COLUMBIA COUNTY

TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO
by

EDWIN M. BARTON
Bicentennial
Pennsylvania

So your children can tell
their children.

Published jointly by the Columbia County Bicentennial Commission and
the

Columbia County

Historical Society

Copyright® 1976
by

COLUMBIA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania 17815
All Rights Reserved

JACKET FRONT:

A

traveler before the Revolutior\ coming to the mouth of the Catawissa
Creek on the North Branch of the Susquehanna River pronounced the
view the most beautiful he had ever seen. He almost surely did not have
the opportunity of viewing the scene from the Catawissa Outlook as is
afforded us in this picture. The view includes the stretch of the river
where it courses through the Catawissa Narrows, with the gently rising
area of Bloomsburg in the background,
color photograph by David K. Shipe

JACKET BACK:
Orangeville, nestled at the foot of

Knob Mountain, marks

a site of early

and an important point on Indian
trails. The picture also shows a sample of the beautiful scenery of the
County.
settlements, Indian depredations,

photograph by author

r

Table of Contents

v

Preface

Prologue
Indian Trade
1

2.
3.
4.

vii

Goods

x

Pioneers and Indians in

Our Susquehanna

— The Opening Years
The Revolution — The Closing Years
The Revolution

1

19
33

Pioneer Settlements Resumed After the

War for Independence
5.

Valleys

47

The Columbia County Region
Early Eighteen Hundreds

in the

67

Epilogue
Interesting Origins of

101

Some

Local

Names

105

Bibliographical Notes

110

Index

Ill

Gleanings from the Author's Card

Colophon

File

116
118

Preface

The present work is the attempted fulfillment of the decision of
Columbia County Bicentennial Commission to publish a history of
county's region in the period of our country's

the

the

War for Independence. The

county's early pioneer history was also to be covered. Generally the

period will be from 1768 to 1800, but without rigidly applying these time
limits.

During this period the region was part of the outer edge of the
Western Frontier. This frontier needed to be defended. It was attacked at
a number of points, one of which was in the upper valleys of the Susquehanna River, of which our region formed an important segment. The
larger battles were fought nearby with supporting actions in our area.
These actions by their very closeness are of interest to us, the beneficiaries of their struggles and achievements.
The wartime struggles and pioneering activities of those early years
in our region are samples, with local variations, of what was going on up
and down the whole length of the western frontier. Let us learn about
them and we will know better the forces that built our whole country.
As commissioned author, I have endeavored to discover all sources of
information and give them proper study. I have especially endeavored to
discover and utilize eye-witness accounts of the personal experiences in
tragedies and achievements of the people who laid the foundation of our
communities.
In acknowledging help, I regret that my loyal wife and helpful critic is
no longer with me to accept my gratitude. A number of persons as parttime secretaries have been helpful through the years in various ways.

More immediately working with me on

this

length of service, are: Melissa D. Gratton,

Donna A. Ohl, and Paula

Welliver.

More than meticulous

manuscript

critically

and share

in

manuscript, in order of

transcribers,

they

whatever merits

it

have read

may

R.
the

have.

Dr. John E. Bakeless, besides extending encouragement through the

which otherwise might
acknowledged with special thanks.

years, has channeled invaluable source material,

not have been found. This help

is

Mrs. Emma H. Burrus, Dr. Craig A. Newton, Dr. C. Stuart Edwards,
Mrs. C. Stuart Edwards, and Dr. James R. Sperry have given the
manuscript, or parts of it, critical reading followed by constructive suggestions and encouragements. Dr. Newton and Dr. Sperry have further
aided by reading galley proofs.
Mr. John L. Walker advised on the final details of publishing and

marketing the book.

I

am

deeply grateful to

all.

Columbia County Historical Society has been
especially helpful. Also helpful have been the Andruss Library of the
Bloomsburg State College, the Bloomsburg Town Library, and the
Library of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Included also in my thanks are the offices of the Registrar and Recorder of
the Counties of Columbia and of Northumberland, for the courtesies

The Library

of the

extended

The continuing support from the Columbia County Commissioners,
from the Columbia County Historical Society, and from the Columbia
County Bicentennial Commission is also gratefully acknowledged.
A number of persons have aided with drawings as indicated at
appropriate places. To these I render appreciation. I acknowledge, with
special appreciation, a number of drawings based on research provided
by Joan L. Romig.
In spite of efforts to avoid mistakes, errors of commission or omission
may be found; for these I accept full responsibility.
Edwin M. Barton

VI

Prologue

In celebrating the bicentennial of
ful

our country's founding, it is a helpit is also just about two hundred

coincidence to keep in mind that

years ago that our region, the upper valleys of the Susquehanna River,

was emerging from obscurity to join in the history of our nation. Prior to
this time, the region had been Indian Country, controlled at the time of
Columbus and of the first settlements of the English, by a powerful tribe
of Iroquoian Indians, the Susquehannocks. They became involved in
bitter warfare with the English and the Five Nations of Iroquois of New
York. At first, as indomitable foes, they maintained an unequal fight, but
finally disease, as well as battle losses, led to their defeat and final, complete subjugation. This happened just a few years before the coming of
William Penn,

The

in 1682.

Iroquois, as conquerors, exercised control over

all

the unsettled

Susquehanna valleys as well as areas far beyond. In the
exercise of this control, other conquered or dispossessed tribes were encouraged to settle in the conquered lands, some in our region. As recorded by a missionary in 1758, others, especially the whites, were not to
settle: "They (the Five Nations) settle these New Allies on the Frontiers of
the White People and give them this Instruction. 'Be Watchful that no
body of the White People may come to settle near you. You must appear
to them as frightful Men, and if notwithstanding they come too near,
give them a Push; we will secure and defend you against them...'."^
During this period of the Iroquois as overlords of our region, a
number of tribes or portions of tribes left their names at various places.
The Nanticokes, from the Maryland region, settled for a time where they
parts of the

have given

A

their

name

to

modern Nanticoke.

Conoys, or Gangawese, were mentioned by
Captain John Smith as resident in the Chesapeake Bay region (1608).
Living near the Piscataway Creek, they were sometimes known also by
that name. In their considerable migrations, some of them are mentioned
as having lived briefly at Catawissa.
related group, the

The Tuscaroras, an Iroquoian tribe of the CaroHnas, after having
been weakened by conflicts similar to those which destroyed the Susquehannocks, petitioned the Five Nations to join their confederation. This
was granted. They migrated in the course of a number of years through
Pennsylvania, leaving their name in a number of places. Finally, in 1714,
they joined the Five Nations, which thus became the Six Nations of the
Iroquois Confederacy.

The Shawnees seem

originally to

living in what is now the
They migrated, or some of

have been

eastern parts of Kentucky and Tennessee.

them did, into Pennsylvania and lived at varying times along the
Delaware River, at Shawnee Flats on the site of modern Plymouth, and
at other places. In passing up the Susquehanna, the Shawnees may have
been resident in the vicinity of the mouth of the Fishing Creek for some
time.

"The Delawares: Physical Appearance and Dress.
Wallace, Indians

in

Pennsylvania, p. 16; courtesy of

ttie

"

Pennsylvania Historical and

Museum Commission.

The Delawares

and inand the Delaware River Valley. At one time they
were proud to be given the name of an English leader. Lord Delaware.
After repeatedly having been treated unfairly and compelled to leave
lands that were successively promised to them, they became hostile. One
habited

New

originally called themselves the Lenni Lenape,

Jersey

division of the Delawares, the Munsees, in their successive migrations,

gave their name to modern Muncy, also the city Muncie, Indiana. They
are noted as living at, or in the vicinity of, the Forks of the Susquehanna,
at Shamokin. They, with some Shawnees, were the dwellers in the upper
Susquehanna valleys when the first whites settled. There is no estimate
Vlll

available as to the size of this shifting and changing Indian population at

any one time.

Diagrammatic Map
THE IROQUOIS CONFEDERATION OF FIVE NATIONS
(AFTER 1711, SIX NATIONS)
Often referred

WEST
Mohawk

to as the

"LONG HOUSE"
EAST
River

Confluence of the
River with
the Hudson River

Mohawk

Headwaters

Mohawk River and Valley

ONANDAGAS

ONEIDAS

MOHAWKS

Younger

Tenders of the

Younger

Keepers

Brothers

Central Council

Brothers

to the

Fire

to the

of the
Eastern

MOHAWKS

Gate

SENECAS

CAYUGAS

Keepers
of the

Western
Gate

Senecas

After 1711 at the South

TUSCARORAS
on the "Cradle Board"

Susquehanna River valleys - several Indian tribes
regions as assigned by the Iroquois

in

varying

Wallace, Paul A. W., Indians of Pennsylvania, p. 89.
In 1764, a period of over sixty years of intermittent warfare vs^as
brought to an end. These wars had pitted England against France; English
colonists against the French colonists; and the Indian allies of the English,
the Iroquois, against those siding with the French, the Delawares and the

Shawnees. The latter two tribes had grievances because of various land
deals by which they had been treated unfairly or defrauded. In these wars
the French were defeated and gave up their claims to lands in North
America, including Pennsylvania. Indians not willing to accept defeat,
formed a confederation and fought a brief but threatening continuation
of the war,

known

as Pontiac's Rebellion.

was negotiated

When

this

confederation was

now Rome,

N.Y., by
which the Iroquois sold to the Penns, Proprietors of Pennsylvania, an
enormous strip of land stretching irregularly from the northeastern
corner of Pennsylvania to its southwestern corner. This was in 1768. It
was called The New Purchase. With the exception of a small strip at the
southern end of Columbia County, previously purchased, it included all
of our County.
defeated, a treaty

1.

at Fort

Stanwix,

Christian Frederick Post, "Observation," quoted by Wallace, Paul, Indians in
Pennsylvania, p. 105.

IX

Indian Trade

Goods

the time of William Penn, the Indians had been in contact with the
Europeans for half a century, probably more. Their manner of life as
stone age people had been changed profoundly as can be seen by the
following list of articles which had come to be desired by the Indians.
These trade goods by which the whites purchased lands or traded for furs
were highly important articles of commerce for both the Indians and
Europeans for many years through Colonial days into our National

By

period.

350 fathoms of

wampum,

20 white blankets, 20 fathoms of
kettles, (4 whereof large,)
20 guns, 20 coats, 40 shirts, 40 pair stockings, 40 hoes, 40 axes, 2
barrels powder, 200 bars lead, 200 knives, 200 small glasses, 12 pair
shoes, 40 copper boxes, 40 tobacco tongs, 2 small barrels of pipes, 40
pair scissors, 40 combs, 24 pounds red lead, 100 awls, 2 handsfull
fish-hooks, 2 handsfull needles, 40 pounds shot, 10 bundles beads, 10
small saws, 12 drawing knives, 4 ankers tobacco, 2 ankers rum, 2
ankers cider, 2 ankers beer, and 300 guilders.
strawdwaters, 60 fathoms of duffields, 20

From William Penn's

treaty with the Delaware Indians, 1682, quoted by Martin and
Shenk, Pennsylvania History as Told by Contemporaries, p. 35.

"Far above the river winding,

"

From Bloomsburg

State College former

Alma Mater.
North Branch of Susquehanna River curving to enter the Cataioissa
Narrows.
The confluence of Fishing Creek with the River, concealed behind the
foliage in the lower left comer, was long considered to be at the southern
limit of the Connecticut Claim, and as such a significant landmark.
photo by author

CHAPTER

1

Pioneers and Indians in

Our Susquehanna

Conflicts

Valleys

and Their Causes

1768 was an important turning point in the
With the French rivals
having been previously defeated, these lands were now, by this purchase
from the Iroquois, brought under the rule of Pennsylvania authorities. In
this situation, the Indians, chiefly Delawares, but other small groups
also, were to move farther west, although they did not by any means all
do so at once. The fur traders were soon to follow the Indians, seeking
areas where fur-bearing animals had not been so nearly killed off. The
area became open to Pennsylvania settlers, or so it seemed at the time.
But actually, terrible events were in the making. Connecticut people laid
claim to the northern part of Pennsylvania and endeavored to settle it.

The Treaty

of Fort

Stanwix

in

history of our Central Susquehanna Valley lands.

Conflict with bloodshed resulted. Within seven years, the

War

of the

to break out. These two conflicts were intermingled and
both involved our region. And many Indians, bitter in being compelled
to leave lands previously awarded to them, fought against the settlers,
bringing destruction and loss of lives to these valleys. These struggles as
they affected our region will now be explained. We will look first at the

Revolution was

coming

of the pioneers.

Earh Explorations

in the

North Branch Country

Long before 1768, information about

the

Susquehanna lands had

been growing. Fur traders journeyed deep into the Indian Country. They
reached the Forks of the Susquehanna at an early date. Not many such
persons have left records, but James LeTort was an Indian trader inin this trade and was often used as an emissary to the Indians. The
following letter records some of his activities and gives more than a hint

volved

of events

on the then

distant frontier

among

the Indians.

Catawasse,

May

ye 12, 1728

We always thought the

Governor knew nothing of the fight between the Shawaynos and the White People. We desire the Governor to warn the back Inhabts not to be so ready to attack the
Indians, as we are Doubtful they were in that unhappy accedent,
and we will use all Endeavaurs to hender any Such Like Proceeding
on the part of the Indians. We remember very well the League between William Pen and the Indians, which was, that the Indians
and white people were one, and hopes that his Brother, the present
Governor, is of the same mind, and that the friendship was to continue for three Generations; and if the Indians hurt the English,
or the English hurt the Indians, itts the same as if they hurt themselves; as to the Governors Desire of meeting him, we Intend as
soon as the Chiefs of the Five Nations

we

will

Come with

them; but

if

they

Come

to

come not

meet the Governor,
before hereafter,

we

on the Governor. We have heard that
William Pen Son was come to Philada., which We was very
Glad of.
James Le Tort^
will to Philadelphia to wait

Conditions Before the Settlements

What

a glimpse this letter gives of conditions in our valleys

when they

were the "back" country. There were fights between the Indians and the
"back inhabts." Le Tort was writing to the Governor, reporting negotiations with the Indians as with a powerful nation, which they were, and
was being sent to them as an emissary. At this time when he was designated a fur trader, he was located in "Catawese" region. And how did
these people called "back inhabts" come to be inhabiting country still
acknowledged to belong to the Indians?
Early Explorations

and more, following this letter, travellers and
by Le Tort, continued to push their acyet unopened lands, including those later to become

In the forty years,

traders, such as those referred to
tivities into

these as

Columbia County. Missionaries visited various tribes, endeavoring to
convert them to Christianity, succeeding to some extent. Friendly Indians
acted as guides. The soldiers defending the frontier learned of these
lands. They must have told prospective settlers about them. The confluence of the North and West Branches of the Susquehanna, then called
Shamokin, was an increasingly important base of operations for all of
these elements, traders, Indian travellers, missionaries, and frontiersmen. Representatives of the Pennsylvania government journeyed to the
councils of the Indian overlords of this region. The Iroquois confederacy
in New York could, and undoubtedly did, give descriptions of these

lands, for this region

was

River was actually noted

in

of necessity traversed. Fishing Creek at the

some

of the journals, for

it

was

a well

known

landmark. These journeys and exploratory trips increased with the passing years. After these lands had been brought into full possession of the
Proprietors by purchase from the Indians, explorations and surveys were
commissioned. Some of these journeys will be told about as we get into
details of settlement.

Learning!,

Further

About

The Proprietors

the Frontier Lands

of Pennsylvania, the sons of William Penn,

earlier sent exploring parties into the region of the

"New

had

Purchase." Trips

must have been made by canoes up the larger streams, and overland with
pack horses at other places. Explorers went up Fishing Creek, passing
Knob Mountain into Huntington Creek. Catawissa Creek, as well as
lesser streams, must have been included. The falls and rapids of Roaring
Creek immediately above its confluence with the river, together with the
rugged country beyond, made access difficult so that its upper valleys to
the south must have been approached overland.^
Purchasing Land

When

the

Colonial Pennsylvania

in

King of England

Pennsylvania,

it

was

when

in

1681 gave William Penn the Charter of

debt owed
was an admiral in

in settlement of a

to Penn's father for ser-

the King's navy. Penn,
having received these lands, then expected to sell them to actual settlers.
Furthermore, Penn insisted on buying these lands from the Indians as
illustrated in the New Purchase, noted in the Prologue. To sell lands,
Penn and his sons set up a land office. Would-be settlers would be revices rendered

the latter

way where a section of land was located
one mile above the mouth of Fishing Creek. The
amount was expected to be about 300 acres. Such a location would have
been learned about by a trip to the desired land, or from travellers, exquired to find out in a general
as, for illustration,

plorers, fur traders, or soldiers, in their military expeditions.

On

the

would be filed. Then a survey
would be ordered. Now the purchase could be made at the rate of fifteen
pounds per three hundred acres. An annual quitrent payment of a penny
per acre, approximately two cents, was also required. This was when a
laboring man working by the year might earn fourteen to twenty pounds
with "meat, drink, washing and lodging." By the day he might earn the
equivalent of twenty or thirty cents of our current money.
basis of this information, an application

'^

The Surveyors and the Conditions under Which They Worked

The
the

early surveyors usually went out in the spring, staying through

summer. Their

duties were to survey the tracts of land

which had

been applied
of a

for.

chainman

to

The surveyor's party

consisted, in addition to himself,

measure distances with a marked chain, and a rod man
mark points as they were established, along with other

to hold a rod to
needed helpers. The surveyor himself used a sighting instrument to direct
the work of establishing the property lines. Occasionally a shelter might
be found, but usually it was necessary to set up a tent for sleeping. Here
also the surveyor made his calculations and prepared his maps. Food was
prepared from supplies carried with them, supplemented by fish or game
that might be secured. At earlier times, dangers included hostile Indians.
At later times, they might encounter unauthorized persons who had gone

into the wilds to make settlements. Such persons looked with hostility on
surveyors whose reports would show that they had no rights to the land

they were occupying. Wild animals might also be encountered, including
the dangers of the poisonous snakes.

We

in

our time can hardly realize

and dangers of the surveyors in the unmapped woodlands.
There were no roads, few paths. Settlements were few and far between,
many large areas with none at all.^
the hardships

Who Would Want
Cheap

Wilderness Lands and

lands, even

Why?

uncleared of their generally dense forest covering, attracted hundreds of pioneering people to the Susquehanna valleys,
if

was happening in 1768 and the following
Such pioneers came from Philadelphia and Southeastern Pennsylvania, from New Jersey, from Connecticut, and from the "old country",
as the home lands in Europe were called. American lands, previously
settled and subjected to the wasteful farming practices for fifty or seventy-five years, had become less productive. They could not support
adequately the families living on them. Often these lands were abandoned and their former occupants searched for new lands. The large families of those days resulted in further demand for unsettled lands when
the many sons and grandsons had grown up.^
as they did to other areas. This

years.

Causes for Immigration
Political

Europeans

many
was

oppression and economic hardships which

ship loads of immigrants to

easier

had caused

new colonies continued to cause
come to America in later years. Since it

to migrate earlier to the

and

less

expensive to acquire land under the Penns than

in

other colonies, a large share of the newcomers came to Pennsylvania.

Many having left

conditions of hardship in England, Germany, and elsewhere, were unable to pay the ship owners their passage money. These

people sold their services for a period of years to meet these obligations.

They were

called indentured servants* or redetnptioners. In effect, they

were slaves for a period of the agreement, usually averaging about four

numbers of farmers who got their start in
by being redemptioners, there were many skilled craftsmen, carpenters, masons, blacksmiths, and masters of other trades. All
would be needed on the frontier. A redemptioner, when his term of service was completed and he became fully free, would accummulate
savings from his wages or from what he might earn from his craft. With
these he would be able to buy lands that were opening on the frontier
from time to time.^
or five years. Besides the large
the

New World

The Speculators and the Sale of Lands
Observing the demand for frontier lands, wealthy people in Philadelsaw the opportunity for buying up frontier
lands and then selling them to the actual settler at markedly higher
prices. Such people are land speculators, at that time also called land
jobbers. Speculators had money of their own to use in speculation. The
Penns had intended to sell farm size plots of approximately 300 acres to
individuals who would themselves settle on the lands.** Speculators,
however, generally evaded these restrictions. A speculator would have
phia, as well as elsewhere,

members

of his family or his friends

buy additional

plots with

money

fur-

nished by him and then transfer the plots to him. In this or similar ways,

some cases, thousands.
more land was acquired than any one individual could pay
such cases money was borrowed.

speculators acquired hundreds of acres of land, in
In

many

for. In

cases

Financial Risks

The

large

amounts

of

money

required for such extensive purchases

were not the only expenses. Even before any prudent person would have
made a purchase, he would have explored the land after a long and expensive journey, or as was more often the case, he would have paid
others to make the explorations. After the purchases had been made,
there were other expenses due every year, the quitrents and the interest
on the borrowed money. These were small for one year, but accummulating year after year on unsold land, they became more and more
*The agreements for these terms of service were written in duplicate on one sheet of
paper and then cut or torn apart so that the edge was jagged or irregular, an indented
edge. The matching edges would show at a later time that the two sections were duplicate copies. Servants thus working under such an agreement were called indentured
servants. By working his full term, the agreement was redeemed arid the worker might
be called a redemptioner.

"This amount
on

would be about half of a square mile, or a square about .7 mile
might find it helpful to compare this amount of land with their

of land

a side. Students

school campus, or their father's farm.

EABLV

LA,N(7

TlTUCa.

W*^B.RA,NT DATtp Apr. 3. \^69 TO

Hester Ba^rton On

^ Ull '^AN

\79S Title pa, •SCO to AoR*^'-! Kline. Ora,n<;c Twp.
Vi'aw.r^nt DA,Tct> JuMt. n p^xtNTEPTo James Hfi Ci.urk..Sr. - BLoonsauao.
VVa,RR*,ht oA^rito Apr. 3 n&9 to John Spohn. Was
pa^tkntep FEB.,ne'»TO MiCMAEi- Bright l(S.ter
Aprii,!.!.

-

mz

T10

Leona^bp Rupert

-

Montour Twp.

flAI-IUtL BoONt C*vlne FROtl
Berks Co. TO Scott Twf» in

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auA,KKa

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or T«C BOONI.

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rNOIAN VILLASCS.
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LopachpitTon'i

Town. Conoj & Delaware,
village n2e-54.

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Dtflawara. villages.

roRTs.
Wheeler. BuilT In ills
bj Mo.5e4 Van Camperi.

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3- JanKins. BuilT in im.

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ORIGINAL TYfPa

BLOOM.
BRI»vR.

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mFFLlN.
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CHILUASOUAQUE

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OERRY

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IN
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nA^MONINO

XURBOT

The

L.

E.

X
Q

Wilt Historical

Used with Permission of

L. E.

Map

of Columbia County, 1941
by Edwin M. Barton, 1976

Wilt. Revised

Wilt Legend, Revised
Columbia County organized March 22, 1813
Name taken from Joseph Hopkinson's song. Hail Columbia, so popular
during War of 1812.
First settler, exclusive of squatters, probably John Eves, 1770, on Little
Fishing Creek.
Then followed Evan Owen, Thomas Clayton, John Doan, John
Webb, Peter Melick, George Espy; George Espy at or near confluence
of Fishing Creek and North Branch of Susquehanna River. At Catawissa or vicinity, Ellis Hughes. William Hughes laid out Catawissa,
first town, 1787. On or about same time, Evan Owen laid out
Berwick. Mifflinville, first known as "Mifflinsburg," laid out 1784.
Berwick settlements began about 1790 when Evan Owen took up residence there. Bloomsburg laid out 1802.
Oldest Church, Catawissa Friends Meeting House about 1788 or 1790.
First Iron Furnace erected by John Hauck in Maine Township, 1815, then
part of Catawissa

Township.

constructed at Catawissa, 1774.
Construction of North Branch Canal begun at Berwick, July 4,1826.
First child, it is claimed, was James McClure, Jr., born 1774.
Liberty, later Espy, laid out on or about 1800.
First mill

Additional Early Settlers
Isaac John 1772

Cornelius

VanCampen

1773

Samuel Hunter 1774
Alexander McCauley 1774
William Hughes 1774
George Espy 1775
Joseph Salmon 1775
Samuel Boone 1775
"

Michael Billhime 1775
Daniel Welliver 1775
Daniel McHenry 1783
John Cleaver 1783
Abram Kline 1785
Abraham Dodder 1786
Peter Brugler 1788

Leonard Rupert 1788
Peter Appleman 1790
Benjamin Coleman 1791
John Godhard 1792
William Hess 1792
Alexander Mears 1794
Lewis Schuyler 1794
John Brown 1795 purchased
John Lyon 1796
Ludwig Oyer (Eyer) c. 1796
Jonathan Colley 1796
Samuel Cherrington 1798
Jacob Lunger 1800
John Rhodeburger 1805
Abraham Whiteman 1805

lot

Sources, are primarily this L. E. Wilt Map. Revisions: John Brown settlement, Columbia County Deed Book; Ludwig Oyer (Eyer), Duy, Atlas of
Bloomsburg, p. 7

burdensome. Many prominent persons engaged in this speculation on the
whole national frontier, often with great success. Others were not so successful. Robert Morris and James Wilson, as examples, signers of the
Declaration of Independence and prominent statesmen in the founding of
our nation, both speculated in western lands, some in our area. Robert
Morris is noted in our county records as a one-time owner of extensive
lands in our general region, including some bordering Catawissa Creek.
James Wilson, similarly was involved in dealing of extensive acreages,
some along Fishing Creek, and along the river opposite Mifflinville.
Robert Morris died in financial ruin, having overextended his resources
in such speculations.^ Wilson was also in grave financial troubles from
similar causes at the time of his death. ^

Few

of the

first

purchasers actu-

on the frontier lands. They were usually speculators, hoping
make money by selling to actual settlers or to other speculators.

ally settled

to

Typical Procedures
In order that

we may understand more fully

these land speculators played in the opening
lands,
sell

let

the important part

up of the

us imagine a farmer in the Philadelphia region

his farm,

New

which

Purchase

who wanted

to

probably run down, and take up new lands on the frontier.

He had limited funds to pay for explorations. He had
money to use in applying for lands at the land office.

limited time

and

After applying a

was necessary until the land was surveyed and a report made. Finalmaking payment, a patent (certificate of ownership) would be
issued. The speculator had already taken care of all these necessary matters. He was able to tell about desirable lands and their locations, as, for
instance, at the mouth of a creek, at the site of an old Indian village, or
near some distinctive landmark, such as Catawissa Mountain. The settler
would be told to look for ax marks, called blazes, on trees, which would
mark boundaries.
wait

ly, after

Who Were

the First Settlers?

The Squatters

whom the surveyors
might encounter, as noted above? Were they the "back inhabts" mentioned earlier by Le Tort? From the very earliest times there were venturesome people unwilling to go through the legal proceedings of acquiring new land, or those unwilling to pay the fees, however modest compared with those fees charged in other colonies. They might, and often
did, take up land not yet purchased from the Indians. They constructed
Were

shelters,

the

first settlers

more or

less

the unauthorized persons

crude.

They

cleared

some land and put

in

some

crops. These were steps looking toward the establishing of permanent

homes. Such persons were called squatters. This practice prevailed in all
the English colonies and was widespread in Pennsylvania, including our
region. By 1726 it was estimated that two thirds of the 670,000 acres

(about 1,000 square miles) then settled, had been occupied by squatters.

Gradually, better buildings were constructed and more land cleared. In

some ways

the squatters looked forward to

nent and legal. In

many ways,

this is just

making their holdings permawhat happened. ^*^

This practice was highly objectionable to the Pennsylvania authori-

evaded the payment of the purchase price, and also the
was aroused when these settlements were made on land not yet purchased from the Indians. Pennsylvania repeatedly tried to prevent this practice, often by evicting the
squatters and burning their cabins. The squatters, after enduring dangers
of Indian attacks and the hard grueling work of bringing the wild forest
into the settled conditions of cleared fields and better homes, looked with
hostility on distant government or speculator who did nothing for the
frontier, or so he thought, and just wanted to collect money. More or less
vague references to nameless settlers indicate that this widespread practice must have been present in our area.^^
ties,

because

it

quitrents. Bitter hostility of the Indians

Some Views

of

Our Region

at the

Beginning of Settlements

August, 1770, Benjamin Lightfoot, an experienced surveyor and
explorer, journeyed to "Tankhanninck" to view some large pine trees
suitable for ship masts. In this journey he noted passing and camping on
"Pepomaytank Creek" (Koaring Creek). He wrote that the "east" branch
of Susquehanna at Catawissa was "the most beautiful river" he ever saw.
In fording the river, he found the water "scarce belly deep on our
horses." The party camped at "Caunshanank", i.e.. Briar Creek, and
noted passing the mouth of "Nesquaspeck" creek and also the "Falls
which are now rapid and narrow but hardly perceivable at the time of
In

Freshes."

One

of the party stopped at a certain "McClures", which,

from the

means near the mouth of Fishing Creek. He noted further, "From
the mouth of Fishing Creek to this place is a Connecticut Township
which they endeavor to lay out 5 miles square and each (with) lots 32
context

(.1 mile). We observed as we rode up ye many trees
marked, as we supposed with numbers of Lotts and several settlements
along ye river, chiefly Germans. "^^

perches wide

How

Did

It

Come About

That There

Was

a Connecticut

Township

in

Pennsylvania?

Over a century earlier, 1662, there were no settlers in the valley of the
Susquehanna. In fact it was when there were only a few scattered settlements along the whole Atlantic coast and there was little knowledge of
the geography of North America. This was when the King of England
granted land to Connecticut with boundaries extending westward to the
South Sea, which then meant the Pacific Ocean. It also meant, as was
9

later, that this grant would extend through large parts
what were to be New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Twenty
years later came the King's grant to William Penn, to which grant the
Connecticut people made no objection.

only to be realized

of

The Urge of Connecticut Farmers

By

to

Migrate

the 1760's, after almost a century of occupation, the lands of

Conwere getting crowded from increasing population and the soil
was becoming exhausted under the wasteful farming practices of the
time. To attempt to take up lands in the strong and well established colonies of New York or New Jersey was not feasible, but there were the
lands of the Susquehanna valleys with the reports of their beauty and fertility. They were due west and well within the original grant to Connecticut, and they were almost as close to Connecticut as they were to the setnecticut

Pennsylvania in the Philadelphia region. Some Connecticut
undoubtedly speculators, organized the Susquehanna Land
Company of Connecticut. Surveyors were sent out to survey town sites,
which were to be five miles square. This whole area of northeastern
Pennsylvania was made the Town of Westmoreland, of the Connecticut
county of Litchfield. It extended as far south as the mouth of Fishing
Creek and included the site of Bloomsburg. Almost immediately after
tled parts of

people,

this,

1760, the Connecticut

make

settlements in

Company

started to attract settlers

and

to

Wyoming. ^-^

Indian Opposition

There was opposition, however, from both the Indians and from
tell about the Indians first. The Delawares, after a
number of successive sales of lands to the whites, were successively compelled to move, each time farther west. At this time they had been
assigned to live on the highly desirable Wyoming lands. When the Connecticut settlers, ignoring this arrangement, attempted to settle there in
violation of this plan, the Delawares were embittered. They attacked the
Wyoming settlers and wiped out the settlements. Many of the settlers
were killed, some with cruel tortures. Others were taken captive. The remainder fled back to Connecticut.^^
Pennsylvania. Let us

Opposition from Pennsylvania
After 1768, there

was renewed interest in
and Connecticut.

part of both Pennsylvania

the

Wyoming

Settlers

Valley on the

came. Pennsylvania

assume control, but were resisted by the settlers
from Connecticut. The region was too distant from Philadelphia or Lanauthorities attempted to

caster for regulation of the settlements or for conducting relations with

the Indians, as well as for resistance to the Connecticut intrusions.
settlers

10

The

needed a nearer county seat than Reading, the county seat of

Berks, of which our county
land,

was

was then

established in 1772.15

It

a part.

