Union County History Annals of the Buffalo Valley by John Blair Lynn Pages 167 thru 209 Contributed for use in USGenWeb by Tony Rebuck USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is Encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitter PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to state and county table of contents. 1779. DEATH OF CAPTAIN JOHN BRADY - INDIAN OUTRAGE'S IN THE VALLEY - JOHN SAMPLE AND WIFE KILLED - CAPTURE OF FORT FREELAND - DEATH OF CAPTAIN HAWKINS BOONE. PRESIDENT of the State, Joseph Reed. Councillor, John Hambright. Members of Assembly, Samuel Dale, Robert Martin, and William Montgomery. Presiding Justice, Thomas Hewitt. Prothonotary, David Harris. Officers elected in October: Sheriff, Major James Crawford; Coroner, John Foster; County Commissioners, Walter Clark and William Mackey; Assessors, Albright Swineford, Peter Kester, William Clark, etc. Buffalo: Constable, Joseph Taveler; Supervisors, Casper Bower and Alexander McGrady; Overseers, Ludwig Derr and James McCelvey. White Deer: Constable, James Pollock; Supervisors, Thomas Leckey and James McClenachan; Overseers, Thomas Hutchinson and Philip Stover. At February sessions, Jacob Links was licensed, the first tavern in Derrstown. 25th March, Joseph McHarge made affidavit before the court, that he, with others of Colonel Cooke's twelfth Pennsylvania regiment, was taken prisoner at Piscataway, (10th May, 1777;) that he was carried to New York, compelled to take the oath of allegiance, and sent on board the vessel that carried General Howe's baggage to Philadelphia, whence he made his escape in disguise; that his sight had failed him, and, on account of bodily infirmity, he could not go 168 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1779 back into service. The court discharged him. Some companies of the twelfth were now in General St. Clair's division, first brigade. St. Clair complained to the Council, which ordered Justice Hewitt to deliver him over to the military authorities. 11th April, Captain John Brady was killed. He was born in the State of Delaware, in 1733. His father, Hugh, an emigrant from Ireland, first settled in Delaware, and then removed to within five miles of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. John Brady married Mary Quigley, and their eldest son, Samuel, was born in Shippensburg, in 1758. He was a surveyor and pioneer in the settlements, and lived at Standing Stone, now Huntingdon, in 1768, when his son, General Hugh, and twin sister, Jennie, were born. In 1769 he came over on the West Branch, and settled on what is still the property of Honorable George Kremer's heirs, opposite Strohecker's landing, below Lewisburg, where he resided until the fall of 1776, when he removed to a place a little above Muncy, and built upon it. October 14, 1776, he was appointed captain in the twelfth Pennsylvania, and was wounded severely in the battle of Brandywine. I copy McCabe's account, published many years ago in the Blairsville (Indiana county) Record. For General Hugh Brady's account, see 1783. McCabe, no doubt, received his version from William P. Brady, senior: "It became necessary to go up the river some distance to procure supplies for the fort, and Captain John Brady, taking with him a wagon team and guard, went himself, and procured what could be had. On his return in the afternoon, riding a fine mare, and within a short distance of the fort, where the road forked, and being some distance behind the team and guard, and in conversation with a man named Peter Smith, he recommended Smith not to take the road the wagon had, but the other, as it was shorter. They traveled on together, until they came near a run where the same road joined. Brady observed, 'This would be a good place for Indians to secrete themselves.' Smith said, 'Yes.' That instant three rifles cracked, and Brady fell. The mare ran past Smith, who threw himself on her, and was carried in a few seconds to the fort. The people in the fort heard the rifles, and, seeing Smith on the mare, coming at full speed all ran to ask for Captain Brady, his wife along, or rather before the rest. Smith replied, 'In heaven or hell, or on his way 1779.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 169 to Tioga;' meaning he was either dead or a prisoner to the Indians. Those in the fort ran to the spot. They found the Captain lying in the road, his scalp taken off, his rifle gone, but the Indians were in such haste that they had not taken either his watch or his shot pouch." Jasper E. Brady, Esquire, told me, in 1870, that some thirty years before, when General Hugh Brady visited him at Chambersburg, some old citizen, in conversation with him, asked him whether he ever knew John Montour. He became very much excited, and said, "Yes, he is the damned scoundrel that killed my father." I am unable to reconcile this with the fact that General Brady, in his account of his father's death, (postea, 1783,) says nothing about it. Besides, Heckewelder's letter, the proper date of which is April 28, (see Pennsylvania Archives, Appendix, 1790, page 111,) from Conshocking, which was in the lower part of Ohio, says that John Montour had come there from the Wyandotte town, (now Sandusky, Ohio,) and from a council near Detroit, where the English commander had ordered his arrest as a spy, and the men had followed him nine days. The whole letter shows that he must have been about Detroit, four hundred miles, as the crow flies, from where Captain Brady was killed, on the 11th of April. Further, on the first of July, as appears by Colonel Brodhead's letter, ibid., page 134, Captain Samuel Brady and John Montour had left Fort Pitt with a party to capture Simon Girty and seven Mingoes, who were on a raid. He would hardly have consorted with the murderer of his father. Heckewelder, in a letter of 30th of June, to Colonel Brodhead, says, "John Montour is to be looked upon as without deceit." Captain Brady's death is not mentioned in any contemporary written record that I have been able to find. It is possible it was the result of revenge, but most likely it was an attack by one of the marauding parties that preceded McDonald and his rangers. Mishael Lincoln (grandfather of R. V. B. Lincoln, Esquire) said he was in the fort when Captain Brady was killed, and assisted in carrying in his body. Captain Brady made surveys in Buffalo and White Deer valleys. I have, perhaps, the only autograph of him in existence, attached to an old survey of date 1770. The accounts of John Montour are conflicting. Meginness says he was wounded at Fort Freeland, 29th July, and died and was buried at Painted Post a few days after. Nevertheless, he was alive 170 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1779. on the 12th of December, 1779. See Colonel Brodhead's letter, ibid., 197. Colonel Kelly used to relate that one of the Montours released two American prisoners and conducted them safely to within a few miles of Northumberland, and the ungrateful scoundrels killed him there; and he pointed out where he was buried, near a clump of trees that stood to the left of the road, a short distance below what is now known as "Molly Bullion's spring." 26th April, Michael Lepley, of Penn's township, aged 41, killed at Fort Freeland. Jacob Speese, in a certificate dated the 26th of June, 1786, states that he was stationed there with a party of militia. He was a lieutenant in command, and on the request of Mr. McKnight, he sent a guard of six men to go with him to his plantation, a short distance from the fort. Aaron K. Gift, Esquire, of Middleburg, furnished me with the following narrative of this occurrence, as related by his grandfather, Jeremiah Gift, who died at an advanced age, in 1843. The Gift, Herrold, and Lepley families came to Middle Creek valley in the year 1771. John Adam Gift, (great- grandfather of A. K.,) settled on the left bank of Middle creek, three miles west of where Middleburg now stands; owned and occupied the farm now owned by John H. Walter. His three sons were Jacob, Anthony, and Jeremiah. The militia were then drawn in classes. Jacob had been drawn, and served a tour in the eastern part of the State. The lot in 1779 fell upon John Adam, the father. Jacob insisted on serving in his stead. Michael Lepley and Herrold were drawn at the same time. They were stationed at Fort Freeland, near which lived a family named McKnight, father and son. They secured a guard consisting of fourteen persons, among whom were Jacob Gift, Michael Lepley, and Herrold, to go to milk their cows. The cows were driven into a pen, and while milking, they were surprised by a party of thirty Indians, who fired upon them. They were so completely surprised, they could make very little resistance. Lepley, with others, and old Mr. McKnight, were killed. Herrold ran for the fort. As he ran along a field which sloped towards the fort, the soldiers in the fort heard the report of a rifle, and saw him fall, and an Indian scalp him. Jacob Gift also tried to make his escape, but was overtaken. When the pursuing soldiers came up, they 1779.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 171 found evidence of a hard fight; the ground was bloody, his rifle broken in pieces, and himself tomahawked and scalped. He had sold his life as dear as possible. Young McKnight was the only one who escaped. He jumped Warrior run, and a tomahawk struck the top rail of the fence just after he cleared it. He was the only one left to tell the tale. Upon Jacob Gift's father the stroke fell heavy. He said, "It was my lot to go, but my son went and gave his life for mine." Michael Lepley left a widow, Mary A., and some children. She drew a pension for many years afterwards. In May, John Sample and wife were killed. The inhabitants had mostly left the Valley. The militia were out, under Colonel Kelly, - William Lyon's letter, May 13. This marauding party consisted of from fifteen to seventeen Indians. Christian Van Gundy, senior, was one of a party, with Henry Vandyke, who went up to bring these old people away. (They lived on a farm lately owned by Abram Leib, near Ramsay's school-house, in White Deer, where their graves may still be seen.) Van Gundy was a sergeant, and had six men in his party. Six more were to follow them the next day. After Van Gundy got there, he had slabs put up against the door, and water carried upon the loft. After dark an Indian came around the house, barking like a dog, and rubbing against the door. They paid no attention, but lay down, and slept until about three, A. M., when Van Gundy got up, and lighted a fire. The Indians then surrounded the house, and, mounting a log on their shoulders, tried to beat in the door. Those inside then fired, wounding two, whom they saw carried off. An Indian then came around behind the house, and set it on fire. Van Gundy mounted the loft, knocked off some of the roof, and put out the fire. In this encounter he was struck on the leg by a spent hall, which marked him for some time. Another of the party had his side whiskers shot off. When daylight came they put it to vote, whether they should remain in the house or try to get off. Two voted to stay, four to go. On opening the door they Found an Indian chief lying dead in front of it. Van Gundy took the Indian's rifle, Vandyke his powder horn, (which was still in the possession of John Vandyke, in Illinois, some years ago.) The Indians came on suddenly, with loud yells, and the men separated. Van Gundy, with his two guns, took into a ravine, and tried to get the old people to follow him. They refused, and followed 172 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1779. the young folks, one of whom, Adam Ranck used to say, was their son. Van Gundy said he soon heard several shots. These killed the old people, who were scalped, and left lie. The Indians followed them several miles. Van Gundy said he never expected to get out alive, but with his two guns he thought he could kill two at least. He made a circuit of seven miles, and came out at Derr's mill. Colonel Kelly pursued this party; he had a dog that could follow an Indian trail, and, coming pretty close, would immediately drop. On this occurring, Colonel Kelly separated