1843 History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
Contributed by Nancy Piper
[Source: Historical Collections of the State of Pennsylvania, by Sherman Day, Philadelphia, 1843, Page 524 -537]
Northumberland County Northumberland County was separated from Berks and Bedford, by the act of 21st March, 1772. At the time of its establishment, it extended to the north and west boundaries of the province; and its limits have been reduced by the successive establishment of Luzerne, Mifflin, Lycoming, Centre, Columbia, and Union counties. Area 457 sq. m. Population in 1790, 17,161; in 1800, (Lycoming off,) 27,796; in 1810, (part of Centre off,) 36,327; in 1820, (Columbia and Union off,) 15,424; in 1830, 18,133 ; in 1840, 20,027. The western boundary of the county is washed by the West branch and main stream of the Susquehanna for a distance of 40 miles; the North branch flows about ten miles across the centre, joining the West branch at Northumberland. The other important streams are Warrior's run, Limestone run, and Chillisquaque cr., tributaries of the West branch; Roaring cr. and Gravel run, tributaries of the North branch; and Shamokin, Mahanoy, and Mahantango creeks, tributaries of the Susquehanna. The general surface of the county is mountainous. Above the forks, Limestone ridge and Montour's ridge cross between the North and West branches. Below the forks lie the higher ridges connected with the coal formation-the Shamokin hills, and Mahanoy, Line, and Mahantango mountains. Notwithstanding the ruggedness of these mountains, there is a great amount of fertile land dispersed through the county, along the valleys; especially on the bottoms of the Susquehanna, and in the limestone region above Montour's ridge. The Mahanoy and Shamokin coal-basin extends from about eight miles east of the Susquehanna northeasterly, through the Mahanoy and upper Shamokin valleys, into Schuylkill co. The coal of this basin is said to be of excellent quality : the thickness of the beds varies from five to more than forty feet. Iron-ore is also found in this vicinity; and in great abundance, and of excellent quality, of the hard kind, in Montour's ridge. Limestone also exists in the hills, about ten miles from Sunbury; and a vein of lead-ore was discovered, in 1840, in this limestone, at the quarry of Messrs. Shesholtz and Bergstresser. The vein was said to be about two feet in thickness, and to yield about 70 per cent. The internal improvements of the county are the Pennsylvania canal, along both branches of the Susquehanna, uniting at Northumberland, and passing down on the right bank of the main stream, in Union co.; the " Danville and Pottsville railroad," or rather the Sunbury and Shamokin railroad, completed about 20 miles, to the coal-mines, and intended to be completed to Pottsville ; and the turnpike from Sunbury to Pottsville, with a branch to Danville. Water-power is abundant on the small streams; and a company has it in contemplation to derive an immense power from the Susquehanna, above Sunbury, passing the water through a race, emptying below the Shamokin dam. With all these great elements of wealth-rich limestone lands and river-bottoms, for agriculture; mines of iron, coal, and lead, for manufactures; mountains abounding with timber, and streams with water-power, and every facility for reaching the great markets- this county possesses the means of sustaining with comfort a dense population. |
| The original settlers of the county were English and Scotch-Irish; but
the Germans, who began to come in about the beginning of this century, now
predominate, especially in the district below the North branch.
It is well known that the valley of the Susquehanna, in the early days of the province, had been assigned by the Six Nations to the Delawares, Shawanees, Conoys, Nanticokes, Monseys, and Mohicans, for a hunting ground. Several of their villages are mentioned by the Moravian missionaries, as being in this vicinity, and on the West branch. They speak of Shamokin (now Sunbury) as " a populous Indian town, belonging to the Iroquois," or Six Nations. This was the residence of Shikellimus, or Shikellamy, a celebrated Cayuga chief, who, as we learn from the Minutes of Council, Aug. 12, 1731, had been "sent by the Five Nations to preside over ye Shawanees." He was a man of great dignity, sobriety, and prudence, and was noted for his kindness to the whites and to the missionaries. He was an intimate friend of Conrad Weiser. On several important occasions we hear of his attending in council at Philadelphia, and of performing embassies between the government of Pennsylvania and the Six Nations. He was the father of " Logan, the Mingo chief." (See page 466.) On the 28th Sept. 1742, as we learn from Loskiel- Count Zinzendorf, accompanied by Conrad Weiser, Esq., Br. Martin Mack and his wife, and the two Indians, Joshua and David, after a tedious journey through the wilderness, arrived at Shamokin. Shikellimus stepped out and gave them a hearty welcome. " A savage presented the Count with a fine melon, for which the latter gave him his fur cap." The Count announced himself as a messenger of the living God, come to preach grace and mercy. Shikellimus said be was glad to receive such a messenger, and promised to forward his designs. One day, when the Brethren were about going to prayers, and the Indians, then at a feast, were making a prodigious noise, with drums and singing, the Count sent word to Shikellimus, who ordered silence immediately. The Count, with a part of his company, forded the Susquehanna, and went to Ostonwackin, on the West branch. This place was then inhabited, not only by Indians of different tribes, but by Europeans, who had adopted the Indian manner of life. Among the latter was a Frenchwoman, Madame Montour, who had married an Indian warrior, [Carondowana, alias Robert Hunter;] but lost him in a war against the Catawbas. She kindly entertained the Count for two days. The Count went soon after to Wyoming. |
| Rev. David Brainerd visited Shamokin in 1745, and again in 1746. The
following extracts are from his Life and Public Journal:-
