USA > Virginia > A history of the valley of Virginia, 1st ed > Part 6
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*See Chaulkley's letter to the monthly meeting on Opequon, 21st May, 1738, page 61.
t Col. Robert Carter obtained grants in September, 1730, for sixty-three thousand acres.
FIRST SETTLEMENT-OF THE VALLEY. 69
Ralph Wormley, Esq .* to purchase it. Wormley bid five hundred guineas for it, and it was struck off to him. It is also said that Mr. Wormley, just before or at the time of the sale, had been regaling himself with a so- cial glass, and that when he cooled off, he became ex- tremely dissatisfied with his purchase, considering it as money thrown away. Washington hearing of his un- easiness, immediately waited on him, and told him he would take the purchase off his hands, and pay him his money again, but advised him by all means to hold it, assuring him that it would one day or other be the foundation of an independent fortune for his children ; upon which Wormley became better reconciled, and consented to hold on. And truly, as Washington pre- dicted, it would have become a splendid estate in the hands of two or three of his children, had they known how to preserve it. But it passed into other hands, and now constitutes the splendid farms of the late firm of Castleman & McCormick, Hierome L. Opie, Esq. the honorable judge Richard E. Parker, and several others. In truth, all the country about the larger water cour- ses and mountains was settled before the fine country about Bullskin, Long marsh, Spout run, &c.
Much the greater part of the country between what is called the Little North mountain and the Shenan- doah river, at the first settling of the valley was one vast prairy, t and, like the rich prairies of the west, af- forded the finest possible pasturage for wild animals. The country abounded in the larger kinds of game. "The buffalo, elk, deer, bear, panther, wild-cat, woll, fox, beaver, otter, and all other kinds of animals, wild fowl, &c. common to forest countries, were abundantly plen- ty. The country now the county of Shenandoah, be- tween the Fort mountain and North mountain, was
" Mr. Wormley, it is believed, residcd at the time in the county of Mid- desex.
t There are several aged individuals now living, who recollect when there were large bodies of land in the counties of Berkeley, Jefferson and Fred- crick, barren uf timber. This barren land is now covered with the best of forest trees.
5t
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FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE VALLEY.
also settled at an early period. The counties of Rock- ingham and Augusta also were settled at an early time. The settlement of the upper part of our valley will be more particularly noticed, and form the subject of a se- cond volume hereafter, should the public demand it.
From the best evidence the author has been able to collect, and for this purpose he has examined many an- cient grants for lands, family records, &c. as well as the oral tradition of our ancient citizens, the settlement of our valley progressed without interruption from the na- tive Indians for a period of about twenty-three years. In the year 1754, the Indians suddenly disappeared, and crossed the Allegany. The year preceding, emis- saries from the west of the Allegany came among the Valley Indians and invited them to move off .* This occurrence excited suspicion among the white people that a storm was brewing in the west, which it was es- sential to prepare to meet.
Tradition relates, that the Indians did not object to the Pennsylvanians settling the country. From the high character of William Penn, (the founder of Penn- sylvania,) the poor simple natives believed that all Penn's men were honest, virtuous, humane and bene- volent, and partook of the qualities of the illustrious founder of their government. But fatal experience soon taught them a very different lesson. They soon found to their cost that Pennsylvanians were not much better than others.
Tradition also informs us that the natives held in ut- ter abhorrence the Virginians, whom they designated "Long Knife," and were warmly opposed to their set- tling in the valley.
The author will conclude this chapter with some gen- eral remarks in relation to the circumstances under which the first settlement of the valley commenced. 'Tradition informs us, and the oral statements of several aged individuals of respectable character confirm the
*Mr. Thomas Barrett, an aged and respectable citizen of Frederick coun- ty, related thus tradition to the author,
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FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE VALLEY.
fact, that the Indians and white people resided in the same neighborhood for several years after the first settle- ment commenced, and that the Indians were entirely peaceable and friendly. This statement must in the nature of things be true; because if it had been other- wise, the white people could not have succeeded in ef- fecting the settlement. Had the natives resisted the first attempts to settle, the whites could not have suc- ceeded without the aid of a pretty considerable army to awe the Indians into submission. It was truly fortu- nate for our ancestors that this quiescent spirit of the Indians afforded them the opportunity of acquiring considerable strength as to numbers, and the accumula- tion of considerable property and improvements, before Indian hostilities commenced.
