen of my attachment to the Cause of American Liberty, and shall exert myself to the utmost in opposition to the oppressive & tyrannical measures of the British Ministry."

The vote by townships on the forego- ing was as follows:

Yea-Martick, Leacock, Hanover, Pax- tang, Londonderry, Donegal, Mt. Joy, Rapho, Colerain, Upper Paxtang and Derry.

Nay-Lanc'r Borough, Lanc'r twp., Hempfield, Manheim, Manor, Stras- burgh, Lampiter, Salisbury, Cocalico, Earl, Brecknock, Heidelbergh, Cones- togoe, Dromcre, Litt. Brit., and Bart.

Notwithstanding this vote, Wickersham subsequently signed a paper similar to the foregoing. The patriots of Paxtang were making it "warm" for him, and he yielded to the demand for the renuncia- tion-

It is to be regretted that other corres- pondence relating to this case of toryism have not been preserved. W. H. E.

NOTES AND QUERIES

Relating to the History of Dauphin County.

LVIII.

SLAVERY IN 1795 .- In the Oracle of Dauphin for February, 1795, is the fol- lowing advertisement:

A NEGRO FOR SALE.

A healthy stout negro weneh, about thirty three years of age. She is excel- lent for cooking, washing, and any kind of house or kitchen work, and under- stands feeding cattle, and any work neces- sary on a farm. For terms apply to the Printer

At that period there were probably over sixty persons in the county of Dau- phin, as now constituted, who held slaves.

THE FIRST PROTHONOTARY OF DAU- PHIN COUNTY

There is in the possession of the Dau- phin County Historical Society the fol- lowing :

To His Excellency the President and Su- preme Executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania:

The Petition of the subscriber most re. spectfully sheweth;

That your Petitioner resideth in the proposed new County of Dauphine, that his small Estate must bear its Proportion of the additional expence of said county; and altho' he would not boast of any Merit from his Services in the Cause of his Country ; yet it is well known that he has not been altogether an idle spectator when his Country was in Danger. There- fore he humbly prays that the honorable Board would take his situation into their serious Consideration; and if no Person of Superior Pretentions should Apply, that they would appoint him Prothonotary

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& Clerk in the said new County. And your Petitioner as in Duty Bound shall ever pray.

JOS. MONTGOMERY.

March 4th, 1785.

Mr. Graydon, in his memoirs, gives the following account of the manner of his choice as prothonotary of the new county of Dauphin :

"Among the newly introduced maxims of republicanism it was an highly favored one in Pennsylvania, to bring justice home to every man's door. In the spirit of this principle several new counties had been erected; and in the year of 1785 I had the good fortune, through the warm exertions of an influential friend, to oh- tain an appointment to the prothonotary- ship of Dauphin county. By a combina- tion of small circumstances working to- gether for my advantage, I obtained, contrary to expectation, the suffrage of the Supreme Executive Council of which Mr. Dickinson was then president.

The republican party . possessed a

majority in the Council and Col.

Atlce, who belonged to it,

was designated for the office. He was conspicuous as a party man, and if I mistake not, at the time a member of the Legislature ; and on the score of services and character, no one had better claims. But on this occasion the nega- tive character of my politics, contrary to the usual course of things, probably gave me the advantage. To keep out Atlee the Constitutionalists were disposed to give their votes to any one of his compet- itors. Of course I had all their strength; and by adding to it two or three Repub- lican votes, I acquired a greater number than any in nomination. As the rule was to vote for the candidate individually, there was no physical or, perhaps, moral impediment to each of them receiving the vote of every member. A promise to one was not broken by voting also for another, unless it was exclusively made. The president had probably given a promise lo Col. Atlee as well as to myself, and considering me perhaps as too weak to endanger his success, thought he might safely gratify my friend, who pinned him to the vote, which on coming to the box he seemed balf inclined to withhold. Or, where was his crime if he really thought

our pretensions equal, and, therefore, de- termined not to decide between us ? Such were the accidents which procured my unlooked for appointment."

It was claimed that on this occasion the president of the Council, Mr. Dickinson, suffered his head to be seized and crammed into the box with a ticket for Graydon. B. M. N.

THE TAVERNS OF PAXTANG VALLEY.

The old wagon road from Reading and Lebanon to Harrisburg ran through Pax- tang Valley, and occupied almost, and in many places the identical ground now, and since 1819 used by the Harrisburg, Downingtown and Ephrata turnpike company (to whose road it gave place) until it reached a point opposite Paxting church, three miles east of Harrisburg, where John E. Horstick's stable now stands, when it bore off in a southi westerly direction, passing Rutherford's "Big Spring" and on to Harris' Ferry. On the top of Shank's Hill, one mile west of Sherer's ferry, on the Swatara, the old road was intersected by the Chambers' ferry road, which ran, and still runs along the ridge south of the valley through the village of Churchville, and down to Chambers' ferry on the Susquehanna. At an early day there were no taverns between the ferries on the

river and Hummelstown, on the

carried provis- Swatara. Wagoners

ions and feed in their wagons, and stopped for refreshments wherever noon or night overtook them. Rutherford's spring and Stewart's "running pump" were favorite places for watering horses and encamping for the night. The team- ster slept in his wagon and tethered his horses to the tongue and his dog under the wagou.

