The P E N N S Y L V A I N I A P A C K E T
Published by and distributed among the Members, Friends and Associates, in the Colonies to
the North and South, of THE COLONIAL LIVING HISTORY ALLIANCE
www.coloniallivinghisory.org
C L H A
C O N V E N E S F I R S T C O N G R E S S
The First Congress of CLHA was convened the eighth day of January 2005 at Shaffer House. The Delegates
Attending were Mr Wm. Cooper and Mrs. Patty Cooper of New Jersey, Mr. Ted Shaffer and Mrs. RaeJeanne
Shaffer and Mr. Alan Keller and Mrs. Erika Keller of Pennsylvania, Mr.'s Dave Scott and John Crispin
and absent from illness Mrs. Kate Scott of New York.
A Mission Statement was adopted as it is previously written on the documents filed in the Colony of
New Jersey. Mr. Cooper will provide a copy of the statement at the next assembly in February. CLHA
Corporate Structure will consist of a Board presided over by the President and Trustees so named as
necessary. All governing decisions will be made by the board. Mr. Cooper was recognized as President
and Treasurer and the Trustees will be named at the next assembly. Mr. Keller was named Secretary.
Mr. Schaffer was nominated Minister to Public Safety and Welfare. Roberts Rules will be followed as
meetings format. Meeting Minutes will not be made Public and will stay secret as death to the
Membership. Mr. Keller as Secretary may publish a Public News Letter as needed. This Format will be
enjoyed and adopted as Standard. Mr. Cooper as Treasurer reported on the Fees and Costs he has pay'd
to date. He will provide an exact figure at the February assembly so justly taxed Founding Members
can settle the'r accounts with him. Annual Dues for Membership will be levied at $45 for Familys.
$35 for Individuals, thus giving these persons powers of decison, and $25 for Contributing Persons
to purchase the invitation to attend events, all Members to be Insured Against Liabilities while
at Offcial CLHA Events. A CLHA Event will be made when two or more Trustees decide it shall be so
and only one or more need attend in proper dress and manor of the day. These Fees and Dues will cover
all Reasonable Expenses, and there will be no expectation of Profit. Mr. Shaffer as Safety Officer
will design Safety Rules for our welfare. He will inspect weapons at the March Assembly. It has
been agreed that no weapon will go afield or be encamped without first inspection by Mr. Schaffer
or Mr. Cooper. Fort or Camp or Site Safety Rules
will supercede CLHA rules or whichever has the most security will be enforced.
Winter Ice Nearly Brings
Evil Death to HenryVille
January 11 The heavens felled a crystal blanket of ice to
trees, bushes, and farms up North at HenryVille, where our friends Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer were host to the
CLHA Delegation. The cold and ice made many lonesome trees groan and snap with the weight of it. All
the delegates made the'r jurney by Gods Safe Hand and arrived to find the lack of modern heat, water,
and light. The Delegates from Pennsylvania came in time to greet Ted Shaffer, crossing Wobbly Barn Road,
on foot, from where he had just made free with the Neighbors Privy. Mrs. Shaffer was greatly relieved
with his traveling the distance through the dangerous ice to settle his Bowels on the unfortunate Privy,
as they had not had good water after Thursday 9th of January. The New Jersey and Pennsylvania Delegates
brought Suficient provison to keep the Congress fed and fat candles with a crackling hearth all kept
spirits high.
FORT ONTARIO
OSWEGO, N E W Y O R K
The'r is word from the North of NEW YORK, there will be some activity of a 250th year celebration
at FORT ONTARIO, on the 27th and 28th of August. CLHA will look to add this to the calendar of
events. The friends of Fort Ontario write to tell us a little of the'r adventures.
