USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 28
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 28
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 28
USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 28
USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 28
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 28
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During the French and Indian war a number of forts, blockhouses and stoccades were crected along the frontiers of the upper part of Lancaster county, (now Dauphin and Lebanon), for the defence and protection of the settlers .- Fort Hunter, of considerable importance, was situated at the mouth of Fishing creek, originally settled by the Cham- berses ;* but now well known as McAllister's.
There was a line of forts and blockhouses built by the provincial government between 1752 and 1760, extending from the Delaware river to the Potomac. Those on the east side of the Susquehanna were Fort Hunter, Fort Swatara, 24 miles from the former ; Fort Henry, fourteen miles from Swatara ; Fort Williams, twenty-two miles from F. Henry ; Fort Everit, twelve miles from F. Williams; next was a
* When the Rev. David Brainerd was a missionary among the Indi- ans he lodged all night at Chambers's. In his Memoirs and Journal, he says, under date of August 20th (Wednesday) 1746; Rode this day to one Chambers's, upon the Susquehanna, and there lodged. Was much afflicted in the evening with an ungodly crew, drinking, swear- ing, &c. Oh what a hell would it be to be numbered among the ungodly! -Brainerd's Memoirs, p. 376.
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
Blockhouse, ten miles from Fort Everit ; Fort Allen, at Weisport, twenty miles from the Blockhouse ; Fort Lehigh, ten miles from F. Allen ; Depui's Fort, twenty-eight miles from F. Lehigh. Up along the Susquehanna were Fort Hali- fax, McKee's Fort, and Fort Augusta at Shamokin, all gar- risoned according as the exigencies of the times demanded it, and when the men were to be had. Forts westward of the Susquehanna will be noticed in the sequel.
The following letter from Colonel Weiser to the Governor, shows the disposition of the forces in the several Forts, men- tioned in the communication.
Heidelberg, in Berks county, July 11, 1756.
Honored Sir :
Immediately after my return from Philadelphia, I sent orders to the captains Busse, Morgan and Smith to meet me at Fort Henry on the 9th inst. to consult together on certain measures how to oppose the enemy from killing the people in reaping and gathering in their har- vest. The evening before, 8th inst. Mr. Young arrived with your Hon- or's orders to me ; I therefore set out next morning about 5 o'clock for
· Fort Henry in company with Mr. Young, as far as Benj. Spycker's. I arrived at Fort Henry at 10 o'clock; Capt. Busse met me with an es- cort of eight men on horseback about six miles on this side of Fort Henry; about 11 o'clock Capt. Morgan and Smith arrived. I imme- diately made your Honor's orders known to them ; and the disposition was made. That eight men of Capt. Smith's company shall assist the . people in the Hole (the place where murders have twice been commit- . ted) to gather in their harvest, and stay over night in the Moravian House. Eight of his men are to range westward of his Fort under the Hill, and if occasion require to be stationed in two parties to guard the ' reapers. Sixteen men are to be in, and about the Fort, to help and pro- - tect the neighbors ; but constantly ten out of the sixteen are to stay in I the Fort ; and six men to range eastward from Manady towards Swata- . ra; and six men to range westward towards Susquehanna ; each party is to advance so far, that they may reach their Fort again before night. . Capt. Busse's company, stationed as follows : ten men at Bernhard Tri- . del's, next to the Moravians ; eight men at Caspar Snebelies ; six men at Daniel Shue's or Peter Klop's. All these are westward of Fort Henry. . Eastward, Capt. Busse is to post four men at Jacob Stein's ; three men : at Ulrich Spies ; six men at the widow Kendal's; the rest, consisting ; of nineteen men, to remain in the Fort. Capt. Morgan's company as follows : Six men to range from the Little Fort on Northkill, westward to Emerich's ; and stay there if the people unite to work together in 1 their harvest. Six men to range eastward on the same footing. Eight t men to stay in that Fort. Fifteen men are to stay in Fort Lebanon ; ; eight to protect the people over the Hill in harvest time. Ten men to range constantly eastward or westward; and if the people return to ) their plantations thereabouts, to protect those first that join together r to do their work.
All the aforesaid men are posted as much in a range as was possi-
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
ble, and would suit the settlements best. Your Honor will observe that there are not men enough left in the Forts to change or relieve the men on duty ; but scarce sufficient to keep the Forts and send provisions to the several posts.
