LOCAL HISTORY: STOREY, Henry Wilson. HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY PA. Vol. 1 The Lewis Publishing Co., 1907. Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Martha Humenik. There is an HTML version of this book, with page images, on the county web site: http://www.camgenpa.com/books/Storey/v1/ Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm _______________________________________________ CHAPTER II. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR PERIOD--MEETINGS IN CARPENTER'S HALL IN PHILADELPHIA--COMPANIES OF CAPTAIN ROBERT CLUGGAGE, CAPTAIN RICHARD BROWN, CAPTAIN ANDREW MANN AND CAP- TAIN JACOB HENDERSHOT--THE COMPANIES OF RANGERS; CAP- TAIN JOHN BOYD AND CAPTAIN SOLOMON ADAMS--MASON AND DIXON'S LINE--THE WHISKEY REBELLION OF 1794--THE FORBES ROAD. When the shot was fired at Lexington, on April 19, 1775, it has been stated that its moral effect for religious liberty and political freedom encircled the globe. When that took place the territory now within the limits of Cambria county was parts of Quemahoning and Frankstown townships of Bedford county. Fort Bedford was the county capital; there the courts administered justice to the people of the county; there the pioneers sought safety from the attacks of Indians on their homes and families throughout the county. The next fort west was Fort Ligonier, in Westmoreland county. Bedford was the common meeting place for the patriot and the pioneer of this locality. The inhabitants of the county were principally Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, but Germans of the Brethren denomination, Swiss and Irish, had also settled here. It was very natural that both patriots and tories should be represented, although there were few of the latter. Numbered with the patriots were Colonel George Woods, Judge Barnard Dougherty, Colonel David Espy, Samuel Davidson, Esq., Hon. John Cessna, Colonel Charles Cessna, Major Edward Coombs, Colonel Hugh Barclay, Captain Andrew Mann, Colonel Robert Galbreath, Captain Robert Cluggage, James Martin, William Proctor, Colonel Thomas Smith, James Wells, John Malott, Robert Scott, and Captain James Francis Moore. When Samuel Adams and his party of "Indians" threw the cargo of tea into the Boston harbor, it aroused the colonists, and a meeting was held in Philadelphia on July 15, 1774, for the purpose of expressing their discontent with the law of George III. George Woods, Esq., Barnard Dougherty and Samuel Davidson of Bedford county were present as delegates. The 17 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. Carpenter's Hall convention of 1775 resolved that the colonies should raise an army to defend their principles and to Pennsylvania was allotted the quota of 4,300 men. To more effectually carry it into effect a committee of public safety was appointed on June 30, 1775, which consisted of prominent patriots in the colony. Benjamin Franklin was president thereof; William Garrett, secretary, and Michael Hillegas, treasurer. Barnard Dougherty, of Bedford county, was a member, of that committee. Within ten days after the battle of Bunker Hill was fought (June 17, 1775) Captain Cluggage, of Bedford, had a company on the march to Boston to assist Prescott, Pepperell and Warren, the heroes of that defeat. On its arrival at Carlisle it was assigned to the First Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion, commanded by Colonel William Thompson. The battalion started from Reading, passed through Easton and northern New Jersey, crossed the Hudson river a few miles north of West Point, and joined the Continental army in the trenches at Boston, August 8, 1775. They were the first troops to arrive from the west side of the Hudson, and served in all the skirmishes in front of Boston; but before the British evacuated that city Colonel Thompson's battalion was ordered to New York to aid in repelling the landing of the enemy. Colonel Thompson was promoted to brigadier-general, and Lieutenant Colonel Hand of Lancaster was advanced to the colonelcy. When the term of enlistment expired, June 30, 1776, most of the men re-enlisted for three years or during the war. It then became the First Regiment of the Continental Line, and was actively engaged in the battles of Long Island, White Plains, Trenton, and Princeton, under Colonel Hand, who on April 1, 1777, was made a brigadier-general to be succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel James Chambers of Chambersburg. Under his command the regiment fought at Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, and every other battle and skirmishes until it retired, January 1, 1781. Thatcher's Military Journal says of this command: "Several companies of riflemen amounting, it is