USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > Popular history of Erie county, Pennsylvania > Part 6
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ROBERT DINWIDDIE.
FROM THE FORT ON THE RIVER AU BŒUF. DEC. 15, 1753.
SIR: As I have the honor of commanding here as chief, Mr. Washington de- livered to me the letter which you wrote to the commander of the French troops. I should have been glad that you had given him orders, or that he had been inclined to proceed to Canada to see our General, to whom it better belongs than to me to set forth the evidence and the reality of the rights of the King, my master. to the lands situate along the River Ohio, and to contest the pretentions of the King of Great Britain thereto. I shall transmit your letter to the Marquis Du Quesne. His answer will be a law to me, and if he shall order me to communicate it to you, sir, you may be assured I shall not fail to dispatch ii forthwith to you. As to the summons you send me to retire, I do not think myself obliged to obey it. Whatever may be your intentions. I am here by virtue of the order of my General and I entreat you, sir, not to doubt one moment but that I am determined to con- form myself to them with all the exactness and resolution which can be expected from the best officer. I do not know that in the progress of this campaign any- thing has passed which can be reputed an act of hostility, or that is contrary to the treaties which subsist between the two crowns; the continuance whereof in- terests and pleases us as much as it does the English. Had you been pleased, sir, to descend to particularlize the facts which occasioned your complaint, I should have had the honor of answering you in the fullest. and. I am persuaded, the most satisfactory manner, etc. LEGARDEUR DE ST. PIERRE.
Washington left on the 16th, and from swollen streams and other sources, en- dured many hardships on his return journey; but fianafly brought the message of the French safely to Gov. Dinwiddie, Jan. 16, 1754, having been eleven weeks on his perilous trip. His sagacity, courage and power of execution, in performing this mission prior to the age of 22 years, stamped him as eminently fitted for more important duties and he was rapidly promoted, not only to the highest military po-
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FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR
sition in the gift of the Colonies; but after the advent of peace, was president of the Constitutional Convention, and by the first electoral college was unanimously chosen as President of the United States, a position which he filled for eight years with honor to himself and credit to the Nation.
French Evacuation .- Immediately upon occupancy of Presque Isle, a col- ony of French commenced settlement here, and a village was started along what is now Farade street, Erie. A Jesuit mission and school was opened, while consid- erable quantities of corn and other vegetables were raised here, 1753-8. The tide of battle turning in favor of the English, and evacuation of Ft. DuQuesne, Nov. 24, 1758, alarmed the colonists of LeBœuf and Presque Isle and most of them fled to Canada during the following winter. The garrisons from the forts were largely sent to reinforce Ft. Niagara; which stronghold was delivered to the English, July 24, 1759, and Aug. 13, following, the principal stores from this vicinity were for- warded by bateaux from Presque Isle to Detroit. The garrisons from Venango, Le- Bœuf and Presque Isle followed a few days later. These forts were unoccupied for a year, when a small force of English were placed in each.
Presque Isle Taken .- Under "Pontiac's Conspiracy" LeBœuf fell into the hands of hostile Indians, June 18, 1763 and Presque Isle a few days later. Regard- ing the latter, the evidence is conflicting. Bancroft's history of the U. S. says the fort was surrendered with but little resistance, while Christie, the commandant, and a few others were carried captives to the west. Other writers claim that a stubborn defence was maintained for two days, within which time the block house was several times on fire, and, after complete exhaustion, the little force was com- pelled to surrender. Another writer claims that entrance was gained to all these forts by Indian strategy and with few exceptions the entire garrisons were massa- cred. In support of the latter it is claimed that a soldiers wife at Presque Isle, hearing the tumult of the massacre, secreted herself in the spring house near the fort, where she remained for several hours. She was then found and carried in captivity to Canada, in which province she was interviewed in later years by Capt. Daniel Dobbins.
