called Pollock to Washington to consult with him upon the grave
questions confronting the country and to consult with him regarding
certain men he was considering for his Cabinet. In 1861 President
Lincoln appointed his Director of the Mint at Philadelphia, and it was
through his efforts, while so serving, that the motto, “In God We
Trust,” was placed upon our coins.
Governor Pollock died at Lock Haven April 19, 1890, and his body was
interred in the cemetery at Milton.
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John Binns, English Politician and Editor,
Died June 24, 1860
Editor John Binns died in Philadelphia June 24, 1860, at the advanced
age of eighty-eight years, each one of which was one of prominence,
either in England or America.
In 1854 he wrote the “Recollections of the Life of John Binns;
Twenty-nine Years in Europe and Fifty-three in the United States.” In
the introduction he says:
“Soon after my arrival in the United States, which was on the first day
of September, 1801, I was urged by the late Dr. Joseph Priestley, his
son Joseph, and Thomas Cooper, Esq., to write my life. They were among
my earliest American acquaintances, and continued my zealous and
faithful friends to their death. Some few American gentlemen who have
subsequently, in Philadelphia, read the account of my arrest and
examination before the Privy Council in London, and my trials for
sedition and high treason in 1797 and 1798, have also urged me to
publish my Recollections. Let these facts be received as an apology for
this publication.”
John Binns was born in Dublin, Ireland, son of John and Mary Pemberton
Binns. His father’s family were Moravians; his mother’s Episcopalians.
His father was drowned at sea when John was two years old. He left a
comfortable estate, and John and his brother and sister received a
liberal education. His mother married again when John was yet in school.
When fourteen years old John Binns was apprenticed to a soap boiler, but
on the death of his grandfather he purchased his apprentice fee and took
a deep interest in politics. He left Dublin April, 1794, and went to
London. Then his troubles began.
John Binns was first arrested March 11, 1796, at Birmingham, and
confined in the dungeon, but his trial was postponed until August. In
the interim he returned to Dublin, but returned for his trial, when he
was acquitted.
He was soon again arrested together with two celebrated politicians at
Margate and imprisoned at London. He was discharged and again rearrested
on a charge of high treason, then sent to the Tower of London, from
which he was removed to Maidstone Jail. He was again tried and
acquitted, following a serious riot in court, May 24, 1798. He was next
arrested and imprisoned in Gloucester, where he was frequently visited
by many persons of distinction.
During this imprisonment Binns determined he would go to the United
States as soon as liberated. July 1, 1801, he embarked for Baltimore,
arriving there September 1 after a stormy and perilous voyage.
Upon his arrival he loaded his goods on three wagons and set out on foot
for Northumberland, Pa., where he purposed to reside. At Harrisburg he
hired a boat to take his goods and himself as a passenger up the river
to Northumberland.
Binns was given a hearty welcome by Dr. Priestley and Judge Cooper, and
soon became a most prominent resident. He was invited to deliver the
oration on July 4, 1802, and his effort stamped him as a most learned
and eloquent speaker.
Binns established the Republican Argus at Northumberland, and his
success exceeded his fondest expectations. It soon became one of the
prominent papers of the State. He was a bold and determined man and
wielded a severe pen.
December 14, 1805, Binns fought a duel with Samuel Stewart, of
Williamsport, a member of the Legislature.
In January, 1807, friends in Philadelphia urged him to remove to that
city and establish a Democratic newspaper. He sounded members of the
Quid Party and found them willing to support Snyder, but they would not
do so under the leadership of William Duane, editor of the Aurora.
Binns removed to Philadelphia and established the Democratic Press,
March 27, 1807. This was the first paper which used the word
“Democratic” in its title.
May 15 Binns delivered the “Long Talk” before the Tammany Society, which
caused him in September to be dismissed from the society. Then the fight
between the Aurora and Democratic Press opened in all its fury, and the
battle for the leadership between Duane and Dr. Leib on one side and
John Binns on the other was commenced.
Binns came out against Dr. Leib for Assembly and Duane for the Senate.
The former was elected, but Duane was badly beaten. This was the
Aurora’s first defeat and it groaned aloud.
Binns was powerful in the election of Snyder in 1808. He had brought
back the Constitutional Republicans into the fold and was able to
control the party against both Duane and Leib.
