USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > Annals of Philadelphia, and Pennsylvania in the olden time; being a collection of the memoirs, anecdotes, and incidents of the earliest settlements of the inland part of Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 24
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3d. They frequently killed deer, and by that means supplied the company with meat, being almost the only provision they ate, as the flour they took with them was expended.
4th. The path they travelled this morning was but little trodden which made it difficult for those who were not acquainted with the woods to keep in it. They crossed a creek, made up a large fire to warm themselves by, and then separated into two companies, the one taking the westward path, with whom were Thomas Peart, Jo- seph Gilbert, Benjamin Gilbert, Jr., and Jesse Gilbert's wife, Sarah ; the others went more to the north, over rich level land. When eve- ning. came, inquiry was made concerning the four captives who were taken in the westward path, and they were told, that "these were killed and scalped, and you may expect the same fate to-night." *Andrew Harrigar was so terrified at the threat that he resolved upon Icaving them, and as soon as it was dark, took a kettle with pretence of bringing some water, and made his escape under favour of the night. He was sought after by the Indians as soon as they observed him to be missing.
5th. In the morning the Indians returned, their search for Andrew Harrigar being happily for him unsuccessful.
6th, 7th, 8th. They continued these three days in the neighbour-
* Andrew Harrigar, after many hardships in the woods, got back " to the settlements, and gave the first information.
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nood of these villages, which had been deserted upon General Sulli- van's approach. Here they lived well, having, in addition to their usual bill of fare, plenty of turnips and potatoes, which had remained in the ground, unnoticed by the army. This place was the hunting ground of the Shipquagas, and whenever their industry prompted them to go out hunting, they had no difficulty to procure as many deer as they desired.
Roast and boiled meat, with vegetables, afforded them plentiful meals ; they also caught a wild turkey, and some fish, called suckers. Their manner of catching fish was, to sharpen a stick, and watch along the rivers until a fish came near them, when they suddenly pierced him with the stick, and brought him out of the water.
Here were a number of colts ; some of them were taken, and the prisoners ordered to manage them, which was not easily done.
9th. When they renewed their march, they placed the mother upon a horse that seemed dangerous to ride, but she was preserved from any injury. In this day's journey they came to meadow ground, where they stayed the night, the men being confined as be- fore related, and the negroes lay near them for a guard.
11th. A long reach of savannas and low ground, rendered this day's route very fatiguing and painful, especially to the women. Elizabeth Peart's husband not being allowed to relieve her by carry- ing the child, her spirits and strength were so exhausted that she was ready to faint ; the Indian under whose care she was, observing her distress, gave her a violent blow.
14th. The mother had suffered so much, that two of her children were obliged to lead her. Before noon they came to Canadosago, where they met with Benjamin Gilbert, Jr., and Jesse Gilbert's wife Sarah, two of the four who had been separated from them ten days past, and taken along the western path. This meeting afforded them great satisfaction ; the doubt and uncertainty of their lives being spared often distressing their affectionate relations.
John Huston, Jr., the Indian under whose care Benjamin Gilbert was placed, designing to despatch him, painted him black ; this ex- ceedingly terrified the family, but no entreaties of theirs being likely to prevail, they resigned their cause to Him whose power can control all events. At their quarters in the evening two white men came to them, one of whom was a volunteer amongst the British, the other had been taken prisoner some time before. These two men brought some hominy, and sugar made from the sweet maple, the sap being boiled to a consistency, and is but a little inferior to the sugar imported from the islands. Of this provision, and a hedge- hog which they found, they made a more comfortable supper than they had enjoyed for many days.
15th. In the morning, the volunteer having received information of the rough treatment the prisoners met with from the negroes, re- lieved them by taking the four blacks under his care. It was not without much difficulty they crossed a large creek which was in their
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way, being obliged to swim the horses over it. Benjamin Gilbert began to fail ; the Indian, whose property he was, highly irritated at his want of strength, put a rope about his neck, leading him along with it. Fatigue at last so overcame him that he fell on the ground, when the Indian pulled the rope so hard that he almost choked him. His wife seeing this, resolutely interceded for him, although the In- dians bid her go forwards, as the others had gone on before them ; this she refused to comply with, unless her husband might be per- mitted to accompany her; they replied that they were determined to " kill the old man," having before this set him apart as a victim
16th. Necessity induced two of the Indians to set off on horse- back, nto the Seneca country, in search of provisions. The prison- ers, in the mean time, were ordered to dig up a root, something re- sembling potatoes, which the Indians call whoppanies. They tar- ried at this place until towards the evening of the succeeding day, and made a soup of wild onions and turnip tops ; this they ate with- out bread or salt; it could not, therefore, afford sufficient sustenance, either for young or old; their food being so very light, their strength daily wasted.
