67 County Names 45

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

67 County Names 45 30. GREENE: in honor of General Nathaniel Greene, 49. NORTHUMBERLAND: probably named for the famous Revolutionary War soldier English county of the same name 31. HUNTINGDON: in honor of the Countess of 50. PERRY: in honor of Commodore Oliver Hazard Huntingdon, England Perry, victor in the battle of Lake Erie 32. INDIANA: from the Iroquois Six Nations so- 51. PHILADELPHIA: one of the three original called Indiana (‘land of the Indians’) Grant of 1768 counties; named by William Penn after the Bible city 33. JEFFERSON: established in 1804 when Thomas of Philadelphia and meaning “Brotherly Love” Jefferson was President of the United States and 52. PIKE: in honor of General Zebulon Pike, named in his honor American brigadier general and explorer 34. JUNIATA: from an Iroquois Indian word 53. POTTER: in honor of General James Potter, Onayutta, meaning “standing stone” soldier, farmer and politician 35. LACKAWANNA: a Native American name, 54. SCHUYLKILL: named from the river Schuylkill, meaning “the meeting of two streams” of Dutch origin and meaning “sheltered creek” 36. LANCASTER: named for the city of Lancaster in 55. SNYDER: in honor of Governor Simon Snyder, the county of Lancashire, England third governor of Pennsylvania 37. LAWRENCE: in honor of Commodor James 56. SOMERSET: named for Somersetshire, England Lawrence, whose famous last words were, ”Don’t 57. SULLIVAN: in honor of Senator Charles C. give up the ship!” Sullivan, active in creating the county 38. LEBANON: derived its name from the far-famed 58. SUSQUEHANNA: from the Lenape Indian word Lebanon of the Bible Assiskuhanna, meaning “broad and shallow river” 39. LEHIGH: after the Lehigh River and from the 59. TIOGA: named from the Tioga River, Iroquois Delaware Indian word Lechauweki or word Diahoga, meaning “at the forks” Lechauwekink, meaning “where there are forks” 60. UNION: allusion to the Federal Union 40. LUZERNE: in honor of Chevalier de la Luzerne, 61. VENANGO: name comes from the Indian French Ambassador to the United States Onenge, meaning “mink” or “otter” 41. LYCOMING: a Delaware Indian term meaning 62. WARREN: in honor of Major General Dr. Joseph “sandy or gravelly creek” Warren, recruiter of William Dawes and Paul 42. MCKEAN: in honor of Thomas McKean, signer Revere of “Midnight Ride” fame of the Declaration of Independence and second 63. WASHINGTON: in honor of George Governor of Pennsylvania Washington, the “Father of his country” 43. MERCER: in honor of General Hugh Mercer, 64. WAYNE: in honor of General Anthony Wayne of American Revolutionary War hero Revolutionary War fame Pennsylvania’s 44. MIFFLIN: in honor of Thomas Mifflin, 65. WESTMORELAND: named after Westmoreland Revolutionary War general and first governor of County, England Pennsylvania 66. WYOMING: from the Delaware Indian word 67 County Names 45. MONROE: in honor of James Monroe, fifth Meschawoming, meaning “great plains” president of the United States 67. YORK: named for the English county of York The names for the 67 counties of Pennsylvania were 46. MONTGOMERY: uncertain – for General well-chosen and reveal Pennsylvania’s story. Many of the Richard Montgomery or for Montgomeryshire, a names are among the greatest in American history; others hark county in Wales back to the mother country and helped make the first settlers 47. MONTOUR: in honor of Madame Montour, State Representative feel at home in their new environment; those of Native prominent in Native American affairs and widow of American Indian origin are meaningful; some are geological Seneca Indian chief Roland Montour MATTHEW D. DOWLING and geographical features. Pennsylvania’s county names are 48. NORTHAMPTON: named after 51ST Legislative District Northamptonshire, England as diverse as the citizens who live within their boundaries. Online: www.repdowling.com.