A new county,

Northumber-

included an enormous extent of land,

from the forks of the North and East branches of the Susquehanna River
and far beyond. The county seat was placed at the "Forks", but the name
was changed from Shamokin to Sunbury.*

Armed Conflict
Armed conflict

with bloodshed broke out between the Pennsylvania
and the Connecticut settlers, called Yankees.
These conflicts on the eastern borders of our county make a story too
long for our history. At the outbreak of the Revolution, both factions
forces, called Pennamites,

were ordered to
ence. ^^

A

desist

and

join the

common

effort to secure

special court held at Trenton, in 1782,

territory to Pennsylvania.

The

awarded

independ-

the disputed

conflicting claims of settlers for land plots

were not settled till 1802. The Connecticut settlers generally had their
claims confirmed while those from Pennsylvania were paid money for
their claims.

Results

The

hostility

aroused between the two

sets of settlers in this conflict

many years. Another of the results was that four or five thousand settlers were brought to Wyoming and neighboring regions. These
lasted for

people were to help build up the upper Susquehanna Valleys. These settlers were mostly Connecticut people, although many were from New
York, New Jersey, and elsewhere. That some settlers were attracted even

from Pennsylvania

is

some

of

them

Branch Country.

The

of special significance to us, because

helped establish Bloomsburg.^'^
Beginnings of the Scotch-Irish

in

the North

Conestoga Outrage

The

on the American frontier, were genermaking settlements on the frontier.
Many of them, for this reason, were squatters. And because so many of
them were also far out on the frontiers, they were the victims of the
ally

Scotch-Irish, as elsewhere

among

the advanced groups

*The earlier name, Shamokin, was, at a later time, adopted by the coal mining town,
up the Shamokin Creek. Salem township, a township of Luzerne County, on our
eastern border is named after the town of Salem in Connecticut, Munsell, History of
Luzerne, Lackawanna and Wyoming Counties... etc. p. 324. Huntington township
and Huntington Mills, in neighboring Luzerne County, and Huntington Mountain
and Creek, both partly in both Columbia and Luzerne Counties, carry the name of a
distinguished Connecticut statesman and patriot, Samuel Huntington, who was at one
time or another, governor of Connecticut, signer of the Declaration of Independence,
and the President of the Continental Congress.
Long lasting hostility was aroused between the two sets of settlers. See testimony of
Fithian, quoted in Northumberland Proceedings, II, p. 6; Godcharles Chronicles of
far

Pa., pp. 673-675; 903-907.

11

Indian attacks following the outbreak of Pontiac's War. In Lancaster
County, to the southeast, it was claimed on doubtful evidence, that a
small group of Conestoga Indians, the last surviving remnant of the Sus-

quehannocks,

was

who were

living peaceably,

were giving information that
and that they were

helpful to those Indians "on the warpath,"

harboring Indians

who had been guilty of participating in massacres. The

Scotch-Irish groups appealed to the Proprietors, the Penns,

and

to the

Assembly, for protection against the Indian attacks. They also appealed
for the punishment of the perpetrators among the Indians, especially
those alleged to have taken refuge among the Conestogas. A group of
these Scotch-Irish, called the Paxtang Boys,* impatient with the slow
moving government, took laws into their own hands and advanced
against the Conestogas with the intention of seizing the suspects, 1763.
When the Indians made, or seemed to make, a show of resistance, they
were attacked and the whole community was eventually massacred. ^^

The Lancastrian Migration

to

Wyoming and James McClure

Included

This outrage aroused the authorities to make an attempt at punishment of its perpetrators, an attempt that was unsuccessful. The attempt,
however, seemed to confirm the feeling of these frontier elements that the

would not protect

authorities

As

a result,

and throw

many

settlers

in their lot

the frontiers against the Indian outrages.
decided to organize a migration to Wyoming

with the Connecticut

May

settlers.

A report

by

a mili-

found
James McClure along the river above the mouth of Fishing Creek.
McClure stated, according to this report, that he was a member of a
party of five, the advance party of a group of one hundred on the way to
join the Connecticut settlement at Wyoming, and that they were chiefly
from Lancaster County. ^^
tary representative of the Penns,

12, 1769, noted that he

McClure's Settlement at Fishing Creek

was Lazarus Stewart, who had married the daughter of
Her sister was the wife
of James McClure. This relationship between these two brothers-in-law,
Stewart and McClure, may help to explain McClure's association with
this Connecticut movement; also his taking up of land in the neighborhood of Fishing Creek, but under Connecticut's claim for its control. In

The

leader

Josiah Espy, another Lancaster county resident.

1769, McClure's settling there would, under Pennsylvania's laws, have

made him

a squatter. Three years later as the opposition on the part of
Pennsylvania to these Connecticut settlements became stronger and
stronger, McClure completed his purchase under Pennsylvania law. He

*Also written Paxton.

12

bought from Francis Stewart, almost surely a speculator, but no relation
to Lazarus Stewart.
This property, first occupied as a Connecticut tract had been named
Beauchatnp (Beautiful Field), but when purchased from Stewart, was
named McClure's Choice. McClure soon built a log cabin. In this log
cabin in 1774, was born James McClure, Jr., claimed to be the first white
child born in the area between the North and West Branches of the Susquehanna. McClure became a vigorous leader in the defense of this outpost of civilization until his death. ^ It was about this same time that
Espy completed his land purchase, farther up the river and also under
Pennsylvania authority. We can only infer that, as the steps taken by the
Pennsylvania government to oppose the Connecticut intrusion became
more and more determined, McClure and Espy both decided that it
would be more prudent to accept Pennsylvania's jurisdiction. ^^ They
then both purchased these lands under Pennsylvania law. Within a few
years more settlers came, joining the scattered neighborhood of those
who had previously arrived. Some others were Quakers, who will be
taken up

later.

Catawissa

Down

the river a mile or so from the

south bank at the

among our

mouth

earliest records.

mouth

of Fishing Creek on the

of the Catawissa Creek
It

was

was a place noted
by the grandeur

further distinguished

of Catawissa Mountain in the background. It had long been the site of an
Indian village or a succession of Indian villages. The name Catawissa,

was used by

the various tribes of Indians that had occupied
name, under different renderings as the Indian
sounds were recorded in English, always meant pure water. This village

apparently,

the general area. This

was

the last Indian settlement at this site.^^

The Coming of the Quakers

to the

North Branch Region

Fur traders were at Catawissa as early as 1728 when Le Tort, himself
a fur trader, wrote from Catawissa region and referred to the "back
inhabts."^ According to family tradition, a German immigrant named
Hartman was living in this area on land he had taken up, which prob-

ably means that he was a squatter, as early as 1760.^
Lightfoot, in his report of 1770, mentioned securing ferry service

and

the rental of a horse from persons at Catawissa. Ellis Hughes, a former

Quaker,

who would soon renew

member

of Lightfoot's party. ^^

amounts of land

in the

his allegiance to the

He was soon

Quakers, was a

to be purchasing large

Catawissa region and became a

settler himself.^''

The Leadership of Moses Roberts

Moses Roberts was one of his purchasers. Roberts was a young and
Quaker who had won respect as a leader among his neighbors at

able

13

Oley, near Reading. This record led the Governor to select him to investigate a situation on the West Branch where a speculator was suspected of
having taken up land illegally. The difficult journey and its mission, also

were carried through successfully with the result that the specuto vacate the land that he had taken up illegally. For
important because it brings Moses Roberts to our attention as one

difficult,

lator

us

was compelled

it is

of the important founders of Catawissa. In his journal, Roberts wrote, in
part:

"And when we came

to the inhabitants of the

New

Purchase,

I

lamented the loose and unreligious lives and conversation of the people.
Yet there was something that attracted my mind to that country.... and
sometime after I returned home, I felt a drawing of love in my heart to
visit some friendly people about Catawesey, and to have a meeting
amongst them for the worship of God...". It is to be noted that he
reports people already at Catawissa, but also notes their "loose

and un-

Hughes, was
able to persuade a dozen or so families from Maiden Creek and Exeter in
Berks County to settle in the Catawissa region. Their route would have
been from Reading to Harrisburg. From there they ascended the Susquereligious lives." Roberts, joining his influence with that of

hanna River

in

boats to the

mouth

of Fishing Creek.

recorded as having built the first permanent residence,
almost certainly of logs, in 1775. ^^ Here in this house was held the first
Quaker Meetings in Central Pennsylvania.^ Application to hold an

Roberts

is

"Independent Monthly Meeting"* was made, but was not granted until
1796.31

Quakers on

Little

Fishing Creek

John Eves was a Quaker, born in Ireland, who migrated to America
in 1738. He settled at Mill Creek, near Newcastle, in Delaware. He early
won respect from his neighbors and was chosen for several offices, in
which he showed great ability. According to family traditions, he journeyed to Little Fishing Creek in 1769. Having come up the West Branch

no one was able to
him to the land of the McMeans, for which he was looking.
Finally, two Indians guided him along the trail between Great Island, on
the West Branch, and Nescopeck on the North Branch, a trail which led
to a small settlement near the present site of Milton,

direct

through the valley of the Chillisquaque. When he reached the high hill
overlooking modern Millville, now called Fairview, Eves recognized the
land that had been described to him. After examining the timber and the
soil, he returned to his Delaware home. The next summer he returned
with his oldest son, and together they built a log cabin. In the third sum*In Quaker usage, "Meeting" is equivalent to church service. In another usage, it
means an approved organization. As another denomination would say, the Catawissa
Church, the Quakers would say, "Catawissa Meeting."

14

mer, 1772, he brought his family. At this time he did not

own

the land

and would, therefore, have been a squatter. There must have been, however, an understanding with Reuben Haines, a prosperous Philadelphia
brewer and land speculator, the then owner of extensive lands, including
this tract. In 1774, Eves purchased 1200 acres of land from Haines. ^^ This
area took in the site of present Millville and much surrounding territory,
almost two square miles. ^-^

when

came to be used in
was before the Revohition. Several settlers are recorded as having lived in their wagons
through one or more winters. The author has seen old wagons of this

Just

our area

is

the covered wagons, Conestoga wagons,

unknown, but

references suggest that

it

type, but not as large as the big freighter pictured. These could

have been

pulled by two-horse teams or a team of two oxen.
William H. Shank, Indian Trails to Super Highways, p. 31, with permission of the
author.

Conditions on the Eve of the Revolution
In the six years,

more or

less,

following the

New

Purchase, a land

rush brought beginnings of settlements to widely separated places. At the

mouth

of Catawissa Creek

we can

picture Ellis

Hughes and Moses

Roberts with the Quaker families they had induced to join those already
there, along with an Indian village newly established. Some of the

Quakers were

to

be found

in the

south in Roaring Creek valley.-^ Ac-

cording to a family tradition, a man named Hartman had been living in
the region as early as 1760.^^ He apparently won the friendship of the
Indians by tanning hides for them. Warrants for surveys in this valley
had been issued at almost the earliest possible time, in 1769. Samuel
Hunter purchased a farm in this valley in 1774.^ Up the Catawissa
Creek, near Mainville Gap, Isaac John had settled in 1772. Still farther up
the creek, Alexander McCauley had settled in 1773, with a result that his
name came to be attached to the sharp ridge in that area. Along the

15

River, up stream from its confluence with Fishing Creek, were the Boone,
McClure, Doan and Kinney famihes.^'' Farther up the river, a traveler
would have found the Peter Melick family, settlers from New Jersey, and
on farther were the Bright, Brittain, Creveling, Henrie, Leidle, and Webb
families.-^ A "compact settlement" in Fishing Creek valley, two or three
miles above its mouth, could not have been very compact for our times,
but it was so reported. -^^ A short distance to the east, in an area later to
be known as Cabin Run, the Aikmans, Solomons, and VanCampens
were to establish homes in 1777. They would find some nameless settlers
already there. '*^ Also, at least one nameless family in the vicinity had settled prior to 1780. Far up Little Fishing Creek, we have noted the arrival
of John Eves and family.'*^ The Whitmoyer, Billhime, and Welliver families were to come and settle to the east about 1775 at the headwaters of
the Chillisquaque Creek. '^^

There is evidence of keen interest in other areas. Explorers must have
been ranging widely to make possible the extensive purchases by num-

One such speculator, Benjamin Chew of Philadelphia,
purchased approximately 2,000 acres in the Greenwood Valley.*^ In
1769, over a thousand acres of land "eight or ten miles north of 'Fishing
Creek Mountain,' meaning Knob Mountain, were surveyed and given
erous speculators.

the

name

of 'Putney

Common'."^

The American Revolution Occurred
1765 Stamp Act passed by Parliament
Mother Country started

of Great Britain, quarrel with

April 19, 1775, the Battles of Lexington and Concord marked the
opening of our Revolutionary War for Independence
July 4, 1776, our Declaration of Independence
1778 the Battle of Wyoming and the Great Runaway
1781 General Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown
1783 Peace was secured and our Independence acknowledged

The Developing Quarrel With the Mother Country

The decade between 1765 and 1775 was when the friction arose between England and her American colonies, which was to result in our
War for Independence. The progress of this dispute does not seem to
have aroused much attention in the remote valleys of Roaring Creek or
Fishing Creek. Settlers continued to come, as elsewhere, to Cabin Run,
or to the headwaters of Chillisquaque Creek, or to the foot of Knob
Mountain. With the outbreak of the War, a "Committee of Safety" was
set up for all of Northumberland County, of which we were then a part.
16

Our

region, then a part of

Wyoming Township, was represented on this
settlers, Thomas Clayton, James

committee by three of our nearby
McClure, and Peter Melick.

Despite these evidences of developing conflict, settlers continued to
come, as we have noted elsewhere, to our remote valleys. At this point,
we need to learn of the developments that were to bring the war to our
region.

1.

2.

3.

4.
5.

6.

Minutes of the Executive Council, Pennsylvania Archives, I., p. 216.
In 1737 Conrad Weiser, the great Indian interpreter and official emissary to the
Indians, passed through our area on a return trip from the Iroquois of New York.
Here he found five men, two traders and others, seeking land. He also reported a
large body of land "the like of which is not to be found on the river." Munsell,
History of Luzerne Lackawanna and Wyoming Counties, p. 31, citing Weiser's
Journal of April 26. Missionary activity of a number of missionaries is well summarized in the reference, Munsell, op. cit., p. 32. David Brainerd, one of these
missionaries, preached at an Indian village of "12 houses at Opeholhaupung"
(Wapwallopen), 1744, op. cit., p. 32; Dwight, ed., Memoirs of Rev. David
Brainerd Among the Indians, p. 163.
Travel conditions: Wallace, Indian Paths of Pennsylvania, pp. 1-5; Lightfoot,
"Benjamin Lightfoot and His Account of an Expedition to Tankhannick,'
Northumberland Proceedings, IX, p. 171.
Dunaway, History of Pennsylvania, land prices, p. 205, wages, p. 210.
Gearhart, "William Maclay, the Surveyor," article in Northumberland Proceedings, IX, pp. 20-43. See also the work of the surveyors in establishing the Mason
and Dixon's Line, Bates„ Hisfory of Pennsylvania, pp. 95-97; Godcharles, Daily
Stories, p. 919. A full account of a surveyor's trip into the wilds in 1770 is given
in text of Benjamin's Lightfoot's, "Notes of the Expedition to Tankhannock,' " in
the year 1770 in Lightfoot, op. cit., pp. 177-186. See also, Trescott's article #5, p.
23 of Catawissa Items, in W.P.A. papers #5, 'The Early Surveys Within the
Forks of the Susquehanna;" Hubbard, Moses VanCampen, pp. 281-282.
On pioneer farming and its wasteful practices: Clark, William, Farms and
Farmers, pp. 57-58; Dunaway, op. cit., Ch. XI; Fletcher, Pennsylvania
Agriculture, 1640-1840, pp. 145-146; Schmidt, Rural Hunterdon. (N.J.), pp.
76-77.

7.

Many

standard histories explain the importance of indentured servants. See
Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, pp. 60-61;
Clark, Chester, "Pioneer Life in the New Purchase," Northumberland ProceedBattle, History of

Dunaway, op. cit., pp. 67, 206-207; Fletcher, op. cit., pp. 110113. Also consult a United States History textbook.
Morris' holdings are recorded in Columbia County Deed Book, I, p. 475 ff;
Wilson's, idem, p. 205; Battle, op. cit., p. 216.
Useful references on the demand for western lands in this early period, also on the
speculators and the types of settlers: Dunaway, op. cit., Chs. X, XI; Clark, William, op. cit., Ch. IV, VI; Retcher, op. cit., pp. 59-60. For a detailed view of the
ings. VII, p. 26.

8.

9.

land speculator see, T. Kenneth Wood, "History of the Making of
West Branch-The Story of Samuel Wallis" in Northumberland Proceedings,
pp. 56-60. A whole tract of land west of Fishing Creek from its source to its
mouth was ordered surveyed in 1769. Gearhart, op. cit., p. 26.
Ballagh, James C, The Land System, American Historical Association Reports,
1877, pp. 112-113. Quoted by Fletcher, 1740-1840, op. cit., p. 20-24. Clark,
activities of a

the

10.

11.
12.

William, op. cit., pp. 73-75.
Clark, idem.; Dunaway, op. cit., pp. 95-96; Fletcher, op. cit., pp. 20-24. Also
recall LeTort's letter, quoted above; Godcharles, op. cit., pp. 773-774.
Lightfoot, op. cit., pp. 177-181. These settlements must have been by squatters.

17

13.

Dunaway,

14.

Deans, "Migration of the Connecticut Yankees to the West Branch," p. 38. Wallace, Indians in Pennsylvania, pp. 153-157; Battle, op. cit., p. 42.
Clark, Pioneer Life in the New Purchase, pp. 30-32. Godcharles, Chronicles of
Pennsylvania, III, pp. 229-238.
Long lasting hostility was aroused between the two sets of settlers. See testimony
of Fithian, quoted in Northumberland Proceedings, II, p. 6; Godcharles, Chronicles of Pennsylvania, pp. 673-675; 903-907.
For fuller accounts of these serious conflicts, consult Brewsters, Pennsylvania and
New York Frontier, Ch. 23; Dunaway, op. cit., pp. 131-137.
Brewster, op. cit., Ch. XVIII, pp. 127 ff; Dunaway, op. cit., pp. 114-115;
Wallace, op. cit., pp. 152-153.
Colonial Records, IX, pp. 583-584. Freeze, History of Columbia County, pp.

15.
16.

17.

18.
19.

op.

cit.,

pp. 131-132.

37-38.
21.

Hubbard, op. cit., p. 28.
References on McClure's decision. Battle, idem; Columbia County Register of
Deeds, Deed Book I, pp. 2, 4. References on Espy, Battle, op. cit., p. 187; Deed

22.

Battle, op. cit., p. 152.

23.

p. 179; Freeze, op. cit., pp. 37-38.
Battle, op. cit., pp. 270-273.

20.

Battle, op. cit., pp. 151-152;

Book

II.

p. 44.

Also refer to Lightfoot, Northumberland Proceedings, IX,

24.

Battle, op. cit., p. 270.

25.

Battle, op. cit., p. 401.

26.

Lightfoot, op.

27.

Eshelman, History of Catawissa Friends' Meeting,
185; Theiss,

cit., p.

"How

177.

the

Quakers Came

p. 6; Lightfoot, op. cit., p.

to Central Pennsylvania,"

Northumber-

38.

land Proceedings, XXI, p. 69.
Eshelman, op. cit., p. 8; Rhoads, History of Catawissa and Roaring Creek
Quaker Meetings, p. 15; Theiss, op. cit., pp. b7-7Q.
Eshelman, op. cit., p. 6; Theiss, op. cit., p. 69.
Rhoads, op. cit., p. 22; Eshelman, op. cit., pp. 4-5.
Rhoads, op. cit., p. 59; Eshelman, op. cit., pp. 4-5.
Battle, op. cit., p. 234.
Battle, op. cit., pp. 234-235; Gearhart, "Reuben Haines, Proprietor of Northumberland," Northumberland Proceedings, XI, pp. 67-94. This reference gives a
picture of the land speculators operating here and elsewhere in the New Purchase.
Eves paid 145 pounds for 1200 acres, which is at the rate of approximately twelve
pounds per hundred acres. At the prevailing rates, the land would have cost five
pounds per hundred acres when purchased from the Penns, the Proprietors.
Battle, op. cit., p. 273.
Battle, op. cit., p. 401.
Battle, op. cit., pp. 301, 299.
Battle, op. cit., p. 152.
Battle, op. cit., p. 185.

39.

Montgomery,

40.
41.

Battle, op. cit., p. 207.
Battle, op. cit., p. 234.

42.

Battle, op. cit., p. 264.

43.

Battle, op. cit., p. 234.
Battle, op. cit., p. 231,

28.
29.
30.

31.
32.
33.

34.
35.

36.
37.

44.

18

Frontier Forts,

I,

NOTE.

p. 369.

CHAPTER

2

The Revolution The Opening Years

At First the Revolution had Little Effect on the Frontiers
The outbreak of the Revolution was marked with fighting around Boston
and in New England through 1775. Then in 1776 the New York and lower
Hudson River valleys were attacked. The Patriot forces were defeated
and compelled to flee across New Jersey and take refuge beyond the
Delaware River in Pennsylvania. This situation prepared the way for
Washington to take tKe offensive, win the victories of Trenton and
Princeton at the close of the year, and recover parts of New Jersey. The
year 1777 was marked by attempts of the British to divide the northern
from the southern States by driving a line through them at the center,
chiefly through New York. Philadelphia was captured which required the
United States to move its capitol from that city to Lancaster, then across
the Susquehanna River to York. The attempt to drive a dividing line
through New York was defeated, chiefly at Saratoga at the lower end of
Lake Champlain, but also just north of the Susquehanna lands in New
York's

Mohawk

Which Side

River Valley.

in the

Revolution

With the outbreak of

Would

the Indians

Take?

the Revolution, the British solicited the help of

Americans tried to keep
them neutral. The British were able to argue that the Americans were few
in comparison with the British whose numbers were as the sands of the
lake shore; that their disobedience to the King deserved punishment from
both whites and Indians; that the King was rich and would reward them;
that his supply of rum was as plentiful as the water of Lake Ontario; that
if the Indians assisted they would never lack for money or goods. ^ Each
of the Indian chiefs was presented with a suit of clothes, a brass kettle, a
gun, a tomahawk, scalping knife, gun powder and lead for bullets, and a
piece of gold.^ A bounty was also promised for each scalp.
the powerful Iroquois Confederation, while the

-^

19

Four of the "nations," the Mohawks, Onondagas, Cayugas, and
Senecas, together with two of the Iroquois subject tribes, the Delawares
British. After the Americans secured the
French AlHance, the hostihty of the Iroquois was intensified on account

and Shawnees, declared for the

their long-standing enmity for the French. The Shawnees and
Delawares remembered, with bitterness, their loss of the Susquehanna
lands after they had been assigned to them. These disgruntled tribes
probably hoped to recover them.'* Two of the Iroquois "nations," the
Tuscaroras and Oneidas, decided for the "Thirteen Fires," as the Americans were called. This action broke up the unity of the Iroquois
Confederacy.^

of

The Coming of the War

to the

Susquehanna Region: The

First

Attacks

Early in 1778, information reached the Susquehanna regions of forces

being collected in

New York for an attack.^ The western

part of the State

blows, to be followed by attacks in the West Branch
region and then on the North Branch. These came in the form of attacks
on isolated homesteads, shooting of farmers in their fields, or of small
received the

first

parties of Indians

waylaying

travellers.

Victims were killed and scalped.

Prisoners were taken into captivity. Buildings were burned. In their hasty
"hit

and run"

tactics,

crops were often

left.^

Fort Freeland was built in the summer of 1778 on Warrior Run, about
four miles from modern Watsontoivn. To enclose its half acre area, over
five hundred feet of closely set palisades, twelve feet high were required.
It

was

built

around a

large two-story log house. Fort Jenkins

resembled Fort Freeland.
Meginnis, Otzinachson, p. 611.

20

probably

The Coming of the War

to the

Susquehanna Region: Forts Constructed

The first years of the Revolution passed with no attacks in the Susquehanna regions. Then in the spring of 1778, Joseph Salmon's cabin was
burned at Cabin Run. He was able to persuade the Indians to liberate his
wife and infant on his promise of accompanying them as a prisoner.
After a year's captivity, he was released.^
Preparations were already underway to protect the settlers beginning
about 1777 when the Indian attacks began. Forts were strengthened and

new ones

built.

In

our region, Fort Augusta,

viously at Sunbury,

was strengthened.

Bosley's Mills, near

modem

built

twenty years pre-

Wyoming

region and
on the West Branch were also constructed. In our immediate region were
Forts in the

Washingtonville, at the Forks of the Chilli-

squaque Creek;^ Fort Montgomery, also called Fort Rice;^^ and Fort
Freeland, on Warrior Run, about four miles east of Watsontown.^^ Fort
Jenkins was erected probably in the winter of 1777-1778. A former Philadelphia merchant named Jenkins had previously settled and erected his
house near the river a short distance below the mouth of Briar Creek.
Several families, mostly now nameless, lived near by. The Jenkins homestead was surrounded by a stockade twelve feet high enclosing an area
sixty by eighty feet, including the house, possibly a second building and
shelter for a garrison of thirty and along with neighboring families. *^2

Moses VanCampen

The construction of the next fort introduces Moses VanCampen
whose military career is closely interwoven with the Revolutionary War
in the upper Susquehanna valleys. He was also an excellent example of
the indomitable soldiers and leaders in the frontier defense.
Moses VanCampen was bom January 21, 1757, in Hunterdon
County, N.J., near the Delaware River. His father, Cornelius VanCampen, like very many New Jersey people, became interested in the
Susquehanna lands of Pennsylvania, which were made available by the

New

Purchase of 1768. He first purchased in the Wyoming region, but
when he learned of the threats of violence between the
Pennsylvania and Connecticut settlers. He then purchased land on Fishing Creek about eight miles above its mouth, and moved there with his

sold his holding

family in 1773.13
Early Training and Experience
Cornelius' son, Moses, secured training in both navigation and sur-

veying, and also wide experience in hunting and other forms of outdoor
life.l'*

When grown

to

about five

feet, ten inches,

he had developed a

*The site of this fort is now occupied by a farm house and is marked with a monument. It is just west of northern approach to the Interstate 80 bridge across the river

from

Mifflinville.

21

powerful physique and a constitution able to endure hardship, along
with a quickness of intellect. ^^ At the time of his appointment, he had
gained some military experience in participating in an unsuccessful
attempt to drive out the Connecticut settlers from Wyoming, 1775. ^^

When

news of the opening of hostilities at Lexington, Concord, and
had been spread through the country and the efforts to enlist
soldiers had followed, VanCampen joined the Continental army as
ensign. James McClure, a local leader, knowing his experience, training,
and abilities, represented to him the need of soldiers to protect the
frontier.* He persuaded VanCampen to resign his commission and join
the militia and protect the home area.^^ He first saw service under this
enlistment on the West Branch of the Susquehanna at Reid's Fort, just
below Great Island (near modern Lock Haven).
the

Bunker

Hill

Fort Wheeler Built

Early in 1778, the Commandant for the military district of the upper
Susquehanna region. Colonel Samuel Hunter, transferred VanCampen,
now twenty-one years of age and a lieutenant. He ordered him to lead a
detail of twenty young soldiers to the mouth of Fishing Creek and then
follow up the stream three miles to a compact settlement located in that
region and there build a fort for the reception of the inhabitants in case of
an attack from the Indians. ^^
It was under these circumstances that VanCampen with his detail of
soldiers, early in April, took up the problem of a fortification for this
"compact" group of settlers. We do not know how many, but it must
have been enough to ju,stify such an undertaking. We know that the
Salmons, the Aikmans, the VanCampens and the Wheelers were there. ^^
The farm house of Isaiah Wheeler was chosen for fortifying. They
worked with a will, and most probably had the help of the men of the
settlement. Having started in April, the premises were converted into a
defensible fortification before the end of May. From available information, the house was surrounded by a barricade able to accommodate
the entire population of the settlement.** At a distance of about four

*James McClure was appointed to the Committee of Safety for Wyoming Township
1776 and 1777. His advice would undoubtedly have been influential with VanCampen, not yet twenty years of age. McClure died early in the war. Carter, "Committee of Safety for Northumberland County," Northumberland Proceedings, XVIII,
in

p. 45.

**The garrison was later withdrawn from Fort Wheeler after which it was garrisoned
by men from the neighborhood. Fort Wheeler was never captured and endured as a
protection of the neighborhood till the end of the war in 1783, Frontier Forts, p. 371. It
was persistently called the mud fort, because, as one authority says, the logs were
chinked with mud. This chinking could very well been added later after the first
urgency of securing a basic fortification had been fulfilled, possible with wattle.
Battle,

22

idem.

feet) from the house, a barricade of sharpened stakes
was constructed. Branches stuck in the ground were interwoven. The
whole formed an almost impenetrable barrier. ^^

perches (sixty-six

First

Attack on Fort Wheeler

Barely was the construction of the fort sufficiently far advanced to

make
to

it defensible when one of the scouts sent out, came in in great haste
announce the advance of a large war party of Indians. VanCampen

quickly posted his

men

in

defense while the settlers scrambled to the fort

with what few necessaries they could grab. The besiegers, thwarted

in

attempted surprise, plundered the dwellings and other buildings and
burned them. Unwilling to venture storming the fort, they kept a brisk
their

rifle

from sheltering

The

returned.

low when darkness ended the

Two
siegers'

The

trees at a distance until nightfall.

defenders' supplies of

powder and

bullets

fire

was

were becoming

firing. ^^

VanCampen's men* volunteered to sneak through the belines for help. Under the cover of darkness, these two courageous
of

men were

able to

make

their

way through

the lines, across the eight miles

of largely wild country to Fort Jenkins; secure replenishing

and carry

this

heavy burden back

ammunition;
and in time

to the fort before daylight

for the defenders to melt the lead into bullets in preparation for attack.

The Indians apparently had had enough and had decamped shortly after
nightfall, for, with the coming of morning, they had disappeared, leaving blood stains on the ground. ^^

Second Attack on Fort Wheeler

Again in June, a sentinel informed VanCampen of suspicious movements in some bushes. The Lieutenant's suspicions were aroused that an
attack

by

was impending. He, with

a slight rise of ground, crept

number

of

women

milking cows

ten of his best sharpshooters, concealed

between the advancing
in their special

stalkers

stockade.

and

a

VanCampen

gave the signal by firing and killing one of the Indians, who happened to
be their leader. The rest fled in panic from the riflemen's volley, which
apparently found no further targets. The sudden and unannounced firing
so close-by produced consternation

women and cows fled in a wild
overturned

pails,

and of

among

spilled milk.

*One was named Henry McHenry,

the milkers

and milked. The

confusion of screaming and bellowing, of

Although

the other

name

is

it

came

unknown.

to be a matter of

Battle, op. cit., p.

185.

23

laughter afterwards,

and

girls

it

was no joke

at the time, especially for the

women

trembling with fright. *^^

Tories in our Region

We digress slightly from our general narrative to recount VanCampen's next adventure. This arose out of conditions confronting the
frontier rangers, such as VanCampen. Colonel Hunter ordered him to
take a detail of

doned
not

men

to arrest three

known

Tories dwelling in an aban-

cabin in a wild section of the forest (the exact location canbe identified). VanCampen's party approached the cabin, after

settler's

now

all night, in the hopes of surprising the occupants. They were
discovered and the inmates defied VanCampen's party with threats to
blow out their brains if they advanced. Despite this threat, the door was

traveling

forced by battering
to permit entry,

aside a

rifle

open with

a log.

rushed

When

in,

and

the door yielded sufficient

in the

nick of time brushed

was discharged. Although the bullet missed
was peppered with powder burns, the scars from which he

from

him, his face

it

VanCampen
his face as

carried for the rest of his

it

life.

VanCampen

wrestled his

man

to the

ground. The others were likewise seized and made prisoners. They were
marched off to higher authorities under guard of the soldiers with loaded
rifles.

VanCampen

Attacks

in

returned to general service. ^^

Nearby Regions

While attacks at other places in the North Branch country were occurring, they were more numerous on the West Branch extending from
close to Sunbury far up the river. There the settlements had been started
earlier than on the North Branch, with the result that that region was
more populous.^ All of these events amply fulfilled the warnings that
the attacks were to endeavor to drive out the settlers completely. Attacks
were made on small parties working in the fields, in homes, and on forts.
The loss of settlers killed and others taken prisoner became more and

more

terrifying.

