A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from its first beginnings to the present time; including chapters of newly-discovered, Vol. II, Part 79

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Wilkes-Barre [Raeder press]
Number of Pages: 683

USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from its first beginnings to the present time; including chapters of newly-discovered, Vol. II > Part 79

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

* Colonel Franklin states, in one of the articles referred to on page 991: "Capt. James Bidlack had been placed on a heap of logs and brush set on fire, and held on with a pitch-fork and burnt to death. Mr. [ Daniel ] Ingersoll, who was then [ a prisoner] in [near] the fort [ Wintermute] heard him pleading for his life, and heard his shrieks while in the flames, in the agonies of a most cruel death."

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Cooper. At that instant an Indian sprang towards them with uplifted spear. Cooper fired and the savage was sent sprawling to the ground. Reloading his piece Cooper fled towards the river, with several Indians in pursuit. Escaping to Monocanock Island he found there his friend and neighbor John Abbott, who was aided by him in reaching the oppo- site shore-as described on page 722.

The Americans who fled from the field of carnage were hotly pur- sued by both the British and the Indians, who either killed or took pris- oners all who came within their reach. The battle being ended, a mas- sacre was begun. The flight was chiefly in the direction of Forty Fort and the river. A portion of the Indian flanking-party pushed forward in the rear of the American line in order to cut off a retreat to Forty Fort, and then, so far as possible, pressed the fleeing patriots towards the river. Monocanock Island-dis- tant about one and a-half miles, in a bee-line, from the battle-field- Portion of a sword found on the battle-field of Wyoming, and now in the collections of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society. afforded the chief hope of crossing the river, and so the principal stream of flight flowed in that direction. Although confused and made under overwhelming pressure, yet the flight was not entirely devoid of system. The men generally gathered together in squads, frequently halting in their retreat to check their pursuers by their threatening attitude and the mutual support they gave each other. A handful of men surrounded Colonel Denison, who was mounted, and they kept together until they reached Forty Fort. Lieut. Colonel Butler, who was among the last to leave the field, was accompanied by four or five fugitives, two of whom were Rufus Ben- net* and James Stark.t When the party had got some distance from the

* See page 1070 for a sketch of his life.

t This was James Stark, Jr., later known as "Captain" Stark. Christopher Starke (for thus the family name seems to have been originally spelled), who was born in Connecticut prior to 1700, the son of William and the grandson of Aaron Starke, was an early member of The Susquehanna Company, and his name appears among the names of the grantees in the Indian deed of 1754. (See page 273, Vol. I.) Between 1754 and 1769 Christopher Starke removed with his family from Connecticut to Pawling Precinct, Dutchess County, New York, and in the Summer of 1769 his sons James, Christopher, Aaron and William joined the settlers at Wilkes-Barre under the auspices of The Susquehanna Com- pany. (See page 512, Vol. I.) These men were among the settlers who were driven out of Wyoming by the Pennamites in November, 1769. Christopher and Aaron Stark were again in Wyoming in June, 1770 (see page 659), but later were, with other settlers, driven off by the Pennamites. Aaron Stark came to Wyoming again in October, 1771 (see page 715), and later in that year or early in 1772 was joined by his brother James (see note on page 715), his brother Daniel, and his father Christopher, Sr. Soon thereafter the last-named died.

James and Aaron Stark were admitted inhabitants of Wilkes-Barre, and participated in the allot- ment of lands which took place in April, 1772. (See page 728.) James Stark settled in that part of Wilkes-Barre which is now Plains Township, and died there, of small-pox, July 20, 1777. He was sur- vived by his wife Elizabeth (who was the eldest daughter of the Rev. Henry Cary of Dutchess County, New York) and several children, among whom were James, Jr., John, William, Henry, Aaron and Paul. After the battle of Wyoming they fled to Dutchess County, but subsequently returned to Wilkes-Barre, where the widow Elizabeth died in 1780. Letters of administration upon her estate were granted to her son James by the Probate Court of Westmoreland November 30, 1780. Aaron Stark, brother of the abovenamed James, removed from Wilkes-Barre to Pittston in 1774 or.1775, and was a tax-payer there in 1776, 1777 and 1778. In 1777 and 1778 his son William was also a tax-payer there. He had another son, Jonathan, who was living in Pittston in 1787. Aaron Stark was killed in the battle of Wyoming, as was also his brother Daniel.

