stories2

to go back HOME

to go back to the first story page

"The Fate of John McIntire and Wife" from Mound Builders, Indians and Pioneers by William B. Price

"As John McIntire and his wife were returning home from a visit to a neighbor in May 1791, they passed through the yard of Uriah Ashcraft.* Soon afterward Mr. Ashcraft was startled by the growling of one of his dogs, and hastening to the door, he espied an Indian. Closing the door, he ascended the stairs and endeavored to shoot the savage from a window, but his gun snapped. Observing other Indians close at hand he shouted for help, and they retreated. Three of McIntire's brothers coming up, Ashcraft explained the situation and the four started off in pursuit. About a mile from the house, they found the body of John McIntire, who had been killed and scalped. Concluding that
Mrs. McIntire (whom they knew to be with him) was taken prisoner, they sent to Clarksburg for assistance to go to her rescue. A company of eleven men started shortly afterwards, in pursuit of the Indians. Led by Colonels George Jackson and John Haymond, who traced them as far as Middle Island Creek. Here six men, William Haymond, George Jackson, Benjamin Robinson, N. Carpenter, John Haymond, and John Halbert**, were chosen to go ahead of the horses and follow the trail. They soon came upon the savages and attacked them, mortally wounding one of them. After a short encounter the Indians fled, leaving their plunder behind them and further pursuit was abandoned. Among the articles which they left was the scalp of Mrs. McIntire, whose body was afterwards found near that of her husband."

* Uriah Ashcraft was the husband of John McIntire's sister, Sarah.
** Please note that John Halbert was probably John HARBERT.

The Story of the McIntires

John and Rachel McIntire were my great-great-great-great grandparents. Their youngest child, Zadok, married Keziah Drummond; their daughter Dorothy Jane married John Titchenal; their daughter Caroline married Lewis Mines.

Excerpt from �Ashcraft Family Represents Forbears of Various Lines Now Residents of Harrison, Wetzel, Taylor and Other Counties� in Harrison County Genealogical Society newsletter, Volume 8, issue 4, 1994

     An interesting legend is told about the miraculous escape from massacre of the children of John McIntire, a brother of Mrs. Uriah Ashcraft, in May 1801* when both McIntire and his wife were slain by Indians. As the latter were coming down Nutter run to the Bingamon creek valley, they passed the McIntire house and heard such a racket that they thought it full of people and passed on without making an attack. The parents were away from home and the children had taken a pet bear into the house and were romping with it, thus creating the noise which misled the savages. The bear doubtless saved their lives.

Prowling Indian
     On their way home that day, Mr. and Mrs. McIntire crossed the Ashcraft yard and a short time thereafter Uriah Ashcraft was startled by the sudden growling and warning attitude of his dogs. Stepping quickly to a door, he saw an Indian on the outside with a gun drawn. Ashcraft hastily closed and fastened the door and ran upstairs the better to fire at the intruder. Snapping his gun several times and discovering other Indians in the yard, he loudly shouted to apprise his neighbors he was in danger.
     Frightened, the Indians retreated. Three brothers of John McIntire came to Ashcraft�s relief and he joined them in an attempt to trail the Indians. A mile away they discovered the body of John McIntire tomahawked, stripped and scalped. Concluding Mrs. McIntire had been taken prisoner, they hurriedly sent an alarm to Clarksburg, and a company of men led by John Haymond and George Jackson hastened to the scene and started to pursue the Indians.
Below the three forks of Middle island creek, now in Doddridge county, before they were aware of proximity to the savages, they were fired upon by the latter, and two of the party narrowly escaped injury or death. A ball passed through a handkerchief on Haymond�s head, and another through one of Jackson�s shirtsleeves. Promptly returning fire, the white men rushed forward, but the Indians had retreated, abandoning some of their plunder, among which was the scalp of Mrs. McIntire. Her body was later found a short distance from the spot where he husband had been slain.

* I have never seen this date used before in conjunction with the McIntire story. I have seen several records which state that it happened in 1791.

According to Harrison County Heritage book:

"known children of John and Rachel (Rose) McIntire (who were killed by Indians): Charles married Lucinda Nay; Elizabeth married Charles Nutter; Joseph married Mary "Molly" Glover; Isaac, who died young; Zadoc married Keziah Drummond."