Gabriel Maupin

From The Story of Marie and Gabriel Maupin, Pg. 423 (429/476)

https://issuu.com/stanmaupin/docs/the_story_of_marie_and_gabriel_ma...

He was born 1762. Served in the Revolution In the American army. Following the war, he was granted lands in Kentucky for his services in Virginia. He was killed and scalped by the Indians near the present site of Taylorsville, KY while trying to occupy his land.

AN INDIAN VICTIM

Death of Gabriel Maupin Near Harrod's

The story of the death of Gabriel Maupin at the hands of the Shawnee Indians is as follows:

Gabriel Maupin, a former soldier in the American army during the Revolution and a son of Capt. Gabriel Maupin and Ester Page of Williamsburg, had gone to Kentucky (Ben M. Angel notes: still part of Virginia at the time of his death) from Virginia to occupy the lands granted to his father for his services in the Revolution. He, with several hunters and prospective settlers, had left Harrod's and proceeded west with the aim of reaching the Ohio in what is now Jefferson County (the county was the same at the time of his death - Kentucky County divided into Fayette, Lincoln, and Jefferson counties on June 30, 1780). With him was James McCiannahan, a kinsman, and a man named Davis from Augusta County. The names of the others in the party are unknown.

The party had proceeded to the locality near where Taylorsville now stands today. They made their camp on a rather high bluff. Across a narrow valley and less than a quarter of a mile away from their camp stood another bluff much the same as the one upon which they were located. The valley between the two heights of ground was filled with brushy growth and trees. Maupin left camp a short time before sundown to see if he could strike some game, and had crossed to the bluffs beyond the camp. A rifle shot sounded soon after his disappearance but his companions gave it no heed, thinking he had come upon a deer or game of some sort. What was their horror and surprise a few minutes later to see him running toward the camp closely pursued by several Indians. Seeing that he would be overtaken, Maupin whirled and grappled with his nearest foe, whom he picked bodily from the ground and dashed him against a tree stunning or injuring him badly.

The whites in camp had undertaken a rescue, part descending to the valley with the intent of climbing to the plateau beyond upon which the fight was taking place; the remainder undertook to remain near the camp and cover Maupin's flight with their rifles should he get within range. Unfortunately the Indians overtook him in numbers before the rescue party had made their way through the tangled brush of the valley and before the war party was within range of the men at the camp. To the horror of the watchers, they saw Maupin cut down before their eyes and saw his scalp held up in triumph. The Indians seemed to be in great force hence the rescue party hastily retired and the camp was abandoned. The party made its way back to the fort as hastily as possible.

Later, McCiannahan and others returned and buried the body where it lay. However, some members of the family say that it was brought to Harrodsburg and that it lies in the old cemetery there. If this is the case, the grave is unknown.

Gabriel Maupin, as mentioned before, was the son of Capt. Gabriel Maupin (5) and a great grandson of Gabriel Maupin, the emigrant. He served in the American army during the Revolution and had seen much service as an Indian fighter. He and his father had been given lands In Kentucky for their army services and he was in Kentucky with the purpose of making a home there when he was killed. He was a brave man and of great physical strength although he was small in stature.

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