USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 53
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 53
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 53
USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 53
USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 53
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 53
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The first buildings erected at the Springs, were owned by Messrs. Joseph Worley and Long ; a Mr. Lowrey made some additions after- wards ; Mr. McCosh improved the appearance of the place very much. The Springs are now owned by Messrs. Pennington and Baggs of Bal- timore, and are kept by Mr. Arnold Gardner. It has been for a long time a favorite place of resort, of the wealthy citizens of Baltimore and from other parts of the country.
East Berlin is a neat, and pleasantly situated post town in Hamilton township. It was laid out in 1764 by one John Frankenberger, who had settled here nearly a century ago .- He named it Berlin. Mr. Frankenberger, the proprietcr, disposed of his interest in 1774 to Peter Houshill; who, in 1782 sold to Andrew Comfort. In 1794 John Hilde- brand became proprietor. The first house, it appears that was erected after the town had been laid out, was built by Charles Himes in 1765; the second by Jacob Sarbach in 1766; the third by James Mackey in 1767, who opened a small store, and was the first tobacco seller in Ber- Jin.
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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.
The first English school taught here, or in the vicinity, was opened by Robert John Chester, an Englishman, in 1769 .- He afterwards turned his mind to keeping tavern in the new village. The Conewago flowing hard by affords mill power -Peter Lane, a German, erected a mill about 1769 at the west end of the town. Thirty years after it had been built, a freshet swept it away.
The progress of the town had been rapid and a considerable stir of business caused, being a thoroughfare place from the northern part of York and Cumberland counties in Baltimore ; but like many other villages of equally rapid growth, it met with its reverses, owing to the construction of other roads, and modes of transporting produce from Cumberland &c. to Baltimore, much, if not nearly the whole of wagon- ing through here, was diverted from this point.
The town consists of 84 dwellings, 3 taverns, 3 stores, 3 apotheca- ries, 2 school houses, 1 Union church, held in common by the Luther- ans and German Reformed; a public library; a sunday school, and one or two other institutions, having for their object the improvement of mind and morals. There are 2 grist mills, a fulling mill, &c. near . the town; one on Beaver creek, southeast of the town, and the others on the Conewago, north of it. A printing press has been in operation for some time. Population 410.
Abbottstown, or Borough of Berwick, a post village of Berwick twp., on the turnpike road leading from York to Gettysburg, 14 miles east from the latter place. The Hanover and Berlin turnpike road and the · York and Gettysburg turnpike road intersect within the borough .- This town was laid out some time in 1753, by John Abbet. The first lot sold here, was purchased by Jacob Pattison, October 19, 1763 - Beaver creek, a tribuary of the Conewago flows near by it, forming the boundary line between York and Adams counties. The borough, which was incorporated in 1835, contains between 40 and 60 dwellings, 4 taverns, 3 stores, 1 apothecary, a printing office, owned by W. F. Koehler, Esq., who edits and publishes a German paper called " Der Intelligencer." There are two churches here, one belonging to the German Reformed, and the other to the Lutherans ; also a public school house. A union Sunday school consisting of about 80 or 90 scholars. The population is German. The usual number of handicrafts are found here.
New Oxford, a post village, of Berwick township, on the turnpike road leading from York to Gettysburg, 10 miles east of the latter place was laid out in 1792 by Henry Kuhn, it consists of 33 dwellings, 2 stores, 1 tavern, 1 Union church held in common by the German Re- formed and Lutherans, 1 school house and a literary institute called, "New Oxford College and Medical Institution." The institution has not, as yet, been patronized commensurately with the efforts of its stockholders and proprietors. Meilys stand has been kept as a public house for nearly a century-for many years, familiary known as " Butcher Frederick's stand." This village is pleasantly situated in a level country. /
Hampton, a post village, of Reading township on the Carlisle and Hanover turnpike road, twelve miles east of Gettysburg, six from Pe- tersburg and ten from Hanover, was laid out by Dr. John B. Arnold and Daniel Deardorff in 1814; it consists of about 30 dwellings, 2 taverns 2 stores. The first house erected here was built by David
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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.
Albert. There is a Union church here erected in 1844; and a school house. The population is about 180.
New Chester or Pinetown, usually so called, because of a pine ridge contiguous to it-is a post village in Strabane township, was laid out in 1804, by Henry Martzsaal ; consists of some 15 dwellings, 2 stores, 1 tavern, 1 school. This village is about 9 miles from Gettysburg ; situated in a somewhat rugged country, and within a bend of the Con- ewago creeek. There is a German Reformed and Lutheran church a little south west of it.
