USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania > Part 13
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In the latter part of October, 1755, the enemy again appeared in the neighborhood of Shamokin, and in November of the same year they committed several murders upon the whites, with great cruelty. Not only the settlers on the immediate frontier, but those residing far to the interior, were kept in constant alarm, as will be seen by the following address, or, rather, urgent appeal, to the inhabitants of the Province, issued from the present site of the city of Harrisburg :
"PAXTANG, ye 3 1st October, 1755. "From John Harris, at 12 p. m.
"To all His Majesty's subjects in the Province of Pennsylvania, or elsewhere :
"Whereas, Andrew Montour, Belt of Wampum, two Mo- hawks, and other Indians, came down this day from Shamokin, who
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say the whole body of Indians, or the greatest part of them in the French interest, is actually encamped on this side of George Gabriel's (about thirty miles north of Harris' Ferry, on the west side of the river), near Susquehanna, and we may expect an attack within three days at farthest; and a French fort to be begun at Shamokin in ten days hence. Tho' this be the Indian report, we the subscribers, do give it as our advice to repair immediately to the frontiers with all our forces, to intercept their passage into our country, and to be prepared in the best manner possible for the worst events.
"Witness our hands,
"JAMES GALBREATH, JAMES POLLOCK,
"JOHN ALLISON, JAMES ANDERSON,
"BARNEY HUGHES, WILLIAM WORK,
"ROBERT WALLACE,
PATRICK HAYES,
"JOHN HARRIS.
"P. S .- They positively affirm that the above named Indians discovered a party of the enemy at Thomas McKee's upper place on the 30th of October last.
"Mona-ca-too-tha, The Belt, and other Indians here, insist upon Mr. Weiser's coming immediately to John Harris' with his men, and to council with the Indians.
"Before me,
"JAMES GALBREATH !. "
However, it was not until the middle of the next year that the Indians, incited, and in instances led by French officers, extended their incursions into the interior of the Province, and imagination fails to conceive the peril and distress of the settlers of Paxtang, Hanover and other townships of Lancaster county (now parts of Dauphin and Lebanon counties ) .
On January 8, 1756, Governor Morris held a conference with the Indians at the house of John Harris, and as the minutes of this conference will be found in the chapter on "Special Events," in this work, hence will be omitted in this chapter.
In the spring of 1757, Colonel George Croghan, deputy Indian agent for North America, was instrumental in gathering at Harris' Ferry a large representation of the Six Nation Indians of the Dela- wares and Shawanese. Information was at once sent to the Gover- . nor. The following are the minutes of the proceeding held at this point :
"At a meeting of the Six Nations and their allies and George Croghan, Esq., Deputy agent to the Hon. Sir William Johnson, Baronet, his Majesty's sole agent and superintendent of affairs of
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the Six Nations, their allies and dependents, and by his special order, at John Harris', the first day of April, 1757. Present: The Rev. John Elder, Capt. Thomas McKee, Mr. James Armstrong, Mr. Hugh Crawford, Mr. John Harris, William Prentup, Interpreter. "Mohawks : Tihansorea, Connadagaughia, Sogeohanna, Peter, with thirty-one others, men, women, and children.
'Oneidas: Thomas King, Scarroyady, Tawnaquanagis, with thirty others, men, women, and children.
"Tuscaroras : Reet King, with twenty-six others, men, women, and children.
"Onondagoes: Ossaratonqua and his two brothers, with eighteen others, men, women, and children.
"Nanticokes: Robert White, Joshua, with fourteen more, men, women and children.
"Cayugas : Ogarawtawrea, Orranoquare, Jenkasarone, with twenty others, men, women and children.
"Delawares: Samuel, Joseph Peepy, Thomas Evans, Jona- than, with twenty men, women, and children.
"Senecas: George, with eight more, men, women and children. "Connestogoes : Sahays, Captain John, with twenty-nine men, women, and children."
The greater part of the proceedings were at Lancaster; the following were at Harris' Ferry :
"Brother: You and our brother Onas wisely considered the ancient custom of our forefathers, in condoling with us and mixing your grief with ours. And as we make no doubt but that some of your wise connections are dead since we were here, and many of our brethren have been killed by the evil spirit, we wipe the blood off your council-seats and put them in order with this belt of wampum. (Gave a belt.)
