Class Book. SMITHSONIAN DEPOSIT Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from The Library of Congress http://www.archive.org/details/annalscomprisingOOmorg ANNALS, T COMPEISINQ 4mms, §nd&nxU m& ^tuti&tu^ HARRISBURG. THE PERIOD OF ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT. FOR THE PAST, THE PRESENT, AND THE FUTURE. COMPILED BT OEOHGE H. MORGAN. H A R R I S B IJ R G : rUBLISHED BY GEO. A. BROOKS 18 58, \ •» » ^ \ Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 185S, by George A. Brooks, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. (THEO. F, SOHEPFEK, PRINTER, HARRISBURG, PKEFACE. Says that accomplished and indefatigable annalist, Watson, " Our love of antiquities — the contemplation of days hy-gone — is an impress of the Deity. It is our hold on immortality. The same affection which makes us reach forward and peer into futu- rity, prompts us to travel back to the hidden events which trans- pired before we existed. We thus feel our share of existence prolonged even while we have the pleasure to identify ourselves with the scenes or the emotions of our forefathers. For the same cause relics are so earnestly sought and sedulously pre- served. ' They are full of local impressions/ and transfer the mind back to ' scenes before,' " The object of this work is to rescue from the ebbing tide of oblivion all those forgotten memorials of unpublished facts and observations, or reminiscences and traditions, which will serve to illustrate the domestic history of Harrisburg, past and pre- sent. It is designed as a museum of whatever is rare, surprising or agreeable concerning the primitive days of our sturdy forefathers, or of the subsequent changes by their sons, either in the alter- ations or improvements of given localities, or in the modes and forms of " changing men and manners " It is a picture of the doings and characteristics of a " buried age." By the images 4 PREFACE. whicli their recital creates in the imagination, the ideal pres- ence is generated, and we talk and think with " men of other days." Herein the aged citizen may travel back in memory to the scenes and gambols of their sportive boyhood days; and the youth of the borough may regale their fancies with recitals as novel and marvellous to their wondering minds as the "Arabian Tales," even while they have the gratification to commingle in idea with the plays and sports of their own once youthful ances- tors. The dull, unheeding citizen who writes " nil admirari" of the most of things, may here see cause to " wonder that he never saw before what the compiler shows him, and that he never yet had felt what he impresses." To natives of Harrisburg settled in distant lands, these par- ticulars concerning the " old homestead" will present the most welcome gifts their friends here could oflFer them. It is not too romantic to presume that a day is coming, if not already arrived, when the memorihilia of Harrisburg, and of its primitive inhabitants, so difi'erent from the present, will be highly appreciated by all those who can feel intellectual pleasure in travelling back through the " vale of years," and conferring with the " mighty dead." Such will give their thanks and grat- itude to labors as humble as these, for the compiler has not aimed to give them that " painted form" which might allure by its ornaments of rhetoric ; he has rather repressed the excur- sive fancy he sometimes could not but feel. His object has not been to say all which could have been adduced on every topic, but to gather up the segregated facts in their several cases which others had overlooked or disregarded, or to save fugitive facts PREFACE. 5 whicli others bad neglected. In this way lie has chiefly labored to furnish the material by which better or more ambitious writers could elaborate more formal history, and from which, as a repository, our poets and painters, and imaginative au- thors could deduce themes for their own and their country's glory. Scanty, therefore, as these crude materials may seem " fiction" may some day lend its charms to amplify and conse- crate FACTS, and " tales of ancient Harrisburg" may be " touched by genius and made immortal." The materials for the work have been chiefly derived from the Archives of the State, County, and Borough offices; Haz- zard's Pennsylvania Kegister ; Watson's Annals ; Colonial Re- cords; Legislative Documents; Graydon's Memoirs; Rupp's History of Dauphin County, &c. ; Day's Historical Recollec- tions ; Pennsylvania Gazetteer ; files of old newspapers, and from old citizens generally, among whom the compiler is particularly indebted to Messrs. Geo. W. Harris, Valentine Hummel, Sr., David Harris, Joseph Wallace, George Eicholtz, Robert Gill, more, James Peacock, Francis Wyeth, and John Roberts, for valuable aid. ERRATA. Page 34, in the ninth line from the bottom, for "Florster" read "Forster." Page 61, in the eighth line from the top, for " was," after " Mr. El- der," read "succeeded Mr. Bertram as." In the same line and the next, for the ■words "when it was first built, about one hundred and twenty years ago," read "in 1737." In the line following, omit the words "upwards of." And in lieu of the fifteenth, sixteenth, seven- teenth and eighteenth lines from the top, read " The first Paxton church building was erected about the yea,r 1732. It was constructed of logs and stone, chiefly of the former ; and stood a short distince south-west of the stone church, (erected between the years 1750 and 1755,) still standing, about two and a-half miles from Harrisburg, on the Htimmels- town turnpike." Page 83, in the seventeenth line from the top, for "Jesse Rowland" read "James Lackey." Page 85, in the seventh line from the top, for "July" read "Janu- ary." On the same page, in lieu of the sentence commencing after the word "neighborhood," in the second line from the top, and ending be- fore the word "From," in the second line following, read " The courts were afterwards held in the old log jail which formerly stood on the north-west side of Strawberry alley, a short distance north-east of Ras- berry alley, and in a log house which formerly stood on the lot now occupied by the "Fai'mers' Hotel," on the east side of Market street, near Dewberry alley. Page 89, in the eighth line from the bottom, for " the year 1785" read "for the years 1785, and those following until 1799, inclusive." In the sixth line from the bottom, for "year" read " period." And for the two bottom lines, read " The expenditures for the erection of the present Court House commenced in 1792, and occur at different periods after that until 1799, inclusive. They appear in the book as follows." Page 144, in the eighth and ninth lines from the bottom, for " Feb- ruary" read "January." 11 ERBATA. Page 145, in the top line, omit the word "foregoing." Page 147, in the sixth line from the bottom, for " $490" read " $400." Page 151, in the top line, for the words "the river, being" read " Sweet Briar alley, in." And in lieu of the sisth and seventh lines from the top, read "Under authority of a joint resolution passed by the Legislature, April 2, 1821, viewers, headed by Archibald M'Allis- ter, were appointed between the commissioners and owners of lots run- ning in front of the Capitol to the river, between North and South streets, who reported the value of said lots, as held by the owners, to be $24,400, whi(3h unexpected estimate caused the project of their pur- chase by the State to be abandoned." Page 211, in the second line from the bottom, for "Berks" read "Lebanon." Page 233, in the eleventh line from the top, for "or" read " of." In the fourteenth line from the bottom, for " wooding" read " wood." Page 234, in the seventh line from the top, between the words " of" and "equal" insert the word "nearly." In the tenth line from the bottom, after the word " alley," read " to the front wall of the build- ing." Page 278, in the eighth line from the top, for " In" read " Previous to." Page 308, in the tenth line from the top, for " eight" read " six." Page 328, in the fifteenth line from the top, for "fourteen" read "sixteen;" and in the next line below, for "sixteen" read "fourteen." Page 324, in the third line from the top, for "M'Marland" read "M'Farland;" and in the next line below, for " Carman" read " Can- non." Page 355, in the eighth line from the top, between the words " The Paxton" insert the word "first." In the same line and the next, in lieu of the words "still standing about three miles from Harrisburg, was erected about the year 1722," read "was erected about the year 1732." Page 357, in the sixth line from the bottom, for the words " who died several years ago," read "still living in one of the Western States." Page 361, in the eleventh line from the top, for " Hale" read " Hall." Page 377, in the seventh line from ihe top, for "David J. Krause" read "David G. Krause." Page 380, in the seventh line from the top, for "1824" read "1825." ANNALS OE HARRISBURG. JOHN HARRIS— HIS FIRST SETTLEMENT. From authentic records, we learn that John Harris commenced a settlement, on the present site of Harrisburg, a short time pre- vious to the year 1719. Mr. Harris was a native of Yorkshire, England, and appears to have been a brewer by profession, as he worked at that busi- ness in the city of London. In ^' Watson's Annals" it is stated that " he was a middle-aged man when he came to America, and was one of the first emigrants with William Penn, at which time his entire capital amounted to only sixteen guineas." He first settled in the city of Philadelphia; and according to a writer in Hazzard's Kegister, " the nucleus of his future wealth was formed by a profitable contract he obtained from the au- thorities for removing the stumps and opening streets in that city." During his residence in Philadelphia, Mr. Harris was on inti- mate terms with, and enjoyed the friendship and esteem of, Ed- ward Shippen, Esq., the first Mayor of that city, and for a long time one of the leading members of the Provincial Council. It was in this gentleman's family that he first saw and become acquainted with his future wife, Esther Say, also a native of Yorkshire, who is represented to have been a lady of superior intelligence and extraordinary energy. 8 ANNALS OP IIARRISBURG. HARRIS BECOMES AN INDIAN TRADER. From Philadelphia, Mr. Harris and his wife moved to Ches- ter county ; thence to the neighborhood of the present site of Bainbridge, Lancaster county. Being an enterprising man, he became an active pioneei', and with the fruit of his industry commenced a trade with the Indians, penetrating by degrees to the westward until he reached the present site of Harris- burg. On the 17th of December, 1733, the proprietaries of Penn- sylvania granted to John Harris, by patent, three hundred acres and allowance of land, extending from what is now the upper boundary of the borough of Harrisburg, down the river to a black oak somewhere near the termination of Walnut street with Front street, and thence back by a line, now the upper line of the Messrs. Hamilton's brick-yard, to the rear line, now the line of Mrs. Sales' farm. On the same day, December 19, 1733, a patent was granted to Joseph Turner for five hundred acres and allowance, adjoining the above, and extending down the river from the aforesaid black onkjto what is now the division line between the lands of the latfi John Mahan and Mrs. Hanna, deceased, jextending back fi'om the river, and embracing the James Hflrris tract, now the property of A. B. Hamilton. This was taken up by John Harris in the name of Joseph Turner, no doubt, to comply with certain usages of the Land Office, for on the next day (December IS) Joseph Turner conveyed to Ed- ward Shippen, who on the next day (December 19) conveyed to John Harris. Here Mr. Harris deposited his merchandize, and opened a profitable commerce with his red neighbors, who at that time were very numerous. He gradually acquired the friendship of most of these tribes, receiving their peltry and other objects of Indian traffic for his ammunition and rum This led to an active exchange of commodities, and gradually enabled him to pur- ^ ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. ^ chase the land adjacent to his establishment, and to undertake considerable agricultural improvements. The majestic Susquehanna, nearly a mile broad, flowed in front of his hut, while along its high banks nothing was to te seen but one dark mass of woods, reaching to the summit of the lofty hills that bounded the view in every direction BIRTH OF JOHN HARRIS, JUNIOR. In the bosom of this wilderness Mr. Harris' family was located, and here was born, about the year 1727, John Harris, the foun- der of Harrisburg, who, it is said, was " the first white child born in Pennsylvauia west of the Conewago hills who attained the age of manhood." The son thus born was carried to Philadelphia by his mother for the purpose of being baptized; and according to the Parish Register of Christ Church, in that city, this event was duly solemnized on the 22d day of September, 1728— his age^ at the time being 11 months, HARRIS' MANSION ON THE SUSQUEHANNA. Mr. Harris' first habitation was on the lower bank of the river, about one hundred and fifty or two hundred feet below the spot where now repose his remains. The foundation walls of this house have been seen by some of our oldest citizens. A well, dug by Mr. Harris, still exists about one hundred feet east of his grave. It was covered over about ten years ago, but its site is easily distinguished by a small circular mound of earth. Mr. David Harris, a great-grandson of John Harris, states that in his early days " this well supplied a large neighborhood with water, which was exceedingly cool and pleasant to the taste.'' In connection with his mansion-house, he erected a large range of sheds, which were sometimes literally filled with skins and 2 10 ANNALS OP HARRISBURQ. ^ furs, obtained by bim in traffic witb tbe Indians, or stored tbere by Indian traders, wbo brought tbem from the western country. These skins were carried, at an early day, on pack horses to Philadelphia for sale. HARRIS CONDEMNED TO BE BURNED— HIS RESCUE. In this state of affairs, it happened one day that a number of Indians of the Mahanoy, Mahantongo or Shawanese tribe, (most probably the latter,) who had been down the river either on a predatory or trading expedition, stopped at the house of Mr. Harris on their return northward. Most, or all of them, were under the influence of liquor, and demanded of Mr. Harris an additional supply of lum, meaning West India rum, as the modern whiskey was not then manufactured in the Province. Perceiving that they were already intoxicated, and fearing mis- chief, Mr. H. refused to grant the demand; whereupon they became greatly exasperated and dragged him to an adjoining mulberry tree, to which they firmly bound him. Here they declared their intention to torture and burn him alive, and bade him prepare for instant death. Dry wood was gathered and piled around his feet, and torches held in readiness to kindle it ; the yells of the enraged savages echoed along the river shore and through the surrounding forest, while with de- moniac gestures they danced around their victim. Death in its most cruel form was before him ; and, bereft of hope, he gave himself up for lost. In vain he supplicated for mercy, and offered to give up everything in exchange for life ; but the savages were deaf to his entreaties, and declared he should die. The flaming torch was advanced towards the pile, and about being applied, when a band of friendly Indians, supposed to have belonged to the Paxton tribe, and to have come across the river from either the Indian village opposite Harris' residence, or the one situ- ated at the mouth of the Candogoguinet creek, burst suddenly upon the scene and set him at liberty. ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 11 These Indians were led on by a negro man named " Her- cules," a slave belonging to Mr Harris, who at the first alarm ran to the neighboring tribe to beg for succor, and now brought it to his master's relief. The deliverance was well timed. A moment's delay would have been fatal. The presence of mind, the decision, the speed of this negro alone saved Mr. Harris ; and so sensible was he of the great service rendered to him by this poor slave that he instantly emancipated him, and some of the descendants of the worthy Hercules still reside in the bor- ough, enjoying their freedom, so nobly won, in the bosom of the large community who occupy the ground on which the occur- rence took place. An escape so providential was suited to make a deep and last- ing impression on the mind of Mr. Harris. Pious and grateful feelings fastened to his heart. It was a signal deliverance ; it was a manifest evidence of God's merciful interposition. Struck with this conviction — in order to perpetuate the memory of it among his own descendants — ^he directed that at his death his body should be deposited at the foot of this mulberry tree ; and there it lies, with some of his children, a memento at once of savage ebriety, domestic fidelity, and above all, of the watchful- ness of Him " who alone can inflict or withhold the stroke of death." The above facts are gathered chiefly from an account of the affair written and published in 1828, by Hon. Samuel Breck, at that time a State Senator or Representative from Philadelphia. Mr. Breck enjoyed an intimate acquaintance with the late Ro- bert Harris, Esq., from whom he derived the particulars of the incidents as the latter gentleman had received them as part of the traditional history of his family. Mrs. Bell, a daughter of Mr. Plunket, a native of Ireland, who was married to Esther, a daughter of John Harris, Sr., made the following statement in relation to this affair to George 12 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. W. Harris, Esq., in the year 1840, she being then in the eigh- tieth year of her age : " That in 1766 she was coming from Carlisle, where she lived, to Harrisburg, in company with her father and a son of her sis- ter. When she came to the river opposite Harrisburg, at the Kelso place, where William Harris was then living, some of the children pointed out to her old Hercules, who was setting on a rock fishing in the river, stating that he had saved the life of his master from the Indians. She understood it to he when Mr. Harris had been tied to the mulberry tree." Mrs. Bell died several years ago at the residence of her rela- tive, Dr. Maclay, in Perrysville, Mifflin county. She is repre- sented to have been a woman of remarkably good memory, and well educated. It has been asked by some why the figure of the faithful slave Herculas was omitted from the beautiful paintings representing this affair. It was done, we believe, at the instance of the late Robert Harris, Esq., who furnished the artist with suggestions relative to the scenery and grouping of the figures in the pic- ture. Mr. H. at this period was disposed to doubt if Herculas had been in any manner connected with the afi'air. It is believed, however, by some of his children, that when he entertained this opinion his memory had become impaired by old age, and had en- tirely forgotten the circumstances which induced him to believe differently when relating the particulars to Mr. Breck, some years previous. Under these circumstances, there is no reason for doubting the agency of Hercules in preserving his master's life on this occasion ; and whenever this story is told, let the virtuous Afri- can share largely in our praise and admiration. As there has never been any documentary evidence to sub- stantiate this exciting episode in the life of Mr. Harris, there are some disposed to consider it a myth ; yet we might very pro- perly ask, Has there been anything adduced to disprove it ? ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 13 Tradition may err ; but it strikes us that if it does in this case, it would not have remained over one hundred and twenty or thirty years without being discovered. If any other testimony was needed to prove the love and friend- ship the slave Hercules entertained for his master, we might also relate that, upon another occasion, he saved the life of Mr. Harris from being destroyed by an excited steer, while crossing the river on a flat. The truth of this is established beyond doubt. BURIAL PLACE OF JOHN HARRIS, Sr. Part of the trunk of the mulberry tree to which Mr. Harris was tied is still standing. It is ten feet high to the lowest limbs, and eleven feet six inches in circumference. There are still living those who have seen this tree in bloom, and eaten mul- berries from it. The title to the graveyard, to the extent of fif- teen feet, is secured by conveyance from the commissioners who laid out the town. The deed is recorded in book A, in the Re- corder's Office, at Harrisburg, and reads as follows : Deed of Conveyance of the Burial Lot. This indenture, made the twenty-eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five, between Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden and William Brown, all of the county of Dauphin, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, gentlemen, of the one part, and John Harris, of Harrisburg, county and State aforesaid, of the other part, witnesseth : That the suid Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden and William Brown, in consideration of the sum of five shillings, lawful money of Penn- sylvania, to them in hand well and truly paid by the said John Harris, at and before the execution of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and from the payment thereof the said John Harris, his heirs, executors, administrators, as- signs are fully acquitted and forever discharged, have granted. 14 ANNALS OF HARBISBURG. bargained, sold, released, enfeoffed and confirmed, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell and release, enfeoff and confirm unto him, the said John Harris, his heirs and assigns, a certain lot of ground, situate on the common or front street of the town of Harrisburg, where John Harris was buried, beginning at a mulberry tree on the south-west side of the stone dwelling-house of the said John Harris, thence from the said mulberry tree on the north side so as to co'ai&in ji/teen feet square, together with all and singular the rights, liberties, privileges, hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever to the same belonging or in any- wise appertaining, and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues and profits thereof, and all the estate, right, title, interest, use, possession, claim and demand whatsoever, of them, the said Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden and William Brown, of, in and to the same, to have and to hold the said lot and premises hereby granted or mentioned, or intended so to be, with the appurte- nances unto him, the said John Harris, his heirs and assigns, to the only proper use, benefit and behoof of him, the said John Harris, his heirs and assigns, forever; and the said Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden and William Brown, for themselves, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, do covenant, grant and agree, to and with the said John Harris, his heirs and assigns, the said described lot of ground, hereditaments and appurtenances, against them, the said grant- ors, their heirs and assigns, and against all and every other per- son and persons lawfully claiming, or to claim by, from or under them, or either of them, jointly and severally warrant and for- ever defend by these presents. In witness whereof, the parties to these presents have interchangeably set their hands and seals the day and year first above written. JACOB AWL, [seal.] [seal.] ANDR. STEWART, [seal.] JAS. COWDEN, [seal.] WM. BROWN, [seal.] ANNALS OF HARRISBURQ. 15 Sealed and delivered in presence of us — J. MONTaOMEBT, John A. Hanna. Received, on the day of the date of the above written inden- ture, of the therein named, the sum of five shillings, being in full for the consideration money therein mentioned by us. JACOB AWL, JAS. COWDEN, WM. BROWN. Witness : J. Montgomery, John A. Hanna. Subsequent to this conveyance, the descendants of Harris secured from the borough authorities an additional five feet of ground, thus making the grave-yard twenty feet square, which they surrounded with a handsome iron railing. HARRIS' INDIAN NEIGHBORS. "When John Harris first settled at Peixtan, as Harrisburg was then called, Indian villages were existing near the large stone house on the bank of the river, opposite Harrisburg, and at the mouth of the Conodoguinet and Yellow Breeches creek. There had been one on the low ground along the river, about the lower line of the town, and another at the mouth of Pax- ton creek, but these are supposed to have been abandoned at the time Harris made his settlement. The Indians who claimed the soil in this neighborhood were of the Leni Lenape, or Delaware nation. Day, in his Historical Recollections, says : " The Leni Lenape nation was divided into three principal divisions — the Unamis, or Turtle tribes, the Unalachtgos, or Turkeys, and the Monseys, or Wolf tribes. The two former occupied the country between the Atlantic ocean and the Kit- tatinny, or Blue mountain, (five miles north of Harrisburg,) 16 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. tlieir settlements extending as far east as the Hudson, and as far west as the Potomac. These were generally known among the whites as the Delaware Indians. The Monsejs, or Wolf tribes, the most active and warlike of the whole, occupied the mountainous country between the Kittatinny mountain and the sources of the Susquehanna and Delaware rivers, kindling their council fire at the Minisink flats, on the Delaware, above the water gap. These three principal divisions were divided into various subordinate clans, who assumed names suited to their character or situation." It is not definitely known what particular clan or tribe was located in this section, but it is supposed they were the Assum- pinks. INDIAN REMAINS. Many vestiges of the Indian race have been from time to time discovered in and about Harrisburg, in the shape of spear and arrow heads, composed of fiint or quartz, stone hatchets, pieces of crockery ware, beads, &c. The low ground below the town contains a vast number of these relics buried a foot or so beneath the surface of the soil. A few years ago, while digging the foundation for a new house, near the river, at the southern edge of the borough, the workmen exhumed a large number of human skeletons, some of which were in a remarkable state of preservation. They were all found in a sitting posture, with their faces fronting the east, from which fact, combined with other circumstances, there can be no doubt that they were the remains of Indians, and that the spot was the burial place connected with the Indian village already alluded to as existing in that vicinity. A few years prior to this discovery, similar remains were found while digging the foundation for the row of frame build- ings belonging to A. J. Jones, Esq., at the corner of Raspberry and Blackberry alleys. ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 17 VISIT OF JOHN EVANS, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF PENN- SYLVANIA, TO PEIXTAN. Peixtan (Harrisburg) is frequently spoken of ia the Colonial Kecords. From these we learn that Honorable John Evans, Lieut. Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, in company with Messrs. John French, William Tonge, Michael Bazallion, one Mr. Gray, and four servants, visited Peixtan in June, 1707. The following is the journal of this visit : "On Tuesday, the 1st July, 1707, we went to Conestoga, and lay there that night, and the next morning proceeded on our journey, and arrived in the evening within three miles of an Indian village called Peixtan. The Governor had received information at Pequehan, that one Nicole, a French Indian tra- der, was at that place, against whom great complaints had been made to the Governor, of which he acquainted the chief Indian at Peixtan, as also of his design to seize him, who willingly agreed to it ; but advised the Governor to be very cautious in the manner, there being only young people at home, who per- haps might make some resistance if it were done without their being told of it. For this reason we lay short of the village that night; but early in the morning we went within a half mile of the town, and, leaving our horses, marched afoot near the same, from whence the Governor sent Martine to the vil- lage, ordering him to tell Nicole that he had brought two kegs of rum with him, which he had left in the woods, for fear any Christians were there ; and withal to persuade Nicole to go with him and taste the rum. Martine returned with James Letort and Joseph Jessop, two Indian traders, but could not prevail with Nicole. Upon which Martine was sent back, with orders to bring down some Indians, and Nicole with them. Then we drew nearer to town, and laid ourselves in the bushes ; and Martine returned with two Indians, whom the Governor ac- quainted with his intention of taking Nicole, telling at the same 3 18 ANNALS OP HABRISBURG. time that he had spoken with the uncle of one of them upon that head, who ordered the Indians to submit to the Governor's commands, with which they were contented ; though we per- ceived too well the contrary, by their inquiring how many we were, and how armed, and the concern they seemed to be in when they found we were in more number than they. But still Nicole was wanting ; it was therefore resolved to try once more if he could be got into the woods. Accordingly, Martine went again to the place, and brought Nicole where we lay concealed, and asking him to drink a dram, he seized him ; but Nicole started from him and run for it, when immediately we started out and took him, and presently carried him to the village, (Peixtan,) through which we were obliged to pass ; and there we found some Indians with guns in their hands, who looked much displeased at what we had done; but being in readiness against any surprise, they thought it not lit to attempt anything. Here we staid about half an hour, and then started for Turpy- hocken, [Tulphocken,] having mounted Nicole on a horse and tied his legs under the belly ; we got within a mile of Turpy- hocken about two of the clock. On Friday morning about seven, the Governor went to the town ; from thence we went to Manatawney that night, and the next day to Philadelphia." It will be perceived by the date of the above incident that it transpired about twelve years previous to the time fixed for the settlement of John Harris in this vicinity. The village (Peixlan) alluded to was evidently the Indian town previously mentioned as having existed on the low ground below the site of the present borough. A CLEARING COMMENCED BY HARRIS, AT THE MOUTH pF THE JUNIATA RIVER. By the following extract from the Colonial Records, it ap- pears that John Harris was desirous of extending his trading ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 19 operations further westward, and with this view had commenced clearing land at the mouth of the Choniata (Juniata) river, about 1732 or 1733 : "June 19, 1733. "At a Council held at Philadelphia, Shickalamy, a chief, by Conrad Weiser, as Interpreter, asked whether the Proprietor had heard of a letter which he and Sassoonan sent to John Harris, to desire him to desist from making a plantation at the mouth of the Choniata, where Harris has built a house and commenced clearing fields. " They were told that Harris had only built that house for carrying on his trade; that his plantation, on which he hLS houses, barns, &c., at Peixtan, is his place of dwelling, p.nd it is not to be supposed he will remove from thence ; that he haJ no warrant or order for making a settlement on Choniata. " Shekallamy* said that though Harris may have built a house for the convenience of his trade, yet he ought not to cle&r fields. To this it was answered that Harris had only cler.red as much land as would be suflGicient to raise corn for his horses. Shekallamy said that he had no ill will to John Harris ; it was not his custom to bear ill will ; but he is afraid that the war- riors of the Six Nations, when they pass that way, may take it ill to see a settlement made on lands which they hc^d always desired to be kept free from any person settling upon. He was told in answer that care should be taken to give the necessa,ry orders in it." * "Shekallamy -was an Indian of much consequence among the Five Nations. He was the father of the celebrated Logan, It appears he was a Cayuga Sachem, and styled by Loskiel, * First Magistrate and head Chief of all the Iroquois Indians living on the banks of the Sus- quehanna, as far as Onondago.' He died at Shamokin, his residence, in 1749. He had been a great friend to Moravian Missionaries." — /. D. Rupp's History of Dauphin County. iO ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. HARRIS' REAL ESTATE POSSESSIONS. George W. Harris, Esq., a great grandson of John Harris, relates " that the latter was once offered by the Penns all of the land from the western shore of the Susquehanna to Silver Spring, and extending across the Cumberland Valley from mountain to mountain, for £5,000. He offered £3,500, and refused to give more. At his death he owned about 900 acres of land, including the present site of Harrisburg ; also 200 acres ou the opposite shore, mostly owned by Judge Hummel, and including the old ferry-landing and Gen. Simpson's place below Yellow Breeches creek, extending to the South mountain, in- cluding Shreiner's Island ; and seven or eight hundred acres at the mouth of the Conodoguinet creek, on the upper side, once the site of an Indian town." PRESENCE OF MIND AND BRAVERY OF HARRIS' WIFE. The same gentleman also narrates the following anecdotes of Esther, the wife of John Harris, which establishes the prompt- ness and energetic character of that lady : " The mansion house, situated on the river bank, as before mentioned, was surrounded by a stockade, for security against the Indians. An English officer was one night at the house, when by accident the gate of the stockade was left unfastened. The officer, clothed in his regimentals, was seated with Mr. Harris and his wife at the table. An Indian entered the gate of the stockade and thrust his rifle through one of the port- holes of the house, and it is supposed pointed it at the officer. The night being damp, the gun simiplj Jiashed. Instantly, Mrs. Harris blew out the candle, to prevent the Indian aiming a second time, and he retreated.'' Watson, in his "Annals," alludes to this affair as follows : "We hear, says the editor of the Pennsylvania Gazette, July ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 21 20, 1758, from Harris' Ferry, that on Sunday night last, as Mr. Harris and some people were sitting in a room, a gun was at- tempted to be fired at them through a loop-hole, but luckily it happened not to go ofi", upon which the neighborhood was alarmed by some guns from the fort, and the nest morning the track of an Indian was seen." A DANGEROUS CANDLESTICK. " It has been observed that John Harris kept articles for trade with the Indians. At one period, Mrs. Harris had an Irish girl in her employ. On one occasion she was sent up stairs for some purpose, and she took with her a piece of lighted candle, without a candlestick. The girl soon came down with- out the candle, and on Mrs. Harris asking her what she had done with it, replied she had stuck it into the barrel of Flax- seed. This, however, happened to be a barrel of Poioder! Mrs. Harris instantly rose, and without saying a word, for fear of alarming the girl, went up stairs, and advancing to the barrel, cautiously placed her hands under the candle and lifted it out, and then coolly reproved the girl for her carelessness. AN INDIAN'S REVENGE. " A party of Indians from the Susquehanna, at one time went ofi" on a war or predatory excursion against the Southern Indians. In the course of the expedition a hostile Indian was killed, and one of his relatives determined upon revenge. He is said to have come from the Catawba, in South Carolina, He came alone, and eventually reached the bank of the river oppo- site the present site of Harrisburg. He there secreted himself to observe the fording place, and watching an opportunity of glutting his revenge. Having observed the ford, below the island now owned by General Foster, he one night crossed the river, and cautiously approached the Indian town a short dis- 22 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. tance below. As he advanced, a dog barked, and an aged squaw came to the door of one of the wigwams to ascertain the cause of the disturbance. The Indian leaped forward, and sinking his hatchet into her brain, he drew his knife and scalped her j then raising the war-whoop, he ran to the river, leaped into a canoe and started for the opposite shore. The town was aroused and the warriors gave chase, but though closely pursued, it is said he escaped, and bore away in triumph the bloody trophy, the evidence of his courage and barbarity." — G. W. Harris, Esq. WILLIAM PENN'S CITY ON THE SUSQUEHANNA. In the year 1690, William Penn issued proposals for a second settlement, or city, upon the Susquehanna. Where the pro- posed city was to be located, or what was the reason for his re- linquishing the plan, is not known; but as the site subsequently occupied by Mr. Harris was at that period on the great, and indeed the only, highway to Western Pennsylvania, besides being the nearest available j^oint for communication with the Schuylkill river, which is looked to in the proposals, there is every reason to believe that it was the point selected for that purpose. The following are the proposals, extracted from Hazzard's Register, for 1828 : "Some Proposals /or a second Settlement in the Province of Pennsylvania, Whereas, I did, about nine years past, propound the selling of several parts or shares of land, upon that side of the Pro- vince of Pennsylvania next Delaware river, and setting out of a place upon it for the building of a city, by the name of Phila- delphia ; and that divers persons closed with those proposals, who, by their ingenuity, industry and charge, have advanced that city, from a wood, to a good forwardness of building (there ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 28 being above one thousand houses finished in it) and that thg several plantations and towns begun upon the land, bought by those first undertakers, are also in a prosperous way of improve- ment and inlargement (insomuch as last year ten sail of ships were fraighted there, with the growth of the Province for Barbados, Jamaica, &c,, besides what came directly for this kingdom.) It is now my purpose to make another settlement, upon the river of Susquehannagh, that runs into the Bay of Chesapeake, and bears about fifty miles west from the river Delaware, as appears by the Common Maps of the English Do- minion in America. There I design to lay out a plan for the building of another City, in the most convenient place for com- munication with the former plantations on the Bast : which by land, is as good as done already, a way being laid out between the two rivers very exactly and conveniently, at least three years ago ; and which will not be hard to do by water, by the benefit of the river Scoulkill ; for a Branch of that river lies near a Branch that runs into Susquehannagh River, and is the Common Course of the Indians with their Skins and Furr's into our Parts, and to the Provinces of East and West Jersey, and New York, from the West and North west parts of the continent from whence they bring them. And I do also intend that every one who shall be a Purchaser in this proposed settlement, shall have a proportionable Lot in the said City to build a House or Houses upon ; which Town- Ground, and the Shares of Land that shall be bought of me, shall be delivered clear of ail Indian Pretentions; for it has been ray way from the first, to purchase their title from them, and so settle with their consent. The Shares I dispose of, contain each. Three Thousand Acres for £100, and for greater or lesser quantities after that rate : The acre of that Province is according to the Statute of the 33th of Edw. 1. And no acknowledgement or Quit Bent shall be paid by the Purchasers till five years after a settlement be 24 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. made upon their Lands, and that only according to the quantity of acres so taken up and seated, and not otherwise ; and only then to pay but one shilling for every hundred acres for ever. And further 1 do promise to agree vriih every Purchaser that shall be willing to treat with me between this and next spring, upon all such reasonable conditions as shall be thought neces- sary for their accommodation, intending, if God please, to return with what speed I can, and my Family with me, in order to our future Residence. To conclude, that which particularly recommends this Settle- ment, is the known goodness of the soyll and scituation of the Land, which is high and not mountainous ; also the Pleasant- ness, and Largeness of the River being clear and not rapid, and broader than the Thames at London bridge, many miles above the Place intended for this Settlement; and runs (as we are told by the Indians) quite through the Province, into which many fair rivers empty themselves. The sorts of Timber that grow there are chiefly oak, ash, chesnut, walnut, cedar, and poplar. The native Fruits are pawpaws, grapes, mulbery's, chesnuts, and several sorts of walnuts. There are likewise great quantities of Deer, and especially Elks, which are much bigger than our E,ed Deer, and use that River in Herds. And Fish there is of divers sorts, and very large and good, and in great plenty. But that which recommends both this Settlement in particu- lar, and the Province in general, is a late Pattent obtained by divers Eminent Lords and Gentlemen for that Land that lies north of Pennsylvania up to the 46th Degree and an half, be- cause their Traffick and Intercourse will be chiefly through Pennsylvania, which lies between that Province and the Sea. We have also the comfort of being the Center of all the English colonies upon the Continent of America, as they lie from the North East parts of New England to the most Southerly parts of Carolina, being above 1000 miles upon the Coast. ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 25 If any Persons please to apply themselves to me by letter in relation to this affair, they may direct them to Robert Ness, Scrivener in Lumber street in London for Philip Ford, and suitable answers will be returned by the first opportunity. There are also Instructions printed for information of such as intend to go, or send servants, or families thither, which way they may proceed with most ease and advantage, both here and there, in reference to Passage, Goods, Utensels, Building, Husbandry, Stock, Subsistence, Traffick, &c. being the effect of their ex- pence and experiance that have seen the Fruit of their Labours. Wm. Penn." "Printed and sold by Andrew Sowle, at the crooked Billet in Halloway Lane, Shore Ditch 1690." REV. GEORGE WHITEFIELD AT HARRIS' FERRY. A granddaughter of John Harris, Sr., related that when the celebrated preacher, George Whitefield, was passing through Pennsylvania, about the year 1740, he remained some time in and about Harris' Ferry, and preached repeatedly to the people, who flocked from all quairters to hear him. So great was the fascination of his eloquence, that many of the people neglected the cultivation of their farms, and their fields were left unsown. Mr. Harris remonstrated with them, but inefi'ectually ; and the consequences of their improvidence were likely to prove serious, since not a few, at the end of the season, found themselves in want. Seeing their destitute condition, Mr. Harris sent a con- siderable quantity of grain to the nearest mill, and gave direc- tions that meal should be furnished to any of his poor neighbors who might apply for it. Thus were the families of those who had not listened to the prudent counsels of Harris saved from distress by his liberal kindness. 