USA > Pennsylvania > York County > The Historical Sketch, and Account of the Centennial Celebration at York, PA., July 4, 1876. > Part 3
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The candidates just named, both became men of distinction. Hans Hamilton was a brave officer in the French and Indian war, was an associate judge of the common pleas for many years, and a very active and patriotic citizen at the time of the Revolution .- As was also Richard McAlister, who was Lieutenant of the county during the Revolutionary war, commis- sioned as such by the provincial council, and who with Thomas Hartley, was a member of the council of censors under the constitution of 1794.
Yorktown having thus been settled, and the coun- The ty established, their progress was to some Temporary extent still interrupted by the border troub- Line. les. For the purpose of allaying these, by the order of his Majesty George II, temporary limits were fixed, and a line known as the "The Temporary Line" was run between the provinces of Pennsylva-
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nia and Maryland, in the year 1739. This line was a short distance above the present state line ; its exact locality cannot now be ascertained .. The troubles in the eastern portion of the county were ended. But in the western part, in and around Digges' choice, where settlements had been first made by Marylan- ders ; and also settlements under Pennsylvania claims; the confusion became worse, and much bitterness of feeling existed for some years.
A remarkable trial took place at York on the 30th of October, 1752. A case of homicide resulting from a quarrel concerning the title to lands under a Mary- land grant. The authorities of Maryland demanded the delivery of the prisoner to them for trial, which was refused by Pennsylvania. At the trial it was prov- ed that the grant was north of the temporary line, in violation of the royal order, and the evidence showing that the killing was perhaps accidental, the prisoner was acquitted. The victim of this last border trage- dy was Dudley Digges, a son of John Digges, the original patentee of "Digges' choice."
The citizens of that section of country did not know to which province they belonged. It is said that some refused payment of taxes to either, and yet had the choice of the courts of either province to sue in or appeal for protection of person and property. Un- der the royal order allegiance was due to the prov- ince from which the title was received.
Commissioners were appointed on the part of each province in 1763, who fixed the boundary line and set- tled the prolonged and painful controversy. Two
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Mason distinguished mathematicians, Charles Mas-
and on and Jeremiah Dixon, brought peace to a
Dixon's
Line. disturbed country by running thatevermemor- able line, celebrated in subsequent history as Mason's and Dixon's line. It was run in the winter of 1767- 1768, in latitude 39° 43' 18". In determining which, the official reports say, much science and many intri- cate mathematical problems were involved. The line was marked by stones one mile apart, and on every fifth mile stone was graven the arms of the proprietaries upon the sides facing their respective territories.
The troubles arising from conflicting titles were not Hanover entirely settled when the town of Hanover was laid out by Richard McAlister in 1764. He di- vided his farm into lots for that purpose; and it is said his project met with some ridicule, for it was a wilderness around. The handsome and substantial borough now built there, of 3000 inhabitants, would astonish the primitive settlers. The house of Rich- ard McAlister, now cased in brick, is still pointed out, as is also the first house, a log one, built on one of his lots. The early history of Hanover is remarkable by reason of its having become a "city of refuge."- Its site was a part of Digges' choice, and consequent- ly its settlers owed allegiance to Maryland. "If the sheriff of York county could catch the delinquent one half mile out of town in a north-western direction, then he might legally make him his prisoner under the authority of the courts of the county." On one occasion, it is related, that robbers who had broken
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into the store of its founder, Richard McAlister, were seized and taken to York; but the sheriff of York county refused to receive them, saying, "You of Han- over wish to be independent, therefore, punish your villains yourselves."
The place also seems to have been the German centre in the contests with the Irish, who occupied principally those townships which afterwards were formed into Adams county.
Hanover was laid out within the township of Heidelberg, one of the original townships of the county. When the county of York was formed, we find that nothwithstanding the large proportion of German settlers, the townships had, except in two or three instances, pronounced English names; such as Dover, Manchester, Shrewsbury, Hellam, Chance- ford, Newberry, Warrington. The townships were formed on the petition of the inhabitants as needs seemed to require; but how the names were assigned we do not know. Monaghan is an Irish name. Co- dorus is Indian, from the stream, said to have been originally, Cadwarese. But there were two names of townships very suggestive of the original home of the German occupants of the soil-Heidelberg and Manheim.
