Matthias Hollenback's
Home and Store
Home and Store
Built in 1780-8, Matthias Hollenback's home and store was located on the east side of Main Street about midway between Northampton and South Streets. His previous home and store , located on the west side of the Square, was burned by the Indians in July 1778.
At age 48 Hollenback was the largest landholder in northeastern Pennsylvania. Hollenback made his fortune by operating a chain of trading posts along the Chemung and Susquehanna Rivers, from Wilkes-Barre to the Genesee region. He established his principal store at Wilkes-Barre, and branch stores at Tioga Point (now Athens, Pennsylvania) in 1784, and at Newtown (now Elmira, New York) in late 1790 or early 1791. Popular items included guns, gunpowder, blankets, cloth, liquor, and flour. For most of the year, a Durham boat on the Susquehanna and Chemung Rivers provided the transportation for goods from his large warehouse in Wilkes-Barre. When the weather was bad, he resorted to using packhorses. As a merchant, he sold or traded goods to both Indians and settlers.
Born Jonestown, in Lancaster (now Lebanon) County, Pennsylvania, Matthias Hollenback, the second son of John Hollenback and Eleanor Jones, came to Wyoming Valley in 1770, settling in Wilkes-Barre in 1774.
Hollenback married Sarah Burritt Hibbard Sarah Burritt Hibbard, daughter of Peleg Burritt and Elizabeth Blackleach, and widow of Cyprian Hibbard who died at the Battle of Wyoming. Children at home with the Hollenbacks were daughters Eleanor, 12 and Sarah, 11 and son George, age 9.
At age 48 Hollenback was the largest landholder in northeastern Pennsylvania. Hollenback made his fortune by operating a chain of trading posts along the Chemung and Susquehanna Rivers, from Wilkes-Barre to the Genesee region. He established his principal store at Wilkes-Barre, and branch stores at Tioga Point (now Athens, Pennsylvania) in 1784, and at Newtown (now Elmira, New York) in late 1790 or early 1791. Popular items included guns, gunpowder, blankets, cloth, liquor, and flour. For most of the year, a Durham boat on the Susquehanna and Chemung Rivers provided the transportation for goods from his large warehouse in Wilkes-Barre. When the weather was bad, he resorted to using packhorses. As a merchant, he sold or traded goods to both Indians and settlers.
Born Jonestown, in Lancaster (now Lebanon) County, Pennsylvania, Matthias Hollenback, the second son of John Hollenback and Eleanor Jones, came to Wyoming Valley in 1770, settling in Wilkes-Barre in 1774.
Hollenback married Sarah Burritt Hibbard Sarah Burritt Hibbard, daughter of Peleg Burritt and Elizabeth Blackleach, and widow of Cyprian Hibbard who died at the Battle of Wyoming. Children at home with the Hollenbacks were daughters Eleanor, 12 and Sarah, 11 and son George, age 9.
Gen. William Ross's Home
Purchased from Timothy Pickering, Gen. William Ross's home was located on the east side of Main Street about midway between Northampton and South Streets.
Born in Scotland Parish, Windham, Connecticut, William Ross, age 39, was the son of Jeremiah Ross and Ann Paine. The Ross's came to Wyoming in the early part of 1774. After the Massacre of Wyoming where his two elder brothers, Perrin and Jeremiah, were killed, the remainder of the family fled. All except his mother and sister Sarah returned with Capt. Spalding to Wyoming in the following August, 1778 where they settled in the Wilkes-Barre Fort.
William Ross took part in the Pennamite and Yankee Wars and in August 1784 was arrested and jailed. Later, in more peaceable times, Mr. Ross joined the militia of Pennsylvania, and in June, 1788, was captain of a company located at Wilkes-Barre. This company, with three others, including a troop of cavalry under Capt. J. P. Schott, were ordered out on the 27th of June, when Col. Pickering was abducted for the purpose of rescuing him. In the pursuit, Capt. Ross, with fifteen of his company, in ascending the east bank of the Susquehanna, near Meshoppen, encountered a party of Yankees under the head of Gidean Dudley. In the action which ensued, Capt. Ross was hit by a ball which passed through his body. He was removed to Wilkes-Barre, where he slowly recovered. In recognition of his services on this occasion, he was presented by the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth with a handsome sword.
In 1789-90 Mr. Ross was captain of the Third Company of the First Battalion of Luzerne county militia, commanded by Lieut. Col. Matthias Hollenbeck, and in 1790 was elected one of the first justices of the peace for the Second District of Luzerne county.