20 ANNALS OF HABRISBURG. INDIAN VISITORS. In Gordon's History of Pennsylvania, mention is made of a party of Indians, consisting of twenty-one Onondagoes and seven Oneidas, under the command of a Captain of the former nation, who arrived at Harris' Ferry in 1742, on an excursion against the Tallapoosas, resident in Virginia. They left their canoes here, and, procuring a pass or letter of protection from a magistrate of Lancaster county, travelled through the Pro- vince, obtaining provisions from the inhabitants. Harris' Ferry, or Paxton, was often visited by the Indians, Agents, &c., for consultation with the Provincial authorities. Conrad Weiser, a distinguished Indian Agent, upon one occa- sion wrote to the Secretary of the Provincial Council, as fol- lows : " To Richard Peters, Esq : Sir : Last night I arrived here with the Indians, all in good health but Canachquasey, the speaker, who took sick by the way to my house, and one of the women, but I hope not dan- gerously. This day I delivered the goods to them, and they are well pleased for my adding two half-barrels of powder to the four which they were to have. George Croghan was present, and he undertook to find men and horses to carry the powder and lead, with two casks of liquor with them, to the Ohio. I was obliged to allow them the liquor, because they all followed my advice, and did not get drunk neither in town (Philadelphia) nor by the way. Scaiohady, after they had received the goods, spoke to me in the following manner : ' Brother : I am very glad that our brethren in Philadel- phia took into their serious consideration what we have said to them. The French party is very strong among us, and if we ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 27 had failed in our journey to Philadelphia, or our expectations would not have been granted by our brethren in Philadelphia, the Indians would have gone over to the French to a man, and would have received presents or supplies from the French, who have offered it; but now I hope we have got the better of them. Let me desire you to set out early in the spring with the sup- plies our brethren have been pleased to promise us, and send somebody before you to give us timely notice, that we may meet you, for we are scattered up and down the country, and we will send three or four men to meet you by the way, and to convey you to the place appointed. Pray don't miss, and let us, that are for our brethren the English, not be ashamed; the French party, who speak now under ground, will speak above the ground if you should miss; but if you arrive early in the spring, all the Indians will unite heartily, and the French party will be brought over to us.' Then he spoke to George Croghan and me, who must be my guide. I made answer, ' that nothing should be wanting that I could do, and if I was alive and well I hoped to see them in their country next spring before the grass comes out, or at farthest, when they begin to plant their corn.' Scaiohady pressed upon me to put the Government in mind of what he had said against the traders in rum, that it might he suppressed ; 'For the Indians,' said he, 'will drink away all they have, and not be able to do anything against the enemy for want of ammunition;' and if rightly considered, death, without Judge or Jury, to any man that carries rum to sell to any Indian town, is the only remedy to prevent that trade ; and a just reward to the traders, for nothing else will do. It is an abomination before Grod and man, to say nothing of the particu- lar consequences. It is altogether hurtful to the public, for what little supplies we can give them to carry on the war is not half sufficient; they must buy the greatest part with their hunt- ing, and if they meet with rum they will buy that before any- 28 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. thing, and not only drink away their skins, but their clothing, and even everything they may get of us ; in short, the incon- veniences occasioned by that trade are numerous at this very time. The English and French party will fall out in their drunkenness, and murder one and another, and the English will be charged with the mischief thereof. I must leave off before I wear out your patience. Sir, your very dutiful, CONRAD WEISER. P. S. Scaiohady told Shikamy, at my house, very privately, that Peter Chartier and his company had accepted of the French hatchet, but kept it in their bosom till they could see what in- terest they could make in favor of the French." DEATH OF JOHN HARRIS, Sr. John Harris, Sr., died in 1748, about the month of Decem- ber, and was buried where he had directed, under the shade of his own memorable tree. The John Harris hereafter mentioned, as stated previously, was born in 1727. He was twice married. His first wife's name was Elizabeth McClurC; and his second, Mary Reed, by both of whom he had children. His second wife, Mary, died November G, 1787. GRANT OF THE FERRY RIGHT. The following is a copy of the original grant to John Harris, Jr., of the right to have a ferry over the Susquehanna : " Thomas Penn and Richard Penn, Esquires, true and abso- lute proprietaries and governors in chief of the Province of Pennsylvania and Counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex upon Delaware. To all unto whom these presents shall come, greeting : Whereas it hath been represented to us that the frequent passing and repassing of people over our river Susque- hanna hath made it necessary that ferries should be erected and ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 29 established at proper places for the ready carrying- over our said River, all travellers and other persons whose business and aflfairs may call them into these parts of our said province; And it being made known to us that the plantation and tract of land belonging to John Harris of the County of Lancaster, Yeomen lying on the East side of the said lliver Susquehanna in the township of Pextang and county aforesaid by means of the con- venient situation thereof is a proper place for erecting and keep- ing a ferry for that part of our said Province, and the said John Harris having requested our license for erecting and maintain- ing a ferry over the said river at the place aforesaid, and that we would be pleased to grant him the same for a certain term of years therein expressed. Now Know Ye, that in conside- ration of the charge and expense that must arise on providing of necessary flats and boats and constant attendance requisite thereunto, We have given granted and confirmed and by these presents for us and our heirs, do give grant and confirm unto the said John Harris, his executors administrators and assigns the sole privilege of keeping and occupying the said ferry over the said river at the place aforesaid where a ferry has always been kept for the carrying over of all persons, wagons, carts, horses and cattle traveling or passing that way, hereby strictly forbidding and prohibiting all other persons on either side of the said River from carrying over the same within the distance of one mile and a quarter above and below the ferry hereby settled and established for hire pay or reward in any flat, boat or canoe, any persons or travellers, wagons, carts, horses or cattle as afore- said : And we do further give and grant unto the said John Harris his executors, administrators and assigns during the term of this grant to take and receive from all persons passing over the said river for themselves, waggons, carts, horses and cattle all such reasonable toll fees or reward as hath heretofore been accustomed or shall be hereafter settled for the same (Us, our heirs and successors and our Lieutenant Governor attendants 30 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. and servants only excepted), To have and hold the said Ferry privileges and profits hereby granted unto the said John Harris his Executors administrators and assigns from the first day of March next unto the full end and term of seven years from thence next ensuing and fully to be complete and ended yield- ing and paying for the same yearly unto us our heirs and suc- cessors at the town of Lancaster in the said County at or upon the first day of March in every year during the said term ten English silver shillings or the value thereof in coin current ac- cording as the exchange shall then be between our said province and the city of London to such person or persons as shall from time to time be appointed to receive the same : Provided al- ways and these presents are upon this condition and limitation that the said John Harris his executors, administrators or as- signs shall from time to time and at all times hereafter, during the said term continue to keep or cause to be kept a Boat or Boats, Scow or Scows in good sufficient repair with good and sufficient persons or hands to give attendance for the transport- ing, ferrying or carrying over of all passengers, waggons, carts, horses and cattle aforesaid according to the true intent and meaning hereof otherwise this present grant and every other matter and thing contained therein, shall cease determine and be void to all intents and purposes whatsoever. Witness James Hamilton Esquire Lieutenant Governor of the said province who by virtue of Certain Powers and authori- ties to him for this purpose inter alia granted by the said pro- prietaries, hath hereunto set his hand and caused the great seal of the said province to be hereunto affixed at Philadelphia this fifth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty three, the twenty sixth year of the reign of King George ye second over Great Britain &c. and ye thirty fifth year of ye sd. Proprietaries government." JAMES HAMILTON, [l. s.] Recorded ye 19th Feb 1753. ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 31 DEATH OF HALF-KING AT HARRIS' FERRY. ** Half-King, also called Tanachrisson, of whom frequent men- tion is made in the Colonial Kecords, arrived, sick, at the resi- dence of John Harris, Jr., the 1st of October, 1754, and died on the night of the 4th following, and was buried with due obsequies by Mr. Harris. During the Half King's illness, his Indian followers procured a conjurer to ascertain the nature of his illness and death, believing that the French had bewitched him. Immediately after the death of this warrior, Mr, Harris wrote the following letter to Governor Hamilton : " Paxton Oct. 2, 1754. ''May it please your honor : At the earnest request of Monacatootha, one of the chiefs of the Six Nations, I take this opportunity to inform your Honor of the death of Half-King, who departed this life last night. There are about twenty Indians here who wait to see him buried, and then intend for Aughwick immediately; he likewise desired that the melancholly news might be forwarded with all possible dispatch to his Honor the Governor of Virginia. These Indians that are here blame the French for his death, by bewitching him, as they had a conjurer to inquire into the cause a few days before he died; and it is his opinion, together with his rela- tions, that the French had been the cause of this great man's death, by reason of his striking them lately, for which they seem to threaten immediate revenge, and desired me to let it be known. All the Indians that are here are in great trouble, es- pecially his relations. I have sent an account to Conrad Wei- ser, at Shamokin, this day, who I expect will be down upon notice. I humbly presume that his is a very great loss, espe- cially at this critical time. I am, &c,, JOHN HARRIS." 32 ANNALS or HARRISBURG. The Half-King, it appears, was a man of much consequence among the Indians, Rupp says that " he had his residence at Logg's Town, on the Ohio, fourteen miles trelow Pittsburg, on the opposite side. George Washington visited him in 1753, and desired him to relate some of the particulars of a journey he had shortly before made to the French commandant at Fort Duquesne." Monacatootha was also visited by Washington at Logg's Town. The followers of the Half-King allowed Mr. Harris to bury him as he thought proper, which was done much to their satis- faction. Shortly after this event, Mr. Harris visited Philadelphia, where he wrote the following letter to Mr. Peters, Secretary of the Provincial Council : " Philadelphia, Oct. 29, 1754. " Sir : On the first of this instant, Monacatootha and several others, the chiefs of the Sis Nations, came to my house, and brought the Half King and his family along with them, who were in general in a very low condition, particularly himself, who died in a few days ; after which I asked Monacatootha, and others, where they chused to bury him, and in what manner, or if they wanted anything necessary for his funeral ? Their answer was, that they looked upon him to be like one of our- selves, and as he died amongst us, we might bury him as we thought proper; that if he was buried well, it would be very good ; which I did much to their satisfaction. Immediately after, Monacatootha and the chiefs set off for Aughwick, leaving the Half-King's family and their relations under my care, saying that in a short time there should some horses and Indians come down for them, which they had not yet done, and I have been at expenses for their provisions, and his funeral. My account I shall send down, which I hope you will be pleased to lay before the Assembly. I shall continue to give ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 33 Ms family provisions till they remove, and should be satisfied how soon that might be. " I conclude, sir, your most obedient and humble servant, JOHN HARRIS." '' Dec. 17, Post Meridian, 1754, — The Committee of Ac- counts reported a balance of ten pounds, fifteen shillings and four pence due to the said John Harris for his expenses, and five pounds for his trouble, &c., in burying the Half-King, and maintaining the sundry Indians that were with him." — Votes of Assembli/, 1754. It is not known how long Half-King's family remained with Mr. Harris. They were still there in December following Half- King's death. THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR— ALARM OF THE SETTLERS. The hostilities that were openly declared between the French and English in 1744, marked the close of the peaceful era in Pennsylvania, and the dark cloud of savage warfare began to gather on the western frontier. An alarming crisis was at hand. The French, hovering around the lakes, sedulously applied them- selves to seduce the Indians from their allegiance to the Eng- lish. The Shawanees had already joined them ; the Delawares only awaited an opportunity to do so ; and of the-»8ix Nations, the Onandagoes, Cayugas and Senecas were wavering. The French were fortifying the strong points of the Ohio To keep the Indians in favor of the Colony required shrewd diplomacy and expensive presents. The Indians who joined the French, instigated by their new allies, committed many fearful depredations among the peaceful settlers, killing and scalping, or carrying off as prisoners, all who were so unfortunate as to fall into their hands. The inhabitants of Paxton, from their defenceless position, were early alarmed 5 * * > H .X 34 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. at these sanguinary forays, and heartily joined with the neigh- boring districts in the following petition to the Governor and Council; praying for succor : " July 22, 1754. " The humble petition of the inhabitants of the townships of Paxton, Derry and Hanover, Lancaster county, humbly sheweth : that your petitioners, being settled on and near the river Sus- quehanna, apprehend themselves in great danger from the French and French Indians, as it is in their power several times in the year to transport themselves, with ammunition, artillery, and every necessary, down the said river; and their conduct of late to the neighboring Provinces increases our dread of a speedy visit from them, as we are as near and convenient as the Pro- vinces already attacked, and are less capable of defending our- selves, as we are unprovided with arms and ammunition, and unable to purchase them. A great number are warm and active in these parts for the defence of themselves and country, were they enabled so to do, (although not such a number as would be able to withstand the enemy,) we, your petitioners, therefore humbly pray that your Honor would take our distressed condi- tion into consideration, and make such provision for us as may prevent ourselves and families from being destroyed and ruined by such a cruel enemy; and your petitioners as in duty will ever W^J-ff^nJ^ti/^ Thos.-Sssffee*, Jas. Armstrong, John Harris, Thos. Simpson, Samuel Simpson, John Carson, David Shields, Wm. M'- Mullin, John Cuoit, Wm. Armstrong, Wm. Bell, Jno. Daugherty, Jas. Atkin, And. Cochrin, James Reed, Thos. Rutherford, T. M' Carter, Wm. Steel, Samuel Hunter, Thos. Mayes, James Coler, Henry Remmicks, Richard M'Clure, Thos. Dugan, John Johnson, Peter Flemming, Thos. Stur- geon, Mathew Taylor, Jeremiah Sturgeon, Thos. King, Robert Smith, Adam Reed, Jno. Crawford, Thos. Craw- ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 35 ford, Jno. M'Clure, Thos. Hume, Thos. Steene, Jno. Hume, Jno. Creage, Thos. M'CIeur, Wm. M^Cleur, Jno. Rodgers, James Peterson, Jno. Young, Ez. Sankey, Jno. Florster, Mitchel Graham, Jas. Toalen, Jas. Galbraith, Jas. Campel, Eobert Boyd, Jas. Chambers, Robert Armstrong, Jno. Cam- pel, Hugh Black, Thos. Black. This petition read in Council 6th August, 1754." Some of the present citizens of Harrisburg will not fail to notice the names of their ancestors in the foreeoinsr list. LETTERS FROM JOHN HARRIS, Jr., AND OTHERS, ON THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY. We extract, in chronological order, from the Colonial Records and Archives, the following letters from John Harris and others, written in the years 1754-'55-'56, which gives a lively picture of the condition of this vicinity during these exciting periods , " Paxton Dec. 28 1754 " Sir — This week Capt. Andrew Montour has made his inte- rest so good with my brother Wm. Harris, as to pursuade him to go with him to our camp, and he engages that he shall receive a Lieutenant's command under him, upon the strength of which, and the willingness to serve his king and country, he resolves to go. Their company of white men I expect to have completed by Monday next, or the day following ; they expect to march for Wills' creek by the way of Aughwiek, in order to take a number of Indians with them. Some Indians that are here leave their families, and set off with them with all cheerfulness ; and I'll ensure upon my brother's inclining to go, the young men about here inlisted imediately with the small encouragement I gave them, which was but my duty, and I hope that this com- pany will act their part so well as to be a credit to our River 3Ien, of which almost the whole consists. It is rumored here 36 ANNALS OP HABRISBURG. that there are now taken prisoners lately at our camp, fifteen French Indians. Upon what I hear our Indians at Aughwick are to go and determine their fate, either death or Liberty. I only mention this, but am not yet certain of the fact. [Excuse blunders.] Your very humble servant, JOHN HARRIS. Edward Shippen, Lancaster." "PaxtonDcc. 80 1754 " Sir — I design to-morrow to march with my men raised here for Wills' creek by the way of Aughwick. I leave under the care of John Harris two Indian families, one of which has been at his house since the death of Half King, and has been so kindly treated that they don't care to move to Aughwick at this cold season, and they may be as cheap maintained here. I or- dered John Harris to provide for them after the frugalist man- ner. All the men of the aforesaid Indian families go to the camp with me cheerfully, and are of the Mingoes, and were at the skirmish when Laforce was taken and his men. I expect to take a number of Indians along with me from Aughwick to the campj where I design to be with them. I'll assure you John Harris's kind usage to the Indians this fall has been of much service, and ought to be properly recorded. I hope Monaca- tootha has before this time left your city on his way for the Six Nations. The good accounts from England lately will spirit up our Indians much, and I trust have its desired effect. I am, sir, your most obed't, humble serv't, ANDREW MONTOUR. Richard Peters, Esq." Conrad Weiser, at the request of Grovernor Morris, came to this place in August, 1755, where he found " Little" or " Old Belt," and " Seneca George," both noted Indian warriors. ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 37 INDIAN MASSACRES AT MAHANOY CREEK. On the 15th of October, 1755, a party of hostile Indians fell upon the inhabitants at Mahanoy, or Penn's creek. Union coun- ty, and killed and carried off about twenty-five persons, besides burning their buildings and improvements. LETTERS FROM JOHN HARRIS IN REFERENCE TO THE MASSACRE. "Paxton Oct. 20, 1755. ^^May it please your honor : I was informed last night by a person that came down our river that there was a dutch (German) woman who made her escape to George Gabriels, and informs us that last Friday evening, on her way home from this settlement, on Mahahony, or Penn's creek, where her family lived, she called at a neigh- bor's house, and saw two persons lying at the door of said house murdered and scalped ; and there were some Dutch (German) families that lived near their places, imediately left not think- ing it safe to stay any longer. It is the opinion of the people up the river that the families on Penn's creek being scattered, that but few in number are killed or carried off, except the above said women, the certainty of which will soon be known, as there are some men gone out to bury the dead. By report this evening I was likewise informed by the belt of wampum, and these Indians here, there were seen near Shamo- kin about six days ago, two French Indians of the Canawago tribe. I a little doubted the truth of the report at first ; but the Indians have seemed so afraid that they dispatched messen- gers imediately to the mountains above my house to bring in some of their women that were gathering chestnuts for fear of their being killed. By a person just arrived down our river, brought information 38 ANNALS or HARRISBURG. of two men being murdered within five miles of George Gra- briels, and it is imagined that all the inhabitants on Penn's creek and Little Mahanoy are killed or carried ofi", as most of them live much higher up, where the first murder was discov- ered. The Indian warriors here send you these two strings of white wampum and the women the black one, both requesting that you will lay by all your council pipes, immediately, and open all your eyes and ears, and view your slain people in this land, and to put a stop to it imediately, and come to this place to our assistance without any delay ; and the belt of wampum particularly mentions that the proprietors and your honor would imediately act in defence of their country, as the old chain of friendship now is broken by several nations of Indians, and it seems to be such as they never expected to see or hear of. Any delay on our acting vigorously now at this time would be the loss of all Indian interest, and perhaps our ruin in these parts. I am your Honor's Most obed't ser't JOHN HARRIS. P. S. I shall endeavor to get a number of my neighbors to go out as far as the murder has been committed; and perhaps to Shamokin to know the minds of the Indians, and their opin- ions of these times; and to get what intelligence I can from them, and to encourage some of their young men to scout about, back of the frontiers, to give us notice of the enemy's approach, if possible, at any time hereafter. I heartilly wish your honor and the Assembly would please to agree on some method at this time towards protecting this province, as this part of it seems actually in danger now; for should but a company of Indians come and murder but a few families hereabouts, which is daily expected, the situation we are in would oblige numbers to aban- don their plantations, and our cattle and provisions, which we have a plenty of, must then fall a prey to the enemy. Our Indians here seem much discouraged at the large n«m« ANNALS OF HABRISBURG. 39 bers of families passing here every clay on account of the late murders on the Potomack, and will be much more so if it should happen to be our case. There were two Indian women set out from here two days ago for the Ohio, to bring some of their re- lations (as they say) down here ; and should the French, or their Indians hear by them, as they will be enquiring for news, the effect that their late murders has had among our inhabitants, it will be a matter of encouragement to them. I conclude your honor's Most obed't and most humble ser't JOHN HARRIS." " Paxton October 28, 1755. "Tb RicJiard Peters: Sir : I received your letter, and shall observe the contents. There is melancholy news, concerning which I have written to his Honor, the Governor. If there were encouragement for 1000 or 1500 men to meet the enemy and build a fort some place up the Susquehanna, I imagine a number of men will go at their own expense to assist. I am sir your humble serv't JOHN HARRIS. P. S. I shall endeavor to keep out a number of Mohawks, that are here, as spies. The "Belt" promised to send out some ; but it was our river Indians, and some scouts from the French army, attacked us at Mr. Penn's creek. Yours, J. H, EXPEDITION OF THE PAXTONIANS TO MAHANOY CREEK. On the 23d of October following this massacre, upwards of forty of the inhabitants of Paxton went to Mahanoy, or Penn's creek, for the purpose of inquiry and burying the dead. The 40 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. following declaration, from one of the party, gives the result of the expedition : "I and Thomas Forster, Esq., Mr. Harris, and Mr. McKee, with upwards of forty men, went to Capt. McKee at New Pro- vidence, in order to bury the dead, lately murdered on Maha- hony creek; but understanding the corpses were buried, we then determined to return imediately home. But being urged by John Sekalamy and the " Old Belt" to go up to see the In dians at Shamokin and know their minds, we went on the 24th, and staid there all night — and in the night I heard some Dela- wares talking — about twelve in number — to this purpose : ''What are the English came here for?" Says another, "To kill us, I suppose." " Can we not then send off some of our nimble young men to give our friends notice that can soon be here ?" They soon after sang the war song, and four Indians went off, in two canoes, well armed — the one canoe went down the river, and the other across. On the morning of the 25th, we took our leave of the In- dians, and set off homewards, and were advised to go down the East side of the river, but fearing that a snare might be laid on that side, we marched off peaceably on the west side, having behaved in the most civil and friendly manner towards them while with them ; and when we came to the mouth of Mahanoy creek, we were fired on by a good number of Indians that lay among the bushes ; on which we were obliged to retreat, with the loss of several men ; the particular number I cannot exactly mention ; but I am positive that I saw four fall, and one man struck with a tomyhawk on the head in his flight across the river. As I understand the Delaware tongue, I heard several of the Indians that were engaged against us speak a good many words in that tongue during the action. ADAM TERRANCE." " The above declaration was attested by the author's voluntary ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 41 qualification, no magistrate being present, at Paxton, this 26tli day of October, 1755, before us. Jno. Elder, Thos. McArthur, Michael Graham, Alex. Mc- Clure, Michael Teass, Wm. Harris, Thos. Black, Sam'l liennis, Samuel Pearson, Wm. McClure, N. B. Of all our people that were in the action, there are but nine that are yet returned. " THE INDIANS ADVANCING, Heidelburg Oct. 26, at 11 o'clock night 1755. Mr. Jas. Reed — Loving Friend : About one hour ago I recived the news of the enemy having crossed the Susquehanna, and killed a great many people from Thos. M'Kee's down to Hunter's Mills. Mr. Elder, the minister at Paxtou, wrote to another Pres- byterian minister, in the neighborhood of Adam Reed, Esq The people were then in a meeting, and imediately designed to get themselves in readiness to oppose the enemy, and lend as- sistance to their neighbors. * * * Yours CONRAD WEISER." JOHN HARRIS TAKES THE FIELD. On the 28th of October, 1755, John Harris wrote the follow- ing letter to Governor Morris : '' Paxton Oct. 28, 1755. ''May it please your Honor : This is to acquaint you that on the 24th of October, I arrived at Shamokin, in order to protect our frontiers (people ?) up that way till they might make their escape from their cruel enemies ; and learn the best intelligence I could. The Indians on the West branch of the Susquehannah cer- 6 42. ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. tainly killed our inhabitants on Penn's creek ; and there are a hatchet and two English scalps sent by them up the North Branch, to desire them to strike with them, if they are men. The Indians are all assembling themselves at Shamokin to counsel ; a large body of them was there four days ago. I can- not learn their intentions ; but it seems Andrew Montour and Mona-ca-too-tha are to bring down the news from theiu. There is not a sufficient number of them to oppose the enemy ; and perhaps they will join the enemy against us. There is no de- pendence on Indians ; and we are in imminent danger. I got certain information from Andrew Montour and others, that there is a body of French with fifteen hundred Indians, coming upon us. Picks, Ottaways, Onandox, Delawares, Shaw- anese, and a number of the Six Nations ; and are now not many days march from this Province and Virginia, which are ap- pointed to be attacked; at the same time some of the Shamokin Indians seem friendly, and others appear like enemies. Montour knew many days ago of the enemy being on their march against us, before he informed ; for which I said as much to him as I thought prudent, considering the place I was in. On the 25th inst., on my return with about forty men, we were attacked by twenty or thirty Indians — received their fire, and about fifteen of our men and myself took to the trees, at- tacked the villians and killed four upon the spot, and lost but three more — retreating about half a mile through the woods, and crossing the Susquehanna, one of whom was shot oft" an horse riding behind myself, through the river. My horse was wounded, and failing in the river, I was obliged to quit him, and swim part of the way. Four or five of our men were drowned crossing the river. I hope our journey, though with fatigue, and loss of our substance, and some of our lives, will be of service to our country, by dis- covering our enemy, who will be our ruin if not timely pre- vented. ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 43 I just now received information that there was a French offi- cer, supposed Captain, with a party of Shawanese, Delawares, &c., within six miles of Shamokin, ten days ago; and no doubt intends taking possession of it, which will be a dreadful conse- quence to us, if suffered. Therefore I thought proper to dis- patch this message to inform your honor. The Indians here, I hope your Honor, will be pleased to cause them to be removed to some place, as I do [not] like their company ; and as the men of those here were not against us, yet did them no harm, or else I would have them all cut off. Belt (Indian so called) promised at Shamokin, to send out spies to view the enemy, and upon hearing of our skirmishes. Old Belt was in a rage, gathered up thirty Indians immediately and went in pursuit of the enemy, as I am this day informed. I expect Montour and Mona-ca-too-tha down here this week, with the determination of their Shamokin Council. The in- habitants are abandoning their plantations, and we are in a dreadful situation. I am, &c., JOHN HARRIS. P. S. The night ensuing our attack the Indians burnt all George Gabriel's houses— danced around them." JOHN HARRIS AND HIS FAMILY THREATENED WITH DEATH. " Paxton, Oct. 29, 1755. "Edward Shippen, Usq. : Sir : We expect the enemy upon us every day, and the in- habitants are abandoning their plantations, being greatly dis- couraged at the approach of such a number of cruel savages, and no present sign of assistance. I had a certain account of fifteen hundred French and Indians being on their march against us and Virginia, and now close upon our borders ; their scouts scalping our families on our frontiers daily. Andrew Montour and others at Shamokin desired me to take care, that there was a party of forty Indians out many days, and intended to burn 44 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. my liouse and destroy myself and family. I have this day cut loop-holes in my house, and am determined to hold out to the last extremity if I can get some men to stand by me. But few can be had at present, as every one is in fear of his own family being cut off every hour. Great part of the Susquehanna In- dians are no doubt actually in the French interest, and I am informed that a French officer is expected at Shamokin this week with a party of Delawares and Shawanese, no doubt to take possession of our river. We should raise men imediately to build a fort up the river to take possession, and to induce some Indians to join us. We ought also to insist on the In- dians to declare for or against us, and as soon as we are prepared for them we should hid up their scalps, and keep our woods full of our people upon the scout, else they will ruin our province ; for they are a dreadful enemy. I have sent out two Indian spies to Shamokin; they are Mohawks. Sir; Yours, &c,, JOHN HAERIS." The defences which Mr. Harris constructed around his dwell- ing at this time, are thus noticed by Edward Shippen, in a let- ter to Governor Morris : "John Harris has built an excellent stockade ai'ound his house, which is the only place of security that way for the pro- visions of the army, he having much good celler room; and as he has but six or seven men to guard it, if the Government would order six more men there to strengthen it, it would in my opinion be of great use to the cause." The late Robert Harris saw the remains of this stockade when he was young. ADDRESS FROM THE SETTLERS. In October, 1755, the enemy was in the neighborhood of Shamokin in considerable force, and in the month following, ANNALS OF HARRISBUBG. 45 murdered a number of settlers, upon which the people of Pax- toa published the following address to the inhabitants of the Province : " John Harris', 12 o'clock p. m., Oct. 31st, 1755. ^'To all his Majesti/'s subjects in the Province of Pennsylvajiia, or elseiohere : Whereas, Andrew Montour, Belt of Wampum, two Mo- hawks, and other Indians came down this day from Shamokin, who say the whole body of Indians, or the greatest part of them, in the French interest is actually encamped this side of George Gabriels [thirty miles above Harris' Ferry, on the west side of the river] near Susquehanah, and that we may expect an attack in three days at farthest; and a French fort to be begun at Shamokin in ten days hence. Tho' this be the Indian report, we, the subscribers, do give it as our advice to repair immediately to the frontiers with all our forces to intercept their passage into our country, and to be prepared in the best manner possible for the worst event. Witness our hands : James Galbraith, Jno. Allison, Barney Hughes, Robert Wallace, John Harris, Jas. Pollock, Jas. Anderson, William Work, Patrick Henry. P. S. They positively affirm that the above named Indians discovered a party of the enemy at Thos. McKee's upper place on the 30th of October last. Mona-ca-too-tha, the Belt, and other Indians here insist upon Mr. Weiser coming immediately to John Harris', and his men, and to council with the Indians. Before me, JAS. GALBRAITH." Mr. Hamilton informed the Provincial Council that " in No- vember, 1755, he was at John Harris', and found the people 46 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. collected there in the utmost confusion, and in continual fear of being fallen upon by the French and Indians." Houses that had been occupied, barns filled with the fruits of a rich and plentiful harvest, newly sowed fields, and standing corn, were all abandoned by the hardy and industrious frontier settlers. '' In December, 1755, John Harris, Jr., of Paxton township, in consequence of instructions from George Croghan, continued a guard of thirty-two men upon the frontiers of said township for the space of eighteen days." — Votes of As&emhly. COUNCIL WITH THE INDIANS AT HARRIS' FERRY. On the 8th of January, 1756, a council with the Indians was held at the house of John Harris, Jr., in Paxton, composed of Hon. Robert Hunter Morris, Governor, James Hamilton, Rich- ard Peters, Secretary, Joseph Fox, and Conrad Weiser, Inter- preter ; two Indians of the Six Nations, called " The Belt of Wampum," a Seneca, and the " Broken Thigh," a Mohawk. The Governor addressed the two Indians as follows : " Brethren : I am glad to see you and your families in good health. You have ever been esteemed our hearty friends, and you show you are really so by residing among us at a time when so much mischief is done on every side of the Province. I sent Mr. Weiser to acquaint you that I had kindled a coun- cil fire here, and had invited the Indians on Susquehannah to meet me the beginning of this moon, and that I expected you would stay here till I should come, and afford me your assist- ance in council. I thank you for staying here. You see that, agreeable to my message, I come at the time appointed ; but I find no other Indians here than you two, and indeed I expect no more, as I believe my messengers were prevented going to Wyomink by ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 47 the ravages of the Indians, which began in their neighborhood at the time they were preparing to set out on their journey. The public business requires my presence at Carlisle, where I am now going, and I invite you to go along with me. If you incline to take any of your families with you, I shall readily agree to it, and provide a carriage for them and you." To this "The Belt" replied: " Brethren : I thank you for sending for us to council, and for your kind speech. What you have said is very agreeable. Brethren : The sky is dark all around us. The mischief done to you I consider as done to the Six Nations, and I am sorry for what has happened, and heartily condole with you upon it; but be not disheartened. As the public business is committed to you, nothing should be suffered to lie on your minds that might in anywise impair your judgment, which is now more necessary than ever. Let me therefore, by this string, intreat you to put away all grief from your heart, and to dry up your tears, that you may think and see clearly when you come to council. I accept your invitation, and shall follow you to Carlisle." Gave a string. At the time this council was held there appears to have been but a single house, and few conveniences at Harris' Ferry, and '' Mr. Weiser was asked if it might not be better to hold it at Carlisle, where all the business of that county could be done at the same time, and proper entertainment provided, as well for the Governor and his company as for the Indians, should they prove numerous " They then went to Carlisle. THREATENED MURDER OF THE FRIENDLY INDIANS AT HARRIS' FERRY. Conrad Weiser, in a letter to Governor Morris, dated January 29, 175G, says : " On the 31st of last month, one James Young 48 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. came over from Tobias Hendricks', and told me privately, in the presence of John Harris, that above fifteen men with arms came that day to Tobias Hendricks', in order to come to this side of the river to hill the Indians at John Harris' , judging them of being guilty or privy to the murder committed in Shearman's valley a few days ago ; and that he had much ado to stop them, and desired me to take all the care I possibly could. I took for granted what they said, and sent immediately an express to bring the Indians that remained in Carlisle, since the last treaty, away to Harris' Ferry." The treaty alluded to was held at Carlisle, in January, 175G, where it was left to the Indians' choice till a fort had been erected at Shamokin, to reside at one or other of the forts then building, or at Harris' Ferry or Conestoga Manor. They chose Harris' Ferry. THE GOVERNOR AGAIN AT HARRIS' FERRY. After the adjournment of the Assembly, in April, 1756, Gov- ernor Morris again visited Harris' Ferry, and in the early part of May issued a message summoning the members of Assembly to convene at Philadelphia. He also signed several bills here, and "affixed the great seal of the Province to the transcribed copies thereof." In concluding his message to the Assembly, dated Harris' Ferry, May 23, 1756, he says: "I propose to leave this place to-morrow, or on Tuesday at farthest, and hope to be with you by the time you can have any business prepared to lay before me." THE ENEMY INVADE PAXTON, The storm of Indian warfare which had been so long raging in the neighboring districts, at length spread into the settle- ments of Paxton and adjoining townships. ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 49 " The first assault," says Rupp, "was upon a wagon belonging to a German, in whicli he was endeavoring to move oiF; but being killed a small distance behind the wagon, those with the wagon fled to a fort not far distant. The men at the fort being alarmed at the report of the Indians' guns, came to see the oc- casion of it, and met a woman running towards them, crying; they proceeded to where the wagon stood, and at some distance behind laid the man, tomahawked and scalped, and the brains issuing from the wounds, although he was still breathing." Murders in Paxton and Derry townships appear to have been an every-day occurrence in August, 1756 : " Derry Tp., 9th Aug., 1756. Sir : There is nothing but bad news every day. Last week there were two soldiers killed and one wounded, about two miles from Manada fort; and two of the guards that escorted the batteaux were killed. * * We shall all be broken in upon in these parts. The people are going off daily, leaving almost their all behind them. * * * * JAMES GALBRAITH. Ed. Shippen, Esq." " Derry Tp., 10th Aug., 1756. Honored Sir : There is nothiog here almost every day but murder committed by the Indians in some part or other. About five miles above me, at Manada Gap, there were two of the Province soldiers killed, one wounded. * * Yours, JAMES GALBRAITH. P. S. I am in want of the pistols." The names of some of those murdered and abducted in Pax- ton, Derry and Hanover townships, are given in the Pennsyl- vania Gazette of 1755, and are as follows : Elizabeth Gallway, Henry Gibson, Robert Peer, Wm, Berry- ■ 7 50 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. hill, and David McClelland ; Beatty, Flemming's son, and one Hicks, James Mackey, murdered. A son of James Mackey, a son of Joseph Barnet, Elizabeth Dickey and her child, the wife of Samuel Young and her child, John Martin's wife and five children, William Gallway's wife and two children, and a young woman ; Chas. Stewart's wife and two children, David McClel- land's wife and two children, and Wm. Flemming and wife were taken prisoners. "Aug. 19, 1757. — Fourteen people killed and taken frOm Mr. Cinky's congregation, and one man killed near Harris' Ferry." The Colonial Kecords and Archives contain numerous letters from Paxton, written at this period, giving accounts of Indian massacres in this neighborhood. Estherton, the present country seat of Judge Hiester, and Fort Hunter, the present residence of J. C. McAllister, Esq., both a short distance above Harrisburg, were important posts of rendezvous for the early settlers. CONTEMPLATED MASSACRE AT PAXTON CHURCH. "A party of hostile Indians had came down the river to murder the people of Paxton. They formed a camp in the thicket back of Elder's mill dam. They designed falling on the people when at worship in Paxton church. They are sup- posed to have come on Monday, and after waiting several days they came to the conclusion that the congregation would not assemble, and they went off. They left the settlement by the way of Indiantown Gap. On their way off they murdered sev- eral persons and took a prisoner, from whom it was afterwards ascertained that they had been encamped here for several days. The people of this congregation, before and afterwards, came to igA^CSi-Ad ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 51 the churcli armed ; and Mr. Elder, the pastor, also carried his gun into the pulpit." — G. W. Harris, Esq. The above incident is mentioned in '^Webster's History of the Presbyterian Church" as having occurred in 1756. The same authority also states that in 1757 an attack was actually made on the settlers as they were leaving the church, two or three of whom were killed. '^ ^ ^ \ 'I % I Mr. Elder .was. pastor of the above church when it was -first 4Mitlt,' abT)ut~12^ -years-.ago,, and preached to that congregation and in the Derry church upKi«ds.,Qf 60 years. He was a colonel of the Paxton Eangers, whose duty it was to keep a look out for the Indians, and range the settlements for their protection, from the Blue Mountain to the river. He died at the advanced age of eighty-six, in 1792, on his farm near Harrisburg. Paxton Church is still standing, about two and a half miles from Harrisburg, near the Ilummelstown turnpike, and many of the descendants of the early settlers still continue to worship there. ANOTHER INDIAN COUNCIL AT HARRIS' FERRY. "A meeting of the Six Nations and their Allies, and George Croghan, Esq., Deputy Agent to the Hon. Sir William John- son, Baronet, His Majesty's sole Agent and Superintendent of the Six Nations, their allies and their dependents, was held by special order at John Harris', the 1st day of April, 1757. Present— The Rev. John Elder, Capt. Thos. M'Kee, Mr. Jas. Armstrong, Mr. Hugh Crawford, Mr. John Harris, Wm. Pen- trup, Interpreter, and warriors from the Mohawks, Oneidas, Tus- caroras, Onondagoes, Nanticokes, Cayugas, Delawares, Senecas, and Conestogoes, with their women and children." Before this conference had concluded, the council fire was removed to Lancaster, where the remainder of its business was transacted. 