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MORAVIAN MISSIONS - - WYALUSING
The first account we have of the labors of the Moravian Brethren among
the Indians of Pennsylvania is from their own history. They commenced
their missions in 1740; one in the state of New York, the other in Connecticut,
twenty miles distant, under the care of Rev. Martin Mack, and were very
successful in instructing them in the Christian religion. But they
were so persecuted by the white people, that after four years the “Brethren”
thought best to remove them, forty in number, to Bethlehem for protection,
where they built huts for themselves, and called their settlement Friedenshuetten,
or Tents of Peace. Their numbers increased so much that in a few
months the Brethren bought a tract of land for them, near the Mahony creek
and the Lehigh River.
Their missionary and others laid out the town, which they
called Gnadenheutten, or Tents of Grace. They soon numbered five
hundred Indians.
The war between the French and English commenced in 1755.
The Christian Indians were friends to the British, while the savages were
engaged for the French.
The French Indians threatened the Christian Indians, and
were a constant terror to them. At last they attacked the mission
house on the Mahony one evening, and eleven of the inhabitants were murdered.
Application was made to Governor Denny for protection. They were
removed to the barracks in Philadelphia, where fifty-five of them died.
They were buried in what is now Washington Square.
After the close of the French war, in 1764, the troubles
being nearly at an end, the Brethren in Bethlehem considered in what manner
to provide a settlement for these poor Indians, principally Delawares,
where they might enjoy more safety.
It could not be expected they would remain long unmolested,
in the neighborhood of the merciless whites, and they were therefore advised
to settle in the Indian country, on the banks of the Susquehanna.
Application was made to the Governor, who gave them permission, and supplied
them liberally with necessaries “until their new planted corn should ripen.”
Schmidt and Zeisberger were appointed to accompany them. On the 20th
of March the Moravian Indian congregation commenced their journey across
the mountains and swamps, direct to Wyoming; from thence to Machiwilusing,
where they arrived on the 9th of May, after a painful pilgrimage of five
weeks.
Machiwilusing was the Indian name for Wyalusing creek,
and has given name to the town. It empties into the Susquehanna,
a little below French Town, on the opposite side of the river. Near
the mouth of that creek, these Moravians made their missionary establishment
in 1765. They called it after their old station Friedenshuetten or
Tents of Peace. It was a village of forty houses, built of wood,
after the European manner, and thirteen Indian huts. In the middle
of the street, which was eighty feet broad, they built a large and neat
chapel. The adjoining ground was laid out in gardens, and between
the town and the river, about 250 acres were divided into regular plantations,
for Indian corn. The burying ground was situated some distance back
of the buildings. The mission grounds were about two miles below
the present village of Wyalusing.
They were happy and greatly blessed, and prospered, at
their new station, and were often visited by people of the Six Nations,
many of whom believed the word which they heard, and embraced their religion
and were baptized. The natives heard of them at a great distance,
and great numbers were added to them.
Zeisberger was extensively known among the Indians.
He understood the Delaware and Iroquois languages, and often attended the
great councils at Onondaga, where he was treated with great respect.
They gave him not only liberty to settle at Friedenshuetten, but also additional
liberties beyond Tioga. *
* We have no account of the Moravians
having gone farther
North than old Sheshequin.
Among other places visited by the missionaries of Machiwilusing,
was a town about thirty miles up the river called the She Shequannunk (Old
Sheshequin) in which a great awakening took place among the Indians, occasioned
by the accounts from Friedenshuetten, brought by those who visited them.
At the request of the natives, the missionary Rothe went to reside among
them. His testimony of Jesus went to their hearts, the audience being
frequently melted to tears. One of them remarked, “I would not have
wept if my enemies had cut the flesh from my bones. That I now weep
is of God, who has softened the hardness of my heart.” For some time
it appeared as if the whole town would turn to the Lord and be converted.
The mission at Machiwilusing continued to prosper greatly
until the whites increased on each side of them, and introduced rum.
The difficulties also among the Pennsylvania and New England people were
a hindrance to them, and the Iroquois were prevailed upon to sell all their
lands East of the Ohio to the white people, and great was the sacrifice
to give up their beautiful settlement on the Susquehanna. These peaceable,
quiet, Christian Moravian Indians felt compelled to leave their “Tents
of Peace” where they had lived seven years, and take up their march again
westward, by the way of Sunbury, through forest and marshes, over rivers
and mountains, till they arrived on the banks of the Ohio, where they met
brethren under Heckwalder, the Moravian missionary, who guided them to
their settlement. These poor creatures (two hundred and forty in
number), were seven weeks on their sad journey.
