Union County History Annals of the Buffalo Valley by John Blair Lynn Pages 126 thru 166 Contributed for use in USGenWeb by Tony Rebuck USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is Encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitter PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to state and county table of contents. 1777 OFFICIALS - MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, CONTINUED - MAJOR KELLY AT PRINCETON - ROLL OF CAPTAIN B. WEISER'S COMPANY - MATTHEW BROWN - PAOLI - GENERAL POTTER'S LETTERS. THOMAS WHARTON, President of the State. John Lowdon member of Council until October, when he was succeeded by Captain John Hambright, of Turbut township. Members of Assembly elected in October: Samuel Dale, Robert Fruit, James Murray, William Irwin, Simon Himrod, and Robert Fleming. On the 9th of June the following justices were appointed under the new constitution: Samuel Hunter, Thomas Hewitt, Robert Crawford, John Weitzel, Robert Martin, Michael Troy, Samuel Allen, John Aurand, William Shaw, and John Livingston. William Maclay, Prothonotary until September 11, when he was succeeded by David Harris; Jonathan Lodge, Sheriff, elected in October; John 1777.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 127 Simpson, the first Register and Recorder of the county, appointed March 14. March 21, Samuel Hunter appointed lieutenant, and Walter Clark, William Murray, George Wolfe, and William Wilson, sub-lieutenants of Northumberland county. Constable of Buffalo: Martin Trester; White Deer, Henry Derr. Elias Younkman's name appears on the grand jury. He resided in Turbut before moving into Buffalo, in 1783. Minutes of the Committee of Safety - Continued. January 1st, 1777. The complaint of Peter Smith against Robert Robb. To THE HONORABLE COMMITTEE OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY: That on the 20th of last month, at the house of Captain John Brady, said Robb did violently beat and very much abuse said Smith, and further produceth James Brady and Jean Kennan as evidence of said charge, and also Patrick Murdock as evidence afterwards to the wounds alleged to be received by said Smith from said Robb. his PETER X SMITH. mark. The above named Peter Smith maketh oath that he received the above- mentioned abuse, by the above-named Robert Robb, at the time and place above-mentioned, and that he, this deponent, has not been able, ever since receiving the above-mentioned abuse, to follow his usual vocation, as formerly. his PETER X SMITH. mark. James Brady's Evidence between Peter Smith, complainant, and Robert Robb, defendant. This deponent saith, that on Friday, the 20th day of December last, Robert Robb did, at the house of this deponent's father, and in his presence, violently beat and abuse the above-said Smith, and continued so to do until he, this deponent, rescued him out of his hands. This deponent further saith, that Robert Robb said he 128 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1777. believed the committee got very little satisfaction of him, and that they were a set of rascals, some of them were robbers, some were horse- thieves, and some of them were murderers. And further saith not. JAMES BRADY. Jean Cannon's Evidence. This deponent saith, that she saw Peter Smith immediately after difference with Robert Robb, and that said Smith seemed to her to have been very much abused as she understood, by said Robert Robb. This deponent further saith, that said Robb said the committee was a set of rascals, some of them were horse-thieves, some robbers, and some of them were murderers. And further saith not. her JEAN X CANNON. mark. January 4th, 1777. Resolved, That this committee be adjourned until the 14th day of this instant, to meet at the house of George McCandlish. January 14. The committee met, by adjournment, at the house of Mr. George McCandlish, and proceeded to hear the evidence of James Patton, in behalf of Robert Robb. James Patton, being duly sworn, deposeth and said, that he, this deponent, with Peter Smith and some others, were drinking together at the house of Captain John Brady, when said Smith asked Mr. Robb what news. Mr. Robb answered that he desired none of his discourse, and asked James Brady if there was any fire in the new house. Brady said there was. Mr. Robb then got up and asked this deponent if he would go into the said house and drink share of half a pint. This deponent said he would. After sitting down, the aforesaid Smith came in. Says Mr. Robb, you have followed me here again, Peter. Mr. Robb further said, if you choose to sit here, I will go into the other house, and if you follow me, I will flog you, or turn you out. Mr. Robb then got up, and asked this deponent to go with him to the other house. This deponent further 1777.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 129 saith, that Mr. Robb said that once in his day he never thought to be tried by such men as some of the committee. Some of them had been tried for murder and some for horse stealing. And further saith not. JAMES PATTON. WHEREAS, A certain Robert Robb was brought before the committee of this county, on account of sundry charges proven against him, and a resolve of this committee entered thereon, bearing date December 17th, 1776, by virtue whereof he was committed to the custody of Colonel James Murray, to be by him sent to some proper place of confinement until released by a superior authority: AND WHEREAS, The said Colonel Murray, out of lenity to said Robb's family, saw fit to appoint the mansion house of the said Robb as a prison for him, on a promise of his good behavior for the future, but as said Robb hath since (as appears by sufficient testimony given before this committee) very ungratefully abused the lenity shown him by said Colonel Murray, by barbarously beating and much abusing a certain Peter Smith, of this county, so as to render him unable, for a considerable time, to support himself and his small family by his industry, as usual, as appears by the testimony of said Smith, and other evidences produced before this committee: AND WHEREAS, He did, at the same time, not only despise all authority of this committee, but also charge them with horse stealing, robbery, and murder, as appears by the testimony of said evidences: therefore, Resolved, Notified to take, or order to be taken, the aforesaid Robert Robb before the Council of Safety, of this State, to whom he hath appealed, in order to answer the several charges proven against him before this committee, which we have inclosed in a letter directed to the said Council of Safety, which you are desired to deliver with said prisoner. Signed by order of committee. PAUL GEDDIS, Chairman. January 15, 1777. Resolved, That notice be sent to Captain Murray, requesting his attendance tomorrow morning, which was accordingly sent by Mr. Johnson. 130 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1777. January 16. Upon Captain Murray's not appearing according to notice, Resolved, That Thomas Combs be hired and sent with a second notice to Captain Murray, requesting his attendance immediately. Upon Captain Murray's non-appearance upon second notice, Resolved, That the aforesaid Thomas Combs be again sent with a third notice to Captain Murray, and paid five shillings for his trouble. January 17. Thomas Combs returned from Captain Murray's, and brought a letter of which the following is a copy: January 17, 1777. GENTLEMEN: I sent you word by Mr. McKnight and Mr. Johnson that I would not act any longer as an officer; and since you wont take my word, I now send you my commission, and I hope you will believe me now. WILLIAM MURRAY. To the committee. Upon Captain Murray's non-compliance with the resolve of this committee, Resolved, That Simon Himrod and Buchanan Smith be appointed to conduct Robert Robb to the Council of Safety of this State, and that they be paid two pounds five shillings for their trouble. Resolved, That the sum of one pound ten shillings be paid to Captain John Hambright, for this book found by him for the use of this committee. Resolved, That Mordecai McKinney be paid by the chairman one pound two shillings and six pence, out of the balance received by Mr. Clay, on account of expresses to the different officers of Colonel Murray's battalion. Job Jolloway applied to this committee for a letter to Thomas Ferguson, to go with him to the Six Nations. Resolved, That a letter be sent accordingly. 1777.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 131 NORTHUMBERLAND, February 13, 1777. The following gentlemen being unanimously chosen by their respective townships to serve in the committee of this county for the ensuing six months, met at the house of Laughlan McCartney, in Northumberland, and gave in the following returns of their election, viz: Augusta township. Mochonoy township. George Yeakle, Henry Zartman, Henry Krebs. Potter's township. Penn's township. John Livingstone, Andrew Moore, John McMillan. David Miller, Jacob Hosterman. Turbutt township. Thomas Jordan, White Deer township. John Nelson, William Blyth, Josiah Espy. James McCormick, William Reed, Buffalo Township. John Aurand, Muncy township. Thomas Sutherland, John Coates, George Overmire. James Hampton, William Hammond. Bald Eagle township. John Fleming, Mahoning township James Hughs, John Walker. Wyoming township. James McClure, Peter Milleck, John Clingman. The committee, according to order, proceeded to elect their chairman and clerk, when Thomas Jordan was unanimously chosen chairman, and John Coates, clerk. 132 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1777. Resolved, That this committee be adjourned till Tuesday, the 11th day of March next, when they are to meet at the house of George McCandlish; and as sundry of the townships have neglected to send out their members at this meeting, the committee have ordered the chairman to give notice to the said townships by public advertisement to attend at next meeting. March 11th, 1777. The committee met according to adjournment, Mr. Thomas Jordan in the chair. Upon complaints being made by a certain Allis Read, of Wyoming township, that he, the said Read, had a horse strayed or stolen from him some time ago, and was found in the custody of a certain John Drake, when said Read replevied the horse and got him and kept him in his possession for about six months, and then the widow of said Drake came and took him forcibly out of said Read's stable, he not being at home himself, and now keeps the horse, and absolutely refuses to give him up again to the said Read. Resolved, That Messrs. James McClure, Peter Milleck, and John Clingman, with the assistance of the committee of Wyoming town- ship be a joint committee to meet at the house of James McClure, in said township, on Saturday, the 22d day of this instant, March, to hear the complaint and defense of both parties concerning the said horse, and that the chairman of this committee issue summons for the evidences of the complainer to attend at said meeting, which summons are to be served by the complainer himself, as also a summons for the said Widow Drake to attend with the horse and her evidences or reasons, if any she have, why the complainer should not have his horse upon proper proofs being made of his being his property, and the aforesaid persons are