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John Flinn was born in Greenbrier County, Virginia,[1][2] to John Flinn[3] and Elizabeth.[1]
When John was about five years old[2][1][4], his father was killed and he and members of his family were captured.
"At the time when taken the people had to stay in a fort - part of the time they would sleep out & plant little patches of corn. [John's] folks went to the farm to look after their corn. Some Indians came on them. My grandfather & 2 of his girls were in the field, while grandmother & my father were at the house. The Indians fired on grandfather, he fell, having received seven shots, one of the girls fell - the Indians supposing one shot struck and killed her. They took the other girl prisoner & went to the house, took out what they wanted & then lit it on fire. Grandmother, my father & sister, were taken, then they were gone, the surviving girl, who fell in the cornfield, got up & went to the fort."[2]
His "family was captured in Greenbrier County Virginia & [John's father John] was gathering corn in a field.[4]
"[John's] second captivity was after he was married - when Indian agent Johnston was living in Pigua, Ohio, hired my father, in the war of 1812, knowing he was acquainted with the Indians, to go to Fort Wayne to ascertain if they were going to engage in the war against the Americans. They had had a battle that day and they all knew him and were angered because he left them - they called him a spy and took him prisoner."[1]
His children were:[3]
John Flinn died on June 11, 1857, age 81 years, 3 months, 21 days. He is buried at Honey Creek Cemetery in New Carlisle, Clark County, Ohio.[7]
Name: John W Flinn. [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
Born 21 February 1776. [9] [10]
Simone Gerde Attack on farm abt 1786. Cabin Creek, Kanawha, West Virginia, USA. John was captured by Simone Gerdes band, lived with native tribes in Miami county, OH.
Residence
1850: Elizabeth, Miami, Ohio, USA.[10]
Marriage: 5 Sep 1811. Miami, Ohio, United States. [13]
The following text was pasted in this profile from John W. Flinn's The Far Flung Flinns.[14]
"John Jr., b. 1770, at Cabin Creek. When his father was killed, he was captured, along with his little sister Chloe, his mother, and another sister, Nancy in October 1786, but escaped after some time, perhaps a few weeks. The family were friends of Daniel Boone, so John made his way to Boone's camp, entreating Boone for help. Boone accomplished this after about seven months, in the spring of 1787; at the Limestone treaty was affected at Point Pleasant. Cot Boone found Chloe playing with her Indian playmates, told her to climb up behind him on his horse and he would take her home to see John. John was captured again in 1790 and burned at the stake, according to Dr. Jonathan P. Hale. A more-thorough account (research done in the 1880s by L. C. Draper of the Wisconsin Historical Society) show he escaped being burned up by being bought by an old French woman for a bottle of whiskey, with only bad burns on feet and legs. He was carried up the Scioto River into Ohio, and lived 14 years with the Indians. After 14 years, John left the Pawnees, (or Shawnees-2 different accounts) going to Ft. Wayne, Ind., and worked as interpreter and clerk for a merchant and Indian Agent, Col. John Johnston, remaining seven years in this work.
He later went to Virginia (This was before W. Va. split off in 1862.), got married to Agnes Priest and had two children. Then he was hired by the Government to go amongst the Indians as a spy, in an effort to discover if the Indians would fight the whites in the war of 1812. They again imprisoned him. He escaped again after 3 months and went back to his family in Miami Co., Ohio, where he lived to a ripe old age.
Archives in the library in Charleston, W. Va., show him burning to death in 1790. L. C. Draper shows John being with Indians after the 1790 capture for 14 years, learning several Indian dialects, becoming as Indian as the Indians were. He was highly respected for his prowess with bow and arrow, rifle and tomahawk. They called him Ques-tas-ke, "the one who limps", due to the burns and a bad cut on his foot when initially captured.
He and Agnes had a total of 14 children, 12 boys and 2 girls, some of which we can name:
This profile previously contained a transcript of correspondence and letters from the Lyman Draper Daniel Boone papers, part of the Lyman C. Draper Manuscript collection held by the Wisconsin Historical Society. The transcribed text is preserved on [page], so has been removed here.
Elizabeth Hain, letter to Lyman C. Draper, May 3, 1884 (p. 30).
A.J. Miller, letter to Lyman C. Draper, postmarked October 17, 1883 (p. 35).
J.B. Miller, letter to Lyman C. Draper, April 23, 1884 (p. 36). In reply to your letter I will question the old man for you again: 1st - Mother was about 8 years old when captured I guess (Nancy Flinn) 2 - John Flinn was about two years younger. 3 - I think Adam Mann raised her (Chloe Flinn) in Monroe Co., Virginia 4 - I think it was Shawnees that took her to Detroit 5 - I don't know. She died in Missouri (when she died & age?) reference: Charley Miller, Mary Miller, Adam Miller, wife, Harrison Co. Mo. They may have a record of her death. 6th - I have no recollection of it (a narrative of her captivity - Nancy Flinn) 7th - Roda Gillespie. Polly Miller in Coffee Burey*, Harrison Co. Mo, rite to William Gillespie & he will give you the post office of the two sisters. *Coffeyburgh, Davis Co., Mo.
Kemper Jarrell, letter to Lyman C. Draper, February 10, 1884 (p. 34).
