Previously:

(Photo by Richard F. Hope)

In 2015:

(Photo 2015 by Virginia Lawrence-Hope)

Col. Hooper House (501 Northampton Street)

2-1/2 story stone house, four window bays on upper floor, peaked roof with two dormers, modern picture window at ground level with center entrance.1

The property is most of the eastern half of the original Town Lot No.239, as surveyed by William Parsons for Easton’s formation in 1752.2

This Lot was not formally conveyed by the Penn Family to anyone until 1812.3 Nevertheless, the old stone house at the corner of the Lot is claimed by some local traditions to be the oldest building in Easton, possibly pre-dating even the Bachmann Publick House (the tavern on the corner of Northampton and Second Streets, dated to 1753) and Parsons-Taylor House.4 Historian Floyd S. Bixler identified the building as having been a tavern “Very early in our history”.5 A strong Easton tradition has repeatedly identified the house as the Easton residence of Col. Robert Lettis Hooper, Jr.6 for several months around April 1779.7 Col. Hooper used a “large stone building” located to the rear (where the Rock Church now stands) as a warehouse, and later as a militia barracks.8 Local tradition holds that this rear building was also used as a barracks to house captured Hessian troops each evening, after they returned each day from working on local farms.9

In addition, the Hooper House has also been identified by historian Ethan Allen Weaver as “once the residence of Capt. Alexander Patterson, a distinguished officer in the Revolutionary War, who figured prominently as Pennsylvania’s representative in the Connecticut troubles before and after the Revolution.”10

The American Revolution

Easton tradition thus dates this stone house back at least to the American Revolution. At this time, it would have been located on the outskirts of the Easton settlement. A strong Easton tradition has repeatedly identified the house as the Easton residence of Col. Robert Lettis Hooper, Jr.11 for several months around April 1779.12 Col. Hooper was a Deputy Quarter Master General in the Continental Army, and one of three Superintendents of Washington’s Continental Army magazines nationally during the Revolutionary War, as well as Deputy Commissary of Transportation for General Sullivan’s 1779 expedition that contributed to the demise of the Iroquois Confederacy in America.13 He also had charge of a number of British prisoners of war,14 including Baron Riedesel (and his family) and General William Phillips, both captured at Saratoga (but, at General Washington’s direction, not lodged in Easton prior to their parole).15 Col. Hooper used a “large stone building” located to the rear (where the Rock Church now stands) as a warehouse, and later as a militia barracks.16 Local tradition holds that this rear building was also used as a barracks to house captured Hessian troops each evening, after they returned each day from working on local farms.17

1 This building is featured in an artistic rendition in Timothy George Hare, Easton Inkscapes No.80 (Easton: Inkwell Publications 1989).

2 Compare A.D. Chidsey, Jr., The Penn Patents in the Forks of the Delaware Plan of Easton, Map 2 (Vol. II of Publications of the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1937) with Northampton County Tax Records map, www.ncpub.org.

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Col. Hooper personally possessed a “genial nature and social qualities” that made him popular with such people as General (later President) George Washington, and Declaration Signer George Taylor (who later entered into a business partnership with Col. Hooper, and named Col. Hooper an executor of his will, although Hooper did not serve).18 Nonetheless, his term with the commissary was marked by considerable dissention, stemming in part from his conduct of the office,19 but principally from his refusal to sign the civilian oath of loyalty to the new Revolutionary government (and discouragement of others from signing). Hooper later agreed to take the form of oath applied to military officers.20 He was never convicted on any of the charges against him – although certain proceedings were simply never pursued as moot after he left office – but the affair gave him a strong dislike of certain Pennsylvanians such as John Arndt (of the powerful Easton Arndt family) and the Attorney-General of Pennsylvania (whom he personally horse-whipped after one courtroom success).21

Robert Lettis Hooper had originally been from New Jersey; his grandfather (Robert Lettis Hooper Sr.) had been that colony’s Chief Justice. The young man first partnered in a mill with his brother, Jacob, which ended in 1761.22 He then opened a wine store in Philadelphia, which failed. Hooper was jailed for debt in 1764-65, until a private law passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature and assented by the Governor secured his release.23 Afterwards, he began surveying land in the western part of Pennsylvania, traveling to Fort Pitt several times.24 He became an extensive speculator in lands in the western portion of Pennsylvania,25 and came to Northampton County and Philadelphia before the Revolutionary War.26 When the War came, he was appointed a Depute Quarter Master, and by April 1777 his headquarters was established at Easton, although he maintained his residence in Saucon.27 It is perhaps during this time that Col. Hooper boarded in Scull’s Hotel in Easton, perhaps to minimize his long commute home.28 Hooper’s Easton facilities were apparently inadequate, because later that year an official in Trenton complained that:

“I am told Mr. Backhouse one of your deputies has turned the Stores in the Commisr Department into the Streets (on pretence that he had accation for the places in which they were) and that no Store Houses are yet set a part for the Assistant Issuers at Easton fit for the business as there is now at this place a very considerable quantity of stores which must be removed with all imaginable speed and for doing which Congress gives express Orders.”

This official requested “Store Houses at Easton sufficient to hold about one thousand Barrels and an Office to do Business in.”29 Notwithstanding these complaints, Hooper’s Quarter Master operations continued in Easton, and by Christmas Day in 1778 Col. Hooper and his wife were apparently residents in a house in Easton itself.30 A letter dated 28 April 1779 (written as the Sullivan campaign against the Iroquois was being organized) indicates that Col. Hooper’s wife was then collecting shad fish (presumably from the shad run up the Lehigh or Delaware Rivers that Spring), and has been taken as confirming that his residence was located in Easton at that time.31 Easton historians A.D. Chidsey,Jr., William J. Heller, and B.F. Fackenthal, Jr., all identified the Hooper House as that Easton residence,32 apparently based upon local tradition. In that same April 1779 letter, Col Hooper stated his determination to “leave all public Business after this Campaign” (presumably referring to the Sullivan campaign),33 and he had purchased the

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Belleville mansion near Trenton, NJ on 3 April,34 apparently in anticipation of his retirement. However, just a few months later (on 5 July 1779), Col. Hooper purchased William Craig’s stone house in Easton at the SE corner of Northampton Street and what would later become known as Sitgreaves Street. He resold that Easton property half a year later, in January 1780, and his wife, Margaret, was a party to the sale deed.35

That year – 1780 – was an eventful one for Colonel Hooper. First, his wife Margaret apparently died in that year36 -- Historian Chidsey indicates that she died in the Hooper House.37 Second, the Colonel’s appointment as Quarter Master ended on 1 August of that year (thereby rendering his remaining court martial proceedings moot).38 And third, Col. Hooper also moved to New Jersey during that year39 -- where (according to a later letter to a friend) he looked for a new wife. By 7 September 1781, Col. Hooper became engaged to marry Mrs. Robert (Eliza) Erskine of Trenton, NJ: the widow of the former owner of the Ringwood Iron Works in New Jersey.40 Col. Hooper then took over the operation of the widow’s Iron Works. He also became a prominent New Jersey landowner and politician. In 1785-88, he served as the Vice President of the state. He died in 1797 at his estate, Belleville.41

Captain Alexander Patterson

The Hooper House has also been identified by historian Ethan Allen Weaver as “once the residence of Capt. Alexander Patterson, a distinguished officer in the Revolutionary War, who figured prominently as Pennsylvania’s representative in the Connecticut troubles before and after the Revolution.”42 His military record specifically identified him as being “of Easton”.43 An early reference to “Young Captain Patterson” occurs in January of 1768, when he led a company of 19 men to apprehend Frederick Stump, who (with his 19-year-old servant John Ironcutter/Eisenhauer) had brutally murdered 10 Indians (including 3 women and 3 children), stuffing 6 of their bodies into a creek through a hole in the ice, and burning up the other four in their cabins. The Governor gave personal orders for Stump’s capture, in order to stage off Indian troubles. Nonetheless, after Captain Patterson delivered Stump and Ironcutter to the Carlisle jail, a band of 70-80 friends broke them out, and they disappeared into the western wilderness.44

Captain Alexander Patterson is referred to again, during the Revolution, for storming a British Piquet in New Jersey on 15 April 1777 with the 21st Pennsylvania Regiment.45

Historian Weaver’s “Connecticut troubles” references the “Pennamite Wars” that resulted when settlers claimed titles from Connecticut to the lands in the Wyoming Valley (around present-day Wilkes-Barre). Pennsylvania objected, and land owners (speculators) holding Pennsylvania titles (“Pennamites”) sought to evict the Connecticut

35 See Deed, Robert Lettis (Maragaret) Hooper Jr. to Isaac Sidman, D1 18 (7 Jan. 1780)(Original Town Lot No.87 with a “Stone Messuage or Tenement”). This deed recites that the property was sold to Hooper by Leonard and Regina Smith by a deed dated 5 July 1779, but does not cite to any recording of that deed. That corner property is today numbered 228-30 Northampton Street (now Partyology).

