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The History of Rev. Joseph Craig Written by Joseph Craig, 1827 Printed
and Published by Aubrey Thomas, January 1927 A Sketch of a journal of the Rev. Joseph Craig in which is contained his experience. A sketch of his gospel Labor. Travels. Persecution. Sufferings, Spiritual and Conflicts. To which is annexed. Prayer and several spiritual songs together with an address to his daughters Written
by himself Printed and sold by Thomas Skillman opposite the postoffice 1813 Added-poem
by John Waller and 1895 addendum on early days in Kentucky by Mrs. Jane
Herndon
All this time did I live (for thirteen or fourteen years) under a sense of condemnation. I was most sensible of this in the time of lightning and thunder. I used to pray often, most commonly when I was in my bed: but, when it thundered hard I was often on my knees, saying over all the prayers I knew, again and again till the thunder was past. My fears were great, that if I died before I was better, I should be lost from God forever. So I continued till one man rode to the gap where I lived and told me, if I would go and hear the Baptists they would tell me something I would like, he did believe; and some such talk. And when he went off I felt very awful and strange that I could scarcely walk! After some time the preacher came and had an appointment to preach at night. I went to hear him but nothing seemed to affect me. At length, two persons were talking together--one said to the other, the prayerbook was not scripture. That word seemed as if destroyed or took away half my religion, and left me standing on what I knew not. After some time, the preacher came again and preached several times. I followed him down about twenty miles. He preached in an old house. I had been with him and his company several days, and felt, by this time, a strong love for them; and while he preached, I stood near him and gave all attention. After he had done we returned toward our homes. On my way, I felt some solemn and awful impression on my mind; those impressions I feared to lose, I wished to say nothing to anyone, but kept praying to myself. When I got home, I stood in the yard and seemed rather afraid to go in. My wife saw me and shed tears, and said something ailed me. The next morning the case seemed plain: It seemed as though the glory of God appeared to me, and in me; and I could see the Lord in me, and I in him (by faith); and that I was safe and happy and clothed with his glorious, all sufficient righteousness. Now I felt so safe, as though I was taken out of hell into heaven. I almost thought God showed me my relations and near friends in the broad road to death and hell. I talked to them. Some heard me and said I was right; and some did not like it at all. I had little thought God would speak by me; I preached in a private way to all I got a chance to speak to; but particularly to our parson. He got angry at me and raised his fist at me and said he was the maddest man I ever saw when he was mad! So I persuaded three of my brothers to go about forty miles with me to the meeting to hear brother Thomas preach. They seemed fully to fall in with the doctrine which he preached, but none of them professed conversion at that time so we returned home.
It seemed to me from the first of my conviction, that God had something for me to do in the preaching work. Though I knew it not;---yet I preached in a private way to all which whom I had an opportunity of conversing, I went twice to the parson, and to my father's family; and I often expostulated with my neighbors which I chanced to meet them, as I was the first one who professed conversion among them. But after I had a great feeling sense of pardon and the Lord's love manifested to me, I got to moving and fell into great darkness for some months. At length, being at Brother Waller's meeting the magistrates were ordering to prison and brother Chiles was exhorting near them, I was praying the power of God came on me, and it seemed to me, drove from my heart all sin and darkness, and my love to God seemed plainer and stronger than ever. And this scripture was immediately applied to me: "Now you are clean through the word I have spoken to you." And might I say with the apostle, "Perfect love casteth out all fear." I prayed God aloud for sometime. It seemed as if I never got so low and full of unbelief again. Under my time of coldness and darkness, my preaching seemed to be but little blessed, but now being quickened again, I was enable to go on my way rejoicing. I traveled with Brother Lewis and Brother Chiles. Chiles said "I was to him as Titus was to Paul." About this time, brother Waller was chosen to travel through churches for one year, and he chose me to travel with him. We traveled great part of the year over the great mountains, and down on the bay side; and the brethren by their language and private conversations owned me as his help-mate, which confirmed me in the faith and belief that God had sent me to help him. When I staid at home some weeks, I felt coldness, darkness, and deadness; but when I got out from home two or three days, it seemed plain to me that I had left all and followed the Lord. Chapter 3 The journal of Brother Waller and myself, as his assistant, over the