I will give you names of them & Post Office address. Brownstown, Ka Co West Va these are their names: Albert Jarrell Jasper Jarrell John Jarrell Wilbern Jarrell Joseph K Jarrell There is a good in Boone Co composed of the many Indian party which I am not able to give you any information about them in this letter but I will give you every thing you ask me the next.
Mary Ann Flinn, letter to Lyman C. Draper, April 15, 1884 (p. 40). John Flinn's Captivity Shidler, Delaware Co. Mo. When Father Flinn's adopted (Indian) father was killed in a skirmish, then he thought he would go back to Virginia to see his people, but when he got there he did not like to stay with them, for he did not like their way of cooking & he did not feel at home with them. So he told them he was going back to the Indians again. They begged & pleaded him not to go, but they could not persuade him to stay with them any longer. After he returned to the Indians, he discovered that he did not like them any more. They took him prisoner & some of them declaring he was a spy, while some plead for him. They took his horses & guns from him & left him with the squaws & the Indians went for plunder where they had a skirmish the day before. They allowed to attend to him the next day. He suspected that they would shoot or burn him when they returned. He went & got his gun & the squaws asked him what he was going to do. He replied that he was going home. They said he had better not go, for if the Indians should catch him, they would kill him. He said he knew that as well as they did. He started, the Indians followed him three or four days & once he was in a hollow log & they ran directly over it. He traveled by night, hiding by day. He swam a large stream & at length reached the settlement again, but underwent heavy hardships in accomplishing it. He was as much Indian as any of them & knew all their tricks very well. He could talk nine different Indian languages. Father Flinn got married in Virginia, Greenbrier County, to Miss Agnes Priest in 1810 & raised 12 sons and two daughters, all growing to be men & women & all were at his funeral. My husband has been sick for some time. J.W. Flinn is here helping me take care of him. James Flinn's memory is not very good now. Mary Ann Flinn
5th - His mother lived about 3 years & fell dead as she dropped a load of wood from her shoulder. Father's sister, Chloe, I think was her name, don't know her age - was separated from him & he never after saw her till he was rising a sixty years of age. He then sent one of my brothers money to pay their expenses & she came & paid him a visit - a meeting of great joy."
J.F. Ballard, letter to Lyman C. Draper, n.d. (p. 42). 1st - My mother was seven years old when captured. 2nd - The tribe was the flathead nation, the number of the company was about fifteen, but I could not say who their leader was. 3rd - She was with them about 8 months. 4th - Colonel Boone made a treaty with them & got her from them but I could not say what kind.
Page 44 [letter to Sheriff of Logan Co. and clipping from a newspaper]
Sheriff of Logan Co., Wva Dear Sir I write to you for information about St. Clair Ballard who some 35 years ago represented your county in the Virginia legislature. If he is still -----, I would like to know his address – if not, of any brother or sister or children. I wish some historical information – thence wish to learn if Mr. Ballard or any of his relatives survive to whom you can refer me. Be good enough to inform me for which I shall feel thankful. Very truly yours, Lyman C Draper. (newspaper clipping)
One of the earliest settlers of that county, said Mr. Ballard, was my grandfather on my mother's side. In the time of the barbarous deeds done by these Indians, they came across this family and shot the parents of my mother. They seized my mother and fled with her into their own country. Col. Daniel Boone hearing of this pursued them and rescued my mother from the Savage foe. He brought her back and raised and educated her.
Madison, Boone Co., Wva
Mr. Draper Sir,
I rec'd a letter from you in reflectance to the captivity of my grandmother by the Indians and her rescue by Daniel Boone in which you referred to a newspaper account by Mr. Hale of Kanawha County, West Virginia. I saw the same account and it is correct as I have always understood the case. My grandparents moved away from here when I was a small boy and I have no recollection of dates. I will give the names and PO addresses of persons that probably can give the desired information:
Boone Ballard, Bethany, Harrison Co., Missouri
John F Ballard, Waldron, Shelby Co., Indiana
St. Clair Ensminger, Shelbyville, Shelby Co., Indiana
Andrew Ensminger, Shelbyville, Shelby Co., Indiana
The Ballards named are sons of my grandmother and the others grand children. There is some old people in this county that I think would know some of the particulars of the case. I will see them and if so, will write to you. If you write to those mentioned tell them who gave you their address as they know me and will answer your letter more swiftly.
My name is,
M.S. Ballard, the older son of St. C. Ballard. Page 47 [Letter to Boone Ballard and John Ballard]
Nov 5, 1882
To: Boone Ballard, Bethany Mo and John F Ballard, Waldron, Ind.
1: What were the names of the parents of Chloe Flinn – were they both killed and were others also killed?
2: What were the particulars of Chloe Flinn being taken – what was her age at the time?
3: When & where was she born?
4: Where did her parents reside when she was captured?
5: How many Indians composed the party, of what tribe and name of the leader?
6: How far was Chloe Flinn taken before she was rescued, at what place was the rescue?
7: Under what circumstances did Col. Boone hear of her captivity and how did he accomplish the rescue, and how many were with him?
8: To whom was your mother married and when and where and at what ages did she and her husband die?
9: How did the Indians treat her while with them and how long with them.
