Welcome to the McFall Family Page!
Our McFall saga begins with John and Barbara McFall, who went into the wilderness frontier of Kentucky in 1779, and settled near Ruddle's Station in present day Harrison County.
UPDATE MAY 28, 2009
This page has not been updated since 2006, there are some corrections that need to be added. I hope to do that soon.
Are you a descendant of John & Barbara McFall?
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This page has been viewed
times since August 1, 2001.
Updated January 1, 2006
I would like to thank the following, Charlie Lanz, Judy Bishop, and Mary Glenn, for
their generous contributions of McFall information, and especially Charlie and Judy,
for without their help, I would still be at a brickwall after 20+ years!
I will add my story of how I broke down that brickwall in the near future!
Little is known of John and Barbara McFall before they came to early Harrison Co.,
Kentucky in the 1779.
What we do know is that John McFall was born in 1728 in Pennsylvania, as well as their
sons Patrick in 1767, and Joseph, in 1770.
Daughter, Margaret "Peggy" is believed
to have been born in either Pennsylvania or Virginia in 1771, Sarah born in 1773, location
unknown, and John Jr., born in 1775, in either Virginia or Kentucky.
(We must remember that Kentucky was actually a county of Virginia until 1792.)
Where in Pennsylvania and Virginia did they live? Why did they move to Virginia? These
questions remain unanswered.
We can only speculate why they left Virginia, (or was it actually present day Kentucky?)
perhaps it was the Revolutionary War, still
in progress, trying to find a safe-haven for the family. Perhaps John was a soldier in the
Revolutionary War, as he had land in Harrison Co., KY that was deeded over to him by Patrick
Henry. This is probably the same land John left to his wife, Barbara and children upon his
death.
John and Barbara McFall apparently left Virginia in 1779, for the wilderness
frontier of Kentucky. Kentucky in 1779 was still mostly wilderness land, mostly unsettled,
except for a few frontier forts, also known as Stations.
The first known frontier fort in Kentucky, was Fort Harrod, which is known today as
Harrodsburg, Mercer Co., Kentucky, located 32 miles southwest of Lexington, which was
established in 1774. This helped others to establish other settlements in the wilderness
of Kentucky, despite the dangers that were present with hostile Indians.
Ruddel's Station was established in Harrison Co., KY in 1779, (south of present day Cynthiana) on the spot of the former Hinkston's Station, which had been abandoned some three years earlier.
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"From a deposition taken at the house of David McFall at McFalls lick on Mill creek taken
22 Jan 1811. James Gray age 55 said that he came to this place July 1779 and found John McFall building his Cabbin (sic) at this spot. Gray also deposed that Ruddles Station was founded in April 1779. This comes from a law suit filed in Harrison Co., KY. He further said that while living at the Station during 1779 & 1780 McFall frequently left the station to work on his Cabbin and the residents were fearful of his safety because the Indians were troublesome." *************************************************************************************
Apparently while working on the family cabin, the McFall's lived inside the fort at Ruddel's Station for safety reasons. We must remember, that the American Revolutionary War was still in progress at this time. The war did not end until 1781.
Little did they know, just months after they moved to Kentucky, in the Fall of 1779, British Capt. Henry Bird was in the Great Lakes area, recruiting Canadians, Tories, and Indians, for a planned invasion of American forts in Kentucky. This well planned attack by the British command was in retaliation for American victories in Vincennes and Detroit.
The first attack on the fort, March 10, 1780, was unsuccessful, however we are left
with an account of it from the Draper papers:
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As Far as I can tell John and Barbara McFall came to Ruddell's Station with their family
during the winter of 1779-80. They were present at the fort when Indians attacked it
March 10, 1780. Peter Smith, who knew the McFalls, later recalled Mrs .McFall's actions
during this first attack:
"One Indian managed to get under the puncheon floor, perhaps in the night, and Mrs. McFall
poured hot water between the cracks - and the Indian rolled out in a lively manner, and
jumping up, he ran in a zigzag manner, when several shots were ineffectually discharged
at him."
(Lyman Draper's interview with Peter Smith, August 27, 1863, Draper MSS 18S-113-115)
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During an advanced team of the British and Indians before the big invasion, John McFall
is creditied with the killing of a British troop:
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Another incident preserved is the successful long shot made by John McFall which killed
Thomas McCarty who was with Alexaner McKee's advanced party at Ruddell's Station on
June 24, 1780. Captain Bird wrote in his report:
"I had before that day entreated every Indian officer that appeared to have influence among the savages to persuade them not to engage with the Fort until the Guns were up - fearing, if any were killed, it might exasperate the Indians & make them commit cruelties when the Rebels surrendered. Poor McCarty, in every other respect an extreme, attentive, serviceable fellow, perished by disobeying this order."
