LETTER XVI.

1777. - Wyoming Companies – Rivalry – Political jealousy – Town vote – The dreaded Small Pox – Pestilence – spreads – First Student to Yale College – Adonijah Stansbury – Case curious and troublesome – Indian book debt – Citation for Toryism – Difficulty settled by marriage – Post established to Hartford – Yankee official titles – Tax – Preparations for defense – Lieut. Jenkins, first prisoner, Brave old Fitzgerald – Companies of Durkee and Ransom – Battle of Millstone – Porter killed – Gen. Washington's letter – Mud Fort – Lieut. Spalding – Matthewson killed – Wealth and revenue of Westmoreland – Warrant – Excessive burdens on Wyoming – Beautiful resolve.

Lights and shadows alternately brightened and obscured the Wyoming sky during the year 1777. The gloomy aspect of affairs along the sea-board; Burgoyne with his powerful army descending from the north; the accession of the savage interest to the cause of Great Britain, carrying with it the certainly that the frontier settlements, as in the old French war, would be one long line of conflagration and murder, awakened in the breasts of the Wyoming people, great fears for the general cause, and extreme anxiety for their own safety.

<The companies had marched with the utmost alacrity – not a murmur was heard, for every man felt that the case was one of imperious necessity, yet not one of them entertained a doubt, but that the moment affairs below the mountains were restored to a state of tolerable order, the pledge “to be stationed in proper places to defend their homes,” would be regarded in good faith, and the soldiers ordered back to the Valley.

Treachery, a trick to entrap them into the service under so fair a pretense, and then to force them away, leaving their homes wholly exposed and unprotected, implied a degree of baseness and cruelty they could not even comprehend, and therefore did not fear. Cheerfully the soldiers marched to their duty, while hope of their speedy return sustained their families at home.

Town meetings were as heretofore, duly holden, and at the spring meeting, John Jenkins and Isaac Tripp, Esqs., were chosen members to the Assembly, which was to convene in Hartford, in May. Westmoreland being now a county as well as a town, a place for the erection of public buildings must be fixed upon, and the old rivalry between Wilkes-Barre and Kingston, or, more extensively, between the east and west sides of the river, was, by the magnitude of the subject excited to a pitch that absorbed for a time, almost exclusively, the public attention. An intelligent committee of impartial men was demanded of the Assembly to settle the dispute.

Another matter created no little excitement among the ambitious men. Rumours had reached Wyoming, that the Assembly intended to appoint to some of the more elevated judicial offices, certain persons not inhabited of the Valley, bur chosen from that part of the State east of New York.

Voted, as instructions to Messrs. Jenkins and Tripp.

“If any person that is not and inhabitant of this town, should be nominated for any office in this county, that they immediately remonstrate against it in the most spirited manner, as unconstitutional, and an unprecedented thing in this colony in any former times.”

The county town was established at Wilkes-Barre, and the officers of the new county were selected from the town of Westmoreland.

Scarce had the summer opened when a new cause of terror and distress was developed in the Valley. The small-pox (how justly this then deadly plague was dreaded, the present generation can form but a faint idea,) made its appearance. One of the most respected citizens returned from Philadelphia, was taken sick with the disease, and died.*

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Authors note – Jeremiah Ross, father of our late distinguished fellow-citizen, General Wm. Ross.

Want of the advice and protecting influence of the numerous heads of families, away with the army, was sorely felt. But a town meeting was held, where wise and energetic measures were adopted to obviate to the utmost of human power, the ill effects of the contagion. A pest house was established in each township or district, half a mile from any road, where persons were to resort for inoculation. No one in the settlement was to receive the infection except in one of these houses, nor unless by express warrant from an examining committee. A strict quarantine respecting persons connected with the pest houses was established, and regulations for the careful change of clothes. Physicians were prohibited from inoculating except in the places designated. How many deaths occurred from the contagion is not known, but the means adopted had the most salutary influence in quieting alarm, and preventing the spread of the fatal disorder.

Throughout the proceedings of this year, schools appear to have engaged more than usual attention. State taxes, to go into the treasury at Hartford, were to be paid, county and town rates were levied, and yet the zeal for instruction was so unabated, that an additional tax of a penny in the pound was laid for free school purposes. Each township was also established as a legal school district, with power to rent the lands “sequestered by the Susquehanna Company therein, for the use of schools, and also receive of the school committee appointed by their town, their part of the county money, according to their respective rates.”

