USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 12
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 12
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 12
USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 12
USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 12
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 12
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
April 17, 1757, Jeremiah Jack, near Potomac, was taken captive, and two of his sons killed, and one man and one woman drowned in Potomac endeavoring to make their escape.
April 23, 1757, John Martin and William Blair was killed, and Pat- rick McClelland wounded in the shoulder, who afterwards died of his wound, near Maxwell fort, Conococheague.
May 14, 1757, Major Campbell and one Tussey, was killed or taken captive with fourteen others, near Potomac.
May 12, 1757, John Martin and Andrew Paul, both old men, taken from Conococheague.
May 13, 1757, William Walker and another man were killed near McCormick's fort, at Conodoguinet.
May 16, 1757, eleven persons killed at Paxton by the Indians.
June 6, two men killed and five taken near Shippensburg.
June 9, James Holiday and fourteen men killed and taken ; James Long's son and another man killed in a quarry at fort Frederick ; nine- teen men killed in a mill at Quetapahely, and four men killed in Shear- man's valley, all in one week.
FORT MORRIS, 10th June, 1757.
At one o'clock this morning I received an express from Fort Loud- on, with intelligence of Lieut. Hollyday's having set out with seventy- five men, to reconnoiter the woods; and at the deserted house of one - McClellan, in a place called the Great Cove, part of the men with the Lieut. went into the said house, whilst the residue were at some dis- tance drinking water from the spring, and were unhappily surprised, and surrounded by a party of Indians, said to be one hundred in num- ber. Ten of our party got into Loudon before the express set out ; their
129
INTRODUCTION.
account is so imperfect that little dependance can be laid on it. They saw one of the soldiers fall and another was taken captive .- Provin. Rec. P. 310.
JOHN ARMSTRONG.
Col. Stanwix.
June 17, one man killed at Cuthbertson's fort; four men shot at the Indian while scalping the man.
June 24, 1757, Alexander Miller killed and two of his daughters tak- en from Conococheague ; John Kenedy badly wounded, and Gerhart Pendergras's daughter killed at fort Littleton.
July 2, one woman and four children taken from Trent's gap ; same day one Springson killed near Logan's mill, Conococheagne.
July 8, 1757, two boys taken from Cross's fort, Conococheague.
July 9, 1757, Trooper Wilson's son killed at Antictum creek. I pre- sume this to be the man that I mentioned Ben. Dickson shot and shaked his scalp at his father, when he was creeping up to shoot a deer.
July 18, six men killed or taken from near Shippensburg. These were reaping in Mr. John Cisney's field. Those killed were John Kirkpat- rick, Dennis Oneidon ; missing, John Cisney and three little boys, two of hem his grand-sons, the other John Kirkpatrick's.
July 19, some men killed and taken, reaping near Shippensburg. These were reaping in Mr. Joseph Steenson's field. Those killed were Joseph Mitchell, James Mitchell, William Mitchell, John Finlay, Rob- ert Steenson, Andrew Enslow, John Wiley, Allen Henderson and Wil- liam Gibson. Those missing or carried off, were Jane McCommon, Mary Minor, Janet Harper, and a son of John Finlay. Only one Indian was killed .*
July, 1757, four men killed near Baker's, driving wagon to fort Fre- derick.
July 10, 1757, ten soldiers killed at Clapham's fort.
* The Indian killed in Mr. Steenson's field, was perhaps the same whose scalp is mentioned in the following letter :
Dated at Shippensburg, October 25, 1757.
To Richard Peters, Esq.
Sir --
I was some time ago in Philadelphia in expectation of receiving a reward from the Commissioners, for an Indian scalp, but was quite disappointed. It ill suited me at the time to take so fatiguing and ex- pensive a journey. One might think common humanity might induce the gentlemen to allow some small matter, on that occasion, as I lost my husband and son, which has so sensibly affected me in every re- spect, that I am rendered unable of providing the common necessaries of Jife. Your Honor gave me some hope when in town, that you would use your interest in endeavoring to prevail with the Commissioners to consider me, which I doubt not you will do, as it is part of your char- acter to relieve the distressed. Your endeavors to this purpose, I hope will not only heap blessings upon yourself, but, in a great measure re- lieve the pinching of one, who is
Your most humble servant,
MARGARET MITCHELL.
130
INTRODUCTION.
July 27, 1757, one McKisson wounded, and his son taken from the South mountain.
August 15, 1757, William Manson and his son killed near Cross's fort, Conococheague.
August 17, 1757, William Waugh's barn was burnt in the Tract, York county, by Indians.
