MURDERSIN9WHITEHALL.wounded.lAmongthe latterwas Capt.Wetterholt,whodiedthenextmorningat the“CrownInn.“TimothyHorsfield,on receivingthenews,informedLieut.Hunsickerat LowerSmithiield,andurgedhimto the utmostvigilancein defendingthe frontiers.Fivedaysafterthe attackat Stenton’sthe followingaccountof it wasprintedin thePennsylvaniaGa:etlr,a paperpublishedby BenjaminFranklin,whoprobablywrotethisrelationfromdetailssentto theGovernorby Horsfield:“OnSundaynightlastan expressarrivedfromNorthamptonCountywiththe followingmelancholyaccount,—viz.,thaton Saturdaymorning,the8thinst.,thehouseof JohnStenton,abouteightmilesfromBethlehem,wasattackedby Indians,as follows:Capt.Wetterholt,witha partybelongingto FortAllen,beingat thathouse,andintendingto set out. earlyfor thefort,ordereda servantto gethis horseready,whowasimmediatelyshotdownby the enemy,uponwhichthecaptain,goingto thedoor,wasalsofiredat andmortallywounded;thatthena sergeantattemptedto pullin thecaptainandshutthe door,buthe waslikewisedangerouslywounded;thatthelieutenantnextadvanced,whenan Indianjumpeduponthe bodiesof the two othersand presenteda pistol to his breast,whichhe puta littleaside,anditwentoff overhis shoulder,wherebyhe got the Indianout of the houseandshutthe door;thatthe Indiansafterthiswentroundto a window,andas Stentonwasgettingoutof bedshothim,butnotdead,andbe,breakingoutof thehouse,ranabouta mile,whenhe droppedanddied;thathis wifeandtwochildrenrandownintothe cellar,wheretheywereshotatthreetimm,but escaped; thatCapt.\Vetterholt,findinghimselfgrowingveryweak,crawledto a windowandshotan Indiandead,it wasthought,as he wasin the act of settingfire to the housewitha match,andthatuponthistheotherIndianscarriedhimawaywiththemand wentofl‘.Capt.Wetterholtdiedsoonafter."Whenthe Indianshadgluttedtheirvengeanceasfar as lay prudentlywithintheirpowerat Stenton’s,theyattackedthe inmatesof a numberof otherhouses,andthe hatchetandtorchdidterriblework.Turning towardthe Lehigh,the firsthousetheycametowasthatof JamesAllen.Thistheyplunderedofeverythingthattheycoveted,andthendestroyedallthattheycouldnotconvenientlycarryaway.Proceedingonwardtowardtheriver,theynextcametoAndrewHazlett’s,nothalfa milefromAllen’s.Hazlettattemptedto fire uponthem,but his flintorpowderwas poor,and his gun wouldnot go off.Hewasshotdownby a numberof the hand,his wifeseeinghimfallanddie.Shefledwithhertwochildren,l Thedetachmentof soldierswhoperformedthisdutywasunder;commandof Lient.JonathanDodge,whoescapedthe massacre.He was.paid9'. 9d. on October11thfor thisservice.5 GeorgeWetterholt,whowassherilTof LehighCounty,anda wellknowncitizenof Allentown,washis grandson.but wasquicklyovertakenby a coupleof thefleetfootedIndians,whosanktheirtomahawksin her head.Herchildrenweretreatedin a similarlybarbarousmanner,andtheywereleftfor dead.Thewomanlived,however,for fourdays,andoneof her childrencompletelyrecovered.AnothermanbesideHazlettwasin thehouse,andhe too waskilled.Thenthehousewasfired,andas the logscrackledthe murderous handwentwhoopingandyellingon towardthe» nexthouse,thatof PhilipKratzer,wheretheyfoundno victimsfor gunor knifeor axe,the familydoubtless havingheardthe shotsat Hazlett'sandfled.Thetorchwasappliedto the humblehome,andtheythenpassedon to the Lehigh,whichtheycrossedat a placestillcalled“theIndianFall,”justaboveSiegfreid’sBridge.It was subsequentlybelievedthat whenthe Indianscrossedthe rivertheyintendedtakingvengeanceon astorekeeperin the neighborhoodwithwhomtheyhadquarreled,buttheyfailedto findtheway.Whentheycrossedin trueIndianfile,theywereseenbyUlrichSchowalter,whothenlivedon the placenowownedby PeterTroxel.He was workingat the timeon the roofof a buildingwhichstoodupona considerableelevationof ground,andhada goodopportnnityto see andcounttheIndians,whomhe foundto numbertwelve.Probablyhe wastheonlypersonwhosaw the approachof the Indians,for it mustbebornein mindthatthe greaterportionof the countrywasat thattimecoveredwithforest.Thefiercenatureof thesavageshadbeenamusedbutnotsatedby thebutcheriestheyhadalreadyperformedon thisbeautifulautumnmorning,andtheywerereadyto venttheirwildpassionon whomevertheyfound.Onreachingthefarmof JohnJacobMickley,in Whitehall,theycameuponthreeof his children,Peter,Henry,andBarbary,runningaboutin a fieldandgatheringthechestnutsthatthefrosthad droppedfromthe trees.The eldestof thesechildrenwaselevenyearsold,thesecondnine,theyoungestseven.No doubttheywerefullof gleeintheirnut-gathering,but theirinnocentjoyandmirthwassuddenlychangedto terroras thedarkformsburstfromthe adjacentwoodand rusheduponthem.LittleBarbarycouldrunbuta few stepswhenshewasovertakenandknockeddownwitha tomahawk.Henryranandreachedthefence,butas he wasclimbingit an Indianthrewa tomahawkat his backwhichit is supposedkilledhiminstantly.Bothofthesechildrenwerescalped,but the littlegirl in aninsensiblestatesurvivedfor twenty-fourhours.Theoldestboy,Peter,reachedthe woodssafely.andconcealedhimselfbetweentwolargetreeswhichstoodclosetogetherin a littlethicket.Therehe remainedwithoutmakinganynoiseuntil,hearingscreamsat aneighboringhouse,he knewthe Indiansto be thereandthe way Openfor his escape.Leapingfromhis, hiding-place,he ranwithall his mightby wayof! AdamDeshler‘sto his brother,JohnJacobMickley,
10HISTORYOFLEHIGHCOUNTY,PENNSYLVANIA.to whomhe conveyedthemelancholytidings.‘Themembersof the Mickleyfamilywhowereat the houseescapedattack,it is believedby reasonof theirowning a hugeandferociousdogwhichhada particularantipathyto Indians.Passingby Mickley’shouse,theIndianscametothatof NicholasMarks,whosefamilyseeingthemcominghadmadetheirescape.Thehousewasfired.At HansSchneider’s,nearby,thehouseholdwassurprised,andfather,mother,andthreechildrenruthlesslyslaughtered.Twodaughterswhohadattemptedto escapewereovertakenandscalped,butsubsequentlyrecovered.2Anotherdaughterwascarriedawayas a captive,andher fate wasneverknown.It wasthescreamsfromtheterrifiedpeopleat theSchneiderhousewhichwereheardby the boy,PeterMickley,in his placeof hiding.Theirbloodyworkbeingdone,theIndiansleftwithall possiblehastein thedirectionof the BlueRidge.A furtheraccountof thesemurdersis affordedbya letterfromBethlehemt0 the PennsylvaniaGazette,datedOct.9, 1763:“ EarlythismorningcameNicholasMarks,of Whitehalltownship,andbroughtthefollowingaccount,via:Thatyesterdayjustafterdinner,ashe openedhis door,he sawan Indianstandingabouttwopolesfromthe house,whoendeavoredto shootat him;but Marksshuttingthe doorimmediately,thefellowslippedintoa cellarcloseby thehouse.AfterthissaidMarkswentoutof the housewithhis wifeandan