USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 38
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 38
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 38
USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 38
USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 38
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 38
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The terror of the citizens subsided but little, until Colonel Bouquet conquered the Indians in the following year, (in the month of November) 1764, and compelled them to sue for peace. One of the conditions upon which peace was granted, was that the Indians should deliver up all the women and children whom they had taken into captivity. Among them were many who had been seized when very young, and had grown up to womanhood in the wigwam of the savage .- They had concentrated the wild habits of their captors, learned their language and forgotten their own, and were bound to them by ties of the strongest affection. Many a mother found a lost child; many were unable to designate their children. The separation between the Indians and their prisoners was heart-rending. The hardy son of the forest shed torrents of tears, and every captive left the wig- wam with reluctance. Some afterwards made their escape, and returned to the Indians. Many had intermarried with the natives, but all left to freedom of choice, and those who remained unmarried had been treated with delicacy. One female, who had been captured at the age of fourteen, had become the wife of an Indian, and the mother of several children. When informed that she was about to be delivered to her parents, her grief could not be alleviated. " Can I," said she, "enter my parents' dwelling? will they be kind to my children? will my old companions associate with the wife of an Indian chief? and my husband, who has been so kind, I will not desert him?" That night she fled from the camp to her husband and children.
A great number of the restored prisoners were brought to Carlisle, and Col. Bouquet advertised for those who had lost children to come here and look for them. Among those that came was an old woman, whose child, a little girl, had been taken from her several years before; but she was unable to designate her daughter, or converse with the released car - tives. With breaking heart, the old woman lamented to Col. Bouquet her hopeless lot, telling him how she used, many years ago to sing to her little daughter, a hymn of
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
which the child was so fond. She was requested by the Colonel to sing it then, which she did in these words :
Allein, und doch nicht ganz alleine, Bin ich in meiner einsamkeit; Dann wann ich gleich verlassen scheine, Vertreibt mir Jesus selbst die zeit : Ich bin bey ihm, und er bey mir, So kommt mir gar nichts einsam fuer .*
And the long lost daughter rushed into the arms of her motl:er. This happened December 31, 1764 .- Hallische Nach. 1033.
In January 1768, the citizens of Carlisle and vicinity were greatly excited, in consequence of one Stump and Iron- cutter being rescued from jail .- See p. 173, 178 ante.
A similar attempt was about being made in the autumn of 1769, to rescue James Smith, who was accused of having killed a man in a scuffle at Fort Bedford .- See chap. xxxvi.
When Great Britain, by way of forcing the Colonies into compliance, and when the first vials of displeasure were be- ing poured out upon this country, especially upon the Bosto- nians, the inhabitants of Carlisle and vicinity, ever vigilant and active, manifested more than ordinary sympathy for their suffering brethren in the east, and were prompt and decisive. A public meeting was called, the minutes of which given be- low, show what manner of spirit they breathed :
At a respectable meeting of the freeholders and freemen from several townships of the Cumberland county in the province of Pennsylvania, held at Carlisle in the said county, on Tuesday the 12th day of July 1774; John Montgomery Esq., in the chair.
1. Resolved, That the late act of the parliament of Great Britain, by which the port of Boston is shut up, is oppres- sive to that town, and subversive of the rights and liberties of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay; that the principle up-
* Translation of Allein, &c.
Alone, yet not alone am I, Though in this solitude so drear : I feel my Saviour always nigh, He comes my dreary hours to cheer ;
I'm with him, and he with me, Thus, cannot solitary be.
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
on which that act is founded, is not more subversive of the rights and liberties of that colony, than it is of all other British colonies in North America; and therefore, the inhabi- tants of Boston are suffering in the common cause of all these colonies.
2. That every vigorous and prudent measure ought spee- dily and unanimously to be adopted by these colonies for ob- taining redress of the grievances under which the inhabi- tants of Boston are now laboring; and security from griev- ance of the same or of a still more severe nature, under which they and the other inhabitants of the colonies may, by a further operation of the same principle, hereafter labor.
3. That a Congress of Deputies from all the colonies, will be one proper method for obtaining these purposes.
4. That the same purposes will, in the opinion of this meeting, be promoted by an agreement of all the colonoies not to import any merchandize from nor export any mer- chandize to Great Britain, Ireland, or the British West In- dies, nor to use any such merchandize so imported, nor tea imported from any place whatever till these purposes shall be obtained; but that the inhabitants of this county will join any restriction of that agreement which the General Congress may think it necessary for the colonies to confine themselves to.