45 See Ethan Allen Weaver, Northampton County in the Revolution Newspaper Notes and Sketches 88 (copied from the original scrapbook at the Easton Public Library).

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(“Yankee”) settlers. Alexander Patterson joined this contest in 1769, as “the most effective” subordinate officer on the Pennsylvania side. He brought a four pound cannon to the Valley, which was instrumental in winning a victory for Pennsylvania in that year,46 but the Connecticut settlers returned in 1770, captured the cannon, and the conflict dragged on until it was interrupted by the American Revolution. A “Capitulation” in the Pennsylvania Archives dated 15 August 1771, shows Alexander Patterson as the apparent leader of a group of Pennamites who were forced to surrender a blockhouse to the Yankees, after they were besieged and bombarded there.47

During the Revolution, Patterson’s militia commission as a Captain was continued in Washington’s Army.48 In 1778, he was sent back to Northumberland County (presumably, back to the Wyoming Valley) to recruit 150 men, in association with a Lt. Robert Hooper49 (whose relationship, if any, to Colonel Hooper is not presently known). On 15 March 1779, Col. Hooper (see above) wrote to General Hand of the Continental Army that “Captain Patterson is with me – he wants for money and I am in hopes that he will be furnished + enabled to proceed tomorrow or next day to your Quarters.”50 It was at this time that Col.. Hooper was apparently living in the Hooper House, so that may coincide with Captain Patterson’s residence there as well. By May, Patterson had been sent forward to Brinkers Mills,51 “the storehouse and advance post for the Sullivan Expedition”,52 where he communicated between Col. Hooper in Easton and Brigadier General Hand in Wyoming (now Wilkes-Barre).53

After the Revolution, the troubles in the Wyoming Valley remained unresolved. A court appointed by the Continental Congress found on 30 December 1782 that jurisdiction belonged to Pennsylvania,54 but the Connecticut settlers in the Valley refused to surrender their land holdings. In 1784, Captain Alexander Patterson (then a Northampton County Justice of the Peace55) was sent “with a band of Rangers” to take charge of the situation.56 He began a campaign to expel the Connecticut settlers from the Valley, arresting a number of them and sending the rest over mountains to the Delaware River in winter without food or extra clothing, while their homes and belongings were confiscated. Several of them died,57 and some of those who tried to return to the Valley were beaten by Patterson’s men with iron ramrods.58 Yankee resistance continued, and Pennsylvania sent Col. John Armstrong “with a force of 400 men to aid Patterson.” Armstrong resorted to subterfuge, by arresting Patterson (although he was not otherwise disciplined), and promising to disarm both sides. Once the Connecticut fighters had surrendered their weapons, he arrested them, and sent them to jail in Sunbury and Easton.59

However, Captain Patterson’s harshness and Armstrong’s treachery created a public relations outcry, which forced the Pennsylvania Legislature to recall both Patterson and Armstrong.60 Sentiment in Massachusetts and New York pressed for the formation of a new state.61 Col. Armstrong, with reduced forces, was defeated by the Yankees and forced from the Valley.62 Pennsylvania sent Col. Timothy Pickering to arrange a settlement. In 1786, Pennsylvania created the new Luzerne County, which essentially allowed the Connecticut settlers to retain political control of their area.63 In 1787 Pennsylvania passed legislation confirming the Yankee land titles64 -- although that legislation was intentionally drafted to be unconstitutional (and was later struck down by the Pennsylvania courts)/65 In 1790, the Pennsylvania Legislature repealed confirmation

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of some of the Connecticut-granted land titles.66 Armed controversy continued until 1794.67 Yankee military possession of much of the Valley, and their threat to form a separate state government, ultimately secured the land claims to the Connecticut settlers in the Compromise Act of 1799.68 In 1803-04, Captain Patterson petitioned the Pennsylvania Legislature for compensation, both for money he had expended in the conflict, and for wounds because he “nearly lost an arm in combat and had his head split by an axe as well.” Patterson’s Petition also recounted the facts of the Wars from his perspective, and complained that Pennsylvania had abandoned the rights he had fought to defend in the Valley.69 He was successful in receiving the pension.70 When he died in 1822, his newspaper obituary noted his Revolutionary War captaincy, but (interestingly) did not mention his part in the Pennamite Wars.71 His widow, Margaret, also received a military pension from Pennsylvania starting the year after Patterson’s death.72

Formal Property History

Town Lot No.239 (including the stone Hooper House) was formally sold by the Penn Family only in 1812, when it was purchased by Nicholas Kraemer,73 a well-known real estate speculator.74 Perhaps the start of the new war in 1812 prompted his purchase. Or perhaps Kraemer saw an opportunity to profit from an existing squatter, because Kraemer promptly resold the property in the same year for $3,800 to George Troxell, a “Millwright”. Troxsell’s deed confirms that, by this time, the property already contained a “Stone Messuage Tenement” at the time he purchased it.75 Whether Troxell actually occupied it is not currently known. Six years later (in 1818), Troxell lost the property in a Sheriff’s sale, to pay a delinquent debt that he owed to Henry Spering. It was purchased by David Wagener, the highest bidder.76

Henry Spering (the creditor) was a prominent Easton citizen. His father had been a Tory during the Revolution, who had abandoned his family and thereby allowed the family property to be confiscated by the Revolutionary authorities. Henry was nevertheless able to have the family property restored in 1782, and Henry himself ultimately became Sheriff of Northampton County from 1797 until 1800.77

The new owner, David Wagener (1792 – 1860), was an Easton industrialist who had inherited the Merchant Mill on the East bank of Bushkill Creek. He was Captain of the Easton Union Guards from 1816 until the unit was dissolved in 1829, and went with it to Philadelphia in 1824 to welcome Lafayette to the US. He was a Pennsylvania Assemblyman from 1828-31, and a US Congressman from 1832 – 29, associating with Andrew Jackson and his party. In 1852, he succeeded Col. Thomas McKeen as the third President of the Easton Bank. Easton’s Court House (built in 1860-61 “stands upon ground largely donated from his estate.”78 He was later referred to as one of the three “rich men of Easton”.79

There is no indication that Wagener lived in the property, but instead probably rented it out as an investment. In 1830 “or a little later”, the building was used by Samuel Siegfried’s printing business.80

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David Wagener subdivided his Lot, by establishing a common alley from Fifth (Juliana) Street about half-way up it, in order to assist access to the back end of the subdivided properties he was establishing.

In 1846, he sold off the southwestern corner of the Lot (with 30’ of frontage on Northampton Street) to hatter James Hess for $550.81 [This parcel appears to have become the modern Hess Apartments building at 505-07 Northampton Street].82

In 1849, Wagener sold the portion of Lot No.239 lying between his private alley and what is now Church Street to mason Jacob Lehman for $900.83

83 Deed, David Wagener to Jacob Lehman, A8 305 (31 Mar. 1849)($900 for “Lot or Piece of Ground” measuring 92’ along Juliana (now 5th) Street X 60’ along Church Alley).

4 Heritage Day 2006 Guide speech. This could be due to confusion between Col. Hooper’s known residency in this house (see below), and an entry by Ethan Allen Weaver in “Forks of the Delaware” Illustrated xii (Eschenbach Press 1900) which states that Col. Hooper at one time occupied the building that Jasper Scull had built as a tavern in 1753. However, Jasper Scull’s Tavern (as referenced by Weaver) was not located here (at the NW corner), but rather across the street at the SW corner of Northampton and Fourth Streets. See separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for 400 Northampton Street for further details. It is possible that Col. Hooper also stayed for a time at Jasper Scull’s hotel.

