Historical Collections of the State of Pennsylvania

739 Pages·1843·65.884 MB·English

by  Sherman Day

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HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA
CONTAINING
A COPIOUS SELECTION OF THE MOST INTERESTINGFACTS, TRADITIONS, BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCHES, ANECDOTES, ETC.
RELATING TO ITS
HISTORY AND
ANTIQtUITIES,
BOTH GENERALAND LOCAL,
TOPOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF EVERY COUNTY AND ALL THE LARGER TOWNS
IN THE STATE.
Illustrated by 165 Sng:raving:s.
BY SHERMAN DAY.
^t^=
PHILADELPHIA
:
PUBLISHED BY GEORGE W. GORTON,
56 NORTH THIRD-STREET.
NEW HAVENi-DURRIE AND PECK.
^ ^
-becked
Entered accordingtothe Actol Congress,inthe year 1843,
Bv Geoiige W. Gorton,
intheClerk's Officeofthe DistrictCourtof Pennsylvania.
THE
MEW YORK
LIBRARY
'public
'+
l\-Oi i
Astor,LenoxandTllder.^
Foundations.
1896
PREFACE.
The design of this workis not to present a historyof the state in the usual form, and with
theordinary chronological arrangement, butto embody andpreserveinonevolumeits local his-
tory; and whileit comprises allthegreateventsinthegeneralhistoryof thestate, these events
are solocatedin the orderof arrangement as toassociate them moreintimately with theplaces
wheretheyoccurred. Therearemanyimportant,but isolated facts,and a hundred littleepisodes
and anecdotes,of thrillinginterest to the inhabitants of theregion wheretheyoccurred, which
History, in herstatelymarch, cannot step asideto notice. The short biographical sketches, in-
tcrspersed throughout this work, of men distinguished in their own conmmnity, but not much
known beyond, seldom find an appropriateplaceinahistory of the ordinary form; andyetitis
importantthatthey—shouldbepreserved.
Theproverbsays "Charity begins athome." The studyof historyought tobegin athome
also: yethowmanymenare therein this state, asinothers, who are far more familiarwith the
historyof England,orwiththecareerof Alexander, Caesar, or Napoleon, than with the events
thathaveoccurred upontheveryfieldswhich they themselves aretilling! And this arises not
somuch fromthe wantof intelligenceon thepartofthepeople, as from thelack ofproperbooks
and documents within theirreach. It is believed, therefore, thatawork of thekind here pre-
sentedisneededbytheintelligentyeomanryofthestate,forwhose useit is especially intended;
and the compilerhopes that, while it may serve to enliven their long winter evenings, it will
awaken in theirminds a spirit of inquiryintothe historyoftheirown immediateneighborhoods,
and atthesame time furnishthemwithafundof instructiveincidents relatingto themore dis-
tantsections of the state.
The Outline History hasbeenbrought down to a periodmanyyearslaterthan in anyof the
historiesof Pennsylvaniahithertopublished. Thetopographical andstatistical informationem-
bodied in the work, isdesigned toconnectthehistoryof thepastwitli thepresent stateof man-
ners and improvements, and topresent thefeatures of thetwo periodsinstrikingcontrast: and
although to someminds these details mayseemoutof placein an historical work,yetit should
be remembered thatthestatisticsof to-day maybecome the historyof ten years hence. Many
of thefactshererecorded,both statistical and historical, mayseem trivial, or tediouslyminute
to thegeneralreader; andyetsuch facts have a local interest, and forthat reasonhavebeen
inserted. — —
Inaccordance withtheprevailingtasteof the age and a laudable taste it is thework is
embellished with woodengravings. These, withveryfew exceptions, are from drawings made
on the spotexpressly forthis work. Someof them willpreserve the appearanceof ancientedi-
fices and monumentsnowrapidlyyielding to the hand of time: and those representingtowns,
villages, and modern edifices, will notonlyconveytothereaders ofthepresent daysomeideaof
thoseobjects, butenable posterity, if the book shouldeverreach them, to contrastouragewith
theirs.
