Source:
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY,
PENNSYLVANIA
And a Genealogical and Biographical Record of its Families
Publ.
Lehigh Valley Publishing Company, Ltd.
Allentown, Pa.
1914
CHAPTER VIII
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
For the history of these families see volume II.
pp. 1090 -
For several
years after the subsidence of the Indian troubles,
the colonies quietly pursued the even tenor of their
way, until the passage of the stamp act on Mar. 22,
1765, by the British Parliament. This law
required that for every skin or piece of vellum, or
parchment, or declaration, plea, rejoinder,
demurrer, or other pleading, or any copy thereof, in
any court of law or any certificate of any degree
taken in any college, any inventory, bill of lading,
appointment, franchise, license, probate of will,
bond, warrant of survey, lease, indenture, bill of
sale, newspaper, pamphlet or almanac, a stamp duty
should be imposed. The stamps were printed in
embossed letters, sometimes directly upon the paper
used, but more generally, for the colonies, on
course blue paper, such as is known as "tobacco
paper." The value of each stamp was indicated
upon it, and varied from three pence to two pounds.
The kinds of documents and other papers to be
stamped to make them legal numbered fifty-four.
To the blue-paper stamps was attached a narrow strip
of tin-foil. The ends of the foil were passed
through the parchment or paper, flattened on the
opposite side, and a piece of paper with a rough
device and number, with a crown and the initials of
the King pasted over to secure it.
while the avowed purpose of the act was the raising of
revenue for defending and protecting the American
colonies, its real meaning, clearly perceived by the
colonists, was to replenish the British treasury,
which had been exhausted, not by defending the
colonies, but by wars in Europe.
This measure met with general opposition throughout the
colonies. The people in cities and villages
gathered in excited groups and loudly expressed
their indignation. "Taxation without
representation is tyranny" became the cry (an idea
borrowed from the Dutch), which was boldly
enunciated in a pamphlet by James Otis, of
Boston. A general congress of delegates was
called and met in New York in October, 1765, and
sent out documents asserting the rights of the other
people. Oct. 31, 1765, Jacob Hiltzheimer
of Philadelphia, wrote in his diary: "My newspaper
was delivered in the morning, being the last before
the Stamp Act goes into force." November 1st
was observed as a day of fasting and mourning.
Funeral processions paraded city |
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streets and bells tolled funeral
knells. The colors of sailing vessels were
trailed at half-mast, and the columns of newspapers
exhibited broad black lines. The courts were
closed, legal marriages ceased, ships remained in
port, and for a while all business was suspended.
Merchants entered into agreements not to import goods
from Great Britain, and very soon remonstrances from
all classes in America reached the British ministry,
as well as from merchants and manufacturers of
London, so that the question of repealing the act
was raised.
On Mar. 18, 1766, the act was repealed by the
provisions of a bill introduced in Parliament by
William Pitt. In the bill was a clause
declaring the right of Parliament to tax the
colonies, which was not acceptable to the colonists.
Pitt said repealing bill could not have
passed but for this clause, so of two evils he chose
the least. The American colonists were so
pleased with the repeal of the obnoxious act that,
in gratitude to the King and to Pitt, an
equestrian statue of King was erected in Bowling
Green, New York, and a statute of Pitt in the
attitude of speaking was set up to the intersection
of Wall and William streets.
The news of the repeal of the act was received in
Philadelphia on Apr. 7, 1766, for which the bells
rang all day and houses were illuminated and a large
number of citizens had a dinner at the State House.
In 1767 an act was passed imposing a tax on tea, glass,
paper and painters' colors imported into the
colonies. Apr. 2, 1770, Lord North, the
British prime minister, offered a bill in Parliament
repealing duties on all articles except tea, which
became a law. The colonists regarded this as a
violation of their rights, objecting not so much to
the amount of duty imposed, as to the principle
involved, which lay at the foundation of their
liberties. Merchants in Boston, New York,
Philadelphia, Annapolis and other places, agreed not
to import tea. Three hundred ladies in Boston
formed a league, agreeing not to drink any tea until
the revenue act should be repealed.
Theophilus Lillie was one of the six merchants
in Boston who refused to sign association papers not
to import merchandize from Great Britain and openly
sold tea. One night an effigy was placed near
his door with a |
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finger upon it,
pointing to his store. In the morning all
laughed at the image except Ebenezar Richardson,
who attempted to remove it, and was pelted with snow
balls. Becoming angered, he rushed into the
house, seized a gun and fired it into the crowd,
wounding Samuel Gore slightly and killing
Christopher Snyder, a German school boy
about nine years old, the only son of a widow
residing in Frog Lane. The affair produced
intense excitement throughout the colonies.
"No other incident," said John Adams, "has so
stirred the people as the shooting of this boy."
Never had there been such a
MORE TO COME...
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ing
the Assembly to appoint persons to attend a Congress
of Deputies from the several colonies.
The Assembly ppointed Joseph Galloway
Samuel Rhoads, Thomas Mifflin, John Morton, Charles
Humphreys, George Ross, Edward Biddle and
John Dickinson, delegates from Pennsylvania to
the First Continental Congress, which met in
Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia, from September 5 to
October 26, 1774, and adopted the articles of
confederation, which should be regarded as the
commencement of the American Union. On Dec. 8,
1774, the Assembly again appointed the same men
delegates to Congress, excepting Mr. Rhoads,
who was then Mayor of Philadelphia. Later
Benjamin Franklin, James Wilson and Thomas
Willing were added to the delegation, and Mr.
Galloway resigned.
On Dec. 21, 1774, the freebidders of Northampton County
met at Easton and elected the following Committee of
Observation for the county: Lewis Gordon,
Peter Kachlein, Jacob Arndt, Michael Messinger,
Melchoir Hay, George Taylor, John Hays, Jr., John
Okely, Anthony Lerch, Jacob Morey, John Wetzel,
Andrew Engelman, John Griesmer, Henry Kooken, David
Deshler, Casper Doll, Joseph Gaston, Philip Drum,
Yost Dreisbach, Daniel Knauss, Thomas Everett,
Michael Ohl, John Hartman, Nicholas Kern, George
Gilbert, Abraham Miller, Nicholas Dupui, Sen.,
Manuel Gonsales and Abraham Westbrook.
Of this committee
Messrs. Morey, Wetzel, Engelman, Griesemer, Kooken,
Deshler, Knauss, Everett, Ohl, and Hartman
were residents of what is now Lehigh county.
This committee then chose as a standing Committee of
Correspondence for this county, George Taylor,
Lewis Gordon, Peter Kachlein, Jacob Arndt, John
Okely and Henry Kooken, Esqrs.
The county Committee of Observation met again on Jan.
9, 1775, and chose George Taylor, Peter Kachlein,
Jacob Arndt and John Okely to represent
Northampton county in the Provincial Convention held
at Philadelphia from Jan. 23rd to 28th, 1775, who
were instructed to concur in all things with the
delegates from their sister counties.
The county Committee of Correspondence, consisting of
six members, held a meeting at Easton, on May 6,
1775, at which four members were present and
unanimously resolved in consequence of a letter
received from the Philadelphia committee, which made
a deep impression on the local committee: "That the
several townships in this county should associate
and form themselves into Companies, choose their
proper |
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officers and
provide for each man one good fire lock, one pound
powder, four pounds of lead, a sufficient quantity
of flings and a cartridge box." The committee
then directed the clerk, Mr. Robert Traill,
to write letters to the several committeemen of the
townships giving them notice of the resolution.
The Committee of Observation held a meeting at the
Court House in Easton on May 22, 1775, at which they
endorsed the actions of the Continental Congress and
recommended that all free-men in the county provide
themselves with arms and ammunition and muster as
often as possible to make themselves expert in the
military art. At this meeting a return was
made of 26 companies of Associators formed in the
various townships of the county, giving the names of
the officers chosen and the number of men.
The following was the return from the townships that
now constitute Lehigh county.
Upper Saucon
Company
Captain,
Henry Alshouse, Jr.
Lieutenant,
George Kern,
Total rank and file, 105 men.
Macungie Company
Captain,
Peter Trexler,
Lieutenant,
Henry Felker.
Total rank and file, 120 men.
Upper Milford Company,
Captain,
Christian Fisher,
Lieutenant.
Philip Walter.
total rank and file, 64 men.
Whitehall Company.
Captain,
Peter Burkhalter.
Lieutenant.
Philip Knappenberger,
Total rank and file, 100 men.
Salisbury Company.
Captain.
Nicholas Fox.
Lieutenant.
Henry Hagenbuch.
Total rank and file, 100 men.
his company included inhabitants of Allen-)
Weisenburg Company.
Captain.
Michael Bobst.
Lieutenant. |
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Philip
Benninghoff.
Total rank and file, 32
men.
Lyon Company.
Captain.
Matthias Probst.
Lieutenant.
John Stine.
Total rank and file, 70 men.
Heidelberg Company.
Captain.
Michael Ohl.
Lieutenant.
Jacob Ziegler.
Total rank and file, 100 men.
Lowhill Company.
Captain.
Nicholas Michael.
Lieutenant.
Jacob Horner.
Total rank and file, 35 men.
The company from Allen township, of which the
present Hanover then formed a part was commanded by
Captain Neigal Gray and Lieutenant John
Siegfried, and mustered 120 men.
The general committee met again June 20, 1775, when a
letter was read from the county's delegates in
Congress requesting that the county immediately
raise half a company of riflemen to go to Boston.
The committee acted at once and chose Abraham
Miller of Mount Bethel, as recruiting officer
with Captain's pay. At this meeting Jacob
Miller and George Kribel of Upper
Milford township were appointed committeemen to
assist Mr. Engelman from the same township,
and Burkhart Moser, of Lynn township, was
appointed an additional member to assist his fellow
committeeman, Mr. Everett.
As Congress desired two
additional companies of riflemen to be raised in
Pennsylvania, the quota of Northampton county was
increased to a full company. The Captain was
authorized to purchase nineteen good rifles, the
price of each not to exceed five pounds, and
nineteen pouches and powder horns, which was needed
to complete the equipment of the company.
This company, the first raised in Northampton county
for active service, was one of eight raised in
Pennsylvania, two in Maryland and two in Virginia,
under the command of Colonel William Thompson,
which were called "Colonel Thompson's
Battalion of Riflemen." Each company was to
consist of one captain, three lieutenants, four
sergeants, four corporals, a drummer or trumpeter,
and sixty-eight privates.