apprentice-boy,ain orderto maketheirescape,andsawanotherIndian,whotriedalsoto shootat them,but his gunmissedfire.TheythensawthethirdIndianrunningthroughthe orchard,uponwhichtheymadethebestof theirway,abouttwomilesofi,to AdamDeshler‘splace,wheretwentymenin armswereassembled,whowentfirstto thehouseof JohnJacobMiCkley,wheretheyfounda boy anda girllyingdead,andthegirlscalped.Fromthencetheywentto HansSchneider‘sandsaidMarksplantations,andfoundbothhouseson fire,andahorsetiedto the bushes.TheyalsofoundsaidSchneider,his wife,andthreechildrendeadin thefield,themanandwomanscalped;andongoingfarthertheyfoundtwootherswounded,oneof whomwasscalped.Afterthistheyreturnedwiththe twowoundedgirlsto AdamDeshler‘s,andsawa woman,JacobAlleman‘swife,witha childlyingdeadin theroadandscalpod.Thenumberof Indianstheythinkwas aboutfifteenor twenty.1 can not describethe deplorableconditionthis poorcountryis in; mostof theinhabitantsof Allen‘sTownandotherplacesarefledfromtheirhabitations.Manyarein Bethlehemandotherplacesof the Brethren,andothersfartherdownthe country.I cannotascertainthenumberkilled,butthinkit exceedstwenty.ThepeopleofNazarethandotherplacesbelongingto theBrethrenhaveput themselvesin the bestpostureof defensetheycan;theykeepa strongwatcheverynight,andhopeby the blessingof God,if theyare attacked,tomakea goodstand."Thehouseof AdamDeshler,herereferredto, is asubstantialstonestructure,stillgivingunmistakableevidence,by its heavywallsandotherpeculiarities,thatit wasbuiltto serveotherpurposesthanthoseof__an ordinaryfarmdomicile.‘ThishousewasbuiltbyMr.Deshlerin 1760.Adjoiningthestonestructureuponthe northwasa largeframebuilding,in whichtwentysoldiersmightbe quarteredanda considerablequantityof militarystoreskept.Theframebuildingpassedintodecayearlyin thepresentcentury,andwasrazedto the ground.Duringthe Indiantroublesthisplacewasa kindof militarypost,furnishedgratuitouslyby AdamDeshler,whowasoneof themostliberalandhumanemenin the region.“Manyof thesettlersin theupperpartof thecountyfledto Allentown(thenNorthampton)forsafety.Thepeopleof thatplacewerepoorlypreparedto defendthemselvesin caseof an attack,buttheydidthebestthingpossibleunderthecircumstances,—thatis, theyorganizeda companyandsentfor arms,as willappearfromthefollowingletter,writtentwodaysafterthemurder,to GovernorHamilton." Noa'rnaxr'rox,“ rm:ltrrnor rnislNBTANT()vroass,1763.I1 PeterMickleyliveda numberof yearswithhis brotherfromthistime,andremovedto BucksCounty,wherehe diedin the year1827.‘-' A billfor thereliefof thesegirlswaspassedby theAssemblyin1765,by whichthe sumof £44 3s. 8d. was appropriatedto dischargethebillsbroughtagainstthemby thesurgeonswhodressedtheirWoundsandsavedtheirlives.3George(irati',afterwardsof Allentown.chapteron thatcity.Forbiographicalnotesee“ To the HonorableJamesHamblrtou'n,Esq.,Lieutenant-GovernorandComIlsander-s'a-C'hiefof the [kosherof Pennsylmnia,.Miccaasel,Coal,andSaso:0a Dt‘lllll‘ar.“ As I, JosephRoth,of NorthamptonTown,churchminister,of thiseighthinstantOctober,as I wasa-preachlng,thepeoplecamein suchnumbersthatI wasobligedto quitmy sarmon.andthe sametimeCornel JamesBordWasin thetown,andI, theaforesaidminister,spokewith(‘ornelBordconcerningthisaffaresof theIndians,andwe foundtheInhabitancehadneithertions,PowdernorLeadto defendthemselves,andthatCornelBordhadlatelyspokewithhishonour.Hehadinformedmethatwe wouldassistthemwithGunsandammunition,andhe requestedof me to writeto yourhonor,becausehe wasjustsettingoff forLancaster,andtheInhabitanceof theTownhadnotchosetheirofiicersat thetimehe set off.So we,theInhabitanceof thesaidTown,hathunanimouschoseGeorgeWolf,the bearerhereof,to be the Captain,andAbrahamRinkerto be the Lieutenant.“ We whosenamesare underwrittenpromiseto obeyto thismentionedCaptinandLieutenant,andso we hopewillbe so goodandsendus 50 (ions,IUUlb.Powder,and4H0lb.Lead,and1.50stansforthe(Ions.“ Thesefromyourhumbleservant,remainingunderthe pmtectionofourLordSaviourJesusChrist.“ JavonRo'rll,Minister.“Thenamesof the companyof thissaidNorthamptonTown:LeonardAbel.TobiasIlittes.Lorenziiank.SimonBrenner.JohnMartinDoerr.PeterRoth.FranzKefier.JacobMohr.AbrahamSa'vitz.JohnSchreck.GeorgeS. Schnefl‘.MichaelRotlirock."“ George\Vulf,(hptin.“ AbrahamRinker,Liet.“ PhilipKoogler.“ PeterMiller.“ Jacob“'olf.“SimonLagundacker.“ GeorgeNicholas.“ DavidDeshier.“ MartinFroelich." GeorgeLauer.“ DanielNonnemacher.“ PeterScliab.“ FrederickScliachler.t Theold stonehouse,whichwasa placeof refugein troublousIndiantimes,is in a goodstateof preservationandstillinhabited.Itstandsuponthenorthbankof CoplayCreek,in Whitehalltownship,upona farmownedby D. J. F Deshler,of Allentown.5 FactsconcerningAdamBoulderandhis familyappearin the historyof Whitehalltownship.It willbe seenby referenceto the chapterofIndianhistoryin theCarbonCountydepartmentof thisworkthatDO‘BIIIQI'furnishedlargequantitiesof provisionsfor the provincialforcesin 1756,1757,and"58.
LOCALAFFAIRSDURINGTHEREVOLUTION.11Thatthemilitarycompanywasnotof verymuchutilityuponits organizationwill appearfroman extractfromoneof Col.JamesBurd’slettersto theGovernor,datedOct.17, 1763.He says,“I arrivedhere(Lancaster)on MdndaynightfromNorthampton.I neednot troubleyourHonorwitha relationof themisfortuneof thatcounty,as Mr.Horsfieldtoldmehe wouldsendyouan expressandinformyoufullyof whathadhappened.I willonlymentionthatin the townof Northampton(whereI wasat thetime)therewereonlyfourguns,threeof whichunfitfor use,andthe enemywithinfourmilesof the place."included),to be employedin the mosteffectualmanner for the defenseof this province.”Theinhabitantshavingbecomethoroughlyarousedandwatchful,andthegovernmenthavingtaken! promptandeflicientmeasures,it was no longerwithinl the boundsof practicablepossibilityfor the Indiansto invadethe territorybelowthe BlueRidge,buttheycontinuedfor a numberof years—infact,as lateas l780—tocommitmurdersin the countryjustnorthof the mountains,someof which,havingoccurredinCarbonCounty,are relatedin thisvolume.Fromothersourceswe learnthattheonegunin ‘goodconditionwasthe propertyof DavidDeshler.Fortunatelythereprovedto be no necessityfor thecompanyor for guns.Thefeelingof alarm,however,extendedmuchfartherthanAllentown.BucksCountyhadearlysentsuccorto hernorthernneighbor,onecompanyof mountedmencomingintothehostilecountrywithintwenty-fourhours,andtwoothersspeedilyfollowing.Companieswerequicklyorganizedin variouspartsof NorthamptonCounty.LouisGordon,of Easton,wascaptainof one,andJacobArndt,whohadremovedfromBucksCounty,ofanother.TheGovernorwasthoroughlyalarmedat