Care has been taken in selecting the extracts which compose the main bodyof thework,
toexclude mere drydetails and tediousofficial documents, and to give selectionsofsuch acha-
racteras will interest the sympathiesofthe heart, whiletheyrefresh the memoryand instruct
the mmd. Inmakingextracts from newspapers, andfromotherwritings originallyintendedfor
aspecial class of readers, the compiler has frequentlytaken the libertyof abridging their lan-
guage, in order to include the material facts within the restricted limitswhich must behere
assigned to them. .
4 PREFACE.
The materials forthe work have not been gatheredwitlioutgre^t personal labor, and heavy
expense. Recourse has notonly been had tothe valuablelibraries in Philadelphia, but the com-
piler has been comprllcd to undertake personally the tourof the entire state; spendingmuch
timein each county, examining ancient newspapers and mustymanuscripts; conversing with
theaged pioneers,and collectingfrom them, orally,manyinteresting factsneverbeforepublished,
whichotherwise would probably not have been preserved. He hasoften hadoccasion toregret,
in thecourseof his pilgrimage, that this research had not been commenced somefifteen years
earlier. Manyaged men duringthat time have gone down tothe grave, whose memories trea-
sured upa thousand interesting facts, which their descendants haveneglected topreserve.
Itis scarcelytobe expectedthatawork embodyingsucha multitudeoffacts,gatheredtoofrom
such a varietyofsources, should beentirely free from errors: yetas much attention as possible,
underthecircumstances,hasbeen given to insure authenticity. The compiler feels the more
diffidenton this subject, knowing, as he does, that the work will probablypass intothehandsof
manyreaders whose opportunities of testing the accuracyof local facts are fargreaterthan his
own could possibly be. He will feelobliged, should anyimportanterrorsbe detected,ifgentle-
men conversantwith the facts will furnish a correctiontothepublisher.
To themany gentlemen who have kindlylent theirassistanceinprocuring and impartingin-
formation, either orally or by correspondence; and for numerous instances of personal hospi.
tality and civilityduring his tour, the compiler takes this occasion to return his verysincere
thanks.
To theauthors, both ancient and contemporary, from whom extracts have been made, credit
has generally beengiven in the bodyof the work; but the compiler desires here to record his
special acknowledgments for the aid derived from Hazard's Registerof Pennsylvania, a peri-
odical work in 16 volumes, published between the years 1828 and 1835 inclusive. This work
oughttobe inthe libraryof everypublic man who has frequentoccasion to refer to important
statistical, historical, and political documents. Itis indeed a rich mineofPennsylvania history.
Inithave been—collected and published avast numberof facts—and documents relating tothe
importantperiod theeraofthe constructionofthepublicworks when theworkwas published.
To the cityand countyofPhiladelphia, as much spacehas been allottedin this volume as was
consistent with the attention duetoother counties in the interior. Thoseof our readers who
desireto study more at large the history of Philadelphia, are referred to Mr. John F. Watson's
able and fascinating Annals ofPhiladelphia, from which we have taken thelibertyofmakinga
few brief-extracts.
—
Errorsand Omissions. The brief anecdoteof Lord Percy, on page 213, extracted from the
Historyof ChesterCo., was derived from local tradition. Itnow appears that this tradition is
erroneous. Lord Perc}' livedmanyyears afterward, and became DukeofNorthumberland.
TheCompilerregrets that, amidthe crowdofsubjects that presented themselves to his atten-
tion, under the head ofPhiladelphia Co., heomitted to insert a short biographical noticeofJohn
Fitch, theoriginal, but unfortunate inventorof steamboats. In 1788 he started a boat on the
Delaware,which wenttoBurlingtonattherateofeightmiles anhour. ThenameofOliverEvans,
who invented a steam wagon as earlyas 1804, and who predicted the future success of rail,
roads and locomotives, deserves honorablemention inthis connection. These distinguished in-
ventors,though not natives ofPennsylvania,yet firstput theirinventions intopracticaloperation
at Philadelpliia. Full biographicalsketchesofboth may be found inHowe's Livesof Eminent
Mechanics.
Hlghspiretown, apleasant village, 5 miles below Harrisburg, was omitted under the headof
Dauphin Co. —
TheWyomingmonument referredtoin anoteonpage431, hasbeen finished in Oct. 1843.
