John Northrup
Richd Northrop
Manasseh Cady
Josiah Ives Jr
Josiah Ives Seigr
Joseph Ives
Josiah Ives Jr
Josiah Ives Seigr
Elnathan Jenings
Jobe Camp

are among the names for the dispute between Pennsylvania and CT

This list contains Northrops Northrups, Ives' Cady and other names that appear with Northrops.

1796 Petition of the Connecticut Settlers to the Connecticut General Assembly [1]
To the Honorable the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, to be holden at New Haven, the second Thursday of October next:

The Memorial of the Subscribers, inhabitants of the County of Luzerne, settlers under the Claim of the State of Connecticut, Respectfully Sheweth,

That by the approbation of the State (then Colony) of Connecticut, as early as the year 1754, the inhabitants of said State made a bona fide purchase of the natives of a large tract of land, extending from the river Delaware, Westward, about one hundred and Seventy Miles, including the whole breadth of the forty-second degree of north latitude; lands fairly included in the royal grant to the Plymouth Company, in the year of our Lord 1620, and by derivative grants vested in the early settlers of Connecticut, and Confirmed to them by the Charter of Charles the second, April 23rd 1662, that large Settlements were made by the purchasers (amongst whom were your memorialists, and those they represent) on those lands, from the year 1755 to the 15th of October 1763; at which time the Settlers were dispossessed by the savages; with the loss of many lives, and their property. But the survivors, with others of the purchasers, resumed their possessions early in 1769, and continued down to the Close of the year 1782, under the Jurisdiction of the State of Connecticut; during which time the Town of Westmoreland was established, a County erected, and civil Government duly administered, under the authority of said State.

That during that term, many respectable citizens of said State, moved on to lands purchased as aforesaid; established themselves and families contiguous to each other for better defence, on Small parcels of land, calculated for immediate support, and located other lands as a future dependance; but were prevented from Settling thereon by Reason of the late War.

That in the year 1776, they furnished the Continental army with near three hundred Officers and Soldiers, which left the settlements weak and unguarded, that in July 1778, the Settlements were Cut off by the Savages aided by the arms of Great Britain but soon regained by the zeal & prowess of those who escaped the carnage of the first attempt of the Savages; that the settlements, by heavy losses of men and property, were reduced to distress; great numbers of widows and Orphan Children were left almost destitute of the necessaries of life; and the families of nearly two hundred Officers and Soldiers, (then in the federal army) became almost helpless, and needy beyond Description, but were assisted by the then returned inhabitants and relieved by the activity of that Country alone. The settlers were a most important barrier to the interior parts of the country through the war; and were continually harassed by the Savages, and those of a more Savage nature, until the war was closed, with repeated loss of lives and property.

That the State of Pennsylvania, taking advantage of the debilitated Situation of the Settlers, applied to the Congress of the United States, for the Constituting a Court for the Settlement of the Jurisdiction of the country aforesaid, claimed by them, in virtue of a Grant to William Penn, Esq. dated March 4th 1681, nearly nineteen years after the Confirmation of said territory to the Connecticut Company in 1662.

(173) * C.S.L., Susquehannah Settlers, I, 180a-188i. The signatures which were written on seven copies of the petition, have been consolidated here.

Much of the wording closely parallels that of the petition by Dyer and others; no.153,ante. The present petition, however, obscures the distinction between the Susquehannah and Delaware companies, for it is merely from the inhabitants of Luzerne County, and the purchase from the Indians is described as though it had been a single purchase running westward from the Delaware River. The eastern boundary of the Susquehannah Company purchase, of course, was a line paralleling the river’s meanderings ten miles east of the river.

The submission of a second petition just four months after the firsty had been rejected may have been justified by the fact that 691 signatures of actual settlers were obtained for this later effort. Only twelve men, non-residents of Luzerne County, had signed the first petition.

That on notice of such application, it was objected on the part of Connecticut, that great part of the deeds, evidence and papers necessary to be used on a question of title, were then in Great Britain, having been left there for that purpose; and could not at that time be obtained, the war preventing. It was moved by the agents of Connecticut, to postpone the trial, until the war was closed, and the said writings could be obtained. That the state of Pennsylvania insisted upon having a trial, the said objections notwithstanding. At the same time the agents of that State had, by some means possessed themselves of the said writings and evidences, which they secretly withheld, without the knowledge of the State of Connecticut or her agents. [2]

That a Court was constituted; five commissioners only attended; two others who had been appointed, and who were relied on by the State of Connecticut, as disinterested and impartial characters for some reason failed and did not attend. [3] The Cause was heard; and a decree did pass on the 30th day of December 1782, in favour of Pennsylvania, against the Claim of Connecticut. That, in Consequence thereof, the Jurisdiction aforesaid, fell to the State of Pennsylvania.

That the Settlers in January 1783, by their humble petition to the legislature of Pennsylvania [4] put themselves under the protection and Government of that State; and prayed for a Confirmation of their Just rights and possessions. That they were at first flattered by the measures adopted by Government; but these flattering prospects soon vanished; and every measure which appeared favorable, was perverted by their enemies to seduce, disarm, ruin and destroy the settlers. That an armed force was sent by the authority of Pennsylvania; who in the month of May 1784, did actually disarm, rob, plunder, and totally dispossess the Settlers. That every mean was used by the Settlers, by their petition to the legislative executive and Judicial authority of that government for their interposition in behalf of the said Settlers, to reinstate them in their possessions; but all to no purpose. They were often flattered; but in the end, their prayers and petitions were treated with Contempt.

Roused at the injustice and abuse offered to the innocent inhabitants, some of their friends from Connecticut, and others induced by their pitiable situation, joined the emigrants from the contested country, and returned; and after many severe encounters, established themselves, and in their turn drove the adherents of Pennsylvania therefrom, and proceeded to Settling on their farms and improvements, from which they had been dispossessed; and also extended their Settlements on new Townships where they had been prevented from Settling by reason of the war with Great Britain.

That in September 1786, the County of Luzerne, was established under the authority of the State of Pennsylvania and on the 28th day of March 1787, a legislative act was passed, confirming to the Connecticut Claimants all such lands in the County of Luzerne, as were Occupied or acquired by or assigned to such Claimants, who were actual Settlers in said County, prior to the decisions of Jurisdiction in December 1782. That this act being limited to the County of Luzerne, a number of Townships which had been laid out, and in Several actual Settlements made, prior to the said decree; but not being within the County of Luzerne, were not included. However, in Consequence of the said Confirming act, the laws of the State of Pennsylvania were put into full force and operation throughout the County of Luzerne. That by another act passed April 1st 1790, the aforesaid act confirming to the Connecticut claimants the lands by them claimed in the County of Luzerne, was repealed and all proceedings had under the said law were declared to be void and of none effect. That the said Confirming law has proved to be a fraud; that the Settlers are now left to contend for the title of their lands in Courts of law. That sundry suits of ejectment have been Commenced and are now depending in the Courts of the united States in the district of Pennsylvania, to be determined by a Jury of that State, whome your memorialits conceive to be more or less interested in the event; that they Cannot have that Justice done them, which they are intitled to, or might otherwise have, by a more Disinterested Jury.

Your memorialists beg leave further to represent, that by a law of the State of Pennsylvania aforesaid, passed April 11th 1795, all and every person or persons laying out, surveying, or settling on any lands under the title of Connecticut within the Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania, as decreed at Trenton in December 1782, are liable to be persecuted as criminals, and to be Subjected to heavy fines, imprisonment and hard labour by which act your memorialists in many instances are prohibited from Settling on lands which they have dearly bought, and esteem to be their Just and lawfull right; and are also debarred from prosecuting their claim and title, in that way pointed out by the Constitution and laws of the united States, where lands are claimed by Citizens of the same States under Grants from different States.

