USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 42
USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 42
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" 6th, 7th, and 8th. They continued these three days in the neighborhood of these villages, which had been deserted upon Gen. Sullivan's approach. Here they lived well, having, in addition to their usual bill-of- fare, plenty of turnips and potatoes, which had re- mained in the ground unnoticed by the army. This place was the hunting-ground of the Shipquagas, and whenever their industry prompted them to go out hunting, they had no difficulty to procure as many deer as they desired.
" Roast and boiled meat, with vegetables, afforded them plentiful meals. They also caught a wild tur- key and some fish called suckers. Their manner of catching fish was to sharpen a stick, and watch along the rivers until a fish came near them, when they suddenly pierced him with the stick and brought hhu out of the water.
" Here were a number of colts ; some of them were taken, and the prisoners ordered to manage them, which was not easily done.
"9th. When they renewed their march they placed the mother upon a horse that seemed dangerous to ride, but she was preserved from any injury. In this day's journey they came to meadow ground, where they stayed the night, the men being confined, as be- fore related, and the negroes lay near them for a guard.
" 10th. A wet swamp that was very troublesome lay in their road, after which they had to pass a rug- ged mountain, where there was no path. The under- brush made it hard labor for the women to travel, but no excuse would avail with their severe masters, and they were compelled to keep up with the Indians, however great the fatigue. When they had passed it they tarried awhile for the negroes, who had lagged behind, having sufficient employ to attend to the colts that carried the plunder. When all the com- pany met together they agreed to rendezvous in an adjoining swamp.
"11th. A long reach of savannas and low ground rendered this day's route very fatiguing and painful, especially to the women. Elizabeth Peart's husband not being allowed to relieve her by carrying the child, her spirits and strength were so exhausted that she was ready to faint. The Indian under whose care she was, observing her distress, gave her a violent blow. When we compare the temper and customs of these people with those of our own color, how much cause have we to be thankful for the superiority we derive from the blessings of civilization.
" It might be truly said days of bitter sorrow and wearisome nights were appointed the unhappy cap- tives.
"12/h. Their provisions began to grow scant, hav- ing passed the hunting-grounds. The want of proper food to support them, which render them more eapa- ble of enduring their daily fatigue, was a heavy trial, and was much increased by their confinement at night. Elizabeth Gilbert was reduced so low that she traveled in great pain all this day, riding on horseback in the morning, but towards evening she was ordered to alight and walk up a hill they had to ascend. The pain she suffered, together with want of food, so overcame her that she was seized with a chill. The Indians administered some flour and water boiled, which afforded her relief.
" 13/h. Last night's medicine being repeated, they continued their march, and after a long walk were so effectually wore down that they halted. The pilot, John Huston, the elder, took Abner Gilbert with him (as they could make more expedition than the rest) to procure a supply of provisions to relieve their necessity.
" 14th. The mother had suffered so much that two of her children were obliged to lead her. Before noon they came to Canadasago, where they met with Ben- jamin Gilbert, Jr., and Jesse Gilbert's wife, Sarah, two of the four who had been separated from them ten days past, and taken along the western path. This
1 Andrew Harrigar endured minny hardships in the woods, and nt length returned to the settlements, and gave the first authentic intelli- gence of Benjamin Gilbert and his family to their friends.
583
SETTLEMENT BY MORAVIANS IN CARBON COUNTY.
meeting afforded them great satisfaction, the doubt and uncertainty of their lives being spared often dis- tressing their affectionate relations.
" John Huston, Jr., the Indian, under whose care Benjamin Gilbert was placed, designing to dispatch him, painted him black ; this exceedingly terrified the family, but no entreaties of theirs being likely to prevail, they resigned their cause to Him whose power can control all events. Wearied with their weakness and traveling they made a stop to recover themselves, when the pilot, returning, assured them they should soon receive some provisions. The negroes were re- duced so low with hunger that their behavior was dif- ferent from what it had been, conducted with more moderation. At their quarters, in the evening, two white men came to them, one of which was a volun- teer among the British, the other had been taken prisoner some time before; these two men brought some hominy, and sugar made from the sweet maple, the sap being boiled to a consistency, and is but little inferior to the sugar imported from the islands. Of this provision, and an hedge-hog which they found, they made a more comfortable supper than they had enjoyed for many days.
