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A ^0^ ^^, .-^^ ./ /M'^''^^"":' cP^^x^\:^*., "^ ...-^ vA ^ ,c«JJ^'^^,'^ 00' ^^ _v^^ .■^'' ^. c'^^ 1 "% ^ ■ ' /^^^/<*^^fe^A^ THE LIFE OF WILLIAM HENRY OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA 1729-1786 PATRIOT, MILITARY OFFICER, INVENTOR OF THE STEAMBOAT A CONTRIBUTION TO REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY BY FRANCIS JORDAN, Jr. A Member of the American Philosophical Society Press of The New era printing company lancaster, pa. I9IO 1 Copyrighted 1910 By Francis Jordan, Jr. r '^^268634 PREFACE. HEN It was first suggested that I should write the Life of William Henry, of Lancaster, Pennsyl- vania, by those of his descendants who desired a more Intimate knowledge of his career than could be learned from fugi- tive accounts unsupported by documentary evidence, I thought to confine the work within the limits of a brief summary of his eventful early life and his activities during the Revolution. After a careful examination of the material placed at my disposal, much of It new and all of it of more than ordinary historical and scientific Interest, to the student of American history as well as to his posterity, I felt that to restrict Its scope to the contemplated brochure would have been a distinct loss to both. It seemed to me that a full account of his unique personality and notable career, sav- oring almost of medieval romance ; his inven- tive genius, his correspondence with statesmen, and military officers of high rank who figured iv The Life of William Henry. prominently in the struggle for independence, and finally his own eminent services to the State and Confederation, warranted not only a deserved tribute to his unostentatious pa- triotism, too long deferred, but an appeal to a larger audience. If the book in its necessarily modest pro- portions fails to reveal the social and domes- tic side of his life, or his impressions of men of action of that day, It must be explained that he left no diary; and if in any of its parts it appears lacking in continuity, it must be charged to the absence of papers that, through ignorance of their Importance to the historian, have been mislaid, perchance destroyed, and no longer available. In its preparation I desire to express my indebtedness to Granville Henry, Esq., of Boulton, Pa., Dr. John W. Jordan, of the Historical Society of Pennsyl- vania, and Dr. Frank R. Diffenderffer, of Lancaster, without whose generous aid in sup- plying valuable data the book would have been Incomplete Indeed. Francis Jordan, Jr. CONTENTS Chapter I. TAGB. Ancestry and Early Life i Chapter II. Rescues Gelelemend, a Delaware Chief, on Braddock's Field 7 Chapter III. Marriage to Ann Wood 19 Chapter IV. William Henry, the Benefactor and First Patron of Benjamin West. 26 Chapter V. Sails for England; Captured by French Priva- teer and Landed in Spain ; Reaches England, Meets Watts and Becomes Interested in his Experiments 34 Chapter VI. Inventor and Man of Science. Is the First to Apply Steam to Marine Navigation 37 V vi Contents. Chapter VII. Enters Public Life and Espouses American Cause 56 l^oh Chapter VIII. ohn Joseph Henry Joins Arnold's Expedition Against Canada; is Taken Prisoner and Confined in Quebec 60 Chapter IX. Civil and Military Appointments; Authorized to Manufacture Arms for the Continental Army; Entertains John Hart, David Ritten- house and Thomas Paine during British Occupation of Philadelphia 71 Chapter X. Thomas Paine 82 Chapter XL Lancaster in 1777 87 Chapter XII. Arms for the Troops the Crying Need of the Hour 91 Contents. vii Chapter XIII. Is Made Superintendent of Arms and Accou- trements, and Assistant Commissary Gen- eral 102 Chapter XIV. Reed-Henry Correspondence on the Alarming Financial Condition of the Country iii Chapter XV. The Reed-Henry Correspondence Continued; the Revolt of the Pennsylvania Troops. ... 131 Chapter XVI. Correspondence with Hon. Joseph Reed, Hon. William Moore, General Anthony Wayne and Judge William Atlee 136 Chapter XVII. From Colonel William Henry to the Honor- able Joseph Reed, President of Pennsylvania, Suggesting a Plan to Avert Financial Disaster 146 Chapter XVIII. Is Elected to the Congress of 1784, '85 and '86 and Dies in Office. Summary of his Career. 166 WILLIAM HENRY OF Lancaster, Pa. CHAPTER I. His Ancestry and Early Life. ILLIAM HENRY, the subject of this brief but eventful history, was born at the homestead in Chester County, Pennsylvania, on May 19, 1729, and although the exigencies of his youth were discouraging, he left no superficial Impress on the time in which he lived. Indeed it has come to few men even in a more enlarged sphere, within so short a span, to have had conferred upon them so many honors and responsibilities, both civil and mil- itary. His scientific achievements, the devel- opment of an extraordinary inventive talent, deserve to rank with those of his contempora- ries, Franklin and Rittenhouse, as " To Henry belongs the honor of conceiving the Idea of utilizing steam as a motive power for 2 I 2 The Life of William Henry. marine navigation, and of building the first steamboat ever built in the United States."^ We shall learn that he was generous, quick to recognize genius and sympathized In Its struggles. He was undemonstrative and made light of his own performances; but In reviewing them it is difficult to refrain from extravagant euloglum of one endowed with so many admirable qualities and withal so modest and unassuming. He first comes Into prominence as Armorer of the State forces attached to Braddock's ex- pedition against Fort Duquesne In 1755; but his military career did not end with the defeat of Braddock, as In the following year, 1756, he filled a similar commission under Forbes, and upon the breaking out of hostilities be- tween the colonies and the mother country, he espoused the cause of the former with en- thusiasm, was appointed Assistant Commis- sary General, served with distinction through the war, and was empowered to act as fiscal agent of the State and Confederation for Lancaster and the adjoining counties. He ^"Robert Fulton," by Dr. Robert H. Thurston, late professor of engineering, Cornell University, New York, 1891, p. 34. The Life of William Henry. 3 was elected a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly, sat upon the bench as one of its judiciary, served nine years as Treasurer of Lancaster County, the richest and most popu- lous in the state ; was a member of many im- portant committees created in the interests of the Revolution, and rounded out his useful, and — if I may employ the word in describing so strong a character — picturesque career as a delegate to the Continental Congress. Henry's grandparents, Robert and Mary Ann Henry, who were of Scotch ancestry, sailed for America, via Coleraine, Ireland, with their three adult sons John, Robert and James in the year 1722, arriving the same year at New Castle, Delaware, whence, after a brief stop, they proceeded to their planta- tion in West Cain Township, in the charming environment of Chester County, Province of Pennsylvania. Here both parents died on the same day in 1735, the husband in the morning and the wife in the afternoon, and were buried in the same grave at Boyd's Pres- byterian Meeting House. Of the sons James married Mary Ann, and Robert, Sarah Davis, sisters, who with their eight children removed to Virginia. John, 4 The Life of William Henry. the oldest son and the father of William whose life we are recording, married, in 1728 Elizabeth, daughter of Hugh and Mary (Jenkins) DeVinne, of Huguenot descent, who in 1723 settled in the vicinity of the Henry plantation. John Henry died in 1747, leaving to the care of his widow, two sons and three daughters, of whom William was the oldest child. The daughters mar- ried into the families of Postlethwait, Bick- ham and Carson. It was the cherished hope of the father of William Henry that his children should enjoy as thorough a scholastic training as his means and the best local institutions provided, but his early death and the insufficiency of his es- tate compelled his widow to send William at the age of fifteen to Lancaster, then the larg- est inland town in the Province, where he was apprenticed to Matthew Roesser, a gunsmith. Henry's mechanical aptitude made him an ideal apprentice, as in 1750 when but twenty- one years of age, he engaged in making arms on his own account, forming a partnership with Joseph Simon, of whom it is recorded, " He was a wealthy Jew of high character, 1 1 The Life of William Henry. 5 the ancestor of three prominent Hebrew fam- ilies of Philadelphia."^ Henry was progressive and believed In advertising, as the following letter to William Bradford, the well-known journalist and printer, shows : To William Bradford Printer in Philadelphia, Be pleased to insert and continue in the Front of your Journal the Inclosed advertisement. Inclosed is five shillings. Yours with respect, William Henry. Lancaster 17th July, 1766. This business association with Simon pros- pered, as within a short time Henry built a commodious dwelling on the public square^ the most eligible site in the town, which he occu- pied with his mother and widowed sister, and where the former died on October 9, 1777. The announcement of her death copied from a journal of the day reads : " To-day the mother ^One of his descendants was the beautiful Miss Re- becca Gratz, of Philadelphia, the original of the Jewess in Scott's " Ivanhoe." Washington Irving's encomiums of her mind and person suggested the character to Scott. 6 The Life of William Henry. of William Henry died In her seventy-fifth year. She was a friend to the poor and needy." Colonel Henry looked well to the comfort and dignity of his household, and was accus- tomed to the amenities of good living. Among his papers are receipted bills that tell their own story. He employed two maids and a " serving man," and paid not only for their maintenance but for their apparel. On December 14, 1778, he paid David Gordon one hundred and seventy-five pounds for a chair (a kind of gig) for Mrs. Henry, and to his hairdresser, one George Meyer an Italian, who addressed him as the Hon. Guglilemo Henry, for ad- justing his wigs to the fashion of the day and for other attentions, one pound and five shillings. In January of 1782 he bought of James Hall, a silversmith of Lancaster, one dozen silver spoons and a silver cream jug for Mrs. Henry, and a pair of gold buttons for Mrs. Rose, his mother-in-law, paying for them seven pounds and ten shillings. CHAPTER II. Rescue of Gelelemend, a Delaware Chief, on Braddock's Field. T was while serving with the colo- nial troops under Braddock In 1755, that Major Henry, as he was then known, met with an ad- venture In his efforts to save the life of an Indian chief that has no parallel In Indian history, and In our skeptical and prosaic day reads like a romance. Scoffers have laughed at the sentimental and " Impossible " Indian of Cooper's Incom- parable tales, but In the light of this un- adorned story of Indian gratitude, his Ideal Is more than justified. Gelelemend (the Delaware word for leader) , whose soubriquet among the whites was KUlbuck, a Delaware chief, was born In 1737 at Lehigh Water Gap among the Blue Hills of Pennsylvania, where the picturesque Lehigh cuts through the mountain on Its way to join the Delaware at Easton. His grandfather, the well-known Netawat- 7 8 The Life of William Henry. wes, chief counsellor of the Turkey tribe of the Delaware nation, had hunted, fished and trapped on both banks of the Delaware, from its source to the sea coast. With the advance of the whites he and his people retreated along the river, making a final stand among the Lehigh hills, where Killbuck first saw the light of day, and where game was still plen- tiful. On the breaking out of the colonial wars for the supremacy of the western territoiy, in which the Indians bore a conspicuous part, Killbuck, who had barely reached manhood, fought under the flag of France, and on Brad- dock's disastrous field fell into the hands of a party of the Fortieth Regiment of foot, who were about to dispatch him with their bayonets, when Major Henry, at the risk of his own life, rescued him from the infuriated soldiers. This merciful interference, so un- precedented in Indian warfare, overwhelmed the youthful brave with gratitude, and as an expression of this feeling proposed to Ma- jor Henry an exchange of names, than which, according to the Indian code, no greater honor could be conferred. From that time until his death Killbuck HON. WILLIAM HENRY, JR., OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. The Life of William Henry. 9 was variously known as Captain William Henry, William Henry Killbuck and, towards the close of his life, as Old William Henry. No opportunity was allowed to pass without some exhibition of his gratitude ; neither time nor distance could efface it, and when Henry passed away this bond of friendship was ex- tended to his descendants. After the French and Indian Wars he re- moved to the west bank of the Muskingum in the State of Ohio, where he founded a vil- lage on the site of the present town of Sharon. In 1774 he revisited the scenes of his early life in Pennsylvania, stopping at Lancaster to call upon his old friend Major Henry, who unfortunately was in Philadelphia. Mak- ing himself known to his son William Henry, Jr.,^ he requested the latter to convey ' William Henry, Junior, son of William and Ann Henry, was born at Lancaster, Pa., March 12, 1757. In 1778 he engaged in the manufacture of fire-arms in North- ampton County, and in 1808 erected a forge in which the first iron manufactured in the county was drawn March 9, 1809. In 1813 he built the Boulton Gun Works on the Bushkill, which are still continued by his descendents of the name. Mr. Henry was commissioned, January 14, 1788, a justice of the peace and judge of the courts of common pleas and quarter sessions of the county, by appointment of Governor Muhlenberg. He resigned 18 14. lo The Life of William Henry. to his father the assurances of his unaltered affection. He declared his people knew how to pay a debt of gratitude, as any one of the name of Henry would discover If occasion required a journey through the West, which he said could be made without fear of molestation. When about to leave he turned to Judge Henry, and In a manner so Impressive as not to be misunderstood, said, " Say to your father, Indian never forgets." He arrayed himself on the side of the col- onies in the Revolution, cooperating with the forces under Col. Daniel Brodhead In de- fending the Pennsylvania frontier against the depredations of the hostile Indians, and Is honorably mentioned by that officer In his correspondence with the military authorities. Pennsylvania, as an appreciation of his ser- in 1792 he was elected one of the presidential electors of the State and cast his vote for Washington's second term for President. He was active in his judicial capacity in suppressing what was known as the Fries Rebellion of 1798-99, in Bucks and Northampton Counties, Pa., in opposition to the " House Law Tax " passed by Congress, July 9, 1798. In 1795 he was appointed one of the Com- missioners to erect the first bridge over the Delaware, at Easton, Pa. The Life of William Henry. ii vices, granted him a pension of forty pounds per annum, and the federal government sup- plemented it with a grant of land, consisting in part of an island in the Ohio River near Pittsburg, still known as Killbuck's Island. It was a happy coincidence that Colonel Henry and Killbuck met for the second time in Trenton, N. J., in 1784, after the declara- tion of peace, where Congress then sat, Henry being a delegate from Pennsylvania. Kill- buck was also there in a representative capa- city, having been selected to adjust certain claims of his tribe for indemnity for lands sequestered by the government. One can readily imagine their cordial greeting, twenty- nine years after that eventful day on Brad- dock's field; and as Colonel Henry was one of the Committee on Indian Affairs, Killbuck appeared before at least one sympathetic lis- tener. They never met again. Henry died two years later, and when the news was brought to Killbuck by the Moravian missionary at Salem, Ohio, he sent a message of condolence to Mrs. Henry. In 1797 William Henry, Jr., was in charge 12 The Life of William Henry. of a commission^ created by Congress to locate a section of public land near Gnaden- hutten, Ohio, a gift from the government to the Moravian Church to reimburse it for losses sustained in the Revolution. It so hap- pened that several of Killbuck's children were living in the neighborhood, and as soon as it was learned that Mr. Henry was one of the surveying party they came into camp, greeted him with unfeigned pleasure and were as- siduous in their attentions. Three months were spent in the woods by the surveyors, and during that time daily supplies of venison, bear's meat, wild turkeys and other game were generously provided for the entire party. In the autumn of 1799 a party of thirty Delawares with their squaws and pappooses (Killbuck was living but too old to travel), * Attached to the commission was the widely known Moravian missionary to the Indians, the Rev. John Hecke- welder. He was the author of "The History, Manners and Customs of the Indian Nations of Pennsylvania and the Neighboring States," now regarded as an author- ity. His daughter, Johanna Maria, born April 6, 1781, at Salem, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, was the first fe- male white child born within the borders of that State. Strange as it may sound in the year 1910, in which I write, I had the pleasure of meeting her in her declining years. She died April 19, 1868. — F. J., Jr. The Life of William Henry. 13 who were on their way to the seat of govern- ment, stopped at Nazareth, Pa., to pay their respects to Judge William Henry, Jr., who received them in a friendly manner, and per- mitted them to encamp on his grounds. One of Mr. Henry's children thus describes the Impression they made on his youthful mind: " I well remember my mother's anxiety In conse- quence of their making numerous fires In preparing their meals. My father provided them with straw upon which they lay, wrapped In their woolen blankets, and the danger from fire was great. I remember how their gaudy accoutrements and the tinsel on their rifles, tomahawks, and scalping knives, attracted my attention. A few of them spoke Eng- lish, and, boy-like, I tried to imitate their sonorous and guttural sounds. They came to my father's at two In the afternoon, and left the next day at twelve. I heard my father speak of this visit after they had gone, and of others made by the Indians, In recognition of my grandfather's rescue of Gele- lemend, which they cherished as a sacred memory." In 1800 Matthew Henry, another son of Colonel Henry, visited his brother, a captain of artillery. United States Army, stationed at 14 The Life of William Henry. Fort Macinac, Mich. On his way out he called on old Killbuck in Ohio, of whom he writes to his brother John Joseph Henry: " On the 7th I reached the Indian town of Goshen with Mr. Mortimer and the next morning visited old Wm. Henry, who expressed the greatest satis- faction at seeing me. I presented him with a blanket, which I procured for the purpose, for which he thanked me in an Indian speech, which Mr. Mor- timer interpreted. The old man speaks very good English, but his heart was so full that he could not give utterance to his gratitude but in his native tongue. " He asked particularly about our family and was much interested in my account of your Canadian campaign. When I told him of your lameness he said he thought it would have been more humane had the British killed you rather than to have per- mitted you to live a cripple. He has three sons here, John, Charles and Christian. John is a re- markably fine, tall, well-made man, with a manly, open and intelligent countenance. ** Charles is married to a white woman, who was taken prisoner when a child near Minisink. She knows nothing of her parentage or native language. He is a kind and affectionate husband, and takes a part in all domestic labor. They are without children. The Life of William Henry. 15 " I wrote you that I expected to have Charles or John Henry as a guide, but I found them busily en- gaged in finishing their houses, therefore could not expect them to leave, but Christian, an active and ambitious young man vi^ho lives with his father and whose wife is at Fairfield in Canada, readily en- gaged to accompany me." We now approach " the last scene of all of this strange eventful history," Killbuck's pathetic letter of farewell — his final tribute to the memory of Colonel Henry. It is ad- dressed to Judge William Henry, Jr., and is in the handwriting of the Rev. John Morti- mer, the Moravian missionary, who took the words down as Killbuck dictated them. Goshen, 27 Sept. 1805. My dearly beloved JVilliam Henry: As you have the same name with me, and I have often heard of your love for me and my family, therefore I send this letter to you to salute you all, from me and my children, and grandchildren, and to assure you of our love for you. My dearly be- loved brethern: We are truly poor, needy and un- deserving people; think with compassion on us. It is my desire to live entirely for our Saviour, and place my whole confidence in him. That is all I have to say to you. William Henry. 1 6 The Life of William Henry. He died in 1811 at eighty-two, and was buried in Sharon, where there is still a Mora- vian congregation, a church he had joined in 1788. He was an intelligent, high-minded man, revered by his people, over whom he ex- erted a strong influence. After he had learned and recognized the principles of Christianity he expressed regret at the ex- cesses practiced in his early manhood. With this concluding incident and the death of Killbuck one would suppose our story had come to an orderly close; but the end is not yet, nor likely soon to be. Even as these lines are penned, one hundred and fifty-four years after the initial event they so inade- quately describe, the present generation of Killbuck's descendants are perpetuating the traditional friendship. Still following the chain of incidents con- necting this unique tale of Indian fidelity, we are informed that a Mr. Alexander who had edited a newspaper in Pittston, Pa., but had removed to Kansas, encountered an Indian family in that State of the name of Henry, whom he discovered were descendants of Kill- buck. The incidents that led to the adop- tion of the name, as they related them, agreed WILLIAM HENRY, 3rd, OF WYOMING, THE FOUNDER OF THE CITY OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA. The Life of William Henry. 17 In every important particular with the story as It Is given in these pages. Mr. Alexander revisited Pittston in 1858, when he communi- cated the foregoing to Mr. William Henry,^ of Wyoming, Pa., a grandson of William Henry, of Lancaster. Coming down to the present day, we find that in 1873 John Henry Killbuck, a great- great-grandson of Gelelemend was placed in the Moravian Institution for boys at Naza- reth, Pa., subsequently entered the Moravian College at Bethlehem, and, after his gradua- tion, the missionary service of that church. ^ William Henry, the third of that name, was born Au- gust 15, 1796, and died at his home in the Wyoming Val- ley, May 22, 1878. Having an expert knowledge of metal- lurgy and indomitable energy, he was the first to recog- nize the rich mineral resources of the Lackawanna Val- ley and was the pioneer in their development, his atten- tion being drawn to the locality in 1832, when the valley was covered with a primeval forest. In 1840 he induced his sons-in-law, Selden T. and James Scranton and their kinsman Colonel George W. Scranton, to join him in erecting the first blast furnace on the site of Scranton, and named it Harrison, in honor of General William Henry Harrison the then candidate of the Whig Party for President of the United States. The name of the town was afterwards changed to Scrantonia, and finally to Scranton, now the third city in point of wealth and population in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. His- tory must always regard Henry as its real founder. 