Hunterstown, formerly called Wood Stock, a post village, of Strabane township, nearly centrally situated in the town, on the road from East Berlin to Gettysburg, six miles from the latter place; contains be- tween 15 and 20 dwellings, I store and I tavern. Beaver Dam creek flows close here. The surrounding country is level.
Fairfield or Millerstown, a post village in Hamilton-ban twp. 10 miles southwest of Gettysburg, contains 50 dwellings, several stores and ta- verns, 2 churches, a school-house, and a number of mechanics' shops. It is quite a brisk place ; situated in a region of country well cultiva- ted and productive-the scenery imposing-a fine view is had of Jacks mountain. There is some iron ore west of the village.
Cashtown, a fine village in Franklin township, 8 miles northwest of Gettysburg, on the turnpike road to Chambersburg, contains 20 dwell- ings, a tavern and store, and several mechanics' shops. The north branch of Marsh creek flows past, near the village. The soil is con- siderably improved and productive.
Mummasburg, on Little Marsh creek, in Franklin twp., is a small town, containing about 25 dwellings, store, tavern, and school-house. A turnpike road extends from Gettysburg to this town.
Heidlersburg, a small village in Tyrone township, on the road leading from Petersburg to Gettysburg, and on the road westward from East Berlin, containing about 15 dwellings, store, tavern, school-house and several mechanics' shops-nine miles northeast from Gettysburg.
Bendersville or Wilsonville, in Manallen township, is 10 miles north of Gettysburg, on the State road leading from the latter place to Newville in Cumberland county. It is near the base of the South mountain, five miles from the Laurel forge, and the same distance from Pine Grove furnace.
It was laid out about 12 or 13 years ago; but did not thrive till 1840, when an impetus was given to it, and soon some 20 houses were erect- ed ; at present it numbers 23 dwellings, principally brick, with a few frame, stone and log houses-the latter rough cast or weather-boarded. The village presents a neat appearance.
The Methodist Episcopal Church is the only one at present in the place ; by the liberality of this body of Christians, the German Reform- ed have, for the last 3 years, occupied, once a month, this house of worship. The Lutherans and German Reformed have erected one recently.
Bonaghton or Bonnigstown, is a small village in Mount Pleasant twp., on the road leading from Gettysburg to Petersburg, about five miles from each. Here three main roads branch off, viz: to Gettysburg, to Hunterstown, and to New Oxford. The soil of the country around is red shale-with careful cultivation is rendered productive.
Littlestown or Petersburg, a brisk town, in Germany twp., on the road
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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.
leading from Gettysburg to Maryland, consists of about 50 dwellings, several stores, a tavern, and an academy, in which the higher branch- es are taught. The town is pleasantly situated, in a fertile, highly im- proved country.
McSherrystown, (on the main road leading from Hanover to Lashels tavern, on the turnpike) in Conewago twp. 3 miles from Hanover, is a small village, containing 25 dwellings, a store and tavern ; and a flour- Ishing school of advanced standing, under the auspices of the Catho- lics-situated in a fertile region of country.
CHAPTER XLI.
BOUNDARY LINE BETWEEN MD. & PA. 4
Controversy touching the boundary line-Boundary line defined and settled-Diggets' choice, &c-Kitzmiller shoots Dudly Digges-Trial and acquittal-Adam Farney assaulted, beaten and taken to Balti- more-Petition touching the conduct of disorderly persons.
For a long time, from 1682 to 1760, there was an unsettled dispute touching the boundary line between the Province of Pennsylvania and Maryland. The controversy occasionally grew warm, and while it lasted, was stirring and exciting-nay, blood was, in several instances shed, in encounters arising from the unsettled and undefined boundary line. The Cressap case has already been cited. The following is here inserted, defining the boundary line &c.
The boundaries of Pennsylvania as described in the royal charter by King Charles, the second, to William Penn, the first founder of the Province, are as follows : " All that tract or part of land in America, with the islands therein contained, as the same is bounded on the east by Delaware river, from twelve miles distance northward of New Castle town, unto the three and fortieth degree of northern latitude, if the said river doth extend so far northward; but if the said river shall not extend so far northward, then by the said river so far as it doth ex- tend, and from the head of the said river, the eastern bounds are to be determined by a meridian line, to be drawn from the head of the said river unto the forty-third degree; the said land to extend westward five degrees in longitude, to be computed from the said eastern bounds ; and the said lands to be bounded on the north by the beginning of the three and fortieth degree of northern latitude, and on the south, by a circle drawn at twelve miles distance from New Castle northward, and westward unto the beginning of the fortieth degree of north lati- tude, and then by a straight line westward to the limits of longitude above mentioned."