It has already been stated that it was twenty-three years from the first settlement, before the Indians com- mitted any acts of outrage on the white people. Du- ring this period many pretty good dwelling houses were erected. Joist Hite had built a stone house on Ope- quon, which house is now standing, and has a very an- cient appearance ;* but there are no marks upon it by which to ascertain the time. In 1751. James Wilson erected a stone house which is still standing, and now the residence of Mr. Adam Kern, adjoining or near the village of Kernstown.
Jacob Chrisman also built a pretty large stone house in the year 1751, now the residence of Mr. Abraham Stickley, about two miles south of Stephensburg. Geo. Bowman and Paul Froman each of thein built stone houses, at their respective places of residence on Cedar : creek, about the same period. The late Col. Jolin Hite, in the year 1753, built a stone house now the dwelling house of Mrs. Barton. This building was considered by for the finest dwelling house west of the Blue ridge.t Lewis Stephens, in the year 1756, built a stone house,
* On the wall plate of a framed barn built by Hite, the figures 17 17 are plainly marked, and now to be soon.
t There is a tradition in this neighborhood that Col. Hite .quarried every sione in this building with bis own hands.
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FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE VALLEY.
the ruins of which are now to be seen at the old iron works of the late Gen. Isaac Zane. It will hereafter be seen that these several stone buildings became of great importance to the people of the several neighbor- hoods, as places of protection and security against the attacks of the Indians.
The subject of the carly settlement of the valley will be resumed in my next chapter.
CHAPTER IV.
First settlement of the valley .... Continued.
Tradition relates that a man by the name of Jolin Vanmeter, from New-York, some years previous to the first sett ement of the valley, discovered the fine coun- try on the Wappatomaka. This man was a kind of wandering Indian trader, became well acquainted with the Delawares, and once accompanied a war party who marched to the south for the purpose of invading the Catawbas. The Catawbas, however, anticipated them, met them very near the spot where Pendleton court- house now stands. and encountered and defeated them with immense slaughter. Vanmeter was engaged on the side of the Delawares in this battle. When Ven- meter returned to New-York. he advised his sons. that if they ever migrated to Virginia, by all means to se- cire a part of the South -Branch bottom, and described the lands immediately above what is called " The Trough," as the finest body of land which he had ever discovered in all his travels. One of his sons, Isaac Vanmeter, in conforinity with his father's advice. came to Virginia about the year 1736 or 1737, and inmle what was called a tomahawk improvement on the Inads How owned by laac Vanmeter, Esq. immediately above
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FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE VALLEY.
the trough, where Fort Pleasant was afterwards erected. After this improvement, Mr. Vanmeter returned to New- Jersey, came out again in 1740, and found a man by the name of Coburn settled on his land. Mr. Vanme- ter bought out Coburn, and again returned to New- Jersey ; and in the year 1744 removed with his family and settled on the land .* Previous to Vanmeter's final removal to Virginia, several immigrants from Pennsyl- vania, chiefly Irish, had settled on the South Branch. Howard, Coburn, Walker and Rutledge, were the first settlers on the Wappatomaka.t
William Miller and Abraham Hite were also among the early settlers. When the Indian wars broke out, Miller sold his right to 500 acres of land, and all his stock of horses and cattle in the woods, for twenty-five pounds, t and removed to the South fork of the Shenan- doah, a few miles above Front Royal. The 500 acres of land sold by Miller lie within about two miles of Moorefield, and one acre of it would now command more money than the whole tract, including his stock, was sold for.
Casey, Pancake, Forman, and a number of others, had settled on the Wappatomaka previous to Vanme- ter's final removal.
In the year 1740, the late Isaac Hite, Esq. one of the sons of Joist Hite, settled on the North branch of the Shenandoah, in the county of Frederick, on the beau- tiful farm called "Long meadows." This fine estate is now owned by Maj. Isaac Hite, the only son of Isaac Hite, deceased.§
About the same year, John Lindsey and James Lind- sey, brothers, removed and settled on the Long marsh, between Bullskin and Berryville, in the county of I'red- erick. Isaac Larne removed from New-Jersey in 1713, and settled also on the same marsh: - About the same
* Isaac. Vanmeter, Esq. of Hardy, detailed this tradition to the author. Communicated by William Heath, Esq.