17th. They left this place, and crossed the Genesee river, (which empties its waters into lake Ontario,) on a raft of logs, bound to- gether by hickory withes. This appeared to be a dangerous method of ferrying them over such a river, to those who had been unaccus- tomed to such conveyances. They fixed their station near the Ge- nesee banks, and procured more of the wild potato roots before men- tioned, for their supper.
18th. One of the Indians left the company, taking with him the finest horse they had, and in some hours after, returned with a large piece of meat, ordering the captives to boil it ; this command they cheerfully performed, anxiously watching the kettle, fresh meat being a rarity which they had not eaten for a long time. The Indians, when it was sufficiently boiled, distributed to each one a piece, eat- ing sparingly themselves. The prisoners made their repast without bread or salt, and ate with a good relish what they supposed to be fresh beef, but afterwards understood it was horse-flesh.
A shrill halloo which they heard gave the prisoners some uneasi. ness. One of the Indians immediately rode to examine the cause, and found it was Capt. Rowland Monteur, and his brother John's wife, with some other Indians, who were seeking them with provi- sion. The captain and his company had brought with them cakes of hominy and Indian corn ; of this they made a good meal. From him they received information respecting Joseph Gilbert and Thomas Peart, who were separated from the others on the 4th instant, that they had arrived at the Indian settlements, some time, in safety.
19th. Pounding hominy was this day's employment, the weather being warm, made it a hard task ; they boiled and prepared it for supper, the Indians sitting down to eat first, and when they had con- cluded their meal, they wiped the spoon on the sole of the r mocca
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sons, and then gave it to the captives. Hunger alone could prevail on any one to eat after such filth and nastiness.
21st. The report of a morning gun from Niagara, which they heard, contributed to raise their hopes, they rejoiced at being so near. An Indian was despatched on horseback, to procure provisions from the fort.
22d. As the Indians approached nearer their habitations they fre- quently repeated their halloos, and after some time they received an answer in the same manner, which alarmed the company much ; but they soon discovered it to proceed from a party of whites and Indians, who were on some expedition, though their pretence was that they were for New York. The captain being at a distance be- hind, when his wife came, the company waited for him. After the customary salutations, he addressed himself to his wife, telling her that Rebecca was her daughter, and that she must not be induced, by any consideration, to part with her ; whereupon she took a silver ring off her finger, and put it upon Rebecca, by which she was adopted as her daughter.
They feasted upon the provisions that were brought, for they had been for several days before pinched with hunger, what sustenance they could procure not being sufficient to support nature.
23d. The Indians proceeded on their journey, and continued whooping in the most frightful manner. Those who were behind came up, and the captain handed some rum round, giving each a dram, except the two old folks, whom they did not consider worthy of this notice. Here the captain, who had the chief direction, painted Abner, Jesse, Rebecca, and Elizabeth Gilbert, jun., and presented each with a belt of wampum, as a token of their being received into favour, and they took from them all their hats and bonnets, except Rebecca's.
The Indians, men, women, and children, collect together, bringing clubs and stones, in order to beat them, which they usually do with great severity, by way of revenge for their relations who have been slain ; this is performed immediately upon their entering the village where the warriors reside. This treatment cannot be avoided, and the blows, however cruel, must be borne without complaint, and the prisoners are sorely beaten, until their enemies are wearied with the cruel sport. Their sufferings were in this case very great, they received several wounds, and two of the women, who were on horse- back, were much bruised by falling from their horses, which were frightened by the Indians. Elizabeth, the mother, took shelter by the side of one of them, but upon his observing that she met with some favour upon his account, he sent her away ; she then received several violent blows, so that she was almost disabled. The blood trickled from their heads in a stream, their hair being cropped close, and the clothes they had on, in rags, made their situation piteous. Whilst they were inflicting this revenge upon the captives. the king VOL. II .- 2 A
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came, and put a stop to any further cruelty, by telling them "it was sufficient," which they immediately attended to.