said, to more than fourteen hundred men, have arrived here from Pennsylvania and Maryland, a distance of from five to seven hundred miles. They are remarkably stout and hardy men, many of them exceeding six feet in hight. They are dressed in white frocks or rifle shirts and round hats. These men are remark- Vol. I-2 18 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. able for the accuracy of their aim, striking a mark with great certainty at two hundred yards. At a review of a company of them, presumed to be Col. Cresap's company of Maryland frontiersmen, one-half of whom were recruited in that part of Pennsylvania lying west of the Allegheny mountains, while on a quick advance, fired their halls into objects of seven inches in diameter, at a distance of two hundred yards. They are now stationed on our lines (Boston) and their shots have frequently proved fatal to British officers and soldiers who exposed themselves, even at more than double of a common musket shot." CAPTAIN ROBERT CLUGGAGE'S COMPANY, FALL OF 1776. Captain, Robert Cluggage. First Lieutenant, John Holliday, commissioned June 25, 1775. Second Lieutenant, Robert McKenzie, died Feb. 12, 1776; Benjamin Baird, from third lieutenant. Third Lieutenant, Benjamin Baird, Oct., 1775, promoted second lieutenant. Sergeants: James Holliday; Daniel Stoy, dis. at Long Island, July 1, 1776; resided in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 1818; Querinus Meriner, David Wright. Corporals: Acquilla White, William Lee, Joseph McKenzie, Angus McDonald. Drummer: Timothy Sullivan. Privates: Adam Anderson, resided in Westmoreland county in 1818; Phillip Beechy, John Bowman; Thaddeus Broughdon, dis. Feb. 10, 1776; Thomas Brown, George Bruner, John Campbell, Thomas Casey, Stephen Cessna, Patrick Clark, Phillip Conner, James Corrowan; Joshua Craig, resided in Cumberland county in 1820; John Grips, Alexander Crugren, Thomas Cunningham, James Curran; John Davis, afterward adjutant Flying Camp; Cornelius Dilling; William Donelin, re- enlisted 1st Pa.; Matthew Dougherty, Laurence Dowling, Daniel Francks, George Freeman, Amariah Grarrett, Daniel Gemberland, Reuben Gillespy, Richard Hardister, Conrad Hanning; Francis Jamison, re-enlisted 1st Pa.; Andrew Johnston, enlisted June 25, 1775, promoted lieutenant 1st Pa.; Matthias Judy; John Kelly.-Sept. 14, 1775, John Kelly/one of Capt. Cluggage's men, shot one of Capt. Chambers' men through the head for stabbing him."-Wright's Journal. Peter King, James Knight, William Laird, Charles Lenning, Robert Leonard; John Lesly, re-enlisted in llth Pa.; Henry McCartney, dis. at Long Island, July, 1776, weaver, resided in Lycoming county in 1820; Daniel McClain. re-enlisted 1st Pa.; John McCune, John McDonald, Patrick McDonald, Thomas McFarlane, Thomas Magee, Daniel Mangaw, Michael Miller, Robert Platt, John Pitts, Samuel Plumb, Martin Reynolds, Daniel Rhoads; Philip Ritchie, re-enlisted 1st Pa.; Thomas Shehan, Francis Shires; Alexander Simonton. re-enlisted 1st Pa.; Emanuel Smith, Henry Smith; Daniel Stoy, promoted sergeant; John Stuart, Jonathen Taylor, James Turmoil, Andrew Tweed, 19 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. James Vanzandt, Daniel Vanderslice, re-enlisted 1st Pa.; Thomas Vaughn, re- enlisted 1st Pa.; Solomon Walker, James Warlord, Thomas Ward, Alexander Wilson; George Whitman, enlisted June, 1775; re-enlisted in 1st Pa.; Samuel Woodward. Captain Richard Brown's company was organized in Bedford during February and March, 1776, and was assigned to the First Battalion of the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, under Colonel Samuel Miles, that being a part of Brigadier General Lord Sterling's command. It fought in the disastrous battle of Long Island, New York, on August 27, 1776, where many of them were killed, wounded or captured, among the latter of whom were Colonel Miles, Colonel Atlee and James Piper, of Bedford, lieutenant colonel, who died in captivity. In a letter from Colonel Daniel Brodhead, in reference to the defeat, and retreat at Long Island, dated "Camp near King's Bridge, 5th Sep'r. 1776," he says: "I understand that General Sullivan has taken the liberty to charge our brave and good Col. Miles, with the ill success of the Day, but give me leave to say, that if General Sullivan & the rest of the Gen'ls on Long Island had been as vigilant & prudent, as him, we might, & in all probability would have cut off Clinton's brigade; our officers & men in general, considering the confusion, behaved as well as men could do-a very few behaved, ill, of which, when I am informed will write you." * * * "P. S. The Great Gen'l Putnam could not, tho' requested, send out one Reg't to cover our retreat." The command was engaged in the capture