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Digital Paxton: Digital Collection, Critical Edition, and Teaching Platform

Jacob Whistler Letter (March 12, 1764)

Sir

I take this Opportunity to Inform you that
last Friday two men came to my House
& forwarned me not to work on the Indian
Lands in the mannor of Connestoge for
that nine or ten Familys intended to come
from the Back parts to settle on it this week
or next I thought it my Duty to inform you
of this matter that you might be able to give
such orders as you shall Judge Necessary
I told the men I had no power to Settle on the
Land but only to take Care of it & that I should
Inform you –

I am your Hub Sevt
Jacob Wistler

March 12th 1764

Contents of this annotation:

Correspondence concerned with the sale of tracts of land in Conestoga Manor located in the present Lancaster County. Information given varies among the letters. There are references to squatters occupying Conestoga Indian lands after the 1763 Conestoga Indian massacre and the occupation of a tract by Daniel McCormick as a reward for his service in arresting Thomas Cresap during the border dispute with Maryland known as "Cresap's War." Also of interest is a 1764 letter revealing crop rotation of hemp, barley, wheat, spelt, winter grain and Indian Corn on fields located near Blue Rock Ferry on the Susquehanna River. Among the names of those purchasing tracts in Conestoga Manor are Robert Beaty, George Adam Durstler, John Heer (Herr), Christian Heer(Herr), Rudy Herr, Samuel Herr, Michael Kauffman, M. Mather, John Mitchel, Abraham Miller, Jacob Miller, John Miller, Samuel Neilson, John Ross, M. Scott, Jacob Whistler, Jacob Whitman, Jacob Whitmore and John Whitmore. For more information, visit http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/sd/r17sdc.htm