3 i8 The Life of William Henry. Following his marriage to a white woman of excellent parentage, he was assigned to labor among the Indians of Alaska. They have several children, all of whom, as in all preced- ing generations, both on the male and female line, bear the middle name of Henry. MRS. ANN HENRY, BY BENJAMIN WEST. CHAPTER III. His Marriage to Ann Wood. N January, 1755, William Henry at the age of 26 had the good for- tune to marry the clever and ad- mirable Ann Wood, daughter of Abraham Wood, formerly of Darby, Pa. As the tradition runs he met her at a tea-party given at his house by his widowed sister, Mrs. Mary Bickham, to which three young ladies were invited Including Miss Wood, and be- fore tea was served some time was passed in Henry's garden. In the meanwhile the latter had placed a broom In the hall in such a position as to obstruct the passage and then awaited their return. The first young woman to enter pushed the broom aside, the second stepped over it, and the third, who happened to be Miss Wood, picked it up and stood It in Its proper place. After they had gone Henry remarked to his sister, " Mary, the girl who picked up that broom loves order; she is the one I shall endeavor to win and marry." As It turned out he not only found her orderly, 19 20 The Life of William Henry. but a thrifty, singularly clear-headed woman of affairs, with an aptitude for administration not often found In her sex. After the death of her husband, which oc- curred while he still held the office of treasurer of the county, she assumed his duties and was subsequently appointed to fill out the remain- der of his term, serving four years thereafter, and retired with honor, the only recorded In- stance of a woman holding such an office in the annals of Pennsylvania. Among the Lan- caster County records we find this bill: The County of Lancaster to Ann Henry, one of the Executors of Wm. Henry late Treasurer of Lancaster Co. To my salary as Treasurer of the County of Lancaster for the year 1787, £18. During her Incumbency RIttenhouse was Treasurer of Pennsylvania, and in the fre- quent exchanges between the state and county there were many opportunities for observing Mrs. Henry's creditable administration. A letter addressed to her by RIttenhouse, in which he makes some precautionary sugges- tions relative to the disbursement of the public monies, will serve as an example of the cordial relations existing between them. The Life of William Henry. 21 Philadelphia, November 5, 1789. Dear Madam: I have enclosed receipts for the money you last sent by the stage. By some accident it was neglected last week until the wagon was gone. I have not yet answered a letter I received of Mr. Jno. Joseph Henry respecting payment for servants en- listed. The Law Is I think still In force, but the business Is frequently managed so Irregularly that I think when you pay, the receipt ought to mention expressly that the money Is to be returned If the vouchers are not satisfactory to the Comptroller Gen- eral. I would advise you by no means to pay any orders of Orphans Court in favour of pensioners, widows of soldiers, officers or their children. These payments should be made on orders of Council only. Mrs. RIttenhouse Is very well. She gives her best respects to you. Our family has hitherto escaped the Influenza, so very common. I hope you have done the same. I am dear Madam your Affectionate Friend and Humble Servant D. RlTTENHOUSE.^ Mrs. Ann Henry. ® David RIttenhouse, physicist and astronomer, born In Roxborough, Pa., now part of Philadelphia, April 8, 1732. In 1763 was employed in determining the Mason and Dixon's Line and afterwards fixed other state boundaries. In 1769 the American Philosophical Society appointed him 22 The Life of William Henry. All her progenitors were substantial, well- educated English Quakers, strong adherents of Penn's propaganda. Her mother's maiden name was Ursula Taylor, a daughter of Philip Taylor, of Oxford Township, near Philadel- phia. Ann was born January 21, 1732, at Burlington, N. J., a posthumous child, whither her mother had removed after the death of her husband. Sometime later the widow mar- ried Joseph Rose, of the Lancaster bar, re- moving thither. It was here that Ann Wood became acquainted with William Henry. Her great-grandfather, George Wood, was one of the first settlers of Darby and served in the Assembly. Her grandfather, John Wood, married Jane Bevan, a daughter of John Bevan, an eminent Welsh Quaker and friend of William Penn, who came to Penn- sylvania in 1683 ^^^ took up a large part of what was known as the Welsh Tract, in Mont- gomery County, Pa., served on the local bench and in the Assembly, and was a convincing Quaker preacher. to observe the transit of Venus in Philadelphia; was treasurer of the State of Pennsylvania from 1777 to 1779 ; in 1791 succeeded Franklin as president of the American Philosophical Society; Director of the U. S. Mint from 1792 to 1795. Died in Philadelphia, June 26, 1796. THE COAT OF ARMS OF JOHN BEVAN QUARTERED WITH THE ROYAL ARMS OF ENGLAND. The Life of William Henry. 23 Notwithstanding he had renounced the pomp and allurements of the world In join- ing the Society of Friends, he retained his ar- morial bearings, although he may have been Innocent of any desire to draw attention to his lineage, as to which there was some discussion, since his shield was quartered with the Royal Arms of England. In his '' Reminiscences " the Hon. John Joseph Henry, second son of William Henry, testifies to his mother's strong convictions, extensive reading and unusual cleverness, " and yet so tender hearted that of a truth It may be said of her, ' She knew no guile.' " Dr. William H. Egle, in " Some Pennsyl- vania Women During the War of the Revolu- tion," thus commemorates her patriotic devo- tion to the American cause : " She was a typical matron of that period, of great energy of character and in full sympathy with her husband's active and patriotic life. During that momentous period in our history, her children being young, required her attention, yet she entertained Rittenhouse and Paine when the British occupied Philadelphia, and it is well known that she aided her husband in all the various duties assigned to him, 24 The Life of William Henry. as Treasurer of the County, State Armorer, Assist- ant Commissary General and Member of Congress. They were the parents of the distinguished John Joseph Henry who accompanied the expedition to Quebec under General Arnold, an account of which, the best ever written, was prepared by him." Mrs. Henry died March 8, 1799, and was laid by the side of her husband in the Mora- vian Cemetery in Lancaster. Colonel Henry's parents and grandparents had been members of the Church of England, but in the absence of a church of that denom- ination near their home in Chester County, his father and mother became Presbyterians, although they were not in harmony with the doctrine of reprobation. Mrs. Henry, however, whose antecedents were Quakers, and she herself one, was not in entire sympathy with the ostentatious ritual of the English Church, but had no wish to return to the Society of Friends as at one time sug- gested by her husband. Pending this spirit- ual unrest she met the wife of the clergyman of the Moravian Church, through whom she became an occasional attendant, and was so favorably impressed with its appealing sim- plicity, that she persuaded her husband to ac- The Life of William Henry. 25 company her on an occasion when the eloquent Bishop Boehler was announced to preach; and thus it happened that both became Mora- vians in the summer of 1765, as are many of their descendants to this day. CHAPTER IV. William Henry, the Benefactor and First Patron of Benjamin West. HERE Is no Incident In William Henry's life that displays to greater advantage his generosity fQ and appreciation of genius than the encouragement and material assistance given Benjamin West at the very Inception of his career, and before he had really deter- mined upon art as a profession. Gait In his " Life of West,"^ a work In- spired by the artist and published In his Iffe time, thus speaks of Henry: " Henry was Indeed in several respects an extra- ordinary man, and possessed the power generally attended upon genius under all circumstances, that of interesting the imagination of those with whom he conversed." ^"Life of Benjamin West," by John Gait, London, i8i6. In the preface Gait writes: "It was necessary that the narrative should appear in his own time in order that the authenticity of the incident might not rest upon the authority of any biographer." 26 The Life of William Henry. 27 He further makes an appreciative acknowl- edgment of Henry's generous help and dis- criminating suggestions, and intimates that they were factors in determining West's career. Although Henry himself was not twenty- four when West first came under his observa- tion, an age when the pursuit of one's own happiness is apt to obscure all other consider- ations, his sympathies were at once aroused in behalf of the struggling genius. Opportu- nity alone seemed wanting. West was then about fifteen, a poor, unlet- tered tinsmith's apprentice, living in the nearby hamlet of Springfield, Pa., where he was wont to exhibit his undeveloped talent in decorating the fences and barndoors of the neighborhood with drawings, and by an oc- casional rude painting for a tavern sign- board. As the first to recognize in these maiden efforts genius of a high order. Colonel Henry invited the boy to his house, assigned a room to his use, and supplied the materials essential to his work. On the walls of this apartment were many little studies, that were permitted to remain until the house was demolished. Here West made a number of excellent at- 28 The Life of William Henry. tempts at portraiture, of which two examples, Colonel Henry and Mrs. Henry, are In the possession of the Historical Society of Penn- sylvania. Urged to loftier Ideals by Colonel Henry, he made his first attempt at historical paint- ing at the age of eighteen, choosing a subject suggested by his patron, namely the '' Death of Socrates." As West had never heard of the Grecian philosopher, Mr. Henry went to his library for a copy of Rollin's " Ancient History "^ and drew West's attention to the engraved frontispiece which depicts Socrates in prison, surrounded by a group of sympa- thetic followers and soldiers, in the act of tak- ing the poison from the hand of a slave. From this picture West drew his Inspiration, adding, however, many additional figures, that gave greater unity and balance to the composition. After making a preliminary study which he submitted to Mr. Henry, he confessed that never having had the opportunity to draw from the nude he was unable to accurately ^ The engraving is the frontispiece of Vol. I., Rollin's " Ancient History," published in London and printed for John and Paul Knapton at the Crown in Liedgate St. MDCCXXXVIII. THE IDENTICAL ENGRAVING FROM ROLLIN'S ANCIENT HISTORY, THAT INSPIRED WEST'S " DEATH OF SOCRATES." The Life of William Henry. 29 portray the half draped figure of the slave. In this dilemma Mr. Henry sent to his factory for a young man who came from the forge bared to the waist, whose fine physique served as a model. The identical volume, as well as the paint- ing, are now in the possession of a descendant of Col. Henry.^ The canvas, which measures about thirty by forty-five inches, is a memor- able performance for a boy of less than eigh- teen, unread in history, who had never re- ceived an hour's elementary instruction in, nor beheld a meritorious work of art, contem- porary or medieval and was not even ac- quainted with the process of preparing his own canvas. Gait writes of this epoch in West's life : *' Among those helpful to him In his early career was William Henry, of Lancaster, who had acquired a handsome fortune by his profession of a gunsmith. On examining the young Artist's performances, he observed that If he could paint as well, he would devote himself to historical subjects, and he men- tioned the ' Death of Socrates.' The painter knew nothing of the life of the philosopher, and upon con- fessing his Ignorance, Mr. Henry read to him the ^ Granville Henry, Esq., of Boulton, Pennsylvania. 30 The Life of William Henry. account given of this affecting story, from Rollin's ' Ancient History.' " The suggestion and description wrought upon the imagination of West, and induced him to make a drawing, which he showed to Mr. Henry, who com- mended it, and requested him to paint it. West said that he would be happy to undertake the task, but, having hitherto painted only faces and men clothed, he was unable to do justice to the figure of the slave who presented the poison, and which he thought ought to be naked. Henry had among his workmen a very handsome young man, and, without waiting to answer the objection, sent for him. On his entrance he pointed him out to West and said * There is your model.' The appearance of the young man, whose arms and breast were bare, in- stantly convinced the artist that he had only to look into nature for his models. " When the ' Death of Socrates ' was finished it attracted much attention,^*^ and led to one of those fortunate acquaintances by which the subsequent career of the artist has been so happily facilitated."^^ Realizing that the colonies offered abso- lutely no opportunity for the study of art, West decided to pursue his studies abroad, and in 1760 sailed for England. " A contemporary writer declares that the picture at once established his reputation. "Gait, pp. 48, 49, 50 and 51. The Life of William Henry. 31 Before his departure he had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Henry in Philadelphia, of whom Gait, commenting on this incident, writes ; "While waiting till the vessel was clear to sail, West had the gratification to see In Philadelphia his old friend Mr. Henry, for whom he had painted the * Death of Socrates.' Towards him he always cherished the most grateful affection. He was the first who urged him to attempt historical composi- tion; and above all, he was the first who made him acquainted with the magnanimous tales of Plutarch, perhaps the greatest favor which could be conferred on a youthful mind." Col. Henry never ceased to take the deepest interest in West's rise to eminence. He named his youngest son in his honor, Ben- jamin West Henry, who studied under Gil- bert Stuart and became an artist of no mean ability, and when West succeeded Reynolds as president of the Royal Academy, he in- vited his namesake to visit him in London, In the year 1838, Colonel John Trumbull, one of Washington's youthful aides, who had studied under West in London, and whose 32 The Life of William Henry. paintings adorn the Capitol at Washington and the Trumbull gallery in Boston, made a special journey from New York to Boulton, Pa., the home of Mr. James Henry^^ (who had inherited the " Socrates " by descent), to look upon the first historical work of his honored preceptor. In the absence of Mr. Henry his family entertained Col. Trumbull, who left a card upon which he wrote: "Mr. Trumbull is highly gratified by the sight of ' Socrates ' painted by his friend and master, Mr. West." Subsequently, Mr. Henry called upon Col- onel Trumbull in New York, and in discussing ^^ James Henry, a great-grandson of William Henry, of Lancaster, was born in Philadelphia, October 13, 1809. In 1822 removed to Boulton, Pa., with his parents, where his grandfather, William Henry, Jr., had erected a gun works, and where a few years later he entered into part- nership with his father, John Joseph Henry, in the man- ufacture of arms. James Henry was a patron of literature, contributing as well essays and critical articles to Dwight's " Journal of Music," the leading paper devoted to that art in Boston, and to the " Crayon " and " Literary World " both pub- lished in New York City, his essays covering a wide range of thought. In 1859 he published "Moravian Life and Character," an appreciation, after years of study, of the history, re- ligious works and lyrics of that denomination. He died June 14, 1895. The Life of William Henry. 33 the place West occupied In the world of art, Col. Trumbull remarked that In all his stud- ies in continental Europe he had never seen a work of the same character that exceeded In merit the '' Death of Wolfe." CHAPTER V. Sails for England, Captured by French Privateer and Landed in Spain; Reaches England, Meets Watts and Becomes Interested in His Experi- ments. N the year 1759, the firm of Simon & Henry was dissolved, where- upon Hendry determined to visit Europe for the purpose of estab- lishing direct connections with the foreign iron and steel makers. Having provided himself with letters of introduction from the Rev. Dr. Barton, rector of St. James Protes- tant Episcopal Church in Lancaster, to friends in England, he sailed from Philadel- phia in December, 1760, on the good ship " Friendship," commanded by the popular Captain Nathaniel Falconer, bound for Lon- don. He paid the latter for his passage the sum of twenty-five pounds, for which a re- ceipted bill is preserved among Henry's papers. In that day every voyage was an event, and 34 The Life of William Henry. 35 they who ventured to ''go down to the sea in ships " — if we may call the cockle shell of that period a ship — were little less than heroes. Unfortunately his autobiographical sketch written with his own hand in the German language which he had acquired, gives no ac- count of the interesting minor details of his life on ship board. He does say, however, that there were but two other passengers, a man and a woman, members of the Society of Friends, returning to England after visiting the meetings in New Jersey and Pennsylvania in a ministerial capacity, and from his nota- tions it is evident Henry was profoundly im- pressed with their piety. As ill luck v/ould have it, as the ship en- tered the English Channel, on the very thresh- old of England, she was captured by a French privateer, France and England being at war, and taken into a Spanish port. As here, again, Henry has failed to give an ac- count of his capture and release, we must be satisfied with his simple statement, that after a delay of several months he reached London and obtained lodgings in the family of the Quaker minister whose wife was one of his 36 The Life of William Henry. fellow passengers and whom he had assisted in getting back to her home. He found the public mind in England agi- tated over the attempt of Watts to utilize steam as a motive power, and as Henry had made some experiments of his own in the same direction as early as 1760, the discussions greatly interested him. He met Watts, was courteously received and shown his steam engine in operation, from which Henry con- ceived the idea, which he afterwards perfected, of applying steam power to boats on our in- land rivers. Having satisfactorily consummated his busi- ness he sailed from Portsmouth the latter part of November, 1761, and after a rough pas- sage of forty-two days arrived in Philadel- phia before the end of the year, and proceeded to his home. CHAPTER VI. Inventor and Man of Science. Is the First to Apply Steam to Marine Navigation. S the first to apply steam to marine navigation ; in other words, as the inventor of the steamboat, erro- neously credited to Fitch, Henry must always occupy a prominent niche in the history of scientific achievement. His career In its many parallel incidents recalls his con- temporary Franklin. Both were self-taught, they had the same love for scientific research, and the gift of mechanical invention ; and both dedicated their lives to the service of the state. Henry's recreative hours were spent in his laboratory, where It was his pleasure to dis- course on the scientific questions of the day; and It was there that Mrs. Henry met Joseph Priestley whose " superlative attainments " as she expressed it, in other branches of science she greatly admired, but could not acquiesce to his theology ; and it was there also that the German traveller Schoepff found Henry In 37 38 The Life of William Henry. 1784^^ experimenting, not alone with steam as a motive power, but delving into the more subtle realms of electricity and magnetism.^^ In 1767 he became a member of the Amer- ican Philosophical Society, founded by Frank- lin, whose signature is attached to his certi- ficate of membership; taking his seat on the same evening with his life-long friend, David Rittenhouse. Although Franklin's activities in the field of diplomacy and as agent abroad of the State of Pennsylvania made long ab- sences from the country necessary, so that they met infrequently, he knew and appreciated Henry's scientific attainments. Owing to the latter's unobtrusive temperament the knowl- edge of his achievements may have been con- fined to a restricted circle, but none knew " " During the Revolution the House of Mr. Henry was a place of resort for men of culture and intellectual standing. The host being a man of acknowledged ability and well-known reputation, naturally attracted others of like grade around him." From Harris's " Biographical History of the Eminent Men of Lancaster County, Penn- sulvania." ^''Extract from the minutes of the American Philosoph- ical Society: "1789, April 17, 21 members present, Frank- lin presiding. A memoir ' On the effects of heat in conducting the Electric Fluid and explaining the phe- nomena of thunder the Aurora Borealis, etc.,' by the late William Henry of Lancaster, was read." The Life of William Henry. 39 better than Rittenhouse the qualities of Henry's mind and his undoubted genius. Philadelphia, February 24, 1776. Dear Sir: A second volume of the transactions of our Philo- sophical Society is now in the press and in good for- wardness. It will be a neat and valuable book; have you not something to communicate which you would wish to have inserted? I have the honor to be Your obedient and humble servent, David Rittenhouse. To William Henry, Esq., Lancaster, Pa., Henry was a charter member of the Juliana Library of Lancaster, founded 1759, one of the first circulating libraries in the country (as was also the father of Robert Fulton) ; for a time Its librarian, and gave a room In his house for the storage of its books. He de- vised labor-saving machines that were helpful In his gun works; Is credited with the inven- tion of the screw augur, ^^ invented a system ^^ For a detailed account of the invention of this indis- pensable tool by William Henry, the reader is referred to Ree's "Encyclopedia" published in New York in 1820, 40 The Life of William Henry. of steam heating suggesting that now in vogue, and constructed a steam wheel which had he lived would have been converted into a steam carnage, and from the latter to a locomotive engine requires no extravagant flight of the imagination. But his claim to an enduring fame as an inventor must rest with his successful appli- cation of steam to the propulsion of vessels. Dr. Robert H. Thurston, late director of the department of mechanical engineering, Cornell University, in his '* Life of Robert Fulton," pays a well-deserved tribute to Henry's genius and credits him with the honor of inventing and building the first steamboat. His appreciative sketch compiled from fugi- tive accounts of Henry's life, would, however, have been amplified had he had access to " the Colonial Records," the published " Archives of Pennsylvania," the collections in the His- torical Society of Pennsylvania,^^ and to vol. I, page 15. The length of the article, which covers some five or eight octavo pages, makes its reproduction here prohibitory. "The Historical Society of Pennsylvania has several folio volumes of letters to and from Col. Henry, and his accounts with the state and colonial governments. The Life of William Henry. 41 material in possession of his descendants.