THIRTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE LIVINGSTON - COUNTY
   HISTORICAL SOCIETY HELD AT LIVONIA TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1889.

          1889 Bunnell & Orerdorf Book Presss, Advertiser Office, Dansville, NY
 

                                  CONESUS, NY W. P. BOYD  (1889)

           The Life and Parentage of Lieut. Thomas Boyd who was Massacred
                             near Cuylerville, New York, Sept. 13, 1779.

ACROSS the ocean, among the green, rough and rocky hills of Scotland, near the present
city of Kilmarnock, in the county of Ayr, at the beginning of the seventeenth century was
born a humble highlander by the name of John Boyd. His ancestors were descended from
the famous royal family of servants. In after years he chose for his companion in life, an
estimable lady by the name of Dorcus Bennett. The number of their children tradition does
not give.  But among them were three brothers whose names were Ebenezer, John and one
other whose name I have failed to learn, who came to New York city about 1745 or '50.
Whether these brothers came here as exiles alone, or whether their father's family came
with them across the ocean is a blank in our family history. But at this time, among the
Boyds of Scotland was William Boyd the fourth Earl of Kilmarnock, then the owner of the Dean Castle of that place, which had been the home of the Boyds of that country in the
direct line for over 700 years. He had now forsaken his country and joined the standard of
Prince Charles Stuart in his fatal attempt to recover the throne of Scotland in 1745, was
captured at the battle of Drummossie Moor (Culluden), near Inverness, April 16, 1746, while
fighting for his Prince, was tried for treason, found guilty along with Lord Balmerino and Lord
Cromarty, and executed at Tower Hill, London, August 18 of the same year.

Soon after the arrival of the three brothers in New York, they became separated. Ebenezer
went into Westchester county of this state, and took up his residence near the present
village of Rye.

Here in 1763 or '64 he married a lady by the name of Sarah Merritt, and was living at the
time of the breaking out of the revolutionary war on what was called the "neutral grounds."
This territory becoming overrun by cowboys and tories, making it unsafe for his family, he
removed them to the headquarters of Gen. Washington. Here the wife became a cook for
the General, and her husband was given a captain's commission of a company of riflemen
in the defense of his country. His name is now honored and associated with the capture of
Major Andre, the latter being intercepted the night before his capture by one of Captain
Boyd's sentinels while on a scout near Crowpond and was taken before Boyd and rigidly
questioned. But the pass he bore from Gen. Arnold, who was Boyd's commander, saved
him until the next day.

From here Ebenezer, at the close of the war went to Kent, Putnam county, and was the first
settler at a place that now bears his name, "Boyd's Corners" where he died June 29th,
1792.

The second brother, whose name and history I have been unable to get, went to Albany, NY., and settled. Here I have been informed he was known as Gen. Boyd, and is said to have lived to the great age of 114 years.

The third brother was named John. After leaving his brothers at New York city he went
into Orange county of the same state, and from there to Washingtonville, Northumberland
Co., Pa. Here he soon afterwards married a lady by the name of Hawthorn, and died young
leaving a widow with four children, whose Christian names were John, William, Thomas
and Mary. After the father's death, the dutiful mother kept her little family together in their
humble home in a new country until the breaking out of the revolutionary war, when the
three boys enlisted in the defence of their country. On the morning of their departure the
three brothers left the lowly cottage together, yet they had not proceeded far from the same
when the patriotic mother standing in the door filled with emotion called them back. "My
dear boys," said she, "I have one word more I wish to say before you leave me, and that is,
whatever situation you may be placed in the face of the enemy in the defence of your
country, always do your duty and never let cowardice cross your path." For a short time the
three boys were together and then they became separated. John the oldest, joined a
company of Pennsylvania scouts and was sent out upon a scout against the Indians. His
party was captured by the savages, and being the last ever heard of him, he is supposed to
have been slain by the red men. William, the second son, joined the army of Gen.
Washington, and while fighting by the side of his brother fell upon the memorable battle
field of Brandywine, Sept. 11, 1777. Mary Boyd, the only daughter, was born at Washingtonville in 1763. 