"Sir's. The first fortification to be located on the site of the current Fort Ontario was built
by the British in 1755. Called 'The Fort of the Six Nations," or "Fort Ontario," this was an
eight-pointed, wooden Stockade furnished with Swivel cannon efective only against small bodies
of attacking troops. Built to accommodate 300 men, the first Fort Ontario was destroyed by the
French under the Marquis de Montcalm in August 1756, along with all other British defenses at
Oswego. Construction of a second British Fort at this same location began in 1759. The second
Fort Ontario was a large earth and timber Fortification built according to the latest European
Military Technology. Desgned to accommodate 500 men, it contained low barracks with casemates,
single story timber Barracks, a dry moat, and extensive outer earthworks. Small Redoubts were
located on strategic high ground several hundred meters away from the main Fortification. We
built the's without rear walls, so that if captured by an Enemy they could be fired into by
Cannon in the Main Fort."
www.fortontario.com
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B E N J A M I N E F R A N K L I N
M U S T E R S a M I L I T I A
T o D e F e n d t h e F r o n t I e r
We have the gravest news in late November of 1755, a Shawnee war party attacked the Moravian Village
of Gnadenhutten. All but a handful of forlorn people who escaped into the woods were poorly masacred.
Benjamine Franklin is charged to muster an Organization for Regional Defence. He has ordered his
son William, a British Grenadier and Veteran of Service from King George's War, in the charge
of the military while he handles Political Diplomacy. They have jurneyed to Bethlehem and
then Eason. Some in the Assembly thought the Militia Bill absurd and unworkable, but the
Settlers on the Frontiers see real leadership and they rejoiced and volunteered and within weeks
hundreds of men were under arms and calling Benjamin Franklin "General". The Franklins continued
by armed column in cold January rain through the narrows of Lehigh Gap to Sorrowful Gnadenhutten.
On the ground there they have built Fort Allen and two smaller Stockades to the East and West.
CLHA calls on all able Men and Ladies to join and collaborate for 30 Days with Allens Militia
if they are brave and want relief of the Punishing Misdeeds of the curs'd Indians and French.
M I C H A E L C A I N E
P e r F o r m s M u s i c and S o n g
Mrs. KELLER Reports by attending the Audience on the nineteenth Day of December, Mr. and Mrs.
Wm. COOPER and the'r first Daughter Annie, Mr. and Mrs. Ted SHAFFER, and Mrs. KELLER herself with
Her Second Daughter Mackenzie, enjoyed the good enchanting concert by
Mr. M I C H A E L C A I N E. Mr. CAINE played Tunes and Songs of the Season on the
Harpsichord, Guitar, HurdyGurdy, Violin, Flageolet, and WireHarp. The concert was assembled at
Somerville Parsonage, NEW JERSEY. A distressed Patron commented upon the need of the Parson to
have his chimney attended to, as She was most overcome by the smoke A brief period of intermission
found the audience partaking of refreshments in the room opposite. The Parson lay'd a very fine
table that evening. Mr. Robt. MOULAND spoke briefly after the concert and educated those gathered
as to the origin of the instruments heard that evening. The weather became colder throughout
the journey home and all were glad to reach their beds in safety.
www.wireharp.com
S E C O N D C O N G R E S S
of the C L H A
To be Convened in EASTON Pennsylvania at the
B A C H M A N P U B L I C K H O U S E
Delegates are to bring the Congress to order at Noon on the 6th day of February Sunday
Jacob and Katrina Bachman told us this tale of the'r good Tavern at Second and Northampton
Street in Easton.
"We built in 1753 on lot number 24 with a mortgage secured from John Potts, the local Ironmaker,
and asked Wm. Parsons, the local surveyor, to design her for us. We named her "Easton House" but
the folks and locals called her "John Bachmans Tavern" regardless. On 23rd December 1761, George
Taylor, signer of The Declaration Of Independence, member of the First Continental Congress, and
Ironmaster of DurHam Furnace, bought her from us at Sheriffs sale as hard times had reduced us.
Business dealings and the American Revolution necessitated Mr. Taylors absence so Theophilus
Shannon was his proprietor until he bought the Tavern in 1779 for the charge of $1300. Bachman
Tavern offered food and drink and lodging for weary travelers and Government Business, Court trials,
and Treatys were conducted here. Jacob was one of the first Sheriffs of the County and many trials
were held upstairs in the large meeting room and Bachman Tavern was the County Court House until 1776.
Mr.'s Wm. Ellery of Rhode Island and Wm. Whipple of New Hampshire, both men having signed The
Declaration Of Independence, stay'd a night, and General John Sullivan attended meetings here."
Mrs. Kimberly CoÌa, current proprietor, will be teaching Travelers and Visitors how to prepare
a fine fare at the hearth during the Congressional day so we will have opportunity to call on her .
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