Lieutenant Robert Curry

Male 1741 - 1780  (39 years)


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  • Name Robert Curry 
    Title Lieutenant 
    Birth 9 Jun 1741  Belfast, Antrim Co., Northern Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Death 9 Jun 1780  Pennsylvania, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • Robert Curry served as Lieutenant, 1776, in Col. Samuel Hunter's
      Northumberland County, Pennsylvania regiment. He was scalped by the
      Indians near Fort Mead, on the north branch of the Susquehanna.
      "Two years previously, in May, 1780, Robert CURRY and his wife,
      traveling on horseback from Northumberland, on the way to their little
      farm on the Mahoning, when about midway between the two places, were
      attacked by the savages. He was killed and scalped and his skull
      broken to fragments with their tomahawks. She was taken prisoner. Her
      hair was long and jet black, which they greatly admired. They told her
      she was 'a much pretty squaw,' and would not hurt her. They traveled
      until night when they encamped. They then tied her hands and feet with
      hickory bark. Soon they were in a profound sleep, when she cut the
      bark from her wrists and ankles. She had concealed a pair of scissors
      about her person which, fortunately for her, escaped their vigilant
      search when she was first made captive. She fled from their camp as
      fast as possible, but they soon missed her and, lighting torches,
      pursued her in all directions.She concealed herself in the top of a
      fallen tree. They passed over the trunk of the tree and, as they did
      so, cried out: 'Come out, squaw, we see you. Come out, pretty squaw,
      we see you.' After some time spent in fruitless search they abandoned
      it, broke up their camp before daylight and pursued their journey. She
      then returned to the remains of her murdered husband and gathering up
      the pieces of his skull in her apron, took them to her house which she
      reached the next day. The agony and deep distress of this poor woman
      may be conceived, but the pen utterly fails to describe them."
      ROBERT CURRY (deceased) is numbered among the earliest settlers of
      this part of Pennsylvania. He was born in the North of Ireland, June
      9, 1741; educated in the schools of his native country, where his
      father was a well-to-do linen manufacturer. He immigrated to America
      in 1772, settling on Mahoning Creek, in what is now Valley Township,
      Montour Co., Penn., and there followed farming. He was killed and
      scalped by the Indians June 9, 1780. He was a Presbyterian in
      religious belief and was one of the first to give his money and
      influence toward the propagation of the gospel in these parts, and was
      also trustee of his church. He married Miss Jane McWILLIAMS in
      Belfast, Ireland, and four children were born to them: James, who was
      born in Ireland, grew to manhood and settled in Ohio; Robert, who
      settled on the north branch of the Susquehanna River; William, who
      settled on the home place in Valley Township, Columbia Co., Penn., and
      Jane, the first white child born between the north and west branches
      of the Susquehanna River, married to Robert McWILLIAMS. The sons were
      well-to-do farmers, noted for their honesty and integrity. (History of
      Columbia and Montour Counties Pennsylvania, Battle, 1887, Danville,
      pg. 148)
    Person ID I24133  OurNorthernRoots
    Last Modified 30 Oct 2011 

    Family Jane McWilliams 
    Children 
    +1. Jane Curry,   b. 8 Feb 1773, Pennsylvania, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
    Family ID F7192  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 9 Jun 1741 - Belfast, Antrim Co., Northern Ireland Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 9 Jun 1780 - Pennsylvania, USA Link to Google Earth
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