From History of Meadville Pennsylvania





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.

      In the Summer of 1794, a Body of State Troops was stationed at Le Boeuf, now Waterford Commanded by Major Denny, in 1795 Genl Irwin & Mr. A. Ellicott, laid out the Towns of Erie, Waterford, Warren and Franklin, & for their protection were attended by a Company of State Troops under Capt Buchanon and some Troops of the United States. Col Rochefontaine in the Service of the United States, accompanied by General Neville, Co' Neville Brigade Inspector, Major

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