USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania > Part 73
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638
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
Reed, Thoma's McCullom, John Work, Godfrey Christian, Henry Millar, Chris. Phillips, John Sinnott, Philip Sinnott, Patrick Feagan, George Creamer-total 14. Female Children-Mary McSwine, Elizabeth Otter, Marget Coghran, Nelly Thomas, Susan Daily, Rebekah Boyle, Marget Boyle, Marget Jacobs, Mary Judy, Elizabeth Judy, Elizabeth Pomry, Elizabeth Work, Elizabeth Sly, Susanna Sly, Rachel Sly, Nancy Ba-(imperfect), Mary Sim-(imperfect), Marget Cro- (imperfect)-total 18. Houses 146, number of hutts 36, number of unfinished houses 19-total 201."
If these people lived here, and if these buildings were standing on July 22, 1760, of course the people must have come and the houses must have been erected previously, so that in the year 1760, previous to July 22d, all this had been accomplished or else a portion had been donc in 1759. There is nothing improbable with the latter supposition. During the summer of 1759 the soldiers and the workmen had spent several months in the East getting ready-gather- ing material together and preparing themselves generally for remaining here a considerable length of time, and for constructing an immense fortification, all of which would entail upon the British Government a cost of £60,000. The inhabitants of Lancaster, and of other towns to the eastward, well knew of the projected improvement here, and required no other argument to convince them that a large settlement was sure to spring up at the "Point" under the protection of the new fort. It is, therefore, reasonable to suppose that with the army a number of settlers came here in the summer or fall of 1759 for per- manent residence. Another thing is clear, if no permanent settlers came in 1759, and none of the houses or "hutts" mentioned above was built during that year, the settlers, when they came in the spring of 1760, must have been exceedingly energetic, unless they were assisted by the soldiers, to have built the town out- side of the fort on so large a scale by July 22d. They could not have crossed the mountains during the winter of 1759-60; in fact, could not have left their Eastern homes before April of 1760. It has been claimed by some authorities that the permanent settlement of Pittsburg should date from 1764, when the first four blocks were laid out, and not from 1760, when several hundred inhab- itants arrived, because all were connected with, and their stay here based upon, the troops and workmen engaged in constructing the fortification. This posi- tion, surely, is inadmissible. Neither will the fact that the settlement was inter- rupted for a short time in 1763 by Pontiac's war serve as a pretext to change the date of permanent settlement from 1760 to 1764. It is well known that persons who arrived here in 1761, if not in 1760, continued here with perhaps slight interruptions for many years, and it cannot be disputed that many who came in 1760 were in no manner connected with the workmen, nor dependent upon the troops except for protection and for a division of their pay. Unques- tionably many came here, as settlers always did in those days to wild locations in the West, because they expected to better their condition, and intended to remain so long as they were prosperous and safe.
This somewhat elaborate analysis of motives and facts is given owing to the fact that some writers have contended that the permanent settlement should date from 1764. The latter view seems to be so faulty and so unjust to the brave men, women and children who came here in 1760 that it must be con- sidered untenable. The permanent settlement must date from 1760, if not from an earlier date. A critical examination of the archives in Canada might fix the permanent settlement at 1754. The Pennsylvania Magazine, Volume II, page 303, says: "It is, therefore, evident that the documents we print (the list of inhabitants and houses of July 22, 1760) relate to a time within a year of the permanent establishment of the present city of Pittsburg." From this statement it must be inferred that the Pennsylvania Historical Society, under
