The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-10-14

~ Ihi' lloW Il III 1901, WIFI WilOn
| had the pleasure of an acquaintance ant
the honor of assisting to trihing extent
The book is very nearly out of print, anC
hence may, in some sort, be perpetuatlng
few items in the history of this corner o
the Old Dominion, by making use of it OF
this occasion.
Abb's Valley was settled by James Moore
in ITO. He removed from Rockbridee
and was induced to emigrate to this spot
on account of its fertility and its adapted
ness to stock-raising. There, with the aid
ofan old Englishman whose name was John
Simpson, he erected his cabin; and with
his pious wife, both being members of the
Presbyterian Church, he erected his altar
to God, cleaned piece of ground, and
there resided with his family till they were
destroyed, frequently going into fort, which
was almost every summer. The first OF
his family who was captured was James
his second son, lad in the 18th year of
his age, This occurred On the 18th of Sep
TENDER, 1884. This son died since the
war, and the following facts were related
by himself.
He had been sent by his father TO distant
field in the Valley to catch horse to 90
to mill, when three Indians, one of them
an old man and the Others youths, sprang
from behind log and captured him.
This was about 1 o'clock in the afternoon,
and they Immediately proceeded with him
on the journey to their towns ON the Miami.
AS these were some 800 miles distant, the
travel was of course distressing to the
boy. He finally arrived at Chilicothe, the
principal Indian town, where he was very
well treated and kept about year, when
he was taken to Detroit and sold. We will
here leave James Moore for time and re-
turn to Abbs Valley and the stirring events
that subsequently transpired.
Such was the fertility of the soil and the
adaptedness of the country to grazing, that
Mr.. Moore kept about 100 head of horses
and good stock of cattle, which princi-
pally wintered themselves. On the 18th
of July, 1789-not quite two years after the
capture of his son-early in the morning
gang of horses had come in from the
range to the lick-blocks, about 100 yards
from the house, and Mr.. Moore had gone
out to salt them. Two men living with
him had gone out to field to reap wheat.
The Indians, about 80 in number, who were
lying in ambush watching the house, suppo-
sing that all the men were absent, rushed
forward with all speed. AS they advanced
they commenced firing, and killed three
children in the yard. Mr.. Moore attempt
ed to get to the house, but finding it sur
rounded, ran past through lot in which
the house stood. When he reached the
fence he made a halt, and was shot through
with seven bullets. After he was shot, he
ran about 40 yards and fell. He was then
scalped by the Indians, and afterwards
buried by the whites on the spot where he
fell, and where his grave may still be seen.
The two men who were rcaping, hearing
the alarm and seeing the house surrounded,
fled and alarmed the settlement-thc near
est family being six miles distant. AS
soonas the alarm was given, Mrs. Moore and
agirl living with her by the name of Martha
WINS, barred the door. There was no man
in the house except the old Englishman
John Simpson, and he was sick in bed in
the loft. There were several guns in the
house, but they were all empty. Martha
Wins took two of them up to Simpson, but
she found him in dying condition, having
been shot in the head through n crack
The Indians then proceeded to cut down
the door, during which time Martha Twins
lifted up plank and went under the floor,
requesting Polly Moore Ghen only eight
years olcD who had the youngest child in
her arms, (Which was cryingD to leave it
and come under also. Polly looked at the
child, clasped it to her heart, and deter
mined to share its fate.
The Indians having broken into the
house, took Mrs. Moore and her children,
viz:-John, Jane, Polly and Peggy priso-
ners, set fire to the buildings and left
Martha remained under the floor short
time, and then came out and hid herself
under log that lay across the spring
branch. The Indians having tarricd II short
time for the purpose of catching horses,
one of them sat down upon the log
to fix his gun lock, when Miss Twins, sup
posing that he had seen her and was about
to shoot, came out and gave herself up.
They then started for their towns. Per
cciving that John Moore was boy weak
in body and mind, and unable to travel,
they killed him the first day. A few days
after they dashed out the brains ofthc babe
against tree The travel was very long
and sore one, and for days together they
were without food. They finally reached
the Indian towns on the Miami, where
Polly fell into the hands of an Indian and
his wife, who were very kind to her. Mrs.
Moore and her daughter Jane were burned
to death at the stake. This lasted some
time, during which Mrs. Moore manifested
the utmost Christian fortitude, at intervals
conversing with her daughter Polly and
Martha WINS, and expressing great anxiety
for the moment II arrive when her soul
would soar away to the better inheritance.
will now return to James Moore, who
had been captured nearly two years before
and was still in captivity at Detroit
Through Shawnee, with whom he had
been acquainted while in Chilicothe, he
first learned the fate of his fathers family
about a year after it had occurred. His
sister Polly and Martha Twins subsequent
ly fell into the hands of the whites not
very far distant from where James was liv
ing, and being ransomcd they finally got to-
gcthcr, and after II weary travel through
an unbroken forest for the most part, they
found their way back to their relatives in
Rockbridge county. James Moore evcntu
ally returned to Abb's Valley, where he
lived to good old age, raised large
family, and died, as | have already said,
only a few years ago.
Polly remained in Rockbridge. At the
age of 12 she was baptized, and admitted
into full communion with the Presbyterian
Church. She subsequently married the
Rev. Samuel Brown, n distinguished Pres
byterian clergyman. She became the
nathan If If chiLlrpn oi whom onp died