History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 114

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor
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HOW WATER-MILLS WERE BUILT.

1777, September 28d .- Upon the petition of Adam Wickersham, set- ting forth that he is desirous of building a water-mill on Mingo Creek, about three-quarters of a mile from the mouth, and thet he owns all the lands that will be effected or overflowed by the building of the cold mill : It is therefore considered by the court that the said Adam Wickersham have leave to build and complete a mill at the place aforesaid.

Sasse day .- Upon the petition of Adam Troman, setting forth that he is desirous of building a mill at the mouth thereof, and praying an order to view and condemn one sore of land on the opposite side of the creek to said Froman's land for that purpose. Ordered, that the sheriff be commanded to summon twelve good and lawful freeholders of the vicinage to mest on the premises aforesaid, and being flest sworn sball diligently view and examine the said lands which may be affected or laid under water by the building said mill, with the timber and conven- lences thereof, and that they report the came to next cuart under their baads and seals, with the true value of the one more of land petitioned for, and of the damage done to the party holding the farm.

APPENDIX "O."

[8eo Chapter XXI.]

The following interesting papers relate to the frontiers of Westmore- Isad during the Revolution :

A. LOOHRY AND JOHN MOORE TO THOMAS WHARTON, PRESI- DENT COUNCIL OF SAFETY, 1776.

WESTMORELAND COUNTY, 26th Deo., 1776.

BIR,-By the removal of Col. Mackay from the Kittaning, the frou- teers of this County is laid open and exposed to the Meroy of a faithless, ancertain Savage Enemy, and we are Inform'd by Andrew Mcfarland, Leq, who lives at the Kittaning, that he is much afraid that the Min- goes will plunder the Country, and that he will not think himself Safe if there is not a Company of Men Stationed there, and if he Removes a number more of the Inhabitants will follow.

By order of the Council of July 15, 1778, Col. Brodhead's regiment was included in those enumerated for the frontier defense (Archives I. S., vol. viL. 646).

ARCHIBALD LOCHRY TO PRESIDENT WHARTON, 1777.

WESTMORELAND, Jo 20th May, 1777.

HONORED BIR,-On my arrival On the forth of April I found this County In . Confused situation. The Alarm of Simpsons Being Kill'd and Moorbend being Missing, Struck such Terror on the minds of the People that the frunteare Waire Entirely fleed Into the Hart of the Settlement and a greate Numbers Over the Mountains. In Order to Put a step to the Peopels Entirely Evacuating the Countery I Ventured to Raise Sixty Men and Stationed them On the frontears Between two licks And the Month of Kiskamenitus In fore Divitions under the command of 10 Captains and Two Lieuta, Which covered that fruntier so well that the People are In general Gon Back to their Plantations and fell to their Lesbours. I flatter Myself when your Excellency Is Enform'd What Bennefit these 'Baingers Has Been to this Destrest fruntier, you Will Not Hesitate One Moment In Allowing them to Be Paid By the State- they are Engaged for two Months if not sooner Discharged By Bregedear General Hands Order and Promised the same Pay and Rations of Conti- pantal Troops. Which if your Excellancy Will Please to, Alow the favour Will Be Ecknowledged By the frantears In general and In Par- Hloular

By your Excelleanoys most Obedn't Humble Servt, Tavour'd By

A. LOONEY.

Col. John Proctor.

LIEUT. ARCHIBALD LOOHRY TO PRESIDENT WHARTON, 1777.

HONORED SIM,-The Distressed situation of our Country is such, that we have no Prospect But Disolation and Distruction, the whole county On the North side of the Rode from the Alegany Mountains to the. River is all kept close in forts; and can get no subsistance from their Plantations; they have made application to us requesting to be put wader Pay and Receive Rations, and as we could see no other way to keep the People from flying & Letting the country be ersoquiated we

were Obliged to adopt them measures (Requesting your Excellancy to give the necessary orders to enable us to put them in Execution if these very measures Is Not adopted I see no other Method that can secure the People from giving up the Country, these People while they support these fruntear Posts are entirely serving the Publick) & cartaialy con- Bot continue Long so to do unless supported by the Publick.

