Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-09-23
GEORGE WASHINGTON
WAS SUED FOR TAXES
interesting Records Discovered in
an Old Pennsylvania Court
House.
.ApPEaRETH NOT TO LIKE TAxEsn
So Wrote the Humorous Old Clerk
Documents Signed by Frank
lin and Other IiIustrions
Characters.

Globe Democrat: Workmen who
were employed in repairing the West
moreland county court house, at
Greensburg, Pa, a few days ago, un-
covered a great oaken chest in the gar
ret, which, on being opened, was found
to contain many rare and interesting
records of colonial days. The barest
chance saved the priceless documents
from destruction, since the j~anitor
was about to build a bonfire Of them
when he was fortunately discovered
by w. ID. Reamer, one of the county
commissioners.
The old court house where the pa
pers have lain unnoticed for many
years wa built back in the early por-
ton Of the century, and is a rare bit of
classic architecture. Built of a beauti-
full brown sandstone, the finger of
time has rested kindly upon it, the ac-
ton of the elements serving but to
augment the beauty of its coloring.
The great fight of stone steps that
leads to the main entrance has been
worn into burrows by the footsteps of
counties thousands, and the tresselat-
ed interior courts, where the voices of
Clay and Webster have often been
heard, impress one with an air of
sombre antiquity.
The apartment where the records
at present lay is a gloomy, box-like
room, near the main staircase. Here
are stored nineteen large boxes, each
package with weatherstained tones,
some of which date back as far as the
seventeenth century. The first paper
examined after the discovery of the
documents proved the value of the
value of the find. 1t was a court rec
ord Of Il case in which George
Washington was the plaintiff and one
John Johns the defendant. Washing
ton lat n time an extensive land
owner in Westmoreland caunty, sued
Johns to recover rental amounting to
f2s As and I'd. The goods of the de-
PENDANT were sold to satisfy the claim,
and the terse word, ''eyicted" which
concludes the record, explains the rest.
Cases against Washington appear
here and there in the civil docket. No
less than three claims were entered
against him during the year 1887 to
compel him to pay taxes. The humor-
Gus clerk, commenting on these ac-
tions, remarks. George Washington,
ESQ, appeareth not to like taxes
The most ancient paper thus far I'M
earthed is a soiled Typographical map
of the region around Fort Pitt. The
drawing is neatly executed and in one
corner bears the following explana-
tory note:
"This purporteth to be a true and
correct drawing of the surveys taken
from the west slope of the mountain
on the east, to the river which drain
eth the great lakes on the west, and
from the lakes on the north to Virgin
la on the south, done in ink by John
Lukens, deputy surveyor"
The signature to the map is almost
obliterated, though it resembles con-
siderably that Of William Penn. Rec
ords bearing the name of John and
Richard Penn are numerous. The
most important of these is the com
mission Of Arthur Stellar, signed by
Richard Penn, which reads as follows:
The Hon. Richard Penn. ESQUIRE,
Commander Of Pennsylvania: Arthur
st. Clair, OF the county Of Westmore-
land. within said province, reposing
special trust and confidence in your loy-
atty, knowledge, care and fidelity, know
I have ordained, constituted and APP
pointed you by these presents and do
ordain, constitute and appoint the said
Arthur st. Clair to be p~rothonatary or
ess. -:ssl@c i=-iS- - S-S5as court %
Westmoreland county; to have full pos
session of the books. records, writings
and papers Of said county and to collect
fees and emoluments, lawfully due. un-
IA my further pleasure shall be made
known.
Given under my hand and seal at
Philadelphia on the .27th day Of Febru-
airy, in the thirteenth year Of the reign
OF our sovereign lord and King George
III, OF Great Britain. France and ire
land. and In the year Of our Lord ira.
fSeaO Signed Richard Penn"
Down in the corner Of the great chest
a priceless bit Of parchment was found
Ia the form OF a land warrant issued by
Benjamin Franklin. This warrant
reads:
Land warrant No. 3,148: John Welt
zsll hath made application for 800 acres
OF land on the old road leading to- Pitts
burg, near the Turtle Creek mountain.
one-fourth mile below said creek, ad-
Joining Kelly's land.
"tsIgned BENIN. Franklin.
president.
WIN. Thompson. Deputy Surveyor.
Dated Philadelphia. 81 April. 1861
Under a date or 17S3. an old record
shows that one Ephraim Blain Of
Washington county petitioned the
court to escape a debt under the inso1v-
ents' law. The Ephraim Blaine referred
to was the grandfather OF the distin-
guished statesman. James g. Blaine. In
the same book is found recorded the
warrant OF Abram Hendricks. a justice
or the peace. who authorizes h sum Of
SIS to be paid TO one VIM. Pipe, for kill.
ing awolf. Thomas "A. Hendricks, vice
president under Eieveland's first q
minIstratlon, was a grandson of the
Abram Hendricks referred to.
During the year 1774. according 10 en-
ancient record. James Bradon. nm Inn
Keeper. entered suit against q Captain
william Chrfsty ~ collect q debt Of IS!
9s Sd. Incurred III the tap room. The
plaintiff AYERS "khat he hath snndry and
divers times besought' his worshipfu
debtor to settle the score. but Instead 81
complying. the captain. who was q thirs.
fy eonl. but Increased the BILL. The
court finally gave the plainfifr judg.
ment for The arnoonf a. the biyl and a:
Durips the year ina ire court 81