5 Floyd S. Bixler, The History with Reminiscences of the Early Taverns and Inns of Easton, Paper read before the Northampton County Historical Society on 25 Oct. 1930, at 6 (Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1931). It is possible, however, that Mr. Bixler’s understanding could have resulted from the same confusion arising from the reference to Jasper Scull’s hotel in Ethan Allen Weaver’s book of 1900.

6 He was actually the third generation bearing that name. Charles Henry Hart, “Colonel Robert Lettis Hooper, Deputy Quarter Master General in the Continental Army and Vice President of New Jersey”, 38 The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 60, 64 (1912).

7 Article, “Col. Robert Lettis Hooper, Jr. and the house at 501 Northampton Street”, Easton: More than Meets the Eye! 1988, p.49; A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village: Pre-Revolutionary Easton 234-35, 263 (Vol.III of Publications of The Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, 1940)(#63, Hooper had lived in Saucon Twp. in 1777 but was living in this house in April of 1779, and lived there “some time previous to and some time after this date”); William J. Heller, Historic Easton from the Window of a Trolley-Car 25 (Express Printing Co. and Harmony Press 1911, reprinted 1984); B.F. Fackenthal, Jr.,”The Homes of George Taylor, Signer of the Declaration of Independence”, Paper read before the George Taylor Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, at Easton, PA, 6 Dec. 1922 (copy at Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society), obtained online from Penn State University Libraries, Digital Library Collections, 128.118.88.226/cdm4/page_text.php?CISOROOT=/digitalbks2&CISOPTR=21345&CISOBOX=0&OBJ=21391&ITEM=89 (copy begins at p.114), at 128 (accessed 17 Dec. 2008); see Rev. A.S. Leiby [translator], Tax Lists in Northampton County Court House 1774 – 1806 45 (Easton Public Library [undated])(Col. R.L. Hooper D.Q.M.G. in Northampton County Tax List for Easton in 1779).

3 See Deed, Nicholas (Katherine) Kraemer/Kreamer to George Toxsell/Troxell, H3 223 (17 Oct. 1812)(recital that John and William Penn had sold the property to Nicholas Kraemer on 26 June 1812).

8 William J. Heller, Historic Easton from the Window of a Trolley-Car 25 (Express Printing Co. and Harmony Press 1911, reprinted 1984); see also Article, “Col. Robert Lettis Hooper, Jr. and the house at 501 Northampton Street”, Easton: More than Meets the Eye! 1988,

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In 1850 (in an unrecorded deed), Wagener sold the eastern half of the property (at the corner, together with the stone house) to John Lesher, a butcher. On the same day, Lesher put the property in trust for Anna Maria Lesher,84 his brother Jacob’s wife.85 Jacob and Anna Maria Lesher appear to have lived in Phillipsburg.86

John and Jacob Lesher’s father, also named John Lesher (1764-1817),87 had been the miller “conducting” the mill in Forks Township where Bushkill Park was later located88 – evidently Arndt’s mill.89 Their grandfather, Johann Lischer, had been an innkeeper in Nazareth for the Moravian Economy, and

p.49 (suggests that the Hooper House itself served this purpose, and that the troops barracked there participated in General Sullivan’s 1779 campaign against the Iroquois).

9 Story by Mrs. Jane Moyer, Librarian of Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, told on 7 Nov. 2008, and based on her general knowledge of Easton and prior conversations with Henry Marx and A.D. Chidsey, Jr. Ms. Moyer believed they were mustered each evening at Centre Square, and marched up to the stone barracks, which was then located at the edge of town.

10 Ethan Allen Weaver, “The Forks of the Delaware” Illustrated xi (Eschenbach Press 1900).

Weaver does not date Hooper’s occupancy of the house, nor identify his source for the information. One early record shows a land conveyance in the Wyoming Valley on 16 June 1774 by Alexander Patterson, identified then as a Northampton County farmer. William Henry Egle (ed.), Documents Relating to the Connecticut Settlement, vol. 18 of Pennsylvania Archives Second Series 341-42 (E.K. Meyers, State Printer 1898).

The Pennsylvania Archives also show Alexander Patterson as the owner of 250 acres of land in Northampton County at an undisclosed location on 11 August 1787: after the Revolution, and after his adventures in the Pennamite Wars had ended. This property total had increased to 400 acres by 26 February 1793, and was surveyed again on 15 July 1794. William Henry Egle (ed.), XXVI Pennsylvania Archives Third Series 149, 151, 153 (Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1899). However, there is nothing in these records to suggest that any of the Northampton County property was located in the town of Easton. Indeed, Patterson paid a “Federal tax” of three shillings in 1785 in Lower Smithfield Township of Northampton County on a horse the two “cattle”, and was taxed in Hamilton Township of Northampton County on various numbers of horses and cattle in 1786 and 1788. By 1788, he was also taxed on 160 acres of land in Hamilton Township. William Henry Egle (ed.), XIX Pennsylvania Archives Third Series 174, 277, 381 (Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1898).

Pattterson also had property in other counties. In 1786, Patterson paid a tax of 7 shillings in Tinicum Township, Bucks County, and a record from 1779 shows him owning three horses and 5 “cattle” in Bucks County. William Henry Egle (ed.), VIII Pennsylvania Archives Third Series 678, 89 (Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1897). In addition, he seems to have owned another 300 acres of land in Luzerne County, surveyed on 3 May 1787. William Henry Egle (ed.), XXV Pennsylvania Archives Third Series 259 (Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1898).

11 He was actually the third generation bearing that name. Charles Henry Hart, “Colonel Robert Lettis Hooper, Deputy Quarter Master General in the Continental Army and Vice President of New Jersey”, 38 The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 60, 64 (1912).

12 Article, “Col. Robert Lettis Hooper, Jr. and the house at 501 Northampton Street”, Easton: More than Meets the Eye! 1988, p.49; A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village: Pre-Revolutionary Easton 234-35, 263 (Vol.III of Publications of The Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, 1940)(#63, Hooper had lived in Saucon Twp. in 1777 but was living in

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had continued to operate his inn when the Economy terminated its collective operations.90

In 1871, Mrs. Lesher and her trustee sold this “Two Story Stone Tenement” to Daniel Herster, a butcher,91 then numbered 197 Northampton Street. Herster had already established his meat market in the building before he purchased it.92 His business was assigned the addresses 501 and 503 Northampton Street with the inauguration of the modern street numbering scheme in approximately 1874,93 where it continued into the following decade.94 Mr. Herster did not reside in the building, however, but instead lived near the NW triangular corner of Wood, Northampton and North Seventh Streets95 with

this house in April of 1779, and lived there “some time previous to and some time after this date”); William J. Heller, Historic Easton from the Window of a Trolley-Car 25 (Express Printing Co. and Harmony Press 1911, reprinted 1984); B.F. Fackenthal, Jr.,”The Homes of George Taylor, Signer of the Declaration of Independence”, Paper read before the George Taylor Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, at Easton, PA, 6 Dec. 1922 (copy at Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society), obtained online from Penn State University Libraries, Digital Library Collections, 128.118.88.226/cdm4/page_text.php?CISOROOT=/digitalbks2&CISOPTR=21345&CISOBOX=0&OBJ=21391&ITEM=89 (copy begins at p.114), at 128 (accessed 17 Dec. 2008); see Rev. A.S. Leiby [translator], Tax Lists in Northampton County Court House 1774 – 1806 45 (Easton Public Library [undated])(Col. R.L. Hooper D.Q.M.G. in Northampton County Tax List for Easton in 1779).

13 See A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village: Pre-Revolutionary Easton 263 (Vol.III of Publications of The Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, 1940) ; William J. Heller, Historic Easton from the Window of a Trolley-Car 25 (Express Printing Co. and Harmony Press 1911, reprinted 1984); Charles Henry Hart, “Colonel Robert Lettis Hooper, Deputy Quarter Master General in the Continental Army and Vice President of New Jersey”, 38 The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 60, 68-69 (1912)(also Assistant Commissary of Purchases for General Sullivan’s campaign; his two commissions were dated 2 April 1778 and 23 Feb. 1779); see generally Ethan Allen Weaver, “The Forks of the Delaware” Illustrated xii (Eschenbach Press 1900)(Hooper’s occupation of Scull’s Hotel).

