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Archiver > FRENCH-INDIAN > 2000-01 > 0949244280


From: Rebecca Xavier <>
Subject: more Post-Prisoner stories
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2000 06:58:00 -0800 (PST)


Concerning information about captives being returned
to Fort Pitt and their lives after

One of the fictional accounts that probably reflects
the conflicts captives experienced is Conrad Richter's
A LIGHT IN THE FOREST. It seems as if Indian captives
often became very attached to their Indian families,
didn't want to return,and had serious difficulties
readjusting. There is a Walt Disney version of this
book. Probably the history is questionable in the
movie version, but it is quite exciting. I remember a
scene where Bouquet and his men are marching into the
Ohio wilderness and the bagpipes are playing as they
march along.

My ancestor Mary Campbell was captured during the
French and Indian War at Penn's Creek, PA and was
returned in 1764 or 65(possible calendar change during
these years) There are about 4 different versions of
where she was returned and they are in writing.
Perhaps these were general places where captives were
returned or reunited with families.
>From the AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY(OHIO) HISTORY
"The Indians kept their promises and brought in 81 men
and 125 women and children. The captives were release
at the junctions of Tuscarawas and White Woman's River
now known as the Walhonding near the present town of
Coshocton(OH).
Mary Campbell's name appears in "list of persons going
to Fort Pitt under the command of Capt Lewis, Nov 15,
1765" in BOUQUET PAPERS located in the Library of
Congress.
Some versions say at Chillicothe or
Newcomerstown(Ohio)
some say on the banks of the Muskingum(Ohio) or Fort
Carlyle(PA)
and from a newspaper THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETE I was
very kindly sent this information
Mary Campbell, then in her 10th year, red haired, and
much freckled. Her Father hearing that she is now at
Albany, and being unable to go so far, begs that she
may, by all good People, be helped on her way to him
as he and her aged mother, are very desirous of seeing
her.

I have bits and pieces of my ancestors life after her
return. She married and had a family. There is a
strong family tradition that she was well treated by
her Indian family and that there was saddness on both
sides when she was returned.

During her captivity she stayed in the household or
tribe or was adopted by Chief NETWATWEES known also as
NEWCOMER. I am very interested in finding out more
about Netwatwees or son Captain Killbuck. He was an
important chief at the time and later participated in
a treaty at Fort Pitt that made the Delaware Indians
the only tribe that promised to actively side with the
Americans during the Revolutionary War. I have found
references to him in a book entitles HISTORY OF THE
DELAWARE INDIANS and in the book THIRTY THOUSAND MILES
WITH JOHN HECKEWELDERt(Some Delaware Indians at this
time had close ties with the Moravians Missionaries.

I would be be very grateful for any more information
about Netwatwees.

Rebecca Xavier


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