the Court ourselves, and before you shall take Judge Bryson you shall
kill me and many others, which seems to be your intention, and which you
may do.”
At this moment Colonel Holt seized Judge Armstrong by the arm with the
intention of dragging him down the stairs, but he freed himself. Holt’s
brother rushed to him with a sword and urged him to run it through the
Judge. The other leaders drew swords and pistols.
Clarke suggested that they name three of their most respectable persons
to meet with him to settle the dispute. Wilson, the leader, agreed to
that, but it was with difficulty he was able to get the mob to move from
the court house.
Mr. Hamilton went with Mr. Clarke to Alexander’s tavern, and soon after
their arrival Messrs. Wilson, Walker and Sterritt, of the rioters, came
in. Sterritt acted as their chief counselor.
Proposals were made that they should return home, offer no insult to
Judge Bryson or the Court and send to the Governor a decent petition,
stating their grievances, so that they might be laid before the
Legislature, and that in the meantime Judge Bryson should sit on the
bench of the court.
They seemed to be agreed, when mutual honor was pledged, but Sterritt
stated that too great a delay was evident, that injuries had been
received which required immediate redress and even objected to the power
of the Governor as to the points proposed.
At that juncture Colonel Holt and young Beale rushed in, the latter
heavily armed, and insisted on Wilson joining them, which broke up the
conference. Clarke followed them to the field where the mob was
assembled. Clarke asked Wilson:
“Your object is that Judge Bryson leave the bench and not sit on it this
Court?”
He and Walker replied, “Yes.”
“Will you promise to disperse and go home and offer him no insult?”
They replied, “Yes.”
Their mutual honor was pledged for the performance of the agreement.
Mr. Hamilton then entered the Court, told Judge Bryson the agreement,
when he left his seat and retired.
Hardly had Messrs. Hamilton and Clarke reached the court house when the
mob again appeared in martial attitude at the foot of the stairs. Clarke
reminded Wilson of his broken pledge; he acknowledged it, but said the
mob would not have it that way. Clarke told him Judge Bryson had left
the bench and departed.
The next day Colonel McFarland, of the local militia, marched his
command to the court house.
The Court adjourned until 2 o’clock, and at that hour directed the
Sheriff to invite Judge Bryson to march in and sit with them.
The Sheriff returned and advised them Judge Beale would not walk in or
sit with Bryson. The Sheriff and Judge Bryson got into an argument, when
the Sheriff struck and kicked the Judge.
Judge Armstrong seized the Sheriff, and took his rod from him, the
Sheriff was brought before the Court, when he was committed to jail.
That night the mob again assembled with the object of rescuing the
Sheriff, but before a sufficient number could be raised the Sheriff
apologized to the Court and was released on his own recognizance.
The mob to the number of 300 assembled at the Narrows the following day,
but when they learned the Sheriff was no longer in jail and had been
forgiven by the Court they dispersed and went to their homes. The Court
then adjourned.
----------
Inhuman Murder of Lieutenant Thomas Boyd
by Tory Butler, September 13, 1779
During the expedition of Major General John Sullivan against the Six
Nations, in August and September, 1779, there occurred one of the most
horrible Indian massacres recorded in the frontier history of
Pennsylvania.
On September 12, Lieutenant Thomas Boyd, of the Rifle Corps, a resident
of Northumberland and older brother of the illustrious Captain John Boyd
and brother of Lieutenant William Boyd, who lost his life in the Battle
of Brandywine, was sent with about twenty-four soldiers to reconnoiter
the town of Genesee. They were guided by a friendly Oneida Indian named
Hanjost, a chief of that tribe.
This number was too few if a battle was intended and too many for a
secretive expedition. When the party reached Little Castle, on September
13, they surprised, killed and scalped two Indians.
They mistook this place for Genesee, and Lieutenant Boyd intended to
await there for the advance of the main army, and sent four men to
report his intentions. This party was fired on, a corporal was killed
and the others fled until the main army was reached.
Boyd dispatched two more men to learn what had detained the army, when
they discovered the dead corporal and at the same time the presence of
Indians. They informed Lieutenant Boyd, who immediately assembled his
party and gave chase, following the British and Tories to within less
than three miles from the main army.