of the Hessians at Trenton, December 26, 1776; at Princeton, January 3, 1777; and, remaining part of the ensuing winter in Philadelphia, moved down to Billingsport in March, 1777. CAPTAIN RICHARD BROWN'S COMPANY. Captains: Richard Brown, appointed from Bedford county, March 19, 1776; taken prisoner Aug. 27, 1776; James Francis Moore, from first lieutenant, Oct. 25, 1776. First Lieutenant: James F. Moore, appointed from Bedford county, March 19, 1776; joined the company Aug. 9, 1776; promoted captain Oct. 25, 1776. Second Lieutenants: James Barnet, resigned July 23, 1776; Thomas Boyd, from third lieutenant of Capt. Shade's company, Aug. 9, 1776; taken at Fort Washington; resided in Indiana county, Pa., in 1817. Third Lieutenant: James Holmes, commissioned April 15, 1776; resigned Dec. 31, 1776. Sergeants: Henry Steits; James Andersen, missing since 20 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. Aug. 27, 1776, paroled December, 1776, resided in Bedford county in 1813; Patrick Fitzgerald, Samuel Evans, Thomas Johnston, Jacob Hirsh. Drummer: William Lever, missing since Aug. 27, 1776. Fifer: Conrad Ludwick. Privates: Ephraim Allen, Richard Allen, Henry Armstrong, Hugh Barkley, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; Hezekiah Biddle, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; George Biddleson, Thomas Bradley; William Bradley, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; Solomon Brown; Peter Carmichael, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; James Clark, George Clements, John Conrey, Michael Corwin; Samuel Crossan, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; James Dailey, Jeremiah Dawson; Peter Devlin, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; John Dougherty; Timothy Dreiskel, missing since Aug.. 27, 1776; Alexander Duke, James Evans; Samuel Fox, promoted sergeant; William Fitzgerald, dis. Oct. 18, 1776; Adam Growss, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; John Hagerty, John Harris; Jacob Hirsh, promoted sergeant; Alexander Henderson, Hugh Henry; Alexander Holmes, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; Robert Huston, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; Thomas Johnston, promoted sergeant; Joshua Jones, James Kelly; James Lever, killed at Staten Island, July 26, 1776; Conrad Ludwick, Daniel Maguire; John Mallon, wounded by accident Aug. 12, 1776; Solomon Marshall, Daniel McIntire; John McGregor, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; Michael McKittrick; Christy McMichael, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; John Mier, Aug. 4, 1776; William Moore, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; George Morris; Jonathan Nesbit, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; Tobias Penrod, Job Riley; Richard Roberts, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; Jacob Bush, Miles Ryan; Nathaniel Scott, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; Samuel Skinner, Philip Shaver; John Smith, Jr., dis. Sept. 1, 1776; John Smith, Sr.; Degory Sparks, missing since the battle, Aug. 27, 1776; Isaac Sparsell, Thomas Stanton; James Steed, dis. July 11, 1776, returned Aug. 23, 1776, re- enlisted at Hancock, Md., in the 13th Pa.; Thomas Stockton; Robert, Stokes, missing since the battle, Aug. 27, 1776; Richard Tull, Isaac Vanasdale, Albert Vorris, Mark Welsh. The situation in the east was critical, and of this the Indians were taking advantage by committing all kinds of depredations among the pioneers and their families in the frontier counties. The pioneers became discouraged; they were not strong enough to repel their enemies and, the government seeming unable to give them the protection to which they were entitled, many of them left and took up their homes in more settled communities. Under these conditions on July 15, 1776, congress authorized the organization of the Eighth Regiment of the Pennsyl- 21 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. vania Line for the defense of the frontier, especially at Presque Isle, Le Boeuf and Kittanning. The regiment consisted of seven companies from Westmoreland county and Captain Mann's company from Bedford. The muster roll of this company cannot be found. However, the men did good service at Kittanning and then marched in midwinter to New Jersey, where they joined Washington's army, many of them having died on the way from exposure and lack of medical supplies. The company participated in the battles of Germantown and Brandywine, and was then ordered to march to Pittsburg, where it became a part of General McIntosh's command, and took an active part in the Indian warfare. In 1779 it was a part of General Brodhead's expedition up the Allegheny river, helping