52 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. ORIGINAL LETTERS OF JOHN HARRIS, Jr. The following letters are copied verbatim et literatim from the original, in the hand-writing of John Harris, Jr., now in the possession of his grandson, David Harris, Esq. : '■'■ Paxton April 30, 1757. Sir : I sent you Butter with * * * Hambright last Command w'ch I hope you Received safe. I shall Endeavor to Procure another Crock for you against next trip. I forwarded all the Letters you sent me by * * * to Lancaster Imme- diately & Capt'n M'Kee was going to Philada. from there, & took them with him, so that there was not the Least Delay. Mr. West wrote me this week that there was an English Packet arrived at Antigua w'ch left Spithead the 26th Feb'ry. * * & that there was laying there 200 Transports, Storeships, &c, with 16 Sail of the Line Commanded by Admiral Knowles, which were to sail in a few Days for North America (God send them a Quick & Safe Passage) there is actually arrived at Ft. Cumberland 126 Catawba warriers & 50 or 60 other Indians & a number more Expected who seems Hearty in our Cause. I Expect they'll pay our Cruel Enemys in their own Coin this Sumer I am sir in Hase your most obed't Humble Serv't JOHN HARRIS. To Major James Burd att Fort Augusta." " Paxton Nov'r 15, 1757. "Z>r. Sr: I am Just arrived from Philada. No News of Importance, the Troops from the Northwerd are Part arrived in Philada., such as are to be Quartered there this Winter, & three Compa- nys if not more of the first Battalliou of Ye Eoyal American Riegement from Carlisle is to Pass here Nest thursday, on their way to Winter Quarters in Philada., the 2nd Battallion is to soon follow & Remain at Lancaster, Excepting some who is by ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 53 the General lieport, to be at York, Reading, &o, this Winter. We have acco'ts of our Grand English Fleet Sailing in Sep- tember last on a Secret Expedition, & good accounts soon Ex- pected from them. No Battles Lately in Europe Except Skir- mishing between us, the French, Prusians, Austrians, Rusians, &c, tho' its currently Reported Generally Believed that ab't Seventy thousand Turks is actually on their IMarch against the Queen of Hungary, & a Larger Army of Turks & Tarters is also marching against the Russians, to make a Diversion on the side of Prussia. Good accounts is also Expected from his Prus- sian Majesty, tho' his Enemy is numerous on all sides the French seems to be yet to strong for the Duke in Hanover but considering the Numbers Greater Strokes might have been Ex- pected from them. We have been Tollerably Quiet en all the Frontiers this Long time (from Indian Incursions) the Barracks in Philada. in Great Forwardness, I am sir your most obed't Humble Serv't JOHN HARRIS. P. S. Mrs. Shippen & Mrs. Burd and family's well yester- day. I am sr. &c., J. H. To Major James Burd at Fort Augusta." THE PAXTONIANS RETALIATE. The constant scenes of warfare infused a military and adven- turous spirit into the young men of this vicinity incompatible with the quiet habits of agricultural life, and we find them, in time of peace, roaming through the mountain wilds as traders, or seeking out rich lands yet unpurchased from the Indians; and in time of war or frontier disturbance, they were ranging the border, watching the movements of the Indians, cutting off occasional parties, and breaking up their haunts, l^eing beyond the reach of the laws of the Province, as well as beyond the protection of the lower counties, the Paxton men were under 54 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. tlie necessity of protecting themselves^ and were governed by usages of their own. Many of their families, as we have shown, had suffered by the tomahawk, and it was suspected by them that the hostile Indians were harbored, if not encouraged, by the friendly Indians at Conestoga, and among the Moravians. A deadly animosity was thus raised among the Paxton men against all of Indian blood, and it was during the height of this feeling that the bloody and unjustifiable massacre was perpetra- ted at Conestoga. The following, from " Day's Historical Fiecollections," com- bines the substance of the several conflicting statements in re- gard to this massacre : " On the night of the 14th December, 1763, a number of armed and mounted men from the townships of Paxton and Donegal, most of them belonging to the company of frontier rangers of those townships, concerted an attack on the Indians at Conestoga, Lancaster county, for the purpose, as they alleged, of securing one or more hostile Indians who were harbored there, and who were supposed to have recently murdered several fam- ilies of whites. The number of the Paxton men is variously estimated from twenty to upwards of fifty. Few of the Indians were at home, the men probably being absent either in hunting or trading their baskets at Lancaster. In the dead of night the white men fell upon the village. Some defence was doubtleijs attempted by the few male Indians present, (Dr. Franklin's nar- rative says there were only three men, two women and a young boy,) but they were overpowered, and the whole, men, women and children, fell victims to the rifle, the tomahawk, and the knife of the frontier men. The dwellings were burned to the ground The citizens and magistrates of Lancaster, shocked at the hor- rible outrage, with commendable humanity gathered the scat- tered individuals of the tribe who remained, into the stone work- house at Lancaster, where, under bolts and bars, and the strict ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 55 supervision of the keeper, they could not doubt but the Indians would be safe until they could bo conveyed to Philadelphia for more secure protection. But the Paxton men were satisfied with nothing short of the extermination of the tribe, alleging, however, that one or two of the hostile Indians were still among the Indians protected by the civil authority at Lancaster, Concealing themselves at night near Lancaster, they waited until the next day, (27th Decem- ber,) when the whole community was engaged in the solemni- ties of the sanctuary ; then, riding suddenly into town in a gallop, the band seized upon the keeper of the work-house and overpowered him, and rushing into the prison, the work of death was speedily accomplished. The poor Indians, about fourteen in number, were left weltering in gore, while the Paxton men left the town in the same haste with which they entered it. The alarm was raised through the town, but before the citizens r ould assemble, the " boys" were beyond their reach. la consequence of this aflfair, the Morovian Indians at Wyalusingaud Nain, who had come to Philadelphia for protection, were removed to Pro- vince Island, near that city, and placed under the charge of the garrison. The Paxton men, elated by their recent success, assembled in great numbers early in January, and threatened to march to Philadelphia in a body, and destroy the Indians there. The people of the city were prodigiously alarmed, and several com- panies of foot, horse and artillery were formed to repel the ex- pected attack. The Paxton men, who had approached the Schuylkill on their march, finding such a force prepared to re- ceive them, returned home." llev. John Elder, in a letter to Grov. John Penn, dated Pax- ton, December 16, 1763, says : '' On receiving intelligence, the loth inst , that a number of persons were assembling on pur- pose to go and cut off the Conestoga ludiaas, in concert with Mr. Forster, the neighboring magistrate, I hurried olf with a 56 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. written message to that party, entreating them to desist from such an undertaking, representing to them the unlawfulness and barbarity of such an action ; that it was cruel and unchristian in its nature, and would be fatal in its consequences to them- selves and families." In another letter to Gov. Penn, Kev. Mr. Elder describes Mr. Stewart (one of the Paxton boys) as humane, liberal and reli- gious. In a subsequent letter to the Governor, he says : '' The storm which had been so long gathering has at length exploded. Had Government removed the Indians from Conestoga, which had frequently been urged without success, this painful catas- trophe might have been avoided. What could I do with men heated to madness? All that I could do was done; I expostu lated, but life and reason were set at defiance. And yet the men in private life are virtuous and respectable ; not cruel, but mild and merciful. The time will come when each palliating circumstance will be calmly weighed. This deed, magnified into the blackest of crimes, shall be considered as one of the youth- ful ebullitions of wrath caused by momentary excitement, to which human infirmity is subjected." There is no doubt that the massacre was committed by the younger and more hot-headed members of the Ptev. Col. Elder's corps of Rangers, residing at and about Harris' Ferry, joined, as they proceeded on their way to the fated village, by residents of Perry and Donegal townships, who were led on by one Laz- arus Stewart, a daring partizan, and a man of considerable influ- ence and standing in the Paxton settlement. The following extracts are from a series of historical papers written by Redmond Conyugham, Esq., of Lancaster : " Imagination cannot conceive the perils with which the set- tlement of Paxton were surrounded from 1754 to 1765. To por- tray each scene of horror would be impossible; the heart shrinks from the attempt. The settlers were goaded on to desperation ; murder followed murder ; scouts brought in intelligence that the ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 57 murderers were traced to Couestoga. Kifles were loaded, horses were in readiness. They mounted ; they called on their pastor to lead them. He was then in the fifty-seventh year of his age. Had you seen him then you would have beheld a superior being. He had mounted, not to lead them on to the destruction of Con- estoga, but to deter them from the attempt. He implored them to return ; he urged them to reflect ; ' pause, pause, before you proceed.' It was in vain ; ' the blood of the murdered cries aloud for vengeance ; we have waited long enough on Govern- ment ; the murderers are within our reach, and they must not escape.' Col. Elder reminded them that ' the guilty and inno- cent cannot be distinguished.' ' Innocent ! can they be called innocent who foster murderers ?' Mr. Elder rode up in front, and said, ' As your pastor, I command you to relinquish your design.' ' Give way then,' said one Smith, ' or your horse dies,' presenting his rifle. To save his horse, to which he was much attached, Mr. E. drew him aside, and the Rangers were ofl" on their fatal errand." SMITH'S NARRATIVE OF THE MASSACRE. A Mr. Smith, one of the " Paxton Boys," thus narrated the particulars of the massacre : " I was an early settler in Paxton, a member of the congre- gation of the Rev. Mr. Elder. I was one of the chief actors in the destruction of Conestoga, and in storming the workhouse at Lancaster. I have been stigmatized as a murderer. No man, unless he were living at that time in Paxton, could have an idea of the sufierings and anxieties of the people. For years the Indians had been on the most friendly terms ; but some of the traders had been bought by the French ; these corrupted the Indians. The savages unexpectedly destroyed our dwell- ings and murdered the unsuspicious. When we visited the wigwams in the neighborhood, we found the Indians occupied 8 68 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. in harmless sports or domestic work. There appeared no evi- dence that they were in any way instrumental in the bloody acts perpetrated on the frontiers. Well do I remember the evening when — ■■ — — stopt at my door; judge my surprise when I heard his tale : ' Four followed the Indians to the Big Island ; from thence they went to Con- estoga; five of us, , , , , , rode off for the village. I left my horse under their care, and cautiously crawled where I could get a view. I saw Indians arrived; they were strangers ; they outnumbered us by dozens. I returned without being discovered. "We meet to-night at ; we shall expect you with knife, gun and ammunition.' We met, and our party, under cover of night, rode off for Conestoga. Our plan was well laid ; the scout who had traced the Indians was with us ; the village was stormed and reduced to ashes. The moment we were perceived an Indian fii'ed at us, and rushed forward, brandishing his tomahawk. Tom cried, 'mark him,' and he fell pierced by more than one ball — ran up and cried out, ' it is the villain who murdered my mother.' This speech roused to vengeance, and Conestoga lay harmless before us. Our worst fears had been realized ; these Indians, who had been housed and fed as the pels of the Province, were now proved to be our secret foes ; necessity compelled us to do as we did. We mounted our horses and returned. Soon we were in- formed that a number of Indians were in the work-house at Lancaster. was sent to Lancaster to get all the news he could. He reported that one of the Indians concerned in recent murders was there in safety; also, that they talked of re- building Conestoga, and placing these Indians in the new build- ings. A few of us met to deliberate. Stewart proposed to go to Lancaster, storm their castle, and carry off the assassin ; it was agreed to ; the whole plan was arranged. Our clergyman did ANNALS OP HARRISBUUG. 59 not approve of our proceeding further. He thought everything was accomplished by the destruction of Conestoga, and advised us to try what we could do with the Governor and Council. I, with the rest, was opposed to the measure proposed by our good pastor. It was painful for us to act in opposition to his will, but the Indian in Lancaster was known to have murdered the parent of — , one of our party. The plan was made. Three were chosen to break in the doors, five to keep the keepers, &c., from meddling; Captain Stewart to remain outside, with about twelve men, to protect those within, to prevent surprise, and keep charge of the horses. The three were to secure the Indian, tie him with strong cords, and deliver him to Stewart. If the three were resisted, a shot was to be fired as a signal. I was one of them who entered ; you know the rest : we fired ; the Indians were left without life, and we rode hastily from Lancaster. Two of the Indians killed at Lancaster were recognized as murderers. This gave quiet to the frontiers, for no murder of our de- fenceless inhabitants has since happened." Mr. Smith, the above narrator, after the Revolution, went to Milton, Northumberland county; his son, Wilson Smith, re- moved to Erie, and represented that district in the Senate of Pennsylvania in 1812-13. Stewart, soon after the massacre, joined the Connecticut men, and became very conspicuous in the civil wars of Wyoming. He was once taken prisoner there, and delivered to the Sheriff of York county ; but his rangers rescued him, and he suddenly appeared with them again at Yfyoming. He was slain there during the Revolution, in the disastrous battle of the 8d July, 1778. A proclamation was issued by the Governor, expressing the strongest indignation at the outrages at Conestoga and Lancas- ter, and offering a reward for the arrest of the perpetrators; but such was the state of public opinion in the interior counties 60 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. that no one dared to bring the offenders to justice, altliougli tliey mingled openly among tlieir fellow-citizens. PAXTON DURING THE EEVOLUTION. Tradition and the records bear ample testimony that the first settlers of Paxton were not wanting in patriotism. At the first sound of alarm, these heroic farmers flocked eagerly around the standard of their country, and their blood was shed on many battle-fields of the Revolution. JOHN HARRIS FURNISHES SUPPLIES. "When Independence was first agitated, John Harris thought the declaration premature. He feared the Colonies were une- qual to the task of combatting with Great Britain ; but when Independence was declared, he at once espoused the popular cause. Upon this occasion it is stated that he took his mother aside, and in the presence of one of his sons, read to her the Declaration of Independence from a Philadelphia paper. When he concluded it, he observed that ' the act was now done,' and that 'we must take sides either for or against the country. The war in which we are about to engage cannot be carried on with- out money. Now we have £3,000 in the house, and if you are agreed, I will take the money to Philadelphia, and put it into the public treastiry, to carry on the war. If we succeed in ob- taining our independence we may lose the money, as the Gov- ernment may not be able to pay it back, but we will get our land.' His mother agreed to this proposition, and he carried the money to Philadelphia, where he deposited it in the Trea- sury, and took certificates. After the war, he sold these for 17s. 6d. in the pound. After the debt was funded, certificates rose to twenty-five shillings for the pound." — G. W. Harris, Esq. ANNALS OP HARRISBTJRG. 61 Three of Mr. Harris' sons, David, Willian84,and John, were officers in the Revolutionary Army— the former a Colonel, and the two latter Captains. CITIZENS OF PAXTON AND DERRY OFFER TPIEIR SERVICES. Eev. John Elder wrote as follows to the '' Committee of Safe- ty,'' at Philadelphia : " Paxton, 21st February, 1776. " Gentlemen : If offers for the several companies allowed to complete the Battallion to be raised now in this Province are not yet appointed, I would beg leave to recommend Mr. Wm. Bell for a Captaincy, or a First Lieutenancy; he is a young gentleman of good character, and well esteemed in this part of the country, and from his influence and agreeable disposition can, I think, in a short time engage a number of stout young men, farmers' sons, well affected to the American cause, and who may be expected to serve from principle and a due regard to liberty, but who will not enlist under officers they are unac- quainted with. I am, gentlemen, your humble serv't, JOHN ELDER." Hon. Valentine Hummel, Sr., of Harrisburg, has in his pos- session, carefully preserved in a frame and glass, a manuscript containing the original agreement of certain settlers residing in Derry township, to serve in the battalion commanded by James Burd. The first name attached to it is that of Judge Hum- mel's father, then a very young man. The docuinent reads as follows : '■'■July 2bth, 1776. — This is to certify that we, the Associates of Derry Township, in Lancaster County, Province of Penn- sylvania, in the fourth Battalion, commanded by James Burd, Colonel, do bind ourselves in all the rules and regulations made 62 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. by the Honorable Congress in convention, for the militia of this Province." The following is of the same date, and written immediately under, in G-erman, and then the names are attached : a Derry Toionship, July 25, 1776. — We, the undersigned' are willing to serve in the fourth Battalion, commanded by Col. James Burd, agreeably to order of Congress, and agree to serve until the first day of November, 1776, in the land service of the country, in favor of the flag of Liberty. Frederick Hummel, Alexander Montgomery, David Hum- mel, Philip ]?lessing, Philip Fishburn, Henry Miller, Nicholas Zimmerman, Samuel Ramsey, Peter Grove, Mathias Hoover, John M'Farlane, George Lower, Thos. Roulin." HARRIS LOOKS AFTER THE RESOURCES OF THE COUNTRY. On the 20th of March, 1776, John Harris wrote to the Com- mittee of Safety, informing that body that " a large quantity of pitch and tar may be made up the Susquehanna, Juniata, &c , which, if wanted for the public use, may be brought down the river in boats to Middletown, and from thence to Philadelphia." He also states that " there are some good four-pounder cannons at Sunbury, cannon balls, swivels, &c." JOHN HARRIS TO PRESIDENT WHARTON ON THE STATE OF AFFAIRS. " Paxton, January 29, 1778. Sir, : The bearer. Col. Wm. M'Eleary, is an honest man, and a true friend to the glorious cause of liberty, going down for aid to defend our frontiers against the encroachments of the savages. I am of opinion that the Indians will take an active part next spring (for or against us,) as their young men don't understand ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 63 acting as neutrals in time of war j and unless tliey, tlie western Indians, delivers up hostiges to the United States immediately, or sends a number of their warriors to our camp to join us, we may depend upon an Indian war taking place against us, and ought to prepare for it as well as our present circumstances will admit. A defensive war against savages will never do the need- ful. However prudent and necessary it may be to grant assistance to several parts of the frontiers, &c., at particular times, and when we are assured that a general Indian war will take place, we must attack them in their own country at all hazards. If a French war takes place, I hope we may be eased of an Indian war, which will be a great mercy. I make free to give your honor my sentiments of the times, and conclude Your Honor's humble servant, JOHN HARRIS. Hon, Thos. Wuakton." JOHN HARRIS OFFERS HIS SERVICES TO TRANSPORT SUP- PLIES. The situation of the people of Northumberland county, in the spring of 1778, was imminently critical. A large party of In- dians, Tories and English had entered the county and com- menced a war of extermination upon the settlers, who, being w^ithout the means of defence, fell an easy prey to the enemy. It was to furnish supplies to these settlers that prompted Mr. Harris to write the following letter to the Vice President of the Executive Council : " Paxton, June 3d, 1778. Sir : I have received several letters from Col. Hunter lately, mentioning the distressed situation of Northumberland county, &c. It appears absolutely necessary that some person should receive, store, provide, and forward any stores the public may order up the Susquehanna, Juniata, &c., during the present In- 64 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. dian war. A quantity of flour is wanted ; not a cask or bag to put it in. The inhabitants are leaving said county in great numbers. I pity my bleeding country, and am willing to assist the supplying the county of Northumberland by any means in my power, or forward any article up the different branches of this river from time to time, I am as good a judge of the navi- gation, in either boat or canoe, on our river as can be found. I expect to send up a quantity of stores to the lead mines, up Juniata, at Water Street, as soon as I receive a letter from Mr. Koberdeau, which I hourly expect. The present flood, to con- vey by water, should not be lost, as perhaps no other may hap- pen till next fall. The Quartermaster can furnish provisions for boatmen or any necessary escorts, &c. If the inhabitants in their fright are suffered to move off as they are doing, and as- sistance not soon sent up, the crops will be lost in many frontier places, that may be saved by their getting timely aid from the public. A quantity of arms, some powder and lead, is here for Northumberland county, which I expect will be forwarded to- morrow. There's two good store-houses at my dwelling planta- tion, exclusive of a cellar fifty feet by forty, under my dwelling- house, so that there's plenty of store room for the public use if wanted. There's a great concourse of public wagons, &c., with stores, on the Reading road, too few flats at the Ferry here, and what there is will not be properly attended, that the public may suffer for want of a few men employed by the public (to assist in my opinion.) I have rented my Tavern, Ferry, &c., and am at leisure to assist the transporting stores, &c., up the Susque- hanna as offered, if proper instructions are sent me. You'll please write to me by bearer, Mr. Whitsell, if you judge necessary. I am, sir, with the greatest esteem. Your most obed't and most humble serv't, JOHN HARRIS. Hon. George Betan. P. S. Excuse haste and blunders. J. H." ANNALS OF HAREISBURG. 65 WYOMING REFUGEES SEEK PROTECTION AT HARRIS' FERRY. In July, 1778; a large number of the survivors of the Wy- oming massacre arrived at Harris' Ferry in boats and flats to seek protection from the enemy. The following letter from Col. Matthew Smith alludes to this circumstance as follows : " Paxtang, July 12, 10 o'clock, 1778. " Sir : I am this moment arrived at Harris' Ferry, and just now behold the greatest scene of distress I ever saw ; the nu- merous poor ran away from their habitations, and left their all, and several families lost, part killed and scalped on their retreat ; the most cruel butcheries ever known are practiced : wounded and others thrown into fires while yet living. The inhabitants, however, are much distressed; the Wyoming people are un- doubtedly, by last accounts, entirely defeated. Northumberland county is evacuated. Not more than one hundred men with Col. Hunter at Sunbury; the Blue Mountain [five miles above Harrisburg] is now the frontier; and I am afraid Lancaster county will shortly follow the example of the other county. The stores at Carlisle are something very considerable. I doubt not their object is to destroy that place. I am informed there is not that care taken that should be. I think it would be necessary to appoint some careful ofiicer at that place, that would do the duty more punctually. This party is large, having Col. Butler at their head, one hun- dred regular troops at first ; about the same number of Tories, but is increased in two or three times that number; seven hun- dred Indians, all around in a most formidable manner, every one of them, exclusive of guns and tomahawks, as usual, each one has a large spontoon, and as soon as engaged, rushes on in a most dreadful manner. It is said they have field pieces, or swivels, and a number of light horse. It is the earnest request of all friends of their country, as well 9 66 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. as your humble servant, that something shall he done in the greatest haste. Be pleased to send an order for what arms are ready at Lancaster and Ilummelstown, also for ammunition, and I shall exert every nerve in forwarding matters to the spot the men shall collect. I am yours, &c., MATHEW SMITH." Mrs. Elizabeth Brooks, still living in York county, a grand- mother of the publisher of the " Annals," was one of the Wy- oming settlers who sought protection at Harris' Ferry upon this occasion. HARRIS' FERRY A SUPPLY DEPOT FOR THE ARMY. It would seem that Harris' Ferry was a depot for army sup- plies during the Kevolution. Col. Hartley wrote to President Reed, May 11, 1779, that " the Commissary in this county (York) had exerted himself very much in procuring provisions for the troops on the Susquehanna. The expedition on these waters must greatly depend upon the supplies from hence ; but unfortunately no wagons can be provided in the ordinary course to transport the flour to Harris' Ferry, where the boats are to receive the same." Middletown, in this county, is also noticed in the Colonial Records as being a supply depot for the army. COL. SMITH PROPOSES RELIEF TO THE SETTLERS IN NORTH- UMBERLAND COUNTY. The earnest appeal of the struggling settlers of Northumber- land county for succor, was quickly responded to by the Pax- tonians, as will be seen by the following letter from Col Smith : " Paxtang, July 31, 1779. " Sir : I take the opportunity of conveying a few lines by the bearer, John Gilchrist, Esq., (a member of the House of ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 67 Assembly,) who, I think, was pitched upon, thinking he might have more influence with Council than another that might as quickly deliver the dispatches. For my part, I think the dis- tresses of the Northumberland county people equal, if not supe- rior, to anything that have happened to any part of the continent since the commencement of the present war. You will see the late accounts, in some measure, by the letters enclosed by Mr. M'Clay [Maclay?]; I believe only in some measure, as the ac- counts is almost every minute arriving by people who have es- caped the enemy, that, if true, are indeed truly alarming. The accounts this moment is, the town of Northumberland is evacu- ated ; if so, then Sunbury will soon follow the example, and the same frontier will be where it was twenly years past. This day the township of Pastang met to appoint a committee to act in conjunction with other parts of the State, to fix and lower the prices. As soon as the letters came to hand, Messrs. Elder, M'- Clay and myself attended, had the whole matter laid before the people, that was no inconsiderable number, and proposed a scheme for volunteers to turn out immediately for the relief of the dis- tressed people. We have fixed Sunday morning, at 8 o'clock, to march, when I doubt not at least fifty men will go that way, as the distress was so great. Everything has been done to en- courage, hut no promise of reward ah&olutely given. I know the difficulty of getting the militia out; this method in the meantime, in hopes to stop the progress of the enemy, if the volunteers can be allowed wages, or even their expenses, it will be acceptable if it cannot be done. A few lines from your Ex- cellency, or from your Excellency and Council, will be truly ac- ceptable to me, and I will make the best use of it in my power, as I assure you I have made every proposal in my power, and perhaps more ; but as the greater number now going from this batallion is officers, I hope to make the matter more easy than if they were generally privates. If you write by the bearer 68 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. direct to NortliumlDerlaiid county, as I will be there two or three weeks from this date, if the country is not entirely broken up. Your humble servant, MATT. SMITH. His Excellency Joseph Reed." THE PAXTONIANS AFTER THE ENEMY. Col. Smith again wrote to President Keed, on the 3d of Au- gust, 1779, informing him that he " had arrived at Sunbury with sixty Paxtang boys," and that " the neighboring townships turns out a number of volunteers. Cumberland county will give a considerable assistance; to-morrow at 12 o'clock is fixed for the time of march ;" that " provisions is scarce," but that '' they will follow the savages and hope to come at them, and if they do will give a good account." THE ICE AND PUMPKIN FLOODS. "The ice flood happened in the winter of 1784-85, and the pumpkin flood in the fall of 1787. During the ice flood, the low ground about Harris' graveyard was covered with water, and the ferry flats were tied to the bars of the cellar windows of the stone house (now Pennsylvania Female College.) On that occa- sion the water rose into the first story of Judge Carson's house, above Harrisburg, and a considerable part of the river ran around that house and down Paxton creek. The fences on its route were generally carried away. During the pumpkin flood, the ground about the graveyard was also covered with water, and the pumpkins, carried ofi" chiefly from the Yankees in Wyoming valley, were strewed in profusion over the low ground below Harrisburg." — Preface to Napey's Harrisburg Directory. It is evident, by the extracts appended below, that the dates given in the above statement are inaccurate. The ice flood above alluded to is thus described by the celebrated Dr. Benja- ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 69 min Rushj in a letter to tlie editor of the Columbian Magazine for November, 1786 : " The winter of 1783-84 was uncommonly cold, insomuch that the mercury in Farenheit's thermometer stood several times at 5'-'' below 0. The snows were frequent, and in many places from two to three feet deep during the greatest part of the win- ter. All the rivers in Pennsylvania were frozen so as to bear wagons and sleds with immense weights. In the month of Jan- uary a thaw came on suddenly, which opened our rivers so as to set the ice a-driving, to use the phrase of the country. In the course of one night during the thaw, the wind shifted suddenly to the north-west, and the weather became intensely cold. The ice, which had floated the day before, was suddenly obstructed ; and in the rirer Susquehanna the obstructions were formed in those places where the water was most shallow, or where it had been accustomed to fall. This river is several hundred miles in length, and from half a mile to a mile and a half in breadth, and winds through a hilly, and in many places a fertile and highly cultivated country. It has as yet a most difficult com- munication with our bays and the sea, occasioned by the num- ber and height of th^ falls which occur near the mouth of the river. The ice in many places, especially where there were falls, formed a kind of dam of a most stupendous height. About the middle of March our weather moderated, and a thaw became general. The effects of it v/ere remarkable in all our rivers, but in none so much as in the river I have mentioned. I shall there- fore endeavor, in a few words, to describe them. Unfortunately the dams of ice did not give way all at once, nor those which lay nearest to the mouth of the river first. While the upper dams were set afloat by the warm weather, the lower ones, which were the largest, and in which, of course, the ice was most im- pacted, remained fixed. In consequence of this the river rose in a few hours, in many places, above thirty feet, rolling upon its surface large lumps of ice from ten to forty cubic feet in size. 70 ANNALS OP HARRISBURQ. The effects of this sudden inundation were terrible. Whole farms were laid under water. Barns, stables, horses, cattle, fences, mills of every kind, and in one instance a large stone house, forty by thirty feet, were carried down the stream. Large trees were torn up by the roots, several small islands covered with woods were swept away, and not a vestige of them was left behind. On the barns which preserved their shape, in some instances, for many miles were to be seen living fowls; and in one dwelling a candle was seen to burn for some time after it was swept from its foundation. Where the shore was level, the lumps of ice and the ruins of houses and farms were thrown a quarter of a mile from the ordinary height of the river. In some instances farms were ruined by the mould being swept from them by the cakes of ice, or by depositions of sand ; while others were enriched by large depositions of mud. The damage, upon the whole, done to the State of Pennsylvania by this fresh, was very great. In most places it happened in the daytime, or the consequences must have been fatal to many thousands." A writer in Hazzard's Ilegister for 1832, who claimed to be in possession of a record of all the great floods that occurred in the Susquehanna since 1744, says : " The first regular flood on record is that of 1744 ; the second occurred in 1758 ; the third in 1772; the fourth in March, 1784; the fifth, known as the ^ great pumpkin fresh,' happened in September, 1786 ; the sixth in the spring of 1800 ; the sev- enth in August, 1814; and the eighth in August, 1817." ERECTION OF DAUPHIN COUNTY, AND HARRIS' FERRY MADE THE SEAT OF JUSTICE. Dauphin county, named in honor of a son of Louis XVI., was created out of a part of Lancaster county, and Harris' Ferry made the seat of justice thereof, by an act of Assembly dated March 4, 1785. The act is entitled " An act for erecting part of the county of Lancaster into a separate county." The first, ANNALS OP HARRISBURa. 71 second, tliird, fourth, fifth and sixth sections provides for the name and boundaries of the county. The seventh section directs the Court to sit for the said county of Dauphin near Harris' Ferry, in the months of February, May, August and November, yearly, for the dispatch of the public business of said county. The eighth section provides that it shall and may be lawful to and for Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden, and William Brown, of Paxton, or any three of them, to take assevrance to them and their heirs of such lot or piece of ground as shall be laid out and approved of by the said com- missioners, or any three of them, for the erecting a court-house and gaol thereupon, in trust and for the use of the inhabitants of the said county of Dauphin, and thereupon to erect a court- house and prison sufficient to accommodate the public service of the said county. The ninth section gives the commissioners power to assess and levy taxes for building the same. The tenth section provides that the sum of money so raised shall not exceed £1500. HARRIS PROPOSES TO LAY OUT A TOWN AT HIS FERRY. Previous to the passage of the above act, Mr. Harris had made the following proposals to the General Assembly, which, perhaps, influenced that body to select Harris' Ferry as the seat of justice for the new county : " Philadelphia, March 3, 1784. Proposals of John Harris for the laying out of a Town on Ms Land, on the River Susquehannah. That the said John Harris will immediately (if encouraged by Government) lay out a Town of Two hundred lots, on the high grounds above his present dwelling house, the lots of about 72 ANNALS OP HAREISBURG. the Quantity of a Quarter of an acre each, in sucli form, witli respect to streets, lanes and alleys, as the Commissioners may approve, a large street to be left for Publick landings along the Eiver side. That the said John Harris agrees that the Honor- able Assembly of this Commonwealth shall appoint Commission- ers to value his said lots, after reserving Twenty Lots for his own use : That the s'd John Harris will convey all the streets, lanes and alleys, to the inhabitants of s'd Town, & will convey to proper Commissioners a lot for a Court House & Jail, and a square of Four Acres to the State of Pensilvania, for such pur- poses as the Government may apply the same : the applyers to have it at their choice to take the lots on a reasonable Ground- rent, or to purchase the fee simple of the same : The Commis- sioners in both cases to be Judges : That as soon as the s'd Two Hundred lots are built on or disposed of, should there be a fur- ther demand for lots, the s'd John Harris engages, that the Publick shall be accommodated at a reasonable rate. JOHN HARRIS." THE TOWN LAID OUT— DEED OF CONVEYANCE TO THE COMMISSIONERS. The town proposed by Harris was laid out in the spring of 1785, by William Maclay, who was a son-in-law of Mr. Harris. Mr. M. also made the draft of the town, and drew up the fol- lowing conveyances from John Harris to the commissioners : ''July 6th, 1785. * * * u ]5y virtue of which said several grants, devices and conveyances the title to the land on which the town of Har- risburg in the county of Dauphin is situated is legally vested in the said John Harris his heirs and assigns; And whereas in and by a certain bond or obligation duly executed by the said John Harris to the State of Pennsylvania for the sum of five thousand pounds lawful monies of the same State bearing date ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 73 the 4:ih day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five conditioned for the faithful per- formance of all and singular the agreements promises engage- ments, articles matters and things which he had therein under- taken to do and perform, among other things did covenant to, and with Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden and William Brown as follows : Whereas the Repre- sentatives of the freemen of the said Commonwealth in General Assembly met, in and by a certain bill before them now de- pending have resolved to erect part of the county of Lancaster into a separate county to be known and called by the name of the county of Dauphin, and that the seat of Justice in the said county of Dauphin shall be fixed at or near the place of the said John Harris' residence, and that Joshua Elder, Jacob Awl, Andrew Stewart, Wm. Brown and Jas. Cowden or any three of them shall be commissioners for certain purposes, in the said bill mentioned ; And Whereas the said John Harris in order to promote the good intentions of the said General As- sembly in fixing the seat of Justice at the said place, to enable the said commissioners to regulate the laying out a county town there to public advantage, and to promote the more speedy set- tlement thereof by a liberal encouragement to purchasers hath promised, covenanted, and agreed to and with the said commis- sioners, that as soon as the said bill shall be passed into a law he, the said John Harris will without delay lay out two hundred lots containing about one quarter acre each on the high grounds near his present dwelling house on the bank of the river Susque- hanna as a site for the said county town, and that with the same lots shall be laid out such streets, lanes and alleys as the said commissioners or a majority of them shall direct, which streets shall be confirmed for public use forever ; and that he will also lay out a large street along the river for public landing places ; And "Whereas the said John Harris in consideration of the 10 74 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. promises and other good causes hath also promised covenanted and agreed to and with the said intended commissioners that in case the said bill shall be passed into a law he will upon request convey to the said commissioners, or any three of them and their heirs a good and sufficient lot of ground for erecting a Court House and goal thereon in trust for the use of the inhab- itants of the said county of Dauphin/' [Here follows a quota- tion from the act erecting the new county.] '' Now this inden- ture witnesseth that in consideration of the premises and for and in consideration of the sum of five shillings lawful money of Pennsylvania to them the said John Harris and Mary his wife in hand paid by the said Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, An- drew Stewart, James Cowden and William Brown at and before the ensealing and delivery of these presents the receipt of which sum of five shillings they the said John Harris and Mary his wife do hereby acknowledge, and thereof, and every thereof do acquit release the said Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stew- art, James Cowden and Wm. Brown their and each of their heirs executors administrators and assigns, and every of them have granted bargained sold released enfeoffed and confirmed and by these presents do grant bargain, sell allien, release enfcof and confirm unto the said Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden and Wm. Brown their heirs and as- signs all the streets, lanes alleys or highways as laid out by the commissioners of, in, and for the town of Harrisburg aforesaid in the county of Dauphin the butts, boundaries, courses, dis- tances length and breadth thereof are as follows :" [Front, Pax- ton, Second, Market, Third, Pine, Locust, Walnut, Chestnut, and Mulberry streets. River, Easpberry, Barbara, Cranberry, Strawberry, Blackberry and Cherry alleys are here described] ; "And in consideration of the further sum of five shillings law- ful money aforesaid to them the said John Harris and Mary his wife in hand well and truly paid by the said Jacob Awl, And. ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 75 Stewart, Joshua Elder, James Cowden and Wm. Brown the receipt thereof is hereby acknowledged and thereof and every part thereof the said Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stew- art, James Cowden and Wm. Brown, their and each of their heirs are fully acquitted and forever discharged, have granted, bargained, sold released alliened enfeoffed and confirmed, and by these presents do grant bargain, sell allien release, enfeoff and confirm unto them the said Jacob Awl Joshua Elder Andrew Stewart Jas. Cowden and Wm. Brown, their heirs and assigns four certain lots of ground in the aforesaid town of Harrisburg, marked on the general plan of said town Nos. 120, 121, 142, 143, situated and bounded as follows : Beginning at a corner where Rasberry alley intersects Market street, thence along the line of Market street to the line that divides lots No. 141 and 142 ; thence on the same division line crossing Strawberry alley to Walnut street ; thence oa the line of Walnut street to Rasberry alley ; thence down the line of said alley to the place of beginning." CONVEYANCE OF THE FERRY LOT. On the 6th of July, 1785, " in consideration of the sum of five sbillings," John and Mary Harris also conveyed to Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden and Wm. Brown, in trust for the use of the public, " a certain lot of ground in the town of Harrisburg, called and known as the ' Ferry Lot,' beginning at a post marked for a corner on the line of Front street, thence north 37 degrees east 10 perches, to a corner; thence 53 degrees west 4 perches to a corner; thence south 37 degrees west 10 perches to the place of beginning, containing one quarter of an acre, together with all and singu- lar the rights, liberties, privileges, hereditaments and appurte- nances whatsoever thereunto belonging." 76 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. THE FUTURE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA PREDICTED. Impressed with, a strong faitli that this point on the Susque- hanna would be looked to, if not as a great commercial point, at least one possessing advantages from its central position, and at that early day presenting itself as the great crossing for the growing trade of the western and northern settlements, Mr. Har- ris is said to have observed to a gentleman, Mr. HoUenback, who afterwards settled at Wilkesbarre, that this place would he- come the seat of government of Pennsylvania ; and so strongly persuaded was he of the realization of his prophecy, that by deed dated July 6, 1785, he gave in trust to the commissioners, for the use of the Commonwealth, in case the seat of government should be fixed at Harrisburg, four acres and twenty-one perches of land, being the present site of the State Arsenal. The following is an extract from the deed conveying the same. It is recorded in book A, Recorder's Office : " In consideration of the sum of five shillings, grant, bargain, sell, release and enfeoif, and confirm unto Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden, and William Brown, their heirs and assigns, in trust for public use, and such pur- poses as the Legislature shall hereafter direct, a certain lot or piece of ground, situated in the said town of Harrisburg, in the said county of Dauphin, marked on the general plan of the said town " Public Ground," situated and bounded as follows : Be- ginning at a post marked for a corner on the lines of Third and Walnut streets; thence along the said Walnut street, north thirty-seven degrees east seventeen perches and a quarter to a post marked for a corner ; thence north thirty-five degrees west thirty-one perches to a black oak ; thence south fifty-seven de- grees west twenty-three perches to a post marked for a corner on the line of Third street ; thence down the said street, south ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 77 forty-five degrees east thirty-seven perches to the place of be- o-innino;." The late Thomas P. Cope, of Philadelphia, informed George W. Harris, Esq., in 1846, that he was at the house of John Harris, on the present site of Harrisburg, he thinks, about the year 1785. He ate breakfast with Mr. Harris, who expressed ,to him the opinion that the place (Harrisburg) would become the seat of government of Pennsylvania, and he pointed out the public hill as the spot where the public buildings would be erected. ATTEMPT TO FIX THE FEDERAL SEAT OF GOVERNMENT AT OR NEAR HARRISBURG. The question of fixing, permanently, the seat of the Federal Government, began to occupy public attention shortly after the close of the Revolutionary War ; and was strongly agitated in the Congress of 1789, then in session at New York. The question was first submitted to the House of Represent- atives of that body in the shape of the following resolution, which, with the subsequent information, the compiler gleans from the " Pennsylvania Packet,'' published at Philadelphia, in the year above stated : "Resolved, That a permanent seat for the government of the United States ought to be fixed as near the centre of wealth, population and extent of territory as shall be consistent with the convenience of the Atlantic navigation, having also a due regard to the circumstances of the western country." Adopted. Mr. Goodhue observed that the members from the Eastern and Northern States had contemplated the subject of a perma- nent seat of the Federal Government with deliberation. They had turned their eyes to difi"erent parts of the country, and had at last, after a mutual and full consultation, came to an agree- 78 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. ment that the banks of the Susquehanna was as far South and as near the centre of the population and extent of territory as was consistent with other circumstances important to the coun- try. They felt disposed to be governed by principles of accom- modation, and were of opinion that the banks of the Susque- hanna ought to be chosen for the permanent residence of Con- gress. He concluded by reading a resolution to this effect, Mr. Hartley supported the resolution, and pointed out Wright's Ferry as an eligible place. Mr. Lee moved to amend, by fixing the seat of government on the Potomac instead of the Susquehanna. Not agreed to — yeas 20, nays 31. Mr. Madison proposed to amend, by leaving it discretional to be either on the Potomac or the Susquehanna. Not agreed to — yeas 20, nays 81. On a subsequent day, the House of Representatives, in com- mittee of the whole, proceeded to consider the resolution of Mr. Groodhue, which read as follows : ^'Resolved, In the opinion of this committee, that the per- manent seat of government of the United States ought to be at some convenient place on the east bank of the Susquehanna river, in the State of Pennsylvania," &c. Mr. Heister moved to insert after the words '' Susquehanna river," the words ''heiioeen Ilairisburg and Middletoion, in- clusive." A lengthy and spirited debate occurred, participated in by nearly all the principal members of the House ; those from the Northern and Eastern States generally favoring the amendment, and those from the South opposing it The amendment was finally lost, Several other amendments were proposed and lost; and the original resolution was carried. In Committee of the Whole House next day, it was resolved ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 79 tliat the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to borrow the sum of $100,000, to be repaid in twenty years, with five per cent, interest, for the purpose of erecting the necessary build- ings on the bank of the Susquehanna. Mr. Fitzsimmons moved for the " appointment of commis- sioners to examine and report upon the most eligible situation for the public buildings on the Susquehanna; and that they be authorized, by and with the advice of the President^ to purchase such quantity of lands as may be thought necessary," &c. Mr. Hartley said the State of Pennsylvania, both by its con- vention and Legislature, had made the cession of the jurisdic- tion by Congress over any district of ten miles square in the State that might be selected for the seat of government. The resolution of Mr. Fitzsimmons, after being so amended as to make the acts of the commissioners subject to the approval or rejection by the President, was adopted — yeas 28, nays 21. The resolution went to the Senate, which body struck out all relating to the Susquehanna, and inserted a clause fixing the permanent seat of government at Germantown, Pa. The House at first agreed to the clause, but refused to concur with some subsequent action of the Senate thereon ; and pend- ing the further consideration of the subject, Congress adjourned suie die for that year. At the session of 1790, the question was again brought before Congress, and created an intense excitement throughout the country. The Northern and Eastern members were strenuous in their efforts to prevent the seat of government being located south of the Susquehanna river; while, on the other hand, the Southern and Western members were just as active in their labors to prevent it being located on the Susquehanna, or at any point north or east of that river. The vote on the question was divided equally. Finally, this sectional feeling became so strong as to endanger the safety of the Union itself, and Washington, Jefferson, Ham- 80 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. ilton, and other patriots; earnestly sougtt to effect a compromise, but were unsuccessful. At last, by changing the votes of one or two of the Northern members, brought about through the instrumentality of Mr. Jefferson, a bill, pretty much in the shape of that proposed at the previous session, passed Congress, fixing the site of the seat of government on the banks of the Potomac, at such place as should be selected by commissioners under the direction of the President. APPEARANCE OF THE TOWN WHEN FIRST LAID OUT— INCI- DENTS. The following incidents originally appeared in Napey's Direc- tory, and were written by George W. Harris, Esq. : '' When the town was first laid out, the old orchard [belong- ing to the mansion house, now the Pennsylvania Female Col lege] extended up to about the line of Mulberry street. About the intersection of Mulberry street with Second street, was a ridge from which the ground descended from six to ten feet to the present Market Square, [the ground in and about which was of a swampy character,] and the water ran from the Square up- wards and into the river, along the channel which is under the bridge now erected across Front street, above Walnut. At this time the ground above Market street was chiefly in woods. " Mr. Robert Harris, who died in the year 1851, frequently saw several bears killed in the river in one day. In the fall of the year they would come down from the mountains to the corn- fields, and were quite abundant in the neighborhood It was quite common to see them while riding along the roads. The farmers, when going out to plough, would frequently take their guns to guard against their depredations. On one occasion, Mr. Robert Harris, with his sister, Mrs. Hanna, were playing at the river near the mouth of the run at the end of Walnut street. ANISTALS OP HARRISBURG. 