639
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
whose auspices the magazine was issued, considered the date of the permanent establishment of Pittsburg as 1759. For the same volume of the Magazine, Mr. Craig, about fifty years ago, furnished valuable corrections and suggestions con- cerning the list of settlers of 1760. Among his annotations were the follow- ing: John Langdale was an Indian trader; John Barklit was probably John Barkley, an Indian trader as late as 1772; Philip Boyle may have been Philip Bayle, a soldier afterward employed by Colonel Croghan in the Indian trade; John Pierce subsequently quartermaster-general of Pennsylvania militia; William McAllister lived in Washington County during the whisky insurrection; Edward Cook a man of great ability and usefulness, afterward prominent in public affairs; James Harris, William Work and James Milligan also prominent; Alexander Ewing an Indian trader as late as 1772; Lazarus Lowry and his brother were Indian traders as early as 1744, and the commandant at Detroit offered a reward for their scalps, owing to their great influence over the Indians; John Finley an Indian trader licensed in 1774; Hugh Crawford an Indian trader; Joseph Spear an Indian trader as late as 1775, when he resided near John Ormsby's home; John McClure an uncle of Major Ebenezer Denny; Samuel Hayden, captain in the King's Rangers during the Revolution; James Reed was doubtless Read of Reading; Robert Paris may have been Richard Paris, an influential Indian trader; George Tomb was probably George Tomp, a militiaman and spy during the Revolution; William Heath was probably William Heth afterward lieutenant-colonel in the Revolution; John Graham an Indian trader as late as 1772; Ephraim Blane was commissary-general during the Revo- lution, and greatgrandfather of James G. Blaine, the well-known American statesman. But this is not all the material in existence to fix an earlier date than 1754 for the permanent settlement of Pittsburg. The following list con- tains the returns of the number of houses, the names of the owners, and the number of men, women and children in each house at Fort Pitt, April 14, 1761. It was furnished to the Pennsylvania Magazine by Mr. G. J. Scull, of Oxford, England, and transcribed from manuscripts in the British Museum (h).
LOWER TOWN.
Residents.
Houses.
Men.
Women.
Children.
John Hudess (soldier).
I
I
I
. .
Ellena Clark.
I
. .
I
. .
Richard Rodgery (soldier)
I
I
I
2
William Marshall (soldier)
I
I
I
. .
Joseph Woods (soldier)
I
T
I
I
Battoe men (soldier).
I
3
. .
John Hadley (artificer)
I
I
· ·
. .
William Davis (soldier)
I
I
I
. .
Frederick Dart (soldier)
I
I
I
I
James Rodgers (soldier).
I
I
I
. .
John Carter. .
I
I
I
I
Thomas Camp (soldier)
I
I
I
I
Ship carpenters.
I
3
.
. .
John Langdale.
I
3
·
. .
John Campbell. .
2
5
.
. .
Christopher Groves (soldier).
I
I
T
T
John Welch
1
2
.
.
James Kalhoun
I
I
.
. .
Thomas Mitchell.
I
4
. .
. .
Ephraim Blane.
I
2
. .
. .
(h) Pennsylvania Magazine, Vol. VI, page 344.
640
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
Residents.
Houses.
Men.
Women.
Children.
John Owens. .
I
2
I
. .
Hugh Crawford
2
8
2
. .
William Thompson
I
2
· ·
Denis Drogharty
I
4
. .
. .
Hugh McSwine.
I
I
I
[
John Finley
I
2
·
. .
Richard McManahan
2
4
. .
. .
John Hart. .
I
4
. .
. .
John Craven.
I
I
I
T
James Crampton
I
I
.
. .
William Armstrong
I
I
.
. .
Artificers. .
I
4
.
. .
James Meligan
I
I
..
. .
William Trent.
3
6
·
. .
George Croghan
I
4
. .
. .
John Doncastle.
3
4
. .
. .
Philip Boyle and artificers
I
3
Arthur Hamilton.
I
2
Edward Graham,
I
2
William McAllister
I
2
. .
. .
John Ormsby.
I
2
Thomas Carney (artificer).
I
I
..
. .
Leonard Young (baker, soldier).
I
2
. .
. .
David Nigley (soldier).
I
I
I
. .
Abraham Miller (soldier)
I
I
I
. .
Ralph Phillips (lieutenant).
I
I
·
. .
Philip Phillips. .
I
I
. .
. .
John Boys (soldier).
I
I
I
I
Thomas Sheppard (artificer).
I
I
. .
. .
-
UPPER TOWN.
Residents.
Houses.
Men.
Women.
Children.
Hospitals for soldiers.
2
7
. .
. .
John Leach. . .
I
I
I
. .
John Cusick (soldier)
I
I
I
. .
Nancy Thommas.
I
. .
I
I
Francis Cline (soldier)
I
I
I
. .
Peter Rotterer (of ye train).
