Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1876-01-21

Organization Of Northumberland Count,,-
ITS original BOunderieS-S SunJluq found
ed-NameS Of the Settlers alonq the R,rer
! -IfoubleS and Priudtions-The Grant
fdmity-Dr. Plunkett-Sketch of has life
-AnecCloteS.
The county of Northumberland was or
ganized, March 18th, 1772, out of Lancas.
ter, Cumberland, Berks, Northampton and
Bedford. 1t embraced a large extent of
territory. The following description of its
boundaries is from the first section of the
act erecting it
THAT all and singular the lands lying
and being within the boundaries following,
that is to say, beginning at the mouth of
Mahantongo Creek, on the west side of
the Susquehanna, thence up the South side
of said creek, by the several courses there
OF, to the head of Robert Meteer Spring :;
thence yest by north TO the top of Tussey'.
mountain; thence south westerly, along
- -northcasterly side Of
the main Branch of Little Juniata, to the
head thereof; thence north to the line,
of Berks county thence east along said
line, to the extremity of the Province !;
thence east along the northern boundary,
to that part thereof of the Great Swamp;
thence south to the most northern part OF
the swamp aforesaid; thence with a straight,
line to the head Of the Lehsh, or Mill
Greek thence down the said creek so far
that line run west southwest will strike
the forks of Mahantongo Creek where
Pine Creek falls into the same, at the place
called the Spread Eagle, on the east side
Of said creek to the river aforesaid ; thence
down and across the river to the place of
beginning"
1t was directed by the Provincial au-
thorities, that the courts be held at Fort
Augusta, till Court House, and the ne
cessary public buildings could be erected.
a committee composed Of William Ma
clay, Samuel Hunter, John Louden, Jo-
seph Wallis, and Robert Moody, were ap-
pointed to purchase piece of land, in
some convenient place in the county, sub
ject to the approval of the Governor, on
which to erect Court Hause and Jail.
Joshua Elder, James Patton, Jesse Lu-
kens and William Lukens, were appointed
''to run, work out and distinguish the
boundary lines between Lancaster, Cum
berland, Berks, Northampton, Bedford,
and Northumberland countless
At that time Northumberland embraced
all the West Branch Valley, as far as Ly-
coming creek. The river above that point
was the boundary on the south side. The
Forth side was in dispute. Most of the
territory was dense forest, where the red
man had roamed with untrammelled free
dom, from time immemorial, but the on
ward march of civilization was about 10
drive him from these iavOrte haunts, and
compel him to seek a new hime in distant
wilas. He sulenly retired from the cher
overcome by the superior numbers and in'
telligence of the race that, it seemed, were
destined to dlspossess lin. Such seemed
to be his fate. But the indicative pas
sions of his savage breast were aroused,
and he fought for his home and hunting
grounds. II was natural that he should
do so-the present race of whites, claiming
a creator amount of refinement and intelli-
gence would do the same. They would
scalp, too, before they would surrender
their hearths and fir esides to another race,
and leave all the endearing associations of
home. The territory of the Indian was
acquired by purchase and aggression,
treachery and duplicity. His noble ma
ture knew no euide-he thought, the white
man was honest Alas what sad mis-
take.
The territory on the north side of the
Otzinachson-now called the West Branch
was not included in the purchase of
176S, at Fort Stanwich, further west than
I.ycoming Creek, which was supposed to
be the Tiadaghton of the Indians. The
mistake was not discovered till at the
treaty of 1884, held at same same place,
when the Indians informed the Pennsylva-
MIA Commissioners that what the whites
called Pine Creek, was the real TiaGagh.
ton.
Tie town of Sunbury was laid out in the
same year that the county was erected,
1772, by John Lukens, the Surveyor Cen
eral. on the beautiful plain one mile below
Fort Augusta. He erected frame house,
which was, probably, the first building put
up in the town. William Maclay, of whom
mention has already been made, shortly
afterwards erected stone building, which
is still standing, fronting on the river.