Area history: Watson's Annals, Historical Notices of Lancaster, and Lancaster County: Vol II

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                   WATSON'S  ANNALS  OF  PHILADELPHIA

                    Vol. 2  Page 108  Printed in 1857

                           written circa 1840

             HISTORICAL NOTICES OF LANCASTER, AND LANCASTER COUNTY

   Lancaster was laid out as a town in 1728.
   In 1729 Lancaster county was erected out of part of Chester county.  The
German settlers, in consequence of the new county being formed, applied to
the proper authorities for leave to enjoy the rights and privileges of
British subjects, which was granted. The law containing their names and
their petition is signed by Emanuel Zimmerman, (now Carpenter), in behalf of
others.  A large number of Irish emigrants settled at Pequea, also sundry Welsh.
   A court house and prison is begun at Postlewaite's, and L 300 [pounds]
were lent by the governor upon bills of credit to defray the same.  L300
additional were afterwards lent to the same object.
   1730, Stephen Atkinson built a fulling mill at great expense upon the
Conestoga, but the inhabitants on the upper part of the creek assembled and
pulled down the dam, as it prevented them from rafting and fishing.  Mr.
Atkinson then altered his dam with 20 feet passage for boats and fish.
   In 1731 a great excitement was caused throughout the settlements, by the
shameful murder of three Indians, by the settlers on Swatara creek.  This
creek was called after a town in Ireland, by Mr. Patterson, one of the
original settlers.
   In 1732 a violent contest for a member of assembly took place between
Andrew Galbraith and John Wright.  On that occasion, Mrs. Galbraith rode
throughout the town at the head of a numerous band of horsemen, friends of
her husband.  In consequence of her activity, her husband was elected.
   In 1734 an Episcopal church was built in Conestoga, fifteen miles from
Lancaster.  The same year, a Lutheran church was built in Lancaster.
   The seat of Justice is removed from Postlewaite's to Lancaster, which
last place, Hamilton laid out at the request of the proprietaries.
   In 1739, at the request of the Scots Presbyterian ministers and people,
they were excused from "kissing the book", when giving their evidence on
oath;  the practice being contrary to the doctrine and worship of the church
in Scotland.
   In 1742, a number of Germans stated that they had emigrated from Europe
by an invitation from the proprietaries, and being attached to the OMISH
doctrines, and that being conscientious as to oaths, they cannot procure
naturalization by the present laws.  Whereupon a law was made in conformity
with their request.  (Those Omish people wear long beards like the Dunkards,
but have no places of worship, save their own private houses, and always
retiring to a private and retired place, when inclined to pray.  They have
been excused from juries, in criminal cases, from their known inclination to
acquit in cases of taking life.
   In 1743, at an election to supply the vacancy of Thomas Linley, the Irish
compelled the sheriff to receive such tickets as they approved, and to make
a return accordingly.  The assembly cancelled, or so altered the return as
to give the seat to Samuel Blunston.
   NOTE.---The proprietaries, in consequence of the frequent disturbances
between the governor and Irish settlers, after the organization of York and
Cumberland counties, gave orders to their agents to sell no lands in either
York and Lancaster counties to the Irish;  and also to make advantageous
offers of removal to the Irish settlers on Paxton and Swatara, and Donegal
townships, to remove to Cumberland county, which offers being liberal, were
accepted by many.  "Du verfluchter Irischer" used to be a frequent
ejaculation of reproach in former days.
   In 1744, Murhancellin, an Indian chief, murdered John Armstrong and his
two men on Juniata, and was apprehended by Captain Jack's party, but
released after a confinement of several months in Lancaster prison.
   This year a treaty was made with the Indians, in Lancaster, by Conrad
Weiser, interpreter and agent, &c.
   John Musser complained to the governor that the Indians barked his walnut
trees, which stood in the town, designing the bark as covers to their
cabins; he asked £ 5 for damages, and was granted £ 3.
   In 1745, the Episcopal church was partly completed.
   In the year 1745, the German pastor of the Lutheran church (built in
1734) united a portion of his congregation with the Moravians.  A great
ferment was excited among the Lutherans.  The Lutherans alleged that they
were compelled to hear a doctrine which they did not approve, or else to
resign their church.
   The "dark swamp", once in the centre of Lancaster, was attempted to be
