On February 18 1769 William Maclay made first survey along the West side of the West Branch of the Susquehanna.
"He assisted in surveying the officers grand on the Susquehanna, in which he shared, as well as other lands." At the close of the war, he went to England to consult on business relating to the surveys, and when he returned to America, he acted as a representative of the Penn Family.
In 1769, William Maclay married Mary Mclure Harris, a daughter of John Harris, the founder of Harrisburg.
In 1772, when Northumberland County was first organized, Maclay was appointed prothonotary, and about this time he assisted in laying out the town of Sunbury.
In an article in the Selinsgrove Times in 1937, Agnes Shoch Selin uses the following quote, "Maclay laid out Sunbury along the conventional lines, much like William Penn's Green town of Philadelphia. When he laid out Harrisburg for his father in law, John Harris, he copied the Sunbury square almost to the same dimensions, and left space from the houseline on the river front highway free to the Susquehanna's brink a good 120 feet as he did at Sunbury."
April 26 1773 - William Maclay wrote a letter about the magazine at For Hunter being used as a jail, and the need for a "regular jail" to replace it.
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THE MACLAY MANSION
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The Maclay Mansion,
The Maclay Stone House in Sunbury was built in 1773. It was rebuilt into a mansion by Hon. Simon P. Wolverton, "whose indomitable personality simply dominated the place." The original foundation and some of the walls are original, but much of the house was so extensively remodeled, that it may bear little resemblance to the Maclay home.
One account states that the stone Maclay home was built within the stockade of Fort Augusta, another states that a stockade was added to the back of the home to protect it during the Great Runaway. It's possible both statements are true, I simply do not know.
"The stockade at the rear of the home was used as a storage depot and was the main base of supplies for General Sullivan in his 1779 expedition. "
Now this is a tricky one. The phrase "Shoemaker Said" automatically means half my readers won't believe the next sentence I type. But if it helps, in this case "Shoemaker said that Heber G. Gearhart said". For now, that's the best I can do. There's a booklet entitled The Maclay-Wolverton House By Heber G. Gearhart that I believe can be purchased at the Northumberland County Historical Society - but I haven't yet had a chance to check. For now, the best I could find is an article by Shoemaker where he references Gearhart's work:
"The oldest house in Sunbury is the house built in 1773, Front and Augusta Streets, and is the second oldest building put up in Sunbury, a stockaded fort erected in 1767 antedating it. Like Major Maclay's residence in Harrisburg, it is built of limestone. In 1778 Col. Thomas Harley stockaded the rear portion for better protection of hordes of refugees from the great runaway. At the same time, an underground passageway was dug from the cellar to the river, which is now walled up. The fortified house was used during the Revolutionary War for storage of supplies and ammunition."
Yes, another mention of a tunnel in Sunbury. But this one is REAL! Here's a photo from the 2001 Daily Item, taken by historian John Moore:
The caption reads:
"Mark Walberg uses a flashlight to examine a vertical shaft in a brick tunnel off the cellar of the Maclay-Wolverton House."
Gearhart is also quoted as saying:
"MAJOR Maclay also took a leading part in enlarging the jail, which was rebuilt in 1775. Sunbury also had a whipping post, stocks and pillory, and from 'the rear upper windows of the Maclay mansion the blood-curdling whippings could be witnessed in the center square. Old people related seeing the faces of the major's serving maids and serving men . glued against the panes, drinking in these chastisements with the same avidity that Casanova describes the aristocracy of Paris in rented windows watching the dismemberment of Damiens, who tried to shoot King Louis XV. At last, missing them from their accustomed duties, Lady Maclay caught them 'red-handed' and threatened to send them all to similar punishment if she found them again at the windows.
"NOT only men, but women and children figured in these public punishments, and the cries of obstreperous, bond girls and incorrigible children, sometimes sent their by their parents, under the lash could be heard all over the town. A part, of the whip, a formidable weapon, was given to an antiques collector recently having been long preserved in the family of one of the jailers. THE stocks were built into the front yard fence ' of the Maclay mansion and the pillory, just across the street from the major's front doors, but old timers do not recall any of the Maclays taking notice of the poor wretches, 'too well bred,' though sometimes passersby got them a tin of water or held an apple for them to munch.."
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Maclay took an active part in the Pennymite wars, opposing the claims of the Susquehanna Company and advising Penn not to sell his rights to the Wyoming Valley. [In the Pennymite Wars, settlers from Connecticut (Yankees) and Pennsylvania (Pennamites) disputed for control of the Wyoming Valley along the North Branch of the Susquehanna River. Both colonies and later states declared that their original land grants gave them control of this territory]
During the Revolutionary War, Maclay took part in the battles of Trenton and Princeton.
1775 Notice of Strayed Or Stolen Horse, of William Maclay of Sunbury
This was an interesting article.. a man thought to be treasonous [ "suspected of loyalist sympathies"] was delivering a package to Charles Maclay. "It is probable that Stedman believed he could convince Maclay to his viewpoint..." His mention of Wallis, if that is indeed Samuel Wallis he refers to in his journal, is also interesting. But, as far as I can find, no one really believes Maclay was anything other than a patriot. His interactions with traitors does not mean he himself was a traitor.