It is also due to the pleasing fact, that it should be distinctly recorded, this year for the first time there was sent from Wyoming, a student to Yale College.

Were we the eulogist, instead of the impartial historian of Wyoming, we might inquire with emphasis, if there before was a people, surrounded by external dangers, pestilence in the midst, a large portion of their natural protectors away in the public service, who ever exhibited so praiseworthy a zeal to diffuse the blessings of education among the rising generation?

We have before averted to the fact, that Pennsylvania landholders, masking their true character, came in, purchased a Connecticut right, and then denounced and undervalued the claim as of no validity. This was a mode of attack extremely annoying and difficult to repel. Chapman's mill was in full and successful operation. A person by the name of Adonijah Stansbury, from the State of Delaware, purchased Chapman's interest, and was placed therefore by his business in instant communication with multitudes of people. It became soon apparent that Stansbury 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.

Voted at a town meeting,

“that Col. Butler, Col. Denson and Maj. Judd, be a committee, (the high standing of the to write to the Connecticut Delegates, and give them a true character of Adonijah Stansbury, and the measures he has heretofore taken for the destruction of this settlement.”

<Stansbury disregarded the vote. More energetic measures became necessary, and as he owed no man in the town, an Indian from the Oquago brought suit against him for a sum of money charged as being due on book, growing out of an ancient trade on horses. Active officers, and a willing court, found a heavy balance owing to the Indian. Suits accumulated.*

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Author's note - Civil suits were not alone resorted to. The following paper has its >interest as casting light upon the mode of proceeding with disaffected persons, as well as its direct reference to the case of Stansbury.

“Citation.

“To Adonijah Stansbury, (and two others) all of Westmoreland: You and each of you being suspected of Toryism, and subverting the Constitution, and endeavoring 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 hose of Solomon Johnson, Inn-holder in said town, on Wednesday the 3^rd of instant, January, at 10 o'clock in the morning, then and there to answer unto divers complaints whereof you are suspected as above; hereto fail not, as you will answer to the contrary at the peril of the displeasure of the public.

By order of the Chairman,

ANDERSON DANA, Clerk

“To any indifferent person to serve, and return.”

On the trial, Garret Brinkerhoor saith, “that sometime 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 rights to the land.”

<More than fifty subscribers remain to the paper, which evidently must have been more numerous as it is torn in the centre. The sums given varied from one to two dollars each. In the list we find:

Elijah Shoemaker, Seth Marvin,

Elias Church, Obadiah Gore,

George Dorrance, James Stark,

Nathan Kingsley, Anderson Dana,

Elisha Blackman, Jeremiah Ross,

Nathan Denison, 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 these at Wyoming were situated, establishing at their own expense, a post to bring them the newspapers, from a distance of two hundred and fifty miles!

It has been regarded as an amusing characteristic of the Yankees, that they never failed in ancient times, to give any man the title which he might claim, from the Governor of a colony, down to a Sergeant of a company. A quotation from the Westmoreland records will show that the practice was strictly adhered to by the emigrants from Connecticut.

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“December, 1777, voted, that Capt. William Worden, Ensign Daniel Downing, Lieut. Daniel Gore, Capt. Nathaniel Landon, Capt. Jeremiah Blanchard, Lieut. Aaron Gaylord, Silas Parke, Esq., Isaac Tripp, Esq., Capt. Stephen Harding, Capt. John Franklin, be fence viewers for the ensuing year.”

The list contains two or three others without titles.

“December 30, voted by this town, to grant one penny on the pound as an addition to the two penny tax, granted August 6.”

Three pence on the pound, on an assessment of 20,000 pounds would yield 350 pounds, 830 dollars. The town also vote(d) to lend the county forty pounds.

During the summer active measures were in progress to place the settlement in the best posture of defense the circumstances of the people would admit. By detachments the people worked on the several forts; built upon a larger scale, and with greater strength, but in the same manner at Forts Ogden and Durkee. That at Wilkes-Barre occupied the ground on which the Court House now stands. The venerable Maj. Eleazer Blackman says: “I was then a boy of about thirteen, but was called on to work in the fortifications. “With spade and pick I could not do much, but I could drive oxen and haul logs.” Every sinew from childhood to old age was thus put in requisition.

A system had been established by which scouts were sent up the river, to watch the Indian paths, and bring intelligence. Each party of five or seven, was generally absent a week, but their numbers, and the frequency of their tours of duty were increased as emergencies seemed to require.