The pay was as follows: Captain $20.00 per month;
Lieutenant, $13 1-3; Sergeant, $8.00; Corporal, $7
1-3; drummer or trumpeter, $7 1-3; |
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Private, $6 203. The term of
enlistment was for one year.
On July 20, 1775, the company was called together and
chose of officers:
Captain, Abraham Miller.
First Lieutenant,
Charles Craig.
Second Lieutenant,
William Kramer.
Third Lieutenant,
Samuel Craig.
The muster roll of the
company was as it appears in the Pennsylvania
Archives is as follows:
Captains:
Miller, Abraham,
June 25, 1775; resigned Nov. 9, 1775. (Born
Southport, N. Y., 1735, died 1815.)
Craig, Charles, from First Lieutenant, November,
1775. (Wounded at Brandywine; shot himself in 1782.)
First Lieutenants.
Craig, Charles, promoted to Captain,
November, 1775.
Craig, Thomas, from Second Lieutenant, November,
1775.
Second Lieutenant.
Craig, Thomas promoted First Lieutenant
November, 1775.
Craig, Samuel, (promoted Captain 1st
Penna. Oct. 1, 1776; retired from service July 1,
1781.)
Third Lieutenants.
Harris, David, promoted First Lieutenant of
Nagel's Company, Jan. 5, 1776. Captain First
Penna.; resigned Oct. 20, 1777.
Sergeants.
Holmes, Christian
Brodhead, Luke, promoted Lieutenant.
Anderson, Enoch.
Corporals.
Hains, Daniel
James, David.
Armitage, Shubert.
Sawyer, John
Drummer.
Adams, Peter, ill in Philadelphia, in
December, 1776.
Privates.
Bennett, Jacob.
Boman, Michael
Boyd, Daniel
Brunner, Rhinehart, (a resident of Upper
Saucon).
Buckly, Christopher.
Berger, Jost, (drafted into Morgan's rifle corps;
served at taking of Burgoyne; discharged January,
1781, at Trenton; resided in Macungie township,
1816). |
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Carter,
Thomas.
Carey, Martin.
Clifton, Robert.
Clifton, Robert.
Clemms, Thomas
Cooker, Nicholas. Killed in action.
Concklin, Richard.
Curtis, Marmaduke.
Dailey, Elias.
Dean, Samuel, of Bucks county; appointed lieutenant
of Col. Hart's Battalion, Flying Camp in
1776; subsequently Lieutenant of Eleventh Penna.
Deats, Chris.
Decker, Benjamin, died Dec. 7, 1827, in Luzerne
County, aged 81.
Engle, Wendle.
Ferguson, William.
Frantz, Henry.
Frantz, Peter.
Fritzman, Elias.
Gailbraith, Thomas.
Gaston, Hugh.
Hartney, Chris.
Harvey, John.
Hayward, John.
Hegerman, James.
Hernichon, John, wounded in the jaw at Long Island; in
1810, lived in Bucks county.
Horner, Samuel.
Hoster, Peter.
Jacobs, Cornelius.
Johnson, James.
Johnston, Robert.
Karich, William.
Kehrer, Martin, died in hospital at Princeton.
Line, Bernhard.
Koken, Peter.
Kaup, Michael.
Ledger, Peter.
Ledlie, James.
Levy, Nathan.
Lonker, Henry.
McCarty, Daniel.
McElise, James.
McFerrin, John killed by Indeians at Piper's Fort
in 1782.
Marshall, Robert.
Matthias, Henry/
Miller, Jacob.
Miller, John.
Moeser, John.
Moyer, Jacob.
Nousted, Peter.
Orr, Joseph.
Price, Rees.
Richart, Thomas.
Rishell, George. |
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Robertson, Robert.
Roy, Patrick.
Snyder, John.
Sonn, David, served three years, nine months; died
in Whitehall township, Oct. 5, 1826, aged 72.
Wagner, Adam.
Watson, John.
Weill, Andrew.
White, John.
Wighouse, Anthony.
Colonel Thompson's rifle battalion became the First
Regiment after the 1st of January, 1776, under the
command of Colonel Edward Hand.
Captain Miller's company arrived at Boston early in
August and rendered valuable service in and about
the city. The men of the battalion were expert
riflemen and their endurance and marksmanship made
them Washington's favorite troops during the war.
Thatcher, in his Military Journal of the
Revolution, in August, 1775, says: "They are
remarkably stout and hardy men; many of them
exceeding six feet in height. They are dressed
in white frocks or rifle shirts and round hats.
These men are remarkable for the accuracy of their
aim; striking a mark with great certainty at two
hundred yards distance. At a review, a company
of them while on a quick advance, fired their balls
into objects of seven inches diameter, at the
distance of two hundred and fifty yards."
They carried a green flag, with a crimson field in the
center containing the device of a tiger, partly
inclosed by toils, attempting the pass defended by a
hunter, clad in white, and armed with a spear.
The motto on the field was "Domari Nolo."
Two of the companies were ordered to Quebec, under
Colonel Arnold, and endured great hardship and
suffering.
On Nov. 9, 1775, occurred the skirmish at Lechmere's
Point, for their alacrity in which Col. Thompson
and his battalion were publicly thanked by
General Washington in general orders dated the
10th of November.
Having become the First Regiment of the Continental
army, on the evacuation of Boston by the British,
the riflemen left Boston on Mar. 14, 1776, commanded
by Colonel Hand (who was promoted to
Brigadier General April 1, 1777) and
arrived at New York March 28th, where it was part of
Gen. Sullivan's brigade and participated in
the battle of Long Island. In 1777, it was
placed in Gen. Waynes division and rendered
distinguished service in the battle of Brandywine,
where Captain Craig, of the Northampton
county company, was wounded. |
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At the
annual election on Sept. 27, 1775, each township
chose committee men, who met at Easton Oct. 2, 1775.
The committee men from the territory now Lehigh
county were as follows:
Upper Saucon, Jacob Morey.
Salisbury, David Deshler and Peter Rhoads
Whitehall, John
Griessemer.
Macungie, John
Wetzel
Upper Milford, Andrew Engleman.
Weisenburg, Daniel Knauss.
Lowhill, John Hartman.
Lynn, Thomas Everett.
Heidelberg, John
Hunsicker.
A Committee of Correspondence, consisting of Lewis
Gordon, Christopher Wagner, Jacob Morey, Thomas
Sillyman and Henry Lawalt was chosen from
the general committee.
The next day, October 3rd, at a meeting of the majority
of the committee and a majority of the officers in
the county, the county was divided into four
districts or battalions, when Col. .Peter
Kachlein was placed in command of the First
Battalion; Col. Henry Geiger, of the Second;
Col. Yost Driesbach, of the Third, and
Col. Jacob Stroud of the Fourth.
The Second Battalion
commanded by Col. Henry Geiger, of Heidelberg
township, a veteran of the French and Indian war,
was composed of the companies from Upper Saucon,
Upper Milford, Macungie, Salisbury, Whitehall,
Lowhill, Heidelberg, Weisenburg, Lynn and Penn
townships. The other battalions were formed
from the companies raised in the townships now
composing Northampton and Monroe counties and part
of Carbon county.
The Continental Congress having recommended the
appointment of a Committee of Safety to Superintend
and direct all matters necessary for the security
and defense of the colony on June 30, 1775, a
Committee of Safety was appointed of 25 persons, in
which Northampton county was represented by
William Edmunds, who served until Oct. 20th,
1775, when George Taylor succeeded him.
Benjamin Franklin was chosen President of the
body and Michael Hillegas, Treasurer.
Among the first actions of this committee was to
draw up rules and regulations for the Associators,
two thousand of which were ordered printed and five
hundred in the German language. The rules were
as follows:
Rules for establishing Rank or Precedence amongst
the Pennsylvania Associators.
The
committee of safety, appointed by the Assembly of
the Province of Pennsylvania being desirous of
performing the important duties of |
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after the battle of Long Island.
Many of these were taken prisoners by the British
and died in captivity. The muster roll of this
company, from existing records, is as follows:
COL. MILES' RIFLE REGIMENT.
First Battalion.
Roll of Captain Henry Shade's Company.
CAPTAINS.
Shade, Henry, appointed from Northampton county,
Pa., Mar. 9, 176; promoted captain in Tenth Penna.
Regiment, Dec. 5, 1776; cashiered by general court
martial Oct. 17, 1777.
McGowan, John, appointed Oct. 25, 1776; captain
Fourth Penna., Jan. 3, 1777; brigade major, October,
1777; wounded at Germantown; transferred to Invalid
corps, Feb. 3, 1781.
FIRST
LIEUTENANT.
Wert,
George, taken Aug. 27, 1776; (muster roll states
that he died in captivity, leaving a widow, Mary).
In March, 1777, the board of War paid him
£9 158. pay while a
prisoner, including value of a rifle lost, and he
applied for his place in the regiment.
SECOND
LIEUTENANT.
Dreisbach, Yost, appointed Mar. 10, 1776,
captured Aug. 27, 1776.
THIRD
LIEUTENANTS.
Boyd, Thomas appointed Mar. 19, 1776; promoted
second lieutenant in Capt. Brown's company,
Aug. 9, 1776; taken at Fort Washington; resided in
Indiana county in 1817.
McGowan, John, commissioned Aug. 9, 1776.
SERGEANTS.
Weaver, Casper, First; Mar. 26, 1776; in
command of the company, Feb. 13, 1777; killed in
skirmish in March, 1777.
Walsh, Jacob, second; Apr. 13, 1776.
Miller, Isaac, third; Mar. 20, 1776.
Gruber, Isaac, fourth; Apr. 29, 1776; missing
since the battle of Long Island, Aug. 27, 1776.
Tennis, William.
DRUM AND FIFE.
Webster, Hugh, Apr. 11, 1776.
Ammore, Gottlieb, Apr. 11, 1776.
PRIVATES.
Alshouse, David, Apr. 11, 1776.
Beaver, Christopher, Apr. 5, 1776.
Bebehouse, John, May 19, 1776.
Baker, Henry, Mar. 17, 1776; missing since the
battle, Aug. 27, 1776.
Benrhart, Peter, Mar. 21, 1776.
Black, Daniel, June 3, 1776.
Blyley, John, Apr.
6, 1776.
Bollabaker, Henry,
May 16, 1776; missing since the battle, Aug. 27,
1776.
Bower, John, Mar. 25, 1776; missing since the
battle, Aug. 27, 1776.
Biever, John.
Boyd, Andrew, "Volunteer."
Brown, Benjamin, Jun. 5, 1776.