Your memorialists farther state, that it can now be proved beyond a Doubt, that the aforesaid papers and evidence relative to the title and Claim of Connecticut to the territory aforesaid, were actually in the hands of Pennsylvania agents, or others opposed to the Claim of Connecticut prior to the decision of the Jurisdiction as aforesaid; and that the same writings and evidence were Suppressed and kept from the agents of Connecticut, who had a right to the same. That if a fair and impartial trial could be had, your memorialists conceive that they might be secured in their Justly acquired lands, which will save many thousands from ruin and distress; and a large tract of land one hundred Miles in length, including the breadth of the State of Connecticut, lying west of the Susquehanna purchase, and east of the Connecticut reserves would of Course fall to the State of Connecticut.

Your memorialists therefore pray the honorable Assembly, to take the case aforesaid under your equitable Consideration; and pursue such measures as in your wisdom shall be deemed Just, to obtain a revision of the aforesaid trial between the States of Pennsylvania & Connecticut; or in some other way interpose in behalf of your memorialists, to Secure to them their Just and equitable rights. And they, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.

September 13th 1796

Inhabitants and actual settlers in the County of Luzerne.

[2] See no. 153, ante, note 4 [3] See ibid., note 5.

[4] Vol. VII, no. 134

Clement Pain
Nathan Thayer
Thomas Harris
Stephen Jenkins
James Rosecrant
George Miller
Joseph Earll
George Griste
John Bradner
Abrahm frear
John Stafford Junr
Benjamin Earl
Hezeciah Dray
John Earll
William Earll
John Stafford
David Stafford
Bemsle Hunt
Joesph Pearce
Josephus Barber
Solomon Avery
Levy Rosecrant
John Rosecrant
Daniel Earll
ashall Atherton
Jeremiah osterhout
Gideon Osterhout
Petaliah Osterhout
Cyrul Avery
Thomas Wigton
Eliphalet Stephens
John Lowdy
Noah Phelps
William Stage
William Atherton
Eli Newman
Mathew Sherwood
Joseph Carney
Justice Jones
Israel Harding
Obadiah Taylor
Aaron Taylor
George Arnold
Ezra Wheelock
Calvin Wheelock
Amos Stafford
Andrew Ames
Samuel Hunt
John Griste
John Carney
his
Jacob X Millar
mark
John Briggs
Furtules Goffe
Belding Swetland
William Shute
Thomas Landon
Bartholomy Williams
Benjamin Abbot
James Roberts
Henry Allyn
Justis Gaylord
Ambrose Gaylord
Uriah Parsons
James Wheeler
Eleazar Gaylord
Simeon Rockwell
Daniel Lum
Thomas Wheeler
Joshua Keeney
James Sturdevant
Jedidiah Coon
Joseph Wheelock
Jonathan Stevens
Josiah Fassett
Asa Stevens
Simon Stevens
Joel Downing
John Whitcomb
Solomon Whitcomb
Job Whitcomb
Nathan Mulford
John Williams
Isaac Osterhaut
Thaddeus taylor
Caleb Newman Jun
James Decker
Joseph Mapes
John Harding
John Evans
Thomas Elles
William Carney
Zephaniah Loot
David Lake
Samuel Sturdevant
Hiram Whitcomb
David Young
Jacob Patrick
Philip Myers
John Tuttle
Benjamin shoemaker
William Sille
Aaron Perkins
George Horton
John Space
Samuel Carver
Joseph Tuttle
Alexander Swartwoudt
Abraham Shoemaker
Andrew Bennet
John Shomaker
Lewis Molleson
Fredric Shepard
Justice Galt
Zacharias hartsouf
Joseph Mantonyer
John Wort
Eli Manvil
Darius Williams
John Joseph
Peter Clark
his
Joseph X Lenehaupe
mark Amanias Smith
John Montany
[?]
Levy Cantraman
William Harris
Charles Harris
Absalam Roberts
John Dorrance
D Barney
Martin Marke [?]
[Sale?] Roberts
Aaron Dean
Josiah Ives Jr
James Rice
Joseph Ives
Samuel Landon
John N Woolby
Christian G. Octmiry
Benjamin Owen
Benejah Fuller
Daniel Spencer
Joseph Lang
Joshua Fuller
Amos Baldwin
Hallet Gallup
Elias Albin
Aaron Roberts
Josiah Ives Seigr
Israel Underwood
Gideon Underwood
Wm Hurlbut
Oliver Bigelow
Henry Tuttle Senior
Elijah Shoemaker
Samuel Breen
John Hinds
Jonas Smith
John Smith
Abial Foster
Rufus foster
Jehiel Franklin
[ ?] Parker
John Horton
John Taylor
John Kelley
Benjamin Smith
Benjn Allyne
Ira Brown
George Brown
Isaac D. Tripp
Martin Smith
Daniel Hoyt
Asa Boughton
Wilmot Munson
Oliver Pettibone
Abel Peirce
Wm Trucks
Sherman Smith
Benj Dorrance
David Landon
Nathn Landon
Wm Gallup
William Gallup Jr
George Head Jur
felix Powel
John Raedswain
Nathan Smith
Stephen wilcox
Elijah Head
Jacob Gipson
Basheson Strope
Isaac Strope
Eliphalet Clark
Solomon halladay
Solomon Franklin
Benjaman Franklin
Ebenezer Skinner
John Scott
Barnabas Cary
John Scott jur
Deodat Smith
John Staples
David Brown
Samuel Miller Junr
William Miller Jr
Henry Salsbury
Joseph Agee
Fred [ ?]
Benjamin Head
Richard Griffin
Joshua Wyeth
Michael Crous
Isaac Allen
Silas Scovill
Job Irish
Jacob Granteer
William Dougherty
Daniel Willcoks
John Blanding
Levy [?] Dowel
Nathaniel Edsall
Uzal Carter
Samuel Covel
his
David X Boynton
mark
Johan Scheindner [?]
Samuel Lannord
Christopher Covel
William Trafton
Nathaniel Hicock
Zechr Price
thomas fredd
John Robards
Elisha Hubard
John Strope
Thomas Bennet
Robert Faulkner
John Tuttle
Corns Atherton
Caleb Newman
David Dimock
William Knap
Thos Smith
Isaac Tripp Jur
Davis Dimock
John Davidson
Elijah Sibliy
John Benedict
Wm Searle
Rogers Searle
Miner Searle
William Searle Jur
Thomas Jenkins
David Smith
David Smith Junr
James Armstrong
Enos Brown
Timothy Green
John rosecrance Paul Stark
Stephen Abbott
Aaron Starke
Charles Starke
Joseph Sprague
Willard Green
Nathan Stark
Giddeon Crandall
Richard wesbrook
Peter Corbit
John jakson
Daniel Foster
Jacob Nyie
Thomas Wordan
James armstrong
Peter Gould
Silvanus Cary
Samuel tomkins
Samuel Cole
Isaac Nefew
Abner hisom
Levi Swartwood
gnadaius Swartwood
Jesse tomkins
William Hewit
John Wordin
Jesse Gardener
Cumfort Shaw
Eli Holcomb
William Dobbins
James Ward
Samuel Miller
John Hallsted
James Brown Taylor
Nathl Giddings
Edwin Menock
William Ross
Thomas Wright jr
John Faulkner Jr
John Brown
Henry Hutchins
John Bury
Waterman Baldwin
David Perkins
Joshua Griffin
Isaac Cash [?]
William Hazen
William Hazen junr
John Heermans
Jeremiah Blanchard
Jeremiah Blanchard Jnr
Isaac miles
Daniel Hewit
Isaac Hewit
Ishmael Bennet
Jedediah Collins
Henry Stark
Danil Rosacranz
Ephraim White
Reuben Jones
Thomas Reed
James Westbrook
Samuel Cary
Wm Hutchings
Coonrad Burgar
Daniel Brown
Solomon Chapin
Increase Billings
Mansley Billings
Jno B Price
Wm Johnson
Saml Cummings
Martin Stratton
David Markham
James McKain (5)
James McKain Jur
Andrew McKain
Stephen Ballard
Stephen Ballard Jr
John Ballard
Wd Rhoda Davis
Wd Susanna McDole
Jer. Bishop
Wm Bullard
Isaac Swain Jr
Isaac Swain
Jacob Swain
5) The signatures from James McKain through Jacob Swain seem all to be in the same handwriting.

