Notes and queries historical, biographical, and genealogical, Vol. I, Part 53

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Notes and queries historical, biographical, and genealogical, Vol. I > Part 53

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I am, Sir, with respect, Your Humble Servant, DAN'L MORGAN. 6 NOTES TO THE FOREGOING.

1. James Baird; in consequence of mail having heen rohbed by the Insurgents, he had been sent to Philadelphia hy the officers of the government at Pittsburgh, with dispatches. The following is from the History of Pittsburgh, p. 248 : "So general was the combined influence of actual disaffection upon one portion of the community, and dread of violence of the turbulent among the others, that the writer has often heard Major Craig say, that out of the family connection of Gen. Neville, and out of the employees of the

Government, James Baird, a blacksmith, and James Robinson, the father of Wm. Robinson, Jr., were the only persons in Pittsburgb on whom reliance could be placed under all circumstances."

2 Colonel Thomas Butler commanding Fort Fayette.

3 David Lenox was the United States Marshal.

4 The Exiles were Gen. John Gibson, James Brison, Edward Day, Major Kirk . patrick and Col. Presley Nevlle.

5. The Commander in Chief was Henry Lee, Governor of Virginia; not General Thomas S Lce, of Maryland, as is stated in the very erroneous account of "The Nation's First Rebellion," in the Maga. zine of American History for October.

6 One of the persons most active as & leader in the western opposition to the laws is said to have written to General Morgan, of Virginia, that the moment he should set foot upon Pennsylvania at the head of his troops, certain relations of his in the disaffected counties should be put to death. He answered that he was not to be deterred from his duty by any such unmanly threats; but if they offered those relations the slightest insult, he would hang every Insurgent he caught on the first tree."-Dunlap's American Daily Advertiser, of Sept. 12, 1794.

General Morgan's daughter was the wife of Col. Presley Neville.

THOMAS EWING.

Very unexpectedly I came across some items of interest concerning the Ewings and Mrs. Ewing nee Patterson, which throw some light upon their antecedents. The reader of Notes and Queries will re- collect that James Patterson, the Indian Trader, died in October, 1735, leaving a son James and three daughters-Susanna, one name not known, and Rebecca, who m. George Polson. Mrs. Patterson m. Thomas Ewing in the year 1736. In looking over the appraisement of Ewing's personal estate I find it dated September 14, 1741, and the amount £1,422: 13: 1.

He left children, whose names appear in the following order in a subsequent division of the personal estate :

i James; m. Patience Wright, £331 3 9 ii William; d. single, £115 11 10 ¿¿¿. Samuel; d. single, £115 11 10

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Historical and Genealogical.

iv. John, £115 11 10

In 1744, Susanna (Connolly) nee Ew- ing, Gordon Howard, and James Wright (son of John Wright, Esq ), were ap- pointed guardians of Ewing's children, as they also were of James Patterson's chil- dren.

In May, 1745, Mrs. Connolly resigned, and Samuel Blunston, Esq., took her place. Blunstou died in 1746. and in September, 1753, Rev. Geo. Graig, James Wright and William Hamilton were ap- pointed guardians over John Ewing's estate, and on the same day Wright and Craig were appointed guardians over John Connolly, son of Susanna and John Connolly, and on March 29th, 1755, James Ewing, being then about nineteen years of age, came into court and chose Rich- ard Thompson, Esq , and James Wright his guardians. Thompson took Hamil- ton's place.

Dr. Zackry, of Philadelphia, attended Mr. Ewing in his last sickness.

It seems that Mrs. Ewing, when she was appointed one of the guardians of her children, took the entire charge of the estate. She was cited to file an account, which she did, when she resigned. In her account she takes credit for £50, set apart for the

support of her mother Susanna Howard, who probably resided with her. Gordon Howard was doubtless the brother of Mrs. Ewing. She also took credit for £7 paid to the support of Donegal church and school. Thomas Ewing died intestate, but I infer that he agreed to support Mrs. Ewing's mother, and also give the same amount to Donegal church, as both sums seemed to have been named in "bonds." Gor- don Howard and Andrew Mays went on Mrs. Ewing's administrator's bond.

