The Journal of Samuel Vaughan, June - September 1787

16

terminated by a perpendicular rock 10 or 12 feet high with an opening appearantly a Cave, & here was the first apparent rising from the first crossing. dined at Mr. Miers's near 80 Year old almost double, yet active & furnished a good dinner. 12 miles. at 2 miles distance on the West side of Monongahala River, on the banks thereof, was Braddocks defeat, in a bottom. the Faench attacked them from a small rising above the bottom. it is now all in corn, 10 farms on the road. _ Adam Jacobs was raising a roof on his farm, at which above 40 men were employed & had nearly raised it that day _

______ To Pittsbourgh, mounted mother Miers's hill, then for 4 miles easy - ascent, then level, in 7 miles came to Turtle Creek, the same as crossed last stage. came to the side of a hill, having stratas of Slate & freestone laying horizontal, as are all on the otherside of the Allagany mountains, whereas on the otherside quite down to the Sea they are most generally if not totally found in all directions but that of horizontal & frequently perpendicular which gives reason to suppose the interior land remains in its primitave state & that next the Ocean

18

Fort Pitt

Stockado

[top of page has a drawing of the Fort Pitt stockade, including features identified as "Bridge" to the fort entrance; "Ditch"; "130 feet"; "Curtain 150 ft."; "Shorter angle 55"; "Brick Barracks gone to ruin"' and "Storehouses gone to ruin."]

The above fort is fifteen feet thick of sonte faced with brick. the ditch about the same breadth, between that & Monogahany river are two small Redoubts 1 1/2 brick thick, which as usual was made a Job of & 100,000 £ Sterling - Near the fort is a distillery well constructed, with a still of 1500 galls. a late work by Maj. Craige but much too large to answer _ Breed of horses not much attended to from 14 to 16 hands, all from 20 to 30 £

July 5. Crossed the Monagahany river & mounted the Coal hill opposite the town, in which they have a coal, inclining to that of kernel but not so hard or good, there is much coal in the neighbourhood at the summet are several farms good land. great variety of trees, & plants - also prickly goosberries, some currents, black berries hops, ginsang

19

plums, asparagrass, Sarsaparella, wild ginger diferent kinds of grapes, Sassafax I saw one plant with a rose equal to those cultivated in gardens _ they cultivate wheat Rye Barley Indian Corn Oats buckwheat with all kinds of roots, greens & [pulse?] the below.

From the Pittsbourgh Gazette of the 17 June 1787 _ "Since the 10" of October 1786 to 12 May 1787, there has passed down the Ohio river to Kentucke 177 boats _ 2689 people 1333 horses 766 Cattle 102 Waggons & 1 pheaton, from a Journal by the Adjutant at fort Harmer or Muskinghum - a number passed in the night unobserved."

besides the above many go in boats from Fayette town, as also from Virginia & Maryland by land.

Kentucke is 600 miles down the Ohio. the boats that go down are from 35 to 60 feet long 10 to 14 wide with a roof of slight oak shingles or clap boards 3 feet long laid horizontally over each other, like to Noahs ark, & steered with an oar, their fore man & horse 35 / goods 2/6 [illegible], a single person found in bread bacon & water per 15 p they are from 6 to 10 days going down, sell their boat for the value of the boards, the bottom & sides being flat & the hands 3 weekes coming up by land.

NB The 4 July cellebrated the American independance with 28 gentlemen, had 13 toasts & fired a howitzer near 100 times having no cannon. In the afternoon crossed the Allagany river 3 acres are laid out at the point for a town; on this side is the Indian country not yet purchased & is abundantly richer than on pitsburgh side, went up the River 7 or 8 mile to W Burtons farm, in the

20.

way came to Wigwams, from whence the Indians often come to Pittsbourgh with peltry to trade. 3 miles further came to other Wigwams where were 16 Indians men women + children cooking victuals. an Island in the River cultivated _ _ _ _ _

July 6 [in left margin]

_ _ _ _ Went down the Ohio in a - Durham boat 50 by 9 ft broad, rowed down with the Current & poled up against it _ in 1/4 mile passed Smoak Island of 40 acres, in 3/4 mile Elliots Island a mile long 150 acres _ on Washington side 2 miles further is [Sherteers?] Creek 100 yards wide, at the mouth of which is a remarkable high Rock, on which is a noted spring of excellent water, 2 miles lower is Cow Island 40 acres then came to Monteers, now General Irvins Island 5 1/4 miles long 948 acres of exceeding rich valuable land, landed 3 or 4 miles down + went to the farms on the heigths, now Let, where was exceeding fine corn &c. there is on the Island wild deer & turkeys, Turtle, wild asparagrass plums, cherries hickory timber trees 3 Island to the Eastward will soon join the generals - there [illegible] _

8 [in left margin]

_ _ _ _ _ Being sunday went to Church + heard W Barr, who gave a good discourse to 120 persons, - several who had taken umbrage for his dispute with Mr Brackenridge on politicks &c. did not attend

9 [in left margin]

_ _ _ _ _ Crossed Monogahany River to General Nevils, passed a creek on the way on which was a Saw mill. the General has 5000 acres of fine land 600 of

21

375 [in right margin]

which in cultivation 50 acres in wheat 60 acres in Indian corn, near his house is the remains of an Indian Semicircular fort, its_ diameter 150 yards, which had a parapet & ditch its diameter 150 yards, & dug perpendicular 30 feet; within the fort is a large heap of human bones, covered with sods alternately also a large heap or mound of mussel shells_ here is a large bottom on which many Sugar maples of which the Gen made Sieg during the war _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

