YorksPast

In 1946, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) began a standardized historical roadside marker program across the state. That is when the design of these familiar roadside markers was established; i.e. square, cast aluminum, two-sided marker, with the state seal at the top, with raised yellow lettering on a deep blue background.

One of the earliest PHMC markers in York County was placed in 1947, in recognition of the significance of Camp Security. After that roadside marker was lost, or stolen, the shown 2008 replacement marker took its place near the intersection of Lincoln Highway (Route 462) and Locust Grove Road, which is in front of 3698 East Market Street. The 2008 replacement marker has text updated per research and archaeological discoveries in the 60-years since the original marker was placed:

“CAMP SECURITY — A prison camp built in 1781 to detain British troops surrendered by Gen. Burgoyne at Saratoga, N.Y. and their families. Prisoners captured at Yorktown, Va. arrived later. It was guarded by York County militia and Continental troops until operations ceased at the end of the American Revolution in 1783. The camp consisted of log huts and a large stockade. Archaeological evidence confirmed its location less than a mile to the south.”

PHMC Historical Marker Program starts in York County

On July 17, 1947, three significant sites kicked-off the standardized PHMC Historical Roadside Marker Program in York County. The three sites were: Camp Security, York City and Warrington Meeting House.

In 1913, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) was founded by an act of the state legislature to commemorate sites of historic importance throughout the state. In the early years PHMC installed various types of plaques on buildings, poles, or stones; about people, places, and events. It was not until 1946 that the familiar standardized square markers with the state seal at the top appeared along state roads.

In 1947, the following PHMC roadside marker was placed along the Lincoln Highway in Stonybrook, containing the text: “CAMP SECURITY — Stockade, built in 1781 by Col. Jas. Wood on land of Daniel Brubaker. British troops of Burgoyne’s army imprisoned here, guarded by York County militia. The camp was about a mile to the south.”

In 1947, identical PHMC roadside markers were placed along the main roads leading into York, PA., containing the text: “YORK — Laid out in 1741, by order of the Proprietors; the first Pennsylvania town west of the Susquehanna River. Seat of the Continental Congress, 1777-78; birthplace of the Articles of Confederation.”

In 1947, the PHMC roadside marker for Warrington Friends’ Meeting House was placed along Route 74, 0.2-mile east of Wellsville, containing the text: “WARRINGTON MEETING HOUSE — Site of Friends’ meeting house since 1745. Preserved building erected 1769, enlarged 1782. Preserved in its early state, and used for regular meetings.”

Who was Col. Jas. Wood? … as noted on the 1947 Camp Security marker.

According to the biography section in the Library of Virginia, this is James Wood who was born January 28, 1741 in Frederick County, Virginia. Quoting from that source:

“The Continental Congress appointed Wood colonel of the Twelfth Virginia Battalion on 12 November 1776. He and his men endured some of the heaviest fighting at the Battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, and Fort Mifflin, which earned Wood a commendation from Washington. His regiment was also at Valley Forge during the harsh winter of 1777–1778. In December 1779, Wood was named commandant of the Albemarle Barracks, where he was responsible for the British and Hessian prisoners from the Battle of Saratoga.”

Col. James Wood remained commandant of the prisoners-of-war as they were moved to various sites before arriving in York County, Pennsylvania. I’ll quote a few paragraphs of the excellent research on the Friends of Camp Security web site which mention Colonel Wood:

Joseph Reed, President of Pennsylvania’s Supreme Executive Council and military aide to General Washington, wrote to Lt. William Scott of the York County Militia to find a suitable spot to construct a prisoner-of-war camp. President Reed instructed that it should be well watered and well wooded — a place where huts could be built, surrounded by a picket. The local militia, intended to guard the prisoners, were to receive pay at the rate of three and a half shillings a day in coin – the Continental money was then nearly worthless.

On July 28, 1781, Lt. Scott wrote back to President Reed:
“Agreeable to your Excellency’s orders I have found a place for the convention troops to encamp; about four miles and a half southeast of Yorktown, which Colonel Wood had approved as a suitable and convenient place. I have also called the fourth class of the militia, who have furnished upwards of one hundred men to guard them. Colonel Wood is of the opinion it will require near double that number until the necessary works on the encampment are erected.

“I have collected all the arms in York and Hanover, which are not half enough for the guards. Therefore I have to request of the Honorable Council to send us arms and ammunition for the use of the guards aforesaid.

“…Colonel Wood has called me for ten or twelve carpenters, and for axes, spades, picks and shovels for the building of the huts and pickets. The carpenters and the smiths who make the tools look to me for their pay; have therefore to beg your Excellency’s directions in this manner, whether it is a county or continental charge and how and when these people are to be paid and by whom.”

On August 2nd, 1781, Colonel James Wood stated: “I have fixed the British troops on good ground, the property of a non-juror, between York and the Susquehanna, so as to be convenient to throw them across the river in any emergency.”

The place selected by Colonel Wood as a cantonment for the prisoners was situated in what is now the extreme southeastern portion of Springettsbury Township. The British Convention prisoners numbering about 1,000 (accounts vary) were brought from Lancaster in August of 1781. Some were reportedly required to assist in erecting the stockade of logs and in building huts. This place became known in the Revolutionary annals as “Camp Security.”

Continuing from the biography section in the Library of Virginia. In 1783 an act of the Continental Congress granted Col. James Wood and other eligible officers honorary promotions, making him a brevet brigadier general. Wood’s postwar contributions extended to political and social spheres. Most notably from 1796 to 1799, James Wood served as the 11th Governor of Virginia.

Click on this LINK for a yorkblog.com Full View of the photos and illustrations in this post.

Links to related posts include:

Camp Security, the Schultz House and Henry Ford