"15th. In the morning the volunteer having re- ceived information of the rough treatment the prison- ers met with from the negroes, relieved them by taking the four blacks under his care. It was not without mueh difficulty they crossed a large creek which was in their way, being obliged to swim their horses over it. Benjamin Gilbert began to fail; the Indian whose property he was, highly irritated at his want of strength, put a rope about his neck, leading him along with it ; fatigue at last so overeame him that he fell on the ground, when the Indian pulled the rope so hard that he alinost choked him. His wife, seeing this, resolutely interceded for him, al- though the Indians bid her go forwards, as the others had gone on before them ; this she refused to comply with unless her husband might be permitted to ac- company her They replied 'that they were deter- mined to kill the old man,' having before this set him apart as a victim, But at length her entreaties pre- vailed, and their hearts were turned from their cruel purpose. Had not an overruling Providence preserved him from their fury, he would inevitably have per- ished, as the Indians seldom show mercy to those whom they devote to death, which, as has been before observed, was the case with Benjamin Gilbert, whom they had smeared with black paint from this motive. When their anger was a little moderated, they set forwards to overtake the rest of the company. Their relations, who had been eye-witnesses of the former part of this scene of cruelty, and expected they . would both have been murdered, rejoiced greatly at ' time before in safety.
their return, considering their safety as a providential deliverance.
" 16th. Necessity induced two of the Indians to set off' on horseback into the Seneca country in search of i
provisions. The prisoners, in the mean time, were ordered to dig up a root, something resembling pota- toes, which the Indians called 'whoppanies.' They tarried at this place until towards the evening of the succeeding day, and made a soup of wild onions and turnip tops; this they ate without bread or salt ; it could not therefore afford sufficient sustenance, either for young or old ; their food being so very light their strength daily wasted.
" 17th .. They left this place and crossed the Genesee River (which empties its waters into Lake Ontario) on a raft of logs, bound together by hickory withes. This appeared to be a dangerous method of ferrying them over such a river to those who had been nnac- customed to such conveyances. They fixed their station near the Genesee banks, and procured more of the wild-potato roots, before mentioned, for their supper.
" 18th. One of the Indians left the company, taking with him the finest horse they had, and in some hours after returned with a large piece of meat, ordering the captives to boil it; this command they cheerfully performed, anxiously watching the kettle, fresh meat being a rarity which they had not eaten for a long time. The Indians, when it was sufficiently boiled, distributed to each one a piece, eating sparingly themselves. The prisoners made their repast without bread or salt, and ate with a good relish what they supposed to be fresh beef, but afterwards understood it was horse-flesh.
" A shrill halloo which they heard gave the prison- ers some uneasiness ; one of the Indians immediately rode to examine the cause, and found it was Capt. Rowland Monteur and his brother John's wife, with some other Indians, who were seeking them with provisions. The remainder of the company soon reached them, and they divided some bread which they had brought into small pieces, according to the number of the company.
" Here is a large extent of rich farming land. re- markable for its levelness and beautiful meadows. The country is so that that there are no falls in the rivers, and the waters run slow and deep, and when- : ever showers descend they continue a long time unddied.
" The captain and his company had brought with them cakes of hominy and Indian corn. Of this they made a good meal. He appeared to be pleased to see the prisoners, having been absent from them several days, and ordered them all round to shake hands with him. From him they received informa- tion respecting Joseph Gilbert and Thomas Peart, who were separated from the others on the 4th inst., that they had arrived at the Indian settlements some
" The company stayed the night at this place. One of the Indians refused to suffer any of them to come near the fire, or converse with the prisoner who, in the distribution, had fallen to him.
.