The Great Runaivay

The rumors and warnings became more precise and definite. As an
example, an escaped prisoner stated, "That the Nordring Indians are
determined

to

Destroy

both

branches

(of

the

river]

this

mon.

[month]. "26 In response. Colonel Hunter ordered the settlers to take
refuge in the forts.

Then

as the situation

became more

critical,

it

was

*The construction of two railroads across the area has altered the site of Fort Wheeler.
railroad has been removed. A high embankment supports the elevated tracks of
the other. The Bloomsburg Sand and Gravel Company has removed completely a
one-time large hill. The site of the fort is now occupied by a building of the last named

One

company.

24

ordered that the settlements be abandoned. ^'^ Canoes were collected.
Rafts were constructed.

down

they took flight
"I

took

to secure

Many articles were hidden by being buried. Then
the river.

We

have an eyewitness account.

my family safely to Sunbury, and came back in a keel-boat
my furniture. Just as rounded a point above Derrstown,
I

[modern Lewisburg], I met a whole convoy from the forts above.
Such a sight I never saw in my life. Boats, canoes, hog troughs, rafts
hastily made of dry sticks, every sort of floating articles had been put
into requisition and were crowded with women, children, and plun-

means merely belongWhenever any obstruction occurred at a shoal or ripple, the women would leap into
the water and put their shoulders to the boat or raft and launch it
again into deep water. The men came down in single file on each side
of the river, to guard the women and children. The whole convoy
arrived safely at Sunbury, leaving the entire range of farms on the
West Branch to ravages of the Indians."^
der. [Plunder in this context,
ings.]

it

is

suggested,

There were several hundred people

Wyoming

in all.

Valley Invaded

These attacks on both the West Branch and North Branch settlements
were thought to have been intended to distract attention from a major
invasion. Forces made up of Tories, Indians, and some regular British
soldiers, were gathering up the river in New York for an attack on
Wyoming. The local attacks, it is inferred, were also intended to prevent
the sending of help to the threatened area from the outside. ^'^ First, as in
the Fishing Creek and West Branch areas, attacks, killings, scalpings, and
persons taken into captivity occurred up river from Wyoming. Then an
expedition composed of six hundred or more Seneca Indians with four
hundred Tories under British officers, were reported advancing on
Wyoming. Many were Tories from New York and Pennsylvania. Outlying points were attacked and reduced. Fugitives took refuge at
Wyoming. Help was summoned from Salem and Huntington, and from
Colonel Clingaman,-^ commanding the garrison at Fort Jenkins. Colonel
Clingaman, who did not send help, felt his first responsibility was to
defend his post.
to help.

He

also

felt

the

summons came

too

late, as

it

did, for

him

But he was accused of indifference, implying that the Pennsyl-

vania elements were willing to have the Connecticut settlers driven out of

Wyoming by
Wyoming

Battle

On July
trained old

the Indians.

3,

"^•'^

and Massacre

1778, the defenders were

men and

made up

of 300 militia

and

briefly

boys. Under the rash insistence of Lazarus Stewart,

marched out to meet the attackers. The enemy was in deployed positions and quickly out-maneuvered the defenders, who were
the defenders

25

thrown

into confusion

and then into

flight.

Many of

the

men were

killed,

while fleeing. Officers died bravely leading their men. Fugitives taken
prisoner, not killed at once, were killed in cold blood that night. The
failure of the Tories

and

their British officers to prevent the killing of the

prisoners helped embitter feelings against them for
edly,

This form

made

many

years. Report-

227 scalps were taken. -^^

was of European manufacture after the Indians learned
former stone-age weapons.

that

it

a better instrument than their

Flight of the Survivors
forts were surrendered. The non-combatants, women,
and surviving men, what few there were, were to be protected,
according to agreement. The homes were plundered, often removing
some clothing from the wearers. The survivors fled in terror, mostly on
foot, over the mountains and through the rugged wilderness and deep
forest swamps, described as the "shades of death." As to the number
perishing under the hardships experienced, no estimate is known, but
hundreds were never seen again. ^^ The rough, down river road was
taken by some. Still, others found means of floating down the river. One
of these was the newly widowed Mrs. Lazarus Stewart, who collected her
belongings on a small raft supported by two canoes. She reached the
home of her sister, the widow of Jame McClure, at Fishing Creek. The
latter hastily gathered her belongings on a similar craft. -^ They both then
floated down the river to the shelter of Fort Augusta. Over on Little Fishing Creek, a friendly Indian warned John Eves the day after the battle. He
loaded what he could on his wagon and was able to make his way to
Bosley's Mills on Chillisquaque Creek, by nightfall that same day. From
there, he returned to his Delaware home.-^^

The remaining

children,

26

At Sunbury, the

fugitives

from the West Branch were joined with
A prominent frontier leader, William

those from the North Branch.

Maclay, when writing from Paxtang, July 12, 1778, has

left this

word

picture:

Sunbury, and almost my whole property on Wednesday
my whole life saw such scenes of distress. The river
and the roads leading down were covered with men, women, and
children, fleeing for their lives, many without any property at all,
and none who had not left the greater part behind. In short, Northumberland county is broken up. Colonel Hunter alone remained
using his utmost endeavors to rally some of the inhabitants, and to
make a stand, however short, against the enemy. I left him with very
few, probably not more than a hundred men on whom he can depend. Wyoming is totally abandoned. Scarce a family remained between that place and Sunbury when I came away. The panic and
flight has reached to this place, [Paxtang]. Many have moved even
out of this township... For God's sake, for the sake of the county, let
Colonel Hunter be reinforced at Sunbury. Send him but a single company, if you cannot do more... The miserable example of the Wyoming people, who have come down absolutely naked among us, has
operated strongly and the cry has been, 'Let us move while we may,
and let us carry some of our effects along with us'... Something ought
to be done for the many miserable objects that crowd the banks of
the river, especially those who fled from Wyoming. They are the
people you know, I did not use to love, but now I most sincerely pity
"I left

last.

I

never in

their distress..."^

VanCampen on Detached

Service

While these stirring events were occurring at Wyoming, VanCampen
had been sent on detached service. On his return he started toward Wyoming when news reached him that all was lost and that, if he continued,
he could do nothing and that he would risk almost sure death or
capture. ^^ With this news, he turned back. A general policy of patrolling
the frontier was adopted. In the latter part of the summer, VanCampen
was placed in charge of a company of Lancaster militia men to scout the

men from the Knob Mountain region to the headCreek across to Little Fishing Creek, thence to
Chillisquaque headwaters, the Muncy Hills to Muncy Creek, and then
back-tracking to his command at Fort Wheeler with militia men taking
quarters at the James McCIure farm along the river. No Indian traces
were found.
frontier.

He

led his

waters of Green

27

The Americans Fight Back

-

Hartley's Expedition

line troops and
Wyoming
was reocordered
our
frontier.
immediately
to
were
militia
cupied and some of the settlers returned in August. ^^ The frontier was
patrolled. Early in September, a force of two hundred men under Colonel
Hartley proceeded from Muncy up Lycoming Creek across the divide
into the North Branch valley. They twice encountered Indians, killing ten
or more. Four men of the expedition were killed. Queen Esther's Town
and neighboring villages of the Indians were destroyed. They were in the
region of Tioga Point, just south of the New York line. Returning, a brief
stop was made at Wyoming, and the victims of the July massacre were
buried. Half of the force was left as a garrison. The return to Sunbury
with the remnant of the force was accomplished October 5. Three
hundred miles of frontier had been traversed in three weeks! '^^

Meanwhile, upwards of a thousand Continental

Continuing Hostilities
Shortly after the return of the Hartley expedition, the whole region
to Indian warfare. '^^ There had been much deva-

was again subjected

we have seen. There had been general flight from the frontier,
Eves and McClure families, but there had been no general flight
from the Fishing Creek or Catawissa area.
While measures were being taken to meet threats, numerous incidents
reveal the conditions of the time. Early in August, Nathan Beach accompanied his father in returning to the latter's up-river holding. While
station, as
recall the

attempting to harvest crops, Nathan was captured by the Indians, but
was able to make his escape."^ September 17, the Melick home below
Espy was attacked. The family escaped to Fort Wheeler. Their home was
plundered and burned. The Indians captured their pony and strapped a
feather tick to it. Becoming frightened, the pony escaped and made its

way to Fort Wheeler, thus restoring the tick
November 9, Wyoming was besieged and all the

to

its

owners. ^-^

settlements

down

On
the

Nescopeck were destroyed. It was feared that the
North
whole line through New Jersey and Pennsylvania would be threatened if
Wyoming were to fall."*^ Seventy Indians were seen advancing on
Chillisquaque where some prisoners were captured.
Branch, as far as

Frontier Warfare Continued:

Nathan Beach

Nathan Beach had joined the garri1778 and continued his service into this year. He
and other citizens joined in patrolling the frontier, during which time
they had a number of skirmishes with the Indians.^
Late in April, Beach joined with the garrison in pursuing a party of
thirty-five Indians, which had attacked three families, Ramsey, Farrow,

The

son

attacks continued into 1779.

at Fort Jenkins in

and Dewey. Bartley Ramsey was
28

killed

and the

others, about twenty,

were taken prisoner. On overtaking the Indians, a sharp engagement
lasting about thirty minutes took place. The Indians escaped, but in the
course of the flight the prisoners were able to elude their captors and
make their way to the Fort. Five of the soldiers were wounded and four
were killed. Houses were burned, cattle killed, and horses driven off.
Authorities disagree as to the date. A letter of Colonel Hunter, Commandant at Sunbury, of April 27, places the date at "Sunday last."^^

Continued Frontier Warfare

A few weeks later. May 17,

across the river from Fort Jenkins, were

The Windbigler family had
Catawissa for supplies. In their absence, the
other four members of the family were attacked and killed. The neighboring families were able to escape across the river to the Fort. The
children returning, found themselves orphans with smoking embers
several families, thought to be recent settlers.
sent a son

where

and daughter

their

home had

to

been.'*^

Part of the American plan in 1778

was

to attack the Iroquois

Con-

federation in concerted expeditions. General Brodhead attacked from

Western Pennsylvania and checked the Indian attack there, 1779. *S
Susquehanna valley was made the basis of one of the major campaigns of
the Revolution.
Sullivan's Expedition
In July 1779, news of an expedition into the Indian country must have
been carried to the frontier. A little later a flotilla of 134 boats, heavily
laden with provisions and military supplies, was dragged and poled up
the river past the settlements in our area. A strong expedition was being

gathered and organized at Wilkes-Barre. Men and supplies also arrived
from over the mountains from Easton. This expedition had been ordered

by General Washington and placed under General Sullivan.
While this force was assembling. Fort Freeland was attacked. ^^ It is
thought that this was in order to turn the Wilkes-Barre force away from
an attack up the river. After several men of the Fort Freeland garrison
had been killed, the remaining twenty-one were captured. ^'^
General Sullivan was not to be turned aside. With an overwhelming
force, he advanced up the North Branch, and then on into the Seneca
country beyond. He carefully avoided being ambushed. The Indians
aided by the Tories and British were attacked near Newtown (modern
Elmira) and soundly defeated.
Then the expedition advanced into the Indian villages of the Seneca
country. These were deserted on the threat of American advance. These
villages were made of well constructed houses and barns surrounded by
fine grain fields and orchards, remarkably rich and productive. The
buildings were burned, crops were destroyed, orchards cut down. The
29

was complete. The survivors were compelled to flee to the
The power of the Six Nations was seriously
weakened. On the return trip, there were some skirmishes and some
small losses. The expedition was back in Wilkes-Barre early in
destruction

British at Fort Niagara.

October. ^1

VanCampen's Part

in the

Sullivan Expedition

VanCampen was made

quartermaster of Sullivan's expedition. He
purchased provisions from settlers up and down the river. Two hundred
and fourteen boats were required. Nathan Beach took employment as a
boatman, steering one of the boats to Tioga Point, where he was discharged. The boats were propelled by polling. The horses, which they
also used, made a single file extending six miles. VanCampen ascended
the river with one of the boats and attended to the distribution of supplies. He gave an account of this work to the Commissary of the Army.'^^
When finished with his quartermaster duties, VanCampen accepted service in scouting the enemy's positions, to the extent even of entering and
scouting their camps at night and estimating their numbers from their
campfires.^-^

men,

all

VanCampen was given command of twenty-six selected
VanCampen being volunteers, to march before the

including

main body of the advance,

any ambush. This the group did,
General Hand's
brigade, leading the advance, encountered an ambush, a charge was
made and the ambush was broken up. This was followed by the victorious battle of Newtown, which was the key to the whole successful expedition of General Sullivan. The capture and destruction of over forty
Seneca villages and productive farms followed this victory. ^'^
On the return from service VanCampen "was taken with camp fever"
and spent the following winter recuperating at Fort Wheeler with his
with the loss of sixteen

to discover

men and more wounded. When

father. 55

1.

2.
3.
4.

5.
6.
7.

8.
9.

10.
11.
12.
13.

30

Hubbard, Moses VanCampen, pp. 30-31.
Hubbard, idem.
Hubbard, idem.
Wallace, Paul W., Indians in Pennsylvania, p. 158. Some valuable services were
rendered to the Americans by these tribes, as are outlined in this reference.
Wallace, Paul W., idem. For aid given by Oneidas, see Hubbard, op. cit., p. 119.
Wallace, op. cit., p. 159.
Carter, "Indian Invasions of Old Northumberland," Northumberland Proceedings, XXVI, pp. 10 a.
Battle, History of Columbia County, pp. 207-208.
Montgomery, Frontier Forts, I, pp. 374-375.
Frontier Forts, I, pp. 375 ff.
Frontier Forts, I, pp. 381 ff.
Frontier Forts, I, pp. 363, 367; Wallace, Virgil, "Fort Jenkins," Northumberland
Proceedings, XII, pp. 103-104.
Hubbard, op. cit., pp. 1-3; Wagner, Lieutenant Moses VanCampen, pp. 52-53.

14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.

20.

Hubbard,
Hubbard,
Hubbard,
Hubbard,

op.
op.
op.
op.

cit.,
cit.,

pp. 5 ff.
pp. 37-38.

Wagner, op. cit., p. 53.
pp. 28-29.
Battle, op. cit., p. 185; Frontier Forts, I, p. 369; Wagner, op. cit., pp. 54-55 A.
Battle, idem; Bates, History of Pennsylvania, p. 52.
The author has written what seems the most probably description derived from
differing, and possibly conflicting, sources. It is to be remembered that this fort
was constructed under conditions of urgent need to provide protection in the
shortest time possible. It is quite likely that the first construction was modified
and strengthened in the six years that it served its purpose for regional protection.
Battle, op. cit., p. 185; Frontier Forts, I, p. 369; Freeze, History of Columbia
cit.,

p. 20;

cit.,

County, pp. 23-24; Hubbard, op. cit.,
idem; Frontier Forts, idem.

p. 48.

21.

Battle,

22.

Battle, op. cit., pp. 55, 185; Frontier Forts,

Hubbard, op.
23.
24.
25.
26.

27.

28.
29.

I,

pp. 370-371; Freeze, op.

cit., p.

24;

pp. 50-55.
op. cit., p. 371. Freeze, op.

cit.,

cit., pp. 24-25. Hubbard, op. cit.,
Frontier Forts, I,
pp. 52-53.
Hubbard, op. cit., pp. 54 ff.
Carter, op. cit., XXVI, pp. 10-12.
Meginnis, Otzinachson, pp. 199-200; Munsell, History of Luzerne, Lackawanna,
and Wyoming Counties, p. 51; Stewart, History of Lycoming County, p. 11
(Potter letter); Wallace, Paul A.W., op. cit., p. 159.
Meginnis, op. cit., pp. 216-218. Meginnis adds, "Shortly after the Big Runaway
the attention of the savages was attracted to the memorable descent upon
Wyoming, which took place the 3rd, of July, 1778."

Gutelius, "Robert Covenhoven, Revolutionary Scout"; article in Northumberland Proceedings, XIV, pp. 123-124.
Bradsby, History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, pp. 97 ff; Munsell, op. cit.,
p. 51.

Munsell; op. cit., p. 54.
Wallace, Virgil, op. cit., p. 106.
32. Dunaway, A History of Pennsylvania, p. 157; see also quotation from Colonel
Stone, in Hubbard, op. cit., p. 74.
33. Bradsby, pp. 102-104, see special note on Tories, p. 104; Brewster, William,
Pennsylvania and New York Frontier, Ch. 27; Munsell, op. cit., pp. 53-54;
Wallace, Paul, op. cit., pp. 160 ff.
34. Battle, op. cit., p. 153. Bradsby, op. cit., p. 103.
35. Battle, op. cit., p. 237. For a more complete and vivid account of the Battle of
Wyoming and its aftermath, consult Carmer, The Susquehanna, Chapter 10.
36. William Maclay, prominent leader in a letter of July 12, 1778, quoted in Gearhart, "Life of William Maclay," Northumberland Proceedings, II, p. 59; also
quoted in by Godcharles, Daily Stories in Pennsylvania, pp. 461-462.
30.
31.

Hubbard, op.
Hubbard, op.

cit., p.

38.
39.

Brewster, op.

cit., p.

40.

Godcharles, "First Expedition Against the Indians of the Six Nations," Northumberland Proceedings. IV, pp. 3-35.
Battle, op. cit., p. 56.

37.

41.

cit.,

74.

pp. 75

ff.,

80-81.

188.

42.

Frontier Forts,

43.

Battle, op. cit., p. 185.

44.

Battle, op. cit., p. 56.

45.

48.

Frontier Forts. I, p. 367.
Carter, op. cit., p. 19, (item 39); Frontier Forts, p. 367; Snyder,
land Militia," Northumberland Proceedings. XVIII, p. 61.
Carter, op. cit., XXVI, p. 19, (item 40); Battle, op. cit., p. 286.
Dunaway, op. cit., p. 159; Godcharles, op. cit., pp. 167-169.

49.

Frontier Forts,

46.
47.

I,

I,

p. 367.

pp. 365-66; Carter, op.

cit., p. 19,

"Northumber-

(item 40).

31

50.

51.
52.

53.
54.

55.

Carter, op. cit., p. 20, (item 45).
Brewster, op. cit., Ch. 30; Hubbard, op. cit., pp. 94-95; 109 ff.; Wallace, Paul,
op. cit., pp. 162-164.
Brewster, op. cit., pp. 200-202; Hubbard, op. cit., pp. 95-97.

Brewster, op. cit., Ch. 30; Hubbard, op. cit., pp. 99-105.
Brewster, idem; Hubbard, op. cit., pp. 107 ff; Wallace, Paul, op.
162-164.
Theiss, Lewis E.,
XIV, p. 103.

cit.,

pp.

"Major Moses VanCampen," Northumberland Proceedings.

Delaware Warfare
Wallace, Indians

in

Pennsylvania, p. 45; courtesy of the Pennsylvania Historical and

Museum Commission.

32

CHAPTER

3

The Revolution -

The Closing Years

Sullivan's Limited Success

end the pattern
on
workers in the fields; killings with scalpings; the burning of buildings;
destruction of crops; prisoners taken for torture or permanent captivity.
The Indian motives included desire for revenge; bounties paid by the
British for scalps; desire on the part of the Delawares for the recapture of
their lands. Despite these dangers there was some influx of settlers and
Sullivan's expedition, although highly successful, did not
of Indian hostilities:

the stealthy attacks

on

isolated families or

the return of fugitives.^

Frontier Difficulties
Let us review the difficulties of frontier warfare. Settlers' cabins were
far apart. Settlers themselves

were rash

to return to the unprotected fron-

were their only homes and
had already invested hard work and savings in these locations.
They knew that they must work their fields or face starvation. Settlers
were slow to seek protection of their forts, forts which were inadequate
at the best. Troops were too few to patrol adequately the widely extended frontier. Often arriving at a threatened location, they could only view
the burning embers of a one time habitation and bury the mutilated
tier,

but

we must remember

that such cabins

that they

bodies of those victims not taken into captivity. Soldiers enlisted for
short terms were obviously not fully trained or experienced.
also obviously anxious to return
nels,

guards,

home

They were

to protect their families. Senti-

and scouts were inadequate and often were not even

provided.

33

Soldiers'

Pay

The pay

of the soldiers, whether in the militia or in the regular

Concomparison with the earnings of craftsmen
making guns or other needed equipment, or with many other occupations. As an instance, it proved difficult to get volunteers for Sullivan's
expedition because the boatmen's wages "were so superior." The pay was
also poor in comparison with the prices which farmers could get for
needed farm products, especially when such supplies were sold to the
British armies for gold in comparison with the almost worthless Continental troops,

tinental

was poor

in

money.

Special Difficulties

Moreover, Pennsylvania had special

many

of the other States.

The

difficulties greater

capital of the country

than those of

was

in Pennsyl-

American armies were in Pennsylvania
much of the time. As the war progressed, the Americans came to have
growing numbers of prisoners of war to care for. In various ways, all of
these circumstances placed heavy burdens on the Pennsylvania government, especially so since a disproportionately large number of British
prisoners was held in Pennsylvania.-^
vania. Both the British and the

Yankee

-

Pennamite

Hostilities

The hostile feelings between the Yankees and the Pennamites had by
no means ended. This made cooperation difficult. It is probably true that

Wyoming lands from Pennsylvania
were willing to have the Connecticut settlements destroyed, even if it
should be by means of the cruel Indians. President Reed of the Pennsylvania government ordered that recruits going up the river to the Wyoming region should be made up of personnel from outside the State.
certain persons interested in securing

Tories

Patterning after the names of political parties in England at this time,

Whigs of England, who opposed
Those loyal to English government
were called Tories. Many Americans of all classes were opposed to the
Revolution. Some Tories were passive in their opposition but others, a
large number, actively opposed, joined the British armed forces, and
fought actively against the Revolution. The result was that the war came
to have the character of a bitter fratricidal war. An instance, probably an
extreme one: After the Battle of Wyoming Patriot Henry Pensil, having
thrown away his gun, came out of hiding to give himself up to his
the patriots might be associated with the

many

of the

government

policies.

brother, Tory, John Pensil. Kneeling at his feet, he begged for his

"You won't
34

kill

your brother,

will

you?" "As soon as look

at

life,

you,"

replied John. Calling

him

a

"Damned

rebel,"

John shot him down, toma-

hawked him, and took
The danger of the Tories was especially acute in the Susquehanna
region. The attack that led to the Battle of Wyoming affords one
example. It was chiefly an effort planned and carried out by the Seneca
Indians, but it was accompanied by British soldiers and also numerous
Tories, some of them former residents of the region.^ There were
pacifists, especially among the Quakers, some of whom also were Tories.
References to these and other Tories will be made later in the course of
his scalp. '^

the narrative.

The following

excellent

summary

of local conditions

is

largely

drawn

from one of our basic references, J. H. Battle, History of Columbia and
Montour Counties. Northumberland County was strangely divided in
sentiment. Whig, Tory, Yankee, Pennamite, German, Scotch-Irish,
all operating to interfere with general
Quaker, and English influence
success. The general dislike of the Yankee settlers at Wyoming found frequent expressions in the official communications of the local authorities
(recall the Maclay letter), with some people showing indifference or
hostility to garrisoning the Wyoming areas. There was a lamentable lack
of spirit among the pioneers. Bounties up to a thousand dollars were
offered for scalps and fifteen hundred dollars for prisoners without any
claims being submitted. (But refer to some of VanCampen's exploits and
trophies.) Many lives were assumed to have been lost because the
Wyoming settlements supplied troops who gave their services elsewhere
when needed at home. Alleged deficiencies of the pioneer soldiers needed

—

be balanced against their duties to their families, their fear of famine,
their desire to salvage crops already planted. There was also the
competition with other frontier communities in Pennsylvania for aid,
to

and

with the implication that Northumberland had gotten more than
share, and that more local effort would need to be put forth.

its

Continued Frontier Warfare
In the spring of 1780, the frontier settlers, or

some

of them, seemed to

think that the danger of Indian attacks had been overcome by Sullivan's
It is true that the homes and fields of the Indians
had been ruined, but their numbers had not been seriously reduced. It
was reported to Pennsylvania's President Reed, at Harrisburg, that much
gun fire had occurred at the headwaters of Fishing Creek and Muncy
Creek in the fall of 1779 and early months of 1780. Later, these were to be
connected with the attacks which took place in 1780. The general procedure of the Indians was to come in large bodies from the New York
region. When they reached the headwaters of the streams flowing into
the Susquehanna, they divided into smaller parties to make attacks on
isolated settlements.^ In the spring and later months, our regions alone

victorious expedition.

35

were to be subjected to more than sixteen attacks and there is good
reason to think that there were more that went unrecorded. The attacking parties seemed for the most part, to have been made up of Senecas
with the motives of revenge and desire to acquire scalps for bounties. The
Delawares were also involved with the additional motives for hostility as
previously explained.

Local Attacks

Renewed

Three incidents all occurred at about the same time. March 31, 1780,
about two miles above Fort Jenkins, seven or eight prisoners were taken.
Panic among the settlers was threatened.

The VanCampen Tragedy

Under the illusion of safety from Indian attacks, on March 30, 1780, a
group of workers went out from the protection of Fort Wheeler. Their
purposes were the rebuilding of their log cabin burned two years previously and to put in crops for the coming season. They divided into two
parties. Cornelius VanCampen, with his older son, Moses, and a
younger son went up the creek to the former's property. Cornelius'
brother, with his young son, and a friend, a young man named Peter
Pence, were located lower down on Fishing Creek. Their rifles were laid
aside as the parties took up their work late in March on what must have
been one of those inviting early spring days.
Actually, contrary to these inviting appearances, a large detached

party of ten Indians surprised the Uncle's party, killing him and taking

Pence and the boy prisoner. This was done without alarming the other
VanCampens. The approach to them was stealthy, the surprise was complete. The father was suddenly transfixed with a spear. As he lay, the
spear sticking up, his throat was cut and he was speedily scalped. The
little boy by Moses cried out, "Father is killed!" at which he in turn was
tomahawked to instant death. Now Moses was seized by two warriors. A
third assailed him with a spear. There was violent thrust, avoided by
Moses by a quick shrinking to the side, the spear passing through his
outer clothing.
joined the

Now VanCampen

further harm. His conduct having
retain

him

held himself erect. Another Indian

two holding VanCampen, presumably
as a prisoner.

They

won

to protect

him from

their admiration, they desired to

started

on

their return

journey home,

encounter, Peter Pence and the

having as prisoners, Moses from their last
boy from the other party, and another boy named Rogers from a
previous foray.

They proceeded up Fishing Creek, its tributary, Huntington, and then
across into the valley of Hunlock's Creek. Here the Indians compelled

VanCampen

to stand in the

agem worked.
36

A settler.

open as a decoy near a settlement. The stratwas seized and compelled to lead the party

Pike,

to his cabin
light

where

garments.

his wife

and

One savage

were

child

swung it around with obvious intention
tree. The infant boy screamed and the
deavored

to save

it.

At

this a warrior,

seized, stripped of

young

seized the

by

child

of dashing

its

will

but their

and

brains against a

frantic mother,

whom we

all

the ankles

shrieking, en-

meet again

in

our

accounts, interposed, restored her clothing, and on the mother's face

He then pointed to the southeast and
squaw" (go home). She made her way the many
miles through rough country to Wyoming with her child. Her husband.
Pike, was added to the group of prisoners, now two boys and three men.
The horses were killed, and the party proceeded northwards toward the
painted red, a sign of safe conduct.

commanded,

"Joggo,

Iroquois country.^

As each

day's journey took them farther into the Indian country,

VanCampen formed the
captors. Pence
to

was

design of attempting an escape after killing their

willing, but Pike

was

fearful,

and

the

boys too young

be heavily involved.

Pennsylvania

Flint

Lock

powder horn and
Museum Commission

Rifle,

Courtesy of Pennsylvania Historical and

bullet

bag

The Prisoner's Escape
Finally, after

two more days

of travel, they decided to

make

a try.

This was probably near Wysox. While gathering firewood, opportunity
was given to converse in snatches with a plan resulting, although Pike
still proved timorous. This was despite their reminding him that it would
be better to be killed in a fight for freedom than to be carried to the
Indian country to be killed there by torture. After the camping chores
had been finished and they had lain down for the night, having been

bound, either one of the boys was able to secure a knife, or VanCampen
had been able surreptitiously to slide his foot over one that an Indian unknowingly dropped. In the dead of night, but presumably there was
some light from the camp fire, they were able to free each other. One of
the Indians proved wakeful, and the timorous Pike failed in his part of
the plan which was to kill three of the Indians with the guns. However,
Pence and VanCampen plied the tomahawk and rifle on the sleeping
37

forms and were able to dispatch nine of the ten Indians. The last Indian
had time to become fully awake and resisted, but not before VanCampen
struck him a glancing blow in the neck. They clinched, the Indian still
powerful, VanCampen blinded by blood from his antagonist's wound.
VanCampen was able to protect himself from the Indian's knife, but
could not prevent the latter's escape. This escaped Indian, years after in
time of peace, with a deep scar in his neck, testified to this struggle with

VanCampen. His name was Mohawk.
Since bounties of 600 pounds, although in continental currency, were

The scalps of friends and relawere recovered and what booty would be useful was gathered. As
soon as it was daylight they made their way to the North Branch River,
embarked on a hurriedly constructed raft, which, however, soon collapsed under them, making them lose most of their supplies recently captured. They were confronted with the long journey back home on foot,
with a snow covered mountain intervening, if they could not use the
river. Again fortune favored them. Stealthily proceeding, they came in
sight of another party of Indians in the distance, and an unguarded raft
close by. This they seized and were out of reach of all but a few scattered
and futile shots before they were discovered. With but few other trifling
adventures, they reached Wyoming, and eventually Fort Jenkins. Here
Mrs. VanCampen had taken refuge with the remnants of her family. The
meeting with her son, given up for dead was, as we can imagine, one of
mixed feelings of joy as well as of grief to be reminded afresh of her other
offered for Indian scalps, they were taken.
tives

bereavements.*^

The Whitmo\/er Attack [Whitmore]
from Mary Whitmoyer, a survivor of an
modern Jerseytown as she told it about
twenty years later when living in the frontier cabin constructed by her
husband. Henry Hoople, whom she had married after her release from
captivity, had acquired uncleared land on the Ontario frontier. The scene
as reconstructed is around the fire in front of their cabin.
"At night the children gathered around the glowing fire
before the shanty and begged their parents for stories. 'Tell us
This was their favorite story,
about the massacre. Mother'
the most blood-curdling of them all. Mary would sit before
the fire with a faraway look in her eyes as she began: 'Early

Another

tragic account

is

attack a short distance west of

.

.

.

when I turned eleven was when
was still in bed except for
our
family
happened. (1780) All
those who had left for the Sugar Bush and my big brother,

Easter

Morning

Phillip,

of the year

who was

kneeling beside the hearth trying to start the

Suddenly the cabin door bust open and there stood an
Indian in warpaint, a tomahawk in his hand. Behind him

fire.

38

it

iiiiii»
carried by Robert Covenhoven, a noted frontier scout on the
West Branch. Starting at the top and proceeding clockwise: a flint-lock
pistol; a compass of French design with a sun dial attachment; and a
gauge for measuring the powder charge for gun or pistol. At the center is

Armament

pictured a

tomahawk

flint-lock rifle

is

or hatchet, but lacking

its

wooden

handle.

A

pictured elsewhere.

