The Historical Sketch, and Account of the Centennial Celebration at York, PA., July 4, 1876., Part 4

Author: Cenntennial Publicaton Committee
Publication date: 1876
Publisher: Democratic Press
Number of Pages: 186


USA > Pennsylvania > York County > The Historical Sketch, and Account of the Centennial Celebration at York, PA., July 4, 1876. > Part 4


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On Christmas night, 1776, that ever memorable crossing of the Delaware was accomplished, which surprised and routed the British and Hessians at Trenton. The success referred to in the letter just quoted; a success which revived the hopes of the country. Soldiers from York county were there, and were also in the subsequent battles of Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth.


The defeat of the American army at Brandywine The was followed by the occupation of Philadel- Continental


Congress. phia by Lord Howe, on the 26th of Septem- ber, 1777. Warned of the danger in time, Congress


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adjourned from Philadelphia to Lancaster, and not feeling safe there, adjourned to York, in order that the Susquehanna should flow between them and the enemy. The continental congress met in the old court house, on the 30th of September, 1777, and continued in session here until the 27th of June, 1778.


While congress was in session here, the news of the victory of General Stark, at Bennington, followed by the still more glorious news of the surrender of Bur- goyne to Gates, at Saratoga, was received, and con- trasted strongly with the disastrous condition of the army under Washington, after the well concerted but unsuccessful attack upon the enemy's army at Ger- mantown. Certain generals of the army and mem- bers of congress are supposed to have entered into a design, at this time, to displace Washington and put in command General Gates who was covered with glory and was the theme of eulogium on account of his re- cent triumphs, while Washington had gone into winter quarters at Valley Forge, with an army reduced, scant of provisions, with clothing worn out-so badly off for shoes that the footsteps of the men were tracked with blood.


Appointed president of the Board of War, General Horatio Gates came to York in January, 1778, where Gates. ovations were paid to him as the conqueror of Burgoyne. A man of fine presence, courteous manners and social disposition, he readily won his way to popularity. The name of Horatio Gates found a place in families and still lingers here.


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The account of the occurrences at York, at this pe- riod, are related by General Wilkinson. A man not unknown to fame, having become subsequently, by seniority, commander in chief of the army of the United States; but his fame somewhat tarnished by suspected complicity in the renowned con- spiracy of Aaron Burr. At the time in question, he was a major of the line, a member of General Gates' staff as adjutant general. He was sent by Gates to York, to bring to Congress the official report of the surrender of General Burgoyne and of the terms of the capitulation. He did not lay the documents be- fore congress until eighteen days after the surrender, when it was already known as well as the articles of the treaty. So that when it was proposed to vote him a sword, Dr. Witherspoon said: "I think ye'll better gie the lad a pair of spurs." His delay is ex- plained by himself in his memoirs. Congress passed a vote of thanks to Generals Gates and Stark and Arnold, directed that a gold medal be struck and pre. sented to General Gates, and made Wilkinson a brigadier general by brevet.


One part of the alleged scheme was to detach La La Fayette from Washington, by appointing him Fayette. to the command of an expedition for the in - vasion of Canada. LaFayette came to Yorktown, where Gates was holding what has been styled his court. A feast was given in his honor, and his re- ception was cordial. The faith and devotion of the gallant young French nobleman never faltered to- wards the man whom he so loved and honored. Ac-


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cording to the custom of the day toasts were given, and he gave as his : "The commander-in-chief of the American armies." It is said that it was received without cheering.


While Colonel Wilkinson was on his way to York, he dined at Reading, with Lord Stirling and his staff. Being in a convivial mood he told the aid-de-camp of" his lordship what had been written by General Con- way to General Gates in disparagement of General Washington. Lord Stirling communicated this to Washington, who let the parties know that he knew it, which occasioned great consternation among his enemies. Wilkinson being in fault became very sen- sitive. He considered his honor wounded by Gates, and by Lord Stirling, from both of whom he deter- mined to demand satisfaction. The affair with Gates as it occurred here in our town is worth relating as a matter of curious information. According to the ac- count of Wilkinson, as given by himself, he came to York, purposely arriving in the twilight to escape ob- servation, and found a willing friend to convey his challenge to Gates. The meeting was fixed at eight o'clock, in the morning, with pistols. The place was in the rear of the Episcopal church. At the appoint- ed time, Wilkinson and his second, having put their arms in order, were about to sally forth, when the second of the General met them and informed Wilk- inson that Gates desired to speak with him. He found Gates unarmed and alone, who disavowed " any intention of injuring him, and Wilkinson's wounded honor was satisfied. The whole plot


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thus ended in personal questions of offended honor.


