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- 2 Feb 1998
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- To researchers of Hinkson.
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- My name is James Sellers and I have been researching the lives of Hinkson
and McCune for some time. I'm not related in any way, but I do have an
indirect connection to these men. My gr gr..... grand uncle, John Sellers,
was living in Westmoreland County near Hinkson and McCune in 1775. I know
about Hinkson coming to KY in 1775 and I am certain he returned to PA that
same year. I Have a copy of a deed from Westmoreland Co. for John Woods
that has John Hinkson and John Sellers as witnesses. (dated Dec 1775)
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- John Sellers was with Hinkson in 1776 when they were in KY. Sellers
settled about 4 miles north of Hinkson's (aka Ruddle's) Station on Sellers
Run. Sellers returned with Hinkson to PA in Aug of 1776 and lived with
Hinkson and others at Palmers' fort in Fairfield Township, Westmoreland
Co., PA. Sellers served as a Lieutenant under Capt. Hinkson from 1777 to
1780. He returned to KY in 1780 w/ Hinkson and McCune and was taken at
Ruddles with them. According to a record I have Sellers was actually the
first to escape Hinkson being the second as stated below:
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- Draper MSS 4S98-99 - James Chambers statement continued from book_______
of Westmoreland County Pa born in 1749.
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- Capt. Bird's Kentucky Expedition of 1780. - Bird treated prisoners
well. Chambers saw the 6 pounder at Detroit taken on Bird's expedition
of '80, and saw the man who drove the horse that drew it on the land part
of the march. Also got acquainted with several of the prisoners taken by
Bird - Capt. Ruddell and Simon Girty was with Bird. JOHN HINKSTON was in
possession of the Indians - Girty and HINKSTON were old acquaintances -
were great cronies, and swapped clothes when he was prisoner - Girty went
to Bird, and said HINKSTON was very supple and active, and if he (Bird)
did not take him from the Indians and put him under a guard of British
soldiers, he would be certain to effect his escape. Bird did so - that
night HINKSTON made his escape and it was thought Girty brought about this
change of HINKSTON from the Indians to the British, in order to aid him
in escaping. - JOHN SELLERS, another prisoner taken at Ruddells or Martins
escaped a little before HINKSTON - they were the only ones who did escape.
Girty, too, knew of HINKSTON'S having killed Wipey, about '74, who hunted
on Conemaugh, and kept it from the Indians, who, had they known it, would
have killed him.
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- When Bird returned with his prisoners, a number of cabins were built
outside the fort at Detroit for the prisoners taken at Ruddell's and Martin's
forts; men, women and children, Capt Ruddell and family among them. And
these cabins were familiarly called Yankee Hall. The men had their liberty
and worked out some of the time for wages. After a while, Du Poister who
commanded at Detroit gave the use of an island to Ruddell, some 3 miles
above Detroit, and in which were some improvements - and he moved his family
there, raised corn, etc. These favors led to the suspicion that Ruddell
was tinctured with Toryism and Ruddell when he returned to Virginia was
tried on this charge and acquitted. Bird said he would never be engaged
in another such expedition as that to Kentucky in 1780.
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- Here are some more records relating to McCune and Hinkson:
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- Draper MSS 11CC35 - Draper's interview with William McBride I was at
Corn's, when Riddle, (that was taken at Riddle's,) got back. One McCune,
who was at Bowman's Station when Riddle got there, went out & got a
hoop-pole, of which he had a parcel, & wore it out on Riddle. McCune
had been a prisoner with (fellow) Riddle and had been planning to run away,
where Riddle went and told the British on him, who put McCune in irons.
"Now," says McCune, "tell on me again."
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- Draper MSS 16j82 - 83 - Extract upon Capt. Hinkson's narrative, who
was made prisoner on the surrender of Ruddle's Fort; in Kentucky the 25th
of June (1780), and made his escape on the 28th.