Also sent the same in substance to St. Clair and Andrew Ensminger, grandsons of Chloe Flinn, both of Shelbyville, Ind. Nov. 5, 82 Page 49 [Letter from Marine S. Ballard]
Madison, Boone Co., Wva
Nov 19th, 1882
Mr. Draper
Sir: I have delayed answering yours of the 5th expecting to see some old people in this county that I think know something about thecapture and rescue of my grandmother, but I have not seen them, as my business keeps me close at home. I will give their names: Andrew Kessinger and Nancy Ballard of this place. I will try to answer your questions to the best of my recollection.
1: I think she was captured in Kanawha county this state on the Kanawha river, 25 miles above Charleston.
2: I don't know what age she was when captured but I think she was very young some three or four years old.
3: She had no brother or sister killed; one brother was captured with her and staid with the Indians till grown and then settled some where in Ohio; his name was John Flinn. One sister hit in a sink hole in the ground and staid till the Indians left then went to Greenbriar County this state to a fort about sixty miles and give the news of what had happened.
5: She was taken to Ohio but I don't know to what place; I don't think she was with the Indians very long.
Boone Ballard, son of Chloe Flinn:[16]
Lyman C. Draper, letter to Boone Ballard, February 14, 1883 (p. 51–52). I am much puzzled at your mother's age when captured and when she died. The account I have conflict much with each other. 1st. Have you any record of your mother's birth & death? Your nephew, M.S. Ballard, says his father (your brother) St. Clair Ballard was home in 1800; that there were one or two older children than St. Clair. Andrew Kesinger writes that Chapman Ballard was born in 1799, St. Clair in 1802, you in 1804. I suppose he sort of guesses at these dates. But if Chapman Ballard. Your older brother, was born about 1798, St. Clair in 1800 – then your father and mother must have been married about 1797 & supposing your mother was about sixteen when married that would fix her birth year about 1781. Mr. Kessinger says she was born in 1781 or 1782. You say she was 75 when she died in 1863 – that would fix her birth year in 1788 & would make her ten years old when Chapman was born then. That could not be. At all events, you can see that I need some more accurate data to guide me – guess work in matters of history is not safe and leads to many errors. You can at least tell me the date of your own birth & how many brothers and sisters you had older than yourself. Please name them in order of their birth years. 2nd. Where was your mother born? 3rd. How long was she detained in captivity? 4th. Were you named after Dan'l Boone because he rescued your mother from captivity? And was she accustomed to speak of Boone as the person who had rescued or redeemed her? 5th. What was your mother's age when married? 6th. Are there any surviving children, your cousins, of your mother's sisters - & of your uncle John Flinn. If so, give me there names and addresses. 7th. How far above the mouth of Cabin creek did your grandfather live, for which side of it. Which was your nearest railroad station? 8th. After your mother's return from captivity, with whom did she live & where? One account says she lived with Boone.
Andrew Kessinger, letter to Lyman C. Draper, December 29, 1882 (p. 53). Dear Sir, Yours of the 14th past is at hand, below you will find information that I have in regard to this subject of your letter. I was born on the 12 day of January 1804, in the county of Monroe Va. My father was whose name was Matthias Kessinger was born in Monroe Va. My mother was a sister of John Ballard, who married Chloe Flinn, my grandfather and mother came from Germany; my grandfather was named Matthias Kesinger and my grandmothers maiden name was Juda Sipes – I first knew Chloe Flinn after she had married John Ballard when a small boy, living in Monroe County Va. John and Chloe had four male chldren: Chapman, St. Clair and Medley. Chapman was born in the year 1799, St. Clair 1802, Medley 1804 and Boone Ballard, named for Daniel Boone. Think from the best information that I have that Chloe Flinn was born about the year 1781 and was married to John Flinn about the year 1798. Chloe's father and mother were living on Cabin Creek then Greenbrier County, now Kanawha County, at the time of this capture and the killing of her father. Do not know the name of Chloe's father and mother; they had four children named respectively Polly, Nancy, John and Chloe. At the time of the capture, this father was killed was at the time engaged in putting up a pole on forks to hang clothes on after being washed. This mother, Nancy, John and Chloe were captured. Polly secreted herself in a hollow log and remained all night hav heard her say that during the night she imaged she heard the Indians walking about near her concealment, but was relieved by hearing a deer jump off and whistle. The next morning she being satisfied that the Indians were gone made her way down to Fort Donnally, about 10 miles below, about 1 or three miles above where the City of Charleston is now situated. Polly afterwards married Adam Mann in Monroe County Va where she lived until her death, my recollection now is that she has been dead about 30 years. Nancy Flinn was with the Indians severeal years, likely she was 16 or 17 years when she was taken from the Indians by a man by the name of Halstead in Ohio. He was a relation to the Flinns. At that time, she had married an Indian and was ---- by her Indian hsuband. After her return to Monroe County the child was born, a girl, who afterwards married Simeon Jarrell, and lived about 2 miles above this place on Little Coal River when she lived & died. Her name was Elizabeth. Nancy after her return to Monroe Co. Va married a man by the name of George Miller and moved to Coal River a short distance from here about the year 1830. They moved to Jackson Co., Ohio. I went with them to assit them in moving. Miller and his wife afterwareds moved to Missouri; they are both dead. John