Dr. Leib was elected to the United States Senate early in 1809, but
Governor Snyder’s course was by no means pleasing to Duane. The Press
defended him, while the Aurora criticized everything he did. The Aurora
threatened to impeach the Governor, and Binns called the Aurora and its
supporters “The Philadelphia Junto.”
Binns and his party favored war with England, and here again he came
into opposition with “Leib, Duane & Co.,” as the Press called them.
Duane and Leib lost all control of the Legislature. In 1811 the
Federalists were successful, and Snyder was overwhelmingly re-elected.
The Aurora published nothing about the impending war, the Press
supported every movement which forwarded its progress, and this was the
popular side. Governor Snyder appointed his friend Binns as
aide-de-camp, and he was active throughout the war.
Leib was appointed Postmaster at Philadelphia in February, 1814, but
Binns succeeded in having Postmaster General Granger removed, and his
successor immediately removed Leib, who then disappeared from the
political field.
Duane soon followed Leib into political obscurity and Binns was in the
zenith of his power. Had Binns not quarreled with Findlay soon as his
election he would have held his power for many more years. It was
particularly unfortunate that he opposed the election of Andrew Jackson
in 1824 and afterward.
He was appointed an alderman by Governor Hiester in 1822, a position he
held for many years.
The Democratic Press was issued for the last time on November 14, 1829,
it having been absorbed by the Philadelphia Inquirer.
In 1840 Binns published “A Digest of the Laws and Judicial Decisions of
Pennsylvania Touching of Authority of Justices of the Peace,” which was
revised and republished under the title “Magistrate’s Manual,” a book
popularly known as “Binns’ Justice.”
Binns held a number of positions of honor and trust, among which was
directorship of the Pennsylvania Bank.
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First Deed for Chester County Conveyed to
William Penn, June 25, 1683
The territory now included in Chester County was honorably purchased of
the Indians by William Penn and conveyed in several distinct deeds. The
first, bearing date June 25, 1683, and signed by an Indian called
Wingebone, conveys to William Penn all his lands on the west side of the
Schuylkill, beginning at the first falls and extending along and back
from that river, in the language of the instrument, “so far as my right
goeth.”
By another deed of July 14, 1683, two chiefs granted to the Proprietary
the land lying between the Chester and Schuylkill Rivers. From
Kekelappan and Machaloa, the Conestoga chiefs, he purchased half the
land between the Susquehanna and the Delaware in September, and from
Malchaloa all the lands from the Delaware to Chesapeake Bay up to the
falls of the Susquehanna in October.
These were all the land transactions Penn had with the Indians in 1683
of which the conveyances have been recorded.
By a deed of July 30, 1684, Shakhoppoh, Secane and Malibor conveyed the
land between the Chester and Pennypack Creeks. Another conveyance was
made on October 2, 1685, for the greater portion of the lands
constituting the present county of Chester. This last instrument is a
quaint piece of conveyancing and shows the value attached by the natives
to their lands.
“This indenture witnesseth that we, Packenah, Jackham, Sikals,
Portquesott, Jervis, Essepenaick, Felkstrug, Porvey, Indian kings,
sachemmakers, right owners of all lands from Quing Quingus, called Duck
cr., unto Upland, called Chester cr., all along said west side of
Delaware River, and so between the said creeks backwards as far as man
can ride in two days with a horse, for in consideration of these
following goods to us in hand paid, and secured to be paid by William
Penn, Proprietary of Pennsylvania and the territories thereof, viz.; 20
guns, 20 fathoms match coat, 20 fathoms stroud water, 20 blankets, 20
kettles, 20 pounds of powder, 100 bars of lead, 40 tomahawks, 100
knives, 40 pairs of stockings, 1 barrel of beer, 20 pounds of red lead,
100 fathoms of wampum, 30 glass bottles, 30 pewter spoons, 100 awl
blades, 300 tobacco pipes, 100 hands tobacco, 20 tobacco tongs, 20
steels, 300 flints, 30 pair of scissors, 30 combs, 60 looking glasses,
200 needles, 1 skipple of salt, 30 pounds of sugar, 5 gallons of
molasses, 20 tobacco boxes, 100 jews harps, 20 hoes, 30 gimlets, 30
wooden screw boxes, 103 strings of beads—do hereby acknowledge, &c., &c.