5. That the inhabitants of this county will contribute to the relief of their suffering brethren in Boston, at any time when they shall receive intimation that such relief will be most seasonable.
6. That a committee be immediately appointed for this county, to correspond with the committee of this province, or of the other provinces, upon the great objects of the public attention; and to co-operate in every measure con- ducing to the general welfare of British America.
7. That the committee consist of the following persons, viz: James Wilson, John Armstrong, John Montgomery, William Irvine, Robert Callender, William Thompson, John Calhoon, Jonathan Hoge, Robert Magaw, Ephraim Blane, John Allison, John Harris and Robert Miller, or any five of them.
8. That James Wilson, Robert Magaw and William Ir- vine, be the Deputies appointed to meet the Deputies from other counties of this province at Philadelphia, on Friday
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
next, in order to concert measures preparatory to the Gen- eral Congress. JOHN MONTGOMERY, Chairman.
When the threatened storm approached, they were equal- ly firm in their determinations to resist all oppression. They organized for defence. Preparatory measures were adopted. A gentleman writing from Carlisle, May 6, 1775, says:
Yesterday the County Committee met from nineteen town- ships, on the short notice they had. About three thousand men have already associated. The arms returned amount to about fifteen hundred. The committee have voted five hundred effective men, besides commissioned officers, to be immediately drafted, taken into pay, armed and disciplined, to march on the first emergency ; to be paid and supported as long as necessary, by a tax on all estates, real and per- sonal, in the county ; the returns to be taken by the town- ship committees ; and the tax laid by the commissioners and assessors: the pay of the officers and men as usual in times past.
This morning we met again at eight o'clock ; among other subjects of inquiry this day, the mode of drafting, or taking into pay, arming and victualling immediately the men, and the choice of field and other officers, will among other mat- ters, be the subject of deliberation. The strength, or spirit of this county, perhaps may appear small, if judged by the number of men proposed; but when it is considered that we are ready to raise fifteen hundred or two thousand, should we have support from the Province; and that independent, and in uncertain expectation of support, we have voluntarily drawn upon this county, a debt of about £27,000 per an- num, I hope we shall not appear contemptible. We make great improvements in military discipline. It is yet uncer- tain who may go .- Am. Archives, ii, 516. .
"During the war Carlisle was made an important place of rendezvous for the American troops, and in consequence of being located at a distance from the theatre of war, British prisoners were frequently sent hither for secure confinement.
"Of these were two officers, Major Andre, and Lieutenant Despard, who had been taken by Montgomery near Lake Champlain. While here, in 1776, they occupied the stone house on lot number one hundred and sixty-one, at the cor- ner of South Hanover street and Locust Alley, and were on parole of honor of six miles; but were prohibited going out of the town except in military dress.
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
"In the immediate neighborhood lived Mrs. Ramsey, an unflinching whig, who detected two tories in conversation with these officers, and immediately made known the cir- cumstance to William Brown, Esq., one of the county com- mittee. The tories, being pursued, were arrested somewhere between the town and South mountain, brought back, tried instanter, and imprisoned. Upon their persons were discov- ered letters written in French; but no one could be found to interpret them, and their contents were never known.
"After this occurrence, Andre and Despard were not al- lowed to leave the town. They had in their possession fowling pieces of superior workmanship, with which they had been in the habit of pursuing game within the limits of their parole; but now, being unable to use them, they broke them to pieces, declaring that "no d-d rebel should ever burn powder in them." During their confinement here, a man by name Thompson, enlisted a company of militia in what is now Perry county, and marched them to Carlisle. Eager to make a display of his own bravery and that of his recruits, he drew up his soldiers at night in front of the house of Andre and his companion, and swore lustily that he would have their lives, because as he alledged, the Ame- ricans who were prisoners of war in the hands of the Brit- ish, were dying by starvation. Through the importunities, however, of Mrs. Ramsey, Captain Thompson, who had formerly been an apprentice to her husband, was made to desist; and as he countermarched his company, with a me- nacing nod of the head he bellowed to the objects of his wrath, "you may thank my old mistress for your lives."
