By Charles Miner

Published 1845

605 pages, searchable

- Bonus Book -

The Valley of Wyoming

The Romance of Its History and Its Poetry

  By Charles Miner, 1866

155 pages, searchable

- Bonus Book -
Wyoming
Its History, Stirring Incidents and Romantic Adventures
  By George Peck, 1858
433 pages, Illustrated, Indexed, Searchable

- Bonus Book -

The Massacre of Wyoming

The Romance of Its History and Its Poetry

  By Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, 1895

113 pages, Searchable 

Published 1845 by Charles Miner, in a series of letters to his son William Penn Miner. Over 600 pages, very detailed account of the colonial settlement of development of this area.

Wyoming, in its more limited signification, is the name given to a valley on the Susquehanna river, about twenty miles in length from northeast to southwest, and from three to four miles in width; in its more enlarged sense, it is used to designate the part of the country within the limits of Pennsylvania, embraced within the 42d degree of north latitude, claimed by Connecticut, and partially settled by a colony sent forth under her auspices. Thus the inhabitants of Salem, Huntington, Providence, Exeter and other townships, though not within the limits of the valley, have always been designated as “Wyoming Settlers”.

First immigrants – Uriah Chapman, Esq., Capt. Zebulon Parrish, Capt.. Eliab Varnum, Nathaniel Gates, Zadock Killam, Ephraim Killam, Jacob Kimble, Enos Woodward, Isaac Parrish, John Killam, Hezekiah Bingham, John Ansley, Elijah Winters, John Pettlet Sr., John Pellet Jr., Abel Kimble, Walter Kimble, Joshua Varnum, Doctor Amos Parks, Silas Parks, David Gates, Jonathan Haskell, William Pellet, Charles Forsyth, Roger Clark, Jesper Edwards, Reuben Jones.

The Wyoming Valley was made famous by the 1809 poem "Gertrude of Wyoming" by Thomas Campbell. The state of Wyoming was named after the valley, owing to the popularity of the poem.

Table of Contents

Letter I – Native inhabitants-Six Nations-Great head, or Council Fire, at Onandago . . . 17

Letter II – Masawanees- Seneca & Oneidas-Indian Fortifications-Great Confederacy of the Iroquois . . .33

Letter III – Confederate Nations-Removal to Wyoming-Grand Council of Philadelphia-Moravians-Mission from Wyoming to Guadenhutten . . . 44

Letter IV – Old French War-Second Mission to Moravian Christian Indians-Massacre at Fort Augusta-Grand Council at Easton-Second Congress at Easton . . . 53

Letter V – Renewed efforts to Christianize Wyoming Indians-First Connecticut Settlement-Removal of Christian Indians to the Ohio . . . 63

Letter VI – Outline of controversy between Pennsylvania and Connecticut-Earliest Charters of France and England-Great Plymouth Council Incorporated-Massachusetts carved out-Colony of Connecticut-Charter to Wm. Penn . . . 73

Letter VII – A more detailed view of the controversy . . . 84

Letter VIII – Susquehanna Company’s Indian Purchase-Purchase of Pennsylvania at Fort Stanwix . . . 101

Letter IX – Commencement of Settlements 1769-Yankees outwitted . . .114

Letter X – 1770 – Sudden descent on Wyoming-Reinstatement of the Yankees . . .125

Letter XI  Capt. Ogden with increased force returns-Negotiation between Connecticut and Pennsylvania . . . 136

Letter XII List of Settlers (196 identified)-First white women in Wyoming-Settlement of first Gospel Minister-Renewed Negotiations . . . 146

Letter XIII  1774 Connecticut assumes jurisdiction-Town off Westmoreland-Districts-Sales of land and price of lands-Census . . . 164

Letter XIV Revolutionary War-Vote of Connecticut Concil-Vote of Pennsylvania Assembly-Rivalry between Kingston and Wilkesbarre-Prices of Grain . . . 175                

Letter XV 1776 Indian Council at Wyoming-Indian Speech-Two Companies raised to defend the town . . . 193

Letter XVI 1777 Wyoming Companies-Town vote-The dreaded Small Pox-First Student at Yale College-Wealth and revenue of Westmoreland . . .206

Letter XVII New oath of allegiance-Women of Wyoming-Indian invasion-Cruel torture . . . 219

Letter XVIII Incidents of Suffering-List of slain-Terms of Capitulation, and official Papers, from British archives. . . 240

Letter XIX Expedition into Indian Country-Array for the Northern Campaign-Indian country devastated-Army retires-Civil affairs . . .270

Letter XX Renewed invasion-Bennet and Hammond taken-Various Incidents . . . 289

Letter XXI The weather-Marriage-Indians attack-Touching incidents-Surrender of Cornwallis-Jurisdiction of Connecticut ceases . . . 303

Letter XXII Important Letter-Negotiations-Peace with Great Britain-Violent proceedings . . . 320

Letter XXIII Proceedings of Settlers-Petition to Connecticut-Other influences dawn on the path of the Settlers-War Renewed-Highly important proceedings-Civil authority arrives at Wyoming . . .350

Letter XXIV 1785 Sketch of John Franklin-Petition to Congress for a Federal Court to try the right of soil-Remarkable conclusion-Revival of old Susqhehanna Company. . . 380

Letter XXV Susquehanna Company’s Resolves at Hartford-Ethan Allen-Luzerne county established-New State contemplated . . . 398

Letter XXVI Wyoming People divided-Elections-A stream of Settlers flowing in from the East, on Share and Half Share Rights-Constitution for the new State. . . 416

Letter XXVII Col. Pickering’s return-Col. Franklin in Philadelphia Jail-Dawn of Peace . . . 431

Letter XXVIII Legal matter-Particularly dedicated to gentlemen of the Bench and Bar . . . 450

Letter XXIX Westmoreland and Lackawaxen (Wayne County) settlement . . . 475

Letter XXX And Last-Recapitulation-Recap-Maps . . . 488

Appendix The Hazleton Travellers; or Numerous Personal and Family Sketches of the Ancient Sufferers, together with Various Incidental and Illustrative Matter . . . 506-611