Ammi Swain
Oliver Rouse
Benj Clark
Arnold Franklin
Abraham Foster
Seelya Crofuit
Zephniah Roger Jnr
David Riggs
Abel Newell
Charrith Westbrook
John Mclean Orr
“Another Hial” Campbell (Current typist’s note: Othneil Campbell? See 1790 census Ulster, Luzerne County, PA)
Simn Lee
Leonard Westbrook
John Spalding
Joseph Smith
Russel Gibbs
Zebulon Tolls
Arad Tuttle
Benj Colle
Samuel Parker
Ezra Caswell
Jared Ward
Stephen Morgan
Wm Caswell
Michl Logbery
Jonathan Hancock
Lewis Jones
Wm Miller
Jinsene Miller
Jonas Halsted
Seares Halsted
James Scott
Amos Cook
William dawit
Abraham dawit
James Campbell
Henry Lawrence (6)

(6) The name of Henry Lawrence is written twice, the second time because the first attempt was too faint and ran into the preceding name.

David Campbell
Cephus Campbell
Wm Campbell
James Breffet
James Huff
Franciss Gills
John Clark
Abraham parmetar
John Dobbins
Joseph Ballard
Ephraim Pratt
Nathaniel Ballard
Nathen Ballard
Park [?] Dewit
William Webber
Ebenezer Kendall
Charls Bartlet
Jonathan Holcomb
Hugh Holcomb
Ozias Bingham
Simerris Willcox
Timothy Culver
John Orr
Augustus Bingham
Isaac Rawson
Orr Scovell
Josiah Tuttle
Adrial Simons
Solomon Tracy
Joshua Roath
Joseph Logbery
Jerry Parker
Reuben fuller
Ephraim Fellow
[ ? ] Rogers
Gideon Baker
Nathan Barney
Ebennez Roberts
Benja Ramsey
Nicholas Potter
Jonah Roberts Ju
Adolph Heath
Noah Wadhams
Josiah Rogers
Binbee Rogers
Joseph Reynolds
Hezekiah Robarts Jur
Samuel Ayres
Richard Closson
Hezekiah Robarts
Jehiel Fuller
Jacob Meaker
George P. Ransom
Ephraim McCoy
Daniel Barney
Jared Baldwin
Jude Baldwin
Juna Preston
Amos Baldwin
Rufus Lawrence
Charles E. Gaylord
Elnathan Jenings
Lemuel Lawrance
John Vancooter
John Potter
Rufus Lawrence Junior
Enos Seaward
Tarball Whitney
Amos Seaward
Lloyd Marshall
David Ross
Samuel Rutty
Isreal Luce
Ammi Swain Jr
Henry Dutcher
Isiah Grover
Gideon Salsbury
Eliphalet Justice
John Fuller
Jeremiah Shaw
Ebenzer Shaw
Samuel Gaylord
Avery Gore
Zephon [ ? ]
Cornelius Naphew
Jediah Shaw
Moses Roberts
Benedict Satterlee
Ebenezer Lee
Phineas Nash
Charles Barney
N. Wadhams
Abram Nesbitt
David Allen
Amaziah Watson
Daniel Ayres
Daniel Allen
James Nisbitt
Palmer Shaw
Ichabod Shaw
Crooker Jones
Calvin Wadhams
Jeremiah Colman
Jonah Rogers
Benjamin Bidlack
Moses Wadhams
Stephen Roberts
David Reynolds
Elihu Rogers
John Turner
Moses Atherton
William Ayres
Ira Manvil
Reuben Culver
Obadiah Scott Jur
Joseph Pottar
Amos Franklin
Moses Lawrance
Caleb Hoit
John Long
Barna Sutliff
Darius Callender
Ammi Lawrence
Elias Long
Elijah Austin
David Woodard
Bille Harrison
Aron Culver
Ralph Austin
Job Tripp
Samuel King
Dan Warner
Nelly Fitchgerald }
Blandina Westbrook } widows
Eloner Russel }

Nathan Kingsley
Israel Skeeve
Guy Wells
Stephen Beckwith
Oliver Dodge
Samuel Gilbert
Dr William Dodge
Edmund Dodge
Ephraim Fairchild
Saml Gordon
Amasa Wells
Jobe Camp
James Gardiner
John Franklin
John Jenkins
Chester Bingham
Elisha Satterlee
Mason Fitch Alden
Abner Seelye
Thos Joslin Jr

Stephen Bidlack
William Baker
Abel Baker
Thomas Baker
Samuel Marvin
Daniel Allen
Matthis Van Loon
Thomas Lamoreux
Abraham Van Loon
Nicholas Van Loon
Evert Van Loon
Peter Chambre
Gad Seaward
Isaac Hopkins
Larius Harison
Daniel Fuller
Enos Seaward Jr
Benamin Fuller
Jonathan Stevens
Abiel Fellows
Obadiah Scott
Obit fellows
Stephen Harrison
Nathaniel Goss
Solon Prescott
Thos Stevens
Stephen Kingsbiry
Elijah Goodwin
John Dodson
Jesse Scott
Silas Fany
Jonathan Hunlock
John Fade
Nathan Tubbs
Stephen Arnold
Gorg Fink
Andrew Blanchard
Sylvester McKay
James Scovell
William Houck
Daniel Holley
Joseph [ ? ]
Thomas Lewis
Reuben Wells
Benjn Barney
Daniel Satterlee
Eldad Kellogg
John Hutchinson
Johnthon Miller
Samuel McHose
Ira Travice
Nathan Bull
John Murphy
Oliver Mathewson
Augustus Lomis
Abner Murray
Abraham Decker
John Northrup
Henry McKinay
Absolom Travice
John Sanford
Joel Tirral
Wright Lomis
David Alexander
Jeremiah Decker
Elijah Rood
Elias Satterlee
Abel willard
Phinj Snow
[ ? ] Tozer
John Swain
Alpheus Travice
Jonathan Conkling
Bengeman acley
Thos Oviett
Joseph Oviett
Jeremiah Lewis
Joseph Elliott
Thomas Coleman
Wm Smith
Benajah Bostwick
Joseph Putton
Philip Shewmaker
John D Shewmaker
Jonas Ingham
John Bradsaw
Samuel Baker
James Lake
Salmon Bradshaw
Elisha Keeler
Nathan Stevens
James B Rockwell
Aden Stevens
Robert Carr
Simon Spalding
David Paine
Noah Murray
John Allyn
Jos Biles
Christopher Dutcher
Ira Stephens
Moses Calkin
Jos Shepard
Isaac Brownson
Oliver Sisson
Simon Parke
Daniel Moore
Archid Bowen
Billa Franklin
Dimon Bostwick
Levi Thayer
William Spalding
Joseph Spalding
John Spalding Jr
Cristopher Shilooner
Asa Winter
Jacob Swaar
Samuel headley
James Headley
Josiah Park
Thomas Elles
Howard Spalding
Daniel Robarts
Jonathan Buswell
Josiah Marshal
Robert McAllhof
Solomon Beebe
Josiah Kellogg
Jonathan Harris
Elisha Mathewson
Timothy Seward
Jesse Thorp
Jonathn Wright
David Bosworth
Nathl Allen
John thompson
Josiah Pearce [?]
Avery Curtrecht
Joseph Gaines [?]
Peter Garnert
George Snell
Thomas Snell
William tharp
Samuel Harris
John Budd
Joseph Hitchcok
Arnold Colt
Thos Park
Manasseh Cady
Richd Northrop

In the House of Reps Octr. 29th 1796
The preceding memorial is referred to Messrs Porter, King, and Alexander Wolcott; who are appointed to consider and report whether any thing and what is proper to be granted thereon. (7)
Test W Dana Clerk.