There they encountered a body of four or five hundred which lay in
ambush, probably awaiting to surprise the main army, who immediately
surrounded Boyd’s small party. Their defense against overwhelming odds
was not less gallant than it was hopeless.
In their extremity they posted themselves in a small grove, with a
considerable open space around it, and there they continued to fight.
Some of the enemy were so near that the powder from their muskets burned
the clothing and persons of the Americans, who fought bravely until the
overwhelming superiority of the enemy obliged them to attempt a retreat,
which they did, covering their movement with a deadly fire.
This small army of British and Indians was under the command of Colonel
John Butler and the notorious Indian chieftain, Joseph Brant.
The Indians killed and in a most inhuman manner tomahawked and scalped
six of Boyd’s soldiers, whose bodies were found the next day.
Nine of Boyd’s party escaped and reported the battle as soon as they had
reached the main army.
As Lieutenant Boyd, the Indian guide, Chief Hanjost, Timothy Murphy and
six others had not arrived safe in camp, there was much anxiety for
their safety.
Timothy Murphy was from Northumberland, a personal friend of the Boyd
brothers and one of the most famous marksmen in the service. It was his
unerring aim which killed General Frazer, the British commander at the
second battle of Stillwater, October 7, 1777.
Colonel Adam Hubley, in the journal which he kept during the Sullivan
expedition, writes of him:
“This Murphy is a noted marksman and a great soldier, he having killed
and scalped that morning in the Town they were at an Indian, which makes
the three & thirtieth man of the Enemy he has killed (as is well known
to his officers) in this War.”
It is also interesting to note that Murphy made his escape and was the
one to report that Lieutenant Boyd and Chief Hanjost were taken
prisoners, and he told in detail of the brave resistance they made.
The army made a quick march with the hope of releasing Lieutenant Boyd,
but on arriving at Genesee Castle, or “Little Beard’s Town,” the capital
settlement of the Seneca country, Colonel Hubley writes:
“At this place we found the body of the brave but unfortunate Lieutenant
Boyd and one Rifleman massacred in the most cruel and barbarous manner
that the human mind can possibly conceive. The savages having put them
to the most excruciating torments possible by first plucking their nails
from hands and feet, then spearing, cutting and whipping them and
mangling their bodys, then cutting off the flesh from their shoulders,
tomahawking & severing their heads from their bodys and leaving them a
prey to their dogs.
“This evening the remains of Lieutenant Boyd and the Rifleman were
interred with military honors. Mr. Boyd’s former good character as a
brave soldier and an honest man, and his behaviour in the skirmish of
yesterday (several of the Indians being found dead & some seen carried
off) must indear him to all friends of mankind. May his fate await those
who have been the cause of his. O! Britain—Behold—and blush!”
Miner in his “History of Wyoming” says their tongues were pulled out and
flaming pine knots thrust into their flesh and that they were slowly
burned to death in addition to the tortures mentioned by Colonel Hubley.
Miner says that Lieutenant Boyd was taken before Colonel Butler, the
detestable Tory, who examined him, while Boyd was held by two savages,
with a third standing at his back, with a tomahawk raised.
Butler demanded: “How many men has Sullivan?”
Boyd replied: “I cannot tell you, sir.”
Butler then asked: “How is the army divided and disposed?”
Boyd replied: “I cannot give you any information, sir.”
Butler then taunted him: “Boyd, life is sweet, you had better answer
me.”
The brave lieutenant replied: “Duty forbids, and I would not if life
depended on the word—but Colonel Butler, I know the issue, my doom is
fixed.”
That a prisoner should be taken before Colonel John Butler for
examination is quite probable.
Sergeant Michael Parker was the rifleman who was murdered with
Lieutenant Boyd.
The remains of Lieutenant Boyd and Sergeant Parker were found on the
outskirts of the town and were interred with the honors of war. In
August, 1842, the remains of these two soldiers were exhumed and removed
to Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester, N. Y., where they were re-interred.
The unfortunate Lieutenant Boyd had shared all the hardships of the
ill-fated expedition to Quebec under General Arnold, and had experienced
many campaigns prior to the one in which he made the supreme sacrifice.
