LANCASTER TREATY.

71

very disagreeable women, who danced wilder time than any Indian! On Thursday, the goods were opened, wherewith the Maryland people wished to buy the Indian claim to the lands on which settlements had been made. These goods were narrowly scanned by the red men, but at last taken for £220, Pennsylvania money, after which, they drank punch. Friday, the Six Nations agreed to the grant, and punch was drank again. On Saturday, a dinner was given the Indians, at which they drank heartily, fed heartily, and were very greasy before they finished! After this, came the Commissioners from Virginia, supported by a due quantity of wine and bumbo,' and received 'a deed releasing their claim to a large quantity of land lying in that colony,' the Indians being persuaded to recognize the King's right to all lands that are, or by his Majesty's appointment shall be within the colony of Virginia.' For this, they received £200 in gold, and a like sum in goods, with a promise, that as settlements increased, more should be paid, which promise was signed and sealed."2

Such was the treaty of Lancaster, upon which the British based their claim by purchase to the lands on the Ohio.

1 Rum and water.

2 Annals of the West, 48-9.

PART III.

EARLY SETTLEMENT OF NORTH-WESTERN

VIRGINIA.

1754-1793.

CHAPTER I.

FIRST SETTLEMENT ON THE MONONGAHELA.

IN North-western Virginia, the earliest attempts at settlement were made on the Monongahela and its tributaries. Early in the spring of 1754, David Tygart and a man named Files, established themselves and families on the east branch of that river; Tygart in the beautiful and highly productive valley which still bears his name, and Files at the mouth of a creek, where Beverly, the county-seat of Randolph, has since been located. These were the first settlements in Virginia west of Laurel Ridge, and the family of Files became the first of that long and terrible list of unfortunate victims to savage ferocity with which the early annals of the west are stained. The pioneers soon felt convinced that their removal had been premature. Their provisions were about to fail, and not having been able to raise any, they wisely determined to retrace their steps as speedily as possible. But, alas! before the family of Files could be got off, the savages discovered them, and every member, except the oldest son, massacred. Tygart with his family escaped, and returned to their friends, east of the mountains.

74

EARLY SETTLERS.

[CHAP. I. Two years previous to these occurrences, Christopher Gist, agent of the Ohio Company, settled on a tract of land in Fayette county, Pa., now well known as Mount Braddock. His was the first actual settlement west of the mountains on any of the tributaries of the upper Ohio. Being well known as an active and efficient backwoodsman, his presence in the west induced several other families to come out and settle around him. During the following year several adventurers visited that part of Pennsylvania, (supposed at the time to be in Virginia). Of these were Wendell Brown, his two sons, and Frederick Waltzer, who settled near where Brownsville now stands. Others visited different points on the Monongahela, above the mouth of Redstone, (Brownsville).

Among this number were Dr. Thomas Eckarly and his two brothers. They were Pennsylvanians, and belonged to that peculiar order called Dunkers. In the wild and solitary regions of the West, these followers of the founder of Euphrate, hoped to find seclusion from the world, and the undisturbed opportunity of carrying out the principles of their faith. After exploring the country for some distance, they finally settled on Cheat river, at the place now known as Dunker bottom. Here they lived in peace and plenty for some years (not, however, as a recent writer says, in "eating an abundance of meat, as delicious as the refined palate of a modern epicure could well wish," because, all animal food was expressly forbidden by their creed, except on special occasions). At length the despoiler came, and the single-hearted recluse fell before his ruthless hand.2

In the year 1758, a settlement was effected near the mouth of Decker's Creek, by Thomas Decker and others.

[1758.] In the spring of 1759, a party of Mingoes and

1 Dunker, or, as it is generally called, Dunkard creek, which empties into the Monongahela, about ten miles below Morgantown, derives its name from these brothers making a short encampment on its banks.

2 See Part vii.-Indian Wars.

1758.]

DISCOVERIES BY HUNTERS.

75

Delawares made a descent upon the inhabitants, and cut them off.1

Although adventurers continued to penetrate the country lying between the Monongahela river and Laurel ridge, no regular emigration took place, nor were any permanent settlements effected until 1768. During this year a number of persons made improvements on Buchanan, an important tributary to Tygart valley river; other settlements were effected on the Monongahela. Tradition acquaints us with some circumstances attending the earlier settlements in this part of Virginia. In 1761, four men, (Childers,

Linsey and two brothers, by the name of Pringle,) [1761.] deserted from Fort Pitt. Ascending the Monongahela, eight or ten miles above Brownsville, the party made a short stay, then crossed to the Youghiogheny, where they wintered.

In one of their hunting rambles, Samuel Pringle came on a path which he supposed would lead to the inhabited parts of Virginia. On his return, he mentioned the discovery and his supposition, to his comrades, and they resolved on tracing it. This they accordingly did, and it conducted them to Loony's creek, then the most remote western settlement. While among the inhabitants on Loony's creek, they were recognized, and some of the party apprehended as deserters. John and Samuel Pringle succeeded in making an escape to their camp in the glades, where they remained till some time in the year 1764.

During this year, and while in the employ of John Simpson, (a trapper, who had come there in quest of furs,) they determined on removing farther west. Simpson was induced to this by the prospect of enjoying the woods free from the intrusion of other hunters (the glades having begun to be a common hunting ground for the inhabitants of the south branch;) while a regard for their personal safety caused the Pringles to avoid a situation in which they might be exposed to the observation of other men.

In journeying through the wilderness, and after having crossed Cheat river, at the Horse-shoe, a quarrel arose be

1 See Part vii.-Indian Wars.