Flinn remained with the Indians in Ohio until peace was made with them. He then --- there the Indians giving him a --- tract of land. He afterwards accumulated considerable property. Chloe Flinn was married to John Ballard in Monroe or Kanawha County and moved afterwards to Coal River near here thence to Indiana, Shelby County. Chloe was very small when she was captured. My understanding has been that Daniel Boone exchanged a male Indian for her in Ohio. At the time she was exchanged she was setting on a bear skin. Boone brought her back to Kanawha and gave her to a man by the name of Slaughter, who raised her. I have visited the spot where Flinn was killed on Cabin Creek. When I was young I have listened with great nterest to Nancy Flinn who married Geo. Miller, relating her life among the Indians. She could make a nice mocasin, made a pair and presented to me. I think it was the Shawnees that captured the Flinns, but I am not certain having given you a brief account of my recollections of history of the Flinn family as I learned it many years ago. Yours truly, Andrew Kesinger
Page 54/55 [Letter to Andrew Kessinger] To Andrew Kessinger – Jan. 12, 1883 1st: At the time of this attack on the Flinns were there other families residing on Cabin Creek? And how far above the mouth of the Creek on which side did the Flinns live? 2nd: Can you describe the locality where Flinn lived – whether in a valley or on upland? 3rd: Can you refer me to any surviving children of Polly Flinn, afterwards Mrs. Mann; and Elizabeth (Nancy's daughter) afterwards, Mrs. Simeon Jarrell (if I read your letter right) and of Mrs. Nancy Miller and John Flinn in Ohio? 4th: If you can recall anything further about Col. Daniel Boone's going after Chloe Flinn – where he went to to get her, and how long she was a prisoner, and how old when released, whether any one went with Boone on this trip – or anything else connected with the Boone's journey? Or was the exchange for her effected at Maysville, Ky where Indians would sometimes bring their prisoners and where Boone lived before moving to the Kanawha country? 5th: Can you refer me to any of the Slaughter family who raised Chloe or at least tell me where the lived? L.C.D.
Page 56 [Letter from Andrew Kessinger] Madison, Wva April 23rd, 1883 L.C. Draper, Dear Sir, Yours of the 12th Jany and also of the 5 Mch have been received. I beg to say that I should have answered your letter after 12 January past but delayed to answer expecting to get something --- in regard to the capture of the Flinn family. In answer to your interrogation I will say: 1st: From the best information that I have --- -- to gather no other families on Cabin creek at the time of the capture of the Flinn family. It was on Cabin creek a number of years ago and the spot was pointed out to me where Mr. Flinn's Cabin stood. This was about the year 1833 when I was there a man by the name of Charlie Spurlock was living near the spot, took me to the ground where the Cabin stood there remained the chimney was plain there to be seen. Nothing but a pile of rock of which the chimney was built remained to mark the spot. This was about one half miles distant from Kanawha River on the Cabin Creek. On the right side of the creek as you asceneded the Creek, the Cabin had been built in a bottom or valley between the hill and the brook. I was well acquainted with Polly Flinn, who married Adam Mann – Chloe Flinn who married John Ballard, and Nancy Flinn who married George Miller. Polly Flinn was not captured by the Indians. She secreted in a hollow log until the Indians were gone. She then went to Donally's Fort. The Indians killed John Flinn, the father of the children, and took the mother whose name I do not now recollect, and her daughters Chloe and Nancy, and her son John, prisoners. Chloe was very young, could not have been over two or three years old. Nancy was young, but old enough to remember – I remember of her saying that her mother disappeared and she could not --- what the Indians did with her but suppose they killed her. John Flinn, son of John Flinn, who was captured by the Indians was taken to Ohio there he stayed with the Indians until a man. Was made I think he lived near Chilicothe. He was out in Monroe Co. Va to see his people, my mother spoke of seeing him, said he could not speak English well. Spoke language of Indians mostly. Nancy was stolen from the Indians by a man by the name of Halstead and brought back to her friends. She had married an Indian and after her return she had a daughter whom she named Elizabeh. I do not know of any children of Polly Mann living except Jo. Mann who was alive a few years ago. Do not know where he is now. Do not know of any the children of Chloe, Nancy or John living. Think they are all gone. I have no definite information or recollection about how Boone got the --- of Chloe, but that which I unto your heretofore. Cannot now recollect when she was when the exchange was made. ---------- I have heard that she was stolen by Boone and his comrades. This Slaughter family are all gone – do not know of any of the family living. I daw an article written by J.P. Hale published in the West Virginia School Journal February, 1883, gives a very interesting account of D. Boone and the Flinn family, but I think it is some reprint incorrect, a copy of which ---- to the State Superintendent of Schoools, Wheeling Wva. I have been trying to get information as you desired have done the best that I could accept my think for the book should I be able to get any information, I will write it to you. Yours Truly, Andrew Kessinger.
Page 57 [Letter from Andrew Kessinger] Madison, Wva Aug 20, 1883 Lyman C Draper, Esq. Madison, Wisconsin Dear Sir, Your of the 1---- has been received. Have delayed to answer trying to get all the information possible. In reply I will give you all the information I can outside that heretofore given you. 1st from the best information I can get Chloe Flinn was born about the 1782, was married about the year 1798. Amd doed 1863. Chapman Ballard, the older son of Chloe Flinn, was brn in 1799.
