Amariah Sutton (1728 - 1817)

Born 4 Jan 1728 in Piscataway or Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Letitia (Haines) Sutton — married 1745 in Piscataway Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey

Husband of Mary (Winters or Wilson) Sutton — married after 1781 in New Jersey

Descendants

Died 17 Oct 1817 at age 89 in Williamsport, Lycoming, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Source: John Reeder Association. Included within the following text is the copy written research of Wikitree Volunteer Meehan-411 as noted below which she has posted on-line. ^[1]

Gen.com and Myfamily.com which is a part of Ancestral.com have many families submitting this information. Some of the Postings are listed on notes of Amariah's father.

Quoting: ``We note that slave-holding was countenanced in Williamsport into the 1840's. the number of slaves never exceeded 50 but among their owners were Colonel Hepburn and Dr. Samuel Coleman, early masters of Williamsport's first Masonic Lodge; Amariah Sutton, father of Methodism on the West Branch; and John Rose, a prosperous farmer whose acres comprised most of the 6th and 1 0th Wards of the city. Fugitive slaves had helpful friends in this locality. Nigger Hollow, renamed Freedom Road about 50 years ago, was one of their sanctuaries. Abraham Updegraff and Tunison Coryell, prominent businessmen, aided them openly. Fugitives found concealment in Nigger hollow, north of the city, during the day, and at night were hurried across the hills to the Williamsport and Elmira Railroad. Known friends on the line would get them to Elmira, and thence to Canada.`` ^[2]

This the will of Amariah Sutton b. 1/14/1729/30 d. (will proved) 10/17/1817 Loyalsock Twp, Lycoming Co, Pa. In the name of God Àmen. I Amariah Sutton of the township of Loyalsock in the county of Lycoming and state of Pennsylvania, being weak in body but of a sound, disposing mind and memory, and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs do make and ordain this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at any time made. I bequeath to my wife Mary all my household furniture of every kind & description except such articles as I do hereafter otherwise dispose of and the use of two rooms on the lower floor of my dwelling house and one chamber in the second story at her option together with the use of the cellar. Likewise the choice of one horse, two cows, two sheep, and two hogs . And of my stock I also give and devise unto her the third part of all the profits arising from my land for and during the term of her widowhood. Likewise the use of the house as aforesaid. To my Grandson Amariah Sutton I give two horses and a waggon to enable him to work on the land which I live on. I hereby nominate and appoint the Rev Henry Lenhart and Aaron Hagerman, my son-in-law trustees to have and to hold all the residue of my real estate (except those parts here after devised to my daughter in trust and for the use of my son Amariah Sutton for and during the term natural life and I will that he shall remain upon the land as heretofore for said term and shall not clear any more land nor use any timber other than what may b e needing for the benefit of the same if he commits to any waste or as contrary in any respect to this my will he shall forfeit his interest in the property which may arise from the same . He shall also regularly deliver over to my wife her 1/3 part as above devised to her and in case of mismanagement on the part of my said grandson or forfeit of his interest as for the causes and reasons hereafter before specified then and in that case my Trustees shall have full power and authority to act as may to them appear most conducive to answer my will. Applying the profits to which he entitled under this my will to his use for the term. I give and bequeath to my son Isaiah Sutton the sum of ten dollars and all my wearing apparell of every kind. To my great-grandson Ared Sutton I do hereby devise all my real estate except those parts given to my daughters by which I mean that the legal title to the same shall be to him immediately on my decease. Although the profits arising from the same for the terms and on the conditions afore shall be applied. I likewise bequeath unto him my rifle, 4 books. To my daughter Esnath Hagerman I devise the field now occupied by Joseph Williams on the south side of t he great road leading from Williamsport to Newberry adjoining the same as the tract belonging to the heirs of John Rose dec'd. Also the field on the north side of said road adjoining the same & the orchard ...bounded by the said as at present laid out...thence along the line between my land and that of Isaac Lyon, thence to land granted by me to Amariah Williams. Also I give her 2/3 of the money arising from the sale of the residue of my personal property not disposed of by my will. Provided there shall be sufficient in the hands of my Executors to all necessary expenses incurred in the settlement of my estate. And the remaining 1/ 3 I bequeath to my granddaughter Patty Walton. To Lucy ?? me bed and the necessary bedding and a spinning wheel. It is my will that if any of the above devised shall institute a suit o r suits in law for the purpose of destroying this my last will and testament that he, she o r they shall forfiet all the interest which they might have under the same. I do hereby also name and appoint the Rev Henry Lenhart and Aaron Hagerman my executors and my wife Mary m y executrix to carry this my will and testament into effect. I do hereto fore set my hand and seal the eleventh day of November One thousand and eight hundred and sixteen. Amariah Sutton. ^[3]

Birthdate listed as 4 Jan 1730 on milosutton Web page link: William Sutton 1641 Birthdate as 4 Jan 1729 Woodbridge and Piscataway, New Jersey; Marriages, ^[4]

METHODIST EPISCOPAL. Next to the Lycoming Presbyterian church in age, if not coeval with, it, comes the Pine Street Methodist Episcopal church. Methodism was introduced here in 1791. In the pioneer cabin of Amariah Sutton, which stood near the present barn of Hon. R. J. C. Walker, West Fourth street, the first society in the county was formed in the autumn of 1791. May 6th of this year the circuit of Northumberland was formed and Richard Parriott and Lewis Browning appointed preachers in charge. During a portion of this year there was no preaching place between Northumberland and Sutton's, at Lycoming creek. The members of the first class were as follows: James Bailey, leader, Rhoda Bailey, Amariah Sutton, Martha Sutton, John Sutton, Dorothy Sutton, Harman Updegraff, Eve Updegraff, Hannah Sutton, Rebecca Smith, Ebenezer Still, Lois Still, and Letitia Williams. At this time Arad Sutton, a son of Amariah, seems to have had charge of affairs. Long before this, (1776,) as has been shown, Amariah Sutton conveyed an acre and a quarter of ground for, a cemetery, church, and school house, a short distance east of his cabin, which shows that the nucleus of what afterwards became the Methodist society existed at a much earlier date than is generally supposed. At an early period, the date of which has not been discovered, a frame church was built on the cemetery lot on Fourth street, in accordance w ith the provisions of Sutton's deed conveying the land, where the infant congregation worshiped for Some years. It is related that Lorenzo Dow once appeared at the Sutton house and preached, after which he mounted his horse and disappeared.

