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4th. The widows of those who had fallen by the Savages, to be indulged in half their possessions a year longer.

And 5th. The Rev. Mr. Johnson to be allowed to occupy his grounds (under disclaimer and lease, of course,) for two years.

It will be obvious to every reader that instead of being terms of conciliation and compromise, they bear the impress of an imperious master, conscious of his power, dictating to revolted slaves, broken, hated and despised. That the Montgomerys should ever have lent their respected names to proposals, so fraught with injustice and contumely, appears at this day incredible. Those gentlemen were superior to the least suspicion of corruption; but their minds were probably too deeply imbued with prejudice against the Connecticut claim and claimants, to leave room for the exercise of their naturally just judgments, and more generous and elevated sentiments.

"If the terms should be agreed to and satisfied," say the Commissioners most graciously, "we shall think it our duty to recommend your distressed situation to the notice of the Legislature !"

The address from the Committee of Landholders brought a new personage into the discussion, but an old acquaintance of the settlers, ALEXANDER PATTERSON, Esq. As this gentleman acted a very prominent part in the events which ensued, it seems fitting that he should be more particularly introduced to the reader. In a petition presented by him to the Legislature, in 1803, asking remuneration for his faithful services he set forth,

"In the year 1769, he was solicited by the late proprietary, John Penn and Chief Justice Allen, to take an active part against the Connecticut intruders, who were pursuing an unbounded claim," etc. "In the month of February, same year, he proceeded with John Jennings, Sheriff of Northampton, and others, and brought to Easton gaol, the first forty of the intruders, who had attempted to seat themselves at Wyoming." "The ensuing Fall, there came upwards of two hundred intruders; they attempted to dispossess the Pennsyl vania settlers with axes, scythes and clubs. Your Petitioner was in the front of the opposition, and was severely wounded in the head with an axe. Notwithstanding the loss of much blood, he that evening set off for Fort Augusta (Sunbury,) in a batteau, and brought up a cannon,* etc. The next year the intruders "drove the Pennsylvania settlers into the garrison, wherein was your Petitioner, with many women and children, where they were beseiged nearly seven

"The terrible four-pounder."

weeks, and were obliged to capitulate through famine, to Butler," etc. "The September following, your petitioner was among the most active who again took their garrison, with much enterprise." Prisoners who escaped, "with others, accompanied those bravos to Wyoming, where by palpable perjury they instantly joined their associate ruffians”—“ He has gone with his associates through the wilderness at night; taken particular captive offenders; abated the marauders' settlement; and expelled the despicable herd."

If such was the strain in which Mr. Patterson spoke of the settlers, a quarter of a century after the conflict, well may be imagined the spirit of hatred and revenge that rankled in his breast while the events were recent. Yet this gentleman was chosen as the fitting dove to bear the olive of peace, and be the messenger of conciliation. Supported by the two companies of Robinson and Shrawder's Rangers, confident of his strength, and exulting in his power; determined to "feed fat the ancient grudge he bore them," Patterson had gathered around him Capt. Dick and a number of his former companions in arms, to witness his triumph, and share in the utter humiliation of his Yankee foes. But "there is a Divinity that shapes our ends," and the conclusion was not so near as anticipated. We publish-6th. Letter from the Committee of Settlers, in reply to the offered proposals of Compromise.

"GENTLEMEN,—We duly received yours of the 22nd instant, enclosing the address, and proposals of the landholders of this State by their committee; and although we must confess that their elegant manner of address is far beyond us, yet we hope our plain country way of communicating our ideas will be forgiven. But we cannot help taking notice that in their address they complain of a proposal that was made by us before your honours, being very ungrateful, which to the best of our remembrance was that it had been intimated by some that it was probable this State would out of courtesy bestow something in the land way on the settlers, and claimants of the lands here under Connecticut; they were only asked, that if that was granted out of courtesy, whether they would not exchange and suffer us to enjoy our peaceable possessions here, by way of compromise? Their answer was, that they were as able to apply for lands as we. We are extremely sorry to entertain the idea that in a compromise, we, or they, instead of looking at the designed, and desired object, be forming mountains out of mole hills. We do not think the lawful defence of what we esteem to be our own, can with any justice be termed a disaffection to Government. We would add, the

petition we laid before the Legislative body of this State, we were in hopes would be considered of as we find it is, and if that is granted, or any other satisfactory measures can be come into by way of compromise, as we would first take all lenitive measures, and if nothing is effected by this method of treating, we must have recourse to the ninth article of Confederation, as that is the only mode pointed out for the trial of these lands claimed under grants of different States. As we conceive that the proposals of the committee, in which they offer as a compromise, will not tend to peace, as they are so far from what we deem reasonable, we cannot comply with them without doing the greatest injustice to ourselves and our associates, to widows, and fatherless children. And although we mean to pay due obedience to the constitutional laws of Pennsylvania, we do not mean to become abject slaves, as the Committee of Landholders suggest in their address to your honors.

Signed in behalf of the Committee of Settlers.

Wyoming, April 22, 1783.

JOHN JENKINS, Chairman.

To the honorable Joseph Montgomery, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners.