Burd, Thomas, May 12, 1776.
Delb, Jacob, Apr. 6, 1776.
Deal, George, Apr. 3, 1776.
Dennis, Jacob, May 22, 1776. |
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Dull,
Henry, Apr. 1, 1776; resided in York county in
1818, aged 71.
Dull, Martin, Apr.
17, 1776.
Dunn, Peter.
Edinger, Jacob, Mar. 26, 1776.
Erb, Jacob, Apr. 3, 1776.
Faussel, John Christopher, Apr. 29, 1776.
Frederick, Jacob, May 15, 1776.
Fry, John, Mar. 21, 1776.
Fry, Philip, May 19,
1776.
Godshalk, Henry, May
20, 1776; missing since the battle, Aug. 27, 1776.
Greenmier, Casimer, Mar. 15, 1776.
Greenawalt, Nicholas, May 29, 1776; transferred
to Capt. Moore's company; re-enlisted in
Col. Stewart's regiment; resided in Franklin
county in 1819.
Hainey, Philip, Apr. 12, 1776.
Heaslet, Andrew, Apr. 2, 1776.
Hicker, Adam, Mar.
20, 1776.
Hine, Conrad, Jun. 3,
1776.
Hughs, Cornelius,
Mar. 15, 1776.
Hutnacher, Jacob,
Apr. 17, 1776; missing since the battle, Aug. 27,
1776.
James, Elias.
Kahm, Michael, May 8, 1776.
Kave, Thomas, discharged Aug. 16, 1776.
Kear, Martin
Keibler,
George, Apr. 9, 1776; missing since the battle,
Aug. 27, 1776; carried to Halifax; released in 1778;
resided in Northampton county 1822.
Kensel, John, Apr. 9, 1776.
Kuntz, John, Mar. 29, 1776.
Lee, John, May 14, 1776; missing since
the battle, Aug. 27, 1776.
Litchard, Joseph, Apr. 14, 1776.
McCary, John, Apr. 28, 1776; missing
since the battle, Aug. 27, 1776.
McBride, John.
McRight, John, May 22, 1776.
Miller, Henry, May 8, 1776.
Miller, Isaac.
Miller, Lorentz, Apr. 3, 1776; missing
since the battle, Aug. 27, 1776.
Mill, Andrew.
Moody, Adam, Apr. 18, 1776
Mosteller, Michael, Apr. 25, 1776.
Mosteller, Nicholas, Mar. 27, 1776.
Myer, Conrad, Apr. 18, 1776.
Neff, Thomas.
Neihard, Christopher, Apr. 14, 776;
missing since the battle, Aug. 27, 1776.
(Eldest son of Frederick Newyard, of Whithall
township; left one child, a daugher, Elizabeth,
m. George Shick.)
Picket, John, May 29, 1776.
Plyley, John
Potts, Jonathan.
Roahr, Martin, May 20, 1776.
Roahr, Nicholas, May 20, 1776.
Robinson, John, June 5, 1776.
Simmons, John, Apr. 26, 1776; missing
since the battle, Aug. 27, 1776.
Schwab, George, Apr. 29, 1776.
Schwab, George, Apr. 29, 1776.
Schwartz, Elias, May 26, 1776; missing since the
battle, Aug. 27, 1776.
Schlough, Barnett, Apr. 19, 1776.
Sebold, Leonard, May 8, 1776.
Sloan, James, Apr. 1, 1776. |
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Swink,
Frederick, Apr. 24, 1776.
Swartz, Andrew, Apr. 3, 1776.
Tennis, William, Apr. 12, 1776; promoted
sergeant.
Tickard, Frederick, Apr. .1, 1776; missing since the
battle, Aug. 27, 1776.
Travis, Joseph, Apr. 4, 1776.
Treasy, John.
Treeve, John, Apr. 20, 1776; resided in Huntingdon
county in May 1818.
Warner, Henry, May 6, 1776.
Weaver, Henry, Apr. 6, 1776; missing since the battle,
Aug. 27, 1776.
Weaver, John, May 24, 1776.
Weeble, George, Apr. 18, 1776.
Weis, Henry, May 19, 1776.
Wright, William, Apr. 19, 1776.
The Second Pennsylvania Battalion, commanded by
Colonel Arthur St. Clair, was in an expedition
to Canada, having been ordered there by Congress on
Feb. 16, 1776. May 6, 1776, Lieutenant
Colonel William Allen (son of Judge William
Allen) in command of the second Battalion, was
within three miles of Quebec, where he met
General Thomas with the army retreating from
Quebec. At a council of war, it was determined
to continue the retreat as far as the sorel.
Thomas, with the army, left Deschambault on
the 13th and was at Three Rivers on the 15th with
about 800 men. On the 2nd of June Gen.
Thompson sent Col. St. Clair from Sorel
with over 600 men to attack the camp of Colonel
McLean, who had advanced as far as Three Rivers,
with 800 British regulars and Canadians.
General Sullivan was at Chambly on
the 3rd and reached Sorel on the 4th and assumed
command (Gen. Thomas having died on the 2nd.)
On the 8th occurred the battle at Three Rivers,
where about fifty were killed and over one hundred,
worn out with fatigue and hunger, were captured.
Lieutenant Col. Hartley, in a letter giving
details of the battle, wrote: "Col. Wayne,
(who commanded the Fourth Battalion) behaved
exceedingly well, and showed himself the man of
courage and the soldier. Lieutenant Col.
Allen exerted himself and is a fine fellow.
Col. Maxwell was often in the midst of danger."
The Army reached Isle Aux Noix on the 18th and was
ordered to Ticonderoga, where the Second Battalion
remained until Jan. 24, 1777, when they left for
their homes.
One company of the Second was enlisted principally in
Northampton county, commanded by Captain Thomas
Craig.
ROLL OF CAPTAIN THOMAS CRAIG'S
COMPANY.
From Jan. 5th to Nov. 25,
1776.
CAPTAINS
Craig, Thomas, commissioned Jan. 5, 1776;
promoted Lieutenant Colonel Sep. 7, 1776; pro- |
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moted Colonel Third Penna. Aug. 1,
1777; retired Jan. 1, 1783; died at Allentown, Jan.
20, 1832, aged 92.
Bunner, Rudolph, commissioned Jan. 5, 1776;
promoted to Captain Criag's company; Captain
Third Penna, Mar. 17, 1777; Major June 6, 1777;
Lieutenant Colonel Aug. 1, 1777; killed at Monmouth,
June 28, 1778.
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
Kachlein, Andrew, commissioned Jan. 5, 1776;
discharged Jun. 21, 1776.
Dunn, Isaac Budd, commissioned Jul. 4, 1776.
SECOND
LIEUTENANTS.
Craig, John, commissioned Jan. 5, 1776;
promoted Nov. 11, 1776; subsequently Captain in
Light Dragoons, Fourth Cavalry.
Armstrong, James, commissioned Nov. 11, 1776.
ENSIGNS.
Parke, Thomas, commissioned Jan. 5, 1776;
discharged Jun. 20, 1776.
Dull, Abraham, commissioned Oct. 25, 1776.
SERGEANTS.
Marshall, Robert, appointed Jan. 15, 1776;
promoted Nov. 11, 1776.
Smith, Peter, appointed Jan. 15, 1776; promoted
Nov. 11, 1776.
Horn, Abraham, appointed Jna. 5, 1776
Dull, Abraham, appointed Jan. 19, 1776;
promoted Oct. 25, 1776.
Shouse, Christian, appointed Jul. 13,
1776.
Carey, John, appointed Oct. 25, 1776;
discharged Nov. 21, 1776.
McMichael, John, appointed Nov. 21, 1776.
Minor, John, appointed Jan. 13, 1776;
drummer.
Gangwer, George, appoitned Jan. 13, 1776,
fifer; reduced Oct. 11, 1776. (Died in South
Whitehall, Mar. 4, 1852, aged 95).
Fuller, Stephen, appointed Oct. 11, 1776,
fifer.
CORPORALS.
Shouse, Christian, appointed Jan. 15,
1776, promoted July 13, 1776.
Carey, John, appointed Jan. 5, 1776,
promoted Oct. 25, 1776.
Byel, Peter, appointed Jan. 17, 1776,
deserted Apr. 8, 1776.
Powelson, Henry, appointed Feb. 11, 1776,
deserted Apr. 12, 1776.
McMichael, John, appointed Apr. 8, 1776;
promoted Jun. 21, 1776.
Shearer, Robert, appointed Apr. 12, 1776.
Sweeney, James, appointed Nov. 21, 1776.
Mon, Samuel appointed Jul. 12, 1776.
PRIVATES.
Ackert, John, enlisted Jan. 29, 1776.
Assur, Anthony, enlisted Jan. 14, 1776.
Byel, Jacob, enlisted, Feb. 2, 1776.
Bowerman, Peter, enlisted Jan. 13, 1776.
Boyer, John, enlisted Sep. 1, 176.
Branthuwer, Adam, enlisted Jan. 13, 1776.
Crane, Josiah, enlisted Jan. 12, 1776.
Crist, Butler, enlisted Jan. 8, 1776.
Dunningham, Alexander, enlisted Jan. 15, 1776.
Daily, Peter, enlisted Jan. 10, 1776,
deserted Mar. 12, 1776.
Darling, John, enlisted Feb. 3, 1776,
deserted Mar. 12, 1776.
Darling, David, enlisted Feb. 3, 1776. |
[Page 124]
Davenport, Jacob, enlisted Feb. 17, 1776.
Davis, Evan, enlisted Jan. 7, 1776; missing
since battle at Three Rivers, June 8; paroled Aug.
9, 1776; b. Cookstown county Tyrone Ireland.
Davis, John, enlisted Feb. 3, 1776;
missing since battle at Three Rivers, Jun. 8th.
Deili, Daniel, enlisted Jan. 22, 1776;
re-enlisted Third Penna.; resided in Lehigh county
in 1814.
Dobbs, Thomas, enlisted Jan. 12, 1776; deserted
Apr. 12, 1776.
Docker, John, enlisted Feb. 14, 1776.
Evans, Evan, enlisted Jan. 10th, 1776.
Fleek, Peter, enlisted Jan. 8, 1776, wounded;
resided in Huntingdon county in May, 1818, aged 65.
Foulk, Daniel, enlisted Jan. 17, 1776.
Freedley, Henry, enlisted Jan. 8, 1776.
Gangwer, George, enlisted, Oct. 4, 1776.