Michael Baker, whose parents were prisoners at Detroit, later recalled the story of John McFall's long shot which killed Thomas McCarty:
"McCarty... secreted himself in a big tree, which he had climbed, sufficiently near the fort to shoot one or two who had too incautiously exposed themselves - when John McFall in the fort, discovered McCarty, and with his large musket well loaded with bullets & buckshot, brought him down dead."
(Lyman Draper's interview with Michael Baker, Draper MSS 4S:159)
John M.Ruddell, son of Stephen Ruddell, recalled the aftermath of the shooting:
"A long shot killed a white of the British party - and when the guns were stacked, Bird desired Capt. Ruddell to point out the gun that had performed the successful shot of three or four hundred yards and Bird had it largely ornamented with silver on his return and kept it for his personal use."
(Lyman Draper's interview with John M. Ruddell, 1868, Draper MSS 22S:41-52)
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Many of these accounts represented have been preserved by historian, Lyman Draper
(1815 - 1891).
He was the State Historical Society of Wisconsin's first director. He collected first
hand accounts from men and women involved in the early history of the trans-Allegheny west.
The originals documents are housed at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, and
microfilm copies can be found at various libraries across the US.
On ar about June 22, 1780 (some say the 26th) in the early morning hours, Capt. Bird and his troops, estimated to number about 200 Canadian and Tories, and 400 (possibly up to 1000) Indians from the Great Lakes region, arrived at Ruddle's Station with two cannons, a smaller 3 pound, and a larger 6 pound cannon. (These were probably the size of the cannonballs.)
A few rifle shots were reportedly shot at the fort, and gunfire was exchanged, then the smaller cannon was fired at the entrance to Ruddle's. One account has that the cannon ball embedded itself into the wooden wall, and another account has that it bounced off the wall.
In any case, the larger cannon was ordered to the front, loaded and fired towards the basically defenseless fort. As the roar of the cannon being fired, and the shaking of the ground, the north wall of the station fell as the cannon ball destroyed the logs. This is the first time a cannon was used against a Kentucky fort.
As the large cannon was ordered to be reloaded, a white flag appeared. Several men
emerged and began to talk to Capt. Bird.
Bird ordered their surrender, unconditionally,
in the name of King George III.
Seeing no other option, a surrender was agreed to, with the condition that men were to be
taken prisoners, and the women and children be allowed to travel to the next settlement.
The next few minutes were about to changes their lives....
The Indians were not satisfied with the surrender agreement, as they wanted revenge for the
earlier burning of their villages in Ohio, by George Rogers Clark.
Vastly out-numbering the British troops, and ignoring orders to stay outside the fort,
the Indians rushed into the fort and started on a rampage, with tomahawks and knives.
They began taking prisoners, killing the old and sick, and taking scalps, while babies were
taken from their mother's arms, bashed against posts, and thrown into the fire.
The Indians took everything of value, and it is reported, they even took some of the
clothing off of the men.
It is said that 20 - 24 men, women, and children lost their lives in those few minutes.
It is hard to imagine the fear and horror that the families experienced.
The belongings of the captives became the loot that the Indians were to take.
The cattle and other small animals were killed, which would later prove to be a mistake.
The British and Indian allies continued on to Martin's Station, located 5 miles away in
now Bourbon County.
The inhabitants of Martin's Station heard of the attack and surrender at Ruddle's and decided to do the same, on the condition that there would be no killing. Again, the Indians broke their promise to Capt. Bird.
By this time, Capt. Bird had seen enough of the barbarious actions, and gave the orders
on
June 27, 1780 to begin the 400 mile march to Detroit with over 400 prisoners from
Ruddle's and Martin's Stations.
Some of the Indians continued on, to other nearby forts.
When they arrived at Bryan's Station, they had found the inhabitants had already fled to
safety. The fort was looted, and then burned.
The captives, were forced to carry the "loot," their belongings, on the march to
Detroit.
Capt. Bird had planned on bringing the cattle and small animals from Ruddle's on the march,
as food for the great army, and the prisoners, now referred to as slaves by the Indians.
