of death, thrown herself out at
the door. The house, together with Capt. Thomas and the children, was
a heap of ashes.[14]

In April, Matthias, Simon and Michael Schoolcraft left Buchannon fort,
and went to the head of Stone coal creek for the purpose of catching
pigeons. On their return, they were fired upon by Indians, and
Matthias killed--the other two were taken captive. These were the last
of the Schoolcraft family,--fifteen of them were killed or taken
prisoners in the space of a few years. Of those who were carried into
captivity, none ever returned. They were believed to have consociated
with the savages, and from the report of others [227] who were
prisoners to the Indians, three of them used to accompany war parties,
in their incursions into the settlements.

In the same month, as some men were returning to Cheat river from
Clarksburg, (where they had been to obtain certificates of
settlement-rights to their lands, from the commissioners appointed to
adjust land claims in the counties of Ohio, Youghiogany and
Monongalia) they, after having crossed the Valley river, were
encountered by a large party of Indians, and John Manear, Daniel
Cameron and a Mr. Cooper were killed,--the others effected their
escape with difficulty.

The savages then moved on towards Cheat, but meeting with James Brown
and Stephen Radcliff, and not being able to kill or take them, they
changed their course, and passing over Leading creek, (in Tygarts
Valley) nearly destroyed the whole settlement. They there killed
Alexander Roney, Mrs. Dougherty, Mrs. Hornbeck and her children, Mrs.
Buffington and her children, and many others; and made prisoners, Mrs.
Roney and her son, and Daniel Dougherty. Jonathan Buffington and
Benjamin Hornbeck succeeded in making their escape and carried the
doleful tidings to Friend's and Wilson's forts. Col. Wilson
immediately raised a company of men and proceeding to Leading creek,
found the settlement without inhabitants, and the houses nearly all
burned. He then pursued after the savages, but not coming up with them
as soon as was expected, the men became fearful of the consequences
which might result to their own families, by reason of this
abstraction of their defence, provided other Indians were to attack
them, and insisted on their returning. On the second day of the
pursuit, it was agreed that a majority of the company should decide
whether they were to proceeded farther or not. Joseph Friend, Richard