Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-01
and the wrath of the enraged parent was

and the wrath of the enraged parent was
poured forth upon the head of the young
Frenchman who presumed to rob him of his
daughter. As soon as he discovered their
flight he gave orders to George, saying:
This is the second time my daughter has
been torn from nv arms and by hated
Frenchman, too. Go, George, if you have
any love for your sister or regard for your
father, bring Isabella back dead or alive.
would rather see her corpse than see her
marry Frenchman.
Determined TO carry out his fathers COM
mands in hot pursuit went the fiery and i'm
petuous George. The fugitives had crossed
the Potomac, but they did not stop. The
horses were urged on with lash and spur,
they torded the Juniatta, and for the first
and only time were detained by sudden
rise in the Susquehanna as they reached the
west bank of that river in the county OF
Lycoming in Pennsylvania
o haste thee, haste, the lady cried,
The tempest round us gather,
I'd rather meet the raging tide,
Than meet an angry father.
His Life for His Love.
But it was impossible to cross, and as they
stood before the swollen river the tramp of
hoofs in the distance revealed to the lovers
that they were pursued. Isabella clung to
her lover, and they again plighted their
troth vowing that only death would them
part.
In a few moments the furious and mad
dened brother, whose temper had not inn
proved by his three years servitude among
the Indians, appeared in sight, and the scene
that followed was as brief as it was bloody.
He demanded his sisters return. She re-
fused to go back. He tried to force her and
her lover interposed, and in two minutes
the brave and chivalrous Frenchman lay
bleeding corpse in the arms of his agonized
Isabella History does not tell us what dis
position was made of the body of Jean
Baptiste Plata, but the lovely Isabella,
crushed in all her earthly affections, re-
turned to her fathers house almost raw
ing maniac. Reason had fed, and she wan
dered about a heart broken and pitiful
creature.
Her Grave Is at Morsantown.
But at last after ten years her mind
slowly recovered its accustomed vigor and
she married Colonel William McCleerv
and removed from Berkley to Morgantown.
Some of McCleery's descendants live with
in short distance or Pittsburg, and Isa-
bella Stockton's grave is in the old Presby-
terian cemetery at Morgantown. Neally's
Fort, mentioned in the opening paragraph,
was on the Opequon creek, or river, two
miles from Martinsburg and about eight
miles from Shepherdstown, Va Robert
Stockton's home was east of the North
Mountain. The Stocktons from whom the
avenue in Allegheny was named have many
descendants among the first families in this
city.
The romance is vouched for in detail by
q descendant of the Stocktons, who resides
in this city, and is q member of the Daugh-
tiers of the Revolution, is interested in the
preservation Of such historical matter. She
kindly collected the following references for
those who may wish to follow the story
further:
Hon. Charles j. Faulkner, at the Uni
versity of West Virginia, in 1879, delivered
a historical address on the romantic story of
Isabella Stockton. To credit this story,
Mr.. J. j. Brown has a time-worn Bible
published in 174s, upon whose fly leaf is
written Isabella Stockton" and on the
title page the name Isabella McCleery,"
in her own handwriting.
Authorities for the Story.
1t may be found in "History of the vir-
ginia Valley" by Samuel Kerchival, pub
1i.hed at Winchester. 1888; Historical Hand
Hardesty & Co, Chicago, 1888; Centennial
History of Morgantown," by Joseph More
land; History of Monongahela County,
sketch of Colonel William McCleery, by
John j. Brown; Historical Address at the
University of West Virginia, by the Hon.
Charles j. Faulkner, June, 1879; collins
History of Kentucky" etc.
From the last named it is learned that the
Stocktons, of Kentucky. came from Vir-
ginia Major George Stockton married
Miss Dorsey, Of Maryland, and went to
Kentucky in 1776; his sister, Isabella Stock
ton, sfterward the wife of Colonel William
McCleery, and his half brother, Colonel John
Fleming, went with him, but Isabella
returned afterward to Virginia
In bill of sale signed by Robert Stock
ton and acknowledged before H. Y Prather,
one of His Majesty's Justices of Peace, re-
corded 18th of January, 1878, in record book
c, vol 1, page 329, Carlisle, Cumberland
county, Pa, we find the following:
Robert Stockton. of the county of Berkley
aid colony of Virginia, to William Nc
Cleery. of the county of Frederic, province
of Maryland; consideration, ESQ; for tract of
land situated in Cumberland county,
province of Pennsylvania, on Connedeg-
winet creek, of which land 1 here claim by
virtue of a grant from Mr. Bunston. pray
it may be confirmed unto said McCleery.
Given under my hand and seal, Goth of May
T72. ISABEL MoELHENY.