The 1782 Volunteer Militia from Washington County, Pa

And their Moravian Indian victims

 

By George C. Williston.

 

 

          Who were the men who murdered the Moravian Indians in that infamous event of 8 March, 1782? What were the names of the murderers? There is no doubt that a body of men from Western Pennsylvania went up the river then called Muskingum, and murdered 90-96 Delaware (Lenni Lenape), Mohican, and other Indians who had been converted by Moravian missionaries to Christianity. Some accounts say there were six warriors from other tribes there who were killed as well. This tragic event was done at the Moravian town of Gnadenhutten now on the TuscarawasRiver [then the Muskingum] near New Philadelphia in eastern Ohio. There were three Moravian or Moravian Indian towns there at the time in Indian Territory north and west of the Ohio River. The three villages were burned with the bodies of the murdered people.

          My intention is to put forth a list of names of the men who were on this expedition. The men will be identified as to their township, creek or settlement of residence as well as other characteristics of their identity to answer the question of who they were and how they fared after this murdering. A list of 196 names will be developed with authority clarified as to why each name is on the list. A part of this question is whether they were a militia organization at the time, and on official military duty. The nagging question is: what kind of men when in a group would murder men, women and children living in Christian pacifism and political neutrality? That is the over riding question which has prompted this investigation. .

          Surprisingly, the first list of names was not published until 100 years after the event, and has not been re-published since 1906.[1] This is the history of a mimeographed list presently available at the Historical Society in Washington, Pennsylvania-Washington County.[2] That list was researched and put together in 1986 by Louise Martin Mohler with the consultation of Dr. Raymond M. Bell. It had been obvious to local historians during the nineteenth century that lists about this “Second Williamson Expedition”- as it was called locally- were being withheld from public view. Reliable and serious men looked for lists, and old men were rumored to have lists hidden away. However, apparently no list ever came to light locally. Of course, people who lived in the area at the time knew neighbors, friends and relatives who had gone up the Muskingum for this expedition. Reports of the sordid details filtered out and were rumored or whispered about. There is, however, almost nothing first hand in writing which can be found today about the massacre.

          The Caucasian Moravians were the first to write and publish in Europe about the massacre a few years after it happened. However, the Moravian publications did not include any names of men who did the killing except David Williamson- the elected leader.[3] Joseph Doddridge was the first local person other than the Moravians who wrote openly about the massacre.[4] Joseph Doddridge grew up around the Buffalo Creek area where his father had a forted house. As a thirteen year old boy Joseph Doddridge knew some of the men who went on this raid including David Williamson .The stories the men told left an indelible impression on his memory which he wrote into his memoirs in 1824 thirty six years after the tragic event. Joseph Doddridge in his manhood became a Presbyterian minister whose moral outrage shows through his writing. The Reverend Joseph Doddridge says this about the identity of the men on this expedition: “eighty or ninety men were hastily collected together…our people did not go on that campaign with a view of fighting, there may have been some brave men among them; but they were far from being all such they were not miscreants or vagabonds; many of them were men of the first standing in the country.[this is an archaic or rural use of the word country meaning the local area] Many of them were men who had recently lost relations by the hand of the savages; several of the latter class found articles which had been plundered from their own houses, or those of their relations, in the houses of the Moravians…Very few of our men imbrued their hands in the blood of the Moravians. Even those who had not voted for saving their lives retired from the scene of slaughter with horror and disgust…[5]” Joseph Doddridge was apparently too ashamed or too loyal to print any names in 1824 although it is clear that he remembered some of the men.

A few years later in the last century several reputable local historians tried without success to find lists of names. Both Boyd Crumrine and Isaac Craig tried to find a list which was rumored to exist. Isaac Craig wrote to Boyd Crumrine in 1881 that he knew of a list, but couldn’t get it- and apparently never did.[6] Consul W. Butterfield- a notable historian of this Western border- wrote in 1882 that he was unable to find lists and public documents about this unseemly event.[7] It is obvious from the documentation used by Crumrine and Butterfield that they would have presented a list had they had one. Crumrine does give a couple of the names he knew, but only a couple of the total.