584
IHISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
"1944. Pounding hominy was this day's employ- ment. The weather being warm made it a hard task. They boiled it and prepared it for supper, the Indians sitting down to eat first; and when they had con- cluded their meal, they wiped the spoon on the sole of their moekason and then gave it to the captives. Hunger alone could prevail on any one to eat after such filth and nastiness.
"20/h. Elizabeth Gilbert, the mother, being obliged to ride alone, missed the path, for which the Indians repeatedly struck her. Their route still continued through rich meadows. After wandering for a time ont of the direct path they came to an Indian town, and obtained the necessary information to pursue their journey. The Indians ran out of their huts to see the prisoners, and to partake of the plunder, but no part of it suited them. Being directed to travel the path back again for a short distance, they did so, and then struck into another and went on until night, by which time they were very hungry, not having eaten since morning; the kettle was again put on the fire for boiling hominy, this being their only food.
" 21st. The report of a morning gun from Niagara, which they heard, contributed to raise their hopes. They rejoiced at being so near. An Indian was dis- patched on horseback to procure provisions from the fort.
" Elizabeth Gilbert could not walk as fast as the rest. She was, therefore, sent forwards on foot, but was soon overtaken and left behind, the rest being obliged by the Indians to go on without regarding' her. She would have been greatly perplexed when she came to a division path had not her husband lain a branch across the path which would have led her wrong, an affecting instance both of ingenuity and tenderness. She met several Indians, who passed by without speaking to her.
" An Indian belonging to the company, who was on the horse Elizabeth had rode, overtook her, and, as he went on slowly, conversing with her, endeavored to alarm her by saying that she would be left behind and perish in the woods. Yet, notwithstanding this, concluded to keep a- straight forward as possible, his heart was so softened before he had gone any great distance from her, that he alighted from the hor-e and left him that she might be able to reach the rest of the company. The more seriously she considered this the more it appeared to her to be a convincing instance of the overruling protection of Ilim who can ' turn the heart of a man as the hins- bandman turneth the water-course in his field.'
" 22d. As the Indians approached nearer their hab- itations they frequently repeated their balloos, and atter some time they received an answer in the same manner, which alarmed the company much; but they soon discovered it to proceed from a party of whites and Indians who were on some expedition, though their pretence was that they were for New York. Not long after parting with these the captain's wife
came to them. She was a daughter of Siangorochti, king of the Senecas, but her mother being a Cayuga, she was ranked among that nation, the children gen- erally reckoning their descent from the mother's side. This princess was attended by the captain's brother John, one other Indian, and a white prisoner who had been taken at Wyoming by Rowland Monteur. She was dressed altogether in the Indian manner, shining with gold lace and silver banbles. They brought with them from the fort a supply of pro- visions. The captain being at a distance behind when his wife came, the company waited for him. After the customary salutations he addressed himself to his wife, telling her that Rebecca was her daughter, and that she must not be induced by any considera- tion to part with her, whereupon she took a silver ring off her finger and put it upon Rebecca, by which she was adopted as her danghter.
" They feasted upon the provisions that were brought, for they had been several days before pinched with hunger, what sustenance they could procure not being sufficient to support nature.
" 23/7. Their spirits were in some degree revived by the enjoyment of plenty, added to the pleasing hope of some favorable event procuring their releasement, as they were not far distant from Niagara.
" The Indians proceeded on their journey and con- tinued whooping in the most frightful manner. In this day's route they met another company of In- dians, who compelled Benjamin Gilbert, the elder, to sit on the ground, and put several questions to him, to which he gave them the best answer- he could ; they then took his hat from him and went off.
" Going through a small town near Niagara, an In- dian woman came out of one of the huts and struck each of the captives a blow. Not long after their de- parture from this place, Jesse, Rebecca, and their mother were detained until the others had got out of their sight, when the mother was ordered to push on, and as she had to go by herself she was much per- plexed what course to take, as there was no path by which she could be directed. In this dilemma she and after some space of time she had the satisfaction of overtaking the others. The pilot then made a short stay, that those who were behind might come mp, and the captain handed some rum around, giving each a dram, except the two old folks, whom they did not consider worthy of this notice. Here the cap- fain, who had the chief dircetion, painted Abner, Jesse, Rebecca, and Elizabeth Gilbert, Jr., and pre- sented each with a belt of wampnm, as a token of their being received into favor, although they took from them all their hats and bonnets, except Re- becca's.
