Notes and queries historical, biographical, and genealogical, Vol. I, Part 10

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: s.n.
Number of Pages: 618

USA > Pennsylvania > Notes and queries historical, biographical, and genealogical, Vol. I > Part 10

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).

man Oet. 13, 1833, and received the name of Mary Ann.

A son was born into the world at 6 o'clock at night, Nov. 24, 1835, in the sign of the "Wasserman:" was baptized and received the name of William Henry.

A son was born on the 27th December 1841; baptized by Rev. P. Saline, June 6, 1842, and received the name of Henry Augustus. He died Jan. 24, 1845.

On the inside of the back lid of the book in very good German characters we find the following:

"This valuable sermon book bequeth I, Jan. 8, 1792, to my deceased son's son, by name, John Mathias, surviving oldest son of the same name Mathias, with the hearty wish that he may use it to the glorification of the great name of God and to the edification and strengthening of his soul, through the dearly purchased blood of Jesus Christ. Diligent and with devotion and an honest heart rcad, that he may thereby reach the way to bliss. 17th of May, 1792." "This, I as book binder witness, Fred'k Sano, May 17, 1792." E. W. S. P.

TOMB-STONE RECORDS

Of Derry Presbyterian Church.

In Memory of JOSEPH SAW YER who Departed this life Feb- ruary the 28 In the year 1789 Aged 18

In memory of MARY SAWYER who departed this life Feb. the - A. D. 1182 in the 23d year of her age.

Historical and Genealogical.

Underneath is deposited THOMAS SAWYER who departed this life May 5 1768 in the 31st year of his age & BENJAMIN SAWYER departed this life Feb the 5th 1792 in the 44th year of his age

In memory of WILLIAM SAW- YER who dep- arted this Life Octo'r the 18, 1784 in the 81st year of his age

In memory of SOPHIA SAWYER who departed this life Septem ber the 9th 1788 in the 83d year of her age.

In memory of WILLIAM SAW- YER who de- parted this Life August the 20th 1785 in the 46th year of his age.

In memory of CATHARINE STEEL late eonsort of David Steel who departed this Life Febr'y the 20th A. D. 1803 aged 83 years, who in her Lifetime Raised 19 orphan children "Death thou has eonquered me, and by thy dart I am slain, But Christ hath conquer'd thee and I will rise again."

In memory of ESTHER the wife of William SHAW who departed this life Feb. 18th 1783 aged 35 years.

In memory of DAVID SPENCE who departed this Life October the 21st 1802 aged about 70 years.

In memory of MARGARET SPENCE who departed this Life Sept'r 15th 1793 In the 36th year of her age.

WILLIAM SNODDEY, Born Jan. 5, 1798, Died Oet. 19, 1864, aged 66 years, 9 mos. 14 d. My wife and children fare you well I can no longer with you dwell Turn your thoughts to God on high And try to meet me in the sky. Restrain your tears pray shed no more Because your father's gone before In love he lived in peace he died, His life was asked but was denied.

Saered to the memory of LOUISA SHARON who was born Mareh the 13th, 1815, departed this life October 9, 1840, aged 25 years.

In memory of DAVID TAYLOR who died May 10 1761 aged 58 years also AGNES his wife who departed this life the 28th Day of July 1797 in the 78th year of her age JOHN TAYLOR Died Aug. 4th 1762 in ye 7th year of his age

Historical and Genealogical.

In memory of Agnes Taylor who died Aug 5th 1763 in ye 15th year of her age®

In memory of WILLIAM TROUS DAIL Sen'r who de parted this Life Nov the 3d 1793 In the S1st year of his age

In memory of HANNAH TROUSDAIL wife of Wm Trous dail who departed this Life July 31st 1793 aged 70 years

In memory of WILLIAM TROUSDAIL Jr who departed this Life March 3d 1785 In the 33d year of his age

In memory of THOMAS TROUS- DAIL junr who departed this Life July 9, 1793 aged 12 years

In memory of JOHN THOMPSON who departed this life Octobr 6, 1778 aged 63 years

In memory of SAMUEL THOMPSON born in Newville Cumberland county Oet 8 1766 Died Feb. 29, 1848 In the 82d year of his age