Gen. Anthony Wayne, was born at Eastown, Pa., Jan. 1, 1745; served as a member of the Colonial Legislature. 1774: became a colonel in the Revolutionary army, Jan. 3, 1776 and distinguished himself on many a battle-field; prominent among which was the storming of Stony Point, July 15, 1779 and the defeat of the British in Georgia, May and June, 1782. After the war he retired to his farm, but was again sent to the Legislature. Apr. 2, 1792, he was appointed a Major Gener- al and sent to fight the hostile Indians of the west; to whom he administered a crushing defeat at "Fallen Timbers," near Maumee Rapids, Aug. 20, 1794 and the next year concluded a treaty with them at Greenville. Late in the fall of '96, General Wayne and escort, took passage from Detroit, in a merchant sloop of 50 tons burden, then owned by the Government and known as "The Detroit." On the passage dowu the lake he had a severe attack of sickness and requested to be brought to the block house at Erie, where he died Dec. 15, 1796, aged 52. By his request he was interred at the foot of the flagstaff. planted here a year previ- ous by a detatchment of his own men. This was on the site of the present "Block House," at the Soldier's and Sailor's Home grounds. Early in 1809, Col. Isaac Wayne; the general's son, by request of an invalid sister, came to Erie to secure the romains for interment in the family cemetery. The roads were new and the colo- nel made the trip in a sulky, expecting after 13 years to find but fragmentary re-
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ERIE COUNTY HISTORY.
mains. Dr. J. C. Wallace was given charge of the disinterment and the body was found in a remarkable state of preservation. A portion of the bones was however secured, boxed and taken to Wayneboro for interment, where a monument was erected July 4, 1809, by the Pennsylvania Society of Cincinnati. The balance of the remains was reinterred in their first resting place on the garrison grounds. A portion of the walnut coffin lid, on which Gen. Wayne's name had been marked with brass tacks, still remains above ground, in the Block House, for the inspec- tion of the curious.
Early Settlers .- The hunting grounds of Northwestern Pennsylvania were purchased from the Six Nations, by treaty at Ft. Stanwix, Oct. 22, 1784, and from the Delawares and Wyandottes at Ft. McIntosh Jan. 1785. David Watts and Wm. Miles, surveyed portions of Waterford, Wayne and Amity twps. in 1785-6 and Wm. Powell and Alex. McDowell, parts of Crawford county the following year. The Indians generally had migrated to other places, but some remained and were usually inclined to assist the White settlers; by timely warnings of the approach of hostile Indians and other kind offices. Among those in this vicinity were Con- nedaughta and his sons who held wigwams at the mouth of Conneaut creek- named for him; Cornplanter and his band on the Allegheny, Stripe Neck and others along French creek, and a few of the Massassaugas at the head of Presque Isle bay. May 12, 1788, a dozen hardy pioneers, located on the present site of Meadvile, and, among those who became permanent residents of Crawford county were three Mead brothers, Randolphs and others, from Northumberland county. To David Mead and wife, in the fall of 1788, at Meadville came a daughter, Sarah, afterwards the wife of Rev. Mr. Sutterfield of Mercer county, the first White child born in this section. The Mead settlement was reinforced in 1789, by a half dozen additional families; but April 1791, all fled to Franklin for safety, and among those who returned, to plant corn at Meadville, in May, Wm. Gregg was shot by the Indians, Cornelius Van Horne and Thos. Ray taken captives. Ray escaped, but Van Horne was taken to Detroit, where he was purchased by one of the garrison, for two gallons of whiskey and allowed to return to Meadville. Depradations continued at intervals until after Gen. Anthony Wayne's campaign, in 1793-4. David Mead's large log house at Meadville had served in the mean- time as a garrison for soldiers, until a regular block house was built, the latter year. Wm. Dick, grandfather of the Meadville bankers, located there in 1794 and a year later, we find the names of John Brooks, Henry Richard, Jacob Rasor, John Davis, Dr. T. R. Kennedy, Roger Alden, Joseph Hackney, Henry Marley, Richard Patch and James Hennington. The murder of James Findley and B. Mc- Cormick, six miles south of Meadville, June 3, 1795, was the last Indian depreda- tion in Crawford county. At the begining of this century Crawford had a popula- tion of 2.346.
