USA > Virginia > Frederick County > Frederick County > Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia. > Part 16
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This address was signed by P. Henry, Rich- ard Henry Lee, Benjamin Harrison, Thos. Jefferson, John Dickinson, Geo. Ross, B. Franklin, Jas. Wilson and Charles Humphreys. dated Philadelphia, July 25th, 1775.
This patriotic effort failed to quiet the claims of the border people; but the love of country drew their attention to the impending conflict between the colonies,-now States, and England; and the disputed claims were allowed to rest until the close of the great Revolution: of which, more anon.
Returning to the treaty effected by Dunmore at Camp Charlotte, on the Ohio River, the Gov- ernor immediately set out for Williamsburg, the seat of Government, leaving behind him Cresap and Connolly bitter enemies-each bent upon the overthrow of the other. Genl. Lewis, chagrined at the domineering conduct of the Governor, who showed no appreciation of the terrible sac- rifices made by the Point Pleasant heroes, obeyed the order to return to Greenbrier and there dis- band his forces.
Of the treaty something should be said: The principal chiefs and warriors assembled in grand council, to consider Dunmore's offers. Many were sullen, and not disposed to yield to Long Knives, as they called the White commander. Cornstalk, the Shawanese Chief and acknowledg-
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ed King of the Northern Confederacy, had given his word that peace could be effected with his people. He had in battle given his orders, which were implicitly obeyed; but in this council, his warrior tribes had to be dealt with by argument; and being gifted with eloquence, he had great power over them. One of Dunmore's staff of- ficers, Col. Richard Willson, in his interesting history of the Dunmore expedition, speaking of the august attitude of the great chief, pending the many discussions of the articles of peace, says: "I have heard the first orators in Virginia, Patrick Henry and R. H. Lee, but never have I heard one whose power of delivery surpassed that of Cornstalk."
Cornstalk succeeded in obtaining consent from nearly all the tribes of his confederacy. The other chief, of equal renown, was Logan. He refused to leave his tent to take part in the peace proceedings-He had no faith in the bor- der White settlers. He believed they were bent upon the complete overthrow and destruction of the Indian-He had agreed to more than one treaty, broken by the Whites. Their villages had been destroyed, and many peaceable men of his tribe had been recently murdered; and he was sore in heart. The loss of his forest home, to be taken by the White stranger, his kindred all killed. No wonder that he hesitated to enter into treaty with the same people. The Governor knew the importance of securing this Chief's assent to the peace settlement; and com- missioned several of his officers to visit Logan in his tent and use every effort to have him come before the council. He declared he would not oppose the treaty made by Dunmore, but refused to meet the Whites in council. We are indebted to one of these officers for preserving an incident in this warrior's life, that gave him more fame, perhaps, than any other Redman ever attained, for the pathetic picture he drew of the Race and their traits. It will be remem- bered that it has been shown that the Tribes composing this Northern Confederacy, spoke a language that had become somewhat familiar to the Colonists. So we need not be surprised to learn from one of these officers, that Logan impressed him so much with his statement of the wrongs he had suffered from the White man in his onward march westward, and what he had offered to the friendly settler when he went his way, that they understood every word he uttered, and gave his speech in his reports of the treaty.
Mr. Jefferson, the gifted orator of Virginia, in his celebrated notes on the Indian Wars, speaking of his treaty, says: "I may challenge the whole orations of Demosthenes and Cicero,
and of any more eminent orators, if Europe has furnished more eminent, to produce a single passage superior to it." Doubtless this oration has often been repeated by the reader, when a school boy; and here it is to remind him of an era he may have forgotten :
"I appeal to any White to say if he ever en- tered Logan's cabin hungry, and he gave him not meat; if ever he came cold and naked, and he clothed him not. During the course of the last long and bloody war, Logan remained idle in his cabin, an advocate for peace. Such was my love for the Whites, that my countrymen pointed as they passed and said: 'Logan is the friend of the White man.' I had even thought to live with you, but for the injuries of one man. Colonel Cresap the last Spring, in cold blood and unprovoked, murdered all the relations of Logan, not even sparing my women and chil- dren. There runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of any living creature. This called on me for revenge. For my country I rejoice at the beams of peace; but do not harbor a thought that mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan; not one."
it is a matter of history that the two distin- guished warriors mentioned, were faithful to the terms of the treaty, though some writers charge them with treachery and a return to deeds of butchery. This is not sustained by facts.
