David Benjamin (1740 - 1777)

Born 1740 in Goshen, Orange, New York

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1777 at about age 37 in Loyalsock, Lycoming, Pennsylvania

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Biography

THE BROWN-BENJAMIN TRAGEDY

In the autumn of 1777 a band of hostile savages appeared on the Loyalsock and committed an atrocious outrage. Daniel Brown was among the earliest settlers in this part of the county. He had two daughters married to two brothers named Benjamin, and they lived near the cabin of their father-in-law. On the alarm of the approach of the Indians, the Benjamins, with their families, fled to the residence of Mr. Brown and made preparations to defend themselves. The Indians made an attack on the house I but met with a stout resistance, which was kept up for some time. During the fight an Indian was killed by a shot from a gun in the hands of one of the Benjamins. This greatly enraged the assailants and finding they could not dislodge the besieged, they managed to set fire to the house. The flames made rapid headway and a horrible death stared the inmates in the face if they remained inside. What was to be done? Remain inside and be consumed, or come forth to be, dispatched by the tomahawks of the savages? Either alternative was a fearful one. The Benjamins finally decided to come forth and trust themselves to the mercy of their foes. Brown refused, and remaining in the building with his wife and one, daughter, all three were consumed. When the Benjamins emerged from the door one of, them carried his youngest child in his arms. A burly savage brandished his, tomahawk and with a fiendish yell buried the glittering steel in the brain of Benjamin. As he fell his wife, who was by his side, shrieked and caught the child in her arms. His scalp was quickly torn from his head and exultingly shaken in her face.

The remainder of the survivors were seized and carried into captivity. This horrible tragedy occurred on what was long known as the Buckley farm, on Loyalsock.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ History of Lycoming County, Chapter VI. The web site is: county/lycoming/history/lyco-history- 01.html"