- On the 24th about sunrise, a heavy fire was begun on the fort by small
arms, which continued without intermission until noon, when it was observed,
that a battery of two three pounders (cannons) was erected on an advantages
spot. The first discharged made such an impression on the fort, that all
within were convinced they could not hold out. A flag was sent out and
the terms agreed to were that the garrison should surrender themselves
as prisoners, be permitted to retain their wearing apparel, and conducted
safely to a settlement near Detroit, where provisions should be found there
until they could raise corn for themselves.
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- On the 26th the white, with a party of Indians appeared before Martin's
Fort, seven miles up Licking Creek, which surrendered without resistance
on the same terms as the other fort and previous were in the hands of the
enemy when Capt. Hinkson made his escape; who further adds, that they consisted
of a company of regulars from Detroit, under Capt. Bird, a company of Canadians,
thirty Tory volunteers, and about 700 Indians from various tribes. Capt.
Bird informed Capt. Hinkson; that he had taken the Governors dispatches
going down the Ohio, which gave an account that no expedition would be
sent into their country this summer; which seemed to elate him much. The
enemy came down Stoney River (on the Great Miami) up the Ohio and Licking,
without being discovered.
- S.C. Gazette, June 31, 1781.
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- Draper MSS 2S334-338
- From John Hinkson - now (1845) about 72 - born on the Monongahela.
- Son of Col. John Hinkson - who was a son of John (a native of Ireland)
- emigrated to America a married man, died leaving John the pioneer and
a sister - John (Col.) when young man went to Ireland to get some family
patrimony, married Margaret McCracken, remained two years, and then returned
to America, about 1765 - settled probably in Westmoreland Co. Pa on Monongahela,
bringing from Ireland a store of goods.
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- In Dunmore's War, was a captain or lieutenant - probably the former,
came to Kentucky in '75 - moved to Kentucky in Spring of '80, four or five
boats came with him with about half a dozen families, stopped at Limestone
about a week, built a block-house, the first erected there, and sent a
message to his old station (better known as Ruddell's) to get help to aid
in moving the families over, and while waiting at Limestone the Indians
stole all the horses belonging to the company - some 20 in all. - At the
old station there was not a sufficiency of men to share, and advised a
continuation to the Falls of Ohio.
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- Went down there in his boats - got horses to transport some of the
property leaving the family at the Falls, and he had been at Ruddell's
but three or four days when Bird came - Shot a cannon and knocked the corner
of a house down - The station was on the east side of Hinkson's Fork, 8
miles from Paris - located on low land, with a overlooking hill, which
the British occupied and from which they fired the cannon. Capt. Ruddell
surrendered - Hinkson was opposed to it. Hinkson
was kept and escaped the third night. Col. Bird gave him permission to
stay with the Indians (who captured him) or with him, Bird chose the latter,
and [Hinkson] made a bargain with one of the prisoners to run off, and
the latter betrayed him and told Bird - and Bird placed an Indian guard
over him, and in the night when raining, going down Licking by land (as
he came with wagons - Bird's Old Trace), knocked an Indian over and into
the River, at the mouth of Bank Lick Creek (some 3 miles above the mouth
of Licking, west side of the river) - and himself plunged into the river
and swam over, and escaped. Bird had got bewildered, came to Hinkson and
told him as he was an old woodsman, that it would be better for him to
tell the best route to take (they were then camped) - and Hinkson said
if he must tell he would do his best, and commenced directing and pointing
when the Indians were collecting around him, he knocked the one between
him and the river down the bank into the river and himself jumped in and
swam over, and made his way to Bryan's Station; next morning (that night
didn't go far, too dark and got into a tree top and went to sleep, and
awoke in the morning within view of a camp of the Indians who took after
him, but he outstripped them, but he, in running through briars got the
most of his clothing torn off - and was nearly naked when he got to Bryan's.
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- Don't think Col. Hinkson went on campaign of '80 - nor in '82. Did
go out with Logan in '86; was an officer under Col. Edwards on the Blackberry
campaign. Was out with Gen. Ben Harrison (who died at New Madrid - some
children living near St. Genevieve at the lead mines - Harrison died not
long (2 or 3 years) before the War of 1812.) on his expedition. Also went
out scouting with parties.
