USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 30
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 30
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 30
USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 30
USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 30
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 30
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* Col. Clapham, mentioned by Mr. Shippen, seems to have fully un- derstood Indian warfare : See his instructions to Capt. Hambright. Appendix I.
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
sent a string of wampum by Toganogan (who was then set- ting out for Caynikgno) to Onondago to let the council of the Six Nations know of Shikelimy's death, and my transac- tion by order of the governor. There was a necessity for my so doing.
The Indians are very uneasy about the white people set- ling beyond the Endless mountains, on Joniady (Juniata) on Sherman's creek and elsewhere. They tell me that about thirty families are settled upon the Indian lands this Spring, and daily more go to settle thereon. Some have settled al- most to the head of Joniady river along the Path that leads to Ohio. The Indians say (and that with truth) that, that country is their only hunting ground for deer, because farther to the north, there was nothing but spruce woods and the ground covered with Kalmia bushes (laurel), not a single deer could be found or killed there. They asked very seriously whether their brother Onas had given the people leave to settle there. I informed them of the contrary, and told them that I believed some of the Indians from Ohio, that were down last summer, had given liberty (with what right I could not tell) to settle. I told them of what passed on the Tuscarora Path last summer, when the sheriff and three magistrates were sent to turn off the people there settled ; and, that I then perceived that the people were favored by some of the Indians above mentioned ; by which means the orders of the governor came to no effect. So far they were content, and said, the thing must be, as it is, till the Six Na- tion chiefs would be down, and converse with the Governor of Pennsylvania, about the affair.
I have nothing else to add; but remain, sir, your very obedient,
CONRAD WEISER.
Heidelberg, April 22, 1749.
The provincial government erected a fort at Shamokin in 1756, called Fort Augusta, and was garrisoned during the French and Indian war. James Young commissary general visited this place in July 1756, and speaks with much doubt of the success of building a Fort at that important place un- der the uneasiness of the officers and men that prevailed. A fort, however, was erected, and in 1756, '7, and at a later
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period several companies were stationed here, as will appear from the following letters.
Carlisle, July 18, 1756.
To the Hon. Gov. Morris.
Sir-I did myself the honor to write to you on my arrival at Shamokin. I staid there four days, in which time I was greatly perplexed to know how to act, there being a general dissatisfaction among the officers concerning my instructions from the commissioners to pay them, for therein I am com- manded to pay Lieut's 5s. 6d. and the Ensigns 4 shillings per day, whereas they expected 7s. 6d. and 5s. 6d. I am likewise ordered to pay 384 private men and 16 sergeants. I find seven more in the camp besides Ensign Meyers, with twenty men at McKees' store ; Ensign Johnston with 23 men at Hunter's mill ; and a Sergeant with 13 men at Harris's, all ordered there by Colonel Clapham, and above his number of 400; I therefore did not pay, neither could muster them, the certificates ot enlistment being disposed among the officers. At Shamokin the people are extremely uneasy for their pay. The Colonel is highly displeased, I had not orders to pay him for his Captain's commission, likewise that I brought him no money to pay the Battoe men; he talks loudly of his ill usage and threatens to leave the service; that he will go and join the Six Nations, whether they side with the English or French. This I thought iny duty to acquaint your Honor with. I was informed that he is to charge the Province with 116 Battoe men at 2s. 6d. per day ; at the same time, I was credibly informed that the greater part of them are soldiers in his regiment, and are now daily employed in the battoes, and are very capable to work them.
The officers in general seem not at all pleased under their colonel's command, all of them, but three or four, have been confined by him, and continued so during his pleasure, and released without trial by the same authority.
I am sorry to say, I much doubt the success of building a fort at that important place, Shamokin, under the present un- easiness of the officers and men. I was ordered by the com- missioners to pay all the men up to the 1st of July, deducting half their pay for their clothing ; but the captain refused to receive it on such terms, and presented me a paper, setting forth their reasons, of which I sent you a copy. I being ap-
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prehensive of a general desertion, and considering that the Province had the same security for the clothing complied with their demands, and thereby have broken my orders from the commissioners. I shall be extremely sorry if I am blamed for so doing ; for nothing but the good of the service (and so I judged it to be) would have induced me to act con- trary to my instructions. The subalterns would not grant me receipts for their full pay, but in part. If I have done wrong, I beg your pardon, and that you will continue that friendship to me, I have already so largely experienced, and shall ever gratefully acknowledge.