Meginnis, Otzinachson, p. 620.

crowded

others, Oneidas, Delawares, Senecas

fian whites from the Revolutionary Army,

making threatening

all

and a few rufarmed and

noises.

from bed and reached for his musket but
My
a shot through the open door laid him out dead on the floor.
At the same instant the first Indian buried his hatchet in
Phillip's head and a second did the same to my mother
grabbing her by her long hair and scalping her. My big sister,
Sally caught the baby as it fell from Mother's arms and
rushed outside. I grabbed httle Johnny and followed her as
did also our brothers Peter and George. By this time all the
ruffians were inside the cabin looting it. Then the place
burst into flames and Indians, about twenty of them, swung
us on to their horses and began to ride off.'
At this point in the story Mary always stopped, overcome by her emotions until one or other of the children
prodded her to go on. 'What about the baby. Mother, tell
father leapt

39

The agonies of that dreadful day over
twenty years before were still so vivid that it hurt Mary to
speak of them and yet, by some queer contradiction, it soothed
her aching heart to give them voice. She would continue:
'When a big Indian threw Sally onto his horse the baby
in her arms was frightened and began to scream. He wrenched
it away from her and holding it by one foot swung it around
his head and dashed its brains out against a tree leaving the
little body where it fell. Both Sally and I screamed and struggled to get off the horses and go to the baby but Sally's Indian
clobbered her and mine dug a knife into my ribs so that the
blood gushed out on my nightgown and we dared not struggle
any more. They made it clear that the same thing would
happen to us if we did not keep quiet for they feared that
us about the baby.'

would see the smoke and give them chase.'
'We rode three days into the setting sun to the place
where the Alleghany flows westward towards the Ohio, to
the land of the Delawares. They divided the prisoners on the
second night when they separated and went their different
"
ways ... I don't know what happened to any of them.'
(John and Mary, after seventy years, did find each
a rescue party

other.)*

Threats

in

the Neighboring Regions Affect

Our Area; The

Destruction of

Fort Jenkins

on the West Branch had been deSunbury dangerously exposed to possible capture and loss of the military supplies stored there. To improve
the defenses. Fort Rice was built late in 1779 or early 1780. Its location
was on the headwaters of Chillisquaque Creek, about two miles above

By 1779 most,

stroyed. This

left

if

not

all,

the forts

Fort Augusta at

*This event, unrecorded at the time, would have been unknown to us if it had not
in Battle, op. cit., p. 264. It was recently confirmed by the genealogical
researches of Elizabeth L. Hoople, who learned that she was a descendant of Mary

been noted

Whitmoyer.
This story, somewhat abridged, is quoted from The Hooples of Hoople's Creek, pp.
34-36, 76-84, with the kind permission of the author and publisher, Elizabeth L.
Hoople, 239 Broadway St., Streetsville, Ontario, Canada. It had been passed down
by the descendants of the protagonist, Mary Whitmoyer, her Maiden name, to
Elizabeth L. Hoople. There are anomalies in the story. One is that Senecas and Delawares, allied with the British, were in a foray with Revolutionary soldiers and the
Oneida Indians, who had sided with the Patriots. A second anomaly is to have the
Senecas and Delawares attacking the Whitmoyers, who were British sympathizers.
These anomalies are of minor significance in the context of the convincing character of
the story as a whole. The tragic killings in her family witnessed by this eleven year old
girl in acute fear for her own life left her with indelible memories. See, Hoople, Elizabeth L., The Hooples of Hoople's Creek. Copyright, Canada, 1967.

40

modern Washingtonville. Limestone walls, two feet thick, enclosed a
"never-failing" spring. There was a second floor and also an attic above
it. It was one of the largest and strongest forts ever constructed in our
regions.

It is still

standing. ^° Early in September, 1780, a force of Indians

upwards of 250 attacked the fort. A vigorous defense
was organized and the attackers were held off. Calls for help were sent
out and relieving expeditions were dispatched. The garrison at Fort Jenkins was ordered to abandon its fort and go to the relief of Rice. The
besiegers at Rice abandoned the attack. They divided into groups. One
went east to the Fishing Creek region, around the end of Knob Mountain,
and then toward the river. Finding Fort Jenkins deserted, they proceeded
to destroy it and the buildings around it. With the work of destruction incomplete, they suddenly left. To explain this sudden departure, we must
pick up some other threads of our story. ^^
and

British soldiers

Tories

Among

the

Quakers

Settlements on Fishing Creek and at Catawissa remained occupied

when other settlements were abandoned.
because the Quakers, as was widely known, were pacifists? Were
there Tories among the Quakers who gave aid and information to the
after these various tragedies

Was

it

enemy? It became revealed only in recent times that Samuel Wallis, a
Quaker and prominent land owner on the West Branch, was giving aid
and information to the British. ^^ From the American point of view, why
would suspected persons take refuge, as alleged, with the Quakers? Why
had their settlements never been molested? In war time suspicions can be
aroused on far less basis.
Considerable interchange of correspondence between the authorities about "treasonable practices" of the Tories in the Catawissa and Fishing Creek areas has been preserved. An expedition was ordered from the
southeast to attack this settlement. ^^

about

this

these attackers immediately

bush

It

was thought

that information

expedition reached the group attacking Fort Jenkins.

this expedition

surprise. Thirty,

escaped, one

left,

as noted above,

and prepared

Then
am-

to

under Captain Klader. The ambush was a complete
or less, of the Klader expedition were killed. Three

more

was taken

Sugarloaf massacre.^"*

prisoner. This event has
It

was

come

so called because

it

to be known as the
occurred near the

Sugarloaf Mountain in Luzerne County. ^^

The Quakers Came

in

for Harrassment

Suspicions arose as to who spread information about this expedition.
These suspicions arose in another connection. A community in the Roaring Creek Valley, not otherwise identified as to location or size, came
under suspicion sufficiently serious to make the authorities feel that it
should be investigated. VanCampen became a member of the militia sent
41

out for this purpose. He and a trusted companion, using the stratagem of
Indian costume and staining exposed sections of their bodies to resemble
Indians, infiltrated the community. They gathered enough information
to justify arresting all the persons thus revealed.

The

suspects were

turned over to higher authorities for further proceedings. 16
Meanwhile, measures were taken against the suspected persons

among the Quakers at Catawissa. April 9, 1780, shortly after the VanCampen and Whitmoyer tragedies, Moses Roberts and Job Hughes were
taken prisoners by several armed men from Sunbury without proof
them or without any witnesses to testify against them or without
any charge against them. This was at the mouth of Catawissa Creek.
They were taken to Sunbury and confined, where they "were persecuted"
to some degree. They were then removed to Lancaster and confined there
for upwards of a year without trial. ^^ In June the wives of the men incarcerated, were turned out of their homes at Catawissa by armed men from
Sunbury, their homes and possessions destroyed and four horses taken.
The women and children, seven in all and one but five weeks old, were
against

ride, but there was insufficient time to make bread before
on a cross-country journey to the refuge of friends and relatives.
They arrived there after "much fatigue." A committee of Friends from
Philadelphia presented a petition respecting the plight of Roberts and
Hughes to the Chief Justice, Thomas McKean. The judge would give no
relief. His response was full of "bitterness and reviling." The release of
the two prisoners finally occurred about March or April, 1781, with no

allowed to
starting

^^
additional facts available as to this incident or the eviction of families.

VanCampen and Fort McClure
In the summer and fall of 1780, VanCampen was engaged in recruiting service and reorganizing his company. He was successively appointed
ensign and then lieutenant. Early in 1781 he was ordered to take up the
active duty of patrolling, with his reorganized company, the headwaters
of the

Muncy, Chillisquaque, and

Little Fishing

Creeks. This spring he

stockaded the residence of Mrs. James McClure, which was thereafter
called McClure's Fort.*!^ The stockade was large enough to afford protection for people of the

and headquarters

plies

was brought

that a

neighborhood as well as a safe storage for sup-

Not long after news
up the West Branch at

for the patrolling soldiers.

body

of 300 Indians, far

5innemahoning, were hunting and laying in a store of provisions for
descent on the settlements. Lieutenant VanCampen with four others were
assigned from McClure's Fort to detached service to reconnoitre this

*It is

that

reported by the Fort McClure Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution,
occupied the exact site of the later home of Douglas Hughes, now preserved as

it

the Fort

42

McClure Homestead. Frontier

Forts, p. 373.

menace. The group went out in Indian disguise. A large party of Indians
was discovered. They were attacked by VanCampen's little force at
night, effecting a complete surprise. Those of the enemy not killed were
put to flight. From the booty captured, it was established that this party
was just returning from a destructive foray in the Penn's Creek area.^*^
No other incidents directly associated with McClure's Fort have been recorded, but there were traditions of lurking Indians with alarms and
hurried flights. ^^
Last Indian Troubles

After the surrender of Cornwallis at
for peace

were entered upon with the

The Indian

Yorktown

final treaty

in 1781, negotiations

being signed in 1783.

attacks declined, with the brunt falling on our neighboring

regions. Depredations did not

end immediately, but dwindled away. The
had been recalled, but some attacks con-

British assured that the Indians

tinued, possibly because not

all

the Indians received the instructions, or

because some of them could not resist the temptation to secure plunder.
In 1782, a family across the river from Catawissa was attacked by a
party of Indians. The parents and two daughters were murdered. Three
sons,

on returning from Sunbury where they had gone

to secure flour,

discovered the tragedy.^

Again at Catawissa, a group of Indians occupied the site of a former
Delaware Indian village. It came to be known as Lapackpitton's Town,
after the name of the chief of the former Delaware town. Friction arose
between the whites and the Indians. One white aroused the Indians'
wrath by interfering with their fishing. He had to flee by wading across
the river, then shallow.

somehow through

An
was

He could not swim but was

able to

make

his

way

the deeper places to the safety of the opposite shore. ^-^

incident occurred during the last years of the war, which probably

happenings that can occur in disordered
times of war. A soldier, Robert Lyon, was sent from Fort Augusta to
Wyoming with a canoe load of stores. He secured his canoe at the mouth
of Fishing Creek. Leaving his dog and gun in it, he went to see his affianced bride, daughter of Mr. Cooper, in the neighborhood. In his defenseless condition he was taken captive by Shenap, an Indian chief, and
taken to Niagara. Here he was released by the interposition of a British
officer, who, it turned out to be, was his brother. Back at Fishing Creek,
suspicion was aroused against Cooper following the mysterious disappearance of Lyon. Cooper was arrested, and placed in a canoe to be
illustrative of occasional

A rifle belonging to

one of the posse was acciCooper was accused of causing the loss. An
altercation arose. One of the men hit Cooper in the head with a tomahawk resulting in his death some twenty days later. Lyon returned and
later was able to establish Cooper's innocence. How the case further was
taken to the Sunbury

jail.

dentally dropped overboard.

43

^'^
disposed of as well as the outcome of romance are not known.
The last outrage was in 1785. A family of three, father, mother, and

son, were murdered by a party of Indians on the "Mifflin
had pushed ahead of a party of immigrants. ^5

VanCampen's
In

mid

Flats."

They

Last Services in the Revolution

April, 1782,

VanCampen was ordered to lead

tigate the killing of a certain settler in the

a party to inves-

Bald Eagle region, and to secure

might have escaped the tragedy. On reaching
attacked by a party of eighty-five Indians. A
were
their destination, they
few escaped, many were killed, and the rest taken prisoner. ^6 After
almost a year's captivity under the Indians at first, then under the British,
with occasions in which his life was threatened, VanCampen was finally
exchanged and resumed service. ^7

any of

At

his property that

this

time

VanCampen was

assigned with a

company

of

men

in

While on a scouting expedition, he
captured a British officer, by name of Allan, journeying southward. It
was established that the prisoner was actually an emissary from the Six
Nations journeying to Philadelphia to arrange peace between Pennsylcharge of the Wilkes-Barre

fort.

vania and the Six Nations. The prisoner was then freed by VanCampen,
who warned him that he was so bitterly hated for the cruelty exercised on
the frontier, that

it

would not be

safe for

him

to travel alone.

Van-

Campen thwarted serious threats against Allan's life. He then broke
camp and conducted the emissary far enough down the river for him to
resume his journey alone in safety. Allan was able to complete his journey and with the result that peace was established. ^^
VanCampen and his company continued in the military service at
Wilkes-Barre until November, when news was received that the terms of
the peace had been ratified. ^9 The company then disbanded and the
soldiers returned to private life.^^

1.

2.

3.

4.
5.

Battle, History of

Columbia and Montour Counties, pp. 57-58.

Clement, "Fort Augusta and the Sullivan Expedition," Northumberland Proceedings, V, p. 62.
Dunaway, History of Pennsylvania, pp. 155-156.
Carmer, The Susquehanna, p. 128.
Bradsby, History of Luzerne County, pp. 111-112; Godcharles, Daily Stories of
Pennsylvania, p. 456; Munsell, History of Luzerne Lackawanna and Wyoming
Counties, Pa., pp. 51-52; Wallace, Paul, Indians in Pennsylvania, pp. 160-161.

6.

Battle, op. cit., p. 58.

7.

Letter of William

8.

9.

44

Maclay to President Reed of Pennsylvania, quoted in Freeze,
History of Columbia County, p. 25, April 2, 1780.
Carter, "Indian Incursions in Old Northumberland County During the Revolutionary War," Northumberland Proceedings, XXVI, p. 21, (item 51).
The main sources for the VanCampen incidents are: Hubbard's biography,
Minard's Edition; Wagner, W. F., Lieutenant Moses VanCampen, A Soldier of
the American Revolution, containing narratives of subject's activities and an
exhaustive compilation of related and associated papers, 234 pages; Theiss, ed.,

"Major Moses VanCampen," an article in Northumberland Proceedings, XIV,
pp. 98-114. This quotes an independent narrative by VanCampen published in
1845. Extensive quotations from one or more of these sources are found in other
large proportion of these references are basically from Vanreferences listed.
Campen himself, so that the question of his credibility arises. His accounts are
confirmed, with one exception, in all details where there is independent
testimony. This one exception is in the respective parts played in the scuffle in
which the prisoners killed guards and made their escape. The credibility of Pike,
the one who in this case impugns VanCampen 's story, had his own account impugned. Pike's later life was a rather disreputable one compared with VanCampen 's. VanCampen was repeatedly entrusted with delicate and dangerous
missions as a soldier. In his later civic life he built up an enviable reputation of
trustworthy service as a professional surveyor and as a public office holder. We
have followed the example of other writers, notably W. F. Wagner, in trusting
these basic sources.
VanCampen rose to the rank of Lieutenant in Revolutionary military service.
Later he attained the rank of major in the local militia. These facts will account
for the differing titles, respectively used at the earlier or later times.
Battle, op. cit., pp. 185; 207-209; 203-213 (this is a reference disparaging to
VanCampen); Freeze, op. cit., pp. 22-29; 32-33 (this contains a defense of VanCampen in comparison with a critic); Frontier Forts. I, 359-360; 369-372; Hubbard, Moses VanCampen, pp. 147 ff; Meginnis, Otzinachson, pp. 276-280;
Wagner, Lieutenant Moses VanCampen; Wright, Historical Sketches, pp.
208-218 (this contains serious imputations as to VanCampen's credibility regarding certain aspects of his account of escape from their Indian captors).
10. Frontier Forts, I, pp. 376-377; Godcharles, op. cit., p. 615; Penna. Archives, VIII,
p. 567. Sometimes this fort was called Montgomery. After the end of the war,
Montgomery returned with his family. Since their buildings had all been burned
by the Indians, the fort for a long time was used as the family residence. When a
new residence was constructed later, the old fort was used for crops and farm
tools. It is now showing signs of serious deterioration. It would seem to be a most
worthy structure for historical preservation.
11. Bradsby, op. cit., p. 200; Frontier Forts, I, pp. 366-367; Godcharles, op. cit., pp.
614-616; Penna. Archives, idem.
12. Bakeless, Turncoats, Traitors and Heros, pp. 294-298. This reference supports
the opinion held by many that some, at least of the Quakers were Tories;

A

Bradsby, idem.
13.

Hubbard, op.

cit.,

pp. 182-185.

Bradsby, idem; Hubbard, op. cit., p. 185.
15. Bradsby, op. cit., pp. 200 ff; Hubbard, op. cit., pp. 185-190. It is not to be confused with Sugarloaf Township in northern Columbia County.
16. The only authority for this incident is Hubbard, op. cit., pp. 190-195. It is consistent with the incident recorded by Eshelman, A History of Catawissa Friends'
Meeting, p. 9.
17. Eshelman, op. cit., pp. 9-11.
18. Eshelman, idem. Two or three other Quakers who had been imprisoned about
the same time are not recorded in the minutes. This was because having taken the
oaths of allegiance to the Patriot cause, these persons were dropped from the
Meeting. Quakers disapprove of oaths. The result is that their situation is not recorded in the official minutes of the Meeting.
14.

19.

Battle, op. cit., p. 153; Freeze, op. cit., p. 22; Frontier Forts,

20.
21.

Freeze, op. cit., p. 23, quoting President Reed's letter,
Frontier Forts, I, p. 373.

22.

Battle, op. cit., pp. 273-274.

23.

Battle, op. cit., p. 273.

I,

p. 373.

September

8,

1781.

24.

Battle, op. cit., p. 153.

25.

For anyone who wishes to read further of the period in
which the Pennsylvania-New York frontier in the 1600's and 1700's was wrested
Battle, op. cit., p. 286.

45

from the Indians, probably the best account is Brewster, The Pennsylvania and
New York Frontier. History From 1720 to the Close of the Revolution. The tenseness and dangers of the times are vivid, the Indian leaders and spokesmen come
alive in their travels and conferences, in their speeches and negotiations.
Hubbard, op. cit., pp. 210 ff The chapter from which this citation is taken plus
the following chapters, SVII to XX inclusive, give many interesting sidelights on
soldiers' experiences during the Revolution which, however, are not directly connected with our history. Also see Theiss, op. cit., p. 110; Wagner, op. cit., pp.

26.

.

79-81.

Hubbard,
Hubbard,
Hubbard,
Hubbard,

27.
28.
29.
30.

op.
op.
op.

cit.,

p. 267.

pp. 267-270.
p. 270; Theiss, op.
idem; Theiss, idem.
cit.,
cit.,

cit., p.

A^

114.

!Z^^
QjiiJju

^

/(W

c/a/^{u4^j

Cabins and log houses, when first built, were in stump-studded fields,
surrounded by dense woodlands. The nearest neighbor was probably a
long distance away, possibly miles away. The first cabins were composed of the straightest logs procurable. They were notched at the ends
so that they would fit together alternately along the intersecting walls so
as to make a secure structure. The later structures were composed of
squared logs which were more secure and were called log houses. The
cabins were for more temporary shelter. The houses were used for many
years. Some, which were later covered by protective sheathing, are still
in use.
Artist

46

and researcher, Joan

L.

Romig; also Clyde R. Luchs'

studies.

CHAPTER

4

Pioneer Settlements Resumed

After the

Obstructions to Settlements
It

War

for Independence

Removed

should be recalled that during the Revolution migrations to the lands of

the

New Purchase were much reduced but never completely ended. Num-

bers of settlers survived the violence of frontier warfare
their previous

emergency

the

home

lands.

flights.

The

Most

by

fleeing to

of these returned sooner or later after

scattered

and imperfect records of

that con-

fused time indicate that a few were able to remain throughout the war.

The harvesting
sented the

of crops that

settlers' entire

had already been planted and which repre-

wealth, must have been a strong inducement to

return. Finally, with the peace with Great Britain

of hostilities subsided

fear

and the migration

and the Indians, the
the frontier was

to

resumed.^
Difficulties of Travel

Conditions of travel changed slowly from those experienced by the
first

explorers.

One of

these early travelers

left this

record:

"The

forest

is

so dense that for a day the sun could not be seen and so thick that you
could not see twenty feet before. The path, too, was so bad that horses

were stuck and had to be extricated from bogs and at other points it lay
full of trees that had been blown down by the wind and heaped so high
that we were at a loss to know whether to turn to the right or to the
This was recorded in 1745.2 Even as late as 1795, a visiting
left....
Frenchman reported that the road along our North Branch of the Susquehanna was always in the woods, monotonous, and without any
"

view.-^

most

When

these towering trees provided shade, the traveling

was

pleasant.'*

47

Indian Trails

At first the only "highways" were the Indians' trails, merely footpaths
about a foot and a half wide, at places worn to a foot in depth. ^ They
made a complex pattern which led with remarkable directness to the various destinations of the users. ^ Indian messengers along these paths may
have covered a hundred miles in a day.'^
When traversing the mountains, steep and narrow trails, often rocky,
were especially hazardous. They were even more so when hemmed in by
cliffs on one side and a sheer drop on the other, or when the deep and

snow made for insecure footing for man and horse.
Other travelers encountered were generally friendly. This includes
the Indians, until their hostility had been aroused. Even when the
troubles resulted in war, there were numerous instances of friendly Indicrusted

ans helping the settlers.^

As

settlers

primitive.

took up their land holdings, their

The following summarized account

first

conditions were

of a missionary.

Rev.

Frederick A. Muhlenberg, in June, 1771, gives a revealing insight into

conditions of travel immediately following the

New

Purchase:

we

reached the Susquehanna a few miles below Shamokin (now called Sunbury), having come over the lofty Mahanoy
....At 2 o'clock

No

on this side of the river. There is a house
began to shout [for help in crossing!, then
used all kinds of signals, hanging a shirt on a pole, but to no avail.
The river here is fully a mile wide and so deep and full of rocks at
the bottom that it can very seldom be forded. Just as we were about
to try wading, we saw a canoe start out from the far side. Two
girls, really only children, rowed across. [That it was "rowed"
shows that the canoe was a dug-out canoe.) Since the horses could
not be led by anyone in the canoe, the two men removed their
outer clothing and rode across bareback, [with, it is presumed, the
baggage taken in the canoe. The horses fell a number of times on
account of the rocks and at places the riders were compelled to
Mountains.

on the other

one

side.

lives

We

1

swim the horses.
The houses in

this vicinity could hardly be more wretched:
without chimney, floor, no divisions into rooms, little more than a
man's height, covered with strips of bark. Whoever travels here
carries his bed, i.e., his blanket with him. This serves as a coat,

overcoat, saddle, trough for his horse, and last of

However deep and

all

as a bed.^^

extensive the forests were, the traveler could ex-

pect to find breaks in them. Indian cabins might be found,

when

their builders

moved

to a

their cultivated lands declined in

abandoned

new hunting areas after
productiveness. ^^ Also when the New

new

site to find

Purchase was made, the Indians were expected to depart, thus leaving
48

made by the fur traders would be found. There
shelters
for the traders themselves and also for their
have
been
would
taken in trade. ^^ Huts of previous travelers
for
the
furs
or
trade goods
habitations. Clearings

might be available. A one-night lean-to, constructed by a previous
traveler, might be utilized. Lacking this, one could be constructed of fir
boughs covered with strips of bark. Often times at night, there was
nothing to do but to bed down on evergreen boughs freshly cut, the dark
sky studded with stars for the ceiling. Rain might just have to be
endured. The minimal comforts provided by such shelters were further
reduced by the infestation of insects. ^-^ Not only were there mosquitoes,
but

lice

and

fleas,

mentioned again and again by

possible only for those

whose weariness was so

travelers,

made repose

great that they could not

be denied their sleep. ^^

Food had necessarily to be carried along, although additional supmight be secured from game, maybe a deer or a bear, turkeys, and
also from the streams abounding with fish. Rattlesnake meat was reported as being delicious. Maybe more meat than a previous traveler
could eat would be left hanging from a bough for those following, or preserved in the water of an ice-cold spring. Occasionally one might encounter travelers who would share their surplus. In season, wild fruits or nuts
plies

might be enjoyed. ^^

Travel and Transportation

Gradually, pack horses brought about a widening of the

Those
numerous

trails.

leading northwest from Lancaster, Reading, or Easton had

mountains to cross. When going up or down steep or rocky trails or
along narrow cliffs these trails were very hazardous, especially for pack
horses with heavy loads. ^^
Pack horses were of necessity widely used in bringing the settlers to
their frontier properties. They continued to be the basic form for transportation of freight for many years. The many workers who gained their
livelihood from the employment afforded, resisted the construction of
improved roads which allowed heavy wagon traffic. Many men engaged
heavily in the business employing extensive trains of horses. Two men
would attend the train, one in front with a bell on the lead horse, the
other man in the rear, keeping all in line, each horse tethered by a leading strap to the horse in front. Regular pack saddles were provided. The
loads might be as much as 250 pounds. Where ponies were found to be
more useful for narrow, steep, and twisting trails, the loads were 180 to
200 pounds. Freighting by this means was expensive. A ton freighted by
this method from Philadelphia to Erie in 1784 cost $250. Thus with slow
and toilsome step, the caravan would wind its course across hill and dale,
49

burdens, braving severe storms or summer showers, and often
converted
to raging torrents. At such times it would be necessary
streams
to wait until the waters subsided. One party late in August, 1770, noted
fording the Susquehanna in the vicinity of Catawissa with the water

bearing

its

same party was able to have its
heavy things taken over in a canoe of a settler at that place. Such occasional boat or canoe facilities gradually led to regular ferry services.
I''
Horses or cattle might be tethered to the boat and compelled to swim.
"scarce belly deep of our horses." This

Pack horses were used by many of the
with as

many

horses in a train as are

first settlers,

shown

but probably not

in this picture. Also, before

became wider, ponies were preferred as being suited to narrow
trails. This form of freight transportation was used for many years, or
until turnpikes and improved roads became generally available.
trails

William H. Shank, Indian Trails to Super Highways, p. 18, with permission of the
author. See also: Battle, History of Columbia and Montour Counties, p. 248;
Bradsby, History of Montour County, p. 21.

traffic. This was
are found for
wagon
traffic
mostly after the Revolution, but references to
^^
paths, full
than
better
much
were
not
the
roads
Often
the earlier years.

Trails

were gradually widened into roads for wagon

of stumps, stones, deep with dust in the

spring and fall.^^

50

summer, quagmires of mud

in

Revived Interest

in

Susquehanna Lands

We have evidence of revived
before the end

interest in the

Susquehanna lands even
had been secured, the

of the Revolution. After peace

was resumed. Also, additional settlers came,
with increasing numbers in the 1790's.

building up of settlements

some

in the 1780's, but

Shifting of Travel Routes

There was also a shifting of routes. The earlier practice of journeying
to Harrisburg was not in a direct line, and it incurred laborious boat trips
against the current when using the river. Settlers from the southeast
began coming more directly to Bear Gap and then to Catawissa along a
route which must have been close to that of Pennsylvania 487. Still more

from the Schuykill River Valley, a route for a long time has
crossed Little Mountain and then led to Catawissa along the southern
directly

on Catawere to
represented very closely by

slope of Catawissa Mountain. These roads, tending to converge

wissa brought settlers to that

grow

community and

also to others that

immediate region. This route is
Pennsylvania #42, to Legislative #19087, 1905.
At Catawissa it seems that many Quakers had never left their homes
during the war. 20 Those who had fled from the harassment or who were
forced to leave, returned to restore their ruined buildings and neglected
in the

routes

fields.21

The growth of the community was promoted when William Hughes
bought a tract of land, ninety-two and a quarter acres, in what is now the
central part of Catawissa. The most attractive part he laid out into lots
with main streets and side streets. This became the basic street pattern of
the town, still followed. 22 At first his town was called Hughesburg, but
later the old

name

of Catawissa

records shows that he

was able

came

it. A study of the
about three times their

to be attached to

to sell his lots at

proportionate cost to him. Settlers came.

Thus
tween

early Catawissa

became

a leader in growth.

Wyoming and Sunbury was
when

The

established, date not

first

store be-

known,

to

be

between Catawissa
and points on the North and West Branches, Catawissa became an important and well-known point.
At first the Quakers shared in this growth. They advanced in population sufficiently to build the Catawissa Meeting House by 1790,23 and
to have their group recognized as a Monthly Meeting in 1796, as noted in
followed by others. Later,

a boat

began

to ply

Chapter One. 24
Catawissa became the center for the growth of the Quaker movement
in central Pennsylvania. It seemed to be a helper in the building up of a
group at Roaring Creek, (Slabtown), near which the Roaring Creek
Meeting House was built in 179625 Its first Monthly Meeting was held in
1814.26

51

Catawissa Quaker Meeting House

-

Erected 1789 or 1790.

Rhoads, History of Catawissa and Roaring Creek Quaker Meetings, with permission
of the Willard R.

Rhoads

Estate.

Decline of Quaker Strength

The Catawissa Monthly Meeting gave help

in

meetings started at Ber-

wick, Shamokin (Bear Gap), and at Fishing Creek (Millville,*) and at

more

distant places

up the West Branch. ^'^

After these encouraging developments, beginning shortly after 1800,

numbers of Quakers migrated to the Province of Ontario, with a
few others going to Ohio. With no records of causes, we can only make
inferences. It seems unlikely that the harassments during the Revolution,
which were severe for some people, were the cause, for those were
twenty or more years in the past. The remembrance of them may have
strengthened other causes. The Quakers who had had Tory leanings
would have had no difficulty in renewing their allegiance to the British
crown. The Quakers may have been disappointed in the fertility of the
Catawissa lands.
The Quakers, however, were no more immune to the "land fever"
that was sweeping the country than were people of other religious faiths.
large

for these early times the term Fishing Creek means "Millville", as in
another context it means the land in the vicinity of the confluence of this
creek with the river. For the period between 1789 and 1797 Fishing Creek Township
extended from the Fishing Creek itself to the Luzerne County Line. Battle, op. cit., p.
219; Freeze, History of Columbia County, p. 55.
*In

some contexts

this case. In

52

It

was

this "fever" that

years earlier.

They

had brought them

to the

Catawissa region twenty

also desired to acquire frontier lands at

low

prices, to

bring them under cultivation, and then to improve them with the necessary buildings for comfortable

homes

for future enjoyment, or to

sell

them at a fine profit. The accounts of new land in Ontario, to be had for
low prices, it is inferred, was the major cause for this Quaker emigration.
Whatever the causes, the Quaker population at Catawissa declined. ^^
Most of the Quakers seemed to have left Catawissa. Departures from
Roaring Creek were later and the numbers were smaller. The Catawissa
Meeting was "laid down" (given up) in 1808, and Roaring Creek in 1828.
Both areas declined

in

Quaker population. ^^

Quaker Heritage

The Catawissa Meeting
meetings elsewhere.

and elsewhere

still

It

lingered as a subordinate branch of stronger

continued

carry the

about 1903.^

till

names

of the earnest

Their successors on the land were enabled to

woodlands reduced

Many

people there

and diligent people.
have the benefit of

to cultivation of sturdy houses already built.

Two

venerable log meeting houses with their associated burying grounds are

mute but eloquent reminders of these pioneers. Names perpetuated by
descendents of these early founders include: Hayhurst, Jackson, Knappenbergs, Lloyds, Mears, Shoemakers, Watsons, and Willitts.^^

Others Took the Place of the Quakers

The task of continuing the building of civilized communities in our
county was left for others to take up. In the southern half of our county,
settlers from the southeastern counties and of German stock predominated, although other groups were represented. At Catawissa, with the
Quakers who were left and others who came in to take their places, the
community continued to grow. Catawissa continued to be a leading community of the region.
Settlements South of Catawissa
In the northern valley of the

Roaring Creek, land patents were secur-

ed from the Proprietors as soon as any part of the County. The
settlers
still

were the Quakers

in the vicinity of the

first

Quaker Meeting House

standing near the village of Slabtown, often referred to as Roaring

Creek.

As

in the case of

Catawissa, most of the Quaker settlers were suc-

ceeded by others, mostly Germans. •'^
Settlements in the Upper Catawissa Creek Valley

Up the Catawissa Creek, there were undoubtedly local paths since
developed into roads. Legislative Route 19104 leads to attractive farm
lands.

Beyond

the Mainville Gap, between Catawissa

and Nescopeck
53

Mountains,

lie

both

hill

and bottom lands which attracted

interest of

speculators and settlers as early as any place in the county. Isaac and
Margaretta John settled on their purchase of 300 acres in 1772. They oc-

cupied a one-story log cabin, whose door was in the roof and reached by
a ladder from the outside. "It seems almost incredible, but it is a well
attested fact that a family of ten children

was brought up

in

this

house. "-^-^ In the dangerous summer of 1778,* they were twice compelled
to leave their farm. By 1808, three (and possibly more) families had

Maine Township region.
Only two attempts were made at settlement beyond the Mainville
Gap. One settler, Alexander McCauley, fled from threatening dangers
and the other, Andrew Harger, was abducted by the Indians, and held

settled in the

captive for a year.