Page 58 [Letter to Andrew Kessinger] Aug 26, 1883 To Andrew Kessinger & 1. Did the Flinns live in Monroe Co. Va before settling on Cabin Creek? 2. Were there children, or some of them, born in Monroe County? 3. How long have they been living on Cabin creek when attacked by Indians? 4. Have you any recollection of hearing what time of the year it was when attacked? I judge it was in the Fall. 5. I infer Nancy Flinn was four and John Flinn two years older than Chloe. If you think differently, state it. 6. Did Slaughter live at Point Pleasant – or Monroe County, or where? 7. About what year did Mrs. Nancy Miller die – or what was her age? I will write to Ryland Ballard as the oldest of Chapman Ballard's children and to John Jarrell – urge the latter to reply. 8. Had Chloe Flinn Ballard a daughter older than Chapman Ballard.
Page 60 [Letter From Andrew Kessinger] Madison, Wva Spl. 14, 1884 L.C. Draper, Esq Dear Sir, Yours of the 31 ult. Is at hand. IN reply I will say in answer to 1st that I do not know whether Mr. Flinn lived in Monroe Co. before living on Cabin Creek or not. I think he died and was but a short time on Cabin Creek, And to 3rd question I have no idea from any circumstance what time in the year the attack was ade. 4th I do not know where Ruben Slaughter lived – at Point Pleasant or not. 5th Cannot get at the year in which Nancy Miller died. She died in Mo. Write to Boone Ballard. 6th Do not know Kemper Jarrell. Do not know of Nancy Miller writing any account of her captivity. Adam Miller, a son of Nancy Miller lives in the neighborhood of Boone Ballard. Write to Boone. Do not know of anything additional. Yours Truly Andrew Kessinger John B Miller, a son of Nancy Miller, lives in Boone Co., Wva. Write to him at Bald Knob.
Page 61 [Lyman Draper's notes] The autumn of 1786 was the time of her capture, but her return is uncertain. L.C.D. She was doubtless given up at the Limestone Treaty – May 1787 or brought in not very long after; lived with Col. Dl. Boone at Limestone till the Fall of 1788, when he went up to Point Pleasant with ginseng, Lee vol. Of Boone notes, p. 333, as fixing this date. Speaking of this trip to Point Pleasant, in the Fall of 1788, and sinking of boat and getting his ginseng wet, Col. Nathan Boone, who was along and then in his 8th year, says: (L.C.D.) Reaching Point Pleasant, by John Van Bibber's invitation, Co. Boone & family went and stopped a while at his house, while Col. Boone was getting the boat and cargo in readiness to rescue his journey. Left a little girl at Van Bibbers whom Col. Boone had brought up from Maysville, where she was delivered up from captivity by the Indians , probably at the treaty of 1787, and had since lived in his family. Her name was Chloe Flinn, some ten years old, who had been taken prisoner from Greenbrier, when she was subsequently sent to her frines. Boone Notes, 1851 P.S. since noting the above I am confirmed in 1786 as the time when Chloe Flinn was captured and in the Fall of that year, by ... thence captured in October in the cornfield, doubless gathering corn.
Page 62 John Flinn, or Ques-tas-ke, the "Man that Limps" or "The Lame Man," many years my Pottawattemice interpreter, was taken prisoner, when a youth, from Greenbrier, Virignia. His father and some of the children were killed while at work in the cornfield. The Indians then went to the house, took the mother and three children prisoners, --- and burned the premises and made their escape. The mother and John fell to the lot of the same family and were not separated afterwards. The two sisters were allotted to others, none did he ever see then until he met them when they were married and settled in Virginia, having been surrendered and delivered up by the Indians under the provisions of the treaty of peace made with Gen. Wayne in 1795. John was not surrendered, preferring to remain with the Indians. His mother died five years after their captivity. She preserved in his mind a remembrance of the English language, which he would otherwise have forgotten. Her practice was, when they were alone, to talk much with him, at which times she would give vent to her sorrow in a profesion of tears. Being advanced in years, she was of little use to her unfeeling captors, denied a sufficiency of food and clothing; death terminated her suffering. On the contrary, John received from the Indians the kindest treatment, which he ever afterwards returned by a devotion and attachment to them which suffered no abatement. He was strictly honest, and for many years he served in my department; I never knew him to utter a falsehood. He used neither tobacco nor whisky. I took good care of his money, and at a proper time, purchased in fee from the United States for him, 330 acres of prime land in Miami County, Ohio, and on which he has resided many years. He married and raised a large family. Apparently living when this was written near the close of 1847. From History of Miami County, Ohio, 1880 – Elizabeth Township, p. 563 Benjamin Flinn, deceased, born in Miami County, April 2, 1822, was a son of John and Agnes Priest Flinn, he being born in Virginia and she in Kentucky. The father, John, and his mother were captured and kept in captivity for fourteen years, during which Mrs. Flinn died. John gaining the confidence of the Indians, was granted privleges to go and come as he pleased, and finally was permitted to visit his friends in Virginia, which he did, and then returned to the Indians. Becoming dissatisfied with them, he went back to Virginia, and soon after came west, and became interpreter for Col. John Johnston, the Indian Agent, during the War of 1812. It is supposed he became a settler of Miami County prior to 1807, which would make him one of the earliest pioneers. Here he married Agnes Priest, by whom he had a large family of children, of whom Benjamin was the seventh child. He lived with his father, mostly, until he marriage, which occurred Nov. 20th 1845, with Catherine, daughter of John & Rebecca Smith, he born in