Capt. Loyd was to set out soon after me for Philadelphia, to lay their grievances before your Honor.
I left Shamokin early on Friday morning in a battoe; we rowed her down to Harris's before night, with four oars. There is but one fall above those you saw, not so bad as those at Hunter's ; it is about 4 miles from Fort Halifax. I came here yesterday noon, hoping to find money sent by the commissioners, to pay the forces on this side the river, as they promised ; but as yet none is come, neither is Colonel Armstrong come, and I find but 16 of his men here, the rest are gone to Shearman's valley, to protect the farmers at their harvest ; so wnen the money comes, I shall be at a loss for an escort. I am informed that a number of men at the Forts, whose time of three months is expired, agreeable to their enlistments, have left their posts, and expect their pay when I go there, this may be of bad consequence, and I hear- tily wish there were none enlisted for less than twelve months. I am persuaded the officers would find men enough for that time.
I am with great respect, sir, Your most obedient and humble servant, JAMES YOUNG.
From the following, furnished by a great grand son* of the writer of the letter, it appears that John Carson was sent, by the governor of the province, in the autumn of 1756, to open a trade with the Indians at Shamokin.
* John Carson, a clerk in the Secretary's office of Pennsylvania.
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
Fort Augusta, December 17th, 1757. May it please your Honor :
I beg leave to acquaint your Honor that I arrived at Fort Augusta on the 30th of November, and on the 8th cur- rent opened a trade with the Indians, the store not being fit to receive the goods sooner, and I have disposed of some of the goods and received a small parcel of skins, the amount of which I now enclose for your Honor's perusal. Accord- ing to the best of my judgment I have calculated the prices of the goods that the profits may defray the charges of the Trade. I have not been able to put an equal profit on all the goods, the Indians having heretofore had stroud blankets and match coats at a very low rate, therefore I have charg- ed the other goods something higher. If it appears to your Honor that I have over-charged any of the goods or sold at too low a rate, please to favor me with your sentiments for my future direction, and I shall act agreeably thereto.
I am your Honor's most humble servant,
JOHN CARSON.
The following letters written at Fort Augusta are here in- troduced in connection with the preceding, as having rela- tion to the same subject, and containing some important facts.
Fort Augusta, July 1st 1758.
May it please your Honnor.
Your favor of the 21st past was delivered me by Mr. Holland, agent for the Indian affairs, who arrived here last Wednesday evening, and observe what your Honor says with respect to supplying such Indians as Tedyuscung shall direct with provisions, Indian corn, powder and lead, and conforming to the orders you gave to the commandant offi- cer respecting the friendly Indians that came to trade with provisions, all which I shall punctually observe.
Capt. Trump has received no orders from Col. Bouquet or any other person concerning a flag to be used by our friend- ly Indians or our own people ; neither have any such flags been sent here. Agreeable to your Honor's orders I wrote down to George Allen, master of the batteaux, by a man that went down yesterday morning, and acquainted him, that you had ordered me to take all the batteaux men into the service again, and that they were to be paid by the general,
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
and ordered him immediately to set about collecting them together ; but I understand, as soon as they were discharged, a great many of them engaged with Sir John St. Clair to go upon the expedition, some as horse drivers, and others with wagons, &c.
I do not doubt but Capt. Allen will pick up a sufficient number of them. It is not every man that is fit for that ser- vice, they ought to be well acquainted with the river pole- ing. I understand Croston is expected this night at Harris's with a drove of cattle ; a party goes down from here to-mor- row to escort them and the batteaux up; if the latter should be ready and not wanted below to ferry over troops, &c., if that should be the case, I have desired Capt. Allen to get as many of them as can be spared to bring up the cannon, pow- der, ball, and sundry other necessaries, which are much want- ed here, and have lain there a long while. When I was com- ing up, I asked Sır Allen McClain, who was then at Harris's, if he could not spare four of the batteaux to bring up some necessaries that were much wanted at Fort Augusta, he said, by no means, as there were troops, baggage, &c., coming daily, and that they must not be detained. If the batteaux can't come up at present, the party is ordered immediately to escort up the bullocks, as so many iren cannot be spared long from this weak garrison.
