The
Tales of the Van Cleave 'Elders'
The
following comments/stories about our Van Cleave family, including excerpts from
story of attack on Bryant's Station, are from:
THE VAN CLEAVE FAMILY
THE McMULLEN FAMILY
THE TAYLOR FAMILY
compiled
by Errett Van Cleave, San Francisco, CA, 1946; from notes left by his Uncle
James Wm Van Cleave of Brown's Valley (near Crawfordsville), Montgomery, IN
(who apparently relied heavily on "the Elders" Uncle Jonathan &
Aunt Betsy Van Cleave & Uncle Matthius Mount Van Cleave).
<<Note
from Jen: Uncle Jonathan (due to intermarriage of the Van Cleave clan) was both
1st and 2nd Cousin three times removed to Howard Oregon
Van Cleave .>>
I have presented these excerpts as they were told by "the Elders",
and compiled by Errett Van Cleave, just as they were written, in most
instances, even though they contain some expressions of a sensitive nature. I
did avoid using some terms which I determined may be considered more offensive
than sensitive, and, at the very least, considered politically incorrect in
this present day.
Page 1: "The early history of the Van Cleave family lies in much
obscurity. From the traditions of the Elders we learn that the progenitor of
the family in America came from Holland some six or seven generations ago. His
name was Aaron, and from him sprang all the families of Van Cleave in America.
Aaron seems to have come to America some two or three generations before the
Revolutionary War."
"Aaron, the elder, and a brother probably named John [Jan] came over. The
rest of the family remained in Holland where the older brother would inherit
the estate of their father. The younger sons, seeing that they would be left
penniless, concluded to emigrate to the New World, then much talked of. We know
not whether the elder brother set his younger brothers adrift or not; but it
seems that way, at least they seem to have had a falling out and left the
country never to return. It is said that the elder brother never married, so
the estate is there yet, the family never claiming it. The occupation of the
younger brothers seem to have been sailors and fishermen. Younger brothers
often followed those occupations. Those were a stout, hardy race of people.
They first came to Monmouth, New Jersey where they settled."
Page 17: APPENDIX by Errett; "Uncle James starts his narrative with Aaron
Van Cleave, Sr. as the original emigrant and seems to be confused by others of
the same name which he cannot identify. As a matter of fact old Aaron, Sr. was
the son of Isabrant Van Cleef and the grandson of Jan (John) Van Cleef who came
to the New World from Holland. Aaron Sr. left his brothers and cousins in Long
Island and the coast of New Jersey and moved to Rowen [sic] County, North
Carolina, at the forks of the Yadkin River, about 1750. He became a neighbor of
Squire Boone, Sr., the father of Daniel Boone and Squire Boone, Jr., and
Aaron's daughter Jane, married Squire Boone, Jr. There are records in the Court
House at Salisbury, North Carolina of the family in that County."
Page 3: "Sometime during the first half of the Revolutionary War
[1776-1779] the five Van Cleave brothers, Aaron, Benjamin, John, Billy, Ralph
and their sister Jane emigrated to the territory of Kentucky. This was a vast
wilderness inhabited by ... Indians and wild beasts, the prowling panther, the
wild cat and the catamount, huge buffalo, deer and elk, as well as bear. It was
the perfect paradise for the hunter and those fond of adventure. ... Their mode
[of] travel is not given but it is evident that they traveled on horseback,
carrying their bedding on pack horses, probably some road [sic] and some walked
part of the time. It was a long journey, crossing the mountains into the
territory of Kentucky. They camped at night along the trail. There is but one
incident given during the entire trip. One morning as the women were getting
breakfast by the campfire, a deer dashed up and stood near the fire, so, Aaron,
son of Benjamin snatched up his brother's (Sammy) 'little shot gun' and taking
a rest between the forks of a small tree, shot the deer. The distance was short
and it fell dead. This is the only incident remembered of the entire
journey."
"It is not known at what time the Van Cleaves arrived in Kentucky, but
they had a long and tiresome journey over the mountains, through the valleys
and the dark woods ... but at last they arrived at [Ft] Boonesboro, their
journey's end, and went to live with Daniel Boone. He had erected a fort there
on the South bank of the Kentucky River."
