Miscellaneous Newspaper Articles From the Past
York County Pennsylvania
The Sprig of Liberty, Gettysburg, PA
October 16 1806
The wife of Mr. Roberts of Dover, was lately delivered of three beautiful and perfect boys, each weighing 7 pounds, who with their prolific mother are all in perfect health. -- Hampshire Gazette.
York Western Turnpike Road
The Centinel, Gettysburg, PA, April 17, 1811
By an act of the Legislature, passed the 21st day of March, 1811, entitled "An act to authorize the Governor to incorporate a company for making an artificial road, from the courthouse in the borough of York, and ending at the extremity of five miles, at or near Wolff's tavern, on the old road, in a direction to Gettysburg: That Jonathan Jessop, Frederick Eichelberger, Peter Hoke, Henry Wolff, Daniel Spangler, Jacob Smyler, John Weyer, William Nes and Philip Frederick, are appointed to received subscription for the stock of said company.
Public Notice is hereby given that books will be opened, agreeably to the provisions of said act, at the house of George Hay, innkeeper, on Monday the 6th; at the house of John Eichelberger, innkeeper, on Tuesday the 7th; at the house of Widom Fisher, innkeeper, on Wednesday the 8th, in the borough of York; - at the house of Adam Haller, in Bott's Town, on Thursday the 2th; at the house of Michael Smyser, innkeeper, on the 10th; and at the house of Peter Wolff, innkeeper, West Manchester, on the 11th day of May next, and will be kept open from 10 until 4 o'clock, on each day aforesaid, for the purposes of receiving subscriptions for the stock of said company, from all persons of lawful age, to subscribe in their names or names of any other person, who shall duly authorize the same.
Five Dollars to be paid on each share at the time of subscribing.
Attendance will be given by two or more of the commissioners.
York, March 26.
Benjamin Hearth Resigns Office
The Centinel, Gettysburg, PA, November 27 1811
Benjamin Hearth, Esq. has resigned his office of Sheriff of York county and the Governor has appointed Michael Gardner, Esq to fill the office till the next election.
The Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA
July 28, 1819
York, PA, July 22
Robbery - The store of Peter Dinkle, of this borough (York) was robbed on Tuesday night last of about 420 dollars - three hundred in bank notes and one hundred and twenty dollars in specie. One of the notes is a $100 note on the US Bank. The thief ascended to the balcony, entered through the window, descended the stairs, broke open the middle door leading to the store - he took the drawers from the counter and carried them up to the balcony, where he helped himself to the contents as above stated.
The Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA
August 11, 1819
York, Aug. 3
Much agitation has been excited in this place for the last few days, by the sudden disappearance of a man named Charles Heggens, an Irishman by birth, and we understand a weaver by profession. The circumstances of his having had a considerable sum of money with him; his mysterious and sudden disapearance, and the finding on the banks of the creek a quantity of clothing and some of the little implements of his trade, lead to the suspicion that he has been murdered. Active search has been made for his body, but as yet it has not been found.
The Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA
September 8, 1819
The publication of the York Recorder has been discontinued. This has been one of the oldest establishments in the state. The first paper was issued on the 7th January, 1789, by James and John Edie and Wilcox. In these hard times, when banks and men following the best business are daily failing around us, it cannot excite our special wonder, that those following the worst, newspaper printing, should also be under the necessity of stopping payment. - York Gaz.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
December 27 1820
York Pa., Dec. 19
On Thursday morning last, about half past 5 o'clock the steam mill of Phineas
Davis and William Gwens situated near the Methodist meeting house in this
borough, was discovered on fire and together with a quantity of clover seed
entirely consumed. The machinery and the application of steam power to it
was on a new plan, the invention of Mr. Davis one of the owners. The loss
estimated at about 1200 dollars - Gaz.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) January 29 1823 Page 3
York, Pa., Jan. 21
On Friday night last, the mail stage from Philadelphia between York and Wrightsville was fired at between 10 and 11 o'clock at night - nobody was hit nor hurt by it. It is difficult to say what could have been the object of an attack on the stage returning from Philadelphia - if it was to rob the mail, the robbers could certainly not promise to themselves a great reward fro their villainy than those obtained who broke into a printing office at New York for the purpose of plunder, whree they found nothing by old news and other papers, of no use but to the owner - Gazette.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) February 12 1823 Page 2
Mistake Corrected.
