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** 
 
 PETITION 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 Capt. Alexander Patterson^ 
 
 TO THE 
 
 LEGISLATURE OF PENNSYLVANIA, 
 
 DURING 
 
 The Seffion of 1803 — 4, for Compenfation for the M$,ue* 
 he Expended and the Services he Renderedin Defence 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PENNSYLVANIA TITLE, 
 
 AGAINST THE 
 
 CONNECTICUT CLAIMANTS, 
 
 IN WHICH IS COMPRISED, 
 
 A faithrul historical detail or important and interring fact 5 
 
 and 1 vents that took place a.\.\IVyomir>g, and 
 
 in the county of Luzerne, &c. 
 
 IN CONSEQUENCE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 DISPUTE WHICH EXISTED 
 
 BETWEEN THE 
 
 PENNSYLVANIA L^ND-HOLDERS, 
 
 AND THE 
 
 CONNECTICUT INTRUDERS, 
 
 Commencing with the Year, 17*/. 
 
 LANCASTER: 
 printed by ROBERT BAILEY, suirra 
 
 QUEEN-STREtT. 
 1804. 
 
t 
 
* 
 
 The Reader 
 
 Wi 
 
 ILL be pleafed to obferre, that fuch parts 
 of the following petition as are printed in Italics, were 
 erafed from the copy prefented to theLegiflature, and con- 
 fequently not read in either Houfe. But it having been 
 the wifh of the Petitioner and feveral others, that the 
 whole of the Petition, as originally drafted by captain 
 Patterfon, fhould be publifhed, it has accordingly been fo 
 done ; diftinguifhing, however, by italic letter, the parts 
 ftricken out of the copy prefented to the Houfe, as afore- 
 faid. 
 
 At one time it was contemplated to fubjoin to the Pe- 
 tition, a number of documents which have completely 
 fubftantiated the facts and charges therein contained ; but 
 finding a great proportion of them very volumineus, and 
 others difficult of accefs, it was thought bed to refer ge- 
 nerally to thofe records in which the faid documents may 
 ' be found. Thefe are, The Acls of the Legijlature of the 
 Commonwealth ,- The Files and Records of the Land-office 
 if Pennfyfaania ; and The Public News-papers publifhed in 
 the city of Philadelphia during the period referred to in the 
 following narrative. 
 
PETITION, &c. 
 
 To the Hon. the Senate and House cf Represent 
 
 TAT IVES of the Commonwealth of Pennfylvania, in 
 General Afj'embly met. 
 
 The petition of Alexander Patterson, 
 
 of the borough of Eafton, Pennfylvania, 
 
 Refieclfully Sheweth :—• 
 
 X HAT as early as the year 1763, he 
 commanded a pod or (ration on the frontier againfl: the In- 
 dians. And in the memorable campaign of 1764, to 
 Ofwego, Niagara, and Detroit, he was an aclive officer. 
 In the year 1769, he was folicited by the late proprietary, 
 John Penn, and chief juftice Allen, to take an aclive part 
 againft the Connecticut Intruders, who were purfuing an 
 unbounded claim to the weftward, comprehending the 
 forty-fecond degree of north latitude, to the South fea, 
 from the river Delaware. In the month of February, 
 fame year, he proceeded with John Jennings, then iherin? 
 of Northampton, and others, and brought to Eafton goal, 
 the firft forty of the Intruders who had attempted to feat 
 themfelves at Wyoming. They were liberated upon their 
 parole, promising to give no further trouble to Pennfylva- 
 nia. They however with many others returned the March 
 following, and pitched at Lahawanack, ten miles above 
 Wyoming, on the north-eaft branch of Sufquehannah, 
 
 fomr 
 
I * 2 
 
 from whence he with others, again brought them ofF, at th« 
 diftance of feveniy-five miles ; chiefly through a dreaiy 
 wiidernefs, and a bad feafon. 
 
 The enfuing fail, there came upwards of two hundred 
 intruders, under the direction of a man of defperate for- 
 tune, of the name of Durgee, who built a fort and began 
 to till the ground. They attempted to difpofTesthe Penn- 
 sylvania fettlers, armed with axes, fithes and clubs : Your 
 petitioner was in front of the oppofition, and was feverely 
 ■wounded in the head with an axe ; the Yankees were de- 
 feated and drove to their fort. Notwithftanding the lof* 
 of much blood, he that evening fet off in a batteau, fix- 
 ty-fix miles down the river, to fort Augufh, at that time 
 all the way uninhabited, hired hands, and brought up a 
 cannon, met fheriff Jennings with the poffe comnhtatus 
 of Northampton, and took thoir garrifon. Previous to 
 thin, .your Petitioner had furprifed and taken their coa^. r . 
 mander Durgee, who was fafely lodged in the jail of 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 In thefpringof 1770, the Intruders came again in con- 
 fiderable numbers, headed by a Zebulon Butler ; your Peti- 
 tioner was of the party who took them by furprife, and. 
 lodged Butler in the prifon of Philadelphia. After a long 
 confinement, judge Allen gave him money and clothes, 
 on his promifing never more to difturb the Province, and 
 difcharged him. But, inftead of performing that folemn 
 engagement, he (Butler) proceeded to Paxton, and in- 
 duced thofe refractory out-laws, to join him in the infcru- 
 iion project. They proceeded U) Wyoming, and after 
 having committed murder and many atrocious .crimes, they 
 drove the Pennfylvania fettlers into a garrifon, wherein 
 was your Petitioner with many women and children, be- 
 fseged nearly feven weeks, and was at length obliged to 
 capitulate through famine, -and deliver up the garrifon to 
 Butler, and the out-law Lazarus btewart; fome lives were 
 \o& upon this occafion. 
 
 The 
 
[ 7 ] 
 
 The Intruders after this, fbrengthened themfelves, built, 
 forts, &c. Several of their ringleaders, by way of bra- 
 vado, came into the interior of Northampton, to terrify 
 the inhabitants ; armed with rifles, tomohawks and fcalp. 
 ing knives. Your Petitioner was among the foremoft of their 
 captors. They voluntarily fwore before jufliceDepui, never 
 moreto aidor abet the Conneclicut Claim, or Claimants ; he 
 •with others accompanied thofe bravos to Wyoming, where 
 by palpable perjury, they inltantly joined their aflbciate 
 ruffians, and pointed their rifles hoflilely againft the friends 
 of Pennfylvania, who had relied on their fidelity. The 
 September following, your Petitioner was among the mod 
 aclive, who again took their garrifon with much enterprife. 
 He ftaid at Wyoming with others, to protect the country. 
 A Yankee traitor confpired to murder him, he was pro- 
 voked into the trap, and was (hot through the arm and re- 
 moved to Eafton, under the care of doctor Ledlie ; he 
 Jay four months in excrutiating pain, with repeated figns 
 of a mortification, and thfe amputating inftruments pre- 
 pared for fevering the arm. 
 
 Thofe tranfaclions were in the year 1771. In the 
 Ipring of 1772, the Intruders came again and outraged 
 the country barbaroufly, murdering captain Ogden and 
 others ; but were once more obliged to abandon their pro- 
 jecT:, by the coercion of fheriff Kachlein and his pofle. 
 The enfuing harveft, the Banditti returned in force and 
 difpoiled the Pennfylvania Settlers of their property of eve- 
 ry kind. Various meafures were purfued the two fuc- 
 ceeding years, for their fubjugation ; your Petitioner 
 having way-laid the road frequented by thofe ruffians, and 
 conveyed many of them to prifon, which greatly flopped 
 their migration, and the extenfion of their fettlement, un- 
 til Northumberland became inhabited, and able to refill 
 their encroachments. He has gone with his afiociates, 
 through the Wildernefs in the night ; taken particular ca- 
 pital offenders ; abated the Marauder's fettlements ; and 
 expelled the defpicablc herd. 
 