"Brother: After wiping the blood off your council-seats, we, with those few skins, wrap up the bones of our brethren that died or were killed by the evil spirit, and cover their graves. (Gave a small bundle of skins. )
"Brother: We, by this belt of wampum, wipe the tears from your eyes, and desire you may mourn no more. (Gave a belt of wampum.)
"Brother: We, with this belt of wampum, disperse the dark clouds, that the sun may always shine upon us in friendship ; we heal your heart and free your mind from troubles, that we may meet each other in council and brighten the chain of friendship made by our forefathers, and that the council-fire may burn clear we throw a few chips on it." (Gave a belt.)
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The same evening Colonel Croghan had a meeting of the sachems, and proposed going to Philadelphia to hold the treaty; but he could not prevail on any of them to go there, except the Mohawks; the rest were afraid of sickness. When he found they were not to be prevailed on to go there, he called a council, and with a belt of wampum removed the council-fire to Lancaster; to which place they all agreed to go and wait the arrival of Teedyuscung, with the Senecas, Delawares, and Shawanese. He gave a belt to remove the council-fire to Lancaster, and on the 7th of April arrived at Lan- caster from John Harris', where a treaty of amity was concluded, to the satisfaction of all concerned it would seem; but the result proved the perfidy of the Indian, who accepted the white man's presents and, returning from the treaty, murdered the unsuspecting settlers.
Notwithstanding the ranging of the troops along the mountains, and the extraordinary measures taken to defend the frontiers, the marauding savages stole through the mountain fastnesses and com- mitted their atrocities. James Galbraith, writing from Derry town- ship under date of roth of August to the Governor, says :
"Honored Sir :
"There is nothing here, almost every day, but murder by the Indians in some parts or other. About five miles above me at Manada Gap, there were two of the Province soldiers killed and one wounded. There were but three Indians, and they came in among ten of our men and committed the murder and went off safe. The name, or sight of an Indian, makes almost all in these parts tremble; their barbarity is so cruel where they are masters; for, by all appearance, the devil communicates, God permits, and the French pay, and by that the back parts, by all appearance, will be laid waste by flight, with those who are gone and going; more especially Cumberland County.
"Pardon my freedom in this wherein I have done amiss. "Sir, your most humble servant, "JAMES GALBRAITH."
Sometime in October that year, the Indians again visited Han- over township, where they murdered several families in a most brutal manner, among whom was one Andrew Berryhill. On October 22 they killed John Craig and his wife, scalping both of them. They burned several houses and carried off Samuel Ainsworth, a lad but fourteen years of age. The next day a German was scalped.
On May 16, 1757, eleven persons were killed at Paxtang by Indians, and August 19th following fourteen people were killed and taken from M. Sankey's congregation, and one man killed near Harris Ferry.
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About this date peace negotioations were begun with the power- ful chieftains of the Delaware and Shawanese tribes, when the bar- barities of the Susquehanna Indians somewhat abated. But the French and Western Indians still roamed in small bands over the country, committing many depredations.
From the Pennsylvania Gazette, in 1757, we glean the follow- ing :
"We hear from Lancaster that six persons were taken away by the Indians from Lancaster County on the 17th of August * * Since our last we learn from Lancaster that there was nothing but murder- ing and capturing among them by the Indians; that on the 17th of August one Beatty was killed in Pextan; that the next day James Mackey was murdered in Hanover, and William and Joseph Bar- nett were wounded; that on the same day were taken prisoners a son of James Mackey, a son of Joseph Barnett, Elizabeth Dickey and her child, and the wife of Samuel Young and her child, and that ninety-four men, women and children were seen flying from their places in one body, and a great many more in smaller parties. So
* that it was feared the settlements would be entirely forsaken. * Our accounts in general from the frontiers are most dismal; all agree that some of the inhabitants are killed or carried off, houses burned and cattle destroyed daily, and at the same time they are afflicted with severe sickness and die fast. So that in many places they are neither able to defend themselves when attacked nor to run away."
A letter from Hanover township, dated October 1, 1757, says that the neighborhood is almost without inhabitants, and on that day and the day before several persons were killed by the savages in Hanover. On the 25th of November, Thomas Robeson and a son of Thomas Bell were killed and scalped by the Indians in that town- . ship; but the Indians immediately went off after committing other murders.
