Series V: Manuscripts concerning the early history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Wyoming Valley, 1758-1841
Series
Dates
- 1758-1841
Creator
- Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829. (Person)
Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities
Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
From the Collection: 17 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Series V: Manuscripts concerning the early history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Wyoming Valley, 1758-1841
Series V: Manuscripts concerning the early history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Wyoming Valley, 1758-1841, is arranged into two further subseries: Subseries I: General, 1770-1841, Subseries II: Susquehanna Purchase, 1772-1804, and Susquehanna Claim, 1758-1841. Each subseries is arranged in chronological order by date and contains correspondence, memorandums, notices, handwritten lists, reports, official decrees, certificates, court proceedings and legal acts, and booklets concerning the development of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, and the Wyoming Valley in the mid-eighteenth century through the mid-nineteenth century as well as the Pennamite-Yankee wars that occurred towards the latter half of the eighteenth century.
As many of the subjects across the three subseries are similar, they have been delineated specifically in three conversations. Subseries I: General, contains various items that pertain to the day to day lives of those in the valley. These include receipts for different orders, the creation of a refugee settlement, French Azilum, personal correspondence and professional business. Subseries II: Susquehanna Purchase, contains manuscriptsconcerning the early settlements of the Wyoming Valley, specifically the lands being sold and laid out under the Susquehanna Company’s Purchase along the Susquehanna River. The Susquehanna Company was a group of Connecticut settlers and land speculators, organized in the mid-18th century, after receiving a royal charter to the lands in 1662. They sought to claim and settle the lands in what is now northeastern Pennsylvania for future expansion of Connecticut. The company purchased land from the Iroquois, though the legitimacy of this transaction was later contested during the Decree of Trenton, and began sending settlers to establish communities in the Wyoming Valley. This effort sparked a series of violent conflicts with Pennsylvania settlers, known as the Yankee Pennamite Wars, 1769–1784. These items include share or land right certificates, meeting minutes of the Susquehanna Company commissioners, including the creation of roads and appointment of committees, and itemized lists of the people who have lots of lands in the purchase and their improvements. Subseries III, Susquehanna Controversy includes a number of items that pertain to the three part conflict sparked in the valley between Pennsylvania and Connecticut settlers, as well as other conflicts, including the Battle of Wyoming and the American Revolution.
Themes that appear in this collection are interests and conflicts relating to land, the Yankee Pennamite Wars, 1769-1807, titles, land, town meetings, local government, the establishment of townships, petitions for the construction of vital infrastructure, military and battle strategy, itemization of ammunition and personal and professional correspondence.
Historical figures included in this first general subseries are John Durkee, John Sullivan, Ezekiel Pierce, Nathan Dennison, Zebulon Butler, Obadiah Gore, Johnathan Trumbull, Benjamin Stoddert, Matthias Hollenback, Timothy Pickering, Samuel Kirkland, Thomas Mifflin, Clement Biddle, Louis Marie De Noailles, Antoine Omer Talon, Isaac Dewitt, Le Ray De Chaumont, and Archibald McCall.
Cross-Reference Collections Note: There are various items in the collection that have been processed in other series due to context that better serves those than Series V. However, they still pertain to the contents of the Susquehanna Company and Controversy, such as Series IX: Map and Land Deeds, 1737-1966, 15.94 Item 39: Town charter for Berlin Township, 1773 November 19 (Removed to Legal Box #2), and Subseries III: Butler Correspondence, 1770-1820, which contains correspondence from a pivotal military figure, Colonel Zebulon Butler. Additionally, Subseries I: Presidents of the United States, 1777-1959 has two letters, 9.1. Item 1: Letter from George Washington to Zebulon Butler, 1777 June 12. (removed to Legal Box #1), and 9.2. Item 2: Letter from George Washington to Zebulon Butler, 1780 December 29. (removed to Legal Box #1), with the same figure.
