In May, 1778, just prior to the "Great Runaway," the militia was re-organized. We find Captain George Overmeier/Overmyer #11804015 leading the 3rd Ranger Co. (51 men) in the 1st Battalion under Col. John Kelly. They covered the areas west of the Susquehanna, Buffalo, White Deer, and Potter Townships (now Union & Centre Counties) and specialized in fighting at night.
In 1779, two days after the July 28th Battle of Fort Freeland, Col. John Kelly marched with his men from Buffalo Valley to the fort to bury the dead. Captain Overmire's men being among those detailed. Colonel Kelly used a dog that would track Indian trails and immediately drop when near, to alert the men.
In 1780 Colonel Samuel Hunter wrote, "Four people were buried on the old Obermayer homestead from an attack on (French) Jacob Grozong's Mill, May 16. (said to be on the bluff opposite Tuscarora Creek). The Frontier Rangers killed were: George Etzweiler (Dry Run Cemetery, relocated to his Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, site), #9471565 James Chambers, #9472444 John Forster Jr. (were carried to Lewis Cemetery), and #13556323 Samuel McLaughlin (McLoughlin). (Col. Mattew Smith also wrote of this).
In 1780 John Henry Pontius (Ponges) served as 1st Lieut. under Captain Overmire against the Indians who were led by British Officers and Tories on the frontier. Wm Moore also served as Lieut. under Captain Obermier. That fall, a large body of the enemy appeared before Fort Rice so the militia was immediately ordered out, and one hundred men under Colonel John Kelly reached the fort on the following day, but, having been informed that the enemy numbered two hundred fifty, it was not deemed prudent to pursue. Colonel Hunter at once ordered the evacuation of Fort Jenkins (which was subsequently burned) and sent an express to Colonel Purdy on the Juniata, who brought one hundred ten militia and eighty volunteers. General James Potter arrived at Sunbury on the 11th of September and took command; as the local militia had collected and the number of the enemy was found to be less than had been reported, he dismissed the volunteers; on the 12th he marched with one hundred seventy men to Fort Swartz on the West Branch. Leaving his command at that point he crossed the river to the mouth of White Deer creek, where Colonel Kelly was encamped with eighty men, waiting for the return of three spies. It was decided to join forces and advance eastward along Muncy Hill, but, as the spies had not yet returned on the following morning and their continued absence strongly indicated that they had been killed or captured, it was deemed advisable to proceed up the West Branch; General Potter marched on the east side and Colonel Kelly on the west side. At Muncy Hill they met the spies, who gave positive assurance that the enemy had not retreated in that direction; Colonel Kelly thereupon crossed the river with his command and the combined forces set out for Huntington creek, the eastbranch of Fishing creek. On the night of the 13th, an express having arrived with intelligence of the enemy's appearance at Middle creek, Colonels Kelly and Purdy returned with one hundred fifty men; General Potter proceeded with the remainder, numbering one hundred ten, but, finding it impossible to overtake the attacking party, he returned to Sunbury on the 17th. On the following day he transmitted an account of the expedition to President Reed, with the request that militia might be sent to the frontier; the letter was considered by Council on the 29th instant: one class of the Lancaster county militia was ordered to Northumberland, where it remained until December.
During 1781 the 1st Battalion (Colonel Kelley) Northumberland County included Captain John Geo. Overmeier's 3rd Company, 51 men (said to have included his elder sons, George and Peter) listed as "Rangers on the Frontiers."
The size of the old Overmyer homestead was 30 by 30 feet, two stories high, built of nice hewn white pine logs a foot thick and many of them nearly two feet wide. There was a porch all along the south side facing the road running to New Berlin. There was a cellar under only a half of the house, the cellar wall having an arch in it at the northeast corner and through it bubbled the waters of a spring called Silver Spring, which flowed diagonally across the cellar to the southwest corner and discharged into Sweitzer's Run. On the right side of this Run lay the bodies of George Etzweiler, #48891306 Sgt. John Lee (though may have been later moved to the Lee homestead?) and #13697603 Sgt. James Raynor, who were killed by the Indians.
