TN Indian Depredations 1791 & 1792







TN Indian Depredations 1791 & 1792
M1062 roll 1 pg. 411
Correspondence of the War Department Relating to Indian Affairs, Military Pensions, and Fortifications, 1791-1797
National Archives & Records Administration
Extracted by Billy Markland



The following is an extract of a report from Gov. Blount to the Secretary of War regarding Indian hostilities in the districts of Tennessee during the years 1791 and 1792. The report is undated but I would guess it was compiled in the latter part of 1792. There are many question marks on this extract due to the fact that the secretary, or whomever, wrote on front and back of the paper creating severe ink "bleed-through". Additionally, there may be errors contained within the report itself. In short, take this information with a grain of salt, however, it is the first list of settlers killed by Indians I have ever seen that was formally compiled by authorities for that period, thus worth extraction and publication.

Over the next few days, using this document as the framework, I will be adding information and footnoting sources to fill in the blanks on some of the missing information. That information will largely come from a fantastic resource, The Early History of Middle Tennessee by Edward Albright and located at the Sumner County, TN GenWeb site. Many of the locations named in the following document were located in Sumner county so this is a great place to visit for further information. The majority of the events included below are narrated in chapters 32 - 35. A different perspective may be gained by visiting the Aniyuntikwalaski site .

Information to the Washington District can be obtained partially at the Eastern Tennessee Resources site as well as New River Notes. Both are excellent resources for Eastern TN and Western NC and VA. I am still adding on-line resources for both districts and will be updating that as well.

