Patterson occupied as headquarters. They set the building on fire, and two of his associates, Henderson and Read, in attempting to escape to the fort, were shot down. Capt. Swift was severely wounded, but his loss did not in the least abate the ardor and efforts of his men, who spiritedly invested the Pennamite garrison. In this conflict Franklin was wounded in the wrist, Nathan Stevens was shot in the eye and died instantly, William Smith and one or two others were also killed, and finally the Yankees were compelled to abandon the siege.

By the constitution of Pennsylvania, established after the colonies had declared themselves free and independent states, in addition to the supreme executive council and the house of representatives, there existed a council of censors who assembled once in seven years. This body was elected by the people, and had power to send for persons and papers, and to examine into all questions respecting the rights of the people and the administration of justice. After an examination, by the censors, of the Wyoming difficulties, and after the refusal of the house of representatives to furnish certain papers, in the autumn of 1784 they issued a declaration enumerating the wrongs committed against the Connecticut settlers, and severely censuring the supreme executive council and the house of representatives. These bodies, however, disregarded the reproof of the censors, and prosecuted the unholy war. Armstrong was promoted to the position of a general, and at the head of 100 armed men, on October 17, 1784, again entered the valley. The day fol lowing he attacked the Yankees, who had fortified themselves in four log houses, placed in the form of a diamond, situated above Forty fort. The contest lasted one hour, when Armstrong was compelled to retreat, having lost Capt. Bolin, and having had three or four severely wounded. On the side of the Yankees, William Jackson was dangerously wounded, and as he lay bleeding, Capt. Franklin seized his friend's bloody rifle and swore he would never lay down his arms until death should arrest his hand, or Patterson and Amstrong should be expelled from Wyoming. The next day Armstrong sent thirty of his men to gather the buckwheat on the Kingston flats, but the Yankees, stealthily encircling the workmen, carried away the grain, amounting to about 100 bushels.

At this juncture the assembly of Pennsylvania passed an act restoring the dispossessed Yankees to their lands and recalling Armstrong and Patterson with the forces under their command. This was temporary relief. The settlers at once set about the appointment of committees to organize the militia, to provide for the punishment of offenders, etc. Franklin was elected colonel of the troops. A petition signed by ninety-six men and women, setting forth their grievances and sufferings, and praying to be permitted to elect their own officers and to be protected in their rights, was sent to the assembly at Philadelphia. John Jenkins was appointed to wait on the assembly and to secure the passage of a law for the final settlement of matters in dispute, and for the permanent establishment of the rights of the Connecticut settlers. These efforts proving of no avail, Franklin waited upon the session of congress, and upon the assembly of Connecticut and endeavored to interest them in the wretched fate of the Wyoming people. He also made a bold effort to revive the slumbering energies of the Susquehanna company, which, like Connecticut, had been stunned by the Trenton decree. In this he succeeded. July, 1785, the company met and reaffirmed its rights in these disputed lands; land was voted to recruits, called half-share rights; committees were appointed, and extensive preparations were made. Franklin returned to Wyoming, held meetings, and addressed the people in the several townships, in regard to a new plan which had been settled upon. It remained for the people to carry it out. It had been determined to form a new state out of northern Pennsylvania. The disputed territory was to be dismembered and downtrodden Wyoming was to be set free from the thraldom of Pennsylvania. Wise heads at Philadelphia saw the gathering storm, and on December 24 following, the assembly of Pennsylvania passed an "Act for

In

quieting disturbances at Wyoming and pardoning certain offenders.” This law required the Yankees to give bail for their good behavior, but gave them no security in return. It was consequently disregarded. In July, 1786, the Susquehanna company held another meeting in Connecticut, and Col. Franklin, Maj. Jenkins, and Gen. Ethan Allen, Col. Butler and others, were appointed a committee to locate townships, to decide upon claims, etc. The ball set in motion by the bold and fearless Franklin was now being rolled onward by such men as Oliver Walcott, Joel Barlow and Gen. Ethan Allen, the hero of Ticonderoga. Stout hearts and heroes, who had braved the tempest of battle during the Revolution, and who sympathized with the widows and orphans of their comrades in their sufferings and wrongs, were gathering at Wyoming, and the result could not be mistaken. The authorities of Pennsylvania saw at once that the infamous policy which they had pursued was fast leading to a dismemberment of the State, and that the time had arrived for other and prompt measures. A division in the ranks of the Yankees was determined upon,

and the question arose, who can accomplish it?