Hanover township suffered much in the French and Indian war, and many an interesting incident connected therewith comes down to us, and should here be mentioned as being worthy of preservation. In the "Barnetts of Hanover" reference is made to Joseph Barnett and his son William, giving the statement as it came from Samuel Barnett, of Springfield, Ohio.
The Barnetts and their immediate neighbors erected a block- house in proximity to Colonel Green's mill, on the Manada, for the better safety of their wives and children, while they cultivated their farms in groups, one or two standing as sentinels. In the year 1757 there was at work on the farm of Mr. Barnett a small group, one of
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whom was an estimable man named Mackey. News came with flying speed that their wives and children were all murdered at the block- house by the Indians. Preparation was made immediately to repair to the scene of horror. While Mr. Barnett with all possible haste was getting ready his horse, he requested Mackey to examine his rifle to see that it was in order. Everything right they all mounted their horses, the rifle in hand, and galloped off, taking a near way to the block-house. A party of Indians lying in ambush rose and fired at Mr. Barnett, who was foremost, and broke his right arm. His rifle dropped; an Indian snatched it up and shot Mr. Mackey through the heart. He fell dead at their feet, and one secured his scalp. Mr. Barnett's father, who was in the rear of his company, turned back, but was pursued by the Indians, and narrowly escaped with his life. In the mean time Mr. Barnett's noble and high- spirited horse, which the Indians greatly wished to possess, carried him swiftly out of the enemy's reach, but becoming weak and faint from the loss of blood, he fell to the ground and lay for a consid- erable time, unable to rise. At length by a great effort he crept to a buckwheat-field, where he concealed himself until the Indians had retired from the immediate vicinity, and then raising a signal he was soon perceived by a neighbor, who, after hesitating for some time for fear of the Indians, came to his relief. Surgical aid was procured, and his broken arm was bound up, but the anxiety of his mind respecting his family was a heavy burden which agonized his soul, and not until the next day did he hear that they were safe, with the exception of his eldest son, then eight or nine years of age, whom the Indians had taken prisoner, together with a son of Mackey's about the same age. The savages on learning that one of their captives was a son of Mackey whom they had just killed, compelled him to stretch his father's scalp, and this heartrending, soul-sickening office he was obliged to perform in sight of the mangled body of his father.
The Indians escaped with the two boys westward, and for a time Mackey's son carried his father's scalp, which he would often stroke with his little hand and say, "My father's pretty hair."
Mr. Barnett lay languishing on a sick-bed, his case doubtful for a length of time, but having a strong constitution he at last, through the blessing of God, revived, losing about four inches of a bone near the elbow of his right arm.
But who can tell the intense feeling of bitterness which filled the mind and absorbed the thoughts of him and his tender, sensitive companion, their beloved child traversing the wilderness, a prisoner with a savage people, exposed to cold and hunger, and subject to
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their wanton cruelty? who can tell of their sleepless nights, the anxious days, prolonged through long, weary months and years ? their fervent prayers, their bitter tears, and enfeebled health ?
The prospect of a treaty with the Indians, with the return of prisoners, at length brought a gleam of joy to the stricken hearts of these parents. Accordingly, Mr. Barnett left his family behind and set off with Colonel Croghan and a body of five hundred "regulars" who were destined to Fort Pitt for that purpose. Their baggage and provisions conveyed on packhorses, they made their way over the mountains with the greatest difficulty. When they arrived at their place of destination, Colonel Croghan made strict inquiry concerning the fate of the little captives. After much fruitless search, he was informed that a squaw who had lost a son had adopted the son of Mr. Barnett and was very unwilling to part with him, and he, believ- ing his father had been killed by the Indians, had become reconciled to his fate, and was much attached to his Indian mother.
Mr. Barnett remained with the troops for some time without obtaining or even seeing his son. Fears began to be entertained at Port Pitt of starvation. Surrounded by multitudes of savages, there seemed little prospect of relief, and to add to their despondency a scouting party returned with the distressing news that the expected provisions which were on the way to their relief was taken by the Indians. They almost despaired,-five hundred men in a picket fort on the wild banks of the Allegheny river without provisions ! The thought was dreadful. They became reduced to one milch cow each day for five days killed and divided among the five hundred. The three following days they had nothing! To their great joy, on the evening of the third, provisions arrived; every sunken, pale, despairing countenance gathered brightness, but owing to its impru- dent use, which the officers could not prevent, many died.