Some records indicate that the prisoners were given only 1 cup of flour for the men, and
1/2 cup for the women and children, per day. They were forced to walk as much as 20 miles
per day, carrying the "loot" from their own homes.
The march to Detroit lasted 41 days, arriving on August 4, 1780.
Many prisoners died on the march from exhaustion, illness, wounds, and starvation. Some
were even killed becaused they failed to keep up with the others.
Upon arriving at Detroit, the captives were divided up, some became farm workers or
servants in Detroit area farms and homes, a few went to jail, 33 were sent on an additional
800 miles by boat to Montreal, Canada including John McFall, and about 200 captives were
kept by the Indians to work in their settlements as servants and slaves, including
Barbara McFall and son John Jr.
Many families were split apart in Detroit, including the McFall's.
Children, Patrick, Joseph, Margaret, and Sarah are listed as being with their father, John
McFall in Detroit, and later transported to Montreal, but it is unclear if they were among
the original 33 sent on to Montreal, or if they were sent at a later time.
It is of my opinion that they were probably sent to Montreal at a later time than their
father, as it is mentioned that John McFall talked of an escape attempt, should he be taken
to Montreal. It seems unlikely that the father would try an escape attempt, and leave
behind four children, ages 7 to 13, still in captivity.
After capture John McFall and his children, Patrick, age 13, Joseph, age 11, Margaret, age 9, and Sarah, age 7 were together at Detroit and later conveyed to Montreal when they were released in 1782. John McFall was mentioned in the trial of Captain Isaac Ruddell when John Mahan deposed:
"That John McFall had informed him, this Deponent he was well assured from convienencing circumstances it was thro the means of Riddle that he (McFall) being then a prisoner with the British was transported from Detroit to Montreal."
(Library of Virginia - Governor's Letters Received, June 29,1776 - November 30, 1784.
Letter of Isaac Zane, Marlbro Iron Works, [to] governor, January 14, 1783,
Image No. GLR04283.)
Christiana Gatliff deposed:
"sometime in or about the month of Septr. 1780, while she was a prisoner in a Blockhouse
at Detroit with John McFall who understanding he was like to be sent to Montreal declared
that should an attempt of that kind be made, he would make his escape at the risk of his
life upon information of which Isaac Riddle [illegible] by Sergeant Chapman of the British
came to this Deponent and minutely interrogated her what information she had made to John
Conway (who has since taken protection under the King) respecting John McFall's declaration
of making an attempt to escape to which the replies as above upon which Riddle Ordered the
Sergeant immediately to take McFall into Custody and take care of him and since then she
has never seen McFall."
(Library of Virginia -Governor's Letters Received, June 29, 1776 - November 30, 1784.
Letter of IsaacZane, Marlbro Iron Works, [to] governor, January 14, 1783,
Image No. GLR04283.)
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Son John McFall, Jr. is mentioned as being with his mother Barbara as one of the Indian prisoners in 1782, but no mention of him when she was "released." Was he with her at the time, or were they separated? In 1782 he would have been only 7 years old.
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Peter Smith told Draper: "John McFall was a prisoner with the Indians - got away by Clark's army invading the Indian country, his wife was retained by the Indians some years, and finally got back. They settled on Mill Creek, in now Harrison County." This may be referring to John McFall Jr.
According to an August 13, 1783 Pennsylvania Gazette report, Barbara McFall and her son, John McFall were listed as prisoners of the Indians about 1782.
Barbara McFall was liberated in 1782 during George Rogers Clark's raid into Ohio. In the 1846 History of Ohio, the reminiscences of Abraham Thomas were published and said "a party of Indians on horseback with their squaws came out of a trace that led to some Indian villages near the present site of Granville. They were going on a frolic, or powwow, to be held at Piqua, and had with them a Mrs. McFall, who was some time before taken prisoner from Kentucky; the Indians escaped into the woods leaving their women, with Mrs. McFall, to the mercy of our company. We took those along with us to Piqua and Mrs. McFall returned to Kentucky."
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Most captives were released around 1782, spending from 2 - 2 1/2 years in captivity, while
there are reports of a few who were unfortunate enough to spend as many as four, up to
fifteen years "in captivity" with the Indians.
While living with the Indians, I have seen few reports of harshness or abuse. In fact
most seem to have been treated well, and some captives, especially children, were "adopted
into" the Indian families. There are at least a couple reports of former captives returning
to live with their Indian families, and taking Indian wives.
