OF LANCASTER COUNTY. 15i 



Town of Lancaster, it was stated that a number of the settlers had severely 

 suffered both from the hardships of a new settlement and the hostilities 

 of the Indians, and therefore resolved. That a house of employment be 

 provided for the industrious, in indigent circumstances. The building 

 was accordingly erected by the benevolent spirit which disposed all sects 

 and all countries to contribute their aid for so excellent a purpose. A 

 farm was procured and farming implements provided; also, manufactur- 

 ing articles for the encouragement of honest but indigent industry. Lan- 

 caster became soon remarkable for the excellence of its stockings, made 

 in that establishment."^ 



On March 11, 1752, an act was passed erecting all and singular the 

 lands, lying within the Province of Pennsylvania, within the Metes and 

 Bounds as is hereinafter described, be erected into a County, called 

 BERKS, bounded as follows: by a line, at the distance of Ten superficial 

 Miles, South-west from the Western bank of the River Schuylkill, oppo- 

 site to the mouth of a creek, called Monacasy, to be run North-west to 

 the extremity of the Province, and South-east, until it shall intersect the 

 line of Chester County, then on one straight line, crossing the River 

 Schuylkill aforesaid, to the upper or North-westward Line of M^CalVs 

 Manor, then along the said Line to the extremity thereof, aiid continuing 

 the same course to the Line dividing Philadelphia and Bucks Counties, 

 then along the said Line, North-west, to the extent of the County afore- 

 said. 



The cereal crops were very abundant in 1751 and 1752. An extract 

 translated from the German in the Chron. Ephrat., 190, is quite a curi- 

 osity. 



"The years 1751 and 1752 have been so fruitful in wheat and other 

 grain, that men in wanton carelessness sought to waste the supply; for 

 the precious wheat, which might have supported many poor, they used to 

 fatten hogs which afterwards they consumed in their sumptuousness. 

 Besides, distilleries were erected everywhere, and thus this great blessing 

 was turned into strong drink, which gave rise to much disorder." 



These years of plenty were followed by a season of scarceness, cover- 

 ing the years 1753-1755, and on the heels of it came Indian hostilities. 



News was received at Lancaster about October the 20th, that the In- 

 dians had massacred and scalped many of the inhabitants not more than 

 forty miles above Harris' Ferry, (Harrisburg). The condition of things 

 at this time will best appear from the subjoined documents : 



A letter to Governor Morris from Conrad Weiser, Esquire, of Read- 

 ing : 



"Honoured Sir: I take this opportunity to inform you I received 

 news from Shamokin that six families have been murdered on John 

 1 Rupp, quoting an unnamed authority. 



