A Tribute to the Principles, Virtues, Habits and Public Usefulness of the Irish and Scotch early settlers of Pennsylvania. By a Descendant

Preface

. The writer of the Tribute contained in this work, had long desired to see from the Historical publications in Pennsylvania, a vindication of the character and principles of the Irish and Scotch early settlers of this great State and their descendants against reproach, as well as aspersion, cast upon them in some modern compilations having pre tensions to Historical accuracy. Appreciating highly the religious and moral character, intelligence, industry and energy of those settlers, as well as their great useful ness in raising the standard of education — in promoting religious Christian influence — in defending the frontier against the wars of the French and Indians, and in thgij&patriofeic devolion of their lives and fortunes to the cause of Amefiean Independence ; he did think if there were any class of citizens of Pennsylvania entitled to gratitude and reverence, not only from their descendants, but from all others enjoying the blessings of a home and residence under this free government, it was the Irish and Scotch early settlers of Pennsylvania.

The events in the lives of these men, and the incidents of the times in which they were actors, political, civil, religious or military, which led to the prosperity of the State and the establishment of the free institution* under which we live, prosper and are happy, should be to every American citizen objects of peculiar interest. Instead of acknowledgments of gratitude and reverence for the men who were the pioneers of the Province of Pennsylvania, laying broad and deep the foundations of its prosperity and republican government, we have been chagrined to find them slighted in some historical com pilations of Pennsylvania History; whilst by others, we have been incensed at the unjust and unfounded aspersions cast upon the race. Having the blood of some of those early settlers flowing in our veins, and having been born, ever lived and prospered on Pennsylva nia soil, we feel as if we were under obligations, in common with marjy

PREFACE.

. others, to come up to the vindication of the reputation of ancestors, who long since have rested from their labors, and who, by toil and sacrifices, did much to achieve the inheritance which their posterity and others are enjoying. We have presumed to offer the sketch herein contained as our Tribute to the memory and reverence of those settlers. The writer, feeling as if the sand of his Time glass was nearly run out, and that he ere long must be laid aside from labor, and that if any thing were done by him in vindication of the principles, virtues and habits, of these settlers of a past age, it must be done quickly — has hastily thrown together in his leisure hours, taken from other avocations, the remarks contained in the subsequent pages. It has little merit, other than a compilation from public documents, historical records, and traditions from reliable sources, together with some observations of the writer, whose reminiscences go into the past century. 9 ]\{06u It is but a summary of facts and illustrations and an outline to be extended by some one better qualified, having more time and better access to historical collections of the early history of Pennsylvania, of which there is a dearth.

It will be ample gratification to him if this Tribute shall be a leader to some more extended vindication of the character of the Irish and Scotch early settlers of Pennsylvania, which will be worthy of a place amongst the historical records of this great State. The author acknowledges his obligations for information, in the preparation of this work, to Dr. Foote's Sketches of North Carolina — and Virginia — Day's Historical collections— Dr. Smith's Old Red stone — Dr. Alexander's Log College — Dr. Miller's Life of Dr. Rogers — Dr. Elliott's Life of McCurdy and others — Craig's History of Pittsburg — Hazard's Colonial Records and Archives of Pennsylvania, and American Archives by Force — and Gordon's History of Penn sylvania — Mr. Rupp's — Histories of Lancaster, Cumberland and Franklin counties. Chambersburg, Pa. (J. Q

Chapter I

Classes of Emigrants— Dissensions — Rivalries — James Logan — Dickinson — Franklin in opposition to Emigrants — Mr. Day's accusation — Trespasses on Lands claimed by Indians — Their complaints — Redress — Other causes of dissatisfaction with the white Inhabitants and Proprietory Agents — Traders — and French Influence — Causes of War. The Province of Pennsylvania was early attractive to emigrants from other countries. It was recommended by its free and constitutional government — by the character of its funda mental Laws, adopted and established by the first emigrants to its territory — its fertile soil, salubrious and temperate climate — its adaptation to a large and rural population ; with advan tages for trade, commerce and manufactures. The dissatisfaction prevailing with large classes of intelligent, industrious and enterprising men, under several of the European governments, directed their attention to the American colonies, and to men of this character, Pennsylvania was generally preferred for their abode, after the organization of its government.