He

finally

escaped after a year's captivity.^

Settlements up the River from Catawissa

Catawissa also came to be a point of departure for settlers who
wished to reach the attractive flat lands across from the site of Fort Jenkins. We have already recounted tragedies from Indian attacks, showing
that there must have been settlers there. The records show that they
gained access from Catawissa and Mainville using routes now followed
by Legislative Routes 19021 and 19016 and finally, to the flats by Route
34,

by

modem

Mifflinville.-^^

New

county of Warren.
Brown,
Creasy, GruFamily names included are: Aten, Angle, Bowman,
elements
from Berks
German
Later,
ver, Kern, Kirkendall, and Koder.
Zimmermans.^^
and
Mostellers,
Mensingers,
Hartzels,
were added:
In 1794, John Kunchel and William Rittenhouse laid out a town, and
gave it the name of Mifflinsburg, later changed to Mifflinville, after
Thomas Mifflin, Pennsylvania's governor at that time. Its location was
about thirty miles from Wilkes-Barre up-river on the northeast and the
same distance from Sunbury down river on the southwest. In
anticipation that this favorable location would eventually make their
town a county seat for a new county, these two planners made a street
plan on a very liberal scale. The two main streets were made 132 feet
wide. An acre of ground was reserved for public buildings. What might
have been a central public square was never realized in that form. With
the failure of the town to attract settlers, the proprietors lost interest and

The

early settlers

came from

Jersey's western

any supervision over (the town's) affairs. Many lots
were occupied and improved without any formal purchase, and are held
"^^
to this day, (in 1887) with no tenure save the right of possession.
faihed "to exercise

*It

was

in this

Wyoming
54

summer when

took place.

the Indian attacks

became more

intense

and the

Battle of

'Rv.fy^yL

Loa^lu'lcLuiq.
1

The log house constructed by Leonard Rupert in 1788 comprised three
rooms instead of the usual one in a log structure. It was considered a
marvel of frontier architecture and was lived in for thirty years. Later it
served for many years for farm purposes. The main part is still standing,
1976, but seriously deteriorated.

From

the part

still

standing with evidence of the part previously

removed, and from records available, the artist has made the above
drawing. It shows how the building probably looked just after it was
finished with its squared logs still showing the bright colors of freshly
hewn timber. The original roof was probably composed of wooden
shingles, three feet long.
Battle,

History of Columbia and

Montour

Counties, p. 261.

Beginnings at Rupert
In 1788, Leonard Rupert and family with their household goods,
migrated from the city of Reading, up through the Schuykill River Valley, using the road from the south east from Reading to Catawissa,
across Little Mountain previously noted. From there the journey up the

bank of the river continued to a place about the same as now occupied by the railroad bridge. Here they were confronted with the necessity of crossing the river. Two canoes (they must have been dugout
eastern

canoes) were placed a short distance from each other.

One wagon was
55

a;/^/

allotted for a pair of canoes, the wheels on one side in one canoe, and the
wheels of the other side in the other. A place for the rowers was devised
in the middle under the wagon. The record is that the wagons, and later,
the rest of the equipment plus the people, were landed on the opposite
shore, just below the mouth of Fishing Creek. A rude log cabin, presum-

ably

left

by

a squatter,

was found and

lived in until a

more

suitable house

could be constructed.^

Leonard Rupert was the

Montour township.

A

first

permanent

generally western direction.

what was to be
and continued in a

settler in

valley opened up at Rupert

About 1800, other

settlers

entered this valley

which Rupert had marked out. Michael Bright, his fatherin-law was one. Others who followed were predominately Germans,
leading to Dutch Valley as the name that was adopted. These settlers inusing the route

cluded families with the names of Blecker, Dietterich, Frey, Hittle,
Lazarus, Leiby, and Tucker. ^^

The Hemlock Creek Valley

below the built-up section of Bloomsburg, and on the opposite
It is called Hemlock Creek.
Its valley leads into a rich and varied country. Some of its riches in farm
land and in timber, especially Hemlock, were made apparent at an early
day. Some of its mineral wealth was not to be made known until later.
Elisha Barton, born in Virginia in 1742, came to the Hemlock Creek
region about 1781. He acquired a large tract stretching from the confluence of the two creeks to the vicinity of modem Buckhom, a distance of
Settling on the land, he and his wife lived in their
over three miles.
Just

side of Fishing Creek, a small stream enters.

'^'^

wagon

until their cabin

was

completed.'*^

Peter Brugler entered this region about 1788 or 1789 and acquired a
tratract of about 600 acres extending from Frosty Valley to the Dall.*

A

recorded that Brugler killed an Indian who was attempting to
stalk him. 1788 or 1789 seems to the writer, a long time after the war for

dition

is

such an incident to have happened. '^

Other families, chiefly German, were to follow within a few years:
Applemans, Ohls, Hartmans, Neyharts, Whitenights, Leidys, Girtons,
Menningers, Merles, Grubers, Yocums, and Haucks. Coming from the
southeast, Berks and Northampton Counties, and from neighboring
regions of New Jersey, they used a route across Broad Mountain to the
vicinity of

Nescopeck Creek,

*This popular
thal,

Vale.

56

name

is

to

be more fully described

a corruption of the

pronounced as though

name

given by the

spelled, lee-bens-tall.

It

later. ^-^

German

settlers Liebens-

might be translated as Lovely

Further Attempts at Settlement in the Bloomsburg Region

Up the river from Catawissa, at the mouth of Fishing Creek and beyond, lay lands which were mostly level or gently sloping, lands which
eventually would make up Bloomsburg. We have noted previously that
they were attractive to James McClure

He purchased 300

who had encamped

there as early

was
by a number of others, chiefly Quakers, who hoped to build up a
Quaker Community in this area, similar to the one down the river at Catawissa. Others joined this little group of residents, all living on land
which would eventually become part of Bloomsburg, but not necessarily
the built-up part. Included in this number were: John Doan, the Claytons, Coopers, Kinneys, and Evan Owen, all on nearby lands. At the
"Point," where Fishing Creek flows into the river, Samuel Boone,
another Quaker from Exeter Township in Northampton County, puras 1769.

acres in 1772. Before the Revolution he

joined

He was to give his name also to the important Boone's
Dam. Evan Owen, a Quaker of Welsh descent, purchased several tracts
chased 400 acres.

on one of which, as the records show, he had a residence, undoubtedly a log cabin, in 1771. His main residence, however, was in
of land,

Philadelphia.

Evan

Owen

Leaves the Lower Fishing Creek Area

Evan Owen did not remain. Perhaps he felt that the Fishing Creek
lands were too swampy, which they were at places. Perhaps he was concerned about the developing hostilities between the Yankee forces at
Wyoming and the Pennamite forces of the Pennsylvania Proprietorial
government. Whatever the case, he gradually divested himself of his
Fishing Creek properties and turned his interest to the area in the vicinity
of the Nescopeck "falls," actually rapids. Also, he had grander prospects
in mind than bringing a single farm under cultivation and establishing a
homestead.*^ Owen, with a companion, John Doan, explored and surveyed lands between Briar Creek and the Summer Hills, and also extensively in the Nescopeck Creek region. (At some time he had acquired the
knowledge of surveying.) "Historians estimate that he must have been in
the region for several weeks, camping in the woods at night and surveying during the day." This is stated to have been in 1780, the year of the
VanCampen and other tragedies! Eventually, he became a real estate
dealer, possessing about three thousand acres of land, the equivalent of
over four square miles. In 1787 Owen chose the section of his holdings on
the north side of the River at the Nescopeck Rapids as the site of a town
he was planning.'*^

Owen

Lays Out a

In 1783,

Owen

Town
purchased land for his projected town of Owensburg.

(sometimes written Owensville).
57

Owen

surveyed and laid out Oak, Vine, Mulberry, Market,
and Butternut Streets, with ten lots, generally
on each block fronting Front, Second, and Third Street; seventeen blocks
in all with some additional ones not quite so long. Additional lots were

Evan

Pine, Chestnut, Walnut,

river front, and others where the land configuration called
This system extended only to Third Street.
arrangement.
for a different
Generally these lots, with exceptions as indicated, were 49y2' frontage

laid out

on the

and a depth of 181 V2'. These were the town lots or inlots. North of Third
Street were the outlots, generally IMVi frontage by 412' in depth,
equivalent to about two acres. Everyone who bought a town lot, received an outlot free. This outlot must have contained virgin timber. ^^ It
would also be a source of firewood, ^^ and later useful for pasturage
who didn't keep a cow in those days? It would become a place for garden
projects with eventual sale as the demand for land would increase. Certainly it would be advantageous to buy one of Evan Owen's town lots,
and secure one outlot besides. ^^ This system of inlots and outlots was
widely prevalent in New England, but does not seem to have been much
used in Pennsylvania. It was followed nowhere else in our county.

—

Land

Prices in Berwick

We do not have figures stating how much Owen paid for the tract of
land that he laid out. Other tracts being sold at that time suggest a price
level of

$200 for 100

acres. In selling off his lots, in several of

like representative cases,

Owen

what seem

secured thirty dollars for each combi-

nation of one town lot and one outlot. ^^

Other Inducements

Owen,

to

Buy

Lots in

Owensburg

as further inducement for purchase in his

offered free land for any religious group, on which

it

town

of

Owensburg,

could erect

its

meet-

must have been highly satisfactory to Owen when he and
his wife, both Quakers, in 1810, were able to give to "the Society of
People called Friends", two town lots and part of one outlot for a meeting
house, school house, and burying ground. ^^
During all these years since 1771, Evan Owen had continued to maining house. ^^

It

support of his family in the Philadelphia region. He
member of one or another Quaker Meeting there,
local militia. Even after laying out of the town, he continued

tain his residence in

was noted
and of the
to

as being a

maintain his Philadelphia residence.

Owen's Real

Estate Activities

Evidence indicates that Owen was busily selling his lands and inducing settlers to come to his town of Owensburg. ^^ In fact, for the rest
of his life, his chief activity seemed to be selling off lots in his town or
tracts

58

from

his other extensive holdings.

It

is

said that

Owen

traveled

through the country from Berwick to Philadelphia selling lots to
sell rapidly. It seems that up to 1789
or 1790, there were very few people living there.
The lack of good roads retarded the early settling of the town. The
necessary goods had to be brought into the settlement from Philadelphia
to Middletown or Harrisburg by land and thence by boats up the river to
Berwick and on to Wyoming. The Executive Council in Philadelphia
realized that if this part of the country was to be opened for settlement,
better transportation facilities would have to be made. Evan Owen was a
surveyor as well as Proprietor of Berwick. 54
pioneers. But the lots did not seem to

A Road

was Constructed from Lehigh to Nescopeck
man most interested in developing a road
would be the fittest to be employed to execute the work, Evan Owen was
appointed to explore, survey, and mark out the best public route and
then superintended the construction of the road. Evan Owen was able to

On

the assumption that the

report the completion of this road in 1790. ^^ After the completion of the
it was not long until the town began to grow.^^
Evan Owen, himself, moved with his family in 1793 or 1794. ^^

road,

Berwick's

Name

John Brown and Robert Brown each are noted as buying lots in 1795,
and were recorded as having built the first houses, with Owen next.^^
Mrs. Robert Brown was bom in Berwick-On-The-Tweed, just north
of the shire of Northumberland in England. She was able to influence
Evan Owen to change the name to Berwick in honor of her birthplace.

Evan

Owen

a Leading Citizen

Besides being proprietor,
thirty years
to himself,

he

and

Owen was

filled several different

a leading citizen. For nearly

public offices with dignity, respect

satisfaction to his fellow citizens.

He

also

made donations

to different religious societies. ^^

While attention has been given to events and developments in the
Berwick and Catawissa regions, consideration should be given to what
was happening in other places.

Moses VanCampen Returns

On

to Fishing

Creek Region

from military service, in 1783, VanCampen married
Margaret McClure, daughter of James McClure, an early settler of the
Fishing Creek region, as noted in Chapter 2. He took up the management
of Widow McClure's farm, located on the river front of what was to be
Bloomsburg. Later in 1789, he moved with his family to the Briar Creek
region. It is inferred that he made substantial improvements on this land.
He sold this land when a good opportunity offered, and moved with his
his return

59

New York in
up.^ VanCampen's resipossible for him to acquire suf-

now grown

family,

to include five daughters, to western

1795, where attractive lands were being opened

Creek probably made it
an advantageous purchase of attractive lands elsealso records that VanCampen gave a plot to
account
Hubbard's
where.
an "evangelical society," when it had completed a building on it.^^
A quotation from our source is interesting in its own right, but is also
dence

in Briar

ficient capital for

instructive of the journeys of settlers to the frontiers of that time.

Briar Creek to Almond [the New York desmust of necessity have been attended with many interesting, and quite likely some exciting incidents, involving as it did,
the poling up the Chemung and Canisteo rivers of flat bottomed
boats or arks, laden with their household effects and other property which they needed to make a start with in the "new country"
to which they were going.
Of a necessity it must have been laborious, annoying, and attended with more or less danger; and the five little girls, the eldest
eleven years of age and the youngest a babe in its mother's arms,
certainly afforded sufficient objects for maternal concern and

The journey from

tination!

anxiety. ^^

not within the scope of this work to review VanCampen's career
except to say that he came to be a trusted surveyor, to receive responsibilities of Justice of the Peace, and other public
office, to become a major in the militia, and the recipient of high civic
It is

in his

new environment

honors. *^^

Regions of the Future Townships of North and South Centre
Frederick Hill in 1792 purchased the

site

of the ruined Fort Jenkins.

He

and used it as a hotel, the first in the limits of the County.
Travel so increased up and down the river road on which his hotel was
erected a house

located that in 1799

Abram

Miller constructed another. Being half

way

between Bloomsburg and Berwick, it came to be called the Half-Way
House. Other families were added to the region of what was to be North
Centre Township and South Centre Township. Henry Hidlay definitely
settled in the northern part. John Hoffman, Nehemiah, Hutton, and
James Cauley, and others not identified settled in the general area.^

Slow Growth

in the

Lower Fishing Creek Area

Growth in the area that was to be Bloomsburg was slow. It is in the
opinion of the writer, based on geographical considerations and histori*It was at this time that VanCampen joined the post-war reorganization of the militia.
He was elected major by an almost unanimous vote. Thereafter he was known as

Major. Hubbard, op.

60

cit.,

p. 181.

cal factors, that the

overland

traffic routes diverted traffic to the

land north of the river properties.
riors Path,

coming up the

An

higher

Indian path, called the Great War-

lower Fish-

river valley to the outskirts of the

ing Creek region used this higher land north of that bordering the river.

By 1800

this

path had grown into a road better than average for the

this road turned southward (now East Street) the Fishing
Creek Path branched off to the northeast (modern Lightstreet Road). We,
of course, must envision a winding path along these levels, necessarily
such in order to cross two rivulets, one near Market Street, and the other
between modern Iron and East Streets, and to avoid other natural obstacles which once must have been here and there. The site must have
seemed most attractive to a would-be town planner.

time.^^

Where

as agent,* laid out a town on a plat of land** belonging
Oyer. This plat provided for ninety-six lots between
modern Iron Street and the East and West Streets; and between Front
Street (later to be called First Street) on the north and Third Street on the
south. A distinctive feature of his plan was to have a central open square,called Market Square. Numerous other communities in Pennsylvania
have this feature, but it is found no where else in Columbia County.

Ludwig Eyer,

to

John

The

Adam

Name

of Bloomsburg

Bloom Township was set off from Briar Creek Township in 1798.^
The township, it has been stated, was named for Samuel Bloom, a
county commissioner for Northumberland County, of which our area
was a part at that time.^^ He was not county commissioner until 1813,
fifteen years later, so the township could not have been named for him as
*The spelling of

this

name

in

German

is

Euer, but the pronunciation

the English pronunciation of Oyer. All real estate records for this

is

name

equivalent to

spell the

name

On

the tombstone in Old Rosemont Cemetery in Bloomsburg, the spelling is
Eyer. Since the family seems to have preferred Eyer, and the founder's name has come
to be popularly rendered as Eyer, this form will be used in this book.
**The history of this parcel of land is interesting, especially so since it has been misstated elsewhere. This land, 92 acres, was granted to Henry Allshouse in 1773 by the

Oyer.

The rate for such purchases was five pounds per 100 acres. In 1795, Allsto Henry Dildine for 178 pounds; Dildine sold it to Ludwig Eyer for 400
pounds in 1796, and Ludwig Eyer sold it to John Adam Oyer on June 5, 1802 for 580
pounds. It was the northern third of this plot which Ludwig Eyer laid out in the 96 lots
noted above. Duy, Atlas of Bloomsburg, p. 7.
proprietors.

house sold

it

A few sales taken at random suggest
One

that the prices

were around

thirty to fifty dollars

with a house (it must have been a log house) sold for 100 pounds. This
was roughly equal to five hundred dollars for a lot "improved" with a house.
John Adam Oyer, after buying the land from Ludwig Eyer, made Eyer his agent both
for laying out the land and selling lots in the Bloomsburg region. John Adam Oyer, a
school teacher in the Northampton County area, sold some of his Bloomsburg lots in
the Northampton area. He sold a tract of three lots at the very favorable price of sixty
dollars to the union (combined) congregations of the Lutherans and Reformed
churches for a church buiilding and burying ground. This site is now occupied by the
Bloomsburg Middle School. See Columbia County Deed Book II.
a lot.

lot

61

county commissioner.^ Thus the source of the name Bloom for this
township is unsolved. Documents estabHsh that Ludwig Oyer (Eyer) used
the name Bloomsburgh when he laid out the town in 1802. ^^ No
convincing reason for his choice of this name has been found. Certain
settlers coming from the vicinity of Bloomsbury, N.J., may have suggested this name or one similar to it. That the names Oyerstown or Eyerstaetel (Oyers little village) were used for a number of years seems clearly
established, but they could never have been the official names. The name
spelled Bloomsburgh was used for only a few years, when the current
form, without the final h, became established.'''^

Upper Fishing Creek Settlements: Knob Mountain

An early mention of
the attack

and

the

Knob Mountain

region

is

in

connection with

Knob Mountain in
captors of VanCampen

killing of a family living at the foot of

About the same time also, the Indian
came across a party of four men making maple sugar along Huntington
Creek. When fired upon by the Indians, the fire was returned and the
Indians abandoned further attack.^
About 1785, Abraham Kline led a large party of incoming settlers. It
consisted of his wife, "a family of grown sons, some of whom were married and accompanied by their families. "^^ Coming from New Jersey, the
party had crossed Broad Mountain, then had gone on to Berwick, thence

1780. '^

westward

to the Fishing

they cut their

Creek Valley. "Following

way through

its

course northward

the almost impenetrable

wood

at

Light

where there was only a single house, the farthest northern settlement in the valley. They established their first encampment on land previously occupied by the Indians, but since altered and washed away by
successive floods. At first they lived in their wagons and a tent. An important source of food was milk from the cows that they had brought. It
is observed that it was a very common practice to bring cows with the incoming settlers. It is to be further observed that they, like other settlers,
depended on wild game and fish. "Lin-trees" were felled and the leaves
used for cattle forage, both as "grass and hay." The first cabin was constructed that summer, with other members of the group adding theirs in
Street,"

the

summers

following.

were the Whites, Parks, and Culps from New
Jersey; the Rantz, VanHorns, Netenbachs, and Wereman families from
Berks and Northampton Counties; and Samuel Staddon from Lancaster
County. Ludwig Herring and the Vance and Patterson families conclude
the known settlers on or before 1800. Other owners of land north of Fishing Creek were the families of Cutts, Montgomery, Razor, Uengling.
South of Fishing Creek were the Jones, Christy, Peters, Randalls, and

Other

first settlers

Abner Kline
62

families.

^'^

Upper Fishing Creek Settlements: North Mountain
In the late 1780's, a

came
had

group of Neighbors in Northampton County benew lands. John Godhard, of English descent,

interested in securing

lost his

many

is

wife and

was left with

a "large family of daughters", just

how

not stated. Philip Hess became a son-in-law. Granddaughters,

with their husbands, Philip Hess, Christian Laubach, Exekial Cole, and
John Kile were brought into the family association. All were living in
Williams or Forks Townships, near the confluence of the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers. Philip Fritz desired a change from a confining business that
had impaired his health. William Hess, with a family of twelve sons and
six daughters living on unproductive acres, seemed also in need of a
change of homestead from the "dry acres" that he cultivated. Godhard
sold his farm and invested the proceeds in a tract of land at the headwaters of Fishing Creek. From whom he made the purchase and how he
learned about the land is not clear. The whole group of interested persons prudently decided to investigate the region before moving to it.

Accordingly, a party was

made up

in

whole or

in part of

those men-

William and Benjamin Coleman and Matthias Rhone, also
joined. They journeyed and explored minutely, the stream from mouth
tioned,

to source. ^^ Prospectors for

new

land regularly studied the

soil.

Luxuri-

ant forests, especially pine, oak, or black walnut, were always con-

sidered indications of deep, rich soils. ''^
to

Good farm

be well watered, but not swampy. Although

the

main

travel routes, the verdict

land would also need

was

at a distance from
was favorable. To have made a choice
it

need for an attempted explanation.
were very good. It was not a very serious
disadvantage not to be close to one of the used roads. Farm life for the
pioneer was isolated along Susquehanna, the upper part of the Roaring
Creek, or any other place. The pioneer had to anticipate, to a large degree, a self-sufficient existence. If the land seemed productive, that was
the main criterion.
for such a distant place, suggests a

None

of the roads at that time

On or about 1792, migration took place. We have not a picture, but
assume that it would have shown an impressive cavalcade, probably of
wagons with some pack horses. Roads, of sorts, were available from
Easton to Nescopeck, then to Fishing Creek, and up its valley.
On

may well have
West Briar
Cabin Run
Creek region. Alexander Aikman had returned near the end of the war.
Others returned or new settlers came. Benjamin Fowler, a former prisoner from the British Army, settled in the region, but not before he married his affianced bride, a member of another family by the same name,
who were among the new entrants.^ Others of the "compact settlement"
the

way

to the Lightstreet vicinity, their route

taken them past some of the settlements

in the

—

63

had

that

been

justified the construction of Fort

Wheeler

in

1778 must have

in the vicinity.

A few houses were passed at
ment

at

Knob Mountain.

Daniel

Lightstreet,

and Abraham Kline's settlealready at what was to be

McHenry was

Stillwater. Arrived at their destination, William Hess took land
extending four miles up Coles Creek, to North Mountain. His sons, along
with a number of others, settled in the general region. These early settlers

included families with the following names: Bird, Cole, Harrington,

Hartman, Hess, Kile, Laubach, Robbins, Seward, and Shultz. Many of
these are still prominent among the north county residents.''^
The experiences of a group of settlers at Berwick reflect the hazards
and hardships generally to be undergone by pioneers. About 1795j^
James and Robert Brown were induced by Owen to settle on his land at
Owensburg, not yet named Berwick. After the usual hardship of an over-

From that point to the Nescocanoes were required. This reference to canoes, along with
other references, indicates that dugout canoes were available here for
land journey, the party reached Catawissa.

peck

Falls

hire at this time.*

After the burdensome journey, probably by poling fourteen or fifteen
miles against the current in the river, a launching

marked

was

affected at the foot

Market Street. The household goods and meagre supply of provisions were toilsomely carried up
the steep Indian path, then existing, and deposited at the crest. They were
attempting a brief rest from this ardous toil, when a sudden shower came
upon them before their goods could be protected. At the prospect of
of the bluff, later

as the termination of

passing the night without shelter or protection for their belongings, the

women

broke

down

into weeping.

We

can imagine that the

men

felt like

it.80

'Leonard Ruperts's party, for instance,

in 1788, as

narrated above also had to use

canoes.

1.

Fort Wheeler was maintained to the end of the war, and Fort McClure was constructed near the end of the war and maintained until its end, both for the protection of settlers in the region: Frontier Forts, I, pp. 369-373 ff.

2.

"Spangenberg's Journey to Onondaga, 1745" quoted by Snyder, 'The Great
Shamokin Path," Northumberland Proceedings, XIV, p. 21 (June 10): Wallace,

3.

4.

5.

6.
7.

64

Indian Paths, p. 3.
la Rochefoucauld-Liancourt, Journey in the United States, 1795, I, pp.
139-140, [Voyage dan les Etats-Unis d'Amerique].
Wallace, Paul, Indian Paths, quoting McClure, and Schoepf, p. 2; Wallace,
"Indian Trails," Northumberland Proceedings, XVIII, p. 22.
Dunaway, History of Pennsylvania, pp. 243-244; Where well worn paths were
wide enough for two to walk abreast. Snyder, "Muhlenberg's Journal,"
Northumberland Proceedings, IX, p. 215; Wallace, Historic Indian Paths, p. 10.
Wallace, Indian Paths, p. 2.
Brewster, Pennsylvania and New York Frontier, pp. 5-6.

Due de

8.

9.

10.

11.
12.

13.

14.

15.
16.

17.
18.

19.

20.

21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.

27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.

39.
40.

Rev. John Ettwein's Journal, quoted by Snyder, "Great Shamokin Path," Northumberland Proceedings, XIV, p. 28, (July 8).
Instances have been given in the course of our narrative.
Snyder, C.F., "Muhlenberg's Journal," Northumberland Proceedings, IX, pp.
219-222. As late as 1795, the inhabitants of Berwick are described as living in
"huts." Rochefoucauld-Liancourt, idem.
Snyder, C.F., op. cit., p. 214. Snyder quoting "Conrad Weiser's Journey to
Onondago," Northumberland Proceedings, XIV, pp. 15-16.
Snyder, The Great Shamokin Path," quoting John Bartram, Northumberland
Proceedings, XIV, pp. 17-18; Wallace, quoting Rev. David McClure in his diary
September 7, 1772, Indian Paths, p. 2.
Lightfoot, T. Montgomery, "Benjamin Lightfoot's Trip to Tankhannick," Northumberland Proceedings, IX, p. 178; Wallace, op. cit., pp. 7-8. The account of
the migration of the Palatine Germans from the Schoharie Valley of New York to
the Swatara Creek in the year 1723 gives a good description of a long distance
migration through four hundred miles of unsettled country. Carter, 'The
Palatine Migration," Northumberland Proceedings, XX, pp. 1-33. David McClure wrote in 1772, quoted by Wallace, "Indian Highways of Pennsylvania, " in
The Settler, III, pp. 118-119, April, 1965.
Bartram's observations quoted in Snyder, op. cit., p. 16, (7th), p. 18, (12th),
Ettwein's Journal, op. cit., p. 28, July 19; Wallace, Indian Paths. ...p. 7; Wallace,
"Indian Highways of Pennsylvania," pp. 118-119.
The various pestering insects are mentioned in many places. One example is
"Philip Vickers Fithian's Journal," Northumberland Proceedings, VIII, p. 51.
Snyder, C.F., "Muhlenberg's Journal," op. cit., pp. 214-215; Bradsby, History of
Montour Counties, p. 21... from Battle, History of Columbia and Montour
Counties, Pa.
Lightfoot, op. cit., IX, pp. 178-179; Snyder, C.F., idem., p. 220.
Fithian preached from a wagon at Warrior Run, 1775. Wood, "Fithian's Journal,"
Northumberland Proceedings, VIII, p. 57. Fithian also noted a wellbeaten wagon road on West Branch, op. cit., p. 60. Fithian also noted a wagon
load of goods on way to Fishing Creek, July 19, 1775, quoted by Clark, in "Pioneer Life in the New Purchase," Northumberland Proceedings, VII, p. 35.
Wagons were used in the Great Runaway on the West Branch and by John Eves at
Little Fishing Creek.
Clark, op. cit., p. 35.
Battle, History of Columbia and Montour Counties, p. 274.
Eshelman, A History of Catawissa Friends' Meeting, pp. 11-12.
Rhoads, History of the Catawissa Quaker Meeting, pp. 16 ff.
Rhoads, op. cit., p. 32.
Rhoads, op. cit., p. 22.
Rhoads, op. cit., p. 33.
Rhoads, op. cit., p. 29.
Theiss, "How the Quakers Came to Central Pennsylvania," Northumberland
Proceedings, XXI, p. 71.
Rhoads, op. cit., p. 27; Theiss, op. cit., p. 27.
Eshelman, op. cit., p. 18; Rhoads, op. cit., pp. 27, 44.
Rhoads, op. cit., pp. 30-54.
Battle, op. cit., p. 274.
Battle, op. cit., p. 294 ff.; ibid. 301 ff.
Battle, op. cit., p. 292.
Battle, op. cit., p. 293 f.
Battle, op. cit., p. 286.
Battle, op. cit., pp. 286-287.
Battle, op. cit., p. 288.
Battle, op. cit., p. 261.
Battle, op. cit., p. 262.
Beers, Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, pp. 762-763.

65

p. 763.

41.

Beers, op.

42.

Battle, op. cit., p. 256.

43.

Battle, op. cit., p. 257.

44.

Battle, op. cit., p. 191; Beers, op. cit., p. 151.

45.

Bevilaqua, The Story of Berwick, set. "Owen Buys Land."
Bishop, "Life of Evan Owen," paper no. 10 in W.P.A. Series, volume Indian Lore
and Early Settlers.
Bevilaqua, op. cit., "Plot of Berwick."
Fenstermacher, Souvenior Booklet & Program, Berwicks' 175th Anniversary, p.

46.
47.

48.

cit.,

13.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.

54.
55.
56.
57.
58.

Columbia County Deed Book.
Columbia County Deed Book,

Columbia County Deed Book,

Brown
59.

60.
61.

62.
63.
64.

65.
66.

67.
68.

Bevilaqua, op.

Columbia County Deed Books.
Battle,

71.

Battle, op. cit., p. 247.

72.

Battle, op. cit., p. 208.
Battle, op. cit., p. 249.

set.,

"John and Robert

idem.

75.

Battle, op. cit., pp. 248-249.
Battle, op. cit., p. 225.

76.

Battle, op. cit., pp. 225-226.

77.

Battle, op. cit., p. 210.

78.

Battle, op. cit., p. 225.

79.

The

80.

Battle, p. 192;

earliest sale of lots in

Deed Book

Berwick to the Browns was
l,

p. 379.

y^-i&yoc^^

Fence making

66

cit.,

Bevilaqua, op. cit., set., "Founder Lays Out Town."
Battle, op. cit., p. 193; Fenstermacher, op. cit., p. 53.
Freeze, History of Columbia County, Pennsylvania, p. 23; Hubbard, Life &
Adventures of Moses VanCampen, p. 272.
Hubbard, op. cit., pp. 272-273.
Hubbard, op. cit., pp. 284-294.
Battle, op. cit., p. 210.
Rouchefoucauld-Liancourt, ibid.
Freeze, op. cit., p. 55.
Battle, op. cit., p. 160, footnote; Fisher, 'Township Names of Old Northumberland County," Northumberland Proceedings, VIH, p. 243.
Fisher, idem.; Snyder, C.F., "Township Names of Old Northumberland" in Northumberland Proceedings, VIH, p. 242-243.

70.

74.

I.

Settle Here."

69.

73.

I.

Fenstermacher, idem., p. 13.
Eshelman, op. cit., p. 21.
Bishop, op. cit., p. 112.
Bishop, idem.
Bishop, op. cit., p. 113-114.
Bishop, idem.
Bishop, op. cit., p. 115.

tools.

in 1795.

CHAPTER

5

The Columbia County Region
in the Early Eighteen

Our Region

A

in

Hundreds

1795

French traveler, Rochefoucauld-Liancourt, journeyed through our
We quote fron^ parts of his description:
The road to Berwick is always in the woods, and, as a result,
without any view. The houses are very poor, some cows wander-

region in the spring of 1795.

ing at

some

distance from the houses;

woods, but closer

We

stopped

some sheep

also in the

to the houses.

at the

township of Fishing Creek* [this townand Center Town-

ship took in most of the later Briar Creek
ships] to refresh our horses at

near modern Lime Ridge]; he

Abraham
is

Miller's [the location

is

a farmer, has a tavern and store.

300 acres of which seventy are almost cleared; he
adds yearly from 12 to 15 acres to his cleared land; but with
some trouble, workers are not found easily; they are paid SVi
shillings a day independent of their food estimated at about 1
shilling 6 pence a day. [This wage was somewhat higher than
the average for the time, approximately equivalent to twenty
His farm

is

pounds or $100 per year.^]
Here, as in almost

all

the places

we have

already gone

and underthrough it costs three dollars an
brush in the cleared fields. They pay five shillings a day to the
workers employed in this operation and they feed them.
acre to clear the roots

'Fishing Creek Township at this time took in that part of Northumberland County
north of the Susquehanna and east of Little Fishing Creek.