Sept. 13, 1745.-After having lodged out three nights, I arrived at the Indian town I aimed at, on the Susquehanna, called Shaumoking; one of the places, and the largest of them, which I visited in May last. I was kindly received and entertained by the Indians ; but had little satisfaction, by reason of the heathenish dance and revel they then held in the house where I was obliged to lodge-which I could not suppress, though I often entreated them to desist, for the sake of one of their own friends, Who was then sick in the house, and whose disorder was much aggravated by the noise. Alas! how destitute of natural affection are these poor uncultivated pagans! although they seem somewhat kind in their own way. Of a truth, the dark corners of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. This town, as I observed in my Diary of May last, lies partly on the east side of the river, partly on the west, and partly on a large island in it, and contains upwards of 50 houses, and nearly 300 persons; though I never saw much more than half that number in it. They are of three different tribes of Indians, speaking three languages, wholly unintelligible to each other. About one half of its inhabitants are Delawares; the others called Senekas and Tutelas. The Indiana of this pluce are accounted the most drunken, mischievous, and ruffian-like fellows, of any in these parts; and Satan seems to have his seat in this town, in an eminent manner. After preaching the word faithfully to the " Delaware king," who had been very sick, and to the Indians, he went down to Juniata island, (see page 275,) and thence home. In Aug. 1746, he returned to Shamokin again on his holy errand. He says- Sept. 1.-Set out on a journey towards a place called the Great Island, about 50 miles from Shaumoking, on the northwestern branch of the Susquehanna. At night lodged in the woods. Sept. 2.-Rode forward, but no faster than my people went on foot. Was very weak, on this as well as the preceding days. I was so feeble and faint that I feared it would kill me to lie out in the open air; and some of our company being parted from us, so that we had now no axe with us, I had no way but to climb into a young pine-tree, and with my knife to lop the branches, and so make a shelter from the dew. But the evening being cloudy, with a prospect of rain, I was still under fears of being extremely exposed: sweat much, so that my linen was almost wringing wet all night. I scarcely ever was more weak and weary than this evening, when I was able to sit up at all. This was a melancholy situation: but I endeavored to quiet myself with considerations of the possibility of my being in much worse circumstances amongst enemies, &c. Sept. 3.-Rode to the Delaware town ; found many drinking and drunken. Discoursed with some of the Indians about Christianity; observed my interpreter much engaged, and assisted in his work. A few persons seemed to hear with great earnestness and engagement of soul. About noon, rode to a small town of Shauwaunoes, about eight miles distant; spent an hour or two there, and returned to the Delaware town, and lodged there. Was scarce ever more confounded with a sense of my own unfruitfulness and unfitness for my work than now. O what a dead, heartless, barren, unprofitable wretch did I now see myself to be! Sept. 5.-Got to Shaumoking towards night: felt somewhat of a spirit of thankfulness that God had so far returned me. Sept. 8.-Left Shaumoking, and returned down the river a few miles. Had proposed to tarry a considerable time longer among the Indians upon the Susquehanna, but was hindered from pursuing my purpose by the sickness that prevailed there, the feeble state of my own people that were with me, and especially my own extraordinary weakness, having been exercised with great nocturnal sweats, and a coughing up of blood, almost the whole of the journey. I was a great part of the time so feeble and faint, that it seemed as though I never should be able to reach home ; and at the same time very destitute of the comforts, and even the necessaries of life. |
| The Six Nations used Shamokin as a convenient tarrying-place for their
war-parties against the Catawbas, at the south; and they were very desirous
of having a blacksmith there, to save them the trouble of long journeys to
Tulpehocken, or to Philadelphia. The governor of Pennsylvania granted the
request, on condition that he should remain no longer than while the Indians
continued friendly to the English. The blacksmith, Anthony Schmidt, was from
the Moravian mission at Bethlehem; and this opened the way for the establishment
of a mission at Shamokin, which was done in the spring of 1747, by Br. Mack,
who, with his wife, had previously visited the place. John Hagin and Joseph
Powel, of the mission, had built a house there. Bishop Camerhoff, and the
pious Zeisberger, visited there in 1748. The brethren speak of going to "
Long island and Great island, on the West branch, above Ostonwackin and in
1755 " Brother Grube went to West branch, and to Quenishachshachki, where
some baptized Indians lived."
Shikellimus died in 1749. Loskiel thus describes his character:- Being the first magistrate and head chief of all the Iroquois Indians living on the banks of the Susquehanna, as far as Onondaga, he thought it incumbent upon him to be very circumspect in his dealings with the white people. He mistrusted the Brethren at first, but upon discovering their sincerity became their firm and real friend. Being much engaged in political affairs, he bad learned the art of concealing his sentiments ; and therefore never contradicted those who endeavored to prejudice his mind against the missionaries, though he always suspected their motives. In the last years of his life he became less reserved, and received those brethren who came to Shamokin into his house. He assisted them in building, and defended them against the insults of the drunken Indians; being himself never addicted to drinking, because, as he expressed it, he never wished to become a fool. He had built his house upon pillars for safety, in which he always shut himself up when any drunken frolic was going on in the village. In this house Bishop Johannes Von Watteville and his company visited and preached the gospel to him. It was then that the Lord opened his heart: he listened with great attention; and at last, with tears, respected the doctrine of a crucified Jesus, and received it in faith. During his visit in Bethlehem, a remarkable change took place in his heart, which he could not conceal. He found comfort, peace, and joy, by faith in his Redeemer, and the Brethren considered him as a candidate for baptism; but hearing that he had been already baptized, by a Roman Catholic priest, in Canada, they only endeavored to impress his mind with a proper idea of this sacramental ordinance, upon which he destroyed a small idol, which he wore about his neck. After his return to Shamokin, the grace of God bestowed upon him was truly manifest, and his behavior was remarkably peaceable and contented. In this state of mind he was taken ill, was attended by Br. David Zeuberger, and in his presence fell happily asleep in the Lord, in full assurance of obtaining eternal life through the merits of Jesus Christ. |
| After the defeat of Braddock, in 1755, the whole wilderness from Juniata
to Shamokin was filled with parties of hostile Indians, murdering, scalping,
and burning. These alarms broke up the mission at Shamokin, and the Brethren
fled to Bethlehem. In Oct. of that year fourteen persons were killed by the
savages in the Penn's creek settlement, and their bodies were horribly mangled.