14 See, e.g., Letter, Col. R.L. Hooper to Elias Bodinot [Boudinot], Esq. (Easton 2 Sept. 1777), in Dreer Collection, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, stating in part:

“Inclosed I send you Copies of all the papers I have received respecting the Prisoners of War. Those destiny’d for Easton are lodged to their satisfaction, and I have received the strongest assurances of their conforming to the rules prescribed by the Board of War. I hope to be ready to receive them from Reading (260) in Military Order, + I beg youll be assured that I shall, as General Mifflins + as your Representative support the dignity of a Continental Officer.”

15 Charles Henry Hart, “Colonel Robert Lettis Hooper, Deputy Quarter Master General in the Continental Army and Vice President of New Jersey”, 38 The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 60, 83 (1912).

16 William J. Heller, Historic Easton from the Window of a Trolley-Car 25 (Express Printing Co. and Harmony Press 1911, reprinted 1984); see also Article, “Col. Robert Lettis Hooper, Jr. and the house at 501 Northampton Street”, Easton: More than Meets the Eye! 1988, p.49 (suggests that the Hooper House itself served this purpose, and that the troops barracked there participated in General Sullivan’s 1779 campaign against the Iroquois).

17 Story by Mrs. Jane Moyer, Librarian of Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, told on 7 Nov. 2008, and based on her general knowledge of Easton and prior

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his wife, Catharine, who was more than 20 years his junior.96 After Herster died intestate on 5 October 1882 (at age 59),97 a legal contest arose over the estate between Herster’s widow and his daughter,98 Mary J. Folkenson. Mrs. Folkenson’s appointment as Administratrix of the estate was challenged by the widow.99 Although Mrs. Folkenson withdrew from the administration,100 she continued her substantive claim as the heir under Pennsylvania’s intestacy laws.101 She ultimately obtained the Hooper House property, on condition that every six months she had to pay Herster’s widow 6% interest on the value of a 1/3 dower share.102

conversations with Henry Marx and A.D. Chidsey, Jr. Ms. Moyer believed they were mustered each evening at Centre Square, and marched up to the stone barracks, which was then located at the edge of town.

18 Charles Henry Hart, “Colonel Robert Lettis Hooper, Deputy Quarter Master General in the Continental Army and Vice President of New Jersey”, 38 The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 60, 85-87 (1912).

In 1779, Hooper and three other men (George Taylor, Richard Backhouse, and Isaac Sidman) purchased the confiscated rights to the Durham Iron Works, which had been leased by George Taylor but owned by Joseph Galloway, a Tory. New Jersey Historical Society, Historical Note in Description of Item MG 113, “Guide to the Surveyor’s Manual of Robert Lettis Hooper, Jr. Land Surveyor and New Jersey State Legislator 1764, www.jerseyhistory.org/findingaiddirnb.php?dir=EAD/faid0500&aid=mg0113 (accessed 13 Nov. 2008); B.F. Fackenthal, Jr.,”The Homes of George Taylor, Signer of the Declaration of Independence”, Paper read before the George Taylor Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, at Easton, PA, 6 Dec. 1922 (copy at Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society), obtained online from Penn State University Libraries, Digital Library Collections, 128.118.88.226/cdm4/page_text.php?CISOROOT=/digitalbks2&CISOPTR=21345&CISOBOX=0&OBJ=21391&ITEM=89 (copy begins at p.114), at 125 (accessed 17 Dec. 2008).

19 Hart, “Colonel Robert Lettis Hooper”, supra at 74-75. The charges were that one of Hooper’s deputies (“Richard Backhouse of Easton”) had been sent to Boston with a “Brigade of Waggons” to bring “Merchandize from Boston on some private account”. XI Minutes of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania (vol. 11 of Pennsylvania Colonial Records) 453 (Theo. Fenn & Co. 1852). This was at the very time that Washington’s army was enduring a harsh winter in Valley Forge. However, there is every indication that Hooper retained Washington’s confidence.

20 Hart, “Colonel Robert Lettis Hooper”, supra at 70-72, 74, 77.21 Hart, “Colonel Robert Lettis Hooper”, supra at 74, 80-81. 22 Hart, “Colonel Robert Lettis Hooper”, supra at 64; see New Jersey Historical Society,

Historical Note in Description of Item MG 113, “Guide to the Surveyor’s Manual of Robert Lettis Hooper, Jr. Land Surveyor and New Jersey State Legislator 1764, www.jerseyhistory.org/findingaiddirnb.php?dir=EAD/faid0500&aid=mg0113 (accessed 13 Nov. 2008)(biography, erroneously says his father had been Chief Justice); Trenton Historical Society, A History of Trenton 1679 – 1929, trentonhistory.org/His/Courts.htm (accessed 13 Nov. 2008)(sorts out the three Robert Lettis Hoopers).

23 Hart, “Colonel Robert Lettis Hooper”, supra at 64-65. The calendar of legislative proceedings shown in Volume 7 of the Pennsylvania Archives, Eighth Series (Votes of Assembly) displays this lengthy proceeding in all its tediousness.

Hooper’s Petition for release was received by the Legislature on 22 September 1764. At that time he was “a Prisoner in the Goal of the City of Philadelphia”. It recited

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When she obtained ownership of the property, Mrs. Folkenson rented space in the building to E. Luch, an organ builder.103 Ms. Folkenson continued to own the house until she died, and her estate sold it to Philip Moses in 1914.104 Moses died the following year, but his family retained the property until 1969.105

During the Moses Family’s ownership, the house was rented to tenants such as Charles Brands’s meat market in 1923,106 and Malkin’s Appliance Store in 1956.107

In 1979, the house was sold to the Rock Church of Easton.108 In 2007, a representative of the Church appeared before City Council to assure officials that it

that he had surrendered his to the use of his creditors the previous February, but was nonetheless jailed at the suit of one of them, and could not work to discharge his debts unless he was released from prison. His petition was tabled, and referred to the next Session of the Legislature. (Archives at 5646-47.)

On 17 October 1764, his petition was taken up again. (Archives at 5671-72.) An order was delivered to his creditor to explain why he had been imprisoned, and the creditor responded that he understood Hooper’s business had been mismanaged, and that “previous to his Failure” he had “made some of his Friends secure” – that is, made what would be called in modern Bankruptcy parlance a “preferential payment” to pay off some creditors, while leaving others to receive only partial payments when his remaining assets were distributed. (Archives at 5674-75.)

On 19 October 1764, the Legislature set up a Committee to inquire into Hooper’s business failure. (Archives at 5677.) The Committee later reported back that Hooper “had failed through Misfortunes in Business, and had honestly given all his Effects for the Use of his Creditors”. The Legislature then set up a Committee to draft an order for his release from prison. (Archives at 5693-94.)

On 11 January 1765, the Bill for Relief (apparently, ordering Hooper’s release from prison) had been drafted, and was given a First Reading before the Legislature, and referred to a Second Reading. (Archives at 5699.)

On 12 January 1765, the Bill for Relief was given its Second Reading, and sent on to its Third Reading. (Archives at 5700.)

On 16 January 1765, the Bill for Relief was given its Third Reading, and passed by the Legislature. (Archives at 5706.)

On 18 January 1765, Hooper’s Bill for Relief was referred to a Committee to be given to the Governor. (Archives at 5708.)

On 19 January 1765, the Legislature’s Committee delivered it to the Governor, who promised to consider it. (Archives at 5709.)

On 21 January 1765, Governor Penn directed this Bill (along with others) returned to the House with suggested amendments. (IX Minutes of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania (vol. 9 of Pennsylvania Colonial Records) 238 (Theo. Fenn & Co. 1852).)

