USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 6
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 6
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 6
USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 6
USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 6
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 6
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The humble petition of the inhabitants of the townships of Paxton, Derry and Hanover, Lancaster county, humble sheweth that your peti- tioners being settled on and near the river Susquehannah, apprehend themselves in great danger from the French and French Indians, as it is in their power several times in the year to transport themselves with ammunition, artillery and every necessary, down the said river-and their conduct of late to the neigliboring Provinces increases our dread of a speedy visit from them, as we are as near and convenient as the Provinces already attacked, and are less capable of defending our- selves, as we are unprovided with arms and ammunition and unable to purchase them. A great number are warm and active in these parts for the defence of themselves and country, were they enabled so to do,
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(although not such a number as would be able to withstand the enemy) we, your petitioners, therefore humbly pray that your Honor would take our distressed condition into consideration and make such provision for us as may prevent ourselves and families from being destroyed and ruined by such a cruel enemy ; and your petitioners as in duty will ever pray.
Dated July 22, 1754.
Thos. Florster Jas. Armstrong John Harris Thos. Simpson Samuel Simson John Carson David Shields William McMullen John Cuoit William Armstrong James Armstrong Wm. Bell John Daugherty Jas. Atkin And. Cochrin James Reed Thomas Rotherford T. McCarter Wm. Steel Samuel Hunter Thos. Mays Jas. Coler Henry Renicks Rich. Mc- Clure Thomas Dugan John Johnson Peter Fleming Thomas Sturgeon Matthew Taylor Jeremiah Sturgeon Thomas King Robert Smith Adam Reed, John Crawford Thomas Crawford John M'Clure Thomas Hume Thos. Stean John Hume John Crage Thos. McCleur Wm. McCleur John Rodgers James Peterson John Young Ez. Sankey John Florster Mitchell Graham James Toalen Jas. Galbreath James Campel Robert Boyd Jas. Chambers Robert Armstrong John Campel Hugh Black Thos. Black. This Pet. read in council 6th Aug. 1754.
Fear, ever of a contagious nature, seized hold of those more remotely settled from the frontier. The inhabitants of Donegal township, Lancaster county, also felt that they, as well as their fellow-inhabitants, were in great danger of being murdered by the savages and their French allies; in view of the impending dangers, joined in petitioning the Governor to take their distressed condition into consideration.
The humble petition of us, inhabitants of Donegal, humbly sheweth that your petitioners being duly sensible of the great dangers that our- selves are now in, by reason of such a cruel and merciless enemy as those we are engaged with, we therefore desire to join with our friends and neighbors, in requesting your honor to take our distress- ed condition into your consideration, and to put us in a condition that we may be able to defend ourselves, and we, on our part, will join with all that we can do for the safety of the Province, and your petitioners, as in duty bound, will pray.
We empower our trusty friends, James Galbraith, Esq. and Thomas Foster, Esq., to present this to your Honor, in our behalf, July 26, 1754.
Ephraim Moor William Smith Wm. Allison . Wm. Miller John Mc- Queen John Semple Robert Semple An. McCewen Jas. Shaw Robert Ramsey Richard Gilston Thos. Cotter Jno. McIntyr David Cook John Mitchell David Bayers John Naulear Jos. Howard Sam. Smith Thomas Mitchell William Neley John Jamison Nicholas McClarland William McClelan Mark Clark Cul. Nicholson Thos. Clining James Clark Rob- ert Brackan Thos. Wilson Jno. Allison James Allison, Wm. McCean William Miller Thos. Hall John Hall Rob. Karr Robert Stuart William Stuart William Trinton Wm. Staret Barney Hughs John Bayty James Bayty John McKracan James Anderson James Work Thos. Hutcheson
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Jas. Lowry Robt. Shankland George Clark Hugh Lynn John Brown Jno. Collins Moses Andrews Jas. Hutchison James Foster Mordecai Bane Joseph McCoskey Andrew Christy Abraham Scott Robert Car- ithers Robt. Nelson Patrick Winters Robt. Frier Robert McCleand Wm. Ramage John Moore Joseph Marchet James Stinson Jas. Cook John Galbreath David Craize John Willson Jos. Lyon Jno. Allison James Karr Thomas Harris Zach. Moor James Semple William Scott John Foster Robert Mordoch Thomas Patton William Spear Moses Potts Abraham Scott Robt. Allison John Rea James Fulton John McColloch Thomas Brees John Kelly Chas. Rowan Hugh Hall James Walker. Read in Council, Aug. 6, 1754.
