Person:Elizabeth Erskine (22)

Records of Elizabeth Erskine

From "The Breviate in the boundary dispute between Pennsylvania and Maryland" by John Penn, Thomas Penn, Richard Penn, Baron Charles:

Elizabeth Murphy aged 43 [Lib. C. fol. 754. Int. 181. fol. 755.] (taken abt. 1739)

Knows some Parts of Cecil and Baltimore Counties in Maryland, and some Parts of Lancaster, Chester, and Philadelphia Countiesin Pensilvania, knows the River Susquehannah, but does not know the Bay of Chesapeak. Says Part of the River Susquehannah lies in Maryland and Part in Pensilvania. Has seen Indian Forts and Indian Towns, and that the Difference between an Indian Town and an Indian Fort is, that the first is incloseil with Wood,by some called Pallisadoes, and Banks of Earth,and that the latter is a Place where their Houses or Cabbins are built,and they plant their Corn without such Inclosure. Says that upwards of 30 Years ago. she saw a Place on a Point of Land, between the Mouth of Octorara Creek that runs into Susquehannah River aforesaid and the said Ri ver,near to the Mouth of the said Creek, where, her Father Jonas Erskine, since deceased, informed there had formerly been an Indian Fort. That, when she saw the same, there appeared a large Bank cast up round it, and the Tops of the Pallisadoes that had been there appeared to be rotted off, and the Stumps of them remained in the Ground. And says that her Father, who lived at the same Place many Years, by the Licence of the Indians, informed her there had been a great Battle fought there, and shewed her the Bones of several Persons buried in the Cliffs of the Rocks, which he said were the Bones of Indians slain in that Battle. That the Indians who had formerly resided at the Place, were removed from thence when she saw it; and then lived at a small Distance from it. Says that her Father, likewise, at the same time, said to her this Affirmant, "That you "may remember it. there, over the Creek (pointing to a Place "over Octorara Creek aforesaid.) I saw the Lord Baltimore "set his Compass to run the Line."