Northumberland County (Pennsylvania) in the American Revolution
pgs. 317, 321, 352

Susquehannah Company Papers
Volume IV pgs. 76, 82, 324, 334

[297] pgs. 333-334
DEPOSITION OF JOHN DURKEE
On the 30th day of April 1770, I arrived at Wyoming on the east branch of the Susquehannah, in order to collect sundry effects which I had left there in the fall of the year 1769. There I found Capt. Amos Ogden, with a party of people under his direction fortified and besieged by a number of people who ahd put themselves under the direction of Capt Zebulon Butler. A few hours after my arrival, at Wyoming I was invited by a certain Capt. Lazerous Stewart to go with him to the battery which he commanded. I agreed to his request and went with him. Immediately after I arrived at Stewarts battery, I received a verbal message by an Indian Job Chiloway from Capt Ogden desiring to speak with me. To this message I gave no kind of answer but in consequence of the message, Lazerous Stewart gave him liberty to come into battery and promised him protection. Ogden then came and after about half an hour's publick and friendly conversation, on transient matters, I was about to withdraw when Capt Ogden desired that he might have a conversation with me the next day at the New England Fort. I answered that with respect to the differences then subsisting between them, I had nothing to do with the management of. That I had only come there to look after my own effects which I had left there the fall before and intended to return in a few days which I did, and that if he wanted any favors, I would advise him to apply to Capt Butler who had the command of the people there and further that I would, if he desired it, speak to Capt Butler to know whether or not a conference would be agreeable and that for my own part, I could only advise them to settle their matters in some more passive way than in blood shed. Then I left him & that evening informed Capt Butler of the substance of the foregoing conversation, who promised me that he would advise with the people to know whether or not they would be satisfied with Ogden's coming into the fort & to prevail on them not to abuse him. But before this was done, Ogden came to the fortabout 10 oclock the next day under the protection of Lazerous Stewart and was so kindly received by Capt Butler, but as to what conversation passed between Butler and Ogden I know not nor did I at that time in the least advise Capt Butler in the matter. About two days after I was transciently present when Butler caused a certain John Murphy a person who he had ordered into confinement being charged with the murder of a certain Pelsey Stager to be brought before him where he was examined respecting the murder. During the course of this examination, I think I asked the said Murphy one or two questions, but had no share in ordering, either his first confinement or in remanding him back after this examination. I remained at Wyoming in pursuit of my own private business until the 10th of May following when I set out for Connecticut. On my arrival at Wyoming, I found both parties warmly engaged in firing at each other, but on my advising them to desist from firing, they did accordingly and there was not a single gun fired after, to my knowledge,
John Durkee.
N. B. Was present at examination of John Murphy the following persons Vizt William Buck, Benjamin Follet, Isaac Trip & Rob't Young.
Witness necessary to be subpoenied in behalf of John Durkee Vizt. William Buck & Asabel Buck both of Duchess Co. York Government. Benjamin Follet of Windham in Conn., Rob't Young, son of John, Rob't Young Jun., Lazerous Stewart Jun., Thomas French, Hugh Cochran, Peter Kidd, Mathias Hollenback, Aza Ludington, Richard Manning, John Collins of Wyoming, Simon Fraiser of Philadelphia and Daniel Haines of Lower Smithfield Northampton County, John Tidd, Martin Tidd and John Dolson, all of Wyoming are evidences that John Murphy was absolutely guilty of the murder for which Butler had confined him.

