present feeble condition by our readiness to turn out upon all occasions
when called for in defense of the common cause. Should we now fall for
want of assistance, let the neighboring counties reconcile themselves,
if they can, the breach of brotherly love, charity and every other
virtue which adorns and advances the human species above the brute
creation. I will not attempt to point out the particular cruelties or
barbarities that have been practiced on our unhappy inhabitants, but
assure you that for the number history affords no instance of more
heathenish cruelty or savage barbarity than has been exhibited in this
county.”
Colonel Matthew Smith wrote from Paxtang July 12 that he “had just
arrived at Harris’ Ferry and beheld the greatest scenes of distress I
ever saw. It was crowded with people who had come down the river,
leaving everything.”
If the distress was the worst this old patriot ever beheld, it was truly
a sad scene, for Colonel Smith had suffered in both the French and
Indian and Revolutionary Wars. He was in command of a company in the
Arnold expedition to Quebec, when the troops for long months experienced
nothing but suffering and distress.
On the same day Peter DeHaven wrote from Hummelstown: “This day there
were twenty or thirty passed through this town from Buffalo Valley
(Union County) and Sunbury, and the people inform me that there are 200
wagons on the road coming down.”
Another letter, written by William Maclay, later the first United States
Senator from Pennsylvania, dated Paxtang, July 12: “I left Sunbury and
almost my whole property on Wednesday last. I will not trouble you with
a recital of the inconveniences I suffered while I brought my family by
water to this place. I never in my life saw such scenes of distress. The
river and roads leading down it were covered with men, women and
children flying for their lives. In short, Northumberland County is
broken up.
“Colonel Hunter only remained, using his utmost endeavors to rally the
inhabitants to make a stand. I left him with a few—I cannot speak
confidently as to numbers—but he had not 100 men on whom he could
depend. Mrs. Hunter came down with me. As he is now disencumbered of his
family, I am convinced he will do everything that can be expected from a
brave and determined man. Something in the way of charity ought to be
done for the miserable objects that crowd the banks of this river,
especially those who fled from Wyoming. You know I did not use to love
them, but I now sincerely pity their distress.”
Colonel Hunter the same day sent a most pathetic appeal to the president
of the Supreme Executive Council, dated Fort Augusta, July 12:
“The calamities so long dreaded and of which you have been more than
once informed must fall upon this country, if not assisted by
Continental troops or the militia of the neighboring counties. At this
date the towns of Sunbury and Northumberland are the frontiers where a
few virtuous inhabitants and fugitives seem determined to stand, though
doubtful whether tomorrow’s sun shall rise on them free men, captives or
in eternity.”
Robert Covenhoven wrote: “I took my own family safely to Sunbury, and
came back in a keel-boat to secure my furniture. Just as I rounded a
point above Derrstown (now Lewisburg) I met the whole convoy from all
the forts above. Such a sight I never saw in all my life. Boats, canoes,
hogtroughs, rafts, hastily made of dry sticks, every sort of floating
article had been put in requisition, and was crowded with women,
children and plunder. There were several hundred people in all.
“Whenever an obstruction occurred at any shoal or ripple, the women
would leap out into the water and put their shoulders to the boat or
raft, and launch it again into deep water. The men of the settlement
came down in single file, on each side of the river to guard the women
and children. The whole convoy arrived safely at Sunbury, leaving the
entire range of farms along the West Branch to the ravages of the
Indians.”
Several persons are known to have been killed by the Indians during the
“Great Runaway,” but it remains a most remarkable fact that almost the
entire population moved from the settlements and for several days were
in the open along the river and yet but few were killed.
In answer to the appeal from Colonel Hunter and those who really knew
the situation, Colonel Daniel Brodhead with his Eighth Regiment, then on
a march to Fort Pitt, was suddenly ordered to the West Branch. He
arrived at Fort Muncy, July 24.
Colonel Thomas Hartley, with a small regiment, was ordered to the
Susquehanna and arrived at Fort Augusta August 1, and marched to the
relief of Colonel Brodhead at Fort Muncy, reaching there a week later.
