Eleanor Guy Letter7
Descendants of Archibald Gant and Ancestors of Rebecca Kinkead
William Cooper Weaks 1944

Cane Springs, Apr. 20th, 1847
Dear Blackburn:
Your request that I should give you some of your grandmother’s early history. I am at a loss where you wish me to begin; but I suppose I may go back as far as I have any dates. She was born August 17th, 1740; was married to your grandfather November 30th, 1756. Was taken captive by the Indians April 14th, 1764, from Augusta County, Virginia, 20 miles from Stanton, on the road to the Warm Springs. She had, when she was taken, three children, the oldest a daughter 7 years of age, the second, a son 4 years old, the youngest, your aunt, Hamilton, 1 year old. When the Indians came to the house, your grandfather had but a short time left, he had eaten his dinner, and went to the field, out of sight of the house, to plough. Your grandmother was sitting just inside the door, spinning. The children were playing at the door, when suddenly they screamed as though alarmed, and before she had time to rise, an Indian jumped in at the door. There were five of them, four men and a boy. They immediately went to packing up the clothing, they cut open the beds, throwing out the feathers. Several persons had brought of their clothing there, believing it to be the most secure place in the neighborhood, and intending to come and build a fort there. They took all their clothing. There were two guns in the house, and a new saddle; they took all. She said it was astonishing, the loads that they carried. The Indians had never come so early in the season before, and their visit was utterly unlooked for at the time.
Your Grandfather did not return to the house until night. You may imagine his feeling when he came and found things as they were. He immediately turned out to raise a company to pursue them, and started the next morning, and followed them two or three days, but the difficulty in keeping on the trail, they were very careful to leave as little as possible. She said she frequently broke lines of branches, until the Indians noticed it, and made her quit. When they left the house, they went up the side of a high hill, in view of the house, and stopped , sat down on a log, stayed some time, and fixed her and the children for traveling. Made her pull off her shoes, and put moccasins on her, and the two oldest children. She was within three months of having an infant.
When they got all fixed, one of the Indians that spoke good English, turned to her and said it was the Great Spirit that put her in their hands. She told him, she knew it; but the thought instantly passed her mind that the same Great Spirit was able to take her out of their hands before six months.
When they started, she had the child two years old to carry. The little boy gave out after traveling several days. Two of the Indians stopped behind with him; when they came up, he was not with them, and she saw him no more. After traveling some days, going up a very high and steep mountain, she fell, and was not able to get up. The Indians called to her to come along, but she lay still. One of them came, broke a switch, and whipped her severely. She said she never felt it. While he was whipping her, she turned her head, and looked at him; He instantly drew his tomahawk. She turned her face from him, and waited to receive the blow, but he did not strike. She made and exertion and got up, and went to the other Indians. Then they took the child from her, set her on a log, and sat on each side of it, and appeared to hold a consultation whether to kill it or not. After talking for some time, they asked if the child would have black eyes. She told them it would. He remarked her hair was very black. They immediately decided. The one of them that had the saddle fixed it on your Grandmother’s back, so that it gave her the use of her arms, which was a great relief to her. He sat the child on the top of his pack, which she said was very a heavy one, and carried it to the Towns.
In two days after they got home, he gave it to one of his sisters who had lost a child, and she saw it no more until it was given up about six months after. When it was taken from her, it spoke English remarkably well for one of its age, and when she next saw it, it could not speak a word of English, and spoke Indian well. Nothing very material transpired until they got to the Indians town. They went through the mountains to the Kaneohe, where they had left their canoes, and went by water the most of the way after.
Soon after getting home, she was adopted into the family of King Beaver, and was treated as one of them. She was a large portion of the time with them, at Janesville. When the time arrived for her to be confined, they would not let her stay in town, but sent her to the woods, the squaws attending her, and carried her food. Her infant was born July 25th, 1764.
The fall after, an army was sent against the Indians, commanded by general Boquette (I think his name is spelled). The Indians were alarmed, and agreed to make peace, and being in all the persons that they had, when upwards of 200 persons were given up; and among them your grandmother, her infant, three months old, and the one two years old, the oldest having taken sick and died during the summer.
Your Grandfather was with the army, and when the little girl was given up, your Grandmother knew her immediately, but he could not recognize her, and was in great uneasiness, until her mother asked him if he did not recollect having bled her in the foot. He said he did, and stripping off her moccasin, there was a mark. The Great Spirit was kind to her, and delivered her out of their hands in just six months from the time she was taken captive. They returned to Augusta County, from where she was taken, and remained there until 1789, and then remained here until her death.
I have given you some account of your grandmother’s history; perhaps all you wish to know. You know how I dislike writing. I did not think it would take so much writing. I intended to copy it when I began, but for fear you should want it, I will send it as it is, perhaps you can read and understand it. Let me hear from you shortly, and tell me if it will do.
You Affectionate Parent,
John Kinkead

