COLONEL DAVID WILLIAMSON, SON OF JOHN SR. David Williamson, born in Cumberland County in 1752, was the eldest son of John Sr. His brother Eleazer was born in 1757, and John Jr. in 1763. David's daughter reported to Draper that, as a youth, David journeyed west and made a settlement on Buffalo Creek; then he returned east and persuaded his father and others to move west. The Virginia certificates of John Sr. and Eleazer Williamson give their settlement dates on Buffalo Creek as 1774. In his pension application in 1832, Eleazer said 1771. John Sr. and Eleazer had adjoining land grants in eastern Buffalo Township. David's farm "Walnut Bottom" was five miles to the west on Buffalo Creek. This is now Blaine Township, between Acheson and Taylorstown. Here David built three cabins, each 20 feet square. They were all connected and became a fort during the Revolution. It was however, never attacked. In 1798 the cabins were valued at $10, $12 and $30. A century ago one of the cabins was still standing. Sixty years ago the log walls of the springhouse were still standing under the shade of a giant oak, several hundred years old(see page 101). Much has been written about David's military career, especially the November 1781 Moravian campaign, the March 1782 Gnaddenhutten massacre, and the June 1782 retreat of Crawford's men, ably led by David. He was a captain in 1777 and a colonel in 1781. Both David and Eleazer were militia leaders for ten years after the Revolution. Brother John Jr. was active in what is now West Virginia. In 1785 David was elected a justice of the peace by his neighbors, but the election was turned down by the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania. He was elected sheriff of Washington County October 26, 1787, and re-elected January 17, 1789. He traveled. He was at Big Bone Lick, Kentucky, July 19, 1791; at Philadelphia in 1796. Were they business trips? He was always interested in land. David bought land from Joseph Williamson August 1, 1787; from Daniel Williamson February 11, 1788; from David Williamson Jr. February 12, 1788; and from the heirs of John Williamson Sr. October 7, 1793. Daniel and David Jr. may have been ficticious names. David had six grants and made several purchases in Ohio County, then Virginia. He had seven patents and made a number of purchases in Washington County. He owned a lot in the town of washington. Many deedsare listed under his name; in some he was called "Gentleman." He was last listed as grantor in Pennsylvania October 30, 1804, and in Virginia April 23, 1805. The sheriff sold three of his properties 1804-05, the last his ------------------------------------------------------------ Page 26 COL.DAVID continued home farm, on October 12, 1805. David was last taxed in Buffalo Township in 1805. His world collapsed. In 1804 his only living brother moved away. He had lost his property including his home. In 1806 he was put in jail. He was often in court for debts. The Court of Common Pleas lists him as defendant many times: 4 times in 1781-85; 4 in 1786-90; 10 in 1791-95; 8 in 1796- 1800; 42 in 1801-05 (14 in 1805 alone). A suit was to be brought against him March 20, 1809, a month after his death. David appeared in court May 1806 (case No. 2) when the Commonwealth made an attachment on him for contempt of court in not paying the costs of a case dating from May 1803, when he was sued for debt. He refused to pay. The penalty was three months in jail. The case was brought up every three months and he was re-sentenced. David must have had a streak of obstinacy. In December 1808 he was sentenced for the last time. He died in jail February 27, 1809.* His widow, Mary, and son-in-law, Caleb McNulty, were granted letters of administration April 22, 1809. In 1820 the Commonwealth paid the costs of the 1806 case and the books were closed. What a way to reward the colonel of the Revolution who did so much for the frontier settlers! David's daughter, Jane McNulty, described him as middle- sized, blue eyed, and with long brown hair. He was 57 years old when he died, and he was survived by eight children, the youngest age 9. In 1810 Mary and the children were living in Ohio County. William Darby, noted geographer who knew David, spoke well of him, saying he was kind hearted and noble. As an elected militia officer he did not have the authority of a colonel in the regular army, and he could not veto the vote of his men at Gnaddenhutten. It was said that his ledership and bravery saved Crawford's retreating army from destruction by the Indians. David had friends and enemies. The 'Washington Rporter' at his death wrote: -------- *David's death date has been variously reported, February 27 appears most authoritative, as it is given in two Draper Manuscripts, 2S39 by his daughter Jane, and 19S264 from 'Cramer's Magazine Almanac' (Pittsburgh). The issue of the 'Washington Reporter' announcing his death has been lost, but a column of local history dated July 17, 1908, quoted from the original newspaper account apparently published March 26, 1809, and that date has sometimes been interpreted as the date of his death. