AN EARLY NEWSPAPER The importance and value of news- papers in the study of local history can not well be overrated. They come next in importance to the original records of State and county. In more recent times they have lost somewhat of their value from the coloring given to public questions as

safe and passable for horse and wagon." That was the first of the important highways laid out in this county. Others of hardly less importance to the inhabitants quickly followed. As early as November, 1730, we find mat "a petition was presented to the Court by divers citizens, setting forth the need

born in Manor township, in the year 1798. His fath- er's name was James Armstrong, and the family was related to General Armstrong, who was Secretary of War during President Madison's adminis- tration. Unfortunately,few facts concerning his early life have come down to us, which seems all the more

intriguing and carrying on his treasonable plans, Mr. St. Clair, either acting under instruc- tions from Philadelphia or upon his own volition, had Connolly arrested. This man St. Clair was Clerk of West- moreland county, under Pennsylvania authority. He was a Scotchman, had been a subaltern officer in the

Martin and Ann Meylin built that "palace of sand- stone" in West Lampeter township, in 1740, one of the stateliest of all the early houses erected in Lancaster county, with its gambrel roof and shingled cornices around the differ- �entstories,theMennoniteBishopof that d- y, Hans Tschantz, with the eld

separation from Great Britain, may be with- drawn." Early in 1774 meetings were held in Lancaster county for the purpose of organizing for the struggle for inde- pendence. These meetings all set forth the duty of opposition to the op- pressive measures of Parliament; advo- cating a union of the colonies and