Recommended publications
  • Tim H. Blessing Alvernia College Sseptember 21, 1791, Governor
    THE LEWISTOWN RIOTS, 1791-1793: A MICRO-ANALYTIC APPROACH Tim H. Blessing Alvernia College SSeptember 21, 1791, Governor Thomas Mifflin notified the Pennsylvania Assembly of riots in the center of the state so seri- ous that he intended to "exert the Constitutional powers of the Executive" to bring the riots "against the government" [emphasis addedi to an end.' Indicating his belief that he might have to use the force of arms to stop the riots, he also told the legislature that he was "confident ... that any legislative aid [that] may be want- ing ... you will cheerfully and liberally afford." Mifflin's address to the legislature reflected his response to communications received from Judge Thomas Smith of Carlisle (presiding judge of the Fourth Judicial District) regarding a riot against the courts of Mifflin County. These communications apparently were based on a report from Mifflin County's State Attorney, John Clark.2 Clark had reported to Smith that over the course of three days, at least three of the official militias of the county, led by their elected colonels and perhaps a state judge, had attacked the courthouse, harassed officials, attempted a jailbreak, and PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY: A JOURNAL OF MID-ATLANTIC STUDIES, VOL. 7 1, NO. 3, 2004. Copyright © 2004 The Pennsylvania Historical Association PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY eventually brought court proceedings to a halt. Another county militia had, on the second day of the riots, marched into Lewistown (the county seat) with the intention of defending the government and its officials against the other militias. In short, with three or more state militias at bayonet point with each other and with state officials, the governor had every reason to believe that the center of the state was dissolving in chaos and violence.
    [Show full text]
  • THE Whiskey Insurrection of 1794 Long Has Been Regarded As One of the Decisive Events in Early American History
    THE WHISKEY INSURRECTION: A RE-EVALUATION By JACOB E. COOKE* THE Whiskey Insurrection of 1794 long has been regarded as one of the decisive events in early American history. But on the question of why it was significant there has been a century and a half of disagreement. Fortunately for the historian, how- ever, there have not been many interpretations; indeed, there have been only two. And, as anyone would guess, these have been the Federalist and the anti-Federalist, the Hamiltonian and the Jeffersonian. It is not the purpose of this paper to describe the fluctuating historical reputations of Jefferson and Hamilton; at one period of time (say, *the Jacksonian era) Jefferson was in the ascendancy; at another time (say, the post-Civil War period) Hamilton crowded Jefferson out of the American historical hall of fame. But for the past half-century and longer, the interpretation that our historians have given to the American past has been predi- cated on a Jeffersonian bias, and the Whiskey Insurrection is no exception. The generally accepted interpretation of the Whiskey Insur- rection reads something like this: In March, 1791, under the prodding of Alexander Hamilton and against the opposition of the Westerners and some Southerners, Congress levied an excise tax on whiskey. This measure was an integral part of Hamilton's financial plan, a plan which was designed to soak the farmer and to spare the rich. There was sporadic opposition to the excise in several parts of the country, but the seat of opposition was in the four western counties of Pennsylvania.
    [Show full text]
  • Pennsylvania Magazine of HISTORY and BIOGRAPHY
    THE Pennsylvania Magazine OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY John Swanwick: Spokesman for "Merchant-Republicanism ' In Philadelphia, 1790-179 8 HE literature on the era of Jeffersonian democracy is largely- dominated by the great triumvirate of Thomas Jefferson, TJames Madison, and Albert Gallatin.* During the last dec- ade, however, historians have been paying more attention to state and local political leaders who played significant roles in the Demo- cratic-Republican movement.1 Among the more notable second-rank * In a somewhat abbreviated form this article was presented as a paper at the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Historical Association held at Williamsport, Pa., on Oct. 22-23, 1971. The author wishes to express his gratitude to his colleague, Bernard Sternsher, for his helpful editorial suggestions. 1 Historians have given most of their attention to secondary Federalists, but since i960 the number of modern scholarly biographies of less prominent Republicans has increased. We now have first-rate biographies on Robert R. Livingston, David Rittenhouse, Aaron Burr, Daniel D. Tompkins, John Breckinridge, Luther Martin, Benjamin Rush (2), Samuel Smith, and James Monroe. There are also a number of good unpublished doctoral dissertations. Among the more notable studies are those on Elkanah Watson, Simon Snyder, Mathew Carey, Samuel Latham Mitchell, Melancton Smith, Levi Woodbury, William Lowndes, William Duane, William Jones (2), Eleazer Oswald, Thomas McKean, Levi Lincoln, Ephraim Kirby, and John Nicholson. Major biographies of Tench Coxe by Jacob E. Cooke, of John Beckley by Edmund Berkeley, and of Thomas McKean by John M. Coleman and Gail Stuart Rowe are now in progress. 131 132 ROLAND M.
