THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 
 NEAR 
 
 PARKERSBURG, W. VA. 
 
 EXPEDITION AGAINST JPAIN 
 
 By ALVARO F. OIBBENS, A. M. 
 
 FULLY ILLUSTRATED 
 
 PARKERSBURG 
 
 GLOBE PRINTING & BINDING CO. 
 1914
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 i. ISLAND DESCRIPTION AND TITLE. 
 
 6 2. BLENNERHASSETT AND BURR BIOGRA- 
 
 >. PHIES. 
 
 | 
 
 3. STEPS LEADING TO THE EXPEDITION. 
 
 4. PREPARATIONS, DEPARTURE, THE 
 
 WOOD COUNTY MILITIA ROLL. 
 
 5. THE TRIAL AT RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 
 
 x 6. DESOLATION, RUIN, THE DESERTED 
 ISLE. 
 
 7. PRIOR OCCUPATION, PREHISTORIC 
 
 AND INDIAN RELICS. 
 
 8. PRESENT OCCUPATION, OWNERSHIP. 
 
 447996
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 1. THE HISTORIC ISLAND IN THE BEND 
 
 OF A MAGNIFICENT RIVER. 
 
 2. FRONT VIEW OF THE MANSION. 
 
 3. PORTRAITS OF BLENNERHASSETT AND 
 
 LA-DY BLENNERHASSETT. 
 
 4. PORTRAITS OF BURR AND THEODOSIA. 
 
 5. VIEW IN VICINITY OF BLENNERHAS- 
 
 SETT ISLAND. 
 
 6. MOUND BUILDERS' POTTERY. 
 
 7. PIPES CARVED OF STONE.
 
 Copyrighted 
 
 MERTON B. GIBBENS 
 
 1899, !96 ar> d 191* 
 
 Parkersburg, West Virginia
 
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 VIEW OF THE ISLAND 
 
 HE most charming of all the ten islands 
 on the Ohio river frontage, within the 
 area of Wood county, was one destined 
 to be historic in American events. It 
 rested, ere the dawn of the century, like a gem of 
 beauty on the fair bosom of the current, while the 
 parting waters, golden at evening and radiant at 
 morn, welcomed the kissing sunlight as it fell alike 
 over surrounding hill and vale. 
 
 In the bend of a magnificent river, with the 
 vinewr-eathed and willow-fringed stately trees, look- 
 ing in kingly air, down upon its peibble-decorated 
 sands in front, it was like a poetic dream of Nature 
 disclosing itself to the eye of fhe traveler as he, on 
 his exploring way southward and westward, passed 
 reluctantly on. 
 
 Perhaps had every daring beholder, wh'otse vis- 
 ion greeted this delightful scene, gone on his way 
 toward the dominion's of Spain with unfaltering oar 
 strokes, there would have been no record in this 
 volume of a great mystery and conspiracy, and t'he 
 tranquility of a happy home and patriotic people 
 would have been undisturbed. But a Napoleonic 
 destiny barred the way to so happy a realization,
 
 and Blennerbassett was the victim of his own ambi- 
 tion or the wiles of another whom the entire Nation 
 had honored and trusted. 
 
 It is said that when Washington and his group 
 of attendants in huge canoes made his land-inspec- 
 tion tour down the Ohio in 1770, he marked for 
 entry in his own right this island. Doubtless he 
 may have done so, but in the multitude oi greater 
 events, which crowded his country's sky the record 
 was not made in the proper land office of Virginia, 
 and ihis hatchet-claim lapsed. 
 
 A pioneer .writer of history,* asserts that Colo- 
 nel P. Devoll located it, along with that tract above 
 the mouth of the Mu skin gum, in his own name in 
 1774, and sold it to Elijah Biackus, w*ho gave the 
 first name to the island as it was recorded in early 
 navigation maps. 
 
 It appears to have been first surveyed in 1784, 
 on a land warrant issued in 1780, and a patent made 
 out by Patrick Henry, Governor of Virginia, 1786, 
 to Alexander Nelson, erf Richmond, who was a mem- 
 ber of a mercantile firm in Philadelphia. By a bill 
 in chancery of the High Court of Virginia, procur- 
 ed by Blennerhassett to perfect his title, it appears 
 that E'lijaih P>ackus, of Norwich, Connecticut, 
 bought of James Heron, of Norfolk, in the year 
 1792, two islands in the Ohio riVer, the'principal one 
 
 *Hildreth in "Original Contributions to the American Pio- 
 neer."
 
 I SLAND HOME 
 
 being that lying about two miles below the mouth 
 of the Little Kanawha river, then in Monongalia 
 county. The acreage was stated at 297 and t'he 
 purchase consideration 250 pounds in Virginia cur- 
 rency, or about $883.33. 
 
 Elijah Backus was a lawyer, editor of the Ohio 
 Gazette and tihe Territorial and Virginia Herald, of 
 Marietta, 7th December, 1801 ; elected to State Sen- 
 ate of Ohio in 1803, and removed to Pittsburg and 
 there died in 1807 or 1808. He was once name.l 
 by the Justices of \Yood for mem'bers'hip in their 
 court, but not having decided to locate on the Vir- 
 ginia side the commission was never made out. 
 
 In March, 1798, Harman Blennerhassett ver- 
 bally agrees to purchase of Elijah Backus 170 acres 
 of the upper portion for $4500, and moved with 
 wife and one child, soon after, upon it, using as his 
 residence the old block-fliouse about a half mile away 
 from the upper end of the island, which building 
 had been erected in the time of the Indian war by 
 Captain James. Here he lived till the completion of 
 his memorable mansion in 1800. In the primitive 
 log-defense, afterwards, Daniel Pusher, who had 
 landed on the is-land on New Year's day 1800; lived 
 a few years, and then bought in Belpre. He was 
 father of ten children. That building long ago suf- 
 fered demolition. 
 
 At the period specified huge sycamores and 
 other kingly forest trees guarded and graced the
 
 10 BLENNERH ASSETT 
 
 head of the isle, and the wild-grape, trumpet-vine 
 and creepers, thick and matted, interlaced the shores 
 and touched the willows that encircled the wilder- 
 ness isle on every side. 
 
 The island, or dual island, is narrow and long, 
 extending miles from head to navigation's foot. 
 The river on either side is so narrow as to permit 
 the distinct hearing of ordinary conversation be- 
 tween island and main shore. From either bank, 
 back of fertile meadows, rise picturesque hills, seem- 
 ingly shutting in the island group from all the outer 
 world.
 
 Harman Blennerhassett 
 
 .if ~*AI IFTED, credulous, fated might be writ- 
 "^ ten as characteristic of this son of the 
 Emerald Isle, who sought to make an 
 Eden within the wilderness. He was 
 
 the youngest son of a distinguished family, which 
 could trace its lineage from the era of King John. 
 His grand-father, Robert, having emigrated from 
 Cumberland in the time of Elizabeth, became the 
 head of three respectable branches of the Celtic 
 gentry. He was not, as often asserted, of noble 
 birth, though the family residence was Castle Con- 
 way, Ireland. Harman was born in 1767, while his 
 parents were on a visit in Hampshire, England ; so 
 he was less than thirty years of age when he reach- 
 ed the shores of America. To his education his 
 parents had devoted thoughtful care, and he grad- 
 uated with marked honors, destined for the bar, and 
 attained the degree of Barrister, but was not at- 
 tracted to it for an occupation, and succeeding by 
 the death of his elder brother to the family estates, 
 he abandoned law as a profession. Xature had en- 
 dowed him with more than moderate powers of 
 mind to pursue investigations in natural sciences, 
 and accordingly he delighted in these studies and
 
 12 BLENNER HAS SETT 
 
 pursuits. It was claimed that so tenacious was his 
 memory that he could repeat the whole of Homer's 
 I Iliad in the original Greek. In stature he was six 
 feet tall, slender in proportions and inclined to stoop 
 in his shoulders. His forehead was prominent 
 above ordinary, and his nose was the distinguish- 
 ing feature of his kindly face. In manners he was 
 easy, courteous, social and interesting. In disposi- 
 tion he was obliging, charitable, indulgent and hos- 
 pitable, bestowing his gifts upon the needy with 
 cheerfulness and without ostentation. Being near- 
 sighted he was compelled almost constantly to use 
 spectacles. He was, nevertheless, passionately fond 
 of gunning, but necessarily had with him his wife 
 or a trusted servant, who levelled his fowling piece 
 and brought it to bear upon the game when lo- 
 cated. Peter, a colored servant, was sometimes 
 stationed a short distance away and directed his aim 
 as follows:* 
 
 "Xow bend, Master Blennerhassett, a little to 
 the left. Now to the right. Up a point. There 
 steady fire." Off would go the rifle, and not in- 
 frequently the frightened but unharmed game also. 
 
 He had a fine ear for music, and excelled as a 
 performer upon several instruments, and was the 
 author of creditable musical compositions. He 
 was domestic in his habits, even to indolency, meth- 
 odical in his plans and practice, ever studied to 
 
 *"Hildreth's American Review," 1848, p. 50.
 
 mSSESz mSLM B
 
 ISLAND HOME 13 
 
 make his home cheerful, even to luxury, its inmates 
 happy, and in the entertainment of friends both 
 husband and wife were peerless and fascinating. In 
 dress 'his style was English, contrasting with that 
 of his plain neighbors and associates. At social 
 gatherings invariarly he appeared in satin waist 
 coat, buff colored or scarlet knee-breeches, small 
 silk stockings, silver buckled shoes and coat of blue 
 velvet or broadcloth. At home his dress was more 
 careless, in warm weather rather negligee, with- 
 
 His wife was Margaret. Agnew, daughter of the 
 out coat or waistcoat, and in Winter a thick woolen 
 jacket or round-about. 
 
 Lieut-Governor of the Isle of Man, and granddaugh- 
 ter of the famous general of that name who fell at 
 the battle of Germantown, Pennsylvania, and after 
 her arrival in America she erected a monument to 
 his memory. 
 
 W'hile it is stated that he supplied himself with 
 extensive literary and philosophical apparatus in 
 London and embarked for New York in 1797, yet 
 in his subsequent declaration, March 7, 1803, seek- 
 ing citizenship, he made oath that he "had resided 
 in the United States between the 2Qth of January, 
 1795, and i8th of June, 1798, and had then been in 
 the State of Virginia one year." 
 
 He lingered in New York for awhile to study 
 the people and the geography of the land he was to 
 adopt as his own.
 
 14 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 Over the rough, narrow paths of the Allegheny 
 barriers, with his wife and child, he passed in the 
 fall of 1797, and at Pittsburg embarked in a keel- 
 boat down the Ohio, seeking a place for his castle. 
 Landing at Marietta he spent the entire winter in a 
 pleasant way among a refined citizenship, and pros- 
 pecting by repeated excursions into the adjacent 
 hills and vales for a site for his residence. He had 
 almost decided to locate upon an eminence in the 
 rear of the village, but the steepness of the ap- 
 proaches and the discovery in time of the captivat- 
 ing island in Virginia, below the Little Kanawha, 
 decided his purchase and his destiny, and in March, 
 1798, out of a fortune of little less than $100,000 he 
 secured the main part of the island and fixed his 
 abode. 
 
 The next two years was spent in supervising 
 personally the erection of a palatial home, which 
 he was ambitious should surpass any other private 
 mansion west of the mountains, and in clearing the 
 grounds of the dense timber and undergrowth, and 
 in beautifying the approaches and lawns. To this 
 accomplishment many hands were requisite, in ad- 
 dition to the contractors, house-carpenters and the 
 laborers, the ten negro servants he had purchased 
 as grooms, waiters and watermen. Forest trees, 
 the growth of years innumerable were uprooted, 
 boughs and trunks burned or conveyed away, and 
 the inequalities of ground surface were smoothed
 
 ISLAND HOME 15 
 
 and changed in accordance with artistic taste. The 
 giant trees, save ihere and there reserved ones, to- 
 gether with underbrush which might obstruct de- 
 lightful view to the traveler descending Ohio's cur- 
 rent, were removed from the broad front of the up- 
 per portion of the sand-pebbled gently-sloping head 
 of the island. Elms, sycamores, and cottonwoods 
 were sacrificed 'neath the strokes of the woodman's 
 axe, tihat better, grander view might be had of the 
 palatial mansion, which he had painted an alabaster 
 whiteness. 
 
 Col. Joseph Barker, of Marietta, who, a few 
 years after, in 1803, built a brigatine and named it 
 Dominic, for Hlennerhassett's oldest son, was the 
 principal architect of this uniquely planned resi- 
 dence of costly beauty. An exterior view is given 
 in the cut presented. Springing up at that era of 
 of primitive cabins, in almost a wilderness, which 
 had just emerged from the perils of Indian warfare 
 and the presence of ferocious game, it was like a 
 creation of magic, a revelation of paradise in a 
 "boundless contiguity of shade" and unadorned na- 
 ture. The c6st of the princely building, remote 
 from the marts of industry and art, was, it is said, 
 in excess of a half hundred thousand dollars. The 
 exterior improvements of walks, lawns, shrubbery, 
 orchards, flowers and clearing of an hundred acre 
 farm below tihe structure, doubtless added ten 
 thousand more, the entire expenditure of which
 
 16 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 among farmers, mechanics and laborers was an ap- 
 preciated benefit where money was scarce and 
 opportunities to earn it few indeed. 
 
 No expense was spared in the construction and 
 decoration, which might impart splendor, useful- 
 ness, or convenience. Tlhe main building fronted 
 the east and was two stories high, 52 feet in length 
 and 30 feet in width. Across the front a deep por- 
 tico extended, and thence on either side in circular 
 wings, single stories, 40 feet in length, connected 
 the principal or center building with buildings on 
 the north and south sides, each also facing the east, 
 and being 26 feet in length and 20 feet in depth ami 
 two stories high. The entire structure formed half 
 of an eclipse, with frontage of one hundred and four 
 feet, exclusive of the circular porticoes, or promen- 
 ade extensions. The right hand wing was used for 
 library, philosophical apparatus, laboratory and 
 study ; the left appropriated to an occupancy by the 
 servants. The united taste, culture and consulta- 
 tion of the Blennerhassett pair brought finishing, 
 furnishing and furniture of every apartment in har- 
 mony and unison with a matured plan and ideal. 
 The furniture, of the best, latest and richest, in 
 every room, was brought from the East by wagon, 
 through Pittsburgh, and thence down the Ohio by 
 barge and keel, and was selected to please the eye 
 and luxurious comfort and convenience to family 
 and numerous guests.
 
 ISLAND HOME 17 
 
 The hall, a spacious room, was painted somber 
 color, with cornice of plaster, bordered with mould- 
 ing of gilt, extending around the lofty ceiling, with 
 rich, heavy furniture to correspond. The drawing 
 room contrasted with the hall in having furniture 
 light in hue and structure, and elegant, with gay 
 carpets, splendid mirrors, rich curtains, classic pic- 
 tures and artistic ornaments. The side-^boards 
 with decanters and wine glasses, indispensible to 
 Virginia hospitality in early times was graced, as 
 were the tables, by a liberal supply of silverware. 
 The finest taste in all the interior, as well as beauty 
 of the exterior surroundings, indicated the refine- 
 ment of owner and hostess, and the possession and 
 enjoyment of the finest estate in the Virginia section 
 of the Western world, compensated them partly for 
 their absence and immigration from associates and 
 heritage in the older land across the wide, wide sea. 
 
 Greeting the eyes in front of this mansion, 
 which had been built of wood in view of safety in 
 case of supposed earthquakes, was in process of 
 brief time a graded lawn of several acres adorned 
 with walks and dotted here and there with shrub- 
 bery and clusters of bright flowers and extending 
 eastward to the rippling water's edge of the upper 
 end of the island, with an opening in the reserved 
 trees. 
 
 From the dwelling a gravelled carriage way and 
 walks led through a vine ornamented gateway to
 
 18 BLENNERHAiSSETT 
 
 the river on the north side, where light 'boats were 
 moored and slave attendants ready to ferry to the 
 Ohio shore. This useful avenue was bordered with 
 a thick hedge of native hawthorn. In the distance 
 of this landscape picture were the forest trees and 
 copse-wood, forming vistas for sunshine and storm 
 to play in and delight the vision. 
 
