USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 46
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 46
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 46
USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 46
USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 46
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 46
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The traders went back to Fort Loudon, and applied to the com- manding officer there, and got a party of Highland soldiers, and went with them in quest of the robbers, as they called us, and without ap- plying to a magistrate, or obtaining any civil authority, but barely up- on suspicion, they took a number of creditable persons prisoners, (who were chiefly not any way concerned in this action) and confined them in the guard-house in Fort Loudon. I then raised three hundred riflemen, marched to Fort Loudon, and encamped on a hill in sight of the fort. We were not long there, until we had more than double as many of the British troops prisoners in our camp, as they had of our people in the guard-house. Captain Grant, a Highland officer, who commanded Fort Loudon, then sent a flag of truce to our camp, where we settled a cartel, and gave them above two for one, which enabed us to redeem all our men from the guard-house, without further diffi- culty.
After this Captain Grant kept a number of rifle guns, which the Highlanders had taken from the country people, and refused to give them up. As he was riding out one day, we took him prisoner, and detained him until he delivered up the arms; we also destroyed a large quantity of gun powder that the traders had stored up, lest it might be conveyed privately to the Indians. The king's troops, and our party had now got entirely out of the channel of the civil law, and many unjustifiable things were done by both parties. This convinced me more than ever I had been before. of the the absolute necessity of the civil law, in order to govern mankind.
The following letters &c., containing much of interest are here in- troduced as showing the state of affairs and exhibiting the " spirit of the time."
Carlisle, June 1st 1765.
I received letters from Lieutenant Grant, commanding at Fort Lou- don, complaining much of some late insult received from the rioters near that post. He says, on the 28th ult. (May) he was taking the air on horse back; and about half a mile from his post, was surrounded by five of the rioters, who presented their pieces at him. The person who commanded them, calling to them to shoot the bugger-that one of them fired at him, frightened his horse, that he ran into the bushes and occasioned his being thrown upon the ground. They then dis- armed him, carried him fifteen miles into the woods, and threatened to tie him to a tree, and let him perish, if he would not give them up some arms, which, by his orders were taken from the first party of rioters,* that had appeared ot his post.
* A party alluded to in March, 1765.
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
When he saw that they were determined to put their threats in exe- cution, he thought it was best to promise them their arms; and was made to give security, to deliver them up in five weeks, under a pen- alty of forty pounds, which being obtained in that manner certainly cannot be binding.
Mr. Grant has also sent me a copy of a very singular advertisement,* which was found posted up by the rioters, at some distance from his post ; which I have taken the liberty to enclose.
The express, who brought the dispatches from Loudon, tells me, he was stopped by some of these fellows on the road, who would have tak- en his letters from him; but being armed with a broadsword, and his companion having a pistol, they stood on their defence and would not submit.
Fort Loudon, June 4th, 1765.
The first rendezvous of the rioters was at Justice Smith's about five miles from Fort Loudon, the 6th day of March last. From thence they followed the first convoy of goods, consisting of eighty-one horse loads twelve miles further, and burned and pillaged sixty-three loads. Capt. Callender applied to Lieut. Grant for a sergeant and twelve men, which he agreed to, who saved the remaining loads chiefly consisting of liquor; and made some of the rioters prisoners, who were afterwards released upon bail, and took eight rifles; in all which Lieut. Grant is justified by Brig. Bouquet, in his letter of the 14th of March, who desires him to keep the rifles in his possession till the owners names shall be found out, which was accordingly done.
Lieut. Grant, in his letter to Brigadier Bouquet of the 9th of March,
* ADVERTISEMENT. These are to give notice to all our Loyal Volun- teers, to those that has not yet enlisted, you are to come to our Town and come to our Tavern and fill your Bellys with Liquor and your Mouth full of swearing and you will have your pass, but if not your Back must be whipt and your mouth be gagged; you need not be dis- couraged at our last disappointment, for our Justice did not get the goods in their hands as they expected, or we should all have a large Bounty ; but our Justice has wrote to the Governor and every thing clear on our side and we will have Grant the officer whip'd or Hang'd, and then we will have orders for the goods so we need not stop, what we have a mind and will do for the Governor will pardon our crimes, and the Clergy will give us absolution and the country will stand by us, so we may do what we please for we have Law and Government in our hands and we have a large sum of money raised for our sup- port, but we must take care that it will be spent in our Town, for our Justice gives us, and that have a mind to join us, free toleration for drinking, swearing, Sabbath breaking and any outrage what we have a mind to do, to let those strangers know their place-It was first Pos- ses (Black's Town) and we now move it to Squire Smith's Town, and now I think I have a right to call it, and will still remain till our pleasure, and we call it Hells town in Cumberland county" the 25th May 1765.