Rev. Dr. Krummacher, of Germany, referred to on page357, has declined the invitation to
becomeaprofessoratMercersburg.
OUTLINE HISTORY.
THE ABORIGINES.
The—Indian tribes who dwelt among the primitive forests of Pennsyl-
vania—, as well as those of Delaware, New Jersey, and a part of Mary-
land, called themselves the Lenni Lenapt', or the original people. This
general name comprehended numerous distinct tribes, all speaking dia-
lects of a common language, (the Algonquin,) and uniting around the
same great council-fire. Their grand council-house, to use their own
expressive figure, extended from the eastern bank of the Hudson on the
northeast, to the Potomac on the southwest. Manyofthe tribes were di-
rectly descended from the common stock ; others, having sought their
sympathy and protection, had been allotted a section of their territory.
The surrounding tribes, not of this confederacy, nor acknowledging alle-
giance—to it, agreed in awarding to them the honor of being the grand-
fathers that is,theoldest residents in this region. Therewas anobscure
tradition among the Lenni Lenape, that in ages past their ancestors had
emigrated eastward from theMississippi,conquering or expelling,ontheir
route, that great and apparentlymore civilized nation,whose monuments,
in the shape ofmounds, are so profusely scattered over the great western
Yalley,andofwhich several also remain in Pennsylvania, along the west-
ern slope ofthe Allegheny Mountains. —
The Lenni Lenape nation was divided into three principal divisions
the Unamis, or Turtle tribes, the Unalachtgos, or Turkeys, and the Mon-
seys or Wolf tribes. The two former occupied the country along the
coast, between the sea and the Kittatinny or Blue mountain, their settle-
ments extending as far east as the Hudson and as far west as the Poto-
mac. Thesewere generally known among thewhites as the DelawareIn-
dians. The Monseys or Wolf tribes, the most active and warlike of the
whole, occupied the mountainous country between the Kittatinny Moun-
tain and the sources of the Susquehanna and Delaware rivers, kindling
their council-fire at the Minisink flats on the Delaware above the water-
gap. A part of the tribe also dwelt on the Susquehanna, and they had
also a village, and a peach orchard, in the Forksofthe Delaware,*where
Nazareth is now situated. These three principal divisions were divided
into various subordinate clans, who assumed names suited to their char-
acter or situation.
* This term, the Forks, in the early colonial annals, refersnotonlyto the point at the imme-
mdiialteescaobnofvleu.encTehoufst"wotiireivFeorrs,ksbuotfttohethDeetlearwriatroery"inccolmupdreidsebsetnweeaernlythtehetwwhoolsetroefamtshefoprressoemnet
countyof Northampton; the Forksof the Susquehanna comprises the tract for some distance
above Northumberland; and in hkemannerthe Forksof Youpfh', orof the Youg^hiogheny. and
the Forksofthe Ohio,referto similartonguesof land, extendingtenor fifteen miles above the
confluence.
Q OUTLINE HISTORY.
The Shawanos, or Shawanees, a restless and ferocious tribe, having
been threatened with extermination by a more powerful tribe at the
South, sought protection among the friendly nations of the North, whose
language was observed to bear a remarkable atlinity with their own. A
majority of them settled along the Ohio, from the Wabash to near Pitts-
burg. A portionwas received under theprotectionoftheLenni Lenapes,
and permitted to settle near the Forks of the Delaware, and on the flats
below Philadfiijhia. But they soon became troublesome neighbors, and
were removed by the Delawares (or possibly by the Six Nations) to the
Susquehanna valley, where they had a village at the Shawnee flats, be-
low Wilkesbarre, on the west side of the river. During the revolution,
and the war of 1812, their name became conspicuous in the history of
the northern frontier.