Licat. Col. Charles Campbell and fore other persone is maide Prisoners on the waters of Black leigs creek, fore other men kill'd and scalped near the same place, one man killed near Wellaors fort on Cumnomoch, Hevea other Persons kill'd and scalped at Palmers fort, near Logonear amongst which is Essiga Weode-at the Place where Col. Campble wne maid Prisoner, fore raskely Proclamations wass left by the Savages from the Governor of Detroit Requesting all Persone to come to him, or any other of the Garrisons occupied by His Majesties Troops and they should Receive Pay & Lodgings as they rank with na, every Private Person for encouragement to have 200 Acres of Land. In short there is every few Days there is not come murder committed on some part of our frun- tears (If your Excellency would Please to adopt our measures and give the necessary orders for Putting them into Execution : I Hoop with Divine assistance we shall be able to Hold the countery till we are en- abied by the more Effectual Menshurs that is carrying an Expedition In their country) we have likewise Ventured to erect two Stockade forts at Logeneer and Hannahs Town at the Publick expense, with a Store House in each to secure Both Publick and Private Property in and Be a place of Retreat for the suffering fruntears In case of need- cessity which I Batter myself will meet with your Excellancys appro- bation, and Beigs Leave to wobecribe myself

Your Excellancys

most obliged most

Hamble cervt,

A. LOCHRY, Lieut.

WESTMORELAND, Jo 4th Novr. 1777.

COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO DELEGATES IN CONGRESS. IN COUNCIL OF SAFETY,

LANCASTER, 14th November, 1777.

8:2,-This council is applied to by the people of the county of West- moreland, in this Commonwealth, with the most alarming complaints of Indiaa depredations. The letter, of which the inclosed is a copy, will give you some ides of their present situation.

We are further informsed by verbal accounts that an extent of sixty alles has been evacuated to the savages, fall of stock, corn, hogs, and poultry ; that they have attacked Palmer's fort, about seven miles distant from Fort Ligonier, without success; and, from the information of White Eyes and other circumstances, it is feared Fort Ligonier bas by this time been attacked. There is likewise reason to fear the ravages will extend to Bedford and along the frontier. We shall order out the militia of Bedford County, and take wach other steps as may be immediately neces- cary for the relief of those settlements, but we find they are greatly defl- cient in the articles of arma, and especially ammunition and flinta. In Tort Ligonier, when our informants left it, there was not more than forty pounds of powder and fifteen pounds of lead; flints are sold at a dollar a piece.

We must beg the assistance of Congress in these articles. Arms wo dare hardly ask, but ammunition and flints we hope may be supplied by Congress both to Westmoreland and Bedford; and we must also entrent the attention of Congress to the general defense of the frontier. Wo know not the situation of Gen. Hand, his forces, or his views; but we have reserved the militia of Bedford and Westmoreland for the purpose of co-operating with him in those parts of the States and the neighbor- hood. Mr. Thomas Galbraith will call on you in a few days on his way to Ligonier, the supplies should be furnished to him from Carlisle, to be carried from thence on pack-horses. He will explain more at large their situation, and it might not be amiss to communicate to him what may be expected from Gen. Hand, as well as what Congress shall direct .- Archives, T. 8., vi. 3.

ARCHIBALD LOCHRY TO PRESIDENT WHARTON, 1777.

WESTMORELAND, J' 6th Decem., 1777. HONMORED SIR,-I wrote to your Excellency by Coll. Shields, giving a State of the Ravages Committed by the Indians on the Inhabitants of this County ; they have still Continued to Destroy and Burn Houses, Barns, and Grain, as you will see more Particular in a Patation from the People which he Declared, as you may see His Letter of the 18th Octo- ber; if our Measures Had not been adopted, I am very certain there would not been Many Persons on the North Side the Greate Ronde now [i.c., he means the Forbes or Hannastown road], if there Is not Stors

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APPENDICES.