Peters' Township.
Your scripture says that the Devil is the Father of sins, but I assure you this is the plain truth what I say.
God bless our brave Loyal Volunteers and success to Hellstown- Prov. Rec. T. 65-66.
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
informs that he was threatened if he did not deliver up his prisoners, that two hundred men in arms would come and burn the Fort, and rescue them by force, which obliged Lieut. Grant to keep his garrison under arms a whole night, being in expectation of an assault : and upon their being admitted to bail, Smith, the ringleader of the rioters, had the assurance to come into the Fort, and told Lieut. Grant that they were were determined to fire upon the troops, in case they attempted to carry these men prisoners to Carlisle.
Several horses loaded with liquors and necessaries for the troops on the communication, belonging to Joseph Spears, arrived at Fort Loudon, where the goods were deposited, and the drivers carried their horses as usual into the woods to feed, where they were attacked by about 30 of the rioters, in disguise, with their faces blacked, who tied them up and flogged them severely; killed five of their horses, wound- ed two more, and burned all their saddles. One of the drivers, who made his escape, returned to the Fort, and implored the protection & assistance of the!commanding officer, in his rescuing his companions and preventing the horses from being killed. Lieut. Grant thought it his duty to send a sergeant and twelve men for that purpose ; the riot. ers finding themselves pursued fired upon the party, who returned the fire and slightly wounded one of them in the thigh.
The 10th of May, about 150 of the rioters, in arms, commanded, as I am informed, by James Smith, and attended by three justices of the peace, appeared before the Fort, and demanded to search the goods, with an intention, it is believed, to plunder and destroy them, as they had done before. Lieut. Grant suspecting their design, told the justices that the goods were under his protection, by order of the commander- in chief, (Gen. Gage) who had been pleased to send him instructions to have an inventory of the goods taken by the Justice of Peace, and that he intended to apply to one of their number to have it done, but did not think it safe in presence of such a mob, whom he had reason to suspect. To which the Justices made answer, that they would not come again ; and immediately said, they were not under the General's orders; but it is the Governor's they are to obey. The Justices fur- ther told Lieut. Grant that they would pay no regard to any military officer's pass, of whatever rank he might be, and that no goods what- ever, could be safe in going along the communication, without a pass from a Justice of the peace.
After this declaration, it cannot be doubted that some of these jus- tices have encouraged the rioters, and even protected them in their lawless measures. None of the Justices has taken any notice of this outrage and violence committed on Lieut. Grant, and the 2 sergeants I made mention of in my last ; on the contrary, Smith, who heads these villains, together with the rest of the party who committed these vio- lences, have appeared, ever since, openly at Justice Smith's house, and were seen there by Lieut. Grant himself, who complained of them to the said Justices, but could obtain no redress. Mr. Maxwell, a Justice of the peace, who has always disapproved of the measures of the rioters, had the assurance to confess to him, the day before they ap- peared in arms before the Fort, that they were determined, by force, to seize upon the goods and plunder them ; which, he says, the rioters made no secret of. Mr. Maxwell also says the common place ofren- dezvous for them, is at Justice Smith's, who, he believes, encour- ages them.
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
I have seen some passes signed by Justice Smith, and his brother- in-law; not only for traders, but even for soldiers of the garrison, who are not safe to go any where about their lawful affairs by a pass from their own officer. They use the troops upon every occasion with such indignity and abuse that flesh and blood cannot bear it. A party of them had the impudence again to intercept the express I mentioned in my last, on his return from Carlisle to this place-used him cruelly, and detained him all day yesterday. One Wilson who seemed to head the party, told the express that they were determined to stop the cloth- ing of the regiment in its way from Carlisle."
Governor Penn cited June 27, 1765, Justice Smith and Maxwell, to appear at Philadelphia to clear up this matter. The day appointed to hear them was on Friday July 30. The Governor at the same time en- joined it upon all the Justices of Cumberland county, to be constantly diligent and active in exerting all their powers, influence and endeavors to quell and suppress the first appearances of anv riots and disorders in the county, to preserve the public peace and to bring the offenders to justice.
