Hi Gary, I, too, am interested in learning more about the Native Americans of Western Pennsylvania. Most of my ancestors served in militia units during the Revolution and many were mustered during times of tension with Native Americans. I know there is a very old book called "The Indian Wars of Pennsylvania." I believe the author was Sipe. (I can get the details later if anyone is interested.) This book gives a detailed - if outdated - view of these conflicts. (Regarding the Girtys: I think they play a big role in some chapters. I also seem to recall seeing a comic book about them about six or seven years ago.) The biggest event that involved any of my Beaver County ancestors was the ill-fated campaign led by Col. William Crawford in June 1782. Crawford's force was sent against the Native American villages near Sandusky, Ohio, believed to be the source of attacks on the settlements. After an initial battle, the militiamen prepared to retreat. They were attacked and scattered. Many were captured and killed. Col. Crawford was captured, scalped and burned at the stake. An eyewitness account was published in "Pennsylvania Archives," Series 6, Vol. 2. It's very interesting reading. It also includes muster lists of the units involved. This all brings up a question I've asked before. One of my ancestors - Sampson Peirsol - said he served "as a private soldier a volunteer in March in the year 1781 under Captain Joseph Sipeney in a company of Indian Spies" when he applied for a Revolutionary War pension. What was an "Indian Spy" and what did one do? Brian Bowers >From: "G. R. Tafini" <gtafini@tir.com> >Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 12:58:50 -0500 >Subject: [PABEAVER-L] Native Americans in Western PA >To: PABEAVER-L@rootsweb.com >Reply-To: PABEAVER-L@rootsweb.com > >A question was raised by Jean BUTLER concerning Native Americans that >occuppied Washington Co., PA in the mid 1700's. > >There are 6 pages dealing with "Indian Occupation" in - > >History of Washington County, Pennsylvania >Edited by Boyd Crumrine >Philadelphia; L. H. Everts & Co.; 1882 >pages 15-21 > >He identifies 3 principle tribes of Native Americans west of the >Alleghenies in PA in the 1700's- > >Delaware, also known as Lenni Lenape. > >Shawanese [later known as Shawnee]. > >Mingoes, colonized bands of Iroquois [I have read elsewhere that they were >part of the Seneca Tribe of the Six Nations]. > >I have some interest in this because my wife's ancestors the GIRTYs were >taken captive in PA in 1756 during the French Indian War. The family was >split up and the children raised in the above mentioned 3 tribes. Simon >GIRTY Jr. [adopted by Seneca] and his brothers James GIRTY [adopted by >Shawnee] and George GIRTY [adopted by Delaware] became infamous during and >after the Revolutionary War due to their employement by the British Indian >Department and involvement in warfare on the frontier. Their brother >Thomas GIRTY escaped quickly and lived in Westmoreland Co., PA. Their >infant half-brother John TURNER Jr. was raised by the Shawnee, but later >returned to Pittsburgh, PA where he lived a peaceable life. > >I am hoping that I won't receive too much hate mail about the GIRTYs. > >Regards, > >Gary R. Tafini gtafini@tir.com Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA > > > >==== PABEAVER Mailing List ==== >To contact Patti Caldwell, Listmistress, click below: > mailto:impattic@mediaone.net >remember, "Please practice random acts of kindness"........ > > > > > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com