I did propose to the captains to make a draft of about twenty five men out of the three companies, and send them over the hills to a cer- tain place on Kind creek, to lie in ambush there for the enemy about ten days ; but the large frontier which they have to guard with their men would not admit of it at this time ; I was therefore obliged to give up that point. A great number of the back inhabitants came to the Fort that day and cried out for guards. Their situation is indeed des- perate ; about forty men from Tulpehocken have been out for their pro- tection ; but they soon got tired ; and raised disputes and quarrels in order to get home again.
I hear that the people over Susquehannah will have protection, cost what it will. If they can't obtain it from the English, they will send to the French for it. I believe, from what I heard, that some on this side of the river, are of the same opinion ; at least there is much mum- bling among the back inhabitants.
I must mention to your Honor that when the people about Swatara and the Hole heard of Capt. Smith's being accused for neglect of duty, they wrote a letter to me in his favor, which I sent by Sammy Weiser, who can translate it if your Honor orders him to it. I also sent a let- ter from Capt. Busse, which contains the particulars of the last mur- der. I received it by the way coming from Philadelphia, and stopped the Express, as it was only directed to me, in order to save charges.
As I had no clerk for some time, I wrote a general letter yesterday to all the commanding officers eastward from Fort Henry to Easton, with a copy of your Honor's orders inclosed. I could not send every one a copy, but ordered them to take it themselves and send it forward immediately.
Just this moment, my son Sammy arrived from Fort Henry and tells me that there had been an engagement at Caghnekacheeky, where twelve on our side were killed, and six Indians ; that our people kept the field and scalped the Indians, and that the Indians ran off without any scalps. As bad news as it is, I wish it may be true. I have at present no more to trouble your Honor with, but am,
Sir, your very obedient and humble servant,
CONRAD WEISER.
P. S. I should have told your Honor that I keep a sergeant with nine private men of my company at Fort Henry under Capt. Busse, with the proviso that they shall stay in the Fort and defend it when the Cap- tain's men are on their several posts or ranging. The Captain must keep a ranging party all along. To-morrow another sergeant marches from Reading with nine men to relief those of my company that have been out now two weeks. C. W.
The precise locality of Fort Hunter is now not "exactly" known. It stood, according to a letter from Edward Ship- pen, April 19, 1756, " five or six hundred feet from Hun-
26
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
ter's house." It was surrounded by an entrenchment ; which however, in 1763, was level with the ground. The Revd. John Elder, then also Col. Elder, in writing to Gov. Hamil- ton, under date of October 25, 1763, says, " I have always kept a small party of men stationed at Hunter's, still expect- ing they would have been replaced by 18 or 20 of the Au- gusta troops, as your honor was pleased once to mention ; and, if that post is designed to be maintained, as the en- trenchment thrown up there, in the beginning of the late troubles, is now level with the ground, it will be absolutely necessary to have a small stoccade erected there to cover the men, which may be done at an inconsiderable expense."
From all the facts, now to be found on record, it appears, though the situation was a desirable one for a fort, it was not a well built one.
According to the Commissary general's return in Novem- ber 1756, the state of the garrison at Fort Hunter, was as follows, viz: Two Sergeants, 34 privates ; Ammunition, 4 pounds of powder, 28 pounds of lead ; Provisions, 1000 weight of flour, 2000 pounds of beef :- two men's time up.
In council, 25th of August, 1757, a petition was received from the inhabitants of the township of Paxton, setting forth that the evacuating of Fort Hunter is of great disadvantage to them, that Fort Halifax is not necessary to secure the communication with Fort Augusta, and is not so proper a station for the Batteaux parties as Fort Hunter, and praying the governor would be pleased to fix a sufficient number of men at Hunter's under the command of an active officer, with strict orders to range the frontiers daily.
The Rev. John Elder addressed the following letter to Richard Peters, Esq., Secretary in relation to this subject :
PAXTON, 30th July, 1757.
Sir-
As we of this township have petitioned the Governor for a removal of the garrison from Halifax to Hunter's, I beg the favor of you to use your interest with his Honor in our behalf. The defence of Halifax is no advantage ; but a garrison at Hunter's, under the command of an active officer, will be of great service ; it will render the carriage of provisions and ammunition for the use of Augusta, more easy and less expensive ; and by encouraging the inhabitants to continue in their places, will prevent the weakening of the frontier settlements ; we have only hinted at these things in the petition, which you will please to enlarge on in conversation with the governor, and urge in such a manner as you think proper. 'Tis well known that representations
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
from the back inhabitants have but little weight with the gentlemen in power, they looking on us, either as incapable of forming just notions of things, or as biassed by selfish views : however, I am satisfied that you, sir, have more favorable conceptions of us ; and that from the knowledge you have of the sitnation of the places mentioned in our pe- tition, you will readily agree with us and use your best offices with the governor, to prevail with him to grant it; and you will very much oblige,
Sir, your most obedient
and humble servant,
JOHN ELDER.
