USA > Pennsylvania > The Historical journal : a quarterly record of local history and genealogy devoted principally to Northwestern Pennsylvania > Part 9
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The next exploit in which we find Pence engaged is in the year 1781, when the Stock family were murdered by the Indians about two miles west from Selinsgrove. It was a most foul and brutal murder. The neighborhood and three experienced Indian fighters. Pence, Grove and Stroh, went in pursuit of the enemy. The speed with which the Indians traveled, and the care required to keep on their trail and avoid an ambuscade, prevented the white men from overtaking them until they had got into the State of New York, somewhere on the headwaters of the North Branch, where they ' found the party encamped for the night on the side of a hill covered with fern. There the Indians fancied themselves safe. The distance they had traveled in safety warranted them in be- lieving that they had not been pursued and they therefore kept no watch. . Grove, leaving his gun at the foot of the hill. crept up through the ferns and observed that all their rifles were piled around a tree, and that all but three or four were asleep. One of them, a large and powerful man, was narrating in high good humor, and with much impressive gesticulation, the attack on Stock's family, and described the manner in which Mrs. Stock defended herself. Grove lay quiet until the auditors fell asleep, and the orator. throwing his blanket over his head, slept also. He then returned to his comrades, Pence and Stroh, informed them of what he had
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seen, and concerted the plan of attack, which was put in execution as soon as they thought the orator and his hearers fast asleep. They ascended the hill. Grove plied the tomahawk, while Pence and Stroh took possession of the rifles and fired among the sleepers. One of the first to awake was the orator, whom Grove dispatched with a single blow as he threw the blanket from his head and arose. How many they killed I do not know, but they brought home a number of scalps. The Indians, thinking they were attacked by a large party, fled in all directions and aban- doned everything. A white boy about fifteen years of age, whom they had carried off, was rescued and brought back. The sur- vivors having fled, they selected the best of the rifles, as many as they could conveniently carry, destroyed the remainder, and made their way to the Susquehanna, where they constructed a raft of logs and embarked. The river was so low that their descent was both tedious and slow, and their raft, unfortunately striking a rock at Nanticoke Falls, went to pieces, and they lost all their rifles and plunder. From that place they returned to Northumberland on foot, and arrived there in safety.
Meginness in his " Otzinachson," after speaking of Michael Grove as the Indian killer, says :
"There was another remarkable hunter and Indian killer in this val- ley named Peter Pence, of whom many wonderful stories are related. He is described by those who remember him as being a savage looking customer, and always well armed with his rifle, tomahawk and knife, even years after peace was made. It is said that an account of his life was published some thirty years ago, and is remembered by some, but the most careful research has failed to de- velop it."
That Pence was not a boy, but a brave soldier of the Revolu- tionary war, and served out a term, during which he bravely faced the cannon shot and shell of the British at Bunker Hill, and re- turned home to do duty on the Susquehanna frontier against the Indians, and was captured and escaped with Moses Van Campen almost four years after an honorable discharge from the Continental service, must be conceded.
On the 10th of March, 1810, the Legislature of Pennsylvania passed an act granting an annuity to Peter Pence, in consideration of his services, of forty dollars per annum, which was to be paid annually in trust to John Forster, of Lycoming County, and re-
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quiring the said John Forster annually to report to the Orphans' Court of Lycoming County, on oath or affirmation, how or in what manner he exeented the said trust in him confided. Peter Pence, it is said, died in Crawford Township, Clinton County, in the year 1829, and left a son named John. It would be very interesting to know, at this late day, what evidence was filed at Harrisburg in support of the passage of the act granting the annuity. And also what report was made to the Orphans' Court by his trustee. And how, when and where he died and was buried. And who, if any, his living descendants are.
JOURNAL OF JOHN MARTIN MACK.
CONTRIBUTED BY JOHN W. JORDAN.
[The first Moravians to visit Shamokin and the West Branch of the Susque- hanna were Zinzendorf and his suite in the late summer of 1742. Here he made the acquaintance of Shikellimy, Viceroy of the Six Nations, which was carefully followed up by his brethren, and ripened into a friendship, ending only with the death of the noble old chief. After repeated solicitations from the viceroy in August of 1747, the Moravians built a smithy in Shamokin and commenced a mis- sion, which was continued until the breaking out of hostilities in 1755. Marx Kiefer, the smith, was the last member to leave in October of the last written year.
