Chapter III
Pioneer Period
History of Randolph County West Virginia
ORANGE County, Virginia, was formed from Spotsylvania county in 1704 and was made to include all the territory West of the mountains. In 1744 that vast region was divided into the districts of Augusta and Frederick and was to be organized into counties as soon as they attained sufficient population. Monongalia was formed from part of Augusta in 1776; Harrison was formed from part of Monongalia in 1784 and Randolph from part of Harrison in 1787.
In 1806 Randolph gave part of its territory to the formation of Tucker county. Randolph also contributed part of its territory along with other counties in the formation of Nicholas, Pocahontas. Upshur and Webster.
Although settlement was made in the adjoining county of Pendleton in 1747. the first white men to visit the valley were Files or Foyle and Tygart or Taggart. in 1753. Foyle located his cabin in the present site of Beverly, a little north of the Baker Mill, near the mouth of the creek that bears his name Tygart selected a location farther up the river, on the west side, now the John D. Weese Brick House Place three miles from Beverly. Nothing is known of Tygart or Files that would throw light on their antecedents: however, the tide of emigration must necessarily have been from the east. The Tygart family and young Files departed from the county into Pendleton. These circumstances coupled with the fact that the name was probably Tag-art rather than Tygart and the Taggarts were among the first settlers of Pendleton and other eastern counties, the presumption is very strong in favor of the hypothesis that these families came into the valley from the settlements west of the Alleghenies.
Perhaps. Files and Tygart were induced to push into the wilderness in pursuit of game. The fertile lands of the valley, also no doubt, were an inducement.
The difficulties in the way of procuring breadstuff for their families, coupled with the perception of the dangers from Indians on a remote and unprotected border induced Files and Tygart to a determination to abandon the valley. Before they carried their plans into execution Robert Files, wife and five children, the youngest of which was ten years old, were murdered by the Indians, who were returning from the South Branch to the country west of the Ohio. An elder son not being at home escaped, but being nearby heard the disturbance and approaching the house learned of the horrible fate of his relatives, and realizing the utter impossibility of giving any assistance, resolved to give warning to the family of David Tygart, a few miles up the river. Young Files and the Tygart family immediately abandoned the country. Withers says that Files and Tygart had discovered that their location was near an Indian trail and an Indian village. No Indian village existed in dangerous proximity. Mingo on Mingo Run, 32 miles above, had been many years before the site of an Indian village. However, it had been abandoned by the Mingoes many years previous to 1753. Their cabins were near the trail that entered the valley at Elkwater and Huttonsville and passed down the river on the east side, and thence up Leading Creek and over the mountain to Cheat river.
Tygarts Valley did not attract emigrants for a period of eighteen years after the disaster attending the efforts of Files and TVs art. In the meantime hunters from Greenbrier visited the valley and on their return gave a glowing description of the region to the settlements. These reports induced many settlers to seek homes west of the mountains and most of the level land in the valley was occupied by permanent possessors during the year 1772. Withers mentions among those who were first to occupy the valley the names of Hadden, Conley, Whiteman, Warwick, Nelson, Westfall, Riffle, and Stalnaker. Westfall found and buried the remains of the Files family. Settlements were made in what is now Lewis, Taylor and Harrison counties in the same year. The region that now comprises Upshur County had been the abode of John and Samuel Pringle since 1764 and by several other families since 1769. John and Samuel Pringle were deserters from the army at Fort Pitt and sought safety in the seclusion of the wilderness by ascending the Monongahela and making their abode in the trunk of a sycamore tree on the west fork of the Buckhannon, near the mouth of Turkey Run. They made visits to the South Branch for ammunition and their reports caused others to seek that section for settlement.