whathesupposedto be a generaluprisingof the Indians,andappearsevento havebeenconcernedfor the safetyofPhiladelphia.On the 15thof Octoberhe calledtheattentionof the Assemblyto themurdersin NorthamptonCountyin an earnestmessage,in whichheurgedthatimmediateattentionbe givento the sub-Ijectof providingmeansfor the protectionof the frontier settlements.He said,—. “ I havereceivedwell-attestedaccountsof manybarbarousandshockingl'l’lllhlf'f'landotherdepredationshavingbeencommittedbylndiansinNorthamptonCounty,in consequencewhen-ofgreatnumbersof thosewhocscapcdthe rageof the enemyhavealreadydeserted,and are dailydesertingtheirliabilalions;so thatunlesssomecti'octunlaid be speedilygrantedthem,to inducethemto standtheirground,itis difficultto may wheretheirdooertionnwillstopor to howsmalla distancefromthe capitalonr frontiermaybe reduced." TheProvincialcommiulonersand]have,in consequenceof lill‘ relol'rof the Assemblyof the 6thof Julylast,doneeverythingin ourpowerfor the protectionof the provincepursuantto thetrustimposedon us;but as our fundsare entirelyexhausted,andevena considerablelrrearbecomesdueto the soldiersandothersemployedby thegovernmentfortheirpay,whichwehavenotin ourpowerto discharge,it.seemsimpossiblethatthtIforcesnowon footcanbe longerkepttogetherwithouta supplyis speedilygrantedfor thatpurpose.“ I therefore,gentlemen,in themostearnestmannerrecommendtoyourimmediateconsiderationthedistressedaisleof ourunfortunateinhabitantsof the frontier,whoarecontinuallyoxpomdto the savagecrueltyof a mercilesseni-my,amirequestthatyouwillin yourpresentsessiongrantsucha supplyas, withGod‘sassistance,mayenableusnot onlyto prutoctour ownpeople,but to talu-a severerevengeon ourpcrtidiousfuelby pursuingthemintotheirowncountry;for whichPurposethereprevailsat presenta nobleardoramongourfrontierpeople which,in my opinion,oughtby all meansto be cherishedandimproved". , ,TheAssemblyactedpromptly,passingon Oct.22,1763,a provision“ thatthesumof twenty-fourthousandpoundsbe grantedto his Majestyfor raising,paying,andvictuallingeighthundredmen(officers. of thefollowingJune.CHAPTERIII.LOCALAFFAIRSDURINGTHEREVOLUTION.Raisingof Trwps—Manuracturcsfor theArmyat Allentown—DislressodConditionof the People.l WHENthe Revolutionarywaropenedthe peopleofLehigh,thenan integralportionof old Northampton,withwhichits historyof thatperiodis inseparablyI merged,hadenjoyedmorethana decadeof peacefulIl|andprosperousyears,whichaffordeda happycontrastwiththoseinterveningbetween1755and1764.Thefarmers,whohadso longlivedin a stateof fearanddisquietude,had,on the establishmentof peaceafterthe atrocitiesof 1763,bentall of theirenergiesto the| improvementof theirlandandtheirhomes,givingonlythatmodicumof attentionto publicaffairswhichthe interestsof the Statedemandfromgoodcitizens.‘ Butwhenthe inexorableflowof eventsoperatingonpublicopinionshowedthatthe crisisof warwiththemother-countrywasinevitable,themartialandthepatrioticspiritof thesequietandusuallyundemonstrativepeoplewasawakened,andtheirthoughtsI weregivento the one absorbingtopicof the times.) Thefeelingthatexistedin theprovinceis shown{bythe expressionsof theconventionwhichwas|heldin PhiladelphiaJan.23—28,1775.Followingis an extractfromtheresolutionsadopted:“Butif the humbleandloyalpetitionof said Congressto his mostgraciousMajestyshouldbe dis' regarded,andtheBritishadministration,insteadofredressingourgrievances,shoulddetermineby forceto effecta submissionto the latearbitraryactsof theindispensabledutyto resistsuchforce,andat everyhazardto defendthe rightsand libertiesof America."Northamptonwasrepresentedin theconventionwhichthusenunciatedthe independentprinciplesofthepeopleby GeorgeTaylor,JohnOakley,PeterKichline,andJacobArndt., Thewarthatwasto last.sevenyearsopenedwiththe battleof Lexingtonuponthe 19thof April,1775,andthe battleof BunkerHillwasfoughton the 17thWashingtonwasplacedatBritishParliament,in sucha situationwe holdit ourll
12'HISTORYOFLEHIGHCOUNTY,PENNSYLVANIA.the headof the army.Pennsylvaniatookpromptactiontowardraisingthefourthousandthreehundredmenapportionedto theprovince,andmadeappropriationsfortheirsupport.NorthamptonCountywasas fullyarousedas anyportionof theprovince,andquicklyorganizeda companyof soldiers,eachmanenlistingreceivinga bountyof threepounds($3.00).Thiscompany,of whichThomasCraigwascaptain,was composedalmostentirelyof NorthamptonCountymen,andthereweremanyfromthatportionwhichis nowLehigh.Thecompanyformeda portionoftheSecondPennsylvaniaBattalion,Iof whichCol.ArthurSt. Clair(afterwardmajor-general)wasthecommander.Followingis the roll of CaptainCraig’scompany:Captains.Craig.Thomas,com.Jan.5, 1776; pro.1ieut.-c01.Sept.7, 1776.Bunner,Rudolph.FirstBeltrannbt.Kachlein,Andrew,com.Jan.5, 1776;disch.June21,1776.Dunn,IsaacBudd,com.July4, 1776.SroondLieutcmmfs.Craig,John,com.Jan.5, 1776;pro.Nov.11, 1776;subsequentlycapt.in LightDragoons,4th Cavalry.Armstrong,James,com.Nov.11, 1776.Ensign.Park,Thomas,com.Jan.5, 1776;disch.June20,1776.Dull,Abraham,com.Oct.25, 1776.1 TheSecondBattalionwasraisedunderauthorityof a resolutionofCongressdatedDec.9,1775.Thefield-ofiicersof thebattalionwere001.ArthurSt. Clair(afterwarda major-generalin theRevolutionaryarmy),Lieut.-(‘cl.WilliamAllen(promotedfromcaptainin theFirstBattalion),andMaj.JosephWood.TheadjutantwasGeorgeRom.Onthe16thof February,1776,the secretcommitteeof Congresswasdirectedto furnishCol.St. Clair‘sbattalionwitharms,andto writetohimto use theutmostdiligencein gettinghis battalionready,andtomarchthecompaniesas fastas theywereready,oneat a time,toCanada.On the 13thof MarchLieut.-Col.Allenhadarrivedin NewYork,andembarkedsomeof the companiesfor Albany,andreceivedan orderfromGen.Stirlingto directtherestof the companiesto proceedto NewYork,wherequarterswouldbe foundfor them.On the12thof April,1776,fivecompaniesof theSecondBattalionwereatFortEdward,N. Y., on the UpperHudsonRiver,wheretheyremaineduntilthe19th,whentheywereorderedto FortGeorge,whencetheymovednorthwandby wayof LakeChamplainintoCanada.Theothercompaniesof the Secondcameup, andon the6th of May,Lieut.