 The space immediately in the rear and to the 
 west of the ideal home was assigned for fruits and 
 flowers of richest hue, and rare shrubbery in beds 
 and gracefully curved walks. The wide area on the 
 exterior border was circled by a picket fence, along 
 whose line were planted peach, pear, quince and ap- 
 ricot trees, facing winding walks, over which floated 
 in dewy morn, and sunlit noon, and dreamy eve, de- 
 licious odor of mingled and embowered honey- 
 suckle, eglatine and similar flowering shrubs. 
 
 On the south was an extensive vegetable gar- 
 den, and adjacent to it a thrifty orchard of apple, 
 plum, cherry and similar fruits, in great variety. 
 
 The farm below, westward, was of alluvial soil, 
 naturally rich and productive and kept improved 
 and highly cultivated, yielding then as now in abund- 
 ance wheat, corn and other grains, and its meadows 
 were stocked with the best breeds of cattle and 
 swine. 
 
 This estate upon a lovely island, when much 
 labor and money had been expended upon it, and a 
 few years of joyous possession had wafted by, was
 
 ISLAND HOME 19 
 
 indeed a rich dominion for cultivated minds, a pic- 
 ture of peace, repose, quietude, innocence and happi- 
 ness. 
 
 Here in this mansion almost a baronial castle 
 when contrasted with its cabins, wilderness and 
 pioneer neighbors, on both sides of the grand river 
 the rich Irish barrister and his accomplished wife 
 and children, spent nearly six years of delightful 
 existence. His retinue of employes and servants 
 was large, and while the house was in process of 
 erection and the improvements of lawns and farm 
 progressing, afforded sustenance to many in those 
 years of hardships and scarcity. His gardener, 
 Peter Taylor, had been brought from England, 
 Thomas Neale, a pioneer of Virginia, was long his 
 dairyman and farm superintendent. 
 
 The self-exiled Blennerhassett, when seeking 
 relaxation or change from his library, pictures, vio- 
 lincello and chemical laboratory, spent the hours in 
 the village of Newport, on the Virginia shore, or at 
 Belleville settlement, at Farmer's Castle in Belpre, 
 or the Harmar fort, chatting socially with those 
 congenial pioneers. When at social gatherings, he 
 invariably appeared in the prescribed outfit of an 
 English gentleman. 
 
 His wife, Lady Margaret, was properly the mis- 
 tress of a refined home. Both were hospitable, fond 
 of party and dance, and often broke the isolation of 
 their water-encircled home by invitations to her
 
 20 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 drawing room of the youth and beauty of the vil- 
 lages on both sides, she being the very center and 
 magnet of an animated circle. She had been with 
 scrupulous care brought up and educated in Eng- 
 land by two maiden aunts, and was taught not only 
 the languages and higher branches of a literary edu- 
 cation, but initiated into the practical arts of house- 
 wifery and supervision as well. She could read and 
 fluently converse in Italian and French, and was 
 endowed in mind and manner and educated to grace 
 with ease any position in the courts of Europe. In 
 figure she was tall and well proportioned, impres- 
 sive in appearance, graceful, yet dignified, with deli- 
 cately moulded features, fair and almost transparent 
 complexion, a swan-like neck, the feminine envy of 
 that era, dark blue eyes of sparkling intelligence 
 and radiant capability, abundant and glossy hair of 
 rich brown hue. In dress her taste inclined to the 
 showy and attractive, and she aimed to select and 
 adapt her outfit to her well-shaped form. 
 
 She was passionately fond of outdoor exercise 
 and recreation, rowing, riding and walking. Her 
 step was elastic and graceful, whether passing 
 among and caring for shrubbery and flowers or 
 vaulting into the saddle of her favorite steed, or 
 upon the waxed floor of the private ball room ; in 
 each she was enthusiastic and admired. In the sad- 
 dle she was an expert equestrienne, and her favorite 
 horse, Robin, in his bright trappings, seemed ever
 
 ISLAND HOME 21 
 
 proud of his mistress as both bounded swiftly 
 along the forest road from the shore opposite the 
 island to Marietta village or Fort Harmar and back 
 again. 
 
 Often her cloth, scarlet riding robe, spangled 
 with gold lace and glittering buttons and her flow- 
 ing tresses waving beneath her ostrich-plumed hat, 
 glimmered in the vine and leaf-tangled woods, as 
 she fleetly rode along the river paths with her 
 dusky, polite and faithful servant, Ransom, in the 
 rear, spurring his charger to keep in sight of his 
 charge, and only so doing when she checked her 
 steed to await his coming. Like a fawn or fairy of 
 sylvan creation she seemed to dart along her course 
 beneath the green foliage, catching the inspiration 
 of rosy health and elasticity. Her admirers boasted 
 that'as an athlete and pedestrienne she could clear 
 a five-rail Virginia fence at a single bound. 
 
 It is said that a farmer's son of Belpre rented 
 and cultivated a field of corn on the island, near the 
 avenue leading from house to river, for the sole pur- 
 pose of stealing a look at her beautiful person as she 
 passed by on her way to ride or walk, as accustomed 
 on a pleasant day. 
 
 Over the current she could guide or propel a 
 boat, handling the oars with forceful skill, always 
 having a sable attendant, generally Moses, the wat- 
 erman, near in case of accident. She sometimes 
 went in a canoe as far as Parkersburg, then New-
 
 22 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 port, and even up the Kanawha to Beach Park, the 
 home of the Hendersons. 
 
 In the dance room she was peerless, her step 
 light, her motion graceful, and with the rapidity and 
 ease of thought winding airily through each call and 
 figure, she was a favorite in each set. 
 
 *"In conversation she was ready, versatile and 
 engaging, being well-read in the general literature 
 of her day, her conversational powers were great, 
 showing clearness of perception and critically edi- 
 fying. Her writings show a mind of deep sensi- 
 bilities, in which the genius of thought gives finish 
 and force to her sentences. There was a finish and 
 beauty of experience interwoven with the subject on 
 which she wrote, which created a corresponding 
 sympathy in the mind of the reader." Elsewhere, 
 as pertaining to sorrows of after days, is quoted one 
 of her poems, indited while at Montreal, Canada, 
 She wrote and subsequently published a volume en- 
 titled, "Widow of the Rock." 
 
 *A friend of the family, with opportunity to 
 traditionally know, states that "Mrs. Blennerhassett 
 introduced vacination in the West. During fre- 
 quent visits to New York her children were vaccin- 
 ated. 'She preserved the virus, invited parents to 
 send their little ones to the island, and successfully 
 
 "Pamphlet of S. C. Shaw. 
 
 *Maria P. Wood'bridge, in Lippincott's Magazine, of Fell). 
 1879.
 
 ISLAND HOME 28 
 
 performed the operation. One of the children long 
 recollected the beautiful Mrs. Blennerhassett. Ad- 
 miration, love and respect and sympathy are felt 
 for her as we follow her changing life from happy 
 gaity to lonely death in a New York garrett." 
 
 Edenic was the delightful home and domestic 
 happiness, and quiet roseate surroundings of the 
 Blennerhassett family, and such a portrayal of their 
 appearance and character till the dawn of the year 
 1805.
 
 AARON BURR 
 
 N Newark, New Jersey, fifth November 
 was born Aaron Burr, whose 
 
 combination with the owner of the his- 
 toric island, within the domain of our 
 
 territory, brings his biography in brief into our vol- 
 
 ume at this point. 
 
 *He entered Princeton College at 12 years of 
 age and was graduated in 1772; studied theology 
 with a clergyman in Connecticut ; entered the Conti- 
 nental army in 1775; distinguished himself at Que- 
 bec, Monmouth, New Haven, and resigned, owing 
 to ill health tenth March, 1779; studied law and 
 was admitted to the bar in 1782; began practice at 
 Albany, and in 1783 removed to New York ; was a 
 member of the State House of Representatives in 
 1784 and 1798; Attorney General of New York in 
 1789 and 1790; Commissioner of Revolutionary 
 Claims in 1791 ; a Democratic U. S. Senator from 
 New York, twenty-fourth Oct., 1791, to third March, 
 1797. At the Presidential election of 1801, Burr and 
 Jefferson had each 73 electoral votes, and the House 
 of Representatives on the thirtieth ballot chose Jeff- 
 erson President and Burr, Vice-President. In 1804 
 
 *From the Directory of Congress.
 
 Aaron Burr and Daughter Theodosia
 
 ISLAND HOME 25 
 
 he was the Democratic candidate for Governor of 
 New York and was defeated by Morgan Lewis by 
 8000 majority ; mortally wounded Hamilton in a duel 
 at Weehawken, July 12, 1804; after endeavoring to 
 revolutionize the Mississippi Valley, he was arrested 
 and brought to Richmond, where he was tried in 
 August, 1807, on a charge of treason and acquitted; 
 to escape persecution and his creditors, he went 
 abroad in 1808, returning to New York City in 
 1812, he resumed law practice, and died on Staten 
 island, at Port Richmond, Sept. 14, 1836. 
 
 About tenth April, 1805, seeking surcease from 
 the poignancy of recent events, and perhaps with a 
 determination to retrieve political heights and power 
 by new evolution and schemes, in a vague way, he 
 wandered West from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, and 
 there arriving about the thirtieth, on a boat prev- 
 iously ordered and arranged for, he descended the 
 Ohio river. The craft is thus described: 
 
 M 'His boat was a rude floating house, or ark, 
 sixty feet long, fourteen feet wide, containing four 
 apartments, a dining room, a kitchen with fire place 
 and two bed rooms, all lighted by glass windows, 
 and the whole covered by a roof, which served as a 
 promenade deck. The cost of this commodious 
 structure, to his astonishment, he found was only 
 one hundred, thirty-three dollars. Of propelling 
 power it had none, but merely floated down the swift 
 
 *Parton's Life of Aaron Burr.
 
 26 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 and winding stream, aided occasionally and kept 
 clear of snags and sand banks by a dextrous use of 
 the pole. In the Spring the current of the Ohio 
 rushes along with/ surprising swiftness, carrying 
 with it an ark or iraft eight miles an hour. It would 
 be a resistless totrent at that time but for its in- 
 numerable bends. -Along the whole course hills, 
 steep, picturesque and lofty, rise almost from the 
 bed of the river and pour their streams headlong 
 into it, whenever the, rain falls or the snow melts. 
 For hundreds and hundreds of miles this most mon- 
 otously beautiful of rivUrs winds and coils itself 
 among those ever-varying seldom-receding hills, 
 skirted by a. narrow fringe of bottom land. Those 
 hills, soon to be vine-clad, were then one forest; 
 those bottoms, now smiling with farms, or disfigured 
 by the shabbiest of towns and villages, were then 
 destitute of inhabitants for hundreds of miles at a 
 stretch. 
 
 He stopped briefly at Marietta on the fifth of 
 May, to see the mounds and antiquities there, with- 
 in sight of old Fort Harmar. Here the leading citi- 
 zens called upon him to offer civilities and hospi- 
 talities, as to one who had been honored with the 
 high office of Vice-President of the Union and had 
 filled the chair so ably in the National Senate. 
 
 In the hours of his stay, doubtless, he had 
 opportunity to hear of the elegant mansion, almost 
 princely, of the Barrister and of its occupants, to
 
 ISLAND HOME 27 
 
 whom the Ohio Company's settlers were more than 
 friendly, even attached, and to welcome suggestions 
 to stop and view the estate. 
 
 Resuming his journey, as the eviednce appears, 
 he next, a few hours later, could not pass the island 
 without placing feet on the soil, and strolling over 
 the grounds, in company with a Mrs. Shaw. Blen- 
 nerhassett was absent, but upon invitation of his 
 ever courteous wife, who observed the strangers and 
 tendered the hospitalities of her home, entered and 
 passed the hours in conversation 'till eleven o'clock, 
 when Burr re-embarked and proceeded down the 
 river, being impressed with the desirability of se- 
 curing an auxiliary and friend in his absent host, 
 the lord of the manor ; and having deeply impress- 
 ed his hostess with his fascinating powers, and the 
 splendor of his official position. 
 
 Early in December Burr wrote a letter to Blen- 
 nerhassett, in which he expressed his regret at not 
 making his personal acquaintance when accidently 
 visiting the island, alluded cautiously to the talents 
 of his absent host, as deserving wider fields and 
 greater rewards, and indirectly stimulated him to 
 action, and suggested plans to increase his fortune 
 and attain a more exalted position of usefulness 
 and honor. 
 
 To this adroit communication reply was made, 
 admitting a desire to participate in any speculation
 
 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 which might be presented, as, in Burr's opinion, 
 worthy to engage his talents. 
 
 "1 contemplated," says he in his Hrief at the 
 Richmond trial thereafter, "not only a commercial 
 enterprise or land purchase, but a military adven- 
 ture was distinctly mentioned in which I should 
 engage.'' He conceived the country on the eve of 
 a Spanish war, when it would be necessary to bring 
 all the talents of the people into play, among which 
 was Burr's, and under such considerations was will- 
 ing to engage in any enterprise to subjugate the 
 dominion of Spain, the prospective enemy of the 
 Republic. 
 
 Other correspondence followed, and in August, 
 1806, with his accomplished and fascinating daugh- 
 ter, Thedosia, wife of Gov. Joseph Alston, of South 
 Carolina, he visited a second time the island. 
 
 Father and daughter had embarked, with her 
 infant son, at Pittsiburg, and near the close of the 
 month on their descent the voyagers reached Mar- 
 ietta. It was General Muster Day, and as an hon- 
 ored guest Burr interviewed the militia and put 
 them through a few evolutions to the satisfaction 
 of admiring spectators. In the eve they attended a 
 ball and completely conquered all, he by courtly 
 grace and manners, and Thedosia, by the magnetism 
 of her beauty and the flash of her feminine witti- 
 cisms. 
 
 This interview and stay at the island is graphi-
 
 ISLAND HOME 29 
 
 cally described in its effects by the eloquent William 
 Wirt : 
 
 "A shrubbery, which Shenstone might have en- 
 vied, blooms around him ; music that might have 
 charmed Calypso and her nymphs, is his ; an ex- 
 tensive library spreads its treasures before him ; a 
 philosophical apparatus offers to him all the mys- 
 teries and secrets of nature; peace, tranquility and 
 innocence shed their mingled delights around him ; 
 and, to crown the enchantment of the scene, a wife 
 who is said to be lovely beyond her sex and graced 
 with every accomplishment that can render it ir- 
 resistable, has blessed him with her love and made 
 him the father of her children. The evidence would 
 convince you that this is only a faint picture of real 
 life. In the midst of all this peace, this innocence, 
 thjs tranquility, this feast of mind, this pure ban- 
 quet of the heart, the destroyer comes. He comes 
 to turn this paradise into a hell ; yet the flowers do 
 not wither at his approach, and no monitory shud- 
 dering, through the bosom of their unfortunate pos- 
 sessor, warns him of the ruin that is coming upon 
 him. A stranger presents himself; introduced to 
 their civilities by the high rank he had lately held 
 in his country, he soon finds way to their hearts by 
 the dignity and elegance of his demeanor, the light 
 and beauty of his conversation and the seductive 
 and fascinating power of his address. The conquest 
 was not a difficult one. Innocence is ever simple
 
 30 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 and credulous ; conscious of no design itself, it ex- 
 pects none in others; every door and portal of the 
 heart are thrown open and all who choose it, enter. 
 Such was the state of Eden when the serpent en- 
 tered its bowers. The prisoner in a more engaging 
 form, winding himself into the open and unprac- 
 ticed heart of Blennerhassett found but little diffi- 
 culty in changing the native character of that heart 
 and the object of its affections. By degrees he in- 
 fuses into it the poison of his own ambition ; he 
 breathes into it the fire of his own courage ; a dar- 
 ing and desperate thirst for glory ; an ardor panting 
 for all the storms and bustle and hurricane of life. 
 In a short time the whole man is changed ; and every 
 object of his former delight is relinquished. No 
 more he enjoys the tranquil scene ; it has become flat 
 and insipid to his taste. His books are abandoned; 
 his retort and crucible thrown aside ; his shrubbery 
 blooms and breathes its fragrance upon the air in 
 vain he likes it not ; his ear no longer drinks the 
 melody of music it longs for the trumpets clangour 
 and the cannon's roar. Even the prattle of his 
 babes, once so sweet, no longer affects him, and 
 the angel smile of his wife, who hitherto touched 
 his bosom with ecstacy so unspeakable, is now un- 
 felt for and unseen. Greater objects have taken 
 possession of his soul ; his imagination has been 
 dazzled by visions of diadems, and stars, and gar- 
 ters, and titles of nobility he has been taught to
 
 ISLAND HOME 31 
 
 ,burn, with restless emulation, at the names of 
 Cromwell, Caesar and Bonaparte." 
 
