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Facts and Events
Jacob Leffler was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
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Records in Augusta County, VA
From Chalkley's:
- Vol. 2 - Marriage Bond: 1791--March 7, John McMillen and Polly Lefter, daughter of Jacob Lefter (consent); witnesses, Wm. Brine, John Hale; surety, Joseph Lefter.
- Vol. 2 - Insolvents and Delinquents, 1800: Jno. Allison (L. Meadow), removed over the mountain; Jacob Akhart, over the mountain; Bryan Richart, over the mountain; Wm. Blair, Jr., to Redstone; Frederick Crone, to French Broad; Lawrence Croan, to French Broad; George Croan, to French Broad; Jno. Gardiner, to backwoods; Adam Louks, deceased; Michael Lindsay, to Shenandoah; James Miller, to Shenandoah; Wm. Miller, to Shenandoah; John McKee, to Shenandoah; Michael McMullen, to Amherst; George Poff, to French Broad; Peter Poff, to French Broad; Samuel Steele, to Kentucky; Michael Campbell, to Kentucky; Michael Clinefelter, dead; Jno. Culp, over the mountain; Ralph Duddleson, to Chillacothy; Jno. French; James Garner, over the mountain; Jacob Lefler, to the backwoods; David Lefler, to the backwoods; Christian Michael, to French Broad; Fredrick Michael, to French Broad; Jacob Michael, to French Broad; Peter Powlas, to the backwoods; Jno. Rinsberger, to Tennessee; Sam'l Sumerville, to Kinnaway; Jno. Shilling, to Round Oak; Jno. Courtney, to Richmond.
Notes
Is he connected to the KY or Rice's Fort, Pennsylvania Loeffler's?
References
- Peyton, John Lewis. History of Augusta County, Virginia. (Staunton, Virginia: Samuel M. Yost and Son, 1882)
197.
ATTACK ON FORT RICE.
Previous to the Indian attack on Fort Rice, in September, 1782, several of the men belonging to it had gone to Hagerstown to exchange peltry and furs for salt and ammunition. A few days before attacking Fort Rice, the Indians made their last attack on Fort Henry, and being defeated, they held a council, and decided that two hundred warriors should return home and one hundred picked men make a dash into the country and strike a heavy blow somewhere before their return. It was their determination to take a fort and massacre all its people, in revenge for their defeat at Fort Henry. Two white men, who had been long prisoners among the Indians, deserted, fled to Fort Rice, and gave notice of the Indian plan. They only reached the fort thirty minutes before the hostile savages themselves. On receiving the news, the people of the fort prepared for defence. The Indians soon surrounded the fort, commenced firing, and ran from all directions towards the fort, which they hoped to take by assault, rending the air with their horrid war-whoops. There were only six men in the fort, but they were fearless, and the best of marksmen. They fired with deliberate aim on the enemy, brought down six at the first fire, scattering the assaulting party, which broke, every Indian hiding behind a tree, log or stump. The firing was kept up for four hours. In the intervals of the firing, the savages called out to the people in the fort: "Give up, give up; too many Indian; Indian too big; no kill you." They were answered by the brave whites: "Come on, you cowards; we are ready for you; show your yellow hides, and we'll make holes in them for you." During the evening the Indians amused themselves, out of musket range, shooting horses, cattle, pigs and sheep, until the ground was strewed with dead bodies. About 10 o'clock at night they fired a barn, about thirty yards from the fort. It was large, and full of grain and hay. The flame was frightful, and at first the fort seemed in danger, but as the night was calm, it was saved. The light of the burning barn prevented the near approach of the savages, which prevented their burning the dwellings. After the barn was set on fire, the Indians collected on the side of the fort opposite the barn, so as to have the advantage of the light, and kept up a pretty constant fire, which was as steadily answered by that of the fort, until about two o'clock, when the Indians left the place and made a hasty retreat.
