with Capt. Schott, Esquire Patterson being present, asked his name. He informed him, and, said "Patterson, I do not know you." "I am Alexander Patterson, Esq., of Pennsylvania, one of the magistrates of this place, G-d d-n you, I will make you know me;" then called a guard of soldiers, took him to the guard-house, confined him twenty-four hours, then dismissed him without ceremony, all which facts we conceive to be done without law or right, and merely to distress the poor distressed inhabitants of this place, and is an infringement on the rights, liberties and privileges, of free citizens of this State.

Therefore, we as sincere friends to the rights, liberties and privileges of the United States and citizens of this State, under our distressed circumstances, gratefully request your Honorable body to take our distressed case under your wise and serious consideration, and in some way grant relief, as may appear most just and reasonable to your Honours; hoping that every unconstitutional and unlawful act may be redressed, and removed into oblivion, and we your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.

Wyoming, November 18th, 1783.

Signed by John Jenkins and a number of others, in behalf of themselves and the rest of the inhabitants of Wyoming.

STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. In General Assembly, Tuesday, December 9th, 1783, A. M. The petition from divers inhabitants of Wyoming, in the county of Northumberland, was read the second time, whereupon

Resolved, That the members from Northampton county, or a majority of them, be a committee to inquire into the charges contained in a petition from a number of the inhabitants of Wyoming, in the county of Northumberland, and report to the House at their next meeting, and that the said petition, and other papers accompanying it, be put into their hands. Extract from the minutes.

Signed,

PETER Z. LLOYD,
Clerk of General Assembly, ded
Philadelphia, December 9th, 1783,

pos

In compliance of the above resolution, we, or a majority of us, the committee therein me are tioned, will attend on the 29th of December instant, at the house of Capt. Shott, in Il be township of Stoke, (Wilkesbarre) in order to inquire into the charges by you set forthress, the above petition, of which time and place you are hereby notified, that you be and appetled before us, when and where we shall be ready to hear your evidence to support the charg by you set forth in said petition.

To Mr. John Jenkins and others, the petitioners, etc.

JACOB ARNDT,
JACOB STROUD,
JONAS HARTZEL,

ROBERT BROWN.

A similar note was sent to Alexander Patterson, and to the officers of the garrison; and Robert Martin was also desired to be in attendance, to aid in taking the testimony in the

case.

A. PATTERSON to President DICKINSON.

LONDONDERRY, (Wilkesbarre,) December 20th, 1783. SIR,-Since Mr. Meade and I wrote you last, the purport of which was informing the measures taken to have in confinement that flagrant offender Col. Zebulon Butler, who has threatened the dissolution of the citizens of this State and its laws. Notwithstanding he was committed from under the hands and seals of three Justices of the Peace for treason, he has found security, and is sent back to this place to the terror of the good citizens in this neighborhood. The Sheriff has not done his duty, nor do I believe he intends it, being a party man, among which I am sorry to see so little principles of humanity and honour, men

who wish for popularity at the expense of the property, and perhaps blood of their fellow citizens. Strange as it may appear it is absolutely true, that the banditti at Wyoming have been solicited for their votes at the election, caressed and patronized in their villainy, encouraged in their claims to land, which they now hold in violation of all law, from men who have distinguished themselves and taken a very decided part in the late revolution. Sure I am that it would be an act of justice not to commissionate Antis-the other person on the return I do not know, but worse he cannot be. Pardon this freedom. Nothing but a wish for the peace of the citizens would have induced me to have said so much upon this head. I have wrote the Chief Justice, concerning Butler, and have prevailed upon the bearer, Capt. John Dick, to carry those despatches, he will return to this place, and may be depended upon. I am very uneasy having heard nothing of Major Moore. I wish he was here. I hope your Excellency will think it right to order the troops forward as soon as possible. I have the honour to be with sentiments of the highest esteem, Your most obedient humble servant,

ALEXANDER PATTERSON.