 Theodosia, with womanly tact, won her way, 
 and with her father's desire for adventure and an 
 imperial elevation, infused the same spirit and hopes 
 into the heart of Margaret, and they were dream- 
 ers together, and constructed their castles while 
 active preparations began in earnest for the fitting 
 out of some mysterious expedition. 
 
 The month of September was full of activity, 
 ardor and preparation for the great consumation of 
 something yet not distinctly revealed. Burr and 
 Blennerhassett proceeded to the counting house of 
 Dudley, \Yoodbridge & Co., of Marietta, in which 
 firm Blennerhassett was a partner, and ordered the 
 building of boats and purchase of a quantity of pro- 
 visions. The batteaux were to be 15. ten of which 
 were to be 40 feet long and five of 50 feet length, 
 and all 10 feet wide and 2 1-2 feet deep, and after 
 the Schenectedy model, such as were in use on the 
 Mohawk river. The conveyance capacity of this 
 flotilla was to be 500 men. A separate keel-boat. 
 60 feet long was to be constructed for arms, ammu- 
 nition and provisions. One of the larger boats was 
 to be fitted up in better style for the family of the 
 leaders. It was to have separate rooms, fire place 
 and glass windows at the sides. The provisions 
 were to cost $2,000 and the boats a like sum. 
 
 The contract to build, at his boat-yard, seven
 
 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 miles above the mouth of the Muskingum, was 
 given to Col. Jos. Barker, who had erected the 
 island mansion. They were to be delivered Qth 
 December. The expedition provisions were 'to be 
 pork, bacon, flour, kiln-dried meal, whiskey and 
 smaller articles. 
 
 With definite understanding then Burr and his 
 aid parted. During the period of absence Blenner- 
 hassett was intensely busy near his residence and 
 old social haunts overseeing and urging forward 
 the building of the boats, the purchase and storage 
 of provisions, and drying in many kilns corn upon 
 his island and soliciting recruits. 
 
 To some young men he stated the object was 
 to settle Western lands ; to others that the destina- 
 tion was Mexico, saying that undoubtedly there 
 would arise war with Spain. He wrote a series of 
 essays and published them in a Marietta paper over 
 the signature "Querist," showing that the Western 
 country would be advantaged by a separation from 
 the Atlantic States. Such views, it must be admit- 
 ted, were prevalent, largely in Kentucky and over 
 the entire West, and were not considered treason- 
 able. The essays were answered under the signa- 
 ture "Regulus," from the pen of Jared Mansfield, 
 U. S. Surveyor, appointed by President Jefferson. 
 
 W/hile these operations were going forward 
 under the propulsion of Blennerhassett, Burr for 
 recruits and perfection of general plans, went to
 
 ISLAND HOME 33 
 
 Chillicot'he, Cincinnati, Kentucky and Nashville. At 
 the latter town he contracted to build six boats, on 
 the Cumberland, and deposited $4,000 with General 
 Jackson to pay for them. He also contracted to 
 purchase 4,000 acres of land on the Washita, a 
 branch of the Red river, for $40,000, and paid there- 
 on $5,000. The settlement of a colony upon these 
 lands was represented to be the sole object of the 
 proposed expedition. 
 
 Then Comfort Taylor, of New York, was re- 
 cruiting men and collecting supplies at Pittsburg, 
 with which he was to embark upon several boats 
 at that point and join the Blennerhassett fleet at 
 the island. Daniel Floyd, of Indiana Territory, was 
 similarly employed near the Falls ,of the Ohio, and 
 was to connect with the fleet when it came down. 
 
 In October, Theodosia was joined by her hus- 
 band, the Governor of South Carolina, who was 
 drifting into the enterprise, and they with Blenner- 
 hassett left the island in charge of Margaret and 
 visited Lexington, Kentucky. 
 
 The arrangement was to rendezvous Novem- 
 ber ist; to leave the Ohio Falls by the I5th with 
 500 to 1,000 men; to be in Natchez, Miss., from the 
 5th to the middle of December to meet General 
 Wilkinson. 
 
 In 1787, then a citizen of the Kentucky section 
 of Virginia, Wilkinson had loaded a boat with flour 
 and tobacco and descended the Ohio and Mississippi
 
 34 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 rivers with the "ostensible purpose of making ar- 
 rangements with the Spanish authorities by which 
 to secure to the inhabitants of the upper country a 
 free navigation of the Mississippi and a market for 
 their produce."* 
 
 In consequence of these semi-military and 
 scarcely concealed operations and movements, ru- 
 mors followed each other in rapid succession, on 
 both sides of the river in the vicinity of the island. 
 
 Early in October, 1806, there was a mass meet- 
 ing of citizens in Wood county, expressive of alarm 
 for the safety of the country, by accumulating evi- 
 dence of the complicity of Burr and Blennerhassett 
 in a mysterious and many believed treasonable de- 
 sign. The cause of their apprehension proceeded 
 fiom a partial revelation of the objects of the expe- 
 dition, to some of his more intimate acquaintances, 
 by Blennerhassett, and to whom also he had made a 
 secret acknowledgment o'f the authorship of "Quer- 
 ist." 
 
 The public meeting, as appears from manuscript 
 papers once held by a prominent lawyer and actor 
 in the agitation of the popular mind, and now pre- 
 served by 'descendants of a pioneer family in Mason 
 county, was united in its action and thoroughly 
 patriotic in its motives and declarations. The pro- 
 ceedings read : 
 
 "At an assemblage of a number of citizens, at 
 
 "Opinion 29 Oct. 1807
 
 ISLAND HOME 35 
 
 the Court House of 'Wood county, for the purpose 
 of taking into consideration Burr's Expedition, Col. 
 Hugh Phelps was appointed Chairman, and James 
 G. Laidley, Secretary. 
 
 Among others present appeared Alexander Hen- 
 derson, Peter Anderson, Robert Kincheloe, Thomas 
 Tavenner, James Compton and many others. 
 
 The object of the call was briefly and suc- 
 cinctly stated by the chair to be to take steps to 
 protect the honor and safety of the settlers and 
 their property, and to cause every person friendly 
 to the Constitution of the United States to express 
 their attachment thereto. The situation was ex- 
 ceedingly alarming and instant action is incumbent. 
 Hostility to peace and good order was being mani- 
 fested, and it is for you, gentlemen of the new 
 county, to determine a course of proceedure. 
 
 On motion, it was, without dissent, resolved, 
 that a committee be appointed to draft and to re- 
 port forthwith resolutions expressive of strong 
 disapprobation to the plan laid down by many am- 
 bitious characters, and that a volunteer company 
 be raised to protect our county. 
 
 The chair selected Alexander Henderson, James 
 Wilson, Jacob Beeson, Hugh Phelps, George Creel, 
 Jr., John G. Henderson, Robert Kincheloe, James 
 G. Laidley, Thomas Tavenner, Reece Woolf, Wil- 
 liam Beauchamp, George Creel and James H. Neal. 
 
 W'hile the gentlemen selected were in council
 
 36 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 discussing a course of action and framing proper 
 wording, speeches were made by various persons 
 present. Great diversity of opinion was had as to 
 extent of guilt of those suspected, and the object of 
 the movements on the island, yet there was unan- 
 imity as to. necessity for a prompt and military 
 course. 
 
 On return to the body of the court room, the 
 following was reported by those delegated to ad- 
 vise, and without disagreement adopted as the views 
 of every one present : 
 
 "Resolved, by the Committee appointed by the 
 Citizens of Wood County, that met this 6th day of 
 October, 1806, for the purpose of deliberating on 
 the measures necessary to be adopted in this Alarm- 
 ing Crisis to Counteract what is supposed to be 
 the ambitious and disorganizing views of Aaron 
 Burr and his Parisans in this Western Country: 
 
 "i. That it is expedient that the Citizens of 
 Wood County should without delay form them- 
 selves into a Volunteer corps or body of men, 
 in order to train tihemselves to Arms and Military 
 discipline for the purpose of Defending themselves 
 and their property from any Threatened Attack 
 and Repelling any Aggression that may be At- 
 tempted by any Insurgents inimical to the Inter- 
 ests of the United States, until some more effective 
 measures can be adopted by the President of the 
 United States. That to effect this laudable pur- 
 pose, it is Recommended that six subscription pap- 
 ers be immediately drafted and handed around the 
 County, in order to Procure Subscribers to the
 
 37 
 
 same, enrolling themselves in the said Body. And 
 that it is proper that a meeting should be held of 
 the said persons enlisting themselves as aforesaid, 
 at the Court House of Wood County, on the nth 
 day of this present month, for the purpose of Choosr- 
 ing by ballot Proper Officers to command the said 
 Corps and adopt Proper rules and Regulations for 
 their future Conduct. 
 
 "And that the Colonel of tihe ii3th Regiment 
 of Virginia Militia be requested to use the most 
 effective means to collect the Public Arms of said 
 Regiment and have them forthcoming at the Court 
 House of this county on the nth day of this present 
 month ; and also that the persons appointed to 'hand 
 around the said Subscription papers should request 
 the subscribers to their respective papers to volun- 
 teer in bringing forward any private arms they 
 may be in possession of at the said time. 
 
 "Resolved, that Alexander Henderson, Peter 
 Anderson, Robert Kincheloe, Thomas Tavenner, 
 James Compton and James G. Laidley are proper 
 persons to be appointed to hand around the said 
 Subscription papers. 
 
 "Resolved, that a Copy of the Proceedings of 
 this Committee be forwarded to the Printer of 
 the Ohio and Monongalia Gazettes, to be printed 
 an their respective newspapers, and that a printed 
 Copy of said Pioceedings be forwarded with as 
 much expedition as possible to the Executive of Hie 
 Commonwealth of Virginia and the President of 
 the United States. 
 
 Resolved, that a Permanent Committee of five 
 persons be appointed to Regulate the proceedings 
 necessary to be pursued during the existence of 
 danger, and that said Committee or a majority of 
 
 447996
 
 38 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 them should meet whenever an emergency may 
 seem to them to require it ; and that the said Com- 
 mittee be empowered to call meetings of the citi- 
 zens of Wood County; and that Col. H. Phelps, 
 Robert Kinclieloe, Jacob Beeson, Alexander Hen- 
 derson and George Creel, Jr., are considered as fit 
 persons to compose said Committee. 
 
 "Resolved, that it is incumbent a permanent 
 Secretary should be appointed to said committee, 
 and that James Wilson is a fit person for that pur- 
 pose. 
 
 "Resolved, that the foregoing resolutions are 
 founded on a firm attachment to the Constitution 
 of the United States, and adopted in support of the 
 Liberties guaranteed to us by the same, submitting 
 ourselves always to the Constituted authorities." 
 
 VOLUNTEER ENROLLMENT. 
 
 Pursuant to Resolutions submitted to the con- 
 sideration of Sundry Citizens of Wood County on 
 the 6th day of October, 1806, and adopted, it is con- 
 sidered that the alarming situation of existing 
 affairs in this Western Country render it imme- 
 diately and essentially necessary for every true 
 friend to his country, in support of that Constitution 
 and of that Government for which our fore-fathers 
 have bled, and having gained under which them- 
 selves and their children have so long happily lived, 
 to adopt measures of defense against the views of 
 any ambitious and disorganizing Demagogues in- 
 imical to the interests of the same ; for which pur- 
 pose the Citizens of Wood County, in conformity
 
 ISLAND HOME 
 
 39 
 
 thereto, are expected to come forward upon this 
 occasion by subscribing their names to this paper 
 to form themselves into a Volunteer independent 
 Corps, to effect said purposes, until some more effec- 
 tive steps for our safety can be taken by the 
 President of the United States of America. 
 
 Robert Kinc'heloe, 
 William Prince, 
 Hubbard Prince, 
 John Johnson, 
 Peter McCaul, 
 Samuel Allen, 
 John Gibbins, 
 John Carpenter, 
 James Melrose, 
 William Hill, 
 Ximrod Saunders, 
 David Creel, 
 Henry Thornton, 
 Henry Gillaspie, 
 Thomas Creel, 
 Elijah ['helps, 
 Geo. Ruble, 
 Leonard Caplinger. 
 James Dutton, 
 Richard Lee, 
 Bennett Williams, 
 
 John 0. 
 Robert Wells. 
 W. Minor. 
 Robert Shanklin, 
 Richard Arnold, 
 
 David 
 Charles Murphey, 
 
 William D. Bayley, 
 Edward McPherson, 
 Lawrence King", 
 Levi Barton, 
 Thomas Thornton, 
 John Caplinger, 
 Daniel Brown, 
 Willis Owens, 
 William Gillaspie, 
 William Dixon, 
 Francis Tierney, 
 Elijah McDonale, 
 William Melrose, 
 James Beaby, 
 Robert Page, 
 Henry Lord, 
 James Lord* 
 Jeptha Kincheloe, 
 Alexander Creel, 
 Joseph King. 
 John Gillaspie, 
 Henderson, 
 Jeremiah Brown, 
 James Ringlesby, 
 Jorisha Smavvler, 
 Joseph Johnson. 
 Rawson, 
 Thomas Tavenncr,
 
 40 
 
 Benniah Badgeley, 
 Thomas Leachman, 
 Adam Ruble, 
 Polser Ruble, 
 Philip Harter, 
 Christopher Coonrod, 
 John Badgeley, 
 Robert Edelen, 
 Harrison Sursons, 
 John Spur.lock, 
 Elijah Rockhole, 
 Walter Coe, 
 Geo. Dunlevyi 
 Jedra Darbv, 
 Thos. Gilrason, 
 Peter Jett, 
 William Langfitt, 
 William Dyar, 
 James Cunningham, 
 
 Z. 
 
 James Gillespie, 
 James Melrose, Jr., 
 Robert Triplett, 
 Thomas Thorfiton, 
 Sylvester Ward, Jr., 
 Rezin Barnes, 
 John Owens, 
 Jacob Beeson, 
 George Creel, 
 Daniel Rowell, 
 John Stephenson, 
 James G. Laidley, 
 Thomas James, 
 Hugh Phelps, 
 Wm. Weedon, 
 
 Peter Hannaman, 
 John V. Browne, 
 James Gibson, 
 James Ward, 
 John Pugh, 
 Charles Paw, 
 John Drake, 
 Asahel Wilkinson, 
 E. McFarlane, 
 George Jacobson, 
 Joel Woolf, 
 Peter McCall, 
 John Carpenter, 
 Samuel Coe, 
 John T. Langfitt, 
 William Sinclair, 
 Andrew F. Dyar, 
 John Coe, 
 John Barns, 
 Bockorees, 
 
 Reece Woolf, 
 John Neal, 
 James Wilson, 
 J. C. Griffin, 
 Joseph Cook, 
 Joseph Spencer, 
 Timothy Darling, 
 Elijah Moss, 
 James Foley, Jr., 
 Moses Pilcher, 
 Andrew Davidson, 
 William Enoch, 
 James H. Neal, 
 Walker Turner, 
 Elias Gates,
 
 ISLAND HOME 
 
 41 
 
 Yates S. Cornwell, 
 Allen Davis, 
 Nehemiah Lewis, 
 Henry Woodyard, 
 Jesse Woodyard, 
 J. A. Murdough, 
 Tunis Dils, 
 Philip Dils, 
 Peter Dils, 
 Stephen N. Wilson, 
 Walter Coe, 
 William Eaton, 
 Haley Rice, 
 John Trevin, 
 Thomas Dye, 
 James Henderson, 
 John Dils, 
 Henry Dils, 
 John Heany, 
 Francis Langfitt, 
 Robert Barnes, 
 George Creel, Jr., 
 J. G. Henderson, 
 
 Chas. Rockhold, 
 Jacob Tr umbo, 
 Jacob Shry, 
 John James, 
 Bennett Cook, 
 Edward Coe, 
 Elias Barnes, 
 Elijah Barnes, 
 Elias Davis, 
 William Davis, 
 Elias Hickman, 
 Martin Bailey, 
 James Davis, 
 Shepherd Oonwell, 
 Edward Gambrill, 
 Lewis Gregory, 
 Thomas Fais, 
 Alexander Henderson, 
 
 of Alex'r, 
 David Owl, 
 Frederick Cradlebaugh, 
 Jacob Owl, 
 
 Isaac Smalley. 
 