Indian hostilities, which had been in abeyance since 176o, were renewed in 1774. There is a diversion of opinion as to the cause. Some think that the unprovoked murder of several Indians caused them to seek revenge, while others are inclined to the opinion that they were instigated to outrages upon the whites by British emissaries and that the savages who committed the deeds were ignorant of the outrages committed upon the members of their own race. Three Shawnees, friendly to the whites, were killed near Wheeling by the settlers. Three Indians were killed on the South Branch while on a friendly visit to that country. Among the number killed were Captain Peter and Bald Eagle, two Indians of prominence in their tribes. About the same time a few white men exterminated Chief Bull and five families of Indians on the Little Kanawha, in cold blood, in what is now Braxton county. Bull and his little band were on terms of intimate friendship with the settlers, visiting and hunting with them. I he people expected renewed hostilities on the part of the Indians and in 1774 two forts were built in Randolph. The Westfall fort, evidences of which still remain on the farm of Daniel Baker, near the mouth of Files Creek and the Currence fort which was built near the present town of Mill Creek. These forts were constructed of logs with chimneys on the inside to keep the Indians from reaching the roof. Roles were left between the logs to shoot through there was no visitation this year from the Indians. However the settlers kept scouts in the mountains, watching the trails leading into the valley. On the first indication of danger the settlers took refuge in the forts. The Revolutionary war brought Indian troubles in 1777. On the frontier this year was known as the bloody year of the three sevens The British were instrumental in causing the Indians to make an effort to exterminate or drive ‘back the western settlers The whites were apprehensive and vigilant. Leonard Pedro and William White were sent out as scouts to watch Indian trails leading into Randolph. They were watching the path that ascended the Little Kanawha, in Braxton County, when being pressed by the necessity for food, shot an elk. A number of Indians being in the neighborhood, heard the report of their gun and stealthily followed them to their camp, and were in the act of making an attack when they were discovered by White. A savage sprang upon them and White made a futile strike at the Indian with a tomahawk. Realizing that resistance was useless, White pretended that he had attempted to do the Indian harm only when half awake, and assumed an air of friendliness. He told the Indians that Pedro and himself were on their way to join the Indians. Perhaps his ruse would have been successful if Pedro’s dejected countenance had not contradicted his pretentions. They were’ tied for the rest of the night. In the morning Pedro was marked for the tomahawk and scalping knife by being painted black. However, the Indian abandoned their purpose of killing Pedro and returned to Ohio, taking their two captives with them. White stole a gun, killed an Indian, appropriated the horse of his fallen foe and returned to Randolph in 1777. Pedro was never heard of afterward.
As a rule the settlements were free from Indian molestation during the months of winter, for the reason that they could be followed by their tracks, as well as from the fact that their scant clothing was not sufficient for the rigors of such a trip through the mountains. However, whether they followed White or came on an independent mission of massacre and plunder, a party of about twenty Indians approached to within about twenty miles of the settlements in November. A snow had fallen and they waited until December 15th. When it disappeared on that date, they attacked Darby Connoly’s house in the upper valley, and having killed him, his wife and several of his children, they took the others prisoners. The graves of the Connoly family are still to be seen on the farm once owned by Harmon Conrad, on which there was a salt well drilled at one time. They next visited the house of John Stewart, and killed him, his wife and his child, carrying away his sister-in-law, Miss Hamilton, as a prisoner. John Hadden discovered the murder of the Stewart family and reported the tact to Colonel Benjamin Wilson at Wilson’s Fort. Wilson’s Fort was situated about thirty miles down the river. Colonel Wilson was an officer in the Revolutionary army. With thirty men Colonel Wilson followed the men five days through the rain and snow, often wading ice cold streams waist deep, but the Indians could not be overtaken. The settlers were not molested in 1778. But the next year the Indians shot and killed Lieutenant John White from the roadside. Colonel Benjamin Wilson with a party of men tried to intercept the Indians on their Westward return at the mouth of Sand Fork on the Little Kanawha, but the Indians returned by a different route.