James Stark, Jr., eldest son of James and Elizabeth (Cary) Stark, and grandson of Christopher Stark (and the first of the name mentioned in this note), was a soldier in Captain Spalding's West- moreland Independent Company in 1779 and later (see page 981), and it is quite probable that he had previously been a member of either Captain Durkee's company or Captain Ransom's company, and was one of those who left the ranks without leave and hastened to Wyoming-as related on page 978-where he took part in the battle of July 8. (See P. H. Smith's "History of Dutchess County, New York," pub- lished in 1877.) He was living in Wilkes-Barre in 1787, and his brothers Henry and Paul were living here in 1796. Henry Stark, above named, son of James and Elizabeth (Cary) Stark, was born April 19, 1762. He fled with his mother and the other members of the family from Wyoming to Dutchess County after the battle of July 3, 1778. Subsequently he returned and made his home in what is now Plains Township, where he continued to reside until his death. About 1800 he held the rank of Major in the Pennsylvania militia. His wife was Elizabeth (born April 12, 1778; died December 24, 1851), and they were the parents of nine children, the eldest of whom was James Stark, born in Wilkes-Barre April 4, 1792. The names of three of the other children were John, Hiram and Henry, and all four of the brothers named were members of Lodge No. 61, F. and A. M., Wilkes-Barre, as early as 1821. Maj. Henry Stark died at Wilkes-Barre January 22, 1807.

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battle-field they discovered that they were being pursued by a number of Indians. Colonel Butler hurried his horse onward, while the men on foot increased their pace. Rufus Bennet, who was the hindmost of the party and was becoming short-winded, seized hold of the long tail of the Colonel's horse and was thereby enabled to increase his speed and keep up with his com- panions. But the pursuing Indians were close behind, and the foremost one of them-a stalwart warrior Pistol found on the battle-field of Wyoming, and now in the collections of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society. with a tomahawk in one hand and a scalping-knife in the other-was gaining on the fugitives.

On the march of the Americans to the battle-field Richard Inman, of the Hanover company, being overcome by the effects of an undue indulgence in whisky before leaving Forty Fort, dropped out of the ranks beyond Abraham's Creek and went to sleep in a fence corner. By the time the fugitives had begun to rush down from the battle-field Inman had come to himself, and when he heard the hoof-thuds of Col- onel Butler's horse he sat up and took notice of things. As Colonel Butler came near to where Inman sat the former espied the latter, and, pointing to the rear with his sword, shouted: "Inman, shoot that Indian !" Inman was a dead shot, and this order was no sooner given than it was obeyed. The Westmorelander's rifle cracked, and the savage who was in the lead-and who, with uplifted tomahawk, was within only a few yards of Rufus Bennet-leaped into the air with a yell, and fell to the ground dead. The other pursuing savages paused in their tracks, turned back after a few moments, and soon disappeared from sight. Colonel Butler and his party, joined by Richard Inman, then proceeded to Forty Fort, where they arrived without further molestation. "At the river, near Monocanock Island, the scene was exceedingly distressing," states Miner. "Many prisoners were lured to shore by promise of quarter, and then butchered." John Franklin, in his account of the battle of Wyoming, mentioned on page 994, ante, states :

"Numbers were killed in the river in attempting to cross, and numbers surrendered on the promise of good quarter. In one particular case about twenty got into the river in company, where they were fired upon by the Indians and Tories, and several were killed; when they [the Indians and Tories] proposed to the survivors that if they would come to the shore and surrender themselves they should not be injured-that their lives should be spared. Trusting to these promises, sixteen in number returned back to shore and surrendered themselves prisoners. They were led off some distance to the road, where they were set down in a ring, facing each other, with an Indian to the back of each one to hold them down, when the old squaw, 'Queen Esther,'* followed round the ring to the right with a death-maul,t with which she broke their skulls. Among these pris- oners was William Buck, a lad about fifteen years old, a son of Lieut. Asahel Buck .; He was not held, and, seeing the old squaw killing the prisoners with her death-maul, started and ran off crying. He was pursued by an Indian who took him and flattered him that, as he was a white-headed boy, he would not be hurt. But, while he was leading him back to the ring, another Indian came up behind and struck a tomahawk into the boy's head and put an end to his life.

* See note on page 984.

t Maj. James Norris, an officer in the Sullivan Expedition of 1779, entered in his journal-at Wyo- ming, under the date of July 13, 1779 -- the following item: "Colonel Butler showed us a death-maul, or war-mallet, that the Indians left by a man that they had knocked on the head. The handle resembles that of a hatchet, with a string drawn through near the end to hold it by. It is made of the root of a tree, with a large ball worked on the head of it, and looks not much unlike a four-pound shot in the bill of an eagle, with a tuft of feathers on the crown. The end of the handle shows the face of a wild-cat." # See page 468, Vol. I.

