In the days of the American Revolution, Lancaster was an important center of patriotic activities. After the closing of Boston Port, a meeting of protest was held in the Lancaster Court House. Her deputies attended the Pennsylvania Convention in Philadelphia and joined in a call for a Colonial Congress. After Lexington, the citizens at a public meeting pledged their lives and fortunes to the cause of all the Colonies, and companies of expert riflemen were organized. William Simpson of Captain Smith’s Lancaster company, was the first Pennsylvania soldier who fell in the Revolutionary War. Many British prisoners were brought to Lancaster, among them being Major Andre, kept for a time at the Cope House, corner of Grant and North Lime Streets.
When the British were on the point of occupying Philadelphia, Continental Congress and the Executive Council of Pennsylvania were removed to Lancaster. The members of Continental Congress arrived here on September 27, 1777, the very day on which General Howe entered Philadelphia. The records and treasury were removed to Lancaster by way of Reading. One session of Congress was held here; but the members, believing that they might be interrupted by the enemy, resolved to remove Congress to York.
The Executive Council of Pennsylvania met here on October 1, 1777 and its sessions continued to be held in this city for nearly nine months, during which time the President of the Council, the Hon. Thomas J. Wharton, Jr., died, and was interred in Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Lancaster furnished a signer of the Declaration of Independence in the person of George Ross. Another son of Lancaster, who brought distinction to his native soil, was David Ramsay, the historian of the Revolution. William Henry conducted a gun factory to manufacture and repair arms for the Continental army. His son, John Joseph Henry, took part in the expedition against Quebec and immortalized the campaign by his accurate and interesting account of the hardships and sufferings of that band of heroes who traversed the wilderness in an attempt to take Canada for the Colonial cause.
[Illustration: ROCK FORD Restored Home of General Edward Hand Open to Visitors Built 1796]