The Governor, on maturely considering the condition of the frontier settlers, sent a message to the Assembly, then in session, urging in strong terms that immediate aid should be afforded the petitioners. In his message (August 1754) he says, " The people of Cumberland and the upper parts of Lancaster county, are so apprehensive of danger, at this criti- cal juncture, from the nearness of French and savages under their influence, that the principal inhabitants have, in the most earnest manner, petitioned me to provide for their pro- tection ; representing withal, that a great number would be warm and active in defence of themselves and their country, were they enabled so to be, by being supplied with arms and ammunition, which many of them are unable to purchase at their own private expence. The substance of these several petitions, which I shall likewise order to be laid before you, appears to me, gentlemen, to be of the greatest importance, and well worthy of your most serious attention. You may be assured, that nothing which depends on me shall be want- ing towards affording them the protection they desire; but you cannot at the same time but be sensible how little it is in my power to answer their expectations without the aid of your house. It becomes then my indispensable duty, and I cannot on any account whatever, excuse myself from pressing you to turn your thoughts on the defenceless state of the Province in general, as well as of our back inhabitants in particular ; and to provide such means for the security of the whole, as shall be thought at once both reasonable and effec- tual to the ends proposed ; in which, as in every other mat- ter, consistent with my honor, and the trust reposed in me, I promise you my hearty concurrence .- Votes of Assembly, iv. 319, Aug. 1754.
These abductions were mere preludes of more sanguinary
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sequences. Many of the Indians heretofore known as "friend- ly Indians" became disaffected, and favored the French inte- rests in the west-ready to aid the French in their schemes. The government of the Province of Pennsylvania and Virgi- nia, were anxious to not only have the continued friendship of those who still professed to be friendly, but, if possible, to regain the friendship of the disaffected; for that purpose Con- rad Weiser was sent, in the month of September, 1754, to Aughwick, where George Croghan, the Indian agent, had quite a number of different tribes under his care. Notwith- standing that Mr. Weiser, as the agent of the government, did all in his power, aided by liberal donations of money, to secure the continued friendly assistance of the Indians, mur- ders were committed by some unknown Indian. For a few days after Mr. Weiser had left Croghan's, an Indian of the Six Nations, named Israel, penetrated into the frontier settle- ments, and killed an Indian trader, Joseph Campble, at the house of Anthony Thompson, near Parnall's Knob, Cumber- land county, (now Franklin,) as the following letter shows:
Aughwick, September the 27th, 1754.
May it please your Honor :
Since Mr. Weiser left this, an Indian of the Six Nations, named Israel, killed one Joseph Campble, an Indian Trader, at the house of one Anthony Thompson, at the foot of the Tuscarora Valley, near Par- nall's Knob. As soon as I heard it, I went down to Thompson's and took several of the chiefs of the Indians with me, when I met William Maxwell, Esq. The Indian made his escape before I got there. I took the qualification of the persons who were present at the murder, and delivered them to Mr. Maxwell to be sent to your Honor, with the speech made by the chiefs of the Indians on that occasion, which, I sup- pose, your Honor has received.
I have heard many accounts from Ohio since Mr. Weiser left this, all of which agree that the French have received a re-inforcement of men and provision from Canada, to the fort. An Indian returned yes- terdav to this place, whom I had sent to the fort for intelligence ; he confirms the above accounts, and further says, there were about sixty French Indians had come while he staid there, and that they expected better than two hundred more every day ; he says that the French de- sign to send those Indians with some French, in several parties, to an- noy the back settlements, which the French say, will put a stop to any English forces marching out this fall to attack them. This Indian likewise says that the French will do their endeavor to have the Half- King Scarrayooday, Capt. Montour and myself, killed this fall. This Indian, I think is to be believed, if there can be any credit given to what an Indian says. He presses me strongly to leave this place, and not live in any of the back parts. The scheme of sending several parties to annoy the back settlements seems so much like French policy, that I can't help thinking it true.
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I hear from Colonel Innes that there certainly have been some French Indians at the Camp at Will's creek, and fired on the sentry in the dead of the night. If the French prosecute this scheme, I don't know what will become of the back parts of Cumberland county, which is much exposed. The back parts of Virginia and Maryland are cov- ered by the English Camp, so that most of the inhabitants are safe.