-(‘ol.AllenwiththebattalionhadpassedDeschambault,andwaswithinthreemilesof Quebec,wherehe metGen.ThomaswiththearmyretreatingfromQuebec.0nthe7th,at a councilof war,at whichhewaspresent,it wasdeterminedthatthearmyshouldcontinuetheretreatas far as theSorel.Thomaswiththe armyleft Deschambaulton the13th,andwasat ThreeRiverson the 15thwithabouteighthundredmen.On the 20th,Gen.Thomaswasat Sorel,andthe samedayissuedan orderto Col.Maxwellto abandonThreeRivers,whichhedid,andwiththerearof the armyreachedSorelon the 24th.FromSore],Col.St. Clair'sbattalionwithothertroopsturnedbackandproceededto TroisRivieres,on the St. Lawrence,where,on Saturday,the8thof June,a severebattlewasfought,resultingin the defeatof theAmericanforce,whichretreatedup theSt. Lawrence,andreachedSorelon the 10th.On the 14ththe Britishgeneral,Burgoyne,reachedthatplace,the Americanshavingevacuatedit onlya fewhoursbefore,andmovedup the SorelRiverto St. John’s,at the footof LakeChamplain.Fromtheretheretreatwascontinuedto IsleauxNoix,andthenceto CrownPointandTiconderoga,whichlast-namedplacetheSecondBattalionleft,Jan.2-1, 1777,andmovedsouthwardto Pennsylvania,theenlistmentof the menhavingexpired.Subsequentlymanyof themenlistedin the ThirdRegimentof Pennsylvania.Scrgcanh.Marshall,Robert,app.Jan.7, 1776;disch.July13, 1776.Smith,Peter,app.Jan.15, 1776;pm.Nov.11, 1776.Horn,Abraham,app.Jan.5, 1776.Dull,Abraham,app.Jan.19,1776;pro.Oct.25,1776.Shouse,t‘hristian,app.July13, 1776.‘ Carey,John,app.Oct.25, 1776;disch.NOV.21, 1776._...¢____.__--lMcBlichael,John,app..\'ov.21, 1776.Minor,John,app.Jan.13, 1776,drummer.Gangwer,(lwrge,app.Jan.111, 1776;titer;reducedOct.11, I776.Fuller,Stephen,app.Oct.11, I776,tifer.(.‘Of‘lil'fl’lllfi.Shouse,Christian,app.Jan.15, 1776;pro.July13, 1776.Carey,John,app.Jan.6, 1776;pro.Oct.25, 1776.Byel,Peter,app.Jan.17,776.i Powelson,Henry,app.Feb.11, 1776.McMichael,John,app.April8,1776;pro. June21,1776.Shearer,Robert,app.April12, 1776.Sweeney,Jamel,app.NM.21, 1776.Mon,Samuel,app.July12, 1776.Privates,Kuna,George(diedAug.6, 1776).Kuns,Michael.Labar,Leonard.Labar,Melchior.Man,John.Man,Lawrence.Mcliiichael,John(pro.April8,1776)Miller,f'hristian.Miller,Matthias.Mengas,Conrad.Minon,David.Mock,John.Morey,Robert.Mon,Samuel(pro.July13, 1776).Nagle,Leonard.Ney,Samuel.Phase,George.Powels,Jacob.Prang,Stophel.Ramsey,Thomas.Rusarch,Conrad.Reyley,Daniel.Richards,Jonathan.Rinkcr,Abraham.Rogers,Timothy.Shafler,Thomas.Shannon,John.Shearer,Henry.Shearer,Robert(pro.1776)Smith,Peter.Smith,Philip.Standley,Peter.Stinson,David.Sterner,George.Sweeney,James(pm.Nov.21,1776).Thompson,James.Wilson,Robert.Wise,Jacob.Yiesly,Feity.Ackert,John.Aseur,Anthony.Bye-l,Jacob.Bowerman,Peter.Boyer,John.Branthuwer,Adam.Crane,Josiah.Crist,Butler.Cunningham,Alexander.Daily,Peter.Darling,John.Darling,David.Davenport.Jacob.Davis,Evan(Cookstown,TyroneCo,Ireland;on].Jan.7, 776;missingsincebattleat ThreeRivers,June8th ; paroledAug.9, 1776).Davis,John(missingsincebattleat ThreeRivers,June8th).Dir-ll,Daniel.Dohbs,Thomas.Docker,John.Evans,Evan.Fleek,Peter(wounded).Foulk,Daniel.Freedley,Henry.Gangwer,George.Grimes,Samuel(missingsincethebattleof ThreeRivers,June8,1776).Groob,Philip.Hans,Leonard.Hindman,John.Iiirkie,William.Hoofman,Ludwig.Iiorn,Frederick.Hul-lcr,John.Huntsman,George.Jost,Martin.Kautsman,Nicholas.King,Charles.April12,Whenthe newsof the Declarationof IndependencereachedEastonit wasdeterminedto makea publicdemonstration,whichwasaccordinglydoneuponthe8th of July.Capt.AbrahamLabar’scompanyparadedthestreets,withfife anddrumloudlyresound—ingandcolorsflying,andthecitizensassembledinthecourt-houseto heartheirtownsman,RobertLevers,readthe Declaration.Afterthe evacuationof Bostonby the Britishunder
RAISINGOFTROOPS.13Howe,in March,1776,Washington,apprehendingthatNewYorkwasthe objective-pointof the enemy,movedtherewiththe wholeof his armyexceptasmall‘forcesufficientto garrisonBoston.Buthisentirearmywaslamentablyinsufiicicnt,andCongressresolvedto reinforcethe commander-in-chiefwiththirll7teenthousandeighthundredmilitia,ten thousandof ‘whomwereto formthe“FlyingCamp.”Of thismilitiathequotaof Pennsylvaniawassix thousand.Thematterof the quotasof Pennsylvania.and of theldifl'erentcountieswasalsoconsideredat the confer-1enceof the committeesof the province,heldat Carpenters’Hall,Philadelphia,iiromJune18thto the25th,1776,to whichthe delegatesfromNorthamptonCountywereRobertLevers,Col.NeigelGray,JohnWeitzel,DavidDeshler,NicholasDepue,andBenjaminDepue.At thissessionof the conferencethefollowingresolutionswerepassedconcerningtheorganizationof the troops:“Resolved,unanimously,Thatthisconferencedo recommendto thecommitteesandaasociatore1of thisprovinceto embody4500of the militia, which,withthe 1500mennowin the pay of thisprovince,willbethe qnomof thisprovince,as requiredby Congress.“ Resolved,unanimously,Thatthe4500miliiiarecommendedto beraisedbe formedintosix battalions,eachbattalionto he commandedbyonecolonel,onelieutenant-colonel,onemajor;the staffto consistofa chaplain,a surgeon,an adjutant,a quartermaster,anda surgeon‘smate,andto haveonesurgeon-major,onequartermasier-sorgeant,n.drumJnaior,anda fife-major,andto be composedof ninecompanies,viz.:one ensign,foursergeants,fourcorporals,a drummer,a titer,andsixtysix privateseach,andoneriflecompany,to consistof a captain,threelieutrnants,foursergeants,fourcorporals,onedrummer,onetiter,andeightyprivates.“eightbattalioncompanies,to consistofacaptain,twolieutenants,.Theestablishmentof a permanentprovincialgovernment,and the holdingof a conventionfor the purposeof formingthesame,werealsoconsidered.Aresolutionwaspassedprovidingthatall whowereentitledto votefor representativesin AssemblyshouldIbe permittedto votefor delegatesto the convention1aftertakingthetest—oathof allegiance(shouldit berequired).The judgesof electionwerevestedwithpowerto administertheoath.Monday,the8thofJuly,wasappointedas the timefor holdingtheelection.NorthamptonCounty.wasdividedintofourelectiondistricts,as follows:TheFirstDislricL—Easton,William,LowerSaucon,Bethlehem,Forks,MountBethe],Plainfield;tobe heldat Boston.TheSecondDietrich—Northampton,Salisbury,Upper Saucon,UpperMilford,Macungie,Weissenberg,Lynn,Whitehall,Heidelberg;to be heldat Allen’sTown.TheThirdDistrict.—Allen,Moore,ChestnutHill,Towamensing,Penn,Lehigh;to be heldat PeterAnthony’s.The 1mmDish-{vh—Hamilton,LowerSrnithfield,I‘Theterm“asaociators‘IWasadoptedto designatethosewhosub-‘scribedlo the test-oathor allegianceto theprovincialgovernment,“prescribedby resolutionof Congrsas.Thosewhodid not takethisoathwerecalled" non-aloclators.“]Delaware,UpperSmithiield; to be heldat NicholasDepue’s.It willbe observedthatthe wholeof thepresentcountyof Lehigh,exceptHanover,wasincludedinthe seconddistrict.Thejudgesof electionfor thisdistrictwereDavidDeshler,GeorgeBreinig,andJohnGerhart.The quotaof Northamptontowardsthe formation, of the FlyingCampwasthreehundredandforty~six,of whichnumber,it is said,twohundredcamefromtheterritorynowcomprisedin Lehigh(thoughthatestimateis probablytoo high).