On 25 January 1765, the Bill (along with another) was returned by the Governor with Amendments, “which being read, and considered, were agreed to by the House, and the said Bill ordered to be engrossed accordingly.” (Archives at 5727)

On 2 February 1865, the Legislature (House and Speaker) as a whole presented five bills to the Governor (including Hooper’s), who assented to them and made them law. (Archives at 5736; IX Minutes of the Supreme Executive Council of

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would move forward with restoration efforts to improve the building’s image as an “eyesore”. Within a week, some scaffolding was removed, a fence was painted and broken windows were boarded up. The Church told the press it intended to apply for a $30,000 government loan “to replace doors and windows”. It hoped to restore the building and perhaps open it as a book store.109 The restoration project remained unfinished in 2011, although another view in 2013 showed that some progress had been made in stripping off brickote, removing scaffolding and other eyesores.

Pennsylvania (vol. 9 of Pennsylvania Colonial Records) 242 (Theo. Fenn & Co. 1852).)

24 New Jersey Historical Society, Historical Note in Description of Item MG 113, “Guide to the Surveyor’s Manual of Robert Lettis Hooper, Jr. Land Surveyor and New Jersey State Legislator 1764, www.jerseyhistory.org/findingaiddirnb.php?dir=EAD/faid0500&aid=mg0113 (accessed 13 Nov. 2008).

25 Hart, “Colonel Robert Lettis Hooper”, supra at 64-65, 86. 26 Hart, “Colonel Robert Lettis Hooper”, supra at 65-68. 27 Hart, “Colonel Robert Lettis Hooper”, supra at 69-70. He wrote official letters from

Easton (including one on 9 April 1777), but in a personal letter to Owen Biddle of the same date he stated specifically: “I live about 5 Miles South of Bethlehem near the Great Road”, and headed that letter as coming from Saucon.

28 See Ethan Allen Weaver, “The Forks of the Delaware” Illustrated xii (Eschenbach Press 1900). Weaver’s source is not identified. This is apparently a reference to Jasper Scull’s Hotel, located at the SW corner of Northampton and Hamilton (now 4th) Streets, now the location of the Northampton National Bank Building. See www.WalkingEaston.com entry for 400 Northampton Street. It probably does not refer to the stone house built by Nicholas Scull Jr., which was used as a hotel during the French and Indian War, but had been purchased prior to the Revolution by Declaration of Independence signer George Taylor as a residence for his son, James Taylor, and during the War had become the property of Easton’s principal merchant, Meyer Hart. See, e.g., separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for 325-27 Northampton Street.

29 Letter, C.S.C.G. to Col. Hooper (30 Sept. 1777)(transcribed copy in Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Am.0808, which volume contains an earlier edition of the article Charles Henry Hart, “Colonel Robert Lettis Hooper”, supra, with attachments, contributed to the Society by Mr. Hart).

30 Letter, R.L. Hooper Jr. to General Hand (25 Dec. 1778), original in Hand Papers, Vol.1, No.53 (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107). Among other things, this letter states: “I shall be glad to see you at Easton where you will find a good Bed and Hearty Welcome in the House of Your most humble Servant R.L. Hooper Jr.”.

31 Letter, R.L. Hooper Jr. to General Hand (Easton 28 Apr. 1779), original in Hand Papers, Vol.1, No.82 (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107), stating in part:

“Mrs. Hooper has been collecting Shad for two weeks to fill a Bbl. At the modern price of 5/ and 7/6 p. Shad.”

See Hart, “Colonel Robert Lettis Hooper”, supra at 88; A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village: Pre-Revolutionary Easton 263 (Vol.III of Publications of The Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, 1940)(references the date April 1779, which is presumably an allusion to this letter).

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32 A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village: Pre-Revolutionary Easton 263 (Vol.III of Publications of The Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, 1940); William J. Heller, Historic Easton from the Window of a Trolley-Car 25 (Express Printing Co. and Harmony Press 1911, reprinted 1984); B.F. Fackenthal, Jr.,”The Homes of George Taylor, Signer of the Declaration of Independence”, Paper read before the George Taylor Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, at Easton, PA, 6 Dec. 1922 (copy at Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society), obtained online from Penn State University Libraries, Digital Library Collections, 128.118.88.226/cdm4/page_text.php?CISOROOT=/digitalbks2&CISOPTR=21345&CISOBOX=0&OBJ=21391&ITEM=89 (copy begins at p.114), at 128 (accessed 17 Dec. 2008).

33 Letter, R.L. Hooper Jr. to General Hand (Easton 28 Apr. 1779), original in Hand Papers, Vol.1, No.82 (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107).

34 See Letter, William Nelson of The New Jersey Historical Society to Charles Henry Hart (Paterson, NJ 5 July 1911)(copy in Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Am.0808, which volume contains an earlier edition of the article Charles Henry Hart, “Colonel Robert Lettis Hooper”, supra, with attachments, contributed to the Society by Mr. Hart), stating in part:

“There is a deed on record, April 3, 1779, to Robert Lettis Hooper, Jr. of Easton, Pennsylvania, Esq., for the lot in Trenton called Bellville . . . .”

36 Margaret Hooper was apparently alive to be on the deed of January 1780. Col. Hooper had already moved to New Jersey by January 1781 – and he became engaged to marry Elizabeth (Eliza) Erskine later in that year. It appears likely that Margaret Hooper’s death probably took place prior to Col. Hooper’s move to New Jersey -- especially if (as Historian Chidsey maintains) she died in the Hooper House – which places the event in 1780.

37 A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village: Pre-Revolutionary Easton 263 (Vol.III of Publications of The Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, 1940). No authority is cited.

38 His office was effectively abolished by Congressional legislation after 1 August 1780. Col. Hooper was no longer Deputy Quarter Master General by the time he wrote a letter dated 11 Oct. 1780, referring to himself as “Late D.Q.M.Gen.”. See Hart, “Colonel Robert Lettis Hooper”, supra at 81.

39 Robert Levers’s will (dated 6 Jan. 1781) indicated that Col. Hooper was by then already a New Jersey resident. See Letter, B.F. Fackenthal, Jr. President of The Thomas Iron Company of Easton, Pa., to Dr. John W. Jordan, Librarian, Historical Society of Pennsylvania (2 Sept. 1911)(copy in Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Am.0808, which volume contains an earlier edition of the article Charles Henry Hart, “Colonel Robert Lettis Hooper”, supra, with attachments, contributed to the Society by Mr. Hart).

40 In a letter to his friend Richard Backhouse, Esq. dated 7 Sept. 1781, written from Ringwood, Col. Hooper confided that he had been looking for a wife, and announced his engagement to Mrs. Erskine, of Trenton, NJ. On 31 October 1781, Hooper took out a license to

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marry her. See Hart, “Colonel Robert Lettis Hooper”, supra at 81, 88. A transcribed copy of the letter to Backhouse is included in Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Am.0808, which volume consists of an earlier edition of the Hart’s article on “Colonel Robert Lettis Hooper”, supra, with attachments, contributed to the Society by Mr. Hart.

41 Hart, “Colonel Robert Lettis Hooper”, supra at 82, 88-90.

His widow sold it in 1807 to Martin John Ryerson, who had another iron works nearby. The Belleville house that Col. Hooper knew “most likely burnt down.” Ryerson began the existing Ringwood Manor House after his purchase, and made Ringwood the headquarters for his iron furnace complexes in three counties over the next half century. In 1854, Peter Cooper and his son-in-law, Abram S. Hewitt, purchase the Ringwood property. The Cooper-Hewitt Iron Company “developed new methods and products throughout the industrial revolution to become an important factor in America’s growth, and the fifth-largest corporation in America,” while the Hewitts themselves made the Ringwood Manor their summer home. “Ringwood is to industry, what Williamsburg is to politics”, according to one commentator. Ringwood Manor continues as a state park today. See The Forges & Manor of Ringwood, www.ringwoodmanor.com (accessed 17 May 2009): “A Brief History of the Forces & Manor of Ringwood”, “Architecture of Ringwood Manor”, and “Erskine Family, 1771 – 1807(?)”.

42 Ethan Allen Weaver, “The Forks of the Delaware” Illustrated xi (Eschenbach Press 1900).

Weaver does not date his occupancy of the house, nor identify his source for the information. One early record shows a land conveyance in the Wyoming Valley on 16 June 1774 by Alexander Patterson, identified then as a Northampton County farmer. William Henry Egle (ed.), Documents Relating to the Connecticut Settlement, vol. 18 of Pennsylvania Archives Second Series 341-42 (E.K. Meyers, State Printer 1898).