----------
Major Grant Meets Defeat at Fort
Duquesne, September 14, 1758
The destruction of the Indian town at Kittanning September 8, 1755, was
a severe blow to the Indians. The English had never before that time
assailed them in their own towns, and they were led to believe they
would not venture to approach them. While they desired to retaliate the
blow, they feared another such attack upon their home, when they were
absent on war parties. Such of them as had belonged to Kittanning and
made their escape, refused to settle again east of Fort Duquesne.
Nothing was done to annoy the French or check the Indians, until a
change occurred in the English Ministry, and the master mind of William
Pitt assumed the control of the mother country. He seemed to fully
realize the situation of the English subjects in the colonies and
immediately determined to send troops in sufficient strength to maintain
her power.
Pennsylvania, as usual, led the way and equipped 2700 men. The other
colonies contributed large quotas.
Three expeditions were determined upon, and the most active measures
taken to bring them to the field. The one in which Pennsylvanians are
more properly interested was known as the Western expedition. It was
placed under the command of Major General John Forbes, an officer of
great skill, energy and resolution. His army consisted of nearly 9000
men, embracing British regulars and provincials from Pennsylvania, and
the Lower Counties, Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina.
The troops from the other Governments rendezvoused at Winchester, while
the Pennsylvanians, under Colonel Henry Bouquet, assembled at Raystown,
now Bedford.
General Forbes, with his regulars, marched from Philadelphia to effect a
junction with the provincials at Raystown, but the serious illness of
the general compelled him to stop at Carlisle, where he remained until
the middle of September, when he reached Bedford and the provincial
troops under Colonel George Washington.
At the suggestion of Colonel Bouquet and the Pennsylvania officers, a
new road was cut direct from Raystown to Loyalhanna, a distance of
forty-five miles, where Colonel Bouquet erected Fort Ligonier.
Before the arrival of General Forbes at Loyalhanna, Colonel Bouquet had
dispatched Major William Grant, of the Highland Regiment, with
thirty-seven officers and 800 troops, to reconnoitre the fort and
adjacent country. His instructions were to approach not too near the
fort, and in no event to take the risk of an attack.
Grant camped the first day on the banks of the Nine Mile Run, ten miles
west of the camp on the Loyalhanna. The second day he proceeded farther,
and on the third reached to within about twelve miles of Fort Duquesne.
Although the French and Indians were constantly watching the movements
of the army, yet Grant succeeded in coming within sight of the fort,
after marching fifty miles without being discovered.
The detachment halted here until 3 o’clock in the afternoon, when the
troops quietly marched to about two miles from the fort, where they left
their baggage under charge of Captain Bullitt, two subalterns and fifty
men. It was already dark, and later in the night Major Grant appeared
with his troops at the brow of the fatal hill, which still bears his
name, between the two rivers, about a quarter of a mile from the fort.
From the apparent stillness of the enemy’s camp and not having met with
either French or Indians on the march, Major Grant supposed that the
forces in the fort must be comparatively small, and at once determined
to make an attack.
Two officers and fifty men were dispatched to approach the fort and fall
upon the French and Indians that might be lying out, if not in too great
number. They saw none, nor were they challenged by the sentinels, and as
they returned they set fire to a large store house, but the fire was
discovered and extinguished.
At break of day, Major Lewis was sent with 200 men, principally American
regulars and Virginia volunteers, to take post about half a mile back,
and lie in ambush in the road on which they had left their baggage,
under the pretension of fears that the enemy would make a bold attempt
to capture it.
But Major Grant, who was jealous of Major Lewis, wished to have the
glory of capturing the enemy who had so signally repulsed General
Braddock with his army.
Four hundred men were posted along the hill facing the fort, to cover
the retreat of Captain McDonald’s company, who marched with drums
beating toward the enemy, in order to draw a party out of the fort, as
Major Grant believed there were not more than 200 men, including
Indians, in the fortress.
The garrison was aroused from its slumber by the music of the invaders,
and French and Indians sallied out in great numbers to the attack. Their
whole force was divided into three divisions. The first two were sent
directly under cover of the banks of the river to surround the main body
under Major Grant. The remaining division was delayed while the others
maneuvred, and then displayed themselves before the fort, as if
exhibiting their whole strength.