As many of the subjects across the three subseries are similar, they have been delineated specifically in three conversations. Subseries I: General, contains various items that pertain to the day to day lives of those in the valley. These include receipts for different orders, the creation of a refugee settlement, French Azilum, personal correspondence and professional business. Subseries II: Susquehanna Purchase, contains manuscriptsconcerning the early settlements of the Wyoming Valley, specifically the lands being sold and laid out under the Susquehanna Company’s Purchase along the Susquehanna River. The Susquehanna Company was a group of Connecticut settlers and land speculators, organized in the mid-18th century, after receiving a royal charter to the lands in 1662. They sought to claim and settle the lands in what is now northeastern Pennsylvania for future expansion of Connecticut. The company purchased land from the Iroquois, though the legitimacy of this transaction was later contested during the Decree of Trenton, and began sending settlers to establish communities in the Wyoming Valley. This effort sparked a series of violent conflicts with Pennsylvania settlers, known as the Yankee Pennamite Wars, 1769–1784. These items include share or land right certificates, meeting minutes of the Susquehanna Company commissioners, including the creation of roads and appointment of committees, and itemized lists of the people who have lots of lands in the purchase and their improvements. Subseries III, Susquehanna Controversy includes a number of items that pertain to the three part conflict sparked in the valley between Pennsylvania and Connecticut settlers, as well as other conflicts, including the Battle of Wyoming and the American Revolution.
Themes that appear in this collection are interests and conflicts relating to land, the Yankee Pennamite Wars, 1769-1807, titles, land, town meetings, local government, the establishment of townships, petitions for the construction of vital infrastructure, military and battle strategy, itemization of ammunition and personal and professional correspondence.
Historical figures included in this first general subseries are John Durkee, John Sullivan, Ezekiel Pierce, Nathan Dennison, Zebulon Butler, Obadiah Gore, Johnathan Trumbull, Benjamin Stoddert, Matthias Hollenback, Timothy Pickering, Samuel Kirkland, Thomas Mifflin, Clement Biddle, Louis Marie De Noailles, Antoine Omer Talon, Isaac Dewitt, Le Ray De Chaumont, and Archibald McCall.
Cross-Reference Collections Note: There are various items in the collection that have been processed in other series due to context that better serves those than Series V. However, they still pertain to the contents of the Susquehanna Company and Controversy, such as Series IX: Map and Land Deeds, 1737-1966, 15.94 Item 39: Town charter for Berlin Township, 1773 November 19 (Removed to Legal Box #2), and Subseries III: Butler Correspondence, 1770-1820, which contains correspondence from a pivotal military figure, Colonel Zebulon Butler. Additionally, Subseries I: Presidents of the United States, 1777-1959 has two letters, 9.1. Item 1: Letter from George Washington to Zebulon Butler, 1777 June 12. (removed to Legal Box #1), and 9.2. Item 2: Letter from George Washington to Zebulon Butler, 1780 December 29. (removed to Legal Box #1), with the same figure.
Subseries I: General, 1758-1841
Subseries I: General, 1770-1841
Subseries I: General, 1770-1841, is arranged chronologically and contains various letters, receipts, notes, testimony, and notices by various historical figures who made significant contributions to the establishment of, not only the Wyoming Valley, during their lives, but Luzerne County, Pennsylvania as a whole.
Subseries II: Susquehanna Purchase, 1772-1804
Subseries II: Susquehanna Purchase, 1772-1804, is arranged chronologically and contains various letters, notices, meeting minutes, title certificates, testimony, and booklets by various historical figures who made significant contributions to the establishment of, not only the Wyoming Valley, during their lives, but Luzerne County, Pennsylvania as a whole.
These documents are created by various commissioners or people of rank from the Susquehanna Land Company. The Susquehanna Company was a group of Connecticut settlers and land speculators, organized in the mid-18th century, after receiving a royal charter to the lands in 1662. They sought to claim and settle the lands in what is now northeastern Pennsylvania for future expansion of Connecticut. The company purchased land from the Iroquois, though the legitimacy of this transaction was later contested during the Decree of Trenton, and began sending settlers to establish communities in the Wyoming Valley. This effort sparked a series of violent conflicts with Pennsylvania settlers, known as the Yankee Pennamite Wars, 1769–1784. These items include the early building up of the Wyoming Valley with help from figures such as Zebulon Butler, Obadiah Gore and Nathan Dennison.