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"After the war in October 1782, Virginia Governor Harrison wrote George Washington to get the release of the prisoners. Nothing was heard until the preliminary Treaty of Peace was signed in Paris by Great Britain and the United States Nov. 30, 1782 which provided for their release. In December the Virginia Assembly made an appropriation "for the relief of the 200 men, women and children taken prisoners from Kentucky and who were now on their way home". A few remained as prisoners for 15 years until the 1795 Treaty by General Wayne near Chillicothe, Ohio where there was an exchange program."
[Richard M. Bean's speech]
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From the documents, it appears that Barbara McFall (& son John Jr. ?) were the first of
the family to be released from captivity in August 1782, during George Rogers Clark's raid
of Indian villages in Ohio.
It must have been overwhelming for her emotionally, as she returned home to Harrison Co.,
Kentucky, to find that her husband and other four children were not there. Did she know of
their whereabouts and well-being? Was their cabin still intact, or had someone taken it
over?
This meant Barbara was on her own, to provide for herself and little John.
She must have relied on the kindness of neighbors as well for some food, as it would have
been too late in the season to begin growing food in a garden.
John McFall and the other children, were probably released, as mentioned above, in December 1782. What a reunion that must have been when they returned home!
Eventually, life probably got back to normal.
In 1785, the family continued to grow with the birth of son David, and again in 1787 with
son Daniel, and finally in 1789, with the birth of daughter Susannah.
Patrick McFall, born in 1767 in Pennsylvania, married Althea Van Shoych/Van Shayck, on February 05, 1799 in Nelson Co, Kentucky. Nothing else is known of him, except it is believed that he died in Ohio.
Joseph McFall, born 1770 in Pennsylvania, married Mary "Polly" Marsh, daughter of William
amd Elizabeth (Tharp/Thorp) Marsh, on October 20, 1793,in Bourbon Co., KY.
She was born June 23, 1771 in Bourbon Co., Kentucky.
They were the parents of nine children:
William, John, Jonathon, Samuel, Sarah, Susannah, Mary (Polly),Joseph Jr., and David.
Joseph & Mary moved their family to Bartholomew Co., Indiana sometime between1810
and 1821. Joseph died in Clifty Creek, Bartholomew Co., Indiana in 1821. Mary died
October 05, 1837 in Bartholomew Co., Indiana. They are buried (without a marker) in
Sand Hill Cemetery, outside of present Columbus, in Bartholomew Co., IN.
Margaret "Peggy" McFall, born in 1771, in either Pennsylvania or Virgina, married
James Marshall Hanan, son of John and Hannah (Jackson) Hanan, about 1790, in
Harrison Co., Ky. He was born June 07, 1771 in Bucks Co, Pennsylvania.
James died in 1811, and Margaret "Peggy" died January 15, 1824, both in Harrison Co., KY
They were the parents of nine children:
James Marshall, John, Samuel Thomas, Hannah or "Sally", Thomas Boyd, Margaret "Polly",
Elizabeth, Mary Ann, and Archemedes.
Sarah McFall, born 1773, probably in either Pennsylvania or Virginia, married August 29,
1793 to William Lumley in Bourbon Co., Kentucky. Sarah died in Harrison Co., KY.
Nothing else is known of this family.
John McFall, Jr was born in 1775, in either Virginia or Kentucky. He married
December 18, 1800 in Harrison Co., Kentucky to Jean/Jincy Furnace.
Nothing else is known of this family.
David McFall was born 1785 in Harrison Co., Kentucky, and died July 02, 1831 in
Bourbon Co., Kentucky. He married Edna Fawney Chiles.
Nothing else is known of this family.
Daniel McFall was born in 1787 in Kentucky (probably Harrison Co.) and died in Kentucky.
He married Dicey Lisk/Sisk February 08, 1808 in Harrison Co., Kentucky.
Nothing else is known of this family.
Susannah McFall was born 1789 in Harrison Co., Kentucky. She married Richard Hall, on
September 30, 1807 in Bartholomew Co., Indiana. They had three (known to me) children:
Emily, Almira, and John Kirk Hall.
The McFall descendants are known to have settled in Bartholomew Co. Indiana, then later moved on to Missouri, and several of the families settled in Mahaska Co., Iowa as well.
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These photos were taken July 21, 2001 in the general area where John & Barbara McFall
were believed to have lived in Harrison Co. KY. The first two photos are of Mill Creek,
the creek upon which their property was located.