    [Show full text]
  • Continental Army: Valley Forge Encampment
    REFERENCES HISTORICAL REGISTRY OF OFFICERS OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY T.B. HEITMAN CONTINENTAL ARMY R. WRIGHT BIRTHPLACE OF AN ARMY J.B. TRUSSELL SINEWS OF INDEPENDENCE CHARLES LESSER THESIS OF OFFICER ATTRITION J. SCHNARENBERG ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION M. BOATNER PHILADELPHIA CAMPAIGN D. MARTIN AMERICAN REVOLUTION IN THE DELAWARE VALLEY E. GIFFORD VALLEY FORGE J.W. JACKSON PENNSYLVANIA LINE J.B. TRUSSELL GEORGE WASHINGTON WAR ROBERT LECKIE ENCYLOPEDIA OF CONTINENTAL F.A. BERG ARMY UNITS VALLEY FORGE PARK MICROFILM Continental Army at Valley Forge GEN GEORGE WASHINGTON Division: FIRST DIVISION MG CHARLES LEE SECOND DIVISION MG THOMAS MIFFLIN THIRD DIVISION MG MARQUES DE LAFAYETTE FOURTH DIVISION MG BARON DEKALB FIFTH DIVISION MG LORD STIRLING ARTILLERY BG HENRY KNOX CAVALRY BG CASIMIR PULASKI NJ BRIGADE BG WILLIAM MAXWELL Divisions were loosly organized during the encampment. Reorganization in May and JUNE set these Divisions as shown. KNOX'S ARTILLERY arrived Valley Forge JAN 1778 CAVALRY arrived Valley Forge DEC 1777 and left the same month. NJ BRIGADE departed Valley Forge in MAY and rejoined LEE'S FIRST DIVISION at MONMOUTH. Previous Division Commanders were; MG NATHANIEL GREENE, MG JOHN SULLIVAN, MG ALEXANDER MCDOUGEL MONTHLY STRENGTH REPORTS ALTERATIONS Month Fit For Duty Assigned Died Desert Disch Enlist DEC 12501 14892 88 129 25 74 JAN 7950 18197 0 0 0 0 FEB 6264 19264 209 147 925 240 MAR 5642 18268 399 181 261 193 APR 10826 19055 384 188 116 1279 MAY 13321 21802 374 227 170 1004 JUN 13751 22309 220 96 112 924 Totals: 70255 133787 1674 968 1609 3714 Ref: C.M.
    [Show full text]
  • Philadelphia Merchants, Trans-Atlantic Smuggling, and The
    Friends in Low Places: Philadelphia Merchants, Trans-Atlantic Smuggling, and the Secret Deals that Saved the American Revolution By Tynan McMullen University of Colorado Boulder History Honors Thesis Defended 3 April 2020 Thesis Advisor Dr. Virginia Anderson, Department of History Defense Committee Dr. Miriam Kadia, Department of History Capt. Justin Colgrove, Department of Naval Science, USMC 1 Introduction Soldiers love to talk. From privates to generals, each soldier has an opinion, a fact, a story they cannot help themselves from telling. In the modern day, we see this in the form of leaked reports to newspapers and controversial interviews on major networks. On 25 May 1775, as the British American colonies braced themselves for war, an “Officer of distinguished Rank” was running his mouth in the Boston Weekly News-Letter. Boasting about the colonial army’s success ​ ​ during the capture of Fort Ticonderoga two weeks prior, this anonymous officer let details slip about a far more concerning issue. The officer remarked that British troops in Boston were preparing to march out to “give us battle” at Cambridge, but despite their need for ammunition “no Powder is to be found there at present” to supply the Massachusetts militia.1 This statement was not hyperbole. When George Washington took over the Continental Army on 15 June, three weeks later, he was shocked at the complete lack of munitions available to his troops. Two days after that, New England militiamen lost the battle of Bunker Hill in agonizing fashion, repelling a superior British force twice only to be forced back on the third assault.