I
I
T
I
Humphrey Kies.
I
I
. .
. .
Empty house.
I
.
. .
. .
Michael Longsold
I
I
2
. .
Charles Boyle. .
I
I
I
2
Patrick McQuaid.
2
I
. .
. .
Thomas Small.
2
2
. .
. .
John Meatcalfe
I
2
. .
. .
Robert Parris.
I
2
2
. .
Hugh Read.
T
2
2
. .
Thomas Brighton
I
I
·
. .
Conrad House.
I
I
. .
William Splane
2
3
. .
· ·
Empty houses.
2
. .
58
103
19
IO
. .
. .
. .
. .
641
Residents.
Houses.
Men. Women.
Children.
Robert Reed.
I
I
I
I
Neil McCollum
I
I
I
I
John Work.
I
2
. .
. .
Dennis McGlaulin
I
I
I
2
George Snigh.
3
I
I
2
John Neal.
I
I
I
. .
Empty house.
I
. .
. .
. .
Arthur Curvent
I
I
I
. .
Dennis Hall.
I
I
I
L
Coopers and soldiers
I
5
. .
·
Patrick McCarty.
I
I
I
2
Christopher Miller
I
I
I
I
John McCantish.
I
I
I
.
William Hath (Heth)
2
I
. .
William Vinston
2
I
I
. .
Woodrow, Ramsay & Co
2
2
I
. .
George White.
I
2
. .
. .
Christopher Negty
I
I
I
. .
Martin Smith. .
I
2
.
. .
Eleanor Crawford.
I
·
2
. .
James Gilbey
I
I
I
I
Empty house.
I
. .
. .
. .
John Field.
I
I
I
I
William Guthry (trader)
I
I
I
. .
William Brown. .
I
2
I
I
John Dayley (Daily).
I
I
I
1
John Doncastle. .
2
3
.
.
Captain Mathers and servant.
I
2
.
·
. .
. .
Daniel Saller.
2
I
I
·
Jacob Nyers
I
I
.
. .
Empty house.
I
. .
.
..
Philip Byerley
I
2
.
.
. .
John Hayton.
2
2
. .
. .
Christopher Limes
I
I
.
. .
John Armstrong (soldier)
I
I
I
. .
Empty house.
I
. .
. .
. .
I
I
I
. .
Samuel Shunner.
I
I
I
I
Henry Harshaw (soldier)
I
I
I
. .
Vendot Cramer.
I
I
I
. .
Joseph Budwick.
1
I
. .
. .
John Hillman.
I
I
I
I
Henry Fregstaff.
I
3
·
. .
Joseph McMurray
I
I
I
I
Thomas Walker
I
2
.
. .
Empty house
I
. .
.
. .
John Craver.
I
I
·
. .
Jacob Sennet (trader)
I
2
.
. .
Michael McMurray
I
I
. .
. .
John Mains (soldier)
T
I
.
. .
Empty house. ..
T
. .
. .
Empty house.
I
Frederick Sligh
I
I
Frederick Klingle.
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
642
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
Residents.
Houses.
Men. Women.
Children.
Mathew Fulneck.
I
I
I
I
Hugh Henry . . ..
I
I
I
I
John Linsey (soldier)
I
I
I
. .
Captain Bassett .. .
I
2
. .
. .
Thomas Bassett's Engineer Corps.
Artillery.
Isaac Conn. .
I
I
I
2
Sergeant Pierce.
I
I
I
. .
Rowland Pemberton.
I
I
I
I
John Sutton. .
I
I
I
. .
William Venible.
I
I
I
2
William Cassady
I
I
I
. .
Ambrose Newton
I
I
Thomas Box.
I
2
. .
. .
Captain William Clapham and servants
I
4
. .
. ..
Captain Barnsley and servants. .
2
4
2
. .
Messhouse and general's house.
2
. .
. .
. .
Lieutenant Rosetidge ..
2
2
2
. .
Sergeant Morton (soldier)
I
2
. .
. .
John Bamer (soldier)
I
I
I
. .
-
Total in upper town
105
II8
54
28
Outlying soldiers and families
43
23
I3
Total outside of works, upper town Total in both towns.