Will of Eleanor Guy Kinkead wife of William Kinkead277
Dated September 12, 1822, proven Dec. Court, 1825
Woodford Co KY.
Will book G p317

In the name of God Amen, I Eleanor Kinkead of the County of Woodford and State of Kentucky of sound and disposing mind and memory do make this my last will and Testament.
I will and direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid. In addition to what I have heretofore given my son Andrew Kinkead’s deceased, I only give and bequeath to his heirs one dollar each.
In additional to what I have heretofore given daughter Susan the wife of Joseph Lindsay deceased, I only give and bequeath to her heirs one dollar each.
In additional to what I have heretofore given to my son Guy Kinkead deceased I only give to his heirs one dollar.
In addition to what I have heretofore given to son John Kinkead I only give and bequeath him one-dollar cash.
In addition to what I have heretofore given my son William Kinkead and daughter Isabella Hamilton, Margaret Lindsay and Rebecca Owen I give and bequeath unto them and their heirs forever all my real and personal estate except my Negro woman Ginny and her child Charles which I have heretofore given a bill of sale to my daughter Isabelle Hamilton to her and her heirs forever and my Negro man Jack which I have given a bill of sale to my daughter Margaret Lindsey to her and her heirs forever, also all of my money except so much as my executors may think proper to give my daughter Isabelle Hamilton for the trouble of keeping me.
and it is my request that my executors shall divide all my property equally between my son William Kinkead and daughter Isabelle Hamilton and Margaret Lindsey and Rebecca Owen without a sale. Finally I hereby name and constitute and appoint my son William Kinkead, Samuel M. Wallace and Guy Hamilton executors of my last will and testament hereby revoking, disannulling all former wills by me made and publish this 12th day of September 1822.

Eleanor Kinkead (signed by her mark)

Signed, sealed in the presence of
Alex B. Hamilton
Mary Hamilton
Proven Dec. Court, 1825
Copied by Ludie J. Kinkead, 1928

From Internet message posted by: Alice Gedge

WIFE Eleanor (GUY) GAY-5012

NOTES:

(1) "Historical Collections of Brown County, Ohio," by Carl N. Thompson (Hammer Graphics, Piqua, OH, 1969) p.6.

(2) "History of Woodford County," by William R. Railey (Woodford Improvement League, Versailles, KY, 1968) p.69-70.

(3) Chester Co., PA Genealogical Soc. Genealogical and Biographical Records File, FHL #561,704. Cites: (a) Mrs. Addavale Kincaid Hunt, Chicago, IL, 1933, who cites VA Records, Family Bibles, and state records at Edinburgh, Scotland.

(b) Genealogical chart at Historical Soc. of York Co., PA.

(4) "Genealogies of Kentucky Families from the Register of the Kentucky Historical Society" (Genealogical Pub. Co., Baltimore, 1981) Vol. O-Y, Appendix C, p.757-761, "The Families Kinkead, Stephenson, Garrett, Martin and Dunlap," by Laura Kinkead Walton. Cites: (a) John Kinkead, grandson of William Kinkead/ Eleanor Guy, to his son Blackburn, Cane Spring, KY, 20 Apr 1847.

(5) "Kentucky Wills of 1851." FHL #976.9 P22i. Cites: (a) Woodford Co., KY, Will Bk G, p.317.

(6) "Genealogies of Kentucky Families from the Register of the Kentucky Historical Society" (Genealogical Pub. Co., 1981) Vol. O-Y, p.766-770. Cites:

(a) Draper Manuscripts, interview of Jane (Gay) Stevenson.

(7) Helen Wood, 105 Walnut Dr., Paragould, AR 72450-3924 (1997). Cites: (a) "Genealogies of Some KY families," p.758-761. (b) "History of Rockbridge Co., VA," p.253. (c) "The Scotch-Irish in VA," by Chalkley, p.39.

Birth: (2,2) of Scotch-Irish descent. (3a) Eleanor GUY or GAY. (3a,4a,6a) 17

Aug 1740. (3a) Her ancestors were Scotch. Her maternal grandfather left Scotland and settled near Londonderry. (3b,6a) d/o William GAY/Margaret HAMILTON, gd/o Alexander HAMILTON. (7) d/o William GAY or GUY/Margaret WALKUP.

Death: (3a,4) 9 Oct 1825. (5a) Will recorded 1825, Woodford Co., KY.

Burial: (3a,4) Pisgah Cemetery next to her husband.

(4) Her maternal great-grandfather had fought in the seige of Londonderry and her maternal great-grandmother had lived through it. Eleanor had been brought up on tales of the seige's horrors. In later years she told these stories to her own grandchildren.