Early in March, 1780, Jacob Warwick and others from Greenbrier county visited Randolph as Government surveyors. Kilbuck was scouting the mountains at the time with bands of Mingoes and Shawnees. Mr. Warwick and his company felt themselves in comparative safety on account of the snow, which would betray the Indians’ tracks to the settlers. While the Greenbrier party was at Haddan’s Fort, Thomas Lackey reported that he had seen moccasin tracks in the snow a few miles above the fort, and heard a voice say in an undertone, “Let him alone ; he will go and bring more.” An escort of men went with the Greenbrier party to the place where Lackey saw the Indian signs. When near the place Andrew Sitlington’s horse showed signs of fright. Mr. Sitlington then saw the Indians, but for the moment could not speak from fright. Warrick’s attention was attracted and he cried out, “Indians! INDIANS!!” Thereupon the Indians fired, wounding one member of the party and Mr. Warwick’s horse. The horse sank to the ground and the rider was in the act of throwing off his cloak to facilitate his escape when the horse arose and started off at a rapid speed and away from their assailants. Jacob Warwick, James McLean, Thomas Cartwill and Andrew Sitlington comprised the party on horse back, all of whom escaped. John McLean, James Ralston and John Nelson were killed. This occurred on Windy Run. John McLean was killed about thirty yards from the brow of the hill. James Ralston was killed while ascending the hill. James Crouch was wounded near the summit of the hill, but escaped and recovered. John Nelson attempted to escape down the river, but was met by a stout warrior and after a severe struggle was killed. But the shattered gun stock, the uptorn earth and Indian hair still in his clinched fist gave evidence that he had fought bravely. Mr. Warwick’s horse received only a slight wound in the thigh and carried him to his home in Greenbrier County the same day. The Indians occupied the road above and below where they were attacked, those on horseback were enabled to out-distance the Indians, but the foot men were compelled to cross the river and ascend a steep bluff on its opposite side. In attempting this several lost their lives.
Soon after this a family by the name of Gibson was attacked at their sugar-camp, on a branch of the Valley River. They were made prisoners and the return trip to the country west of the Ohio with their captives was undertaken. Mrs. Gibson, being incapable of undergoing the fatigue of the trip, was tomahawked and scalped in the presence of her children. The other members of the family were carried into captivity and were never heard of afterward.
In April 1781, Indians attacked a party of five men who were returning to the present county of Tucker, from Clarksburg, where they had been to obtain deeds for their lands. John Minear, David Cameron, and a Mr. Cooper were killed. Messrs. Miller and Goff escaped, one returning to Clarksburg, the other to St. George. The Indians continued their course toward Cheat, but meeting Stephen Radcliff and James Brown, whom they could neither kill nor capture, and no longer believing that they could surprise the Cheat River settlements, changed their course and passed over to Leading Creek, and nearly destroyed the entire settlement. They killed Alexander Rooney, Mrs. Dougherty, Mrs. Hornbeck and her children as well as many others and made prisoners of Mrs. Alexander Rooney and her son, and Daniel Dougherty. Johnathan Buffington and Benjamin Hornbeck succeeded in escaping. Mr. Hornbeck lived about a quarter of a mile east of where White Station now stands, on the north bank of Stalnaker Run. The remains of the chimney of Hornbeck’s cabin is still visible on the farm of Obadiah Taylor. It seems that the Hornbeck family had some intimation of the presence of the Indians in the community and had left the house and were in the woods on the hill nearby. The Indians visited and plundered the house and were in the act of leaving, when the whereabouts of the family was betrayed by the barking of a dog that was with them. Mr. Hornbeck, fearing to approach his house, mounted a horse in the field without saddle or bridle and rode hurriedly to Wilson’s Fort, six miles up the valley. Colonel Wilson raised a company and pursued the Indians, but the men becoming alarmed lest their families be murdered in their absence, returned without overtaking the savages. In the meantime word had reached Clarksburg of the murder of land claimants on their return home and a number of scouts were sent out to intercept the Indians on their return to the Ohio. Their trail was discovered on the West Fork River, near Isaac Creek, in the present county of Harrison. Colonel William Lowther of Hacker’s Creek, raised a company to pursue them. They were overtaken on a branch of Hughes River, in Ritchie County in the evening. They waited until the Indians were asleep and then opened fire. Five were killed, the others escaped, leaving everything in camp, except one gun. One white man, a prisoner, was killed. He was the son of Alexander Rooney and his sad fate was much regretted by the whites, who had been very cautious in trying to prevent such an accident. Withers relates the following amusing incident in connection with the affair: “Daniel Daugherty, an Irishman, came near being killed by the whites. The Indians had him tied down and he was so cold he could scarcely speak. Colonel Lowther’s party rushed forward after the first fire, and mistaking Daugherty for a wounded Indian, they were about to dispatch him with a tomahawk, when fear loosened his tongue and he exclaimed, ‘Lord Jasus! and am Oi to be killed by white people at last!’ His life was saved. Mrs. Rooney was overcome with the prospect of deliverance. She ran toward the men saying. ‘I’m Ellick Rooney’s wife of the Valley! and a pretty little woman too, if well dressed!’ She was not aware that her son had been killed.
