USA > West Virginia > Greenbrier County > Frankford > Sesqui-centennial of Frankfort, Mineral County, West Virginia : July 29, 30, 31, 1938, Fort Ashby, West Virginia, 1787-1938 > Part 2
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The seven years from 1754 to 1761 brought horror and almost com- plete desolation to the entire section. Killbuck organized the Shawnees and other warrior tribes on the Ohio, and set up a "death claim" to every foot of ground west of the Ohio. The Indians began their depredations
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by lurking around the settlements, murdering, or taking captive the families along the trails, or attacking the men at work in their fields. Following Braddock's defeat at Fort Duquesne they grew more and more bold, and it began to appear as though they would murder or take captive every family in the Patterson Creek and South Branch val- leys.
The House of Burgesses convened and voted 40,000 pounds ($200,000), and authorized the raising of an army of 1,000 men.
Governor Dinwiddie, no doubt, greatly influenced by the peo- ple, gave Washington a commission as colonel, and made him command- er-in-chief of the forces to be raised in Virginia for protecting the front- ier.
It was not Washington's idea to build a chain of forts. He urged Governor Dinwiddie and the Virginia Assembly to concentrate all forces and make sufficient appropriations, and raise enough troops to march at once to the head of the Ohio, destroy Fort Duquesne and end the war. Little could be accomplished, he argued, by trying to fortify the frontiers or by fighting the savages after they had ravaged the settlements. For, said he:
"Unless we remove the cause, we shall be liable to the same incursions seven years hence as now, if the war continues and the enemy is allowed to remain on the Ohio."
The plans Washington submitted were rejected. His argument was considered wholly unpractical by the Virginia and British authorities. Governor Dinwiddie recommended the building of a chain of forts at strategic points along the border of the Allegheny settlements, from the head of the Potomac to the Holston River, and appointed "A Council of War" who were to assist in carrying out the Act of the Assembly in speci- fying the direction of the chain and location of the principal forts.
The Patterson Creek and South Branch Valley settlements, being on the extreme frontier, and exposed to the direct attacks of all the In- dians who crossed the mountains were the first to be fortified.
Washington gave orders that two forts be erected on the east side of Patterson Creek. Fort Sellers, at the mouth of the creek, was the first to be built. Fort Ashby, five miles south, was erected a few days later. An officer and 30 men were placed at Fort Sellers to guard the settlers and supplies stored there. On Christmas Day, 1755, Captain Charles Lewis, of Fredericksburg, with a garrison of 21 men took charge of Fort Ashby. Washington's orders were that this fort must never be surrend- ered. In case of attack they were to defend it to the last extremity, and when bereft of hope, lay a train to blow up the fort, and retire by night to Fort Sellers or Fort Cumberland.
The fort was never surrendered, but on August 4, 1755, we find Washington writing to Governor Dinwiddie, indignantly denouncing "the passive behaviour" of officers in charge of some of the troops. He says:
"I have no doubt that you have ere this heard of the defeat of Lieutenant Rutherford of the Rangers, escorting an express to me at Fort Cumberland, and of the dastardly behaviour of the militia, who ran off without one-half of them having discharged their pieces, although they were apprised of the ambuscade by
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one of the flanking parties before the Indians fired upon them; and ran back to Ashby's Fort, contrary to orders, persuasions, and threats.
"They are all ordered in, as soon as the people have secured their harvest. Those of King George and Carolina Counties are already here. The rest I expect shortly.
"Through the passive behaviour of their officers they are very refractory."
It was, however, directly after this siege, and Rutherford's cowardly retreat, that the incident occurred which gave the fort it's name:
Among marauding parties hanging around the fort was an unusually tall, long-legged Indian, whom the English nicknamed "The Crane." This Indian, for some unknown reason, held a personal grudge against Captain John Ashby, and was determined to kill or capture him. "The Crane's opportunity came one day when he discovered the Captain un- armed some distance from the fort. Ashby fled for his life, the Indian close behind. But the fleet-footed Crane found himself no match for the frightened captain. Finally he gave up in disgust, yelling, "Run, Jack Ashby, run!" To which the captain angrily replied, "You fool, what do you think I'm doing?"
Indian depredations continued for more than two years, and during this time Washington had succeeded, by means which seem almost mir- aculous, in erecting, partially equipping, and manning around three hun- dred forts. Historians tell us that more than one hundred forts were built on what is now West Virginia border, but we have accurate knowl- edge of only twenty-three that were built under Washington's supervis- ion.