There was a series of contention between the proprietaries of Mary-
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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.
land, concerning the boundaries and extent of their Provinces, from the time of the original grant of Pennsylvania till the year 1732, when they entered into articles of agreement for the settlement and establish- ment of their boundaries, by which it was agreed, that a due north line should be drawn from the tangent point of the twelve mile circle of New Castle so far only until it should come unto the same latitude fifteen English statute miles due south of the most southern part of the city of Philadelphia ; and that a due east and west line should be run in manner following :-
To begin at the northern point or end of the said due south & north line, and should from thence run due west across Susquehanna river to the utmost extent of the province of Pennsylvania, which said east and west line was to be the lines of division between Maryland and Pennsylvania. And these lines are established as the boundaries be- tween them, by a decree of Chancery in England, after a long, tedious and expensive suit, instituted in that court, by the proprietaries of Pennsylvania against the proprietary of Maryland, for a specific per- formance of those articles.
In the year 1760 another agreement was made between the proprie- taries of these two provinces, Frederick, Lord Baltimore of Maryland, and Thomas and Richard Penn, of Penna., rectifying and ratifying the agreement of 1732, and the decree aforesaid, and this latter agreement was also established by a decree of Chancery. These lines were run by Jeremiah Dixon and Charles Mason, commissioners, on both sides, in consequence of the several agreements and decrees, and at the joint petition of the proprietaries of each province, the agreements and de- crees, and the execution of them were ratified by his Majesty and coun- cil on the 11th day of January, 1769, so that those divisional lines thus established, and the charter bounds of Pennsylvania, so far as the pro- vince of Maryland does not interfere according to the agreements and decrees aforesaid were established as the reputed bounds of Pennsyl- vania ; and which, however, are considerably short of the intention of the original grant, which appears by the minutes of council at the time of the grant, and from the expressions of the grant itself, to have been an extent of three degrees of tatitude and five of longitude; from which the province of Maryland took off about 50 miles in latitude in the full extent of Maryland from east to west .- [Answers to Earl of Dartmouth 1775.]
Prior to the adjustment of the boundary line, settlements had been made under Maryland rights, north of the fixed boundary. This was the case in Conewago township, especially as to Digges' choice, out of which grew not only inconveniences, afterwards loudly complained of ; but blood was shed.
The following facts relate to this choice. John Digges, as tradition has it, was advised by a noted Indian chief, Tom, of an excellent tract of land, at present within the limits of Heidelberg township, York county, and Conewago and German townships in Adams county.
Oct. 14, 1727 a warrant was granted to John Digges for 10,000 acres of land, which was continued by renewments until April 1st 1732, on which renewal of survey was made, April 18, 1832, of 6,822 acres, and certificate of survey by course and distances only, except the clos- ing line, returned. Oct. 11, 1735, patent issued for the 6,822 acres, without any thing particular in it; May 25, 1738, Royal order was made
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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.
(see below). July 15, 1745, John Digges petitioned for a re-survey of the land, suggesting errors, and praying the addition of contiguous va- cancy. July 15, '45 warrant issued according to the prayer of the pe- titioner, directing a re-survey, correct errors, and add vacancy, whether cultivated or otherwise. Aug. 1st '45 re-survey was made, and returned and accepted by Lord Baltimore, Agent and Land office-no errors in the original survey mentioned ; but 3,679 acres, expressed vacancy, added without saying cultivated or uncultivated. Oct. 18, '45 patent is- sued for the re-surveyed land. This tract fell four miles north of the temporary line of 1732.
In 1737 Martin Kitzmiller made a purchase of some lands near to Digges' first patented tract at Conewago, and the next vear built a house and mill, and made considerable improvements, and was in pos- session of them at the time of the Royal order, and paying taxes and dtd the duties of an inhabitant of Pennsylvania. In 1747 he obtained a warrant for his lands from the proprietaries of Pennsylvania, bearing date the 5th of Feb. 1747; notwithstanding which, in Feb. 1752, a man, a perfect stranger to Martin Kitzmiller, pretending to be a Maryland officer, accompanied by Dudley Digges, came upon the plantation of Martin Kitzmiller, which was 4 miles to the north of the temporary line-out of the line of Digges' first survey, and arrested him at the suit of John Digges. Martin Kitzmiller and his family judging this an unlawful act, resisted the pretended officer-upon which the persons who came with him went to his assistance. Several blows passed on each side, until one of Martin Kitzmiller's sons shot Dudley Digges and wounded him that he died .* They were tried on a charge of murder in York county and acquitted. The place where the act was commit- ted, being fully proved by a variety of evidence, to have been in the last survey of Digges, and consequently in Pennsylvania. On this trial it was proved the pretended officer was not one, and had no writ or warrant to justify the arrest-from whence all persons present con- cluded Digges had never obtained one.
