LETTER IX. Commencement of Settlement, 1769-First Pennymite War-Conspicuous men of the two parties marshalled for the field-Capt. Zebulon Butler, Col. John Durkee-Denison, the Gores, M'Dowell, Shoemaker, Stewart and others, on the part of the Yankees. Capt. Amos Ogden; John Jennings, Esq., Charles Stewart, with Clayton, Francis, Dick, Morris, Ledlie and Craig, on the part of Mr. Penn-Capt. Ogden invested in Block-house at mouth of Mill Creek—A parley-Yankees outwitted-Taken prisoners and sent to Easton Jail-Liberated, return and take possession of Wyoming-Fort Durkee built— Expedition of Col. Francis-Mission of Col. Dyer and Elderkin to Philadelphia-Capt. Ogden returns-The four-pounder-Durkee taken prisoner and sent to PhiladelphiaThe Fort surrenders-Second expulsion of the Yankees. THE Susquehanna Company having completed their purchase of the soil, proceeded to make arrangements for establishing settlements at Wyoming, possession only being necessary, in their estimation, to render their title complete. Their purpose, unquestionably was, to do, as all the previous companies, cut out of the original Plymouth Charter, had done, namely, to obtain a confirmatory charter from the King, and establish at Susquehanna, an independent colony. From all the lights before us, we regard the proceedings as a spontaneous unofficial movement of the people of Connecticut. Perfect unanimity was not to be expected. The nature and history of man; reason and experience, preclude the idea. But we are confident in the opinion, that a people, generally, were never less divided upon any point of magnitude, than those of Connecticut on this subject. One thing more was demanded to satisfy the law. An assent, previous or subsequent to an Indian purchase within the limits of the colony, was required to render such purchase valid. Accordingly in May, 1755, on the petition of Phineas Lyman, and others, a Committee of the Susquehanna Company, reciting their purchase of the Indians, and praying the acquiescence of the Assembly, and their consent for an application to His Majesty, to erect them into a new colony, or plantation, it was among other things, Resolved, that, 66 They (the Legislature) hereby, accordingly, manifest their ready acquiescence therein," etc. Subsequently, to wit: In 1782, the Agents of Connecticut in setting forth their claim before the Court at Trenton, distinctly declare, That the purchase of the Susquehanna adventurers had the approbation of the Assembly. An attempt to establish a colony at Wyoming, in 1762; the massacre of twenty of the settlers, and the expulsion of the remainder, the subsequent year, has been already noticed. The purchase of the soil from the Indians by the Pennsylvania Government, in 1768, has been mentioned. And now commenced the strife, foot to foot, and hand to hand, of the conflicting parties for the possession of this beautiful valley. Gallant spirits, with a will to do, and courage to dare, met spirits equally gallant and determined. We approach the contest, still known in the common parlance of the country, as "The First Pennymite War."* In the bosom of the wilderness, far removed from any civilized settlement, extensive plains, beautiful as Persian groves, or Eden's bowers, the prize to crown and reward the victor. Though widely separated by rugged hills, and deep-tangled forests, from the busy mart, or the church-warning bell, yet were the combatants fully aware that the eyes of anxious multitudes were upon them. All Connecticut was on tiptoe to watch, to cheer, and to sustain her adventurous colony at Wyoming. Philadelphia, the first city on the continent—abounding in wealth, distinguished for talents, with such portions of the surrounding country as was more especially within the circle of her influence, gazing with anxious suspense, were equally eager, and not less zealously determined to stand by the party that had nobly volunteered to defend the honour and maintain the rights of Pennsylvania. The respective combatants, in no inconsiderable degree resembling the Roundheads and Cavaliers of the civil wars, the preceding century. Before the charge is sounded, and the battle begins, each party must be traced in its march to the field of action. First, then, of the Susquehanna Company.-Preparatory to a recommencement of their settlement, a meeting was convened at Hartford, in 1768, at which it was resolved, That five townships, five miles square, should be surveyed and granted, each to forty settlers, being Proprietors, on condition that those settlers should remain upon the ground, "man their rights" as was the phrase, and defend them *"Pennymite" and "Yankee" being the terms by which the parties were generally designated at the time; and are used by us in no invidious "sense." selves, and each other, from the intrusion of all rival claimants. Forty were to set forth without delay; the others, to the amount in all, of two hundred, were to follow the succeeding Spring. As further encouragement, a sum of two hundred pounds, Connecticut currency, i. e. six hundred and sixty-seven dollars, was appropriated to provide implements of husbandry and provisions, (including, probably, arms and ammunition,) for those who might require assistance. To those two hundred who emigrated on settling rights, must be added all those other proprietors of the Susquehanna purchase, who chose to take possession of their western property. Among the forty who obtained land on settlement rights, were no inconsiderable number of substantial farmers, who by this means, added to their other claims as proprietors, the choice of some of the most desirable lots, embracing the inviting river bottoms, unequalled in fertility. Five townships in the heart of the valley, were allotted for those adventurers, to wit:-Wilkes barre, Hanover, Kingston, Plymouth, and Pittston. Subsequently, three other townships, to be located on the west branch of the Susquehanna, were appropriated to forty settlers each. Among the emigrants from the east, several bore parts so prominent in the scenes which transpired as to demand a particular introduction to the notice of the reader. The "Old French War," then recent, had developed the talent, and called into action the energies of a large number of young men in the colonies of New England. Connecticut furnished her full complement for