While the treaty was pending many were killed by the Indians, who were continually prowling around the fort. One day Mr. Barnett wished a drink of water from Grant's Spring (this spring is near Grant street, in the city of Pittsburgh, known to most of the older inhabitants) ; he took his "camp-kettle" and proceeded a few steps, when he suddenly thought the adventure might cost him his life and turned back ; immediately he heard the report of a rifle, and looking towards the spring he saw the smoke of the same,-the unerring aim of an Indian had deprived a soldier of life. They bore away his scalp, and his body was deposited on the bank of the Allegheny.
The treaty was concluded and ratified by the parties; neverthe-
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less great caution was necessary on the part of the whites, knowing the treachery of many of their foes.
Mr. Barnett was most unhappy. His hopes concerning his child had not been realized, and he had been absent from his family already too long. Soon after the conclusion of the treaty a guard with the pack-horses started to cross the mountains, and he gladly embraced the opportunity of a safe return. After injunctions laid upon Colonel Croghan to purchase, if possible, his son, he bade him and his associates in hardships farewell, and after a toilsome journey reached home and embraced once more his family, who were joyful at his return. But the vacancy occasioned by the absence of one of its members still remained. He told them that William was alive, soothed their grief, wiped away the tears from the cheeks of his wife, and expressed a prayerful hope that through the interposition of a kind Providence he would eventually be restored to them.
Faithful to his promise, Colonel Croghan used every endeavor to obtain him. At length, through the instrumentality of traders, he was successful. He was brought to Fort Pitt, and for want of an opportunity to send him to his father was retained under strict guard, so great was his inclination to return to savage life. On one occasion he sprang down the bank of the Allegheny river, jumped into a canoe, and was midway in the stream before he was observed. He was quickly pursued, but reached the opposite shore, raised the Indian whoop, and hid himself among the bushes. After several hours' pursuit he was retaken and brought back to the fort. Soon after, an opportunity offering, he was sent to Carlisle. His father, having business at that place, arrived after dark on the same day, and without knowing took lodgings at the same public-house where his son was, and who had been some time in bed. As soon as he was aware of the fact he asked eagerly to see him. The landlord entreated him to let the boy rest until morning, as he was much wearied by traveling. To this the father could not assent, replying, "If a son of yours had been absent for three years could you rest under the same roof without seeing him?" The hardy host felt the appeal and led the way to the chamber. The sleeping boy was awakened and told that his father stood by his bed. He replied in broken English, "No my father." At this moment his father spoke, saying, "William, my son, look at me : I am your father." On hearing his voice and seeing his face he sprang from the bed, clasped him in his arms, and shouted, "My father! My father is still alive!" All the spectators shed tears, the father wept like a child, while from his lips flowed thankful expressions of gratitude
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to the Almighty disposer of all events that his long-lost child was again restored.
Early the next day the father and son were on the road home- wards, where they arrived on the second day in the dusk of the even- ing. The rattling of the wheels announced their approach; the mother and all the children came forth. She, whose frequent prayers had heretofore been addressed to the Throne of Divine Grace for the safety and return of her son, now trembled and was almost overcome as she beheld him led by his father and presented to her, the partner of her sorrows. She caught him to her bosom and held him long in her embrace, while tears of joy flowed. His brothers and sisters clustered eagerly around and welcomed him with a kiss of affection. It was a scene of deep feeling not to be described, and known only to those who have been in similar circumstances. The happy family, all once more beneath the parental roof, knelt down and united in thanksgiving to Almighty God for all His mercies to them in protect- ing and restoring to their arms a beloved and long-absent child.
The children scrutinized him with curiosity and amazement. Dressed in Indian costume composed of a breech-cloth around the waist, with moccasins and leggins, his hair about three inches long and standing erect, he presented a strange appearance. By degrees he laid aside the dress of the wilderness, which he greatly preferred, forgot the Indian language, and became reconciled to his native home. But the rude treatment which he received from the Indians impaired his constitution. They frequently broke holes in the ice on rivers and creeks and dipped him in order to make him hardy, which his feeble system could not endure without injury.