Latas Vanmeter, Esq. stated this fact to the author.
S Maj. Base Ine, of Frederick county, communicated this information to the author.
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FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE VALLEY.
period, Christopher Beeler removed and settled within two or thi'ce miles from Larue; and about the year 1744, Joseph Hampton and two sons came from the eastern shore of Maryland, settled on Buck marsh, near Berryville, and lived the greater part of the year in a hollow sycamore tree. They enclosed a piece of land and made a crop preparatory to the removal of the fa- mily .*
In 1743 Joseph Carter removed from Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and settled on Opequon, about five miles east of Winchester. Very near Mr. Carter's residence, on the west side of the creek, was a beautiful grove of forest timber, immediately opposite which a fine lime- stone spring issued from the east bank of the creek. This grove was, at the time of Mr. Carter's first settle- ment, a favorite camping ground of the Indians, where numerous collections, sometimes two or three hundred at a time, would assemble, and remain for several weeks together. Mr. Carter was a shoemaker, and on one oc- casion two Indians called at his shop just as he had fin- ished and hung up a pair of shoes, which one of the Indians secing, secretly slipped under his blanket, and attempted to make off. Carter detected him, and took the shoes from him. His companion manifested the ut- most indignation at the theft, and gave Carter to un- derstand that the culprit would be severely dealt with. As soon as the Indians returned to the encampment, information was given to the chiefs, and the unfortu- nate thief was so severely chastised, that Mr. Carter, from motives of humanity, interposed, and begged that the punishment might cease.t
Maj. Isaac Hite informed the author that numerous parties of Indians, in passing and repassing, frequently called at his grandfather's house, on Opequon, and that but one instance of theft was ever committed. On that
* Col. John B. Larue and William Castleman, Esq. gave the author this information.
t 'The 'Inte Me. James Carter gave the author this tradition, which he re- ceived from his father, who was a boy of 12 or 13 years old at the time, and an eye-witness of the fact. Opposite to this camping ground, on a high hill east of the creek, is a large Indian grave.
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FIRST SETTLEMENT OF TIIE VALLEY.
occasion a pretty considerable party had called, and on their leaving the house somne article of inconsiderable value was missing. A messenger was sent after them, and information of the theft given to the chiefs. Search was immediately made, the article found in the posses- sion of one of them, and restored to its owner. 'These facts go far to show their high sense of honesty and summary justice. It has indeed been stated to the au- thor, that their traveling parties would, if they needed provisions and could not otherwise procure them, kill fat hogs or fat cattle in the woods, in order to supply them- selves with food. This they did not consider stealing. Every animal running at large they considered lawful game.
The Indians charge the white people with teaching them the knowledge of theft and several other vices. In the winter of 1815-16, the author spent some weeks in the state of Georgia, where he fell in with Col. Bar- nett, one of the commissioners for running the boundary line of Indian lands which had shortly before been ce- ded to the United States. Some conversation took place on the subject of the Indians and Indian character, in which Col. B. remarked, that in one of his excursions through the Indian country, he met with a very aged Cherokee chief, who spoke and understood the English language pretty well. The colonel had several conver- sations with this aged man, in one of which he congra- tulated him upon the prospect of his people having their condition greatly improved, there being every reason to believe that in the course of a few years they would be- come acquainted with the arts of civil life-would be better clothed, better fed, and erect better and more com- fortable habitations -- and what was of still greater im- portance, they would become acquainted with the doc- trines and principles of the Christian religion. This venerable old man listened with the most profound and respectful attention until the colonel had concluded, and . then with a significant shake of his head and much. emphasis replied, -- That he doubted the benefits to the
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FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE VALLEY.
