$100,000. I was appointed administrator, and the estate was settled amicably by his children."* [Genealogical data will be found on subsequent pages.] NOTE. Some use has been made in the foregoing narrative of documents preserved with the Pickering papers, in the archives of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Much more might be gleaned from them, did space allow, regarding Horatio Jones and some of the transactions in which he shared. In a letter dated "Genesee River, Oct. 24, 1790," from William Ewing to Col. Wilson, Commissioner for Pennsylvania, in relation to the Senecas, the writer refers to Horatio Jones as "the only interpreter who can do the business write in this country," and adds that Jones "thinks he has not been well used by not being called on to do the business at Tyoga as he has had all the trouble in getting the indians to start and I am fearful he will not prevent the indians of doing damage to us at this place." There is a letter of the same date, written to Col. Pickering from Geneseo, in which Capt. Jones makes claim for payment for his trouble in notifying the Senecas of the treaty at Tioga. It is signed "Horatio Jones," but it is pretty certain that at that date Jones could neither read nor write. Numerous letters from him to Col. Pickering were presumably written for him by William Ewing. Late in life Jones learned at least to write his name, his signature, however, suggesting the school-boy's scrawl. The Pickering papers show that Col. Pickering lacked confidence in Jones, in his treaty transactions. He calls the interpreter "an unprincipled fellow," and charges that Jones and Smith conspired to detain the Indians at Geneseo, and keep them from attending Pickering's treaty; "one great object with them," wrote Pickering, "was to supply the Indians with provisions at their own prices as long as they should choose to obtain them at the expense of the United States. For this purpose they wrote to me that the Indians desired such supplies, but as this contradicted the verbal message of the chiefs sent to me by the runners, I paid no regard to the letters of Jones and Ewing." The present editor has found no evidence that Jones ever thus profited by his great influence among the Senecas. Among the Pickering papers are also numerous letters from Jasper Parrish, some of them of considerable historical value. These, and other unused material relating to the life and times of this interesting history-maker of Western New York, may be presented to our readers in a subsequent volume of these Publications. *Much of Mr. Harris's account of Horatio Jones's captivity and events of his early life is based on information communicated by Mr. Angel. SARAH WHITMORE'S CAPTIVITY IN 1782, HER life among thE MOHAWKS AND AND SUBSEQUENT HISTORY. BY MRS. SARAH E. GUNN, Of Leavenworth, Kas., great-granddaughter of Sarah The story of the life of Sarah Whitmore Jones is a romantic one, while lacking many essential details of fact. She was born in or about the year 1768, in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. Her descent may be traced to those Palatine emigrants who came to America from Germany and adjacent provinces in large numbers, during the early part of the eighteenth century. The "Witmers," as the name is given in Rupp's "List of 30,000 Names," came from Switzerland, canton of Zurich. There were three brothers who came in 1733, to Philadelphia, and were of the Dutch Reformed faith. Peter Witmer was the ancestor of Sarah Whitmoyer, or in more modern form, Whitmore. The name became anglicized in the printed tax lists; from which source we learn that they became a numerous and prosperous family which extended over three counties of Pennsylvania --Lebanon, Lancaster and Chester. * In the note on page 441 Mrs. Gunn is erroneously referred to as Sarah Whitmore Jones's granddaughter. It should read "great-granddaughter." Early spring days in Eastern Pennsylvania are often accompanied by a sudden, light fall of snow, called a "sugar snow," because this is the perfect condition for making maple sugar. The "sugar bush," as the whole group of maple trees set apart to be tapped, is called, is usually some distance from the house. On this account, during the period of sugar-making, a camp is formed at the bush for greater convenience. The process of sugar-making requires both the men and women of the family; the former attend to collecting the sap from the trees which is then conveyed to the large kettles over the fires, where the women watch the boiling mass until it is ready for "sugaring off." One of these spring mornings of 1782,* the older members of the Whitmore family, consisting of the parents and three eldest children, started for the sugar bush, leaving Sally, a girl of about fifteen years, to mind the younger brothers and the baby, and to cook dinner. We can imagine the picture: the bright sunlight streaming into the room, the light-hearted girl singing at her work, the noisy little boys at play, while the baby slumbered in its cradle. But the reverse of the picture is in sharp contrast. The children's merriment was cut short by the Indian warwhoop. Hideous in