USA > Pennsylvania > Historical register : notes and queries historical and genealogical, chiefly relating to interior Pennsylvania. Volume II > Part 5
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i. Hannah.
ii. Mary.
iii. John.
iv. Sarah, v. Jean.
9. vi. Thomas, b. March, 1777; m. Margaret Ainsworth.
vit. William. (See Linn's Annals of Buffalo Valley, p. 246.)
viii. Matthewc, b. 1776; with his brother Thomas adopted by his uncle William, of Paxtang ; educated at Dickinson Col- lege, where he graduated in 1704; studied theology and was licensed to preach by Carlisle Presbytery, October 3, 1799 : some time pastor at Canonsburg, first president of Washington College, 1506-1816, and president of Jefferson College 1822-1845; d. at Pittsburgh, July 29, 1853. In 1823, the College of New Jersey conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity ; in 1835, Hamilton College, and in 1845, Jefferson College that of Doctor of Laws.
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The Scotch-Irish Family of Brown.
VI. JAMES BROWN. (James, John.) b. in Hanover ; d. prior to 1768; m. and left issue:
10. i. John; m. and left issue.
11. ii. William, b. 1733 ; m. and left issue.
1 iii. Andrew.
VII. WILLIAM BROWN (James, John) was an officer in the Provincial service, quite prominent on the frontiers, and died in January, 1771; married and left issue :
i. Ann, b. 1754.
ii. Mary, b. 1756.
iii. William, b. 175S.
ir. John, b. 1761.
v. James, b. 1763.
VIII. JOHN BROWN, (James. John, John,) b. September 19, 1752, d. June 10, 1842, in Cumberland co., Pa. ; served during the War for Independence, and was with the patriot army during the cantominent at Valley Forge; m. Feb. 17, 1778, MARGARET TRUESDALE, d. September 17, 1836. They had issue :
i. James, b. Dec. 31, 1778 ; d. October 11, 1822 ; m. and had Eleanor, John, Eliza, Mary, and James.
ii. John, b. March 25, 1780; d. 1865; had two sons, James and Nathaniel.
ifi. Jane, b. March 26, 1782; d. November 5, 1SGS ; m. April 4, 1809, John Scouller, d. April 26, 1823, and there was issue : John, (15%,) Margaret, James, (1",) William, John Y., (21.)" Thomas, and James B., (21.)+
ir. William, b. May 31, 1784; settled near Batavia, Ohio, where he died ; left a son and daughter.
* JOHN YOUNG SCOULLER was born near Newville, Penna., March 13, 1816 ; graduated at Jefferson College in 1541, and studied theology at Allegheny; licensed to preach by Big Spring Presbytery May 1, 1844, and ordained by First Ohio Presbytery, July 21, 1847 ; has been pastor of the congregation of Fairhaven, Preble co., Ohio, since his ordination ; was Moderator of the General Assembly (U. P.) of 1973 ; is a Doctor of Divinity.
JAMES BROWN SCOULLER, was born near Newville, Penna., July, 12, 1820 ; graduated at Dickinson College, in 1839, and studied theology at Allegheny ; was licensed by Big Spring Presbytery April 19, 1842, and ordained by New York Presbytery, Nov. 13, 1844; ministered in Philadelphia (1844-1846), Cuylersville, N. Y. (1947-1852), and at Argyle, N. Y. (1852-1862), when ill-health compelled him to relin-
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v. Eleanor, b. November 25.1785; m. -- Douglass, d. April 22, 1813, left no issue.
vi. Mary, b. April 15, 1788; d. September 16, 1862; unm.
IX. THOMAS BROWN. (Matthew, John, John.) b. March, 1772, in White Deer twp. North'd co., Pa .; d. February 17, 1851, at Paxtang, and there buried: m. MARGARET AINS- WORTH, dau. of John Ainsworth and Margaret Maves, of Hanover, b. Nov. 29, 1777 ; d. February 14, 1854: and buried in Paxtang Church grave-yard. They had issue :
i. William, b. Sept. 6, 1800 ; d. July 4, 1822.
ii. Margaret, b. Sept. 9, 1803 ; d. s. p.
iii. Matthew, b. Jan. 6, 1806; d. 1870; m. May 27, 1834, Rebecca McClure.
iv. Samuel, b. May 2, 18OS ; d. April 29, 1835.
