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On July 3, 1778.. a battle for the freedom and lives of over 400 settlers occurred in the peaceful Wyoming Valley near Wilkes-Barre, PA.

My 5th great-grandfather Philip WEEKS, his brother Jonathan WEEKS, Jr., my 5th great-uncle Jabez BEERS, my 5th great-uncle A Benedict and another whose name is unknown. This includes 2/3 of the male settlers that were tortured and mutilated by Seneca Indians led by Queen Ester Montour.

It is written:

Rupp's History of Northumberland County, PA, page 319:

Anthony Turkey, an Indian formerly at Wyoming, was with the Indians during the Massacre. After the battle his party came to the house of Mr. Weeks (Jonathan, Sr.) the Sunday following and taking the old gentleman's hat, shoved his rocking chair into the street and sat down and rocked himself.

From the farm of Mr. Weeks five went out to battle, five sons and sons-in-law. All five perished. All terrible day in our family history. May their souls rest in peace.

National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. XXVII December 1939

Philip Weeks barely escaped the wrath destined for his brother and fellow settlers. He was called back out the river by the promise to spare his life, the Indians fell on him with spears and tomahawks at the water's edge.


My ancestors Philip and Abigail Weeks, and part of my McKay ancestors and their families were also in this battle. I will be updating this page regularly as I find time to enter this history.

Alexander McKay and family were living at Lackawanna on the Susquehanna River, opposite to Wyoming, PA in 1778, at the time of the Wyoming Massacre. Himself and his family, consisting of wife and nine children, were prisoners of war for fourteen days in the Fort Lackawanna, an account of which follows:

THE MCKAY FAMILY AND THE WYOMING VALLEY MASSACRE ON JULY 3, 1778

"Massacre at Wyoming" by Alonzo Chappell, 1857


Other Links

Scenes from the Wyoming Valley can be seen here!

Some history of Mahala Place Pontius' ancestors at the Massacre