great mountains. [John Waller, imprisoned with Lewis Craig in Spotsylvania for preaching in 1768.] As we lived in Virginia [in Spotsylvania County, west of Fredericksburg], below the great mountains, our journey over two ridges and back would be two hundred miles, the way we went. After we got over the Blue Ridge, as it was called, we sat on the bank of the river Shannandoah [Shenandoah], while brother Samuel Harris administered the Lord's Supper to about one hundred communicants. After which Waller and myself went up between the river and said mountains about thirty miles, with a brother preacher (by the name of Coons) where we were invited to dine. We went in, and before we were done dinner, brother Coon said, these brothers thought to get horses of thee, to go over to Smith's Creek, to do some business there. Brother Mocks said he was hauling stone. I observed, that we thought to have forgotten horses would carry us. After awhile, we went out, and he had saddled his horses, and said we might ride them. We got to the church, and staid part of two days, and preached, and came back to the white house, near where brother Mocks lived. He met us there. One or both of our horses he had shod, and in his hand he had a dollar. He said one sister told him to give us that and we must cut it in two between us, and desired it might not be known who she was! We never said a word about living by the Gospel; but, in private, the brethren would sometimes contribute a small sum, amounting to about one shilling a day, while we were out and sometimes none. When we got back to the white house, we examined who was the minister there; but, as the church was divided between brother Coons and brother Murfit, we could ordain none, according to our customary rule; but baptized four persons. We communed in a large upper room, prepared for meeting by one Coffman, who had built it for that purpose. We had a happy time there, and much love and union appeared among us during the time of our meeting. When we were set off, one young woman said, weeping, she wished she had never seen these men.--she added she should never see them again, which was the cause of her weeping. The night we staid there, brother Waller said, he had no objection against traveling with me, but I would not let him sleep. After leaving this place, we found in our bag, a first-rate large cake, and we were traveling along, about twenty of us, eating the large cake. We lay that night at a Dutchman's. We left there the next day, and crossed the Blue Ridge at Milan's path--we were told it was seven miles to the top--nearly half that seven miles was so steep that it was very hard to ride; and when we got to the top, the trees were not much larger than apple trees, and the air was quite strong. And here it was the brother Waller composed a spiritual song. That night we got down on the head waters of the Rappahannock, to one brother Joel Earley's, where we preached and washed feet. The rich Earley stood near the door. Then we parted, full of love, and peace and joy, in believing. And brother Waller said, before the fire died, he composed another spiritual song, the first time of which is "come let us take a humble view." Here the song both follow-first, the one composed on the mountain by brother Waller. 1. Let me but
hear by lovely Saviour 2. The blessed message,
so transporting, 3. The flock of
Jesus, how I'd feed them. 4. There I would
leave them with my master, 5. I'd baptize every
faithful follower, 6. The greatest
profit, prince, or honor, Waller's Second Song. 1. Come let us take
a humble view 2. Most steadfastly
his head he set, 3. The Scribes,
the Pharisees, and Priests, 4. On him a crown
of thorns they put, 5. In token of mock
majesty, 6. His cross up
Calvery's Mount he bore, 7. Then, reared
up betwixt two thieves, 8. The sufferings
which his body bore, 9. Two Jewish rulers
did inter 10. Sinners, behold
your sacrifice, Hosannah to the
loving lamb of God, Chapter 4 As to my travels and standing with brother Joseph Bledsoe.[Joseph Bledsoe would later go to Kentucky in 1781 with the Craigs and the Travelling Church, where he would continue to preach.] Brother Bledsoe made a covenant with me, that if I would stand with him in society, should be sure to equal with him in the work of the ministry, and to have every liberty which he had in society; which he was faithful to perform to me. In this society I stood, and I went about eight or nine times with him to the Essex meeting [Essex County] about sixty miles off, in one year. As brother Bledsoe had the care of a church in Essex, and brother Lewis [perhaps his brother Lewis Craig] the care of one in Spottsylvania, the persecution in Caroline [County] was great-- [Insert after Caroline: Read: Matthew's Gospel, chapter 5, 10, 11, 12-and 14th and 45th verses: Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness's sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manners of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad; for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." But I tried to obey the 44th verse of this chapter: "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you." Here follows the 45th verse, as a reason for doing: "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust." O Persecution!