his party, and they made a circuit. As Kelly glided very quietly through the wood, he suddenly stepped into a hole, made by an up-rooted tree. Glancing along it, to his surprise, he saw five Indians sitting like turkeys on the trunk. He made a hole through the root, and leveled his rifle. Simultaneously there was the crack of rifles from the opposite side. Four Indians fell, and, notwithstanding their utmost exertions, the fifth escaped. This dog was of great service to the colonel. During this summer, most of the inhabitants of the Valley, or at least their families, had abandoned it. The men left usually occupied their homes, had signals of alarm, upon which they assembled at some point agreed upon. Colonel Kelly's cabin stood in front of the present building, near the spring, at the present road. He was awakened one night by the growls of this dog. He had a hole cut in the door for observation, and, as it was then getting daylight, he could see something moving among the bushes, at the end of an oak log, that laid across Spruce run. On closer inspection, he discovered an Indian. He took aim at a spot above the log, and, when the Indian raised his head, fired. The ball passed clear through his head, killing him instantly. He buried him himself in the little lot by the spring, marking the grave by a large stone, and kept the secret many years, not telling even his nearest neighbor or friend, knowing that there was no city of refuge to protect him from the vengeance of the next of kin, an Indian law that proves our common origin. No time or distance overcame it. There occurred one case in the Valley of the killing of an Indian, which was avenged many years after, when the settler had removed to Kentucky. The Indian was apprehended, and confessed that he had often sought the opportunity to kill the man here, but was as often foiled, and he followed him to Kentucky, and dogged him many years before it came. Colonel 1779.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 173 Kelly's secret only leaked out a few years before his death, in 1832. The little patch by the spring he preserved undisturbed, but took a notion about this time to have it cleared up. He had a boy, Isaac Bower, living with him at the time, to whom he promised a half dollar to plow it. He superintended it, and when Isaac proposed taking out a large stone with the grub hoe, he told him to let it alone, and plow around it. This aroused Isaac's curiosity, and the next time they had big meeting at Buffalo, and the colonel and all his family were gone, Isaac got to work with a shovel, and had not proceeded far until he reached a huge skeleton. The skull was very large, and had the marks of the bullet in holes on the opposite sides. He carefully covered up the place, and hid the skull under the porch. Some days after old Doctor Vanvalzah came along, and stopped to talk with the colonel on the porch. Something was said about large heads, and Isaac, who became interested, hauled the skull out from under the porch, to show it to them. Doctor Vanvalzah was astonished at its size, and Colonel Kelly then asked Isaac where he got it, and when he heard, became very angry, and would have whaled Isaac but for the doctor's presence. He then told the doctor the story as I have related it. 1st November, 1872, I visited William Allison, of Potter's Mills, Centre county, confined to his house by a paralytic stroke, (he died on 11th February, 1877, aged eighty-five,) who told me that his father, Archibald Allison, was one of the party that had gone to bring the Samples off. He related the story substantially as I have given it, as related to me by Captain Jacob Gundy. He added some particulars: that after they got there, they heard the peculiar gobble of wild turkeys, and Gundy said he would go out and shoot one. Vandyke said: "You'll catch turkey, if you go out there." (Surmising a common trick of the Indians to imitate turkey calls; two soldiers at Potter's Fort were enticed out in that way and killed.) That the man wounded through the thumb cried and howled so they had to threaten him to keep him quiet. That they drew the old chief inside the house and scalped him, and divided his accouterments. His father got the string of wampum, which was about the house for a long time. On leaving the house, the two wounded men, with the old people, were placed in the center. They had left the house about sixty rods in the rear, when 174 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1779. the Indians sallied out from behind the barn, about thirty in number, according to Mr. Allison's account. Gundy and party held a hurried consultation and agreed to separate, Gundy taking the left, with the old people, the rest of the party the right. Allison concealed one of the wounded men under a log, and the Indians crossed it without discovering him. In the race, Allison lost his moccasins, and when he arrived at the fort, (as the rendezvous was called, on John Lesher's place, formerly Billmyer's,) his feet were bleeding so that he could have been tracked by the blood. Archibald Allison was then only eighteen years of age. He was at John Lee's shortly after the massacre there, in 1782, and saw the bodies of the murdered, and was one of the party that pursued the Indians. He left the Valley in 1783 or 1784, and pushed on into Penn's valley, where he married a daughter of George McCormick, one of the first settlers near Spring Mills, where he remained, and died in 1844, aged eighty-four years. William Kelly, son of Colonel John, married one of Archibald Allison's daughters. 19th May, General Potter, from Penn's valley, writes that the greater number of the people of Buffalo Valley had left. 26th May, Colonel Hunter writes that he had come poor speed raising the company of rangers, owing to the number of people that had got appointments to recruit for the boat service, (convoying General Sullivan's commissary up the North Branch;) that he had appointed Thomas Campleton captain; that the few people remaining above were assembled in small bodies at the forts, and very little farming going on; that on the 25th, twelve large boats, loaded with provisions, left for Wyoming. June 7, General Sullivan writes from Easton that he has so great desire for the services of General Potter, and so high an opinion of him, that he will give him a command equal to his wishes if he will go along. June 21, Lieutenant Colonel Adam Hubley, with part of his regiment, occupied Fort Muncy, Fort Jenkins, and Sunbury. 26th, Colonel Hunter says Captain Campleton's company is at Bosley's mill, Chillisquaque creek, and the country was quite drained of men for the boat service. The few spirited men that remained were guarding the women and children at the different posts they were assembled at, while the army marches from Wyoming. He 1779.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 175 had only thirty men, exclusive of those at Fort Freeland, and with General Potter, whom he would keep at Sunbury until the return of the army to Wyoming. Colonel Hartley's regiment marches immediately to join General Sullivan, which leaves Fort Muncy and Fort Jenkins vacant. June 24, Captain Samuel Brady killed Bald Eagle, a notorious warrior, of the Muncy tribe, near Kittanning. July 4, he, with John Montour, went out with two or three other Indians to capture Simon Girty. 9th, reports Simon at Conshocking. (Colonel Brodhead's letter.) July 8, Widow Smith's mills burned, and one man killed, in White Deer township. July 16, General Wayne captures Stony Point. July 17, Starrett's mill and all the principal houses in Muncy township burned. July 20, three men killed at Fort Freeland. 21, General Sullivan at Wyoming. The depreciation of continental money was excessive at this time Vattel's Law of Nations brought $400; one volume of Gibbon, $40. 23 March, 1779, a ream of paper, £75 George Read's Life, page, 350. Capture of Fort Freeland. July 26, William Maclay writes from Paxton (Harrisburg) that he had just returned from Sunbury. That the whole of the troops had moved from Sunbury, a week before, to join General Sullivan. "Northumberland county is in a deplorable situation, without a single man, except the militia of the county, and Captain Kamplen, with fourteen men. Almost every young man on the frontier engaged in the boat service. Everything above Muncy Hill is abandoned. Forty savages had penetrated as far as Freeland's mills. Freeland and sundry others had fallen victims. The stores at Sunbury are in my dwelling-house, which is large and conveniently situated for defense. The back part of it was stockaded last year, by Colonel Hartley." 28th July, Colonel Hunter writes "This day, about twelve o'clock, an express arrived from Captain Boone's mill, informing us that Freeland's fort was surrounded; and, immediately after, another express came, informing us that it was burned, and all the garrison 176 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1779. either killed or taken prisoners; the party that went from Boone's saw a number of Indians and some red-coats walking around the fort, or where it had been. After that, firing was heard off towards Chillisquaque. Parties are going off from this town, and from North- umberland, for the relief of the garrison. General Sullivan would send us no assistance, and our neighboring counties have lost the virtue they were once possessed of, otherwise we should have some relief before this. I write in a confused manner. I am just marching off, up the West Branch, with a party I have collected." A few days before the capture Robert Covenhoven went up as far as Ralston, (now,) where he discovered Colonel McDonald's party in camp. He returned to Fort Muncy, (Port Penn,) and gave the alarm. The women and children then were put in boats and sent down, under his charge, to Fort Augusta. He took with him the families at Fort Meminger, at the mouth of Warrior run; but Freeland's fort being four and a half miles distant, they had no time to wait for the families there, but sent a messenger to alarm them. Covenhoven (spelled Crowrover,) is buried in the Presbyterian grave-yard, in Northumberland. Born December 7, 1758; died October 29, 1846. Mrs. Mary V. Derrickson (born 10th February, 1779,) a daughter of Cornelius Vincent, in a letter, dated Delaware run, December 17, 1855, gives the following account of the early settlers, and of Fort Freeland. In 1772, Jacob Freeland, Samuel Gould, Peter Vincent, and his son Cornelius cut their way through the wilderness and settled within two miles of where the fort was afterwards built. In the summer of 1778, the year of the Great Runaway, they had to leave the country. They returned and picketed a large two-story house, which had been built by Jacob Freeland. During the winter all the families lived in the fort. In the spring of 1779 the men planted corn, and were occasionally surprised by the Indians; but nothing serious occurred until the 21st of July, when a party at work in the corn- field were attacked by Indians, about nine A. M. Isaac Vincent, Elias Freeland, and Jacob Freeland, junior, were killed. Benjamin Vincent and Michael Freeland taken prisoners. Daniel Vincent outran the Indians, and leaping a high log fence, escaped. Benjamin Vincent, then only ten years old, hid himself in a furrow; he left it to climb a tree, and was seen and captured. He knew nothing about the fate of the others until in the afternoon, when an Indian thrust 1779.