12. v. Eliza, b. Dec. 28, 1810 : m. John Carr Rodgers.
ri. Thomas, b. July, 1812 : d. s. p.
13. vii. Nancy, b. May 17, 1816 : m. Joshua Elder.
viii. Matilda, b. July 17, 1819 ; d. s. p.
ix. Margaret, b. April 11, 1822; d. at New Carlisle, O. ; m. James M. Sloan.
X. JOHN BROWN. (James, James. John. ) b. in Hanover; d. 1785, leaving a widow SARAH. who, in 1792, had become the wife of William Carson; and children :
i. Mary, d. prior to 1792 ; m. John Lord; and left issue :
ii. John, b. 1772.
iii. William, b. 1774.
ir. James, b. 1776.
v. Richard, b. 1778.
vi. Andrew, b. 1780.
XI. WILLIAM BROWN. (James, James, John.) b. 1733, on the Swatara. in Lancaster co., Penna. : became quite prominent on the frontiers, and was an officer in Rev. Col. Elder's bat- talion during the French and Indian war. He was one of the
quish preaching ; has published a large number of historical works, chiefly relating to the U. P. Church, the principal of which is "A Manual of the United Presbyterian Church, " which, beside much im- portant historical data, includes brief biographical sketches of nearly fifteen hundred ministers of the United Presbyterian Church of North America-a work of exceeding value. Mr. Scouller is a Doctor of Divinity, and resides at Newville, Penna.
53
The Scotch -Irish Family of Brown.
prime movers at the Hanover meeting of June 9, 1775, and at once raised a company of Associators, which was in active service during the Jersey campaign of 1776. He was. subse- quently in command of his company with the expedition to the West Branch against the Indians and Tories in 1779. After the close of the Revolution he was influential in political affairs. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1792 and 1793, and was chosen one of the Presidential electors in 1797, voting for Mr. Jefferson. Capt. Brown died July 20, 1808, at the age of seventy-five, and is interred in the old Hanover grave-yard. He married and left descendants, but they have followed the footsteps of other Scotch-Irish and passed from out the old homes. Never- theless, we have this heritage-the memory of a brave officer of the Revolution to cherish and preserve --- Capt. William Brown, of Hanover.
XII. ELIZA BROWN, (Thomas, Matthew. John, John,) b. Dec. 28, 1810, in Paxtang: d. January 13, 1857, at Springfield, O. ; m. January 30, 1839, John Carr Rodgers, b. March, 1814; resides at Springfield, O. They had issue (surname Rodgers):
i. Thomas Brown.
ii. Isabella Wallace.
iii. Robert.
iv. Margaret Matilda.
v. Samuel Brown, d. s. p.
vi. Jane Barnett, d. s. p.
XIII. NANCY BROWN, (Thomas, Matthew, John, John.) b. May 17. 1816: resides in Paxtang; m. December 4, 1845, JOSHUA ELDER, b. Jan. 18, 1802, in Indiana co., Penna. ; d. Oct. 25, 1883, near Harrisburg, Pa .; son of James Elder and Martha Robinson. They had issue (surname Elder):
i. Margaret. m. J. Q. A. Rutherford,
ii. Matthew Broun.
iii. Eleanor Sherer, m. Francis W. Rutherford.
iv. Matilda.
v. Mary A.
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Historical Register.
1
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS ON JUNIATA IN 1756.
The following letter and editorials were copied by me some years ago from a file of the Pennsylvania Gazette, and though the matters spoken of have been mentioned briefly by some historical writers, yet I think these original documents have never been reprinted. They will, therefore, prove interesting:
[ Extract of a letter from Patterson's Fort on Juniata. Jan. 28,1756.]