In 1890 a church was built on the ground donated for a graveyard, church, and school house i n March, 1776, by Amariah Sutton, and called the Fourth Street Methodist Episcopal church. The ground on which this building stands was consecrated by the blood of the slain in the massacre of June 10, 1778. Although Sutton's deed (see Deed Book E, page 385) specifically states for what purpose be gave the ground, there had been no church there for nearly forty years; and since its erection many graves have been obliterated, and others will soon disappear, although its donor, whose ashes also rest there, emphatically stated it should remain a burial ground "forever." The membership is 160; number of Sunday school scholars, 180. Value of the property, $11,000.

Here are notes from Phillip Sutton Database Amariah of Amaziah? Born 1728 or 1729. May have been married four times. Amariah Sutton became the owner of that part of Orme's Kirk (287½ acres) lying next to Lycoming creek. It Was conveyed to him by Turbutt Francis, January 19, 1775, in Consideration of £2 10 17s, " lawful money of Pennsylvania." The patent to Francis was signed by Richard Penn, lieutenant governor. Sutton's deed is recorded at Sunbury in Book F, page 141. He was an Englishman, a brother-in-law of Winter, and settled there certainly as early as 1770. He was repute d to have had four wives and many children. His death occurred October 17, 1817. William Winter had two wives and nineteen children, and his neighbor, Judge Hepburn, had two wives and nineteen children also. Sutton by deed dated September 3, 1808, (see Deed Book VI, page 275,) also, conveyed to Daniel Tallman, Jeremiah Tallman, William Tharp, Alexander Smith, Thomas Smith, William Collins, and John Forster, trustees of the Lycoming congregation of the Methodist Episcopal church, i n consideration of $1, ten acres of ground on which to erect buildings for the accommodation of ministers of that denomination. The terms of the conveyance not being complied with, the land reverted. This ground is now occupied by the Demorest Sewing Machine Works. ^[5]

CHAPTER XXI. WILLIAMSPORT (CONTINUED).

CEMETERIES. The log house of Amariah Sutton stood near the site of the "red barn," now owned by Hon. R. J . C. Walker, and the surrounding land was his farm. Sutton was one of the leading men of the times. On the 20th of March, 1776-three months and fourteen days before the Declaration o f Independence was proclaimed he conveyed (See Deed Book V, page 385) to James Hagerman, Andrew Culbertson, Edmund Ruff, and Thomas Hughes, trustees of the Lycoming congregation, in consideration of 5s, a piece of land in these quaint words: A certain lot or piece of land of 287½ acres, on the north side of the great road, containing one and a quarter acres, with buildings and improvements thereon, for a public burying place forever; and also to build a meeting house thereon for the public worship of God by the majority of the Protestant people of the said congregation thereon forever. And likewise also, to raise a school house thereon for the education of the children of the settlement thereabout s therein successively forever; provided always that the people of the aforesaid congregation or a majority of them, have liberty at a future day to add to or diminish the number of the trustees, or that any one or more of them be and continue to act as trustees only during the pleasure of the majority of the people of said congregation. And if it should be found expedient, hereafter at any time or times to turn any one or more of said trustees out of, said office of trusteeship, or any remove away, or any are removed by death, that it shall be legal for the people to convene ?and the majority of them may turn out any one of said trustees and elect others in their places. They are also authorized to hold the ground for a burying place, while Protestants only, for a school and meeting house, forever. This is the oldest burying ground in the county that we have any account of that was set apart by deed for that purpose. The burial grounds at Muncy and Hall's are perhaps older, but the author is not aware of any legal conveyances designating, them for such purposes. It was in this graveyard that the killed in the massacre of June 10, 1778, which occurred within a few hundred yards of the spot, were buried. And here also the bodies of the men killed by the Indians in the early autumn of 1778, while cutting grass on the flat near the present trotting ground, were buried. These were among the first interments. Sutton, Hepburn, and many others of the original settlers, were buried there, and some of their tombstones may yet be seen. The remains of others have been removed to Wildwood. Realizing the importance of having a place of burial near the limits of his town the Sutton graveyard being considered too far to the west Ross set aside a plot of ground in a field on h is farm, which is now occupied by the residences of David Stuempfle, Mrs. Godfrey Hess and others, on Fourth street near Penn, for that purpose. He afterwards designated a square on Pine street for a cemetery; this ground, known as the Pine street, or Ross, graveyard, was set a part for that purpose in 1796 by Michael Ross, the founder of Williamsport. It comprised a square of ground, and in it the founder and his family were buried. It was his intention to con vey the ground on Pine street to the borough, but dying before he could execute the papers, i t remained for his descendants to carry out his intentions by deed. It was not laid out regularly in lots and the dead were buried promiscuously. The ground as early as 1850 was filled t o overflowing and it was apparent to all that burials there would have to be discontinued. Interments ceased about 1856. July 1, 1867, councils passed an ordinance making it the duty o f the city surveyor and street commissioner, one year after its passage, to remove the monuments, head and footstones, grade and lay out the grounds for a park. S. L. Youngman, Esq., who lived opposite the ground, then put up a board on a tree labeled "Ross Park," and it has been known by that title ever since. But instead of being made a park, it is a general receptable for building material and rubbish. In 1887 the city erected a small brick building on the southwest corner for police headquarters and a look-up, which is still used for such purposes. Next to the Fourth Street graveyard the Lycoming (Newberry) burial ground is the oldest in the city. There are no records to show when it was set apart for that purpose, as it was doubtless started when the Indians claimed the land. Settlers were on: that side of the creek as early as 1770, and interments were very likely made there soon after. Possibly it may be older than the Sutton graveyard. The Culbertson settlement on the south side of the river was mad e very early, and it is not improbable that the dead from that side were brought to this ground for interment. Settlers on the river as far up as Level Corner used to bury their dead a t Newberry. The ground was enlarged as necessity demanded, and in 1850 the stone from the, old church were used to build a wall for its protection. Hundreds of interments have been mad e in this around, and it is still used. Amariah moved to Pennsylvania in 1768. Lycoming County History: "History of Lycoming County" by John Meginness, pp. 1892. ^[6] He makes no mention of Williamsport, because there were no settlements on its site at that day, excepting those of Amariah Sutton and two or three other improvements on Lycoming creek, nearly a mile from the river. There were some improvements on the Site of Jaysburg, and Culbertson's mill and house were on the South side of the river, opposite the mouth of Lycoming. (John) Toner's island, where they on camped, (then quite large) was in the river opposite Linden. Since that time it has been almost entirely washed away by the action of the water. No other places are, mentioned by him till Great Island was reached. There they succeeded in purchasing three horses, when they hurried up the river, reaching Sinnemahoning the, 29th of May.