The Lenni Lenape tribes consisted, at the first settlement of Pennsyl-
vania, of the Assunpink, or Stony Creek Indians the Rankokas, (Lami-
;
kas or Chichequaas Andastakas, at Christina Creek, near Wilmington
;) ;
Neshaminies, in Bucks co. Shackamaxons, about Kensington Mantas,
; ;
or Frogs, near Burlington the Tuteloes, and the Nanticokes, in Mary-
;
land and Virginia ; (llie latter afterwards removed up theSusquehanna ;)
the Monseys, or Minisinks, near the Forks ofthe Delaware the Mandes,
;
athnedMtohneseyNasr,riatnidcontghse,Pnoemaprtotnhse,RianriNteanw;JtehreseCy.apitAanfaesswess,catthteerGeadchcleaonss,,
or warlike hordes, of the Mingoes, were living here and there among the
Lenapes.
Another gTeat Indian confederacy claims attention,whose acts have an
important bearing upon the history of Pennsylvania. This confederacy
was originally known in the annals of New York as the Five Nations
;
and subsequently, after they had been joined by the Tuscaroras, as the
Six Nations. As confederates, they called themselves Aquanuschioni, or
United People ; by the Lenapes they were called Mengue, or Mingoes,
and by the French, the Iroquois. The original Five Nations were the
Onondagas, the Cayugas, the Oneidas, the Senecas, and the Mohawks.
In 1712 the Tuscaroras, being expelled from the interior of North Caro-
lina and Virginia,were adopted as a sixth tribe. The languageofallthe
tribes of the confederacy, except the Tuscaroras,was radically the same,
and different from that of the Lenni Lenape. Their domain stretched
from the borders ofVermont to Lake Erie, and from Lake Ontario to the
head watersof the Allegheny, Susquehanna, and Delaware rivers. This
territory they styled their long house. The grand council-firewas held in
the Onondaga valley. The Senecas guarded the western door of the
house, the ^lohawks the eastern, and the Cayugas the southern, or that
which opened upon the Susquehanna. The Mohawk nationM'as thefirst
in rank, and to it appertained the office of principal war chief; to the
Onondagas, who guarded thegrand council-fire, appertained in like man-
ner the office of principal civil chief, or chief sachem. The Senecas, in
numbers and military energy, were the most powerful.
The peculiar location of the Iroquois gave them an immense advan-
tage. On the great channels ofwater conveyance to which their terri-
tories were contiguous, they were enabled in all directions to carry war
and devastation to the neighboring or to the more distant nations.
Nature had endowed them with a height, strength, and symmetry of
THE ABORIGINES. 7
person Avhich distinguished them, at a glance, among the individuals of
other tribes. Theywere as braveas theywere strong butferocious and
;
cruel when excited in savage warfare ; crafty, treacherous, and over-
reaching, when these qualities best suited their purposes. The proceed-
ings of their grand council were marked with great decorum and solem-
nity. In eloquence, in dignity, and profound policy, their speakers might
well bear comparisonwith the statesmen of civilized assemblies. By an
early alliance with the Dutch on the Hudson,they secured the useoffire-
arms, a.nd were thus enabled, not only to repel the encroachments of the
French, but also to exterminate, or reduce to a state of vassalage, many
Indian nations. From these they exacted an annual tribute, or acknow-
tlheedigrmefnotrmoferfeahlutnyt;inpge-rgmriotutnidnsg.the"mT,hheowheuvmeirl,iaotniothnatofcontdriitbiuotna,rytonoactciuopnys
was, however, tempered with a paternal regard for their interests in all
negotiationswith thewhites,and carewas takenthat notrespasses should
be committed on their rights, and that they should be justly dealt with."
To this condition of vassalage the Lenni Lenape, or Delaware nation,
had been reduced by the Iroquois, as the latter asserted, by conquest.
The Lenapes, however, smarting under the humiliation, invented for the
M'hites a cunning tale in explanation, which they succeeded in imposing
upontheworthyandvenerableMr.Heckewelder,theMoravianmissionary.