^^ He would have learned, as we have, that he was not unknown to fame. Indeed it is com- mon knowledge, handed down from genera- tion to generation, that his many and engross- ing activities in other directions, and his premature death at fifty-seven alone pre- vented the complete development of his plans for the utilization of steam. We reproduce from the Transactions of the American Philosophical Society of 1768, with- out abbreviation on account of its importance, a communication from William Henry, de- scribing his invention of a so-called sentinel- register, the motive power of which was steam. The reader will observe that it had been in successful operation for over a year, i.e., previous to 1767. Here we have the unimpeachable evidence that Henry, if not the very first, was certainly among the first to apply steam as a motive power for any purpose on this continent. One has but to read his explanatory note to realize his thorough grasp of the principle " Mr. Granville Henry, of Boulton, Pa., great-great- grandson of William Henry, has a collection of letters covering the entire period of the Revolution, from prom- inent actors in that struggle, to his distinguished ancestor. 42 The Life of William Henry. governing the elasticity of the air and the power to be derived from its expansion, a scientific truth then in its infancy. We have every reason to believe, however, that from the point of view of the financier, essentially Colonel Henry's sphere, he re- garded its application to marine propulsion as promising great financial returns, and with the hope of attaining that end, applied himself to Its solution, of which his steam wheel and sentinel-register were but subsidiary experi- ments. rig I THE SENTINEL REGISTER, A STEAM MACHINE INVENTED BY WILLIAM HENRY, 1767. The Life of William Henry. 5?t S r< ^^' '""^^S ^^^^^S^ THE TRANSACTIONS O F T H E American Philofophical SOCIETY, &c. A defcription of a SELF-MOVING or SY.^- TINELREGlSTER,f>^^«/^-:/4y William Hen- ry, of Lancafler, and hy him communicated to the American Society, held at Philadelphia,/(7r/>r^- ' moting USEFUL Knowledge. The machine consists of the following parts: 1. A, A Door or common register, applied in the flue of a furnace. The door is fitted in a frame, and made to slide easily up and down. 2. B, A Balance or beam, moving on a center; the two arms are of unequal lengths, the longer ex- ceeding the shorter in the proportion of 2 to i ; the extremity of each arm Is formed into a segment of 44 The Life of William Henry. a circle, whose radius is equal in length to each respective arm. These segments must be equal to the greatest rise or fall of each end of the balance when in use. The length of the whole beam or balance must be regulated by the situation of the register A, and the copper C, hereafter mentioned. 3. C, A Copper vessel, about 13 inches diameter, and 10 inches deep, with a double bottom and sides, which are placed about an inch and a half apart from each other, leaving a space between to contain air. The top or cover is brazed on, and the whole made air-tight. Through the top is in- serted a brass cock, and also a brass or copper cylin- der, open at both ends, about 2 inches and a quarter in diameter, and 2 feet long, so fixed as to rise 14 inches above the top, and to reach near to the bot- tom of the vessel. Through the side of the innermost vessel, near the top, are some holes made, whereby the air in the cavity between the two bottoms and sides, may com- municate with the air in the inside of the vessel. 4. D, A Phial 2 inches diameter, and 7 inches deep, corked and sealed, with a hook fixed in the cork, by which the phial is to be suspended. These are the principal parts of the machine, which are to be applied as follows, From the furnace let there be an horizontal flue, of a convenient length. In the walls of the flue, The Life of William Henry. 45 the frame, In which the register slides, is fixed perpendicularly, so that when the register is down, the flue is closed, when the register is drawn up, the flue is opened, and the higher it is raised, the more is the passage of the fire enlarged. To the shorter end of the balance, which is supported on a proper fulcrum, at a convenient heighth, the register is suspended by a chain and a rod ; the chain is just long enough to wind over the segment of the circle, at the end of the beam. The register is made so heavy, as to descend by its own weight. At the distance of 2, 3, or more feet from the reg- ister, and on the flue of the furnace, the copper vessel C is fixed, so as to receive a heat from the fire passing through the flue. The end of the long- est arm of the balance extends directly over the cylinder fixed in the copper, and to it the phial D is suspended, so as to hang within the tube, and by such a length of chain and rod as will allow it to be about 2 or 3 inches immersed in the tube, when the balance is an equilibrio. On the same end of the beam on which the phial Is suspended, a weight is hung sufficient, with the weight of the phial, to over balance the register, and raise it, and conse- quently open the flue. When the flue is opened to a due degree, the register is held in that situation, until so much water is poured into the copper through the cock, as will fill one-third of the vessel ; 46 The Life of William Henry. then shut the cock, and pour water into the cylinder, until it rises high enough to float the phial. By pouring water into the cylinder, the air in the vessel is compressed, and finding no way to escape, as the vessel is air-tight, it resists the water, and prevents its occupying the whole space; and therefore the upper part of the vessel is apparently empty. The phial is loaded with shot, so that it will swim about one third above the water. When the water rises in the tube, the phial rises with it, in which case the register A is so balanced, that it descends, and closes the flue. After this description, the principles on which the Sentinel-Register acts, must be obvious to every person acquainted with the elasticity of the air, and that this elasticity is encreased by heat. For when the fire in the furnace is increased, the degree of heat in the flue is also increased; this increases the elasticity of the air contained between the double bottom and sides of the copper, and consequently of that, which occupies the space above the water, as there is a communication by means of the holes already described. The elasticity of the air being increased it expands, and by its expansion forces the water up the tube; the water being raised, carries the phial with it, whereupon the register preponder- ating descends, closes the flue, and by lessening the draught of the chimney or flue, deadens or checks the fire in the furnace. By this means again the The Life of WIlHam Henry. 47 heat in the flue is diminished, the air in the cavity- becomes cooler, and consequently less elastic, where- upon the water descends In the tube, and with it the phial to its stationary point. By the descent of the phial the register Is raised, and opens the flue; by which means It stands as a Sentinel over the fire, and preserves an equal degree of heat. That this will be the effect of the machine, I can attest, having used It for more than a year. It Is submitted to the curious, whether this ma- chine might not be usefully applied, 1st, to regulate the heat of chymlcal and alchymlcal furnaces, where long digestions, and a uniform degree of heat are required; 2dly, in the making of steel, and in burn- ing of porcelain ware. In which a due regulation of the fire is of great Importance; 3dly, In green or hot houses, and In apartments for hatching chickens, according to the Egyptian method. With a little alteration It might be applied to the purpose of open- ing doors, w^Indows, and other passages, for a draught of air, and thereby preserve a due tempera- ture of the air In hospitals, &c. Dr. Thurston further declares In his " Life of Fulton " : " Many other Inventors were now studying the problem of steam as a motive power In different parts of the civilized world. Among these, none 48 The Life of William Henry. were as ingenious or as persistent or as successful as those of the then British Colonies, later the United States of America. Among these was a group of New York and Pennsylvania Mechanics who, seemingly each more or less familiar with the work of the others, struggled on persistently, and finally successfully. A nucleus consisting of one of these men and his friends and coadjutors, became, ere long, the germ of the great movement which in the early part of the nineteenth century resulted in the final application of the powers of steam to the propulsion of steam vessels, — first on the rivers of the, United States and the harbours of Great Brintain, then on all the oceans. The Originator of this sudden movement in the United States seems to have been a man unknown to fame, and one of whom few records are preserved. Our own infor- mation, hitherto unpublished, comes from an indis- tinctly traced source; but its facts have been fairly well verified by independent historical investigation. "William Henry was born in Chester County, Penn., in the year 1729 his father, John Henry, with his parents, and two brothers — Robert and James^^— emigrated to this country from the north or Ireland in or about the year 17 19 or 1720. The father of James, Robert and John was a native of ^^ Robert and James Henry married sisters named Mary Ann and Sarah Davis, who resided in Chester County. Robert subsequently removed to Virginia. • I The Life of William Henry. 49 Scotland, but for a short time previous to his com- ing to this country had resided in one of the northern counties of Ireland. Upon the arrival of the fam- ily in Pennsylvania they settled in Chester County, where, as before stated, the subject of our sketch was born. At an early age he became a resident of Lan- caster, Penn., where he learned the business of a gunsmith, and in a few years became the principal gunsmith in the province. During the Indian wars which desolated Pennsylvania from 1755 to 1760, he was appointed principal armourer of the troops then called into service. " In the year 1760 he visited England. Having a mechanical turn of mind, the inventions and the application of steam by Watt being then much dis- cussed, the idea of its application to the propelling of boats, vehicles, etc., so engrossed his mind that on his return to his home in Lancaster he began the construction of a machine, the motive power of which was steam. In 1763 Mr. Henry completed the machine, which was attached to a boat with paddles, and with it he experimented on the Cones- toga River, near Lancaster but the boat, a stern wheeler, was structurally weak and unable to resist the pounding action of the engine. " This was the first attempt that ever had been made to apply steam to the propelling of boats. Notwithstanding the ill luck that attended the first attempt in an undertaking of the practicability of 5 50 The Life of William Henry. which he had not the least doubt, he constructed a second model, with Improvements on the first." Doctor Thurston continues: " An intelligent German, Herr Schoepff, who trav- elled through the United States In 1 783-1 784 whilst staying for a time in Lancaster, became aquainted with Mr. Henry. He says: 'I was shown a ma- chine by Mr. Henry, intended for the propelling of boats, etc., " but," said Mr. Henry, " I am doubtful whether such a machine would find favor with the public, as every one considers it impracticable to make a boat move against wind and tide " ; but that such a boat will come into use, and navigate on the waters of the Ohio and Mississippi he had not the least doubt, though the time had not yet arrived of its being appreciated and applied. I omit to men- tion other electrical and magnetic experiments which occupy Mr. Henry's leisure hours, in an agreeable and useful manner, all of which indicate him to be a gentleman of refined mind and deep study.' "A sketch of the machine with the boilers, etc., made by Mr. Henry in 1779, is said to be still in the possession of his heirs. "John Fitch (for whom his biographer claimed the honour of the inventiion of the application of steam to the propulsion of boats) was a frequent visitor at Mr. Henry's house, and according to the belief of his friends obtained from him the idea of the steam- The Life of William Henry. 51 boat. Fulton, then a j^oung lad, also visited Mr. Henry to examine the paintings of Benjamin West; and the germ that subsequently ripened into the construction of the ' Folly ' was possibly due to those visits.^^ "William Henry, though unsuccessful with the experiments with his first boat on the Conestoga River, thus very probably originated the idea of the steamboat at least five years before Fulton was born. The following extract may throw some light on the subject :^^ ''Dec. 2nd., 1785. At a special meeting of the '^Mrs. Alice Crary Sutcliffe, a great-granddaughter of Fulton, in her " Robert Fulton and the Clermont " pub- lished by the Century (^ompany, 1909, under the heading " Early Experiments of William Henry and John Fitch " remarks: "Fulton must have already been familiar with some of the early attempts toward steam navigation, through his Lancaster townsman, William Henry." ^ The Lancaster " Pathfinder " contains the following item in one of its numbers for 1858: "Immediately op- posite the home of William Henry was the residence of Robert Fulton's father (the same building which is now owned by Mr. Emmanuel Shaffer and Mr. Abraham Erenannen) at this time, 1777, Robert Fulton was twelve years of age and between school hours was a daily visitor at Mr. Henry's works, aiding and assisting him in mak- ing astronomical and m.athematical instruments for the famed mathematician, astronomer and philosopher, David Rittenhouse, of Germantown, Philadelphia. Is it any wonder that in 1749, when West was eleven years of age and in 1777 when Fulton was just twelve, that the 52 The Life of William Henry. Philosophical Society, John Fitch was personally presented to the members. Desirous of having the opinion of men of weight at that period, he con- sulted several, among whom was Mr. Henry, of Lancaster, ' Who Informed me,' says Fitch, ' that he was the first person who had thought of applying steam to vessels; that he had conversed with Mr. Paine, author of " Common Sense " and some time after wl^ere ambushed. Boyd was taken prisoner, put to the torture, his body horribly mutilated, and in that condition forced to run the gauntlet before death came to his relief. His remains, which were scattered over a considerable area, were recovered and buried the day after the affair. ^ Henry met Captain McKenzie's son, who was a British officer, in Quebec when he was a prisoner. They met again, which happened to be in Lancaster, where the fortunes of war had made McKenzie a prisoner. 6 66 The Life of William Henry. their manifestations of joy at their restora- tion to liberty. Many threw themselves upon the earth and wept! Walking through the town Henry, who was penniless, was recognized by a wagoner from Lancaster, who informed him that his parents had abandoned all hope of ever seeing him and from whom he accepted an unsoli- cited loan of two silver dollars. This god- send enabled him to join his companions, Colonel Nichols and Colonel Febiger, in char- tering a wagon that took them as far as Princeton, where they had the pleasure of call- ing on the eminent patriot and divine, Dr. Witherspoon, who entertained them. The next morning, finding it impossible to procure a conveyance, they managed though suffering much physical distress, to walk to Bristol, where they persuaded a farmer who had given them an excellent supper, to drive them to Philadelphia, arriving about two in the morning, and put up at the " Crown and Harp." Here they were among friends. With funds supplied by his kinsman, Mr. Owen Biddle, one of the Supreme Council of Safety, Henry exchanged his well-worn buck- skin leggings and moccasins for a civilian's The Life of William Henry. 67 dress, the same day set off in the stage for Lancaster, and a day later was restored to the much needed care of his mother, after a year of almost continuous suffering. Immediately upon his return he was in- formed of his appointment to a lieutenancy in the army as a tribute of his heroism, fol- lowed soon after by an offer of a captaincy in the Virginia Line, through the influence of the gallant Colonel John Morgan, ^^ whose sol- ^ dierly qualities Henry emulated. Both prof- fers of a military life had to be declined. His wound, which had impaired the use of one of his legs so that he walked with a perceptible limp until his death, made the acceptance of either impossible. This was a staggering blow to all his hopes, and in his hours of suffering and despondency, self-destruction seemed to offer the only panacea. He was in the heydey of youth, in spirit chivalric, in temperament a soldier, believing that fame awaited him in a military career. Although it may be said that he regained ^ At seventeen, Morgan was a wagoner in Braddock's army. Commanded a battalion of riflemen in Arnold's Quebec Expedition, was taken prisoner, rose to the rank of Brigadier General and elected to Congress. 68 The Life of William Henry. his health his recovery was slow and discour- aging, and he was never afterwards robust. " He bound himself an apprentice to John Hubley, esq., Prothonotary of the county of Lancaster, as a clerk in the office for four years ; he pursued his busi- ness with the closest application, and discharged the duties of that office with unabated care and strictness, and when the labors of the day were over, his nights were consumed in study, endeavor- ing to make up in some measure for the neglect that his education had suffered by his becoming a soldier."^^ Entering the law office of Stephen Cham- bers, Esq., one of the leaders of the Lancaster County Bar, whose younger sister he after- wards married, he was admitted to practice in 1785, and raised to the bench in 1793 by ap- pointment of Governor Mifflin, as President Judge of the Second Judicial District of Penn- sylvania, succeeding his father's friend. Judge Wm. Atlee,^^ his circuit consisting of the Counties of Chester, Lancaster, York and ^^"A Biographical History of Lancaster County; being a History of the early Settlers and Eminent Men of the County, by Alexander Harris, Lancaster, Pa., Elias Barr & Co., 1872." ^ Judge Atlee was the first president judge of the district under the new state government. Henry was the second. The Life of William Henry. 69 Dauphin. His wounds breaking out afresh he retired in 18 10 after serving seventeen years, and died April 15, 18 11, in his fifty- second year, a beloved and honored gen- tleman. The only authentic account, ^^ indeed the only account of Arnold's memorable invasion of Canada, was given to the world by Judge Henry himself, who years after the event re- told the story at the request of his children. The little volume, to which he gave the title "The Campaign against Quebec" and dedi- cated to his daughter, was written with the aid of notes and memoranda while confined to his room with illness. It describes in sim- ple but effective words the hardships and suf- ferings of the band of heroes who traversed the wilderness of Maine from Cambridge to the St. Lawrence in the autumn of iJJS-^^ He was never able to revise the work, which was published by his widow in 18 12. ^ A new biography, some additional notes and a good index were added to a second edition prepared by his grandson, Aubrey Henry Smith, Esq., of the Philadelphia bar and published in 1876. Both are out of print. ^" Of this march through the wilderness a British author- ity remarks: "The Canadians viewed It with astonish- ment, but it served no good purpose," which was alas ! too true. 70 The Life of William Henry. Of Henry's account Justin H. Smith writes : " A good many reports of the march have come to us from members of the expedition, besides various items and scraps from participants who did not write full accounts. Of all our first hand reports the one most commonly known and relied upon by those who have written on the subject is probably that of John Joseph Henry, one of the riflemen, who became in later life President of the Second Judicial District of Pennsylvania.^^ There are suffi- cient reasons for the vogue of this narrative. It is much more readable than most of them: it was published in book form as early as 1812, while few of the others got into print until many years later, or have ever come before the general public, and finally, the high character and standing of the author seemed to place the seal of truth upon its face."^^ ^^ Judge Henry's son, Dr. Stephen Chambers Henry of Detroit, Michigan, served as surgeon in the war of 1812 and was made prisoner at Hull's surrender of Detroit. He was eminent as a physician and filled many offices of honor and trust. ^^ " Arnold's March from Cambridge to Quebec," by Jus- tin H. Smith, pp. 24-25. CHAPTER IX. Civil and Military Appointments, Au- thorized TO Manufacture Arms for THE Continental Army; Entertains John Hart, David Rittenhouse and Thomas Paine During British Occu- pation OF Philadelphia. OLONEL HENRY'S civil and military appointments were many and important. Indeed it is not surprising that he eventually sank under the weight of their exactions. He was first commissioned a Justice of the Peace in 1758. At the age of thirty-six he was As- sistant Burgess of Lancaster, an office he filled continuously from 1765 to 1775. We have already learned that he was made Canal Commissioner in 1771. In 1774 he was appointed a member of the Committee of Observation. He was Justice of the Peace and Assistant Justice of the County Courts, during 1770, 1773 and 1777. 71 72 The Life of William Henry. In 1776 he was sent to the Assembly, and in 1777 was made one of the Council of Safety of Pennsylvania. In 1780 he was commissioned President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Quar- ter Sessions and Orphans' Court under the act of January 28, 1777, and in the same year he was sent as a delegate to the commission that met in Philadelphia in January to regu- late prices under the call of the meeting at Hartford of October 20, 1775. He became Treasurer of Lancaster County in 1777, for which he was unusually well qualified, and held that office until his death in 1785, the most critical years in its financial history. His noteworthy administration of its affairs was certainly not undertaken for its emoluments, which were never compensatory nor commensurate with its responsibilities, which the emergency had vastly expanded, covering as we shall learn, a wide field. In one of his letters to the Hon. Joseph Reed he mentions that his salary as Treasurer (£25 per annum) would hardly cover the expenses of two journeys to Philadelphia. Evidently he did not consider the salary important, as The Life of William Henry. 73 the County Records show that he permitted It to accumulate for six years, from 1779 to 1784, and then drew It In a lump sum. His civil appointments terminated with his election by the Assembly to the Congress of 1784-85-86. His military career dates from the begin- ning of the struggle, with the appointment of Assistant Commissary General and disbursing officer of the government for the District of Lancaster, where extensive orders for supplies were placed with the people of the surround- ing country; and In a larger sense was the trusted and confidential adviser of the Board of War and the civil authorities In matters pertaining to the maintenance of the army and the welfare of the State. From a careful examination of his volumi- nous and hitherto unpublished correspondence with the Board of War, the State officials and the generals of the army, the pervading senti- ment on his part is that of unswerving patriot- ism, and on theirs of unqualified confidence in his sagacity and executive ability. There are letters from Washington, Gates, Wayne, Hazen, " LIghthorse " Harry Lee, 74 The Life of William Henry. Timothy Pickering and Benjamin Stoddart, setting forth the vital necessities of the army and soliciting his cooperation. There are others from the Board of War dating almost from the discharge of the first gun in the con- flict and ending only with the declaration of peace, all frought with historical interest; and those from the Honorable Joseph Reed throw additional light on the actions of that ma- ligned, but patriotic statesman. " All through the Revolution Henry was very ac- tive on the side of the Colonies, and his correspond- ence in 1779, as chairman of the Committee on the Supply and Regulation of the Flour market, shows him to have been a good writer and a shrewd prac- tical business man."