66

A fellow, who had found his way to the Susquehanna, was charged with stealing honey. Having confessed the fact to the prosecutor and offered a very inadequate compensation for the pilfered sweets, the matter was brought before the Court, where the defendant plead not guilty, asseverated his innocence, and demanded proof. A wit ness was sworn who testified that he saw honey and honeycomb at the house of the defendant, the day after the alleged theft. "And what have you to answer to this testimony?" inquired one of the Committee. May it please your worship, it is all a mistake; that man isn't capable of being a witness. He can't tell the difference between honey and molasses, and don't know honeycomb from a johnnycake." The merriment excited saved the prisoner from a severer punishment than a fine sufficient to pay for the honey and costs of suit. The other was a case of theft; the property having been taken from William Stark. The Court met near the house of the prisoner, heard the evidence, and decided-That the goods be forthwith restored; and as it was an aggravated case, the family being wandering interlopers, they were warned to leave the Valley in two weeks, or," etc. Some indefinite, but severe punishment was, probably, menaced by that "or."

These incidents, while they may excite a smile, are recorded chiefly to show, that so late as 1786, four years after the transfer of jurisdiction, the settlers still preserved some form of Government, trying of fences and enforcing obedience. But it must be apparent, the high moral sanction of legitimate and acknowledged authority being wanting, that habit rather than law, was the chief defence of the inhabitants.

During the summer, an active business was going on in the disposal of whole and half share rights in the Susquehanna Company's purchase. Townships were "located" and surveyed; settlers began rapidly to people the lands on both sides of the Susquehanna from Wilkesbarre to the line of New York.

Deeming them curious to the antiquarian, and worthy of preservation, in this, and on two succeeding pages, will

be found

First. A Certificate of a Susquehanna Whole Share Right, to a no less personage than SAMUEL HUNTINGTON,
some time President of the Continental Congress; and for many years Governor of the State of Connecticut.

Second. A Grant, by the Susquehanna Company, of a Township of Land, called LORANA, issued so late as
1796, situated on the State line, in McKean county, it is one hundred and ten miles west of Athens. It is neatly
written upon parchment, and the reader will observe the Certificate of Approval, by the Deputy Surveyor-Gene-
ral; and the Certificate of Record, in page 112 of Book F. (or 6th) giving evidence that the Records must have
embraced many pages.

Third. A Grant, dated 1797, of a "GORE" of Land, by the "CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FIRST COMPANY:" this
is also carefully written on parchment; and certificates are annexed, as in the Susquehanna Grant.

WINDIIAM, 7th July, A. D. 1773.

THESE PRESENTS WITNESS-That we the Subscribers, Committee of the Susquehannah Company:
In consideration of Sundry beneficial Services, done by SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, of Norwich, for said Company-Do
hereby Institute him, to one whole Share in the Lands, in sd Susquehannah Purchase in equal proportion, with the
other Proprietors.

Recorded on the Records of the Susquehannah Company. Liber E Page 364.

ELIPHALET DYER,
JED'A ELDERKIN,
SAM'L GRAY,

>Committee.

Attest,

DAVID PAINE, Ass't Clerk.

WHEREAS, THE CONNECTICUT SUSQUEHANNA COMPANY, Voted and entered on their Records, that the Sub-
scribers with others, (three of whom were to be a quorum) should be Commissioners under said Company, duly
authorized to make out and sign GRANTS for Lands within the limits of the Purchase of said Company, to such
applicants as made it manifest they were proprietors in said Purchase. And whereas, Mr. JOSHUA DOWNER, of Pres-
ton, and EZEKIEL HYDE, of Norwich, in Connecticut, and Mr. SAMUEL ENSIGN, of Whitstown, Harkemer county,
State of New York, have, on the day of the date hereof, exhibited in our Office, to us, the Subscribers, (three of said
Commissioners,) sufficient vouchers: and have, in other respects, complied with the rules and regulations of said
Company; so as to entitle them to a Grant of a Township of Land; which said township is bounded and described
as follows: to wit.-BEGINNING at the northwest corner of Conde, then west on the north line of the purchase, two
hundred and forty chains, to the most northwesterly bounds of the purchase; thence south eight hundred chains, to
a post standing in the west line of the purchase marked for a corner; thence east two hundred and forty chains, to
a black cherry tree, being the northwest corner of Trumbull and southwest corner of Minerva; thence north, on
the west line of Minerva, and west line of Conde, eight hundred chains, to the place of beginning; containing nine-
teen thousand two hundred acres of land-and known by the name of LORANA.