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 177 the bloody scalp of his brother Isaac into his face. At daybreak, on the 28th Jacob Freeland, senior, was shot as he was going out of the gate, and fell inside. The fort was surrounded. There were twenty-one men in it, and very little ammunition. Mary Kirk and Phoebe Vincent commenced immediately and ran all their spoons and plates into bullets. About nine a flag was raised, and John Lytle and John Vincent went out to capitulate, but could not agree, and one half hour was given to consult those within. It was finally agreed that all who could bear arms should go as prisoners, the old men with the women and children to be set free, and the fort given to plunder. The latter left the fort at twelve. Not one eat a bite that day, and not a child was heard to cry or ask for bread. They reached Northumberland, eighteen miles distant, that night. Mrs. Kirk put girl's clothes on her son William, a lad of sixteen, and he escaped with the women. Elizabeth Vincent was a cripple, and could not walk. Her husband, John Vincent, went to Captain McDonald and told him her situation, and asked for the horse the Indians had taken from his son Peter a week before. He carried his wife to the lower end of the meadow, where they lay and saw the fort burned. It rained hard that night, and she lay partly in the water. In the morning the horse came to them. Vincent plaited a halter out of the bark of a hickory tree, set his wife on, and led it to Northumberland, where wagons were pressed to take the people down the country. Colonel Hunter's account says: "That the firing at Freeland's was heard at Boone's mill, about seven miles off. (This mill was on Muddy Run, six hundred yards from its mouth, the site of what is now Kemmerer's Mill, two miles above Milton.) Captains Hawkins Boone, Kemplen, and Daugherty marched with thirty-four men, but were met before they reached the fort. Captain Kemplen, who observed the first Indian, shot him dead. Our men behaved with great bravery, but were overpowered, and fifteen were killed and two wounded. Among the dead, Captain Boone and Captain Samuel Daugherty, two very good men." This engagement took place at McClung's place, above Milton. William Miles, who was taken prisoner at the fort, and afterwards resided in Erie county, said that, in Canada, Captain McDonald spoke in the highest terms of the desperate bravery of Hawkins 178 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1779 Boone. His scalp, with that of Daugherty, was brought into fort Freeland. Boone came originally from Exeter, Berks county, and was a cousin of the celebrated Daniel Boone, of Kentucky. His grand-father, George Boone, had a large family of sons: William, Joseph, James, Benjamin, John, Hezekiah, Squire, and Josiah Boone. Hawkins was a son of Squire, who moved to North Carolina in 1752. Hawkins was a surveyor, and lived on the place just above New Columbia now owned by Samuel Gemberling. He owned, also, the Jacob Rees' place, north-west of the latter place, the Earnest Book tract, &c. He was commissioned a captain in the twelfth Pennsylvania regiment, and selected to accompany a detachment of riflemen from the regiment, sent under Morgan to Saratoga. In a return of Morgan's command, dated at Lowdon's ferry, on the Mohawk, September 3, 1777, he is marked absent; wounded. In February, 1779, the State Council allowed him clothes out of the State stores, "in consideration of his situation and spirited intre- pidity of his conduct in the campaign under Colonel Hartley, when his situation might have justified him in remaining at home." He left a widow, Jane, and two daughters. Some years after his death, his widow married a Mr. Fortenbaugh, and moved to Halifax, Dauphin county, where she resided many years. Of Boone's party, Samuel Brady, (uncle of Captain Samuel,) James Dougherty, and James Hammond made their escape. Daniel Vincent, father of late Mr. Vincent, of McEwensville, had been recently married, and after the capture, his wife returned to New Jersey. For four years she heard nothing of him. One evening, when she was out with a sleighing party, a roughly dressed man stopped at the tavern where they were, and inquired if a Mrs. Vincent lived near there, She was pointed out to him, and he told her he had met her husband in Canada. He rode home in the same sleigh, and was disposed to take her upon his lap. She declined the favor until she discovered the impertinent stranger was her husband. - Day's Collections, 1843. [See Meginness' West Branch Valley, page 257, &c., for an interesting notice of the return of the captives.] In a letter from Sunbury, dated January 27, 1783, to General James Potter, member of the Executive Council, Colonel Hunter 1779.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 179 incloses a roll of the men taken prisoners at Fort Freeland, the 28th July, 1779. "Captain's company, John Neely, sergeant; George Bailey, George Armitage, Aaron Martin, (died at Fort Chambly, January 8, 1780,) Thomas Smith, Isaac Wilson, and John Forney. The following persons, being those of the militia that enrolled themselves for the defense of the garrison: John Lytle, adjutant; Cornelius Vincent, quartermaster; sergeant, Samuel Gould; Henry Townley, Peter Williams, Isaac Williams, Elias Williams, Henry Gilfilan, James Durham, Daniel Vincent, John Watts, William Miles, John Dough, Thomas Taggart, (died 16th January, 1780;) Francis Watts, made his escape on the same day he was taken; Peter Vincent, likewise made his escape the same day." Colonel Hunter adds: "I appointed Captain Thomas Kemplen to recruit a company under a resolve of Congress authorizing the Council to raise a company for each frontier county, and to appoint the officers thereof, in place of Captain John McElhatten, who was not in the county, or expected soon. Kemplen engaged on the 7th of May, and was of as much service as any man could be with the small company of men he had during the time. A number of his men who were taken prisoners at Fort Freeland, have come home poor and naked." Colonel Kelly went over with a party from Buffalo Valley, and buried the dead at Fort Freeland. November 27, the German regiment arrived at Sunbury, and Colonel Hunter proposes to station a sergeant's guard at Titzell's mill, in Buffalo Valley. Among the deaths this year are Samuel Allen, of White Deer, in May. In July, William McLaughlin, of the same township. Samuel Allen left a widow, Lavinia; children, Ruth Reynolds, Agnes, Mary Rippey, Elphina, Samuel, Joseph, James, John, and Robert. Joseph Weeks, (of now Gregg township,) left a widow, Rachel; children, Jesse, Hannah, Frances, Jemima, Sutherland, Hyllothem, Nacum, and Fronk. John Foster, Esquire, who died at Buffalo Cross-Roads some years since, and who was a son of Captain John Foster, was wont to relate an incident occurring at this time. One night the family were alarmed by Indians, and fled to a rye patch adjoining the house, where they passed the night. A small dog that was usually very 180 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1780. noisy at night stayed with them and made no noise. The family always considered it a special act of Providence, as the next morning plenty of Indian tracks were found around the house. 1780 INHABITANTS OF BUFFALO, WHITE DEER, AND PENN'S - INDIAN TROUBLES - DAVID COUPLES KILLED - ATTACK AT FRENCH JACOB'S MILL - GEORGE ETZWEILER AND OTHERS KILLED - ROLL OF CAPTAIN THOMPSON'S COMPANY - PATRICK WATSON AND BALTZER KLINESMITH KILLED - PETER GROVE'S PURSUIT OF THE INDIANS - BARBER'S MILL BUILT. COUNCILLOR, General James Potter. Representatives in the Assembly, William Montgomery, David McKinney, and Major John Kelly. Prothonotary, Captain Matthew Smith, appointed February 4. County Commissioners, Daniel Montgomery, William Clark, and John White. Collector of Excise, Daniel Montgomery. Names of the Inhabitants of Buffalo Township, in the beginning of April, 1780. Allison, Archibald; Auld, George; Aurand, Henry; Aurand,Jacob; Baker, Wendel; Beatty, Hugh; Beatty, Alexander; Bernhard, Mathias; Bickle, Henry; Bickle, Christopher; Bilby, John; Black, Thomas; Brady, Mary; Braton, Caldwell; Brindle, John; Bolender, Henry; Book, Conrad; Book, John; Book, George; Boveard, James; Bower, Casper; Burn, Peter; Burger, Martin; Chambers, Robert; Charters, William; Clarke, John; Crawford, Edward; Crider, John; Conner, Jacob; Coon, Nicholas; Cox, Tunis; Cox, Widow; Davis, John; Derr, Ludwig; Doudrick, John; Dreisbach, Jacob; Duncan, David; Elder, Thomas; Emerick, David; Etzweiler, George; Ewig, Adam; Eyer, Abraham; Fiddler, Stephen; Filey, John; Fleming, Robert; Fleming, James; Frederick, Peter; Fred- 1780.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 181 erick, George; Foster, John; Foster, William; Foster, Captain John; Gibson, Andrew; Gibson, James; Gilman, Henry, senior; Gilman, Henry, junior; Glen, Andrew; Green, Joseph; Greenlee, William; Groshong, Jacob, grist-mill; Grove, Michael; he was taxed with a ferry, which was at the old Judge McPherson place, near Winfield; Gothard, John; Hams, George; Hams, George, junior; Hams, John; Huntsman, James; Hamilton, Robert; Harbster, David; Harbster, Jacob; Hiltman, John; Henry, Christopher, distillery; Hessler, John; Hessler, Michael; Holman, Charles; Hone, Henry; Hoy, Philip; Hub, Daniel; Hunter, Samuel; taxed with servants, negro, horses, cows, spoons, &c.; he resided on Penn's creek, on the tract he took up, now owned by the Messrs. Oldts, in Union township; Irvine, William, (Irish;) Irwin, James, distillery; Jenkins, James; Jermony, Thomas; Johnston, William; Johnston, John; Kester, Peter; King, Samuel; Kishler, Francis; Klinesmith, Baltzer; Links, Jacob; Laughlin, Samuel; Lee, John, two stills; Leech, William; Leonard, Peter; Lewis, Daniel; Lowdon, John; McCaley, Alexander; McCandlish, William, senior; McCandlish, William, junior; McClung, John; McCoy, James; McDonald, Randall; McGee, James; McGrady, Alexander; McKelvey, James; Metzgar, Jacob; Miller, Benjamin; Milligan, John; Mitchell, John; Mizener, Henry; Mizener, Conrad; Mook, John Moore, William, saw mill; Morrow, Andrew; Nees, John, grist mill afterwards Green's and Bellas'; Noble, Robert; Overmeier, George, senior: Overmeier, George, junior; Parkinson, Daniel; Price, Thomas; Pontius, Andrew; Pontius, John, senior; Pontius, John, junior; Pontius, Nicholas; Pontius, George; Pontius, Henry; Quinn, Terrence; Ray, John; Rees, Abel; Richard, Henry; Rinehard, Frederick; Rinehart, George; Rosabaugh, George; Rote, George; Scott, John; Sharp, Daniel; Shirley, Charles; Shively, John; Shively, Christian; Sierer, John; Sips, Joseph; Shaw, William Slack, Henry; Smith, Adam; Smith, Ludwig; Smith, David; Snyder, Peter; Snyder, Michael; Speddy, William; Storms, Christian; Storms, David; Stroh, Nicholas; Sutherland, William; Tate, Edward; Taveler, Joseph; Templeton, Samuel; Thom, James; Thornburg, Thomas; Thompson, John; Trester, Martin, senior; Trester, Martin, junior; Trinkle, Charles; Vandyke, Henry, tan-yard; Vought, Michael; Walker, John; Watson, Hugh; Watson, 182 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1780. Patrick; Watson, David; Welker, Leonard, grist and saw-mill; Weyland, Henry; Williams, William; Williams, James; Wilson, Robert; Wise, Jacob; Wise, Frederick; Wolfe, Andrew; Wolfe, George; Young, Samuel, distillery; Young, Matthew; Zeller, Peter. Of these the following returned money for taxation only: Bickle, Christopher, £100; Chambers, Robert, £60; Frederick, George, £500; Green, Joseph, £140; McCandlish, William, £40; Storms, Christian, £450. Additional Residents or Taxables of White Deer in 1780. Allen, Joseph; Allen, John; Auman, Philip; Barber, John; Caldwell, John; Campbell, Charles; Cherry, John; Clendenin, John; Collins, Daniel; Couples, Sarah, widow; Crawford, Robert; Daraugh, Ephraim; Derr, Widow; Eakins, John; Heckle, Andrew, distillery; Gibson, James; Glen, Joseph; Gray, Robert; Hammel, Charles; Hayes, David; Hill, Elizabeth; Hill, Jacob; Hoffman, Joseph; Huling, Marcus, of the Island; Hood, Moses; Huston, Samuel; Iddings, Jonathan; Kelly, Lawrence; King, William; Love, Robert; McClenachan, William; McCracken, John; McCord, Robert; McCord, James; McGowan, John; McKinney, James; McLaughlin, John; Marshall, William; Miller, Archibald; Millwright, Mathias; Montgomery, Samuel; Murray, William; Poak, John; Randels, Joseph; Randels, Hugh; Row, James; Shields, Widow; Shearer, Widow; Turner, Thomas, distillery; Swartz, Peter, junior; Tanahill, John; Vandyke, Lambert. Improvements, saw-mill at William Blythe's, Red Bank run. Among the Residents of Penn's Township in 1780. Barnard, France; Bart, Jacob; Bartges, Stophel; Beard, William; Berts, Benjamin; Bickard, John; Bickle, Thomas; Bickle, Simon, distillery; Bickle, Tobias, distillery; Bickle, Jacob; Borald, Adam; Bolender, Adam, senior; Bolender, Adam, junior; Bombaugh, widow, still; Borer, Peter; Bower, Peter; Bunker, Abraham; Carstetter, Martin; Cline, Jacob; Cline, Andrew; Coleman, John; Collins, Moses; Copenberger, Paul; Crow, Godfrey; Deaner, George; Deininger, Jacob; Dowdle, widow, (widow of Captain Dowdle;) Dreese, Joseph; Eberhart, Bernard; Egeh, William; 1780.