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Mary Goodison

Mary Goodison

Female 1738 -    Has no ancestors but 99 descendants in this family tree.

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  • Name Mary Goodison 
    Birth 6 Aug 1738  Wentworth, Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female 
    Death
    • Res: Lewis County, WV in 1791
    Person ID I432080  Geneagraphie
    Last Modified 10 Feb 2003 

    Family Edmond West, Sr.,   b. Abt 1731   d. 5 Dec 1787, Lewis County, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 56 years) 
    Marriage 15 Feb 1759  Wentworth, Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Joseph West,   b. Abt 1758   d. Yes, date unknown
    +2. Alexander West,   b. 11 Aug 1760   d. 20 Jun 1834, Lewis County, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 73 years)
     3. Eleazor West,   b. 1762   d. Yes, date unknown
     4. Mary West,   b. 1763   d. Yes, date unknown
    +5. Elizabeth West,   b. 1764   d. 9 Jan 1844 (Age 80 years)
     6. Olive West,   b. 1765   d. Yes, date unknown
    +7. Edmond West, Jr.,   b. 1767, Ripponden, Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1814, Lewis County, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 47 years)
    +8. Adah West,   b. 20 Dec 1770   d. Yes, date unknown
     9. William West,   b. 1775, Lewis County, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 8 Dec 1787, Lewis County, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 12 years)
     10. Thomas West,   b. 1778, Lewis County, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown
    +11. Charles West,   b. 1786, Lewis County, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Aft 1850 (Age 65 years)
     12. John West   d. Yes, date unknown
    Family ID F171031  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 10 Feb 2003 

  • Notes 
    • Continued from Notes for Edmond West. Sr.

      (Pages 208/209) "West's Fort on Hacker's Creek, was also visited by the savages, early in this year (1780). The frequent incursions of the Indians into this settlement, in the year 1778, had caused the inhabitants to desert their homes the next year, and shelter themselves in places of greater security; but being unwilling to give up the improvements which they had already made and commence anew in the woods, some few families returned to it during the winter, & on the approach of spring, moved into the fort. They had not been long here, before the savages made their appearance, and to invest the fort for some time. Too weak to sally out and give them battle, and not knowing when to expect relief, the inhabitants were almost reduced to despair, when Jesse Hughs resolved at his own hazard, to try to obtain assistance to drive off the enemy. leaving the fort at night, he broke by their sentinels and ran with speed to the Buchannon Fort. Here he prevailed on a party of men to accompany him to West's, and relieve those who had been so long confined there. They arrived before day, and it was thought advisable to abandon the place once more, and to remove to Buchannon. On their way, the Indians used every artifice to separate the party, so as to gain an advantageous opportunity of attacking them; but in vain. They exercised so much caution, and kept so well together, that every stratagem was frustrated, and they all reached the fort in safety. Two days after this, Jeremiah Curl, Henry Fink and Edmund West, who were old men, and Alexander West, Peter Cutright, and Simon Schoolcraft, were returning to the fort with some of their neighbor's property, they were fired at by the Indians who were lying concealed along a run bank, Curl was slightly wounded under the chin, but disdaining to fly without making a stand he called to his companions, "stand your ground, for we are able to whip them." At this instant, a lusty warrior drew a tomahawk from his belt and rushed toward him. Nothing daunted by the danger which seemed to threaten him, Curl raised his gun; but the powder being dampened by the blood from his wound, it did not fire. He instantly picked up West's gun (which he had been carrying to relieve West of part of his burden) and discharging it at his assailant, brought him to the ground.
      The whites being by this time rid of their encumbrances, the Indians retreated in two parties and pursued different routes, not however without being pursued. Alexander West being swift of foot, soon came near enough to fire, and brought down a second, but having only wounded him, and seeing the Indians spring behind trees, he could not advance to finish him; nor could he again shoot at him, the flint having fallen out when he first fired. Jackson (who was hunting sheep not far off) hearing the report of the guns, ran toward the spot, and being in sight of the Indian when West shot, saw him fall and afterwards recover and hobble off. Simon Schoolcraft, following after West, came to him just after Jackson, with his gun cocked; and asking where the Indians were, was advised by Jackson to get behind a tree, or they would soon let him know where they were. Instantly the report of a gun was heard, and Schoolcraft let fall his arm. The ball passed through it, and striking a steel tobacco box in his waistcoat pocket, did him no further injury. Cutright, when West fired at one of the Indians, saw another of them drop behind a log, and changing his position, espied him, where the log was a little raised from the earth. With steady nerves, he drew upon him. The moaning cry of the savage, as he sprang from the ground and moved haltingly away, convinced them that the shot had taken effect. The rest of their Indians continued behind trees, until they observed a reinforcement coming up to the aid of the whites, and they fled with the utmost precipitancy. Night soon coming on, those who followed them, had to give over the pursuit.
      A company of fifteen men went early next morning to the battle ground, and taking the trail of the Indians and pursuing it some distance, came to where they had some horses (which they had stolen after the skirmish) hobbled out on a fork of Hacker's Creek. They then found the plunder which the savages had taken from neighboring houses, and supposing that their wounded warriors were near, the whites commenced looking for them, when a gun was fired at them by an Indian concealed in a laurel thicket, which wounded John Cutright. The whites then caught the stolen horses and returned with them and the plunder to the fort."