Lycoming Petitions were signed by among others: Amariah Sutton, Richard Sutton, Joseph Sutton and James Sutton. These could possibly be relatives or cousins. Sutton Searchers, Issue #8 , Jan. 1993, page 3, has a reference to an Amariah Sutton (died Oct. 17, 1817). WFT Vol. 6 , #2089 and 1824, has an Amariah Sutton and descendants. (I don't think that there is a connection.) Will in Sutton Searchers, Issue #5, April 1992, page 10. "During the first part of the year 1791, there was no regular preaching place from Northumberland to Lycoming Creek. Religious services were organized and met at the house of Amariah Sutton. This house, or par t of it, is yet standing on the east bank of Lycoming Creek, on the main road from Williamsport to Jersey Shore.."(Florence Frandsen History) Pine Street Methodist Church At this place was formed the "First" society above Northumberland. The names of members of the first class are given as follows: James Bailey, Leader, Rhoda Bailey, Amariah Sutton, Martha Sutton, John Sutton, Hannah Sutton, Dorothy Sutton, Harman Updegraff, Eve Updegraff, Susann a Updegraff, Rebecca Smith, Alezander Smith, Ebenezer Still, Lois Still, Leitia Williams. This was the establishment of the Methodist church of Pine Street.

Early Officials and Assessments. - The records show that the township officers for Loyalsock in 1787, the first year such officers were chosen, were as follows. Constable, Uriah Barber; overseers: Amariah Sutton, John McAdams; supervisors: William Winter, William Hammond; viewers of fences: Samuel Sutton, William Jones. In 1789 they were as follows: Constable, William Winter; overseers: William Hepburn, William Winter; supervisors: William Winter, William Hammond; viewers of fences: William Jones, Samuel Sutton.

Educational. - In 1826 the first school house, of stone, was erected half a mile east of Warrensville. Lewis P. Reeder is credited with being the first teacher. Today there are five school houses in the township, viz: Warrensville, Christian Hill, North Eldred, Quaker Hill, and Excelsior. CHAPTER XLIV. OLD LYCOMING, ANTHONY, WOODWARD, AND LYCOMING.

The township officers chosen March 25, 1786, were as follows: Constable, John Johnston; overseers of the poor, Amariah Sutton and John McAdams; supervisors, William Winter and William Hammond; viewers of fences, William Jones and Samuel Sutton; assessor, Brattan Caldwell; collector of , taxes, Joseph Mahaffey. In 1788 the assessor returned 21,506 acres, 182 horses, 17 7 cows, and thirty single. men. Total valuation, £23,184; quota of State tax, £56; county tax , £24.

Early History. - The history of Old Lycoming commenced before Revolutionary times and will b e found fully detailed in the earlier chapters of this work. Newberry, the first town laid ou t in this part of the county, was within its borders, and then came Jaysburg. John Sutton's trouble in getting a title for the land on which he laid out Newberry is described in Chapter XX. The names of the early settlers will be found in the enumeration lists for 1796 and 180 0, given in Chapter XV. The first courts in the county were held at Jaysburg, and there the f irst jail was located and kept till the beginning of 1800. French Margaret's Town stood near where Jaysburg was founded, and there is where the Moravian missionaries met her in 1753.

One of the old settlers, a short distance west of Linden, was John Bennett. In 1797 be purchased a tract of 3261 acres of land from Dennis Toner, 'which had been surveyed to him on a pre -emption warrant dated May 2, 1785. Soon after making the purchase he married Miss Margaret Clendenin. In 1798 he opened an inn at a house which stood at the foot of the bill a short distance from what was afterwards known as the Bennett House, sign of the "Buck," in stage coaching days. This hotel was a popular place of resort, especially for shad fishing parties at (John) Toner's island. The militia also met here on "training days" and some lively times were witness ed. Mr. Bennett died about 1841 at an advanced age. He left two sons, William and John, and five daughters. John became sheriff of the county in 1847. Both are deceased. Of the daughter s Nancy married William Mahaffey; Rebecca, Seth Rogers; Hannah, David McMicken; Margaret, Frank Carothers; Elizabeth, first, James R. Hughes, second, John Hughes, who was a relative of her first husband. John Bennett married, second, Morey Sutton, of Newberry. They had two son s and three daughters. Nearly all are deceased. The Hughes family were older settlers than Bennett. Among others who came later were the Maffets, Griers, and Wiers. In the chapter on the Fair Play system reference will be found to the Hugheses and other early settlers, and the trials and troubles they experienced.

Mills. - Woodward has no grist mills within its borders; there are three saw mills, however . One, near Linden, is operated by John Campbell, and is also prepared to grind chop.

