HOLLIDAYSBURG--THE HOLLIDAY FAMILY--DEATH OF LIEUTENANT HOLLIDAY AT THE
BATTLE OF BRANDYWINE--MASSACRE OF A PORTION OF WILLIAM HOLLIDAY'S
FAMILY--JOHN HOLLIDAY, ETC.
William and Adam Holliday, cousins, emigrated from the North of Ireland
about 1750, and settled in the neighborhood of the Manor, in Lancaster
county. The feuds which existed between the Irish and German emigrants,
as well as the unceasing efforts of the proprietary agents to keep
emigrants from settling upon their lands, induced the Hollidays to seek
a location farther west. Conococheague suggested itself to them as a
suitable place, because it was so far removed from Philadelphia that
the proprietors could not well dispossess them; and, the line never
having been established, it was altogether uncertain whether the
settlement was in Pennsylvania or Maryland. Besides, it possessed the
advantage of being tolerably well populated. Accordingly, they settled
on the banks of the Conococheague, and commenced clearing land, which
they purchased and paid for soon after the survey. During both the
French and Indian wars of 1755-56 and the war of 1762-63 the Hollidays
were in active service. At the destruction of Kittaning, William
Holliday was a lieutenant in Colonel Armstrong's company, and fought
with great bravery in that conflict with the savages. The Hollidays
were emphatically frontier-men; and on the restoration of peace in
1768, probably under the impression that the Conococheague Valley was
becoming too thickly populated, they disposed of their land, placed
their families and effects upon pack-horses, and again turned their
faces toward the west. They passed through Aughwick, but found no
unappropriated lands there worthy of their attention. From thence they
proceeded to the Standing Stone, but nothing offered there; nor even at
Frankstown could they find any inducement to stop; so they concluded to
cross the mountain by the Kittaning Path and settle on the Alleghany at
or near Kittaning. William knew the road, and had noticed fine lands in
that direction.
[Illustration: CHIMNEY ROCKS OPPOSITE HOLLIDAYSBURG.]
However, when they reached the place where Hollidaysburg now stands,
and were just on the point of descending the hill toward the river,
Adam halted, and declared his intention to pitch his tent and travel no
farther. He argued with his cousin that the Indian titles west of the
mountains were not extinguished; and if they bought from the Indians,
they would be forced, on the extinguishment of their titles, to
purchase a second time, or lose their lands and live in constant dread
of the savages. Although William had a covetous eye on the fine lands
of the Alleghany, the wise counsel of Adam prevailed, and they
dismounted and prepared to build a temporary shelter. When Adam drove
the first stake into the ground he casually remarked to William,
"Whoever is alive a hundred years after this will see a tolerable-sized
town here, and this will be near about the middle of it." This
prediction has been verified to the letter long before the expiration
of the allotted time.
In a day or two after a shelter had been erected for the families,
William crossed the river to where Gaysport now stands, for the purpose
of locating. The land, however, was too swampy, and he returned. Next
day he crossed again, and found a ravine, south of where he had been
prospecting, which appeared to possess the desired qualifications; and
there he staked out a farm,--the one now owned by Mr. J. R. Crawford.
Through this farm the old Frankstown and Johnstown Road ran for many
years,--the third road constructed in Pennsylvania crossing the
Alleghany Mountains.
These lands belonged to the new purchase, and were in the market at a
very low price, in order to encourage settlers on the frontier.
Accordingly, Adam Holliday took out a warrant for 1000 acres,
comprising all the land upon which Hollidaysburg now stands. The lower
or southern part was too marshy to work; so Mr. Holliday erected his
cabin near where the American House now stands, and made a clearing on
the high ground stretching toward the east.
In the mean time, William Holliday purchased of Mr. Peters 1000 acres
of land, which embraced the present Crawford and Jackson farms and a
greater part of Gaysport. Some years after, finding that he had more
land than he could conveniently cultivate, he disposed of nearly
one-half of his original purchase to his son-in-law, James Somerville.
Adam Holliday, too, having a large lot of land, disposed of a portion
of it to Lazarus Lowry. Thus matters progressed smoothly for a time,
until, unfortunately, a Scotchman, named Henry Gordon, in search of
lands, happened to see and admire his farm. Gordon was a keen, shrewd
fellow, and in looking over the records of the land-office he
discovered a flaw or informality in Adam's grant. He immediately took
advantage of his discovery, and took out a patent for the land.