The population of Pennsylvania was made up of emigrants from various parts of Europe. They were not homogeneous, but were diversified by their origin, religious principles, habits, and language. They were united in devotion to the principles of the Reformation, and in favor of civil and religious liberty. Equality of rights and the liberty of worship according to the dictates of conscience, were standard principles so founded and guarded, that no party or power dared to assail them. These established and avowed principles made Pennsylvania a desirable asylum for the oppressed and persecuted of all nations. The diversity which characterized the inhabitants, divided them into three classes, whose separation was maintained un broken for some generations, and is not even yet effaced. They were the English, the Scots and Irish, and the Germans.

The associates and followers of Penn, who were amongst the first to establish her government, were an honest, intelligent, virtuous, peaceful and benevolent population, known in England and the Colonies by the name of Friends or Quakers. Much of the wealth of the Province was with them, and as their loca tion was in the city of Philadelphia, or in the country near it, they were influential in the organization of the Provincial government. They were able also, from their numbers, to main tain an ascendency in the Assembly, and control, its legislation. As the Proprietory was, in his associations and principles, of their Society, there was generally harmony and correspondent sentiment between the Quaker party and the Proprietory and the officers of his appointment, most of whom were of the So ciety of Friends.

The Quakers were an orderly, industrious and law abiding people, cultivating peace with all men. They had their peculiarities of dress, manners, language and religious worship, opposition to war and military service, which distin guished them from the other population of the Province. The Germans were of different denominations of Christians and various origin. The Swiss Mennonites were amongst the earliest who entered this Province, about the beginning of the last century. They came in considerable numbers and settled in the neighborhood of Philadelphia, about Pequea and other parts of what formed Lancaster county. They were orderly, industrious and frugal, farmers ; peaceful and honest in all their relations and dealings. They resembled the Quakers in opposition to war and military service, and in maintenance of peace principles.

The Lutheran and German Reformed Ger mans, who had been emigrating since 1710, settled before 1720 in considerable numbers in parts of what are now in the coun ties of Montgomery, Bucks, Berks and Lancaster. Others of the same class continued to arrive yearly, and in some years the influx of these German emigrants was so great as to alarm some of the English first settlers, lest the Germans should make a German province of Pennsylvania. Amongst these Germans, though mostly Lutheran and German Reformed, there were some Mennonites and Dunkards. The French Huguenots who settled in Pennsylvania were but few, some of whom settled about 1712 on Pequea creek, which seems to have been an attractive country for settlement to emigrants from different parts of Europe. These Germans were a hardy, frugal and industrious people, and in many districts have preserved their foreign manners and language.

They have established in every part of the State, communities much respected for religious and moral character ; many of them emigrated for conscience' sake, and others to improve their condition and circumstances. Their industry and frugality have enabled them to add greatly to their own wealth and resources, whilst they were increasing that of the Province and State. With most of this class, education has been promoted and their descendants, in acquire ments and intelligence, are in advance of their ancestors, and many are amongst the most respectable and useful citizens of the Commonwealth, whilst they have, by branches of their families, contributed greatly to the industrious and useful pop ulation of several of the Western States. Emigrants from Scotland and Ireland constituted a large portion of the early settlers of Pennsylvania.

Many of these were called Scotch-Irish, from the circumstance that they were the descendants of Scots, who had by the government been encouraged to take up their residence in the north of Ireland. and to the improvement and civilization of which they had greatly contributed ; but being oppressed by the tyranny and exactions of a despotic and profligate monarch, and the re strictions and penalties imposed by an obsequious parliament. as well as the intolerance and persecutions of a haughty hierar chy, expatriated themselves, with their families to the Ameri can colonies. To these were added many of the native Irish from the north of Ireland, as well as emigrants from Scotland. Pennsylvania was the selection of most of them, when they considered, that, under the charter of Penn and the fundamental laws of the Province, they could enjoy civil and religious liberty.