Leide in this Winter. In Spring they meet undeabtedly Leave the Countery; they Have no Salt to Lay Up Mist, of which there is a greate Plenty, their Grain is ell Barn' & Destroy' on the North of Cunnemoch ; If there is No Store of Provision for Next summer, and the People Hin- dred from Getting Spring Crops the Countery ir undoubtedly Broke up. The Flas we Have adopted Has Been Putin Execution at the Expense of a few Judividuals, which cant Be Long Continued without supported by the Pablok. I Have Sent five Indias Sosips taken by One of our Scouting Party, Commanded by Coll. Barr, Coll. Perry, Coll. Smith, & Capt. Kingston, Being to the Honnorable Assembly, Praying Relleff (My Situation Hess Been Critical; Genseral Hand required more men thes I could Possobly furnish from Two Datslions, which is all I can Fertend to Have jurisdiction over, on acot. of the unsettled Boundery between this State and Virginia.) I sont One Hundred Men for the Ex- peditica, come of thems Reached the General at fort Pitt, the Remain-" der wwe Stopt by His Order, at the same time the fronteers of Our County Lay .Ilxpesed to the Meroy of the Sovages ; Not & Men on Our fronteers from Legeneer to the Alegenta River, Except a few at fort Hanne, on Continental Pay. I was obliged, by the Advice of the sub-lieutenants & other Principal People of the County, to adopt the mesoares I Before Leide Down to your Excellency : I Requested General Hand'sapprobe- dios on the Plan, Volentears in the Action. The Action Hepned Near. Kittaning, they Betoock Six Horses the Savages Had Taken from the suffering fruntears, for Encourgement to other Partys I Hoop your Ex- celleney will make a Retaliation for these Scalpa, And subscribe myself, AR. LOCHEY.

-AroMess, T. S., Vi. 68.

PRESIDENT WHARTON TO COL. ARCHIBALD LOCHRY.

Ix COUNCIL, LANCASTER, December 29, 1777.

fra,-Altho' it is not understood that the Expence of supplying the Militia with provisions, while they are engaged in the service of the United States, is to fall on this State in particular, Yet Con noll desirous of doing everything in. their power have sent you, by Colonel John Prector, the sum of five hundred pounds, to perobase provisions with. It is expected that the provisions be purchased on the lowest terme and at first bands. I am, sir, your very humble servant,

THOMAS WHARTON, JUNE., ProM. -Arabiens, T. B., vol. vi. 148.

ARCHIBALD LOCHRY TO PRESIDENT WHARTON.

WESTMORELAND, May 18, 1778.

Hourne Sta, -- Agreeable to your Excellencies Instructions I do hereby send you & Just and True Return of the Publick Arme in our county which I have in my cars.

75 stand I purchased myself; 27 Stand I received of the Militia that went to the Jersey from this County in the year 1777; 72 Stand I re- ceived by Col'l John Shields, and Col. Hayes Informs me of 80 Stand being on the Way, not yet come to Hand, which is in all 264 Stand ; but when we Reduce 12 Stand that we lost by the Enemy, and 3 Carried away by Deserters, there remain 289 stand. There is a Considerable number of Old English Muskets, which Gen'l St. Clair formerly bad in his care, belonging to this State, and Distributed in this County ; they are all Unft for service and hard to be Collected, as the Person that Possessoth them is ander Obligation by Bond to Return them to Gen'l Olakier [St. Clair ?]. The Arms or the most of them may be Repaired fit for Garrisons. My Notice is short, the Arms Private Property I cannot assert, tho' they are Exceeding Scarce, Yet, Notwithstanding I can Pur- chass some from the Poor, distressed by the Enemy, but not without cash.

On the 98th Aprile the Indians came into the Settlement at and about Wellnes's fort, Attacted 20 of our men which was Beconnoltering the woods, and killed 9 of our Men, and wounded Capt. Hopkins slightly, and we lost 9 guns.

