Benjamin Springer

Beware: further lineage tied to the Springer line is subject to the Springer Hoax: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springer_Hoax

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Captured by Indians from The Pennsylvania Gazette, September 9, 1756 "We hear from New Jersey, that on Sunday Night, the 29th last past, 3 Men arrived at Elizabeth Town in a poor, weak, and starving Condition, to wit, Thomas Sherby, Benjamin Springer , and John Denite, who had been Prisoners among the Indians, and were almost naked, having only old Indian Blankets about them to cover their Nakedness. They made their escape from the Indians at a Place called Jenango or Venango, an Indian Town, situate near the Head of Sasquehannah, and were 32 Days in the Woods, during which Time they suffered great Hardships, for want of food, and were obliged to eat Rattlesnakes, Black snakes, Frogs, and such Vermin; and sometimes they could find nothing to eat for Days together. The first Settlements they made, where they found any Inhabitants, was the upper Fort, upon Delaware River, in New Jersey, called ColeFort; and from thence they were sent under a Guard to Elizabeth Town, for fear the White People should annoy them, they looking more like Indians then Christians, being very swarthy, and their Hair cut by the Savages after the Indian fashion, and dressed only in Indian Blankets. Springer says, that he was taken Prisoner the 22d Day of May last, when being at Work at one Anthony Swartwout, in Sussex County, New Jersey, about ten o'Clock in the Morning two Indians attacked the House, and shot Swartwout['s] Wife dead upon the spot. They then seized Swartwout and Springer , and three of the Indians drove Springer away with a Negroe, who they had taken the Night before at one Capt. Hunt['s] in said County, making them run all the Way, until they came to the River Delaware, which they crossed on a Raft of Rails, about 8 Miles above Col. Van Campen. When they were got about a Mile and a Half into Pennsylvania, they waited in the Bushes for the two Indians who were left behind with Swartwout and his Children; and in about an Hour and a Half the said Indians came to them with only two of Swartwout['s] Children, A Girl about 12 Years old, and a Boy about 9. These Children told Springer , that the Indians had killed three of the Children at the House, and had killed and scaled their father about seven Miles from the House, near a Brook, where they likewise killed their little sister, and threw her into the Brook. The Indians then carried Springer , Swartwout['s] two Children, and the Negroe, to the Indian Towns, where they were dispersed about. Hunt [sic., i.e., the?] Negroe told Springer , That young Hunt, Brother to Capt. Hunt, who was also taken Prisoner with him, was killed by the Indians in endeavouring to make his escape from them.

"This is the first Intelligence we have had of Swartwourt and his Children, and of young Hunt and the Negroe, since they were missing in May last, when Captain Hunt['s] House was burnt to the Ground. Sherby says, he was made Prisoner at Juniata, in Pennsylvania, by six Indians at the House of Daniel Williams in December last, when Williams himself was killed, and Sherby and Williams['s] Wife carried into Captivity. Denite was taken Prisoner in the back Parts of Maryland by 7 Indians, in May last, as he and another were splitting Rails, who were both carried into Captivity. They were all three taken care of at Elizabeth Town, and a Collection was made for them to cloath them, and to enable them to travel to their several Places of Abode."

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• Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Jul 13 2023, 1:02:22 UTC