From: "Faith Keahey" <keahey@cyberhighway.net> To: LONGHUNTERS-L@rootsweb.com Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 18:45:51 -0600 Subject: Capt Spencer Records #7 Message-ID: <002f01beb536$25408780$b832a1d1@keahey> Return-path: <LONGHUNTERS-L-request@rootsweb.com> Received: from mx1.boston.juno.com (mx1.boston.juno.com [207.205.100.50]) by x11.boston.juno.com with SMTP id AAA5YGAM4ACDW5NS for <hermfagley@juno.com> (sender <LONGHUNTERS-L-request@rootsweb.com>); Sat, 12 Jun 1999 20:55:22 -0400 (EST) Received: from bl-11.rootsweb.com (bl-11.rootsweb.com [204.212.38.27]) by mx1.boston.juno.com with SMTP id AAA5YGAM3AYGX3K2 (sender <LONGHUNTERS-L-request@rootsweb.com>); Sat, 12 Jun 1999 20:55:21 -0400 (EST) Received: (from slist@localhost) by bl-11.rootsweb.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) id RAA23330; Sat, 12 Jun 1999 17:54:02 -0700 (PDT) Resent-From: LONGHUNTERS-L@rootsweb.com Resent-Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 17:54:02 -0700 (PDT) Resent-Sender: LONGHUNTERS-L-request@rootsweb.com Resent-Message-ID: <oKfMrB.A.ZsF.qEwY3@bl-11.rootsweb.com> X-Status: Read X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3110.1 X-Juno-Att: 0 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit The 29th of August, I set off from Limestone for PA, after money for my father, in a canoe, in company with Abner Overfield, a man by the name of Blair, and another whose name I have forgotten, four of us, which was dangerous, as wehad to keep near the shore. We often saw fresh signs of Indians, but did not see any of them. One day a heavy shower of rain fell; we got very wet; after the rain we saw more signs of Indians, and at night thought it best to lay in the canoe. We had sometimes lain on the bank, and made fire. Getting very chilly, Overfield said, "The Indians are not as thick as trees in the woods; I will have a fire." I went with him on the bank, made a fire, and lay by it. The other two chose to lay in the canoe. Next morning, short;y before we started, we saw the fresh track of an Indian, who had come down the bank to the river. We went on till we came to the mouth of Fishing Creek, at that time and place it was about 50 yards from the bank to the water, we had to keep about 40 yards out in the river, it was so shallow. Between us and the beach, we saw a raft laying. I told them to stop the canoe, and I would go see if it was fresh. Upon examination I came to the conclusion, that they had just crossed on it. Shortly after, we heard as it were, turkies yelping on the banks. Supposing it to be Indians trying to decoy us ashore, as we were too far off from them to shoot us, we went on and passed the mouth of the creek. Just above the creek was a plantation, and a path down the bank. Supposing that people were living thee, I and another ran up the banl, to let them know about the signs we had seen. We found the place deserted. There was a field of corn with hogs in it, one of which had just been killed by the Indians, whose tracks looked as fresh as our own. We then crossed the river to the Indian side, and at night we crossed over to a plantation on the Virginia side, where we stayed overnight, and arrived at Wheeling the next evening. The people with whom we stayed the preceding night, were loading a keel-boat to move up to Wheeling, and also arrived there. In the morning, I set off, and went to the man that owed my father the money, but did not get it. I then took water at the mouth of the Youghiogany. This fine little river takes its rise in Virginia, and runs through the NW corner of MD, west of the Allegany mountains, then passed Laurel-Hill, and part of Fayette, Wsetmoreland and Allegheny counties, entering the Monongahela in Allegheny Co, 12 miles above Pittsburg [that is SE of Pittsburgh, the river flowing NW JCL] by a mouth 150 yards wide. I returned home down the Ohio in a family boat. In May 1787, Col Todd came with a company of men from Lexington, to go in search of Indians on the Scioto, and Paint creek, and raised some men in Washington (KY). He crossed the Ohio with his men, 170 in all, at Limestone, and proceeded tpwards Old Chillicothe, on the North fork of Paint creek. After we has crossed the Sunfish mountain, we fell on a camp of 4 Indians, three men and a boy. We killed two of them, and took the other two prisoners. That day a heavy shower of rain fell; we got all wet, and at night encamped on the old Indian path. As the moon gave light, 13 of us turned out, to go in search of the Indian camp, which the prisoner had informed us of. We left our provisions and blankets in camp, took the path, went about 5 miles, till we came