USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 36
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 36
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 36
USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 36
USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 36
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 36
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The Proprietaries were then in England, but observing, on perusing the treaty, with what asperity they had expressed themselves against Maryland, and that the Indians had just cause to complain of the settlements at Juniata, so near Shamokin, they wrote to their governor in very pressing terms, to cause those trespassers to be immediately removed; and both the Proprietaries and governor laid their commands on me to see this done, which I accordingly did in June, 1743 ; the governor having first given them notice by a proclamation served on them.
At that time none had presumed to settle at a place called the Big Cove-having this name from its being enclosed in the form of a basin by the southernmost range of the Kittochtinny Hills and Tuscarora Hills, which last end here, and lose themselves in other hills. This Big Cove is about 5 miles north of the temporary line and not far west of the place where the line terminated. Between the Big Cove and the temporary line lies the Little Cove, so called from being likewise encircled with hills; and to the west of the Little Cove, towards Potowmec, lie two other places called the Big and Little Conollaways, all of them situate on the temporary line, was it to be extended toward Potowmec.
In the year 1741 or 1742 information was likewise given that people were beginning to settle in those places, some from Maryland and some from this Province. But as the two governments were then not on very good terms, the Governor did not think proper to take any other notice of these settlements, than to send the sheriff to serve his proclamation on theni, thought it ample occasion to lament the vast inconveniences which attend unsettled boundaries. After this the French war came on, and the people in those parts taking advantage
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
of the confusion of the times, by little and little stole into the Great Cove : so that at the end of the war it was said 30 families had settled there ; not however without frequent prohibitions on the part of the government, and admonitions of the great danger they ran of being out off by the Indians, as these settlements were on lands not purchased of them. At the close of the war, Mr. Maxwell, one of the justices of Lancaster county, delivered a partienlar message from this government to them, ordering their removal, that they might not occasion a breach with the Indians ; but it had no effect.
These were to the best of my remembrance all the places settled by Pennsylvanians in the unpurchased part of the Province till about three years ago when some persons had the presumption to go into Path Valley or Tuscarora Gap, lying to the east of the Big Cove and into a place called Anequick, lying to the northward of it; and like- wise into a place called Shearman's creek, lying all along the waters of Juniata, and is situate east of the Path Valley through which the present road goes from Harris' Ferry to Allegheny ; and lastly they extended their settlements to Big Juniata ; the Indians all this while repeatedly complaming that their hunting ground was every day more and more taken from them ; and that there must infallibly arise quar- rels between their warriors and these settlers which would in the end break the cham of friendship and pressing in the most importunnte terms their speedy removal. The government in 1748 sent the sheriff and three magistrates with Mr. Weiser unto these places to warn the people : but they notwithstanding continued their settlements in oppo- sition to all this; and as if those people were prompted by a desire to make mischief, settled lands no better, may not so good, as many vacant lands within the purchased parts of the Province.
The bulk of these settlements were made during the administration of president Palmer ; and it is well known to your honor, though then in England, that his attention to the safety of the city and lower counties would not permit him to extend more care to places so remote.
Finding such a general submission, except the two Galloways and Andrew bycon and vainly believing the evil would be effectually taken away, there was no kindness in my power which I did not do for the offenders ; I gave them money where they were poor and telling them they might go directly on any part of the two millions of acres lately purchased of the Indians ; and where the families were large, as I hap- pened to have several of my own plantations vacant, I offered them to stay on them rent free, til! they could provide for themselves ; then I told them that if after all this lenity and good usage, they would dare to stay after the time limited for their departure, no mercy would he shew- ed them but that they would feel the rigor of the law.
It may be proper to add, that the cabins or log houses which were burnt, were of no considerable value : being such as the country peo- ple ereet in a day or two and cost only the charge of an entertainment. .. July 2d, 1750.
RICHARD PerEUR.
7
CHAPTER XXVI.
CARLISLE, EARLY INCIDENTS, &C.
