at the Wilkesbarre fort, and Dr. Smith afforded his prompt and skillful aid. Among those whom he could remember to have seen butchered, were Jeremiah Ross, Samuel and Joseph Crooker, Stephen Bidlack, and Peter Wheeler.

It will be recollected that in Col. Franklin's account of events the day of the capitulation, Queen Esther headed the Indians, and with insolent pride said, "See here. Col. Denison, I told you I'd bring you more Indians." It is the opinion of Mr. Elliott, that her exasperation of passion was partly owing to this. Several Indian spies had been arrested, and were held prisoners in Forty Fort. Queen Esther had been down from her palace at Sheshequin to obtain their release, which Col. Denison had deemed it proper to refuse. In anger at her disappointment, she probably made the threat, which now she repeated in taunt.

No sooner was Elliott recovered, and his wounded shoulder sufficiently healed, than he entered again upon acceptable services. On Sullivan's advance into the Indian country, a line of expresses, to connect with Wyoming, was established, when Mr. John Carey and Joseph Elliott were selected to perform the duty. And, says Mr. Elliott, "after eighty days' constant service I was taken sick, and cannot tell what should be the cause, unless too often sleeping out in the wet, overdone with fatigue, and being very hungry." Poor fellow! It was cause enough.

But Joseph Elliott was an actor in another trying scene. The making prisoners of all Rosewell Franklin's family by the Indians, is related in the annals of 1782. His account to us of the affair, so far as he was concerned, was this. Several parties were marshalled to pursue the savages. One of these assembled at Mill Creek, numbering nine persons. They chose Thomas Baldwin to be their leader, and himself to be second in command. Making their way up the river with all possible celerity, they were satisfied, when they reached the path on the mountain nearly opposite Frenchtown, that the enemy had not passed. Taking up a position on the hill which was deemed most eligible, being out of provisions, two of the men, expert hunters, went out for venison, when the Indians, thirteen in number, with Mrs. Franklin, her babe, two little girls, and a boy about four years old, as prisoners, were reported by the advanced sentinel to be near. To call in their scattered hunters was of course impossible. There they were seven to thirteen, and it was bravely resolved to give battle. The fire was sharp on both sides. Capt. Baldwin received a rifle ball in the hand which nearly disabled him, but Thomas Baldwin was every inch a soldier, and still exerting himself he led on and cheered his men. How near they were is evident, from the children knowing the voices of our party, and with instinctive sagacity they ran from the Indians, and clung to the knees of their friends. Mrs. Franklin, who had been ordered to sit still, raised her head, on hearing the joyous cry of her children, and the savages instantly shot her. Pressing forward, the Indians were compelled to retreat, leaving two or three of their number dead on the field. The infant was borne off in their flight, and its fate never known. The two little girls and younger boy were, after the burial of their mother, decently as circumstances permitted, brought safely to Wyoming, and restored to the arms of their father. Mr. Franklin had been with another party in eager pursuit, but had failed to find the enemy. Gen. Wm. Ross used to say, the battle for Mr. Franklin's family was one of the best contested in Wyoming. Peace soon came, and Mr. Elliott was much in the employment of Judge Hollenback, who had the highest confidence in his faithfulness, and the veteran speaks of Judge H. in terms of warm commendation.

A pension of 65 dollars a year, has contributed to render the evening of his days comfortable. Below the middle height, he was well built, and of that cast best shown by experience to be adapted to endure fatigue. June 25th, 1845, when we called on the old gentleman to hear his narrative, he was at work in his garden. In early life Joseph Elliott must have been handsome. for, except the loss of his right eye, he still looks well. His face is round, and lighted up by a benevolent smile. Half his thin hair is still dark, and his manner mild and pleasing. But when he is in full tide, relating the events of battle,-" When the Indians came down on us like so many raging devils," age is forgotten, and he is full of animation. His habits have been simple, his life virtuous, his conduct in war meritorious as fidelity and bravery could render it. He lives universally respected, and it is hoped may enjoy his pension these many coming years. With pleasure we add that his son was, at the last session, a member of Assembly from Bradford county.

Israel Skinner, M. D., author of the Revolutionary War in rhyme, seems to have taken from the veteran's lips the account of his escape from the dreadful Ring, which we quote.

"Those who were taken by the Indians there,
As Joseph Elliott doth to us declare,

(Who did among the prisoners remain,
And was one of those appointed to be slain,)
Were taken to a certain spot of ground,
And stripped, and in a ring arraigned around,
As victims of their rage designed to be,
A sacrifice to savage cruelty.

A squaw, the Indians did Queen Esther call,
Was set apart to tomahawk them all.