A Congregational church was formed in Wyalusing in 1794,
and was connected with the Luzerne Association. Rev. M. .M. York
preached alternately at Wyalusing and Wysox, for many years. The
association once met at the latter place, in the spring of ----,
when Mrs. York, the mother of the clergyman, more than seventy years
of age, residing at Wyalusing, rode across swollen streams and over dangerous
passes, to be present at this assembly. Great surprise was expressed
at her courage and heroism, when she replied, “I have been praying forty
years for the up building of Zion, and don’t you think I would come to
see it?”
Major Taylor’s family was identified with the church there,
and a son of his was a clergyman. His daughter was suddenly restored
to the use of her limbs, in answer to prayer, as was supposed, after having
been unable to walk for several years.
A settlement was made by the white people, soon after
the close of the Revolutionary War, which they called Wyalusing, from Machiwilusing,
the Indian name of the creek.
It is a beautiful settlement, about two miles above the
site of the old Moravian settlement, and contained a population of nearly
five hundred inhabitants.
The late C.F. Welles, Esq., removed from Towanda to Wyalusing
in 1822. He had been the Prothonotary, and Register and Recorder
of Bradford County, from the time its name was changed from that of Ontario,
March 24, 1812, until 1818, when he was succeeded by Geo. Scott and E.
Mason. He married a daughter of Judge Hollenback, and was a prominent
and talented man. He died in 1866. *
* Justus Lewis, Esq., who resides near Wyalusing, and is about
82 years of age,
has a better knowledge, it is said, of our frontier history,
than any other man
now living, and could no doubt give valuable information to any one
who might
wish to prepare a more extended work.
CONNECTICUT TITLE
To take a glance of the two states of Connecticut and Pennsylvania,
as they now are, it might seem absurd that Connecticut could ever have
claimed a tract of land over one hundred and twenty miles in length, and
sixty in breadth, in the heart of this well proportioned state.
The Colony of Connecticut claimed jurisdiction by virtue
of a charter from Charles 2d, dated April 23, 1662, granting Connecticut
that part of his dominions in America, beginning at Narragansett Bay, from
the 41st to the 42d degree of latitude, in width, and extending west on
the same parallels of latitude, so far as England then owned the granting
power, or, as some say, to the Pacific Ocean, supposing the continent to
be very narrow. The claims of the Dutch leading down to New York
Bay, were of course, excepted, as her charter was the oldest.
The proprietaries of Pennsylvania, on the ground of a
charter granted to Wm. Penn, in 1681, by the same sovereign, claimed all
that tract of land in America, bounded on the east by the Delaware River,
from the 40th to the 42d degree of north latitude, and to extend west through
five degrees of longitude. Within these bounds was included Wyoming,
“which,” says Colonel Stone, “has been the theatre of more historical action,
and is invested with more historical interest than any other inland district
of the United States, of equal extent.”
The difficulties arising out of these opposing claims,
between Connecticut and Pennsylvania, were serious and protracted.
It was inexcusable that a monarch, assigning portions of territory to his
subjects, should leave so much ground for controversy, by granting titles
that conflicted with each other to so great an extent.
It was this that caused the trouble between the two states
and the numerous claimants, and resulted in civil and disastrous wars.
Pennsylvania purchased of the Indians the right of soil
in the province, but did not receive their deed until the treaty at Fort
Stanwix, in 1768.
In 1754 the Connecticut Susquehanna Company, formed at
Hartford, purchased of the Six Nations, at Albany, the land on the Susquehanna
River, beginning at the 41st degree of North latitude, ten miles east of
the river; and from thence, with a northerly line, following the river
ten miles east of the same, to the forty-second degree of North latitude;
and extending two degrees West longitude; from thence south to the 41st
degree; thence east to the first mentioned boundary.
