GAR Civil War
Our Father
age 90y 6m 10d
The Renovo Record, Thur., Feb. 24, 1881.
The Early Settlement of Chapman Township.
North Bend, Feb. 21, 1881.
Editor Record: Enclosed please find a letter from John Hamilton, Esq., of Pine Creek, the subject of which is the early settlement of Chapman township. Mr. Hamilton supposes that I had furnished for Maynard’s history the items contained therein. This is a mistake. I cannot say who did it. The only item that I was asked to contribute was one with regard to the election of 1838. The other items for which I am credited were taken from articles furnished by me to the Renovo Record. It is true, as Mr. Hamilton states, that Maynard’s history is very imperfect and incomplete as to the early history of this township. What Mr. Hamilton states in the enclosed letter will tend to preserve some of the original identity. Some one should collect and preserve these facts and rescue them from the oblivion to which they are surely destined. A Historical Society should be formed at Renovo for this purpose. Facts of thrilling interest, known now to the oldest living inhabitants, could be collected. Can you not call a meeting at Association Hall and discuss the propriety of this move for a preliminary organization.
Yours truly, A. J. Quigley.
Pine Creek, Feb. 14, 1881.
Mr. A. J. Quigley, Dear Sir: In looking over Maynard’s history of Clinton county, I see that much of the history of Chapman township has been furnished by yourself. But neither you nor Mr. Maynard have been able to get as far back as the first settlement. I see that John Fleming’s improvement is mentioned in describing the boundaries of the Youngwoman's town farm. This improvement must have been made as early as 1775. It was abandoned in the summer of 1778, the time of the “Big runaway,” when the whole West Branch was abandoned. John Price settled, about the same time, near Drury’s Run, perhaps where Renovo now stands. John Fleming married my mother’s oldest sister, and marked out a claim and settled upon it some time before the War of Independence, as the following well authenticated stories will show. John Fleming, with his wife and child, made a visit to John Price, then living on his improvement near Drury’s Run – keeping batchelor’s Hall. It was then the fashion – more strictly observed then than now – to give visitors their tea. But Mrs. Fleming, having a baby, and beginning to feel hungry, and seeing no signs of tea, suggested it was time to go home. Mr. Price would not hear it – they would have tea first. Mrs. Fleming waited, and no signs of tea. Hunger increased and she urged her husband to go home. Price said no, we will have tea directly, but the sauce is not ready. She waited but saw no signs of tea. At length Price went to the meal bag and took out some Indian meal and mixed up a cake with water and put it in the oven to bake, made some kind of herb or mountain tea, and when the cake was baked the “tea” was ready. Mrs. Fleming told afterwards it was the sweetest meal she ever ate. Hunger then went by the name of “Price’s sauce.”
It seems strange that settlers would venture so far among the Indians; so remote from anything like a settlement, on Indian lands not yet purchased from them. (The lands on the South side of the West Branch was purchased in 1768, and on the North side not till after the war).
Soon after war commenced with England, the Indians were observed leaving the West Branch and going to the Allegheny. A friendly Indian advised the inhabitant’s that they might look for them to return, armed for war. Times became alarming; temporary forts were built; and scouting parties sent out occasionally up the river. Along the Sinnemahonig seemed to be the Indian path to and from Allegheny. A scouting party stayed (perhaps) all night at Flemings, got their breakfast, and started up the river, Fleming with them. Mrs. Fleming had orders to have dinner ready on their return. She got the dinner ready and on the table, but getting uneasy embarked with her two little children in a canoe and started down the river; a sister, it seems was with her. They safely got to the settlement near Pine Creek. Fleming did not return to his improvement but moved to “York State.” Soon after the close of the war, near the Seneca and Cayuga lakes. Of course Fleming and Price went with the bulk in the “Big Runaway.
Price was a silversmith by trade; I used one of his hammers a long time. It had hard usage and not a dinge in it. It was lost. Price married the widow of Alexander Hamilton, who was killed by the Indians on the North Branch above Northumberland, in 1781. Price had two sons, Augustus and Thomas. Thomas lived, or kept batchelor’s hall, on his father’s improvement sometime between 1818 and 1823. Alexander Hamilton, the printer, taught school in that neighborhood, and lived with Thomas Price. I paid them a visit; their buckwheat cakes were sandy. Buckwheat was thrashed on an earthen floor, and the mills had no screens. Hamilton and Price made the journey once on the ice?, in a homemade cutter, and broke it not far from Youngwoman’s town. The water was deep; the horse could touch only on a big stone. They worked a long time, and likely had help. Price was a big man. He took off his shoes to get a better foot hold in his stocking feet. It was not long till the stocking soles froze to the ice and were torn off. Some proposed giving up and shoving the animal under the ice, but Price persevered and would not give up, though in his bare feet. Finally the horse was got out and very little hurt.