Grimes, Samuel, enlisted Mar. 13, 1776; missing
since the battle of Three Rivers, June 8, 1776.
Groob, Philip, enlisted Jan. 24, 1776.
Hans, Leonard, enlisted Jan. 18, 1776.
Hindman, John, enlisted Jan. 22, 1776.
Hirkie, William, enlisted Feb. 28, 1776.
Hoofman, Ludwig, enlisted Feb. 21, 1776.
Horn, Frederick, enlisted Jan. 8, 1776.
Hubler, John, enlisted Jan. 17, 1776.
Huntsman, George, enlisted Jan. 29, 1776.
Jost, Martin, enlisted Feb. 10th, 1776.
Kantsman, Nicholas, enlisted Feb. 10th, 1776.
King, Chas., enlisted Jan. 17, 1776; deserted
Mar. 12, 1776.
Kuns, George, enlisted Jan. 13, 1776; died Aug.
6, 1776.
Kuns, Michael, enlisted Jan. 13, 1776.
Labar, Leonard, enlisted Mar. 12, 1776.
Labar, Melchoir, enlisted Mar. 12, 1776.
Man, John, enlisted Jan. 22, 1776.
Man, Lawrence, enlisted Jan. 13, 1776.
McMichael, John, enlisted Jan. 27, 1776;
promoted Apr. 8, 1776.
Miller, Christian, enlisted Jan. 8, 1776.
Mengas, Conrad, enlisted Jan. 10, 1776.
Minon, David, enlisted Jan. 8, 1776.
Mock, John, enlisted Jan. 22, 1776.
Morey, Robert, enlisted Jan. 19, 1776.
Mon, Samuel, enlisted Jan. 8, 1776;
promoted Jul. 13, 1776.
Nagle, Leonard, enlisted Jan. 13, 1776;
died at Allentown, Oct. 17, 1830.
Ney, Samuel, enlisted Jan. 13, 1776.
Phass, George, enlisted Feb. 10, 1776.
Powels, Jacob, enlisted Feb. 14, 1776.
Prang, Sophel, enlisted Jan. 13, 1776.
Ramsey, Thomas, enlisted, Jan. 27, 1776.
Rusarch, Conrad, enlisted Feb. 2, 1776.
Reyley, Daniel, enlisted Feb. 18, 1776.
Richards, Jonathan, enlisted feb. 2,
1776; deserted Feb. 25, 1776.
Rinker, Abraham, enlisted Jan. 13, 1776;
died at Allentown, Oct. 27, 1820.
Rogers, Timothy, enlisted Jan. 11, 1776.
Shaffer, Thomas, enlisted Jan. 28, 1776.
Shannon, John, enlisted Jan. 28, 1776.
Shearer, Henry, enlisted Jan. 24, 1776.
Shearer, Robert, enlisted Jan. 31, 1776;
promoted Apr. 12, 1776.
Smith, Peter, enlisted Jan. 10, 1776.
Smith, Philip, enlisted Mar. 5, 1776.
Standly, Peter, enlisted Jan. 15, 1776.
Stinson, David, enlisted Jan. 15, 1776.
|
|
Sterner,
George, enlisted Jan. 13, 1776.
Sweeney, James, enlisted Feb. 8, 1776; promoted
Nov. 21, 1776.
Thompson, James, enlisted Jan. 15, 1776.
Wilson, Robert, enlisted Feb. 26, 1776.
Wise, Jacob, enlisted Jan. 13, 1776.
Yiesly, Felty, enlisted Jan. 14, 1776.
Other
residents of the county who saw active service were:
Philip Jacobs, who enlisted in teh Third Penna.
Regiment in 1781; was discharged 1783; resided in
Lehigh county in 1813.
George Granger, enlisted in Fourth Penna., Jan.
2, 1780; resided in Lehigh county in 1833, aged 75.
George Jacobson, enlisted 1776, in Capt.
Seeley's company, Fifth Penna.; served five
years; resided in North Whitehall in 1818.
George Mosser, a private in Col. Armand's
Partisan Legion; died in Lehigh county, Jan. 19,
1826, aged 78.
John Shuler, teamster in Count Pulaski's Legion;
resided in Lehigh county in 1826.
Daniel Roth, enlisted as a private Apr. 10,
1777, in Capt. Jost Dreisbach's company of
Von Ottendorff's Corps, Mar. 1, 1777; discharged
at Wyoming Sept. 1, 1780; resided in Whitehall
township.
Up to
this time the government of Pennsylvania had been in
the hands of the various committees. On May 15,
1776, Congress recommended the adoption of such
government "as shall, in the opinion of the
representatives of the people, best conduce to the
happiness and safety of their constituents in
particular, and America in general." Public
meetings discussing the question were held in every
county. On May 27, 1776, a meeting of the
Associators belonging to the Second Battalion, and
others, all inhabitants of Northampton county,
consisting of about 900 men, was held near Lawrence
Good's plantation, in Whitehall township and
Major Philip Boehm was unanimously chosen
Chairman. The proceedings of this interesting
meeting are preserved and are here given:
"The Resolve of Congress on the 15th inst. being read,
was unanimously approved of. The Protest of
the 20th instant, of divers inhabitants of this
Province in behalf of themselves and others, to the
honorable the Representatives of Pennsylvania, being
read, was unanimously approved. It being moved
and the question thereupon put, whether the present
Government is competent to the exigencies of our
affairs? The same was carried in the negative
unanimously.
"Resolved, unanimously, that a Provincial Convention
ought to be chosen by the people, for the express
purpose of carrying the said Resolve of Congress
into execution.
"Resolved, unanimously, that a reasonable number of the
Committee of Northampton county be appointed (by the
Committee) to meet a num- |
[Page 125]
ber from the other county Committees
at Philadelphia, the 18th day of next month, to hold
a Provincial conference, in order to determine upon
the number of which the Convention for framing a new
Government shall be composed, and the manner in
which they shall be elected.
"Resolved, unanimously, that the Chairman be directed
to sign these Resolves on behalf of this present
assembly.
"Resolved unanimously, that we will support the
measures now adopted at all hazards, be the
consequences what they may.
"PHILIP BOEHM,
Chairman."
The large
and enthusiastic gathering of patriots was followed
three days later by a meeting of teh General
Committee of the county on May 30th, at Easton, when
the members from the present Lehigh county
territory, some of whom were newly elected, were:
Upper Saucon - George Blank and Jacob
Morey.
Salisbury - David
Deshler and John Gerhart.
Whitehall - John
Griesemer and Peter Kohler.
Macungie - John
Wetzel, George Breinig and John Fogel.
Upper Milford -
Andre Engelman and Frederick Limbach.
Weisenburg - Daniel
Knauss.
Lowhill - Abraham
Knerr and George Knadler;
Lynn - Thomas
Everett, George Harmony and Anthony Opp.
Heidelberg - John
Hunsicker and William Kern.
Peter
Beisel, one of the three committee men from
Allen township, lived in that part of Allen which is
now Hanover township:
Robert Levers, Esq., of Hamilton township was
chosen Chairman. The same resolves of Congress
which were read at the meeting of May 27th were read
and after mature consideration it was unanimously
resolved that six members of the committee be
nominated to meet deputies from the other counties
to agree upon a mode of electing members for a
Provincial Convention, "for the express purpose of
forming and establishing a new Government, under the
authority of the people only, for the preservation
of internal peace, virtue and good order, as well as
for the defence of their lives, liberties and
properties."
Robert Levers, John Wetzel, Nicholas Dupui, Neigal
Gray, David Deshler and Benjamin Dupui
were appointed the six members to represent
Northampton county at the Provincial Conference of
Committees held at Carpenters Hall, |
|
Philadelphia, on June 18th and in
session until Jne 25, 1776. Col. Thomas
McKean was chosen President.
This Conference passed a resolution that every
associator of the age of twenty-one years or over
who shall have lived one year in the province and
paid either provincial or county tax should be
entitled to vote for members of the convention.
It was also resolved that every person qualified to
vote for representatives in assembly, be entitled to
vote for members of the convention, provided he
shall first take the following test oath:
|
I,
do declare that I
do not hold myself bound to bear
allegiance to George the Third,
King of Great Britain, & c., and
that I will not, by any means, di-
rectly or indirectly, oppose the es-
tablishment of a free government
in this province, by the convention
now to be chosen; nor the meas-
sures adopted by the congress,
against the tyranny attempted to
be established in these colonies by
the court of Great Britain." |
It was
further resolved by the conference, that the city of
Philadelphia and each county should be represented
in the convention by eight representatives, the
election for whom to be held on Monday, July 8,
1776. Each county was divided into election
districts. Northampton County was divided into
four districts, the second of which included
"Northampton, Saltsburg, Upper Saucon, Upper
Milford, Maccongy, Weisenberg, Lynn, Whitehall and
Heidelberg," the election to be held at Allen's
town. The judges of election of the second
district were John Gerhart, David Deshler and
George Breinig.
On the eighth of July,
the day on which the Declaration of Independence was
first read in the State House yard in Philadelphia
by John Nixon in the presence of a
large body of people, the members of the first
Constitutional Convention of Pennsylvania were
elected. It was on this same day, July 8th,
1776, that the Declaration of Independence was read
at the Court House at Easton by Robert Levers
while the town was filled with companies of
soldiers, marching to the music of drum and fife to
join General Washington. The men
elected in Northampton county were Simon
Dreisbach, Jacob Arndt, Peter Rhoads, Peter
Burkhalter, Jacob Stroud, Neigal Gray, Abraham
Miller and John Ralston. Of these
Peter Rhoads was a resident of Allentown and
Peter Burkhalter of Whitehall township.
The delegates to this convention were repre- |
[Page 126]
[Page 127]
was stationed at Perth Amboy.
Colonel Baxter appears to have been in
command, but in the battle of Long Island,
Lieutenant Colonel Kichline was in command.
The Captains in command of the four companies were
John Arndt, from near Easton, Henry Hagenbuch,
Nicholas Kern of Towamensing township, and
Timothy Jayne.
Captain Henry Hagenbuch was a resident of
Allentown, where he died Apr. 20, 1805. His
company left Allentown on July 30, 1776, and the
Bethlehem Moravian Diary of that date says: "One
hundred and twenty recruits from Allentown and
vicinity passed through, on their way to the Flying
Camp in the Jerseys, to which our county has been
called on to contribute 346 men. Every
volunteer is entitled to a bounty of three pounds."
The First Lieutenant was John Moritz, of
Whitehall and the Second Lieutenant, Godfrey
Meyer who was taken prisoner at Fort Washington,
Nov. 16, 1776. Jacob Mummey, the
ensign, was also captured at Fort Washington.
