Person:Robert Ground (1)

Notes for ROBERT GROUND: In the year 1767, Andrew Jackson, seventh President of the U. S. was born. John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the U. S. was born. The first paved sidewalks were laid in Westminster, London the year before. An electrical machine with glass panes became a fashionable toy.

Robert Ground , born in Thorney in Cambridgeshire, England. Was baptised on April 13, 1767and was apprenticed to a candlemaker as a young man and at the age of eighteen he ran away to America. According to family tradition, he was "a spare man with blue eyes."

He married Rhoda Long in her natiave Mercer County and they received a grant of 73 acres near the Big Barren River. Robert lived the remainder of his life on a farm North of the Three Forks community. He and some of his descendants are buried in a family cemetery.

Westley Mullenneix wrote stating, on his first visit to England, he visited Whittlesey and Thorney where our Ground/s families lived for hundreds of years. He sat in the pews of St. Andrews where our anscestors sat, stood at the alter where they were married and their funerals preached. Many of the family are buried in the church floor and when the great doors are opened, the first thing seen is the name GROUND carved in the stone which is well worn from being walked on for many years.

Deed Book 1-A, p .274 dated 02 Sep 1801, Warren Co., Kentucty shows Robert Ground as a witness for a sale of land owned by Thomas Williams to Andrew McFadin.

Deed Book 2-B, p. 157 dated 09 Dec 1801, Warren Co., Kentucky shows Robert Ground as a witness for a sale of land by Harmun Greathouse to William Hays.

Another early reference is from Mercer Co., where Robert was bondsman for the marriage of Martin Naul and Margaret Wren, the daughter of Nicholas Wren, on 22 Jan 1796.

Where was Robert between the date of his birth in 1767 and the first reference we've found in 1796? Family history relates he lived with his Grandmother Cockerel in London and that he was aprenticed to a candlemaker. He ran away to America when he was 18 years old.

WILL BOOK "D", WARREN COUNTY, KENTUCKY, 1827-1862

This is my last Will and Testiment of Robert Grounds Senior of Warren County and State of Kentucky---In the name of God I Robert Grounds considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind and memory, bless God for the same, I do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and following that is to say after my lawful debts is paid - I give and bequeath unto my youngest son Harrison Ground the land and farm I now live on and what I now own as my property, tools, plows, etc. for which he is to maintain his old mother and sister Rhoda Ground while they live and stay on the above named premises, he is to maintain in a decent manner and take care of them. I also give to my daughter Margaret Beckham a small track of land adjoining one where she now lives, forty or fifty acres, be the same, more or less - She is to have what is in the survey - I will the same to her and her heirs forever, from me and all claiming under me, etc.

As I have given the rest of my children all they are to have of my effects John Grounds etc., Mary Goodnight and Henry and Robert V., Drucilla Boydston and William, there is none of them to have anything more of my estate than what they have already gotten - And my wife has the controls of the farm and premises during her lifetime, and at her death my son Harrison is to have full possession of the said farm, etc. - If there be anything in this Will that lacks form - It is not to be void for the same. Given from under my hand and seal this 27th day of January 1850.

Signed, sealed and published by the above named Robert Ground to be his act and last Will testament in presents hath subscribed our names thereunto.

Attest: Robert Liles Signed: Robert Grounds Jacob Goodnight

State of Kentucky Warren County Court Sct. May term 1850

Aunt Margaret Beckham gave these few facts to Aunt Mary Butler:

Grandfather Ground's given name was Robert. His mother's maiden name was Cockeral. Grandfather was born at Cambridgeshire near London. He lived in London with his grandmother Cockeral from the time he was a lad until he came to America. One of his sisters married a Lord Stillfox.

Aunt Rhoda Greer copied her few facts from Grandfather Grounds' own hand writing. He was born in Thorney, Cambridgeshire, England March 1, 1768. He stated he wasapprenticed in London when a boy, to make candles, but he ran away to come to this country when only 18 years of age. His mother's name was Margaret. He had a sister Mary and a sister or cousin whose name was Phoebe Stillfox. He was a spare-built man, with blue eyes.

SOURCE: BOOK, PLYMOUTH ROCK TO THE PACIFIC by Wesley Luther Jacob Mullenneix.

In Aunt Rhoda Greer's information from the Vicar of Thorney Abbey, Peterborough, he stated: "I find Robert, son of Robert and Margaret Ground, who was baptized 13 April 1767. Also, 25 January 1769, John, son of Robert and Margaret. Rebecca Ground was baptized in 1769, the daughter of Edward and Rebecca Ground. In 1771 Mary, daughter of Robert and Margaret Ground was baptized."

Source: Ground Newsletter, Jan., 1985

Robert & Rhoda Ground left Mercer Co, Ky. perhaps in 1814 as their daughter Rhoda was born in Warren Co., Ky. in 1815. Records prove that Robert acquired the home place at Three Forks in 1818. John would have been 19, Mary 18, Henry 14, Edward 9, Drucilla 7, Margaret 5, Rhoda 3, and Robert 1. William and Harrison were born on the home place. John & Henry probably helped hew the oak logs square for the old log house which is now abandoned.