 

First Published List

 

          Strangely enough the first publication of a list of these men was in the 1888 series of the Pennsylvania Archives which was the official publication of the State of Pennsylvania. That list includes the names of 57 militia officers and men by military rank and in a military unit of organization. The Editors say this of their list: “The list of men…is far from complete, as there were at least a force of one hundred and sixty men under the lead of the brave Williamson.”[8] For some unexplained reason unless due to its utmost importance the Editor of the 1906 series of the Pennsylvania Archives repeated publication of the same list.[9] There is no explanation with either publication as to the origin, authority or authenticity of the list which is re-published here exactly as in the format of 1888:

 

-000-

 

Lieutenant Colonel

David Williamson

 

 

Captains

                    Samuel Shearer (?)                                                        John Cotton

 

 

Lieutenants

                    Hugh Forbes                                                                  William Wilkins

 

 

Sergeant

Thomas Rankin

 

 

Privates

                    Samuel Riddel                                                               James Huston

                    John Riddel                                                                   Jesse Edginton

                    James Roney                                                                 Thomas Marshall

                    James Buchanan                                                           Thomas Montgomery

                    William Forbes                                                               Eleaser Jenkins

                    John Baird                                                                     William Black

                    Joseph McCullough                                                       William Ledlie

                    James White                                                                  William Irwin

                    Nathaniel White                                                             Robert Henry

                    David Hosack                                                                 Isaac Vance

                    Thomas Orr                                                                    John Little

                    John Pollock                                                                  William Quigley

                    John Breckenridge                                                        William Masterson

                    Alexander White                                                            John Masterson

                    Andrew Wineman                                                          Zachariah Masterson

                    Andrew Pass                                                                  William Rankin

                    Samuel Stewart.                                                            Joseph McConnell

                    Thomas Byers                                                                John Munn Jr.

                    John Edie                                                                       David Hopkins

                    James Bradford                                                             James Steel

                    Charles Bevington                                                         Charles Bilderback

                    Stephen Wilkins                                                            John White

                    William McClain                                                             Daniel Leet

                    Thomas McClain                                                            Dennis Jones

                    Robert McComb                                                             Frederick Crowe

                    Richard Davis

 

          Even after the publication in 1888 a man who had spent thirty years around WashingtonCounty inquiring about the massacre and its perpetrators said in 1900 that he had some names, but the names were very difficult to come by.[10] Unfortunately, William Farrar didn’t print his collection of names for the Ohio Historical Society at that time, and his list is not in the OHS archives today. At the same time Farrar did not acknowledge the existence of the 1888 list printed above. Farrar is well worth reading. He did repeat a story of a participant who had a slave. The slave told the story of the owner returning with blood on his shirt the evening of the eighth of March, 1782- implying that his master had been on that raid.

 

Lists of Militiamen who served the first week of March, 1782

 

          Louise Martin Mohler was the first to recognize that certain published lists of WashingtonCounty militia units which served that first week of March, 1782 would have to be the men paid to go up the Muskingum with Colonel David Williamson.[11] Louise Mohler saw that the men listed in the Pennsylvania Archives were those militia units for the ‘Second Williamson Expedition’ [12] Those men were all part of the Fourth Battalion of Washington County Militia of that first week in March in 1782. Whether or not that grouping of men as the Fourth Battalion was a permanent or stable organization or whether the battalion was made up just for this expedition will become clear further on in this paper.

          The Fourth Battalion had been under the command of James Marshel as Lieutenant Colonel of the militia for WestmorelandCounty before WashingtonCounty was formed out of Westmoreland. At the time of the formation of WashingtonCounty in the summer of 1781 James Marshel was appointed CountyLieutenant with a colonel’s rank in the militia. That officer was the highest ranking militia officer in command of all county militia units in each PennsylvaniaCounty. C. W. Butterfield has published letters between General Irvine at FortPitt and militia Colonel Marshel.[13] Butterfield points out that David Williamson who with Marshel had been a militia officer for Westmoreland County had taken the Oath of Allegiance to Pennsylvania and been commissioned a Lieutenant Colonel of the Fourth Battalion for the new Washington County militia. Colonel Williamson had taken a unit up the Muskingum to the Moravian Indian towns the preceding fall of 1781. It is Butterfield’s contention that David Williamson was the right hand man of Colonel James Marshel, and that Williamson may have been the only Colonel ready to go for the new county the first week of March. Other battalion commanders had according to Marshel refused to take the Oath of Allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania as many had allegiance to the state of Virginia.[14] There was an active territorial dispute between Pennsylvania and Virginia over this area, and that dispute remained active and unsettled at that time. This is documented in Butterfield’s fine collection which has never been reprinted.

          It is not clear whether the militia of WashingtonCounty were organized on the basis of locality, fighting talent, age or other factors. Pennsylvania law required that all men between the ages of 18 and 53 be part of the militia. There are other lists of the battalions of WashingtonCounty in the Pennsylvania Archives. There are also other returns or lists of men who patrolled the frontier on various dates in 1782, 1783 and on through 1786. There is no study of whether the classes and battalions were organized around settlements and townships by geographic proximity which might seem logical. Paul W. Myers[15] has compiled a list of about 2200 men who are shown in the Archives as having served some period of time in WashingtonCounty militia. However, if sworn allegiance to Pennsylvania was being required it is entirely possible that was a determining factor in getting men together the first of March, 1782 for this expedition.