\VelearnfromtheBethlehemDiarythaton the30thof July,1776,“onehundredandtwentyrecruitsfromAllentownand vicinity”passedthroughthatplaceon theirwayto the “ FlyingCampin the Jerseys.”Someof thesemenjoinedthecompanyof Capt.JohnArndt,oi'Baxter’sbattalion,whichearlyin AugustjoinedWashington’sarmyon LongIsland,andparticipatedin the battlewhichensuedthereon the27thof thatmonth,andwhichresultedso disastroustto the colonialtroops.Thecompanysufl‘eredseverelyin thisengagement,andalsoin thatat FortWashington,Nov.16, 1776.Followingis the rollof thecompanyas takenat Elizabethtownthe day afterthe battle:Capt.JohnArndt.2d Liout.PeterKichlins.Snrgmnls.PhilipArndt.Covporulu.PeterRichter.Jacobchhline.RobertScott.ElijahCrawford.I'n'rales.DanielLewis.AlexanderSyllernan.JohnMidtiagh.HenryOnangat.John)ici‘erren.AdamYohe.RobertLyle.JamesFerrill.JacobWagner.ConradSmith.Samuel)lcCracken.GeorgeEssig.JohnKostlel'.ValentineYent.MichaelIlls].HenryFatzlnger.MichaelKehler.lir-nryWolf,Jr.laaacShoemaker.JohnYent.DanielSenior.JamesSymonton.ChristianStout.JacobMiller.BenjaminDepui.MichaelKrcaa.Namesand rankof thosekilledor takenprisonerson LongIsland,Aug.27, 1776:Sergmvru.AndrewHeister.AndrewHeifer.Pt'imlu.ThomasSybert.PeterKern.Jacobimflord.AnthonyFrutchy.RichardUvertleld.PeterLehr.JosephStout.PhilipBosh.JacobWeitiknecht.PeterFrees.MartinDerr.BartletMiller.GeorgeFry.AbrahamPeter.MatthiasSteittinger.Johnllarpt-l.HenryBush,Sr.LawrenceErb.PeterBeyer.Namesand rankof thosekilledor takenprisonersat FortWashington,Nov.16, 1776:
14COUNTY,PENNSYLVANIA.HISTORYOF LEHIGH1st Llenl.JosephMartin.3d Lleul.lamShhner.Drummer,JohnArndt.Fifi-r,llenryAllshonse.Privates.JohnWolf.Frederick\Yagner.ChristianRodi.SamuelCorrey.JamesIlyndshaw.IlenryFri-1..JohnRoss.HenryBush,Jr.JacobAndrews.HenryStranp.JohnBush.IssacKoon.ConradBittenbender.ChristianIiarpel.PaulRaiser.JosephMlnim.JohnShuck.HenryWeldknecht.JacobTraunfeeter.Adam\Veldknecht.IsaacBerlin.FrederickRieger.JacobEngler.AdamBortz.LewisCollins.GeorgeEdlnger.JosephKeller.ChristianHarpel.WilliamWarrand.JacobKrelder.Fred.Wilhelm.' JosephChess.lienry Wolf,Sr.Washington,afterthedisastrousbattleof HarlemHeights,retreatedacrosstheNorthRiver,andthearmymarchedrapidlythroughtheStateof NewJerseyby wayof Newark,NewBrunswick,Princeton,andTrenton,makingnonebutbriefandnecessaryhaltsuntilPennsylvaniasoilwasreached.TheDelawarewasthenrelieduponto checkthe progressof Cornwallis’pursuingforces.The GeneralHospitalhadbeenlocatedat Morristown,N. J., butthisretreatmadeit necessaryto' removeit withinthe contractedlinesof the army.Thetownof Bethlehem,in theestimationof the commander-in-chief,wasthemostadvantageouslocation,beingwellsituatedandhealthful,andfar enoughremovedfromthe fronttobe practicallysecurefromthe enemy.In pursuanceof Washington’swish,JohnWarren,generalsurgeonto the ContinentalHospital,sentto BishopEttwein,spiritualandtemporalheadof the Moravians,thefollowingcommunication:“ Accordingto his ExcellencyGeneralWashington’sorder,the GeneralHospitalof the armyislremovedto Bethlehem;andyou will do the greatestact of humanityby immediatelyprovidingproperbuildingsfor its reception.”TheexpressbearingthisnotificationarrivedinBethlehemDec.3, 1776,andoneof theprincipalbuildingswasimmediatelyvacatedandput in readinessfor the sickandwoundedwhowereexpected.Whenthe firsttwohundredandfiftyhumanwrecksof wararrived,theyweremadeas comfortableaspossibleunderthe circumstances.Theywereentirelydestituteof provisions,andit wasthreedaysbeforeany arrived.Duringthattimethe benevolentMoravianssuppliedthemwithfoodgratuitously.TheMoraviansat Bethlehemandelsewhereneverturneda deafear to the criesof distressedhumanity.Theirposition,as regardedthe belligerentsin thewar of the Revolution,was one of strictneutrality,infull accordancewiththeirlong-establishedprinciples,but theyweresuspectedin somequartersto be insympathywiththe British.Oneof the menhighintheircouncilssaid,“It is our desireto live at peacewithall men.We wishwellto the countryin whichR we dwell.Ourdecliningto exercisein theuseofarmsis no newthing,nor doesit proceedfromcertain, considerations,beinga fundamentalprincipleof the! Brethren’sChurch,——apointof consciencewhichouri firstsettlersbroughtwiththemintothisprovince.' Weneverhave,nor willever,act inimicallyto thiscountry;we willdo nothingagainstits peaceandI interest,noropposeanycivilruleor regulationintheprovinceor countrywhereinwe dwell.On thei otherhand,we willsubmitourselvesin all thingsin', whichwe cankeepa goodconscience,andnot with} drawour shouldersfromthe commonburden.”I Notonlywerethesepeopleunderthe suspicionofmanyof thesettlersin NorthamptonCounty,buttherewasa feelingof animosityagainstthemon thei partof someof the officersand soldiersof the Amerii canarmy.It wasthereforewitha feelingof some‘ alarmthattheysawtroopsencampedoppositeBethi lehemon thenightof Dec.17, 1776.Forsomei reason,whichdoesnot clearlyappear,the divisionofGen.Lee,then,however,underthecommandof1 Gen.Sullivan,aftercrossingtheDelawarein theretreatfromFortWashington,hadmovedup thel Lehighas far as the Moraviantown.Gen.Leehadbeencapturedat BaskenRidge,N. J., andhe hadbeenheardto sayat thetimethatif everhe hadopportunityto do so he shouldsackthe townof Beth| lehem,for he believedthe Moravianpeopleinimicalto the Americancause,andin somemysteriouswayresponsiblefor hisbeingmadea prisoner.If thecitizensof Bethlehem,however,hadanyseriousfears,theyweresoondispelled,for Gen.Sullivanshowedhimselfto be theirfriend,anduninfluencedby theall too-prevalenthueandcry againstthem.Gen.Gates,too,whohappenedto be at thetown,entertaineda veryhighregardfor the Moravians.Whilethe chiefcentresof operationsand of interest in NorthamptonCountywereBethlehemandEaston,Allentown(thencalledNorthampton),althougha comparativelyinsignificanthamletof aboutthreehundredandfiftypopulation,wasa placeofsomeimportancehistorically,as we shallshow,andwasfrequentlymentionedin theoflicialcorrespondenceof thetimes.1A considerablenumberof theHessianstakenprisonersby Washingtonat Trenton,on Christmas,1776,werebroughthereandkeptfora timein tents.Accordingto thetestimonyof anold citizen,lthe campwasin the northernpartoftown,probablywhereGordonStreetnowis.Someof thesemercenariessettleddownhereandbecamefreecitizens,beingverywillingto giveup soldier]ifewhentheyhadopportunity.At a laterperiodof the warotherprisonerswerebroughtto Allentown,andalsosomeof theAmericansoldierswhoweresickor wounded,to be nursed.In thiscontingency\ PennsylvaniaArchives.9 Fromthe AllentownFriedmabalc.