But numerous as the forts were they were inadequate to afford se- curity to the settlers. Settlement after settlement was raided and de- stroyed until in the Fall of 1758 the only settlers that remained through- out the entire section of what is now Mineral and Hampshire Counties were in the immediate neighborhoods of Fort Ashby on Patterson's Creek and of Fort Pearsall ,on the present site of Romney in Hampshire County.
Washington grew desperate. From his numerous letters to Gov- ernor Dinwiddie we have an insight into the character of the man that can be gotten from no other source. His work is more than an obliga- tion imposed upon him by the Governor's commission. These poor, suf- fering people of the frontier are his people, and in his heart he virtually becomes their guardian.
Governor Dinwiddie and the Virginia Council did not understand the situation, and Lord Loudoun, the British Commander-in-Chief, had never visited Virginia and had no accurate knowledge of border condi- tions. Orders which Washington received were often inconsistent and confusing. Particularly was this true of the Governor's determination to reinforce Fort Cumberland and to evacuate all the stockade forts on the Branch. This he knew would mean that all the settlements would be abandoned. Writing to John Robinson, Speaker of the House of Bur- gesses, (December 19, 1756) he says:
"Surely his Honor and the Council are not fully acquainted with the situation and circumstances of the unhappy frontiers,
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thus to expose so valuable a tract as the Branch in order to sup- port a fortification, in itself of very little importance to the in- habitants or the Colony. The former order of the Council would have endangered not only the loss of Fort Loudoun, the stores and Winchester, but a general removal of the settlers of this vale, even to the Blue Ridge. This last has the same object in view, namely, Fort Cumberland and, to maintain it, the best lands of Virginia are laid open to the mercy of a cruel and in- human enemy. My strongest representations of matters rela- tive to the peace of the frontiers are disregarded as idle and frivolous; my propositions and measures are partial and selfish, and my sincerest endeavors for the service of my country are perverted to the worst purposes."
Not long after this Lord Loudoun was recalled to England and Wil- liam Pitt, a man of fine common sense, and splendid executive ability became Prime Minister. Under his able administration affairs in Amer- ica took on a decided change.
Substantial military forces were sent to America, and General Forbes immediately recognized Colonel Washington as the only man who un- derstood the situation, and asked him to make a map of the line of march, and to formulate for him a suggestive scheme for conducting an expeditionary force of 4,000 men into the Ohio Valley
At last here was a man who was ready to accept the plans of this young Virginian. And in 1754, Washington at the head of the expedi- tion, moved out toward the Ohio, with the intent of waging the long urged offensive, and the capture of Fort Duquesne.
Finding it necessary to make a new road through the wilderness the expedition was forced to advance slowly. And while they were wrestling with the wilderness Colonel Bradstreet made his notable dash across Lake Ontario, captured Fort Fontenac, and cut off the forces in charge of the fort, and before General Forbes reached the locality had burned the fort and retreated.
General Forbes ordered the fort rebuilt and named it Fort Pitt, (now Pittsburgh). Two hundred Virginians were left in charge of the garri- son, and Washington returned with the expedition to Virginia, confident now that border troubles were at an end.
But Fort Ashby continued to serve as a haven of safety for the settlers on Patterson's Creek until after the Revolution and later Indian Wars, (1775-1795).
Richly significant is the fact that the only surviving fort, south of the Potomac, is located in the section that suffered more than any other from Indian depredations, and around which many of the most thrill- ing stories of border warfare are woven.
The old stockade was purchased by the Potomac Valley Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, on July 28, 1927. On February 5, 1935, the D. A. R.'s presented and deeded the fort to the Mineral Coun- ty Court, upon condition that the court would restore the old structure to its original condition.
During the coming years many people will journey to Fort Ashby and looking upon this memorial of the heroic struggles and dauntless courage of their forefathers will be grateful to the organizations and persons who have helped to restore and preserve it.
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With the restoration of peace, 1761, the settlers turned to rebuilding their homes. The rapid settlement of the country which the Indians had halted, quickly revived. Numerous land grants and voluminous records covering this period indicate a general influx of settlers. During the next ten years the Patterson Creek area became widely known as one of the choicest agricultural sections of Western Virginia. The forests, which had so recently been the scene of stealthy redskin warriors, were converted into broad fields of corn, wheat, and tobacco.
Again, however, this period of peace, expansion and renewed hope, was halted by lowering clouds of strife. Dunmore's War broke like an unexpected hurricane upon the western frontier, and marauding bands of Indians which invaded Hampshire County, sent the horror-stricken inhabitants scurrying back to the forts.