I63
264
96
5I
-
-
16I
77
4I
. .
Sometime during the early autumn of 1761 a young man named James Kenney came here as a representative of the business house of the Pembertons, of Philadelphia, to open a store, and from his diary valuable historic facts connected with early Pittsburg are learned. Under date of the IIth month and 20th day, 1761, he recorded in his diary that a young man, not named, had been ordered by Colonel Bouquet to number the houses and register such num- bers upon the doors, and that this first census taker had reported about 100 houses, but that he (Mr. Kenney) believed that better numbering would raise the list to about 150. He wrote of funds being subscribed for a school in the town during the winter of 1761-2, and of the want felt by the inhabitants for some sort of religious services. He wrote also that, "if ye place continue to increase near this manner, it must soon be very large, which seems likely to me." From the day that General Forbes took possession of this spot nearly all writers of letters from here headed their missives "Pittsburg," instead of "Fort Pitt," and this statement includes the officers of the garrison, proving that all here considered the town established as early as November, 1758. There is nothing to show that the town did not progress during the year 1762 as it had during 1760 and 1761. No doubt it did, and it may have received a consider- able accession to the number of its residents. The year 1763 saw a change.
After the establishment of Fort Pitt, in 1758, the Indians of all the Western country came here for their supplies, and the trade must have been immense for that day. There were present here from ten to twenty traders with large stocks of goods, which were given to the Indians in exchange for money they received from the Government, or for their valuable packs of furs and peltry brought in from a radius of hundreds of miles. According to the Pennsyl- vania Gazette of March 21, 1760, this trade was very large, and what was most
643
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
promising, the Indians seemed anxious to maintain it rather than obliterate it. It was estimated by that paper that about 4,000 people poured into Western Pennsylvania during that and the subsequent year. General John Stanwix suc- ceeded General Forbes in command here in 1759, and he was succeeded in March, 1760, by Major Tulikens. In June, 1760, Major Tulikens was succeeded by General Monckton, and in August of that year the latter held a treaty with the Western Indians at Fort Pitt. The attack of Pontiac was upon the sup- position that the English, who had succeeded to all the French forts in America by the treaty of February 10, 1763, were not strong, and that the forts could easily be captured. In fact, all were captured except Forts Pitt, Niagara and Detroit.
"I forgot to tell you, Sir, that we have a club every Monday, and a ball on Saturday evening, composed of the most beautiful ladies of the garrison. We regale them with punch, and, if it is not strong enough, the whisky is at their service" (i).
On the 8th of March, 1763, the rivers rose to a great height, inundating the fort, and, as nearly as can be learned, covering all of what is now Penn and Liberty avenues. The lower town was flooded, but the upper seems to have escaped. On the 8th, when the flood was at its height, two officers and thirty men, with fifteen days' provisions, were sent temporarily to the upper town. It was stated that the flood was twenty-two inches higher than the year before. Thompson, the tanner, and Shepard, the carpenter, were drowned, and the storehouses of the traders were flooded, but, through the energy of Captain Ecuyer, little property was lost. On the 19th of March Captain Ecuyer wrote: "We had St. Patrick's fetes in every manner, so that Croghan could not write by this express." On April 23d Captain Ecuyer also said: "All who are here (excepting the garrison) are dregs of nature." During the early part of 1763 the Indians were extremely and significantly urgent in their demands upon Mr. Croghan for supplies of powder, lead, knives and vermilion. During one month he "drew 17,000 pounds, as much flour as beef." On the 2d of June, 1763, soon after the siege had commenced, the garrison consisted of 250 inen, with equal numbers of regulars and militia. At this time Mr. Trent was one of the merchants, and a little later he was appointed by Captain Ecuyer, major commandant of militia.