In memory of ELIZ BETH THOMPSON Born May 12, 1773 Died Jan. 18, 1848. In the 75th year of her age

Sacred to the memory of MARY WALLACE who died April 12th 1784 Aged 63 years Also to the memory of SARAH WALLACE wife of James Wallace- who died February 14th 1822 Aged 11 years

Sacred to the memory of ROBERT WALLACE who died April 10th 1783 Aged 71 years Also to the memory of JAMES WALLACE who died December 15th 1823 Aged 73 years

In memory of JOHN WELSH who died March 7, 1833 in the 20th year of his age

In Memory of JAMES WILSON Sen who departed this life September 28, A D 1793 in the 78 year of his age. Also In memory of SAMUEL WILSON who departed this life Oet 7 A D 1825 aged 56 years 5 months and 12 days

In Memory of MARTHA WILSON who departed this life January 15 A D. 1789 aged 46 years

Historical and Genealogical.

Also of ELEANOR WILSON consort of Samuel Wilson dec'd who departed this life Oct. 16. A. D. 1831 aged 55 years.

In memory of JOSEPH WILSON who depar- ted this life Feb. 8th A D 1788 aged 38 years.

In memory of HUGH WILSON who departed this life July 30, 1781 aged 55 years. Also MARY WILSON (alias) Snodgrass, who departed this life 4th April 1810 in the 55th year of her age.

In memory of WILLIAM WILSON who departed this life Sept 1738 aged 63 years. Also In memory of HUGH WILSON who departed this life Sept 2 1797 aged 87 years, Also of MOSES WILSON who departed this life January 9th 1826 in the 51st year of his age.

In memory of JEAN WILSON who departed this life October the 20th 1794 aged 75 years. Also of SABLES WILSON who departed this life February 24th 1826 in the 75 year of her age.

In memory of JOHN WILSON who departed this life July 10, 1812 in the 69 year of his age.

In memory of MARY WILSON relict of James Wilson born January the 12th 1760 and died January the 31st 1843 aged 83 years ..

In memory of MOSES WILSON who departed this life Jan. 4, A D 1781 in the 61st year of his age.

In memory of JAMES WILSON son of Moses Wilson who died April 17, 1835 in the 80 year of his age.

Sacred to the memory of JOHN WRIGHT who departed this life March 31, 1829 aged 27 years 7m and 14 days.

In memory of MARY C. WRAY who departed this life March 10, 1815, age 2 years 2 months & 4 days.

In memory of DAVID WRAY who departed this life April the 3d 1805 in the 77th year of his age. Also CATHRINE his wife departed this life April the 8th 1773 in the 38 year of her age.

VOL I.

No. 2.

NOTES AND QUERIES

CHIEFLY RELATING

TO THE

HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY,

EDITED BY

WILLIAM H. EGLE, M. D., M. A.

NOTES AND QUERIES CHIEFLY RELATING TO THE HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

VOL. I. 1884.

No. 2.

"Omitted from Derry Tombstone Records. ]

In memory of MARY WRAY wife of David Wray who departed this life July 5, 1809, in the 70th year of her age.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Relating to the History of Dauphin County.

XX.

HEROES OF THE "BUCKSHOT WAR."_ Among the recent contributions to the history of that bloodless campaign of De- cember, 1838, is a chapter in Richard Smith Elliott's "Notes Taken in Sixty Years.' The Colonel, however, makes Samuel Rutherford the captain in com. mand of the force in the State Arsenal, when it should be John P. Rutherford. We are indebted to W Frank Ruther- ford for a copy of the original roll, which gives the names of these dauntless heroes. It contains the autographs of thirty-four persons. The paper having been folded before some of the names were dry, it is so blotted that two of the names are difficult to decipher. To these are prefixed an asterisk (*). Col. Elliott says there were but fourteen men in the arsenal, which may be correct. The volunteering was done sometime prior to the occupation, and only a de- tachment may have entered.