Hagenbuch's company was at Perth Amboy on Aug.
6, 1776, when the muster of the company was as
follows:
MUSTER ROLL IN THE SECOND BATTALION OF ASSOCIATORS
IN THE COUNTY OF NORTHAMPTON AND PROVINCE OF
PENNSYLVANIA, WHICH IS TO COMPOSE PART OF THE FLYING
CAMP OF TEN THOUSAND MEN, COMMANDED BY COLONEL HART
AND IN CAPTAIN HENRY HAGENBUCH'S COMPANY, AUGUST
6TH, 1776. AMBOY.
|
CAPTAIN.
Henry Hagenbuch. |
|
LIEUTENANTS.
|
|
John Moritz. |
Godfrey Meyer, |
|
ENSIGN.
|
|
Jacob Mummey. |
|
SERGEANTS.
|
James Preston.
Christopher Harndon. |
Peter
France
Abraham Woodring. |
|
CORPORALS.
|
Nicholas Grossman.
Jacob Kern. |
August Essinger.
Michael Hearts. |
|
DRUMMER.
|
|
Michael Nagel. |
|
PRIVATES.
|
George Shave.
Jacob Miller.
Peter Treax.
John Hutvey.
George Brong.
Coinrad Knouse.
Peter Sheatz.
Jacob Knar. |
Philip Briner.
Abraham Servitz,
Philip Geres,
Barnet Miller,
Frederick Tittle,
Valentine Shoemaker.
Enrick Nunamaker,
Peter Caubel. |
|
|
John Young,
Michael Bowman,
John Sneider,
Frederick Rupar,
William Waggoner,
David Eccor,
Barnet Hillabird,
John Rough,
John Cup.
David Wyan,
John Michael,
Peter Frawley,
Michael Shaller,
Jacob Yencer,
Jacob Sheap,
Peter Poaixter,
Peter Ward,
Lutwick Eddinger,
John Donkel,
John Miller,
Dewald Miller,
William Coleman,
Antony Swartwood,
Frederick Shull,
Andrew Cupp,
George Cupp,
John Mier,
Michael Grove,
Henry Eiler,
Henry Reinhard,
Henry Luts (taken prisoner at Long
Island),
Lawrence Cranovel,
Stuffel Neihart,
Andres Brunner,
Conrad Fried,
Henry Deal,
Paul Boyer,
William Lougner,
Dewalt Frank,
George Bash,
Henry Brinicke,
Henry, Fogel,
John Blackmore,
Henry France, |
Jacob Stickel,
Andres Doremine,
Stuffel Nickart,
Peter Buck,
Peter Headmyer,
Jacob Yeagle,
Daniel Boger,
George Grove,
Joseph Linkenhouse,
William Kitchen,
Valentine Bear,
Christian Hagenger,
Peter Miller,
William Worthington,
Michael Kelkner,
Leonard Foore,
Adam Boger,
William Litsenbarer,
Nicholas Kline,
Daniel Sneider,
John Mace,
Nicholas Morets,
John Shivenstine,
Geoge Christ,
Christian Briner,
Stuffel Beacle,
Matthias Licer,
George Bower,
Ludwick Cup,
Peter Morets,
William Rees,
Martin Greaves,
James Dean,
Jacob Swab,
Peter Shul,
Reinhart Brunner,
George Briner,
John Tittle,
Barnet Stroup,
Adam Thomas,
Samuel WErt,
Martin Andres,
Martin Myer,
Henry Sneider.
|
|
HENRY
HAGENBUCH, Capt.
GODFREY MYER,
Lieut.
|
Mustered
then in Capt. Hangenbuch's Company; One
captain, two lieutenants, one ensign, four
sergeants, four corporals, one drummer, one hundred
and four privates.
The above is a true copy of the original Muster Roll in
my hands.
JON'A B. SMITH
Lieutenant Colonel Kichlein's Battalion was
stationed on the extreme right of the American
forces on Aug. 26, 1776, with a part of Colonel
Lutz's Battalion, of Berks county.
Colonel Miles' Riflemen formed the extreme left,
in front of the village of Flatbush, Long Island.
The centre was composed of Colonel Atlee's
Musketry battalion, and the Delaware and Maryland
troops. The corps numbered less than 5,000 men
under Gen. Sullivan. The British forces
consisted of 2,000 men under Gen. Grant,
8,000 Hessians under Gen. DeHiester and 8,000
men under Clinton, Cornwallis and Perry. |
[Page 128]
[Page 129]
[Page 130]
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[Page 132]
nish the commissioners with a
sufficient force to carry into execution the order,
if necessary.
General Howe,
commander of the British forces at New York, on June
14, 1777, advanced by two columns through New
Jersey, intending to draw Washington from his strong
position and threatening Philadelphia by a land
attack. Congress then directed teh second
class of militia to march and the third class to be
held in readiness to march. The militia was
divided into eight classes. When a class was
called out, many belonging to it, could not or would
not go. The deficiency was made up by the
employment of substitutes, either taken fro the
other classes, of from those not subject by law to
the performance of military duty. These
substitutes were procured by means of a bounty,
which was paid by the State, to be remunerated by
the fines imposed on delinquents, and varied from
£50 for two months
service. In some regiments the number of
substitutes nearly equaled the number of those
regularly drafted.
The following muster roll of the First battalion of
Northampton county militia appears in the
Pennsylvania Archives, certified to by the
Lieutenant of the County, John Wetzel.
A GENERAL MUSTER ROLL OF THE FIRST
BATTALION OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY MILITIA. JUNE
18, 1777
|
No.
1.
Field Officers.
COLONEL.
George Hubner. |
|
LIEUTENANT COLONEL.
Peter Saylor.
|
|
MAJOR.
Philip Mixell.
|
|
ADJUTANT.
John Ludwick.
|
|
CAPTAIN.
Joseph Fry.
|
|
LIEUTENANTS.
|
|
1st., Henry Bachman. |
2nd. George Kunsman. |
|
ENSIGN.
Jacob Bittenbender.
|
|
SERGEANTS.
|
Anthony Lerch,
Frederick Frutshe. |
George Frible.
John Kessler. |
|
CORPORALS.
|
Michael Lightcap.
Melchoir Edinger. |
Peter Grub.
Henry Miller. |
|
DRUM AND FIFE.
|
|
John Eoesley. |
George Shlibley. |
|
CLASS 1ST.
|
Christian Shum.
Jacob Zeiner.
Paul Broad. |
(Missing)
Andrew Fisher.
Daniel Zeimer. |
|
|
|
CLASS 2ND. |
Philip Cuhnsman.
Abraham Transue, Jur.
Henry Pershing. |
Israel Cooper
Melchoir Bander.
George Engle. |
|
CLASS 3RD. |
Adams Hartman.
Benedict Lutz.
(Missing)
Kahly. |
Edward Rank,
William Cooper
George Lawbagh |
|
CLASS 4TH. |
Peter Lerch.
Conrad Eighly.
Transue |
Jacob Juncker.
Peter Unangst.
(Name Missing) |
|
CLASS 5TH. |
Michael Reighard.
George Einner.
Elias Frarense. |
Abraham Howk,
John Unangst.
Valentine Miller. |
|
CLASS 6TH. |
George Reighard.
Frederick Largh.
Conrad Vogleman. |
John Nicum,
Walter Fields.
Christopher Elias. |
|
CLASS 7TH. |
Abraham Bassinger.
Bernhard Sickman.
Christian Reigh. |
Jacob Transue.
Simon Howk.
Isaac Snyder. |
|
CLASS 8TH. |
Anthony Ficht.
William Baker.
John Shrantz. |
Jacob Drinkler,
Geo. Henry Unangst.
Conrad Roesley. |
_______
|
No.
2.
CAPTAIN.
Christopher Johnson.
LIEUTENANTS. |
|
1st. Peter Wearst.
|
2nd, George Adam Weisler. |
|
ENSIGN.
Jacob Heyle.
|
|
CLASS 1ST. |
Henry Guysinger,
Michael Weaver,
Henry Weaver.
(Name
mutilated). |
John Apple.
Martin Apple.
Nicholas Kurtz. |
|
CLASS 2ND. |
Augustus Sheats.
Christian Young.
Philip Tutterer.
George Bowman. |
Valentine Yeager.
David Heistand.
Abraham Yeotter. |
|
CLASS 3RD. |
Francis Hartman.
John Haldiman.
Christian Weickel.
Adam Kurtz. |
Adam Romich.
Jacob Bachman.
Jacob Mayer, Junr. |
|
CLASS 4TH. |
Garret Seisloff.
Adam Keipper.
Philip Snakmyster.
Michael Knepley. |
Caspar Yeotter.
(Names
mutilated),
Balser
Buchecker. |
|
CLASS 5TH. |
Michael Flexer.
Jacob Dearsame.
George Swanger.
George Franck. |
Jacob Lantz.
Frederick Koucpenhafer.
Peter Knepley.
George Shoall. |
|
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| |
|
In time, the
mutilated bodies of the dead were gathered by Van
Campen, under directions of Col. Hunter,
and decently interred.