81 A thicket of bushes extended up along the run. Some boys came running from a barn on the bank, and told them that two bears were coming down the run. They scampered up the bank, when presently the bears came along and took into the river. " On another occasion a man named Rennox, with some oth- ers, went in pursuit of a bear. When the canoe appi'oached near to it, Eennox made a stroke at the bear with his socket pole, but missed it. He either lost his balance or was drawn overboard by the weight of the pole, and the bear struck him with his paw and tore his cheek open. " Wild turkies were also abundant here at this period. John Harris shot wild turkies from the door of his store house. Bea- ver and otter were then and afterwards killed along Paxton creek, and on the islands in the neighborhood. '' The town, as laid out by John Harris, extended as far down the bank as Mulberry street, and the lot now occupied by the ' Swan House,' corner of Front and Mulberry streets, owned by the heirs of Valentine Egle, was No. 1 on the plan of the town. In the course of a few years afterwards he extended the plan down to Mary's alley, which bounds the stone-house lot on the upper side. His executors, in 1792, extended the plan of lots further down. " There is no house, except the building now occupied by the Female College, on Front street, yet standing within the limits of Harrisburg, which is certainly known to have been erected before the town was laid out. " John Hamilton erected the first permanent embellishment to the town, after Harris' stone house, by building a brick house at the upper corner of Front street and Blackberry alley, and the large establishment for his store on the corner of Market square and Market street, which was known a few years ago as the ' Washington House,' but since replaced by a new structure, termed the 'Jones House.' Mr, Hamilton carried 11 82 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. on an extensive trade with, the Western settlers. In place of the present rapid mode of conveying merchandise and passen- gers to Pittsburg, he kept large numbers of horses and mules, and every few weeks his caravans set out ' for the West,' la- dened with salt, powder, lead, &c. " The first clergyman established in the town was Rev. Mr. Montgomery, a Presbyterian. His first discourse, it is said, was delivered in the lot where recently stood the ruins of the Pres- byterian Church, on a pleasant afternoon in the month of June. The congregation — the entire village — were sheltered by two or three large apple trees and some noble oaks, the primitive growth of the forest. "Chief Justice M'Kean resided here for some time, at least when Congress sat at York. He lived in a substantial one story log house, a short distance above what is now Locust street. He wore an immense cocked hat, and had great deference shown him by the country people and the straggling Indians, who had their village a short distance from the town. When he and the other Judges of the Supreme Court came to the town to hold court, numbers of the citizens would go out on horseback to meet them and escort them to town. Sometimes one or two hundred people would attend on this occasion. And each morn- ing while the Chief Justice was in town holding court, the sheriff" and constables escorted him from his lodgings to the court room. When on the Bench, he sat with his cocked hat on, and was dressed in a scarlet gown." FIRST COURT AT HARRIS' FERRY. The first courts in Dauphin county were held by Justices of the Peace, and the earliest record of a court reads : *'At a Court of Quarter Sessions holden near Harris' Ferry, in and for the county of Dauphin, &c.," on the " third Tuesday ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 83 of May, in the year of our Lord 1785/' before "Timotliy Green, Samuel Jones and Jonathan M'Clure, Esqrs., Justices of the same court.'' The sheriff of Lancaster county exercised the same office in Dauphin county. The names of the Jurymen were : -James Cowden (foreman), Kobert Montgomery, John G-ilchrist, Barefoot Brunson, John Clark, Rowen M'Clure, John Carson, John Wilson, William Crane, Archibald M'Allister, Richard Dixon, John Pattimore, James Crouch, Jacob Awl, William Brown, Andrew Stewart, James Rogers, Samuel Stewart, John Cooper, Alexander Ber- ryhill. Alexander Graydon was the first Prothonotary ; Anthony Kelker the first Sheriff, and Rudolph Kelker the first Deputy Sheriff. The earliest record of a punishment is the account of one inflicted on William Courtenay and Jesse Rowland, who were sentenced to receive eighteen lashes and pay fifteen shillings sterling, on the 18th of August, 1785, between the hours of four and six o'clock in the afternoon. Several records occur in which punishment was inflicted by lashes and " standing in the pillory." An unusually large number of the cases tried during the first term were for horse stealing. CHANGES IN THE NAME OF THE TOWN. The minutes of the second court held in the town are dated at " Harrisburg ;" and on the 3d of August, 1786, the follow- ing endorsement appears on the docket : " The name of the County Town, or Seat of the Courts, is altered from * Harrisburg' to ' Louisbourg,' in consequence of the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth so styling it in the commissio»i« of the Justices of the said Town." 84 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. On the 16tli day of May, 1791, tlie Docket contains the fol- lowing note : " The name of the County Town is altered to Harrisburg, in pursuance of an act of Assembly creating it into a borough un- der that name, passed loth of April, 1791." George W. Harris, Esq., relates that his father (the late Robert Harris, Esq.) informed him that when the act of Assem- bly was passed, in 1785, establishing Dauphin county, it fixed the seat of government near Harris' Ferry. The design was to leave to John Harris the privilege of naming the town. But the Chief Justice (M'Kean) and some of the Judges of the Supreme Court conceived the notion that as the county was called after the Dauphin of France, the town should be called Louisbourg, after Louis XVI. At this time the prejudices of the people ran high in favor of France for the aid that king- dom had given America during the Revolution. Besides, Judge M'Kean and John Harris had had a personal difficulty, which occurred about the time the former was leaving Harrisburg, after his residence here; and, perhaps, being influenced by motives of hostility towards Mr. Harris, Mr. M'Kean strongly urged that the town should be called Louisbourg. Accordingly, in the first precept for holding the courts here, the court was directed to be held at Louisbourg. John Harris, however, told the Judges that they might "Louisbourg" as much as they pleased, but that he would never execute a title for any lot in any other name than that of Harrisburg; and his determination prevailed. THE FIRST COURT HOUSES. The building in which the first court at Harris' Ferry was held, was a log house which stood until about fifteen years ago, at the corner of what is now Washington avenue and Front ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 85 street ; and the " pillory," or punishing place, was in that neigh- borhood. The court was afterwards held in a log house which still stands, [but now weatherboarded] on the south-east corner of Market street and Dewberry alley. From this place the court moved into the present Court House, which it occu- pied until December, 1812, when it vacated that building for the use of the Legislature, which body occupied it until July 2, 1822, when it took possession of the State Capitol, as will appear hereafter. When the court vacated the Court House it moved into the then partially finished brick building, owned at the time by Mr. Capp, now known as the ''"White Hall" tavern. While here, the Commissioners of the county erected the brick build- ings opposite the " Franklin House," corner of Walnut street and Raspberry alley, into which the court moved, and which it occupied until the Legislature vacated the present Court House, as above stated. The following is a list of the President Judges of the Dau- phin county courts since the adoption of the Constitution of 1790. It is derived from the ''Executive Minutes," in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth : John Joseph Henry, commissioned December 16, 1793. Walter Franklin, commissioned January 18, 1811. Amos Ellmaker, commissioned July 3, 1815. David Scott, commissioned December 21, 1816. Samuel D. Franks, commissioned July 29, 1818. Calvin Blythe, commissioned February 1, 1830. James M. Porter, commissioned July 1, 1839. Anson V. Parsons, commissioned January 16, 1841. Calvin Blythe, commissioned February 4, 1842. Nathaniel B. Eldred, commissioned March 30, 1843. John J. Pearson, commissioned April 7, 1849. John J. Pearson, elected October 14, 1851. Ob ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. CURIOUS CASE OF SWINDLING. About the year 1790, there flourished amoug the poor resi- dents of the western part of Berks county, a noted swindler named George Savin, alias Greene, He was a man of talent, possessed a winning address, and was a thorough master in quick and correct discernment of character, which enabled him for a long time to prey upon the purses of his credulous neighbors with impunity. The following extract from 2d Yeats' lieports will explain the character of his swindling operations : ^[At Nisi Frius, at Ilarrishurg — Octoher Assizes, 1798. CoRUM, Yeats and Smith, Justices, Aeram Stout against Randolph Rassel. Special action in the case. The plaintiff declared that whereas George Savin, alias Green, was indebted to him in £100, the defendant, in consideration that the plaintiif promised to accept him as his debtor in the room of the said George Savin, alias Green, on the 2d July, 1790, promised to pay him the said £100 within six weeks from that time or sooner, nevertheless, &c. Plea non assumpsit. The evidence on the trial turned out as follows : Savin was an artful swindler, and gulled a number of ignorant persons to deliver him divers sums of gold and silver, under a pretence that he would double the amount by some chemical process in a short period. He first received, as if reluctantly, some small sums, and delivered to the adventurers in his bank, (so called,) a few days afterwards, genuine Spanish dollars, ap- parently new, doubling the sums paid him. When his fame was sufficiently known, and the avarice of the weak people in the neighborhood highly inflamed, he soon got into his custody con- siderable sums, and then decamped privately in the night from his haunt — a retired place twelve miles from Reading, and con- cealed himself in Dauphin county. To his latter hiding place ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 87 he was pursued by the plaintiff and one Francis Urabehocker, two of his dupes, who offered a reward for apprehending him. The person whom they made use of for this purpose ingeniously held out to the defendant the lure of having £200 in specie at home, ready to be put into Savin's bank, if he should come to his house and receive it for multiplication. Some strong suspi- cious circumBtances were shown against the defendant as being in connection with Savin. The latter first came to the house, in pursuance of the scheme, about ten o'clock at night of the 2d of July, 1790. The plaintiff and Umbehocker lay concealed in the barn, and were notified of Savin's presence. On their ap- pearance Savin was alarmed, and desired them to walk up stairs with him. On a signal given the defendant also appeared, and some altercation occurred ; but afterwards, on being informed of their respective demands, he became security for Savin's appear- ance at his house the next morning before day. Thither they all came on the 3d of July, 1790, and defendant promised to pay the plaintiff his demand against Savin, £100, within six weeks from that time, or sooner; and as Savin owed to Umbe- hocker $303 11, to pay him $100 down, and the residue on the Tuesday following, at the same house in Dauphin county. Whereupon Savin was set at liberty. Verdict pro quer for £149 17s. 6d. damages. Messrs. Cly- mer and Reed pro quer. Messrs. Ingersoll, Hopkins and Fisher pro def. A motion was afterwards made for a new trial, and a rule to show cause obtained ; but the argument coming on in December term, 1799, the defendant's counsel discharged the rule." THE TOWN INCORPORATED INTO A BOROUGH. The act to erect the town of Harrisbura; into a borough was passed on the loth day of April, 1791 ; and an act to alter the same without interfering with the boundaries originally laid OO ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. down, was approved February 1, 1808, on the ground " that ex- perience has fully proved that, owing to a difference in the local situation of the places, and various other causes, the act of As- sembly for erecting the town of Reading into a borough, how- ever applicable to the purposes for which it was originally in- tended by the Legislature, is not well calculated for the good government of the borough of Harrisburg ; therefore, be it en- acted, that the said town of Harrisburg shall continue and for- ever remain a borough, under the name and title of the ' Bor- ough of Harrisburg j' the extent and limits of which shall be the same as in the original law, to wit : Limits of Harrisburg , incorporated \oth April, 1791. Beginning at low water mark on the eastern shore of the Sus- quehanna river; thence by the pineapple tree north sixty de- grees and one quarter east, seventy-nine perches, to an ash tree on the west bank of Paxton creek ; thence by the several cor- ners thereof three hundred and twenty-three perches to a white hickory on William Maclay's line; thence by the same, south sixty-seven and three quarters degrees west two hundred and twelve perches to a marked chestnut-oak, on the eastern bank of the Susquehanna; thence by the same course to low water mark to the place of beginning." The borough limits were extended by the act of the 16th April, 1838, by the 17th section of "An Act granting certain authorities to the cities of Lancaster and Philadelphia, and for other purposes," in the following language : " The north-western boundary line of the borough of Harrisburg shall be, and the same is hereby extended and enlarged as folloM'S : Extending it along the river line to the upper line of the land of the late William Maclay, on said river ; thence to Paxton creek, and thence along said creek to the north-western corner of the pre- sent boundary ;" thus annexing the town of Maclaysburg, or all that part of the present borough laying north-west of South ANNALS OP HAKRISBURG. 89 street; and in the IStli section, giving its inhabitants the privi- leges and subjecting them to the same liabilities as if they had been originally included within the corporate limits of said borough. The minutes of the first Town Councils are not to be found ; and the only record the compiler could discover relative to the affairs of the borough in the first year of its incorporation, is an account of the Overseers of the Poor, which reads as fol- lows : " To amount of Hogs and Butter for ye use of ye poor, £16 Is. lid." DEATH OF JOHN HARRIS, Je. John Harris, the founder of Harrisburg, died 29th July, 1791, and is buried in the graveyard of Paston church. He was about sixty-five years of age. COST OF THE COURT HOUSE. The Minutes of the first Boards of County Commissioners are not to be found, and it is therefore difiicult to discover any great amount of information respecting the erection of the county buildings. There is, however, in the Commissioners' ofl6.ce, what is entitled an " Order Book" for the year 1785, which gives the receipts and expenditures of the county for that year. By it we learn that the old Jail was erected at a considerable period before the present Court House ; for among the first expenditures noted in the book are sums of money paid for the erection of a " stone wall around the goal," The expenditures made for the construction of the Court House we find to be as follows : 12 90 ANNALS OF HAERISBURG. James Mitchell, new Court House, Mitchell & Kapp, do John Kean, do do do do do^ do do do do do do do do John Kean & R. Harris, do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do Robert Harris, do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do Trustees, do do do do do John Cumins, do James Ingraham, do Benjamin Kurtz, do John Balsely, do Connelly & Rowen, do do do do Frederick Cleckner, do do do William Wray, do C. Kuncle, do do do Benjamin Trego, do £ s. D. 103 8 9 10 5 6 79 10 93 72 500 100 100 100 400 10 14 152 4 2 150 250 75 16 11 75 18 15 37 10 75 5 2 8 3 7 6i 4 12 l" 17 12 8 30 7 3 85 15 269 12 2 2578 3 8 5 1 2 G 3.. 18 9 172 15 4 115 6 8 11 3 7 6 2 17 6 12 6 2 14 8 14 7 2 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 91 ■ £ S. D. Bricker & Bennet, new Court House, 4 15 7i L. Lemmers, do 5 5 10 Charles Rowen, do 9 11 1 do do 6 16 IJ Henry Bruner, do 2 17 6 Jacob Wain, do 10 11 8 H. Eckert, Jail and do 15 16 9 H. Ford, do 6 6 Court House Bell, , . 131 18 10 Residue of Bell, , . 26 13 10 Henry Brimer, . 2 5 Neiv Bell, 112 10 THE MARKET HOUSES— THEIR COST. In the borough account for the year 1807, we find a state- ment of the expenditure of monies for the construction of mar- ket houses, the sum total of which was $915 86. The first buildings appropriated to this purpose were very small, and in the language of an old citizen, " mere sheds in comparison with the present capacious buildings." GREAT SICKNESS AT HARRISBURG. About the year 1793, Harrisburg was exceedingly sickly. A fever of a violent character, similar to the Yellow Fever, pre- vailed, especially among the new settlers or foreigners. At the same time the Yellow Fever was prevailing in Philadelphia, and fears were entertained of its introduction into Harrisburg. A . patrol was accordingly established at the lower end of the town, to prevent infected persons of Philadelphia from coming into it. A large number of Irish emigrants died, and some of the citizens : but most families of thg place were to some extent afflicted. 92 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. A MILL DAM THE SUPPOSED CAUSE THEREOF. A mill dam, owned by two men named Landis, was generally thought to be the cause of this sickness, and the citizens entered upon decisive measures for its removal. Meetings were held, committees appointed, funds were raised and tendered to the Landis' s, the mill dam removed, the mill purchased, &c., as will appear by the following extracts from papers furnished by the late Hon. J. C. Bucher and R. F. Kelker, Esq., and published in Rupp's History of Dauphin county : MEETING OF THE CITIZENS. ''At a meeting of the inhabitants of the borough of Harris- burg, on the 16th day of January, 1795, it was unanimously agreed that two thousand and six hundred pounds be immedi- ately assessed on the property of the citizens of the said bor- ough; that one thousand and six hundred pounds of the said sum be collected on or before the 6th day of March next; that the remaining one thousand pounds be secured to be paid, with interest, in two equal annual instalments, and that the whole (to wit : the £1600 in cash, and the residue in bonds) be ten- dered to Peter and Abraham Landis, or either of them, propri- etors of the mill and other water-works, with the appurtenances thereto belonging, near the borough aforesaid, as a full compen- sation for their property in the same ; and that in ease they refuse to accept the said sum as a full compensation for the said mill, with the appurtenances, that then we unanimously agree to prostrate the dam erected on the waters of Paxton creek, for the purpose of conveying water to said mill, and pay our pro- portionable parts of all legal expenses and damages that may accrue on any suit or suits, indictment or indictments that may be brought or prosecuted in consequence of such act or acts. Witness our hands and date aforesaid : [Here follows the signatures of over one hundred citizens.] ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 93 The following subscriptions were made by tbe citizens named to the mill-dam fund, independent of the amount assessed upon their respective properties at the town meeting : " We the subscribers do promise to pay the sums annexed to our names, to Conrod Bombaugh, Esq., as a gratuity towards paying the expense of the purchase or the reduction of the mill- dam on Paxton creek, next the borough of Harrisburg, and that when called upon. Witness our hands, January 21st, 1795 : Wm. Crabbe, , $20 00 Edward Crouch, . . $2 00 Major Swiney, . 15 00 William Stewart, . . 2 00 George Whitehill, . 10 00 Samuel Finney, . 2 GO Jacob Burckart, . . 8 00 John Weidman, . 2 00 George Reitzell, . 6 00 James Byers, . 2 00 Soloman Markel, . . 4 00 John Martin, . 1 00 John PeifFer, 16 00 Peter Lien, . 1 00 Anthony Seyfort, . 10 00 Simon Bassler, 1 00 John Maclay, 20 00 George Lutz, 50 Benj. Hunt, . 10 00 William Krebbs, 1 00 Jacob Fridley, 2 00 Jacob Zeigler, 1 00 John Patterson, 4 00 Jacob Fetter, 1 00 John Gilchrist, 6 00 William Porter, . 2 00 Joseph Weigley, . 8 00 C. B 1 00 John Spangler, 8 00 Peter Bobe, . 1 00 Thomas Gregg, 10 00 Christian Walborn, 1 00 Thomas Dickey, 2 00 Thomas Trousdale, 1 00 Mordecai M'Kinney, 4 00 William Allen, 2 00 Samuel Awl, 4 00 Robert Freckelton, 2 00 Irwin & Howard, . 12 00 Jacob Houck, 6 00 William Patterson, 4 00 Charles Rowan, 2 33 John M'Farlind, . 4 00 Rudolph Kelker, . 4 00 Anthony Kelker, . 2 00 James Reed, . » » 1 00 Robert Boal, 2 00 94 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. An Estimate of the proportion of each citizen of Ilarrisburg to purchase the Mill belonging to the Landis fainili/, in order, luith Divine favor, to rehtore the borough to its former state of health and prosperity. £ s. £ s. Awl, Jacob, Exec, . 15 Brua, Peter, . . 6 6 Allen, Jacob, . 4 Clark, Widow, . 1 4 Allen, George, 4 IG Crabb, AViUiam, . 4 8 Allen, Joseph, 4 4 Conrod, Hem-y, . 10 16 Allcorn, James, 1 4 Cummins, John, . 1 4 Armstrong, Andrew, 14 12 Chambers, John, Exec, . 1 10 Abbot's House, 2 14 Carson, William, . 1 4 Benner, John, 4 2 Clunie, James, . 17 Bennet, Thomas, 2 4 Cassel, George, . 3 Boyd, John, 2 14 Cairns, James, 12 Boyd, Adam, . 23 2 Comfort, John, . 6 18 Bucher, Jacob, 6 14 Culp, Mark, . . 2 8 Bruner, Henry, 6 6 Degar, Jacob, . 2 Brindle, Philip, 7 12 Duncan, James, . 20 14 Boyd, Widow, 5 8 Downey, Charles, 2 8 Bader, Henry, 7 4 Denning, Peter, Exec, . 6 Bombach, Conrod, , 20 4 Davis, Samuel B., . 2 16 Berryhill, Alexander, 12 12 Drawley, John, 2 16 Bollinger, Widow, . 1 16 Dentzell, John, . 5 Bombach, John, 1 4 Dickey, William, . 1 4 Bleymire, John, Dickey, Thomas, . 2 Beatty, Gawin, 1 Ebright, Jacob, . 16 10 Barr, Alexander, 7 4 Elder, John, , . 4 16 Brooks, James, 3 Earnest, John, . 3 Berryhill, Alex., Sr., IG Ebbert, John, . 11 16 Berryhill, Samuel, . . 3 14 Eiteneyer, Widow, . . 1 4 Baker, Peter, 8 Elliot, James, . . 2 8 Burmister, Charles, Ensminger, Michael, . 1 16 Brooks, John, 7 16 Elder, Joshua, . 45 Beaty, James, . 12 Fisher, George, . 40 Balzly, John, . . 9 12 Fulton, Henry, . 16 16 Bennage, Lawrence, . 4 10 Fenton, Benjamin, . . 6 12 Barr, Kobert, . . 4 4 Feger, John, . » . 1 16 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 95 £ s. Feder, John, . . 4 10 File, John, . 2 8 Fridley, G. & Barney, . 12 Ford, Henry, . 7 4 Firestone, George, . . 7 4 Forrest, Andrew, . 6 lb Fogelsanger, John, . . 6 Foster, Thomas, . 14 8 Grayuon, Alex. . 18 Gregg, Thomas, . 6 12 Geiger, Barnhart, . . 4 4 Greenawalt, Christian, . 4 10 Gilmore, Moses, . 12 12 Gillem, John, . • 6 14 Gibson, Reuben, . 2 4 Glass, William, . 4 16 Graybill, Peter, . 6 14 Gray don, William, . . 4 16 Girt, Frederick, . 3 Galbraith, John, . 1 Greegor, Martin, . 2 4 Hess, George, . 7 Horning, Stephen, . . 6 12 Hamilton, Widow, . . 16 16 Hamilton, John, Exec, . 36 18 Hoge, John, . 9 Hocker, John, . 16 4 Horter, Valentine, . . 7 4 Hoyer, George, . 23 14 Hume, John, , , 4 10 Hocker, Adam, . 13 10 Hocker, Christopher, . 13 10 Hillegas, Conrad, , . 3 Hill, Samuel, . . 10 Heafley, John, . 3 6 Heas, John, . 10 Hutman, Mathias, . . 2 8 Hartman, George, . , 2 14 Hatz, George, . 3 8 House, Joseph, Heaming, Jacob, ITolstein, George, Horning, Conrad, Irwin, Robert, Issett, Henry, Ingram, William, Irwin & Howard, Kamp, William, Kunkle, Christian, Krause, John & Andrew, Kunkle, Peter, Ivreamer, John, Kapp, Michael, Kean, John Kurtz, Benjamin, Knatcher, Michael, Kapp, Michael, Jr. King, Charlotte, Koffman, Andrew, Kleckner, Frederick Luther, John, Laffery, Justinia, Lever, Nicholas, Lawyer, Adam, Liphart, Henry, Lever, George, Little's house, M'Cart, Robert, Machemy, John, Murry, William, M'Carty, Benjamin, Mish, Jacob, . Maclay, John, Mooney, Abraham, M'Mannus, Patrick, M'Laughlin, Alexander Murray, Patrick, Mytinger, Lewis, £ . 2 s. . 9 . 9 . 2 8 . 20 8 . 6 18 . 3 8 . 12 . 1 . 22 18 Irew, 10 4 . 1 . 4 . 18 . 11 4 . 3 . 2 14 . 6 . 1 4 . 9 - 1 . 19 16 . 1 16 . 7 16 . 1 4 . 3 . 2 8 . 3 . 1 4 . 5 8 . 3 12 . 2 16 . 15 18 o 12 . 1 16 . 2 8 der, , 1 . 1 16 . 1 4 96 ANNALS OP HAERISBURG. £ s. £ s. Mitchell, James, . 7 4 Romjeaw, John, . 4 4 Murphy, Barney, 18 Riehm, Andrew, . 6 18 Miller, John, . . 12 Redding, George, . . 6 18 Morse, Moses, . 2 8 Ramer's Executors, . 3 Montgomery, Alex., . 2 4 Rothroff, Henry, . 2 12 Miller, Jacob, . 2 Saur, Charles, . 3 6 Moore, Thomas, . 3 Snyder, Simon, . 2 8 Montgomery, Joseph, . 15 Stoehr's house, . 4 Martin, J. & Thomas, . 5 14 Sweeney, Major, . 6 Mackey, James, . 1 16 Stehley, Widow, . 9 12 Miller, Charles, . 2 12 Seez, Balthazar, . 4 4 M'Allister, Archibald, . 1 4 Seez, Christopher, , . 7 16 M'Caslin, John, . 2 2 Stephen, Hugh, . 2 4 Newman, john, . 2 2 Smith, Nicholas, 18 Norten, John, . 15 Smith, Casper, . 9 Newman, Nicholas, . 2 18 Sweigart, Daniel, . . 2 14 Newman, Andrew, . . 2 18 Shoch, John, . . 1 10 Ott, Nicholas, . 10 Smith's, Miss, . 6 2 Peter, Henry, . 1 4 Shields, John, . 1 4 Peifer, George, . 9 Scarlett, David, . 1 10 Peifer, John, . 2 Sawyer, James, . 6 18 Potts, Stacy, . 6 Shrom, Jacob, . 2 14 Poat, Joseph, Sawr's, Casper, house, . 2 16 Patterson, Gailbraith,* . 10 16 Syfert, Anthony, . 3 12 Pool, John, . 1 Sheets, John, . 1 Pancake, Valentine, . 3 Smith, Widow, . 1 4 Pancake, George, . O Snyder, Adam, . 1 10 Patterson, Robert, . . 2 Sayler, Henry, . 4 16 Pool, John, Jr., . 6 Syboth, Tobias, . 9 Pfieager, Frederick, . 5 Snyder, John, . 2 8 Porter, William, . 3 Sealey, John, . 15 Peters, Michael, . 2 16 Staugh & Volesanger, . 1 4 Rymuth, Philip, . 12 Tresenrider, Conrad, . 8 Ritzell, Jacob, . 10 16 linger, Peter, 2 4 Keel, Anthony, . 1 18 Updegraif, Abraham, 18 Reel, Philip, . 2 6 Whitehill, George, . . 4 10 Ritz, John, . 1 10 Willson, William, . . 7 4 * Subscribed ,£20. ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 97 Thomas Forster, Thomas Murray, Samuel Weu% . Wain, Jacob, Walter, Peter, Whitehill, Robert, Wickersham, Hannah Weir, Samuel, Weatherhold, Widow and George, Wingert, Widow, Welchance, Jacob, Weathrup, John, Waltz, George, Walters, Christopher Wingert, Simon, Wilson, John, Thomas Elder, Samuel Laird, Andrew Mitchel, John Patterson, Dr. Spangler, Joseph Wageline, AVilliam Wallace, Jacob Bener, . Adam Brady, . Jacob Burkhart, John Burkinbine, Jacob Bretz, Jacob Feger, . Jacob Glass, Piobert Hunter, Philip Iloring, George Hocker, Bryan Hooper, John Irwin, £ s. 1 8 2 2 14 6 4 4 topher. 6 8 8 7 4 3 2 4 2 4 2 1 4 SINGLE 6 6 6 6 G 6 6 3 12 3 12 3 12 3 12 3 12 3 12 3 12 3 12 3 12 3 12 3 12 6 Wallace, Benj., Wilhelm, Jacob, Wyeth, John, . Williams, Vincent, Williams, Chris Youse, Jacob, Youse, Frederick, Youse, George, Young, Robert, Zollinger, Jacob, Zinn, John, Ziegler, George, car Ziegler, George, Zerver, Frederick, p enter. MEN. Michael Krell, Anthony Leyer, Peter Reitzel, James Shaw, . William Wanless, William Martin, WilliamBrown, Michael Kuntz, John Lear, Duncan M'Gachin, James Elliot, . John Ober, James Simpson, John Umholtz, \, John Weaver, . William Porter, William Irwin, Mathias Henderson, FOR LOTS OF GROUND. . 1 16 Moses Gillmore, . 1 16 JohnEbbert, . » 1 16 Henry Bruner, £ s. 10 2 8 2 8 1 4 2 2 8 2 14 6 1 4 14 14 10 15 2 2 3 12 3 12 3 12 3 12 3 12 3 12 3 12 2 8 2 8 2 8 2 8 2 8 2 8 2 h 2 8 2 8 2 8 6 1 16 1 16 1 4 13 98 ANNALS OP HARRISBUKG. £ s. £ s. George Hoyer, . 2 8 Mengel's Executors, 7 4 Chris. Kunkle, . 1 10 Shouffler, for Shock's bouse, 5 8 Michael Kapp, . 1 10 Henry Issetts, for Smith's George Beddich, . 1 12 house. 3 12 William Maclay's land in Conrad Bombach, for Sey borough, . 2 14 fort's house, 9 6 Peter Lyeth, . . 2 20 Brindle and Montgomery, 4 10 Ed. Bark's house, . 3 Haller's house. 6 Weir's out-house, . . 6 Bobert Hill, . 1 16 John Weir's house, . . 4 16 Casper Smith, 1 16 Alexander Miller, . . 2 8 John Boyd, 10 4 Peter Pancake, . 6 Thomas Gray, 8 2 James Boss, . . 3 Leys, 10 16 Beitzell's house. . 3 Body Fraizer, 6 Harris' Executors, Snyder's William Glass, 1 18 house, . 6 12 LANDLORDS WnO DO NOT LIVE IN TOWN, OE, OTHER HOUSES Martin Gregor, . 2 Edward Lynch, 8 4 Margaret Bolinger, . 2 Samuel Grimes, 18 Mar. Stiller, . . 3 4 Yv^idow Wither old, . 18 Chamber's Exec, . 4 16 Joseph Dritt, . 7 16 William Wallace, . 7 4 Tobias Seyboth, 3 Andrew Stewart, . 6 8 Welshoffer, 5 8 Henry Sailor, . 1 County of Dauphin, 72 James Humes, . 5 12 Bricker's house, 8 8 John Steinmetz, . 12 Br. Fahnestock, 8 14 Joshua Elder, . 22 10 Frederick Youse, 9 6 Col. Shouffler, . 16 4 Bev. Nathaniel Snowden, 6 Michael Kapp, . 15 Bev. Shaffer's house. 8 Samuel Berryhill, . 3 Bev. Hautz, 8 In addition to the amount of money so raised, the heirs of John Harris, Messrs. David Harris, Robert Harris, William Maclay and John A. Hanna, paid $1,600, the purchase money, or perhaps something more than the amount which the Landis's had paid for the property. ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 99 "At a meeting of the committee of seven, appointed to su- perintend and direct the appropriation of the monies raised for the demolition of the mill-dam, and for the further removing the nuisance in Paxton creek, April 8, 1795 : "At Brindle's — Present, Potts, Gilmore, Berryhill, W. Gray- don, Dentzell, Bucher, Kean. " John Kean was appointed Secretary and Treasurer. u Ordered, that the Treasurer take up the bonds due to Adam Boyd and to George Allen. "Adjourned to Saturday evening next, at 6 o'clock, at Mr. Berryhill's. " Saturday, 11th. — The committee met and viewed the dam, and adjourned till Monday evening at 6 o'clock, at Berryhill's. " Monday, loth. — Met, and the members mentioned the names of persons wishing to borrow money. Agreed, that the money be retained in the Treasury a few days longer. " Agreed, that on Saturday next, at 1 o'clock, the bell be rung, and the inhabitants assemble and demolish the remainder of the dam. THE MILL-DAM DESTROYED BY THE CITIZENS. " Saturday, ISth.-^The committee met, and proceeded with a number of the inhabitants to the dam. Committee hired four persons to open the bed of the creek twelve feet wide, which was done, and the persons employed were paid six dollars, which was raised by voluntary contribution on the spot. " Saturday, 25th April, 1795. — The committee met. Peter, John and Abraham Landis attended, and offered to take $2,000 for the water-right, which the committee positively refused. THE MILL SEAT PURCHASED BY THE CITIZENS. "April 25, 1795. — Peter, John and Abraham Landis sold to Stacy Potts, Moses Gilmore, William Gray don, Jacob Bucher, 100 ANNALS OP HAERISBURG. John Kean, John Dentzell, and Alexander Berryhill, of the borough of Harrisburg (a committee chosen at a public meeting of the inhabitants of the said borough, at the court room, on the 7th of April,) sold and conveyed to them their mill, &c., for £2,633 4s. 6d., "to hold and to have the said two pieces of lands, houses, mills, mill machinery, &c." This sum, as before stated, was raised by taxing the citizens. The payments were made in three annual instalments; one-half of the amount assessed was paid in 1794 ; one-half the balance in 1795, and the balance in 1796. For example, a citizen taxed £4 had to pay £2 in 1794, £1 in 1795, and £1 in 1796. It may be remarked that some citizens who refused to con- tribute to the subscription, were obliged to leave the town. No violence was offered to them, but no one would employ them in their several pursuits, and they at length went elsewhere. The mill seat, with the privileges of a dam and mill-race, was originally purchased from John Harris, J.r, by the Landis's, April 16, 1790 ; subsequently they purchased a small piece of land from Gen. John A. Hanna, adjoining that purchased from Mr. Harris. The mill was erected about one-quarter of a mile below Har- risburg, about as low down as the old ''White House," between the "old mill road" and the canal; and the race extended up along or nearly along the present route of the Pennsylvania canal, to a lane which ran across to the ridge, about the upper line of the brickyard field opposite Pratt's Rolling Mill, where the dam was erected. ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE MILL-DAM TROUBLES. Another writer, in describing the mill-dam difficulties, states that "the money raised by subscription was tendered to the Landis's, who refused it. The citizens then prepared for the forcible removal of the dam, and the Landis's threatened to use ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 101 force to prevent it. The citizens accordingly marched in a body to the dam, on a cold, snowy day in March. The owners were there with several men, armed with guns, threatening to fire. The citizens, however, advanced into the water, and the dam was soon demolished. The Landis' threatened suit, and the citizens handed them a list of several hundred names to be sued: but the proprietors finally took the monej." ALEXANDER GRAYDON, ESQ., ON THE SICKNESS. Alexander Graydon, Esq., an uncle of H. Murray Graydon, Esq., of Harrisburg, in his " Memoirs," a work of sterling in- terest, alludes to the sickness at this place while speaking of the Yellow Fever that raged in Philadelphia. He says : " Measures were taken in almost every town and village to prohibit the entry of persons suspected of infection ; and even fugitives from the seat of it, though in health, were regarded with a jealous eye. Some of the people of Harrisburg were for following the example of their neighbors, though a malady not less fatal than that in Philadelphia was raging among them- selves. But the difference was, that one was called a plague, the other but a simple fever. It is somewhat remarkable, that if yellow fever is of foreign origin, as insisted upon by many, that a disease of a similar type should make its appearance at the same time on the banks of the Susquehanna, at the distance of an hundred miles. Shall we say, that the state of the atmos^ phere which generated the one, was favorable to the diffusion of the other ? This, I believe, is the doctrine of those who contend that the yellow fever is of exotic growth, and always imparted when it appears among us. I would venture, however, no opinion on the subject. With respect to the mortality pro- duced by the two diseases, that at Harrisburg was, I believe, in proportion to the population of the place, as great as that at Philadelphia. I cannot take upon me minutely to describe the 102 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. symptoms of the Harrisburg disease, nor were they the same in all that were sick; but a general one was, an aiFection of the stomach, or nausea, with violent retchings, and a yellowness of the skin. Some were ill a week, some longer, some died in two or three days from the time of their being seized, and others who were walking about with symptoms only of the ague, sud- denly took ill and expired. The hlach vomit, which has some time been supposed peculiar to the yellow fever, appeared in some cases. I was attacked with a quartan ague about the mid- dle of September, but had none of the grievous symptoms of the malignant fever which prevailed. " The matter which produces ague, i. e., miasmata, caused by vapors from low and marshy situations and waters, rendered baneful from certain adventitious circumstances, may be pro- nounced to be the support or aliment of all diseases, more par- ticularly of the latter, perhaps, when the exhalations are ren- dered more than commonly noxious, from the general state of the atmosphere — this cause existed at Harrisburg. A mill-dam had been erected the season before on the Paxton, rather a tur- bid and sluggish stream, within five or six hundred yards of the middle of the town, on its eastern side. The obstruction must have spread the water over a surface of from eight to ten acres; and this, co-operating with a state of the atmosphere, unusually morbid this season in such situations, may fully account for the fear which prevailed. " In the fall of the year 1792, there were some cases of it, and still more in that of 1794, equally malignant, after which the mill-dam was removed. I have been the more particular on this subject, though without being able to offer anything satisfactory, from knowing it to have been a matter of some in- terest with the physicians of Philadelphia to ascertain the nature of the Harrisburg disease, thence to deduce data towards the solution of the question, whether the yellow fever, as appearing in our cities, be, or not, a malady of exclusively foreign origin." ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 103 The " Oracle of Dauphin," printed here at the time, contains a number of spirited communications upon the mill-dam trou- bles. One writer, in alluding to the tender of the terms of sale de- manded by the Landis' a year previous, says : " Should they (Landis') refuse to accept them now, there cannot be a doubt but that we shall be fully justified, both upon the principles of law and justice, in prostrating the dam. * * * * As to those persons who may refuse to contribute, in proportion to their ability, to do away with this dreadfully destructive nuisance, I hope their fellow-citizens will have spirit enough solemnly to agree to have no kind of dealings with them, and (as far as in them lies) by all just means to oblige them to leave the town, and make room for others who may have more sense than hu- manity." Another writer says : " Fellow-citizens, you have acted justly, and you have acted with patience, in offering to pay the man's price before you came to the resolution of destroying this reser- voir of contagion. * * * Go on, gentlemen, in an under- taking which is founded in such justice; make up the £2600, and tender it according to the man's terms ; and if he does not receive it, have respect for yourselves, for your families, and for your solemn resolution — Tear down the mill dam !" The editor of the " Oracle" wrote as follows : '* On Thursday last, a committee appointed by the citizens of Harrisburg waited on Abram Landis and Peter Landis, and tendered the whole demand they made last year for the mill, with its appurtenances, agreeable to the terms they had proposed , but they now thought proper to require a much greater sum ; wherefore, apprehending that the owners of the said mill intended, through the distress- ing calamities thought to be occasioned by the mill-dam, to ex- tort an enormous price from the people for the enjoyment of health, by the unreasonable sum now demanded for the mill, they did almost unanimously proceed, on Saturday afternoon last. 104 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. to take down and destroy that intolerable nuisance which has for three years past rendered this borough a mere hospital and grave- yard ; and therefore it is now hoped that, under the blessing of Divine Providence, this once flourishing place may be restored to its former state of healthiness and. prosperity." FIRST NEWSPAPER IN HARRISBURG. The first newspaper printed in Harrisburg was established in 1791, by Mr. John Wyeth, father of the Messrs. Wyeth still residing here. It was called " The Oracle of Dauphin, and Harrisburg Advertiser," and was published every Blonday, in Mulberry street, at fifteen shillings per annum. It was a com- mon folio, and its pages measured 17 by 9 J inches, containing three columns each. We have before us several bound files of this paper from 1794 to 1802, from which we extract a number of items that will be read now with interest. THE "WHISKEY INSURRECTION"— UNITED STATES TROOPS AT HARRISBURG. 1794, Sept. — " On Friday, three companies of horse, containing in all 130, arrived from Philadelphia, the whole under the com- mand of Capt. John Dunlap. The company of light dragoons, commanded by Capt. John Irwin, of this town ; the corps of light infantry, commanded by Capt. George Fisher, with the most distinguished ofiicers of the county, were paraded all in complete uniform, in order to receive them. After the usual ceremonies, the dragoons dismounted to refresh themselves, and yesterday morning they proceeded to Carlisle." " Tuesday last, passed through this place, on their way to Gen. Wayne's army, about 80 regular troops, commanded by Captain Lyman. They were from the State of Massachusetts, and in good spirits." ANNALS OP HARRISBURa. 105 " Thursday evening, arrived here from New Jersey, under the command of Richard Howell, Esq., Governor of that State, about 370 dragoons, completely mounted and equipped — all vol- unteers. It raining very rapidly on their arrival, the citizens of Harrisburg, with their usual degree of affection to the sons of liberty and patriotism, voluntarily opened their doors for their reception. The next morning they crossed the Susquehanna, on their way to Carlisle, after expressing their satisfaction in the following manner : ' The commander of the Jersey militia detachment feels him- self bound to acknowledge the politeness of the citizens of Har- risburg to his company, and requests that their gratitude and his own, joined with the highest respect, may be signified in a proper manner. EICHARD HOWELL, Commandant Jersey detachment. Hareisburg, Sept. 25, 1794.' " " Harrisburg, Dec. 1, 1794. — On Tuesday last, arrived in town from the westward, Capt. M'Pherson's company of Blues, belonging to Philadelphia, and the next morning proceeded homeward. "And on Saturday last. Brigadier General Proctor's brigade also arrived, and this morning early marched for their respective homes " Col. Chambers' brigade, we hear, will also arrive this day or to-morrow, with one hundred prisoners." VOLUNTEERS FROM HARRISBURG CALLED INTO SERYICE DURING THE INSURRECTION. The following is a list of the companies composing the second Pennsylvania regiment, ordered into service by President Wash- ington during the '' Whiskey Insurrection." The regiment was composed principally of citizens of Harrisburg and vicinity. 