          The question has been raised as to whether this was an on-duty militia expedition. It is absolutely clear that County Lieutenant Colonel James Marshel had the authority as given early in January, 1782 by the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania to call out the militia. The authority to call out units had been given to the CountyLieutenants of both Washington and Westmoreland counties by the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania. It is further clear from the correspondence Colonel Marshel had with General Irvine at FortPitt that Marshel was being given advice and requests were being made of him by General Irvine. Whether or not General Irvine could command Colonel Marshel and the militia is a little unclear. General Irvine did not use a commanding tone with James Marshel, and Colonel Marshel sometimes said he could not comply with the wishes of General Irvine[16]. The fact is that when this expedition left for the Muskingum General William Irvine had been in the East for some time, and had no knowledge of its organization. Communication being several days away on a fast horse this was apparently done without the knowledge of General Irvine or the knowledge of Colonel Gibson at Fort Pitt in charge after the 15^th of January.

 

ASSOCIATORS AND MILITIA – COUNTY OF WASHINGTON

 

A Return 1^st and 2^nd classes Cap’n Henry Graham’s Company of the 4^thBatt’n Washington County Militia Ordered to Rendezvouze the 1^st day of March, 1782 (c.)

 

1^st Class

         

                   William Price                                                                  Joseph Willson

                   John Marshal                                                                Abner Willson

                   Henry Cooper                                                                James How

                   Nicholas Smith                                                              John Cooper

                   Isaac Johnston                       

 

2^nd Class

         

                   Thos. McKibbens                                                           Robert McCulloch

                   John Gardner                                                                Robert Marshal (Smith)

                    Daniel McCoy                                                                Samual McKibbins

                   Daniel McGoogen                                                          Samuel Hindeman

                   Thos. Strain                                                                   James McMillan

 

                   Given unto my hand this 8^th day of March, 1782

HENRY GRAHAM, Capt.

 

+++++++

 

A Return 1^st and 2^nd Classes Captain Robert Miller’s Company in the 4^thBatt’n Washington County Militia Ordered to Rendezvouze the 1^st Day of March, 1782.

         

                                                          1^st Class

 

                    John Odonel, Ensign                                                     Joseph Blair

                    Samuel Cahoe                                                               John Ralston

                    Mathew Ritchie                                                              Arthur Campbell

                    Stephen Vineyard                                                          Aaron Carter

                    James McCready                                                           Jno. Reed

                    Barney Carter

 

2^nd Class

 

                    Edward Davis                                                                 Nathaniel Cahoe

                    Thomas Peircifield                                                          William Wilson

                    Jno.Willson                                                                    William Orr

                    David Gault                                                                    David Long

                    William Black                                                                 Joseph Holmes

 

Given under my hand this 8^th day of March, 1782

ROBERT MILLER, Capt.

 

++++++++

         

A Return 1^st and 2^nd Classes Captain Thomas Renkon’s Company in the 4^thBatn.WashingtonCounty Militia Ordered to Rendezvouze the 1^st Day March, 1782 (c)

 

1^st Class

 

                    Hugh Patton                                                                  Daniel McCloud

                    William Shearor                                                             Robert Hayes

                    William Sinclair                                                             Michael Dohertey, Senr.

                    William Martin

 

2^nd Class

 

                    Daniel Currey                                                                Daniel Clark

                    William Hilbit                                                                 William Hayes

                    John Roberts                                                                 Robert McKnight

                    Jno. Cunning

 

Given under my hand the 9^th Day of March, 1782

THOMAS RANKIN, Capt

 

++++++++++

 

            A Return 1^st and 2^nd Classes Captain Charles Reed’s Company in the 4^thBatt’n Washington County Militia Ordered to Rendezvouze the 1^st Day of March, 1782 (c.)

 

 

1^st Class

 

                    Shadrack Stillwell, Serj’t.                                              Adam Hickman

                    James Densmore                                                           Charles Reno

                    Frederick Lesnit                                                             Thos. Everet

                    Wm. Miller                                                                     John Fosit

                    Francis Lesnit                                                                Miles Willson

 

2^nd Class

 

                    Thos. Young, Serj’t.                                                        Geo. Thorp

                    Geo. Reno                                                                      Tobias Mattocks

                    John Armstrong                                                             Robert Piatt

                    Thos. Coneyers                                                              William Turner

                    Abraham Slover                                                             Isaac Springer

 

 

Given Under my hand this 9^th day of March, 1782

CHARLES REED, Capt.

 

+++++++++

 

A return 1^st and 2^nd Classes Capt. David Reed’s Company in the 4^thBatt.Washington County Militia Ordered to Rendezouze the 1^st March, 1782.