This serves to inform you that yesterday, sometime in the afternoon, one Adam Nicholson and his wife were killed and scalped, and his daughter and two sons made prisoners: that the wife and two children of James Armstrong were also made prisoners, and William Willock and wife killed and scalped, and five children carried off by the Indians, in all fifteen people killed and taken. I was, this day, with our captain at the places of the above mentioned, where we saw three of the dead people, and the houses burnt . ishes. I desire you would tell Ben. Killgore and his brother to hurry over, and all the boys belonging to our company to come in a body, and that you may be upon your guard, for all the Indians, except two that went with the prisoners, crossed over the Juniata towards your settlement. There is a large body of them as we suppose from their tracks.
N. B .- The above mischief was "done within three short miles of the fort down the creek. Just now a man came to the fort and informed us that Hugh Mitcheltree's wife and another son of Nicholson's were also murdered. There are no more missing in this neighborhood at present .- Pennsylvania Gazette, February 5, 1756.
We have advice from Carlisle that beyond the mischief men- tioned in our last to be done by the Indians near Patterson's Fort on Juniata, the party that went to bury the dead found one Sheridan, his wife, three children, and a man servant, all
.
55
Indian Depredations on Juniata in 1756.
murdered: also two others in another house, these within ten miles of Carlisle .-- Pennsylvania Gazette. February 12, 1756.
In a letter from Juniata 'in Cumberland county, dated the 24th of last month, there is advice that Capt. Patterson being out with a scouting party in order to scour the woods as far as Shamokin. on the 20th of that month fell in with some Indians at Middle creek, one of which they killed and sealped, put the rest to flight. and took three of their horses; that one of Capt. Patterson's men was wounded; that the woods from Juniata to Shamokin are full of Indians, seeking for plunder and scalps; that they found many houses burnt, and some burning : and that it was feared but few, in a short time, would be standing, and that all the grain would be destroyed .- Penn- sylvania Gazette, March 11, 1756.
Fort Hunter, January 24, 1758, James Patterson, Captain, advertizes for John Shields. a deserter from First Battalion of Foot, and offers a reward of two pistoles. See Pa. Arch. N. S. vol. ii, p. 551.
REMARKS .- For mention of these murders see Gordon's IIis. Pa., pp. 615. 616; Rupp's His. Cumberland co., pp. 99, 100; Rupp's His. Northumberland, de., pp. 116, 117; Eyle's History of P., 2d Ed. pp. 807, 1009.
Capt. James Patterson, son of the Indian trader of the same name, of Lancaster county, removed to the place now called Mexico, in Juniata county, prior to the Indian purchase of the Juniata region, July 6, 1754. He figured with his father in the Cresap war, opposite Columbia, and the arrest of the Lowes for shooting Patterson's horses, November 26, 1732, which led to the border war and the bitter controversy between the Governors of Pennsylvania and Maryland. The whole story told of the Captain defying the Proprietaries of the Province, in Jones' History of the Juniata Valley, is false, as Patterson took out his warrant for 407 acres at this place, February +,
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1755. which was the next day after the Land Office opened for the sale of lands in the new purchase: and his son William, also known as "the young Captain," took up 316 acres on the opposite side of the river, where Mexico Station now is, on the 5th. James Patterson was the most illustrious pioneer settler on the Juniata, and took an active part in the wars against the Indians. A proper sketch of this family remains yet to be written. Facts not now in print are wanted.
"Patterson's Fort" was the house of Capt. James Patterson, at Mexico, which he had pierced with loopholes and arranged for defense prior to the order for erecting the Provincial forts named Littleton, Shirley, Granville, and Pomfret Castle. The last was located "back of Patterson's," near the .present town of Richfield, on West Mohontongo creek, and was ordered to be built by Capt. Patterson and Col. Burd. Little was said of it, and was, most probably, a very superficial affair. The compiler of the old Penn'a Archives, in his article on forts. was mistaken in supposing Patterson's Fort to have been Pomfret Castle. See also Pa. Arch. vol. ii, p. 603. There can be no doubt that the Patterson's Fort, named in the above letter and in the Archives, was at Mexico.