hereby authorized to judge and determine betwixt both parties, and upon proper proofs being made, give their final judgment in the matter. A certain Captain Jacob Links, of Buffalo township, appealed to this committee in consequence of a resolve of the committee of said township, a copy of which is as follows, viz: "Resolved, That Jacob Links does return several sums of money, which a number of the inhabitants of this township did deliver to him for the use of purchasing salt, he, said Links, acknowledging he 1777] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 133 could have had salt, but it being troublesome times, he was afraid he should suffer loss if he would purchase the salt, and a certain evidence did declare that he said he was going on his own business to Philadelphia, and he, said Links, did not bring salt. December 21, 1776, by the committee of Buffalo township. (Signed,) WILL. IRWIN, Chairman." In consequence of said appeal, Mr. Links was called in before this committee and asked if he had evidence to produce. He said he had, but that he had them not then ready. Resolved, That Mr. Links appeal be referred till the next meeting of committee, and that his evidence be summoned to attend. WHEREAS, Colonel or Captain Benjamin Weiser has made complaint to this committee that a number of persons who had been out under his command in the militia of this county, in order to join the continental army, in New Jersey, and that the said persons were deserted from him and returned home to this county, as the same is more fully expressed in a letter to this committee, bearing date ______ craving their assistance. Resolved, That a day of muster be assigned for the said persons to meet and march off to camp, and serve out their time, allowing them to elect new officers, if they had any objections to the old ones, certifying them also, that if they neglect to obey this resolve, they are to be taken up and committed as deserters. WHEREAS, This committee have received a letter from the com- mittee of the township of Bald Eagle, together with a resolve of their committee anent the selling of grain, &c., in their township, craving advice before they should carry their resolve into execution, of which the following is a copy: February 26th, 1776. We, the committee of the township of Bald Eagle met, and as a complaint was made to us by a number of the inhabitants that there is a quantity of rye that is going to be carried out of the township, for stilling, and that there are some of the inhabitants, which have not sold their grain as yet, nor will not sell without they get eighteen pence or two shillings per bushel above the highest market price that grain is giving in the county, but will keep it up and carry it off; and as it appears to us that a great number of the inhabitants of the township will suffer if such a practice is allowed to go on therefore, we 134 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1777. Resolve, That no stiller in this township shall buy any more grain this season for to still, or still any more than what he hath already by him. And further, we resolve, that no grain be carried out of this township till the necessity of the poor is supplied, or till the first day of May next; and any person having grain of any kind to dispose of, and will not take the market price at Sunbury, reducing a reasonable carriage or the highest price that it will be there when the grain is wanted, we allow to seize on it and take it by force, and pay them their money. Given under our hands the day and year above mentioned. (Signed,) JOHN DICKSON, ROBERT LOVE, JAMES ERWIN. Resolved, That the committee of Bald Eagle is the most competent judges of the circumstances of the people in that township; that, therefore, the affair be referred back to them to act as they shall see just cause, but, in the meantime, that they be cautioned against using too much rigor in their measures, and that they keep by moderation as much as possible, and study a sort of medium between seizing of property and supplying the wants of the poor. Whereas, Report has been made to this committee of a certain Henry Sterratt profaning the Sabbath in an unchristian and scandalous manner, causing his servants to maul rails, &c., on that day, and beating and abusing them if they offered to disobey such his unlawful commands. Resolved, That the committee of Bald Eagle township, where he now resides, be recommended to suppress such like practices to the utmost of their power. Resolved, That this committee be adjourned till Tuesday, the 15th of April next, when it is again to meet at the house of George McCandlish. April 15th, 1777. The committee met according to adjournment, Mr. Thomas Jordan in the chair. WHEREAS, A certain Jacob Dreisbach having disobeyed a summons issued by this committee at their last sitting, for him to have compeared at this meeting of committee as evidence in the affair of Jacob Links, 1777] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 135 Resolved, That a special warrant be now granted for bringing him before this committee tomorrow, at nine o'clock. April 17th. Jacob Dreisbach was brought before the committee, and being duly sworn, he saith that he asked Captain Links if he was the man that was to go to Philadelphia for salt, and the said Links answered that he was, and said that he had a sister in Philadelphia, and wanted to see her, and said it would suit him better to go than another who had no errand of their own; but says, for his own part, he was willing to allow Captain links whatever came to his share of the expenses, at the same rate that the rest of his employers allowed him, and further saith not. JACOB DREISBACH. Mr. George Overmire, a member of this committee, declareth that he was present when Captain Links agreed with his employers, and says that he was to have his expenses allowed him, whether he got salt or not. Captain Links compeared and produced his account for traveling expenses, which amounted to £5 15, acknowledging the receipt of £39 from his employers, part of which he had yet in his hands, and says he could have got salt, but it being salt that had been already purchased or allotted for the use of this county, and was to be distributed over the county at large, it was not answering his purpose to bring it, and there was no other salt he could get to purchase. Resolved, That Captain Links be authorized to keep the sum of two shillings and eleven pence half penny out of every pound of his employer's money for payment of his expenses, as his account appears to this committee to be very moderate. WHEREAS, A certain William Read, of Bald Eagle township, has been taken into custody and carried before this committee to an- swer for his conduct in refusing to associate and bear arms in behalf of the States; and being asked his reasons for so refusing, his answers were as follows, viz: That he was once concerned in a riot that happened in Ireland, commonly known by the name of the Hearts of Steel, and was taken prisoner, tried, and acquitted, upon his taking an oath of 136 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 1777. allegiance to the King, and coming [under] solemn obligations never to lift arms against him for the future; he, therefore, looked upon it as a breach of his oath to muster or bear arms in behalf of the States, as the arms of the States were now employed against the King to whom he had sworn allegiance. Being further asked if he had any objections to the cause the United States were now engaged in, he said he had not any, and would be as forward and willing as any to join in it, could he do it without breach of his oath. Being asked if he would take an oath of allegiance to the United States, he said he would if it did not oblige him to take up arms. Accordingly an oath was tendered to him, and he swore as follows: I do swear to be true to the United States of America, and do renounce and disclaim all allegiance to the King of Great Britain, and promise that I will not, either directly or indirectly, speak or act any thing in prejudice to the cause or safety of the States, or lift arms against them, or be any way assistant to their declared enemies in any case whatsoever. WILLIAM READ. Whereupon, the committee resolved to dismiss him, upon his paying the sum of seventeen shillings and one penny half penny, being the costs of bringing him before the committee. In consequence of sundry accounts, from different parts of the county, of a dangerous plot being on foot by some of our enemies to bring on an Indian war, and in particular by an intercepted letter, wrote by a certain Nicholas Pickard, directed to a certain John Pickard, at the house of Caspar Read, in Penn's township, with all speed, a copy of which was transmitted to us by Nathaniel Landon, of Wyoming, and is now before this committee, and is as follows: WYOMING, March 7th, 1777. WORTHY FRIEND: I cannot omit but write you a few lines, that I am in a good state of health, and, further, I let you know that, as soon as the river is clear of ice, we shall march from every part therefore, I would advise you, as a friend, to go out of the way, for we then, as soon as the river is clear of ice, intend to cut all off; therefore, I think it is better for you to go out of the way with the rest, for against May it will go as you heard it should go. Perhaps 1777.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 137 against Easter I will be with you; then I shall tell you further, and give you a better account of it. No more at present, but I remain your trusty friend. Give my compliments to them all a thousand times; tell them all that I intend to see them soon. I have wrote to you as much as I durst. (Signed.) NICHOLAS PICKARD. In consequence of which letter, Colonel James Murray and Captain James Espy were sent out, by order of this committee, in search of the said Nicholas and John Pickard. April 17th. Captain Espy returned, and brought the body of John Pickard before this committee; and being legally sworn, upon the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, He saith, that he went up the river, some time about last Christmas, from Middletown to Wyoming, in a boat, and at Wyoming he met with the aforesaid Nicholas Pickard, his own cousin, and that they two went by land about twenty miles further up the river, to a place called Tankhannock, to see some friends, and being in the house of a certain Nicholas Phillips, he, the said Phillips, told his cousin and him that the Indians had told him they would come down, and cut off all against this spring, or as soon as they got their orders; and that they would in particular strike upon the Mohawk river and the waters of the Susquehannough; and that when he parted with the said Nicholas, at that time, he promised to write to the deponent as soon as he thought there was immediate danger, so that he might go out of the way; withal telling him that the Indians did not want to kill any that did not take up arms against them, so that if he would go out of the way, or lie still on one side, there would be no danger of him. And further told him, about a fortnight ago, that there were five hundred Indians at Shamung, waiting for their orders from Niagara. Likewise, that he, the deponent, asked the said Nicholas what his reason