Pittsburg escaped destruction at the commencement of Pontiac's war through no fault of that great chieftain, but through the carelessness, or inten- tion, or both, of the Indians then in this vicinity. Had not the friendship of some of the Indians for the whites here, or the plainly suspicious acts of others, put the commandant and the inhabitants on their guard, the fort would no doubt have been captured and all would have been murdered. Previous to the 29th of May alarming reports from different quarters, together with the suspicious actions of the Indians in this vicinity, caused the commandant, Simeon Ecuyer, and the inhabitants to fear an impending outbreak. On the 29th the news was received of the murder of Colonel Clapham and family at Sewickley Old Town, twenty-five miles up the Youghiogheny, and on the same day two soldiers from the fort were killed on Sawmill Run. On the 30th the aspect of affairs was so threatening that all the inhabitants of the two towns, to the number probably of from 125 to 150, exclusive of the soldiers, took refuge in the fort. On the Ist of June Captain Ecuyer gave orders to pull down and burn all the outhouses of the upper town, and to demolish the lower town and carry the wood into the fort. This may be said to have been the first destruction of Pittsburg by fire. The object unquestionably was to prevent the Indians from taking possession of
(i) Ecuyer to Bouquet, Fort Pitt, January 8, 1763.
644
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
the houses, which would furnish them shelter and a safe refuge from the bullets of the soldiers. The women were detailed to carry water to the men on duty, and all men off duty were required to sleep in their clothes, with their arms by their sides. On the 2d of June the principal houses on Grant's Hill were burned, and at night the Indians finished the work of destruction. On the 3d Thompson's house, about half a mile from the fort, was burned. During this time the entire garrison were kept under arms and at work on the fort, render- ing it as nearly impregnable as possible, while the inhabitants secured their cattle and horses, gathered provisions from the fields and gardens and other- wise prepared for what appeared would be a siege. No one was permitted to go outside without orders from the commander, and all were furnished with rations. The quartermaster was instructed to visit all parts of the fort daily in order to prevent the accumulation of filth; and the women and children were ordered to keep within doors, except those who were detailed to carry water to the men. The dogs were ordered tied up, and the cattle were watered once a day and fed twice, at 10 a. m. and 4 p. m., on German wheat or spelts, the women being required to go outside under the protection of a covering party of about twenty-five armed men to cut the spelts. Any person refusing to obey orders was placed under arrest and confined in the guardroom. By June 7th the dogs had become so troublesome that a detail of men was chosen to drown them. There were five bastions to the fort, although the inclosure was four-sided, to wit: Monongahela, Ohio, Flag, Grenadier and Music. The 330 soldiers, traders and backwoodsmen were organized into squads for special service and into relays to guard the ramparts day and night. Captain Ecuyer, with a squad, commanded the Monongahela bastion; Captain Gordon, Flag bastion; Captain Cochran, Music bastion; the Grenadiers, Grenadier bastion, and the general company, Ohio bastion. Sentinels were posted day and night at the bridge gate and at the sally ports. Women were forbidden to appear on the ramparts.
On the 9th a great smoke up the Allegheny told of the destruction of the house of George Croghan. On the 10th several men engaged in repairing fence about one thousand yards from the fort were fired upon. On the 11th, at daybreak, several Indians were discovered among the ruins of the upper town, and at Io o'clock at night set fire to a house still remaining there, but were scattered by a shell from the fort. Still later in the same night several Indians were detected prowling among the ruins of the lower town. On the 12th the Indians and whites exchanged shots from a safe distance. On the 15th a party of four men, under Sergeant Miller, went out to cut spelts, and, against orders, advanced to Grant's Hill, where they were attacked by the savages, and Miller was shot dead, his companions preventing his being scalped. An express, or messenger, from Bedford was fired on near the fort.