I have no means to fix the exact date when Thomas Ewing came to Lancaster county. Mr. Patterson settled in Cones- toga Manor in 1715. and Gordon Howard settled in Donegal along the Paxtang and Conestoga road in 1720, upon land now owned by H. Hershey, about two and one-half miles west of Mount Joy.

Mr. Ewing may have been a relative of one or both of these families. He com- menced buying real estate in 1734 ad- joining James Patterson's land. In 1736, '37, '39 he purchased several hundred

acres at the mouth of Chickies creek, four hundred acres on the Quitapohilla at or near Lebanon, and three hundred acres in Hempfield township. He was unquestionably a person of large means and probably an officer of distinction in the British army. He was elected to the Legislature in 1738 and 1739. The fol- lowing are a few of the articles named in the appraisement of his personal effects : Personal apparel, £100

Riding horse, bridle, saddle and watch, 30

Silver tankard and 4 silver spoons, 14

Deer skins, 10

3 guns, 1 sword and pistol, 3 10 0

Dressed hemp, 70

Bonds, 832 16 9

2 negro men,

Boy and girl,

2 negro women, 65

Horses, cattle and sheep, 148 8 0

General James Ewing and Captain John Ewing, his brother, doubtless in- herited a taste for a military life, from their father.

Susanna Connolly died in Lancaster borough in May, 1752, and left personal estatc amounting to £2,309:11:0. Among her personal effects were:

A gold ring, a pair of gold buttons £3: 10.

4 silver table spoons £4. 6 Silver tea spoons £1:7.

Copper coffee pot.

She gave a silver spoon to her son John Connolly.

The Howards were a very prominen- and wealthy family. It will be some satisfaction to the Chambers, of Cham- bershurg, and the Pattersons, of Juniata Valley, to know who their maternal an- cestor was. SAMUEL EVANS.

COLUMBIA, Pa.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Historical, Biographical and Genealogical:

DAUPHIN COUNTY AUTHORS (N. & Q. xcix)-Mordecai Mckinney prepared at least two other books: The American Magistrate, 1850.

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Historical and Genealogical.

Penn'a Justice of the Peace.

I think he also compiled the Laws re- lating to Pennsylvania Banks. McP.

A WRONG CLAIM .- In a recent History of Crawford County, in which Prof. Samuel P. Bates seems to have been doing some work, in his own biography which contain "his ear marks," is the amazing statement that he prepared the "Lives of the Governors." The author of that work was Major William C. Ar- mor, and his name not only appcars upon its title page as its author, but the editor of Notes and Queries knows the fact. It is a wonder Prof. B. don't lay claim to the authorship of "Junius Letters" or "Hakluyt's Voyages." It is simply ab surd.

CRUDE COAL OIL EIGHTY - FOUR YEARS AGo went by the name of "Seneca French Creek Oil, or Indian Oil." and from an advertisement in the Oracle of Dauphin for August 16, 1802, it is thus recom- mended: "Its use has the greatest effi . cacy in all asthmas, consumptions, drop- sies, or any internal complaint. In ex- ternal cases, it is of equal service, such as mortifications, bruises, strains, back- ache, or rheumatism." This potent rem- edy was "to be had of Samuel B. Davis, book binder, next door to Mr. Jacob Henning's tavern, Harrisburg." Hen- ning's tavern was located in Mulberry street near Second-then the business street, next to Front street, of the town. How times change ?

A MASONIC FUNERAL, IN 1802.

