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Letter from Matthaus Hehl to the Church Leadership, December 29, 1763 - 2

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lots of well-known people from Paxtown and the neighborhood, it looked like 40- 80 people. They had left another group behind in the city, how many that was we do not know. Those who were approaching the city rode straight to the Court House, rode around it a couple of times in parade and fired a salvo with their weapons, got down from their horses and with drawn sabers went right to the prison. The Sheriff placed himself directly in front of the door and forbade them the entry but they used violence, the Sheriff is said to have been wounded, broke open the doors of the Prison and took control of the Indians who were in the back in the Work house and murdered all of them, 14 in number, large and small.

Having done their deed, they moved in high spirits through the city, glorifying their deed. This action itself created fear in the city but the people did not make much of it, saying they got what they deserved. Where the rioters saw one of the Governor’s Proclamation posted, they tore them down and trod upon them with their feet. They said haughtily, this time tomorrow the Indians in Province Island and in Philadelphia will also be laid low. One also saw that evening how a party set out for Philadelphia. How strong they were and how many, we do not know because we were unable to observe their reserve force. They are said to have spoke of 300 men and 500 men. Some spent the night in the city. A well-known man

[Translated by Roy Ledbetter]

Contents of this annotation:

  1. Letter from Matthaus Hehl to the Church Leadership, December 29, 1763 - 2