In 1779, two days after the July 28th Battle of Fort Freeland, Col. John Kelly marched with his men from Buffalo Valley to the fort to bury the dead. Captain Overmire's men being among those detailed. Colonel Kelly used a dog that would track Indian trails and immediately drop when near, to alert the men.
In 1780 Colonel Samuel Hunter wrote, "Four people were buried on the old Obermayer homestead from an attack on (French) Jacob Grozong's Mill, May 16. (said to be on the bluff opposite Tuscarora Creek). The Frontier Rangers killed were: George Etzweiler (Dry Run Cemetery, relocated to his Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, site), #9471565 James Chambers, #9472444 John Forster Jr. (were carried to Lewis Cemetery), and #13556323 Samuel McLaughlin (McLoughlin). (Col. Mattew Smith also wrote of this).
In 1780 John Henry Pontius (Ponges) served as 1st Lieut. under Captain Overmire against the Indians who were led by British Officers and Tories on the frontier. Wm Moore also served as Lieut. under Captain Obermier. That fall, a large body of the enemy appeared before Fort Rice so the militia was immediately ordered out, and one hundred men under Colonel John Kelly reached the fort on the following day, but, having been informed that the enemy numbered two hundred fifty, it was not deemed prudent to pursue. Colonel Hunter at once ordered the evacuation of Fort Jenkins (which was subsequently burned) and sent an express to Colonel Purdy on the Juniata, who brought one hundred ten militia and eighty volunteers. General James Potter arrived at Sunbury on the 11th of September and took command; as the local militia had collected and the number of the enemy was found to be less than had been reported, he dismissed the volunteers; on the 12th he marched with one hundred seventy men to Fort Swartz on the West Branch. Leaving his command at that point he crossed the river to the mouth of White Deer creek, where Colonel Kelly was encamped with eighty men, waiting for the return of three spies. It was decided to join forces and advance eastward along Muncy Hill, but, as the spies had not yet returned on the following morning and their continued absence strongly indicated that they had been killed or captured, it was deemed advisable to proceed up the West Branch; General Potter marched on the east side and Colonel Kelly on the west side. At Muncy Hill they met the spies, who gave positive assurance that the enemy had not retreated in that direction; Colonel Kelly thereupon crossed the river with his command and the combined forces set out for Huntington creek, the eastbranch of Fishing creek. On the night of the 13th, an express having arrived with intelligence of the enemy's appearance at Middle creek, Colonels Kelly and Purdy returned with one hundred fifty men; General Potter proceeded with the remainder, numbering one hundred ten, but, finding it impossible to overtake the attacking party, he returned to Sunbury on the 17th. On the following day he transmitted an account of the expedition to President Reed, with the request that militia might be sent to the frontier; the letter was considered by Council on the 29th instant: one class of the Lancaster county militia was ordered to Northumberland, where it remained until December.
During 1781 the 1st Battalion (Colonel Kelley) Northumberland County included Captain John Geo. Overmeier's 3rd Company, 51 men (said to have included his elder sons, George and Peter) listed as "Rangers on the Frontiers."
The size of the old Overmyer homestead was 30 by 30 feet, two stories high, built of nice hewn white pine logs a foot thick and many of them nearly two feet wide. There was a porch all along the south side facing the road running to New Berlin. There was a cellar under only a half of the house, the cellar wall having an arch in it at the northeast corner and through it bubbled the waters of a spring called Silver Spring, which flowed diagonally across the cellar to the southwest corner and discharged into Sweitzer's Run. On the right side of this Run lay the bodies of George Etzweiler, #48891306 Sgt. John Lee (though may have been later moved to the Lee homestead?) and #13697603 Sgt. James Raynor, who were killed by the Indians.