Thomas Boyd, the youngest son, whom fate seemed to have reserved for Indian torture,
was born at the old homestead at Washingtonville, Pa., in 1757. He was a young man of
ordinary height, strongly built, fine looking, sociable and agreeable in all his manners,
which gained for him many friends wherever he went. His younger days were spent at
home, and after leaving the same the first account we have of him is in connection with
Benedict Arnold's famous march through the pine forest from Maine to Quebec. This was
in September 1775, when Gen. Arnold set out upon this enterprise. He had with him 1100
men. They first went by water to the Kennebec river in Maine. Here they purchased 200
batteaux which were long, flat-bottom boats for shallow water. The current of this river
was very rapid, the bottom rocky and the navigation often interrupted by falls. Sometimes
they were obliged to carry their boats on their shoulders or drag them up rapids with ropes.
They had steep precipices to climb, vast shady forests to pass under, and quagmires to
wade through. Also deep valleys to traverse, where the pine trees were tossing their heads
in the stormy winds, and where the river was rushing and foaming over the rocks with a
noise like that of the ocean. They were sometimes a whole day in traveling four or five
miles with their baggage lashed upon their backs and axes in hand to hew a road through
the wilderness. Some of Thomas's comrades at last died from mere fatigue. Many others
became sick and perished, and all suffered greatly for want of food. By the time this little
band had reached the source of the Dead river, a branch of the Kennebec, their provisions
were almost exhausted, and what remained were damaged-as well as their ammunition-by
water, which had found its way into the batteaux during the passage. The soldiers, it is
said, at last began to kill and eat the lean dogs they had with them and even this food was
esteemed a great luxury. They arrived at last on the mountains between the Kennebec and
Chaudiere and found their way down the latter to Point Levy, opposite of Quebec, where
they arrived November 9. The people here were as much amazed as if so many ghosts had
come among them, which indeed many of them more resembled than living beings. Here
Thomas took active part in the assault upon the British works, Dec. 31, 1775, and was
wounded and taken prisoner, but soon afterwards exchanged. After his release he returned
to his home in Pennsylvania, where in the latter part of the winter of 1776 he again enlisted
as a sergeant in Capt. Stephen Bayard's company and was transferred to Capt. Matthew
Smith's company in the 1st Pennsylvania regiment in the following November. He was
present at the battle of Stillwater, October 7, 1777, and witnessed the surrender of Gen.
Burgoyne, Oct. 17 following. On the 14th of January preceding he was made a first
lieutenant in his regiment and was present at the battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778.

At the beginning of this year, 1778, the Indians and tories began to make raids and commit
depredations upon the frontier settlements of Schoharie. In the fall he was sent under the
command of Major Pear, who commanded three companies of Morgan's celebrated rifle
corps under the command of Capts. Long, Pear and Simpson, for the protection of the
inhabitants of this place. Here Thomas Boyd remained nearly a year in helping to defend the
frontier settlement against these Indian and tory depredations, or until the summer and fall
of 1779.

Among these Indians were the Senecas living in the western part of the state of New York,
or in other words upon the Genesee flats, in the town of Leicester in this county. The
murdering by these Indians of the white settlers became so frequent, an army was raised
and sent into their midst in the summer and fall of 1779 to bring them into submission.
Among that number was Michael Simpson's rifle company, to which Thomas Boyd
belonged in Col. Butler's regiment. Before Thomas left Schoharie and while residing here, there was a sad scene transacted which left a stain upon his noble life. While here he became
acquainted and paid his address to a young lady by the name of Miss Cornelia Becker, a
daughter of Bartholomew Becker a prominent and highly respected settler of this place.
Soon after Thomas's death, she gave birth to a daughter of which he was the reputed father.
In the forenoon when the troops under Col. Butler were preparing to leave Schoharie to
join Gen. Clinton's forces at Springfield, the head of Otsego lake, Miss Becker whom
Thomas had promised to marry, learning that he was about to leave, rushed to the
encamping grounds in a state of mind bordering on madness, and approached her lover a
short distance from his command, caught hold of his arm, and in tears besought him by the
most tender entreaties to marry her before leaving Schoharie. Thomas endeavored to put
her off by promises, she, doubting his intentions, looked him squarely in the face, and in a
decisive way, with trembling lips said to him, if he went off without marrying her, she
hoped and prayed to the great God of heaven that he would be tortured and cut to pieces by
the savages. In the midst of this unpleasant scene, which had compelled the troops to be
waiting for their lieutenant, Col. Butler rode up and reprimanded Thomas for causing the
delay. It mortified Thomas to be seen by his superior officer, importuned by a girl, and
touched the pride of Thomas, and flying into a passion lie instantly drew his sword and
pushed the poor broken hearted girl from him, and with it as if intending to make a thrust,
threatened to stab her if she did not instantly leave him. The child of Miss Becker grew up
to womanhood and was named Catherine. She was a young lady of fine qualities and highly
respected wherever she went. She afterwards became the wife of one of the settlers named
Martinus Vrooman of Schoharie, N. Y.