(6a) Her parents came from Philadelphia to Orange Co., VA with her. (2) of VA.

(6a) 1758: The first time Carr's or Kerr's Creek, VA was attacked by Indians, she escaped into the woods with 2 children. Her sister-in-law, wife of her brother James, was killed.

(4a) 1764, 14 Apr: (1) 14 Apr 1763: Taken captive by the Indians, who took her to their town, Chillicothe. (3a) 1764: She was captured with her children and carried to Ohio, but was finally restored to her family. (4a) She was taken captive by the Indians from Augusta Co., VA, 20 miles from Staunton, on the road to the Warm Springs. She had, when she was taken, 3 children, the eldest a daughter, seven years old, the second a son four years old, the youngest, "your Aunt Hamilton," two years old. When the Indians came to the house, "your grandfather" had but a short time left. He had eaten his dinner, and gone to the fields out of sight of the house, to plough. "Your grandmother" was sitting just inside the door spinning, the children were playing at the door, when, suddenly, they screamed, as though alarmed, and before she had time to rise, an Indian jumped in at the door, there were five of them four men and a boy. They immediately went to packing up the clothing; they cut open the beds, throwing out the feathers. Several persons had brought their clothing there, believing it to be the most secure place in the neighborhood, and intending to come and build a fort there. They took all their clothing. There were two guns in the house, and a new saddle; they took all. She said it was astonishing the load that they carried. The Indians had never come as early in the season before, and their visit was utterly unlooked for at the time... (6a) 17 May 1763: Eleanor and her 3 children were captured by the Indians in their 2nd attack on Carr's (Kerr's) Creek, VA.

(4a) They were very careful to leave as little (trail) as possible. She said she frequently broke limbs of bushes, until the Indians noticed it and made her quit. When they left the house, they went up the side of a hill, in view of the house, and stopped and sat down on a log, staying some time, and fixed her and the children for traveling. They made her pull off her shoes and put on moccasins, on her and the two oldest children. She was in three months of having an infant. When they got all fixed, one of the Indians, who spoke good English turned to her and said it was the Great Spirit that put her in their hands. She told him she knew it; but the thought passed through her mind that the same Great Spirit was able to take her out of their hands before six months. When they started, she had the child two years old to carry. The little boy gave out after traveling several days. Two of the Indians stopped behind with him; when they came up he was not with them, and she saw him no more. After traveling several days, going up very high and steep mountains, she fell and was not able to get up. The Indians called her to come along, but she lay still. One of them came, broke a switch and whipped her severely. She said she never felt it. While he was whipping her, she turned her head and looked at him; he instantly drew his tomahawk. She turned her face from him and waited to receive the blow, but he did not strike. She made the exertion and got up, and went to the other Indians. They took the child from her, set her on a log, and sat one each side of it, and appeared to be holding council, whether to kill it or not. After talking together some time, they asked if the child would have black eyes. She told them it would. One of them remarked her hair was very black. They immediately decided. One of them that had the saddle fixed it on "your grandmother's" back, so that it gave her the use of her arms, which was a great relief to her. He set the child on top of his pack, which she said was a heavy one, and carried it to the towns. In two days they got home. He gave the child to one of his sisters who had lost a little one, and she saw it no more until it was given up about six months after. When it was taken from her it spoke English remarkably well for one of its years, and when she next saw it, it could not speak a word of English, but spoke Indian well. Nothing very material transpired until they got to the Indian town. They went through the mountains to Kenawah, where they had left their canoes, and went by water most of the way thereafter.

(4a) Soon after getting to the Indian's home was adopted into the family of King Bever, and was treated as one of them. She was, for a large portion of the time she was with them, at Zanesville. When the time arrived for her to be confined, they would not let her stay in the town, but sent her to the woods, the squaws attended her and carried her food. Her infant was born July 25th 1764.

(4a) 1764, fall: The fall after her capture, an army was sent against the Indians, commanded by General BOQUETTE. The Indians were alarmed and agreed to make peace and bring in all the persons they held as captives, when upwards of 200 persons were given up, and among them "your grandmother," her infant three months old and the one two years old, the oldest having taken sick and died during the summer. "Your grandfather" was with the army when the little girl was given up. "Your grandmother" knew her immediately, but he could not recognize her, and was in great uneasiness, until her mother asked him if he did not recollect having bled her in the foot. He said he did, and stripped of her moccasin. There was the mark. The Great Spirit was kind to her, and delivered her out of their hands in just six months from the time she was taken captive. They returned to Augusta County, from where she was taken, and remained there until 1789, and them moved "here" (Cane Spring, Woodford Co., KY), where they lived until her death. (1) 1765: Escaped and returned to VA.