General David Mead, leader of the men and founder of Meadville, relate the events and trials of the early years of the settlement as he told it years later in a Circuit Court of the United States. 1
1 MS copy of
testimony by General David Mead, in ejectment of the
Holland Land Company,
vs. Actual Settlers, was given to William
Reynolds by Mrs.
William Gill, a daughter of General Mead (Reynolds
Collection)
In the Circuit Court
of the United States for the District of Penn
sylvania-Third
Circuit-
Richard Smith an Alien Lessee of Harm
Jan
Huidekoper an Alien- Ejectment
vs. as
of-
William Stiles with
Notice to Robert
October
Sessions
Burns
a Citizen of Pennsylvania 1802-
Tenant in Possession
In the Month of April 1788 I moved from the County of Northumberland thro’ the Wilderness to Cussawaga 2 now Meadville on French Creek, in Company with several Adventurers, and some hired Hands, to make a Settlement where we arrived in the Month of May, and I have made it my place of Residence ever since except when compelled to abandon it to seek safety from Indian Hostilities. The year 1789 I erected a Saw Mill, the first known West of Allegany River, & in 1790 I set a pair of Mill Stones running-connected with the Saw Mill which made very good meal.
2 See Appendix, 325-Aboriginal Num. VIII
Early in the Spring of 1791 our Settlement
was alarmed by fears of Indian Hostilities from the Western Indians. We had kept
up a friendly intercourse with the Senecas on Allegany River,3 and
with the Indian Village at the mouth of big Coniott Creek on Lake Erie. The
Chiefs of the latter Village, more than once that Spring communicated to us the
danger to which we were exposed of being cut off by the Western Indians, then at
War with the United States.
3 See
Appendix, 323-Aboriginal Num. VI
At length so great were our apprehensions of Danger, that
about the first of May, the entire Settlement broke up, and moved to Fort
Franklin, at the mouth of French Creek, mostly on Rafts of Boards prepared for
the purpose, escorted by “Half Town” and other Chiefs and lndians of the six
Nations in Number I think between 20 & 30, some of the Settlers went off to
the Settled Country, and others (of which number was my Family) remained at
Fort Franklin. In a few days after Cornelius Vanhorn, Thomas Ray & William
Gregg and others returned to Cussawaga, without any Families in order to Plant
Corn, (they began to Plough and to Plant about the middle of the Month) I also
returned about This time to Cussawaga, accompanied by Captain Jeffers, then commanding
officer at Fort Franklin, and three or four friendly Indians and several
Indians, but being disappointed in finding Vanhorn, Ray and others we went and
examined the field here they had been at work, and found some of their cloaths
a Rifle Gun and their Dinners, but neither Man or Horse could be seen, we then
returned to the Mills and near dusk in the Evening Cornelius Vanhorn came in
with his Arms tied behind his Back, (I think with his own Plough lines) who
informed us that he had been taken Prisoner by the hostile Indians, and in that
Condition had escaped from, them near the little Coniott Lake1 and
from his information it was supposed that the other Men were killed. In June
following Mr Ray returned by way of Detroit and Niagara, and gave us
a more correct Statement, viz. That
Gregg was killed near the spot where he was taken, and that the others had
escaped. The same year my Father (Darius Mead) was missing, and it was
afterwards discovered that he was taken Prisoner, about the first of August
near Fort Franklin by the Indians and by them killed on Shenango.—In October
having procured a Guard of Soldiers from Capt .leffers and several
hired Hands, I moved my Family back to the Mills at Cussawaga. But about
Christmas Capt Jeffers sent an Express to me, informing of the
Defeat of the Army under Genl St. Clair, and ordered the Soldiers I
had to return immediately to the Garrison; this reduced my strength so much
that I was again obliged to remove my Family back to Franklin. In the beginning
of April 1792, there was not one Person resident in the Country, North, and
West of the Rivers Ohio2 and Allegany and Conewango Creek, within
the State of Pennsylvania, except the remains of the Settlement that had been at
my Mills, and these were then obtaining Shelter “and Protection at Fort
Franklin. Fort Franklin then Commanded by Capt Cass, was the
only regular Garrison in the Country. Some Block Houses were erected and Posts
or Stations Established on the Allegany River near the Settlements on Allegany
& Westmoreland Counties where spies and Scout in the Service of the United
States & of this State & Detachments of Militia were stationed.