We have traditional history to acquaint us with their lives during the next three years; but it is not of material interest to relate. They were friendly with the Whites, and lived on peaceful terms with all the border people. Corn- stalk often related how the warlike tribes were in a state of discontent, and felt that the Whites were disregarding the terms of the treaty, and claimed that his powerful tribe, the Shawanese, were not disposed to redress their wrongs ex- cept by the mode the treaty provided. It must be remembered that the country was on the threshold of the Revolutionary War. England held the captured army posts lying beyond the Chillicothe Indian villages, all manned with reg- ular British troops. She had viewed with anxiety the spirit of independence manifested in the colonies; and hoping to allay this spirit, encour- aged the discontented Indians to resist encroach- ments made along the border, principally along the Ohio River settlements. So when the spring of 1777 came, the Indians were looking to the British officers for help; and refused to further treat with the colonists. Cornstalk viewed this state of affairs in the Indian encampments, with so much uneasiness, that he and Red Hawk visited the Point Pleasant Post, then held by the
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Virginians under Capt. Arbuckle, an old Indian fighter who had been the celebrated guide for Genl. Lewis's expedition three years previous. Cornstalk told the Captain that all the nations had joined the English except himself and the Shawanese, and that unless they were protected by the Whites, "they would have to swim with the stream." Capt. Arbuckle blundered in his decision. He determined not to allow Corn- stalk and his friends to return, but held them as hostages for the good conduct of his power- ful tribe. This was unfortunate: Cornstalk felt that the post had violated the rules of war. They came with good intentions, and he virtu- ally as the accredited agent for his tribe; and he should have been allowed safe return; and more than likely the friendly relations might have been maintained; and the influence of this powerful tribe on the other nations, might have resulted in beneficial changes in the next few years. It was natural that the Shawanese peo- ple grew anxious when their chief and his peo- ple failed to return. His son and two young warriors grew suspicious, and came to the op- posite side of the river; and the son succeeded in attracting the attention of some of the garri- son who rowed over and brought the son over to see his father. He too was made a prisoner upon his arrival at the Fort; and it is related that Cornstalk then said he had been betrayed; and if the Whites desired to kill him, to do so; that he was not afraid to die. To be fair in this statement concerning the affair, it must be mentioned that the two warriors who remained on the other side of the river, killed a man named Gilmore, a returning hunter from the Indian reservation. His body was found and brought over to the Fort. Then the cry was heard: "Let us kill the Indians in the Fort." The party was led by one, Capt. Hall, a man who had boasted of his triumphs in many per- sonal encounters with Indians. They rushed into the fort and poured deadly volleys upon the un- protected and helpless Cornstalk and his six com- panions. This was no triumph for Hall to boast of. More than once has his name been men- tioned in condemnation of the man who insti- gated the cold-blooded murder of a warrior, far superior to himself in prowess of arms, as well as honor. This brilliant Indian warrior had in more than one foray, other than regular war- fare, been the leader in atrocious massacres of innocent settlements in the great Valley and the mountains; but we must remember, this mode of savage warfare was practiced to overcome the Whites and drive them back from their hunting grounds, as well as to glut their ven- geance. Their grievances were hard; and fear- fully did this chieftain avenge them; tragically
did he atone for his misdeeds. It may be added that Logan met a similar fate at the hands of trusted friends later on. These occurrences clos- ed the friendly relations between the two races that had existed for about three years; and the Indians became the useful allies of the British wherever they could be used to harrass the colonies. The dusky warrior was once more in the field so attractive to him. All their nat- ural instincts were for war. But the Indian wars with the Colonies that had been ruthlessly conducted for nearly thirty years, had now ceas- ed; and the war of the Revolution was upon the war-stricken Valley.
The Author has already taken too much space to show the connection of the Valley people with the celebrated Indian Wars; and realizes that he has left untold many interesting and historic incidents of the great struggle for supremacy between the two races, in his meagre account of the general engagements. Later on he will recount more fully some of the Indian battles and massacres, in which the names of the vic- tims may be given, and also the habits and cus- toms prevailing among the Redmen of the Eighteenth Century.
