The cause of the disturbance centered in the act of Samuel Bryson, then a resident of what is now the borough of Mifflintown, who for several years had served as county lieutenant, and while acting in that capacity refused to commission two colonels who had been elected by their regiments, which so incensed the members and their friends that when Mr. Bryson subsequently received the appointment of Associate Justice they were indignant and determined he should not act in that capacity.
On Monday, September 12, 1791, the Hon. William Brown, Samuel Bryson and James Armstrong, Esqs., met in the forenoon in order to open the Court and proceed to business, but Thomas Beale, Esq., one of the Associate Judges, not having arrived, the others did not attempt to convene the Court until he appeared, which was 3 o’clock, when he was requested to proceed with them to the court house. Mr. Beale declined to go, but the others went into the court room, where the commissions of the Judges were read, the Court duly opened, the officers sworn in, and Court adjourned until 10 o’clock next morning.
The following morning, John Clarke, Deputy State’s Attorney, received the intelligence that a large body of men was assembled below the Long Narrows, at David Jordan’s tavern, on the Juniata River shore.
They were armed with guns, swords and pistols, with an avowed intention to proceed to Lewistown and seize Judge Bryson on the bench and drag him from his seat, and march him off before them, and otherwise ill-treat him.
That information was immediately communicated to the Judges, who, acting upon the suggestion of Mr. Clarke, named Samuel Edminston, Esq., the Prothonotary; Judge Thomas Beale, Mr. Stewart, William Bell, Esq., and the Sheriff of Mifflin County, a committee to proceed to the place where the mob had assembled and meet with the rioters.
The Sheriff was commanded to inquire of them their object and intention, and if hostile, to order them to disperse and tell them the Court was alarmed at their proceedings.
Two hours after this the Court opened. A fife was heard playing, some guns were discharged and almost immediately the mob appeared, marching toward the court house. Three men on horseback were leading the column. The gentlemen who had been sent to counsel with them were being marched under a guard in the rear. When the column reached Lewistown all the committee were permitted to go at large except George Wilson, the Sheriff, who was held by an armed guard of four men.
The Court ordered Mr. Clarke to go and meet the rioters and remonstrate against their proceedings and warn them of their danger, which order was obeyed, but his endeavors were in vain.
The mob cried out, “March on! March on! Draw your sword on him! Ride over him!”
Mr. Clarke grabbed the reins of the leader’s horse, who refused to be held, and threatened to proceed to the bench and drag Judge Bryson off, take him down the Narrows to his own farm and there compel him to sign a written paper that he would never again sit there as a Judge.