Society, authorized by the Connecticut Assembly, was ever organized, owing to the stress of the times during and immediately after the War of the Revolution.

Representatives Butler and Denison returned to Westmoreland from New Haven about November 1, 1776, bringing the joyful intelligence that the town had been promoted to the position and dignity of a county-which was a condition of affairs that the leading inhabitants of Wyoming had labored unceasingly (almost from the very beginning of the New England settlements in the Valley) to have established. Although, by the terms of the Act of Assembly, the town of Westmoreland was erected into a county, yet the town-its bounds coincident with those of the county-continued to exist, at least in a legal sense, and the freemen thereof proceeded annually to elect their town-officers, and to send their Representatives to the General Assembly of Connecticut. It was a unique commixture of conditions. Wilkes-Barré, possessing among other advantages the largest population of all the villages in Westmoreland County, became the shire-town, or county-seat.

About that time a fortnightly post between Hartford and Westmoreland was established at the expense of some of the inhabitants of the latter town. Miner, writing about the matter in 1844, said (see his "Wyoming," page 198):

"A more pleasing matter demands a passing notice. Surrounded by mountains, by a wide-spreading wilderness, and by dreary wastes, shut out from all the usual sources of information, a people so inquisitive could not live in those exciting times without the news. Fortunately an old, torn, smoke-dried paper has fallen into our possession, which shows that the people of Wyoming established a post to Hartford, to go once a fortnight and bring on the papers. A Mr. Prince Bryant was engaged as post-rider for nine months. More than fifty subscribers remain to the paper, which evidently must have been more numerous, as it is torn in the center. The sums given varied from one to two dollars each. In the list we find: Elijah Shoemaker, Elias Church, George Dorrance, Nathan Kingsley, Elisha Blackman, Nathan Denison, Seth Marvin, Obadiah Gore, James Stark, Anderson Dana, Jeremiah Ross, Zebulon Butler.

"Payment for the papers was of course a separate matter. It may well be questioned, whether there is another instance in the States of a few settlers, especially as those at Wyoming were situated, establishing at their own expense a post to bring them the newspapers from a distance of 250 miles."

At the special sessions of the General Assembly of Connecticut held at Hartford in November and December, 1776, Westmoreland was not represented. At the former session the election of Jonathan Fitch* of Wilkes-Barré to the office of Sheriff of Westmoreland County having been reported, he was duly commissioned as such on November 28th; and at the latter session Samuel Gordont of Kingston was appointed

JONATHAN FITCH served as Sheriff of Westmoreland County for five years, according to Miner's "History of Wyoming." He was also one of the Representatives from the town of Westmoreland to the General Assembly of Connecticut in 1780, 1781 and 1782. About 1789 Mr. Fitch removed to what is now Binghamton, New York, and settled on the banks of a creek which subsequently received his name. "He was a man of considerable native talent, had mingled much with men of information, and was polished in his manners. He was the first Representative to the New York Legislature from the county of Tioga, and subsequently was Judge of the County Court."

SAMUEL GORDON was born near Ballebay, county of Monaghan, Ireland, in 1740. He was of Scottish descent, and of good family, education and property. According to information received from the Rev. David Craft, Samuel Gordon, his brother James (who subsequently settled at Standing Stone, Pennsylvania), another brother, and a young man named John Gillespie immigrated to America from Ireland on account of some difficulties at home which resulted in their properties being confiscated. For a time, then, Samuel Gordon followed the sea, after which he settled in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where he was married to Mrs. Jane Gillespie, the widow of his late fellow-immigrant. About 1774 he settled in the township of Kingston, in Wyoming Valley, and in May. 1775 (as noted on page 824), he was appointed one of the Surveyors of Lands in and for Litchfield County. In 1777 he was Clerk of the Westmoreland Court of Probate. After the battle of Wyoming (July 3, 1778) Mr. Gordon went to New Jersey, where he continued until 1782, when he returned to Wyoming Valley. At Wilkes-Barré, September 9, 1787, he was appointed and sworn by the Commissioners under the Confirming Law of 1787 (see Chapter XXV, post) as their surveyor in and for the county of Luzerne.

