The Diary of Thomas Smith, Summer 1794

 

Diary Of Thomas Smith, 1794

A Surveyor, thought to have lived near Milton or Watsontown

This is one of those things I have in my files, that I have no recollection of why it is in my files.  I do not know where it came from, nor do I recall why I found it interesting enough to preserve.  I place it here so that others can access it, and perhaps eventually it will connect to some other area of my work, or  perhaps become some enlightenment for another researcher.  

Scans of the pages, all of which are obviously typed transcript , are below.

===================

The first 5 pages of transcriptions are short daily entries of movements, and where he stayed.  The last three pages are titled:

"Entry's of the Hang Employ: by Tho's Smith when the start from home.  George Clark July 7th 1795, Nathaniel Cotter July 8th.  July 13th meetins McAdam Bonser Stuard and Mr Elliot at Larries Creek.  These last three pages are slightly more narrative  So far I have only listed the names and places in the first 5 pages. 

===============

THE SCANS

==============

===============

FOR SEARCH PURPOSES

==============

The transcription begins in July of 1794, and mentions the following names:

David Shannon

Levy Stayd

David Hannah

Turner

Wilson

Robert Fleming Esq

Mr Elioot

Conaways

John Smith

Jonathan Isaac

Starling

Henry Donnel [later spelled Donal]

John Hannah

P. Brady Grant

Wallises

John Limbo (or John and Limbo?)

Limbo Mason

John Smith

Lattimers

Jonathan Marts

Isaac Farran

Joseph Wallis

John Brady

Henry Donnels

Elisha Grames

John Irwin

Indians

Places mentioned:

Burch Island

Cinnamahoning 

Marsh Creek

big Mashannon

Snow Shoe camp

Trout Run

Clearfield Creek

Malone

David Hannah's Big Island

Northumberland

Derrs Town

Capt Curry's

Lycoming

Salt Lick

Beec and Marsh Creeks

Walises Run

Bald Eagle Nest

Clearfield

Branch of Spruce Run

Munsyhill

Northumberland

In the second part of the diary,  there are additional details of the deer shot, bread made, camping with Indians, compass glass broken, etc. 

======================
Who was this Thomas Smith?  
========================

I am not certain.

There is a Thomas Smith, Esq, 1769-1844, buried in the Historic Warrior Run Church Cemetery.  That is a likely candidate, but I don't know enough to be sure.  It would be interesting to know if he was any relation to Matthew Smith, also buried there.  

-----------------

Colonel Matthew Smith

Matthew Smith resided on his farm a short distance above the mouth of Limestone run at the time of his death, was the eldest son of Robert Smith, of Paxtang, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania. He served in Bouquet's expedition, the final campaign of the French and Indian war; at the outbreak of the Revolution he organized a company of riflemen, which was assigned to Colonel Thompson's battalion and joined the Continental forces at Boston. On the 5th of Sept, 1775, his company was detached to Arnold's command for the expedition to Canada. Captain Smith survived the hardships of the march through the Maine woods, the disastrous assault at Quebec on the 31st of Dec, and the brief confinement as a prisoner of war which followed, and rejoined his regiment with the survivors of his company, but resigned his commission on the 5th of Dec, 1776, on account of the appointment of a junior captain to a majority. He was thereupon promoted to major in the Ninth Pennsylvania, to rank from Sept 27, 1776. In the spring of 1778 he was elected member of the Supreme Executive Council for Lancaster county and took his seat in that body on the 28th of May; he was elected vice- president of the State, Oct 11, 1779, but resigned shortly afterward. When intelligence of the fall of Fort Freeland reached Paxtang he marched to Sunbury with a volunteer company at the earliest possible moment, and commanded the five hundred militia who endeavored to overtake the retreating invaders. On the 4th of Feb, 1780, he was appointed prothonotary of Northumberland county, serving in that position until Sept 25, 1783, and resided in the county the remainder of his life. The following obituary appeared in Kennedy's Gazette, July 1794:

Died, the 22d instant, about sunset, at Milton, Colonel Matthew Smith, aged fifty four years, being one of the first patriots for liberty; went to Canada in the year 1775, and suffered extremities. He was once prothonotary of Northumberland county, was interred 23d instant, attended by a number of his friends and acquaintances, together with the volunteer company of light infantry from Milton; conducted by Major Piatt and commanded by Captain James Boyd, who, after marching about six miles to Warrior Run burying ground and shedding a tear over the old patriot's grave, deposited his remains with three well directed volleys and returned home in good order.

(Source: Bell's History Northumberland Co. 1891 - Pioneer History of Milton)

-------------------------------------

Friday (July 25th 1794) - "about 12 o'clock two cannoos starts up the river loaded with provision for our Little Store house above the mouth of Cinnamahoning.  Levy and I started to go to Mr Willssons all night.