A party of 46 persons, led by John Harris, came up to bury the dead, and
afterwards came to Shamokin, where they were received civilly but coldly,
and remained all night. Andrew Montour, the Indian interpreter, warned them
against returning by a certain road. They disregarded his advice, and were
attacked by a party of Delawares in ambush at Mahanoy cr. Four of Harris's
party were killed, four were drowned in crossing the Susquehanna, and the
others barely escaped. Previous to this, on the 18th Oct., a party of Indians
had attacked the inhabitants at Mahanoy cr., carried off 25 persons, and
burnt and destroyed their buildings and improvements. There were rumors that
the French intended to build a fort at Shamokin; but in Jan. 1756, the Indians
had entirely abandoned their village and gone up the Susquehanna and to the
Ohio. The provincial government in April erected Fort Augusta at Shamokin.
This was one of the line of provincial forts, which consisted of Henshaw's
fort on Delaware, Fort Hamilton at Stroudsburg, Fort Norris, Fort Allen on
Lehigh, Fort Franklin, Fort Lebanon, Fort Wm. Henry, Fort Halifax on Susquehanna,
Fort Augusta, Fort Granville on Juniata, Fort Shirley, Fort Littleton, and
Shippensburg fort, besides smaller stockades, garrisoned by provincial troops.
In 1757 the governor learned that a party of 800 French and Indians owere coming down the W. Branch to attack the fort. An aged pioneer, still living, says there is a tradition that this party came down to the high cliff overhanging the river opposite the fort; where the French engineers took such observations as satisfied them that no effective attack on the fort could be made without cannon, which they could not bring through the wilderness. The Indians, however, remained some days there, amusing themselves by attempting to fire poisoned arrows across the river, with their immense cross-bows; and occasionally expressing their contempt for the garrison, by insulting gestures and attitudes. There was a cannon at the fort, and one day, after the piece had been carefully adjusted for the proper range, a ball was fired, which happened to cut off a large limb of a tree, that fell directly upon the heads of a party of Indians. They jumped up, whooped, and scampered off into the wilderness. During the same year, peace having been concluded with the Delawares and Shawanees, they were invited by the governor to reside at Shamokin and Wyoming. The settlement at Shamokin was to be made under the charge of Thomas McKee, the Indian trader. He writes, June 23d, 1757, that he had arrived with the Indians, " who had drunk much .on the road; and had mostly gone on, but few staying." Conrad Weiser afterwards recommended a trading-house here, but it does not appear whether it was established. |
| The territory now forming Northumberland co. was included in two distinct
purchases from the Indians. That part below the Mahanoy mountain was included
in the deed of 22d Aug. 1749, which ceded all the land between the Delaware
and Susquehanna, bounded on the N. W. by a line from Mahanoy mountain at
the Susquehanna, to the mouth of Lackawaxsen, on the Delaware, and on the
S. E. by the Kittatinny mountain. The other part of the county was included
in what was then called " the new purchase" of 1768, the boundaries of which
will be found under the head of Lycoming co. Immediately after the new purchase
many settlers came in, principally from the Scotch-Irish settlements of the
Kittatinny valley, and a few Quakers from the lower counties. They had scarcely
got well settled in their new homes, before the revolution broke out None
responded more readily to the call " to arms!" than the pioneers of
Northumberland. Fort Augusta was garrisoned by a detachment under the command
of Col. Samuel Hunter; and several other forts were erected along both branches
of the Susquehanna. (See Lycoming, Clinton, and Columbia counties.) In the
possession of Mr. Joseph G.Wallace of Lewisburg, Union co., there is an old
book of records given him by his grandfather, Capt. Gray, of the revolutionary
army. It contains the records of the Committee of Safety of Northumberland
co. during the revolution. This committee was subordinate to, and in
correspondence with, the Central Committee at Philadelphia. The following
abstracts were made from these records by the compiler:
On the 8th Feb. 1776, the following gentlemen being previously nominated by the respective townships to serve in the committee for the county of Northumberland for the space of six months, met at the house of Richard Malone, (at the mouth of Chillisquaque,) viz.-for Augusta township, John Weitzel, Esq., Alexander Hunter, Esq., Thomond Ball; Mahoning township, William Cook, Esq., Benj. Alison, Esq., Mr. Thos. Hewet ; Turbut township, Capt. John Hambright, Wm. McKnight, William Shaw; Muncey township, Robert Robb, Esq., William Watson, John Buckalow; Bald Eagle township, Mr. William Dunn, Thos. Hewes, Alexander Hamilton, (afterwards killed near Northumberland;) Buffalo township, Mr. Walter Clark, (removed to White Deer,) Wm. Irwin, Joseph Green; Wioming township, Mr. James McClure, Mr. Thos. Clayton, Mr. Peter Melick ; Penns township, (is left blank ;) Monghonoy, (blank;) Potter's township, John Livingston, Maurice Davis, Hall; White Deer township, Walter Clarke, Matthew Brown, Marcus Hulings. Capt. John Hambright was elected chairman, and Thomond Ball clerk. The field-officers of the battalion of the lower division of the county were Samuel Hunter, Esq., colonel, Wm. Cooke, Esq., (who, it is said, afterwards turned tory,) lieutenant-colonel, Caspar Weitzel, Esq., 1st major, Mr. John Lee, 2d major. Those of the upper battalion appear to have been Wm. Plunket, Esq., colonel, James Murray, Esq., lieutenant-colonel, Mr. John Brady first major, Mr. Cookson Long 3d major. Each captain was ordered to return at least 40 privates. Each battalion consisted of six companies. The captains of the lower battalion were Nicolas Miller, Chas. Gillespie, Hugh White, Wm. Scull, James McMahon, Wm. Clarke, (and afterwards) Capt. John Simpson; and of the upper, or Col. Plunket's battalion, Henry Antis, Esq., Samuel Wallis, John Robb, Wm. Murray, Wm. McHaton, Simon Cool, David Berry. |
| Many of the proceedings consist of forms possessing no special interest
Some of the more interesting were the following :-In the meeting of 8th Feb.
