CHAPTER XVII.

DAUPHIN COUNTY-HARRIS SETTLED AT PEIXTAN OR PESHTANK, &c.

John Harris settled at Peixtan---Indian towns--Gov. Evans and others at Peixtan, in 1707, and apprehend one Nicole---Harris traded extensively with the Indians---Harris paid attention to agriculture. According to tradition, some Indians attempted to burn the elder Har ris. Harris attempted to improve lands at Choniata---Harris died, 1748---The' Penn's made Harris an offer for a large tract of land... Anecdotes of Esther Harris---Incident illustrative of the Indian character-Harris's Ferry a celebrated place---Harris an active patriot--Bears seen in the river near Harrisburg by Robert Harris, now liv. ing---Wild turkeys abundant about Harris's in 1777–1785---Indians encamped near Elder's mill---Harrisburg sickly in 1793---Landis's mill the cause of it---Mill-dam removed; mill purchased, &c.---Graydon, in his memoirs, alludes to the sickness that prevailed--Old houses--Rev. Montgomery---Chief Justice McKean---General Washington's head quarters in 1794-Extract from the court Records---Names of the first jury---Harris's Ferry changed to Lewisburg---Seat of gov. ernment, &c.---Miscellaneous facts, &c., &c.

The first settlement, within the limits of Dauphin, chiefly consisted of emigrants from the north of Ireland and Scotland, who commenced the improvement of farms prior to 1719 or 1720; for, it is evident, from authentic sources, that the Presbyterians organized the Paxton church and Derry church in 1720.* If tradition may, in this case, be relied on, John Harris, a native Yorkshire, who, it is said, was the first settler of the Conewago hills, must have commenced a settlement at or near the present site of Harrisburg, prior to 1719.

The following, from the pen of George Washington, Harris, Esq., a great-grand-son of John Harris of Yorkshire, appeared a few years ago in "Mr. Napey's Harrisburg Bu

See Harrisburg. Presbyterian church, infra.

siness Directory, to which some intercalated and foot notes are added.

"The first John Harris is said to have been a native of Yorkshire, England. He was a middle aged man when he immigrated to America, and he first settled in Philadelphia. He was there married to Esther Say, an English lady, and who was a woman of rather extraordinary energy and capacity.

They first moved to Chester county; thence to, or near the mouth of Conoy creek, on the Susquehanna, about the present site of Bainbridge, in Lancaster county, and finally to the present site of Harrisburg. At this place was born, about the year 1726, his son, John Harris, the founder of Harrisburg, and who, it is said, to have been "the first white child born in Pennsylvania, west of the Conewago hills."

About the time of the settlement of John Harris, at (Peixtan) Harrisburg, Indian Towns were existing near to Squire Will's stone house, (in Cumberland county) opposite Harrisburg, and at the mouth of the Conedoguinnett and Yellow Breeches creeks. There had been one on the low ground on the river, about the lower line of Harrisburg, and another at the mouth of Paxton creek. These two last are supposed to have been abandoned at the time of making his settlement. The Indians, who resided in this neighborhood, were of the Six Nations; and, it is said, that at one time, by firing a

*

• Six Nations. Passing by the traditions touching the former resi dence of the several Indian Nations. prior to their "Union," I would remark, that the great western confederacy of Indian Nations, has gen. erally been styled by the French, Iroquois, (Les Iroquois sont partager en cing cantons, scavoir les Tsonontouans, les Goyogoans, les Onnotagues, les Onoyants, et les Agnies), generally at first called "The Five Nations," afterward "The Six Nations."

The MOHAWKS are said to be the oldest of the confederacy, and that the Onoyants, or Oneidas, joined first with the Mohawks; the Onnotagues," or Onondagos were the next; then the Tsonontuans, or Senecas, (Sinkers ;) then the Goyogoans, or Cayugas. The Tuscaroras, from Carolina, placed themselves under the protection of the Five Nations, in 1713 or 1714, but were not formally admitted till above 1722 or 1723. The Six Nations called themselves by the name of Aquanuschioni, i. e. "United People."

The Shawanese, who lived on the West Branch of the Susquehanna and in Cumberland county, were not of the confederacy, but were called brothers by them; nevertheless, they looked upon them as inferiors. They occupied, says Prake, before the French wars, a great extent of country, some of their towns being eighty miles asunder.

gun, six or seven hundred warriors could be assembled at the present site of Harrisburg.

The Indian village was called Peixtan, as appears from the following extract from the Provincial Records. And from it, we also learn, that the Honorable John Evans, Esq. Lieutenans Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, accompanied by Messrs. John French, William Tonge, Michel Bezaillion, one Mr. Grey, and four servants, visited Peixtan, in June, 1707.