The Revolution which soon followed, 1775-1783, brought much suf- fering to these people. When the call was made for volunteers to join the forces of General Hand, and march against the Indian allies of Great Britain, on the Ohio, General William Forman gathered a com- pany of Hampshire County men and marched with them to Wheeling. His troops met the Indians at McMechen Narrows, and were caught in an ambuscade, and defeated. Captain Foreman and his two sons, to- gether with seventeen other men, were killed; among these were Samuel Johnson, John Wilson, and William Lynn, from Patterson Creek. News of the disaster brought mourning to many homes and cast a shadow i of sorrow over the entire settlement.
A few months later Captain Michael Cresap of Old Town, Maryland, came into this section and organized a Company of riflemen. They marched to Boston and engaged in several skirmishes. Captain Cresap returned with them to New York, where he died and was buried. The men in this Company from Frankfort were, William Powell, George Miller, William Johnson, Peter Ashby, Thomas Williams, John Paugh, Wagoner, - Pew, and Harris.
And though the British Army never invaded this section, and there were no battles fought in what is now Mineral County, it is said that there was not a battle of the Revolution in which some of these inen were not engaged.
At the close of the Revolution the Fairfax lands were confiscated by the State of Virginia and thrown open to the public. Those who owned Fairfax grants were given clear titles to their property, and others were encouraged to buy at attractive prices. Home-seekers and speculators flocked into the region. There began a period of growth and develop- ment such as hitherto had been unknown.
A fair idea of who these early settlers were is given us by the list of the first census of Hampshire County, 1782. Abraham Johnson, Gent., was appointed to list the "tithables" in the Patterson Creek District. His list shows that there were ninety-eight heads of families and six hundred and twenty-two inhabitants living in the Patterson Creek Valley at this early date.
Many of the most outstanding men and women in our nation today will find the names of their forebears listed among the honored mem- bers of the vanguard who carved homes out of the wilderness and blazed trails for the march of civilization, through the beautiful valley of Pat- terson Creek:
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List of Abrm. Johnson, Gent.
White
Black
Howell, William
6
1
Lighter, Henry
7
Rogers, William
10
Reasoner, Garret
2
2
Hansom, Thomas
5
Queen, Charles
7
.Spencer, John
7
Thomson, John
6
Coulson, John
3
Beverley, John
5
Wise, Adam
6
Woolf, George
8
Blackburn, Willm.
11
Cannon, Thomas
7
McBride, John
7
Cunningham, John
5
Thomson, David
5
Powell, William
8
Kent, John
11
Price, Arjalon
8
Dobbins, Thomas
5
Thomson, Francis
1
Benkit, Jacob
7
Buffington, Thos.
4
1
Parker, Benja.
6
Cooper, Joel
11
Parker, George
6
Parker, James
3
Hirsman, Casper
8
Good, Isaac
6
Good, Peter
3
Casselman, Lewis
9
Huffman, Henry
6
Cooper, Thomas
10
Miller, George
8
Hazle, Henry
8
Johnson, Wm.
9
Reasoner, Jacob
9
Johnson, Wm., Junr.
2
1
Boggard, Jacob
5
Holland, Thomas
2
Kimberlin, Abrm.
6
Capell, Littleton
9
Thompson, Samuel
4
Holloback, Thomas
11
. ..
.
.
.
....
Redman, William
4
Paugh, John
7
Umstot, Peter
7
Parker, Benjamin
7
Jones, Peter
11
Beeler, Charles
3
2
New, Peter
7
6
2
..
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1
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5
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9
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3
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7
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12
5
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12
..
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6
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6
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4
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10
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6
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8
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12
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9
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3
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3
Martin, Thomas
3
Martin, Samuel
3
Johnson, Abrm., Senr.
2
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6
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.
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This influx of settlers resulted in rapid development of transporta- tion facilities, and by 1786 a State Road was opened from Winchester to Wheeling. This road, which passed through the village of Frankfort, became the frequent scene of stage-coach travellers, and covered wagon caravans, bringing home-seekers, traders, and adventurers; and of loads of cattle, droves of hogs, and turkeys on their way to market.
Old Stone Inn, which stood on the site of the present Stone Tavern, became a favorite hostelry for the stage-coach passengers. Here of an evening travelling acquaintances forgot the hard day's jolting, and warmed to the music of the old-time fiddler, who was expert at the bow,
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...
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as well as calling the figures of the dance, "Salute your partner," and "Balance all."