The Palatinate upon the Rhine, and places adja- The Palatines. cent, furnished the ancestors of many citizens of York county, and of those who now constitute some of the principal families in wealth and culture. Mannheim was the capital of the Rhenish Palatinate; a few miles distant from it the ancient and beautiful
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city of Heidelberg. Both had experienced the worst calamities of fire and sword, and their names were endeared to the palatines who fled to our shore for the sake of religious liberty. Heidelberg is celebra- ted at this day, for its university, perhaps, the most fa- mous in the world.
The Palatines formed no inconsiderable part of that great body of men planted on the American soil, who would one day assert and maintain the principles of civil and religious liberty. The German reformers, fleeing from persecution, with the Huguenots, the Puritans and the Quakers, all sought freedom of con- science in new homes; but the germs of civil liberty were also growing on this continent into a wide spreading tree. The common law and customs of England had been implanted here, and the people were prepared to take part in public affairs and mould them for the common good.
Hitherto your attention has been directed to such French local matters in the history of the county as War. serve to illustrate its early settlement and progress ; but at the period to which we have now arrived events had occurred deeply affecting all the people of the American colonies. A war between France and England for the possession of the Ohio Valley had been hotly contested. A terrible lesson was administered to the British troops led by General Braddock to the forfeit of his life, on the 9th of July 1755; bringing out into the conspicuous view of all America, the calm intrepidity and clear judgment of the destined leader of her armies, in the person of
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Colonel George Washington, of Virginia.
The terrors of that war had approached the con- fines of the county of York. The dwellers along the Yellow Breeches creek and in the Carroll district, were driven from their homes; in some instances experien- ced the cruelties of savage warfare-thefire brand, the tomahawk, the scalping knife, and the massacre. It was reported that the enemy were within a day's march of York. The people from all parts of the county fled towards the river settlements; the women and children were removed from Wright's Ferry across the river. Hans Hamilton marched with sixty men to Cumberland county; others followed, and he had two hundred men under his command. Associ- ated militia companies were formed at home, and some participated in the fighting, and suffered severely in killed and wounded.
The earl of Loudoun, placed in military command of America with a commission establishing a power superior to that of the governors, by his conduct ex- asperated the colonies and widened the breach with the mother country. Some of his troops were quartered here in York, occasioning some apprehension, on ac- count of complaints made in other places where the British soldiers were billeted on the citizens, but no harm was done. After he was recalled for inefficiency, and General Abercrombie was placed in command, the policy of the British government was changed. Col- onial troops had hitherto been treated with disdain,. but the colonies now wereinvited by the prime minister, the elder Pitt, to raise men; Pennsylvania and Vir-
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ginia, especially, for the conquest of the west. Bril- liant officers were sent over, Howe and Wolfe and Forbes, who with such men as Washington and Arm- strong among the continentals, accomplished great re- sults. With the latter were companies raised in York. Four companies of York county militia, part of twen- ty-seven hundred Pennsylvania militia, marched un- der General Forbes, and took part in the capture of Fort Duquesne, afterwards called Fort Pitt, now Pitts- burgh, after the distinguished friend of America, and secured the Ohio Valley to the English.
America had by this time asserted her claim of leg- The islative independence of England, and those
Revolu-
tion. measures had been proposed in Parliament which hastened on the overthrow of the whole colo- nial system of government. There was a union of the colonies for their own protection against the French, the origin of that more permanent union which resulted in the formation of the American Gov- ernment. William Penn had, in 1697, proposed an annual congress of all the provinces with power to regulate commerce, and Benjamin Franklin, in 1765, revived the great idea, when the British cabinet had determined on taxing America. Pennsylvania was taking its part in these events. The people were al- ready masters of the situation here. The Lieut. Gov- ernor named the Judges not the proprietaries. Sher- iffs and coroners were chosen by the people, and members of the General Assembly were elected by them, who were annually responsible to their consti- tuents.