      Edmond West Sr. was listed in the 1782 U.S. Census with seven persons in his household; Alexander West was shown in the same census as having three persons in his household. There were no other Wests shown in immediate the area, so we can conclude that the entire clan consisted of 10 persons at that time. In the 1785 census, Edmond and Alexander were still the only two mentioned, but now Edmond had eight persons in his household while the number for Alexander had grown to five, for a total of 13.

      In 1784, Edmond West Sr. executed a will which listed his wife, Mary and six children living at the time, namely, Edmond West Junior, John, Thomas, Alexander, Betty, and Edah. It is interesting that to his son Alexander, he gave only "one English Shilling". This may indicate he was in disfavor at the time or that he had already received his inheritance as the eldest son, which was the pratice at that time. Text of the will follows:

      "In the name of God Amen. The tenth Day of November in the year of our Lord 1784, I Edmond West of Harrison County Farmer being sick & weak in body but of perfect mind and memory begorra unto God therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my body knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it and for my body I recommend to the earth to beburied in Christian like and decent manner at the discretion of my Executor nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty force of God and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life. I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form -- - - -It is my will and I do give in the first place all my just debts and funeral charges be paid and satisfied - - - - -I give and bequeath unto Edmond West Junior four hundred acres and one colt - - - - -To John West four hundred acres of land and one mare with the produce to be divided with Thomas West brother to the said John. To Thomas West two hundred and fifty acres of land. The said land joining the plantation that Edmond West Senior now lives upon the aforesaid County. To Alexander West one English Shilling. To Betty West one yearlen black mare colt. To Edah West one yearlen colt - - - - -I give unto Mary my dearly beloved wife all lawful money to be raised and levied out of my estate together with all my household goods and movables with her living on said plantation during her life whom I also with my son Edmond West make and ordain my only and sole Executors of this my last will and testament and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disavow all and every other former testaments wills legacies and executors by me in any way before this time named willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In writing whereof I have hereby set my hand and seal the day and year above written and the mentioned Edmond West, John West and Thomas should die that their land should be equally divided unto Betty and Edah West or their heirs and
      likewise my daughter Mary.
      signed: Edmond West
      Signed sealed and published, pronounced and declared by the said Edmond West as his last will and testament in the presents of us subscribes - - -
      Peter Kinshalo, John Sleeth, and James Schoolcraft

      The final chapter in the life of Edmond West Sr. was written on December 5, 1787.