 Late 
 
C 8 3 
 
 Late in the fall of 1 775, by the particular order of Go- 
 vernor Penn, he took the Yankee fort at Walinpapack % 
 the dillance going and returning through a deep fnow, ex- 
 ceeding one hundred miles. Energetic meafures were 
 invariably purfued againft them, until our controverfy 
 with Great Britain grew ferious. Congrefs recommended 
 that hoflilities mould ceafe during the revolutionary war. 
 This recommendation was ftridly acquiefced in on the 
 part of Pennfylvania, but difregarded by the feditious date 
 ©f Connecticut, who extended their blue-laivs to Sufquehannah 
 andpoured in their jail-birds in the inter em, thefolemn injundion 
 of Congrefs to the contrary neverthelef . In 1 7 82 Congrefs 
 was at length induced, at the inftance of Pennfylvania, to 
 take cognizance of the difpute, in confequence of which, 
 a Congrellional court was convened at Trenton, to hear 
 and determine all matters between the two dates. The refulfc 
 was, an unanimous decree, that all the controverted terri- 
 tory, jurifdiclion and pre-emption, was of the right veiled 
 in the ftate of Pennfylvania, the long charter, Lydeas' 
 counterfeit dollars and the rafured deed notwithftanding. ' 
 Your Petitioner attended this trial at aconfiderable expenfe. 
 
 In the year 1783, the Legiflature improperly interfered, 
 end appointed Jofeph Montgomery, William Montgome- 
 ry and Mofes M'Clean, Commiilioners, to proceed to 
 Wyoming, to endeavour to bring about a compromife be- 
 tween the Intruders and the Legal Owners of the land. 
 This iveakftep induced thofe vagrants to imagine that this ftate 
 ivas afraid of them. In April, fame year, the Commii- 
 fioners aforefaid, repaired to Wyoming, with many of the 
 rightful owners and former fettlers, who expected no fur- 
 ther trouble in their re-poiTeffion. A committee of each 
 party was then recommended for the compromife. Your Pe- 
 titioner prefided on the part of Pennfylvania, and after e- 
 very benevolent offer that could be expected, in prefence 
 of the Commiilioners on his part: nothing appeared honed: 
 or unequivocal on the part of thofe fons of rapine; fo 
 that the Commiffioners perceiving their impudenrevaiion, 
 advifed an election by the freeholders, for jullices of the 
 
 peace 
 
C 9 ] 
 
 into that hot-bed of fedition. The election was so held, 
 and your petitioner was elected a juftice, and a fpecial ac* 
 was palled the enfuing feflion of our Legiflature to confirm 
 it; authorifing him or more upon the return to be com- 
 miflioned. He attended the whole of the fefiion in Phi- 
 ladelphia, and was commiflioned the firft magistrate for 
 that refractory county; he proceeded to Wyoming, hav- 
 ing a warrant of attorney from the owners of the land 
 to leafe or dipofe of it on eafy and moderate terms; 
 fundry of the Intruders came under leafe, but the undue 
 influence of Franklin, Buttler, Denifon, Gore, Spalding, 
 and other evil-difpofed perfons, induced the lefsees to fore- 
 go their contracts, and to purfue their former practices of 
 murder and rapine. 
 
 On your Petitioner's arrival at Wyoming as a juftice, 
 he found numbers very obftinate, in crouds, with Buttler, 
 breathing defiance to Pennfylvaniaand her laws. He was 
 not intimidated, but committed their Col. Buttler to Sun* 
 bury jail for a high mifdemenonr, at the diflance of fixty- 
 fiz miles, who was held in five thoufand pounds bail. 
 Neverthelefs, for very miftaken purpofes, the culprit 
 found furety and returned to Wyoming, covertly fpiriting 
 the Mifcreants in oppofition to the laws of this State. 
 Your Petitioner begs the honorable Legiflature to believe 
 that he is not actuated by caprice, in giving epithets of 
 infamy to the Connecticut Claimants, for it it a fact of 
 notoriety, that by far the greateft part of them were cropt 
 or branded; that being the infignia of punifliment in the 
 penal laws of that inventive State. Such ivcre and are the 
 people, improperly cherifloedhy the government of Pennfylvania, 
 . to the ruin of her faithful, brave, legitimate citizens. He fur- 
 ther begs the indulgence of the legiflature for his digreflion, 
 .-animadverfion, fententious axioms and propefitions; yet the 
 conceives it a duty he owes to the prefent Legiflature, to 
 himfelf and fellow fufferers, with fubmiffion, to ftate facts 
 and (hew the iniquity and impropriety in retarding, with- 
 holding or bartering the property of individuals without 
 their confent, under a feigned and ilimfy pretext of ex- 
 B pedience 
 
[ IO ] 
 
 pedience. Imparing of contra&s is a flagrant violation 
 qf the conftitution, and a ferious and dangerous precedent; 
 as encouraging depredation, felony and intruiion, is novel. 
 It is humbly conceived, that it is not of neceflity that the 
 Conftitution and ancient eftablifhed laws, mould be dif- 
 genfedwith, for fear of, or favour to a handful of vagrant 
 interlopers in Luzerne. On the contrary, it is devoutly 
 wifhed, that the laws in operation now in tneir favour, and 
 .injurious to your own apcient citizens, be repei . I 
 
 others inftituted ; whereby their pofieffions may be re' 1 
 in a fummary way, and at length have reafbn e 
 
 foftering hand or that government, which e uni- 
 
 formly fuppoi ted with their blood and tiu/ure. 
 
 But to return to your Petitioner's official duties at "Wy- 
 oming, he found himfelf. by the,!, gerous combin 
 of the banditti and their abettors, unable to put the h.<r 
 in due opperation. He, therefore, the eiiluing 'c'.liyn of 
 our Legiflature, applied for protection in the execution f 
 his mifhon. They granted three companies ci rneo.; he 
 was honoured with the nomination c>f tne commanding,'! 
 and mod of the other officers; the troops were Ibori rai- 
 fed and arrived at Wyoming, under whofe protc Jion 
 a great number of Pennfylyama people were re-fettled upon, 
 their former pofleflions. In the fummcr of 1784 they. 
 did not raife lefs than thirty thoufand bnfhels of' 
 grain. Our legiflature met again, party ran high, and 
 they imprudently patted a refolution to difcharge the troops 
 at the period they were mo ft necelfary, under the idea 
 of its being unconftitutional to employ them in time of 
 peace. Thus were they difcharged, and the Infurgents . 
 thereby encouraged to rob, murder and baibarouflymal-treat 
 the Pennfylvan'a fettlers indifcriminately, at their labour. 
 They were armed in hordes in the woods, bands of whom 
 would fally forth, and commit attrocities the moft inhu- 
 man. They drove men, women and children into a 
 garrifon, and beGeged them, conftantly firing and fre- 
 quently wounding thofe expofed to it. So regardlefs 
 were they of the laws of this State, that they came to 
 
 Northampton 
 
[ n 3 
 
 Northampton, and fhot Mr. Everret and wounded others, 
 who Were on their way in fupport of government, and 
 eventually defpoiled the fettlers of all their grain, horfes, 
 cow; , iheqi, twine, waggons, ploughs and houiehcld fur- 
 niture. In that feafon, (1784), your Petitioner, fup- 
 poi ted upwards of one hundred and twenty men, at his own 
 we', in defence of the rights of Pennfylvania, for 
 more than four months ; befides expofing his life and 
 ling his time and property, againff. a fet of abandon- 
 Ib'cs, excluded from fociety in every part of the 
 Union, whofe practice had long been to bully the State 
 .iage its citizens. He was relieyed from the feige 
 t r.uhtia, commanded by brigadier-general Arm- 
 ! who at that time was Secretary of this State. 
 
 Pi to this, in the latter end of May, the Pennfyl- 
 
 vania Settlers, had availed themfelves of a favourable op- 
 portunity, and put the Intruders off, in like manner as 
 the Yankees had done unto them heretofore. This gave 
 a handle to ce.tain unprincipled fpeculators, by whofe un- 
 due influence, ah impolitic law was paifed, to re-poflefs the 
 intruders; whereby the legal owners of the land were 
 ruined, inftead of receiving protection, reward, and fanc- 
 tion. 
 