Source: Margaret R. Bates:

Notes for ROBERT GROUND II: Sources for the family of Robert Ground:

Note of Roberta Dukes Richardson to 1935 Bible Records, Vada Grounds, Smith's Grove, KY Ground Family Plot Cemetery Listings Evelyn Barclay family files (Her sources:) Mamie Ground Hayes family files Deeds, Warren Co, KY 1809, 1818, 1819 Marriage Bond & Record, Robert Ground & Rhoda Long Cemetery Records of Ebenezer Cemetery, Samsville, Edward Co IL Warren County, KY Marriage Records (bonds) US Census, 1800 Mercer Co KY; 1810 Warren Co KY; 1830 Warren Co KY Plymouth Rock to the Pacific, Mullenneix; will of Robert Ground p. 71; Family Bible of William Ground, p. 74 Draper Manuscripts 29J 18

Aunt Rhoda Ground wrote these few facts from Grandfather's own handwriting. He was born in Thorney, Cambridshire, England, March 31, 1768. He said he was apprenticed in London when a boy to make candles, but ran away and came to this country when only 18 years of age. Aunt Rhoda says as well as she can remember, her Grandfather died when her own father was a small boy. His Mother's name was either Margaret or Mary. He had a cousin or sister whose name was Phoebe Stillfox. He was a spare built man, with blue eyes.

Data below was submitted by a "modern-day" cousin, R. Bruce Ground, and can be counted on as correct in later generations, but the Conway parentage has yet to be completely documented. The following is from pages 123-124 of a publication called "Warren County Kentucky Families" date unknown, obtained from the Bowling Green Public Library:

ROBERT GROUND was born 31 Mar 1767, at Thorney in Cambridgeshire, England. The son of Robert Ground and Margaret Cockeral, he was apprenticed to a candlemaker as a young man and at the age of eighteen, he ran away to America. According to family tradition, he was "a spare man with blue eyes." He married Rhoda Long, the daughter of John Long and Mary Conway, (NOTE: some sources say Jane Conway), in Mercer County, Kentucky, 27 Nov 1798.

Rhoda ,as born on the fontier 29 Jul 1779. The Conways and the Longs were among the early settlers of Kentucky and Rhoda was less than a year old when Ruddle's Station was captured by Indians under the British Captain Bird. One of Rhoda's sisters was taken by the Indian, and it is unknown if she was ever recovered.

Robert and Rhoda settled in the Three Forks area of Warren County, Kentucky, in 1818. They were the parents of ten children: John, Mary, Henry, Edward, Drucilla, Margaret, Rhoda, Robert, William and Harrison. Of these ten, only three stayed in in Kentucky: Mary, Rhoda, and William. The others moved on in pioneer fashion fashion to Illinois, Texas, Oregon and Missouri.

Robert Ground died Feb 1850 and left his land and the care of his wife and daughter Rhoda to his son Harrison. His will is recorded in Warren Co, KY, Book D, p. 289. Harrison wanted to join his brother in Texas and William took over the land and the care of his mother and sister. Rhoda lived until 17 Nov 1863.

William Ground was born 29 J7l 1819, and married Nancy Amanda Wheatley, the daughter of Robert Wheatley and Casey Duff 7 Nov 1850. They had two children, Luther and Robert. Luther was born 1 Sep 1857 and married Eliza Bersheba Beckham 25 Aug 1881. Eliza was the daughter of Charles Henderson Beckham and Emily Potter and was born 25 Dec 1859. Luther was a census taker for the Elk Springs distict in 1900 but he developed tuberculosis and died 25 Aug 1901. Eliza was left with four children: Ethel, Mamie, Roy and Edgar.

Mamie Edna Ground married Oscar Hays and had one child, Douglas. She was an Army nurse and her interest in genealogy provided a link between generations. She lived at the Downtown Hotel at Bowling Green for several years and cut a striking figure in her cape and hat.

Edgar Robert was born 14 Dec 1893, and married Margaret Lois Moulder 10 Sep 1914. Maggie was the daughter of J. V. MouIder and Elizabeth Brunson. Their children are: Edna Ruth, Novis, Pearl, Roy V., Juanita, Donald, ArIis and David. Edgar died 25 Jan 1962 and Maggie died 18 Sep 1983.

Donald Lee Ground was born 26 Feb 1932 and married Clara Christy, daughter of Lloyd Christy and Elsie Jones 25 Feb 1950. Their four children are Donald Eugene, Patsy Jean, Steve Allen and Robert Bruce. Donald and his father, Edgar, drilled oil and water in many states. Donald is now retired from active drilling and supervises oil Ieases in Warren County.

Clara is a seamstress for Union Underwear. All their children live in Warren County except Bruce, who lives in Tampa, Florida. In 1984, in response to the curiosity evoked by his great Aunt Mamie, Bruce traveled to Thorney, England, to see the birthplace of his ancestor Robert Ground. Upon his return to Kentucky he was stunned to hear that Mamie had died the day before. Bruce now works on the family history newsletter and visits regularly with distant kin discovered through the Ground Family Association.

Submitted by R. Bruce Ground.

ROBERT GROUND (b. 1768 - d. 1850) was born in Thorney, Cambridgeshire, England, on 31 Mar 1768. As a boy, he was apprenticed to make candles in London, but ran away and came to America as a young man. In 1798, he married Rhoda Long (b. 1779 - d. 1863) in her native Mercer County** and they had ten children. Receiving a grant of 73 acres near the Big Barren River, he lived the remainder of his life on a farm north of the Three Forks community. There he and some of his descendants are buried in a family cemetery.