      The CHRONICLES (Page 280/281) " on the 5th of December, a party of Indians and one white man, (Leonard Schoolcraft) came into the settlement on Hacker's Creek, and meeting with a daughter of Jesse Hughes, took her prisoner. Passing on, come upon E. West, Senr. carrying some fodder to the stable, and taking him likewise captive, carried him to where Hughes' daughter had been left in charge of some of their party. - Here the old gentleman fell upon his knees and expressed a fervent wish that they would not deal harshly by him. His petition was answered by a stroke of the tomahawk, and he fell dead.
      They then went to the house of Edmund West, Jun. where were Mrs. West and her sister (a girl of eleven years old, daughter of John Hacker) and a lad of twelve, the brother of West. Forcing open the door, Schoolcraft and two of the savages entered; and one of them immediately tomahawked Mrs. West. The boy was taking some corn from under the bed, - he was drawn out by the feet and the tomahawk sunk twice in his forehead, directly above each eye. The girl was standing behind the door. One of the savages approached and aimed at her a blow. She tried to evade it; but it struck on the side of her neck, though not with sufficient force to knock her down. She fell however as if killed. Thinking their work of death accomplished here, they took from a press some milk, butter and bread, placed it on the table, and deliberately sat down to eat, - the little girl observing all that passed, in silent stillness. When they had satisfied their hunger, they arose, scalped the woman and boy, plundered the house - even emptying the feathers to carry off the ticking - and departed, dragging the little girl by the hair, forty or fifty yards from the house. They then threw her over the fence, and scalped her; but as she evidenced symptoms of life, Schoolcraft observed "that is not enough," when immediately one of the savages thrust a knife into her side, and they left her. Fortunately the point of the knife came in contact with a rib and did not injure her much.
      Old Mrs. West and her two daughters, who were alone when the old gentleman was taken, became uneasy that he did not return; and fearing that he had fallen into the hands of savages (as they could not otherwise account for his absence) they left the house and went to Alexander West's, who was then on a hunting expedition with his brother Edmund. They told of the absence of old Mr. West and their fears for his fate; and as there was no man here, they went over to Jesse Hughes' who was himself uneasy that his daughter did not come home. Upon hearing that West too was missing, he did not doubt that both had fallen into hands of Indians; and knowing of the absence from home of Edmund West, Jun. he deemed it advisable to apprize his wife of danger, and remove her to his house. For this purpose and accompanied by Mrs. West's two daughters, he went on. On entering the door, the tale of destruction which had been done there was soon told in part. Mrs. West and the lad lay weltering in their blood, but not yet dead. The sight overpowered the girls, and Hughes had to carry them off. - Seeing that the savages had just left them, and aware of the danger which would attend to move out and give the alarm that night. Hughes guarded his own house until day, when he spread the sorrowful intelligence, and a company was collected to ascertain the extent of the mischief and try to find those who were known to be missing.
      Young West was found - standing in the creek about a mile from where he had been tomahawked. The brains were oozing from his head; yet he survived in extreme suffering for three days. Old Mr. West was found in the field where he had been tomahawked. Mrs. West was in the house; she had probably lived but a few minutes after Hughes and her sisters-in-law had left there. The little girl (Hacker's daughter) was in bed at the house of old Mr. West. She related the history of the transaction at Edmund West's, Jun., and said that she went to sleep when thrown over the fence and was awakened by the scalping. After she had been stabbed at the suggestion Schoolcraft and left, she tried to recross the fence to the house, but as she was climbing up she again went to sleep and fell back. She then walked into the woods, sheltered herself as well as she could in the top of a fallen tree, and remained there until the cocks crew in the morning.
      Remembering that there was no person left alive at the house of her sister, a while before day she proceeded to old Mr. West's. She found no person at home, the fire nearly out, but the hearth warm and she laid on it. The heat produced a sickly feeling, which caused her to get up and go to bed, in which she was found. She recovered, grew up, was married, gave birth to ten children, and died, as was believed, of an infection of the head, occasioned by the wound she received that night. Hughes' daughter was ransomed by her father the next year, and is yet living in sight of the theatre of those savage enormities."

      That concludes quotes from the "CHRONICLES of BORDER WARFARE".

      On February 2, 1788, A settlement of Edmond West Sr's estate was filed including an appraisal of 69 items of property and a list of 19 persons to whom money was owed. Among those persons were John Jackson and sons, George and Edward Jackson. These three persons were prominently mentioned in the CHRONICLES, including association with the Wests. Edward jackson became a Colonel in the Colonial Army, and was the grandfather to Stonewall (Thomas J.) Jackson, the famous Rebel General during the Civil War. Stonewall Jackson was born in Clarksburg, (now) West Virginia on January 21, 1824, and died May 10, 1863. 2His death was caused by being shot by his own men when he went ahead of his men to scout, and was mistaken for the enemy. His name is now revered in Lewis County and other parts of West Virginia, where many natural features, landmarks and public facilities bear his name.

      The Mrs. West that was killed on December 5, 1787 was the wife of Edmond Jr, who had been on the hunting trip at the time of the Indian raid. She was former Mary Anne Hacker, daughter of John Hacker, younger sister of William Hacker. They had been married only since February 15, 1787.

      Following are some events occurring to Edmond West Sr's immediate family after his death.

      Edmond Sr's widow, Mary married William Hacker on February 12, 1791.

      Alexander West married Mary Straley on January 19, 1796; and had two children, John (1796) and Chrisitian (1800). John married Sarah Hurst on February 10, 1818 in Lewis County, but moved to Gilmer County, West Virginia prior to 1823. They had 10 children, seven of whom are Edmund (1827), Margaret (1828), Elizabeth (1830), Luther Raymond (1832), Evelyn (1834), Samuel Marion (1841) and William (1843). Christian married Mary Polly Reed on April 21, 1822. They remained in Lewis County, and had six children (all born in Lewis County), including Mary (1822), Rachel (1828), James (1831), Alexander (1833), Charles (1836), and Rubina (1841).

      Elizabeth (Betty) West married John Reger on June 19, 1788, and had five children , Jacob in 1790, Edmund in 1792, Elizabeth in 1794, Abram in 1795, and Barbary in 1797.
      Thomas West married Mary Fletcher on December 23, 1816.



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