" The prisoners were released from the heavy loads they had heretofore been compelled to carry, and was it not for the treatment they expected on their ap- proaching the Indian towns and the hardships of
585
SETTLEMENT BY MORAVIANS IN CARBON COUNTY.
separation, their situation would have been tolerable; but the horror of their minds arising from the dreadful yells of the Indians as they approached the hamlets -- is easier conceived than described, for they were no strangers to the customary ernelty excreised npon eaptives on entering their towns. The Indians, men, women, and children, collect together, bringing clubs and stones in order to beat them, which they usually do with great severity by way of revenge for their re- : lations who have been slain ; this is performed imme- 1 diately upon their entering the village where the warriors reside. This treatment cannot be avoided, and the blows, however eruel, must be borne withont complaint, and the prisoners are sorely beaten until their enemies are wearied with the cruel sport. Their sufferings were in this case very great ; they received several wounds, and two of the women who were on horseback were much bruised by falling from their horses which were frightened by the Indians. Eliza- beth, the mother, took shelter by the side of one of them, but upon his observing that she met with some favor upon his account he sent her away; she then received several violent blows, so that she was almost disabled. The blood triekled from their heads in a stream, their hair being cropped close, and the clothes they had on in rags, which made their situation truly piteous. Whilst they were inflicting this revenge upon the captives the king came and put a stop to any further cruelty by telling them . it was sufficient,' which they immediately attended to. Benjamin Gilbert and Elizabethi, his wife, Jesse Gilbert and his wife were ordered to Capt. Rowland Monteur's house ; the women belonging to it were kind to them and gave them something to eat. Sarah Gilbert, Jesse's wife, was taken from them by three women in order to be placed in the family she was to be adopted by.
"Two officers from Niagara Fort, Capts. Dace and Powel, came to see the prisoners and prevent (so they were informed) any abuse that might be given them. ! Benjamin Gilbert informed those officers that he was apprehensive that they were in great danger of being murdered, upon which they promised him they would send a boat the next day to bring them to Niagara.
" 24th. Notwithstanding the kind intention of the officers, they did not derive the expected advantage from it, for the Indians insisted on their going to the fort on foot, although the bruises they had received the day before from the many severe blows given them rendered their journey on foot very distress- ing, but, Capt. Monteur obstinately persisting, they dared not long remonstrate or refuse.
" When they left the Indian town several issued from their hints after them, with sticks in their hands, yelling and screeching in the most dismal manner ; but through the interposition of four Indian women, , "Jesse Gilbert was favored to get employ, which, considered as a providential kindness. who had come with the captives, to prevent any , as it was some alleviation of his misfortunes, may be further abuse they might receive, they were pre- served; one of them, walking between Benjamin Gil- " 28th. A few days after they came to the fart they had information that Benjamin Peart was by the river bert and his wife, led them, and desired Jesse to keep
as near them as he could ; the other three walked be- hind, and prevailed with the young Indians to desist. They had not pursued their route long before they saw Capt. John Powell, who came from his boat, and persuaded (though with some difficulty) the Indians to get into it with the captives, which relieved them from the apprehensions of further danger. After reaching the fort, Capt. Powell introduced them to Col. Guy Johnson and Col. Butler, who asked the prisoners many questions in the presence of the In- dians. They presented the captain with a belt of wampum, which is a constant practice among them when they intend a ratification of the peace. Before their connection with Europeans these belts were made of shells found on the coasts of New England and Virginia, which were sawed out into beads of an oblong shape, about a quarter of an inch long, which were strung together on leathern strings, and these strings, fastened with fine threads made of sinews, composed what is called a belt of wampum; but since the whites have gained footing among them, they make use of the common glass beads for this purpose.
" The Indians, according to their usual custom and ceremony, at three separate times ordered the prison- ers to shake hands with Col. Johnson.