It appeared by after developements that the move- ment, whatever it was, was not formidable; and there was no sufficient evidence to prove any concerted plan. The censure of Washington's plans and poli- cy, and the opportune successes of Gates, placed the latter in the light of a supposed rival for the com- mand of the army. The calmness and self command of Washington never failed him ; and when the disas- trous loss of the battle of Camden called forth his personal sympathy, Washington and Gates again be- came friends.


The congress sat with closed doors, and here they resumed the memorable debate on the first plan of union of the colonies and on the 15th of November, 1777, adopted the Articles of Confederation. They disseminated news to the public by means of a press brought from Philadelphia, on which, also, they printed large quantities of continental money, some of which is said to have been found concealed here after the war was over. Resolutions were pas- sed in recognition of the brave foreigners of distinc- tion who aided our cause. Lafayette - was recom- mended to the command of a division. A resolution of thanks was voted to Baron Steuben for his zeal in the cause of America, and Count Pulaski was author- ized to raise an independent corps of horse and foot; the horse to be armed with lances ; and some of it was recruited here. John Hancock resigned his po- sition as president of the continental congress, whilst holding its session here, which occurred on


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the 31st of October, 1777, having filled the office since May 24th, 1775; and Henry Laurens was elected in his place. Matthew Clarkson and John Clark were. on the 6th of January, 1778, appointed auditors of the army under the command of General Washington.


On the IIth of June, 1778, Philip Livingston, a del- egate from the State of New York, and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, died while here, and was buried in the burying ground of the German Reformed church, where a monument of white marble, surmounted by an urn, was erected to his memory, with this inscription:


Sacred To the memory of the Honorable PHILIP LIVINGSTON, who died June 12, 1778, Aged 63 years, while attending the Congress of the United States, at York Town, Penna., as a Delegate from the State of New York. Eminently distinguished for his talents and rectitude, he deservedly enjoyed the confidence of his country, and the love and veneration of his friends and children. This monument, erected by his grandson, Stephen Van Renseleaer.


James Smith lived to a good old age, having died


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in the year 1806. He was buried in the Presbyterian church yard, where his tomb stone is readily discov- ered with this simple inscription :


JAMES SMITH, One of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, Died July 11th, 1806, Aged 93 years.


Livingston's grave and his have recently been honor- ed by a demonstration worthy of the proud distinc- tion to which they are entitled by reason of the im- mortal document to which their names are appended, and worthy of those representatives of the rising generation, who placed the floral tributes upon their tombs.


The Old Court House which became famous on The Old account of the session within its walls of the Court


House. Continental Congress, was built in the cen- tre square in 1756. In the steeple of that old court house was hung the bell, which, according to the "His- tory of York county," came as a present from Queen Caroline of England, for the Episcopal church in York, about the year 1774. But Caroline, wife of George II of England, died in 1737. The generous donor was, in all probability, Caroline Matilda, sister of George III, Queen of Denmark, being the wife of Christian VII, a lady of unhappy history, who was imprisoned in 1772, and spent the last three years of her life in the Castle of Zell, Hanover, where she dis- tributed charities. She died in 1775.


That bell for many years rung out the time for the


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service of the Episcopal church, as well as for the meetings of the court. Were that old court house standing now, it would be considered an act of van- dalism to tear it down. That was done in Septem- ber, 1841. As was remarked at the time, "not one brick should be touched, nor should the structure be removed one inch from its site, for the time would come when pilgrimages would be made to those buildings so intimately associated with the toils and triumphs of the Revolution-that they would become the Meccas of Freedom, where her sons would con- gregate to rekindle in their bosoms the sacred flame of gratitude to the deliverers of their country, and of devotion to those principles which they had defended."


