Daughter of John McCULLOCH 1726 – 1775 and Sarah INSKEEP 1728 – 1793

Married Ebenezer (Col.) ZANE 1747 – 1811; parents of:

Catherine ZANE 1769 – 1816
Mary Ann ZANE 1771 – 1816
Sarah M ZANE 1773 – 1854
Noah ZANE 1774 – 1774
Rebecca ZANE 1776 – 1866
Noah Ebenezer ZANE 1778 – 1833
John M ZANE 1780 – 1805
Samuel ZANE 1784 – 1852
Hetty ZANE 1786 – 1854
Daniel ZANE 1788 – 1788
Jesse ZANE 1790 – 1811
Daniel Francis ZANE 1792 – 1860

Her sister-in-law, Elizabeth "Betty" Zane, was the "heroine of Fort Henry" for smuggling in the ammunition needed to defend the fort (see photo to right of sister-in-law).

"Mrs. Zane was a woman of remarkable character, full of activity, and of indomitable energy. She was equal to every emergency that arose in a life full of startling incident. Her thrift, management, industry, intelligence and untiring labors, were noted characteristics. "She was as brisk as a bee," said one who knew her well, she could turn her hand to anything. She was the surgeon of the neighborhood, becoming quite an adept in the art and was called upon to perform difficult and serious operations. She was also a skillful nurse, and had nerve to undertake the most difficult enterprises when necessity demanded. In 1785, a man named Mills was shot by the Indians while spearing fish at night, some distance above the fort, Rising in the canoe with his torch to throw the light in the right direction, he received a whole volley from a party of Indians on the shore. He was brought to Wheeling, and Mrs. Zane extracted seventeen bullets from his body, cutting them out with a razor as nicely as a surgeon with his delicate instruments. Mills was nursed and cared for by her and a Mrs. Williams, fully recovered, and lived for many years, a monument to the skill and care of these women.

Abram Rogers in his account of the siege of 1777, ascribes very great credit to Mrs. Zane in that affair, not only for her seal, activity and usefulness, but in her encouragement and exhortations to the men engaged in the defence.

Of her generosity, devotion, hospitality and unnumbered charities and good offices to others there is abounding testimony. Her piety was fervid and zealous, but characterized by a true humility. The life she led and the well trained family she left is the highest tribute which can be paid to her character and worth."

Mrs. Ebenezer Zane by J. H. Newton

"Elizabeth McCulloch, a daughter of John and Sarah Inskeep McCulloch, was born in Marlton, Gloucester County, NJ in 1750. She married Ebenezer Zane in Hardy County, VA in 1767. In 1770, the family moved to Ohio County, Virginia. Ebenezer Zane was a legendary frontiersman. He founded Wheeling, Virginia and established Zane's Trace, the trail that lead settlers into the interior of Southern Ohio. The city of Zanesville, Ohio is named for Ebenezer.:

Woodyard, Edward L., "McCulloch", "Journal of the Braxton Historical Society", September 1989


"The powder becoming scarce it was proposed that some one should run for a supply, and among the volunteers for that dangerous journey was a sister of Col. ZANE's, who said she (Elizabeth ZANE) would go. This, however, was objected to, and the young men insisted on going themselves. But she was firm in her purpose, and replied that the loss of a woman would be less felt than the loss of a man. And pinning up her dress to let her feet have fair play in the race, off she went. But the Indians astonished at the sight, did not fire a single shot at her. Soon she had secured plenty of powder in a slim belt round her waist and off she bounded again. But the enemy, seeing her returning, suspected some mischief, and fired a volley of balls after her; all of which missed her, and she reached her destination in safety, with plenty of powder to carry through the siege."
SOURCE: J. A. Caldwell's HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES, OHIO, (1880), pp.110-111,128.

1782 - The following poem by an anonymous author of [two] hundred years ago, commemorating the act of heroism and bravery of the young ZANE girl at Fort Henry, September 1782, was published in S. Myer's HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA (1915), pp.376-379, as follows:

BETTY ZANE THE HEROINE OF FORT HENRY.
------------------------------------
Women are timid, cower and shrink
At a show of danger, some folks think;
Tho' men there are who for their lives
Dare not so far asperse their wives;
We'll let that pass; one thing is clear,
Tho' little dangers women fear,
When greater perils men environ
Then women show a front of iron,
And in a gentle manner, they
Do bold things in a quiet way,
And thus our wondering praise obtain,
As on a time did Betty Zane.