The children of Robert and Rhoda Ground and their descendants were members of the Church of Christ. Robert and Rhoda's children who lived in Warren County are: Mary (1800 - 1845), wife of lsaac Goodnight; Rhoda (b. 1815), wife of Burr Greer, who returned to Three Forks upon his death; and William,(1819-1891), husband of Nancy A. Wheatley (1825-1907). William and Nancy had two of their five children to each maturity and marry in 1881: Luther (1857-1901) to Eliza Bersheba Beckham (1859-1949); and Robert (1859-1922) to MeIvinia C. Lowry (1864-1931), daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth Whitlow Lowery. Luther and Eliza lived within a mile of his father's land which his brother Robert farmed. Here they reared their children: Roy (1882-1963); Laura Ethel (1884-1980), wife of Tom Jackson; James Henry (1887-1889); infant (deceased); Mamie Edna (1890-1984), wife of Oscar Daly Hayes; infant (deceased 1892); Edgar Robert (1893-1962), husband of Maggie Moulder.

Robert and Melvinia Ground had thirteen children: Milded (b.&d. 15 Sep 1882); Annie May (1884-1922), wife of Carl Brown; Steve 1855-1891); Yatsey (1887-1891); Pleasant (1889-1948); Nancy Elizabeth (1891-1965), wife of Isaac Walker Beckham; Almedia (1893-1954), wife of Buford Lawrence; Henry Earl (1885-1952), husband of Mary Wood; Joseph E. (1899-1969), husband of Birdie Caplinger; George (1902-1972), husband of Ruby Plumlee; Phoebe (1904-1962); James D. (1906-1965), husband of Evelyn Boatman (b. 1912); and Oma V. (1909-1948), wife of P.B. Talley. Pleasant married Vadie Howell (1897-1953) and reared ten children on the family homestead; Robert Lee (1915-1990); Ruble Howell (1917-1989); Aubry (b. 1920); Clifton (1921-1985); Ruby (b. 1925); Maxie Elwood (b. 1927); Fankie (b. 1930); Madell (b. 1933); William Maurice (1935-1987); and Elvis (b. 1939).

Three of Pleasant Ground's children moved to Bowling Green: Clifton, Frankie (see Nell Stone family), and Madell. A contractor, Clifton married Madine Moody, was a deacon at Eastwood Baptist Church, and had five children: Loyd (1949-1957); Larry (b. 1953); Shirlene (b. 1956); Pleasant Willie (b. 1959); and Karla Jane (b. 1960). Madell joined Frankie in Bowling Green after her 1952 North Warren graduation and was employed by HoIley Carburetor and Cutler Hammer Corporation previous to taking her current position in the medical offices of Dr. Nicholas Kafoglis. She married James William Holto, Sr. and had two children, James William, Jr. (b. 1957), and Monica Dale (b. 1960).

Maxie Elwood Ground continues to farm a portion of the family homestead at Three Forks. He married Dorothy Grinstead and fathered nine children: Gracie (b. 1949), Lynda (b. 1951); Maxine (b. 1953); Michael (b. 1954); Joyce (b. 1955); Steve Elwood (b. 1957); Charles (b. 1958); Teresa (b. 1959); and Nancy (b. 1961).

Submitted by Sue Lynn McGuire

• • The following references supplement this time period:

Mercer County, Kentucky 22 Jan 1796 Robert Ground bondsman for the marriage of Martin Naul and Margaret Wren, the daughter of Nocholas Wren.

Deed Abstracts of Warren County, Kentucky 1797-1812 Compiled & Edited by Joyce Martin Murray

Deed Book 1A, p. 274 Power of Attorney from Thomas Williams to Andrew McFadin for purpose of selling 3 tracts of land owned by Williams. Said tracts are in State of Tennessee, 1 tract being 650 acres on waters of Lick Creek, 1 tract being 200 acres on Middle fork of Lick creek, and 1 being 10 acres lying about 5 miles SE from first mentioned. Dated 2 Sept 1801. Wit: Richd Glover, Robt Ground, John Burleson.

Deed Book 2B, p. 157 9 Dec 1801 Harmun Greathouse to William Hays for L21, a set of blacksmith tools now in possession of Saml Greathouse. Wit: Henry Thomas, Robert Ground.

Source: Warren Co., Kentucky Tax Records 1804

From a list of individual land owners living nearest waterways. Robert Grounds, Barren River.

Notes for RHODA LONG: In the year of 1779, U. S. Congress dispatched forces into Wyoming Valley against Indians. The first children's clinic was founded in London. The year before an act of Congress prohibited the import of slaves into the U. S..

Rhoda Long, the daughter of John Long and Mary Conway was born in Mercer Co. Kentucky. Rhoda was born on the frontier. The Conways and Longs were among the early settlers of Kentucky and Rhoda was less that a year old when Ruddle's Station was captured by Indians under the British Captain Bird. One of Rhoda's sisters was taken by the Indians and it is unkown if she was ever recovered. They were carried to Fort Deposit and held for four years.

Rhoda Long Ground had a brother, William Long, who lived in Missouri near St. Louis and also other relatives and aquaintances located in Missouri.

Written by Margaret Nevin Bates in 1984 (Copied from a Ground Newsletter sent to me by Margaret Bates)

RHODA LONG GROUND

Rhoda Long Ground, mother of our American-born Ground family, was born in Mercer County, Kentucky July 29, 1779 to John Long and Mary Conway. Before she was a year old, her family moved to Ruddle's Station with several of her cousins for protection against the Indians. During the day, the men and older boys would leave the fort to work their land, returning at the end of the day to the protection of the fort. In June of 1780 (see July 1984 newsletter), the fort was captured by the British and Indians and those who were not severely injured or killed were marched to Detroit and held prisoner for several years.

