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- SOURCE CITATION:
Title: (See source comments)
Source Comments: "Montgomery and James of Southwest Virginia", by David B. Trimble
2506 Hartford Road
Austin, Texas 78703
From Montgomery and James of Southwest Virginia, by James Trimble
page336.
"William Montgomery was born about 1723 near Donegal Ireland and
moved toAmerica with his family about 1733. In 1746 he moved from
LancasterCounty, Pennsylvania to Catawba Creek in Augusta, (now
Botetourte) countyVirginia. He served in the French and Indian War
for which he received50 acres in 1780. On May 21, 1765 he was
constable on Reed Creek inpresent Wythe county, Virginia, and on
August 1, 1771 bought 135 acresnear Buffalo Lick on Reed Creek from
his brother John Montgomery for 100pounds. He and his wife Margaret
sole the land on which they lived toJames McCorkle for 1,000 pounds
on June 31, 1779.
1 CONT This source goes on to state that probably lived on a 12 acre
tract in
This source goes on to state that probably lived on a 12 acre tract
inMontgomery (now Wythe) county Virginia and died there in about
1785 or86. He left a will now lost, and probated on Feb. 22, 1786.
His wifeMargaret probably moved to present day Montgomery county,
Tennessee withher son John. This part needs more investigation as
this may be the sameWilliam mentioned in the Historic Families of
Kentucky who followedBenjamin Logan to Kentucky in 1779 and
mentioned as being killed byIndians in 1781. (See also the Historic
Families of Kentucky pages133-134 in the section on the Logan's) The
History of Kentucky storyfollows:
1 CONT From "HISTORY OF KENTUCKY". This portion about Gen. George
Rogers Clark
From "HISTORY OF KENTUCKY". This portion about Gen. George Rogers
Clarkand Gen. Benjamin Logan who did not proceed to the fort at
Detroit.
1 CONT "It is not probable that the enemy fathomed the plans of the
Kentucky
"It is not probable that the enemy fathomed the plans of the
Kentuckygeneral but the operations of the savages were well
calculated to affordthe greatest obstacle to their successful
execution. With the opening ofspring, marauding bands spread
through the south of the Ohio, attackingthe less protected
settlements, waylaying the unwary by the principaltrails and
springs, and creating so great a concern for the safety of
thestations that it is probable only a comparatively small number of
themilitia could have prudently been spared for the expedition, had
itprospered so far as to set forth. In March the several stations on
theBeargrass were attacked, and Col. Linn and Captains Tipton and
Chapmanwere killed. Pursuing one of these bands, Capt. Aquilla
Whittaker, withfifteen men, followed the trail of the retreating
enemy to the foot ofthe rapids where, supposing the Indians had
crossed the river the whitestook canoes to continue the pursuit.
They were scarcely embarked whenthey were assailed from the shore by
a volley, which killed or woundednine of their number. The rest,
undaunted by this disaster, returned tothe shore and boldly faced
the foe, but the Indians did not remain tocontest the field.
1 CONT About the same time another tragedy was being enacted about
seventy-five
About the same time another tragedy was being enacted about
seventy-fivemiles to the southeast. Here on the head-waters of the
Green River, thefather and brother of Mrs. Benjamin Logan bad built
four cabins, markinga large, irregular, square area, but unprotected
by palisades. Thesefamilies bad been residents of Logan's Fort until
this Spring, when,thinking that little danger from the Indians was
to be apprehended in alocality so remote from the Ohio, they took
possession of their nowhomes. They did not long long remain
undiscovered. One night in March asmall party of Indians concealed
themselves near enough to command thedoors of the cabins, and in the
morning, as William Montgomery Sr.,stepped out of his cabin in the
gray of the early dawn, he wasimmediately shot dead, as was a slave
boy who closely followed him.Montgomery's daughter, Jane, then a
young woman, promptly closed andbarred the door, calling for a
rifle. Betsey, her twelve-year-old sister,clambered tip the chimney,
and gaining the ground from its top, set outat the top of her speed
for Pettit's Station, about two and a half milesaway. Her escape was
observed, and an Indian pursued her some distance,but she out-ran
the savage and safely reached the station, from whence amessenger
was at once dispatched to St. Asaph's for succor.
1 CONT The bold bearing of the older girl prevented the Indians from
trying to
The bold bearing of the older girl prevented the Indians from trying
toforce the cabin, though she and a little brother were the
onlyoccupants. William Montgomery, Jr., with his wife and one child
and abound boy, occupied another cabin. The first crack of the rifle
alarmedhim, and directing the servant to guard the door with a heavy
sap-trough,he discharged his rifle through a crevice in rapid
succession, killingone and seriously wounding another of the savages
before they withdrewout of his range. John Montgomery, but lately
married, occupied a thirdcabin; he was shot while in the act of
rising from his bed, his cabindoor forced open and his wife made
captive. Joseph Russell, who with hiswife and three children
occupied the fourth cabin, succeeded in makinghis escape, leaving
his family and a mulatto slave girl to fall into thehands of the
savages. The escape of Betsey Montgomery probably inducedthe Indians
to beat a hurried retreat, and the pursuer of the little girlfound
his companions gone on his return. Mounting a log in front of
thecabin of William Montgomery, Jr., he began signaling his comrades
by aloud halloo, when Montgomery, who had not yet ventured to open
his door,sent a fatal shot through the unsuspecting savage.