We have now about two hundred men here; seventy of them came up with me, and are part of Captain Eastburn's and Capt. Jackson's companies ; thirty of their men were left at Hunter's fort, and what were here before we came-one hundred and twenty odd are the callings of the whole battal- ion, and several of them sick and lame; so that we have but a very weak garrison-
Your Honor has doubtless heard of the French building a fort upon the West Branch of this river, at a place called Shingelaclamoos. And by a letter Capt. Trump has receiv- ed from Col. Burd, wherein he acquainted him that from the intelligence he has had, he has great reason to believe the French intend to attack this fort. I desired Capt. Young to acquaint your Honor that there was neither surgeon nor doctor here ; since which he informs me there is one appoin- ted for us, I hope he will be here soon, as several of our men are suffering for want of one. I believe Doctor Mor- gan left us but few drugs, as the shop looks very thin.
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
Agreeable to your Honor's orders by Mr. Peters concern- a flag that Tedyuscung took from Bille Sock, I enquired of Capt. Trump, whether he knew how he came by it ; he said he did not ; that he came here with his brother and a Mo- hawk Indian man and a squaw on the 26th of May, and brought with him cags of rum which he said he got from the inhabitants ; but would not say from whom : he went away the next day and said he was going to Tyahogah to see his friends and sell his rum; that he should return here in the fall to hunt-this is all the conversation passed be- tween Capt. Trump and him; but upon enquiring of Lieut. Broadhead, if he knew any thing about it, he informed me, that he was down at Hunter's fort and saw Indian Jegra have such a flag as Mr. Peters, in his letter to me, describes, and he thinks that the word " union" was written with ink in the middle of it; and Capt. Patterson, the commander of the fort, informed him he gave them to Jegra ; Bill Sock, his brother, and another Indian were there at that time and they all that evening went away, and the next morning Jegra returned to the ført, beaten in a most cruel manner, of which he died the next day. Lieut. Broadhead saw no more of the flag. Your Honor's most obedient humble servant,
PETER BARD.
P. S. Just as I had finished my letter, nine Indians came here in two canoes from Wyoming, for Indian corn-there is none yet come up-they desire to have some flour for the present which shall be given them.
To Hon. Wm. Denny, Esq.
28
CHAPTER XXI.
MIDDLETOWN, PORTSMOUTH, HUMMELSTOWN, &c.
Middletown laid out by George Fisher, Esq., 1755 ; First settlers ; Place of note during the Revolution ; Kreider appears at, with the first ark ; Town incorporated. Portsmouth ; George Frey ; Notice of Germans from New York bound for Tulpehocken. Hummelstown laid out in 1762, &c .; Rocktown, Franklin, Cox's Town, Highspire, Linglestown, Greensburg, Millersburg, &c .; Berrysburg, Gratztown, Wisconisco, Snyderstown, Oak Dale, Duncan's Island, &c., Present condition of ; Indian relics discovered; Settled by Huling; Visited by the Rev. Rrai- nerd in 1745; Incidents touching it ; Clark's Ferry.
Middletown, post town and borough of Swatara township, is the oldest town in the county, having been laid out thirty years before Harrisburg, and seven years before Hummels- town, and is nine miles by the turnpike road south-east of Harrisburg, near the junction of the Susquehanna and Swa- tara, at which the Pennsylvania and Union canals unite.
It was laid out in 1755 by George Fisher, Esq., (father of George Fisher, Esq., who resides near the place on a well cultivated farm*) "in the centre of a large tract of land, bounded by the Swatara and Susquehanna, conveyed to him by his father John Fisher, a merchant of Philadelphia. The site was that of an ancient Indian village, founded by the Susquehanna Nation, Middletown derived its name from its local position, mid-way between Lancaster and Carlisle.
" The proprietor being a Friend, several of this denomi- nation from the city and the lower counties followed him ; and these, with several Scotch and Irish merchants, formed the first inhabitants of the village, who enjoyed, up to the period of the revolution, a very extensive and lucrative trade with the nations and others settled on the Susquehanna and Juniata, and also with the western traders. Several of the
* George Fisher, Esq., prepared this interesting, early history of this town originally for the " Historical Collections of Pa."
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
Scotch and Irish merchants entered the army, whence few returned. During the war a commissary department was es- tablished here, when the small boats for General Sullivan's army were built, and his troops supplied with provisions and military stores for his expedition against the Six Nations.