The committees at the time also took responsibility in building homes for people who were moving from Connecticut to the Wyoming Valley, managed the settlements along the Susquehanna River, and for a long time decided many legal affairs before a court was formally established. It is important to note that there is a significant amount of notices and letters written by Zebulon Butler included in this subseries, which were deliberately included due to the nature of these letters and notices highlighting his affairs in the Wyoming Valley as both a colonel and member of various civil offices. While these items are located physically within the General subseries from the Wilkes-Barre, Wyoming Valley, Luzerne County series, there are many other manuscripts written by Zebulon Butler and the company in series such as:
Series IX: Map and Land Deeds, 1737-1966, 15.94 Item 39: Town charter for Berlin Township, 1773 November 19 (Removed to Legal Box #2) Subseries III: Butler Correspondence, 1770-1820, which contains correspondence from a pivotal military figure, Colonel Zebulon Butler. Subseries I: Presidents of the United States, 1777-1959 has two letters, 9.1. Item 1: Letter from George Washington to Zebulon Butler, 1777 June 12. (removed to Legal Box #1), and 9.2. Item 2: Letter from George Washington to Zebulon Butler, 1780 December 29. (removed to Legal Box #1).
Of the famed military figures referenced in this series, two prominent merchant and political names are Matthias Hollenback and Timothy Pickering. Most notably a letter from Matthias Hollenback to Timothy Pickering including a detailed story of Hollenback’s capturing of John Hyde, who had previously broken into Pickering home and captured him during the Yankee-Pennamite Wars. Various other letters and notes written by Matthias Hollenback and received by him, highlights his significance to the history of Luzerne County. From being one of the successful business men of his time, owning several stores along the Susquehanna River while also being a soldier fighting at the Battle of Wyoming, to his involvement in the French Asylum, and ending with his honorable career as a judge this series encompasses it all.
These documents are created by various commissioners or people of rank from the Susquehanna Land Company. The Susquehanna Company was a group of Connecticut settlers and land speculators, organized in the mid-18th century, after receiving a royal charter to the lands in 1662. They sought to claim and settle the lands in what is now northeastern Pennsylvania for future expansion of Connecticut. The company purchased land from the Iroquois, though the legitimacy of this transaction was later contested during the Decree of Trenton, and began sending settlers to establish communities in the Wyoming Valley. This effort sparked a series of violent conflicts with Pennsylvania settlers, known as the Yankee Pennamite Wars, 1769–1784. These items include the early building up of the Wyoming Valley with help from figures such as Zebulon Butler, Obadiah Gore and Nathan Dennison.
The committees at the time also took responsibility in building homes for people who were moving from Connecticut to the Wyoming Valley, managed the settlements along the Susquehanna River, and for a long time decided many legal affairs before a court was formally established. It is important to note that there is a significant amount of notices and letters written by Zebulon Butler included in this subseries, which were deliberately included due to the nature of these letters and notices highlighting his affairs in the Wyoming Valley as both a colonel and member of various civil offices. While these items are located physically within the General subseries from the Wilkes-Barre, Wyoming Valley, Luzerne County series, there are many other manuscripts written by Zebulon Butler and the company in series such as:
Series IX: Map and Land Deeds, 1737-1966, 15.94 Item 39: Town charter for Berlin Township, 1773 November 19 (Removed to Legal Box #2) Subseries III: Butler Correspondence, 1770-1820, which contains correspondence from a pivotal military figure, Colonel Zebulon Butler. Subseries I: Presidents of the United States, 1777-1959 has two letters, 9.1. Item 1: Letter from George Washington to Zebulon Butler, 1777 June 12. (removed to Legal Box #1), and 9.2. Item 2: Letter from George Washington to Zebulon Butler, 1780 December 29. (removed to Legal Box #1).