Respecting the son of Mackey, he was given by the Indians to the French, and passed into the hands of the English, and was taken to England, came as a soldier in the British army to America at the time of the Revolutionary war. He procured a furlough from his of- ficers and sought out his widowed mother, who was still living, and who had long mourned him as dead. She could not recognize him after the lapse of so many years. He stood before her a robust, fine looking man, in whom she could see no familiar traces of her lost boy. He called her "mother," and told her he was her son, which she did not believe. "If you are my son," said she, "you have a mark upon your knee that I will know." His knee was exposed to her view, and she instantly exclaimed, "My son indeed !" Half frantic with joy, she threw her arms around his neck, and was clasped in those of her son. "Oh, my son," said she, "I thought you were dead, but God has preserved you and given me this happiness. Thanks, thanks to his name! Through long years I have mourned that sor-
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rowful day which bereft me of my husband and child. I have wept in secret till grief has nearly consumed me, till my heart grew sick and my poor brain almost crazed by the remembrance. I have become old more through sorrow than years, but I have endeavored to 'kiss the rod' which chastized me. My afflictions have not been sent in vain, they have had their subduing and purifying effect; heaven became more attractive as earth became dark and desolate. But I now feel that I shall yet see earthly happiness. Nothing in this world, my son, shall separate us but death." He never returned to the British army, but remained with his mother and contributed to her support in her declining years.
There was another interesting meeting- that of Mackey with the son of Mr. Barnett. They recapitulated the scenes of hardship through which they passed while together with the Indians, which were indelibly impressed upon their memory. They presented a great contrast in appearance-Barnett, a pale delicate man, and Mackey the reverse. The former sank into an early grave, leaving a wife and daughter. The daughter married a Mr. Franks, and later moved to New York City. Barnett, the elder, after experienc- ing a great sorrow in the loss of his wife, removed to Allegheny county, spending his remaining days with a widowed daughter, and he died in November, 1808, aged 82 years. His eventful, checkered life was one of faith, always praying for the sanctified use of his trials, which were many. His dust reposes in the little church yard in Mifflin township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania.
(For French and Indian war rolls, see Appendix. )
THE "PAXTON BOYS."
The following facts are quoted from the pen of Dr. William H. Egle :
An adventurous spirit seized the younger members of the popu- , lation in Paxton township in the days of Indian warfare, which was rather incompatable with the quiet habits of agricultural life. Even in time of peace they roamed through the mountains, as traders, or seeking out rich lands yet unpurchased from the Indians; and in time of war or frontier disturbances, they ranged the border, watching the movements of the Indians, cutting off occasional parties, and breaking up their haunts. Being beyond the reach of laws of the province, as well as beyond the protection of the lower counties, the Paxton men were under the necessity of protecting themselves and were governed by usages peculiar to themselves. Many of their own families had suffered by the tomahawk, and it was suspected by them that hostile Indians were harbored, if not really encouraged
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by the friendly Indians at Conestoga, and among the Moravians. A deadly animosity was thus raised among the Paxton men against all of Indian blood, and it was during the heighth of this feeling that the bloody and perhaps unjustifiable massacre was perpetrated at Conestoga. On this subject there has been a vast amount written from time to time, both pro and con, but the substance of this unfor- tunate affair seems to be couched in the following from "Day's His- torical Recollections :"
"On the night of December 14, 1763, a number of armed and mounted men from the townships of Paxton and Donegal, most of them belonging to the company of frontier rangers of those town- ships, concerted an attack on the Indians at Conestoga, Lancaster county, for the purpose, as they alleged, of securing one or more hostile Indians who were harbored there, and who were supposed to have recently murdered several families of whites. The number of Paxton men is variously estimated from twenty to upwards of fifty. Few of the Indians were at home, the men probably being absent either in hunting or trading their baskets at Lancaster. In the dead of night the white men fell upon the village. Some defense was doubtless made by the few male Indians present (Dr. Frank- lin's narrative says there were only three men, two women and a young boy ), but they were overpowered, and the whole, men, women and children, fell victims to the rifle, the tomahawk and the knife of the frontiersmen. The buildings were burned to the ground.
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