 Mrs. Blennerhassett, hearing of the meeting at 
 Newport, and being informed that a battalion of 
 three companies, under command of Col. Hugh 
 Phelps, were then mustering at the Point, intending 
 to make descent that eve to burn the mansion and 
 seize the Kiln-dried corn, despatched Peter Taylor 
 to Kentucky to inform her husband of the danger 
 which menaced him and his property. 
 
 "On his way home he called on Dr. Bennett, of 
 Mason County, to get more information and pro-
 
 42 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 cure aid in case of attack, and protested the inno- 
 cence of his designs." 
 
 He then wrote as follows:* 
 
 WOOD COUNTY, 3 NOV. 1806. 
 COLONEL PHELPS: 
 
 Dear Sir Just returned home after a journey 
 of seven hundred miles. I hasten to express to 
 you the satisfaction with w'hich I learned, on the 
 road, that you had been invested with the com- 
 mand of the two volunteer companies that had been 
 raised in the county during; my absence, as that 
 circumstance afforded me a sure guarantee against 
 the idle reports I had heard of any misguided vio- 
 lence intended by my neighbors, against my family 
 or property, while I was not on the ground to de- 
 fend them. 
 
 But t'he information my wife has given me of 
 the purport of the friendly message, (of protection, 
 Sec.,} you sent me, at a time when you thought it 
 would be expedient, has laid me under personal ob- 
 ligations to you, and rendered it a duty with me to 
 endeavor to revive our former neighborly inter- 
 course, especially at a season when so much mis- 
 conception misleads the people, propogated, as I 
 have no doubt I can satisfy you, by your enemies 
 and their own, when I shall have the pleasure oi 
 an hour's unreserved conversation with you, an 
 which I expect I can make you some proposition 
 that will engage your attention and be 'serviceable 
 to your best interests. I therefore embrace the 
 earliest opportunity of soliciting an interview with 
 you, and, in consideration of my fatigue, I take the 
 
 *Safford's Blennerhassett papers, p. 149.
 
 ISLAND HOME 43 
 
 liberty of requesting to see you this evening, and 
 accept a bed with us, or if that should be incon- 
 venient to you, I shall do myself the pleasure of at- 
 tending any appointment you may designate for 
 tomorrow. 
 
 I am, dear sir, your obliged and obedient ser- 
 vant, 
 
 HARMAN BLENNERHASSETT. 
 
 REPLY. 
 
 NEWPORT, NOV. 6, 1806. 
 HARMAN BLENNERHASSETT, 
 
 Dear Sir: From circumstances of business, it 
 was out of my power to attend at Ool. Gushing' s 
 so early as my appointment. A short time after 
 you left there I went over and found a note re- 
 questing me to wait upon you this day. I am 
 sorry that from similar circumstances, I 'Shall not 
 be able to comply ; but if you should be at home, 
 I shall do myself the pleasure to wait upon you to- 
 morrow. 
 
 Your Obt. Serv't, 
 
 HUGH PHELPS. 
 
 Col. Phelps, having visited Blennerhassett ac- 
 cording to appointment, the latter thanked him for 
 informing his wife of rumors afloat, and the meas- 
 ures adopted to meet the designs of himself and 
 associates. He affected, however, to ridicule re- 
 ports heard of the injuries threatened his family, and 
 suggested that he suspected the other party in the 
 country, under the influence of the Hendersons, was 
 becoming so strong that its leaders would probably
 
 44 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 overturn the Colonel's interest, on which they had 
 hitherto depended for whatever popularity they had 
 acquired, and cautioned the Colonel against any 
 coalition or co-operation they might seek with him, 
 in existing clamor or suspicion against the views 
 or intentions of Aaron Burr, or his friends, which the 
 past conduct of the Hendersons toward him should 
 induce him to avoid. 
 
 Col. Phel-ps, in reply, complained much of the 
 ill treatment he had received from the Hendersons. 
 
 Blennerhassett stated his concern with Aaron 
 Bifrr in the land purchase; that he solicited or in- 
 vited no person to join in the emigration, though 
 many had voluntarily offered to do so ; but added 
 that if the Colonel wished a concern for himself or 
 his friends, he might look to the example of General 
 Jackson and others of distinction, who, Blennerhas- 
 s_tt understood were going to join in the settlement 
 with many associates ; that as to rumors, &c., circu- 
 lated of Colonel Burr, or his friends, accusing them 
 of engaging in anything against the laws of the 
 United States, such were wholly groundless ; but 
 that it was not unlikely that the proximity of the 
 purchase to the country where an engagement had 
 already taken place, or might soon be expected be- 
 tween General Wilkinson and the Spaniards, would 
 engage Colonel Burr and his friends in some of the 
 early adventures of the war ; General Jackson having 
 already prepared to march with one thousand or
 
 ISLAND HOME 45 
 
 fifteen hundred of his Tennessee Militia, whenever 
 he should think himself authorized by the orders 
 and wishes of the Government to put that body in 
 motion. 
 
 Colonel Phelps received the information by de- 
 clining to embark himself, on account of his family 
 and the unsettled state of his affairs, but said that he 
 had no doubt many young men of Wood county 
 would be glad to go with Blennerhassett, to whom 
 he would recommend the speculation as he might 
 have opportunities.'' 
 
 Soon after this episode Burr joined Blennerhas- 
 sett for a conference as to plans and their execution, 
 and soon left. 
 
 From the vicinity of Newport, at the mouth of 
 the Little Kanawha, and on both sides of the Ohio, 
 where the commotion was becoming alarming, and 
 approval or censure directed upon the movement as 
 each believed it patriotic and justifiable or other- 
 wise, reports went to Washington, to Richmond and 
 to Ohio's Capital at Chillicothe. Based upon these, 
 perhaps, the President sent a confidential agent, 
 John Graham, Secretary of Orleans Territory, west 
 to discover and reveal the situation. Arriving at 
 Marietta about the middle of November, he met and 
 interviewed along with others, Blennerhassett, who, 
 upon being questioned, was impressed that he was 
 conversing with a confederate and disclosed all he 
 knew as to Burr's plans. Graham undeceived him,
 
 46 
 
 stated the character of such an expedition to be 
 objectionable and might be a violation of law and 
 treaties, and endeavored in vain to persuade Blen- 
 nerhassett to withdraw. 
 
 Thence information was sought at Newport and 
 lielpre, and Graham thereafter went to Chillicothe, 
 where the Ohio Legislature was in session, and 
 held interviews with its leaders and the Executive. 
 Governor Tiffin presented the situation by message. 
 The Legislature considered the subject with closed 
 doors, and passed an act to enable the Executive 
 to suppress or defeat the alleged reprehensible 
 scheme and expedition. Under this authority the 
 Militia of the adjacent townships were ordered out 
 under the command of Major Generall Buell, with 
 instructions to seize the flotilla built upon the Mus- 
 kingum, and stores collected at Marietta, and all 
 boats of suspicious character descending the river. 
 
 On the 27th of November, 1806, President Jeff- 
 erson issued his pronunciamento, alleging "that un- 
 lawful enterprises were on foot in the Western 
 States, having for their object a military expedition 
 against the dominion of Spain, that for this purpose 
 sundry citizens of the United States were fitting out 
 and arming vessels in the Western waters, collecting 
 provisions, arms and military stores, and seducing 
 honest and well meaning citizens, under various pre- 
 tenses, to participate in said criminal enterprises, 
 warning all persons engaged therein to withdraw
 
 ISLAND HOME 47 
 
 from the same without delay, as they will answer 
 the same at their peril and incur prosecution with 
 all the rigors of the law; and commanding all offi- 
 cers, civil and military, to use their utmost exer- 
 tions to bring the offending persons to punishment. 
 Neither the name of Burr nor accomplices were 
 mentioned. 
 
 On the /th of December Comfort Tyler and 
 Israel Taylor, from Beaver, Pennsylvania, arrived on 
 the island with 4 boats and about 32 men, and at 
 that point all was confusion and expectation. 
 
 Blennerhassett addressed and sent by special 
 envoy the following note to the boat contractor: 
 
 Wood County, Dec. 9, 1805. 
 Col. Barker: 
 
 Dear Sir I have immediate occasion for so 
 many of the boats as are caulked and paid. I 
 wish you therefore to forward them by Capt. Elliott 
 and Mr. Dean to this place without waiting a mo- 
 ment for their covers, w'hich we intend to finish 
 ourselves, or on the way with the assistance of Col. 
 Tyler's men and our own. You will forward, 'how- 
 ever, such of the materials as are got ready for 
 completing the coverings, and make out your bill 
 accordingly. For such of the boats as I cannot 
 have here by tomorrow morning, Mr. D. Wood- 
 bridge and myself will make such arrangements as 
 will be agreeable to you. You perceive I wish you 
 to drop working on my family boat, which how- 
 ever I wish you afterwards to get ready in the most 
 comfortable manner, for my wife and children of
 
 48 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 whom some of my friends will take charge to fol- 
 low on with the utmost expedition. 
 I am, Dear Sir, Yours, &c., 
 
 HARMAN BLENNERHASSETT. 
 To Col. Barker by Mr. Jas. Dean. 
 
 In anticipation of the departure of the flotilla, 
 he addressed another letter to his friend and coun- 
 selor, James Wilson, to be presented by his wife sub- 
 sequently : 
 
 December io, 1806 
 
 Dear Sir As circumstances render it improb- 
 able you can soon hear from me, I request you to 
 tend the earliest attention to the completing of a 
 proper inventory of all the effects I leave here, and 
 also to the recording of the deed I entrusted to 
 your care, which I think should be accompanied 
 with an affidavit stating that it was delivered to you 
 to be recorded the last December court which was 
 not done for want of a court. I rely upon your 
 honor and friendship in this and every other par- 
 ticular relating to much of my interest as you have 
 professionally taken charge of. 
 
 I iliave amicably settled my difference with D. 
 Woodbridge, just as he will explain to you. My 
 other business I trust in your care will be lucrative 
 though not I flatter myself to the extent of better 
 service I sincerely believe I shall hereafter be able 
 to render you. 
 
 With hearty good washes for your prosperity 
 and the happiness of your family, I am, dear Wil- 
 son, 
 
 Your sincere friend, 
 
 HARMAN BLENNERHASSETT.
 
 ISLAND HOME 49 
 
 Of the fifteen boats contracted for on the Mus- 
 kingum, only eleven were completed, and it was in- 
 tended to deliver them on the tenth, but the day 
 before they were seized by a detachment of six or 
 eight of the militia, with all the provisions stored 
 at Marietta. 
 
 Nearly all the recruits had been attracted to 
 the enterprise under an impression that its character 
 was untainted by disloyalty, indeed favored by the 
 National Government, and that they might have to 
 fight, only in case of war with Spain, but the activity 
 of State authorities and the military seizure con- 
 vinced them of their error, and Blennerhassett found 
 himself deserted by the substantial portion of those 
 he had pledged to the expedition, and, doubtless, 
 but for the ambition, pride and intervention of his 
 wife, would have also abandoned it. Some of the 
 younger men were not so ready to desert the cause. 
 At the fireside of a neighbor in I'elpre, a party 
 assembled, and decided by strategy and force in the 
 darkness of the night to liberate the boats then in 
 custody of the authorities on the Muskirogum. As 
 they were in the act of untying the boats a sentinel 
 observed their purpose and sounded the alarm. 
 Nevertheless, persisting in their efforts, a struggle 
 ensued without arms, for possession of the boats as 
 they drifted out toward the center of the stream. 
 By this time all but one were retaken by the militia,
 
 50 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 and in this captured one the ardent youth returned 
 down the Ohio to their homes. 
 
 The Buell militia are thus facetiously described 
 by Judge \V. H. Safford in his well written volume. 
 
 "A warlike array of undisciplined militia, with 
 cannon, necessary equipage and arms, stationed 
 themselves along the banks of the river, to cut off 
 the forces tpcpected from above. Many amusing 
 jokes were played off at the expense of the raw re- 
 cruits during this campaign ; such as setting an 
 empty tar barrel on fire and placing it in an old boat 
 or raft of logs, to float by in the darkness of the 
 night. The sentinels, after duly hailing and re- 
 ceiving no answer, would fire a shot to enforce their 
 command ; but still dread silence reigned, and calmly 
 the phantom vessel, with her solid crew, floated on- 
 ward and downward, in utter recklessness as if the 
 crowing of a farmhouse cock only had disturbed the 
 night's silence. Irritated at such manifest contempt 
 of their high authority, they plunged into the stream 
 to seize the boat and capture its luckless naviga- 
 tors ; when 'confusion utterly confounded,' naught 
 appeared but the remains of a log or barrel, which 
 some laughter loving wag had freighted for their 
 mischance and his amusement. 
 
 "On another occasion, they had learned that 
 Tyler and his men had passed down the river as far 
 as Blennerhassett's island, from whence he was ex- 
 pected to return, to recapture the boats and pro-
 
 ISLAND HOME 51 
 
 visions. To cut off all possible communication with 
 Marietta, where the boats were tied, particular in- 
 structions were given in the evening to bring away 
 all the water-crafts from the lower side of the Mus- 
 kingum. Several sailors, who boarded on the oppo- 
 site shore, considered the opportunity for sport too 
 favorable to pass unimproved. The plan first pro- 
 posed for the accomplishment of this end, was to 
 raise an armed party, with blank cartridges, and 
 fire at the sentinels. Upon strict search, however, 
 they found that all the muskets, blunderbusses, rifles 
 and shotguns had been previously appropriated by 
 the militia. The cannon was then thought of, when 
 this, also, it was ascertained, had been called to the 
 aid of the State authorities. Determined not to be 
 defeated, in the laugh they had promised themselves, 
 they resorted to the expedient of emptying a half- 
 keg of powder into a canvas sack, wrapping it close- 
 ly with twine. This they deposited under ground, 
 care being taken to leave a communication with the 
 contents by means of a priming-hole and slow 
 .natch. At midnight, when all, save the faithfu\ 
 and lonely sentinels, were enjoying that repose so 
 necessary to the wearied soldier, after a destructive 
 attack 
 
 "On whiskey and peach-'brandy," 
 
 a confused and foreboding sound, from the opposite 
 shore, grated unmusically on the car of the guards. 
 Although appearances were somewhat ominous, yet
 
 52 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 they concluded not to disturb the slumber of their 
 brothers in arms until a more satisfactory demon- 
 stration had been made. For this opportunity they 
 were not kept long in suspense. Suddenly the earth 
 began to heave and throe, as if drunk with the heel- 
 taps of the soldiers' glasses, and following in quick 
 succession, a report that many mistook for the sum- 
 moning trump of the end of time. The scene which 
 succeeded is more easily imagined than described. 
 Those less confused, did indeed, take time to adjust 
 their ontsi'de garments, but much the greater num- 
 ber started with nothing but their nether vestments, 
 wihout regard to uniform or military parade. Here 
 stood one, vainly struggling to thrust his feet 
 through the armholes aVid sleeves of his linsey 
 warmus,'. while, at his side a companion had drawn 
 his pants over his shoulders, illustrating most lu- 
 dicrously, but literally, the lines of doggerel : 
 
 "Put on his shirt outside his coat, 
 And tied his breeches round his throat." 
 
 "Shivering in the cold winds of December, they 
 'hurried in hot haste to the tanta-ran-ta of the 
 trumpeter, and rub-a-dub-dub of the drum major 
 general. Whether any had taken the precaution to 
 load or prime is a question which time and reflec- 
 tion have never settled. The major, who was a 
 tailor, is said to have charged the cannon with his 
 goose the State having made no provision for 
 ammunition. The deputy, as he mounted his horse,
 
 ISLAND HOME 53 
 
 was heard to say that, As great men were scarce, he 
 thought it best to flee from danger.' Had Tyler and 
 his men been the real cause of their alarm, he would 
 have doubtless met with a stern resistance, but. 
 fortunately for him, lie was unconsciously asleep on 
 the island." 
 