Thomas after leaving Miss Becker immediately joined his company and they set out for
Springfield, and marched from here to the foot of the Otsego lake. After remaining here
until the 9th of August 1779, he went with the army of Gen. Clinton from the foot of the lake
to join Gen. Sullivan at Tioga. Nothing more is known of Thomas until Gen. Clinton had
got within 20 or 30 miles of Gen. Sullivan. At this place lie was met by Gen. Poor, who
had been sent from Tioga by the latter to reinforce him in case of an unexpected attack from
the enemy. Gen. Clinton wishing to inform Gen. Sullivan of the safe arrival of Gen. Poor's
command, selected Thomas and placed under him nine men to carry the message. Thomas
and his party left the camp of Gens. Clinton and Poor at the Indian town of Owego on the
night of the 19th of August, at 11 o'clock, and arrived at the camp of Gen. Sullivan early on
the morning of the 2Oth. After delivering his message here Thomas remained guest of
Captain Wm. Sproat, aide de-camp and brigadier major Of the 3d brigade., commanded by
Gen. Hand until his company arrived, when lie rejoined the same again.

We have no more account of Thomas from the time of the army leaving Tioga Thursday
Aug. 26, 1779, until the 12th of September following. In whatever was done by this little
army, including the battle of Newtown, near the present site of Elmira, N. Y., Thomas must
have taken part. The morning of the 12th of September found them encamped near the
present site of Honeoye, N. Y. When the army woke this morning it was to find it had been
raining which hindered them from moving until noon. They then set out in the rain and
wandered through a dense forest for nearly 11 miles. In doing this they were obliged to
cross a miry piece of ground at the foot of the Hemlock lake and to climb the steep hill,
called the Hemlock Hill, which detained them to such an extent, instead of reaching the
Indian town at the head of the Conesus lake, as they intended to do, the night overtook them
as they had reached the level piece of ground west of Foot's Corners in the town of
Conesus, and here they were obliged to encamp for the night. Soon after camping here,
Gens. Sullivan, Poor, Hand and Maxwell met at the former's tent and began with their
guides a consultation of their maps in regard to the location of the Indian town upon the
Genesee. In this consultation the maps of Gen. Sullivan and the information given by the
guides, disagreed. The former gave the location of the Indian town in the eastern part of the
town of Mt. Morris near the old Carroll place, and the guides claimed, which was found
right, that it was five miles down the Genesee river near Cuylerville. Under this situation
the four officers were puzzled, and Gen. Sullivan resolved to send a scouting party
immediately to locate the same, and report before daylight for the guidance of the army the
next day. Also he supposed the party safe if they accomplished the journey and returned
before morning, as in the night time the Indians generally sleep, and they would not be
likely to run upon one of their scouting bands out on a scout. It was now nearly 11 o'clock
at night when the consultation closed, and Gen. Sullivan knowing that Thomas was a young
man of a courageous and daring disposition, while at the same time he was a reliable young
officer, immediately dispatched a messenger with a request for him to come to his tent as
he had important business for him to do. Thomas went and after a short consultation with
his commander, was given orders to select four of his most trusty comrades, and to go that
night the 14 miles in advance of the army in the Indian country, locate the Indian town and
return before daylight. Thomas now left his General's tent, but to disobey his commander's
orders, for instead of taking four he chose 26 men and two Oneida Indians, and then set out
for his destination. The little band wound their way through the dense forest by the Indian
trail until they had reached an Indian village on the Canaseraga, in the town of Mt. Morris,
which was near the town that had been laid down upon the maps as the Genesee Castle,
and they reaching the same came to that conclusion, that this was the great Seneca town that
they had been sent to discover and locate which really was five miles farther down the
valley upon the Genesee river. They found the town to consist of twenty-five houses
deserted, although the fire was still burning in the huts. The night was far advanced and the