At article from the York Gazette has been going the rounds of the papers for a couple of weeks past - which mentions the stage having been shot at, by some malicious person, between this and Wrightsville. The report is entirely without foundation. The truth of the matter is, that as the stage was passing Mrs. Bahn's, about five miles from town, some person about the house discharged a gun at an owl which had perched on some object behind the house. But the shot was not in the direction of the stage - and if it had been there could have been no great occasion of alarm to the stage passengers, as the charge of the gun must have passed through Mrs. Bahn's dwelling house before it could have reached them. - York Recorder.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
September 8, 1824
York, Aug. 31
On Sunday last several families in number about 20 persons, took their departure from the borough of York, for Philadelphia, there to embark for the land which is governed by President Boyer. - Gaz.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
September 15, 1824
Translated from the German York Gazette, of Sept. 10
Supposed Murder
Last Monday four persons were put into the prison of York county, charged with having committed a murder. The circumstances of the case are so far as we have heard, as follows: About the end of March or the beginning of April last, a certain George Brown, a drover from Westmoreland county, who had sold a drove of cattle in York, Lancaster, Chester and Philadelphia counties, is supposed, on his return, to have arrived at a house in the vicinity of this place, which sustained none of the best of characters. After he had gone into the house, one of the women brought a quart of whiskey, and after they had intoxicated him therewith, they robbed him of the sum of 800 or 900 dollars. Soon afterwards disagreements occurred amongst the women of the house, perhaps about the division of the plunder, and one of them was driven off. This one frequently stated, that Jacob Seitz, and the other woman, had murdered the man. But as this accusation was made by a person of bad character, there was no credit attached to it, and no search made, The matter, therefore, remained quiet for about 6 months, until the friends of Brown, here received several letters from his family, enquiring where he delayed so long. Whereupon an examination took place, and the accused were arrested. The female who had been driven out of the house was examined as a witness, and her statements under oath, confirms the charge which she had frequently made. She says that Jacob Seitz and his wife murdered Brown; she having left the room in which they done it, when they attacked him, and went into an antechamber or the kitchen, where she heard the cried of Brown; and that Seitz, soon afterwards came down the steps, carrying Brown on his shoulders, but where he took him she cannot tell.
The house and neighborhood have been searched, but nothing of the body has been found. Further search will probably be made. It would probably be imprudent to depend upon the evidence of the person who has accused Seitz and others; were it not supported by the fact, that Brown has been missing from his family since the time specified. Under all the circumstances many entertain doubts respecting the matter.
$50 REWARD
Is offered by the subscriber, to the person or persons, who shall find the corpse of George Brown, who, as is believed, was murdered in this neighborhood. Should Georg Brown be yet alive, he or his friends are requested to inform the subscriber of the fact, so that htose who are imprisoned on his account may be liberated, and the anxiety of our citizens, respecting the unhappy fate which it is feared has befallen him, may be removed. Editors of papers are respectfully requested to insert the above.
George Lauks
Springgarden township, York county, Penn. Sept. 10, 1824
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
November 17, 1824
York, Pa. Nov. 9
The persons who were confined in the jail of York county, on suspicion of having murdered George Brown, of Westmoreland, were on Wednesday last discharged by proclamation, the court deciding that there was not sufficient evidence of their criminality to put them on their trial.
It had been rumored that Brown had been heard from, but this in unfounded, and if he is living, it is at some place unknown to his family. - Gazette.
500 Hundred Pound Bell Made For German Lutheran Church
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
November 24, 1824
York, Pa., Nov. 16
On Saturday last a Bell, weighing about 500 lbs was cast at the Foundry of Davis, Webb and Gartner, for the German Lutheran Church in this place. This is the first time an article of this kind was cast here, and notwithstanding the difficulty of execution, the attempt has proved completely successful. The bell has a tone, clear, full and well defined and as a casting, is a handsome specimen; thus fully maintaining, in every particular, the character which the Foundry has obtained for the beauty and excellence of its productions. - Rec.