8 [in right margin]

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ To Col Cannons Washington County fine land & good road & easy hills, 15 farms & an excellent Grist + saw mill _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

10 [in right margin]

To Washington town, lately made a Borough, in the County of Washington, it has a Court house Goal + 70 good log houses mostly of 2 Story & built within 2 years 21 farms on the road, within 10 miles round the town there is not 200 acres together without a family, the County returns near 5000 taxable men _ _ _

July 10 [in left margin]

To Col Bells, easy hills & excellent land. 22 farms on the road which is good. the Col has 200 acres open, let to Tennents. 70 acres he cultivates himself with 2 sons (one but 12 year old& a negroe has excellent wheat Indian corn flax &c _ plenty of wild turkeys, yellow gray red & black Squerrels _ _ _ _ _

15 [in the right margin]

416 [in the right margin]

23

439 [in the right margin]

or droves of horses that encampt thereon to graze or encamp for the night which hath killed all the trees as far as the conflagration went & which afforded an extensive view of Fayette County in Virginia & of Washington County in Pensylvania those Counties being on the line or River that divides the two states; altho the Counties have many hills it appeared through a good accro= =matich glass, like a plain, with little spots every here & there appeard like portions of plowed land arrising from the steams & branches of trees (of that [illegible] that had been girded & there by killd, when they ploughd & row the land; leaving the trees standing to rot & fall, by which cattle & men are subject to accident, yet this is the custom on the otherside of the Susquhanah to save trouble _ it is said one or more of those fires happen every spring & continue burning until put out by rain - the road to Fosrichs very stony & rocky, from Fosrichs to Ink's much better road, but poor land, Laurel hill ends half a mile before you come to Inks'. (here left the main road with Mr Inks as a guide to the Youghagany falls - - -

8 [in the right margin]

- - - - - To Youghagany falls, the first 2 miles over bad rocky road & soil, then came to a glade or great meadow narrow but of a great length, which having

447 [in the right margin]

24

crossed, then mounted a stony or rather a rocky hill bad soil & 6 miles further came to John [Askreens?] farm, to whom I had a letter from Col McLean, who as being the best guide, desired he would go with me. I however took them both, as it was through high hills & rocky presipices (leaving my coat neck cloth & incumbrances) at 2 miles distance; we however climing over rocks trees Logs & hills, Lost our way, altho he had been there two years before, we at length after three hours fatigue arrived at some distance below the falls, but in full sight, when it appeared to me through a good glass as on the opposite side

[Bottom half of the page has a map of the area]

Road from Fort Pitt to the little Meadows

Youghiagani River

Salt works carried on during the war.

Falls

about 66 feet falls to the mouth of great meadows ru

Great Meadow run

25

[Page has a color drawing of the waterfalls]

The contra plan as given by Col Mc.Lean, who is a gentleman of fortune & Character & employed to survey that & a line between the States. - The above was a hasty sketch taken in a hurry after much fatigue.

[written vertically on the left side of the page]:

Youghanani falls 49 1/2 feet

and within 100 yards below the fall. Here is 20 1/2 foot falls the whole

26

44 [written in the right margin]

The great falls of 49 1/2 feet, came down from level rocks, falling perpendicular, in one intire sheet, with such violence as raised a mist of great heigth, like a thick fog or vapour & with a noise heard long before the mountain can be seen, dashing & foaming against innumerable large rocks that one chiefly on the west side of thee River. on the East side there is little or no obstruction judge the River to be near 150 yards wide where dried my linnen returned to Mr Arskeens & from thence through an obscure path to the Red Lyon, Salters tavern, a mile beyond the big meadow, - - - - - - - -

Mr Braddock after being wounded was brought 108 miles near Inks' + was buried 2 1/2 miles beyond Inks' in the middle of the road, to be conceald from the Indians

_ _ _ _ To Halls farm, easy hills + strong good level + meadow land. Mr Hall is young man with a wife & 7 Children, during the War, he bought 600 acres of land for which he gave 3000£ paper money worth at that time about 50£ Cash. he has only himself a Son of 12 years & a Servant that work, has a forge is his own Carpenter, Smith, &c. has 21 head of Cattle, 17 sheep, 8 horses + mares, 37 hogs + pigs, spins linnen & wollen for his family, in want of Iron + Salt only, This small farm of grain pasture, barn & Log house in good order. from Laurel hill common to Allagany Mountains _ _ _ _ So cold. that for the first time wore a great [Coat?] since left Philadelphia.

27

477 [written in the right margin]

_ _ _ _ _ To Simpkins tavern or liberty tree. four miles to Youghagani River crossed the river 140 yards over, then rose Allagany mountain steep & long hill, good land tho part stony. then waving stoney land, large timber trees, then level, strong land, small trees, 4 farms hitherto 4 or 5 mile farther, rose Winding hill (from the traverse of the Road) which is high & steep & the summit of the Allagany Mountains, then 2 miles waving land, some part stony some part level alternatety, when came to Simpkins', here it is too cold for Indian corn _ _ _ _ _ _ _

11 [in the right margin]

488 [in the right margin]

In the last stage my horse startled at a Rattle Snake that lay in the path coiled up as usual_ thus [drawing of a coiled snake] the body very thick, the neck very slender & with a small head, it kept continually rattling, by pelting it with stone, disabled it from striking when by stones & sticks soon killed it. A man had lately been bit above the knee his leg & thigh, swelled almost as thick as his body & in 24 hours of the very same colour as the Snake & spotted, [yea?] cured by an old Indian.