Having previously shown the trials, privations and losses to the Shenandoah Valley settlements, in their struggles to make good their gradual conquest of territory from Indian tribes; doubt- less the reader will conclude that warfare was the prime feature in the life of the first set- tlers; and having apparently returned to their peaceful avocations, that they were content to know war no more. But their history reveals them as ever alert to redress a wrong, coming from whatsoever source; and we are prepared to accept what has been told of their readiness to investigate the grievances complained of against their own government. Strange rumors were afloat concerning the situation around Wil- liamsburg. The Royal Governor of Virginia had for some time been regarded with suspicion. His actions along the Ohio border were well remem- bered; and it was known that he had determined to oppress and overawe the colonists, and force them to submit to increasing demands made by the Crown. Dunmore knew the discontent en- gendered by the act of the British Parliament in 1764, taxing certain articles imported for Am- erican consumption, and disapproved by them. They regarding it as a tax without their consent. The Colonies grew indignant, but no act of re- bellion occurred. Dunmore was preparing for any move made by the Virginians. In the fol- lowing year when the celebrated Stamp Act was passed, a general revolt of the Americans was disclosed. Virginia in the most pronounced man-
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ner, declared her position through the Patrick Henry resolutions, which were supported with such fervor and zeal by the distinguished men who composed the General Assembly, that their adoption became a matter of warning to the British Crown. The people of Virginia were anxious to avoid a conflict, and seemed unwill- ing to declare any intention that could be con- strued into a desire to become independent of the mother government. England misconstrued this apparent loyalty; and believed that the Colo- nies through fear of chastisement and oppres- sion, would never resort to arms to defend their rights. And, aside from this, the Royal Govern- ors were loyal to the Crown, and could keep in subjection those who were inclined to rebel. Be- ing thus deceived, England was led to commit the overt act, when her Parliament adopted the notorious Boston Port Bill, and prepared to enforce the collection of the tariff tax on the cargoes of tea then afloat in that harbor. Then it was that the fires of Rebellion were kindled in every hamlet. The Continental Congress in 1776, as it is well known, declared for Indepen- dence; and the call went out for volunteers to defend their action; and thus the old Valley was again drawn into a war that taxed their patriot- ism as well as their resources. How they re- sponded will be shown later. We must follow the Virginia Governor; and see if he developed the infamous traits of character that Genl. Lewis and his followers had charged. Dunmore acting in concert with Genl. Gage, who was in command at Boston in the spring of 1775, by strategem undertook to carry out the order sent him by Genl. Gage; and the reader need not be surprised that the trusted messenger was Con- nolly of the Dunmore War notoriety. The object was to secure all the gunpowder in the Virginia col- ony, and thus prevent the colonists from supply- ing the soldiers who might arise in rebellion; so that without ammunition, they could be sup- pressed. Accordingly, the Governor contrived to have several English war-ships in easy call: One was sent up York River and anchored near Williamsburg. On the 20th of April, 1775, Dun- more seized the powder. This was done in the night. The English ship's captain with an army of soldiers marched from the landing over to Williamsburg and easily secured every keg of powder in the magazine and carried them to his ship. The next day, the Governor was openly charged with connection with the scheme; and to escape vengeance, answered that he feared an uprising of the slaves and was preparing for such an emergency. The people soon realized the extent of his dastardly work, and were aroused from mountain to sea. The volunteer companies hastened towards Williamsburg. Pat-
rick Henry at the head of one body of men, boldly marched upon the Governor and offered him battle unless he returned the powder. To avoid a conflict, the Governor offered money in lieu of powder, which was accepted. He then had troops to land from the ships, to come and guard his palace. The Virginians never halted. They were there for revenge; and the Governor, being a coward, fled from the scene of his re- cent perfidy and the palace where he had lived in regal splendor for years; and with his fam- ily hastened aboard one of the English ships, and with other ships that he gathered from the Chesapeake Bay, sailed into the Norfolk port, a town of about 7,000 people. From that point he sent messengers through the surround- ing country, to urge the negroes to insurrection, and aid him to destroy the rebellious population. Many slaves joined his army. His wanton de- struction of property and brutal treatment of helpless citizens revealed his true character. A battle was fought at a place called Great Bridge; and after a desperate fight, the English fell back to Norfolk. The Governor was compelled to seek shelter in his ships once more. The Vir- ginians fired upon the ships. Dunmore then fired upon the town, which resulted in the total de- struction of the beautiful little seaboard city. Dunmore then sailed away to become a terror to other towns along the Chesapeake. He once sailed up the Potomac as far as Mount Vernon. After several other battles with the Colonial troops along certain shores, he sailed away with his fleet, carrying much plunder, and, as has been said by several historians, took with him about one thousand of the poor deluded slaves and sold them to the West Indies' planters. His case seems fully proven. His infamy and treach- ery to the Virginians was complete; and as al- ready stated, the Old Dominion did what she could to obliterate his name from her records, leaving only enough to tell of his double dealing.
