Re: White Renegades on the American Indian Frontier
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In reply to:
Re: White Renegades on the American Indian Frontier
L K Cummings 4/11/07
Dear Son,
In Response to your request when at home, and for your information-hereafter I will say that from legion and information by folk lore and other wise handed down through our family for generation-probably dating back into the sixth century.
But later about the year 1750, I wish to state that our great grandfather who was your great, great grandfather JONIS GRIFFITH, with JOHN and DAVID GRIFFITH, his two older brothers, came to America and settled in the state ofNORTH CAROLINA.JONIS GRIFFITH, the character of this sketch was then a mere boy of sixteen years of age.
About the year 1755 or probably 1760, accompanied by DANIEL BOONE, and two other men from NORTH CAROLINA to KENTUCKY, on a hunting expedition, this party of four broke camp one morning-BOONE going in one direction and the other composed of the two men and the boy went in the opposite direction from the way BOONE went. (Now if you ever read the life of DANIEL BOONE you will notice he never knew what ever became of the three-which was incorrect as for DANIEL BOONE in after years visited JONIS GRIFFITH'S son DAVID, my own GRANDFATHER).I mention this discrepancy to show that history, at least sometimes, is incorrect.
On this fatal day, our GREAT GRANDFATHER and his two companions were run upon by a party of SHAWNNE INDIANS, who proceeded to execute them by torturing at the stake.After they were bound to the stakes and fuel supplied around, the torch was touched to the elder of the two grown men and he fell to his knees and did not cease to pray without even flinching until death relieved him of his misery.All day until this incident the sky was without a single cloud, but when the forest fires were lighted there appeared a storm cloud a heavy rain which prevented the ignition of the second fire surrounding the other men, but the Indians executed him with the tomahawk or hatchet, leaving GRANDFATHER yet un-executed.After some parlay, the old Chief decided to adopt the boy, JONIS GRIFFITH.He was turned to the custody of the Chief's two daughters.They took him to a pool of water and were going to make and Indian of him by scarifying him and wasting the white man's blood and with the same instrument scarify themselves with the gar bills and smear their blood on his wounds-and by so doing make an Indian of h im, i.e... have a nice brother.But when they laid hand on him he thought that they were going to drown himby holding his head under water which he resented by grabbing each young sister by the back of the neck and butted their foreheads together and at one spring leaped out onto the creek bank.The other Indians roared with laughter.This display of activity brought him into general favor and it was not long until the SHAWNEES had the boy on race tour running foot races with most famous sprinters from other tribes in that vicinity and usually winning many ponies.JONIS GRIFFITH remained with the SHAWNEE for over three years before he had a single opportunity to escape, they keeping constant vigilance and every act or movement he made-sometimes kind to him and other times exceedingly tyrannical, but all this three years he was courting their confidence and friendship, but finally the time came, the bucks, braves or what we might chose to call them, had to go to their annual spring sugar camp which was some distance , and instructed him to remain at the home teepee until he had killed and dried sufficient amount of dried meats to supply them during their sugar making.
There was a small white boy living with the Indians from his childhood.This boy was to go with him as a pilot having been to their sugar making.They commenced their journey across the country and traveled until they came to the Ohio River.He found an old hack berry tree and pushed it down and falling it broke into three pieces.He took the rawhide thongs that were used for bridles, hobbles and pack straps and bound the three chunks of pieces of logs together making a small raft.On leaving the Shawnee camps he had prepared himself with beeswax of which he completely plugged the muzzle of the gun and also the touch hold as this was an old flint look.After securing the long pole he placed the white boy on one end of this log raft, telling him that if he went to the bottom one hundred times, if he did not bring the gun to the top, he would kill him.
They made their landing on the east side of the Ohio River and journeyed on foot.Within a few days their meats gave out and the boy asked GRANDFATHER to kill game to eat, as he was hungry.He told the boy that the game was poor and not fit to eat.The boy replied that he knew fat game as well as any and accused him of trying to get away form the Indians.On one occasion he caught the boy trying to steal his tomahawk from his belt when he was asleep, presumably to kill him.He refused to shoot game because he didn't want to attract attention by sound of gunfire.However, he spied a skunk and slipped up on it an placing his foot on it's back he cut its throat with his hunting knife, broiled this skunk and both ate it.