CH Father: Samuel SUTTON b: 16 MAR 1699 in Piscataway, Middlesex County, New Jersey Mother : Martha ? Marriage 1 Letitia HAINES b: 1734 Married: BEF. 1755 in New Jersey Children Isaiah SUTTON b: ABT. 1755 in New Jersey Amariah SUTTON b: AFT. 1755 in New Jersey Asenath SUTTON b: ABT. 1755 in New Jersey Mary C. SUTTON b: 9 JUN 1774 in New Jersey Dorothy SUTTON b: AFT. 1755 in New Jersey Arod SUTTON b: 1758 in New Jersey Susannah SUTTON b: AFT. 1755 in New Jersey Every SUTTON b: AFT. 1755 in New Jersey Marriage 2 Mary WINTERS Married: AFT. 1781

History of Lycoming County Pennsylvania edited by John F. Meginness; 1892 ^[7]

CHAPTER XII. THE FAIR PLAY SYSTEM. <Chapter-12.html> Why It Was Originated and How It Was Conducted - New Townships Erected - Efforts of the Land Grabbers - Wallis Surveys Above Lycoming Creek - Settlers Petition the Assembly - Law Passed for Their Protection - Litigation Arises - How the Fair Play Court Did Business - Interesting Depositions - Case of Toner and Sweeny - Passage of Land Laws - Survey of the Inver - The Walker Tragedy - Exciting Time With the Seneca Indians Pages: 193-210 LITIGATION FOLLOWS. As foreshadowed by the petitioners in their appeal, trouble arose in a number of instances about claims, lines, and titles, and much litigation followed. A few years ago a number of depositions relating to these land trials were found among the papers of Hon. Charles Huston, the eminent land lawyer, and published in the Pennsylvania Magazine of History, Vol. VII, page 420. In the case of Greer vs. Tharpe, William King, who located on the site of Jaysburg as early a s 1775, testified "that there was a law among the Fair Play men by which any man who absente d himself for the space of six weeks, lost his right to his. improvement." King, it will be remembered, was the man whose wife was killed in the Indian massacre, June 10, 1778, on what i s now West Fourth Street, Williamsport. Tharpe was his brother-in-law. In reference to this case Brattan Caldwell, one of the last Fair Play commissioners, testified: In May, 1774, I was in company with William Greer and James Greer, and helped to build a cabin on William Greer's place (this was one mile north of the river and one-half mile west of Ly coming creek). Greer went into the army in 1776, and was a wagon-master till the fall of 1778 . He wrote to me to sell his cattle. I sold his cattle. In July, 1778, (the "Runaway,") John Martin had come on the land in his absence. The Fair Play men put Greer in possession. If a man went into the army, the Fair Play men protected his property. Greer was not among th e Sherman's valley boys [the witness no doubt refers to the early settlers of what is now Perry county, who were forcibly removed in May, 1750]. Greer came back in 1784. The land on which the Greers settled was above Dougherty's run, not far from the western line of the city of Williamsport. They were brothers; James lived and died on the tract which was in dispute. The summary process of ejectment in vogue among the Fair Play men is described by William Kin g in a deposition made March 15, 1801, in Huff vs. Latcha, in the circuit court of Lycoming County. He says: In 1775 I [King] came on the land in question. I was informed that Joseph Haines claimed th e land. He asked C30 for it, which I would not give. He said he was going to New Jersey, and would leave it in the care of his nephew, Isaiah Sutton. Some time after I heard that Sutton was offering it for sale. I had heard much disputing about the Indian land, and thought I would go up to Sutton's neighbors and inquire if he had any right. first went to Edmund Huff, then to Thomas Kemplen, Samuel Dougherty, William McMeans, and Thomas Ferguson, and asked i f they would accept me as a neighbor, and whether Isaiah Sutton had any right to the land in question. They told me Joseph Haines had once a right to it but had forfeited his right b y the Fair Play law, and advised me to purchase. Huff showed me the consentable line between Haines and him. Huff's land lay above Haines's, on the river. I purchased of Sutton, and was to give him £9 for the land. I did not come to live on the land for some weeks. One night, at a husking of corn, one Thomas Bond told me I was a fine fellow to be at a husking while a man was taking possession of m y plantation. I quit the husking, and Bond and I came over to the place, and went into a cave, the only tenement then on the land, except where Sutton lived, and found some trifling articles in the cave, which we threw out. I went to the men who advised me to go on the land, al l except Huff and Kemplen; they advised me to go on, turn him off and beat him if I was able. The next morning I got some of my friends and raised a cabin of some logs which I understood Haines had hauled. When we got it up to the square, we heard a noise of people coming. The first person I saw was Edmund Huff foremost with a keg of whiskey, William Paul was next with an axe, and many more. They got on the cabin, raised the Indian yell, and dispossessed me and put William Paul in possession. I and my party went off. Samuel Dougherty followed me and told me to come back and come on terms with Paul, who had money and would not take it from me for nothing. I would not go back, but waited for Dougherty, who went for Paul. The whole party came and brought the keg along. After some conversation, William Paul agreed to give me £13 for my right. He pulled out the money, gave it to Huff to keep until I would assign my right. I afterwards signed the conveyance and got my money. William Paul went on the land and finished his cabin. Soon after a party bought Robert Arthur and built a cabin near Paul's, in which Arthur lived. Paul applied to the Fair Play men, who decided in favor of Paul. Arthur would not go off. Paul made a complaint to the company a t a muster at Quinashahague that Arthur still lived on the land and would not go off, although the Fair Play men had decided against him. I was one of the officers at that time and we agreed to come and run him off. The most of the company came down as far as Edmund Huffs, who kept stills. We got 4 keg of whisky and proceeded to Arthur's cabin. He was at home with his rifle in his hand and his wife had a bayonet on a stick, and they threatened death to the firs t person who would enter the house. The door was shut, and Thomas Kemplen, our captain, mad e a run at the door, burst it open and Instantly seized Arthur by the neck. We pulled down the cabin, threw it into the river, lashed two canoes together and put Arthur and his family an d his goods into them and sent them down the river. William Paul then lived undisturbed upon the land until the Indians drove us all away. William Paul was then (1778) from home on a militia tour. It will be noticed that King says a "cave" was the "only tenement" on the place at the time, and in it he probably lived. This shows that "dug outs," among settlers on the western plains are not new for they were in use in the West Branch valley over 117 years ago. And although King was dispossessed, Paul did not want his improvement for nothing and paid him for it. T his show that the code did not sanction robbery, but aimed to protect all the settlers-in the rights and claims. Huff was a typical frontiersman and figured in, many exciting affairs. It appears that he was a "moonshiner" also to use a modern phrase, and his whiskey was a powerful factor in adjusting the dispute between King, Paul, and Arthur. He was conspicuous as a Fair Play man in the enforcement of their laws, but in later Years, when the civil law went into operation, he became a lawbreaker and made himself so obnoxious in the community that his house (or "fort" as it was sometimes called) was pulled down and he and his family expelled from the settlement, like Arthur was some years before. Captain Kemplen was killed by the Indians at the mouth of Muncy creek in March, 1781. What became of Arthur is unknown. Pau l was the owner of the land on which Jaysburg was built. He afterwards sold it to Latcha, who laid out the town. All these exciting events, or nearly all-occurred on the land lying west of Lycoming creek, and now embraced in the Seventh ward of the city of Williamsport. In the land disputes Amariah Sutton testified, July 5, 1800, that he came to the plantation o n which he then resided in 1770. That Joseph Haines, who was his relative, came from New Jersey a few years after, and began to improve on the tract of land at the mouth of Lycoming creek, on the Indian land side, making his home at his, Sutton's, house; that in the course of three years he returned to Now Jersey and never came back. "We were all driven off by the Indians in May, 1778." ^[8]

