also provided that such half share proprietors do not exceed four hundred, and provided they arrive there by the first day of October

next.

Voted, that Col. Ebenezer Gray, Col. Thomas Dyer, Ralph Pomeroy, Esq., Timothy Edwards, Esq., John Franklin, Esq., Ludwick Updike, Esq., Mr. Moses Sherrard, Joseph Hamilton, Esq., Zerah Beach, Esq., Col. Zebulon Butler, Obadiah Gore, Esq., and Captain Samuel Street, be, and they are hereby appointed committee men, in addition to the standing committee of this company.

Voted, that the standing committee be, and they are fully authorized to dispose of six hundred rights in said general tract of country, for the use of said company, using their discretion therein, and to account when required; and the clerk of said company is hereby directed to furnish said committee with such number of certificates, as they or any of them shall require, not to exceed the number of 600 in the whole, each committee man to be accountable for the number he receives.

Voted, this company will circumspectly conform themselves to all decisions of their claim constitutionally had, but, at the same time, cannot omit despising the treatment this State met with upon a former trial, the secretion of material papers by our opponents, until after the trial was over; and being fully assured the New England ancient royal charters were the only ground of the northern and western extensions of the United States, in the settlements of the late peace with Great Britain, viz., as far south as the completion of the 40th degree of northern latitude, cannot content themselves with idle speculations only, and tamely yield a tract of country, the grant of their ancestors, that purchased, of themselves, established by the only Legislature on earth that had right to confirm the same, and defended through a long and cruel war, at an amazing expense of property, and the lives of more than one thousand settlers."

A tax of one dollar on every whole share, and half a dollar on every half share right was then imposed, and the meeting dissolved, with no other attestation of its proceedings than their being transcribed into the book of records.

early times, were now ex"Every able bodied and

"Half share rights," much spoken of in tensively used as a bounty for enlistment. effective man," who would move on to the land, "submit himself to the orders of the company," was to be entitled to a half share, the quantity of land exceeding two thousand acres: three hundred acres only to be located in a township.

Immediately on Col. Franklin's return, he called a meeting of the inhabitants at Kingston, and addressed them, explaining what had been done at Hartford. Proceeding to Plymouth, the settlers were called together; from thence he crossed over to Nanticoke, or Hanover; and thus journeying from town to town, public meetings were holden, contemplated measures, as far as politic, explained, and the people prepared for action. Adventurers were invited to enlist, or accept half share rights, on the terms proposed, and numbers received the bounty, Col. Franklin being engaged several days in issuing certificates.

cess.

It would be an imputation on the vigilance and sagacity of Pennsylvania, to suppose that these proceedings were not known to, and watched by her with jealous solicitude. What could she do to avert the threatened evil? Another invasion and civil war, so injudiciously had the last been managed, were too unpopular to afford hope of sucBut December 24, a law was enacted, "For quieting disturbances at Wyoming, for pardoning certain offenders, and for other purposes therein mentioned." After reciting in preamble, according to the excellent fashion of the day, that "a spirit of licentiousness, and disobedience to the laws" prevailed, and "to strengthen the hands of Government and quiet the disturbances," "It is fit that lenient means be tried, before the most coercive ones are used," it proceeds to provide,

Sec. 2. That all offences committed before "the 1st of Nov. be pardoned, and put in oblivion."

Sec. 3. Provided all offenders surrender themselves before the 15th of April next, and enter into recognizances.

Sec. 4. Authorizes the militia to be called out.

Sec. 5. Repeals the act dividing Wyoming Township into three districts, and annuls Patterson's commission, and that of the other justices then elected.

To suppose the whole people, for all were concerned, would go forward, acknowledge their guilt, and sue for pardon by entering into bonds for their good behaviour, was a presumption founded elsewhere than in reason. No notice was taken of the law, and it remained a dead letter on the statute book. Thus close the annals of 1785.

LETTER XXV.

786. Susquehanna Company's Resolves, at Hartford-Ethan Allen-Civil Government-Trials at Law-Ludicrous Defence-Susquehanna Whole and Half Share Rights in market-Conciliatory Policy-Luzerne county established-Name of Luzerne-(*curious Note)-Pumpkin Fresh-New and important Personages appear on the stage-Joel Barlow-Hosmore-The Wolcotts, etc.-Grand Scheme to dismember PennsylvaniaNew State contemplated.

THE most interesting event occurring in the early part of 1786, was the holding a second meeting of the Susquehanna Company, at Hartford, in May, the Assembly being then in session, following up the policy developed in their proceedings of the preceding year. Important in their bearing upon the interests of Wyoming, we copy whatever is of general concern.

At a meeting of the Susquehanna Company held at Hartford, May 17, 1786

"Col. Elizur Talcott, Moderator; Samuel Gray, Clerk; Then Voted-That all persons settled under the authority of the State of Pennsylvania, now actually inhabiting upon that tract of country, situate upon the westerly waters of the Susquehanna river, and purchased of the natives, by the company called the Susquehanna Company, be, and the same are hereby fully established and confirmed in their full and absolute possession of the lands by them actually possessed, under the said State of Pennsylvania.