On one side of the old court house was erected a building known as the state house, in which were the county offices, and what we have not now, a county miscellaneous library, consisting of a well selected collection of books which disappeared with the build- ing. On the other side was a market house of the antique pattern. The clock which was on the old court house was put on the Lutheran church steeple, and the figure of a soldier with drawn sword, which surmounted the cupola, was placed on the Laurel en- gine house; these relics are still on these places.


As the war progressed the enthusiasm at home to some extent abated, especially as the militia were constantly required for service. The young and ar- dent blood is always first to go forth and the stay at- bomes are proud of them. But the first recruits are not enough to carry through a prolonged war, and


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calls upon the militia must be answered. If they do not respond, a draft is ordered. So it was here, and some of the rural districts were offended. Lieutenant McAlister hesitated to enforce a draft, and tendered his resignation more than once. At one time there was complaint of "the long tailed oath" required of absolute renunciation of allegiance to all foreign po- tentates. By the exertions of McAlister and the sub-lieutenants the quotas were filled. The men of York performed their part well at home and on the battle field during the remaining trying years of the war, which lingered on with its terrible hardships to the American soldiers, with alternate victory and de- feat, in ever memorable battles, until the surrender of Lord Cornwallis to General Washington, at York- town, Virginia, on the 19th of October, 1781, caused hostilities to cease, producing universal joy. This news was received at York with great rejoicings, business was suspended, bells were rung, and a great bonfire built.


England did not carry on the war for the subjuga- tion of the American colonies altogether with Hessians. her own soldiers, but employed mercenaries, known to us as Hessians. The profession of a sol- dier has always been held honorable and is none the less so because he receives pay. He is under obli gation to give his life, if need be, to the government that employs him, and is authorized by the law of na- tions to take life in open war. It is not the pay of the individual soldier that makes him a mercenary ; it is the hire of his services by his sovereign to anoth-


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er potentate. The price of such hire in the case of the Hessians who were engaged to fight our people was enormous. The landgrave of Hesse-Cassel kept up a splendid court on the price he received from the British government, some fifteen millions of dollars, for the hire of twenty thousand soldiers and upwards.


From time to time during the war large numbers of prisoners, principally Hessians, were brought to York, under the escort of the militia. In individual instances, by permission of the council of safety or the board of war, prisoners were discharged on parole and allowed to take up a residence from choice ; and some Hessians settled in York county.


By the convention made at the surrender of Bur- goyne to Gates, several thousand prisoners fell into the hands of the Americans, called the "convention prisoners," The militia of the several counties, Phil- adelphia, Bucks, Chester, Lancaster and York, were ordered to escort them through the limits of each county ; the York county militia being ordered to meet them at Wright's Ferry. But by subsequent arrangements these prisoners passed, under escort of continental troops, through York and Hanover to Frederick, Maryland. Wherever the Hessian pris- oners passed, the people thronged to see these terri- ble beings, and they were hooted as hirelings to the trade of blood. Some of them were men of educa- tion and intelligence, who published accounts of their experience in the American war. They tell in par- ticular of the scoldings they received from the wo- men for coming to rob them of their liberty. General


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Washington had to cause notices to be put up through the country that they "were innocent of the war and had joined in it not of free will, but through compul- sion."


In 1781, an act of Congress directed that the Brit- ish convention prisoners in Maryland and Virginia be removed to Yorktown, Pennsylvania, from fear of rescue by Cornwallis, and the York county militia were ordered out to guard them. It appears by a letter from President Reed to William Scott, lieutenant of this county, June 28, 1781, that these prisoners were ordered to be placed in huts near York. Four and a half miles east of town in Windsor township, about twenty acres of woodland were cleared and cultivat- ed by them, surrounded by a picket fence, fifteen feet high. The huts were mostly of stone. Some of the timber of the fence and stones of the huts yet re- main. While there a plague of some kind broke out among them, and a large number, computed by some at a thousand of them, died. Their graves are still visible marked with stones. Until within some thir- ty years past, a scaffold, consisting of two trees cut off, with a cross piece, was standing there. The story told is, that one night a party, supposed to be maraud- ers, came to the house of Wm. Morgan, (one of the family of that name said to have been the only English one that settled in Kreutz creek valley,) and called for something to eat. Morgan perceiving that they were Hessians, shut the door on them ; whereupon they fired through the door, wounding him and then left. A neighbor rode to camp and gave information of


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17ANOSZ. HABICH. IOWANE SCHULTZVND CRISTINA SEINEEFR AVDIESES. HAVYBAVT


THE GLATZ PROPERTY, SPRING GARDEN TOWNSHIP.