    [Show full text]
  • Attendees at George Washington's Resignation of His Commission Old Senate Chamber, Maryland State House, December 23
    Attendees at George Washington’s Resignation of his Commission Old Senate Chamber, Maryland State House, December 23, 1783 Compiled by the Maryland State Archives, February 2009 Known attendees: George Washington Thomas Mifflin, President of the Congress Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Congress Other known attendees: Members of the Governor and Council of Maryland. Specific members are not identified; full membership listed below Members of the government of the City of Annapolis. Specific members are not identified; full membership listed below Henry Harford, former Proprietor of Maryland Sir Robert Eden, former governor Those who attended who wrote about the ceremony in some detail: Dr. James McHenry, Congressman and former aide to Washington Mollie Ridout Dr. James Tilton, Congressman There was a “gallery full of ladies” (per Mollie Ridout), most of whom are unknown Members of the Maryland General Assembly The General Assembly was in Session on December 23, and both houses convened in the State House on December 22 and on December 23. It is difficult to identify specific individuals who were in the Senate Chamber GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF 1783 William Paca, governor November 3-December 26, 1783 SENATE WESTERN James McHenry EASTERN Edward Lloyd SHORE SHORE George Plater Daniel Carroll, Matthew John Cadwalader (E, president ' Tilghman Dcl) Thomas Stone Richard Barnes ' (DNS, R) Robert Goldsborough (DNS) (E, Charles Carroll of Benedict Edward Hall John Henry DNS) Carrollton, Samuel Hughes William Hindman William Perry (E) president ' John Smith Josiah Polk (DNS) HOUSE OF DELEGATES ST MARY'S John Dent, of John CECIL Nathan Hammond William Somerville BALTIMORE Archibald Job Thomas Ogle John DeButts Thomas Cockey Deye, Samuel Miller HARFORD Edmund Plowden speaker William Rowland Benjamin Bradford Norris Philip Key Charles Ridgely, of Benjamin Brevard John Love William KENT John Stevenson ANNAPOLIS John Taylor (DNS) Peregrine Lethrbury Charles Ridgely Allen Quynn Ignatius Wheeler, Jr.
