The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-02-16
ORR LOCAL HISTORY.

Highway RObberieS wrOngfuIIy attribu-
ted 10 Smiths Black Boys: Letter of
Messrs. Frazer and Woods to GOV. Penn /;
Lord Dnnm0re claims south western
Pennsylvania part of Virginia /:
Murder of LOSau's family; The war re-
SuItinS fherefrOm aVerted from PENN
SylVania tby the wise conduct Of the
Governor.
After the exploit of Smiths Black
Boys in capturing Fort Bedford, nu-
merOus highway rObberieS were COM
mitted in the county, and as every foot
pad blackened his face, all these depre-
dations were, of course, blamed upon
Smiths band and the latter finally
cam, % hn rly2-l,-' .-s5 s..-1r..r- -~.s>
emies to the peace and welfare of the
community. Itturned out, afterwards,
however, that Smiths men had moth
ing to do with any of these robberies
and that a few daring and crafty scOun-
drels had perpetrated all the mischief
that was done. Their operations, how
ever, We're of so serious d character,
that the citizens did not feel themselves
able to check them and the matter was
finally laid before the provincial author
itieS. We find a letter under date of
January 26. 1913, from John Frazer and
George Woods, two of themOst prOmi-
nent men in Bedford, at that time, to
Governor Penn, which will serve to il
lustrate the condition of things in this
regard, at the time the letter was writ
ten: "MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOR:-
The many rObberies that have been
committed in the eastern parts OF this
county oblige us to trouble you with
this letter. There are a number OF peO-
pie, who, we suspect, now reside at, or
near, Sidelong Hill, that have been
guilty of several highway robberies,
and have taken from different people,
travelling on the public road between
this place and Carlisle, considerable
sums of money; in particular, "A certain
James McCashlan, of this place, hath
made oath before us, that he has been
robbed of twenty pounds and a silver
watch. We have already done our en-
deav0r to apprehend the robbers, but
have not succeeded, as there can be nc
positive proof made who they are, on
account of their blacking them
| selves, which renders it impossible
for any person robbed TO discover
or know who are the perpetrators. We
therefore, pray your honor would take
| this smatterintOcOnsid and grant
us such relief as to your honor may seem
most reasonable for the safety Of the
public in general, and in particular fol-
the inhabitants of this county"
The affidavit of McCashlan referred
to in the letter of Frazer and Woods
set forth, among other things, that thu
affiant had reason to suspect that "a Ger
tain John Gibson and William Paxton,
had hands in the robbery. Gibson anC
Paxton both belonged to Smiths Blacl
Bows. but it appeared, upon investiga
ton, that McCashlan suspected then
wrongfully, they having had nothins
to do with it.
In 1774, Lord DunmOre, Governor o
Virginia, undertook to establish claim
on the part of that province, to tn
southwestern portion of Pennsylvania
and by his encouragement many per
sons were induced to settle upon land
in that part of the province, on wal
rants granted by Virginia. Anon
these Virginia settlers was the note
Cresap, who murdered, in a most bal
= barOus manner, the family of the chic
Logan. The brutal crime of Cresa
= gave rise to bloody Indian war, whic
> threatened to involve Pennsylvania
d but the foresight and firmness Of il
" Governor saved the province from th
y impending danger. By his order tn
r. agent of Virginia, who had taken POI
) session of Fort Pitt, was put under a
70 -asf mod tho iufrudarz uypr0 SIIFInlaril