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"Lebbeus Hammond, being a stout man, a large Indian stood behind him with his hands on his shoulders to prevent his rising. Seeing but one man on his left to receive the fatal blow before his turn should come, he concluded that he could but die, and that he might as well make an attempt to save his life as to sit still and receive the fatal blow from the death-maul of the old Queen. He gave a sudden spring, arose from the ground, knocked down the Indian that was holding him, and ran into the woods. He was pur- sued by two Indians, but escaped with his life. The other fourteen [prisoners] were killed, stripped and scalped, and left lying in the ring with their feet towards each other.""

Miner, describing the massacre of prisoners by "Queen Esther," says : +

"Prisoners, taken under solemn promise of quarter, were gathered together and placed in circles. Sixteen or eighteen were arranged round one large stone, since known as the 'Bloody Rock.'; Surrounded by a body of Indians 'Queen Esther,' a fury in the form of a woman, assumed the office of executioner with death-maul, or tomahawk-for she used the one with both hands, or took up the other with one-and, passing round the circle with words, as if singing, or counting with a cadence, she would dash out the brains, or sink the tomahawk into the head of a prisoner. A number had fallen. Her rage increased with indulgence. Seeing there was no hope Lebbeus Hammond and Joseph Elliott, with a sudden spring, shook off the Indians who held them, and fled for the thicket. Rifles cracked, Indians yelled, tomahawks flew, but they escaped, the pur- suers soon returning to their death sports. The mangled bodies of fourteen or fifteen were afterwards found round the rock where they had fallen, scalped and shockingly mangled. Nine more were found in a similar circle some distance above."

Speaking further of Joseph Elliott's experience at "Bloody Rock," Miner says : § ,

"It was his [Elliott's] fate to be dragged to the fatal ring at 'Bloody Rock,' where the savages, intoxicated with victory and excited by passion to wildest fury, glutted their thirst for blood. A circle was formed, two or three Indians holding or guarding each prisoner while the work of death went forward. 'Queen Esther' raged like a demon. He [Elliott] saw six or seven murdered. A young man, Thomas Fuller, sprang to escape, shook off his guards, but was almost instantly overtaken and tomahawked. The confusion, the savage yells, the moans of his dying friends, the streams of blood, the scattered brains, for the moment stupified him. With a ray of returning reason he saw death almost in a moment certain, and he could but die. With a might of combined courage and despair he threw off the Indians who held him, and at a spring leaped down the bank, turned off to the right a second, and, at a bound, cleared a fence and fled to the river, with several of the enemy in full pursuit. He had passed Monockasy [sic] Island and entered the southern branch of the stream, when a bullet struck him in the left shoulder, inflicting a grievous wound. Being compelled to steady his wounded arm, dangling by his side, with his right hand, he does not know how he swam the portion of the river too deep to ford; but found himself on the bank, and took shelter behind a tree a moment to recover breath. He at length arrived at the Wilkes-Barre fort, and Dr. [William Hooker] Smith afforded his prompt and skilful aid. Among those whom he [Elliott] could remember to have seen butchered were: Jeremiah Ross, Samuel and Joseph Crooker, Stephen Bidlack and Peter Wheeler."

* See also "Journals of the Sullivan Expedition," pages 84 and 251.

t "History of Wyoming," page 226.

+ "Bloody Rock," so called for many years, but now, for some time, known as "Queen Esther's Rock," is situated alongside Susquehanna Avenue, near Seventh Street, in the borough of Wyoming. The rock, or boulder, which is about six feet long, three feet wide and one and a-half feet high, above ground, is located near the edge of the slope, or declivity, separating the bottom-lands, or flats, from the elevated plain (as described on page 991), and is about one mile east by north from Wyoming Monument. In 1895 Wyoming Valley Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolu- tion, located at Wilkes-Barre, purchased Queen Esther's Rock and a few feet of ground immediately surrounding it; and, in order to preserve the boulder from further demolishment by relic-hunters, erected over and about it a steel cage. Later the plot of ground was enclosed with an iron fence, and still later there was fastened upon the cage a bronze tablet bearing this inscription: "Upon this rock | the Indian Queen, Esther, I slaughtered the brave patriots | taken in QUEEN ESTHER'S ROCK. From a photograph taken in 1902. the battle of July 3, 1778. | Preserved by the Wyoming Valley Chapter | of the | Daughters of the American Revolution, | 1895." The Chapter took formal possession of the his- toric spot on Monday, June 14, 1897, with appropriate and interesting exercises, which were attended by several hundred people.