They sought an asylum from Church and State intolerance and oppression, if it were to be had only in the wilder ness of another continent, under a government of equal rights. They were nearly all Presbyterians in their Church relations. and many of them had settled in Pennsylvania before the close of the seventeenth century. The emigrants from Ireland and Scotland approached so close in national character, and were so congenial in sentiments, habits and religious principles, having in the land from which they emigrated, suffered from common grievances, that they were identified as one people. As professors of religion, they united in church organizations and worshipped together at the same Christian altars. The first settlements of this class were in Bucks county, but chiefly in the territory, which, in 1729, was organized into the county of Lancaster.

Settlements were made in it about 1717, on Octorora creek, and about the same time or earlier, in Pequea, and in 1722 in Donegal and Paxton. In 1730 and '34, the same class of emigrants, with the license of the Pro prietory government, located themselves in the Kittochtinny valley, west of the Susquehanna, where they increased rapidly and in a few years formed there a large, respectable and influential community. Under a free government of equal rights, with political power accessible to all the citizens, it was to be expected that amongst these different classes or races of emigrants, there would be rivalries and competition, as well as jealousies of ascendency and political power. They would be apt to differ in their opinions of public measures, as well as in their predi lections for the men who were to establish measures or execute them.

The Quakers had the advantage of the other classes, that they were parties to the first organization of the government, and in the establishment of the three first counties of Phila delphia, Chester and Bucks, and in regulating their representation. In those counties they had the majority of the inhabitants, which enabled them to elect as members of Assembly and Council, such as were entirely acceptable to them. Their majority in the Assembly, which prevailed for a long time, made its legislation to conform to their wishes and prin ciples ; the Proprietory, who belonged to their Society, being disposed generally to cooperate with them. From the great influx of emigrants from Ireland, Scotland and Germany, there was every prospect, that the control of the Legislature of the provincial government would pass from the hands of the Quakers into that of one of these other classes, and that they, who had been instrumental in establishing the government and putting it in operation, should be reduced to a powerless minority.

In the early administration of the Provincial government, James Logan was a prominent, intelligent and influential mem ber, being for many years a member of Council, and also the President of Council, as well as enjoying other high and im portant offices. Though of Irish origin, he had become affili ated with the Society of Friends, of which he professed to be one. He adopted their principles and manifested his willingness to maintain them, except he was disposed to go further for the defence of the country against its enemies, and was not entirely adverse to all military measures. He had, however, the confidence of the Quaker party, who retained him in influential stations of the government, as long as his health and age would allow. Logan saw clearly, from the accession which the Province was yearly receiving of sub stantial, intelligent and respectable emigrants from Scotland and Ireland, that the Quaker rule in the government would be restrained or supplanted.

He knew well the character of his countrymen, to be inquisitive, energetic, and independent. They would know their rights, and knowing them, would dare to maintain them without the fear of man. It was not to be expected that men, who had scrutinized and contested the powers of a royal government, were going to live passive un der the administration of a government in which they had equal rights with all its citizens. The day must come, when their voice would be heard, felt and respected in the govern ment of the Province. They did exercise their right of suffrage at the elections in Lancaster and York counties, in opposition to the candidate selected from and supported by the Quakers. They were sometimes successful in their opposition, and in the election of their own candidates. In these election contests there was much excitement and feeling, and they were attended with ir regularities, disorder and breaches of the peace discreditable to the authors; yet, these excesses were short of like disorders and of the frauds committed on the elective franchise, in these days of progress and refinement, under the laws of our great Republic, and which are to be reprobated as great public offences, subversive of the rights of the citizens and the purity of elections, and reproachful to the law and its officers.

