Re: Captives in my family & Resources

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Comments:
: : : Althiough the two captives in my family were taken during the Revolution the people and places involved had their origins in the French and Indian War.

: : : 1. 1777-Fergus Moorhead.  He and his brother settled in the Fort Ligonier area in the 60's.  His brother was a Ranger and he was an "irregular"(Longrifleman). Fergus was taken captive by Indians outside the fort who had overheard plans for their scouting plans.  His companion was scalped and Fergus was taken to Detroit.  A letter was left at the captivity sit signed by "Chiefs of the Six Nations."  (I always wondered if it was Brant who was educated)  The letter is documented in the military archives.  He was taken to an Indian town and made to run the gauntlet, then on to Detroit where he spent nearly 11 months in prison before being released, and walked his way home in bad shape. He said the Indians treated him much better. (Documented in histories of Pennsylvania and of Fort Ligonier.) 

: : : 2. 1781-Isaac Anderson.  A Continental soldier who was no longer active, he lived in Westmoreland County, PA.  He was recruited under Archibald Lochrey (also spelled Loghrey) at the behest of G.R. Clark to go down the Ohio to help defend the KY settlements.  They were attacked near Cincinnati by Brant, Alexander McKee (Croghan's deputy trader turned Indian Agent), one of the Girty's (Simon or George.  I think it was Siman because he was recognized at the taking of Ruddle's Station right before and at the Battle of Blue Licks right afterward. The Girty's were captives during the F & I War.)  Over thirty were killed before Brant stopped it.  When news of the defeat got to PA there was much consternation as the men recruited by Lochrey were the best shots and woodsmen and were Pennsylvania Longrifles.  Anderson was taken to Chillicothe were he ran the gauntlet, then Detroit, then Montreal, where he escaped.  He went back to PA and married Moorhead's daughter and they eventually settled around Fort Washington (Cincinnati)and ran the city's first tavern. (Documented in PA Archives and McBrides Pioneer Biograhy.

: : : I've got other interesting pioneers in my family but those are the only captives.

: : : Victoria

: : Victoria,

: : Thanks very much for the information. Thanks also to George Bray for the post regarding James G. Lydon's book  "Struggle for Empire, A Bibliography of the French and Indian War".
: : Do you know the first name of Fergus Moorhead's Ranger brother? I believe Joe Hinson has an ancestor who was a Ranger also.
: : And incidentally Victoria, I also have captives in my family. And Catherine Mallott, a relative, was Simon Girty's wife.

: : Elaine

: Thanks Victoria and Elaine for your posts.  I found them both interesting.  If I should run across any information sometime that might augment what was posted I will pass it along.

: Your Most Humble and Obedient Servant,
: George A. Bray III
: Major, Rogers' Rangers
: Site Historian


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