Courts removed from Shippensburg ; excitement occasioned :" Firs county officers : Extracts from the Court Records, from the Commis- sioners' books, &c .: Carlisle laid out : O'Neal's letter : Indian treaty at Carlisle, 1753 : Governor Morris at Carlisle, 1755 : Braddock's letter and Governor's answer : Citizens of Carlisle alarmed : Indian treaty held here, 1756 : Col. Burd, Commissary Young, Col. Arm- strong's letter, &c., extracts from their letters : Corporation of Phi- ladelphia confers honors of distinction upon Col. Armstrong : Che- rokee Warriors here, 1757 : Col. John Stanwix encamps here : In- dian John, alias Doctor John, killed : Citizens terror stricken : Arm- strong's, Penn's letters, &c .: Bouquet returns captives : Affecting in- cident, Dec. 1764 : Frederick Stump and John Ironcutter, rescued from jail, 1768 : Attempt to rescue Col. James Smith, 1769 : Boston Port Bill meeting, 1774 : Promptness of the citizens in emergenies : Marsh Miasmata: Riotous gatherings in 1787: Washington and other distinguished officers at Carlisle, 1794 : Reception of Wash- ington, &c .: Volunteer companies of 1812.
After the county had been erected, John Porter, Esq., was appointed Sheriff, and Hermanus Alricks, Esq. Clerk of the Peace; and the following persons as Justices of the Common Pleas of the county, by a commission bearing date March 10, 1749-50-Samuel Smith, William Maxwell, Geo. Croghan, Robert Dunning, Mathew Dill, Benjamin Cham- bers, William Trout, Hermanus Alricks, John Miller, Robert Chambers, John Finley, and Thomas Wilson.
The court of Common Please and the criminal court were first held at Shippensburg, the oldest town, except York, west of the Susquehanna, within the Province of Pennsylva- nia. In 1751, after Carlisle had been laid out, they were removed to Carlisle, and at first held in a temporary log
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
building, standing on the north east corner of the centre square.
The Orphans' Court during 1750 to ' 55 was not fixed to any certain place, " but seems to have followed the persons of the judges-it was held at Shippensburg, Carlisle, and several other places. June 12, 1751, at Peterstown (Peters township, now in Franklin township)-January 4th, 1752, in Antrim township (Franklin county)-March 5, 1755, at William Anderson's; afterwards regularly at Carlisle.
The removal of the court of Common Pleas, (or the county seat) from Shippensburg to Carlisle produced quite an excitement among the inhabitants of the western part of the county, and drew forth much complaint ; especially from those of the Conecocheague and Falling Spring Settlements. Their complaints are set forth in the following petition pre- sented to the Assembly in 1751 :
A petition from the commissioners and assessors of Cum- berland county, in the behalf, and at the desire of the far greater part of the inhabitants of the said county, was presented to the house setting forth that a majority of the trustees, in pursnance of the act of Assembly, whereby that county was erected had made a return to the Governor of a plan at a branch of the Conecocheague creek, about eigh- teen miles from Shippensburg, by the Great Road to Vir- ginia, praying a location for a court house and prison there, and withal submitting Shippensburg to the Governor's choice, which they were fully persuaded would have quieted the whole country, although it be north east of the centre : yet it has pleased the Governor, to remove their courts of justice of Le Tort's Spring, a place almost at one end of the county, there it seems intending the location of a court house and prison, to the great grief and damage of the far greater part of the county, and by means whereof the end of their being erected into a county can never be obtained ; which was principally to free them from the very grievous fatigue and expence occasioned by their great distance from Lancas- ter; from which they hoped to be eased, but instead of ease their yoke is likely to be heavier , for being but few in num- ber, it will be very expensive for them to erect and maintain a new county, especially if they are laid under such disad- vantages as will ensue upon the placing of the county town at Le Tort's Spring, for it will always impoverish them to
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
carry and expend their public money at the extremity of the county, where it will never circulate back again ; it will al- so occasion great oppression to the poor to pay the costs of law suits by reason of far travel, as well as much prevent their annual elections, the poorer sort not being able to at- tend ; that these difficulties will be much increased to those who may settle over the North mountain, in the Cove, or the Path Valley, when these lands shall be purchased ; that it does not appear to them, that it will be to the proprietor's advantage, or the prosperity of the town of Carlisle, for it will necessitate the back inhabitants to traffic in Maryland to the damage of this province ; and that they can easily make it appear, that no good wagon road can be had over the North mountain, until they go beyond Shippensburg up the valley, where wagons have already passed over without any cost or trouble in clearing roads, and which is withal the nighest way to Allegheny ; that though they have made frequent supplications to the Governor on this head to no purpose, yet being still in hopes of relief, they had thought it best to defer building a prison, for want of which, escapes are made both by felons and debtors, to the great danger of the county. They therefore pray that this house would take their grievance into consideration, and grant such relief as to them shall seem most meet .- Votes Assem. iv. 190, 191.