The Roll of Captain Van Etten's company is given
in the records as follows:A
MUSTER ROLL OF A COMPANY OF VOLUNTEERS, NORTHAMPTON
COUNTY, NOW IN THE SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES,
COMMANDED BY JOHANNES VAN ETTEN.
|
Captain. |
|
Johannes Van Etten, |
Jun. 15, 1780. |
|
First Lieutenant
|
|
John Fish, |
Jun. 15, 1780. |
|
Second Lieutenant.
|
|
John Myer,
|
Jun. 15, 1780. |
|
Ensigns.
|
|
Henry Bush, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
James Scoby, |
Sep. 1, 1780; taken
prisoner 11th September |
|
Sergeants.
|
|
Thomas Johnston, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Samuel Hellet, |
Jun. 15, 1780. |
|
James Scoby, |
Jun. 15, 1780; advanced
to Ensign the 1st September. |
|
Frederick Everhart, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Joseph Gable, |
Aug. 30, 1780; entered
Sergeant. |
|
George Price, |
Jul. 15, 1780 |
|
Corporals.
|
|
Lewis Holmes,
|
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Thomas Gay, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Samuel Bond, |
Jun. 15, 1780; killed
11th September. |
|
Adam Hicker, |
Jul. 17, 1780 |
|
Privates
|
|
Samuel Vandermark, |
Jun. 15, 1780. |
|
Daniel McDole, |
Jun. 15, 1780. |
|
John Morhart, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
John Kouts, |
Jun. 15, 1780; killed
11th September |
|
Rudolph Smith, |
Jun. 17, 1780 |
|
Abraham Clider, |
Jun. 15, 1780; killed
11th September |
|
Daniel Smith, |
Jun. 17, 1780. |
|
George Gongawar, |
Jun. 17, 1780. |
|
John Myer,
|
Jun. 15, 1780. |
|
Peter Apler, |
Jun. 15, 1780. |
|
John Weaver, |
Jun. 17, 1780; killed
11th September. |
|
Daniel France, |
Jul. 7, 1780. |
|
Lawrence Miller, |
Jul. 8, 1780. |
|
George Pigg, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
John Robenholt, |
Jun. 15, 1780. |
|
Leonard Pack,
|
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
John Sack, |
Jun. 15, 1780. |
|
Job Storet, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
George Ripsher,
|
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Peter Snyder, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Peter Lasher, |
Jun. 15, 1780. |
|
Jacob Cryder, |
Jun. 15, 1780. |
|
Conrad Koaler, |
Jun. 15, 1780. |
|
John Nap Snyder, |
Jun. 15, 1780. |
|
Adam Teel, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Voluntine Nicolas, |
Jun. 15, 1780. |
|
George Hickman, |
Jun. 15, 1780. |
|
John Smith, |
Jun. 15, 1780. |
|
[Page 157]
|
Privates |
|
John Wetherstone, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Christian Haller, |
Jul. 4, 1780. |
|
Jacob Houser, |
Jul. 30, 1780. |
|
Peter Siner, |
Jul. 30, 1780. |
|
Peter Tubalt Coans, |
Jun. 15, 1780; taken
prisoner 11 September |
|
Philip Geo. Shilhamer, |
Aug. 7, 1780. |
|
Baltzer Snyder, |
Jul. 5, 1780; killed 11th
September. |
|
Philip Bitten, |
Aug. 3, 1780; deserted
10th November. |
|
George Peter Rinhart, |
1780 Jun. 28; killed 11th
September. |
|
Andrew Myer, |
Jun. 15, 1780. |
|
Joseph Gable, |
Jul. 3, 1780; advanced to
Serg't, Aug. 30th |
|
Peter Croom, |
1780 Jun. 15; killed 11th
September. |
|
Johannes Snyder, |
Jun. 20, 1780 |
|
Andrew Mourer, |
Jun. 15, 1780. |
|
Adam Lung, |
Jun. 15, 1780. |
|
George Shilhamer, |
Aug. 17, 1780; killed
11th September. |
|
Paul Neely, |
Jul. 18, 1780; killed
11th September. |
|
Abraham Smith, |
Jul. 24, 1780; killed
11th September. |
|
John Lynn, |
Jun. 15, 1780; sick,
absent. |
|
Jacob Arndt, |
Jun. 15, 1780; killed
11th September |
|
Samuel Summeny,
|
Jul. 25, 1780. |
|
Jacob Collens, |
Jun. 15, 1780; |
|
Henry Davis, |
Jun. 15, 1780; |
|
Philip George, |
Jun. 15, 1780; killed
11th September. |
|
Peter McCoy, |
Jul. 24, 1780. |
|
John Haun, |
Jul. 25, 1780. |
|
Abraham Wisner, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Uriah Tippy, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Paul Reeser, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Ballser, Wever, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
George Heater, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
John Smith, Jun'r. |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Christian Wood, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
John Morgan, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Henry France, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Bond Hewes. |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
John Hain, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Michael Yerty, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Adam Brunthaver, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Antony Bishop, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
John Snider, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Peter Daniel, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Peter Simonton, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
John Dayly, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Henry Vaugarden, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Abraham Westfall, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Cornelius Devoor, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Casper Clutter, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Peter Quick, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Thomas Van Sikkle, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Samuel Vangarden, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Solomon Huff, |
Jun. 15, 1780 |
|
Thomas Hewe, |
Jun. 30, 1780. |
|
James McGraw, |
Jul. 24, 1780; killed
11th September. |
|
Jacob Row, |
Jun. 15, 1780; killed
11th September. |
|
Abraham Clider (Klader)
marked incorrectly as killed, escaped. |
|
The
following article on the Sugar Loaf Massacre, from
the pen of the late John C. Stokes, |
|
appeared some 40 years ago in the
Hazleton Sentinel, of which Mr. Stokes
was the founder and at that time the editor.
"Local tradition furnishes us with many interesting
incidents and reminiscences of early times in Sugar
Loaf Valley, that are worthy of preservation, being
illustrative of the hardships encountered and
privations endured by the pioneers of that beautiful
and fertile valley; and there are old persons still
living there who have seen and converted with some
of the 'seven months men' who escaped the massacre
of 1780, near the spot where Conyngham now stands.
A brief synopsis of a few of the accounts that have
come down to us from a past generation may not,
though given disconnectedly be devoid of interest.
"Many of our readers are familiar with the short
accounts of the Sugar Loaf Massacre in Mr. Miner's
History and Mr. Pearce's Annals. Brief
as these accounts are, however, they differ
|
| |
|
|
[Page 158]
[Page 159]
[Page 160]
A MUSTER ROLL OF CAPTAIN ADAM
SERFASS' COMPANY, CONSISTING OF THE FIRST
CLASS OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY MILITIA, NOW IN THE
SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES, COMMANDED BY LIEUT.
COL. CHRISTIAN SHOUSE, IN THE YEAR
1781.
|
Names & Rank |
Time of
entering
in the service |
When
discharged |
Days
in
Svc. |
Lieut. Col.
Christian Shouse |
Sep. 10, 1781 |
Nov. 10, |
60 |
Major
Peter Trexler, |
Sept. 10, 1781 |
Nov. 10 |
60 |
Adjutant.
Isaac Berlin |
Sep. 10, 1781 |
Nov. 10 |
60 |
Captain.
Adam Serfass, |
Sep. 22, 1781 |
Nov. 10 |
60 |
Lieutenant
Jacob Delb, |
Oct. 4, 1781 |
Nov. 4 |
30 |
Ensign.
Daniel Rex, |
Nov. 8, 1781 |
Nov. 22 |
14 |
Sergeants,
John Derr, |
Oct. 28, 1781 |
Nov. 22 |
25 |
|
George
Vogt, |
Oct. 15, 1781 |
Nov. 22 |
38 |
Corporal,
Ditrich
Hartman,
|
Oct. 17, 1781, |
Nov. 22 |
36 |
Drummer,
Nicholas Lambert |
Sep. 22, 1781 |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
Fifer,
William Laury |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22 |
60 |
|
Privates, |
|
|
|
|
Jacob Schreiber, |
Sept. 22, 1781 |
Nov. 22 |
60 |
|
Christian Barge, |
Sep. 22, 1781 |
Nov. 22 |
60 |
|
Andrew Hek, |
Oct. 20, 1781 |
Nov. 22 |
33 |
|
Peter Neihard |
Sep. 22, 1781 |
Nov. 22 |
60 |
|
Peter Burkhalter, |
Sep. 22, 1781 |
Nov. 22 |
60 |
|
George Flickinger, |
Sep. 22, 1781 |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Jacob Steckel, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Henry Steckel, |
Sep. 22, 1781 |
Nov. 22 |
60 |
|
Godfried Weasner, |
Sept. 22, 1781 |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Adam Garny |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
John Weaver, |
Oct. 28, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Stoffel, Kern, |
Sept. 22, 1781,
|
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
George Nease, |
Sep. 22, 1781,
|
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
John Ohlenwine, |
Sep. 22, 17891,
|
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
John Bildhouse, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Henry Heiser, |
Oct. 15, 1781, |
Nov. 15, |
30 |
|
Peter Braun, |
Nov. 5, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
18 |
|
Michael Ringer, |
Sep. 22, 1781 |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Philip Mink, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Simon Snyder, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
John Rhinehart, |
Sep. 22, 1781,
|
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Henry Hertzel, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
John Rishel, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Casper Hapler, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
George Zimmerman, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Casper Shoenebruch, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
David Musgenung, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Adam Swander, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
|
|
Names & Rank |
Time of
entering
in the service |
When
discharged |
Days
in
Svc. |
|
Henry Mertz, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Daniel Rish, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Peter Smith, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Michael Harach, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Nicholas Litzenbach, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Francis Warmkessel, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Henry Kek, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Christian Miller, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Nicholas Miller, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
John Butz, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Jonathan Trexler |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Matthias Rissel, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Melchoir Rissel, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
George Walbert, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Nicholas Meyer, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Dewald Kuntz, |
Oct. 12, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
41 |
|
Dietrich Dorner, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Henry Durny, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Matthias Kern, |
Oct. 5, 1781, |
Nov. 22 |
47 |
|
John Fink, |
Oct. 5, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
47 |
|
Isaac Sherret, |
Oct. 12, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
40 |
|
Michael Yiesly, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
John Klein |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Henry Knappenberger, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
George Hoffman, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
John Meyer, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Bernhard Smith, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Daniel Neyhardt, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Leonard Steininger, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Jacob Yundt, |
Sep. 22, 1781, |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
|
Jacob Hartman, |
Oct. 18, 1781,
|
Nov. 22, |
34 |
|
Casper Reaser, |
Nov. 2, 1781,
|
Nov. 22, |
20 |
|
Frederick Rise, |
Sep. 22, 1781 |
Nov. 22, |
60 |
Mustered
this 19th day of November, 1781, per order of Col.
Robert Levers, per me.
JOHN CHAMBERS.
Allentown and the townships of old Northampton
county west of the Lehigh river furnished a number
of men prominent in civil and military life during
the Revolution.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES of these patriots follow:
PETER RHOADS.
Among the patriots of Allentown
and vicinity, the man who attained the highest civil
positions in the Revolutionary period, was Peter
Rhoads. Born in Whitehall township in
April, 1737, two miles north of the present city of
Allentown, the son of Daniel Roth, a native
of Switzerland, who died in the same hour in which
his son was born, he was educated among the Quakers,
by whom he was persuaded to change the spelling of
his name to Rhoads. He received a good
English education, and was equally as well read in
German, besides acquiring a knowledge of French,
Latin, surveying, book-keeping and those |
[Page 161]
duties pertaining to the scrivener of
that day. He also learned the trade of a
tailor, as it was customary among the Quakers to
reach the young men useful occupations.