^^ As Assistant Commissary General and fiscal agent he was clothed with large discretionary powers quite apart from the routine duties of his office. Among his multifarious responsi- bilities he engaged transportation and supplies of every description, and the arming of the troops. ^'From Harris, "Biographical History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania." The Life of William Henry. 75 Thus, as soon as the startling intelligence reached Philadelphia that the British fleet with General Howe's army on board was sighted off the Delaware Capes, Thomas Wharton, Jr., president of the Board of War, despatched the following letter to William Henry : Philadelphia — In Council, July 31, 1777. Gentlemen : I have received certain intelligence that the Enemy's Ships to the number of two hundred and twenty sail was seen within a few Leagues of the light house^* yesterday about ten o'clock, and it was expected they would get into the Cape in the after- noon. Since that time the wind has been very favorable for them. It becomes now absolutely necessary for us to be on our guard and to do all we can to oppose the Enemy, but put it out of their power to distress the good people of the State. I therefore request that you will immediately order six hundred and eleven wagons out of your County to repair to this City, for the purpose of removing stores, provisions, etc, etc. As you value the Inter- est, happiness and peace of your Country, I entreat ^* Cape Henlopcn Light, built by the British government in Queen Anne's reign and still in use. 76 The Life of William Henry. you to exert yourselves in this matter, and forward them as fast as possible without waiting for any particular number to come together. I am with respect gentlemen Your very humble servant Thomas Wharton President. To William Henry, Esq. and others, the Magistrates of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Having ascertained that Howe's demon- stration was In the nature of a feint, President Wharton countermanded the order for the wagons one week afterwards. In Council, Philadelphia, August 7, 1777. Gentlemen: — The fleet of the enemy not having made its ap- pearance at our Cape since Thursday evening last, it is doubtful whether the wagons ordered from your County will be wanted, and as the expense will be enormous, you are therefore hereby directed to stop the wagons from coming down until further orders. You will please give notice to the Service Wagon Masters in your County (by express, if The Life of William Henry. 77 necessary) of this order that it may be effectually complied with. I am with respect gentlemen Your very Humble Servant, Thomas Wharton, President, To William Henry, Esq. and others, Judiciary of the County of Lancaster. A British account of this manouvre states that when Howe reached the capes he was Informed that the obstructions in the Dela- ware were impassable, whereupon he adroitly headed for the Chesapeake, which he ascended after many difficulties as far as the head of Elk River. On September 6, 1777, news of his ap- proach was communicated to Colonel Henry by President Wharton of the Board of War. In the same letter he was notified that by resolution of the board he had been au- thorized to manufacture arms for the colonial troops and was directed to proceed with the work at once. 78 The Life of William Henry. Philadelphia, Sept. 6, 1777. Sir: Council passed a Resolve the 22d ult. which is here enclosed, and I must beg your particular atten- tion to it. I intended the day after the Resolve vv^as passed to have set off for Lancaster in company with Mr. Hubley, and expected to have had the pleasure to deliver you the Resolve myself, but the appear- ance of the Enemy, in the Bay of Chesapeak pre- vented and I really forgot it until this minute. Very likely Mr. Hubley mentioned it. If he did, I hope you made a beginning to employ workman to make arms. I am with great respect, Sir, your very Humble Servant, Tho. Wharton, Jun. President of the Board of War, W. Henry, esq. Anticipating Howe's obvious movement against Philadelphia the Congress which sat there adjourned to meet in Lancaster on Sep- tember 27. In the meantime Howe crossed the peninsula, and on the eleventh of Septem- ber met and repulsed Washington at the Brandywine, who had hurried across the Jer- seys for the protection of Philadelphia. The Life of William Henry. 79 As the loss of this battle meant the loss of Philadelphia, the British without much fur- ther opposition entered the city on September 26, and on the next day Washington, who had retired to Pennypacker's Mills, thirty miles northwest of the city, sent the following letter to Colonel Henry authorizing the im- pressment of supplies of all kinds for his needy troops. Sir: You are hereby authorized to impress all the Blankets, Shoes, Stockings, and other Articles of Clothing that can be spared by the Inhabitants of the County of Lancaster for the use of the Conti- nental Army, paying for the same at Reasonable rates or giving Certificates. Given at Camp at Pennypacker's Mill, this 27th day of Sept., 1777. Geo. Washington.^^ To William Henry, Esq., Lancaster. As previously arranged, the Congress reas- sembled in Lancaster on the twenty-seventh of September, the Board of War, the State Gov- ernment and the Treasury having preceded it, ^' From the " Henry Collection," Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 8o The Life of William Henry. and on the same day for prudential reasons the Congress, Howe having threatened Lan- caster, adjourned to meet in York, Pa. Among those who sought a domicile in Lan- caster during the British occupation of Phila- delphia were David Rittenhouse, the eminent astronomer and physicist, Treasurer of the State, and Mrs. Rittenhouse; John Hart, a member of the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Thomas Paine, the political essayist, all of whom were for a considerable time guests of Mr. Henry, who entertained them from a patriotic sense of duty. Rittenhouse, however, who was his warm personal friend remained until the evacuation of the city in the summer of 1778. Of this visit Rittenhouse writes : " While we continued in the Borough of Lancaster we made our home at the house of William Henry, at that time Treasurer of the rich and populous County of the same name, a situation helpful to my office with its connection to that of the County Treasury, and one which was also the more agree- able by reason of Mr. Henry's being a person of very considerable mechanical ingenuity." The Life of William Henry. 8i John Joseph Henry in his " Reminiscences " also refers to this visit: *' My greatest recreation In my distressed condi- tion [he was recovering from the effects of his im- prisonment of nine months in Quebec] was to get into the chamber of Mr. Rittenhouse, whose con- versation enlivened my mind, for he was most affable." CHAPTER X. Thomas Paine. HE addition of Paine to Colonel Henry's family circle was unfortu- nate. His indolent and intem- perate habits were not the qualities that go to make a desirable guest. More- over, he made no secret of his deistical opin- ions and these Mrs. Henry, who was a de- vout Christian, strongly combated. Finally his presence became so intolerable that she appealed to her husband, for the sake of his children, who were unavoidably present at the discussions and witnessed Paine's idio- syncrasies, to request him to withdraw. To this Colonel Henry was at first disinclined to accede. He recognized the marvelous in- fluence Paine's patriotic essays had upon the pubhc mind and was averse to any act that might interrupt the efforts of his pen. The fifth number of his " Crisis " was commenced at Henry's house, and we have authority for the statement that Paine took three months in its preparation. 82 The Life of William Henry. 83 We are quoting substantially from the ex- tremely interesting " Reminiscences" of John Joseph Henry written In 1809, and, as afford- ing a character study at close range, we shall now quote Judge Henry's own words, cover- ing the period when Paine was his father's guest. It must be remembered, in explana- tion of his unreserved criticisms, that his " Reminiscences " are addressed to his chil- dren and were not written for publication. " I knew Paine well and that personally, for he was a guest in the house of my father when Generals Howe and Clinton were in Philadelphia. When my wound had so far mended in 1778 as to permit my hobbling about on crutches, I would sometimes go to Paine's room and sit with him, as I often did with Rittenhouse. I found Paine a man afflicted with a supercilious pride, and an Imaginary Impor- tance which made his society undesirable. He was of that class who, with a small amount of learning domineered as if he were a Johnson. It was his daily habit to take a walk in the morning until twelve, make an Inordinate dinner after which he would retire to his chamber and take a nap of several hours In a big arm chair wrapped In a blanket, with a bottle of spirits and a tumbler within easy reach of his hand. His indolence was amazing. His manu- 84 The Life of William Henry. script lay upon the table covered with dust. To-day a few lines would be added, and in the course of a week a dozen more, and so on. His " Crisis " was dated March 21, 1778, and, although a short politi- cal paper, was not published until three months later. His essays were not, as you might suppose, the spon- taneous outburst of an elevated patriotic spirit, and one at least of his acts, while in the government service, approached dangerously near the border line of treason. It is true Generals Washington, Gates, and Greene acknowledged the patriotic sentiment aroused by his publications, and wrote commendatory letters, but they had no personal knowledge of the writer, and were ignorant of his infirmities. He had been appointed by Congress to inspire the people through his essays with a feeling of indignation against the despotism of the King and his ministry, and was successful, and was rewarded for this ser- vice by the appointment of Secretary of Foreign Affairs. This office he treated as a sinecure. He never went to York, where Congress then sat, except occasionally, and staid for a day or two. He failed to understand what was meant by a conscientious performance of duty, and his utter disregard of the common decencies of life estranged his associates, among them the late David Rittenhouse, one of the best of men, Treasurer of the State ; the Hon. George Bryan, vice-president of the Council and a man of great learning; Jonathan Sergeant, Attorney Gen- The Life of William Henry. 85 eral of Pennsylvania, and your grandfather, and many other gentlemen of character during '77, '78 and '79." Judge Henry continues : " He made friends but could not retain them and as showing the estimation in which he was held by his contemporaries, I give the following story of an encounter with Paine, which I heard from Colonel Samuel John Atlee, one of the participants — an emi- nent patiot and a man of note among us — a short time after it happened. " Clothier-General Mease, of Philadelphia, had invited a number of gentlemen of the army to dine with him in the city, among whom were General Francis Nichols, Colonel Atlee, Colonel Francis Johnson and several members of the Legislature, of whom was Matthias Slough, of Lancaster. All the gentlemen heartily approved of Paine's political essays, for they were to a man good Whigs, but his general bearing inspired a feeling of repugnance. "As you may readily suppose, the excellent wine of General Mease exhilarated the company. When returning to their lodgings Colonel Atlee observed Paine coming towards them down Market Street. ' There comes " Common Sense," ' says Atlee to the company. 'D — n him,' says Slough, 'I'll "Com- mon Sense " him.' As he approached the party they 86 The Life of William Henry. took the wall. Slough tripped him and threw him Into the gutter. "You may think this act cruel and unnecessary, yet these men were some of the most eminent in the State, who staked their all on the issue of the war. " Do not permit anything I have said to lead you to undervalue the sagacity of your grandfather, for he was wise but of so benevolent a mind that in the common affairs of life he held this principle as true : ' You should consider everyone as possessing probity until you discover him to be otherwise.' "From these observations you will readily per- ceive how easy it was to impose upon my father. This explains why he continued to entertain Paine." CHAPTER XI. Lancaster in 1777. OLITICAL conditions In Lancas- ter at this time (1777), as re- flected In the Journal, were much disturbed by the incautious criti- cisms of the Confederation and the refusal to take the oath on the part of those who sym- pathized with the Crown; in consequence of which they were subjected to indignities and in some instances to Imprisonment. Many arrests were made without process of law, a procedure Col. Henry condemned and cor- rected. One of the prominent sympathizers was the Reverend Thomas Barton, rector of St. James', whose tory activities became so con- spicuously offensive that his arrest was deter- mined upon and its execution assigned to Col- onel Henry in the following order: CoL. John Carothers to William Henry, 1777. Carlisle, Sept. 25th, 1777. Sir, Two of the Justices of this Country have In- formed me that in the Course of the Examination 87 88 The Life of William Henry. of a Witness, touching a Plot or Combination of several People to destroy the public Magazines at Lancaster, York and Carlisle, The Revd. Thomas Barton of Lancr., Clerk, is named as one at least privy to that conspiracy. He is also charged w^ith carrying on Correspondence with the Enemies of this State, and of the United States of America. I am persuaded this intelligence ought more properly to have been communicated to Bartram Galbreath, as your County Lieut., but lest he should not be at home, I have been advised to communicate to you, Sir, as one of the Justices of Lancaster County, tho' I am not personally acquainted with you, I make no Doubt but that you will cause Mr. Barton to be secured in such a manner as your prudence shall direct, on rect, of this letter. I am Sir, Yr very Hbls. Servt., Jno. Carothers, lieut. of C. C. George Stevenson to William Henry, 1777. Carlisle, 25th Sepr, 1777. Dear Sir: Inclosed you will receive a Letter from John Corrithers, Sepr, our County Lieut., by which you will know that Mr. Barton's name is brought on the Carpet as being privy to the Tory Plot, and cor- responding with our enemies. Mr. Batwell is also accused of being a principal The Life of William Henry. 89 Leader. A party of Militia have taken him, and I suppose by this Time he is lodged in York Goal. It is a Pity that men who have been employ'd in preaching the Gospel of Peace should be found en- gaged in such base Plots. Have you done any Thing towards securing David Copeland, the man I spoke of to you at Lan- caster? I wish he were secured; he is a material Witness — having been much employed carrying let- ters & Messages among the Conspirators. I shall be glad to know what you shall have done in Con- sequence of Mr. Carrithers's Letter. I am Sr, yr most Hble Servt, Geo. Stevenson. Directed, To William Henry, Esquire, Lancaster. Favored by Col. Culbertson. Although Colonel Henry and Doctor Bar- ton were temperamentally antagonistic they had long been friends, and before, and for a time after his marriage, Henry had been one of his parishioners, which made the contem- plation of his arrest embarrassing as well as painful. The Inference Is, however, that the doctor escaped the extreme penalty Intended for him, probably through the forbearance of go The Life of William Henry. Colonel Henry, as from the Journal we are Informed that on October 13, 1778, having disposed of his real estate to his son-in-law, Zanzinger, he was permitted to leave with his wife for Boston, and thence to England. From the Journal of the same year we are also told that when Lancaster received the news of the return of Mr. Silas Deane from France after successfully negotiating treaties of alliance and commerce with that country — a compact so vital In Its bearing upon the future conduct of the war — It was acclaimed by the people with every manifestation of ap- proval. " Salutes were fired, and In the even- ing an illumination, the expenses of which," so the Journal reads, "were paid by Col. Henry out of his own pocket." This was one of his many acts to cheer the drooping spirits of the people and to keep alive the embers of patriotism. CHAPTER XII. Arms for the Troops the Crying Need OF THE Hour. ROM the following letters covering the years 1 777-7 8-'79 It will be seen that the crying need of the hour, and one which threatened serious consequences if not promptly met, was an adequate supply of arms for the troops Impatiently waiting to take the field, or to re- place weapons lost or destroyed In action. To meet this demand, which was pressing from every quarter, Henry's gun works lo- cated on Mill Creek, outside the Borough of Lancaster, where what Is known today as the *' Old Factory Road " crosses that stream, and the best equipped in the colonies, were working night and day to their utmost capa- city, and the Board of War, realizing the gravity of the situation and the importance of keeping his works In uninterrupted operation, exempted his workmen from liability to mili- tary duty. 91 92 The Life of William Henry. From Richard Peters, Secretary Board of War, to William Henry. War Office York, Novr. 7, 1777. Sir: The Board have sent an order to the Command- ing Officer at Lancaster to Collect from the militia returning all Continental Arms and Necessaries. As the Virginia Militia are returning from Camp I have to request your assistance in getting back any arms furnished them at Lancaster, if they should be carrying them home. Perhaps as the General (Washington) may not have attended to this matter they may not, as they ought to do, have deposited their Arms at Camp. I am your obt. Servt., Richard Peters Secretary Board of War. William Henry, Esq. From " Light Horse " Harry Lee dated Charleston, Virginia, Who is Chafing to Get into the Saddle. Charleston, February 8, 1778. Dear Sir: — I am exceedingly anxious to join the army. We wait for nothing but carbines. Be pleased to send per bearer such as may be ready and expedite the completion of the remainder engaged. The Life of William Henry. 93 I have the honor to be Sir with highest esteem your most obedient and most humble servant. William Henry, Esq. Harry Lee General Horatio Gates President of the Board of War to Colonel William Henry, IN Which His Presence is Requested in York, Where the Congress and the Board OF War Were Assembled. War Office, 13th April 1778. The board of War request you will come to York, as soon as the business you are engaged in will permit, and they desire you will tell me, by return of the Bearer, when we may expect to see you. Horatio Gates, President. William Henry, Esq. From General Anthony Wayne, at Valley Forge, to Colonel Henry, Protesting Against an Order of the Supreme Execu- tive Council of Pennsylvania to Transfer Arms Intended for His Division, to the Militia. Camp Mount Joy 14th May 1778. Dear Sir: — Col. Bayard informs me that after having the Arms, Bayonets &c., prepared to send to Camp 94 The Life of William Henry. which was furnished for the use of my Division by you, they were stoped by order of the Council for the use of the Militia in case they should be called out — and that they can't be forwarded unless his Excellency gives a particular order for it. I wish you to Advert to the Return & order from the Board of War — and from His Excellency Gen'l Washing- ton thro' me for a Certain number of Arms, Bayo- nets and Accoutrements for the use of my Division — this will certainly justify you in furnishing them in preference to any other order from any other person whatever. I communicated the contents of Col. Bayard's letter this morning to His Excellency who expressed just surprise at the order not being complied with and ordered me to Request you to forward those articles together with the Espontoons with all possible Dispatch. Col. Bayard will present you with another order from the Adjt General for an additional number of articles which I wish you to furnish the Soonest possible as we have numbers of men that can't take the field without them. Interim I am Dear Sir Your Most Obt Hum. St. Anty. Wayne B. G. Wm. Henry, Esq., Lancaster. The Life of William Henry. 95 Wayne, whose Impetuous temperament would not permit him to submit calmly to what he considered an Injustice, Invoked the authority of Washington, who, on the same day, sent the following letter to Colonel Henry, suggesting a plan to meet Wayne's requisition. Camp at Valley Forge, May 14, 1778. Sir I find from a letter from Lieut. Col. Bayard to General Wayne that a parcel of arms to which you had made or fixed bayonets were retained by the Governor and Council of Pennsylvania because the muskets belonged to the State. I have written to Governor Wharton upon the subject and have in- formed him that if the muskets do belong particu- larly to the State, you will replace them with an equal number of Continentals, many of which you have to repair, this I desire you will do. If the espontoons for the officers are finished be pleased to send them down ; if they are not, let them be completed as soon as possible. Geo. Washington. William Henrj^ Esq. Lancaster 96 The Life of William Henry. The following letters from Richard Peters, Timothy Pickering, the Supreme Executive Council and Commissary Lukens have refer- ence to supplying the troops with arms. York, Pennsylvania, War Office, May 19th 1778. Sir: — You will please to deliver to the order of Hon. Council of Pennsylvania one hundred Common Rifles (without Bayonets) if you have or can pro- cure that number speedily. A light corps from Camp is expected at Lancaster and you will keep in view the providing them with what they want for Frontier Business. We mention this as we have to the Council lest your stock should be exhausted by this order. By order of the Board. Richard Peters. Secretary Board of War. William Henry Esq. Superintendant of Arms and Military Acoutrements. Lancaster. The Life of William Henry. 97 From Timothy Pickering, Secretary of War, TO Col. Henry. War Office, York, Pa., May 26, 1778. Sir, Major Lee Informs us that he has conversed with you relative to the manufacture of carbines for his corps. You doubted your ability to undertake it at this time on account of the multiplicity of your business. But we are so anxious to get this corps equipped, because of the very great advantage which must result from it, we cannot but express our wishes that some part of your present business might be for a while suspended, and this engaged in. Major Lee wants a hundred carbines; but thirty furnished in a short time will enable him to take the field. To make this last number we desire you to set some of your people at work immediately, for no part of your business appears to us of equal importance. The particular size and construction you and Major Lee will agree upon. We are, sir, Your obedient servants. By order of the Board Tim. Pickering jun. William Henry, Esq. 8 98 The Life of William Henry. From Timothy Pickering, Secretary of War, TO Colonel Henry. War Office, June 8, 1778. Sir:— General Washington Informs us that 1700 car- tridge boxes are wanted In his army to furnish those who are destitute. Pray send Immediately all you have, and set as many hands at work as possible In making more. I have the honor to be your obedient servant Tim Pickering, Jr. Wm. Henry, Esq. From the Supreme Executive Council to Colonel Henry. Philadelphia, July 15, 1778. Sir: The Council have ordered the Lieutenants of the counties of Lancaster and Berks to call on you for what arms may be necessary to put into the hands of the militia now ordered into service from these Counties, and if arms cannot be had at Carlisle, the Lieut's of York & Cumberland will also apply to you to make up their deficiencies. These demands you will please to comply with as far as may be in your power. The Life of William Henry. 99 The arrangement for the Frontier defence is Part of Col. Hartley reg' now in Philada. about lOO Two Wyoming Companies (uncer- tain) 100 Mllltia from Lancaster, 400 Berks, 150 Northumberland, .... 