1 See Appendix, 324-Aboriginal Num. VII. A
2 See Appendix, 322--Aboriginal Num. III.
In the, Spring of
1792, I procured from Capt Cass a Sergeant, Corporal, and twelve
Men, and leaving my Family at the Fort I returned to Cussawaga. I also had
permission to furnish and to Issue Rations to any number of Indians not exceeding
Twenty, and to give to each of them a Shirt and a Pair of Leggins at the Public
Expense. Issues were accordingly made during part of that Summer, to the Indians,
and the Expense was defrayed by the Public. In the beginning of August I began
to make a Stockade around my dwelling House near the Mills, and then ventured
once more to remove my Family from Franklin. Sometime in November by
application to Genl Wayne, I procured a detachment consisting of a
Subaltern & Thirty Men, and with their Aid completed the Stockade and
erected a Block House, projecting over the Bank of French Creek in order to
prevent the Enemy being concealed or having any Shelter under the Bank of the
Creek either above or below our Fortification. The Protection, and assistance I
thus received in the year 1792 alone enabled me to return to my Mills at that
time, and was the cause of the Subsequent Security and increase of the
Settlement. Under that Protection and by the Public supplies we acquired the
Friendship and respect of the Indians who received the Rations from me, a Stockade
and Block House, capable of being defended against Indians, was constructed and
afforded us future Security, our danger was nevertheless great, the Enemy
Indians had been recently victorious, and Murders and other depredations had been
committed by them on the Frontiers of Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties, and
even near to Pittsburgh as was generally understood, and as was reported in the
Settlements on the Ohio below. In the Spring of 1793 the Detachment of Troops
was recalled, but another detachment consisting of a Sargeant and Twelve Men
was sent to us. Many Persons came out, chiefly from the West Branch of Susquehanna
to look at the Country, and to make what were called Improvements in the Woods,
some then remained and lived with us, and afterwards (when Peace was made with
the Indians) settled Permanently. No actual Damage was sustained from Indians,
by the Settlement or Travelers, but we still entertained apprehensions of
danger, as we were 100 Miles advanced into the Country Claimed by the Indians,
beyond the Frontier of the Western-most Settlements of the State. We did not
consider ourselves in safety & no person ventured to Reside out of the
little Settlement at my Mills. In the latter part of the Summer we were very
much alarmed in consequence of an Express being sent from Franklin to the
Commanding Officer informing us of the failure of the Treaty under Genl
Lincoln at Detroit & other reports, & of his being appraised by
Cornplanter, of the intention of the Western Indians to destroy the
Settlements. In Consequence of this Intelligence almost all the People out
looking at the Country fied, and the few Families that were with us moved away:
I was determined, if possible to preserve the Settlement, and used all the
address in my Power to induce the Inhabitants to remain. I was confident that
we could defend ourselves for some time against a body of Indians and that we
should be informed in time, for Escape, or defence, of their approach by the
Indians of Cornplanters Town if it should happen. I did not succeed however in
prevailing on any but those employed by me to continue. The Inhabitants when at
work planting Corn &c. generally went in Parties and armed, and usually all
returned at Night to Cussawaga. In the year 1794 our Settlement was
considerably increased but several Murders, as we were informed were committed
on the Allegany River, and in parts of the Country. Two Men of the Names of
Wallace & Powers were killed, it was said on the Road about 20 Miles South
of Fort Franklin; a Boat & a Canoe, was attacked by Indians, and some
Persons killed and Wounded: a Soldier missing from the Garrison at Franklin, was
found Dead and Scalped, near the Fort, all this was reported at the time. In
August or September James Dixon, an lnhabitant, in our Settlement, was wounded
in three parts of his Body having received four Shots from Indians & the
fourth passed through his Hat, only a small distance from my Mills, near the
Bank of French Creek, in the open day. On hearing the Shots of the Indians I
ordered a number of Muskets, and small Arms to be discharged within the Pickets
with a view to alarm the Scattering People. In a few minutes after Mr
Dixon came within sight, & I ran out and led him in, very much covered with
Blood from his Wounds. Before this time, and after the murder of Wallace and
Power, an Express was sent to Pittsburgh, in order to obtain some aid and
Protection from the Public Officers, and in consequence authority was given by
the General Officers of the Militia to enroll a certain Number of Men for our
defence, who were furnished with Arms. & eceived Pay and Rations.
Shortly after the attack on Mr
Dixon, the Inhabitants Erected a new Block House, convenient to the old Block
House & Stockade and mounted a six Pounder within the same.
In this year great apprehensions of danger
were generally expressed by all People in the Country. None ventured to reside
out of the Village, and when they worked out it was always in Parties, and
generally Armed, some standing as Sentinels, or Patrolling, while others
worked, at Night they all assembled within my House, the Block House adjoining
or one or two other Houses, for mutual Protection and safety. In the year 1795 a great many adventurers
came to Cussawaga, but not a Family ventured to settle West of French Creek
that Summer.
In April or in May we had information that
two Men of the Name of Rutledge were killed near Presque Isle. In June Findley
31 McCormick were killed near the mouth of Coniott Creek and were buried at
Cussawa and a Day or two after the Camp of William Power--Dep’ty-Sr
(Surveyor) was broken up, and a Man of the name of Thompson taken Prisoner, and
carried off to Detroit & there released, this last information is from the
Statement of Thompson to me, immediately after his return from Captivity. The
Inhabitants were again enrolled this Summer a Company Commanded by Cornelius
Vanhorn was under Pay & Rations.
Altho Danger still
existed, yet the Inhabitants, and other Persons at Cussawaga, felt more secure,
at all events were encouraged by the confident hopes entertained generally that
Peace would be made this Season, with the Indians by Genl Wayne and
all would be able to move out the next Spring to
the Lands which they had selected for their Farms.
During the years
1792, 1793, 1794-, and the greater part of the year 1795, I did consider it
imprudent, for a single Family with Women and Children to attempt to make a
Settlement and Residence in the Woods at a distance from a Plan of Defence, and
it is a truth, that none did make the attempt West of French Creek during that
Period, nor to any other place to remain Permanently until the Fall of 1795.
We who were settled
in the Country were compelled to make the best of our situation, and it was
naturally our Policy to induce as many as possible to remain. The enrollment of
the Inhabitants of Cussawaga for Militia Duty was necessary for their safety,
and the object of those who obtained the en-
rollment was not merely to pay and to feed those who were enrolled.
The pay and Rations given I believe induced some to stay, who, otherwise would
have abandoned the Country, their staying caused others to remain, and all felt
a greater degree of Confidence and Security.