(7) The House passed a bill for the appointment of agents to take steps for reopening the dispute which had been settled at Trenton. The upper house did not act; Conn. S.R., VIII, 430 n.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lee KINNAN Fazzari sent in this alphabetized version of the above listing
Attached is the alphabetized version of the signers. Those who made their mark are listed by name, without the "X". Several women were listed specifically as "widow" but it appears there are others, several with "Wd" before their names are female names.

My ancestors on this document are Thos (Thomas) Park, Josiah Park, Henry McKinay (McKinney), Enos Seaward, Gad Seaward. The Seaward (Seward) families were in Fairmount Springs, along the border of present-day Columbia and Luzerne Counties.
full name
Joseph [ ? ]
Zephon [ ? ]
Fred [ ?]
Benjamin Abbot
Stephen Abbott
Bengeman acley
Joseph Agee
Elias Albin
Mason Fitch Alden
David Alexander
Daniel Allen
Daniel Allen
David Allen
Isaac Allen
Nathl Allen
Henry Allyn
John Allyn
Benjn Allyne
Andrew Ames
James Armstrong
James armstrong
George Arnold
Stephen Arnold
ashall Atherton
Corns Atherton
Moses Atherton
William Atherton
Elijah Austin
Ralph Austin
Cyrul Avery
Solomon Avery
Daniel Ayres
Samuel Ayres
William Ayres
Abel Baker
Gideon Baker
Samuel Baker
Thomas Baker
William Baker
Amos Baldwin
Amos Baldwin
Jared Baldwin
Jude Baldwin
Waterman Baldwin
John Ballard
Joseph Ballard
Nathaniel Ballard
Nathen Ballard
Stephen Ballard
Stephen Ballard Jr
Josephus Barber
Benjn Barney
Charles Barney
D Barney
Daniel Barney
Nathan Barney
Charls Bartlet
Stephen Beckwith
Solomon Beebe
John Benedict
Andrew Bennet
Ishmael Bennet
Thomas Bennet
Benjamin Bidlack
Stephen Bidlack
Oliver Bigelow
Jos Biles
Increase Billings
Mansley Billings
Augustus Bingham
Chester Bingham
Ozias Bingham
Jer. Bishop
Andrew Blanchard
Jeremiah Blanchard
Jeremiah Blanchard Jnr
John Blanding
Benajah Bostwick
Dimon Bostwick
David Bosworth
Asa Boughton
Archid Bowen
David X Boynton
John Bradner
John Bradsaw
Salmon Bradshaw
Samuel Breen
James Breffet
John Briggs
David Brown
Enos Brown
George Brown
Ira Brown
John Brown
Daniel Brown
Isaac Brownson
John Budd
Nathan Bull
Wm Bullard
Coonrad Burgar
John Bury
Jonathan Buswell
Manasseh Cady
Moses Calkin
Darius Callender
Jobe Camp
“Another Hial” [Othneil?] Campbell
Cephus Campbell
David Campbell
James Campbell
Wm Campbell
Levy Cantraman
John Carney
Joseph Carney
William Carney
Robert Carr
Uzal Carter
Samuel Carver
Barnabas Cary
Samuel Cary
Silvanus Cary
Isaac Cash [?]
Ezra Caswell
Wm Caswell
Peter Chambre
Solomon Chapin
Benj Clark
Eliphalet Clark
John Clark
Peter Clark
Richard Closson
Samuel Cole
Thomas Coleman
Benj Colle
Jedediah Collins
Jeremiah Colman
Arnold Colt
Jonathan Conkling
Amos Cook
Jedidiah Coon
Peter Corbit
Christopher Covel
Samuel Covel
Giddeon Crandall
Seelya Crofuit
Michael Crous
Aron Culver
Reuben Culver
Timothy Culver
Saml Cummings
Avery Curtrecht
John Davidson
Wd Rhoda Davis
Abraham dawit
William dawit
Aaron Dean
Abraham Decker
James Decker
Jeremiah Decker
Park [?] Dewit
David Dimock
Davis Dimock
John Dobbins
William Dobbins
Dr William Dodge
Edmund Dodge
Oliver Dodge
John Dodson
Benj Dorrance
John Dorrance
William Dougherty
Levy [?] Dowel
Joel Downing
Hezeciah Dray
Christopher Dutcher
Henry Dutcher
Benjamin Earl
Daniel Earll
John Earll
Joseph Earll
William Earll
Nathaniel Edsall
Thomas Elles
Thomas Elles
Joseph Elliott
John Evans
John Fade
Ephraim Fairchild
Silas Fany
Josiah Fassett
Robert Faulkner
John Faulkner Jr
Ephraim Fellow
Obit fellows
Abiel Fellows
Gorg Fink
Nelly Fitchgerald {widow}
Abial Foster
Abraham Foster
Daniel Foster
Rufus foster
Amos Franklin
Arnold Franklin
Benjaman Franklin
Billa Franklin
Jehiel Franklin
John Franklin
Solomon Franklin
Abrahm frear
thomas fredd
Benamin Fuller
Benejah Fuller
Daniel Fuller
Jehiel Fuller
John Fuller
Joshua Fuller
Reuben fuller
Joseph Gaines [?]
Hallet Gallup
Wm Gallup
William Gallup Jr
Justice Galt
Jesse Gardener
James Gardiner
Peter Garnert
Ambrose Gaylord
Charles E. Gaylord
Eleazar Gaylord
Justis Gaylord
Samuel Gaylord
Russel Gibbs
Nathl Giddings
Samuel Gilbert
Franciss Gills
Jacob Gipson
Furtules Goffe
Elijah Goodwin
Saml Gordon
Avery Gore
Nathaniel Goss
Peter Gould
Jacob Granteer
Willard Green
Timothy Green
Joshua Griffin
Richard Griffin
George Griste
John Griste
Isiah Grover
Solomon halladay
John Hallsted
Jonas Halsted
Seares Halsted
Jonathan Hancock
Israel Harding
John Harding
Larius Harison
Charles Harris
Jonathan Harris
Samuel Harris
Thomas Harris
William Harris
Bille Harrison
Stephen Harrison
Zacharias hartsouf
William Hazen
William Hazen junr
Benjamin Head
Elijah Head
George Head Jur
James Headley
Samuel headley
Adolph Heath
John Heermans
Daniel Hewit
Isaac Hewit
William Hewit
Nathaniel Hicock
John Hinds
Abner hisom
Joseph Hitchcok
Caleb Hoit
Eli Holcomb
Hugh Holcomb
Jonathan Holcomb
Daniel Holley
Isaac Hopkins
George Horton
John Horton
William Houck
Daniel Hoyt
Elisha Hubard
James Huff
Jonathan Hunlock
Bemsle Hunt
Samuel Hunt
Wm Hurlbut
Wm Hutchings
Henry Hutchins
John Hutchinson
Jonas Ingham
Job Irish
Joseph Ives
Josiah Ives Jr
Josiah Ives Seigr
John jakson
Elnathan Jenings
John Jenkins
Stephen Jenkins
Thomas Jenkins
Wm Johnson
Crooker Jones
Justice Jones
Lewis Jones
Reuben Jones
John Joseph
Thos Joslin Jr
Eliphalet Justice
Elisha Keeler
Joshua Keeney
John Kelley
Eldad Kellogg
Josiah Kellogg
Ebenezer Kendall
Samuel King
Stephen Kingsbiry
Nathan Kingsley
William Knap
David Lake
James Lake
Thomas Lamoreux
David Landon
Nathn Landon
Samuel Landon
Thomas Landon
Joseph Lang
Samuel Lannord
Lemuel Lawrance
Moses Lawrance
Ammi Lawrence
Henry Lawrence (6)
Rufus Lawrence
Rufus Lawrence Junior
Ebenezer Lee
Simn Lee
Joseph X Lenehaupe