While this question was pending in council, Commissary Young attended and informed the governor and council that Fort Halifax is a very bad situation, being built beyond two ranges of hills, and no body living near it, none could be protected by it ; that it is no station for Batteaux parties, having no command of the channel, which runs close on the western shore, and is, besides, covered with a large island between the channel and the fort, so that numbers of the enemy may, even in day time, run down the river, without being seen by that garrison-he further said, that, though the fort or blockhouse at Hunter's was not tenable, being hastily erected and not finished, yet the situation was the best upon the river for every service, as well as for the pro-, tection of the frontiers .- Prov. Rec. Q. 134.
The Indians made several incursions near to Fort Hunter and killed a man in the fall of 1757. Bartram Galbreath, says, in a letter dated, Hunter's Fort, October 1st, 1757- " Notwithstanding the happy condition we thought this place in, on Captain Busse's being stationed here, we have had a man killed within twenty rods of Hunter's barn. We all turned out, but night coming on so soon, we could make no pursuit. We have advice from Fort Henry by express to Captain Busse, that the Indians are seen in large bodies, sixty together.
When Colonel James Burd visited Fort Hunter, in Feb'y 1758, he says, "he found Captains Patterson and Davis here with eighty men. The Captains informed me that they had not above three loads of ammunition a man-I ordered, he says, Mr. Barney Hughes to send up here a barrel of pow- der and lead answerable; in the meantime, borrowed of Tho- mas Gallagher four pounds of powder and one hundred pounds of lead. I ordered a review of the garrison to-morrow morn- ing at 9 o'clock.
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
" Sunday 19-Had a review this morning of Capt. Patter- son's company, and found them complete, fifty three men, forty-four province arms, and forty-four cartouch boxes-no powder, nor lead. I divided one half pint of powder, and lead in proportion, to a man. I found in this fort 4 month's provision for the garrison.
" Captain Davis with his party of fifty-five men was out of ammunition. I divided one half pint of powder and lead in proportion to them. Captain Davis has got twelve hun- dred weight of flour for the batteaux. Sundry of the bat- teaux are leaking, and must be left behind. Captain Pat- terson cannot scout at present for want of officers ; I order- ed him to apply to the country to assist him to stoccade the fort agreeable to their promise to his honor, the governor. There are three men sick here."
Fort Hunter (or Hunter's Mills) was a place whence much provision was taken up and down the Susquehanna for provincial purposes, in canoes or batteaux. The folloming is a list of canoes hired, June 23, 1763, for the transporta- tion of provisions and ammunitions, from Fort Hunter or Hunter's mills to Fort Augusta.
From Alexander Laferty one, at 17 shillings and 6 pence; Robert Samuel one, at 12 shilling ; James Chambers two, at £1; John Simpson one, at 10 shillings; Thomas Chambers one, at 10 shillings; George Allen one, at 10 shillings ; John Likens one, at 10 shillings; James Patterson, at 10 shillings ; and Jaames Barkens one, at 10 shillings ; besides two batteaux belonging to the Province.
This place was of some note even while Joseph Chambers resided here. In 1749, Conrad Weiser delivered a message to the Indians who had come from Shamokin.
Memorandum of the message delivered to the Indians of Shamokin, at the house of Joseph Chambers, in Paxton, by Conrad Weiser.
There were present-Shickelimy, Taghneghdorrus, Caniadarogan, Scaienties, (a man of note among the Cayjukers.) Brethren :
You that live at Zinachson (Shamokin) I am sent to you by your brethren, the President and his council of Philadelphia, to pay you a visit and to acquaint you of what passes among the white people, also to inform myself how you do, and what passes among the Indians in these critical times.
Gave a string of wampum,
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
Bretbren :
In the first place I am to acquaint you that your friend and coun- tryman, John Penn, the eldest son of Great Onas, died last winter in Eng- land on his bed, and with a contented mind, and as his death must needs affect you, as it did us, being you are sensible he always has been a true friend to the Indians-I give you these handkerchiefs to wipe off your tears.
