Daily stories of Pennsylvania : $b prepared for publication in the leading daily newspapers of the state...Godcharles, Frederic Antes
History
Daily stories of Pennsylvania : $b prepared for publication in the leading daily newspapers of the state...
Godcharles, Frederic Antes
Pennsylvania -- Biography; Pennsylvania -- History
The territory thus acquired included a part of the present Bradford,
Tioga, Clinton, Center, Clearfield, Indiana, Armstrong, Allegheny and
Beaver Counties, and all of the land within Crawford, Mercer, Lawrence,
Butler, Venango, Clarion, Forest, Jefferson, Elk, Warren, McKean, Potter
and Cameron Counties and all of Erie County, excepting the small portion
of the Erie triangle which did not become a part of Erie County until
1792.
After the Commissioners had accomplished in so satisfactory a manner the
object for which they journeyed to Fort Stanwix, it became necessary to
appease the Western Indians, the Wyandot and the Delaware, who also
claimed rights to the same lands.
The same Commissioners were therefore sent to Fort Mcintosh, on the Ohio
River, at the site of the present town of Beaver, where in January,
1785, they were successful in reaching an agreement with those Indians
for the same lands. This deed, signed by the chiefs of both tribes, is
dated January 21, 1785, and is in the same words (except as to the
consideration money, which is $2,000) and recites the same boundaries as
the deed signed at Fort Stanwix.
The Indian claim of right to the soil of Pennsylvania, within its
charter limits, had thus, in a period of a little more than one hundred
years ceased to exist.
This large and important division of our great Commonwealth, now teeming
with population and wealth, thriving villages, busy towns and great
cities, was, in 1784, largely an uninhabited and untraversed wilderness.
After the purchase of 1768 a disagreement arose between the Proprietary
Government and the Indians as to whether the creek flowing into the West
Branch of the Susquehanna, and called in the deed “Tyadaghton” was
intended for Lycoming Creek or Pine Creek. The Indians said it was the
former, the proprietaries claimed the latter stream to be the extent of
the purchase, but in order to avoid any trouble that might arise from
the dispute, it was wisely determined that no rights should be granted
for lands west of Lycoming Creek.
This determination, however, did not deter or prevent adventurous
pioneers from making settlements within the disputed territory.
These settlers, being classed as outlaws, were compelled to enter into
an agreement for their government and protection. This resulted in an
organization known as Fair Play Men.
It is handed down as a tradition that they met when and where the
exigencies arose, and on short notice, tried the case at hand.
It is related that when a squatter refused to abide by the decision of
the court, he was immediately placed in a canoe, in which was a small
quantity of food, then rowed to the mouth of Lycoming Creek, the
boundary line of civilization, and there sent adrift down the river.
These Fair Play courts were composed of three commissioners as they were
termed, and after hearing a case and making a decision, there was no
appeal.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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