Colonel Hartley was the master of the situation and using the good
advice of General Potter, Colonel John Kelly, Colonel Samuel Hunter and
others, who knew how to fight Indians, led a successful expedition
against them, which allowed the more venturesome of the settlers to
return to their fields and reap their harvests.
----------
John Conrad Beissel, Founder of Ephrata
Society, Died There July 6, 1768
The founder of the German religious society of Seventh Day Baptists at
Ephrata was Reverend John Conrad Beissel, who died there July 6, 1768.
Beissel was born in Eberbach, Germany, in 1690, learned the trade of a
baker, and came to America in 1720. He embraced the religious views of
Alexander Mock, lived as a recluse for several years and at different
points, and finally located on the banks of the Cocalico Creek in
Lancaster County, February 4, 1732. Here he continued to live as a
hermit and advocated the doctrine of celibacy and the seventh day of the
week as the proper day of rest and religious worship.
He was well versed in New Testament theology; possessed a commanding
appearance, a fluent talker, and in most respects was well calculated to
gather around him a large class of both sexes.
He was soon joined in his new home by Martin Brener, Samuel Eckerline,
and another whose religious name was “Brother Jethro.” These were soon
followed by Anna and Maria Eicher, from the Conestoga Church, two of
Beissel’s former converts, who could not endure the pangs of separation
from their spiritual teacher.
This nucleus of a church was joined in 1733 by Israel and Gabriel
Eckerline, and in the following year by a large number from Oley and
Coventry, in Chester County, as well as a large congregation of Germans
who came from Schoharie County, N. Y., and placed themselves under the
spiritual guidance of Beissel. Soon the congregation at Falkner Swamp
joined them and Beissel had suddenly become the teacher of a large
settlement named Lager, meaning an encampment, but the name of which was
subsequently changed to Ephrata, by which the place is still known.
Peter Miller came to America in 1730, and soon became pastor of a small
Reformed congregation at Tulpehocken. He was a classical scholar and a
good theologian, and after an interview with Beissel, he became one of
his apostles, casting his lot with the Brotherhood of Ephrata.
Within five years the people of this religious community had accumulated
a large area of landed property which was held as common stock.
Soon after the founding of this society the monastic system was
inaugurated, and Beissel invested with the title of father, and assumed
the name of “Friedsam,” to which was added the suffix “Gottrecht,”
together meaning _Peaceable_, _God-right_.
The first building erected under the monastic system, in 1735, was on
“Mount Zion,” and named Kedar. It contained one principal room for
religious worship, love-feasts, and the ceremony of feet-washing.
Besides this there were other rooms, very small, for the use of the
brethren and sisters, those of the latter being in the upper story.
Another building larger in dimensions, and called “Zion,” was built on
the same hill in 1738. These, as well as several buildings of a later
erection, were covered with shingles on the roof and outside walls, and
remain thus covered to the present time.
In the year 1740 there were in the Ephrata cloisters thirty-six single
brethren and thirty-five sisters; and at one time in later years, when
the society was at the height of its prosperity, the whole congregation,
including those living outside the principal buildings, but in the
immediate neighborhood, numbered about three hundred.
The buildings in this cloister afforded but rude and poor accommodations
to the inmates. With ceilings barely seven feet in height, passages so
narrow that two persons could not pass each other in them, with very low
and narrow doors, swinging on wooden hinges and fastened by wooden
latches, with cells hardly large enough to hold a cot, and each having
only the light and ventilation afforded by a single window, eighteen by
twenty-four inches in size, and containing only the most indispensable
articles of furniture, and that of the rudest description, these houses
were certainly anything else than abodes of luxury for those who
inhabited them.
It is stated that the brethren slept on wooden benches, with wooden
blocks for pillows. Probably the dormitories of the sisters were a
little better furnished in that particular.
In each cell was an hour-glass, and the walls were covered with German
text passages of scripture, and verses of original poetry by Beissel.
