History of Perry County, Pennsylvania, including descriptions of Indians and pioneer life from the time of earliest settlement, sketches of its noted men and women and many professional men, Part 8

Author: Hain, Harry Harrison, 1873- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa., Hain-Moore company
Number of Pages: 1102

USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > History of Perry County, Pennsylvania, including descriptions of Indians and pioneer life from the time of earliest settlement, sketches of its noted men and women and many professional men > Part 8

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

Legislative bodies in those days seem to have been the pro- genitors of the present-day product; and while the citizens ap- pealed continually, and the Indians wielded the tomahawk assidu- ously, the members of the Provincial Assembly talked continu- ously. According to old records all they did was "talk, and talk, and talk."

In 1755, actual hostilities had begun, between the English and the French, in the struggle for the control of America and the settlement of the question as to whether it would be for all time an English-speaking or a French-speaking nation. The frontier settlers were panic-stricken, which is not to be wondered at, for were they not at the the verge of civilization ?

The reader will remember that February 3, 1755-that very year-is the date upon which the land office opened at Lancaster for the settlement of the lands which now form the county of Perry.

The Indian nations were divided. Sir William Johnston had induced the Mohawks, the Tuscaroras and the Oneidas to take sides with the British, and the Onondagas, Cayugas and Senecas, to remain neutral-a difficult job. Many of the Canadian Iro- quois, however, went over to the French. Of the Susquehannas, Delawares and Shawnees, a part, influenced by Logan, John Thachnechtoris, Scarrooyady, Paxnous, The Belt, Zigarea and Andrew Montour, remained true to the Colonies, offering to estab-

HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

lish a post at Shamokin against the French; but part of them took up the hatchet.

In the latter part of 1754 the disposition of the French toward the frontiers was very threatening, and it was proposed to remove the Indians from Anghwick, in what is now Huntingdon County, to the mouth of the Juniata. The opinion of George Croghan, the Indian agent then located at Aughwick, was sought, and his reply is reproduced here as showing that the settlers at the mouth of the Juniata River were principally traders. It follows:

"As to moving the Indians to the mouth of the Juniata, I think it a very improper place, for this reason: it is settled with a set of white men that make their living by trading with the Indians that is settled on the river Susquehanna and sells them little else but spirits, so that it would be impossible to keep these Indians from spending all their clothing and then they would be forever teasing your honor for goods. Indeed it is my opinion that were they to live in any part of the inhabitance, it would be attended with bad consequences, as there is no keeping them from being in- flamed with liquor if they can get at it, cost what it will; besides it is dangerous for fear of their getting sickness; then they would say the white people killed them, and while they stay here they are a defense to the back inhabitants, which I think lays very open to the enemy, and I think if the government intends to build any fortifications for the security of the back inhabitants that this place or some place hereabouts is the properest place."

As this was the year of the Albany purchase of these lands, and as the land office was not yet opened for settlement, the location of these traders was evidently on Duncan's Island, then known as Juniata Island, which was included in an earlier purchase by Penn.

Late in October. 1755, the Indians appeared in the neighborhood of Shamokin, and early in November committed several murders of whites under peculiarly cruel and barbarous circumstances. Not only those on the immediate frontier, but also those farther to the heart of the settled part of the province were in constant dread of the savages. A proclamation signed by nine prominent citizens advised all to repair to the frontiers and be prepared for the "worst event." The George Gabriel's mentioned in their proc- lamation was located "below the forks of the Susquehanna, about thirty miles of Harris' Ferry, on the west side of the river," ac- cording to Rupp. The proclamation :

PAXTON, Oct. 31, 1755. From John Harris' at 12 p. m.

To all his majesty's subjects in the Province of Pennsylvania, or else- where: Whereas, Andrew Montour, Belt of Wampum, two Mohawks, and other Indians came down this day from Shamokin (where Sunbury is now located), who say the whole body of Indians or the greatest part of them in the French interest, is actually encamped on this side George Gabriel's, near Susquehanna; and that we may expect an attack in three

INTRUDING SETTLERS EVICTED

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 be prepared in the best manner possible for the worst event.

Witness our hands.

James Galbreath, John Allison, Barney Hughes, Robert Wallace, John Harris, James Pollock, James Anderson, William Work, Patrick Henry.

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.

