AREA HISTORY:  Borough of York, Riot, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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RIOT IN 1786 – Page 548

An affray in the borough of York, in December, 1786, was occasioned by the 
excise law then existing.

Jacob Bixler, of Manchester, was unwilling to pay his tax or gather excise; his 
cow was distrained for the payment.  It was to rescue this cow, that the affray 
happened.  The beast was driven by the officer to York, and was to be sold.  A 
company of about 100 men set out from the neighborhood of the animal’s former 
home, armed, some with clubs, others with pistols or guns and directed their 
march toward York, they crossed Chicken bridge, and in Indian file marched into 
town.  Their captain, Godfrey King, led them on, with dread determination, and 
to the place where her vaccins excellence was exposed to vendition.  This was 
the square where Market and Beaver Streets cross each other.  They had hardly 
proceeded to commit violence when the whole town was assembled.  The inhabitants 
met the rioters with weapons, clubs, pistols, guns and swords.  Henry Miller, 
during the affray, struck with his sword at one Hoake, who, leaping over a wagon 
tongue, just escaped the blow; the sword falling upon the wagon tongue, sunk 
into it about an inch.  After some boxing and striking, the party dispersed, and 
the whole tumult ended.

Frederick Hoake was afterward severely fined for cutting the rope around the 
cow’s neck, and letting her loose, though the fact was Peter Schneider, Jr., did 
it.

The rioters were taken before justices of the peace, and bound for appearance at 
next court, on the 23d of January, 1787; and bound before the court of quarter 
sessions in a considerable sum to appear at the next supreme court to answer to 
such bills of indictment as should be presented against them.  They appeared, 
and with others of their brethren, were fined.  Thus ended the affray.  It was 
in fact a cow insurrection; it brought Manchester and York into a fond and 
loving union.