Litigation followed, as a matter of course. Gordon possessed
considerable legal acumen, and had withal money and a determined
spirit. The case was tried in the courts below and the courts
above,--decided sometimes in favor of one party and sometimes in favor
of the other, but eventually resulted in Gordon wresting from Adam
Holliday and Lazarus Lowry all their land. This unfortunate
circumstance deeply afflicted Mr. Holliday, for he had undoubtedly been
grossly wronged by the adroitness and cunning of Gordon; but relief
came to him when he least expected it. When the war broke out, Gordon
was among the very first to sail for Europe; and soon after the Council
proclaimed him an attainted traitor, and his property was confiscated
and brought under the hammer. The circumstances under which he had
wrested the property from Holliday were known, so that no person would
bid, which enabled him to regain his land at a mere nominal price. He
then went on and improved, and built a house on the bank of the river,
near where the bridge connects the boroughs of Hollidaysburg and
Gaysport. The very locust-trees that he planted seventy-eight years
ago, in front of his door, are still standing.
During the alarms and troubles which followed in the course of the war,
Adam Holliday took a conspicuous part in defending the frontier. He
aided, first, in erecting Fetter's Fort, and afterward expended his
means in turning Titus's stable into a fort. This fort was located on
the flat, nearly opposite the second lock below Hollidaysburg, and the
two served as a place of refuge for all the settlers of what was then
merely called the Upper End of Frankstown District. He also, with his
own money, purchased provisions, and through his exertions arms and
ammunition were brought from the eastern counties. His courage and
energy inspired the settlers to make a stand at a time when they were
on the very point of flying to Cumberland county. In December, 1777,
Mr. Holliday visited Philadelphia for the purpose of securing a part of
the funds appropriated to the defence of the frontier. The following
letter to President Wharton was given to him by Colonel John Piper, of
Bedford county:--
_Bedford County, December 19, 1777._
SIR:--Permit me, sir, to recommend to you, for counsel and
direction, the bearer, Mr. Holliday, an inhabitant of Frankstown,
one of the frontier settlements of our county, who has, at his own
risk, been extremely active in assembling the people of that
settlement together and in purchasing provisions to serve the
militia who came to their assistance. As there was no person
appointed either to purchase provisions or to serve them out,
necessity obliged the bearer, with the assistance of some
neighbors, to purchase a considerable quantity of provisions for
that purpose, by which the inhabitants have been enabled to make a
stand. His request is that he may be supplied with cash not only to
discharge the debts already contracted, but likewise to enable him
to lay up a store for future demand. I beg leave, sir, to refer to
the bearer for further information, in hopes you will provide for
their further support. Their situation requires immediate
assistance.
I am, sir, with all due respect, your Excellency's most obedient
humble servant,
JOHN PIPER.
Mr. Holliday's mission was successful; and he returned with means to
recruit the fort with provisions and ammunition, and continued to be an
active and energetic frontier-man during all the Indian troubles which
followed.
Notwithstanding the distracted state of society during the Revolution,
William Holliday devoted much time and attention to his farm. His
family, consisting of his wife, his sons John, William, Patrick, Adam,
and a lunatic whose name is not recollected, and his daughter Janet,
were forted at Holliday's Fort; and it was only when absolute necessity
demanded it that they ventured to the farm to attend to the crops,
after the savage marauders so boldly entered the settlements.
James, who we believe was next to the eldest of William Holliday's
children, joined the Continental army soon after the war broke out. He
is represented as having been a noble-looking fellow, filled with
enthusiasm, who sought for, and obtained without much difficulty, a
lieutenant's commission. He was engaged in several battles, and
conducted himself in such a manner as to merit the approbation of his
senior officers; but he fell gloriously at Brandywine, while the battle
was raging, pierced through the heart by a musket-ball. He was shot by
a Hessian, who was under cover, and who had, from the same place,
already dispatched a number of persons. But this was his last shot; for
a young Virginian, who stood by the side of Holliday when he fell,
rushed upon the Hessian, braving all danger, and hewed him to pieces
with his sword before any defence could be made.
The death of young Holliday was deeply lamented by his
companions-in-arms, for he was brave and generous, and had not a single
enemy in the line. His friends, after the battle, buried him near the
spot where he fell; and it is doubtful whether even now a hillock of
greensward is raised to his memory.
About the beginning of the year 1779, the Indians along the frontier,
emboldened by numerous successful depredations, came into Bedford
county--within the boundaries of which Holliday's Fort then was--in
such formidable bands that many of the inhabitants fled to the eastern
counties. The Hollidays, however, and some few others, tarried, in the
hope that the Executive Council would render them aid. The following
petition, signed by William Holliday and others, will give the reader
some idea of the distress suffered by the pioneers; it was drawn up on
the 29th of May, 1779:--
_To the Honorable President and Council_:--
The Indians being now in the county, the frontier inhabitants being
generally fled, leaves the few that remains in such a distressed
condition that pen can hardly describe, nor your honors can only
have a faint idea of; nor can it be conceived properly by any but
such as are the subjects thereof; but, while we suffer in the part
of the county that is most frontier, the inhabitants of the
interior part of this county live at ease and safety.