300 To march to Sunbury. 1050 Part of Col. Hartley's reg' now In New Jersey, 80 Northampton MUItla, 300 Berks " 150 Col. Kowatz's horse, 20 A small comp'y under Col. Butler, . . 20 at Easton 570 Col. Broadhead's regt. (perhaps),. . . 250 Cumberland Militia, 300 York, 200 750 A vigorous attack on New York Is determined on while the French fleet block up the harbor, and there Is reason to hope for success In the measure Yours T. Matlack, Sec'y. To Wm. Henry, Esq. lOO The Life of William Henry. Carlisle, 31st, July 1778. Sir:— As. Genl. Mcintosh wants in his army six hun- dred muskets with their Bayonets, and as I judge impracticable that such a number can be put in order at the time of our departure, I pray you to send at Lancaster to Mr. Henry for to have im- mediately 3 hundred muskets ready, which number fail us. Perhaps you know of some other place not far off Carlisle where it is possible to find some muskets ready if Mr. Henry cannot supply this number. I pray you will please do your endeavor; it would be necessary the muskets be here on Mon- day or Wednesday. I have the honor to be Sir, Your most Obedt. most hble sert. Le Cheve. De Cambray. Major Lukens. To this letter which was forw^arded to Col. Henry, Major Lukens adds the following postscript : — (P. S. by Major Lukens) Col. De Cambray is to have the direction of the Artillery in the Western expedition. He is left The Life of William Henry. loi here by Gen. Mcintosh to get all things forward that are necessary for the command. Chas. Lukens. W. Henry Esq. From Assistant Commissary Lukens to Colonel Henry, in which, among other articles, is a Reguisition for Tomahawks for Colonel Brodhead Commanding the forces on the Pennsylvania frontier. Carlisle, Aug. 5, 1778. Sir Yours of the 3d by Sergt. Bradley came safe to hand. Am very glad to hear j^ou have expectation to send the Articles they wrote for. I must again Trouble you; since Col. Brodhead's arrival here he has desired that he may be furnished as Speedily as Possible 1500 Powder Horns and Shot bags Com- pleat, for Rifle men. The other Articles he wants are as follows; tho' am apprehensive you have them not; 1000 Small Hatchets or Tomahawks, 15000 flints, 1500 Canteens of wood or tin. The Powder Horns and Shot bags I hope you can send, and if any of the Other Articles so much the better. I am with Respect Your Humble Servant Chas Lukens C. M. Stores. Wm. Henry, Esq. CHAPTER XIII. Is Made Superintendent of Arms and Accoutrements, and Assistant Com- missary General. N addition to his other duties, Col- onel Henry established workshops In Philadelphia, Lancaster and Al- lentown and elsewhere In the State, for making boots, shoes, hats and accoutre- ments for the army, and with the aid of Assis- tant Commissaries superintended their manu- facture — Industries second to none In their Im- portant bearing upon the efficiency and phys- ical condition of the troops; and the Board of War, relying upon his known executive ability, gave him complete control of this de- partment, appointing him Superintendent of Arms and Accoutrements, and Commissary General of Hides for the States of Pennsyl- vania, Delaware and Maryland. His com- mission follows: I02 The Life of William Henry. 103 [seal] By the Board of War and Ordinance of the United States of America, to William Henry Esq. of Lancaster in the State of Pennsylvania. By Virtue of the Authority given us by Congress in their act of the 23. instant, herevv^ith transmitted, you are hereby appointed Commissary of Hides for the States of Pennsylvania, Deleware and Maryland. You will proceed immediately in the faithful and diligent discharge of that duty, as pointed out in the following instructions and such others as the Board may from time to time think proper to give you. You will correspond with the Board and the Clothier General, informing him and us of all material transactions in your Department. As there will be no Continental agents to in- terfere with you in your district, and the whole business is committed to your care, we expect your utmost exertions will be used, in procuring immedi- ate and constant supplies of shoes for the troops, who without great dilligence in the commissaries of hides, we fear will greatly suffer. Given at the War office the Fifth Day of August, Anno Domini 1779, in the Fourth Year of our In- dependance. By order of the Board. Richard Peters, Secretary. I04 The Life of William Henry. From William Shannon to Colonel Henry, Applying for the Position of Assistant Commissary. Philadelphia, June 24, 1779- Sir:— I wrote you a few days ago by a Transient Person and a Stranger, nearly of the same import as this; a doubtfuUness of its safe Conveyance has induced me to trouble you a Second Time. I have acted in the Hide Department under Colonel Ewing, for the last ten months past, during said time had no great degree of Comfort, yet, the difficulties of any busi- ness is lessoned as a Knowledge thereof is acquired; besides if I can be employed to my satisfaction in this department, shall not think of going into any other. I, a few days ago, applied to the Board of War, to know if they had any business for me. They informed me that you were appointed to di- rect a principal part of the Hide Department, and they requested I would immediately write you, desir- ing that no appointment might be made in the De- partment until the Board and you were satisfied with respect to my abilities and other qualifications for the Business, alledging if they were equal to the Task, I might serve with more advantage than an inexperienced Person. You will probably think from my repeated appli- cations (if they should come to hand) that I am . The Life of William Henry. 105 very fond of office, but I assure you that It Is only a desire to effect with certainty what with one attempt might have been very uncertain. Please indulge me with a few lines on this sub- ject and direct them to the War Office. I am Sir, Your unknown friend, and humble servent, Wm. Shannon, D. C. of Hides. William Henry, Esq. From Hon. Timothy Pickering, Secretary of War to Colonel Henry in Relation to Shannon's Application. War Office, June 28, 1779. Sir:— Soon after your departure from this city, Mr. Shannon, whose letter is enclosed, made known to the board his desire to continue in the hide depart- ment. As we were pretty much strangers to his character, we wrote to two gentlemen at Camp, who are probably best acquainted with it, for information. Their answer is not yet arrived. Upon his princi- ple maintained in his letter we thought it would be proper to employ hira; specially for the purpose of finishing the business and contracts which upon Mr. Ewing's resignation will remain unsettled. Appearances are in his favor ; and if qualified for the io6 The Life of William Henry. business, an old officer is to be preferred to a new- one. The purpose of this letter is to notify you of Mr. Shannon's request and of the steps we have taken, that you may reserve a place for him. In case the evidence of his good character are satisfactory to you; for we mean not to control your appoint- ments. We find that some persons who contract to sup- ply shoes for the army are guilty of great Impositions on the public. Besides the badness of some of the leather, the shoes are pinched In every part and very unfaithfully put together, the stitches In many for sewing the upper leather to the Inner sole are three quarters of an Inch long and upwards. We might pursue some other mode to obtain shoes; and either buy the leather and cut the shoes, before they are delivered the Shoe-makers; or get a number of pattern shoes made, of the necessary different sizes, and deliver to every contractor, and In this case all the shoes not made according to the pattern should be rejected. In the first case they may deceive by changing the good public leather for their own of an Inferior quality; and they may do their work badly, and It would be difficult to apply a remedy to these evils. In the other case If the shoes are of bad leather, or badly made the public have only to refuse them, the fear of which would induce con- tractors to make good ones; however, your long experience In this business will enable you to decide The Life of William Henry. 107 on the most proper mode of conducting the business ; and we wish to be favored with your sentiments as soon as possible, with such information as shall en- able us to direct the measures most expedient to be pursued for procuring shoes in all cases falling under our notice. We shall be glad to receive the pattern Cartridge box as soon as you can get it made. We are, Sir with great regard, your most obedient servant. By order of your board, Tim. Pickering. William Henry Esq. From Timothy Pickering, Secretary of War, TO William Henry, Esq.^^ War Office, May 3, 1779. Sir:— By Mr. Henry's (William Henry Jr) return in March it appeared that he had then on hand up- wards of three thousand pairs of shoes. About that number we now want for a particular purpose ; and as we know not of any considerable issues since, we persume you have at least that number now by you. They are to be packed in bags which we shall send you by the first conveyance. In doing this care ^® Pickering was a graduate of Harvard and one of the very few statesmen (among them Jos. Reed, who was an alumnus of Princeton) who ifigured in the Revolution, that had had the advantages of a collegiate education. io8 The Life of William Henry. should be taken to place the heels inwards, otherwise they will soon wear holes in the bags. As these bags are finally to be carried on pack-horses, one hundred and sixty pairs in a bag will be sufficient, tho' they would hold near i8o pairs. The method taken by the Clothier General is to tie six pairs In a bundle, pressing them close together, by which means they take much less room. Upon receiving the bags you will be pleased immediately to pack the shoes and have them ready when called for. We are sir, your obedient servants. By order of the Board, Tim. Pickering. William Henry, Esq. War Office, May lo, 1779. Sir, We on the 7th Inst, desired you to send to Esther- ton 200 bayonet sheaths, 200 bayonet belts, and 200 cartouch boxes; after fulfilling this order, you will be pleased to pack up without delay, all the remain- ing cartouch boxes, bayonet belts and bayonet sheaths, also all the muskets with bayonets fit for service, in your possession, and send the same to the head of Elk, directed to Col. Henry Hollingsworth D.Q.M. there with a request to him to forward the same as expeditiously as possible to Alexan- dria in Virginia, where they are to be delivered to the officer commanding the Virginia newly raised The Life of William Henry. 109 line at that place. Send by this express, or the first conveyance a return of the Arms and accoutrerments you shall be able to send to Alexandria; or if you cannot exactly ascertain the numbers of each, favor us with an estimate as near the truth as possible, as thereby we shall regulate the issues for the same purpose from hence We are Sir, Your most obed't Sevants, By order of the Board. Richard Peters Secretary of the Board William Henry, Esq. From Richard Peters, Secretary of the Board OF War, to Colonel Henry. War Office May 24 1779 Sir: There being a pressing Demand for Arms in Maryland we are obliged to order the three hun- dred Muskets without Bayonets to the Head of Elk direct to the care of Col. Henry Hollingsworth or if you can, & we should prefer your doing it, to Baltimore directly to the care of Jas Calhoun Esq. D.Q.M. there. Either of these Gentlemen to in- form Govr Johnson of their receiving the Arms which are to be subject to his disposition. Use every degree of Expedition as the arms are wanted no The Life of William Henry. for the Maryland Militia for the immediate defense of the State. Your obt Servants Richard Peters By Order of the Board William Henry Esq. Lancaster. We are pressed on every side for Arms. Do exert yourself to get as many as possible fit for ser- vice. If you have Cartouch Boxes of the old con- struction that will any w^ise answer the present Emergency send them with the Arms, to Govr John- son & inform us how many you send. He wants Six Hundred. 9 o'clock at night We have considered further & you are to send the Arms to Elk to the care of Col. Levi Holllngs- worth. Let him know he Is to Inform Govr John- son of the Receipt of them. CHAPTER XIV. Reed-Henry Correspondence on the Alarming Financial Condition of the Country. N the following correspondence be- tween Col. Henry and the Hon. Joseph Reed, President of Penn- sylvania from 1778 to 178 1, the all absorbing subject of discussion Is the de- plorable condition of the treasury and the difficulties attending the collection of revenue for war purposes, on which alone success depended. It devolved upon Col. Henry, as Treasurer of Lancaster County, to select for this unwel- come task competent and trustworthy men, no easy matter, as his letters explain. In a com- munity lacking anything approaching una- nimity of sentiment favorable to the war. It will be seen that their relations were close and confidential, permitting entire free- dom of expression. For example in his letter of December 19, III 112 The Life of William Henry. 1780, after commending Colonel Henry for imprisoning a collector of revenue for embez- zlement, Reed declares that if he were " an absolute prince for one minute, he would em- ploy the time in issuing an order for his [the embezzler's] execution " ; and that he placed the utmost reliance upon Colonel Henry's dis- cretion, one has but to read their Interesting exchanges at what was perhaps the most dis- couraging period in the history of the struggle. In no single instance is there a word in Reed's letters inimical to the conduct of the war, or in disparagement of its leaders. Every line breathes a spirit of loyalty, and a deep personal interest in the result of the contest. And yet inconceivable as it must appear in the light of his correspondence and official acts, Reed's attitude during the war became the subject of a heated and acrimo- nious dispute, many years after his death, in which he was charged not only with supine- ness, but with downright disloyalty. This discussion was renewed with great bit- terness when the Civil War between the states was at its height, and although a kinsman came ably to his defence, the evidence he pro- duced was not regarded at the time as suffi- The Life of William Henry. 113 cient. Other documentary evidence was after- wards discovered that ameliorated the allega- tions, if they did not disprove them. President Reed to Colonel Henry, 1779, in Which He Makes Acknowledgment OF Col. Henry's Services to the State. Sir, We find ourselves under a Necessity of troubling you to negotiate a Piece of Business which you will find expressed at large in the enclosed Minute of Council. We have no Instructions to give as to Price, but that if there are Regulations in the County, we would have you conform to them. If not we will give £20 per ct. for good merchantable Flour. You will please to correspond with Mr. TurnbuU, our Agent hereupon, & call on him for Money with which he will supply you. Our in- tention is in the first Place to purchase suitable Clothing for our Officers, of which they are in great Want, & of which they are very deserving. And then apply the Residue to the Purchase of a Quanity of Salt to be distributed among the Counties, with a due regard to the Persons & Counties who furnish Flour or Wheat for the Expence. You will greatly oblige Council by your Exer- tions on this Occasion, & what will be a more pow- erful Inducement to you, it will be a great Addition 114 The Life of William Henry. to the many Services you have already rendered the State. I am, Sir, With much Esteem, Your obed. Hbble. Servt. Jos. Reed. Council Chamber, Aug. 25, i779- To William Henry, Esq., Lancaster. From Benjamin Stoddard, Secretary of War, TO Col. William Henry. War Office, Nov. 3d, 1779. Enclosed you have additional Instructions from the Board to the Commissaries of Hides and a list of the different commissaries and the several districts to which they are appointed. Major HItfield Commissary for the State of New- York and the district where the army lies, having near ten thousand hides on hand, and not being able to furnish more than 1500 pairs of Shoes monthly. Is ordered to send 2000 Immediately to Philadelphia to be delivered to your Assistant You will therefore be pleased to Issue the necessary or- ders to him In consequence of this unexpected supply and should It be In your power to dispose of more, probably you may be furnished from the same channel : I am Sir your most obedient servant Ben. Stoddard. Wm. Henry, Esq., Secretary of War, Lancaster, Pa. , The Life of William Henry. 115 Colonel William Henry to President Reed. Sir: — Lancaster, November 27, 1779. I am Informed one John Musser^^ of this Town has lately purchased a Tract of land of about 500 Acres, commonly known by the Name of the Cones- toga Mannor, of John Penn, late Governor, of Pennsylvania, for nine Pounds the Acre hard Money. At the Time the Lands in this part of the province was purchased of the Delaware Indians this was Reserved and a Deed was made to them and their Heirs, etc., the Indians who resided on It were killed by a Number of People In a former war and the Deed fell Into the hands of John Hay, then SherifE of Lancaster County, who delivered the same to Mr. John Penn. — This piece of Land was afterwards claimed by Sir William Johnston in behalf of the Heirs, in consequence of which the use of the Land was given to Mr. Thomas Barton who Is gone over to the Enemy. Mrs. Susana Wright could give I believe a more satisfactory Account of this affair than I can. It may be proper perhaps to Inquire into this Affair. I have therefore thought it my Duty to give all the Information I have been able to collect. I am with due Respect, Sir, your obed't hum. Servant, William Henry. His excellency Joseph Reed, Esq. *^This is the same John Musser who was afterwards arrested for unlawfully trafficking in British merchandise. ii6 The Life of William Henrv. This and the following letters to and from Colonel Henry and President Reed treat of the prevailing financial conditions. Lancaster, April 25th, 1780. Sir:— The question you are pleased to put to me in your favor of the i8th inst. is not a little embarrassing, for in the Course of my Answer I shall not only be obliged to accuse my Employers but myself also. The Board have been rather remiss, but they have their Excuses. Their Pay will not support their Horses while in Town, much less themselves and pay for their Services. I have often observed, when they come to Town, they hurry home before the Business is done, which I thought ought to have been done. I have often taken the Liberty to tell them so, and received for Answer, their Pay would not support them. I do not say their Reasons were good, but it is a Certainty, they are such as influence the Minds of most Men. I could wish the Assem- bly could be convinced, " that it is private Interest that executes Government," as well with Regard to the Board as the Treasurers. My Pay will scarse clear the expenses twice to Philadelphia.^^ There ^^ From a bill rendered Col. Henry by Adam Weaver, proprietor of the stage line between Lancaster and Phila- delphia, we find that in the year 1783 Mrs. Henry was charged £2 (about $10) for passage to and from Phila- delphia. The Life of William Henry. 117 are a Number of Difficulties to be encountered in this County which none of the others have to strive with. There are several of the Townships, which have not more than two or three Persons who have taken the oath of Allegiance, and therefore not capable in Law to act as Assessors or Appraisers. This gives the Board much Trouble and takes much time, before People can be found, who will act, and those are generally of the lowest Character. Some Collectors have employ'd others at their own Risk and will suffer by it. I am indebted at this Time to the State between Sixty & Seventy Thousand Pound, which I have laid out in purchase of Leather and Paying Workmens Wages at the Shoe-Factory at Philadelphia, AUentown and Lancaster. Pressed by the Board of War and the Clothier General, as 1 am to make the utmost Exertions to furnish tha Army with Shoes and Boots by the opening of the Campaign, I hope. Sir, you will excuse the Liberty I have taken, as it was done only with an Intent to further the Service. The whole of the Factorys must have stop'd for want of Pay and Materials, if I had not supported them with Money. I do not even draw Commissions on the Money furnished the Factorys. I this Day write to the Clothier General, who will draw 200,000 Dollars from Congress, and replace what I have used. There is yet Fourteen Townships out of Thirty three to settle for the first Tax for 1779 — as soon as they have settled, I will ii8 The Life of William Henry. go to Philadelphia and settle with the State-Treas- urer, which I expect will be about the 15th of May next or Sooner, if I can settle here with the Board and Collectors. I am Sir Your obed't & hum. Ser. William Henry. His Excellency Joseph Reed Esq. Colonel William Henry to President Reed, 1780. Sir:— In a letter from Col. Atlee, of the ist inst., I have the following Paragraph from your Excellency's of the 22 ult: " The Deficiencies of Lancaster County in the Taxes is become a most serious Consideration. The Treasurer informs us that only Three Townships have paid ofi their Fifteen Million Taxes, while the Counties here which have been invaded, distressed & plundered, have paid ofif their Fifteen Million, their Forty-Five, and Three of their Monthly Taxes. Is not this melancholy? — I am sorry Mr. Rittenhouse has not understood my last Letter to him on that Subject, though perhaps the Fault may be my own; be that as it may, the Fact is, that the whole of the First Tax for 1779, except a Ballance in the Hands of Three of the Collectors (who are sued) is paid into my Hands; and I have paid at Sundry Times ab .£163,000 to the Treasurer, and The Life of William Henry. 119 by his Order, etc: and have Orders of Congress for more than the Amount of the First Tax. At the time I wrote to the State Treasurer there were but three Townships who had made their first Payments on the second Tax for 1779, Since which Three others have each made a small Payment ; But there lays an order of the Treasurer in Favor of Col. Blaine for 150,000, in the hands of Mr. Slough, 30,000 of which I have discharged. I w^as obliged to include Col. Atlee £1,500 to forward the Penn- sylvania Volunteers, except which I have not lent or laid out any Monies, either in Trade or otherways, belonging to the public. I beg leave to observe, that there seems to be more expected from Lancaster County than was in our Power to perform. The Act Levying the second Tax for 1779, was made in November last, and the Laws were not sent up till January. To my Knowledge the Commissioners began to lay the Tax by the Act published in the News-paper, and as they received Instruction from Council which differed from the Method they had pursued were obliged to Order the Returns to be made over again. The Weather then set in so severe that there was no Travelling till April. The Taxes were laid as soon as the Returns could be got in; and the Appeals were held in May and Collec- tors appointed. That Philadelphia City & County Taxes are so far forward is no Merit in their Board of Commis- 120 The Life of William Henry. sioners, as the Snow was not a fourth Part of the Depth there that it was here; besides, there is little Difficulty in procuring Assessors, Appraisers & Col- lectors in Philadelphia City & County, etc., to what there is here where there are few people in many of the Townships but such as are disaffected. I hope, Sir, you will do me the Justice to believe that I have done, & am doing, all that is in my Power to for- ward the Collecting the Taxes. The large Sums owing by the Quarter Masters & Commlssarys of Purchases, etc., will very much lessen the Sum of Money expected from the Taxes of this County. I am, with due Respect, Sir, Your most hum. Serv. William Henry, C. T. His Excellency Joseph Reed, Esq. Colonel William Henry to President Reed, 1780. Sir:— The provision and Forage at this place being nearly expended Majr. Wirtz Informed the Com- manding officer Lt. Colo. Temple that he could not engage to furnish the Troops with a sufficient Quan- Ity of provisions, forage etc. The Colonel applied to me as a Magistrate for Press Warrants to enable Mr. WIrtz to take those articles where they might be found, but as the Laws would not support me in granting such Warrants, I Informed the Colonel T-be Life of William Henry. 