Ia ebort, I am sorry to inform you that the Frontiers of this County is more Distressed by Reason of this Last Scrimmage than they ever were before, as by appearance there was a larger Body of the Enemy than ever before appeared at once, and with much more Vigour; the Great Road is now the frontier, and being dissapointed in their Expecta- tions of an Early Campaign into the Indian Country, I am Sorry to In- form you that I doubt a General Evacuation of the Poste on the frontiers (fort Pitt only Excepted), ou the first or next appearance or Attact of wach s body of the Enemy. I am also to Inform you that fines Laid in this Ceanty on Delinquents (tho' strict measures are used) I have on Re- celved 200, and all the Publick money I have ever Received I have paid ' for Guns, Substitutes, and other Publick Uses, as will appear por acc't at Settlement, and in the Interim I beg leave to subscribe myself, etc. A. LOCKET.

-Archives, F. 8., vi. 196.

Gen. MoIntosh, in a letter to Col. Loobry, dated Fort Pitt. Jan. 29, 1779, says, "I am just informed that Capt. Clark, of the Eighth Pona- sylvania Regiment, who was sent to command an escort to Fort Laurens, as he was returning with a sergeant and fourteen men, three miles this ulde of that fort, was attacked by Simon Girty and a party of Mingoes, who killed two of our men, wounded four, and took one prisoner. I am also informed that a large party of the same people are set off to strike the inhabitants about Ligonier and Black Leg [ Black Lick] Oreek, and send you this express to inform you of it that you may acquaint the neighborhood, and ba upon your guard."-Archives, F. 8., vil. 173.

Capt. Joseph Erwin, in a communication to President Reed, dated at Hannastown, July 20, 1779, says, " In obedience to the orders of the Council, with infinite pains and difficulty I have enlisted forty-five men for the service of our frontiers, and have them now at the place of their destination and endeavouring to be serviceable to the distressed inhab- itanta.

"As an officer in the service of our State, I should be guilty of the highest neglect were"I not to inform Council of the hardshipe I have encountered, and I fear without the resistance of Council it will be no bard task to tell what my poor men are to suffer.

"Destitute of the resources of the public stores, I have now these men on your frontiers totally destitute of blankets, shoes, and every necessary closthing ! Guns we have, but those we have are the refuge [raftsse !] of the military store at Fort Pitt ; and to sum up the whole, we are nearly destitute of every necessary."

In a postscript he adds that his subaltern officers who had been first appointed for that service had declined their appointments, and that Col. Lochry, agreeable to former instructions, had nominated John Jameson first lieutenant and Henry Armstrong second lieutenant.

Col. Lochry, in a letter to President Reed, dated Hannastown, July 20, 1779, says, " All the arms we had have been constantly in actual ser- vice, and by militia deserters and emigrants, when we lost a stand of arzes we lost the man. What few armes we have still left are so out of re- pair that they are almost useless, and it is out of my power to get them repaired in this quarter.

" The two companies raised by Genl. McIntosh's orders are nearly com- pleated and are now at Kittanning or scouting in that neighbourhood; but I am sorry to inform you that times will shortly expire, so that it will be necessary for Council to give directions concerning them."

COL. JOHN PROCTOR TO PRESIDENT WHARTON. WESTMORELAND COUNTY, AprT. Je 26, 1778.

HOUNORED SIR :

I an in gresit need of a larg sum of Cash. I hope you will send me by the Bairar, Mr. George Hendry, foure thousand Pounds if Posable; he is a safe Hand, and what Ever sum you send me by him I will be an- swerable for. I would a ben Down myself, but thought it unsafe to lave Home at this time.

Sir, I am able to inform you that Capt. Alexander McKee with sevin other Vilons is gon to the Indians, and since there is a sergt. and twenty od men gon from Pittsburgh of the Soldiers. What may be the fate of this County God only knowes, but at Prisent it wears a most Dismal aspect. I am, dir, etc.,

-Archives, T. 8., vol. vi. 445.