And we humbly conceive that by some immediate instruction from
Council, to call them that are less exposed to our relief, we shall
be able, under God, to repulse our enemies, and put it in the power
of the distressed inhabitants to reap the fruits of their industry.
Therefore, we humbly pray you would grant us such relief in the
premises as you in your wisdom see meet. And your petitioners shall
pray, etc.
N.B.--There is a quantity of lead at the mines (Sinking Valley) in
this county Council may procure for the use of said county, which
will save carriage, and supply our wants with that article, which
we cannot exist without at this place; and our flints are
altogether expended. Therefore, we beg Council would furnish us
with those necessaries as they in their wisdom see cause.
P.S.--Please to supply us with powder to answer lead.
(Signed)
WILLIAM HOLLIDAY, _P.M._
THOMAS COULTER, _Sheriff_.
RICHARD J. DELAPT, _Captain_.
SAM. DAVIDSON.
The prayer of these petitioners was not speedily answered, and
Holliday's Fort was evacuated soon after. The Council undoubtedly did
all in its power to give the frontiers support; but the tardy movements
of the militia gave the savages confidence, and drove the few settlers
that remained almost to despair. Eventually relief came, but not
sufficient to prevent Indian depredations. At length, when these
depredations and the delays of the Council in furnishing sufficient
force to repel these savage invasions had brought matters to such a
crisis that forbearance ceased to be a virtue, the people of the
neighborhood moved their families to Fort Roberdeau, in Sinking Valley,
and Fetter's Fort, and formed themselves into scouting parties, and by
these means protected the frontier and enabled the settlers to gather
in their crops in 1780; still, notwithstanding their vigilance, small
bands of scalp-hunters occasionally invaded the county, and, when no
scalps were to be found, compromised by stealing horses, or by laying
waste whatever fell in their way.
In 1781, when Continental money was so terribly depreciated that it
took, in the language of one of the old settlers, "seventeen dollars of
it to buy a quart of whiskey," government was in too straitened a
condition to furnish this frontier guard with ammunition and
provisions, so that the force was considerably reduced. Small scouting
parties were still kept up, however, to watch the savages, who again
made their appearance in the neighborhood in the summer, retarding the
harvest operations.
About the middle of July, the scouts reported every thing quiet and no
traces of Indians in the county. Accordingly, Mr. Holliday proceeded to
his farm, and, with the aid of his sons, succeeded in getting off and
housing his grain. Early in August, Mr. Holliday, accompanied by his
sons Patrick and Adam and his daughter Janet, then about fourteen years
of age, left Fort Roberdeau for the purpose of taking off a second crop
of hay. On their arrival at the farm they went leisurely to work, and
mowed the grass. The weather being extremely fine, in a few days they
began to haul it in on a rudely-constructed sled, for in those
primitive days few wagons were in use along the frontiers. They had
taken in one load, returned, and filled the sled again, when an
acquaintance named McDonald, a Scotchman, came along on horseback. He
stopped, and they commenced a conversation on the war. William Holliday
was seated upon one of the horses that were hitched to the sled, his
two sons were on one side of him, and his daughter on the opposite
side. All of the men, as was customary then, were armed with rifles.
While this conversation was going on, and without the slightest
previous intimation, a volley was suddenly fired from a thicket some
sixty or seventy yards off, by which Patrick and Adam were instantly
killed and the horse shot from under Mr. Holliday. The attack was so
sudden and unexpected that a flash of lightning and a peal of thunder
from a cloudless sky could not have astonished him more. The echoes of
the Indian rifles had scarcely died away before the Indians themselves,
to the number of eight or ten, with a loud "_whoop_!" jumped from
their place of concealment, some brandishing their knives and hatchets
and others reloading their rifles.
Appalled at the shocking tragedy, and undecided for a moment what
course to pursue, Holliday was surprised to see McDonald leap from his
horse, throw away his rifle, run toward the Indians, and, with
outstretched arms, cry "Brother! Brother!" which it appears was a cry
for quarter which the savages respected. Holliday, however, knew too
much of the savage character to trust to their mercy--more especially
as rebel scalps commanded nearly as good a price in British gold in
Canada as prisoners; so on the impulse of the moment he sprang upon
McDonald's horse and made an effort to get his daughter up behind him.
But he was too late. The Indians were upon him, and he turned into the
path which led down the ravine. The yells of the savages frightened the
horse, and he galloped down the path; but even the clattering of his
hoofs did not drown the dying shrieks of his daughter, who was most
barbarously butchered with a hatchet.