121 that I would write to the President and Council concerning the Affair. It is certain they cannot be supported here without Hawling the Hay ten or Fifteen mile, as the Hay In the neighborhood of Lancaster has been chiefly consumed by the Horses purchased for the French Army and by the Horses kept here, etc. and those who have Hay Cattle etc., will not part with It without Specie or Continental Money. Why Is not the New State Money made a Legal Tender? — many would gladly take It, If they could pay their debts with It. If the persons who may refuse to take the New Continental Money are admitted to Ball, the Severity of the Law, pub- lished for Consideration, will be evaded, Trials will be put off from Court to Court etc. Would It not be better that the offender should be Committed without Ball or Main prise till the ensuing Sessions or If he choose It till a Court for that purpose should be called by himself. Soap, Candles and Vegetables are not furnished the Troops here, and they complain much for Want of them. — One of our Collectors I have sent to Jail for having speculated with the Money. I am Sir, Your very obedient, & hum. Servant, William Henry. His Excellency Joseph Reed Esq. Philadelphia. Express. 122 The Life of Willir^.m Henry. President Reed to Colonel William Henry. Sir:— I duly received your favor of the 3rd Inst. & should be sorry that anything In my Letter to Col. Atlee of the ist Inst, should be construed Into a sus- picion of the Delay of Taxes In your County to arise from any Neglect much more misconduct In you. I assure you I have ever entertained far different sen- timents & should have done you much Injustice If I could have supposed you to employ the public Money In trade or otherwise. Mr. RIttenhouse's Report was made In writing & I presume on com- petent Authority — my remark was general having no particular Person In View nor do I know why Col. Atlee sent the Paragraph to you unless he sup- posed you would use It as a stimulus to the Com- missaries, Collectors & others. But I cannot agree with you that more is ex- pected from Lancaster County than It can perform, because no more Is expected than the Law has ap- pointed & which her own Representatives have thought she could raise within a given Time. I beg to know, my good friend, why Lancaster County cannot pay her taxes proportionally with other Counties — has she suffered by the enemy — has Famine, Pestilence Tempest or bad seasons de- prived her of the Means — you will agree with me In the negative. Are not her Lands good & the County populous? did she not at the last Review The Life of William Henry. 123 of Property appear so considerable as to have almost double the number of Representatives of most of the other Counties — even those who have contributed more to the public Necessities than she has done? You will also agree with me in this. But I fancy I can throw some light on the subject. There is not a week but some People from your County are pur- chasing Gold & Silver in the city, and that is hoarded up as too sacred to be touched for Taxes. The Collectors finding Opposition & Difficulty ne- glect their Duty & the Commissaries do not care to be the only severe People & so all is slow tedious & dilatory. If vigor & seasonable exertion could once take place all these Difficulties would vanish. The Commissaries proceeded to lay the Tax you observe & were mistaken till they were set right, but the real Fact is they undertook to dispense with the Law & tax on a system of their own, in this way Delays would be perpetual & inexcusable. The Inclemency of the Winter we can readily admit as a Reason but it is now several months since the snow disappeared & is there not at this Moment a great arrearage; surely there is — the Want of which we feel most sensibly. The large sums ow- ing by Q. Master's & Commissaries will doubtless be a Bar of no Inconsiderable Nature to ready money Taxes but they will go to liquidate the Demands of Congress & so far be useful. I fear there will be great abuses & shall be glad of your Opinion what preventive may be used. 124 The Life of William Henry. Far from doubting your Zeal & activity in the Business, I can only wish that all concerned in the Collection of Taxes had half of it & I am persuaded our affairs would be In a more promising Condition. I am with much esteem, Sir your obed. & very Humble Serv. Joseph Reed. July 19, 1780. William Henry, Esq., Lancaster. The Hon. Joseph Reed to Colonel William Henry, Requesting Him and Others to At- tend A Conference at Lancaster for the Purpose of Instituting Reforms in the Ex- ecution OF THE Laws and for the Discus- sion OF Kindred Subjects. In Council Philada. September 22d 1780 Sir:— The Assembly having In their present Session taken Into mature deliberation the state of this Com- monwealth, and being apprehensive that difficulties and obstructions in the execution of some of the most necessary and Important Laws have occurred, and perhaps real grievances exist, which with due at- tention and care may be removed have nominated The Life of William Henry. 125 the Hon. Mr. Bayard, the Speaker of the House, and Mr. Rittenhouse, the Treasurer of the State, to accompany the President of the State, into your County, with a view of meeting some of the prin- cipal Gentlemen, and receive such information as may be necessary on the above and other interesting Subjects. In Consequence of which you are requested to give notice to the undermentioned publick officers, to meet them at Lancaster on the eleventh day of October next, where your own attendance will be expected, and you will bring with you a Return of the payments of the Several Townships of their Taxes so as to exhibit at one view the present State of the Taxes in your County. And if any Collec- tors have money in hand or can by a vigorous exer- tion make any payments to you in the meantime, you will have a good opportunity to pay the same to the Treasurer without the Trouble and expense of a Journey to this City. I am Sir, Your obedient and very humble Servant Jos Reed, President. To William Henry Esquire Treasurer of the County of Lancaster 126 The Life of William Henry. Persons to be requested to attend — 1. One of the Commissioners of the Taxes at least ; 2. The Lieutenant of the County; 3. The Excise Officer; 4. The first or second Justice of the Quarter Ses- sions, as may be most convenient; 5. The Commissioner of Purchases of the Spe- cifick supplies 6. The Prothonotary of the County with a state of the Fines, Penalties, Licenses, Monies, and the publick dues accruing in his office since his appointment. President Reed to Colonel William Henry, 1780. Dear Sir: — I received your favor by express & was obliged to detain him till I had laid the matter before the As- sembly who can alone effect the cure for that ter- rible disease which pervades all our departments & makes public Business an invidious & insupportable Burthen. They have concluded to remove the Cav- alry to Lebanon if it can be done & send the Invalid Horses over the Susquehanna. As to press War- rants, the Law appointing Mr. Wirtz gives him the Power required, which ought & must be the Rule of his Conduct & in which I hope he will be fully sup- ported. I am told the State Money will be made a The Life of William Henry. 127 legal tender but I very much doubt whether that will extend its Credit — coercive measures will I fear never create public Confidence. Your Letter has been read in the House but with what Effect I can- not say. The Troops you say complain much of wanting Soap Candles and Vegetables, & we complain very much that the People of Lancaster and other Coun- ties will not pay their taxes to enable us to procure them these articles. Are not both Complaints rea- sonable. Our Treasury is at the lowest possible ebb; even the first officers of the State are obliged to borrow Money for their Support & this in the rich & plentiful State of Pennsylvania, for such it is not- withstanding all its Complaints. I am glad you have sent a Collector to Prison for peculation — If I was an absolute Prince for one Minute I would em- ploy it in giving orders for his Execution. Of what avail are Laws or of what Consequence is Govern- ment unsupported & left to struggle with every piti- ful waste & disgrace which a private Gentleman would shudder at. Do my good friend open the eyes of those about you. It Is Madness & Folly of the most pernicious kind to go on thus. Your Mem- bers dare not vote for the only Measure that will relieve us because they are afraid of doing their duty, & disobliging their Constituents. But I must not express what I feel or believe In due time they will know who understand & pursue their true Interests. 128 The Life of William Henry. All I can say is that whatever hardships & Incon- veniences the People of your County suffer from the Troops they must thank themselves. In time I hope they shall do better. I am Sir, Your Obed. & very Humble Serv. Joseph Reed. W. Henry, Esq. Lancaster. Colonel Henry's prominence is shown in the following letter from President Reed, intro- ducing the Count de Deux Fonts. Sir:— This will be delivered you by the Count de Deux Fonts, a Colonel of a Regiment in the Service of the King of France, now at Rhode Island. I must re- quest your Attention & Civility to him, not only on Acct. of his own Merit, which is very great, but as he may have some Influence on some of his poor de- luded Countrymen who cannot be weaned from their absurd Attachment to Great Britain. For this Pur- pose I would wish if it is practicable he could have Opportunities to converse with the German Clergy- men & such Persons of Influence of that Nation as might tend to remove Prejudice, convince them of the Utility & Honor of our Independence, show them the Certainty of its being established, & the Necessity of their supporting cheerfully the War for The Life of William Henry. 129 the attainment of that glorious Object — reconcile them as British Officers have been doing with so much Industry for some time past. Your Care herein will do the State a real Ser- vice & oblige Sir your Obed. Hbble. Serv. Joseph Reed. P. S. He proposes to go to Lebanon & Reading. I shall be glad if you would give him Letters to suitable Persons there. Indorsed, 1780, December 21st, to Wm. Henry, Hon. Wm. Atlee, Hon. Samuel Atlee, Esq., Philip Marsteller, Col. Valentine Eckhart & Henry Haller. Colonel Henry to President Reed, in Which He Requests a Detail of Troops to Guard the Magazines from an Attempt to Blow Them up by the British Prisoners. Lancaster, March 7, 1781. Sir:— I was present at the Examination of one of the Light Dragoons who overheard some of the British prisoners, who had some Conversation concerning the Magazines at this place, and they agree that they might be blown up with Ease. I am of their opin- ion, and wish a guard could be kept here, as there are 10 130 The Life of William Henry. a number of disaffected People in this Town ; and a great Number of the prisoners will be sent to the Barracks, as they have a putrid Fever amongst them In the Jail; the Barracks are near the Magazine. Could not Colo. Hubley be ordered to keep a Com- pany of Militia on Duty for that purpose? The Amunition is by no means safe, and I understand the Quantity is considerable. I am, Sir, Your most obedient & hum. Servant, William Henry. His Excellency Joseph Reed, Esq., President of the Supreme Executive Council, Philadelphia. CHAPTER XV. The Reed-Henry Correspondence Con- tinued; The Revolt of the Penn- sylvania Troops. HE year 178 1 opened with the ad- vantages of the war rather In favor of the British, with the gradual Impoverishment of the country as a formidable ally. In addition to this disquieting outlook, the disaffection of a part of what was known as the Pennsylvania Line, encamped with the army at Morrlstown, N. J., precipitated a dangerous situation. They declared they would serve no longer unless their grievances were redressed. Their pay was In arrears, the provisions furnished poor and insufficient, and their Inadequate clothing gave no protec- tion against the severe weather. In an at- tempt to suppress the disorder, one officer was killed and several officers and privates wounded, followed by the withdrawal of thlr- 131 132 The Life of William Henry. teen hundred Pennsylvanians, who marched to Princeton. This tragic affair occurred January i, 178 1. The news of the outbreak was received with keen satisfaction at the British headquarters, where it was thought to foreshadow the dis- memberment of the American forces. Every preparation was made to welcome the insur- gents into the British ranks, to whom mes- sengers had been sent by General Clinton of- fering immunity, the protection of the British army and the payment of the wages due them by Congress. But the temper of the men was misunderstood; their patriotism had not abated; the British overtures were spurned, and the messengers delivered to the Ameri- can authorities. As soon as possible, Joseph Reed, President of Pennsylvania, hurried to the scene, and after appealing to the men and promising redress, those whose enlistments had not ex- pired returned to camp. President Reed refers to this " unhappy dis- content " in his letter of January 27, 178 1, to Colonel Henry and, in order to guard against a recurrence, to stimulate enlistments, which The Life of William Henry. 133 had practically ceased in consequence, and to inspire a renewal of confidence, he appoints Colonel Henry a special paymaster with in- structions to give careful attention to the in- terest of both the State and its soldiers. Here again is brought to our attention Col- onel Henry's availability as a trusted agent for negotiating important measures. Indeed, whenever it became necessary to select a man in whom absolute confidence could be placed, or in any capacity demand- ing a nice discretion, which his calm and judi- cial temperament permitted him to exercise, Colonel Henry was chosen by the Supreme Executive Council or the Board of War. As an illustration of the confidence reposed in his versatile qualities as an executive, the board authorized him to negotiate and purchase a controlling interest in an undeveloped lead mine in the southwestern part of Pennsyl- vania, and in 1780 he was made chairman of a committee composed of Vice-President Wil- liam Moore of the State, Colonel John Bull and himself to regulate the price of flour. 134 The Life of William Henry. In Council, Philadelphia, January 27, 1781. Sir: The late unhappy discontent of the Pennsylvania Line, which has terminated almost in a very con- siderable Reduction, have rendered it necessary for us to adopt some plan of recruiting, by which like difficulties may not occur in future. Many soldiers have been attested by their officers and others, with so little formality, as to open a door to innumerable Complaints, both on that score, and the payment of the Bounty. To obviate these in future, we have adopted the plan in the inclosed printed paper, and depending on your accuracy, and regard to the Pub- lick Interests have nominated you to attest the new i.nlisted Recruits, as well as to pay them the Bounty, for which purpose we enclose you an order of the State Treasurer on the County Treasurer, for the sum of Five hundred pounds State Money, to be paid to officers and soldiers agreeable to our plan. The Commanding Officer of each Regiment is to give you a list of the officers appointed by him to Recruit, and you will be carefull to take receipts for the levy money, and double Receipts for the Bounty as well as double inlistments and attestations, from the soldiers. The Receipts to be filled up, agreeable to the fourth Article of Instructions. The Council purpose to recommend to the As- sembly, to make a generous allowance for your The Life of William Henry. 135 service, and we request your care, that every Attes- tation be duly returned to the Board, that this important service may be conducted with, fairness to the Soldiers, and a due regard to the Interests of the State. I am Sir Your obedient and very humble Servant Jos. Reed President. To William Henry Esquire Lancaster. CHAPTER XVI. Correspondence with Hon. Joseph Reed, Hon. William Moore, General Anthony Wayne and Judge William Atlee. President Reed to Colonel William Henry, Sir:— Your several Favors of the 3d & 7 & I2th Inst, have been received & w^ould have answered sooner but for my Indisposition. We are sorry to find the Officers of the Army decline accepting the two Dollars, as we hoped in their distressed State for Want of Pay & Necessaries that this Sum would not have been beneath their Notice. If as a Symp- tom of finding themselves in a more comfortable State of Finance we should rejoice to hear it, but if it is too little for the Officers we think it too much for the Serjeant. Mr. W's Conduct has been the Subject of much Consideration & we are partly de- termined to remove him, but the Difficulty is to appoint the Successor — We really have a Reluc- tance to appoint Persons to Offices who have declined them in Days of Difficulty & are also disinclined to the Government; but if suitable Persons of another 136 The Life of William Henry. 137 Character cannot be had we must appoint the others — ^You may depend upon It some Thing will be done shortly on this Subject. With respect to the Guard at the Magazines we supposed the Property to be of the United States, & have accordingly made strong Representations to the Board of War, accompanied with an Extract from your Letter & also from Col. Hubley on that Subject — As soon as any Determination is had we will let you know. As Col. Atlee is now going home we hope he will put his Lieutenants Accounts in such Train as that you may receive the Money which may be due the Public from that Quarter. We are most exceed- ingly distressed for Want even of small Sums, the Treasury being deplorably low & not in any likely Way to be recruited very soon. You may depend upon it that no Use will be made of your Name in any Proceedings which respect Mr. W. We are very apprehensive that Congress will order the Convention Prisoners to the Number of 2500 or 3,000 to be stationed at Lancaster & York. We have wrote to our Delegates & done every Thing in our Power to prevent it, but we fear with little Effect. A Representation from the Inhabitants of Lancaster to their Members of Assembly would probably have a good Effect if the Measure appears 138 The Life of William Henry. to them disadvantageous to the State in general or the Town in particular. I am Sir, your Obed. Hbble. Ser. Jos. Reed. P. S. You will please to pay the Recruits their second Bounty as it becomes due, Council having given Directions for that Purpose which we hoped you had received. March 13, 1781. Lancaster's proximity to the seat of war made her very susceptible to its ravages. The county was the granary of the State — we might almost say of the country — and as the struggle dragged its slow length along, the heavy drain upon its resources manifested it- self in discontented murmurs. Every house in the town, public and private, was crowded to the eaves with refugees, soldiers and pris- oners of war, as many as three thousand British officers and men being confined there at one time, the privates In the barracks, and the officers under parole in public houses, and In private families. This large addition to the normal population was the cause of con- siderable distress, as indicated in Colonel Henry's interesting letter of the twenty-sixth ,The Life of William Henry. 139 of April to the Hon. William Atlee, one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of Penn- sylvania, from which we get a glimpse of the conditions from which the citizens as well as the prisoners suffered. Judge Atlee was a native of Lancaster. Lancaster, 26th April, 1781. Dear Sir: — I received your favor of the 23rd inst., with a paper, for which I am much obliged. Five hundred and two prisoners of war arrived here last week and one hundred and fifty-four this day. They are in the Barracks under a subaltern and a guard of twenty men. Several of them I intend to send to jail, for they have been in our service and deserted. We will not be able to furnish meat for them — not even two-thirds of the allowance — therefore, would it not be well to give more Bread and less meat? This matter is worthy of your attention before you leave Philadelphia. Our town is now in distress for want of meats of all kinds. Mrs. Atlee and the children are well. Your Servant was taken ill, the Doctor says with Jail fever, but he will be removed to the Hospital in the Barracks. I am with due respect Sir, Your Humble Servant, William Henry. Hon. Wm. Atlee. 140 The Life of William Henry. Colonel Henry's letter to Samuel Hodgdon, Assistant Adjutant General at Philadelphia, brings to our attention the culminating dan- gers arising from an empty treasury. In this instance a company of dragoons whose term of service had expired but had not been paid, asked to be allowed to retain their horses as payment on account, a measure Colonel Henry strongly recommended, and when re- fused threatened, and actually did take forci- ble possession of their mounts and accoutre- ments. Colonel Henry was apprehensive that the British prisoners, taking advantage of the incidental confusion, might attempt to rush the guard, overpower the small garrison and make a break for freedom. Lancaster, the 30th April, 1781. Sir: In consequence of orders from the War Office Major Green the commanding officer here ordered the Dragoons to deliver up their Horses with their accoutrements. They by their sergeant's requested that they might keep them for a few days till Gen- eral Armond returned from Philadelphia, but as Major Green's orders were peremptory he would not agree to their proposal. The Dragoons refused The Life of William Henry. 141 to obey orders and marched off from their parade, and on their being threatened with the infantry said they would go to York, and filed off that way. However, by the prudent management of the offi- cers they agreed to deliver up the horses and ac- coutrements immediately. Major Green and sev- eral other officers requested that the sale should be postponed till Saturday, to which we have agreed. The horses and accoutrements are still in the hands of the men. I believe that if they were allowed to bid for their horses they would go off much higher than they will for cash. A meeting among the troops here may be attended with serious con- sequences and if possible should be avoided, at least till the prisoners could be removed. What has happened today must have given them (the prison- ers) high pleasure. I hope this day's work will not have an evil effect on the infantry here. If it should the consequences are evident. If the officers and foot soldiers were permitted to purchase it would be more aggreeable to the whole. Your most obedient and humble servant, William Henry Samuel Hodgdon, Esq. Here follows a characteristic letter from General Anthony Wayne who was then in Lancaster to Colonel Henry, urging the equip- ment of a company of dragoons. 142 The Life of William Henry. Lancaster, i6th May, 1781. Dear Sir: — Your known attachment to the American cause, and the readiness with which you have on all occa- sions exerted your self to promote the true interest of our Country, leaves no room to doubt but that everything in your power will be done for the im- mediate equipment of the dragoons belonging to this State. I have, therefore, called for fitting out Sixty Horse of Col. Moylan's regiment, whose services to the southward is of the last importance. I have the honor to be your obedient, humble Ser. Anthony Wayne. Brigadier General. William Henry, Esq. Colonel Henry's Reply to General Wayne's Letter of the Same Date. Lancaster, May i6th, 1781. Sir: I am honoured with yours of this day. It would give me real pleasure to have it in my power to equip the sixty-eight Dragoons with the Articles mentioned in Major Fontleroy's Return, but my situation with respect to business done for the pub- lic is not the most agreeable. I have advanced a large sum of money belonging to Pennsylvania, for the United States and do not know when I can be repaid: — it is true I have some leather in hand be- , The Life of William Henry. 