Benjamin Gilbert, and Elizabeth his wife, Jesse Gilbert, and his wife, were ordered to Captain Rowland Monteur's house, the women belonging to it were kind to them, and gave them something to eat; Sarah Gilbert, Jesse's wife, was taken from them by three women, in order to be placed in the family she was to be adopted by.
24th. Two officers from Niagara fort, Captains Dace and Powell, came to see the prisoners, and prevent (as they were informed) any abuse that might be given them. Benjamin Gilbert informed these officers, that he was apprenhensive they were in great danger of being murdered, upon which they promised him they would send a boat the next day to bring them to Niagara.
When they left the Indian town, several issued from their huts after them, with sticks in their hands, yelling and screeching in a most dismal manner ; but through the interposition of four Indian women, who had come with the captives, to prevent any further abuse they might receive, they were preserved. After reaching the fort, Captain Powel introduced them to Colonel Guy Johnson, and Colonel Butler, who asked the prisoners many questions, in the presence of the Indians. They presented the captain with a belt of wampum, which is a constant practice amongst them, when they intend a ratification of peace.
25th. Benjamin Gilbert, Elizabeth his wife, and Jesse Gilbert, were surrendered to Colonel Johnson. This deliverance, from such scenes of distress as they had become acquainted with, gave them a more free opportunity of close reflection than heretofore.
The particular attention of Colonel Johnson's housekeeper to them, from a commiseration of their distress, claims their remembrance ; Benjamin, his wife, and Jesse Gilbert, were invited to her house, where she not only gave the old folks her best room, but administered to their necessities, and endeavoured to soothe their sorrows.
28th. A few days after they came to the fort, they had informa- tion that Benjamin Peart was by the river side, with the Indians; upon hearing this report, his mother went to see him, but every attempt for his release was in vain, the Indians would by no means give him up.
The British officers being acquainted that Jesse Gilbert's wife was among the Indians, with great tenderness agreed to seek her out, and after a diligent inquiry, found that she was among the Dela- wares ; they went to them, and endeavoured to agree upon terms for her releasement ; the Indians brought her to the fort the next day, but would not give her up to her relations.
29th. As the cabins of the Indians were but two miles from the fort, they went thither, and Jesse and the officers used every argu- ment in their power to prevail upon them, representing how hard it was to part these two young people; at length they consented to bring her in next day, with their whole tribe, for a final release.
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30th. They accordingly came, but started so many objections, that she was obliged to return with them.
31st. Early next morning, Captain Robeson generously undertook to procure her liberty, which, after much attention and solicitude, he, together with Lieutenant Hillyard, happily accomplished. They made the Indians several small presents, and gave them thirty pounds as a ransom.
When Sarah Gilbert had obtained her liberty, she altered her dress more in character for her sex, than she had been able to do whilst amongst the Indians, and went to her husband and parents at Colonel Johnson's, where she was joyfully received.
Colonel Johnson's housekeeper continued her kind attentions to them during their stay here, and procured clothing for them from the king's stores.
6th month 1st. About this time, the Senecas, among whom Eliza- beth Peart was captive, brought her with them to the fort; as soon as the mother heard of it, she went to her, and had some conversation with her, but could not learn where she was to be sent to. Captain Powell interested himself in her case likewise, and offered to purchase her of them, but the Indians refused to give her up; and as the mother and daughter expected they should see each other no more, their parting was very affecting.
2d and 3d. Not many days after their arrival at Niagara, a vessel came up Lake Ontario to the fort, with orders for the prisoners to go to Montreal. In this vessel came one Captain Brant, an Indian chief, high in rank amongst them. Elizabeth Gilbert immediately applied herself to solicit and interest him on behalf of her children who yet remained in captivity ; he readily promised her to use his endeavours to procure their liberty. A short time before they sailed · for Montreal, they received accounts of Abner and Elizabeth Gilbert, the younger, but it was also understood that their possessors were not disposed to give them up.