to a small creek. We heard dogs bark, and bells, about a quarter mile off, up the creek. We concluded to stay there, slip up to their camp before day, and to fire on them at daylight. We tied our horses, made a small fire, thinking it best not to make a large one. Two of our men, not thinking it safe to attack them ourselves, set off back for more assistance, and left us sitting around our little fire, hungry. wet and cold. About day-light, about 40 men came on, and without making a halt to consult us as to what would be the best to do, rode hastily on, so that before we could get our horses and mount, we fell nearly in the rear. They rode up to the camp, alarmed the dogs; the men all made their escape, so that they only took three squaws prisoners. Flanders Callaway shot an old squaw, which he should not have done. I saw her lying on her face with her back naked. She ws much pitted with the small pox, which I think they got among them, when they killed the family at Blue Licks in 1784. We got horses, and a great many articles, such as twilled bags, pewter, and etc. which they got by plundering the people that moved from VA to KY. The rest of the men coming up, the plunder was all divided among the companies. The men raised at Washington composed one company. The plunder was sold at vendue on the spot; our part amounted to 43 shillings for each man. We then set off for home, and at night encamped on a branch of Sunfish creek, where the Indian man had made his escape. cont From: "Faith Keahey" <keahey@cyberhighway.net> To: LONGHUNTERS-L@rootsweb.com Date: Sun, 13 Jun 1999 00:18:37 -0600 Subject: Capt Spencer Records #8 Message-ID: <003e01beb564$a1fe30a0$9732a1d1@keahey> Return-path: <LONGHUNTERS-L-request@rootsweb.com> Received: from mx2.boston.juno.com (mx2.boston.juno.com [207.205.100.55]) by x11.boston.juno.com with SMTP id AAA5YGV67A3S2MKA for <hermfagley@juno.com> (sender <LONGHUNTERS-L-request@rootsweb.com>); Sun, 13 Jun 1999 02:28:45 -0400 (EST) Received: from bl-11.rootsweb.com (bl-11.rootsweb.com [204.212.38.27]) by mx2.boston.juno.com with SMTP id AAA5YGV67AQMX63S (sender <LONGHUNTERS-L-request@rootsweb.com>); Sun, 13 Jun 1999 02:28:45 -0400 (EST) Received: (from slist@localhost) by bl-11.rootsweb.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) id XAA14409; Sat, 12 Jun 1999 23:26:46 -0700 (PDT) Resent-From: LONGHUNTERS-L@rootsweb.com Resent-Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 23:26:46 -0700 (PDT) Resent-Sender: LONGHUNTERS-L-request@rootsweb.com Resent-Message-ID: <rOKu9.A.AhD.l80Y3@bl-11.rootsweb.com> X-Status: Read X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3110.1 X-Juno-Att: 0 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit This spring, two men, Smith a Yankee and Thomas a Welshman, set out from washington early in the morning to hunt their horses, and found them in a cane break about half a mile from Washington. The horses were in a small open place, one on each side. Each man went to his horse. Smith discovered Indians about 10 steps from him in the edge of the cane, with their guns pointed at him; he had no time to run. but went up to them. They told him to call the other man to come to them. Thomas had not yet seen them when Smith called to him. Inplace of jumping in the cane and clearing himself, as easily he could have done, he went up to them. They kept them all day in the cane break. There were four Indians and a white man who told them he was taken as a child from Lancaster Co, PA. After night they went to Lee's station, about two miles from Washington, and tried to get horses out of a small pasture near the station, but the dogs were so fierce they could not get them. They made several attempts, but were driven back by the dogs. They then set off for the Ohio river, and on the river hill, about four miles from Washington, told their prisoners to go home. Thomas set off at the word go, but Smith told them he could not go without his horse, this they refused to give up. He took out his steel tobacco box, and said he would give them that for his horse. The Indian took it, and was for keeping it and his horse both. Smith told him he was not honest, to keep his horse and his box both, he then returned the box to him saying, "Take it." Thomas was calling on Smith to come, but the old Yankee was still contending for his horse. The white man told hime he had better go, as the Indians were getting mad, and if he made them mad, they would kill him. [1787] He then set off, and about daylight arrived in town. This was what I never heard Indians doing, either before or since. cont ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.