Lee Indian Massacre Major John Lee and his entire family, with the exception of a son, Robert, were massacred near Winfield outside of New Berlin Pennsylvania by an Indian war party on August 13 1782.
Rt 11/15 Southbound junction of Rt 304
From Indian Wars of Pennsylvania By C. Hal Sipe pg 674:
Outrages in Union County in 1782- The Lee tragedy
Indian outrages in Union County began on May 6th of this year, when two men named Lee and Razoner were killed between Mifflinburg and New Berlin, and Edward Tate was badly wounded. They belonged to Capt. George Overmeir's Company of Rangers.
On the evening of August 13th 1782, occurred the attack on the home of Major John Lee, in what is now Winfield, Union County.
This was one of the most revolting crimes of the Pennsylvania frontier. The family and some neighbors were seated for supper when between sixty and seventy Indians rushed into the house, tomahawked and scalped Major Lee, and old man named John Walker and Mrs. Claudius Boatman and her daughter. A young woman named Katy Stoner hurried up the stairs and hid behind a chimney, where she remained undiscovered, and thus survived to relate the details of the story. Mrs. lee, her small child and a larger boy named Thomas were led away captives. Lee's son Robert, who was absent when the Indians came, returned just as the Indians were leaving, but was not discovered by them. He fled to Northumberland and gave the alarm.
The Indians fled along the Great Path, leading up that side of the valley of the West Branch of the Susquehanna, over White Deer Mountains, and then crossed to the east side of the river below Muncy. Colonel Samuel Hunter with a band of twenty volunteers hastened in pursuit from Fort Augusta, where Sunbury now stands. Arriving at the Lee home, Col. Hunter's men found some of the victims of savage cruelty yet alive and writhing in the agony of their wounds. Both Major Lee and Mrs. Boatman's daughter were alive, and were carried back to Fort Augusta on litters, were the Major died in great agony soon after his arrival, while Mrs. Boatman was nursed back to health. Colonel Hunter and his party, without waiting to bury the dead, hastened after the Indians as rapidly as possible, and came in sight of them above Lycoming Creek.
Mrs. Lee was accidently bitten on the ankle by a rattlesnake while crossing White Deer Mountains, causing her leg to become terribly swollen and to pain her so severely that she traveled with great difficulty. The Indians, realizing they were being pursued, urged her along as rapidly as her strength would permit, but she became weaker and weaker, and when about four miles below where Jersey Shore now stands, her strength entirely failed her, and she seated herself upon the ground near the mouth of Pine Run. By this time, Colonel Hunter's party were close upon the Indians, and in order that the poor woman might not be recovered by the whites, a warrior stealthy slipped up behind her, placed the muzzle of his rifle close to her ear and pulled the trigger, blowing off the whole top of her head. Another Indian then snatched up her young child, and holding it aloft by the feet, dashed it against a tree. The whole Indian band then fled with renewed speed, crossing the river at Smith's fording, at Level Corner, and following up through Nippennose Valley. When Col. Hunter's men came upon the spot where Mrs. Lee was murdered, they found her body still warm. Happily her child was not dangerously injured, but was moaning piteously. The pursuit was now pressing with so much vigor that near Antes Gap, the Indians hurriedly separated, further pursuit was not prudent. His men came back and then buried the body of Mrs. Lee where she died and returned, bringing back the child. At the Lee home, they halted and buried the dead there. They dug a hole alongside of Walkers body and rolled him in.
Rt 11/15 Southbound junction of Rt 304
From Indian Wars of Pennsylvania By C. Hal Sipe pg 674:
Outrages in Union County in 1782- The Lee tragedy
Indian outrages in Union County began on May 6th of this year, when two men named Lee and Razoner were killed between Mifflinburg and New Berlin, and Edward Tate was badly wounded. They belonged to Capt. George Overmeir's Company of Rangers.
On the evening of August 13th 1782, occurred the attack on the home of Major John Lee, in what is now Winfield, Union County.
This was one of the most revolting crimes of the Pennsylvania frontier. The family and some neighbors were seated for supper when between sixty and seventy Indians rushed into the house, tomahawked and scalped Major Lee, and old man named John Walker and Mrs. Claudius Boatman and her daughter. A young woman named Katy Stoner hurried up the stairs and hid behind a chimney, where she remained undiscovered, and thus survived to relate the details of the story. Mrs. lee, her small child and a larger boy named Thomas were led away captives. Lee's son Robert, who was absent when the Indians came, returned just as the Indians were leaving, but was not discovered by them. He fled to Northumberland and gave the alarm.