Pedestrians and travelers on horseback found little difficulty in obtaining enter- tainment at the houses of any of the set- tlers along the road; for the people had not yet lost that spirit of friendliness to strangers, which has so often been sung by the Poets and described by travelers of "ye olden time." Moreover the peo- ple of that day were just as fond of news as their descendants, and the traveler was almost the only intelligencer, the pleasure of whose visit was greatly increased if he was able to detail the news and to relate

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the adventures he had met and the won- ders he had seen; and if his stories were entertaining, all drafts upon the imagination were freely for -

given; and if in addition to these qualities be possessed the gift of song and could render with effect some of the old Scotch Ballads, he need be in no haste to take his departure.

This state of society continued until after the Revolution, when the country north and West of Harrisburg began to settle up rapidly, and travel through the valley increased to such an extent that the old modes of entertainment were no longer feasible. Several taverns were then opened, which immediately became the news centers of the valley and the weekly or semi weekly rendezvous of all such as desired to keep up with the times. At these informal meetings, the "big bellied bottle" circulated freely; news from all lands were discussed, and the fate of empires decided ; problems in metaphysics were easily solved and "mine host of the inn," so favorably situated for the acquisition of knowledge, frequently settled questions, by a simple grunt, or wave of the hand, which had vexed the sages from the days of Bildad the Shuhite down to the then present hour.

To Jacob Shultz, the younger, of Hal- lam township, York county, Pa., belongs the honor of opening the first public house in the valley. We are unable to give with certainty the date of this event. But we know that the building used by Mr. Shultz, and all the landlords who suc- ceeded him, was the mansion house of Thomas Mayes, a two story log building, which stood on the spot now occupied by the residence of Christian Boyer, three miles east of Harrisburg. And if we shall say that Mr. Shultz took possession of the property and opened huis tavern in the spring of 1792, we shall doubtless be very near the truth, as will appear from the following sketch of the title. In 1778 Thomas Mayes sold the property to John Clendennin, who in the spring of 1791 was sold out by Sheriff Clunie, Thomas Church was the purchaser, who on the 17th of August, 1791, deeded the property to Jacob Shultz, the father, and Jacob Weltzhoffer, the father-in-law of Jacob

Shultz the younger. This house was well situated for a tavern. It stood close to the road, in the midst of a fertile region where food for man and beast could be cheaply and plentifully supplied, and on the southern bank of the stream which turned Elder's mill, thereby af- fording great conveniences for watering stock-a very important consideration in those days, when all merchandise was transported by horse power, and cattle, sheep and hogs driven to market on foot.

Mr. Shultz soon showed himself to be a man of considerable energy, for in con- nection with his tavern he carried on farming, distilling and blacksmithing. In the latter trade he was a master work- man and did an extensive business. In 1795, dy the death of his father and by deed from his father-in-law, Mr. Shultz became the owner of the property, and about 1808

or 1810 erected buildings on the eastern part of the farm, to which he retired from all busi- ness save that of farming, and leased his tavern property to Henry Grove, who conducted the inn a few years, when he was succeeded by John Walboin, father of Cornelius Walborn, late postmaster of Philadelphia. Mr. Walborn was an ac- tive man and a genial landlord. During his occupancy, in 1819, the turnpike road was built, which added considerably to the business of the house.

Mr. Shultz died in 1819, and in the spring of 1820, in accordance with his will, the tavern house and about twenty- five acres of land connected therewith, were sold at public sale. Henry Landis (father of John Landis, "Poet, Painter and Oriental Traveler") was the pur- chaser. He set up his son Jacob as land- lord and his son Henry as blacksmith and erected for himself a brick house, now owned by Miss Margaret Ruther- ford, where he died in 1824 ; but by a provision in his will the property remained as his estate for five years after his death. Accordingly in 1830 the brick house was sold to Mrs. Elizabeth Elder, together with about one and one half acres of land, but the tavern property was held some years longer.

The landlords under the ownership of Landis were-First, Jacob Landis; sec- ond, Frederick Ricker; third, George

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Hocker, a brother in law, a man of sterl- ing worth and independent mind; fourth, Robert Williams, who afterwards kept the "Black Horse" in Harrisburg, a popular landlord and a blacksmith by trade; and lastly Jacob Kulin, a well- known and highly respectable citizen of Swatara township and afterwards of Har- risburg.

