USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 11
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 11
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 11
USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 11
USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 11
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 11
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61
The savages still continued their "work of blood and butchery," during and after harvest, in Cumberland county, and in the upper part of Lancaster, so that the inhabitants were obliged in order to gather their harvest, to be under the
119
INTRODUCTION.
protection of armed men, and even then many were surprised and massacred by the enemy. The following extracts from letters written at the time, give the reader some idea of the deplorable condition of the frontier settlers :
" CARLISLE, den 22stn July, 1756.
Am Samstag giengen zwei Soldaten mit die Schnitter zu beshuetzen bey McDanels Muehl, und da sie nur ein wenig auf die Seite gingen, wurde der eine von den Indianern gescolpt und der andere gefangen mit genommen. Ein anderer Soldat wollte zwei Maedgen begleiten die Wasser holten, der wurde gefangen und die Maedgen sprangen davon.
Gestern sind zehen Meilen von hier bey McClure's Gap etliche In- dianer zu Jacob Peeple's Haus kommen, und haben sein Weib getoedet und zwei Kinder mit genommen ; der Knabe war 12 Jahr alt und das Maedgen 2 Jahr alt. Ein alter Mann, Namens Solomon ein Schuhmach- er mangelt-
Es ist nicht auszusprechen wie heftig die Leute flichen mit ihren besten Zachen in die Festung .- Sauer's Zeitung, July, 1756.
The distress of the frontier settlers had nearly reached its acme. An attempt to depict their sufferings, alarms, and fears, would prove a failure. In the fall of 1755, the coun- try west of the Susquehanna possessed three thousand men fit to bear arms ; and in August 1756, exclusive of the Pro- vincial forces, there were not one hundred ; fear having dri- ven the greater part from their homes into the interior of the province .- Gordon's Pa. 430.
Governor Morris, in his message to the Assembly, August 16, 1756, says, " The people to the west of the Susquehanna, distressed by the frequent incursions of the enemy, and weak- ened by their great losses, are moving into the interior parts of the Province, and I am fearful that the whole county will be evacuated, if timely and vigorous measures are not taken to prevent it."-Votes of Assembly, iv. p. 504.
The few who had not fled petitioned the Governor, Coun- cil and Assembly, for aid to protect them against the ravages of a restless, barbarous and merciless enemy. Their several petitions are given below.
To the Honorable Robert Hunter Morris, Esq., Lieut. Gov. of Province of Pennsylvania.
The address of part of the remaining inhabitants of Cumberland county, most humbly showeth, that the French and their savage allies have from time to time made several incursions into this county, have in the most inhuman and barbarous manner murdered great numbers of our people and carried others into captivity, and being greatly em-
120
INTRODUCTION.
boldened by a series of success, not only attempted, but also took Fort Granville on the 30th July last, then commanded by the late Lieutenant Edward Armstrong, and carried off the greatest part of the garrison, prisoners, from whom doubtless the enemy will be informed of the weakness of this frontier, and how incapable we are of defending ourselves against their incursions, which.' will be a great inducement for them to redouble their attacks, and in all probability force the re- maining inhabitants of this county to evacuate it. Great numbers of the inhabitants are already fled, and others preparing to go off ; finding that it is not in the power of the troops in pay of the government (were we certain of their being continued) to prevent the ravages of our restless, barbarous and merciless enemy. It is therefore greatly to be doubted that (without a further protection) the inhabitants of this county will shortly endeavor to save themselves and their effects, by flight, which must consequently be productive of considerable incon - veniencies to his Majesty's interest in general, and to the welfare of the people of this Province in particular.
Your petitioners being fully convinced of your Honor's concern for a strict attachment to his Majesty's interest, have presumed to request that your Honor would be pleased to take our case into considera- tion, and, if agreeable to your Honor's judgment, to make application to his Excellency, General Loudon, that part of the troops now rais- ing for his Excellency's regiment may be sent to, and for some time, continued in some of the most important and advantageous posts in this county, by whose assistance we may be enabled to continue a fron- tier if possible, and thereby induce the remaining inhabitants, to se- cure, at least, a part of the immense quantity of grain which now lies exposed to the enemy and subject to be destroyed or taken away by them ; and also enable the Provincial troops to make incursions into the enemy's country, which would contribute greatly to the safety and satisfaction of your Honor's petitioners-And your petitioners, as in duty bound shall ever pray, &c.