 

1^st Class

 

                    James Reed                                                                   Humphrey Aitchison

                    Christ’r Gaunce                                                             Brice McGeehon

                    Mathew Aitcheson                                                         Robt. Boatman

                    James Kerrlin

 

2^nd Class

 

                    Thomas Chenney, Ensign                                              John Coneyers

                    John Montgomery                                                         John Reed

                    Jams. McBride                                                               Jams. Martin

                    Saml. Scott                                                                    William Stevenson

                    John Hudgel

 

Given under my hand this 9^th day of March, 1782

JOHN RENEAN (?) Leut.

 

+++++++++

 

A Return 1^st and 2^nd Classes Capt. Wiliam Scott’s Company in the 4^thBatt.WashingtonCounty Militia Ordered to Rendezouze the 1^st March, 1782.

 

1^st Class

 

                    Wm. Scott, Capt.                                                            Wm. Gill

                    Henry Nelson, Serjt.                                                      Aaron Sackett

                    Thos. Shannon                                                              Jams. Hannah

                    Walter Hill                                                                     Wm. Sparks

                    Valentine Sennet                                                           Wm. Hervey

         

2^nd Class

 

                    John Carpenter, Leut.                                                   Michael Huff, Jun.

                    Richard Stevenson                                                         William Hanks

                    Edwd.Smith Junr.                                                         Morris West

                    Edwd.Davis                                                                    William Harris

                    Charles Norris                                                                Charles Stewart

                    David Baily

 

Given under my hand this 9^th day of March, 1782

WILLIAM SCOTT, Cap’n.

 

+++++++++

 

Names added by James Simpson   

 

          An Editor of the 1912 edition of Joseph Doddridge’s “Notes” mentioned above added in a footnote seventeen names which he had apparently collected. These names came from James Simpson who was a historian of the Cross Creek area. This attribution of James Simpson is on the attribution of Dr. Raymond Martin Bell- an authority on the names of WashingtonCounty people during the early period.[17] The names of the seventeen men appended to Doddridge are as follows: JOSEPH VANCE, JOHN McWILLIAMS, CHARLES CAMPBELL, ROBERT MARSHALL, THOMAS MARSHALL, THOMAS CHERRY, JAMES ROSS, MOSES PATTERSON, DAVID KERR, JOHN GRAHAM, SAMUEL MERCHANT, ROBERT WALLACE, JUDGE JAMES TAYLOR, SOLOMON VAILE, DAVID GAULT, SOLOMON URIE (died 1830), AND OBADIAH HOLMES JR. Half of these men were from the Cross Creek area. All were included in the Mohler-Bell list by the authors of that list.

 

THE M-B LIST WITH ADDITIONS; SETTLEMENT, LOCATION AND OTHER DATA;

         

To provide the answer to the question as to where these men lived search was made of surviving tax lists. A Tax list for WashingtonCounty for 1781 arranged by township was searched for every name.18 From the experience of using the index and searching the list it is clear that the index lists men on the wrong pages, and some men are on the list but not in the index. The index is not complete or accurate which means that after using the index one must also search the whole list. It is also clear that the same man may be listed in more than one place. This is clear in looking at the listings of Colonel Dorsey Pentecost as this man with such an unusual name is listed in several places where he owned land. That opens up the clear possibility for confusion if and when a man owned land in more than onetownship.The amount of land, number of animals and money valuation are listed for every man on the tax list; but only the extremes of ownership are reported here. Only men who had little or nothing, and those who had wealth are pointed out. Single men without anything or single men with land will be listed. One of these men had as many as 1500 acres in one place or township which was the upper end while some men had no land and little more than a horse.

          While the massacre was done in 1782 there is no tax list for that year in the Court House at Washington, Pa or in publication. Louise Martin Mohler searched the published 1783 tax list, and put the data in the work she did.[18] That data will also be included as a second source of basic locational information.    

          A second kind of locational information is the place these men settled on land granted to them by the state of Virginia. The land grants tell in many instances where the land was settled. That information is gained from lists published by Dr. Raymond M. Bell of land grants from the State of Virginia for land in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1782.[19]

          There is a published list of warrants for the purchase of land from Pennsylvania.[20] That list, however, does not give the location of the land by township, creek or settlement- no location is published. Furthermore, the list is not accurate according to Jonathan Steyer. This means that the whole file would have to be searched by hand, and each warrant read for locational information.

          It is important to note that both Virginia and Pennsylvania were giving and selling land in the area before the war. This question of loyalty added to the political confusion in the area right at this time.

          Only men in the Archives lists have military rank in this listing. Men from the Simpson list and other sources do not have military rank in this listing as there is no primary or compelling evidence for assuming that they were on military duty.