The following letter from Gen. Gage to Governor Penn alludes to the trial of some of the rioters, of March 1765.
New York, July 5, 1765.
Sir-I have been honored with your lelter of the 28th ult., together with the several depositions concerning the destruction of the goods on Sidling Hill, in March last. The difficulty you lay under to bring the persons concerned in the attack upon the convoy, to punishment, are very obvious, for it is probable that many of the Jury who tried the people, who were prosecuted for the riot, were themselves concerned in it ; and the acquittal of these people, no doubt, rendered them more bold and audacious afterwards. They have acted ever since without any reserve, and with as much confidence as if their actions had been legal and warrantable, keeping regular scouts and guards upon the roads. I herewith transmit you copies of Passes given by Justice Smith and Lieut. Smith.
With respect to the Advertisement, which you resent with so much justice, it appears to have been the contrivance of some Leader of the rioters, in order to encourage them, and to endeavor to sanctify their proceedings by every means, however false and audacious. And I most sincerely wish you may be able to discover the author of so doing an insult.
The Governor issued, January 15, 1766, a supersedeas to remove W. Smith from the magistracy ; and a writ to apprehend James Smith, as a ringleader of the riots. It would appear from the following let- ter addressed to Messrs. Baynton, Wharton and Morgan, by R. Callen- der, that the rioters had become desperate. The letter is under date, Pennsborough, March 2d 1766.
Since my return home I have been informed by sundry persons that the rascally part of the Conococheague are determined, and are now laying a plan to do you some piece of injury by either stopping, or de- stroying some part of your last cargo that yet remains with the carri- ers in that neighborhood on account of Justice Smith's discharge from the Magistracy, for which they entirely blame your house, thinking that it is you alone have excited the Governor to do it. As you have
481
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
already experienced so much of their villainy they are not to be trust- ed farther than seen, and, therefore, I have advised Irwin to go imme- diately to that neighborhood and stop the proceedings of the carriers till there is some method fixed upon for the safe conveyance of these goods, now in their charge, lest the Devil should tempt them to commit some outrage of that kind, which I have great reason to believe they will.
Gov. Penn wrote to Justice Smith and Maxwell that they should ap- pear at Philadelphia, to clear up this matter-i. e. charge alleged against them-the above communications .- They were requested to appear on July 30-on Tuesday, at Philadelphia.
The Gov. at the same time wrote to all the Justices of Cumberland county, enjoining it upon them, to be constantly diligent and active in exerting all their power, influence and endeavors to quell and suppress the first appearances of any riots and disorders in the county, to pre- serve the public peace and to bring the offenders to Justice .- Prov. Rec. T. 68.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Greencastle-Exhumation of human remains-Crunkelton-Funks- town-Quincy-Marion-Waynesboro-Snow Hill-Society at, no- tice of-Greenville-Fayetteville-Upton-Bridgeport-St. Thomas -Orrstown -Roxburg-Concord-Upper Strasburg-Fannetsburg.
GREENCASTLE, post town and borough, in southern part of the coun- ty, in Antrim township, on the rail road from Chambersburg to Hagers- town, ten miles from the former, fifty-nine miles south west from Har- risburg, seventy north west from Washington city. It is situated in the heart of a fertile, limestone country, well watered and highly im- proved, the rail road, the turnpike road from Mercersburg to Wayns- boro, passes through the borough.
Green Castle is a very flourishing place. The town was laid out by Colonel John Allison in the year 1782. Among the first settlers here were Crawfords, Statlers, Nighs, McCulloghs, Carsons, Clarks, Wat- sons, Grubbs, Lawrence, McLellands. Doctor McLelland, now aged eighty-four, a resident of that place, was the first regularly bred phy- sician in this part of the county. His medical visits extended into the interior of Bedford, Huntingdon and adjacent counties-a distance of some sixty miles.