was for coming down to Caspar Read's at that time, (being about a fortnight ago,) and he told him that the Yankees were going to apprehend him for a Tory, and that a certain Dennis Clark came to him about midnight, and gave him notice of it, and accordingly he made his escape down the river to Caspar Read's, or that neighborhood. And he has told the deponent, that 138 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1777. he has wrote him two letters, one of which was sent by a man of the name of Clark, which the deponent thinks is the same Clark that gave him notice to go off; and that Clark took sick upon the way, and when he could not proceed forward with the letter, by reason of his illness, he threw the letter in the fire and burnt it; and that the contents of the letter was, that the Indians were coming down, and for the deponent to go out of the way, and further saith not. JOHN PICKARD. An oath of allegiance to the United States being proposed to John Pickard, and bail for his good behavior, he complied with both. and produced Caspar Read as his bail, who bound himself in a bond of an hundred pounds for the good and orderly behavior of John Pickard, for a year and a day next to come after this date. Then the oath of allegiance was tendered to him, and he swore as follows: I do swear to be true to the United States of America, and do renounce and disclaim all allegiance to the King of Great Britain, and promise that I will not, either directly or indirectly, speak or act anything in prejudice to the cause or safety of the States, or lift arms against them, or be any way assistant to their declared enemies, in any case whatsoever. So help me God. JOHN PICKARD. Upon the satisfaction given to the committee by the said John Pickard, it was unanimously agreed that he be dismissed. April 17th. Colonel Murray returned, and brought the body of Nicholas Pick- ard before this committee, and being [questioned] anent the aforesaid letter, confesseth that he wrote it, and a copy of the letter being read unto him, he acknowledged the same in every particular; and further confesseth, that he is in connection with the ministerial troops at Niagara, and that he has taken an oath of allegiance to the King of Britain, but says he was forced to it; and further, concerning the letter, he says that he wrote it in a kind of mysterious manner, by reversing the letters, so that it might not be understood, in case it should be intercepted; and that he sent it by a person of the name of Dennis Clark, and that he has seen said Clark since that time, who told him that he took sick upon the way, and, seeing that he could not get the letter forwarded, he had burnt it. 1777.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 139 He likewise says that one Nicholas Philips, at Tankhannock, notified him and several others thereabouts to move away with their families and connections to a place called Tiogo, in the Indian country, as the English were coming down to cut off the inhabitants upon the waters of the Mohawk river and the Susquehannough. That there were fifteen thousand of the ministerial troops at Niagara, which were to be divided; four thousand of them were to come down the North Branch and four thousand down the West Branch of Susquehannough, and seven thousand down the Mohawk river, and a number of Indians were to be along with them, and that the person who informed this Philips of it was one John DePeu, who is gone off and joined the English at Niagara, and that he sent him this piece of information by an Indian, after he went off. Upon due deliberation upon the examination of Nicholas Pickard, the committee are unanimously of opinion that he is an enemy to the States: therefore, Resolved, That he be immediately sent from before this committee to the Supreme Executive Council of this State, to be dealt with as their superior judgments shall direct them in the case, and that John Coates be the person who shall carry him thither, and that he call as many to his assistance as may be needful. Resolved, That this committee be adjourned till the 10th day of June next, when they are to meet at the house of Mr. Laughlan McCartney, in Northumberland. January 3, was fought the battle at Princeton, in which Colonel Potter's battalion took part. Washington, it will be recollected, slipped away from Cornwallis at Trenton, made a forced march on Princeton, and had already won the battle there, when Cornwallis, having made a forced march, arrived near Stony Brook. Washington sent an order to Colonel Potter to destroy the bridge at Worth's Mills, on Stony Brook, in sight of the advancing British. Colonel Potter ordered Major Kelly to make a detail for that purpose. Kelly said he would not order another to do what some might say he was afraid to do himself. He took a detail and went to work. The British opened upon him a heavy fire of round shot. Before all the logs were cut off, several balls struck the log on which he stood, and it broke down sooner than he expected, and he fell into the stream. His party moved off, not expecting him to escape. 140 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1777. By great exertions he reached the shore through the high water and floating timbers, and followed the troops. Incumbered, as he was, with his wet and frozen clothes, he made prisoner of an armed British scout, and took him into camp. (Lossing, in his Field Book of the Revolution, says he was taken prisoner. This is a mistake.) Colonel Kelly used to tell that during this tour, for three days at one time there was no service of provisions, and during the march before and after the battle, they were thirty-six hours under arms without sleep. Muster roll of Captain Benjamin Weiser's company, at Philadelphia January 30, 1777. Captain - Weiser, B. First Lieutenant - Snider, Christopher. Second Lieutenant - Shaffer, Adam. Third Lieutenant - Van Gundy, Joseph. First Sergeant - Ham, Matthew. Second Sergeant - Markle, George. First Corporal - Moyer, Philip. Second Corporal - Eisenhauer, Frederick, enlisted in the service of the United States. Privates - Brosius, George; Brosius, Nicholas; Faust, John; Furst, Christian, sick at present, (discharged at Reading, by Doctor Potts;) Furst, Conrad; Groninger, Henry; Hauser, John; Heim, John; Herter, John; Herrold, George; Hosterman, Peter; Kaufman, Henry; Kerstetter, Adam; Kerstetter, Martin; Kerstetter, Leonard; Kitch, Thomas; Leffler, Adam; Livengood, John; Meiser, John; Moyer, George; Neitz, Philip; Newman, Michael; Peifer, George; Pickel, Tobias; Reitz, Andrew; Shafer, Christian; Shafer, Nicholas; Snider, Jacob; Spengle, Zacharias; Stroub, John; Troutner, George, (enlisted in the United States service;) Weis, Peter; Witmer, Mathias. 28th January, the Assembly passed an act reviving all laws in force on the 14th of May, 1776, and such of the common and stat- ute laws of England as had been in force previously, except the act of allegiance, or those that acknowledged the authority of the heirs and devisees of William Penn, or were repugnant to the lately formed constitution. The courts were directed to be held at the 1777.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 141 times and places of old, and the President and Council should designate he presiding justice; in his absence, the justices to chose one. The election for justices was fixed for the 25th of April, two persons from each township to be elected, one commissioned. Licenses for taverns to be granted by the Executive Council, on recommendation of the justices. 14th March, register and recorder's offices established in every county; and on the 14th of June, the county was districted; Buffalo, White Deer, and Potter placed in the third district. The elections to be held at Fought's mill. February 1, occurred the skirmish at Piscataway, New Jersey. Patrick Kellahan, of Captain Clarke's company, was wounded by a musket ball in the right thigh. He lay a long while under the doctor's hands. The ball, however, was never extracted, at least in 1786, when Colonel James Murray certified to the facts, in order to his drawing a pension. Peter Nees was wounded in the privates and died from want of proper care. He left a widow, Mary Nees, and three children. Henry Dougherty and John Fitzsimmons, of Northumberland county, were wounded. Lieutenant Gustavus Ross, of Lee's company, was killed. Captain Thomas Robinson, who was second in command that day, said he was wounded in the bowels, and died that night, at Ash Swamp, east New Jersey. Robert Wilson, who became ensign of Cookson Long's company, and John Norcross, were wounded. Wilson in the left foot, Norcross in the left shoulder. The following receipt is a curiosity in its way. It bears date 27th May: "Received of Captain John Clarke the sum of five pounds and twelve shillings and nine pence, together with three pounds seven shillings and three pence, together with four pounds, seven shillings bounty and subsistence, being the full pay for a private for three months and eighteen days. I say received by me. "Jos. GREEN." During the summer Colonel Kelly was commanding on the frontier. Van Campen, in his narrative, says he served a tour of three months with him at this time. Colonel Kelly's guide was Job Chilloway, a friendly Indian. They were stationed at the Big Island, near Lock Haven. Job Chilloway, says Jones, in his history of Juniata valley, page 351, spent his latter days on Spruce creek, Huntingdon county, 142 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1777. where he was found dead in his cabin, by some hunters, about the close of the last century. He was a tall, muscular man, with his ears cut so as to hang pendant, like a pair of ear-rings; so said the late E. Bell, Esquire. He was of the Delaware tribe, and his name occurs frequently in the Archives, from 1759 on, as a spy, and always friendly to the whites. April 5th, General James Potter appointed third brigadier general. April 22. "Matthew Brown, whose remains lie buried in White Deer Hole valley, was quite a prominent man in our history. He was one of the first overseers of the poor for White Deer township; in February, 1776, one of the committee of safety for Northumberland county; in June 1776, a member of the Provincial Council that met in Philadelphia to dissolve our political connection with Great Britain, and in July, 1776, a member of the State Convention that formed our State Constitution of 1776, which he signed on the 28th day of September, in that year. In the autumn of 1776 he entered our provincial or United States army as a soldier, and while serving thus contracted what was called 'the camp fever,' which compelled him to return home, and finally carried him to his grave. He lies buried here in a field, about half a mile south of my residence. His grave is surrounded with a rude unmortared stone wall, put there by his wife, Eleanor Brown, the widow named in our above list of names. After surviving him for a period of thirty-seven years, she also died, and now lies buried at his side. The inclosure is about ten or twelve feet square in the clear, inside, and contains two upright, plain white marble tombstones, now much discolored and blackened by time, leaving the following inscriptions and nothing more, to wit: 'MATTHEW BROWN, Died April 22d, 1777.' 