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 183 Evans, John; Faucy, Benjamin; Fisher, Abraham; Freyburg, Ludwig; Gan, Frederick; Gaws, Christian; Ginney, (weaver;) Graybill, Christian; Green, John; Graybill, John; Guyer, Valentine; Hains, John; Harman, John; Heffling, Jacob; Heffling, Conrad; Hermon, Henry; Hoan, Michael, senior; Homberger, Charles; Hooks, Stephen; Horn, Samuel; Kemerer, Peter; Kemerer, Daniel; Kerstetter, Leonard; Kerstetter, widow; Kerel, Hugh; Kettleman, David; Kreek, Philip; Kreek, Jacob; Koch, Daniel; Label, Jacob; Leist, David; Liber, Adam; McTaget, Billy; Manning, John; Manning, Richard; Mateer, Robert; Meikle, Simeon; Mattig, Daniel; Merkley, George; Motz, Michael; Meyer, John; Meyer, Charles, distillery; Mogel, Valentine; Moon, Thomas; Moon, James; Moore, Andrew, four hundred and seventy-nine acres of land, oil-mill, two distilleries, one grist and one saw-mill; Morton, Jacob; Mull, Anthony; Neyman, Jacob; Newcomer, Peter; Nitz, Philip; Nitz, John; Ogden, Joseph; Oudly, Edward; Peters, Michael; Reybert, John, senior; Reger, Elias; Reger, Michael; Reichenbaugh, Jacob; Reed, Casper, saw-mill; Reihm, Henry; Retzel, Youst; Reit, John; Ritchie, Robert; Rodgers, John; Roush, Jacob; Row, Martin, junior; Row, Ludwig; Ryhart, John; Schock, George; Schock, John; Shaffer, George; Sharrer, Michael; Shoemaker, Peter; Smith, Stephen; Snyder, Thomas; Stees, Jacob, grist and sawmill; Steffy, Adam; Straub, John; Styer, Henry; Styers, Jacob; Sutton, Zachariah; Swineford, John; Swineford, Albright, six hundred and eighty acres, and grist-mill; Tremgel, Peter; Trenkle, Matthias; Truckenmiller, Frederick; Ulrich, George, junior; Woodward, Simon; Zellner, John. 2d April, William Maclay writes to President Reed, from Sunbury "SIR: I will not trouble you with the distress of this county. It will, no doubt, be painted to the Council in lively colors, and, in- deed, the picture cannot be overcharged; nor should I, at this time, write to you, but for a strong belief and persuasion that a body of Indians are lodged about the head of Fishing and Muncy creek. They were with us to the very beginning of the deep snow last year; they are with us now before that snow is quite gone. Many of our hunters, who went up late last fall into that country, (which is a fine one for hunting,) were so alarmed with the constant reports of guns, which they could not believe to be those of white men, that they 184 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1780. returned suddenly back. We are not strong enough to spare men to examine this country, and dislodge them. The German regiment are under their own officers, and, for my part, I expect no service from them. I cannot help uttering a wish that what troops we have might be all Pennsylvanians. There is a certain love of country that really has weight. This is a strange divided quarter. Whig, Tory, Yankee, Pennamite, Dutch, Irish, and English influence are strangely blended. I must confess I begin to be national, too, and most sincerely believe every public interest of America will be safer in the hands of Americans than with any others. But I will not trouble you with any more of my opinions. Help us if you can, and much oblige a distressed country." Colonel Samuel Hunter writes, on the same day: "The savages have made their appearance on the frontiers in a hostile manner. Day before yesterday they took seven or eight prisoners about two miles above Fort Jenkins, and two days before they carried off several people from about Wyoming. The German regiment that is stationed here is no ways adequate to grant us the necessary relief. The case is quite altered from this time twelve months ago. We then bad a pretty good garrison at Muncy, Brady's fort, Freeland's, with our own inhabitants. Now we have but forty or fifty at Montgomery's, and thirty at Fort Jenkins. The latter was not able to spare men enough to pursue the enemy, that carried off the prisoners, though there were but thirty Tories and Indians, and a pretty deep snow had fallen the night before, by which they could be tracked. I have seen the time within three years that we could turn out some hundred of good woodsmen, but the country is quite drained of our best men." The rapid depreciation of money may be noted through an item in the State Treasurer's account: May 17, order to Samuel Dale, additional pay as Member, in consequence of the price of wheat raised from £15 to £20 per bushel. 11th March, cassimere was $300 per yard; jean and habit cloth, $60 per yard. April 8, a party of Indians made a descent on White Deer creek. At Redbank, one and one-half miles south of White Deer Mills, a little below where Charley Bly's blacksmith shop used to be, toward the river, lived David Couples, with his wife and two children. They killed and scalped Couples and two of the children, and took his wife 1780.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY 185 prisoner. They camped for the night on the hills above the mills, where she made her escape, although one of them had lain himself down upon her clothes, so that her moving would alarm him. The next day, when the people came to the house, they found the children had crawled under the bed, but their eyes were rent with intensity of suffering. One daughter survived, Margaret Couples. She married a man named William Armstrong, a wagoner on Doctor Eaker's place, and they moved to Centre county. The widow married a man named Elliot, of Chillisquaque. Some of the family live about Northumberland. Captain John M. Huff, of Milton, is a grandson. In Doctor Harbaugh's Fathers of the German Reformed Church, we find the following notice of the first stated Reformed minister nearest to the region of our annals: As early as the 18th of May, the Reverend Samuel Dubbendorff labored as a minister at Lykens valley. A letter of that date says: "like John the Baptist, he at present preaches to three congregations, bordering upon the Indians. The people greatly love and honor him, yet owing to their poverty, can give him only the most necessary articles of food, but not a cent of money as salary." Mr. Dubbendorff, no doubt, preached as a supply for the churches on Penn's creek, and, perhaps, in Buffalo Valley, as we find that when he became too feeble, from age, to labor any longer in the ministry, he removed to a friend's, near Selinsgrove, where he died. He is buried in Selinsgrove, but no memorial, we believe, marks his grave. Attack on French Jacob's Mill. NORTHUMBERLAND TOWN, May 18, 1780. I am unhappy enough to inform you the savage enemy have, on the 16th inst., made a stroke on the inhabitants of this much distressed county, at Buffalo Valley. At French Jacob Grozong's mills four men killed, viz: Jno. Forster, jr., _______ Eytzwiller, James Chambers, and Samuel McLaughlen. The enemy got only one of the scalps. The neighboring inhabitants, on hearing the firing, briskly turned out, and pursued the enemy very brave, but was not able to overtake them. The inhabitants have stood here, indeed, longer than could been expected, were it not desperation. But, sir, unless some support can be instantly afforded, the State 186 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1780. must shortly count one county less than formerly - which God forbid. I refer you, D'r sir, to the bearer, Gen. Potter, for further information, as he waits on horseback, whilst I write this imperfect, distress'd acc't. Provisions none, cash none, nor can it be had in this place. Gen. Potter's acc'ts from this place to the Hon'ble the Assembly, which I doubt not you will see, will fully satisfy you of the state of this place. I am, D'r sir, your most obt. humble Serv't, MATTHEW SMITH. Gen. Jos. REED. Sometime between 1776 and 1779, Jacob Groshong, familiarly known as French Jacob, built a little log mill, the site of which is now familiarly known as Solomon Heberling's, on what he supposed was his own location. He was defeated in a suit at Sunbury, rode home the same night, dismantled the mill, moved the wheels, &c., down to the site of what is now Dater & Reish's mill. Here he re-built his mill in 1782 and 1783, and added a saw-mill in 1785. In 1793 Enoch Thomas got the property, and Groshong moved up to the end of the Nittany mountain, in Centre county, and thence West. From Thomas, it passed into the hands of Christopher Johnson, in 1797, and into the hands of John Hofferd, in 1808, and finally into the Reish's. The old mill building, where this fight occurred, Mr. Philip Pontius told me he took down when he owned the property, and that he carefully preserved the timbers that had the bullet marks in them, and placed them in another building there, where they could still be seen. This will explain the impression on the minds of some old people I have talked with, who alleged the site of French Jacob's mill, where the fight occurred, was at the old Hofferd or Reish mill; whereas, in truth, it occurred at the little old mill, the site of which is on Solomon Heberling's place. Groshong's name, or rather his nick-name, is still preserved in connection with the large spring a little above the tavern, on the Brush Valley road. I find in 1787 he was assessed by his nickname, "Jacob, French." He is the hero of all the wild tales of Indian troubles in that part of the Valley. The place where he hid from the Indians, beside this spring, is still pointed out. 1780.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 187 The place became more noted in after years as the residence of Captain John Bergstresser, who, as early as 1811, had an oil, fulling- mill, saw-mill, and kept store upon the premises. Bergstresser came in after Henry Snyder, who had some sort of mills there as early as 1802. Christian Shively told my informant, John Beeber, that he heard the signal firing at this time. He was threshing some grain at the time. He had a hard, smooth place tramped on the ground, and was throwing the wheat up in the air to allow the wind to blow the chaff away. He immediately hid his wife and two children near the mouth of White Spring run. He slipped silently about, rolled some logs into Penn's creek, tied them with hickory withes into a raft, put his wife and children on, and floated down to Beatty's, where New Berlin now stands. Philip Pontius told me his father also heard the signal. He Un- hitched his horses, and made a circuit through the woods, gun in hand, and came to the mill. He said William Fisher made a narrow escape. He was running into the mill, when his foot slipped on a board, and he fell into the door. The bullet intended for him struck the building on a line where his head would have been had he not fallen. One tradition of the neighborhood is that this was a patrol of five men which passed every day between Titzell's, late Kelly's, mill and French Jacob's, and they were attacked by the Indians in sight of the mills. Another has it that the soldiers were out washing when they were fired on. John Forster was an uncle of the late Captain John Forster, of Mifflinburg, and a brother of the old Major Thomas Forster. James Chambers was the son of Robert Chambers. George Etzweiler, junior, left a widow named Mary. George Etzweiler, a son of the one killed, kept hotel at McKee's Half-Falls, as late as 1812. William Fisher was the grandfather of James Crossgrove and Sheriff John Crossgrove, and resided in Limestone, where James Crossgrove lately resided. William Gill told me he heard old Mrs. Overmeier say that the people who were killed, were brought over to the place adjoining Philip Seebold's residence, above New Berlin, and were buried in the old grave-yard on the bluff at the creek, where Dry run comes in, nearly opposite where 188 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1780. Tuscarora run enters Penn's, on the Snyder county side.