MARY GRANT married ROBERT WALLACE died from Indians
“History of the graveyard connected with Cross Creek Presbyterian Church”
By James Simpson
All the inscriptions on headstones and monuments therein, and the names of all known to the author who are buried there
1894, Printed at the Enterprise-Call Office, Burgettstown, Pa.
Pgs. 5 to 7
On the 17th of February, 1782, ROBERT WALLACE, who resided one mile east of Florence, where Samuel McConnell resided, was not at home but at a mill.In his absence a band of Indians attacked his house, took his wife and babe and two other boys captive, shot his cows, burned his cabin and left.A party of whites followed the trail till dark, but in the night a snow fell, so that they could follow the trail no longer.The Indians took the north direction to the Ohio River. In the evening late MRS. WALLACE gave out and was tomahawked and scalped, and the little child also shared the same fate.The other two lads were taken on.The remains of MRS. WALLACE were left to the beasts of prey.WALLACE, thinking that his wife was held in captivity among the Indians, came to Cross Creek, to Marshall’s Fort, to get Col. James Marshall to intercede with Gen. Wm. Irvine at Fort Pitt, and have him intercede with Gen. Washington, so that his wife might be exchanged or ransomed.This Gen. Irvine did not do, as he said Cornwallis had now surrendered and we would soon have peace, and giving other reasons, did not make the request to Washington as Wallace wished him.He repaired to his home sad and heavy.At this time the settlers were organizing the expedition to go to Gnadenhutten to remove the Moravian Indians further west or bring them again to Fort Pitt.Wallace was not long in making up his mind to go along, and go he did.When the little army under the command of Col. David Williamson arrived there, Wallace found the dress that his wife had on when she was taken prisoner among the plunder in the Moravian town.They had got it in trade from the hostile Indians on their return home that way.On Wallace finding this covered with blood he became, as others said, a mad man.His rage was terrible and also that of the other with him.This was conclusive.The vote was taken and but 16, some say 18, voted to spare the lives of the 96 innocent creatures.Wallace went with the executioners and did not fail to act his part with tomahawk and knife.Thomas Marshall, who was long an elder of Old Cross Creek, and who died near New Athens, Ohio, in 1839, aged 96 years, was along with the militia, but did not take part in the killing.He told Capt. Lysander Patterson (yet living) that after the slaughter was over he was seated on a log. Wallace came up to him and sat down beside him stained with the blood of the slain.He said, “It may be that we had done wrong, but I could not help it,” and then wept like a little child.Wallace came home with the troops, bringing his wife’s dress along. It was kept for long years afterward.In 1783 some hunters found what they were sure were the bones of a white person near Hookstown, Beaver Co., Pa.WALLACE found them and recognized them those of his wife by the teeth.Wallace was told of it, and going to the spot, found them and recognized them as those of his wife by the teeth.He gathered them up and often went back afterward, still finding some more. After keeping them for two years in a salt sack hung up at the head of his bed, he brought them to Cross Creek and buried them.An old field stone with “M. W.” in large letters was supposed to marker her grave.It stood near the center of the yard, but has disappeared. No doubt it was removed by some vandal to make the foundation for some other monument.MRS. WALLACE’S maiden name was MARY GRANT.One of his son came back after peace was restored.The other never heard of.ROBERT, the one that returned, died in 1855, an aged man, and is buried at the Covenanter Churchyard, near Venice, Washington Co., Pa.MR. WALLACE married again and raised another family. He was long afterwards an elder of Cross Roads Church.He died in 1808 and is buried at Florence, Washington Co., Pa