A history of old Tioga Point and early Athens, Pennsylvania, Part 23

Author: Murray, Louise Welles, 1854-1931. 4n
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Athens, Penna. [i.e., Pa.] : [s.n.]
Number of Pages: 726

USA > Pennsylvania > Bradford County > Athens > A history of old Tioga Point and early Athens, Pennsylvania > Part 23

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"The main Army in the mean time were engaged in compleating a Bridge over the morass, about 3 o'Clock the whole joined us, we then proceeded to Gaghsaguilahery, the Enemy, previous to our arrival, took possession of an ad- jacent woods, and made a disposition to oppose us, but on our approach, they, as usual, retreated, giving us peaceable possession of the Town.

"On the 14th we proceeded on our March towards Jenise, the last & Capital town of the Seneca Country, at which we arrived at about 4 o'Clock, P. M., Here we found the Bodies of the Brave, but unfortunate Lieut. Boyd and the other prisoner, massacred in the most cruel & barbarous manner that the human mind can possibly conceive,-the savages having put them to the most excruciating tor- ments possible, first plucking their nails from hands & feet, then whipping, spear- ing, cutting their flesh from their shoulders and mangling their bodies, and at last cutting their heads off, and leaving them a pray to their Dogs.

"After Interring these unfortunate men with that respect that time & Cir- cumstances would admit, we Encamp'd for the Night.

"On the 15th the Army was imployed the greatest part of the Day in de- stroying Corn, &c., which in quantity was not less than near 300 Acres, of the finest I ever beheld.

"The immediate objects of the expedition being now accomplished, viz., The total ruin of the Indian settlements (in number about 30) and distruction of all their Corn, which in quantity was not less than one hundred thousand Bushels. The Army about 4 o'Clock, P. M., took up their line of march, and proceeded on their route to this place where we arrived much fatigued & otherwise reduc'd, last evening. On our return we met with a reinforcement of Provisions near New Town, which was a most pleasing circumstance, as the last was issued at Kanadaguia and nearly expended.

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OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS

"A few days after getting matters into proper order, I expect we shall leave this place for Wioming, where we shall wait further orders with respect to our route.

"Your Excellency will excuse the incorrectness of my Letter, the bearer being in great hurry and had been waiting some time.

"Col. Brewer (Gen'l Sullivan's Secre'y) will deliver you this Letter, I beg to recommend him to your Excellency's notice, He is a Gentleman of undoubted Character, and a soldier.

"I have the honor to be,-with the greatest respect-your Excell'ys-most ob't h'e servt,

"Directed"

"AD'M HUBLEY, JR., L't Colo. Com't 11th R't."

"To His Excellency Joseph Reed, Esq., President of the State of Penns'ya Philad'a ..

"fav'd

"Colo. Brewer."

The historian who classes the Sullivan Expedition with other bor- der raids needs only to read Col. Hubley's Reflections, to become con- vinced of the importance of this master-move.

Reflection at Close of Expedition.

"Thus, by the perseverance, good conduct, and determined resolution of our commander-in-chief, with the assistance of his council, and the full determina- tion of his troops to execute, have we fully accomplished the great end and in- tentions of this important expedition; and I flatter myself we fully surpassed the most sanguine expectations of those whose eyes were more immediately looking to us for success.

"The glorious achievements we have exhibited in extending our conquests so far, and at the same render them so complete, will make no inconsiderable balance even in the present politics of America. Its future good consequences I leave to the eloquence of time to declare, which will, in ages hence, celebrate the memory of those brave sons who nobly risked their lives, disdaining every fatigue and hardship, to complete a conquest, the real good effects and advantages of which posterity will particularly enjoy.

"Whilst I revere the merit and virtue of the army, I am sorry I am under the necessity of mentioning that there was an unparalleled and unpardonable neglect, (and which ought not to pass with impunity) in those whose business it was to supply them with a sufficient quantity of necessaries to carry them through the expedition, instead of which not more than twenty-two days flour, and six- teen days meat was on hand when it commenced. And, although the army pos- sessed a degree of virtue, perhaps unparalled in the annals of history, in under- taking an expedition on half allowance, which was in every instance hazardous and imperious, yet, had we not been favored with the smiles of Providence, and a continuance of good weather, the half allowance itself would not have enabled us to perform what, from that circumstance we have."

The soldiers while at Tioga Point made two discoveries ; one was of the Indian burying ground near their camp, where they made ex- tensive excavations ; the other is related in the following extract from an address at the Centennial of St. John's Lodge No. 1, at Portsmouth, N. H., January 21, 1836, by Chas. W. Moore, of Boston :

Col. Proctor's Military Lodge,-Tioga Point.

