USA > Virginia > Augusta County > Augusta County > History of Augusta County, Virginia > Part 26
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Resolved, unanimously, That the cordial and most grateful thanks of this committee are a tribute due to John Harvie, Esq., our worthy repre- sentative in the late Colonial Convention held at Richmond, for his faith- ful discharge of that important trust reposed in him; and to John Nevill, Esq., our other worthy delegate, whom nothing but sickness prevented from representing us in that respectable assembly.
Resolved, unanimously, That this committee have the highest sense of the spirited behavior of their brethren in New England, and do most cor- dially approve of their opposing the invaders of American rights and pri- vileges to the utmost extreme, and that each member of this committee, respectively, will animate and encourage their neighborhood to follow the brave example.
This committee, therefore, out of the deepest sense of the expediency of this measure, most earnestly entreat that every member of this commit- tee do collect from each tithable person in their several districts the sum of 2s. 6 pence, which we deem no more than sufficient for the above pur- pose, and give proper receipts to all such as pay the same into their
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hands ; and the sum so collected to be paid into the hands of John Camp- bell, Esq , who is to give proper security to this committee, or their suc- cessors, for the due and faithful application of the money so deposited with him; and this committee, as your representatives, and who are most ardently laboring for your preservation, call on you, our constituents, our friends, brethren, and fellow-sufferers, in the name of God, of everything you hold sacred or valuable, for the sake of your wives, children, and un- born generations, that you will, every one of you, in your several stations, to the utmost of your power, assist in levying such sum, by not only pay- ing yourselves, but by assisting those who are not at present in a condi- tion to do so. We heartily lament the case of all such as have not this small sum at command in this day of necessity ; to all such we recommend to tender security to such as Providence has enabled, to lend them so much; and this committee do pledge their faith and fortunes to you, their constituents, that we shall, without fee or reward, use our best endeavors to procure, with the money so collected, the ammunition our present ex- igencies have made so exceedingly necessary.
"As this committee has reason to believe, there is a quantity of ammu- nition destined for this place for the purpose of government ; and as this country on the west side of Laurel Hill is greatly distressed for want of ammunition, and deprived of the means of procuring it by reason of its situation, as easy as the lower counties of this colony, they do earnestly request the committees of Frederick and Augusta and Hampshire that they will not suffer the ammunition to pass through their counties for the purposes of government, but will secure it for the use of this destitute country, and immediately inform this committee of their having done so."
The committee adopt another resolution, approving of "a resolution of the committee of the other part of this county," cultivating a friendly in- tercourse with the Indians.
They direct, also, the " Standing Committee " to secure arms and am- munition not employed in actual service, or private property, and to have them repaired and put into the hands of such captains of independent companies as may make application for them. They also raised £15 to transmit to Robert C. Nicholas for the use of the deputies sent to the general congress from "this colony." They also adopted "instructions to the delegates." These were reported by Mr. John Campbell, of the Select Committee, the first part of which is in these words :
To JOHN HARVIE AND GEORGE RODES, ESQS. : GENTLEMEN ;
You being chosen to represent the people on the west side of Laurel Hill, in Colonial Congress, for the ensuing year, we, the committee for the people aforesaid, desire you will lay the grievances hereafter mentioned before the Congress at their first meeting, as we conceive it highly neces- sary they should be redressed, to put us on a footing with the rest of our brethren in the colony." They complain, first, of having had to supply the soldiers in the last Indian war with their provisions, and thereby hav- ing brought themselves well-nigh to suffering ; second, that the garrison maintained there had to be supported by the inhabitants ; third, "that this country, adjoining the Indian territory and Province of Quebeck," is exposed to the inroads of the savages and the militia of that province, and consequently their civil and religious liberties were in danger ; fourth, that for want of freeholders, they could not get grand juries ; fifth, "that the unsettled boundary between this colony and Pennsylvania is the occasion
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of many disputes "; sixth, that the collecting the duty on skins and furs will banish the Indian trade from this place and colony," which report be- ing agreed to : Resolved, unanimously, That a fair copy be drawn off and delivered to our delegates as their instructions. Ordered that the fore- going proceedings be certified by the clerk of this committee, and pub- lished in the " Virginia Gazette." By order of the committee.
JAMES BERWICK, Clerk.
The delegates from Augusta to the Virginia Convention, which met in Richmond, March 20th, 1765, were Thomas Lewis, Samuel McDowell and John Harvie.