For this the company paid the Indians the sum of two thousand
pounds, current money, and the deed was signed by eighteen Sachems.*
A gradual emigration was in progress from Connecticut
many years, though interrupted considerably by the French war; but in 1769
two hundred families, from the eastern part
* See Miner’s history.
of the state, formed a colony and began to remove to the south part
of the valley, with ministers, and implements of husbandry, and teachers
for their children. After many wearisome days in the wilderness,
they descended the mountain and took possession of the garden of nature,
which had been honorable purchased of the natives.
Here, in their delightful Wyoming, these noble Christian
colonists expected to find a prosperous and peaceful home. But scarcely
had they taken possession, when their claim was contested by the Pennsylvanians,
whose charter also covered the charming valley; and a terrible conflict
ensued. The contention was long and sharp; many lives were lost,
and the suffering of the colony were great. At here different times
they were driven from their possessions by the Pennsylvanians; but they
returned with increased numbers, supported by Connecticut, and established
themselves strongly. They called their territory the County of Westmoreland,
and for nine years sent representatives to the legislature of Connecticut.
They were a happy people among themselves, had civil and religious privileges,
and all the enjoyments of refined social life. Their Puritan habits
have blessed succeeding generations. Many clergymen, statesmen, teachers,
missionaries, and other eminent Christian men and women have sprung from
this stock.
Chief-Justice Tilghmnan states that
“the unfortunate controversy between Connecticut and Pennsylvania was
attended
with riot, disorder and bloodshed, which continued until the
commencement of the
Revolutionary War, when the Congress of the United States, fearing
the consequences
which might result from a dispute of so serious a nature between
two
powerful states, recommended that all acts of force
should be abstained from, and each person should
remain in possession of the land occupied by him, until a proper season
should come
for determining the matter on principles of justice. This recommendation
was complied
with. The Connecticut settlers were the most numerous, and held
possession during the
war, in the course of which they suffered great hardships, and lost
many lives; being on
a remote frontier, much exposed to the attacks of the British and Indians.”
*
While the struggle with Great Britain was in progress, in which Wyoming took an active part, there was comparative quiet between the Connecticut and Pennsylvania claimants; but scarcely was our independence acknowledged, when the contention about lands revived. It was found necessary that a subject of so much weight should be decided by a court established by Congress of Commissioners from the two contending states.
* The fiery trials through which they passed, at the time of the invasion by the Tories and Indians, in 1778, cannot be better described than in the petition of Samuel Gore, for a pension, in his advance age. He was a brother of Judge Gore, and kindly presented me with a copy of his petition, written with his own hand, near the close of his life. He had often visited us, and entertained us with his account of the Revolutionary War, and the battle of Wyoming.
They met at Trenton, N.J., in the month of December, 1782. The
parties proceeded with their pleas, and after many days the court decided
that the right of jurisdiction belonged to Pennsylvania, and that the judicial
poser of Connecticut over Wyoming should cease. In this the commissioners
from each state acquiesced. It is supposed there was this understanding
between the two states, from a conviction of its policy.
Mr. Miner says, “There is no doubt that the decision of
Trenton was made on grounds of policy, and not of right. It was not
designed, however, to affect the private right of soil. Immediately
after this decree, Connecticut withdrew its jurisdiction, and the county
of Westmoreland ceased to exist.
“The claims of Connecticut, west of Pennsylvania, were
all ceded to Congress, excepting the Western Reserve, or New Connecticut,
and she received the United States letters patent for that tract.
“The Pennsylvanians continued to treat the Connecticut
settlers with severity, which induced the assembly to pass an act, to restore
to them the possessions from which they had been forcibly removed.
On the 28th of March, 1787, an act was passes called the Confirming Act,
ratifying the title of lands in their possession, prior to the decree of
Trenton.”
This law was not satisfactory to either party, and was
repealed April 1st, 1790. On the 4th of April, 1799, an act was passed
called the Compromising Act, “offering compensation to the Pennsylvania
settlers, within the seventeen townships of Luzerne. The object of
this act was to offer a reasonable compensation in money to such Pennsylvania
claimants as were willing to release their rights, in order that the Commonwealth,
having thus regained the title, might confirm the estates of the Connecticut
settlers, at a moderate price, fixed by commissioners, who were authorized
to give certificates to Connecticut claimants for no other land than such
as many have been released by the Pennsylvania claimants. This title
was confirmed by paying for first-class lands two dollars per acre; second-class,
one dollar and twenty cents; third-class, fifty cents; fourth-class, eight
and one-quarter cents.
