Paxtang Boys Wipe Out Conestoga Indians on December 27, 1763

It was during the Pontiac War that Governor James Hamilton, in reply to earnest appeals for help and protection, said he could give the frontiersmen no aid whatever. Neither the Governor nor the Assembly showed the proper spirit. It was a time when the tomahawk, the scalping knife and the torch were desolating the frontiers of the Province.

The Indians set fire to houses, barns, corn, hay, in short, to everything that was combustible, so that the whole frontier seemed to be one general blaze. Great numbers of back inhabitants were murdered in the most shocking manner and their dead bodies inhumanly mangled.

Paxtang, near what is now Harrisburg, became truly the frontier, for west of the Susquehanna so great was the terror that scarcely an inhabitant was left. At this juncture the Reverend John Elder, the revered pastor of the Paxton Presbyterian Church, at Paxtang, organized his rangers under authority of the Provincial Government. They were mostly members of his own and the Hanover congregations.

These brave men were ever on the alert, watching with eagle eye the Indian marauders. The Paxtang rangers were truly the terror of the red men, swift on foot, excellent horsemen, good shots, skillful in pursuit or in escape, dexterous as scouts, and expert in maneuvering.

In August, 1763, Colonel John Armstrong, the “hero of Kittanning,” with 200 Paxtang and Hanover rangers and some soldiers from Cumberland County, marched to the Indian town at Great Island (now Lock Haven). Several skirmishes were fought, and some killed in the Muncy Hills. These volunteers returned home enraged at learning that the Conestoga Indians had sent messengers to inform their friends of the expedition.

Subsequently, on September 9, 1763, the rangers who were scouting in Berks County, were apprised by their out-scouts of the approach of Indians. The savages intended to take the rangers by surprise, and during a short engagement, it was discovered these Indians were from the Moravian settlement in Northampton County. The “Paxtang Boys” were determined to ascertain the treacherous.

In October occurred the murder of the Stinson family and others; the Paxtang men solicited their colonel to make an excursion against the enemy. The first massacre at Wyoming occurred October 15. Two companies in command of Captain Lazarus Stewart and Captain Asher Clayton were sent by Colonel Elder to Wyoming. Upon their arrival they learned first handed of the awful outrages committed by the bloodthirsty savages under “Captain Bull.”

912Indians had been traced by these scouts to the wigwams at Conestoga, and some to those of the Moravian Indians at Nain and Wichetunk. The rangers insisted on captivating the murderers but the merciful colonel dissuaded them. It was then that Colonel Elder advised Governor Hamilton to remove the Indians from Conestoga.

Colonel Timothy Green wrote to the Governor: “We live in daily fear of our lives. At the Indian town the incarnate devils are secreted, and the people here demand that those Indians be removed from among us.”

John Harris wrote: “I hope Your Honor will be pleased to cause these Indians to be removed to some other place, as I don’t like their company.”

Governor Penn replied: “The Indians of Conestoga have been misrepresented as innocent, helpless and dependent on this Government for support. The faith of this Government is pledged for their protection. I cannot remove them without adequate cause.”

The rangers resolved on taking the law into their own hands. The destruction of the Conestoga Indians was not then projected. That was the result. Colonel Elder approved the capture of the most notorious Indians.

The “Paxtang Boys” reached the Indian settlement about daybreak, when the barking of a dog made their approach known. The Indians rushed from their wigwams, brandishing their tomahawks. This show of resistance was sufficient excuse for the rangers to make use of their guns.

In a few minutes every Indian fell before the unerring fire of the brave frontiersmen. Unfortunately a number of Indians were absent from Conestoga, prowling about the neighboring settlement.

Soon as this attack was known some Indians were placed in the Lancaster workhouse and several, well known to Parson Elder’s scouts, were hurried to Philadelphia, where they were secreted among the Moravian Indians protected in that city.

Governor Penn did not act with dispatch in removing the Indians from Lancaster, nor did he seem to care for them.

The “Paxtang Boys” realized their work was only half done. Captain Stewart proposed they capture the principal Indian outlaw, in the Lancaster workhouse, and take him to Carlisle jail, where he could be held for trial. This plan was heartily approved and fifty of the “Paxtang Boys” proceeded to Lancaster on December 27, broke into the workhouse, and but for the show of resistance would have effected their purpose.

But the rangers were so enraged at the defiance of the Indians that before they could be repressed the last of the so-called Conestoga Indians had yielded up his life. In a few minutes the daring rangers were safe from pursuit.

913The excitement throughout the Province was great. No language could describe the outcry which arose from the Quakers in Philadelphia, or the excitement along the frontiers.

Fears were entertained for the safety of the Moravian Indian converts, and they were removed to Philadelphia and lodged in the city barracks.

This open and avowed protection of the Indians exasperated the frontiersmen, and they started for Philadelphia with the avowed purpose of killing the Indians and punishing the Quakers.

The city was greatly alarmed. Military companies were organized. Even the staid, reverent, peaceful Quakers shouldered guns and drilled. The wildest rumors were current as to the numbers and anger of the Scotch-Irish.

But the “Paxtang Boys” when they learned the effective measures for protection taken in the city, halted their march at Germantown. A delegation of leading men composed of Benjamin Franklin, Israel Pemberton and Joseph Galloway was sent by Governor Penn to meet the insurgents and hear their grievances.

The “Paxtang Boys” presented their side, and left a committee consisting of Captain Matthew Smith, afterward vice president of the State, and James Gibson, to accompany the Provincial Commissioners to Philadelphia, where they met the Governor and the Assembly, to whom they presented their grievances in the form of a declaration. The remaining members of the party returned to their homes, and the inhabitants of the city to their peaceful avocations. And thus ended the “Paxtang Boys’ Insurrection.”