The town was incorporated by an act 25th March 1805, and now contains nearly two hundred dwellings, five stores, three taverns, five churches belonging to the following denominations ; Presbyterian, Lutheran, German Reformed, Methodist, and United Brethren-the three first named Congregations are large, the others small. There are also
41
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
five schools here, with upwards of two hundred scholars, one of which is a classical school ; and a number of mechanics' shops, viz : 3 black- smiths, 3 wagonmakers, 4 saddlers, 3 hatters, 7 shoemakers, 1 copper- smith, 2 tinners, 2 tanners, 2 druggists, 5 tailors, 2 coopers, one blue dyer and weaver. These shops give employment from two to four hands each. There are also five physicians to administer to the afflicted.
Population at present is between 1100 and 1200. The town is on the increase, and bids fair to become of considerable importance.
Near this place, a horrid murder was perpetrated by the Indians, in August 1764, upon a schoolmaster and his scholars .- See A. B. Ran- kin's letter p. 149-151, ante.
CRUNKELTON, in Antrim township, on the turnpike road, one mile and a half east of Greencastle, contains a few houses. As early as 1786, a public house was kept here by John Lawrence. James Clark, late Canal Commissioner, passed his youthful days here.
FUNKSTOWN, in Quincy township, contains 12 or 15 dwellings. Al- ton Furnace is a mile from this village. North of Funkstown are the Pine Lands.
QUINCY, a post village, consists of some 12 or 15 dwellings, one tavern and a store ; about 3 miles from Hugh's furnace.
MARION, formerly called Smoketown, a post village in Guilford town- ship, on the road from Chambersburg to Greencastle, midway between both ; contains 14 dwellings, 2 stores, a temperance hotel, several me- chanics' shops. The Chambersburg railroad passes near. It is in the heart of a fertile country.
WAYNESBORO, formerly called Waynesburg, a post town and borough, in Washington township, on the turnpike road leading from McCon- nellstown, Bedford county, by way of Mercersburg, Greencastle, Waynesboro, to Emmittsburg, Md. It is a flourishing town, situated in a very fertile, highly cultivated, and very productive limestone coun- try. It is only 2 miles from the Maryland line, 9 from Greencastle, 15 from Chambersburg and 19 from Mercersburg. The borough contains about 100 dwellings, 4 taverns, (one temperance house) 4 stores, 3 churches, viz : German Reformed, Lutheran, Presbyterian and Metho- dist. There are 2 public schools, and an academy, here. A weekly paper-Waynesboro Circulator-is published by M. C. Grate.
A Mr. Wallace laid out the town, about 45 years ago, and for some time, it was named after him-Wallacetown. It is said the first house of the town, occupied by Messrs. Tritle and Davidson, was erected by Michael McCoskrey.
SNOW HILL or Schnecburg, in Washington township, is on Anticturn creek, near the South mountain. It is a pleasant situation. It is prin- cipally a German, Seventh Day Baptist settlement, and in quite a flour- ishing condition. They keep up the institution, as originally establish- ed, at Ephrata, Lancaster county.
The German Seventh Day Baptist Society originated with Conrad Beissel, a native of Germany, about the year 1728. He had been, originally, a Presbyterian ; afterwards connected himself with the Dunkards or German Brethren ; but conceiving that they erred in ob- serving the first, instead the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath, he seceded from them ; having previously published in 1725, a tract, entering into a discussion, as to the observance of the Sabbath, which created no small excitement, and consequent disturbance among the
483
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Brethren-Upon which, says Dr. Fahnestock, he retired-went secretly into a cell, on the banks of the Cocalico creek, in Lancaster county, which had been previously occupied by one Elimelich, a hermit. His plan of retirement was unknown for a long time to the people he had left, and when discovered, many of the Society at Mill creek, (with which Beissel had been connected) who had been convinced of the truth of his proposition for the observance of the Sabbath, settled around him in solitary cottages. They adopted the original Sabbath- the Seventh day-for public worship, in the year 1728, which has ever since been observed by their descendants, unto the present day.
" In the year 1732, the solitary life was changed into a conventicle one, and a Monastic Society was established as soon as the first build- ings erected for the purpose were finished-May, 1733-constituting, with the buildings subsequently erected, the irregular, enclosed village of Ephrata."
After the decline of the Institution at Ephrata, they commenced the one here at Schnecberg or Snow Hill. For the particulars of this So- cietv, see " He Pasa Ekklesia, printed at Philadelphia, 1844.