To induce the Pennsylvania claimants to release, the commissioners
were authorized to classify the land, giving certificates to them; first-class
lands to be paid for at the rate of five dollars per acre, etc.
On the 6th of April, 1802, a supplement was passed to
the act of 1799, which gave to the commissioners authority to certify to
Connecticut claimants the title to their lands, whether released by the
Pennsylvania claimant or not; forbidding recovery of the lands by the Pennsylvania
claimant, and giving him a right of action against the Commonwealth for
the value of his land.
By the act of 1807, all Pennsylvania claimants were admitted
who had acquired title prior to the first confirming law, of March, 1787,
and Connecticut claimants were not required to show that the lands were
occupied before the decree of Trenton.
In the case of Mrs. Mathewson in the contest with
J.F. Satterlee, Mrs. M. had taken out a warrant in 1812, and claimed an
improvement back to 1785, under Connecticut title, (she having no certificate
from the commissioners,) and therefore had no title recognized by the laws
of Pennsylvania to the date of her warrant (1812). Mr. Satterlee
had purchased an old Pennsylvania title, going back to 1769, and had taken
a lease of Mrs. Mathewson, after which an act of assembly was passed, which
allowed Mrs. M. to hold him as tenant. The same principles, when
applied, will explain other cases also*
* The above statements have been furnished by a legal
gentleman for this work.
_______________________
THE PETITION OF SAMUEL GORE, ESQ.
“JANUARY, 1832.
“To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, in Congress assembled, at the City of Washington:
“The petition and memorial of Samuel Gore, of Sheshequin
Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, humbly showeth;
“That your petitioner’s request is of a singular nature,
differing from the common case of those who served in the War of the Revolution;
was not engaged for any limited time; that he resided at the Wyoming Settlement
at the commencement of the late Revolutionary War; that in the year 1777,
in the month of May, he was enrolled in the militia of Captain Aholiab
Buck’s company, and took the oath of allegiance, to be true and faithful
to the cause then at issue; that in December, the same year, he was
draughted on a tour of duty up the river, as far as Wysox and Towanda;
the command he was attached to took twenty-eight prisoners, men that had
served under General Burgoyne, the preceding campaign; that in the year
1778 the settlement was in almost continual alarm, the fore part of the
season; and what added mostly to our fears was, that three companies of
soldiers had been enlisted in the settlement, and had joined the main army
of Washington.
“The militia that was left was on duty the principal part
of the time, in fortifying , scouting, and learning the military discipline,
till the month of July, when the settlement was invaded by the British
and Indians, under the command of Colonel John Butler and Brandt, the Indian
chief.
“Your petitioner was in the memorable battle and massacre
of Wyoming, and narrowly escaped the fate of five brethren, the officers,
and principal part of the company to which he belonged.
“In addition to his misfortune, in running across a bay
or morass, the Indians in close pursuit, every step over the knee in mud
and mire, by over exertion, caused a breach in his body, which has been
painful and troublesome disorder ever since.
“It is unnecessary to describe the entire destruction
of the settlement, by the enemy, the dispersions and hardships of the fugitives.
Old men, women, and children, fleeing through the wilderness, carrying
with them scarcely enough to support nature by the way.
“The place was retaken in August or September following,
by Colonel Zebulon Butler and Captain Simon Spalding, and a garrison replaced
there. Your petitioner returned soon after, and served as a volunteer,
during the years of 1779, 1780, and 1781, and was subject to be called
on, in every case of emergency.
“The expedition of General Sullivan to the Gennesse country,
did not prevent wholly, the depredations of the enemy, being frequently
harassed by small parties. In the year 1782 Captain Spalding’s company
was called to join the main army, at headquarters, and a company of invalids
was stationed at the post, commanded by a Captain Mitchel, soldiers that
were not calculated for the woods, scouting, etc. Colonel Dennison
gave orders to have the militia organized and classed, which took place.
“John Franklin was chosen captain. Your petitioner
was appointed a sergeant, and had the command of a class, which was ordered
to be ready at the shortest notice, to scout the woods, and to follow any
party of the enemy that should be sent on their murderous excursions.
That he performed four tours of scouting that season, of about eight days
each.
“Your petitioner never drew any pay, clothing or rations,
during the contest for Independence, but ammunition, he was supplied with
from the continental store.
