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was concluded , Colonel Pickering was dispatched by the government of Pennsylvania , to negociate an accommodation with some Connecticut emigrants , who had taken possession of the Vale of Wyoming . On this expedition he met with many singular adventures , of which he has himself given an account in a little tract addressed to one of his sons .
Having pretty well succeeded in organizing the county , according to the powers vested in him by the legislative authority , he suddenly became obnoxious to the adherents of one John Franklin , who had been for some time visiting all the settlements to stir up the people to open and forcible opposition . Against this Franklin a warrant of arrest was
issued , and directed not to the newly established sheriff of the county , but to four gentlemen of known courage , who had served in the Revolutionary war . " Franklin was at that time about twenty or twenty-lire milea lower down the river , preparing his adherents for an explosion . In three or four days he came up to Wilkesbarre . The four gentlemen seized him . Two of their horses were in my stable , which were sent to them , but
soon my servant returned on one of them , with a message from the gentlemen , that people were assembling in numbers , and requesting me to come with what men were near me to prevent a rescue . I took loaded pistols in my hands , and went with another servant to their aid . Just as I met them , Franklin threw himself off from his horse , and renewed his struggle with them . His hair was dissheveiled and
face bloody , from preceding efforts . I told the gentlemen they would - never carry him off , unless his feet were tied under the horse ' s belly . I sent for a cord . The gentlemen remounted him , and my servant tied his feet . " After thus exposing himself to , the vengeance of the party , Colonel Pickering was persuaded by his friends to hide himself for a few hours in a wood . In
the evening he returned to his family . ( f Some of the well-disposed neighbours assembled in arms . The rising of Franklin ' s men was expected from the opposite side of the river . I desired my friends to place sentinels along the bank , and then sat down to sup with my family . Before I had finished that meal , a sentinel came iu haste from the river , and informed me that Franklin ' s adherents were crossing in boats . I took up a loaded pistol , and three or four small biscuits , and retired to a neighbouring field . Soon the yell of the insurgents
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apprized me of their arrival at my house , I listened to their noises a full half hoar ; when the clamour ceasing , f judged that the few armed neighbours , who had previously entered and fastened the doors , had surrendered . This was the fact ; the rioters ( as I afterwards learnt ) searching the house for me , and for concealed arms , if any there were . " — ' * Believing that when they- should
have searched the house in vain , they would proceed to the fields , " Colonel Pickering retreated to the side of the Wilkesbarre mountain , where he passed the night in the open air . In the morning he despatched a messenger to his own house to learn the state of affairs , and finding that he must still remain concealed , he waudered through pathless woods till he reached the Bear ' s
Creek , which he forded , and proceeded on his road to Philadelphia . The insurgents shortly after applied for pardon , which was granted . " It was natural to infer , " says Colonel Pickering , " that I might return to my family . I proceeded accordingly , but when within twenty-fire miles , I sent a letter to your
mother , desiring her to consult some of the discreet neighbours , who were my friends , relative to my return . She did so . They were of opinion that I could not return with safety at present . ' So I went back to Philadelphia . " The arrest of Franklin had taken place early iti the month of October . In the December
following , a convention being called by the legislature of Pennsylvania , the people of Luzerne county chose Colonel Pickering as their delegate , to represent them at it , and he could no longer doubt that he might return to Wyoming . "I arrived there the beginning of January ,
1788 . Franklin remained in jail at Philadelphia . In the spring of that year , as early I think as April , there were indications of some plot against me ; and then , or soon after , it was menacingly intimated to me by Major Jenkins . By the month of June the indications of
some sort of an attack upon me became more apparent . On the 26 th , at about eleven at night , when your mother and I were asleep , and your brother Edward , nine months old , was lying on my arm , I was wakened by a violent opening of the door of the room . * Who's there ?'
I asked . ' Get up / was the answer . * Don't strike , ' said I , * I have an infant on my arm / I rolled Edward from my arm , rose , and put on my clothes . Your mother slipped out of the other side of the bed ; and , putting on some clothes , went to the kitchen , and soon returned
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566 Critical Notices .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1829, page 566, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2575/page/46/
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