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Preferred Citation

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Harrison County Court Records, Pay Abstract for Scouts to Defend Harrison County, A&M 4105, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Biographical / Historical

The Northwest Indian War (1785-1795), also known as Little Turtle's War and by other names, was a war between the United States and a confederation of numerous Native tribes, with minor support from the British, for control of the Northwest Territory (or Ohio Country), a region west of the Appalachian Mountains between the northern Ohio River and Lake Erie. This war followed centuries of conflict over this territory, first among Native American tribes, and later then with added shifting alliances among the tribes and the European powers, including France, Great Britain, and their colonials. [Based on the Wikipedia entry, 2015-05-20.]

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General Biggs was a native of Ohio County, Virginia, and was a veteran of Indian warfare. Having fought in Lord Dunmore's War in 1774, and in the Revolutionary War as a Captain in the 7th Virginia Regiment (defending Fort Henry from Indian attack in Wheeling, among other duties), he was a seasoned soldier who brought needed experience to his role as a commander during the Northwest Indian War.

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William Lowther was born in Albermarle county, Virginia, in 1742, not long after the arrival of the [Lowther] family in the colonies; and in his early twenties, he was married to Miss Sudna Hughes. They lived in Moorefield, Hardy County, then moved to Harrison County in June 1773. Before the move, Lowther was involved with the erection of Simpson's fort, around eight miles south of Clarksburg, and West's fort, near Jane Lew. He also played an important part in the construction of "Old Nutter" fort, near Clarksburg.

He became distinguished for his fearlessness as a frontiersman, unselfish devotion to the welfare of the colonists, and for his competence as a soldier in the war of 1774 and subsequent engagements. Having served in all the subordinate ranks of military life, he rose to that of Colonel. He was the first Justice of the Peace in the district of West Augusta, the first Sheriff of Harrison and Wood Counties, and was at one time a member of the General Assembly at Richmond, Virginia. He passed away in October 1814. [Based on "History of Ritchie County" by Minnie Kendall Lowther, published in 1910.)

Scope and Contents

Pay abstract for scouts ordered into service by General Benjamin Biggs in 1795 to defend Harrison County, presumably during the Northwest Indian War. The document includes a testimonial by Lieutenant Colonel William Lowther dating from 1797 verifying the service of the scouts. The document includes a note by a copyist indicating that the text was copied in 1798. There is also a 1798 document regarding recovery of money from John Prunty that was earned by scout Bird Lockhart for his services in 1795.

The names of the scouts include:
Robert Bartlett,
Moses Hall,
Elias Hughes,
Henry Brandenburg,
Moses Hewett,
Daniel Rowel, and
Bird Lockhart.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Biggs, Benjamin, 1752-1823.
• Indians of North America -- Wars -- 1750-1815
• Lowther, William, 1742-1814.
• Northwest, Old -- History