These people wore a cowl and gown of white—linen in summer, woolen in
winter. The cowl of the sisters differed but little from that of the
brethren. The difference between monk and nun could scarcely be
discovered at a little distance. Both sexes went barefooted, except in
extreme weather. They lived on food of the plainest kind, consisting
almost entirely of bread, vegetables, and mush. No animal food was on
their tables, and even butter, cheese, and milk were discountenanced.
All their vessels for communion and ordinary drinking purposes, also
their trays, plates and other articles for table service, and even their
candle-sticks, were of wood, and manufactured by the brethren.
In the beginning of Ephrata the plow was drawn by the brethren, ranged
in a long line on each side of a rope, and even the sisters often
assisted in this labor. But in a short time oxen and horses were
procured to perform this work.
A paper mill was built and paper manufactured for use on their own
printing presses, which had been introduced as early as 1742, the first
book being printed for Israel Eckerline in 1744. Many very fine
publications came from these presses.
A saw mill, a flour mill, a fulling mill, and a mill for making oil from
flaxseed were put in operation. All these served the outside community
and the workmen were renowned for scrupulous honesty.
Singing schools were begun in 1742 and a Sabbath school was started as
early as 1740. This was the first Sabbath School in America. The
building for the latter was used in the fall of 1777 as a hospital for
the wounded from the Battle of Brandywine.
After more than forty years of spiritual leadership Beissel died in
1768, and Peter Miller succeeded him, but the society steadily declined,
until the year 1875, when disputes divided them into two factions, and
consequently into legal entanglements and the effect of the community as
a religious enterprise became inconsequential.
----------
Riots in Philadelphia Brought to an
End on July 7, 1844
Between the years 1843 and 1844 a spirit of turbulence, riot and
disorder seemed prevalent throughout the United States. Philadelphia
felt the influence, which first manifested itself in 1834.
On August 12, 1834, a riot took place which was much more serious than
any occurrence of that character previously known. A meeting house, near
the Wharton Market, was torn down and many colored people assaulted and
badly beaten and their houses ransacked.
In October following occurred the Robb’s Row riot, in the Moyamensing
district. A row of houses on Christian Street, west of Ninth, was burned
by the mob and many persons injured. This disturbance was created by
heated political antagonism, and was fought between rival partisans.
Another riot in which the blacks suffered, and many of their houses
burned, occurred in July, 1835.
On May 17, 1838, occurred the Pennsylvania Hall riot, during which a
large and elegant building dedicated three days before, to the purpose
of public discussion by the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of
Slavery, was broken into, set on fire and totally destroyed.
The Kensington railroad riots took place in 1840, and were a
manifestation of opposition to an attempt by the Philadelphia and
Trenton Railroad Company to lay their tracks on Front Street, in the
business and builtup section of the city. In this disturbance the rails
were torn up, houses burned and many persons injured.
Another riot in which Negroes were the victims, took place on August 1,
1842, during which Smith’s Beneficial Hall was destroyed by fire. This
building was erected by Stephen Smith, a prominent colored man, to be
used for the meetings of the literary and beneficial societies of
colored people.
The Negro riots ceased at midnight, but on the next day the Irish
laborers in the coal yards on the Schuylkill got mixed up with a band of
colored laborers and the ensuing riot required militia to quell it.
Then came the weavers’ riots in Kensington, early in 1843. This was in
consequence of disputes in regard to wages.
But the most terrible riots known in the history of Philadelphia took
place in 1844, and resulted from political and sectarian prejudices
which were aroused into activity by the formation of the Native American
Party.
The movement for the organization of this party took place early in
1844. On May 6 a meeting was called, which was intended to be held on an
open lot at the southeast corner of Second and Master Streets. Before
the proceedings were concluded some difficulty arose between the persons
holding the meeting and outsiders, who had gathered on the edge of the
crowd, and assumed a rather menacing attitude.
Soon there was an attack made upon those in meeting and with such force
that the participants were dispersed. They soon rallied their numbers
and proceeded to a market house nearby, on Washington Street above
Master. The meeting was reorganized, but the disturbances were as
promptly renewed, and at this time firearms were brought into play by
the assailants.