DEVELOPEMENT OF ERIE COUNTY.
The reports of the early surveyors were extremely favorable to this section, and acts were passed by the Legislature contemplating the rapid developement of the County, immediately after the final purchase of the Triangle from the Indians and the general Government. All Northwestern Penn'a was to be surveyed; but the prospect of White settlement stirred up the ire of the Indians and encouraged to deeds of atrocity by the British it was found that the Commissioners, Irvine and Ellicott, who had been authorized to plat towns at Franklin, Warren, Waterford and Erie, would need protection. Gen. John Wilkins with a squad of men escor-
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EARLY PIONEER SETTLEMENT
ted Andrew Ellicott to LeBœuf in May '94, and was followed in June by Capt. Denny with a full company of militia. Gen. Wilkins, wrote from Ft. LeBœuf to the Governor, "The Indians contrive to make opposition to the developement at Presque Isle. The governor of Upper Canada and Indian agent, have been visit- ing all the Indian towns westward, exciting them to oppose the Americans and assuring them of support from the King. * Advices from the general country, state that every industry is being made by the British, to put the Indians on us." The general Government was wary of inciting war among the friendly tribes, and requested the state authorities to proceed with caution in forcing de- velopement. Gen. Chapin was sent as U. S. representative, to a Council of In- dians which convened at Buffalo June 18. Here he learnd that force would be taken to prevent further surveys and in company with several chiefs came to LeBœuf to request cessation of the work, until the matter could be adjusted by negotiations. Capt. Denny had erected block houses at the forks of French creek and posted 6 pound cannon upon them. He had a full company of men, and under their protection Ellicott surveyed the town plat of Waterford, in the summer of 1794. These men had been enlisted for 8 months and others were secured to take their places. Lieut. Mehaffey with 25 men escorted Comsrs. Irvine, Ellicott and their corps of surveyors from Pittsburg, in June '95, to Presque Isle where they were to proceed with their work. On arriving there they found 200 of Wayne's men who had landed early in the spring, on their return from the victories achieved against the Indians of the west. These under command of Capt. Russell Bissell had erected two substantial block houses on the site of the present Soldiers' Home grounds. Mehaffey had been reinforced at LeBœuf by a company of men un- der Capt. John Grubb who came on with the surveyors. These troops erected the saw mill at the mouth of Mill Creek early in '96, and this gave the name to that stream. Capt. Grubb continued in command till 1799 and between that and 1800 was succeeded by Capts. Hamtramck, Lyman, McCall and a son of Comsr. Irvine.
First Settlers .- There is always more or less pride on the part of descen- dents, to trace their ancestry back to early pioneers, and for several reasons, it is difficult to secure exact dates. The historian acting as judge upon these matters, is compelled to decide, upon the weight of evidence presented which is sometimes misleading and discrepancies are likely to arise. Some tracts were taken up by intending settlers in person, while the surveyors were at work in 1794 but for all practical purposes the era of civil settlement may be said to have not opened until the following year. Below we give as nearly as can be ascer- tained. the names of settlers locating in this county prior to 1800. In our seacrh for individual township histories, these may be modified or extended somewhat and to such pages the reader is referred for further information.
1795 .- James Talmadge of Dutches county, N. Y., commenced sailing Capt. Lee's open boat from Buffalo to Presque Isle in June and on his first trip brought the Reel Family, (see later page, ) and Amos Judson. Mr. Talmadge continued in Eric about a year, then locating in *MCKEAN twp., where he resided until his death 1855; Robt. King, Thomas Ford, Wm. and Thos. Black settled in LEBŒUF twp., a son John R. born to Mrs. Black at the blockhouse, Aug. 29, 1795, is said to have been the first White birth in this County. Martin Strong, James Naylor, Lieut. Martin and Amos Judson in WATERFORD twp .; Jonathan Spaulding in CONNEAUT; Wm. Miles in VENANGO where he soon after platted the town of Wattsburg; Wm. Cook in CONCORD; John Fagan in AMITY: while Joseph Shad- duck, Geo. and Henry Hurst, Geo. Lowry, James and Baily Donaldson made
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ERIE COUNTY HISTORY.