The attack then commenced, and Captain McDonald was immediately obliged
to fall back upon the main body and was a moment later killed.
Major Grant received and returned a most destructive fire. At this
moment he suddenly found himself flanked on all sides by the detachments
from the banks of the river. The struggle became desperate.
The provincials put up a good defense while concealing themselves behind
trees, but the Highlanders who stood exposed to the enemy’s fire without
cover, fell in great numbers, and at last gave way and fled. Soon the
provincials, having lost all their support, and being overpowered by
numbers, were compelled to follow.
Major Grant retreated to the baggage where Captain Bullitt was posted,
where he again endeavored to rally his flying soldiers. His earnest
appeals for support were unavailing, as the French and Indians were too
close at their heels.
As soon as the enemy came up Captain Bullitt attacked them with great
fury for awhile, but not being supported, and most of his men having
been killed, he was obliged to give way.
The resistance shown by Captain Bullitt’s detail afforded many of the
retreating and a few of the wounded to escape. Major Grant and Captain
Bullitt were the last to leave the field, but when they separated Major
Grant was taken prisoner.
In this conflict, which took place September 14, 1758, 270 men were
killed, forty-two wounded and several taken prisoners.
“It was,” says Colonel Washington, in a letter to the Governor of
Virginia, “a very ill-concerted, or a very ill-executed plan, perhaps
both; but it seems to be generally acknowledged that Major Grant
exceeded his orders and that no disposition was made for engaging.”
----------
Madame Montour Resents Murder of Her
Brother, September 15, 1711
In the provincial history of Pennsylvania the name of the Montours
stands out among the many Indians of note, and the intimate story of
this large family presents many interesting and contradictory
characteristics.
The first one of this family, which has given us its name for a county,
town, river, creek and mountain range, was the celebrated Madame
Montour.
There has always been a question of doubt as to her birth. She claimed
to be a half-breed French-Indian, her father being a Governor of Canada.
Whether this is true or not, about 1665 a French nobleman named Montour
settled in Canada, where by an Indian woman, probably a Huron, he became
the father of a son and two daughters. This son of Montour grew up among
those Indians, who were at that time in alliance with the French.
In 1685, while in the French service, he was wounded in a fight with two
Mohawk warriors on Lake Champlain. Subsequently he deserted the French
cause and again lived among the Indians. In 1709 he was killed while
inducing twelve of the Western tribes to support the English.
One of his sisters became a noted interpreter and friend of the English,
and was known as Madame Montour; the other sister married a Miami Indian
and her history is lost.
Madame Montour was born previous to the year 1684. When about ten years
old she was captured by some Iroquois warriors and adopted, probably by
the Seneca tribe, for at maturity she married a Seneca named Roland
Montour, by whom she had five children: Andrew, Henry, Robert, Lewis and
Margaret.
After the death of Roland, Madame Montour married the noted Oneida
chief, Carondowanen, or “Big Tree,” who later took the name Robert
Hunter in honor of the royal governor of the province of New York.
About 1729 Robert Hunter was killed in battle with the Catawba, against
whom he was waging war.
Madame Montour first appeared as an official interpreter at the
conference at Albany, September 15, 1711. At this conference the wanton
murder of her brother, Andrew, by Vaudreuil, was bitterly resented by
Madame Montour, and she employed her great influence with telling effect
against the French, who tried to induce her to remove to Canada, but she
remained loyal to the English and was put in a position of great power
with lucrative return.
Madame Montour was the interpreter in Philadelphia in 1727 at a
conference between Deputy Governor Patrick Gordon and the Provincial
Council on the one hand and the Six Nations, Conestoga, Ganawese and
Susquehanna Indians on the other.
It is claimed that Madame Montour was a lady in manner and education,
was very attractive in mind and body, and that she was entertained by
ladies of the best society on her trips to Philadelphia; but as her
sister married an Indian and she was twice wedded to an Indian warrior,
it is probable her education and refinement were not so marked as is
claimed.
Nevertheless, from the testimony of those who saw and knew her, but
contrary to the statement of Lord Cornbury, who knew her brother, it
seems almost certain that she was a French-Canadian without any
admixture of Indian blood, and that for some unaccountable reason she
preferred the life and dress of her adopted people.