143 longing to the United States perhaps sufficient to fur- nish leather accoutrements for Sixty Dragoons and that is all. If his Excellency the President in Coun- cil could give orders for equipping the Dragoons be- fore mentioned I think it might be done in two or three weeks and the accounts may be kept without throwing the State into any confusion In their settle- ment with Congress. The value of leather made use of may be passed to the Credit of the United States and the workmanship be charged. I am Sir, Your most obedient and Humble servant, William Henry, To. B. General Wayne. Hon. Joseph Reed to Colonel Henry, Rela- tive TO General Wayne's Requisition FOR THE Equipment of Sixty Dragoons. General Green's repulse at Camden, S. C, is also noted as well as General Marion's movements in the same state. In Council Philadelphia, May 21st, 1781. Sir:— General Wayne has transmitted to us and the Board of War a copy of your letter to him of six- 144 The Life of William Henry. teenth Inst., wherein you observe that if Council will give orders for equipping the Sixty dragoons you will provide them in two weeks. You must be sensible that this mode of turning over the money from State to Congress is not perfectly agreeable to us, and we wish to avoid it as much as possible, but in the present case we are so anxious to do everything in our power, that we consent to it upon the following terms, which your known punctuality in business assures us you will comply with, viz. That you furnish the Board of War immediately with a return of the money expended, and if there are any former monies under the same predicament to include them, and at the same time forward an order on the Board in favor of Mr. Rittenhouse which being negotiated with the Treasurer of the United States it may enable us to take credit in his books for the sum and you at the same have credit with Mr. Rittenhouse. General Greene has received a small Check at Camden in consequence of a sally made by Lord Rawdon, but it is not of much consequence, as he immediately reinvested the place — his loss is one hundred and three killed, wounded and missing — the Enemy lost Sixty Prisoners, other losses not known. General Marion surprised a Post of one Hundred Men (Seventy three British troops), a few days before. General Greene seems assured of , The Life of William Henry. 145 final success at Camden, which we hope a few days will realize. I am Sir Your obedient and very humble Servant, Jos. Reed. President William Henry Esq at Lancaster. II CHAPTER XVII. From Colonel William Henry to the Honorable Joseph Reed, President OF Pennsylvania, Suggesting a Plan TO Avert Financial Disaster. HIS remarkable letter is in reply to a request for a plan to relieve the monetary stringency. The situ- ation was becoming desperate. The war chest was empty, with no visible means for its replenishment. The troops had not been paid, and while some were murmur- ing others were in open revolt at the long- delayed arrival of the paymaster. It was in this extremity that President Reed appealed to Colonel Henry, whose recommendations on a former occasion, when the conditions were less acute, had received the thoughtful consid- eration of the Council. Thus far no one had shown any capacity to cope with the financial problems precipitated by the war. It is true Robert Morris had raised money on his per- sonal credit but had formulated no plan to provide for a permanent revenue, or for plac- 146 , The Life of William Henry. 147 Ing an European loan. Henry's letter, which antedates by a year Morris's subsequent recommendations, suggests both, and exhibits a knowledge of the fundamental law govern- ing the Issue of paper money, and of finance, quite unusual at that day, " the very absence of which," according to a British estimate, '^ that had brought the Confederation face to face with bankruptcy." It will thus be seen that Henry was far in advance of his day in his grasp of the financial situation con- fronting not only his own country but Europe. This letter President Reed submitted to the Supreme Executive Council, and Its sug- gestions subsequently adopted by Robert Morris; In which connection it is Interesting to note that what Lord Liverpool advocated In his letter to the King In 1 8 1 8 Is more than foreshadowed by Henry thirty-seven years be- fore. Premising that the basis of all paper cur- rency must necessarily be specie, Henry pro- poses a clear and feasible plan for its accumu- lation by the enactment of laws requiring the payment of certain licenses, and duties on im- ports in coin, and further recommends as a 148 The Life of William Henry. basis of security for placing a loan with for- eign bankers, the revenue from an excise tax. This latter he strongly urges as a moral as well as an economic measure, and taking It as a whole the letter Is original and masterly and worthy a minister of finance of our own day. Lancaster, the 26th day of May, 1781. Dear Sir: — It is paying me a greater compliment than my poor abilities have any claim to, to ask my opinion on the present intricate state of our affairs. I will, however, give it without further apology. The principal reasons why our paper money is in so little repute with the people seems to be the fol- lowing: — Government has no specie to circulate with the paper, nor can it at any time exchange a considerable part of it for specie. The natural basis of all paper credit is specie, and the value we put in paper is in proportion to the quanity of specie it will purchase. Therefore some method should be taken to procure at least a part of the revenue in specie. This is not impracticable. Why cannot tavern licenses, marriage licenses, and licenses for distilling grain be paid in specie? The petitioner has one whole year to provide the money, and his private interests will stimulate him to it. It is true, as the laws now stand, no man is obliged to take a , The Life of William Henry. 149 license for the distilling of grain, but would it not be good policy to enact such a law, and thereby oblige the owners of stills above a certain size to have them registered in the county where they live? This would enable the Government to form an esti- mate of the amount of this part of the revenue, which I am persuaded it cannot do at present. Under the late Government the excise on spirituous liquors was said to be worth £6,000 per annum. If the licenses aforesaid were raised 50 per ct. this would bring in a handsome revenue without distressing the subject, and would be attended with good conse- quence to the people at large in preventing numbers of dram-shops being kept, which at present are a nuisance; and it would be ample security to any gentleman, at home or abroad, for a payment of a sum of money to answer the present emergencies of the Government. Might not all fines and for- feitures in courts of justice be paid in specie? And duties on foreign imports might be paid in specie, or merchandise suitable for the support of the army. The Government has put paper into the hands of the people, and ought to receive it again in taxes, though not at a depreciated value. To prevent this the taxes ought to be laid in specie, payable in wheat, at a certain value in proportion to the distance from the market, or the value in paper to be ascertained by council, weekly; and to prevent fraud in collec- tors, they ought to give printed receipts to the people, 150 The Life of William Henry. and deliver in to the commissioner of the tax the amount of all moneys by them received, and the time w^hen, which would enable the commissioner often to district the collectors. The same method would be of use in collecting militia fines, and pre- vent numerous abuses which have happened. Col- lectors of taxes and militia money ought to be pun- ishable with fine or imprisonment, or both, for ex- torting more from the people than the law requires, which there is every reason to believe is practiced, especially among the Germans. When I wrote in favor of the tender law, as it is called, I meant such a one as would in some degree have been adequate to the purpose, which the present one is not. It is too tedious in Its operation to be of any use. At present the best calculated would not answer any good purpose, therefore it ought to be repealed. If the tender act is repealed Government may then receive the money outstanding for unpat- ented lands at specie value, which It ought, and it will not be necessary to hold these moneys, as a fund for the £500,000 for that will depreciate to very little before it can be collected in taxes. But I have, perhaps, said more than enough. I have the honor to be your friend and humble servant, William Henry. To his Excellency Joseph Reed, President of Penn- sylvania. . The Life of William Henry. 151 Quoting again from the Journal of October 26, 178 1, It Is recorded that great excitement prevailed when the joyful news reached Lan- caster of the capture of the British Army at Yorktown, " Church bells rang all day, salvos of artillery were fired and a constant dis- charge of small arms continued until late at night. All houses were illuminated." Colonel Henry to President Moore, of the Supreme Executive Council of Penn- sylvania. Lancaster, January 7, 1782. Sir:— Colonel Antll has return'd Seventy-Seven Men of his Regiment, (exclusive of Six killed before York, in Virginia,) belonging to the Pennsylvania Line, who have not received the Gratuity allowed by a Resolution of Assembly of the 8th March, 1 78 1. Gen. Hazen has certified to me that the said Return is true, etc. The people insisted on having the Nine pounds State Money paid in Specie, as the State Money was a legal Tender when the Gratuity was given, and at present was not. I re- fused payment at that Rate, and left the Matter to be determined by Council, aledging that the Money was better now than at the Time the Line 152 The Life of William Henry. received the Gratuity, etc. They were extremely clamorous and pressing for the Money, aledging that the New England Men of their Reg. had re- ceived a Gratuity of 24 Specie Dollars each ; several of them agreed at last to receive the Exchange (that Is one for Three here) In Lieu of the Nine Pounds State Money, which I agreed to and have paid them at that Rate ; but still the Matter Is to be determined by Council, whether they are to have the State Money paid In Specie or not. I have given them very little Encouragement, telling them that if theirs was to be made good, the remainder of the Line would expect the same would be done for them, etc. You win be pleased to determine this affair as soon and explicit as possible. I have paid the Widow of one of the Men killed before York, In Virginia, as her Husband was entitled to it In his life Time, Col. Antll having certified that she was the Wife of the deceased. There are a Number of State Certificates for the Depreciation of the Soldiers Pay In the Hands of the Men here, would it not be the Interest of the Government to order them to be purchased? They are sold for Two Shillings and Six pence In the pound, to Storekeepers, etc. I have paid oif Mr. RIttenhouses' Orders, and should be glad he would draw any Money he may want in these Parts, as there are but few good Opportunities of Sending Dollars (which Is the Principal part of The Life of William Henry. 153 the Money which comes in for the Taxes) to Phil- adelphia. The Gold I can send conveniently. I am, Sir, Your very obedient, & humble Servant, William Henry. His Excellency, William Moore, Esquire, Presi- dent of Council, Philadelphia. From Col. William Henry to President Moore of Pennsylvania in Which He Desires a Settlement of His Accounts. Lancaster May 29th 1782 Sir. I have advanced £2,448. towards Recruiting the Pennsylvania Line, forty-eight pounds more than I have orders for. The Recruiting Service goes on but slowly. I should for my part be glad to have my Accounts settled, and perhaps it would be pru- dent for Col. Thompson to have his settled with the officers, as there is little more to be done at present. I returned yesterday from Carlisle, where I was summoned to give evidence in behalf of the State in General Roberdeau's action for Damages sustained in carrying on the Lead Works in Juniata. The Jury found for the State generally. I am, Sir, Your Obedt. hum. Servt. William Henry His Excellency William Moore Esq. 154 The Life of William Henry. Sanctioned by Washington as an act of courtesy, the British In 1782 established a warehouse In Lancaster for the purpose of supplying the prisoners with articles, prin- cipally delicacies, not otherwise obtainable. This was British merchandise, and In the course of time It was discovered that the store- keeper, through one John Musser, was surrep- titiously selling It to the people of the county for the benefit and profit of the prisoners, at less than they could buy from the local shop-keepers, exacting coin in payment, thus Inflicting two serious injuries: depleting the country of Its specie, and by under-selling the dealers destroying their livelihood. Colonel Henry, who was not slow in grasp- ing the situation, submitted the facts to the Hon. William Moore, President of the Su- preme Executive Council, in the following letter : Lancaster, June 25th, 1782. Dear Sir: — You remember Lord North said in Parllment that the mode of carrying on the war In America must be altered, but I am afraid we are not acquainted with the method they intend to persue. They harrass our trade at sea and thereby prevent our getting specie. The Life of William Henry. 155 They are taking every possible method of drawing it out of the country. A large quanity of British goods said to be for the use of the prisoners of war have been brought to this place, Philadelphia, and York, by permission. These are procured at the store by the prisoners and then hawked about the town and country and sold to the Inhabitants. This money of course cen- tres in their store. There is still if possible a greater evil. There are some gentlemen in Philadelphia who have aggreed to furnish the British paymaster with money to pay the prisoners which I am in- formed takes £3000 : per month. The last payment has been made in bank notes, which of course must be changed to specie. This money also centres in the hands of the British storekeeper, for he has every- thing in greater perfection and cheaper than the local merchants have and is sure of the custom of the prisoners. But how are these evils to be remedied? Very easily. We have nothing to do but prevent them from keeping a store in our country, and then if we do go on furnishing them with specie for their paper they will be obliged to pay it out again among us. I am informed the gentlemen who furnish the pay-master with money have 2d on the dollar and this on £36,000 per annum is a handsome profit, though poor America does loose the principal. 156 The Life of William Henry. I do wish something could be done In this matter. If there Is not, the consequence Is obvious, I remain dear Sir Your Humble Servant William Henry. To His excellency, William Moore, President of Pennsylvania. Acting upon the information contained in Colonel Henry's communication to President Moore, William Bradford, Jr., Attorney Gen- eral of the State, authorized the arrest of Musser and the seizure of the merchandise. Philada July 8 1782 Dear Sir: Inclosed you w^Ill receive an attachment against certain Goods In the possession of John Musser In Lancaster, supposed to be British. Information has been lodged w^Ith Council that this man carries on a clandestine & dishonorable trade with the British Store & that at this time there Is a large quantity 0^ Goods packed up In flour Casks In his house or possession. I have to request that you will Immedi- ately upon the receipt of the enclosed send for the Sheriff or one of the most active of his officers, and give him directions for executing the Attachment with all possible Expedition & Secresy. I am clearly of opinion that he has a right to break open outer , The Life of William Henry. 157 or inner doors, if necessary for the Execution of the writ; and that if any opposition be made he ought to raise the posse comitatus & force obedience from those who attempt to oppose him. Every endeavor ought to be used to stop this ruin- ous trade, and Council have desired me to ask your assistance in this business as a person on whom they can fully rely. I am Sir Your most obedient & very humble Serv. Wm Bradford Jun. William Henry Esq. P. S. If the Sheriff should be fortunate enough to seize the goods before they are removed, he must store them in some safe and secure place (as he will be answerable for them), make an inventory, & return the inventory & his answer to the writ on the 24th Day of next September. From Colonel Henry's letter of July 29, 1782, to the Honorable George Bryan, we are Informed that the Instructions of Attorney- General Bradford representing the Supreme Council of Safety had been complied with. Lancaster, July 29, 1782. Dear Sir: — I happened to be abroad when your favor of the 15th inst. came to hand. By orders from Council 158 The Life of William Henry. I have taken into my possession all Goods, Wares and Merchandize belonging to Mr. Taylor, the British Storekeeper here; except made up Uniforms; also his books and papers. This has given much disquiet to the Speculators here. Evidence and much circumstantial to corroborate it can be produced. I do not Care to take Deposi- tions, unless they were Official. This affair has made much Noise and I believe will make much more. Would it not be well for Council to order the Deposition of the Evidence to be taken and sent down, or is it best to wait and let the affair take its Course? I am of the opinion Mr. Taylor will ap- pear and plead Gen'l Washington's permission at the Supreme Court, if permitted, which is given in such general Terms, that it will cover the supplying of the Prisoners with any kind or rather with every Kind of Goods. Mr. Taylor confessed the Goods came from New York. The Entry made in one of his Books, is the only Proof which can be made of his having sold Goods directly to the people of this place and this will not amount to positive proof, for the Entries are not dated at Lancaster ; it is true the day of the Month is mentioned, but the year I believe is not. Will it not be necessary first to inves- tigate the affair prior to the Tryal of Taylor, before the Supreme Court — as this is the only Charge in his Book against any of the Inhabitants for Goods. We have disagreeable Accounts from the West- , The Life of William Henry. 159 ward; Hannah's Town Is burnt & several of the Inhabitants killed, and Four or Five taken prisoners or rather missing. I am Dear Sir Your most obed' hum. Serv' William Henry. To the Honorable George Bryan Esquire. In making the seizure a quantity of wine was confiscated, the personal property, it was claimed, of the British officers, prisoners of war on parole, who appealed to Colonel Henry, as well as to the President of the State for its release, which was afterwards granted. Lancaster, 2d July, 1782. Sir:— As I understand that you, by an Order from the Supreme Council of Pennsylvania, have seized upon all the Goods, etc., that remained In Mr. Taylor's store, I beg leave to Inform you that the Wine Is not his property but actually purchased for the Offi- cers & sick Soldiers. The reason why it was left In Mr. Taylor's Cellar Is owing to the Officers not having a proper convenience at their Quarters, and they took It out as It was wanted for use. I there- fore hope you will order It to be given up. Whatever has been the Cause for taking this step. i6o The Life of William Henry. It certainly never can be attributed to the Officers, and I must think It hard Indeed, If they are to lose any of their private property, particularly under the sanction of General Washington's Passport, men- tioning Table stores In w^hlch wine Is most certainly Included. I am. Sir, Your most obed' humble servant, Alex' Arbuthnot, Cap. 8oth Reg. Wlll'm Henry, Esqr., Lancaster. Indorsed, Read In Council, July 5th, 1782. General Moses Hazen writes to William Henry, in which he expresses the fear that if some provision is not made to pay the troops a civil war may be the consequence. He presents his compliments to Mrs. Henry, to whom he was indebted for courtesies when stationed in Lancaster. POMPTON 23d Feby. 1783. Dear Sir: — Before this will reach you I judge you will be in possession of the money I left you a power to receive. In which case I beg to remit the Ballance, over what may be due to you, to Col. Clement BIddle at Phil- adelphia, or his order. , The Life of William Henry. i6i I do most sincerely congratulate you and my friends at Lancaster on the present flattering pros- pects of peace. The conduct of the State of Rhode Island by their disregarding the call of Congress in not passing the impost act is reprobated here by all orders & degrees of men, and that of Virginia Re- pealing the same act once passed is no less unaccount- able. What may be the consequence of an Honbl Peace without funds established for the payment of debts due to the Army & other public creditors, is hard to say — there are some politicians who openly suggest that the Army will not quietly lay down their arms untill they see a disposition in the people to do Justice to them and other public creditors. A little time must now determine whether we have another campaign or not. Compliments to Mrs. Henry, and beg you will believe me to be Dear Sir Yours most sincerely Moses Hazen William Henry Esq. That General Hazen's fears were well founded is shown in the following disturbing letter from Colonel Henry to President Dick- inson, in which he announces the departure of a mutinous body of armed troops for Phila- delphia, bent upon getting their long overdue 12 i62 The Life of William Henry. pay, either by fair means or foul. Fortu- nately before they reached the city they were intercepted by a committee of citizens who persuaded them to disband, after assurances of redress. Lancaster, June 17th, 1783. Sir:— Eighty armed soldiers set off this morning for Philadelphia to Co-operate with those now in the City in such measures as may appear to them the most likely to procure their pay (or perhaps to possess themselves of money at any rate) I have thought it my duty to give the most timely information pos- sible that the City may not be surprised. I am in- formed that part of Gen'l Armond's Corps will be here to-morrow on their way to Philadelphia, and am of opinion from what has transpired from some of the men who are still here, that they will follow the others to the City and share the same fate. They have thrown out several threats that they will rob the Bank, the Treasury, etc. I have the honor to be Your obedient Humble Servant, William Henry. His Excellency John Dickinson President of Penna. , The Life of William Henry. 163 Unperturbed by impending financial disas- ter, it is refreshing to observe State Treasurer Rittenhouse's interest in a comparison of the temperatures of Philadelphia and Lancaster. From David Rittenhouse to Colonel Henry. Dear Sir: — I enclose a receipt for £810 on account of cash advanced by you to the recruiting officers. All the other receipts I had before delivered to the Post. I have not yet received the £100 to be repaid by Mr. Slough. Perhaps you meant to have it deducted from your last payment as I gave you credit for it some time ago. I wish our thermometers could be compared to- gether. If they agree it would appear that the air is warmer at Lancaster than here. At 3 o'clock on Saturday last the mercury stood at almost 94, at the same hour Sunday at 93, and On Monday at 91 in my observatory with all the windows open. The same difference has been observed before. I am Dear Sir, Your most obedient Servent, David Rittenhouse. Wm. Henry, Esq. Rittenhouse and Henry had much in com- mon to make their intercourse agreeable; in 164 The Life of William Henry. temperament, as well as in their scientific pur- suits, they were congenial spirits, and that the former regarded Henry with no common sen- timent we have but to read the concluding lines from his letter to Henry of June 10, 1784. The body of the letter which is omitted refers to routine matters connected with the State Treasury. Shall we never see you in Philadelphia again? I have many things to say to you, but hate vi^rlting too much to converse vv^ith you by letter. I am Dear Sir, Yours affectionately, David Rittenhouse. When the war was in progress Colonel Henry's visits to Philadelphia were frequent, where they never failed to meet, but as a dele- gate to the Congress of 1784-85 his engage- ments took him to Trenton, and finally to New York, where he was stricken in Decem- ber of 1785. Hearing of his illness Ritten- house wrote to Jno. Joseph Henry, expressing the hope that his father would recover. Re- ferring to his father's intimacy with Ritten- house, Judge Henry, in a contribution to , The Life of William Henry. 