Francis West, John Welsh, James Dickson, Robert Erwir ~amuel Smith, Wm. Buchanan, Daniel Williams, John Montgomery, Thos. Barker, John Lindsay, Jas. Lindsay, Thos. Urie, Jas. Buchanan, Wm. Spear, Jas. Polock, And. McIntyre, Robert Gibson, Garret McDaniel, Arthur Foster, Jas. Brandon, John Houston, Patrick McCollom, James Reed, Thos. Lockertt, And. Dalton, John Irwin, Wm. Blyth, Robt. Mil- ler, Wm. Miller, Jas. Young, Jno. Davis, John Mitchell, John Pattison, Samuel Stevens, John Fox, Chas. Pattison, John Foster, Wm. McCas- kry, And. Calhoun, Jas. Stackpole, Wm. Sebbe, Jas. Robb, Samuel An- derson, Robert Robb, Samuel Hunter, A. Forster, Nath. Smyth.
Read in council August 21, 1756.
August 24, 1756.
The humble supplication of the remaining part of the inhab- itants of East Pennsborough township, in Cumberland county, let- ting your worship know some part of our melancholy state ; we are at present, by reason of the savage Indians, who have not only killed our christian neighbors, but are coming nearer to us in their late slaughter ; and almost every day, numbers of our frontiers are leaving their places and travelling further down among the inhabitants, and we are
121
INTRODUCTION.
made quite incapable of holding our frontiers good any longer, unless your worship can prevail with our Honorable Governor and Assembly to be pleased to send us speedy relief. May it please all to whom this shall come, t consider what an evil case we will be exposed to, in leaving our places, grain and cattle ; for we are not able to buy pro- visions for our families, much less for our cattle. And to live here we cannot, we are so weak handed, and those not removed are not pro- vided with guns and ammunition ; and we have agreed with a guard of fourteen men in number, and if it were in our power to pay for a guard, we should be satisfied ; but we are not able to pay them.
Begging for God's sake, you may take pity upon our families, and that their necessities may be considered by all gentlemen that have charge of us.
By the humble request of those who remain of the inhabitants of our township, to the Revd. Richard Peters, Secretary in Philadelphia .- Begging God to command a blessing on your endeavors.
William Chesnut, John Sample, Francis McQuire, James McMullen, Samuel McCormick, Tobias Hendrix, John McCormick, Rodger Wal- ton, Robert Mc Whinney, James Silver.
Read in council August 28.
From the following extracts, from the Provincial Records and Votes of Assembly, it is abundantly confirmed that the distress and alarm of the inhabitants, all along the frontier settlements, was very great indeed.
September 6, 1756, a petition was presented and read from the Rev. John Steel, captain of a company at Conococheague, in the pay of the Province, representing the most miserable condition to which the upper part of Cumberland (now Franklin) county, bordering on Maryland was reduced to, by the ravages of the Indians, and the numbers killed and taken into captivity.
Another petition from a number of inhabitants of Lurgan and Hope- well'townships, (the former now in Franklin, the latter in Cumberland county ) setting forth their extreme distress, and praying for relief.
Another petition from the inhabitants of Shippensburg and adjacent townships, setting forth their miserable condition, and offering to finish a fort already begun by the late governor, if they shall be allowed men and ammunition to defend it.
Mr. Joseph Armstrong, member of Assembly, and Adam Hoops, com- missary of provisions for the supply of the forces in Cumberland coun- ty, attending with a young man, who was taken prisoner by the Indians and had made his escape : they were examined as to the truth of the several matters mentioned in the petitions, and they confirmed the same, saying further, that a year ago there were three thousand men fit to bear arms, livers in that county, and now, exclusive of the Provincial forces, they were certain they did not amount to one hun- dred- that there never was, in the memory of man, a more abundant harvest, than after the burning of fort Granville by the Indians, which was done whilst the country people, guarded by detachments of the forces, were employed in reaping. The farmers abandoned their plan- tations, and left what corn was not then stacked or carried into barns,
11
122
INTRODUCTION.
to perish on the ground, and that it was their opinion, if more force was not sent into those frontiers, or if Colonel Armstrong should miscarry, the west side of Susquehanna would be entirely abandoned .- Provin. Rec. P. p. 20.
CARLEIL, August, 1756.