“Had the charge of the family at the time, (his father
being dead); had to support himself as well as he could, by laboring between
spells, and frequently ploughing with his musket slung at his back.
“Being informed by the newspapers that a bill has passed
the House of Representatives, by a large majority, to compensate all those
that were enlisted in the service of their country from three months to
six, and nine; to compensate according to the time of their engagement,
let their circumstances be what they may. Encouraged by the liberality
and generosity of our national legislators, I take my case into consideration;
and if you, in your wisdom and justice, should think that your petitioner
is entitled to any remuneration, to do what you may think right and just;
and your petitioner will ever pray.”
A letter addressed to Philander Stephens, Esq., a Member of Congress, was folded within the petition, which I also copy:
“SHESHEQUIN, April 3, 1832
“ PHILANDER STEPHENS, Esq. ---------- Dear Sir:
I have been waiting with considerable anxiety, for some time, expecting
to hear from you, as I think you promised to write to me. I would
take it as a favor, if you would inform me what is the prospect of the
bill for the general compensation of old soldiers and volunteers of the
Revolution; whether it is like to pass the Senate, the present session;
also whether you have presented my petition, and if any encouragement therefrom.
Some cheering information on this subject would revive my spirits, which
have been almost exhausted during the severity of the past winter---the
hardest I have experienced since the return of Sullivan’s expedition to
the Indian country, in the year 1779.
“ On reflecting back in these trying times, I would state
some particulars respecting our family, at the commencement of the Revolution.
My father had seven sons, all zealously engaged in the cause of liberty.
Himself an acting magistrate, and a committee of safety, watching the disaffected
and encouraging the loyal part of the community.
“ Three of his sons, and two sons-in-law, fell in the
Wyoming massacre. Himself died the winter following. One son
served during the war, the others served in the Continental army for shorter
periods.
“ Let any person at this time of general prosperity of
our country, reflect back on the troubles, trials and suffering of a
conquered country by a savage enemy. Men scalped and mangled in the
most savage manner. Some dead bodies floating down the river in sight
of the garrison. Women collecting together in groups, screaming and
wringing their hands, in the greatest agony; some swooning and deprived
of their senses. Property of every description plundered and destroyed,
buildings burned, the surviving inhabitants dispersed, and driven through
the wilderness, to seek subsistence wherever they could find it.
This, sir, is a faint description of Wyoming destruction in 1778.
The savages continued their depredations in a greater or less degree, until
1782.
“ Lest I intrude on your patience, will conclude.
I am, with respect, your humble servant,
“SAMUEL GORE.”
The venerable man received his pension and was much comforted
by it during his surviving years. He died in 1836. The petition
and letter are copied verbatim.
While the battle was raging, and the women and children
were in the fort for protection, Mrs. Gore, the anxious mother, was watching
at the door of the fort, to hear the first report that should arrive; she
was told by one who approached her that three of her sons, Asa, Silas,
and George, were slain; and that John Murphy and Timothy Pierce, her two
sons-in-law, were lying by them all scalped, tomahawked, and mangled corpses!
Who can conceive the agony of this mother as she exclaimed, “Have I
one son left?” She died many years ago, and a monument has recently
been set over her grave, together with that of her son, * Obadiah
Gore, and his wife, by their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The next day after the battle, when the fort was pillaged,
all the feather-beds that could be found, the labor of many a careful mother
and daughter, were carried out near the bank of the river, and there opened
for the merriment of the savages, and the feathers scattered to the winds.
* Obadiah and Asa married sisters ----Avery.
They went to Mr. Gore’s house, built a fire in the hall,
and stood by it until it was enveloped in flames, and the distressed family
dared not whisper an objection. The feathers of the “Wyoming Bed”
were gathered up by the children of the family, placed in the first case
they could find, and secreted while the Indians were sacking the fort.
There was great wailing as one after another came in,
bringing appalling reports from the battle-filed, while the savages were
entertaining themselves by a general conflagration of the buildings in
the settlement, and the despairing inhabitants were fleeing.
In their terror, dismay, and haste, the family procured
a horse, threw this bed across it, and started for the Delaware, seventy
miles through the wilderness, called the “Shades of Death.” The old
people and the little ones rode alternately, and thus they pressed on their
way, in hushed silence. One of the children hurt her unprotected
feet, and cried aloud. From terrible necessity, the heavy-hearted
mother said, “Stop crying, child, the Indians will be after us.”