 Soon after the mooring of Tyler's boats at the 
 island landing, the Wood county militia were being 
 assembled 'to carry out the President's proclamatory 
 orders and avert the expedition. The island party 
 had information that the companies from Newport 
 'ore to descend on them on the morrow. So in 
 haste they prepared to depart that night. All was 
 activity, and every recruit was in motion to run 
 bullets, load the boats, and gather the still adhering 
 ones. It was a chill night in fierce December, and 
 the snow had fallen several inches deep. 
 
 * Pearly Howe, who had been employed to make 
 forty boat poles for the flotilla, on the evening of 
 the loth of December, went to deliver them on the 
 1 V io side landing. On signaling over, a flat wa 
 sent to receive them. On the boat, two young men, 
 recruits, were acting as sentinels, each armed with a 
 rifle. No persons, unless known, were allowed to 
 pass from the Ohio shore to the island. One of the 
 guards laid down his rifle in the bow, while the other 
 sat. wi'h his gun across his thighs, ready for action. 
 
 Simon Pool, about dusk, under the authority of 
 
 Evidence as witness on the trial.
 
 54 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 the Ohio Governor, went to 'the water's edge, his 
 utmost limit of jurisdiction, opposite the island land- 
 ing, hoping to find a chance to apprehend Blenner- 
 hassett on Ohio soil, but was not permitted to pass 
 beyond the sands of his State. 
 
 There wias a regular pass words for crossing 
 the channel. Some one of the island would ask to 
 the hailing boat, "What boat?" If the answer was 
 "Ise boat," the craft was unfastened and sent over. 
 A watchword was also used on the Ohio side. 
 
 With forty or more men in four boats and a 
 smaller one added by Blennerhassett, and a liberal 
 stock of provisions, five rifles, three pair of pistols, 
 one blunderbus, and all the outfit they had secured, 
 Blennerhassett and his assistant directors lifted 
 moorings and passed out upon the stream into the 
 night. 
 
 The island was left almost in loneliness, with 
 Mrs. Blennerhassett and her two sons, Dominick 
 and Harman, Jr., and a few servants ; who were all 
 to follow in a few days in the special boat yet on 
 the Muskingum. 
 
 With the dawn of 'the morrow the Wood county 
 militia were astir, and in a few hours appeared at 
 the deserted isle, with Hugh Phelps, their stalwart 
 Colonel, in command of the two companies. Too 
 late ; the anticipated game had flown. Leaving a 
 small party of men in charge of the premises, the 
 commander, with the remainder of his volunteers,
 
 ISLAND HOME 
 
 promptly marched down on the Virginia shore, 
 across the great bend, to intercept the fugitives at 
 Point Pelasant. The direct distance by land being 
 less than one-half that by water, the military arrived 
 at Kanawha's mouth many hours before the boats. 
 Colonel Phelps stationed his men on the bank of the 
 Ohio with strict injunctions to watch all night. The 
 air was raw, the surroundings uncomfortable ; the 
 villagers sociable and providing, the whiskey flask 
 was frequently circulated, overcoming tired limbs, 
 and thoughts of duty and discipline, the watchers get 
 ingloriously drunk and soundly slept, the Tyler flo- 
 tilla in the night's obscurity, glided by and pursued 
 its way unhailed and unmolested, and by day-dawn 
 was too far on its course to be overtaken. In similar 
 way it passed toward its destination, uniting at the 
 Falls, on the i6th. with Floyd's boats, and ten days 
 later joined lUirr at the mouth of the Cumberland, 
 and on the 29th passed Fort Massae, notwithstand- 
 ing orders had. been given by State Governors for 
 its arrest. 
 
 At the island, before the arrival of the militia, 
 Mrs. P)lennerhassett had mounted her charger, 
 Robin, and was on her way to obtain the family 
 boat at Marietta and follow the expedition. In this 
 she failed and on her return home found a deplor- 
 able condition existing. 
 
 Several days previous to the flotilla's departure 
 from the island, a party of fourteen young men, late
 
 BLENNERHA.SSETT 
 
 students fresh from academy, with Morgan Neville 
 and William Robinson, Jr., sons of influential and 
 rich parents, widely and favorably known, adven- 
 turous and hoping to join the expedition to the 
 .Spanish dominions, embarked in a flat boat at Pitts- 
 burg for the purpose. When nearly opposite the 
 mouth of the Little Kanawha, their boat was, dur- 
 ing the night, driven ashore by the wind and ice, and 
 the next day they were all arrested by the militia 
 forces are Newport, and in their own craft escorted 
 to the island to await the return and pleasure of 
 Colonel Phelps, then still absent at Point Pleasant. 
 The young men, restless under their captivity and 
 disappointment in not connecting with the Blenner- 
 hassett flotilla, in their humor and chagrin, nduculed 
 their captors in homespun, and threatened legal re- 
 taliation for their arrest and detention. Such im- 
 pertinence became unbearable to the guards, and 
 Justices of the Peace were sent for to Newport. 
 Reece Wolfe and Daniel Kincheloe responded, and 
 in one of the richly furnished apartments of the is- 
 land mansion the trial was conducted. The young 
 men, with ability and humorous adroitness, pleaded 
 their own cause, and nothing of a positive or un- 
 patriotic character being produced, they were re- 
 leased. 
 
 During this rather comical examination, and the 
 absence of the Colonel, who was a soldier and a
 
 ISLAND HOME 57 
 
 gentleman, a spirit of license and devastation took 
 possession of the militiamen left in charge. 
 
 *" First of all, the men broke into the wine 
 cellar, and there drank themselves into vandals. 
 Then they ranged the house, destroying or disfigur- 
 ing wherever they went ; firing rifle balls through 
 painted ceilings, tearing down costly drapery, and 
 dashing to pieces mirrors and vases. Then they 
 rushed, like so many savages, about the grounds, 
 destroying the shrubbery and breaking down trellis- 
 es and arbors. The ornamental fences were torn 
 away, piecemeal to make fires for the sentinels at 
 night. In the midst of this riot and destruction 
 Mrs. Blennerhassett returned ; but the embarrass- 
 ments of her situation, and her anxiety for the suc- 
 cess of the expedition were such that she surveyed 
 the ruins of her abode with indifference." 
 
 In this dilemma the young men who had been 
 recently relieved of captivity, prepared to continue 
 their journey, and, with sincere sympathy and cour- 
 tesy, offered her and her helpless children an apart- 
 ment in their boat. 
 
 At this juncture the Colonel arrived from his 
 tour of fruitless attempt to check the flotilla. He 
 witnessed with inward mortification and anger, the 
 wanton destruction of the premises, and the evi- 
 dences of revelry and ruin by his men, during his 
 compulsory absence, and turning upon them, with 
 
 *Parton's Life of Aaron Burr, pa?e 437.
 
 5S 
 
 withering look and stern voice, he exclaimed, * 
 "Shame ! Shame ! Shame on such conduct ! You have 
 disgraced your district and the cause in which you 
 are concerned." 
 
 Courteously then and kindly he met the released 
 strangers, acceded to their wishes and that of their 
 invited guest for the voyage, aided her in prepara- 
 tion for departure, and expressed to Mrs. Blenner- 
 hassett sorrow for the rudeness shown so recently, 
 assured her of what she already knew, that were he 
 present the vandalism would not have happened. 
 
 Next morning, I7th of December, with the 
 assistance of the Colonel, as well as the young men, 
 needed furniture, part of the library, trunks and pro- 
 visions were put aboard another boat, that of A. W. 
 Putman of Belpre who also assisted in departure 
 lashed alongside, sadly, with shattered dreams, the 
 Blennerhassetts, wife and boys, bade adieu to a once 
 blissful abode, and the boats sped on their way. 
 
 Early in January the family was reunited at 
 Bayou Pierre on the Mississippi. 
 
 Neither the purpose of our local history or 
 afloted space in the volume, will permit a detail of 
 events in the unhappy destiny or subsequent lives of 
 the alleged conspirators. 
 
 Briefly, the expedition was a failure ; arrests 
 followed the leaders, and both Brur and Blenner- 
 hassett were indicted at Richmond, Virginia, in the 
 
 "Judge Stafford's Blennerhassett Papers.
 
 ISLAND HOME 59 
 
 U. S. Circuit Court before Chief Justice Marshall, 
 each on two charges, one for treason, the other for 
 misdemeanor. 
 
 Burr was arrested on the Tombigbee river, in 
 Washington county, Alabama, conducted to Fort 
 Stoddart, was a prisoner there three weeks, and 
 then, on horseback with guard of 9 men, under com- 
 mand of Perkins, started to Washington City. On 
 the way President Jefferson dispatched at Freder- 
 icksburg a conveyance to Richmond, Va. Blenner- 
 hassett was arrested, tried and acquitted at Natchez 
 by the Territorial authorities, who censured, as did 
 the sympathizing people, Jefferson and the Admin- 
 istration, for their fear and misconception. 
 
 ''"After this discharge from custody he located 
 his family at Natchez, Mississippi, and in June fol- 
 lowing left that place on horse, to return to his is- 
 land, and look after his affairs. When he reached 
 Lexington, Ky., he was arrested for treason, and 
 under guard conveyed to Richmond. Others of 
 Burr's confederates who had means returned to the 
 Eastern States, and forgot their dream of glory in 
 the pursuit of civil life. Others remained in the 
 Territory, supplying it with school teachers, music 
 teachers, and dancing masters. These events, nar- 
 rated in the papers of the day, drew the attention of 
 thousands to the Western States from the east as 
 emigrants."
 
 60 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 "So great effect had this alleged Burr conspir- 
 acy upon the L*. S. that in 1818 it carried the Na- 
 tional Road over the Alleghany barriers to bridge a 
 possible chasm to sever the Mississippi from the 
 I'nion. Hence to meet this rival line, Virginia, 27 
 Feb. 1827, gave authority to construct a road from 
 Winchester over the mountains to the Ohio river."** 
 
 So exceedingly bitter had become public opinion 
 and so suspicious the multitude toward all who had 
 not displayed animosity in conduct and speech 
 against the expeditionist, that even friendly counsel 
 was attacked and motives misconstrued. The Vir- 
 ginia Gazette, copying from the Aurora, declared : 
 
 "\Ye are authorized to state from unquestion- 
 able authority that James Wilson, who was Secre- 
 tary of the Wood County meeting last Fall, has been 
 arrested as one of Burr's adherents, was examined 
 before the magistrates, and found guilty." 
 
 Such statement was an error in fact. Warrant 
 was issued, but by orders from Richmond, with- 
 drawn. The attempt, however, thus to reflect upon 
 the patriotism of a sensitive nature, so wrought upon 
 the accused that he eventually migrated from the 
 county, and settled in the Great Kanawha Valley. 
 
 Blennerhassett, learning of this episode, in 'his 
 Port Gibson retreat, on the 25th of March, 1807, 
 mailed the following letter, which was received in
 
 ISLAND HOME 61 
 
 the slow process of postal transportation, on nth 
 of June. 
 
 Natchez, March 11, 1807. 
 
 My Dear Sir I hear first by Mrs. Blenner- 
 hassett of the embarrassment you underwent fr. 
 the sagacity of yr. patriotic neighbors, who charg- 
 ed you with a participation in my crimes. What- 
 ever inconvenience you have suffered on that ac- 
 count, my imagination 'has not failed to magnify, in 
 proportion, as my best services will never be want- 
 ing in my endeavors to indemnify you for it. 
 
 Some particulars from you on this subject fr. 
 you I feel much interest and anxiety to learn. I 
 will now forbear to engage you further in this line, 
 than to beg of you to refer my present sentiments 
 to some future works that may verify their sin- 
 cerity. 
 
 AIS you are probably curious to know some- 
 thing of my destiny and future prospects I can 
 inform you of the first, that the issue of my trial 
 fixed here for May next, will constitute a small 
 portion of the sand or mortar with which the mon- 
 ument now rising to the glory of Mr. Jefferson or 
 the Constitution i-s to be cemented. Mr. Graham 
 is to be the master-mason on that part of the work 
 to be raised in this part of the country ; with what 
 address he will handle his tools is yet uncertain. 
 Only amidst the jar of convictions and acquittals 
 that will reach your ears, yon will distinguish with 
 your usual discernment the traverses of those lines 
 of liberty and slavery of private h'Miors and public 
 duty that characterixe the high minded administra- 
 tion of this free country and its happy constitution. 
 
 As for Col. IHirr he mav sink or raise above
 
 62 B L E N N E R H A S S E T T 
 
 liis enemies, but he has forfeited no recognizance 
 in spite of all the proclamations that can be issued 
 by Government or Governors. I am almost tempt- 
 ed to inclose you Gen. \Yilliams advertisement of 
 his horse Diomede. 
 
 My future prospects embrace' the occupation of 
 a Cotton Planter, as the surest and easiest means 
 of retrieving my shattered resources. Not that I 
 have been mistaken in my belief that the practice of 
 the law, would succeed well, but I have feared that 
 to insure success some practice in intrigues must 
 be united with a knowledge of law. As to your- 
 self, therefore, if you could stoop somewhat to the 
 former, as I know you are gifted in the latter, I 
 should not hesitate to say to you, move im'nie- 
 diately hither. You will be independent in 3 years; 
 wealthy in 6. Think of this. You shall hear fur- 
 ther from me more particularly as to the field here 
 and in N. Orleans, when the weather is fairer and 
 I can better advise you of the harvest you might 
 make there, than at present. 
 
 My situation here, as it precludes at present 
 the means of my returning to the Island to collect 
 the property there, so it will probably determine 
 me ultimately against residing there again. I am 
 now embarassed by the want of my negroes, 
 horses and household furniture which I have en- 
 treated Col. Gushing to forward to me in the best 
 ma inner he can, with a statement of the amount 
 of sales he has effected. In this I request you to 
 assist him, and inform me of the general <state of 
 all the business I left in your care, with every other 
 concern of mine I am sure you will not disregard, 
 because it was unnoticed to you. I particularly 
 hope you have adjusted my account with Capt.
 
 ISLAND HOME 63 
 
 Thomas Xeale, &c, &c. I am persuaded you have 
 not omitted to concern yourself with Col. Gush- 
 ing, of the amount or value of the salable property 
 you know I intended for sale. It is of importance 
 to note everything down as soon as possible, and 
 every article kept dry, and the horses, &c, that you 
 could induce any purchaser to buy the rest be 
 gladly received here together with all the cash that 
 can be forwarded. I write also to Doctor Wallace 
 and Capt. Neale by the opportunity of Miss. Boat 
 and Dana returning to Belpre, to whom I refer you 
 for further news, &c. I have to request you to 
 assist Mr. Biggs to collect and bring along any of 
 my effects he may take up at the Island on his way 
 to this place. 
 
 Mrs. B. retains with me the most friendly re- 
 gards for Mrs. Wilson and yourself. I entreat you 
 to write to me as soon and after as you can, and 
 remember you can always command, dear Wilson, 
 the last services of 
 
 Your devoted friend, 
 HARMAN BLENNERHASSETT.
 
 THE TRIAL AT RICHMOND 
 
 ~*v HIS celebrated case was docketed for a 
 to k e " m 3 ot ^ f ^ arcn > J 8o7, but 
 
 if, numerous delays ensued. It was in the 
 
 United States Court for the Fifth Cir- 
 
 cuit of the Virginia District, presided over by the 
 distinguished Chief Justice John Marshall, with 
 Cyrus Griffin as associate. 
 
 The Grand Jury for which twenty-four free- 
 holders were summoned and sixteen constituted, 
 on the 24th of June brought in indictments against 
 both Burr and Blennerhassett, and one against each 
 for "treason," and another for a "misdemeanor," 
 levying war against the United States, at Blenner- 
 hassett Island, time D'ecember 10, 1806. 
 
 John Randolph, Foreman, presented on in- 
 formation of Peter Taylor, William Eaton, John G. 
 Henderson, Jacob Allbright, D. Woodbridge, Jr., 
 Edmund B. Dana, Alexander Henderson, Hugh 
 Phelps, and others. General Andrew Jackson was 
 also a witness. 
 
 Next day presentments were made against 
 Jonathan Dayton, Ex-Senator from New York; 
 Comfort Tyler and Israel Smith of same state ; 
 John Smith, Ex-Senator from Ohio; and David
 
 ISLAND HOME 65 
 
 Floyd of the Indian Territory, naming the place as 
 Blennerhassett Island, and the time as December 13, 
 1806. 
 