Upon the final settlement of Mr. Lan- dis' estate, John Bigger, an Irishman of much wit and humor, and one of those individuals known as "a character," be- came the owner. Mr. Bigger, like his predecessor Landis, did not keep the tavern himself, but fitted up the old still- house as a dwelling and followed the business of a drover and butcher. Samuel Murray was his first landlord, who, after a year or two, was succeeded by James Bigger, a younger brother of the proprie- tor-and who was a schoolmaster by profession. Up to this time (1834) the sign post stood near the northeast corner of the house, and bore aloft an elaborately carved sign board, on which was painted a Green Tree with suitable surroundings, such as men and animals resting in its shade. Mr. Bigger made some repairs and improvements, one of which was to repaint the sign and remove it to a point nearer the road where it could be seen at a greater distance by travelers coming in either direction. No artist of sufficient genius being at hand, Mr. Bigger did not attempt to reproduce the old picture, but substituted in its stead the legend "SWATARA INN" painted on a plain light ground. In course of time, however, the new paint partially wore off, and the green tree again began to put forth its leaves; when, about the year 1848 some mis- chievous youths of the neighborhood full ofzeal in the celebration of Hallowe'en, took down the venerable sign and after mal- treating it in a grevious manner secreted it under the neighboring bridge, damag- ing it to such an extent as to render it unfit for further use.

Mr. Bigger's indignation on this occa- sion, is said to have burst forth in a tor- rent of overwhelming eloquence, which for invective and withering dennnciation has rarely been equaled. A new sign of plainer workmanship and smaller size was erected which continued to the end.

Taverns, like empires, rise, flourish and decay. When Mr. Bigger began as landlord, the "Green Tree" had reached the zenith of its glory. Soon the canal and railroad commenced their career and the long lines

of public and private coaches grew less, while the solemn and monotonous sound of the "bell teams" with their high Conestoga wagons became fainter. The tavern however still enjoyed a reasonable de- gree of prosperity. Live stock was still driven to marketon foot in in increasing numbers, and more or less local freight and travel passed over the road. James Bigger died in 1850, and the business was continued by his widow, Mrs. Margaret Bigger, until about the year 1857, when the Lebanon Valley railroad began ope- rations. This event, together with the then recent introduction of cattle cars upon all the railroads, operated as a quietus to the prosperity of the place. Mrs. Bigger retired from the business and removed to Harrisburg, and the life of the old tavern was virtually extinct. Two or three efforts were afterwards made to revive its vitality but they were spas- modic and could not succeed. Upon the death of the proprietor, John Bigger, about the year 1860, it became the prop- erty of Margaret Bigger, who after hold- ing it a few years sold it to Mr. Jacob Walker, of Indianapolis, who tore down the old building and dilapidated shedding which surrounded it and erected the present brick house as a private residence -thus completely obliterating one of Paxtang's ancient landmarks.

The next house, in the order of time, opened soon after the "Green Tree, " was the "Dry Tavern," so called because of the scarcity of water on the premises. Of its landlords, its sign. or any of the par- ticulars connected with it, we have not been able to learn anything, save that it was located about seven miles east of Harrisburg, that the buildifig was a story and a half log, and that it closed its doors to the public about 1810. All vestiges of it have long since disappeared, and the traveler of to-day would never suspect that the spot had ever been used as a site for buildings, were it not that an ancient pear and a few ghostly apple trees still haunt the place. :

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About the beginning of the pres- ent century, John Ricker pur- chased the famous "Running Pump" property from the Stewarts, six miles east of Harrisburg. Here in the year 1810, under the sign of "The Two White Horses," he opened his tavern in the brick house built for the purpose and now owned and used as a farm house by his grandson John E. Ricker. Mr. Ricker, in the construction of his build- ing, took care to provide a large banquet- ing hall on the second floor for the ac- commodation of private parties, which added largely to the attractions of the house, and many a cantie night was spent here by the young folks of the lo. cality dancing to the music of the violin.

"The Two White Horses" was a favorite place for public meetings, political and otherwise. Here was organized on New Year's day, about 1820, that celebrated troop of horse, known as the Dauphin Cavalry, upon whose rolls appear some the most distinguished names in the county,-An organization which should never have been allowed to die out, and which even now ought to be reorganized and perpetuated. The officers that day elected were -- THOMAS WALKER, Captain; JOHN C. Mc- ALLISTER, 1st Lieutenant; JOSEPH AL- LEN, 2d Lieutenant, JOHN FLECK, En- sign, and LUTHER REILY, Orderly Ser- geant. During the nullification troubles, in South Carolina, the "troop," under the leadership of Simon Cameron, offered their services to General Jackson.

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Notes and queries historical, biographical, and genealogical, Vol. I, Part 32

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: s.n. Number of Pages: 618

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: s.n.
Number of Pages: 618