The Rev. Dr. Craft, previously mentioned, states: "The Susquehanna Company, ever anxious for the welfare of the settlers, offered a township of land to the one who should build the first mill in Springfield Township. [In what is now Bradford County. This township is shown on the map facing

Surveyor of Lands in and for Westmoreland County. At the December session the following important Act relative to the Connecticut Militia was adopted.*

Whereas, in and by the Acts and Laws heretofore made and now in force for regulating the militia, certain orders of men are exempt from common and ordinary trainings, and not liable to the same duty with those on the present militia rolls, and many who have been commissioned and non-commissioned officers in the militia * * and whereas the present situation of this State calls loudly for the whole force and aid of its inhabitants, * * *

It is therefore Enacted: That all male persons from sixteen (16) to sixty (60) years of age, not included in that part of the militia called the train-band, or exempted from common and ordinary training, shall constitute an ALARM LIST in this State (excepting members of the Council, of the House of Representatives, and American Congress, for the time being; the Treasurer and Secretary of the State; Ministers of the Gospel; the President, Tutors and students of Yale College for the time being; and negroes, Indians and mulattoes). And if of sufficient ability, in the judgment of the Selectmen of the town where they have their usual place of abode, shall respectively provide for and equip themselves with such arms and accoutrements as by law is directed for those trainbands in the Militia; and shall, in case of an alarm, or orders given, be under the command of such officers as by this Act is directed. Provided, That no person above fifty (50) years of age shall be compelled to march out of the State.

* *

*

"And that all such persons belonging to the Alarm List may be formed into companies, the Captain or commanding officer of the several militia companies shall take an exact list of the number and names of such as are of the Alarm List, and deliver the same to the Colonel of the regiment to which they belong; and said Colonel, and the other field-officers, shall thereupon, as soon as may be, divide and set off the same into companies, to consist, as nearly as can conveniently be, of sixty-four (64) privates-each company to choose one Captain, one Lieutenant and one Ensign, who shall be commissioned by the Governor. The Captain of every such company shall, on the first Monday of May and October, annually, muster and call forth said company, and examine their arms and accoutrements."

The county of Westmoreland was not excepted from the operation of the foregoing Act, as it had previously been excepted in respect of certain other military legislation.

About this time "the regiments of the militia within the State of Connecticut" were organized into six brigades, and the 24th Regiment was assigned to the 6th Brigade, composed of the following regiments: The 14th (formed of companies in the towns of Cornwall, Sharon, Salisbury, Canaan and Norfolk), 15th (formed of companies in the towns of Farmington, Harwinton and New Hartford), 17th (formed of companies in the towns of Litchfield, Goshen, Torrington and Winchester), 18th (formed of companies in the towns of Simsbury, New Hartford, Colebrook and Hartland) and 24th (of companies in the town and county of Westmoreland). January 17, 1777, the Hon. Oliver Wolcott of Litchfield (then a member of the Continental Congress) was appointed by the General Assembly of Connecticut and commissioned by Governor Trumbull Brigadier General in the State Militia, and assigned to the command of the 6th Brigade.

In November or December, 1776, following the return of Colonels Butler and Denison from the Connecticut Assembly, it was voted at a Westmoreland town-meeting "that Colonel Butler, Colonel Denison and Major Judd be a committee to write to the Connecticut Delegates [in

on the

page 468, Vol. I.] This offer was accepted by Samuel Gordon, who in 1793 built his mill Wyalusing [Creek], about three miles from the river. This mill consisted of one run of homemade stone, without bolts, and was built under great difficulties, arising from the scarcity of money in the settlement and the want of experienced workmen; while all of the iron used in its construction was transported from Wilkes-Barré at much trouble and expense. The mill being completed, on the 1st of May, 1795, the township of Walsingham was surveyed to Mr. Gordon according to previous stipulation. He was also one of the proprietors of Stephensburg; but, owing to the invalidity of Connecticut titles in these townships, he failed to receive any advantage from these possessions. Even the mill, which had cost him so much, was lost through the same defect in the title. On the organization

of Wyalusing Township Mr. Gordon was appointed Town Clerk. He died in Wyalusing in 1810." * See "Records of the State of Connecticut." I: 92.

† See page 285, Vol. I.

Congress], and give them a true character of Adonijah Stansbury,* and the measures he has heretofore taken for the destruction of this settlement." It is presumed that the foregoing committee performed the duty assigned to it, and was in due time instructed as to what course should be pursued, for we find that on January 1, 1777, the following "citation" was served on Adonijah Stanburrough and two other inhabitants of Westmoreland. (See Miner's "Wyoming," page 198.)