 On June 26 forty-eight jurors, twelve at least 
 to be from Wood county, were ordered to be sum- 
 moned. That day the prisoner, Burr, was removed 
 from the goal to the front room of the house of 
 Luther Martin, used for a dining room. To secure 
 it, shutters w r ith bars, and the door with bar and 
 padlock were provided, and seven men as guards 
 on the floor of an adjoining unfinished house. 
 
 The jurors from Wood appeared, and were : 
 Hezekiah Bukey, Jacob Beeson, William Prince, 
 James G. Laidley, James Henderson, Nimrod 
 Saunders, James Compton, Thomas Creel, Anthony 
 Buckner, Hamilton Morrison, Yates S. Conwell 
 and David Creel. 
 
 Among numerous witnesses for the prosecu- 
 tion over a broad territory, were: Hugh Allen, 
 Simeon Poole, Edward B. Dana, Lewis Kerr, Jacob 
 Jackson, John Blair, Alexander Rollston, Alexander 
 Henderson, John G. Henderson, Hugh Phelps, Re- 
 turn J. Meig, Tunis Dils, Maurice P. Bellnap, 
 Charles Duval, James Taylor, Bennett Cook, and 
 Hezekiah Lewis, Peter Taylor, gardener, Jacob 
 Allbright laborer, Dudley Woodbridge, Jr., John 
 Dana, Morgan Neville, Waldo Putnam and William 
 Love, groom. 
 
 Of all summoned as petit jurors, from Wood
 
 66 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 county, not one was admitted to the panel, each one 
 having so expressed his views of the case as to be 
 barred out. 
 
 In court Burr appeared with scrupously neat 
 attire, in black, with powdered hair and queue, in 
 manner dignified, composed, polite, impressive, and 
 hopeful, never under any provocation losing his 
 temper, nor giving -personal retort. He guided his 
 assistant counsel, brought forward nearly every 
 motion on his own side, and clearly and briefly 
 stated the grounds therefor. Blennerhassett was 
 as neatly and carefully attired, but less buoyant in 
 spirits, and only could await the result of the trial 
 of his principal's case. 
 
 The assisting counsel were : Edmund Ran- 
 dolph, an old-school gentlemen ; John Wickham, an 
 Englishman of bearing, eloquence and logic, of fine 
 presence and persuasive manner ; Luther Martin, 
 one of the most noted lawyers of Maryland; Ben- 
 jamin Botts, father of John Minor, young, ready, 
 dashy, and a caricaturist in word painting; Charles 
 Lee, once United States Attorney General ; and 
 unique "Jack Baker," a lame man, a merry fellow, 
 with horse wit, but no lawyer or speaker, the hu- 
 morist of the group. All these counsellors tender- 
 ed their services gratitously to Colonel Burr ; 
 Wickham and Botts did likewise to Blennerhassett. 
 
 In selecting a panel the record states, beginn- 
 ing with the first, Hezikiah Bukey:
 
 ISLAND HOME 67 
 
 Botts. We challenge you for cause. Have 
 you ever formed an opinion about the guilt of Col. 
 Burr? 
 
 Bukey. I have not sir, since I have been sub- 
 poenaed. 
 
 Ques. Had you before? 
 
 Ans. I had formed one before in my own 
 mind. 
 
 Here Hay, the prosecutor, stated, he did not 
 believe there was a single man in the State, qualified 
 to become a juryman, who had not in some form or 
 other made up and declared an opinion on the con- 
 duct of the prisoner. 
 
 Botts. Have you said Col. Burr was guilty 
 of treason? 
 
 Bukey. No. I only declared that the man who 
 acted as Col. Burr was said to have done, de- 
 served to be hung. 
 
 Ques. Did you believe that Col. Burr was that 
 man ? 
 
 Ans. I did, from what I had heard. 
 
 Wirt. Did I understand you to say that you 
 concluded upon certain rumors that you had heard, 
 that Col. Burr deserved to be hung? 
 
 Bukey. I did. 
 
 Ques. Did you believe these rumors? 
 
 Ans. I did. 
 
 Ques. Would you, if you were a juryman, 
 form your opinion upon the question whether an
 
 68 
 
 overt act of treason had been committed at Blen- 
 nerhassett Island, from the rumors heard? 
 
 Ans. It was upon other rumors, and not upon 
 that, that I had formed an opinion, 
 
 Martin submitted it to the court, whether ho 
 could be considered an impartial juryman. 
 
 The court decided that he ought not to be so 
 considered, and he was accordingly rejected. 
 
 James G. Laidley stated that he had formed 
 and expressed some opinions unfavorable to Colo- 
 nel 'Burr, that he could not pretend to decide upon 
 the charges in the indictment, which he had not 
 heard; that he had principally taken his own opin- 
 ion from newspaper statements; and that he had 
 not, so far as he recollected, expressed an opinion 
 that Colonel Burr deserved hanging, but that his 
 impression was that he was guilty. He was there- 
 fore rejected. 
 
 James Compton being challenged for cause and 
 sworn, stated that he had formed and expressed an 
 opinion from hearsay, that Colonel Burr was guilty 
 of treason, and of that particular treason of which 
 he stood charged, as far as he understood. He 
 was rejected. 
 
 Mr. Burr observed that as gentlemen on the 
 part of the prosecution had expressed a willingness 
 to have an impartial jury, they could not refuse 
 that any juryman should state all his objections to 
 IrmseH; and that he had no doubt, in spite of the
 
 ISLAND HOME 69 
 
 contrary assertions which had been made, that they 
 couKl get a jury from the panel. 
 
 Hamilton Morrison, upon being called, said 
 that he had frequently thought and declared that 
 Colonel Burr was guilty, if the statements which 
 he had heard were true ; that he did not know 
 whether they were so, but only thought from the 
 great clamor which had been made that it might be 
 possible that he had not passed any positive opin- 
 ion ; nor was he certain that he had always qualified 
 it by saying: "If these things were true;" that he 
 does not recollect to have said, that Colonel Burr 
 ought to be punished, without stating at the same 
 time, "If he were guilty." Mr. Morrison was sus- 
 pended for further examination. 
 
 Yates S. Conwell had formed and expressed 
 an opinion, from the reports he had heard, that 
 Colonel Burr must be guilty of high treason. He 
 was accordingly set aside. 
 
 Jacob Beeson declared that he had for some 
 time past formed an opinion, as well from news- 
 paper publication as from boats which had been 
 built on the Ohio, that Colonel Burr was guilty; 
 and that he himself had borne arms to suppress 
 this insurrection. He was therefore set aside as 
 incompetent. 
 
 William Prince declared he had nearly the 
 same impression as Mr. Beeson ; that he, too, had 
 borne arms: as well on Blennerhassett's Island as
 
 70 
 
 on descending the river in search of Blennerhassett. 
 He was set aside in like manner. 
 
 Nimrod Saunders declared, that he had ex- 
 pressed an opinion previously to his being sum- 
 moned on the jury, that the prisoner had been 
 guilty of treason. He was therefore set aside as 
 incompetent. 
 
 Thomas Creel had no declaration to make, 
 and was challenged for cause. Upon being inter- 
 rogated, he stated that he had never asserted that 
 the prisoner ought to 'be punished ; that he had 
 said, that he was a sensible man ; and if there was 
 any hole left, he would creep out of it ; that he 
 had conceived that Colonel Burr had seduced Blen- 
 nerhassett into some acts that were not right; that 
 he had never positively said that Colonel Burr was 
 guilty; that he had said that Blennerhassett was 
 the most blamable, because he was in good circum- 
 stances, and well off in life ; whereas Colonel Burr's 
 situation was desperate, and that he had little to 
 lose ; that he had not said, that Colonel Burr di- 
 rectly misled Mr. Blennerhassett, but through the 
 medium of Mrs. Blennerhassett ; in short, that there 
 was no determinate impression on his mind re- 
 specting the guilt of the prisoner. 
 
 The Chief Justice did not think that this was 
 sufficient to set him aside, and suspended his case 
 for further examination. 
 
 Anthony Buckner had frequently said that the
 
 ISLAND HOME 71 
 
 ' prisoner deserved to be hung. He was therefore 
 set aside.* 
 
 David Creel had formed an opinion from the 
 statement in the newspapers, and if these were 
 true, the prisoner was certainly guilty. He had 
 expressed a belief that he was guilty of the charges 
 now brought against him, and that he ought to be 
 hanged. He was therefore rejected. 
 
 Subsequently, nth of August, James Hender- 
 son, of Wood County, who was absent yesterday, 
 was called. He was challenged for cause. On 
 being examined by Mr. Botts, he admitted that he 
 
 "The pamphlet, "Biography of the Buckner Family" gives 
 this fuller version of the examination of Col. Anthony 
 Buckner. 
 
 "He had 'been as most of his comrades upon the same 
 occasion, and his associates near the island-tome of the 
 Irish Barrister, who was also accused, open in his denun- 
 ciation of Conspirator Burr, and indignant at the stuptid 
 acquiescence and aid given by his friend Blenraerhassett. 
 Upon being interrogated in court as to any expression of 
 guilt or innocence in the pending case, replied that, "He 
 had frequently declared the opinion that any man who did 
 as it was said the prisoner had acted, should be hung." 
 
 He was further asked: "Did you not say you would giive 
 five pounds for Colonel Burr's head? Looking keenly at the 
 prisoner, he replied, "Yes, by G d, and I'll do it yet." 
 
 The silence for a moment was paimful. You mlight have 
 heard a pin drop. As he poured out these emphatic but 
 not very elegant or courteous iwords 1 , his piercing black 
 hours moulding bullets for the volunteer militia." 
 eyes, that seem to look through one, flashed Ire upon the 
 marbleized face of the distinguished defendant, 'but no or- 
 der of contempt was therefor .issued against him. 
 
 He and his son-in-law, George Creel, Jr., had the night 
 before going to the island, sat up during all its December 
 hours moulding bullets for the volunteer militia.
 
 72 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 was not a freeholder; and was subsequently set 
 aside. 
 
 Mr. Hamilton Harris was the next of the sus- 
 pended jurymen who was called. He declared 
 that it was with pain he should serve on the jury; 
 that he did not wish to serve on it; that it was still 
 more disagreeable to him, as the defendant seemed 
 to have such imaginary thoughts against him ; 
 that he had not meddled with the prisoner's tran- 
 sactions, though perhaps he might have done so, 
 had it been profitable to him. James Henderson 
 and Mr. Neale were 'both examined as to what they 
 might have heard him say on the subject, and both 
 declared that they had heard him say nothing ma- 
 terial. 
 
 Mr. Burr Hlave not these rumors excited a 
 prejudice in your mind against me? 
 
 Ans. I have no prejudice for or against you. 
 
 Mr. Botts. Are you a freeholder? 
 
 Ans. I have two patents of land. 
 
 Ques. Are you worth three hundred dollars? 
 
 Ans. Yes ; I have a horse here that is worth 
 the half of it. 
 
 Ques. Have you another at home to make up 
 the other half? 
 
 Ans. Yes; four of them. (Here the court 
 said that sufficient cause had not been shown 
 against his being a proper juror.) I am surprised 
 why they should be in so much terror of me. Per-
 
 ISLAND HOME 73 
 
 haps my name may be a terror, for my first name 
 is Hamilton. 
 
 Colonel Burr then observed that that remark 
 was a sufficient cause for objecting to him, and 
 challenged him. Mr. Morrison was therefore set 
 aside. 
 
 This was the first peremptory challenge which 
 the prisoner made, of the thirty-five to which the 
 law entitles him. 
 
 Thomas Creel, another of the suspended jury- 
 men from Wood county, was next set aside by the 
 court, because, he said, that he had both formed 
 and expressed sentiments unfavorable to the pris- 
 oner. 
 
 None from the county of Wood but had so ex- 
 pressed opinions as to afford cause for rejection, 
 so the jury had to be made up entirely from citi- 
 zens distant from the place of alleged treason. 
 
 THE WITNESSES. 
 
 The official reports of the trial and other 
 sources available this century after the event; do 
 not furnish interesting incidents of narration of any 
 value. They seem to indicate that the evidence of 
 a conspiracy was not abundant in the locality of 
 the island. 
 
 In substance, Peter Taylor, the gardener, said, 
 that he had been with Blennerhassett three years ; 
 in October, 1806, his employer had inquired for 
 young men who had rifles, were orderly, and could
 
 74 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 conform to discipline ; that in this inquiry he stated 
 that Colonel Burr had 80,000 acres of land in the 
 southwest, and wanted young men to settle upon 
 it ; that he would give any such one who would go 
 down the river, plenty of grog and victuals while 
 going down the stream, and three months provis- 
 ions after they had got to the end ; and that every 
 one enlisting must have his own rifle and blanket 
 to bring with him. 
 
 Jacob Allbright, a Dutchman laborer, said that 
 he was hired to build a kiln for drying corn on the 
 island ; after the grain was dried it was sent to 
 mill ; that he was four weeks on the island in that 
 business ; that the snow was two or three inches 
 deep when the Beaver boats landed at the pier; 
 that Blennerhassett paid off in Kentucky notes, 
 'not very good to circulate; that he went over to 
 the bank at Kanawha to change them ; that he saw 
 one or more moulding bullets in the kitchen ; that 
 he assisted in carrying to the boats four or five 
 trunks on the night of the departure. 
 
 William Love, the groom of Blennerhassett, 
 alleged that it was a very cold night the hour the 
 boats left the island, raining and freezing; that 
 Blennerhassett's clothes were put into the boat he 
 was to occupy ; that Dudley Woodbridge slept on 
 the island that night. 
 
 It was also shown that the boats left the shore 
 Wednesday night of the I3th of December ; that
 
 ISLAND HOME 75 
 
 there were only four of them, and about thirty men 
 therein ; that on the island when preparing to em- 
 bark, some packed meat on board and some carried 
 other things ; that they untied about one o'clock at 
 night ; that there was one sick one left on the island. 
 That Nahm Bennett was sent before day to pass 
 Gallipolis, with two horses, to connect with the 
 flotilla; that Burr had been on the island not later 
 than six weeks before the boats left shore; that 
 depositions for the trial were taken before John G. 
 Jackson ; that the party had left at that hour in the 
 night because the Kanawha militia were expected 
 down very early next morning; that a half bushel of 
 candles and some brandy were taken into the boats ; 
 that the party held a council at the foot of the pier, 
 and all left together ; that they only intended to 
 defend in case of attack by the expected mob, was 
 the drift of declarations heard. 
 
 During the examination of witnesses, as well 
 as in arguments thereon and thereafter, the eminent 
 counsel on both sides displayed enthusiasm, legal 
 learning, tact and forensic and poetic oratory. The 
 press as well as the bar were impressed with the 
 importance of the issues involved, and the attention 
 of the people, from ocean to ocean and river border 
 to southern gulf, was thoroughly engrossed. It 
 was the only topic each day near the scene of the 
 initial acts of the alleged conspiracy. In Wood 
 county it was looked upon from both political and
 
 personal standpoints. By some, Jefferson, the 
 President, was blamed as being too ardent, sus- 
 picious and partisanly vindictive without occasion, 
 and by others his course was not only justified but 
 commended, and the object of the attempted en- 
 terprise believed to have been unpatriotic and dan- 
 gerous to civic liberty. Blennerhassett, however, 
 with few exceptions, was considered deceived as to 
 the nature and end of the expedition, and the sym- 
 pathies of his admirers and neighbors went out 
 strongly towards him in his financial and legal 
 embarrassment and the serious accusations against 
 him. Even Burr had among many west of the Al- 
 leghenies sincere devotees, and numerous sons ol 
 unrelated families near the close of that era bear 
 his name as their own distinctive appellation. 
 
 Late in September Burr was discharged on the 
 main indictment in the United States Court, and 
 the one for treason against Blennerhassett, though 
 a bond of $5,000 was given, with Dudley Wood- 
 bridge as security, was never prosecuted. 
 
 Judge Marshall ended the "misdemeanor" trial 
 by stating: 
 
 "I shall commit Burr and Blennerhassett for 
 preparing and providing means for a military ex- 
 pedition against the territories of a foreign prince 
 with whom the United States is at peace. If those 
 whose province and duty it is to prosecute offend- 
 ers again-st the United States shall not be of opinion 
 that a crime of deeper dye has been committed, it
 
 ISLAND HOME 77 
 
 is at t'heir choice to act in conformity with that 
 opinion. 
 