1776, it was resolved " that a petition be presented to the hon. assembly
of this province, setting forth the late murder of two of the sheriff's posse
near Wioming for attempting to act in conformity to the laws ;" and on 26th
Feb., this " petition relative to the Connecticut intruders-was approved
of and ordered to be copied fair." On 13th March, 1776, in their dispatch
to the Com. of Safety at Phil., the county committee make certain complaints
of grievances suffered in their infant settlement; and on the 27th of the
same month they more urgently set the same forth as follows : " We are now,
gentlemen, to inform you of what we think a grievance to this young and thinly
inhabited county-viz., a constant succession of recruiting officers from
different counties in this province. Our zeal for the cause of American Liberty
has hitherto prevented our taking any steps to hinder the raising of men
for its service ; but finding the evil increasing so fast upon us as almost
to threaten the depopulation of the county, we cannot help appealing to the
wisdom and justice of your committee to know whether the quota of men that
may be demanded from this county under their own officers is not as much
as can reasonably be expected from it. Whether-at a time when we are uncertain
of peace with the Indians, (well knowing that our enemies are tampering with
them,) and a claim is set up to the greatest part of the province by a
neighboring colony, who have their hostile abettors at our very breasts,
as well aa their emissaries among us-is it prudent to drain an infant frontier
county of its strength of men ? and whether the safety of the interior parts
of the province would not be better secured by adding strength to the frontier
T Whether our honorable assembly, by disposing of commissions to gentlemen
in different counties to raise companies, which are to form the number of
battalions thought necessary for the defence of this province, did not intend
that the respective captains should raise their companies where they were
appointed, and not distress one county by taking from it all the men necessary
for the business of agriculture, as well as the defence of the same. From
our knowledge of the state of this county, we make free to give our opinion
of what would be most for its advantage, as well as that of the province-(between
which we hope there never will be a difference)-and first are to inform you
of the poverty of the people, many of whom came bare and naked here, being
plundered by a banditti who called themselves Yankees; and those who brought
some property with them, from the necessary delay of cultivating a wilderness
before they c:ould have any pro. duce to live upon, together with the necessity
of still continuing the closest application to labor and industry for their
support, renders it morally improbable that a well-disciplined militia can
be established here, as the distance which some men are obliged to go to
muster is the loss of two days to them ; which not being paid for, they will
not, nor indeed can they, so often attend as is necessary to complete them
even in the manual exercise. We would recommend that two or more companies
be raised, and put in pay for the use of the province, to be ready to march
when and where the service may require them, and when not wanted for the
service of the public at any particular place, to be stationed in this county,
in order to be near and defend our frontiers should they be attacked by our
enemies of any denomination ; the good effect of which we imagine would be
considerable-as, though they may be too few to repel, they may stop the progress
of an enemy until the militia could be raised to assist them. Should this
proposal appear eligible, please to inform us thereof, and we will recommend
such gentlemen for officers as we think will be most suitable for the service,
and agreeable to the people. We are, gentlemen, with due respect, &c.
Signed for and in behalf of the committee, John Hambrioht, Chairman."
The committee changed once in six months, when only a part of the former members seem to have been re-elected. The committee seem often to have met at Laughlan McCartney's, a member from Mahoning township. On the 10th Sept. 1776, the committee learning that " Levy & Ballion have a quantity of salt on hand, which they refuse to sell for cash, (as ordered by a former resolve of committee,) the committee ordered Mr. Wm. Sayers to sell it at the rate of 15 shillings per bushel, and not above half a bushel to each family, and return the money to the committee." The committee attended to receiving from the Philadelphia committee their share of arms and ammunition, iron, and salt, and distributing it very carefully among the soldiers of the county. |
| Capt. Robert Robb, of Muncy township, formerly one of the committee,
seems to have given them a deal of trouble. He was charged with having in
his possession " a paper supposed to be from Lord Howe, concerning conditions
of peace, of which said Robb said, ' this is the very thing I would be at;'
and says further, Mr. Frankling (Dr. Franklin) was a rogue, he well knew,
and that he had led the government into two or three scrapes already known
to him ; also, it was thought Frankling had a pension from home ; likewise,
that it was thought the convention was bribed. Also that said Robb says that
Lord Howe used the members of congress politely that was sent to treat with
him, but that they used him ill."