'ELEANOR BROWN, Wife of Matthew Brown, Died August 9, 1814.' "And inside of this stone inclosure there stands four living trees, viz a straight and handsome hickory tree of about sixteen inches in diameter near the ground, and three other crooked and scraggy trees, a wild cherry tree, and two elm trees of some seven or eight 1777.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 143 inches in diameter near the ground. Mr. Brown seems to have been well off, and doubtless owned this land and lived somewhere near where he now lies buried." - J F. Wolfinger. 10th May, occurred the action at Piscataway, New Jersey. Chris- topher Gettig, afterwards many years a justice at Sunbury, was acting first lieutenant that day in Colonel Cooke's regiment. He was wounded in the leg and taken prisoner. His leg had to be amputated. Some of his descendants live near Bellefonte, Centre county, (1877.) 11th September, battle of Brandywine. Captain John Brady was badly wounded. William Boyd,* his lieutenant was killed. Adam Christ, of Buffalo Valley, was wounded in the breast, a musket ball passing clear through his body. Samuel Brady was also in this battle. The twelfth was under General Wayne, at Chadd's Ford. General Potter was with General Armstrong at Pyles' Ford. Christ was in Lieutenant Colonel James Murray's battalion, under Potter. 20th, occurred the Paoli massacre. Samuel Brady was on guard, and laid down with his blanket buckled around him. The British were nearly on them before the sentinel fired. Brady ran; and as be jumped a fence, a soldier struck at him with a musket and pinned his blanket to a rail. He tore the blanket, and dashed on. A horseman overtook him, and ordered him to stop. He wheeled and shot the horseman dead, and got into a small swamp, supposing no one in but himself. In the morning he found fifty- five men in it, of whom he took command and conducted to camp. 1St November, Colonel Hunter writes that he had orders for the third and fourth classes of militia to march, but he had neither arms or blankets for them; that the first and second classes were on the frontiers, and had all the good arms that could be collected; that the people were in a bad way; had not got in any crops. For the state of the country, he referred President Wharton to Captain John Hambright, who had been chosen of the Council. That the *William Boyd was the son of Sarah Boyd, a widow. who resided at Northumberland, and a brother of Thomas, who shared in all the dangers and fatigues of the Canada campaign, (see Judge Henry'S Memoirs of Arnold's Expedition,) and fell a sacrifice to Indian barbarity in Sullivan's expedition. Another brother, Captain Boyd, lived at Northumberland many years afterwards. See Meginness, page 286, for his adventures. 144 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1777. county was the worst off of any in the State for salt. His next letter, 11th November, Fort Augusta, is as follows: SIR: This day the third and fourth classes of the third battalion march to join the army of General Washington, under the command of Colonel James Murray. The two classes of Colonel Cookson Long's battalion I have ordered to duty on the frontiers, as the first class, that was commanded by Colonel John Kelly, has come off from thence, after serving two months, to encourage the poor, scattered inhabitants to return back to their habitations, which I hope will be approved by the Council. The militia that now marches is badly off for blankets, and several go without any, and but thinly clothed, which shows their attachment to the American cause; though poor, yet brave, and can be depended upon for their integrity. The first class that did duty up the Bald Eagle looks to me for pay. It has come home with the loss of two men, drowned in the river. Your obedient servant, SAMUEL HUNTER. By way of appendix to the year 1777, I insert a letter to General James Potter. His correspondence, embracing letters from all the principal characters in the Revolution, from General Washington to Lady Harriet Ackland, after being many years carefully preserved on his garret, were scattered to the four winds, in the misfortune of some of his descendants, some twenty years ago. His dark lantern is still in the possession of Colonel William P. Wilson, of Trenton, New Jersey, one of his descendants. General Potter's positions are indicated as follows: July 22, in command at Billingsport; 29th August, in command of the first brigade, Pennsylvania militia, at Chester; September 1, at Wilmington; 2d and 5th moved up to Newport. HEAD QUARTERS, 31st October, 1777. SIR: As soon as the Schuylkill is fordable, I shall send over a large body of militia to you, for the purpose of executing some particular matters. The principal one, to endeavor to break up the road by which the enemy have a communication with their shipping over the islands, if it is practicable; and to remove the running stones from the mills in the neighborhood of Chester and Wilmington. This last I would have you undertake immediately, with your 1777.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 145 present force, as I have information that the enemy are about making a detachment to Wilmington, probably with an intent to take post there, and secure the use of the mills. To execute this matter at once, you should impress a sufficient number of wagons for the purpose, without letting any person know what they are for, and send them under good officers, with sufficient parties, to the following mills: Lloyd's, about two miles on this side of Chester; Robinson's, on Naaman's creek; Shaw's, about one mile back of Chester, and the Brandywine mills. If there are any other that I have not men- tioned, contiguous to the river, they are also to be dismounted. The stones should be marked with tar and grease, or in some other manner, that it may be known to what mills they belong, that they may be returned, and made use of in the future, and they should be moved to such distance that the enemy cannot easily recover them. If there is any flour in the mills, it should be removed, if possible, after the stones are secured. I am informed that there is considerable quantity in Shaw's mill, particularly, which there is reason to believe is intended for the enemy. It is very convenient to the navigation of Chester creek, and should be first taken care of. I beg you may instantly set about this work, for the reason above mentioned. That no previous alarm may be given, let a certain day and a certain hour be fixed upon for the execution of the whole at one time, and even the officers who are to do the business should not know their destination till just before they set out, lest it should take wind. I have yours of yesterday afternoon, and am glad to hear that the flood has done so much damage to he meadows. Endeavor by all means to keep the breakers open. When the party that I mentioned in the former part of my letter gets down, I hope you will be able to break up the dyke effectually. I am sir, your most obedient servant, GEORGE WASHINGTON. P. S. I have desired Captain Lee, of the light horse, to give you any assistance that you may want. GENERAL POTTER. From the camp at Mr. Lewes', November 12, 1777;, after recom- mending Thomas Jordan for paymaster, General Potter writes 146 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1777. "As for news, I have not much. Yesterday came up the river thirty-eight sail of the enemy. What number of troops were on board is a secret to me. I went to Chester in the evening, but could not learn. There has been very heavy firing for three days past. The first day they did no damage to the works or the men. I have intelligence almost every day from the city. Howe is the best Whig-maker in the United States. He has converted many from the evil of their ways, and turned them unto the country. Distress and want is likely to abound in the city. I am told the poor would have suffered before this time, if General Washington had not allowed them to get flour at the Frankfort mills. Friend Howe is not a partial man. He uses Whig and Tory alike, which is the best thing I can say of him. The friends to the Government lent friend Howe £100,000. I believe by this time they would not refuse security, if offered. The enemy have made two floating batteries, but they are constricted so badly and sunk so deep in the water, they will do us little damage. My men brought in to-day five British soldiers prisoners. We catch them napping, sometimes. Firing has been heavy to-day, but we stand it as yet. I have tried to get a man to go to Red Bank to-day, and to-morrow I hope I will get an account from there. I have just received a letter from George Read, Esquire, President of Delaware State, informing that their militia had seized a number of people, who were supplying the enemy's shipping with fresh provisions, and destroyed six of their vessels in Duck creek. Three weeks ago I advised the taking and keeping of Province and Carpenter's Islands. If this had been done, friend Howe would have been hungry by this time. We have it reported that on Wednesday last our people sank a sixty-four gun ship. On Monday our people took twelve light horse and some foot prisoners. The soldiers in the city say often that they look upon themselves as our prisoners. One day one of the sentinels told Major Taylor so. "With esteem, your Excellency's obedient, humble servant, "JAMES POTTER." Directed, on public service, His Excellency, Thomas Wharton, Esquire, Lancaster, favor of Mr. Thomas Jordan. 11th December occurred the action, at Guelph's mills, (near Philadelphia,) in which the enemy endeavored to surprise General Potter. The second battalion, under Colonel Murray, was engaged. 1777] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 147 Timothy Lennington, of Northumberland county, was wounded; Robert McQuilliams was also wounded, and cut to pieces by the light horse, the same evening; Charles Clark, first lieutenant of Captain Taggart's company, was wounded in the left arm; had his skull fractured; he remained in Captivity three years. December 15, General Potter writes home, that in an action a few days previous his people behaved well, particularly the regiments of Colonel Chambers and Colonel Murray. December 31, the Council request General Potter to stay in the field during the winter, or for some time yet at least. The year closes gloomily enough, with the army encamped at Valley Forge. A return, dated Camp, in Montgomery, Philadelphia county, December 22, shows that Colonel Murray's regiment, of Northum- berland County militia, was then in Major General John Armstrong's division, and numbered two hundred and twenty-six men on the rolls. 