Given under our hands and seals, at New Castle, 2d of the 8th month,
1685.”
The Quing Quingus Creek referred to Duck Creek, in present Delaware
County, or to Appoquinimink Creek, which runs some distance north of
Duck Creek.
In June, 1692, Kings Tamment, Tangorus, Swampes and Hickoqueon gave a
confirmatory deed of their former conveyances of land lying between
Neshaminey and Poquessing Creeks, “upon the Delaware, and extending
backwards to the utmost bounds of the Province.” Taminy, his brother,
and his three sons executed a second deed in confirmation of his former
ones, July 5, 1697, for lands between Neshaminy and Pennypack, extending
backward from the Delaware “so far as a horse can travel in two summer
days.”
In this last deed the grantors are described as: “Taminy, sachem, and
Weheelam, my brother, and Weheequeckhon (alias Andrew), who is to be
king after my death; Yaqueekhon (alias Nicholas), and Quenameckquid
(alias Charles), my sons.” Weheequekhon was none other than the
celebrated Sassoonan, or Allummapees, head chief of the Delaware from
1715 to 1747.
The title of the particular Indian chiefs to the lands claimed by them
was not always very clear, but it was the policy of the Proprietary
Government to quiet all claims which might be made by purchasing them.
Accordingly, purchases were made from time to time of claims made by
chiefs which they alleged had not been extinguished by purchase.
The Indians, after the sale of their lands, continued to occupy them
until needed by the settlers, and gradually abandoned them as the whites
advanced and took possession.
They were an amiable race, and when they left the burial places of their
fathers, in search of new homes, it was without a stain on their honor.
Considerable numbers, however, remained in Chester County, inhabiting
the woods and unoccupied places, until the breaking out of the French
and Indian War in 1755; about which time they generally removed beyond
the limits of the county and took up their abode in the valley of
Wyoming, at the Forks of the Susquehanna, and at Wyalusing in the North
Branch of the Susquehanna.
At the making of the treaty of St. Mary’s, in 1720, there were present
some chiefs of the Nanticoke, one of whom had withstood the storms of
ninety winters, who told the commissioners that he and his people had
once roamed through their own domains along the Brandywine.
At the close of the Revolutionary War, the number of Indians resident in
the county was reduced to four who dwelt in wigwams in Marlborough
Township. After the death of three of them, the remaining one known as
Indian Hannah, took up her abode in a wigwam near the Brandywine, or as
she considered it, her own lands. During the summer she traveled through
different parts of the county, selling willow baskets of her own
production and visiting those who would receive her kindly.
As she grew old she quitted her wigwam and dwelt in friendly families.
Though a long time domesticated with the whites, she retained her Indian
character to the last. She had a proud haughty spirit, hated the blacks
and did not even deign to associate with the lower order of the whites.
Without a companion of her race—without kindred—she felt her situation
desolate, and often spoke of the wrongs and misfortunes of her people.
She died in the year 1803, at the age of nearly one hundred years—the
last of the Lenni Lenape resident in Chester County.
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Colonel Timothy Pickering Abducted by
Yankees at Wyoming June 26, 1787
The County of Luzerne was erected from parts of Northumberland County by
act of September 26, 1786.
The act of December 27, 1786, provided, “That Timothy Pickering, Zebulon
Butler and John Franklin notify the electors that an election would be
holden to choose a Counsellor, member of the Assembly, Sheriff, Coroner,
and Commissioners on the first day of February.”
Colonel Pickering was one of the eminent men in the Union. He had the
confidence of Washington and Congress, having executed with fidelity the
office of Quartermaster General of the Continental Army. A native of
Massachusetts, after the peace he settled in Philadelphia, becoming a
citizen of Pennsylvania. He was selected, in addition to his great
abilities and weight of character, for the reason that he was a New
England man, to organize the new county and introduce the laws of the
State among the Wyoming people.
Colonel Zebulon Butler was a hero of the French and Indian War, a
colonel in the Revolution and an honored and respected citizen among the
Connecticut people in the Wyoming Valley. He was now old and desired
peace.
