Wythe County, Virginia Petition October 17, 1793

Ro. Crockett to the Governor, October 17th, 1793

Sir:

In conformity with the wish of the people on this frontier, I enclose you a petition praying for further protection on this part of the Southwestern frontier. I have no news to communicate at this time, except the body of Indians that was encamped below Knoxville are removed, part of whom towards Powell’s Valley.

Would thank you to write me by the bearer, Mr. Whitten, & if convenient, enclose me a newspaper.

Sir I am with real Esteem,
Your Ob’t Serv’t.

To the Honorable the Speaker, and House of the General Assembly of Virginia:

The Petition of the Inhabitants of the frontiers of Wythe County humbly sheweth, that since the first settling of the said frontier, your petitioners have laboured under great inconveniences by reason of the oppressive depredations committed on us by the Hostile Indians; that your petitioners have long expected a peace would have been effected either by the sword, or a General Treaty, before this day, which along has induced your petitioners to maintain our ground against their hostile incursions so many years as we have done.

That notwithstanding the negotiation of the late proposed Treaty a period in which we had a right to have expected peace, but their depredations on our frontier during that time was as frequent as ever. A short statement of which, since the first of March, your petitioners beg leave to represent to your humble body.

On the 8th of the said month of March, a certain John Davidson was killed and some valuable horses carried off. On the 8th of April a certain John Allsup was shot thro’ the shoulder, not far from his own house. On the 28th of this same month, upwards of forty Horses were carried off. On the 24th of July, one of Capt. Crockett’s men was killed, and one other taken prisoner. On the 10th of September six horses were carried off by a small party of Indians.

From the above statement of the hostilities committed on our frontier, from our peculiar situation being cut off from the body the said county at a considerable distance by several large mountains, and from the present warlike disposition of the hostile tribes of Indians, your petitioners do humbly pray that your honorable body would take our grievances into consideration, and continue our present system of defence, it being the only one that has ever been productive of our safety, and which is to expire on the first of December next.

And your petitioners will pray, &c.