The Pennsylvania Archives also show Alexander Patterson as the owner of 250 acres of land in Northampton County at an undisclosed location on 11 August 1787: after the Revolution, and after his adventures in the Pennamite Wars had ended. This property total had increased to 400 acres by 26 February 1793, and was surveyed again on 15 July 1794. William Henry Egle (ed.), XXVI Pennsylvania Archives Third Series 149, 151, 153 (Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1899). However, there is nothing in these records to suggest that any of the Northampton County property was located in the town of Easton. Indeed, Patterson paid a “Federal tax” of three shillings in 1785 in Lower Smithfield Township of Northampton County on a horse the two “cattle”, and was taxed in Hamilton Township of Northampton County on various numbers of horses and cattle in 1786 and 1788. By 1788, he was also taxed on 160 acres of land in Hamilton Township. William Henry Egle (ed.), XIX Pennsylvania Archives Third Series 174, 277, 381 (Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1898).

Pattterson also had property in other counties. In 1786, Patterson paid a tax of 7 shillings in Tinicum Township, Bucks County, and a record from 1779 shows him owning three horses and 5 “cattle” in Bucks County. William Henry Egle (ed.), VIII Pennsylvania Archives Third Series 678, 89 (Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1897). In addition, he seems to have owned another 300

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acres of land in Luzerne County, surveyed on 3 May 1787. William Henry Egle (ed.), XXV Pennsylvania Archives Third Series 259 (Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1898).

43 John Blair Linn and William H. Egle (eds.), I Pennsylvania in the War of the Revolution, Battalions and Line 1775 – 1783 (vol.10 Pennsylvania Archives Second Series) 777 (Clarence M. Busch, State Printer 1895). This record lists his Revolutionary War commission as of 16 October 1776, and also identifies Patters as “afterwards a prominent participant in the Wyoming troubles”; as well as noting that he was pensioned 10 Feb. 1804, and his widow was pensioned by the State in 1823. The record does not indicate at what period he was “of Easton”.

44 Joseph J. Kelly, Jr., Pennsylvania The Colonial Years 1681-1776 615-20, 629 (Doubleday & Company Inc. 1980); see Letter, Joseph Galloway, Speaker of the Pennsylvania Legislature, to Governor John Penn, in Charles F. Hoban (ed.), VII Pennsylvania Archives Eighth Series 6169, at 6178 (Letter dated 20 Feb. 1768).

48 John Blair Linn and William H. Egle (eds.), I Pennsylvania in the War of the Revolution, Battalions and Line 1775 – 1783 (vol.10 Pennsylvania Archives Second Series) 777 (Clarence M. Busch, State Printer 1895)(commissioned Captain 16 Oct. 1776 in Eleventh Regiment of the Continental Line; identified as “afterwards a prominent participant in the Wyomning troubles”); accord, WebRoots.org, “History of Northumberland Co., PA – Chapter 3, www.webroots.org/library/usahist/honcpa03.html (accessed 12 Nov. 2008)(commissioned Captain 16 October 1776 in the Twelfth Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Line); see Henry F. Marx, I Marriages and Deaths Northampton County Newspaper Extracts 1799 – 1851 99 (Easton Area Public Library 1929)(Capt. Alexander Patterson, “formerly an officer in the Revolutionary war”, died 11 April, age 79, from Easton Centinel of 19 Apr. 1822); .

49 Compare XI Minutes of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania (vol.11 of Pennsylvania Colonial Records) 418 (Theo. Fenn & Co. 1852)(on 17 Feb. 1778 sent with “Lieutenant Hooper” to Northumberland County to recruit 150 men); id. at 419 (on 18 Feb. 1778 record of 150 dollars to be given to each of several officers, including Captain Alexander Patterson and Lieutenant Robert Hooper).

50 Letter, Col. R.L. Hooper to General Hand (15 Mar. 1779), in Hand Papers, Vol.1, No.72 (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107).

51 See Letter, Alex. Patterson to Brigadier General Hand (Brinkers Mills 14 May 1779), in Hand Papers, Vol.1, No.83 (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107).

52 Historical marker pictured in Photo Essay by Elaine S., Member of Gather, Inc., at www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977593757&nav=Namespace (accessed 17 May 2009). Brinkers Mill is located in Sciota, Pennsylvania.

53 See, e.g., Letter, Alex. Patterson to Brigadier General Hand (Brinkers Mills 14 May 1779), in Hand Papers, Vol.1, No.83 (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107), stating in part:

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“I am glad to hear of your Safe Arrival at Wyoming. I wrote to Col. Hooper confessing the Portmanteau – he Returns me for answer he has applied to General Green and you will Doubtless have them soon, I am sorry that I Could not Comply with you Request.”

Letter, Alex. Patterson to General Hand (Brinkers Mills, 5 June 1779), in Hand Papers, Vol.1, No.83 (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107), stating in part:

“On the Receipt of your Letter I Immediately Dispatched an Express with the Coppy of it to Col. Hooper as it is not in my Power to furnish you With any of the Articles you Mentioned, I Conjured him in the name of our Holy Saint, to forward them to me With all Posible Dispach, as it Would be a Disgrace to our Department to Let one of his Respectable Sons Suffer, he then turned me for informer, that you Should be supplied. Repeated it Twice, and prayed me to Inform you of it, as he is hurried out of his homes and had not Time to Waite.”

Col. Hooper’s own letter to General Hand reacted to Patterson’s exuberance by stating: “I dismiss the complaints of young men that are to buy Experience”, but assured the General that “you I pittey for you have bought it by long experience . . . There is not one Article you have wrote for but what I will procure for you.” Letter, Col. R.L. Hooper to General Hand (7 June 1779), in Hand Papers, Vol.1, No.97 (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107).

54 “Wyoming Valley”, in Classic Encyclopedia (Based on the 11th Edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica of 1911), www.1911encyclopedia.org/Wyoming_Valley (accessed 13 Nov. 2008).

55 Pennsylvania State Education Association (Sponsor), ExplorePAhistory.com “Historical Markers: Fort Wyoming”, www.explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=578 (accessed 13 Nov. 2008).

56 The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut, 1769 – The Pennamite Wars, www.colonialwarsct.org/1769.htm (accessed 13 Nov. 2008).

57 The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut, 1769 – The Pennamite Wars, www.colonialwarsct.org/1769.htm (accessed 13 Nov. 2008); see Marge Gray, Town History of Plymouth Township (Luzerne County, Pennsylvania), in PAGenWeb Project, www.pagenweb.org/~luzerne/patk/plytwp.htm (accessed 13 Nov. 2008); 1.Jagdmoroner Abteilung (1.JMA) Member “Justinian”, Yankee-Pennamite Wars, www.1jma.dk/articles/1jmaarticlesyankeewar.htm (accessed 13 Nov. 2008).

58 Marge Gray, Town History of Plymouth Township (Luzerne County, Pennsylvania), in PAGenWeb Project, www.pagenweb.org/~luzerne/patk/plytwp.htm (accessed 13 Nov. 2008); see George R. Fisher, MD, “The Third Pennamite War”, in Philadelphia Reflections, www.philadelphia-reflections.com/reflections.php?content=blogs_alpha/third_pennamite_war.html (accessed 13 Nov. 2008).

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59 “Wyoming Valley”, in Classic Encyclopedia (Based on the 11th Edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica of 1911), www.1911encyclopedia.org/Wyoming_Valley (accessed 13 Nov. 2008); George R. Fisher, MD, “The Third Pennamite War”, in Philadelphia Reflections, www.philadelphia-reflections.com/reflections.php?content=blogs_alpha/third_pennamite_war.html (accessed 13 Nov. 2008)(despite promises, Patterson’s soldiers were not disarmed, and assisted to arrest the surrendering Yankees); see The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut, 1769 – The Pennamite Wars, www.colonialwarsct.org/1769.htm (accessed 13 Nov. 2008).

27 of the Connecticut settler prisoners were brought to Easton’s jail, but they ultimately overpowered the guard and escaped. See Ethan Allen Weaver, “The Forks of the Delaware” Illustrated xvii (Eschenbach Press, Easton, PA, 1900); Rev. Uzal W. Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a 27-28 (George W. West 1885).