" Wir hoeren das am 5ten August zwei Soldaten seyen getoedet und einer verwundet, zwei Meilen von McDowell's Fort. Und am 7ten ward einer getoedet mit Namen Dinwid- die, und einer gefangen, der aber wieder eschapirt. Am aten sey Casper Walter getoedet, aber nicht gescalpt; und vier von seinen Kindern und John Mecky seine Tochter haben sie mit genommen. Es waren nur vier Indianer gusehen. Alle Einwohner in der ganzen Jegend sind sehr bestuertzt und in Unordnung. An der Juniata und in Sherman's Thal sind alle Leute weggeflohen, und die Plaetze sind leer." -
In the early part of November, some Indians were in the upper part of Cumberland (Franklin) county, only a few miles from McDowell's mill, where they barbarously mur- dered and mangled a number of inhabitants. They killed, and also carried off, the following named soldiers ; James McDon- ald, William McDonald, Bartholomew McCafferty, and An- thony McQuoid ; soldiers missing, James Corkem and Wil- liam Cornwall. The following inhabitants were killed; John Culbertson, Samuel Perry, Hugh Kerrell, John Woods, with his wife and mother-in-law, and Elizabeth Archer ; inhabit- ants missing, four children belonging to John Archer, Samuel Neely, a boy, and James McQuoid, a child.
A German writer notices the same incidents as follows:
CARLEIL den Sten Novem. 1756.
Dei vergangene Woche ist ein Parthei Indianer in dem obern Theil dieser County gewesen etliche Meilen von Mc- Dowell's Muehl, da haben sie viele Menschen barbarisch ge- mordert, und Kinder mit genommen.
Vier Soldaten sind todt gefunden und zwei mangeln. Sie- ben Einwohner sind todt. Sechs Kinder und Samuel Neely mangeln. Samuel Perry wolte sein Pferd ins Feld thun, und da er larg ausblieb, gingen 14 Maun ihn zu suchen, und fan- den ihn gescalp aned mit Laub zugedeckt; als sie zurueck kamen, lagen bey 30 Indianern im Busch; als sie die Indianer erblickt, schossen sie auf sie; aber die Indianer schossen vier
123
INTRODUCTION.
Soldaten todt, und zwei mangeln noch."-Sauer's Zeit- ung.
READING TOWNSHIP, (Adams co.) Aug. 21, 1756.
Honored Sir :
I send your Honor the enclosed petition, at the solicitation of a great number of people. The complicated distresses of these poor creatures are beyond expression. What few inhabitants remained in Cumber- land are daily flying from thence; so that in three or four days it will be totally relinquished.
Marsh creek is now the frontier, and such a panic has seized the hearts of people in general, that unless we have soon some favorable turn in our affairs, I am afraid the enemy need not long be at the pains to dispute a claim to these two counties.
I hope your Honor will pardon this freedom, and do me the justice to believe that I am, with gratitude and truth.
Your Honor's most obedient and humble servant, THO. BARTON.
Richard Peters, Esq.
Not only was the country west of the Susquehanna left nearly desolate and deserted, but also on the east side of the river, numerous murders were committed, and plantations abandoned. When imagination fails to conceive the peril and distress of the settlers of Paxton, Hanover, Derry, and other townships, then in Lancaster (now Dauphin and Lebanon counties) vain would it be to attempt to portray the scenes of horror. Some idea, however, may be formed of their condi- tion from the subjoined letters :
Dear Sir :
DERRY TOWNSHIP, 9th Aug. 1756.
There is nothing but bad news every day. Last week there were two soldiers killed and one wounded about two miles from Manady fort ; and two of the guards that escorted the batteaux were killed ; and we may expect nothing else daily, if no stop be put to these sava- ges. We shall all be broken in upon in these parts-the people are going off daily, leaving almost their all behind them ; and as for my part, I think a little time will lay the country waste by flight, so that the enemy will have nothing to do but take what we have worked for.
Sir, your most Humble servant,
JAMES GALBREATH.
Ed. Shippen, Esq.
DERRY TOWNSHIP, 10th Aug. 1756.
Honored Sir :
There is nothing here almost every day but murder committed by
124
INTRODUCTION.
the Indians in some part or other. About five miles above me, at Manady gap, there were two of the Province soldiers killed, one wounded. There were but three Indians, and they came in among ten of our men and committed the murder, and went off safe. The name or sight of an Indian makes almost all, in these parts, tremble-their barbarity is so cruel where they are masters ; for by all appearances, the devil communicates, God permits, and the French pay, and by that the back parts, by all appearances, will be laid waste by flight with those who are gone and going, more especially Cumberland county.
Pardon my freedom in this, wherein I have done amiss.
Sir, your most Humble servani,
JAMES GALBREATH.
P. S. I am in want of the pistols.
The above is fully corroborated by the following :
HANOVER, Aug. 7, 1756.
To Edward Shippen, Esq.
