Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1876-02-04

Troubles continue-Arriral Of an dYnae(
atJorce Warrior Run from Wyoming-
Deposition of Peter Smith-Setlers driy7
of by Colonel Plunkett-Great Ercite
ment-Plunkett'S inraSton Of Wyon,ihq-
HIS defeat and sudden retreat.
The spirit Of the respective parties ran
high. The Connecticut people were deter.
mined to occupy the valuable land of the
West Branch, and the Pennsylvanians
were determined that they should not. The
former claimed the land as belonging to
them. and the latter insisted that they had
no right to it, and determined to resort to
force for their expulsion, if they did not
peaceably leave. A crisis was inevitably
approaching which could not be averted.
The authorities of Pennsylvania had issued
instructions to the officers of Northumber-
land county, which could not be mistaken.
On the ODD Of September, 1775, William
Maclay writes from Sun bury to J. Shipper,
Jr. The following extrac. from his letter
is in reference to the Connecticut troubles !:
1.-The Congress at the last meeting order
| ed the Memorials respecting the Connecti-
cut Intrusion, to lye on their Table to the
next Meeting, on the 9Th of September, in
the mean Time their Delegates were direct
ed to eDjoin a Peaceable Behaviour on
their People the 9Th of Sepr is come and
past, the Injunction therefore is no longer
binding, according to their mode of reason
ing-we never had more rumor about them,
and their Designs, Sam Wallis has just
now been with me respecting the Conduct
of one Vincent, who lives near Mr.. Modie
this man was some time ago appoited
Connecticut Magistrate, and is now at
WYOMING. in order to pilo: down 300 Of
them TO the West Branch, his son was
with him, and is returned, and gives out,
that his Father only waited until the Ar
mament would be ready. Wallis Gays he
has taken some Pains to examine into the
story, and for his part veryly believes it 20
be true If so, We shall soon hear Of them,
they have lately been at great pains to en-
list their Adherents among US into the oath
or Buffers Regiment. 1t is highly proba-
BILE that every motion Of the People at Wi
oming, is the Consequence of Orders from
the Colony Of Connecticut, if so, it is in
contravertible That they intend perfas ne
fasque, to possess themselves of the Coun-
try. 1t seems mysterious They should be
ea int rpoLiry tboir h
ments so far southwark into the Pennsyl
vania settlement, while the Lands west Of
WYOMING, large and quite unoccupied, are
quite disregarded 4; perhaps west Line
from the most Southern Settlement they
can effect, by Art or Force may be con-
templated by them, as the Boundary of
their future Empire, That is, in case they
intend to have Pennsylvania name Place
at all among the ColonY's."
ie, appears that his fears we're justly
founded that an armed body af men, from
Wyoming, were about 70 make descent
upon the West Branch. The following
letter, however, from J. Sluman and Will
liam Judd, two of the Connecticut leaders,
addressed to William Plunkett, at Sunbury,
on the 25th of September, from Warrior
Run, would not tend to create that impress
sion. But it was doubtless intended to
deceive them
'Sir,-This acquaints you that we ar
rived at this place on Saturday Evening
last, with number Of other men. purpos-
ing to view the Vacant Lands in this
Branch of the Susqhh, River, and to make
a settlement on the Vacant Lands if We
find any place or places that shall be agree
able. And as this may be matter Of
much Conversation among the present Iu
habitants, we are willing to acquaint you
the principles on which we are come. In
the first place we Intend no Hostilities, We
will not Disturb, Molest or Endeavor to
Dispossess any Person Of his property, or
any ways abuse his person by Threats or
any act that shall tend Thereto. And as
we are Commissioners of the peace for the
Colony of Connecticut we mean to be GOV
erned by the Laws of that Colony, and not
Refuse the Exercise of the Request, as the
Colony of Connecticut Extended last May
their Jurisdiction over the Land. Finally,
as we are Determined 70 govern ourselves
as aforementioned, We expect that those
who think the little of this Land is not in
this Colony, will give US no uneasiness or
Disturbance in our proposed settlement"
Contrary to the declarations expressed
in the communication, that tcc intsnd
hoStillitics," but one or two days elapsed
before intelligence reached Sunbury, that
an armed force, supposed to assist of three
hundred men, had, arrived at Freeland's
Mill, on Warrior Run. 1t was supposed
to be detachment from Colonel Buffers
regiment, and made up OF Connecticut
as they expressed it. They
brought neither women nor children, and
on their arrival, commenced
themselves in strong posi-
ton.
The report Of the arrival Of this armed
band, spread through the thinly settled
county, with the rapidity of wild fire. Pre-
parations were speedily made to resist :hen
with force of arms, if necessary. A COM
pany of fifty men immediately left Fort
Augusta, to unite with other companies,
from various parts of the county, to ''meet
and demand the reason of this intrusion
and hostile appearance"
The following deposition of Peter Smith.
taken before Robert Rob, Esq, one OF the
Justices of the Peace for the County of
will throw some addi-
tional light on this matter.
RTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, SIS.
Before me, one Of his Majesty's JUS
tices, assigned to keep the Peace for said
County, personally appeared. Peter Smith
who being sworn according to Law, De-
noseth and saith that on the evening OF