"TO ADONIJAH STANSBURY and **, all of Westmoreland:

"You and each of you being suspected of Toryism, and subverting the Constitution, and endeavouring to betray the inhabitants of this town into the hands of their enemies, etc., You and each of you are hereby required, without any manner of excuse, to make your personal appearance before the COMMITTEE OF INSPECTION for the town of Westmoreland, at the house of Solomon Johnsont, inn-holder in said town, on Wednesday the 3d of instant January, at 10 o'clock in the morning, then and there to answer unto divers complaints whereof you are suspected as above. Hereof fail not, as you will answer the contrary at the peril of the displeasure of the public. "By order of the Chairman.

[Signed]

To any indifferent person to serve and return."

ANDERSON DANA, Clerk."

* ADONIJAH STANBURROUGH (for thus he wrote his name in the years 1774, 1788 and 1800) came in 1774 from what was then Tryon County, New York, to Wilkes-Barré, accompanied by his father (Josiah), mother, and sister Elizabeth. At that time he described himself as a yeoman, but later he became a surveyor-of-lands.

Early in 1772 a grant had been made by the proprietors of Wilkes-Barre Township, to Nathan Chapman (who is said to have come from Goshen, New York), of a mill-site of forty acres of land on Mill Creek-thirty acres on the north side of the creek and ten on the south side, just east of the road (known later as the "Middle Road," and now as the continuation of North Main Street) running from Wilkes-Barré to Pittston. The same year, before October, a grist-mill and a saw-mill were built by Mr. Chapman on the portion of the abovementioned site lying north of the creek, and the grist-mill was the first one erected in Wyoming Valley. (See references to "Chapman's Mills" on pages 745, 813 and 814.) Chapman ran his mills from their completion until October 24, 1774, when, in consideration of £400 "to be paid," he conveyed to Adonijah Stanburrough the forty acres of land, the two mills, dwelling-house, etc. Stanburrough then took charge of the mills and ran them. Miner ("History of Wyoming," page 197) says: "It became soon apparent that Stansbury [sic] was a disguised enemy. Intelligent, plausible, active, he laughed at the pretended Connecticut claim openly as a folly, and derided it more secretly to some as an imposition. The good people had no other mill to grind for them, and the nuisance became insupportable and dangerous. Stansbury had violated no law, but except through the law there was no way to reach him." Early in 1776, finding that he had made himself obnoxious to the people of Westmoreland, he transferred his Mill Creek property to his father Josiah.

In the Summer of 1777 Adonijah Stanburrough left Wilkes-Barré for the vicinity of Philadelphia, where he still was in the following September when the British took possession of that city.

Adonijah having failed to pay the consideration money for the property at Mill Creek to Nathan Chapman, the latter sold the same November 16, 1777, to Josiah Stanburrough the father, who was in possession. These mills were destroyed by the invading enemy in July, 1778, and, according to an official report made by the Selectmen of Westmoreland in 1781, Josiah Stanburrough's losses by the British and Indian depredations of July, 1778, were appraised at £603 14 sh. With a single exception this was much the largest amount of loss reported by the Selectmen as having been sustained by any one of the Westmoreland sufferers. About 1781 or '82 new mills were built at Mill Creek by Josiah Stanburrough, who ran them-except for a short time in 1783 and again in 1784-until February, 1787, when, for £300, he conveyed the whole property to his daughter Elizabeth, wife of John Hollenback of Wilkes-Barré.

We next learn of Adonijah Stanburrough at Philadelphia, where, February 14, 1788, describing himself as then "or late of the county of Northumberland, Pennsylvania," and having "lawful right and absolute authority" to sell and grant 300 acres of land lying on the waters of Tunkhannock Creek (in what is now Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, but was then in Luzerne County), he conveyed the same for £80 to John Young, Jr., a merchant in Philadelphia. This tract was part of a larger tract of 36,000 acres which had been surveyed on warrants issued by the Pennsylvania Land Office to and for Robert Wilson, who, in or about August, 1774, had sold the tract to Benjamin Chew, Andrew Allen, Samuel Meredith, Edward Shippen and Joseph Shippen of Philadelphia.

