Monongahela. Reports were numerous that the French were coming from Fort Duquesne to Shamokin, now Sunbury, to erect a large fort and to carry the war into Pennsylvania.

Later Weiser writes that the author of the numerous murders of the people of Pennsylvania 18 Onionto (the French) and that they have prevailed upon the Delawares at Nescopeck, who had given their town as a place of rendezvous for the French and had undertaken to join and guide them on the way to the English.

About this time Weiser sent two spies, Silver Heels and David, a Mohawk Indian, from John Harris' (now Harrisburg) to Nescopeck to learn what was going on there. Upon their return they reported that they 88W 140 warriors dancing the war dance, and expressed great bitterness against the English; and that they were preparing an expedition against them and thought they would go to the eastward. At a council of the Delawares on the West Branch and held at Shamokin it was decided, in order to avoid an invading army from the French, to go to Nescopeck for safety. Tacknedorus, alias John Shikellimy, says:

"I went with them to Nescopeck and took my family with me. After awhile I found the Nescopeck Indians were in the French interest. I, with my brethren and others, then began to feel afraid and returned to Shamokin."

(now

taken

In November, 1755, occurred the burning and plundering of Gnadenhutten Weissport) and the slaughter of the Moravian missionaries, and the long list of murders that immediately followed, in this former home of old King Nutimus, in connection with the circumstances given and the close proximity of Nescopeck to Gnadenhutten and the direct path betwixt the two places, forces the conclusion that Natimus was largely if not entirely responsible for them.

Edward Marshall, who accomplished the great walk on which the walking purchase was based, lived at this time at or near the present village of Slateford; Marshall was not to blame for the walk, for he did it as a hired man though he never received the five hundred acres of land promised him. Still the Indians remembered the part he had taken upon himself and they determined to retaliate. They surrounded his house when he was not at home and shot his daughter as she was trying to escape, the ball entering her right shoulder and coming out below the left breast. Yet she got away from them and recovered! They took Marshall's wife, who was not in condition to make rapid flight, with them and killed her. attack on his house they

some miles In a former had killed

one of his sons. Though thirsting for Marshall's blood for many years, yet they seem to have always feared him and usually undertook their bloody work when he was from home. He eventually died a natural death after attaining a good old age.

In 1755, Fort Augusta, (at now Sunbury) one of the largest, if not the largest inland forts in the State was erected, and in June, 1757, we find Old King Nutimus with his wife and sons and daughters making visits to Shamokin. He frequently came to the fort as 8 friend, having no doubt in the few preceding years abundantly revenged himself and people for the loss of the Fork lands. At one of his visits to Fort Augusta he complained bitterly to his old friend and long time acquaintance, Captain Jacob Orndt, formerly from Easton and who was now in command at Fort Augusta, that the soldiers at the fort on a previous visit had debauched his wife and daughter by secretly giving them whisky, and declaring that if such things were allowed, that it would not be safe for a man to bring his wife and daughters to the fort again. His visits to Fort Augusta were made with the canoe. It is believed that he left Nescopeck with his family about 1763 and went to the Great Island on the west branch, and thence joined the Delawares on the Ohio. He had a son, Isaac Nutimus, who lived at Tioga, and was a warm friend of the English, and at last accounts, in 1759, was about joining an expedition against the French at Pittsbarg.

This is the brief history of old King Nutimus and the Nescopeck Indians, many of whose bones lie baried, and which the crumbling banks of the Susquehanna have for many years exposed to view, and unearthed many curions and valuable Indian relics. W. H. Smith, attorney, at Berwick, has many curiosities gathered from the field once occupied by Natimus and his people. It is said that near the town of Nescopeck in the surface of a large boulder is a mortar worked out, in which the Indians with a pestle ground their corn, and which now remains as the last vestige of Old King Nutimus and his people.

Golden Wedding

An enjoyable reunion occurred Oct. 26, 1887, at Overfield, Wyoming County, the golden wedding of Andrew Miller and wife. Mr. Miller was born in Warren County, N. J., 1815, and in 1835 removed with his family to Hanover Township, Luzerne County, where his father, Barnet Miller, purchased a farm. In this vicinity he formed an acquaintance with Miss Fannie Dersheimer in Exeter, now Ransom, in Lacka

wanna County. Mrs. Miller was born in Northampton County in 1816. The first 14 years of their married life were spent in the Wyoming Valley. In the spring of 1852 he purchased and moved his family upon the premises he now occupies. For thirty-five years this has been their home.

BEFORE THE MASSACRE.