Jeremiah Lewis
Thomas Lewis
Joseph Logbery
Michl Logbery
Augustus Lomis
Wright Lomis
Elias Long
John Long
Zephaniah Loot
John Lowdy
Isreal Luce
Daniel Lum
Joseph Mantonyer
Ira Manvil
Eli Manvil
Joseph Mapes
Martin Marke [?]
David Markham
Josiah Marshal
Lloyd Marshall
Samuel Marvin
Elisha Mathewson
Oliver Mathewson
Robert McAllhof
Ephraim McCoy
Wd Susanna McDole
Samuel McHose
Andrew McKain
James McKain (5)
James McKain Jur
Sylvester McKay
Henry McKinay
Jacob Meaker
Edwin Menock
Isaac miles
Jacob X Millar
George Miller
Jinsene Miller
Johnthon Miller
Samuel Miller
Wm Miller
William Miller Jr
Samuel Miller Junr
Lewis Molleson
John Montany
Daniel Moore
Stephen Morgan
Nathan Mulford
Wilmot Munson
John Murphy
Abner Murray
Noah Murray
Philip Myers
Cornelius Naphew
Phineas Nash
Isaac Nefew
Abram Nesbitt
Abel Newell
Caleb Newman
Eli Newman
Caleb Newman Jun
James Nisbitt
Richd Northrop
John Northrup
Jacob Nyie
Christian G. Octmiry
John Mclean Orr
John Orr
Isaac Osterhaut
Gideon Osterhout
Jeremiah osterhout
Petaliah Osterhout
Joseph Oviett
Thos Oviett
Benjamin Owen
Clement Pain
David Paine
Josiah Park
Thos Park
Simon Parke
[ ?] Parker
Jerry Parker
Samuel Parker
Abraham parmetar
Uriah Parsons
Jacob Patrick
Joesph Pearce
Josiah Pearce [?]
Abel Peirce
Aaron Perkins
David Perkins
Oliver Pettibone
Noah Phelps
Joseph Pottar
John Potter
Nicholas Potter
felix Powel
Ephraim Pratt
Solon Prescott
Juna Preston
Jno B Price
Zechr Price
Joseph Putton
John Raedswain
Benja Ramsey
George P. Ransom
Isaac Rawson
Thomas Reed
David Reynolds
Joseph Reynolds
James Rice
David Riggs
Joshua Roath
John Robards
Daniel Robarts
Hezekiah Robarts
Hezekiah Robarts Jur
[Sale?] Roberts
Aaron Roberts
Absalam Roberts
Ebennez Roberts
Moses Roberts
Stephen Roberts
Jonah Roberts Ju
James Roberts
James B Rockwell
Simeon Rockwell
Zephniah Roger Jnr
[ ? ] Rogers
Binbee Rogers
Elihu Rogers
Jonah Rogers
Josiah Rogers
Elijah Rood
Danil Rosacranz
John rosecrance
James Rosecrant
John Rosecrant
Levy Rosecrant
David Ross
William Ross
Oliver Rouse
Eloner Russel {widow}
Samuel Rutty
Gideon Salsbury
Henry Salsbury
John Sanford
Benedict Satterlee
Daniel Satterlee
Elias Satterlee
Elisha Satterlee
Johan Scheindner [?]
James Scott
Jesse Scott
John Scott
Obadiah Scott
John Scott jur
Obadiah Scott Jur
James Scovell
Orr Scovell
Silas Scovill
Miner Searle
Rogers Searle
Wm Searle
William Searle Jur
Amos Seaward
Enos Seaward
Gad Seaward
Enos Seaward Jr
Abner Seelye
Timothy Seward
Cumfort Shaw
Ebenzer Shaw
Ichabod Shaw
Jediah Shaw
Jeremiah Shaw
Palmer Shaw
Fredric Shepard
Jos Shepard
Mathew Sherwood
John D Shewmaker
Philip Shewmaker
Cristopher Shilooner
Abraham Shoemaker
Benjamin shoemaker
Elijah Shoemaker
John Shomaker
William Shute
Elijah Sibliy
William Sille
Adrial Simons
Oliver Sisson
Israel Skeeve
Ebenezer Skinner
Amanias Smith
Benjamin Smith
David Smith
Deodat Smith
John Smith
Jonas Smith
Joseph Smith
Martin Smith
Nathan Smith
Sherman Smith
Thos Smith
Wm Smith
David Smith Junr
George Snell
Thomas Snell
Phinj Snow
John Space
Howard Spalding
John Spalding
Joseph Spalding
Simon Spalding
William Spalding
John Spalding Jr
Daniel Spencer
Joseph Sprague
Amos Stafford
David Stafford
John Stafford
John Stafford Junr
William Stage
John Staples
Henry Stark
Nathan Stark
Paul Stark
Aaron Starke
Charles Starke
Eliphalet Stephens
Ira Stephens
Aden Stevens
Asa Stevens
Jonathan Stevens
Jonathan Stevens
Nathan Stevens
Simon Stevens
Thos Stevens
Martin Stratton
Basheson Strope
Isaac Strope
John Strope
James Sturdevant
Samuel Sturdevant
Barna Sutliff
Jacob Swaar
Ammi Swain
Isaac Swain
Jacob Swain
John Swain
Ammi Swain Jr
Isaac Swain Jr
gnadaius Swartwood
Levi Swartwood
Alexander Swartwoudt
Belding Swetland
Aaron Taylor
James Brown Taylor
John Taylor
Obadiah Taylor
Thaddeus taylor
William tharp
Levi Thayer
Nathan Thayer
John thompson
Jesse Thorp
Joel Tirral
Zebulon Tolls
Jesse tomkins
Samuel tomkins
[ ? ] Tozer
Solomon Tracy
William Trafton
Absolom Travice
Alpheus Travice
Ira Travice
Isaac D. Tripp
Job Tripp
Isaac Tripp Jur
Wm Trucks
Nathan Tubbs
John Turner
Arad Tuttle
John Tuttle
John Tuttle
Joseph Tuttle
Josiah Tuttle
Henry Tuttle Senior
Gideon Underwood
Israel Underwood
Abraham Van Loon
Evert Van Loon
Matthis Van Loon
Nicholas Van Loon
John Vancooter
Calvin Wadhams
Moses Wadhams
N. Wadhams
Noah Wadhams
James Ward
Jared Ward
Dan Warner
Amaziah Watson
William Webber
Amasa Wells
Guy Wells
Reuben Wells
Richard wesbrook
Blandina Westbrook {widow}
Charrith Westbrook
James Westbrook
Leonard Westbrook
James Wheeler
Thomas Wheeler
Calvin Wheelock
Ezra Wheelock
Joseph Wheelock
Hiram Whitcomb
Job Whitcomb
John Whitcomb
Solomon Whitcomb
Ephraim White
Tarball Whitney
Thomas Wigton
Stephen wilcox
Abel willard
Daniel Willcoks
Simerris Willcox
Bartholomy Williams
Darius Williams
John Williams
Asa Winter
David Woodard
John N Woolby
Thomas Wordan
John Wordin
John Wort
Jonathn Wright
Thomas Wright jr
Joshua Wyeth
David Young

the pennsylvania point of view

The Wyoming Valley

When white men first arrived in America from Europe, no more than 20,000 Native Americans lived in all of Pennsylvania, and by the time William Penn arrived in Philadelphia in the last years of the 17th century, only a small population of Iroquois was living here in the Wyoming Valley.  In fact, because they felt they did not have sufficient numbers to properly settle this beautiful valley, the Iroquois had given permission to several other tribes, including the Delaware, to settle along the banks of the Susquehanna River.  This splendid part of Northeastern Pennsylvania is called the Wyoming Valley because the Delaware referred to the Great Plains on both sides of the river as “Maugh-wau-wa-me,” which the early English settlers, somehow, translated into Wyoming.