to defeat the Indians and destroy their villages, but at the expiration of its term of service, the company was discharged at Pittsburg. Robert Aiken and Abraham Faith, who were living in Somerset county as late as 1825, were members of Captain Mann's company, as were also Joseph Hancock, who resided in Wayne county, Indiana, in 1834; Jacob Justice in Bedford county, in 1820; Allen McComb in Indiana county, in 1810; James Mitchell in Somerset county, in 1810, and Philip Wolf in Bedford county, in 1790. CAPTAIN JACOB HENDERSHOT'S COMPANY, 1777. A Role of the officers and privates out of the 1st Battalion of Bedford County, who Marched to Camp under the command of Capt. Jacob Hendershot & Enroled 9th January & Discharged l0th March & Allowed pay untill the 25th March 1777. Captain: Jacob Hendershot. Lieutenant: Frederick Storts. Sergeant: Francis Shives. Corporal: William Steed. Privates: William Andrews, Abraham Clavinger, John Coombs, George Enslow, Adam Hersler, Jacob Hart, Evan Jenkins, Nelson Jolly, Thomas Mitchell, John Peck, Richard Pittman, William Pittman, John Rush, John Slaughter, John Williams. Officers who marched with the Company: Lieut. Col. John Graham; Major Edward Coombs, Major John Cessna; Captain Obadiah Stillwell; Lieut. Moses Reed, Lieut. John Stillwell; Ensign Stillwell Troax. Lieutenant Levi Linn with Capt. Paxton; Private Cornelius Troax with Capt. Paxton, and Private Joseph Troax, who died in the service, February 15, 1777, also with Capt. Paxton. These officers marched with the company as volunteers and as privates, receiving the same pay and subsistence as they. 22 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. CAPTAIN JOHN BOYD'S RANGEING COMPANY, 1781. Recruited in Bedford County. John Boyd, captain, late of the Third Pennsylvania regiment; Richard Johnston, lieutenant. Sergeants: Robert Atkins, Henry Dugan, Florence Grimes, David Beates, William Ward. Privates: William Alligane, Stephen Archer, Isaac Arthur, John Arthur, Moses Bernan, Abraham Bodle, Joshua Burton, Daniel Covert, John Conrad, Richard Corps. Jacob Creviston, John Crossin, Ludwig Curtz, John Downey, Sr., John Downey, Jr., William Decker, Benjamin Frazier, Marshall Galloway, Daniel Glovert, James Grimes, John Grimes, James Hall, Samuel Haslett, George Jones, William Jones, Samuel Kennedy, Felix McKinney, Joseph Martin, Samuel Moore, Michael Nicholas, James Paxton. Henry Simons, Solomon Sparks, John Thomas, William Tucker and John Whiteacre. Captain Boyd's company were assigned to scout the forests and guard the settlements from surprise and attacks by hostile Indians. Captain Solomon Adams in 1781 had charge of a company of Rangers who were located somewhere in Brothers Valley, most likely in the vicinity of Johnstown, where he made his home. His company belonged to the Third Battalion of the Bedford County Militia, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Barnard Dougherty, and of which John Woods was major. The battalion was divided into eight companies thus: First company, commanded by Oliver Drake; second, by Christopher Bridgely; third, by George Hostadler; fourth, by Samuel Moore; fifth, by Peter Ankeny; sixth, by Solomon Adams; seventh, by William McCall; eighth, by Philip Cable. These assignments bear date of "20th April, Ano dom. 1781." There was another company of Bedford township of which Solomon Adams was chosen captain. On September 29, 1781, the sub-lieutenant for Bedford county directed that an election be held to select officers, the result of which was: Solomon Adams, captain; Allen McComb, lieutenant, and William Clark, Jr., ensign. The judges of the election were Arthur McCaughey and James Fletcher; inspector, John McCaughey. In addition to Felix Skelly, mentioned elsewhere, there were in 1840 several Revolutionary War soldiers residing in Cambria county, namely: Ludwig Wissinger, aged 84; George Lucas, aged 90; Plinn Hayes, aged 88; John Plott, aged 85; Gottfried Settlemyer, aged 88; and Samuel Cole, aged 79. 23 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. Richard Nagle also resided in Allegheny township, and in 1844 a Martin Eager assisted in celebrating the Fourth of July in Johnstown. MASON AND DIXON'S LINE. In view of the importance of this line being the boundary line between the Free and Slave States, frequently cited prior to the Civil war, and occasionally at this time, it becomes a part of our local history, inasmuch as the territory through which the line was run in this locality was Cumberland county. The contention arose between the successors of William Penn and Cecillus Calvert, Lord of Baltimore, over the boundary line between Pennsylvania and Maryland. In 1732 they agreed upon the line to the western boundary