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- Went and settled at Mann's Lick and stayed there till '81; then moved
to Haggin's Station, near Danville and about '83, re-occupied his old settlement
on Hinkson's Fork. William McCune, a half brother of Hinkson's, moved with
Hinkson to Kentucky in '80, and was captured with him; and was kept nearly
two years.
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- Also:
- Halderman Papers - July 1, 1780 - Capt Henry Bird to Maj Arnet DePeyster
"Everything is safe so far, but we are not yet out of reach of pursuit
- As a very smart fellow [Hinkson?] escaped from me within 26 miles of
the enemy."
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- Halderman papers - July 24, 1780 - Capt Henry Bird to Maj Arnet DePeyster
- "Capt Hinxon [Hinkson] who made his escape from us had candour sufficiant
to tell Col. Clarke, he and the prisoners were treated in so different
a manner from what they expected, that had not his family been at the Falls,
he would have preferred going with us to Detroit."
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- Also in The Draper papers it mentions John Hinkson received a Captains
commision in Jefferson County, KY (then Virginia) From records of Jefferson
County copied by Draper.
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- I have several other references about John Hinkson that you may want.
I'll list them and you can tell which ones you would like or I'll just
send all:
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- 1. Muster rolls of Capt. Hinkson of Westmoreland County (2 lists officers
only, and 1 with everyone plus some pay records. All from PA archives)
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- 2. Extracts of letters from Arthur St Clair
to Gov Penn regarding Hinkson killing Wipey. (Frontier forts of PA)
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- 3. Proclamation against John Hinkson and
James Cooper.
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- 4. Two depositions regarding Wm. McCune
(not a lot of info in these) says he saw John Haggin at Lexington and he
was his kinsman. He was 66 in 1810.
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- 5. Deposition of John Sellers, says he
went up South For Licking in canoes w/ Hinkson in 1776 and camped all night
at Wm. Woods cave spring.
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- 6. Reference to Hinkson being with Col.
James Smith in a foray w/Indians.
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- 7. Record of Hinkson being in Hand's expedition.
(Nat Arch pay record)
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- 8. Mentioned in Thomas Galbraith's journal
when Hinkson was living at Palmer's fort. Galbraith was the one who bought
HInkson's land in PA in 1774.
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- 9. Reference in Westmoreland Co. records that Hinkson and others charged
with "riot and assault" on John Burns (march 1775)
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- 10. Other info I can't remember off hand, will find though.
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- In an old KY Gazette I saw it said Hinkson went to MO in 1789 w/Lawrence
Harrison. I guess he died there too.
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- I hope I can help. I would like to share what I have and I would like
to learn more about Hinkson and McCune as they were major characters in
John Sellers' life. I'm not on the Hinkson list yet, so you can direct
your comments to me or I'll catch them later in the archives. Thank you.
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- Sincerely,
- James Sellars
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- 3 Feb 1998
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- Bob,
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- Here are some more records I have. More to come.
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- Draper MSS 3 S 52
- Deposition of Samuel Murphy - John Hinkson & Cooper killed Wipey
in Westmoreland - made a great stir with the whites & Hinkson had a
small party of rangers (8 or 10, or something like that) Cooper amongst
them & were brave & useful, more so than most others. Hinkson and
Girty were cronies.
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- Arthur St. Clair notified the Pennsylvania Assembly about the murder
on May 29, 1774. (PA Archives First Series Vol. IV, pg. 503, 504, 520,
524). I may have this, I'm not sure.
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- Letter of condolence to the Delaware Indian tribe. (American Archives,
4th Series, I, pg. 676). I don't have this but you can get from Library.