settlement in NORTH EAST. Henry Hurst moved to Meadville from whence he was the first Representative for the five northwestern counties. James Baird, Joshua Fairbarks and possibly some other civil citizens besides the Reeds and Thomas Rees located in Erie in the first year of developement. John W. Russell, Geo. Moore and David McNair in MILLCREEK; Michael Hare, Ridue and Carl in WAYNE; James Blair in GIRARD,
1796 -Mrs. Margaret Lowry, Henry and Dyer Loomis, North East; John Lytle, Robt. Brotherton, John Lenox and Thos. Skinner, Waterford; Adam and James Reed, Thos. Smith, Burrell and Zalmon Tracy, Wattsburg; Alex. Hamilton, Wm. Culbertson, WASHINGTON; Samuel Holiday, John Devore, John Mershon, Wm. McIntyre, Patrick Ager, Oliver Cross, SPRINGFIELD: Thos. Rees moved to HARBOR CREEK; Geo. Reed to SUMMIT; Russell Bissell. David Dewey, Benj. Rus- sell, Thos. P. Miller, Capt. John Grubb, Anthony Saltsman and John McFarland, Mill Creek; Capt. Daniel Dobbins and Judah Colt, Erie.
1797 .- GREENFIELD was settled by Elisha and Enoch Marvin, Cyrus Robin- son, Charles Allen, Joseph Berry, John and Wm. Wilson, James Moore, Joseph Webster, Philo. Barker, Timothy Tuttle, Silas and Wm. Smith, Joseph Shattuck, John Daggett, John Andrews and Leverett Bissell, Judah Colt moving over from Erie; John, Thos. and David Phillips, Phillipsville; Job Reeder, Samuel Galloway, Simeon Dunn, Mrs. Jane Campbell with her sons John and James, Mathias Sipps, John McWilliams, Phineas MeLenathan, Matthew Hamilton, James, John, An- drew and Samuel Culbertson, and several others whose names have been lost, to Edinboro; Francis Scott, John and Geo. Nicholson, John Kelso, Patrick Vance, Alex. Patrick and John Mckee Jeremiah and Wm. Sturgeon. Thos. Forster, Jacob Weiss and Wm. Haggerty. FAIRVIEW; Thos. and Oliver Dunn, first in Springfield, removed to Mckean; John Vincent, Wm. Smith, Aaron Himrod, Waterford; Thos. Robinson, Joseph McCord, James McMahon, Wm. Wilson, James Duncan, Francis Brawley, Abraham and Arnold Custard, Thos. Crawford and sons, Lemuel Brow, Matthew Taylor, Wm. Allison, Henry Burgett, North East; Francis P. Isher- wood, James, Robert and Adam Pollock, LeBœuf: Hugh Wilson. UNION; Eli Col- ton, ELK CREEK; Col. Dunning McNair, CONNEAUT; Wm. Saltsman, Amasa Prinale, Andrew Ellicott, Harbor Creek.
It is recorded that Wm. W. Reed. son of John C. Reed and grandson of Col. Seth Reed was the first white man born on the" Triangle:" Feb. 20, 1797. He was for many year a merchant and burgess of Ashtabula, returning to Erie in the forties, where he died Sept. 9, 1851.
1789 .- Matthew Gray, Andrew Thompson, Francis B. and Robt. Smith, John Wilson, Union; John Dempsey, Fairview: Nicholas Lebarger, Springfield: Geo. HIaybarger, Arniste and John Deitz, Elk Creek: John. James and Matthew Greer, North East; Abiather and Elihu Crane, Cranesville; Wm. Smith, David Findlay, WAYNE; Jacob Shepard, John Welsh. Union; Peter Kline, Washington; Aaron Himrod, Waterford; Abraham and Wm. Silverthorn, Girard; John Teel, Wm. Wallace and Jonas Duncan, Erie.
