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Item 49: Notice from Butler, Fuller, Gore, and Marvin, 1773 July 2

 Item — Box: 12, Folder: 89

Dates

  • 1773 July 2

Creator

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

Type of Material:

Notice

Condition Note:

Fair.

Measurements:

8 in. x 5 ¼ in.

Description:

The following item depicts a notice written by Zebulon Butler for a community meeting heard by himself, Obadiah Gore, Seth Marvin, and Stephen Fuller in Wilkes-Barre on July 2, 1773. The hearing was for inhabitants of the Susquehanna Purchase to review rules and regulations in order for better ordering and governing of said inhabitants. They also mention a desire to establish restrictions on rum sales to neighboring indigenous tribes. Zebulon Butler had a major role in the development of the Wyoming valley. Being the holder of several civil offices throughout his life, Butler’s name is seen in almost every letter of Wyoming's annuals in the mid to late 1700s. When the Susquehanna Company, organized in Connecticut, sent its body of settlers to take possession of the lands it had purchased on the East Branch of the Susquehanna river, Pennsylvania, Zebulon Butler went with these settlers and located in Wilkes-Barre, and a short time thereafter became prominent in the affairs of the Wyoming settlement. Obadiah Gore was a prominent member of the military and meetings often took place at his residence. Gore was also appointed a director for representing Kingstown, Kingston of the time. Stephen Fuller, who had removed from Connecticut to Wyoming, took part in many of the affairs in establishing the town and later fighting in The Battle of Wyoming under the title of Captain in the military. Seth Marvin was a General of the Connecticut militia during the eighteenth century. He fought in the American Revolutionary war and was elevated to Brigadier General in 1806. It appears within the manuscript that Marvin was also elected to hold certain positions within the Susquehanna Company, as he appears as a sitting commissioner during the meeting. The names for Swift and Landon, as well as the possible name misspellings for Slocum and Rudolph, have been estimated from a comparison with prominent figures appearing in the Lackawanna Historical Society’s collection, The John Jenkins Papers, which is currently being processed with Wilkes University archives students. The collection is currently being processed and will be digitized within their institution when completed. This collection contains many of the military and political figures who settled the Wyoming Valley region prior to, during, and following the American Revolution.

Location:

Wilkes Barre

Transcription:

This is to give Notice to all the Inhabitants of the Susquehannah Purchase, to meet at Wilkes Barre Fort on Thursday the 8th Instant at Three of the Clock in the Afternoon, to hear the Report of the Committee Chosen to make some Regulations and Rules for the better Ordering and governing the Inhabitants of said purchase, securing their property and Redressing their Grievances & Complaints also to come into some Regulations for the more Effectual preventing the selling of Rum to the Indians & any other Business proper to be done on s[ai]d Day. Dated at Wilkes Barre Zebulon Butler } Committee 2nd July 1773 Stephen Fuller } of Obadiah Gore } Settlers Seth Marvin }

{back} Mr. Sloman //// / 9 Mr. Swift ///////////////// 17 / ///////////////// 17 Capt[ain] Butler /////////// 11 / //////////////////// 20 Capt Gore + // Gore Jr // / Capt Fuller // / ------------------------------------------------------ Mr. Slewman ////////////////////////////////// 34 Capt Fuller /////// J: Jenkins //// Parshall Terry / C: Avery / Landon / Capt Gore /

Maj[o]r Ruldon(?) [Rudolph?] ///////// Tuno [Pos. Tunis]: Smith ////////////////////////////////////////// Obadiah Gore / Mr. Landon / Daniel Gore /

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)