Their story was, that bytreaty,and byvoluntary consent,theyhadagreed
to act as mediators and peacemakers among the other great nations, and
to this end theyhad consented tolayaside entirelythe implementsofwar,
and to hold and to keep bright the chain of peace. This, among indi-
vidual tribes, was the usual province of women. The Delawares, there-
bfourte,tahleleIgreodqutohiastetvhiedyenwtelryecaflilgeudrattihveelmywtoermmeend winomqeuinteonantohitshearccsoeunnste.;
•'They always alleged thatthe Delawares were conquered bytheir arms,
and were compelled to this humiliating concession as the only means of
arerting impending destruction."* In the course of time, however, the
Delawares were enabled to throw ofi' the galling yoke, and at Tioga, in
the year 1756, Teedyuscungextorted from the Iroquois chiefs an acknow-
ledgment of their independence.f
This peculiar relation between the Indian nation that occupied, and
that whichclaimedaparamountjurisdictionover,thesoilofPennsylvania,
tended greatly to embarrass and complicate the negotiations of the pro-
prietary government for the purchase of lands; and its influence was
seen and felt both in the civil and military history of Pennsylvania until
*"Butevenif Mr. Heckewelder had succeeded inmakinghisreaders believethatthe Dela.
wares, when they submitted to the degradation proposed to them by theirenemies, were influ-
enced, not byfear, but by the benevolent desire toputa stop tothe calamitiesof war, hehas
established forthem thereputation of being themost egregious dupes and fools that the world
has everseen. This isnotoften the case with Indian sachems. They are rarely cowards, but
still more rarely are they deficient in sagacityor discernment to detect any attempt to impose
uuppoonn tthheem.DelaIwasriensc.erelAy wliosnhg IancdoulidntuinmiatteewiktnhowltheedgweorotfhythGeemrmiannpeiancereamnodviwnagr,tahsisensetmiigemsa
and friends, has leftupon mymind the most fa—vorable impressionsoftheircharacterforbravery,
generosity, and fidelitytotheirengagements." Discourse of Gen. Wm. HenryHarrisonon the
Aboriginesof the Valley of the Ohio.
t See "Inquiry into the causes of the alienation of the Delaware and Shawanecse Indians
from the British interest," &l-c.,page 91 : written in Pennsylvania, and published in London in
1759.
OUTLINE HISTORY.
g
after the close of the revolution. As the details are fully given in the
subsequent pages, it is not necessary to enlarge upon the subject here.
Tht" term savage, applied to the aborigines, is naturallyassociated with
the ideas of barbarism and cruelty—to some extent perhaps justly; yet
a closer acquaintance often discloses in them traits that exalt the human
character and claim the admiration or sympathy of civilized man. The
Indian considers himself created by an almighty, wise, and benevolent
Spirit, to whom he looks for guidance and protection ; whom he believes
it to be his dutv to adore and worship, and whose overruling providence
he acknowledges in all his actions. Many Indians were in the habit of
seeking out some high mountain from whose lonely summit they might
commune with the "Great Spirit," and pray to him. But while they
Avorshipped the Creator, they were not unmindful of their duties to their
fcUow-cieatures. They looked upon the good things of the earth as a
common stock, bestowed bythe Great Spirit for the benefit of all. They
held that the game of the forest, the iish of the rivers, and the grass or
other articles of spontaneous growth, were free to all who chose to take
them. They ridiculed the idea of fencing in a meadow or a pasture.
This principle repressed selfishnessand fostered generosity. Their hospi-
talitv was proverbial. The Indian considers it a duty to share his last
moi'spl with a stranger.
^\hen the early settlers of Pennsylvania first landed, the Indians re-
ceived them with open-hearted kindness, cheerfully supplied their wants,
and shared with them the comforts of their rude and humble dwellings.
They considered the persons of their new guests as sacred, and readily
opened with them a traffic for useful or ornamental articles in exchange
for land and furs. Wm. Penn says of them, in his letter to the Society
of Free Traders, "In liberality they excel ; nothing is too good for their
friend: give them a fine gun, coat, or other thing, it may pass twenty
hands before it sticks: light of heart, strong affections, but soon spent.
