The Morrow Family

From: Duke1704@aol.com

Dear Bob & RUDDLESFORT GANG,

My interest in early Kentucky history is no mystery. As a small boy, I grew up hearing stories from my grandfather and other family relatives of the days when Kentucky was called " The Dark & Bloody Ground ".

I was born and have lived in Kentucky my whole life, as have all my direct ancestors before me. My 4th great-grandfather, James Morrow left Augusta County, Virginia in 1775 for Kentucky. He first settled in the area of Lexington and helped build the blockhouse there. He served in defense of frontier with the Militia on several occasions. As well as the 1882 campaign, up into Ohio with General George Rogers Clark.

Besides my 4th great-grandfather, James Morrow who married Elizabeth Frame, there were the following Morrows in early Kentucky at the same time.

William Morrow who was at Bowman's Station in 1779.

James Morrow that married Margaret Mahan and was at Martin's Station in 1780.

Thomas Morrow that married Ann Zantzinger, who was in Paris, Ky. in 1792.

Robert Morrow that married Sarah Sparks and who was the blacksmith of early Paris, Ky.

William Morrow that married Sarah Patten in 1791 and was the Sheriff of Bourbon County, Ky.

I'm currently researching all of the above Morrows and their families. As of this time, nobody has ever been able to connect any of them to one another. It is my sincere hope to correct this someday, soon.

The thought of one's relatives running around the hills of Kentucky, with the likes of Daniel Boone, Simon Kenton, Billy Bush and the rest of frontiersmen, has always made me what to know more about my family's history.

Bill Morrow

Falls of the Ohio

MORROW-KY-Listowner

"The Morrow's of Early Kentucky"

http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/m/o/r/William-E-Morrow/

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Draper Manuscript Collection 8CC23
From Gov. Jere. Morrow: July 22d 43
Taking of Riddles Station 1780

Col. Bird and his Indian Allies appeared before the station - demanded a surrender saying they had cannon. Riddle and those with him disbelieving it - Would not listen to any such proposition. The fire opened upon the little fortress - "the pickets were cut down like corn stalks" said Governor Morrow. Seeing the folly of attempting to maintain so unequal a contest, when convinced so effectually of the presence of cannon - raised the white flag, and entered into written terms of capitulation with Bird. The women and children were to be protected and taken to the nearest station and there safely delivered. The men were to be prisoners, with the privilege of taking each his gun, and a pack of such articles as they pleased, and this unexamined - and the fort then delivered up to Bird and the Indians. These were the terms: The Indians entered the fort and comenced a terrible slaughter - Governor Morrow thinks some 20 were tomahawked in cold blood - the women and children, instead of being taken to the neighboring station agreed upon, were marched off as prisoners. Riddle escaped the slaughter - went and remonstrated with Bird, who expressed and seemed to feel regret that he had no control over the Indians. Hurried down Licking, crossed the Ohio, and then feeling safe, camped up Mill Creek a short distance, hunted and rested themselves, and returned to their towns at leisure. While camped on Mill Creek, Mrs. Riddle received in some way a severe cut across her forehead from an Indian's knife - sent her little son with her, then about 8 years old, to get some ginson root for her - and had not proceed far when some Indian, finding out his errand whipped him for it. He was then out of sight of his mother - and very soon hearing the report of a rifle near where he left her, and seeing no more, he painfully suspected that his dear mother was killed - for they had already tomahawked such of the prisoners as lagged by the way before crossing the Ohio. Young as he was, the little lad knew something of the Indians reared as had been chiefly among them, and in constant fear and dread of them. He was taken to Piqua on the Big Miami - and there had his ears stilled around the run, washed from head to foot, and formerly adopted into the nation. The last of the ceremony was pass through a double row of Indians, squaws and children - not to run the gaunlet - when a squaw took him by the arm and led him out of the line. It was soon explained to him, that she was a widow and had a boy about his own age, and proposed becoming his mother. Young Riddle said he wanted to go and live with his own mother if she were living. The squaw then suggested to him, how he would like to live with her if his natural mother were not alive. Still he held off giving consent. Then she changed the mode of inquiry, and asked if he wouldn't like to live with her as well as with any of the squaws he saw there. Yes, was the reply, she took him home, treated him kindly, grew up and hunted - the then boy, her own son, dying in the mean time - with the meat he furnished, and the little field of corn they made, supplied their wants. He grew to manhood, and became contented; and when the armies of the white subsequently invaded the Indian country he felt, concientiously felt the wrong and inquiry - sided very naturally with the Indians in opposing the whites. Was interpreter for the Shawnees at Waynes Treaty - there for the first time learned that his mother was living - proposed to his Indian mother to go to Kentucky and live with his own mother - his Indian mother didn't like the idea - then, having an affection for her, he proposed taking her along with him and living with him among the whites. This she declined - consented that she should go and see his mother - knowing how much more his natural mother must feel for him, when his adopted one could scarcely hear to part with him sufficiently long for even that. He went, spent several weeks there, began to think after all the white lived best - and moreover, he had always made up his mind not to mary among the Indians, and now thought pleasant it would be to get himself a white wife and settle down. Returned to the Shawnees country - told his Indian mother of his determination - assisted in removing her to the westward to some friends, she died on the way. Riddle returned to Kentucky somewhere on Licking, was frequently engaged as interpreter by government during the war of 1812, in councils with the Shawnee Indians, all of whom save, 30 under Tecumseh's influence, sided with the United Sates. Was selected to a head a party of them taken into service. Subsequently became a "new light" preacher - and is probably yet living in Kentucky - His father was taken to Detroit - there complained of the breaking of the capitulation - Bird was tried, but acquitted on the ground that he could not control the Indians. What a evement is that to engage such allies! - N.B. These facts were communicated to Governor Morrow by Riddle himself, when Gov. Morrow with governors Meigs and Wirthinton held a council to disuade the Indians from taking part in the war.