An Old Account Book Which Has to do With the Pioneers of Wyoming-Additional Data Collected by Henry Blackman Plumb.

Reference has already been made in these columns to an old pocket account book in the possession of H. B. Plumb, author of the "History of Hanover Township," the same having been kept by his great grandfather, Elisha Blackman. Not only is the book valuable as affording ideas of the manner and cost of living in those early days, but it is interesting as furnishing what is almost a directory of that time. How interesting would a complete directory be. The book mentions fully half the families of Wilkes-Barre. The whole number of names in this account book of one who was only a farmer is 65. Of these 14 were killed in the battle and massacre of 1778. There were also in the battle 6 who escaped. Fifteen of them or their sons served in the Continental or Revolutionary army during the war for independence.

The accounts cover date from 1772 down to the battle and massacre, July 3, 1778, and Mr. Plumb has kindly furnished the RECORD with a list of the names, together with brief mention by himself of each one. Though the comment is brief it has required no little research by Mr. Plumb to call the matter from published and unpublished sources. The original orthography of the names is given:

Jonathan Avery: In Wilkes-Barre in 1775-6; nothing further known of him.

Benjamin Baly: Lived in Wilkes-Barre in 1774-8; was a corporal in Capt. John Franklin's company of militia previous to 1782.

Samuel Becket: In Wilkes-Barre, January, 1774 to 1778; nothing further is known of him.

James Badlock (Bidlack): Lived in Wilkes-Barre in 1775-6-7. As there was a James Bidlack, Jr., who was slain in the battle and massacre of Wyoming in 1778 it is uncertain whether this is father or son. The father was taken prisoner by the Indians on the flats opposite Wilkes-Barre in 1779 and carried into captivity. His son Benjamin was in Spalding's company in the U. S. army after 23 June, 1778.

Elisha Blackman, Sr.: The owner of the account book in which these names appear;

lived in Wilkes-Barre from 1773 to 1778, the family fled to Connecticut after the massacre. He returned in 1787 to WilkesBarre, where he resided till his death in 1804, aged 87. Some of his descendants still live there. His sons Elisha, Eleazer and Ichabod left large families.

Elisha Blackman, Jr.: Son of the above, was eighteen years old at the time of the Wyoming battle and massacre in which he fought, and escaped with his life, and fled the next day with his father to Stroudsburg, the rest of the family having fled earlier in the day. While the family returned to Connecticut from whence they came, he returned to Wyoming early in August with Capt. Spalding's men, helped to gather anch of the harvests and crops as they could, helped to bury the dead on the fatal battle field in October (and he always said they were buried in two graves or trenches a half mile or so apart); and then enlisted in the active army in the field and served to the end of the war. He received two pensions, one from the United States and one from Connecticut. His brothers were too young to be in the army. His residence was in Hanover from 1791 till 1845 when he died, aged 86. Joseph Blackman: In Wilkes-Barre, in January, 1778, but probably never lived here.

Esquire Zebulon Butler: Lived in WilkesBarre in January, 1773, was a colonel in the U. S. army 1775 to 1783, was one of the first settlers in Wilkes-Barre, was in command of the militia in the battle of July 8, 1778, at Wyoming, being home on furlough at the time. He escaped the massacre, and served in the army till the end of the war. Mr. Carr: Was in Wilkes-Barre in 1773. Capt. Carr and Philip Goss were murdered by Indians below Wapwallopen in November, 1778. Daniel Carr was taken prisoner before the battle. Either of these may be the man.

Uriah Chapman: Of the Lackawack settlement, was a mill owner, removed there from Norwich, Conn., in October, 1778. Mill irons carried to Minisink for him that year by Elisha Blackman, Sr.

Dr. John Corkins: Lived in Wilkes-Barre 1775 to 1778, was a noted surgeon in New London, Conn., came here in 1773. Many of the people desiring to have him establish himself here, drew up a petition and procured subscribers, the money to be laid out in a "lot for his benefit and use." It is supposed the issue was favorable for his name is found here as late as 1789.

Joseph Crooker: lived in Wilkes-Barre previous to 1778; probably kept the lower ferry at the foot of Northampton Street, as he bid £10.108.00d., for it; was killed in the battle and massacre.

Anderson Dana: In Wilkes Barre, 1774, to Mar. 30, 1778; was slain in the battle and massacre; was a lawyer by profession. Descendants of his still live here.

Clemans Daniel: In Wilkes-Barre in Nov. 1775; nothing further known of him except that he resided in Wilkes-Barre as late 88 1789.