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Page 27 COL.DAVID continued He was a valuable and invincible soldier. This man was the means of preventing much savage butchery in the western country in early times. He served during the Indian wars as a brave soldier and intrepid officer. James L. Bowman, 1794-1857, of Brownsville, Pennsyl- vania, Washington College class of 1813, wrote on February 26, 1845 (Draper 11E6): Col. David Williamson resided near West Middletown, Washington Co., PA. He died in the county jail of that county. I attended his funeral as a tribute of respect to the remains of one, who in life, although unfortu- nate, had shown a disposition to do service for his country. During my sojourn at school at that place about 30 years ago, I often saw Col. Williamson standing at the prison. He was in person a spare man about 6 feet high and even in his advanced age, as straight as a ramrod, with a fine glossy penetrating eye. Indebted- ness was the cause of his imprisonment. William McCluney ( a nephew of James Marshel) wrote in 1845 of David: He was a good humane, simple-minded, uneducated man without any ability civil or military. He was a cautious, brave Indian fighter, incapable of commanding a body of men. He told me he regretted he could not prevent the Gnaddenhutten massacre. [He added in 1850:] He died in jail through obstinacy in not paying the amount of fees in a suit brought for the recovery of the price of a gold watch he bought, but had to be sued for payment. He lived in a jail a number of years. John Marshel (son of James), Washington, Pennslyvania, wrote on March 9, 1860 (Draper 7E51): Col. David williamson died in the jail of this county about 1805[sic], confined for debt. He had the reputation of a brave and successful Indian warrior and this whole region of the country was under great obligation to him, but the last act [at Gnaddenhutten] of his military life seems to have obliterated all sympathy for his previous services. John Rose, aide-de-camp of General Irvine, who was with David Williamson on the 1782 Sandusky expedition, wrote ('Pennsylvania Magazine' 18, 293): Williamson is as brave as Caesar and active; but divested of conduct. Fond of thrusting himself into ---------------------------------------------------------------- Page 28 COL. DAVID continued danger, he leaves everything else to chance. He has some obscure notions of military matters, suggested to him by mere Genius; but is quite ignorant how to dispose of men, or how to fight them to advantage. He knows too well how high he is in the opinion of the people in general, and among them he takes upon himself the airs of a man of consequence. However, he is open to advice and instructions. His oratory is suited to the tastes of the people, his countrymen, and their bigoted notions stand by him in lieu of arguements. It is a pity but he had military opportunities of instruction, as his natural talents are not despicable, and his youthly heat might prove the bane of the country. Draper's notes (2S34) about 1845, after interviewing David's daughter, Jane McNulty, reported: John Williamson, the father of Col. David Williamson the eldest son - next Eleazer, then John - three girls probably older. David was born near Carlisle (in 1752- if ten years older than his wife, who was born in 1762 and died in 1831 - Mary Urie). David left home to go west and to induce him to go and put in a crop he should have a rifle and tomahawk, but when he got ready to start with some company, his father had failed to procure them; and young Williamson, nothing daunted, bid them adieu and started; and on the way borrowed his companion's gun a part of the time and then got a sufficiency of fur by the time they had reached Pitts- burgh to buy him a gun, tomahawk and ammunition and then pushed on to Buffalo Creek and made settlement. He subsequently returned to Carlisle and bought [sic] his father's family and uncle's family, Joseph William- son - about 12 miles from the Ohio. There [he] had a station, which was never attacked, but often-times alarmed and would prepare, the women running bullets. Colonel Williamson's oldest son (now about 60) resides near Tiffin, Ohio - John Williamson - Samuel Williamson resides Elizabethtown, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania - David rambling about. [Robert must have been dead]. Draper's notes (2S184) taken after an interview with Lydia Boggs Shepherd Cruger, whose father married the widow Mary Williamson Barr, reported: Colonel David Williamson, born in 1753 [sic]. He had 2 sisters older. Mrs. Barr, afterwards Mrs. Captain John Boggs, the eldest, born in 1749 [sic]. Robert Barr was killed in 1778. [In] 1785 Mrs. Barr arried Boggs Williamson's parents as early as 1773 moved to Buffalo. -----------------------------------------------------