My mother, Beverley, wrote this story that had been passed down in the Porter Family for generations based on a letter written by the grandson of William and Eleanor Kinkead to his son Blackburn, written April 20th 1847.
William Kinkead's family were originally from Perthshire Scotland. His branch of the Kinkead family moved to Northern Ireland. They were militant Presbyterians, who fled from Scotland fin search of religious freedom to Northern Ireland and the protection of the English, hence they were called Scotch-Irish. Ireland was a way station to the Colonies in America. The Scotch-Irish tended to settle in Pennsylvania's frontier area, and the Kinkead family were among these people as was the family of Eleanor Guy.
William Kinkead married Eleanor Guy in Augusta County Va. on November 30, 1756. Eleanor was 16 and he was 18. They set up their home about 20 miles from Stanton in what is now George Washington National Forest. They cleared their land and with the help of their neighbors built their log cabin.
They lived peacefully along side of their neighbors, but were always aware of the Indian to the west. On April 14, 1764, William was in the field away from the house. Eleanor was home with her children Margaret 6, Andrew 4, and her baby Isabel 2. She was about six months pregnant with another child. She had let the older children play outside while she was working inside while Isabel took a nap. All of a sudden she heard the children cry out in alarm. She looked up from her work to see Indians at the door. She froze in terror. The settlers had not expected Indians this early in the year. They had plans to build a fort for their protection. The Kinkead cabin was believed to be the most secure cabin in the area. Several neighbors had even brought some of their possessions to store there for safe keeping.
There were five Indians in all, four men and a young boy. The Indians immediately went to work packing up all the clothes and blankets. They cut open the bedding, getting feathers all over and smashing furniture. They tied all the soft ware up in bundles tying these to their backs. They also took the guns and a new saddle. It was amazing how much they were able to carry. They force Eleanor to pick up the baby and had her lead her other children pushing her out of her door. As she walked away from her home she looked over her shoulder longingly at her home that she was leaving behind.
William and Eleanor lived knowing that Indian raids were a possibility. She knew that she must try to leave some sort of trail for him to follow. As they walked across the newly plowed field she knew that their trail would be visible, but they soon entered the forest. She started trying to break some branches and dragging her feet to leave marks to follow. She was able to do this for some time until one of the Indians noticed her doing this. When they reached the top of a hill she was told to stop. She sat on a boulder already very tired and tears streamed down her cheeks. An Indian approached and gave her moccasins to put on herself and the children. She did this willingly as her feet were not use to walking miles and her shoes were rubbing blisters. Their rest was brief. Once more they were on their way. The path was rough and the Indians did not offer her any help. Holding her heavy baby in her arms she had trouble getting through the brush. Her bare arms were scratched and bleeding. As they pushed on the baby began to cry. The other children started whining. They were both hungry and tired. They finally stopped in late afternoon. She was given blankets to spread out for herself and her children. They handed her some sort of dried meat and coarse corn cakes as well as water. They were too tired to care and were soon asleep from pure exhaustion.
It was late that afternoon that William returned home only to discover his family was gone and the cabin vandalized. He alerted his neighbors and some of the men agreed to meet and start a search party in the morning as the light was already gone. They followed he trail as far as they could, but after a few days he was persuaded to turn back as they had lost the trail. They need both provisions and more help.
Morning arrive to son for Eleanor. She awoke anew to her nightmare. She tried to comfort her children as she encouraged them to eat the cold corn caked. They needed to keep going and to keep up with the march. They were already worn down from the march the day before.
During the course of the day it became harder and harder for little Andrew to keep up. His four year old legs were so short and he had to work twice as hard to just try to keep up. He kept stumbling, both Eleanor and Margaret tried to help him as much as possible. Eleanor even tried to carry him along with two year old Hamilton. That was almost impossible and she had to put him down. Two Indians approached and picked up Andrew. Relived, Eleanor thought that they would help carry him. They disappeared only to reappear later without Andrew. Eleanor never saw him again.
That night they pulled out her cooking pot from their packs. They had managed to kill two rabbits and forage some vegetables of sorts and indicated that she should cook. One Indian spoke some English and told her that the great spirit had led them to her. She thought at the time that the same great spirit would also take her out of their hands. That night lying with her two remaining children the realization of what must have happen to her son over came her and she lay there still with silent tears streaming. She knew she had to remain strong for her other children and her grief was changed to shear determination. This would not be her undoing, she would save herself and her two remaining children. She silently prayed for the soul of her lost son and for their rescue, and fell into a restless sleep.
They were awaken at dawn given something to eat and they were on the march once more. This time she was fortified with a steely determination. She kept her children close and also tried to stay close to the older Indian who spoke some English. She shied away from the two who carried her son away. That evening they camped near a small water fall and while the Indians were fishing she washed the children in the cold water. she soaked her feet and watched as the children splashed in the water near by.
It seemed like they walked forever. Eleanor lost track of time. The going got harder and she fell with her daughter, in her arms. Fear gripped her. One of the Indians took a branch and switched her motioning for her to get up and move. They grabbed her young child away from her. One of the Indians had a hatchet. She begged for her child back. The Indians confered with each other, then the one who spoke some English asked if the child's hair would be dark. She said that it would. Then one of the Indians made a sling of sorts and attached the child to her back. This made going much easier. She now had her hands to help her balance.
When they finally reached the Village, Zanesville, there were other captives there white women and children in the camp. Isabel was taken away and given to an Indian girl, who had lost a child recently. Eleanor herself was taken in to the tribe of King Beaver and treated as one of their tribe.
In the mean time William tried to rally support in his effort to search for his wife and family. It was the time to sow the fields for food for the rest of the year. After having lost the trail, the other settlers were reluctant to go on a wild goose chase. William was wild with worry in order to find his family he joined the army which was patrolling the Indian territory, in hopes of finding his family.
Eleanors life in the camp was not too hard. They were kind to her and she learned a great deal from the Indians. In return she tried to be of help to them. Because she was with child the men left her alone. When her time came to deliver the baby she was led by the women outside the village and tended to by the women. She gave birth July 25,1764.
That summer there was sickness in the village one of the people to surcome to the sickness was Eleanors oldest child, Margaret. Once more she was over come with grief. This time her new Indian family was there for her.
Hamilton in the mean time was thriving with her Indian family. She played with the other children chattering away in their dialect. She had grown inches and tanned to a nut brown. With her dark hair and brown eyes she looked like the other Indian children.
That fall the army went after the Indians. The Indians agreed to release all their white captives, more than two hundred were brought back by the Indians. Among these were Eleanor Kinkead her three month old baby and her young daughter, Hamilton. When William saw his young daughter, he did not recognize her as his child.
He thought that she was an Indian child. It was not until Eleanor pointed out a scar from a burn that he recognized her as his own. William had finally accomplish finding what was left of his family.
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