On March 21st, 1775, a letter from the inhabitants of that part of Au- gusta county, which lies to the westward of the Alleghany mountains, de- siring that John Nevill and John Harvie, Esqs., may be admitted into this convention as their delegates, being read ; upon a motion,
Resolved, that the said John Nevill and John Harvie be admitted as delegates for the County of Augusta.
Peyton Randolph was the president and John Tazewell clerk of the Convention
ANA, EXCERPTS, ETC.
All people abhor the character of a spy, moving in friendly garb, how- ever useful his treachery may be to his employers, and will not regret the fate of Tarlton's. One of Tarlton's men crossed the Blue Ridge as a spy in 1781. He was captured near Fishersville on Sunday morning, and taken to Tinkling Spring. The people were plunged into great excite- ment, thinking Tarlton was following on the heels of his scout. The congre- gation was immediately dismissed by the pastor, Mr. Waddell, who ex- horted the people to repair to the mountain and oppose the enemy, offering to lead them himself. The spy was placed in custody of a young man named Long, who volunteered to deliver him to the jailor in Staunton. Cocking his rifle, Long ordered the spy to march before him. When they reached Christian's Creek, Long, who wore moccasins, and who did not wish to wet them, ordered the spy to halt till he could take them off. The prisoner paid no attention to his order, but doggedly kept on. Find- ing he would escape, Long, after warning him in vain, discharged his rifle at and mortally wounded the captive. The wounded man lingered sev- eral days, during which he acknowledged that he belonged to Tarlton's command, and was a spy in search of information.
BURGESS WILSON.
The old Glebe burying-ground (mentioned ante, p. 150,) near to the once Glebe parsonage of Augusta county, is about five miles north of Middlebrook, near the Middle River, and occupies a beautiful site. Among the tablets there is the following :
" Here lys the interred body of Col. Jno. Willson, who departed this life, in the year of our Lord, 1773, in the 72d year of his age, having served his country 27 y'rs a representative in the honorable house of burgesses in Va., &c."
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On the same, below :
" Likewise, the interred body of Martha, his well-beloved wife, who de- parted this life July 10th, 1755, in the LX year of her age."
Col. Willson, who so long served the county, was a member of great weight and influence. He was one of the early Scotch-Irish settlers, and resided on his estate, on Middle River, at the place occupied by his de- scendant, Mathew Willson, Sr., an elder in Bethel church thirty years ago. He was commonly called "Old Burgess Willson," from his long service in the House, and has left many highly respectable descendants in Augusta.
THE CAPTIVE BELLE.
In 1774, the Shawanese commenced their outrages on New River, in Giles, killing and scalping five children of Jno. Lybrook, who were play- ing near the stream. Among the prisoners they made was Mrs. Margaret Hall, who remained in captivity in Ohio until 1794, or eighteen years, until Wayne's victory. She was transferred to the Delawares, where she was adopted into the family of a chief. The Indians were somewhat civ- ilized-had a few cattle, and made butter, fritters and pancakes. Shortly before Mrs. Hall's return home, a young chief fell violently in love with her, and urged his suit, and upon her refusal to marry him, threatened to take her life. Her foster mother used her persuasion in his behalf, and the young squaws congratulated her on the offer. Annoyed, she fled on horseback seventy miles distant, where her foster sister and brother had removed. She was pursued by the young chief, who again told her she must marry him or die. She persisted in her refusal. He made a lunge at her with a knife, when the foster sister threw herself between them, and received a slight wound in the side, the point of the knife striking a rib. The Indian girl seized the knife by the blade, wrenched it from his hand, broke it, and threw the pieces away. A fight ensued, in which the girl proved the conqueror, and drove the savage lover from the field. Her foster brother, who was absent, on his return told her not to be uneasy, denounced the lover, and threatened to kill him if he gave her further an- noyance. The disappointed lover went off and was soon killed in battle.
The following lines, by a native of West Augusta, on Wayne, whose victory, in 1794, resulted in the peace of Greenville, are inserted as a spe- cimen of our early poetry :
" The birth of some great men, or death, Gives a celebrity to spots of earth ; We say that Montcalm fell on Abraham's plain ; That Butler presses the Miami bank ; And that the promontory of Sigeum Has Achilles' tomb. Presqu' Isle saw Wayne expire ; There the traveller shall see his monument ; At least his grave. For this,
27 ±
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Corroding jealousy will not detract ;
But allow a mound-
Some little dwelling of the earth,
To mark the interment of his bones.