NOW, KNOW ALL MEN to whom these presents shall or may come, greeting, That we the undersigned
Commissioners as aforesaid, in consequence, or by virtue of the power and authority vested and reposed in us as
aforesaid, have granted and confirmed, and by these presents do grant and confirm unto the said Downer, Hyde and
Ensign, their heirs or assigns, forever, the aforesaid Township of Land, with all and singular, the privileges and
advantages thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining; subject, however, to the rules and regulations of the
aforesaid Company. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, we, the undersigned Commissioners, have hereunto set our hands and
affixed our seals, at our office in Athens, April 1st, seventeen hundred and ninety-six.

The Survey of the above Township of Land

is Approved of pr me,

Jos. BILES, D. S. for JNO. JENKINS, Super't of Surveys.

Recorded in Liber F. page 112, of the Records of the Susquehanna Company.

Test,

Sept. 29th, 1796.

BILLA FRANKLIN, Assist. Clerk.

and

WHEREAS, THE CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FIRST COMPANY, voted and entered on their Records, That the
Subscribers with others, (three of whom were to be a quorum,) should be a Committee under said Company, duly
authorized to make out and sign Grants or Locations of Land, within the limits of said Purchase, to such Appli-
cants as made it manifest they were Proprietors therein. AND WHEREAS CHARLES HILL, of Cazenevia, county
EZEKIEL HYDE, of Norwich,
of Herkemer, and State of New York.
in Connecticut, have this day exhibited to us, the Subscribers, rights sufficient to entitle them to a Grant of a tract
or parcel of Land which is bounded as follows:-Beginning at the southeast corner of Usher, on the west line of
Manor; thence south four hundred and eight chains, to the line between the Delaware and Susquehanna Pur-
chases; thence north forty-eight degrees west, on said Purchase line, six hundred and seventy-two chains to the
south line of Usher; thence east four hundred and sixty-two chains to the place of beginning.-Containing ten thou-
sand eight hundred acres of land.

NOW, KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That we, the undersigned Committee, have appor-
tioned and set off to the aforesaid Charles and Ezekiel, the aforesaid tract or parcel of land, in severalty, from
said general tract or purchase, with all the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, to themselves, their
heirs and assigns, forever. IN TESTIMONY whereof, we the undersigned Committee, have hereunto set our hands.
and seals, in the City of Norwich, Jan'y 20th, seventeen hundred and ninety-seven.

The aforesaid tract or parcel of Land adjoining
the town of Usher, and the Connecticut
Susquehanna Purchase, does not interfere
with any Grant of a previous date.

EZEKIEL HYDE, Super't Surveys.

Recorded
Connecticut Delaware First Company.
January 21st, A. D. 1797.
Attest,

That the speculation in those rights was general, is shown by the fact, that gentlemen of the first distinction and property engaged in the purchase. Matthias Hollenback, Esq., took a whole share, numbered 264. Capt. Dudley, Capt. Spalding, Hugh Forseman, Esq., Col. Denison, William Slocum, and other principal men of the settlement are set down as purchasers. Capt. Schott paid 28 1-3 dollars for share No. 160. John Hollenback paid 40 dollars for No. 83. Capt. Peter Loop paid 40 dollars for No. 82. Samuel Church gave 20 dollars for half share No. 272. Aaron Cleaveland gave 40 dollars for a share, and Samuel Decker received a half share, numbered 283, "for services rendered prisoners at Easton." From whence it may be seen that several hundred shares of the new emission had been already disposed of at Wyoming, the prices paid, and the respectability of the persons engaged. In different parts of New England the numbers, probably were seven fold greater. Many of the half shares it may be observed, were disposed of as a condition of actual settlement, to "man the rights."

It may reasonably be supposed that these measures on the part of the Yankees accelerated the action of Pennsylvania. A new and more liberal policy was resolved upon, coercion giving place to conciliation, and compromise being beneficially substituted for civil war.

To extend to the remote settlement at Wyoming the advantages of civil government, in which they might participate; affording them an opportunity to administer their own local affairs, by persons having the confidence of the inhabitants chosen by themselves; to give the people an efficient representation in the Council and Assembly, so that their voice might be heard, their interests explained, and their influence fairly appreciated, was the first grand healing measure adopted on the part of the State. That it was full of wisdom in its conception, subsequent events proved beyond question. On the 25th of September, 1786, an act was passed for erecting the northern part of the county of Northumberland into a separate county. The limits of the new county were these: beginning at the mouth of Nescopeck creek, and running along the south bank thereof, eastward to the head of said creek; from thence a due east course to the head branch of Lehigh Creek; then along the east bank of said Lehigh Creek to the head thereof; from thence a due north course to the northern boundary of the State; thence westward along said boundary till it crosses the east branch of Susquehanna, and then along said northern boundary fifteen miles west of said river Susquehanna; thence by a straight line to the head of