John Martin Mack, the journalist, was born in the Kingdom of Wurtemberg, April 13, 1715. In 1735 he was dispatched to Georgia, and in 1740 left for Penn- sylvania. Two years later he was appointed assistant in the Mohican Mission at Shecomeco, Connecticut. His first visit to Shamokin was with Zinzendorf in 1742, and his second in 1745. In April of 1746 he commenced the mission at Gnadenhuetten, on the Mahoning, the field of his labors until 1755. During this interval he visited the Indian villages on the West Branch of the Susquehanna annually, and in 1752, accompanied Zeisberger to Onondaga. His first wife, who died at Gnadenhuetten, in December of 1749, was well acquainted with the Mo- hawk and Delaware dialects. In 1761 he was assigned the superintendence of the missions in the Danish West Indies, and died on Santa Cruz, January 9, 1784. Mack's companion, Bernhard Adam Grube, was born in Germany, in 1715, edu- cated at Jena, and sent to Pennsylvania in 1746. He was first employed in the schools at Bethlehem. In January he was stationed at Meniolagomeka, an Indian town (near Monroe County), where he studied the Delaware. After he returned . from the West Branch with Mack, he was dispatched to North Carolina, with a colony of Moravians to settle on the tract of 100,000 acres purchased of Earl Granville, in what was then Rowan County. In 1758 he was sent to the Indian Mission in Connecticut, and in 1760 removed to Wechquetance on Hoeth's Creek, Monroe County, Pa. While here he translated into Delaware a Hymn Book, and
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a Harmony of the Gospels, for many years in use in the Delaware Mission of his church. In 1765 he retired from the Indian Mission. After serving in the rural congregations, he died at Bethlehem, March 20, 1808, aged 93 years. This . journal is a free translation from the original German.]
AUG, 21, 1753 .-- At 10 A. M., in company with Brother Kaske, we set out from Bethlehem.
AUG. 22 .- By noon we reached John Mueller's, in Heidelberg, and found him very ill. In the evening we came to Loesher's, who welcomed us cordially.
AUG. 23 .- Continued our journey-passed the Blue Mountains,* the Thurnstein, Anna's Valley to Benigna's Creek, and thence to a High Dutch settler's, with whom we passed the night and found bad quarters.
AUG. 24 .- When we reached Jacob's Heights we lost the road, but found a High Dutch settler, who was acquainted with the Moravians at Shamokin. He informed us that our brethren there frequently preached to the Germans in the neighborhood. and one was expected this week. In the evening we reached Shamokin and were affectionately welcomed by our three brethren there. They were anxious to hear from Bethlehem, as it was five months since the last visit of any person from there.
AUG. 25 .- Marx Kiefer prepared for his return to Bethlehem, and left at 10 A. M. with letters. After dinner we visited the Indians who lived here, and found them very friendly. Many children are down with the small-pox.
AtG. 26 .- In the forenoon we again visited the Indians and then prepared for our journey to Quenischaschacki, t a Delaware town sixty miles beyond Shamokin on the West Branch. Early in the afternoon we set out in a canoe, and four miles above Shamo- kin visited a couple of lodges where Captain Logan lives. ; Un-
* The usual route taken by Moravian evangelists to Shamokin from Bethlehem was through Salisbury Township ( Lehigh County), Heidelberg Township ( Berks County), and the passage of the Blue Mountains effected at Great Swatara Gap, in Lebanon County. Most of the names here noted were given by Zinzendorf on his journey in 1742. The "Thurnstein," probably Peter's Mountain-" Anna's Valley " -- the valley through which Benigna's Creek (the Mahantango) ran ; now in Dauphin County.
+ Noted on Seull's map of 1759. The village of Linden is built on its site.
# The second son of Shikellimy, named after Secretary James Logan ; he was lame.
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fortunately he was away from home-in the Seneca country. Here we found a Shawnese dying of small-pox ; he died next day. A few weeks ago he returned from the war with the Catawbas: the Captain was an Oneida, and he with four of his tribe were killed. The others fled, one being the Shawnese, and two Tudelers. The latter died on the day of their arrival from small-pox. We pad- dled on and came to the place where last year we tried to pass a fall, and when half way up Brother Mack's pole broke, the canoe turned and Brother Grube was thrown into the water.