"In the campaign of 1779, the Commander in Chief sent forces under Gen. Sullivan, a son of N. H., and a worthy Mason, into what was then called the Susquehanna country, to stop Indian ravages. The different detachments of those forces formed a Junction at Tioga Point. While there Colonel Proctor, of the Artillery obtained from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania a warrant to

165

COL. PROCTOR'S MILITARY LODGE

hold in the camp a movable Lodge of Free masons. During the campaign, this Lodge was opened almost every evening in the encampment. At Tioga two tents were connected for its accommodation. On clearing away the rubbish and leaves from the spot where these tents were to be pitched, which had, apparently, been gathering there for centuries, the workman found an old IRON SQUARE, very much decayed, but still strong enough for the use of the Lodge; and it was so appropriated during the remainder of the expedition."

The location of these tents must have been in vicinity of the boulder ; the speaker said no white man had been known to be there, it has been shown there had been many British as well as others. Yet it was curious !

FORT SULLIVAN

TO UCTOBE

BOULDER ERECTED IN 1902 BY TIOGA CHAPTER, D. A. R.

CHAPTER IX

CONDITIONS AFTER 1779

Border Raids Continued-Narratives of Scouts and Captives-Teaoga Abandoned by the Red Man-The Narrative of the Indian Girl Way-way

The Sullivan Expedition, while successful, did not put an end to the raids upon the frontier settlements at once. The haughty Iroquois having suffered defeat after so many years of supremacy, were filled with the usual Indian desire for revenge. And unquestionably the British took advantage of this feeling and continued to instigate and assist them. The Upper Susquehanna and the Tioga were still the Indians' highway. The prisoners en route to Niagara were still halted at Tioga Point. While New York suffered the most, being still the home of the Iroquois (who, however, were mostly congregated at Niagara), Pennsylvania continued to be invaded, and, as before, there seem to have been concerted raids in both States at certain times. For instance the attack on the Palatine settlements and Harpersfield in March and April, 1780, and those about the settlements at Wyoming. It was at this period that what was called a "militia company" was organized at Wyoming, with John Franklin as captain, their special work being scouting expeditions up and down the river. The original pay-roll of this company is now in Tioga Point Museum, also copies of Franklin's diary, kept from 1778 to 1784, with many brief allusions to these raids and the attacks upon the frontier.

The stories of Hammond, Bennett and Pike belong to this period with their thrilling escapes, etc. ; they are well known and can be found in Craft's Hist. Brad. Co., pp. 83-84.

The story of the prisoners from Harpersfield, told by one Patchin,1 records that, after a journey through the wilderness, they reached an old Indian town on the Susquehanna called Ochquago.2 Here rafts were rudely constructed of old logs withed together, and the party floated down to Tioga Point. Simultaneous with the Harpersfield attack, a detachment sent by Brant once more devastated Minisink, capturing five athletic men, whom they bound and brought to Tioga Point.3 They were resolved to escape, and in the night, when the sleep of the Indians was deep, the strongest of the party succeeded in breaking his bonds; he released his companions, each snatched a toma- hawk from the belt of their captors, and were fortunate enough to kill nine of them. The remaining two Indians now wakened, and, it is said, tried to flee rather than fight. One only was successful. The Minisink men returned home with joy. The escaping warrior, when

1 See Josiah Priest's "Narrative of the Captivity of Freegift Patchin."

2 Now Windsor, Brant's headquarters.

3 See Stone's "Life of Brant," Vol. II, p. 59.

166

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BORDER RAIDS, SCOUTING EXPEDITIONS

he recovered courage, returned in search of his comrade. He found him wounded, and remained to care for him. When the Harpersfield party neared Tioga Point the usual war whoop was given, and to their amazement it was answered by a single voice with the death yell. When the solitary warrior related his tale, it is said the effect was terrible. "Rage and a desire for revenge seemed to kindle every bosom and light every eye as with burning coals." Their rage naturally turned on their poor captives, who gave themselves up for lost. But the lone warrior interposed ; he knew most of the prisoners, having formerly lived near them. He was said to be a chief ; therefore, when he rushed into the mad circle and waved his hand, he was heeded, as also when he appealed to them not to kill these men who were not guilty of the murder of his comrades. One of the captives understood enough of the Indian language to grasp the chief's meaning in his unusual and eloquent appeal, which was instantly effective. The party then proceeded to Niagara, suffering much from hunger, both captors and captives. Patchin relates that they actually ate horseflesh from a carcass of a horse left in the van of Sullivan's army. Later Brant, who led the company, seized fresh meat from some Indian laborers4 in the Genesee Valley.