The most merry creatures that live, feast and dance perpetually; ihey
never have much, nor want much wealth circulatethlike the blood all
; ;
poabrstesrvpearrstaofkepr;oapnerdtyt.houSghomneonkeinsghasllhawvaentsowldh,aotthaenrosthperresheantthe,dymeteewxiatcht
several parcels of land : the pay, or presents I made them, were not
hoarded by the particular owTiers; but the neighboring kings and their
clans being present when the goods were brought out, the parties chiefly
concerned consulted what, and to whom, they should give them. To
every king then, by the hands of a person for that w^ork appointed, is a
proportion sent, so sorted and folded, and with that gravity, that is ad-
mirable. Then that king subdivideth it, in like manner, among his de-
pendants, theyhardlyleaving themselvesan equal share with oneoftheir
subjects: and be it on such occasions as festivals, or at their common
meals, the kings distribute, and to themselves last. They care for little,
because they want but little ; and the reason is, a little contents them.
In this they are sufficiently revenged on us ; if they are ignorant of our
pleasures, they are also free from our pains. They are not disquieted
with bills of lading and exchange, nor perplexedwith chancery suits and
We
exchequer reckonings. sweat and toil to live ; their pleasure feeds
them ; I meantheir hunting,fishing, andfoAvling; and thistable is spread
everywhere. They eat twice a day, morning and evening; their seats
DUTCH AND SWEDES.
g
and table arc the ground. Since the Europeans came into these parts,
they are grown great lovers of strong liquors, rum especially, and for it
exchange the richest of their skins and furs. If they are heated with
slioqmueorsm,orteh,eyaanrde Ireswtillelssgtoilltothselyeehpa;vebuet,nowuhghentodsrluenekp,; otnheatoifs tthheeirmcorsyt,
wretched spectacles in the world."
THE DUTCH AND SWEDES.
Several colonies had already been planted by Europeans on the North
American coast, before any permanentsettlementwasmadeonthe shores
of the Delaware.* In the year 1609, Capt. Henry Hudson, then under
the patronage of the Dutch East India Company, touched at the mouth
of what is now known as Delaware bay; but finding shoal water, and
suspecting danger, he retired and a few days after entered the bay of
New York, and gave name to itsnoble river. Availing themselves ofhis
discoveries, the Dutchrenewedtheirvoyages, andkeptup asmalltrading-
post on Manhattan island for several years, until the year 1621, when a
larger company was formed, with great privileges and comprehensive
powers, called the West India Company of the United Netherlands.
This company, in 1623, took possession ofthe countrydiscovered by Hud-
son, including the South or Delaware river, and named it New Nether-
lands; builtthe city of New Amsterdam, and despatchedCapt. Cornelius
Jacobus May, with a number of adventurers, to the South River, to colo-
nize and make further discoveries. This commander gave to Cape May
the name it still bears, and to the southern cape that of Cornelius, by
which it was known during the dynasty of the Dutch, He erected Fort
Nassau, near where Gloucester, N. J., now stands, a few miles below
Philadelphia. This was the first European settlement on the shores of
the bay, but was not permanent,beingonlyused as anoccasionaltrading-
paowsatrbey,twhietDhuttcwho.shIinps16a3n1d,Caabpotu.tDtahviirtdyPcioeltoenrissetsn.DeHVeriwesaasrarsisvoecdiianttehdewDietlh-
Godyn, Bloemart, and Van Rensselaer, wealthy Dutch patroons, in the
enterprise of establishing a colony on South River, for the purposeofcul-
tivating tobacco and grain, and prosecuting the whale and seal fishery, in
or nearthe bay. HebuiltFortOplandt, nearwhere Lewistown, Del.,now
stands, about three miles within Cape Cornelius and extended around it
;
his little settlement of Swanendael, or Valley of Swans. The fisheries
were unsuccessful. De Vries returned to Holland, leaving his colony in
charge of Gillis Osset. He returned again in 1632, and found the fields
of his new colony strewed with the bones of his countrymen. The arms
of Holland, emblazoned upon a piece of glittering tin, had been elevated
upon a pillar. An Indian stole it, to make a tobacco-box. The com-
*Thenameof thisbaywas giveninhonorof LordDelaware, whowas governor of theVir-
ginia colony about theyears 1610 to 1618. The Indian name of the river was Mack-cr-isk.
iskan; and it was also called Lenape-Wihittuck, or river of the Lenapes. TheDutch and
Swedesknewitonlyas South River,in contradistinctiontotheNorthRiverof NewYork.
2