Best of wishes and enjoy,

Billy Markland
10/05/2003


MERO DISTRICT



No. Given Name Surname Condition Time When Location By
        1791    
1. Ishmael Viths Killed 16th Jan. Peyton's Creek  
2. Lilly, a negro woman   Killed February At a Sugar Camp near Bledsoe's Lick  
3. Cornelius Hernden Wounded February Near Bledsoe's Lick  
4. Capt. Caffrey's negro man   Killed 20th March On his Master's Plantation Stone River  
5. Edwd Hickman Killed 1st April Surveying on the waters of Duck Creeks
6. George Wilson Killed 23rd May On the Great Road near Station Camp Creek  
7. John Hickerson Killed 27th May Smith's Fork  
8. ----- Thompson Killed 2nd June Near Nashville  
9. John Gibson Killed 14th June Mayfield's Station near Nashville Creeks
10. Benjamin [K?]eykenol Killed 29th June In his own Yard near Bledsoe's Lick Creeks
11. Thomas Fletcher Killed ---- ----  
12. ----- Harry Killed ---- Near the mouth of Red River  
13. ----- Harry Killed ---- Near the mouth of Red River  
14. Robert Jones Killed 18th July Major Wilson's eight miles from Sumner
Court House		 By the Cherokees before they knew of the Treaty
15. John White Killed 15th July Cumberland Mountain on the new trace  
16. Joseph Dickson Killed 31st July At his own house near Craft's Mills  
17. George French Killed 1st August ----  
18. ----- Grantham Killed 5th Nov. At the mouth of Red River By the Northwards
19. ----- ----- Killed --- ----  
20. ----- ----- Killed December Cumberland River in Conrad's Salt Boat Tuckalaleague or Double Head, a Cherokee & his party
21. ----- ----- Wounded December   Tuckalaleague or Double Head, a Cherokee & his party
        1792    
22. John Rice Killed 7th Jan. Near the mouth of Red River in Cumberland Tuckalaleague or Double Head, a Cherokee & his party
23. John Curtis Killed 7th Jan. Near the mouth of Red River in Cumberland Tuckalaleague or Double Head, a Cherokee & his party
24. ----- Sevier Killed 7th Jan. Near the mouth of Red River in Cumberland Tuckalaleague or Double Head, a Cherokee & his party
25. ----- Sevier Killed 7th Jan. Near the mouth of Red River in Cumberland Tuckalaleague or Double Head, a Cherokee & his party
26. ----- Sevier Killed 7th Jan. Near the mouth of Red River in Cumberland Tuckalaleague or Double Head, a Cherokee & his party
27. ----- Boyd Killed 14th Feb. Clarkesville [sic] Tuckalaleague or Double Head, a Cherokee & his party
28. ----- Thompson Killed 25th Feb. 4 miles from Nashville on his own Plantation Creeks
29. ----- Thompson Killed 25th Feb. 4 miles from Nashville on his own Plantation Creeks
30. ----- Thompson Killed 25th Feb. 4 miles from Nashville on his own Plantation Creeks
31. Elsey Thompson Prisoner 25th Feb. 4 miles from Nashville on his own Plantation Creeks
32. Peter Caffrey's wife Prisoner 25th Feb. 4 miles from Nashville on his own Plantation Creeks
33. Peter Caffrey's child Prisoner 25th Feb. 4 miles from Nashville on his own Plantation Creeks
34. 4 Boys   Killed 6th March Brown's Station 4 miles from Nashville By the Creeks
35. ----- ----- Killed ---      
36. ----- ----- Killed ---    
37. Samuel McMurray Killed 25th March Ploughing at Buchanan's Station  
38. ----- ----- Killed 25th March Near the mouth of Red River Tuckalaleague
39. John [Ruviance?] Killed 7th May Dr. Donnell's near Sumner Court House By the Cherokee's Running Water
40. Benjamin Williams Killed 8th May At his own house By the Cherokee's Running Water
41. Mrs. Williams Killed 8th May At his own house By the Cherokee's Running Water
42. Child Williams Killed 8th May At his own house By the Cherokee's Running Water
43 & 44 Negro Woman & child   Prisoner 8th May   With the Cherokees at the Running Water
45. A woman   Killed 12th May Armstrong's Station near Nashville  
46. A Boy   Wounded 25th May Near Judge McNairey's  
47. General Robertson Wounded 24th May On his own Plantation  
48. Jonathan Robertson Wounded 24th May On his own Plantation  
49. James Everite2 Killed 8th June Gowen's place  
50. ----- Parks Killed 22nd June Lyce[rmore?]  
51. Michael Shaver Killed 26th June Zeigler's Station By Creeks, Shawanese, & Cherokees. The Shawanese & the Cherokees live at the Running Water & killed wounded & Captured as far as number 72.
52. Archid Wilson Killed 26th June Zeigler's Station By Creeks, Shawanese, & Cherokees.
53. Mary, a Negro ----- Killed 26th June Zeigler's Station By Creeks, Shawanese, & Cherokees.
54. Unknown Negro   Killed 26th June Zeigler's Station By Creeks, Shawanese, & Cherokees.
55. Joel Ellis Wounded 26th June Zeigler's Station By Creeks, Shawanese, & Cherokees.
56. Thomas Reese Wounded 26th June Zeigler's Station By Creeks, Shawanese, & Cherokees.
57. Gabriel Black Wounded 26th June Zeigler's Station By Creeks, Shawanese, & Cherokees.
58. Joseph Wilson Wounded 26th June Zeigler's Station By Creeks, Shawanese, & Cherokees.
59. Jacob Zeigler Missing 26th June Zeigler's Station By Creeks, Shawanese, & Cherokees. Supposed to be burnt in his house.
60. Mary Zeigler Prisoner 26th June Zeigler's Station Purchased by her Friends from the Shawanese warrior for 58 dollars each.
61. Elizabeth Zeigler Prisoner 26th June Zeigler's Station Purchased by her Friends from the Shawanese warrior for 58 dollars each.
62. Hannah Zeigler Prisoner 26th June Zeigler's Station Purchased by her Friends from the Shawanese warrior for 58 dollars each.
63. Sarah Wilson Prisoner 26th June Zeigler's Station Purchased by her Friends from the Shawanese warrior for 58 dollars each.
64. Moses Wilson Prisoner 26th June Zeigler's Station "Regained by purchase"
65. Zacheus [sic] Wilson Prisoner 26th June Zeigler's Station Little Owl a Cherokee Chief
66. Sarah Wilson Prisoner 26th June Zeigler's Station A prisoner with the Creeks
67. Elenor Wilson Prisoner 26th June Zeigler's Station  
68. Mary Wilson Prisoner 26th June Zeigler's Station Purchased for 58 dollars by her friends from the Creeks.
69. Montilion [sic] Wilson Prisoner 26th June Zeigler's Station By Creeks, Shawanese, & Cherokees. "Regained by purchase"
70. Molly Jones Prisoner 26th June Zeigler's Station With the Creeks
71. Eader, a Negro   Prisoner 26th June Zeigler's Station  
72. Isaac Pennington Killed 15th July Near the dripping spring. By the Creeks
73. ----- Milligan Killed 15th July Near the dripping spring. By the Creeks
74. ----- McFarland Wounded 15th July Near the dripping spring. By the Creeks
75. Unknown   Killed July On Cumberland River near Clarksville  
76. Unknown   Killed July On Cumberland River near Clarksville  
77. William Clack Killed 16th May In company with Judge Campbell returning
from Court		  
78. John Barclay Junr. Killed 31st July In his Father's Peach Orchard near Bledsoe's Lick.  
79. John Barclay Senr. Wounded 31st July In his own Peach Orchard NOTE: Another letter states that John Sr. killed an Indian during this fight.
80. Miss Collinsworth Prisoner Feb. 1792 Chickasaw Trace Now in Nickajack with the Cherokees
81. John Collinsworth Killed Feb. 1792 Chickasaw Trace By the Cherokees the Glass present
82. Mrs. Collinsworth Killed Feb. 1792 Chickasaw Trace By the Cherokees the Glass present
83. A man   Killed Feb. 1792     
84. Mrs. Kishley Captivated [sic]
& aftwds. killed		 Feb. 1792 Big Bison Cherokees Running Water
85. Child Kishley Killed Feb. 1792 Big Bison Cherokees Running Water
86. [Mr.?] Mins Killed Feb. 1792 Big Bison  
87. His son abt. 12 Mins Prisoner Feb. 1792 Big Bison Redeemed by his friends for 58 dollars.
88. A pregnant woman ----- Prisoner July Unknown By and with the Creeks
89. A boy 12 years old ----- Prisoner July Unknown By and with the Creeks
90. Dr. White's Negro boy ----- Prisoner February Near Nashville By and with the Cherokees
91. Oliver Williams Wounded February On the Cumberland Trace Creeks
92. Jason Thompson Wounded February On the Cumberland Trace Creeks
93. Elizabeth Norris Killed 6th August Sulphur Fork Creeks
94. Shaderick Williams Killed 6th Sept. Near Cotterel's Creeks
95. William Stewart Killed 8th Oct. Near Nashville By Creeks
96. Jonathan Gee Killed 30th Sept. Tayloe's Trace By Watt's party of Cherokee, Creeks & Shawanese
97. ----- Clayton Killed 30th Sept. Tayloe's Trace By Watt's party of Cherokee, Creeks & Shawanese