Life could not have been easy for Rhoda. The American Revolution for her family did not end in 1776. The much acclaimed Treaty of Paris of 1783 did not afford their release. When they were finally released, many of the settlers returned to Kentucky, only to find their lands had been taken by others.

By the time Rhoda was of the age to marry she had experienced the slaughter of her kinsmen, life as a prisoner of war and at least three dangerous overland moves. Barely 19, she began married life with Robert Ground, an Englishman, on November 24, 1789 in Mercer County, Kentucky. It was not many years before her growing family again moved to what we now consider our home place at Three Forks, Warren County, Kentucky.

Here, Rhoda and Robert Ground raised 10 children. Perhaps others were born who died early as there are some "gaps" between children. Little ones were lost regularly in that day to diseases we now can easily avoid such as "summer complaint", pneumonia, diptheria and the like.

Despite the obvious hard work of their daily life, the Ground women managed to retain their appreciation of beautiful things. Rhoda and her daughters, with the utmost care, preserved the things of beauty that they observed and remembered by transforming them into useful items for their homes...quilts.

Following the lead of their parents, Rhoda and Robert Ground carved a life out of the wilderness, only to have the same spirit move some of their children to move on. John, Henry and Edward went to Illinois to settle. Edward later went on to Oregon. Drucilla and Robert went to Texas where life was "easy".

When the settlers moved to Texas, they found prairie grasses that stood higher than a man's head on horseback. The Texas Rangers, using a trick learned from the Indians, led them to water by dragging a large stone through this grass to flatten it. It is no small wonder that the migrating wagon trains chose to stick to the proven path and carved out "wagon cuts" which rival any freeway cut made by dynamite today.

Rhoda Conway Long Ground died November 17, 1863 in Warren County, Kentucky and was laid to rest at the Ground Family Plot at Three Forks. The family, at each new homestead placed hight priority on setting aside the final resting place for their dead. Great sacrifice was made to provide the finest markers they could afford. Many remain today. Fine markers in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Dallas Co., Texas and at the Goodnight Family Cemetery near Three Forks show us the importance they placed on remembering their loved ones.

One has to wonder at the strenght and courage and the pride of this family. They endured despite incredible odds and never lost sight of what is most important...God, country and family. We may not be sons and daughters of kings, but we can take pride in knowing our family had a part in the making of our country.

Notes for RHODA CONWAY LONG: Destruction of Ruddle's Fort

Draper MSS, Volume 29, Series Jp18 Birds Expeddition - Ruddles and Martins Forts Taken 1780 From Mrs. Rhoda Ground, Warren County, Kentucky. Trans. Form 325393, October 1844, Icde.

Ruddles station taken June __ 1780 - The Indians first came and attacked the station, were repulsed. Sometime afterward they caime again, with canon and attacked, with the canon. An old man Goodnight was killed - Simon Girth and Miajah Calloway were with the enemy. Capt. Ruddles family - John Longs family consisting of himself, wife and five children, John Conaway, wife and seven children -- one of the latter a small boy was scalped, John Denton, wife and one daughter, recollects and perhaps other children; also a family of Sellars.

• Simon Girty was born in Pa. in 1741. At the age of 15 he was captured by the Senecas and lived with them as a prisoner for three years. He was a loyalist and for some reason the Americans regarded him with greater detestation than for other of their foes, and he seems to have returend their feeling in full measure. I have yet to find who Miajah Calloway was.

Some of the prisenors were shortly after released: others were kept in captivity til Wayne's treaty of 1795.

Mrs. Ground, one of the children of J. W. Long, was a small girl when taken, and can give no further particulars.

Note: In Scott Hamilton Goodnight's history of the family he states that George Goodnight was massacreed at Fort Ruddle in the most barbous manner while his children were scattered among the Indians. The father of S. W. Goodnight was taken to Detroit and sold to the French and taken to Canada, while Elizabeth didn't get back to her people until she was 22 years old. This 'old man Goodnight' that Rhoda referred to must have been George Goodnight.\\

Extract from letters received from A. J. & Mary Wheatley in Kentucky to Isaac S. Goodnight in Texas:

5 Oct 1855

"Your Aunt Rhoda Ground has been very sick with chills and fever but is getting better."

13 Aug 1856

"The connections and friends are all generally well, except Old Mother Rhoda. She is going down the steeps of old age very fast. We don't think she will survive but a little while."

(Extracts of letters copied by Ben F. Goodnight and sent to Mamie Ground Hays in 1939 reprinted in Ground-Grounds Family Association Newsletter January 1992, Volume VIII, No. 3, p. 5.)

Marriage Notes for ROBERT GROUND and RHODA LONG: Note that it is attested that Rody Long is 21 years of age, but calculating from the traditional birth date of 29 Jul 1779, she would be 19 years of age at the time of her marriage. This is the date incribed on her headstone at Three Forks, Warren County, Kentucky.

Source: Margaret R. Bates

Notes for RHODA CONWAY LONG: Destruction of Ruddle's Fort

(Here, material from "The Leonhard Kratz Story" by John Helmut Merz, September 1998, is inserted.)

The story pertains primarily to a group of Germans who were captured "Hessian soldiers," and other recruits, but the information adds a facet to the story. Kratz himself had been recruited by Capt. Isaac Ruddle of the Virginia Militia to assist in making the Kentucky territory safe for settlement.

