Nicholas Cresswell

According to Ellen Eslinger, editor of Running Mad for Kentucky. Frontier Travel Accounts (Univ Press of Ky, 2004), Nicholas Cresswell was a English tourist who came to Kentucky in 1775 as part of his complete tour package of the colonies. His Kentucky experience may be most notable for his violent quarrels with the man he’d hired to be his guide, one George Rice. After two weeks in the Pittsburgh area waiting for Rice to make a canoe for the trip, Cresswell’s party set out on April 28, 1775 and reached the area of Harrodsburg about June 4. He had wanted to travel on into Illinois but Rice wouldn’t go and so Cresswell returned to Pittsburgh,

One landmark that shows up in several of these narratives of the trip into Kentucky down the Ohio River is the site of General Edward Braddock’s defeat by the French and Indians near Great Meadows, Pennsylvania. The battle took place on July 9, 1755. General Braddock was killed; George Washington carried him off the field. Note the indications in this entry that feelings toward the English was not too friendly on the frontier:

Fort Pitt, Virginia, Sunday, April 16th, 1775. Lest Mr. De Camp’s. Travelled over small hills, woods, and dirty roads to Bush Creek, called at a Mill where by acting the Irishman, got a feed of Corn for our horses. Crossed Turtle Creek. Dined at Myer’s Ordinary. After dinner got a man to conduct us to the place where General Braddock was defeated by the French and Indians the 9th. July, 1755. It was on the Banks of the Mon-in-ga-ha-ly River. Found great numbers of bones, both men and horses. The trees were injured, I suppose by the Artillery. It appears to me the front of our Army never extended more than 300 yards and the greatest slaughter seems to have been made within 400 yards of the River, where it is level and full of underwood. Further from the River it is hilly and some rock where the enemy would still have the advantage of the ground. We could not find one whole skull, all of them broke in pieces in the upper part, some of them had holes broken in them about an inch in diameter, suppose it to be done with a Pipe Tomahawk. I am told the wounded were all massacred by the Indians. Got to Fort Pitt in the evening. Land very good, but thinly inhabited. Our landlord seems to be very uneasy to know where we come from.

Rice agrees to take Cresswell to Illinois for 500 acres of land, which I assume they would claim in Kentucky. They set out on April 27 in two dugout canoes, Charming Sally and Charming Polly. The canoes were of walnut, about 30 feet long and 20 inches wide.

Also common to most of these accounts are descriptions of the hardwood forests:

Sunday, April 30th, 1775. This day we have been detained by rain. Settled our accounts concerning Vessels and provisions. The land from the foot of the Laurel Mountain to Fort Pitt is rich beyond conception. Walnut and Cherry Trees grow to an amazing size. I have seen several three foot diameter and 40 foot before they come to a limb. Great plenty of Wild Plum Trees and a Species of Pimento, these are small bushes. The soil in general is Black and of a Fat Loamy nature. Coal and Limestone in the same quarry. I have seen stratums of Coal 14 foot thick equal in quality to the English Coal. Land is at a very low rate, 1000 acres might be purchased for £100 Pennsylvania Currency. Very thinly inhabited. The few there is, are in general great rascals.

Sunday, May 7th, 1775. This morning Captn. [George Rogers] Clark (who I find is an intelligent man) showed me a root the Indians call pocoon, good for the bite of a Rattle Snake. The root is to be mashed and applied to the wound, and a decoction made of the leaves which the patients drink. The roots are exceedingly red, the Indians use it to paint themselves with sometimes. Left Muddy Creek, passed two small Islands to the Big tree Island, so called from the number of large trees upon it. Went ashore on the Big tree Island and measured a large Sycamore tree. It was 51 feet 4 inches in circumference five feet from the ground, and I suppose it would have measured that twenty feet high. There are several large trees, but I believe these exceed the rest. One of the company caught a large Catfish which made a most delicious pot of Soup. Passed the Little Kanhawa River on the East. Barren land about the mouth of it. Stopped to cook our supper at Fort Gower, a little picketed Fort built last summer but now deserted at the mouth of Kokkskin on the W. Drifted all night.

Cresswell’s party met Clark en route and he spent a couple of days with them. They also meet and join the party of James Nourse, who also kept a journal.

About May 8, Cresswell’s party begins to hear rumors that “the Indians are broke out again” and “My courageous companions’ spirits begin to droop.” On May 13, the party lashes the two canoes together and Cresswell calls this new vessel the Union. “Some of our company laughs at it and declare she will not answer the helm. But it pleases me well and hope it will deceive them.”

Sunday, May 14th, 1775. Camped at the mouth of Sandy Creek. This morning very wet. After breakfast Mr. Edmund Taylor and I entered into discourse on politics which ended in high words. Taylor threatened to tar and feather me. Obliged to pocket the affront. Find I shall be toryfied if I hold any further confab with these red-hot liberty men. (Mem. Taylor’s usage to be remembered.)

The party started up the Kentucky River on May 21.

Wednesday, May 24th, 1775. Land in general covered with Beech. Limestone in large flags. Few rivulets empty into the River, which makes me suppose the country is badly watered. Camped at a place where the Buffaloes cross the River. In the night were alarmed with a plunging in the river. In a little time Mr. Johnston (who slept on board) called out for help. We ran to his assistance with our arms and to our great mortification and surprise found one of our Canoes that had all our flour on board sunk, and would have been inevitably lost, had it not been fixed to the other. We immediately hauled our shattered vessel to the shore and landed our things, tho’ greatly damaged. It was done by the Buffaloes crossing the River from that side where the vessel was moored. Fortunately for Mr. Johnston he slept in the Canoe next the shore. The Buffaloes jumped over him into the other, split it about fourteen foot. Mr. Nourse and Mr. Taylor’s servants usually slept on board, but by mistake brought their blankets on shore this evening and were too lazy to go on board again or probably they would have been killed.

These lazy “servants” are probably slaves.

Morale continues to deteriorate until on May 29th, George Rice threatens to scalp and tomahawk Cresswell. James Nourse breaks up the fight. They continue on up river, shooting buffalo and picking ticks. By the time they get to Harrod’s Landing on June 5, there are more reports of violence and Cresswell turns back. His return trip was beset by danger and hunger but he did get to spend a couple of days at Big Bone Lick.

Possibly related posts:

Braddock’s Field, thirty years on

How Braddock marched into slaughter

James Nourse

Battle of Point Pleasant

Francis Baily

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