Married Elizabeth Sterling , daughter of Samuel Sterling and Elizabeth Perkins, 10 OCT 1790 in Lyme, New London Co, Connecticut
On the first of September, 1791, he was appointed for " the district of Wilkes-Barre " justice of the peace by Governor Mifflin.
In 1800 he was appointed brigade inspector of the 2d Brigade, composed of the militia of the counties of Northumberland, Lycoming, and Luzerne, to hold office for seven years from the date of his commission (Apr. 25, 1800). The same day he was appointed brigadier general of the same brigade, an office which he still held in 1812.
The Ross's had three daughter: Sarah, 7; Caroline Ann, 3; and Eliza Irene, 1.
Born in Scotland Parish, Windham, Connecticut, William Ross, age 39, was the son of Jeremiah Ross and Ann Paine. The Ross's came to Wyoming in the early part of 1774. After the Massacre of Wyoming where his two elder brothers, Perrin and Jeremiah, were killed, the remainder of the family fled. All except his mother and sister Sarah returned with Capt. Spalding to Wyoming in the following August, 1778 where they settled in the Wilkes-Barre Fort.
William Ross took part in the Pennamite and Yankee Wars and in August 1784 was arrested and jailed. Later, in more peaceable times, Mr. Ross joined the militia of Pennsylvania, and in June, 1788, was captain of a company located at Wilkes-Barre. This company, with three others, including a troop of cavalry under Capt. J. P. Schott, were ordered out on the 27th of June, when Col. Pickering was abducted for the purpose of rescuing him. In the pursuit, Capt. Ross, with fifteen of his company, in ascending the east bank of the Susquehanna, near Meshoppen, encountered a party of Yankees under the head of Gidean Dudley. In the action which ensued, Capt. Ross was hit by a ball which passed through his body. He was removed to Wilkes-Barre, where he slowly recovered. In recognition of his services on this occasion, he was presented by the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth with a handsome sword.
In 1789-90 Mr. Ross was captain of the Third Company of the First Battalion of Luzerne county militia, commanded by Lieut. Col. Matthias Hollenbeck, and in 1790 was elected one of the first justices of the peace for the Second District of Luzerne county.
Married Elizabeth Sterling , daughter of Samuel Sterling and Elizabeth Perkins, 10 OCT 1790 in Lyme, New London Co, Connecticut
On the first of September, 1791, he was appointed for " the district of Wilkes-Barre " justice of the peace by Governor Mifflin.
In 1800 he was appointed brigade inspector of the 2d Brigade, composed of the militia of the counties of Northumberland, Lycoming, and Luzerne, to hold office for seven years from the date of his commission (Apr. 25, 1800). The same day he was appointed brigadier general of the same brigade, an office which he still held in 1812.
The Ross's had three daughter: Sarah, 7; Caroline Ann, 3; and Eliza Irene, 1.
Ebenezer Bowman, Esq.
Born at Lexington, Massachusetts, youngest brother of Capt. Samuel Bowman, Ebenezer Bowman, age 42, was a prominent and successful attorney, the first admitted to practice before the Luzerne County courts in 1887
At eighteen years old he had taken part in the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill. Afterwards he attended Harvard College graduating in 1782. He taught school in Cambridge, then studied law at Easton and was admitted to the Bar of Massachusetts. In the latter part of 1785, or early in 1786, he moved to Philadelphia and then settled at Wilkes-Barre, the county-seat of the new county of Luzerne.
In May, 1788, he was elected Cornet of a "Troop of Light Dragoons" organized at Wilkes-Barre and commanded by Capt. John Paul Schott.
He represented Luzerne county in the legislature of the state in 1793.
His wife was Esther Ann Watson, born in Ireland, who he married in New York in 1796. They had a daughter Caroline, age 3, and a son James, age 1.
At eighteen years old he had taken part in the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill. Afterwards he attended Harvard College graduating in 1782. He taught school in Cambridge, then studied law at Easton and was admitted to the Bar of Massachusetts. In the latter part of 1785, or early in 1786, he moved to Philadelphia and then settled at Wilkes-Barre, the county-seat of the new county of Luzerne.
In May, 1788, he was elected Cornet of a "Troop of Light Dragoons" organized at Wilkes-Barre and commanded by Capt. John Paul Schott.
He represented Luzerne county in the legislature of the state in 1793.
His wife was Esther Ann Watson, born in Ireland, who he married in New York in 1796. They had a daughter Caroline, age 3, and a son James, age 1.