Of the famed military figures referenced in this series, two prominent merchant and political names are Matthias Hollenback and Timothy Pickering. Most notably a letter from Matthias Hollenback to Timothy Pickering including a detailed story of Hollenback’s capturing of John Hyde, who had previously broken into Pickering home and captured him during the Yankee-Pennamite Wars. Various other letters and notes written by Matthias Hollenback and received by him, highlights his significance to the history of Luzerne County. From being one of the successful business men of his time, owning several stores along the Susquehanna River while also being a soldier fighting at the Battle of Wyoming, to his involvement in the French Asylum, and ending with his honorable career as a judge this series encompasses it all.
Subseries III: Susquehanna Controversy, 1758- 1841
Subseries III: Susquehanna Controversy, 1758- 1841, is arranged chronologically by date and contains correspondence, legal documents, lists, and booklets, written by various historical figures discussing the conflicts occurring within the Wyoming Valley during the 18th century. These conflicts were known as the Pennamite–Yankee Wars or Yankee–Pennamite Wars, or to be more specific, the First (1769-1770), Second (1775), and Third (1784) Pennamite Wars. These conflicts occurred due to the states of CT and PA both claiming to own the upper third of what is now northeastern Pennsylvania; however there is valid reasoning behind both claims. Connecticut had been granted a land claim to the area in 1662 by King Charles II, and in 1681 King Charles II granted the land again to William Penn on accident due to the local Iroquois reselling the land on account of, as historian Paul B. Moyer states, “ … their decentralized political systems, their own jurisdictional controversies, and their distinctive cultural definitions of property rights.”
This subseries covers several different events in relation to the Susquehanna Claim. The bulk of items are from the period of the three Pennamite Wars (1770s- early 1780s), with the remainder of items highlighting the controversy’s legal aftermath (mid 1780s-1790s). This legal aftermath included the proposal, approval, and implementation of several bills which outline Pennsylvania’s ownership of the claim, as well as various other legal acts and decrees such as Item 14.29: “An Act for offering compensation to the Susquehanna claimants of certain Lands within the seventeen Townships in the County of Luzerne and for other purposes therein mentioned”, copied by unknown, no date., which provided financial support to those affected.
Historical figures included in the second subseries are Eliphalet Dyer, Major John Durkee, Lord Butler, John Butler, Zebulon Butler, Moses Mather, Roger Sherman, Colonel Timothy Pickering, Benjamin Franklin, Jacob Shallus, David Brearley, George Clymer, William Rawle, Tench Coxe, Eleazer McComb, Matthias Hollenback, Samuel Wyllys, and Timothy Pitkin. Many of these individuals were part of the newly formed United States government and their letters provide researchers with a U.S. government officials' perspective on the conflicts through several legal documents relating to land ownership and the troubles between Pennsylvania and Connecticut. However, this subseries does not contain any items which reference the military aspects of this controversy. The items focus more on rising tensions between PA and CT as well as the legal aftermath which followed. The individual who collected these items, Gilbert Stuart McClintock, labeled these items as “The Susquehanna Controversy,” however the Library of Congress refers to the events as “The Susquehanna Claim.” Due to this in combination with the collection’s lack of reference to conflicts, the Wars shall be referred to as the Controversy, while everything else shall be referred to as the Claim. The second subseries is closely tied with Subseries III: Butler Correspondence 1759-1846, as it contains many letters related to Zebulon Butler and his role as the Director of the Susquehanna Company, a Connecticut based company founded in 1753 with the intention of settling what they considered to be their land in the northern portion of Pennsylvania. He was heavily involved in the American Revolution as well one of the bloodiest events in this region’s history: the Wyoming Massacre or The Battle of Wyoming, which was a military engagement during the American Revolutionary War between Patriot militia and a force of loyalist soldiers and Iroquois warriors. It took place on July 1778 in what is known now as Luzerne County.Along with Zebulon Butler’s involvement in the lead up to the battle, this series also includes documents such as Elisha Blackman’s letter to the publisher of the National Gazette, claiming that their narration of the Battle was incorrect and Eliphalet Follet’s (Jr.) writings to the Wyoming Claim Committee to tell the story of his father who died in battle and of his mothers journey taking care of him and his siblings while grieving the death. Another heavily referenced key figure within this subseries is Timothy Pickering, the third Secretary of State and Luzerne County resident. Within his correspondence, Pickering handled several legal matters in reference to the controversy. A few examples of topics which are mentioned within this subseries include the sale of land to both Connecticut and Pennsylvania settlers by their respective states, the imprisonment of Major John Durkee, the purchase of the claim from Native Americans, the formation of committees to deal with the claim, various court trials regarding land ownership and compensation for those involved with the controversy, and mostly unfavorable opinions of Connecticut settlers by Pennsylvanians.