"Voted-That this Company, conscious of the equity of their title to the lands bona fide purchased of the natives, and situate upon the waters of the river Susquehanna, will support and maintain their claims to the lands aforesaid, and effectually justify and support their

settlers therein."

"Voted-That Col. John Franklin, Gen. Ethan Allen, Major John Jenkins, Col. Zebulon Butler, be, and they are hereby appointed a Committee, with full power and authority to locate townships within the territory aforesaid, agreeable to the votes of said Company, in

the room and stead of the former Committee appointed for that pur. pose; and the said Committee are also hereby fully authorized and empowered to inquire into the claim of all persons now settled at Wyoming, and such as shall make out their claim in pursuance of the votes of said Company; said Committee are hereby authorized to quiet them in such lands as they shall find them justly entitled to, agreeable to the votes of said Company; and that Col. John Franklin, be, and he is hereby appointed clerk of the said Committee, and directed to keep fair records of the proceedings of said Committee, and the tranfer of all property in said settlement; and that said Clerk transmit, from time to time, fair copies to the clerk of this Company, of all such locations of townships, and the names of such as shall be admitted proprietors by such Committee, in virtue of the authority aforesaid. Col. John Franklin was duly sworn faithfully to execute the office of clerk of said Committee, according to the above vote, before Samuel Gray, Justice of the Peace."

It was doubtless politic, as well as liberal, to quiet the Pennsylvania settlers in their possessions, although the formal resolve to do so, may now excite a smile.

A declaration that the Company would "effectually justify and support the settlers," shows the boldness and earnestness of their proceedings.

Gen. Ethan Allen, of Vermont, too well known to require any introduction from my pen, it will be observed is appointed with Col. Franklin and Major Jenkins, as a Committee to "locate townships," and as a court to try contested titles.*

In the intermediate time, between those meetings, Wyoming was in a state of comparative repose. Hundreds of scattered settlers, who had been expelled by the war, many of them boys, now grown up to manhood, returned to claim their own or their fallen fathers' possessions. New adventurers, attracted by the wonderful tales of its richness and beauty, came in to purchase; and a productive year, diffusing plenty-such is the elastic spirit of man-restored cheerfulness and invigorated industry. Frame buildings began to take place of the log hut; and in Wilkesbarre Townplot one or two

"General Allen

arrived at Wyoming, April 8th, 1786.

to espouse our cause.

"In April 1786, General Ethan Allen paid us a visit at Wyoming, and proposed to settle amongst us and to bring on with him a number of his Green Mountain Boys, and assist us in supporting and defending our rights against the Pennsylvania Claimants. A large num ber of Proprictors' Rights were given to General Allen, to induce him FRANKLIN."

houses were painted, besides that on the river street, of which we have before spoken.*

While, nominally, the laws of Pennsylvania, administered by the magistrates of Northumberland, extended to Wyoming, in point of fact the settlers governed themselves, avoiding the service of writs, rather than opposing the officer. Indeed, from the well known friendship of Sheriff Antis, it is supposed that for the present, he did not deem it politic to pursue the eluding Yankees with much earnestness; relying, and relying wisely, on the measures of conciliation, or more determined and effectual coercion, which the Assembly must very soon adopt. For the year, the people had chosen Col. John Franklin, Major John Jenkins, Capt. John Paul Schott, Ebenezer Johnson, Esq., and Dr. William Hooker Smith, "A Committee to regulate the police of the Settlement." General and voluntary obedience was paid to their authority. No record, that we have been able to discover, contains their proceedings, but by the aged inhabitants, several trials are remembered, two of which we preserve as a sample.

A common exaggeration, in the olden time, to convey an idea of the fatness of the soil, was to say, "That it only needed melting, and you might dip candles." For some miles on the old "Lackaway" road, from the Delaware to the Susquehanna, there is a super-superabundance of stone. It was a standing joke, that Satan coming from New England with a load for Wyoming, his apron string broke on those hills, covering them with stones, and so the Valley was left free.

In this way the settlements of Wyoming were governed under the directions of the Committee of Directors according to the form of government established by the people, regulating the affairs respecting new settlers, etc., agreeably to the rules adopted by the Susquehanna Company. We in a short time increased our numbers to upwards of six hundred effective men; and were determined to support our claims and interest, until decided by a legal course of law. We were also determined to oppose any authority from Pennsylvania, residing among us, until we could have a regular establishment on Constitutional principles, and our lands in some way secured to us. We continued firm and united in our resolutions, until the county of Luzerne was established, and the Confirming Law took place, which put a stop to our settlements being made under the Susquehanna Company. I will remark, that a large number on the west branch of the Susquehanna river bad proposed to join us, and extend the claims of the Susquehanna Company into that part of the country. A Committee was appointed in 1786, and sent to Wyoming for that purpose.

JOHN FRANKLIN."

This is the closing paragraph of Col. Franklin's book. It will be admitted that in the actual posture of public affairs, the promised Green Mountain Boys, with Ethan Allen to head them-the Wolcotts, and Barlow, and Hosmer and Judd, to back them by aid from Connecticut-the proposed auxiliaries from the West Branch, and six hundred enrolled effective men on the ground, with a civil government in operation, and a military organization complete, it was time for Pennsylvania to throw aside such agents as Patterson and Armstrong, and to exercise her utmost wisdom and vigilance.