T. Price, while in that neighborhood, was commissioned a Justice of the Peace and for that and some adjoining townships.
It I remember aright, two English families moved on that place. Their names were Summerson and Johnson.
I have no evidence that John Price returned or visited his improvement after the return of the settlers of the West Branch after the war. Those that had made claims and improvements were allowed by the Legislature, on account of their patriotic services in defense of their country against the Indians and British, to take out warrants for the improvements and hold them.
I have an arm chair 105 or 106 years old that made the journey of the “Big Runaway” and back again. My sister has a walnut meal chest that made the same journey and back. It was loaded on two canoes and filled with flour.
Very respectfully, John Hamilton.
Our Father
age 90y 6m 10d
The Renovo Record, Thur., Feb. 24, 1881.
The Early Settlement of Chapman Township.
North Bend, Feb. 21, 1881.
Editor Record: Enclosed please find a letter from John Hamilton, Esq., of Pine Creek, the subject of which is the early settlement of Chapman township. Mr. Hamilton supposes that I had furnished for Maynard’s history the items contained therein. This is a mistake. I cannot say who did it. The only item that I was asked to contribute was one with regard to the election of 1838. The other items for which I am credited were taken from articles furnished by me to the Renovo Record. It is true, as Mr. Hamilton states, that Maynard’s history is very imperfect and incomplete as to the early history of this township. What Mr. Hamilton states in the enclosed letter will tend to preserve some of the original identity. Some one should collect and preserve these facts and rescue them from the oblivion to which they are surely destined. A Historical Society should be formed at Renovo for this purpose. Facts of thrilling interest, known now to the oldest living inhabitants, could be collected. Can you not call a meeting at Association Hall and discuss the propriety of this move for a preliminary organization.
Yours truly, A. J. Quigley.
Pine Creek, Feb. 14, 1881.
Mr. A. J. Quigley, Dear Sir: In looking over Maynard’s history of Clinton county, I see that much of the history of Chapman township has been furnished by yourself. But neither you nor Mr. Maynard have been able to get as far back as the first settlement. I see that John Fleming’s improvement is mentioned in describing the boundaries of the Youngwoman's town farm. This improvement must have been made as early as 1775. It was abandoned in the summer of 1778, the time of the “Big runaway,” when the whole West Branch was abandoned. John Price settled, about the same time, near Drury’s Run, perhaps where Renovo now stands. John Fleming married my mother’s oldest sister, and marked out a claim and settled upon it some time before the War of Independence, as the following well authenticated stories will show. John Fleming, with his wife and child, made a visit to John Price, then living on his improvement near Drury’s Run – keeping batchelor’s Hall. It was then the fashion – more strictly observed then than now – to give visitors their tea. But Mrs. Fleming, having a baby, and beginning to feel hungry, and seeing no signs of tea, suggested it was time to go home. Mr. Price would not hear it – they would have tea first. Mrs. Fleming waited, and no signs of tea. Hunger increased and she urged her husband to go home. Price said no, we will have tea directly, but the sauce is not ready. She waited but saw no signs of tea. At length Price went to the meal bag and took out some Indian meal and mixed up a cake with water and put it in the oven to bake, made some kind of herb or mountain tea, and when the cake was baked the “tea” was ready. Mrs. Fleming told afterwards it was the sweetest meal she ever ate. Hunger then went by the name of “Price’s sauce.”
It seems strange that settlers would venture so far among the Indians; so remote from anything like a settlement, on Indian lands not yet purchased from them. (The lands on the South side of the West Branch was purchased in 1768, and on the North side not till after the war).
