Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-04-30
Victims of an Ancient Massacre Found

A ghastly discovery was made on
the farm of A. E. Robinson, about
2t miles north of Lebanon Chufch, q
few days ago, by his son, Ralph Rob-
inson. The young man had noticed
for some time some bones protruding
from the bank along the roadside at
point near mis- home and determined to
ascertain what manner of bones they
were. Accordingly he began to dig
into the bank and soon e1humed some
bones which unmistakably were the
relics of human beings.
Summoning his father, the two sue
ceeded in digging up the remnants Of
FIVE different skeletons. With the ex-
ception of the bones of the feet the
skeletons were in good shape. A few
buttons were found at the spot.
As to the identity Of the persons
who once made use of these frames it
is poser. As far as history and
tradition are concerned it seems that
almost absolute darkness hovers over
this sacred spot of earth. None Of
the oldest residents of this neighbor.
hood, 80 far as the News writer can
learn, is able TO throw any light upon
the burials.
This farm was known in colonial
times as the Smith Farm, and as
the owner at that time had a number
of slaves some have advanced the the
ory that the skeletons were those of
slaves. But that conjecture is set at
naught for the skeletons ale undoubt'
edly the last Of persons of the white
persuasion. The theory that they
may have been soldiers of the Civil
War is also discarded because of the
statements of citizens who have been
living in the vicinity since and during
that period.
Kercheval's History of the Valley
gives an account OF family that lived
on this farm in the early colonial
times of the name of Young. Their
home was entered by the Indians
about the year 1853 and several men,
bers of the family were massacred and
two taken captive. Those slain by
the Redmen were buried by a Mr..
Fry, who pursued the In1lans and re-
captured those whom they had taken
prisoners. The burial place Of the
above-named victims seems to have
been entirely lost to all persons in the
neighborhood. The general impress
sion is that the skeletons are all that
is mortal remaining OF those Of that
remote and unlucky family, who per-
ished by the tomahawk welded by the
treacherous and merciless Redskins,
and who have been resting in that
unknown grave for century and
half to be discovered at this late day.
1t is evident that the burials were
hurriedly made, as the bodies were
not placed in cofins or boxes Of any
kind. This is plain from the position
they were in when found. All were
in common grave, and the position
Of the bodies would indicate that they
were placed with their heads in some.
what of a semi.circle and the feet
close together. Sons of the bones
were in a good state of preservation,
especially the teeth. The few buttons
found were Of such nature as to in
dicate that the persons 80 buried were
private citizens and not soldiers.
The skeletons were found between
the fence and the road, which indi-
Gates that they were placed there be-
fore the road was constructed and
az the road was built near them in
time the bank wore away and left the
bones protruding, leading to their dis
covpry. As the road is known to
have been in use for nearly a century,
it gives some idea of the remoteness Of
the burial of the now unknown sub.
jects.
Mr.. Robinson says that it matters
not who they were or how or when
they got there, he believes them to be
the descendants Of Adam and are
therefore entitled to ground enough to
contain what is mortal of them until
that great day when all that is con-
tanned by earth and sea must be yield
ed up to meet their Lord in the air.
In consequence he is preparing to re-
bury the skeletons. He is working on
an elaborate slab of stone which be
will place in the bank to answer as
the face or the front of the grave or
vault, as it might be called, and will
place on it an appropriate inscription.
he will mark the spot with a mOnu-