On this raid the Indians killed James Wilmoth. The Wilmoth’s were at Wilson’s Fort, either in anticipation of an Indian raid or as a result of the recent one on Leading Creek. James Wilmoth, leaving the other members of the family at the fort returned to his home on Cheat to attend to some skins he had in process of tanning. The barking of a dog which was with him betrayed him to the Indians and he was shot and killed, near where the Stone House now stands. Some of the Indians were afflicted with small pox and jumped into the ice cold water of Wilmoth’s Millrace for relief. They died from the exposure.
A band of from twenty to thirty Indians visited the valley in the summer of 1782. They were led by a renegade white man by the name of Timothy Dorman. John Bush and his wife, Jacob Stalnaker and his son. Adam, were ambushed on the old road, as they were crossing a drain, on the old Hoy McLean place, about a mile south of Arnold station. Young Stalnaker was shot from his horse and killed, but his father, and Bush and his wife escaped. The fleeing party had a close race with the Indians to the river, being so near some times as to try and reach the bridle reins. The whites plunged into the river and the Indians abandoned pursuit. The Indians were followed by the aroused settlers. When near the crest of Rich Mountain, at a point which afterward became the scene of the Rich Mountain battle, the Indians were overtaken. When just east of the top of the mountain as an Indian stooped to drink from a spring, he was shot and killed by a man by the name of Morgan. The other savages escaped and were pursued no farther.
The Indians made their last hostile raid into the valley on May 11, 1781. Two or three families, as a measure of protection, lived with Joseph Kinnan, whose cabin was one mile above the mouth of Elkwater on the west side of the river on the land that afterward became the Adam See farm. Haddan’s Fort was less than a mile down the river. The Indians approached the house a little after dark and finding the door open, walked in. Mr. Kinnan was sitting on the bed and the Indian extended his hand in a friendly manner saying, “How d-do, how-d-do?” Mr. Rinnan was in the act of extending his hand when an Indian in the yard shot him dead. A young man by the name of Ralston, who had been working in the house with a drawing-knife, struck an Indian with it and cut off his nose. Another Indian fired at Ralston, but missed and the young man escaped. The Indians killed three of Rinnan’s children, but two others, Lewis and Joseph, escaped with the assistance of Mrs. Ward, through a rear window. Mr. Rinnan’s brother, Lewis, was sleeping in a rear room and escaped through the window. Airs. Rinnan was taken prisoner and remained with the Indians several months in the western country until General Wayne conquered the Indians at the battle of Fallen Timbers. Andrew and Joseph Crouch living a few miles below on the river, were notified next day. They took their families to the home of James Warwick who lived near where the Brick Church was built in later years, and with some neighbors hurried to the rescue of the settlers up the valley. While they were absent the Indians visited the Warwick home where there were three white women, several children and a colored man and his wife. An Indian climbed to the roof of one of the buildings after nightfall and set it on fire. The colored man put the fire out. Then the stable was fired. The colored man went out and seeing an Indian by the light of the burning building, shot at him and let the horses out and returned in safety to the fort. When the barn burned down and darkness returned the colored woman left the fort and gave the alarm to the settlers down the river. Next day the inmates of the fort were rescued. This party also proceeded to the scene of the Rinnan massacre and buried Mr. Rinnan and his children. The settlers believed that the Indians had withdrawn from the valley. However, they were lurking in the community and before leaving killed Frank Riffle and William Currence and burned two houses belonging to James Lackey. Riffle and Currence were killed on the divide between Becca’s Creek and Riffle’s Creek, near the later location of the Brick Church.
An inventory of the Joseph Rinnan estate was placed on record in Randolph County Clerk’s Office, June 21, 1793 with Edward Hart as administrator. The personal property was valued at $517, a list of which is given below: “9 horses, wheat and rye, two curtains, 2 pairs pillows and cases, 1 towel, 1 fine shirt, 1 lawn apron, 1 black apron, 1 cambrick apron, fine trumpery, 1 silk-gause apron, 2 handkerchiefs, children’s clothing”, 1 coat, 1 jacket, 5 long gowns, 1 pair of shoes and silver buckles, 3 petty-coats, 2 check aprons, 4 short gowns, 2 beds and bed-clothing, 1 pair of pockets, 4 platters, 6 basins, 2 plates, 2 kegs, 1 pail, 1 pot tramble, 1 iron kettle, 2 scythes, 1 set of hangings, 1 gun, 1 pan, 2 bridles, 36 hogs, 16 cattle, 3 sheep, 1 grubbing hoe, two pairs plow irons and devices, 2 pots, 1 jug, 1 candlestick, 2 flat irons, 1 pair of shears, 9 spoons, steelyards, 1 brush, 2 collars, 1 ax.”