August 19, 1757, fourteen people killed and taken from Mr. Cinky's congregation ; and one man killee near Harris' ferry.
Sept. 1, 1757, James Watson and James Mullen went out on their farms, and on Saturday following Watson was found scalped ; the other supposed to be carried off.
September 2, 1757, one man killed near Bigger's gap, and one Indian killed.
Sept. 8. Two men went out to hunt horses near Tobias Hendricks, (Bowman's, i. e., Pennsboro' township, Cumberland county) and are supposed to be killed or carried off, as they have not been heard of since.
September 9, 1757, one boy and a girl taken from Donegal.
September 26, 1757, Robert Rush and John McCraken, with five oth- ers killed and taken captive near Chambersburg.
November 9, 1757, John Woods, his wife and mother-in.law, and John Archer's wife were killed, four children taken, and nine men kill- ed near McDowell's fort.
Extract from a letter, dated Hanover, Lancaster county, Aug. 11, 1757.
Last Thursday, John Andrew's wife, going to a neighbor's house, was surprised by six Indians, had her horse shot under her, and she and her child were carried off. On Saturday, in Bethel township, as John Winkleblech's two sons, and Joseph Fischbach, (a soldier in the pay of the Province,) went out about sunrise, to bring in the cows, they were fired upon by about fifteen Indians ; the two lads were kill - ed ; one of them was scalped; the other got into the house before he died, and the soldier was wounded in the hand.
The same morning, about seven o'clock, two miles below Ma- naday gap, as Thomas McQuire's son was bringing in some cows out of a field, a little way from the house, he was pursued by two In- dians, and narrowly escaped. The same day, in the middle of this township, four miles from the mountain, as Leonard Long's son was ploughing, was killed and scalped ; on the other side of the fence, Leonard Miller's son was ploughing, he was made prisoner.
John Graham, who lives near the gap of the Indian town creek, had a steer killed, about sunrise, or before, and John Brown had two cows killed ; all except the first mischief done in one day ; so that last Sat- urday there must have been, at least, four parties of Indians in this township.
Having notice of this on Sunday morning, I set out with four men, and we ranged till after midnight. Monday morning I set out again, with forty men, intending to go over the mountain. We ranged the first day in the forest, and had intended to lie out on the mountain all night, but a heavy rain falling, we took to a house. On Tuesday morning we set out over the mountain to find tracks, if possible ; but we found not the least appearance of any, or Indians, over the moun-
131
INTRODUCTION.
tain, or in any of the waste houses ; so we returned on Tuesday night
Monday, 8th. Many tracks were seen among the inhabitants, and in the waste houses, where the Indians lodged. In one of the houses they left a scalping knife, and had killed and scalped a man. Wednes- day, we intended to rest, but at about 12 o'clock had another alarm.
Near Benjamin Clarkc's house, four miles from the mill, two Indians surprised Isaac Williams's wife, and the wido v Williams, alias Smel- ley, killed and scalped the former, in sight of the house, she having run a little way, after three balls had been shot through her body ; the latter they carried away captive.
About the same time, as George Maurer was cutting oats in George Scheffer's field, he was killed and scalped, two miles from the hill, so that it was not all done by one party.
There is now such a severe sickness in these parts-the like has not been known-that many families can neither fight nor run away, which occasions great distress on the frontiers. Had it not been for forty men, which the province has in pay, in this township, little of the harvest could have been saved, and as the time for which they have been engaged is nearly elapsed, the inhabitants hope the govern- ment will continue them in the service, else the consequences must be dreadful .*
We hear from a gentleman that six persons were taken away by the Indians from Lancaster county, 17th August.t
Since our last, we learn from Lancaster, that there was nothing but murdering and capturing among them by the Indians. That on the 17th August, one Beatty was killed in Paxton-that the next day, James Mackey was murdered in Hanover, and William and Joseph Barnet, wounded. That on the same day were taken prisoners, a son of James Mackey, a son of Joseph Barnet, Elizabeth Dickey and her child, and the wife of Samuel Young and her child ; and that ninety-four men, women, and children, were seen flying from their places, in one body, and a great many more in smaller parties, so that it was feared the set- tlements would be entirely forsaken.