In these election contests the Germans generally took part with the Friends and supported their candidates. The German Mennonites accorded so much with the Quakers, in their opposition to military service, supplies or measures of defence, that they were the partisans of the candidate supported by the Quakers. About this time James Logan began to undervalue his countrymen, and speak disparagingly of emigrants from Ireland, as being undesirable settlers. In 1729 he expresses " himself glad to find that the Parlia ment is about to take measures to prevent their too free emi gration to this country." "It looks," says he, "as if Ireland is to send all her inhabitants hither ; for last week not less than six ships arrived, and every day two or three arrive also. The common fear is, that if they continue to come, they will make themselves proprietors of the province."

"It is strange," says he, " that they thus crowd where they are not wanted." What made him pronounce them " audacious and disorderly," was, that they entered on and settled lands in the southern part of Lancaster county, towards the Maryland line, " York Barrens," without approaching him to propose to purchase, and when challenged for their titles, said, as their excuse, " that the Proprietory and his agents had solicited for colonists and that they had come accordingly." And in 1725 he complains "that there are so much as one hundred thousand acres of land possessed by persons (including Germans), who resolutely set down and improve lands, without any right, and he is much at a loss to determine how to dispos sess them." He also represents the Irish emigrants as " troublesome settlers to the government and hard neighbors to the Indians."

In placing an estimate upon the opinions of Logan, respecting the Irish emigrants, regard must be had to his position at the time in the government. He had so long enjoyed a command ing influence in the affairs of this government, under Quaker rule, that he was jealous of any power that would thwart him in measures and policy, or impair his influence. There were parties under the provincial government, as well as under that of the Commonwealth. The Governor had his friends and par tisans and the Assembly theirs ; whilst the Council went with one or the other as they were inclined. Between these there were conflicts in the exercise of their respective powers that were marked with feeling and excitement. Logan was the leader of the Proprietory party and had to encounter often opposition and defeat from the Assembly.

The Irish and Scotch vote in the Province was becoming larger, and com manding, and often exercised control in the election of members of Assembly and other officers. Logan had occasion to know its power and opposition, and would have preferred an unbroken influence in the Council and in the measures of gov ernment. He was generally in opposition to Governor Keith, decidedly the best and most popular of the Proprietory deputies, and was thus arrayed against the popular will, of which the intelligent and patriotic emigrants of Ireland and Scotland were influential exponents. There is much reason to believe that it was this limitation on his power in the government, that made him hostile to Irish and Scotch emigration, and led him to speak disparagingly of their character, as well as disposed to adopt the policy of restraining their emigration into the Pro vince, by prohibition or taxation.

His declaration was " that the common fear is, that if they continue to come, they will make themselves Proprietors of the Province." He would have preferred that the government should continue permanently under the rule of the Quaker party, though the population of the Province could be number ed by hundreds, and its cultivated lands by a hand-breadth. A like prejudice was exhibited about the same period, in another quarter, against the German influence in the Province. The influx of German emigrants was so great as to cause alarm to some politicians. It was feared by them " that the numbers from Germany, at the rate they were coming, in 1725-'27, will soon," as Jonathan Dickinson expressed himself at the time, "produce a German colony here, and perhaps such an one as Britain once received from Saxony."

Jonathan Dickinson was respected for integrity and intelligence, having the public confidence. He had held the offices of Chief Justice of the Province, Speaker of the Assembly, and member of Council. This apprehension led to the imposition of a tax, by the As sembly, on German emigrants, to diseourage their emigration to this Province. Even the great, liberal and sagacious Franklin, allowed pre judice to influence his gigantic mind, in the view which he took of the German population of Pennsylvania, when, in 1755, he addressed the British public in favor of excluding any more Germans from the colonies.* Franklin, we might suppose, would have discriminated between the intelligent, moral and industrious portion of the German population, that were desirable as settlers, for good and useful habits, and who in time would comprehend their relations to a new government and conform to its requisitions, and the immense swarms of Palatine Boors who were landed in the Province, ignorant, indolent, unruly and vicious.