AUG. 27 .- Paddled on and soon reached John Shikellimy's hunting lodge, # who lives here with several Shawnese families. They were very glad to see us and gave us bear's meat. The children so pleased Brother Grube that he gave them cakes, to their great delight. After dinner we reached Muncy Creek, forty miles from Shamokin, where we put up our canoe with an Indian we knew, as the water began to grow rapid. Here we met sov- era! drunken Indians who teased us for tobacco, and began to get cross. Finally Brother Grube gave them several cuts, and they were satisfied and let us go. We slung our packs on our backs, and by evening reached Otstonwaken. t Mack pointed ont to Grube the spot where Zinzendorf and his party had pitched their tents. Proceeding several miles further we camped for the night by a creek.
AUG. 28 .- Towards 9 A. M. we came to a small town where Madam Montour's niece Margaret lives with her family. She
* The oldest son of Shikellimy, who succeeded him in the vicegerency in 1748. His Indian name was Tachnachdoarus, "a spreading oak." His lodge stood at the mouth of Warrior's Run.
t Also known as " French Town," lay on both sides of Loyalsock (the Olstuago) near its mouth. Montoursville occupies its site. Madame Montour was living here when Count Zinzendorf visited the town in August, 1742. He thus describes her son Andrew, whom he met: "His face is like that of a European, but marked with a broad Indian ring of bear's grease and paint drawn completely around it. He wears a coat of fine cloth of cinnamon color, a black necktie with silver spangles, a red satin vest, pantaloons, over which hangs his shirt, shoes and stockings, a hat, and brass ornaments, something like the handle of a basket, sus- pended from his ears."
# French Margaret, the wife of Peter Quebec, resided at the mouth of Lycom- ing Creck (quaere-Newberry), which is also noted on Scull's Map of 1759 as French Margaret's Town. The site of her village is now embraced in the limits of Newberry, or the Seventh ward of the city of Williamsport. Prior to 1745 she was living on the' Allegheny.
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welcomed us cordially, led us into the hut, and set before us milk and watermelons. Brother Grube told her that Mack had come from Bethlehem especially to visit ber. " Mother," said Mack, " do you know me ?" " Yes, my child," she replied, " but I have forgotten where I saw you." "I saw you," he said, " eight years ago on the island at Shamokin, when you were living with your brother Andrew Sattelihu."* Hereupon she bethought herself, that at that time she had come from the Allegheny and was on the way to Philadelphia. She was very friendly to us, and much pleased that we had visited her. She was yet sorrowing for the loss of her son and son-in-law, who were killed last winter in the war against the Creeks. We told her we would leave our packs here, and proceed to the Delaware town at Quenischaschacki. " Oh!" she said, " the Indians up there have for some weeks been drink- ing, and we would undoubtedly find them all drunk." On arriv- ing at the town we found all quiet, and the people modest and friendly. We visited several huts and enquired diligently about Christian Renatus. and found that he had gone to peel bark for his brother, the Captain, who is building a new hut. We remained until evening, and then returned to Margaret's town, who again furnished us with food. We had a long conversation with her on many subjects, and she spoke particularly of Andrew Sattelihu, and of her husband, who for six years has drank no whisky, and who had already prevailed upon two men from drinking.
AUG. 29 .- Early this morning we again went to the Delaware town to seek Christian Renatus, and at last found him. He ac- companied us a short distance into the woods, where we had a lengthy conversation on religious matters; and finally he said : " Yes, brethren, your eyes shall soon see me in your town." We took an affectionate leave of him, and prayed to the Lord that he might have merey on him. We then returned to Margaret's town to take leave of her. She desired us to visit her very soon again, which we hoped to do.
As to Andrew Sattelihu, he is now interpreter for Virginia and
* Andrew Montour, alias Sattelihu, son of Madame Montour, for a number of years was in the employ of the Proprietaries as assistant interpreter. He ac- companied Bishop, Spangenberg to Onondaga in June of 1745, and was a warm friend of the Moravians.
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receives a salary of £300, and has been twice this summer to Onondaga. He is now absent, to bring Margaret's relatives, who live in French Canada, to her.
The French have set £100 on his head. The Governor of Vir- ginia has also appointed him a Colonel, and presented to him a fine tract of land on the Potomac. He is a friend of the Mora- vians, and still remembers how, eleven years ago, he traveled with a great gentleman. The Six Nations have expressed themselves to this effect, that whatever nation should kill him, they would at once begin war-he is held in such high esteem among them.
French Margaret is also held in high esteem by the Indians, and allows no drunkard in her town. Her husband is a Mohawk, who understands French well, as also their children, but they do not speak it. She told Brother Grube that our missionaries might learn the Mohawk in her town.