The group established Ruddle's Fort in Kentucky on the Licking River, which would accommodate 200-300 people. The list of 49 pmen appearing on the list of his garrison are recruits to the Militia, but may also include some of the settlers. If they were recruited to the Militia, they would have had to take an oath of allegiance and swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. If so, it would explain the harsh treatment these people received later at the hands of the British and the Indians.

In August, 1780, the war with the British was still going on. From the British strongpoint in Detroit at the far west of Lake Erie, a force of 200 British soldiers and Canadian volunteers under the command of Capt. Henry Bird of His Majesty's 8th Regiment of Foot, plus some 600 Indians led by Simon Girth, swooped down on the unsuspecting new settlements of Kentucky. The intent of the mission was to destroy the settlements to discourage the flow of settlers coming west, and to prevent the area from becoming an agricultural supply base for the Colonial army.

The invading force, equipped with six-pound cannon, attacked Ruddle's Fort on 22 Jun 1780 and forced Capt. Ruddle to surrender, after Capt. Bird promised that no harm would come to them. The same fate awaited Martin's Fort nearby. Despite Bird's promises, the Indians killed and scalped some of the settlers, and destroyed all the livestock and food supplies. Most of the settlers were taken prisoner.

(end Kratz story insertion)

Draper MSS, Volume 29, Series Jp18 Birds Expeddition - Ruddles and Martins Forts Taken 1780 From Mrs. Rhoda Ground, Warren County, Kentucky. Trans. Form 325393, October 1844, Icde.

Ruddles station taken June __ 1780 - The Indians first came and attacked the station, were repulsed. Sometime afterward they caime again, with canon and attacked, with the canon. An old man Goodnight was killed - Simon Girth and Miajah Calloway were with the enemy. Capt. Ruddles family - John Longs family consisting of himself, wife and five children, John Conaway, wife and seven children -- one of the latter a small boy was scalped, John Denton, wife and one daughter, recollects and perhaps other children; also a family of Sellars.

• Simon Girty was born in Pa. in 1741. At the age of 15 he was captured by the Senecas and lived with them as a prisoner for three years. He was a loyalist and for some reason the Americans regarded him with greater detestation than for other of their foes, and he seems to have returend their feeling in full measure. Micajah Callaway was the brother of Daniel Boone's son-in-law, Flanders

Callaway, and nephew of Col. Richard Callaway. Flanders Callaway was married to Jemima Boone, one of the girls who were kidnaped by the Shawnee Indians in 1776 and soon after, saved by her father, Daniel Boone. This kidnapping was an inspiration for a story in "The Last of the Mohicans." Micajah Callaway was captured at Blue Licks with Daniel Boone and several others of their salt-making party. Boone escaped a year later, and Micajah remained in captivity for five years and five months. It was common for Indians to bring their prisoners with them when they attacked the settlers, as was the case with Micajah when he was at Ruddell's Station. (Information on Micajah Callaway obtained in Daniel Boone's biography written by John Bakeless, sent by James Sellars -- [email protected] -- September 1998.)

Some of the prisenors were shortly after released: others were kept in captivity til Wayne's treaty of 1785.

Mrs. Ground, one of the children of J. W. Long, was a small girl when taken, and can give no further particulars.

Note: In Scott Hamilton Goodnight's history of the family he states that George Goodnight was massacreed at Fort Ruddle in the most barbous manner while his children were scattered among the Indians. The father of S. W. Goodnight was taken to Detroit and sold to the French and taken to Canada, while Elizabeth didn't get back to her people until she was 22 years old. This 'old man Goodnight' that Rhoda referred to must have been George Goodnight.\\

• Denotes exerpts from "Destruction of Ruddle's and Martin's Forts in the Revolutionary War" by

Maude Ward Lafferty, subtitle, The Trail From Fort Ruddle to Fort Detroit. The rest of the data is direct from Draper MSS 24S169. Ruddle's Station Taken 1780

Ruddle's Station, taken 1780, Joseph Conway (informant's father) was born in Green briar Co., Va., in 1763 -- Removed to Kentucky with his fathers family, and settled in Ruddle's Station. Henry Greffore Pursley & others also resided there. About 200 Indians came and attacked the fort --found one end of the fort unfinished; and the whites hastened & finished it, putting up pickets; & that evening the Indians made a violent attack & whites returned the fire; none were injured in the fort, & not certain that they killed nay Indians. Next morning retired, & the whites found many articles which they had dropped. The Indians continued to hover around for a couple of weeks, & then retired.

Jos Conway and two others went out about a mile and a half reconnoitering, when Conway was shot by a party of three Indians, and wounded in the left side, and was caught and tomakawked breaking his skull, & scalped, & left for dead. The others escaped unharmed. The reports of the guns were heard at the fort, & a party went out and met the two fugutives returning, who reported that Conway was killed' they went on & brought in Conway, who was graduly recovering, when Indians sent to Detroit for reenforcements & canon.

Two weeks after Conway was wounded, Col. Bird and a party appeared with canon. They first fired a cannon shot and missed, then a second shot, which knocked out a corner of a blockhouse, & then the inmates concluded the British & Indians could take the place, & listened to terms.

The British pledged protection to the prisonors & they & property were not to be surrendered to the Indians; but no effort was made by the British to fulfil their pledge.

• Joseph Conway, who had been scalped by the Indians two weeks before, was claimed by an old Indian whose daughter was allowed to travel with him to dress his bandaged head.

Conway with his head bandaged was taken by an old Indian and his son who were really kind to him.Thay also took an unmarried sister of Conway's older than he was, who dressed his head. Before leaving Ruddle's, one Indian tore off the bandage, but he was repelled by the old Indian and his son as interfering with their prisoner.