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- PA Colonial Records, Vol. X, pg. 199
- "A PROCLAMATION
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- "WHEREAS, I have received information
that some Time in May last, a certain friendly Indian man, called Joseph
Wipey, was barbarously murdered in the County of Westmoreland; And Whereas,
there is great Reason to believe that John Hinkson, and James Cooper, of
the same County, were concerned in the perpetration of the said Murder;
And Whereas, it is at all Times, but more especially in the present Situation
of our Affairs with the Western Indian Nations, of the utmost Consequence
to the Peace of the Province, that the Perpetrators of such atrocious Offenses,
not only against the Authority of Government, but in direct Violation of
the Treaties with those Indians, should be brought to condign and exemplary
Punishment; I have, therefore, thought fit, with the advice of the Council,
to issue this Proclamation, And do hereby strictly charge and Command all
Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, Constables, and other Officers, as well as
all other His Majesty's liege Subjects within this Province, to make diligent
Search and Enquiry after the said John Hinkson and James Cooper, and to
use all lawful Means for apprehending and securing them, that they may
be proceeded against according to Law. And I do hereby promise and engage,
the Public Reward of one hundred Pounds shall be paid to any Person or
Persons who shall apprehend the said John Hinkson and James Cooper, and
deliver them into the Custody of the Keeper of the Gaol of either of the
Counties of Lancaster, York, or Cumberland, or the Sum of fifty Pounds
for either of them.
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- "Given under my Hand and the Great Seal of the said Provinces,
at Philadelphia, the twenty-eighth day of July, in the fourteenth Year
of His Majesty's Reign and in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred
and seventy-four.
- "JOHN PENN.
- "By His Honour's Command.
- "JOESEPH SHIPPEN, Junr., Secretary.
- "GOD SAVE THE KING."
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- Bourbon County Court Order Book B, January 1798
- The deposition of John Sellers being of full age and duly sworn deposeth
and saith that he saw Eneas McDaniel and his son frequently at work on
the improvement mentioned in the preamble in the summer of 1776 and suppose
they had between 2 or 3 acres cleared and have ever since known it by the
name of said McDaniel's Improvement. And further this deponent saith not.
Signed John Sellers. Teste David Clarkson, John Smith, Thomas Mahan
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- Bourbon County Court Order Book B, January, 1798.
- The deposition of John Sellers being of full age and duly sworn, deposeth
and saith that he was with John Townsend in the year 1776 at the place
where the letters I.M. mentioned in the preamble was made and then there
stood a cabbin which he told me there was his cabbin and that he built
it the year before, and was generally known by the name of John Townsends
Cabbin since. And further saith not. Signed John Sellers. Teste David Clarkson,
John Smith, Thomas Mahan.
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- Harrison County Court Order Book A, pg 337, November 10, 1803.
- The deposition of John Sellers of Full
age & being first sworn deposeth and saith that some time in the year
seventeen hundred and seventy six coming up the South Fork of Licking in
Company with Capt. John Hinkson & others. I was informed by Capt. Hinkson
of a Cave Spring that we would endeaver to get to that night to encamp
at which place we got to a little before sunset which spring was on the
south westardly side of the said South Fork which I believe to be the place
we are now at between a half and a quarter of a mile below where James
Wigglesworth now lives.
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- Question by John Smith agent of William Woods: How long have been living
in this country?
- Answer: Since the Spring Seventeen Hundred and Eighty.
- Question 2nd: Did you ever know of any other spring on the other Main
South Fork of Licking but this from first acquaintance to the present day.
- Answer: No.
- Question 3rd: Do you consider a Cove Spring & a Cave Spring to
mean one & the samething.
- Answer: I consider them the same. Signed John Sellers
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- Harrison County Court Order Book A, pg 356, June 8, 1804.
- The deposition of Benjamin Harrison taken to Establish William Woods
land on the South Fork of Licking.
- I have known this Spring from between the first & ninth of May
1776. At the time I first saw it, there was an improvement at & near
source thereof and from that time until this date it has been designated
& known by the name or appellation of the Cave Spring. In the year
of 1780 I was on this spot in the month of May or early in June in Company
with John Hinkson & John Sellers and stayed all night & on the
24th day of June there after made two locations in the neighborhood thereof
- ............... signed Benjamin Harrison
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- Fayette County Circuit court Complete Record Book A pg 339
- Deposition of Thomas Moore, taken on the west bank of Stoner's creek
near James Patton's house in Clark county, on 20th November 1802 before
D. Harrison and H. Chiles, J.P. deposes -
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- Early in the spring of 1776 this deponent in company with Benjamin
Harrison, John Morgan, Belles Collier and one [Robert] Keene came down
the Ohio to mouth of Licking River and from thence up Licking to Hingston
station and from thence we proceded up this stream now called Stoner's
Fork, being pilated by John Morgan, who had been in this country the year
before, till he informed us we were about [Christopher] Gist's military
survey and sometime, as this deponent thinks, in the month of April we
built a cabbin covered it over and made it fit for habitation. At this
spot we cleared about a half an acre or 3/4 of an acre of land and planted
corn. This improvement we made for John Morgan and after making several
other improvements on the right hand fork, which puts in about 300 yards
above this place, Harrison, and this deponent returned up the river, leaving
Morgan and Collier at Morgan's cabbin, who were to remain there and to
endeaver to prevent others from making improvements to interfere with ours,
and we were to return the ensuing fall, and bring to Morgan and Collier
such necessaries as they had sent for. The spring near this spot had the
appearance of a lasting one -- was intended by Morgan as his useing spring.
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- p.265, Deposition of William McCune, aged
60 years (taken at dwelling house of James Ruddell in Bourbon County on
May 1, 1811, before George Mountjoy and Joseph L. Stevens, Justices of
the Peace):
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- He came to this country in the spring of the year 1780 and settled
at Ruddell's Station which stood on the bank of the South Fork of Licking,
and he continued to reside at said station until it was taken by the Indians
during the same year. Said Ruddell's Station was well known throughout
the western country at the time he came to it. Thinks it consisted of thirty
or Forty men, ladies, women and children, and it was much resorted to by
adventurers to this country. John Haggin was
his kinsman and informed him at Lexington when on his way to Ruddell's
Station, that he had settled a place near said station but was compelled
for danger of Indians to leave it. He had been informed of Haggin's cabin
before he came to this country, and when he got to said station, he often
heard the cabin where John Haggin lived in the year of 1776 spoken of,
and believes there was scarcely a man at the station who was ignorant of
said cabin. The stream passing Millersburg was known in the year of 1780
as Hingston above the junction with Stoner and below the junction was called
South Licking.
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- p.267, Deposition of Thomas Dunn, aged 71 years (taken at dwelling
of James Ruddell in Bourbon County on May 1, 1811, before George Mountjoy
and Joseph L. Stevens, Justices of the Peace):
- Deponent came to this country in the year 1776 and lived on Hingston's
above the junction with Stoner. John Hingston had a settlement or improvement
on the south side of South Fork of Licking opposite the place afterwards
called Hingston's Station by some and by others Ruddell's Station. Deponent
was frequently in the year 1779 at Hingston's settlement which was resorted
to by a number of adventurers to this country and deponent was frequently,
during the spring and summer of said year, at this place, where John Haggin
had built a cabin, cleared and located some lands, and resided with his
wife and family at the period named. I returned to this country in the
year 1785 or 1786, after leaving it in 1776, and was shortly afterwards
at this place, and heard it frequently called Haggin's cabin.
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- p.268, Deposition of David Wilson, aged 63 years (taken at James Ruddell's
in Bourbon County on May 22, 1811, before George Mountjoy and J. L. Stevens,
Justices of the Peace):
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- Deponent came to this neighborhood after the new year of the same year
that Hingston erected the station below this place, after the Indians took
it while under the said Ruddell, the year the deponent does not recollect.
Deponent assisted in the settlement of said station, and at that time he
frequently saw the improvement at this place settled by Haggin some years
before.
- Note: David Wilson was an Ensign in Capt John Hinkson's company in
PA.
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- Draper 8CC2, 16J26 - Pennsylvania Gazette, Sept. 11, 1776.
- Williamsburg VA, August 30, 1776. By William Harrison (Benjamin Harrison's
brother and the same man killed at Crawfords defeat in 1782), nine days
from Fort Pitt, we have advice; that Capt. John Hinkson, with a number
of settlers, arrived from Licking Creek, near the Kentucky, the very day
he left home. Capt. Hinkson gave the following account, that one James
Cooper, and another person, a Dutchman, being on their way to a buffalo
lick, were fired upon by a couple of Indians, who shot down Cooper and
frightened the Dutchman's horse so that he flung him; his foot hanging
in the stirrup, one of the Indians walked up to him, to tomahawk him, but
although in that disadvantages situation he found means to aim his gun
so well (which he never gritted) as to shoot the savage dead on the spot
and seeing the other Indian walking up to him, he disengaged himself from
his horse, mounted Coopers, and got clear off to the inhabitants.
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- Upon his arrival, many of the Kentucky settlers immediately went about
forting themselves at Boonesborough and Harwoodstown (Harrodstown); and
numbers agreed to come into the neighborhood of Fort Pitt with Capt. Hinkson.
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- Draper MSS ?? The following is from a letter written from Col. Floyd
of Boonesboro to Col. Preston in Virginia, July 21, 1776:
- The situation of our country is much altered since I wrote you last.
The Indians seem determined to break up our settlement, and I really doubt,
unless it was possible to give us some assistance, that the greatest part
of the people must fall prey to them. They have, I am satisfied, killed
several which, at this time, I know not how to mention. Many are missing
who, sometimes ago, went out about their business who we can hear nothing
of. Fresh sign of Indians is sure almost every day....
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- The seventh of this month they killed one Cooper on Licking Creek....
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- A settlement known by the name of Hinkston is broke up; nineteen of
which are now here on their way in, himself among the rest, who all seem
deaf to anything we can say to dissuade them. Ten at least of our own people,
I understand, are going to join them which will leave us with less than
30 men at this fort (Boonesboro). I think more than 300 men have left the
country since I came out, and not one had arrived except a few cabbiners
down the Ohio... Draper MSS
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- PA Archives 6th Series, Vol 3, pg300
- Return of Officers of the First Battalion of Westmoreland, SS (c.),
June 10, 1777.
- Third Company
- John Hinkson, Captain
- John Wood, Lieutenant
- John Sellers, Lieutenant
- Thomas Wood, Ensign
- Court Martial Men: Joseph McCartney, Samuel Johnston.
- Privates: 55
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- Thomas Galbraiths Journal from frontier
Forts of Pennsylvania
-
- September 28, [1777] 12 o'clock an Express from Palmer's fort that
George Findlay come in wounded and some more men missing. In the evening
Capt Shannon with 16 Men was ready to march, but the night's being very
dark thot it most advisable to wait till day break. (Thomas Galbraiths
Journal at Ligonier).
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- On September 28, 1777, George Findley, a nearby resident on the Conemaugh
River, and his bound boy, fourteen or fifteen years of age, but large and
strong, started back from Palmer's Fort, whether they fled, in hopes of
recovering a lost mare that had left them and which they supposed had returned
home. They kept in the woods, not venturing into clearings, but notwithstanding
this they were fired upon by some Indians, the boy falling. Findley, shot
through the arm and bleeding much, effected his escape, and returned to
Fort Palmer, bringing back with him, however, a girl who had remained about
the Rogers settlement.
-
- September 29, 1777 - When day appeared the Men Marched to Palmer's
Fort and were reinforc'd with 9 Men more then proceeded for Findlays about
Twenty Miles distance from Ligonier. 4 Miles from Palmers we met with CAPT.
HINKSTON & 12 Men returning from burying a Boy that the Indians had
Kill'd & scalped at Findlays.
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- October 1, 1777 - Memorand: On our return to Ligonier 4 Miles Distance
we were inform'd of THOMAS WOODS being kill'd about five miles from the
Town, which occasioned us to make a forc'd March after Dark into the Town
to have the greater certainty. (Thomas Galbraiths Journal at Ligonier).
-
- At 3:00 PM on October 22, 1777 two children were killed and scalped
and two more were scalped alive within 200 yards of Palmer's Fort. A party
of Hinkson men pursued the Indians and a short time later the people at
Palmer's Fort fired off their guns to give those persons notice who had
gone to their plantations, which the party in pursuit hearing, imagined
the Fort to be attacked, immediately quit the pursuit and returned. Ft
Ligonier and it's Times, p388
-
- On November 3, 1777, as a party was returning to Palmer's Fort from
a Scout about a mile from that, one of the party being a small distance
behind was called on to stop - first in a low voice, a second time louder,
& a third time very loud. The person made up to the party, but being
dusk did not return to the place until the next morning........found the......[Here
the manuscript is illegible. Probably the meaning is that the next morning
the scouting party returned to the place where the voice called, and found
the tracks of Indians.]
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- Frontier Defense on the Upper Ohio, Thwaites, Draper MSS 1 U 130
- Dr General From Col'l Proctor's, November the 8th, 1777
-
- Whereas I am persuaded that you had not heard of Wallace's fort being
invaded and other damages done by the Indians near this place when you
gave orders to the Bedford militia to return and whereas there is a loud
call for men here at present to defend and protect this distressed frontier;
I have ordered the Bedford militia to march in connection with a party
of my men over Conemaugh to reconnoiter and scour the woods and if possible
to annoy the enemy or drive them over the Allegheny [mountains]; and I
hope sir I will be justified by you in so doing. I am sir your most obedient
humble servt.
-
- James Smith
-
- To His Excellency General Edward Hand, Fort Pitt
- N.B. my intention is to Detain those men but about ten Days; and by
that time your pleasure may be known.
-
- An Account of the Remarkable Occurances in the Life and Travels of
Col. James Smith, pg. 136, Lexington, 1799.
- In the year [1777], I received a colonel's commission, and after my
return to Westmoreland, the Indians made an attack upon our frontiers.
I then raised a body of men to pursue them. We likewise took four scalps,
and recovered the horses and plunder which they were carrying off. At the
time of this attack, CAPTAIN JOHN HINKSTON
pursued an Indian, both their guns being empty, and after the fray was
over he was missing;- While we enquiring about him, he came walking back,
seemingly unconcerned, with a bloody scalp in his hand - he had pursued
the Indian about a quarter of a mile, and tomahawked him.
-
- I remember one of your letters mentioning the five men who were "denounced
from the pulpit" for attending the Cane Ridge Revival in 1801. One
of the five with John Shawhan was Nathan Sellers, John Sellers cousin.
he evetually removed to Preble Co., OH where he and David Purvience and
Barton Stone started a Christian Church congregation at Sellers' home.
Another fact that is what made me bring this up is that Col. James Smith
from above was the one who founded the Cane Ridge Church in the 1790's.
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- This all I have for now, more to come later. I just got your message.
Yes I'm in the Air Force Stationed at Kadena AB in Okinawa. I'm a flight
engineer on a special operations C-130. I've been researching my family
history for about 8 years now. I came across Col. Hinkson when I was doing
research on John Sellers my gr gr...grand uncle. I descend from his brother
Isaac Sellers who lived in Harrison Co. KY until his death in 1799.
-
- It seemed every time I found something on John Sellers, Hinkson's name
was close by. So I was able to retrace the foot steps of both men by finding
records on either one of them. I think Hinkson and Sellers were close friends
Hinkson being more of a father figure. John Sellers father, Samuel, died
in 1776 and his mother before that. Hinkson was about 20 years older than
Sellers. Well, you will be hearing more from me real soon. Take care.
- Sincerely,
- James Sellars
-
- 4 Feb 1998
-
- Bob,
- Here's some more on Hinkson, Haggin, and Ravenscroft. I hope I'm not
overloading your mail box.
-
- MORE ON THE WIPEY MURDER
- The following is from Arthur St Clairs
letters to Gov Penn in 1774. (The ref. for these were in my last e-mail)
-
- "Two of the persons concerned in this murder are John Hinkson
and James Cooper. I had got information of their design some time before
they executed it, and had wrote to Hinkson, whom I knew to be a leader
amongst them to disuade them, and threatened them with the weight of the
law if they persisted, but so far from preventing them, it only produced
the inclosed letter. The body was discovered hid in a small run of water
and covered with stones. I immediately sent for the coroner, but before
he had got a jury together the body was removed, so that no inquest could
be taken. I have issued warrants on suspician, but they are so much on
their guard I doubt they cannons be executed. Your Honor will please to
consider whether it may be proper to proclaim them - It is most unlucky
at this time; the letter may perhaps be made use of as evidence. n (Historians
have never found the mentioned letter, could be in Penns papers if they
exist???)
-
- St Clair to Gov Penn from Hannastown, July 12th, 1774: "Hinkston,
with about eighteen men in arms, paid us a visit at Court last week, and
I am very sorry to say, got leave to go away again, tho' there was a force
sufficient to have secured (the) two such parties (Hinkson and Coope.)
At the Sheriff's direction I had got intelligence that they were to be
there and expected to be joined by a party of (Michael) Cressap's people
for which reason the ranging party's, that were within reach, had been
drawn in, but none of the Virginians appeared." (What he is referring
to is Hinkson going away to serve in Dunmores war.)
-
- Continued from my last e-mail:
-
- (The Frontier Forts of Western Pennsylvania) Col. Lochry reports to
Pres. Wharton, under the date 6th of December, 1777, the following:
-
- I have sent five Indian scalps taken by one of our scouting party,
Commanded by Col'l Barr, Col'l Perry, Col'l Smith, & Cap't Hingston.
being volunteers in the action. The Action happened near Kittaning, they
retook six horses the savages had taken from the suffering frontiers; for
encouragement to other parties I hoop your excellency will make a retaliation
for these scalps.
-
- THE SQUAW CAMPAIGN - 1778
-
- Abstract of Westmoreland Militia ordered out on an expedition to the
Indian Country by Brigadier General Edward Hand, commanded by Col. Alexander
Barr, from 10 Feb - 10 March, 1778, generally credited for, some to March
8: (Draper MSS. 3 NN 9-10.)
-
- Alexander Barr, colonel 1st Battalion
- John Pomroy, lieutenant colonel 1
- Adam Guthrey, quarter master 1
- Capt. Charles Foreman & company 1st Batn 28
- Capt. Robert Knox & company " 17
- Capt. John Hinkson & company " 18
- Capt. Richard Williams & company " 8
- Lieut. Edward McDowell & company " 15
- Capt. Andrew Lovars & company " 18
- Capt William Love & company " 24 128
- Capt. John McClelland & company 2nd Batn 19
- Capt. David Marchant & company " 34
- Capt. Hugh Martin h company n 18
- Capt. Christopher Truby & company " 20
- Providence Mounts, lieutenant colonel 3d Batn 1
- John Brannon, [Major] Adjutant " 1
- Capt. James Leetch & company " 13
- Capt. David Vance & company " 25
- Capt. John Christey & company " 32
- Capt. William Sparks & company 4th Batn 15
- Capt. John Kyle & company " 19
- Capt. James Clark & company 2nd Batn 21
- Capt. James Mitchell & company 31 Batn 13
- Total Officers and men 362
- Total pay and subsistence £1307. 3.6
-
- A Return of the Militia in their ranks belonging to Westmoreland County
in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. (c.), First Battalion, April 25, 1778.
(PA Archives, Series 6, Vol 3, p. 307-308.)
-
- 3rd Company.
- John Hinkson, Captain
- John Woods, Lieutenant
- John Sellers, Lieutenant
- David Wilson, Ensign
- Sergeants: 3
- Corporal: l
- Privates: 11
-
- Accounts of County Lieutenants, Colonel Archibald Lochery, Westmoreland
County, Pennsylvania. (PA Archives, Series ?, Vol ?, p. 118-119.)