MANUFACTURESFORTHEARMYATALLENTOWN.the onlychurchin townwas temporarilyconverted‘ the hopeto obtainthe necessaryworkmento finishinto a hospital.In the summerof 1777it appearsthatAllentownwasthecentreof operationsfor theformationof awagon-brigade.JohnArndt,Esq.,of Easton,writingunderdateof July9th,to ThomasWharton,presidentof the SupremeCouncil,says," On June26th,as manyof us as couldassembledin Allenstown,andelectedConradKreider,of Allentownship,wagon-master.”On July5th,Kreiderreportedthat therewerein thecountyfivehundredandtittywagons.In thissameyearthebellsof ChristChurch,Philadelphia,werebroughtherefor concealment‘whentheBritishtookpossessionof thecity,andtheBethlehemDiarysaysthatthewagonconveyingthembrokedownin the'streetat thatplace.TheBethlehemDiaryof Feb.10, 1777,says,“ WeIhavebeeninformedlastweekthatcertainmilitiainthe neighborhoodof AllentownhaveexpressedthreatstowardsBethlehemandits inhabitants.”Thisthreatwasdoubtlessmadebecauseof thereputedTory,orat leastnon-resistant,spiritof its people.It was byreasonof the samefeelingon thepartof the Americansthattheyrefusedto havethelaboratoryfor themanufactureof cartridgesremainin Bethlehem,andremovedit to Allentown,Sept.28, 1777.Afterthisremovalworkswerealsoestablishedherefor repairing arms,makingsaddles,andotherarticlesneededby the military.Theseworks,as we shalldulymakeit appear,werequiteextensive.OneCapt.Stileswasin chargeof thestores,tools,andarms,andordersuponhimfor variousquantitiesof the different articlesin his possessionwerefrequentlygiventooflicersneedingthemby Col.BenjaminFlowersandothers.Theextremerigorsof theRevolutionwerefeltamongthe workmenat Allentown,as theywerebythe Americansoldiersandartisansemployedin thatwaralmosteverywhere.Underdateof Feb.17, 1778,JohnWetzell,lieutenantat Allentown,wroteto thepmidentof the ExecutiveCouncilat Lancaster,7"MydutydemandsthatI shouldgivenewsto youiof a neworderreceivedyesterday,viz.,in relationto shortnessof rationsissuedto militaryworkersandsaddlers,the samehavingcreatedsuchgreatunrestamongthe workmenthattheyconcludedto giveupwork.A conversationwithDavidDeshlerandFred.Hagenermadethemmorecontent.The sub-lieutenants havereceivedmanyarmsto be repaired,and re~ceivedyesterdayfour hundredmuskets,and moreare ,expecteddaily.wantsa largequantityof repairedguns,becauseheis expectingnewmilitiaeveryday,as wellas militiaIof this county,whichis to be fullyequipped.Wehavedecidedto allowformerrationsuntilwe receivefurtherinstructions.Ourdepartmentis nowin goodorder,and is increasedeveryday,so thatI entertainThequarlemasmwmesthatheof Congressandthe ProvincialAssembly.our labor."“ P.S.—Therationswhichat presentare issuedare15 poundsof beef,15 poundsof bread,alsoflourandvegetables,é pintof rumor whiskey,wood,soap,andcandles.”Lieut.-Conl.CorneliusSweers,of Lebanon,writingto Wharton,May4, 1778,says,“Oninvestigationofthe storesat Allentown,I foundcertainbarrelsandchestscontainingsail-cloth.Sincewe are in immediateneedof thisarticle,I askedCapt.Stilesfor thesame,whichhe saidcouldonlybe surrenderedon anorderof the Council.I flattermyselfthatyouwillgivethisorder,as Gen.Washingtonneedsthe samefor ordnancewagons,etc.”Thequantityof armsandstoresrepairedandinreadinessat Allentownwasreportedby Sub-Lieut.FredHagenerto Wharton,May7, 1778,as follows:"800mnsketsandbayonet!withscabharda.650 bayonetbelts.750 haversacks.45 shotpouches.18 powderflasks.400 knapsacks.75 blankets.25 tents.140 campkettles.31 rifle.(in JohnTyler“!pomcssion'i.160 muskets(couldbe readyMay211).“ Thesegunsandarmsare in goodcondition,andwe willdo our bestto makeothersreadyandserveour country."On July20, 1778,RichardPeters,in the nameofthe WarOflice,informedthe Vice-Presidentof Pennsylvaniathat“theconditionof affairson the borderswasof themostalarmingnature,butthattheWarOflicehaddoneeverythingin its powerto serveoutmilitarystores.”At thattimethe Statehadat leasttwelvethousandstandsof armsat Allentownawaiting ordersto be issuedto the militia.ThisservestoshowthatAllentownwasat thisperiodextraordinarily activein the causeof liberty.Its people,andthoseof the surroundingcountry,werealmostwithoutexceptionintenselypatriotic.Amongthemostactivelypatrioticcitizensof thecountyof NorthamptonwereDavidDoshler,Iof Allentown,andCapt.JohnArndt,‘of Easton,bothofwhomadvancedmoneyto the provincialgovernmentwhenthe publictreasurywasempty,andthattoo ata timewhenthe prospectof its beingreturnedwasnot verybright.Theybothlaboredwithunflaggingzeal to promotethe welfareof the publiccauseandto fill the quotaof the county,as requiredby the actsWe havealreadyexhibitedproofof Deahler'sgreatinfluence1 Bupp,quoting8. E. Wright,fiq.1 He wasthe son of AdamDeshler,of Whitehall,whoactedas cornmissaryfor theProvincialtroopsin the IndianWll‘beginningin Fish,(Socchapteron the cityof Allentown.)' Capt.JohnArnilt,afterpassingthroughthe disastrouscampaignof 1776,returnedto Eastern,crippledandbrokenill healthfromthewoundho hadreceivedin the battleofLongislandand[mmthe huntshipsbe hadpassedthrough.Notwithstanding,he declinedto askfor. the pensionwhichthe lawwouldhavegivenhim.
16HISTORYOFLEHIGHCOUNTY,PENNSYLVANIA.in quellingthemutinousfeelingwhichbrokeout.amongtheartisans'engagedin the Allentownshops1for the manufactureof cartridgesandthe repairof 'arms.DeshlerandArndtwereappointedcommissarice,andin thatcapacityperformedmostvaluableser-‘vices,whichtheywereenabledto do fullyas muchIthroughtheirwideacquaintanceandpopularitywiththefarmersas by theirbusinessability.Suchinstanceswerenot by anymeansrare.In fact,the majorityofthepeople,sustainedby a purepatriotism,did‘all in theirpowerto advancethe causeof the colonies.Mostof thefarmersvoluntarilycameforwardandsoldto thecommissariesandtheirpurchasingagentstheircattleandproduce,receivingonlythedepreciatedContinentalcurrency,whentheymighthave3transferredthemto the Britishagentsfor gold.Butwhilethemajoritywereloyal,therewereofcoursesomeexceptionsto the rule,menin whomthemercenarywasstrongerthanthe patrioticfeeling,andwhofor gainsurreptitiouslysoldtheirgrainandcornand live-stockto merchantsin Philadelphiaand else-,whereengagedin supplyingtheenemywithprovis-fions.To preventtheBritishfrompurchasingcattleor breadstuifsin theprovinceof Pennsylvaniathe‘Assemblypassedan act,Jan.2, 1778,“topreventforestallingandregrating,andto encouragefair dealing,”theprincipalobjectof whichwasto deterall ‘personsfrommakingpurchases(especiallyof cattle)fromthe farmersexceptthoseto whompermitsweregranted.One,JohnPeterMiller,of Macungietownship,couldnot resistthe temptationofsecuringBritishgoldby evadingthislaw,andwasprosecutedunderit in the Courtof QuarterSessionsof NorthamptonCounty.The entryof the caseon the docketwas asfollows:“ TheCommonwealthof Pennsylvaniavs.JohnPeterMiller,of Macungie,Forpurchasinganumberof cattlewithouta permitto do so, contraryto an act of theGeneralAssemblyto preventfore-,stallingandregrating,anda complaintlodgedbyMich'elShaefer,committeemanof Macungytown-lship.”MillerwasbroughtbeforeJusticeRobertLevers,Sept.3, 1779,andwasboundoverto the next?termof the GeneralQuarterSessions,beingadmittedto bailin thesumof onethousandpounds,one-halflsecuredby JohnPeterMiller,farmerof UpperMil-.ford,andtwohundredandfiftypoundseachby PeterMiller,farmerof Macungie,andPeterFox,tailorof 1|the sametownship.rThenecessitiesof the Americanarmywereoften-itimesverygreatandurgent,andcattlebecameso iscarcethroughthe