NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE Washington '&$$&&' Founded 1836 U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare Public Health Service ■;w*s* .&< -;£v *u •->• •■'■■:■■"< «f * . * J O U R N A L Of THE I v F B c A M D TRAVELS! D F #y Now Unde^fcfltcnce of DEATH in the Cif t-HALt" of yf/^«7, Written by himfeif, and publilhed at his Requeft, A L ti A N r. Printed; fl A R t ? O R Pi . ItepriatcdbyE. Watiqn, near the Great Bridge, iyfg < ____ ... Mi2* . *i^_ i :.3-\4aJw^um *? v *'<#> #> *>#>#> *>%>&&&fr&&-&&fycfo&.&'Jfc$)-%y#ofr^ite 1 JOURNAL, O F T H E LIFE and TRAVELS o F JOSEPH-BILL PACKER, To the Printers* Gentle mem, WHLREAS I am now under fenrence of death ift the City-Hill of A--'.any, for having as it is fup- pofeJ, counterfeited the currency of this province % znd naving fcrutinized mv confci^r.ce, which beareth witnefs to the trucH of vvuat 1 fhall new deliver, of my own free wiH, which I hope will be , ublifhed according to myde- fire. If I were to write the whole of ny tranfacYions they wou'ei fill a large volume ; but rn this my journal, I only mean ts give s concife and true narrative of my proceed- ings. ' i 1 was barn in Connecticut, at a place called1 Grofon,* near New-London, in the Year 1720. My parents were reputable people, who, both by example and precept endeavoured to inculcate principles of virtue and honor in me. F.o ? my youth I h:ive been an admirer of cht- opufaiious x. n at;.-'.re,, and never ddtiled from e?r,qc!i-:T:fc ( 4 ; into any thing that I thought an arcanum until I had ob- < tained fome idea of it, my thirit after knowledge being mfatiable. When I arrived at the twenty fecond year of my age, my inclination prompted me to vifu the fouthern colo- nies, I traveled into Virginia, where I refided near Cxteen years; The principal part of my bufinefe was curing cancers; of this arc I may ju illy call myfclf mafter, as I ^ have cured every fpecies of them except the languine cancer, and even that fome times when the blocd was , not too much infected. I underftand the feperation of metals, and was often called upon to examine minerals. In Virginia, Colonel Chefwell, who had lead mines em- ployecfmc to work upon lead and copper ore : He died, a:id ColonH James Bird, who became fole owner of the mines,declined having them worked. From thefe works which are fituate at a place called New-River, near the line which divides North Carolina from Virginia, I went to Dan River, which I crofled and came to a place called Saiifbury,in Roan county, North-Carolina. After fpend- . ing a few days thee I (leered my courfe,M>Meclinburgh, which lies upon tru~ Calava River. This dtmed to be a g'/?d place for my bufinefs ; and, as the county was young and the court houfe then building, I refolved to naakc that the place of my refidence. Having agreed for my board and lodging, and being informed that feveral perlbns in the nieghbouiheod were t affii&ed with cancers, I publifhed an advertifement, the purport of which was, that I would undertake to cure them, and if I did not fucceed, no money fhould be de- manded. This had the dcfired effed, for in a few days .' I had feveral patients. * The firft that I cured was Colonel Lewifon, of a can- i cer in hjs lip-, the fecond, the Widow Canada, who had been gricvoufly *ffii&ed for four years with a cancer near k* ( s ) her nofe ; the next was one James Mac, he had been diftrefled with a cancer forwpwards of twenty two years, and was, indeed, a miferable fpectacle to look tapon ; three months elapfed before I could cure him. I can- not forbear relating an incident that happened to this man while he was my patient : After I caufed the can- cer to fall out, and the place nearly healed, a cow broke into his corn-field which put him in a violent paflion ; helotded a piilol almolt full with powder and fait, we la d. There was a man and a woman wit' nuVs name was John Wickifine, we were a:id refolved not tube impoled upon wha^v* the event. We went on unmolefted, cam.-*«o £ Ferry, as,d croiied Hudfon- River, v/e travelled on ._ port road until we arrived at De Bois's Tavern, thet we continued two days, r.s my companion Wickifine wanted to hire a houfe for himfelf and f.