1 CONT The arrival of the messenger from Pettit's Station was
scarcely announced
The arrival of the messenger from Pettit's Station was scarcely
announcedat St. Asaph's, when a blast of Logan's horn spread the
alarm - a magicalnote, which almost instantly conjured up a company
of twelve or fifteenfully armed frontiersmen. The ten or twelve
miles' distance to the sceneof the attack was quickly traversed, and
taking the trail, which wasrendered plain by Mrs. Russell's
shrewdness in breaking twigs anddropping shreds of her handkerchief
as she went, the Indians were soonovertaken. The whites at once made
a fierce onset, the Indians leavingtheir prisoners and a wounded
comrade in their hasty flight. All theprisoners were recovered save
a little daughter of Mrs. Russell; onhearing the voice of Logan she
cried, "There's Uncle- Ben," whereupon thecruel savage that had her
in charge struck her with his tomahawk. On themarch the rescuers
found the yellow girl tomahawked, scalped, and leftfor dead, but on
hearing friendly voices, she sprang to her feet andeventually
recovered.
1 CONT In April * the depredations and continued presence of the
Indians created
In April * the depredations and continued presence of the Indians
createda good deal of alarm among the occupants of Squire Boone's
Station onClear Creek. After deliberation it was decided that
prudence demandedthe removal of the occupants of that station to the
protection of thestronger forts on the Beargrass. Such a movement,
in the presence of anenemy, was a hazardous undertaking, and the
event proved that thefighting force, encumbered with the care of the
women and children,beside household effects and cattle, could not
offer the most effectiveresistance to the savages. The action of
the pioneers did not escape theobservation of the Indians, who
allowed the emigrants to reach Long Run,when they attacked the
retreating whites with an overwhelming force,dispersing the company
with great loss of life and damage of property,Boone being among the
severely wounded. Col. Floyd, gaining intelligenceof this disaster,
hastily summoned a company of twenty-five men for thepurpose of
rescuing, the party and chastising the enemy, but he seems tohave
greatly under-estimated the character of the foe.
1 CONT Although approaching with the greatest caution, his party
fell into an
Although approaching with the greatest caution, his party fell into
anambush, and though, after suffering fearful losses, he made a
stubbornstand, he was utterly routed by the savages; whose
overwhelming numbersemboldened them to charge with their tomahawks.
Sixteen of the whitesfell dead or mortally wounded, and Col. Floyd
himself, dismounted andworn out with exertion, only escaped from
vigorous pursuit through themagnanimous gallantry of Capt. Samuel
Wells, with whom Floyd was not thenon friendly terms. Henceforth, "
they lived and died friends". Thenumber of the Indians was
estimated, at 200, and this band was probablythe center from which
the numberless depredations of this period weredirected. After the
engagement with Floyd, the band seems have driftedinland, and in the
following month with a part of its numbers assailedMcAfee Station.
The first notice that the garrison had of their presencewas on
morning of the 9th instant. Samuel McAfee and a single companionset
out from the station to go to a field lying in the vicinity, and
hadgone about a fourth of a mile, when they were fired on by a
concealedenemy. His companion was instantly killed, but McAfee,
uninjured,turned quickly about and ran for the fort.
1 CONT * [See Marshall, Vol. 11 P. 115. Butler, p. 115, places this
occurrence
* [See Marshall, Vol. 11 P. 115. Butler, p. 115, places this
occurrencein September, and refers to "Col. Floyd's letters, which
were inmanuscript. In the absence of these or other deciding data,
the textfollows Marshall for the reasons that the first historian of
Kentucky, onthe whole, may be deemed the more reliable in the matter
of dates, andthat the earlier date is better supported by the
natural presumption inthe case. The presence of Clark at Louisville,
with considerablere-enforcements, and the means adopted by him to
guard the passage of theriver, as well as the absence of numerous
depredations or any otherspirited attack in the fall of 1781 (see
Marshall Volume I, PP. 118- 127)discourage the belief that so large
a body of savages was in Kentucky inthe latter part of the year,
while the events which occurred in theSpring, not only warrant the
belief in the presence of such a body of theenemy, but independently
suggest it. The savages were especially bold intheir attacks in the
region of the falls at this time, and the frequencyof their cruel
exploits would naturally give rise to the apprehensions,which caused
the removal of Boone.]"
1 CONT
1 CONT
1 CONT
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Submitted by Michael A. Montgomery, CMS 1712, on 9/6/98.
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Abt 1723 - Abt 1785 (62 years)