It is possible that the land in the photo may have belonged to the McFall's
at one time, in which they owned about 1000 acres, deeded over to John McFall, by Patrick
Henry in 1779. If this land was not part of the McFall's, it would be very close in
proximity.
The exact location of the entire 1000 acres is unknown at this time,
but there were still roughly 100 acres left at the time of John's death in 1801, in which
the land was divided amongst his widow, who received one third, and eight smaller divisions,
which was split amongst the children.
Looking North
Looking South
These photos were taken on "Grays Run Pike," at Mill Creek, located near Lee's Lick, east
of Hwy 1842 in Harrison County, KY.
When I was in the area, I did not know at the time, the exact location of the McFall
property, other than it was located along Mill Creek. One week after returning home, I
made contact with Jim Sellars of RAMSHA (Ruddle's and Martin's Stations Historical Assn.)
He was able to provide to me the exact location of the McFall cabin and McFall's Lick on
Mill Creek. This information was found on a map, made during a land pre-emption lawsuit
in Harrison Co. in 1812. The cabin location is transferred onto this modern map,
with the red dot being the cabin location, and the blue dot being the location of McFall's
Lick. The black dots and lines are other landmarks mentioned in the lawsuit.
For more family information, use the HOME link below, and enter the "Family Tree Database."
If you are a descendant of John & Barbara McFall, or have further information,
photos, corrections, or know of any other related websites, on any of these families,
I would love to
hear from you!
For a more detailed description of the Attack at Ruddle's and Martin's Stations, read the
lecture Ruddle's Fort and the British Invasion
A talk to the Bourbon County Historical Society Sept. 19, 1996, by Richard M. Bean.
You will also find a lot of information on the Ruddle's attack (Summer Issue 1999) and
other valuable information and accounts of the time in the
Ruddlesforter
Newsletter from RAMSHA by Jim Sellars.
McFALL Family Links
Please sign our
McFall Guestbook!
If you would like to submit a link to be added to this page,
or find a "dead link,"
please let me know.
Please let me know which page you are viewing, and which link is not working. If you know the correct "new"
link to that website, please include that as well.
Cousin's Sites:
McFall Family Database with Charles Warren Lanz
A "Special THANK YOU! to Charlie, who helped me tear down my McFall brickwall of 20 years!
Spurgeon Genealogy
Other McFall Sites:
Maybe??? "A John McFall" is mentioned in a
Sale Bill in Roanoke, Virginia 1744. (Near bottom of page, "Kegley - p 90-91)
State Links
to local sites.
Ruddlesfort Mailing list tidbits!
Deposition from Lawsuit by VanHook on conflicting claims with John McFall's land.
Draper Notes listing McFall Family
Ruddell's Treason Trial Mentions John McFall's Escape Attempt
Draper on McFall's taken by Indians
March 10, 1780 Attack
Draper Papers - J. McFall taken to Montreal (see end of page -1783)
Mrs. McFall released in Ohio (more at bottom of page!)
Clark's Men Find Mrs. McFall
McFall's Lick and Mill Creek 1812
Lawsuit mentions McFall's Lick 1812
Lawsuit mentions "McFall's Lick" and McFall's Mill Creek" 1812
Lawsuit - Mill Creek from Lee's Lick to McFall's Lick
McFall Resources:
McFall
Message Boardat Ancestry.com
McFall Message Board at GenForum
McFall Resources
at Rootsweb
Ruddle's Station Information
Indian Prisoner List
Ruddle's and Martin's Forts
Ruddle's Fort and the British Invasion
The Ruddlesforter
Newsletter from RAMSHA
Ruddell's Station Massacre
Pioneers Held Captive By Indians
Search the Ruddlesfort mailing list Archives!
NEW! The Letters of Carrie and Allie Barbee
The granddaughters of Joseph and Mary "Polly" (Marsh) McFall, daughters of Solomon and Sarah (McFall) Barbee.
These 10+ letters,
discovered in the 1990's, written between 1865 and 1878 to the girls, were discovered in the
walls of the home where Solomon and Sarah Barbee once lived!
McFall Researcher E-Mail Links
Judy Bishop
Karl Blust ~ That's me! :o)
Mary Glenn
E-Mail Links are voluntary! If you would like your email link posted on the "McFall Page"
please
contact me,!
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Mary Glenn
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