Wyoming, George Peck, 1858

Wyoming

Peck's Wyoming

ITS HISTORY, STIRRING INCIDENTS, AND ROMANTIC ADVENTURES

GEORGE PECK, D.D.

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS

NEW YORK:

HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS,

FRANKLIN SQUARE,

1858.

Contributed for use in the Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja.
Copyright 2004

PREFACE

THE present work is composed of a brief history of Wyoming, followed by a series of historic scenes, which constitute natural amplifications of the general outline. Each story is a complete picture in itself, and yet is a necessary part of the whole. The plan has the advantage of presenting independent views of the historic drama from many different stand-points. Our heroes not only reflect the lights and shades of their own character and actions, but give us their separate versions of the eventful scenes through which they passed.
   Forty years since we first visited Wyoming, and from that period we have enjoyed rare advantages for the. study of its history. How we have improved our opportunities will appear in the work which we now present to the public. Our object has been strict conformity to historic truth, and we have spared no pains in the collection of facts, and in their study and exposition.
  The events herein recorded constitute a part of the wonderful history of the early development and fearful struggles of America, and we believe they will not fall, behind any portion of that story in exciting interest.
   With the diffidence which a profound sense of the difficulties to be overcome in the execution of such a work naturally inspires, we publish the result of our labors, hoping that it may both interest and instruct the reading community. The work, so far as we are concerned, has been a "labor of love," and our desire is that it may inspire in the reader a spirit of enlarged patriotism, noble heroism, patient endurance under severe trials, trust in Providence, and gratitude to God.
   We have the pleasure to acknowledge the kindness of several who have afforded us valuable assistance in our labors. In addition to the acknowledgments of favors which will be found in the body of the work, we would return thanks to the Hon. George Bancroft for the use of an important document, and for various suggestions; to Benson J. Lossing, Esq., for several important authorities, and much valuable aid in the illustrations; to the Hon. George W. Woodward, and to the Hon. George M. Dallas, our minister to the court of St. James, for the use of an important paper from the archives of the British government; also to several ladies for fine artistic sketches of objects and scenes which are used as illustrations. We owe to Mrs. Rev. Selah Stocking, of Pittston, thanks for original sketches of Campbell's Ledge and Falling Spring; to Mrs. Dr. Crane, of Pennington, N. J., for a sketch of the old Myers House; and to Miss Miranda Myers for sketches of Toby's Cave and the Umbrella-tree.
   To all who in any way have given us facilities, we return many thanks, and it is to be hoped that they will find their reward in a conviction that they have contributed something to the object of giving permanency to the facts of history which will be valuable to posterity, but which might otherwise have passed into oblivion.

GEORGE PECK.

SCRANTON, 18th April, 1858.

CONTENTS

I.	WYOMING - ITS HISTORY	9
II.	BRANT AND HIS ASSOCIATES	71
III.	COLONEL MATTHIAS HOLLENBACK	99
IV.	INCIDENTS AND ADVENTURES RELATED BY MRS. MARTHA MYERS	133
V.	SKETCHES AND INCIDENTS COMMUNICATED BY MRS. DEBORAH BEDFORD	200
VI.	INCIDENTS OF THE WARS IN THE LACKAWANNA PORTION OF THE SETTLEMENT, RELATED BY MRS. MARTHA MARCY	220
VII.	MRS. SYLVIA SEYBOLT'S ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE AND FLIGHT	231
VIII.	THE CAPTIVE GIRL, FRANCES SLOCUM	234
IX.	QUEEN ESTHER'S ROCK	284
X.	CAPTIVITY AND ESCAPE OF THOMAS AND ANDREW BENNET AND LEBBEUS HAMMOND	201
XI.	THE CAPTURE AND ESCAPE OF JONAH ROGERS, MOSES VAN CAMPEN, PETER PENCE, AND ABRAM PIKE	304
XII.	THE CAPTIVITY AND ESCAPE OF GEORGE P. RANSOM AND OTHERS	315
XIII.	BENJAMIN BIDLACK - CAPTURE BY THE PENNAMITES AND SINGULAR ESCAPE	330
XIV.	A VIEW FROM CAMPBELL'S LEDGE, CONTRIBUTED BY REV. L. W. PECK	344
XV.	AN INTERVIEW WITH RICHARD GARDNER	351
XVI.	PROVIDENTIAL DELIVERANCE OF RUFUS BENNET ON THE FATAL 3d OF JULY	362
XVII.	NOAH HOPKINS - HIS LIFE SAVED BY A SPIDER	369
XVIII.	THE FRATRICIDE	371
XIX.	THE MONUMENT	376
XX.	COLONEL JOHN JENKINS	388
XXI.	ORIGINAL JOURNAL OF CHRISTOPHER HURLBUT	405
XXII.	MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES The Umbrella-Tree - Prospect Rock - Harvey's Lake - Toby's Eddy - Toby's Cave - Seminaries.	417
INDEX		431