What has thou done? where I was was taken four times (by the civil officer) for preaching without legal license, as they call it, i. e. from the High Church of England. This was the common complaint. Once they put me in the criminal jail, where I sang about one hour, exceedingly happy-After which they let me have the bounds on bail. While I was there, I seemed as if I had said, "Lord, I have left all and followed thee," and "proved my faith by my work"-and it seemed as if he had said, face to face, I can believe you have. After I had staid about three weeks there, I went to the outer part of the bounds, and sat down; and it seemed that, if I would look up, I should see the glory of God. Then I seemed near home! I said, with tears, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? One time I had preached, and after I had done, the constable took hold of me, and said I must go with him. I thought God did not send me to prison; and if satan did, I would not go, if I could help it. I said I would not go before T__. That warrant said, "he should bring me before him or some other magistrate in the country." I would go before Mr. H.--. I thought the Lord let me know the prince of this world cometh. One man said, come, go away. The constable had then let me go. I said to the man, you must go with me. We went out at the other door-some one shut the door by the house stable. The constable thought I was in the house but I had gone out the other door, and into the woods. T__ and his company came and hunted the closets and rooms but found me not. I had an appointment for meeting next day below, in my way to Essex; and when I got there, I thought, if war was fashionable, that I would try and war a good warfare; and, as I had gotten into it, I did not care how much I suffered for the Lord's sake; and I concluded that they might do their worst, and I would try and do what I could for the Lord. And surely I did cry aloud that day! And we had a good time. And on another day, I was at meeting in the same county, and had been speaking (or preaching). The constable came, and some big men with him. He came round the company, and took hold of me. I asked him to let me get done the hymn which we were singing. He stood and held me by the arm. He then led me along the way, to carry me to prison. The congregation were all moved along-some began to exhort the constable to take care what he did; and then some of the congregation did praise the Lord aloud! They led me about three miles, to T__, and sat with me awhile and then they went away. At dusk I was conducted into an upper chamber, and they took my four penny knife from me, for fear I might kill some of them! I slept but little that night. In the morning the constable and company were in the porch talking. As I was in the hall, and the other room, I thought they had forgotten me. I might, perhaps go away. I went out of their sight--they did not mind me--I feared to be my own jailer--I would try to go off--I could run to meeting better than home--I thought I would try to get off from among them. I got about fifty yards, and one gave an alarm, Craig is gone. In one minute a gang of men, some on horseback, and a gang of dogs, of different sizes, were after me. I thought they should catch me, if they could; but, if they did, they should have a race for it. I ran steadily on, and got into the woods; but the dogs followed me true--I tried to dodge them, but in vain--I spoke to them but had to stop; they would give no quarters. The men came up and one of them took me by the hair, and raised his fist to strike me; but his companion caught his hand. They led me to the house, and commanded me to prison. I got on my horse, with one brother behind me. I said I must keep my conscience clear, or I should fail into keen despair--I did not care about life or death. The man behind me said I should do as I pleased. I got out at the gate, alighted down from my horse, and stood still. The constable asked what ailed me--was I sullen? I told him I would have no hand in carrying Joseph Craig to prison. He then came and sat me on my horse; his companion came with a rope, and tied my feet together under my horse, which hurt me considerably; and he took hold of the bridle, and led my horse almost ten miles. Being now near the prison, the rope being stiff, untied, and I thought the Lord let me know I was free--so I observed to the constable." Do you remember Pilate took water and washed his hands, and said he was clear of the blood of that just person?" He said he did. I told him he was now carrying me to prison--that