PAGE SIX
EXCERPTS FROM
THE HISTORY
OF LUZERNE COUNTY
By H. C. BRADSBY
(Readers will enjoy Mr. Bradsby's quaint,
paranthetical remarks more if they keep in
mind that he was writing this history of
Luzerne County forty-five years ago, and
refers to conditions as he knew them, not
as they are in 1938.) —EDITOR
(Continued From Last Week)
It seems a little odd to say that a government
that was “voluntary and military” was the “most
thoroughly democratic probably of any government
that has ever existed elsewhere among civilized
men.
Al purely “voluntary” government, without a
shred of military, may elect a king to rule over
them, but a military power, to modern ears, sounds
so anti-democratic as to be irreconcilable with all
ideas of a democracy. But consider the times and the
surroundings of the people of whom Mr. Stone was
speaking when he spoke that way and is he not
right?
Every man was a soldier, without pay, subsistence
or arms, except as he provided these for himself;
they worked by relays on the forts and block-house,
while others stood guard, or with gun swung across
his back, plowed and hoed the corn. Whether a
man was enrolled in a company or not he was a
soldier, all the time and everywhere, active and
alert to beat off the open or skulking approach of
the enemy; the women and children, even, could
mold bullets and load guns. Where all were un-
paid soldiers, all were equally free, and in the
spirit of justice and pure democracy these soldiers
met in council and voted their own laws.
A NEW FIGHT FOR RIGHTS
After Plunkett's invasion until 1782, six years,
the whole valley had been repeatedly and most |
cruelly devastated. The unfortunate settlers, now
worn and weary, poor and literally like Rachel
weeping for her children, now that the Revolution |
was closing its long chapter of war, thus woke to
the new, sad realization that it was worse than
peace with themselves left out of the protocol. Like
a shadow of death overspread the cloud that now
they must take up the battle anew against the au-
thorities of Pennsylvania, and that they were left
to fate by Connecticut.
The Decree of Trenton had been accepted by the
latter and now where was the ray of hope for the
settlers in the valley? They petitioned the general
assembly of Pennsylvania for their rights.
“We have settled a country, which in its orig-
inal state of little value, but now cultivated by
your memorialists, is to them of the greatest im-
portance, being their all. We are yet alive, but
the richest blood of our neighbors and friends, chil-
dren, husbands, .and fathers, has been spilt in’ the
general cause of their country, and we have suf-
fered every danger this side of death. We sup-
plied the continental army with many valuable of-
ficers and soldiers, and left ourselves weak and un-
guarded against the attack of the savages, and of
others of a more savage nature. Our houses ate
desolate, many mothers are children, widows and
orphans are multiplied, our habitations are destroy-
ed, and many families are reduced to beggary.”
In the history of State papers I have met none
whose every word was so significant of the deep
and earnest sense of men who spoke from hearts
moved by higher or nobler impulses. Notwith-
standing, as soon as the continental troops were
withdrawn from Wyoming, where they had been
placed for the protection of the people against the
savages, Captains Robinson and Shrawder, with
two companies of Pennsylvania troops, marched and
took possession of Fort Wyoming, which they nam-
ed Fort Dickinson. Shortly after, the general as-
sembly of Pennsylvania, in pursuance of the petition
of the settlers, appointed Joseph Montgomery, Wil-
illiam Montgomery and Moses McClean commis
sioners, with instruction to repair Wyoming and
compromise the dispute between them and the com-
monwealth.
They arrived in the valley in April, 1783, and im- |
mediately a spirited correspondence took place be-
tween them and John Jenkins, Nathan Denison,
Obadiah Gore and Samuel Shepherd, the commit |
tee on the part of the settlers. The issue of this:
was that the State commissioners reported to the
assembly, recommending “that a reasonable com-
pensation 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 in-
habited, 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.”
TRIED TO CHANGE CITY'S NAME |
This report evidently expressed the sentiments of i
Alexander Patterson, who had in charge the inter
ests of the Pennsylvania settlers. Patterson had been
in the employ of the Penn family, and had aided
to arrest the Connecticut settlers in 1769. He was
now a justice of the peace under Pennsylvania, and
was. settled in Wilkes-Barre, whose name he en-
deavored to change to Londonderry. He with his
associate justices, and backed by military force, un-
der the command of Maj. James Moore and Cap-
tains Shrawder and Christie, commenced a ‘series
of contemptible cowardly outrages upon the Yankee
settlers.