" After the war, trade again revived, and flourished ex- tensively until 1796, after which it gradually declined .- Until then, the mouth of the Swatara was considered the termination of the navigation of the Susquehanna and its tributary streams. So far down, it was considered safe ; below this it was believed to be impracticable, on account of the numerous and dangerous falls and cataracts impeding its bed. In 1796, an enterprising German miller by the name of Kreider, from the neighborhood of Huntingdon on the Juniata, appeared in the Swatara with the first ark ever built in those waters, fully freighted with flour, with which he safely descended to Baltimore, where he was amply com- pensated for his meritorious adventure. His success becom- ing known throughout the interior, many arks were built, and the next year, many of them, fully freighted, arrived safely at tide-water. This trade increasing, a number of enterprising young men were induced io examine critically the river from the Swatara to tide, by which they became excellent pilots. The enterprise of John Kreider thus di- verted the trade of this place to Baltimore, where it princi- pally centred, until the Union canal was completed in 1827, when it was again generally arrested at its old post. It would probably have so continued, if the Pennsylvania ca- nal had not been continued to Columbia, by which the prin- cipal obstruction in the river, the Conewago falls, was com- pletely obviated. Middletown, or rather Portsmouth, laid out in 1814, by the son of the original proprietor, at the junction of the Union and Pennsylvania canals, again de- clined. A large trade, however, in lumber and other arti- cles of domestic produce, is still intercepted here, supplying the valleys of the Swatara, Quitapahilla, Tulpehocken, and the Schuylkill. It may fairly be presumed, from the local advantages enjoyed by this town, that it is destined ere long to become one of much importance."
The town was incorporated in 1829, and contains about 150 dwellings, several stores and taverns, a bank, four churches, Lutheran, German Reformed, Methodist, and
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
" Church of God" or Bethel, several school houses; the usual number of handicrafts. The first settlers, were Irish, English and some Scotch; but the present population is principally German.
Portsmouth, between Middletown and the Susquehanna, was laid out, as stated above in 1814, by George Fisher, , Esq., son of Mr. Fisher, who laid out Middletown. The : Union canal, the Pennsylvania canal, the Harrisburg and Lancaster railroad, all intersec there. Close by these are 2 ! blast furnaces, one foundry, two extensive flouring mills, and ! three saw mills, all propelled by the waters of the Swatara.
Between Portsmouth and Middletown, on the plain, stands the Emmaus Institute, devoted to the education of poor or- phan children, where, it is said, the children " are to be care- fully trained in the doctrines of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Instruction is given in the German and English languages, and the charter has been so altered by the legis- lature as to permit the establishment of a literary and scien- tific department in connection with the orphan house, in which all the branches of modern learning are taught. The institution owes its origin to the liberality of Mr. George Frey, formerly a distinguished citizen of Middletown. It has only been recently erected, after many years of expensive and vexatious litigation, since the death of the donor, some forty years since. The life of Mr. Frey was marked with not a little of romance. His name, by the way, was not Frey, but Everhart."
" When Mr. Fisher, the founder of the town, first came to the place, he used to hire George, who was then a penni- less German lad, to assist in ploughing his fields and clearing up his new land. George lived with Mr. Fisher some years until he had saved a little fund ; but his ambition looked above the plough, and investing his money in a stock of trin- kets, finery, and other articles for Indian traffic, he mounted his pack, and started up the Susquehanna. Passing the mountains, he encountered a party of soldiers from the garri- son at Fort Hunter, who arrested him as a runaway redemp, tioner, (a servant who had been sold for a time to pay his passage from Europe,) a character common in those days, and far more consistent with George's appearance and language than that of a pedler ; for what pedler, said they, would risk life and property thus alone, and on foot, on this dangerous
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
frontier ? " Ich bin frey, ich bin frey," (I am free,) repeated George earnestly, in German, in reply to their charges. He succeeded in convincing them of his independence, and went with them to the garrison, where he became quite a favorite, the soldiers knowing him by no other name than " Frey," which they had caught from his first reply to them. He sold out his pack at a fine profit, and continued to repeat his ad- ventures, still passing as George Frey, until he was able to start a little store in Middletown, and he afterwards erected a mill. Near the close of the revolution, when the old con- tinental money was gradually depreciating, George, who al- ways kept both eyes open, contrived to be on the right side of the account, so that, instead of losing, he gained immense- ly by the depreciation; and, in short, by dint of untiring in- dustry, close economy, sharp bargains, and lucky financier- ing, George at length became, on a small scale, the Stephen Girard of the village, and owned a great part of the real es- tate in and around the town. He had not, however, all the good things of this life; although he was married, heaven had never blessed him with children-a circumstance which he bitterly regretted, as certain worthy fathers of the Luth- eran Church can testify. The property, therefore, of the childless man, was destined to cheer and educate the father- less children of a succeeding age. He died in 1807 or 1808, and a splendid seminary, erected about the year 1840, is the monument of George Frey's benevolence."