Gave twelve handkerchiefs.
Brethren :
I also inform you that your brother Gov. Thomas, has left us and is gone to England ; not out of any ill will or disgust ; but for the sake of his health; he has been ill ever since the treaty of Lancaster. The doctors of this country could do no good to him. He is in hopes that the air of his native country, and the assistance of some skilful doctor there will give him ease; he went away a good friend of the people of Pennsylvania and of his brethren the Indians, and will do them what service he can when in England.
Laid a string of wampum.
Brethren :
Notwithstanding the governor is gone, the same correspondence will be kept up with all the Indians, by the President and council of Philadelphia ; they resume the same power with their President as if the governor were here ; and the body of the people heartily joins them to keep up a good correspondence with all the Indians. According to the treaties of friendship subsisting between us, your old and assured friend, James Logan, is also in being yet, although he laid aside all pub- lic business as to the white people, in Indian affairs, he assists the coun- cil, and will not lay that aside as long as he is alive and able to advise; in confirmation thereof
I laid as tring of wampum.
Brethren :
There was a trunk found in one of the rooms where your friend John Penn used to lodge when in Philadelphia, with some clothes in it, and as he has been gone for several years and the clothes were not spoiled, your friend, the Secretary, changed them for new ones, and sent them up to me to give to the Indians at Zinachson (Shamokin) to wear them out in remembrance of their good friend and country man John Penn, deceased.
Gave ten strowd match coats and twelve shirts.
Brethren :
I have at present no more to say. January the 17, 1747.
After about fifteen minutes Shickelimy made answer-Directed bis discourse to the President and council of Philadelphia, and said :
Brethren :
We thank you for this kind visit; we longed to hear of you, and to inform ourselves of the truth of things reported among us. Some few of us intended a visit to Philadelphia this summer for that purpose; we are pleased with what has been said; and will give you a true ac- count this day of all what passes among the Indians.
We then broke up for about an hour.
Then Shickelimy informed me in the presence of the others before mentioned, that in the beginning of last spring, some of the Zistage-
26*
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
chroann came to treat at Oswego, with a message from their whole na- tion, joined by the rest of the Indians, about the lakes of Canada, to the Six United Nations-To the following purport, viz :
Brethren :
The United Nations-We have hitherto been kept like prisoners on the othe side of the Lake, Onontio," our father told us that if we should treat with the English, he could look upon it as a breach of the peace with him. Now we come to let you know that we will no more be stopt from treating with your brethren, the English. We will join with you to support the House of Oswego, when the goods that the In- dians want, are so plenty-all the Indians about the Lakes will join, and if need, take up the hatchet against our foolish father Onontio, whenever you require it ; his goods are very dear, and he is turned malicious ; because he sees our women and children clothed fine in English cloths bought at Oswego. We have already let him know, that we want no more of his advice, as we did formerly, when we were young ; but that we became now men and would think for ourselves, so let the consequence be what it will. In confirmation of the above speech, the said deputies laid several fine tobacco pipes adorned with wam- pum and fine feathers.
They had an agreeable answer from the Six Nation council. Th Six Nations have received messages from other nations to the same purport, all promising to engage in favor of the Six Nations and the House of Oswego.
Note .- The Zistagechroann are a numerous nation to the north of the Lake Frontenac, they don't come by Niagara in their way to Oswego but right across the Lake.
Shickelimy told me further that of late a council was held at Onon- dago, by the Six Nations, in which it was agreed to senda message to Canada, of the last importance; and that also a message was sent to Albany to desire their brethren, the English, to tie their canoes or bat- teaux for a few days to the bushes, and not to proceed in their expedi- tion against Canada, till their messengers came back from Canada, which would clear off the clouds, and the United Nations would then see what was to be done.
Scaienties informs me that a few days before he came away from Cayi- uckquor (which was about the twentieth day of May ·last) a message arrived at the Cayiucker county, and the Senickers, from the command- ing officer at the French Fort of Niagara, inviting those two nations to come and pay him a visit, and to receive a fine present which their father Onontio had sent those two nations. He having understood that the large presents he had made to the Six Nations from time to time were withheld by the Onondagoes and Mohocks, of whom he had been informed that they are corrupted by the English, by which, and what they had received form Onontio they had enriched themselves, and cheated the other nations in union with them.
That some of the two nations were actually gone to Niagara to re- ceive the presents and were set out the same day when Scaienties came away.