The Indians that committed these depredations were Dela- wares. They were incited by the French in Canada, and were influenced largely by grievances about the sale of lands .- ( Col. Rec. vol. vii, 49 to 54.) They had their headquarters at Nes- copeck on the North Branch. Conrad Weiser had sent Patter- son and Hugh Crawford to Aughwick, in December previous, to get Indians to carry a message from the Governor to those at Nescopeck .- (Vol. vi, 762.) Braddock was defeated July 5, 1755, and the year following is memorable for the terrible devastations on the borders. It seems, however, that, as com- pared with the other Provinces, Pennsylvania had "suffered but little in consequence of the intrigues of the Five Nations with the Taskarosins, a tribe on the lands of that Province, and in alliance with the Five Nations," so said a French letter from Pittsburgh, which arrived at Montreal on September 15th. But the Tuscaroras having declared they would "assist their brethren, the Delawares and Shawanese, 200 Indians and
-
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Indian Depredations on Juniata in 1756.
French" left Pittsburgh "to set fire to 400 houses in a part of Pennsylvania" hitherto sheltered by the Tuscaroras, which "will be laid waste the same as Virginia and Carolina."
The place where Nicholson, Wilcox, and Armstrong had settled was above Thompsontown. on the Juniata, and " three short miles" below Mexico. Mitcheltree probably lived a little further down the river. It is a singular fact that even the traditions of these murders are lost in this locality. As the Indians "crossed over Juniata towards your settlement," it is probable that Killgore lived somewhere on Sherman's creek. The "company" could not have been the same as the one recruited by Capt. Patterson in the spring of 1756. It was probably the Indian Cotties and his boy that killed William Sheridan, the Quaker, and others in Perry county, (See Pa. Arch. vol. ii, p. 568,) he having gone from the rest to hunt scalps on his own account. Hugh Mitcheltree was himself carried off by six Indians, March 29. 1756. He was so near the fort that he called for the men to rescue him, but no one ventured. This party fired on Pomfret Castle on their return. See above refer- ences in Egle's History and Pa. Arch. vol. ii, p. 613. For Betty Armstrong's escape and return June 26. 1757, see Penna. Arch., N. S., vol. ii, p. 799 ; and delivery of Elizabeth Armstrong at Canojohary, April 12, 1759, then four years old, "taken by seven Delawares and a squaw near Juniata," Col. His. N. Y., vol. vii, p. 382.
Can any one give further information in regard to the places and persons named in the above extract ?
.
A. L. G.
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CORRESPONDENCE OF THE REVOLUTION.
The following correspondence is given without note or com- ment. We are not certain that any portion has ever been pub- lished. It is of value and of exceeding interest.
[Col. John Montgomery to Col. James Wilson, Pittsburgh.] CARLISLE, 9th Oct., 1775.
DEAR SIR: I answered yours by Express in Philada. and sent it up Expecting an opportunity of forwarding it. None offering, have sent by the bearer Mr. Grayts with the news- papers at that time. I am surprised at the Congress Detaining your Express so long. I urged Mr. Ross to Dispatch him which he promised to do-in a Day or two after I left Town- but I find he is not yet come. We are in this Province in a very Disagreeable situation incroached on by the Virginians and New England people. A party of about 140 or 150 came the other day to one Freeland's Mill on the West Branch, about 13 miles from Sunbury and throd. up a Breast work-which Alarmed the Inhabitants who Rose to about 200 men, and marched near the above place, and demanded of the Whyo- ming the Reason of their Coming, and Desired them to Dis- perse, in half an hour, which not being complied with. Both parties fired three rounds. One of the Whyoming people was killd., two wounded, 72 taken prisoners, with 130 guns and thirty horses. The last accounts is that the Prisoners was brought to Sunbury under a guard, and Remained there; what the event may be God only knows.