* Here old John Trester and the first settlers were buried. This grave-yard, probably the oldest in the county, was not used after 1791, when the people commenced burying in New Berlin. It belonged to Thomas Barber, who was killed in 1792, by the timbers of an old barn falling upon him. Some time during this year one of the Mizener's, who resided where Daniel Pontius now resides, near Reish's distillery, was captured, and carried off from that place by the Indians. Esquire Sheckler informs me it was Adam Mizener, who moved to Ohio, and died there some years ago. He remained in captivity about eighteen months. On the 14th of July, the Archives state that a man and three children were killed, near the mouth of Buffalo creek. According to the statement of William Wilson, (Doctor T. H's. grandfather,) this occurred at the old house where Thomas Ream now lives. The woman escaped across the creek and, looking back, saw an Indian dash the brains out of the small child against a tree. The name of the family was Allen. Copy of Roll found among Colonel John Kelly's papers. A pay-roll of my company of the first battalion, Northumberland county militia, commencing 16th of July, 1780. Enrolled, July 16, 1780. Discharged, August 15. Colonel - Kelly, John. Captain - Thompson, James. Lieutenant - Poak, Joseph. Ensign - Ewing, Alexander. Black, William; Black, Thomas; Brindage, Joseph; Fleming, Hance; Green, Joseph; Hamersley, James; Iddings, Jonathan; Poak, John; Poak, Thomas; Poak, James Smith; Rodman, Hugh; Wilson, Peter; Wilson, John; Young, John. Letters of administration on Patrick Watson's estate, were granted on the 23d of July, of this year; and his death, perhaps, occurred during May, when the stroke on the Valley, spoken of in Captain Matthew Smith's letter, was made. His cabin was on a slight elevation, a little east of the new school-house (1877) at White Springs, *Philip Seebold said, in 1872, that George Etzweiler was buried on John Cook's place, now Peter Slear's, In Limestone township. 1780.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 189 Limestone township. The site was pointed out to me, by Jacob M. Shively, whose grandfather, Christian Shively, showed him the spot, and told the story. He said he heard the firing, and went to Watson's cabin, and found Mrs. Watson, Patrick's mother, lying on the floor, shot, and a dog licking her scalped head. She could only make motions in reply to his inquiry, intimating that Patrick had gone down the run. He went out after him, and found him near the White spring. Watson did not know he was shot until, stooping down by the spring to drink, the water ran out of his wound. He died within two hours. He and his mother were among the first buried in the Lewis grave-yard. He was an uncle of David, William, and John C. Watson. Friday, 14th July, Baltzer Klinesmith, who resided then on George Sholtz's land, lately owned by John Byler, on the second road south of Dreisbach's church leading to Jenkins' mills, and had a small clearing upon it, was killed. The versions of this story are quite numerous. The one in the "History of the West Branch," was furnished by George A. Snyder, Esquire, deceased. The dates I get from the widow's pension papers, and an old certificate, in which it is further stated that he was a private in Captain Joseph Green's company, Lieutenant John Cryder, in Colonel Kelly's battalion. My version is from one who often heard Mrs. Chambers tell it herself. She, with her father and sister, went out in the field to work. He, seeing some squirrels, sent Baltzer, junior, back for his gun. Meanwhile, the Indians came along and captured the old man and the two girls, Elizabeth and Catherine. Just where the road winds around the hill, above Heimbach's blacksmith shop, on the road to New Berlin, they killed Klinesmith. Mrs. Dreisbach, the Judge's mother, pointed out the place. She helped carry his body down, and they buried it in the Dreisbach church-yard. The Indians then made their way to the spring, north of New Berlin, where they left the girls in charge of an old man of their party, and went down Dry valley. After a little while it began to rain, and the Indian motioned the girls to gather brush to cover the flour bag. He laid down under a tree, with the tomahawk under his head. The girls, in passing with brush, worked it gradually from under him as he dozed. Elizabeth picked up the tomahawk, 190 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1780. and made a motion to her sister to run. She then sank it into the old man's head. The old man yelled fearfully, and the girls ran. By this time the Indians were on their return, and heard the old man yell. They pursued the girls and fired on Catherine, just as she was springing over a fallen tree. The ball entered below the right shoulder-blade and came out at her side. She had the scars until her dying day, as large as a half dollar. She rolled herself under the tree, and the Indians passed over her, in pursuit of the sister. Elizabeth, being active, reached Beatty's harvest field. The men ran to their rifles and pursued the Indians. When they came pretty near Catherine, one of the men, supposing an Indian in ambush, was about firing, when she pulled off her apron and waved it. They found her much weakened from loss of blood, but she soon recovered. Philip Pontius, still living, told me that the Indians were going to Beatty's, and George Rote, who was a lame man, but great on a halloo, frightened them back, by hallooing to an imaginary company to surround the black rebels. Klinesmith's widow drew a pension as late as 1819, at New Berlin. "Elizabeth married John Boal, moved to French creek, near Meadville first, and, in 1843, was still living in Ohio or Indiana, her husband, being one of those restless spirits, who fancy that the land is over-crowded, when the population exceeds one to every ten square miles, and she, from her courage and energy, being an excellent second to a man always exposed to the perils of frontier life." - Manuscript of G. H. Snyder. Katy, as she was called, first married Daniel Campbell, a revolu- tionary soldier, and had, by him, two children, John, who died near Mifflinburg, and Ann, who married Robert Barber. They removed West, and are now both dead. Katy married next Robert Chambers, by whom she had one child, the first wife of John A. Vanvalzah, deceased. Notwithstanding her wound, she survived two husbands. My informant, William M. Vanvalzah, tells me that when a boy, many a night he heard her and old Captain Thompson talk over the events of their early life. Klinesmith's land, in Lewis township, was valued in 1810, Robert Chambers taking one portion, and Baltzer Klinesmith, junior, the other. Baltzer, junior, sold his land, some thirty years since, to Christian Mensch, and moved to a lot owned by his wife, near Hartleton, where he died, and is buried in the Laurelton grave-yard. His wife was a daughter of Melchior l780.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 191 Smith, their children, David, Samuel, John Melchior, daughters Mary Ann and Margaret, who married Messrs. Stover, in Centre county. Catherine married_______ Miller. Martin Trester, a few years after, found a rifle near the spring, supposed to belong to the old Indian. Traditions of the Valley have always connected the following incident with the pursuit of the murderers of Klinesmith; and the date mentioned in the note below probably confirms that belief: Van Campen, in his narrative, see Meginness, page 277, says that "in the summer of 1781*, a man was taken prisoner, in Buffalo Valley, and made his escape. He reported there were about three hundred Indians on the Sinnemahoning. I was then a lieutenant in Captain Robinson's company. Colonel Hunter selected a company of five to reconnoitre, Captain Campbell, Peter and Michael Grove, Lieutenant Cramer, and myself. We took with us three days' provision, and went up the West Branch, with much caution and care. We reached the Sinnemahoning, but found no tracks. A little below it we discovered a smoke, and that there was a large party of them. "As soon as it was dark we new primed our rifles, sharpened our flints, and examined our tomahawk handles; and, all being ready, we waited with great impatience until they all lay down. The night was warm, and as we advanced upon them in the utmost silence, rifle in one hand, tomahawk in the other, we found some of them rolled in their blankets, a rod or two from the fire. Having got among them, we first handled our tomahawks. They arose like a dark cloud. We now fired on them and raised the war-yell. They took to flight in the utmost confusion. We remained masters of the ground and of all their plunder. It was a party of twenty-five or thirty, which had been down as low as Penn's creek, and had killed and scalped two or three families. We found several scalps of different ages, and a large quantity of domestic cloth, which we took to Northumberland, and distributed among the distressed who had escaped the tomahawk." *Van Campen made a mistake in the year, no doubt, and his description would lead one to believe more than two Indians were killed. Grove speaks only of two, and the following item, in the State Treasurer's account, September 80, 1780, indicates that Grove was correct: Cash paid Robert Martin, for Jacob Creamer, Peter Grove, William Campbell, and Michael Grove, for two Indian scalps, £1,875. The same account September 29, ten head of cattle for the Commissioners of Purchases, £10,410, shows the Immense depreciation of currency at this time. 192 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1780. There were four of the Grove brothers, Wendell, Adam, who lived where George Wolfe now lives, in Mortonsville, Michael, who lived on the back road to Mifflinburg, and Peter. Peter disappears very early from our Valley. The only notices I can find of him are the mixture of truth and fiction, in the Appendix to Meginness' History. Michael lived within the recollection of many of my readers. He died in Nippenose, south of Jersey Shore, in September, 1827, aged seventy, and was brought home, and buried in the Dreisbach graveyard. Meginness says he was attended by Doctor Davidson in his last illness, and gave a vivid account of the engagement above spoken of. Before they commenced the attack, an old Indian annoyed them very much. He was troubled with a severe cough, and frequently rose up, and looked carefully around, seeming to anticipate danger. At length the old man fell asleep, and they commenced creeping up, intending to use their tomahawks first. One of them, unexpectedly, crawled over an Indian, who lay some distance from the rest, and the old man rose up at this moment. Michael, with a powerful blow with his hatchet, clove the old man's skull, and, striking it into the back of another, could not withdraw it, when the Indian drew him over the bank into the creek, where, however, he succeeded in killing him. Some of the Indians got on to the other side of the creek, and commenced firing, and they had to retire. They waded down the creek, taking to the hills, and, thence over to the Bald Eagle ridge. John Beeber describes Michael as having an eye like a hawk, and being able to travel at night, even in his old age, nearly as well as in day time. He told Beeber that Joseph Groninger, of White Deer, was along, and going up, they stopped at James Ellis', uncle of William Cox Ellis, and took their dinner with their rifles on their knees. Michael left three children, John, Sarah, married to Samuel Lutz, and _______ to Jacob Smith. To the two girls he gave farms in Nippenose, and he was there visiting when he died. His son John is now dead. He left a son, Michael, and daughter, Esther. Michael also died on the old farm, where his grandfather lived. Esther married Enoch Kauffman. Michael's son, Peter, still lives in West Buffalo, and other descendants are in the same township. Adam lived on the Nesbit property, which he sold to Thomas Nesbit, in 1822. His son, Samuel, married a sister of the late Joseph Glass, and is the father of Simon, Joseph, William, Mrs. Jacob Parks. 1781.