Sources: Rice, Otis K. The Allegheny Frontier; West Virginia Beginnings, 1730-1830.
Hard hit was the Cacapon River area, where 23 persons were captured or killed June 1764. Among the prisoners was the wife of Owen THOMAS, who had been killed the previous summer. However, while crossing the South Branch, Mrs. THOMAS eluded her captors by jumping into the stream & floating with the current until she reached Williams' Fort, 2 miles below the Hanging Rock. Her daughter saved herself by running 9 miles to Stephen's Fort on Cedar Creek.
Pittsburgh, May 2. 1789-- It is with singular concern we announce to the public that on Saturday the 25th ult, a party of Indians murdered on the head waters of Dunkard Creek, in Washington (now Greene County) County, 5 persons, one man by the name of Joseph Cumberledge, and his wife. Also, a man named William Thomas, and two children.It is unnecessary to make any comment on the impropriety of wasting time and money in holding treatie with the savages, as long experience has shown us the futility of such measures, we have now only to trust to the exertions and energy of our new government, and flatter ourselves such effective plans will be adopted, as to extirpate this country of such savage neighbors, the following deposition will show the truth of the above. Washington County S.S. Personaly came before me Henry Van Matre, one of the Justices of the Peace for the State of Pennsylvania, and County aforesaid, Absalom Van Matre and Gabriel Eakins, and being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, deposeth and faith, that they helped to bury 5 people on Dunkard Creek, on Saturday the 25th. of this ult April , killed by the indians, and three of them scalped; the names was William Thomas and Joseph Cumbridge and his wife, the others children, and further say not.-- submitted by "Matt W. Cumberledge" cumberledge1@alltel.net
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