    [Show full text]
  • John Dickinson Papers Dickinson Finding Aid Prepared by Finding Aid Prepared by Holly Mengel
    John Dickinson papers Dickinson Finding aid prepared by Finding aid prepared by Holly Mengel.. Last updated on September 02, 2020. Library Company of Philadelphia 2010.09.30 John Dickinson papers Table of Contents Summary Information....................................................................................................................................3 Biography/History..........................................................................................................................................4 Scope and Contents....................................................................................................................................... 6 Administrative Information........................................................................................................................... 8 Related Materials......................................................................................................................................... 10 Controlled Access Headings........................................................................................................................10 Collection Inventory.................................................................................................................................... 13 Series I. John Dickinson........................................................................................................................13 Series II. Mary Norris Dickinson..........................................................................................................33
    [Show full text]
  • A Great Compromise
    A Great Compromise: The Sherman Plan Saves the Constitutional Convention of 1787 Lucy Phelan Junior Division Historical Paper Paper Length: 2,495 Words 2 INTRODUCTION In May 1787, delegates from twelve of the thirteen United States met in a federal Convention to “devise such further provisions as shall appear to them necessary to render the Constitution of the federal Government adequate to the exigencies of the Union.”1 Simply stated, there was an urgent need to fix the political system under the existing Articles of Confederation. However, differences over the structure of the legislative branch quickly led to conflict. Some, particularly delegates from larger-population states, envisioned a strong National legislature with representatives elected by the people (“proportional representation”). Others from smaller states disagreed, fearing a power grab by the larger states, and supported equal representation for each state. This conflict threatened to destroy the Convention. After large-state efforts to force proportional representation in both legislative houses, small-state delegates stopped cooperating altogether. The two sides became deadlocked. Roger Sherman’s Great Compromise of proportional representation in the lower house and equal representation in the upper broke the stalemate. The delegates resumed the Convention and finished writing a new Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation and corresponding system of government. Ratified two years later, this Constitution has successfully weathered another 230 years of tension, conflict and even turmoil in American history and politics. The Constitution of 1787 continues to serve as the basis of the United States Government today.2 1 Pauline Maier, Ratification: The People Debate the Constitution, 1787 – 1788 (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2011), 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Thomas Mifflin-Revolutionary Patriot*
    THOMAS MIFFLIN-REVOLUTIONARY PATRIOT* By KENNETH R. ROSSMAN THERE is no biography of Thomas Mifflin, and usually his- 1torians angrily dismiss him as a plotter against Washington in the notorious "Conway Cabal."' Although only a secondary figure in a period studded with great men, he nevertheless does not de- serve this neglect. Provincial and state assemblyman, ardent patriot, delegate to the Continental Congress and once its president, quarter- master-general and major-general in the Continental Army, Board of War Commissioner, member of the Federal Convention, chair- man of the state constitutional convention, president of the Supreme Executive Council, three-times governor of Pennsylvania-these bespeak eloquently his influence and prominence in local and conti- nental affairs. Several factors help to explain Miffin's failure to receive biographical treatment. The materials for a full-length portrait are still wanting, especially private and personal letters. His sup- posed complicity in the Conway Cabal, as well as bitter contro- versy over his work as quartermaster-general, deterred other biographers who might have undertaken the task. This essay, a study of an early portion of his career, may in part fill the gap. Thomas Mifflin, the oldest son of John Mifflin and Elizabeth Bagnell, was born in Philadelphia, January 10, 1744.2 Descendant of an old Quaker family of prominence and wealth in this city, he was assured a good start in life. His father was a prosperous mer- chant, and very active in public affairs. *Before it was revised and completely documented, this article appeared originally in Abstracts in History, V, 1939-1943 (Iowa City, 1943).
    [Show full text]
  • The Whiskey Rebellion, Popular Rights and the Meaning of the First Amendment
    Index The Whiskey Rebellion, Popular Rights and the Meaning of the First Amendment Thomas Gaddis House 1769 Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/item/pa1916/ If These Monuments Could Talk Setting the Stage: What is a Monument? 1. The Excise Tax 2. The Spark 3. The Rebellion 4. The Reaction 5. Winners and Losers? What is a Monument? Albert Gallatin Surveying Statue Friendship Hill National Historic Site https://www.nps.gov/fr hi/learn/education/cla ssrooms/field-trip-self- guided.htm Monument Definition 1 : something that serves as a memorial; especially : a building, pillar, stone, or statue honoring a person or event 2 : a work, saying, or deed that lasts or that is worth preserving <the book is a monument of scholarship> 3 : a boundary marker (as a stone) 4 : a place of historic interest or natural beauty set aside and maintained by the government as public property Miriam-Webster Student Dictionary http://www.wordcentral.com/cgi- bin/student?book=Student&va=monument A Folk Song: Copper Kettle Written by Albert Frank Beddoe Sung by Joan Baez 1962 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl MQXjy46J8 A Print or Painting J. Howard Iams, Artist-Historian ◆ Tarring and Feathering ● Outraged farmers considered tarring and feathering a form of protest ● First recorded incident: September 6, 1791 ○ Near Mingo Creek ○ Robert Johnson, Deputy Tax Collector for Allegheny and Washington Counties A Print or Painting J. Howard Iams, Artist-Historian ◆ Tarring and Feathering ◆ Black Horse Tavern ◆ Miller House ◆ Colonel Presley Neville House ◆ The David Bradford House (r) ◆ The Burning Cabin ◆ The Terrible Night Gravestone Inscription: Here lies the body of Captain James McFarlane of Washington, PA.