This right to her perhaps they did extend,

To make atonement for some slaughtered friend;
Elliott says, five or six became a prey,
In presence of him in his savage way;
That he himself was in a stupid maze,
When first he at their cruelties did gaze,
But being roused in feelings at the sight,
Bethought to struggle with his utmost might,
Thinking at worst he could but fall a prey
To savage vengeance while upon this way.
Two Indians holding him then quickly were
By his puissant arm laid prostrate there;
Then he towards the river pressed his way,
While missive weapons did around him play.
And many of the savage Indian crew
Did to the river's margin him pursue-
But he before their frightful vengeance hied
And plunged himself beneath the liquid tide,
And diving on his way as he did flee
Thereby to shun the savage enmity.

But while the buzzing bullets dashed around
In his left shoulder he received a wound,
Which weakened him so much he thought it best
When he approached the shore awhile to rest.
When he had rested, he with all his force
Leaped from the water and kept on his course;
When round the place a leaden shower did light
Which made the liquid billows foam with white;
Yet notwithstanding those obstructions he
Sprang up the bank and got behind a tree.
When he his breath had gained and was revived,
He urged his way, and to the Fort arrived,
And there united with his friends again,

And thus escaped the brutal savage train."

The classical reader, while forming his own opinion whether in poetic charm there is anything equal in Homer or Virgil, will allow us to suggest, that we probably have here a true narration of the facts of this marvellous escape.

NO. XXXVII.

MAJOR EZEKIEL PIERCE.

MAJOR EZEKIEL PIERCE, the father of the Pierce family, was the ready writer of early days, and for a succession of years clerk of the town, the Records being in his hand writing. He had five sons, all grown to manhood, when he removed to Wyoming, in 1771, and must therefore have been advanced towards the decline of life. Their names were Abel, Daniel, John, Timothy and Phineas. When in June 1778, the two Independent companies were consolidated into one under

Capt. Spalding, Timothy and Phineas were commissioned 1st and 2d lieutenants. Timothy was one of the three who rode all night, before the battle, arrived after the troops had marched out, followed, and fell. John also was slain in the engagement. Abel, the father of Mrs. Lord Butler, the writer knew, and remembers with respect and pleasure. He lost a son, Chester, just in the bloom of early manhood, in the civil dissensions that succeeded the Revolutionary war. A daughter Mrs. Hoyt, widow of the late Capt. Daniel Hoyt, of Kingston, still lives, June, 1845.

NO. XXXVIII.

THE FINCH FAMILY.

THREE of the Finch family, John, Daniel, and Benjamin, were killed at the time of the invasion, two in the engagement, one murdered by the Indians, the day previous, near Shoemaker's mill. Our researches have not put us in possession of all the facts, in regard to this suffering family, that we desired.

NO. XXXIX.

THOMAS BROWN.

THE names of Thomas Brown and John Brown are in the list of slain. Thomas, in the retreat, had nearly crossed the river, another person being in company. Overtaken by the enemy he was induced or forced to return, and on reaching the shore was instantly speared and tomahawked; his companion witnessed the deed but escaped. The particulars of the fall of John we have not learned. Daniel Brown, a brother, was then a lad in Forty Fort. He now resides very independently, near the Wyalusing, a neighbour to the gallant and fortunate Elliott, (who escaped from the fatal ring with Hammond,) having also near him, Mrs. Wells, who was a Ross, and several other of the ancient Wyoming people.

One of the stoccades at Pittston was called Brown's Fort, that family having erected it on their own land. Though not named, it is evidently referred to, in the dispatches of Col. John Butler, as one of the three that capitulated. Several of the descendants of those Revolutionary sufferers still reside on or near the Lackawana.

* I say "induced or forced." The enemy, to make sure of the scalps of their victims, preferred alluring them to the shore, rather than to shoot them in the stream. Promises of life and protection were solemnly made, to be instantly and ruthlessly violated. After peace opened intercourse with Canada, Mr. Hollenback relates that he has seen Indians in their drunken orgies, act over the massacre. Their coaxing the Yankees ashore, and then the murderous struggle, the pleadings for life, "For Jesus Christ's sake," the savage demons would exclaim in broken English, with fiend-like exultation, until, he said, it was almost impossible to keep his hands off them.

NO. XL.

ASA AND JOHN STEVENS.

ASA and JOHN STEVENS are named in the old records, as inhabitants of Wilkesbarre so early as 1772. Rosewell Stevens was one of the patriotic soldiers that entered the service in Ransom's Independent company. Asa Stevens was an officer holding the commission of lieutenant in the militia, and was slain in the battle. Like the Danas they were particularly distinguished by their zeal for the

establishment of free schools, and the advancement of learning. This congeniality of sentiment led to the most intimate connection-Mr. Anderson Dana and Sylvester Dana, Esq., marrying sisters of the Stevens family. Removing from Wilkesbarre, Jonathan Stevens, Esq., settled in Braintrim, and afterwards in Bradford county, where, on the organization of that county-having long exercised with intelligence and firmness the duties of a magistrate, he was appointed one of the associate judges. When the author had the pleasure of his acquaintance, thirty years ago, his manners were pleasing-he was intelligent, quick to observe, ready to communicate, and of a most extraordinary memory. His conversation was highly agreeable and instructive.