Dugles Daveson: Lived in Wilkes-Barre in 1773; belonged to Capt. Durkee's company; in the army from 1776 to 1778; did not belong to Spaldings' consolidated company in 1778. Lived here long afterwards.

William Davison: In Wilkes-Barre in 1776; belonged to Capt. Durkee's company in the U. S. army 1776 to 1778; did not join the consolidated company of Capt. Spalding: Nothing more known of him.

Col. (Nathan) Denison: In Wilkes-Barre in 1776 to 1778; escaped the massacre; was a colonel of the militia in the battle, July 3, 1778; afterwards Judge of the court till 1782-3.

Mathew Dolson: In Wilkes-Barre, in Jan nary, 1776; nothing further known of him. Mr. (George) Dorrance: Lived in Kingston; 1776 collector of rates. Lieut. Col. of the militia July 3, 1778, and was killed.

Daniel Downing: Lived in Wilkes Barre in November, 1775 to 1778. Was in James Bidlack's company in the battle and massaore and escaped. Keturned to Wilkes-Barre the same fall, and afterwards resided there as late as 1792. Afterwards there is a Joel and a Reuben named.

Capt. Robert Durkee: Lived in WilkesBarre in 1774 to May 1777. He was commissioned captain of one of the two Wyoming companies, August 26, 1776; on the day of the battle of Wyoming, he with Lieut. Pierce, came spurring their jaded horses to Forty Fort, about a half hour after our men had marched out. They had left their men on foot about 40 miles off, and had ridden in to assist their families and friends. "We are faint give us bread." "Having snatched a morsel of food, they hastened to the field." Both were slain.

Thomas Durkee: Lived in Wilkes-Barre in 1776-7. Nothing further is known of him. Thomas Ells (probably Ellis): In WilkesBarre in 1773. His lot was put into Springfield.

John Ewens: Lived in Hanover 1773 8, assisted by Elisha Blackman, Sr., to move into Hanover in 1773 from LancasterCounty, Pa., was a resident till the massacre, after which he lived in Lancaster County.

Daniel Fine, (or Finny, or Kinne, or Kinny,): In Wilkes-Barre in January and October, 1774. Nothing further is known of him. The name seems to be uncertain.

Jonathan Fitch: In Wilkes-Barre in 1776, was sheriff of the county of Westmoreland till the very last, was an old man and probably one of the Reformadoes to guard the

Blockhouse in Hanover in 1778. after the battle and during the flight he was the only man among 100 women and children to lead and direct them across the mountains in Hanover, along the Warrior Path to Fort Allen, (Weissport now,) on the Lehigh. From 1780 to 1782 he was elected assemblyman to Connecticut four times. Mr. Forsids, (Forsythe): In Wilkes-Barre in 1776, lived in Hanover in 1779-80, and it is understood he lived there for many years afterwards.

John Franklin: Of Hanover, May, 17738; was slain in the battle and massacre of July 3, 1778, together with his brother, Jonathan. His brothers, Lieut. Rosewell Franklin and Arnold Franklin, escaped.

Capt. Stephen Fuller: Lived in WilkesBarre, 1776. A private in the battle of Wyoming. July 3, 1778, and was killed. Had been captain in the Wyoming militia in 1775.

Jedediah Goor (probably Obadiah Gore, Jr.) Came to Wilkes-Barre in 1769: Was a resident of Wilkes-Barre in 1773; was in the U. S. army, lieutenant in the company of Capt. Weisner, 1776 to 1782. Afterwards lived in Sheshequin; was an associate judge of Luzerne County; died in 1820.

Mr. Gordon: In Wilkes-Barre, in 1776; was the surveyor of the town of Westmoreland; laid out the public roads in September, 1776; the roads had been laid out before by the townships, but it would seem from this were not lawful roads or highways of the "town of Westmoreland."

Benjamin Harve (Harvey:) Lived in Plymouth 1774; belonged to Capt. Durkee's company in the U. S. Army 1776, till his death in the service; unless, as is probable, this Benjamin is the father, who had another son, Silas, killed in the battle and massacre of Wyoming, and in 1780, in December, himself and only remaining son, Elisha, were taken prisoners by the Indians and driven to Canada. They survived and were afterwards released, and lived and died in Plymouth.

Jonathan Haskel: Was one of the original settlers on the Delaware or Lackawaxen in 1773; was assisted by Elisha Blackman, Sr., in moving to the Minisinks, on the Delaware, from Connecticut in October, 1773. He was constable, collector of rates and key keeper for his district in 1774.