Maryland, and she in Virginia. By this union, they had six children, of whom five are living, viz: Agnes, Rebecca Jane, Charlotte, Franklin and Mary. After their marriage they located upon the farm, where his widow Mrs. Flinn, now resides. He died March 13, 1879. Since his death, his son Franklin, and son-in-law Mr. Paul are taking charge of the house farm, consisting of 158 acres of fine land, with good buildings and improvements and also another farm of 89 acres. Mr. Flinn was an industrious enterprising man. My father's name was John Flinn. His father and mother with their three children, one son and two daughters, emigrated from the old country, perhaps Ireland, and settled in Greenbrier, Va, about the year 1772, and build a little cabin and cleared off and fenced with poles and planted in corn perhaps an acrew of ground. And when the corn got up perhaps to roasting ears, the wild animals, especially the bears, became very troublesome in throwing down the fence and destroying the corn. So they left my father, who was then a cripple from a severe cut in his foot, which rendered him a cripple during life, with his little sister, he being , he thought, only five years old, and his sister perhaps seven, in the cabin, while Mr. Flinn and wife, and oldest daughter went to the corn patch, some distance from the house, to repair the fence. They had been there but a short time, when from the woods two guns fired – grandfather and the girl fell at the report of the two guns, seemingly both at the same time. The girl fell on her face, seeming to be dead, but the two balls had entered the breast of her father and the Indians not knowing how each had fired, supposed that they had killed each of their prostrate victims and not stopping to examine, took the mother and hurried to the house. When the Indians were out of sight, the girl who was not hurt, got up, and escaped first to the woods, and then to a settlement. The Indians took my grandmother, and my father, this sister, ransacked the hosue of such as they wanted, bed clothing and the scanty supply of provisions, packed all on their ponies, with the five year old cripple boy, then set fire to the house and made for the woods, driving grandmother and the little girl before them on foot. My recollection now is that they stopped where Upper Sandusky now is where they remained for some time – how long I do not remember. But during their stay there there was a skirmish, hostilities, between the whites and the Indians along the frontier somewhere, by which the whites took some Indian prisoners, and according to their ---, they always , so far --- --- they had prisoners and exchanged them. This little girl was lucy – she being exchanged and they got back among her friends. The took father and his mother and went West to the Wabash river, near where Huntington is now; and he being small, and seeing his mother fretting when she could without being detected, carried him to fret and cry which made the Indians displeased, and so they separated them, taking her down the Wabash to where Logansport now, where was an Indian village called Old Town. The trouble and grief with the hardships she endured, having to cut and carry wood, and do all kinds of hard work, soon put an end to grandmother's existence, as she only lived with the Indians about three years. Her body was buried after the Indian fashion. Old Town, Logansport. My father was left fatherless and motherless, with the wild woods for his home and the Indians for his protectors. As he grew up, he had all the western country from the head of the Wabash river to the --- river. The Indians sold and traded him from one tribe to another, as we would a horse. My recollecton is, that grandmother and father were first taken by the Missouri, but father was --- successively by five or six different tribes. I do not remember the names of the chiefs or heads of those tribes. There were Missouris, Shawnees, Chippeways and Rollawattames; and others I do not remember. Father used to talk five differentINdian languages, also French. His stay with them was about sixteen years, and of course, could talk but little English. He idd not see bread for seven years, living entirely on wild game. As soon as he was big enough, they provided him with a light gun and learned him to hunt and hill small game and when he aged he got a heavier rifle, and soon became a successful hunter – his equal as a hunter was not to be found among the Indians. Hence he was readily traded among the different Indian tribes. He made several narrow escapes of his life. At one time as the whites had been more successful then the Indians in some fight they had the latter determined to kill him. They held a council as to the manner of execusion, and decided to burn him alive. So they directed him to gather dry fueld and build a fire. Pretty soon, however, he began to interpret it was for his own execution, and while he was out for the last armful of sticks, the old Indian that then owned him and thought a great deal of him, plead hard for his life and father, only a boy, was a little slow coming in with the last armful of wood, and watching the motions of the Indians, when his old master motioned to him to go away into the woods, which he obeyed, and thus escaped a fiery death. But, exposure, hardhsips and privations, and starvation, seemed to be always in sight. But his privileges increased as he approached manhood, and was soon permitted to do for himself. Their trade consisted entirely in peltry, skins and furs, and as he was a superior hunter, he always had considerable to trade. Vincennes was their trading post. The Indians would pack their skins and furs on ponies, and go down there twice a year to trade. he whites from Virginia and East came with flat boat loads of fruit, flour, bacon, powder, lead and of course, whiskey, row their boats down the Ohio river, and there is where the commencement of a separation between them and the Indians began. These traders noticing that he was white, began