60 “Wyoming Valley”, in Classic Encyclopedia (Based on the 11th Edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica of 1911), www.1911encyclopedia.org/Wyoming_Valley (accessed 13 Nov. 2008).

61 George R. Fisher, MD, “The Third Pennamite War”, in Philadelphia Reflections, www.philadelphia-reflections.com/reflections.php?content=blogs_alpha/third_pennamite_war.html (accessed 13 Nov. 2008).

62 1.Jagdmoroner Abteilung (1.JMA) Member “Justinian”, Yankee-Pennamite Wars, www.1jma.dk/articles/1jmaarticlesyankeewar.htm (accessed 13 Nov. 2008).

63 Pennsylvania State Education Association (Sponsor), ExplorePAhistory.com “Historical Markers: Fort Wyoming”, www.explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=578 (accessed 13 Nov. 2008).

64 George R. Fisher, MD, “The Third Pennamite War”, in Philadelphia Reflections, www.philadelphia-reflections.com/reflections.php?content=blogs_alpha/third_pennamite_war.html (accessed 13 Nov. 2008);

65 George R. Fisher, MD, “The Third Pennamite War”, in Philadelphia Reflections, www.philadelphia-reflections.com/reflections.php?content=blogs_alpha/third_pennamite_war.html (accessed 13 Nov. 2008).

73 See Deed, Nicholas (Katherine) Kraemer/Kreamer to George Toxsell/Troxell, H3 223 (17 Oct. 1812)(recital that John and William Penn had sold the property to Nicholas Kraemer on 26 June 1812).

74 William Jacob Heller, History of Northampton County (Pennsylvania and the grand valley of the Lehigh 153-54 (Boston: American Historical Society 1920).

75 Deed, Nicholas (Katherine) Kraemer/Kreamer to George Toxsell/Troxell, H3 223 (17 Oct. 1812). The names of the parties were spelled in different ways within the document, as indicated.

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76 Deed Poll, David Raub, Sheriff, to David Wagener, E4 195 (17 Aug. 1818). Accord, Deed, John (Frances) Lesher to P.F.B. Schmid in trust for Anna Maria Lesher, B8 500 (10 Apr. 1850), which recites that John Lesher had bought the property on the same date from David Wagener. The property description still shows measurements of a 60’ front on Northampton Street (compared with the 30’ front for the property today). Compare with Northampton County Tax Records map, www.ncpub.org.

77 A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village: Pre-Revolutionary Easton 258-59 (Vol.III of Publications of The Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, 1940).

78 F.A. Davis (ed.), Capt. F. Ellis (Historian), History of Northampton County 266 (Peter Fritts 1877, reprint by Higginson Book Company); John Eyerman, Genealogical Studies: The Ancestry of Marguerite and John Eyerman 47 (Eschenbach Printing Company 1902)(death in 1860; misstates that the Bank Presidency 1852-60 was of the Easton National Bank, when in fact the Bank did not join the National banking system until 1865; includes a picture facing p.46); see Obituary, “David D. Wagener”, EASTON ARGUS obituary of Thursday, 4 Oct. 1860, p.2, col.5 (age 68); see also Rev. Uzal W. Condit, History of Easton, Penn’a 194-95 (George W. West 1885 / 1889)(and portrait – states death in 1869 and that Wagener (rather than his estate) gave the land for the Northampton County Courthouse, but then quotes the 1860 ARGUS obituary).

See generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Wagner Mansion (Pomfret Club) at 33 South Fourth Street.

79 Article, “Rich Men”, EASTON ARGUS, Thurs., 21 Nov. 1861, p.2, col.3. The other two identified by the ARGUS were Peter Miller and Col. Thomas Mckeen. See generally separate entries for the Col. Thomas McKeen Mansion at 231 Spring Garden Street and Two Rivers Landing at 30 Centre Square.

46 Charles Miner, History of Wyoming in a Series of Letters to His Son, William Penn Miner, Esq., Letter IX, in Wikisource, The Free Library, en.wikisource.org/wiki/History_of_Wyoming/Letter_IX (1845, website accessed 13 Nov. 2008).

47 “Capitulation” dated 15 August 1771, in Charles F. Hoban (ed.), VIII Pennsylvania Archives Eighth Series 6672-73.

66 “Wyoming Valley”, in Classic Encyclopedia (Based on the 11th Edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica of 1911), www.1911encyclopedia.org/Wyoming_Valley (accessed 13 Nov. 2008).

67 The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut, 1769 – The Pennamite Wars, www.colonialwarsct.org/1769.htm (accessed 13 Nov. 2008).

68 Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed., “Wyoming Valley”, through Infoplease Website, www.infoplease.com/ce6/us/A0852865.html (accessed 13 Nov. 2008).

69 Summary by The Philadelphia Rare Books and Manuscript Company of Alexander Patterson, Petition (Robert Bailey 1804)(copy offered for sale at $375.00).

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70 John Blair Linn and William H. Egle (eds.), I Pennsylvania in the War of the Revolution, Battalions and Line 1775 – 1783 (vol.10 Pennsylvania Archives Second Series) 777 (Clarence M. Busch, State Printer 1895)(pensioned 10 Feb. 1804).

71 Henry F. Marx, I Marriages and Deaths Northampton County Newspaper Extracts 1799 – 1851 99 (Easton Area Public Library 1929)(Capt. Alexander Patterson, “formerly an officer in the Revolutionary war”, died 11 April, age 79, from Easton Centinel of 19 Apr. 1822); see also Trinity Episcopal Church of Easton, Pennsylvania Register of Baptisms, Funerals and Marriages (Easton Area Public Library Church Records Collection Vol.T) 77 (copied in Easton Public Library 1936)(burial of Alexander Patterson, died 13 April 1822 aged 81 years). Despite the discrepancy of two days in the death date and two years in the recorded age of these records, they probably represent the same person.

72 John Blair Linn and William H. Egle (eds.), I Pennsylvania in the War of the Revolution, Battalions and Line 1775 – 1783 (vol.10 Pennsylvania Archives Second Series) 777 (Clarence M. Busch, State Printer 1895).

80 Floyd S. Bixler, The History with Reminiscences of the Early Taverns and Inns of Easton, Paper read before the Northampton County Historical Society on 25 Oct. 1930, at 6 (Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1931). This source indicates that Samuel Siegfried’s grandson, Henry Siegfried, became the Cashier of the Easton National Bank in Mr. Bixler’s time.

81 Deed, David (Rosanne) Wagener to James Hess, F7 49 (13 June 1846)(sale price $550 for a parcel measuring 30’ on Northampton Street X 116’ deep to the private alley that had been laid out by Wagener, a recital establishes that this private alley at the rear passed from Juliana (now 5th) Street to the Lot of John Clifton to the West).

82 See www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Hess Apartments at 505-07 Northampton Street.

84 Deed, John (Frances) Lesher to P.F.B. Schmid in trust for Anna Maria Lesher, B8 500 (10 Apr. 1850). This deed recites that John Lesher bought the property on the same date from David Wagener, but gives only a blank reference to where the deed is recorded, and no such deed is indexed in the Northampton County records.

See also Deed, Abraham (Caroline) Friedlich to John Kern, G11 636 (18 Mar. 1868), regarding the property next door (that later became 505-07 Northampton Street), which recites that the property to the East (i.e., the corner property) was owned by Anna Maria Lescher. Note the German spelling of “Lescher”, which is different from the Anglicized spelling actually used on deeds relating to the corner property.

85 See Jean Margaret Christia Brewer, Some of the Descendants of John Lesher and His Wife Maria Caterhine Loesch (typewritten 1985)(copy in Lesher Family File, Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library). Entry #26 for John Lesher (1795-1882) shows his second wife was Mrs. Frances W. Hill (1813-84), consistent with the Deed entry above. Entry #27, for John’s brother Jacob Lesher (1799-1879), shows his wife (married in 1828) as Anna Maria Jackson, again

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consistent with the Deed shown above. 86 The 1850 deed (cited above) recites that Anna Maria and Jacob Lesher were residents of

Warren County, New Jersey. In 1871, when they sold property, their residence was specifically given as being in Phillipsburg (which is in Warren County). Deed, P.F.B. Schmid, Trustee for Anna Maria Lesher (wife of Jacob Lesher, resident of Phillipsburg), to Daniel Herster, F13 235 (10 Nov. 1871).