Asel Hide: Lived in Wilkes-Barre in 1775-6; was corporal in Capt. Durkee's company in the U. S. Army 1776 to 1778, June 23, when he joined Capt. Spalding's consolidated company as a private till 1782, the end of the war.

John Hide: Lived in Wilkes-Barre in October, 1775; nothing further known of him.

Simen Hide: Lived in Wilkes-Barre in 1775; nothing more known of him.

John Hollenback: Lived in Wilkes-Barre in 1777 to 1794; mill owner on Mill Creek; some of his descendants still reside in Wilkes-Barre. Mr.

Jenkins: Lived in Kingston in 1776; collector "For Rates." Supposed to be John Jenkins. He was, in 1777, taken prisoner by the Indians and taken to Canada, was sent for exchange for what turned out to be a dead Indian chief, he however, made his escape. He joined Capt. Spalding's company and was made Liutenant in 1778; and came into the valley with them in August; he was with the army, which under Gen. Sullivan invaded and devastated the Indian country in New York in 1779; served in the U. S. army till the end of the war. He died in Kingston or Wyoming, in 1827. Descendants of his still reside there.

Timothy Cyes: (Keys) Lived at this time, October, 1772, in Wilkes-Barre; in 1775 was ensign in the Wyoming militia; afterwards lived up the Lackawanna, and after the battle of the 3rd of July, 1778, early in the fall, or perhaps in August, he was taken prisoner by the Indians together with Isaac Tripp, Esq., Isaac Tripp his grandson, and a young man named Hocksey. The old man they let go, but, up in Abington on the Warrior Path to Oquago, they murdered Keys and Hocksey.

Ebenezer Lain: In Wilkes-Barre in 1776; nothing further known. of him.

William Lisk: Was in Wyoming in 1775 to 1776; nothing further known of him.

Alexander Lock: Lived in Wilkes-Barre in 1774 76; bought a quarter of a town lot No. 32 in the town plot of Wilkes-Barre of Elisha Blackman, Sr., 28 March, 1774, for £2-148-Od., Connecticut currency-$9 in U. S. money of these times. A James Lock was killed in the massacre; probably his son.

Daniel Mackmullen: Lived in WilkesBarre in 1778, was in the battle and massacré and escaped. Nothing further known of him by the writer.

John Obed: In Wilkes-Barre in Feb. 1777; nothing further known of him.

Eben zer Phillips: Lived in Wilkes-Barre in 1775-6; belonged to Capt. Durkee's company in the U. S. Army 1776-8 till its conRolidation with Ransom's in June, 1778, under Capt. Spalding. Nothing further known of him.

Mr. Porter: In Wilkes-Barre in 1774, a Thomas Porter was in Capt. Durkee's company in the U. S. army in 1776, and killed was by ball battle. A Thomas Porter was in the lower Wilkes-Barre company in the Wyoming battle in 1778, and escaped the massacre. They may be father and son.

in

Jabez Post: In Wilkes-Barre in July, 1774. Nothing further known of him.

Mr. - Prid (Pride:) In Wilkes-Barre in 1775-6; nothing more of him.

Mr. Sill (Jabez Sill): Resided in WilkesBarre in 1776; was one of the first 200 settlers in Wilkes-Barre, 1769; had two sons in U. S. Army with Capt. Durkee, Elisha N. and Shadrack. On the consolidation of the two companies at Lancaster on June 23, 1778, Shadrack re-enlisted with Capt. Spalding, but Elisha N. came home. Another son, Jabez Sill, Jr, belonged to Capt. Franklin's company of militia in Wyoming previous to 1782-(after the massacre)during the war. Elisha N. Sill after the war went to Connecticut, studied medicine and practiced, and died there a very old man.

David Smith: In Wilkes-Barre in 1774; nothing further known of him.

Isaac Smith: Lived in Wilkes-Barre in 1776. Belonged to Capt. Durkee's company in 1776 and to Spalding's consolidated company to the end of the Revolutionary war.

Capt. Josiah Smith: Lived in WilkesBarre in 1776 or 1768; bid for the Upper Ferry £6 6s.-Od. This ferry was at the mouth of Mill Creek, and Miner says yielded half as much as the Lower Ferry. He says from twenty-five dollars a year the rent of the Lower Ferry soon rose to sixty; and the upper to half that sum until discontinued on the erection of mills in Kingston. In Connecticut currency the lower at.... The upper at..

.....