1778 LIST OF INHABITANTS - INDIAN TROUBLES - GREAT RUNAWAY OF l778 - COVENHOVEN'S NARRATIVE - JOHN BASHOR KILLED - INCIDENT OF QUINN FAMILY - MONMOUTH BATTLE - JAMES BRADY'S DEATH - COLONEL HARTLEY'S EXPEDITION. THOMAS WHARTON, President of the State until his death at Lancaster, 23d May. Members of Congress, Clingan, William; Morris, Robert; Roberdeau, Daniel; Reed, Joseph; Smith, James; and Smith, Jonathan B. Samuel Hunter, Lieutenant of the county. John Hambright, member of Council. Members of Assembly elected, October 2, Chambers, Stephen; Dale, Samuel; Himrod, Simon; McKnight, James; Martin, Robert; and White, John. The candidates voted for, having, according to the returns of the judges of the election, received the following number of votes each: Samuel Dale, 251; 148 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1778. Simon Himrod, 250; James McKnight, 247; Robert Martin, 246; John White, 211; Stephen Chambers, 201; Robert Fruit; 173; James Crawford, 170. Another return, signed by John Kelly, Walter Clark, and Jacob Fulmer, judges, declared Robert Fruit and James Crawford elected, instead of White and Chambers; but the House declared, November 7, that the return of John Clingman, William Fisher, and Michael Hessler, was the legal one. David Harris, Prothonotary. Jonathan Lodge, Sheriff. January 1, Benjamin Weiser of Penn's, appointed a justice. County Commissioners, William Gray, John Nelson, and Thomas Sutherland; John Lytle elected in October. Officers of Buffalo: Constable, Martin Trester; Supervisors, John Pontius and George Williams; Overseers, William Speddy and Martin Dreisbach. White Deer: Constable, Henry Derr; Supervisors, James Hammond and William Rodman; Overseers, Charles McGenet and William Wilson. Inhabitants of Buffalo who came in after 1775. Books, Henry; Barnhart, Martin; Colpetzer, Adam; Chambers, Robert; Cox, Samuel; Divler, Joseph; Dempsey, Cornelius; Dugan, William; Frederick, Thomas; Ferguson, John; Gilliland, John; Haughawaut, Liffard, tenant of Samuel McClay's place; Irvin, William, (miller,) Mensch, Abraham, (who owned and lived on Abraham Wolfe's place, in East Buffalo. His wife died in the Valley, and was buried at Jenkins mill. He left with the runaway of 1779, taking with him his boys, Christian and John, and one horse. He never returned. He married again, and the late Reverend J. Nicholas Mensch, was a son by the second wife. Christian went to Ohio, John to New York; the latter died, about the same time the Reverend J. Nicholas died, at Lewisburg, in 1854. The father of Abraham and Benjamin, of Lewis township, was a nephew of the one here spoken of.) Mizener, Henry and Conrad; Prinkler, Charles; Shirtz, Michael; Struble, Richard; Stroh, Nicholas, on now Samuel Dunkel's place. (Mathias Allspach made crocks there. The latter killed, with a potter's stick, a wolf following the sheep into the yard;) Henry Winkert. List of Inhabitants of White Deer. Allen, Samuel; Ammon, George; Armstrong, William; Baker, Jacob; Blue, Frederick; Blue, William; Blythe, William; Boone, Haw- 1778.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 149 kins; Brown, Eleanor; Brundage, Joseph; Buchanan, James; Caldwell, James; Carnachan, William; Campbell, John; Charters, William; Clark, Robert; Clark, Walter; Clark, William; Cook, Henry; Cooper, Robert; Correy, Robert; Couples, David; Crasher, William; Croninger, Leonard; Dale, Samuel; Deal, Christian; Dean, Benjamin; Derr, Joseph; Derr, Henry; Diffenderfer, Michael; Diermand, Thomas; Dilce, David; Dunbar, Samuel; Earl, Michael; Elder, Thomas; Ellis, Richard; Etterburn, Jacob; Ewing, Alex- ander; Fisher, Christian; Fisher, John; Fisher, Samuel, saw-mill Fleming, Hans; Fockler, George; Foutz, Conrad; Fruit, Robert; Fulton, John; Gibson, Robert; Graham, Edward; Graham, John; Graham, Thomas; Gray, William; Green, Ebenezer; Hammond, David; Hammond, James; Hays, James; Hazlett, John; Heckle, Andrew; Heckman, Andrew; Hill, James; Hood, Elizabeth; Houston, Doctor John; Huling, Marcus, saw-mill; Hunter, James; Hutchinson, Thomas; Iddings, Henry; Irwin, George; Irwin, Richard; James, Thomas; Johnson, John; Johnson, William; Jordan, William; Kelly, John; Kilday, George; Kirkwood, John; Lafferty, Isaac; Laird, Nicholas; Leacock, John; Linn, John; Lobden, Thomas; Low, Cornelius; Low, Cornelius, junior; Low, William; Lykens, Thomas; McCard, James; McClenachan, James; McCollum, John; McComb, Daniel; McClure, Thomas; McCord, Samuel; McCormick, James; McCormick, Thomas; McGinnes, Samuel; McLaughlin, James; McJannet, Charles; Mackey, William; Maffit, Joseph; Martin, Robert; Mason, William; Mitcheltree, John; Moodie, Robert; Moore, Henry; Moore, John; Moore, Thomas; Nicholson, William; Noraconk, Daniel; Norcross, John; Orr, William; Pearson, Widow; Poak, James, saw-mill Poak, Joseph; Reed, William; Reed, Widow; Reese, George; Robb, William; Rodman, William; Row, James; Row, Joseph; Ridehower, Peter; Semple, John; Semple, Robert; Shaw, Hamilton; Shearer, Samuel; Shields, Archibald; Smith, John, senior; Smith, John, junior; Smith, Widow; Stephen, Alexander; Stephen, Philip; Story, John; Stover, Philip; Sunderland, Daniel; Swartz, Peter; Tate, John; Tate, Joseph; Titzell, Henry, grist and sawmill (Rauch's now;) Townsend, Codder; Turner, Thomas; Weeks, Jesse; Weeks, Joseph; Weitzell, John; Wertz, Deidrich; Wheeland, 150 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1778. George; White, Joseph; Wilson, Peter; Wilson, Peter, junior; Wilson, William; Yarnall, Jesse. Doctor John Houston was the earliest physician in White Deer township, that I have any knowledge of. He is said to have resided at or near the present village of Hightown. Additional List of Inhabitants, Penn's Township. Aumiller, Philip; Bader, George; Bartges, Christopher; Bearsh, Peter; Begel, Thomas; Benford, George; Billman, Abraham; Bickel, John; Bornson, Catharine; Bowerman, George; Bower- man, John; Borald, Adam; Bowersox, Paul; Boreminginan, Peter; Bollinger, Adam; Braucht, Daniel; Brenard, Francis; Buchtel, John; Bumbach, George, senior; Byerly, Anthony; Carrol, Hugh; Clemens, Abraham; Conrad, George; Dauberman, Christian; Deininger, Frederick; Eberhart, Frederick; Eckart, Jacob; Fannery, Benjamin; Fisher, Jacob; Fisher, Adam; Fiddler, Stephen; Foulke, Jacob; Fry, John; Gast, Christian; Gay, Frederick; Gemberling, Paul; Gemberling, Jacob; Gill, William; Gutner, Jacob; Gilian, Moses; Gift, Adam; Glass, George; Gundy, Peter; Hafer, Andrew; Haines, John; Hampshire, John; Harmin, Henry; Hassinger, Herman; Havelock, Conrad; Hawn, Michael; Hendershot, Casper; Herrold, Simon; Herrold, George, a grist mill; Hess, Mathias; Hosterman, Jacob; Houser, Mathias; Kern, Yost; Kiester, Martin; Knippenberger, Paul; Kline, David; Krain, Hugh; Laudenslager, Ferdy; Lepley, Jacob; Lever, Adam Lower, Peter; McAteer, Robert; McCabe, Edward; Magill, Valentine; Manning, Simeon, senior and junior; Maris, William; Miller, Conrad; Miller, Dewalt, saw-mill; Miller, Sigamund; Mitchell, Daniel; Mockell, Nicholas; Molly, Anthony; Moon, John, one grist mill; Moon, Casper, junior; Moore, Andrew, two mills; Moyer, Jacob; Moyer, Charles; Mower, Michael; Musser, John; Nees, Thomas; Netz, Ludwig; Oatly, Edward; Paul, Dewalt; Phillips, Benjamin; Reed, John; Reger, John; Reiber, John; Richter, Christena; Rine, Henry; Rorabaugh, Simon; Roush, Jacob; Roush, John; Seecrist, Christian, saw-mill; Sherk, John; Shirtz, Jacob; Shock, Jacob; Shoop, George; Snyder, Christopher; Spangler, Andrew; Spengle, Zachariah; Stock, John; Stock, Peter; Stock, Michael; Stoke, George; Stum, Abraham, 1778.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 151 junior; Swineford, Albright, one grist and saw-mill; Thomas, John; Trester, George; Trester, Martin; Trester, Jacob; Weirich, William Weiser, Philip; Weiser, John; Welsh, John; Willis, John; Wittenmyer, Andrew; Woodrow, Simeon; Yost, Casper; Zimmerman, Christopher. January 1st, (from minutes of Council,)Joseph Green presented his claim for supplying the militia with provisions while on their expedition up the West Branch, and an order was issued for £1,600 to Colonel Hunter for the same. January 9th, General Potter gets leave of absence, in consequence of sickness of Mrs. Potter, and Brigadier General John Lacey appointed to his command. February 17th, General Wayne detached Captain William Wilson, Lieutenant John Boyd, and Captain George Grant to recruit for the Pennsylvania regiments in Northumberland county. At February sessions, Samuel Maclay presented a petition, stating that his servant had enlisted in the Twelfth Pennsylvania regiment, and John Thompson and William Irvine (Irish) were appointed to appraise the time of said servant. February 20th, Samuel Dale, member elect, took his seat in the Assembly, at Lancaster. March 9th, James Murray appeared. Notwithstanding the Indian troubles, courts were held in February and in May. At the latter, John Clark, John Crider, George Overmeier, Martin Dreisbach, and William Irwin were appointed viewers on a petition to divide Buffalo township, by a line commencing at the mouth of Beaver run, thence a south-west course to Switzer run. This was never acted upon. At August term, Stephen Chambers was admitted to the bar. On the grand jury, were Albright Swineford, Elias Younkman, Henry Richard, and Thomas Sutherland. At November term, Collinson Read and John Vannost, were admitted to the bar. Abraham Mensch, Peter Wicoff, and William Clark, were jurors. As early as December, 1777, the Indians re-appeared up the West Branch, and Colonel Hunter ordered out Colonel Cookson Long's battalion, as he says he is an excellent good woodsman; but for all that, on the 1st of January, one of the inhabitants was killed and scalped, two miles above the Great Island, and eleven Indians seen, who were pursued, and two killed. In consequence, the order for the fifth class of militia to march to join the army was counter- 152 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 1778. manded on the 19th. It will be recollected that the main army was in camp at Valley Forge, at this time. On the 1st of May, General Lacey's militia command was surrounded at Crooked Billet. General Lacey says, the alarm was so sudden that I had scarcely time to mount my horse, before the enemy were within musket shot of my quarters. He escaped, with the loss of his baggage, and thirty killed and wounded. Some were butchered in a manner the most brutal savages could not equal. Even while living, some were thrown into the buckwheat straw, and the straw set on fire. The clothes were burned on others, and scarcely one without a dozen of wounds. From the diary of James F. Linn under date, December 2, 1845, I extract the following: "Uncle David Linn told me some anecdotes of Abraham Smith, who was married to his sister Jane, and who died in Ohio some years since. He was at Crooked Billet, and was taken prisoner with some others. They lost four or five men by shots. They knew not where they came from. At last Morrow (grandfather of my brother William's widow) got sight of the man, who was shooting from behind a tree. He told them to keep still, and he would fix him. When the man stepped from behind the tree to load, Morrow fired, and one of them saw him drop his hands upon his belly, and fall forward. They lossed no more men in that way. After they were taken, they were ordered to be shot as rebels. The reason for shooting the prisoners was, that they were short of provisions. They shot Maclay and Conner, and burned their bodies in a pile of buckwheat straw. It was Smith's turn next. He stood up, and kept his eye on the man who was to shoot him, until he thought he was about to draw the trigger, when he dodged forward, and the bullet took the depth of itself out of his back, opposite his breast. An officer then interfered, and stopped the shooting." Crooked Billet is now called Hatborough, in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. John Dietrich Aurand (afterward Reverend) enlisted in Colonel Stewart's Regiment, General Wayne's brigade. He had been learning milling at his father's mill, on Turtle creek. His father sold the mill this year, and, possibly, going down the country in search of employment, he fell in with the recruiting officer. Before his term expired his father went to the army, and made an effort to secure his release, on the ground of minority; but he declined returning, and served 1778. ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 153 until the year 1781, when occurred the revolt of General Wayne's troops, when he was honorably discharged, and returned to his father's home on Turtle creek. May 4, Colonel Cooke, twelfth regiment, under General Wayne, in camp at Mount Joy. 5th May, Colonel John Kelly, with part of his battalion, on duty in Penn's valley. May 8, Jacob Standford killed at his own house, in Penn's valley, with his wife and daughter, and his son, ten or eleven years old, missing.* May 17, General Potter writes from upper Fort, Penn's valley, that he was informed by Colonel Long that a few families coming to Lycoming, escorted by a party under the command of Colonel Hosterman, were attacked by twelve Indians, who killed six of them, and six were missing. Three men were killed, at the same time, on Loyal Sock; twenty persons killed on the North Branch. One who was taken prisoner made his escape, and says the Indians are determined to clear the two branches of the Susquehanna this moon. He says we have two forts in the Valley, and are determined to stand as long as we are supported. The people were poor, and bread very high. May 30, Jacob Morgan writes, that he had just returned from camp at Valley Forge. He saw fifteen regiments under arms, as well disciplined as any of the British troops can be. They performed several maneuvers, with the greatest exactness and dispatch, under the direction of Baron Steuben. General Washington afterwards reviewed them. The British were about evacuating Philadelphia, and our army would follow. One regiment, under Arnold, was to go into Philadelphia for civil service, until the Executive Council could get there. 31st May, Colonel Hunter writes, "we are in a melancholy condition. The back inhabitants have left their homes. All above Muncy are at Samuel Wallis's. The people of Muncy are at Captain Brady's. All above Lycoming are at Antes' mill and the mouth of Bald Eagle. The people of Penn's valley are at one place in Potter township. The inhabitants of White Deer are assembled at three different places. The back settlers of Buffalo have come down to the river. Penn's township people have, likewise, moved to the river. All from Muncy hill to Chillisquaque have assembled at three different places. Fishing creek and Mahoning settlements *Their graves are on Ephraim Keller's farm, west of Potter's Fort, (1872.) 154 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1778. have come to the river side. It is really distressing to see the people flying away, and leaving their all, especially the Jersey people, who came up here last winter and spring. Not one stays, but sets off to Jersey again." 2d June, he writes that the people have drawn up a petition to Congress for relief, and Robert Fruit and Thomas Jordan were set off to lay it before the Executive Council, for their approval, before presenting it to Congress. May 6, Colonel Kelly and Thomas Hewitt were appointed agents of forfeited estates within the county. June 13, Michael Campbell, of Colonel Hosterman's battalion, killed by the Indians. June 14, Colonel Hunter writes that communication between Antes' mill and Big Island was cut off. June 17, General Potter writes that Captain Pealer's company, in Nittany valley, had discovered a number of tracks, leading down Logan's Gap, quite fresh; thirty in number. July 1, army moved toward New York. The twelfth Pennsylvania, in Wayne's brigade, left wing, under General Stirling. The "Great Runaway." July 3d occurred the massacre at Wyoming, the news of which, received on the 5th, caused the general stampede of the settlers of our Valley, called the "Great Runaway." On the 9th, Colonel Hunter writes that both branches are nearly evacuated, and Northumberland and Sunbury will be the frontier in less than twenty-four hours. His letter evinces the agony of a strong man, who, with all supports taken away, was determined to fall, if need be, in defense of the charge committed to him. He says: "Nothing but a firm reliance upon Divine Providence, and the virtue of our neighbors, induces the few to stand that remain in the two towns; and if they are not speedily reinforced they must give way; but will have this consolation, that they have stood in defence of their liberty and country as long as they could. In justice to this county, I must bear testimony that the States never applied to it for men in vain. I am sure the State must know that we have reduced ourselves to our present feeble condition by our readiness to turn out, upon all occasions, when called for in defence of the common cause. Should we now fall, for want of assistance, let the neighbor- 1778.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 155 ing counties reconcile to themselves, if they can, the breach of brotherly love, charity, and every other virtue which adorns and advances the human species above the brute creation. I will not attempt to point out the particular cruelties or barbarities that have been practised on our unhappy inhabitants, but assure you that, for the number, history affords no instance of more heathenish cruelty or savage barbarity than has been exhibited in this county." July 12, Matthew Smith writes from Paxton, (Harrisburg,) that he had "just arrived at Harris' Ferry, and beheld the greatest scenes of distress I ever saw. It was crowded with people who had come down the river, leaving everything." Same day, Peter DeHaven writes from Hummelstown: "This day there were twenty or thirty passed through this town from Buffalo Valley and Sunbury, and the people inform me that there are two hundred wagons on the road coming down. I was at Mr. Elder's meeting to-day, and Colonel Clark and Colonel Rodgers made an appeal to the inhabitants to turn out one hundred volunteers," &c. A letter written by William Maclay, from Paxton, on the 12th, gives a very graphic picture of the distress. "I left Sunbury, and almost my whole property, on Wednesday last. I will not trouble you with a recital of the inconveniences I suffered while I brought my family, by water, to this place. I never in my life saw such scenes of distress. The river and the roads leading down it were covered with men, women, and children, flying for their lives. In short Northumberland county is broken up. Colonel Hunter only remained, using his utmost endeavors to rally the inhabitants to make a stand. I left him with few. I cannot speak confidently as to numbers, but he had not a hundred men on whom he could depend. Mrs. Hunter came down with me. As he is now disencumbered of his family, I am convinced that he will do everything that can be expected from a brave and determined man. It was to no purpose, Colonel Hunter issued orders for the assembling of the militia. The whole county broke loose. Something, in the way of charity, ought to be done for the many miserable objects that crowd the banks of this river, especially those who fled from Wyoming. You know I did not use to love them, but I now pity their distress." (Plunket and Maclay were the leading land proprietors who were affected by the Connecticut claim.) 156 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1778. Colonel Hunter, in another letter, dated later in the day of the 12th, says: "The towns of Sunbury and Northumberland are the frontiers, where a few virtuous inhabitants and fugitives seem determined to stand, though doubtful whether tomorrow's sun shall rise on them freemen, captives, or in eternity !" A letter dated Lancaster, 14th July, from Bertram Galbraith, says: "On Sunday morning last, the banks of the Susquehanna, from Middletown up to the Blue mountain, were entirely clad with the inhabitants of Northumberland county, who had moved off, as well as many in the river in boats, canoes, and on rafts. This I had from Captain Abraham Scott, a man of veracity, who was up at Garber's mills for his sister, the wife of Colonel Samuel Hunter, and spake with a lieutenant, who was in the action at Wyoming. He also seen six of the wounded men brought down." Robert Covenhoven, (Crownover,) describing the scene nearer home, says: "I took my own family safely to Sunbury, and came back in a keel-boat to secure my furniture. Just as I rounded a point above Derrstown, now Lewisburg, I met the whole convoy from all the forts above. Such a sight I never saw in my life. Boats, canoes, hog-troughs, rafts hastily made of dry sticks, every sort of floating article, had been put in requisition, and were crowded with women, children, and plunder. There were several hundred people in all. Whenever any obstruction occurred at any shoal or ripple, the women would leap out into the water and put their shoulders to the boat or raft and launch it again into deep water The men of the settlement came down in single file, on each side of the river, to guard the women and children. The whole convoy arrived safely at Sunbury, leaving the entire range of farms along the West Branch to the ravages of the Indians." At this time occurred the death of John Michael Bashor. Michael Weyland, who survived many years afterwards, often related the story to my informant. He said it was at the time of the Great Runaway; and as Bashor's name is dropped from the assessment of 1778, it, no doubt, occurred in the first week in July, 1778. I can find no allusion in the Archives, or in any other written record, to the event, which is to be accounted for from the confusion occurring at that time. Bashor came to the Valley in 1774, and in June of that year purchased a part of the "Jacob Rees'" tract, near 1778.