Brave, honest soldier, sleep- And let the dews weep over thee,
While gales shall sigh across the lakes ;
Till man shall recognize thy worth,
And coming to the place will ask,
' Is this where Wayne is buried ?' "
CONTINENTAL MONEY.
During the Revolutionary war, Congress issued paper money, called continental money, to carry on the war, for the redemption of which the faith of the colonies was pledged. The dates and amounts of issue are as follows, and its value at certain periods :
1775 .- June 22, issued $2,000,000, and between this time and 1780, $200,000,000 were issued, and none redeemed.
1777 .- January, paper currency 5 per cent. discount ; in July, 25 per cent., and before the end of the year, $3 in paper would not command a silver dollar.
1778 .- April, $4 in paper to one dollar in coin ; September, $5 to one in coin, and December, $6.50 to one in coin.
1779 .- February, $8.50; May, $12; September, $18 to one in coin, and before the close of the year a paper dollar was worth only four cents.
1780 .- March, $1 in paper worth three cents; May, two cents, and in December, $74 in paper was worth one dollar in silver.
A VIRGINIA MATRON.
The patriotic women of the Revolution assisted our heroic men in every possible way, and displayed that enthusiastic courage which great occa- sions will generally find lodged in those bosoms which are the seat of every gentle, every tender feeling, and which ought only to heave with the ten- derest emotions. When the Legislature fled to Staunton, the Governor was the guest of Col. William Lewis, at Fort Lewis. During his first din- ner, His Excellency expressed some uneasiness lest Col. Tarleton might swoop down upon and take them captive. Mrs. Lewis, who was at the head of the table, said, with some animation : " Do not allow yourself, Mr. Governor, to be disturbed by such apprehensions. I have sent my three sons to Rockfish Gap, and Col. Tarleton will never cross the mountains except as a prisoner or corpse."
"At the time Tarleton drove the Legislature from Charlottesville," says Howe, p. 183, "the stillness of the Sabbath eve was broken in the latter town by the beat of the drum, and volunteers were called for to prevent the passage of the British through the mountains. The elder sons of Col. William Lewis, who resided at Fort Lewis, were absent with the northern army. Three sons, however. were at home. whose ages were seventeen.
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fifteen and thirteen years. Col. Lewis was confined to his bed by illness, but his wife, with the firmness of a Roman matron, called them to her and bade them fly to the defence of their native land. "Go, my children," said she; " I spare not my youngest, my fair-haired boy, the comfort of my declining years. I devote you all to my country. Keep back the foot of the invader from the soil of Augusta, or see my face no more." When this incident was related to Washington, shortly after its occurrence, he enthusiastically exclaimed : " Leave me but a banner to plant upon the mountains of Augusta, and I will rally around me the men who will raise our bleeding country from the dust and set her free."
PATRICK HENRY CARRIES THE NEWS OF TARLETON'S RAID TO STAUNTON.
Among the stories told for a long time after the dispersion of the Virginia Legislature by Tarleton, says Gov. Gilmer, was one that Mr. Jefferson concealed himself in Carter's mountain, and another that Patrick Henry, flying to Staunton in the greatest haste, met Col. William Lewis in one of the streets, to whom he immediately related the adjournment and flight of the Legislature, then making their way to Staunton. Col. Lewis, not knowing who Henry was, said to him : " If Patrick Henry had been in Albemarle, the British dragoons never would have passed over the Rivanna river."
A number of gentlemen, fearing Tarleton would capture them, left Staunton, and went, during the night, to the estate of Col. George Moffett, near which they heard there was a cave in which they might conceal them- selves. Breakfast was announced shortly after their arrival, and whilst discharging the duty of hostess, Mrs. Moffett, who was an enthusiastic Whig, remarked there was one member of that legislating body she knew would not run. The question was asked by one of the party, " Who is he?" Her reply was, Patrick Henry. At that moment a gentleman with one boot colored considerably. The party soon left, in search, no doubt, of the caverns. Very soon after their departure, a servant rode up with the lost boot, and inquired for Mr. Henry, stating that Patrick Henry had left Staunton in such haste that he had forgotten the boot. Mrs. Moffett ascertained who it was the boot fit. ' What her emotions and feel- ings then were, I know not, but I suppose Patrick's were, about that time,
"Give me liberty-not death."