'The reason why Middletown was so noted a mart for the sale of grain, brought down the Susquehanna in keel bottom boats and canoes was, the Conewago falls prevented their further descent. Much of the grain that was sold here, was ground into flour at Frey's mill, or stored up, and sold to the millers in Lancaster county. In 1790, there were 150,000 bushels of wheat brought down the Susquehanna, and passed through Middletown for the Philadelphia market .- HAZ. REG. II. p. 131.
About the year 1794 or '95, the first vessel, in the shape of an ARK, but of small dimensions, arrived at Harrisburg, from Huntingdon, on the Juniata, the Conewago falls were run with safety by it. About the same time that arks were introduced, the Conewago canal at York Haven was com- menced, and on its completion in 1797 or 1798, keel bottom boats were passed through; then Columbia became a mart
28*
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
of some importance, and a great portion of business, in the sale and purchase of wheat, was drawn away from Middle- town. But in a few years afterwards, boats ventured beyond the rapids below, and reached tide water, and thus this kind of trade was measurably diverted from both Middletown and Columbia.
It is worthy of remark here, that in the year 1723, some Germans, from the province of New York, leaving Schoha- rie, wending their faces in a southwestern direction, travel- ling through the forest, till they reached the Susquehanna, where they made canoes, freighted them with their families, &c., and floated down the river to the mouth of the Swatara creek, thence worked their way up, till they reached a fer- tile spot on Tulpehocken creek, where they settled amidst the Indians. The names of some of those families are still preserved, viz: Yans, Ritt, Schitz, Serbo, Sab, Shaver, Shart, Pacht, Cricht, Pisas, Falborn, (Walburn) Filler .- HIs. or BERKS, p. 99.
Hill Island and Shelly's Island, are immediately below Portsmouth. Passing, it might be remarked, that in Novem- ber, 1844, a number of " Millerites," dressed in Ascension robes, spent a cold night on this Island, waiting to go hea- venward !
Hummelstown was laid out October 26th 1762, by Mr. Frederick Hummel, and was long named Frederickstown ; but the name has been changed to Hummelstown. It is situ- ated in Derry township, nine miles east of Harrisburg, on the turnpike road leading to Reading ; seated in a fertile limestone region, highly cultivated by wealthy and industri- ous Germans.
It contains about one hundred dwellings, five stores, two taverns, one Lutheran Church, one " Union Meeting house," three school houses, the town being divided into three school districts, each of which contains one large school. The pre- sent (1845) population is about five hundred and thirty .- There are, says Mr. George Fox, who has furnished the facts, twenty-five different kinds of mechanics in this place, engaged in the following occupations, viz : 3 butchers, 3 saddlers, 3 blacksmiths, 1 watch and clock maker, 5 tailors, 4 cabinet makers, 6 shoe makers, 2 lumber merchants, 3 physicians, 1 tobacconist, 3 coopers, 5 joineis and house car- penters, 1 barber, 3 wheelwrigbts and chair makers, 3 plas-
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
terers, 3 blue dyers and weavers, a coverlet weaver, 3 dro- vers, 2 stone cutters, 1 wagon maker, 1 coach maker, 3 painters.
"The following are a few of the oldest settlers of the town now living : Jacob Hummel, sen., John Fox, Freder- ick Hummel, George Gish, George Fox, Christian Spade, Frederick Richert, Daniel Baum, Adam Dean."
During the Revolution of ' 76, Hummelstown was made a place of deposit for arms, ammunition, &c., whence the gar- rison on the west branch were supplied.
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