Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-02-18

force the party building fort on the Mo-
nongahela. He was ordered to muster his
troops in other words, to "draw out the
militia of y'r co'ty, and from them make a
draft of fifty men to be at Alexandria,
the head of Potomack river, by the Goth of
next mo. and if possible with their arms
&C." As the county was large, the num-
Der of men called for so small, "and the
pay so very good" the Governor did not
doubt that there would be a sufficient num-
Der Of volunteers. They were to be COM
manded, he said, by Major Geo. Washing
ton. The company was no doubt raised,
and led by Andrew Lewis. At any rate,
Lewis was with Washington soon afterward
at Fort Necessity.
Patton did not, in the meanwhile, neg
lect county affairs. Under date of March
u, 1854, Ethe county court ordered "that
names Patton, Robert McClanahan, and
David Stewart, gent, or any two of them,
agree with Workmen to make causeway
over the marsh between the court house
and the Thinking Spring."
Col. Patton received grant from the
British crown of 10000 acres of land in
the present counties of Botetourt, Mont
gomery, &c, then parts of Augusta coun-
ty. The old town of Pattonsburg, on
James River, in Botetourt, was called for
him, and the opposite town of Buchanan
was so named in honor of his son-in-law,
Col. John Buchanan.
During the Summer of 1856, Col. Patton
went to the upper country on business. A
settlement had been made some years be-
fore by George Draper, at a place then
known as Draper's Meadows, now Smith
field, in Montgomery. George Draper was
dead at the time of Patton's visit, but his
widow, her son John and his wife, and his
son-in-law, William Inglis, and his wife
and two children, were living at the Mead
ows. Col. Patton was resting from the
fatigues of his journey, and also seeking
recovery from an attack of sickness. He,
witt the women and children, was in the
house, while tie men of the FAMILY, and
others who had come to assist them, were
at work in the harvest field. Suddenly,
the house was beset by party of hostile
Indians, and Patton and the elder Mrs
Draper were instantly killed. The saw
ages plundered the house, and then carried
off as prisoners the younger Mis-. Draper,
Mrs. Inglls, and the two children of the
latter-Thomas four and George two years
of age. The unarmed men in the field
could only provide for their own safety by
eoncealing themselves in the woods The
exact date OF this massacre is not known
1t probably occurred on some day between
the goth and S1st of July. From letter
written by Gov. Dinwiddie to Andrew Lew
is IS on the sth of July, we>4.searn That Cor:
Patton was then IN Williamsburg. In let
ters written on the 18th of August, the
| Governor referred to fattons death. To
Col. David Stewart, of Augusta, he wrote
that Col. Patton "was wrong to go so far
back without proper guard" He hoped
the wagons with ammunition did not fall
into the hands of the Indians; but he could
not conceive what Patton was to do with
ammunition $50 far from the inhabited part
Of the county" Writing to Col. Buchan-
an at the same date, he expressed regret
that the men sent by Buchanan "after the
murderers, did not come up with thsm."
This is the only information we have OF
any pursuit.
The prisoners were taken by the Indians
to Ohio, and Mrs. Inglis, after her children
were separated from her. escaped and re-
turned home, She was absent about five
months, of which time forty-two days were
passed on her return. The narrative of her
courage and sufferings on the trip home is
almost incredible. [See Foote'S Sketches,
end Series, PIP. 152, 155.] Mrs. Draper
was released six or seven years afterward
George Inglis died in captivity, while still
child Thomas was redeemed by his
father when he was seventeen years of age
He was unable to speak English, and is said
TO have been perfect savage in appearance
and manners. His father sent him to
school, but he never became fully recon-
cied to civilized life.
Col. Pattons will was admitted to record
by the County Court of Augusta, at Staun-
ton, at November term, 1855. 1t was exc
cuted September 1, 1850, and witnessed by
Il, NJ vi I'll I'll
Williams, The following are extracts
81 commend my soul to God who gave it.,
hoping, through his mercy and the merits
and intercession of my Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ, to be eternally happy. My
body l commit to Providence, but if conve-
nient to where resign my last breath, to be
buried at tie Tinkling Spring, where my
wife now lays. 4 \ I order ten pounds
to be paid to the Rev. John Craig, minister
at ye Tinkling Spring, as his stepans due
from October, 1740, until October, 1850, out
of the money now due me by vt congrega-
tion, which money l have advanced for
them to build their meeting house &C.
Providing I do not pay sd e10 before my
death. leave ten pounds out of the afore-
said debt when collected, to be layed out by
the minister onley for a pulpit and pulpit
cloth"
The spelling and grammar do not speak
well for Col. Patton's scholarly attain
ments; nor can we commend his liberality,
if, as it would seem, he had paid nothing to
Mr.. Craig from 1740 to 1850, and then in
his will provided for only one pound ($3 3355)
a year, without interest. Mr. Craig might
justly complain that the leaders of 'that
part now called Tinkling Spring" were
''close-handed about providing necessary
things We are happy to say that ''the
leaders of that part'' long ago recovered
from the ailment referred to, and are now
noted for their lberality.
Col. Patton's will divided his estate be-
tween his two daughters MARY, wife of
William Thompson, and Margaret, wife of
Col. John Buchanan and their children
The ThOmpsOns thus acquired Sprinphil]