Massacre of the Indians - Infamous Crime Scenes on Waymarking.com

A pivotal event that defines the character of our early settlers occurred in 1824 at this spot. Two families of peaceful Native Americans were camped, hunting and trapping for furs, along Lick Creek. They had been very successful in their pursuits and had obtained a large quantity of pelts. Living in the same area with families were John T. Bridge, his son John Bridge, Andrew Sawyer, James Hudson, and Thomas Harper, hunters and trappers themselves. The white men saw what they thought was an easy way of gaining valuable furs. They worked out a plan to deceive the quiet Native Americans and in the process of carrying out their scheme brutally killed all of them-- two men, three women, and four children under the age of ten, two boys and two girls. Bridge and company then mutilated some of the bodies and looted the camp of any valuables. The bodies of the Native Americans were discovered the next day by white settlers on their way to a religious meeting at the home of Peter Jones. The news of the atrocity spread, and bands of the white settlers pursued the culprits. All of the suspects were caught and jailed except for Thomas Harper who escaped to Ohio and was never seen again in the territory. The four remaining suspects--Bridge, his nineteen year old son, Sawyer, and Hudson--were indicted for murder, tried by a jury of their pioneer peers, and sentenced to die by hanging. "This was the first time, and is perhaps the only instance in the history of American jurisprudence, where white men were legally executed for the killing of Indians." In October of that year, James Hudson was tried separately and was the first to die for his crimes. He was hanged on December 1, 1824.

Date of crime: 01/01/1824 Public access allowed: yes Fee required: no Web site: Not listed

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