Penn’s Grant
To understand the numerous conflicts involving the  settlement of the Wyoming Valley, it helps to understand the famous grant that gave William Penn the right to own and administer Pennsylvania. In 1681, in settlement of a large debt owed to Penn’s late father, Admiral Penn, the Duke of York arranged for King Charles II to grant to William Penn a charter for a huge area of land west of the Delaware  River; land the English King called Pennsylvania (Penn’s Woods) – roughly 350 miles by 160 miles.

Penn spent relatively little time in Pennsylvania, and all of that time creating Philadelphia, establishing a colonial government for Pennsylvania, and distributing parcels of land (called Manors) to family and friends. Although William Penn never traveled more than forty miles from the center of Philadelphia his authority over all of the lands given to him under the grant was dominant – or so Penn and his family believed.

As the population of Pennsylvania expanded west and northwest from Philadelphia, it is likely that few, if any, of the settlers that were buying land from William Penn ever ventured up the Susquehanna into the Wyoming Valley. Although immigrants came into Philadelphia by the thousands in the last two decades of the 17th century and into the early decades of the 18th century, the northeastern part of Pennsylvania was remote and entirely too mountainous. This gloriously beautiful Wyoming Valley was unheard of and undreamed of by Penn’s settlers for perhaps as long as half a century.

Conflicting Grants
Although Penn’s family was not aware of it, the Wyoming Valley, clearly in the area contained in Penn’s grant, was also claimed by Connecticut by right of the charter given to Governor John Winthrop Jr. in 1662. Connecticut’s charter stated that lands from sea-to-sea were all part of Connecticut.  Because the King knew little about his colonies, and nothing at all about geography, Connecticut and Pennsylvania claimed the same territory in what is now Northeastern Pennsylvania. More than a decade before the war with England began; Connecticut adventurers began to explore the Wyoming Valley.

This beautiful river valley, from three to six miles wide and with many thousands of acres of relatively flat, fertile farm land, stretching for as many as twenty-five miles between two splendid mountain ranges, was an Eden for the native tribes that occupied the valley, and a splendid “new home” for the settlers from Connecticut.

Because of rapid settlement into Connecticut, and with farm land at a severe premium, settlers and opportunists in Connecticut began to look westward for available lands. Although the logical step for westward expansion for the Connecticut colonists was into New York, New Yorkers quickly said no to that prospective invasion. So, in 1753, private individuals in Connecticut, organized as the Susquehannah Company, persuaded the Connecticut government to support efforts to settle the northern third of the land constituting the colony of Pennsylvania.

The Susquehannah Company had two significant obstacles to overcome:  The Iroquois and Penn’s strong claim upon the land.  Nonetheless, the company began to make plans to move settlers over the mountains and rivers and to begin to settle along the banks of the North Branch of the Susquehanna River. Their first tentative settlement was established in 1762, near what is now Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

These first intrepid Connecticut Yankees, perhaps one hundred strong, built a small village and waited to see what would happen. Since the British, the Indians, and Philadelphia had all warned the Connecticut Yankees against this settlement, things quickly became interesting. The Yankees headed back to Connecticut for the winter of 1762-63, but returned in the spring.  Several months after the Yankees returned in the spring of 1763, Chief Teedyuscung (the principal chief of the Delaware), was killed in a suspicious fire at his log house. In the fall of that year, the chief’s son retaliated, killing twenty settlers. That massacre persuaded the rest of the Yankees to return to Connecticut.

The First Yankee-Pennamite War
The Yankees stayed put in Connecticut for five years. In late winter of 1769, shortly after a militia sent by the Penn family (known as Pennamites) arrived to maintain the trading post established by Captain Amos Ogden two years earlier, forty Connecticut Yankees arrived on the banks of the Susquehanna River, followed by three hundred more in April. Those forty Yankees eventually gave their name to the community of Forty Fort (the fort of forty).

With 300 aggressive settlers, the Connecticut Yankees were then the dominant players in the settlement of the valley. By the end of that first summer, the Yankees had established five townships – Pittston, Plymouth, Wilkes-Barre, Nanticoke (later Hanover) and Forty Fort (later Kingston) – and had built Fort Durkee.

Historians tell us that all these town names were chosen to honor prominent English places or individuals. One local historian, Sally Teller Lottick, has speculated “The Connecticut settlers may have believed that if their conflicting claims with Pennsylvania ever reached a British court these names would work in their favor.”

Wilkes-Barre was named in honor of John Wilkes and Isaac Barré.  Historians indicate that these two prominent members of the British parliament were “zealous advocates of the American cause.”

Although the Yankees started out as the larger of the two forces, the Pennamites moved a substantial number of recruits into the area during the summer of 1769, and by November they were ready to begin to make life uncomfortable for the Yankees. The Pennamites were moving freely among the settlements, and harassing the Yankee settlers. Life was anything but comfortable for all parties in the conflict during the winter of 1769-70.

On April 2, 1770, with the help of the Paxtang Boys, Scotch-Irish Presbyterians from Lancaster County, the Yankees captured the Pennamite’s Fort Wyoming. That battle marked the conclusion of the First Yankee-Pennamite War. For the next half dozen years, the Connecticut Yankees controlled the Wyoming Valley.

One of the little known facts about this early Wyoming  Valley period was that on June 29, 1774, the entire region (then known as Westmoreland) became a town in Litchfield County Connecticut – even though the actual county was located straight east two hundred miles. Following the start of hostilities in the American Revolution, a significant battle (the Battle of Rampart Rocks) took place between Pennamite forces and Yankees on December 25, 1775.  With the Yankees once again victorious, Connecticut created a separate Connecticut county in the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania – Westmoreland County.

The Revolutionary War and the Battle of Wyoming
Once the Revolutionary War began in 1776, the men of the Wyoming Valley were called upon to serve in the Continental Army. While the men of the valley were away, a contingent of British troops and their Indian partners entered the valley. The famous Battle of Wyoming took place on July 3, 1778.

Foolishly, a much smaller American force decided to leave the security of their fort to meet the British and the Indians on the open field of battle. In less than thirty minutes, the Americans were severely routed by the British and their Indian fighters. Those who were able to outrun the Indians made their way back to the fort, but many men were captured and put to death. On July 4, 1778, British Major John Butler demanded the surrender of all forts.  In return for agreeing not to fight for the American side, the settlers were allowed to leave the valley.

During the next summer, in retaliation for the July 4th massacre following the Battle of Wyoming, American forces under the command of General John Sullivan returned to the Wyoming Valley and the upper Susquehanna River and destroyed forty native villages and “ravaged all their farmlands.” General Sullivan’s actions essentially marked the end of the Native American populations in the upper regions of the Susquehanna River.

The Decree of Trenton
At the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, both Pennsylvania and Connecticut claimed ownership of the Wyoming Valley. Congress was asked to decide on the legal owner. With the Decree of Trenton on December 30, 1782, the federal government officially decided that the Wyoming Valley belonged to Pennsylvania. With the decision of the Decree of Trenton in their favor, Pennsylvania then ruled that the Yankees were not citizens of the Commonwealth, could not vote, and were to give up their property claims.