"On the following morning, Mrs. Ramsey received from the British officers a very polite note, expressing their grati- tude to her for saving them from the hacking sword of the redoubtable Captain Thompson. They were afterwards re- moved to York, but įbefore their departure, sent to Mrs. Ramsey a box of spermaceti candles, with a note request- ing her acceptance of the donation, as an acknowledgment of her many acts of kindness. The present was declined, Mrs. Ramsey averring that she was too staunch a whig to accept a gratuity from a British officer. Despard was exe- cuted at London in 1803, for high treason. With the fate of the unfortunate Andre, every one is familiar.
"The town of Carlisle was incorporated, and its present
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
boundaries fixed, by an act of Assembly, passed the 13th of April, 1782; but the charter was supplied by a new enact- ment of the 4th of March, 1814. Under the old charter, the style of the corporation was "The Burgesses and In- habitants of the town of Carlisle." Having no council, all corporate business was transacted in town meeting. The early borough records are somewhat imperfect, and the af- fairs of the corporation appear to have been loosely mana- ged. When the yellow fever, however, in 1793, was com- mitting its ravages in Philadelphia, there was no lack of ac- tive exertion, by the inhabitants of Carlisle, to keep from amongst them the scourgings of the epidemic.
"An ordinance of the 18th of September of that year, en- acted that no inhabitant should receive into his house or family any sick person from Philadelphia or elsewhere, un- til after examination by a physician of the borough, and a certificate from him that such person was "not infected." -- Men were employed to guard the passes from Philadelphia, and stop all wagons entering the town, conducting them past the borough "by the commons." A tent was authori- zed to be erected at a distance from the borough, for the re- ception of individuals supposed to be infected.
"The funeral bell was ordered not to be tolled, lest it might alarm the sick, and an unfortunate negro, who had arrived in town from Philadelphia, despite the vigilance of the citi- zens, and which he eluded for two days, had a reward of ten dollars offered for his apprehension, that his body might be secured and his clothing buried.
"The inhabitants were at the same time suffering under a disease which they termed the "March miasmata,"* "* and the prevalence of which they attributed to the unhealthy condition of Le Lort's spring. Tan-yards and mills were attacked, dams declared public nuisances and razed, and the channel of the spring dragged and cleansed, to remove the stagnant water from the adjoining low grounds, and prevent its future accumulation. The fever in Philadelphia, and the miasma here, shortly afterwards subsided, and with them the terror and excitement of the people of Carlisle .- Char- ter, &c. of Carlisle.
In March, 1786, Generals Butler and Parsons, commis-
* Similar case at Harrisburg, see pa. 233, 245, 246.
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNY.
sioners of Indian affairs, and a Seneca chief, Cap. O'Bail, with five young men of his nation arrived here. On the 28th, a meeting was held in the court-house, where the chief ad- dressed Gen. Butler, and to whom he responded .- See Ap- pendix, N.
In December 1787, a fracas occurred between the Con- stitutionalists and Anti-Constitutionalists. A number of citi- zens from the county assembled on the 26th, to express, in their way, aided by the firing of cannons, their feelings on the actions of the convention that had assembled to frame the constitution of the United States, when they were as- saulted by an adverse party : after dealing out blows, they dispersed. On Thursday, the 27th, those who had assem- bled the day before, met again at the court house, well armed with guns and muskets. They, however, proceeded without molestation, except that those who had opposed them, also assembled, kindled a bonfire and burned several effigies. For that temerity, several, styled rioters, were ar- rested and snugly lodged in jail. They were, subsequently, on a compromise between the Federalists and Democrats, liberated. The Federalists were the Constitutionalists.
In 1794, several thousand troops were assembled at Car- lisle, on their way westward to quell the " Whiskey Insur- rection." On the 1st of October, the Governor of the State arrived at Carlisle, and in the evening delivered an animated address in the Presbyterian church. On Saturday the 4th, Geo. Washington, President of the United States, accom- panied by Secretary Hamilton and his private Secretary, Mr. Dandridge, and a large company of soldiers, besides a great mass of yeomanry, numbers of the Senate and House of Repre- sentatives arrived. A line was formed, composed of cavalry with sixteen pieces of cannon, with the infantry from vari- ous parts of Pennsylvania, amounting in the whole to near 3000 men. The court house was illuminated in the evening by the Federal citizens, and a transparency exhibited with this inscription in front: "Washington is ever triumphant." On one side: "The reign of the Laws." On the other: " Woe to anarchists."
On Monday, a number of the principal inhabitants pre- sented Washington the following address:
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
To George Washington, Esq., President of the United States.