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the occurrence to the officer in charge. The roll being called it was readily found out who were miss- ing ; and on the return of the party they were court martialed and hung.


Near the place where these prisoners were hutted, is an old stone house, built by John Shultz and wife, in 1734, as appears upon the tablet built in it, as fol- lows :


17ANO34. HABICH. İOHNE SCH


VLTZ. VND: CRISTINA. SEINE. E. FRAV. DIESES. HAVS BAVT ..


This is the first stone house erected in York county, now owned by Mrs. Susan Glatz, and still occupied as a dwelling. It was a tavern, and, it is said, that the continental congress, who had crossed the Susque- hanna at Wright's andat Anderson's, (now Glatz's,) Fer- ries, on their way to Yorktown, stopped there to water their horses. They had saddles which greatly excited the curiosity of the persons gathered there, such things being then unknown to them.


We left the town of York with fifty buildings in the Borough year 1751, and find toward the close of the of York. war, in 1780, that there were two hundred and ninety houses built, hence we may estimate the population of the town at that period, at a thousand inhabitants. It was increasing rapidly in size. At the commencement of the new century the popula-


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tion was two thousand five hundred ; so that at the time of its incorporation into a borough, on the 24th of September, 1787, the number of inhabitants must have been little short of two thousand.


The title of the corporation was the "The Burges- ses and Inhabitants of the Borough of York," which it still retains, and is well styled "ye ancient Borough of York." Henry Miller was the first chief burgess, and James Smith was one of the assistant burgesses.


In the meantime several other churches had been Churches. erected, in addition to the Lutheran and German Reformed already mentioned. A Moravian church had been built as early as 1756. A Roman Catholic church about 1779. The Protes- tant Episcopal church of St. John was founded in 1769. The first church edifice was finished before the commencement of the revolutionary war, during which no service was held in it; but it was used for some time as an arsenal. Some years afterwards, in 1810, when the church was being remodeled, on re- moving the pulpit several pounds of powder were found concealed under it. As this was known as the English church, and the rector in charge was a mis- sionary from England, whose sentiments were not in accord with the people, their enmity was excited ; the rector Reverend Daniel Batwell, was thrown into prison, and the powder is supposed to have been put there with hostile intentions against him. In this church edifice the Presbyterian congregation wor- shipped for some years, in common with the mem- bers of the church of England. The first Presbyter-


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ian church was built about the year 1789. At this time the first Methodist preacher had visited here, and that congregation had a place of public worship.


In 1777 Conrad Leatherman obtained a lot in the


York town of York, which he sold on the 28th of


County February, 1785, to the Protestant Episcopal Academy. church of St. John. Through the personal efforts of Rev. John Campbell, the rector, there were collected about five thousand dollars in Penn- sylvania and neighboring states, towards building an academy on the lot, and a parsonage house on a lot adjoining. The academy was built in 1787 and in- struction commenced the same year. When the Episcopal church was incorporated in 1787 the acad- emy was attached to it. Thomas Hartley was the first president, Robert Hetrick, secretary, Henry Miller, treasurer, and among the visitors was James Smith.


The academy passed under the control of the state in 1796, when a new corporation was created by the title of the York County Academy ; under the successive trustees of which this ancient and classical institution has continued to the present time, with ex- cellent teachers in all its departments.


The establishment of a form of government for this Constitution municipality was almost contemporaneous of the U S. with a much greater one, in which the citi- zens of York had an absorbing interest, the adoption of the Constitution of the United States, in convention, on the 17th of September, 1787. The peo- ple of York. always patriotic, showed their attach-


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ment to that constitution by a noted demonstration, on the 4th of July 1788, about the time of its ratifica- tions by a majority of the States of the Union. A procession was formed, in which as to day, all trades and professions were represented, and corresponding toasts were exhibited by the bearers of the flags. As an instance of which one of the best was presented by the coopers, namely : "May the new government prove a binding hoop to all the states, and never suffer them to go to staves."