I had a wife and children to take care of. He said he would not do anything to hurt me, but only to clear himself of the law. So, when we got to the prison, he put me in, but the door would not lock-so that night I set off toward home; and so got clear of them for that time &c &c &c. Chapter 5 An account of my journey to Essex county, in the first big Snow, with brother Bledsoe, as he then had the care of the church there, and chose me to help him. After we had been there one or two days, it began to snow, and snowed and hailed part of several days (perhaps about four days). In the meantime we had meeting, and several got converted, as we supposed, and believed, before we set off for home! Brother Bledsoe had about forty miles home, and I had about sixty. By the help of some roads being broken open we got about fifteen miles the first day; and the second day we had about twenty-five miles to brother Bledsoe's; and by the help of a great road being trodden open, we got to brother Bledsoe's about midnight. As my clothes were but thin, I got hurt some from the frost; for the weather was nearly as cold as I ever felt, and for about eight miles before we got to brother Bledsoe's, we had no road nor a trace. The snow was about one foot and a half deep, and our horses often fell on the snow, but through much suffering, we got to brother Bledsoe's about midnight, Then I had better than twenty miles home. I got off early the next morning, and drove hard the all day, being extremely anxious to get home; but did not make it out that night. I got within about six miles of home, and had to stay all night at a very poor man's house. I hurried off very early in the morning. After going about two miles on the track toward brother John's [John Craig?], his mill boys had trodden the track open, which my horse would follow, bleeding very much about the foot; but would not go the way I wanted him to go. Brother John lent me a low horse. In going from thence to my house, he would fall on the snow, and splattered the blood on the snow with his foot. And when I got home, I found that my wife had suffered from firewood and about half of my hogs had frozen to death in the woods. One or two of my children did not know me, and called me the man. So I got home that time, &c. Chapter 6 An account of my journey to Richmond county, with the Rev. Joseph Bledsoe-The distance was about seventy miles from my house. Said Bledsoe had chosen me to go with him, and help him in the way of preaching. I attended meeting with him eight times in one year, about sixty or seventy miles off. At a certain time, we had meeting in Essex.-some young people came to our meeting about eight miles by land and two miles by water, across the Rappahannock river. As they took so much pains in coming so far by land and water, we promised to go over and see them. We went and had meeting day and night. In the night, the Lord seemed to bless us greatly with his blessed power and presence; and, as I was exhorting, I observed to the people, if I could not so much love, and the Lord would continue to bless me as he had on the present occasion, that I would come to see them, if I had to go through the water out of the boat with my hat, little thinking I was so near danger. We had to cross back in an old boat. I sat with a piece of gourd throwing out water. And when brother Bledsoe spoke, it seemed as if his faith was so strong, that the boat would not sink. But when the owner of the boat spoke, he was so scared, it seemed as if we should sink notwithstanding all our efforts to prevent it. When we got on shore, we all kneeled down, and thanked God for our having escaped the deep. There was in the water a large shoal of porpoises, very much like resembling black hogs. After this we immediately returned home, about the year 1778. Chapter 7 A Prayer, by said Craig. Almighty, great and eternal God, we desire to be always looking up to the glorious Majesty for every blessing - for time and for eternity. We desire to thank thee for all the good things thou hast given us, of temporal and spiritual things; that is to say, thy written word, thine own sent ministers and ordinances, and the company and fellowship of thy children, and all the means of thy gospel. For sending thy blessed Spirit to apply the redemption bought with blood! Lord, we thank thee for all the work of that blessed Spirit on us and in us. And still we are beggars, and we pray that thou wouldest increase our faith. Lord we pray give us of thy living bread to eat which came down from heaven; and to drink of that water of life freely, that came out of the throne of God and of the lamb. O Lord, come unto us, and reveal thy love in us, and let us taste and see that thou art our Lord and our God. O! give us perfect love, that casteth out all fear. O! satisfy our souls by giving us abundance of thy love. O! satisfy us that thou art our Saviour and Comforter, by giving us strong consolation in our hearts. Yeah, Lord, satisfy our souls that thou art our Saviour and portion, and Comforter; and that thou wilt deliver us from every evil work, and bring us to thy glorious kingdom. Amen Once as I returned from a meeting in Essex county, I composed the following Spiritual Song: 1. Seven long years