• Over that narrow trail, the largest body of people ever gathered together in the wilderness of Kentucky, wended their way into Indian country, about 1,200 of these consisting of the invading force, and about 470 miserable prisoners, loaded down with household plunder from their own cabin homes. Captain Bird himself reported the miserable northward trek in a letter to Major DePeyster, written July 1, 1780:

"I marched the poor wemen & children 20 miles in one day over very high mountains, frightening them with frequent alarms to push them forward, in short. Sir, by water & land we came with all our cannon & c., 40 miles in 4 days...rowing fifty miles the last day -- we have no meat and must subsist on flour if there is nothing for us at Lorimiers (Lorimers)."

• A kettle on the head of a gentlewoman, Mrs. Peter Smith, so injured her scalp that the hair never grew on her head again, and she wore a cap the rest of her days.

• Mrs. Honn and her daughter, Katherine, were among the captives from Ruddle's. Katherine, a fleet-footed girl of eighteen, was chased by the Indians a half a mile while running the gauntlet and was knocked down by an Indian club.

• Captain Hare was very kind. Would stay behind out of Byrd's sight to give Mahan, the old man, an

opportunity of riding his horse.

• The Indians killed and scalped a number of children because they could not keep up on the march.

They seemed, however to have taken a fancy to little Johnie Lail, two years old, and decided if he would make a "Good Indian," rolling him rapidly down the river bank. He didn't cry, thus securing his own adoption and that of his brother, George, three years older. Johnnie came back to Kentucky after Wayne's treaty and lived to be an old and useful citizen of Harrison County. George married an Indian and lived among the Indians many years. Finally, however, he came back to the home of his childhood, but his Indian wife deserted him and went back to her people.

They were taken directly to Detroit, and turned over to the British there, & remaind there four years. Conway was placed in the hospital, where he recovered, was placed on the limits & permitted to work as he could get employment. The rest of the Conway family, father & mother & two daughters, with two sons & daughters already there, all got together in Detroit.

(Here, material from "The Leonhard Kratz Story" by John Helmut Merz, September 1998, is inserted.)

"(The women prisoners) were separated (from their husbands). They traveled by water in canoes, going north by day and resting on the river's shore by night. The captive men were herded north to Detroit on a strenuous overland march, burdened with whatever possessions the Indians saw fit to appropriate as spoils of war. They were heavily burdened, and would have starved except for the random kindness of some of the Indian women.

Maj. DePeyster wrote to LtCol. Mason Bolton on 4 Aug 1780 that Capt. Bird had arrived at Detroit that morning with 150 prisoners, mostly Germans who speak English. The remainder coming (the whole about 350). Capt. Bird's enclosure dated 24 Jul 1780 says that "many of the prisoners would not take the oath to the (American) Congress. I do not believe we have more than two famlies who are really rebels. The rest are desirous of being settled in Detroit with some land. They fled, they say, from persecution and declare if the Government will assist them to get them on foot as farmers, they will, as Militia, faithfully defent the country that affords them protection..."

The male prisoners were turned over to Detroit landowners, Alexander and William Macomb, sons of John Macomb from Albany, New York. John had purchased land from the Potawatomi Indians 6 Jul 1776, which included several islands in the Detroit River, among which were Hog Island, later renamed Belle Island, and Gross Ile. The same year, Lt. Governor Henry Hamilton granted William Macomb permission to occupy Gross Ile. In 1780, the original deed was acknowledged as a "volunteer act of the chiefs of the Potawatomi Nation" before Arent DePeyster, the newly appointed commander at Detroit.

The Macombs were friendly with the Indians, and claimed to have "bought" the prisoners. There is no evidence of such a sale, but the Indians may have received gifts in appreciation for bringing the prisoners to Detroit.

Leonhard Kratz, for one, was released, and watched for the arrival of the women down at the boat docks along the river. Finally, his wife Mary arrived, but without the infant with whom she began the trip. She had fallen and struck the baby's head on a tree, killing it instantly. She buried the child on the banks of the river, digging the grave with her bare hands.

The Kratz' accepted Macomb's offer to farm for them on Hog Island, and in 1781, a son Peter was born, named for Leonhard's father.

Capt. Isaac Ruddle and his wife (and many others) remained prisoners of the British until after the war. They returned to Bourbon County, Kentucky, in 1784. In 1788, Ruddell built a gristmill near nis new home on a branch of the Licking River. He died about 1808 and is buried in the old Presbyterian graveyard located outside Ruddell's Mills. There is a plaque at the cemetery, erected by the Commonwealth of Kentucky which states: "Near his home, Isaac Ruddell built a gristmill in 1788 on the north side of Hinkson bridge, and a sawmill in 1795 to be operated by his son Abram. A 720 spindle cotton mill erected 500 feet west by Thomas and Hugh Brent in 1828, burned 1836. Soon rebuilt by Abram Spears, it also spun wool until about 1855. Ruddell gave land for Stoner Mouth Church and cemetery.

