Sources: Border Settlers of NW Virginia by McWhorter./Chalkley Volumes/ Chronicles of Border Warfare, includ. pg. 319/Research of Dennis Rodgers. & another descendant Bette Butcher Topp
Jeremiah CARPENTER was a large landowner in Braxton Co. VA/WV, who supposedly was captured in his youth was referred to as " Jerry ". He was born at Big Bend, Jackson River in Bath Co. VA & there was taken prisoner by Shawnees when he was 9 years old. He is said to have lived at Old Town, opposite the mouth of the Great Kanawha until he was exchanged & returned to Jackson River. Included in the incursion to Jackson River on September 13-14 of 1756 was a Nicholas Carpenter (killed), a Joseph Carpenter (prisoner escaped) and 5 Carpenter children (prisoners).
View the CARPENTER story on the Webster Co., WV web site. Source: Moccasin Tracks & Other Imprints.
Also, see this article on the CARPENTER family.
pg. 319, Chronicles of Border Warfare: ..some Indians invaded the country above Wheeling & succeeded in killing a Mr. WALLACE & his family, consisting of his wife & 5 children & in taking John CARPENTER a prisoner. The early period of the year at which those enormities were perpetrated, the inclemency of the winter 1781-2 & the distance of the towns of hostile Indians from the theatre of these outrages, caused many to exclaim, " the Moravians have certainly done this deed." The destruction of their villages was immediately resolved & preparations were made to carry out this determination into effect.
Jeremiah Carpenter (my 5th. great) b. ca. 1755 Botetourt, Co. Va. s/o William Carpenter b abt 1724 New York. he the son of Joseph Coles Carpenter. William Carpenter was killed by Mingo & Delaware Indians on 10 Oct. 1763 in Jackson River area of Botetourt Co. Va. near where Covington, Va. now stands. Jeremiah was captured by a Shawnee hunting party, along with his friend a Holcomb boy. This was about the year 1763-65. They were taken to a Village in Ohio, called "Old Town", across from the Kanawha River. Many villages of the Shawnee were called "Old Town", it was a custom for them to name the next village they moved too, the same as the last. There are many villages in Ohio called "Old Town". It is said that Jeremiah escaped when he was about the age of 19 yrs. He later returned for an Indian girl that had saved his life, and married her. I have not found a record for this girl, but even my grandmother told the tale of the Indian girl. Jeremiah's only marriage on record is when he is age 30. He married 8 Mar. 1785 in Alderson, (W)Va. to his first cousin. Elizabeth Mann, b. ca. 1767 the d/o John Mann & Francis Elizabeth CARPENTER Mann. Francis was the daughter of William who was killed in 1763 by Indians. Her mother is said to have been a Miss Pringle, sister to the Pringle brothers of Tucker Co. Va. history. As for Solomon, I have never found any record that he also was captured. Benjamin Carpenter was killed by Indians, but this was later in Braxton Co. (W)Va. In the Elk Valley on the nearby Holly River. Benjamin and his wife were killed by two Inidans. Jeremiah was away at the time, and his wife was out in the woods, she was with child. When he returned and found his brother and wife, he took them up the river and buried them. He hid in the rock shelves, and this is where the first white child of Braxton, Co. was born. Solomon Carpenter, b. 12 Oct. 1792, d. 13 Nov. 1866 Braxton, Co. WV. These stories were told by Jeremiah's great great grandson, Ernie Carpenter, s/o "Squirrelly Bill" Carpenter. Source: Ernie Carpenter, Tales of the Elk River Country, comp. by Gerald Milnes & Micahel Kline. subm. to Goldenseal Vol.12 No. 2 Summer 1986. I do not know of any other Jerry Carpenter that was captured, unless it was this Jeremiah, s/o Joseph Coles Carpenter (1st wf. unknown) m/2 Judith Scott, widow of John Scott. He also had a son named Solomon, b. ca. 1725 marr. Sudrah Hughes. (Note: the Holcomb boy was killed shortly after they arrived in the village.) --- Donna
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