AREA HISTORY: Visit of President Washington, Borough of York, York County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/ _______________________________________________ History of York County, Pennsylvania. John Gibson, Historical Editor. Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886. _______________________________________________ VISIT OF PRESIDENT WASHINGTON AND OTHER DISTINGUISHED MEN – Page 553 Upon his return from his tour through the Southern States, Gen. Washington visited York, arriving here on Saturday, July 2, 1791. He came from Mt. Vernon through Hanover. He was met be a delegation from York at the present site of Nashville, in Jackson Township. With whom he remained while in York, is not known. Major Clark, Col. Hartley and Hon. James Smith, intimate friends of Washington, were then living. The following bill would indicate that there was an illumination: York, August 30, 1791 George Fry: Bot of Henry Pentz, 41 lbs of candles for illuminating the Court House for the President of the United States. £2 18 0 He was doubtless received with great enthusiasm by the numerous patriots in and around York, who had engaged in many battles under him during the Revolution. On July 3d, Sunday, he arrived at Wright’s Ferry at 6 o’clock in the evening. A great demonstration was given in his honor at Lancaster the next day, the Fourth of July. He was presented with an address by the burgesses, to which his Excellency responded. The Pennsylvania Herald and York General Advertiser, a weekly paper, published in York in its issue of July 6, 1791, contains the following account of this visit: Saturday last the President of the United States arrived here from Mount Vernon, on his way to Philadelphia. His arrival, which was about 2 o’clock, was announced by the ringing of bells. The Independent Light Infantry Company, commanded by Capt. Hay, paraded, and being drawn up before his Excellency’s lodging, fired fifteen rounds. At night there were illuminations, and every other demonstration of joy. The next morning his Excellency was waited upon by the Chief Burgess and the principal inhabitants, and the following address was presented to him, after which he attended service at the Episcopal Church, and then proceeded on his journey. He was accompanied as far as Wright’s Ferry by a number of the principal inhabitants. TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. Sir: With sentiments of the most perfect esteem and attachment, the citizens of the borough of York beg leave to present to you their sincere congratulations on your safe arrival here, after an extensive tour through that country, which owes so much to your brave and prudent exertions in war, and to your wise and just administration in peace. We cordially join in the general satisfaction and joy which all the citizens of America feel in seeing you, and in those universal sentiments of regard to your person and veneration for your character, which dictate the addresses that in various expressions have been offered to you. We join in the general satisfaction that every friend to human happiness must feel on finding that the people of the United States do now show a great and convincing proof to all the world that freedom and good government are perfectly compatible. And that a first Magistrate, unanimously chosen by the people, may at once possess their utmost veneration and most hearty regard. We wish you a safe return to the seat of government, and do sincerely unite with the millions of America in praying that the Supreme Governor of the Universe may long continue a life which he has so eminently distinguished, in preserving and securing the best rights and happiness of the citizens of this greatly favoured country. THE PRESIDENT’S REPLY. TO THE CITIZENS OF THE BOROUGH OF YORK; Gentlemen: I receive your congratulations with pleasure, and I reply to your flattering and affectionate expressions of esteem with sincere and grateful regard. The satisfaction which you derive from the congeniality of freedom with good government, which is clearly evinced in the happiness of our highly favored country, at once rewards the patriotism that achieved her liberty, and gives an assurance of its duration. That your individual prosperity may long continue among the proofs which attest the national welfare is my earnest wish. GEORGE WASHINGTON Maj. Gen. St. Clair, accompanied by viscount Malartie, his aid-de-camp, passed through York from the West on January 17, 1792, on his way to the capital of the United States. He was then Governor of the Western Territory, including what is now Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, etc., and major-general and commander-in-chief of the American Army, a short time before he had been defeated by the Indians in southwestern Ohio. Gen. Anthony Wayne soon afterwards passed westward through York to the “Ohio Frontier” and defeated the Indians there. It was then that he said that if they were hostile to the whites any time in the future he would rise from his grave to fight them. Mons. Sprrurier, the prime minister of the French Government, passed through York, traveling in a chaise, during the early part of February, 1815. He remained over night with Col. George Spangler. While here he stated that he had fled his country during the Napoleonic wars, which were still in progress. He considered himself happy to be absent from his country.