Thomas Hartley was the first member of congress Thomas under the new government, and continued Hartley. a member to the time of his death in 1800. The house in which this distinguished citizen of York resided has but recently been demolished. The The Trinity Reformed church having been erected in the rear of it, it was deemed necessary to remove the ancient building. In its day it was perhaps the finest structure in the town, with elaborate and antique carv- ings and mouldings, some of which, it is hoped, may be preserved, as relics of the past. Colonel Hartley was one of York's most useful and patriotic citizens. He died at the comparatively early age of fifty-two years, and was buried in the Episcopal church yard. The Reverend Dr. John Campbell delivered an elo- quent and appropriate eulogy at the grave of this soldier and statesman, who reflected honor upon the community he so ably represented, both on the bat- tle field and in the councils of the nation.


An interesting question arose under the new gov-


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ernment as to the site for the capital of the


U. S. Capital United States. A strong party in Congress at Wright's advocated the fixing the capital at Wright's Ferry. Ferry, on the Susquehanna, where Wrights- ville has since developed into a handsome borough. It had a narrow escape from becoming the capital of the country. Washington himself was in favor


of it for its beauty and security. The members from New England and New York preferred it, and for many days it seemed to have a better chance than Harrisburg, Baltimore, New York, Germantown, or Philadelphia. There were earnest debates on the subject. The situation was much praised. One member remarked, not merely the soil, the water, and the "advantages of nature" were unsurpassed, but where "if honorable gentlemen were disposed to pay much attention to a dish of fish, he could assure them their table might be furnished with fine and good from the waters of the Susquehanna." It was con- tended that Wright had fixed his ferry at the point which would be the centre of population for ages yet to come. But Wright's Ferry lost its chance, and we too, may we not say, by what may be called the first instance of log rolling in the American congress .- The question of assuming the debts of the states was a subject that deeply affected congress and the ad- . ministration. The southern members were of course for the Potomac. The Susquehanna triumphed in the House; but the senate sent back the bill with Susquehanna stricken out and Germantown inserted. At last it was arranged that the southern members


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should vote for the assumption of the state debts and so carry it; and in return Alexander Hamilton the Secretary of the Treasury, agreed to induce a few northern members to change their votes on the ques- tion of the capital, and so fix it upon the Potomac near Georgetown.


Tradition tells of a visit of General Washington to General York, during the period of the Revolutionary Washington war, and places have been pointed out which are designated by the military term of his "head quarters." No record can be found to give us any information on the subject. That York was a place of sufficient importance to claim his presence here, has never been doubted by the oldest inhabi- tants who have transmitted to posterity the intelli- gence of his sojourn here for a time more or less brief. But at a later period there are those yet liv- ing who profess to have seen him. We know that he reviewed the troops assembled on his requisition, at Carlisle, in October, 1794, and it is probable that at that time he made his appearance at York, at any rate, it has been too often asserted by persons that they themselves or their parents saw him to be now doubted.


The occasion was the insurrection in the Western Whiskey counties of Pennsylvania, on account of the Insurrection excise on spirits distilled in the United States, commonly known as the Whiskey Insurrec- tion. A regiment of militia under the command of Colonel Daniel May, and two companies of volun- teers, one commanded by Captain Andrew Johnston,


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Charles Barnitz, first lieutenant, and John Grier, en- sign; the other a rifle company commanded by Cap- tain James Ross, marched, with the rest of the Penn- sylvania troops, to meet the insurgents, who laid down their arms and dispersed at the approach of the army. Because no blood was shed, this insurrection was spoken of in a light manner, yet fifteen thousand troops were called for by the proclamation of the president, for its suppression. The Federalists be- lieved it to have had a deeper origin in schemes to overthrow the government; and it may be that but for the determined character of our first chief magis- trate, the combination then formed against the author- ity of the laws would have endangered the govern- ment.




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