 In <&i\s phfehjy of the Legiflature, they fent Jonas Hart- 
 zel, Robert Brown, and Jacob Stroud, at that time mem- 
 bers from Northampton, to enquire into the conduct of 
 the Pennfylvania officers, in cor;fequ:nce of a mock pe- 
 tition from the Injurgents. Stroud had always been noto- 
 rioufly favourable to the Intruders, and dilcovered great 
 partiality in the inveltigation. Your Petitioner, therefore, 
 had him arraigned in the Houfe, the enfuing feflion, and fub- 
 ftantiated the facts in this fimple bufinefs by his colleagues. 
 No blame did or could attach to the Pennfylvania officers, 
 whofe duty it was to rid the country of the moll infamous 
 set of wretches ever collected in any part of the terraque- 
 ous globe. Stroud having clandeftinely furnifhed the In- 
 truders with public arms and ammunition, and having ac- 
 knowledged a variance fubiifting for fourteen years betwixt 
 
 him 
 
I » 3 
 
 him and your Petitioner ; he was emphatically told by the 
 Speaker, that he was an unfit perfon for a Commitlioner 
 in the inftance. Your Petitioner's duty imperioufly de- 
 manding his attendance at Wyoming, further enquiry 
 of Stroud's guilt was poftponed, as will appear upon the 
 minutes of the Houfe, or he would have been expelkd 
 with his ufual infamy. Your Petitioner fupported and pa;d 
 the chief part of the expenfes of upwards of forty perions 
 from Wyoming to Philadelphia, in the dead of winter in 
 1 784 and 1 785, to give evidence before the Supreme Ex- 
 ecutive Council, of the robbery and other depredations 
 committed upon them and others, by the Connecticut Ra- 
 vagers under the immediate direction oj 'their commander , John 
 Franklin, 
 
 In the enfuing fpring, your Petitioner, employed cap- 
 tain Enoch Anderfon, at Trenton, to go to Wyoming to 
 find out the purpofed projects of the Yankees, as they 
 had fuggefted the idea of a new Hate. Captain Anderfon 
 was directed to meet your Petitioner at New- York, where 
 Congrefs was fitting, and where he had carried the tefti- 
 mony taken by the Secretary of this State, as before ob- 
 ferved, by which means our delegate and eounfel, Mr. 
 Wilfon, defeated the motion of the Connecticut Johnfbn 
 for a new trial. Congrefs was apprifed of their vil- 
 lainous purfuits, and would have nothing further to do 
 with the Mfcreants. All thofe expenfes, your Petitioner 
 paid out of his own pocket, and by men of confederation, 
 they will not be deemed inconfiderable. The next year 
 our Legiflature injlituted the infamout county of Luzerne, 
 eonfequently the Leaders of the Banditti were tommijfioned^ 
 as if trampling upon the laws, and every fpecics of the black- 
 cjl criminality, were a recommendation to pofls of honour and 
 prrfit. The above, and the unconflitutitnal Confirming Law, 
 as it was called, was brought about by Pickering, Will-' 
 fon, Morris, Fitzfimmons, Clymer, and others, of the 
 ariftocratical faction, whofe projects were to purchafe all 
 the fat lands in the vicinity of Wyoming, at a little price, 
 and fo become lords of the manor j but the Yankees found 
 
 out 
 
C '3 ] 
 
 out the fchemes cf their renegado brother Pickering, tied 
 him among the nmfquetoes in the woods, put fire co his 
 houfe and afterwards exiled him. 
 
 "The fad cjfeds of all this is, that the State has unduly car- 
 rcjfed its inveterate, defpicabk enemies, chcrijlied evil-doers, 
 and neglected merit. Run the State to an enormous expenfe, 
 in enabling laws and repealing them, and trains of thnejerving, 
 needy, poltroon, upjlart commiJRoners, and ufelefs agents ; 
 fawning fycophants, degraded ' , fhamelefs and ' impudent traflo, whs 
 for fear of being difcontinued in pay, have the effrontery to advo- 
 cate the Intruders, and prolong their falaries at the txpehfe of 
 whom it may concern ; to drain our Treafury and flop the 
 courfe of jujtice, to the ruin of many individuals who have 
 fairly purchufed and paid their money, before thofe gentry had 
 emerged from that obfeurity where they ought to have been eter- 
 nally configned. Thoufands, with your petitioner, have long 
 wondered what could infatuate the former Legiflatures of this 
 State, to befo indulgent and favourable to the Conneclicut In- 
 truders. Liberality may conjlrue it into impoftion ; but it 
 has beenfhewn that all have not been impofed upon, and thai 
 fome have been aSuated by motives difhonourable to themfelves, 
 the State and their conflituents, confeqnently bad preceptors to 
 their fuccejfors. 
 
 Your petitioner begs leave to mention fome caufts, which he 
 imagines, in all human probability, could not induce fo much 
 fraternity and partial favour . He believes that the honour. 
 of having John Franklin, a member of tbe Legiflature of 
 this State, could hardly have induced it ; becaufe he has been 
 uniformly oppofed to the rights of Pennfylvania, and has ad- 
 vocated the Conneclicut Claim, on the floor of the Leg'flature 
 of this State, contrary to his oath of office ; Nor becaufe he 
 was twenty months in clofe confinement in the prifons of this 
 State, for mifprifion of Treafon, or violating the terms of his 
 liberation, by taking the lead in further intrufton ; Nor becaufe 
 he headed a band oj Proclaimed Ruffians, who robbed the 
 Pennfylvania Settlers at Wyoming, in the fall of 1784* of 
 all their property ; Nor becaufe it it believed, that he governed 
 
 the 
 
thcvfrdift which acquitted Jtiet Thomas, of tic barb 
 nairdirof.ee bur Ertviri, a gentleman of large pro- 
 
 perty and much re/pe-Sabtify, 7 his cataf.ropke has evinced 
 might, or may be expetled from, juries in tht aunt} oj 
 !.: %eriie ; Nor can it bt fuppofed that it was the fefpedab'dity 
 of the Intruders', which made them Jvch favourites, for their 
 great offender and leader, Butihr, as was currently reported, 
 had fled his country, concealed in a load of hay ; Nor could it 
 he, for what has been already faid of cropping and branding ; 
 Nor the cruel murder of Nathan Qgden, Je/je I.v.hens, Wil- 
 liam Richards, and others, with innumerable atrocities oj the 
 hightji criminality. 
 
 The burthen of the Intruders complaint, by which they 
 Iiave hitherto excited falfe commiferation, retted upon the , 
 cruel treatment they fay they have received from the Pcv.n- 
 iylvania Settlers, the Indians and Tories. The firtt of 
 thefe complaints, viz. The Pen nfydvania Settlers, has been 
 fairly explained in the preceding part of this petition. 
 The latter, receding the Indians and Tories, fhall be 
 faithfully detailed. 
 
 In the year 1776, there were a number of inhabitants 
 fettled on the north-eaft branch of Sufquehannah, near 
 Wyaiuung, under the Pennlylvania Title. Among thofe 
 were two brothers of a refpeclable family from Montgo- 
 mery county, by the name of Pauling, who had paid one 
 thoufand pounds in cafli, in gold and iilver, for their farm 
 at Wyaluting, unto Joab Gileway, a uleful, well informed 
 Indian, who had obtained a grant for faid land from the 
 late Proprietaries of this State ; among the fettlers were 
 the MtrTrs. Secords, Dcpew, Vanderlefs, and many other 
 wealthy farmers ; the Yankees at Wyoming being more 
 numerous, and though at the ditiance of fixty miles, infift- 
 ed that the Pennfylvania Settlers mould come to Wyom- 
 ing and train, and aflbciate under Yankee officers of their 
 own appointment As may be fuppofed, the propofal was 
 very obnoxious to the inhabitants of Pennfylvania, and ve- 
 ry properly refufed, alleging that they would aflbciate by 
 
 themfelves 
 
[ *| ] 
 
