John Motley, III

I located John Motley's grave at Smyrna Cemetery in Kershaw County, South Carolina.

was that he visited the house of old Mr. Motley, on

Motlow's Creek, in Spartanburg County, and killed him

and several others. He also arrested young Motley,

his son, whom he intended to kill. He ordered him to

take off his clothes and knee breeches with silver buckles,

remarking at the time that he did not want to bloody

them. While Hates was in a stooping position to

unbuckle them, knowing that death certainly awaited

him, Motley made a sudden spring and knocked down

one or two who encircled him, and pitched down the hill,

outrunning Bates and his whole party.

It is said that he concealed himself under the bank of a

creek near by, while Bates and his party passed over in

search of him. Tradition says that he not only saved his

life, but that he fairly " won his shirt.

The general uprising of the people from the neighboring

settlements caused Bates and his party to put. off quickly.

It has been related to the writer that the party of Indians

who accompanied Bates carried off a girl by the name of

1'attie Gilley, a sister and a little brother. After these

children were stolen, two propositions were made to the

girls; one was marriage to one of their number or death.

One of the girls accepted, the other refused. Her life was

only spared by the generosity of one Indian, who proposed

to give five hats as a ransom for her life.

Among those who pursued Bates and his party was

Major Buck Gowen. With a party of resolute men, he

overtook the Indians in their camp, beyond the head

waters of Tyger River, and killed and captured some of

them, and routed the rest. Unfortunately, he did not capture

Bates, but recaptured the Gilley children, whom we

have just mentioned. The particulars of this circumstance

were related to the writer about ten years ago by Mr.

Elias Dill (now deceased), of Greenville County, who was