Page 6 - SUSQUEHANNA TIMES
Mount Joy’s revolutionary history
[continuation of an anony-
mous article from an old
Mount Joy Bulletin]
The Donegal folks were
excited. Drums, colors,
rusty halberds and guns
were brought forth and
fixed up for the coming
contest.
At this old Church on a
certain Sabbath morning,
after the sermon, and be-
fore the congregation
separated for their re-
spective homes, all old and
young, except the Pastor,
formed, themselves into
circle around that tree,
joined hands, impelled
them to exert themselves to
the utmost, to secure
freedom to the country,
which they solemly pledged
to do, or die in the
attempt.
The tree encircled was
their witness to the vow.
How well was that solemn
pledge kept, the men went
forth to battle such as
could bear arms, the old
men, and the women and
children labored at home,
to support themselves and
raise provisions for the
army. Coats, shirts, stock-
ings, and everything that
they could make, they took
pleasure in making for the
soldiers.
And now for other inci-
dents connected with this
old settlement:
The old Tavern House,
on the Lancaster and
Middletown Turnpike at
the west end of the Bridge,
where it crosses the Big
Chiques-Salunga creek, and
always known as the Big
Chiques Tavern, was my
grandfathers, and was kept
by my grandmother during
the whole time of the
Revolution for my grand-
father, Hugh Peden, was
an officer and with the
army. This Tavern was on
the old Continental High-
way over which the mail
was then carried on a horse
and there semi-monthly did
the Post Man stop to
deliver letters on his west-
ern trip. During the war,
he was anxiously looked for
and the day on which he
was expected to pass made
it quite a busy place. Old
men, women and children
from the country around,
far and near would be
there to get the news and
read their letters to each
other, which was generally
of a sorrowful kind, for
their letters told, who had
fallen in battle, who were
wounded and who were
taken prisoners. Ah! How
often were hearts made
sad, and bright hopes
crushed, for many of the
men who went from this
neighborhood and never
returned.
Their bones lay long,
bleaching on many a battle
field.
That old Tavern was the
headquarters and stopping
place for the army officers.
After the battle of Brandy-
wine and massacre of
Paoli, a part .of. General . .
Mayne’s army came this
way, and encamped very
near our town, on the
banks of our Little Chiques
and on the North side of
the road. Rupp in his
history, makes the encap-
ment North of Elizabeth-
town. This I know to be
wrong for my grandmother
pointed out the place to
me, said she was often on
the ground to visit the poor
suffering soldiers, and
assisted in supplying the
army with provisions, cloth-
ing, and other comforts.
The place was selected be-
cause there was plenty of
water, beautiful springs,
little distance from a smith
shop, where guns were
taken and fixed up for the
army. The blacksmith shop
was on the Manheim road
and about one hundred
yards west of the creek.
During the time the army
remained here, General
Washington visited it, and
with a number of the
officers, held a meeting in
the ‘Big Chiques Tavern.’
It was a secret one, the
minutes were carefully
sealed up, placed in my
grandmothers hands for
safe keeping, and some-
time after my grandfathers
return from the army, he
placed them in a cavity, of
the partition of one of the
rooms, where it was com-
pletely enclosed by the
laths and the plastering.
The owner of this Tavern
when repairing the house
some years ago, tore down
the partition and found the
papers. They were sent to
the Masonic Lodge in Lan-
caster.
In revolutionary times
they were very strict in the
military companies. To pay
such fines as they paid
then for being absent
would make anyone wince
now. I have in my posses-
sion a receipt that a
member of a company paid
for fine and costs for three
days, fifty-two pounds ten
shillings. This in PA cur-
rency at that time was
equal to one hundred and
forty dollars.
Before closing the sketch
of the Times of the
Revolution, I must bring to
the front something to
show what the women of
this neighborhood did dur-
ing the time that tried men
souls. Say what you please
about ‘womens rights’, and
what they should do; we
generally find that they get
on the right side, and do
right.
Their general character
is to do good. They, like
our Fathers were aroused
to resent what was consid-
ered as insults to their
rights; they would not
tamely submit to the gal-
ling yoke the mother
country determined to im-
pose, and to prevent it,
peacably as they generally
ats, they argued that it was
right in these terrible times
to draw the sword for
Liberty and their Country.
They held Public meetings,
and were as patriotic as
the men. Their cry was ‘To
Arms! To Arms! We will
do what we can in the
glorious cause. We will
remain at home to do the
work, and help so far as we
can to support those who
are suffering in the com-
mon cause. They did raise
money - furnished clothing
and provisions, and all they
could to assist in securing
our liberty. Yes they scorn-
ed to be slaves. They held
their ‘Tea Parties’ but that
kind of Tea, that England
wanted them to pay tax for,
they would not use. These
meetings generally wound
up with a song composed
by one of the women. I feel
sorry that I can give only
the last two lines. I heard
my grandmother, my
mother and aunts sing it
when I was but a little boy,
the lines are.
Fine Dittany our woods
adorn
The girls shall cut and
dry it.
And now for something
about our own Mount Joy.
Though not an old place
but at the west end of our
Borough there stood an old
Tavern house, which was
burned down some years
ago. It was there in
Revolutionary times, on the
old Continental Highway. It
was known as a great place
all over the country, and in
good ‘Auld Ireland’ too.
That house from time
immemorial was kept as a
Public house.
There was always a
‘Cross Roads ’' there and
still known by that name. It
was the stopping place of
the Irish Emigrants on
their way to the Donegal
settlement. Their usual en-
quiry on their way, was for
the place they called the
““Three Crosses’’, ‘‘The
Cross Roads’ ‘‘Cross
Keys,” & ‘‘Cross Land
Leddy.”
At that place for a very
long time, the military
trainings were held. At one
of these trainings, during
the Whiskey rebellion sev-
eral persons spoke loudly
in favor of the insurgents,
declaring themselves ready
to go to their assistance,
and urged all to join them.
A few days after, these
men were arrested, and
taken to Lancaster, but had
the matter quieted by
pleading that they were on
a ‘Spree’, that had they
been sober their conduct
would have been different.
In that old house there
was many a jolly frolic
dance and fight.
The eastern part of the
town was laid out in 1812
by Jacob Rohrer, who was
[continued on page 10]
. .
ATR RR FIT VIS WYYSISYa
July 7, 1976
Got The
BATH TUB
f BLUES???
RESURFACE
WITH LOW COST eeTrook
Nothing is harder on one’s ‘‘composure’’ than a rough,
stained or chipped bathtub. The revolutionary LECTRO-
GLAZ process transforms worn and faded tubs into
gleaming, like-new fixtures. The LECTROGLAZ finish is
more resistant to acids and chemicals than the original
porcelain. The price is a small fraction of the cost in
replacing the old tub. If your tub is ruined or if you just
want to change color, save time & money. All work carries
the same guarantee as a new tub. Write for our free color
brochures or call for a free estimate.
C&C
ESET P OR CEL AIN > Cou a
sous RESURFACING CO.
Is your car up to the
summer-travel miles ahead?
Stop in or phone us for an appointment
for our quality car care service.
We are now a
PENNA. STATE INSPECTION STATION
for both cycles and cars
~ RE
Rt. 230 West, Mount Joy, Pa.
. — o HEIRS
B= - =