 themfelvcs, and would not be commanded by Intruders, 
 who had fo repeatedly facked the weil difpofed inhabitants 
 of Pennfylvania, and at that time bid defiance to its laws 
 and juiifdiclion. This gave a pretext to the Yankees for 
 calling them Tories ; they therefore went in force, snd 
 tied the Pennfylvania Settlers, and brought them to Wyom- 
 ing with all their moveables, and confined them in a log 
 lioufe, until the Indians who lived in the neighbourhood 
 of Wyalufing, and who loved the Per.nfylvanians, and at 
 that time were well affected to the United States, feme of 
 whom had joined our army. Tbofe Indians came to Wy- 
 oming, and requeued that the Pennfylvania people fhould 
 be releafed from confinement; after fome altercation and 
 the Indians declaring that they would complain to Congrefs, 
 they were releafed, and on their return without property, 
 were ambufhed and fired upon by the Yankees. The 
 event of all this was, that the Pennfylvania People were 
 ; fo harrafTed by the Intruders, that they were driven to feek 
 an afylum with the Indians, and at length retire to Nia- 
 gara for protection. It was well known at that time on 
 the frontiers of Northumberland and Northampton, that 
 thv conduct of thole Yankees occafioned the cecefiion of 
 the Five Nations from the United States. As was natural 
 to imagine, thofe Pennfylvania Settlers, who had been fo 
 cruelly robbed of tbf/r property would endeavour to re- 
 gain it, their addrefs and moving complaints, induced Jo- 
 feph Brandt, a weil known Indian chief, and a colonel 
 Buttler, Superintendint of Indian Affairs, to come with 
 them to Wyoming, with a number of Indians, for die re- 
 covery of their goods and chattels. The party had arrived 
 at a place called Abraham's plains, about five miles above 
 Wyoming ; the Yankees were apprifed of their being at 
 that place, and muir. nee. s go fight them, led on by the 
 old murderer Lazarus Stewart, fhfr. having drank two 
 barrels of whifky to ftimulate their fpirits ; they marched 
 in riot, with drums beating and colours flying, Therefult 
 was, that a number of them were killed ; thofe who afked 
 quarters were humanely treated, nor was a woman or child 
 moleflcd, only enjoined to quit the country and leave it for 
 
 the 
 
c 16 3 
 
 the rightful owners. Surely there was no propriety in 
 calling thattranfaclion a maflacre or murder.; the wretches 
 brought it upon thcmfelves, and fo be it. Your Petitioner 
 had at that time, been affigncd a diftricT: in the Quarter- 
 Mafter General's Department, north of the mountain in 
 Jerfey and Pennfylvania, by major general Greene and 
 colonel Hooper. Notwithstanding the former enmity, 
 all the Vagrants that left Wyoming at that time, came 
 to him for fuccour, his charity fuperceded prejudice, and 
 for their fupport ordered them rations out of the public 
 ftores ; if there were any widows among them, they were 
 very merry ones, and their conduct induced no refpecl, 
 nor could it be expected, as molt of their women, like their 
 men, were of the loweft order of beings. 
 
 The above fufferings, as they have been called, and 
 many more ill-founded reafons, have been improperly 
 urged as a palliative, for the unconftitutional interpofition 
 ot the Legifiature, who have ivantonly ruined as meri- 
 torious, aclive and brave citizens, as any ever bred in the 
 State. They have made bargains for them, in which 
 they have had no agency ; the bufinejs has hither, ^ fax ■cured 
 more of defpotifm than republic anifm. But <wby this im- 
 lofcming, carrejfmg, and temporifing with vagrant Intru- 
 ders ; This medly farce of iniquity 1 Retrofpe8 the rabble 
 fo patronifed, and balance their merit with thofe who have 
 defended your country againfl their inroads; common honeHy, 
 and humanity revolt at the idea. It is the bounden duty 
 of a Legifiature to remedy evils, however they may have 
 crept in or originated, whether through the rancor of 
 party fpirit, impq/ition, or fpeculative views. The fooner 
 wrongs are remedied the better; it is never too late to do 
 good. The mod lively hopes are therefore entertained, 
 that the prefent Legifiature will take the molt efficient 
 meafures for the recovery and protection of their an- 
 tient citizens' property, which has been fo long with- 
 held by violence and perfidy, and thereby acquit their 
 confeiences, and at length cftablifh juft principles, redoun- 
 ding to their honour and fame. 
 
 Further 
 
C *7 ] 
 
 Further, to induce the honourable 'Legiflature to a 
 favourable recognition of your Petitioner's clairaf, he begs 
 leave to fubjoin, a fummary narrative of his transactions 
 in the army of the United States in the revolutionary war. 
 He was commiflioned by Jhis .'excellency, John Hancock, 
 fir ft captain, in die twelfth Pennfylvania regiment, early 
 in 1776, and had often the honour of commanding it bv 
 reafon of indifpofition of the colonel, and incapacity of 
 the other field-officers. After the capture of the Heflians 
 at Trenton, the battle of Princeton, he was ftationed 
 during the refidue of that winter and fpring, on the moft 
 advanced poll in the American army, being within one 
 mile of Bonhamtown, New-Jerfty, where the Britifh 
 71ft regiment and royal Highlanders lay. General 
 Wafhington's head-quarters being at Mornstown, twenty 
 miles in the rear, and Howe's army in Brunfwick. Few 
 days paffed in the months of February, March or April, 
 that he did not fkirmifli with the enemy; they being in 
 want of forrage, &c. were often endeavouring to plun- 
 der the country, and were as often happily drove in. 
 During the above enumerated months, he fought the 
 Britifh fundry times, with fuccefs; in April by a particular 
 order from the General, he commanded a feledt body of 
 men, with which he took the Britifli picquet at Bonham- 
 town, an account of which may be feen, on the files of 
 Hall and Seller's news-papers, under the Philadelphia head, 
 April 23, 1777. The duties in the above year were 
 arduous. He had general thanks on the public parade for 
 fignal addrefs in the battle of Brandy wine. In Ger- 
 mantown he loft his lieutenant and many brave foldiers: 
 at White-marfh his fuperior knowledge in difcipline, was 
 efteemed by general Conway, who poflefled a greater 
 knowledge of tacticks than any man in America. In 
 the memorable wet day and night near the Paoli, your 
 Petitioner, put his baggage into the regimental quarter 
 mailer's waggon, who deferted to the Britifh, with the con- 
 tents, and did not leave him a fecond fhirt; thofe lofles at 
 that period were not eafily replaced. On the reduction 
 of the Pennfylvania line, he was immediately afligned a 
 C diitria 
 
C l8 ] 
 
 diftrict in the quarter-matter general's department, by 
 major general Greene and colonel Hooper, as has been 
 faid. It is fufficientto fay, that he acquitted himfelf with 
 alacrity and promptitude, and to the entire fatisfaction of all 
 the general officers, and gentlemen with whom he had 
 ought to do. He never received commutation, arrears 
 of clothing, nor donation lands from this State. 
 
