John Swiger Indian Spy.

A while back I was ask to look up some information on a Indian spy by a nice woman by the name of Suzette Carpenter Galloway. We talked back and forth for a while and I was able to give her some information. I later put her name in my file, then after not finding anything new and not hearing anything back from her I deleted all the information I had. Then out of the blue I got a mail from her with all kinds of information on this Indian spy. Now I was at a total loss as so much time had gone by. I couldn’t remember what we had talked about or what I was to do with the information. I wrote her back asking for some back ground so I could introduce this information to you readers. The following letter tells a little about her self and what the following information is all about.
********************

Sir: In answer to your email......
I am Suzette Carpenter Galloway, from beautiful California. I am a retired elementary school teacher. My husband, and I are originally from Michigan but our professions brought us to California. We absolutely love working on family history together.

I had written to you with information about Indian Spy Thomas B. Stout. He is my 4th great grandfather. He had been granted a pension in 1833 but it was discontinued in 1835 -- reason given--lack of sufficient evidence. Supporting data was submitted by Lovel Corbin and William Wilkinson.

My recent correspondence to you was about Indian Spy John Swiger ( sometimes spelled Sweger). He had been granted a pension in 1833 but it was discontinued in 1835 --reason given-- lack of sufficient evidence. Supporting data was filed by Israel Shinn and John Allen.

I found the info about their pensions in the book placed on GOOGLE called West Virginians in the American Revolution compiled by Ross B. Johnston. Thomas B. Stout p 276 / John Swiger p 281.

Sincerely,
Suzette Carpenter Galloway
-----------------------

Important note: Those of you who have information on the names in the following or need information on any of the following names can contact Mrs. Galloway, at this address. Twonow@aol.com
------------------------

John Swiger, Indian Spy.
Born 1759 - Loudoun County, Virginia
Died June, 1844 - Clay District, Harrison County, Virginia
Married May 1794 - Elizabeth Tetrick
John and Elizabeth had 11 children

John's parents were: John William Swiger and his wife Mary.
1755 - parents came to America from Bayern, Germany.
John William and Mary had 7 children
a. Christopher Columbus Swiger married Eleanor Backus
b. Elizabeth Swiger married James Kelley
c. John Swiger ( became Indian Spy)
d. Lovina "Liby" Swiger married Christopher Ash
e. Mary Swiger
f. Eve Swiger married Barnes Allen ( see story below)
g. Jacob Swiger married Nancy Backus

Story about Eve Swiger and her husband Barnes Allen
CLARKSBURG, Sept, 20, 1900.
COL. HENRY HAYMOND,

DEAR SIR : — At your request I will tell you the tradition of my grandfather, Barnes Allen's adventure with the Indians as I heard it from my father, Stephen C. Allen. Joshua Allen and his son, Barnes Allen, came from Scotland to Virginia, from there to Fort Pitt, thence up the river to what is now known as Hepzibah, or the Allen farm, five miles from Clarksburg. Joshua Allen entered a large tract of land, and his son, Barnes, planted and matured four (4') hills of corn, which gave him a settlement right to 400 acres, built a log cabin on his land and went to Fort Pitt, and was married to a German woman named Eve Swiger, and returned to his cabin in the wilderness, and started to establish a home and clear out a farm. To this union six children were born, four boys. John. Joshua, Israel and Stephen and two girls. Catherine and Rebecca. Rebecca was born in 1784. married Starling Bartlett. lived ninety-six years, died and was buried in Hepzibah church yard, all on or in the close vicinity of the original Allen farm.

THE STORY OF GRANDMOTHER'S TREE.

Sometime in the early 80 's while Barnes Allen was away from home watching a deer lick, his wife, who was alone became alarmed at the continual barking of their dog. and. going to the door to see what was the matter, discovered a small party of Indians approaching the cabin. She hurried out the back door and through the thick underbrush until she reached a large Beech tree with low spreading branches which stood near the Spring. She climbed this tree and hid herself in the heavy foliage. As a boy, I well remember seeing this tree. It was known as Grandmother's tree. My father never allowed it to be disturbed and it was left standing until it wasted away. The Indians entered the cabin and after taking everything they could carry, set it on fire, and while it was burning stood under the Beech tree in which Grandmother was hidden. From the hill back of where Hepzibah church now stands. Grandfather saw the light of his burning cabin, and hastened towards it to find what little he possessed, in ruins, and his wife gone. He supposed that she had been killed, but lingered about the place hoping to find some trace of her, and after some time, hearing a peculiar bird call, which he recognized as a signal agreed upon between himself and wife in time of danger, answered the call and his wife came down out of the tree, unharmed. He took her to the house of a settler, near the Maulsby Bridge, I think by the name of Shinn. The next morning he and Shinn started to Power's Fort, near Bridgeport, to give the alarm. On the way, and opposite the brick house built by William Smith, on Simpson's Creek, three Indians came out from some overhanging rocks, and fired at them. The sudden starting of Allen's horse caused him to drop his gun in the sand. Shinn fired at the Indians, and they galloped on to the fort which they reached about noon. A party was at once made up to pursue the Indians and on reaching the place where the two had been fired upon, it was discovered that the Indians had encamped the previous night under the rocks spoken of, and that they had left a belt, a knife, Allen's gun and two white scalps. The men took up the trail, and discovered that one of the Indians had been wounded by Shinn 's shot, and that he was hidden in a swamp on the farm afterwards owned by Jefferson Smith. He was finally discovered, shot and scalped. Further pursuit was then abandoned. Very respectfully, JAMES F. ALLEN

CLARKSBURG, Sept, 20, 1900.
COL. HENRY HAYMOND,

DEAR SIR : — At your request I will tell you the tradition of my grandfather, Barnes Allen's adventure with the Indians as I heard it from my father, Stephen C. Allen. Joshua Allen and his son, Barnes Allen, came from Scotland to Virginia, from there to Fort Pitt, thence up the river to what is now known as Hepzibah, or the Allen farm, five miles from Clarksburg. Joshua Allen entered a large tract of land, and his son, Barnes, planted and matured four (4') hills of corn, which gave him a settlement right to 400 acres, built a log cabin on his land and went to Fort Pitt, and was married to a German woman named Eve Swiger, and returned to his cabin in the wilderness, and started to establish a home and clear out a farm. To this union six children were born, four boys. John. Joshua, Israel and Stephen and two girls. Catherine and Rebecca. Rebecca was born in 1784. married Starling Bartlett. lived ninety-six years, died and was buried in Hepzibah church yard, all on or in the close vicinity of the original Allen farm.