I would have written to your Honor before now, on this head, I only waited the return of this Indian messenger, whose account I really think is to be depended on. The Indians here seem very uneasy at their long stay, as they have heard nothing from the Governor of Vir- ginia, nor of your Honor since Mr. Weiser went away ; nor do they see the English making any preparations to attack the French, which seems to give them a great deal of concern. I believe several of the Indians will soon go to the Six Nation country ; and then I suppose the rest will be obliged to fall in with the French. If this happens then all the back settlements will be left to the mercy of an outrageous enemy.
I beg your Honor's pardon for mentioning the consequences which most certainly attend the slow motion of the English government, as they are well known to your Honor ; and that I am sensible your Ho- nor had done all in your power for the security of those parts. I hope as soon as his Honor, Governor Morris, is arrived, I shall hear what is to be done with those Indians. I assure your Honor it will not be in my power to keep them together much longer.
I am your Honor's most humble and most ob't servant,
Aughwick, Old Town.
GEO. CHOGHAN.
CHAPTER VI.
INDIAN MASSACRES-(1755).
Ardent hostilities between the French and English --- Thirteen perso murdered near Will's creek --- James Smith waylaid ; his companie killed and scalped by the Indians --- Forts and Block-houses erect along the Frontiers --- A fort commenced at Shippensburg --- Bra dock's defeat encourages the French and their Indian allies --- Fron- tier settlers again petition government for protection --- Plans for de- fence of the Frontiers --- Governor Morris's language in relation to. Braddock's defeat --- Twenty-five persons carried off at Penn's creek ; buildings burnt ; several persons killed and scalped, viz: Jacques Le Roy, or Jacob King and others --- Four men killed by the Indians, who were returning from Shamokin to Harris's ferry --- Extensive settlements deserted --- Harris's letters touching the above massacre --- Weiser's letters --- Harris's letter --- Anecdote from Heckewelder's nar- rative --- Frontier settlers abandon their homes --- Murders committed in the Great Cove --- Chambers's letter ; Potter's letter ; Armstrong's letter ; Burd's letter ; Hoop's letter, touching the murder committed in Big Cove --- Five persons killed near Tullyhoes gap --- Murders committed in Shearman's valley --- Weiser's letter alluding thereto.
Clouds of portentous indication were fast gathering, and excited general alarm; for actual hostilities between the French, aided by their Indian allies, and the English in Ame- rica, had commenced. Reinforcements, by poth parties, to strike the decisive blow most fatally, were effected. The cri- sis was an eventful one. The inhabitants of the frontiers were all in a panic-the Indians, true to their character, when enemies, struck whenever an opportunity presented itself- neither sex nor age was spared. Sometime in the latter part of June, 1755, they killed thirteen men, women and children, about four miles from Wills' creek, on the borders of Penn-
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sylvania. The following extract of a letter is submitted in . proof :-
SHIPPENSBURG, 30 June, 1755.
William Allen, Esq. Dear Cousin :
[Mr. Shippen speaking of the recovery of his son Joseph, who had been dangerously ill]-adds-" But the reason of my sending this let- ter is to acquaint you that Mr. Joseph Simons is just come from the Little Meadows, and assures me that last Monday, the Indians killed six men, women and children ; and on Wednesday killed seven more. He saw one man who made his escape, who was shot in the mouth and thigh, and a boy was knocked down and thought to be dead, and scalped, and afterwards coming to himself and ran into the Po- tomack, and in a short time called aloud for assistance. The boy saw the Indian scalping his mother as he was coming to. [These were killed four miles from Wills' creek. I. D. R.]
The General (Braddock) it is supposed is by this time a few miles beyond the Great Meadows. He has but thirty days provisions with him : his dependance is upon having continental supplies from this Province ; but there is still a good quantity at Wills' creek; but I doubt without a guard of a hundred men at least, they will be inter- cepted on the road.
Captain Hogg, with his company, is with the Road-cutters; and while Mr. Burd was absent last ,week riding about Conococheagne with me, last Monday, to get wagons to carry provisions to feed the men and the soldiers ; for those people had but a day and a half pro- vision when he came away. I say, in his absence, there were four- teen of Hogg's men deserted, as Justice Allison, of Lancaster coun- ty says, and more were expected to go every day-a melancholy story, indeed.
I am exceedingly sorry that it has not been practicable to send two hundred fusees for the Road-cutters. John Potter, the sheriff, tells me that his son and a few more ought to set off to-morrow with forty head of cattle to support the Road-cutters and Captain Hogg's men; but that the people are so alarmed about the Indians that he cannot think it safe to venture them out unless he can intercede with twenty or thirty of his neighbors to guard them. If money could be raised to pay a hundred men for three months, it would be a most extraordinary thing. A subscription might do a great deal to- wards it. It is important to keep the cutters in good spirits ; for if Capt. Hogg's men should incline to desert, I am apprehensive, that unless Mr. Burd's workmen can be put in a posture of defence, they will run away homewards. But I hope this can be prevented.