red people pointed out by the colonel : that before their father. were acquainted with the whites, the red people needed but little, and that little the Great Spirit gave - them, the forest supplying them with food and raiment: that Isfore their fathers were acquainted with the white people, the red people never got drunk; because they had nothing to make them drunk, and never committed theft, because they had no temptation to do so .- It was true, that when parties were out hunting, and one party was unsuccessful, and found the game of the more suc- cessful party hung up, if they needed provision they took it; and this was not stealing-it was the law and custom of the tribes. If they went to war, they de- stroyed each other's property : this was done to weaken their enemy. Red people never swore, because they had no words to express an oath. Red people would not cheat, because they had no temptation to commit · fraud: they never toldl falsehoods, because they had no temptation to tell lies. And as to religion, you go to your chinches, sing loud, pray loud, and make great noise. 'The red people meet once a year, at the feast of new corn, extinguish all their fires, and kindle up a new one, the smoke of which asrends to the Great Spirit as o grateful sacrifice. Now what better is your religion than ours? The white people have taught us to get drunk, to steal, to lie, to cheat, and to swear ; and if the knowledge of these vices, as you profess to hold them, and punish by your laws, is beneficial to the red people, we are benefited by our acquaintance with you ; if not, we are greatly injured by that acquaintance.
'To say the least of this untutored old man, his opin- ions, religion excepted, were but too well founded, and co ivey a severe rebuke upon the character of those who boast of the superior advantages of the lights of educa- tioir and a knowledge of the religion of the Holy Re- deenter.
From this digression the author will again turn his attention to the early history of our country.
About the year 1763, the first settlements were made
FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE VALLEY.
at or near the head of Bullskin. Two families, by the . name of Riley and Allemong, first commenced the set- tlement of this immediate neighborhood. At this pe- riod timber was so scarce that the settlers were compel- led to cut small saplings to inclose their fields .* The prairy produced grass five or six feet high :t and even our mountains and hills were covered with a rich and profuse vegetable growth for the sustenance of quadru- peds of every species. The pea vine grew abundantly on the hilly and mountainous lands, than which no species of vegetable production afforded finer and richer pasturage.
From this state of the country, many of our first set- tlers turned their attention to rearing large herds of horses, cattle, hogs, &c. Many of them became expert, hardy and adventurous hunters, and spent much of their time and depended chiefly for support and money-ina- king on the sale of skins and furs .; Moses Russell. Esq. informed the author that the hilly lands about his residence, near the base of the North mountain, in the south west corner of Frederick, and which now present to the eye the appearance of great poverty of soil. with- in his recollection were covered with a fine growth of pea vine, and that stock of every description grew abun- dantly fat in the summer season.
Isaac Larue, who settled on the Long marsh in 1743. as has been stated, soon became celebrated for his nu- merous herds of horses and cattle. The author was told by Col. J. B. Larue, who is the owner of part of his grandfather's fine landed estate, that his grandfather frequently owned between 90 and 100 head of horses,
* Messrs. Christian Allemong and. George Riley both stated this fact to the author.
t Me. George Riley, an aged and respectable citizen, stated to the author that the grass on the Bullskin barrons grew so tall. that he had frequently drawi it before him when on horseback, and tied it before him.
* The late Henry Fry, one of the early settlers on Capon river, upwards of forty vers ago informed the author, that he purchased the tract of land on which he first settled, on tapon river, for which he engaged to pay sitter. 1:00 or 550, the author does not recollect which sam, and that he made every dhar of the money by the sale of shins and furs, the game being killed or caught with biz owa handy.
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RELIGION, HABITS AND CUSTOMS,
but it so happened that he never could get his stock to count a hundred.
The Hites, Frys, Vanmeters, and many others, raised vast stocks of horses, cattle, hogs, &c. Tradition relates that Lord Fairfax, happening one day in Winchester to see a large drove of unusually fine hogs passing through the town, inquired from whence they came. Being in- formed that they were from the mountains west of Win- chester, he remarked that when a new county should be laid off' in that direction it ought to be called Hamp- shire, after a county in England celebrated for its pro- duction of fine hogs ; and this, it is said, gave name to the present county of Hampshire.
The author will only add to this chapter, that, from the first settlement of the valley, to the breaking out of the war, on the part of the French and Indians, against our ancestors, in the year 1754, our country rapidly in- creased in numbers and in the acquisition of property, without interruption from the natives, a period of twen- ty-two years.