Thus was this little place defended by a Spartan band of six men against one hundred chosen warriors, exasperated to madness by their failure at Wheeling fort. Their names shall be inscribed in the list of heroes of our early times. They were Jacob Miller, George Lefler, Peter Fullenweider, Daniel Rice, George Felebaum and Jacob Lefler, jun. George Felebaum was shot in the forehead, through a port-hole, at the second fire of the Indians, and instantly expired, so that in reality the defense of this place was made by only five men.
The loss of the Indians was four, three of whom were killed at the first fire from the fort, and the other was killed about sundown. There can be no doubt but that a number more were killed and wounded in the engagement, but were concealed or carried off.
A large division of these Indians, on their retreat, passed within a little distance of another fort. In following their trail, a few days afterwards, a large poultice of chewed sassafras leaves was found. This is the dressing which the Indians usually apply to recent gunshot wounds. The poultice, having become too old and dry, was removed and replaced with a new one.
Examples of personal bravery and hair-breadth escapes are always acceptable to readers of history. An instance of both of these happened during the attack on this fort, which may be worth recording.
Abraham Rice, one of the principal men belonging to the fort of that name, on hearing the report of the deserters from the Indians, mounted a very strong, active mare and rode in all haste to another fort, about three and a-half miles distant from his own, for further news, if any could be had, concerning the presence of a body of Indians in the neighborhood. Just as he reached the place, he heard the report of the guns at his own fort. He instantly returned, as fast as possible, until he arrived within sight of the fort. Finding that it still held out, he determined to reach it and assist in its defense, or perish in the attempt. In doing, this, he had to cross the creek, the fort being some distance from it on the opposite bank. He saw no Indians until his mare sprang down the bank of the creek, at which instant about fourteen of them jumped up from among the weeds and bushes and discharged their guns at him. One bullet wounded him in the fleshy part of the right arm above the elbow. By this time several more of the Indians came up and shot at him. A second ball wounded him in the thigh, a little above the knee, but without breaking the bone, and the ball passed transversely through the neck of the mare. She, however, sprang up the bank of the creek, fell to her knees, and stumbled along about a rod before she recovered. During this time several Indians came running up to tomahawk him. Yet he made his escape, after having about thirty shots fired at him from a short distance. After riding about four miles he reached Lamb's fort, much exhausted with the loss of blood. After getting his wounds dressed and resting awhile, he sat off" late in the evening with twelve men, determined, if possible, to reach the fort under cover of the night. When they got within about two hundred yards of it, they halted. The firing still continued; ten of the men, thinking the enterprise too hazardous, refused to go any further, and retreated. Rice and two other men crept silently along towards the fort, but had not proceeded far before they came close upon an Indian in concealment. He gave the alarm yell, which was instantly passed round the lines with the utmost regularity. This caused the savages to make their last effort to take the place, and make their retreat under cover of the night. Rice and his companions returned in safety to Lamb's fort. About 10 o'clock next day, sixty white men collected at Rice's fort for its relief. They pursued the savages, who kept in a body for two miles. The Indians then dispersed in small parties, and the pursuit was given up. A small division of the Indians had not proceeded far after their separation when they discovered four men coming from a neighboring fort. The savages hid near the path and shot two, and the others fled. One of them made good his escape ; the other was overtaken by a savage. The white turned and snapped his gun at the red skin. The Indian threw his tomahawk at the white's head, but missed him. They then closed, and during the fight the Indian was killed.
- ↑ ABSTRACTS OF WILLS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, REGISTERED AT LITTLE WASHINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA. [1], in Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, 1855-1947)
6:138.
Jacob Lefflor, Leffler or Lesslor of Donegal Township, Washington County, no date, proved March 30, 1784;
wife Elizabeth (money in hand of Jacob Wolf, Washington County, Maryland);
children, Isaac (youngest son, land purchased of Jeremiah Dunn), Jacob (oldest son), Margaret, Mary, Elizabeth and Catherine;
executors, Abraham Rice, Christopher Winter, Henry Fullenwider, Phillip Hewet and Peter Hewet;
witnesses, Frederick Lamb and Jacob Rice.
1, p. 31.
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