Letterbook Copy

Murder of Richard Thresher and family

Extract of a deposition taken by Elihu Lyman, Justice of the Peace, of Michael Cupps and Nancy Smith. Cupps and Smith give account of the murder of Richard Thresher and his family by Indians. Cupps heard a gun fired and saw about 30 Indians firing upon and massacring Richard Thresher, two children and a "negro wench." The wife of Thresher leaped into the river, the Indians firing upon her as she fled. She was found alive scalped, wounded in both her thighs, her right breast with balls and stabbed in her left breast with a knife, her left arm nearly cut off by a tomahawk. She died in about 24 hours. The infant was found drowned, without any marks of violence upon it.

1793

04

23

Extract of a letter. Enclosed in Telfair to Knox, 05/08/1793.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.

Michael Cupps; Nancy Smith.

Indians

Richard Thresher

Elihu Lyman

Nancy Smith

Michael Cupps

Nancy Smith

negro wench

slave

Georgia

scalped

tomahawk

murder

gun

1793042390055

185

The Secretary of War

Extract from the deposition of Michael Cupps and Nancy Smith taken Elihu Lyman Esquire, one of the Justices of the peace for the County of Greene, dated 23d April 1793.

"Michael Cupps, was near the Oconee river on Monday the 22d instant, and heard a gun fired, and saw about thirty Indians firing upon and Massacreeing Richard Thresher, two children and a negro wench; at the same time the wife of the deceased with an infant, ran and leaped into the river, the Indians firing upon her as she fled — the woman was found alive, scalped, wounded in both her thighs, her right breast with balls and stabbed in her left breast with a knife, her left arm cut nearly off, as is supposed with a Tomohawk, of which wounds she died in about twenty four hours, the Infant was found drowned, without any marks of violence upon it. Nancy Smith deposed the number of Indians was in her opinion nearly one hundred
hundred"

Taken from the files of the Executive.

Attest

W. Urguhart S. E. D.