 The honourable Legiflature, will pleafe to excufe a 
 fliort recapitulation in fumming the fads, wherein your 
 Petitioner has fhewn,that as early as 1763 and 1 764, he 
 was in the American fervice in various fuccefsful fituations 
 on the frontier againft the Indians, to Ofwego, Niagara, 
 Detroit, &c. that in, and fince the year 1769, he has been 
 among the »o(l active, in oppofition to the Connecticut 
 Claimants, and in many conflicts with them. He 
 has been twice feverely wounded by them. That he uni- 
 formly continued the oppofition, until the interpofition of 
 Congrefs, at the commencement of the war, previous to 
 which, for upwards of five years his exertion and enterprife 
 in behalf of this Mate have been perhaps unequalled, and 
 are of fuch a nature that he fondly hopes they will imprefs 
 the Legiflature favourably in his behalf. The proofs ac- 
 companying this petition, will fhew his claim to merit in 
 the line of the army, as in other capacities. It will alfo 
 be perceived, that in 1783, as has been faid, that he was 
 by a fpecial act of our Legiflature, commiflioned the nift 
 juftice of the peace to introduce the laws of Pennfylvania, 
 among a neft of the moft atrocious villians that were ever af- 
 fembledonearth. It may beeafily conceived, that this under- 
 taking required fortitude and enterprife; how far your Peti- 
 tioner pofleiTed thofe qualities, may be gathered from the 
 ftrictures in his petition. The whole tenourof his conduct 
 his dangerand expenditure will induce a belief thatall hisef- 
 forts were well intended. Our Governor's letter to the Go- 
 vernor of Maryland, dated the 25th of October 1802, re- 
 fpecting the Sufquehannah navigation, very pointedly 
 and juftly obferves, that " He who trufts to a Legiflative 
 fecurity ought never to be a loofer." This will appply in 
 
 fimilar 
 
L '9 1 
 
 fimilar cafes, and in none ftronger, than that of your Pe« 
 tioner, who has fpent his blood, his treafure and the belt 
 part of his days, in faithful fervices to this State. It 
 will furely be conceded that the vigorous and early oppo- 
 sition made to the Intruders, by your Petitioner, his a£ 
 fociates and followers, mod of whom have paid the debt 
 of nature, have obvioufly faved to this State, the whole 
 of the forty fecond degree of north latitude, to the weftern- 
 rooff. boundary of Pennfylvania, from the river Delaware, 
 from being over-run by the Connecticut Claimants, their 
 aiders and abettors. To prove this pofition, needs only to 
 know the perfeverence of the Intruders, and at that early 
 period there were no inhabitants in Northumberland, nor 
 any fettlements of white people to the weftward, where- 
 by the dangerous and daring intrufion could have been 
 repelled. We have a fpecimen of the confequences that 
 would have enfued from the inconfideiable handful yet 
 remaining ; that portending, immenfurable evil has been 
 happily limited to Wyoming and its vicinity, whereby an 
 incalculable fource pf wealth has confequently flowed 
 into your treafury. 
 
 Your Petitioner, therefore, humbly conceives that few 
 . perfons have rendered more beneficial fervices to the 
 State. He prays that the honourable Legiflature, how 
 that he is old, will make fuch provision for him as 
 may render the refidue of his days comfortable. It will 
 be no more than honeftly compenfating him out of his own 
 earning ; he hopes to be placed above the viciffltudes of 
 fortune, with a peafion and rations for life, commencing 
 and commenfiirate with his rank. In his advanced ftage 
 of life, an annuity modified as above, mult foon ceafe by 
 the courfe of nature. He has a firm reliance upon the dig- 
 nity of the prefent Government ; but fhould it be fuggefted 
 that part of the enumerated fervices were rendered be- 
 fore the State was purchafed of the late proprietaries, and 
 therefore not obligatory on the State after the purchale; 
 for anfwer, every incumbent and contract antecedent, is 
 a lien upon the purchgfer, particularly where a perpetuity 
 
 of 
 
[ 20 ] 
 
 of benefit derives to the State. Your Petitioner .has no 
 doubt that had the State remained in the family of the 
 Penns, and he fo applied, they would at leaf! have com- 
 penfated him with a grant of land which would have ren- 
 dered him independent, and perhaps his children's child- 
 ren. He perceives no principle why the State fh 
 be lefs jufr and generous, or turn a deaf ear to merit and 
 a well founded claim, nor that the time, blood and treafurc 
 of an individual fo liberally expended, fhould be abibvbed 
 in the confluence, ur flain the riling glory of our enviable 
 happy country. 
 
 Having thus far evinced the merits of his claim, he 
 cheerfully confides it to the benignity of the government, 
 with one further remark and effort to imprefs the fubject, 
 that the exprels act of AfTcmbly of I 783, for corrmijTioriing 
 him, the railing troops for protecting him, the Preliuent's 
 proclamation for apprehending certain Connecticut Ban- 
 dittii, who grievioufly, wounded Henry Brink and Wilhcl- 
 rous Van-Gurden, who were at that time under your Pe- 
 titioner's particular orders, with others, protecting the Penn- 
 fylvaniafettlers at their labour from Franklin' sravagers;alu* 
 the Secretary's reqv.ilition to him, to draw forth the well af- 
 fected inhabitants in that country in aid of the militia again ft 
 the Intruders, who were accordingly fo drawn out; all (hew,- 
 that he had the confidence and concurrence of the Execu- 
 tive. He was three months waylaid by the Yankee defpe- 
 radoes, who avowed their pur.pp.fe of afTaffinating him ; they 
 fet fire to the houfe in the night, over his head, murdered 
 captain Samuel Reed, in the bed with him, and cruelly 
 v/ounded captain Andrew Henderfon. 
 
 Your Petitioner refpeetfullyaflisindulgence for a fhort com- 
 ment upon arecentpublicationintheLuzemeFedetahir. and 
 Sufquehannah Intelligencer, asitisarrogantlyentitled, print- 
 ed by A. and C. Miner, in ten numbers, which they term a 
 ftatem.eqtt of facts, by the directors of the Sufquehannah com- 
 pany in behalfof themfelvesand all concerned, andaddrelTed 
 to their fellow-citizens of the United States, under thefigna- 
 
 ture 
 
ture of Samuel Avery, Prefident, and Joieph Kingfluiry, 
 clerk, pro. tem. dated Uifter, September 13th 1803. 
 Strangers to thofe plunderers and their impudent nefa- 
 rious purfuits, will pafs their libelous numbers unnoticed, 
 only wondering, what can be the intention of the pub- 
 lication by thole endlefs pelts to fociety. But thofe who 
 have any knowledge of them, will perceive that this is 
 no new fpecimen of their calumny. Should the Le- 
 giflature of Pennfylvania, or any of its members, 
 deign to read their fcurrilous publications, they will 
 find them calculated to excite pity, or to appear formi- 
 dable, and either way to induce further legiflatioji in 
 their behalf; but furely their numbers, which out-number 
 all calculation in falfehood, fo replete with dilingenuity, 
 declamation and impertinence, mud at length convince 
 the Legiflature that all former favour and indulgence 
 to fuch outrageous rabble have been fadly mifplaced, as 
 there appears to be no end to their unfounded claims, 
 complaints and daring impudence. There is a firiking 
 likenefs in their difpolition to the wolf, tame, fupple and 
 fawning, when in trammels ; but unfetter them, and your 
 eountfyis ravaged. Wherever a record of this State ha 
 recognifed their villainy, they have perverted and wre fl- 
 ed its meaning, as a deiftical preacher does his text, 
 to give currency to his infernal doclrine, and cover in- 
 vention, without refpeel to truth, honour or honefcy. 
 Your Petitioner, would be greatly difappointed, if thofe 
 Itenerant Adventurers, could part from the character of 
 their predeccflbr, Lydeas, who purchafed their claim of 
 the Indians, with counterfeit dollars, or the authors 
 of the rafured deed ; on the contrary, they have out- 
 Jyed all the fwindling, peregrine, cropt and branded 
 /tape-gallows, from the far famed State of Connefticut. 
 Your Petitioner, moft refpeftfully fubmits his Claims to 
 the honourable Legiflature of Pennfylvania, confident that 
 his Heady perfeverance in fupport of her rights, maintain- 
 ing at every rifle, with the utmoft conftancy and unre- 
 mitted exertion, the fovereignty of the State, will induce 
 the honourable Legiflature, to grant him a generous re- 
 muneration 
 
[ 22 ] 
 
 numeration, when gratitude will excite your Petitioner, as 
 in dutj bound, to pray. 
 
 ALEX. PATTERSON. 
 
 NOTE. — The Documents accompanying the above Petition, 
 have fubjlantiated the fails therein, and fully convinced the 
 Legislature, ( "John Franklin, and a few of h's ajp.ciales 
 excepted J of its authenticity, as will appear from loth Houjes 
 having pajfed an atl in favour of the Petitioner, which <ivas 
 approved and fgned by Governor M'Kean, on the tenth 
 day of February 1804. 
 
 ALEX* PATTERSON. 
 
 Lancafter, February 12th, 1804. 
 