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 157 New Columbia, of Hawkins Boone. In April, 1777, he sold it again to Richard Irwin, and moved down upon the place of his father-in-law, Peter Swartz, senior, who owned the land from Doctor Dougal's nearly up to John Datisman's. Weyland said, himself and another person pushed a boat over from the east side and took up Bashor's goods, and then pushed out into the river. Bashor went to the stable and got a horse, and attempted to drive some cattle down along the shore. When he got down to the bluff that comes out to the river, at the present limekiln of Honorable George F. Miller, just by a red oak, that was still standing a few years since, he was fired upon by some Indians in ambush and killed. Weyland and his comrade, who were lying down in the boat, rose to fire, and Weyland was struck on the lip with a spent ball, the mark of which he carried to his grave. He said Bashor was buried on the river bank. I. D. Rupp, who is a descendant of the Bashor family, wrote me that the bloody clothes of John Bashor were still preserved in the garret of his grandfather's house, in Bethel township Berks county, as late as 1820; and that he talked with a brother of John Bashor, who said he recollected of his brother's corpse being brought home. He said, also, his uncle, Martin Bashor, who used to live near McKee's Half-Falls, told him that John was killed near Georgetown, and a man named Reedy was in company with him. This is certainly a mistake. It shows how uncertain, as to dates and places, tradition is. John Bashor's daughter, Catherine, married Jacob Wolfe, son of George Wolfe, one of the first settlers of our Valley. Her children were Samuel Wolfe, late of Lewisburg, Michael, Jacob, and Jonathan, still living at Lewisburg. Albert Pohlhemus and wife, driven off from Muncy, both died at Northumberland. They left seven small children, who became charges upon the public. One of them was bound to Elias Younk- man; some to William Thompson. Court ordered them to be brought up in the Presbyterian form of worship. Paul Fisher (of Slifer) tells me that at the time Bashor was killed, his grandfather, John Fisher, lived at Esquire Datisman's. The Indians burned Peter Swartz's house, and killed a man named Ayres, near White Deer creek. His grandfather, with his two sisters, concealed themselves in the straw in their barn, and expected every mo- 158 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1778. ment to be burned up in it; but the Indians went into Hoffman's house, just above, and carried out a good many articles, among the rest a clock. They seated themselves to examine the clock, when Aaron Norcross, John Fisher, junior, and others who had gathered, hallooed and startled them off, leaving their plunder. This old clock is still in the possession of Jacob Hoffman, living up near the Muncy hills. David Quinn, Esquire, of Chicago, grandson of Terrence Quinn, has furnished me with an interesting incident of this attack of the Indians in Dry valley. He says, "my great grandfather Corinnius Michael, an old soldier of the days of Frederick the Great, emigrated to America, prior to the Revolution, and brought with him two daughters. What became of the youngest, after her arrival, for some time, is now unknown; but the oldest, Mary, was sold for a term of years, as was the custom in those days, to pay her passage over. While residing with the family that purchased her in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, my grandfather, Terrence Quinn, formed her acquaintance, purchased her unexpired time, and married her. In 1778, they had four little children, and the other sister, unmarried, was living with them. The night the Indians entered the Valley, the news was spread through a system of alarms previously arranged; and those who received warning, fled precipitately. My grandfather and family ran in one direction, and my grandaunt in another. "They were thus separated, and continued separated for fifty- two years, each one supposing the other had been tomahawked. At the end of this long period, one of my grandmother's neighbors, whose name I have forgotten, was traveling in the Mahanoy valley, at a time when the stream was so swollen that she was compelled to stop at a farm house for shelter. While here, she fell into conversation about friends and relatives with an old woman, who proved to be the grandmother of the house full of children, and the mother of John Lechman, the proprietor of the premises. The old lady related the story of her kindred, and among other things remarked, that she once had a sister, but she had been killed by the Indians, in a place called Dry valley, more than fifty years ago. A little more conversation developed who she was, and the joyful information, that her visitor was a neighbor of her sister, and she was still alive, and lived on Turtle creek, near Lewisburg. The traveler returned, and told her story. Before the sun had risen over Montour's 1778.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 159 ridge the next morning, Mary Quinn, though in her ninetieth year, was on her way to see her long lost sister. They met, but not as they parted. Each frame, now bent with the weight of years, embraced its kindred, long mourned as dead. Such a meeting, who can describe? The sacred pensman of the history of Joseph, alone. It was their final meeting, too; but they are now where there are no partings." (1872.) Philip Seebold told me he often heard old Mrs. Fought tell of this raid. She said, they were threshing flax on their place, where the road through Chappel's Hollow comes out into Dry valley, when the Indians came upon them suddenly. Her baby was near her, and she picked it up and ran. Another child, that could just run about, was back of their little barn. She heard it call, "O mother, take me along, too." She looked around, and the Indians were close upon her. She ran the whole way, two miles, to Penn's creek, to a house where the neighbors had gathered. She never heard of her child again; but as there was no indication that it was killed, she hoped for its return some day. At night and in the quiet hours of the day, the last words of her child, "O mother, take me along, too," she said, rang in her ears, long years after. She said the house they took refuge in, was surrounded by the Indians. They suffered from thirst, and a man named Peter _____ said he would have water, if he died for it. They allowed him to go out, and as he turned the corner of the house, a rifle cracked, and he fell dead. The next day the Indians withdrew, and they embarked in canoes, and went down Penn's creek. On the Isle of Que, she said, she went into a house, and found no one about. A baby sat propped up in a cradle. On close inspection, she found it was dead, and the marks of the tomahawk. Incidents of the Battle of Monmouth. Captain William Wilson Potter, of Bellefonte, has the flag of the Royal Grenadiers, captured on the field of Monmouth, by his (maternal) grandfather, the late Judge William Wilson, of Chillisquaque Mills, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania. The ground or main surface is lemon, or light yellow, heavy corded silk; five feet four inches by four feet eight; corresponding, 160 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1778. in proportions, with the flag of the seventh regiment, surrendered, among others, by Cornwallis, at Yorktown, and presented, by order of Congress, to General Washington, lately in the museum at Alexandria, Virginia, but eight inches less in size; the latter being six feet long, and five feet four inches wide. The device at the upper right corner is twenty inches square, and is that of the English Union, which distinguishes the Royal standard of Great Britain. It is composed of the Cross of Saint George, to denote England, and Saint Andrew's Cross, in the form of an X, to denote Scotland. This device was placed in the corner of the Royal flag, after the accession of James the Sixth of Scotland to the throne of England, as James the First. The field of the device is blue, the central stripes (Cross of Saint George) red, the marginal ones white. It wants the Crown and Garter, and full blown rose in the centre, of the Alexandria flag. The flag has the appearance of having been wrenched from the staff, and has a few old dust marks on the device; otherwise it looks as bright and new as if it had just come from the gentle fingers that made it, although ninety-nine years have rolled away since its golden folds drooped in the sultry air of that June-day battle. The battle of Monmouth occurred on the 28th of June, 1778; a fearfully hot day, evinced by the fact that fifty-nine of the British soldiers died of heat, without receiving a wound. This flag was captured near the old parsonage of the Freehold, New Jersey, church, where the hottest of the fighting was. A short description of that portion of the engagement will interest many: After General Lee's retreat was checked by General Washington, in person, the latter formed a new line for his advanced troops, and put Lee again in command. General Washington then rode back to the main body, and formed it on an eminence, with a road in the rear and a morass in the front. The left was commanded by Lord Stirling, with a detachment of artillery; Lafayette, with Wayne, was posted in the center, partly in an orchard, and partly sheltered by a barn; General Greene was on the right, with his artillery, under General Knox, posted on commanding ground. General Lee maintained his advanced position as long as he could, himself coming off with his rear across a road, which traversed the morass in front of Stirling's troops. The British followed sharp, and, meeting with a 1778.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 161 warm reception, endeavored to turn the left flank, but were driven back. They then tried the right, but were met by General Greene's forces, and heavy discharges from Knox's artillery, which not only checked them, but raked the whole length of the columns in front of the left wing. Then came a determined effort to break the center, maintained by General Wayne and the Pennsylvania regiments, and the Royal Grenadiers, the flower of the British army, were ordered to do it. They advanced several times, crossing a hedge row in front of the morass, and were driven back. Colonel Monokton, their commander, then made a speech to his men, (the troops at the parsonage and those in the orchard heard his ringing voice above the storm of the battle,) and, forming the Grenadiers in solid column, advanced to the charge like troops on parade, the men marching with such precision that a ball from Comb's hill, enfilading a platoon, disarmed every man. Wayne ordered his men to reserve their fire, and the British came on in silence within a few rods, when Monckton waived his sword above his head, and ordered his Grenadiers to charge; simultaneously, Wayne ordered his men to fire, and a terrible volley laid low the front ranks, and most of the officers. The colors were in advance, to the right, with the colonel, and they went down with him. Captain Wilson and his company, who were on the right of the first Pennsylvania, made a rush for the colors and the body of the colonel. The Grenadiers fought desperately, and a hand to hand struggle ensued, but the Pennsylvanians secured his body and the colors. The Grenadiers gave way, the whole British army fell back to Lee's position in the morning, and decamped so quietly in the night that General Poor, who laid near them, with orders to recommence the battle in the morning, was not aware of their departure. Colonel Monckton was a gallant officer. He had been lieutenant colonel in the battle of Long Island, where he was shot through the body, but recovered. He was buried, the day after the battle, in the Freehold church-yard, about six feet from the west end of the building. The only monument that marks his grave is a plain board, painted red, upon which is painted in black letters, "Hic Jacet, Col. Monckton, killed 28th June, 1778. W. R. W." By a note-worthy coincidence in name, this board was prepared and set 162 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1778. up by a Scotch school-master, named Wilson, who taught the young people in the school-house near the old meeting-house. Chappel's painting of this battle represents the scene as Monck- ton fell, and the fearful hand to hand fight over his body; and the little old-fashioned sword looks as if it might have been painted from the original, now in the possession of Mrs. Abram S. Wilson, of