" 25th. Benjamin Gilbert, Elizabeth, his wife, and Jesse Gilbert were surrendered to Col. Johnson. This deliverance from such scenes of distress, as they had beeome acquainted with, gave them a more free op- portunity of close reflection than heretofore.
"The many sorrowful days and nights they had passed, the painful anxiety attendant on their fre- quent separation from each other, and the uncer- tainty of the fate of the rest of their family, over- whelmed them with grief.
" 26th. Expression is too weak to describe their dis- tress on leaving their children with these hard mas- ters; they were not unacquainted with many of the difficulties to which they would necessarily be exposed in a residence among Indians, and the loss which the young people would sustain for want of a civilized and Christian education.
"27th. In this desponding situation the kindness of sympathy was awakened in one of the Indian women, who even forgot her prejudices, and wiped away the tears which triekled down Elizabeth Gilbert's checks.
"The particular attention of Col. Johnson's house- keeper to them, from a commiseration of their dis- tress claims their remembrance. Benjamin, his wife, and Jesse Gilbert were invited to her house, where she not only gave the old folks her best room, but ad- ministered to their necessities, and endeavored to soothe their sorrows.
586
HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
side with the Indians. Upon hearing this report his mother went to see him, but every attempt for his re- lease was in vain, the Indians would by no means give him np. From this place they intended to march with their prisoners to the Genesee River, abont a hundred miles distant. As the affectionate mother's solicitations proved fruitless, her son not only felt the afflicting loss of his wife and child, from whom he had been torn some time before, but a renewal of his grief on this short sight of his parent. She procured him a hat, and also some salt, which was an acceptable burden for the journey.
" Benjamin Gilbert, conversing with the Indian captain who made them captives, observed that he might say what none of the other Indians eould, ' that he had brought in the oldest man and the youngest child.' His reply to this was expressive, 'It was not I, but the great God who brought you through, for we were determined to kill you, but were prevented.'
"The British offieers being acquainted that Jesse Gilbert's wife was among the Indians, with great ten- derness agreed to seek her out, and after a diligent inquiry found that she was among the Delawares, and went to them and endeavored to agree upon terms for her releasement. The Indians brought her to the fort the next day, but would not give her up to her rela- tions.
"29th. As the cabins of the Indians were but two miles from the fort, they went thither, and Jesse and the officers used every argument in their power to prevail upon them, representing how hard it was to part these two young people. At length they con- sented to bring her in next day, with their whole tribe, for a final release.
"30/h. They accordingly came, but started so many objections that she was obliged to return with them.
"31st. Early next morning Capt. Robeson gener- ously undertook to procure her liberty, which, after mneh attention and solicitude, he, together with Lieut. Hillyard, happily accomplished. They made the Indians several small presents, and gave them thirty ponnds as a ransom,
" When Sarah Gilbert had obtained her liberty she altered her dress more in character for her sex than she had been able to do while among the Indians, and went to her husband and parents at Col. John- son's, where she was joyfully received.
"Col. Johnson's housekeeper continued her kind attentions to them during their stay here, and pro- cured clothing for them from the king's stores.
" 6th Month. 1st. About this time the Senecas, among whom Elizabeth Peart was captive, brought her with them to the fort. As soon as the mother heard of it she went to her and had some conversa- tion with her, but could not learn where she was to be sent to. She then inquired of the interpreter and pressed on his friendship to learn what was to become of her danghter. This request he complied with, and informed her that she was to be given away to another
family of the Senecas, and adopted among them in the place of a deceased relation. Capt. Powell inter- ested himself in her case likewise and offered to pur- chase her of them, but the Indians refused to give her up, and as the mother and daughter expected they should see each other no more, their parting was very affecting.
" The Indian woman who had adopted Rebecca as her daughter also came to the fort, and Elizabeth Gilbert made use of this opportunity to inquire con- cerning her daughter. The interpreter informed her there was no probability of obtaining the release- ment of her child, as the Indians would not part with her. All she could do was to recommend her to their notice as very weakly, and in consequence not able to endure much fatigue.
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