John Sutton, a relative of Amariah, made his deposition regarding his knowledge of these claimants, March 13, 1797, as follows: I came to Lycoming creek in 1772, went to the Indian land in 1773, and have lived there eve r since, except during the "Runaway." There was a law of the Fair Play men, that if any man left his improvement six weeks without leaving tome person to continue his improvement he los t the right to push his improvement. After the war I was one of the first to come back. I believe that William Tharpe and myself were, the two first men who came to the Indian lands. In ever understood that William Greer's claim extended as far as where Tharpe now lives; the improvement made by William Greer was near the house in which Greer now lives. A man named Perkins lived on the land in dispute between William Greer and William Tharpe. In the winter of 17 75-76, Thomas Kemplen bought out Perkins, and Kemplen sold to James Armstrong, commonly called "Curly Armstrong." I saw William King living in the cabin in which Tharpe now lives. I sol d my place which adjoined William Tharpe's to John Clark. I came back after the war with th e first that came in ?83. William Dougherty lived on Tharpe's land, after him Richard Sutton . Sutton lived in the cabin in ?84 or ?85. I am sure he lived there before Mr. Edmiston came up to survey.

On 20 March 1776, Amariah Sutton deeded to the Lycoming Congregation an acre and one-quarter of land for a cemetery at Fourth and Cemetery Sts ^[9] in consideration of five shillings. But it seems that upon the site they built a log church, a later church was torn down and moved to Pine St in the erection of Pine St Methodist Church at that location, this because of a moving population. The first charter in Court records of Lycoming Co was dated 7 May 1855 in Deed Book 37, page 31. On 7 August 1804 another deed (Book VI, page 135) by the heirs of Amariah Sutton gave William Hepburn Esq some rights over a 34 foot b y 28 foot portion which was already occupied by Hepburn. In September 1808 Amariah Sutton deeded ten acres of land to the trustees of the ME Church in consideration of $1, to have buildings erected on the site for ministers of said church, but the terms were complied with and t he land... (Deed Bk VI, page 275). At 1821 his son-in-law Aaron Hagerman had re-claimed the l and and a law suit ensued.

In 1803 the Steward's wrote the following in their Northumberland Methodist Church book: "For it is written in the Law of Moses thou shall not mussle [sic] t he mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. - doth God take care for oxen. There saith he it is altogether for our sakes - for our sakes no doubt this is written that he that ploweth, should plow in hope, and that he that thresheth in hope, should be partaker of his hop e / harvest." 1st Corinthians. "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel." This quote was in the Church Register for Williamsport Circuit Station, then part of the Baltimore Conference of Rev. S W Price, Williamsport as transcribed and posted on for sharing by Beryl Meehan at February 2004, having read GS Film 1730878, items 3, 7-8 etc. ^[10] The following again copied from the date posted by Beryl Meehan who is today editing this profile: in her own words: "Could it be that Bishop Francis Asbury preached a sermon o r two at this Northumberland Chapel? In Asbury's journal dated 27 June 1793: "We set out late toward Northumberland, night coming on, we stopped at Penn's Creek. Next morning we went t o Northumberland to breakfast. It was a little chapel, that serves as a schoolhouse, belonging to the Methodists. I gave them a sermon on John 14:6 and in the afternoon paid Sunbury a vi sit. The people here are almost all Dutch. I was enabled to speak alarming words on Acts 4:12 ." Ref. page 6 of A Brief History of the Northumberland Methodist Church, at its 150th anniversary 1791-1941. There were 40 such preaching places within the circuit of 300 miles in Susquehanna Valley. Rev Richard Parriot made a missionary tour of the area in 1790 and he ended his tour in Williamsport. Jul8th Asbury was at Joseph Ogden's in Fishing Creek. A meeting also was held at Rosencrantz's. (partial text of Asbury's journal is printed in "Wyoming Conference" Chapter two pages 16-17) In 1790 Richard Parriot, an itinerant Methodist preacher, organized the area's first Methodist class in the home of Amariah Sutton. In the fall of 1791 Pas tor Parriot held the first official Methodist religious service in Sutton's home. Amariah Sutton's cabin on the east bank of the Lycoming Creek stood only one-half mile from the present Newberry Methodist Church on what would now be the south side of West Fourth Street, near t he intersection with Oliver St and on a farm that extended from the river to the hills. The Sutton cabin site is now owned by the City of Williamsport. The first Methodist class consisted of: James Bailey, Rhoda Bailey, Amariah Sutton, Martha (Amariah's mother?) Sutton, John Sutton, Dorothy Sutton (Amariah's daughter), Harman Updegraff, Eve Updegraff, Susanna Updegraff (Amariah's daughter), Hannah Sutton (Arad's wife?), Rebecca Smith, Alexander Smith, Ebenezer Still, Lois Still and Letitia Williams (wife of Joseph Williams and an heir of Amariah Sutton). Census Records: 1790 Northumberland Co, PA: Amariah Sutton 2-1-2, no others, no slaves. He was a close neighbour of Wm Hepburn Esq and James Hagerman and a Samuel Sutton who had 2 -3-6. Also Hawkins Boone was an adjoining neighbour to Sutton's land. Boone died intestate 17 91 and his land was sold at auction according to Northumberland County court record copied Sept 2004. 1820 Lycoming Co, PA: Amariah Sutton was a close neighbour of Wm Hepburn Esq, John B lair, Peter Van Anda, Levi Blair, Abraham Paulhamus and John Entz amongst others. 1840 Loyalsock, Lycoming Co, PA: Aaron Sutton, five persons in the family. (probably the same as Aaron Sutton who m Mary Henry 6/19/1833 according to the Lycoming Chronicle page 3. Nearby was Pete r Vanderbelt. 1920 Lewis Twp, Lycoming Co, PA: Mary Sutton 65 (b 1855), with Cloyd H Sutton 2 7, Verna Sutton 14. ^[11]

