Solomon Litton
Solomon LITTON - He deposed in court that he was taken prisoner at Martin's Station in June 1780. Some of the other people listed below may have been captives also.
"Bourbon County Court Records: Suit-Solomon Litton vs. Thos McClenachen and Thos. Strother - 1795 (Box 52) - Francis Berry deposith on May 1779 he and a number of others were living at Isaac Ruddle's Station and he went out from thence with John Haggin, Richard Davis and Complt. Soloman Litton to mark etc. - Letton removed his family to this country fall of 1779 and carried them first to Ruddle's Station and afterward removed to Martin's Station as it was nearer his improvement and Letton was taken prisoner at Martin's June 1780, deposition taken at home of George Nicholas in Mercer Co.: statement by Soloman Litton that he was taken prisoner 26 June 1780 and remained prisoner until 1784. deposition of Benjamin Cooper taken at home of Jno. Harvie in Madison Co., Nov 29, 1797, says he was with Soloman Litton and party that set out from Ruddles May 1779." (Scott's Papers, Kentucky Court and Other Records, compiled by Hattie Marshall Scott, 1953, page 7-8)
From James Sellars:
Ruddles forters,
I found these two interesting items on Soloman Litton on the Internet. The first is a letter written by Litton in March of 1781. It gives yet another version of the capture. The other is a piece written by Emory L. Hamilton who also had written a story on John Duncan. I believe this is on Bob Frances' site. This second story has more to do with an earlier capture, but since he was a captive at Ruddles and Martins, I've included it. Enjoy.
Jim
Soloman Litton
The following account of Solomon Litton Sr was transcribed from his original letter. The format, and spelling (remarkable for the time) is just as Solomon wrote it...
To my Kinsmen at ye Fort Elk Garden in ye Washington County Virginia. John Litton, Father & James McLaughlin, Brother in Law.
Explaining my long absence of communicay due to being taken from the tilling of my field, by several breeds of savages on ye 26 June 1780 as a captive of the Shawnee's commanded by Brit. Gen. Harry Bird, under His Majesty out of ye Canada. My family all were marched a foot, 300 miles to ye Fort Detroit where I was sold to a savage called Big Fish as a slave, is my reason.
I have been seperated from my family not knowing whence they were being held. I am fearful of their demise? The urgency of this dispatch, if delivered, to have you take power of attorney to save and secure my property together with that of Captain John Duncan, also a prisoner of the enemy in ye Canada, from sezure by ye Commonwealth of Virginia for taxes.
I had in ye spring marked out 400 acres joing Fran Berry on ye Cooper's Creek near ye Fort Martin. I am now fearful of sustaining it due to my absence. Present this dispatch to ye Attorney at Law at Abington or Blaksfort and take what ever steps needed to secure our Estates there.
Ruddles and Martins forts were cannoned balled and after surrender most inhabitants were massacred. Brains of infants on trees, some crushed under cart wheels. Ye older inhabited were gutted and drawn to the pleasure of ye spectators. Ye lassies were raped and scalped by ye savages. Fort burned and stock and fowl slautered. A horrible massacre not yet equaled in this country.
On ye 27th June we marched down ye Licking 70 miles to ye big Miani (down ye Ohio) thence, up ye Miami to ye head of, thnnce over land 18 miles to ye Glaise [Auglaize] thence down it ye Lake Erie, put aboard ye boat Goge, floated across to ye River Detroit thence put aground at ye Fort Detroit. At which place I was taken to ye Shawnee Town, twenty miles distant. Of the 300 marchers taken 90 were count of reaching Fort Detroit. Me thinks Gen. Geo. Clark will be pursuit and liberate us?
Please respond by same messenger to Major DePayster at ye Fort Detroit, a friend of the captives.
[Solomon was released 1784. He was granted land in Russell Co VA for serving in the Militia. He died in Russell Co Feb 24 1844 at age 93. A descendant chart which includes Solomon is online, email submitter of this letter (Daryl Litton - for details)
Captain John Dunkin, Solomon Litton and His Wife
Taken Out of Elk Garden by the Indians
By Emory L. Hamilton
From an unpublished manuscript, Indian Atrocities Along the Clinch, Powell and Holston Rivers, pages 63-65.
Solomon Litton, who was a brother of Burton Litton killed at Glade Hollow Fort, his wife Martha Sharpe Litton and Captain John Dunkin were taken from Elk Garden by the Indians, transported to Canada (Detroit), where they were held until the end of the Revolutionary War. The details of how they were captured and whether there were other people taken at the same time the records do not show. The date that Solomon Litton settled in Elk Garden is unknown, but it must have been quite early. He served under Captain Daniel Smith as a militia soldier from August 29 to November 6, 1774, guarding the Glade Hollow Fort. (1) The Washington Co., VA, Court recommended him for an Ensign of the militia for that county February 25, 1777, and for a Lieutenant on August 19, 1778. The earliest court record found pertaining to him is in Botetourt Co., VA, where he sells personal property to William Carvin on March 5, 1770. (2) It may have been about this date that he left the Tinkers Creek section of Botetourt, where he supposedly lived, before he came to the Elk Garden section.