MRS. INGLIS' CAPTIVITY AND ESCAPE.
One of the most remarkable incidents in the early wars was the capture of the Draper family. Geo. Draper, with his son. John, and wife, and his daughter, Mary, and her husband, Mr. Inglis, removed about 1750 from Pennsylvania to Southwestern Virginia, and settled where Smithfield, long the seat of the Prestons, now stands, in the present county of Montgomery. Here they resided in peace and quietness for six years, during which time
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many families were drawn to the settlement, and George Draper died, The Shawanese frequently passed the settlement on their expeditions against the Catawbas, but without molesting the inhabitants, till the year 1756. In the summer of this year, they made a descent upon the inhabi- tants while the men were all in the harvest-field. The savages surrounded the dwellings in which were the women and children and arms of the families, murdered the widow of George Draper, and also Col. James Patton, of Augusta, who was on an exploring expedition, and sojourning a few days in the settlement. They took captive Mrs. John Draper, Mrs. Inglis, and her two sons, Thomas and George. The men, believing re- sistance ineffectual, concealed themselves until the departure of the In- dians, who moved off towards New River. Reaching the river, they pro- ceeded down the stream, on their way to their towns in Ohio. They were partial to Mrs. Inglis, whom they allowed to ride on horseback, carrying her two children. Mrs. Draper, who was wounded, and had her arm broken in the attack on the settlement, was less kindly cared for. Mrs. Inglis was permitted to search in the woods for herbs and roots to poul- tice the wounds of Mrs. Draper, the Indians trusting to her love for her children for her speedy return. She thus had opportunities of escaping, but would never avail herself of them, and leave her children behind. On reaching the Kanawha salines, the Indians halted several days to make salt. About thirty days after leaving Montgomery, the party reached the Shawanese town at the mouth of the Big Scioto. Here the kindness of the Indians for Mrs. Inglis continued. She was not required to run the gauntlet, as was Mrs. Draper, though her wound was unhealed. When the captives were divided, Mrs. Inglis was separated from her sons. About this time, some French traders from Detroit came to the village, and Mrs. Inglis exercised her skill in making shirts of gaudy-colored calico for the savages, which greatly delighted them, and increased their admira- tion for her. After some time, probably six weeks, Mrs. Inglis was sepa- rated from Mrs. Draper, and taken, with an elderly Dutch woman, one hundred miles south of the Ohio to Big Bone Lick, to make salt. The cruelty of the savages, in thus separating her from her children, deter- mined her to escape. She prevailed upon the Dutch woman to accom- pany her. Obtaining permission from the Indians to go in the woods to gather grapes, they left the camp in the afternoon, provided with a blanket each, a tomahawk and knife. They hastened to the Ohio, and proceeded up the left bank of the stream for five days to the mouth of the Scioto, opposite the site of an Indian village. Here they captured a horse, and both mounting, continued up the river unperceived. Being on the south side of the river, they were less exposed to observation by the Indians. The barbarians, missing them, made diligent search, but finding no trail, and never dreaming of such a thing as an attempt of the women to return
4
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HISTORY OF AUGUSTA COUNTY.
to Virginia, gave up the pursuit, under an impression that they had be- come lost and been devoured by wild beasts. The fugitives continued up the river, subsisting on maize and wild fruit, and reached the Big Sandy river. In crossing the stream, they lost their horse. Their sufferings were so great before reaching the Kanawha, that the Dutch woman, frantic with hunger and pain, threatened to take Mrs. Inglis' life for persuading her to the journey. On reaching the Kanawha, their spirits revived, and they continued up the river until within fifty miles of Mrs. I.'s home. Here the Dutch woman attempted to kill Mrs. I. Mrs. Inglis escaped from her grasp, and outran her, and hid under the river bank. After a while, she left her concealment, and finding a canoe, crossed the stream. The fol- lowing morning the old woman saw hier, and begged her to recross and join company, promising future good behavior. Mrs. I. declined the invi- tation, and proceeded on her journey. Her clothes were worn and torn into fragments and her limbs swollen from the increasing cold (a slight fall of snow having taken place) and her exposure in wading streams, &c. After traveling forty-and-a-half days, she reached the cabin of Adam Har- mon, on New River, and was treated in the kindest manner. After a few days rest, Mr. H. took her on horseback to the fort in Dunkard's bottom, where, the next day, her husband and her brother, John Draper, came unexpectedly. The surprise of the meeting was mutual and happy. Thus ended the captivity and escape, embracing five months. While at Harmon's, Mrs. Inglis entreated him to go or send for the old Dutch woman. He positively refused, on account of her bad conduct, but in a short time the wanderer found her way into the settlement.