I am, dear Sir, your very Hum'bl servt.,
JOHN MONTGOMERY.
P. S .- Mr. Grayts carries the last Newspaper and promises you the reading of it.
[Ephraim Douglass to Col. James Wilson. ] PITTSBURGH, 21st Nov., 1775.
SIR : As my intention is to acquaint with any thing relative to the late cursed brawl-I excuse myself and hope you also
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Correspondence of the Revolution.
will do it for giving you this trouble. A Court of Examina- tion was this Evening held at Mr. Smith's for the death of Capt. Ashton. They made innumerable objections to holding it at his house, though they well knew he could not be re- moved without inevitable danger of his life; however, at length upon his petition they consented. and came attended by a throng of Witnesses, some of whom without regard to truth or matter of fact, swore whatever they thought would please the Bench- or procure themselves a dram from his Enemies. The rest. tho' not quite such wretches, said as much as possible against him, and nothing at all in his favor, but what was extorted from them by dint of interrogation. All of them. however. (except the first mentioned class, some of whom swore that Mr. Smith touched Ashton on the Shoulder, telling him he wanted to Speak to him-and as he turned towards him thrust the dagger into his body) could not help confessing that Ash- ton, without any previous irritation on Smith's part, assaulted him by giving a blow in the face-yet they endeavored to palliate this by saying it was like the slap of an open hand- that to them it sounded so-but could not deny but it Stag- gered him so as to nearly make him fall. The Evidence all examined, Mir. Smith's Attorney pleaded that it was Excusable Homicide, but no more regard was paid to him than to the candid part of the Evidence-and court were of opinion that Mr. Smith was guilty of the murder wherewith he stood charged. When the Attorney demanded that Mr. Smith might be bailed, the Court adjourned till seven in the morning, till when I can inform you nothing more of the matter, & if the bearer should go off before they determine this point I must leave it as it is til' the next opportunity, when I hope to furn- ish you with the Preceedings at length & the Depositions with all their variations and digressions. Mr. Smith continues to be very ill, and I fear the uncommon Severity of this determina- tion will operate powerfully against him, unless the hopes of assistance from you and his other friends may make him bear it with the greater resolution.
He is not without hopes of the interposition of Government. but at a loss to suggest to them in what manner to endeavor
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preventing his being sent to Williamsburg. In this he is per- suaded that your advice and assistance, added to Col. St. Clair's to whom I also write would not fail to render him signal service, I need not press you to what the benevolence of your dis- position would induce you to do for any man as distressed as Mr. Smith is, nor tell you that it is as a friend, one that Esteems you much, that makes the request of advice and as- sistance.
I am, Sir, With unfeigned respect, Your humble Servant, EPHRAIM DOUGLASS.
22nd-Mr. Smith is admitted to bail and Bound in £3000, Mr. Mackay, Mr. Butler & Hanna his sureties in £1500 cach for his appearance at the next General Court, if his wounds will permit his attendance-and if not at the next Succeeding Court.
[Col. EEneas Mackay to Col. James Wilson, Phila.] PITTSBURGH, 15th Jan. 1776.
SIR :- Your Esteemed fav'r of the 12th ult'o I have had the pleasure of Receiving some time ago-and I thank you for the hints therein Contained. There are Disagreeable imperfect acct's just arrived from the Indian Country & as I understand Capt. Nevel sends an Express to the Congress, on that sub- ject, and apprehending from that Circumstance, the Country may be alarmed more than there is yet good foundation for, I deem it my Duty to furnish you as much of that Intelligence as I think Deserves yr. notice.
