Revocation of Edict

		Although little is remembered today, the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 which took place in Western Pennsylvania is considered one of the most important events in early American history. As on other occasions in our history, members of the Ferree family became involved and gave support to the cause.

THE CAUSE

The chain of events leading to the Whiskey Rebellion began following the Revolutionary War when the new federal government made an agreement with the states to assume the debts incurred by the states during the war. The government had to find some way to pay off those debts. Alexander Hamilton, then Secretary of the Treasury, came up with the idea of putting a tax on whiskey production. On March 3, 1791, the U.S. Congress in Philadelphia passed a federal excise tax of seven cents per gallon on all whiskey sold in the United States.

Resistance to the whiskey tax stretched from Western Pennsylvania to the frontiers of Virginia, Kentucky, and the Carolinas. Whiskey was not only a home product for farmers, it was a source of income that could be used for money and a medium of exchange for transactions. Many depended on it for their livelihood. Because of the distance to the Eastern markets and lack of good roads, it was difficult and costly to transport their grain crops. Converting their grain into whiskey made it easier and less costly to transport thereby increasing its value and marketability making it more practical. However, for the most part, nobody in the "back country" paid any whiskey tax.

THE RESISTANCE IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania at that time was considered "frontier" country. Most of the farmers in that area had their own stills including Jacob Ferree. The government focused on Western Pennsylvania as a testing ground for federal authority in their effort to collect the tax. Farmers in Allegheny, Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland Counties were strong in their opposition and citizens meeting were held in all four counties. Supposed to report to the Inspector of Revenue, the farmers regarded this as an invasion of their personal liberties and refused to report. Those who tried to obey the law were ridiculed; tax collectors were tarred and feathered; and government officials were threatened. There were public protests, demonstrations, riots and violence. This unrest continued for three years.

THE REBELLION

The so called "insurrection" came to a head in July of 1794 when a Federal Marshall was attacked in Allegheny County. Shortly thereafter several hundred men attacked and burned the home of John Neville, the Inspector of Revenue in southwestern Pennsylvania, and a personal friend of George Washington. By early August thousands of armed rebels had rendezvoused on Braddock's Field about eight miles out of Pittsburgh intent on burning and looting the city. Although the march into Pittsburgh by about 5,000 men was essentially peaceful, it signaled to the government a need for military enforcement.On August 7, 1794, President Washington issued a proclamation calling out the militia and ordering the rebel farmers to return home.

Read Proclamation Text

An army of approximately 13,000 was mobilized in Carlisle, PA. In September George Washington led the militia on a month long march across the Allegheny Mountains and became the only sitting President in history to command troops in the field. Gen. Henry Lee, the then Governor of Virginia and father of Robert E. Lee, assumed command upon Washington's return to Philadelphia. In October Lee led the militia into the western counties of Pennsylvania to engage the rebels, but by the time they arrived the rebellion had collapsed and most of the rebels had fled. On November 10th the following notice was given advising of the reopening of the Office of Inspection.

THE ARRESTS AND MARCH TO PITTSBURGH

The Whiskey Rebellion officially ended on the night of November 13, 1794, with the arrest of approximately 150 participants in the rebellion along with 20 of the leaders. Joel Ferree, son of Jacob Ferree, was one of those arrested. Referred to as "that dreadful night", men were dragged from their homes, handcuffed, brought into camp, and handed over to the provost-guard. They were thrown into jail, kept in cold barns or out-houses, or tied back to back in cellars. The next day the prisoners were marched down river to Benjamin Bentley's farm. There they were confined overnight in a log cabin without food or water and even though it was a cold, snowy night without a fire. The march to Pittsburgh continued the next day through a snow storm. Just a few miles out Pittsburgh they were forced to lie all night on the wet ground without covering or fire. They arrived in Pittsburgh on the 16th of November and conducted to the garrison on the 17th.

The Oaths of Allegiance

Each person, in taking this oath, was required to subscribe his name thereto, as well as sign the following pledge.

As ordered, Jacob Ferree, a distiller and known to be sympathetic to the Whiskey Rebellion, signed an oath recorded as follows: (Please note the record reads "Joseph" and not "Jacob")

The Pardons

On November 29, 1794, by authority delegated to him by President Washington, General Lee issued a "proclamation of pardon" which granted a full, free, and entire pardon to those considered guilty of treason against the United States with the exception of 33 men named in the proclamation. Joel Ferree was one of those thus pardoned. (Read Proclamation Text)

Of those 33, charges against about fifteen of them were explained away. Jacob Ferree was willing to give testimony for one of them. Others were marched to Philadelphia to stand trial.

By July of 1795 President Washington had issued pardons to all those who were convicted, held in custody, under indictment, or on the run. The fight over whiskey taxes was taken up on the political battlefield. By 1802 the excise spirits tax had been repealed by Congress.

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