After the trial and acquittal of the Kitzmillers, an indictment was found against the pretended officer and all concerned with him in the riot. The case was tried at York.
The above was not the only case of Wilmot's attempting to seize individuals at the suit of John Digges. He had previously arrested Adam Farney and carried him down to Baltimore.
On the 26th Jan. 1746, John Wilmot, who called himself the under sheriff of Baltimore county, Maryland, upon a writ at the suit of John Digges, with six other men, all armed with clubs, came to the house of Adam Farney, laid violent hands on him, carried him away a prisoner down to Baltimore. They struck Louisa, Torney's wife, and his daughter Eve, and gave his said daughter a deep wound in the head. Torney entered bail and was discharged.
The inconveniences under which the more orderly labored, were more than ordinary, because the laws of neither province could be
* Upon this the pretended officer and his companions fled from Mar- tin Kitzmiller and Jacob.
Those engaged with the sheriff were Dudley and Henry Diggs, sons of John Diggs, John Stackers, Patrick Koyle, John Seyfert, and An- thony Worley.
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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.
extended to the places to which the mutual claims were not settled, either by survey or charter. The more unruly availed themselves of these harbors, and their conduct was ground for complaint, as is fully set forth in the following petition :
A petition from the Justices, Grand Jury, Commissioners and Asses- sors of the County of York, was presented to the House Feb. 18 1757, and read, setting forth, that near two townships, and many other smal! tracts of the best land in said county, are held under the Proprietary of the Province of Maryland, and therefore the inhabitants of these lands are not liable to pay taxes, or other public dues for the support of this government, neither do they (as they inform the petitioners) pay to the Province of Maryland, under whose jurisdiction they are, or ought to be, by the Royal order ; that the situation of these lands being chiefly from five to fifteen or twenty miles and upwards north of the 'Temporary line, and consequently separated from Maryland by laws held under our Proprietaries, the petitioners apprehend to be the reason why the inhabitants of said lands are not called upon for public dues by the officers of Maryland ; that as many of the inhabitants of the said lands as have convenient situations, and are in suitable circumstances, do distil great quantities of spirits, and keep public houses, and neither have license from, nor pay excise to, either of the Provinces ; that some of them entertain the servants and hirelings of their neighbors on Sabbath days, and harbor and conceal many of such of the inhab- tants of this Province as get in debt or commit any crimes cognizable before the court in said county, to the manifest injury of the public, and of numbers of the inhabitants of this Province ; that nevertheless the persons residing on this land, sue for, and recover, their debts amongst the petitioners, and enjoy all the other privileges of Govern- ment with those who contribute towards the support thereof; the peti- tioners, therefore pray, that this House will consider the premises, and grant such remedy as shall seem expedient .- Votes of Assembly, iv. 694. Feb. 18, 1757.
CHAPTER XLII.
FIRST SETTLERS, &C.
First settlers in various parts of the county-Disputes and affrays be- tween the Irish and Germans-At York 1750-1751-Sufferings of early settlers-Indian incursions-Abduction of Richard Bard-Ed- ucation-Poor-house.
The first settlers of this county were principally Scotch-Irish, who settled in the southwest part of the county, on and along Marsh creek; some English descendants who settled in the borders of Maryland, in
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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.
and about Diggis' Choice, with some Germans, Low Dutch, and emi- grants from the lower counties.
Among the first settlers on Marsh creek, about 1738-'40, were Wil- liam. McLelań, Joseph Farns, Hugh McClain, Matthew Black, James McMichell, Robt. McFarson, William Black, James Agnew (the coop- er) Henry McDonath, John Alexander, Moses Jenkins, Richard Hall, Richard Fosset, Adam Hall, John Eddy, Edward Hall, James Wilson, John Eddy, jr. James Agnew, William Eddy, John Steen, John John- son, John Hamilton, Hugh Vogan, John Mc Wharter, Hugh Swainey, Titus Darley, Thomas Hoswick and some of the Campbells, Allisons, Morrisons, &c.