The little girl was quiet, and trudged along without complaining.
There were scenes of suffering among the fugitives all the way, such as
cannot be described. Hunger, sickness, and death were common.
An infant child of Mrs. Fishy died on the way. The
mother could not bury it in the wilderness lest the wolves might devour
it. She therefore carried it in her arms twenty miles to a German
settlement, where it was buried.
An aged lady of 85, who had just died, said she was born
in Mr. Stroud’s barn, on the way to Delaware, just after the massacre,
and there were many such cases.
The Wyoming Bed was ever an object of great interest to
the children, and often, while making it, and turning it over, we imagined
an Indian inside of it, and springing to the floor, would make rapid flight,
with more than fancied terror.
The bed has been preserved, and is still among our treasures.
Little Francis Slocum, five years old, was taken from her mother’s side,
carried into perpetual captivity, and never heard from until she became
so accustomed to Indian life that she preferred it to that of returning
to live with her friends, who heard from her, and went to her after a separation
of near sixty years, and endeavored to persuade her to return to her friends
at Wyoming. But no arguments could prevail with her to go home with
them. She preferred to be Indian Queen of the Miamees. The
language seemed to be:
“Let me stay at my home in the beautiful West,
Where I played when a child: in my age let
me rest,
Where the bright prairies bloom, and the wild
waters play.
In the home of my heart, dearest friend, let
me stay.”
Her own account of her captivity was, “After the
Indians took me to the woods, ‘Tack Horse’ dressed my hair in Indian fashion,
and painted my face; he then dressed me up, and put on me beautiful wampum
beads, and make me look very fine. They were very kind to me.”
Thus she was diverted, and as they were passing up the river, in the canoe,
to Tioga, where they took their captives, this little one was allowed to
amuse herself by paddling in the water, and when on land to practice with
her little bow and arrow, for entertainment. In 1789 Mrs. Slocum
made a journey to Tioga Point, hoping to find her child among some prisoners
who were to be surrendered---- but she found her not.
Frances died in 1847, and had a Christian burial,
at the “Deaf Man’s Village,” near Fort Wayne, Indiana. This
touching account is given at length in Mr. Pikes history of Wyoming.
QUEEN ESTHER
The history of Queen Esther is one of remarkable interest. She
led the Indians into the fort at the time it was surrendered; and presided
at the fatal ring, of which Mrs. Durkee, an aged aunt, gives the following
account: “ Fifteen or sixteen of our men, who had been taken prisoners
by the Indians, were assembled to receive their death-blow, by the hand
of Queen Esther, a large, middle-aged Seneca squaw, who had such honors
assigned her.
“ In this case, it was thought to be revenge for the death
of her son, who was killed by the whites.
“ Some of the prisoners made their escape from the ring;
others attempted it, but were unsuccessful. Among these was George
Gore, who had broken through the ring and ran for the river, but was overtaken
by an Indian, who, with his knife and tomahawk, cut him to pieces.
He was an active and handsome young man. His hat was picked up and
taken to his friends at the fort.”
The remaining twelve or more were murdered with the tomahawk,
by the hand of this savage queen, on the “Bloody Rock,” which may still
be seen.
Queen Esther’s residence was near Tioga Point. Her
village was of considerable size, two or three miles below the present
village of Athens, on the west side of the river, and within the township.
It is said it contained about seventy houses, of rude form.
An expedition to Tioga was planned by Colonel Hartley,
in September, after the battle, to destroy Indian towns and break up their
hiding places.
With a small array of soldiers, they marched on their
hazardous way toward Sheshequnnunck, where they took fifteen prisoners,
killed and scalped a chief, and the rest fled. They made valuable
discoveries, and moved rapidly towards Tioga Point.
Captain Spalding, afterwards known among us as General
Spalding, of Sheshequin, had command of the 2d division. They were
told that young Butler, a Tory, with his Royal Greens, had just fled from
Tioga with 300 men, toward Chemung, 14 miles off, where they fortifying,
and were 1,000 strong. Colonel Hartley was not prepared to meet them,
and after burning Tioga, Queen Esther’s town, and palace, and all the Indian
settlements in his way, crossing the “Sheshequin Path,” he returned to
Sunbury, where a vote of thanks was passed for Colonel Hartley and his
brave men.