Sir :- We, the subscribers, inhabitants of this borough, on behalf of ourselves and fellow citizens, friends to good order, government and the laws, approach yon at this time, to express our sincere admi- ration of those virtues which have been uniformly exerted with so much success, for the happiness of America; and which, at this criti- cal period of impending foreign and domestic troubles, have been manifested with distinguished lustre.
Though we deplore the cause which has collected in this borough all classes of virtuous citizens, yet it affords us the most heartfelt satisfaction to meet the father of our country, and brethren in arms, distinguished for their patriotism, their love of order, and attachment to the constitution and laws ; and while on the one hand we regret the occasion which has brought from their homes men of all situations, who have made sacrifices, unequalled in any other country, of their private interests to the public good; yet we are consoled by the con- sideration, that the citizens of the United States have evinced to our enemies abroad, and the foes of our happy constitution at home, that they not only have the will, but possess the power, to repel all foreign invaders, and to crush all domestic traitors.
The history of the world affords us too many instances of the des- truction of free governments by factious and unprincipled men. Yet the present insurrection and opposition to government is exceeded by none, either for its causeless origin, or for the extreme malignity and wickedness with which it has been executed.
The unexampled clemency of our councils in their endeavors to bring to a sense of duty the western insurgents, and the ungrateful returns which have been made by that deluded people, have united all good men in one common effort, to restore order and obedience to the laws, and to punish those who have neglected to avail themselves of, and have spurned at, the most tender and humane offers that have ever been made to rebels and traitors.
We have viewed with pain the great industry, art, and misrepresen- tations which have been practiced, to delude our fellow citizens. We trust that the effort of the general government, the combination of the good and virtuous against the vicious and factious, will cover with confusion the malevolent disturbers of the public peace, and afford to the well disposed the certainty of protection to their persons and property.
The sword of justice, in the hands of our beloved President, can only be considered as as an object of terror by the wicked, and will be looked up to by the good and virtuous as their safeguard and pro- tection.
We bless that Providence which has preserved a life so valuable through so many important scenes-and we pray that he will continue to direct and prosper the measures adopted by you, for the security of our internal peace and stability of our government; and that after a life of continued usefulness and glory, you may be rewarded with eternal felicity.
To which he was pleased to return the following answer.
35
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Gentlemen :
I thank you sincerely for your affectionate address. I feel as I ought, what is personal to me, and I cannot but be particularly pleased with the enlightened and patriotic attachment which is manifested to- wards our happy constitution and the laws.
When we look around and behold the universally acknowledged prosperity which blesses every part of the United States, facts no less unequivocal than those which are lamented, occasion our present meeting, were necessary to persuade us, that any portion of our fel- low citizens could be so deficient in discernment or virtue, as to at- tempt to disturb a situation which, instead of murmurs and tumults, calls for our warmest gratitude to Heaven, and our earnest endeavors to preserve and prolong so favored a lot.
Let us hope that the delusion cannot be lasting ; that reason will speedily regain her empire, and the laws their just authority, where they have lost it. Let the wise and virtuous unite their efforts to re- claim the misguided, and to detect and defeat the arts of the factious. The union of good men is a basis, on which the security of our in- ternal peace and stability of our government may safely rest. It will always prove an adequate rampart against the vicious and disorderly.
If in any case, in which it may be indispensable to raise the sword of justice against obstinate offenders, I shall deprecate the necessity of deviating from a favorite aim, to establish the authority of the laws in the affections of all, rather than in the fears of any.
GEO. WASHINGTON.
"Nothing of special interest has occurred since the Whis- key expedition in the town of Carlisle, worthy of particu- lar remark; nevertheless, passing, it might be mentioned that in the breaking out of the war in 1812, the citizens of Car- lisle manifested a commendable zeal in volunteering for the defence of our common country.
Four fine companies were soon raised, viz: The "Carlisle Infantry," under Capt. William Alexander, and a "Rifle Company," under Capt. George Hendel, served a term of six months on the northern frontier.
The "Carlisle Guards," under Capt. Joseph Halbert, marched to Philadelphia, and the " Patriotic Blues," under Capt. Jacob Squier, were for some time, in the intrenchments at Baltimore."
During the prevalancy of the cholera in this country, in 1832, the dwellings of several families were invaded by death, under this form. The names of the victims of this disease, are Mrs. Holmes, a child of Mrs. Holmes, Susan Swartz, Adam Swartz, George Swartz, William Swartz, Andrew Jackson Hood, Mrs. Elliott's child, William Curry,
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Samuel McKim, and others whose names are not now re- membered.