That the matter of calling forth the above proclamation was urgent is attested by the fact that the latter part of the date line shows it to have been despatched at an unusual hour, "From John Harris' at 12 p. m.," is the inscription, and it was likely sent by courier, or as the provincial authorities termed it, "by express."

The above is from the provincial records and also establishes the fact that Thomas McKee had two places, a fact which has confused many writers. McKee was an Indian trader and is men- tioned in many records, one being in an earlier chapter of this book, where he was one of a party to help hunt for the murderers of John Armstrong. That he was one of these men would imply that he probably made his headquarters at the lower place, which was at Peters' Mountain, opposite Duncannon; in fact his name frequently appears in matters pertaining to the lower location. The upper location was where McKee's Half Falls is, that place taking its name from him. The "places" were likely trading posts for the exchange of goods and possibly also stopping places for travelers, but the latter is hardly likely, as the country was too little settled to require such accommodation. People yet living remember when Harry McKee, a descendant, owned the farm at the end of Peters' Mountain. He later kept a hotel at the east end of Clark's Ferry bridge.

McKee's store, mentioned in many provincial documents, was near Peters' Mountain, and further proof of the fact is contained in Rupp's History, page 314, where it is stated that William Clap- liam, commandant at Fort Halifax, wrote Governor Morris, July I, 1756, saying he would leave a sergeant and twelve men at Harris', twenty-four at Hunter's Fort, twenty-four at McKee's store, each in command of an ensign, and Captain Miles and thirty-seven men at Fort Halifax, naming the points in order coming up the river.

Camerhoff, the Moravian bishop, on January 13, 1748, after being at one of McKee's places, described him thus: "McKee

HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

holds a captain's commission under the government ; is an exten- sive Indian trader ; bears a good name among them, and drives a brisk trade with the Allegheny country." McKee's wife was either a white woman who had been reared among the Indians or was herself an Indian, probably the former. There is record that she could speak little English. Various stories appear in historical works as to her origin. Certain it is that, if she were even reared among the Indians to her must be credited the half-savage nature of Alexander McKee-son of Captain Thomas-who was the fel- low renegade of Simon Girty. His rearing among the Indians, where his father traded, probably also contributed to it. He was George Croghan's assitant at Pittsburgh as Deupty Indian Agent to the British. When a lad at the store below Peters' Mountain he probably became acquainted with young Simon Girty, who lived a few miles below. The reader is referred to the chapter on Simon Girty for further description of the younger McKee.

In a letter* addressed to "Mr. Peters, Secretary of the Prov- ince, dated Conococheague, Nov. 2, 1755, John Potter, sheriff of Cumberland County, after telling of the great Indian massacres in Great Cove (now Bedford County), says: 'I am much afraid that Juniata, Tuscarora and Sheerman's Valley hath suffered ; there are two-thirds of the inhabitants of this valley who have already fled, leaving their plantations; and without speedy suc- cour be granted I am of the opinion this county will be laid deso- late and be without inhabitants. Last night I had a family of up- wards of an hundred women and children, who fled for succour. You can form no just idea of the distress and distracted condition of our inhabitants, unless you saw and heard their cries.'"

In a letter also dated November 2, 1755, to Governor Morris, signed by John Armstrong,t is this: "We have sent our ex- presses everywhere and intend to collect the forces of this lower part ; expecting the enemy at Sheerman's Valley, if not nearer at hand. I am of the opinion that no other means than a chain of block houses along or near the south side of the Kittatinny Moun- tain, from Susquehanna to the temporary line, can secure the lives and properties even of the old inhabitants of this county, the new settlements being all fled, except those of Sheerman's Valley whom, if God do not preserve, we fear, will suffer very soon. I am your honor's disconsolate, humble servant," etc.

The only man, as far as official records show, who inhabited the territory which is now Perry County, to fight in the French and Indain War with the army was Andrew Montour, the Indian agent and trader, who resided on Sherman's Creek, near where

*Rupp's History.

+Provincial Records.

INTRUDING SETTLERS EVICTED

Montour's run empties into it. In one of his official communi- cations to Governor Morris, Braddock says he has forty or fifty Indians with him and has taken into the service Andrew Montour and George Croghan. Coming from such a source it is evidently not only official but authentic. Another man, Alexander Stephens, who later resided in Perry County territory, and became a captain in the Revolution, was a soldier in this war and was present at Braddock's defeat. He was a private in Capt. Joseph Shippen's company of Col. William Clapham's regiment.