Captain Spalding is spoken of as having been efficient
in that enterprise. They accomplished much, and brought speedy retribution
upon Queen Esther and her associates, for the untold misery they had inflicted
upon Wyoming three months before.
Though savage in time of war, Queen Esther was represented
as quiet and trustful in time of peace. After the war closed she
was often passing from Tioga to Onondaga, unprotected. One time while
Mrs. Durkee was residing in Scipio, N.Y., she came to her house in the
evening, on her way to Onondaga, with a sister, who was much intoxicated,
carrying a papoose on her back, and inquired in broken English if they
could stay there through the night and sleep on the kitchen floor; Mrs.
D. being well acquainted with her, she was permitted to stay until morning,
and then went on her way. It has excited some wonder how this Indian
Queen came by her Jewish name. If, as some suppose, the Indians have
descended from the lost tribes of Israel, it might thus be accounted for,
or what is more probable, she might have derived it from the Moravian Missionaries,
who had many stations among them, and whose names they often adopted.
She married Tom Hill, an Indian as forbidding as herself, and after she
left Tioga she went to Onondaga to reside.
Some writers have identified Catharine Monteur with Queen
Esther, of Bloody Rock notoriety; others say this is improbable, and that
the general supposition concerning Catharine is that she was the daughter
of an early French Governor of Canada, taken captive when a child, afterwards
becoming the wife of a Seneca Chief, and was a lady of comparative refinement.
Her residence was at Seneca Lake. The Indian village called Catharine’s
town, named for her, was destroyed by Sullivan’s army. She subsequently
lived at Niagara.
SULLIVAN’S EXPEDITION IN 1779
The horrors perpetrated by the Tories and Indians at Wyoming aroused
great indignation in the American people, and Congress determined to send
a military force into their country that would prevent further hostilities
from them. General Sullivan was placed in command, with three thousand
five hundred men. His orders from the Commander-in-Chief of the American
army were to move from Wyoming, up the valley, to Tioga Point, there to
be reinforced by General James Clinton, with near two thousand men.
Washington gave orders, contrary to his usual custom, to treat the Indians
with great severity, as the surest means to bring them to terms of peace.
They were several days before arriving at their place
of destination, with an array of boats and packhorses sufficient for their
accommodation. After crossing the river from Sheshequin to Queen
Esther’s flats, they arrived near where her palace stood, which was destroyed
by Colonel Hartley’s detachment the September previous. August 12th
they moved across the Tioga River near the point of land where the Tioga
and Susquehanna Rivers meet. Marching up through what is now called
the Welles farm, they encamped on the narrowest spot of the peninsula,
near the bridge, about 190 yards across, and erected a temporary fort,
which they called Fort Sullivan, for the garrison of 250 men, who were
to remain there during the campaign. The fort was in the form of
a diamond; extending from one rise of ground to the other, east and west,
guard houses being at each point.* Many persons now living
remember its location. Bullets have been found in quantities, and
several cannon balls, one of which was found as late as 1830, within the
bounds of the fort, and is among our curiosities. Indian pestles,
stone hatchets and arrow points have frequently been found, which denote
where the savages have lived.
They waited several days for General Clinton and his army,
then at Otsego Lake, from whence they descended the Susquehanna River,
with 200 boats, by means of an artificial freshet, caused by throwing a
dam across the outlet of the lake, and raising the water. When the
dam was removed, it afforded them water sufficient to transport down the
river their ordnance, store and troops.
They arrived at Tioga Point August 22d, and joined the
army of Sullivan, under a salute of guns, with shouts and great rejoicing.
The two armies united amounted to more than 5,000 men.
It is interesting to look back ninety years, and notice
what was passing here at that time. Chief Justice Marshall states
that the whole army of Washington amounted to about 16,000 men.
* These pages were written within the bounds of Fort Sullivan.
Behold nearly one-third of them, marshaled on this point of land, between
the rivers, preparing to move upon the savage foe, protected by a fort,
where a vast quantity of provisions were stored for a large army.
Behold nearly 2,000 packhorses grazing hereabouts, across the river, and
400 barges lying at our shores. Scouts were being sent out over these
hills and up these rivers to ascertain the strength of the enemy.