In my next chapter I shall give a brief account of the religion, habits and customs, of the primitive settlers,
CHAPTER V.
Religion, habits and customs, of the primitive settlers.
A large majority of our first immigrants were from Pennsylvania, composed of native Germans or German extraction. There were, however, a number directly from Germany, several from Maryland and New-Jersey, and a few from New-York. "These inunigrants brought with them the religion, habits and customs, of their an- cestors. They were composed generally of three reli-
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OF THE PRIMITIVE SETTLERS.
gious sects, viz. Lutherans, Menonists* and Calvinists, with a few Tunkers. They generally settled in neigh- borhoods pretty much together.
The territory now composing the county of Page, Powell's fort, and the Woodstock valley, between the West Fort mountain and North mountain, extending from the neighborhood of Stephensburg for a conside- rable distance into the county of Rockingham, was al- most exclusively settled by Germans. They were very tenacious in the preservation of their language, religion, customs and habits. In what is now Page county they were almost exclusively of the Menonist persuasion : but few Lutherans or Calvinists settled among them. In the other sections of the territory above described, there were a mixture of Lutherans and Calvinists. The Menonists were remarkable for their strict adherence to all the moral and religious observances required by their sect. Their children were early instructed in the prin- ciples and ceremonies of their religion, habits and cus- toms. They were generally farmers, and took great care of their stock of different kinds. With few excep- tiens, they strictly inhibited their children from joining in the dance or other juvenile amusements common to other religious sects of the Germans.
In their marriages much ceremony was observed and great preparation made. Fatted calves, lambs, poultry, the finest of bread, butter, milk, honey, domestic sugar, wine if it could be had, with every article necessary for a sumptuous feast in their plain way, were prepared in abundance. Previous to the performance of the cere- mony, (the clergyman attending at the place appointed for the marriage,) four of the most respectable young fe- males and four of the most respectable young men were selected as waiters upon the bride and groom. The se- veral waiters were decorated with badges, to indicate their offices. The groomsmen, as they were termed, were invariably furnished with fine white aprons beau-
" Simon Meno was one of the carliest German reforiners, and the founder of this sect.
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RELIGION, HABITS AND CUSTOMS,
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tifully embroidered. It was deemed a high honor to wear the apron. The duty of the waiters consisted in not only waiting on the bride and groom, but they were required, after the marriage ceremony was performed, to serve up the wedding dinner, and to guard and pro- tect the bride while at dinner from having her shoe sto- len from her foot. This custom of stealing the bride's shoe; it is said, afforded the most heartfelt amusement to the wedding guest. To succeed in it, the greatest dexterity was used by the younger part of the company, while equal vigilance was manifested by the waiters to defend her against the theft; and if they failed, they were in honor bound to pay a penalty for the redemp- tion of the shoe. This penalty was a bottle of wine, or one dollar, which was commonly the price of a bottle of wine : and as a punishment to the bride, she was not permitted to dance until the shoe was restored. The successful thief, on getting hold of the shoe, held it up in great triumph to the view of the whole assemblage, which was generally pretty numerous. This custom was continued among the Germans from generation to generation, until since the war of the revolution. The author has conversed with many individuals, still living, who were eye-witnesses of it.
'Throwing the stocking was another custom among the Germans .* When the bride and groom were bed- ded, the young people were admitted into the room. A stocking, rolled into a ball, was given to the young fe- males, who, one after the other, would go to the foot of the bed, stand with their backs towards it, and throw the stocking over their shoulders at the bride's head; and the first that succeeded in touching her cap or head was the next to be married. The young men then threw the stocking at the groom's head, in like manner, with the like motive. Hence the utmost en zorness and dex- teriry were used in throwing the stocking. This prac-
" Throwing the stocking was not exclusively a German custom. It is ce- Picardie a helmet, in his " wish Wedding." It is not improbable but I was corentin to the Centre nations aleo.
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OF THE PRIMITIVE SETTLERS.
tice, as well as that of stealing the bride's shoe, was common to all the Germans.
Among the Lutherans and Calvinists, dancing with other amusements was common, at their wedding par- ties particularly. Dancing and rejoicings were some- times kept up for weeks together .*
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