The committee ordered that Robb should " either take his gun and march with the militia of the county into actual service, to prove his attachment to the American cause, or else be confined until released by further authority." (Here followed some expunging in the record.) Col. Jas. Murray was appointed to arrest and confine him ; who, having full confidence in Robb's patriotism, and " out of lenity to said Robb's family, saw fit to appoint the mansion-house of said Robb as a prison for him, on a promise of his good behavior for the future." Robb, however, seems to have practised good behavior as He understood it; for when one Peter Smith had intruded himself several times into the company of Robb and another gentleman, who were " drinking a half pint together," Robb knocked him down, and bruised him severely,-and thereupon further " said that the committee were a set of rascals-some of them were robbers, some were horse-thieves, and some of them were murderers-and further saith not." This incensed the committee Ho, that they ordered Col. Murray to take Robb to Philadelphia ; but Murray resigned, and two other men were appointed to the duty. The committee, in a time of great scarcity of grain (in Feb. 1777) in Bald Eagle township, ordered " that no stiller in that township shall buy any more grain, or still any more than he has by him, during the season." They also interfered with their authority to stop " a certain Henry Sterrat,of Bald Eagle township, from profaning the Sabbath in an unchristian and scandalous manner, causing his servants to maul rails, &c, on that day, and beating and abusing them if they offered to disobey such bis unlawful commands." Several interesting incidents relating to the revolutionary history of the W. Branch will be found under the heads of Lycoming, Clinton, Columbia, and Union counties. The capture of Freeland's fort in the autumn of 1778, will be noticed subsequently in connection with the village of Milton. |
| Sunbury, the county seat, is an ancient town, situated on a broad plain
on the left bank of the Susquehanna, immediately below the forks, and just
above the mouth of Shamokin cr. This is a beautiful site: near the town,
above and below, are ranges of high hills, affording a magnificent prospect
of the scenery of the valley ; in front of the town the Susquehanna, backed
up by the Shamokin dam, spreads out into a basin nearly a mile wide, which
receives the united streams of the North and West branches. The town was
originally laid out with wide streets, of ample width, with a broad margin
along the river bank. Annexed is a view of the public square, in the centre
of which are seen the courthouse and market-house. The place contains, besides
the usual county buildings, Lutheran, German Reformed, Presbyterian, Episcopal,
and Methodist churches; a foundry, and the depot of the railroad. Population
in 1830, about 1,000 ; in 1840, 1,108.
The Sunbury, Danville, and Pottsville railroad, was commenced about the year 1833. A few miles at the eastern end were opened for use in 1834 ; but on account of the connection not being completed, and the inconvenient inclined planes at that end of the road, its use was abandoned, and the structure is now going to decay. The western division has been completed for 19 miles, from Sunbury to the Shamokin mines, and is now in successful use for the transportation of coal. By the severe pecuniary crisis of 1837-39, the completion of the road between the extreme divisions was suspended, until the opening of the Girard coal mines on the headwaters of the Nescopeck will warrant the use of the expensive inclined planes on the eastern division. The length of the road from Sunbury to Pottsville, is 44.54 miles ; branch to Danville, 7 miles; entire length 51.54 miles. It was the original intention of Stephen Girard, and the other projectors of this road, that it should be continued up the W. Branch, and across the wilderness of the Sinnemahoning to Erie, and surveys were made for that purpose. A company is at present engaged in constructing a short canal from the Susquehanna basin above, following an ancient channel in the rear of the town, and emptying into Shamokin cr., below the level of the great dam, thus enabling the immense water-power of the Susquehanna- to be brought into use. With this facility, and with the immense supplies of coal, iron, and limestone in the immediate vicinity, Sunbury, although its commercial prospects have somewhat declined, bids fair to become a busy manufacturing town. An account of the Indian town of Shamokin has been given above, on page 525. Sunbury was laid out by the surveyor-general, John Lukens, about the year 1772, when the county was established. He erected a frame house here, which is still standing. Wm. McClay also came up from Harrisburg and erected the stone house, which is still standing, fronting on the river. Just back of this house, a small stockade fort was erected during the revolution. Fort Augusta had been previously built during the old French war, where Mr. Samuel Hunter's house now stands. He still uses the vaulted magazine for a cellar or granary. About the year 1767, the mother and aunts of the venerable Mrs. Grant were residing, for shelter, at Fort Augusta. Old Stump, the Dutchman, a noted murderer of Indians, one day sought, refuge at the fort, after he had been murdering several Indians. The ladies refused to harbor him, fearing that the wrath of the Indians might be meted out to them also ; but at length- kind souls!-they relented, and stowed Stump snugly away between two beds. The Indians soon came, blustered and threatened, but, not finding their man, they picked up a poor cat, pulled out all her hair, and tore her to pieces before the family, by way of showing them how they would have treated Stump. Among the earlier settlers here were Mr. Dewart, father of Hon. Mr. Dewart, still residing in town, and Mr. David Mead, who kept an inn here, and in 1787 removed to Meadville. The Brady family also often resided here, when it was unsafe to occupy their residence further up the West Branch. There are still living here two venerable sisters of that family. The following singular circumstance is related in the Sunbury American of July, 1842, and is well authenticated: A most singular incident recently occurred at the table of one of our most respectable farmers, (Mr. Ruch,) in this neighborhood. The family had baked some pies early in the morning, and had set them in the cellar to cool for dinner. It was observed, before the pie was cut, that it appeared very full; and no sooner was the knife thrust into it, than a snake issued out, to the utter amazement and terror of all at table. This was a kind of dessert as unwelcome as unexpected. The snake, it was supposed, had got in between the crusts while the pie was cooling on the cellar floor. |
| Shamokin, a thriving village, has grown up since 1834, at the eastern
termination of the railroad, 19 miles from Sunbury, among the coalmines of
Mr. Boyd and others. The Shamokin Coal and Iron Co., who own large tracts
of coal lands near this place, was incorporated on the 15th June, 1836, but
not organized until 19th Nov. 1839. In 1840 they took out a charter, under
the general act, for the manufacture of iron, and proceeded to erect one
furnace, with machinery for two, near the coal mines. This furnace has been
for some time in successful operation, making excellent iron from the ore
of Montour's ridge, with the use of anthracite coal. The company own about
1400 acres of coal and iron land, 750 of which are in Columbia co., on the
Locust mountain, and the remainder is near Shamokin. The latter tract contains
twelve veins of coal, of excellent quality," varying in thickness from five
feet up to sixty." The railroad cuts the veins at right angles, affording
the greatest possible facility for working the mines. The company is extensively
engaged in mining and transporting coal for the Baltimore market.