Tradition says that the Indians twice visited the Wilmoth settlement on Cheat. On one incursion they killed James Wilmoth and on another raid all were absent from the house except Mrs. Wilmoth. They searched the house and premises for the men, occasionally throwing their tomahawks into the logs of the cabin, at the same time giving vent to savage exclamations of threat and anger, as much as to say what they would do if the men could be found. In the meantime Mrs. Wilmoth had prepared a pot of corn meal mush, putting it in a sugar trough with milk and maple syrup, giving each Indian a spoon. The half famished savages partook of the repast with evident signs of delight and gratification. When one of the company would violate a rule of Indian table etiquette, he was punished by a stroke on the head with a spoon, accompanied by words of admonition with violent gesticulations, not to repeat the indecorum. After finishing their meal, the Indians fastened their eyes on Mrs. Wilmoth in a studious and penetrating gaze for several moments, evidently debating in their own minds what should be her fate, then giving a warwhoop they continued on their marauding expedition. Mrs. Wilmoth’s diplomacy saved her life and established the fact that things more material and prosaic than music hath charms to soothe the savage breast.
The family of William Leavitt, who settled, in 1780, on the lands now owned by Drs. J. L. and Perry Bosworth, two miles north of Daily Station, was attacked by the Indians and the entire family, father, mother, and several children were tomahawked and scalped. The mother, though left for dead, revived, was rescued by her neighbors and completely recovered. The dead were enshrouded in deer skins and buried at the Currence graveyard, on the lands now owned by John D. Weese. The date of the tragedy is uncertain, but it was subsequent to 1780.
Then Indians at another time visited that community. The date is not definite, but the facts are direct from the lips of Isaac White, who was a member of the party, to persons now living. The cabin in this incident was situated near where the Troutwine Run crosses the county road on the Bosworth farm. The men were harvesting in the field in the bottom below. The community was apprehensive and several families were congregated at the cabin. The women usually accompanied the men to the field but on this particular day had remained at the cabin for a few minutes to attend to household duties following the mid-day meal. The Indians, who were lurking near by, thought the time opportune tor an attack, but as they approached the house they were discovered by the women. Realizing that their lives depended upon reaching the men in the field, they took to flight and in crossing the fence to the field, raised their hands above their heads and shunted. “Indians!” The hand of one of the women was pierced by a bullet, as a result of a volley from the Indians. All others escaped injury. The men seized their rifles and started in pursuit. The savages fled to the adjacent forests and soon eluded their pursuers.
The Murder of the Bozart Family.
In the summer of 1795 the trail of a large party of Indians was discovered, leading toward the settlements on West Fork of the Monongahela, Tygarts Valley or on the Buckhannon, near where the town of Buckhannon is now situated. The trail was discovered in what is now Lewis County. Messengers were sent immediately to these settlements warning them of possible danger. John Bozart lived on the Buckhannon River, near the present town of Buckhannon, but at the time of the massacre of his family in 1795, the Buckhannon settlement was within the territory of Randolph.
Mr. Bozart and his two sons, John and George, were engaged in hauling grain to the barn near the house. They were alarmed by the shrieks of the family at the house and hastened to ascertain the cause. George approached the house a few paces in advance of his father, but the latter saw an Indian raise his gun to shoot the son, and shouted, “SEE George, an Indian is going to shoot you.” The young man was too near the Indian to escape by flight, but watched closely the movements of the Indian and when he pressed the trigger young Bozart fell. The ruse was a success and the Indian, believing the young man dead passed on in pursuit of the father. The old gentleman proved a good runner and was leaving the Indian, when the savage in despair threw his tomahawk at him which passed harmlessly by and he made his escape. When George Bozart fell, as though dead, he lay upon the ground expecting to be scalped, determined to seize the Indian by the leg as he would bend over him and endeavor to bring his antagonist to the ground, where he hoped to successfully grapple with him. The Indian passing him in pursuit of his father, the young man arose and fled. He overtook a younger brother hobbling along on a sore foot. George gave him every assistance he could until he observed another savage closely pursuing them. Although much adverse to leaving his brother, he knew that remaining with him meant death to both. Taking to rapid flight, he soon came up with his father in the woods. Mr. Bozart, believing that his son was dead and hearing some one approaching, supposed he was being pursued by an Indian and seizing a heavy stick, turned to face his antagonist. He was greatly surprised to see his son and exclaimed, “WHY GEORGE, I thought you were dead.” In his mistake he evinced a joyful moment in an awful tragedy.