Most of the Indians deserted the Braddock expedition, and with some reason. Braddock advanced with great pomp and his method of fighting was bad, in so far as Indian warfare was con- cerned. Scarroyady, a chief, in an address to the Provincial Council, said :

"It is now well known to you how unhappily we have been defeated by the French near Minongelo ( Monongahela). We must let you know that it was the pride and ignorance of that great general that came from England. He is now dead; but he was a bad man when he was alive; he looked upon us as dogs, and would never hear anything that was said to him. We often endeavored to advise him and to tell him the danger he was in with his soldiers; but he never appeared pleased with us, and that was the reason that a great many of our warriors would not be under his command."

The following letter shows that Montour was mistrusted, and also illustrates the distressed condition of the territory at that period :

"CARLISLE, Sunday Night, November 2, 1755.

"Dear Sir: Inclosed to Mr. Allen, by the last post, I sent you a letter from Harris', but I believe forgot, through that day's confusion, to di- rect it.

"You will see our melancholy circumstances by the governor's letter and my opinion of the method of keeping the inhabitants in this county, which will require all possible despatch. If we had immediate assurance of relief a great number would stay; and the inhabitants should be advertised not to drive off, nor waste their beef cattle, &c. I have not so much as sent off my wife, fearing an ill precedent, but must do it now, I believe, together with the public papers and your own.

"There are no inhabiants on Juniata, nor on Tuscarora by this time, my brother William being just come in. Montour and Monaghatootha are going to the governor. The former is greatly suspected of being an enemy in his heart-'tis hard to tell-you can compare what they say to the governor to what I have wrote. I have no notion of a large army, but of great danger from scouting parties. JOHN ARMSTRONG."

INDIAN MASSACRES ON COUNTY SOIL.

With the defeat of General Braddock in western Pennsylvania . by the French and Indians on July 9, 1755, the Indians took the

HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

warpath and laid waste all outlying settlements. The land office for the settlement of these lands had only opened the third day of the preceding February and the new settlers were unable to locate in the territory until the coming of spring. They had cleared a few acres of land on which was growing their first crop when the Braddock defeat occurred.

Evidently learning of the outrages of Indians elsewhere a brave family named Robinson,* the father's name being George Robin- son, and their neighbors erected a log fort and stockade on a tableland of the Robinson farm for the protection of the citi- zens in case of attack by the Indians. That it was built during this first year of the settlement of Perry County soil is attested by Robert Robinson in his narrative telling of the Woolcomber tragedy along Sherman's Creek. According to Rupp, the histo- rian, that and other murders occurred in Sherman's Valley towards the close of December, 1755-the first year of the settlement of these lands.

The story of Robert Robinson is recorded in +Loudon's Nar- ratives, the first part of it relating to the first battle fought with the Indians after Braddock's defeat, in which his brother lost his life. It follows :

"Sideling Hill was the first fought battle after Braddock's de- feat. In the year 1756 a party of Indians came out of Conoco- cheague to a garrison named McCord's Fort, and killed some and took a number of prisoners. They then took their course near to Fort Littleton. Captain Hamilton, being stationed there with a company, hearing of their route at McCord's Fort, marched with his company of men, having an Indian with them who was under pay. This Indian led the company, and came on the tracks of the Indians and soon tracked them to Sideling Hill, where they found them with their prisoners, and having the first fire, but without doing much damage, the Indians returned the fire, defeated our men and killed a number of them. My brother, James Robinson, was among the slain. The Indians had McCord's wife with them ; they cut off Mr. James Blair's head and threw it in Mrs. McCord's lap, saying that was her husband's head, but she knew it to be Blair's."

*The name is variously spelled Robison, Robeson, and Robinson. It is believed that the first method was the original, but as official publications of the state use the latter and as the descendants also do, that method is used in our pages.

¿For much of the information contained in this chapter posterity is in- debted to Archibald Loudon, author of Loudon's Narratives. His father, James Loudon, was a pioneer in what is now Tuscarora Township, Perry County, and in Bull's Hill graveyard there the oldest stone marks his grave. Archibald Loudon thus got his information at first hand, there being no tradition about it.