1799 .- Lemuel and Russell Stancliff. McKean: Eliakim Cook, Summit; John, James and David Boyd, John Tracy, M. Himebaugh, John Clemens, the Simpsons, and Lattimores, Waterford. Any further authentic names secured, of those who settled here prior to 1800 will appear in twp. history. (Continuation of 1800 on later pages.)
*Townships when first named are put in SMALL CAPS.
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JUDAH COLT S MEMORANDA
Judah Colt-A few abstracts from the diary of this early pioneer will be of general interest: `I was born in Lyme, Conn., July 1, 1761. In August, 1795, in company with Angustus Porter, came to Erie to purchase land. At Presque Isle found a number of men encamped, United States troops erecting a fort, and Commissioners for the State, Gen. William Irvine and Andrew Ellicott, laying out the town of Erie. They had about 100 militia troops in their employ. Thom- as Rees was acting as agent for the Pennsylvania Population Company in the survey and sale of lands. Porter and I took two certificates of 400 acres each at $1 per acre, payable in five annual installments. We made but a brief stay.
On the 3d of March, 1796, went to Philadelphia for the purpose of getting the lands purchased of Mr. Rees at Erie confirmed. The principal proprietors of the Population Company resided there. Offered to buy 30,009 acres at $1 per acre, but they declined to sell it in so large a body. Col. Aaron Burr, who was one of the proprietors, informed me that they were in need of a more active agent, and offered me the position. A contract was entered into by which they agreed to pay me $1,500 a year, besides board. traveling expenses, etc. This was raised to $2,500 in 1798. Money was advanced with which to procure supplies and hire la- borers, and in the month of April I started to return to my home in the Genesce country New York. In New York City, I laid in provisions, sundry kinds of goods and farming utensils, such as were needed in a new country. They were shipped under the care of Enoch Marvin, up the river to Albany, across the por- tage by wagons to the Mohawk river, up the latter by bateaux then by wagon again to Oswego, and from there by Lake and wagon to Presque Isle. Mr. Marvin arrived at the latter place on the 22d, of June 1796, but the boats did not reach Presque Isle till the 1st of July. He found a Captain's com- mand stationed there in a garrison laid out and built in 1795. His tent or marquee was erected near the old French garrison. During the season he met with consid- erable opposition from advance settlers, "a company know as Dunning McNair & Co., from the neighborhood of Pittsburg." Leaving the agency in charge of Elisha and Enoch Marvin. I set out on the 4th of November for Philadelphia, re- turning to the mouth of Sixteen Mile Creek, May 31 1797.
June 1, rode out to where Elisha Marvin was stationed, who had charge of the men employed by the agency, nine miles south of Lake Erie. known afterwards as Colt's Station. Made this my head quarters until the 10th of November. The season was one of much business. * The opposition of advance settlers caused me much trouble. I had to keep from forty to one hundred men in service to defend settlers and property. More than once mobs of twenty to thirty assembled for the purpose of doing mischief. Went to Pittsburg with witnesses and had a number indicted by the grand jury of Allegheny County. On my return, loaded a boat with stores to take to the Sixteen Mile Creek, and put it in charge of four men. On their way up the lake, a storm upset the boat and three of the men, were drowned. During the season, the building of a vessel of about thirty-five tons was commenced at the mouth of Four Mile creek. The Lowry's and others were
*The law of 1792 provided that actual settlers, who should be driven from the country by the enemies of the United States, and who thereafter persisted in the endeaver to make settlement, should be entitled to hold the lands formerly enter- ed, the same as if continuous residence had been made. The Population and Hol- land land companies, claimed. that by their several efforts to occupy the lands, in 1793-5, they had fulfilled the requirements of the law. Early in 1795, the Gover- nor claimed that the Indians had been conquered and declared this section open for settlement. Conflicting interests thereby occurred as before mentioned,
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ERIE COUNTY HISTORY.
the indicted parties. The disturbances took place in the months of June and July. 1797, continuing for several years. [Those who had taken up lands upon State warrants and were later ejected because they were on the Population Com- pany's claims were greatly enraged.]