 "If Burr is sent to Kentucky, Blennerhassett 
 cannot be, because he has provided no means for 
 an expedition but in the District of Qhio." 
 
 They were ordered committed to Ohio, and 
 admitted to bail in the sum of $3,000 each; Luther 
 Martin and Dr. Cummings became sureties for 
 Burr, and Dr. Cummings and Israel Smith for 
 Blennerhassett. 
 
 Both were in custody for long months, and as 
 the act was one, the grade of leadership and guilt 
 different but interlaced, the acquittal of Burr end- 
 ed the prosecution, and virtually set both expedi- 
 tionists free again, but left them wrecked in for- 
 tune and influence, and the ardor of their energies 
 and ambition dampened.
 
 DESOLATION and ENDING 
 
 uf / Y'Y 
 4J [ 
 
 4^ ITHIN one year from leaving the island, 
 ^ Blennerhassett returned to find it deso- 
 ^ " " M l ate hi s property seized for debt, many 
 j^S^_ articles, among which was Robin a fav- 
 orite horse, stolen, 'slaves sold or escaped, and house 
 gutted of its contents. The prospect was in no wise 
 encouraging, and it is not to be wondered that his 
 naturally timid heart almost failed him. 
 
 The boats fitted up on the Muskingum had 
 been modified for transports to carry United States 
 troops from Marietta to St. Louis. Under orders 
 of the President, the meal and one hundred barrels 
 of pork stored for the expedition, had been sold and 
 the funds appropriated. Ransom Read, the best 
 slave, for a debt* of thirty-five dollars and costs, had 
 been cried off at a public sale. 
 
 Negligence of tenants, river freshets, and the 
 rudeness of those in charge who viewed it as public 
 property, had rendered the building and surround- 
 ings pitiable to behold. Window casings had been 
 torn out to procure the leaden weights by which 
 the sashes were poised. The stone roller used to 
 leven his lawn and grounds, was broken to obtain 
 the iron axles on which it ran. Hemp and cordage
 
 ISLAND HOME 79 
 
 machinery took the place of flowers and shrubbery. 
 
 He sadly looked upon the ruins of his once 
 bright home, and returned to Natchez, purchased a 
 plantation of '1000 acres, at St. Catherine, near Port 
 Gibson, Claiborne county, Mississippi, on it placed 
 twenty-two slaves, and there, upon about two hun- 
 dred acres of it, began the culture of cotton. The 
 war with Great Britain, in 1812-15, occasioned an 
 embargo and reduction in values, and the enterprise 
 was abandoned. He sold the plant for $27,000 
 which scarcely satisfied his creditors. 
 
 The Blennerhassetts spent ten years on their 
 cotton plantation, enjoying the society of a few 
 choice friends. Harman, however, seemed to have 
 dropped hope and muscular energy. During this 
 period another son and a daughter were added to 
 the home circle. Lady Margaret, with her char- 
 acteristic industry rose at early down, mounted Her 
 horse, and rode over the grounds, examining each 
 field, and giving directions to the overseer as to 
 the work to be done that clay, or any alteration to 
 be made in the plans, which circumstances required. 
 
 He removed to New York, and attempted the 
 practice of law. Not succeeding, he went to Can- 
 ada in 1819, and there also failed in his purposes. 
 Then he visited Ireland, his native heath, to prose- 
 cute a reversionary claim, but was barred by statute 
 of limitations. During this absence of her hus- 
 band, Mrs. Blennerhassett found a home in New
 
 80 BLEXNERHASSETT 
 
 York, and was financially assisted by the Emmetts. 
 She went then to Pennsylvania, where at Wilks- 
 barre, her sister, Mrs. Dow, resided. She next join- 
 ed her husband in Montreal, and while there, in 
 1824, wrote for publication a volume entitled, 
 "Widow of the Rock and Other Poems." Among 
 the productions of her pen while in Canada was the 
 pathetic one named: 
 
 THE DESERTED ISLE. 
 
 Likt mournful echo, from the silent tonub, 
 
 That pines away upon the midnight air, 
 
 Whilst the pale moon breaks out, with fitful gloom; 
 
 Fond memory turns' with sad, but welcome care, 
 
 To scenes of desolation and despair; 
 
 Once bright with all that beauty could bestow, 
 
 That peace could shed, or youthful fancy know. 
 
 To the fair isle, reverts the pleasing dream; 
 Again thou risest, in thy green attire, 
 Fresh, as at first; thy blooming graces seem: 
 Thy groves, thy fields, their wonted sweets respire; 
 Again thou'rt all my heart could e'er desire. 
 Oh! Why, dear isle, are thou not still my own? 
 Thy charms could then for all my griefs atone. 
 
 The stranger that descends Ohio's stream, 
 Oharmed with the beauteous prospects that arise, 
 Marks the soft isles that, 'neath the glittering beam, 
 Dance with the wave and mingle with the skies; 
 Sees, also, one that now in ruin lies, 
 WMch erst, like fairy queen, towered o'er the rest, 
 In every native chanin, by culture dressed. 
 
 There rose the seat, where once, in pride of life, 
 My eye could mark the queenly river's flow, 
 In summer's calmness, or in winter's strife, 
 (Swollen with rains, or battling with the snow. 
 Never, again, my heart such joy shall know.
 
 ISLAND HOME 81 
 
 Havoc and ruin, rampant war, have passed 
 Over that isle, with their destroying blast. 
 
 The black'ning fire has swept throughout her halls, 
 
 The winds fly whistling o'er tihem, and the wave 
 
 No more, in spring floods, o'er the sand beach crawls, 
 
 But furious drowns in one o'erwhelming grave, 
 
 Thy hallow'd haunts it watered as a slave. 
 
 Drive on, destructive flood! and ne'er again, 
 
 On that devoted isle let man remaiin. 
 
 Too many bliss'ful moments there I've known; 
 Too many hopes have there met their decay; 
 Too many feelings now forever gone, 
 To wish that thou could'st e'er again display 
 The joyful coloring of thy .prime array: 
 Buried with thee, let them remain a blot, 
 With thee, their sweets, their (bitterness forgot. 
 
 And, oh! that I could wholly wipe .away 
 
 The memory of the ills that worked thy fall; 
 
 The memory of that all-eventful day, 
 
 W'hen I returned, and found my own fair hall 
 
 Held by the infuriate populace in thrall; 
 
 My own fireside blockaded by a band 
 
 That once found food and shelter of my hand. 
 
 My children (oh! a mother's pangs forbear; 
 Nor strike again that arrow to my soul;) 
 Clasping the ruffians in suppliiant prayer; 
 To free their mother from unjust control, 
 While with false crimes and imprecation foul, 
 The wretched, vilest refuse of the earth, 
 Mock jurisdiction held around my hearth. 
 
 Sweet is>le! methinks I see thy bosom torn; 
 
 Agaiin behold the ruthless ra'bble throng, 
 
 That wrought destruction taste must ever mourn. 
 
 Alas 1 ! I see thee now shall .see thee long; 
 
 But ne'er shall bitter feelings urge the wrong, 
 
 That to a mob, would give the censure, due 
 
 To those that arm'd the plunder-greedy crew.
 
 82 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 Thy shores are warmed by bounteous suns in vain, 
 
 Columbia! if spite and envy spring, 
 
 To blot the beauty of mild nature's reign: 
 
 The European stranger, who would fling, 
 
 O'er tangled -woods, refinement's polis'Mng, 
 
 May find, expended every .plan of taste, 
 
 His works by ruffians rendered dO'Ubly waste. 
 
 After a brief stay the family embarked for 
 Bath, England, to reside with his maiden sister at 
 Cottage Crescent. Thence for health they went to 
 St. Aubin, on the Isle of Jersey, to be with his 
 sister Avis. Thence they removed to Port Prerie, 
 upon the Island of Guernsey, where February I, 
 1831, on the bosom of his devoted Margaret, whom 
 thirty-four years before he had married, he passed 
 away, within requiem murmur of the never ceasing 
 waves. 
 
 In 1842 his widow visited the United States to 
 seek relief from the government, which had prose- 
 cuted relentlessly and almost inexcusably despoiled. 
 She asked damages for acts of the Virginia militia, 
 in a statement made out by Dudley & Woodbridge, 
 who well could estimate its extent. 
 
 She also petitioned for relief sought in the fol- 
 lowing words : 
 
 "Your memoralist does not desire to exagger- 
 at the conduct of the said armed men, or the injur- 
 ies done by them ; but she can truly say, that be- 
 fore their visit, the residence of her famiily had 
 been noted for its elegance and high state of im- 
 provement, and that they left it in a state of com-
 
 ISLAND HOME 83 
 
 parative ruin and waste ; and as instance of the 
 mischievous and destructive spirit which appeared 
 to govern them, she would mention that while they 
 occupied as a guard-room one of the best apart- 
 ments in the house (the building of which had cost 
 nearly forty thousand dollars), a musket or rifle 
 ball was deliberately fired into the ceiling, by Which 
 it was much defaced and injured, and that they 
 wantonly destroyed many pieces of valuable furni- 
 ture. She would also state, .that being apparently 
 under no subordination, they indulged in continual 
 drunkenness and riot, offering many indignities to 
 your memoralist, and treating her domestics with 
 violence. 
 
 Your memorialist further represents, that these 
 outrages were committed upon an unoffending and 
 defenceless family in the absence of their natural 
 protector, your memorialists' husband being then 
 away from home ; and that in answer to sudh re- 
 monstrances as she ventured to make against the 
 consumption, waste and destruction of his property, 
 she was told by those who assumed to have the 
 command, that they held the property for the 
 United States, by order of the President, and were 
 privileged to use it, and should use it, as they 
 pleased. It is with pain that you memorialist re- 
 verts to events, which, in their consequences, have 
 reduced a once happy family from aff'hience and 
 comfort to comparative want and wretchedness ; 
 which blighted the prospect of her children, and 
 made herself, in the decline of life, a wanderer on 
 the face of the earth." 
 
 With this petition is filed also the following:
 
 84 BLENNER HAS SETT 
 
 "On the I3th day of December, 1806, the boat 
 in which we were, was driven ashore, by ise and 
 wind, on Backus Island, about one mile below Mr. 
 Blennerhassett's house ; we landed in the forenoon, 
 and the wind continuing unfavorable, did not afford 
 us any opportunity of putting off until after three 
 o'clock in the evening, at which time we were at- 
 tacked by about twenty-five men, well armed, who 
 rushed upon us suddenly, and we, not being in a 
 situation to resist the fury of a mob, surrendered ; 
 a strong guard was placed in the boat to prevent, 
 we presume, those persons of our party who re- 
 mained in the boat, from going off with her, while 
 we were taken to the house of Mr. Blennerhassett. 
 On our arrival at the house we found it filled with 
 militia ; another party of them were engaged in 
 making fires, around the house, of rails dragged 
 from the fences of Mr. Blennerhassett. At this 
 time Mrs. Blennerhassett was from home. When 
 she returned, about an hour after, s'he remonstrated 
 against this outrage on the property, but without 
 effect ; the officers declared that while they were 
 on the island the property absolutely belonged to 
 them. We were informed, by themselves that their 
 force consisted of forty men the first night ; and on 
 the third day it was increased to eighty. The 
 officers were constantly issuing the wlhiskey and 
 mea't, which had been laid up for the use of the 
 family, and whenever any complaint was made by 
 the friends of Mrs. Blennerhassett, they invariably 
 asserted that everything on the farm was their own 
 property. There appeared to us to be no kind of 
 stiibordination among the men ; the large room they 
 occupied on the first Moor presented a continued
 
 ISLAND HOME 85 
 
 scene of riot and drunkenness; the furniture ap- 
 peared ruined by the bayonets ; and one of the 
 men fired his gun against the ceiling; the ball 
 made a large hole, which completely spoiled the 
 beauty of the room. They insisted that the ser- 
 vants should wait upon them, before attending to 
 their mistress ; when this was refused, they seized 
 upon the kitchen and drove the negroes into the 
 wash house. We were detained from Saturday 
 evening until Tuesday morning, during which time 
 they were never less tin an thirty, and frequently 
 from seventy to eighty men living in this riotous 
 manner entirely on provisions of Mrs. Blennerhas- 
 set't. When we left the island, a cornfield near 
 the house, in which the corn was still remaining, 
 was filled with cattle, the fences having been pulled 
 down to make fires. This we pledge ourselves to 
 a true statement of those transactions, as impres- 
 sion was made on us at the time. 
 
 MORGAN NEVILLE, 
 WM. ROBINSON, JR. 
 
 Henry Clay, with sincerity and ardor, urged 
 its passage before the proper committee, but while 
 pending therein, she died, worn out and mortified 
 with toil and privation, attended only by her son 
 Harman, and Mary, a black servant, who, her for- 
 mer slave, would not desert her even in the depths. 
 This negrees remained faithful with Harman, the 
 son, till his death, and subsequently was burned to 
 death. 
 
 Mrs. Blennerhassett was a member of the 
 Episcopal church, and buried by their beautiful
 
 86 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 ritual, in the family vault of Thomas Addis Em- 
 mett, the friend of other days. At the funeral 
 were both Robert Emmett, the father and his son. 
 Watched during her illness by her devoted Har- 
 man, and the faithful Mary, she sank peacefully to 
 rest. The "Marble Cemetery" of repose is a small, 
 plain enclosure on Second street in New York, with 
 no shrubbery or flowers, but strewn with vaults, 
 amid the rush of a busy world around. 
 
 Of their children, it may be said : 
 
 1. Dominick, born in 1799, the eldest son was 
 dlissipated. In 1822 he sailed for Savannah ; in 
 1823 he enlisted as surgeon-mate, drank heavily and 
 was discharged. In New York he turned up desti- 
 tute, and by intervention of friends of his fathers 
 was made assistant apothecary in a hospital. Sub- 
 sequently he lost his position and went to St. Louis 
 Mo. 
 
 2. Harman, Jr., born in 1801, was an invalid, 
 became a portrait painter, succeeded poorly, and 
 was eventually taken to the alms house on Black- 
 well's island, Nov. 10, 1854, and there in his illness 
 was attended by the family servant and the ladies of 
 the "Old Brewery Mission." He died August i8th 
 of that year, and was buried beside his mother. 
 
 3. Joseph Lewis, the youngest, moved to Mis- 
 souri, where he married and practiced law, in Troy, 
 Lincoln county ; was an officer in the Confederacy,
 
 ISLAND HOME 87 
 
 and died soon after the close of the war, and left 
 descendants in St. Louis. 
 
 The other children, daughters, died with fever 
 in Mississippi. 
 
 Theodosia Alston, the fascinating child of the 
 gifted conspirator, with her maid and physician, 
 Dec. 30, 1812, 'set sail from Charleston, on the 
 Carolina coast, in a small schooner, the "Patriot," 
 to go to her father in New York. The vessel was 
 noted for her sailing qualities, was commanded by 
 an experienced captain, had a pilot of skill and 
 courage, and was expected to make the voyage 
 within six days. 
 
 Neither vessel, crew or passengers were ever 
 heard of afterwards, and their fate is still locked 
 up in the arcana of the great ocean. Burr, who 
 idolized his daughter, as she did him, ever after 
 the 'sad event declared himself "severed from the 
 human race." 
 
 The mansion and premises passed into the 
 hands of a Kentucky creditor, who began the cul- 
 ture of hemp and manufacture of cordage thereon. 
 In those days it was a profitable industry all along 
 the water courses. The wings of the dwelling 
 were the places of its storage and caused the de- 
 struction of the already wrecked castle of buried 
 hopes and dreams of empire. The servants re- 
 turned one night from a merry-making, or frolic, on 
 the adjacent shore, and in the river crossing their
 
 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 skiff was upset, and one of their number was 
 drowned, and the rest submerged. On hastening 
 to the cellar for brandy to restore the unfortunate 
 and drive the chill from themselves, they passed 
 through the entrance to the hemp room to which 
 the stair-way led, too near the hemp, and the flare 
 of the candle ignited the fibres, and the flames al- 
 most instantly were beyond control, and in less than 
 an hour only ashes and debris remained of the once 
 lovely mansion of the Barrister prince. In night's 
 darkness, dazed with the effects of their careless- 
 ness, the servants neglected to awaken the sleepers 
 in the main rooms, who would have perished had 
 not one accidently awakened in time to alarm the 
 others. Their escape was made with no robes but 
 their thin night dress, and a few articles of furni- 
 ture only were saved. 
 