Sir : Yesterday, Jacob Ellis, a soldier of Capt. Smith's, at Brown's about two miles and a half over the first mountain, just within the gap, having some wheat growing at that place, prevailed with his officers for some of the men, to help him to cut some of the grain ; accordingly ten of them went, set guards, and fell to work ; at about ten o'clock, they had reapt down, and went to the head to begin again, and before they had all well begun, three Indians having crept up to the fence just behind them, fired upon them and killed the corporal, and another who was standing with a gun in one hand and a bottle in the other was wounded-his left arm is broken in two places ; so that his gun fell, he being a little more down the field than the rest; those who were reaping had their fire arms about half way down the field, standing at a large tree ; as soon as the Indians had fired and without loading their guns, leaped over the fence right in amongst the reapers-one of them had left his gun behind on the out side of the field-they all ran promiscuously, while the Indians were making a terrible halloo, and looked more like the devil than Indians. The soldiers made for their fire arms, and as three of them stood behind the tree with their arms, the Indian that came wanting his gun, came within a few yards of them, and took up the wounded soldier's gun, and would have killed another, had not one who perceived him, fired at him, so that he drop- ped the gun. The Indians fled, and in going off, two soldiers standing about a rod apart, an Indian ran through between them, they both fired at him, yet he escaped ; when the Indians were over the fence, a sol- dier fired at one of them ; upon which he stooped a little-the three Indians escaped. Immediately after leaving the field, they fired one gun, and gave a halloo. The soldiers hid the one that was killed, went home to the fort, found James Brown, who lives in the fort, and one of the soldiers, missing.
The Lieutenant, accompanied by some more, went out and brought in the dead man ; but still Brown was missing. Notice was given on that night, I went up next morning with some hands-Captain Smith had sent up more men from the other fort ; these went out next morn- ing, against I got there word was come in that they had found James
125
INTRODUCTION.
Brown, killed and scalped, I went over with them to bring him home ; he was killed with the last shot, about twenty rods from the field-his gun, his shoes and jacket carried off. The soldiers who found him, said that they tracked the three Indians to the second mountain, and they found one of the Indian's guns a short distance from Brown's corpse, as it had been not worth much. They showed me the place where the Indians fired through the fence", and it was just eleven yards from the place where the dead man lay. The rising ground, above the field, was clear of standing timber and the grubs low, so that they had kept a look out.
The above account, you may depend upon. We have almost lost all hopes of every thing, but to move off and lose our crops that we have cut with so much difficulty.
I am your
Honor's servant,
ADAM REED.
Some time in the latter part of October, the Indians again returned into Hanover township, where they murdered, under circumstances of much cruelty, several families, among whom was one Andrew Berryhill. On the 22d October, they killed John Craig and his wife, scalped them both, burnt several houses, and carried off a lad, about thirteen years old. The next day they scalped a German, whose name has not been given.
Many of the settlers had fled, and not a few were killed. The writer examined the tax collector's duplicate of several townships, for 1756, and found, from entries made in these, by the collectors, that in East Hanover township, the following had fled from their houses :
Andrew Karsnits, John Gilliland, John McColloch, Wal- ter McFarland, Robert Kirkwood, William Robison, Valen- tine Stoffolbeim, Andrew Cleaman, Rudolph Fry, Peter Wal- mer, John McCulloch, James Rafter, Moses Vance, John Brower, Frederick Noah, Jacob Moser, Philip Mauerer, Barnhart Beshore, Jacob Beshore, Matthias Beshore, Wil- liam Mccullough, Philip Calp, Casper Yost, Conrad Cleck, Christian Albert, Daniel Moser, John McClure, John Ander- son, Thomas Shirley, James Graham, Barnet McNett, An- drew Brown, William Brown, Andrew McMahon, Thomas Hume, Thomas Strean, John Hume, Peter Wolf, Henry Kuntz, William Watson, John Stuart, John Porterfield, Da- vid Strean, John Strean, Andrew McCrath, James McCurry, Conrad Rice, Alexander Swan, John Grean.
Andrew Berrihill, killed; Samuel Ainsworth's son was ta-
11*
126
INTRODUCTION.
ken; John Craig, killed, and a boy taken captive. The whole tax duplicate contains about a hundred names.
In West Hanover the following persons had fled, viz:
John Gordon, Richard Johnson, Alexander Barnet, James McCaver, Robert Porterfield, Philip Robison, John Hill, Thomas Bell, Thomas Maguire, William McCord, Robert Huston, Benjamin Wallace, William Bennett, Bartholomew Harris, John Swan, James Bannon, William McClure, Thom- as McClure, John Henry, James Riddle, Widow Cooper, David Ferguson, Widow de Armand, James Wilson, Samuel Barnetts, James Brown, Widow McGowin, Samuel Brown, Thomas Hill, Jane Johnston was killed .*
The following letter from the pen of Adam Reed, Esq., dated at Hanover, October 14, 1756, may cast some addi- tional light on this gloomy subject. The letter is addressed to Edward Shippen, Esq., and others :
"Friends and Fellow Subjects :
I send you in a few lines, the melancholy condition of the frontiers of this county. Last Tuesday, the 12th inst. ten Indians came on Noah Fred- erick, while ploughing, killed and scalped him, and carried away three of his children that were with him-the eldest but nine years old-and plundered his house and carried away every thing that suited their purpose ; such as clothes, bread, butter, a saddle, and a good rifle gun, &c .- it being but two short miles to Captain Smith's fort, at Swatara gap, and a little better than two miles from my house.