For the benefit of our Masonic friends we republish the following from the Oracle of Dauphin for August 16,. 1802: "MASONIC BURIAL -Died on the 8th inst., at the town of Lisburn, in Cumber- land county, in the 31st year of nis age, after a short illness, Mr. Samuel Bunting, -whose amiable disposition left a numer- ous circle of acquaintances and friends to lament his unexpected end. This young gentleman belonging to the ancient aud honorable order of frec and accepted Ma- sous; all the brethren of that and the neighboring towns met, according to no- tice, under the warrant of lodge No. 21, to pay his remains their sincere and last

tribute of affection and csteem. The con- course was numerous and respectable; and with great solemnity, order and harmony, peculiar to the proceedings of that Mystic institution, the burying took place on the following day at high noon, when a short, but pertinent, oration was deliv. ered by brother James Ph. Puglia. The text was, "Blessed are those who die in the Lord." After a laconic re- view of the happy situation of our first parent in his primitive state of inno- cence, and the miseries into which he sunk after he committed sin, the atten- tion of the congregation was pathetically called to the weakness of the human con- stitution, the shortness and uncertainty of life, and the inconstancy of worldly af- fairs. He impressed on the audience the pious and sound idea, that all projects and expectations of man in this transient valley of tears, prove by cxperience to bc, in the end, nothing but vanity; and that the steady practice of virtue and morality is the only solid acquisition, and consoling credentials that a soul passing to immortality can bring along, to ap. proach with confidence the presence of its Supreine Maker. After the usual ceremonies of the Masonic order, the brethren committed the corpse into its earthly abode and filled up the grave. The whole concluded with a short prayer and the lodge retired in procession with equal solemnity to their place of meet- ing."

The author of this panegyric was no doubt Mr. Puglia. He was a man of ability, but exceedingly vain. Who was Samucl Bunting ?

OLD TIME FUNERALS, &C.

The preparation of the dead and fu. nerals seventy years ago were of the most primitive kind. The name of Un- dertaker was a word unknown outside of the few large citics. All cabinet makers made coffins, and the sextons of churches prepared the male dead for burial, and dug the graves for all; it was one of the most important perquisites of his office. Paupers now are prepared far better than the best of the people were more than fifty years ago. Coffins were without any lining, and a handful of the softest shavings were saved for a pillow, with a

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Historical and Genealogical.

piece of coarse muslin tacked over it. The body was dressed in a cambric muslin shroud, embellished with the edges cut in round pointed figures by a stamp by the shroud maker. A piece of muslin was laid in the coffin, the body placed therein and the muslin covered over it. This was called a winding sheet. Coffins were mostly made of wild cherry, half-inch boards, with raised lids-the sides and ends stained red with cam wood whisky stain, and rubbed off with shavings which soon dried. The lid was polished with bees wax, which was applied with a hot smoothing iron. The wax when cold was scraped off and polished with a stiff brush, and the coffin was finished.

Ice was unknown as a preserver, and little was used or put up. And in hot weather the dead could not be preserved long, not more than one night, so that persons dying at night were buried the next afternoon. As newspapers were published only once a week, notice of the funerals were given by written invi- tations or circulated by the friends.

The grave yards were those donated for this purpose by John Harris, and sit- uated between Fourth and Chestnut streets and Meadow lane. These were abandoned and the dead removed in 1856.

The adult dead were borne on a bier, and the coffins of small children were carried under the aim of the coffin- maker, who, with the clergyman, walked in advance of the general procession. The grave yards were kept in a de- plorable condition. They were appa-

rently never laid out in walks sions were compelled to desecrate

or avenues, and funeral . proces- the graves by walking over them. The entire control of the grave yards were left to the care of the sextons of the churches who paid little or no attention to them. Dilapidated board fences en- closed them, and weeds and grass grew rank.

There were but two monuments in the English Presbyterian yard. One was over the remains of General Andrew Porter of the Revolution and the other over the grave of the wife of Philip Wolfersberger. The Wyetli family bad the only vault. Not a lot was enclosed with a rail. The Lutheran and Reformed

yard had no monuments, and the only enclosed grave was one of wood pickets . around the grave of the father of W. O. Hickok. Very few visited the graves of their friends or thought of such a thing, as the gates were kept locked.

Mr. Alexander Sloan, who is the only surviviving cabinet and coffin maker of former times, told the writer several years ago tbat the first corpse he saw dressed in white flannel was Mrs. Elder, the mother-in-law of the late General John Forster; and the first one he ever preserved in ice was the wife of the late George W. Boyer. Mr. B. had seen it done in Philadelphia, where his wife had come from, she being a daughter of Charles Pray, of that city. X. Y Z.