In May, 1778, just prior to the "Great Runaway," the militia was re-organized. We find Captain George Overmeier/Overmyer #11804015 leading the 3rd Ranger Co. (51 men) in the 1st Battalion under Col. John Kelly. They covered the areas west of the Susquehanna, Buffalo, White Deer, and Potter Townships (now Union & Centre Counties) and specialized in fighting at night.
In 1779, two days after the July 28th Battle of Fort Freeland, Col. John Kelly marched with his men from Buffalo Valley to the fort to bury the dead. Captain Overmire's men being among those detailed. Colonel Kelly used a dog that would track Indian trails and immediately drop when near, to alert the men.
In 1780 Colonel Samuel Hunter wrote, "Four people were buried on the old Obermayer homestead from an attack on (French) Jacob Grozong's Mill, May 16. (said to be on the bluff opposite Tuscarora Creek). The Frontier Rangers killed were: George Etzweiler (Dry Run Cemetery, relocated to his Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, site), #9471565 James Chambers, #9472444 John Forster Jr. (were carried to Lewis Cemetery), and #13556323 Samuel McLaughlin (McLoughlin). (Col. Mattew Smith also wrote of this).
In 1780 John Henry Pontius (Ponges) served as 1st Lieut. under Captain Overmire against the Indians who were led by British Officers and Tories on the frontier. Wm Moore also served as Lieut. under Captain Obermier. That fall, a large body of the enemy appeared before Fort Rice so the militia was immediately ordered out, and one hundred men under Colonel John Kelly reached the fort on the following day, but, having been informed that the enemy numbered two hundred fifty, it was not deemed prudent to pursue. Colonel Hunter at once ordered the evacuation of Fort Jenkins (which was subsequently burned) and sent an express to Colonel Purdy on the Juniata, who brought one hundred ten militia and eighty volunteers. General James Potter arrived at Sunbury on the 11th of September and took command; as the local militia had collected and the number of the enemy was found to be less than had been reported, he dismissed the volunteers; on the 12th he marched with one hundred seventy men to Fort Swartz on the West Branch. Leaving his command at that point he crossed the river to the mouth of White Deer creek, where Colonel Kelly was encamped with eighty men, waiting for the return of three spies. It was decided to join forces and advance eastward along Muncy Hill, but, as the spies had not yet returned on the following morning and their continued absence strongly indicated that they had been killed or captured, it was deemed advisable to proceed up the West Branch; General Potter marched on the east side and Colonel Kelly on the west side. At Muncy Hill they met the spies, who gave positive assurance that the enemy had not retreated in that direction; Colonel Kelly thereupon crossed the river with his command and the combined forces set out for Huntington creek, the eastbranch of Fishing creek. On the night of the 13th, an express having arrived with intelligence of the enemy's appearance at Middle creek, Colonels Kelly and Purdy returned with one hundred fifty men; General Potter proceeded with the remainder, numbering one hundred ten, but, finding it impossible to overtake the attacking party, he returned to Sunbury on the 17th. On the following day he transmitted an account of the expedition to President Reed, with the request that militia might be sent to the frontier; the letter was considered by Council on the 29th instant: one class of the Lancaster county militia was ordered to Northumberland, where it remained until December.
During 1781 the 1st Battalion (Colonel Kelley) Northumberland County included Captain John Geo. Overmeier's 3rd Company, 51 men (said to have included his elder sons, George and Peter) listed as "Rangers on the Frontiers."
The size of the old Overmyer homestead was 30 by 30 feet, two stories high, built of nice hewn white pine logs a foot thick and many of them nearly two feet wide. There was a porch all along the south side facing the road running to New Berlin. There was a cellar under only a half of the house, the cellar wall having an arch in it at the northeast corner and through it bubbled the waters of a spring called Silver Spring, which flowed diagonally across the cellar to the southwest corner and discharged into Sweitzer's Run. On the right side of this Run lay the bodies of George Etzweiler, #48891306 Sgt. John Lee (though may have been later moved to the Lee homestead?) and #13697603 Sgt. James Raynor, who were killed by the Indians.