"When once established in Kentucky the Van Cleaves ... helped clear the
land and planted the fields in corn for their subsistence. ... It is also
related that they were at [Ft] Boonesboro at the time that [Daniel] Boone's and
[?] Callaway's daughters were captured by the Indians ..."
Page 4: "During the troublesome times in Kentucky, Squire Boone, a brother
of Daniel erected a station [Squire Boone's Station] near Shelbyville and dwelt
there with a party of hardy pioneers. ... in April 1781 they were alarmed by
the appearance of Indians in the vicinity, so they moved to a settlement on
Bear's Creek and while going there were attacked by Indians and defeated with
considerable loss."
Page 5: "The Van Cleaves were living at Bryant's Station, at least two of
the brothers were, Benjamin and John, who evidently had been there for some
time, and were living there at the time of the siege, so they said, and took
part in the defense against the Indians. They used to tell of that fearful
time. Save for their personal experiences it was like the history gives of the
attack."
"Detachments of Indians came in advance of the main army. Captain Estill,
a brave man was sent out against them. He encountered an equal number of
Indians and a sharp attack ensued, resulting in the death of Estill and half of
his men. The Indian chief was also killed in the fight. The battle lasted two
hours. The [Indian] army destined to the conquest of Kentucky, assembled at
Chillicothe early in August. A detachment from Detroit reinforced them. Simon
Girty made a speech to them enlarging on the ingratitude of the 'long knives'
in rebelling against their 'Great Father', the British King, across the waters.
He described in flowing terms the fertility of Kentucky exhorting them to
recover it from a group of 'long knives' before they became too strong for
them. Six hundred warriors, the flower of the Northwestern tribes made what
they knew to be their last effort to drive the settlers from their fertile
hunting grounds. Various parties preceded the main body, appearing in different
places, creating confusion in the minds of the settlers in regard to the place
where the blow would fall. An attack on Holt's Station resulted in two boys
taken prisoners. The Indians, twenty in number, were pursued by Captain Holden
with seventeen men and he was defeated near Blue Licks, the fatal spot for the
settlers, and obliged to retreat with the loss of four men."
"The news of the disaster reached Bryant's Station, situated on the Elk
Horn near the road from Lexington to Maysville, on the 14 of August. Men were preparing
to march to the assistance of Holt's Station (see life of Boone). Some had been
up all night getting ready for an early start. Had the Indians arrived only a
few hours later they would have found the fort occupied only by old men, women
and children, who could not have successfully resisted their attack. 'The
supreme influence of fortune in war was never more strikingly displayed.' The
Indians could hear the bustle of preparations and see lights from the
blockhouse and cabins during the night. All continued tranquil and Girty
silently concerted the plan of attack. The Indians had advanced with secrecy
and celebrity peculiar to themselves. Through the woods, without giving the
slightest indication of their approach, on the night of August 14th, 1781. They
appeared before Bryant's Station as suddenly as if they had arisen from the
earth (see McClung's History), and surrounded it from all sides and awaited the
dawn of day. At the break of day, August 15th, the garrison which consisted of
some forty to fifty men in arms, were preparing to open the gate and march off,
as already mentioned, when they were alarmed by a furious discharge of rifles,
accompanied by yells and screams they struck terror into the heart of the women
and children and even startled the men. All ran hastily to the picketing and
beheld a small body of Indians exposed to open view, running and yelling and
making the most furious gestures. The appearance was so unusual and different
from their usual manner of fighting that some of the more wary and experienced
of the garrison instantly pronounced it a decoy party and restrained the young
men from sallying out and attacking them, and some were strongly disposed to do
[so]. The opposite side of the fort was instantly manned and several breaches
in the picketing were rapidly repaired."
"The garrison was supplied with water from a spring some distance from the
fort on the Northwest side, a great common error of most of the stations, which
in a closed in continued siege suffered dreadfully for water. The most
experienced felt confident that a powerful party was in ambush near the spring,
but at the same time they reasoned that the Indians would not unmask themselves
until the firing from the opposite side of the fort was returned with such warmth
as to induce the belief that the feint had succeeded. Acting upon this
impression and yielding to the urgent need for water, they summoned [page 6]
all the women, without exception, and explained to them their circumstances in
which they were placed and the improbability that any injury would be offered
them until the firing had been returned from the opposite side of the fort.