ABOUT HARRISBURG.

Towards the latter years of his life, the late Hermanus Alricks, Esq., was much interested in the early history of our town and county. His knowledge of early land titles gave him a fund of informa . tion, and he prepared quite a number of historical articles of value. The follow- ing is worthy of a permanent place in Notes and Queries :

John Harris the first acquired title to the original site of this city in 1733 His title embraced two adjoining tracts of land at Harris' Ferry, in Paxtang, one of which, containing about 400 acres, he held by warrant in his own name, the boundary of which began at the river at the mouth of the ravine near Front and Walnut streets, and ran across the upper end of the Market Square, out through Hamilton's brick yard, to a corner north of the Hummelstown turnpike near Ver. non street, thence toward the poor house, crossing the turnpike near its intersection with the old Hanover road, to a corner on lands now, I think, of Joshua Elder, and from that to the river a short distance below Hoffer's mill. This tract was de. vised to John Harris the second, who laid out Harrisburg in 1785.

The other tract, which contained 300 acres, John Harris the first obtained by purchase, and it extended from Front and Walnut, up to the line of what is now Herr street, and ran along the line of that street to a point a few perches.

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Historical and Genealogical.

east of the canal; thence by a line past the lower gate of the cemetery to a stump in the field of Mr. Sales, north of the Jonestown road; thence easterly to the corner of the other tract near Vernon street. This tract was devised to some other of the family of John Harris the first; but before John Harris, the young- er, laid out the town he purchased the land fronting on the river between Wal- nut street and South street, and then his northern line of South street was run out easterly to the said corner in the field of Mr. Sales.

William Maclay, who was son in law of John Harris, the younger, purchased that part of the tract which had be- longed to John Harris the first, extending from South street to Herr street, upon part of which all the public buildings stand, except the arsenal. Mr. Maclay, soon after the town was laid out, built the stone house at Front and South streets. John Harris, after the town was laid out, gave that part of the public hill lying south of South street to the State. On this part the old log school house stood, at the intersection of Wal- nut and Third streets, fronting on Wal- nut, and which was taken down about thirty years ago. It was for many years the only school house in the town, and there are persons now living in this city who went to school therc in the last cen . tury. The highest part of the public ground was in front of the arsenal. At the end of Locust street, opposite the residence of Mr. Barnitz, there was, as late as 1820, a flight of wide steps, per- haps fifteen in number, to enable people to reach the first plateau, then the ground rose rapidly towards the arsenal. Where the present board walk is the cutting must have been twelve to fifteen feet. The earth dug off was used in filling up State street, between Second and Third. At an early day nearly all the travel- ing from the town up the country was done from Walnut up Front street. The crossing of a gully in Second street near Cranberry alley, was bad; and Second street was not opened above South until 1812 or '14. In 1820 there Were but four or five houses between South street and Pottstown above Herr street, and one of these was Maclay's

stone house, and one the old. "ferry house," yet standing near the water house. The Land Office and Treasury Office were built in 1812-13, and the Legislature came here I think in Derem- ber, 1813, and sat in the old Court House until December, 1822, The State House was begun in 1819 and finished in 1822.

The land lying along the river above the land of the first John Harris-that is, above Herr street-extending to the lower linc of John Reel's farm was re- served by the Penns. It extended back from the river to Miller's school house, on the high grounds, and included the Asylum. It embraced about twelve hun . dred acres. Before the Revolution the Peun family divided the reservation into threc tracts of four hundred acres each, and granted the lower one to Thomas Simpson, the next one to Thos. Forster, and the upper one to Thomas McKee. 1870. A.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Historical, Biographical and Genealogical.

CI.

Gov. WILLIAM BIGLER .- In reply to a correspondent we state that Gov. Bigler died August 9, 1880, and is buried at Clearfield, Pennsylvania.