pg. 82
MEMORANDUM BOOK OF ZEBULON BUTLER, FEBRUARY-MAY, 1770.
[April] 4 our Peopel Went to Ogdens and had Talk with him and took Nine Prisoners at Night we Examined them and Found that one John Murfee was the Murderer by Evidence of Bill Sims Marten Tidd and John Tidd

pgs. 75-76
Deposition of Nathan Ogden

Philadelphia to wit
The Deposition of Nathan Ogden aged thirty years or thereabouts (he being first sworn on the holy Evangels of Almighty God) saith
That he remained at Wioming about four days after his Brother Amos Ogden had left the place, as in his Deposition made this day is mentioned. That on the first of May last a party of the New Englandmen and Pennsylvanians set Fire to Joseph Ogden's House, situate on the proprietary Tract of Land there and burnt it to the Ground. That on the second of May Instant Captain John Collins with a party of the same people, broke the Locks of the said Amos Ogden's Store House, and robbed the same of several hundred Deer Skins and a Number of other Articles, and then demolished the House. That on the third of May Captain Collins, Lazarus Stewart, Lazarus Young and others of the New England party broke the locks of the said Amos Ogden's dwelling House and Shop took away all the Goods in them, and a large Quantity of Furs and some hundred Deer Skins, and then set fire to the House which was soon consumed. The Deponent further saith that the said New England party at several Times made prisoners of several of the people settled on the said proprietary Manner under the proprietors, turned their families out and destroyed the Houses and Effects. And when he left Wioming he saw several of them, to wit, Martin Tidd, Robert Duchee, Michael Hendershute, John Murphy and Thomas Neal confined in a Gaol in a miserable condition. And that one of them who had been confined of the Name of Patrick White, he saw lying dead in the said Gaol, who, he heard amongst the people of the Fort, had been taken out of the said Gaol by the said Connecticut party in good health and by them bled in both his arms till he dyed; after which he was brought back dead within an Hour, and thrown into the Gaol amongst the Rest of the prisoners, but he knows not the Truth of this Information.
This Deponent further saith that when he left the Fort at Wioming on the fifth day of May last past, he believes there were upwards of two Hundred people belonging to it. And that the Persons named in the List hereunto annexed are of the party. The Names of any others of them he has not been able to learn.
This Deponent further saith that he has frequently heard the Leaders and many others of the said New England party declare that they would dispossess the Inhabitants of Pennsylvania who would not join them as low down as the blue Mountains which Inhabitants are esteemed to consist of about three Hundred Families. And further saith not.
Nathan Ogden
Sworn at Philadelphia the twenty fifth day of May 1770
Before me John Penn
Names of the Connecticut People and Pennsylvanians in the Connecticut Fort at Wyoming

Volume VII pgs. 431-432
[257] Thomas McKean, William Atlee, and Jacob Rush to John Dickinson.
Sir,
We had the honor of receiving your Excellency's letter of 25th, May, on the 3d instant, at Sunbury, and your letter of the 20th on the day following, and this day we received your letter of the second instant at this place; that of the 22d of May did not come to hand.
Among a variety of other Prisoners at Sunbury, forty-five persons were indicted for a riot, assault, and false imprisonment of divers Inhabitants formerly of Connecticut, and five officers of the Garrison at Wyoming for a Rescue. We wish most sincerely, there was no cause of censure of the officers there, both civil and military. Every thing has been done by us for preserving the public Tranquilty in that county that we could think of, and we are induced to believe, that the measures pursued will answer the Ends designed.

Volume VIII pgs. 29-30
[27] John Seely to Henry Antes.
Wyoming, Aug't 12th, 1784
Sir,
I this day, about Eleven O'Clock, Rec'd a Letter (from Tho's McKean, Esq., one of the Chief Justices of this State,) by your hands, which was delivered to me Open, Directing me to Deliver to you a List of those who had Enter'd Bail to answer at the Supreme Court to their Indictments; the Under Written Names is a list of all those Enter'd Bail before me.

Ebenezar Taylor Silas Taylor Joseph Matania Samuel Vn Gordon Helmes Vn Gordon James Brink John Cortright Benjamin Hillman Martin Tidd Daniel Swartz Isaiah Colver James Colver Isaac Clinkefoos