He was
This

Timothy Pickering, a native of Massachusetts, and a man of distinguished ability, was at this time engaged in the practice of law in the city of Philadelphia. requested to visit Wyoming and examine into the condition of affairs there. he did in August and September, 1786, and returning to Philadelphia reported "that the Yankees were entirely satisfied with the constitution of Pennsylvania, and were ready to submit to its government, provided they could be quieted in the possession of their farms." A few days after this report, September 25, 1786, the act creating the county of Luzerne passed the assembly, and Matthias Hollenback, Timothy Pickering and others were commissioned justices, with power to hold courts, etc. Pickering was also appointed prothonotary, clerk of the court and register and recorder. Lord Butler was commissioned high sheriff.

On December 27, following this event, the Susquehanna Company held a meeting at the State house. in Hartford, Conn., when measures were adopted preparatory to the organization of the new State. An executive committee of twenty-one persons, among whom appear the names of Oliver Walcott, Joel Barlow, Zebulon Butler, John Franklin and John Jenkins, was appointed with full powers to organize the government. On the same day, at Philadelphia, the Assembly of Pennsylvania passed a supplement to the act creating Luzerne county, by which Timothy Pickering, Zebulon Butler and John Franklin were appointed to notify the electors of Luzerne county that an election would be held there on the 1st day of February, 1787, for the election of one supreme councillor, one member of the house of representatives and a high sheriff. Thus, Pennsylvania succeeded in dividing the Yankees, and now they were no longer one people united against a common enemy.

As the 1st day of February approached the breach widened, and on the morning of the election," for the first time," says Miner, "was presented the spectacle, equally gratifying to foes and painful to friends, of open and decided hostility among the Wyoming people. Col. Butler, Col. Denison, the Hollenbacks, the Rosses, the families of Gore, Carey, Nesbit and others were in favor of election, while Franklin, the Jenkinses, the Slocums, Satterlies, Dudleys and others opposed it." The former were ready and willing to swear allegiance to Pennsylvania, and trust to her honor for a confirmation of their titles, and for the security of their homes; but Franklin and his adherents. remembering Pennsylvania's oft repeated and plighted vows, and the outrages of Armstrong and Patterson, would not trust her without security. Confirm us in our titles, and protect us in our possessions, said they, and then we will swear allegiance, but not till then. The election was held, but not without riot and confusion. Col. Nathan Denison was chosen a member of the executive council, John Franklin was elected to the house of representatives, and Lord Butler to the office of high sheriff of the county. It was understood if Franklin could be reconciled, the new state project would be seriously damaged. It was conse

quently a prime object to seduce him from his former connections. With this view he had been appointed with Pickering and Butler to give notice of the election, and it was with this view he had been elected a member of the Pennsylvania assembly. It was doubtless intended as an exquisite stroke of political management. It was a cunningly-spread net, in which most men would have been caught. But Franklin was not so to be taken, for he stubbornly adhered to his first position, refusing to take a seat in the assembly or the oath of allegiance.

The settlers who had united with Pennsylvania, and who recognized Pickering as their leader, denounced Franklin and his associates as "wild Yankees," prosecuting a project which would involve them in endless war. On the other hand, Franklin and his adherents proclaimed them as traitors, who had gone over to the enemy, and against whose treachery they, even now, had not the slightest guarantee.

On March 28, following the election, the assembly of Pennsylvania, seeing that all efforts to reconcile the "wild Yankees" had failed, passed the confirming law, under which Timothy Pickering, Joseph Montgomery and Peter Muhlenberg were appointed commissioners, to sit at Wilkes-Barre, to hear and decide claims. Both parties now agreed to hold a general mass meeting of all the settlers at Forty fort, and to discuss the merits of the late act of assembly. A stand was erected, and Samuel Sutton was chosen chairman. Timothy Pickering opened the discussion by a lengthy and persuasive argument in favor of the law. He declared that Pennsylvania was honest and sincere, and pledged his honor as security for her good faith. Stephen Gardner, half doubting, said, "Your lips speak fair, but oh! that there was a window in that breast that we might see and read your heart."