.£10-10-0-$35 00 6- 6.0-21 00

Total revenue at this sale per year. $56 00 Derias Spaford: Lived in Wilkes-Barre in 1775; was killed in the battle and massacre; was a blacksmith; was son-in-law of Elisha Blackman, Sr., the proprietor of the pocket account book from which these names are taken.

Doctor Joseph Sprague: Lived in WilkesBarre, June, 1872-7; was a physician by profession; he had come to Wyoming as a settler in 1770; he had a son killed in the battle and massacre, July 3, 1778; he died in Virginia; his step-daughter was the wife of William Young, of Hanover, and he was also in the battle but escaped the massacre.

Asa Stevens: Was in Wilkes-Barre, Jan. 1772 to April, 1778; was slain in the battle and massacre of July 3, 1778; was lieutenant in the lower Wilkes-Barre company.

Mr. Stuart: Lived in Hanover, 1776; collector "For Rates."

Daniel Tracy: In Wilkes-Barre in 1774; nothing more known of him.

Flebas Waterman: In Wilkes-Barre in 1776. This name and the one below. Flavill Waterman, are so nearly alike, and both so near Flavius Waterman. the lieutenant in one company of our little army in the battle

of Wyoming in 1778, and who was slain there as to make the names of both uncertain.

Flavill Waterman: Lived in WilkesBarre in 1776 to 1777; see Flebas Waterman above.

Elihu Waters: Lived in Wilkes-Barre in 1776-7; was killed July 3, 1778.

Capt. Wigden (probably Capt. James Wigton): Lived in Wilkes-Barre in 1778; was in the Wyoming battle and massacre as a private in 1778 and was killed; belonged to the lower Wilkes-Barre company of Capt. James Bidlack.

Aaron Wilder (or Wildor): In WilkesBarre in 1774; nothing more known. Mr. Woodworth: In Wilkes-Barre in May, 1775; a boarder. Nothing further known of him.

A Fugitive From the Massacre.
[Letter to the Editor.]

The following incident of the Wyoming massacre may not be without interest to your readers:

Mrs. William Miller was born Jan. 1, 1760, and was therefore eighteen and a half years old at the time of the massacre, but young as she was, she was a mother living in the vicinity of the Old Forge, her husband being in the Continental army. She was taken prisoner with her child by the Indians and held for some time, just how long is not known. She wandered about with them, but at length they determined to release her and learning that her former home had been in Orange County, N. Y., they painted her face and that of her child, and sent them thither under an escort. She walked and carried the child in ber arms the whole distance. The painting was done, 88 their custom Was, to show that they had been released that other Indians might not molest them; consequently when any met them they would say, "Joges jun, jogee jun;" meaning, "Go on Indian; go on, Indian." Her husband survived the war and joined her, after which they returned to Wyoming Valley and lived for some time in the vicinity of Pittston. They subsequently moved to Clifford, in Susquehanna County, where her husband died in 1816, and after his death she came to live with her son, the late J..nathan. Miller, in Pleasant Mount, where she resided until her death, which occurred June 23, 1845. The terrible scenes of the massacre and her captivity were ever present to her memory and none the lees so as age advanced. After her mind became impaired by age, stumps, in her imagination, were transformed into In

A striking difference in the two styles is set forth in the following stanzas. The first is taken from Dr. Franklin's "Poor Richard's Almanac." The last was doubtless written by an observing journalist: Old style. Farmer at the plough, Wife milking cow, Daughters pinning yarn. Sons thrashing in the barn, All happy to a charm. New style. The farmer gone to see a show, The daughter at the piano, Madam gaily dressed in satin, All the boys are learning latin,

With a mortgage on the farm. Wanted, a Town Sign Post.

In some things we are behind our ancestors of 100 years ago. In those days public notices were posted on a certain tree on the river bank, chosen by the community as a sign post. Consequently everybody referred to this sign post in absence of any other method of advertising. Nowadays we haven't the town sign post but high constable's and other notices are tacked up on a few of the several thousand telephone, telegraph, electric light, fire alarm or other poles which crowd the thoroughfares and the notices are therefore about as conspicuous as would be a cambric needle in a hay mow.

This is not right, nor is it fair to the tax payers of the city who have a right to expect that estray notices and other legal advertising be placed in some newspaper.

For example, some poor family is grieving to day over the loss of a black cow, with white spots on forehead and with horns turned over her face. The RECORD is willing to be a benefactor to that family to the extent of informing them that according to an obscure notice on a telephone pole, the cow is in the pound and is advertised to be sold on Nov. 5, at 11 am.

Surely there ought to be some way of bringing these notices-for they usually concern the poorer people-into print.