$ "History of Wyoming," Appendix, page 53.

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The day following his escape from the Indians Elliott and his wife and child left Wilkes-Barre in a canoe and floated down the Susque- hanna to Catawissa. There they remained for some time, then traveled on foot over the mountains and across the country to the Delaware River, and thence up into New York State. Later in 1778, or early in 1779, they returned to Wyoming .* Hammond escaped across the river above Wilkes-Barre, and, making his way out of the Valley, took the road for the Lackaway Districtt of Westmoreland. There he arrived in the afternoon of July 4th,# bringing to the inhabitants their first news of the battle of Wyoming. Alarmed by the probably exaggerated account they received of the number and ferocity of the enemy, the inhabitants prepared for immediate flight. Preparations were hastily made, and before sunset on the 4th of July the settlers were on their way to the Delaware River. §

Among the fugitives who, in their flight, plunged into the river near Monocanock Island, was Lieut. Elijah Shoemaker|| of the Second (or Kingston) Company of the 24th Regiment. He was seen and recog- nized by a Tory named Henry Windecker, T who had some time previ- ously been an inhabitant of Westmoreland, but was then a soldier in " Butler's Rangers." Windecker called to Shoemaker in a friendly manner, assuring him of protection if he would return to the shore. "I

* JOSEPH ELLIOTT was born in Stonington, Connecticut, October 10, 1755. As a child be removed with other members of his father's family to Orange County, New York, and thence to Wilkes.Barre about 1775. In 1777 and 1778 Joseph, John and Henry Elliott were tax-payers in Wilkes-Barre; in the Westmoreland tax-list for 1780 the name of Joseph Elliott appears, while in that for 1781 the names of Joseph and Henry are found. About 1785 Joseph Elliott removed with his family to Wyalusing, in what is now Bradford County, Pennsylvania, and there, or near there, he resided until 1798, when he moved to Merryall. Charles Miner, writing of him in 1845, said: "A pension of $65. a year has con- tributed to render the evening of his days comfortable. June 25, 1845, when we called on the old gen- tleman to hear his narrative, he was at work in his garden. His habits have been simple, his life virtuous, his conduct in war meritorious as fidelity and bravery could render it. He lives universally respected. With pleasure we add that his son was, at the last session, a member of the [ Pennsylvania] Assembly from Bradford County." Joseph Elliott died at Merryall March 89, 1849. He was twice married. His first wife was a daughter of Thomas Brown, an early Wyoming settler and a resident of Wilkes-Barre in 1776, '77 and '78. She having died he was married October 18, 1787, to a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Turril) Lewis of Wyalusing. John Elliott, who was born May 20, 1791, at Sugar Run, Bradford County, and who died at Merryall in February, 1876, was a son of Joseph and - (Lewis) Elliott." t See pages 771, 790 and 795.

# See Miner's "History of Wyoming," page 470; also, "Wyoming Memorial" (Wilkes-Barre, 1882), page 344.

& Lebbeus Hammond returned to Wyoming late in 1778 or early in 1779, and resided here for a number of years. He then removed to Tioga County, New York, where, according to Colonel Stone ("Poetry and History of Wyoming", page 207), "he lived and died [in 1889 or 1830] a very respectable citizen." Stone says there were three brothers of the name of Hammond in the battle of Wyoming. According to the Westmoreland tax-lists Lebbeus, William, John and Oliver Hammond were residents of Kingston in 1777 and 1778. || See page 468, Vol. I.

" The name of Henry Windecker appears for the first time in Wyoming history in the list of pro- prietors of Susquehanna lands dated June 17, 1770, and printed on page 658, ante. He was undoubt- edly of German descent, and it is probable came to Wyoming from the valley of the Mohawk, New York, as there were Windeckers living in that region at that period and later. In the Summer of 1771 Henry Windecker took part with the Yankees under Zebulon Butler in besieging Fort Wyoming, Wilkes-Barre (see page 702), and in October, 1772, he was one of the signers of the memorial set forth on page 750. About 1774 or '75 he located in the "North District" of Westmoreland, in what is now Wyoming County. In 1776 or 1777 Windecker repaired to Fort Niagara and joined "Butler's Rangers" -his family remaining in Westmoreland. According to a statement made by Elisha Harding in 1837 (see "Proceedings of The Wyoming Historical and_Geological Society," VII : 91), Henry Windecker, with many other Westmoreland Tories, spent the Summer of 1777 at Fort Niagara, but returned to Westmoreland in the succeeding Autumn and took the Freeman's oath. "He [Windecker] then applied to Elijah Shoemaker for help, and was told that he [Shoemaker] would let him [Windecker ] have grain for his family if Windecker would help to defend his country. Windecker answered in the affirmative and had his Winter's provisions from his friend Shoemaker."