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York was not idle in these times. A class of men appeared who played their parts nobly in the history of the great struggle for liberty, who taught the people, or rather guided them, for they already held a power not to be relinquished. Among these
Smith, was a man who had come to reside here,
Hartley, whose biography is intimately connected
Miller,
Clark, with her history-James Smith, for some time the only practising attorney in York. We can imag- ine how the beauty of the situation of Yorktown brought families to it, and young men of intelligence and enterprise seeking new places for the exercise of their talents. Among such was Thomas Hartley who came to York from Reading at the age of eigh- teen years, commenced the study of the law under Samuel Johnston, and was admitted to the bar in 1769. For some time he and Smith were the only practising lawyers in the county, Mr. Johnston being then, and for some years after, prothonotary. In this last men- tioned year, Henry Miller moved to York from Read- ing, and was also student at law under Mr. Johnston; and soon after came another law student of his from Lancaster, John Clark. With such young men, and with families of the kind that we know lived in York and vicinity, there was no lack of society here. There has been a slight attempt to portray the private and social life of York just previous to the Revolutionary war.
Graydon in his "Memoirs" tells us, that being a student at law, to enable 'him to pursue his studies without interruption, his uncle advised his spending
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the approaching summer in Yorktown. Mr. Samuel Johnston, the prothonotary, was a particular friend, who had been in the practice of the law and had a very good library ; and tendered his books and ser- vices, and complimented him with a dinner. "It was in the spring of 1773 that I was transferred to this pleasant and flourishing village." "There were several young men in the town, whose company served to relieve the dreariness of my solitude; for such it was compared with the scene from which I had removed. These, no doubt, Hartley and Clark and Miller, for the most part, (1811) are yet living generally known and respected. There was also in the place an oddity, who, tho' not to be classed with its young men, I sometimes fell in with. This was Mr. James Smith, the lawyer, then in considerable practice. He was probably between forty and fifty years of age, fond of his bottle, and young company, and possessed of an original species of drollery."
He then describes with some minuteness some of the peculiarities of Mr. Smith in the way of jokes. One in particular practised upon Judge Steadman, of Philadelphia, a man of reading and erudition, who in a full display of his historical knowledge was set rav- ing by a monstrous anachronism. "Don't you re- member, Mr. Steadman, that terrible bloody battle which Alexander the great fought with the Russians at the Straits of Babelmandel?" "What, sir!" said Steadman, repeating with the most ineffable contempt, "which Alexander the great fought with the Russians! Where, mon, did you get your chronology?" "I think
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you will find it recorded, Mr. Steadman, in Thucydides or Herodotus." "On another occasion, being asked for his authority for an enormous assertion, in which both space and time were fairly annihilated, with un- shaken gravity he replied, "I am pretty sure I have seen an account of it, Mr. Steadman, in a High Dutch Almanac printed at Aleepo, his drawling way of pro- nouncing Aleppo." Every one laughed, says Gray- don ; but the Judge who resided in Philadelphia, and was ignorant of Smith's character in this particular, thought him the object of the laughter, so all parties were pleased.
James Smith was about ten years of age when he came from Ireland with his father, who settled west of the Susquehanna in what is now York county. On attaining manhood he studied law in Lancaster, then the county seat, and settled in York, about the year 1760. He was chosen delegate to the state conven- tion in 1774, "on the propriety and expediency of ab- staining from the importation of goods from Eng- land." He was a member of the provincial council of 1775, and of the convention that formed the first constitution of Pennsylvania in 1776. While a mem- ber of that body he was chosen by it a member of the Continental Congress from Pennsylvania, taking his seat in time to sign the Declaration of Indepen- dence. This he was ready to do, having already ex- pressed himself, at York and in the constitutional con- vention, in papers drawn by him, in language and sentiments, similar almost in words to the great arti- cle itself.
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We can imagine the young men, Hartley and Mil- ler and Clark, in deep and earnest converse with their older friend, on the state of the colonies, and of the threatened encroachments of Great Britain on their rights. As day after day brought the news of new aggressions, how indignant they would become! How the news of the stamp act must have aroused them, and how they must have determined to guide the pub- lic opinion of their community in defence of liberty!