At that time, the limestone lands, in the lower part of the county, now so valuable in the hands of the German farmers, were not held in high estimation, on account of the scarcity of water, and the Scotch- Irish passed them by to select the slate lands, with the pure springs and mountain air to which they had been accustomed to at home. These settlers were of the better order of peasantry, and brought with them the characteristics of their native land. They were moral, in- dustrious, and intelligent ; and for the most part were rigid Presbyte- rians, or " Seceders." 'They were frugal, as the Scotch always are- plain in their mode of living, but cordial and hospitable. They were universally men of undaunted courage and high patriotic feeling ; and when the alarm of the revolution first rung through the land, it called no truer or more willing hearts than those of the Scotch-Irish Presby- terians. The manners and character of the early settlers have been very generally inherited by their descendants-many of whom still cultivate the same farms, worship in the same old churches, and hold fast to the rigid and venerated " form of sound words" of the Presby- rian church.
The region around Gettysburg, including all of Cumberland and part of Strabane townships, was originally known as " the Manor of Mask," established by warrant from the Penns in 1740, previous to which time many settlements had been made. Some dispute arose con- cerning the title; but a compromise was effected by the original set- tlers through the agency of Mr. McLellan in 1765, when the bounda- ries of the manor were marked, and a list of the names of the first set- tlers, with the date of their settlement, was returned to the land-office, to prove the incipiency of their title.
The section of country around Fairfield or Millerstown, is known as the tracts, or Carroll tracts, upper and lower. These were large tracts, surveyed and held by the Carroll family, under Lord Baltimore's title, before the southern boundary line had been definitely settled, of which some account isgiven below.' Charles Carrol had been agent for Lord Baltimore .- Smith's Laws, ii. 136.
The Germans settled between Hanover and Littlestown, in the lime- stone region. The names of some of the early settlers in this region are Martin Kidmiller, Adam Farney, Peter Weltie, Peter Reischert, Andrew Foreman, Stephen Ulrich, Abraham Haul, Derrick Jungblut, Frederick Schitz, Casper Bergheimer, Hans Martin Ungefehr, George Kuntz, Hans Morgenstern, George Marschtaler, Ludwig Schreiber, An- dreas Herger, Dewalt Jung, Peter Ober, Andreas Schreiber, Herr Ja- engling, Peter Jungblut, Adam Sell, Peter Hertz, Herr Mosser, all of
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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.
whom took up lands, or settled under Maryland Rights. Shiely, Wor- ley and others, settled in Conewago township.
Within the last 45 years, those from Ireland and Scotland, and their descendants, have been supplanted iby Germans. The German lan- guage is now commonly spoken in many parts of the county.
At an early period, 1749, '50, '51, the Scotch-Irish and Germans had several affrays. In 1749 there were two prominent candidates, Hans Hamilton and Richard McAllister, for the sheriff's office, before the public. The election was held at York, in 1749, and for years after- wards, at the house of Baltzer Spengler. It was an unfinished building of logs, through an opening of which, tickets were received. In the cool of the morning all was quiet. The Germans were in favor of McAllister ; the Irish for Hamilton ; the former were very active for their candidate, and evidently gaining' on their competitors; which vexed the ireful friends of Hamilton. Several of the Irish took pos- session of the polls-determined that none but their friends should vote. The Germans, determined upon their rights, without yielding an inch ; when an affray ensued-promiscuous blows were severely dealt out-the Irish were routed.
A similar affray occurred in October 1750, at the election for repre- sentatives to the Assembly, when a large party of Germans drove the Irish off-knocked down the sheriff. The whole affair was investiga- ted in the Assembly. Two versions are given of the proceedings .- The Germans did set forth by way of extenuation of their conduct, " that Hans Hamilton did not open the election till two o'clock in the afternoon, which caused no little uneasiness among the people. That Hamilton's party-the Marsh creek people gathered about the election house to give in their tickets, and would not suffer the Dutch people and other friends to come near the house, but did what they could to keep them off with clubs, so that the Dutch were obliged to do the best they could, or else go home without voting, and being then the most in number, they drove the people from the house, and when they had done so, they came in a peaceable manner to give in their votes ; but when the sheriff saw his party was mastered, he locked up the box. and would not suffer the inspectors to take away more tickets, which made the Dutch people angry, and they strove to break into the house, and then the sober people desired the sheriff to continue the election ; but he would not, and went away out of the back window, several of the inspectors going with him-and then the freeholders desired the coroner to carry on the election-which having done carefully and justly : and, afterwards, the sheriff was asked to come and see the votes read, and an account taken of them ; but he refused, &c.
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