This unfortunate affair took place in a locality where the majority of
the inhabitants were of the Roman Catholic faith, and although there was
nothing to show that the latter were combined for purposes of breaking
up the meeting, the feelings of the persons assailed led them to a
bitter extremity. They soon obtained firearms and an attack was made on
the buildings in the neighborhood. Seven persons were killed. The Native
Americans being victors set fire to the houses attacked.
Other outrages were perpetrated and other buildings burned, including a
female seminary under charge of the sisters of a religious order.
Troops were called out and quelled the rioting.
The Native Americans celebrated July 4 with a large and showy procession
and ended the day’s program of festivities with a grand display of
fireworks. All dispersed in good order.
On the evening of July 6 persons were discovered carrying muskets into
the church of St. Philip de Neri, on Queen Street. Crowds soon
assembled, but a Sheriff’s posse promptly appeared upon the scene.
An unfortunate arrest of a member of the posse, who was kept under
military guard in the church through the night, caused a mob on the
morning of July 7 to assemble determined to release the prisoner. A
cannon loaded with slugs was fired against the rear of the church. Then
it was brought to the front, but further trouble was prevented by the
citizens and the prisoner was released.
Those in the church marched out and were chased and dispersed. The city
was thoroughly excited with these proceedings and the people gathered in
great crowds, many intent on destroying the church.
A committee, many of whom were Native Americans, organized to protect
the church property and it seemed as if the trouble was at an end. But
at this moment the military marched upon the scene, followed by a crowd
of Sunday idlers. The soldiers attempted to clear the streets with fixed
bayonets, when some one hurled a brick, striking a soldier. The captain
gave orders to fire, and two volleys were sent into the crowd of men,
women and children. Several were killed and many wounded.
The crowd now procured artillery and small arms and the most sanguinary
street battle ensued, which continued through the night of the 7th and
the morning of July 8. Two soldiers were killed and many wounded. Seven
citizens were killed and several wounded.
The militia were withdrawn, the trouble subsided, and the most serious
riot in the history of Philadelphia brought to an end.
----------
Widow Smith’s Mill Destroyed by Indians
on July 8, 1779
During the year 1774 Catherine Smith, widow of Peter Smith, commenced
building a large grist mill near the mouth of White Deer Creek, in the
present Union County, which she completed the following year.
When Peter Smith died in the fall of 1773, he left his widow and ten
children with no estate to support his family, except a location for
three hundred acres of land, including the mouth of White Deer Creek,
whereon was an excellent mill seat. His widow was of the type who did
not sit idly by and let her neighbors help support her family, but
realizing that a grist and saw mill were both much wanted in that new
country at that time, and being urged to erect these mills, she set
about the task.
The widow Smith was able to borrow some money and by June, 1775, she had
both mills in operation. They served the inhabitants in the White Deer
Valley and for many miles on the east side of the West Branch of the
Susquehanna.
During the summer of 1776, there was an urgent demand for rifles for the
Continental Army and for the use of the old men and boys who remained at
home to protect the women and children from the sudden attacks of the
Indians, while they were doing the work about the farm and the fireside.
So Catherine Smith installed a boring mill, and the records show that a
great number of gun barrels were bored in this mill. She also added a
hemp mill.
Her eldest son went to the army and this made her work the heavier, as
he was her best help. He was killed in the service.
The Indians became active following the great Wyoming massacre, July 3,
1778, and after Colonel Thomas Hartley had chastised them during his
successful expedition in the late autumn of 1778, they again became
bolder when the soldiers were withdrawn and the year 1779 was one of the
most terrible along the frontier of the Susquehanna Valleys.
Nearly all the inhabitants had left during the “Great Runaway,” in July,
1778, and only the most venturesome had returned. The militia were
recruited locally and were under the command of Colonel John Kelly.
In May a band of nearly a score of Indians killed John Sample and wife
in White Deer. Christian Van Gundy and Henry Vandyke with four others
learned of the murder and went to the scene to bring away any who
survived the massacre. Six more men were to follow the next day.