67

It is

here that

we found

we used

to be excellent.

for the first time

Abraham

maple sugar which

Miller sells six barrels of

sugar a year for which he pays 13 pence a pound and which he
sells at 15.

He does

not

sell

brown sugar from

(He gets from Philadelphia

at 14.

all

the islands except

the merchandise for his

It comes overland by cart to Catawissa, passes to the Susquehanna and arrives at Fishing Creek. The price of the transport had been until last spring a dollar a mile; it has since been
augmented by a quarter.)

store.

Berwick and Approaches
Fields sell at 8 to 10 dollars with some clearing; the ones
covered entirely with woods two to three dollars. (I interpret

mean

Houses are rare and miserable.
one nears Berwick, a village which
is the chief place of the township built on the bank of the river
in a rather pretty place a little more open than the other places.
This village is composed of about twenty ugly houses in
which one couldn't find an egg for our supper; but there was
some milk. The beds were rather clean, the stables good, the
oats and hay excellent and when one travels by horse one consoles oneself of not being entirely well off, provided that the
horses have all that they need. The masters of the inn where we
were are young and have only established themselves; they are
good and obliging; their house is of wood and is half built; their
property is composed of 24 acres of which they cultivate ten,
the rest has not yet been attacked by the axe. The price of these
lands with the beginning of clearing is at Berwick 12 dollars.
Those entirely uncleared are from one dollar and a half to two
this to

They

get

price per acre.)

more numerous

as

dollars.

The inhabitants of Berwick, who have huts which we found
on our way today, are a mixture of English, from the country
of Wales, Germans, Flemish, Scotch. The present emigration
comes generally from the Jerseys, all seem poor, are badly
dressed but their appearance of strength and health show that
they are well nourished and overcomes their appearance of poverty. The number of children is enormous in proportion to the

number

How

of houses.

Large were

Our Communities about 1800?
in the above quotation to the number of

children shows
The reference
and vicinity.
Berwick
in
that by 1795 there were numerous families living
other
areas.
sizes
of
We have some evidence of the

68

Shown above

an artist's imaginative reconstruction of a pioneer's
second or third season. The first constricted clearing in
the dense forest has been enlarged to an area of several fields. The latter
are shown still studded with stumps. These are the remains of the trees
which provided the logs, for the house and out buildings, the worm
fencing, and the bridge with its corduroy flooring, and also fuel for cook-

homestead

is

in the

and heating. The log chimney indicates the fireplace inside.
The work of extending the cleared fields and the planting of crops

ing

shown

in the

is

background.

would have been chickens in this picture, hidden behind
The growing crops, the cow and calf, and the sow and piglets
show that the fear of famine has been removed. Surplus crops and livestock also show the means of acquiring through purchase or barter, conveniences from the nearby town or distant city. These are signs of
growing prosperity. One indication is the glass in the window.
Surely, the mother with infant in her arms can look forward to greater
conveniences and comforts. The father has a growing farm with
economic security assured for himself and his family.
Typically, there

the cabin.

From Munsell, History

In the region

of Luzerne,

where the

arrived about 1793.

Lackawanna, and Luzerne Counties,

village of Briar

They came from

p. 42.

to grow up, settlers
Northampton County.

Creek was

Bethel,

Having come

in a group, they gave each other mutual aid in the task of
and constructing the first cabins. The cabin of John Freas
consisted of one living room with an additional room used as a stable.
According to the best evidence available, a brick and stone structure was

clearing land

69

yrce.Je.LUM^

The frontiersman ax was a most important tool. The artist has shown the
The modern ax, not shown, is lighter than these. The ax
was kept sharp and the user became skillful.

earlier forms.

Joan

L.

Romig

built to replace this first log cabin

on

this site

of such a structure in the region. These

by

1802. This

first settlers

was

the

first

included the family

Bowman, Hutton, Rittenhouse, Cauley, and Mack.-^
through the future site of Bloomsburg, RochefoucauldLiancourt found nothing worthy of comment. His road, undoubtedly
following the old Great Warrior's Path, would have taken his party
north of the river settlements of the McClures, Boones, and their neighbors. These settlers mostly had remained through the Revolutionary

names

of Freas,

In passing

When Ludwig Eyer laid out the Town of Bloomsburg in 1802,
were only two buildings in the platted area. One was a deserted log
hovel with a clapboard roof and a chimney, also of logs. This was at the
south side of Second Street below Market. Chamberlain's Hotel, at the
corner of Second Street and Miller Alley, was of frame construction and
two stories high. This would have been one of the first buildings not of
log in the whole county.'* In fact, one reference leads one to conclude
that practically all houses in Columbia County as late as 1800 were of log
troubles.

there

construction.^

There

is

evidence of the presence of other buildings outside the streets

Ludwig Eyer had planned. The Episcopalians had a building on the west
side of the road leading from Esquire Barton's residence to Berwick, a
road to be identified with modern East Street. The Lutherans and Reformeds in the neighborhood had arrangements to use this church building. These three religious groups give evidence of a considerable number
of families. Soon other new families arrived and houses were erected.
Bloomsburg was soon to become as thickly settled as any other part of
70

the region.

The

first

land purchasers included

Abram

Grotz, C. C. Marr,

Christopher Kahler, and Philip Mehrling. Soon Daniel Snyder and John

Cleman were

to

buy land nearby.^

Catawissa
Catawissa was recorded as having forty-five houses, one of stone in
1801. This fact establishes it as the largest community in the region, with
an estimated population of 200.'' The farming population nearby seems
not to have increased markedly.^

Roaring Creek Valley

To the south in Roaring Creek Valley the considerable number of
Quakers who had come earlier, did not remain, as noted previously.
Their places had been filled by others, who were chiefly Germans. About
1798 a grist and saw mill was built by Samuel Cherington, for Thomas
Linville. A mill has existed at the site ever since. The early houses which
grew up around were built with slabs, presumably for siding, from the
sawed logs. The predominance of this form of building material gave it
the name of Slabtown, which has persisted, although the United States
Government assigned, for a time, the name Roaring Creek for the Post
Office that

was

early established there.

Franklin Township

Settlements planned as early as 1783, on the side of the Susquehanna

mouth of Roaring Creek, were given up when the site was
overflowed by the flood of that year. The interest of settlers was transferred to the area south of the river and centered around the Parr's and
Pensyl's Mills. Here, as elsewhere, the Quakers were the first settlers, but
were succeeded by Germans. ^^
opposite to the

Rupert and Dutch Valley

The settlers who followed Leonard Rupert and continued into the
Dutch Valley part of Montour Township seemed to have no substantial
increase for some time after the opening of the new century.

Hemlock
Similarly, the

first settlers in

Hemlock did not immediately have

ad-

ditional neighbors in the early years of the century.

Mifflin

There seems to have been a route, probably an old Indian path, up
from Catawissa but back somewhat along the hills. Settlers used

the river

71

this path to Mifflin, as noted
farming land in the vicinity at

town

in the
first

of Mifflinsburg did not build

lation to call for

up rapidly.

and the projected

In fact, at

first,

generally

up more slowly than the surrounding farm land.
these outlying areas would need to have enough poputhe services provided by town dwellers. ^^

most of the towns

We can infer that

previous chapter.* The outlying

attracted settlers

built

Nescopeck
Farther up the river, the above path led to Nescopeck, actually in
Luzerne County, and the site of a long established Indian town. In Indian

times and since, this site has been closely associated with the regions
north of the river, later to be known as Berwick and Briar Creek. In 1796,
thirty-one taxables were reported in Nescopeck village. This can be interpreted as thirty six families, and a population of a hundred or more.^^

Knob Mountain Region
North up the valleys of Fishing Creek, the traveler of that time, it
would seem from available evidence, would have found widely separated
pioneers' log buildings and patches of cleared land in the process of being
expanded into fields. On Fishing Creek, a few miles from Bloomsburg,
centered more or less closely around the former Fort Wheeler and the
settlement formerly called "compact," were a number of families. They
were the Wheelers, and other names previously mentioned and probably
still others whose names have not come down to us. Farther up the
Creek at Knob Mountain were Abram Kline and the settlers associated
with him. Continuing up the Creek, the traveler would have missed the
Dodder family up Huntington Creek to the east near its confluence with
Pine Creek and close to modern Jonestown. Up the main stream was
Daniel McHenry and family. The Dodders had settled in 1786 and the

McHenrys

in 1784. 1^

Benton

The general region
to

have

of

what was

to be

Benton Township was reported
which would indicate a popu-

fifteen or sixteen families in 1799,

lation of

about seventy-five or eighty. ^^

North Mountain

At the headwaters of Fishing Creek near North Mountain was the
members of the Godhard group previ-

considerable settlement of the

ously described.

Sugarloaf

*This route

72

is

is

described, in 1800, as consisting of the Cole, Fritz, Hess,

now

represented,

it

is

inferred,

by

Legislative

Route 19020.

Laubach, and Robbins families and must, by 1800, have approached a
population of seventy-five to one hundred persons. ^^

Greenwood
at

Valley Region

John Eves and his family, after fleeing the county on the Indian threat
the time of the attack on Wyoming, remained at his Delaware home

through the Revolution.

Greenwood Valley
at that

ley

It

seems that the scattered

time of danger. In 1786 or 1787 the settlement of

was again begun. Eves returned

nearby

settlers

or the valley of Green Creek had also

Greenwood

to find his buildings a

charred ruins and the fields overgrown with bushes

in

the region

left

Val-

mass of
or nine

in the eight

He and his family went to work to restore their holdings and to the work of building a community. Among those who settled
nearby were the families of Lundy, Link, and Rich. To the Green Creek
Valley, at the east, with their families came the four Mather brothers,

years of absence.

Robbins,

Joshua

Archibald

Patterson,

and

and

William

Whitmoyer

attack in

George

McMichael.16

The Jerseytoivn Region

The neighbors who had
1778,

fled after the tragic

recounted previously,

returned that

resumed. The Billhimes found their former

autumn. Settlement was

home

squatter,

who

refused to move, a situation far from

frontier.

The

Billhimes then took up a

new

site

occupied by a

uncommon on

the

location on Spruce Run.

Daniel Welliver was accompanied by three cousins, John, Adam, and
Christopher Welliver. John took up the site of the devastated Whitmoyer

home.

Adam

occupied the

settled nearby.

was among

the

site

of the future Jerseytown.

This early period of settlement indicates that
first

to be settled.

William Pegg,

in 1785,

The others
this region

extended the

by taking up land two miles distant of the Chillisquaque. From 1785 through the following years there was a steady
growth of settlers. The family names added, in addition to those mentioned, include Hodge, Smith, Kitchen, and McCollum. John Funston
started a store in 1791 and around it a village grew up. It was close to an
old Indian village on the crest of the ridge dividing the waters of the
Chillisquaque and Little Fishing Creeks. Lewis Schuyler, a Revolutionary
area of settlement

came in 1794. The predominance of settlers from New Jersey,
and especially Sussex County, led to the name Jerseytown for this
village. By 1800 there were at least fifteen families settled in this general
veteran,

area.^''

With these vague indications of the

size of

communities, chiefly

how

more
was to

small they were, the census figures of 1800 will help in gaining

accurate comprehension of the population of the whole area that

be our county.
73

1800 Population of the General Region That

Was

to

Become Columbia

County
Data from the United States Census, 1800

Townships

From Indian

Trails to

Improved Roads

Any marked

expansion of settlements and their supplies could not
come until roads made regular wagon traffic possible. These came quite
early.

Even before the Revolution, the Great Shamokin Path up the West
Branch had become a good wagon road. And up the North Branch, the
Great Warriors' Path through our region had been similarly improved as
shown by this record of July, 1775: "Two wagons, with Goods, Cattle,
Women, Tools & C, went through Town [Northumberland] to Day
from East-Jersey, on their Way to Fishing Creek [probably meaning Fishing Creek region] up this River, where they are to settle; rapid, most
rapid is the growth of this Country. "^^
The Centre Turnpike
In 1770, the Centre

opened.

The

Its

Turnpike from Pottsville to Fort Augusta was

route passed through Ashland, Mt. Carmel, and Bear Gap.

latter place

gave access to the Roaring Creek Valley and a southern

entrance to Catawissa and other parts of our region. Pennsylvania
Routes 487 and 54 currently follow this general route. ^^

The Lehigh- Nescopeck Highway
Strong interest arose for a road from the valley of the Lehigh River to
Nescopeck region. Such a desire was expressed by the up-river
sections, Wilkes-Barre and surrounding areas. The Berwick-Nescopeck
the

felt keenly the need of such a road to attract settlers and promote the commerce of those already there. The only route for the necessary supplies was from Philadelphia to Middletown, on the lower Susquehanna, by land, and thence by boats up the river to Berwick or
Wyoming. Not only was it roundabout but it incurred the laborious and
time consuming labor of poling the boats against the current.
Evan Owen, the proprietor of Berwick, was actively promoting the
sale of lands to persons living in the Philadelphia region. He was living in
the Philadelphia region at that time for this purpose, and was also close
to the seat of government, where he was in a position to make his influence felt with the Executive Council.* It was also known that Owen was
a trained surveyor. It was further noted that he was an intelligent man
and one in whom the public reposed great confidence. He also was

area also

to own a tract of land at the mouth of the Nescopeck, but with
"no intermediate" interest. A strong recommendation was made for a
direct road to Nescopeck and that Evan Owen be placed in charge.

known

*At that time the executive power of Pennsylvania was exercised by

this

Executive

Council.

75

Quoting further from the recommer\dation; "He therefore in pursuing his
interest will seek the shortest & best route; and is so solicitous to
have the work done that he has consented to undertake the trust; and as
the public grant will probably be insufficient for opening a good road he
will perform duty of Commissioner and Surveyor gratis"^^ exclusive of
expenses. Owen was given the commission. He was able to report its

own

completion

in 1790.

After this improvement, the immigration to and through this Nescopeck "gateway" increased. Much of the immigration for the northern and
eastern part of the county

Catawissa

-

Mifflinville

-

came by

this route. ^^

Nescopeck

It has already been noted that there was a route along the south side
of the river, starting at Catawissa and leading to Mifflin and Nescopeck.
It had early been used by settlers as noted formerly. The completion of
the Nescopeck-Lehigh road led from Hughesburg (Catawissa) to Mifflinsburg (Mifflinville) and thence to Nescopeck and provided that it would

be
it

fifty feet

wide. The latter provision indicates that the court considered

of especial important. ^^

The Reading Road

One

of the most valuable improvements

made by

the

Quakers of the

Roaring Creek Valley was the opening of a road to the southeast. In
May, 1789, seventeen residents petitioned the court to order the opening
road in the valley.
township roads
Beginning in Mill Street, Catawissa, it
the Catawissa
slopes
of
the
past the former Tank School, and skirted
identically
practically
spur,
southern
the
Mountain. Continuing along
Millgrove,
skirted
it
Route
19005,
Legislative
Pennsylvania
with modern
crossed Little Mountain to Ashland, and thence it linked up with an exist-

which was probably

of a road

to be the first surveyed

followed local

ing road through the Schuylkill River Valley to Reading
delphia.

It

was almost immediately named

and Phila-

the "Reading Road."

It

was

At Philadelphia it connected with the
boats bringing settlers, mostly German, but some English, almost directly from Europe to the Roaring Creek Valley. "Fortunate indeed, was
Roaring Creek Valley in having a road leading directly to Reading and
Philadelphia at such an early date."^-^

more than

a road to those cities.

Access Roads at the Northwest

At the northwestern section of the future county of Columbia, the
first contacts were by means of routes from the West Branch. John Eves
in 1769 was guided from the region of modern Milton eastward to a long
established east and west trail. By this, he was able to reach his destination at

76

modern

Millville

through the valley of the Chillisquaque Creek,

and then across the divide into the Little Fishing Creek Valley.
Eves, on one of his first journeys, cut a road from the mouth of the
Chillisquaque Creek. The reference is not clear as to whether the road
was cut for the whole distance or merely far enough to give access to the
Indian trail. Eves' later journeys, and those of his immediate followers,
used this approach. This

trail

continued at the east. After skirting the

Mount

Pleasant Hills on the south and going through the Green Creek

valley,

it

reached the

two

east into

One

Knob Mountain

vicinity.

It

then divided toward the

forks.

fork of this route at the north continued along the northern

Mountain to give eventual contact with the WyomThe other fork continued along the southern
slopes of Lee Mountain to give access to the river at Berwick-Nescopeck.
slopes of Huntington

ing Valley at Shickshinny.

Many

of the later settlers in the Jerseytown area, including the Billhime-

Welliver settlers

when they

returned in 1780, used this Nescopeck route.

This route has been almost exactly followed by the branch of the Penn
Central Railroad between the West Branch and Berwick.

There was no direct north and south road to the river in the
Bloomsburg vicinity until 1798, when a road south across the Mount
Pleasant Hills was provided. At times of high water, both Green and
Little Fishing Creeks had provided means of floating lumber to the downriver mills at Harrisburg and Marietta.
At a later date, Jerseytown was to become crossroads of two roads;
one from Bloomsburg to Muncy, and the other from Berwick to
Milton. 24

Pioneer Life

The

first

pioneers in loneliness and danger, carved out their home-

steads from the wild frontier

and laid the first foundations for their better
homes, the cleared fields, and the thriving communities that were to
develop later. In pioneer life, almost all the needs for living were met by
the pioneers themselves from resources immediately available or near at
hand. The abundant game and fish provided food; the first crude structures gave shelter, but neither could be depended on to fill the people's
needs for extended periods or during the bitter cold of the winters, which
must be prepared for.
Planning the Journey to the Frontier
It

will

be helpful to construct an imaginative story of a pioneer group

who planned in 1788

to go to the distant frontier valley near the Susquehanna River, in what was then the far west. We will take typical incidents and descriptions, all of which actually happened or applied at one
time or another, and put them together as they might have been experienced by a migrating group.

77

Caspar and Hannah were a young couple with two boys and an inThey had learned from a neighbor, whose son had migrated previously, about the cheapness of the land on the frontier. Caspar had been
a farm worker and he thought, as many others did, that if he could get
land on the frontier he could, with hard work, establish himself and have
a better life. Hannah agreed with him. Hannah and he were both raised
on farms where work was tough in those days and did not shrink from
the anticipation of hard work on their own land.
fant.

Need of Money
They would need money. The 100 acres of land cost $150.^ They
would also have to buy equipment, pack horses - probably three, oxen
perhaps, a plowshare, some garden tools or their metal parts, and certainly

an ax and a gun. Hannah's parents gave her a

heifer.

Other hve-

stock might have had to be omitted in expectation of securing

Much

of this would, of course, cost

money,

Expenses might be incurred on the
across a stream. Caspar had saved
ised to lend

trip,

it

later.

especially the land.

for instance, being ferried

up some money and

his father

prom-

him some more.

The Group Made a Cavalcade

They would

start as early in the spring as possible so that

cold bitter weather of the following winter

before the

would come, they would have

and food laid in so that they could survive. When
group started, it made a cavalcade with Caspar in front, holding an
ax and rifle in one hand and the leading strap of the first pack horse in the
a house constructed,
the

other hand.

Although their baggage had been reduced to the necessities, the little
caravan was loaded. The first horse carried two large hampers, one on
either side suspended from its back, each packed with bedding. Out of
the top of one peeked the head of the infant. Following the first horse
were two others, each attached to the one in front by a leading strap. On
the second horse was packed a store of provisions, plough irons, and
agricultural tools.

niture

and

The

third horse

had another pack;

it

carried table fur-

cooking utensils with other things not visible.

Hannah

fol-

lowed at the rear carrying a loaf of bread in one hand, and the rim of a
spinning wheel in the other. The two boys each had a small bundle and
the older one was leading a cow, with the younger one helping.
The Journey
At

first,

they traveled through the settled countryside. The

way

be-

they advanced farther into the wilds. Finally, they
had to follow Indian trails, threading the deep forest, fording streams,
and climbing the difficult mountains. Here is where the ax would be

came more

78

difficult as

needed as they came across broken branches of trees, or even whole trees
fallen across the paths. The party might also come across chances to kill
wild game where the gun would be highly useful. They camped along the
it might have
way, finding at times a used shelter or abandoned cabin
been an Indian's, a squatter's, or a settler's. They might just bed down in
the open on hemlock boughs after having cared for the forage for their

—

horses.

Other migrating groups were made up differently; some with
skimpier supplies and equipment, others with more of both. Some forms
of livestock could be driven along with the group. Older children would

When roads were widened sufficiently to accommodate
wagons, the equipment could become extensive. Cows and oxen might
be made to carry a share of the burdens as well as pulling the wagons.
Recall the two wagons with goods, cattle, women, tools and other
baggage at Northumberland in 1775, as previously noted. ^^
As an actual example, we tell about Daniel McHenry who purchased
a tract of land above modem Stillwater. He visited his purchase in 1783,
carrying with him a gun, ax, hoe, and provisions to last six weeks. The
gun was always useful for shooting game along the way for food, as well
as affording protection. Arrived at his holding, he cleared a plot of land
and planted hills of Indian com. McHenry removed his family from their
temporary home in Milton to their new home the following year. Here in
1785 was born John McHenry, the first white child born north of Knob
Mountain. From this account it appears clearly that the pioneer needed
^'^
to be hunter, lumberman, and farmer.
be used to help.

Building the Settler's Cabin

The first comers to a region were under the necessity of building their
homes in the isolation of the wilds. Some minimum shelter, an overhanging ledge, a lean-to against a bank, might serve for a time, but a
cabin was required for survival through the cold winter to be expected.
Caspar and Hannah were fortunate enough to come to an area where
there were neighbors to welcome them. They were assured of aid in constructing their log cabin. It would be in the form of a house raising, or a
neighborhood "bee," also called a "frolic."
In preparation, logs would have been cut to lengths suitable for a
cabin sixteen or more feet square. It was seldom very much larger, because the larger the cabin, the heavier and longer the logs would need to
be. On the day of the "bee," all the families in the community would
gather. The men would organize into teams with friendly rivalry. The
logs, if not already properly notched, would be notched so as to fit in
place. Provision for sawing the door opening and window openings
would be made and the chimney planned. A stone chimney might have
been built

at that time,

but usually only stone for a fireplace would be

79

with logs laid in place to

laid,

make

the flue for a chimney. This flue

would be plastered with a lining of clay two or three inches thick. With a
fire lit, this clay would bake as hard as brick, thus a fireplace and chimney were provided. Meanwhile, the

women with equally jolly teamwork,

would be providing the hearty dinner for all. And we can imagine the
older children honored to be able to help. The younger ones might be
helping to some extent, and probably getting in the way with their play
to some extent.^
The

Settler's

Cabin Description

When the day was

over, the couple had an enclosed shelter. It would
which would soon be tramped hard. Glass for the
window openings would come later as would a deer skin to hang at the
door opening. These and other facilities could be added through the summer along with other work. A bed would be fashioned out of saplings
laid in one corner of the floor, three corners of the bed supported by the
walls and the fourth by a wooden prop. When additional saplings for bed
slats were placed and the whole covered with evergreen boughs, and
maybe a tick filled with dried leaves, a welcome for bone-tired workers
was provided. A loft under the eaves would be where younger members
might climb a ladder to get their rest on a bed made up on the loft floor.
Until these make-shift beds were installed, persons would take their rest
on the floor. It might have been a long time before the dirt floor was improved in some cases. When there were guests, the sleeping conditions
might be very crowded. One traveler records twenty odd people with
cats and dogs sleeping in a space twenty feet square. ^^
The first cottage of the Johns in the Catawissa Creek region was a
story and a half in size, had no door, and was entered by means of a ladder through an entrance in the roof. The record further says, "It seems
almost incredible, but a family of ten children was brought up in this
house.... "-^^ For the general run of these cabins, tables and shelves would
be attached later to the walls. Three legged stools would be made. Logs
flattened on one side and laid on the dirt so as to provide a reasonably
level and smooth floor would be also added later. It would be a
puncheon floor. •'^

have a

dirt floor

The Log House
Later a house of logs, as distinguished from a log cabin, might be

was constructed of squared logs carefully dovetailed at each
was larger inside, usually, with two rooms and a stairway to
the attic as an extra sleeping room instead of a loft. The floors were of
puncheons, well laid. The fireplace was a permanent stone structure. A
log house was usually the second house built and might be lived in for

built.

It

corner.

years.

80

It

Two

Quakers Meeting Houses, one

at

Catawissa and the other

at

Newlin, were built

made

in the late 1790's.

They

are

still

standing and could be

livable now.-^^

In 1788 at Rupert, Leonard Rupert built on his land an improved log
house that was considered a marvel of frontier architecture. It comprised
three rooms instead of a single apartment, and was occupied for thirty
years. It was then used as a farm building, with a portion surviving to the

present, 1975.33

Food from the Wilds
From random samplings of available evidence, we learn of the abundance of game in the early days. There were bears and wolves in large
numbers. Deer were more plentiful than sheep at a later time. These
records are from various regions of our County. 34
Early travelers as well as the pioneer settlers planned on these re-

sources for food. Deer were plentiful and became a staple of diet. Veni-

son besides being eaten while fresh, was "jerked," that is, its meat was
dried over a slow fire and thus preserved. This practice was especially
useful for long journeys.

Bears

Bears were especially dangerous.

own

They

often killed the pioneer's pigs

frequently happened that the bear

would return to
The pioneers taking advantage of this trait set a trap near this former kill. The bear, when trapped,
struggled to free itself until weakened, then the pioneer was able to substitute bear meat for the pork he had lost. Bears were plentiful and were
hunted. Bear meat was about as common on the frontier as was pork at a
later day. At Berwick every bear killed was taken before Justice of the
for their

food.

It

a partially eaten carcass for another meal.

Peace Owen to be divided among the families. 35 Bears might weigh from
300 to 400 pounds. Besides their food value, bear skin robes were
especially valued. A large amount of oil was rendered from the fat which
was useful in cooking and for lighting the cabins. 36

Turkeys

Turkeys were widely distributed throughout our area and were easily
They were hunted ruthlessly and at one time they were in danger
of extinction. A grown bird might weigh thirty to forty pounds. 37
killed.

Wild Pigeons

The most important meat producing bird in the early days, however,
was the passenger pigeon.
Wild pigeons came at certain seasons of the year, especially nesting
time, in flocks so large that we of the later day can scarcely believe this to
have been possible.

An

eye-witness from the nearby Wilkes-Barre region

81

had this record: "The whole heavens were dark with them, the cloud on
wing continuing to pass for over an hour or more and cloud succeeding
Towns [nestsl were built
cloud. There were not millions but myriads
every
by them for five or six miles in length along the Meshoppen
branch or bough of every tree holding a rude nest." In a Berwick newspaper item in 1840, we can read: "We have never seen such a quantity of
pigeons as were flying about our place. The greater portion of our townsmen were engaged in pursuit of them, none returned without their hands
full. Mr. F. Nicely succeeding in shooting 80. He fired twice into one
flock and killed 37. Beat that you who can." Often the masses were so
thick on the branches that they could be clubbed to death. For the
pioneer such plentiful and easily secured food was a welcome addition to
their diet and a resource for barter in a nearby town. At a later time, the
extermination of the passenger pigeon was completed by market hunters
slaughtering them and sending them salted to the cities by the ton.^^

—

Shad and Other

Fish

swam up the Susquehanna,
and other north-east coast rivers also. They sought the small headwaters
to spawn. From the very first, the pioneers learned from the Indians to
net shad. Early in the spring, it has been told that watchers reported the
coming of the shad in great masses like a sparkling wave crest advancing
up the river.
At many places, they relieved the pioneers from the fear of
starvation. Soon, nets were placed and the shad were obtained in quantities almost unbelievable in later times. Fisheries were established as
early as 1780, and were an important resource for fifty years. The season
began about the latter part of March and continued until June. Two hauls
per day was the rule, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The
flatboats used were about twenty-feet long and eighteen inches wide,
provided with two stout oars near the bow. Two men were required at
each oar, another paid out the net, 600 to 1,000 feet in length, with two
others staying on shore to adjust the other end of the net. At some fisheries, two nets were used. Nine thousand fish were reported in one haul.
The price of shad in 1800 was six dollars per hundred, but dropped rapidly when the market became glutted. At such times the fish by the
wagon load might be spread on fields for fertilizer. This was the case one
time at the Boone Fishery near Bloomsburg. Beginning with Catawissa
fisheries, up stream, in order, were the Boone's, Kinney's, Hendershott's,
Kuder's, Whitney's, Creveling's, Miller's, with others at Berwick and
farther up stream. People came from all points to buy shad. For barter
exchange they brought corn, meat, peach cider, whiskey, and
In the earlier days, great masses of shad

82

metheglin.*

Shad might also be caught with hook and line. No bait was needed. It
was sufficient to throw in one's line with a large, three-pronged, barbed
hook. One would pull in a shad almost every time.
Streams generally were also

teaming with

other

fish:

catfish,

sturgeon, bass, perch. -^^

Honey

Bees

Bees were not native to America. They were brought by the colonists.
They soon escaped from the hives and have spread throughout the
country. Wild bees were to be found in hollow trees. A hollow tree
would be chopped down and made to yield fifty to seventy-five pounds
of honey, sometimes more. The farmer's hive might yield forty pounds.
When the honey was stored in tubs, it would granulate at the bottom and

provide sweetening for

all

purposes.^

Maple Syrup and Maple Sugar
Very

early, the settlers learned

from the Indians how

to

make maple

syrup and maple sugar. Farmers might tap from 200 to 300 trees yearly,
from which they would make 500 to 1,000 pounds a year.
These two products were the main forms of sweetening in the earlier
years. These figures apply to settlers after they had become well settled.
Maple sugar and honey provided products for sale or barter. Note that

Abram

Miller at Limeridge as early as 1795

maple sugar per year

at fifteen

was

selling fifteen barrels of

pence per pound. ^^

Wild Animals

The early settlers remarked on the howls of wolves and the screams of
They were both destructive to the family's livestock. This is
also true of the wildcats and foxes, although less so. The pioneers were
panthers.

compelled to construct high enclosures, around which fires were kept
burning all night as protection for their herds.
Panthers were afraid of dogs, but could overpower a hog or a calf and
carry it off without a struggle. An early settler in Sugarloaf Township

cow to a panther. On finding the partially eaten carcass, a trap was
and the animal caught. This depredation had taken place in Luzerne
County. The wounded animal was dragged on a makeshift yoke a mile
and half until the party reached Columbia County. Then the animal was
killed. By this expedient the owner was able to say it was killed in
Columbia County and secure the bounty, $10, for the kill.
Wolves or panthers would seldom attack humans, but this was not
universally true. There are traditions of attacks on men, women, and
lost a
set

*Metheglin, a fermented drink

made from honey and

water.

83

They made the night hideous with their howls and screeches,
and swarmed around the settlements during winter when hunger drove
them out of the mountains. At butchering time they prowled around the
houses and barns, attracted by the scent of blood. At such times it was
not safe to leave the house at night. '^

children.

Destruction of Wild

Game and

Fish

Systems of bounties and intensive hunting have brought about the extinction of wolves and panthers. Wildcats are practically exterminated.
Foxes still roam the woods. Rattle snakes, a serious hazard for early settlers, are also still with us.'^^
Various products such as leather and salt meat became articles of
commerce. Market hunters came in to the regions and their operations

added

to articles of

commerce, as well

as hastened the eventual extinction

or severe reduction of valuable species.

brought severe reductions

The

early years of the pioneers were the hardest. This

true of the

Often

it

Wasteful and over-fishing

in all species.

first

year.

The new

settlers

worked under

was

especially

the fear of famine.

was barely avoided.

Such was the case of the Peter Yohes at Mifflin, who, before their first
crop had matured, were "reduced to the last extremity for food...."
Yohes journeyed by canoe to Wilkes-Barre to get a bag of com for the
family's provisions.'^

Levy Aikman gathered

his first harvest at Briar

charge of his son in a canoe, in order to take

it

Creek and put

to a mill in

it

in

Sunbury and

have it ground into flour. Young Aikman made the journey, a crust of
bread his only food. Reaching the river landing nearest his home at nightfall, he stopped at the Webbs, hoping to get a meal. "Mrs. Webb would
have gladly given him supper, but there was no food in their home. He
shared the contents of his sack with several others before he reached

One wonders what there was left for the Aikmans.
named Henry with his wife planted an acre of potatoes
about 1780, where modern Lightstreet was to grow. They were compelled to dig these potatoes out of the ground for food, and when they
home

the next day."**^

A

settler

were exhausted, they depended on wild potatoes, possibly artichokes,
for food. 46

Creek, found two of three
families so destitute that they shared their supplies of grain. Eventually
all were so dose to starvation that they survived only be depending on

The Fowler

wild

game and

Increase of

As

family,

newly arrived

dried apples. ^7

Farm Products
from year to year, their harand the danger of famine declined. In

the pioneers enlarged their clearings

vest gradually increased in size

84

at Briar

many people adopted the Indian method of grinding their
was to place small amounts in a hollowed-out, saucer-like
rock, and then pound it and grind it with another stone held in the hand,
usually the wife's hand. This method, by mortar and pestle, was slow
and produced a coarse product. Grist mills were early in demand and
grew up first in Wilkes-Barre and Sunbury.
pioneer times

grain. This

Pioneer

tools

back-breaking

were

heavy,

crude,

and

required

long

hours

of

toil.

Yale University Press

Journeys to Distant Mills
In 1788 at Knob Mountain, Abram Kline had been able to accummulate sufficient grain for a trip to Sunbury. A pack train of several
horses was used to carry the grain to the river. Here it was transferred to
river transport, either a flatboat or raft. The record does not specify, but
we must infer the return trip by poling the twenty miles or so up current
and then the completion of the trip by pack horse. '*^ Andrew Creveling,
at Espy, regularly loaded fifteen bushels of grain on a canoe for a trip to a
Sunbury mill. It was placed in charge of his sons, how many is not indicated, who prop>€lled the canoe by poles to Sunbury and return. Canoe,
unless otherwise stated, in our area means dugout canoe. They might be
of varying size.'*'' The canoe of the Crevelings carried only fifteen
bushels. This was almost as much as a two-horse wagon is recorded as
having hauled over the rough roads of the time.^ Some canoes were
much larger. Ellis Hughes in 1770 at Catawissa was commissioned to
build one out of a pine log, to be forty feet long, three and a half feet
wide and eighteen inches deep.^^ Some dugout canoes were large enough
to carry 100 to 150 bushels. These are figures from the Schuylkill and
Delaware rivers. Whether ones that large were ever used on the Susquehanna, the author is unable to state. ^^

85

Harue^buw

¥arm

utensils.

reaping hook

Jc^-Uie^
'^C/C^

c.

IJSO

The hay drag [rake], wooden fork; mowing scythe, and
The latter was used in a field where the stumps

[sickle].

were too close for mowing with a scythe.

Local Mills Were Built
Trips with harvested grain to Wilkes-Barre or Sunbury were laborious, time-consuming

and dangerous. This need

One

led to the construction of

Catawissa by some
Quakers as early as 1774. It had an undershot water wheel for power and
was frequently out of repair and was given up after a few years. In 1789
Jonathan Shoemaker constructed a larger mill at about the site of the
later paper mill. It at once received patronage from many miles around.
mills in

our region.

of the

first

mills

was

built at

In 1801 Christian Brobst erected another larger mill a short distance

above the Shoemaker. These

mills

made Catawissa an

early leader of in-

dustry in the County.

were widely
throughout the county. In the Roaring Creek Valley were Cleaver
Mill at the mouth of Roaring Creek (1789); the Behm Mill on Deer Lick
Run at Newlin (1801); Charles Hughes' Mill on the later site of Stony
Brook Park; the Slabtown Mill (1789); the Nathan Lee Mill, later called
the Snyder Mill (1798). The first mills on Fishing Creek were on its upper
In the fifteen or twenty years after the Revolution, mills

built

86

tributaries.

It is

inferred that lower Fishing Creek, the largest creek in the

county, incurred engineering problems more difficult than on the smaller
streams. These early mills included: the Pepper Mill, the

Pepper, on Hemlock Creek above

Buckhom

owner named
on

(1802); the Swartout Mill

the main creek, a short distance below Coles Creek; the Exekial Cole Mill
on Coles Creek (1795), stated to be the first mill in northern Columbia
County; a mill given the name of a later owner, Norton Cole, on West
Creek (1800). John Eves constructed his mill on Little Fishing Creek
shortly after 1778. The Brown Mill on Ten Mile Run was in Mifflin
Township (1778). The Rittenhouse Mill was built on the forks of Briar
Creek (1800).

Usually the original practice of the mills was to take the farmer's grain

and change

it

to flour, with the coarser products sifted out to

for livestock. This

was done by making

make

feed

two

hori-

the grain pass between

zontal millstones, the one revolving on top of the other, with the grain

entering at the center and

coming out as the finished product

at the

outer

edge.

The need for converting tree trunks to beams and planks and boards
brought about the addition of machinery for sawing. The machinery
added to the grist mill was a thick saw which was made to move in a
cumbrous up-and-down way, which reduced the logs as they were
pushed through to the necessary timber forms. Slow? Yes. But faster than
two men could reduce a log to dimension lumber, where one man stood
on a log placed over a pit and pulled on one end of the saw, while his
team-mate stood in the pit and pulled on the other end of the saw. On
Spruce Run, at an early date, David Masters built the only water
powered mill in Madison Township. It was at first a sawmill and later
converted to other operations. ^-^
to tradition, a mill was operated on Cabin Run, grinding
and plaster. It is of frequent mention that other mills also
ground plaster. At about this time, it had been discovered that dust from
gypsum rock, the main ingredient of plaster, was also a fertilizer that
seemed to produce almost magic effects for crops, especially clover. It
soon came into great demand. Plaster rock was imported from New York
and many mills throughout the country made the "grinding of plaster"
one of their main activities.^
Cold winters were an especial hazard for mills run by water power.
Nathan Lee's Mill, above Slabtown, froze up one winter. Thinking to
thaw out the ice-bound water wheel, he burned some dry straw next to
the wheel. The fire speedily spread and destroyed his mill and the stock

According

livestock feed

of grain stored in

it.

down Roaring Creek from Nathan
went into the business of sawing logs for planks. The
outside slabs were used to build many of the houses in the neighborhood.
Thomas

Linville's mill, farther

Lee's Mill, early

2,1

Merchants and Merchandising

Abram

Miller at Lime Ridge was getting merchandise from
was transported to Catawissa by cart, thence to his store.
The charge was a dollar and a quarter per mile.^^
The first store in Jerseytown was established by John Funston.
Funston and his neighbors customarily joined in sending their wheat and
other products annually to Reading and there obtained a supply of products for the ensuing season. The son, Thomas, in charge one season,
bought six wool hats and found that they had a ready market on return.
In

1795

Philadelphia.

It

This led the father to start supplying the neighbors with goods. In other

words, he started a store. In a similar way,

it

can be inferred that others

started merchandising.

The early mills at Catawissa, a ferry, and the existence of boat traffic
on the North and West branches from Catawissa, led to early stores in
that community. Apparently the first one between Sunbury and
Wyoming, exact date unknown, was established by Isaiah Hughes. He
was followed by Joseph Heister. A third merchant, John Clark, at an
early date, was journeying to Philadelphia on horseback to make his
annual purchase of goods, when the bridle of the horse was seized in
darkness by a would-be robber. Clark pulled out his spectacle case which
snapped, alarming the horse which reared out of the robber's grasp and
carried Clark to safety.
Berwick's first store was that of John Jones in 1800. Philip Mehrling

sometime
Traffic

after,

opened the

first

store in

Bloomsburg.^

and Commerce

In order to secure the necessary

other goods from the

cities,

means

to

pay

for the

manufactured or

the pioneers needed to send products from

Many of these products have been noted in
about pioneer life: salt meat from domestic or wild animals, salted
shad, honey, and maple sugar. Lumber in rafts or in the form of arks or
durham boats was to be part of our commerce at a later date, whether it
had started before 1800 is not clear from the records. Tanned leather,
furs, dried fruit, and some lumber products - especially for making
barrels - were also articles of commerce. And soon loads or cargoes of
grain made up increasingly large amounts for city markets.^''
Transportation was by pack train to some extent. Wagons, however,
were coming to be used to a greater extent as improved roads extended
farther into the frontier. For example, Squire Hutchison drove a wagon
the frontier for exchange.
telling

load of wheat to Easton in 1810. ^^
A record of 1804 shows that there were 664 arks, rafts, and boats
which went down the river, loaded with an estimated 100,000 bushels of

wheat and other produce. Some additional tonnage may be inferred from
our region, although it was probably not as far advanced as the Wyom88

were made up of lumber which itself would be sold
with their cargoes. Arks were great cumbersome boats, some of which
were later to be made at Bloomsburg by William McKelvy and John
ing region. 5^ Rafts

Barton.

They were seventy

standard length.

An

feet long,

although

this

was not

ark had a capacity of possibly

necessarily a

fifty tons.

Cumber-

some, navigated only downstream - it was also hazardous - one in three
being lost on the rocks or other perils of navigation.^ In its construction,
some 10,000 board feet of lumber was required.

Durham boats were first developed along the Delaware River and
were so useful that they spread to other Pennsylvania river systems.
They were shipped like over size dugout canoes, but had wide running
boards attached on the outsides. Here men propelled a boat by pushing
and setting poles as they walked from bow to stem and then in continuous cycle starting again at the bow. When the current was favorable,
the boats floated with it. Sails were used when the wind was favorable.
These boats were 60 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 2 feet deep, and flat bottomed. Loaded with 15 tons, they drew 20 inches of water. ^^
Religious Developments

The Quaker

Among

the

Germans

settlements at Catawissa, Roaring Creek, Millville, Ber-

wick, and Bloomsburg have been told about in the previous chapter. The

German

settlers

who

followed were chiefly either Lutherans or Re-

formeds. The latter were often

known

as

German

Presbyterians, but

better described as followers of the religious leader, Zwingli.

these groups brought with them, catechisms,

hymn

Many

of

books, manuals of

devotion, with which they could keep their religion alive, often in neighborhood gatherings. The "ground was thus prepared" for the work of
missionaries and itinerant preachers.
A Lutheran church was established as early as 1795 at Catawissa.
Others established were: Briar Creek in 1805, Locust in 1808, Mifflin and
Hemlock in 1810, and Orange in 1812. In many cases, if not all, the
Lutherans and Reformeds, while both were weak in numbers, established
union churches. They alternated in using the same church building, occasionally one pastor would alternate in faithfully using his own church's
ritual one Sunday, and that of the other congregation on the other Sunday, with both groups amicably uniting in bearing the expenses and attending whichever service was being observed on a given Sunday. This
was a widespread practice in Pennsylvania. As an example the more detailed history of the Bloomsburg groups is interesting.
Before 1800, the Lutherans, Reformeds, and Episcopalians had some
form of agreement to use a church building constructed by the Episcopalians. This agreement came to an end when the Reformeds on one
occasion were locked out, the circumstances not fully known. For some
time, the Reformeds attempted services two miles distant near the con-

89

main stream. The Lutherans were,
The two congregations
joined in acquiring the property now occupied by the Bloomsburg
Middle School, on which they constructed a log church and provided for
a common burying ground. This amicable agreement was to continue for
fluence of Little Fishing Creek with the

some reason,

for

also without a place of worship.

fifty years. ^2

Protestant Episcopal Churches
St. Paul's

Parish of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Bloomsburg

is

Under the leadership of the Rev. Caleb
Hopkins, a crude log building was constructed on the west side of the
road leading from the house of Esquire Elisha Barton, to Berwick. By this
description the location must have been on modem East Street, in what
was informally called Hopkinsville.
This church had no fireplace, but was heated by means of a charcoal
oldest religious organization.

its

fire in

a rude grating placed in front of the chancel, the rector's face fre-

quently obscured by smoke.
It

was during

this first

One wonders about

the carbon-monoxide.

period that the Episcopal Church welcomed gen-

erally other religious faiths also.

Thus following

the pattern of union

churches. ^-^

As noted above,

this

was discontinued

for reasons not entirely clear.

This church organization has continued in Bloomsburg until the present.

There seems to have been a rudimentary organization of the BerwickEpiscopalians as early as 1804, but no record of services until 1870. At an

when

is not known, there was an Episcopal congreThe group that settled under the leadership of Mr.
Godhard, an Episcopalian, was to establish St. Gabriel's Protestant
Episcopal Church in the far northern reaches of the county in 1812. This

early date, exactly

gation at Jerseytown.

church group has been maintained to the present, with the assistance of
its neighboring churches in Bloomsburg and Berwick.
Education

-

The

First

Schools

The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1790 provided for the establishment of schools. The laws of 1802 and 1804 provided for the opening of
schools. For the distant frontiers along the Susquehanna, however, there

are

no records of school openings

in

response to this legislation.

The Quakers were probably the first to open schools. In 1798 in
Greenwood, probably meaning Millville, Elizabeth Eves conducted a
school in a room partitioned off for school purposes from their regular
Meeting House. The children of the vicinity were accommodated. In the
eastern end of this township the first school was situated on the farm of
Joseph Gerard.^
In Locust Township the first school was established by Quakers soon
after their coming near the site of their later Meeting House built in 1796,
90

It was continued for a dozen years or more. One of its first teachers was
William Hughes, presumably the William Hughes who had earlier laid

out Catawissa.^
Just

how

zation or

the schools were supported, whether

by subscription,

is

by the Quaker organi-

not clear.

Subscription Schools

Schools were sometimes opened on the initiative of persons more or

More

less qualified.

frequently,

seems, concerned parents, secured a

it

some degree
paying some kind

minister, or another person with

of education to

The parents joined in
plemented by lodging and boarding

of stipend, usually sup>-

school.

open a

homes, on a schedule
needy parents may have been accepted, although the records are silent on this matter. Many of the
schools were held in private homes. Buildings were provided later.
at parents'

called "boarding around." Children of

School Houses

When buildings came to be built, the furnishings of these "temples of
knowledge," were meager. The seats were puncheons with peg legs. The
heat in winter time might be from a large opened-mouth fireplace. The
doorway was made especially wide to allow the pupils, at noontime, to
roll in log

replenishments for the

pupils stood

up

at

fire.

Pot-bellied stoves

came

later.

desks lining the walls under the small windows.

The

A

tin

cup and bucket of water completed the furnishings.^

The Schools

A

-

Descriptions

record from early Berwick suggests what

may have

been the

educational equipment, typical of what was to be reached in times
early.

The books were

a speller, almost surely Webster's,

and

first
still

a Bible

testament. Other books, less standardized, were probably representative

They included an arithmetic, and a reader, i. e., a
good reading material, widen the

of the

books

book

of selected readings to give

available.

students' horizons of information,

and develop

skill in

raphy, a grammer, and an atlas might have been added
usually passed

worn

down from

in the process. ^'^

ticipate that

older brothers or

Under

sisters,

reading.

A

geog-

Books were
and became well

later.

these circumstances, the teacher could an-

he would need to adapt to a wide variety of books used by
who themselves differed widely in age and degrees of

various pupils,

educational achievement.

The teachers usually were drawn from families of the neighborhood,
and though sometimes of limited capacity, were sober, earnest and
religious instructors.^

91

In addition to schools

came

mentioned above, other subscription schools
At Zaners, above Forks, Christopher

into existence quite early.

Pealer started a school in 1790, but continued his trade as a weaver.
Others were started in this neighborhood; Henry Hess at Stillwater, and
Jonanathan Colley at Pealertown, both at an early date.^^ The first recorded school at Berwick was taught by Isaac Hollo way about 1800.''^
Previous to that a traveler passing through Berwick in 1795, wrote in his
diary, "We found near Owens a school for little girls, which by the small-

crowd which came out of it to see us resembled an ant hill."^ In 1805, a market house was erected in the center
of what was later to be Market Street. It was supported on large wooden
piers and the space beneath was given over to the storage of wagons and
the "protection of horses." The main floor was used for town meetings,
elections, and for church purposes. It was also used for many years as a
school. The lighting was provided by small green glass "bull's-eyes"
which gave very little light and almost completely prevented
ness of the building and the

ventilation.^

At Bloomsburg by 1802, George Vance taught a school on the site of
the Episcopal Church. It was called the English School, apparently in distinction from the German School, opened about the same time by
Ludwig Eyer. Other subscription schools were opened soon after. David
Jones, in 1794, opened a school in Mifflin in a building called a "hut."''^
Isaac Young opened a school in Benton village in 1799, and another was
known to have existed in Jerseytown by the same date.^^ A school was
opened on the road from Buckhorn to Frosty Valley by 1801, and in the
same year a stone church was constructed by the Methodists near
Fowlersville.'''^ It had a large room partitioned off for school purposes.
The Mclntyre school in Locust township was taught by Martin Stuck
also in the 1800's.''^ A school was located in Espy as early as 1805.^
There was also an early school in Sugarloaf on the site of St. Gabriel's
Church.

Crafts

and Occupations

-

Leather Workers

Following the Revolution the great influx of settlers to our area
brought many trades of specialized occupations as well as laborers. As

one reads a list of these occupations, he can see the pioneer's life and environment being improved in many ways. Further, the listing of callings
is itself suggestive of the growth of towns as craftsmen took up their residence in these beginning points of commercial exchange.
The tanner was an early occupation in all communities, and also
valued by the Indians. According to tradition, a settler named Hartman
was tanning hides for the Indians in the vicinity of Catawissa before the
Revolution. 7^
92

Daniel Snyder at Bloomsburg and another Snyder, John, no relation
to Daniel, at Berwick, were early tanners and each built up reputation as
fine

businessmen and became leaders

Leather was necessary
ness

was made from

almost

all

leather.

distant travel
for

The

shoemaker

traveling

shoes or

make new

It

in their respective communities.'^^

time of horse drawn vehicles.

was

The harwhen

also necessary for the saddles

was by horseback. The rougher clothing

and footwear

all,

in the

either shoes or moccasins,

called

on the pioneer

ones, staying until

all

were made of

for

men

leather.

families to repair their

of a given family's needs were

met. He might take his pay partly from food and lodging, and partly
from hides accummulated from the family's livestock, and partly from
pelts of wild animals. These he could barter for tanned leather. He might
have received some money which, however, was scarce on the frontier.
Leather was also the material from which many kinds of containers
were made. The tanner and the leather workers could be sure that their
services would be needed on the frontier. Tanners and leather workers
were among the first craftsmen to settle on the frontier.^

Tools and containers on the frontier were largely

made

of wood. The making of containers: barrels,
was the work of the cooper. Where

tubs, buckets,

they must be exposed to heat, as the pie crimper,
the local blacksmith would have been the crafts-

man

to

make such

Joan L. Romig,

parts.

artist.

93

Workers

in

Wood

The bark of hemlock and oak trees was needed by the local tanners
and also sent to the cities. ^^ The frontier age was an age of wood. Wood
was plentiful, the needs were great. Saw mills have been mentioned
earlier. Barrels and kegs were needed on the frontier to contain products
sent to the city. They were needed in the cities to send products to the

The curved wooden members to make the sides of these conand other pieces to make the tops and bottoms, the
headings, had to be made with great exactitude in order to be watertight. The craftsman, who made these containers, was a cooper. The
frontier.
tainers,

staves

and sent to the city in "knocked-down" form,
provided an extensive product of commerce as well as for sale locally.
Collectively they were called cooperage. The cooper also made tubs and
buckets, also widely needed. Soon the resident, instead of sitting on a
three-legged stool with seat made from the flat side of a slab, wanted a
better chair. The chair maker was also an early craftsman. He also unpieces to be fitted together

doubtedly made other furniture which would class him as a cabinet
maker. ^2
The pioneer himself might devise other articles or he might secure
them from a craftsman, more or less specialized: hay and straw forks and
rakes, wooden trenchers for plates,* wooden spoons and ladles, wooden
churns. The pioneer probably brought with him the metal cutting part of
a plow, the plowshare, but the heavy wooden parts were constructed at
the destination.

Wood Ashes
Wood ashes were

derived in large amounts from home cooking fires
and those for heating. Large amounts were also derived in clearing the
land by burning trees and brush. Wood ashes were the source of potash
and pearl ash, valuable for making soap, and for that reason an article of
commerce; light in weight and of considerable monetary value. ^^

Pioneer

Home

Life

The pioneer homemaker had a cabin not much more than eighteen by
twenty-four feet in which to make the family home. Some were smaller.
The preparing of the food at the fireplace, the servicing of it, and the
cleaning up afterwards were all done in this room. The sleeping of everyone, even the wayfaring guests was crowded into this space with little or
no privacy in preparing for slumber. From pegs on the walls hung the
garments, ones not in use, or those divested while owners slept. Hanging
from the loft rafters near the fireplace were long drying poles. In appro-

*A good trencherman was
94

a hearty eater.

An improved

would have come later than
The mantle would have held some utensils with the
owner's rifle hung above the powder horn and bullet bag nearby. Other
articles pictured are: andirons, a metal crane with kettle hanging
beneath, tongs, toaster, dough tray, bread shovel, poker. The small door
high on the masonry opened to gain access to the oven, heated by hot
coals, which were removed when oven heated and the dough for baking
placed in it to be baked by the retained heat. Most of the metal utensils
were produced by the local blacksmith.
fireplace, as pictured above,

the first cabin.

Joan

L.

Romig

found hanging from them, cut apples or other
product of cold weather butchering, rings of pumpkins, seed corn, bunches of medicinal herbs, and
possibly other things just to get them out of the way.
Places were found for articles of furniture, possibly crowded around.
Other articles or implements which indicate the homemaker's work were
also to be found. The cooking equipment has been mentioned previously. The spinning wheel or wheels were placed so as to be used at
opportune times. In the evenings, and possibly also on rainy days or the
cold winter days, the whole family might be centered around the fire.
While the mother spun, the father might have been shaping wood implepriate seasons could be

fruits for drying, strings of sausage, the

ment handles or splitting short sections of logs into shingles. The fashioning of nails from iron bars heated over the fireplace, also according to
tradition, might have been carried on by the husband.^
Laundry work was performed outside in pleasant weather. Water was
heated in the fireplace or, if carried on outside, over an open fire. Mother
and the older children carried the pails of water from the spring or brook.
95

necessarily near such a supply, if not, a well would have
been dug. Bathing water was heated in the same way, with the bath taken
from the bucket in sponge manner, with possibly the children placed in

The cabin was

the tub. 85

The Travelers'

Home When Away From Home

In 1771 a missionary

experiences near

gave a description, somewhat condensed, of

modern

his

Selinsgrove. In the evening, just as his party

was about to retire, three Irish families arrived. The owner, Caspar Reed,
would gladly have sent them away, but it would have been a "violation
of the laws nations." Furthermore, there was neither house nor hut
within six miles. Reed kept a hotel, dispensed whiskey or brandy, and
was required to furnish everyone asking for it, six feet in length and a
foot and a half in width, on the floor of his house and also on request,
something

to eat. After considerable confusion, all retired to rest.

Twenty odd people, cats and dogs, occupied a sleeping space in a
room twenty feet square. This traveler found in the morning that he was
infested with insects. He reported that he could not tell whether the shirt
was white or black, it was so full of insects.^
In Berwick, Rochefoucauld-Liancourt reported that in 1795:

masters of the inns where

we were

are

young and have only

themselves; they are good and obliging; their house
built; the

is

of

"The

established

wood and is

half

beds were rather clean, the stables good and the oats and hay

excellent..."

John Brown erected a hotel in Berwick in 1804. It was noted for its
and neatness. ^^ There were other hotels, taverns, or public

cleanliness

houses

at or

near the

site of

Fort Jenkins.

One owned by

Frederick Hill

was established by 1792.^
Rochefoucauld-Liancourt mentions the hotel of
the site of Fort Jenkins, as existing in 1795.

When

Abram

Miller near

the Sunbury- Wilkes

Barre stage coach line was established there, hotels came to have a fine
reputation. 8^

Several hotels were established early in Bloomsburg. "John Chamberlain

was

a tavern-keeper at the time

when every

guest

was expected

to

spend at least sixpence at the bar for the privilege of passing the night,
with such comforts as the bare floor of the public room afforded. His
establishment was a two-story frame building at the northeast corner of
Second and Center Streets."^
Sometime before 1804, a log tavern was established at Slabtown.^^
No other hotels or public houses were known to have been established
until later years.

96

Ending of Pioneering
In the

rudimentary municipalities of Catawissa, Berwick, Blooms-

burg, including possibly also Briar Creek and Jerseytown, a variety of

were available. Teachers of sorts and clergymen,
communities. Hotels also were springing up.
Within the next decade or so, more durable buildings were to arise.
Farther up the stream valleys, the margin between the developing settlements and the untouched wilderness was to advance farther and
farther into the wilds. But with communities and their services distant by
a matter of hours instead of journeys of days to Philadelphia, even these
pioneer settlers did not have the problems of isolation of the first pioneers in the region. We can say for these first comers, the pioneer
problems were ended or made less acute. Their pioneering period was
drawing to an end.
specialized craftsmen

some

itinerant, served the

5.

A History of Pennsylvania, p. 210.
Rochefoucauld-Liancourt, Journey in the United States of America, pp. 136-140.
Battle, History of Columbia and Montour Counties, p. 193.
Battle, History of Columbia and Montour Counties, p. 154; Clark, "Pioneer Life
in the New Purchase," Northumberland Proceedings, VII, pp. 14-19.
Clark, Chester D., "Pioneer Life in the New Purchase," Northumberland Pro-

6.

Battle, op. cit., p. 154.

1.
2.
3.

4.

Dunaway,

ceedings. VII, p. 25.

,

Columbia and Montour Counties,

p. 189.

7.

Beers,

8.

Battle, op. cit., p. 299; Beers, op. cit., p. 262.

9.

Battle, op. cit., p. 304.

10.

Battle, op. cit., p. 285; Beers, op. cit., p. 231.

11.

Battle, op. cit., p. 287.

12.

Bradsby, History of Luzerne County, pp. 608-612. Munsell, History of Luzerne.

13.

Battle, op. cit., p. 220.

14.

Freeze, History of

15.

Battle, op. cit., pp. 224-226; The authority for this estimate is a rather ambiguous
reference in Battle, op. cit., p. 226, from which this conservative estimate has

Lackawanna, and Wyoming Counties,

Columbia County,

p. 323.

p. 118.

been made.
17.

Battle, op. cit., pp. 237-238.
Battle, op. cit., p. 265.

18.

Fithian's Journal,

16.

quoted by Wood, "Philip Vickers Fithian's Journal," Northumberland Proceedings. VIII, p. 60. See also, a note by Fithian quoted by Clark, op.

The amount of wagon traffic up the North Branch shows there must have
been passable roads by that time. See especially, quotation from Fithian's Jourcit.

19.

nal, Clark, Chester, Northumberland Proceedings, VII, p. 35.
Clark, Chester, op. cit., pp. 35-36; Early Roads of County" Northumberland
Proceedings, V, p. 112.

20.

Letter of

21
22.

23.

Thomas Pickering to the Executive Council, April 5, 1787, quoted by
Clark, "Early Roads of Northumberland County," Northumberland Proceedings,
V, pp. 110-111.
Bishop, "Life of Evan Owen," W.P.A. Papers, file Indian Lore and Early Settlers,
pp. 112-114, (6-8); Clark, op. cit., V, pp. 109-112.
Clark, op. cit., p. 112.
Battle, op. cit., p. 299; Rhodes, History of the Catawissa and Roaring Creek
Quaker Meetings, p. 23.
97

24.

25.

Battle, op. cit., p. 266.
This estimate is based on Berwick land prices

at

this

time.

Rochefoucauld-

Liancourt.
26.

27.
28.
29.

30.
31.

32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.

Battle, op. cit., p. 261, Clark, "Pioneer Life in the

op.
40.
41.

cit.,

pp. 187, 275; Fletcher, op.

cit.,

Fletcher, op. cit., p. 407.
Fletcher, op. cit., p. 406. Recall that

some
op.

of the older children

cit.,

had left

pp. 70-71.

when

for a

the

44.

Battle, op. cit., p. 287.

45.
46.

Battle, op. cit., pp. 185-186.
Battle, op. cit., p. 185; Clark,

47.

Battle, op. cit., p. 417.

48.

Battle, op. cit., p. 248.

49.

Battle, op. cit., p. 416.

50.

Battle, op. cit., p. 395.
Lightfoot, "Benjamin Lightfoot

52.
53.
54.

to extract

maple sap.

Battle,

p. 264.

Battle, op. cit., p. 226; Fletcher, op. cit., p. 72.
Fletcher, op. cit., pp. 71-73.

51.

Whitmoyer massacre occurred,

maple grove

43.

42.

New Purchase/Northumber-

land Proceedings VII, p. 18.
Battle, op. cit., p. 220.
Battle, op. cit., p. 193; Clark, op. cit., VII, pp. 40-41; Fletcher, op. cit., pp. 375376, 439-440; Interview with Clyde R. Luchs, special student of the log structure.
Muhlenberg, Northumberland Proceedings, IX; Fithian, notes lack of privacy
when all ages and sexes slept in the common room, Northumberland Proceedings, VIII, pp. 59-60. For local custom at Berwick, Battle, op. cit., p. 193.
Battle, op. cit., p. 292.
Fletcher, idem.
Luchs, idem; Rhoads, op. cit., pp. 32-33.
Battle, op. cit., p. 261.
Battle, op. cit., pp. 226, 384, 412, 416, 496. John McHenry at Sugarloaf and Dan
McHenry at Stillwater, were especially noted hunters. Battle, op. cit., p. 227.
Battle, op. cit., p. 193.
Fletcher, op. cit., pp. 68-69.
Fletcher, op. cit., p. 69.
Fletcher, op. cit., pp. 69-70. Family tradition.
Barton, "The Susquehanna Shad"; Barton, History of Columbia County; Battle,

William, Farms and Farmers, p. 29.

and His Account of An Expedition to Tankhannick' in the Year 1770," Northumberland Proceedings, IX, p. 185. See also
Fletcher, op. cit., p. 238.
Fletcher, op. cit., p. 238.
Battle, op. cit., p. 530.

Comprehensive account, written about 1930: White, Hiester, V., 'The Grist
Columbia County," was published 1974 in the Leaflet Series of the
Columbia County Historical Society, vol. I, nos. 2, 3, 4.

Mills of

pp. 136-140. Also see supra Rochefoucauld-

55.

Rochefoucauld-Liancourt, op.
Liancourt's account.

56.
57.

Beers, op. cit., p. 150.
Fletcher, op. cit., p. 213.

58.

Battle, op. cit., p. 362.

59.

Clark, Chester, Northumberland Proceedings, VII, pp. 36-37.
Fletcher, op. cit., pp. 240-241; Battle, op. cit., p. 156; Hendrick B. Wright,
Historical Sketches of Plymouth, Luzerne Co., Penna., pp. 320-321.
Fletcher, op. cit., p. 239; Munsell, op. cit., p. 90.
The official records of both churches have been used. They are not identical but
tend to confirm each other. Additional: Battle, op. cit., p. 103; Beers, op. cit.,
pp. 141-142; Anniversary program of each church, 1957, St. Matthew Lutheran
Church, 1957. pp. 5-6; Barton, History of Trinity Church, 1958.
Beers, op. cit., p. 139. Battle, op. cit., p. 174.

60.
61.
62.

63.

98

cit.,

64.

Battle, op. cit., p. 241. Beers, op. cit., p. 237.

65.

Beers, op.

66.

Battle, op. cit., p. 189. Beers, op. cit., p. 94.

67.

Battle, op. cit., p. 189. Beers, op. cit., p. 95.

68.

Beers, op.

cit., p.

94.

69.

Beers, op.

cit., p.

231.

70.

Battle, op. cit., p. 202.

71.

Rochefoucauld-Liancourt, op.

72.

Battle, op. cit., p. 193. Beers, op. cit., p. 150.

73.

Beers, op.

74.

Battle, op. cit., p. 232,266.

75.

Battle, op. cit., pp. 202-203. Beers, op. cit., p. 220.

76.

Battle, op. cit., p. 283.

cit.,

pp. 227-228.

cit., p.

cit.

252.

11.

Battle, op. cit., p. 189.

78.

Battle, op. cit., p. 401.

79.

80.

Battle, op. cit., pp. 197, 362.
Fletcher, op. cit., pp. 413, 416.