The Indians fled along the Great Path, leading up that side of the valley of the West Branch of the Susquehanna, over White Deer Mountains, and then crossed to the east side of the river below Muncy. Colonel Samuel Hunter with a band of twenty volunteers hastened in pursuit from Fort Augusta, where Sunbury now stands. Arriving at the Lee home, Col. Hunter's men found some of the victims of savage cruelty yet alive and writhing in the agony of their wounds. Both Major Lee and Mrs. Boatman's daughter were alive, and were carried back to Fort Augusta on litters, were the Major died in great agony soon after his arrival, while Mrs. Boatman was nursed back to health. Colonel Hunter and his party, without waiting to bury the dead, hastened after the Indians as rapidly as possible, and came in sight of them above Lycoming Creek.
Mrs. Lee was accidently bitten on the ankle by a rattlesnake while crossing White Deer Mountains, causing her leg to become terribly swollen and to pain her so severely that she traveled with great difficulty. The Indians, realizing they were being pursued, urged her along as rapidly as her strength would permit, but she became weaker and weaker, and when about four miles below where Jersey Shore now stands, her strength entirely failed her, and she seated herself upon the ground near the mouth of Pine Run. By this time, Colonel Hunter's party were close upon the Indians, and in order that the poor woman might not be recovered by the whites, a warrior stealthy slipped up behind her, placed the muzzle of his rifle close to her ear and pulled the trigger, blowing off the whole top of her head. Another Indian then snatched up her young child, and holding it aloft by the feet, dashed it against a tree. The whole Indian band then fled with renewed speed, crossing the river at Smith's fording, at Level Corner, and following up through Nippennose Valley. When Col. Hunter's men came upon the spot where Mrs. Lee was murdered, they found her body still warm. Happily her child was not dangerously injured, but was moaning piteously. The pursuit was now pressing with so much vigor that near Antes Gap, the Indians hurriedly separated, further pursuit was not prudent. His men came back and then buried the body of Mrs. Lee where she died and returned, bringing back the child. At the Lee home, they halted and buried the dead there. They dug a hole alongside of Walkers body and rolled him in.
Lee Indian Massacre Major John Lee and his entire family, with the exception of a son, Robert, were massacred near Winfield outside of New Berlin Pennsylvania by an Indian war party on August 13 1782.
Rt 11/15 Southbound junction of Rt 304
From Indian Wars of Pennsylvania By C. Hal Sipe pg 674:
Outrages in Union County in 1782- The Lee tragedy
Indian outrages in Union County began on May 6th of this year, when two men named Lee and Razoner were killed between Mifflinburg and New Berlin, and Edward Tate was badly wounded. They belonged to Capt. George Overmeir's Company of Rangers.
On the evening of August 13th 1782, occurred the attack on the home of Major John Lee, in what is now Winfield, Union County.
This was one of the most revolting crimes of the Pennsylvania frontier. The family and some neighbors were seated for supper when between sixty and seventy Indians rushed into the house, tomahawked and scalped Major Lee, and old man named John Walker and Mrs. Claudius Boatman and her daughter. A young woman named Katy Stoner hurried up the stairs and hid behind a chimney, where she remained undiscovered, and thus survived to relate the details of the story. Mrs. lee, her small child and a larger boy named Thomas were led away captives. Lee's son Robert, who was absent when the Indians came, returned just as the Indians were leaving, but was not discovered by them. He fled to Northumberland and gave the alarm.
The Indians fled along the Great Path, leading up that side of the valley of the West Branch of the Susquehanna, over White Deer Mountains, and then crossed to the east side of the river below Muncy. Colonel Samuel Hunter with a band of twenty volunteers hastened in pursuit from Fort Augusta, where Sunbury now stands. Arriving at the Lee home, Col. Hunter's men found some of the victims of savage cruelty yet alive and writhing in the agony of their wounds. Both Major Lee and Mrs. Boatman's daughter were alive, and were carried back to Fort Augusta on litters, were the Major died in great agony soon after his arrival, while Mrs. Boatman was nursed back to health. Colonel Hunter and his party, without waiting to bury the dead, hastened after the Indians as rapidly as possible, and came in sight of them above Lycoming Creek.
