Michael Huff (1764 - abt. 1794)

Born 24 Jan 1764 in Cumberland, Pennsylvania [uncertain]

Ancestors

Died about 1794 at about age 29 in Randolph, Illinois Territory, United States

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Biography

Michael HUFF (24 Jan 1764 Cumberland County, PA - Feb/Mar 1794 IL, near the Mississippi River, killed by Indians). He was said to have been born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania; however, that county was formed in 1771 from Cumberland County. He was the son of Michael Huff and Hannah Doddridge. He is believed to be the Michal HUFF, Jun, who was enrolled as a Pvt in the Second Class, Capt William Scott's First Company, 4th Bn, Washington Co Militia (PA), according to an undated Class Return for the period 1781-1783. At the time Michael would have been 17 to 19 years of age. He gave his residence as Hopewell township. The other possibility was that his father was the one who served.

After the War, Michael was a hunter and scout in the Northwest Territory. He was said to have md twice; the name of the first wife is not known. Michael md (2) a widow, Mrs. MURDOCK ( ) who had two (or three) MURDOCK sons, one of whom was named John. So far as is now known, there were no HUFF ch. There are thus no known descendants of this Michael HUFF.

Michael was killed by Indians, on the road between Kaskaskia and Prairie du Rocher. Michael HUFF and his brothers Joseph and William were noted Indian fighters who boasted of their deeds and misdeeds against the Indians, and the Indians may have sought Michael out for retribution.

Huff lineage is Michael and two wives of PA, OH, and IL; Michael and Hannah (Doddridge) of MD; PA; and OH; Michael and Elizabeth ( ) of MD and PA; John and Anna (Morgan) of MD;

Sources

• Max Huff, MICHAEL HUFF AND TWO WIVES OF PA, OH, AND IL, 23 Apr 1995:
• Records of Capt Earle Huff, Hough and Huff Families in England and America, 1962.
• 1781-83 Washington Co, PA, Hopewell twp, Michael Huff, Jun, served in the militia (Military Accounts (Militia), Records of the Comptroller General, at the Division of Archives and Manuscripts), as reported on 9 Jul 1981 by Harry E. Whipkey, State Archivist for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
• 1790 Randolph Co, IL, Kaskaskia, Machal Huff.
• 1795 St Clair Co, IL, Reference to Michael Huff.n 11 Oct 1812 in Nelson Co, KY md Susannah J_

See also:

• "A Directory, Business Mirror, and Historical Sketches of Randolph County with brief notes of the Pioneer Settlers," by E. J. Montague, 1859. transcribed by Genealogy Trails Transcription Team. http://genealogytrails.com/ill/randolph/1859directory_history.html

At the same time [ca 1790], a Mr. Huff, with his family, and a few others, left Pennsylvania, and started for Illinois, Huff had married the widow Mooredock [sic?], who had three sons along with the party. While ascending the Mississippi, near the Grand Tower, the party were attacked by Indians, and Mrs. Huff, one of her sons, and some others of the party, were killed. Mrs. Huff was butchered in a shocking manner. The remnant of the party reached Kaskaskia, and settled in the American Bottom. A few years afterwards, Mr. Huff was killed by the Indians, on the road between Kaskaskia and Prairie du Rocher. John Mooredock, (the stepson of Huff), whose name figures conspicuously in the early events of Illinois, harbored a spirit of unrelenting revenge against the Indians for injuries he received in the horrible death of his mother - the death of two stepfathers, and the death of a brother. The destruction to Indian life was his ruling passion, and he sought it at all times, whether in peace or war. He was the most deadly foe that ever appeared against the Indians of Illinois. He was foremost in every Indian campaign. His name was a terror to his savage enemies. But notwithstanding the destructive vengeance that burned in his bosom for savage blood in retaliation of injuries received, in the civil walks of life he was kind, benevolent, sociable and gay, and yielded willingly to the fascinations of agreeable society. He married a Miss Garrison - stepdaughter to Shadrack Bond, Sen. He was elected a member of St. Clair County to the Territorial Legislature, which convened at Vincennes in 1803, and served again in the Legislature at Kaskaskia, in 1814. He held the rank of Major in the militia, and was field officer under Governor Edwards, in the campaign of 1812.