This subseries covers several different events in relation to the Susquehanna Claim. The bulk of items are from the period of the three Pennamite Wars (1770s- early 1780s), with the remainder of items highlighting the controversy’s legal aftermath (mid 1780s-1790s). This legal aftermath included the proposal, approval, and implementation of several bills which outline Pennsylvania’s ownership of the claim, as well as various other legal acts and decrees such as Item 14.29: “An Act for offering compensation to the Susquehanna claimants of certain Lands within the seventeen Townships in the County of Luzerne and for other purposes therein mentioned”, copied by unknown, no date., which provided financial support to those affected.
Historical figures included in the second subseries are Eliphalet Dyer, Major John Durkee, Lord Butler, John Butler, Zebulon Butler, Moses Mather, Roger Sherman, Colonel Timothy Pickering, Benjamin Franklin, Jacob Shallus, David Brearley, George Clymer, William Rawle, Tench Coxe, Eleazer McComb, Matthias Hollenback, Samuel Wyllys, and Timothy Pitkin. Many of these individuals were part of the newly formed United States government and their letters provide researchers with a U.S. government officials' perspective on the conflicts through several legal documents relating to land ownership and the troubles between Pennsylvania and Connecticut. However, this subseries does not contain any items which reference the military aspects of this controversy. The items focus more on rising tensions between PA and CT as well as the legal aftermath which followed. The individual who collected these items, Gilbert Stuart McClintock, labeled these items as “The Susquehanna Controversy,” however the Library of Congress refers to the events as “The Susquehanna Claim.” Due to this in combination with the collection’s lack of reference to conflicts, the Wars shall be referred to as the Controversy, while everything else shall be referred to as the Claim. The second subseries is closely tied with Subseries III: Butler Correspondence 1759-1846, as it contains many letters related to Zebulon Butler and his role as the Director of the Susquehanna Company, a Connecticut based company founded in 1753 with the intention of settling what they considered to be their land in the northern portion of Pennsylvania. He was heavily involved in the American Revolution as well one of the bloodiest events in this region’s history: the Wyoming Massacre or The Battle of Wyoming, which was a military engagement during the American Revolutionary War between Patriot militia and a force of loyalist soldiers and Iroquois warriors. It took place on July 1778 in what is known now as Luzerne County.Along with Zebulon Butler’s involvement in the lead up to the battle, this series also includes documents such as Elisha Blackman’s letter to the publisher of the National Gazette, claiming that their narration of the Battle was incorrect and Eliphalet Follet’s (Jr.) writings to the Wyoming Claim Committee to tell the story of his father who died in battle and of his mothers journey taking care of him and his siblings while grieving the death. Another heavily referenced key figure within this subseries is Timothy Pickering, the third Secretary of State and Luzerne County resident. Within his correspondence, Pickering handled several legal matters in reference to the controversy. A few examples of topics which are mentioned within this subseries include the sale of land to both Connecticut and Pennsylvania settlers by their respective states, the imprisonment of Major John Durkee, the purchase of the claim from Native Americans, the formation of committees to deal with the claim, various court trials regarding land ownership and compensation for those involved with the controversy, and mostly unfavorable opinions of Connecticut settlers by Pennsylvanians.
