The Ohio Massacre

(From Mike Coonrod's history of the Coonrod Family)

I have a very lengthy letter from an Oliver Coonrod (written in 1917) about his family. They lived on the South Bank of the Potomac in Hardy County, West Virginia. They were in Pendleton in 1758 (Fort Siebut).

About the year of 1742, they came to this country from Switzerland or Baden , Germany and settled in the North banks of the Potomac River in the State State of Maryland. The family of this history had one son born about the time they arrived in this country. They called him Josephas. 

After living a short short time in Maryland they went to the South bank and from thence they journeyed up to Moorefield on the South bank of the Potomac in what is now now Hardy County, West Virginia.

They continued to push their way up the South Branch of the Potomac until in 1758 they were in Pendleton at a place now called Fort Siebut. In May 1758, after they had planted their spring crop, the heads of the families joined together and went a long distance to a salt works to lay a supply of salt and other necessities for their families to last the year. 

Before leaving for the salt works, they built a block house. The house was made by joining one house with another. There were about forty women and children left in the fort while the men went to the salt
works. Among those in the house were five Coonrods; mother, two sons and two daughters. 

After the men had been gone for some time, a band of Shawnee Indians from the West of the Ohio River crossed over the Allegheny Mountains, and attacked the fort. The Indians set a siege of
the inmated fort. They sent a flag of truce and said "if you will surrender we will spare you. If not all will be killed". 

To shorten a long story, when the Indians were let in a massacre ensued. The chief tried to keep his word and protected some of the women and children. The Coonrod women and children were spared but were taken away. The baby boy was killed during the trip to Illinois. Josephus got away.

After 2 months he found his way home and found his father. Father and son followed the trail of the Indians and found that the mother had been turned over to the French at St. Genenever, Missouri. The father purchased his wife for $50. Mother, father and son returned to West Virginia. 

Josephas married and had a son named Felix. Felix's son was Adam Coonrod and Adam's son was Oliver. Oliver is the writer of the letter from which this history is taken. Oliver was from Circleville,
Ohio. I know how his family got to Ohio from his letter. My family came to Indiana from Ohio and the name Josephas Coonrod is repeated in my family. My Josephus married a girl from Circleville, Ohio but I have not managed to complete the tie to this Coonrod family from W. Virginia. Does anyone have any information about this Coonrod family in Pickaway County Ohio? I'm almost certain that a part of The family of Adam Coonrod must have traveled on to Indiana. I need that link. 

Also there is much more on the Josephus and the Indian story. It's a very long letter. If anyone knows anything about the Coonrod family in Ohio I would appreciate the information. The letter states that Oliver did not know anything about his grandfather's brothers. My guess is that my Coonrods are descended from one of those brothers. Adam Coonrod was born in 1782 . In 1803 he moved across the mountains and over to Pickaway county. They lived in Walnut Creek about 10 miles northeast of
Circleville. They later moved to Hocking County, Ohio. He moved to Ohio in the company of two cousins who are not named in the letter.