In Sussex County, Delaware, August 13, 1788, Adonijah Stanburrough, describing himself as a "surveyor, late of Orange County, New York," executed to Rhoad Shankland of Sussex County (who was also a surveyor) a deed for the aforementioned forty acres of land at Mill Creek, in Wilkes-Barré Township, together with the rights of the stream, "and the grist and saw-mills on part of said lots"; the consideration being "5,000 American silver dollars." (See Luzerne County Deed Book, VIII: 197.) In December, 1800, Adonijah Stanburrough, then living in Sussex County, Delaware, conveyed to William Jones of the same county-in consideration of one dollar, and "in virtue of certain powers" in him (Stanburrough) "for that purpose vested"-certain lands in the "seventeen townships" (laid out by The Susquehanna Company, and lying in the then county of Luzerne, Pennsylvania), "actually settled and particularly assigned to the several settlers thereon before the Decree of Trenton"-q. v. There were 13,500 acres conveyed by this deed, including "the one equal one-third part of the lower saw-mills on Mill Creek, with the privilege to build mills," &c.; which mill-site had been "settled by Seth Marvin, Stephen Fuller and Obadiah Gore."

In July, 1802 (at which time the Commissioners under the Compromise Act of 1799 were at work in Luzerne County examining the contested land-claims), there was recorded in the Recorder's Office of Luzerne County a power of attorney executed by Rhoad Shankland, previously mentioned, which set forth, among other matters, the following (see Luzerne County Deed Book, VIII: 201): "Whereas a certain lot of land was granted by Nathan Chapman October 24, 1774, to Adonijah Stanbur rough, who was in legal and peaceable possession of the same until his services in the Revolutionary War obliged him to rent, lease and leave the same; the which premises he afterwards sold to me. And whereas I now have reason to believe that other persons are got into possession of the said houses and mills, lands, &c., under the contrivance of the tenant [Josiah Stanburrough] who the said Adonijah left in possession thereof, and under a corrupt deed which the said Chapman is pretended to have made many years after he had sold to Adonijah.'

*

*

He lived at that time in the village of Wilkes-Barré, on the west side of South Main Street, on Lot No. 18 (see page 655), between Public Square and Northampton Street, where he kept an inn.

* *

At the hearing before the Committee of Inspection on January 3d Garret Brinkerhoof deposed: That "some time after Stansbury bought the mills of Chapman he said he did not intend to pay any more for said mills, and he would go to Pennsylvania and make it appear that Chapman had no right to the lands.' The testimony of other witnesses was heard by the Committee (that of Mr. Hageman is referred to on page 867), but we have no record of the Committee's action in the case. Miner says that "Stansbury disregarded the vote [of the town-meeting held in December, 1776]. More energetic measures became necessary, and as he owed no man in the town, an Indian from Oquago brought suit against him for a sum of money charged as being due on book, growing out of an ancient trade in horses. Active officers and a willing Court found a heavy balance owing to the Indian. Suits accumulated. A whole people had taken the law of him, and he found his position too warmly assailed to render it endurable, and he retired from the settlement." In this statement there are some errors: Stanburrough was indebted to Nathan Chapman (as mentioned in the foot-note on the preceding page), while the suit of the Indian against Stanburrough was not brought till after the latter had left Westmoreland for Philadelphia—in the Summer or Autumn of 1777. Reference to this suit is made in a petition to the General Assembly of Connecticut printed in Chapter XV. As shown in the foot-note on page 912, Adonijah Stanburrough was closely identified with some of the principal Pennsylvania land-claimants in their speculations relative to lands within the bounds of Westmoreland. From the beginning of his connection with Westmoreland affairs his sympathies were with the Pennamites and not with the Yankees. By the latter, therefore, he was considered to be a Pennamite; and, as we have previously remarked (on page 866), at that period all Pennamites were regarded as Tories by a majority of Westmorelanders. In other words, Stanburrough was in reality a Pennamite, and not a Tory. (See page 923.)