Maj. John Jenkins replied to Pickering, "What guarantee have we that Pennsylvania will keep her plighted faith? She has forfeited her honor time and again. If we accept the provisions of this law, when she finds we are tied hand and foot she will repeal it, and leave us without hope."

John Franklin now followed in a powerful and sarcastic speech. He denounced, in the most bitter and irritating language, the conduct of Pennsylvania, as well as of those who had taken part with Pickering. The peut-up emotions of the excited assembly could no longer be restrained-a fight ensued, clubs were cut and used, and for a moment serious consequences were imminent. When order was partially restored a vote was taken, when it was decided to accept the law.

The commissioners appointed under this law in August opened their court and decided upon a number of claims; but, being threatened with violence, adjourned.

The

A constitution for the new State was drawn by Oliver Walcott, and officers were decided upon. In September Gen. Ethan Allen arrived; finding the Connecticut people divided, he, with Col. John Franklin, set hard about reconciling them. latter traveled over all the country from house to house and addressed meetings at Kingston, Hanover, Pittston, Newport and other places. But their efforts were in vain. Gen. Allen openly declared he had made one new State and that with 100 Green Mountain boys and 200 Susquehanna riflemen he could make another State in spite of all Pennsylvania.

A companion incident and nearly simultaneously was the action of John Sevier, in carving the new State "Franklin" out of Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia. Col. Franklin and his followers had determined to make the capital at Tioga Point (Athens).

The new State was to extend into the unorganized portions of southern New York. The Independent Gazetteer of October 5, 1787, says: "A few days since Capts. Craig, Brady, Stephenson, Begs, Pim and Erb went to the camp of Luzerne and there, by order of the supreme executive council, apprehended John Franklin, and yesterday brought him to this city. This man has been very active in fomenting disturbances in the camp, has great address and resolution, as was shown by the

gentlemen employed in conducting this business; they were all officers of the continental army, who distinguished themselves by their bravery during the late war-it is to be hoped they will receive sufficient compensation for their services."

Asburn Towner's novel, Chendayne of Kotono, gives an interesting description of this event. The real hero of those days was Col. Franklin. Franklin, the wilderness hero, lay in jail while the national constitutional convention assembled to form our wonderful constitution. When after in prison a year or more Franklin was brought before the court, the court said: "There was evidence that he and the people had assembled for the purpose of opposing the authority and law of the commonwealth, and that a paper subscribed by him had been posted inviting the people to throw off allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania and to erect themselves into an independent State; also it appeared that the insurgents had appointed a court of three judges, vested with jurisdiction in all criminal and civil cases

This was approaching rapidly, if not actual treason, but the commonwealth, in its great mercy, only charged misprison of treason.

Franklin's followers quickly retaliated his arrest by literally kidnapping Pickering and carrying him into the mountains. In this their hope was to compel the release of Franklin and instead of helping him it hurt. When bail was asked for Franklin, the Chief Justice said: "Yesterday we might have allowed it; but to-day's news of the arrest of Pickering shuts out all such idea and the charge is reverted to treason."

November 5, 1787, Dr. Ben Franklin, then secretary of the commonwealth, sent the following to the council:

GENTLEMEN: Since the last session there has been a renewal of the disturbances at Wyoming, some restless spirits there having imagined a prospect of withdrawing the inhabitants of that part of the State and some of the State of New York from their allegiance and of forming them into a new State, to be carried into effect by an armed force in defiance of the laws of the two States. Having intelligence of this, we caused one of the principal conspirators to be apprehended and secured in the goal of this city-and another, who resides in the State of New York, at our request has been taken up by the authorities of that government. The papers found on this occasion fully discovers the designs of these turbulent people and some of their letters are herewith laid before you. To protect the civil officers of our new court of Luzerne in the exercise of their respective functions, we have ordered a body of militia to hold themselves in readiness to march thither; which will be done unless some future circumstances and information from those points may make it appear unnecessary.

[Signed] B. FRANKLIN,

President Supreme Ex. Council.

Session of general assembly, October 31, 1787, mostly taken up with the Luzerne troubles, a resolution was passed to raise troops. Benjamin Franklin sent another message to the assembly recommending the adoption of effectual measures to suppress rebellion and enforce the laws.