that war. Capt. Zebulon Butler, of Lyme, after sharing in the campaign at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, in 1758, commanded a company, and earned reputation at the taking of the Havanna, 1762. A brave and vigilant officer, his superior manners and address at once commanded general respect, and conciliated the attachment of his soldiers. This gentleman, if not clothed with official power, was, by common consent, regarded as the leader of the Connecticut train. Captains Durkee and Ransom, both of whom had seen honorable service in the French war, accompanied, and rallied under their old companion in arms. Full of enterprise, never doubting the entire justice of the Connecticut claim, tired of the piping songs of peace, they sought action, honour and independence in the stirring scenes, opening on the Susquehanna. Obadiah Gore, Esq., with his seven sons (who will figure conspicuously in the succeeding pages,) were among the early emigrants. Nathan Denison, from Stonington, a descendant of Capt. Denison, distinguished in the old Pequot wars, mild yet firm, grave yet active, constituted one of the number. Nor was the wise policy neglected, of obtaining friends and adherents within the limits of Pennsylvania. How effected, no account remains; but above the Blue Mountains, on the Delaware, a settlement existed near by, or embracing Stroudsburg, the present seat of justice of Monroe county, whereof a number of the principal inhabitants united with the Connecticut people, and entered heart and hand into their cause. The aid afforded by these Pennsylvania allies, was of the utmost importance to the new colony. Benjamin Shoemaker, one of the Executive Committee, was from this settlement. John M'Dowell, a wealthy, high-toned Cameronian Scotchman, became a true friend to the Yankees. With Highland zeal, he espoused their cause. His granaries and purse were ever tendered to the suffererers with a "Highland Welcome."* Other and efficient aid was found in the Stewarts, Young, with other bold and daring leaders from Hanover, near the Susquehanna, then in Lancaster county, now in Dauphin, who will presently appear among the armed combatants upon the field of action. On the other hand, the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania designated their leaders, and marshalled their forces for the contest. Charles Stewart, a surveyor, trained, like Washington and Wayne, in the hardships and dangers of a forest-life, to lead in the paths of glory, stands forth most conspicuously. He was afterwards a popular and efficient officer of the Pennsylvania line, and for some time an aid to General Washington. With him was associated Capt. Amos Ogden, and John Jennings, Esq., Ogden uniting to the truest courage, and untiring activity, an intuitive perception of all the arts and stratagems of war, was the indefatigable military leader. John Jennings, Esq., High Sheriff of Northampton county, was the civil magistrate. These three constituted the Chief Executive Directory, to conduct the Proprietaries' affairs at Wyoming. To these, a lease had been executed for a hundred acres of land for seven years, upon condition that they should establish an Indian trading house thereon, and defend the valley from encroachment.† * When Death's dark stream I ferry o'er, A time that surely will come; In Heaven itself, I ask no more, Than just a Highland welcome.-BURNS. + "I have seen," says Col. Pickering, "March 2, 1798, among the Proprietaries' papers, a list of forty or fifty who purchased on the express condition of defending, in arms, the possession of these lands from the Connecticut claimants." So that the plan of manning their rights, was common to both parties. The names of several gentlemen of distinction, besides Ogden, appeared in this war, at the head of armed companies. Asher Clayton, Turbot Francis, Joseph Morris, John Dick, Andrew Ledlie, and Thomas Craig, were among the best officers of the Province. The latter, by the merit of perfect discipline, and tried bravery, rose to be a colonel in the continental service, during the revolutionary war, and was afterwards major-general of the militia. In declining age, when I knew him, his manners were highly polished, but he told me the habits of the soldier had become so fixed in him, that for thirty years he had not slept on a bed. At night, a blanket or two spread upon a table, constituted his most welcome couch. Col. Clayton had held a commission in 1763, in the Paxton Rangers, and was probably progenitor of the distinguished senator, of that name, from Delaware. The son of Capt. Dick, full of wit, who loved his jest, his bottle, and his friend, though residing in Northampton, afterwards practised law in Luzerne, a general favorite, and successful advocate. It will, at a glance, be seen that such parties did not meet, though the prize at issue was great, in mere mercenary contention. Stewart, Ogden, and Jennings, were first upon the ground, having arrived in January, 1769. It was winter, and the stillness of death brooded over the valley. A block-house and a number of huts, near the confluence of Mill Creek with the Susquehanna, a mile above the present town of Wilkesbarre, left by the massacred, or expelled settlers of 1763, were easily fitted up, and afforded shelter for their men. The first step was to lay off two manors, embracing a considerable portion of the finest lands on each side of the river. Having selected the heart for themselves, the Proprietaries left the remainder to reward the enterprise of such friends as might be able to render assistance in meeting with defiance, and resisting with effect, the "moss trooping" Yankees from the east. Seventeen hundred and sixty nine, was an eventful year in Wyoming history. On the 8th of February, the first forty, the pioneer detachment of Yankees appeared on the ground. Finding their expected shelter in the possession of an enemy, they forthwith invested the block-house of Ogden, cutting off all communication with the surrounding country, so that the besieged could neither obtain fuel nor venison; and demanded in the name of Connecticut the surrender of the garrison, and peaceable possession of the valley. Expected reinforcements anxiously looked for, not arriving, Captain Ogden equally ready, for fair, open fight, or the subtle wiles of diplomacy, |