They urged them to go in a body to the spring and each bring up a bucket full
of water. Some of the women, as was natural, had no relish for the undertaking
and asked why the men did not bring up the water, as well as themselves, that
they were not bullet proof and that the Indians made no distinction between
male and female. To this was answered that the women were in the habit of bringing
the water every morning to the fort and that if the Indians saw them engaged as
usual it would induce them to the belief that their ambuscade was undiscovered.
The Indians would not unmask themselves for the sake of firing on a few women,
when they hoped by remaining concealed for a few minutes longer, to obtain
complete possession of the fort. That if the men should go down to the spring
the Indians would immediately suspect that something was wrong and would
despair of succeeding by ambuscade and could instantly rush upon them, follow
them into the fort or shoot them down at the spring."
"The decision was soon made. A few of the boldest women declared their
readiness to brave the danger and the younger and more timid rallying in the
rear of these veterans marched down to the spring and a body within point blank
shot distance of more than five hundred Indian warriors. Some of the girls
could not help betraying symptoms of terror, but the older women, in general,
moved with a steadiness and composure which completely deceived the Indians.
Not a shot was fired. The party was permitted to fill their buckets, one after
another, without interruption. Although their steps became quicker on their
return, and near the gate of the fort degenerated into a rather unmilitary
celebrity attended with some crowding in passing the gate, yet not more than a
little of the water spilt, and the eyes of the youngest had not dilated to more
than twice their usual size."
"At the head of the procession of women going to the spring marched Ruth
[Munson] Van Cleave, wife of Benjamin [Van Cleave], and daughters Rachel and
Jane were said to be along, but I think Rachel was too young, being only ten
years old. Also Mary [Shepherd Van Cleave], the wife of John Van Cleave, brother
of Benjamin, marched with them and probably her eldest daughters, Polly (or
Mary) and Elizabeth. These women used to tell how they all marched [out] of the
fort to get water at the spring. They marched at the head of the procession of
women and when they arrived at the spring and were dipping water they could see
Indians all about. They were fearful for their lives, but did not exhibit fear
lest the Indians discover that they knew they were there. They finally all got
back to the fort without giving any alarm to the Indians. Ruth and Mary and
their daughters, as well as the other noble women were heroines of the day, and
their deed of daring has been told in story and song."
"Being amply supplied with water the garrison sent out thirteen young men
to attack the decoy party with orders to fire with great rapidity and make as
much noise as possible, but not to pursue the enemy far. The rest of the
garrison took post on the opposite side of the fort, cocked their guns and
stood in readiness to receive the ambuscade party as it unmasked. The firing of
the light party on the Lexington road was soon heard and quickly became sharp
and serious, gradually becoming more distant. Instantly Girty sprang up at the
head of his five hundred warriors and rushed rapidly upon the western gates,
ready to force his way over the undefended palisades. Into this immense mass of
dusty bodies the garrison poured several rounds of rifle balls with destructive
effect. The consturnation [sic] of the Indians may be imagined. With wild cries
they dispersed and in two minutes not an Indian was to be seen. At the same
time the party that had sallied out on the Lexington road came running into the
fort at the opposite gate in high spirits, and laughing hardily at the success
of their maneuver. A regular attack in the usual manner then commenced without
much effect on either side until ..."
Bottom of page 6-page 13: A lengthy description of the siege on Bryant's
Station [which must have lasted about a month], including serveral battles with
reinforcements coming into the fort from all directions & how several
members of the Van Cleave family, including the women, did whatever was
neccessary to help defend the fort during that long siege.