I've been a ranging 2. Long time have
I greatly desired 3. Through frost,
and snow, and frightful rivers, 4. All this is but
a small trifle, 5. Sometimes I got
into her favour, 6. O! might I ever
be so happy 7. Such declarations
of her favour, 8. Long time have
a I greatly desired Another, by the same. 1. O come, dearest
friends, let us follow Jesus, 2. O! loving Lamb
of God, who would not thee follow, 3. But O! consider
well how hard to follow Jesus, 4. Lord, grant us
faith and love to bear us safe to heaven, 5. Do not you hear
of war, and of a dreadful rumor? 6. But O! how hard
it is to part with our acquaintance. On the road from Bardstown to Frankfort [KY], after nine days meeting with brother Shelton, I composed as follows: 1. Lord, pity a
poor soldier, now in his feeble days, 2. My faith it is
so slender, my courage weak and small, 3. If thou shouldst
chance to take me home, 'twould be a glorious day, 4. For nine long
days and better in battle I have been, 5. But still, if
thou deny me, and say that I shall stand, Another, by the same Joseph Craig The daughter of a William Woods professed to get religion at one of our meetings, amidst much persecution, and desired me to compose a song on the occasion; which I did as follows: 1. Come all you
saint and angel near, Halle Hallelujah 2. My father he
did love the Lord, Halle &c
5. The scandal of
the cross I see, Halle & 6. I laid me down
to take my rest, Halle & 7. I little thought
he'd been so night, Halle & 8. This glorious
news I did believe, Halle & Another composed on the death of my daughter a year old. 1. Friends of the
Lord, I pray draw near 1. When I returned
from work abroad, 3. What sorrow then
my heart did fill, 4. We cried to Jesus,
our dear friend 5. But death he
would not be deni'd, 6. Now, in the time
of great distress, 7. It came as if
I heard him say, 8. Her soul to Christ
we freely gave Another, by the same
Eternity, I will
dare of presume O sin, O sin, I
know very well, O where could I
go, or where could I run, O Jesus, my Saviour,
I fall on thy breast, Come all you young
men and think of your souls Chapter 8 An account of my life from September 1811 until the sixteenth of August, 1812. I came home near the last of September, 1811 very sore, with ringworms over great part of my body and limbs. I had a burning pain and sickness in my breast; which held me the fall, and winter, and spring. My sores in the winter were so bad that many a night I thought I should die before day. During these severe afflictions of body, I had in addition thereto, very severe conflicts of the mind, accompanied with doubts and fears, whether I was a Christian or no. But when summer came on, my sores mostly cured up; but still a burning sickness in my breast continued, so as to make me think I should die in a few days. On the 16th of August, I bless God, I got to believe that all would work for my good. For the most part of this month, the Lord seemed to be good, and kind, and gracious to me, and sent his comforter to abide, I believe, with me and in me, so as to make me want to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. As for the most part of these two weeks past, he gave me to feel his love in me, as evidently as I felt the food I ate. Glory, power thanks, love, and obedience be given to him, for he is worthy to receive endless praise. August 19th I feel week, feeble, and sickly; but thank the blessed Lord my faith is strong in "him who made the worlds."-that he is my portion, and that he will take care of me and bring me to his kingdom and Glory (Amen). I was going to die, and felt as if the Lord would save my soul if I did die. Chapter