At the house two or three children were massacred and Mrs. Bozart and two boys were spared and taken to the Indian towns west of the Ohio. They were surrendered to General Wayne at Greenville on September 9, 1795 by a party of Shawnees, numbering sixty or seventy. Puck-se-kaw, in delivering the prisoners spoke as follows: “My Father: I have been in the woods a long time. I was not acquainted with the good works which were transacting at this place by you and all our great chiefs. Last spring when we were hunting peaceably, our camp on the Sciota was robbed. We are very poor and the mischief that has since been done was in retaliation for the injuries then received. As soon as I received this belt, which you sent me by Blue Jacket, one of our great chiefs, and as soon as I was informed by him that the good work of peace was finished, I arose to come to see you and brought with me these four prisoners. I now surrender them to you, my father, and promise you that we will do you no more mischief.
“I hope for the future we shall be permitted to live and hunt in peace and quietness. We were poor and ignorant children, astray in the woods, who knew not that our nation and all other tribes of Indians had come in and made peace with you. J thank the Great Spirit for at last opening our eyes. Father, we beg you will forgive and receive your repentant children. These people whom I now deliver to you must plead our forgiveness and vouch for our conduct for the future.”
The Last Indian Raids in Randolph.
The last Indian raids in Randolph were between the middle of June and the last of July, 1792. In that year they made three incursions in Randolph, but confined their depredations to stealing horses. On their return, they were attacked by a part\of scouts on the Ohio and one Indian was wounded and the horses recovered. Although this was the last visit of the savages to Randolph, alarms were frequent until the victory of General Wayne over them at Fallen Timbers in 1794 and the treaty in the subsequent year. Scouts and militia were kept in constant service until after captives were returned after the Treaty of Peace at Greenville in August, 1795. At different times after 1792 Indian trails were discovered leading toward the valley, but the vigilance of scouts and militia prevented them penetrating the frontier farther than the Buckhannon settlement, which they visited in 1795, taking captive Airs. Bozart and three children, and killing two or three of the smaller ones.
The following tribes subscribed to the Greenville treaty: Wyandottes, Ottawas, Miamas, Kicapoos, Delawares, Chippewas, Eel Rivers, Paneshaws, Shawnees, Pottowotamies, Weas, and Kaskaskies.
Treaty of Lancaster.
By the treaty of Lancaster, Pa., 1744, the Indians relinquished their claim to all the lands between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Ohio River. This was the first conveyance to title to lands in this vast region. The consideration was £400 one-half in gold and one-half in goods. In the negotiations the Indian chiefs stated that the acquisition of the territory by conquest had cost them many lives. The treaty was as follows:
To all people to whom these presents shall come: Conasatngo, Joneeat, Caxhayion, Torachdadon, Xenrranarkto, Sachemsor, Chiefs of the nations of the Onondagors ; Saqurhsonyunt, Gasroddodon. Huarasaly-akon, Rowamthalyhisso, Occoghquah, Seventies, Sachems or Chiefs of ye nations of ye Cahugoes ; Suadany alias Shirketiney, Onishudagony, Ononthkallydoroy alias W’alrattuah, Tohosnorororow, Arrighahhorvand, Tiorhoosoy, Sachems or Chiefs of the Tuscaroras; Tansanegoesand, Toniknunitus, Sachems or Chiefs of ye nations of ye Senekers. send greeting:
Whereas, the six united nations of Indians laying claim to some lands in the Colony of Virginia, signified their willingness to enter into a treat}’ concerning the same. Whereupon, Thomas Lee. Esq., a member of the Ordinary of his Majesty’s Honorable Council of the State and one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Judicature in the Colony, and William Beverly, Esq., Colonel and County Lieutenant of the County of Orange and one of the representatives of the people in the House of Burgesses of that Colony, were deputed by the Governor of the said Colony as Commissioners to treat with the said Six Nations or their Deputies, Sachems or Chiefs, as well of and concerning their said claim as to renew their covenant chain between the said Colony and the said Six Nations, and the said Commissioners, having met at Lancaster, in Lancaster County and province of Pennsylvania, and as a foundation for a stricter amity and peace in this juncture, agreed with the said Sachems or Chiefs of the said Six Nations for a Disclaimer and Renunciation of their Claim or pretense of Right whatsoever of the said Six Nations and an acknowledgement of Right of our Sovereign, King of Great Britain to all the land in the said County of Virginia.