In those days of party divisions and dissensions, this emi nent and patriotic statesman did not escape reproach and calum ny in high places. " Governor Morris, under the influence of angry feelings, accused Franklin to the ministry, of using his office of Post Master General, to obstruct the King's service; and to the Proprietories, of the design of wresting from them the government. "f Franklin devoted his time and labor to the discoveries of science and to promote the prosperity and welfare of his country, and lived to establish a reputation for genius, ability, integrity and patriotism that is imperishable. Time and experience reconciled him, and the wise and good of all parties, to the great acquisition in the German emigration, for the growth, resources and prosperity of Pennsylvania as a Province and State.

A representation unfavorable to the character of the Mennon ites was made to Governor Gordon in 1727 : " That a large * Spark's Franklin. Vol. 7, p. 71. f Gord. 330. number of Germans, peculiar in their dress, religion and no tions of political government, had settled on Pequea and were determined not to obey the lawful authority of government ; that they had resolved to speak their own language, and to acknowledge no sovereign but the great Creator of the uni verse." Opposition was made to their admission as citizens, and it was not until 1741, that a law wa3 passed for their naturalization. They had declared their readiness to pay their taxes and that they were subject to those in authority. From their conscientious scruples against bearing arms, they did not enter the army to fight the battles of the country, but when Independence was acknowledged and a new government organized and established, they were obedient in all things to its requisitions.

They have ever been in Pennsylvania a peaceable, industrious and moral community, paying their taxes regularly, avoiding strife, and living in peace with all men, with whom they had intercourse. They never allow the poor members of their society to be a public charge, but sup port them in the society. The Quakers, who had a majority in the Assembly, and who could and did control its Legislature, in the early history of the provincial government, were subjected to severe strictures, for their neglect and unwillingness to provide for the defence of 'the frontier of the Province, against the many cruel murders perpetrated by the Indians on the inhabitants. The numerous petitions of the inhabitants of the frontier in 1754, after the defeat of the Virginia troops under Washing ton, and again after Braddock's defeat in 1755, imploring from the provincial government measures for their defence and pro tection, had but little regard from the majority of the provin cial Assembly, and led to the adoption of no efficient measures for the relief of the alarmed inhabitants and their families ; and when the Indian war broke out in all its fury, along the extended frontier of the Province, and carried massacre into hundreds of defenceless families, sparing neither age nor sex, the government had not furnished a single soldier, arms or ammunition, either for the defence or aid of the frontier.

The inhabitants of the frontier finding that their repeated applications, as well as their unmitigated sufferings from expo sure to savage enemies, were disregarded by the majority of the Assembly, though Governor Morris had pressed upon their attention, the measures of defence, demanded by every obliga tion of duty, as well as humanity, in 1756, their memorial was sent to the King, and Royal government, respecting the de fenceless state of the Province, and praying the interposition of the King, for the protection which was withheld from them by the Assembly of the provincial government. The petition ers, as well as Assembly complained of, were heard by their agents and respective counsel, before a committee of the Privy Council of the Royal government. That committee, after con sideration, by their report which was approved by the Board, " condemned the conduct of the Assembly in relation to the public defence since the year 1742."

Their expressed opin ion was, that the Legislature of Pennsylvania, as of every other country, was bound by the original compact of government to support such government and its subjects. That the measures intended for that purpose by the Assembly, were improper, inadequate and ineffectual, and that there was no cause to hope for other measures, whilst the majority of the Assembly con sisted of persons, whose avowed principles were against milita ry services, who, though not a sixth part of the inhabitants of the province, were, contrary to the principles, the policy and* the practice of the mother country, admitted to hold offices of trust and profit, and to sit in the Assemblies without their allegiance being secured by the sanction of an oath. This report was adopted by the Privy Council and a copy directed to be sent to the Province.* The repeated complaints of the inhabitants, against the re missness and neglect of a Quaker Legislature to provide for the defence of the frontier, were thus sustained by the Royal government.