14 106 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG, Regimental Officers. — Lieutenant Colonel, Thomas Forster; Major, Frederick Hummel ; Paymaster, John Brown ; Sergeant Major, Philip Stoher. Infantry. — Captain Wallace's company, composed of 1 cap- tain, 1 lieutenant, 1 ensign, 4 sergeants, 2 corporals, and 32 privates — served 1 month and 20 days. 7?{/?eme/i.~ Captain Ainsworth's company, composed of 1 cap- tain, 1 lieutenant, 1 ensign, 2 sergeants, 1 corporal, and 19 pri- vates — served 1 month and 20 days. Captain Deviu's company, composed of 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 1 ensign, 4 sergeants, 4 corporals, and 30 privates — served 1 month and 20 days. _ The above list of companies is taken from the advertisement of the paymaster of the troops, published in the " Oracle of Dauphin," in January, 1795. It is presumed that the compa- nies named were only mustered into the service of the United States, but did not march to the scene of the rebellion. A company of volunteers, however, from this place, com- manded by Capt. George Fisher, father of J. Adams Fisher, Esq., actually marched as far as Carlisle on their way to the seat of the rebellion. At Carlisle, Capt, Fisher was elected Major of the battalion of troops from this and adjoining counties. GEN. WASHINGTON IN HARRISBURG. " On Friday last, (October 3, 1794,) the President of the Uni- ted States arrived in town. The pleasure excited in beholding, for the first time, our beloved chief in this borough, is not easily described. The following address was delivered to him by the Burgesses, in behalf of the town : To Ids Excellency George Washington, President of the United Slates of America : Sir : We, the Burgesses and citizens of Harrisburg, while we rejoice in the opportunity of presenting our respects to ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 107 a character so justly revered and dear to Americans, we can- not but lament that we should owe it to an interruption of the peace and prosperity of our country, those constant objects of our public care. We trust, however, that the just indignation which fires the breasts of all virtuous citizens at the unprovoked outrages committed by these lawless men, who are in opposition to one of the mildest and most equal of governments of which the condition of man is susceptible, will excite such exertions, as to crush the spirit of disaffection wherever it has appeared, and that our political horizon will shine brighter than ever on a dispersion of the clouds which now menace and obscure it. Though our sphere of action is too limited to produce any im- portant effects, yet we beg leave to assure your Excellency that, so far as it extends, our best endeavors shall not be wanting to support the happy constitution and wise administration of our government. Signed, in behalf of the borough, CONROD BOMBAUGH, ALEX. BERRYPIILL, Harrisburg, October 3, 1794. Burgesses. GEN. WASHINGTON'S REPLY. To the Burgesses and other citizens of Harrishurg : GrENTLEMEN : In declaring to you the genuine satisfaction I derive from your very cordial support, I will not mingle any ex- pression of the painful sensations which I experience from the occasion which has drawn me hither. You will be at no loss to do justice to my feelings. But relying on that kindness of Pro- vidence towards our country which every adverse appearance hitherto has served to manifest, and counting upon the tried good sense and patriotism of the great body of our fellow-citi- zens, I do not hesitate to indulge with you the expectation of such an issue as will serve to confirm the blessings we enjoy under a constitution that well deserves the confidence and sup- port of virtuous and enlightened men. To class the inhabitants 108 ANNALS OF HARRISBURQ. of Harrisburg among this mimber, is only to bear testimony to the zealous and efficient exertions which they have made towards the defence of the laws. GEORGE WASHINGTON." Me. GRAYDON ON THIS OCCURRENCE. Mr. G-raydon, who then resided at Harrisburg, speaks of this occurrence in his " Memoirs," as follows : ''The Western Expedition, as it was called, gave me an op- portunity of seeing a number of my old friends from Philadel- phia ; and it afforded also a momentary triumph to the poor handful of Harrisburg federalists, who were stated by their op- ponents to amount to only five. A French flag, which had been flying at the Court House, then building, had been the cause of some squabbling in the newspaper; and this flag was peremptorily ordered to be taken down by the troops from the city. Had I been disposed for revenge, I might, upon this occasion, have been fully gratified, as I was repeatedly asked who had caused it to be put up, and impliedly censured for giving evasive answers to the questions; which, from their manner, evinced a disposition to treat the authors of it much more roughly than would have been agree- able to me. " Conspicuous among the crowd that rolled on to the east- ward was Gov. Miiflin. On the day of his arrival he convened the people at the market house, and gave them an animated harangue, in which there was nothing exceptionable, save a mon- strous suggestion that the British had stirred up the discontents to the westward, and been the cause of the present opposition to the Government. " A few days after the Governor, Gen. Washington, accom- panied by Col. Hamilton, came on. After waiting on them, I prevailed upon the Burgesses to present an address to the Pre- sident, which I sketched out, and which, from the cordiality of the answer, appeared to have been well received." ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 109 WHERE WASHINGTON LODGED. In the preface to Napey's Harrisburg Directory for 1842, it is stated that " Greneral Washington's head-quarters while at Harris' Ferry, on the Western expedition, were in a small frame house which stood, until the last few years, at the corner of Vine and Paxton streets." A similar statement is made by another writer, in the preface to Osier & Irvin's Harrisburg Directory for 1858. This account, from all the evidence the compiler has been able to gather, is incorrect. The " small frame house" above alluded to was built for, and used for a number of years after Washington's visit here, as 2^ ferry houae, not a house of "pub- lic entertainment," but a common rendezvous for the ferry- men, and, in the language of an old citizen, who often visited it, ''a place where people went to get booked for a passage over the river." The only houses of public entertainment that existed in that immediate neighborhood in 1794 — the time of Washington's visit — was that known as the "Bell Tavern," kept by one Simon Snyder, a vendue cryer by profession, and that kept by Nicholas Ott. The former was situated on the site of the new brick house recently erected by Mr. Shellenberger, on Front street, a few doors below what is now called Washington avenue, and the latter is still occupied as a tavern by Mr. Hogan. Both of these buildings were wooden structures, the latter at that time painted red, and were what might be termed second-rate taverns ; hence it is not likely that the good citizens of Harrisburg would have , permitted their beloved Chief Magistrate to lodge here, if they had any better accommodations to offer. Mr, Peter Snyder, still living, was a lad about fourteen years of age when Washington visited the borough. Was standing at the corner of Mulberry and Second streets when Washington passed up the latter street ia a carriage. The General had his 110 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. hat off, and Mr. S. distinctly recollects his commanding form, as he stood up in the carriage, returning the salutations of the surrounding multitude. The carriage containing the General passed up into Market square, followed by an immense concourse of people. Is pretty certain the General lodged over night at the tavern situated on the east corner of Market sti^eet and the square. Never heard any other place assigned as his lodging place vphile here but that. The General was accompanied to the ferry next morning by the burgesses, Messrs. Bombaugh and Berryhill; and when he had embarked upon the flat to cross the river, there was a discharge of artillery, stationed on the bank of the river, near the graveyard. Mr. Henry PefTer, still living, was a lad about six years of age when Washington passed through the borough. Eecolleets the form and features of the General as he passed through Second street into the square. Heard the General deliver his address in reply to the burgesses, from the steps on the Market square side of the tavern indicated by Mr. Snyder. I'elieves that the General also lodged at that tavern, but is not positive. Has never heard any other place but that tavern assigned as his quarters while here. Mr. James R. Boyd, still living, was a lad about four years old when Washington arrived here. Came with his mother from Front street to Chestnut and Second streets, where he saw the General pass up the latter street into the square, accompa- nied by a great crowd of people. Concurs with Mr. Peifer in the belief that Washington made his head-quarters while here at the tavern indicated by Mr. Snyder. Never heard any other place assigned as his stopping place while here. The father of Francis Wyeth has often told him that Wash- ington lodged over night at the tavern indicated by Mr. Snyder. Mr. Wyeth, with Mr. Thomas Eider, was boarding at that tav- ern at the time. Mr. Jacob Ziegler, still living, came to Harrisburg in De- ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. Ill cember, 1794, two months after Washington's visit here. Has always heard that upon that occasion Washington lodged at the tavern indicated by Mr. Snyder. The house had been used as a tavern eight or ten years before his arrival here. jMr. Benjamin Taylor, still living, was about fifteen years old when Washington arrived here, but was out of town upon that occasion. Has always heard the tavern indicated by Mr. Sny- der as the place where Washington stopped during his stay here ; never heard it contradicted. Messrs. Valentine Hummel, John Kelker, Robert Gillmore, George Eicholtz, J. Adams Fisher, Jeremiah Reese, and other old citizens, all concur iu the belief, from what they have always heard, that Washington lodged while here at the tavern indi- cated by Mr. Snyder. From the above testimony it is pretty conclusive that during Gen Washington's visit to the borough he made his head-quar- ters at the brick tavern which, a few years ago, stood on the site of the present "Jones House,'' at the east corner of Market street and the square, and that it was named the "Washington House" in remembrance of tlvat event. It is probable, however, that a portion of Gen. Washington's staff, with the small troop of dragoons composing his escort, lodged for the night in the neighborhood of the lower ferry, perhaps at Ott's or the Bell tavern. The detachments of troops that had previously passed through the borough to join the main body of the army on the Western expedition, hivouaced for a few hours on the bank of the river, near the lower ferry. Some of these troops jpassed over the river at what was called the up- per ferry, at a point above where the Water-house is now situ- ated. POSTMASTERS OF HARRISBURG. The first postmaster in Harrisburg under the federal consti- tution was Mr. John Wyeth, editor of the " Oracle." The Post 112 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. Office was kept witli his bookstore, at his residence in the build- ing at present owned and occupied by Mr. John Knepley, on the south side of Second street, below Mulberry. We append a list of the postmasters who succeeded Mr. Wyeth, to the present day: John Wright, Isaac Gr. M'Kinley, Mrs. John Wright, A. J. Jones, James Peacock, John H. Brant, George W. Porter. FIRST MAIL CARRIER FROM HARRISBURG NORTHWARD. Mr. Benj. A. Taylor, still a resident of the borough, was one of the first mail carriers from Ilarrisburg northward. His route extended to Alexandria, Huntingdon county, and the mails were carried on horseback. In this way it was usual for him to ride two hundred and sixteen miles every six days. THE FERRY TO LET. The following are among the advertisements in the " Oracle" for March 23, 1795 : *' Harris' Ferry. — To be let, for the term of one year, by public vendue, on Wednesday, the 25th of March instant, at the house of Mr. Conrod Bombaugh, in Harrisburg. Attend- ance and terms made known by VAL. HUMMEL, CONROD BOMBAUGH, DAVID KRAUSE, Commissioners." THE HARRIS MANSION TO LET. In February, 1795, Mr. David Harris, of Baltimore, a son of the founder of Harrisburg, advertised several valuable lots for sale on Second and Back streets ; also, " his large lot and stone ANNALS or HARRISBURG. 113 house, built of the best materials, containing four spacious rooms on the first story, with fire-places in each, and six rooms on the second, with a large stone kitchen, and a stable which will con- tain thirty or forty horses ;" adding, " there is an excellent cel- lar under the whole house, divided into three apartments, with vaults, &c. This property is under rent till the first day of April, 1796, at £80 per annum/' A NEGRO FOR SALE. " A healthy, stout negro wench, about thirty-three years of age. She is excellent for cooking, washing, and any kind of house or kitchen work, and understands feeding cattle, and any work necessary on a farm. For terms, apply to the Printer." Similar advertisements frequently appear at this period. A FOURTH OF JULY IN HARRISBURG SIXTY-TAVO YEARS AGO. " Last Saturday presented to our view another anniversary of Columbia's freedom, being twenty-three years since a noble band of her legitimate sons assumed the daring efi'rontery to declare us a SOVEREIGN AND INDEPENDENT NATION, capable of declar- ing war, concluding peace, contracting alliances, capturing whole armies, transporting, hanging and shooting tories, &c. &c., with- out the assistance of • these our roi/al letters patent.' This me- moriable il.ty w.is distinguished by every demonstration of joy and mii-th which the importance of the occasion could possibly inspire true sons of patriotism in this town. About 12 o'clock the bell rang as a signal for the citizens to proceed to the Fed- eral Spring^ [on the ridge near Haehnlen's tavern, north-east of Harrisburg] where, and under the boughs of the spreading arbor, they partook of a public entertainment provided by a com- mittee appointed for that purpose; after which. Gen. Hanna being unanimously appointed to preside as President, the foUow- 15 114 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. ing toasts were given under a discharge of cannon from citizen Fenton." — Oracle, July 6, 1795. REMOVING OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE SUSQUEHANNA. " On Wednesday next, tlie committee appointed by the Gov- ernor and directors of the Maryland Susquehannah Canal, meet in this town to concert with the citizens of Pennsylvania on the most eligible mode of removing the obstructions in the river Susquehannah. In consequence of which the inhabitants of this town, and those of the neighborhood, are requested to meet at the Court House this afternoon at 4 o'clock, in order to ap- point a committee to co-operate in a measure calculated to pro- mote the interest of the public in general," — Oracle. At a respectable meeting of a number of gentlemen from the counties of Lancaster, York, Dauphin, Cumberland, Mifflin, Huntingdon, and Northumberland, in the State of Pennsylva- nia, and the counties of Cecil and Harford, in Maryland, held at Harrisburg, on Wednesday, the 12th day of August, 1795, for the purpose of concerting the most eligible mode of improv- ing the navigation of the river Susquehanna, it was Re&olved, unanimously, That subscriptions be immediately opened to raise a sum of money for removing the obstructions and improving the navigation in the bed of the river Susque- hanna between Wright's Ferry and the Maryland line; and that half the money thus subscribed be made payable on the 11th day of September next, and the other half on the 1st day of August, 1796. Resolved, That the following persons be empowered and re- quested to solicit subscriptions for the purpose aforesaid, and that they transmit monthly to the Treasurer hereinafter named, a particular account of all the monies subscribed on their re- spective lists. [Here follows the names of persons appointed in Cumberland, ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 115 Mifflin, Northumberland, Luzerne, Huntingdon, Bedford, Lan- caster, York, and Philadelphia counties, to solicit subscriptions.] The following named gentlemen were appointed for Dauphin county : John Kean, Archibald M'Allister, Martin Weaver, John Murray, James M'Creight. Messrs, Ephraim Blane, Robert Whitehill, John Bratton, George Gale and Samuel Hughes were appointed commissioners to superintend the work; and Stacy Potts, Esq., of Dauphin county. Treasurer of the fund. After this organization, the association published a spirited address, dated at Harrisburg, '' to all those interested in the navigation of the river Susquehanna;"" but we can find no record of its subsequent operations. The following advertisement appears in the '' Oracle" of the same date with the preceding : "Wanted, — A number of persons who are acquainted with blowing rocks and removing obstructions in the Susquehanna river, between the mouths of the Swatara creek and Juniata; those that can be well recommended shall have generous wages. Attendance will be given at Harrisburg during court week for making contracts, by SAMUEL BOYD and ELIJAH GREEN." HARRISBURG LIBRARY COMPANY. As early as 1794, some of the public spirited citizens of Har- risburg organized themselves into an association for mental im- provement and the promotion of the arts and sciences. This organization was called " The Mechanical Society of Harris- burg," and it held weekly meetings, generally at some one of the taverns in the borough. We find among its members the names of Stacy Potts, Henry Beader, Jacob Bucher, Jacob Reitzcll and Samuel Hill. From this Society originated the " Harrisburg Library Company," which was organized in the 116 ANNALS OF IIAERISBURG. early part of 1795, by the election of the following named gen- tlemen officers for the ensuing year, viz : Directors. — John Kean, Rev. Henry Mceller, Gen. John A. Hanna, William Graydon, Adam Boyd, John Dentzell, Rev. Nathaniel Snowden and Stacy Potts. Secretary — Henry Fulton. Treasurer — Stacy Potts. THE FOURTH OF JULY IN HARRISBURG, 179G. Harrisburg, July 11, 1796. — " The Fourth of July was ob- served by the citizens of this town with much hilarity and so- cial glee. The dawn of that auspicious morning was announced to the inhabitants and neighborhood by a discharge from the field piece of Captain Kean's company. At 12 o'clock the citi- zens assembled at the Market square, formed a procession, and marched to Federal hill, preceded by Lieut. Elder's Light Dra- goons, the President and Managers of the day. Captain Fisher's Light Infantry and Captain Kean's company of Artillery, the Sheriff, the reverend Clergy and Magistrates. After partaking of a collation, the President, Gen. Hanna, gave the following toasts, each of which was accompanied by a discharge from Captain Kean's Artillery and Captain Fisher's Light Infantry." Oracle. THEATRE AT HARRISBURG IN 1796. " The Harrisburg Company of Comedians, we hear, intend giving the public a specimen of their abilities, some evening during the present week. Attendance and reasonable credit will he given." — Oracle, Sept, 12, 1796. "A number of young gentlemen of this town, on the evenings of Thursday and Friday last, performed the celebrated comedy of ''The Prisoner at Large," to a very numerous audience; considering the many inconveniences which these young men ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 117 have surmounted in order to give a few hours amusement to this little social village, great credit is due them for their great perseverance and politeness/' — Oracle. SQUIRRELS BY THE BARREL, "According to modern prediction, the ensuing winter will be very severe indeed ; for never, perhaps, since the memory of man, were there known a greater quantity of squirrels than has been in this neighborhood since some days. We are told that during last week several hundred per day crossed the Susque- hanna from Cumberland into this county. Some of the inhab- itants, it is said, who live near the banks of the river, have been enabled to salt barrels of them for their winter's use." — Oracle, September 26, 1796. MISCELLANY. Among the business men in Harrisburg during the years 1794;-'5 and '6, we observe by the advertisements in the "Or- acle" the names of Andrew Forrest, druggist. Chestnut street, near Front; Doctor John Spangler, Market square; Robert Ir- win, dry goods; Gregg & M'Connel, dry goods, Front street; .John Kean, dry goods and groceries; Irwin & Howard, dry goods. Market street ; Peter Fahnestock, druggist. Walnut st.; Stacy Potts, lumber; John Wyeth, books, &c.. Second street; Obed Fahnestock, books, "opposite the sign of the King of Prussia;" Dalzall & Awl, groceries. Front st. ; Andrew Grouse, tobacconist, Paxton street, " next to Mr. Robert Harris ;" Gus- tine & Ripton, groceries, brick house at the corner of Front and Chestnut streets ; Stewart & Wier, merchandise, " Second street, at the sign of the Lion and Unicorn ;" Thos. Murray, dry goods, Market street, "near the court-house;" Curtis & Dutton, button makers, opposite Casper Smith's tavern ; Thos. Foster, dry goods and groceries, Front street ; Jacob Singer, 118 ANNALS or HAURISBURG. dry goods, Market square; Lepelletier & Benoist, groceries, &c., Front street; George Reininger, rope maker, Chestnut st.; Jacob Fridley, hatter, Front street; Jacob Burckhart, merchan- dise, turning, &c , Market square. Messrs. Peter Shaw, Anthony Seyfort, Alpheus Johnson, Moderwell, Richard Dougherty, and John M'Cann, re- spectively, advertise that they will " teach the young idea to shoot ;" and while the above named gentlemen directed the heads of their pupils, Messrs. Richard Haughton, Currier, and M. Peticollas, from France, instructed their feet in the " poetry of motion." The principal hotel at Harrisburg in 1796 was that known as the " Dauphin Hotel," at the sign of the ''Indian Chief," kept by John H.. Shaeffer, who devotes near a column of the "Ora- cle" in pointing out the superior merits of his establishment, in a style little less grandiloquent than that done now-a-days by the landlords of some of our hotel palaces. We cannot learn posi- tively where this hotel was situated. Some old citizens think it was the building afterwards known as the " Washington House," at the east corner of Market street and the square. PATRIOTISM OF THE CITIZENS IN 1797. The difficulties that existed between the American Govern- ment and the Directory of the French people in 1797, created an unusual degree of excitement throughout the country, and preparations for war were made everywhere. The following ex- tracts will show the patriotism evinced by the citizens of Har- risburg on that occasion : " On Monday last, agreeable to notice given, the company of Light Infantry commanded by Captain Matthew Henry paraded at this place. Their commander, in a very animated address, informed them of the occasion of their meeting; when the young gentlemen unanimously offered their services as part of ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 119 the quota of this State — to hold themselves ia readiness to march when called upon." — Oracle, Nov. 15, 1797. " On Saturday last, Captain Connelly's Artillery met at their usual parade in this town. The Captain addressed the com pany in a style of real patriotism, in which he plainly evinced the necessity and virtue of supporting the rights and laws of our country in time of danger. In consequence, we hear, all the members present, except one, voluntarily oifered themselves as a part of the quota to be furnished by this State." — Oracle, Nov. 22, 1797. In May, 1798, a large and respectable meeting of the citi- zens of the borough was held at the house of Mr. Andrew Ber- ryhill, when an address to the President, (John Adams,) of which the following is an extract, vv^as agreed upon : '' That in our opinion the conduct and designs of the French Republic (scarcely aggravated or made more apparent by the profligacy of their avowal) are such as to produce alarm and indignation in every breast which feels for the honor and hap- piness of America, and to excite the apprehensions of every man, of whatever nation or country, who may place a sense of justice, of morality and piety among the oroaments of his na- ture and the blessings of society. That under this persuasion, we hold it wise to be prepared for every event, and shall there- fore most cheerfully acquiesce in such measures of defence as may be adopted by you, sir, and the other branches of the Ad- ministration, at the present momentous period." The address was tiansmitted to the President, who acknowl- edged its receipt in an appropriate and extended reply, which commenced as follows : " To the Inhabitants of the Borough of Harri&burg , in the State of Pennsylvania : Gentlemen : Your address has been presented to me by Mr. Hartley, Mr. Sitgreaves, and Mr. Hanna, three of your Repre- sentatives in Congress. 120 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. I know not which to admire most, the conciseness, the en- ergy, the elegance, or profound wisdom of this excellent ad- dress." The reply concluded as follows : " That America may have the glory of arresting this torrent of error, vice and imposture, is my fervent wish; and if senti- ments as great as those from Harrisburg should be found uni- versally to prevail, as I doubt not they will, my hopes will be as sanguine as my wishes. JOHN ADAMS. Phila., 12th May, 1798." INDIAN VISITORS. "Last Friday crossed the Susquehanna near this town, on their way to the President of the United States, sixty-three Indians and seven squaws, having in their custody a white man prisoner, (charged with having murdered one of their chiefs,) whom they mean to demand of the President, in order to sacrifice according to their custom, [pine-knot splinters and the stake !] and agree- able to treaty. It is said they are the principal Indians who fought at St. Clair's defeat." — Oracle, June 6, 1798. SINGULAR OCCURRENCE. On the night of June 18, 1799, two farmers residing near this place took a tour in the woods, in company with their dogs, to hunt racoons. They had not proceeded far ere they descried one of the animals they were in quest of, which they immedi- ately shot. As the weather was intensely warm, and they expect- ing to be abroad some time, they concluded not to keep the meat of their game, and therefore took the skin oiT and threw the car- cass away. The party continued scouring the woods during the greatest part of the night, but with indifferent success; at last, however, they observed their dogs had discovered something, which by their constant howling, induced the farmers to go to ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 121 them. They found, on going up, their faithful servants atten- tively watching an old log, and upon making incisions in the same with axes, judge of their astonishment to see running from the log the very racoon %ohoi,e hide they already had in their possession! This circumstance is related in the ''Oracle of Dauphin' of 1799, as a fact. THE SEDITION LAW. The only arrest in Harrisburg under what is termed the "Adams sedition law," is noticed in the following paragraph from the ''Oracle of Dauphin" of August, 28, 1799 : "On Saturday morning last, William Nichols, marshal of Pennsylvania, arrested Benj. Moyer and Conrad Fahnestock, printers and proprietonj of the ' Dutch Aurora' of this borough, for publishing a ' false, scandalous and malicious libel against the laws and government of the United States.' They have given bail for their appearance at the District Court of the Uni- ted States, to be held at the city of Philadelphia, Octobes, 11, themselves in §2000, and four securities in §1000 each." The marshal who made the arrest was accompanied to the bor- ough by a troop of horsemen, and they made their entry into town up Front street. DEATH OF GEN. WASHINGTON. The " Oracle of Dauphin" of December 30, 1799, appears in mourning for the death of Gen. Washington. "At a meeting of a number of gentlemen of Harrisburg, at Capt. Lee's, [old Washington House] on Monday evening, De- cember 23, it was, among other resolutions, ^^ Resolved, That as a mark of our unfeigned regret upon this melancholy occasion, we and our respective families will wear mourning for one month; and that we will recommend to such of our fellow-citizens as have similar feelings, to unite with us 16 122 ANNALS OF HARRISBURQ. in this small testimonial of respect and veneration for his (Wash- ington's) illustrious character." The citizens generally carried out the recommendation of the meeting. On the 9th of January, 1800, the citizens of Middletown and surrounding country testified their sorrow for the loss of the nation's favorite by meeting at the farm-house of Geo. Fisher, Esq., and moving therefrom in the following order to the meet- ing house: Trumpeteer. Cavalry on foot, swords drawn. Infantry, arms reversed, by platoons inverted. Rifle company, arms reversed. Militia officers in uniform. Music. Standard. Surgeons. Clergy. Pall bearers. Young ladies in white. Ancient citizens first. Citizens in general by two. Boys by pairs. Having arrived at the meeting house, the troops formed lines right and left, when the clergy, pall bearers and citizens entered, followed by the troops, while the Dead March from Saul was performed by the organist. The exercise was opened by a short prayer, and singing part of the 90th psalm. liev. Mr. Snowden and Rev. Mr. Mooller then delivered im- pressive and well adapted addresses. Most of the military who joined in the procession were from Harrisburg. ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 123 EARTHQUAKE AT HARRISBURG. On Thursday morning, the 20th of November, 1800, two shocks of an earthquake were sensibly felt by the inhabitants of Harrisbui'g and vicinity. The first took place about fifteen min- utes before five o'clock, and lasted about forty seconds. In some houses the effects were more visible than in others ; the knockers on some of the doors rapped as though they were moved by hands, and in one dwelling a set of china was shaken from a table and broken to pieces. The fright occasioned many of the inhabitants to rise from their beds. The second shock took place five minutes after five o'clock, and lasted about half a minute. It was not as severe as the former, but was sensibly felt in every dwelling. In both in- stances a rumbling noise accompanied the trembling of the earth. HARRISBURG IN 1808-'9-'10-'ll. In the year 1808, Mr. John Wyeth's paper, having reached its seventeenth volume, appeared enlarged from three to four columns, rendering its size nearly as large as the present daily papers gf the borough. Its title at this period was simply " The Oracle of Dauphin," the words " and Harrisburg Advertiser," which formed part of the title when it was first published, being omitted. The publication office had also been removed from ivjulberry to Second street, where it remained until September, 1809, when it was again removed to Market Square. A large portion of each number of the paper is devoted to foreign news, detailing particulars of the Napoleonic wars. The following is a summary of the advertisements and items of local interest which appeared in the files of this paper from October, 1808, to October, 1811 : 1808, October — The Harrisburg and Philadelphia stage adver- tised to start once a week* 124 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. Frederick Wolfersberger, Sheriff. Result of the State and county election held in Harrisburg : Governor — Simon Snyder received 534 votes. James Ross " 92 " John Spayd " 3 <' Co?2f/ress — Robert Whitehill '' 546 " David Baird " 639 " John Glonninger " 84 '^ Wm. Alexander '< 78 '' Assembly — Jacob Bucher " 557 '' James Wallace " 559 " Andrew Shultz " 561 " John Stoner " 55 " Jacob Beam " 49 " Chris. Ley " 49 '' Hon. John Joseph Henry, President Judge of the county court, offers to dispose of ten different tracts of land. A new mail stage line between Harrisburg and Alexandria, Huntingdon county, is advertised to run once a week. Fare for passage, $6. A dancing school '' at Mr. Norton's large room" is adver- tised. Samuel M'Clintock advertises a night school at his resi- dence, corner of Front and Market streets. November 12. — The friends of Mr. Simon Snyder, in Harris- burg, commemorated that gentleman's election to the Executive chair by a public dinner yesterday. Over one hundred and fifty persons sat down to the repast. In the evening a number of the houses were illuminated, and a huge lantern containing a number of lights, dis- playing sundry emblematical words thereon, was paraded through the streets. The stockholders of the Lancaster, Elizabethtown and Mid- dletown turnpike company are admonished to pay up ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 125 arrearages to finish the road, otherwise " their names will appear in the papers." James M'Grianis desires patronage for a public school. 1809; February. — The public are invited to attend the opening of the new Presbyterian Church, in Second street, on Sunday and Monday, the 12th and 13th. Several cler- gyman were expected to be present to install Rev. Mr. Buchanan as pastor thereof ; and some attention to music was to be given. Died, at Fort Hunter, a few miles north of the borough, aged about twenty-five years. Dr. Gates M' AUister, second son of Capt. Archibald M'Allisfcer. , Messrs. Hamilton, Albright and Ehrenfried proposed to es- tablish a German paper, to be called the " Volksfreund," in the borough. George Fisher, Esq., of Harrisburg, having laid out a new town called Harborton, at the confiuence of the Swa- tara with the Susquehanna, in Dauphin county, proposes to dispose of the lots at $60 each. The name Harbor- ton was subsequently changed to Portsmouth. " We learn," says the Oracle, " that the bill for the removal of the seat of government of Pennsylvania to Harris- burg has passed the Senate, and is to be taken up in the lower House this day," (February 25.) March 11. — The same paper says: "The act for removing the seat of government to Harrisburg is postponed in the Senate, and recommended to the early attention of the next Legislature, For postponing, 16 ; against it, 14. In the lower House it was agreed not to take up the ques- tion of removal this session — yeas, 47 ; nays, 42. 31arch 25. — At the election for borough officers on the 17th inst., Thomas Elder, Esq., was elected Chief Burgess, and Moses Gil more. Assistant Burgess. 126 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. April 15. — At an election held on Wednesday last for Chief BurgesS; in place of Thomas Elder, Esq., who declined serving, William Graydon, Esq., was duly elected to that office. In the account of monies expended by the corporation of the borough of Harrisburg for the current year, appears the following : "To C. Kunkel, balance due for erecting market houses, $305 75" Mr. John Gingrich, of Londonderry township, offers to sell the time of a stout, healthy negro boy, aged about four- teen years. Mr. Jacob Steinman advertises entertainment for man and beast at the " Golden Lion," in Market street, opposite the Court House. April 22i. — The books for subscription to the stock of the company incorporated to erect a " permanent bridge over the Susquehanna at or near Harrisburg," are advertised to be opened on the 2d of May next, at the public bouses of Andrew Berryhill, George Brenizer, Daniel Stine, George Zeiglar and Jacob Fridley, in Harrisburg. The " Harrisburg Volunteers" are requested to meet at Col. Zeiglcr's on Monday next, by order of the Captain, John Irwin. Andrew Miller, of Paxton, three miles from Harrisburg, offers to sell a mulatto wench who has five years to serve, and has a child five or six months old, which will be sold ,(' along. f Mot/ 13. — •The directors of the Philadelphia Bank appointed the following gentlemen directors of the office of discount and deposit established in this borough : Robert Harris, Samuel Laird, Christian Kunkle, George Hoyer, Obed Fahnestock, Jacob Bucher, John Forster, Conrod Bom- baugh, of Harrisburg; Elisha Green, Edward Crouch, ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 127 of Middletown ; John Carson, of Paxton ; Thos. Dun- can, James Given, Richard O'Bryan, of Carlisle; and Jacob M. Haldeman, of Allen township, Cumberland county. Robert Harris, President; Moses Musgrave, Cashier. The Bank commenced discounting on Monday, the 22d, following; and the days of discount were on each Mon- day afterwards. The office of the Bank was located in the building which stood until 1854, at the south-west corner of Market Square and Blackberry alley, the site of the present Har- risburg Bank building. It appears to have been the first banking institution in the borough. June 3.— The annual Spring Fair is advertised to be held on Thursday and Friday, the 8th and 9th of June, in Har- risburg. Great accommodations would be provided for pedlars and merchants of all descriptions. June 17.— On vVednesday, while a flat was crossing the river at the ferry three miles below the borough, (loaded with very valuable goods belongiag to a merchant in Ken- tucky,) several horses and sundry persons, it was sud- denly overtaken by a very violent gust nearly in the mid- dle of the river, and notwithstanding the utmost exer- tion of the ferrymen, was in a few moments sunk to the bottom. Fortunately, the wagoner had the precaution to disengage the horses from the wagon a few moments previous to the gale reaching them, by which means both the lives of the men and the horses were saved. The contents of the wagon were lost. June 10. — A grandson of the celebrated William Penn re- sided in the borough at this period, in the brick house owned at the time by Mr. John Wyeth, now occupied by Mr. John Knepiey, situated in Second street, below Mulberry. 128 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. July 1. — Died, on Tuesday evening last, in Middletown, in the sixty-sixth year of his age, Mr. George Lauman, mason. His death was occasioned by a severe kick of a horse. July 8. — The anniversary of American independence was celebrated in a conspicuous manner by the Harrisburg Volunteer Light Infantry, and a number of other citi- zens of the borough. The Infantry, under the command of Ensign John Brooks, proceeded from Front street to the upper ferry, where they were received into a com- modious flat, and safely transported to William Maclay's island, opposite the town, at which place, by previous arrangement, a delicious repast was prepared. Dr. James M'Ginnis was chosen President, and Dr. Samuel Agnew Vice President. The company then took their seats and dined sumptuously; after which a number of patriotic toasts were drank, each accompanied by a regular volley of musketry. A number of the citizens of the borough also celebrated the day on '* Laurel Hill," near town. Dr. John Luther presided, assisted by John Downey, Esq. October 14. — At an election held at George Zeigler's, inn- keeper, on Thursday last, for officers of the Harrisburg Light Infantry, John Forster was elected Captain, James M'Ginnis, Lieutenant, and Charles Still, Ensign. The Harrisburg volunteers are notified to meet at Col. Zeigler's on Monday, the 16th, by order of the Captain. Henry Pefi'er, Sergeant. October 21. — ^'Anact relative to a niglitly loatcli. — Whereas, the President and Directors of the Philadelphia Bank, for the better protection and greater safety of the branch bank in the borough of Harrisburg, have appointed a watchman : and whereas, a number of the inhabitants of the said borough have contributed (with the approbation ANNALS OF HARRISBURQ. 129 of the officers of said bank) an additional salary, for the purpose of compensating the said watchman to patrol a certain portion of the said borough at certain hours of the night ; therefore, in order to carry into effect the intention of so useful a regulation^ be it ordained/' &c. [The section invests the said watchman with all the au- thority of constables to arrest disorderly and suspicious persons.] The " persons who wish to encourage a singing school in the borough are requested to meet at Mr. John Nor- ton's." The Middletown races are advertised to commence on Wed- nesday, the 22d, on which day a subscription purse of $60 will be run for three mile heats. The Directors of the Poor advertise that the Poor House mill, with the appurtenances, will be rented on Thurs- day, the 7th of December. John Shoch advertises entertainment for man and beast at the sign of the " Wheat Sheaff," corner of Market and Front streets, in the borough. December 16.— Drs. Samuel Agnew and John Cleaveland commence a spirited controversy in the " Oracle" upon their respective professional merits. December 23. — The Commissioners of the county advertise the ferry at Harrisburg for rent. 1810, January 12. — Mr. Colome, dancing mastei', Professor of the Academy at Paris and Madrid, gives notice that he will open a dancing academy at the public house of Col. George Zeigler, in the borough, en the 1st of March. February 17. — The editor of the "Oracle" says "we cordi- ality congratulate our fellow-citizens of Harrisburg on the pleasiug prospect of its shortly becoming the permanent seat of government for the great and respectable State of Pennsylvania. The following bill passed the House of 17 130 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. Representatives of this State on Monday last, by a large majority, and in the Senate on Wednesday last, by a ma- jority of one vote; and nothing but the signature of the Governor is required to make it a law, of which not a doubt remains." [Here follows the act of Assembly es- tablishing the seat of government at Harrisburg, which will be found under the head of *' Removal of the Seat of Government."] March 3. — Accounts are given of experiments made at Wash- ington city with certain torpedoes and harpoons invented by one Robert Fulton, for war purposes, 'ihe editor admits that the machinery of the instruments were inge- nious, but places little confidence in their utility, and seems disposed to be facetious over their failure. [A few years previous, this same Robert Fulton had proved the practicability of navigating the North River, New York, with a steamboat of his own invention ] March 10. — In the proceedings of the Senate of February 21, appears the following : '■^ To the Senate and House of Representatives : — Gentle- men : I have this day approved and signed the following act of the General Assembly, and directed the Secretary to return the same to the House in which it originated : ' An act establishing the seat of government of the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania at Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin'" March 24 — Ai an election held on Friday, the 16th inst., for borough officers, Joshua Elder was elected Chief Bur- gess, and John Wyeth Assistant Burgess. .Messrs Ro- bert Harris, George Zeigler, John Shoch, Christian Kun- kle, Peter Keller, Jacob Boas, John Capp, John Irwin and Moses Gillmore were elected Councilmen. March 31 — Mrs. Smith, (late from Northumberland,) gives notice that she will open a school on Monday, the 2d of ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 131 April, " at the house of Mr. Dubbs, next door to Mr. Stine's tavern." Chambers' Ferry, three miles below Harrisburg, is offered for rent. April 7. — Adam Rupley advertises accommodation for man and beast ''at the sign of the Bell," in the house for- merly occupied by Simon Snyder, and latterly by Her- man Frederick as a tavern, a few doors below Mr. Har- ris' stone mansion, in Front street. April 21. — A large vein of beautiful colored marble of supe- rior fineness was recently opened near the borough ; and another of a very fine white has likewise just been dis- covered on the plantation of Mr. Neidig, near the County Poor House. [Is this quarry exhausted ? — Com.'] May 5. — Died, on Wednesday afternoon, in this borough, in the forty-third year of her age, of pulmonary consump- tion, Mrs. Polly Cox, consort of the late Cornelius Cox, of Coxestown. This lady was distinguished for her en- gaging deportment through life. Her remains were de- . posited in the family graveyard at Coxestown. June 16. — Died, on the 12th inst., in this borough, of pul- monary consumption, Mrs. Catherine Elder, consort of Thomas Elder, Ksq., and daughter of the late Cornelius Cox, of Coxestown June 2. — The " Oracle" contains the following advertisement taken from a Baltimore paper. We give it a place as a curiosity : ^^ Riflemen attention! — A man to be shot for the benefit of his wife and children — $1 a shot, one hui;dred yards distance, with rifles — on Wednesday, the loth inst., at Govanstown, at o. p. M. The above mentioned man is in a very low state of health, and wishes to leave bis family snug." .,;3.'sI-.Tk'> J Illy 7 — The thirty-fiiurth nnMivorsin-y of Aru'^^ican in(U>pen'- 132 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. dence was celebrated by the citizens of the borough with the usual demonstrations of joy and patriotism. The morning was hailed by seventeen volleys from Captain Boas' company of Infantry; and about tea o'clock one hundred and fifty citizens, preceded by Capt. Boas' com- pany and martial and other music, walked in procession to an agreeable rural spot near the borough, where Moses Gillmore, Esq , was chosen President, and Jacob Bucher, Esq., Vice President of the day. The Declaration of Independence was read by the Vice President, and pa- triotic toasts drank. The " Harrisburg Volunteers," commanded by Capt John Irwin, met at an early hour at Col. George Zeigler's, from whence they retired to Maclay's Island, accompa- nied by Col. George Zeigler and Major Umberger, for the purpose of celebrating the day. The usual number of toasts were drank, each accompanied by a volley of musketry. On Thursday, the 5th inst , about thirty young ladies of the borough, desirous of emulating the other sex in their 4th of July hilarities, marched to a beautiful spring near the town, and after an agreeable repast, spent the day in gay and cheerful conversation. During the entertain- ment they drank a number of patriotic toasts, "accom- panied with animating cheers." August 11. — Previous to the erection of the public sewers in Market and Second streets, the Square, or at least the greatest part thereof, was usually flooded with water aft^jr a heavy rain, which sometimes would remain there for a considerable period. In alluding to this circum- stance, the Lancaster Journal, under the head of '' In- land Navigation," intimates a design on the part of the citizens of Harrisburg to adopt the Venitian style of visiting in gondolas ! ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 133 1811, January 19. — The Hon. John Joseph Henry, President of the Courts of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the district composed of the counties of Lancaster, York and Dauphin, resigned his office. January 26. — Appointment hy the Governor. — Walter Frank- lin, late Attorney General of the State, to be President of the Courts in the counties of York, Lancaster and Dauphin, in the room of John J. Henry, Esq., re- signed. February 2. — Departed this life on Monday morning last, after a short but severe illness, Dr. John Luther, in the fifty-fourth year of his age, for many years a useful, hu- mane, and fortunate practitioner in the science of physic and surgery in the borough. March 23. — The bill to appropriate S30,000 to complete the public offices at Harrisburg passed both houses of the Legislature, and only awaits the signature of the Gover- nor to become a law. April 6. — On Tuesday last the Legislature of this Common- wealth adjourned sine die. Among the most important acts it has passed was one appropriating $90,000 towards building a bridge across the Susquehanna river at Har- risburg. April 13. — On Sunday afternoon last, as two brothers and a sister, by the name of Hahn, belonging to Cumberland county, were attempting to cross the Susquehanna, near the borough, in a canoe, the youngest lad, aged about fifteen years, by some sudden jolt of the canoe, fell over- board, when the sister, about two years younger, with the view probably to save her struggling brother, was likewise precipitated into the river, and both were drowned before any assistance could be offered them. April 20. — Mr. John Wyeth, Editor and Bookseller, adver- tises a Circulating Library, charging each reader six 134 ANNALS OP HARRISBUEG. cents per volume for perusing duodecimos, and ten cents for octavos. An ordinance was passed by the Town Council authorizing the town regulator to contract with some person for the erection of a sewer, " to carry off such redundant water as may from time to time collect in Market square." April 27. — Died at Lancaster, after many years afflicting ill- ness, John Joseph Henry. [The deceased was the first President Jujge of the courts in Dauphin county after the adoption of the new Constitution of Pennsylvania, in 1790, the judicial district then being composed of the counties of Dauphin, York and Lancaster. In the year 1775, Mr. Henry, then a young man, joined the Ameri- can army at Boston, as a volunteer cadet, and at the close of that year he marched with the first Pennsylva- nia regiment on the expedition to Canada, a campaign distinguished in the history of the war for the gallantry and sufferings of the army. Of these sufferings Mr. Henry bore more than a common share, for he was among the first of seven (one of which was the notorious Aaron Burr) who volunteered to go in advance and explore a route for the army through the wilderness, for nearly 300 miles, a service of great fatigue and danger. Du- ring that time, as well as before Quebec, young Henry acquired, by his bravery and good conduct, the approba- tion of his ofl&cers, who gave very honorable testimonials of his gallantry. At the storming of Quebec, under General Montgomery, he shared the fate of his brave but unfortunate countrymen, and was taken prisoner. While in that situation, having concerted a plan of es- cape with some of his associates, in order to rejoin the American army, he was closely confined in iions for many months, in which position he contracted a s or- butic coiuplaiut, which prevented his re entering the ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 135 army on being released, and which, after impairing his health, reduced him to a state of great disease and de- crepitude, and rendered him prematurely old. — Fiom the report of a committee made to the Legislature in January, 1811.] May 4. — Died, on Saturday last, at New Market Forge, in this county, Mr. John Elder, Sr., aged about fifty-four years. His remains were interred in Paston burial ground, near the borough. May 25.— The " Yearly Market" at Middletown, Dauphin county, is advertised to commence on the 11th of June, at which time and place a great number of valuable horses, cows, sheep, lambs, calves, and hogs, with many articles suitable to the taste of the season, such as pick- led oysters, roast beef, punch and wine, will be offered for sale. The market to be enlivened with all kinds of music. June 22. — An unfortunate occurrence took place on Monday last at the public buildings in this place. While a num- ber of the hands were employed fixing a large stone about the cornice, a cross piece of timber which sup- ported the scaffold broke, which occasioned part of the scaffolding to give way, and precipitated four of the workmen to the earth. A Mr. Jesse Gohagan, who probably had hold of the stone at the moment, fell un- . der it, which mashed the entire upper part of his head, and killed him instantly. Two or three others had some of their limbs broken. The deceased resided within four miles of Baltimore. June 29. — The Trustees of the Harrisburg Academy adver- tise for a teacher. July 13. — The " Harrisburg Volunteers" celebrated the an- niversary of American independence by a public dinner on Maclay's Island. Samuel Agnew, Esq., ofiiciated as 136 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. President, and Mr. Jolin Fager as Vice President, on the occasion. Appropriate toasts were drank, accompa- nied with discharges of musketry. REMOVAL OF THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT TO HARRISBURG. The first indication of a realization of the prophecy of John Harris that the town he had laid out on the banks of the Sus- quehanna would become the future seat of government of Penn- sylvania, occurred in the winter of 1808-9. In the State Senate, on the 4th of January of the latter year, Mr. Laird presented the petition of sundry inhabitants of the town of Northumberland, in Northumberland county, stating the central situation of that place, and showing the advantages of fixing the State government there, offering accommodations for the officers of the State and members of the Legislature, and praying a removal of the seat of government thither. The petition was referred to a committee consisting of Messrs. Laird, Htston, Doty, Hiester and Laycock. On the same day, the following preamble and resolution was presented to the Senate, and also referred to the same commit- tee : " Whereas, The books, records and documents belonging to the different departments of the government of this Common- wealth, particularly those of the Land Office, are in want of suit- able buildings for their safe keeping, greatly exposed to dan- gerous accidents by fire and otherwise — for a remedy whereof. Resolved, That a committee be appointed to prepare and re- port a bill to fix the permanent seat of government at , in the county of , and provide for erecting thereat suit- able buildings for the accommodation of the Legislature, and the several offices attached thereto, before the first Tuesday in December, 18 — /' The committee to whom the subject was referred shortly after ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 137 submitted a report recommending the removal of the seat of government to the town of Northumberland, in the county of Northumberland. The Senate, however, when considering the report, struck out the words " Northumberland, in the county of Northumberland." February 17, 1809. — In Committee of the Whole, in the Senate, Mr. Sommer moved to fill the blank with the words " city of Philadelphia." Mr. Sommer said he was as far removed from being influenced by any local interest as any member of the Senate. He wished to fix the seat of government permanently where it would most conduce to the interest of the people, and he believed Philadel- phia to be that place. Wherever the seat of government is, to that place trade will in some measure be directed ; and it is the interest of the State to secure the trade to her metropolis. Mr. Dorsey said there were already buildings in Philadelphia sufficient for all the officers of government and for the Legisla- ture. This was not the case elsewhere. If they removed to any other place, much expense would be incurred in the erec- tion of these buildings. He had many other reasons for voting for Philadelphia; but, under a belief that the seat of govern- ment would not be fixed there, he would not take up the time of the Senate in mentioning them. Any other place than Lan- caster, however, would be cordially voted for by him. He would vote even for Pittsburg. The motion to fill the blank with the word " Philadelphia" was lost — only eight yeas voting in favor of the same. Mr. Laird moved to fill the blank with the words '' town of Northumberland, in the county of Northumberland." Mr. Burrows said : This question was of the first importance to Pennsylvania; it was important to the State to concentrate her whole interest in fixing the permanent seat of government. And how is this to be done but by fixing upon as central a place as can be found. He confessed that, for this purpose, Harris- 18 138 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. burg was next to Northumberland ; but then Harrisburg was but twenty miles from the southern boundary of the State, and Northumberland was eighty. And (said Mr. B.) are we to fix it at Harrisburg, and make the people come over the mountains with knapsacks on their backs, only that the rich at this end of the State may have an opportunity of riding to the seat of gov- ernment in their coaches. Mr. Irish observed that he had lately examined all the situa- tions from the mountains above Harrisburg down to Columbia, and he thought the most suitable situation was near to Middle- town. That place, he said, was best to divert the trade to Phil- adelphia ; a canal was contemplated which would afford water carriage for produce to the city of Philadelphia from Middle- town. The situation at Harrisburg was very pleasant and hand- some, but it was not so eligible for the purpose of intercepting the trade and preventing its going to Baltimore. He thought a committee should be appointed to examine the situations on the Susquehanna, and make report to the next Legislature. The question was then taken on filling the blank with the words " the town of Northumberland, in the county of North- umberland," and lost — seven only rising in favor of it. Mr. Lane then moved to fill the blank with the words ''bor- ough of Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin ;" which was agreed to — 14 to 10. The resolution attached to the report was adopted ; when the committee rose, and the Speaker took the chair. The Senate proceeded to consider the report. Mr. Weaver moved to postpone the report for the purpose of introducing a substitute, which contemplated a purchase by the State of one hundred and fifty acres of land, the property of Abraham Huey, a short distance above Harrisburg. This (with the motion to postpone) was opposed by Burrows and Dorsey, on the ground that this land was to be purchased for the purpose of speculation, and that it was disgraceful for ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 139 the Legislature to enter into it. Neither, they said, did this tract of land adjoin Harrisburg. The report was postponed, and the substitute introduced. Mr. Sommer moved to strike out that part of the substitute which authorized the purchase by the State of one hundred and fifty acres of land from Abraham Huey, Carried — ^yeas 13, nays 9. The part appropriating money for the erection of public build- ings, &c., was also stricken out. Mr. Roberts moved that the blank in the resolution attached to the substituted report be filled up with the words " first of November," which was agreed to ; and the substitute as amended was carried. Subsequent to this action, a bill for the removal of the seat of government to Harrisburg was prepared and considered in the Senate, and postponed until the next session. The House of Representatives refused to take up the bill during that session. No further action on the subject appears to have been had in the Legislature until February, 1810, when a bill, of which the following is a synopsis, passed both branches of the Legislature, and became a law : "An act estahlisJnng the seat of government of the Common- wealth of Pennsylvania at Harrisburg y in the county of Dau- phin. Sect. 1. Be it enacted, &c., That within the month of Octo- ber, 1812, all the ofiices attached to the seat of government of this State shall be removed to the borough of Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin, by their respective holders, and shall after that period cease to be exercised elsewhere; at which said bor- ough of Harrisburg the session of the Legislature thereafter, as well as all future sessions, shall be held ; and the said borough of Harrisburg is hereby fixed and declared to be the seat of gov- ernment of the said Commonwealth. 140 ANNALS OP HARRTSBURG. Sect. 2 — [Directs the Secretary of the Commonwealth, State Treasurer, Auditor General, Secretary of the Land Office, and Surveyor General, the clerks of both Houses of the Legislature, and all officers whose official duties are attached to the seat of government, to remove, or cause to be removed, all books, re- cords, papers, &c., to the said offices respectively, or to the State generally, to the borough of Harrisburg, in the manner provided for in this act.] Sect. 3. That Robert Harris, George Hoyer and George Zeig- ler shall be, and they are hereby appointed commissioners, who, together with the respective officers aforesaid, shall superintend and direct the removal of the books, records, papers and other documents aforesaid, and shall provide at the borough of Harris- burg good and suitable rooms and apartments for the convenient accommodation of the Legislature, and also for the receiving, opening and depositing the said books, records, papers and other documents, and for conducting and transacting the business of the offices aforesaid, respectively; and in case of the resignation of any of the aforesaid officers, or of their or any of their ne- glect and refusal or incapacity to attend to the business of the removal aforesaid, then it shall be and may be lawful for the said commissioners, or a majority of them, to proceed therein as if the said officers were attending. Sect. 4. That the Governor be, and he is hereby authorized and required, on behalf and in the name of this Commonwealth, to accept of the offer of ten acres of land in or adjoining the said borough of Harrisburg, at one hundred dollars per acre, made by William Maclay, adjoining to the four acre lot for- merly appropriated by John Harris, for the use of the State ; and to pay for the same and receive sufficient conveyances and assurances in fee simple therefor, to be recorded in the office for recording of deeds in the county of Dauphin aforesaid. Sect. 5 — [Appropriates |3,000 for the purpose of making the aforesaid purchase and discharging the expense of removal, ANNALS OP HAKRISBURG. 141 to be paid in advance — $2,000 to the said commissioners, and $1,000 for the said purchase.] Sect. 6 — [Appropriates the further sum of $30,000 for the purpose of erecting the ofi&ces at the seat of government, to wit : one for the Secretary of the Commonwealth, one for the Secre- tary of the Land Office, one for the Surveyor General, one for the Auditor General, one for the Treasurer, and one for any purpose to which it may hereafter be applied, each of which shall be fire-proof, for the safe keeping of all the records and papers belonging to said offices.] Sect. 7. That the Governor is hereby authorized and required immediately after the passage of this act, to appoint, and by supplying vacancies happening from refusals to act or other causes, to keep in appointment as long as may be necessary, three commissioners, whose duty it shall be, immediately after their appointment, to fix upon a site in or on the four acre lot described in the fourth section of this act, or on the ten acre lot purchased from William Maclay, and procure one or more plan or plans on which the said offices are to be built, and after a place shall be agreed on, according to the provisions which hereafter follow, it shall be their duty to contract for, direct and superintend the building and completing of the said offices. And it shall also be the duty of the said commissioners, as soon as they shall have ascertained the site for the said offices and pro- cured one or more plans, to lay the said plan or plans before the Governor, Secretary of the Land Office, Surveyor General, Au- ditor General, and the Treasurer of the Commonwealth, who, together with the three commissioners aforesaid, shall each have one vote in order to decide on a plan for the offices aforesaid ; and such plan as shall have a majority of the votes aforesaid, shall, by the commissioners aforesaid, be carried into execution. Sect. 8 — [Directs that as soon as the plan shall be decided on, the commissioners shall give notice in two newspapers of Philadelphia, Lancaster, York, Carlisle, Harrisburg, Pittsburg, 142 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. and Reading, for four weeks successively, tliat proposals will be received by them until a certain day, by them to be fixed, from any person or persons who shall be willing to undertake the building of the offices aforesaid : Provided, that every contract sball be made in writing, and that the parties contracting with the said commissioners give bonds with sufficient surety for the performance of their contracts.] Sect. 9 — [Provides that the money appropriated for this pur- pose shall be paid by the Treasurer of the Commonwealth, on the order of any two of the said commissioners, who are re- quired to keep strict accounts of their transactions, and to trans- mit an abstract thereof to the Governor once in every three months after their appointment.] Sect. 10 — [Provides that the aforesaid commissioners, before entering upon the duties of their appointment, shall subscribe to an oath or affirmation that they will faithfully perform the duties enjoined upon them by this act ; and that each of the said commissioners shall receive for every day's attendance upon the duties herein enjoined upon them, the sum of two dollars and fifty cents, and that any two of them may do and perform any act or duty herein enjoined on the said commissioners.] The commissioners on the part of the State, named in the third section of the above act, in their negotiations with Wm. Maclay for the purchase of the ten acres upon which the Capitol now stands, wished to have it adjoin the four acres and thirteen perches granted by John Harris, but as the grant of Harris was separated from the Maclay property by a range of five lots, ex- tending from High street to Third street, originally the property of the heirs of Harris, viz : of David Harris, Mrs. Maclay, Mrs. Hanna, James Harris, and Robert Harris, Mr. Maclay could not convey the title without first purchasing these lots from the then owners, which he did, and then conveyed the ten acres, as described in the deed from him to the Commonwealth. This deed; however, did not convey all the ground now enclosed ANNALS OF HARRTSBURG. 143 as the public ground. In order to obtain it, the State, by vir- tue of an act of the Legislature, purchased lots Nos. 271, 272, 273, 274 and 275 in the plan of the borough, from the indi- vidual owners, and after enclosing what was necessary to com- plete or square the grounds, and open High street as it is, sold the residue of said lots, lying between High street and Tanner's alley, and from Cranberry alley to the Maclay line, to the pre- sent owners or their vendors. The commissioners appointed by the Governor, by authority of the 7th section of the above act, were Wm. Findlay, Richard M. Grain, George Bryan, John B. Gibson, and William Gray- don, who immediately invited architects to exhibit to them plans and elevations for the contemplated buildings. A premium of $400 was to be given for the plan adopted by the Board, and $200 for that which they should adjudge the next best, Ste- phen Hills, Esq., was declared the successful competitor, his plan contemplating the connection of the main building with the offices by corridors. A supplement to the foregoing act was passed February 7, 1812, which provided in the first section for the removal of all the offices, within the month of April, to the borough of Har- risburg, the change of all papers, records, books and documents placed with the clerks of the two Houses, and expenses to be paid under the authority of the second section, out of the money already appropriated for that purpose. The second supplement to the original act was passed the 10th March, 1812, which appropriated, in the first section, $13,000 to complete the fire pi'oof offices at Harrisburg contemplated in the sixth section of the original act. In the second section it diiected the clerks of the two Houses, on or before the 1st of June next, (1812,) to remove, or cause to be removed, " all the papers, records, books and documents belonging to each House, as aforesaid, together with whatever furniture may be thought fit for removal.'^ 144 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. From the above records, it is ascertained that the government of the State was removed, in all its departments, in the year 1812, from Lancaster to Harrisburg, and that the first organiza- tion of the latter was in December of that year. The first sessions of the Legislature in Harrisburg were held in the present Court House building: the Courts, as previously stated, having vacated all the rooms therein excepting those occupied by the Prothonotary and Register, for that purpose. The large room on the second story was occupied by the Senate, and the present court room by the House of Representatives. The State Library was in the room now occupied by -the Town Council. The remaining rooms were used by the transcribing clerks and the committees of the Legislature. The circular vesti- bule in front of the building was erected by the State at this period. Recapitulation of Appropriations J or Public Offices. $30,000 30,000 13,000 10,000 By act of 21st February, 1810, " 28th March, 1811, «' 10th March, 1812, By resolution of 25th June, 1839, 21st April, 1840, 2,300 THE STATE CAPITOL— ITS COST. By " an act to erect the State Capitol, passed the 18th of March, 1816, there was appropriated . $50,000 By "a supplement to an act providing for the erec- tion of a State Capitol, approved the 27th of Feb- ruary, 1819, there was appropriated . . . 70,000 With the provision that said Capitol building should not cost naore than ......... By a further supplement, passed the 28th of March, 1820, for the purpose of constructing the columns and capitals thereof of hewn stone, and to cover the roof of the dome, &c., there was appropriated ...... Whole cost of Capitol, $120,000 15,000 $135,000 ! ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 145 By the fourth section of a supplement to the foregoing act, approved the 27th January, 1819, the sums appropriated were directed to be paid to the builder and architect, as follows : First payment, Second payment, Third payment, Fourtli payment, Making $50,000 30,000 30,000 10,000 $120,000 The fourth payment of ^10,000 by act of Assembly hereafter recited, was divided into two parts, for what reason is not stated ; the first of S3,000, and the last of ^7,000. The entire cost of the public buildings and grounds, up to January, 1819, as near as can be ascertained, was as follows : Cost of Executive offices north west and south-east of Cap- itol building $93,000 Cost of Capitol, 135,000 Cost of Arsenal, 12,000 Public grounds, its enclosure and embellishment, . . 35,000 Total, $275,000 LAYING THE CORNER-STONE OF THE CAPITOL. The corner-stone of the Capitol was laid at twelve o'clock on Monday, the 31st of May, 1819, by Gov. Findlay, Stephen Hills, architect and contractor fur the execution of the work; William Smith, stone-cutter; and Valentine Kergan and Sam- uel White, masons, in presence of the commissioners, and a large concourse of citizens of Harrisburg; and was followed by three discharges from one of the public cannon. The Harrisburg band of music attended^ and added much to the interest and satisfaction which all seemed to feel and enjoy j and after the ceremonies of the occasion had been concluded, the commissioners, architect, stone-cutters, masons, carpenters 19 146 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. and workmen, with a number of citizens, partook of a cold col- lation provided on the public ground by Mr. Eahm. The commissioners deposited in the stone copies of the fol- lowing mentioned documents : Charter of Charles II. to William Penn. Declaration of Independence. Constitution of Pennsylvania, 1776. Articles of confederation and perpetual union between the several States. Copy of so much of an act of the General Assembly of Penn- sylvania, by which indemnity was made to the heirs of William Penn for their interest in Pennsylvania. Treaty of peace and acknowledgment by Great Britain of the independence of the United States. Constitution of the United States, 1787. Constitution of Pennsylvania, 1790. Acts of the Legislature of Pennsylvania, by which the seat of government was removed from Philadelphia to Lancaster and Harrisburg, and the building of a State Capitol at the latter place authorized. A list of the names of the commissioners, architects, stone- cutter and chief masons ; likewise a list of the then officers of the government of Pennsylvania, embracing the Speakers of the two Houses of the Legislature, the Governor, the Heads of De- partment, the Judges of the Supreme Court, and Attorney Gen- eral, with the names of the President and Vice President of the United States. It was a singular oversight of the commissioners or architect to omit distinguishing this stone by some appropriate mark or inscription. Out of twelve of our old citizens who witnessed the ceremony, the compiler could find but one (Mr. George Eich- oltz) who was able to inform him positively at which corner of the buildina; the stone is situated. This gentleman states that ANNALS OP HAREISBURG. 147 ife is at the south-western corner ; and further, that " when Gov. Findlay went through the form of laying it, he accidentally broke the mallet, which was considered by the assemblage of people as a bad omen." FURNISHING STATE CAPITOL. An act providing for the furnishing of the State Capitol, and for other purposes therein mentioned, was passed March 30, 1821. Section 1. The Governor, Auditor General, State Treasurer, William Graydon, Jacob Bucher, Francis R. Shunk, and Joseph A. M'Ginsey appointed commissioners to superintend the fur- nishing the State Capitol. Section 2. Commissioners to contract in manner provided, for providing furniture for the Executive, enumerating the articles. Sections 3, 4 and 5 provide in like manner for furnishing fur- niture, closets, &c., for chambers of the Senate and House, and for the joint library and committee rooms, together with a six- faced clock, four of which shall be outside the dome, one to be fixed in a suitable place in the Senate Chamber, and the other in the Hall of the House of Representatives. Section 6 provides for building out-houses, levelling public grounds, paving, and authorizing the putting the telescope in the Library in complete order. Section 7. The sum of $15,000 appropriated, to be drawn on the warrant of the Governor to meet the foregoing provisions. DEEDS FOR PUBLIC GROUND, WITH THEIR DATES. Cost 1490, from John Fleck and wife to Commonwealth, for lots Nos. 271 and 272, August 27, 1828. Cost 1200, from Ebenezer Ward and wife to Commonwealth, for lot No. 273, July 16, 1828. Cost $200, from Joseph Black to Commonwealth, for lot No. 274, August 7, 1828. 148 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. Cost $300, from John Trimble and wife to Commonwealth, for lot No. 275, August 4, 1828. The foregoing lots had for their boundaries High street, South street, Farmers' lane and Cranberry alley, authority for the pur- chase of which was given by act of Assembly, passed April 14, 1828. The above lots, it appears by reference to acknowledgments of purchase moneys, cost the Commonwealth $1100, which, after cutting off such parts as were needed for public use, sold for $412. SALE OF PART OF THE ABOVE LOTS, The third section of an act to provide for additional clerk hire, &c., passed the 22d day of April, 1829, provides that the com- missioners appointed to superintend the improvements of the public grounds attached to the State Capitol, or a majority of them, are authorized to sell such parts of five lots of ground ad- joining each other, lying east of High street, in Harrisburg, which was purchased by them in pursuance of the provisions of an act passed April 14, 1828, as they may deem necessary for the extension and improvement of the said public grounds, and to execute a deed or deeds conveying an estate in fee simple therefor to the purchaser or purchasers thereof; and the money arising from such sale shall be added to the fund already appro- priated by law for the improvement of the said public ground, under the direction of the said commissioners. The record of the sale of the lots is found in the accounting department of the State, as follows : July 10, 1829, from James Trimble, two lots, . . . $239 00 July 13, 1829, from Henry Buehler, one lot, . . . 58 00 July 13, 1829, from Mr. Carson, 115 00 Total, $412 00 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 149 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS, Dated Harrisburg, November 27, 1827, and signed by J. D. Barnard, Secretary of the Commonwealth; David Mann, Au- ditor General ; William Clark, State Treasurer ; united in by C. Blythe, Secretary of Commonwealth ; Alex. Mahon, State Treasurer : January 11, 1828. — (See Journal of the House of Represent- atives, 1827-8, page 675.) The report is full and complete, evidences the ragged and uneven surface of the grounds, the marshy character of State street, the excavations necessary in front of the Arsenal, and recommends that the grounds be sur- rounded with an iron palisade or railing, on a low stone wall, containing the necessary number of entrances or gates, with the planting of trees in proper places. From the fact that they ask for an appropriation of ^187 25 to cover deficiencies, the sum of $5,000 specially appropriated by act of 16th of April, 1816, appears to have been overrun. An accompanying statement of expenditures show work to have been done amounting to $5,187 25. THE HARRISBURG ACADEMY. The Harrisburg Academy, to which the State had become a patron as early as the year 1809, the Legislature having passed an act on the 4th of April of that year appropriating the sum of $1,000 " to enable these trustees to purchase a lot of ground whereupon to erect a suitable building," having for a number of years owned under title from the State a part of the now public grounds, is necessarily connected with their history. "An act /or the aid of the Harrisburg Academy. "Sect. 1. Be it enacted, &c., That there is hereby granted to the Trustees of the Harrisburg Academy, and to their sue- 150 ANNALS OP HARRISBURa. cessors, forever, the following described part of the public grounds in the borough of Harrisburg, to wit : Beginning at the corner of High and Walnut streets, thence up High street eighty-five feet six inches ; thence south forty-five degrees west one hundred and sixty-three feet four inches; thence by a straight line to a point one hundred and fifty-eight feet four inches from the place of beginning, and thence in a straight line to the place of beginning, containing fifty-six perches and eight- tenths, for the purpose of erecting thereon a building for an Academy, and for no other purposes whatsoever. Approved March 8, 1814." The foregoing donation was a clear violation of the purpose of John Harris and wife, as expressed in their deed of convey- ance to the Commonwealth, although within a liberal construc- tion of its language. The Legislature, however, finding that they had committed an error in this generous donation, and that the intended im- provements would be obstructed by it, passed a resolution on the 11th of April, 1825, authorizing and requiring the Secre- tary of the Commonwealth and the State Treasurer to purchase of the Trustees of the Harrisburg Academy, for the use of the Commonwealth, the lot of ground adjoining the Arsenal, grant- ed to the Trustees of the said Academy by the act of March 8, 1814, for a price not exceeding 1500. The purpose of this resolution was consummated March 28, 1831, when the sum of $500 was paid to the Trustees of the Academy. PROPOSED EXTENSION OF THE CAPITOL GROUNDS TO THE RIVER. A resolution was passed by the Legislature, April 11, 1825, authorizing the Secretary of the Commonwealth and State Treasurer to purchase the several lots in front of the State Cap- itol, lying between North street and South street, and Third ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 151 street and the river, being the then village of Maclaj'sburg, but the purchase was subsequently abandoned in conBequence of the high prices at which the said lots were sold, and the diffi- culty of obtaining the will of all the owners required by the act to sell. The price asked for the lots as reported by viewers, headed by Archibald M'Allister, was $24,400. FIRST OCCUPANCY OF THE STATE CAPITOL. We conclude our sketch of the public buildings and grounds by a description of the ceremonies observed at the inaugui'ation of the State Capitol. The following extract from the House Journal, December 21, 1821, indicates that the session had been opened at the usual place in Harrisburg (Court-House) in that year, for the last time : ^'Resolved hy the Senate and House of Representatives, That when the Legislature meets at the new State Capitol, on Wed- nesday, the 2d of January next, that it is highly proper, before either House proceeds to business, they unite in prayer to Al- mighty God, imploring His blessing on their future delibera- tions, and that the joint committee already appointed be autho- rized to make the necessary arrangements for that purpose." " Wednesday, January 2, 1822. — On motion of Mr. Lehman and Mr, Todd, the House proceeded to the building lately occu- pied by the Legislature, and joined the procession to the Capi- tol, and attended to the solemnities directed by the resolution of the 21st ultimo, relative to the ceremonies to be observed by the Legislature upon taking possession of the State Capitol" On Thursday, the 3d of January, a motion was made by Mr. Cassat and Mr. Wierman, which read as follows : '^Resolved, That the committee of arrangements be requested to procure a copy of the introductory prayer and address deliv- 152 ANNALS OF HARRISBUKG. ered on the 2d instant in the State Capitol, previous to the com- mencement of public business, and that the usual number of copies of each be printed." The following account of the ceremonies attendant on the removal of the Legislature to the new buildings, is taken from the " Harrisburg Chronicle" of January 3, 1822 : " The members of both branches of the Legislature met in the morning at 10 o'clock, at the old State House, (Court Hottse,) from whence they moved to the Capitol in the following Order of Procession. The Architect and his Workmen, two and two. Clergy. Governor and Heads of Departments. Officers of the Senate. Speaker of the Senate. Members of the Senate, two and two. Officers of the House of Representatives. Speaker of the House of Representatives. Members, two and two. Judges. Civil authorities of Harrisburg. Citizens. In front of the Capitol, the architect and his workmen opened into two lines, and admitted the procession to pass between them and the Capitol. The ceremony of " uniting in prayer to Almighty God, im- ploring his blessing on their deliberations," required by a con- current resolution of the two Houses, took place in the presence of a large assemblage of the inhabitants of this borough and county, and strangers. Conclusion of the Prayer. The service was opened by a pertinent and impressive prayer, ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 153 by Rev. Dr. Lochman, of Harrisburg, which concluded as fol- lows : "And 0, thou great and good and benevolent Father of the human family, grant that whenever the members of the Legis- lature enter into their respective Chambers to attend to the du- ties assigned to them, they may always consider that the welfare of thousands may depend upon their deliberations, and that they are accountable beings, who will once have to give an ac- count of their stewardship to the just and impartial sovereign of the universe. These are the petitions which we, on this solemn occasion, bring before thee, the Most High, the God of Heaven and of earth. Oh ! hear them for our Saviour's sake, to whom, with Thee, the Father and the Spirit, we would as- cribe glory and honor forever. Amen." The Discourse. The prayer was followed by an appropriate discourse, by Rev. D. Mason, Principal of Dickinson College, which concluded as follows : " Sixty years have not elapsed since the sound of the first axe was heard in the woods of Harrisburg. The wild beasts and wilder men occupied the banks of the Susquehanna. Since that time, with the mildness which has characterized the de- scendants of William Penn, and that industry which has marked all the generations of Pennsylvania, the forests have been sub- dued, the wild beasts driven away to parts more congenial to their nature, and the wilder men have withdrawn to regions where they hunt the deer and entrap the fish according to the mode practiced by their ancestors In the room of all these there has started up, in the course of a few years, a town re- spectable for the number of its inhabitants, for its progressive industry, for the seat of legislation in this powerful State. What remains to be accomplished of all our temporal wishes ? What more have we to say ? What more can be said, but go on and 20 154 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. prosper, carry the spirit of your improvements through till the sound of the hammer, the whip of the wagoner, the busy hum of man, the voices of innumerable children issuing from the places of instruction, the lofty spires of worship, till richly en- dowed colleges of education, till all those arts which embellish man shall gladden the banks of the Susquehanna and the Dela- ware, and exact from admiring strangers that cheerful and grateful tribute, ' this is the work of a Pennsylvania Legisla- ture !' " ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT FROM PHILADELPHIA TO CARLISLE, It may be curious to know that in 1795 an attempt was made to remove the seat of government of Pennsylvania from Phila- delphia to Carlisle. A bill to this effect actually passed the House of Representatives, but was defeated in the Senate. We append the following extract from the Journal of the House, in reference to this matter : '^Saturday, March 28. — The bill entitled 'An act to estab- lish the permanent seat of government of Pennsylvania,' as amended in Committee of the Whole, was read the second time. And the first section of the said bill being under considera- tion, viz : Sect. 1. Be it enacted, &c., That the permanent seat of gov- ernment of Pennsylvania shall, from and after the 1st day of December, 1798, be established in the county of Cumberland, and within the borough of Carlisle, at such place therein as shall be chosen for that purpose by Samuel Postlewaithe, John Mont- gomery, and William Henderson, who are hereby appointed com- missioners for the purposes in this act mentioned. On the question, ' Will the House agree to the same ?' it was agreed to — yeas 64, nays 6. ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 155 The fifth section of the said bill being under consideration, viz : Sect. 5, And he it further enacted, &c., That prior to the 1st day of December, 1798, the whole of the ground and all the buildings in the city of Philadelphia, the property of this State, shall be sold under the direction of the aforesaid commissioners. Passed — ^yeas 36, nays 33. And the said bill having been fully considered by sections, on the question, '■ Shall the bill pass V it was agreed to — yeas 36, nays 34. So the bill passed, and was sent to the Senate, which body refused to concur." " An act making provision for the removal of the seat of gov- ernment of this Commonwealth, and the offices attached to the same, from the city of Philadelphia to Wright's Ferry, on the Susquehanna," also passed the House of Representatives in March, 1798, but was non-concurred in by the Senate. HARRISBURG DURING THE SECOND WAR OF INDEPENDENCE. The citizens of Harrisburg and its vicinity, in 1812, emulated the patriotic spirit of their ancestors in the French, Indian and Revolutionary wars, by quickly responding to the call of their country, and rallying around the standard of " Free Trade and Sailors' Rights," in opposition to British aggression. MUSTER ROLLS OP VOLUNTEERS FROM HARRISBURG AND VICINITY. We give the muster rolls of the several companies of volun- teers from Harrisburg and Dauphin county who rendezvoused at York on this occasion, and from thence were marched to the defence of Baltimore. 156 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. Capt. Thomas Walker's company, First Eegiment, commanded by Col. Kennedy Thomas Walker, Capt. Charles Still, Lieut. C. Gleim, Ensign. *Jno. M. Forster, Serg. William Allison, " George Beatty, " John Frazer, " John Fisher, Corporal. William Bryan, " Richard Adams, " George Boyer, " Jacob Dubbs, drummer. Samuel Holman, fifer. George Stine, " •j-John Eoberts, John Young, Ludwig Ressing, John H. Kroberger, Martin Good, George J. Heisely, M. Rupley, Jacob Rahm, A. Anderson, John Sheffy, John Zearing, John Deemer, Jacob Meek, John Stahl, Hugh M'llwaine, Jacob Slough, J. C. Wright, M, Wain, Daniel Miller, Jacob Zollinger, Philip Lawyer, Michael Fields, Robert J. Skinner, George F. Koehler, John Kunkel, Ales. J. H. Jackson, A. W. Gleason, James Officer, Samuel Henry, Charles Durang, Ferdinand Durang, George Cole, G. C. Moyer, Joseph Stroman, John E. Williams, Joseph Jackson, Jacob Kuhn, Austin Ball, Henry Wilson, Jacob Bauchman, Jacob M. Awl, Ezekiel Shelcut, John Sample, William Harper, Joshua Elder, William M'Bay, Fred, Zimmerman, John L. Wallis, Plunkett Crabb, John Jontz, Samuel Wunder, C, Carson, James Jackson, Isaac Maguire, Samuel Himmelright, George Ockerman, Robert Stephenson, Thomas Minshall, Robert B. Wilkins, Jacob Steinman, C. Heichel, P. Martin, Frederick Hyneman, Jacob Winnagle, Samuel Smith, Charles Hinckley, Henry Antes, W. Fulton, James Montgomery, John Shott, James Mitchell, A. S. Dearmond, Henry M'Kinney, Robert Dickey, David Harris, John A. Stehley, Isaac UpdegroYe, Ellis Updegrove, Abm. Funk, William Cowhick. * Promoted to Brigade Major. f Promoted to 1st Sergeant, in place of John M, Forster, Brigade Major. ANNALS OP HARRISBTJRG. 