Now Know Ye, in and for the sum of four hundred pounds current money of Pennsylvania, paid and delivered to the above named Sachems or Chiefs, partly in goods and partly in Gold Money by the said Commissioners, they the said Sachems or Chiefs on behalf of the said Six Nations do hereby renounce and disclaim not only all the right of the said Six Nations, but also recognize and acknowledge the right and title of our Sovereign, the King of Great Britain to all the land within the said Colony as it now or may hereafter be peopled and bounded by his said Majesty, our Sovereign Lord, the King, his Heirs and Successors.
In Witness Whereof, the said Sachems or Chiefs, for themselves and in behalf of the people of the Six Nations aforesaid have herewith set their hands and seals this second day of July in the 18th year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second King of Great Britain and in the year of our Lord 1744.
Signed by all the above named Chiefs.
Signed, Sealed and Delivered in the presence of Edward Jennings at a General Court held at the Capital, October 25, 1744.
This Deed Poll was proved by ye oaths of Edward Jennings, Esq., Phillip Ludwell Lee, Esq., and William Black, three witnesses thereto and by the Court ordered to be recorded.
Teste: (Signed)
BEN. AVALTER, CI. Ct.
Early Customs.
It was some time after the first settlement of the county before the pioneers had the convenience of grist-mills. In the meantime various substitutes were devised. First, was the hominy block, then followed the hand mill. However, the settlers, later, availed themselves of the excellent water power furnished by the numerous streams in the county and tub mills were built in many localities. The hominy block was made by burning a large cavity like a druggists mortar in a block of elm wood. This was made to hold about a peck of grain. After soaking the grain in tepid water, it was pulverized by a wooden pestle. The coarse and fine particles were separated by a sieve made by stretching a perforated deer skin over a hoop. The fine meal was used for bread and the coarse for hominy.
The log house was necessarily the only kind of house built. The first houses were unhewn. The floor was made of puncheons. The roof was made of clapboards held on with weight poles. The stairway was a ladder of pegs fastened in the side wall. Some cabins were built with fire places so large that practically an entire tree could be used as a backlog. There was a door at each end of the fire place, which extended nearly across the cabin, and a horse would be driven in, dragging the log by the chain. Then the chain would be unhooked and the horse would he loosened and go out the other door. The log would then he rolled into the fire place. The first settlers were under the necessity of making, with their own hands, or at least having made in the immediate neighborhood all the things essential in the home and on the farm. Every well ordered household had a loom, spinning wheel, little and big, a flax breaker, sheep shears and wool carders. All the processes that converted the wool or flax into clothing were deftly done at home with their own tools, by the mothers and daughters. The apparel worn by both sexes was made from linen and woolen fabrics, which had been woven on the loom in the farm house and dyed with coperas in combination with various barks. Buckskin pants were often worn, and vests from fawn skins and caps from coon skins were in vogue in some communities until the Civil War. In the winter, moccasins were worn. They were made from deer skin, came up around the ankles and were tied with “buck-skin” strings.
Stoves did not come into use until a comparatively recent period. All cooking was done over the fire place or in the bake oven. Kettles were suspended from a hook and trammel, which was fastened to an iron bar, secured in the chimney above. Matches not being in use, fires were kept as much as possible by covering live coals, or burning embers with ashes. When the fires went out however, a “chunk” was brought from a neighbor’s supply, or resort was had to flint and steel with punk and tow. Kerosene lamps, being a later day innovation, candles, pine knots or the ordinary dip light was improvised. The “dip” was made by immersing a twisted thread or cotton string in hog’s lard or bear’s oil and lighting the free end.