Mrs. Lee was accidently bitten on the ankle by a rattlesnake while crossing White Deer Mountains, causing her leg to become terribly swollen and to pain her so severely that she traveled with great difficulty. The Indians, realizing they were being pursued, urged her along as rapidly as her strength would permit, but she became weaker and weaker, and when about four miles below where Jersey Shore now stands, her strength entirely failed her, and she seated herself upon the ground near the mouth of Pine Run. By this time, Colonel Hunter's party were close upon the Indians, and in order that the poor woman might not be recovered by the whites, a warrior stealthy slipped up behind her, placed the muzzle of his rifle close to her ear and pulled the trigger, blowing off the whole top of her head. Another Indian then snatched up her young child, and holding it aloft by the feet, dashed it against a tree. The whole Indian band then fled with renewed speed, crossing the river at Smith's fording, at Level Corner, and following up through Nippennose Valley. When Col. Hunter's men came upon the spot where Mrs. Lee was murdered, they found her body still warm. Happily her child was not dangerously injured, but was moaning piteously. The pursuit was now pressing with so much vigor that near Antes Gap, the Indians hurriedly separated, further pursuit was not prudent. His men came back and then buried the body of Mrs. Lee where she died and returned, bringing back the child. At the Lee home, they halted and buried the dead there. They dug a hole alongside of Walkers body and rolled him in.
Rt 11/15 Southbound junction of Rt 304
From Indian Wars of Pennsylvania By C. Hal Sipe pg 674:
Outrages in Union County in 1782- The Lee tragedy
Indian outrages in Union County began on May 6th of this year, when two men named Lee and Razoner were killed between Mifflinburg and New Berlin, and Edward Tate was badly wounded. They belonged to Capt. George Overmeir's Company of Rangers.
On the evening of August 13th 1782, occurred the attack on the home of Major John Lee, in what is now Winfield, Union County.
This was one of the most revolting crimes of the Pennsylvania frontier. The family and some neighbors were seated for supper when between sixty and seventy Indians rushed into the house, tomahawked and scalped Major Lee, and old man named John Walker and Mrs. Claudius Boatman and her daughter. A young woman named Katy Stoner hurried up the stairs and hid behind a chimney, where she remained undiscovered, and thus survived to relate the details of the story. Mrs. lee, her small child and a larger boy named Thomas were led away captives. Lee's son Robert, who was absent when the Indians came, returned just as the Indians were leaving, but was not discovered by them. He fled to Northumberland and gave the alarm.
The Indians fled along the Great Path, leading up that side of the valley of the West Branch of the Susquehanna, over White Deer Mountains, and then crossed to the east side of the river below Muncy. Colonel Samuel Hunter with a band of twenty volunteers hastened in pursuit from Fort Augusta, where Sunbury now stands. Arriving at the Lee home, Col. Hunter's men found some of the victims of savage cruelty yet alive and writhing in the agony of their wounds. Both Major Lee and Mrs. Boatman's daughter were alive, and were carried back to Fort Augusta on litters, were the Major died in great agony soon after his arrival, while Mrs. Boatman was nursed back to health. Colonel Hunter and his party, without waiting to bury the dead, hastened after the Indians as rapidly as possible, and came in sight of them above Lycoming Creek.
Mrs. Lee was accidently bitten on the ankle by a rattlesnake while crossing White Deer Mountains, causing her leg to become terribly swollen and to pain her so severely that she traveled with great difficulty. The Indians, realizing they were being pursued, urged her along as rapidly as her strength would permit, but she became weaker and weaker, and when about four miles below where Jersey Shore now stands, her strength entirely failed her, and she seated herself upon the ground near the mouth of Pine Run. By this time, Colonel Hunter's party were close upon the Indians, and in order that the poor woman might not be recovered by the whites, a warrior stealthy slipped up behind her, placed the muzzle of his rifle close to her ear and pulled the trigger, blowing off the whole top of her head. Another Indian then snatched up her young child, and holding it aloft by the feet, dashed it against a tree. The whole Indian band then fled with renewed speed, crossing the river at Smith's fording, at Level Corner, and following up through Nippennose Valley. When Col. Hunter's men came upon the spot where Mrs. Lee was murdered, they found her body still warm. Happily her child was not dangerously injured, but was moaning piteously. The pursuit was now pressing with so much vigor that near Antes Gap, the Indians hurriedly separated, further pursuit was not prudent. His men came back and then buried the body of Mrs. Lee where she died and returned, bringing back the child. At the Lee home, they halted and buried the dead there. They dug a hole alongside of Walkers body and rolled him in.
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