In 1779, two days after the July 28th Battle of Fort Freeland, Col. John Kelly marched with his men from Buffalo Valley to the fort to bury the dead. Captain Overmire's men being among those detailed. Colonel Kelly used a dog that would track Indian trails and immediately drop when near, to alert the men.
In 1780 Colonel Samuel Hunter wrote, "Four people were buried on the old Obermayer homestead from an attack on (French) Jacob Grozong's Mill, May 16. (said to be on the bluff opposite Tuscarora Creek). The Frontier Rangers killed were: George Etzweiler (Dry Run Cemetery, relocated to his Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, site), #9471565 James Chambers, #9472444 John Forster Jr. (were carried to Lewis Cemetery), and #13556323 Samuel McLaughlin (McLoughlin). (Col. Mattew Smith also wrote of this).
In 1780 John Henry Pontius (Ponges) served as 1st Lieut. under Captain Overmire against the Indians who were led by British Officers and Tories on the frontier. Wm Moore also served as Lieut. under Captain Obermier. That fall, a large body of the enemy appeared before Fort Rice so the militia was immediately ordered out, and one hundred men under Colonel John Kelly reached the fort on the following day, but, having been informed that the enemy numbered two hundred fifty, it was not deemed prudent to pursue. Colonel Hunter at once ordered the evacuation of Fort Jenkins (which was subsequently burned) and sent an express to Colonel Purdy on the Juniata, who brought one hundred ten militia and eighty volunteers. General James Potter arrived at Sunbury on the 11th of September and took command; as the local militia had collected and the number of the enemy was found to be less than had been reported, he dismissed the volunteers; on the 12th he marched with one hundred seventy men to Fort Swartz on the West Branch. Leaving his command at that point he crossed the river to the mouth of White Deer creek, where Colonel Kelly was encamped with eighty men, waiting for the return of three spies. It was decided to join forces and advance eastward along Muncy Hill, but, as the spies had not yet returned on the following morning and their continued absence strongly indicated that they had been killed or captured, it was deemed advisable to proceed up the West Branch; General Potter marched on the east side and Colonel Kelly on the west side. At Muncy Hill they met the spies, who gave positive assurance that the enemy had not retreated in that direction; Colonel Kelly thereupon crossed the river with his command and the combined forces set out for Huntington creek, the eastbranch of Fishing creek. On the night of the 13th, an express having arrived with intelligence of the enemy's appearance at Middle creek, Colonels Kelly and Purdy returned with one hundred fifty men; General Potter proceeded with the remainder, numbering one hundred ten, but, finding it impossible to overtake the attacking party, he returned to Sunbury on the 17th. On the following day he transmitted an account of the expedition to President Reed, with the request that militia might be sent to the frontier; the letter was considered by Council on the 29th instant: one class of the Lancaster county militia was ordered to Northumberland, where it remained until December.
During 1781 the 1st Battalion (Colonel Kelley) Northumberland County included Captain John Geo. Overmeier's 3rd Company, 51 men (said to have included his elder sons, George and Peter) listed as "Rangers on the Frontiers."
The size of the old Overmyer homestead was 30 by 30 feet, two stories high, built of nice hewn white pine logs a foot thick and many of them nearly two feet wide. There was a porch all along the south side facing the road running to New Berlin. There was a cellar under only a half of the house, the cellar wall having an arch in it at the northeast corner and through it bubbled the waters of a spring called Silver Spring, which flowed diagonally across the cellar to the southwest corner and discharged into Sweitzer's Run. On the right side of this Run lay the bodies of George Etzweiler, #48891306 Sgt. John Lee (though may have been later moved to the Lee homestead?) and #13697603 Sgt. James Raynor, who were killed by the Indians.
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