The ignorance or carelessness of King Charles, in due time bore a rich harvest of strife and bloodshed. Under the Connecticut charter (which was the older) my ancestors, and perhaps yours, came into this valley of the Susquehanna, and sat themselves down. Under the Pennsylvania charter (which was the younger) came sheriffs, and armed men, to drive them off. On the tongues of men this disputed section was known as Wyoming. In the statute book it is called Westmoreland.
Having explained how the Connecticut people under a claim of right, built up a government within the present boundaries of Pennsylvania, I have said all I desire to say on that subject. It explains how a part of what is now Pennsylvania was really a part of Connecticut in the last years of our Colonial history, and in the first years of our history as an independent nation--from 1774 to 1783.
This Twenty-fourth regiment of Connecticut Militia was organized on that part of the soil of Pennsylvania which was known as the Wyoming region, and in that region it performed its deeds, and lived its organic life.
I am aware that this explanation is quite unnecessary. I am aware that the Society that listens to me contains many descendants of the men who made the history I am about to relate. I am aware that the great-grandchildren of Captains Bidlack, Franklin, Spaulding, and Whittlesey here reside. I know that descendants of the Buck, Gore, Mathewson, Satterlee, Stevens and Tozer families abound in this old town. A writer who knows your community better than I do could mention others.
I have been attracted to the history of the Twenty-fourth regiment of Connecticut Militia because in all the histories it has received so little attention. Mr. Chapman, in his "Sketch of the History of Wyoming," (1830) says: "The whole body of the citizens was formed into a militia." (p. 102). He does not say it was a regiment nor designate it by its number. Col. Stone, in his work entitled, "Wyoming and its History," (1841), alludes to it in the phrase, "a regiment of militia being organized," (p. 202), but does not state its number nor give it further attention. Charles Miner, in his "History of Wyoming in a Series of Letters," (1845), gives many facts, but notices only six of the ten companies of which the regiment was composed and details only the organization of those companies as it was in 1775. George Peck, in his "Wyoming: its history, stirring incidents, and romantic adventures," (1858), devotes to it a passing allusion in the words, "a regiment of militia having been established." (p. 28). Stewart Pearce does not allude to the Twenty-fourth regiment at all in his "Annals of Luzerne," (1866), but does mention five of its companies. (p. 34) Steuben Jenkins, in his "Historical Address at the Monument," (1878), mentions its existence (p. 17), and at another place enumerates seven of its companies. (p. 34) Horace Edwin Hayden, in his monograph entitled, "Major John Garret; a forgotten hero of the Massacre of Wyoming," (1895) explains the existence of the regiment, credits it with nine companies, and gives the changes of the officers made in 1777.