By noon we reached our canoe at Muncy Creek, and found that a blanket and some provisions wrapped in it had been taken. Having had nothing to eat, we obtained some corn from a woman. Below Muncy Creek we visited a small Shawnese town, which a few years ago was built by some families from Wyomick. We found old Shikase, of Wyomick, here, who has been here since spring. He saluted us as brothers. We also visited John Shikel- limy, who lives here and has a Shawnese wife. He furnished us with a choice piece of bear's meat. Shikellimy's family have mostly left Shamokin, as they found it very difficult to live there, owing to the large number of Indians constantly passing through the town, who have to be fed. Our brethren make the same com- plaint-they have fed as high as 100 Indians per annum.
We encamped for the night on a beautiful spot on the river, and before retiring to rest held a devotional service.
AUG. 30 .- Journeyed on by water, and towards evening reached onr brethren at Shamokin, who were delighted to see us again.
AUG. 31 .- We visited among the Indians to-day, and Brother Grube informed them that in the morning we would set out for Bethlehem, and that the smith and one brother would remain.
SEPT. 1 .- We set out for Bethlehem.
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A WHOLE family of giants is reported to be living near McCon- nellsburg, Fayette County. The members of this remarkable family recently investigated their weights and sizes with the fol lowing result : Samuel A. Nesbit, aged 24 years, 6 feet in height, 184 pounds in weight; John A. Nesbit, aged 25 years, 6 feet in height, 183 pounds in weight; William H. Nesbit, aged 21 years, 6 feet in height, 1852 pounds in weight; Charles F. Nesbit. aged 19 years, 6 feet 2 inches in height, weight 182 pounds ; Albert Nesbit, aged 17 years, 6 feet 3 inches in height, weight 185} pounds. The father, William Nesbit, is also a man over 6 feet.
ACCORDING to Gordon's Gazetteer, published in 1832, Bellefonte contained 203 inhabitants in 1810; in 1820, 433, and in 1830, 699. It was incorporated as a borough in 1814.
THE SUSQUEHANNA. BY H. T. ECKERT. TI HOU sweet murmuring river, how oft in the shadows Of high arching buttonwoods, shading thy shore, I've sat till the evening star 'rose o'er the meadows,- Oh ! could I. live over those moments once more.
But they're gone and I'm weeping, I ne'er can recall them, No more hear thy ripplings again as of yore, For "the giant" old buttonwood lies prone before me, -- A true type of happiness wrecked on thy shore.
I sing to thy praises, sweet river flow onward And gladden the land from thy source to "the Bay ;"
May thy clear running waters while Time rolls his cycle Flow onward in beauty, flow onward nor stay !
But wind through thy mountain course, dash o'er thy rapids. Flow sluggish, or swift as in ages long passed, And to thee, Susquehanna, my muse I'll unburden, And sing of thy glories, while memory lasts.
How human thy waters, now laughing and sparkling, Then dashing in madness thy foam to the tide ; Now sleeping in death, bound in ice chilly fetters, Then waking in gladness, in freedom and pride.
I crave but the favor when life's sands are ended, To rest on thy banks 'neath some well sheltered grove :
There, lulled by thy murmurs, to sleep on in quiet,
Till envy and hate are the prisoners of love.
. THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL.
Two Dollars per Annum, in Advance. Single Numbers, Twenty Cents.
A monthly publication, devoted entirely to the preservation of scraps of local history in Northwestern Pennsylvania, with reference occasionally to statistics, finance and manufactures.
Address all letters and communications relating to literary matters, subscrip- tion or advertising to
JOHN F. MEGINNESS, Editor and Publisher,
WILLIAMSPORT, PA.
WILLIAMSPORT, JULY, 1887.
SUSQUEHANNA GOVERNORS.
Comparatively few persons are aware of the large number of Governors of the State that have been taken from the upper waters of the Susquehanna River. Simon Snyder, who served as Gover- nor from 1808 to 1817-three terms-resided at Selinsgrove, on the Susquehanna, from 1784 to 1817, the date of his death. Wil- liam Bigler, who was Governor from 1852 to 1855, was a resident of Clearfield, on the West Branch, and died there August 9, 1880.
He was followed by James Pollock, of Milton, who was chief executive of the State from 1855 to 1858. Ex-Governor Pollock, who is still living, resides in Philadelphia.
He was succeeded by William F. Packer, of Williamsport, who served as Governor from 1858 to 1861. He died at his home in Williamsport. September 27, 1870.