cleared of wood, and a drain made to carry off the water.
   In 1749, James Webb complained to the general assembly of the undue
election and return of a memeber from Lancaster county, and stating it was
done by violence, and by many persons voting five to ten times severally,
making 2300 votes out of 1000!  The election was confirmed, but the
managing officers were brought to the house and reprimanded.
   In 1751, at a large meeting held at Lancaster, it was resolved that a
house of employment should be erected specially for the use of settlers, who
had severely suffered from the hardships of new settlers and from the
hostilities of Indians.  A farm was procured and also implements for
manufacturiing, &c.  They made STOCKINGS there, which soon gave celebrity to
Lancaster in that article.
   In 1758, the freemen of the county, by reason of the badness of the roads
to Philadelphia, in spring and fall, pray to be excused from attendance
there in the supreme court, and request a county court in lieu thereof.
   In 1759, in consequence of the distracted state of the country by Indian
cruelties and French hostilities, a barrack was erected in Lancaster, to
contain 500 men, for the security of the country.
   A petition of 1763, by settlers along the Conestoga, complains of its
dams, as destroying the former fishery of shad, SALMON and rock fish, which
were before in abundance, and the tributary streams had plenty of TROUT, ---
all now gone.
   In 1764 occurred the terrible massacre of the Indians in the prison of
Lancaster, where they were placed for security.  A company of fifty men from
Paxton, with blackened faces, armed and mounted, entered the town in full
gallop, went to the prison and effected their cruel purposes.  They had
before destroyed the town of Conestoga manor, murdered six of the Indians,
and burnt the place!
   The Ephrata institution near Lancaster has hitherto been little
understood; prejudice has served to distort facts in the case, so that, from
Carey's Museum, --- in an article written by a British officer, down through
Hannah Adams' "View", &c., Buck's Theological Dictionary, and even the
Historical Society of Pennsylvania, there has been a successioon of
misconceptions and mistatements concerning the community.  They had
nevertheless traits of character, which might redound more to the credit of
the state and themselves than has been hitherto appreciated.  For many years
the institution was the seat of learning and the fine arts; and many
families of Philadelphia and Baltimore resorted thither to have their
children educated; and well the children loved the brotherhood.  It
contained some of the most learned men of the colony.  Peter Miller, the
prior, was employed by the government, and translated the Declaration of
Independence into SEVEN different languages, to be sent to the courts of
Europoe.  They had one of the first printing presses in the state; and for a
period of twenty years, did MORE book-printing than was done elsewhere in
the whole province; and more ORIGINAL works were WRITTEN and PRINTED at
Ephrata, during the time it flourished, than in any province of the union!
The FIRST SABBATH SCHOOL TOO, ON RECORD, was established there: for as early
as 1740, full forty years earlier than Robert Raikes' much applauded system
was known in England, this one at 'Ephrata was begun by LUDWIG STRECKER and
others, which continued under good auspices, down to the year 1777.
   Music was much cultivated; BEISSEL was a first rate musician and
composer.  In composing sacred music he took his style from the music of
nature; and the whole, comprisinig several large volumes, are founded on the
tones of the AEolian harp --- the singing is the AEolian harp harmonized.
It is very peculiar in its style and concords, and in its execution.  The
tones issuing from the choir imitate very soft instrumental music; conveying
a softness and devotion almost superhuman to the auditor.  Their music is
set in two, four, five, and seven parts.  All the parts, save the bass, are
led and sung exclusively by females, the men being confined to the bass,
which is set in two parts, the high and low bass --- the latter resembling
the deep tones of the organ, and the first, in combination with one of the
female parts, is an excellent imitation of the concert horn.  The whole is
sung on the FALSETTO voice, the singers scarcely opening their mouths, or
moving their lips, which throws the voice up to the ceiling, which is not
high, and the tones, which seem to be more than human, at least so far from
common church singing, appear to be entering from above, and hovering over
the heads of the assembly.  Their singing so charmed the commissioners who
were sent to visit the society by the English government, after the French
war, that they requested a copy to be sent to the Royal family in England;