"Several citizens of the eastward of the county, on the other hand, denied, in a written communication to the As- sembly, that no good road could be made over the mountain from Shippensburg downward, for that they had, in compa- ny with Daniel Williams, their representative, viewed and considered the Gap called Stevens', and were satisfied that as the whole ascent was but sixty or seventy pershes, by traversing it once or twice, ordinary wagons might have an easy passage over it.
" The Governor, on his part, directed his Secretary to say to the Assembly that he never saw any paper from the Cumberland Trustees, such as referred to by the petitioners, and therefore admires at the boldness of the petitioners who must have asserted that part upon hearsay. Here this con- troversy tripartite seems to have terminated, and the courts remained at Le Tort's Spring, whither the Governor had re- moved thein."-Charter, &c., of Carlisle.
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
The following is a literal copy of the first record in the Court of Quarter Sessions :
At a Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace held at Shippensburg for the County of Cumberland the twenty- fourth day of July in the twenty-fourth year of the Reign of his Majesty King George the Second Annoq. Dom. 1750.
Before Samuel Smith Esquire and his Bretheren Keepers of the Peace of our said Lord the King and his Justices as- sign'd to hear and determine divers Felonies, Trespasses, &c.
The Sheriff returns the writ of Venire to him directed with the Panel thereto annexed and thereupon the following per- sons sworn on the Grand Jury, viz William Magaw, John Potter, John Mitchell, John Davison, Ezekiel Dunning, John Holiday, James Lindsay, Adam Hoops, John Forsyth, Thomas Brown, John Reynolds, Robert Harris, Thomas Urie, Charles Murray, Robert Meek.
Dominus Rex
Sur Indictmt. for Larceny, not guilty VS Bridget Hagen & now ye deft ret her pl and submits to ye Ct. And thereupon it is consid- ered by the Court and adjudged that ye sd Bridget Hagen restore the sum of Six pounds seventeen shillings & sixpence lawful money of Penna unto Jacob Long ye owner and make fine to ye Governor in ye like sum and pay ye costs of pros- ecution & receive fifteen lashes on her bare back at ye Pub- lic Whipping post & stand committed till ye fine & fees are paid.
The town of Carlisle was laid out, in pursuance of letters of instruction, and by the direction of the Proprie- taries, a re-survey of the town and lands adjacent was made by Colonel Armstrong, in 1762.
When the town was first located, it extended no further than the present North, South, East and West streets. All the surrounding country now within the borough limits was purchased back by Mr. Cookson from the settlers, for the Proprietaries, and was designed as commons. Subsequently, however, principally in the years 1798, 1799, and 1800, the " additional lots " and " out lots " were laid out and sold to the citizens, but not without the remonstrance of a number of the inhabitants, who held a town meeting on the subject, and declared that the original lots had been purchased from the Proprietaries upon a condition verbally expressed, that the Proprietaries' lands adjoining the town should remain for
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
1
ever for the benefit of the poor. Because of this dissatisfac- tion, the payments of quit-rents, which had been annually collected by the agents of the Penns, was interrupted for many years, and eventually their recovery was judiciously determined to be barred by lapse of time.
The first tax upon the citizens of Carlisle, of which we have any account, was lai.l in December, 1752, and amount- ed to £25, 9, 6d."-Charter, &c. of Carlisle.
In 1753 Gov. Hamilton despatched John O'Neal to this place, on public business, when here he wrote the following to the governor under date, Carlisle May 27, 1753.
Dear Sir-I reached this place a few days since, without accident ; having previously embraced an opportunity which presented itself of learning the Indian character by attend- ing the great Indian talk in Path Valley-the particulars of which you will receive from Le Tort.