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 193 and Wesley, (who was starved to death in one of the rebel prisons.) Samuel moved West, where his family has become wealthy, and influential at the bar and other pursuits. In July, George Row, of Penn's township, was wounded in the breast, at Fought's mill, (near Mifflinburg,) and died in eight hours. He left a widow, Mary M., who drew a pension for many years afterward. The original Barber's mill, on Penn's creek, was built this year by Adam Smith. It was long known as David Smith's mill. The latter sold to Barber and Heise, who built the present structure. 8th September, General Potter marched a body of one hundred and seventy men to Fort Swartz, and then went up to Colonel Kelly, who lay at the mouth of White Deer creek. Fort Swartz was most likely Peter Swartz's, who lived on the farm now owned by Honorable George F. Miller. Day's Historical Collections says this fort was a mile above Milton; but as General Potter says nothing of crossing the river, it was no doubt the block-house at Peter Swartz's. 24th September, Henry McCracken, private in Captain William Clark's company, killed. He left a widow, Mary, and five children. 1781 NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN JAMES THOMPSON - CAPTAIN CAMPLETON KILLED - LETTER FROM GENERAL POTTER - STORY OF THE EMERICK FAMILY - ROLL OF PETER GROVE's AND MCGRADY's COMPANIES - CHRISTIAN HETRICK AND DAVID STORM KILLED. MEMBER of Council, General James Potter. Assembly, William Maclay, William Montgomery, and Colonel William Cooke. Presiding Justice, Frederick Antes. Sheriff, James Crawford. Treasurer, William Gray. County Commissioners, William Antes, James Espy, and Daniel Montgomery. 194 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1781. On the 11th of April, David Kennedy was appointed Secretary of the Land Office, Colonel Francis Johnston, Receiver General, and John Lukens, Surveyor General. Buffalo: Constable, Henry Gilman; Supervisors, Abel Rees and John Reighard; Overseers, Michael Hessler and John Clark. 10th March, Saturday, at ten, A. M., Black Ann, for larceny from Eleanor Green, was whipped at the public whipping-post, in Sunbury - twenty lashes on her bare back, well laid on. March 31, Peter Grove, of Buffalo, commissioned lieutenant of the rangers; Samuel Quinn, ensign. In 1788, the latter was deputy surveyor, and Quinn's run, in Clinton county, was called from his camping there during that year. May 3, fast day, by order of Congress. June 26, William Gray, Esquire, appointed paymaster of the militia. Penn's Township Residents, &c. Anderson, William, tan-yard; Arnold, Casper; Arnold, Widow; Campbell, Clary, (tenant on Charles Gemberling's place,) he was from Bald Eagle settlement; Cripps, John; Dillman, Andrew; Espert, Widow; Graybill, John, non-juror; Gast, Christian; Grow, Godfrey; Gillen, William; Hafflich, Jacob; Heiner, Frederick; Hauser, John; Hessler, William; Hassinger, Frederick; Jordan, Benjamin; Jost, Widow; Kester, Peter; Kerk, Michael; Kinney, Jacob; Kohler, Andrew; Lepley, Jacob; Miller, Adam; Miller, Simon; Maddox, Richard; Merkel, Peter; Meraby, Edward; Pickard, John; Potter, James, two slaves; Repass, Jacob; Showers, Michael, tenant of Jacob Stees; Stephen, Adam; Shaw, William; Shetterly, John; Witmer, Peter; Woods, Joseph. In Buffalo: Antes, Philip; Baker, John; Bickle, Widow; Blair, Samuel; Boatman, Claudius; Coon, John; Dean, David; Ferguson, James; Green, Joseph, two grist and one saw-mill; Holman, Eli; Houghton, John, tenant of Samuel Maclay; Keen, Jacob, tenant of John Aurand; Knipper, Paul; Klinesmith, Widow; Laughlin, Widow; McAdam, William; McDonald, Widow; Reem, Nicholas; Rezner, John; Templeton, Widow; Trester, William; Vandyke, John; Watson, James, saw-mill, at Seebold's now. White Deer - Single men: Ammon, Philip; Caldwell, James; Clendenning, John; Collins, Daniel; Crawford, Robert; Gamble, 1781.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 195 Charles; Gibson, James; Hamel, Charles; Hayes, David; Hood, Moses; Huston, Samuel; McCartney, Robert; McKinney, James; McLaughlin, John; Montgomery, Samuel; Murray, William; Poak, John; Tannehill, John. The ejectment for White Deer mills property was resumed. The suit is brought by Vannost, and has this distorted title: "Timothy Macabees, lessee of James Claypoole, vs. Judias Iscariot, with notice to Catherine Smith, widow in possession." To November term we have the commencement of a series of suits between Ludwig Derr and Christian Van Gundy, which, after many years, ended in the pecuniary ruin of the latter. It was brought to November term, lessee of Christian Van Gundy vs. Thomas Troublesome, lessee of Ludwig Derr, with notice to Christian Hettrick, tenant in possession. It astonishes a lawyer of the present how our predecessors managed to keep cases so long in court. Van Gundy's application had not the shadow of chance against Derr's title; yet toe contest went on for years, until Van Gundy's money gave out. This suit was for the present site of Lewisburg. Captain dames Thompson's Narrative. In the manuscript journal of the late James F. Linn, Esquire, under date of June 14, 1832, is the following entry: "Old Captain James Thompson was with us last night. He told us a good part of his adventures when with the Indians. He appeared not to wish to tell the story. I got it out of him, only in answers to questions." The narrative was entered in my father's journal. I have supplemented by the article of Elizabeth Gondaker, now Dale, niece of Captain Thompson, in the Lancaster Inteliigencer, 1842. "In March, 1781, I was going from this town (Lewisburg) up to my home, on Spruce run, preparatory to following my wife and family down to Penn's creek, whither, I had taken them for safety. On the road, between John Linn's old place and Colonel Kelly's, I was captured by four Indians. When we came to the hollow, which is now cleared by Thomas Iddings, they discovered a fresh track in the mud, and one of them hallooed 'squaw.' Two of them set off on a run, the remaining two staid with me, one walking before and the other behind. I soon heard the scream of a woman, 196 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1781. whereupon, the one behind me gave me a punch in the back with the butt of his gun, and said 'waugh' - run. We all started off on a run, and when we got to the top of the hill, I saw the father of the girl fall, and the Indians seize her. She had lost a shoe in the race. She was Mary Young, the daughter of Mathew Young, who lived on Spruce run. William Hayes now owns the place; he bought it as James Black's property, a few years ago, (now, 1877, Gabriel Huntingdon's.) We crossed the White Deer mountains, north of the Valley, and camped the second night on Lycoming creek. They tied me, with my arms behind me, to two grubs. I managed to get the cords off, after they got to sleep; two of them laid on one side of the fire, near me, and two on the other, with the girl. I tried to get one of the tomahawks, but they were lying upon them. I then got a stone, they had been using to pound corn with, got on my knees near one of them, and prepared to give him a mortal stroke. I intended striking him on the temple, but he had a blanket wrapped around his head, and I struck too high. The Indian gave a yell and awoke the rest. I started to run, but the cord stretched between the two grubs, caught me about the middle, and in trying to get around it, one of the Indians caught me by the coat collar, and in the struggle, tore it clear down to the middle. He drew his tomahawk to strike me, but stopped, and addressed the wounded one in their language. Drew it the second and third time, when I was sure I would get it; but I had made up my mind, to try to catch it, and wrest it from him. They then got a gourd, put shot in it, and tied it to my waist. This was my death warrant. I could have readily escaped myself, but I was anxious to rescue Mary. After that, they tied me so tight, I lossed all feeling in my arms and hands. Before we got to Towanda, one of the Indians shot a turkey, took out the entrails, and roasted them on a stick, and gave them to us. It was very delicious, as we had but a few grains of corn a day to eat. One of them shot a dipper-duck, and skinning it, after making an opening at the belly, slipped it over the hurt man's head for a night-cap. "When we got to Towanda, the Indians became careless, supposing there was no danger of my running away. They made me gather wood for the fire, and as I returned each time I slipped a few grains of corn out of the kettle, and every load I wandered further from 1781.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 197 camp. At last, seeing no one looking my way, I started with twenty- two grains of corn for a provision for a journey of nearly two hun- dred miles. I could have escaped before, but I could not bear the idea of leaving the girl with them. Her hardships were fearful. Often her clothes were frozen solid after wading the creeks. We had encamped that night at the foot of a hill by a stream of water. She urged me to leave her, and finally I followed her advice. I carried two loads, I think, still going further up the hill. I took a different direction from home at first. I stepped upon a rotten stick, which made a noise, and then, mistaking the sound of two trees rubbed together by the wind, for the Indians, I ran with all my might, and reached a pond, in which I buried myself up to the head. Finding the Indians did not come that way, I proceeded, keeping upon the tops of the mountains. One night I spent in a hollow tree. At another time I came very near getting into an Indian encampment before I was aware of it. I saw the Indians pass between me and the fire. At another time, coming upon a camp, the Indians hallooed. I felt certain I was discovered, but squatted down among the bushes, and when they began to cut wood I made off. At one place I found two walnuts, at another the bone of a deer, which I cracked, and sucked the marrow. This, with the corn, was all the provision I had, and, in crossing Lycoming creek, I nearly drowned from excessive weakness. I struck the West Branch a few rods above where we crossed going up, and found one of the canoes lying on the bank, as the river had fallen. I was so weak I could not lift it in, but, by means of a handspike and some rollers, I managed to get it in. After I got it in, I discovered the other canoe sunk, which I ladled out, and lashed to the other. When I got opposite Watsontown, I was so weak I could only lay in the bottom of the canoe, and wave my hands. Fortunately I was here noticed, and the people came to my relief. They considerately fed me with sweet milk only, until I got stronger, but it was some time before I could tell them about my adventures." Mary Young they carried with them to their town. They set her to hoeing corn. An old negro, who was also a prisoner, told her to dig up the beans planted with the corn, and they would sell her to the English. She did as she was advised, and they thought her too stupid to learn to work, and sold her. She said two of the Indians 198 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1781. pursued Captain Thompson part of two days. The wounded Indian left them shortly after they got out. She supposed he died, as he was very much hurt. Mary was sent to Montreal, and sold. Her purchaser's name was Young, and, on tracing the relationship, they found they were cousins. She remained there until after the war, and then returned to her friends in Buffalo Valley. Tradition says her health was very much undermined, and she died soon after. She was still living in 1787, when her father died; but I can trace her no further. But for the entry in my father's journal, her history would have been as evanescent as her foot-prints, which revealed her presence to the Indians. Captain Thompson removed his family to Chester county, where they remained until after the Indian troubles were all over. They then returned, and he purchased of the widow Dempsey the place now owned by Jacob Ziebach, on Spruce run, in Buffalo, and resided there until the year 1832, when he went to reside with his son-in-law, Boyd Smith, (son of Gideon Smith, who lived at the mouth of Little Buffalo,) near Jersey Shore, where he died, February 9, 1837, aged ninety-three years nine months and nine days. When ten years of age, he was with his father at Braddock's defeat. He was a remarkable man in old age, often walking from Jersey Shore down into Buffalo Valley, a welcome guest in every house from Pine to Penn's creek. His son William married Susan Linn, in 1804, and removed to Sugar Creek, Venango county. Their son James died from an explosion, which took place in his store, in 1833. He was carrying out ashes in an empty keg, as he supposed, but which had several pounds of powder in it. Ann married John B. McCalmont, Esquire, nephew of old Judge McCalmont. She died in 1849. John Linn Thompson died in Venango, leaving a family. William resides in New Brighton, Beaver county. In a letter to General Potter, Colonel Hunter states that Captain Thomas Kempling, as he writes it, and his eldest son, were killed by the Indians, at the mouth of Muncy creek, in March, 1781. In the petition of his widow, who writes her name Mary Campleton, presented to the Assembly, September 23, 1784, she says: "My husband and son, with others, went on a tour of duty up the West Branch, early in the spring of 1781, and lying one night at the mouth of Muncy creek, in the morning the savages came on them, 1781.