Had Dunmore forsaken his Royal master and been true to the Virginia Colony, he would have been her largest land owner. He had procured grants of land in many sections for many thous- and acres. He had five tracts in Hampshire County, viz .: 400 acres on both sides of North River and Great Ca-Capon; 229 on Little Capon, 100 on Short Mountain; 284 on drains of South Branch; 129 on South Branch on the Great Wagon Road. These tracts were regarded as vacant after the Revolutionary War, and titles given to actual settlers. The 400 acres, after frequent changes, finally became the property of John A. Smith of Capon Bridge in 1879. In one of the deeds from Fairfax, he says: "This is one of the tracts surveyed by George Washing- ton," lying on East side of North River.
CHAPTER XVI
Gleanings from the Old Courts, Succeeding the Revolutionary War
In the preceding chapters relating to the wars, which terminated with American independence for the colonies, it is appropriate in this chapter to once more refer to the court proceedings and place in evidence the prompt recognition of the valued services of some of the old soldiers of the colonial period,-we do this to not only give the names of those recognized, but also to give dates of court orders as a reference where, by diligent search, others may be found not named in this limited list. It was during the Indian Wars that the General Assembly appointed Genl. James Wood, Capt. John Hite and Robert Ruth- erford, commissioners for Frederick County, to settle the accounts of troops for their services in the Colonial Wars and to persons for damages done by the Indians, and for supplies furnished the Continental Line Soldiers. A list was partly made and submitted to the Court; but before their work was completed, Col. Wood died. This list was not fully taken up until after peace was declared, though a few cases were considered during the Revolutionary War. We find this mat- ter taken up by the Court in 1788, when these and similar minutes appear at different Terms for several years :
"Lieut. Col. George Muse is allowed pay for services in the Ist Va. Regiment prior to 1758."
"James Jack allowed pay in Colonial Wars prior to 1758."
"James MaGill, allowed pay in Colonial Wars prior to 1758."
"Sept. 7, 1779, Francis Austin proved he was a Sergeant in the Ist Old Ills. Regiment."
"Rebecca Shanks, wife of Samuel Shanks, a soldier, is with two children allowed 25 pounds for her support for the ensuing year."
At the Court held in 1780, old minutes con- tained the following, that may prove of suffi- cient interest to some reader as to induce him to examine those old records for traces of his ancestors. The minute submitted is to show what was required by the Virginia laws to obtain proof of services in the Continental Line and Colonial Wars :
"Feby. 2, 1780, David Kennerly proved in Court his military service in Continental Army; was Quartermaster in Light Horse Troop in the
Company of Capt. Robert Stewart in 1755, and was commissioner under Dr. Thomas Walker to the Troop on the Va. frontier; in 1758 was Q. M. to Va. Regiment commanded by Col. George Washington, and also Ensign; and in 1762 served in Regiment command by Col. Adam Stephen; appointed Lieut. and served as Q. M. and asked for certificate for obtaining a Land Warrant."
"March 8, 1780, Adam Stephen appeared in Court; made oath that in 1754 he was appointed eldest Capt. in Col. Fry's Corps, and that upon death of Col. Fry, he was promoted to rank a Major in said Corps, and was at the battle of the Meadows : and with Genl. Braddock as Lieut .- Col. of The Virginia Regiment. and served un- der Col. Washington and then under Col. Bird; and was in command of the Regt. in the Spring of 1762 when disbanded, and has had no land except the 5,000 acres gotten by the King's pro- clamation of 1763."