We hear from Berks county, that several Indians have lately been seen near Fort Lebanon ; and that on Sunday, the 21st August, the house and barn of Peter Semelcke were burnt, and three of his chil- dren carried off; himself, wife and one child, being from home at the time. This was done within two miles of the fort.+
Our accounts, in general, from the frontiers, are most dismal ; all agreeing that some of the inhabitants are killed or carried off ; houses burnt and cattle destroyed daily-and that at the same time they are afflicted with severe sickness and die fast, so that in many places, they are neither able to defend themselves, when attacked, nor to run away.§
We hear from Lebanon township, Lancaster (now Lebanon) county, that on last Friday, four children were carried off by the Indians .- From Reading, Berks county, that on Thursday and Friday last, some people were murdered in Bern township, by the Indians, and others earied off.
* Pennsylvania Gazette, Aug. 1757. + Ibid, Ang. 11. § Ibid, September 8.
+ Pennsylvania Gazette, September 1, 1757.
132
INTRODUCTION.
A letter from Hanover township, Lancaster county, dated October 1st 1757, says that the children mentioned of having been carried off from Lebanon township, belonging to Peter Wampler, that they were going to the meadow for a load of hay ; and that the Indians took from the house what they thought most valuable, and destroyed what they could not take away, to a considerable value.
In the same letter it is said, that the frontiers are almost without in- habitants, and on that day, and on the day before, several creatures were killed by the enemy in Honover township, and that on Thursday before, four persons were killed in Berks county, and four made pri- soners, near the Northkill, by a party of Indians, supposed to be about fiťty.
On the 25th of November, Thomas Robinson, and a son of Thomas Bell, were killed and scalped by the Indians, in Hanover township ; but that the Indians immediately went off after committing the murder.t
To W. Denny, Esq., Gov. & Com. Pa. HUNTER'S FORT, the 3d Oct. 1757 .. May it please your Honor :
In my coming back from ranging the Frontiers on Saturday, the 3d inst. I heard that the day before, twelve Indians were seen not far from here : as it was late and not knowing their further strength, I thought to go at daybreak next morning, with as many soldiers and batteaux men as I could get ; but, in a short time, heard a gun fired off, and run - ning directly to the spot, found the dead body of one William Martin who went into the woods to pick up chestnuts, where the Indians were lying in ambush. I ordered all the men to run into the woods, and we ranged till it got dark. The continual rain we have had hindered me from following them. A number of the inhabitants had come here to assist in pursuing the Indians, but the weather prevented them. There were only three Indians seen by some persons who were sitting before Mr. Hunter's door ; and they say all was done in less than four min- utes. That same night I cautioned the inhabitants to be on their guard; and in the morning I ranged on this side of the mountain ; but, the next day, my men being few in number, by reason of fourteen of them being sick, I could not be long from the garrison; and it seems to me that there is a great number of the ;enemy on this side of the river.
The townships of Paxton and Derry have agreed to keep a guard sometime in the frontier houses, from Manady to Susquehanna ; and expect that your Honor will be pleased to reinforce this detachment.
If these townships should break up the communication between fort Augusta and the inhabitants, they would be greatly endangered.
I am, with great respect, &c., CHRISTIAN BUSSE.
We have advices, says Pa. Gazette, Oct. 27, 1757, from Paxton, that on the 17th inst. as four of the inhabitants, near
* Pennsylvania Gazette, October 6 and 13. + Ibid, Sept. 8, 1757.
133
INTRODUCTION.
Hunter's Fort were pulling their Indian corn, when two of them, Alexander Watt and John McKennet were killed and scalped, their heads cut off; the other two scalp- ed. That Captain Work of the Augusta regiment, com- ing down with some men from Fort Halifax, met the savages on Peters' mountain, about twenty of them ; when they fired upon him, at about forty yards distance, upon which his par- ty returned the fire, and put the enemy to flight, leaving be- hind them five horses, with what plunder they had got; and that one of the Indians was supposed to be wounded, by the blood that was seen in their tracks. None of Capt. Works" men were hurt.
The following letters from Colonel Stanwix, Colonel Arm- strong and others, are here introduced, giving some additional facts, as to the hostile incursions of the enemy, during the summer and autumn of 1757.
In June 28, 1757, Stanwix writes from Carlisle, " I march a Captain's piquet two or three times a week as scouting parties : I am throwing up some works round our camp, and if it may have no other use, it keeps our soldiers properly employed." A few days before (June 19) he wrote Governor Denny, "By this express I am to let you know that I only wait for wagons to march to Shippensburg; but when I shall be able to set out it is impossible for me to say, as in two days notice I have yet been able to get but two wagons, and those my quartermaster stopped himself ; however, the magistrates give me to hope I shall be supplied in a day or two. The reason of my mov- ing is the hearing of intelligence from Capt. Daworthy, who com- mands at Fort Cumberland."-Prov. Rec. P. p. 338.