In 1761 he returned to his native township, Whitehall,
and the following year, on Nov. 23, 1762, was
married to Sabina Kohler, daughter of
Jacob Kohler, of Egypt. In that year he
began to build a stone dwelling house on North
Seventh Street in Allentown, which stands, the
oldest house in the city. Upon the
organization of the Reformed congregation in the new
town in the same year, he was chosen one of the
deacons. Already in 1768 he conducted a
general store, which he maintained until his death.
In 1772 he was tax-collector of Salisbury township,
and in 1773 was treasurer of Zion Reformed
congregation.
He became a member of the county Committee of
Observation on Oct. 2, 1775, and on July 8, 1776,
with Peter Burkhalter, was elected a member
of the first constitutional convention, which met at
the state house in Philadelphia on the 15th of July,
1776, and was in session until Sept. 28th following.
On July 23, 1776, the convention elected the members
of the council of safety, consisting of fifteen
members from Philadelphia county, and one from
each of the other counties. Mr. Rhoads was
elected the member from Northampton county.
The council of safety in session from July 24, 1776
to Mar. 17, 1777, was the most important body in the
state at that time, and carried on the executive
duties of the government until the Supreme Executive
Council, chosen under the constitution at the
election in February organized in March, 1777.
On May 2nd, 1777, Mr. Rhoads was
appointed by the Board of War one of the
commissioners from Northampton county, to collect
blankets for the continental troops. Nov. 24,
1776, he was appointed treasurer for the advance
money, for Northampton county.
In October, 1777, he
was elected a member of the assembly, which met at
Lancaster on October 27th, but did not obtain a
quorum until Nov. 20, 1777, and was re-elected in
1778, 1779 and 1780. On Apr. 2, 1781, he voted
in favor of the bill which was passed abolishing
slavery in Pennsylvania. He was appointed
justice of the peace, Dec. 4, 1783.
On Oct. 8, 1784, he was appointed and commissioned by
the Supreme Executive Council, President Judge of
the Court of Common Pleas and of General Quarter
Sessions for Northampton county. On October
22nd, 1787, he was |
|
chairman of the meeting at Bethlehem
approving the Federal Constitution, and condemning
the acts of the members of the Pennsylvania Assembly
who had withdrawn from that body. He was a
member of the Constitutional Convention of 1789-'90,
and under that constitution commissioned an
Associate Judge, Aug. 17, 1791. This position
he held continuously in Northampton county, until
the erection of Lehigh county in 1812, when he was
appointed Senior Associate Judge in that county,
which position he filled until his death, making a
total service on the bench of thirty years.
In 1792 an attempt was made by the Allen family
to establish a separate county with Allentown as the
county seat, and Judge Rhoads, who was the
agent of the Allen family at Allentown, took
a leading part in the movement, but the effort was
unsuccessful.
About 1798, the Lehigh Navigation Company was formed
for the purpose of improving the Lehigh river, and
Judge Rhoads became its President.
After expending a large sum of money, the company
abandoned the project. In 1811, Allentown was
incorporated into a borough, and Judge Rhoads
was elected the first Burgess and re-elected in
1812. He was a man of fine physical
proportions and possessed great energy and activity.
Dr. Egle in a sketch of him says: "Judge
Rhoads was a gentleman of firm convictions,
upright and conscientious and wielded a great
influence in the town and county."
In a letter written Sep. 22, 1814, to Judge Rhoads
by the eminent lawyer, Samuel Sitgreaves, of
Easton, the writer in discussing the depression of
the Federalist party, says: "I have become
indolent and inert, and must leave the Turmoil of
Elections to younger men who love Bustle and whose
Zeal is not rendered torpid by Infirmity of Body.
I rejoice, my dear Sir, that you, to whose more
advanced age these Observations might still more
reasonably apply, appear to preserve the Zeal of a
youthful Spirit beneath the Frost of Years; and I
wish it were more generally the Case with our
veteran Patriots - Altho' I fell the weight of
Apathy heavy on my own Mind, I much honor the
perennial Vigor of others - and hope you may long
live to infuse your Ardour into the refractory
Spirits about you."
Judge Rhoads died at his residence in Allentown
on Sunday evening, Dec. 18, 1814, at nine o'clock,
at the age of 77 years and 8 months. He was
buried the following Wednesday, in the cemetery at
Tenth and Linden streets.
|
[Page 162]
|
DAVID DESHLER,
David
Deshler, the son of Adam Deshler, was
born in Switzerland, in 1734. His father was
one of the early settlers of Whitehall township,
where he became quite prominent. David,
his eldest son, who was naturalized Apr. 10, 1761,
purchased the mill property on the Little Lehigh
from Michael Rothrock in 1762 and was one of
the first settlers of Allentown. In 1762 he
was taxed £9, and in
1768 for a grist mill and a saw mill and fifty acres
of land in Salisbury township.
He became a member of the county Committee of
Observation on Dec. 21, 1774 and was a delegate from
Northampton county to the Provincial Conference of
Committees, which met in Carpenters' Hall,
Philadelphia, on June 18, 1776. He was chosen
by this conference as one of the judges of election
for members of the convention, on July 8, 1776, at
Allentown, where the second election district,
consisting of Northampton, Salsburg, Upper Saucon,
Upper Milford, Macungie, Weisenberg, Lynn, Whitehall
and Heidelberg held its election.
On Mar. 12, 1777, he was elected by the Assembly one of
the four Sub-Lieutenants of Northampton county.
In his account, filed Sept. 4, 1779, he reports having
received £4,818 17s 9d, from sundry persons for
non-performance of militia duty. He was
appointed one of teh Commissioners of Purchases for
Northampton county on Feb. 19, 1778; Assistant
Forage Master on Apr. 5, 1780, and on July 7, 1780,
Assistant Commissary of Purchases. He was a
delegate to the convention called to ratify the
Federal Constitution in 1787.
Mr. Deshler was a man of great ability and much
force of character. In 1782, he purchased from
John Benezet of Philadelphia, the house built
by George Taylor, a signer of the Declaration
of Independence, with the land belonging to the
plantation along the Lehigh, near Catasauqua, which
Mr. Taylor had sold to Mr. Benezet in
1776. Here he spent the latter part of his
life. When slavery was abolished in the state,
Mr. Desher owned two negroes. He was
one of the wealthiest men of his time in the county
and in his will bequeathed each of his six daughters
£500, his son David £1,00, and his tanyard
and bark-mill to his son George, having
already given his portion to his son John Adam.
He died in December,
1796, at the age of 62 years at Biery's Bridge, now
Catasauqua. |
|
PETER BURKHALTER.
Peter
Burkhalter, the son of Ulrich Burkhalter,
was born Dec. 2, 1731, and accompanied his parents
to America from Switzerland, arriving at
Philadelphia on Sept. 28, 1733. The family
settled in Whitehall township, where the father
purchased a tract of 300 acres in 1743, which he
conveyed by deed of gift to his only son, Peter,
on Mar. 9, 1754. Peter Burkhalter was
naturalized on Apr. 10, 1761. He married
Eve Catherine Deshler, a daughter of Adam
Deshler.
On July 8, 1776, Mr.
Burkhalter was elected a member of the
Constitutional Convention, which met on July 15,
1776, and in November of that year was elected a
member of the first Assembly under that
constitution, which organized on Nov. 28, 1776.
He was re-elected in 1777, and again elected in
1784, 1785, 1786 and 1787. On Mar. 30, 1780,
he was appointed one of the Sub-Lieutenants of
Northampton county. His name also appears as
captain of a company of associators on May 22, 1775.
He died Oct. 22, 1805, and is buried at Egypt church.
PETER KOHLER.
Peter
Kohler, the son of Jacob Kohler, a
pioneer settler of Whitehall township, was born Apr.
2, 1735, at Egypt. The first mention of him in
active life is in 1764, when he opened a store in
Egypt. He operated a grist mill built by his
father and also kept a house of entertainment for
travelers.
He became a member of the county Committee of
Observation on May 30, 1776; was appointed one of
the commissioners to collect clothing for the troops
on Nov. 8, 1777, and on Dec. 16, 1777, was appointed
by the Pennsylvania Assembly one of the persons to
take subscriptions for Continental loan in
Northampton county. He was commissioned one of
the Justices for Northampton county on May 28, 1779,
and was elected to the Assembly in 1780, 1781 and
1782. He died Sept. 27, 1793, and is buried at
Egypt.
STEPHEN BALLIET.
Stephen Balliet, the son of Paul Balliet,
was born in 1753. He married Magdalena
Burkhalter, a daughter of Peter Burkhalter.
He was commissioned a
Lieutenant Colonel in December, 1776, and commanded
his battalion at teh battles of Brandywine and
German- |
[Page 163]
town. He also saw service on
the frontiers and was one of the officers in command
on the march to Nescopeck. He was appointed
agent for Forfeited Estates on May 6, 1778 and on
Oct. 20, 1783, was elected a member of the Supreme
Executive Council. He was appointed a member
of the Board of Property on June 7, 1784, and was
elected to the Assembly in 1788 and 1789.
In 1797 he was appointed Revenue Collector for the
Second district of Pennsylvania. He died Aug.
4, 1821, and is bured in the old graveyard at
Unionville.
PETER
TREXLER, SR.
Peter
Trexler, Sr. the son of Peter Trexler, the first
settler in Macungie township, was born Feb. 11,
1721. He was elected one of the first county
commissioners of Northampton county in 1752 and in
1753 was commissioned a Justice of Northampton
county under the King, which office he filled many
years. In the French and Indian war he was
captain of a company called into service by
Benjamin Franklin to garrison the forts on the
frontier and to protect the settlers from Indian
attacks.
In 1755 he was one of the six trustees of the school
erected in Easton by a society composed of many of
the English nobility whose purpose was to
promote the instruction of Germans in the English
language. He was appointed a justice of the
peace under the new government on June 3, 1777, and
on Nov. 8, 1777, was appointed one of the
commissioners to collect clothing for the soldiers.
He died Aug. 25, 1798, and is buried in a private
cemetery near Breinigsville.
GEORGE BREINIG.
George
Breinig was a native of Germany, where he was
born Jan. 31, 1733. He emigrated to America in
1749 and settled in Macungie township.
He was one of the judges of election at Allentown, on
July 8, 1776, and became colonel of the second
battalion of Northampton county Militia, consisting
of eight companies, his name appearing in muster
rolls dated May 21, 1777, and May 14, 1778. In
1786, he was commissioned a justice of the district
of Macungie and Weisenbeg townships.