The soldiers were quartered upon the inhabitants. |
Col. Zebulon Butler, who had just returned from |
the army, and who boldly denounced Patterson's |
conduct, was arrested and sent to the Sunbury jail. |
But, as the proceedings had been illegal, he was re-
leased. |
Mr. Miner says, ‘October 21, the settlement
Shawnee was invaded by the military, headed by
the justice in person, and eleven respectable citizens |
arrested and sent under guard to the fort. Among |
the prisoners was Maj. Prince Alden, sixty-five |
years old, feeble from age and suffering from di- |
sease. Compassion yielded nothing to alleviate his
sufferings.
(Continued Next Week)
THE. DALLAS POJ3T,
FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1938
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BICHARD
THOBPE
—
SERVED IN
FRANCE DURING
#4, WORLD WAR, »
BEFORE JOINING MAM
J NEVER SMOKED! HE USES AN OLD
By MONTGOMERY,
WHOSE HOBBY IS PHOTOGRAPHY, TAKES
Ubsqinia BRUCE
NOW PLAYING &e MZM's "THE FIRST
HUNDRED YEARS *, |S THE GREAT
GRAND-DAUGHTER of JOHN S. APPLEBY,
WHO ESTABLISHED SCH@ILS ie UTAH,
\ CALIFORNIA, NEVADA: and ARIZONA
(5 2ayd——
“WARREN WILLIAM HAS A COLLECTION
OF NEARLY 300 PIPES THAT HE HAS
BRIER NOT IN THE COLLECTION !
RICHARD THORPE
HAS DIRECTED ALMOST EVERY TYPE OP SCENE IN THE SHOW D\
BUSINESS « HE MADE 75 FEATURE PICTURES FOR ONE COMPANY =&= :
HE DIRECTED NORMAN KPRASNA'S "7 FIRST HUNDRED YEARS. ft
XLO SHIPS ARE CLOSING
IN FAST ON THE SPACE SHIP/
WITH THEIR DEADLY RAY
WHEN SUDDENLY —
7 WREEWZ ONE OF i
{ THEIR RAYS JUST
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ONE SHIP TAKES PERFECT AIM | THEY ARE HARMLESS IN /
SPACE ./ WE JUST __ ad
MADE IT IN ___—§5%
ME /
SPACE SHIP SHOOTS
OF THE WATER INTO
CE AND SAFETY.
ILEY
DET.RILEY 1S ON THE VERGE OF
DROWNING \\) THE FLOODED “SEALED
BER CF THE NEFARIOUS GANG
OF CUT-THROATS, WHO CAPTURED
E MASTER SLEUTH =
> Brero 1S ONE OF THE MOST
ANCIENT FORMS OF FOOD. THE
REMAINS OF BREAD MADE BY THE
WHO LIVED MORE THAN
7/580 @0 YEARS AGO,
HAVE BEEN FOUND I
UNDERWATER
FACTS YOU NEVER I
PRE-HISTORIC SWISS LAKE DWELLERS .
HERO IS NOW
PLETELY #
IF THAT BLASTED
CEILING WASN'T HERE!
SURE LOOKS LIKE MY
FINISH ROW, UNLESS —
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BOYZ WHAT A
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THE KING 2 4
RAVE A
PARACRUTE HERE /
WE'LL DROP HIM.
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H\S LUNGS POUND HARDER THA
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AND HIS FRILING WIND //
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MY UNCLE WAS
CAPTAIN ONNA'
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WE DON'T WANT
(
DANGERS AHEAD #/.
By Richard Lee
DONT MISS
IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR
DETECTWE RILEY ? WiLL THE
BLOOD- THIRSTY KILLERS [7
SPARE +I LIFE? ? a
CONSIDERED AN
SUPPOSED TO BRING
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A MONG THE EARLY ANGLO-
SAXONS, OLD SHOES WERE
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By H. T. Elmc
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{ir was THE cusTOM AMONG
BOTH THE ANCIENT
ROMANS AND GREEKS TO
RECLINE ON COUCHES #8
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