Lewistown, Pennsylvania. On the left is the old parsonage. Beyond it the morass, (now, 1872, good meadow land with a fine stream of water running through it,) extending right and left. On the right is the rising ground from which the Grenadiers made their charge. The sword had many adventures, and never got back to its captor in his life time. (Judge Wilson died in 1813, and is buried in the Presbyterian church-yard, in Northumberland. He was associate judge of Northumberland, from 1792 until his death, when he was succeeded by the late Honorable Andrew Albright.) Captain Wilson gave it to General Wayne, who presented it to General Lafayette, who took it with him to Europe, retained it all through the upheavals and riots of the French revolution, his captivity in a dungeon at Olmutz, and brought it with him to America in 1824, when he visited America, upon the invitation of the United States Government. It is a remarkable instance of his thoughtfulness that, after the lapse of nearly half a century, he desired to restore it in person to Captain Wilson. He made inquiries in Philadelphia for him, and not being able to hear anything of him, he left it with old Captain Hunter, with express directions to restore it to Captain Wilson, or if dead, to some of his family. After some years Captain Hunter, found out through Mrs. Billington, of Sunbury, that Judge A. S. Wilson was a son of Captain Wilson, and had the pleasure of delivering the sword to the judge, the next time he went to Philadelphia. The flag was always in the possession of Judge Wilson, senior, and his family. I can recollect well, at least thirty-five years ago, when his son William used to display it on the 4th of July, at Lewisburg and Milton, make a speech about it, and then have a salute fired from sheriff Brady's cannon, brought from Fort Freeland. Mrs. John B. Linn, of Bellefonte, has a very fine oil portrait of her grandfather, Captain William Wilson, taken sixty or seventy 1778.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 163 years ago, pronounced by aged people about Northumberland an excellent likeness. On the 16th of July, Colonel Brodhead's regiment, on its way to Fort Pitt, was ordered to the West Branch; part of Colonel Hartley's regiment was on its way to Sunbury, and the militia were ordered up from Lancaster and Berks, and the people came back to reap their crops. July 24th, Colonel Brodhead, then at Muncy, detached a captain and twenty-four men into Penn's valley to protect the reapers at General Potter's place. General Pot- ter writes from Penn's valley, on the 25th, that "the inhabitants of the valley are returned, and were cutting their grain. He left Sunbury last Sunday afternoon, and the people were returning to all parts of the county. Yesterday, two men of Captain Finley's company, of Colonel Brodhead's regiment, went out from this place on the plains a little below my fields, and met a party of Indians, five in number, whom they engaged. One of the soldiers, Thomas Van Doran, was shot dead; the other, Jacob Shedacre, ran about four hundred yards, and was pursued by one of the Indians. They attacked each other with their knives, and our excellent soldier killed his antagonist. His fate was hard, for another Indian came up and shot him. He and the Indian lay within a perch of each other. These two soldiers served with Colonel Morgan in the last campaign." James Alexander, who, in after years, farmed the Old Fort farms, near Centre Hall, casually kicked up a hunting knife. so rusted as to indicate that it might have belonged either to the Indian or the soldier killed. Two stones were put up to mark the spot on William Henning's place, near Old Fort. August 1, Colonel Hartley was in command at Sunbury, with his regulars and two hundred militia. On the 8th he was at Muncy, Colonel Brodhead's regiment having resumed its march to Fort Pitt. Lieutenant Samuel Brady belonged to this regiment - the eighth - in which he was appointed Captain July 28, 1780. Sunbury, August 1, General Potter writes: "I came here last week to station the militia. I found General deHaas here, who said he commanded all the troops. The next day Colonel Hartley came and showed me his orders to command the troops, and politely requested me to take the command, which I declined, as I never was very fond of command, and this is a disagreeable one. 164 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1778. I rather chose to act as a private gentleman, and do all the good in my power; but people will make observations." August 8, James Brady was killed above Loyal Sock. Colonel Hartley relates the circumstance as follows: A corporal and four men of his regiment, with three militia, were ordered to guard fourteen reapers and cradlers who went to cut the grain of Peter Smith, who had his wife* and four children killed by the Indians. On Friday they cut the greater part, and intended to complete the work next morning. Four of the reapers improperly moved off that night. The rest went to work - the cradlers, four in number, by themselves, near the house; the reapers somewhat distant. The reapers, except Brady, placed their guns around a tree. Brady thought this wrong, and put his at some distance from the rest. The morning was very foggy, and an hour after sunrise the sentry and reapers were surprised by a number of Indians, under cover of the fog. The sentry retired towards the reapers, and they in turn fell back. Brady ran towards his rifle, and was pursued by three Indians, and, within a few rods of it, was wounded. He ran for some distance, and then fell. He received another wound with a spear, and was tomahawked and scalped in an instant. The sentry fired, but was shot down, as also a militia-man. Young Brady, who is an exceeding fine young fellow, soon after, rose and came to the house. Jerome Vanness ventured to remain with him; the others fled. There were thirty Indians, supposed to be Mingoes. Brady wanted Vanness to leave him, but he would not do it. He assisted him to the river, where he drank a great deal of water. Captain Walker and a party came up from the fort at Muncy. When they approached, Brady, supposing them to be Indians, sprang to his feet and cocked his gun. They made a bier and carried him to Sunbury, where his mother then was. Robert Covenhoven was one of the party. On the way he became delirious, and drank large quantities of water. It was late at night when they got there, and they did not intend to arouse his mother. But she had fears that something had happened, and met them at the river. He was a fearful looking object, and the meeting with his mother was heart-rending. He lived five days, the first four being delirious; but on the fifth his reason returned, and he related the whole cir- *Peter Smiths farm was on Turkey run, across the river from Williamsport. 1778.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 165 cumstance distinctly. He said Bald Eagle belonged to the party, who was afterwards killed by Captain Samuel Brady, on the Allegheny. James Brady was buried at Fort Augusta, but his grave has, with that of many others, been long since plowed over. August 8, the justices of the court, through Thomond Ball, deputy prothonotary, notify the president of the State Council that business is much impeded for want of an attorney to prosecute for the Commonwealth; that it was the second court at which no State attorney had appeared, and many persons had to be admitted to bail; that the long suspension of justice, from February, 1776, to November, 1777, had rendered the people licentious enough, and a further delay of executing the laws must lead them to lengths too difficult to be recalled; tippling-house keepers, the notorious promoters of vice and immorality, remained unpunished, though frequently returned, for want of an indictment; that there were two prisoners for murder, one was admitted to bail and the other in close confinement, who should be brought to trial. In August, bill found against Isaac Webb for misprision of treason. September 1, Captain John Brady returned to the army. 21st September. As some of our settlers took a very prominent part in Colonel Hartley's expedition, it is worthy of a short sketch. It left Muncy on the 21st, two hundred rank and file strong, at four, A. M., with twelve days provisions. Great rains, swamps, mountains, and defiles impeded the march. They waded or swam the Lycoming creek twenty times. On the morning of the 26th, the advance party of nineteen men met an equal number of Indians. Our people had the first fire, and an important Indian chief was killed and scalped; the rest fled. A few miles further, they came upon a camp where seventy Indians lay the night before. These also fled. They then pressed on to Tioga, now Athens, Bradford county. They burned Tioga, Queen Esther's palace and town. On the 28th, they crossed the river and marched towards Wyalusing, where they arrived at eleven o'clock that night. Here seventy of the men took to the canoes and the rest marched by land. Lieut. Sweeney commanded the rear guard of thirty men, besides five scouts under Captain Campleton. The advance guard consisted of an officer and fifteen men. At two o'clock, a heavy attack was made on the rear, which gave way. At this critical moment Cap- 166 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1778. tains Boone and Brady, and Lieutenant King, with a few brave fellows landed from the canoes, joined Sweeney, and renewed the action. They advanced on the enemy on all sides, with great noise and shouting, when the Indians fled, leaving their dead, (ten.) The expedition arrived at Sunbury on the 5th of October, having performed a circuit of three hundred miles, and brought off fifty head of cattle, twenty-eight canoes, &c. November 9, Colonel Hartley writes from Sunbury that the enemy had come down and invested Wyoming, and destroyed the settlements on the North Branch as far as Nescopeck. About seventy Indians were seen twenty-two miles from here yesterday, advancing towards the forks of the Chillisquaque creek. They took some prisoners yesterday. 14th, he writes from Fort Jenkins that he is advancing towards Wyoming. December 4, John Macpherson bought the Andrew Gibson place and ferry, now Cauley's, Winfield. In the fall of 1778, as a party of settlers were leaving Fort Freeland, they were fired at, and Mrs. Durham's infant was killed in her arms. They scalped her, and when the men came there, she raised up and asked for a drink of water. Elias Williams ran to the river and brought his hat full. They put her in a canoe and took her to Northumberland, where Dr. Plunket dressed her wounds, and she lived for fifty years afterwards. She is buried in the Warrior Run grave-yard. The mill of Samuel Fisher, who resided on what is now Kaufman furnace tract, was burned this fall, it was said, by some settlers, to get nails, the place having been abandoned. In a letter, in December, Colonel Hunter expresses great regret at Colonel Hartley's departure. He says he made the very best possible use of his troops. He complains of the forestallers of grain, whom he looks upon as worse than savages, for raising the price of grain upon the people. December 1, Joseph Reed elected President of the State, Chambers, Dale, and Himrod voting for him. [End of Page 166]