The garrison here consists only of twelve men. The stoc- cade originally occupied two acres of ground square, with a block house in each corner-these buildings are now in ruins. As Carlisle has been recently laid out, and is the established seat of Justice, it is the general opinion that a number of log buildings will be erected during the ensuing summer on spec- ulation, in which some accommodation can be had for the new levies. The number of dwelling houses is five. The court is at present held in a temporary log building on the North East corner of the centre square.
If the lots were clear of the brush wood, it would give a different aspect to the town. The situation, however, is handsome, in the centre of a valley, with a mountain bound- ing it on the north and south, at a distance of seven miles. The wood consists principally of oak and hickory. The limestone will be of great advantage to the future settlers, being in abundance. A lime kiln stands on the centre square, near what is called the deep quarry, from which is obtained good building stone.
A large stream of water runs about two miles from the village, which may at a future period be rendered navigable. A fine spring flows to the east, called Le Tort, after the In- dian interpreter who settled on its head about the year 1720. The Indian wigwams in the vicinity of the great Beaver pond, are to men an object of particular curiosity. A large number of the Delawares, Shawanese and Tuscaroras con-
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
tinue in this vicinity ; the greater number have gone to the west. I am desirous of learning their customs, habits, and manners ; as it may assist me in the object or pursuits in which I am engaged-the confidence of the chief, I shall en- deavor to obtain.
I gave captain Joel the commission; it was well bestowed; his band may be of vast use hereafter in checking the incur- sions of the Indians. David Scott is entitled to much praise for the liberal offer he has made of paying the expenses in- curred by them. If the French are enabled to strenghten their positions on the western frontiers, the situation of the country will be critical indeed.
The Irish emigrants have acted with inconsiderate rash- ness, in entering upon Indian lands not purchased. It is a matter of regret that they do not conciliate and cultivate the good will of the Redman. I have directed several block houses to be erected agreeably to your desire .- HAZ. REG. IV, 389.
Captain Joel, mentioned in the preceding letter, was a remarkable character, as appears from the following extract of a letter, dated at Carlisle, 1754: "Captain Joel is one of the most remarkable characters in the province of Pennsyl- vania. He emigrated at an early period to the west : bold, daring, intrepid, ardent in his affections, zealous in his occu- pations as a hunter : when the Indians assumed a warlike attitude, he formed an association of the settlers to defend the settlements from this aggression. On a given signal they would unite. On the Conococheague and Juniata, are left the histories of their exploits. At one time you may hear of the band near fort Augusta, next at fort Franklin, then at Loudon, then at Juniata-rapid were the movements of this hardy band. The very name of Joel strikes terror in his enemies. He is at present defending the settlements on the Conococheague."-HAZ. REG. iv. 390.
In the same year, 1753, another 'stoccade' of very curi- ous construction was erected, whose western gate was in High street, between Hanover and Pitt street, opposite lot number one hundred. This fortification was thus construct- ed. Oak logs, about seventeen feet in length, were set up right in a ditch, dug to the depth of four feet. Each log was about twelve inches in diameter. In the interior were plat- forms made of clapboard, and raised four or five feet from
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
the ground. Upon those the men stood and fired through loop-holes. At each corner was a swivel gun, and fred as occasion required, to let the Indians know that such kind of guns were within .- HAZ. REG. iv. 390.
Three wells were sunk within the line of the fortress, one of which was on lot number 125; another on the line be- tween lots numbered 109 and 117; and the third on the line between lots numbered 124 and 116. This last was for many years known as the ' King's Well." Within this fort, called " Fort Louther," women and children from the Green Spring and the country around, often sought protection from the to- mahawk of the savege. Its force, in 1755, consisted of fifty men, and that of Fort Franklin, at Shippensburg, of the same number. At a somewhat later day, or perhaps about the same time, breastworks were erected a little north-east of the town-as it was then limited-by Colonel Stanwix, some remains of which still exist .- CHAR. &C. OF CARLISLE.
Robert Hunter Morris was at Carlisle, for the purpose, as he proposed to the council, June 5th, 1755, " in order to be nearer to the army, (Braddock's) to give such directions as occurrences should render proper,"-(Prov. Rec. N. p. 90,) and while here received the last letter ever written to him by Edward Braddock, which, with the governor's answer to it are here inserted.
From the Camp at the last crossing of the Yaughyaughani. June 30th, 1755.