When the opinion of the ministry on the conduct of the Quakers was communicated to the Provincial Assembly, some of the members of that society resigned their seats. Others declined re-election, and some flattered they could re concile their consciences with the measures of the Assembly. * Gordon's Hist. 337, 339. The dissensions between the inhabitants of the frontier in terior of the Province, who were mostly of Scot or Irish origin, with the Quaker party, were still continued with excited feel ings and prejudices, on both sides. The Scotch Irish freemen complained whilst they had increased greatly in numbers, and were opening out the wilderness, and extending cultivation, as well as defending the frontier of the Province at the expense of their blood and lives against the Indians and the French allies, who were the public enemy of the country, they were without the assistance and protection from the provincial government, to which they were justly entitled, and amongst the grievances complained of, influencing the legislation of the As sembly to their prejudice, was the inequality in 1764, in the representation of the counties, the three counties of Philadel phia, Chester and Bucks, with a Quaker population having twenty six representatives, whilst the counties of Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Berks and Northampton had collectively but ten members.

The dissatisfaction existing between the Scotch and Irish inhabitants and the Quakers under the provincial government, was the occasion of criminations and recriminations. The Quakers charged the Scotch Irish with being haters of the Indian, inimical to him and as exciting the Indian wars by their encroachments ; whilst the Scotch and Irish inhabitants, in their memorial to the Royal government, charged the Qua kers with secretly supporting the Indians, by holding treaties and correspondence with them during the war ; " and of having bestowed on them arms, ammunition and tomahawks, even when they were murdering the frontier inhabitants."* The opinions and accusations of both parties, were made, it is believed, under a cloud of prejudices, excited by partisans, with discol ored representations, and founded on slight evidence, weighed in scales held by a partial hand.

Time and experience proved the policy advocated by politi cians of distinction in the Province, of restraining the emigra tion of both the Irish and Germans, into the settlement of its wild land, to be so short sighted and contracted, that, if adopted. Gordon's Hist. 422. would have been ruinous to the fundamental interests of the Province and its government. The opinion of such politicians deserves but little regard, in their estimations of the principles and character of whole and numerous classes of their fellow men, who are commended or censured as they accorded with, or opposed their views or purposes, in times of party excitement, when there is a contest between such leaders for official power and influence. Their opinions receive their bias and coloring from their own selfish feelings, and fluctuate with the rise and fall of parties.

Had the policy advocated by Logan, Dickinson and Frank lin been adopted, as a permanent one, in the provincial gov ernment, of restraining emigration, by which the population demanded for its security and prosperity, and which has elevated it to the highest rank in the American colonies, was to be ex cluded the privilege of an asylum on its territory; these exclu ded emigrants would have sought permanent homes in other colonies, and the growth and improvement of Pennsylvania have been greatly retarded. Without the aid, strength and resources afforded to Penn sylvania by its emigration of Irish, Scotch and Germans from 1725 to 1750, who would have been the pioneers of its immense wilderness, opened out its unbroken forests, cultivated its lands, and, in the infancy of the Province, reared so many habitations for Christian families, or erected in the " back woods " so many edifices, dedicated to the worship of the God of their fathers?

Without such emigration, before the Indian wars, the frontiers of the Province would have extended little beyond the Schuyl kill, and the citizens of Philadelphia, with their wives and children, would have been exposed to the torch, hatchet and scalping knife of the savage, and their midnight murderous assault and slaughter, and the Kittochtinny valley in its length and breadth, have remained a wilderness. Without such emigrants and their descendants, how few would have been found in Pennsylvania the advocates of American Inde pendence and resistance to Royal usurpation and tyranny, and who would have filled up the ranks, or commanded the armies of Pennsylvania in the war of the Revolution, in which the liberties of the American people were defended and their inde pendence established. A more impartial age has expunged from historical record the prejudices and aspersions, which, in the early history of this Province, were cast on the German population, or the So ciety of Friends, and they have been allowed to pass almost into oblivion, and if recalled, it is only to make known the oc casion of their existence and the temper, feelings and rivalry which brought them to life.