In this connection, it may be stated that Perry Martin was sent out to pur- chase powder, which he secured, but was afraid to go back with it. In the mean- time George Trullinger, who was in sympathy with the occupants, gave

out that one of the heavy

guns of the establishment was

loaded with chains, scraps of iron, etc., and the least attempt made to break in would result in firing into the crowd- and yet there was not an ounce of powder in the arsenal. Some time during the day, however. a small quantity of powder and buckshot were supplied to the occupants from Fahnestock's hard- ware store, through the clerk, Anios W Young. But to the "heroes."

Volunteers to Protect Arsenal.

E. P. Hughes, S. W. Greenla, *

James Caldwell,

H. Montgomery,

W. M'K. Thompson, Stephen Atherton,

Richard Dereck, Milton Rutherford,

John Brotherline,

J. F. Cottrell,

Allen M. Robinett, Henry H. Etle,

J. P. Rutherford, John H. Wilson,

L. N. Ott, John Zinn,

R. S. Elliott, Geo. M. Phillips,

G. S. Parker, Jas. Freeland,

James Martin, Thomas Flowers,

S. Stephen Guyer, Jacob Weitzel,

William Reigels, T. F. Updegrove,

Isaac G. Updegrove, James M'Coy,

George O'Neile, WVm Watharm, *

Perry Martin,

David Menser,

A. Martin,

A. H. Hood.

THE MONTOURS.

To Pennsylvania historians the story of the Montours has been an interesting one. A county of our Common wealth perpetu- ates their name, and a flourishing town on the West Branch of the Susquehanna designates their principal residence in Provincial days. In an Appendix to Marshe's Journal of the Indian Treaty at Lancaster in 1744, published in the New Era, is an important resume of the main

Historical and Genealogical.

facts in the history of that family, much of it from recently diseovered sources, which is herewith given:

MADAME MONTOUR was a noted char- aeter in our early Provineial history, and it is proper that some aceount be given of her and her deseendants, all of whom were more or less conspieuous. Mueh, however, of what she related to Mr. Marshe, as given in his journal, was im- aginative. She was not the daughter of a Governor of Canada Her father, M. Montour, emigrated to Canada about 1665. By an Indian wife he had one son and two daughters ( Col. Hist. of N. Y., vol. v., p. 65). In 1694 he was severely wounded by the Mohawks, near Fort Lamotte, on Lake Champlain. It is sup- posed that at this time Madame Montour, then ten years of age, was captured by the Five Nations and adopted into their family. Her first appearance was at a conference held at Albany on the 24th of August, 1711, where she aeted as interpreter. She seems to have had a fair education. She married Caron- dowana, or the "Big Tree," who had adopted the name of Robert Hunter, Gov- ernor of New York. Carondowana was of the Oneida tribe, 'a great Capt. of ye 5 Nations," says Secretary Logan, and fell in an eneounter with the Catawbas in the spring of 1729. On the 16th of 6 mo., 1729, presents of "strowds" were "sent to ye chiefs of the 5 Nations upon ye death of their Capt. Carondawana (alias Robt. Hunter) and also above 50 of their men killed and taken by ye Southern In- dians, assisted by ye English traders of Carolina;" while on the 29th of 5th mo., 1730, there was forwarded "a whole suit of mourning clothes to Carondawana's widow, Montour, and a eoat to her

little son and

a handkerchief." At the treaty in Philadelphia, in September, 1734, the Proprietaries condoled with her publicly at the loss of her husband, who had ever been eonsid . ered a warm friend of the English. Prior to the death of Carondowana they resided among the Miamis at the west end of Lake Erie, but about 1727 removed to Pennsylvania, locating at Ostenwacken, on the Chenasky (Loyalsoek), now Mon- toursville, Lycoming county. In 1742 Count Zinzendorf visited Madame Mon-

tour, and it is stated that she was deeply affected when she learned the object of his visit. It is told in this connection by Zinzendorf, that the Jesuit missionaries taught In- the dians the Saviour's birth-place was in France and his erucifiers Englishmen ;. but that is undoubtedly apocryphal. The faet is Madame Montour was full of du- plieity, as will be learned by easual refer . ence to the minutes of the Provincial Couneil for October 15, 1734, wherein it is stated "that her old age only protects her from being punished for such false- hoods." Speaking Freneh, and proba- bly handsome as the half-breed Indians were, much was made of her in Phila- delphia by the old Quaker ladies of that metropolis.