Soon after war commenced with England, the Indians were observed leaving the West Branch and going to the Allegheny. A friendly Indian advised the inhabitant’s that they might look for them to return, armed for war. Times became alarming; temporary forts were built; and scouting parties sent out occasionally up the river. Along the Sinnemahonig seemed to be the Indian path to and from Allegheny. A scouting party stayed (perhaps) all night at Flemings, got their breakfast, and started up the river, Fleming with them. Mrs. Fleming had orders to have dinner ready on their return. She got the dinner ready and on the table, but getting uneasy embarked with her two little children in a canoe and started down the river; a sister, it seems was with her. They safely got to the settlement near Pine Creek. Fleming did not return to his improvement but moved to “York State.” Soon after the close of the war, near the Seneca and Cayuga lakes. Of course Fleming and Price went with the bulk in the “Big Runaway.
Price was a silversmith by trade; I used one of his hammers a long time. It had hard usage and not a dinge in it. It was lost. Price married the widow of Alexander Hamilton, who was killed by the Indians on the North Branch above Northumberland, in 1781. Price had two sons, Augustus and Thomas. Thomas lived, or kept batchelor’s hall, on his father’s improvement sometime between 1818 and 1823. Alexander Hamilton, the printer, taught school in that neighborhood, and lived with Thomas Price. I paid them a visit; their buckwheat cakes were sandy. Buckwheat was thrashed on an earthen floor, and the mills had no screens. Hamilton and Price made the journey once on the ice?, in a homemade cutter, and broke it not far from Youngwoman’s town. The water was deep; the horse could touch only on a big stone. They worked a long time, and likely had help. Price was a big man. He took off his shoes to get a better foot hold in his stocking feet. It was not long till the stocking soles froze to the ice and were torn off. Some proposed giving up and shoving the animal under the ice, but Price persevered and would not give up, though in his bare feet. Finally the horse was got out and very little hurt.
T. Price, while in that neighborhood, was commissioned a Justice of the Peace and for that and some adjoining townships.
It I remember aright, two English families moved on that place. Their names were Summerson and Johnson.
I have no evidence that John Price returned or visited his improvement after the return of the settlers of the West Branch after the war. Those that had made claims and improvements were allowed by the Legislature, on account of their patriotic services in defense of their country against the Indians and British, to take out warrants for the improvements and hold them.
I have an arm chair 105 or 106 years old that made the journey of the “Big Runaway” and back again. My sister has a walnut meal chest that made the same journey and back. It was loaded on two canoes and filled with flour.
Very respectfully, John Hamilton.
GAR Civil War
Our Father
age 90y 6m 10d
The Renovo Record, Thur., Feb. 24, 1881.
The Early Settlement of Chapman Township.
North Bend, Feb. 21, 1881.
Editor Record: Enclosed please find a letter from John Hamilton, Esq., of Pine Creek, the subject of which is the early settlement of Chapman township. Mr. Hamilton supposes that I had furnished for Maynard’s history the items contained therein. This is a mistake. I cannot say who did it. The only item that I was asked to contribute was one with regard to the election of 1838. The other items for which I am credited were taken from articles furnished by me to the Renovo Record. It is true, as Mr. Hamilton states, that Maynard’s history is very imperfect and incomplete as to the early history of this township. What Mr. Hamilton states in the enclosed letter will tend to preserve some of the original identity. Some one should collect and preserve these facts and rescue them from the oblivion to which they are surely destined. A Historical Society should be formed at Renovo for this purpose. Facts of thrilling interest, known now to the oldest living inhabitants, could be collected. Can you not call a meeting at Association Hall and discuss the propriety of this move for a preliminary organization.
Yours truly, A. J. Quigley.
Pine Creek, Feb. 14, 1881.
Mr. A. J. Quigley, Dear Sir: In looking over Maynard’s history of Clinton county, I see that much of the history of Chapman township has been furnished by yourself. But neither you nor Mr. Maynard have been able to get as far back as the first settlement. I see that John Fleming’s improvement is mentioned in describing the boundaries of the Youngwoman's town farm. This improvement must have been made as early as 1775. It was abandoned in the summer of 1778, the time of the “Big runaway,” when the whole West Branch was abandoned. John Price settled, about the same time, near Drury’s Run, perhaps where Renovo now stands. John Fleming married my mother’s oldest sister, and marked out a claim and settled upon it some time before the War of Independence, as the following well authenticated stories will show. John Fleming, with his wife and child, made a visit to John Price, then living on his improvement near Drury’s Run – keeping batchelor’s Hall. It was then the fashion – more strictly observed then than now – to give visitors their tea. But Mrs. Fleming, having a baby, and beginning to feel hungry, and seeing no signs of tea, suggested it was time to go home. Mr. Price would not hear it – they would have tea first. Mrs. Fleming waited, and no signs of tea. Hunger increased and she urged her husband to go home. Price said no, we will have tea directly, but the sauce is not ready. She waited but saw no signs of tea. At length Price went to the meal bag and took out some Indian meal and mixed up a cake with water and put it in the oven to bake, made some kind of herb or mountain tea, and when the cake was baked the “tea” was ready. Mrs. Fleming told afterwards it was the sweetest meal she ever ate. Hunger then went by the name of “Price’s sauce.”