His Excellency John Dickinson.

REPORT.

The committee appointed on the petition of divers inhabitants of Wyoming, exhibiting complaints against Alexander Patterson, Esq., and stating also other grievances, beg leave to report; That your committee repaired to Wyoming, agreeable to the orders of this House, and having given due notice to all parties concerned, proceeded to the investigation of the different charges contained in the petition before the House, in the presence as well of the persons accused as the persons accusing. And the evidence taken on the inquiry has been reduced to writing by a person employed for that purpose by your committee, which deposiFns your committee beg leave to lay before the House.

norhis report was endorsed as follows, viz: Read first time, February 3d, 1784, and on tha on read second time, and referred to Mr. Work, Mr. Miller, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Lutz cor Mr. C .* [Name uncertain.]

cor

to

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PETITION.

To the Honorable the Representatives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennylvania, in General Assembly met :—

The petition and address of John Jenkins, Nathan Denison, Obadiah Gore, Hugh Forsnan and John Franklin, inhabitants of Wyoming, in behalf of themselves and others, inhabitants of said place.

Most respectfully sheweth, That whereas upon a petition and remonstrance from divers inhabitants of Wyoming, bearing date November 18th, 1783, complaining of certain illegal proceedings had against them by Alexander Patterson, Esq., and others, your Honours of your abundant goodness, by a resolution appointed a committee from your Honorable House to inquire into the charges contained in said petition.

That timely notice being given to the said Alexander Patterson, Esq., and others concerned, as well as to the petitioners, an inquiry was held at Wyoming by your committee near ten days. Witnesses called for and fairly heard, and depositions taken, as well on the part of those complained of, as on the part of the petitioners. Liberty of questioning the witnesses when under examination in support of the petition was granted to the defending

⚫Col. Franklin again attended the Legislature, on the part of the inhabitants. He stated to me (says Mr. Ward,) that Patterson and those who were concerned with him, had full access to the committee, laying before them private letters and ex-parte depositions taken after the first committee had left Wyoming-while he was never allowed to go before them during the whole forty-six days the subject was before the committee.

Finding this unfair course was likely to prejudice the interests of his constituents, he prepared and had presented the above petition.

party, and a fair and legal hearing of all such witnesses as they see fit to make use of. That since the return of your committee from Wyoming, we understand that sundry private letters and a number of ex-parte depositions, taken since the inquiry aforesaid, have been presented to your House, reporting or presenting to your Honours, that the inhabitants of Wyoming who settled that territory under the Connecticut claim, do not manifest submission to the laws and authority of this State, but appear designing against the same, and that there is danger of ill consequences proceeding from the opposition of said inhabitants.

Conscious that no opposition from us has been made to the laws and authority aforesaid, and that no such designs are existing, we humbly conceive that such reports must have originated through misinformation or mistake.

We have the highest esteem for the constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and are well satisfied with the laws of this State.

We are under your jurisdiction and protection, are subjects and free citizens of the State of Pennsylvania. We have voluntarily taken and subscribed the oaths and affirmations of allegiance and fidelity, as directed by a supplement to an act of General Assembly of this State. And it is our will and pleasure to serve you in doing our duty as good and faithful subjects of this State, in supporting the rights, liberties and privileges of the same. We have to look up to your Honours for protection, for justice, equity and liberty, on which we depend. We have the greatest confidence that upon the examination of the depositions taken by your committee in their inquiry at Wyoming, your House will be satisfied that the charges contained in the aforesaid petition are fully supported, and that no opposition has been made on our part. That by our peaceable demeanor and ready submission to Government, we have duly submitted to every requisition, whether civil or military, and that the proceedings had against us, and which we complained of, were unconstitutional and unlawful, and that we had the greatest reason to appeal to your Honours for redress.

Relying on the justice and impartiality of your Honorable House, we are assured that re ports by private letters and ex-parte evidence, will not avail against legal and well grounded testimony, either to condemn an innocent people, or screen the guilty from justice.