At a court held for Washington Co., VA, March 20, 1781, this interesting order was recorded: "On motion of James Litton (3) and John Laughlin (4) and by consent of the court they are appointed Guardians of the estates of Captain John Dunkin and Solomon Litton, prisoners of the enemy in Canada, and to use all legal methods for saving and securing the said estates, whereupon they together with William Davison and John Vance entered into and acknowledged their bonds for eight thousand pounds for the faithful performance of the same."
R. M. Addington, History of Scott County, Virginia, page 391, says:
In 1778 while the Revolutionary War was raging and the American patriots were being assailed by the British soldiers on the one hand and the Indians on the other. Litton, his wife, and two daughters were captured by the Indians and carried to Quebec, at which place they were held until the close of the war, when they were exchanged. Elizabeth Litton, one of the captured girls, became the wife of Joseph Shoemaker, both of whom died in Lafayette County, Missouri.
In the above paragraph, Mr. Addington had been misinformed on the daughters of Solomon Litton being captured, as will be shown by the birth dates listed below, taken from the family Bible of Solomon Litton, which in 1947 was in the possession of Miss Pauline Pyle, of Lebanon, Russell Co., VA.
Solomon Litton was born December 22, 1751. Died 1844. On May 24, 1774 he married Martha Dunkin, sister of Captain John Dunkin, who was born September 27, 1756. Their children were: John, born November 11, 1775; Thomas,born September 27, 1777; Burton, born April 2, 1780; Solomon, Jr., born August 28, 1783; Elizabeth, born March 1, 1785; Hiram, born March 29, 1787; James, born August 18, 1789; Mary, born April 21, 1792; Alexander, born November 8, 1795; Caleb, born March 2, 1797; and Jenny, born February 20, 1801.
In the 1850 census of Russell Co., VA, Solomon Litton, Jr. is shown as having been born in Detroit, in 1783, while his parents were being held by the British, but some members of the family deny this saying the church records at Elk Garden show him as having been born at "Litton Hill" in Elk Garden, upon which the church stands. (5) If Solomon Litton was captured in 1778, as Mr. Addington states, then, if any children were taken it could only have been the sons, John and Thomas. Also if he remained a prisoner of the British until Solomon, Jr., was born in 1783, then certainly Burton, who was born in 1780 must have also been born in Detroit, also.
Captain John Dunkin, at the time of the capture, also lived in the Elk Garden section of Russell Co., VA. He served at the Glade Hollow Fort from the 29th of August to the 6th of November, 1774, as a Sergeant, (6) under Ensign Henley Moore. He was appointed a Captain of Militia by the Washington Co., VA, court no February 26, 1777. In this year he led a company of militia into Powell Valley to guard the settlers in bringing in their personal property after the valley had been evacuated because of Indian depredations. Dunkin eventually moved out of the Elk Garden section to Spring Creek, just outside Abingdon, VA, where he died in 1817. (7)
John Dunkin had two daughters named Sally and Peggy who married brothers of the name Laughlin. Since both the Littons and Duncans had married into the Laughlin family there was close relationships between the three families. Old James Laughlin of Elk Garden had daughters, Ann Dunkin and Polly Porter.
John Dunkin was appointed to the Washington Co., VA, court July 23, 1777, took the oath of office on November 25, 1777, and served on the bench until November 18, 1778. The last reference I find pertaining to him is on April 21, 1779, when William pitman was recommended for a Lieutenant of militia in John Dunkin's company. It may be that Pitman was appointed to the company after Dunkin had been captured by the Indians, as it appears Duncan and Litton were captured in 1778, although I have not found a definite date for their capture.
ENDNOTES
Contact: Rhonda Robertson at: rsr@mounet.com
"Certificate Book of the Virginia Land Commission, 1779-1780," compiled by S. Emmett Lucas, Jr. (Southern Historical Press, Easly, South Carolina), p. 140: January 15, 1780: (Cert issd for 400 fees &c pd D. D.) Solomon Letten this day claimed a preemption of 400 Acres of land at the State price in the district of Kentucky lying on the Middle fork of Coopers run above F. Berrys claim to lands by making an Actual settlem't in the Month of March 1779 Satisfactory proof being made to the Court they are of Opinion that the s'd Letten has a right to a preemption of 400 Acres of land to include the above location & that a Cert issue Accordingly.