In a state of mind bordering on distraction, Holliday wandered about
until nearly dark, when he got upon the Brush Mountain trail, on his
way to Sinking Valley. His mind, however, was so deeply affected that
he seemed to care little whither he went; and, the night being
exceedingly dark, the horse lost the trail and wandered about the
mountain for hours. Just at daybreak Mr. Holliday reached the fort,
haggard and careworn, without hat or shoes, his clothes in tatters and
his body lacerated and bleeding. He did not recognise either the fort
or the sentinel on duty. He was taken in, and the fort alarmed, but it
was some time before he could make any thing like an intelligible
statement of what had occurred the day previous. Without waiting for
the particulars in detail, a command of fifteen men was despatched to
Holliday's farm. They found the bodies of Patrick and Adam precisely
where they fell, and that of Janet but a short distance from the sled,
and all scalped. As soon as the necessary arrangements could be made,
the bodies of the slain were interred on the farm; and a rude tombstone
still marks the spot where the victims of savage cruelty repose.
This was a sad blow to Mr. Holliday; and it was long before he
recovered from it effectually. But the times steeled men to bear
misfortunes that would now crush and annihilate the bravest.
The Scotchman McDonald, whom we have mentioned as being present at the
Holliday massacre, accompanied the savages, as he afterward stated, to
the Miami Valley, where he adopted their manners and customs, and
remained with them until the restoration of peace enabled him to
escape. He returned to the Valley of the Juniata; but he soon found
that Holliday had prejudiced the public mind against him by declaring
the part he took at the time of the massacre to have been cowardly in
the extreme, notwithstanding that the cowardice of McDonald actually
saved Holliday's life, by affording him means to escape. The people
generally shunned McDonald, and he led rather an unenviable life; yet
we might suppose, taking all the circumstances into consideration,
that, in illustrating the axiom that "self-preservation is the first
law of nature," he did nothing more than any man, with even less
prudence than a canny Scotchman, would have done. But any thing having
the least squinting toward cowardice was deemed a deadly sin by the
pioneers, and McDonald soon found it necessary to seek a home somewhere
else.
After the declaration of peace, or, rather, after the ratification of
the treaty, Gordon came back to Pennsylvania and claimed his land under
its stipulation. He had no difficulty in proving that he had never
taken up arms against the colonies, and Congress agreed to purchase
back his lands.
The Commissioners to adjust claims, after examining the lands, reported
them worth sixteen dollars an acre; and this amount was paid to Adam
Holliday, who suddenly found himself the greatest monied man in this
county--having in his possession sixteen or seventeen thousand dollars.
Adam Holliday lived to a good old age, and died at his residence on the
bank of the river, in 1801. He left two heirs--his son John, and a
daughter married to William Reynolds.
After the estate was settled up, it was found that John Holliday was
the richest man in this county. He married the daughter of Lazarus
Lowry, of Frankstown, in 1803, and in 1807 he left for Johnstown, where
he purchased the farm, and all the land upon which Johnstown now
stands, from a Dr. Anderson, of Bedford. Fearing the place would never
be one of any importance, John Holliday, in a few years, sold out to
Peter Livergood for eight dollars an acre, returned to Hollidaysburg,
and entered into mercantile pursuits.
William Holliday, too, died at a good old age, and lies buried on his
farm by the side of his children, who were massacred by the Indians.
In the ordinary transmutation of worldly affairs, the lands of both the
old pioneers passed out of the hands of their descendants; yet a
beautiful town stands as a lasting monument to the name, and the
descendants have multiplied until the name of Holliday is known not
only in Pennsylvania, but over the whole Union.
[NOTE.--There are several contradictory accounts in existence
touching the massacre of the Holliday children. Our account of
it is evidently the true version, for it was given to us by Mr.
Maguire, who received it from Mr. Holliday shortly after the
occurrence of the tragedy.
It may be as well here to state that the original Hollidays were
Irish-men and Presbyterians. It is necessary to state this, because
we have heard arguments about their religious faith. Some avow that
they were Catholics, and as an evidence refer to the fact that
William called one of his offspring "Patrick." Without being able
to account for the name of a saint so prominent in the calendar as
Patrick being found in a Presbyterian family, we can only give the
words of Mr. Maguire, who said:--
"I was a Catholic, and old Billy and Adam Holliday were
Presbyterians; but in those days we found matters of more
importance to attend to than quarrelling about religion. We all
worshipped the same God, and some of the forms and ceremonies
attending church were very much alike, especially in 1778, when the
men of all denominations, in place of hymn-books, prayer-books, and
Bibles, carried to church with them loaded rifles!"
It may be as well to state here also that the McDonald mentioned
had two brothers--one a daring frontier-man, the other in the
army,--so that the reader will please not confound them.]