Parties of Indians were occasionally heard of at no great distance, but they abstained from violence, except so far as to take off prisoners. Up to this time, they had committed no murder and burnt no dwelling. It is not doubted, that by profound policy, it was their wish the settlement should be lulled into security, that the companies of Durkee and Ransom might not be recalled, but the Valley left exposed, and reserved as a cherished victim for another campaign, when the main body of the Six Nations, now engaged in the northeast, in aid of Burgoyne, should be at liberty to detach a force competent to the certain destruction of the settlement.

An intercommunication it was known, or not doubted, was kept up between the disaffected settlers on the river, from near Tunkhannock to the Wyalusing, with the Indians at Tioga and Newtown, and the British at Niagara. Lieut. Asa Stevens was detached by the Committee of Inspection, with nine men, who returned bringing in five suspected persons, as prisoners. Lieut. John Jenkins having, as the commander of a scouting party, extended his march as far up as Wyalusing, (near the centre of Westmoreland,) was taken prisoner by a band of Indians and Tories. Three men were taken with him, a Mr. Yorke, Lemuel Fitch, and an old man named Fitzgerald. The Indians and their allies, placed Fitzgerald on a flax-brake, and told him he must renounce his rebel principles, and declare for the King, or die. “Well,” said the stouthearted, old fellow, “I am old and have little time to live, anyhow; and I had rather die now a friend to my country, than live ever so long and die a tory!” They had magnanimity enough to let him go; but took the other three to Canada.

As Lieut. Jenkins was, himself, an active officer, and the son of one of the most distinguished men in Wyoming, the father having several times been chosen member of Assembly, a proposal was made and accepted, to exchange him for an Indian chief, then a prisoner in Albany. Under an Indian escort he was sent to that city, and when they arrived, it was found the chief had recently died of the small-pox. The rage of the young Indians, who had escorted him, could scarcely be restrained. They would have tomahawked Lieut. Jenkins on the spot, had they not been forcibly prevented. They demanded that he should return with them. To have done so, would have been exposing him to certain

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death, probably lingering torture. But he was released, and instantly repaired to his post of duty. These were the first prisoners taken from Wyoming.

On an important occasion, a scouting party of thirty men under the command of Capt. Asaph Whittlesy, ventured up as far as Standing Stone, within twenty-five miles of the north line of Westmoreland. The Rev. Benjamin Bidlack, then a young man of twenty, who was out on this expedition, gives this picture of Wyoming, at that time. The young and active men were employed upon scouting parties, to guard the inhabitants from being surprised. Some portion of the militia was constantly on duty. It was necessary, as the able men were away with the army, and the country so exposed. But the old men formed themselves into companies, and performed duties in the forts. Those companies of ancient men were called Reformados. Capt. Wm. H. Smith, (who acted also as a physician and surgeon,) commanded one in Wilkes-Barre, of which Elisha Blackman was lieutenant. The father of Mr. Bidlack commanded another in Plymouth.

In the meantime, Ransom and Durkee were stationed near the lines, between the two armies, in New Jersey; Washington, by his brilliant achievements at Trenton and Princeton, having wrested the western portion of that State from the hands of the enemy. They were termed “the “two Independent Companies of Westmoreland,” and kept from being incorporated with any corps or regiment, the intention being, it is not doubted, to order without unnecessary delay, their return to the duty for which they had been enlisted.

After joining the army, the first time they were under fire, was on the 20^th of January, 1777, at the affair, or battle, at Millstone, one of the most gallant and successful actions, considering the numbers engaged, that was fought during the war.

“When Gen. Washington's army was hutted near Morristown,” says Rogers, “and laboring under that fatal malady, the small-pox, a line of posts was formed along the Millston River, in the direction of Princeton. One of these, established at Somerset Court House, was occupied by Gen. Dickinson, with a few hundred men,” (consisting of Durkee and Ransom's Independent Companies, from Wyoming, mustering about one hundred and sixty, and three hundred militia.) “Not very distant, and on the opposite bank of the stream, stood a mill, in which a considerable quantity of flour had been collected for the use of our troops. At this time, Lord Cornwallis lay at Brunswick, and having received information of this depot, immediately dispatched a large foraging party, amounting to about four hundred men, and upwards of forty wagons, drawn by imported horses, of the English draft-breed, for the purpose of taking possession of it. The British troops arrived at the mill early in the morning, and having loaded the wagons with flour, were about to march on their return, when Gen. Dickinson, with an inferior force, which he led through the river, middle deep, attacked them with so much spirit and effect that they fled, abandoning the whole of their plunder.”