157 Capt. R. M. Grain's company, First Regiment, commanded by Col. Kennedy : R. M. Grain, Captain. Joel Bailey, 1st Lieut. G. Caruthers, 2d " Alex. M. Piper, 1 Serg. R. T. Jacobs, 2 " Jas. R. Boyd, 3 "^ Jos. C. Laveille, 4 " Jno. Benjamin, 1 Corp. George Taylor, 2 " Jacob Elder, 3 " John Walborn, 4 " D. Krause, drummer. Jacob Pool, fifer. John Mitchell, Francis R. Shunk, John M. AVillis, Elisha Brotherton, John Wilson, Perry C. Nabb, John Beisel, Henry C. Sheirman, John Keller, Richard T. Leech, John B. Thompson, John Rodney, Jacob Gleim, Wm. M. Carson, George Eicholtz, John Shannon, Thomas White, George Myei*, Thomas Barnett, Nicholas Hitzelberger, Henry Leak, Peter Krum, Jonathan Heister, Joseph Wallace, Henry Smith, Luther Reily, Henry H. Burr, William George, Michael Daugherty, Thomas Kurtz, Thomas S. Mitchell, William S. Findlay, Samuel Shoch, Nathaniel Ewing, George Gongwher, John M. Barnett, Andrew Vaubuskirk, George Adams, Joseph Youse, John Shrier, Samuel Harris, Samuel AVienman, James Murphy, Robert Graham, Michael Lebkicher, John Search, John Conner, Jacob R. Stine, Samuel Boyer, Alex. Graydon, Jr., Marcus Vanderslice, Matthew Ferguson, John Smith, Henry Blake, Jacob Kncpley, John Swoyer, Jacob Kunkel, William Robertson, Thomas Brown, John Lebo, Charles Kimmel, John Keighler, Truman Bostwick, Samuel Capp, John Fleck, Jacob Hoyer, William Newel, W^illiam Boyer, William Reily, George Cochran, William Barnett. Capt. John Carotlier's company. First Regiment, commanded by Col. Kennedy : John Carothers, Capt. John Cams, 2 " John Wingert, 3 " John Horning, 1 Lieut. I. Tomlinson, 3 " Wm. Burton, 4 " Hen, Crangle, 2 " J. Emerson, 4 " Michael Capp, Thomas Orr, Ensign, Eras. Hooper, 1 Corp. Jacob Miller, JohnLyne, 1 Serg. M'NairWilson,2 " Michael Machon, 158 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. Philip Stimmel, Nicholas Stiff, Jacob Kentzel, Henry Geistweite, George Sellers, William Harrison, Joseph M'Vaunen, George Nagle, Jacob Kline, James Floyd, John K. Peacock, John Robinson, Norman Callender, George Shott, Jacob Elwell, Henry Morningstaff, Jacob Philiger, John Morningstaff, Wm. Brigle, John Hasselbaugh, James M'Cowen, Daniel Housman, Caleb Musser, John Krebb, John Neckle, Robert Barr, Wm. M'Glaughlin, Patrick Kirk, Frederick Peek, Joseph Keller, Arthur Moore, Benjamin Bevens, Samuel Keller, Benedict Singer, Joseph Henry, John Brown, John Martin, Rudolph Mulhollan, Daniel M'Cristal, Jonathan M'Bride, Joseph Walhaven. Capt. Jeremiah Kees' company, Fifth Battalion militia, com- manded by Lieut. Col. Daniel Lefever : [This company marched from Berks county to York under the com- mand of Capt. Fisher, who from sickness or some other cause resigned. Capt. Rees was transferred to the company from the one afterwards commanded by Capt. Knight.] Jeremiah Rees, Capt. Henry Bardoff, Samuel Matthew, Conrad Knepley, Lieut. John Forry, Adam Hayne, James Dill, Ensign. John Mell, Jacob Reiggle, Jr. P. Etchberger, Serg. Andrew Cernand, John Katerman, Daniel Deal, " Adam Briggle, Daniel Reedy, Philip German, " John Coleman, Henry Seetz, Henry Kendall, " John Strong, Daniel Kliner, John Hosier, Michael Fisher, Jacob Shingler, Conrad Spats, Henry Miller, Michael Keith, Anthony Katerman, George Null, George Laird, John Misseman, Henry Foltz, Daniel Deckart, Adam Griss, Peter Newman, David Bridegrum, Samuel Gable, Joseph Rutter, Peter Krick, Peter Shall, Jacob Null, Frederick Fisher, George Lutz, John Dam, Jacob Reiggle, Sr. Michael Troutman, William Nipple, Henry Fidler, John Haun, Jacob Reed, John Foust, Lawrence Solliday, Jacob AVolf, John Fryberger, ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 159 Samuel Dirgler, John Draffenbach, Henry Doughbert, Rudolph Stoner, Daniel Heipner, Henry Metz, John Feag, Henry Zimmerman. Capt. Thomas M'llheDny's company, Second Regiment, com- manded by Col. Ritcher : Thos. M'llhenny, Cap. John Swier, Thos. Finney, Lieut. Patrick M'Kinty, John Berry, Ensign. Henry Wolver, fifer. John Jamison, Serg. John Strock, " David Fishburn, " Jacob Ruff, " Wm. Hamilton, Corp. Mich. Speck, " Jacob Painter, - " Jacob Denius, " Sam'l Reeser, Henry Hetsenhiser, John Bassler, Michael Moyer, Jacob Getz, Peter Spangler, Christian Sponhoot, John Brownewell, Philip Katerman, John Rowland, Adam Basor, George Wittemeyer, John Switzer, John Keyley, James M'Laughlin, George White, Chistopher Leib, Frederick Bulman, John Tice, Peter Staufer, John Fortney, Benjamin Noaker, Jacob Deel, Jacob Moyer, John Harrison, Christian Early, John Baseford, Henry Basor, Henry Smith, Daniel Kuntzman, Samuel Roody, Warner Olewine, Enoch Riter, George Robison, John Bright, John Himes, Henry Harvy, John Yingst, Martin Swigert, John Baylor, Henry Blecker, John Wolf, Daniel Fegan, James Johnston, Benjamin Mengle, John Miller, Henry Moyer, John Young, Henry Cope, Frederick Bush, Martin Funk, John Luton, Jacob Ulrich, Philip Netenoun, Patrick M'Kinney, Jacob Keller, George Horner, Frederick Nagle, Henry Dasher, James Beard, Frederick Plestley, John Lance, Frederick Stuky, Adam Nigh, Henry Frankford, George Pallum. Capt. Peter Snyder's company, Second Regiment, commanded by Col. Ritcher : Peter Snyder, Captain. Jos, Hummel, 1 Serg. John Leehigh, 4 Serg. Benj, Bonawit, Lieut. Christ. Spayd, 2 " David Manley, 1 Corp. Robt. Moody, Ensign. John Snyder, 3 " Geo. Heathorn, 2 " 160 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. Josh. Heppick, 3 Corp. M.Hargleslager, 4 " John Waltz, drum maj. Sol- Hayes, fife maj. Joha Bule, ilichael Cassel, Jacob Brown, Abraham Eversole, Michael Waltz, Jacob Hostler, Robert Conogom, John M'Elrath, Peter Hedrick, John Wolf, Jacob Andrew, James Wright, David Weirich, David Mosey, James Grundon, John Sawyer, John Duncan, Frederick Hummel, Michael Hemperly, David Etteler, John Conrad, Charles Hughes, George Jontz, Michael Gross, Frederick Cassel, William Curry, Daniel Bollinger, George Critzen, George Remley, William Strouse, Laurantz Alberty, Jacob Bollinger, Plenry Harrow, John Albright, John Boycr, John Smith, John Batdorf, Jacob Hite, John Shaffer, David Moyer, George Shaffer, Peter Burket, Godfrey Snyder, Peter Seller, John Stine, Jr., George Stine, Michael Fritz, Philip Zarver, Michael Souser, Henry Eckler, John Belleman, Jonathan Priegle, John Deel, Henry Ebbert, John Luukinbill, Martin Felty, Jacob Winter, John Nigh, Michael Kramer, Richard Hays, Benjamin Zerver, Christ. Karp, fifer. P. Youngblood, drum. Capt. John B. Morehead's company, First Regiment, com- manded by Col. Kennedy : J. B. Morehead, Capt. Jno. Manley, Lieut. David Hebel, Ensign. Jno. M'Cord, 1 Serg. Det. Fishburn, 2 " Simon Louer, 3 " Wm. Hamill, 4 " Wm. M'Cord, 1 Corp. F.Drummond, 2 " Thos. M'Nair, 3 " Thos. Ramsey, 4 " Andrew Frazer, Robert Moorhead, John Cromwell, William Twig, Thomas H. Moore, Joseph Wheeler, John Welsh, William Wilson, Benj. Myer, Samxxel Pearson, John Wallace, John Pollock, Jacob Barr, Edward Shannon, James Cowden, John Gilchrist, Andrew Stephen, Joseph Starrett, Andrew Welsh, Matthew B. Cowden, Allen Sturgeon, John Haverstick, Joseph Simmons, David Espey, David Unger, John F. Brown, George Enghst, Thos. M'Kissick, ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 161 John W. Simonton, Jacob Zhent, Robert Sturgeon, Geo. W. Forster. Henry Holtman, John Cross, Archibald E. Burnet, Jacob Enk, Reuben Collins. Capt. James Todd's company, Second Regiment, commanded by Col. Ritcher : James Todd, Captain. Peter Enghst, • George Lutz, John Ward, Lieut. James Martin, George Binner, Henry Winter, Ensign. , James Morton, Daniel Loas, John M'Quig, 1 Serg Piobert Snodgrass, Jacob Brown, John Fox, 2 " Benj. Hoofnagh, John Yonker, W. M'Creight, 3 " John Wolf, Benjamin Weiser, Simon; Duey, 4 " John Hileman, John Fauvcr, John Martin, 1 Corp. John Meese, George Knoll, George Fisler, 2 " Jacob Walburn, Andrew Wanner, S^amuel Todd, 3 " Conrad Kyzer, Peter Goodman, Sam. .Johnston, 4 " George Shark, John AValburn, W. Burabarger, drum. George Fomwold, Conrad Mouray, Samuel Winter, fifer. Dewald Feesick, Henry AValburn, Henry Spitler, George Painter, John Secondeorst, Samuel 0' Bryan, David Welkman, Henry Kock, Philip Hunsicker, John Hedrick, Christ. Hasinger, Caspar Lumsing, John Folmer, Conrad Hoover, John AVinter, Henry Stoner, George Pruss, John Albert, George Wolmer, John Pruss, John Houser, Peter Kremer, John Dibbins, George Farling, Jacob Beck, George Failor, Peter Beshore, Felix Light, Adam Shaffer, David Tood, John Klick, George Felty, John Hoofnagh, Jacob Emerick, John Simon. Capt. Richard Knight's company, First Regiment, commanded by Col. Kennedy : [This company maYched from Harrisburg to York under the command of Capt. Jeremiah Rees, who at that place was transferred as previously stated. Capt. Knight marched the company to Baltimore, when from some cause he relinquished the command to his first lieutenant, Philip Cline.] 162 ANNALS OP HARRISBTJRG. Eichard Knight, Capt. Philip Cline, Lieut. Geo. Roberts, Ensign. Josh. M'Connell, Serg. John Carson, " Jonathan Balsley, " Mathias Croll, " John JohnstoD, Corp, Peter Swartz, " H. Rightmyer, " R. UpdegroYe, " Geo. Hammon, Abram Saul, Wm. Onks, David Weaver, Andrew Hamen, Michael J. Senheda, Wm. Orth, Andrew Herrof, Ludwick Bretz, Jno. Garverich, Philip Gaul, Jno. Wilson, Michael Strain, Samuel Henning, John Rhoads, Henry Miller, Wm. Smith, George Grey, Jno. Zimmerman, Jacob Shroy, George Wise, Samson Hains, Peter Mooney, Abraham Swartz, Jno. B. Lawsen, Henry Miller, Jacob Cassel, Samuel M'Intire, Jas. Killhoon, Wm. Killhoon, Daniel Shell, George Urich, Daniel Bowman, Samuel Saul, Jacob Wolf, Samuel Wetsell, Henry Myers, Joseph Lightner, Jno. Books, Jno. Yenks, Geo. Miller, V^m, Patrick, Jno. Ealey, Jacob Fisler, Martin Lease, Jacob Baker, Hugh Wade, Wm. Mileisen, Peter Real, Peter B. Lansen, George Myers, Wm. Miller, Christian Capp, James Duncan, Wm. Duncan, Capt. John Elder's company, First Regiment, commanded by Col. Kennedy : John Elder, Captain. William Reed, Lieut. H. W. Conrad, Ensign. Jacob Stouch, Serg. Daniel Hess, " Jacob Walborn, " George Shive, " John Regel, Corporal. George Christ, " John Miller, " Henry Reinoehl, '♦ Conrad Shrefler, George Wolheber, John Snyder, Adam Reed, Jacob Stall, Jacob Stengle, John Brown, John Stub, Daniel Schoch, Christian Neyswinder, Henry Gebhard, John Aman, John West, Abraham Shafifer, Philip Whitman, John Wenrick, John Shaffer, John Stoler, Daniel Umpehouer, Abraham Bates, Martin Walborn, Henry Deater, Peter Dinger, Benj. Bartow, John Snyder, John Hide, Valentine Banney, Peter Weaver, Michael Miller, Sr., John Dubb, John Haag, ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 163 John Lebauch, Jacob Rohrer, John Hontz, Michael Haverling, Henry Bare, Abraham Keefer, John Bonewitz, Michael Trane, John Bender, Michael Miller, John AVerts, Jacob Liminger, Jacob Shade, Daniel Aman, Philip Wilhelm, Andrew Schrick, Samuel Shade, Jr., Peter Lutz, Jon. Zethman, Jacob Rouch, Philip Schwalm. Capt. Isaac Smitli'-s company, Rifle Battalion, commanded by Major Hamilton : Isaac Smith, Capt. Michael Lentz, Lieut. N. Buchanan, " John Taylor, Ensign, Thomas Black, Serg. George Taylor, " James Freeburn, " Henry Sheafer, " Wilson Fuller, Corp. Abm. Freed, musician. Samuel Hummel, " Frederick Frank, Christian Peters, Peter Marsh, Michael Bower, Daniel Wilson, John Black, Peter Chub, John Miller, William Loge, Adam Beacht, Abraham Jurey, Daniel Heckerd, Daniel Lewer, Casper Heckerd, Isaac Rutter, Joseph Urich, George Lentz, Grey Hilliard, Peter Biting, George Zinn, David Swigard, Jchn Noblit, John Lingafelter, Adam Bower, Jacob Gray, George Jurey, Samuel Huston, Philip Cline. Thomas Freeburn, John Clark, John Reed, Jacob Bower, Capt. Philip Fedderlioff's company, Second Regiment, com- manded by Col. Ritcher : P. Fedderhoff, Capt. Thos. Woodside, Lieut. John Shife, Ensign. J. Baughman, 1 Serg. Peter Wenner, 2 " John Winn, 3 " G. Fedderhoff, 4 " Henry Frank, 1 Corp. Philip Enders, 2 <' Jas Howard, 3 " John Hoffman, 4 " John Franklin, Frederick Foight, William Elliott, Adam Frantz, George Matter, Peter Yeats, George Cooper, Dennis Harding, John Werth, Joseph Shoop, Philip Umberger, John Frank, George Dunckel, Adam Lawdermilk, Christian Lower, Jacob Werfel, Jacob Pouel, Jacob Boardner, Jacob Harman, Stophel Yeager, Henry Neece, Peter Willier, 164 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. Jac. Yeager, David Feagely, Lewis Imshofifstall, Peter Ritzman, Peter Rumberger, Daniel Harman, Peter Reist, Henry Hiebsher, George Weaver, Jeremiah Shawbell, Jacob Shoop, John Ritzman, Philip Shut, George Lebo, Jacob Houge, William Miller, Daniel Fleisher, Peter Minich, Lewis Powel, John Weise, Jonathan Woodside, Conrad Cempel, Michael Lankart, James Gardner, Abraham Bicksler, Jacob Dunckel, Daniel Shupp, William Snyder, John Dunckel, John Novinger, Capt. G-awen Henry's company, Eifle by Major Hamilton : Gawen Henry, Capt. Wm. Thomas, Lieut. Adam Ross. Ensign, Dennis Hawes, 1 Serg. Abm. Crosley, 2 " Alex. Glasgow, 3 '• W. M'Courdy, 4 '* Edward Hughes, Alexander Lytle, "William Gibson, Conrad Nichols, Thomas Ridge, Adam Wilhelm, Thomas Best, Chr. Swayer, 1 Corp. George Lefever, John Newman, 2 " Mord. Boone, 3 " E. T. James, 4 " Henry Isett, drum. Thos. Byron, fifer, John Midlem, Joseph Midlem, GrifiFeth Greene, Henry Erles, Andrew Johnston, James Brickley, Albert Winegardner, John Winegardner, James Ramsey, John Bryon, Samuel Carson, John Over, David Over, William Wade, Aaron Lukens, Jesse Lukens, Joseph Lukens, Henry Moyer, Philip Kunkle, John Crook, John Berryman, Benj. Keiter, John Reickhart, Thomas Shartis, Henry Metz, Henry Umholtz, Peter Hoffman, Daniel Ossman, Heni'y Koch, Isaac Novinger, Reuben Ossman, Henry Shay, Jacob Byrod, drum. Jacob Anderson, Henry Vesley. Battalion, commanded George Hiney, Peter Miller, John Porter, Wendel Baumgardner, Thomas Fulton, Samuel Geistweit, Joseph Geistweit, John Ferguson, Daniel Baker, William Weaver, George Rupley, George Flasher, Peter Burns, James Campbell, William Meilim, Samuel Reem, George Fair, William Scott, Jacob Shirts, William Baxter, Benj. Murphy, ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 165 Jacob Heiser, Thomas Blake, James White, Daniel Thomas. Thomas Woods, Henry Wanmaher, John Price, Joseph Finurty, Isaac Caselott, George Wiant, James Peling, George Sheffer, John Cohick, John Waggoner, Archibald M'Neal, James Murray, John Linton, Lewis Dheble, Peter Aubert, James M'Namee, Jonathan Jones, King Reed, Henry C. Moyer, Robert Scott. The following is a list of the principal field officers of the First Brigade, of which the above companies formed a part : Brigadier General — John Forster. Aid — Amos Ellmaker. Brigade Inspector — Christian Spayd. Brigade Major — John M. Forster. Paymaster, appointed by the State previous to the troops being mustered into service — Robert Harris. Paymaster under United States Government — Chris. Gleim. THE CITIZENS REJOICING. On Wednesday evening, October 15th, 1813, the citizens of Harrisburg manifested the high sense they entertained of Com- modore Perry's gallant achievement on Lake Erie, by the firing of cannon, a handsome display of sky-rockets, and a splendid illumination of the houses. The windows in front of the State House (Court House building) were ornamented with elegant transparencies, emblematic of the glorious event, and for a while party feeling gave place to the generous glow of patriotic en- thusiasm. General Harrison's victory at the battle of the Thames river was also celebrated by the citizens of the borough with every testimony of heartfelt joy. A piece of artillery was put on board of a flat-bottomed boat, from which nineteen rounds were fired as it floated past the town. A number of sky-rockets were likewise fired from the middle pier of the Harrisburg bridge, which produced a very handsome eflfect. 166 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. FIRES IN 1813. Two very disastrous fires occurred in the town during the months of March and May of 1813. The first broke out about 1 o'clock in the morning of the 14th of the former month, in a stable belonging to William Graydon, Esq , situated on River alley, between Chestnut and Market streets. Owing to the combustible materials of which the stable was constructed, the fire progressed with astonishiag rapidity; and notwithstanding the exertions of the citizens and wetness of the morning, its course was not arrested until it had destroyed the following property : A stable belonging to Joshua Elder ; one belonging to John M. Price, of Philadelphia; one belonging to Henry Fulton, of Pittsburg; one belonging to ¥7illiam Graydon, in which it originated. Several adjacent buildings were in immi- nent danger, -but were saved by the exertions of the citizens and members of the Legislature. The second fire originated about sunrise on the 4th of the latter month, in a stable occupied by Mr. Miller, innkeeper, situated in River alley, between Chestnut and Market streets, and adjoining the spot where the previous fire was arrested. This fire consumed the following buildings : A new brick building belonging to John Eager, hatter; a stable belonging to Henry Isett, of Greensbur>, where it origi- nated ; three stables belonging to George Hoyer, merchant, in the occupancy of himself, Adam Coover, innkeeper, and Mr, Miller, innkeeper; a stable of William Murray, merchant; a a stable of Dr. Martin Luther; a stable of Moses Musgrave; all of which had more or less of flour and provender therein, which was entirely consumed. The Bank and many other val- uable houses were at one time in imminent danger. It was the work of an incendiary. The fire department at this period con- sisted of the "■ Union" and " Friendship" engines. ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 167 FIRE IN 1819. " Fire. — Oa Wednesday morning last, about the dawn of day, a fire broke out in this borough, at the corner of Front and Mulberry streets, and the adjacent buildings being in a very combustible state, it was not got under until six dwelling houses and several stables were reduced to ashes. Providentially the morning was uncommonly calm, and what little wind there was stirring, was chiefly in a direction towards the river, otherwise, in all probability, the destruction would have been immense. The principal sufferers by the fire were : Valentine Egle, the corner (tavern) house; Joseph J. Marshall, mercer and tailor, whose loss is severe; the next was the house occupied by David Wilmot, as a grocery store, which, with a considerable share of its contents, was destroyed; and, melancholy to relate, 3Ir. Wil- mot himself, in the act of shoving some bulky article of furni- ture out of the second story window, became entangled with it, or lost his balance, and was precipitated on the pavement. His skull was fractured, and he survived but about two hours. Mr. W.was a man of excellent moral character, and all who knew him were his friends. He has left a disconsolate widow, in a precarious state of health, to deplore the loss of an excellent husband, whose departure is rendered doubly afflicting by its suddenness and the circumstances attending it. jNIr. W. was interred in the Presbyterian, burial ground yesterday morning, with Masonic honors, in the presence of a large assemblage of the citizens of Harrisburg. Mrs. Hess (widow) and Mr. Samuel Sees, tailor, were the last in the order of sufferers, but we have not learned the extent of their loss. Mr. Sees, we understand, saved the most of his property. Mrs. Hess, it is said, beside the loss of her house, was a loser in personal property to a considerable amount. Whether the fire originated from design or accident remains unknown/'' — Harrisburg Repuhlican, July 16, 1819. 168 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. HARRISBURG CANAL. In the vFinter of 1822-3, an act of Assembly was passed, entitled "An act to enable the Governor to incorporate a com- pany for making a canal and lock navigation on the waters of the Susquehanna, near the borough of Harrisburg, with power to the said company to supply the said borough with water and to insure against fire." The law contemplated that the water for the canal should be taken from the Susquehanna, near Stoney creek, about eight miles north-west of the borough, and was to be discharged at the mouth of Paxton creek. The objects to be attained were, "water power for manufactories, and the construction of reser- voirs for supplying the town with wholesome water for domestic use and extinguishing fires." The gentlemen named in the act met at the house of Mr. Gleim, in Harrisburg, on the 3d of December, 1825, and organ- ized by appointing the following officers : President — John Forster; Managers — John Zinn, John S. Weistling, C. Gleim, Samuel Pool, John Ritchey, Benj. Kug- ler, A. Bombaugh, and Valentine Hummel ; Treasurer — Thos. Whiteside; Secretary — John Roberts. L. Baldwin, Esq., of Boston, was engaged as Engineer, who made a survey of the route, and located the canal. A large por- tion of the subscription to the stock of the company had been taken, but not all paid in, when the Legislature authorized the construction of the State canal, which was located over the route of that occupied by the Harrisburg canal, and which conse- quently extinguished the rights of the company owning the latter. THE SHAKSPEARE HOUSE. This building, situated at the corner of Locust street and Raspberry alley, now occupied by the Harrisburg Female Semi- ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 169 nary, was erected in the year 1822, by the late John Wyeth, father of John and Francis Wyeth, still residing here. The architect was John Hills, a son of Stephen Hills, who constructed the public buildings. He threw up the contract, however, before the building was completed, and it was finished by another ar- chitect. The building is about one hundred feet long by fifty feet wide, and originally contained in the basement story, beside a capacious cellar, six large and commodious rooms, for kitchens and private apartments, suitable for a restaurant. The second story had thirteen rooms, including a large dining room, with an entry through the house. The story above had a large ball room, thirty by twenty -seven feet, and a number of smaller rooms, with a theatre and stage, capable of holding six hundred persons. The first person who opened the building for hotel purposes was Thomas AVallace, who had been an officer of the Legisla- ture. The first theatrical performances in the building were under the direction of Mr. H. A. Williams, of Philadelphia. His lease of the theatre continued for two jears, and among his performers were his wife, Miss Carter, Messrs. Morrison, Ma- thews, Blissit, Hughes, Simonds, and Anderson. We are indebted to a friend for the following extract of a let- ter from an aged and now prominent citizen of New York city, who in 1827 performed in this theatre, under the name of "Tancred." It relates an incident with which our old citizens may be familiar : " Chagrined and disappointed in not ' dying on a field of bat- tle,' I left the editorial chair and betook myself to the stage, by invitation of the manager at Harrisburg, in the month of Jan- uary, 1827. Here I appeared under favorable auspices, and in a couple of months took a benefit, producing a piece of my own getting up — an old story I had read being dramatized for the occasion. The older stagers had taken their benefits, and had 22 170 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. but slim houses. The novelty of * the first time on any stage of Tancred,' and to be represented before the assembled wisdom of the State — the Legislature being in session at the time — oc- casioned a crowded house of the beauty, fashion and elite of the capital. The curtain rose upon a piece entitled ' Family Jars;' my maiden effort was to crown the evening's entertainment. The jealousy of the older stagers was at the highest pitch at the good appearance of the ' front.' Never before was the Har- risburg Theatre so crowded. A conspiracy was set on foot by four of the actors, and they at once determined to blast, or in theatrical parlance, ' d — n the piece and its author.' Fortu- nately, however, I had provided a large portion of the audience with printed copies of my play, in three acts, and the conspiracy was discovered by them as well as by myself. These four actors spoke anything but the author's words, and by every effort en- deavored to ridicule the affair. At the end of the second act I, who was performing the prin- cipal character of the play, stepped before the drop curtain, and, in an appropriate manner, begged the indulgence of the house, and spoke of the wrongs under which I was suffering ; and added, that all who chose should receive their tickets from the door-keeper, and present them at the box office, where they would receive their money back. A universal shout of * no ! no !' 'go on ! go on !' was the only response; and, bowing in humble acknowledgment of their kindness, I retired through the stage door, and was immediately attacked by the four ruffianly con- spirators — one with a drawn sword, who gave a well-nigh fatal cut on my head. In the excitement, the ladies on the stage screamed with terror — the curtain was run up instanter, and I crossed the stage, a bleeding, ghastly figure, and fell from loss of blood at the opposite wing. The terror spread throughout the house, and a grasping of shawls and bonnets, of hats and a rush for the doors, was the result. With commendable praise, two gallant surgeons who were in the house, and who were my ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 171 friends, rushed upon the stage to my rescue. I was removed to one of the dressing rooms, where my wounds were cared for, and by four o'clock the next morning I was restored to con- sciousness. One of the assailants fled across the Susquehanna bridge in his stage dress, and the remaining three were seized by the police and placed in durance. Three days after, I left them off on leg bail. The manager pocketed the funds of the night, and waited a week — then put up bills for a benefit of the favorite lady of the corps; _but it was 'no go.' Not a single ticket could be sold; and this was the last attempt at a theatrical performance in that theatre. It was afterwards converted into a large hotel, called the Shakspeare." GEN. LA FAYETTE IN HARRISBURG. On Sunday, the 30th of January, 1825, notice was received that Gen. La Fayette and suite were on their way to Harrisburg; whereupon Messrs. Hawkins and Baker, of the joint committee of the Legislature, and M. C. Kogers, Esq., Secretary of the Commonwealth, proceeded from town in carriages towards York, by the way of Middletown, for the purpose of meeting the Gen- erates party. Dinner was prepared for them at Middletown, and an outrider sent forward to ascertain if the General was upon that road. At about half-past ten, the General, accompanied by his son, George Washington La Fayette, and secretary, Gen. Spangler, Col. Spangler, and Dr. King, a committee de- puted to escort him from York, were received at Middletown, and took dinner. At about five o'clock they arrived in Harris- burg, and were hailed by the expecting crowd with great enthu- siasm. The General and suite were then escorted to the Gov- ernor's residence, in consequence of an invitation which had been forwarded to him for that purpose. A committee from the Dauphin cavalry waited on the Gen- 172 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. eral at the Governor's, and tendered a renewal of their respects paid to him in Philadelphia, as the Governor's late escort to that city. He recognized them, and informed them it would give him great pleasure to see them all at his lodgings that evening. After which the members of the troop, who resided in town gen- erally, with many other citizens, paid their respects to him, and were highly delighted. He remained at the Governor's that night, and on the next morning he was waited upon by the legislative committee of arrangements, on behalf of whom Mr. Hawkins welcomed the General to the seat of government in a neat and feeling address, to which the General made a happy response. About eleven o'clock he was conducted to the Executive Cham- ber in the Capitol, where the greater part of the members of the Legislature and many others were introduced to him. A little after ten o'clock the members of the Harrisburg bar waited upon him in a body, when George Fisher, Esq , on their behalf, made an appropriate address, to which the General replied. At two o'clock he returned to the Governor's residence; and at eight o'clock in the evening he visited Perseverance Lodge of Masons, and remained there about a quarter of an hour. On Tuesday, at twelve o'clock, he was conducted again to the Capitol, escorted by a corps of dragoons, under the command of Major Forster, and companies of volunteers from the counties of Cumberland, Lebanon and Dauphin, and the firemen of the borough. His arrival at the Capitol was announced by a salute of thirteen guns, under the direction of Lieut. Weise, of Car- lisle. He was introduced to the Senate by Mr, Hawkins, and the Speaker welcomed him by a beautiful address, to which the Gen- eral made an appropriate reply. He was then invited to a seat at the Speaker's right hand, and presently afterwards the Senate adjourned. A number of gentlemen and ladies were then intro- duced to him. ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 173 At one o'clock lie was introduced to the House of Represent- atives by Mr. Baker, wliea the Speaker, Gen. Sutherland, ■wel- comed him by an eloquent address, commencing as follows : "Dear General — About half a century ago, one of the purest of the patriots of the Revolution, the venerable John Hancock, occupied the chair from which you have just risen.'' To which the General returned an appropriate reply, com- mencing as follows : "il/r. Speaker and gentlemen of the House of Representa- tives — Amidst the patriotic recollections which the sight of the presidential chair of my venerable friend John Hancock could not fail to excite, and which have been described by you, Mr. Speaker, in a manner adequate to the sublime theme, it is hardly permitted to indulge private remembrances; yet, encouraged as I am by the kindness of this House in my behalf, I beg leave to acknowledge before you the emotions connected with the thought that from this chair also he signed my early admission as a soldier in the American army." He was then invited to a seat at the Speaker's right hand, and presently afterwards the House adjourned. At two o'clock he was waited upon by the students of Dickinson College with an address, to which he replied. About three o'clock he re- turned, escorted as before, to the Governor's. At four o'clock a subscription dinner was given to the Gen- eral at Matthew Wilson's Hotel, by a nu^mber of the members of the Legislature, at which his Excellency the Governor, the Heads of Department, Judge Gibson, George W. La Fayette, the committee from York, a few veterans of the Revolution, and a number of the residents of the borough were present. Mr. Speaker .Marks presided. The most cordial hilarity prevailed on the occasion. At the particular request of the General, " Hail Columbia" was sung by himself and the whole company 174 ANNALS OP HARRISBURa. standing. After the cloth was removed, a number of patriotic toasts were given, among which was the following : ^'Gen. La Fayette. — Our fathers hailed him as a defender; we rejoice to welcome him as a guest." The General rose, and after having expressed to the members of the Legislature the grateful sense he had of their kind wel- come, gave the following toast : " The State of Pennsylvania. — First founded upon the basis of justice and philanthropy, now governed by universal suffrage on the unalloyed principle of equal rights ; may it long preserve these dignified and fruitful blessings." The Governor and Gen. La Fayette retired about eight o'clock, and the company presently afterwards broke up. The students of Shoop's school, situated about three miles from the borough, sent a written patriotic address to the Gen- eral, which was handed to him at his lodgings ; to which the General replied a few days after by letter from Washington. On Wednesday morning the volunteers were paraded in Mar- ket Square, and reviewed by the General, supported by the Gov- ernor, after which they saluted him at his quarters. At eleven o'clock he took his departure for York, accompanied by his suite, two of the committee of arrangements of the Legislature, and the Secretary of the Commonwealth. JMPROVING THE NAVIGATION OF THE SUSQUEHANNA. As previously shown, public attention was first directed to the importance of removing the obstructions and improving the navigation of the Susquehanna river as early as the year 1795. The Legislature, however, appears to have taken no definite action in relation to the matter until March, 1823, at which time an act was passed for the improvement of the river from Northumberland to tide-water, and appointing Jabez Hyde, Jr.j ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 175 John M' Means, and Samuel L. Wilson, commissioners to super- intend the work. These commissioners, in a report made to the Legislature, January 14, 1828, state : " That the contracts entered into for the improvement of the navigation of the Susquehanna river, between the town of Co- lumbia and tide, is nearly completed, and when the residue is finished, they believe all will be done that is necessary to per- fect the descending navigation between said points. Crafts will then be able to descend from Columbia to the head of the Mary- land canal carrying from fifty to sixty tons, at a stage of water at which, previous to the improvements, they could not arrive at the latter place with more than one-half that quantity." "The commissioners further report, on the improvement of the river between the towns of Columbia and Northumberland, that the unfinished contracts of the years 1825 and 1826 are completed, but will not be of that infinite advantage until fur- ther improvements are made to correspond with those already finished, the Legislature having suspended the appropriation for the past year." The total amount of expenditures made by the commissioners for the improvement of the river from the town of Columbia to the town of Northumberland, up to January 14, 1828, as stated in the report, was $1,201 50, and that for improving the river between the town of Columbia and tide-water, to the same period, $14,323 37, making the sum total of $15,524 87. STEAMBOATS ON THE SUSQUEHANNA. This action of the Legislature, together with the favorable report of the commissioners, induced a number of enterprising citizens of Baltimore to form a company for the purpose of test- ing the practicability of running steamboats on the Susque- hanna, between the towns of York Haven and Northumberland. The project was favorably received, and the stock of the com- 176 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. pany immediately subscribed. Three light-draught steamboats, named, respectively, the " Codorus," " Susquehanna," and " Pi- oneer," were constructed, all of which arrived for the first time at Harrisburg in the fall of 1825. The following extracts have reference to these boats : " The sheet-iron steamboat ' Codorus' paid another visit to Harrisburg on Sunday last, with the members from York county as passengers. The members of the Legislature in general are much pleased with the performance of this boat, and express great satisfaction with the success of the experiment. From what we have heard, we infer that there will be a legislative enactment in favor of the enterprising proprietors." — Chronicle, December 5, 1825. "Steamboats. — The steamboat 'Susquehanna' left this place on Monday last, for York Haven. The 'Pioneer' returned to Harrisburg on "Wednesday last. The machinery of the vessel is not of sufficient power to stem the current of Hunter's Falls. The ' Codorus' is lying at Montgomery's Ferry, about twenty miles above Harrisburg." — Ibid, April o, 1826. In a letter dated July 14, 1834, addressed to the Secretary of War, Hon. Lewis Cass, by Henry K. Strong, Esq , on behalf of the citizens of Harrisburg, relative to opening a steamboat communication between the Chesapeake Bay, by way of the Susquehanna and the lakes, allusion is made to one of the above named steamboats, perhaps the " Codorus," as follows : " Eight years ago, a sheet-iron steamboat, built at York, in this State, was put upon the river, about twelve miles below Harrisburg, and forty from tide-water, and was propelled by steam to the line separating the States of Pennsylvania and New York, nearly two-thirds of the whole distance from the Chesapeake bay to the lakes If this was not the first steam- boat ever constructed, it was the first that ever sailed upon American ivaters." ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 177 The editor of the " Harrisburg Chronicle," Hugh Hamilton, Esq., appears to have been somewhat skeptical as to the practi- cal use of these boats, as will be seen by the following extract from that paper : " The people of Baltimore are in high spirits in consequence of the successful trip of the * Susquehanna' up the North and West branches, to Danville and Milton. While we think great credit is due to the enterprise of the Baltimore Steamboat Com- pany, and congratulate them upon the result of the experiment, which has demonstrated that a steamboat can move against the rapids of the river Susquehanna, we remain skeptical as to the practical use of the boats that have visited us. The weight of an engine of sufficient power to propel the boats up the rapids produces such a draught as must prevent their running, unless the water should be at a high stage, and such a stage we have not more than three months of the year, March, April, and May." The steamboats continued to visit the borough at short inter- vals during the continuance of a medium stage of water in the river until after April, 1826, when one of them — the " Susque- hanna" — exploded its boiler while making its way through a narrow passage of shoal water in the river, at or near Berwick, Columbia county, which almost totally destroyed it, beside kill- ing two, and severely injuring several of its passengers, among whom was Christian Brobst, Esq., member of the Legislature from Columbia county. This accident appears to have damped the ardor of the proprietors, and shortly afterwards the boats were removed from the river to a more favorable latitude. The steamboat enterprise was not again renewed on the Sus- quehanna, in this vicinity, until the spring of 1857, when a company of citizens purchased and broiight here a small side- wheel steamboat, that had formerly been used as a pleasure boat on the river Delaware, at Philadelphia. The boat made fre- 23 178^ ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. quent excursions on the river during the summer following, but the speculation proving a failure, the stockholders resold it to its original owners, and in the fall of the year it was returned to Philadelphia. Correspondence hetioeen the citizens of Harrishurg and the War Department, on the subject of Sloop and Steamboat Navigation. On the 20th of September, 1833, a large and respectable meeting of the citizens of Harrisburg was held at the Court House, in Harrisburg, to take into consideration the propriety of opening a steamboat and sloop communication between the Chesapeake bay and the lakes, by way of the Susquehanna river. The following were the officers of the meeting : Valentine Hummel, Sr., President; Joel Bailey and Henry Buehler, Vice Presidents ; Charles C. Rawn and Mordecai M'Kinney, Secre- taries. At this meeting resolutions were passed declaring the project national in its character and advantages, and necessary for na- tional defence. A general committee was appointed, from which select com- mittees were chosen to draft an address to the people of the United States; to draft a memorial to Congress, and to address the Secretary of War. On the 17th of October following, Henry Buehler, Esquire, from the select committee, published an address to the people of the United States. At the same time, Gr. W. Harris, Esq., from the select com- mittee, reported a memorial to Congress, which was published, circulated, and signed by a large number of citizens in various parts of the country, and sent to that body at its next session. A bill favorable to the project, and making a specific appropria- tion for a survey, was reported by the Internal Improvement Committee in the House of Representatives, but at so late a period in the session that it was not acted upon. ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 179 On the 25tli of July, 1834, Henry K. Strong, Esq., from the select committee, transmitted an able and convincing address to Hon. Lewis Cass, then Secretary of War, in which, after show- ing the advantages of a sloop and steamboat communication be- tween the Chesapeake bay and the lakes, by way of the Susque- hanna, he inquired " whether a survey of the route could not be made by an engineer in the service of the government during the present summer V In reply, John J. Abert, Lieutenant Colonel Topographical Engineers, stated that "the Department was fully impressed with the importance of the route described, but the conditions and engagements of the office were such that it was not in its power to attend to the project during the present season." A few days after the receipt of this intelligence, Mr. Strong again addressed the Secretary of War, repeating a request for the services of an engineer to survey the river ; to which Col. Abert, on behalf of the Secretary of War, again replied, stating that " Dr. William Howard, with two assistants, are the engi- neers whose services would be placed at the disposal of the par- ties interested in the matter." At a meeting of the general committee of the citizens of Har- risburg, held August 16, 1834, the following officers were chosen : Valentine Hummel, President; Mordecai M'Kinney, Secretary: Henry Walters, Treasurer. A communication was received from Dr. William Howard, United States engineer, estimating the expense, and making several suggestions relative to the proposed improvement; and stating that, " by his orders, he was entirely under the direction of the committee, and ready to execute any plan of operations which they might determine." The following gentlemen were then chosen an executive com- mittee : Henry K. Strong, George Mish, Yalentine Hummel, Sr., Jacob M. Haldeman, John C. Bucher. The report of Dr. Howard was referred to the executive com- 180 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. mittee, with instructions to devise a plan of operation for the survey. The project was ultimately abandoned, in consequence, we believe, of the death of Dr. Howard, and the refusal of Con- gress to extend pecuniary co-operation. RIOT IN 1825. On Thursday, April 21, 1825, the borough was disturbed by a serious riot. A man from Maryland had followed a runaway slave of whom he had obtained information, after an absence of more than a year, found him in Harrisburg, and lodged him in jail. He was brought up on a writ of habeas corpus, and after a hearing surrendered to his master. A great number of colored people attended the investigation, armed with clubs and cudgels, and exhibited a menacing appearance. As a matter of precau- tion, the master tied the slave's hands behind his back ; but as he left the Court House steps, the colored men rushed furiously upon him and attempted a rescue. A serious combat ensued, in which a number of the citizens were involved and received injury. In the melee one of the Marylanders fired a pistol, after having received several blows from the colored men, one of whom he wounded in the arm. Resistance then subsided, and the slave was taken to a public house and secured. The colored people gathered about the door, and after some time another fracas took place. The consequence was, that the civil authorities interfered, and about nineteen of the colored men were committed to prison. The Court com- menced its sessions on the following Monday, and the grand jury found a true bill against sixteen of them. The trial lasted until Wednesday evening, and on Thursday morning the jury rendered a verdict of guilty against twelve of them, and acquit- ted four. One of the twelve convicted subsequently escaped, but the remaining eleven were sentenced to the tread-mill'—t'he ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 181 grand jury having appropriated $300 for the construction of the same. MISCELLANEOUS. The borough was divided into the South and North ward elec- tion districts by an act of Assembly passed in 1822. In digging a cellar, about thirty-five years ago, on Forster's Island, opposite Ilarrisburg, at the depth of five feet several Indian darts were found. Trees of enormous growth stood a few years before on the spot where they were exhumed. A strenuous efi'ort was made in the Legislature, in 1827, to remove the seat of government from Ilarrisburg. In 1825-6-7 there were five military companies in the bor- ough, as follows : Dauphia Cavalry — R. T. Jacobs, 0. S. Harrisburg Guards— P. Frazer, 0. S. Pennsylvania Guards — H. Chritzman, Adjutant. Harrisburg Junior Guards — S. Pool, 0. S. Harrisburg Union Infantry — J. Black, 0. S. THE PENN LOCK OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CANAL. Oa Tuesday, March 14, 1827, the first corner-stone that was laid in the locks of the Pennsylvania canal, was laid in lock No. 6, at the foot of Walnut street, Harrisburg. There was a Masonic procession, followed by the Governor and Heads of De- partment, the members of the Legislature, the Burgesses and members of the Town Council, and a great concourse of citizens. In the stone were deposited the names of the members of the Legislature at the time of the passage of the act for commencing the Pennsylvania canal, (1825,) and the Governor who approved it, with the following scroll : 182 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. " This corner-stone Of lock No. 6, from the Swatara river, was laid in Masonic form, on the 13th day of March, Anno Domini 1827, Anno Lucius 5827, By the Worshipful Master and brethren of Perseverance Lodge, No. 21, In presence of the Governor, Heads of Departments of State, members of the Legislature, and the citizens of the borough of Harrisburg ; When it was unanimously styled by the Engineer and Acting Commissioner, The Penn Lock, In commemoration of the great founder of the State, and of the enterprise of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the promotion of internal improvements. William and Michael Byrne, and Alexander and Paul Provost, builders. Charles Mowry, Acting Commissioner. Dr. Wm. Darlington, President. John Sergeant, David Scott, Abner Lacock, Daniel Mont- gomery, John Philips, Thos. Enochs, Geo. M. Dallas, Esqrs., Commissioners. Joseph M'llvaine, Esq , Secretary of the Board. William Strickland, Engineer. Francis W. Rawle, Assistant Engineer. Samuel H. Kneass, Geo. Merrick, Wm. B. Norris, Emerson M'llvaine, Robert Paries, William Rodrigue, Chas. L. Schlatter, Assistants. William G-rove, Superintendent of Masons. Frederick William Leopold, Clerk of the Works." After the Masonic ceremonies, Mr. Ritner, Speaker of the House of Representatives, delivered an address suitable to the ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 183 occasion. The procession returned to town ; and the Masonic fraternity, who had for their guest Gov. Carrol, of Tennessee, and a number of citizens, partook of an excellent dinner at Mr. Henzy's Jackson Hotel. In altering the course of the canal, last summer, a short dis- tance to the east of the original line, this lock was torn down, but we could not learn what disposition was made of the corner- stone. It should have occupied a conspicuous place in the new lock ; and if this was not the case, its contents ought to have, been preserved in the museum of the State Department. THE HARRISBURG LANCASTERIAN SCHOOL. From the adoption of the Constitution of 1790 until 1809, no legislative provision of a general nature was made in refer- ence to public schools. An act was then passed " for the gratu- itous education of the poor." It required a report to be made by the assessors of the townships, wards and boroughs, to the commissioners of the respective counties, of all children between the ages of five and twelve years whose parents were unable to provide for their education; and that when the lists had been approved by the commissioners, that such parents should be no- tified thereof, and be permitted to send their children to the most convenient schools, at the expense of the county. Not- withstanding the many defects of this law, it continued in force until it was repealed by that of 29th March, 1824, which pro- vided that every township should elect three "schoolmen," who should superintend the education of poor children within their respective townships, and " cause them to be instructed as other children are treated, the expense of tuition to be paid by the county." But each county might authorize the " schoolmen" to divide the township into school districts, and to establish schools at the expense of the townships, to which all children belonging to the districts might be sent for three years at any 184 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. time between the ages of six and fourteen years. This law was applicable to the whole State, with the exception of certain school districts in the city and county of Philadelphia and city and county of Lancaster. It was repealed in 1826, and the act of 1809 revived. By the act of 2d April, 1831, however, the basis of a more efficient school system was laid. The Secretary of the Com- monwealth, the Auditor General, and the Secretary of the Land Office, were appointed commissioners to receive and manage the school fund, with power to receive and hold for the use thereof, all gifts, grants and donations that might be made thereto, and all the monies due the Commonwealth by the holders of unpat- ented lands ; also, all monies secured to the Commonwealth by mortgages or liens for the purchase money of the same, (this land debt was estimated at two millions of dollars,) as also all fees received in the Land Office, with the addition of the sum of one mill on the dollar added to the county rates by the act of the 25th March, 1831, were assigned to the common school fund, and held by the Commonwealth for the use thereof, at the interest of five per cent, per annum. The interest was directed to be added to the principal as it became due, and the whole amount to be holden by the Commonwealth, subject to the pay- ment of interest on loans made to the State for internal improve- ments, until the interest should amount to one hundred thou- sand dollars annually, after which the interest was to be dis- tributed annually to the support of common schools throughout the Commonwealth, in such manner as would thereafter be pro- vided by law. Besides the general provisions for education above noticed, special ones were enacted for certain portions of the State. Thus in 1818 the city and county of Philadelphia were erected into a district, called the "first school district" of Pennsylvania. By the act of April 1, 1822, the city and county of Lancaster were erected into the "second school district,'' with privileges ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 185 and duties similar to the first. By tte act of llth April, 1827, the same system was established at Harrisburg, and by act of 19th February, 1828, at Pittsburg. The following is a copy of the act of 11th of April, 1827, establishing the Lancasterian school system at Harrisburg : An Act to autJiorize the Commissioners of Dauphin county to establish a public school in the borough of Harrisburg. Sect. 1. l?e it enacted, &c., That the commissioners of Dau- phin county be authorized to make use of any part of the court- house of the said county which may be unoccupied, build, or procure a suitable building for the purpose of educating the children directed to be taught at the public expense, and also to furnish the same for the accommodation of children. Sect. 2. That said commissioners be authorized and required to engage a suitable teacher or teachers, at a fixed salary or oth- erwise, as they may deem proper : Provided, such teacher be approved of by the school committee to be hereafter appointed. Sect. 3. That the commissioners shall be required to direct all the children educated at the public expense, who shall reside in the borough of Harrisburg and within one mile thereof, to attend a school established by their direction, which shall be taught and conducted on the principles of Lancaster's system of education, in its most approved state. Sect. 4. That the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin coun- ty, at their regular spring term, and during the spring term of each and every subsequent year, shall appoint nine respectable citizens residing within the borough of Harrisburg, to be de- nominated a school committee, whose business it shall be, at the request of the county commissioners, to examine the qualifica- tions and ability of said teacher, and if found worthy, shall give him a certificate of approval, which shall be a sufficient voucher to said commissioners ; and it shall he further the duty of said committee to visit and examine said school twice in every quar- 24 186 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. ter, or oftener if necessary, and recommend such rules and regu- lations as will best contribute to the advancement of the youth of said school. Sect. 5 — [Provides for the supplying of vacancies in the school committee.] Sect. 6. That said commissioners may admit children whose parents or guardians are in circumstances to pay for their tuition, and shall be at liberty to charge in each individual case any sum which may be agreed on between the parties, which shall be ap- plied in all cases to the support of said school. Sect. 7. That the said commissioners shall have power to draw orders on the county treasurer for any sum or sums of money to pay the expense of erecting or procuring a suitable building for the purpose aforesaid, and also for such sums of money necessary in furnishing books, stationery, and all things necessary in establishing, maintaining and conducting said school; and all such orders drawn upon the county treasurer shall be paid by him, and the orders thus paid shall be his authority for paying such sums, and to the persons mentioned in said orders. Sect. 8. That it shall be the duty of said commissioners to keep an accurate account of the proceedings of said school, which account shall be examined and settled annually by the auditors of the county, and shall publish a statement of the same in the month of January in each and every year, the number of chil- dren educated in said school, as well as the amount of expend- iture, and of the sums received for the tuition of children whose parents, guardians or friends have defrayed any part or the whole of the expenses of their education. Sect. 9. That as soon as the said school shall be established and fit for the reception of scholars, the said commissioners shall give public notice thereof in at least three public newspapers printed in said borough of Harrisburg ; and that no tuition for children taught at the expense of the county, who shall reside ANNALS OP HARRISBUKG. 