I have now in my hand a letter from Doge the Interpreter, wrote at the Windote Town-intended for the Congress-by which you will no doubt learn the substance of the prevailing Reports, better than anything that can be said on the subject, yet I cannot avoid observing that it is something Extraordinary in Doge to apply to Mr. Will'm Butler for a considerable quan- tity of goods, such as is not to be had at Detroit, at the same time he informs us hostility is Commenced by some of the very Indians he trades with. Be that as it will, we are informed by different hands that a white man's scalp Taken below the mouth
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Correspondence of the Revolution.
of Scioto has been brought into the Windote Town -- but the party that brought it was by no means countenanced by the natives of that place who told the party they were determined to have no hand in such proceedings. From the same quarter we are informed that a party of Indians did set out fully De- termined to kill John Gibson, but whether they accomplished their Bloody Design or not is not yet known-but as the re- sult of that Enterprise may be daily Expected, I cannot help thinking it would be most Prudent not to trouble the Congress with imperfect Intelligence till that would come to hands. Kayashuta who was joined in Commission with Capt. Pipe-to carry the great Belt from the Thirteen Colonnies to the West- ern Nations-proceeded as far as the Windote Town, where it seems he apprehended himself in some danger if he had gone further. He is now come back here, and says his colleague Capt. Pipe never joined him after he left this place-therefore charges him and other Delawares appointed to meet him at a certain place with the Miscarriage of the Enterprise. Prob- ably the Pipe may, when called upon, have something to al- ledge in his own Defence. By comparing the Different accounts Received at this time it seems there are none concerned, but as few Insignificant Rascals that are of little or no Consequence in the nation they belong to. However, we may Expect to be better informed in a few days-and then I shall embrace the first opportunity of Transmitting the particulars to you.
Mr. Smith is still very bad with his broken leg, but the Doctor says he is out of danger.
I am, with real esteem. Sir your most Hume. & Obed. Servant, ANEAS MACKAY.
[ Col. Eneas Mackay to Col. James Wilson.] TURTLE BOTTOM, 10th Sept., 1776.
MY DEAR COLONEL: I am just setting off for Hannastown, where I am to join the main body of the Westmoreland Battal- ion, agreeably to circular letters sent to the Diff't Captains for
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that purpose-with whom I intend to march to morrow morn- ing for the Kittaning. where I will wait for further orders from your Honourable House: and when-between the Intrigues of Proctor and his adherants-the importunity of a few friends. and awkwardness and wants of the new Levys-I take it for granted my Patience and fortitude will be put to the test, to a high degree. Proctor, from Mortyfying motives at his own Disappointment in not succeeding to the Command of the Battalion in Stade of me. has been indefatiguable in sowing Sedition among the People, and by that means endeavoured to injure the service. But there again he was disappointed, and on the other hand our friends altho. happy at my Promotion are so unreasonable in their Views and Expectations that with- out any Regard to my character or the good of the service, they would have me brake thro. all Rules and pre engage- ments to answer their own private purposes. For instance, on receipt of my Commission, I nominated Messrs. Spear and poor unlucky Smith to the Suttling for the Battallion, which to my own knowledge is the most lucrative business in the Army, whether in Camp or Garrison, and it was a pleasure to me to have it in my power to serve them so effectually. At the same time, I continued William Jack and Sam'l Moorhead to victual . the Troops till further orders, they being employed in that Branch before by the Province, as I have mentioned to you in my last Letter, and after all I am sorry to tell you that Mr. Spear is disgusted because he did not get that business too, altho. he might have known that others were engaged for that purpose before hand. For the particulars of this affair please be Referred to Col. Montgomery. Mr. Spear ought to consider that Proctor's faction has a watchful eye on all our actions, and would not fail to take advantage of any flaw they could discover in our conduct. That fellow had the Impudence to present a Petition to the Committee praying them to support him in his Endeavor to get the field officers of the Battalion superseded by others elected by the People in the County. I will try to procure a copy, which I will send you. At the time of ap- pointing the officers of this Battalion, I took the Liberty of Recommending one Gentleman to the Committee for a Com-
Correspondence of the Revolution. 63
mission, perhaps as fit a person for that purpose as any now in our service, but that Illiterate body treated my application with neglect. It would be an addition to the many obligations I am already under to you, if it would come Conveniently in the way, to procure him a Capt. Lieut. Commission if not Compy ; his name is John Mackay and a fine stout Highland man he is.
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