Zeisberger visited her in 1745, when she was living on an island in the West Branch with her daughter. In her later years she was blind and decrepid. She died prior to 1753, but the preeise date and place are undetermined. John Harris, in a letter of January, 1753, says "Madame Montour is dead."

I. MONSIEUR MONTOUR, as previously narrated, had one son and two daughters. The son, it is stated by some writers, was killed in 1709, at the instigation of Vau dreuil the Governor of Canada, on account of his friendship to the English. But we find( Col. Doc. of N. Y., vol. v, p. 65, and vol. ix, pp. 601, 602,830,90?, ) that this M. Montour was "a Frenehman by birth," therefore it could not have been the son who was a half-breed, but the father. From a document in our possession we learn that a brother of Madame Montour was living in 1729. The year previous the present of a blanket had been made him by the Proprietaries'Secretary, James Logan, while in 1729, he had been sent an "express" to the Five Nations Chiefs. M. Montour's children were as fol- łows :

i. Madame Montour, of whom we have given a sketeh.

¿¿. [a daughter]. She married into the Miamis, and all we know of her is the mention of a visit to her by Madame Mon- tour in her old age, accompanied by her son Andrew.

iii. Jean [John]; mentioned heretofore. His wife wasAnameakhiekam, who in 1729

Historical and Genealogical.

desired selling some land at "Lechay" to the Proprietaries, which she "pretended to own," says Secretary Logan. It has been intimated that Jean Montour was only a brother of Madame Montour by her adoption into an Oneida family, whereby, according to their ideas she became a sis- ter in fact to all other sons and daughters providing therewere such. Madame's name was not changed by her adoption, and it was not probable that the children of the family into which she was adopted would be named Montour. ( See Penna Areh- ives 2d ser. vii, 146.)

II. MADAME MONTOUR'S children were:

3. i. Margaret, or French Margaret, of whom presently.

ii. [a daughter:] married in 1744, as stated by Mr. Marshe. We know noth- ing further that is definite. If, as some writers believe, her name was Catharine, it is a bare possibility that she has been confounded with her niece, French Mar- garet's daughter, otherwise Queen Catha- rine.

4. iii. Andrew, or SATTELIHU; of whom presently.

5. iv. Lewis; [or TAU-WESON. ]

v. Henry; so stated by some writers- but our readers are referred to the notice of Captain Andrew.

III. MARGARET MONTOUR, generally known as French Margaret, was probably the eldest child of Madame Montour. Prior to 1744 she was living with her hus- band on the Allegheny. The Rev. John Martin Mack, Moravian Missionary, vis- ited her in 1753, and gives an interesting account of her. She then resided in a village of her own at the mouth of Ly- coming creek, on the West Branch of the Susquehanna. On Scull's map of 1759 the place is designated as "French Mar- garet's Town." She frequently attended treaties at Easton, Philadelphia, and Albany. Sometimes she interpreted. Government, with the view of re- taining the Montour influence for the English, always met her with marked deference; and yet, according to a letter (May 1755, ) from Conrad Weiser to Secretary Peters, she appears to have been an uncertain ally. "French Margaret, "writes Weiser, "with some ofher family is gone to the English camp in

Virginia, and her son Nicklaus is gone to Ohio to the French Fort. I suppose they want to join the stronger party, and are gone to get information." French Mar- garet's husband was a Six Nation Indian, named Katarioniccha, alias Peter Quebeck. IIc was considered "a man of good char- acter." In July of 1754, according to the Moravian Archives, these worthies with two grand-children, traveling in semi- barbaric state, with an Irish groom and six relay and pack-horses, passed through Bethlehem on their way to New York. Their children, according to Rev. Mack, understood French but were averse to speaking it. They had:

6. ¿. Esther; known as Queen Esther

7. ii. Catharine; (Col. Ree. vol. viii, p. 449).

iii. Nicholas; referred to in Weiser's letter just quoted.

iv. [.A son; ] was killed about 1753, in an expedition against the Creek Indians. v. Mary, or Molly; ( Col. Ree., vol. viii p. 509).