JOEN PROCTOR.

In an answer to this letter (foid. 458), May 2, 1778, the Council sent £3500, which they hoped was sufficient to pay off the arrearages.

THOMAS SCOTT TO T. MATLACK, SECRETARY TO THE COUN- CIL, PHILADELPHIA.

WESTMORELAND, Aug. 1, 1778. . . . The Indians have made several breaches on the inhabitants of late in different parts of this country. Capt. Miller, of the 8th Penna. Regt. with a party of nine men, chiefly Continental soldiers, were Bringing grain from the Neighborhood to a Fort called fort Hand, about 14 miles north of Hannes Town, on the seventh of last month, and on their return were surprised by a party of Indians, who lay in wait for them, and killed the Capt. & seven others .- Archives, F. S., vi. 673.

PRESIDENT REED TO BOARD OF WAR, 1779.

Inclosed we send you a copy of a Letter forwarded to us by the Lica- tenant of Westmoreland County, with the information that in Pursuance thereof two companies of 60 men cach are nearly complete, & to serve for 6 months, with a Request that the Appointments of the Officers may be confirmed & the Men put under the same Footing as other temporary Troops are. We have delayed any Answer because we were not so- quainted with Genl. McIntosh's powers. But as the Frontiers are in a

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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

most deplorable Condition & we find it very diflowit to give them effect- ive Assistance by Militia, we have concluded to support & Countenance the measure. And we are induced thereto more strongly as iris Ezes !!- Gos. Washington has made a Requisition of 600 militia to co-operate with the troops on the preposed Expedition. We find it impracticable to comply with this Demand in any cosson & the Period of 2 months being too short for real cervice bave encouraged these temporary Inllet- ments as being more permanent & producing better Troops. We find that Including the 5 Companies already ordered by Congress, there will be about 700 men raleed on this Plan in Westmoreland and Northum- berisad, and probably Bedford may follow the Eixample; if so they will make up 800 at least .- Pa. Archives, vil. 404.

APPENDIX "P." [Soo Chap. XXIV.]

(1.) To show the estimation in which Brady was held by Gen. (then colonel) Brodhead we give a few extracts from his correspondence, found among the Pensylvania Archives:

OOL. D. BRODHEAD TO PRESIDENT REED, 1780.

Capt. Brady with five men and two Delaware Indians set out for San- dusky with a view to bring off a British prisoner or some Indian scalps. One of his Indians left him and returned to this place dick or cowardly. He has been out ten days, and in as many more I expect him back again, if he is fortunate. I beg leave to recommend Capt. Brady to the notice of the Hou. Ex. Council as an excellent officer, and I sincerely wish he may not leave the service for want of the promotion he has merited.

BAKE TO SAME.

TORT PITT, June 80, 1780.

Capt .- Lient. Brady has just returned from Sandusky. He took priso- pers two young squawe within a mile of their principai village. One of them effected her escape after six days march, the other he brought to Cuscusky, where he met seven warriors, who had taken a woman and child off Chartiers Creek. He fired at the captain and killed him, and has brought in the woman and the Indian's scalp, but the squaw made her csospe at the same time. When Capt. Brady fired at the Indian he had only three men with him, and but two rounds of powder. He was out 32 days, 6 of which he was quite destitute of provisions of any kind, but he has brought his party safe to his place.

THE TRIAL OF CAPT. BRADY.

(2) On Monday last, the 20th of this month (May, 1793), a Court of Oyer and Terminer and Gaol Delivery, and of Nisi Prion, for the county of Allegheny was held at this place (Pittsburgh) by the chief justice and Judge Yentes.

The only criminal business that came before the judges was the trial of Capt. Samuel Brady, who, when the judges were last here, had been Indicted for murder, in killing certain Indiana, near the mouth of Beaver Creek, in the spring of the year 1791.