The last letter was an address from the State Commissioners, to the Committee of Settlers.

GENTLEMEN,-We are now possessed of your answer to the proposals of the Committee of Landholders under Pennsylvania.

We are sorry that there does not appear any prospect of accommodation between you. Therefore we must beg the favour of you, to notify your people to meet with us to-morrow morning at 8 o'clock, when we shall take the liberty to lay the whole proceedings before them, and take our leave of them, and you.

We shall be glad to have a friendly interview with you this afternoon at 4 o'clock, and that you will bring with you the returns.

We have the honour to be, Gentlemen,

Your most obedient and humble servants.
Signed in behalf of the Commissioners, by
JOSEPH MONTGOMERY.

Wyoming, April 23, 1783.

The Committee representing the Settlers from Connecticut."

And here terminated the correspondence; but not the action of the commissioners. Forthwith they divided Wyoming into three townships, naming the two new ones Stoke and Shawanese. Justices of the Peace for the county of Northumberland were immediately chosen by Mr. Patterson, and his New Jersey and Northampton friends, who had accompanied him to Wyoming; David Mead, Robert Martin, John Chambers, and Nathan Denison, for the northwestern district: Alexander Patterson, John Seely, Luke Brodhead, and Henry Shoemaker, for the southeastern. The inhabitants were equally unconscious of the division of the townships, and of the election of Magistrates, Col. Denison's name being used without his knowledge. None of the others were, or had been for years, inhabitants of Westmoreland. David Mead, formerly an active Connecticut partizan, and the surveyor of Wilkesbarre township, had resided during the war at Northumberland. This gentleman is again especially noticed, as he will appear a conspicuous actor on a subsequent page. No proceeding could possibly have been more illegal, arbitrary, and unjust.

Having been nine days at Wyoming, the commissioners withdrew on the 24th of April, to make their report to the Assembly, which was to convene early in August. Their report recommended that a reasonable compensation in land [in the western part of the State] should be made to the families of those who had fallen in arms against the common enemy, and to such other settlers as had a proper Connecticut title, and "did actually reside on the lands at the time of the decree at Trenton, provided they immediately relinquish all claim to the soil where they now inhabit, and enter into contracts to deliver up full and quiet possession of their present tenures, to the rightful owners under Pennsylvania, by the first of April next."

Waiting the reception of the commissioners, uncertain whether the course pursued would be disallowed or confirmed, Justice Patterson and his troops, although indulging in every species of petty insult and contumely, seemingly intended to drive the settlers to violations of law and order, yet restrained themselves from overt acts of cruelty, and flagrant instances of oppression.

Eventual and preliminary articles of peace having been signed with Great Britain the 30th of the preceding November, on the 11th of May all Wyoming, echoing with shouts, and congratulations, indulged in feasting and merry-making, it being a day set apart for rejoicings at that happy event. Sorrow forgot her woes; care assumed the gay laugh of mirth; and even the melancholy mother,

beholding in her blooming boy, growing into manhood, a freeman, whose liberty had been sealed by his father's blood, shook off the tear of fond remembrance, and smiled.

Benjamin Bidlack returned from the army on the 12th of June; on the 22nd, Lieut. Rosewell Franklin, whose wife was so barbarously butchered by the Indians the preceding summer, was married to Mrs. Lester, whose husband had also fallen by the hands of the Savages; thus assuaging mutual sorrow in the arms of mutual, and honourable endearment.

With prudent forecast, the settlers, aware of the overwhelming power of the State, if vigorously put forth, and sensible of the spirit with which, under Patterson's vice-royalty it would be exercised, began in earnest to look out for a place of retreat. An association was formed to establish a settlement in New York, north of the Pennsylvania line. Capt. J. Franklin, sent out on an exploring party, was absent from the 15th of May to the 7th of June, examining, chiefly, the country near Oquago on the east branch of the Susquehanna, and thence north to the Butternuts. Mr. Jenkins actually began surveying a tract in the Genesee country, but several Indians came to his camp, ostensibly to beg provisions, promising to return the value in venison; their real purpose was evinced by a visit in a different character, two nights afterwards. While the party was sleeping in perfect unconsciousness of danger, a fire was opened into his cabin; one man killed outright, and three wounded. Lieut. Jenkins sprang to his feet, seized his Jacob staff, struck down an Indian upon the fire, and killed him. To remain would have been certain death, and he withdrew with his wounded men. Whether the attack was made for plunder, or what is more probable, revenge still boiling in the savage breast against Wyoming, or as is not unlikely, jealousy of the whites encroaching on their hunting grounds, could not be certainly determined.*

Capt. Spalding and several of his military associates, with Obadiah Gore, Esq., and some others, immediately withdrew from the Valley, and made a settlement at Sheshequin, a few miles below Tioga point, on the east side of the Susquehanna, and by the river seventy miles above Wyoming; yet in the old town of Westmoreland. Two or three Indian families remained there, demeaning themselves peaceably for awhile, and then removed to the west.

*The date of this transaction in Col. Jenkins' journal is set down as 1783. The imprudence, not to say rashness, of venturing to survey on the Indian lands so soon after the war, and some other circumstances, would lead us to give to it a posterior date.

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