IV. ANDREW MONTOUR was the eldest son of Madame Montour. He and Henry Montour are considered by some writers as identical, by others as distinct persons. The information we have is certainly be- fogging, but we give the result of our re- searches as follows:

In the Land Department of the Com- monwealth are the following documents;

[Letter from Richard Peters to John_Arm- strong.] PHILADELPHIA, July 11, 1761. "Mr. Armstrong:

"SIR-The Indians at Easton having recommended it to the Proprietaries to let their good friend Henry Montour have some commodious and good place to contain not less than fifteen hundred acres, within the land purchased from them over Sasquahannah, when he was last liere, he applied for the same, intend- ing to go and locate it ; and I consented to give him an order to you to survey so much for him upon the common terms, after he should return from Sir William Johnson's, to whom he was obliged to go. But it seems by what Mr. Croghan says that he is detained by Sir William, and is now attending him at Fort Detroit; and therefore that he may have no cause

Historical and Genealogical.

of complaint, I think it proper to inform you of this, and desire that you, in con- junction with Mr. Croghan, to whom he has committed the care of this matter, may survey for him at such places as may be shewed to you, if not before ap- propriated or settled, the quantity of fif- teen hundred acres, and I shall forth with acquaint the Proprietaries that I have given you this order.

"I sm, sir,

"Your most humble servant. 'RICHARD PETERS."

By referenceto Stonc's "Life and Time ; of Sir William Johnson" we find that it was Captain Andrew Montour who accompanied Sir William to Detroit in July 1761. ( Vol. ii. p. 143). Then again, the request was made in the interest and name of Andrew Montour.

Appended to the above letter is the following memorandum:

"Henry Montour locates the above grant in Sackson's Cove, situated de twixt Kishacoquillas creek and Juniata river, and about five or six miles from where a family of the name of Brown is settled on Juniata.

"Located this 3d August, 1761."

In the foregoing letter, where the word Henry appears, the name originally written was Andrew, but subsequently erased and the other written. The endorsement on this paper is as fol lows:

"Paper given to Andrew Montour for 1,500 acres of land over Sasquahannah, July 11, 1761."

[ Warrant to Henry Montour. ] "BY THE PROPRIETARIES, "Pennsylvania ss:

[SEAL. ] Whereas, Henry Montour, of the county of Cumberland, hath ie- quested that we would grant him to take up fifteen hundred acres of land, more or less, situate in Sackson's Cove, betwixt Kishacoquillas creek and Juniata river, and about five or six miles from where a family of the name of Brown is settled, on Juniata river, being the same land which the Six Nation Indians and other nations when they were at the late treaty at Easton recommended to the Proprie- taries to give unto him, the said Andrew Montour, as a appears by cer tificate of our late Secretary, Richard

Peters, dated the 11th July, 1761, directed to John Armstrong, Deputy Surveyor of the county of Cumberland, (a copy where- of is hereunto annexed) in the county of Cumberland. for which the said Henry* Montour agrees to pay over such a sum of money as shall be hereafter agreed up- on by us, together with the yearly quit- rent of one penny sterling for every acre thereof: These are therefore to authorize and require you to survey, or cause to be surveyed, unto the said Henry Montour at the place aforesaid, according to the methods of townships appointed the said quantity of fifteen hundred acres, if no' already surveyed or appropriated, and make return thereof unto the Secretariets offiec, in order for further confirmation, for which this shall be your sufficient warrant. Given under my hand, and the seal of the Land Office, by virtue of certain powers from the said Proprietaries at Philadelphia, this twenty-second day of December, one thousand seven hun- dred and sixty one.

JAMES HAMILTON. "To John Lukens, Esquire, Surveyor Gene- ral."

With the foregoing, in the handwrit- ing of William Maclay, Deputy Surveyor, is "the draught of a tract of land situate on the head of Penn's creek, above the Great Spring between it and a mountain lying N. W. from said spring, in the county of Cumberland," called "Suc- coth," containing 820 acres, and returned 19th May, 1767. Another tract of land containing 1, 7102 acres, called "Sharron," was returned the same day. Both tracts were surveyed to Henry Montour, and contained instead of 1,500 acres over 2,500 acres

We have given the foregoing in full, as possible proof that Andrew and Henry were one and the same. It has been stated that Andrew Montour in 1755 resided on the Proprietary grant to him ten miles north of Carlisle, between the Conedo. guinet and the Juniata, on a little stream yet named for him "Montour's run;" but this land was never surveyed to him, and was soon over-run by settlers. Ofthe land subsequently surveyed, into whose hands it fell, we have no information. In 1775,

* The writer began "An" as if to write An- drew.