EDWARD SHIPPEN.
The following letter from John Harris to Conrad Weiser, dated June 30, 1754, at Paxton, confirms the above, as to those murdered at Wills creek.
"I am sorry that I have occasion to inform you of such melan- choly news. On Monday, the 22d inst. were killed and scalped three
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persons by Indians, near our fort, at Wills creek. And within three days after, upwards of twenty of our inhabitants have been killed or taken, near Fort Cumberland. William Chesney is come home, who saw a little boy in our fort who was scalped last week, and likely 10 live. In short, there seems to be nothing but desolation on the Poto- mac. There was scarce an hour since the army marched, but news of alarm comes down the road, that it will probably be stopped by the en- emy ; one soldier was fired upon and killed. Our own Indians are strongly suspected, for several reasons : first, their deserting our ar- my, all except about six men; and also, by English goods or arms found on one Indian killed last week by one Williams, which articles were delivered but lately out of our forts to Indians then there. I think it is advisable that you should use endeavors to find out if our Indians are concerned, so that we might, with the least delay, lay some scheme for revenge before they find time to use us as they have done our fel- low subjects and acquaintances. We need men to be directly raised for our defence, and to guard provisions, &c., to our camp and army."
In June, 1755, the Indians had waylaid James Smith and another man in company with him, in the northwestern part of Cumberland county, (now Bedford,) shot his partner, took him captive-carried him to Fort Duquesne-after ending many hardships for several years, he was exchanged with other prisoners-returned home in 1760.
Smith afterwards published an interesting narrative of his captivity, in which he notices the murder of his companion and his abduction, as follows :
" In May, 1755, the province of Pennsylvania, agreed to send out three hundred men, in order to cut a wagon road from Fort Loudon, to join Braddock's road, near the Turkey Foot, or three forks of Youghiogeny. My brother-in-law, William Smith, Esq., of Conococheague, was appointed com- missioner, to have the oversight of these road-cutters.
Though I was at that time only eighteen years of age, I had fallen violently in love with a young lady, whom I ap- prehended was possessed of a large share of both beauty and virtue ;- but being born between Venus and Mars, I conclud- ed I must also leave my dear fair one, and go out with this company of road-cutters, to see the event of this campaign; but still expecting that some time in the course of this sum- mer, I should again return to the arms of my beloved.
We went on with the road, without interruption, until near the Allegheny mountain; when I was sent back, in order to hurry up some provision wagons that were on the way after us. I proceeded down the road as far as the crossings of Ju- niata, where, finding the wagons were coming on as fast as
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possible, I returned up the road again towards the Allegheny mountain, in company with one Arnold Vigoras. About four or five miles above Bedford, three Indians had made a blind of bushes, stuck in the ground, as though they grew natur- ally, where they concealed themselves, about fifteen yards from the road. When we came opposite to them, they fired upon us, at this short distance, and killed my fellow travel- ler, yet their bullets did not touch me; but my horse making a violent start, threw me, and the Indians immediately ran up, and took me prisoner. The one that laid hold on me was a Canasatauga, the other two were Delawares. One of them could speak English, and asked me if there were any more white men coming after ? I told them not any near, that I knew of. Two of these Indians stood by me whilst the other scalped my comrade : they then set off and ran at a smart rate, through the woods, for about fifteen miles, and that night we slept on the Allegheny mountain, without fire."
To protect themselves against the incursions of the Indians and consequent destruction of the settlements, the inhabitants, encouraged by government, began to erect forts and block- houses in various parts along the frontiers-now within the limits of Bedford, Franklin, Cumberland and Dauphin coun- ties. Some time in July, 1755, preparations were made to erect a fort in Shippensburg, which was completed in the fall of the same year.
Charles Swain wrote to Governor Morris, from Shippens- burg, July 30th, 1755, and mentioned that a piece of ground had been pitched on to erect a fort upon.