None of these lived more than sixty hours after the first attack.
CHAPTER XXVII.
BOROUGH OF CARLISLE.
Situation-Synopsis of census of 1840-Surrounding country-Public buildings-Court house fand county offices-Jail-Market house -- Town Hall-Common School buildings-Dickinson College and Institute-Churches ; Presbyterian, Protestant Episcopal, German Reformed, Lutheran, Methodist Episcopal, Catholic, Associate Pres- byterian, African-Banking House, United States Barracks.
Carlisle, a post town, and the Capitol of Cumberland county, is situated in latitude 40 deg. 12 min. north, longi- tude 77 deg. 10 min. west, on the principal road from Phila- delphia to Pittsburg, one hundred and eighteen miles from the former, and one hundred and seventy-eight from the lat- ter; and eighteen miles south west of Harrisburg. Its popu- lation in 1830, 3708; 1840, 4,350, whereof 2,046 were white males, 1,989 white females, 138 colored males, and 177 colored females.
Synopsis of the Census of 1840 .- White males, under 5, 223; 5 and under 10, 240; 10 and under 15, 261; 15 and under 20, 322; 20 and under 30, 528; 30 and under 40, 174; 40 and under 50, 135; 50 and under 60, 86; 60 and under 70, 41; 70 and under 80, 30; 80 and under 90, 6.
White females, under 5, 245; 5 and under 10, 207; 10 and under 15, 245; 15 and under 20, 268; 20 and under 30, 422; 30 and under 40, 206; 40 and under 50, 178; 50 and under 60, 110; 60 and under 70, 68; 70 and under 80, 31; 80 and under 90, 8; 90 and under 100, 1.
Colored males, under 10, 30; 10 and under 24, 42; 24 and
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
under 36, 39; 36 and under 55, 19; 55 and under 100, 7; 100 and upwards, 1.
Colored females, under 10, 33; 10 and under 24, 74; 24 and under 36, 47; 36 and under 55, 20; 55 and under 100, 3.
Of the entire population, in 1840, 3 were engaged in min- ing, 124 in agriculture, 75 in commerce, 288 in manufac- tures and trades, 33 in navigation of the ocean, 80 of the learned professions and engineers, 3 pensioners for revolu- tionary services, 2 blind, 3 insane idiots at private charge, 1 at public charge, 135 students.
The following, by J. S. Gitt, Editor of the Pennsylvania Statesman, presents the "local statistics" of the Borough, January 1st, 1846:
There are in this place, three printing offices, from which the following named papers are issued . The Herald & Ex- positor, edited by Mr. Beatty, issued weekly, devoted to the cause of the Whigs; the American Volunteer, edited by Messrs. Boyers and Bratton, Democratic; the Pennsylvania Statesman, by J. S. Gitt, issued semi-weekly, Democratic. The first paper established in this county was edited and published by Mr. Kline, in 1785, called "Kline's Carlisle Weekly Gazette."
There are here 10 churches and 12 congregations; 48 stores, and a number of shops ; 4 ware houses; 12 physi- cians; 3 foundries ; Common Schools sufficient to suit- the wants of the people. Dickinson College, under the super- intendence of the Methodist E. Church, a flourishing insti- tution ; a beautifully superb and commodious new Court House, with all the necessary county offices, built for $45,- 000; 25 shoe establishments ; 4 hatter do., 18 tailor do., 2 tallow chandleries, 2 licensed auction stores, 7 cabinet ma- kers, 16 carpenters, 2 coach-makers, 3 brick-makers, 20 bricklayers and masons, 2 bread bakeries, 5 cake bakers, 1 ropewalk, 1 grist mill, 12 taverns, 3 distilleries for yielding the "liquid fire," would to God there were none, for a great deal of the misery of human life which is daily seen raging our streets would be prevented; 5 tinners and coppersmiths, 5 tanners, 6 saddlers, 5 coopers, 2 breweries, 9 butchers, 6 painters, 3 chairmakers, 11 plasters, 3 dyers, 5 weavers, 2 silver plates, 1 locksmith, 2 gunsmiths, 1 limeburner, 3 wag- onmakers, 3 stone cutters, 14 blacksmiths, 5 watch makers, 2 barbers, 3 Dentists, 1 clock maker, 3 jewelry shops, 1 ma-
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