Letterbook Copy

Robert Brown's Affidavit at Camden County Georgia recounting his observations at the robbery and murder at Robert Seagrove's store at Traders Hill on St Mary's

Brown states that he was with Daniel Moffett [one of those later killed at robbery at Traders Hill on St Marys]. They met an Indian who told them the Creeks were going to war on the frontier. There was some trading and discussion taking place at Robert Seagrove's store at Trader's Hill. James Allen, Daniel Moffett, John Galphin were present. Fleming purchased a deer skin and was shot dead while paying at the counter by an Indian outside the door. Galphin chased the Indian. Brown, who fled the scene and hid in the bushes, says he also heard the Indians killing Mr Fleming and beating Mrs. Ann Gray. Brown heard from Galphin and Allen, that the murdering party came from the town on the Flint River where James Burges, an Indian trader lives; and that members of the party were relatives of Burges.

1793

03

14

Georgia, Camden County

Enclosed in Seagrove to Knox, 03/17/1793.This journal is enclosed in a statement relative to the South Western frontiers, as connected with the state of Georgia and the Creek Indians, the south Western territory of the United States and the Cherokees submitted to the House of Representatives on December 4, 1793. This document is an integral part of [Public Reports] and other communications of the Secretary at War, 12/99/1793.

Cited document that was neither sent to nor from the War Office

Robert Brown

Daniel Moffett

Robert Seagrove

James Allen

John Galphin

Mr Fleming

James Burges

Mr Gascoins

Paddy Donnelly

Mr Tillet

Mrs. Ann Gray

children

Mr. Fitch

Justice of Peace

Thomas King Justice of Peace

Elihu Hubbard Justice of the Peace

Traders Hill on St Marys

Flint River

Camden County Georgia

Colerain

Great Satilla River

Florida

Georgia

deer skin, robbery, murder,

robbery and murder at Robert Seagrove's store Trader's Hill on St Marys

1793031490035

209

Robert Brown's affidavit (enclosed in the foregoing) State of Georgia, Camden County

Personally appeared before us Justice of the peace of said county- Robert Brown, an individual of Great Setilla, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith, that the said Robert Brown went in Company with Daniel Moffett on Sunday the tenth of August to the house of James Allens on the River St. Mary between Colrain and Tradershill - on the said morning went to Mr Gascoins store about one mile above said Allen having then in company John Galphin and James Allen - On their arrival at Mr Gascoins they met an Indian well known in this County called Paddy Donnelly that this Indian informed that he had fallen in the day before with three Indians who belonged to a Camp of Creek Indians then within a few miles who he said were painted for War and bent on doing mischief on this frontier and the said Indians said that it was War all over and that parties of Creeks were out to do mischief on the frontier they also said that they should have killed a W Fillet and all his family who lived at a place of James Allen about four miles above Indian hill, but were prevented by a Lochaway Indian there encamped near said Fillet's, this was on Sunday the 10th that being desirous of knowing more of this information he the said Brown together with James Allen, John Galphin, and said Moffitt went to the Store of Robert Seagrove at Tradershill where they met three of the Identical Indians mentioned by Paddy Donnelly that John Galphin endeavored to draw them into conversation and to discover their intentions but they refused and would not know him saying he was dressed as a White man and that the red people were all at War with the Whites. Galphin expressed a desire of going to their Camp and was attended by one of the said Indians, this deponent, James Allen and David Moffett to the neighborhood of said camp, that Gaither and Allen went into the Camp where they continued about two hours and then returned to where this deponent and Moffett were, having with them about ten Indians all of whom were armed and on horseback except one. That the whole party then proceeded together to the store of Robert Seagrove at Tradershill where Mr John Henry inquired the news, then Mr Galphin answered that matters were much better than they had heard when going up. On which Mr Henry asked them to take a drink, at which instant three Indians belonging to the party who rode in company stopped also into the store offering for sale three or four deer skins, which Mr Flemming bought and was paying the Indians for, all appearing in perfect good temper and pleased - when a Gun was fired by one of the said party of Creek Indians from outside of the door, which killed the before mentioned Daniel Moffett who was standing by the Counter in said store and within a few feet of this deponent. That John Galphin who was then in the store ran out and endeavored to prevent further mischief, that this deponent also went out and saw Galphin run after the Indians who fired the Gun, that deponent returned into the store and found the before mentioned Daniel Moffett laying on the floor dead from the wound received from the shot fired. At this time all the Indians pressed to enter into the store, on which this deponent rushed out of the Store and fled into some bushes about fifty yards from said Store where he could distinctly hear the Indians murdering the before mentioned John Flemming- That at this instant all the Indians raised the War hoop or yell. That from the time of killing Mr Moffett until the Indians went away this deponent thinks it was three hours, it being the dusk of Monday evening when it began. That this deponent remained concealed until all was quiet and the Indians gone off when he approached toward the Store and heard two children crying in a room adjoining the Store which Children belonged to Mrs Ann Gray who the Indians beat and abused as this deponent could distinctly hear while he lay in the bushes. That this deponent understood from Mr Galphin and James Allen that all this party belonged to the Town where a James Burges an Indian trader lives on Flint river in the lower Creeks and that a brotherin law and son of Burges was of the party. That this deponent swam the River St Marys and went to the house of a Mr. Fitch in Florida about two miles and informed of all that had passed, and got Fitch to go to said Store to see how matters then were, that the Indians took off this deponents horse together with several others from the store and further this deponent saith not.

Signed Robert Brown

Sworn before us at Colerain on the River St Marys in Georgia this 14th March 1793
James Seagrove, J.P.
Thomas King, J.P.
Elihu Hubbard, J.P.