through the interpreter making inguiriers, who he was, and where from, and the Virginia traderes remembering to have heard of the circumstances of the captivity, and from the region near which he was taken – knew his folks, the sisters then being married, and he almost forgotten. They prevailed on him to pay his folks a visit, but he did not at that time. As from time to time he would go down to Vincennes trading, he became more and more anxious to hear from his folks in Virginia. About this time, Government started a store at where Fort Wayne now is under the management of one Mr. John Johnston, whow as then Indian Agent, and as the conversation often came up between the Indians and father about his folks in Virignia and the Indians themselves after the visit to Virginia was agitated, kept a kind of record of his activity, and as they are great for visiting each other, they persuaded him to go. But as he could not speak nor understand English,, he did not know how to proceed. As he had become some acquainted with Mr. Johnston at Fort Wayne, and learning father's desire, proposed to help him effect his purpose. So when father got ready to start, Johnston gave him an instrument of writing to take to the Governor of Kentucky, which he presented, and the Governor receiving it gave him a paper to show to the people on his way, which requested that they should direct the bearer to a certain place in Virginia, naming is and supplying him with food and let his pass on, and signed his name to it as Governor of Kentucky. So be prosecuted his journey, and at length reached his friends in Virginia, who received him very kindly – his sisters recognizing him more readily from his being a cripple. They then provided him with clothing after the custom of the whites – as he went to them in his Indian garb, gun and tomahawk. They tryied to make it as pleasant for him as possible, in hopes of weaning him from a heathen life, so they took him around in society to parties and places of emusement, which seemed to do well for a while,, until his company commenced breaking off, some to plowing, some to one thing and some to another. Then he became lonesome, and thinking of his home in the woods. So between sundown and morning he gathered his outfit for the woods and started for his Wabash home, which received to him as almost the place of his nativity, and in a short time, he found himself among the camps of the Indians. He did not seem to be satisfied with his old Indian mode of life, after having been with the whites, three of four months. The Indian huts he now found were dirty, as he was not satisfied as he formerly was. So he went up to Fort Wayne, and hired to Mr. Jonston in the public store as interpreter, as he then could talk some English – getting seven hundred dollars a year, with the privelege of hunting mornings and evenings, and then made money selling game to the people of the garrison that were stationed there at that time by the Government. After remaining there seven years, he left the store, and went to Miami County, Ohio, six miles east of where Troy now stands, and entered three hundred and twenty acres of land about the year 1810, commenced a little improvement, built a log cabin and then married a Miss Agnes Priest and then with a view of making a living at farming, went as to claring and improving his land, which was very heavily timered, and seemed to find plenty to occupy his time, until the Indian War of 1812 broke out, when he was employed by the Government as a spy and again visited the wilderness country up and down the Wabash River, ascertaining the numbers of Indians, their localities, and plans and so reporting to headquarters of our army. At one time, the Indians seemed to mistreat him. The next day, after a battle, it might have been at Fort Meigs, they detained him, leaving him in the hands of the squaws until the warning would go tout to visit the battlefield, and if there were more Indians killed then whites, they would kill him. So after the Indians had started, he unconcernedly took his game as he went in the Indian garb, telling the squas that he would take a little hunt around, and would return soon. He started for the woods, rather leisurely, but as soon as he got out of sight, he made for the settlement. After finding a good living place, he laid by in the daytime and traveled night – keeping entirely through the woods. IN crossing trails or fording streams, he could see the Indians were after him by the sign of their tracks in the damp ground, but being as well up to Indian cunning and woodcraft as the Indians themselves he made good his escape. But he was very venturesome, and had many narrow risks during the War of 1812. But after peace was made, he settled down to a farm life and having some money, he hired clearing done and rails made, as he did not understand the business of farm improvement much himself. But he succeeded n offering quite a farm, on which he raised quite a large family, fourteen children, twelve boys and two girls. He continued on the same farm till his death, which occurred June 9th, 1857, in his eighty-fifth year. His companion, my mother, lived till february 1866, when he died in her seventy-eighth year. Elven of the children are lving, three having passed away. The oldest is then seventy-two years, and the youngest over fifty. This ends the career of my pioneer parents, and --- will soon be told of the entire family. So I will close this imperfect narrative by subscribing myself. Yours Truly, J.W. Flinn P.S. If there is any thing omitted that I can do, inform me. I should like the history you speak of, and will thank you for it. I should like one containing the narrative for each child of his noted family. When you receive this, let me hear from you and your opinion in reference to it and oblige me. Couldn't I sell books on commission 3 or 4 different kinds, as I am not doing much. If anything is lacking in this narrative write. John W Flinn Marion, Grant Co., Ind. March 13, 1884.