B. FRANK CHANDLER .- Few persons in our city knew the late B. Frank Chandler, Esq., so well as to appreciate his great worth. By those who had oc- casion within the past twenty-five years to make researches among the Archives of the State, he will be greatly missed. He had informed himself of the existence of all papers and documents having an historic interest, and his directions and suggestions were of value to all having occasion to consult them. Although a native of Chester county, almost his whole life was spent in Harrisburg, where he died April 29, 1886, in the 66th year of hisage. When men like B. Frank Chandler pass from off the stage of life, there is a vacancy which is not easily filled. He left behind him a memcry which is fra- grant of manly worth and esteem, a de- voted friend and a sincere Christian. Peace to his ashes. E.

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Historical and Genealogical.

HISTORY OF THE SUSQUEHANNA AND JUNIATA VALLEYS .- This work which comprises sketches of the counties of Perry, Juniata, Mifflin, Snyder and Union, has been recently issued. We have had the pleasure of looking over the volumes and find them of exceeding interest and value. Many of the chapters have been prepared by local historians of merit- and show industry and research. Of course we have looked in vain for a record of the men who were more or less promi- nent in some of these counties a century ago; but that would have required re. search and pains taking labor. People of to day occupy prominent positions- whether they are representative persons or not. However, we must not "look the gift horse in the mouth," but take what we can get.

PRICES ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY YEARS AGO.

The following bill may interest our readers, as showing the wholesale prices of dry goods in 1766. Where was Mc. Cord's store ?

PHILADELPHIA, 15th Nov'r, 1766. Mr. Wm. McCord Bought of White & Caldwell:

1 p's. 9 8 white Irish sheeting, 79 yds@2:3 8 17 9

2 p's yd. wd. linen check 34} ells 2:5 .. .

4 3 23

1 p's. blue Durant.

3 10 0

1 p's. black do

3 80

1 p's. brown Shalloon 3 50

1 p's. striped Camblett. 2 14 0

1 p's. sprig Osnaburg, 106 ells, 18 .. 7 19 0

1 p's. yd. wd. Irish linen, 26 yds., 3:1. 4 02

1 p's. finer Irish linen, 26, 3:9.

4 17 6

1 groce narrow worsted bind- ing for cloths. 12 6

I groce bird eye gartering ..... 1 00

1 dz. women's clock'd worst. ed hose .. .

1 18 0

1 dz. finer grey worsted hose, No. 7.

2 40

6 1b. Taylor's col'd thread, 5:6. 1 14 0 11 0 2 packets No. 12 pins, 5.6. ... 1 gro. set sleeve buttons, No. 1. 7 0

1 gro. do.

2 .. .

8 0

¿ gro. do. 3 .. 4 6

& p's. beaver coating, 15 yds., 6:1 4 11 3

1 black trunk to pack in. 15 0

£58 17 01

THE OLD FERRY RIGHTS.

The recent disputes regarding certain ferry rights on the Susquehanna, recall the following, which occurred almost eighty- six years ago, as, appears by ad .. vertisements of the respective claimants in the Oracle of Dauphin. What the result of the indictment was we have not learned. The reproduction of the adver- tisements, however, are interesting read- ing just now:

ELLIS'S FERRY .- The Subscriber hav. ing acquired the priviledge of Mathias Flam's Landing on the Dauphin shore, opposite his present place of residence, at the mouth of Juniata, and having pro- vided good Flats, and experienced sober Hands-begs leave to inform all Tray- elers and others, that Footmen, Horse- men and Wagons will be received at Mr. Flam's, and conveyed to this shore with great dispatch and safety.

The Subscriber is enlarging his present Dwelling by an additional building-has provided all suitable accommodations for Travelers-and will always have on hand Hay, Oats and Chopped Rye, with which Waggoneis and Travellers, who may be pleased to favor him with their custom, may be supplied FRANCIS ELLIS.

Ellisville, June 20th, 1800.

CLARK'S FERRY, fourteen miles above Harrisburg .- The subscriber has con- ducted this Ferry for twelve years past without the assistance of Newspaper bombast; but an advertisement in the last Oracle makes it now necessary. Francis Ellis takes the liberty of inviting travel- lers to Matthias Flam's landing-where he has no right or priviledge whatever, except that of usurpation and force, for which he and Matthias Flam both stand indieted. He also boasts of the sobriety and experience of his Ferryman-addi- tional buildings, &c., &c.