Georgetown is on the left bank of the Susquehanna, 15 miles south of Sunbury. It contains about 80 dwellings. Snyderstown is on the turnpike and railroad in the valley of Shamokin cr., 7 miles east of Sunbury. It contains about 60 dwellings, a German Reformed and Baptist church. |
| Northumberland is situated nearly opposite Sunbury, at the point formed
by the confluence of the North and West branches. The country expands behind
the town in a semicircular form, rising in gentle swells towards Montour's
ridge, which crosses between the two rivers at a distance of about three
miles. Opposite the town, in the North Branch, is a long and beautiful island,
called Lyon's island, and recently belonging to Mr. Cowden. Two splendid
bridges connect this island with the main land on either shore. Another splendid
bridge, which answers also as a towpath, crosses the West Branch at its mouth.
At the southern end of this latter bridge rises the high and precipitous
sandstone ledges of Blue hill, from which a magnificent prospect is enjoyed
of the valleys of both rivers. The annexed sketch, copied from a larger one
by Bartlett, was taken from the canal bank about a mile south of the town,
and gives a general but distant view of all the prominent objects mentioned
above.
Northumberland is well laid out, with spacious streets, and, to those who love quiet, is a pleasant residence. It contains a bank, Old School and New School Presbyterian, German Reformed, Methodist, and Unitarian churches, an academy and townhouse. Population in 1840, 928. The borough was incorporated 14th April, 1828. From its peculiar geographical position, at the junction of the two great rivers, anticipations were indulged that Northumberland would become a place of great commercial importance. Almost every traveller confidently made this prediction:-and it might have proved true, if no canal had ever been made, or if both or either of the great branches of the river had not been accommodated with a canal. In that case the transit of trade would have been at Northumberland: but now the valley of each tributary creek has its own trading town on either branch, and the boats pass and repass the Forks daily without leaving any profit there. This circumstance, though unfortunate for Northumberland, is, as it should be, much more for the general benefit of the country, than to build up an overgrown town at any one point. Both Sunbury and Northumberland were formerly places of much more commercial importance than they now are. On the Sunbury side of the river, near the end of the bridge between the two towns, stands a fine mansion, occupied by the venerable Mrs. Grant, her children and grandchildren. This lady, whose memory extends back about 80 years, but whom one would scarcely suspect of being past fifty, is the widow of Capt. Grant of the revolutionary army, who had command of one of the forts in this region. She relates that her father, Mr. Robert Martin, who was originally from Jersey, had been settled in the Wyoming valley under the Pennsylvania title ; but being unable to live in peace, he abandoned his farm and removed to Northumberland, where he opened a tavern not long previous to the new purchase of 1768. His house at that time was the only one to be seen about the point, or even about Sunbury, except within Fort Augusta. For three miles up the W. Branch there was no house, and none for a great distance up the N. Branch. When the purchase was made his house was thronged with speculators, pioneers, and surveyors, who came to enter upon the new lands. Mr. Martin had a brother in Freeland's fort when it capitulated. During the revolution Capt. Lowden marched from here with a company of recruits to Boston. Capt. Lowden and Mr. Paterson owned the site of Northumberland, and afterwards sold a part of it to Reuben Haynes, a brewer from Philadelphia, who laid out the town about the year 1775. It made but slow progress during the revolution, when all the inhabitants were frequently compelled to seek refuge at Fort Augusta. After the disastrous battle at Wyoming, Mrs. Grant says it made one sad to see the poor fugitives, with their cattle, floating down in great numbers in flat-boats, canoes, and rafts. Northumberland was reoccupied in 1785, and about ten years after it had about 100 houses. The Duke of Rochefoucauld Liancourt, an observing French traveller, who passed through here in 1795, says, in substance- The average price of land* about the town is $30 to $24 per acre, near the river. Farther up the river from $4 to $6. Town lots selling at $48 to $50. Houses chiefly built of bptwo only of stone ; and one of brick, " large and convenient," lately sold at $5,200, and rented for $80-the highest rent in town. The inhabitants mostly foreigners-Irish, Dutch, and Eng. lish ; and Germans about Sunbury. People here were much in favor of the Whiskey insurrection. The island of 250 acres is now the property of an aged man, who lives on it in a small log-house. He bought it about seven years since for $1,600, and lately refused $3,300. Mrs. Grant relates an interesting incident which occurred at the island opposite her residence. During the old French war of 1755-58, a Dr. Smiley and his wife were taken captives and carried away by the Indians. He escaped, leaving her still in captivity, and fled to Fort Augusta. One night they heard a feeble voice crying for help on the point of Lyon's island. Fearing, however, that it was but an Indian's device to decoy them, they hesitated about going. Smiley was the first who volunteered to go, and, taking several others with him, he went over to the island, and there his courage was appropriately rewarded by the affectionate embrace of his own wife, who had escaped from captivity, and come thus far alone. * The account of the capture of Freeland's fort, in one of the numbers by Kiskiminetas, in the Blairsville Record, of 1832, and since copied in the " Incidents of Border Life," is in many particulars incorrect, and has been so acknowledged by the author. He did not derive his information on this subject from the same authentic source from which he learned the other event* of Capt. Brady's life, although, at the time of the publication, he supposed that his informer was fully acquainted with the facts. No blame, therefore, attaches to the respectable author of those numbers, who resided at a distance from the West Branch, and had no convenient means of verifying the statements furnished to him. |
| Among the early settlers at Northumberland was the family of Mr. Boyd,
whose descendants still reside in the place. Mrs. Dash, too, was another
early settler, and a very enterprising woman. She was the wife of an English
banker who had been unfortunate in business ; and while he was settling up
his business, she came out about the year 1794, with her three daughters,
to Northumberland, purchased a small farm "f about 100 acres, and in a few
months had 20 acres cleared and in wheat, and a comfortable stone cottage
in which to welcome her husband. That was a wife worth having.