war-paint the savages rushed in and seized the two boys, while Sally caught up the baby, as if she could protect it from harm. The buildings were plundered and set on fire while the captive children were placed on horses in front of an Indian as guard. The smoke of the fire was the signal of the disaster to the other members of the family at the sugar bush, who hid themselves until the marauders had passed by. In all such cases, rescue was impossible, resulting only in greater loss of life. The band of Indians which destroyed the Whitmore home, were only a fragment of a large party who were ravaging the country under Brant. An avenging party of whites were close in pursuit of them, so that they were in haste to rejoin the larger force and make their escape into The reader will notice discrepancies with Mr. Harris's account, preceding: in data relating to the Whitmores, Mrs. Gunn is probably correct, following the records of her family. New York. To this fact, no doubt, the rest of the Whitmore family owed their escape. As the party hurried along the baby in Sally's arms began to cry from fright. The Indian who had them in charge struck it harshly, which only increased its cries. Becoming enraged, he seized the child, and swinging the helpless little body around his head, brained it on a tree. Sally tried to save the baby, but was given to understand that a similar fate awaited the others if they did not submit quietly. The Indians made rapid progress and soon reached the boundary of New York. A council was held and the fates of the white captives decided upon. The two young Whitmore boys were purchased by members of the British army. They were adopted into the family of a British officer and reared in Canada. After they were men with families, they revisited Pennsylvania to meet their relatives, but always returned to Canada. They have left many descendants, who are loyal subjects of the King. Sally Whitmore remained with the Mohawks, the tribe which had taken her captive. The council decided to save her for adoption and marriage among themselves, a custom frequently occurring with a favorite captive. This seemed a hard fate to the young girl, torn from home and friends, and separated, probably forever, from the little brothers who had been her companions in suffering. The outlook seemed hopeless, for already a stalwart chief of the tribe sought her for a mate. She was permitted to temporize, but knew that if she finally refused their terms, it meant death. About this time occurred the assembly of all the tribes at what was known as the "Pigeon Roost." Near the shores of Seneca Lake was the rendezvous of thousands upon thousands of pigeons at mating and nesting time. For this reason, annually, the Indians assembled here for days and weeks together. The young birds were fat and juicy, and were devoured in large numbers; while the squaws smoked and cured great quantities of them for future use. Conse quently, with the Indians, the "Pigeon Roost" was synonymous of a feast and dance, and especially of a council. The tribe having Sally Whitmore a captive, came with the others. Here she heard of the white captive of the Senecas, who by adoption and long captivity among them had become a chief, and admitted to their councils. We do not know that she knew that he was Horatio Jones, for while his capture had been made near her own home, it is not certain that the families were acquainted; besides, his own people had long mourned him as dead. Anyway, she resolved to appeal to him as a white man, sure to sympathize with one of his own race, and get his advice on what course to pursue. Sally was able to see him very soon and lay her case before him. She told him how averse she was to marriage with an Indian, and besought him to aid her evade it. Horatio Jones knew how difficult was the task set him, but he did not dishearten her, but told her he would think it over and tell her the result on the next day. Doubtless his heart already suggested the plan his tongue had not uttered. Sally Whitmore, with her girlish figure and the clear olive skin, dark eyes and gentle voice of her people, must have been very pleasing in his sight. At their next meeting Sally was told that there was but one way to save her from the Indian marriage, and at the same time conform to their customs. Horatio had himself been forced to submit to such conditions and had done so to save his life, and tried to make the best of it, had gained their confidence and now had some influence. During the preceding year his Indian wife had died, and his lodge was empty. He would soon be expected to make a second choice; so if the plan suited her, he would ask her adopted parents for her in the usual manner among the Indians and he believed on account of his acquired standing with the Senecas his proposals would be accepted. In this way the girl would be under his protection, absolutely, and if they succeeded in gaining their release at some future time, the tie would be in no way binding upon them. Sally was, of course, glad to accede to this plan and it was carried out. The Mohawk lover was vanquished by the favorite chief of the Senecas. |