Andrew G. Curtin, of Bellefonte, came next in order. He served two terms, from 1861 to 1867, and as he took an active part in raising volunteers, he received the title of the " War Governor." Ex-Governor Curtin, after filling many offices of trust since he re- tired from the executive chair, is living quietly at his home in Bellefonte.
Henry M. Hoyt, of Wilkes-Barre, on the North Branch, was in- ducted into the gubernatorial chair in 1879 and retired in 1883, the term having been extended to four years by the new Consti- tution.
The last Governor chosen from the upper region of the West
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Branch was James A. Beaver, of Bellefonte, who was inaugurated January 18, 1887, and is now serving the first year of his term, which will expire in 1891.
It will be seen, therefore, that five Governors have been taken from the West Branch, one from the North Branch, and one from the main river, at Selinsgrove. Altogether seven Susquehanna Governors have been furnished, which is a larger number than has been taken from any other part of the State since Proprietary and Colonial days:
It might be mentioned in this connection that at the same time William Bigler was chosen, his brother John was elected Governor of California. John Andrew Shulze, who was Governor from 1823 to 1829-two terms-was not a resident of the West Branch Valley when he was elected, but at the close of his last term he removed to Montoursville, Lycoming County, in 1829, and engaged in farming. He remained there until 1846, a period of seventeen years, when, having become involved in debt, his farm was sold by the Sheriff. He then changed his residence to Lan- caster, where he died November 19, 1852.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
The Harrisburg Telegraph is authority for the statement that Mrs. Mary Brunner, of Derry, Dauphin County. is in the dawn of the second century of her existence, having celebrated her 100th birthday on Tuesday, May 17, 1887. She was born in East Co- calico Township, Lancaster County, and was the mother of four- teen children, six of whom are dead. The oldest child living is Mrs. Mary Stoever, of Dauphin County, and is 78 years of age. and the youngest is Mr. Cyrus Brunner, of Reinholdsville, aged 62 years. In addition to her children there are living thirty-two grandchildren and 114 great-grandchildren and one great-great- grandchild. Mrs. Brunner lived in East Cocalico Township for 87 years, when she came to Derry to make her home with her daughter, Mrs. Christian Kegeries. She is a remarkably active woman for her age. She appears not to be older than about 80 years, has very few gray hairs, possesses. excellent sight. and is especially delighted when she can relate incidents which occurred
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in her childhood. She has never been sick during her lifetime, and she enjoys an excellent appetite. On the occasion of her birthday celebration about one hundred guests besides her rela- tives were present from Denver, Col., Reading, Lebanon and Har- risburg, and a delightful time was spent. She was the recipient of many gifts, one of which was a lace cap with lavender ribbons, on which is embroidered " One Hundred Years." It is very hand- some and was from a Philadelphia firm, who makes it a point to present each woman who reaches the end of one hundred years of life with a similar cap, and this is only the fifth one they have had occasion to present.
HoN. H. L. DIEFFENBACH, of Lock Haven, the retired veteran editor, writes: "In concluding your article on Postmasters at Muncy, in the June number of THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL, YOU seem to regret much that no information regarding that subject can he obtained dating before 1800. Were there postmasters or mail routes on the West Branch previous to that date ? If there were, they were few and occasional. When a small boy, more than fifty years ago, I often heard vivid descriptions by the old people of the neighborhood, how John Binns, Andrew Kennedy and others, pub- lishers of newspapers at Northumberland, and George Sweeney, Jonathan Lodge and others, publishers at Danville, distributed their papers over the country in person on horseback, carrying the packages in saddle bags, mostly without other roads than bridle paths. In many instances they left their packages for each locality at a tavern of the neighborhood, or at a distillery (then called a still house), which dotted the country all along the streams, and were favorite places of resort. These carrier-publishers were as a rule hospitably entertained wherever they stopped, without charge for man or beast. Governor Bigler often related to me how he carried his first papers in Clearfield County in the same manner."
MAJOR CRAIG, in a letter to Timothy Pickering, Secretary of War, dated May 29, 1795, writes: "On the 22d instant a certain Ralph Rutledge, one of a party of four men on their way from Le Bœuf to Presque Isle, was killed and scalped within two miles. of Presque Isle. The other three men are missing, and it is pre- sumed they are also killed."
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NEARING THE END OF A CENTURY.
COLONEL SAMUEL SCHOCH, of Columbia, Pa., celebrated the 90th anniversary of his birth on the 28th of May, 1887, by paying a visit to Lancaster. He is a remarkably well preserved man, and looks as hale as do most men of 50 or 60 years. The Colonel gives fair promise of rounding out a full century of life.
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