The people drove the commissioners from Luzerne court and at November election following, Timothy Pickering was elected to the legislature from Luzerne. He was afterward Washington's secretary of state.

Franklin was cruelly treated, being ironed down in a cold, miserable dungeon, with insufficient food, no clothing except the light suit he had on when arrested, prohibited all communication with friends and all use of pen, ink and paper. Here he was kept nearly two years. His friends were desperately willing to do anything in their power to secure his release. June 26, 1788, they kidnapped Pickering, and proposed holding him as a hostage, or secure his influence for the release of Franklin. The kidnappers were pursued by Pickering's adherents, and were fired upon and serious wounds inflicted, when the pursuit was given over. This was the last time that blood was shed in the long and cruel contention. Pickering resolutely refused to yield to the demands of his captors, and was, after three weeks, released. The arrest of Franklin and the acceptance by the people of the "confirming

law" no doubt arrested the movement for the new State, which had already gone to the extent of completing its frame of government, and arranged that Maj. William Judd, of Farmington, Conn., should be governor, and Col. Franklin lieutenant-governor.

Col. John Franklin was born at Canaan, Litchfield county, Conn., September 26, 1749; removed to Wyoming in the spring of 1774; was many years an acting magistrate under Connecticut; captain of an independent company during the Revolutionary war, and, while attached to Sullivan's expedition against the Indians, was wounded in the attack on Chemung; member of the assembly of Connecticut in 1781; in October, 1787, he was arrested on a charge of treason against the State of Pennsylvania, for "endeavoring to subvert the government, and to erect a new and independent State in the room and stead thereof;" was confined in Philadelphia nearly two years, a great part of the time heavily ironed, released on bail, and never brought to trial; in 1792 he was elected high sheriff of Luzerne county, while an indictment for treason was still hanging over him, was commissioned and served; in 1795, 1796, 1799, 1800, 1801, 1803, he was a member of assembly from Luzerne county; by the act of April 2, 1804, a small portion of Luzerne county, including his farm, was set off to Lycoming county; this act was avowedly for the purpose of keeping him out of the legislature, but in 1805 he again appeared in that body as a member from Lycoming; in 1789 he removed to his farm in Athens (then Luzerne, now Bradford county), which was laid out to him under Connecticut title, and there resided until his death, March 1, 1831. He never accepted nor recognized a Pennsylvania title, but after his death his heirs were required to purchase the title to his farm.

In the settlement of northern Pennsylvania he was the recognized leader, making annual pilgrimages to New England, and bringing back hosts of industrious settlers, whose descendants, to this day, preserve the virtuous character of their Puritan ancestry; the people whom he brought thither, he never forsook. Their battles he fought in the courts, the assembly, in newspapers and pamphlets, and, if necessary, with his strong right arm, with a zeal, persistency and fidelity which deserved for the cause he thought to be right, a better fate.

But little of the history of the county in the Revolutionary times could be written without some mention of the Gore family. An ancient document, rescued by chance from oblivion, is so full of history as to need no further words for its insertion here. In January, 1832, Samuel Gore penned his own petition to congress, asking for a pension; after a respectful address, he says:

"Your petitioner's request is of a singular nature, differing from the common case of those who served in the war of the Revolution; he was not engaged for any limited time; that he resided at Wyoming settlement at the commencement of the late Revolutionary war; that in the year 1777, in the month of May, he was enrolled in the militia of Capt. Aholiab Buck's company, and took the oath of allegiance to be true and faithful to the cause then at issue; that in December, the same year, he was drafted on a tour of duty up the river as far as Wysox and Towanda; the command he was attached to took twenty-eight prisoners, men that had served under Gen. Burgoyne the preceding campaign; that in the year 1778 the settlement was in almost continual alarm the afore part of the season; and what added mostly to their fears was that three companies of soldiers had been enlisted in the settlement and had joined the main army of Washington.

"The militia that was left was on duty the principal part of the time, in fortifying, scouting and learning the military discipline till the month of July, when the settlement was invaded by the British and Indians, under the command of Col. John Butler, and Brant, the Indian chief.

"Your petitioner was in the memorable battle and massacre of Wyoming, and narrowly escaped the fate of five brothers and officers and the principal part of the company to which he belonged.