All I wish to inform the public is, that I am still in possession of both sides as formerly, with the same Hands, same

1 dz. men's grey worsted hose, No. 6. .

1 18 0

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Historical and Genealogical.

Flats, and same Buildings, ready to re- ceive passengers on both sides. I hope my long experience and attention to this Ferry may satisfy the public that no ex- ertion will be wanting on my part to merit a continuance of their favors-and to defeat the efforts of this modern ad. venturer, and support the credit and in - terest of this Ferry.

DANIEL CLARK. Clark's Ferry, Dauphin side. July 1st, 1800.

PAXTANG, OK LOUTHER MANOR.

[ The following article by the Rev. J. A. Murray, D. D., of Carlisle, we copy from the Herald of 5th of February, 1885. It is one that deserves a perma- nent setting, as it corrects so much of the inaccurately witten history of the Cum . berland Valley. The Manor comprised that section of country directly opposite our city. The draught or map to which reference is made will be given in the next number of Notes and Queries. ] I.

To those who are truly interested in the early and reliable history of Pennsylva- nia, it is a matter of regret that we have not had collected together a full and cor- rect account of the several manors that were in the Province, their locality and limits, and which were so many tracts of land set apart exclusively for the Pro- prietary, and not immediately offered for sale. It is also a matter of regret that so much misapprehension and misrepresentation prevail on this subject. We know that there were two manors within the bounds of what is now Cum . berland county, as we have some papers of an early date that clearly show it, and yet we have never heard of any excepting that of Louther or Paxtang (as it was at first called), and it is to be regretted that an error has obtained currency in regard to it. Hence, at the suggestion of some friends we furnish the following facts:

Within less than ten years the state- ment has been repeatedly published that the Louther Manor extended eleven miles west of the Susquehanna river, whereas we believe that it did not extend much more than about about one-third of that distance, or only four miles instead of "eleven,"

We do not know what authority existed for making such a statement in the first instance, as it certainly contradicts Rupp's statement, made on the very credible authority of Col. R. M. Crain, in regard to the same matter-and his statement of 1846 must have been then known-and it also clearly contradicts the specific details of the original survey, than which better authority cannot be cited. The proof of this we will now give.

We have an old paper in our collection with this endorsement :- "'26th Decem'r 1764. Warrant for the Resurvey of the manor of Lowther, Cumberland county. Returned, &c., May 16, 1765. Quantity 7551 acres, &c." It has the the signature of John Penn, and is addressed to John Lukens, Esq., Surveyor General. (He was S. G Under the Provincial Govern- ment.) It also bears the testimony o Daniel Brodhead, Surveyor General, of April, 1793, as being "a true copy of the original." (He was S. G. under the State Government.) This warrant is a long one and abounds in interesting state- ments relative to the Indians, but we will give only so much of it as recites the spe- cified limits of the manor in question, which, by the way, was first laid out in 1736 by the Deputy Surveyor of Lancaster county. It may also be here added, that the land included in Louther Manor was part of the territory acquired by Treaty from the Five Nations, at Philadelphia, Oct. 11th, 1736, and it was the second of the six Treaties with said Indians for the acquisition of their lands. We now faithfully copy from the aforesaid valid authority the proper limits of the manor: "On the West side of the Sasquehannah River opposite to John Harris's Ferry and boundcd to the Eastward by the said River, to the North ward by Conodagwinet Creek, to the South ward by the Yellow Breeches Creek, and to the Westward by a line drawn North a little Westerly from the said Yellow Brecches to Cono. dagwinet Creeks aforesaid, containing Seven thousand five hundred and seven Acres or upwards," &c. These bounda- , ries correspond with those given in Rupp's History, page 356, where he says: "The manor on Conodoguinette was, as will appear from the following, kindly fur- nished by R. M. Crain, Esq , surveyed

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Notes and queries historical, biographical, and genealogical, Vol. I, Part 53

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

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