81.

Fletcher, op. cit., p. 320.

82.

Fletcher, op. cit., p. 328.

83.

Fletcher, op. cit., p. 329. Clark, William, op. cit., p. 80-81.

84.

Battle, op. cit., pp. 99, 193.

85.

Beers, op.

86.

Snyder, "Charles Fisher Journal of Frederick A-C. Muhlenberg," Northumberland Proceedings, IX, p. 221.
Browns hotel according to Bates was the First in Berwick which is inconsistent
with Rochefoucauld-Liancourt's record from 1795.

87.

cit., p.

150.

88.

Beers, op.

89.
90.

Battle, op. cit., pp. 210-211.
Battle, op. cit., p. 154.^

91.

Battle, op. cit., p. 304.

cit., p.

This form of shelter
travelers.

221.

was often used by whites, traders, settlers, and other
be found constructed previously and made to do for

One might

a one-night's shelter.
William H. Shank, Indian

Trails to

Super Highways,

p. 8,

with permission of the

author.

99

based on sources, of an early freighting wagon on a
corduroy road. Such a road was constructed over soft ground. Logs were
laid crosswise over these swampy places.

Artist's conception,

Reference, Shank,

100

From Indian

Trails to

Super Highways

-

with permission.

Epilogue

Our Area

Part of Northumberland

County

When Northumberland County was

erected back in 1772, there were

only few and widely scattered settlements

in the upper Susquehanna ValNorth and West Branches and extending up
these branches to the limits of settlement. The West Branch area and that
of Wyoming to the north east were more thickly settled than the part
that was to be Columbia County. During the periods of the first settlements of the War for Independence, and of the post-Revolutionary settlements our area was part of Northumberland County.

leys at the confluence of the

New

Counties Needed

In order to transact official business at the

county

seat, a

journey to

Sunbury was required. From Danville or Washingtonville the distance
was twelve to twenty miles. From the far reaches of Briar Creek or North
Mountain journeys estimated at forty to fifty miles were required on foot
or horseback over the rudimentary routes of the time. By 1810 the combined areas of what are now Montour and Columbia Counties from
available evidence had increased by an estimated forty percent or more.*
The regions west from Lewisburg and Selinsgrove, and east from
Danville with their increasing populations, were soon demanding a more
convenient division and a county seat closer at hand. Sunbury interests
were opposed to further division and were able to block it for a number
of years. The towns in the new county or counties to be created, could
not agree among themselves where the county seat or county seats were
to be located. This conflict prevented further division until the groups
which were later to constitute Union County, west of the West Branch,
and those to be in the later Columbia County, joined forces and suc-

ceeded

in establishing

new

counties.

*The changing of township lines and the carving of new townships out of those
make exact comparable figures impossible, but a gain of forty percent is both
reasonable and conservative for the decade 1800 to 1810. U. S. Census for 1810.

existing

101

Advantages

to a

Toivn That Became County Seat

Columbia County, Danville was very definitely forging
ahead of all the towns between Sunbury and Wilkes-Barre. To become a
county seat was a most attractive possibility for any town. The Judge
and other county officers would live there or use hotel accommodations.
Lawyers would take up their residence there. Owners of real estate, the
town founders such as Evan Owen, Ludwig Eyer, William Hughes,
George Espy, Christian Kunchel and William Rittenhouse, or their heirs
and followers, could anticipate selling more lots and at higher prices. In
fact, Kunchel and Rittenhouse in 1794, noting that their property was
midway between two county seats already established, Wilkes-Barre and
Sunbury, thought it was almost sure that their town, Mifflinville, would
become a county seat.
In the case of

Leading Advocates for a

New County

William and Daniel Montgomery were among leaders in securing the
Columbia County, along with Leonard Rupert and others.*
These persons worked for the new county and also to bring the new
creation of

county seat to

Erection of

his

New

hometown

respectively.

Counties

Bloomsburg, and Danville were not so obviously the
would seem to us more than a century later.
Catawissa, Mifflinville, Washington (Washingtonville), Jerseytown also
came in for consideration. Not one of them was more than a small colBerwick,

choices in 1813 as they

lection

of

scattered

log

cabins.

Here and there a

construction, charitably called a hotel,

was

slightly

larger

to be found. In 1813 the act

new county was passed, along with the creation of the companion county. Union, to the west. Patriotic fervor of the war times led
to the naming. The name. Union, was given to the western county. Inspired by the then very popular song, "Hail Columbia," the name
Columbia was assigned to the eastern county. The boundaries of Columbia extended on the west to the West Branch of the Susquehanna, excluding, however, the region near the town of Northumberland (Point

creating a

Township). Otherwise the area was much the same as the present combined territories of Columbia and Montour counties.
Three "discreet and disinterested persons, not resident in the counties
of Northumberland, Union, or Columbia," were appointed to fix the site
of the county seat of Columbia County, "as near the geographical center
as the situation will admit." At the meeting called for this purpose, one of

*Danville

102

is

named

for the former

meaning Dan's

ville.

the three was absent, who, tradition states, favored Bloomsburg. The
two members present gave the decision to Danville.

Wh\/ Were the Boundary Lines Shifted Back and Forth?

The

which assigned substantially the territories of Turbot and
new county met with great opposition
from their residents, and shortly after, those townships were reassigned
to Northumberland County. The effect of this was that Danville, far
from the geographical center of the county when created, was now
more conspicuously than ever, at one edge rather than at the center of the
county. But by 1816 what are now substantially Limestone and Liberty
Townships were restored to Columbia, reducing in some measure the
act

Chillisquaque Townships to the

charge that Danville was not central.

Long standing

dissatisfaction with this decision

The story of
beyond the scope

was

not solved for thirty years.

the struggle to

decision, however, lies

of this work.^

created.

It

overcome

was
this

This account is largely drawn from Barton, History of Columbia County, pp.
69-70 and Battle, op. cit., pp. 65-69. See also: Beers, Columbia and Montour
Counties, chap. X; Barton, Columbia County and Its County Seats, paper published in the Bloomsburg Morning Press, Oct. 1952. Copies available at the
Bloomsburg Public Library and library of the Columbia County Historical
Society.

103

This path in neighboring Ricketts' Glen Park suggests appearance of

Indian

trails.

photo by author

104

Interesting Origins of

Some Local Names

Bloomsburg and Bloom
See Chapter
Briar Creek

4, p. 61.

Borough and Township

meaning is not known.
Enghsh name may be a translation of the Indian,
"briar" or "sweet-briar." It is sometimes spelled Caunshanank.
Snyder, 'Township Names of Old Northumberland County," Northumberland Pro-

From

As

the Indian name, Kawanishoning, the

a conjecture, the

ceedings, VIII, pp. 226-227; Freeze, History of

Columbia County,

p. 48.

Catawissa

The best theory
the

Conoy

is

that

Indian tribe,

it

is

derived from Ganawese, a

some

of

whom

name applied

to

retired here after leaving Lan-

County. The preferred meaning is "pure water." A less likely
meaning is "growing fat." Before 1756 there was an Indian town located
here called Lapachpeton's Town. This name is repeated in some deeds
caster

identifying the transfer of land.
Snyder, op.

cit., p.

212.

Chillisquaque

This
the

is

mouth

the

name

town of the Shawnees, once located at
same name. This name is found in various

of the chief

of the creek of the

similar forms. One is in Ohio, Chill-i-co-the, once the capital of Ohio.
Three other locations were in Ohio, others in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri,
marking successive migrations of the Shawnees. It meant in the Shawnee
language "man made perfect" referring to the right of this clan to rule
their tribe. To refer to it as chilly-sqawk "has always seemed a cheap

pun...."
Snyder, op.

cit., p.

213.

105

Fishing Creek

The name

translation

a

is

of the Indian name,

(Delaware Indian language) meaning
Snyder, op.

cit., p.

"fish

stream" or

Namescesepong
"it

tastes fishy."

226.

Huntington

Samuel Huntington was

at

one time or another the Governor of ConIndependence and President of the

necticut, Signer of the Declaration of

Continental Congress. The Connecticut influence in our region is pername of a mountain, a creek tributary to Fishing Creek,

petuated by the

a neighboring township in Luzerne County,

and the town of Huntington

Mills.
cit., p. 48; Munsell, History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and
Counties, p. 296; Bradsby, History of Luzerne County, Pa. p. 584. Martin
New Dictionary of American History, p. 296.

Freeze, op.

Wyoming

&

Gelber,

Montour
The name, Montour,

is

borne by a neighboring county and also by

various other places: Montoursville in Lycoming County, Montour
Township in Columbia County, Montour Ridge from Briar Creek west

Susquehanna. The founder of the family was a
to best available evidence, which is
meager and conflicting, she was of mixed French and Indian descent. She
was well educated, and later captured by the Seneca Indians, by whom
she was adopted. She later married a Seneca, who took her name. She
to the

West Branch

of the

"Madame Montour." According

became the mother of two daughters and one son, Andrew. She was
early widowed. She came to be a matriarch, influential with Indians and
widely respected as a counselor and interpreter in relations with the
English and French. She was loyal to the English. Her son, Andrew Montour, was also attached to the English and an influential leader.
"Madame Montour," Northumberland Proceedings, XIII, pp. 29 ff; Freeze,
History of Columbia County, pp. 195-205; Gearhart, 'TSIotable Women of Northumberland Co.," Northumberland Proceedings, V, pp. 220-221.
Bennett,

Muncx/
This
Indians.

name
It is

is

Munsee division of the Delaware
names of Muncy, Muncy Creek, Muncy

derived from the

remembered

in the

Hills.

Snyder, op.

cit., p.

215.

Nescopeck

name of an old Delaware Indian village and probably of
Susquehannocks before them. The modern village of the same name
extends
is located on this site in Luzerne County. Nescopeck Mountain
from Black Creek in Luzerne County to Mainville in Columbia County.
This was the

the

Bradsby, History of Luzerne Co., p. 608; Freeze, op.

106

cit., p.

54.

Ralpho
located in Northumberland County and is part of
Columbia County School District. The name is probably derived from Rapho (sic), County Donegal, Ireland via settlers
coming through Rapho (sic) Township, Lancaster County.

This township

is

the Southern Area,

The Names

Snyder,

of Present Day
p. 248.

Townships of Northumberland County," Nor-

thumberland Proceedings,

Roaring Creek

The Indian name was Popemetung. The
its

series of falls

and rapids near
is presumed to

confluence with the North Branch of the Susquehanna

have given

The name

rise to the

is

name

of

which Roaring Creek

is

the translation.

applied to a valley, creek and township and occasionally to

the village of Slabtown.
Freeze, op.

cit., p.

47.

Salem Township
Part of the town laid out by Evan Owen was found to be in Salem
Township, Luzerne County. The whole township is part of the Berwick
Area School District. The name is derived from the Town of Salem,

Connecticut.
Bradsby, op.

cit., p. 642.'

Shamokin

The name
Later the

whole area within fifteen miles of
North and West Branches of the Susquehanna.

originally applied to the

the confluence of the

name was

successively applied to the Indian, white trading

settlement at that place. When Northumberland
County was erected in 1772, the County seat was placed at this point, but
the name was changed to Sunbury. The creek continued to bear the name
Shamokin. The coal mining community twenty miles or so up this
stream, at a later time, adopted the name. A probable meaning is the
post, then to the

little

place where the chief lives.
Snyder, "Old Northumberland," pp. 202

ff.

W\/oming
This

name

is

derived from the Delaware Indian name. At one time

applied to the whole region as far southwest as Bloomsburg.
ering

of

the

Indian

name

is

M'cheowami,

M'cheoweami-sipu, "the river of the extensive
Snyder, op.

cit.,

"extensive

it

The rendflats"

or

flats."

pp. 210-211.

107

—

108


m

R?\%
109

Bibliographical

Notes

A

History of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, edited by
Battle; published by A. Warner & Co., 1887; John Morris ComH.
J.
pany, Printers. This is an invaluable work, although subject occasionally
to correction or supplementing. It is actually three books in one, each
with its own individual pagination. First comes an excellent, summary
history of Pennsylvania: Part I, History of Pennsylvania, by Samuel P.
Bates. It is cited as Bates, History of Pennsylvania.
Part II, History of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania,

H. Battle, Editor. This part, however, does not include the history of
Montour County, which follows in Part III. It is cited generally as Battle,
ed.. History of Columbia and Montour Counties, although occasionally
the brief form of Battle, History of Columbia County, may be used

].

inadvertently.

Part III, History of Montour County, by H. C. Bradsby. Cited as
Bradsby, History of Montour County.
The Northumberland Historical Society has published twenty-six
volumes of Proceedings containing articles and papers generally with

high standards of scholarship. These constitute an invaluable treasury of

which has been drawn on extensively for
work. Notations are in the form of author's name, title of the article,
Northumberland Proceedings, volume and page.
In the late 1930's the Works Progress Administration through its
Writers' Project for Columbia County, produced thirty-six volumes of

local historical information,
this

some of which are of great value. Sets of these colBloomsburg State College, Andruss Library,
the Berwick Public Library, the Bloomsburg Public Library, the Library
of the Columbia County Historical Society. Citations are made to
author, title of article, paper number in particular collection identified by
volume title, W. P. A. Series.
articles

and

abstracts,

lections are at libraries of

110

Index

Barton,

acquired

Elisha,

land

in

Hemlock
Beach, Nathan, captured, 28; joined
garrison at Fort Jenkins in skirmish,
28; rescued settlers taken prisoner, 29
Bear Gap travel route, 51
Beaver region settlement, 54
Benton 1799, 72
Berwick, laid out as Owensburg, 57;
town plan, 58; lot prices, 58; grants
land to church groups, 58; descriptions, 1795, 64, 68

Bloomsburg,

11; early settlers, 12, 13,

15, 16, 70, 71;

61; history of

note

**,

town

its

name,
land ownership with
plan, 61;

61

Briar Creek, 9; early settlers 69
Brown, John and Robert, early Berwick
settlers, 59; gave name of Berwick-on-

Tweed, 59; opened hotel, 96
Brugler, Peter, 56

Cabinet and furniture maker, 94
Cabins (see log cabin)
Catawissa, vii, 9, 13; ferry at, 13;
people at, 14; people settle at, 14;
Quaker meeting at, 14, 51; laid out,
51; center of boat traffic, 51; center of

Quaker movement,

51;

House, 52; size, 71
Catawissa Creek, 3, 9, 15
Catawissa Mountain, 13
Cayugas, ix, 20
Center Township, early
Cabin Run area, 63
Center Turnpike, 75
Chamberlain Hotel, 96

Meeting

Clayton, 17; Peter Melick, 17; James

McClure, 17
Conestoga Indians, massacre

of, 12
Connecticut Claim, 7, 9; migration
from, 10; Indian opposition to, 10;
Pennsylvania opposition to, 10; final
settlement, 11; results, 11; Connecticut township at Fishing Creek, 12;
Yankee and Pennamites in Revolution, 11, 34

Conoys, vii
Cooper and cooperage,

picture,

93;

products, 94
Cornwallis' surrender, 16, 43
Covenhoven's arms, 39
Covenhoven, Robert, report on Great
Runaway, 25

"Dall", The, 56
Declaration of Independence, 16
Delawares, vii, 1, 20; war dance, 32;
1780 attacks, 36
Durham boats, 89

early

settlers,

7;

Quaker

settlers

at

Roaring Creek, 51
first schools, 90; subscription schools, 91; school houses,

education, 90;

91; at Berwick, 92; school books, 91;
teachers, 92

settlers,

60;

Chillisquaque Creek, 14, 21
churches, at Bloomsburg, 70
Clayton, Thomas, member of Committee of Safety, 17
Columbia County, ix; area and population 1800, 74; distribution, 74; formation of, 101; need of new county,
101; advantages of county seat town,
102; erection of Union County, 102;

Columbia County, 102;
choosing name, 102; dissatisfaction
with Danville as county seat, 103
commerce, 88
erection of

Committee of Safety (Revolutionary
War) for our region, 17; Thomas

Espy, Josiah, buys land, 13
Eves, John, 14; settled at Little Fishing
Creek, 14; purchased land, 15; flight
after Battle of Wyoming, 35, 73
explorations, 2, 3
Eyer (see Oucr)
Ludwig, lays out town of
Eyer,

Bloomsburg
famine, dangers of, 84
farm products, increase of, 84
fence making, picture, 70
Fishing Creek, 3; settlements at, 9, 57;
headwaters and Indian base, 35; various meanings, 52 note; 67 note; slow
growth of area after Revolutionary
War, 60; rapid growth of area before
Revolutionary War, 75

111

and

fishing friction with Indians at Cata-

homestead,

wissa, 43
Five Nations (see Iroquois)
food from Wilds, deer, 81; bears, 81;
turkeys, 81; wild pigeons, 81; shad

descriptions, 69
hotels and lodging, 60, 67, 68, 70, 96
Hughes, Ellis, 13, 14

honey, 83; maple

51
Hunter, Samuel, 15; commandant at
Sunbury, 22; orders attack on Tories,
ordered settlements to be
24;

and other

fish, 82;

sugar, 83
forts (see

under

full

name

as Fort Stan-

wix), constructed, 21

Fort Augusta, 21
Fort Bosley's Mills, 21
Fort Freeland, picture and description,
20, 21; attacked, 29
Fort Jenkins, 20, 21; attacked 1779, 28
& 1780, 36; destroyed, 1780, 40
Fort McClure, built, homestead, 42
Fort Montgomery (see Fort Rice)
Fort Rice, 21; attack repulsed, 1780, 40
Fort Stanwix, Treaty of, ix, 1
Fort Wheeler, 21; built, 22; first attack,
23; second attack, 23
Franklin Township, early settlements,

71
freighting

wagon on

a

corduroy road,

picture, 100

Friends (see Quakers)
frontier, location of, v, vii; Le Tort's
report of conditions, 1; attractiveness
of, 4
frontier warfare, 1779, 28, 29; 1780, 35;
preparatory hunting by Indians at
headwaters of Fishing and Muncy
Creeks, 35; base of operations there,
35; attacks by Delawares and Senecas,
36; scouts' armament, 39
fur traders, 1
Furry incident at Catawissa 1782, 43

Godhard,

(see

Conoys)

John,

settlers to

led

large

party

of

area,

63

North Mountain

good land, signs of, 63
Great Runaway, The,

24;

Coven-

hoven's report on, 25
Great Shamokin Path, 75
Great Warriors Path, trail, 61

Greenwood
gypsum for

Valley, early settlers, 73
fertilizer,

54

Hartley's expedition, 28
Hartmans, early settlers at Catawessa,
13, 15

Haynes, Reuben, speculator, 15
Hemlock, early settlers, 56
Hidlay, Henry, settled North Center
Township, 60
Hill, Frederick, purchased land covering Fort Jenkins

112

site, 60; first

hotel, 60

picture

Hughes, William, lays out Catawissa,

abondoned
Huntington Creek, 3
Huntington, Samuel, 11

immigration, causes, 4
indentured servants, 5
Independence, War for (see Revolution,

American)

Indians (see special tribal names),
negotiations for Indian Alliance, 19;
Indian allies, Mohawks, Onondaguas,
Cayugas, Senecas, Delawares, Shawnees, 20; American supporters, Tuscaroras, Oneidas, 20; last troubles with,
43; trails, 48
intercolonial wars, ix

Iroquois (Iroquois Confederacy or Five
Nations, after 1711 Six Nations), vii

Jerseytown, name, 73; early settlers,
73; access to from West Branch, 77
John, Isaac, 15, 54
journey to frontier, 17; by Daniel
McHenry, 79

Kline,

Gangawese

pioneer's,

Adam,

led settlement to

Mountain region, 62, 64
Knob Mountain region, early

Knob

settlers,

Adam

Kline leads settlers, 62, 64
Kunchel, John, helped lay out Mifflinville, 54
62;

Lancastrian migration to Wyoming, 12
land purchasing in colonial Pennsylvania, 3
land speculation, 5-8
leather and leather workers, 92
Lehigh Nescopeck Highway, 75

Lenni Lenape (see Delawares)
Le Tort, James, reports on frontier conditions, 1

Liebensthal, see "The Dall"
Lightfoot, Benjamin, 9
Lightstreet settlements, 64
log house, 80

log structures, pictures and text, 46, 55,
69; John Freas' cabin, 69, 70, 80; Isaac
John's cabin, 54; Quaker Meeting

House

Catawissa,

in

52;

Roaring

Creek Meeting House, 53; construction of cabins, 79; furnishings, 94, 95

Long House, in diagram, ix
Lyon Cooper incident at Bloomsburg,
43

map, L. E. Wilt,
maple sugar, 68
Melick,
Creek,

Peter,

7

6,

above Fishing

settler

member Committee

16;

of

Safety, 17
merchants and merchandising, 88
metheglin, 83
Mifflin region, Windbigler family mas-

routes

29;

settlers,

54,

to,

71;

early

54; Mifflinville laid out, 54;

town plan, 54
Mifflinville-Nescopeck
Catawissa, 76
Miller,

9; early
access routes, 72

Abram,

South Center,

Highway from

settler, 60; built hotel.

60, 96;

description, 60, 67
mills, grain grinding

township region

by mortar and

growth of grist
saw mills,
version to plaster mills, 87
Millville (see Greenwood)
pestle, 85;

conversion to

Mohawks, ix, 20
Montour Township,

mills,

85;

85;

con-

base, 35
Munsees,

viii

Northumberland County, erection

home

Onandagas,

ix,

Oneidas,

20

ix,

Owen, Evan,

became leader,
member Committee of
13;

McClure,

James,

Wyoming

son,
13;
Safety, 17, 22
13;

Mrs.,

flight

after

Battle, 26

McHenry, Daniel,

64, 79

Bloomsburg, 61; Catawissa,
103; Chillisquaque, 103; Fishing
Creek, 106; Muncy, 106; Ralpho, 107;
Roaring Creek, 107: Salem Township,
107; Shamokin, 107; Wyoming, 107

names,

Nanticokes,

vii

95

in cabin,

20
descent,

settlement

57;

near Fishing Creek, 57; transferred
interest to region of Nescopeck Falls
region; lays out Owensburg (Owensville), 57;

and

became

real estate

manager

dealer, 58, 75; built Lehigh Nesco-

peck road, 59, 75; moved family to
Berwick and became leading citizen,
59; as justice allotted meat from every
bear killed, 81
Oyer, 61 and note*
Oyer, John Adam, purchased site of
Bloomsburg, 61

Oyerstown

(Eyerstaltel), 62

pack horses, 49; picture, 50
Paxtang Boys, 12
Peace, Treaty of, 16
Pence, Peter, taken prison, escape with
Moses VanCampen, 36
Penn, William, 3
Pennsylvania's war difficulties, 33;
settlers' hardships, 33; patrolling fron-

much

of

33; soldiers'

war fought

pay small,
in

Pennsyl-

vania, 34; prisoners kept in Pennsylvania, 34; Yankee Pennamite friction,
35; Tories, 35; divisions, 35
Pensil, John incident, 34

Abrahm, captured with Van-

Campen and
McClure's Fort (see Fort McClure)
McClure, James, at Fishing Creek, 9,
12; purchases land, 13; builds cabin,

of,

10

Pike,

McCauley, Alexander, 8

settlers,

63

34;

Morris, Robert, 8
Muncy Creek, headwaters and Indian

72;

"

tier difficult,

early settlers, 56

settlements,

Nesquaspeck (see Nescopeck)
"New Purchase of 1768, ix, 3
North Mountain region, early

occupations,

Maclay, William, report on Wyoming
flight, 27
Mainville Gap, early settlements, 54

sacre,

Nescopeck,

escape, 36

pioneer life, 55, 69, 11
Piscataway, vii
Pontiac's Rebellion, ix
prices

and wages, 67

proprietors
of), 3

(see

William Penn, son's

Quakers, came to Catawissa,

14;

on

Fishing Creek,
Quaker
14;
"Meeting", meaning of, 14; at Roaring

Little

Creek, 19; harassment of, 41; Moses
Roberts and Job Hughes imprisoned,
42; wives turned out of homes at
Catawissa, 42; Meeting House at
Catawissa with picture, 52; decline of
at Catawissa, 52; heritage, 53; successors to, 53; meeting at Berwick, 58

113

quitrents, 3

Sunbury, 11
surveying the land, 4

Reading Road, 76
redemptioner (see indentured servant)
religious developments, Quakers, 89;
Lutherans and Reformeds at Bloomsburg; Episcopalians at Bloomsburg;

Susquehanna lands, interest revived, 51
Susquehanna River, 9
Susquehannocks, vii

north

St. Gabriel's at the

Revolution, American, 16, 19
Revolution, opening battles at Lexington and Concord, 18
Rittenhouse, helped lay out Mifflinville, 54
river transportation route,
59,
75;
hazards, 64
roads, access to Northwestern part of

country, 71
Roaring Creek,

numbers

Quakers

9;
at,

at,
15;
51; early settlers

(see also Slabtown), 71
Roberts, Moses, 13; Govenor's mission,
14; reports people at Catawissa, 14;
built house at Catawissa, 14, 15; imprisonment as suspected Tory, 42

Rochefoucauld-Liancourt, Journey in
United States of America, quoted, 67
Rupert, Leonard, settlement, 53, 54;
settlements, 71

Committee

Scotch-Irish settlers, 11
Senecas, ix, 20; attacks 1780, 36
settlements, obstructions to removed,

47

Main

Beaver (McCauley), 15;
15; near Fishing

(Isaac John),

Creek, 16; Cabin Run area, 16; Chillisquaque headwaters, 16

Shamokin, 11
Shawnees, viii, 20
Shelters,

picture,

49;

lean-to

with

picture, 99

Six Nations (see Iroquois)

Slabtown, 53, 71, 87; hotel, 96
Smith, Captain John, vii
speculators, 5; Robert Morris, 8; James
Wilson, 8; Reuben Haines, 15
squatters, 4, 8
Stamp Act, 16
Stewart, Lazarus, leader at Battle of

Wyoming;

and

our

64
travel, difficulties of, 47, 48; routes

by

Catawissa via
Little and Catawissa Mountains, 51;
to grist mills, 85
tree felling, picture, 70
trencherman, note 94
Trenton, Decree of, 11
Tuscuroras, viii, ix, 20

Upper Fishing Creek,

early settlers, 63

VanCampen, Cornelius, 21
VanCampen, Moses, childhood and
training,

21,

22;

joins

armed

ordered to build Fort
Wheeler, 22; defends Fort Wheeler,
22, 23; capture of Tories; detached
service during attack on. Wyoming;
aided Sullivan expedition as quartermaster, 30; scouted the army's advance, 30; led advance at Battle of
forces,

22;

Newtown,

30;

suffered

camp

fever,

taken prisoner and escaped, 36;
expedition against Tory settlement,
41; builds Fort McClure, 42; attacked
Indian marauding party, 42; 1782
captured on detached service, exchanged, 44; last service at WilkesBarre, 44; discharged, 44; married
Margaret, daughter of widow of
30;

James McClure,

59;

managed Mc-

Clure farm, 59; later farmed near
Briar Creek, 59; moved to Almond,
N.Y., 60; eminent career, 60; became
major in militia, note 60
VanCampen tragedy, 36

killed

Stewart, Lazarus, Mrs.,

escape from

Wyoming, 26
Sullivan expedition, 29; assembled at
Wilkes-Barre, 29; defeated Indians at

Newtown; ravaged Seneca country,
29; results inconclusive, 33

114

Pennsylvania

88; to Catawissa, 14, 76; to Berwick,

early
Safety, Committee of (see
of Safety)

settlers, early,

in

region, 34, 35; among Quakers, 41
transportation, freight and passenger,

river, 51, 68; route to

Quaker meeting

Dutch Valley,

Thirteen Fires, 20
timber floated by stream, 77
tomahawk, with picture, 26
Tories, captured by VanCampen, 24;

wage level, 3
war in the Susquehanna

region, 20

Washingtonville, 21

West

Branch

attacks on, 24

Whigs, 34

of

the

Susquehanna,

Whitmore (see Whitmoyer)
Whitmoyer (Whitmore) tragedy, 38
Wild

animals, dangers from bears,
panthers, wolves; destruction of game
and fish, 84
Wilson, James, 8

The rugged rapids

in this

Windbigler family massacre, 29
Wyoming Battle and Massacre, 25;
of survivors,
flight
26;
Maclay's
report on, 27
Wyoming Valley, invaded, 25

stream suggest

its

name of Roaring

Creek.

photo by author

115

Gleanings from the Author's Card

Fil(

Connecticut Claim

boundary
was thought to be at the mouth of Fishing
Creek. Recent surveys have shown it to be about a mile farther north.
The map on pages 108 and 109 shows it approximately at what was conIn earlier times, the forty-first parallel of latitude, the southern

of the Connecticut claim,

sidered the earlier location in colonial days.

Floods

The
were

in

early settlers were plagued with floods.

1744, 1758, 1772.

No

The

earliest

recorded

record of the high water marks have been

should be noted that about 1772, Evan Owen began disposing
Creek area and transferred his interests to
the Nescopeck Falls region. In October of 1787 there were several days of
incessant rain. "The water rose rapidly and swept all before it." Several
persons were drowned near modern Rupert. Northumberland and Sunfound.

It

of his properties in the Fishing

bury were overflowed and there was much loss of life. The fields of
pumpkins up-river were flooded and the pumpkins were carried down in
such great numbers that it was called "the great pumpkin- flood". The
next great flood was in 1800. The record stresses that the floods up to this
time had been fourteen years apart. So when another record tells about a
flood about 1784 that rose to "unprecedented heights" we are forced to
conclude that this must have been the pumpkin flood. It was this flood,
whichever the date it was, which led the Cleavers to abandon their plans
for settling on the north side of the river and instead choose the higher
land on the south side. They became the founding settlers of Franklin

Township, as previously recounted.
Battle, History of

Montour County,

Columbia and Montour Counties,

p. 285; Bradsby, History of

p. 95.

Presbyterian Beginnings
in 1796 donated an acre of land to the trustees of the
Creek Presbyterian society for a house of worship, which was con-

Henry Hidlay
Briar

structed shortly after.
Battle, History of

116

Columbia County,

p. 212.

Law and Order

Our area was part of Northumberland County with the County Seat
Sunbury from 1772 until 1913. In the Quarter Sessions Docket for
1780, Spring Term, p. 185, we can read: "Larceny, True Bill. Elizobeth
Wild, a true bill To receive 15 lashes on her bare back, Oct. 2, next."
Other entries are to be found. This is the only case of a woman being
made to suffer. The phrase, "well laid on", usually occurring in the sentence of the judge, does not seem to have been used in this case.
at

Land Rush

On

the third of April, 1768, the

first

day possible following the

New

Purchase at Fort Stanwix, two thousand applications for land surveys
were made.
Bradsby, History of Montour County, p. 18.
Prior to 1768, Indians had permitted no invasion by whites of these
lands except by traders, trappers, and hunters.

Trades and Occupations

How did the town people earn their living in the early towns? A list
and occupations

of

Berwick in the early 1800's should be representative of the occupations in these towns generally. The list includes:

crafts

tailor,

at

chair-maker, tinner, carpenters, cooper, blacksmith, cloth dyer,

butcher, weaver, cabinet-maker, saddler, wheel-wright, milliner, gunsmiths, silver smith.
Battle, History

of Columbia County, p. 197.

Inflation

Alexander Aikman about 1780, sold 600 acres of land for ContiIt became so depreciated that it equaled in value a mere
thirty yards of tow cloth, a course, low value type of fabric.
Battle, History of Columbia and Montour Counties, p. 412.
nental currency.

Phillip

Maus

of Philadelphia, later a settler in neighboring Danville,

expended large sums of his own gold coin for raw materials with which
he manufactured clothing for the army. He took his payment in Continental currency, which eventually became valueless. Baskets of this currency were in the family's collection for years, according to a record of
1887.
Bradsby, History of Montour County,

p. 13.

117

Colophon
This book was printed on

70
using

lb.

Williamsburg, Hi-Bulk, white

Compugraphic Paladium

text

type

with Visual Graphics Caslon Antique
display type; printed on an offset

by Precision Printers, Inc.,
PA; binding done by
Arnold's Book Bindery

press

Millville,

Reading,

PA

March 1976

118