Second Yankee-Pennamite War
This action by Pennsylvania led to the start of the Second Yankee-Pennamite War.  In May of 1784, the Yankees were forcibly and very cruelly marched away from the valley.  In November, the Yankees returned with a considerable force and captured and destroyed Fort Dickinson. With that victory, Captain John Franklin proposed a creative solution by suggesting that a new state, separate from Connecticut and Pennsylvania be created.  He proposed to call that new state Westmoreland.

Recognizing that a compromise was required to resolve the considerable disagreements and hostilities, and not wanting to give up any part of Pennsylvania to a new state, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania reversed its earlier decision and agreed that Yankee property claims prior to the Decree of Trenton should be honored. The Yankees accepted this proposal.

As part of the compromise that ended the Second Yankee-Pennamite War, Pennsylvania separated a significant new county from what had been Northumberland County (which had included the Wyoming Valley). On September 23, 1786, the Pennsylvania General Assembly created Luzerne County, naming it in honor of Chevalier de la Luzerne, the French minister to the United States during the latter stages of the war. This newly created county encompassed a large area; Lackawanna, Wyoming, Susquehanna, and part of Bradford County would all eventually be separated out as independent counties.

Early Immigration and Settlement
Now that peace and some order had been established by the creation of the new county, life in Northeastern Pennsylvania became rather ordinary, if that term can be used for the settlement of America that was rapidly occurring up and down the Atlantic Seaboard. Luzerne County was rural, and destined to stay that way. It was not inaccessible, but it was certainly not easy to get in or out. The Susquehanna River was a treacherous waterway, and the mountains on all sides were daunting. Once a settler was established in the valley, life was challenging, but it was no more challenging than any other place on the American frontier. Life was tough, but these settlers had come a long way from their homes and villages in Europe to seek opportunity in America. This beautiful Wyoming Valley was just one of hundreds of splendid places filled with opportunity in this new land that welcomed settlers.

According to Dr. Paul Zbiek, the valley’s population increased from fewer than 2,000 residents in 1790 to almost 13,000 in 1800. In that decade, settlement occurred throughout the Wyoming Valley. Connecticut Yankees settled in their favorite townships, while Pennsylvania Germans, coming up from other parts of Pennsylvania, rapidly settled the southern parts of the county.

Anthracite
Even before significant settlement of the valley began; early explorers had encountered a new form of coal – anthracite – that was abundant along the banks of the Susquehanna River throughout its length in the Wyoming Valley. However, because this “stone coal” was as hard as granite, it simply would not burn or maintain a fire. There was plenty of this ultra hard coal throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania, but no one had yet discovered a way to make any money from it. Yes, blacksmiths were using it to fire their small forges, and some of the coal was used to fire iron forges during the revolutionary war, but for the most part, anthracite was a valuable commodity without a good use.

Judge Jesse Fell
Historians mark the date February 11, 1808 as the day on which Judge Jesse Fell produced his invention of an iron grate that would maintain a fire using anthracite coal – “using air currents in motion by the heat of the fire itself.” Although it is likely that Judge Fell’s invention was not the first grate to successfully burn anthracite, because it was the first iron grate in the Wyoming Valley to successfully burn anthracite, this invention marked the beginning of a new era, and the end of a quiet rural life for everyone who lived in the valley.

The Development of the Coal Industry
Just because a way had been found to burn anthracite in homes did not mean that anthracite, despite its advantages over soft coal and firewood, became an over night success. Pennsylvania’s anthracite fields were remote and located in deep river valleys surrounded by the significant Appalachian Mountains. Getting anthracite to market was, at first, nearly impossible because the Susquehanna River was so treacherous. Even when a boat load of coal did reach a distant market, imported coal from England or Wales, and Virginia was usually less expensive.

Canals
Canal systems that transported coal over vast distances had existed in England and Wales since 1761 with the opening of the Bridgewater Canal that transported coal to Manchester. English canals were designed to bring coal from distant regions to supply fuel for the industrial revolution. Canals played a similar role in the United States, but were designed, financed and built much later; the first major canal system in America was the Erie Canal, opened in 1826. That canal linked the Hudson River with the Great Lakes.  Pennsylvania entered the canal business in earnest that same year. From its humble beginnings in 1826 until the end of the canal era with the introduction of railroads throughout the Commonwealth, twelve hundred miles of canals were designed, financed, and built throughout Pennsylvania.

Anthracite coal from Northeastern Pennsylvania first moved to market from the southern coal field and the western middle coal field (primarily in Schuylkill County) via the Schuylkill Canal, which opened in 1825. The northern coal field, running southwest to northeast through the Wyoming Valley and Luzerne County, was tapped with the completion of the North Branch Canal, which opened in stages from 1830 to 1834. From 1834 until the end of the Civil War, the valley’s anthracite headed south to Baltimore and Philadelphia on an ever-increasing series of local and regional canals, often interconnected with some of the first railroads constructed in the Mid- Atlantic region. With the completion in 1858 of the North Branch Extension Canal from Pittston to New York State, the valley’s coal was able to move (at 1.5 to 3 miles per hour in large, heavy barges pulled by mules) into New York State and New England.

Finally, twenty-six years after Wilkes-Barre’s Judge Fell introduced his revolutionary iron fireplace grate, the anthracite coal that fueled that first grate was ready to make its debut in an increasingly competitive but extremely lucrative coal market.

Although coal fields in Carbon, Lehigh and Schuylkill County produced significantly larger quantities of coal in the early stages of mining and transportation, by 1875 anthracite coal from the Wyoming Valley/Luzerne County represented half the anthracite produced in the Commonwealth. That dominant place in the market was never challenged through the end of the coal era.

Railroads
With the completion of the Lehigh and Susquehanna River Railroad in 1846, the canal industry, which had existed for no more than one long generation, faced a rapid extinction. The Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad moved Wyoming Valley anthracite from its various coal fields to White Haven; over the Appalachian mountains that had posed such a challenge to settlers for 150 years. Once the L&SR reached White Haven, an extensive transportation network expeditiously and economically delivered the Wyoming Valley’s “black diamonds” to a waiting market. By 1867, the Lehigh Valley Railroad, which was first established in the Hazleton area’s coal fields, was linked to Wilkes-Barre, and then in 1869, the Lehigh Valley Railroad was connected to other rail systems in New York State.

In the short period from 1846 to the end of the 1880s, coal traffic on the Commonwealth’s network of expensively constructed canals came to an end as new railroad systems reached into every corner of the Commonwealth; extracting minerals and timber, and delivering new settlers – immigrants
from Europe – to work in the mines and towns.

Immigration
The Wyoming Valley is a beautiful and inspiring place, but it is remotely situated away from the rest of Pennsylvania and New York. If it had not been for coal and the canal systems that were built to export that coal to market, it is unlikely that this beautiful valley would have attained the prominence and the wealth that occurred here in the last decades of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. Without coal there was no reason to build the first canals, and without coal there was certainly no reason to extend canals and rail lines into the mountain valleys of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Because of the abundance of anthracite coal – the most significant and most easily mined anthracite fields in the world are located here in Northeastern Pennsylvania – hundreds of thousands of immigrants came from thousands of miles away, primarily from Europe, to establish new lives in the New World. Anthracite mining promised immigrants the opportunity to make a living. There were certainly many reasons for leaving Europe to come to America, but the reality is that these immigrants were, for the most part, peasants living in small villages spread across Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and England, from Scandinavia, and the continent of Europe. Fifteen million immigrants from Europe entered the United State from 1870 to 1915 to get jobs. As many as one hundred thousand ended up in the coal fields of Luzerne County.

Anthracite coal, cleaner and hotter burning than any coal available from any other source, fueled the American Industrial Revolution. Much of that coal came from the Wyoming Valley – from Pittston, Wilkes-Barre, Plymouth, Hazleton, Kingston and hundreds of other named and unnamed towns, villages, and settlements spread throughout the region. The places that had previously been townships and villages grew and expanded as immigrants came into the region seeking work in the coal mines. These townships have traditionally been known as “free towns.” Dozens of other, new, small villages – traditionally called “mine patches” – were developed in the vicinity of the coal mines. They were almost always “company towns;” authoritatively controlled by the mining company that owned the land and employed the men and boys that worked in the mines.