When Van Gundy arrived at Sample’s he had slabs put up against the door
and water carried up in the loft. After dark an Indian approached the
house, barking like a dog, and rubbing against the door, but no
attention was paid to him. The party inside lay down and slept until
three o’clock, when Van Gundy got up to light a fire. The Indians
surrounded the house, and mounting a log on their shoulders, tried to
beat in the door. Those inside fired, wounding two, whom the Indians
carried off, but not before they set fire to the house.
Van Gundy mounted the roof, and knocked off enough boards to reach the
fire, which he extinguished. An Indian shot him in the leg and one of
the others was shot in the face.
At daybreak they voted whether to remain and fight or attempt escape.
Two voted to stay, four to go. On opening the door they discovered the
Indian chief lying dead in front of it. Van Grundy secured his rifle and
Vandyke his powder horn.
The Indians came from ambush and the men separated. Van Grundy, with his
two guns, took into a ravine, and tried to get the others to follow him.
They refused. The Indians killed the old people, who were scalped.
Colonel Kelly pursued these Indians and came upon five of them sitting
on a log. He placed his men and at a signal four of the Indians were
killed at one volley, the fifth escaped.
The Widow Smith’s mills were now the frontier and the only place of
refuge, except a small stockade, named Fort Meninger, which was built
about eighty rods from the river, on the north bank of White Deer Creek,
covering Widow Smith’s mills. The fort was situated west of the mills
forming an apex of an irregular triangle of which the mills formed one
base, and a small stone house, the home of Widow Smith, the other. This
stone house, with a modern addition, is still standing.
The fort and mills were abandoned at the time of the Great Runaway,
July, 1778, and the fort and mills were burned by the Indians, July 8,
1779. One man was killed in the attack.
Widow Smith returned to the ruins in 1783, and was urged to rebuild the
grist and saw mills, which she accomplished with much difficulty.
Ejectments were brought against her by Messrs. Claypoole and Morris, and
she did not have the means to support actions at law and lost her
improvements.
She petitioned the Legislature, which, of course, could grant no relief
under the circumstances and her petition was dismissed. The facts set
forth in her petition were certified to by William Blythe, Charles
Gillespie, Colonel John Kelly, General James Potter and many prominent
citizens of Northumberland County.
She is said to have walked to Philadelphia and back thirteen times in
this business.[4]
Footnote 4:
The distance she traveled was no less than 160 miles each way.
How long the litigation continued is not a matter of record, but in
1801, Seth Iredell took possession of the premises as tenant of
Claypoole & Morris.
She died there and is buried in the old settlers’ graveyard. Her bones
were disturbed when a barn was erected many years later, being
identified by a venerable neighbor, by her peculiar protruding teeth.
A few years after this incident a man came to the place, having traveled
from Ohio to see the old mill site. He said he was a son of Catherine
Smith, and that if justice had been done her, they would still own the
place.
A part of the foundation of the second mill, built by Widow Smith,
serves the same purpose in a fine modern mill of today.
When soldiers were sent into that vicinity they used the Widow Smith’s
stone house. General James Potter, under date of September 18, 1780,
says: “I marched the remainder, consisting of 170 men up the West Branch
to Fort Swartz. I then went to Colonel Kelly, who lay at the mouth of
White Deer Creek, with eighty men.” This was the Widow Smith’s Mill.
----------
General Braddock Defeated by French
and Indians July 9, 1755
General Edward Braddock arrived in March, 1755, at Alexandria, Virginia,
and at the head of two Irish regiments, under Colonels Dunbar and
Halket, marched to Fredericksburg, Maryland.
This distinguished officer was sent to command an expedition against the
French at Fort Duquesne. He commenced his march from Wills Creek, now
called Cumberland, Md., June 10, 1755, with 2000 men, regulars and
provincials.
Braddock was haughty and egotistical and entertained no doubt of his
success. He advised the Governors of Pennsylvania, Maryland and
Virginia, that soon as he captured Fort Duquesne he would leave there
the guns, ammunition and stores he captured in it, but if the enemy
first destroyed the fort, he would build another.