87 Jean Margaret Christia Brewer, Some of the Descendants of John Lesher and His Wife Maria Caterhine Loesch (typewritten 1985)(copy in Lesher Family File, Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library).

88 William J. Heller (apparently), ”Anna Matilda Lesher”, undated typewritten letter on stationery of William J. Heller, President of The American Flag Mfg. Co. (copy in Lesher Family File, Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library).

89 See James Wright, History of Forks Township Northampton County, Pennsylvania 23 (1991).

90 Jean Margaret Christia Brewer, Some of the Descendants of John Lesher and His Wife Maria Caterhine Loesch (typewritten 1985)(copy in Lesher Family File, Marx Room, Easton Area Public Library).

91 Deed, P.F.B. Schmid, Trustee for Anna Maria Lesher, to Daniel Herster, F13 235 (10 Nov. 1871)(Two Story Tenement at the NW corner of Northampton and Juliana Streets, Herster listed as a butcher); accord, D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874)(D. Herster located at corner property).

Previously, in 1864, Daniel Herster was located at 255 Northampton Street. Talbot’s Lehigh Valley Gazetteer and Business Directory 1864-65 17 (Press of Wynkoop & Hallenbeck 1864). Given the pre-1874 Northampton Street house numbers listed on www.WalkingEaston.com, this would appear to have been located in the West Ward, outside of the Easton Historic District. See generally 1860 Census, Series M653, Roll 2247, p.295 (Daniel Herster, age 37, boarding at Joseph Shultz’s Inn in Easton’s Bushkill Ward).

92 See Fitzgerald & Dillon, Easton Directory for 1870-71 50 (Ringwalt & Brown 1870)(D. Herster, meat market, 197 Northampton Street); Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 80 (1873)(Daniel Herster, butcher, at 197 Northampton Street).

93 Article, “The New Numbers”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Sat., 22 Nov. 1873, p.3, cols.5-7; see Webb Bros. & Co., Webb’s Easton and Phillipsburg Directory 1875-6 63 (M.J. Riegel 1875)(Daniel Herster, meat market, 501 Northampton).

94 See J.H. Lant & Son, Easton [Etc.] Directory 1881-2 58 (1881)(D. Herster, butcher, 501 Northampton Street).. See also J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc.] Directory for 1879 93 (M.J. Riegel 1879)(Daniel Herster, butcher, 503 Northampton Street).

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95 See Fitzgerald & Dillon, Easton Directory for 1870-71 50 (Ringwalt & Brown 1870)(D. Herster home Northampton near Seventh); Webb Bros. & Co., Webb’s Easton and Phillipsburg Directory 1875-6 63 (M.J. Riegel 1875)(Daniel Herster home at the corner of North Seventh and Northampton Streets); J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc,] Directory for 1877 87 (M.J. Riegel 1877)(Daniel Herster, butcher, home on Wood Street); J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc.] Directory for 1879 93 (M.J. Riegel 1879)(Daniel Herster home on Wood); 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1162, p.439D (Daniel Herster residing on Wood Street); J.H. Lant & Son, Easton [Etc.] Directory 1881-2 58 (1881)(D. Herster home at 709 Wood Street).

The modern Northampton County Tax Records map lists 707-09 Wood Street as the fourth house from the triangular corner on the North side of Wood Street. www.ncpub.org (accessed 10 Nov. 2008).

96 See 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1162, p.439D (Daniel Herster, age listed as 61, butcher residing on Wood Street with his wife, Catharine, age 38, an immigrant from Ireland); 1870 Census, Series M593, Roll 1382, p.114B (Daniel Herster, butcher in the West Ward, age 46, with wife Catharine age 28 and a daughter Lucy age 9, with a net worth of $1500 in real estate).

97 Henry F. Marx (compiler), III Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1871 – 1884 Newspaper Extracts 746 (Easton Area Public Library 1935).

98 See 30 Northampton County Orphan’s Court Record 266 (Mary J. Folkenson was Daniel Herster’s “only daughter and heir at law”). Her husband was named George. 30 Northampton County Orphan’s Court Record 241 (5 Jan. 1883). Thus, she was almost certainly not the Mary Folkenson (age 30) married to James Folkenson (a laborer) listed in Easton’s Fourth Ward in the 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1162, p.10D.

The Orphan’s Court Record proceedings record her name variously:

o As “Folkeson”. 30 Northampton County Orphan’s Court Record 172 (11 Oct. 1882), and Orphan’s Court Index.

o As “Folkerson”. 30 Northampton County Orphan’s Court Record 241(5 Jan. 1883).

o As “Folkenson”. 30 Northampton County Orphan’s Court Record 266 (19 Feb. 1883).

The last spelling appears to be correct, based upon the recitals in the 1914 deed when her estate sold the property. Deed, Northampton Trust Company, Trustee of Estate of Mary J. Folkenson, to Philip Moses, B42 323 (27 Nov. 1914)(recitals).

99 30 Northampton County Orphan’s Court Record 172 (11 Oct. 1882). 100 30 Northampton County Orphan’s Court Record 186 (27 Oct. 1882). The new

Administrator was named John Bitters. 101 30 Northampton County Orphan’s Court Record 241(5 Jan. 1883)(Catherine Herster’s

Petition to Partition the estate filed); 30 Northampton County Orphan’s Court Record 256 (5 Feb.

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1883)(report of “Inquisition” on 26 January that found the Hooper House property could not be physically partitioned while maintaining its value, and valued the parcel at $8700).

102 30 Northampton County Orphan’s Court Record 266 (19 Feb. 1883) (Northampton County Orphan’s Court File No. 10602, Folder 3934); see Deed, Northampton Trust Company, Trustee of Estate of Mary J. Folkenson, to Philip Moses, B42 323 (27 Nov. 1914)(recitals).

At that hearing of 19 February 1883, Mrs. Folkenson accepted the land and the valuation of the “Inquisition”. After subtracting attorney, sheriff, and court fees, the land in the estate was held to be worth $8570.85, which put Widow Catherine Herster’s 1/3 dower share at $2856.95. The annual interest awarded was $171.41, which (by doing the arithmetic) implies a 6% interest rate. The interest was to be paid in semi-annual installments.

The calculations in this estate were attested by Attorney W.S. Kirkpatrick – who would later become the President Judge of the Third Judicial District Court, the Attorney-General of Pennsylvania (in 1887), and a U.S. Congressman (in 1896). See, e.g., William J. Heller, II History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh Biographical Section 17, 20-21 (American Historical Society 1920); separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Dr Innes Residence at 20 North Third Street.

103 George W. West, West’s Guide to Easton, etc. 157 (West & Everett, Job Printers 1883).104 Deed, Northampton Trust Company, Trustee of Estate of Mary J. Folkenson, to Philip

Moses, B42 323 (27 Nov. 1914)(sale price $27,000). 105 Deed, Vincent L. (Sabine) Moses and Edgar K. (June F.) Moses to Dominic (Christine)

Burgis, 362 536 (15 Dec. 1969)(Philip Moses’s will proved 22 Sept. 1915, leaving the property to his wife and sons; his wife (Bertie) died in 1946).

106 Charles M. Barnard (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton 168, 654 (Charles M. Barnard 1923).

107 Leonard S. Buscemi, Sr., Easton Remembered 18 (Buscemi Enterprises 2007). 108 Deed, Dominic (Christine) Burgis to Rock Church of Easton, Pennsylvania, 637-000556

(18 May 1979). 109 Tracy Jordan, “Church plans to restore building – City Council had questioned intent for

site with historic ties”, MORNING CALL, Thurs., 26 July 2007, p.B-3; see also Joe Nixon, “Rock Church Gets Clearance for Expansions”, MORNING CALL, Wed., 23 July 1986, p.B-3 (Rev. Samuel Santos said the first floor of the Hooper House would be used for a bible book store, with residential housing on the second and third floors).

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