On Tuesday, the 1st July, 1707, we went to Conestogo and lay there that night, and the next morning proceeded on our journey, and arrived in the evening within three miles of an Indian village, called Peixtan. The governor had received information at Pequehan, that one Nicole, a French Indian trader, was at that place, against whom great complaints had been made to the governor, of which he acquainted the Chief Indian at Peixtan, as also of his design to seize him; who willingly agreed to it; but advised the governor to be very cautious in the manner: there being only young people at home, who, perhaps might make some resistance, if it were done without their being first told of it; for this reason we lay short of the village that night; but early in the morning, we went within a half a mile of the town, and leaving our horses, marched a foot near the same; from whence the governor sent Martine to the village; ordering him to tell Nicole that he had brought two caggs of rum with him, which he had left in the woods, for fear any christians were there; and withal to persuade Nicole to go with him and taste the rum. Martine returned with James Letort and Joseph Jessop, two Indian traders, but could not prevail with Nicole; upon which Martine was sent back, with orders to bring down some Indians, and Nicole with themthen we drew nearer to town, and laid ourselves in the bushes, and Martine returned with two Indians, whom the governor acquainted with his intent of taking Nicole, telling at the same time, he had spoken with the uncle of one of them upon that head, who ordered the Indians to submit to the governor's commands, with which they were contented, tho' we perceived too well the contrary, by their inquiring how many we were, and how armed; and the concern they seemed to be in, when they found we were more men in number than they but still Nicole was wanting; it was there

tore, resolved to try once more if he could be got into the woods; accordingly Martine went again to the place and brought Nicole where we lay conclealed, and asking him to drink a dram, he seized him; but Nicole started from him, and run for it, when immediately we started out and took him, and presently carried him to the village (Peixtan) through which we were obliged to pass; and there we found some Indians, with guns in their hands, who looked much displeased at what we had done; but being in readiness against any surprise, they thought it not fit to attempt any thing. Here we staid about half an hour, and then parted for Turpyhocken-having mounted Nicole on a horse, and tied his legs under the belly, we got within a mile of Turpyhocken at about two of the clock. On Friday morning, about seven, the governor went to the town, from thence we went to Manatawny that night, and the next day to Philadelphia.-Colonial Records, ii. p. 404, '5.

John Harris fixed his habitation on the bank of the river, below the grave yard, and he dug the well now existing there. About twenty years ago the cellar of one of his buildings was visible. He traded extensively with the Indians, and had connected with his house, a large range of sheds, which were sometimes literally filled with skins and furs, mostly obtained by him in traffic with the Indians, and stored there by ths Indian traders, who brought them from the western country. These skins and furs were carried, at an early day, on pack horses to Philadelphia. John Harris experienced much difficulty at his first settlement, as his supplies could not be had nearer than Philadelphia, and had thence to be transported on pack horses to his place of residence.

"His attention, however, was not confined to trading with the Indians; he engaged extensively in agriculture, and from the statement of old Parson Elder to William Maclay, 'he was the first person who introduced the plough on the Susquehanna.'·

"An incident in his life has excited considerable interest, and been the subject of much inquiry:

"On one occasion, a band of Indians, who had been down the river, or as is said, to the East, on a trading excursion, came to his house. Some, or most of them, were intoxicated. They asked for lum, meaning West India rum, as the modern whiskey was not then manufactured in Pennsylvania.—

Seeing they were already intoxicated, he feared mischief, if he gave them more; and he refused. They became enraged and seized and tied him to the mulberry tree to burn him.Whilst they were proceeding to execute their purpose, he was released, after a struggle, by other Indians of the neighborhood, who generally came across the river. How the alarm was given to them, whether by firing a gun or otherwise, or by whom, is not now certainly known. In remembrance of this event, he afterwards directed that on his death, he should be buried under the mulberry tree, which had been the scene of this adventure. Part of the trunk of this tree is still standing. It is ten feet up to the lowest limb, and the stump is eleven feet, six inches in circumference. The writer (G. W. Harris,) of this has eaten mulberries from this tree, which was one of the largest of its species."

It would appear that John Harris had commenced clearing a plantation to carry on trade at the mouth of Choniata (Juniata river) prior to 1732 or 1733. June 19, 1733, at a couucil held at Philadelphia, Shickalamy, a chief, by Conrad Weiser, as interpreter, asked whether the Proprietor had heard of a letter which he and Sassoonan sent to John Harris, to desire him to desist from making a plantation at the mouth of Choniata, where Harris has built a house and is clearing fields.

They were told that Harris had only built that house for carrying on his trade; that his plantation, on which he has houses, barns, &c., at Pextang, is his place of dwelling, and it is not to be supposed he will remove trom thence; that he has no warrant or order for making a settlement on Choniata.

Shekallamy said that though Harris may have built a house for the conveniency of his trade, yet he ought not to clear fields To this it was answered, that Harris had probably cleared as much land only as would be sufficient to raise corn for his horses. Shekallamy said he had no ill will to John Harris, it was not his custom to bear ill will, but he

Shekallamy was an Indian of much consequence among the Five Nations. He was the father of the celebrated Logan. It appears he was a Cayuga sachem, and styled by Loskiel, "first magistrate and head chief of all the Iroquois Indians living on the banks of the Susquehanna, as far as Onondago. He died at Shamokin, his residence, in 1749. He had been a great friend to Moravian missionaries.