They continued their journey eastward until they saw signs of civilization and located a small cabin but did notknow for sure whether it was occupied by and Indian or white man.There was a small spring near by, he secreted himself and the boy until late in the evening when a woman appeared at the door with piggin in hand and started toward this spring singing.He said that was the sweetest music he ever heard as had not listened to singing of a woman for over three years.At the spring she stooped down and commenced to dip water with an old time gourd and fill the piggin.He tossed a small pebble from his place of concealment that fell near her.She looked up, saw him dressed in buckskin in Indian style and with alarm she screamed aloud.Her husband cam out of the cabin door with a gun in hand.GRANDFATHER stood up telling the woman not to be alarmed as he was not an Indian-stood his gun on the butt at right arms length with hand on the muzzle showing the man they sought peace.They remained there with these people until their feet were rested and then continued their journey to HIS BROTHER'S HOME IN NORTH CAROLINA.
madison marraige book ky
Teater, Nancy (Tater)Adams, Thomas C169Jan18 1826
Teater, SarahGriffith, Samuel47Jun12 1791
Teater, ThomasWhite, Rebecca28Dec29 1796
NEW] GAILBREATH, W. M., ADMR vs DRAPER, JOHN S. et al Chancery 1911
DEPOSITIONS 27 June 1912:abstracts from the case
Jonas Lock came to David Griffith’s when I was a boy living there. He was there seven days about, and he called David Griffith Uncle. Griffith’s family said he was a kin and he lived in Missouri. They was a boy come with him and they called him Larkin Lock.
David Griffith’s boys and girls were Polly Witcher, Sally Griffith, Nancy Ballard, John fouther [?Fletcher] Griffith, Samteter Griffith and I understand there was one named Jaim ?Griham Griffith.
Question: Did you ever see Sam Teter Griffith?
Answer: The first time I saw him he was living up on the creek. He moved to Missouri, or I saw him start out for Missouri
Clay York [age “soon be 67” given below]. Knew Ellen Draper all her life. Her father was Jonas Lock. Jonas Lock’s mother was Nellie Griffith before she married Richard Lock. Jonas Griffith Sr. was the father of Nellie Griffith. Jonas Griffith Sr. was my grgrgrandfather. He had four sons, David, Jonas Jr., Sam and John.
David Griffith was my mother’s father, and my grandfather Jonas Griffith Jr. was my father’s father and my grandfather. My father’s name was James Porter Griffith. My father and mother were cousins.
Sally Griffith was my mother. She was a daughter of David Griffith.
My father died when I was about 20 months old and my sister Josie was near five years old and my grandfather David Griffith raised us both
Jonas Griffith Sr. had seven children, Jonas, Johney, Samey, David, Polly, Betsy and Nelly – four boys and three girls.
Jonas Griffith Sr. married Nancy Short. David Griffith married Ruth Whipple. Nellie Griffith married Richard Lock.
David Griffith had children. The oldest was John, James, Sam the three boys. The three girls were Sallie, Polly & Nancy.
Jonas Griffith had about thirteen children. Sam Griffith, Gus Griffith, Byram Griffith, Dock Griffith, James Porter Griffith my father married Sallie Griffith, Sallie Griffith, Nancy Griffith, Polly Griffith, Mariah Griffith, Lucy Griffith and others.
Richard Lock and Nellie Lock had Jonas, John and Sam Lock.
Sallie Griffith and Porter Griffith had Josie and Clay.
My father’s full name was James Porter Griffith.
Jonas Griffith Sr. was my grgrandfather, the father of David Griffith.
David Griffith was the father of Sallie Griffith, my mother.
My father James Porter Griffith died in July when I was five years old in December.
My mother Sally Griffith died 15 years ago last January and was 78 years old.
Nelly Griffith was David Griffith’s sister. She married Richard Lock. They had three children, Sam, Jonas and John Lock. Jonas had three wives.
First was Dolly Cason. Think the second was a Bradley. The third was Sally Lock who was his brother John Lock’s widow.
Sam Lock died a natural death and John Lock was killed in Missouri by Dave Short. My uncle Sam Teter Griffith first wrote the news back here to his father and he afterwards came back here and told about it. Sam Teter Griffith was a cousin of both John Lock and Dave Short. He said he saw John Lock after he was killed and saw his food working out where he was cut. It was before the war.
Don’t know John Lock’s wife’s maiden name, but her given name was Sally. Jonas Lock married her after John was killed. It was before John came to this country after Ellen.
Ellen’s mother and Jonas Lock separated in Illinois and her mother came back here and married Sam Griffith and they afterwards went to Missouri. Nancy Griffith stayed at my house when she came back from Missouri. It was some time in the fifties that John Lock was killed. Sam Teter Griffith came back here after John Lock was killed and married Nancy Price and went back to Missouri and went into the Confederate army. He was here some 7 or 8 years before he went back to Missouri.