It was proved to the satisfaction of the court that, notwithstanding the treaties of Fort Stanwix, McIntosh, Muskingum, and Miami, which established pesce between the Indians and the people of the United States, and obliged the Indians to surrender all who should commit any murder on our frontiera, certain banditti of them had from time to time infested the western frontier, stolen horses, taken boats, and murdered our citizens; that recently, before the killing of the Indians, for which Brady was now tried, several people from Ohio County, particularly Boggs, Paul Riley's family; and Mrs. Vanbnakirke, had been put to death ; that to pursue the Indians who had committed these murders, and to recover some property stolen, a party of volunteers from Ohio County, of which Brady was one, crossed the Ohio, and led by the trail of the Indians towards the place where the killing happened, fired and killed those for whose death Brady was tried. It was proved by the oath of Keysshuta, an Indian chief, that the Delawares had long before let go the chain, that they, the Shawanese, Chippewas, Ottawas, Wyandots, and some renegade Mingoes, were in the battle against Gen. Harmer, 1790. It was also proved that the attack and Aring of Capt. Kirk wood's house was by Delawares, that some of the instances of murder and rapine above mentioned were by Pelawares, that the persons killed were Delawares and had in their possession some of the property just before taken from Ohio County, manifested an intention of proceeding to com- mit other murders on our citizens, and when fired on by those who at-

tacked them, and whom they had just discovered, were in the act of desing their guns; and, moreover, the relation of John Hamilton, a trader on the spot, estisded the court of the malignest aad hostile temper of those very Indiana.

The chief justice, in a charge distinguished not less by learning then humsalty, explained the laws of war and the right of patting enemies to death, urged the impropriety of killing those who might with safety be taken prisoners, and the baseness of killing women, lamented that say sote of outrage by our citisens should ocoselon retaliation on these- colves; but stating that, in his opinion, the Indians killed were hostile, directed, if the fury comoarred in his opinion, of which he had no doubt, they should sequit the prisoner without leaving the bar. The jury did to, sad the court ordered Capt. Brady to be discharged on payment of foss .- Letter dated Pittsburgh, 26th May, 1793.

In relation to the testimony of Guyagutha, or Kyssbuta, in this case the late James Ross, Linq, who was Brady's counsel, told a characteristic story. The testimony of that Indian was so very strong in favor of the defendant that even his coupeel was abashed. After the trial was over he spoite to Guyssuthe, and rather expressed his varprice at the decided tose of Its testimony, upon which the chief clapped his hand upon his breast and exclaimed, " Am I met the friend of Brady f" It seems obvious that be considered himesif as much bound to wwear for his friend as he would be to fight in his defense.

APPENDIX "Q." [See Chapter XL.] (1.) COPY OF A MUSTER-ROLL

of a Company of United States Fokusteers, Ryfemen, under the Command of Oppl. John B. Alenander, of the Ponneylvania Line, in the service of the United Bietes from the date last mastered to the 21et of December, 1812, inclusive.

No.

NAMES.

Rank.

Date of Ap- pointment or Entiet- ment

cared or It- Listed.

John B.'Alexander.

Captain.

Sept. 11, 1813

18 months.

Peter Drum ..

Ensign.

Richard Hardin.

Sergeant.

John Jamison .......

Peter Fleegar ...

7 Henry Hawkins ..

Adam Kitring ..

Corporal.

William Richards

Edward Shelletus.

Jacob Gowart ....

Drummer.

Henry Barton ....

Private.

John Collins ..

Solomon Dehaven ...

Benjamin Jamison.

Jsanc Keck

William Kerns.

Henry Miller.

Daniel Miller.

Leonard Miller.

George Myers ....

Samuel McLAin

Julin Mitchel.

Jonas Keereamer ...

Jacob Pluck.

Jacob Sickafuos.

George Sickafoos

Frederick Stewart.

George Sheffler ..

William Singer

i Robert Thomson.

James Thonison

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History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 114

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: