Do. to 1742. "Debates in Mercury" from 1688 to 1722, 8vo. 17 vols. 4 vols. "Gentleman's Magazine" 8 vols. Parliament' 8vo. 22 vols. "Political State" 8vo. 26 vols. Do. 13 vols. "Philosophical Transactions" from 1665 to 1719, 21 vols. "Acta Eruditorum" from 1682 to 1722, 40 vols. "Universal History" 20 vols. "Histoire de l'Academie" from 1692 to 1718, 23 vols. "Journal des Savans" 24 vols. "Private Directions for Travels in England," MS. 1 vol. folio. Such works as Hudibras," "Devil on Two Sticks," ," "Milton's Paradise Lost," "Tatler" 4 vols. Very respectfully, of Van Tromp also appear. Leverington, Phila. Co., Pa., Life LYMAN C DRAPER. JAMES MOORE AND HIS FAMILY. HARRISONBURG, October 28, 1850. MR. EDITOR,-As the following narrative of the Destruction and Captivity of James Moore's Family has been substantially given to the public in Howe's Historical Collections, the republication of it in your journal might seem to be superfluous. But as that statement contains some errors, and I have since obtained some additional facts, I have thought proper to rewrite the whole, and request a place for it in your valuable work. Much of the land in the north of Ireland having been sequestered in the reign of James I., many of the Scotch were induced to cross over and settle it; and to escape from the persecutions under Charles II., the parents of James Moore, Sr., with many others, followed and joined their brethren. In this country the descendants of these Scotch, from the north of Ireland, came under the general name of Scotch Irish. From Ireland, Mr. Moore emigrated to Virginia and settled on Walker's Creek, in Rockbridge County. There he married Jane Walker, an emigrant from the same country, who was a lineal descendant of Joseph Allein, and Samuel Rutherford, distinguished Presbyterian Clergymen in Scotland-the latter having been a member of the Assembly of Westminster Divines, and the former the author of a popular and useful book, called the "Alarm to the Unconverted." (A few years ago, the family Bible of Mr. Rutherford was, and probably yet is, in the possession of some of his descendants in the State of Kentucky; and a copy of the family register for several generations is in the possession of the writer) After his marriage, Mr. M. continued in the same neighborhood, and lived on a plantation now owned by Mr. James Youel; and there James, whose family is the subject of this sketch, was born. When the latter grew up, he married Martha Poag and settled a few miles southwest of the Natural Bridge, at a place long known as "Newel's Tavern," and where his three eldest children, viz. John, James and Joseph were born. Mr. Samuel Walker, a cousin of Mr. Moore, with others, had gone to the southwest of the State in quest of ginseng; and on his return gave such a representation of the fertility of the soil, and its adaptedness to grazing, as induced Mr. M. to visit it; and about the year 1775, he, with others, removed to it. They settled in Abb's Valley, Tazewell county, on the waters of Blue Stone, a branch of New River. The valley received its name from Absolom Loony, who first explored it. It was out of the usual track by which the Indians made their incursions on the settlements, and this led to the hope that they might dwell in safety; but in this they were sadly disappointed. At that time. there were no Indians in Virginia east of the Ohio river, and no settlement of the whites west of the Alleghany mountains, until you reached the Lakes; and the former were determined that these mountains should be an eternal barrier between them; hence their incessant efforts to crush every attempt to settle on the forbidden territory. There with the aid of an old Englishman, by the name of Jno. Simpson, Mr. Moore cleared a piece of ground, and with his pious wife, (a member of the Presbyterian church,) erected his altar to God; and there he resided until the catastrophe we are about to relate. The Indians having ascertained that this settlement had been made, at once determined to destroy it, and for that object, made an incursion from their towns west of the Ohio, nearly every summer, at which times the settlers usually sought safety in forts. On one occasion, they came Poag, two and a half miles to the house of a Mr. John from Mr. Moore's. On the night of the attack, several men being there, one of them who had been out remarked on his return, that they "must keep a good look out for Indians, as he had heard an unusual noise in imitation of owls; and which he supposed to be the signal of different parties of Indians approaching the house." After this, all the lights were extinguised. About 11 o'clock the attack was made. One of the men seized a gun which was not his own, which being double-triggerd, of which fact he was not aware, he pressed the muzzle against an Indian, and in attempting to shoot broke the triggers. The Indians finding a greater number to contend with than they had anticipated, soon retired and did not renew the attack. After this, Mr. Poag, with most of the families, returned to the more thickly settled parts of Rockbridge, Botetourt and Montgomery counties; while Mr. M., with a few others remained. The first of his family who was captured was James, his second son, then fourteen years of age. This occurred September 7th, 1784. The captive who is still living, gives the following account of that event. My father sent me to the vacated plantation of Mr. Poag, for a horse to go to mill. The mill was twelve miles distant from where we lived, and the road to it passed through an unbroken forest. In consequence of the distance, I had frequently to come home the greater part of the way after night, when it was very dark. Being thus accustomed to travel alone, I set out for the house without the least apprehension, but had not proceeded more than half way before a sudden panic came over me. The appearance of the Indian who captured me was presented to my mind, although at the time I did not think of Indians, but rather that some huge animal in human shape would devour me. Such was the state of my alarm that I went on trembling, frequently looking back with the expectation of seeing the animal. Indeed, I would have returned home but for fear of displeasing my father; being upbraided as a coward, and perhaps sent back. I therefore proceeded until I came near to the field, when suddenly three Indians sprang from behind a log, one of whom seized me. Being much alarmed at the time with the apprehension alluded to, and believing this to be the animal, I screamed with all my might. The Indian who had caught me, laid his hand on my head, and in his native tongue told me to 'hush!' Looking him full in the face, and perceiving it to be a human being, I felt greatly relieved, and said aloud: 'It is an Indian! what need I fear?' at the same time thinking, 'Well! all that is in it is, I will have to go to the Shawneetowns.' "In this company, there were only three, viz. a father and son and one other. The first of these was called 'the Black Wolf;' he was a middle aged man about six feet high, having a black beard, and the sternest countenance I ever saw. He being my captor, I belonged to him. The others were about 18 years old, and all of the Shawnee tribe. We immediately proceeded to a cabin in a field, near to which the horses were. Here the old Wolf gave me some salt, which they had probably made at a lick, and told me to catch them. My object was to catch one, mount him, and make my escape. Suspecting my intention however, as often as I would get hold of him, they came running up and scared him away. Finding I could not catch one for myself, I had no disposition to catch one for them, and so, after a few efforts, I abandoned the attempt. This was about one o'clock in the afternoon. Having taken their kettle and blankets from a thicket where they had concealed them, we set out on our journey, and travelled down what is called Tug Creek, which is the north branch of Sandy river; but in consequence of the briers, logs, and mountainous character of the country, only proceeded about eight miles that evening. This creek received its name from a party of men, who being almost famished, while travelling along its banks, were compelled to eat the Buffalo tugs or thongs they had with them. In our journey the young Indians went foremost, myself next, and the old Wolf behind; so that if any marks were made he might remove them. I frequently broke bushes, which he noticed, when with a shake of his Tawmahawk he gave me to understand what I might expect if I did not desist. I then scratched the ground with my feet; which he also discovered and compelled me to cease. As all my efforts to leave a trail were detected, they were of necessity given up. About sundown he gave a tremendous whoop, and another at sunrise; and this cry was repeated morning and evening through |