More from History of Lycoming Co from Meginess follows here : Samuel Edminston, to whom he refers, was the deputy surveyor of district No. 17, which embraced the Indian, or Fair Play, land. He made the survey. of the William Greer tract, 302 acre s and 148 perches, December 4, 1788, on a warrant issued May 6, 1785. The return of survey calls for John Sutton's land on the east, and Widow Kemplen and John Clark's land on the south . After the passage of the act giving original, or Fair Play, settlers a "right of pre-emption to their respective possessions" at a certain price, it was laid down as a rule that to establish their claim it must be shown that the claimant had made an actual settlement before 17 80, and no claim was to be admitted for more than 300 acres, and the consideration tendered t o the receiver general of the Land Office on or before the 1st of November, 1785. Several cases of litigation arose among settlers which were decided under the pre-emption clause. The first was John Hughes against Henry Dougherty, tried in 1791. The plaintiff claimed under a war rant of May 2, 1785, for the premises, and a survey made thereon the 10th of January, 1786. O n the 20th of June, 1786, the defendant entered a caveat against the claims of the plaintiff, and on the 5th of October following took out a warrant for the land in dispute, on which h e was then settled. Both claimed the pre-emption of 1784. The facts given in evidence are a s follows: In 1773, one James Hughes, a brother of the plaintiff, settled on the land in question, and. made some small improvements. In the next year he enlarged his improvement, and cut logs to build a house. In the winter following he went to his father's, in Donegal, in Lancaster count y, and died there. His elder brother, Thomas, was at that time settled on the Indian land, an d some of the Fair Play men, who assembled together, made a resolution, (which they agreed t o enforce as the law of the place,) that "if any person was absent from his settlement for six weeks, he should forfeit his right." In the spring of 1775 Dougherty came to the settlement, and was advised by the Fair Play me n to settle on the premises which Hughes had left. He followed their advice and built a cabin. John Hughes, the, plaintiff, soon after appeared and claimed the improvement in the right o f his brother; and, aided by Thomas Hughes, he took possession of the cabin. Dougherty rallied his friends and a fight ensued, in which Hughes was beaten and driven off, and Dougherty retained possession. He continued to improve, built a house and stable, and cleared about ten acres of ground. In 1778 he was driven off by the Indians and went into the army. When the war closed both parties returned and laid claim to the land. A, suit followed, when the jury, after hearing the evidence and arguments, decided in favor of Dougherty. A CURIOUS CASE. Another curious case, between John Toner and Morgan Sweeny, appears on the records. Toner settled on the Indian land in 1773, a few miles west of the Dougherty improvement; but he exchanged his place for another, on which he resided, with the view of making a permanent home fo r himself and family. When the war broke out and there was a call for men he was disposed t o enlist, but hesitated for fear he would forfeit his improvement under the Fair Play law. Hi s friends, however, promised to protect his claim for him and he entered the army. In 1775 Sweeny entered into a contract with him (Toner) to lease the land under conditions that he should make certain improvements on the place for the benefit of Toner. This lease was deposited in the hands of a third party to hold. Mrs. Sweeny, however, managed to get hold of the lease and she and her husband destroyed it, thinking by so doing to make the place t heir own. They continued to occupy it till driven off by the Indians. In the meantime Toner w as absent from the settlement in the service of his country. When he returned from the army h e found Sweeny in possession of his improvement and he refused to give it up, denying that there was any contract or lease requiring him to do so. Toner brought a suit of ejectment in the court and won. LAND LAWS. As has been stated the Land Office opened for the sale of land in the New Purchase, July 1, 1 885, at £30 per hundred acres. The price was too high for extensive speculations, and such portions only were selected and purchased as were considered worth the £30, and the balance rejected. In 1792 the legislature perceived the fact that "the vacant lands were so high as to discourage settlers from purchasing them," and the price was reduced to £5 per hundred acres. Much of the mountain land was still considered too high at the reduced price, and remained uncalled for. The act of 1702 was short lived. In 1794 an entire change in the system too k place. The supplement, passed September 22, 1794, to the act of April 22, 1794, granted the vacant lands of the Commonwealth only to actual settlers. This law arrested speculation, and the state of things continued in regard to the purchase of 1784 until 1817, the vacant land s of the Commonwealth being granted only to actual settlers. In order to more clearly define the law relating to land titles the Assembly under date of April 6, 1802, passed an act which declared "that after May next no conveyance of any land within the counties of Lycoming, Luzerne, and Wayne shall be good or effectual to pass any right , title, estate, interest, or claim whatever, unless the title to the land in such conveyance mentioned is derived from this State, or the late Proprietaries thereof, before the 4th o f July, 1776; and unless the said conveyance shall expressly refer to and recite the substance of the warrant, survey, patent, or title under which the same is so derived from this State ." The act of March 10, 1817, opened the office at $26.66 the hundred acres, freed from the conditions of settlement; yet vacant lands were open to the settler, and his rights held sacred . In the long interval from 1794 the spirit of speculation had subsided, tracts were abandoned by distant owners as not worth keeping, and the annually accruing charges overlooked and forgotten by them, and sold by thousands of acres for taxes. On the 13th of March, 1815, the legislature made every effort to confer good titles on purchases at tax sales, allowing a period of two years for redemption on tender of taxes and costs, with twenty-five per cent. on the same, and with no inconsiderable aid from the Supreme court the object has been pretty full y attained. Thus encouraged, adventurers became numerous in a new mode of land jobbing. Instead of resorting to the Land Office for rights at $26.66 the hundred acres, they applied to the commissioners of counties or attended sales of the treasurers, where they procured land in any quantity at less than that sum by the thousands of acres. Vacant mountain land was suffered to remain vacant, even if the fact of its vacancy were generally known, when plenty of the same sort and size, and patented in the bargain, were offering at the court house doors at