 <£jP Sitice the preceding pages were put to prefs, the follow- 
 ing papers have been delivered for publication, with a view, 
 to have them annexed to Capt. Pattcrfon's Petition. The 
 motives jor thus connecling them with that petition are 
 two-fold— -firft to exhibit the unexampled effrontery, and 
 total difregard of law, juftice and the folemn decifions 
 of the higheft judicial courts known within the United 
 States, of thofe violators of our laws, the Connecticut 
 Intruders ; andfecondly, tojhew that their own language, 
 exprejfions and epithets, are as harjh and exceptionable, as 
 any that have been ufed by Mr. Patierfon, but without 
 having the famejuft caufefor vjingthtm that that meritorious, 
 but unfortunate fujferer had. 
 
 The following papers are perfeSly genuine, and their au- 
 thenticity may be implicitly relied upon. The Jirft of 
 them was read by Mr. Mac lay, in his place, in the 
 Houje of Reprefentatives, on the difcvjfwn of the Bill for 
 tdlowing an annuity to Capt. Palterfon, and is extraSed 
 
L *3 J 
 
 From the Luzerne Federalifl, aud Sufquehannah Intelligen- 
 cer, printed at Wilkefbarre, by A. and C. Miner, 
 under date of Auguft 20th 1803. 
 
 « COMMUNICATION. 
 
 " At a meeting of the inhabitants and Settlers of Sugar- 
 creek-ftttlement (fettled under the Connecticut Sufque- 
 hanna Company's purchafe) at the-4ioufe of J. Ballad, the 
 2d. on faid creek, on Monday the iothday of Auguft, 
 1803: — Nathan Fellows was chofen chairman and 
 Nathaniel Allen, clerk, of faid meeting. After tak- 
 ing into consideration the fituation of the fettlers and 
 inhabitants fo as aforefaid convened, and what may be the' 
 objecT. or views of the adverfe claimants, in fending an a- 
 gent or fpy, amongft us — It was unanimoufly Rcfolved : 
 
 1 ft. That we believe we have a juft, regular, ancf 
 genuine title to the lands which we now poSTefs and occu- 
 py, — That our title is derived, and can be regularly traced 
 
 from THE GREAT PROPRIETOR AND MAS- 
 TEROFTHE UNIVERSE, whom weexpetf and firmly 
 believe, will defend us as a warrantee: provided weforfake 
 
 . him not, nor turn afide to accept offers made from thofe, 
 whom we befieve have no better right to the lands in 
 queftion than Satan had to the kingdoms of the earth 
 which he Shewed our Saviour from the Mount. 
 
 2d. That the example our Saviour there fet us,, 
 ought to be the one for us to follow, as we believe we 
 cannot ferve God and Mammon at the fame time; nor 
 can we at prefenfc fee any medium between the two; to 
 liften therefore, to any colloquial propositions of a falfe 
 import, propofed, propagated or handed about, by thofe 
 who we believe are employed by a fet of fpeculators who 
 wiih to involve us in ruin, is incompatible with eur true 
 intereft, and would be highly derogatory to our understand- 
 ings as men poffeffing equal rights and equal immunities 
 with all she citizens at. large. 
 
 3rd. Trjat 
 
c 2 4 : 
 
 3d. That we believe the perfon who has lately been 
 among us in the character of an agent, to be no better than 
 a fpy, who wifhes to afcertain our names, and places of 
 abode, for illicit purpofes, to injure us in our jufr rights. 
 And we alfo ftrongly fufpeft, from good grounds, that this 
 iame pretended agent, or fpy, was fometime laft fall, a- 
 mongft us in the habiliments of a beggar, and with an 
 aflecled appearance of infanity, feeking out our habitations, 
 and traveling all our roads and by-paths. 
 
 4th, That the above refolutions be figned by our chair- 
 man and cleik, and tranfmitted to the printers of the Lu- 
 zerne Federalifr. andSufquehannah Intelligencer, with a re- 
 quest that the fame may be inferted therein ; and likewife 
 a copy of a letter direcled to Dodt. Rofe, by us the per- 
 fons compoiing the meeting aforefaid. 
 
 NATHAN FELLOWS, Chairman. 
 NATHANIEL ALLEN, Clerk," 
 
 ** Copy of a letter fent by the fubferibers , to Dr. ROSE, ivho 
 stiles himfelf agent for the Pennjylvania land-jobbers, 
 claiming land, owned and occupied by the fubferibers^ 
 Connecticut Settlers. 
 
 Burlington^ August ift. 1 803. 
 
 " DoSor Rofe, 
 Sir, 
 A long and unhappy difpute has exifted in this country 
 in refpe£t to the land which affords fubfiftence for our- 
 felves, our wives and our children. The title to thofe 
 lands we have honeftly purchafed, and fincerely believe 
 -vve can trace a regular chain of title from THE GOD OF 
 NATURE. Still, Sir, there feems to be power verted in * 
 certain portion of our fellow mortals to harrafs and opprefs 
 us. In this pofture of events, you have appeared among 
 
 us 
 
c 25 r 
 
 us, afluming the character of a mediator, but have (hewn 
 no evidence of authority from any man or fet of men. 
 You ailume to offer terms, but do not deign to exprefs 
 what they are. — You have with unwearied pains, traverfed 
 every part of our fettlement, endeavoring, as far as in 
 your power, to pradice on us the vileft impositions; to de- 
 stroy that harmony which unites us like a band of bro- 
 thers in the caufe of juftice. We therefore, Sir, hope you 
 will not call on ns again, or give us any further trouble a- 
 bout your bufinefs, as your conduct has been as impudent 
 and ralcally, as it is intriguing; and as you have been 
 very felicitous to obtain our Signatures, we herewith fub- 
 fcribe to you, after exprefling a fmall poition of our fenti« 
 ments relpe&ing you and your bufinefs. 
 
 " Timothy Beach, Ephraim Cleveland, Jehiel Ferris, 
 Philip Belinus, Jarus Cook, John Green, Elihu Smead, 
 Reuben Cafe, Eiias Locmis, Levi Scper, Ammi Swain, 
 David White, Scytavus Elworth, John Lindley, Paul 
 Dewit, Cephas Campbell, James Campbell, Oliver 
 Hoit, Daniel Buron, Samuel Satterlee, Samuel Bowers, 
 Eliflm Lathrop, Jacob Miller, Nathan Fellows, John 
 Dobbins, Mofes Calkins, Jofeph Barber, Samuel Bidding, 
 William Johnfon, Henry Lawrence, Ifaac Swain, 
 David Campbell, Noadiah Kendall, James Brapher, 
 Conftant Williams, Ifaac Balding, Dutee Rice, Dama- 
 rious Gerrould, John Barber, David Rofs, Oliver Haize, 
 Caleb Williams, Nathan Ballad, Ebenezer Kendall, 
 William Knap, Amos Cook, Walter Hamilton, Thomas 
 Ballad, jun. Jonathan Goatridge, Luther Godard, 
 Nathaniel Allen, Stephen Bates, William Nicols, Jere- 
 miah Weftcoat, Jeremiah Miller, Thomas Ballad, Lewis 
 MorTett, Nathan Morgan, Ebenezar Wilfon, jun. 
 C. Ferris." 
 
 I> IN 
 
L *6 j 
 
 IN addition to the preceding fpecimen of the infolence 
 of the Connecticut Intruders, and thoir outrageoufiy fet- 
 ting at defiance the principles of jaflice, and the laws of 
 their country, full and ample teftimony of their inveterate 
 enmity to morality and the principles of thefocial compact, 
 could ealily be adduced by a re-publication of thofe fhanie- 
 ful productions which appeared in the Luzerne Federalift, 
 during the courfe of '.all year, and which are referred to, in 
 the foregoing Petition. But as they are too lengthy 
 ior iniertion here, a few fhort extracts will be given from 
 thofe productions, which are faifely Ityled " A Statement of 
 Facls, by the Prefident and Directors of the Sufquehannah 
 Company," &c. 
 