Early in 1778 Windecker removed his family to New York State. At Machiche, July 2, 1781, Eliz- abeth Phillips and Dorothy Windecker, "wives of men in 'Butler's Rangers' ", petitioned the British authorities for permission "to join their husbands at Niagara." (See the "Haldimand Papers"-men- tioned on page 963, ante-B. M. 21,874, CCXIV : 258.) In August, 1787, Henry Windecker filed with the British Commissioners (mentioned on page 981) a claim for compensation for losses as a Loyalist. In his affidavit (see "Stephens' Transcripts-American Loyalists," XXV : 480) he set forth, among other things: That he was a native of America; that he had been settled on a tract of land on the North Branch of the Susquehanna, in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, under a Connecticut title bought in 1770; that he was one of the first to join "Butler's Rangers"; that he served therein all through the war; that he and his family "came in, with several other families of Loyalists, about nine years" previously; that they left farm, house, etc., taking nothing with them but their horned cattle; that their losses amounted to £490; that he and his wife Dorothy and their family were then (1787) settled at Fort Erie, and that they had relatives on the Mohawk, in New York.

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am afraid you will give me up to the Indians," said Shoemaker. "No," replied Windecker, "I will save you; they sha'n't hurt you." Confiding in the promise of a supposed friend, Lieutenant Shoemaker waded shoreward; but no sooner had he come within reach of Windecker than the latter reached down and took hold of him with his left hand, while with his right hand he dashed a tomahawk into the head of the confid- ing and defenseless man, who fell back into the river. His mangled corpse floated down to Forty Fort, where it was discovered, taken from the water, and buried the next day. According to Dr. Peck (" History of Wyoming," page 48) the murder of Lieutenant Shoemaker was wit- nessed by Anning Owen and Carpenter, " who were concealed under a tree-top which lay out in the river."

There was another case, very similar to the preceding, marked by equal turpitude-that of William Hammond, a brother of the daring Lebbeus Hammond, previously mentioned. Stone relates the incident (in his "Poetry and History of Wyoming," page 219) as follows:

"Having escaped from the slaughter of the battle-ground to the river, across which he [William Hammond] was swimming for the island, he was hailed by a former neigh- bor named Secord, now a Tory in the ranks of the enemy. Previously to the war they had lived upon terms of the utmost intimacy-often being engaged in the same labors in the field, and the same sports in the hours of relaxation. Secord's solicitation was of the most friendly kind, calculated at once to dispel all suspicion of treachery, and to inspire confidence. 'Is that you, Bill Hammond ? ' said he. Yes,' was the reply. Whereupon Secord advised him to return, and promised him protection; to which the other answered: 'No, I can swim across the river and make my escape.' 'You cannot,' rejoined Secord, 'the Indians are on the opposite side, and will certainly kill you. If you will return I will claim you as a brother, and secure your life.' Deceived by the apparent sincerity of his assurances, Hammond returned to the shore whence he had plunged into the stream. Secord stepped to the edge of the water to receive him, and as he grasped with his left hand the right of his friend, with his own right hand he buried his hatchet in his head! This scene of diabolical treachery was observed by a fugitive named Tubbs," lying close by in concealment, who ultimately escaped and related the revolting circumstances. The body of Hammond floated down the river to Forty Fort, where it was discovered, recog- nized, and brought to the shore."

Giles Slocum, Thomas Baldwin and Henry Pencel, or Pensil, were among the fleeing Americans who reached Monocanock Island in safety. Immediately after arriving there they discovered several of the enemy, who had pursued and fired at them, preparing to follow them to the island with their guns. Thereupon the Americans, who had thrown away their arms in their flight-thus rendering themselves in a manner defenseless- proceeded to hide themselves amongst the bushes and behind the trunks of fallen trees. The pursuers, on reaching the island, wiped and loaded their guns, and then separated to go in search of any fugitives who might be in hiding there.

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A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from its first beginnings to the present time; including chapters of newly-discovered, Vol. II, Part 79

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851- [from old catalog] Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Wilkes-Barre [Raeder press] Number of Pages: 683

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Wilkes-Barre [Raeder press]
Number of Pages: 683