It seems strange that settlers would venture so far among the Indians; so remote from anything like a settlement, on Indian lands not yet purchased from them. (The lands on the South side of the West Branch was purchased in 1768, and on the North side not till after the war).
Soon after war commenced with England, the Indians were observed leaving the West Branch and going to the Allegheny. A friendly Indian advised the inhabitant’s that they might look for them to return, armed for war. Times became alarming; temporary forts were built; and scouting parties sent out occasionally up the river. Along the Sinnemahonig seemed to be the Indian path to and from Allegheny. A scouting party stayed (perhaps) all night at Flemings, got their breakfast, and started up the river, Fleming with them. Mrs. Fleming had orders to have dinner ready on their return. She got the dinner ready and on the table, but getting uneasy embarked with her two little children in a canoe and started down the river; a sister, it seems was with her. They safely got to the settlement near Pine Creek. Fleming did not return to his improvement but moved to “York State.” Soon after the close of the war, near the Seneca and Cayuga lakes. Of course Fleming and Price went with the bulk in the “Big Runaway.
Price was a silversmith by trade; I used one of his hammers a long time. It had hard usage and not a dinge in it. It was lost. Price married the widow of Alexander Hamilton, who was killed by the Indians on the North Branch above Northumberland, in 1781. Price had two sons, Augustus and Thomas. Thomas lived, or kept batchelor’s hall, on his father’s improvement sometime between 1818 and 1823. Alexander Hamilton, the printer, taught school in that neighborhood, and lived with Thomas Price. I paid them a visit; their buckwheat cakes were sandy. Buckwheat was thrashed on an earthen floor, and the mills had no screens. Hamilton and Price made the journey once on the ice?, in a homemade cutter, and broke it not far from Youngwoman’s town. The water was deep; the horse could touch only on a big stone. They worked a long time, and likely had help. Price was a big man. He took off his shoes to get a better foot hold in his stocking feet. It was not long till the stocking soles froze to the ice and were torn off. Some proposed giving up and shoving the animal under the ice, but Price persevered and would not give up, though in his bare feet. Finally the horse was got out and very little hurt.
T. Price, while in that neighborhood, was commissioned a Justice of the Peace and for that and some adjoining townships.
It I remember aright, two English families moved on that place. Their names were Summerson and Johnson.
I have no evidence that John Price returned or visited his improvement after the return of the settlers of the West Branch after the war. Those that had made claims and improvements were allowed by the Legislature, on account of their patriotic services in defense of their country against the Indians and British, to take out warrants for the improvements and hold them.
I have an arm chair 105 or 106 years old that made the journey of the “Big Runaway” and back again. My sister has a walnut meal chest that made the same journey and back. It was loaded on two canoes and filled with flour.
Very respectfully, John Hamilton.
Our Father
age 90y 6m 10d
The Renovo Record, Thur., Feb. 24, 1881.
The Early Settlement of Chapman Township.
North Bend, Feb. 21, 1881.
Editor Record: Enclosed please find a letter from John Hamilton, Esq., of Pine Creek, the subject of which is the early settlement of Chapman township. Mr. Hamilton supposes that I had furnished for Maynard’s history the items contained therein. This is a mistake. I cannot say who did it. The only item that I was asked to contribute was one with regard to the election of 1838. The other items for which I am credited were taken from articles furnished by me to the Renovo Record. It is true, as Mr. Hamilton states, that Maynard’s history is very imperfect and incomplete as to the early history of this township. What Mr. Hamilton states in the enclosed letter will tend to preserve some of the original identity. Some one should collect and preserve these facts and rescue them from the oblivion to which they are surely destined. A Historical Society should be formed at Renovo for this purpose. Facts of thrilling interest, known now to the oldest living inhabitants, could be collected. Can you not call a meeting at Association Hall and discuss the propriety of this move for a preliminary organization.