greatly inferior prices. The act of 1817 thus nullified the act of 1815 at its birth, and effectually turned the eyes of adventurers from the Land Office to the commissioners' office. INCIDENTS OF FAIR PLAY LAW. In the administration of the Fair Play laws some amusing as well as serious cases came before the commissioners for adjustment. Joseph Antes related this: A squatter named Francis Clark located a short distance west of Jersey Shore. He mysteriously came into possession of a do g. In a short time friendly Indian claimed that he (Clark) had stolen the dog from him and ma de complaint to the Fair Play men. They heard the case, found Clark guilty, and sentenced him to receive a certain number of lashes. Lots were drawn to decide who should administer the lashes, by placing a grain of corn for each man present, with one red grain, in a bag. Whoever drew the red grain was to do the flogging. Phillip Antes drew the red grain and he at once made preparations to inflict the punishment. Seeing that Clark was about to be flogged, the Indian, who was a tender-hearted savage (?) became sympathetic and made a proposition that if he would abandon the land where he had settled he would recommend that the sentence be r emitted. Clark was given a few minutes for consideration, when he decided to leave. He transferred his claim to Andrew Boggs, who afterwards disposed of it to Samuel Campbell and he conveyed it to James Forster. Another anecdote illustrates Fair Play principles. When Chief Justice McKean was holding court at one time in this district he inquired, partly from curiosity and partly in reference t o the case before him, of a shrewd Irishman named Peter Rodey, if he could tell him what the provisions of the Fair Play code were. Peter's memory did not exactly serve him as to details, and he could only convey an idea of them by comparison, so, scratching his head, he answered: "All I can say is, that since your Honor's courts have come among us, Fair Play has ceased and law has taken its place!" This sharp rejoinder created a good deal of merriment in court, and Justice McKean was satisfied to ask no more questions reflecting on the tribunal. The ninth decade of the eighteenth century was rapidly drawing to a close. The influx of emigrants continued, and the valley rapidly filled with inhabitants. Farms were opened on every h and, improvements made, and the people began to recover from the blighting effects of war. SURVEYING THE RIVER. The navigation of the Susquehanna river was at an early period considered as an important object to the trade of the State, and not only engaged the attention of the State government, but of many societies and individuals. Previous to 1770 the Philosophical Society of Philadelphia appointed a committee to view the Susquehanna and its lower falls, that proper measures might be recommended to render the water communication complete to Peachbottom Ferry. The committee made their report the 16th of February, 1770, in which they stated the great obstacles i n the channel that would have to be removed. Philadelphia was greatly interested, on account of having trade drawn to that city, and for a long time it was the belief that water communication could be established between that place and Lake Erie, by building canals and utilizing the rivers. The legislature also had the matter under consideration early, and surveys were made and large sums. of money spent to demonstrate the feasibility of the project. On the 9th of April, 1790, the Supreme Executive Council commissioned Samuel Maclay, Timothy Matlack, and John Adlum, experienced surveyors, to examine the head waters of the river an d explore the streams of the "New Purchase," to discover, if possible, a route for a road o r canal to connect the waters of the Allegheny with the West Branch and Schuylkill. The commission started - from Lebanon the latter part of April, 1790, descended the Swatara to Middletown, and then ascended the river by boat, making surveys and noting the condition of the channel. During the time employed in making this survey, Mr. Maclay kept a daily personal journal, which is still in existence, wherein he entered everything of interest that occurred during their long and tedious journey. May 21, 1790, they entered the present limits of Lycoming county and "pushed up about six miles when we [they] stopped and breakfasted." About 2 o'clock in the afternoon they reached a point about two miles above Wallis's island, where they camped for the night. This large island lies in the river in front of the Wallis, or Hall mansion, and is a fine body of land, belonging to the estate. On Saturday, the 22d of May-according to an entry in Mr. Maclay's journal-they "passed up the, race ground early in the morning, and stopped and leveled it." He gives the result as follows: Fore sight, 894; back sight, 781; difference, 387, in 102 perches distance. In this place the re are two large flat stones and a number of loose ones to be removed, which, when done, boat s can with ease and safety be towed up this place. From thence to Loyalsock ripples is a. fin e, easy current. Loyalsock ripples: Back sight, 915; fore sight, 535; difference, 380, in 10 2 perches. The "Race Ground" island lies in the river about a mile below the mouth of Loyalsock, and was so named because the water runs swiftly around it on the side next Bald Eagle mountain. I t was a dangerous place for boats and rafts, and many have been wrecked on the head of the island, as the water rushes to the right with great velocity. Care, therefore, was required o n the part of pilots to prevent their crafts from being drawn on the bar at the head of the island. The ascent of the, ripples below, as well as the "Race Ground" above, was always difficult to make with loaded boats. Strong iron rings were fastened in a number of rocks expose d in these ripples, through which a rope was passed and brought back to a windlass on the boa t, to enable the boatmen to haul their craft up by means of this power. Several of these rings may yet be seen in the rocks. After surveying the "race ground," Mr. Maclay informs us they passed up the river and encamped for the "night opposite a small island called Toner's island," and on the 23d they started early, and as "the men worked hard all day," they reached the mouth of Bald Eagle a little before sundown, "where they encamped." He makes no mention of Williamsport, because there were no settlements on its site at that day, excepting those of Amariah Sutton and two or three other improvements on Lycoming creek, nearly a mile from the river. There were some improvements on the Site of Jaysburg, and Culbertson's mill and house were on the South side of the river, opposite the mouth of Lycoming. Toner's island, where they on camped, (then quite large) was in the river opposite Linden. Since that time it has been almost entirely washed away by the action of the water. No other places are, mentioned by him till Great Island was reached. There they succeeded in purchasing three horses, when they hurried up the river, reaching Sinnemahoning the, 29th of May.