Here they became acquainted with one Jesse Pawling, from Pennsylvania, who was an officer among the British, and behaved with kindness and respect to the prisoners, which induced them to request his attention also to that part of the family remaining in cap- tivity ; it appeared to them of some consequence to gain an additional friend. The colonel also gave his promise to exert himself on their behalf.
After continuing ten days at Colonel Johnson's, they took boat in the forenoon of the 2d, being the sixth day of the week, and crossed the river Niagara, in order to go on board the vessel (which lay in Lake Ontario) for Montreal.
[In order to condense the narrative, which contains ninety-six pages, that it may not render the perusal of it tiresome, we give the main facts, after the thirtieth page, in the follwing compendium.]
After proceeding as far as Charlton island, seeing a number of small boats, for descending the St. Lawrence, .hey solicited to go in
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one of them. They got exposed to much rain, whereby Benjamin Gilbert took sick on the passage, and for want of necessary comforts, he died of a fever, on the fourth day of their departure, and they interred him under an oak by the river side, in a coffin procured from the fort of Cœur de Lac. Finally, the widow and her two children arrived at Montreal, where they were received by General M' Clean, and placed in the house of Daniel M'Ulphin, for a time. Here they went severally into hired situations to procure their livelihood, and in the mean time were often favourably noticed by the British officers. One day, while Elizabeth Gilbert was at her ironing, she was most agreeably surprised by the unexpected entrance of her six children, just then arrived there !- to wit: Joseph Gilbert, Benjamin Peart, Elizabeth his wife, and young child, Abner and Elizabeth Gilbert. What a happy meeting after a captivity of upwards of fourteen months! These informed, that Thomas Peart, who had obtained his liberty, had voluntarily remained at Niagara, in hopes of being useful in procuring the release of the two yet detained in captivity- say Benjamin Gilbert, Jr., and Rebecca Gilbert.
We pass over considerable of incidents and facts, which attended that branch of the captives, to wit: Joseph Gilbert, Thomas Peart and two others, who were conducted by the western path, and how they finally succeeded to join the widow Gilbert, as above related. They were generally liberated through the influence and money of the British officers, and by these eventually sent to Montreal. Eliza- beth Peart, the wife of Benjamin, who had the young child, being parted from her husband by those who had adoptod her, was also separated from her child by those who had chosen it. The Indians intended no cruelty by those measures, but to reinstate their family losses by their adoption. Finally, she and her child were procured, and brought again together, through the intercession and purchase of Captain Powell, at the Niagara fort. Rebecca Gilbert in her cap- tivity was well treated, much valued, and made herself extremely useful to her Indian and legal owners, by teaching them the use of many useful branches of domestic economy.
While these events were transpiring, Benjamin Gilbert, one of the family, coming from Pennsylvania, had arrived at Castleton, near the British lines, to endeavour to procure the return of the whole family. The Society of Friends also had interested themselves in their behalf. Finally, he met them all at Montreal, after an absence of nearly three years. On the 22d of 8 mo.,1782, they all set out on their return home, and on the 28th of 9th mo. following, arrived all safely at Byberry, the place of their nativity ; producing much interest and gratification to their former friends, and affording them a lively concern in the incidents of the narrative now brought to a close.
The kindness extended to this family, by the British and tory officers at Niagara, proved that humane feelings possessed their breasts, notwithstanding some of them were conspicuous in their
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severity against our people as warriors Colonels Butler and Brant had been conspicuous in the massacre at Wyoming, and Colonel Guy Johnson had invaded Herkemer with Indians and committed ravages there and at his former home of Johnstown.
The foregoing article concerning the Gilberts was sent by me to the printer at Mauch Chunk, and by him reprinted, with a promise to hunt up the old localities and families, and to make report.
A son of Jesse Gilbert told me that the little girl, Abigail 1)odson, was detained a captive longer than the Gilberts, and is now a good liver, settled on the Susquehanna.
It would really be an interesting tour to make one's pathway along the Indian path from Mahoning to the Susquehanna, yet left.
One of the daughters in the foregoing narrative is now alive in Byberry, Philadelphia county, and has feelingly confirmed the fore- going recitals to the present writer.
What a change of country in so short a period! Now Mauch Chunk is all life and prosperity !