165 Rees' Encyclopedia states: " During a course of many years my father was In the habit of communicating all his discoveries In the vari- ous branches of mechanical science to Dr. Rittenhouse." From the night they took their seats to- gether as members of the American Philo- sophical Society in 1767 until Henry's death they enjoyed an uninterrupted friendship. CHAPTER XVIII. Is Elected to the Congress of 1784, '85 AND '86 AND Dies in Office — Sum- mary OF HIS Career. OLONEL HENRY received many honors and deserved them; the last to be conferred was his elec- tion by the Assembly of Pennsyl- vania to the Congresses of 1784, '85 and '86, which convened in Trenton and New York. It gave him pleasure to find among his co- adjutors his old friend and compatriot Hon. Joseph Reed. An extract from the minutes of the General Assembly showing the result of the election of delegates, is given below. State of Pennsylvania, General Assembly. Tuesday, November i6th, 1784, A.M. Agreeable to the order of the day the House pro- ceeded to the election of Delegates to represent this State in the Congress of the United States for the ensuing year, and the ballots being taken it appeared that the Honorable Joseph Reed, Cadwallader 166 The Life of William Henry. 167 Morris, William Montgomery, Joseph Gardner and William Henry of Lancaster, Esquires were duly elected. Extract from the Minutes, J. Wallus, Assistant Clerk of the General Assembly. We have found that he served on at least two committees, Coinage and Indian Affairs, for both of which he was singularly well equipped; and that he took an active and in- telligent interest in the transactions of Con- gress we have the testimony of his letters. From among them we select one to the Hon. George Bryan, and two written in conjunc- tion with Mr. Gardner, who was also a dele- gate from Pennsylvania, to the Hon. John Dickinson, President of the State; one of which is a reply to a memorial of the mer- chants and traders of Philadelphia petitioning Congress to prevent further depredations by the corsairs of the Barbary Coast. Immu- nity had to be purchased, an imposition that the young republic was the first power to suc- cessfully resist and punish. i68 The Life of William Henry. Hon. William Henry and Joseph Gardner to President Dickinson, 1785. New York, February 7th, 1785. The Wyoming dispute rests at present, and we hope will do so for some time — ^we have seen Mr. Wilson and rec' by him some additional papers to those brought on by Mr. Hervy, relating to that unhappy dispute. The Report of a Committee upon your Exc ys letter, with your enclosures, relative to the appoint- ment of additional Comm'rs for settling & adjust- ing the accts. of the Citizens of Penn. against the United States, remains undetermined until a report is brought in to prevent frauds supposed to be prac- ticed by some persons having unsettled accts., and stated to Congress by Mr. Denning, Commr. in this state, which we hope will be made to morrow. The first report, as brought in, and which we have reason to believe will pass, comes up fully to the Idea of the Legislature as expressed in the act, and we hope they will see the propriety of a further suspension of the operation of that Law rather than suffer the state to be reproached with an unfoederal measure, especially as the objects of it can suffer The Life of William Henry. 169 very little by a delay of a week or 10 days, and perhaps not half that time. We are, with due respect, Your exc'ys very humble serv'ts., William Henry, Joseph Gardner. His exc'y the President of Penna. Council to Delegates in Congress, 1785. In Council, February 17th, 1785. Gentlemen : — We enclose a Copy of a Memorial lately presented to us by the Merchants & Traders of this City con- cerning Captures by Barbary Corsairs. The matter is of so much Moment, that we desire you will immediately bring it before Congress, & endeavor to have the most proper Measures adopted for preventing the mischiefs that are apprehended. Your obe'd & very humble Servant, John Dickinson, Presid't of Pen?tsylvania. To The Honorable Delegates of Pennsylvania in Congress. I70 The Life of William Henry. Memorial of Merch'ts of Philadelphia, 1785. To his Excellency the Presid't and the H'ble the Supreme Executive Council of the Common- wealth of Pennsylvania. The Memorial of the Merch'ts & Traders of the City of Philadelphia by their Commltte; Respectfully Sheweth, That the Capture of an American Vessel by the Corsairs of Barbary gives this Committee Real & Just apprehensions of future depredation, on our trade from the same quarter. Upon an occasion so extremely Important, it is the duty of this Committee to entreat that Councill will Represent to Congress the Necessity of en- deavoring Speedily to conciliate the states of Barbary to us by presents, as it Is practiced by most of the Commercial Nations in Europe, or by treatys to be entered into with them as shall be deemed expedient by the Wisdom of that Body. We trust the Necessity of the Case will Induce Councill to take the earliest opportunity of Laying this business before the United States in Congress, in such manner as shall appear to them most likely to produce the Remedy prayed for. Philadelphia, 17, February, 1785. J. M. Nesbitt, Tho's Fitzsimons, J. Ross, The Life of William Henry. 171 MoRDECAi Lewis, John Nixon, Tench Coxe, Geo. Clymer, Sam'l Howell, John Wilcocks, Isaac Hazlehurst, Clement Biddle. To His Excell'y the Presid't & the Supreme Ex- ecutive Council of Pennsylvania. Delegates in Congress Gardner and Henry to President Dickinson, of Penn- sylvania. New York, March 9th, 1785. Sir:— We have been honored with your Excellency's favor of February 17th date, enclosing the Memor- ial of the Merchant's and Traders of the City of Philada., expressing their apprehensions of further depredations on their trade by the Barbary Corsairs, if speedy and effectual measures are not taken to prevent them, which has been laid before Congress — and we are happy to inform you, Sir, & thro' you the Merchants of Philadelphia, that Congress have not been inattentive to this very important concern, to which we believe they are well disposed to give every relief in their power. Our ministers abroad have long since been authorized to negotiate with the 172 The Life of William Henry. States of Barbary (in common with others) treaties of amity & commerce, which we have reason to know have only been rendered ineffectual heretofore (with the Barbary States) for want of a sum of money, which custom has made absolutely necessary to purchase them. Congress have lately appropriated for this purpose a sum of money not exceeding eighty thousand dol- lars, subject to the draughts of our ministers. A Gentleman well recommended for his integrity and personal knowledge of the country, will be charged with fresh dispatches to Europe in a short time, respecting this business, who may probably be em- ployed to carry into effect the wishes of Congress at the Court of the Emperor of Morrocco. Altho' we ardently wish as much as possible to satisfy the anxiety of the merchants upon this sub- ject, yet we request that no extracts may be taken or published, as the matter is yet sub judice, and any premature publication may have a tendancy to delay, if not prevent, the proposed negotiations, and draw the unwary merchants into a snare, by mistaking the intention for the fact. There is little reason to doubt but that Great Britain will use all her in- fluence to prevent any such treaties being made. As soon as Congress have taken their final determina- tions upon this subject, we will have the honor of communicating them as far as our injunctions of secrecy will admit. The Life of William Henry. 173 Mr. Marbois, in the name of the King, his mas- ter, has made a demand of Longchamps; this has been under consideration for several days as the order of the day, and has been postponed; when this great national question may be discussed is un- certain, but there appears no disposition to hurry. No moves have been made by the Connecticut Gentlemen upon the Wyoming business, and we remain in the dark what the wish of the State is in the affair. If any determinations of the house take place, we will be much obliged by your Excell'ys communication upon that subject. Gen'l Knox is appointed Secretary at War. The treasury is not yet formed — no official acctts from Jarvais or Os- good whether they will serve or no. We are. With great respect, Sir, Your Excell'ys most obt. & Very h'ble Serv'ts, Joseph Gardner, William Henry. From Colonel Henry to Hon. Geo. Bryan. New York, the 25th March 1785. Dear Sir: — The principal business now before Congress is the Disposing of the lands lately purchased and the making of a second purchase. Much time has been spent by a Committee of one from each of twelve 174 The Life of William Henry. states on the first and It is probable the lands will be sold by Districts of ten or twelve miles square to the highest bider, above such price as Congress may fix for the acre. A number of districts will probably put up to the sale in the different states perhaps nearly In proportion to their demand. The Com- missioners are authorised to make the second pur- chase to the Mississippi and as the Indians have offered those lands for sale there will probably be little Difficulty In purchasing them. Commissioners are appointed to hold a treaty with the Creeks, Che- rokees &c. The place for holding the federal Court for Mas- sachusetts and New York Is not yet Determined. Longchamps' affair was to have been brought forward this day but Is again gone off by an adjourn- ment to next Monday. Your French Pamphlet came very apropos, as It has run through a number of able hands since, and is now In Mr. Jay's. What Is our assembly about? Have they passed the law for regulating Elections? If this Is not done I (think) they will not hold their seats another year. I am sir, your Hum'l Serv't William Henry. The Honorable George Bryan.^^ While attending the Congress in New York ^® George Bryan was born in Dublin, Ireland, 1731, died in Philadelphia, January 27, 1791. 1765, delegate to the Stamp Act Congress. 1777, Vice-President Supreme Exec- The Life of William Henry. 175 in 1785, Colonel Henry became ill of a lung disorder, compelling his return to Lancaster, where he died December 15, 1786, at the age of fifty-seven, having barely passed the merid- ian of life. Three days afterwards his re- mains were followed to the tomb in the Mo- ravian Cemetery by a concourse of citizens from the town and countryside, together with the clergy of the Moravian, Episcopal, Lutheran and Reformed churches. He was survived by his wife, a daughter and six sons. The recollection of his own deficient educa- tion, the result of adverse circumstances, not from incapacity, strengthened his determina- tion that his children should enjoy what he had been deprived of. What he lost in his youth, however, his alert mind as it matured, made up in an almost insatiable appetite for books, which he gratified to the extent of his purse, utilizing as well the library he helped to found. His literary studies ran to the sci- ences which he absorbed, reading everything utive Council of Pennsylvania, and on the death of President Wharton, President of the State. 1780, Assist- ant Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. He was opposed to the adoption of the Federal Constitution. 176 The Life of William Henry. within his grasp, with little or no mental effort. He was a close student of the Intri- cacies of political economy and of history, and he confesses in his autobiography, that in his early manhood, unconsciously following a tendency of the day to treat flippantly all religious thought, he read and was disposed to accept the teachings of the deistical writers of the French school and their American plagiarists, all of whom, however, he lived to denounce. Hence we cannot wonder that he contem- plated the education of his children with ex- treme solicitude; his sons upon attaining the proper age entered Franklin College and his daughter the Moravian Institution at Beth- lehem, Pa. He thus writes to Bishop Seidel of that In- stitution in relation to one of his children who was 111 there of scarlet fever, and also men- tions having received a letter from his son John Joseph Henry from Quebec written a short time before the assault on that city. Lancaster Dec. 23, 1775. Dear Bishop Seidel: I know that you will excuse me in giving you the trouble to thank the Sisters who have the care The Life of William Henry. 177 of my children, and particularly to Sister Esther, for the attention she has given to My dear Betsy. Her letters were much appreciated. My little son Nathaniel has been suffering from the same dis- order, and is not expected to recover. I shall be glad to hear at every opportunity what progress to recovery My dear Betsy is making. I enclose thirty shillings, which please ask Sister Gerhart to lay out as she thinks best for Betsy. I have received a letter from my son John (Joseph) at Quebec, he was then well. With great respect, I have the honor to be William Henry. Colonel Henry was of commanding pres- ence, tall, vigorous and muscular with promi- nent features. Although the expression of his face was stern, it belied the innate gen- tleness of his nature as all the recorded acts of his life, as they have passed In review before us, exhibit a self-sacrificing and tender solici- tude for the welfare of others. That he was unable to resist the first onset of disease was largely due to his Impoverished vitality. The harassing anxieties, inseparable from a conscientious performance of his mili- tary and civil duties, coupled with the con- stant and fatiguing journeys to Philadelphia 13 178 The Life of William Henry. and New York and the towns adjacent to Lan- caster, all taken in the public service, were contributory factors in hastening his early and inopportune death, entailing upon the repub- lic in its formative period the loss of a wise counsellor, one of its very few able financiers, and the world of science a genius whose par- tially developed powers left much to be ex- pected of him. To say that his services, which were often of incalculable value to the Confederation and to Pennsylvania, were tendered without con- sidering the compensation as of paramount importance, is but to do him justice. As dis- bursing officer of the government and treas- urer of the county, vast sums for that day passed through his hands and left no stain nor the vaguest suspicion of venality. As a mat- ter of fact, although he died leaving what was then a handsome fortune (which an audit in the Lancaster County Orphans' Court shows to have been £22,455.7.5), his estate was in a measure embarrassed by reason of the tardi- ness of the government in making settlement for large personal advances made during the Revolution, for which his heirs were not reim- bursed until 1 8 1 1 . It is not too much to say The Life of William Henry. 179 that he pledged his fortune on the Issue of the contest, and gave his life to the State. In summing up the story of his life It will be gratifying to those who have been Inter- ested In the recital of his achievements, and noted his unfaltering zeal In promoting the struggle for liberty, to learn that he was per- mitted to witness its successful outcome. It is true, he was one of many who con- tributed to that end, but none exceeded him In unselfish devotion, or were actuated by lof- tier motives of patriotism and love of country. In the words of a contemporary writer, " He was one of the notable figures of his time." INDEX American Philosophical Society Transactions, Henry's contributions to, 41-46. Arbuthnot, Capt. Alex., prisoner of war, to W. Henry, 158, 159. Atlee, Hon. William, 139. Barton, Rev. Thomas, 87, 88, 89, 90. Bevan, Jane, 22. Bevan, John, 22. Bickham, 4. Biddle, Owen, 66. Bradford, William, Jr., Atty. Gen., letter to W. Henry, 155, 156. Bryan, Hon. Geo., W. Henry to, 157, 158, 173, 174. Cambray, Le Cheve de, 100. Carleton, Sir Guy, 64. Carothers, Col. John, 87, 88. Carson, 4. Davis, Mary A., wife James Henry, 3. Davis, Sarah, wife Robert Henry, 3. DeVinney, Hugh, 4. DeVinney, Mary (Jenkins), 4. Dickinson, Hon. John, letters from, W. Henry, 162, 170; letters to, i68, 169. Febiger, Col. C, 66 Fitch, John, admits Henry's priority as inventor of steam- boat, 51 ; dispute with Rumsey, 51 ; at American 180 Index. i8i Philosophical Society, 51; visits Henry, examines model of steamboat, 53. Gates, Gen. Horatio, 93. Gelelemend, alias Killbuck, Delaware chief, 4. Gordon, David, 6. Hall, James, 6. Hart, John, guest W. Henry, 80. Hazen, Gen. Moses, letter to W. Henry, 160. Heckewelder, Johanna Maria, 12. Heckewelder, John, 12. Henry, Ann, treasurer of Lancaster County, 20; Ritten- house to, 21 ; ancestry, 22; character, 23; death, 24; West paints portrait, 28; meets Priestley, 37; affi- davit regarding invention of steamboat, 52. Henry, Benjamin West, artist, 31. Henry, Granville, 29, 41. Henry, James (uncle), settles in Pennsylvania, 3; marries, 3 ; death, 3, 47. Henry, James (of Boulton), sketch of, 32; visit of and to Col. John Trumbull, 31, 32. Henry, John (father), settles in Chester Co., Pa., 3; mar- ries, 4; his death, 4; death of wife, 5. Henry, John Joseph, 23; enlists in army, 60; joins Ar- nold's expedition to Canada, 60; hardships of march, 61-62 ; wounded and captured at Quebec, 63 ; attacked by scurvy, 63 ; befriended by British officers, 64 ; ex- changed, 64; at Elizabethport, N. J., 65; at Prince- ton, 66 ; at Philadelphia, 66 ; reaches home, 67 ; forced to decline army commissions, 67 ; enters office of Pro- thonotary, 68 ; reads law and admitted to practice, 68 ; marries preceptor's sister, 68; appointed judge, 68; resigns, 69 ; author of " Campaign against Quebec," 69; Justin H. Smith's sketch of, 70; Judge Henry's on Thomas Paine, 83-85; death, 69. i82 Index. Henry, Matthew, visits Killbuck, 13; engages son for guide, 14; letter to J. J. Henry, 14. Henry, Mary Ann (grandmother), death of, 3. Henry, Robert (grandfather), settles in Pennsylvania, 3; death of, 3. Henry, Robert (uncle), settles in Pennsylvania, 3; marries, 3 ; removes to Virginia, 3, 47. Henry, Dr. Stephen Chambers, of Detroit, at Hull's sur- render, 70. Henry, William, ancestry and early life, i; Armorer of Braddock's and Forbes' expeditions, 2; Assistant Com- missary General, 2, 73 ; Member of Assembly, 3 ; judge, 3; treasurer, 3; fiscal agent, 2; member of Congress, 3, 73; his mother, 4, 5; apprenticed, 4; meets Killbuck in Congress, 11; marries Ann Wood, 19; her death, 24; patron Benj. West, 26, 27; who paints portraits, 28 ; " Death of Socrates," 28, 29, 30, 31; Benj. West Henry, 31; sails for England, 34; captured by privateer, 35; reaches London, visits Watts, sees steam engine, 35-36; returns home, 36; member American Philosophical Society, 38; founder Juliana Library, 39; invents screw augur, 39; steam sentinel register, 41-46 ; first to apply steam for motive power, 41 ; Schoepff's visit, 49 ; steamboat tested on Conestoga, 48 ; Fitch's visit to, 49, 50 ; Fitch admits Henry's priority of invention, 51 ; in- spects model of steamboat, 53 ; Thurston on invention, 54, 55; Assistant Burgess, 56; canal commissioner, 56; justice of the peace, 71; President Judge, 72; commissioner to regulate prices, 72; salary as treas- urer, 72; shrewd man of affairs, 74; Rittenhouse, Hart and Paine his guests, 80; Paine's habits, 82; ordered to arrest Rev. Thomas Barton, 87-90; pays expenses of illumination, 90; gun works, 91; estab- lishes factories 102; appointed commissary of hides, Index. 183 102, 103; commissioner to regulate price of flour, 133; financier, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150; friendship of Rittenhouse, 165, 166; elected to Congress, 166; com- mittees, 167, 171, 172, 173; last illness, death and burial, 175 ; interest in children's education, 175, 176, 177 ; personal appearance, 177 ; estate, 178 ; letters of Capt. Alex. Arbuthnot, 158, 159; William Brad- ford, Jr., 155-156; de Cambray, 100; Hon. John Dickinson, i6i, 162, 169; Gen. H. Gates, 93; Gen. Moses Hazen, 160; "Light Horse" Harry Lee, 92; Major Chas. Lukens, 100, loi ; Timothy Matlack, 98, 99; Richard Peters, 92, 96, 108, 109, no; Timothy Pickering, 97, 98, 105, 106, 107, 108 ; Joseph Reed, 112, 113, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 134, i35» 136, 137. 138, 143, i44» 145; Benj. Stoddard, Secretary of War, 114; Gen. Geo. Washington, 79, 95 ; Thos. Wharton, Jr., 75, 76, 77, 78 ; letters to Hon. Wm. Atlee, 139; William Bradford, 5; Hon. Geo. Bryan, 157-158, 173-174; John Dickinson, 168, 169; Samuel Hodgdon, A. A. G., 140-141 ; Hon. Wm. Moore, 151-155; Joseph Reed, 114, 115, n6, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 129, 130; David Rittenhouse, 168, 169; Bishop N. Seidel, 176-177; Gen. A. Wayne, 142, 143. Henry, William, Jr., sketch of, 9; Killbuck's visit, 9; meets Killbuck's children in Ohio, 11; visit him at Nazareth, 12; letter of Killbuck to, 15. Henry, William, 3d, sketch of, 14 Henry, Captain William, see Killbuck. Henry MSS., Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 40. Hodgdon, Samuel, A. A. Gen., letters of W. Henry, 140, 141. Killbuck, 4; Henry rescues him, 8; visits W. Henry, Jr., 9; pensioned, 10; meets W. Henry in Congress, 11; 184 Index. sends condolence on death W. Henry to wife, 11; Matthew Henry visits, 14; letter to W. Henry, Jr., 15; death, 16; descendants in Kansas, 16. Killbuck, Rev. John Henry, Moravian missionary 17. Lee, ''Light Horse" Harry, 92. Lukens, Major Charles, to W. Henry, 100, loi. McDougal, Col., 64. McKenzie, Capt., 65; son of, 65. Matlack, Timothy, to W. Henry, 98, 99. Meyer, George, 6. Moore, Hon. William, from W. Henry, 153, 154, 155. Morgan, Col. J., 67. Netawatwes, grandfather of Killbuck, 7. Nichols, Col. Francis, 66. Paine, Thomas, 51; guest W. Henry, 80; "Crisis V.," 82; John Joseph Henry's sketch of, 83-86. Pennsylvania Line revolt, 131, 132. Peters, Richard, to W. Henry, 92, 96, 108, 109, no. Philadelphia Merchants to W. Henry, 170, 171, 172, 173. Pickering, Timothy, to W. Henry, 97, 98, 105, 106, 107, 108. Postlethwait, 4. Prentice, Capt., 64. Reed, Hon. Joseph, letters to W. Henry, 112, 113, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 143, 144, 145; letters from W. Henry, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 129, 130, 148, 149, 150. Rittenhouse, David, letters, 21, 39, 80, 162, 163; guest of W. Henry, 80; long friendship, 164, 166. Roesser, Mathew, W. Henry apprenticed to, 4. Index. 185 Rose, Joseph, 22. Rose, Ursula, 6. Seidel, Bishop N., 176, 177. Shannon, W., 104, 105. Simon, Joseph, 4. Smith, Aubrey Henry, 69. Stevenson, George, 88, 89. Stoddard, B., Secretary of War, 114. Sutcliffe, Alice Crary, mentions W. Henry, 50. Taylor, Philip, 22. Thurston, Prof. R. H., 2, 40; sketch W. Henry, 46, 54-55. Washington, Gen. Geo., letters to W. Henry, 79, 95. Wayne, Gen. A., letters to W. Henry, 93, 94, 142 ; letters from, 142, 143. West, Benjamin, W. Henry patron of, 26, 27; paints por- traits W. Henry and wife, 28 ; " Death of Socrates," 28, 29, 30, 31; invites Benj. West Henry to visit him in London, 31. Wharton, Thomas, Jr., letters to W. Henry, 75, 76, 77, 78. Witherspoon, Rev. John, 66. Wood, Abraham, 19. Wood, Ann, wife W. Henry, 19. Wood, George, 22. Wood, John, 22. ^ 6 ,0o. O ^ it K*' ^-. -%-%* .K-^^-^ .<\ \> ^ ^^ ,# ,^;:^. 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