On November 5, 1787, the following petition of the inhabitants in and about Frankfort, was presented to the General Assembly of Virginia:
To The Honorable the Speaker and Rest of the Members Convened in General Assembly.
The petition of the inhabitants in and about the town of Frankfort-Showeth That whereas John Sellers of Hampshire County hath at the Instance and Request of your petitioners laid off a Portion of His Valuable Land Situate on Pattersons Creek in Hampshire County on the great road leading from the Eastern to the Western waters for the purpose of Improving the same into a Town, and has laid off the same into a Town, and has laid off the same into In and Out Lots and that the same is already Considerably Improved and whereas it will be of utility to your petitioners and the public in general that the Sd. town be Established under proper Regulations your petitioners pray that the Land be Established a town Called and known by the name of Frankfort and that Trustees be appointed to super- intend the same with such power as is given to other Trustees where towns is by law established.
AND your petitioners as in duty Bound shall pray.
John Sellers
Arthur O'Hara
Ralph Humphreys Jas. Dougherty Nathaniel Williams
William Rodgers John McBride -
John Chelton
Richard Williams
Soloman Lece John Reasoner
James C. Clark
John Williams, Sr.
Ebenezer Williams Thomas Umberson Joseph Williams Henry Hogland
Philip Bracker Isaac Loan C. Ezekiel Whiteman Jonathan Dean
Isaac Wolf Henry Hardin
John Mackie
Jacob Brucker
Daniel Cresap, Jr. John Dowden
John Purceall
Jacob Hogle
James Smoot John O'Hara Charles Porpoint
Patrick Shannon
Henry Kimberlin Asa Monnts Isiah Anderson Samuel Beven John Livingston Samuel Frawson
Soloman Jones Edmond Martin Davis Jones John Mitvhele
Joseph Monnts Aron Mercer John M. Meckin Abram Johnson Jacob Bogard
Andrew Coopere
Michael Brookhart
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PHOTOSTATIC PICTURE OF ORIGINAL PETITION OF INHABITANTS IN AND ABOUT THE TOWN OF FRANKFORT
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-
The petition was granted, and on December 5, 1787, the Act to es- tablish a town in the County of Hampshire by name of Frankfort, was passed :
AN EXACT COPY OF THE ACT PASSED BY THE GENERAL ASSEM- BLY OF VIRGINIA, ON DECEMBER 5, 1787, ESTABLISHING A TOWN IN THE COUNTY OF HAMPSHIRE, BY THE NAME OF FRANKFORT. (HENING'S STATUTES AT LARGE. VOLUME XII, pp 595-596) AN ACT FOR ESTABLISHING A TOWN IN THE COUNTY OF HAMPSHIRE.
I .- BE it enacted by the General Assembly, That one hun- dred and thirty-nine acres of land, in the county of Hampshire, the property of John Sellers, and laid off by him into in and out lots, with convenient streets, shall be and the same is hereby established a town by the name of Frankfort, and that John Mitchell, Andrew Cowper, Ralph Humphries, John Williams, Sen. James Clark, Richard Stafford, Hezkiah Whitman, and Jacob Brookhart, gentlemen, be trustees thereof, who, or the major part of them, shall have power, from time to time, to settle and deter- mine all disputes concerning the bounds of said lots, and to es- tablish such rules and regulations for the regular building of the houses thereon, as to them shall seem best. In case of death, resignation, removal out of the country, or other legal disability of any one or more of the said trustees, it shall be lawful for the remaining trustees to supply such vacancy, and the person so chosen, shall have the same power as if they had been particu- larly named in this act.
II .- AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That so many of the lots in the said town as are not sold by the said John Sellers, are hereby vested in the said trustees, and they, or a majority of them, shall within six months after the passing of this act, sell the said lots at public auction, having previously advertised the time and place of such sale at the court house of the said county, on three successive court days, and convey the same to the pur- chaser in fee, subject to the condition of building a house on each, sixteen feet square, with a brick or stone chimney, to be finished within three years from the day of sale, and pay the money arising from the sale to the said John Sellers, or his legal representatives. So soon as the purchasers of the said lots shall have built thereon according to their respective deeds of convey- ance, they shall then be entitled to, and have and enjoy all the rights, privileges, and immunities, which the freeholders and in- habitants of other towns of this state not incorporated, hold and enjoy. If the purchaser of any lot sold by the said trustees shall fail to build thereon within the time before limited, it shall be lawful for the said trustees, or the majority of them, to enter into such lots, and sell the same again, and apply the money for the benefit of the inhabitants of the said town.
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