CARLISLE, 11th July, 1757.
Honored Sir :
Your favor of the 7th inst. is come to hand, 'tis very satisfactory to me, that the disposition of these western troops when threatened with the approach of a large body of the enemy, has been agreeable to your Honor.
Our people are returned from Raystown without making any other discovery than the tracks of very small parties at a considerable dis. tance, though our spies were thirty miles on all hands from the Camp, so that I take the party from Duquesne only to have patrolled a certain distance and returned, or to have marched up the river towards Venan- go. Capt. Dagworthy's spies from Fort Cumberland have also returned without making any discovery.
I have received a letter from Mr. Peters, advising of your Honor's 2d paragraph, in regard of giving every officer half a pistole, for each re- cruit enlisted after the 29th of June. I understand that to be given to defray recruiting expenses, and not as bounty money to the soldier ; having already received orders to give a pistole bounty for three years
12
134
INTRODUCTION.
or during war, but will wait your Honor's further advice on that subject, lest my conception of the use of the half pistole be wrong.
I will observe your Honor's orders with regard to returns of am- munition, and how used, as frequently as the distant situation of those garrisons will admit. We frequently shoot at mark, but have not been able to perform some other parts of Indian exercise which I have in view, as it would have wasted more powder than we had to spare, and partly on account of the extraordinary fatigue we have had for these six weeks past, in pursuing small parties of the enemy, from whom we received alarms and some mischief almost every day. This moment I am informed that four people are killed near Tobias Hendricks ;* one at fort Frederick, and two boys captivated in the up- per part of this eounty. On Wednesday last Lieut. Armstrong marched with forty soldiers, accompanied by Mr. Smith, the Indian interpreter, and ten Indians, into Shareman's valley, where some of the enemy had been discovered. They were jomed by thirty of the country people who wanted to bring over their cattle from that place. On Thursday they found the tracks of eight of the enemy, and followed them with spirit enough until evening, when the tracks made towards this valley ; next morning the Cherokees discovered some tracks bearing off to the westward, upon which they said they were discovered, and that those bearing towards the westward were going to inform a body of the en- emy, which they said was not far off; upon which the Lieutenant told the interpreter that his orders particularly led him to make discovery of the enemy's encampment (if any such there was) and to know whe- ther any were drove off for their support. But two or three of the bra- vest of the Indians freely told the interpreter, that their young men were afraid, that the enemy discovered them, and therefore no advan- tage could at that time be got ; nor conld the interpreter prevail on them to stay any longer out. The Lieutenant reconnoitered the coun- try towards Juniata, and returned last night without any discovery of a lurking party of the enemy behind us. On Friday we had news of a boy being fired at by two Indians, about seven miles from this town, upon which Col. Stanwix sent out a picket. The Cherokees, with a few wearied soldiers who were here, again turned out, found the enemy's footing and followed it some miles, but could not make it out. We have had great rain and the creeks are very high, which has added much to the fatigue of our people. The harvest is now become the great object. This day I am fixing a plan for guarding as well as we can the inhabitants thro' that important season ; of which I shall advise your Honor in my next. Colonel Stanwix gives ammunition to every collected body of the inhabitants recommended to me by him.
I am your Honor's most obedient and humble servant,
JOHN ARMSTRONO.
Gov. Denny.
. Tobias Hendricks, now Mr. Bowman's on the turnpike road, two miles west of the Susquehanna-near Oyster's Point.
.
135
INTRODUCTION.
CARLISLE, 25 July, 1757.
May it please your Honor-
For the security of the inhabitants in the harvest, I have strenu- ously recommended the people's working together in parties as large as possible ; and have from William Maxwell's, near the temporary line, to John McCormick's near Susquehannab, placed about twenty guards, altering and changing the station, as well as the number of each guard, according to the necessity and convenience of the peo- ple. When a number of women and children happen to be in my fort, the guard stays with them, by which means all the men be- longing to such garrison are enabled to labor; but when women and children are not with the party, then the soldiers are stationed with the reapers, keeping sentry around the field; whereby some skulking enemy have been discovered and repulsed; but such is the infatua- tion of the people, that they can't be prevailed on to courene in proper parties for their own safety, in consequence whereof the fol- lowing melancholy accidents have happened, please to read the list.
Colonel Stanwix sends out his picket guards as often as they ap- pear to be of service, and has two out at this time. They are to patrol for three days, and are always accompanied by an officer and as many men from this battalion as at the time can be spared.