It would seem that the expression of political sen- timents in public was not unusual in the rural districts of Pennsylvania. The public meeting and the pass- ing of resolutions were as common then as they are to-day.
So when the news of the bold act of the Bostoni- ans in throwing the tea overboard in Boston Harbor reached here, the exultation and sympathy of the men of York expressed itself instantly in public meetings. Not in words only, but money was raised and provis- ions forwarded to their brethren of Massachusetts Bay, accompanied with a patriotic and sympathizing letter addressed to John Hancock and Thomas Cush- ing, the Boston committee. A meeting of the inhab- itants of the county was called for the 4th of July, 1774, "to enter into such resolves as may be for the public good, and tend to restore the liberties of Bri- tish America."
"As early as December, 1774, a company was form- Companies ed in the town of York, the object of which Formed. was to make soldiers who would be well dis- ciplined for battle in case the disaffection then exist-
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ing towards England should proceed to open hostili- ties. The officers of this company were James Smith, captain, Thomas Hartly, firstlieutenant, David Green, and Henry Miller, ensign." This was the first militia company organized in Pennsylvania in opposition to the forces of Great Britain. The original manuscript of the constitution of a company entitled "the Inde- pendent Light Infantry company belonging to the first battalion of York county," with the signatures of all the officers and privates, is said to be still preserv ed. John Hay, a member of the convention which formed the first constitution of the state in 1776, was the first lieutenant of this company. A sword car- ried by him in the war is in the possession of a de- scendant of his residing in York. The names of all those who took part in the formation of companies cannot now be mentioned, but among the officers are some names familiar to us, Captains Deitch, Hahn and Bailey, Lieutenants Spangler, Billmyer and Lau- man and ensigns Luke Rouse and Jacob Barnitz.
A company of riflemen was required to be raised by resolution of Congress. The spirit of the people was such that there was no trouble in recruiting it .- The officers were Captain Michael Doudel, Lieuten- ants Henry Miller, John Dill and John Watson .- The number of men was beyond the number fixed for the county, but Gen. Gates thought it improper to discharge any and all were sent. This company of riflemen was the first that marched from Pennsyl- vania to Boston. They left here July 1, 1775. We read of late in a sketch by J. Barnitz Bacon, in his
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"Reminiscences of New York in the Olden Time," the following :
"Presently, more drums-from the direction of Dey street, this time. It must be the General! No! it was only a rifle company from Pennsylvania on their way to Boston. Captain Doudel's company from Yorktown, with Lieutenant Henry Miller in command -the first company from west of the Hudson-be- longing to Colonel Thompson's Regiment, afterwards Hand's, and bearing the first commission issued by Congress after Washington's. Yorktown offered so many men, that the young Lieutenant-he was only twenty-four-chalked a very small nose on a barn- door. "I'll take only the men that can hit that nose at one hundred and fifty yards!" said he. "Take care of your nose, General Gage !" said the newspa- pers at the time. Both Yorktown and Lieutenant Miller afterwards became noted in Revolutionary history. A hundred rifles filled his ranks as they, too, marched on to Kingsbridge."
It is impossible to convey any adequate idea, in a hasty sketch, of the alacrity and enthusiasm with which company after company was formed as they were called for. The counties of York and Cumberland were required to raise four companies for the form- ing of a regiment. It was enlisted for fifteen months and formed the 11th of the Pennsylvania line, with Thomas Hartley as Colonel. A rifle company com- manded by Captain William McPherson marched to Philadelphia and was attached to Colonel Miles' rifle regiment.
