CAMDEN COUNTY, GA - Wilder petition murders  1815

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:
 Tara D. Fields tutcher@camdencounty.org


Extracted from:
Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
http://neptune3.galib.uga.edu/
By Tara D. Fields
tutcher@camdencounty.org

March 06, 2004
History and Genealogy of Camden and Charlton Counties, Georgia 
http://www.camdencounty.org

Document: TCC158 
[Letter], 1815 Jan. 12, Georgia [to] Peter Early, Governor of Georgia / William Wilder

author: Wilder, William 
date: January 12, 1815 
extent: 4p 
summary: William Wilder writes to Georgia Governor
Peter Early on January 12, 1815 asking revenge for the
murders of Isaac Johns of Wayne County and Thomas
Wilder, Jonas Bevin, and Rheubin (Cottle ?) of Camden
County. It is believed the murders were committed by
about 40 Indians of Cainards (also Kennards, Kinnards)
Town. 
repository: Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries 
collection: Telamon Cuyler 
box: 77 
folder: 31 
document: 15 

Page: [1] [ | ]

[ Note: A postmark stamp appears in the upper left corner of the address.; [unclear: Savannah ]FEB [unclear: 17] ] 25 [illegible] 

To his Excellency
Peter Early
Governer [Governor] and Command er
in Chief of the State
of Georgia -- 

Page: [2] [ | ]

[deleted: [unclear: Honoured [Honored]]] Sir/
I take the liberty to write these few lines to your
Excellency, hoping they may meet you in Good health,
and a clear Acceptance to [unclear: receive] Solid and
Sure information from a Citizen that has been much
injured by the Barbarous Savages generally believed of
Cainards Town You have no Doubt heard of the Murderous
Depredation commited [committed] by the Savages, in
Killing Isaac Johns of Wane County, and Thomas Wilder,
Jonas Bevin & [unclear: Rheubin Cottle]of Camden
County all four Murdered on the frontier of their
Residing Counties, Whilst in honest pursuit of
indeavouring [endeavoring] to secure their stock from
those violating Savages, after killing the three
latter [later] Scalped striped [stripped] them naked
and left them bear [bare], also had Killed their
horses, in the firing, took their Back [unclear:
track], Supposed by the sign to be at least forty
Indians, and if their [there] had been or Even now a
Sufficient Body of men to take the trail could Easily
pirceive [perceive] of what tribe they are of it is
believed their intention was to Massacre the St Mary
Settlements, But after Killing these three men took a
fright and Went Back, in order to make another Set off
-- and now may it pleas [please] Your Excellency I
cannot forbear informing you that the said Thomas
Wilder Was the only own Brother I had in this timely
world, and all the savage race cannot restore him to
me and his beloved Family again, of Whom they have
distroyed [destroyed] and taken away the Greatest
friend and Father of Six Children, Who never can be
restored to them again and is now left to partake of
the Miseries of human life and no one to sooth
[soothe] their distress and relieve their wants and
myself not able to befriend them as I would with on
account of a Miserable nervous disorder that I have
been Labouring [laboring] under for these Eight years,
and may it pleas [please] your Honour [Honor] the
Whole Savage Race cannot atone for the Loss of so
Great a friend, for he was much Respected by all, who
realy [really] knew him Page: [3] [ | ] I hope, and
greatly trust in the living God who is the Universal
Sovereign, that he Will place in you and the rest of
the Ruling Characters, a Justifiable Spirit of
Revenge, in order to Glean those Wretched Savages off
of the land of the living, and that the Great Supreme
in his Mercy May pardon them in the world to come For
my dear Friend if the Frontier Settlers are not to be
protected on their own Ground, whilst after their
honest pursuits, who is to be protected, for their
must [unclear: need] be a frontier Settlement in all
countries Therefor [Therefore] I hope, I trust that
you will endeavour [endeavor] to sweep those Savages
off of the L and, although I am confident you are not
the least deficient in knowledge and Skill to Direct,
But I am afraid it will not be done time enough for
the Southern Inhabitants for there is no force there
Sufficient to deliver these Settlers from the British
force and Indian Fury.
May it please your Excellency if these Savages are not
destroyed, or Brought in Complete Subjection they will
ever be Destroying Inocent [Innocent] Families, and
Individuals When ever time and opportunity admits, and
in Case the Business is Wraped [wrapped] up and a
treaty of peace made, without redress, your Excellency
will in this case be not the least Surprised to hear
of these Savages being Killed on the Frontier of this
Country For may it please your honour [Honor] My
Father [unclear: Jeremiah] Wilder, proved a true
friend to his country in freedoms cause, in the Late
American Revolution, he was a Magor [Major] under Col.
Jack, and there is some few veterans Still in the L
and of the living that were acquainted with him all
knew him to be an honest man and much Respected, and
now for his Children to be Massacred by the Savages on
Freedoms Ground, and no [unclear: recompense], is too
much much to be borne [born] by the true hearted Sons
of [document is damaged] noble veterans of 76 in
Fredoms [Freedom's] Cause

Dear Friend Excuse me if you please for the freedom I
take in Communicating to you by way of letter a few
Sentences on the Subject that troubles my mind for I
cannot forbear

Yours Sir/ with my best Wishes for your Excellencies Welfare, With the Greatest Respect -- 
[Signed] Wm. Wilder 
Jany. [January] 12th 1815

Letter from William Wilder dated 12th. January 1815 
Indian War