A century since out in the West
A rude hut was by Girty pressed,
Girty, the renegade, the dread
Of all that border, fiercely led
Five hundred Wyandots to gain
Plunder and scalp-locks from the slain;
And in this hold, Fort Henry then,
But Wheeling now, twelve boys and men
Guarded with watchful ward and care,
Women and prattling children there,
Against their rude and savage foes,
And Betty Zane was one of those.

There had been forty-two at first,
When Girty on the border burst,
But most of those who meant to stay
And keep the Wyandots at bay,
Outside by savage wiles were lured,
And ball and tomahawk endured,
Till few were left the place to hold,
And some were young and some were old;
But all could use the rifle well,
And vainly from the Indians fell
On puncheon roof and timber wall,
The fitful shower of leaden ball.

Now Betty's brothers and her sire
Were with her in this ring of fire,
And she was ready in her way
To aid their efforts day by day,
In all a gentle maiden might;
To mould the bullets for the fight,
And quick to note and so report,
Watch every act outside the fort;
Or peeping from the loop-holes see
Each act of savage strategy;
These were her tasks, and thus the maid
The toil-worn garrison could aid.

But wearily the fight went on
Until a week was nearly gone,
And then 'twas told, a whisper first,
And then in loud alarm it burst,
Their powder scarce was growing; they
Knew where a keg unopened lay
Outside the fort at Zane's. What now?
Their leader stood with anxious brow,
It must be gained at any cost,
Or toil and fort and lives were lost.
Some one must do that work of fear.
What man of men would volunteer?

Two offered, and so earnest they,
Neither his purpose would give way,
And Shepard, who commanded, dare
Not pick or choose between the pair,
But ere they settled on the one
By whom the errand should be done,
Young Betty interposed and said:
"Let me essay the task instead,
Small matter 'twere if Betty Zane,
A useless woman, should be slain,
But death if dealt on one of those,
Gives too much 'vantage to our foes."

Her father smiled with pleasure grim,
Her pluck gave painful pride to him;
And while her brothers clamored, "No,"
He uttered, "Boys, let Betty go;
She'll do it at less risk than you;
But keep her steady in your view,
And be your rifles shield for her;
Should younder foe make step or stir,
Pick off each man who draws a bead,
And thus you'll serve her in her need,
Now I recover from surprise,
I think our Betty's purpose wise."

The gate was opened; on she sped,
The foe astonished, gazed, 'tis said,
And wondered at her purpose, till
She reached the log hut by the hill,
And when, in apron wrapped, the cask
She backward bore to close her task,
The foemen saw her aim at last,
And poured their fire upon her fast;
Bullet on bullet round her fell,
While rang the Indian's angry yell,
But safely through that whirring rain,
Powder in arms, came Betty Zane.

They filled their horns, both boys and men,
And then began the fight again,
Girty, who there so long had stayed,
By this new feat of feats dismayed,
Fired houses round, and cattle slew,
And moved away---the fight was through;
And when the story round was told,
How they maintained the leaguered hold,
While 'twas agreed that fame was due
To all within the fight were true,
The greatest meed of praise, 'twas plain,
Fell to the share of Betty Zane.

A hundred years have passed since then.
The savage never came again,
Girty is dust. Alike are dead
Those who assailed, and those bestead.
Upon those half-cleared rolling lands,
A crowded city proudly stands,
But of the many who reside
By green Ohio's rushing tide,
There is no prouder lineage than,
Be he rich or poor, the man
Who boasts that in his spotless strain
Mingles the blood of Betty Zane.
-Anonymous.

Service Description: 1) MADE BULLETS AND RELOADED GUNS, SIEGE OF FT HENRY, SEPTEMBER, 1782
Service Source: WITHERS, CHRONICLES OF BORDER WARFARE, PP 356-357