party, quite weary, encamped for a few hours intending to ascertain at early morning the
location of the supposed capitol town. It was not yet break of clay on Monday morning, the
13th of September, a day so fatal to most of the party, when Thomas accompanied by
Timothy Murphy, a noted Indian fighter, stole away from their companions and entered the
Indian village at hand. Here they discovered four Indians coming to the village from the
west. One of them was a wounded warrior and the other an uncle to the sachem
Soh-nah-so-wah. A ball from Murphy's rifle sealed the fate of the former, and the rest fled.
Murphy, as it was his custom, took off the slain Indian scalp, his thirty-third trophy. The
flying Indian, Thomas now was well aware, would at once make known his visit to the
enemy, and thus defeat his purpose. He therefore resolved to rejoin the army without delay.
On going back to his party he dispatched two messengers to Gen. Sullivan with a report of
his operations while at the same time they were directed to inform the General that the
scouts would return immediately. The messengers reached Gen, Sullivan's camp early in
the morning. The scouting party prepared to retrace their steps also. Hanyery, an Oneida
Indian, recommended his leader to follow a different route. But Thomas unwisely
disregarded the advice of his faithful and intelligent guide. The greatest caution was
observed on the return march. With Hanyery in the front and Murphy in the rear, their eagle
eyes fixed on each moving leaf and waving bough, they marched forward slowly with the
utmost caution. When starting Thomas dispatched two more runners to the army. But they
had not gone far before they returned to him and reported seeing five Indians in front.
Thomas immediately pursued them and at least killed one of them whom Murphy scalped.
The remainder kept in sight but out of danger as they advanced directing their course
toward the main army. Five weary miles, had they thus traveled this dangerous rout in
attempting to catch the fleeing Indians, and were about to descend a hill, at whose base the
army of Gen. Sullivan lay. Less than a mile intervened between them and the camp and as
the party began to hear the drums and noise of the advancing columns of Hand's men, and
breathing a sigh of relief, they were suddenly surprised by five hundred Indians under
Brant, and five hundred royalists under Butler, who were secreted in a ravine between
them and the main army. The little party were at once taken to a small grove of trees. A
moment was thus secured for reflection. Thomas saw at once that the only chance of escape
for his men was the hazardous one of gathering-them all into a compact force, and breaking
through the enemy's lines. After giving his comrades a few encouraging words, he led
forward his men for the onset. In the first attempt, not one of Thomas' men fell, while their
fire told fearfully upon the enemy. A second attempt to break the enemy's line was made,
and seventeen of the Americans bit the dust. The firing was now so close before the brave
party was destroyed, that the powder from the enemy's muskets was driven into their flesh.
Though a majority now lay dead, a third onset was made and the enemy's lines were broken
through, and Murphy tumbling a huge warrior in the dust who obstructed his passage-even
to the merriment of his dusky companions, led forth the little band. Thomas justly supposed
if any one escaped with their life, it would be Murphy, so he determined to follow him, but
not being so fast a runner he was soon taken, and with him one of his men named Michael
Parker who was a corporal in the 1st Pennsylvania regiment and afterwards promoted to
sergeant in Thomas's company. Gen. Sullivan in his report says, "Lieut. Boyd was shot
through the body at the beginning of the fight." If so this accounts for his inability to make
his escape with Murphy. Thomas and his Comrade Parker were hurried forward with the
retiring enemy to the vicinity of Beardstown. On finding himself a prisoner, Thomas
obtained an interview with Brant, who as well as himself was a free mason. After they had
exchanged the magic sign of brotherhood, Brant assured him that he should not be injured.
But soon afterwards Brant was called off on some enterprise, the prisoners were left in
charge of one of the Butlers, (a half breed) who placing the prisoners on their knees before
him, a warrior on each side firmly grasping their arms, a third at their back with a raised
