News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-08-02
JOSEPH BRANT'S TIMEPIECE.
Forty Scalps for the Watch King
George III. Sent Over the Sea.

An ancient silver timepiece, valuable
for its historical associations no less than
for its antiquity, is owned by Mr.
Daniel Minthorn, of WATERFOWL, n. Y.
1t weighs five and a quarter ounces and
is $50 years old, yet it keeps good time
when wound and has not been repaired
since 1847. The watch is of the pattern
known as the ''British bulls-eye" and is
an inch and half thick. The face is
of silver, roughly chased, and has a
double row of figures, both the Arabic
and Roman numerals appearing. 1t
bears the mark of the maker, Thomas
Linhard, of London, and the number
10. A search through ancient directo-
ries of the city of London, made by Mr..
Minthorn at the Centennial Exposition,
revealed the fact that this jeweler did
business on Fleet street, between the
years 1888 and 1868. The works look
as substantial as though turned out
yesterday. A tiny chain that winds
around drum takes the place of the
spring in modern watches, and the cog
wheels and pivots are all large and
heavy. The silver cases are very thick.
The works can be removed from the
case or box, and when inside are retained
in place by thick crystal that would
fatten bullet.
When Sir William johnson owned
Johnstown, in Montgomery county, this
State, and laid claim to considerable
other land, he was great favorite with
King George III. AS a mark of his
favor the King sent this watch across
the water to the nobleman. That was
Just before the war of the Revolution,
and when Joseph Brant, the Indian
leader, started on his spreading
expedition up the Cherry Valley, Sir
William gave him the timepiece as an
incentive to deeds of violence and pillage
against the colonists. Thayendanega,
as Brant was termed in the Indian
tongue, promised to bring back forty
white scalps in return for the gift. Set
tiers were massacred by the score, but
Brant's expedition suffered too, and in
one of the dashes that the patriots made
against his rear this watch was captur-
ed.
One of the few women who escaped
the Indians was Mrs. Mabie, who fled
by the light of the burning stacks and
barns of her homestead to the woods.
She had her two babies under her arms,
forest on tho bank of Orris Kill Creek.
While the Indians were near the heroic
mother choked her infants cries and was
forced to throw water in their faces to
revive them. After the savages had de-
parted she walked eighteen miles to
Schoharie with the babies. One of these
was afterward the mother of Daniel
the present owner of the
watch. The timepiece fell into the
hand of Eyart Van Epps, a revolution
airy officer, and by marriage into the
Minthorn family, where it has remained
ever since. Two years ago big monu-
ment was unveiled at Brantford, Ont,
to the memory of the old Thayendanega.
The residents invited Mr.. Minthorn to
come with his watch and take part in
the exercises and offered him 800. The
old gentleman refused very Indignantly,
and wrote to the Monument Committee:
500 You suppose I would assist in
celebration to do honor to a man whose
only good deed that 1 know of was his
neglect to scalp my mother q