(end Leonhard Kratz insertion)

• And so the years passed. After the Ordinance of 1787 Ohio opened up for settlement and "the men who wore hats" began to build homes in the Indian country. Cincinnati and Marietta were laid out as towns, and the Ohio Company of Associates led by Israel Putman and Manasseh Cutler began a colonization scheme which was retarded by Indian atrocities. Notwithstanding the surrender

at Yorktown and the end of the Revolution, England still held fast to Niagra and Detroit and continued to incite the Indians against the whites forcing the government to take measures to protect the infant settlements. General Harmer and General St. Clair suffered defeat, but Mad Anthony Wayne with his well trained army and his careful plans won so decisive a victory at the Battle of Fallen Timbers that the Indians sued for peace. The final treaty was signed on August 3, 1795, at Greenville, Ohio. A general exchange of all prisoners still held by the British and Indians took place. Wives and husbands were united who had been separated for years, and Kentucky parents welcomed to their hearthstones little children who had grown up among savages.

• What happened to the rest of the captives? Who were they? What became of them after that sorrowful six-week journey to Detroit, Montreal and Makinac?

• (summarized--some questions were answered because Lyman Draper became interested and

followed up. About 250 names of soldiers and captives have been uncovered.)

• Long: John W. Long, his wife (formerly a Conway), and Rhoda, age 6. Rhoda later married a man by the name of Ground and was living in Warren County, Kentucky in 1844.

• Conway: John Conway, his wife and seven children. Among the children were Elizabeth, Sallie, six; John, twenty-two; and Joseph, fifteen. Elizabeth later married W.M. Daughterty. Sallie was returned to Kentucky when he was fifteen.

• Conway, Samuel, a brother, his wife, two daughters and a son, Joseph. Joseph, born in 1763, had been wounded by Indians two weeks before his capture. (Note that Joseph Conway, brother of Samuel was scalped three days before capture.)

• Goodnight: Michael Goodnight, Peter Goodnight, John Goodnight, and some girl children.

• John Conway Jr. stated on his pension application that he was born August the 10th, 1758 in Henrico County, Virginia. Joseph Conway was born in Greenbrier County, Virginia Dec. 14th, 1763. Jesse Conway enlisted from Red Island, Montgomery County, Virginia. Samuel Conway, the oldest son, also enlisted from SW Virginia. John Conway served in Capt. William Herrod's Company in the Western Country, later to become Kentucky. He returned to Virginia and persuaded his family to move to the frontier. The ages of the children are given in one account as Samuel as 23, John Jr. as 21, Jesse as 18, Joseph as 16, Nancy as 9 and Sarah as 4 years old. This was in the year 1779. John Conway Sr. in one account is said to be a Latin teacher who had emgrated from Dublin, Ireland to Virginia. This has been neither proved nor disproved. John's wife, Elizabeth Bridgewater Conway was born in Virginia of English parents. She married John Conway ca 1752 and the birth dates of her five daughters and four sons ranged from Jan. 11, 1753 to June 25, 1775. Three of her daughters were married or had died when the family went to what is now Kentucky. While no marriage record has been found of Mary Conway and John Long, separate statements have been found that John Long's wife was a Conway and that her name was Mary.

Joseph Conway returned to Licking River & went on Harmer's & Wayne's Campaign.

Extract from letters received from A. J. & Mary Wheatley in Kentucky to Isaac S. Goodnight in Texas:

5 Oct 1855

"Your Aunt Rhoda Ground has been very sick with chills and fever but is getting better."

13 Aug 1856

"The connections and friends are all generally well, except Old Mother Rhoda. She is going down the steeps of old age very fast. We don't think she will survive but a little while."

(Extracts of letters copied by Ben F. Goodnight and sent to Mamie Ground Hays in 1939 reprinted in Ground-Grounds Family Association Newsletter January 1992, Volume VIII, No. 3, p. 5.)

The typed Bible record given Roberta Dukes Richardson by Vada Grounds of Smith's Grove, Kentucky, gives the following children:

1. John Ground b. 18 Feb 1799 2. Mary Ground b. 29 May 1800 3. Henry Ground b. 20 May 1804 md. Eliza Ann Boydstun 4. Edward Ground b. 9 Apr 1809 5. Drusilla Ground b. 11 Jul 1811. d. 1856. md. 1835 Jacob Gardner Boydstun, b. 24 Jan 1812. d. 25 May 1899. 6. Margaret Ground b. 21 Jun 1813 7. Rhoda Ground b. 25 Apr 1815 8. Robert Ground b. 7 Jun 1817 md. Elizabeth Goodnight 9. William Ground b. 29 Jul 1819 md. Nancy Wheatley 7 Nov 1850 children: Luther b. 1 Sep 1857 md. Eliza B. Beckham 25 Aug 1881 died Aug 1901 Robert b. 3 Jul 1859 md. Melvina C. Lowery 6 Oct 1881 died 3 Jun 1922 10. Harrison Ground b. 25 Jul 1825

Annie Eliza Ground Wilder's records add the children of Robert Ground and Elizabeth Goodnight: 1. Edward Ground md. Fannie Lowe 2. Isaac Henry Ground md. Mollie Russell 3. Sarah Catherine Ground md. Will Morgan 4. Elizabeth Goodnight Ground md. Benjamin Wolcott 5. William Harrison Ground md. Pollie Dodson 6. Annie Eliza Ground md. T.C. Wilder 7. Robert E. Ground md. Vera Wabenburg