The Mill Stone [Editor’s Note: Sometimes called VanNest's Mill] victory was, to their latest day, a darling (sic) theme with the old soldiers. By the unanimous declaration of those engaged, the attack was impetuous and well sustained. An order to charge was responded to with enthusiasm. Nor did the British yield the ground without a manly, though ineffectual resistance. The enemy retired in confusion, leaving to the victors a handsome booty, consisting of forty-seven wagons, and more than an hundred horses. Each man shard several dollars of prize money, and Capt. Ransom sent one of the wagons to his farm, at Wyoming, as a trophy. Nor was the victory achieved without loss. Several were killed, and a greater number wounded. Among the former, Porter, a gallant young fellow, the pride of Ransom's company, was cut down by a cannon ball.

His Excellency, Gen. Washington, in a letter to the President of Congress, dated Morristown, January 22d, 1777, gives this account of the occurrence.

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“My last to you was on the 20^th instant. Since that, I have the pleasure to inform you that Gen. Dickinson, with about four hundred militia, has defeated a foraging party of the enemy, of an equal number, and has taken forty wagons, and upwards of an hundred horses, most of them in English draft-breed, and a number of sheep and cattle which they had collected. The enemy retreated with so much precipitation, that Gen. Dickinson had only an opportunity of making nine prisoners. They were observed to carry off a great many dead and wounded in light wagons. This action happened near Somerset Court House, on Millstone river. Dickinson's behaviour reflects the highest honour on him; for though his troops were all raw, he led them through the river middle deep, and gave the enemy so severe a charge, that although supported by three field pieces, they gave way, and left their convoy.”

Gen. Lincoln's letter and Col. Butler's reply, will show the position of the companies, in May.

“Bound Brook, May 27^th, 1777.

“Sir, - It is His Excellency, General Washington's orders, that you march immediately with the three detachments from Connecticut regiments, and the two companies of Wyoming men, to Chatham, there to take Gen. Stephens' orders, if there – if not, you will send to Head Quarters for directions.>

“I am your humble servant,

“B. Lincoln.”

“Chatham, May 29^th, 1777.

“Pursuant to orders received from your Excellency, by the hand of Major-General Lincoln, I have marched with the detachments from the Connecticut regiment, and a few of the Westmoreland Independent companies, and expect more of them will join me this day, and am now encamped upon the heights between Chatham and Springfield. I find Gen. Stephens has gone from this place, and no orders can be obtained from him, as I expected. Mt Quartermaster waits on your Excellency, by my directions, to know your Excellency's pleasure

“Many soldiers in the Independent Companies have received no clothes since they entered the service, and are almost naked. Many of their arms are useless, and some of them   They are also destitute of tents, and every kind of camp equipage. I hope your Excellency will give special directions how they are to be supplied with those articles. I am with greatest esteem,

“Your Excellency's most obedient

“Humble servant,

“Z. Butler.

“His Excellency

“GEN. WASHINGTON.”

<The companies were at Bound brook, at Brandywine, at Germantown, and at Mud Fort. At that terrible bombardment, Lieut. Spalding commanded a detachment of Ransom's company. Almost every shot from the British tore through the fort, and the men fell on every side. A soldier of Spalding's threw himself flat on the ground. “Nobody” he said “can stand this!” “Get up, my good fellow,” said Spalding, coolly, “I should hate to have to run you through – you can stand it if I can;” and the man

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returned cheerfully to his duty. Constant Matthewson, who was with Spalding, a brave man and excellent soldier, a fine intelligent fellow, was blown to pieces by a cannon ball. Sickness carried off several. The two brothers, Sawyers, died of camp distemper. Porter was killed – Spencer and Gaylord died; and three or four were reported as discharged or missing. The company of Ransom, in October 1777, mustered still sixty-two.

The wealth and revenue of this infant colony, presents an interesting topic of inquiry. Before us is a warrant to Mr. John Dorrance, to collect the State tax for 1778; but as it is based on the assessment of 1777, this seems to be a fitting place to introduce it to the reader's notice.