Jonas Lock had dark hair, kinda tall, stooped over, dark skin. Don’t remember the color of his eyes
The children of David Griffith, the father of my wife: Sam Teeter Griffith, John Fletcher Griffith, Jim Guinn Griffith, Polly Griffith, Nancy Griffith, Sally Griffith.
All the men left this country; Jim to Illinois and the rest to Missouri.
“John Lock said Polly Short’s son Dave had stole some meal out of John Lock’s mill. After she found out she went to the wheat field and got Dave and said she was going to make him kill him and he did kill him”. Understand he used a knife in the bowels.
Jonas and his first wife Dolly had two children, Ellen and I believe Nancy who died in the Spring 1861.
Knew Sam Cull Griffith. I believe his first wife was a Witcher, believe she died here. Sam’s children were by his first wife – Claborn, Nancy and Polly.
Nancy [daughter of Jonas] would not go to Missouri with Jonas.
As well as I can recollect Jonas was a large man, dark hair and blue eyes.1820 US Census - Jackson County, Tennessee
NA Series: M33 Roll: 123 Page: 68 Sheet: 134
Jonas Griffith - 000001 00001 02 (Abt. 86 Yrs. old)
Jonas Griffith - 300010 33010 05 (26-45)
Samuel Griffith - 120101 21310 08 (45+)
Polly Griffith - 011200 10001 04 (Widow/Ex-wife of John? Sister? Sister-In-Law?)
David Griffith - 300010 10010 02 (26-45)
Males: 0 to 10, 10 to 16, 16 to 18, 16 to 26, 26 to 45, 45 and older
Females: 0 to 10, 10 to 16, 16 to 26, 26 to 45, 45 and older
Third column is number engaged in Agriculture.
1830 US Census - Jackson County, Tennessee
NA Series: Roll: 177 Page: 133
Samuel Griffith 0001000010000 0020100100000 (Sam is 60-70)
William Griffith 1200010000000 0000100000000 (Wm. D?)
Mary Griffith 0000000000000 0000100010000 (Widow/Ex-wife of John? Sister? Sister-In-Law?)
David Griffith 0012001000000 1110010000000
Jonas Griffith 2213000100000 1012101000000
Jno. C. Griffith 1000100000000 0000100000000 (Son of John or Sam? Moved to Madison Co. IL)
S. C. Griffith 1000100000000 0000100000000 (Sam Cull, son of John)
Under 5, 5-10, 10-15, 15-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-70, 70-80, 80-90, 90-100, 100 &c
1840 census - District 4 except as noted, Jackson County, Tennessee
David Griffith 0010100100000 0011101000000 1 (Free Colored Male under 10)
John F. Griffith 2000100000000 2000100000000 (Son of David)
Nancy Griffith 0122200000000 0112000100000 (Widow of Jonas Jr.)
L. B. Griffith 0000100000000 0000000000000 (District 1, son of Jonas Jr., Lindsey Byron)
1830 census Jackson Co. Tn. list the following Griffiths.
Samuel Griffith age 60/70 (1760-1770)
1870 Carroll Co. Mo.
Samuel Griffith (morris twp)
Sarah Pearis Teater was the daughter of LT ensign George W Teater who married twice 1st wife was Sarah Pearis daughter of Capt Richard Pearis cherokee trader intepeter also father of cherokee cheif George Parris.
Teaters 2ndwife was Ester Hicks former wife of Benjamin Tuton totton ect A nolichucky settler.George Teaters Brother was Capt Samuel Gibson Teater FT DoddridgeFt PittFt Dusqune.The Teaters of kyshouldnot be confused with the TETERS of pedelton co Virg , The KY clan was from SamuelTeterton TATOR William TATOR Teterton ect and a woman named ELizabeth Gibson, Thomas Gibson family GilbertGibson family 1720s to 1750s Tyrrell NC.
1738- 22 August 1738. William Tetterton of Tyrrell Precinct to Collo. John Worley of same. 16 pounds 10 shillings. 100 acres, joining the Sound, Cypress Swamp, sd William Tetterton
WILL OF JOHN WORLEY
I, John Worley am dispersed to make my Will being in perfect health and sense and memory praised be to God for it. In the Name of God Amen, I give my soul to God whom created it and my body to be buried at the decoction of my executive. Then I give to my well beloved wife Ester Worley all my Estate after my debts are paid and the Plantation whereon I now live during her life and then the said Plantation after her life I give to my grandson Charles Maxey to him and his Heirs... Infully begotten and never to be sold and if the Charles Maxey should dye then to fall to John Gibson, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Gibson. Then I give to John Worley younger and my grandson the Plantation where his father now lives and so to a new line I make according to my own pleasure for the division but my will is that my son John Worley shall have the Plantation during his life but no liberty to sell it nor to rent it. Then I give to my son John Worley Junior one shilling starling. Then I give to my son William Worley one shelling starling. Then I give to my daughter Mary Maxey one shilling starling. Then I give to my daughter Elizabeth Gibson one shelling starling. Then I give to my daughter Christian Agee one shelling starling. Then I give to my daughter Jude Smith one shelling starling. And this is to be my last will and Testament, as written in my hand this 22 day of March 1757.