Eckley Miners Village near Hazleton is an example of what a mine patch looked like. At one time there were dozens of these small villages spread throughout the mountains and valleys.

For much of the first two decades of rapid expansion, there were two classes of immigrant – experienced miners from England and Wales, and common laborers from England, Ireland, Wales and Germany. After the immigration flow from the British Isles slowed, immigrants from southern and Eastern Europe learned about the opportunities available in Luzerne County. The largest of these substantial immigrant groups was Poles, followed by Italians, Lithuanians, Slovaks, Ukrainians and Ruthenians, and many thousands of Eastern European Orthodox Jews.

Early immigration into Luzerne County’s mine patches and towns was almost always by men – single men, usually, or younger married men with a family left behind in the old country. The exception was the Jewish immigrants; they came to the valley in family groups. Women followed soon after the males. Wives joined their husbands, and single women came into the valley seeking husbands.

From about 1850 on, with the arrival of significant numbers of women, the valley quickly attracted the attention of factory owners in New York and Philadelphia. The newly arriving immigrant women needed jobs, and thus dozens of factories throughout the region were established to take advantage of an ever-increasing pool of available labor.  These women worked in silk, cotton, and woolen mills. They sewed garments and manufactured cigars. They contributed significantly to the growth of the economy; they kept their families together during hard times in the mines, and during times of labor unrest.

Susquehanna Company

Susquehanna Company, land company formed (1753) in Connecticut for the purpose of developing the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania. A tract of land was purchased from the Native Americans in 1754, and preparations were made for development. Aid was sought in England and Eliphalet Dyer was sent in an unsuccessful attempt to secure confirmation of the land grant. Colonization from Connecticut was first attempted in 1762–63, but it was 1769 before any definite settlement was made. Soon the settlers were embroiled in troubles with the rival settlers from Pennsylvania, leading to the Pennamite Wars, in which Zebulon Butler led the Connecticut forces.

Connecticut's "Susquehannah Settlers"

Through Connecticut's Charter of 1662, the King granted:

'ALL that parte of our dominions in Newe England in America bounded on the East by Norrogancett River, commonly called Norrogancett Bay, where the said River falleth into the Sea, and on the North by the lyne of the Massachusetts Plantacon, and on the south by the Sea, and in longitude as the lyne of the Massachusetts Colony, runinge from East to West, (that is to say) from the Said Norrogancett Bay on the East to the South Sea on the West parte, with the Islands thervnto adioyneinge, Together with all firme lands ... TO HAVE AND TO HOLD ... for ever...'

This area ran directly through the present state of Pennsylvania. The need for more land led some Connecticut residents to test accuracy of the Charter, with disastrous results.

According to Alfred Van Dusen, in his book Connecticut (New York: Random House, 1961), in the 1750s as the state "was filling up rapidly and a mania for land speculation was growing, eyes inevitably turned westward to lands beyond the Hudson. In July 1753 the Susquehannah Company was organized at Windham.... The next year it secured from some Indian chiefs a dubious deed to a large tract of land along the Susquehannah River, amounting to about one-third of Pennsylvania." (page 124). Van Dusen states this was controversial not only in Pennsylvania, but also in Connecticut where the Colony's Governor supported the company, while the Deputy Governor did not. Connecticut was finally told by England "that no Connecticut settlements could be made until the royal pleasure was known". (page 124).

Connecticut received a favorable reply from England in 1773 regarding title to the Susquehannah River area. "Governor [Jonathan] Trumbull openly favored settlement.... Responding to this lead, the Assembly appointed a committee to seek an agreement with Pennsylvania which would open the way for peaceful settlement, but the effort failed completely" (page 129). What ensued was a battle between "Radicals" who saw great economic gains for both the individual and the state from settling the area and "Conservatives" who feared "the western claims would endanger the charter; and the dominant role of the hated 'eastern Radicals' in the Susquehannah Company." (page 129) The town of Westmoreland was established as a town and later a county of Connecticut.

Pennsylvania did not give up its claim to the Valley. There were incursions, culminating in the July 1778 attack that killed approximately 150 settlers and left thousands as refugees. Connecticut residents later returned to Pennsylvania but were again subject to reprisals from the Pennsylvanians. Finally, in December of 1783 a commission found in favor of Pennsylvania's claim to the land. Several more years of conflict over titles ensued and in 1786 "Connecticut yielded her claims to any Pennsylvania land by a deed of cession to Congress" in exchange for the rights to land later known as the Western Reserve." (page 198). Eventually emigrants from Connecticut had "their individual land titles ... confirmed by Pennsylvania." (page 170).

Most land title records, wills and estate papers, and other genealogical source materials relating to Connecticut's Susquehanna settlers are in Pennsylvania. Inquiries may be made at the courthouses in the appropriate Pennsylvania counties - principally Luzerne [at Wilkes-Barre], Northampton [at Easton], or Northumberland (Northumberland County Courthouse, 201 Market Street, Sunbury, PA 17801 570-988-4167)[at Sunbury]. The article "The Connecticut Pennsylvanians" by George E. McCracken in The American Genealogist for April 1979 (Vol. 55, No. 2) contains a useful guide to genealogical sources in the area. Another valuable aid is the article "Following Connecticut Ancestors to Pennsylvania: Susquehanna Company Settlers" by Donna Bingham Munger, in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register for April 1985 (Vol. 139).

Although the region was called Westmoreland County, Connecticut for many years, the present Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania is in a different part of the state.

Important collections on early Wyoming, including early township proprietors' records, land records, tax lists, and church records, are at the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, 69 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 18701 (Tel. (717) 823-6244). That society also sponsored the publication of The Susquehannah Company Papers, ed. Julian P. Boyd and Robert J. Taylor, 11 volumes (Cornell University Press); available at the Connecticut State Library and in many other larger genealogical libraries.

Collections at the Connecticut State Library also include original records, in "Early General Records" and "Connecticut Archives: Susquehanna Settlers (Series I and II), 1750-1820". The records may be consulted on microfilm in the History and Genealogy Reading Room, although most of these papers throw relatively little light on family history or genealogical questions.

Published resources include:

Boyd, J. P. The Susquehannah Company, 1753-1803. [CSL call number: F157 .W9 B69 1931]

Henry, William (ed.). Documents Relating to the Connecticut Settlement in the Wyoming Valley. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 1990 [CSL call number: F157 .W9 D63 1990 v1, 2].

Joyce, Mary Hinchcliffe. Pioneer Days in the Wyoming Valley. Philadelphia: 1928 [CSL call number: F157 .W9 J89].

Smith, William. An Examination of the Connecticut Claim to Lands in Pennsylvania: With an Appendix, Containing Extracts and Copies Taken from Original Papers. Philadelphia: Joseph Crukshank, 1774 [CSL call number: Wells Collection F157 .W9 S55].

Stark, S. Judson. The Wyoming Valley: Probate Records... Wilkes-Barre, PA: Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, 1923 [CSL call number: F157 .W9 S72].

Warfle, Richard Thomas. Connecticut's Western Colony; the Susquehannah Affair. (Connecticut Bicentennial Series, #32). Hartford, CT: American Revolutionary Bicentennial Commission of Connecticut, 1979 [CSL call number: Conn Doc Am35 cb num 32].

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Wilkes-Barre (the "Diamond City"), Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Wilkes-Barre, PA: The Committee on Souvenir and Program, 1906 [CSL call number: F159 .W6 W65 1906].

Prepared by the History and Genealogy Unit, Connecticut State Library. Revised 2-04.

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