The practice of agriculture was rude and the most primitive tools were used. The plow was made entirely of wood and oxen drew them, as a rule, instead of horses. Harrows were made of wooden pegs in a wooden frame. Sometimes crab bushes or thorn bushes were substituted. The harvest was gathered with a sickle. Forks were made from forked dogwood saplings. Threshing was done, usually, with a flail and fifteen bushels was considered one days work. Newly shod horses were sometimes used to tramp out the grain. Two or three pairs of horses would tramp out fifty bushels in one day. The grain was separated from the chaff by throwing both in the air and letting the wind separate them. Then came the hand wind mill and later the horse power thresher.
In pioneer days a wedding was an event of great social importance. No effort was spared to celebrate the event in such a way as to make the event a memorable one. It was a time of much mirth and pleasure. The wedding party started in a double file from the home of the groom, when within a mile of the home of the bride, an Indian warhoop was given and all raced at full speed. The one reaching the house first was given a bottle that was awaiting the victor. All were then expected to participate, men and women, in the refreshing and stimulating contents of the bottle, when it was returned to the winner. A feast followed the wedding ceremony, which was duplicated at the infare at the groom’s home. Horn and puter spoons and hunting knives not infrequently adorned the table on these occasions. After supper the young people enjoyed themselves in the misty mazes of the dance. In pioneer parlance, it was the “hoe down.” Occasionally the violinist was not an expert in his art and if his music failed to ascend in lofty and inspiring strains or fall in soft and sweet cadences, it was then that some rustic and unappreciative youth would likely compare his strident strains to “choking the goose.” Other occasional festivities were corn huskings, log rollings, and house raisings. In the fall months, on a moonlight night the pioneer would ask in his neighbors, and from dark until 11 or 12 o’clock there would be a joyous combination of work and sport. There would be a contest between individuals and groups as to which would finish their work first, or which would rind the most red ears of corn. All hands would occasionally take a rest to draw fresh inspiration from the pitcher of cider or the jug of “apple jack.” The log rolling and the house raising were also affairs of festivities as well as of hard work. These undertakings were impossible undertakings alone, but with the combined assistance of friends and neighbors the task was easy. Then it afforded an opportunity to cultivate the social amenities. While father and son were busy with the throng at the rolling or raising, the mother and daughter were having a season of mirth and enjoyment at the house, cooking and quilting.
Wild Animals.
The mountains and valleys of what is now Randolph county was the habitat of many wild animals. This was a blessing to the pioneer in many ways. They not only supplied his larder with meat, but their skins covered his nakedness and protected him from the elements. The hunt and the chase also furnished him with diversion and relieved the monotony of an isolated life. The elk. deer, buffalo, panther, bear, otter, beaver, raccoon, wolf and catamount were the principal wild animals found by the first white men. The panther and wolf perhaps yet remain in very limited numbers in the eastern part of the county. The elk and buffalo disappeared early. A few deer remain and the black bear is rather plentiful in the mountain districts in the eastern part of the count}. The wild turkey, pheasant and owl were here in abundance. The eagle, though not so plentiful, made its home among the crags and cliffs of our mountain peaks. The wolf was very numerous and very troublesome to the pioneer. It was necessary to fasten sheep and calves in an enclosure every night to prevent their destruction. Wolves were soon decimated, not so much by the hunter’s rifle as the prevalence of rabies among them. Many were infected, “went mad,” and often attacked the settlers in their homes. Wolves exhibited great cunning in preying upon other animals. They hunted in packs. They followed the deer in company until they became tired, then one kept the deer going until it made a turn in the direction of another wolf, which was sniffing the wind for scent of its prey. The deer was thus pursued by fresh wolves until it became the victim of their ravenous appetites.
The black bear is a timid animal and is not inclined to attack man only in self defense or in defense of its young. It was an object of superstitious reverence to the Indians, who never killed it without apologizing and deploring the necessity which impelled them to do so.
SOURCE: Page(s) 17-37, A History of Randolph County West Virginia, From its Earliest Exploration and Settlement to the Present Time, Dr. A. S. Bosworth, 1916
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