 From the Luzerne Federal i /I, of September 24th, 1803, 
 " In the latter part of Auguftor beginning of September, 
 1 762, near 200 Connecticut People, left their native State, 
 to leek a future fublitlence in the wilds of Sufquehannah, 
 having as they thought a juft right fo to do." [ That is, in 
 other words, a right to feize and rob the honeft part of 
 the communhy of their property, without a fhadow of title 
 thereto.] Again, fame paper — "The 15th day of October, 
 the next year, thefe people were attacked by a party of Indi- 
 ans, nearly twenty of them killed, and the remainder ei- 
 ther captivated or difperfed." [ Here to be fure is a woe- 
 ful affair! the " untutored," unlettered and unbaptifed 
 lavages of the wildernefs, were determined to defend at 
 every hazard, that property which had been folemnly fe- 
 cured to them by treaty, even againft the followers of the 
 faithful — the pious Yankies, whofe hiftorians, or other 
 writers, had declared thatlhe Lord had delivered the land of the 
 heathen into their hands /] Same paper — " In this fituation, 
 the country remained until 1769, when the perfevering 
 Yankies, unwilling to forego their profpefts at the Suf^ 
 quehannah, emigrated again from their native State, in 
 number about 240. They armed early in the fpring; 
 creeled new habitations ; cleared land and planted 
 coin, &c. But were not peimitted long to remain 
 in peace; Col. Francis of Philadelphia, was fent againft 
 
 them, 
 
C *7 3 
 
 them, with a body of armed men, and demanded 
 them to furrender ; they refilled to comply with this re- 
 cpiifition, and Francis and his party withdrew, after giving 
 out many threats of vengeance. But in the month of 
 September following, Amos and Nathan Ogden, with a 
 partyof Pennfylvania and New-Jerfey men, were fkulking 
 about the iettlement, and committing many outrages on 
 the Settlers. This party having foon encreafed to rifing 
 of 200, appeared openly on the ground, well armed 
 with rifles, mufkets and one cannon, with a determination 
 to drive the Settlers out of the country. To this formida- 
 ble force, the Settlers were obliged to fubmit ar.d quit the 
 premifes, all but 14 men, who were permitted to tarry on 
 the ground, and keep poffdlion of the land till the dif- 
 pute mould be fettled in ;i legal way." — [How well the 
 Connecticut Intruders have adhered to this ftipulation, 
 their fubfequent perfidy and violation of engagements, will 
 atteft to the world.'] One more extnicl from the fame 
 paper, "January 1771, Charles Stewart, the two 
 Ogdens, and a party, of armed men, arrived again at 
 Wyoming, and made feveral attempts to fet fire to the 
 lioufes of the Settlers, threatening them with immediate 
 deflru&ion; the Settlers defended themfelves in the bell 
 manner they could, killed Nathan Ogden, while attempting 
 to fet fire to one of their houfes ; upon this the whole 
 party withdrew. Capt. Lazarus Stewart, foon after 
 returned, leaving about ten families in poffeflion of z 
 block-houfe;. they were taken, however, foon after an J 
 the men fent to goal. The Pennfylvania Claimants had 
 now cleared the Wyoming fettlements of all the Yan- 
 kees ; but remained in poffeffion no longer than July th« 
 fame year, at which time, upwards of ico Yankees again 
 returned, under the command of the then captains Zebu- 
 Ion Buttler and Lazarus Stewart, and laid feige to a fort 
 commanded by a Col. Clayton." [Thus did thefe diftur- 
 bers of the peace and profperity of Pennfylvania, perfevere 
 in their wicked and unwarrantable defign of violently appro- 
 priating the property of this State to themfelves and their 
 adherents.] 
 
 In 
 
L 28 ] 
 
 In the Luzerne Federahft, of O<51ober8th, 1803, we find 
 the following expreffions. •* If Pcnnfylvania had a juffc 
 claim to the lands, the Connecticut fettlers have paid for it 
 by their richefr. blood." — " Pennfylvania made juftices of 
 the Peace, or rather gave mencommiffionsofthe Peace — whe- 
 to ther do juftice or.not, let our readers determine, " — "Capt. 
 Chriftie arrived at Wyoming, efcorted by a large number of 
 voluntary hirelings, fent on by the Pennfylvania Claim- 
 ants." — Thefe expreffions require no comment, — In the 
 fame paper, of the 15th of October, 1803 — the Pennfylvani- 
 ans are ftyled " Rioters," "Free-booters" and " Ruffians." 
 
 The fame Luzerne Federalift, of the 2 2d of October, 
 1803, after giving a detailed fbtement of the return of 
 votes at the election held in that county, very triumphant- 
 ly and iignificantly adds the following remarks, 
 
 " The enemies of Federalifm have exulted exceedingly 
 at the fuccefs of what they are pleafed to call the Demo- 
 cratic Republican ticket, at the late election. The facl is 
 this: a majority of the cleclors of Luzerne, have a full belief 
 in the -validity of the ConneBicui title to lands in this county, 
 and evince more fpirit in fupport if its advocates than on any 
 other occafion. Col. Franklin, is well known to be a 
 decided Federalift, and a firm Tanhee; he has a greater 
 number of votes than any other candidate. Cols. Jenkins 
 and Hyde, were nominated by the Democratic delegates 
 who met at Hancock's ; they were fuccefsful ; not as De- 
 mocrats, but as Tankia, — and as fuch, received the fup- 
 port of many decided Federalifts." 
 
 Tit 
 
L" *9 1 
 
 The following is cxtraBed from the Luzerne FederaM of 
 December \otb, 1803, but does not apparently appear 
 to have been ijfued by the Sufquehannah Company. 
 
 « COMMUNICATION. 
 " To the People in the Fifteen Towns. 
 
 " AS the time is now drawing near, when you will be 
 ealled upon to come forward and deliver up your old 
 deeds and documents, refpeding a juft and righteous title 
 to your lands, for which you are to receive "a little lit 
 t/f paper," called a certificate; permit me to call your fe- 
 rious and candid attention to the following queftions. 
 
 1 ft. If the controverfy is to be fettled in the mode of 
 adjuftment now purfuing, why is it neceflary that you 
 ■• mould be obliged to iurrender up the evidence of your 
 title, as derived from the ftate of Connecticut ; unlefs it 
 be to enable the State of Pennfylvania, to make you 
 back the fame title, and oblige you to pay for it into 
 the bargain: 
 
 2nd. Would a title thus made out, be thought more 
 juft, more legal, and be held more iacred, than our title 
 in its primitive ftate? If not, then are you not going to 
 obligate yourfelves to pay for that, for which you have al- 
 ready paid and which you have already got a LEGAiv 
 
 RIGHT TO ? 
 
 ' 3rd. If your title as derived from the State of Connect 
 
 Iq .ticut (as your opponents pretend) " a no title," and your 
 
 ■ claim "unfounded," why do they demand your title 
 
 deeds? Is it not for this plain reafon, viz. knowing that not 
 
 one of you out of an hundred, will ever be able to pay for your 
 
 lands, as appraifed under the Comnromifing Law, they winY 
 
 to 
 
t 3° ] 
 
 to get your evidence, of a title as derived from the 
 State of Connecticut, into their own hands, that hereafter 
 (fhould you he reduced to a (tate.of tenantage) it may dot 
 befet up againft their unjuft pretentions ? 
 
 4th. But is there not another reafon why they ought 
 not to demand your old deeds and documents ? The law 
 as it was fir ft patted, did not require a condition of that 
 kind ; but after you had consented to comply with the 
 law in its firft fhape, new conditions were annexed ; there- 
 fore is it not unconftituiional and unjuft, to demand that 
 which was not in the condition of the contract, when firft 
 entered into? 
 
 5th. What is the nature of a Compromise ? Is it not a 
 mutual adjultment of differences between two or more 
 contending parties, in which each party has a right to 
 make part of the bargain, and did you make any part 
 of that law, commonly called the Conipromifing Law ? Were 
 you even confulted on the bufmefs, or did they fend it. 
 forth to you as an imperious lord fends forth a mandate tohb 
 flares ? Do this or prepare yourfelves for a fcourging! 
 