Early in June, Capt. Franklin and some of his company made a scouting expedition as far north as Wysox, and took three prisoners, viz. : Jacob Bowman, Adam Bowman and Henry Hoover, with "a fine lot of plunder," valued at £46 18s. 11d. Capt. Franklin and Sergeant (Thomas) Baldwin each shared a silver watch, compasses, silver buckles and sleeve buttons. A scarlet broadcloth coat, several gold pieces and a beautiful spy glass attested the consequence of the pris- oners. Their canoes sold for £4 10s. Miner remarks :

"They were probably confidential messengers on public service from the en- emy in New York to Col. John Butler at Niagara. Col. Zebulon Butler (of Wyoming) purchased the spy glass from the victors, estimated at three guineas hard money."

We have what Miner had not, Franklin's diary and recorded per- sonal narrative of 1805. The Bowmans were well-known Tories (the Hoovers also were on Butler's list), who lived along the river. On this occasion their faces were painted to resemble Indians, and doubt- less there was but one of the party a person of distinction. The spy glass is said to be the one now in Tioga Point Museum, about which there are conflicting stories, the accepted one being that Franklin gave or sold it to Obadiah Gore, to whose descendants it now belongs.

Franklin's diary briefly records for June and July various raids, with murders or captures of white men.

In August it was reported that Sir John Johnson was planning another attack upon the Mohawk settlements with 2000 men. Halsey says5 this expedition was entirely of British origin, believed to be con- nected with the treason of Arnold and the attempt to gain control of the Hudson Valley. Another motive for this expedition was the de-

4 This looks as though some brave Indians had returned to their cornfields, as it was just in corn planting time.

5 "Old New York Frontier."

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OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS

moralizing effect of the Sullivan Expedition on British sympathizers, who, now doubting England's success, were disposed to join the patriot party. Sir John hoped to restore confidence in British arms. The Indian forces under Brant and Cornplanter were collected at Painted Post and Tioga Point, and joined Johnson at Unadilla, the united forces being about 1500. This expedition left desolation in its wake,6 by Johnson's orders devastating the Mohawk Valley after the manner of Sullivan. They were, however, defeated by American forces, but retreated with much valuable plunder.

The Indians were once more harassing the settlers in Wyoming Valley, and Franklin's diary records September 2:

"Set off for Tioga with Sergt. Wells (?), Wm. Terry and Rich. Halstead 6th See two Indians at Tioga and chased them to Chemung. I hear that on the third Sergt. Baldwin and Searle Killed an Indian."

Miner says that this party found at Tioga Point evidences that large parties had recently been encamped there, that they seized a canoe there and returned to Wyoming the 10th. December 5, Frank- lin's diary records :

"Tories and Indians took Benj. Harvey, Elisha Harvey, Nathl. Bullock, Jas. Frisby, Jon. Frisby, Cady and Palmer Ransom' prisoners." These men were all members of Franklin's Company. They were taken to Niagara, suffer- ing much from cold and hunger, though "at Tioga Point they killed a horse and fared sumptuously."

All through 1781 and 1782 depredations continued in the valley, briefly chronicled in Franklin's diary ; of captures of men and horses, assaults on homes, destruction of grain, etc .; "revenge" for Sullivan's destruction being still the Indian watchword. The culminating horror seems to have been the attacks on the home of Roswell Franklin, of Hanover ; his own capture in 1781, and the capture of his wife and four children in 1782. The rescuing party followed the latter up the river and overtook the captors on the crest of the hill above Homet's Ferry, in Bradford County. The children were rescued, but during the fight the mother was accidentally shot. Several of the captors were killed. Col. Franklin gave a detailed account of this encounter, which was published in the Athens Gleaner April 4, 1872. He said some of the party were white men painted as Indians. "This was the last encounter with the Indians, and the last act of the Revolutionary War in the Valley," says Craft. All but one of the raiding party were killed by Franklin and his men. Many of these terrible raids were incited by the scalp bounty offered by the British. What has recently been called the last Indian information from Tioga Point, dated 1781, was a most repulsive inventory of scalps purporting to have been prepared for shipment to England, but sent as a gift to the Governor of Canada. This inventory was published in an English work that claimed to be a collection of authentic facts, and was long supposed to be genuine. But it is more than sixty years since W. L. Stone, in pursuing his historical investigations, discovered that this document

6 "Old New York Frontier," Part VIII, Chap. II.