Last Saturday evening, an Indian came to the house of Philip Robe- son, carrying a green bush before him-said Robeson's son being on the corner of his Fort, watching others that were dressing flesh by him-the Indian perceiving that he was observed, fled ; the watchman fired, but missed him. This being about three-fourths of a mile from Manady Fort ; and yesterday morning, two miles from Smith's Fort, at Swatara, in Bethel township, as Jacob Farnwal was going from the house of Jacob Meylin to his own, was fired upon by the two Indians, and wounded, but escaped with his life ; and a little after, in said town- ship, as Frederick Henly and Peter Sample were carrying away their goods in wagons, were met by a parcel of Indians, and all killed, lying dead in one place, and one man at a little distance. But what more has been done, has not come to my ears-only that the Indians were continuing their murders !
The frontiers are employed in nothing but carrying off their effects ; so that some miles are now waste ! We are willing, but not able, without help-you are able, if you be willing, (that is including the lower parts of the county) to give such assistance as will enable us to recover our waste land. You may depend upon it, that without assis- tance, we, in a few days, will be on the wrong side of you ; for I am now
* Tax Duplicate for 1756, at Lancaster.
127
INTRODUCTION.
on the frontier, and I fear that by to-morrow night, I will be left two miles.
Gentlemen, consider what you will do, and don't be long about it; and let not the world say, that we died as fools died ! Our hands are not tied, but let us exert ourselves, and do something for the honor of our coun- try, and the preservation of our fellow subjects. I hope you will com- municate our grievances to the lower parts of our country ; for surely they will send us help, if they understood our grievances.
I would have gone down myself, but dare not, my family is in such danger. I expect an answer by the bearer, if possible .*
I am, gentlemen,
Your very number servant, ADAM REED.
P. S. Before sending this away, I would mention, I have just recei- ved information, that there are seven killed and five children scalped alive, but have not the account of their names.
CHAPTER VIII.
INDIAN MASSACRES-(1757-62).
Negotiations of peace, &c .--- Frontier settlers are still in constant alarm --- Indians murder and abduct persons at Rocky Springs --- Mc- Kinney, Patterson, and others killed --- List of killed in various parts in 1757 --- A number of persons killed in Cisne's and in Steen's fields --- Several men supposed to be killed near Hendrick's (now Bow- man's) --- Indians commit murders in Lancaster (now Dauphin) coun- ty --- Long's son, Mrs. Williams, Smelley, Mr. Mauerer, Beaty, Mack- ey, Barnet and others killed --- Murders committed in Hanover town- ship --- William Martin killed near Hunter's fort; Busse's letter touch- ing it --- Watt and McKennet, and others killed and scalped --- Indians surprise Bard's house in York (Adams) county ; Bard and family abducted ; Potter killed --- Gallady, Dunwiddie, Crawford and others massacred.
Stimulated, and abetted by the French, both Shawanese and Delaware Indians kept up their hostilities till 1757, when negotiations for peace commenced with Teedyuscung, the
*Prov. Rec. P. p. 69.
128
INTRODUCTION.
chief of the Delaware and Shawanese tribes, on the Susque- hanna, when their fury abated somewhat. But the French and Western Indians still roamed in small parties over the country, committing many sanguinary murders, and taking captives all whom they could surprise. The frontier settlers were kept in continual alarm.
" March 29, 1757, the Indians made a breach at Rocky Springs, where one woman was killed and eleven taken prisoners.
"April 2, William McKinley and his son were killed. Mckinley had sought shelter with his family at Chambers' fort-ventured out one day in company with his son to visit his dwelling and plantation, where the Hallowell paper mill is, on the creek below Chambersburg. They were discovered however by the Indians, und both killed and scalped, and their dead bodies brought to the fort and buried."
We hear, says the Pa. Gazette, April 7, 1757, from Con- ococheague, Cumberland county, (Franklin) that on last week three families were cut off there by the Indians; the people most barbarously used. The names of two of the fa- milies, are Campbell and Patterson.
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.