The Rev. Henry Smith, a Methodist minister, told in 1841, that when he was a young minister in 1793, at or near Clarksburg, on the Monongahela, the Indians assaulted the house of brother Smith, where he sometimes stopped. The preachers then wore moccasons; in their then little congregation, the two best-dressed females were clothed in short gowns and petticoats, the rest had neither short nor long gowns, and every man and woman was barefooted !
Indian relics, New Jersey, 1839. The skeletons of three Indians were dug out, on Benjamin Colson's farm near Rackoon creek, in Gloucester county, New Jersey, in December, 1839, by some men digging for marl. They were found two and a half feet below ground, and some of the bones still good. With them were found two pieces of gold coin of 1666, six rings, and three strings of beads.
My friend, the Rev. Doctor William Neil, (late president of Dicken- son college,) a gentleman of about fifty-six years of age in 1835, when a child of two years of age, had his father and uncle killed by Indians in the same field, in day time, on a farm only nine miles from Pitts- burg, on the Yougheogheney. On the same day, they also killed three sons of one Marshall, their neighbour. The Indians were a small predatory band. Such an act, so recent as about the year 1780 near to so settled a place as that country is now, must seem strange to those who may now contemplate the great change in population and security !
In the year 1756, in the time of Gov. Morris, Benjamin Franklin was made an agent, or commissioner, for seeing to the execution of measures for the war against the Indians. At same time some regu- lars arrived at Philadelphia, from New York, and were ordered to be posted at Reading and Easton. Three hundred men were or- dered to be posted on the west of the Susquehanna, and three forts to be built there. The governor went out to Harris' ferry, and after- wards to Carlisle, then to Easton. At same time Benjamin Frank
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lin goes up the Lehigh, in company with a military force, to Gna- denhutten, (Tents of Mercy,) near where he had a fort erected, called Fort Allen, situated opposite to the mouth of Mahoning creek. A line of communication was also opened by the same agent through the wilderness, out to the Susquehanna at Wyoming, and having a fort at mid distance, called the Middle fort. The old warriors of that day are forgotten, but they consisted of 550 men. When marching from Bethlehem and Nazareth, they went by the way of the gap and Uplinger's. Those named as " without the forks," were Trump's company, of 50; Aston's, 50; Wayne's, 55; Foulke's, 46; Trexler's, 48, and Wetterhold's, 44. Orndt, Craig and Martin had each a company at the Irish settlements. Secretary Peters, in his report to Lord Loudon, states, that the whole number of men raised for garrisons and patrols on the frontiers was 1400-at a cost of £70,000 currency, annually. These men were enlisted for one year, at ls. 6d. a day. Fort Allen was surprised and taken by In- dians, while part of the garrison was skating on the Lehigh. They then took and burned Gnadenhutten, and bore off prisoners, Novem- ber, 1756.
There was, in the times of which we are speaking, a universal and deep excitement among the people-such as disturbed and alarmed every body. It occupied and engrossed the continued attention of the governors and legislatures in the several provinces. Governors from several of the states assembled at Philadelphia, to counsel and to concert measures with the Earl of Loudon, the commander-in- chief ; and messages were continually passing to and fro, and espe- cially to and from Sir Wm. Johnson, the chief agent for Indian af- fairs; Indian friends and allies were earnestly sought, and the In- dian traders and interpreters were busily occupied in travelling with embassies to the frontiers, to create favourable impressions and to strengthen the frontier people. Men, women and children were every where upon the qui vive. They were indeed days of evil omen-every thing was sad and terrified. Long were they remem- bered and spoken of in later years by our forefathers. But since, their tales of woe and terror are forgotten ! During all this excite- ment the governors and assemblies were in high disagreement about supplies, and who should pay for them. The Friends in the house, averse to war, would not vote for its progress; and those not in office, who ruled the meetings, believed that they could do better by peaceful measures. Hence the origin of " the Friendly Association for preserving peace." They exerted themselves greatly to effect their object, and contributed large sums of money. The Earl of Halifax, in England, sent out his reprimand, and censured them for interfering in Indian matters, about treaties " with sovereign princes." To this the friends made a strong case in vindication, but withdraw- ing, however, from any further interposition.
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