Went East in the fall, and set out to return to Erie in April, 1798. At New York, purchased supplies, which were sent forward in charge of B. Saxton and Eliphalet Beebe. Arrived at Presque Isle the 31st of May, and at Greenfield on the 3d of June. Brought my wife for the first time. Resided at Colt's Station with my family until the 7th of November. The vessel, begun the year before at the mouth of Fonr Mile Creek, was completed in time to make a trip to Fort Erie. It was named the Sloop Washington. On the 10th of October I accom- panied about sixty-five of the settlers to Erie to attend an election, all of whom voted in favor of a Federal Representative. On the 7th of November, with Mrs. Colt, set out for Pittsburgh, on horseback. Our baggage was taken down French Creek in boats. Arrived at Pittsburgh the 9th of January, 1799. Shortly after our arrival. the weather became very warm, the frost came out of the ground, and the farmers began their plowing. Did not return to Erie County until May, 1801. During a part of 1800 and 1801, the peace of the County was much disturbed by the adversaries of the company. In the summer and fall of 1800, the settle- ment was visited by a number of clergymen who were sent out by the Ohio and Redstone Presbyteries, who preached in a number of places and took much pains to establish churches. Among these was Rev. Mr. McCurdy.
During the year of 1801, some progress was made in organizing the militia of Greenfield. Elisha Marvin was chosen Captain. He had about eighty men in his company. During 1802. considerable progress was made in the County, mili- tary, civil and religious. In the month of June, 1803, aided by a Deputy Marshal of the United States Court, removed sundry intruders against whom ejectments had been brought, some of whom were obstinate and gave much trouble. During the same month, Mary Marvin arrived in company with her brother Elisha. Sep- tember 24, purchased of James Wilson four lots, on which was a small house, in the town of Erie, for the sum of $490. On the 26th, set out for Pittsburgh by way of the new State road. Returned to Greenfield February 24, 1804. During the month of April, 1804, was again in Philadelphia as a witness in the United States Court relating to the lands of the Population Company, and in which the company was successful. On the 6th of August, 1804, began to improve my Erie property, to which I removed my family on the 21st of November.
The country in 1805 was still far from tranquil. People continued to take un- lawful possession of lands claimed under warrants, and were encouraged by others for political purposes. The company brought sundry ejectments. During the summer we were called upon by a number of clergymen. In the month of Decem- ber, James and Ezekiel Graham, who had unlawfully settled on the tract of the Population Company, purchased 100 acres at $3 per acre, payable in instal- ments. November 20, 1806-News came from a decision in the land case in United States Court at Philadelphia. Robt. Penn, plaintiff; Adam Arbuckle, defendant. July 1, 1807-The obstinacy of adverse settlers renders my employment in some respects unpleasant. The Erie & Waterford Turnpike is in process of building."
Mr. Colt made frequent trips to Philadelphia, New York and Pittsburgh on the business of the company, being absent from his family much of the time. On one occasion he was gone fifteen months. He died in 1832, leaving a large estate.
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EARLY LAND MATTERS
The Pennsylvania Population Co, was chartered Mar. 8, 1793, for the promotion of settlement upon Lake Erie and along French creek. To the first 20 families at each place a present of 150 acres of land was to be made and to the next succeeding 40, families at each place, 100 acres each. Thomas Rees, a sur- veyor came on from Northumberland in 1794, with 390 warrants to be located on the Triangle. Several settlers were killed by the Indians along French creek that year and Mr. Rees and his assistants completed their surveys as hastily as possible and took refuge at Franklin. Early the next year he came as agent of the company, to article lands to settlers, and protected by the soldiers at the fort, he established a real estate office in a tent near the mouth of Mill creek, from which he sold in 1795, about 75,000 acres of land to 200 purchasers. Many of these however did not settle in the County until later years. Judah Colt who came in August '95, and purchased 400 acres of land, became the agent of the company at $1,500 per year and June 22, '96 entered upon his duties here. A year later he moved to Greenfield twp.
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