Dr. Joseph Priestley, the distinguished philosopher and theologian, spent the latter years of his life in Northumberland. The large mansion erected by him is still standing, in a lovely, shs. led spot, a little apart from the village, and is in the occupation of his family. His sons had purchased a large tract of land here with the view of making it the asylum of English dissenters, and other intelligent emigrants from Europe. Many Englishmen, friends of Dr. Priestley, removed here about the same time, among whom was Dr. Thomas Cooper, who subsequently removed to the southern states, where he became distinguished as a politician, philosopher, and professor of political economy. Mr. Russell was another Englishman who resided here, and purchased, in connection with the land speculators at Philadelphia, large tracts of land in Bradford, Susquehanna, and Luzerne counties. Dr. Joseph Priestley was born at Fieldhead, near Leeds, in England, in March, 1733. His father was a clothier of the Calvinistic persuasion, in which he was also himself brought up. After he had attained a respectable degree of classical acquirement, he was finally placed at the dissenters' academy at Daventry, with a view to the ministry. He spent three years at this school, where he became acquainted with the writings of Dr. Hartley, and was gradually W into a partiality for the Arian hypothesis. He became minister of Needham market, in Suffolk, but falling under the suspicion of Arianism, he left there and took charge of a congregation at Nantwich, to which he joined a school. In 1761 he was appointed tutor in the languages at Warrington academy. Here he published his essay on government, and several other useful works on education and history. His History of Electricity, published in 1767, procured him an admission into the Royal Society; he had previously obtained the title of doctor of laws from the University of Edinburgh. In the same year he took charge of a church at Leeds, where his opinions became decidedly Socinian. Here his attention was first drawn to the properties of fixed air, and he also composed his work on Vision, Light, and Colors. In 1773 he went to lire with the Marquis of Landsdowne, as librarian, or literary companion. He travelled over Europe with this nobleman, and also occupied himself with scientific pursuits. In 1773 he furnished a pop" in the Philosophical Transactions, on the different kinds of air, which obtained for him a gold medal. This was followed by three volumes, the publication of which forms an era in the history of seriform fluids. He published several metaphysical works, and an edition of Hartley's Observations on Man, to which he annexed a dissertation savoring strongly of Materialism. This doctrine he still more forcibly supported in his Disquisitions on Matter and Spirit, in 1777. These works resulted in a dissolution of the connection between himself and his patron, and he took charge of a dissenting congregation at Birmingham. At length, when several of his friends at Birmingham were celebrating the destruction of the Bastile, a mob assembled and set fire to the dissenting meeting-houses and to several dissenters1 houses, among which was that of Dr. Priestley, although he was not present at the celebration. He lost his valuable library and apparatus, and although he obtained a legal compensation, it fell far short of his loss. On quitting Birmingham he succeeded his friend Dr. Price as lecturer in the dissenting college at Hackney, where he remained some time in the cultivation of scientific pursuits, until he was goaded by party enmity to seek an asylum in the United States. His sons had already preceded him, and taken up or purchased a large body of land near Northumberland, where the doctor arrived and fixed his residence in 1794. Here he dedicated himself for ten years to his accustomed pursuits, until his death on the 6th Feb., 1804, in his 71st year. Doct. Priestley was an ardent controversialist, chiefly in consequence of extreme simplicity and openness of character; but no man felt less animosity towards his opponents, and many, who entertained the strongest antipathy to his opinions, were converted into friends by his urbanity in personal intercourse. As a man of science, he stands high in the walk of invention and discovery : he discovered the existence of oxygen gas, and other seriform fluids. As a theologian, he followed his own convictions wherever they led him, and passed through all changes, from Calvinism to a Unitarian or Socinian system, in some measure his own; but to the last remained a zealous opposer of infidelity. In his family he ever maintained the worship of God. His works amount to about seventy volumes, or tracts; and embrace essays on history, politics, divinity, (practical and controversial,) metaphysics, and natural philosophy. His Life, edited by his son, was published in 1806. The memoirs are written by the doctor himself, down to the year 1795. |
| Milton is situated on the left bank of the West Branch, at the mouth
of Limestone run, 12 miles above Northumberland. It is a bustling town, by
far the most flourishing and populous in the county, and forms the shipping-port
for several rich limestone valleys around it. A large portion of the population
is of German descent. There are here Presbyterian, German Lutheran, Methodist,
Baptist, Episcopalian, and "Shiloh"' churches; an academy, several foundries,
and a number of extensive flouring-mills driven by the water of Limestone
run. There is a stone bridge across the run, and a frame bridge across the
West Branch. The West Branch canal passes through the town. Population in
1830, 1,274; in 1840, 1,508. Above is a view, taken from the Washington road,
of three of the churches-the Episcopal, the Baptist, and the Methodist. The
former is nearly hidden among the trees, on the right.