 6th. Hare you not already had fufficient experience ' 
 of the faith of this State, did they not orce pafs a law 
 called a "Confirming Law" (to induce you to come under 
 their jurifdiclion) and after you had confented to come 
 under their government, did they not repeal that law, on 
 the ground of its being unconftitutionalr" 
 
 7th. Do you remember the promifes of Armftrong 
 and Boyd, that they on the eighth day of Auguft, 1784, 
 pledged the Faith of Government, (Pennfylvania,) 
 and their own honor, that if you would lay down your .• 
 arms, no advantage fhould be taken on that account and 
 that you fhould have them again in ten days ; and after- 
 wards, how fome of you were put in irons, coupled two 
 aqd two, bound with ropes, and fent to Eafton jail, under 
 thefe directions, from Armfirong and Boyd, that if one 
 
 OV 
 
■c 3' : 
 
 of you attempted to efcape, the whole fliould immediately 
 be put to death! and government would ftand between 
 them (the Ruffians who guarded you) and any blame? 
 It was not enough for you to furrender your arms, and 
 never get them again ; but now, forfooth, you are demanded 
 to furrender your deeds and documents, reflecting a title 
 which they dare not put thcii's in competition with in % 
 f«iir, candid, arid impartial trial. 
 
 scanderbeg:> 
 
 Luzerne county, Nor. 1803. 
 
 ■ There being fo Utile to be found in the Tankee paper, adverfe (9 
 their title, that ive cannot forbear extracting the following, 
 (in reply to the preceding communication,) from tin 
 Lucerne, Federalijl, of the 17th, of December, 1803. 
 
 « COMMUNICATION. 
 
 u Dec. 15 thy 1803. 
 " Mejfrs. Miners. 
 " MUCH of you paperhas been occupiedby the Prefident' 
 and Directors of the Sufquehannah Company, as well as 
 by many other writers in fupport of what they call a juft 
 and righteous title ; all legal modes of trial having failed 
 their purpofes, one would have expected that after their ap- 
 peal to the people, the fubject would be at reft, having 
 been allowed to fay every thing they pleafed without con- 
 tradiction, notwithftanding the many grofs errors and mif- 
 reprefentations therein by them made, well known to the 
 Old Settlers and thofe con verfant with the tranfaclions of 
 thofe times; but we yet fee your paper the vehicle of 
 inflammatory communications. The object of a com- 
 munication publilhed in your paper of the 10U1 inftant, 
 
 may 
 
 
I 32 ] 
 
 may eafily be conceived, there can be no doubt the writer 
 is not an inhabitant of the 15 townfhips, or did not be- 
 long to them at the time of the palling cf the Aft of 
 1799, called the Quieting Ad, and fecondiy, that he has 
 an interest to ferve, different from the Settlers in the town- 
 (hips and which the Quieting Aft does not reach, whofe 
 objeft and views no doubt would be to let every thing 
 afloat, and by this means, hinder the peace, happinefs, and 
 order of fociety among ourfclves, and the laws of our 
 government from being carried into efleft, and in the e- 
 vent rather fee the valuable improvements in the town- 
 fhips laid wafre, than fee them pro fper under the prefent 
 encouraging mode of fettling the diiputes in the townfhips. 
 
 He mentions a little bit of paper, with fneering and de- 
 rifion; What does this little bit of paper contain ? Afk a 
 Settler in the 15 townihips who has received his certifi- 
 cate, and he will tell you it contains a draft of the lands 
 claimed and certified agreeeble to law, by the State 
 commiflioners, and is the ground for a title : It alio fet- 
 tles and fhuts out other Claimants of either Pennfylvania 
 or Connecticut, puts an end to all controveriies that may 
 have been heretofore fuppofed to have exifted, and places: 
 theiitles in the 15 townfhips on an original and hire bails. 
 The Claimants are already feeling the advantage thereof. 
 Property is rifing in value near an hundred per cent, 
 and who will doubt their ability to pay the eafy inflal- 
 nients of the valuation, when compared with the advan- 
 cing prices. Thefe circum fiances may be mortifying to 
 fome, but a pleafing faft to the holders of the little bit 
 of paper called a certificate. 
 
 I fhall now notice Mr. Scanderbeg's queflions in their 
 order. 
 
 The firft queftion he afks <' Why is it neceflary to deli* 
 ver up the evidence of your title, Sec 1" 
 
 *I anfwer, the law has made it neceflary. 
 
 3477-251 
 
 Lot-3# 
 
 Second 
 
[ 33 1 
 
 Second queftion — " Will the title thus made out, be 
 more le*al than our title:" 
 
 I anfwer, your titles are not recognized by the law, 
 but thefc titles are. 
 
 Third queflion — <{ Why demand your title deeds." 
 
 I anfwer, to prevent fraud and litigation. 
 
 Fourth queftion — ■" Is it not unconftitutional and un- 
 jufl:, to demand that which was not in the condition of 
 the contract when firft entered into:" 
 
 I anfwer, that an amendment to the Act was afl:ed 
 for by the Claimants, by way of fupplmeent to the Ad, 
 and if this can be compared to an agreement between 
 parties, any amendment that was thought to he a general 
 good, and not a partial evil to the parties, when the Act 
 was open for amendment, was juft and right to be adopted. 
 This with the foregoing anfwers and introduction may 
 fuffice to anfwer the fifth, fixth and feventh queiHons. 
 
 PACIFICUS." 
 
 This publication fhall now be brought to a clofe, with a 
 few curfory obfervations. The few extracts which are 
 given from the publications in the Luzerne Federalift, will 
 furely be deemed by every difpaffionate perfon to abound 
 with unfounded afTertions, bafe defamation, and moil in. 
 ftammatoryftimulants, to the ungovernable paffions of a wild 
 and diforderly fet of adventurers. Confequently, tho' 
 they may not fully exonerate the much abufed Captain 
 Patterfon, for the epithets he has thought proper to ufe, 
 yet they will undoubtedly tend greatly to extenuate his 
 fault. 
 
 There 
 
t 34 ] 
 
 There is another remark, alike due to the caufe of 
 the truth, order, government and the Pennfylvania Claim, 
 and that is, the Connecticut Intruders cannot (hew the 
 fmalleft particle of title to the lands in queftjon. They 
 are, in every fenfe of the word, Intruders. They never 
 made a fair or bona fide purchafe of thofe lands from the 
 Indians — and even if they done fo (which, however, it 
 is llrenuoufly contended they did not) it. was a perfectly il- 
 legal and unauthorifed Act* no Legiflature upon the face of 
 the earth, having, ever authorifed them to make fuch a 
 purchafe, not a (ingle cent was ever paid by the Sufquehan- 
 nah Company, either to the State of Pennfylvania, or 
 the State of Connecticut, for the lands in Luzerne 
 county. This afTertion can be unqueHionably proven 
 by a uumber of authentic criminal documents remaining in 
 the Land-office of Penniylvania. Auiong thefe, are the 
 orders from the King of Great-Britain, to the Governor 
 of Pennfylvania, before the revolution, to expel the 
 Yankee Intruders, from what is now called the county 
 of Luzerne; and the letters which pafTed between Go- 
 vernor Hamilton and the Governor of Connecticut on 
 this interefting fubjccl. It will clearly appear from the let- 
 ters, that the Governor of Connecticut moll unequivcally 
 declares that the State of Conneclicut had never fold, 
 nor authorifed any intrufion upon the lands of Pennfyl- 
 vania, that Connecticut had never inftituted or created 
 any fuch afTociations as the Siifjjuehannah or Delaware 
 Companies, and would therefore urge nothing in behalf 
 of thofe Intruders. From this plain and fair ilatemcnt 
 of facts, every man will be capable of judging with what 
 truth that wandering horde of Connecticut Adventures, 
 could fay they believed they had a just title to the lands 
 in controverfy. If, as they impioufly a:Tert, they derive it 
 from THE GOD OF NATURE, let them ihew their 
 title deeds! 
 
 ERRATA. 
 Immediately after the catch word " peace," at the 
 bottom of page 8, add the following words, "for the 
 more immediately introducing the laws" 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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