Listen to the firing of the Revolutionary muskets, and the formidable artillery
echoing from mountain to mountain, to intimidate the enemy lurking about
the hills, and hiding in the thicket of the pine plains above. Behold
the martial array of the army, the music of the fife and drum, and the
“Forward March” of the commander of the Western army. Their scouts
had discovered an Indian village up the Tioga about fourteen miles, and
the army was in haste to reduce it. They proceeded up the river cautiously,
for they knew they were moving upon a powerful foe, led by the detested
john Butler and Johnson, Tories, and Brandt, the wily Indian chief.
Colonel Hartley remarks that “ Chemung was the receptacle
of all villainous Indians and Tories from the different tribes and states.”
Their engagement at Chemung was successful. They routed the enemy,
destroyed their village, cut down their fruit trees, corn and vegetables,
which, by the assistance of their Tory friends, they had in abundance,
and laid everything waste. It was supposed that very many of the
Indians were slain, and many of them drowned in the river. The first
engagement was at Chemung, another at Baldwin, then at the Narrows, where
the enemy met with a great defeat. Captain Spalding and Colonel Franklin
were in the thickest of the fight, and were both wounded. The army
returned to Tioga to report victory. About thirty men fell in the
battle. Colonel Hubley took those who were killed in his regiment,
six in number, placed them on horses and brought them to this place for
interment; and on the Saturday following, the bodies of those brave veterans
were interred, with military honors. Parson Rogers,* Chaplain, delivered
a discourse on the occasion, probably the first Christian burial ever attended
at Tioga Point. What a mournful procession must that have been, bearing
those gallant dead to their place of burial. Where the precise spot
is, who can tell? We are reminded that we are too late with our history
to have many scenes of interest recorded, and they must necessarily be
omitted. A generation ago, there were many officers and soldiers
living among us who would gladly have entertained a listener with their
thrilling accounts. Peace to the ashes of those men! Let them rest
unknown and undisturbed.
After some days of preparation, at Fort Sullivan, the
army took up their line of march, to pursue the enemy further into the
Indian country.
* Rev. William Rogers, D.D., born 1751, died 1824, Chaplain Hand’s
Brigade----Sullivan’s expedition.
From Tioga Point they moved to the upper end of “Tioga
Flats,” near the first Narrows and Spanish Hill, where they encamped for
the night. The next morning they found a fording place for the artillery,
pack horses and cattle, to cross the Chemung River. As the very narrow
path of the north side of the river made it impracticable for them to pass,
they crossed to the south side of the river, and after marching about a
mile and a half, crossed again, and formed a junction with the Brigades
of Generals Poor and Clinton, who had taken their route with much difficulty
over the mountain on the north side of the river. Colonel Hubley
says in his journal: “The prospect from the summit of this mountain
is most beautiful. We had a view of the country at least twenty miles
around. The fine, extensive plains, interspersed with streams of
water, made the prospect pleasing and elegant.”
They pursued the course they had taken before, as far
as Newtown (now Elmira), when they turned toward the Genesee country, burning
the Indian villages, destroying vast quantities of corn, and laying the
countryside desolate.
They returned by the way of Seneca Lake and “Catharine
town,” the residence of Catharine Monteur. They killed many of their
worn out horses at what is called Horseheads, and arrived at Newtown.
Thence they returned to Tioga Point, their place of rendezvous. There
they were joyfully saluted by the garrison, had a sumptuous repast prepared
by Colonel Shreive, enlivened by the music of the fife and drum.
They had driven off the Indians, released many captives, and “Sullivan
had strictly executed the severe but necessary orders he had received,
to render the country uninhabitable, and had compelled the hostile Indians
to remove to a greater distance.”
That Tioga Point was a place of importance in those days,
is obvious. Here were the headquarters of this great army.
Here they concentrated their forces. Here were their fort and supplies,
and here they sent back their sick to recruit, and their dead for burial.
Here they returned after their success in the Indian country, and here
again they dispersed and sailed joyfully down the Susquehanna to Wyoming,
and from thence reported at headquarters (Easton), “a successful expedition
against the Indians.”
One of the Oneida Indians was a faithful guide in this
expedition. He was taken prisoner, however, and cruelly put to death.
The time employed in this work of devastation was less
than two months, and the number of men slain, and lost by sickness, amounted
to only about forty.