VII [211] pg. 356-357
Dear Sir
This swamp has been Impassable ever since I Received your Letter or you should have any since heard from me. Lt. Armstrong is willing to attempt making his way through the shades of Death to Philadelphia, he will have the pleasure of Delivering this Letter with the several Inclosures. among them you will find the Deposition of Martin Tidd, setting forth the conduct of Coll Stroud, when here in the Respectable Character of a Committee man & Coppy of his Deposition I have enclosed to William Maclay, and Capt Sharp Delany, and for the farther use of it I would leave you to determine. In consequence of this Advice from Coll Stroud (at What I am led to believe so) all Prospect of Leasing is over, and all those who gave up Peaceable Possession are Attempting to Regain their houses and Property. Those who promised Possession in the spring are of a very Different opinion now, and every Person who has any Pretensions to Land here under the Connecticut Claim are with all their Connections Expe[cted] in the Spring. our few setlers are much Alarmed at the [prospects?] their Partty make them believe the the Pennsylvania setlers are every where forbid cutting firewood. Mr Butler has forbid Van Courtrights (Who by the by is a worthy fellow) from cutting timber on his Lot. In short our Situation is truly this. the Yankeys are in the highest spirits. the Poor Penmites Infinitely below the Par. however they always recover a word of Comfort from me. the Westbrooks have Armed and have already played the Divil on Jacobs Plains. Esqr Mead has Issued a State Warrant for one of them and I trust he will soon be taken. the Dissolution of the Garrison is now the grand object of their Intention. if that is effected before some easy and speedy mode of Obtaining Possession of this Country is Pointed out I Dread the Consequences. the Common Law usage of this People tend to Discover their Intentions of testing the Pennsylvanians Down the River in the Spring. I need not urge you to Exert yourself with the house to Accrue [?] the Calamity that will evidently happen if something is not Immediately done by them to Determine speedily the Right of Property and mode of taking Possession
However I should have Compassion where I Know my Scrawls are so unintelligible. I must therefore refer to Esqr Mead and Lt Armstrong for every Particular Respecting our situation and the conduct of this People
Return me to be with the warmest Wishes for your Success against the Yankeys
Yours Sincerely
James More
Fort Dickinson Febr 1. 1784

Volume VII [200] pgs. 341, 353, 356, 366n
Petition of Disseident Inhabitants Of Wyoming
To the Honble the Representatives of the Freemen of the Common Wealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met
The Petition, Remonstrance & Address of the Inhabitants of Wyoming most Respectfully Sheweth
That your Petitioners for many years past have been struggling with the Ills of Fortune, have been subject to the Merciless Rage of the Savage Enemy Near and Dear friends become Sacrifices to them
That from Information we learn that your Hon,ble House are Disposed to grant us some Relief in Consideration of our Repeated Misfortunes
We therefore humbly Pray that your Hon.ble House in their Abundant goodness will take our Situation under their serious Consideration and Indulge us with the Peferance of Locating a Tract of Land to be granted to each of us in the unappropriated part of the state on Easy terms that we may be Considered as faithful Citizens of this great and Flourishing State, and that we may no longer be Considered the Subjects of Deception
That the Petitions heretofore Presented to your Hon,ble House without our knowledge Which have been marked with Design and Deception, may not be a Mote in our way, our Intentions are Sincere we speak for ourselves--we have had a Short Experience of the Execution of the Laws under your Jurisdiction they Appear to us wholesom and good, and are as well or better satisfied, than we Ever were under the Administration of the former
And Your Petitioners as in duty Bound will Ever pray
Wyoming Decr 29th 1783

Wm Young Abrm Vn Courtright Moses Brown James Colver Rufus Bennet James Hawley Elijah Bennet Cornelious Gale (x) Willard Green Ishmel Bennet Sameneill Colver Benjamin Cary Abner Hawley Silas Talor (x) Larrange Kenny (x) William Brink Ebinezar Taylor Sener Ebinezar Taylor Juner Philip Talor Ezekiel Schoonover Preserved Cooley Dannal Syblaven Thomas Brink (x) James Brink (x) Turner Johnson John Courtright (x) Ashbel Walter Comfort Cary Samuel Coe Peter Lyons (x) Conrad Lyons (x) Henry Divinport (x) Leonard Divenport (x)

Robert Young Martin Tidd John Jacobs (x) Caleb Newman Walter Spencer Caleb Spencer John Cary Thomas Brown (x) Wm Smith James Smith William Ebenezar John Vannerman Joseph Vanorman Isick Vannerman Moses Chamblis Christifel Chimblis Halmis Chambers Nicals Damis Ephraim Vannerman Nicoles Brink John Borlen Gorge Janny Thomas Cristy John Reeford William Lantarman Roasel Franklin John Miller Silas Miller Stephen Miller James More John Hurlbut Obadiah Cammel (x) Benjm Rushel (x)

[208] pg. 353
Deposition of Martin Tidd.