tomahawk, began to interrogate them about the purposes of General Sullivan, threatening
them with savage torture if true and ready answer were not given. Thomas remembering his
mother's parting words and believing the assurance of Brant ample for his safety, and too
high-minded in any situation to betray his country, refused, as did Parker to any questions
touching the immediate purpose of the army. The savage Butler was now true to his threats,
and when the prisoners peremptorily refused to answer he handed them over to Little
Beard and his warriors, who were already full of vindictiveness. The prisoners were
seized, stripped and bound to trees, and severely whipped with prickly ash boughs. The
Indians commenced a series of horrid cruelties directed especially toward Thomas. When
all was ready Little Beard lifted his hatchet, stained with recent blood, and with steady aim
sent it whistling through the air and in an instant it quivered within a hair's thickness of
Thomas's head. The younger Indians were now permitted to follow the chief's example, and
from right, front and left their bright tomahawks cleaved the air and trembled above the
unflinching persons of the victims. Wearied at length of this work a single blow severed
Parker's head from his body, and mercifully ended his misery. Poor Thomas however was
reserved for a worse fate. An incision was made in his abdomen and a severed intestine
was fastened to a tree. He was then scourged with prickly ash boughs, and compelled to
move around until the pain was so great that he could go no farther. Again pinioned his
mouth was enlarged with a knife, his nails dug out, his tongue cut away, his ears severed
from his head, his nose hewn off and thrust into his mouth, his eyes dug out and the flesh cut
from his shoulder, and then sinking in death after their enormities, he was decapitated and
his disfigured head after being partly skinned raised by the frenzied savages upon a
sharpened pole and a knife stuck into body when it was found. Just at night as the army was
preparing to encamp where the execution of Thomas and his companion took place, Paul
Sanborn, afterwards for many years a resident of Conesus, then a private soldier on the
extreme right of Gen. Clinton's brigade, was moving with his detachment, and, as it
wheeled around in the direction of the village he discovered the headless corpse of
Thomas. The blood was yet oozing from it, so recently had the body been freed from its
tormentors. Leaping over this, Sanborn alighted beside that of Parker, as it laid in the long
grass. He at once made known his discovery, when the remains were placed under guard of
Captain Michael Simpson's rifle company, and that evening the mutilated bodies and
disfigured heads of the heroic men were buried with military honors under a wild plum
tree, which grew near the junction of two small streams, named at a great meeting in
Cuylerville in 1841, Boyd and Parker Creek. The heads of these two men were at once
recognized by their companions to whom Thomas's features, though partially skinned, were
so familiar, and Parker was identified beyond doubt from a scar on his face and his broken
front teeth. Major Parr who commanded the rifle regiment to which Thomas's company
belonged, was present at the burial and John Sullivan of Groveland then a private in Capt.
Simpson's company, assisted on the occasion.

The following Historical items are from the town of Conesus, Jan. 1st, 1889:

The oldest person now living in the town is Jonathan Wilkinson of Conesus Center, aged 8S.

The oldest woman living in Conesus who was born in the town is Mrs. Polly (Alger)
Morris, the widow of the late Rev. Sylvester Morris, born in 1810.

The oldest man living in the town who was born in the town is Matthew Allen aged 72.

The oldest person living in the town the longest who was born out of the town is Hiram
Boyd, came here in 1821, aged 82.

The following persons over 6o years of age have died in the town the past year : Mrs.
Fanny (Stevens) Norton, widow of Seymour Norton, deceased, aged 85 years. Mrs.
Durkee, aged over 8o years. Mrs. Jane (Beaty) Bayles, widow of Robert Bayles, deceased,
aged 82 years. Franklin Foot, aged 77 years. Mrs. Rhoda (Curtis) Perine, widow of
William Perine, deceased, age unknown. James M. Alger, aged 67 years. Willard Cole,
age unknown. Mrs. Elizabeth (Gray) McNinch wife of James C. McNinch age unknown. R.
F. McMillin, age unknown. Mrs. Amy (Barber) Collar, wife of Lanson Collar, aged 64.