Ruddlesforters,

 

This interesting story was sent to me by Pamela Rooney a Coil researcher. There were four Coils listed in the 1783 Indian captives list; Martin, Barbary, Cristin and Barbury. Martin may have been Valentine "Felty" Coils father. Felty had a grandfather of the same name who had a son named Martin. The Draper papers mention a Kyles family being at Ruddell's. This is a spelling that has been seen in other records for the Coil family. A brother of Martin Coil, Jacob, settled in Bourbon county and some of his descendants married into the Spears and Lail families.Also Martin Tofflemire's daughter (who?) was married to a "Mr. James Coyles," I'm not sure if there is a connection. Jim Sellars

 

Pam wrote:

 

VALENTINE (FELTY) COIL was captured at Ruddles Station, in Bourbon Co., KY, June 22, 1780. It is said that he was about 2 years of age at the time. However, his date of death is recorded as 28 Nov 1853, and that he was 85years old at the time. This makes him born 1768, therefore, when he was captured in 1780 by Indians, he was actually 12 years of age which makes it more understanding that he was able to retain knowledge of his family and the desire to return home to them someday.

 

In the "History of Fayette county, Ohio" (by Frank M. Allen, editor, Indianapolis, IN., 1914) on page 284, Felty (Valentine) Coil was noted as one of the earlier settlers of the Washington Court House neighborhood of Fayette County, Ohio. The following is his story as it appeared:

 

"During the early Indian wars ( about mid-1780's ) when he was about two years of age (should read 12 years of age), he and his sister (Polly b. ca.1762VA-d. 28 Nov 1857OH?), were taken captive at RUDDLE'S STATION (VA-KY?) by the Indians and Canadians under Colonel Byrd. They were carried across the Ohio at Cincinnati to Niagara Falls, thence to Canada where he was adopted by a squaw who had lost a son. He lived with her until his marriage to an Indian.

 

"It is said that the notorious Simon Girty, who had been among his captors, met Felty at a public house in Canada and after inviting him to drink, and when under the influence of "fire water, Felty bantered Girty for a fight. Girty refused but grew very talkative, revealing the whereabouts of his friends. On the strength of The Girty information, Coil returned to Kentucky where he found an uncle, who went with him to Virginia (Pendleton Co.) and found his mother who had married a man named HENDRICKS.

 

"When she saw her long lost son, she did not recognize him until by means of a mark he was made known. At the end of his visit, Felty returned to his wife and children in Canada.

 

"After his wife's death, he left Canada, joining his white brothers in Fayette Co., Ohio. In Canada, Valentine had learned the art of whisky making, making it for the English Fur Trading Company. He followed this trade here for a time, setting up a distellery near Washington C. H. He eventually abandoned the whisky business and moved into town."