-milyl but the la dU/rd and him couid not agree upon the terms. At tmsTaver.nl met with one Doctor Smith, he informed ' me that he lived near Grown River, and that he U?d been at NewY^rk upr.n affairs of importance. : He was a man of aftabil ty and a :^ood orator ; we entered into an argument, and I iou;i operations of tiiac natufl could imitate it jl arifwered him in "the affrmative, but told him .] did not choofe to do fuch work,' being then engaged in philofophic ftudies: I Teprefentecf to him the enormity •>f the crime, and endeavoured to difuade him from pet- ting in it : his reply was, that the great men are guilty of grearer frauds,' and that for his part h'e did not mea^n to enrich himfelf by emitting a. large number'of bills, hn principal motive being cunnfuy to know how near he could imitate tKe true bill. I told him h was impt ffible to do it fo exact as not to be di(tin'gu«fiiable from the genuine bill : He'Tafd that a little difference was not material, with fundry other words to thai effect.' Capt. Hard, 'und'erftanding hi: errand, gave him a (harp re- primand, and told me that if 1 worked for tht Doctor I fhould not flay one hour longer in his'houfe: I promis- ed that I would not, but one word hrought on another, we differed, and I left him.—Oh ! unhappy day f—for having no cverfeer to watch for my good I met aa&'n with Mr. Smith ; who, taking advantage of my week capacity, Hcbsuched my judgment wi(h fophiftical rea- oning a&d made roc ttr. - ■'- • . Anxious ( 9 i '\ Anxious to improve myfelf by philofaphtc ftudita," naturally inclined to learning, remarkably ie-quifitive a- bont the fecrets of nature and feience, I travelled to Sa- ratoga, with an intention to fee up my works; and ac- cordingly buile a (Hop for that purpole at the houfe of John Davis. I agreed wilh Capt. Garrifon to bring me {tills, glafies, and other materials from New-York. When thefe things arrived I prepairctj to begin my operations, jbut amifunderftanding happening between the woman of the houfe and me, I refolved t© leave that place. I went down to New-Britain, but if being the winter fea'fon and the cold very intenfe, I coujd not ereft my works, but embrac-ed that opportunity to tranferibe my philofophy book, which I did at the hou-fe of Samuel 'jyhe'eieJ^' - As I underftood that Doctor" Whiting kept potters works, and having occafion for fome earthen dills, I went to his houfe and gave him directions about them ; it re- quired fome time before they could b? fmifhed, and in s the interim I employed myfelf in preparing medicines __* ^ at Samuel Wheeler's houfe. r.: I went again to Doctor Whiting's, expeai-ng my ftil'ls were done, but found they were not. This circumftai,ce ' retarded my hufinefs, and becaufe I applied clofely to my ftudieS and fjberit the greatelt part of my time in my '(hop, a repoit was circulated about the counrry that I was counterfeiting bills and coining money. I declare, hefoVe God ! that 'the faid report, was Jaije / for I did not make nor offer to" pkfs any bad money, nor never bad any thought's on that fubject. Confcious of my in- nocence, I gave myfelf no trouble about their furmifes, Until I heard that they had applied for and obtained a warrant, either at Kinderhook or Oavarack, againli me'; Thra made me very uneafy and confirmed my determi- nation of abandoning a place where the people werefo cenforious and malicious. - I thes ■_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________- -^ ( ■ ic ) Ithea reUved uponareclov way. of lif.-,and erected t hotle :n a foiaary pf^e, where intemk-4 to carry on my chyrrm-al procefs i but having made ad. c-xu■ fi >n trr-m my hab-trdon, I met/with oo- UuiHurt> \*lv, informed me that/he had been long fetching ioMhe, and that ;x was employed by Dan el Lewis or Sheilie'.d. WhS-v he acquainted me with bis bufmefs, i te'd hm that nothing could indue- me to be doocernei m '.is Scheme -, that being no.v an bkrr ■ m, :\nd my cye-firhr. much decayed, I had given ov-r e.-m-avina mre work ; and that be':nt» then engaged in othe- buhnels, I hid neither time roMr.rii-iar.ion to comply with his uqoifui- ori -,' bat he perfifted to ' jJeifuaide 'and;make me large citerfc. - ' . I cm now ti:ed, convicled and condemned, on .V >ici- on i,f h:ving counterfeited the.currency <-f this province •, buV, if the word of a dying mai can be taken, I am in- nocent of the crime imputed to me- I never did mike, fign or pafs conmr feitBils •, nor had I anv h?. d m the icheme further than what I have related. In my manner cfliving lalways'ftiidied not to wive ofiferc-, even to Children-, and'asl practiced no deceit, it never occu\rd to ^e :hat othtn would ufe it. In tl>,- d.ns u ofperit} Gold and Silver was not tco precious for me 4 f ut no fooncr did adverfit/ appe-u, than thofe whom 1 former- ly imagined to be my belt frends, ha ong ubtained the r ends and gkuted their mifchevious appetites ; they com nailed mc abrot !y their- fellow creatures in hopes to e'ear rhe>r own enarjete.c. Alai ! the ftrongefl.caltle m.:y be taken when btfieped by fopcior force j and it .. un is s'.]'