On the 16th four Shawnees appeared on the opposite side of the Ohio, as the Allegheny was then designated, and, calling for McKee, requested him to cross the river, as they desired to talk with him. They had nothing of importance to communicate, but were apparently anxious to secure the peace- able surrender of the fort, or were endeavoring to gain some advantage of the garrison. On the 17th the same Indians called again for Mr. McKee, who refused to cross the river. They thereupon crossed and informed him that all the Indian nations had taken up the hatchet, and that the Indians here would furnish protection to the inhabitants, providing they would surrender, or rather join the Indians who were then there. They said a large force was on the way to attack Fort Pitt, and was sure to succeed. On the 19th two Indians crept along the bank of the Monongahela and endeavored to shoot the sentinel posted there. A few horses that had escaped from their owners
647
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
were stolen by the savages. On the 21st, about II o'clock at night, Indians on the opposite side of the Monongahela repeated the sentinel's cry of "All's well." On the 22d James Thompson, who went outside in search of a horse, was killed and scalped within sight of the fort. This act seemed thoroughly to arouse the bloody instincts of the savages, for they appeared in consid- crable numbers along each river and on Grant's Hill and began to shoot stray cattle and horses. A shell was thrown and burst in a squad of them, and several were wounded and perhaps killed. It was on this day that a shot fired from the opposite side of the Ohio (Allegheny) wounded a soldier on the Monongahela bastion. On the same day Mr. McKee and two other inhabit- ants fired at three Indians on the Monongahela bank at the distance of one hundred and fifty yards, and succeeded in killing one of them. The weather was extremely warm, and, to add to the distress, the smallpox broke out, necessitating the building of a hospital under the bridge, placed above high water mark. The fort was supplied with sixteen pieces of cannon, mounted on platforms. On the 23d, at midnight, two Delawares called to the sentinels and stated that they desired to talk with Mr. McKee the next morning. On the 24th Turtle Heart and Mamaulter came near the fort, whereupon Mr. McKee went out to see what proposition they had to offer. They stated that a large force of Indians was on the way to Fort Pitt, and that the Indians here, who had often been befriended by the inhabitants, desired to save them and requested all to leave at once. Captain Ecuyer thanked the two chiefs and informed them that he had sufficient force to hold the fort against any odds. "Out of our regard to them we gave them two blankets and an handkerchief out of the smallpox hospital. I hope it will have the desired effect" (j). On the 25th the Shawnee Indians told Mr. McKee that two days previously they had seen a large body of Indians on their way to Fort Pitt. On the 26th and 27th the disaster at Fort Le Bœuf was made known to Fort Pitt. On the night of the 28th many Indians were seen close to the walls of the fort.
On the 3d of July several men who had gone outside to the gardens for greens were fired upon by an Indian who had hidden within thirty yards of the fort. On this day Adam Terrence wounded an Indian. On this day, also, two guns were heard on the opposite side of the Allegheny, and four naked and painted savages came down to the bank singing, as was their custom, when announcing their friendly intentions. They carried two small English flags, and informed Mr. McKee that they had a letter from the commandant at Detroit, and desired to come over to deliver it. They crossed the river and Mr. McKee went out to meet them. They had no such letter from Detroit, but presented several wampum belts, and while the conversation was in progress it was noticed by the whites who looked from the fort that the Indians on Grant's Hill were very uneasy, and, a moment later, came running down toward the fort, and five appeared on the bank across the Alle- gheny. This state of affairs seemed so threatening that the riflemen within the fort fired upon the few who had run down from Grant's Hill, and. the shots were returned by the Indians. On this day six Ottawas, in a conversa- tion with Mr. McKee, professed the sincerest friendship, but during the same night many Indians were detected in the ditch which surrounded the fort, doubt- less endeavoring to gain some advantage, and were fired upon by the soldiers. The entire garrison was called out, and remained on their arms until day- light. This was the most threatening day thus far experienced. Evidently the large force of Indians had arrived and was endeavoring in some manner to outwit the whites and catch them at a disadvantage. On the 4th of July ten
(j) Letter of Captain Ecuyer, May, 1763.
648
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
Ottawas appeared on the opposite side of the Allegheny and requested to be brought over. They were told by Mr. McKee to cross in a canoe which they had borrowed the day before. To this they demurred, declaring that no harm was intended; whereupon two soldiers were sent across the river, but imme- diately upon reaching the bank were attacked and both severely wounded. A sharp fire of small arms and cannon loaded with grape was opened upon the Indians from the fort, which compelled them to scatter, and permitted the wounded soldiers to escape in a boat and safely reach the fort. Another band of savages on Grant's Hill were scattered by grapeshot during the day. On July 5th many shots were fired by the Indians from both sides of the river and from Grant's Hill. The situation was now fully unmasked and the siege had begun in earnest. The garrison, the inhabitants and many domestic ani- mals were huddled together in the fort, while the rifles of the soldiers and settlers kept the savages from destroying the valuable gardens and from approaching too near.
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