In the Spring, Mr. Inglis, his wife being unwilling to live longer on the frontier, removed to Vause's fort, on the Roanoke, and thence to Botetourt county. This was providential, for in the following Autumn a French and Indian force took the fort and murdered or made prisoners of all the in- mates. Among the killed and captured were John and Mathew Inglis and their families. John Inglis was killed, and Mathew taken prisoner. Mary and William Inglis had six children,-Thomas and George, born before the captivity, Susan, Rhoda, Polly and John afterwards. George died in captivity. The other five married and left large families. Thomas escaped from the Indians after thirteen years' residence among them. He was, in 1774, at the battle of Point Pleasant, and after the victory and Lewis' ad- vance into Ohio, met many of his old savage comrades. On his return he married Miss Ellen Grills, and settled on Wolf creek, a water of New river. Here he lived a short time, and then removed to Burke's Garden, where he was unmolested till 1782. In this year, the Indians attacked his house and burnt it, and took his family prisoners. They were soon pur- sued by the whites, who on the seventh day overtook the savages. As soon as the Indians saw Mr. Inglis and the whites they commenced, as was
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HISTORY OF AUGUSTA COUNTY.
their custom, tomahawking their prisoners. Mr. Inglis rushed forward to rescue his wife and children, but was too late. All were tomahawked and all died but his wife. In the affair, Capt. Maxwell was killed. William Inglis removed to Tennessee, and thence to Mississippi. Susan, the eldest daughter of William and Mary Inglis, married General Trigg; another daughter, Mr. Charles Taylor ; and a third, Judge Allan Taylor, whose daughter, Sallie A. E. Taylor, married, in 1826, the late Col. William Madison Peyton, of Roanoke. Polly Inglis married a brother of John's wife. The youngest son left eight children. Mrs. Inglis died in 1813, aged eighty-four. Her descendants are numerous, highly respectable, and contemplate with wonder and admiration her energy, boldness and en- durance.
CHAPTER XIII.
On the 14th of December, 1790, the counties of Bath and Pendleton were formed from Augusta, and the latter was left with her present bound- aries. Here, probably, it might be thought our work should close-that of a county so limited in extent and population as Augusta now is no- thing remained to be said. This is not the case. The county has not been barren of historical interest the past ninety years. In point of size, too, Augusta, as she now stands, exceeds the celebrated island of Ithaca, which was part of the Kingdom of Greece, and long the residence of Ulysses, whose adventures, on his return to it from the Trojan war, form the sub- ject of Homer's Odyssey.
The officers of the county, in 1790, were gentlemen justices William Bowyer, Thomas Hughart, Joseph Bell, John Wilson, J. Bell, jun., Robert Gamble, David Stephenson, William Moffett, Alexander Nelson, James Berry, John Tate, Alexander St. Clair, Robert Douthat, Charles Cameron, James Searight, James Ramsey and William McPheeters. Clerk, A. McClenechan. The county court system, which originated in Virginia as early as 1623-'4, was not materially changed by the Revolution as to its jurisdiction or general powers and duties.
Under this system, John Coalter was Attorney for the Commonwealth
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HISTORY OF AUGUSTA COUNTY.
until 1809, when he resigned the office in order to accept the position of judge of the general court of Virginia, to which he was elected. Chap- man Johnson was his successor, and served until 1812, when John H. Pey- ton was elected, and discharged the duties of the office until 1844, when he resigned from ill-health. Thomas J. Michie was then elected, and served until 1851, when William H. Harman was appointed and served until 1861, when James Bumgardner received the appointment and con- tinues in office. In 1809, the clerk of the county was Jacob Kinney, who was succeeded by Erasmus Stribling, who, in 1828, was succeeded by Jef- ferson Kinney, who was succeeded, in 1858, by J. D. Imboden, and he, in 1864, by William A. Burnett, who has been reelected every six years to the present time.
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