INTRUDING SETTLERS EVICTED

Robinson further says: "In 1756, 1 remember of Woolcomber's family on Shearman's Creek; the whole of the inhabitants of the valley was gathered at Robinson's, but Woolcomber would not leave home; he said it was the Irish who were killing one an- other ; these peaceable people, the Indians, would not hurt any person. Being at home and at dinner, the Indians came in, and the Quaker asked them to come and eat dinner; an Indian an- nounced that he did not come to eat, but for scalps; the son, a boy of fourteen or fifteen years of age, when he heard the Indian say so, repaired to a back door, and as he went out he looked back, and saw the Indian strike the tomahawk into his father's head. The boy then ran over the creek, which was near to the house, and heard the screams of his mother, sisters and brother. The boy came to our fort and gave us the alarm; about forty went to where the murder was done and buried the dead." The scene of this tragedy was the Burchfield farm, near Cisna's Run.

Loudon's Narratives also states that in the year 1755 Peter Shaver, John Savage and two other men were killed at the mouth of Shaver's Creek, or Juniata, by the Indians.

In February, 1756, Captain Patterson, with a party of scouts, went up the Susquehanna and reported the woods, from the Juni- ata to Shamokin, to be filled with Indians. Encountering a party of Indians they scalped one, which later proved to be the son of Shikellamy's sister.

In Loudon's Narratives are the following details of another scalping: "February, 1756, a party of Indians from Shamokin came to Juniata. They first came to Hugh Micheltrees, being on the river, who had gone to Carlisle, and had got a young man, named Edward Nicholas, to stay with his wife until he would return-the Indians killed them both. The same party of In- dians went up the river where the Lukens now live-William Wilcox lived on the opposite side of the river, whose wife and eldest son had come over the river on some business-the Indians came while they were there and killed old Edward Nicholas (in some books the name is given as Nicholson ) and his wife, and took Joseph, Thomas and Catharine Nicholas, John Wilcox, James Arm- strong's wife and two children prisoners. An Indian named Cot- ties (Cotter), who wished to be captain of this party, when they did not choose him, did not go with them. He and a boy went to Shearman's Creek and killed *William Sheridan and family. thirteen in number. They then went down the creek to where three old persons lived, two men and a woman, called French, whom they killed; of which he often boasted afterwards, that he

*Those killed at this time were William Sheridan, a Quaker, his wife, three children and a servant; William Hamilton, his wife and daughter and a man and two women whose last name was French.

HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

and the boy took more scalps than the whole party." Some his- torians locate the scene of this tragedy as "being within ten miles of Carlisle, a little beyond Stephen's Gap," evidently meaning Sterrett's Gap. The location of the French home is uncertain at this distant day, but was probably in the vicinity of Dellville, as the description says they went down the creek from the Sheridan home. There is little doubt that the Sheridan family lived along the creek on the farm long known as the Levi Adams farm, above Dellville. According to the statement of Rev. L. C. Smiley, Mrs. Ludwig Cornman, when near ninety years of age, pointed out to his mother the location of the graves, which her father, Philip Foulk, had shown her, telling her the story, exactly as printed above and in Provincial Annals. It is in the meadow, adjoining the W. A. Smiley farm, and the Sheridan house stood between the sites of the present Adams house and barn. For years a long stone, deeply set in the ground and projecting, marked the graves, but Mr. Adams found it inconvenient to farm around it and broke it off with a sledge hammer on a level with the bottom of the fur- row. Mr. Smiley, at a later period while working in the same meadow with Mr. Adams, was informed by him that at the time he was unaware of the stone being a marker of so historic an inci- dent or he would not have removed it.

Of the murder on Sherman's Creek of ten persons there remains an affidavit made almost a decade later, being dated February 28, 1764, and signed by Alexander Stephens, then of the county of Lancaster. He says Cotties, or Cotter, came back for a canoe which the murderers had left and admitted that he was of the party that killed these settlers.

On October 1, 1757, near Fort Hunter-opposite Marysville- this Indian named Cotties saw a young fellow named William Martin,* gathering chestnuts, and killed him. In later years he got his just deserts. After the Indian war was over he appeared at Fort Hunter and boasted of the friendship he had had for the settlers. An Indian named Hambus, who had been friendly all the while, called him a liar and told of him causing all the trouble possible and of seeing him kill Martin. An altercation ensued, but the white settlers stopped it. Later in the day Cotties became drunk and while asleep the other Indian sunk his tomahawk into his skull.