Source: History of Williamsport, Lycoming County. Amariah Sutton became the owner of that part of Orme's Kirk (287½ acres) lying next to Lycoming creek. It Was conveyed to him by Turbutt Francis, January 19, 1775, in Consideration of £2 10 17s, "lawful money of Pennsylvania." The patent to Francis was signed by Richard Penn, lieutenant governor. Sutton's deed is recorded at Sunbury in Book F, page 141. He was an English man, a brother-in-law of Winter, and settled there certainly as early as 1770. He was repute d to have had four wives and many children. His death occurred October 17, 1817. William Winter had two wives and nineteen children, and his neighbor, Judge Hepburn, had two wives and nineteen children also. Sutton by deed dated September 3, 1808, (see Deed Book VI, page 275,) also, conveyed to Daniel Tallman, Jeremiah Tallman, William Tharp, Alexander Smith, Thomas Smith, William Collins, a nd John Forster, trustees of the Lycoming congregation of the Methodist Episcopal church, i n consideration of $1, ten acres of ground on which to erect buildings for the accommodation of ministers of that denomination. The terms of the conveyance not being complied with, the land reverted. This ground is now occupied by the Demorest Sewing Machine Works. Crossing Lycoming creek into what is now the Seventh ward of the city, we find that John Sutton, a nephew of Amariah, was the first owner of the land on which Newberry stands. He settled there about 1772, when the territory was known as "Indian land." Sutton staked out a claim, but during his absence, when the settlers were driven away, John Boak squatted there, but sold his right to Robert Arthur, July 10, 1776, for £35. When Sutton returned he appealed to t he Fair Play committee, consisting of John Walker, Thomas Kompley, Brattan Caldwell, and James Crandon, and after hearing the case they decided, July 20, 1776, as follows: "We, the regulators of the Indian land, being met upon a case of dispute between John Sutton and John Beak , and having heard all that has been delivered in the matter between them concerning the land John Beak lived on, we do agree that John Sutton has the prior and best right of the two. " The case was afterwards. arbitrated between Sutton and Beak, because John Dunlap and Dorothy Reeder put in a claim, which was disputed by Robert Arthur, and Beak was prevented from signing a release, the said Arthur claiming in right of Samuel Anderson, by a conveyance bearing date June 20, 1785. The arbitrators, after hearing the evidence did "award and determine that John Sutton had the only just right and title of pre-emption to the land." There were si x arbitrators and William Hepburn was one of the number. Arthur then signed a release to Sutton as the "assignee of Samuel Anderson," disclaiming any right to the land "from the beginning of the world until the day of the date hereof," which was the 20th of October, 1785. This release, enabled Sutton to get a patent from the Commonwealth, September 2, 1786. The original grant to Sutton, to be more specific, was a pre-emption warrant, dated October 2 6, 1785, for 300 acres, "including his improvement made before the year 1778, on the west side of Lycoming creek adjoining the same, bounded by lands of John Dunlap on the north, John Clark on the west, and Joseph Reeder on the south." The terms of the warrant were at the rate o f £30 per hundred acres. At the time the warrant was granted he had a credit on the books for a payment of £90, and at the time of final settlement another credit of £6 14s 8d. The quantity of land returned was 321 3/8 acres and allowance. The consideration named in the paten t is "the moneys paid by John Sutton into the receiver general's office of this Commonwealth at the granting of the warrant hereinafter mentioned, and of the sum of £6 14s 8d, lawful money since paid by him. "The £96 14s 8d was Pennsylvania currency, which reduced to dollars and cents would be about $257.98. The tract was called "New Garden." In 1794 John Sutton employed William Ellis, the deputy surveyor, to lay out a town on his tract, which be called Newberry. A draft is recorded in the front part of Deed Book VIII, showing the lots, streets, and alloys. In a certificate Sutton declares that the plan is according to his "original proposition containing his proposals to adventurers and settlers in his said town," and then adds in a postscript that "the two main streets Market and Diamond are fifty feet, and the street round the town thirty feet, and the alloys sixteen feet wide." He commenced the sale of lots at once. September 3, 1795, he sold one to William Ellis for £15, an d on the 16th of August, 1796, one to Flavel Roan for the same price. The sales of other lot s are also recorded, showing that he did a fair business for the time.

Sources

1. ↑ http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/lycoming/church/wmsptmeckt.txt
2. ↑ History of Northumberland Co, PA- https://web.archive.org/web/20170211060452/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/gdc/scd0001/2010/20100412002hi/20100412002hi.pdf https://archive.org/details/historyofnorthum00phil
3. ↑ Lycoming Co courthouse will and probate records
4. ↑ Births and Deaths, Town Records 1668-1781 FHL Film 0441466.
5. ↑ "History of Lycoming County" by John Meginness,1892. https://ia800501.us.archive.org/11/items/historyoflycomin00edit/historyoflycomin00edit.pdf
6. ↑ https://ia800501.us.archive.org/11/items/historyoflycomin00edit/historyoflycomin00edit.pdf
7. ↑ https://ia800501.us.archive.org/11/items/historyoflycomin00edit/historyoflycomin00edit.pdf
8. ↑ "Indian Land and its Fair-Play Settlers 1773-1785" in Pennsylania Magazine Vol 7, year 1883.
9. ↑ Deed Book V, page 385
10. ↑ http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/lycoming/church/wmsptmeckt.txt
11. ↑ Beryl Meehan's notes posted on-line on http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/lycoming/church/wmsptmeckt.txt