Colonel John Franklin, except in education and polish, was in no respect
the inferior of Pickering. It was a wise stroke of policy to endeavor to
conciliate the great Yankee leader by naming him as one of the deputies.
When Colonel Pickering arrived at Wyoming, January, 1787, he assured the
Connecticut settlers that he had strong reasons to believe the
Legislature would pass a law to quiet them in their possessions. Major
John Jenkins, a leader of the Yankees, replied they had too often
experienced the bad faith of Pennsylvania. Colonel Franklin at that
moment was consulting with the Susquehanna Company on means of defeating
the pacific measures of Pennsylvania.
Colonel Pickering was soon brought into collision with Franklin and
Jenkins and their followers. Franklin became so aggressive in opposing
the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania that Chief Justice McKean ordered his
arrest by four resolute men. A scuffle ensued, in which Colonel
Pickering interfered and advised them to place Colonel Franklin on a
horse, with his legs tied together, and in this condition he was carried
to Philadelphia. This act, of course, exposed Colonel Pickering to the
vengeful resentment of Franklin’s adherents.
Colonel Pickering had taken up his abode in the Wyoming Valley, near
Wilkes-Barre, to show the confidence he had that quiet would soon be
restored. On June 26, 1788, at the dead of night, a party of armed men,
with their faces blackened, broke into his bedroom, where he and his
wife were asleep. His arms were secured with cords, and he was led off
up the Susquehanna River.
Immediately on the abduction of Colonel Pickering being known, vigorous
measures were adopted for his rescue. Four companies of militia were
ordered out, and a thorough search for him was pursued.
It was evident from many circumstances that their object was merely to
make reprisals for Colonel Franklin’s imprisonment and to endeavor to
procure his release. No attempt was made upon Colonel Pickering’s life;
even certain instances of respect were shown for his person and rank in
society.
The party crossed Lackawannock Creek and camped in the wild glens. The
Colonel endured much suffering, incident to a march through a wilderness
and on account of heavy rains.
The fifth day of his captivity Colonel Pickering discovered that two of
his captors were Gideon and Joseph Dudley, near neighbors of his; also
two Earle brothers, two more by the name of Kilborn, and one Cady, all
neighbors.
The next day they formed an iron band, with a chain attached to it,
round the Colonel’s ankle and fastened the chain to a tree. They told
him their “great men” said that is the way Colonel Franklin is held in
Philadelphia. At night the chain was fastened to one of the party, so
the Colonel could not escape without awakening him.
Colonel Pickering had no thought of escape, for he expected them to
weary of their enterprise, as well as to come to an understanding of the
seriousness of their crime. He also realized they could easily capture
him at any time they determined.
During breakfast one of the party, who had gone for provisions, returned
in great haste and told his comrades that their militia had met in
battle and Captain William Ross had been seriously wounded. This battle
occurred near Black Walnut Bottom, about sixteen miles above
Tunkhannock.
The next day they crossed the river and went to the home of the Kilborn
boys, where they kept Colonel Pickering overnight. Then they pushed back
into the woods about four miles from the river. Here the party wearied
of their enterprise and began to make overtures to the Colonel,
suggesting they would liberate him if he would intercede with the
Supreme Executive Council for the discharge of Colonel Franklin. The
Colonel would make no promises, which enraged them, and once he feared
they might tomahawk him.
Colonel Pickering agreed to endeavor to obtain their pardon, if they
would name their “great men,” who had deceived them in planning his
abduction. This they would not do.
After an imprisonment of nineteen days, during ten of which he had worn
the chain, and sleeping night after night in the woods, with stones for
pillows, living on scanty rations of salt pork, venison, corn bread and
wintergreen tea, and without change of clothing, the Colonel was
released on his own terms—which were merely that he would write a
petition for them to the Executive Council, take it in person to
Wilkes-Barre, and send it to Philadelphia.
In 1787 Colonel Pickering represented Luzerne County in the Pennsylvania
convention to ratify the Federal constitution, but did not sign the
ratification. At that period he was prothonotary, for that county, and
was subsequently a member of the convention called to revise the
Constitution of 1776.