Robert Robinson, mentioned a number of times in these pages, was a hero and well known to Archibald Loudon, both being from Perry County territory. In introducing his narratives Mr. Lou-

*This William Martin was the second son of Samuel Martin, of Pax- tang, whose uncle James had warranted the Fort Hunter property. He was a brother of Captain Joseph Martin, who became owner of the Mar- tin mills, in what is now Howe Township, upon the death of his father.

INTRUDING SETTLERS EVICTED

don thus refers to him: "Robert Robinson, who was an eye wit- ness of many of the transactions related by him, was wounded at Kittanning, when it was taken by Colonel, later General Jolin Armstrong, and a second time at Buffalo Creek, when two of his brothers fell victims to savage fury. From our long acquaintance with this man, who is now no more, we can have no hesitation in believing the narratives correct, to the best of his remembrance."

The French left unturned no stone in their efforts to enlist the Delawares and often they were successful by preying upon the savage disposition through intrigue and deception. The following letter from Captain McKee to Edward Shippen, headed "Foart at Hunter's Mill, Ap'1 5th, 1756," is an example of their schemes :

"Sir: I desire to let you No that John Secalemy, Indian, is Come here ye Day before yesterday, about 4 o'clock in ye afternoon, & Gives me an account that there is a Great Confusion amongst ye Indians up ye North branch of Susquehanna; the Delawares are a moving all from thence to Ohio, and wants to Persuade ye Shanowes along with them, but they Dechine Goeing with them that course, and as they still incline to join with us, the Shanowes are Goeing up to a Town Called Teoga, where there is a body of ye Six Nations, and there they Intend to Remain. He has brought two more men, som women & som children along with him, and Sayeth that he Intends to live & Die with us, and Insists upon my Con- ducting him down to where his Sister and children is, at Canistogo, and I'm Loath to leave my Post, as his Honor was offended at ye last time I did, but can't help it, he Desires to acquaint you that his sister's son was killed at Penn's Creek, in ye scrimege w'th Cap't. Patterson. This with Due Respect from Sir, your Hum'l Ser't, "THOMAS MCKEE."

There were many encounters between the English and the In- dians. Loudon, in his narratives, says that few of the achieve- ments equal that of Samuel Bell, a wealthy farmer of Cumberland It follows :

"Samuel Bell and his brother, George Bell, after Braddock's defeat, agreed to go into Shearman's Valley to hunt for deer, and were to meet at Croghan's (now Sterrett's) Gap, on the Blue Mountain; by some means or other they did not meet, and Samuel slept all night in a cabin belonging to Mr. Patton, on Shearman's Creek. In the morning he had not traveled far before he spied three Indians, who at the same time saw him; they all fired at each other; he wounded one of the Indians, but received no damage, except through his clothes by the shots; several shots were fired on both sides, as each took a tree; he took out his tomahawk and stuck it into the tree behind which he stood, so that should they approach he might be prepared. The tree was grazed by bullets and he had thoughts of making his escape by flight, but on reflec- tion had doubts of his being able to outrun them. After some time the two Indians took the wounded one and put him over a fence and one took one course and the other another, taking a compass so that Bell could no longer secure himself by the tree, but by trying to ensnare him they had to expose themselves, by which means he had the good fortune to shoot one of them dead. The other ran, took the dead Indian on his back, one leg over each shoulder; by this time Bell's gun was again loaded and he ran after the Indian until he came within about four yards,

HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

fired and shot through the dead Indian and lodged his ball in the other, who dropped the dead man and ran off. On his return, coming past the fence where the wounded Indian was, he despatched him but did not know he had killed the third Indian until his bones were found afterwards."

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Perry County, Pennsylvania, including descriptions of Indians and pioneer life from the time of earliest settlement, sketches of its noted men and women and many professional men, Part 8

Author: Hain, Harry Harrison, 1873- [from old catalog] Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa., Hain-Moore company Number of Pages: 1102

Author: Hain, Harry Harrison, 1873- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa., Hain-Moore company
Number of Pages: 1102