.\ led by j-tt e offers and ir.finuation, it ic not iirpriiing if he fu-rende;s, elpecia'U- ir'h's pover y and goi>d natujc irt iikcn the uo vantage of. By over pr-fuafi^n 1 engrav- en to gratify thofe who are now clca-'cii'anJ have g«^c then ■d ( II ) their pardon, but ir plainly appeanh that I never coined, difperled, nor parted one penny of bad money ; but it feems that I mult bean Efcape Goat to bear their tranf- greflions into the other world. Lord ftrengthen me to, bear their burden in this world, and be merciful to my foul in that which is to come. As it is appointed for all men once to die, and it feems that the time of my dilution draweth near, I defire that thefe my tranfactions may.be publifbed for the fatis- faction of the public ; for thac reifun, MelTis. Pi inters, I have fent thefe manufcripts to you j print them with all > convenient-(peed, and you will greatly oblge your hum- ble (irvant, * " JOSEPH BILL P...... City Hall\ Albany r March 9, 1.72 2, ^XS^SS 2&&XS **fe*«X«S««3tXSS: ■ 'H ( 12 ) S Meffirs. ROBERTSONS, 1NCEI wrote the preceeding pages, I have recolleo- _J ted the following material oecurrences of my Life, which you will be pleafed to add as apoftfcript to what I fo. mefly fent. I would raoft willingly comrmvoicate my recipe for curing cancers to the world, but I have very ftrong reafons, to be filent on that topic; I am very for- ry that this is the cafe, for, notwithstanding the hard- ships put upon me, my heart is warm with univcrlal good wiH and beneviience to my fellow creatures. Gentlemen, 1 City-Hall, Albany, if^Tj^^ your's, &c. March 16, 1773. O-^ J- B« P- POSTSCRIPT. /'N the courfe of my peregrinations through Virginia, 1 came to a certain gentleman's houfe which I made my home for upwards of four years. During that time 1 Jpecame acquainted with one of lis daughters, and at lad we ibostghl proper, and indeed it was high time, to marry \ ac- cordingly we entered into the connubial (late. About half a jear after, my wife and me held a confutation upon the potlure af our affairs ; and, after a good deal of confabulation, ws concluded that living with her parents did not fuit our conveni- ence. Jpropofedio go and feek a place that wmld be mere agreeable U us, and objerved to my wife, that as 1 had two HMdborfes>Jks might, if (he pita fed, take a ridfi along wHh tne\ i* I »3 ) (he acquiefed, and,having made fome ntctffary preparations for our journey, we ftt of} together. We rode about eighty miles up into the country, and came U a quaker fettlenient called Opcchen Creek, where we put up at a friend's bcufe; the gentleman wis txtremely civil, and we difcourfed very jocofely together. Hea&ed where we were journeying :—we anfwered, to feek cur fortune, and enquired if they wanted to hire a Scbool-mofler at thatfettlement ? He j aid they did, and would be very fend of a good one. His reply plea fed me exceeding well,and we determined tr abide with them; the freinds being a very good people to live with, efpecially if they find that thofe whom they employ are boned and have merit. I engaged with them a year. 'They built a houfe for me and my wife, and a fchool houfe adiacent. When the build- ings werefinijJicd, the brothers and fillers, as they call them% prefented us with every utendl necefjary for houfe keeping. We then made as refpeclable an appearance as any of our neighbours I opened my fchool, went on extraordinary well, and had the uni-verfal applaufe of my conjiituenis. Gener alBr addock's defeat happening about fowmontbs after our fettlement at Opechen, threw a damp upouour bap- pinefs; I was in my fchool houfe when the fad news arrived\ the whole fettlement was alarmed, bting apprehenjive that tbt viPors would follow their bhw and ravage the country with fire and fword. I fiill continued my fchool, but, in about tw* months after, the murder (bout was heard i u our neighbour- hood } numbers of people were killed and fcalped,and the mifer- able fugitives who eftaped with life were at a lefs where ts fly for protection t At laft I was obliged to abandon my happy fettlement, and, with my wife, repair to a fort \ there we re- mained near two months, but the place being much croudedt fo the multitude who came there for proteclion and we having cur two borfes with us, made H very iucmcdicuj for us m flay there. My wife and me came to a refoiufan ft have the fort, and net choc/ing to fettle tgain in a country fo open to th incurfions of amercilets enetn*,we prepared for a journey int* tl\. province of Perr. :\'-va*i\. \ 'wearrivd faf: there, rented a < ccm, and Irejumed my friftta of (urgen ctnd curing can- cels. I lad ftrf>ri//h£ good i'u;.cejsy and obtained the nam: of an (xp*r':< .wed praclitioner inphjftc, but the tide of fortune a- gain turnd and fet bard a^ainft me ; I catched the infeclion cf the (mall-pox \ the crupiicnwas copi-us and the fymioms very unfavourable, I entreated my wife to leave my room end ketp at adillancc from -it but her tendernefs for me would mot permit her to comply with my r^quri], I was under vio- hr.t apprehenfwns, that if fhe got in! e fled, in the condition fhe v:e\\ then in, that the confequence woi'ld be fatal. Alas! my imaginary diflrefs wa< vety fot,n realize I; fhe Jickened, the pufiles appeared, and on the fixteenth day of her illntfs, to my inexprejfible grief, txpired. I had a boy three years of age, who was da-.gercvjly ill of the fame difiemper flat had been fatal to his mother \ at the fame time, 1 was 'not fujjir.icnt 'V recovered to q.'.ii r.iv bed ■, my Jituation was truly pitiable, I was fick, dejected, and forlorni among fir anger s%, my expsnee for attendance, nurfing, <: nd in- deed I may fay for every thing, amrun.ed to a confiderable fu"i, and I was then in a place where fomething could not be had for nothing. Upon my recovery I prep-fed to •i/fit **iy old friends the Quakers, but bearing thai tnnes were altered, much for ihe worfe. in their fettlement, I decline! it. II wing agreed with avoid welch widow for my bo/-: beard and locgmg, I continued my praclice of furgery and hud t.;-lere.ble fuccefs Asfoonaf *,\j boy was able to go, I' fent him to fchool, andhel/ecamea veiygcod fcholar—----I fcrveiuty implore.the A.w^kty topre- fcrve, govern and biefs him. " The War {till continuing I va«, by the recommenda- tion of leveral gentlemen who imterefted themfr-lves in my behalf, appointed furgeon's mate to the garnfon of Agufta ; there I continued until a detachment of our men "were draughted to go agr.inft Fort Du Quefne •, t ur principal doctor went *vi<:h thrm, but before his de- parture he wrote to the comm fTicners in my behalf, ivithout ^iformingrne of the favour he had conferred upon « ( *$ > upon me. In confeqtk: ce of his recomep.daticn I was fe::t for to Philadelphia, and there received acommiffion to be cheif furgeon tothe garrifon of Augul'a ; at the fame time I got a cheft of medicines ard t*hen went had: to my itation, where I conti'nued leven years. At the conclufion of the war I was difchaiged at Lancafter, m Pennfylvania : Being then out or employment, I went down to Virginia to vtfir m. firVer in law, andccntmo- ed in thefe parts. My fanla-ft r r-s, after that time, I have mentioned in my Journal, to which I refer the rea- der hereof. I would willingly write a more minute dejiil of the va- rious viciflitudes or my life ; which would makea large volume, but my tine is much too (hort for fuch an un- dertakings if I could obtain a Reprieve for two months, the work might be finilhed* , What time I can fpare, from my more weighty concerns, fhall be devoted to the above purpcfe ; and it my ientence is executed, ai the time appointed, Khali leave what man^ifcripts I have, in the kinds of the Printers hereof. Wnen from this Work! I take my Flight, To l'icicia and Regions of Delight ; My cruel Foes aeed not Exult, For they'll b^ pumfh'd for their Fault. And tliofe who brought on my Diftrefs, Will nev*r Tafteof Happinefs •, Sunk in Defpr.ir and loft to Hope, Their only Remedy's a R°?c>^gr <: Me quite unwary, for thflj*Tpie< Put Character and Life to^rake •, Deceiv'd, I did the Law frar.fgrefs -, . Words cannot utter my Diftrefs. I from a Broths afk'd relief, He on.ly laughed st my Grie; ; Oh / may no Brother in Diftrefs, Be forc'd to afk of him Redrefs ! To Blifs they can have no Pretence, Whofe Heart difclaims Benevolence -, Tome the Needy welcome were, I save the:"?, what I had to fpare, & F f JV I S; ">- V n •i &. j •".■.:>v- -4#s*?; .*■..-*•. i . > *1' " ??*-•':«&& ^v^U. 'P' *;^#3*r'-.?: >\ A , i$eA*