frequentleviesmadeon the wholecountrythatmostfamilieshadto do withoutmeat.,Tallowwasas a matterof courseequallyscarce,and‘the peoplein manyinstanceshadrecourseto a bushicalledthecandle-berry-bnshto obtainthematerial\for candles.Thestemsandtwigsof thisbu‘sh,cut insmallfragments,wereboiledin a kettle,whena pcculiarwaxor greasearoseto thesurface,whichwascarefullyskimmedoff, andwhena sufficientamountiwasprocured,formedintocandlesby dippingormoulding.Thecandleswereof a delicategreencolor,andgavea palebut clearlight.Thisservesas a fairillustrationof theexpedientsto whichthepeopleweredrivento providethe commonestnecessitiesAn extremescarcityof saltwasa moreseriousdeprivationduringRevolutionarytimesthanwouldat firstbe imagined.It broughtfromeightto twentydollarsper bushel,andoftentimeswasnot to be hadfor anyprice.A plantof the fernspecieswasusedby manyfamiliesas a substitute,butpoorlyansweredthe purpose,thoughit mademeatand vegetablesmoresavoryand palatablethantheywouldbe withoutits application.Theasperityof life duringthe Revolutionin whatis nowLehighCounty,andthroughoutthe wholeofthe greatterritoryof oldNorthampton,as wellas inotherportionsof the province,was verygreat,and theimaginationwithall of theaidsof factfailsto drawan adequatepictureof it.Addedto privationthemostsevere,therewasin thelatteryearsof the warperiodthehauntingfearthatthe war-whoopof thered alliesof theBritishwouldbe heardin the settlements,andscenesof savagehatcheryfollow,whichwouldbe illuminedby theluridglareof burningcabins.Norwas this fear a groundlessone.TheconfederatedSix Nations,whichhadbeeninducedby the Englishto takethewar-pathagainsttheAmericansduringthe year1777,committedgreatravagesin theStateof NewYork,andin 1778theydeterminedto makeamurderousforayintoPennsylvania,withthe especialobjectof strikingthe settlementson the twobranchesof theSusquehanna,whichwereleftin an almostdefenselessconditionthroughthedepartureof theirpatrioticmenfor thearmy.TheWyomingsettlementwasverynaturallytheobjectof theEnglishmen’sespecialhatred,becauseof thedevotionitspeoplehadshownto the causeof liberty;andit waseasilyaccessibleby the NorthBranchof the Susquehanna.Latein Junetheredescendedthatstream,undercommandof Col.JohnButler,a forceof elevenhundredmen,fourhundredof whomwereToryrangersandregularsoldiersof SirJohnJohnson,RoyalGreens,withsevenhundredIndians,chieflySenecas.Jenkin'sfortcapitulated,andWintermoot’s(which,as wasafterwardslearned,wasbuiltto aidtheincursionsof the Tories)at onceopenedits gatesto theinvadinghost.At Wyomingwereseveralso-calledforts,merestockades,in no oneofwhichwastherea cannonor an adequategarrison,thearms-bearingmennearlyall beingabsent,as has heretoforebeenstated.Col. ZebulonButler,who happenedto be at Wyoming,tookcommandby invitationof thepeople,andthe littleband,consistingchieflyof oldmenandboys,witha handfulof undisciplinedmilitia,againstwhomelevenhundredwarriorshad marched,madeas heroica standas the worldeversaw.On the3d of Julytheymarchedout to meetandfightthe
FRIES'R E BELLION.17enemy,for a saferetreatwiththeirfamilieswas‘ high,andonlythenewsof thedistantbattlecameimpossible,andsurrenderseemsneverto havebeenthoughtof.It is beyondourprovincein thisworkto describethe unevenbattleandthe slaughterwhichensued.Suificeit to saythatthebravedefenders,aboutfourhundredin number,weredefeatedby theassailingforce,outnumberingthemby nearlythreetoone.Thenfollowedthehorriblemassacre,a carnival of murderandtortureperformedby fiends.Butwhois therewhoknowsnot \Vyoming?\Vhothatdoesnot shudderat the recallof thatname?Of fourhundredmenwhowentintobattle,but sixtyescapedthe furyof the Indians.Thatbloodydaymadeone'hundredandfiftywidowsandsix hundredorphans‘in thevalley.AndnowtheWyomingValleyis asceneof pastoralquietandloveliness,as if in recompensefor the darkdeedsdone,the Creatorhadbreatheduponthebosomof naturethebenisonofeternalpeace.Themassacreof Wyomingthrilledthe worldwithhorror.What,then,musthavebeenthefeelingofthosepeoplewhohadreasonto thinktheymightatanyhourmeetwiththesamefatewhichhadextinguishedthelivesof thefourhundredsettlersinthe beautifulvalley?Thewholeborderwasfilledwiththe wildestalarm,anda feverof feartookpossessionof the peopleevenas far downthe countryasBethlehemandEaaton.Fortunately,no greatraidsouthwardwasundertakenby the Indians,andtheir'subsequentatrocities,committedby smallhands,wereconfinedto the regionnorthof the BlueRidge,andweresimilarin characterto the captureof the Gilbert familyand someotheroccurrenceswhichare relatedin thehistoryof CarbonCounty.Gen.Sulli-'van'sexpeditionin 1779quietedtheIndiansbycreatingin thema wholesomefearof the military,iand theeffectiveblowswhichhe struckforeverde-‘stroyedtheIroquoisconfederacy.Thedanger,how-iever,wasnot entirelypassed,andtwocompaniesof.rangersweremaintainedin NorthamptonCountyfor .the protectionof her peopleduring1781andthe followingyear.Oneof thesewas Capt.PhilipShrawder’sPennsylvaniaRangers,andthe otherCapt.Jo- 'hannesVanEtten’sVolunteers,a bodyof veteranslwhohadbeenin the fieldin 1777,andhadfoughtatthe Brandywine.After1778the battle-linewasbroken,andsweptawayfromthe Delawareto the northand the south,to the highlandsaroundNewYorkand the Carolinaswamps.Thelullof quiethadfallenuponbusyBethlehem,whichDe Kalbhad oncethoughtof fortifying.WashingtonandLafayette,“ MadAnthony”Wayne,Sullivan,andmanyotherheroesof the war,JohnHancock,SamuelAdams,RichardHenryLee,HenryLaurens,JohnAdams.anda hostof othercivilleaders,whohadsojournedat theMoraviantown,wereengagedin theirlaborsas soldiersandstatesmenin otherlocalities;the drum’swildroll andthe trampof armiesno moreresoundedby the Leaoccasionallyto arousethedwellersin theregionwhichhad beenfor two yearsa centreof war planningandof waractivity.A conditionof comparativepeacehadcometo the people,a senseof partialsecurity,whichwasmadecompleteat the closeof thewar,when,althoughleftin povertyin commonwiththecitizensof all thecolonies,theyenjoyedlibertyandstooduponthethresholdof a greaterandtruerprosperitythanthe mostsanguinehadeverimaginedcouldbe theirs.CHAPTER1V.FRIES'REBELLlON.TheTrialof JohnFriesandhis Followersfor HighTreason.THEfirstoccurrenceof unusualcharacterwhichbrokethe calmandmonotonouscurrentof affairsintheregionof whichwe write,afterthecloseof theRevolution,wasthatorganizedoppositionto lawwhichhasvariouslybeencalled“ Fries’Rebellion,"the “ MilfordRebellion,”the “ Hot-WaterWar,”andthe “ House-TaxWar.”Thisoppositionto Federalauthorityreachedits heightin 1798and1799.Thetheatreof its actioncentringin Milfordtownship,BucksCo.,includedBucks,Northampton,andMontgomery,anda largeproportionof its sceneswereenactedin the territorywhichconstitutesLchigh.Shortlyaftertheinaugurationof JohnAdamsasPresidentof theUnitedStates,on March4, 1797,anumberof actswerepassedby Congress,andapprovedby the Executive,which,by manyof the peopleof the country,wereregardedas obnoxious.Amongthesewerethealienandseditionlaws,andanotherknownas the house-taxlaw.Thelatter,whichwaslookeduponas especiallyunjustandburdensomeby, a portionof thepeopleof EasternPennsylvania,containeda provisiondirectingthe assessorsto measure,count,andregisterthe panesof glassin eachandeveryhouse,andmaketheirnumberandsizethebasisof a directtaxfor governmentrevenue.This‘ tax led to whatwe shallhereafteruniformlydesignateas Fries’Rebellion,whichwasby no meansthe firstrevoltcausedby taxationin the UnitedStates.1Theinsurrectionarymovementagainstthehousetax of 1798brokeout in Milfordtownship,BucksCo.,in the fall of the year.Theheadandfrontof itwasJohnFries,2whohadas his trustylieutenantsl Shay‘aRebellion,in Massachusetts,wasthefirstorganizedoppositionto Federallaw,andwasmuchmoreseriousin its consequent“thanthatwhichwe herehaveto consider.TheWhiskeyInsurrectionin Pennsylvania(chieflyConfinedto WashingtonandFayetteCounties)arosefromtaxationin 1794,andwasnot so easilyquelledby anymeansas Fries‘so-calledrebellion.’ JohnFrieswasbornin Hatfieldtownship,MontgomeryCo.,slam!1750,marriedMaryBrunnor,of WhiteMarsh,at theageof twenty,andfiveyearslaterremovedto Milford,BucksCo.,wherche builtIi houseon the landof JosephGalloway,at BoggyCreek.At the timeof