Slave Owner's Wagon Destroyed
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) January 5 1825
York, Pa., Dec. 28
Mischief
A Mr. Harlan of Baltimore county, arrived in this place on Wednesday evening last, with two female slaves, who had deserted his service, and were apprehended in Lebanon county. He put up at one of our public houses, and during the night the vehicle, a Dearborn wagon, in which he was conveying back into bondage these daughters of Africa, was drawn about half a mile from town, and there cut into a heap of chips. - Gaz.
Lieut. Sanders Elected Major of York and Adams Counties
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) April 13 1825
On Saturday last Lieut. Sanders was elected Major of the York and Adams counties Union Battalion of Volunteers, in the room of H. Brinkerhoff, resigned. The votes were J. Sanders 23' Capt. J. Gorley - 16.
107 Year Old Woman Baptised
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) May 25 1825
York, Pa., May 17
Was baptized in the Catholic Church of this borough on Sunday last by the Rev. McDwen. Camber Green, a colored woman, in the 107th year of her age; in good health and some intellect. - Gaz.
Jacob Wolfgang Wins Maryland State Lottery
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) March 8, 1826
York, Pa., Feb. 28
In the distribution of several independent fortunes on the 15th instant from the wheels of the Grand State Lottery of Maryland, drawn in Baltimore, Dame Fortune extended her smiles for one to the county of York. Mr. Jacob Wolfgang of Codorus township, drew one quarter of the capital prize in the Lottery of one hundred thousand dollars. He drew his money on Wednesday last at Cohen's office in Baltimore and deposited the same in the York Bank on Saturday last. We are informed that fortune could not have bestowed her favors on one more deserving of them. - Gazette.
The York Recorder states that Mr. Jacob Wolfgang, the gentleman who drew one-fourth of the 100,000 dollar prize in a late Baltimore Lottery, gave 1000 dollars to the teamster who bought the ticket for him.
George Walter's Potatoes
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania May 9, 1827
Early Potatoes
On Thursday the 25th day of April, Mr. George Walter of Codorus township, brought to our market, for sale, a quantity of potatoes of this spring's growth. Those which we saw were about an inch and a half in diameter and appeared as the first produce of the season usually is. - York Recorder.
Charles A. Morris Wins Premium for Carpet Weaving
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania November 8, 1826
A premium has been awarded to Mr. Charles A. Morris of this place, for the handsomest specimen of domestic stair-carpeting produced at the late Exhibition of the Franklin Institute at Philadelphia. - Ib.
Mr. Slaymaker's Furnace Produces Excellent Stoves
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania November 8, 1826
The stoves cast at Margaretta (mr. Slaymaker's) Furnace in this county, deserve honorable mention. The patterns are neat and handsome and in smoothness the castings are not excelled, if equaled, by any that have come under our notice. The pigs produced at this furnace are said to be of superior quality. - Ib.
Sixty-Five Freed Slaves from Virginia Arrive to Find Employment
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), June 27, 1827
We find the following in the German York Gazette, of the 22d instant:
A company of sixty-five negroes, men, women and children, arrived in York on Wednesday evening last. They came from Hanover county, Virginia, where they had been manumitted by their owners and sent to procure a place of residence for themselves and posterity. These unfortunate creatures are accompanied by one of their former owners - the name of this new Moses is Nathan Granger. They formed their camp of the bank of the Codorus above this borough - where such as had not found places to hire themselves, remained yesterday. Those who are unsuccessful here will proceed to Columbia and through Lancaster county in search of employment and a dwelling place. Their arrival here excited great attention and a great number of the citizens went to see those pilgrims in search of a better land.
In the county from which those people came, ther were, at the last census, 6130 whites and 9037 slaves, nearly three blacks to two whites. It is not surprising that they are permitted to emigrate in multitudes.
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