Condition Note:
Condition Note: A majority of the materials in this collection are in fragile condition due to their age and previous exposures. They should all be handled with care, but most carefully are those marked ‘poor,’ including:
12.49 Item 9: Notice by Ezekiel Pierce, 1772 October 5.
12.52 Item 12: A Gubernatorial Decree by Jonathan Trumbull, establishing a Corporation for the County of Westmoreland, 1778 June 1 (Removed to Black Box #1)
12.57 Item 17: Letter from Benjamin Stoddert to Zebulon Butler, 1779 October 20.
12.61 Item 21: A Letter from John Franklin to “Unknown,” 1784 July 30.
12.64. Item 24: Recepit by Timothy Pickering to Matthias Hollenback, 1789 December 15.
12.69b. Item 29b: Letter from [Antoine] Omer de Talon to Isaac Dewitt, 1794 July 30.
12.78. Item 38: Letter from Le Ray de Chaumont to Joseph Kingsbery, 1821 February 14.
12.83 Item 43: A Receipt by Elijah Dyer to Jonathan Trumble, 1760 March.
12.85 Item 45: Letter from Eliphalet Dyer to Walter Franklin, 1772 May 16.
12.86a Item 46a: Notice from Ezekiel Pierce, for [Zebulon Butler], 1772 November 30.
12.86b Item 46b: Notice from Ezekiel Pierce, for [Zebulon Butler], 1772 November 30.
12.87 Item 47: Booklet titled “The Right of the Governor and Company,” printed by Eben Watson, 1773.
12.88 Item 48: Notice by Butler, Pierce, Fuller, and Gore, 1773 March 15
12.91 Item 51: “A List of the numbers of the lots of Land at Wyoming & names of the Purchasers with the Quantities of acres and rates of Purchase,” by unknown, [1771-1773]. (Removed to Legal Box #1)
12.92 Item 52: A Historical Address of the Battle of Wyoming Before the Monument, by [David Scott], [ca. 1833].
12.93 Item 53: A Receipt by Hugh For(e)sman to Benj[ami]n Harvey, 1779 December 16
12.96 Item 56: Letter from Zebulon Butler to Colonels [Eliphalet] Dyer and [Jesse] Root, 1783 October 4. (removed to legal size box#1)
12.97 Item 57: Letter from Roger Sherman to Zebulon Butler, 1784 June 15. (Removed to Legal Box #1)
12.101 Item 61: Letter from “Unknown” to “Sir,” 1787 March 9. (removed to legal size box #1)
12.104 Item 64: Letter from Jonathan Heart to Zebulon Butler, 1787 July 21. (removed to legal size box #1)
12.111 Item 71: A Copy by [Zebulon Butler], 1790 March 25, of a Letter from Geo[rge] Clymer to W[illia]m Rawle, 1790 March 20. (removed to legal size box #1)
12.112 Item 72: A Copy by Putnam Catlin, [no date], of the Minutes of a Susquehanna Company Meeting, led by Lord Butler et. al, 1793 March 4. (Removed to Legal Box #1)
12.116 Item 76: A Copy by [Zebulon Butler], 1794 October 25, of a Letter from Unknown to General Montgomery, 1794 October 25. (removed to black box #5)
Processed and Transcribed By:
First round transcriptions done by Christopher Smith in Fall 2020-Summer 2021. 2nd round transcription and description done by Conrad Middleton, Spring 2023, Archives intern, supervised and edited by Suzanna Calev, Archivist, Spring 2023.
Creator
- Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829. (Person)
- Butler, John, 1734- abt. 1795 (Person)
- Dyer, Eliphalet, 1721-1807 (Person)
- Durkee, John, 1728-1782 (Person)
- Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790 (Person)
- Butler, Zebulon, 1731-1795 (Person)
- Mather, Moses, 1719-1806 (Person)
- Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. (Person)
- Coxe, Tench, 1755-1824 (Person)
- Shallus, Jacob, 1750-1796 (Person)
- Brearley, David, 1745-1790 (Person)
- Pitkin, Timothy, 1766-1847 (Person)
- Wyllys, Samuel, 1739-1823 (Person)
- Clymer, George, 1739-1813 (Person)
- Rawle, William, 1759-1836 (Person)
- McComb, Eleazar, 1740-1798 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu