Person:John Mickley (3)

John Jacob brought the Liberty Bell from Philadelphia to Allentown, arriving in Bethhem, Pennsylvania, September 23, 1777. He was a Revolutionary Patriot, giving the use of his horses and wagons to the Continental Army, and helping in every way the cause of liberty. He was killed by a tree falling upon him near his home, near Mickleys, Pennsylvania.

Here is the rest of the article on the saving of the Liberty Bell:The bells were taken from Philadelphia during the night, and had the appearance of farmers' wagons loaded with manure, the stratogy used to conceal them and to insure their safety. The breaking down of the wagon at Bethlehem was a most aggravative delay just six miles from home and four miles from the place where the bells were to be concealed.John Jacob Mickley, who had charge of the bell, was the son of Jean Jacques Michelet, a Huguenot refugee of the Michelet family of Metz, Larraine, France. The family fled to Deux Ponts, then a German province, whence the son left for Rotterdam and came to America on the ship Hope, to Philadelphia. On this ship his name was registered Johan Jacob Mueckli. Arriving in Philadelphia he took the oath of allegiance, August 27, 1733, and settled in White Hall, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, where many of his descendants reside. The name has undergone many changes. In various deeds and other documents in my possession the name is written Michelet, Miquelet, Mueckli, Mickley and finally fell into the present form of Mickley, used during the past four generations. Jean Jacques had three sons, the eldest John Jacob, who with his large means aided in every way he could the cause of the Continental Army. He gave his teams for it's use, and his personal assistance in secreting the bells of Philadelphia. John Martin, his brother, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and was in the battle of Germantown. John Peter, the third brother, served in the capacity of fifer, was in the battle of Germantown, and served during the entire Revolutionary War.Copied from the article by Minnie F. Mickley

The Liberty Bell EpisodeIt's Historical Journey for Safety in 1777Told by a Descendant of It's Custodian (Minnie F. Mickley)Written for THE SCRANTON TRUTHThe Liberty Bell of Philadelphia, famous as having proclaimed the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, had made two remarkable journeys which are in striking contrast--before the triumphal one to Chicago which has just occurred. The latter one of the two referred to was in January, 1883, to the World's Fair in New Orleans which is oftener recalled as the great Cotton Exposition. On that journey, as on the one of the present year, it was honored in every possible way until it's return to philadelphia in June of the same year.It's first journey, made in September, 1777, one hundred and eight years earlier, was of a different character. And but few persons were entrusted with the important secret of it's removal from the State House or of its destination.A panel of a large stained glass window adorning the facade of Zion's Reformed Church of Allentown, Pennsylvania, has a representation of the old bell with the following inscription: "In commemoration of the safe-keeping of the Liberty Bell in Zion's Reformed Church, A. D. 1777."It will be remembered that when the British troups invaded Philadelphia the bell was secretly removed for safe keeping, and that it was loaded on a wagon and carried off ostensibly with the baggage train of the Continental Army. The impression was given that it's sacred and patriotic tongue had forever been drowned in the Delaware River. Some historians say it was taken to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where Congress repaired in 1777, the same month removing to York, Pennsylvania, where it remained in session until June 27, 1778.The diary of the Moravian Church of Bethlehem, kept by the presiding Bishop, has the following entry under date of September 23,1777: "The bells from Philadelphia brought in wagons, The wagon with the State House Bell broke down here, so it had to be unloaded; the other bells went on." They were all taken to Allentown, and the State House Bell and the Chimes of Christ Church were buried beneath the floor of Zion's Reformed Church. The Church was built in 1762, of logs, rebuilt of stone in 1770, and again rebuilt later. The Rev. Abraham Blumer was pastor of the Church at the times the bells arrived, and assisted in the work of concealing them. His son, Henry, was married to Sarah, a daughter of John Jacob Mickley, (my great-great-grandfather) who had charge of the bells from Philadelphia to Allentown. He brought them on his wagon drawn by his own horses. His son John Jacob Mickley, (my great-grandfather) then a boy of 11 years, rode on the wagon which carried the State House Bell, and was occasionally allowed to drive. The description as he gave it, of his first visit, and ride to and from Philadelphia, as told to his grandchildren (of whom my father is one) would be an interesting story.

John Jacob Mickley was elected one of the General Committee of the Revolution, of Northhampton County, Pennsylvania, November 15, 1776 (Anniversary History of Lehigh County, Vol. III, P. 892)

According to the records of the Egypt Reformed Church of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, John Jacob was born in 1734 and died in 1809 (source: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/pa/lehigh/church/egyp0001.txt)