Early in January, 1777, the Continental Congress received information* "that certain tribes of Indians living in the back parts of the country, near the waters of the Susquehanna, within the Confederacy and under the protection of the Six Nations, the friends and allies of the United States," were, led by friendly and peaceable motives, on their way to Easton, Pennsylvania, for the purpose of holding a conference or treaty with the General Government. Congress thereupon appointed a commission, consisting of the Hon. George Taylor of Easton (as Chairman), George Walton, and others, to purchase suitable presents for the Indians and conduct a treaty with them. Thomas Paine (see page 875) was appointed by the Council of Safety at Philadelphia Secretary to the commission, and it was understood that the object of the Congress in providing for a treaty was that efforts might be made to detach the powerful Confederacy of the Six Nations from the British, or at least secure their neutrality. $1,000. was appropriated by the Congress for paying the expenses of the treaty, and purchases were made of large quantities of black and white wampum, silver brooches and earbobs, and other things, to be used as presents for the Indians.

About the 7th or 8th of January there came down the Susquehanna to Wilkes-Barré a small company of Indians, couriers, or messengers, to

* See "The Journals of Congress," III: 36.

announce the coming of a larger body en route to Easton. Having received on the 9th of January the following letter* from the Westmoreland Committee of Inspection, addressed to the Easton Committee, the messengers proceeded on their way over the mountains to Easton.

"GENTLEMEN: The Bearers hereof are Part of a Large Body of Indians belonging to the Six Nations, who have expressed their friendship for the United States of America at a Council held in this Place this day. They also Inform us they are upon a Journey to Philadelphla to speak with the Congress (if returned). Otherways, [they] intend to see General Washington. They have desired us to write to you and beg that they may be pointed to Places to Escape the small-pox and other Pestilential Disorders (if such there be among you). This is wrote upon their Particular Desire, to give you Information of the approach of the Body of Indians, which consists of about 200 Men, Women and Children; and they further desired us to request of you Your Influence that their Proposed treaty might be at Eastown, if it be possible at this time, for fear of the Disorders, &c., mentioned as above. We Doubt not but you will Pay due attention to these People at this time, when their favours will be more Eligible than their Frowns. We beg leave, Gentlemen, to subscribe Ourselves your friends and very Humble [Signed] "NATHAN DENISON, "WILLIAM JUDD, "CHRISTOPHER AVERY."

Servants,

Along about the middle of January the main body of the Indian delegation reached Wilkes-Barré. There were seventy men and about a hundred women and children in the party, and among the chiefs were the following: Taasquah, or "King Charles," of the Cayugas; Tawanah, or "The Big Tree," of the Senecas; Mytakawha, or "Walking on Foot," and Kaknah, or "Standing by a Tree," of the Monseys; Amatincka, or "Raising Anything Up," of the Nanticokes; Wilakinko, or "King Last Night," of the Conoys, and Thomas Green (who was married to a Mohawk squaw), Interpreter. They remained here for a couple of days, held an informal conference with the authorities of Westmoreland-from whom they also received some provisions-and then proceeded to Easton. The treaty was begun there on January 30th, in the new First (German) Reformed Church, on North Third Street; and, while the organ was played, the members of the Commission and the Indians shook hands with each other and drank rum, before proceeding to business. In an official report of the treaty, subsequently made to the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, it was stated: "The Indians seem to be inclined to act the wise part with respect to the present dispute. If they are to be relied on, they mean to be neuter. have already learnt their good intentions."

We

At Wilkes-Barré, under the date of March 14, 1777, the following letter was written to the Honorables Roger Sherman and Samuel Huntington, Delegates from Connecticut in the Continental Congress then sitting at Philadelphia. The letter was carried to that city by Kellogg, and was received by Mr. Sherman on April 7th. The original letter is in the possession of Mr. James Terry, previously mentioned, and is now printed for the first time. It reads as follows:

"HOND SIRS-You may remember that some time the last year there was two companies of men raised for the defence of this settlement, and for some time was stationed here, but the exigencies of affairs have since called them forth to join the army under the command of his Excellency General Washington, contrary to the expectation of almost every person in this County. But as the occation of their going was then very urgent, the officers and soldiers went, without repining, for the service of their country; fully expecting that when that particular emmergency was over they should be returned to their former station.

"I have since learnt that there are gentlemen, either through their inimical disposition to this country or to serve their own selfish designs, laying plans to get the sol* See "Pennsylvania Archives," Second Series, XVIII: 620.

+ It is in the handwriting of an unknown person, but the signature is that of Colonel Denison.