Sir : As I shall very soon be in want of supplies from your province, I must beg you would order all possible dispatch to be made use of in finishing the new road as far as the Crow Foot of the Yaughyaughani, and immediately afterwards send forward to me such articles of pro- vision as shall be in your power. Some of the inhabitants near Fort Cumberland having been killed, and taken prisoners by straggling parties of Indians, the people in these parts have been detered from coming to the camp. My chief defence must therefore be upon your province, where the road will be secure from insults or attacks of that kind; and lest it should not be in my power to send a sufficient num- ber of wagons or horses, to bring up from the Magazine at M'Dowell's mill, the provision I may have occasion for, I must desire you to direct Mr. Swaine or some proper person, to have in view such a number of them as may answer that purpose, which shall be conducted to the camp under a proper escort ; but I would not have any contract or po- sitive agreement made till further orders, as I am in hopes this mea- sure may not be necessary, and the expense consequently avoided.
I hope soon to have an express from you, with an exact account of the place fixed upon for the communication between the two roads. And am sir, your most humble and most obedient servant, E. BRADDOCK.
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Carlisle, July 14, 1755.
Sır :-
I have this minute the favor of yours of the 30th of last month, from the last crossing of the Yohiogany, upon which I congratulate you, and hope this will find you in possession of Fort Du Quesne." The opening of the road has been somewhat interrupted by some Indians who have killed some of the wagoners and people employed in carry- ing them provisions, which has greatly alarmed this part of the pro- vince. And Mr. Burd writes me from Allegheny mountain that thirty of his nen had left him for the want of arms. As soon as possible after the people that escaped the Indians returned, a number of settlers were procured, and with a proper quantity of flour, were sent under the protection of sixty-four volunteers, who I imagine will meet the thirty men in their way home and carry them back to their work. As soon as I am informed that the new road is nigh joining your route, which, as I have wrote, I imagine will be about the Great Crossing, I shall send forward a parcel of oxen, some pork, and some flour, as much of the two last articles as I can procure wagons to carry : and propose stay- ing in this part of the province (where I came to forward and secure the Magazine) till that be done. The letter herewith I wrote at Phila- delphia, but the bearer has been detained a long time on the road on account of the murders committed by the Indians, and in hopes of an escort from me ; but for want of militia it is not in my power-so he goes round by Winchester, and may be some time before he reaches you with the good news he is charged with.
I am your Excellency's
most obedient and humble servant,
ROBERT H. MORRIS.
In the autumn of 1755, the citizens of Carlisle were much alarmed in consequence of numerous massacres by the Indians. John Armstrong writes Gov. Morris, Nov. 2d, " I am of opinion that no other means than a chain of block-houses along or near the south side of the Kittatinny mountain from Susquehanna to the temporary line; can secure the lives and properties of the old inhabitants of this county; the new settlements being all fled, except those of Sherman's valley, who, if God do not preserve them, we fear, will suffer very soon."
The following letter, Armstrong addressed to Richard Peters :-
· These fond hopes proved delusive ; Braddock's army was defeated, himself mortally wounded, July 9th, so that he died on the 13th, 1755; the French retained possession of Fort Du Quesne till Nov. 24, 1758, when they blowed up their Magazine, burnt their Fort to the ground, and abandoned the place .- Compiler.
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Carlisle, Sunday night, Nov. 2, 1755.
Dear Sir :
Inclosed to Mr. Allen, by the last post, I sent you a letter from Harris'; but I believe forgot, through that day's confusion to direct it.
You will see our melancholy circumstances by the governor's letter and my opinion of the method of keeping the inhabitants in this coun- ty, which will require all possible despatch. If we had immediate as- surance of relief a great number would stay ; and the inhabitants should be advertised not to drive off, nor waste their beef cattle, &c. I have not so much as sent off my wife fearing an ill precedent, but must do it now, I believe, together with the public papers and your own.
There are no inhabitants on Juniata, nor on Tuscarora by this time, my brother William being just come in. Montour and Monaghatootha are going to the Governor. The former is greatly suspected of being an enemy in his heart-'tis hard to tell-you can compare what they say to the Governor with what I have wrote. I have no notion of a large army, but of great danger from scouting parties.
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