"March 8, 1780, Gabriel Throckmorton proved he was Sr. Lieut. in Col. Byrd's Regiment in 1758, and that in 1759 served as Captain in Bat- talion commanded by Col. Peachy, for protec- tion of the frontier, and had never received but 3,000 acres." (The old warriors placed high es- timates on their service, or very low on the thousands of acres they received as Indian fighters.)
At the same Court, "James McCallister proved that in May, 1763, he was a Lieut. in the Penn. Regiment, and served during the French War, and produced his commission under the hand of James Hamilton, Lieut. Gov. of Pennsylvania ; and that he is an inhabitant of Virginia and has been for four years past."
"George Rice proved that he had served as Captain on Staff in Brigade of the Pack-Horse War in Col. Boquet's expedition in 1756 to the westward, in the late War between Great Britain and France."
"James Anderson proved he was Captain of the Jersey Blues in 1756 commanded by Col. Johnston, and that he has been an inhabitant of this State for the eight years past."
"Daniel Hunsicker proved that in the year 1763 he served as Lieut. in Col. French's Penn.
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Regiment, and that he is now an inhabitant of Virginia."
"Mary Beatty whose husband is a soldier in the Colonial Army and has three children and unable to support them-is allowed 5 bushels of corn and 50 lbs. of bacon."
"Nov. 2, 1779, on motion of Major Genl. Chas. M. Lee, it is certified that he served as a Lieut. in the British Army in America in the year 1755. (Note: This was the Genl. Lee who be- came Washington's enemy. Of him we will fur- ther speak.)
"Sarah Mounts, widow of Richard Mounts, a soldier in the Continental Line, allowed pen- sion."
"Francis Austin, Sergeant in the first Old Reg- iment, assigned his interest to Bryan Bruin."
Feby. 29, 1780, we have a soldier receiving the attention of the Court: James Lane, arraigned for stealing a sum of money was adjudged guil- ty-and that the prisoner (being a soldier) be taken to the Public Whipping Post, and that the Sheriff do there give him thirty-nine lashes on his bare back, and Roland Baker, his accom- plice, for like reason be given the same punish- ment. These soldiers escaped a worse fate through the leniency of the stern Justices."
"March 18, 1780, Christopher Fry proved he was a non-commissioned officer in 1756, and served in Col. Byrd's Regiment."
"April, 1785, William McMullin proved that his son John was a soldier in the Continental Line, and died in service, and never married- was allowed pay, etc."
"John Smith, James Smallwood and George Calames-allowances made for flour, etc., for use of the troops, and to Isaac Hite for one horse."
"Charles Magill and Francis Whiting qualified as attorneys at law."
"Jany. 1786, Edward McGuire, President Jus- tice, was recommended by the Court as appoint- ment for Sheriff."
The minutes of the Court from 1781 to 1784 contain similar orders.
"Nov. Court, 1784, Joseph Holmes produced his commission as Lieut. Col., and at the May Court, 1785, was sworn as Sheriff."
"June Ct., 1785, Isaac Hite Jr., sworn as Major. "Nov., 1784. John Kercheval Jr., and Samuel Kercheval and Wm. Taylor sworn as Deputy Sheriffs."
1788-89 Minute Books of County Court.
"Ordered, That the Sheriff pay to Andrew Dent eight pounds, it being the amount of his Pension the last year, agreeable to a certificate from, under the hand and seal of his Excellency the Governor,-he having made oath according to law."
"Ordered that it be certified that Mary Cook, a pensioner, continues an inhabitant of this County and in indigent circumstances, and the widow of Wm. Cook, deceased."
"Ordered that the Sheriff do pay unto Leonard Cooper the sum of Fifty Pounds, it being the amount of his pension the last year."
"Ordered that the Sheriff do pay unto George Hite the sum of Forty Pounds, it being the amount of his pension the last year."
"Ordered that the Sheriff do pay to Catherine Helphinstine the sum of Twenty Pounds in full for two years Pension due to her on the 12th day of June last, 1788, as per certificate."
"Ordered that it be certified that Catherine Helphinstine a pensioner, is still living in this County, in indigent circumstances and continues a widow."
"Ordered that the Sheriff do pay unto Robt. Sherrard, agt., of John Wilson and Francis Wil- son, Orphans of John Wilson, deceased, the sum of Twenty Pounds, it being the amount of their Pension the last year."
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