UPTON, a post village, in Montgomery township, on the turnpike road leading from Waynesboro to McConnellstown, 43 miles from Greencastle, and five and a half from Mercersburg. It consists of 6 dwellings, 1 store, 1 tavern and several mechanics' shops. Peter Cook is the principal owner of the village. About 2 miles from here, in Peters' township, reside the Mr. Mcculloughs whose ancestor had been abducted by the Indians.
BRIDGE PORT, in Peters' township, on the left bank of the Conoco- cheague creek, 3 miles from Mercersburg, consist of about 18 dwell- ings, a saw mill, grist mill, fulling mill, 1 store, and a house for public worship. Here is a substantial stone bridge across the Conococheague, contiguous to Hoover's mill. The town is of recent origin ; started about 20 years ago.
S.r. THOMAS, a post village, in St. Thomas township, is on the turn- pike road lead from Chambersburg to Pittsburg. It is a pleasant vil- lage, 7 miles from Chambersburg ; contains about 75 dwellings, 2 stores, 4 taverns,'a German Reformed & Lutheran church, and school house. It was laid out about 50 years ago. The surrounding coun- try is well cultivated and very productive.
ORRSTOWN, a post village, in Southampton township, on the Three Mountain road, south bank of Conodoguinette creek, five miles west of Shippensburg, five east of Strasburg, six miles north of Green village, is situated on an elevation, and its location, which is beautiful, is ren- dered quite imposing by the surrounding country. It was laid out by Messrs. John and William Orr in 1834, after whom the village has been called. It contains thirty dwellings, nearly all built within five or six years ; two stores, a tavern, a very extensive tannery, a school house, and a number of mechanics' shops ; also two brick churches, one held by the German Reformed, and the Presbyterians in common, and the other by the so styled Winebrennerians. Population about 180. In this thriving village the people are remarkable for their industry and enterprise.
ROXBURY, post town, in Lurgan township, on the Conodoguinette creek, on the east side of the Blue Mountain, twelve miles north of Chambersburg, contains some ten or fifteen dwellings.
484
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
CONCORD, a post village, in Fannet township, upon the Tuscarora creek, and in the head of the Valley, consits of several dwellings.
UPPER STRASBURG, a post town, in Letterkenny township, in a fork of Herren's branch of Conodoguinette creek, ten miles north west of Chambersburg, thirteen of Shippensburg ; fifty miles west of Harris- burg, consists of thirty dwellings, three stores, two taverns, two chur- ches, one held in common by the Lutherans and German Reformed, in which the Presbyterian congregation, enjoys the privilege to wor- ship, and one held by the United Brethren, three tanneries, and two schools, male and female. One grist mill.
The town was laid out by Mr. Deweld Kiefer, about the year 1791- Population 230.
FANNETSBURG, a post village, in Metal township, on the road from Upper Strasburg to Bedford, twelve miles in a direct line north west from Chambersburg, in a secluded, fertile valley, called Path Valley, two or three miles wide, bounded on the east by the North Mountain, and west by the Blue Mountain. The town consists of about thirty dwellings, stores, taverns, &.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
FIRST SETTLERS.
First settlers-Prairie-Schlatter's allusion thereto-Difficulties and sufferings of first settlers-Presbyterians &c. &c-Character of the Nugents and others-Education-Provision for the poor.
The first white settlers were Scotch, and of the Scotch-Irish race. Many of their descendants still remain ; but the German population, which has more recently come in, is fast gaining in numbers over the descendants of the pioneers.
It is a tradition well supported, that a great part of the best lands in the Conococheague valley were, at the first settlement of the country, what is now called in the western states prairie. The land was without timber, covered with a rich, luxuriant grass, with some scattered trees, hazel-bushes, wild plumbs, and crab-apples. It was then called gener- ally the barrens. The timber was to be found on or near the water- courses, and on the slate soil. This accounts for the preference given by the early settlers to the slate lands, before the limestone lands were surveyed or located. The slate had the attractions of wood, water- courses, and water-meadows, and was free of rock at the surface. Be fore the introduction of clover, artificial grasses, and the improved system of agriculture, the hilly limestone land had its soil washed off, was disfigured with great gullies, and was sold as unprofitable, for a trifle, by the proprietors, who sought other lands in Western Pennsyl-
485
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
vania. It is now under German cultivation, the most beautiful and fertile section of the county.
The Revd. Michael Schlatter, a German Reformed minister, passed through here in 1748. In his Tage Buch May 9, he alludes to the prairie covered with fine grass.
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