War against the French, in Canada, was not declared by the Six Na-
* The Indians called the French Onontios .- Compiler.
-
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
tions when Scaienties came away, and as yet uncertain when it would be done, at least not before the arrival of their messenger, and perhaps not this summer. The Sinickers and Cayiuckers are against it; the Mohocks are for it very much ; the Onontagers have declared in open council last spring never to leave the Mohocks their eldest brother and founder of the Union-The Oneiders and Tuscarroras will follow the Onontagers example.
This is what Shickelimy assures not to be true.
The Mohocks engaged themselves in the war against the French, on their own accord, without the approbation of the Six Nations council, they having been over-persuaded by their brethren, some of the white people at Albany, and by the force of presents prevailed upon the council of the Six Nations, does not altogether like it, but think it too rashly of the Mohocks.
Shickelimy and Scaienties wonder at the dexterity of the French to have intelligence of the declaration of the Onontagoes in council, and so soon had presents at Niagara, and a message in the Sinickers coun- try, but both say, the Six Nations will after all stick together notwith- standing the presents received from the French.
The five French Indian traders that were killed on the south side of Lake Erie, have been killed by some of the Six Nations (then called Accquanushioony, the name which the Six Nations give their people, signifies a Confederate). Another French trader has since been killed in a private quarrel with one of the Jonontatochraanu, likewise be- tween the river Ohio and the Lake Erie. The Frenchman offered but one charge of powder and one bullet for a beaver skin to the Indian, the Indian took up his hatchet and knocked the Frenchman on his head and killed him on the spot,
This is all the news that can be depended on-several more stories I heard not worth while to trouble the council with, as there was no confirmation of them.
CONRAD WEISER.
The above report was read in council July 9, 1747 .- Provincial Records.
McAllister's or McAllister's town, the name by which the place is now known, in Susquehanna township, contains some twelve or fifteen dwellings, a grist mill, two saw mills, a church and a school house.
McAllister, after whom the place is called, purchased a farm of 300 acres about the year 1785; and kept for some time a public house. Duke de la Rochefoucault Liancourt,* a French traveller, on a tour to see the country, who passed
· Mr. Graydon, in his Memoirs, speaks of the Duke-"In the spring or summer of 1795, a letter was delivered by a gentleman at my house (in Harrisburg) which gave me the opportunity of a transient acquain- tance with the Duke de la Rochefoucault Liancourt, who, being on a tour to see the country, was recommended to my attentions."-Graydon's Memoirs, p. 346.
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
up the Susquehanna in 1796, speaks of McAllister's place- "McAllister owns about 300 acres-about 120 cultivated .- Price of lands near him is $8 for woodland ; $50 for clear- ed. 'The houses, all of wood except the Inn which stands on the Susquehanna and in the precincts of Fort Hunter, erected many years ago."
Brushy Rockville, a post village, on the Susquehanna river, is of recent origin-of a few years growth-laid out by a Miss McAllister at the base of the Kittaning or Blue mountain, between the river and canal. It consists of some thirty or more dwellings, principally weatherboarded and painted white-three stores, one tavern. Formerly, Mr. Baldwin carried on an extensive foundry contiguous to the village. One has a commanding view of the Susque- hanna from here, and of a very romantic scenery.
Halifax is on the Susquehanna. river, seventeen miles, in a direct line from Harrisburg. It was laid out by Messrs. George Sheaffer and Peter Rise, in 1794, and named after Fort Halifax, which had been erected by Colonel William Clapham, according to the instruction of Governor Morris, in June 1756. The fort was built at the mouth of Arm- strong's creek, about half a mile above the town. "There is, says W. Mitchell, nothing remaining to mark the place except that the ground is a little raised, and there is a well at the place-it was on the farm now owned by Mr. Joseph Geiger of Halifax." The town is in Armstrong Valley, and pleasantly situated ; the Wisconisco canal passing be- tween it and the river; it contains ninety dwellings, and twenty-seven shops of all kinds, one church, Methodist; two school houses, an " Odd Fellows Hall," four stores, four taverns-Mechanics of " various trades," viz : cabinet ma- kers, blacksmiths, shoemakers, tailors, coopers, segar ma- kers, saddlers, a gunsmith, a wagon maker, a broom maker, a chair maker; one Printing office, from which the "Hali- fax Herald" is issued; two justices of the peace, two phy- sicians, two preachers of the gospel, Methodist and German Reformed.
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