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THE GREAT RUNAWAY OF 1778
In 1778, during the great Runaway, Maclay and his family fled down river to the home of his in-laws. Both at that time, and again after the attack and burning of Fort Freeland, Maclay wrote to the government "describing the frightening conditions of this frontier"
"I left Sunbury and almost my whole property on Wednesday last. I will not trouble you with a recital of the inconveniences I suffered while I brought my family by water to this place. I never in my life saw such scenes of distress. The river and roads leading down it were covered with men, women, and children flying for their lives. In short, Northumberland County is broken up."
"Colonel Hunter only remained, using his utmost endeavors to rally the inhabitants to make a stand. I left him with a few - I can not speak confidently as to numbers- but he had not 100 men on whom he could depend. Mrs. Hunter came down with me. As he is now disencumbered of his family, I am convinced he will do everything that can be expected from a brave and determined man. Something in the way of charity ought to be done for the miserable objects that crowd the banks of this river, especially those who fled from Wyoming. You know I did not used to love them, but I now sincerely pity their distress."
[By far the Kindest words I've read by Maclay so far]
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THE NEW GOVERNMENT
AND IT'S FIRST SENATORS
On October 1st 1788, The first United States Senators were elected. One of the two from Pennsylvania was William Maclay of Northumberland County
October 1788
While in the Senate, Maclay lead the opposition to President Washington, "objecting to his present in the senate during the transaction of business.." He is considered to be the leader of the movement that became the Democratic party.
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EXCERPTS FROM MACLAYS JOURNAL
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"William Maclay (1737-1804) received a nearly unanimous vote of the Pennsylvania state legislature on September 30, 1788, and joined fellow Pennsylvanian Robert Morris to become one of the first two United States senators. Prior to his election to the Senate, Maclay served in the French and Indian Wars and later joined the militia to fight for American independence. After learning the trade of surveying and studying law, he served in the Pennsylvania state legislature. Today, Maclay is remembered for his defense of democratic principles and his sarcastic, critical wit—quite evident in The Journal of William Maclay ."
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DINNER WITH THE WASHINGTONS
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Presidential Mansion, Philadelphia PA
occupied by George Washington November 1790–March 1797
and by John Adams March 1797–May 1800
In 1789, New York was the temporary capital of the new nation. President George Washington, and his wife Martha, had a residence near where the Senate met. That August, Senator Maclay attended a dinner at the Washington home. Also present was John Adams, among others.
William Maclays journal can be downloaded and read for free here.
His entry for Thursday, Aug. 27, 1789 tells of his dinner with the Washingtons:
“At a little after 4, I called on Mr. Bassett, of the Delaware State. We went to the president’s to dinner. The company were: president and Mrs. Washington, Vice President (John) and Mrs. Adams, the governor (of New York) and his wife, Mr. Jay and wife, Mr. Langdon and wife, Mr. Dalton and a lady (perhaps his wife), and a Mr. Smith, Mr. Bassett, myself, (and) Lear (and) Lewis, the president’s two secretaries.
The president and Mrs. Washington sat opposite each other in the middle of the table; the two secretaries, one at each end.
It was a great dinner, and the best of the kind I ever was at. The room, however, was disagreeably warm.
First was the soup; fish roasted and boiled; meats, gammon [ham], fowls, etc. This was the dinner. The middle of the table was garnished in the usual tasty way, with small images, flowers (artificial), etc. The dessert was, first apple-pies, pudding, etc.; then iced creams, jellies, etc.; then water-melons, musk-melons, apples, peaches, nuts.
It was the most solemn dinner ever I sat at. Not a health drank; scarce a word said until the cloth was taken away. Then the president, filling a glass of wine, with great formality drank to the health of every individual by name round the table. Everybody imitated him, charged glasses, and such a buzz of ‘health, sir,’ and ‘health, madam,’ and ‘thank you, sir,’ and ‘thank you, madam,’ never had I heard before.
Indeed, I had liked to have been thrown out in the hurry; but I got a little wine in my glass, and passed the ceremony. The ladies sat a good while, and the bottles passed about; but there was a dead silence almost. Mrs. Washington at last withdrew with the ladies.
I expected the men would now begin, but the same stillness remained. The President told of a New England clergyman who had lost a hat and wig in passing a river called the Brunks. He smiled, and everybody else laughed. He now and then said a sentence or two on some common subject, and what he said was not amiss...
The president kept a fork in his hand, when the cloth was taken away, I thought for the purpose of picking nuts. He ate no nuts, however, but played with the fork, striking on the edge of the table with it.
We did not sit long after the ladies retired.
The president rose, went up-stairs to drink coffee; the company followed. I took my hat and came home.”