Milton was first started as a town, about 50 years since, by Andrew Straub. Mr. Covenhoven remembers that, in the year 1778, at the time of the big runaway, there were but two houses on the site. Marcus Huling, a boatman, had built a cabin near the run, and kept a tavern there ; and had afterwards sold out to Mr. M'Candless. Marcus Hulings, a blacksmith, had his shop on the river bank, just at the upper end of the present borough. He afterwards removed to Duncan's island, and eventually to Pittsburg. M'cunesville is a small but flourishing village, which has grown up since 1825, about three miles north of Milton, on the stage-road to Williamsport. It contains some twenty or thirty dwellings, three taverns, stores, &c. Watsonburg is on the left bank of the West Branch, above the mouth of Warrior's run, and four miles from Milton. It contains some thirty dwellings, stores, &c, and several mills at the run, near the village. Snyderstown, a small hamlet, is about five miles northeast of Milton; and Pottsgrove, a small village on Chillisquaque cr., is five miles southeast of Milton. |
| On Warrior's run, during the revolution, was situated Freeland's fort,
memorable for the scenes which occurred at its capture, in the early part
of autumn, or, to use an old pioneer's expression, about the time peaches
were ripe, in 1778. The following account of that event was received in
conversation with the aged Mr. Covenhoven, of Lycoming co.; and another
gentleman, a descendant of Mr. Vincent who was captured at the fort :*-
Rumors had been received at Fort Muncy, (near Pennsborough,) where Col. Hepburn, afterwards Judge Hepburn, was commanding, that a hostile force of British and Indians might be soon expected down the West Branch. To obtain more definite information, Robert Covenhoven, who was then acting as a guide and scout for the garrison, was sent out to the mountains above Ralston, on the head-waters of Lycoming creek and Tioga river. He was offered one or more companions, but he preferred to go alone. He knew every defile of the wilderness, and he could better elude observation alone than with several men, who might not follow his counsel. He travelled all night, and when he arrived among the mountains, he heard at least 100 shots from the enemy encamped there, who were cleaning their guns. Without rest, and with no more food than he could eat as he ran, he returned immediately, and reported a large force approaching. Robert King also brought down word from Lycoming cr., that Ferguson, with a party who had gone up to cut hay, had been attacked by Indians, and three men had been killed. Fort Muncy was filled with women and children, who were immediately pat into boats and sent down to Fort Augusta, under the charge of Mr. Covenhoven. They took with them also the families from Fort Menninger, at the mouth of Warrior's run; but Freeland's fort being four miles up that run, from its mouth, there was not time to wait for the families there to come down. A messenger, however, was sent to alarm them. While the party were descending the river, the women would often jump out to tug the boats over the ripples. Fort Muncy, being untenable, was abandoned. About this time, and one or two days previous to the attack on Freeland's fort, Isaac, Benjamin, Peter, and Bethuel Vincent, brothers, together with Mr. Freeland, the owner of the fort, and his son, were at work in a field. A party of Indians came suddenly upon them. Isaac Vincent and Freeland, the father, were killed. Benjamin Vincent was taken prisoner. Jacob Freeland, the son, ran towards the stone-quarry, and was speared by an Indian in his thigh: he fell near the edge of the precipice, at the quarry. The Indian pounced upon him, but Freeland suddenly raised him upon his shoulders, and pitched him over into the quarry; and would have killed him, but another Indian came up and killed Freeland, spearing him in several places. The other Vincents escaped to the fort. The main force of the enemy now appeared, consisting of about 300 Indians and 200 British, under Col. McDonald. On their way down, they burnt Fort Muncy, and then laid siege to Freeland's fort, which was commanded by Capt. John Lytle. There were brave men in that fort, who would have defended it to the death; but it was also filled with women and children, whom it was not thought prudent to expose to the cruelties that might result from a capture by storm. When, therefore, the enemy were about setting fire to the fort, a capitulation was entered into, by which the men and boys, able to bear arms, were to be taken prisoners, and the women and children were to return home unharmed. There was a Mrs. Kirk in the fort, with her daughter Jane and her son William. Before the capitulation she fixed a bayonet upon a pole, vowing she would kill at least one Indian ; but as there was no chance for fighting, she exhibited her cunning by putting petticoats upon her son Billy-who was able to bear arms, but had yet a smooth chin-and smuggled him out among the women. The enemy took possession of the fort, and allowed the women and children to remain in an old building outside of the fort, on the bank of the run. At a preconcerted signal, Capt. Hawkins Boone, who commanded a fort on Muddy run, (about 600 yards above its mouth, and two miles above Milton,) came up to the relief of Freeland's fort, with a party of men. Perceiving the women and children playing outside of the fort, he suspected no danger, and incautiously approached so near that the women were obliged to make signs to him to retire. He retreated precipitately, but was perceived by the enemy, who with a strong force waylaid him, on the Northumberland road, at M'Clung's place. Boone's party fell into the ambush, and a most desperate encounter ensued, from which few of the Americans escaped. William Miles, (now of Erie co.,) was taken prisoner in Freeland's fort : and afterwards, in Canada, Col. McDonald mentioned to him, in the highest terms of commendation, the desperate bravery of Hawkins Boone. He refused all quarter-encouraged and forced his men to stand up to the encounter; and at last, with most of his Spartan band, died on the field, overpowered by superior numbers.
|
| Cornelius Vincent and his son, Bethuel Vincent, (father of Mr. Vincent
of M'Cuneville,) Capt. John Lytle, William Miles, and others, were taken
prisoners at the capitulation. Capt. Samuel Dougherty and a brother of Mr.
Miles were killed in the flight. Peter Vincent escaped in the flurry occasioned
by Hawkins Boone coming up. Sam Brady, James Dougherty, and James Hammond
had cautioned Boone against keeping the road, in his retreat; and they
themselves, refusing to accompany him along the road, took the route through
the woods, and escaped.
Bethuel Vincent had recently been married, when he was taken prisoner. His wife returned to her home in New Jersey. Four years after the capture she had heard nothing from her husband. One evening, when she was out with a sleighing party, and had stopped at a tavern, a roughly dressed man inquired if a Mrs. Vincent lived in that vicinity. She was pointed out to him. He stated that he had known her husband in Canada, had lately seen him, and that he was well. He rode with the party in the sleigh, and was disposed to take Mrs. Vincent on his lap; but she indignantly declined the familiarity, until she discovered that the impertinent stranger was her husband. |