We humbly request to be protected, and continued quiet and unmolested in our possessions, (which is our all) until a legal decision shall be had thereon, with which we are ready to comply, and shall quietly resign to any claimant or claimants whose title shall be adjudged preferable to ours. We press your Honours to grant us protection and redress, and that the liberties and privileges, which subjects and free citizens of this State are entitled to, may not be denied to us. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

Philadelphia, February 23, 1784.

JOHN FRANKLIN, Agent for the inhabitants of Wyoming.

Read in the House the first time on Monday, the 23d of February, and by motion and special order, taken for a second reading, ordered that it be referred to Mr. Work, Mr. Miller, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Lutz and Mr. C- (the same committee to whom the former petitions were referred.)

REPORT-19th March, 1784.

The committee to whom was referred the report of the committee on the charges contained in the petition from divers inhabitants of Wyoming, the letter from Alexander Patterson, Esq., the petitions from the inhabitants of Wyoming, beg leave to report :—

That after examining the different depositions accompanying the report of the committee on the charges contained in the petition from the inhabitants of Wyoming, they do not find that the same contain any matter of complaint, but such as if true, the laws of this State are fully sufficient to redress, and that therefore an application to this House was unneces

sary and improper. A greater part of the irregularities alleged against Alexander Patterson, Esq., appear to have been done by people in his name, but no orders or warrant appears to have been given by him for any such acts. Your committee therefore submit the following resolution to the House:

Resolved, That the petition from divers inhabitants of Wyoming to this House, presented the eighth day of December last, be dismissed, and that the parties be referred to common law for redress, if any injuries they may have sustained.

LETTER XXIII.

1784-Rife in stirring incident-Proceedings of Settlers-Petition to Connecticut-To Congress Committee from Northampton-Pennsylvania Assembly-Deceptive movement of Patterson-Other influences dawn on the path of the Settlers-Action of Congress-Ice flood--Generous proposition of President Dickinson--Patterson's inhuman conduct-Expulsion of inhabitants-Generous feeling aroused throughout Pennsylvania-Negotiations--Settlers surrender their arms-Resume them-Proclamation-Base treachery of Armstrong - Settlers made prisoners, and sent to Sunbury and Easton jails→ Prisoners released-War Renewed--Swift wounded-Henderson and Reed shot-Smith and Stevens killed-Cool courage of Ogden-Satterlee drowned-Council of Censors→ Highly important proceedings--Armstrong returns with armed men-Capt. Bolin killedFranklin's oath on the bloody rifle-Pleasing information-Withdrawal of troops enlisted by Patterson-Third Pennymite and Yankee war-Battle-Garrett and Pierce killedCapt. John Franklin-Fort Dickinson invested-Part of Wilkesbarre burnt-Negotiation-Fort assaulted—Yankees defeated-Patterson indicted-Civil authority arrives at Wyoming-Affair at Locust Hill-Jacob Everett killed-Hon. John Armstrong.

MEANWHILE the inhabitants were not idle. Knowing the influence of public opinion, they sent petitions to the Pennsylvania Assembly, to the Assembly of Connecticut and to Congress, setting forth their wrongs, and praying for redress. With commendable promptitude, the Pennsylvania Assembly appointed the members from Northampton county, viz: Jacob Arndt, Jacob Stroud, Jonas Hartzel and Robert Brown, Esqs., a committee to repair to Wyoming, and examine into the charges made. Having arrived on the 29th of December, and given notice to accusers and accused, they proceeded to take depositions, remaining in the Valley about ten days.*

Hearing that new and ex-parte depositions had been sent down by Justice Patterson, a second petition was sent forward by the settlers, declaring their entire submission to the constitution and laws of Pennsylvania, as became good citizens, and beseeching protection. The whole matter was referred to a committee, which reported

*"To the honour of this committee of Assembly, their inquiries were conducted with the strictest justice and impartiality."-Franklin.