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This early sketch of Sunbury is likely much past the time when Maclay was here. The courthouse, in the middle, was built in 1797,
MENTIONS OF SUNBURY
Below are the entries from Maclay's Journal that mention Sunbury, Pa:
May 30th, Sunday.—I rested but badly last night; had
ugly dreams. Am to dine out this day. I had best be careful
and attentive. How idle this idea! Dreams are but fallacious
things. I have dined out and have met with no disaster. I
had one strange dream of seeing a man fall from a place like
a saw-mill. I thought the mill was mine, yet it differed from
my mill at Sunbury. What a heap of idleness! My head
ached, hence I suppose my dreams. The man was not killed.
A dead child plagued me at another time. I have really little
to do, or I would not note all this down."
[William Maclay erected a gristmill in Sunbury in 1774, one of the very first along the West Branch]
Philadelphia, December 1, 1790.—Late in the afternoon I
arrived in Philadelphia in order to attend Congress, which is
to meet on Monday next. Saw nobody this afternoon nor
evening.
December 2d.—Dressed and called first on General Mifflin.
He was abroad. Then on Mr. Morris, who received me with
frankness. Called on the President, Clymer, and at Fitzsimons'.
The day soon became rainy. Came home. Heard
from my brother in the evening that some attempt was making
on the Sunbury lands by one Sewell and Hurst. This has
cut out work for me in the morning.
December 3d.—Dressed and went early to the Governor's.
He was at breakfast, and had four school-boys about him making
them show him their Latin exercises, repeat their lessons,
tell what books they were reading, etc. So much does he love
to be the cock of the school that he seems actually to court the
company of children, where he is sure he will meet with no
contradiction. His tongue ran like a whirligig. There was
no getting a word in among the children. I had, however,
considerable attention paid to me by two dogs, who pawed me
over. I learned that no decision had been given by the Board
of Property in the case of the Sunbury lands. Took the first
opportunity I possibly could of withdrawing. No public
character ever appeared to me more disgusting.
Called on David Kenedy, of the Land-Office, and made
what we thought the best arrangement respecting the affair of
Sunbury.
January 23d, Sunday.......
Mr. Wallis [Does this refer to
Samuel Wallis? ] Came into town this evening, but brought no
letters, and now I hear that Charles Smith set off this day for
Sunbury without giving me an opportunity of writing, or at
least without my knowing of his departure. It is not handsomely
done of either of them. But somebody else will do
them a dirty trick; God forbid it should be my luck to do it!
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Upon leaving the senate he took up permanent residence in Harrisburg, where he built the stone house that still stands today at the corner of front and south streets. He then served in the state house of representatives in 1795, a presidential elector that same year, and served as a county judge from 1801-1803.
"Situated across this street is the home of William Maclay (1737-1804); statesman, surveyor, lawyer, the Country's first U.S. Senator and son-in-law of John Harris Jr., the founder of Harrisburg. It was Maclay and Harris who laid out the plan of Harrisburg in 1785 with the northern boundary, ironically, at South street. North of this point was located Maclay's farm and land known as Maclaysburg situated between the River and the hill where the Old Capitol would be constructed in 1822.
Maclay's distinction of being the first U.S. Senator came after the Articles of Confederation provided for the organization of the new Federal government when the ninth state ratified the U.S. Constitution in 1788. Pennsylvania became the first state to elect its Senators through the State Legislature with Maclay being the first and Robert Morris, the second.
Erected in 1792, Maclay's dwelling originally had the appearance of a simple stone farmhouse with high foundation and elevated first floor. In 1908, the home was purchased by William E. Bailey, a descendant of an early Harrisburg iron and steel industrialist family, who enlisted the expertise of City architect "
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RECOMMENDS HARRISBURG OVER NORTHUMBERLAND
FOR STATE CAPITOL
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When Northumberland PA was being considered as the Capitol of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Wolverton "threw his influence to Harrisburg instead."
From 1790 to 1799 when Philadelphia was the nation's Capital, the state and national legislatures both met in the same building. In 1785 John Harris Jr [Maclays brother in law] donated four acres of land along the Susquehanna and recommended this as the site of the new state capitol. In 1799, the congress, " citing reasons ranging from disease to population growth, moved westward to Lancaster". In 1812, the assembly used Harris' donated land, combined with 10 acres purchased from William Maclay, to build two state buildings. The Legislature then moved to Harrisburg, meeting in the old Dauphin County Courthouse until the capitol building was completed in 1821. [
That first building was lost in a fire in 1897]
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Maclay died April 16th 1804, aged 66, and is buried in Paxton Presbyterian Churchyard in Harrisburg PA. His brother Samuel Maclay is buried in the Dreisbach Church Cemetery, Union County Pa.
After his death, his stone home in Sunbury was passed to his daughter Jane, who married John Lyon. For a short time, the house was a tavern. In 1865, it was purchased by Simon P. Wolverton. Wolverton remodeled and enlarged it.
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IN THE TIME OF MACLAY IN SUNBURY
What else was happening in & around the West Branch
From Roughly 1770-1791, when Maclay was here
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READ MORE
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William Maclay's brother Samuel was born in 1741, and died in 1811 in Northumberland County Pa. Samuel assisted William in surveying the officers tracts in the Buffalo Valley, and then made his home on that side of the river. Samuel served in both the State, and U.S., Senate.
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