NO. XLI.

LIEUTENANT JAMES WELLES.

LIEUTENANT JAMES WELLES is on the record of the honoured patriots, who fell in that disastrous battle, which filled Wyoming with lamentation and woe. The family were the earliest settlers in Springfield, on the Wyalusing, from which on danger of the savages becoming imminent, they removed to the more densely settled part of the country in the valley. Resuming the occupation of their property on the restoration of peace, the family became prosperous, and continue among the most respectable and independent inhabitants of that beautiful place, (formerly it will be remembered the residence of the Moravian missionaries and Christian Indians.)

XLII.

COREY AND BULLOCK.

Or the COREY and the BULLOCK families, no longer residents of Wyoming, we have been able to learn much less than, from their sacrifices and sufferings, could have been wished. Amos and Asa Bullock were killed in the battle. One of the name, probably one of the brothers, who fell, was a lawyer; the father resided at the meadows, six miles on the Easton road, from Wilkesbarre, where the night and day, after the massacre, from the rushing in and departure of the fugitives, images of sorrow and despair, the dreadful uncertainity of the fate of his boys, the scene was inexpressibly distressing. Nathan Bullock, probably the father, was two years afterwards taken by Indians a prisoner to Canada.

Three of the Corey family were among the victims of the rifle and tomahawk; Jenks, Rufus and Anson. The former was one of the original proprietors of Pittston. It may be noted, as extraordinary, that three of the younger branches of the name came by melancholy accident to untimely deaths. One, being shot by a neighbour, mistaken for a deer.-One lumbering some years ago on the Lehighthe other in the far western country, to which the remains of the family had emigrated. The father died long since in Kingston, and his remains are buried on or near the spot where the tavern stands on the north-east corner at New Troy.

NO. XLIII.

THE CHURCH FAMILY.

THE Church family came from Kent, Litchfield county. "An abstract of the second Independent company raised in the town of Westmoreland, commanded

by Capt. Samuel Ransom," dated October 7th, 1777, contains the names of Nathaniel Church, John Church and Gideon Church. The present farm on the Kingston flats, opposite Mill Creek, was owned by, and the residence of Gideon, and the property now belongs to his son, Wm. Church. The reader, familiar with old Indian wars, will remember the gallant and successful Captain Church, whe was scarcely less distinguished than Mason, the hero of the Pequot conquest. There is no reason to doubt that the families were of the same original stock, that in a very early day emigrated from England.

In the list of slain in the battle, furnished by Colonel Franklin, is the name of Joel Church, who also was the brother of Gideon. With many other Wyoming people, attracted by alluring accounts of the richness of western lands, several of the family removed to Ohio.

NO. XLIV.

CAPTAIN REZIN GERE.

CAPTAIN REZIN GERE commanded the second or upper Wilkesbarre company on the fatal 3d.* He left three sons, the eldest only five years of age, to the care of his widow. Driven with her orphan children from the valley, their house and all their papers were consumed by fire. Too young to know their rights or to return and repossess their farm-the title papers being destroyed-the land of course went into other hands. Captain Jeremiah Gere, a highly respectable citizen of Susquehanna county, recently deceased, was one of the sons. The other brothers not long since visited Wyoming. "We are becoming old and are poor," said they, "our father fell, a commissioned officer, fighting the enemies of liberty and his country-we lost everything, even the land. Is there no redress? Is there no aid to be obtained from the government of the country?" Their case seems one of great hardship. Is there one instance in a hundred in which Congress have granted lands or pensions where the claim was so strong as this?

*He was from Norwich, descended from one of the oldest families of that place. A Mr. Rezin Gere is named in its annals as living an hundred and fifty years ago. Capt Gere was aged 40 years at the time of his death. Stephen Gere, of Brooklyn, Susquehanna county, is the only son now living (June, 1845).

NO. XLV.

PITTSTON.

IN Pittston the leading families, during the Revolutionary war, were the Blanchards, Browns, Careys, Bennetts, Silbeys, Marcys, Benedicts, St. Johns,* Sawyers, not omitting the gallant Cooper. Observe that neat white house on the plain-see that white and tasteful dwelling on the hill-both are occupied by the descendants of Cooper. The Rev. Mr. Benedict was the earliest minister there. Those handsome buildings above Manockasy belong to the Blanchards. Captain Jeremiah Blanchard (the elder) commanded the Pittston company. Unjust censure was cast upon him by some querulous people, because he did not lead his men into battle. The failure to do so arose neither from want of courage nor patriotism. At the head of the valley, the enemy having possession of Wintermoot and Jenkins' Forts, both in sight and only separated from his stoccade by the river, he could not have gone with his men to Forty Fort without leaving the women, children, and everything under his care, to the exasperated fury of the savages.