Yours truly, A. J. Quigley.
Pine Creek, Feb. 14, 1881.
Mr. A. J. Quigley, Dear Sir: In looking over Maynard’s history of Clinton county, I see that much of the history of Chapman township has been furnished by yourself. But neither you nor Mr. Maynard have been able to get as far back as the first settlement. I see that John Fleming’s improvement is mentioned in describing the boundaries of the Youngwoman's town farm. This improvement must have been made as early as 1775. It was abandoned in the summer of 1778, the time of the “Big runaway,” when the whole West Branch was abandoned. John Price settled, about the same time, near Drury’s Run, perhaps where Renovo now stands. John Fleming married my mother’s oldest sister, and marked out a claim and settled upon it some time before the War of Independence, as the following well authenticated stories will show. John Fleming, with his wife and child, made a visit to John Price, then living on his improvement near Drury’s Run – keeping batchelor’s Hall. It was then the fashion – more strictly observed then than now – to give visitors their tea. But Mrs. Fleming, having a baby, and beginning to feel hungry, and seeing no signs of tea, suggested it was time to go home. Mr. Price would not hear it – they would have tea first. Mrs. Fleming waited, and no signs of tea. Hunger increased and she urged her husband to go home. Price said no, we will have tea directly, but the sauce is not ready. She waited but saw no signs of tea. At length Price went to the meal bag and took out some Indian meal and mixed up a cake with water and put it in the oven to bake, made some kind of herb or mountain tea, and when the cake was baked the “tea” was ready. Mrs. Fleming told afterwards it was the sweetest meal she ever ate. Hunger then went by the name of “Price’s sauce.”
It seems strange that settlers would venture so far among the Indians; so remote from anything like a settlement, on Indian lands not yet purchased from them. (The lands on the South side of the West Branch was purchased in 1768, and on the North side not till after the war).
Soon after war commenced with England, the Indians were observed leaving the West Branch and going to the Allegheny. A friendly Indian advised the inhabitant’s that they might look for them to return, armed for war. Times became alarming; temporary forts were built; and scouting parties sent out occasionally up the river. Along the Sinnemahonig seemed to be the Indian path to and from Allegheny. A scouting party stayed (perhaps) all night at Flemings, got their breakfast, and started up the river, Fleming with them. Mrs. Fleming had orders to have dinner ready on their return. She got the dinner ready and on the table, but getting uneasy embarked with her two little children in a canoe and started down the river; a sister, it seems was with her. They safely got to the settlement near Pine Creek. Fleming did not return to his improvement but moved to “York State.” Soon after the close of the war, near the Seneca and Cayuga lakes. Of course Fleming and Price went with the bulk in the “Big Runaway.
Price was a silversmith by trade; I used one of his hammers a long time. It had hard usage and not a dinge in it. It was lost. Price married the widow of Alexander Hamilton, who was killed by the Indians on the North Branch above Northumberland, in 1781. Price had two sons, Augustus and Thomas. Thomas lived, or kept batchelor’s hall, on his father’s improvement sometime between 1818 and 1823. Alexander Hamilton, the printer, taught school in that neighborhood, and lived with Thomas Price. I paid them a visit; their buckwheat cakes were sandy. Buckwheat was thrashed on an earthen floor, and the mills had no screens. Hamilton and Price made the journey once on the ice?, in a homemade cutter, and broke it not far from Youngwoman’s town. The water was deep; the horse could touch only on a big stone. They worked a long time, and likely had help. Price was a big man. He took off his shoes to get a better foot hold in his stocking feet. It was not long till the stocking soles froze to the ice and were torn off. Some proposed giving up and shoving the animal under the ice, but Price persevered and would not give up, though in his bare feet. Finally the horse was got out and very little hurt.
T. Price, while in that neighborhood, was commissioned a Justice of the Peace and for that and some adjoining townships.
It I remember aright, two English families moved on that place. Their names were Summerson and Johnson.
I have no evidence that John Price returned or visited his improvement after the return of the settlers of the West Branch after the war. Those that had made claims and improvements were allowed by the Legislature, on account of their patriotic services in defense of their country against the Indians and British, to take out warrants for the improvements and hold them.
I have an arm chair 105 or 106 years old that made the journey of the “Big Runaway” and back again. My sister has a walnut meal chest that made the same journey and back. It was loaded on two canoes and filled with flour.
Very respectfully, John Hamilton.
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