Northumberland County ss
Personally appeared before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace for said County Martin Tidd and made Oath as follows. About the 8th Instant when the Committ[ee] of the Assembly was at this place enquiring into the Charges set forth in the Petition from the People of Wyoming against the Proceedings of the Civil and Military Officers I heard Coll Stroud one of the Committee te[ll] Edward Spencer that all the People setled under Connecticut Claims were fools for taking Leases from the Pennsylvania Landholders as that was relinquishing their Claim, that those who had not taken Leases should hold their Possession[s] and not give it up by any means. the Pennsylvania Landholders may try to Alarm you with Ejectments but says he (Coll Stroud) they cannot bring any Ejectment against you or dispossess you on any terms untill you have a Continental Court called for the tryal of the right of Soil. Edward Spencer said he was afraid they (Meening the Connecticut Claimants) could not obtain that Court what saysColl Stroud do you think I dont know better who helped to make and Repeal the Laws of this State, yes you will have a tryal and no one can Dispossess you untill that happens.
And Says Coll Stroud that Court cannot be called for this long time you may therefore continue in Possession of this Country as you can neither be Injured or Dispossessed.
And further the Deponant saith not
Martin Tidd

Sworn and Subscribed before me Jany 30th 1784
David Mead
A Coppy Test J Franklin

Volume III [159] pgs. 182-183
Petition of the Inhabitants of New York To the Honourable General Assembly of the Collony of Connecticut to be holden at Newhaven on the second thursday of October next. The memorial of us the Subscribers Inhabitants of the Province of Newyork humbly Sheweth that whereas we your memorialists being greatly Opprest by Quit Rents and under great necessity For lands for ourselves and children and having understood that your honors having large extendsion of lands to the Westward of Susquehannah by your charrter grant we your memorialists therefore pray that your honours would grant to us subscribers a Small tract of land lying to the westward of Lands known as the Susquehannah Purchase. Your Memorialists Therefore humbly propose that if your honours would grant unto us your Memorialists a Township of Six miles square of lands lying Westward of s Susquehannah lands: a quit Claim of all your right and title to s lands which you have by your charter grant at your present sessions your memorialists will give an honourable price for the same in Cash or Good Security Sufficient to the Satisfaction of the Collony and your Memorialists Shall in Duty Bound Ever Pray &c. Dated at Wilkesberry Sept 20th 1769.
Amos woodwoth Aaron Auspenwall Benjn Matthews Junr Nathan Beach John franklin Samuel Teed Thomas Sutten

Thomas Knights James Nisbitt Richard Knights Zophar Teed Solomon Teed Parchal Tarray Benjamin Matthews Know all men By These Presents that we the Subscribers Inhabitants of the Province of Newyork do hereby Constitute and Appoint Our trusty Friend Jedediah Elderkin Esq of Windham in the Collony of Connect Our lawful Attorney on the within Memorial in Our Name and Stead to appear at the General Assembly of the Collony of Connet to be holden at Newhaven on the Second thurdsday of Octor next for us to Act Transact as though we was personally Present accepting in and about the premises Granting Unto Our Said Attorney full Power of Substitution In and about the Premises In Witness whereof we have hereunto Set Our hands and Seals this 20th of Sept 1769. Wilkesbury On Susquehannah. Present Richard Knights John Franklin Samull Teed Thos Sutton Amos woodwoth Thomas Knights James Nisbitt Zopher Teed Solomon Teed Parshal Terry Benjn Matthews Aaron Aspenwall Test Jno Durkee Chriso Avery

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