line of what is now Franklin county. In 1760 the frontier border had so advanced that the dispute became important, and efforts were made to have it located by commissioners of the two provinces, but after a delay of three years Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, eminent surveyors of London, were employed to run the line. They immediately came to this country and commenced work, but it took almost two years to prepare the preliminary work. In the spring of 1766 they began again, and by June 4th had reached the top of the Allegheny mountains, at the point where Bedford and Somerset counties join, on the border line with Maryland. On account of the Indian troubles nothing more was done until June, 1767, when these eminent surveyors started again, accompanied by a party of Indians from the Six Nations to protect them from the hostile Delawares and Shawnees. The point where General Braddock crossed the Maryland line into what is now Somerset county was reached August 24th, 1767, but there the Iroquois escort left them. Mason and Dixon continued their survey to a point beyond the Monongahela river, when the actions of the Shawnees and Delawares became so vicious they were compelled to abandon the work and returned to Philadelphia, where they were honorably discharged on December 26, 1767, after four years' service. During that time the Penns paid them thirty-four thousand two hundred pounds for their share of the expenses. About 1782 the line was completed by other parties. The stone monuments used in marking this line bore the letter "P" on one side, and on the other "M," and were brought from England by Mason and Dixou. These stones were one 24 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. foot square, with a height of four and a half feet, and the weight of each was five hundred pounds. In 1901 and 1903 the two states had the line re-surveyed, and finding many of the stone markers missing, a search was made. One was discovered doing duty as a door step; another in a bake oven, and two in the foundation for a church. Wherever it was possible the old markers were put back, even if broken, and, laid in cement, were made as permanent as possible. The new monuments are of marble. There have been two or three re-surveys of this famous line, but notwithstanding the great improvements in instruments and the progress of civilization from Indian warfare to peace, the line as originally run was found practically true at every point. THE "WHISKEY REBELLION" OF 1794. The contention which caused this outbreak of the people of Washington county, and even extended mildly into Quemahoning township, was the excise tax on whiskey. The great Alexander Hamilton had suggested to congress the wisdom and justice of making a levy of four pence per gallon on all distilled liquors manufactured in the country, and on March 3, 1791, such an act was adopted. This tax was properly acknowledged as a just law everywhere except in southern Pennsylvania, where all distillers became violent and refused to pay it. Their neighbors seem to have sympathized with them, and to some extent joined the force of resistance. At that time there were several distilleries in Quemahoning township, of which the owners were: Christian Hipple, Philip Kimmel, Sr., Christian Levenstone, William McDermott and Michael Mowry. The government and state administration used all the conciliatory efforts which were possible to prevent an outbreak; and were very lenient with the offenders permitting the time to pass until 1794, when an army was sent to put it down. The resisting parties hoisted flags with such inscriptions as, "Death to Traitors," "Liberty and No Excise," "Equal Taxation and No Excise," and "No Asylum for Traitors and Cowards." President Washington and Governor Mifflin directed the enrollment of 5,200 soldiers from Pennsylvania, and 7,750 from New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. Washington appointed General Henry Lee, then governor of Virginia, commander-in- 25 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. (READING HOWELL'S MAP, 1792, BEDFORD AND WESTMORELAND.) 