Page 64 [Letter to St. Clair Ensminger] Madison, Jan. 15th, 1883 St. Clair Ensminger, Esq. My Dear Sir, Sometime ago I wrote you about your grandmother Ballard. Receiving no reply and anxious to get at the facts about her captivity, age and I venture to trouble you again. 1st: Have you any record of her birth & death dates – and is there a family record or tombstone that shows them? I wish a careful copy. 2nd: How old was she when taken by the Indians. 3rd: How long was she kept in captivity, where taken to? 4th: How, when and under what circumstances was she rescued, redeemed or exchanged? 5th: Had Col. Daniel Boone anything to do and what in effecting her restoration? 6th: After her return where did she make her home till she married? 7th: When was she married? 8th: How old was she at the time of her death? Pray write me as well as you can reply to these inquiries, giving me and your brother's understanding of these matters as you derived them from your grandmother or mother. I hope and entreat that you will not dissapoint me. Very Truly Yours, Lyman C. Draper
Page 66 [Letter from St. Clair Ensminger] Shelbyville, Ind. January 30, 83 Mr. Draper Sir, In request to a note received from you not long ago concerning my grandmother now will give what little information I know about her capture and captivity, answering accordingly to your note dated Jan 15th 1883. 1st: I have not record of her birth or when taken. 2nd: She was seven years old. I don't know what tribe captured her. 3rd: Seven months in captivity. I don't know where she was taken to. 4th: She was rescued by Daniel Boone. I am not certain but I think by a treaty or by a trade Boone made with the Indians. 6th: Near Point Pleasant Wva. 7th: Don't know what year. 8th: Age seventy-three [eighty-three, L.C.D.] She was captured at Point Pleasant near the mouth of the Kanawha River. Her father was shot down in the yard. After they had killed the old man, took her mother and three children and started with them – the old lady not being in condition to travel after a short distance, tomahawked her and left her. After Chloe came back she lived near the place she was captured till she was about sixteen years old when she was married to John Ballard. Yours Truly, St. Clair Ensminger
Page 70 [Letter from John W Flinn] Marion, March 27, 1884 Mr. L.C. Draper Dear Sir, In conversing with one of my brothers we conclude the capture of our father must have been in 1777 – he then five years old; this stay with the Indians was 18 years and with Mr. Johnston at Fort Wayne 7 years and after he left there he bought land four miles east of Piqua and improved it some, then sold it and bought east of Troy, which we think required 8 years – which brings us to 1810. At this time he married, lived 47 years and died. Your second paragraph – I do not mean invasion by the white – I mean that there was fighting along the frontiers and prisoners taken on both sides, and exchanges made. Father's age at the time of his threatened burning I do not know. I only remember one sister being taken prisoner with father and their mother – her name was Polly. Chloe fell at the report of guns and after the Indians passed to the house, she got up and left [these names sh'd be reversed L.C.D] I learn there was another girl whose name was Nancy. I never heard of her having been captured. There were a number of Indians with their ponies at the time of capture. I do not know how many, but only two shots were fired. I often heard father speak of Tecumseh, but I don't know of what tribe. Polly married a Mr. Adam Mann & Chloe a Mr. James Ballard. I think I remember the name of Nancy, but never heard of her being captured. I think she married a man by the name of Miller. I know nothing of her posterity. If I learn more I will write again. Let me hear from you. 1772 – Father born in 1772 1777 – When captured, five years old 18 – years with the Indians --- 1795 7 – years with Col. Johnston --- 1802 8 – years speculating --- 1810 47 – years after that --- 1857 when he died, aged 85 years As I told you in my last, my parents raised a family of 14 children – 12 boys and 2 girls as follows
Deceased 12. George born, July 17, 1817 died, Mch 20, 1874 13. Jeremiah Jan 10, 1815 Jan 1882 14. Benjamin Ap. 2, 1822 Feb 1880 & Enclosed find a picture of the once little boy, who after being shot down by the Indians, with his mother and sister was compelled to submit to the fate of a prisoner and marched to the woods – not ever permitted to give vent to their sad stricken hearts, as they left in the distance that sacred spot of their dead husband and father and the flames bursting from their little cabin – their once happy home – only to be forced farther and farther into the wilds of a dense forest and father to drag out 18 years of hard, lonesome, and miserable life, incidental to Indian usage. This picture is a facsimile of our father the prisoner boy. I would like an agency to sell the volume containing this narrative. Yours &C John W Flinn
"Agnes, b 19 Oct 1787, d 23 Feb 1866, m 5 Sep 1811 Miami Co. ***JOHN FLINN, b 1775, d 11 Jun 1857." SEE ALSO, Mrs. Harold A. Stump (5321 Foster Dr., Oklahoma City, OK 73135), Vol 3, 1987; p 73; copy in New Carlisle [OH] Library. [same information].
"Name: ***JOHN FLIN Birth Place: VA, Birth Year: 1775 Spouse Name: Agnes Priest Spouse Birth Place: VA, Spouse Birth Year: 1787 Marriage Year: 1811, Marriage State: OH"
"H[M]aggy Priest mar 5 Sep 1811, Miami Co, OH to ***JOHN FLINN"
"Daughter, Agnes FLIN[N], wife of ***JOHN," in Will of Jeremiah Priest. Vol 2, p 109, dated 28 Nov 1838, probated 15 Apr 1840."
"I give and devise to my third daughter Agness Flin[n] wife of ***JOHN FLIN[N] One Hundred Dollars and to her heirs and assigns forever." Receipt for $100 and Release, dated 13 Jun 1839, signed with her mark.
"Benjamin Flinn, deceased; born in Miami Co., April 2, 1822; was a son of ***JOHN and Agnes (Priest) FLINN, he being born in Virginia, and she in Kentucky. The father, ***JOHN, with his mother, was captured in Virginia by the Indians, and kept in captivity for fourteen years, during which Mrs. Flinn died; JOHN, gaining the confidence of the Indians, was granted many privileges to go and come as he pleased, and finally was permitted to visit his friends in Virginia, which he did, and then returned to the Indians; becoming dissatisfied with them, he went back to Virginia, soon after come West, and became interpreter for Johnson, the Indian Agent, during the war of 1812. It is supposed that he became a settler of Miami Co. prior to 1807, which would make him one of the early pioneers. Here he married Agnes Priest, by whom he had a large family of children, of whom Benjamin was the seventh child...."
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Categories: Honey Creek Cemetery, New Carlisle, Ohio