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 199 when my unfortunate husband and son, with one William Campble, fell a sacrifice to all the cruelties and barbarities that savages could inflict, leaving your petitioner and six children. We were driven from house and home, and so reduced that I am unable to return to the place we had improved upon." About this time, John Shively who lived on the place now owned by R. V. B. Lincoln, Esquire, was captured by the Indians, in the meadow, in the rear of Esquire Lincoln's house. He was never heard of afterwards. He left a widow and sons, Christian and Frederick, who owned the place until the year 1804. His widow married Philip Mann, who lived in the Valley up to 1805. George Rote and his sister Rudy, aged about twelve and fourteen, were taken at Mifflinburg, where their father, George Rote (or Rhodes) lived. They were separated and carried into the Corn-planter's country. When peace was proclaimed they were liberated, and met at a furnace, near Clarion, Pennsylvania, and came back together. Rody married James Ben, and they moved to Centre county. They were uncle and aunt to the late Captain John Rote, who never could hear of an Indian in latter times without getting into a passion. Jacob and Conrad Caderman were captured at the same time. The former told my informant that Limestone hill seemed full of Indians; that he had a gun and fired into the ground, to indicate that they surrendered. He said he liked Indian life so well that he would have remained among them, but for his wife and children. Conrad played stupid, and did all the mischief he could. They soon got tired of him, and sold him to the English for a five gallon keg of whisky. They both returned and lived long in the Valley. James Ben lived on a place adjoining Philip Fishburn, now in Spring Creek, Centre county. His wife died many years ago, and he subsequently married a widow Murphy. In the life of Rev. John Dietrich Aurand, Harbaugh's "Fathers," mention is made of his return from the army early this year; that his mother, Mrs. John Aurand, had died but a short time before his return, and amid the tenderest longings to see her son once more before her departure. A deep sadness took possession of the young soldier's spirit when he found his mother no more among the living. He often went to her grave to weep and pray. She was buried on a gentle knoll on the west side of the present road, and on the south 200 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1781. side of Turtle creek, near the mouth of the stream, under an aged yellow pine, in the midst of a clump of white pines of smaller growth. Tradition has it that a number of people were buried here before and during the Revolution. Bickle, who was killed at Henry Mertz's place, is said to have been buried here. In my earliest recollection it went by the name of the old Indian burying-ground. It is now, however, a cleared field, (1872,) and all marks of its former use probably obliterated. SUNBERY, April 12, 1781. SIR: I arrived at my house on Sunday last, and on Monday I came to this pleace, and since, I have maid a visite to difrent parts of the frunteers, who I find in great disstress, numbers of them flying for their lives. At this early season of the year, the enemy has maid five different strookes on our frunteers, since the 22d of March. On the sixth instant, they fiered on an old man, his son, and daughter. The boy was shott ded, and the Indians imedatly maid a prisoner of the young woman. The old man had a stick in his hand, with which he nobley defended himself against one of the Indians, who had a tomhack and maid the fellow drope his wapon. Col. Kelly, with a few of his neighbours, was in a house at a little distance. On hearing the enemy guns go off, run to the pleace, and obleged the enemy to retreat, leving the young woman there prisner, and our brave old Irishman, and his stick behind them, and all there blankets. They out run Col. Kelly and his party, and got off as usile. On Sabath day last, the eight instant, in the evening, they came to the house of one Durmes, about five miles from this pleace. Immedatly on there entring they house, they shot Dunn and tooke one Capt. Solomons a prisoner. There was four weemen and a number of children in the house. They plundered the house of every thing that was vallibel. But what is surprising, they went off with Captd. Solomon and there plunder, leving behind the weeman and children. This hapened leat in the evening. The next day they were persued but not come up with. Capt. Robinson has got forty men enlisted for the war, but many of them are so naked, for want of all kinds of clothing, that the can not do duty. They have not a blanket among them all. I know 1781.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 201 it is not in the power of Council to provide for them at present, but I hope they will as soon as posable. I most sincely wished for our Assembly to have been with me in my disagreeable visit along the much disstressed fruntiers. I have not language to express their distresses. With great esteem, your humble serv't, JAS. POTTER. Jos. REED, Pres't. The Story of the Emerick Family. On the farm now owned by Jacob Seebold, to the right of the road going to New Berlin, after passing the road through Chappel's Hollow, lived David Emerick, with his wife and four children, his other daughter being down the country at that time. Emerick had first settled upon the tract where the Widow Brown's tavern is, or near it, before the revolutionary war, in 1773, where he built a house, cleared ten acres of land, planted apple trees, &c. He sold this place, by deed dated 21st June, 1780, to Daniel Rees. On the 15th of November, 1779, he had purchased of Andrew Glen and wife the tract of two hundred and eighty acres, (on which he subsequently removed, and was captured.) for £2,925. Here he cleared a piece and built a cabin, and was residing in April, 1781. Here Henry Bickel, (who lived where Henry Mertz now does,) was shot. He had come there to help roll logs. His family was not disturbed. They plundered Emerick's house of everything, and loaded him down with baggage. After proceeding a little way, they pulled down a sapling, sharpened the end of it, impaled the babe, and let it fly in the air. Emerick became so exhausted with his load that he sat down upon a log, and refused to go any further. One of the Indians sank his tomahawk into his head, and killed him. One of the daughters died from excessive bleeding at the nose, on the journey through the wilderness. They were taken to Niagara,* and the wife and daughters married Indians, their captors; and many years ago *Heckowelder says that the Muncys took refuge during the Revolution in Canada, and remained there. It is reasonable, to conclude, that the party making this descent upon the Valley were of its aboriginal inhabitants, familiar with its localities, and, therefore, able to enter and withdraw with comparative safety. 202 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1781. Mrs. Emerick and her Indian husband came to Henry Myer's, near Harrisburg, in order to draw some money coming to her from her grandfather's estate. Thus far I had the story from Benjamin Shell, (court crier,) of New Berlin. Emerick was an uncle of Mr. Shell's mother, and the Emericks came from what is now Dauphin county, and settled, as he heard the story, in the "Shamokin country." My own researches among the records developed the dates and the rest of the narrative. There is on record, in Sunbury, a letter of attorney, dated the 12th of January, 1805, recorded in deed book M, page 516, the parties to which are Archibald Thompson, of Stamford, in the district of Niagara, province of Upper Canada, and Catherine, his wife, formerly the widow of David Emerick, to James Thompson, of the same place, authorizing him to collect their interest in the rents, issues, and profits of lands, and all the goods and chattels, late of David Emerick; and also from the heirs and executors of Conrad Sharp, of Berks county, their interest in his estate. It is dated at Willoughby, and acknowledged before Archibald Stewart. It is recorded on the 4th of March, 1805. It is followed by a letter of attorney from James Thompson to George Schoch, to sell and convey their interest in a tract of land, in Buffalo township, adjoining lands of Hessler, Hugh Beatty, George Olds, and James Jenkins, containing one hundred and seventy-one acres, "which they hold as tenants, in common with John Bickle," recited to be conveyed by Andrew Glen and wife. On referring to deed book C, page 378, it will appear that Andrew Glen and Sarah, his wife, on the 16th of November, 1779, deeded to David Emerick, a warrant of the 15th of December, 1772, for two hundred and eighty acres, consideration, £2,925. It describes the land as adjoining Thomas Sutherland, James Hunter, and George Olds. 9th August, 1786, John Aurand appointed guardian of Margaret and Catherine Emerick, children of David Emerick, deceased. Finally there is a release recorded at Lewisburg, dated the 26th of September, 1816, from James Thompson to George Schoch, which recites that David Emerick left a widow, named Catherine, and two daughters, Margaret, intermarried with James Thompson, and the other intermarried with George Bauder, and he, Thompson, releases his wife's share of David Emerick's estate, amounting to $516 75. So it seems that the wife, and at least one of the daughters, married 1781.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 203 their captors, who, many years after, came back and received their share of the estate of the man they murdered. Mr. Shell said Mrs. Emerick was infatuated with the Indian style of life, and endeavored to persuade some of her female relatives to go off with them when here. The recollection of one of the old inhabitants of the Valley was, that they came here in grand style, on horseback, Mrs. Emerick decorated with all the tinsel of Indian dress. In 1825, Bonham's heirs brought an ejectment against William Gibbons, for a tract of land, in the warrantee name of David Emerick, and, to sustain their title, gave in evidence a deed, dated the 21st of June, 1780, from David Emerick to Daniel Rees, under whom Bonham claimed. The evidence on the trial is all lost, but from some manuscript notes taken by the late James F. Linn, it appears that the defense, who had no real defense, subpoenaed all the old settlers in the country to prove that David Emerick was killed in 1778 or 1779, from which the lawyers argued the deed a forgery, though it purported to be acknowledged before Christopher Gettig, Esquire. We are unable to say exactly, but think this was a dodge of the lawyers, taken upon the second trial, the other side, Mr. Bellas and Hepburn never dreaming of parol testimony thus affecting their title. Among others called to prove that Emerick was killed prior to the date of the deed, was Michael Smith, grandfather of A. W. Smith, Esquire. He said "I was living in the place where B. I am now living (1830*) during the revolutionary war. C. There was a massacre by the Indians in Dry valley. Henry D. Bickle was killed; the only one, as far as we know. David Emerick and his family were taken prisoners on the same day. His woman came in afterward, and said Emerick was killed on the road. David Emerick never appeared again. It was three years afterward when his wife returned. She was afterward married to Thompson, in York State. I was eight or nine years of age at the time of the massacre. Bickle's wife had a son, about four months after his murder. He is now in court, and his name is Henry Bickle. I was born in 1769. I saw Henry Bickle after he was murdered. My father lived about two miles from Bickle at that time. My wife's mother and Emerick's wife's mother were sisters. I saw Thompson after he was married to Mrs. Emerick. They were married about the last of the war, or in it. *Smith lived on Kunkle's place, west or Henry Mertz. 