John Worley
PORTION OF SAMUEL TEATERS REV. PEN APPLICARION
I was then about sixteen years of age.On our way from Virginia, at Cumberland Mountain, the Indians fired on us and defeated us, killing one man and wounding two men (my father being one of them).When we arrived at the district of Kentucky we settled near where Danville now stands
Samuel was son of George Teater and Sarah Pearis named for uncle Capt Sam Gibson Teater
We were, immediately on our arrival, put to building a fort.During the time we were engaged in building the fort, some men were sent out in the woods to process some timbers to be used in the fort about the spring.Shortly after they went out, the Indians fired on them and killed a man by the name of John Wymore.When the firing was heard, some men and myself ran to their relief and got our guns shot while the Indians were scalping the man they had killed.The Indian Chief who was in the act of scalping the white man was called Wolf, and he had a harelip.The Chief was shot by our men and he fell on the man he was scalping.We tomahawked him and left him.
DANIEL BOONES JOURNAL CAPT TETER
About the first of August, [ 1778 ] I made an incursion into the Indian country, with a party of nineteen men,including my friend Captain Teter,,in order to surprise a small town up Sciotha, called Paint-Creek-Town. We advanced within four miles thereof, where we met a party of thirty Indians, on their march against Boonsborough, intending to join the others from Chelicothe. A smart fight ensued betwixt us for some time: At length the savages gave way, and fled. We had no loss on our side: The enemy had one killed, and two wounded. We took from them three horses, and all their baggage; and being informed, by two of our number that went to their town, that the Indians had entirely evacuated it, we proceeded no further, and returned with all possible expedition to assist our garrison against the other party. We passed by them on the sixth day, and on the seventh, we arrived safe at Boonsborough.
On the eighth, the Indian army arrived, being four hundred and forty-four in number, commanded by Capt. Duquesne, eleven other Frenchmen, and some of their own chiefs, and marched up within view of our fort, with British and French colours flying; and having sent a summons to me, in his Britannick Majesty's name, to surrender the fort, I requested two days consideration, which was granted.
It was now a critical period with us.--We were a small number in the garrison.--A powerful army before our walls, whose appearance proclaimed inevitable death, fearfully painted, and marking their footsteps with desolation. Death was preferable to captivity; and if taken by storm, we must inevitably be devoted to destruction. In this situation we concluded to maintain our garrison, if possible. We immediately proceeded to collect what we could of our horses, and other cattle, and bring them through the posterns into the fort: And in the evening of the ninth, I returned answer, that we were determined to defend our fort while a man was living--Now, said I to their commander, who stood attentively hearing my sentiments, We laugh at all your formidable preparations: But thank you for giving us notice and time to provide for our defence. Your efforts will not prevail; for our gates shall for ever deny you admittance.--Whether this answer affected their courage, or not, I cannot tell; but, contrary to our expectations, they formed a scheme to deceive us, declaring it was their orders, from Governor Hamilton, to take us captives, and not to destroy us; but if nine of us would come out, and treat with them, they would immediatly withdraw their forces from our walls, and return home peaceably. This sounded grateful in our ears; and we agreed to the proposal. CAPT SAM GIBSON TEATER 2ND IN COMMAND SIEGE OF BOONEBORO.
George Teater jr married mary Van cleave niece of Daniel AND squire Boone. His 2NDwife was Polly Riddle granduaghter of MosesRiddle.
BOONE COUNTY MISSOURI MARRIAGES
006 TEETER George RIDDLE Polly 30 Dec 1821
garrard ky 1810
214 12RiddlesMoses.1..111..1..
226 12TeterGeo., jr.32..122.1...
226 13TeterGeo., sr....11.21.1.4
Guess that makes the TEATERS OF KENTUCKYhalf breed melungeons and the inlaws white shawnee renegades, There were 2 other GIbsons in these filesGideon AND Jordan Gibson
More Replies:
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Re: White Renegades on the American Indian Frontier
Callie Dodson 6/01/07
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Re: White Renegades on the American Indian Frontier
L K Cummings 6/01/07