STATE OF CONNECTICUT

Arms of

IN Connecticut AMERICA

To Mr. John Dorrance, Constable of Westmoreland, and Collector of the State Tax for

<

WHEREAS the General Assembly of this State, in October, 1778, granted a Rate or Tax of Two Shillings on the Pound, to be levied and collected on all the Polls and ratable Estates of this State, according to the List brought into the Assembly in October One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy-seven, and January 1778, to be collected and paid into the Treasury of this State, by the first Day of February One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy-nine.

THESE are therefore in the Name of the GOVERNOR and COMPANY of the State of Connecticut, to require and command you, to collect of the Inhabitants of said Town, Two Shillings on the Pound, in Continental Bills, amounting to the sum of Two Thousand and thirty- two Pounds, five Shillings and eight Pence, Lawful Money, with all additions made thereto. And if any Person or Persons shall neglect or refuse to make Payment of their just Proportion of said Rates, you are to make distraint of the Goods or Estate of such Person or Persons, and for want of Estate, their Person, as the Law directs. And you must make up and settle your Accounts with the Treasurer of this State, by the first Day of February next.

Dated at Hartford, the 10^th Day of November, in the Year of our Lord, 1778.

JOHN LAWRENCE, Treasurer

LIST, 1777.20,322 pounds 17s. Od., a 2s. 2,032 pounds 5s. 8d.

ADDITIONS.

FOUR-FOLDS Half is . . . . .

It will be observed that the tax may be collected in Continental money, but at whatever depreciation, the sum must be made equal to “two thousand and thirty-two pounds, five shillings, lawful money (of Connecticut) that is, $6,667.

Without a remark from our pen, surprise, we are sure, will be excited, that a sum so considerable, or indeed any sum, should be demanded of Wyoming, for the general purposes of the State treasury at Hartford.

The whole assessment of the State amounted to 1,929,000 pounds, say, in round numbers, two millions. The assessment of Westmoreland to 20,332 pounds; say 20,000 – so that the proportion of the town to the whole State was just about as 1 to 100. So too the population. Connecticut was estimated to contain two hundred and thirty thousand inhabitants. Westmoreland about two thousand three hundred, or again, as 1 to 100. The quota of troops demanded of Connecticut was three thousand two

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hundred and twenty-eight – the proportion then of Wyoming should have been the one hundredth part, (if indeed a frontier so exposed should have spared a man,) that would have been thirty-two. But the Wyoming companies still mustered one hundred and twenty-four – Gore and Strong's men thirty-six – making one hundred and sixty, five times the just proportion, admitting the State's quota to have been complete. But, from the urgent requisitions of Congress and the complaints of His Excellency, Gen. Washington, it appears none of the quotas of the States were kept much more than half full. Allow that of Connecticut to have been two-thirds filled, then the number would have been two thousand one hundred and fifty-two. Wyoming, to have sent in proportion, should have had twenty-one men in service – but she had about one hundred and sixty, so that in fact the settlement sent eight times its just number. Admitting the thirteen colonies to have had a population of about three millions, then as Wyoming was nearly a thousandth part of the whole, the whole should have furnished to the army a thousand times as many men, that is 160,000.

While these calculations exhibit the great efforts made by Wyoming, they also show the powerful motives operating on the government of Connecticut, to detain the two companies in the army. The relief to her was exceeding great and manifest. Accordingly they were numbered as a part of her quota, and their return, notwithstanding the solemn pledge at their enlistment, could not be complied with.

A brief recapitulation may give distinctness to the reader's view. As the three years of war, from 1768 to '71, should not be counted, the colony was now in the sixth year of its age. Nearly all their able bodied men were away in the service. The remaining populating in dread of the Savages were building six forts, or stockades requiring great labour, and “without fee, or reward.” All the aged men, out of the train bands, exempt by law from duty, were formed into companies to garrison the forts, one of the Captains being also Chief Physician to the people, and Surgeon to the military. Of the militia, the whole were in constant requisition to go on the scout, and guard against surprise. The small pox pestilence was in every district. A tax to go to Hartford was levied on the assessment of the year, of two thousand pounds!!

Such is the picture of Wyoming for 1777; but before we close the view, allow us to copy a heart touching resolve from the proceedings of the town meeting “Legally warned,” holden December 30. John Jenkins was chosen moderator for the work of the day.

“Voted by this town, that the committee of inspection be empowered to supply the Soldiers' wives, and the Soldiers' widows, and their families, with the necessaries of life.”

Let it be engraved on plates of silver! Let it be printed in letters of gold! Challenge Rome in her Republican glory, or Greece in here Democratic pride, to produce, the circumstances considered, an act more generous and noble.