[170] Pittsburgh Gazette, September 10, 1802.
[171] Pittsburgh Gazette, April 23, 1802.
[172] Pittsburgh Gazette, October 23, 1801.
[173] Morgan Neville. In John F. Watson’s Annals of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1891, vol. ii., pp. 132–135.
CHAPTER VI
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AFFAIRS
The news and literary center was between Front and Second streets. Here the two newspapers were published. John Scull, the owner of the Pittsburgh Gazette, lived at the northwest corner of Market and Front streets; and on Front Street, immediately in the rear of his dwelling, stood the small one-story building where the newspaper was printed. In this house the post office had been located until 1794, when Scull was succeeded as postmaster by George Adams, who removed the post office to the log house on Front Street near Ferry. At the northerly end of the block, at the corner of Second Street, was the brick house of Dr. Peter Mowry, who had the largest medical practice in the town. Directly across Market Street from Dr. Mowry, Judge Hugh Henry Brackenridge had erected for the Tree of Liberty, a one-story office, and behind this a building where the paper was printed.[174]
Judge Brackenridge’s dwelling adjoined the office of the Tree of Liberty on the south.[175] It was a large and commodious blue frame building which had been, until recently, surrounded by a paling fence. The larger part was now given over to trade. It was the best known house in the town. In it General Lee had made his headquarters while in Pittsburgh during the memorable days of November, 1794.[176] In front of this building, Brackenridge, according to his own story, braved the indignation of Lee’s troops, by parading before them dressed in his “large cocked hat, buff underdress, and coat of military blue.”[177] On the north side of Second Street, one door west of Chancery Lane, stood William Turnbull’s large two-story stone structure, occupied during the Whisky Insurrection by William Semple as a store.[178] Here also resided at that time Colonel Presley Neville.[179] General Daniel Morgan lived with his son-in-law during the stay of the army in Pittsburgh. From this house General Morgan and Colonel Neville rushed hatless to save Brackenridge from the fury of the soldiers, who Brackenridge charged were planning his assassination.[180] In 1804, the building was occupied by the “Office of Discount and Deposit,” as the branch of the Bank of Pennsylvania was called. At the corner of Chancery Lane adjoining the Turnbull house, was the home of Steele Semple, the famous advocate and wit, and connoisseur of the polite and fashionable literature of the day.[181]
In the center of the block in which Brackenridge lived, was the book store and bindery of Zadok Cramer, at the “Sign of the Franklin Head.” “Its ancient appearance,” wrote one of its habitués, “is agreeably associated in the memory of many amongst us with our happiest moments, when the careless, airy hours of youth were passing thoughtlessly and cheerfully away.”[182] Men just as substantial, but of less note, also had establishments in this square. At the southerly corner of Front Street was the large store of Abner and Jeffe Barker who sold bar iron and castings,[183] and kept a “general assortment of merchandise and boulting cloths.”[184] All the merchants were selling “boulting cloths,” which were cloths used by millers for sifting flour. Adjoining Abner and Jeffe Barker’s store on the north was the establishment of Jeremiah Barker who had for sale a “handsome and general assortment of the freshest goods,”[185] and “a few boxes of glass eight by ten.”[186] In addition to being a merchant, Jeremiah Barker was justice of the peace, and in 1801 burgess.[187] The store of Abner and Jeffe Barker, and the store of Jeremiah Barker, were both on the site formerly occupied by Andrew Watson’s tavern.
On the north side of Front Street, two doors east of Abner and Jeffe Barker’s store, was an old two-story log building owned by Andrew Watson. It had been formerly occupied as a store by John and Samuel Calhoun,[188] and when Allegheny County was formed, was rented by the county for the use of the courts, and called the “Court House.” In this house justice was dispensed for many years. In December, 1788, the first court of quarter sessions for Allegheny County was held there, George Wallace being president judge, and John Scott, John Wilkins, and John Johnson associates. They were all laymen, the constitution in force not requiring judges to be learned in the law. The first court of common pleas was held in the building on March 14, 1789.
The judges of the Supreme Court, or at least two of them, were required to go on the circuit annually, visiting every county during the intervals between the regular sessions of the Supreme Court, and to hold courts of nisi prius and Oyer and Terminer for the trial of capital cases.[189] In Pittsburgh the sessions were held in Andrew Watson’s house. Here Chief Justice McKean and Justice George Bryan held the first court of Oyer and Terminer for Allegheny County. Judge Henry M. Brackenridge related that he had been informed that, at this session, they sat in scarlet robes. He stated further that when going to and returning from court the judges were carefully attired in black, with cocked hats, and were preceded by the Sheriff of the County bearing a white wand. Leading the procession was a drummer beating a drum.[190]