"I have first to inform you that two Indians came here, one named Chiregeo, and the other called the Song, to see if they could have any assistance and provision, is their message. They have left behind five Wyandots, and two others of the Five Nations, who did not choose to come along with these, who were to return to them in two days, to the place where they left them, fourteen or fifteen miies beyond the Hills of Tuscarora Path. I have given them entertainment, also a pass, and forwarded them to Conrad Weiser. I sent enelosed an affidavit from three persons come from the road. A defeat, I believe is beyond doubt. Mr. Burd is gone to Fort Cumberland. I suppose the people will now come fast into these parts ; and shall use all expedition in forwarding a Fort. I have pitched on a piece of ground of Mr. Shippen's, and the timber about here is all his, therefore should be glad he was to write about it-if your Honor thought proper, that there may be no after- claps on his part."
Shortly after Gen. E. Braddock's defeat, July 9, 1755,
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the French and their Indian allies, encourged by their suc- cess, pushed their incursions into the interior parts of the frontier settlements-into York, Cumberland, Lancaster, Berks and Northampton counties. These counties were scenes of murder, burning of houses, &c., for a period of about ten years. The apprehensions of those who feared the direful consequences of Braddock's defeat were sadly realized.
The massacres which followed this defeat were horrible beyond description. Shinges* and Captain Jacobs were sup- posed to have been the principal instigators of them, and a reward of seven hundred dollars was offered for their heads. It was at this period, that the dead bodies of some of the murdered and mangled were sent from the frontiers to Phila- delphia, and hauled about the streets, to inflame the people against the Indians, and also against the Quakers, to whose mild forbearance was attributed a laxity in sending out troops. The mob surrounded the house of Assembly, having placed the dead bodies at its entrance, and demanded immediate suc- cor. At this time the above reward was offered .- Drake's Ind. His. v. 22.
The inhabitants, as they had done the previous years, again renewed their petitions to government ; and also united to resist, if possible, the French and their savage allies, as will appear from the following :
The humble petition of the subscribers, inhabitants of Lurgan town- ship, in Cumberland county, amicably unite as a company, under the care and command of Mr. Alexander Culbertson :- Showeth, that inas- much as we dwell upon the frontiers our case is lamentably dangerous, we being in such imminent peril of being inhumanly butchered by our savage neighbors, whose tender mercies are cruelty ; and if they should come upon us now, we are naked and defenceless ; being in a great measure destitute of arms and ammunition. What would be the event?
* King Shingas, as he was called by the whites, but whose proper name was Shingask, which is interpreted, Bogmeadow, was the greatest Delaware warrior at that time. Heckewelder, who knew him person - ally, says, Were his war exploits all on record, they would form an in- teresting document, though a shocking one. Conococheague, Bigboor, Shearman's valley and other settlements along the frontier, felt his strong arm sufficiently, that he was a bloody warrior,-cruel his treat- ment, relentless his fury. His person was small, but in point of cour- age and activity, savage prowess, he was said to have never been ex- ceeded by any one. In 1753, when Washington was on his expedition to the French on the Ohio, (Allegheny)-Shingas-where Pittsburg now is, but in 1756-had his house at Kittaning. See Bedford country, article Fort Littleton, and Armstrong letter there inserted.
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And now it is the only kind Providence of God that restrains them. And in these sad and lamentable circumstances, we betake ourselves to your Honor's compassion, as to a kind and lamentable Father of whose ten- der concern for us we are well assurcd.
May it therefore please your Honor, in your great wisdom and good- ness, to commiserate our unhappy case, and strengthen our hands with such a quantity of arms and ammunition, and upon such terms as your Honor sees fit, and your dependant petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray .-- August 1, 1755.
Plans were now devised for the defence of the frontiers. The following was one, which the compiler copied from the original, found among some papers and letters in the Secreta- ry's office at Harrisburg. The paper is without date. It is headed " A plan for the defence of the Frontier of Cum- berland county from Philip Davies' to Shippensburg .*- (Miscel. papers 85.)
Let one company cover from Philip Davies to Thomas Waddel's. And as John McDowell's mill is at the most important pass, most ex- posed to danger, has a fort already made about it, and there provisions may be most easily had; for these reasons let the chief quarters be there. Let five men be constantly at Philip Davies's, William Mar- shall's and Thomas Waddle's, who shall be relieved every day by the patrolling guards. Let ten men be sent early every morning from the chief quarters to Thomas Waddle's, and ten return from thence in the evening. Likewise ten men sent from the chief quarters to the other extremity daily, to go by William Marshall's to Philip Davies's, and return the same way in the afternoon. By this plan the whole bounds will be patrolled twice every day,-a watch will be constantly kept at four most important places, and there will be every night forty-five men at the chief quarters ready for any exigency.
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