187 within the bounds aforesaid, will be paid by the county, con- tracted after thirty days' notice given as aforesaid. Sect. 10. That so much of every act of Assembly relating to the education of the poor, as far as the same may affect the bor- ough of Harrisburg, and within one mile thereof, as is altered or supplied by this act, shall be repealed, and cease to operate from and after the time mentioned in the ninth section of this act.'' The " Lancasterian system" provided for in the third section of the above act, was so called in honor of its founder, Mr. Lan- caster, a native of England. It was based upon monitorial or mutual instruction. Thus, a school would be divided into sev- eral sections, according to the acquirements of the scholars, over each one of which was appointed by the master a '' monitor" — generally the most intelligent and advanced scholar — whose duty it was to superintend the instruction of his companions in the section to which he belonged. Of course, all the sections were under the general superintendence of the master. We give several extracts from the minutes of the proceedings of the commissioners of Dauphin county in relation to the above quoted act of Assembly, which illustrates the rise, progress and final abolition of the Lancasterian school in Harrisburg : " July 4, 1827. Commissioners met. Present — Messrs. Brua, Kathfon, and Moody. The following preamble and resolution were read and adopted : Whereas, The commissioners of Dauphin county have caused a room in the Court House to be prepared for a school on the Lancasterian plan, and have engaged a teacher to conduct such a school agreeably to the act of Assembly of April 11, 1827; therefore. Resolved, That the teacher employed by the commissioners of the county be directed to receive into the said school, to be 188 ANNALS OP HARRISBTJRG. instructed according to the aforesaid plan, all the children whose tuition is required by law to be paid by the county, and whose names are or shall hereafter be entered on the list of poor chil- dren in the commissioners' office, residing in the borough of Harrisburg, or within one mile thereof. Other children to be admitted into the school at the rate of one dollar per quarter of a year, to be paid for the use of the county. A reduction from this rate to be allowed according to the circumstances of the pa- rents of the children, at the discretion of the commissioners." By another resolution adopted at this meeting of the board, the school was directed to be opened on the 9th of July, 1827 ; but at a meeting held on the 11th of May previous, the board elected William C. Jenks teacher, at a salary of $550 per annum, and directed the school to commence on the 7th of May. It is probable, however, that one of these dates is a clerical error; or perhaps it was the original design of the board to open the school on the 7th of May, but not having concluded the arrange- ments in time, deferred it until the 9th of July. At a meeting of the commissioners held in the month of April, 1828, William C. Jenks was reappointed teacher of the school at a salary of $800 per annum. At this period the whole number of children taught in the school was three hundred and fifty. The number of children taught in the school whose parents, guardians or friends defrayed or agreed to defray any part of the whole of the expense of their tuition, was one hundred and fifty- four. The amount received for the tuition of children whose parents, guardians or friends defrayed the whole or any part of their edu- cation, was fifty-five dollars and eight cents. The amount due for the tuition of children whose parents, guardians or friends agreed to pay the whole or any part of their education, was two hundred and fifty-one dollars and twenty oe&ts. ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 189 The limited accommodations ■which the room in the Court House aiforded for such a large and increasing school, induced the county commissioners to avail themselves of the privileges extended in the first section of the act authorizing the establish- ment of the school ; and accordingly they purchased of the late Thomas Elder, Esq., the two lots of ground situated in "Walnut street, numbered in the general plan of the borough 262 and 263, for the purpose of erecting thereon a suitable building for the accommodation of the school. The deed conveying these lots is recorded in book B, vol. 2, page 427, in the Recorder's office. We continue our extracts from the commissioners' minutes : "June 20, 1828. Commissioners met. — Present, Messrs. Moody, Brua, and Cochran. Proposals were received for building a school house for the ' Lancasterian School.' " "July 4, 1828. Commissioners met. — Present, Messrs. Moody and Peter Brua. The commissioners entered into a contract with Samuel Bryan for building a house for the Lancasterian school, in Har- fisburg, at a cost of $4,250, according to article of agreement." It is probable that Mr. Bryan completed his contract in the fall of 1829, for we find in the " Order Book" that he was paid by Order No. 25, dated January 9, 1830, the sum of $585 54, *' being the balance due him on settlement of his account for building Lancasterian school house." " November 7, 1832. Commissioners met. — Present, Messrs. Archibald Orme, John Imshofistall, and Abraham Bombaugh. The following resolution was read and adopted : Resolved, That the clerk inform Jacob Richardson, teacher of oolored children ia Harrisburg, that in future the colored 190 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. children under his tuition shall be taught in the Lancasterian school, as the law directs ; and that the commissioners will hereafter allow him no compensation for teaching said chil- dren." "December 3, 1833. Commissioners met. — Present, Messrs. Imshoffstall, Bom- baugh, and Kendig. Mr. Bombaugh offered the following resolutions, which were adopted : Resolved, That in consequence of an act of the General As- sembly, approved the 9tli of April, 1833, the public school in the borough of Harrisburg on the Lancasterian system, and the services of J. A. Prest as teacher thereof, be discontinued from and after the 20th day of March, 1834. Resolved, That J. A. Prest, teacher of the public school in the borough of Harrisburg on the Lancasterian system, be and he is hereby notified and requested to deliver up to the commis- sioners of the county of Dauphin, on Friday, the 21st day of March, 1834, all the accounts, vouchers, books, papers, furni- ture, &c., belonging to said public school house, and vacate the premises himself on the first day of April following." By a resolution of the Board, passed January 20, 1834, the time for discontinuing the school and the delivery of the ac- counts, vouchers, books, &c., was extended to Tuesday, the 20th of May, 1834, at which time it appears to have been finally abolished. In 1849 the school building, with the adjoining premises, were sold by the county commissioners to the school directors of the North Ward of the borough of Harrisburg, who made considerable alterations in its interior, better adapted to the use of schools under the present beneficial common school system. When occupied by the Lancasterian school, the teacher, with his family, resided in the building. It is occupied now, we be- ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 191 lieve, by four of the North Ward public male sohools, all in separate apartments. The building is constructed of brick, two stories high, sur- mounted with a neat wooden steeple. It fronts on Walnut street, nearly the breadth of the two lots upon which it is built, and has a depth of about fifty feet That portion of the lots not occupied by the building is enclosed with a substantial board fence, afibrding an excellent play-ground for the scholars during recess. FIRE IN 1828. " Fire. — At daybreak on Wednesday last an alarm of fire was given in this borough. A small frame building, occupied by Mr. Geety as a tailor shop, situated on the east side of Mar- ket square, about midway between Buehler's Hotel and Wyeth's book store, was discovered to be on fire, and before relief could be procured, though the utmost diligence was exerted, the con- tiguous houses on both sides (being also frame buildings) had caught fire. All those towards Market street, including Wy- eth's corner, (and down Market street to the building adjoining Wyeth's Hall) were burned to the ground ; but those towards Buehler's Hotel were saved by extraordinary efforts, aided by the circumstance of a narrow vacancy between the building where the fire originated and the one occupied by Mr. Slaugh. Most of the furniture, it is believed, of the sufferers, Messrs. Geety, Wormley, Wolf, and Wyeth, was saved. A small loss, however, is a serious deprivation as it regards most of them, and gives them a strong claim to the sympathy of the public." — In- telligencer, July 1, 1828. FIRST WATER IN THE PENNSYLVANIA CANAL AT HARRIS- BURG. "Pennsylvania Canal. — The water was on Tuesday last let into this canal, at M'AUister's mill, and a gentleman has 192 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. just stepped into our office with tlie information that it has reached and is filling the basin near this place. — Harrhhurg paper, March 20^ 1828. GREAT SNOW STORM. The year 1831 was distinguished for a great snow storm, which occurred in January. " We do not recollect ever having witnessed so great a fall of snow as that which took place during the late storm. It com- menced on Friday evening last, with an easterly wind, and con- tinued without intermission until Sunday morning. If the snow had fallen without being disturbed by the wind, we presume it would have been at least two feet deep. But, as it was light and the wind fresh, it was blown and drifted in many places so as to be completely impassable. Many of our roads are filled up to the fence tops on each side, and are altogether impassable. Those compelled to travel have, in many places, to pass through fields and woods entirely off the track to find a passage. Our court commenced on Monday, and owing to the impossibility of getting to town through the snow, but four grand jurors out of twenty-four answered to their names, and it was not until Tues- day that a sufficient number appeared to do business, and then the whole number was but thirteen. We were for several days cut off from all communication eastward by mail. The Phila- delphia stage, which should have arrived on Saturday night, did not reach us until Tuesday; and several of the stages that left here on Saturday morning were obliged to return. We have this consolation, however, if there is any consolation to be de- rived from company in difficulty, that there is not a paper re- ceived that has been published since the storm, particularly from towards the south, north, and east, that does not detail similar consequences from the same cause." — Harrisburg Re- porter, January 21, 1831. ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 193 WATER POWER. " A few days since, Jolin Davies, Esq., at the instance of a number of gentlemen of JHarrisburg, leveled the route of a canal or race for supplying the borough of Ilarrisburg with water, and creating a water power. The route pursued commenced at Brushy Rock, immediately below M' Allister's ; thence along the shore to the lock above Updegraff 's ; thence along the low ground near the State canal, as far as the farm of John Fox ; thence towards the river to the low ground on the south side of the ridge, extending through the lands of Messrs. Cox, Elder, M'Kee and Hummel, to the farm of Messrs. Orth and Reily ; thence either crossing the turnpike and continuing along the bank to the upper end of Pottstown, and there again crossing the turn- pike till after passing the works of the Messrs. Wiestling, there recrossing the road and continuing along the river to Maclays- burg or Maclay's rock, or else proceeding through the land of Messrs. Orth and Reily direct to North or State street, Maclays- burg, and thence to the river. The estimate of the cost of the race was ^22,450 29, exclu- sive of sixteen hundred perches of post and rail fence. It was to be 17 feet wide at bottom, and the fall from M' Allister's to Harrisburg was 16 feet. Judge Geddes, the distinguished engineer, formerly of this neighborhood, now residing in the State of New York, has kindly examined the principal points of the projected canal, and has expressed a very favorable opinion of it. He recommends a race of larger dimensions than the one above stated, viz: one of 25 feet wide at bottom, 40 at the surface, and 5 feet in depth, on account of its liability to freeze, and a fall of 4 inches in the mile. A race of these dimensions, Mr. Geddes calculates, would furnish 14,004 cubic feet of water per minute, or 234 cubic feet per second ; also, that agreeably to the table stated in Evans' Mill-wright Guide, 8 cubic feet and six-tenths per second, acting 25 194 ANNALS OE HAERISBURG. upon a pair of stones of 5 feet in diameter, making 97 revolu- tions per minute, with a fall of 14 feet and two-tenths, will grind five bushels of wheat per hour. 234,406 divided by 8.6, gives 27.48. Thus a race of the latter capacity, with a head of 14 feet and two-tenths, will produce a power sufficient to turn about twenty-seven pair of stones, capable of grinding five bushels of wheat per hour. But if, with the aid of a low dam on the falls at McAllister's, the head be increased to 15.47 feet, it will re- quire scarce 8 cubic feet of water per second to turn the same stones, and 284 cubic feet of water per second will then turn more than thirty pair of stones. As the channel outside of Brushy Kock is used only when the water is too low to suffer craft to pass the channel next the shore, it is evident that a dam of two, three or four feet high will im- prove the inner channel, and thus benefit rather than injure the descending navigation. For the ascending navigation the canal has almost wholly superseded the river, but a windlass placed at the head of the channel would enable boats to pass it. If our citizens should be generally favorable to this project, (and there should be but one opinion on the subject,) the passage of the necessary law can in all probability be procured ; and if so, the rapid advancement of our borough in wealth and population can be confidently anticipated."- — Harrishurg Chronicle, August, 1831. THE "FALLING STARS." The 18th of November, 1833, is signalized as the period of the great meteoric shower — an exhibition of natural " fire-works" that will long be remembered by those who witnessed it. In Harrisburg, the scene is described as being " grand, awful and sublime." It occurred on a market morning, and to the igno- rant and superstitious citizens and countrymen the phenomena was overwhelming and terrific. In the language of an observer, it " rained stars." Never before or since did such a countless ANNALS OF HARMSBURG. • 195, number of meteors fall from the empyrean in so short a space of time. Most of tliem were globular in shape, but many in their rapid motion left behind a luminous tail, and these the imagi- nation of the credulous very readily transformed into so many " fiery serpents." It is almost impossible to conceive the horror of mind which seized upon some people, even when the phe- nomena was explained by the better informed. Many of the bold as well as timid citizens, yielding alike to apprehension, gave over all as lost, and passed the exciting period in lamenta- tions and prayer. It was astonishing to behold how many be- came suddenly devout who were never devout before, yet, gen- erally speaking, the fit of devotion was of no longer duration than the phenomena. "When the devil was sick, the devil a monk would be ; When the devil was well, the devil a monk was he" — might apply very well to the history of these conversions. The following descriptions by eye-witnesses of this phenom- ena, were published in the Harrisburg Chronicle, printed at the time by Hugh Hamilton & Son : " This morning ("Wednesday, November 13, 1833) at a quar- ter past five, I was told that a very unusual number of shooting stars were to be seen ; and going out, I saw them radiating from a point overhead in every direction. It was not possible to count them, but I thought as many as from five to twenty in a second were darted ofi". The radiating space was not exactly in the zenith, but a little S. S. E. of it. Some of the meteors were so bright as to throw a strong light on the whole sky, and attract my attention even when they were behind me. Sometimes a long track of light was left in the sky, and remained for more than a minute. The very great number and rapidity of motion of these me- teors could be compared to a large shower of hail. One of them appeared to be as large as a man's fist, and was of great bril- 196 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. liancy. The stream of light that remained in some cases ceased to be a straight line, and assumed first a snake-like form, and then doubled together. The east was ruddy, and the morning star very bright when I first saw the meteors. They were not always regular in their emission, but there was not, I think, an instant of time in which several were not visible. It seemed as if there were several great discharges every minute. I watched them till a quarter past six, when the sun was nearly up, at which time their light was very faint ; but it seemed to me the number was only apparently diminished by being lost in the light of the morning. A very bright one was seen just at that time. E. L." "About eleven o'clock on Tuesday night, an immense num- ber of shooting stars, as they are erroneously termed, were ob- served in the atmosphere. They continued to increase until five o'clock in the morning, (Weduesday,) when the view which the heavens presented was grand beyond deseiption. Ten thousand little meteors might be observed at a time, igniting, falling per- pendicularly for a short distance, and then disappearing to be supplied by others. Not a cloud was visible, not a breath of air was perceptible. The luminous trail which each meteor left be- hind it as it moved, gave the heavens almost the appearance of a solid mass of flame. The scene continued until their light was eclipsed by the morning dawn." FIRST ARRIVAL OF RAILROAD CARS AT HARRISBURG. The first locomotive, drawing a train of cars, that arrived at Harrisburg, came from Portsmouth, (now included in Middle- town,) over the Harrisburg and Lancaster Railroad, in the month of September, 1836. It was called the "John Bull," and was an object of great curiosity to the citizens of the borough and vicinity, who congregated by hundreds on the railroad below ANNALS OP HABEISBTJRG. 197 Paxton street, to witness its approach. The railroad, at this time, was only completed between Portsmouth and Harrisburg, and the locomotive used on the occasion had been brought to the former place on a canal boat, from the State road at Columbia. In the month of December following, fifteen miles of the road, extending westward from Lancaster, were completed and opened. Passengers were then taken twice a day in each direc- tion over the finished portion of the road, and over the inter- vening distance by stages. In the month of October, 1837, the whole line of the road was completed, with the exception of a track through the tunnel at Elizabethtown, which was crossed over by a good board-walk. The Cumberland Valley railroad was first opened for public travel from a terminus in Cumberland county, opposite Harris- burg, to Carlisle, in July or August, 1837. THE "BUCKSHOT WAR." The first proceedings of the Legislature which convened at Harrisburg on the 4th of December, 1838, were marked with extraordinary scenes of disorder and confusion, and originated what is commonly called the '■'■ Buckshot War.'' The Senate met at three o'clock on that day, and organized by electing Hon. C. B. Penrose, Speaker. The Democratic members from the county of Philadelphia were refused their seats, and the opposition members admitted. Mr. Brown, one of the ejected members, was permitted to address the Senate, after which a motion was made to have the election returns brought forward ; pending which the Speaker called Gen. Piogers to the chair which he had vacated, and the session shortly afterwards broke up in confusion. The House met at nine o'clock on the same day, when the Secretary of the Commonwealth was introduced, who presented the official returns of the members elected to the House of Re- presentatives, 198 ANNALS OF HARRISBTJRG. The clerk then read the returns from the city of Philadelphia, and was about proceeding to read the returns from the county of Philadelphia, when Mv. Charles Pray stated, in his place, that this was not the legal return, and presented to the clerk a certified copy of what he alleged to be the correct returns from the Prothonotary's Office of Philadelphia county, and requested it to be read. The clerk then put the question, " Shall both of the returns be read ?" and numerous shouts of " aye," " aye," were echoed throughout the House. Several members protested against the reading of the latter returns ; but the clerk put the question, which was carried, and both of the returns were read. Mr, Stevens suggested that the House proceed to its organi- zation by electing a Speaker; and when tellers were appointed for that purpose, he expected they would read but the names of those members who had been returned from the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. When this was done, those gentlemen who did not think these returns proper might decline voting. If this course was pursued, and it should so happen that two Speakers were elected, he trusted there would be that courtesy exhibited which would find room for both gentlemen upon the platform. He therefore moved that the House pro- ceed to the election of a Speaker, and that Messrs. Watts and Ziegler be appointed tellers ; which motion was declared to be agreed to, and those two gentlemen immediately took a stand at the Speaker's table. Mr, Hopkins moved that the clerk be instructed to put down the names of the members from the county of Philadelphia who had a majority of votes, and were certified as members of the House by a majority of the return judges, Mr. T. L. Smith hoped that those who agreed with him in relation to the matter would vote "no'' on this question. The motion of Mr. Hopkins was then agreed to, and the names of the Democratic members were inserted on the roll. ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 199 Mr. Hill moved tliat the clerk of the House call over the roll according to the custom heretofore observed ; which motion was agreed to, and the clerk proceeded to call the roll — the tellers at the same time commencing to call over the names of the members, for the purpose of electing a Speaker. Before the clerk had concluded the roll, the tellers announced that Thomas S. Cunningham had received 52 votes, and was therefore duly elected. Mr. Cunningham then took the chair, and called upon Mr. T. L. Smith to administer the oath of office, after which he proceeded to administer the oath to the fifty-two uiembers who had elected him, the remainder of the House keeping their seats, and the clerk still calling the roll, at the conclusion of which he announced that fifty-six members had answered to their names. Mr. M'Elwee then moved that the House proceed to the elec- tion of a Speaker, and that the clerks act as tellers ; which was agreed to. And the clerk having called over the names, an- nounced that William Hopkins, having received 56 votes, was duly elected Speaker. Mr. 51'Elwee conducted Mr. Hopkins to the Speaker's plat- form, where he obtained a seat beside Mr. Cunningham. Mr. Hopkins then called upon Mr. Smith, of Franklin, to administer to him the oath of office, and took and subscribed the usual oath. In the meantime that portion of the House over which Mr. Cunningham presided, adopted the rules of the last House for their government, and appointed committees to wait upon the Governor and the Senate, to inform them that the House was organized and ready to proceed to business, after which it ad- journed. The body over which Mr. Hopkins presided appointed similar committees, and after nominating officers, also adjourned. Immediately after the occurrence of these extraordinary pro- 200 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. ceedings, Gov. Ritner issued tlie following proclamation. [See Executive Minutes, 1838, page 64, Secretary of the Common- wealth's office.] '^Pennsylvania, ss. In the name and by the authority of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by Joseph llitner, Governor of the said Com- monwealth : A PROCLAMATION. Whereas, A lawless, infuriated, armed mob from the coun- ties of Philadelphia, Lancaster, Adams, and other places, have assembled at the seat of government, with the avowed object of disturbing, interrupting, and overawing the Legislature of this Commonwealth, and of preventing its proper organization, and the peaceable and free discharge of its duties ; And ivhereas, The said mob have already, on this day, en- tered the Senate Chamber, and in an outrageous and violent manner, by clamoring, shouting, and threatening violence and death to some of the members of that body, and other officers of the government; and finally by rushing within the bar of the Senate Chamber, in defiance of every effort to restrain them, compelled the Senate to suspend business; And lohereas, They still remain here in force, encouraged by a person who is an officer of the General Government, from Philadelphia, and are setting the law at open defiance, and ren- dering it unsafe for the Legislative bodies to assemble in the Capitol ; Therefore, This is to call upon the civil authority to exert themselves to restore order to the utmost of their power, and upon the militia force of the Commonwealth to hold themselves in instant readiness to repair to the seat of government; and upon all good citizens to aid in curbing this lawless mob, and in reinstating the supremacy of the law. ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 201 Griven under my hand and the Great Seal of the State, at Harrisburg, this fourth day of December, in the year [l. s.] of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty- eight, and of the Commonwealth the sixty-third. By the Governor : THOMAS H. BURROWES, Secretary of the Commonwealth." The publication of this document, as may readily be con- ceived, created the most intense excitement throughout the State; and large numbers of people flocked into the borough daily, attracted by curiosity, or to participate in what many conscien- ciously believed would terminate in a sanguinary struggle. A mass meeting of citizens from all sections of the State was held at the Court House on the evening of the 4th December, and a committee of safety, consisting of nineteen prominent men, was appointed. This committee met on the same evening, when it was in- formed that there was a body of men stationed in the State Ar- senal, and that large quantities of powder, cartridges, and other ammunition, had been taken there since the last evening. At this moment, Major George Ford, of Lancaster, and Mr. Joseph Henderson entered the room where the committee was assembled, professing to be a committee from the State author- ities, and wished to confer with this committee in reference to the protection of the Arsenal, and the public property of the Commonwealth, such as arms, ammunition, &c. They went on to state that the Arsenal had been assailed by a large force of the people, and that great danger was to be apprehended. The committee informed them that, under existing circum- stances, they had no power to allay the excitement ; that certain intelligence had been received that Gov. Kitner had issued his orders for the assembling of the militia, which orders were sent last evening by express to Carlisle and other places; and that the people expected Harrisburg would be filled with persons 26 202 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. wlio would supply themselves ■with arms and ammunition from the Arsenal; that the people were acting only on the defensive, but that they would not permit the public stores to be employed against themselves in the lawful pursuit of their rights. Messrs. Ford and Henderson, on the part of themselves and those who sent them, made the following pledge : " That as men of honor, no ordnance, arms, muskets or am- munition should, by any order of the Governor, or any other authority whatever, be taken from the Arsenal for the purpose of arming any forces that might collect in obedience to the pro- clamation of the Governor; and that if any use of them should so be made, they would hold themselves personally responsible for the consequences," This pledge was satisfactory to the committee, who believed that the only object of the people in making a demonstration upon the Arsenal was, not to employ the public arms themselves, but, if possible, to prevent their adversaries from making use of them. At this time a large multitude had collected around the Ar- senal, having been attracted thither by the intelligence that a quantity of ammunition had been taken there, and that their adversaries had stationed in the building a body of armed men as a rendezvous to subdue the people. The excitement had be- came tremendous, and for the purpose of acting in good faith on the part of the committee, on motion of L Kidder, it was Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to go and address the people, make known the pledge of Messrs. Ford and Henderson, and urge them quietly to disperse. Whereupon, L. Kidder, Gen. Adam Diller and Lewis S. Co- ryell were appointed the said committee, who immediately re- tired to discharge their duties. Afterward, the above mentioned committee, by L. Kidder, re- ported that they had successfully discharged the duties assigned to them, and that they had severally addressed the people, who ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 203 manifested every disposition to preserve the peace and to act on the defensive, and that the multitude had already quietly dis- persed. On motion, the report was adopted as entirely satisfactory. On the 5tli of December, the Governor made a special requi- sition on Major General Robert Patterson, commanding the first division Pennsylvania militia, for a force of troops sufficient to quell the " insurrection/' and march them immediately to the seat of govermaient. About one hundred of the troops arrived on Saturday night following, and obtained quarters in the Court House ; and at four o'clock, p m., the next day, the main body, numbering about eight hundred, uoder the command of Major General Pat- terson and staif, arrived below town, and halted until communi- cation could be had with the State authorities, which was effected in about an hour, when the troops entered the town, and after marching through several of the streets, proceeded to the public ground iu front of the State Arsenal, where they were divided off into detachments, who severally obtained quarters in the Ar- senal, the Exchange, the Court House, the Lancasterian school house, and the Presbyterian Church. Several other companies from Cumberland county, called out by requisition from the Governor, were quartered on the oppo- site side of the river, not being able to obtain lodgings in the town. The Governor also made a requisition on the United States authorities for the troops stationed at the Carlisle barracks and other neighboring military posts, but this was not complied with. It is estimated that betv/een thirty and fifty thousand stran- gers were in the borough at this period. In the meantime, each division of the House of Representa- tives continued to hold sessions separately; that over which Mr. Hopkins presided in the Representatives Chamber of the Cap- itol, and the one presided over by Mr. Cunningham in the Su- 204 ANNALS OP HARRISBTJRG. preme Court room j but as neither branch had a constitutional quorum of undisputed members, they were both refused recog- nition by the Senate. Affairs stood in this position until December 17, when Messrs. Butler, Sturdevant and Montellius left the Cunningham branch, and were sworn in as members of the Democratic House, under Mr. Speaker Hopkins. This gave to the latter body a quorum of fifty-one members whose seats were undisputed, so that no legal obstacle could longer prevent the Senate from recognizing it as the legitimate House. Accordingly, on the 27th of December, in the Senate, Mr. Michler submitted the following preamble and resolution, which, after various fruitless attempts to amend, were adopted by a vote of 17 yeas and 16 nays : Whereas, Difficulties have arisen in the organization of the House of Representatives, and two bodies have for some time been in existence, each claiming to be the regularly constituted House of Representatives of Pennsylvania, but neither having had a constitutional quorum of members whose seats were regu- larly returned, and neither has yet been fully recognized by the Senate j And whereas, The House organized by the election of Mr. Hopkins as Speaker, is now composed of a constitutional quo- rum of regularly returned members ; and being thus brought within the pale of the constitution, the Senate ought no longer to refuse to recognize the said House as the proper constituted House of Representatives of Pennsylvania; therefore. Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inform said House that the Senate is now organized and ready to proceed to business. The committee so appointed immediately waited upon the House, and a joint committee was appointed by both branches to inform the Governor that the Legislature was organized. ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 205 At the meeting of the House on the morning of the 27th, Mr. Cunningham, with some twenty of the members of his di- vision, were present and duly qualified. Mr. Hopkins, the Speaker, then resigned, but was immedi- ately re-elected. The troops from Philadelphia evacuated the borough on Sun- day, the 16th of December, and the battalion from Cumberland county on the 23d following. The following is " a list of the ordnance stores issued to the Philadelphia troops from the Frankford Arsenal, on requisition of the Governor : "12,480 musket-ball and buck-shot cartridges; 600 pistol catridges; 400 priming tubes; 68 6-pounder strapped shot, fixed; 132 6-pounder cannon balls; 200 musket flints; 100 pistol flints ; 20 pounds slow match. GEO. D. RAMSEY, Capt. of Ord. Frankford Arsenal, Dec. 7, 1838." GREAT FIRES IN 1838. Two destructive fires occurred in the borough in the summer and fall of 1838. The first was on Friday, the 20th of July, which broke out in a stable belonging to Mr. Osier, very near to, and on the line of the wind from the iron foundry of Mr. Graydon, on Fourth street, between "Walnut and Market. It was generally believed that a spark from the foundry originated the fire. The weather at the time was hot, and everything being dry, the Sames spread rapidly to several adjoining stables, and from thence to an extensive lumber yard on Fourth street, be- tween Market street and Strawberry alley, and several houses on Market street and Huckleberry alley, nearly all of which were entirely consumed. The wind was brisk, and but little water could be obtained from the pumps, so that fears were en- tertained that the entire blocks of buildings from Fourth street to the canal, between Market street and Strawberry alley, would 206 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. be destroyed by tbe devouring element. The flames, however, were checked at Huckleberry alley by the fire companies, aided by the citizens, male and female, many of which latter stood in the ranks passing water with buckets for four hours, exposed to the heat of the flames and a fervid sun. The estimated loss of the property destroyed on this occasion was about $15,000, di- vided among twenty-five individuals. The entire insurance amounted to only 82,000. A meeting of the citizens was held after the fire, and com- mittees appointed to solicit subscriptions for the sufferers. This meeting also petitioned the Town Council to provide the Citizen Fire Company with suitable hose, as there seemed to be a great want of this material at the fire. The second fire broke out about five o'clock in the afternoon of Sunday, the 20th of October, in the carpenter shop of Messrs. Holman & Simon, in Market street, near Fourth, and directly opposite to where their extensive lumber yard was consumed at the previous fire. The flames communicated to the dwelling house of Mr. Simon, another (only partially burned,) owned by Mrs. Shannon, a grocery store of Mr. Button, (pulled down,) the Lutheran Church, and a school house and lecture room standing near it. The cost of the property destroyed was about $22,000, most of which was insured. GREAT FLOOD IN THE SUSQUEHANNA. In the spring of 1846 the water in the Susquehanna rose to an extent scarcely excelled by the disastrous freshets of 1784 and 1786. The water upon this occasion carried away the east- ern end of the old Harrisburg bridge, and four spans of the eastern end of the Cumberland Valley Railroad bridge, then in progress of construction, in place of the one previously destroyed by fire. All of the piers of this latter bridge, and those of the eastern end of the former bridge, were more or less swept away ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. 207 by the violence of the water. Paxton street, and the low ground lying on the east side of the town between the canal and the ridge, were completely overflowed, and several inhabitants of houses located in that section were rescued from di'owning with great difl&culty. The engine and boiler rooms of the Water- house were completely submerged, and the machinery therein ^1 considerably damaged. The cellars of houses situated in the town below Washington avenue, were in a like condition. Houses, bridges, fences, hay, hogs, cattle, sheep, &c., were car- ried down the river, all combiniug to present a scene of destruc- tion never previously witnessed by the then " oldest inhabi- tant.'' THE MEXICAN WAR. The requisition of the President of the United States on the Governor of Pennsylvania for Volunteers to serve Id the AYar with Mexico, met with a ready response from the citizens of Harrisburg. A company, composed of nearly 100 members, styled the ''Cameron Guards," in honor of Gen. Simon Cameron, was en- rolled on the 26th of December, 1846. This company was un- der the command of Capt. E. C. Williams, and was mustered into the United States service at Pittsburg, to serve " ^uring the war," by Lieut. Fields, of the U. S. Army, on the 2d day of January, 1847. MUSTER ROLL OF THE CAMERON GUARDS, We annex a table containing a roll of the members' names, the place of their nativity and residence, their occupation, with remarks, &c. It is taken from the original roll of the com- pany, in possession of Capt. Williams. Those of whom no men- tion is made in the column of " remarks," served " during the war," and were honorably discharged at Pittsburg. 208 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. '^n -^t April 2 ) Oct. 3 ov. 5, 1 a a-3 tf « I^ my an. Inf nite o 3 w O do. Vera (sine Pue "^ •■s - • ^-^ O O O t-^f-i (5 S f Sop ■g h>-> g g fl ..• o a s" =^ a '-' of S S)o- g 2 2 2 .2 •J: 00 "Ci-^^ oca p s S O g o ^•^^^ Its o « o "^O >> a M's o c ^ ■s§l fit4 fi til 1-5 ce no ^l « »- -s ^.2 ;q .^ .a - "^ a Pi+^ ji- 'o 'o :; ii ^C3 c3 o y .is .3 « _n _cs _rt _3 js c3 S o' PhQO to PhKO^Si-I K s g a a s-sf^ s 3 ^1 ^^ i g CO o -g ■^ td c: J P4O0KC?>-3 P^P^^A a Ol iH 00 CC Ca r- >-.t^ ^ t— t^ CD ^ c1 o t- o sis >:< g >,■? " S .Z.m ,a»^c s° o a o - CP^ 1^ rH CfH •* t^ iH O bO C P tJ X a M >> >oC.aod ,= t;-St^ tT^ o -^ S g o S is -^ a g ^» g a- „ 5" a S - a a .ti g a g'S a -3 73 ?? - 2S SiT"" ~.S.a.-S.-^ a a?" ^M' t? Oa^^a oS^a.g'^ ^ -.g 3 a a >^ a ■ _ _^ .:= .3 £ B a -- ii a s -'S a 53 ^ o - J^^ ^ a a. ,2 a t. aOiO lOCOOOiOiOOOi 000 00000 o o ooocooo oooooocooooo 0000 T3T3nJ rQ,— r^p^r^ r-J r^ ,_; ,^ ^ ,_- ,^ r^^ r-( ,_j r— r^ r— ^3 r— r^ ^ r^l^ r^ r- r-^ ^^^^ Q -T^ ^ w § s 's a Ph MO a'^fSJ'^ ^•31-5 a -^ « ■2 -3 - cf? >» 3 a_^ §s-?§i o5fi PPPfqPH ^ ^^.S-SSSS iS^aff^li-m^SS a|.= | 27 210 ANNALS OP HARRISBURG. 1 a Died on the march, at Beroges, July 3, 1847. Disch. from hospital. Vera Cruz, April 21, 1847. Deserted at New Orleans, January 27, 1847. Died in the city of Vera Cruz. Deserted at New Orleans, January 27, 1847. Disch. at city of Mexico, for wounds received at the taking of the city. Died in hospital, Puebla, July 21, 1847. Died in the city of Mexico. Died in hospital, Puebla, August 17, 1S4T. Disch. from hospital. Vera Cruz, April 13, 1847. Disch.from hospital, Jalapa, May 19, 1847. Pro- moted Lieut, in regular army ; since Captain. Disch. from hospital, Puebla, March 7, 1848. Died in hospital, Puebla, August S, 1847. Disch. from hospital, city Mexico, Mar. 4, 1848. Disch. from hospital, Jalapa, June 1, 1847. Died in hospital, Puebla, November 9, 1847. Died in hospital, city of Mexico, Oct. 12, 1847. Transferred from N. Y. regt. Oct. 31, 1S47. Joined from General Depot, April 17, i848. Recruited at Sau Angel, April 27, 1S4S. a _o la O Farmer, Shoemaker, Boatman, Shoemaker, , Laborer, Printer, Moulder, Moulder, Printer, Barber, Blacksmith, Carpenter, Brickmaker, Printer, Shoemaker, Printer, Miller, Farmer, Boatman, Butcher, Contractor, Cab't maker. School teac'r. Shoemaker, Blacksmith, Bricklayer, Stone mason. Laborer, Law student, Cordwainer, Carpenter, Stone cutter. Printer, a' Dauphin county, Lancaster city, Chemung, N. Y. Lancaster city. Centre county, Philadelphia, Lancaster city, Centre county, Harrisburg, New York, York county, Cumberland county, Carlisle, Centre county, Stoystown, Middletown, Ilummolstown, York county, Pennsylvania, Lancaster city, Ilighspire, Shippensburg, Carlii^le, Lancaster county, Dauphin county, Lancaster city, Cumberland county, Ireland, Harrisburg, York county, Franklin county, Tyrone, Carlisle, lo •s T-l^iOfc^Ot-CCOiOOCOt^OT-Ht-ODiOt-OCOCOt-iOOOrHOOOOt-tDOOOQOT-l OOClT-^0^I-(C0C0a) l?105,-HC-(