9 I have been sick in all about eighteen months. Last August I was very ill indeed. -I thought God had given me faith, and a sense of pardoning love, and I was going to his rest. One told me I was not like to die then. I felt sorry.--In my sickness, I thought I felt the sorrows of hell. Often dead, sick about my heart and often bordering on despair, and often hoping for mercy and thinking "we are saved by hoping and if we hope for what we see not, then do we wait patiently for it." I have traveled on till the 12th of February 1813. These sorrows all to work for my good. My temptations seem to make me seek for the good shepherd--any sickness, pains and miseries, killed me to time things, and caused me to seek a better country. Now February 12, 1813. I have been sick about six weeks this spell; and last night talking to a friend, after some small comfort all day, the Lord was pleased abundantly to satisfy my soul. But how did my heart melt and tear flow; I thought all I asked the blessed Lord for my life was a full assurance; which he gave me-an assurance of his love, and grave and favor, a full manifestation, which he gave me, to my soul's satisfaction. Now I thought I would not fear to meet death, nor the miseries of death. It seemed as if he said, Your day's work will do for me; I will receive it for a day's work will do for several months before the eleventh day of this month. I said, if it please thee. Lord, give me a full manifestation of thy grace. And if it would please the Lord to I would willingly lay down my life. Having so given me a full manifestation and feeling of his love, many doubts about my salvation-having a heavy heart and sickness therewith. But, as I talked with one about midnight, the eleventh day, it pleased God to reveal his goodness to my soul: I was filled with his love, O! that joy flowed into my heart. My heart seemed to melt and my tears did flow and I did rejoice unspeakably. This 13th I feel the same and have continued to feel that love mostly ever since believing. I am safe and happy and that my salvation seems quite sure and safe, which makes me rejoice. As I often said for forty-seven years past, if I won this race, I was eternally made. My dear brethren, believe about this unspeakable goodness to poor me. I thought I was done with this world, and time things. I said with joy come death and welcome. I believe I had a great desire to depart and be with the Lord. Chapter
10 It is thirty-one years since I came to Kentucky. I have sold corn every year in general. I think about one-hundred barrels in each year. I had thirty or forty thousand acres of land surveyed, and chopped around great parts of it myself and I have no law about any of it, nor do I owe a dollar in the world as I know of. I have raised ten sons and daughters, and given them some learning, and some property towards keeping house: and in all this I have tried to act to the glory of God. Have I fought a fight? In which time I have sinned often, but not willingly or willfully but as my sinful nature caused me to do. But bless God a feel a free pardon of all them and divine life and love flower through my heart-believing to my soul's satisfaction, he loves me. In forty-seven years, I seldom neglected kneeling on my knees, and praying to the Almighty God for his blessing and care. This I count only as a proof of my faith in the Lord. Chapter
11 My dear Daughters I have been troubled much about your souls. The Lord has given me to know a great deal of his goodness and severity of his ways and doings with the children of men. I have felt much of the effects of both heaven and hell. Once when I was sick, I was near despair--the sorrows of hell seemed to be on me; and when the Lord of late and other times, revealed his love to me it was a taste of heaven. Thus I have had a great sight of heaven and hell. Now my very dear daughters (you are welcome)-- when a sinner dies the devil or some of his angels comes for him and death and hell comes with him. Now my very dear daughters--to heaven and Christ and if you love him, he will love you and reveal his love and glory to you. But if you slight him, he will slight you, and behave as one jealous towards you and often cross you. My very dear daughters, take my counsel, and when good meetings are about, go to them, and get your hearts empty of the things of this life, till you can, Lord, I have left all and follow thee, as Peter once said. O my dear seek the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he is near. O mind his promises in the Testament. Pray without ceasing-when you stand, when you lie, sit or go, pray Lord help me. Take my counsel my dears and don't {?} until you find this love in your hearts. Farewell-and you will fare well if you find Him of whom Moses and the Prophets did write. Joseph Craig Note: Joseph Craig lived to 1819.