Children of ROBERT GROUND and RHODA LONG are: 2. i. JOHN3 GROUNDS, b. 18 February 1799, Mercer Co., Ky.; d. 11 March 1874, Samsville, Edward Co., Il.. 3. ii. MARY GROUND, b. 29 May 1800, Mercer Co., Kentucky; d. 28 November 1847, Three Forks, Warren Co., Kentucky. 4. iii. HENRY GROUND, b. 20 May 1804, Mercer Co, Kentucky; d. 30 March 1881, Abingdon, Knox Co. Illinois. 5. iv. EDWARD GROUND, b. 09 April 1809, Mercer Co, Kentucky; d. 25 April 1885, Scio, Lynn Co., Oregon. 6. v. DRUCILLA GROUND, b. 11 July 1811, Mercer Co, Kentucky; d. 05 February 1856, Pleasant Valley, Dallas Co., Texas. 7. vi. MARGARET GROUND, b. 02 June 1813, Mercer Co, Ky.; d. Aft. 1871, Kentucky.

 	vii. 	  	RHODA GROUND, b. 25 April 1815, Warren Co,. Kentucky4; d. 18 July 1902, Three Forks, Warren Co., Kentucky5; m. CHARLES STANTON (BURR) GREER, 19 November 1869, Kentucky6; b. 09 July 1807, Barren Co., Kentucky7; d. 07 February 1896, Hays, Kentucky (near Sinking Creek)8.
	Notes for RHODA GROUND:

In the year, 1815, Americans defeated British at The Battle of New Orleans, Napoleon leaves Elba and lands in France, Corn Law passed in Britain, Brazil declared itself an independent empire. Humphry Davy invents miner's safety lamp, Apothecaries Act forbade unqualified doctors to practice in Britain.

After the death of Rhoda's father, she and her mother lived at the original home place at the site of the "old spring", until the death of her mother, and they did much fine handwork. Some of the antique appliqued quilts and counterpanes were made from homespun cotton and woolen coverlets were still at this date (1937) in the possession of her grandnieces and nephews at Three Forks.

After the death of her mother, she resided with her brother William, as provided in the will of her father. He lived a short distance for the original home of Robert and Rhoda Ground.

One room of William Ground's home was reserved for her, and after the death of her husband, she returned to a cottage in the yard of this home, as at that time William was dead and his son, Robert and family and Nancy Ground, widow of William, lived in the home of William Ground. (Mamie Ground Hays stated that) she visited her often during her childhood and on happy occasions, she and her young brother and cousins helped put her many quilts and coverlets out to sun and she treated them with many good things to eat.

She was 54 years old when married to Mr. Greer, and he had children and grandchildren to whom she was a loved "Aunt Rhoda".

MEMORIES OF RHODA GROUND GREER BY : Mamie Ground Hays

	Notes for CHARLES STANTON (BURR) GREER:

Charles had 9 children by a first marriage.

From Biorgaphical Sketch:"The History of Kentucky" Charles Greer was aborn in the western part of Barren County, Kentucky. In 1834 he removed to Knoxville, Illinois, where he was engaged as a mechanic until 1840, when he returned to Barren Co., Ky..

His father, Aquilla Greer, Jr, a native of So., Carolina, removed to Kentucky in pioneer days and died in Barren Co. Mother was Eleanor Pitts. His grandfather was Aquilla Greer, Sr and he was in the Revolutionary War. This comes from a small red bound history of well known people of the counties of Kentucky.

Charles S. (Burr) Greer married twice. First to Nancy Hendricks, daughter of Benjamin and Sally Hendricks of Barren County, then to Roda Ground.

Burr Greer's children and grandchildren from his first marriage called his second wife, "Aunt Rhoda," and she was well beloved by them. One of the grandchildren, Cordia Greer Petrie, wrote "Angelina at the Seelbach" and other books. They lived at "Sinking Creek" near Merry Oaks, Kentucky. Mamie Ground Hays recalled a big Spring where milk, melons, etc. were kept cool in a big stone spring house, near which in deep cool pools in the creek the children caught minnows in large, long-handled gourds.

Until 1840 he was successfully engaged in cabinet, coffin and chair making. He since then followed farming, and had 120 acres of well improved and productive land in cultivation. He was active member of the Christian Church, and was a Democrat.

Source: World Family Tree cd, Vol. 15, Tree 15

Mr. Charles S. Greer better known as "Uncle Burr "died as his home on Sinking Creek near Hays, last friday. He was in his eight vninth year, and was one of the best known men in the western part of/he county He leaves a wife and several children, all of whom are grown, among then, are Lawyer John N Green, of Bon A yr.

Following from Glasgow Week/v Times Feb. 19, 1896: Another veteran a/she cross has gone to his reward Our brother and father Char/es S. Green was born July 9, 1807 and died February 7, 1896, in his 89th pear. He leaves an aged companion, one son and many relatives and friends behind him in this world of bereavements. Weep not, loved ones; as those who have no hope. You knew his manner of life; you know he was a Christian; von know ... (probably quoted from funeral. comments and a poem by W P. Edmunds follow this paragraph.) See Greer file for remainder of these comments and poem. First paragraph is from Glasgow Weekly Times of February 12, 1896.

8. viii. ROBERT L. (JR.) GROUND, b. 07 June 1817, Near Boling Green, Warren Co., Kentucky; d. 17 May 1879, Cedar Hill, Dallas Co. Texas. 9. ix. WILLIAM GROUND, b. 29 July 1819, Warren Co., Kentucky; d. 15 October 1891, Three Forks, Warren Co., Kentucky. 10. x. HARRISON GROUND, b. 05 July 1825, Warren Co., Ky.; d. 1874, Near Lee's Summit, Jackson Co., Missouri.

Info comes from "Plymouth Rock to the Pacific" as well as http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/f/i/l/Rosemary--Filyaw/GENE9-0001.html

1. ↑ (i)International Genealogical Index (IGI)(/i) (Salt Lake City: Family History Library).