7 George Palmer Ransom (afterwardsh Colonel), great uncle of the late M. Forman Ransom of Ulster.

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DISAPPEARANCE OF RESIDENT INDIANS

was written by Benjamin Franklin. In Stone's "Life of Brant" he tells of this discovery,8 saying: "Such deliberate fiction for political pur- poses as that of Dr. Franklin, just referred to, was probably very rare." Doubtless the object was to prejudice the Americans against the British. With the proclamation of peace, in 1783, the poor Indians lost their British friends and their homes. Washington showed a liberal policy toward them, and in 1784 a treaty was signed at Fort Stanwix, and the hatchet buried. But it was several years, as shown in our next chapter, before the British in Canada ceased to encourage the Indians to hostility. The Iroquois withdrew to Canada or their New York reservations, Tioga Point was no longer the rendezvous of the red man, the campfires of hundreds of years were extinguished, the trails were converted into bridle paths and highways, and within a few years naught remained but the hundreds of graves to remind us of the aboriginal inhabitants of Te-a-o-ga. According to Maxwell, from 1787 to 1790 there were still many families of Indians between the rivers and Seneca Lake, which region was still a common hunting ground to all tribes of Six Nations ; but by 1802 all had disappeared, by ravages of small-pox, as well as removal. The last Indian residents along the Chemung and Susquehanna were enumerated in 1779: "At Teaoga were 30 Saponies, 100 Munsies, also Delawares and Lena- linape." In 1788, when Guy Maxwell came, there were but a few scattered cabins along the river banks, and he said the Indians left the locality in 1801. In 1828 Red Jacket (and some other Indians) attended circuit court at Bath.º Thomas Maxwell was present and carefully questioned the old chief. He confirmed the above enumera- tion, saying that just before the white settlement, this valley was occu- pied by Sapoonies, Delawares and Munsies; with straggling parties of Senecas, Cayugas and Tuscaroras. Sapoonies, or Saponies, will be a new name to most of our readers. Dr. Beauchamp says they were a branch of the Catawbas, as were the Tuteloes ; and were allies of the Iroquois by adoption.

By the courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society we append a narrative transcribed by Judge Avery, said to have never been pub- lished, and thus bring to a close the far too meagre account of the aborigines of this valley :

[Draper Mss.] "July 14th 1837 Middleport Grand River10 Canada.

"My Indian name is Way-way-my English name Betsey Douglas born at Chocunut on the Susquehanna was a little girl when the white men destroyed our crops & drove us off in the war we all went (prisoners and all) to Niagara- a parcel of Indians had been taken prisoners to Albany-The first I recollect was at Chocunut1-a great many Indians on the flat-then at Genesee a long house & great many children in it a little way from the River near the bad smelling water.2 My mother died soon after I was born & I did not know but what the woman who had care of me was my real mother. The woman I called my mother left me at Genesee once to go to Tioga Pt to get the bones of her friends

8 Vol. I, Introduction; also Appendix.

9 The occasion was the trial of two Indians charged with murder. An unfriendly feel- ing was manifested by the whites, and after the trial, no Indian was ever seen in the vicin- ity again.

10 Land on Grand River was granted to the Mohawks after 1783, and portions of the Six Nations still live there.

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OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS

killed in the war (probably by Sullivan's army)-After war came back to Che- nang & Choconut where my folks had once lived. Dutchman lived there. He was brother to Bovier who lived at Tioga Point. There was a large Round Hill3 & big flat in front; Nanticoke Indians & some Delawares lived there then. An- other man Keeler lived on the other side of the River-also a man by the name of Saddler. Here were our corn fields. My mother pointed them out & said 'they had been destroyed, but why can't we come back here to live where our people have been buried.' We got pretty near all the things we had hid in the ground. We went to Awaiga next-lived there considerable while-two year I think. Nicmaster4 lived there & Draper-Oghgue Sen we call him. Tuscaroras call him Ogh-gwal-sen. Draper lived once at Choconut-Jacob Seth11 was my adopted father's name. Sarah my mothers. We went to Wappaseening (Nich- ols)-lived there two year-right near the Cove. I recollect Ransom" & Brooks at Pipe Creek. went to Tioga Pt, lived for a while with Mr. Spaldings® folks- learned English there-Nicmasters folks & Ransoms folks were very good to my people give us flour, pork & all kinds of provisions. One boy that used to live at Nicmasters was ugly to me. I forget his name. Our wigwam was about thirty rods from Nicmasters It was on the trail to Cayuga Lake. John Harris? lived at Tioga Pt. I saw Red Jacket at Tioga Pt at Pickerings Treaty. He was young man but very smart. He made great Speech. Captain Smoke was there he was great man. I am named Betsy after Betsy Harris.8 I know old Nicholus9 well across the river at Ahwaga-Onondagas & Senecas called it Ahwahguh we called awaiga. Jo Sackett I think lived at Standing Stone. I was also at Treaty at Canandaigua I stayed for a while with a man by the name of Baker at New- town. Old Jenkins10 lived there then : I called him Old Chickens that was as near as I could speak it. He used to laugh to hear me. I am a Nanticoke Indian. My mother & grandmother came from Maryland. The Nanticokes were put upon the Susquehanna by the Six Nations When the Six Nations Sold Nanti- cokes got nothing. They let them into their Country because they were good warriors & brave men, & Tuscaroras too.