Madame Montour was always uniformly friendly toward the proprietary
Government, and such was the loyalty of her family that at least two of
her sons, Henry and Andrew, received large grants of “donation land”
from the Government. That of Henry lay upon the Chillisquaque Creek, in
Northumberland County, and that of Andrew, on the Loyalsock, where
Montoursville, in Lycoming County, is now situated.
Madame Montour resided at the village of Ostonwackin[7] in 1734. This
was some times known as Frenchtown. When Conrad Weiser visited there in
1737, on his way to Onondaga, he wrote of Madame Montour, as “a French
woman by birth, of a good family, but now in mode of life a complete
Indian.”
Footnote 7:
Village at mouth of Loyalsock Creek, present site of Montoursville,
Lycoming County, Pa.
When she attended the great treaty at Lancaster in 1744 she was
accompanied by two of her daughters, and at that time related to Witham
Marshe the story of her life. He represented her as genteel and of
polite address and as having been attractive in her prime.
When Count Zinzendorf, the Moravian missionary, visited Shamokin (now
Sunbury) in 1742, he was welcomed by Madame Montour and her son Andrew.
She had moved to that place from Ostonwackin.
Upon learning that the Count came to preach the gospel, the truths of
which she had almost forgotten, she burst into tears. It was learned
that she believed that Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, was situated
in France, and that it was the English who crucified him—a silly
perversion of the truth that originated with French religious teachers.
It is thought she died at the home of her son, Andrew, in 1752.
Of the children of Madame Montour, Andrew became the most prominent and
indeed he was one of the strong men during a long period of stirring
times in the province. His Indian name was Sattelihu, he was a son by
her first husband.
Andrew became an interpreter at an early age and served the Proprietary
Government faithfully and well; he also was loved by his Indian
brethren, for he zealously guarded their interests.
In 1745 he accompanied Conrad Weiser and Shikellamy, the vicegerent of
the Six Nations on the Susquehanna, on a mission to Onondaga, the
Federal capital of the confederation.
He was sent on important missions to Maryland and other places and in
1753 the French authorities set a price of $500 on his head. In 1755 he
was living ten miles northwest from Carlisle, on land which had been
granted to him for his services.
During the French and Indian War he was captain of a company of Indians
in the English service, and later rose to the rank of major.
In 1762 he was King’s interpreter to the United Nations, and he served
as interpreter for the Delaware Indians at Fort Augusta, at the time
Conrad Weiser held a conference for the purpose of bringing about peace
between the Southern Confederation and the Six Nations.
October 29, 1768, the Proprietary Government surveyed and granted to
Andrew Montour 880 acres of land at the mouth of the Loyalsock, where
the borough of Montoursville now is. With this and other grants he was
considered a man of great wealth.
----------
Matthew Carey, Editor and Influential
Writer of Philadelphia, Died There
September 16, 1839
Matthew Carey came to Philadelphia in November 1784, and spent the
remainder of his eventful life there, dying September 16, 1839. He was
born in Dublin, Ireland, January 28, 1760, where he spent his early
life.
He learned the business of printer and bookseller, and at the age of
seventeen he wrote and published a pamphlet on duelling. This was soon
followed by an address to Roman Catholics in Ireland on their oppression
by the penal code. This was so seditious and inflammatory that he was
compelled to fly to Paris, but returned in the course of a year, and was
soon after prosecuted for printing a libel.
In 1783, he edited the Freeman’s Journal and established the Volunteer’s
Journal.
In 1784, he printed a libel on the Lord Mayor of Dublin, and was
imprisoned during the session of Parliament. He escaped on board a ship
in woman’s dress, and arrived in Philadelphia, November 15, 1784.
General Lafayette, then on a visit to the United States, heard his
story, and not only procured influence for him, but advanced $400 to
Carey, who immediately started the Pennsylvania Herald, the first number
of which publication appeared January 25, 1785.
The young printer, publisher, and editor attracted immediate attention
and patronage by giving the best reports of the Assembly yet published.
The Herald was in fact the first newspaper in America which gave full
and accurate reports of legislative proceedings.
Matthew Carey was most aggressive with his pen, and burning with hate to
England, he at once became one of the most notable of the foreign-born
editors in America.