Page 14: "Now that the battle was over and the Indians had fled, 'Big
John' Van Cleave [son of John-AIJ] went out to the stump where he shot at the
Indian standing upon it to see the result of his long shot. John found no
Indian at the stump where he had seen him fall, for the Indians had borne the
body away and tried to hide the evidence of his death by killing a hog and
dragging it around the stump to obliterate all trace of the dead Indian. Indian
tracks were thick about the stump. John searched down around the roots and
found a silver half-moon with a short buckstring attached to it. The upper end
had been cut off with a rifle ball, for the color of lead was still upon it. He
knew then that this was what had glittered on the Indian's breast. John kept
the silver half-moon the rest of his life but it is not known what became of
it. John said that during the siege of the fort they became very hungry for the
garrison had not enough time to gather provisions before the siege. He was so
hungry that he gathered up grains of corn from the cow dung, washed, parched and
ate them with relish [pleasure]."
Page 14 [cont] "Tragedy in the Woods."
"Thus far the Van Cleaves had fared very well. They had come out of the
fight without a scratch, save the horror of the siege which was common to all.
Now occurred one of the saddest pages of their history. John Van Cleave and his
wife [Mary Shepherd Van Cleave] were at Bryant's Station during the siege, but
after the Indians were supposed to have left the country they concluded that
[Ft] Boonesboro was a safer place to be than Bryant's Station and started to
the former place, on foot, it seems. Aunt Betsy Van Cleave [dau of
Aaron-John-AIJ], wife of [Uncle] Jonathan [Van Cleave, son of Ralph-Benj-AIJ],
told of this. Said that her grandfather, John, and family were going from Bryant's
Station to [Ft] Boonesboro. Her grandmother, Mary, was carrying one of the
twins [Nancy, 18 mos.] and [her eldest dau] Aunt Polly was carrying the other
[Sally]. The boys were trudging along. In the maze of the great forrest they
were attacked by a preditory band of Indians concealed in ambush. Mary, the
wife of John was killed [14th Sept 1781] and the child carried away. [Aunt]
Polly was carrying one of the twins, Sally, when she was taken prisoner but she
still cared for the child. It began to cry and fret. The Indians made signs for
her to quiet the child but she did not understand them. So they opened her
dress bosom and made signs for her to give it suck, but not succeeding they
were about to kill the child. Just at this time a party of horsemen from [Ft]
Boonseboro made a dash on the Indians and drove them away and rescued the
prisoners. Nancy, the favorite sister of [Aunt Betsy's father] Aaron, was
carried away by the Indians. They saw her no more, never learned her fate but
knew it was sad enough."
"The boys made their escape following the horsemen. [Big] John was a
fleshy boy and couldn't run as fast as Aaron and Benjamin, so he was left
behind. He made his escape by hiding in a hollow log and stayed there all
night. He was found the next morning by scouts that went out to look for the
dead and missing. John came out of the hollow log rejoicing to find friends.
Aaron and Benjamin were slim and fleet of foot so they ran after the horsemen
and kept up pretty well. When they came to the river the horsemen could not
take them up, so they caught the horses by the tail and swam across in that
manner. After crossing the river they hurried along on foot as fast as they
could, encumbered as they were with wet buckskin garments. Their pantaloons
were water soaked and heavy. Soon they began to drag under foot and retarded
their progress. One of the boys rolled his pants up and they were all right
[sic] when they got dry, but the other boy cut his off at the bottom and when
they dried they were too short and nearly ruined. One account says that one of
the boys took his pants off and through [sic] them away and never found them
again and that there were gold buttons on the pants (likely brass). This
statement was made by Mrs. Hinkle, a Van Cleave. What was left of the family
got together again in [Ft] Boonesboro. Mary, the wife of John, was found and
buried. After these bloody and stirring scenes there was a fear of insecurity
among the settlers of Kentucky, until Clark revived the spirit of chivalry once
more. The Van Cleaves took some part in these expeditions and when peace was
restored the people went to work opening up farms raising crops and building
homes."
In all above instances, words inside the brackets [ ] are from me, Richard
Lawson, and the initials AIJ = Aaron-Isabrandt-Jan. Most, if not all, words
inside the parenthesis ( ) are from Errett Van Cleave, but some could possibly
be from his Uncle James Wm Van Cleave. I have proof read this post, several
times, and hope that I have not made to many typing errors of my own.
Richard Lawson
Niangua, MO
Clarence Robbins Family
Memoirs
Stephen Alva Van Cleave
Memoirs
Tales of the Van
Cleave Elders