"Old Nicholas was a Delaware. all the Nanticokes came from Maryland. I have a relative now living here who is 111 years old-a nanticoke Indian-Old Nicholas had a son Byman. Nicmaster's folks was very kind to me-first rate people I recollect Jenny When I left that part of the Country for Canada, Mill was just started by Pixley-

"We went over beyond Wyoming-when we came there my father pointed out where the battle was. He was in the battle. I recollect when the Indians came back with great many scalps. I saw one man at Pipe Creek; I don't know where he lived; who had been scalped & still lived. It was all healed up when I saw him. The way I got my name was this-my mother used to sing an In- dian verse which meant 'Oh where did the child come from'; The last words of the verse was 'Way-way' & that's the way I got my name."

1 Choconut is now Vestal, between Tioga Point and Binghamton. 2 Evidently the sulphur springs at Avon, N. Y. Round Top,

3 Hill east of town of Union, similar to Spanish Hill.

4 James McMaster, the pioneer settler of Owego.

5 This must have been Col. G. P. Ransom.

6 This must have been Joseph or John Spalding, as others lived at Sheshequin.

7 Quite likely Jonathan Harris.

8 Cannot locate Betsy Harris.

9 Probably the Nicholas that helped capture Stropes.

10 Probably William Jenkins.

11 Indian Seth may be the same; see "Annals of Binghamton," p. 134.

CHAPTER X

INDIAN COUNCILS

The Pickering Treaties at Tioga Point, Newtown and Canandaigua- Colonel Proctor's Mission and Journal-Indian Traders and Trading Posts at and near Tioga Point

It is an accepted fact that the purchase of Indian lands for occu- pation by the whites, whether by accredited agents or land speculators, necessitated amicable treaties. These were brought about, we are told, by general Indian Councils, where the chiefs of tribes met with the white men; and through the medium of an interpreter made known their demands or their grievances, as the case might be. What was called a "general palaver" was held, many belts of wampum ex- changed, food and, alas! firewater freely given, and some decision amicably made. Whenever there was a murder or any small difficulty, it was found wise to have a council as soon as possible. There were a number of these meetings at Tioga Point, of which there is so little authentic record that confusion has resulted from the stories of various pioneers. It was customary at these treaties or councils to provide food and drink for all the Indians who attended, and, if the weather required it, such shelter as they desired. Would there were far more than the meagre records which have been preserved, and that it were possible to give in detail the way the Indians were received, housed, etc., at Tioga Point at the time of various treaties or councils. The early treaties having been already necessarily introduced as a part of Indian history, the following are of those after the Revolutionary War.

There are so many contradictory statements about the treaty or treaties at Tioga Point, Newtown, Painted Post and other places, that it seems worth while to devote a special chapter to this matter, rather than to weave the various treaties chronologically into one narrative. One can easily find maps of Pennsylvania showing the different pur- chases made from the Indians (see Egle, p. 208). Beginning at the southeastern corner of the State, there are successive purchases of 1736, 1749, 1758, 1768, and, lastly, of 1784; which last completely ex- tinguished the Indian title to any portion of Pennsylvania. This pur- chase of 1784 had for its eastern boundary the North Branch of the Susquehanna ; it was called the "New Purchase," and embraced all the lands in Bradford County west of the river. This purchase was confirmed by the Wyandott and Delaware Indians at Fort McIntosh, by a deed dated January 21, 1785 ; but a deed had already been given the preceding October by the chiefs of the Six Nations at Fort Stan- wix, now Rome, N. Y. The Supreme Executive Council of Pennsyl- vania appointed commissioners to adjust this purchase, as follows: Hon. S. John Atlee, William Maclay and Francis Johnson. In the minutes of the council of August 24, 1785, is an inventory of the

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A history of old Tioga Point and early Athens, Pennsylvania, Part 23

Author: Murray, Louise Welles, 1854-1931. 4n Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Athens, Penna. [i.e., Pa.] : [s.n.] Number of Pages: 726

Author: Murray, Louise Welles, 1854-1931. 4n
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Athens, Penna. [i.e., Pa.] : [s.n.]
Number of Pages: 726