President Washington appointed him Postmaster General November 7, 1791,
which he held until January 2, 1795, when on the resignation of General
Knox he was appointed Secretary of War. December 10, 1795, Washington
made him Secretary of State, which position he held until May 12, 1800.
He was poor on leaving office, and, building a log house for his family
upon some wild land that he owned in Pennsylvania, he commenced clearing
it for cultivation, until discovered by some friends who enabled him to
return to Salem, Mass., in 1801. He became Judge in 1802, and United
States Senator from 1803 to 1811, when he was made a member of the
Council. During the War of 1812 he was a member of Board of War, and
then served as a member of Congress from 1815 to 1817. He died at Salem,
Mass., January 29, 1829.
----------
Ewell’s Force of Rebels Made Raid on
Carlisle June 27, 1863
General A. G. Jenkins, of the Southern Confederacy, with nearly 1000
cavalry, entered Chambersburg June 16, 1863. On June 23 his advance
force re-entered the town when the Union troops fell back. On June 27
this advance force moved eastward toward Carlisle.
General Knipe, commanding the Union troops, abandoned Carlisle on the
approach of the enemy, considering it a folly to offer resistance to so
formidable an invader. Accordingly, the rebels were met by Colonel W. M.
Penrose and Robert Allison, assistant burgess, and informed that the
town was without troops and that no resistance would be made. The
cavalrymen entered the town from the west about 10 o’clock Saturday
morning, June 27, and rode their horses at a walk, but with their
carbines in position to be used at a moment’s warning.
This force consisted of nearly 500 mounted cavalry. They passed down
Main Street to the junction of the Trindle Spring and Dillsburg roads,
where some of them proceeded to the garrison and the rest rode back and
halted in the public square. The hotels were soon filled with officers
and the streets with soldiers.
General Jenkins made a requisition on the borough authorities for 1500
rations, to be furnished in one hour and to be deposited in the market
house. The demand was complied with, but not within the specified time.
Soon as the troops were refreshed and their horses fed and watered the
troopers remounted and rode through the streets of the town, visiting
the garrison and other places of interest.
At 2 o’clock in the afternoon General Ewell’s corps marched into
Carlisle, Early’s division having crossed the mountains via Fayetteville
to York. The soldiers moved along shouting and laughing. The Confederate
army was at this time in high spirits. The bands played “Dixie” as they
swung through the town to the garrison. The condition of the troops was
pitiable. The men were miserably clad, many without shoes or hats, many
really ragged and dirty.
A brigade encamped upon the grounds of Dickinson College, and others at
the United States garrison; guards were immediately posted and strict
orders issued that no violence or outrage would be permitted. Most of
the troops behaved like gentlemen, and so well did they obey their
commander that but little trace of occupation by a hostile force was
visible after their departure.
General Ewell and his staff, numbering thirty officers, established
headquarters at the barracks. The General then dispatched one of his
aides to town, with an extravagant demand on the authorities of the
borough for supplies. The general wanted 1500 barrels of flour, large
supplies of medicines and several cases of amputating instruments.
Especially urgent was his demand for a large quantity of quinine and
chloroform. The authorities could not have complied with the demand,
because the articles were not to be had in Carlisle.
Strict orders were issued against the selling of intoxicating drinks to
soldiers and the pillaging of private property by them.
All communication with the outside world was cut off Sunday. Services
were conducted in the churches as usual and the army chaplains of the
rebel regiments encamped on the campus and at the garrison conducted
services for their troops. All conversations with Southern officers and
soldiers led the people to believe that their movement was directed
toward Harrisburg and Philadelphia.
On Monday, however, the railroad bridge was destroyed. A sigh of relief
was had toward evening when rumors spread that the troops had orders to
leave.
Early Tuesday morning, June 30, the trains of Rode’s division began to
move, then brigade after brigade passed until the main army had
disappeared by 9 o’clock, leaving less than 200 cavalrymen on provost
duty in the town. These left toward evening.
Rebel pickets thronged the turnpike and the Trindle Spring road, some
being very near Carlisle. Two o’clock in the afternoon about 400
cavalrymen under Colonel Cochran, entered the town from the Dillsburg
road, and were soon dashing wildly through the streets, shouting,
screaming and acting like madmen. During the night the entire
Confederate force left Carlisle and the town was clear of rebels.