Five battalions of York county militia marched to New Jersey. Out of these five two became battal-
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ions of the Flying Camp, to which York county The Flying Camp furnished nearly one thousand men. Col. Hen- ry Schlegel, of York county, with two other officers, was chosen to go to New Jersey to form the Flying Camp; which was a special corps established by resolution of Congress, consisting of three brig- ades. The Brigadier General of the first brigade was James Ewing of York county. His parents had set- tled in Hellam township. He is said to have been a lieutenant in Gen. Braddock's army, and to have been present at the disastrous slaughter. Gen. Ewing and his brigade are spoken of in high terms by General Washington in his despatches. The first regiment of his brigade was commanded by Colonel Swope, of York county. Of the second regiment the major was John Clark. Of him letters from Generals Washing- ington and Greene and others speak as standing "very high in the confidence and esteem of the Amer- ican commander in chief. He was employed during the war, in duties for which no one would have been selected who was not deemed true as steel." Another regiment of the Flying Camp was commanded by Colonel Robert McPherson. A son of his, Lieut- enant William McPherson, was taken prisoner at the battle of Long Island. Probably the same mentioned already, as captain of a rifle company, attached to Col- onel Miles' regiment, which was prominent in that battle. The McPhersons were from that part of the county afterwards formed into Adams county. The regiment of Colonel Swope suffered as severelyas any during the war. The company of Captain Graeff
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was taken at the battle of Long Island, and but eigh- teen of the men returned to join the regiment.
This regiment suffered most at Fort Washington Fort on the Hudson. Fourteen of its officers
Washington were taken at that place ; among them cap- tains Stake, Smyser and Dritt. The company of cap- tain Stake, the fourth company under Colonel Swope consisted, it is said, "mostly of spirited and high minded young men from the town of York and vicinity." Two York county men were wounded at Fort Washing- ton, Captain McCarter from the neighborhood of Hanover, twenty two-years of age, who died from the effects of his wound; and Ensign Jacob Barnitz of Yorktown, who was made a prisoner, but who survived his wounds and returned home.
Our soldiers after these disasters were with Gener- al Washington in his retreat across New Jersey. We do not lose sight of our first volunteers, or their gal- lant commander, now of higher rank.
General Wilkinson in his memoirs says : "Major York Miller of Hand's Riflemen, was ordered by Soldiers. General Washington to check the rapid movement of the enemy in pursuit of the American army, while retreating across the state of New Jersey. The order was so well executed, and the advance of a powerful enemy so embarrassed, that the American troops which afterward gained the independence of the country were preserved from an overthrow which would have proved the grave of our liberties."
In all of the battles from the commencement of the war, through the reverses and retreat of the American
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army at this period, the soldiers from the county of York fought bravely and suffered severely. The American army appeared to be in a critical position, and dismay and despondency seemed to pervade the country. The following letter shows the spirit that existed here, where enlistments were somewhat sus- pended on account of the dark aspect of affairs. It is from the committee of York County to the com- mittee of safety in Philadelphia, dated December 31, I776:
"In these times of Difficulty, several Gentlemen have exerted themselves much in the Grand Cause. Several Militia Companys have marched, more will march from this County, so as in the whole to compose at least a pretty good Battalion.
The Gentlemen who deserve most from the pub- lick are, David Jameson, Hugh Denwoody, Charles Lukens, and Mr. George Eichelberger. They have been exceedingly useful. As most of the Companys who marched have chosen their officers, pro Tempore, an arrangement will be necessary, as to Field Offi- cers. We propose David Jameson Col., Hugh Den- woody, Lt. Colonel, Charles Lukens, Major and George Eichelberger, Quarter Master of the York County Militia, who now march; It will be doing Jus- tice to merit, to make the appointm't, and we make, no Doubt, will be done by your Board.
We congratulate you on the Success of the Amer- ican Arms at Trenton."
David Jameson, mentioned in this letter, was a surgeon by profession, and had held a captain's com- mission in the French and Indian war, where he had seen arduous service. He was an active participant in the public affairs of the county, and letters of his
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appear in the archives of Pennsylvania. He had come from Scotland, about the year 1740, in company with a friend, also a young surgeon, Dr. Hugh Mercer, afterwards renowned as General Mercer, of the continental army, who fell at Princeton. Instan- ces, among many others, of that enterprise which in- duced young men of the old world to seek homes in this new land.
General Mercer commanded the flying camp to which so many of the York county soldiers were at- tached. He was a warm friend of Washington and was by his side in the retreat through New Jersey .- "What think you," said Washington to him, "if we should retreat to the back parts of Pennsylvania, would the Pennsylvanians support us ?" But occas- sion did not require him to try the back parts of Pennsylvania, which would have included York coun- ty, on the way to Virginia, and across the Alleghanies, where Washington contemplated retreat.
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