Your Honor may remember that sundry departments from Colonel Weiser's Battalion being here last winter, and were ted on our provis- ions, which together with unavoidable waste, and what was actually rotten, has for some days past brought to an end all the meat laid into those garrisons by the victuallers, since I wrote your Honor last upon the subject of provisions, (and some persons with money in their hands being fixed to defray incidental expenses). Colonel Stanwix bas or- dered Adam Hoops to supply at this town ; and last week learning from Fort Loudon that twelve of their men had the flux, and not one pound of meat in garrison, and that Lyttleton had been obliged to purchase their present subsistence of meat from a country man who lives at that fort. I was again obliged to apply to Colonel Stanwix, without whose order no person would venture to send any thing to these forts. The Colonel ordered Mr. Hoops to provide cattle, salt, pork, and a little rice for the sick men, which I immediately sent off, under the best escort, we could collect, with orders how to provide the provisions among the garrison».
Doctor Blair is returned from London and reports that only six of the men were bad of the disorder ; that they are somewhat recovered : that it is very hard performing any core without change of diet. Medicines are left in care of Lieutenant Lyon. While the surgeon was in town, he attended a soldier who was lately wounded by his own fusee's going off by accident.
The surgeon complains, and requests me to write your Honor that he is not paid the daily allowance for which he agreed with the com- missioners. viz: 78. 6d. per day. I have ordered him to write the commissioners.
In answer to Mr. Croghan's, dated at Philadelphia, I wrote him the Indian news.
I have made known the allowance of half a pistole for each recruit, 10 serve three years or during the war. The old arms shall be collected to this place, and sent down as soon as possible. As hay, oats, &c.,
136
INTRODUCTION.
continue on hand, I must give the people what assistance can be spared until have your Honor's or Stanwix's orders to call them in. I hope the next post will bring orders for supporting the men. I am your Honor's most obedient and most humble servant,
JOHN ARMSTRONG.
Governor Denny.
During the years 1758 and 1759, the murders committed within the limits of the counties of which a history is at- tempted, were not as frequent, though not less atrocious, as ; in the three or four preceding years. The Indians, however, still surprised the inhabitants on the frontier, and occasionally in the interior of the Province. In 1758 they made incur- sions in York (now Adams county,) killed son e and abducted. others. Among the number of those carried off was Rich- ard Bard, of whom, see an affecting narrative, in that part, when speaking of Adams county. Besides abducting Bard, the Indians continued their depredations and killed :
May 21, 1758, one woman and five children taken from yellow breeches.
May 23, 1758, Joseph Gallady killed ; his wife and one child taken from Conococheague.
May 29, 1759, one Dunwiddie and Crawford shot two Indians in Car- rol's tract, York county.
July 20, a boy ploughing at Sweetara was shot at by two Indians, one horse killed and the other wounded.
CHAPTER IX.
INDIAN MASSACRES-(1763-78).
Plan of attack, &c. by the enemy --- Upper part of Cumberland overrun by savages --- Depredations committed -- Settlers flee, and seek refuge at Bedford, Shippensburg, Carlisle, &c .--- Alarm at Carlisle --- Letters from Carlisle giving details --- Massacres in various parts of the fron- tiers --- Seely's letters --- Bouquet's letter from Carlisle --- Petition of in- habitants of Great Cove and Conococheague --- Murders committed in Franklin county --- Brown, a schoolmaster and his scholars killed --- --- Exhumation of relics --- James Dysari's daughters killed near Big Spring --- Strimble killed near Bedford --- Tull and others killed in Bed- ford county --- Captain Philips and his men killed-Persons killed in Woodcock valley.
After the treaty of 1758 with the Indians, at Easton, peace and friendship had been established between the Eng- lish and Indians; all fear of Indian barbarities vanished, and the minds of the people had been at rest for some time; but the French war still continued, and cruel murders were occa- sionally committed upon the frontier settlers, by the Indians, till near the close of the war between the English and the French, in 1762-for there had been a secret confederacy formed among the Shawanese, the tribes on the Ohio and its tributary waters, and about Detroit, to attack simultaneously, all the Engish posts and settlements on the frontiers. Their plan was deliberately and skilfully projected. The border settlements were to be invaded during harvest ; the men, corn, and cattle to be destroyed, and the outposts to be reduced by famine, by cutting off their supplies-Pursuant to this plan, the Indians fell suddenly upon the traders, whom they had invited among them ; murdered many, and plundered the effects of a great number to an immense value. The fron- tiers of Pennsylvania, &c., were overrun by scalping parties, marking in their hostile incursions, the way with blood and devastation.
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.