He died May 12, 1812, and is buried at Lehigh Church. |
|
PETER TREXLER, JR.
Peter
Trexler, Jr., son of Peter Trexler, one
of the first commissioners of Northampton county,
and a colonial justice, and grandson of Peter
Trexler, the pioneer settler of Macungie
township, was born Aug. 15, 1748. On May 21,
1777, he was captain of the fifth company of Col.
Breinig's Second Battalion of Militia; on Nov.
1, 1781, Major of the First Battalion, under
Lieut. Col. Balliet; and on May 6, 1783, was
chosen lieutenant colonel in the militia battalion
district of Whitehall, Macungie and Upper Milford
townships. The several persons chosen
lieutenant colonels met at the house of Joseph
Hartzell, esq., on May 14, 1783, and cast lots
for rank of the battalions, and the third battalion
fell to the lot of Lieut. Col. Trexler.
He was elected a member of the Assembly in 1785,
1786, 1787, and 1788. He died Mar. 13, 1828,
and is buried at Mertztown.
GEORGE GRAFF.
George Graff, born at Killendorf, Alsace, Oct. 11,
1747, emigrated to America with his father, Jacob
Graff, in 1754. The family settled in
Whitehall township, where the subject of this sketch
had a narrow escape from death by Indians on Oct. 8,
1763. George Graff married Barbara,
daughter of Jacob Kohler, and in 1772 entered
into partnership with his brother-in-law Peter
Kohler, at Egypt. In 1773 Mr. Graff
removed to Allentown and opened a store at Eighth
and Hamilton streets.
In June, 1776, he became Captain of the third company
of the first battalion of the Flying Camp, which was
commanded on June 18, 1777, by Col. George
Huchner. He was a commissioner for
purchasing clothing in Northampton county in 1778;
was elected collector of the excise on Nov. 27,
1778, serving as such until Jan. 98, 1786; was
sheriff of the county from 1787 to 1790; and a
member of the Assembly from 1793 to 1796. In
1814 he was burgess of Allentown.
Mr. Graff died Feb. 2, 1835, aged 87 years, and
is buried in the old Allentown Cemetery.
HENRY HAGENBUCH.
Henry
Hagenbuch, who was Captain of a company of the
second battalion of the Flying Camp, on Aug. 6,
1776, was born in 1738. He kept a hotel at
Eighth and Hamilton streets, |
[Page 164]
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Allentown, for many years, and died
here Apr. 20, 1805. He is buried in the old
Allentown Cemetery.
CHARLES
DESHLER.
Charles Deshler, born Sept. 10,
1754, was quarter-master of the fourth battalion of
Northampton County Militia, under the command of
Lieut. Col. Boehm. He was a store-keeper
here for many years and a prominent citizen.
He was appointed storekeeper at Easton of the
military stores on Mar. 11, 1778. He married
Catharine, daughter of David Deshler,
and lived on South Center Square. He died Feb.
4, 1841, and is buried in Union Cemetery.
HENRY GEIGER.
Henry
Geiger, a resident of Heidelberg township, was
born about 1720. He was commissioned an ensign
in the Second Pennsylvania Regiment, on Dec. 20,
1755 and saw considerable service in the French and
Indian war. He became a lieutenant in 1757 and
was in command of soldiers at various blockhouses
and at Fort Allen. In October, 1776, he was
commissioned a Colonel of the second battalion of
Northampton County Militia. He was also
commissioned a colonial justice in 1764. He
was for many years a prominent figure in Heidelberg
township.
JOHN WETZEL.
John
Wetzel, a resident of Macungie township, was a
prominent figure in the early Revolutionary period.
In 1774 he became a King's Justice and in 1775 was a
delegate to the Provincial Conference of June 18th.
He was elected to the first assembly on Nov. 5,
1776, and on May 165, 1777, was appointed lieutenant
of the county, in which office, by reason of his
arbitrary actions, he became extremely obnoxious to
the Moravians and other non-resistant sects as well
as to officers of the militia.
FREDERICK LIMBACH.
Frederick Limbach, a resident of Upper Milford
township, was appointed a justice of the peace in
1777, and a judge of the courts in 1784. On
Mar. 30, 1780, he was appointed a sub-lieutenant of
the county and in 1783 was elected to the assembly.
He removed from the county in 1787. |
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THOMAS MEWHORTER.
Thomas
Mewhorter, a native of Scotland, became a
resident of Allentown about 1776. He served in
the Revolution and was elected to the assembly for
four terms, serving from 1784 to 1788. He
built the stone house at the southeast corner of
Lehigh and Lawrence streets, where he had a tanyard.
He died in Allentown in 1807.
PHILIP BOEHM.
Philip
Boehm, a grandson of Rev. John Philip Boehm,
the pioneer Reformed clergyman, was born Dec. 14,
1747. He married Barbara Deshler,
sister of David Deshler, and for some years
was a storekeeper in Allentown. In June, 1777,
Paymaster of Militia. On Oct. 19, 1778, he was
elected coroner of the county. He became major
of Northampton County Militia and in 1780 Lieutenant
Colonel. He died Jan. 10, 1816.
JOHN JENNINGS.
John
Jennings, son of Solomon Jennings, one of
the participants in the Indian Walk of 1737, was the
owner of the fine farm along Lehigh, later owned by
Jacob Geisinger. He was a
Quarter-master in the Revolution and was Sheriff of
the county several terms, and died while holding
that office in 1778. He proved himself an
energetic officer in the Wyoming troubles.
OFFICERS OF THE
STATE IN THE REVOLUTION, FROM THAT PART OF THE
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY NOW LEHIGH COUNTY.
Committee of the Provincial
Conference, held at Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia,
June 18, 1775.
David Deshler.
John Wetzel.
Delagates to the
Constitutional Convention,
July 15, 1776.
Peter Rhoads
Peter Burkhalter.
Member of the
Council of Safety, July 24, 1776.
Peter Rhoads.
Members of the
Supreme Executive Council.
Stephen Balliet.
Oct. 20, 1783/.
Members of
Assembly.
Elected Nov. 5, 1776.
John Wetzel.
Peter Burkhalter. |
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Elected Oct. 14,
1777.
Peter Burkhalter.
Peter Rhoads.
Elected Oct. 13, 1778.
Peter Rhoads.
Elected Oct. 12, 1779.
Peter Rhoads.
Elected Oct. 10, 1780.
Peter Kohler.
Peter Rhoads.
Elected Oct. 9, 1781.
Peter Kohler.
Elected Oct. 8, 1782.
Peter Kohler.
Elected Oct. 14, 1783.
Frederick Limbach.
Elected Oct. 12, 1784.
Thomas Mewhorter.
Elected Oct. 11, 1785.
Thomas Mewhorter.
Peter Trexler, Jr.
Peter Burkhalter.
Elected Oct. 10, 1786.
Peter Trexler, Jr.
Thomas Mewhorter.
Peter Burkhalter.
Elected Oct. 9, 1787
Peter Trexler, Jr.
Thomas Mewhorter.
Peter Burkhalter.
Elected Oct. 14, 1788
Peter Trexler, Jr.
Stephen Balliet.
Elected Oct. 13, 1789.
Stephen Balliet.
Commissary of
Purchases.
David Deshler,
Feb. 19, 1778.
Assistant Forage
Master.
David Deshler,
Apr. 5, 1780.
Persons to take
subscriptions for the Continental Loan. (Appointed
by the Assembly, Dec. 16, 1777.)
Peter Kohler.
Commissioners to
seize the Personal Effects of Traitors (Appointed
Oct. 21, 1777.)
Paul Balliet.
Treasurer of the
Advance Money for the Militia.
Peter Rhoads.
Nov. 24, 1776
Commissioners to
collect clothing.
Peter Trexler, Sen., Nov. 8, 1777.
Peter Kohler, Nov. 8, 1777.
George Graff, Mar. 18, 1778.
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OFFICERS OF
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, 1776 TO 1790, FROM THAT PORTION
NOW LEHIGH COUNTY.
President Judge,
Peter Rhoads.
Judges,
Frederick Limbach,
Peter Kohler,
Matthias Brobst,
Jacob orner,
George Breinig,
Ludwig Stahler,
Jacob Morey,
Sheriffs,
John Jennings, Nov. 5, 1777.
George Graff, Oct. 16, 1787.
Coroners.
Peter Rhoads, Nov. 5, 1776.
Philip Boehm, Oct. 19, 1778.
George Knauss, Nov. 5, 1784.
George Schreiber, Oct. 16, 1787.
Collector of
Excise.
George Graff, Nov. 27, 1778.
Justices of the Peace.
Peter Trexler, Sen., Jun. 3, 1777.
David Deshler, June 3, 1777.
Frederick Limbach, June 3, 1777.
Matthias Brobst, June 3, 1777.
Jacob Horner, June 3, 1777.
Daniel Snyder, June 3, 1777.
Jacob Morey, June 3, 1777.
Peter Kohler, Nov. 2, 1780.
Peter Rhoads, Nov. 2, 1780
Peter Rhoads, Dec. 4, 1783.
George Breinig, Jan. 26, 1786.
Ludwig Stahler, Nov. 8, 1788.
Dedimus Potestatems.
Peter Trexler, June 4, 1777.
County Lieutenant.
John Wetzel, May 16, 1777.
Sub-Lieutenants.
David Deshler, Mar. 12, 1777.
Peter Burkhalter, Mar. 30, 1780.
Frederick Limbach, Mar. 30, 1780.
Assistant
Commissary of Purchases.
David Deshler, July 7, 1780.
Paymaster of
Militia.
Philip Boehm, Aug. 27, 1777.
Storekeeper at
Easton.
Chas. Deshler, Mar. 11, 1778
Agent for Forfeited
Estates.
Stephen Balliet, May 6, 1778. |
Pennsylvania Archives - Colonial Records - Forces American
Archives - Egle's History of Pennsylvania - Richard's The
Pennsylvania German in the Revolutionary War - Levering's
History of Bethlehem - Jordan's Bethlehem during the
Revolution - Moravian Diary - Lossing's Field Book of the
Revolution - Stryker's Battle of Trenton - Davis'
Washington on the West Bank of the Delaware - Journals of the
Assembly - Historical society of Pennsylvania Manuscript
Collections - Revolutionary Patriots of Allentown and Vicinity -
Diary of Jacob Hiltzheimer - James Allen's Diary -
Watson's Annals - Wyoming Valley Historical Record -
Ellis' History of Northampton county - Allentown Friedenbote.
END OF CHAPTER VIII |
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