WASHINGTON DISTRICT



No. Given Name Surname Condition Time When Location By
        1791    
1. Mrs. McDowell Killed 25th August Near Mocason [sic]
Gap Clinch Mountain 		By the Bench who has attached himself
to the Shawanese
2. Francis Pendleton Killed 25th August Near Mocason [sic]
Gap Clinch Mountain 		By the Bench [sic] who has attached himself
to the Shawanese
3. Reuben1 Pendleton Wounded 25th August Near Mocason [sic]
Gap Clinch Mountain 		By the Bench [sic] who has attached himself
to the Shawanese
4. Mrs. Pendleton Prisoner 25th August Near Mocason [sic]
Gap Clinch Mountain 		By the Bench [sic] who has attached himself
to the Shawanese
5. Boy 8 years old [Pendleton?]2 Prisoner 25th August Near Mocason [sic]
Gap Clinch Mountain 		By the Bench [sic] who has attached himself
to the Shawanese
6. Mrs. Faris Killed 26th August Near Mocason [sic]
Gap Clinch Mountain 		By the Bench [sic] who has attached himself
to the Shawanese
7. Mrs. Livingston Killed 26th August Near Mocason [sic]
Gap Clinch Mountain 		By the Bench [sic] who has attached himself
to the Shawanese
8. Child Livingston Killed 26th August Near Mocason [sic]
Gap Clinch Mountain 		By the Bench [sic] who has attached himself
to the Shawanese
9. Mr. Faris Wounded
& Died		 26th August Near Mocason [sic]
Gap Clinch Mountain 		By the Bench [sic] who has attached himself
to the Shawanese
10. Nancy Faris Prisoner 26th August Near Mocason [sic]
Gap Clinch Mountain 		By the Bench [sic] who has attached himself
to the Shawanese
        1792    
11. Mrs. Ratcliff Killed 5th April Stanley's Valley,
Hawkins County		 By the Bench [sic] who has attached himself
to the Shawanese
12. Child Ratcliff Killed 5th April Stanley's Valley,
Hawkins County		 By the Bench [sic] who has attached himself
to the Shawanese
13. Child Ratcliff Killed 5th April Stanley's Valley,
Hawkins County		 By the Bench [sic] who has attached himself
to the Shawanese
14. Child Ratcliff Killed 5th April Stanley's Valley,
Hawkins County		 By the Bench [sic] who has attached himself
to the Shawanese
15. A boy ----- Killed 16th May [?] [?] [?] Knoxville By the Bench [sic] who has attached himself
to the Shawanese
16. A boy ----- Killed 16th May [?] [?] [?] Knoxville By the Bench [sic] who has attached himself
to the Shawanese
17. ----- Gallaspie [sic] Killed 12th Sept. Knox County, South side of Holston Creeks
18. ----- Gallaspie [sic] Prisoner 12th Sept. Knox County, South side of Holston Creeks
19. James Paul Killed 3rd October Black's Blockhouse Creeks & Cherokees
20. George Ross Killed 3rd October Black's Blockhouse Creeks & Cherokees
21. Robert Sharpe Killed 3rd October Black's Blockhouse Creeks & Cherokees
22. John Shanklin Wounded 3rd October Black's Blockhouse Creeks & Cherokees








Washington District Notes

  1. According to posts on the Farris forum at Genforum, Reuben survived his wounds and lived until 1860.
  2. Farris family legend has Mrs. Pendleton and a child being abducted and never seen again.