Historical and Genealogical.

Captain John Montour asked compensa- tion for the lands of his father, Captain Andrew Montour, but it is doubtful if he ever received any remuneration therefor. In April 1769, there was granted to Henry Montour a tract of land called Ough- saragoh, containing 300 acres, situated on the south side of the Ohio including his improvement opposite to the Long Island [Montour's Island ] about nine miles be- low Fort Pitt."

At the treaty at Easton held in October 1758, "Capt. Henry Montonr, Interpreter in the Six Nations and Delaware lan- guages," is designated as snch from the 8th to the 19th, when on the 19th, 20th and 21st, "Andrew Montour, His Majesty's Interpreter, " is designated. On the 24th Henry Montour interpreted at the private conference with the Proprietary agents, and the Indian deed given was witnessed by him. At the Pittsburgh conference July, 1759, by George Croghan; and on the 24th, of October. following by Brig. Gen. Stanwix, Capt. Henry Montour acted as interpreter. At. a conference at Phila- delphia in February, 1759, by Gov. Hamil- ton and also on the 14th of August, 1762, Capt. Andrew Montourwas theinterpreter. The last conference at which any of the Montours interpreted was at Fort Pitt 14th June. 1768, when Henry Montour of- ficiated. The only way to settle this disputed point would be by comparing the signatures to the recorded deeds. These were in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth until two years since, when they "were spirited away, "andtaken to Philadelphia.

The Indian name of Andrew Montour was Sattelihu. Of all the Montours he was the most prominent. In 1744 when on the expedition against the Catawbas, as mentioned by Marshe, he was taken sick near James river, Virginia. He acted as as an interpreter at some of the more important treaties with the Six Nations, not only in Pennsylvania, but in New York. In 1753 the French se: a price of £100 upon his head. He accompanied Conrad Weiser on his mission to the country of the Six Nations, and was always considered loyal to the British interest. During the French and Indian war he was captain of a company of Indians on the English side, and hence his

military title was properly acquired. For a period of nearly forty years he was in public life, in the service of Pennsyl- vania, Virginia, and under Sir William Johnson. He frequently accompanied the Moravian missionaries, Count Zinzen- dorf, David Zeisberger, and Bishop Spangenburg, on their visits to the Indian towns. The first named (Zinzendorf) gives the following descrip ion of Andrew Montour's appearance which may prove interesting, in this connection. "His face," he writes, "is like that of a Euro- pean, but marked with a broad. Indian ring of bear's grease and paint drawn completely around it. He wears a coat of fine cioth of cinnamon color, a black neck-tie with silver spangles, a red satin vest, pantaloons, over which hangs his shirt, shoes and stockings, a hat, and brass ornaments something like the handle of a basket, suspended from his ears."

Andrew Montonr was accounted as "faithful," of "good sense,"and "greatly respected for his attachment and services" to the English interests There was probably no man of his day acconnted as an Indian to whom the English were under greater obligations for valuable service and strict fidelity than Andrew Montour. In illustration of the high . esteem which he was held, it is stated that at the beginning of the war for Independence, in June. 1776, when Col. George Morgan sent William Wilson and Joseph Nicholson as messengers to the Indians in the Northwest, the latter deeming it necessary to attend at the Wyandot council house near Detroit, in- vited White Eyes and John Montour to accompany them. In the course of busi- ness, says Wilson in his report ( Hild- reth's Pioneer History, pp 96 to 108). "While we were in the Council, the governor [Hamilton ] told me he had in- quired no news of me, nor did he want to hear any. For your part, says he . to Montour, I knew your father well. He was a good man. I don't know how you came to join with those people. If yon come this way again (though not up- on the same errand) I will give you some thing."

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.

Notes and queries historical, biographical, and genealogical, Vol. I, Part 10

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: s.n. Number of Pages: 618

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: s.n.
Number of Pages: 618