18HISTORYOFLEHIGHCOUNTY,PENNSYLVANIA.FrederickHeanyandJohnGetman.Theoppositionof Friesandhis followersto the tax preventedallassessmentsin Milfordtownship,andtheyweregivenup.TheinsurrectionalsoextendedintoNorthamptonCounty(theregionnowembracedby its limits,andthatalsowithinthe boundsof Lehigh),wheretheassessorswerechasedfromonetownshipto another,andeffectuallydeterredby the fearof physicalill treatment,andevenworseconsequences,fromcarryingout the dutiesfor whichtheywereelected.Itis saidthattheresistantsof thetaxassembledinpartiesof fiftyor sixty,andthatmostof themwerewellarmed.Friesusuallycarrieda largehorsepistol,anda'ccoutredhimselfin semi-militarystyle,for he hadbeena soldierin theRevolutionarywar,andhadconsiderableknowledgeof warmanteuvresas wellas martialspirit.Thesystemof terrorismwascarriedon witha highhand,butat lengthit receiveda check.OneNichols,whowasa marshalofNorthampton,hadthe hardihoodwhenhe knewthatFrieswas absent,to servewarrantson seventeenot'hisknownadherentsandtakethemfor imprisonmenttoBethlehem.Somewerereleasedon bail,but severalwereretainedin custody.Thiswasaboutthe 1st ofMarch,1799,andit wasuponthe6ththattheredoubtableFrieslearnedwhathadbeendone.He atonceformeda resolutionto rescuehis adherentsfromthe officersof the law.He drewup a strongagreement,whichthemembersof his bandsigned,pledging themselvesto standby the leaderuntilhis purposewasaccomplished.On themorningof the 7th theymarchedto Bethlehem,aboutonehundredandfortystrong,bearingarmsof almosteveryvariety,andformingalmostasmotleya throngas an old-timeWesterncompanyof“ corn-stalkmilitia.”Theywerea determinedband,however,andtheywereinspirednot aloneby fife anddrum,but by the wordsofamanwhohadin himtheelementsof a leader.Theysurroundedthe “Sun”Tavern,wherethe prisonerswereconfined,andFriesboldlydemandedof themarshalthattheyshouldbereleased.Aftera slightshowof resistance,thisdemandwasaccededto, andhis objectthusbeingaccomplished,Friesrodeawayin exultation,hissupportersfollowing.Thisboldact cameverynearcostingtheleaderandsomeotherstheirlives,fornewsof theopenrebellioncomingto the President,he sentan armedforceto re-establishorderin NorthamptonandBucksCounties.SeveralcompaniesmarchedfromLancaster,April1, 1799,wendingtheirwaytowardthe scenesof disturbanceby wayofReading(wherealsoconsiderableoppositionto the, tax hadbeenmanifested).I Frieshadno dispositionto meetthesesoldiers,andi so wentintohiding.Aboutonemonth,however,fromthe timehe hadboldlymarchedintoBethlehemi andintimidatedthemarshalandhis aids,he wascapturedin a swampnearBunkerHill,on thefarm| of JohnKeichline.Hishiding-placehadbeenbetrayedby a littledogcalled"Whiskey,"whichfollowedhimeverywhere.He wascompletelycrestfallen,and unrcsistinglyallowedhimselfto be takenby his captorsto thatconfinementfromwhichhei shouldonlyemergeto standtrialfor treason,thepenaltyof whichwasdeath.. On the 15thof May,1799,Mr.Sitgreaves,of Eas: ton, openedthe trialon the partof the UnitedStates.Followingare extractsfromhis speech,1whichgivequitea detailedhistoryof the “ rebellion”:the outbreakhe livedin a log houseon a lot thatbelongedto WilliamEdwards,on the Sumneytownroad.He hadservedin the Revolution-'nry army.“ He was a manof goodmind,"saysGen.W.H.H. Dlvil,inhis “ Historyof BucksCounty,"" but hadreceivedonlythe rudimentsof an education.He talkedwell,andpossesseda rudeeloquencethat' swayedthemultitude.liischaracterwasgood,andhe stoodwellamonghis neighbors.He learnedthe cooper‘strade,but followedtheoccupationof a vsnduecrior."He diedabout1820.“Itwillappear,gentlemen,fromthetestimonywhichwillbe presentedto you,thatduringthe lattermonthsof the your1198discord.prevailedto an enormousextentthroughouta largeportionof theI countiesof Bucks,Northampton,andMontgomery,andthatconsider) abledifficultiesattendedthe nsmsoru[or the directtax in theexecu; tionof theirduties—thatin severaltownshipsa-sociatiunsof the peoplel wereactuallyformedIn orderto preventthepersonschargedwiththeI execlltionof the lawsof the UnitedStatesfromperiormmgtheirduty,l andmoreparticularlyto preventtheaneserfrommeasuringthe| houses.Thisoppositionwasmadeat manypublictown-hipmeeting!I calledfor thepurpose.In manyinstancesresolutionsin writingwere‘ enteredinto,solemnlyiorewnrningthe officers,andmanytimesaccomr puniedby threats.Not onlyno, but discontentsprevailedIn sucha height, thateventhe friendsof the governmentwerecompletelysuppressedby‘ menace!againstanywhoshoulduuiltthoseofl'lcorsin theirduty;E repeateddeclarationsweremade,bothat publicas wellas privatemeet' ings,thatit anypersonshouldbe arrestedby the civilauthority,sucharrestwouldbe followedby therilingof thepeople,in oppositiontothatauthority,for the purposeof rescuingsuchprisoners;lndei’alignbleI painsweretakenby thosechargedwiththeexecutionof thelawsto' calmthefearsandremovethemisapprehension-of theinfatuatedi people;for thispurposetheyreadandexplainedlhe law to them.andinformedthemthattheyweremisledintotheideathatthe lawwasi not actuallyin force,for thatit actuallywas; a! the sametimewarning| themof the consequenceswhichwouldflowfromopposition;andthiswasaccompaniedby promisesthatoxenlheirmos!capriciouswishes‘ wouldhe gratifiedon theirobedience.Thofavorwasin manyinstancesi granted,thatwhenanyoppositionwasmadeto anycertainperson1 executingtheofllccof muscular,anothershouldbe substitutod.Insometownshipproposalsweremadefor peopll'to choosefor themselves;i but notwithstandingthilaccommodatingoflerthe oppositioncontinued.| Theconsequenceswereactualoppositionandresistance;in somepoml violenceWul actuallyused,andthe assessorsweretakenandimprisoned, by armedparties,andin otherpartiesmobsassembledto compelI.th' eitherto deliverup theirpapersor to resigntheircommissions;thatinsomeinstancestheywerethreatenedwithbodilyharm,so thatin thosepartstheobnoxiouslawremainedunsxecutedin consequenceThestateof insurrectionandrebellionhadarisento sucha heightitbecamenecessaryto compeltheexecutionof thelaws,andwarrantsI werein consequenceimuedagainstcertainpersonsandserveduponthem;in someinltancesduringthe executionof thatdutythe marshalmetwithinsultandalmostwithviolence; having,however,got nearlythe wholeof the warrant:served,he appointedheadquartersfor thoseprisonersin rendezvousat Bethlehem,wheresomeof themwarstoenterbailfor theirappearancein the cityandotherswereto cometol the cityin custodyfor trial.“ 0n the day thusappointedfor the prisonersto meel,andwhena numberof themhadactuallyassembledagreeablyto appointment,at numberof partiesin arms,bothhornsandfoot,morethana hundredmen,accoulredwithall theirmilitaryapparatus,commandedin someinstances1 1 it wasreportedin short-handandpublishedat Philadelphiain 1&0.