1.. Let me sing
of my best beloved 2. Great sorrows
of late have fill'd my poor heart 3. Lord, what shall
become of those left behind? 4. that famous new
country, receive God's dear lamb, 6. O, what shall
they do who still linger here? 7. Preserve all
thy flock safe, great shepherd we pray. 8.. Oh! Then we
shall meet, and no more shall we part Copied in Covington, Kentucky, 1898 July 1898 I remember when I was a child and that was a long, long time ago, as I am nearing my four score years, sitting by Grandmother's knee,(Martha Faulkner Stephens, daughter of Jossa Faulkner, fifth daughter of Talifara Craig the first, married Martha Hawkins died in 1795) as she sat at the foot of her bed and leaned her chair back against the foot board knitting and telling me of Indian times and of Bryant Station, knowing the Indian were not farr off, then sent to Lexington for reinforcements but before they got there, the Indians came headed by Simon Girty, a white man. When he (Simon Girty) called, it was my great great grandmother Craig that talked to him. They had drums and a fife in the fort and everyone that could handle a stick was given something and beat on the ?} imagine the noise. Girty said afterwards he thought that they had a full fort, ion about one hour reinforcements of - (I have forgotten exactly how many horsemen but I think it was about 20) arrived. The women and girls took bucket, pails, and piggins and went for water. The woods were full of Indians. They said they could have killed them but would not because they were so brave. Another incident when plowing time came, Daniel Wilcox and brother were in the fields. Daniel was plowing, his brother sitting on a log picking the flint of his gun (one would plow and the other watch for Indians) when an Indian slipped up and tomahawked the one on the log. Daniel ran, the Indian after him. The Indian was so near than when Daniel was on the top of the fence the Indian was at the bottom. His mother aunt Wilcox was so excited she went out of the fort gate and would holler, "run Daniel run" and let him in the gate and then she followed and the Indian said they could have killed him but he was such a fast runner they wanted to capture him. A little more Indian news and I am through. My grandfather John Stephens and grandmother Martha Faulkner were married in 1785, was born in Ora County, Virginia. His brother Benjamin Stephens settled near Bryant Station and moved to what was then Campbell County. My grandfather went down in Franklin,. Six miles east of Franklin on the Lesstown road, leaving grandmother with her father Faulkner south of Lexington about five miles (near where Uncle Lewis Faulkner lived) and built a house. Log house of course and then went back to Fayette for grandmother. That same night the Indians came and burned it. We built another house near the first one and after years he added more to it, and weatherboarded it and it is standing today. He was plowing not far from the house and Grandmother was out near him, when the news came that the Indians had attacked the Cook settlement. Throwing off the gun, he jumped on his horse taking his gun with shirt and ? . Told grandmother to shut up the house and take the old mare and go to her father's taking her child Benjamin. This was in the afternoon and went 18 miles and the only way through the woods or rather wilderness, the trees being blazed. Grandfather got to the Cooks which was near the Folk of Elkhorn Creek a short time after the Indians left. One of the men was killed and the other one got in the house and helped the women to bar the door. One of the women to bar the door, one of the Mrs. Cook's, could shoot a gun but did not know how to load it; the other Mrs. Cook could then bullets began to get fewer and fewer. One of them bit the bullets into a U and kept up the firing. Then Indians then set the house afire. They had hens setting under the house, so tearing up the floor, took the eggs, and put out with them. The Indians think the man in the house was still living and they left. My Grandfather helped to bury the brothers side by side in one grave. So good bye for the present. Mrs. S. Jane Herndon Grandfather volunteered when about sixteen years old in the revolutionary war and served until closed. Also at Bryant Station and was among the first to receive a pension paid by Col. Richard Johnson who got the bill passed. |