which was cheerfully complied with, and which I understand is still
preserved in the National Library.  About twelve months afterwards a box was
received of three or four feet long, and two or two and a half wide,
containing a present in return.  What the present was is not now certainly
known --- none having seen it but FRIEDSAM and JABEZ, who was then prior,
and into whose care it was consigned.  It was buried secretly by him, with
the advice of BEISSEL.  It is supposed, by a hint given by JABEZ, that it
was images of the king and queen, in full costume, or images of the Saviour
on the cross, and the Virgin Mary; supposing, as many in this country have
erroneously thought, that the people of Ephrata possess many of the Catholic
principles and feelings.  The king, at whose instance they were sent, was a
German, and we may presume that he considered that they retained the same
views as the monastic institutions of Europe.  They have nearly a thousand
pieces of music, a piece being composed for every hymn.  This music is lost
entirely now, at Ephrata --- not the music books, but the style of singing;
they never attempt it any more.  It is, however, still preserved and finely
executed, though in a faint degree, at SNOWHILL, near the Antietam creek, in
Franklin county, of this state; where there is a branch of the society, and
which is now the principal settlement of the Seventh Day Baptists.  They
greatly outnumber the people of Ephrata, and are in a flourishing condition.
There they keep up this institution as originally established at Ephrata,
and are growing rapidly.  Their singing which is weak in comparison with the
old Ephrata choir, and may be likened to the performance of an overture by a
musical box, with its execution by a full orchestra in the opera house, is
so peculiar and affecting, that when once heard, it can never be forgotten.
   The PEQUEA VALLEY, besides having been the loved home of the Delawares,
is still the chosen and fruitful region of their successors, the prosperous
farmers of Lancaster county.  At the first settlement of the county, it was
selected as the preferred residence of sundry FRENCH FAMILIES of the
persecuted Huguenots.  They bore the names of Dubois, Boileau, Larroux,
Lefevre,Esq., and some of their descendants remain there to the present day.
A large quarto Bible, which Isaac Lefevre brought with him from France at
that time, is now in the possession of John Lefevre, Esq., and held as a
prized relic.  The aforesaid names were also united with those of Charles De
La Noe, a minister, and Andrew Dore, and some other Frenchmen, who had come
out under the influence of William Penn, to form VINEYARDS, and to cultivate
GRAPES, "up the Schuylkill".  They, however, not succeeding to their
expectation, felt prepared to avail themselves of a change to the Pequea
valley, which was produced by the arrival, in 1712-13 of MADAME MARY FEREE,
a widow lady, having with her three sons and three daughters, and coming to
this land to seek a peaceful asylum from the persecutions of religious
intolerance abroad.  She had just lost her husband, a gentleman of eminence
in France, by such persecution; and reaching England for refuge, she found
friendship in William Penn and Queen Anne, by whom she was aided in her
embarkation for America.  She became possessed of four thousand acres of the
best land in Pequea, recommended by Penn's agent, in this country, to her
special notice: two thousand acres of which came by grant, and the other two
thousand acres by purchase.  To this place ALL THOSE FRENCH PEOPLE went for
settlement, and were there heartily welcomed by the Indian king, Tanawa.
When he died, soon after, all the Huguenots attended his burial; and his
grave was marked with a pile of stones, which long remained to mark the
place, --- on what is now called La Fayette hill, near Paradise.  The church
of All Saints now stands on what was the Indian burial ground.
   The name of Madame Feree is still remembered and venerated in the
neighborhood of Paradise, where she settled, and gave, by grant of deed to
trustees, the ground for general burial, as now used by the people there.
   Isaac Lefevre, before named, had lost both his parents by the massacre in
France, and he arrived at Philadelphia, a youth of seventeen, in 1686;
afterwards he became the husband of Catharine, the daughter of Madame Feree,
and their son, by this marriage, was THE FIRST BORN white child in Pequea.
Philip Feree married Leah, a daughter of Abraham Dubois.  One of the Ferees
became a friend.  I have been indebted for sundry of these facts, to R.
Conyngham, Esq., who has made himself acquainted with them by his residence
in the town of Paradise.

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Note: All words in capitals are italics in the book.