    [Show full text]
  • The Treason Trials of Abraham Carlisle and John Roberts
    "A Species of Treason &Not the Least Dangerous Kind": The Treason Trials of Abraham Carlisle and John Roberts N NOVEMBER 4, 1778, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hanged Philadelphia Quakers Abraham Carlisle and John Roberts for collaborating with the enemy during the British occupation of O 1 Philadelphia (November 1777-June 1778). The substantive charges against Carlisle consisted of holding a commission in the king's army and giving intelligence to the British. Roberts faced charges of acting as a guide for the British, encouraging others to enlist in the British cause, and conveying intelligence to the enemy.2 While at first glance the execution of two traitors during wartime may not appear especially noteworthy, the circumstances surrounding the cases of Carlisle and Roberts suggest otherwise. Of the approximately 130 people named under the "Act for the Attainder" who voluntarily surrendered to the authorities of the Commonwealth, only these 1 Pennsylvania Packet, Nov. 5, 1778. Carlisle and Roberts were prosecuted under "An Act for the Attainder of Diverse Traitors," which the Pennsylvania Assembly passed in late 1777 in an attempt to deter people from aiding the British occupation forces. According to the law, persons named in public proclamation had forty-five days to turn themselves over to a justice of the peace. After that time, if captured, the accused faced trial as traitors and, regardless of whether they had been apprehended, suffered the loss of all their property. Proclamations issued by the Supreme Executive Council on May 8,1778, named both Carlisle and Roberts, who turned themselves over to the authorities soon after the patriots returned to Philadelphia.
    [Show full text]
  • Inventory of Resources for the WASHINGTON-ROCHAMBEAU
    Inventory of Resources for the WASHINGTON-ROCHAMBEAU REVOLUTIONARY ROUTE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA Using the criteria developed in Point 2.3: Goals of the Project, consultant inspected and inventoried on site all resources listed in this report and identified 85 individual resources on 12 separate routes taken by various components and individuals belonging to the two armies in Pennsylvania. These major routes are as follows: Route 1: The Land Route of Generals George Washington and the comte de Rochambeau to Philadelphia in September 1781 Route 2: The Land Route of Continental Army Troops from Trenton, New Jersey to Claymont, Delaware in September 1781 Route 3: The Water Route of Continental Army Troops from Trenton, New Jersey to Christiana, Delaware in September 1781 Route 4: The Land Route of commissaire de guerre de Granville from Boston to Philadelphia in September 1781 Route 5: The Land Route of the French Army Troops from Trenton, New Jersey to Claymont, Delaware in September 1781 Route 6: The Water Route of comte de Rochambeau from Philadelphia to Chester on 5 September 1781, and the continuation of the route on land with Washington to Wilmington Route 7: The Return Marches of the Continental Army in December 1781 Route 8: The Return March of the French Army in September 1782 Route 9: The Philadelphia Conference and the Celebrations for the Birth of the dauphin, 14 to 24 July 1782 Route 10: The March of the Passengers of the l'Aigle and la Gloire from Dover, Delaware to Yorktown Heights, New York in September 1782 Route 11: The March of Lauzun’s Legion from Yorktown Heights, New York to Winter Quarters in Wilmington, Delaware in December 1782 Route 12: Route of Rochambeau to Baltimore via Newton, Hackettstown, Baptistown and Philadelphia in December 1782 Rather than divide the resources by route, they have been listed whenever possible and feasible (without undue impact on the flow of the historical narrative) in the approximate chronological order in which they were visited.
    [Show full text]