204 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1781. "Lee's massacre was about a year after Emerick's. It was in Dry Valley, and about the time of the general runaway. I saw Lee's family all lying scalped. Emerick has some children. I never saw any of them. There was one of the girls down below at the time, and was at my house about a year ago. Emerick lived near the hill, not far from Hummel's tavern, in Dry Valley. Emerick's children were all taken, except the one below. I saw Lees' killed in the house where they were killed. They had their heads all scalped, and were laid on a bundle of straw." Jacob Bower, of Union township, whose deposition was read, stated that knew David Emerick, and, three years after he became acquainted with him, he was taken by the Indians. "They killed him on the hill, and we fled to Lee's, and lived there until after hay- making. Lee was after the Indians when Trinkle and Faught were killed. Lee was killed by the Indians afterwards. Emerick was not taken prisoner the same summer Lee was killed, but the year we lived at Lee's." Henry Bickle, sworn: "I am fifty-one or fifty-two years of age, and was born in 1778 or 1779, one of the two. I have been always told I was born about four months after my father was killed. I saw Emerick's wife when she was in. My mother lives twenty miles from here. Mrs. Emerick gave me a pen-knife when she was in. I cannot recollect how long since. My mother is eighty-five the 7th of next September. I was born in July, and my father was killed in April, as I have always been told by my mother and others. Emerick's wife and my mother were sisters. My mother was married to old George Schoch, who is since dead. She has lost her mind, and would not do any good if she were here." The plaintiffs then gave in evidence the records of an ejectment, No. 138, May Term, 1834. James Thompson and Margaret, his wife, late Margaret Emerick, in right of said Margaret, George Bauder and Catherine, his wife, late Catherine Emerick, vs. David Zeluff and Robert Hilands, and called the late James Merrill, Esquire, who said that he had brought "this suit at the instance of David Thorburn, who showed me a power of attorney, which he took away with him again. I never knew the man before. He said he lived in Canada." They also offered letters from Thorburn from Canada, post-marked Lewistown, which were rejected. This ejectment was non-prossed under the rules. 1781.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 205 Defendants called Philip Hoyens, who swore he knew David Emerick and Henry Bickle. "Emerick first lived on the Gibbons place. He made an improvement, built a house, and cleared about ten acres. Bickle and Emerick were killed by the Indians. I think they took Emerick away a piece. Emerick moved to this place of Gibbons' before the war. It was two miles from Northumberland." Instead of contending stoutly that such evidence could not contradict a deed as to date, and could raise no presumption of death as against a written document, Mr. Hepburn, for the plaintiff, seemed to yield to the force of the old men's testimony, and said that Emerick's name might be a fictitious one, which Bonham had used; it was the practice of the day to use fictitious names to obtain a warrant of survey, and argued further, that there was no evidence that the David Emerick killed by the Indians was the one who owned this land. The jury, in the former trial, had found for the defendants. It was taken to the Supreme Court, and the case is reported in 2 Rawle, 45, reversed on error of the judge. At this, the second trial, they came in with a sealed verdict, finding for defendant again. On being polled, one dissented, and they were sent out, and, not being able to agree, they were discharged. At May Term, 1830, the cause was called again, and after the jury were in the box, the parties settled by an agreement that Gibbons should hold the interference during life, after which it was to revert to Bonham's heirs. Lashells and Greenough were for the defense, as could be guessed by any one reading the trial, and knowing their peculiar ability in ejectment cases. An examination of the assessment books in the commissioners' office, would have shown that John Lee was assessor on the 27th of March, 1782, wherefore, according to the testimony of all the witnesses, the Bickle and Emerick massacre must have been in 1781. The deed from Glen and wife to Emerick, showed that Emerick was alive on the 15th of November, 1779, while Smith and Bickle's testimony would make out that he was killed in 1778 or 1779. The assessment books show that Emerick and Pickle were both alive on 1st of November, 1780, and in the one made by John Lee himself, in March, 1782, for the year 1781, Pickle's property is assessed to his widow, and the 206 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1781. name and family of Emerick disappear forever from the assessment lists after 1781. Hummel's tavern, in Dry valley, was at the intersection of the roads at Adam Miller's, beyond Samuel Guise's. The Fought and Trinkle murders I can get no trace of, except the allusion in this evidence. They both lived in Dry valley. Henry Bickle, who was killed when Emerick's family was captured, left the following family: Christopher, the eldest, who took the farm in 1792, at 40 shillings per acre; Maria C., married to Benjamin Stroh; Elizabeth afterwards married Jacob Kamerlin. Henry, as stated. The widow, Esther Regina, married George Schoch. Christopher sold it to John Meyer in 1806, who sold to Daniel Nyhart, who sold, 4th May, 1822, to Jacob Mertz, whose son, Henry, resides at the old place. John Wierbach's daughter, (sister of Nicholas and John,) of Buffalo, was carried off by the Indians. She married among them, and after the war her father went West, and found her, but could never induce her to return, though he offered every inducement he could. She preferred the wild life of the savages. Pay-roll of Peter Grove's Detachment for Services on the Frontier, June 1. Lieutenant - Grove, Peter. Sergeants - Clark, William; Wilson, Matthew. Privates - Trester, John; Lamberson, Nicholas; Rough, John; Barber, Uriah; Trester, Jacob; Shock, John; Fisher, Paul; Bower, George; Bradley, Matthew; Bower, Daniel; Houser, Jacob; Harriott, William; Grove, Michael. Pay-roll of Lieutenant Samuel McGrady's Detachment. Lieutenant - McGrady, Samuel. Sergeants - Montgomery, Samuel; Armstrong, Daniel. Privates - Love, Robert; Daraugh, Ephraim; Fleming,* Hans; Fulton, Samuel; Marshall, William; Lykens, Joseph; Misener, John; Clark, George; Rees, Daniel; Speddy, William; Pollock, His proper name was Archibald Fleming. He lived at Shippensburg in August, 1799, as appear, by his receipt. 1781.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 207 William; Dougherty, William; McClung, Charles; English, Wil- liam; Allen, Robert; Parsons, Barnabas; McGrady, Alexander. In 1781, the first battalion of Northumberland county militia, commanded by Colonel John Kelly, was composed of the following companies: Captain John Foster, numbering, officers and privates, 55 men. " James Thompson, " " " 44 " " George Overmeier, " " " 51 " " Samuel Fisher, " " " 55 " " Samuel Young, " " " 51 " " Abraham Piatt, " " " 53 " " William Irvine, " " " 53 " " William Gray, " " " 44 " Among the rangers commanded by Captain Thomas Robinson, June I, occur the following from Buffalo Valley: Claudius Boatman, fifer, William Armstrong, Ludwig Rough, Conrad Katherman, Jacob Links. The names of Thomas Perry, Hugh Rodman, John Linn, William Black, James Rodman, James Boyd, Thomas Black, John Rhea, William Black, James Hamersly, appear among those who received pay for seven months' services. Indian Outrages in the Valley. July 18, Colonel Hunter writes that the Indians have again made their appearance, and that there were no stores of any kind, and meat very scarce in the county. August 3, Walter Clark and William Antes write: "With pain and with the utmost truth we are obliged to declare that we cannot comply with the law passed for supplies. The whole personal property of the county, even if removed to a place where cash could be paid for it, would not pay the tax. The improvements are grown up, burned, or destroyed, and the most of the personal property moved into the lower counties." September, Captain Robinson writes: "The savages have been quiet for some time. They made their appearance in harvest, but did no damage. Lieutenant Van Campen and six men have gone up into the Indian country, to discover their moves." He recommends Doctor Eaker, who was then in the county, and intended, to settle 208 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1781. there, for surgeon of his company, and refers to Doctor Shippen, who knew him. October 26, William Antes, James Espy, and Daniel Montgomery, the county commissioners, write: That the county books and papers are yet in Paxton; that it appeared by the treasurer's books that the residents paid their taxes, while the non-residents did not; that they would now proceed with the tax business with dispatch." 6th October, Christian Hetrick, a private in Captain Samuel Mc- Grady's seven-months men, was killed. He lived at Derr's, and his party was called out upon the appearance of some Indians on Buffalo creek. They did not come up with them, and on Hetrick's return home, a mile and a half above Gundy's mill, he was shot. When found he had a bullet wound, and was scalped and tomahawked. His widow, whose name was Agnes, married Ephraim Morrison, in 1787, and from an affidavit made to get a pension for Hetrick's children, I got the facts. Her children were Andrew, born May 1, 1775; Catherine, 15th March, 1777; Elizabeth, 15th June, 1779; Polly, 16th October, 1781. He was one of the first residents upon the site of Lewisburg, and is buried just above Andrew Wolfe's, where the rocks jut out upon the road, in the corner of the woods. My father often pointed out the place, but he did not know the man's name. During this year David Storms was killed, on the place now owned by Esquire Cameron, in Buffalo, (Benjamin Lahr tenant.) David Storms, a son, married Elizabeth Baker, aunt of Mrs. John Beeber, from whom I received the story. David Storms, the son, lived awhile in Centre county, and laid out Stormstown, called after him. David Storms, senior, was outside the house at work, and his two daughters were engaged spinning. He saw the Indians, and ran into the house. They knocked the door in, killed and scalped him. The girls ran up stairs into different rooms. The one closed the door; the other got behind the open door. They killed the one, and an Indian looked in the other room; seeing no one, went down stairs. She watched them from the window, and, thinking they noticed her, she sank down in a fainting fit; but they did not return. 19th October, Jane, widow of William McClung, killed at Fort Freeland, was married by the Rev. Hugh Magill, to David Martin. She had three children, the youngest not born when their father was killed. 1782.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 209 Among those deceased this year occur Casper Yost, of Penn's; William Rodman, of White Deer; (his widow, Martha, afterwards married James Fleming.) Children: James, Thomas, Alexander, John, Samuel, Benjamin, and William.