26 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. chief of the army. General Lee was known as "Light-Horse Harry," of Revolutionary war fame, and was the father of General Robert E. Lee, the famous Southern hero of the recent Civil war. On October 19, 1794, President George Washington, Secretary Alexander Hamilton and General Henry Knox, Secretary of War, visited General Lee at Bedford, and remained two or three days before returning to Washington City. The right wing of the army left Carlisle on October 22d, and marching through Bedford and Quemahoning township arrived at Mount Pleasant, where it encamped on the 29th. This wing was composed of Pennsylvania troops, commanded by Governor Mifflin. The left wing moved from Fort Cumberland on October 22d, and marching over the route taken by General Braddock in 1755, also passed through Quemahoning township and reached Uniontown, where General Lee and the right wing arrived and went into camp on October 31st. The dissenters, seeing the uselessness of further resistance, ceased their warfares, and Washington granted amnesty to all who had been concerned in it, excepting those who had committed crime and were then in actual custody. General Lee moved his headquarters to Pittsburg on November 17th, 1794, and the army was then disbanded. THE FORBES ROAD. King George III desired to capture Fort Duquesne, which was then held by the French, and which General Braddock had attempted to do in 1755, when he met with death and disaster. In December, 1757, the King commissioned Colonel John Forbes, “Brigadier General in America to command his Majesty's forces in the southern provinces." General Forbes immediately began to organize an army for that purpose, and early in the summer of 1758 he had a force of 5,850 soldiers and one thousand wagoners. The place of rendezvous was at Baystown (or Bedford, as it is known), which General Forbes did not reach until the middle of September. Prior to this Colonel Boquet had taken about 2,000 Pennsylvanians and opened a road from Bedford to the Loyalhanna river, at Fort Ligonier. Excepting the military road of General Braddock in 1755, this was the first road used by wagons or artillery across the Allegheny mountains, and passed through what was subsequently known as Brothers Valley township, and later as Quemahon- 27 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. ing township. The Forbes road passed near to what is now Stoyestown, about eighteen miles south of Johnstown. It was substantially laid on the Indian trail between Bedford and Ligonier, and passed through Kickenepaling, on the Quemahoning creek. Colonel Boquet sent a reconnaissance of about eight hundred men, under Major William Grant, to ascertain the situation at Fort Duquesne before the arrival of Forbes. Grant's force was defeated, and he was captured by the French and Indians under the command of Colonel Aubrey. General Forbes then moved his main army to Fort Duquesne, and on November 25th, 1758, entered it, finding that the enemy had evacuated and taken their departure down the Ohio river. Thereafter it was known as Fort Pitt, until the name was changed to Pittsburg. Forbes street, which passes the entrance to the Carnegie Institute, in Schenley Park, is the continuation of the Forbes road which we have described. Also, that Frankstown avenue which intersects with Penn avenue in the East End is the continuation of the Frankstown road, or the Galbreath road, which passed through Munster, and more particularly referred to elsewhere. The war had now been active for more than a year. Our troops, which were not supplied with proper arms nor with sufficient ammunition, were being defeated, and, becoming discouraged, believed they were in a losing contest. But not so; they never did better service; for these things occurring on the battle line were arousing a spirit of independence throughout all the colonies, which could not have been made effective in any other manner. In May, 1776, the patriots of Pennsylvania were at work. Those who were prominent sent out a circular inviting the leading men of the several counties in the province to meet in Philadelphia, to adopt such a form of government "as shall, in the opinion of the representatives of the people, best conduce to the happiness and safety of their constituents in particular and America in general.” In reply to this truly American doctrine, the delegates met in Carpenter's Hall, on June 18, 1776. The representatives from our county of Bedford were Colonel David Espy, Samuel Davidson, Esq., and Colonel John Piper. After due consideration they adopted this resolution: "That the present government of this province is not competent to 28 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. the exigencies of our affairs, and that it is necessary that a provincial convention be called by this conference for the express purpose of forming a new government in this province on the authority of the people only." While this conference was being held, another one of much more importance was in session in Independence Hall, in the same city, a few squares away, formulating the Declaration of Independence which was given to the world on July 4, 1776. The delegates in this convention were Robert Morris, Benjamin Bush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson and George Ross.