 Today there is little to remind the curious visi- 
 tor of the happiness and splendor of 100 years ago. 
 
 *"The Ohio and Virginia hills, the beautiful 
 river, and the blue sky are the only things which 
 look in the least as they must have looked to the 
 original inhabitants." 
 
 Before leaving the island with the flotilla Blen- 
 nerhassett had rented to Col. Nathaniel Gushing, a 
 friend in Belpre, the entire estate, crops, cattle and 
 agricultural utensils. He kept possession for two 
 vears, and it was then by creditors suits, taken out
 
 ISLAND HOME 89 
 
 of his hands by the courts, and furniture and li- 
 brary under an attachment sold at auction for bills 
 endorsed by him for Burr. 
 
 Joseph S. Lewis, of Philadelphia, a merchant, 
 owned the island after the failure purchasing it in 
 Sept. 1817 and destruction of the house and prop- 
 erty. It passed into the hands of George Neale, 
 Sr., and is now possessed by his daughter Alice and 
 son-in-law Amos W. Gordon. It is a pleasure re- 
 sort during the Summer 'season. The old well is 
 still in use, and some locust and other trees said 
 to have been planted by Blennerhassett himself, 
 over-shadow its moss-covered edges and its crystal 
 waters that drop from the old oaken bucket. The 
 caps of the stone gateway are shown in the steps 
 of the present dwelling.
 
 PRIOR OCCUPATION 
 
 ^ 
 
 y 
 
 HIS romantic spot in American history 
 was one of the camping and also burial 
 grounds of the red man. it was cer- 
 tainly a hiding shelter for his canoes 
 when on the war path. Behind have been left, 
 brought to light by the abrasion of the Ohio's cur- 
 rent, evidences of even pre-historic occupancy, as 
 well as many relics that are plainly Indian in their 
 origin and use. Arrow-heads, stone pipes, neck- 
 lets, darts and numerous pieces of pottery have been 
 secured, arranged and made to advance an ingen- 
 ious theory of Prof. Henry Stahl, who has spent 
 years of research and study, in this attractive field 
 to prove that civilization has left evidences of its 
 progress in the sands of the rivers, the mounds of 
 higher levels, and the charred deposits of Indian 
 camps everywhere. 
 
 The island, which is of glacial origin, extends 
 cast r.nd west, is narrow in the middle and broad 
 at both extremities. From the upper end a ridge 
 of land begins and runs west about the center of 
 the tract for over a mile, on both sides of this slight 
 elevation are natural troughs, like abandoned canal
 
 C 
 
 C 
 
 <L> 
 3 
 
 6 
 o 
 
 o 
 0, 
 
 PQ
 
 ISLAND HOME 91 
 
 beds, with ridged banks higher than those borde-r- 
 irg the river on either side. The channel bed on 
 the north side of the western section of the island 
 has been cut away by the current, leaving the 
 ridge to become the river bank. Here near the 
 center of the island, seems to have been placed by 
 nature, or design of some prior race, a large shell 
 heap. The deposit is over noo feet long, in width 
 at upper end about three, and at lower 300 feet. 
 The shells are of Unio. Amid these, as exposed by 
 the water abrasion or plowing, or research, are 
 found in great numbers, pottery whole and broken, 
 chet-chips, bones of the deer and fragments of hu- 
 man skeletons, and a variety of stone implements. 
 The shells of the land tortoise are quite numerous. 
 In places ash-pits and gravel and clay are apparent. 
 One of the skulls taken from the bank is now in 
 the Smithsonian Institute at Washington. The 
 pottery, much of it beautiful and elegant in design, 
 and displaying a wonderful and surpassing origin- 
 ality, is of cliay mixed with broken shells from the 
 river. Prophyry implements highly polished were 
 found, probably bark peelers. Pipes, circular 
 stones, and arrow heads of fifteen different varie- 
 ties were obtained by the thousand. The latter 
 composed of gray, brown and black diet, chalce- 
 dony, and horn-stone. "As implements of attack 
 are abundant it is probable they were fastened to 
 arrows and used in shooting fish." Jasper drills
 
 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 also were numerous. Instead of having been used 
 to bore in stone, it is Likely they were used to spear 
 fish or in the chase and as hairpins since the early 
 tribes were careful of their long crownal locks. 
 Tips of the horn of the deer, pendants and many 
 other ornaments of beautiful workmanship of can- 
 nel coal, beads from bird bones, green stone polish- 
 ed hatchets, circular discs, grooved stone hatchets, 
 bark peelers, bone needles and bone fish hooks, and 
 cannel-coal eyelets, beads and copper bracelets, 
 musical bone and stone flutes evidencing in their 
 construction a taste for and knowledge of music, 
 horn-hoe soil-diggers formed of the curved antlers 
 of a stag, with bevelled sharp end, were among the 
 numerous relics, some few of which were deposited 
 in the Smithsonian Institute at the National Cap- 
 ital, but the rarest are in the Stahl collection. 
 
 The archoelogical character of the island is of 
 great importance and the vast number of industrial 
 implements, whole and fragmentary pottery, the 
 evident remains of numerous ancient workshops, 
 group surrounding the various tribes and people 
 heaps of flint clippings, shell heaps, the great num- 
 ber of skeletons,' together with bones of animals, 
 now extinct, as well as an abundance of the animal 
 who dwell upon the same, show beyond a question 
 that the island had been inhabited permanently for 
 many certuries ere the white man's arrival. 
 
 Many articles found show great age, far be-
 
 Plain and Image Pipes With Stone Flute
 
 ISLAND HOME 93 
 
 yond that of the roving Indians who, ever since 
 the boundary line they so much desired to preserve, 
 to-wit, all territory west of the Ohio, was encroach- 
 ed upon, built no mounds, and for probably two 
 hundred years all their dead were intrusives in the 
 mounds built years before their arrival. 
 
 Hence the abrasion of currents of the spring 
 flood brings to light the magnificent pottery and 
 workmanship of the race who built the original 
 mounds, as well as the "good enough" crude stone 
 and bone relics of the Indian who last occupied this 
 strategic point, when the game in abundance was 
 forced to seek the water, and no enemy could ap- 
 pear without approaching under many disadvan- 
 tages in fleets of canoes, which owing to the fav- 
 orable posts of observation were never able to sur- 
 prise the islanders. 
 
 The range of astonishing amount of relics re- 
 covered, the great difference in the artistic develop- 
 ment of domestic implements, show that primitive 
 man began here early, and the many mute wit- 
 nesses of man's earliest attempts to supply himself 
 with defensive and aggressive arms, demonstrate 
 that the human family, step by step, produced the 
 same result as the early races on the Xile, proving 
 that if this country was ever settled by Kuro- 
 peans or Asiatic tribes the arrival upon the western 
 continent took place in the earliest stage of indus-
 
 94 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 trial development when even language was in its 
 infancy. 
 
 We are pleased to offer our readers a few illus- 
 trations showing specimens from the island, col- 
 lected and ingeniously arranged by our talented 
 friend, Prof. Henry Stahl, of Parkersburg, who 
 has divided thousands of specimens into the follow- 
 ing four divisions: 
 
 1. Man in his earliest stage; 
 
 2. Man as a savage; 
 
 3. Man as a barbarian ; 
 
 4. Man's first steps into civilization. 
 
 The articles found are classed into these four 
 respective social stages, showing a continuous de- 
 velopment from the first article fashioned by the 
 hand of man down to the appearance of iron and 
 steel. 
 
 From many of these ingeniously arranged and 
 s^stemized groups, a few only have been selected. 
 Few, if any richer fields for research and study of 
 the prior races, can be found than Blennerhassett 
 Island, so pregnant with memories of vanished 
 years. 
 
 In the Stahl valuable relic collection is a sun- 
 dial plate, found at the bottom of the old well of 
 Blennerhassett. It is of dark purple slate, octagon- 
 al in shape, about half an inch think and ten inches 
 across. The face has its characters and lettering 
 distinct, was made by J. Still, whose name is .cut
 
 ISLAND HOME 95 
 
 in script upon the outer edge. The inscription is 
 "G. Neil, 1812, latitude 54 degrees, 20 north. 
 
 There was found in the Blennerhassett man- 
 sion, in 1806, several drawings, which were preserv- 
 ed as late as 1846 in the family of a descendant of 
 Commander Hugh Phelps. .Among these .was one 
 of the head of a huge elk, designated "An Early 
 Settler." Also, in oil, several indian heads, the 
 work, doubtless, of Lady Blennerhassett and sup- 
 posed to have been in portraiture of friendly In- 
 dians of prominence who frequented the barrister's 
 grounds at that peace period. No one has been 
 able, as yet, to identify or name the originals from 
 whom taken. Copies of these are now preserved 
 in an album by J. H. Dis DeBar, ex-Commissioner 
 of Emigration. for West Virginia, long a citizen of 
 this county, but of late years resident in Philadel- 
 phia. Three of these portraits, on one canvas, cheek 
 to jowl, indicate determined character, and if one 
 was not in portraiture of the famed chief governing 
 the river section, Kyashuta, who it is presumed 
 was personally known to the island owners, in 1800, 
 then no likeness of that hero who gave Washing- 
 ton a buffalo and so courteously treated him at 
 Belleville in 1770, is extant.
 
 PRESENT OCCUPATION 
 
 <*=" "** T is more than probable the race usu- 
 & T[ ^ a ^ called, for want of a better name, 
 ^ Mound-builders, were the first occu- 
 
 _^5^_ pants of the island, it may have been 
 thousands of years ago. Their presence on its 
 wave washed sand is proved beyond question. By 
 conquest or abandonment the Indian succeeded and 
 enjoyed its beauty and isolation from inimical in- 
 trusion for many un-numbered moons and cycles. 
 In the march of events the coming of the paler- 
 tinted man drove him from the hunting grounds 
 and the bark and pelt-tented villages to the North- 
 west and eventually toward the setting sun, and 
 the absolute extermination that awaits the last of 
 his race. 
 
 RECORDED OWNERSHIP. 
 
 The island appears, from official records to 
 have been claimed and the right, whether by mili- 
 tary land warrant, hatchet title, or otherwise, un- 
 disputed, by Samuel McDowell, who assigns to 
 John Harvie, and he to Henry Banks, who assigns 
 to James Heron of Richmond, in trust, for the firm 
 of Heron, Nelson & Co. The gifted Patrick 
 Henry signs the deed. They on May 10, 1792,
 
 ISLAND HOME 97 
 
 convey for 250 pounds Virginia currency to Elijah 
 Backus of Norwich, Conn. 269 and 297, equal 566 
 acres, by survey made May 17, 1784. (Page 97 B 7 
 of Wood County records.) 
 
 Backus, Jan. 28, 1799, contracts to sell to Har- 
 man Blennerhassett, for $4,000, the upper section 
 of the island, thus described : East and South bound 
 ed by waters of the Ohio, then by a line drawn 
 across said island, at the "Narrows," as by Pere- 
 grine Foster and Silas Bent in their respective sur- 
 veys for said Backus and Blennerhassett, made 
 about March, 1798. 
 
 The property, after years, passes into the hands 
 of George Neal, Jr., but not until Nov. 17, 1827, 
 does he acquire full title, by deed from Hannah 
 George (formerly Richards), late Hannah Backus, 
 of Montgomery county, Ohio, relic of Elijah 
 Backus, late of Randolph County, in the then terri- 
 tory of Illinois, deceased, conveying for $300 her 
 dower in the east end of the island (Deed Book 7, 
 page 128.) 
 
 By the first county assessment, in 1801. Elijah 
 Backus, then owner, was charged with tax of $5.22 
 on 370 acres, at a valuation of $1,100. He was also 
 assessed with 228 1-2 acres, the "upper part of 
 Belpre Island," $3.30. 
 
 In Deed Book 4, page 3, is recorded conveyance 
 from Elijah Backus, and wife Hannah, to Aaron 
 Waldo Putnam, dated 24 April, 1807, for two tracts
 
 98 
 
 of land on the two islands below the mouth of the 
 Kanawha, for the consideration of $1,903.50. It is 
 thus described : Survey by Levi Barber of 141 acres 
 in West or lower end of the first island ; on East 
 by lands sold by Backus to Harman Blennerhassett, 
 beginning at a place called the "Narrows," and 
 the other tract the whole of the island called "little 
 island, or second isle South," being part of two 
 tracts of land conveyed to Backus by James Heron 
 of Richmond, Virginia, May 10, 1792, by that Court 
 in that year. 
 
 In 1816 the assessment books show that Aaron 
 Waldo Putnam owned the 141 2-10 acres, "lower 
 part of Belpre island." 
 
 In 1820 appears 150 acres, part of Blenner- 
 hassett Island, "two miles S. W. from the Court 
 House, assessed to Thomas Morris and Samuel 
 Canby of Baltimore," formerly charged to Elijah 
 Backus. So the earliest name of the middle ap- 
 pears to be "Backus" as stated upon old river navi- 
 gation charts, and next "Belpre" from its facing 
 that stockade-protected settlement the colony 
 there from Fort Harmar and that the easterly and 
 formerly the whole took the present name from the 
 momentous events of later history. 
 
 Mrs. Amos W. Gordon and son Clifford now 
 own the upper end of old Blennerhassett portion, 
 of 105 acres, deriving her title from her father 
 George Neale Jr. They reside thereon and culti-
 
 ISLAND HOME 99 
 
 vate the acreage, and the public resort to it from 
 curiosity, by picnic excursions, and for base-ball 
 games, coming by steam-launches, or by skiffs, 
 sail-boats and the great steamers of the Ohio. It 
 is an attractive spot to travellers, who pass the 
 island up or down by palatial electric-lighted steam- 
 ers, or view it from comfortable railroad coaches 
 from the Virginia shore,, and who are ever desirous 
 to have pointed out the site of the vanished man- 
 sion, which like a gem, peeped a century ago, from 
 its primitive and weird water-encircled setting in 
 the wilderness. Some one in the centuries yet to 
 come may have the means and sentimental inclina- 
 tion to restore the once hospitable edifice and its 
 once beautiful dream like surrounding. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 From various sources gathered, the following 
 items may have a local interest: 
 
 Blennerhassett got $6,000 for onehalf the profits 
 of his Marietta business, had $3,000 stock in the 
 firm, had $6,000 in the hands of his Philadelphia 
 agent. After building his mansion he had, outside 
 of island property, five negroes and $1,700 cash. He 
 had $9,000 in stock and profits, and $10,000 on 
 another account, and the amount in agent's hands, 
 besides isle and negroes ; property left by his father 
 amounted to 20,000 pounds, equal to $100,000. vest- 
 ed in British 3 per cent stock. 
 
 He gave power of attorney, 27 Nov., 1806, to
 
 100 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 Samuel Hunt, of Gallia County, Ohio, and James 
 Wilson, of Wood, to settle the mm affairs of Dud- 
 ley Woodbridge, Jr., & Co. The firm began to 
 operate 24th April, 1802. The records disclose that 
 some of the men most active in the destruction of 
 the home and property of the Blennerhassett mem- 
 ber were those indebted to him financially, some of 
 whom for years indulged and befriended and con- 
 fided in. They were the first to believe him guilty 
 and credit him with unpatriotic intentions and acts. 
 He had a store earlier than this of 'his own, 
 as appears from the records of suits in Wood 
 County. In October, 1800, he filed an account as 
 follows: 
 
 Sylvester Lyons, 
 
 To Harman Blennerhassett, Dr., 
 1798. 
 
 May 8th, To 6^ of lining @ 75c $4-87 
 
 To l /2 gallon whiskey @ SQC .50 
 
 May 24. To i qt. whiskey @ 250 .25 
 
 Aug. 29. To y 2 Ib. Bohea tea @ 550 . -55 
 
 Aug. 29. To i Ib. raisons @ 33C 
 
 1799. 
 April 13. To sundries, delivered to John 
 
 James as per order ._io.85 
 
 April 19. To fish hooks -33 
 
 April 19. To Ib. chocolate -53 
 
 April 19. To 180 bushels of corn 59.61
 
 ISLAND HOME 101 
 
 This account amounted to over a hundred dol- 
 lars, and was tried by a jury on the loth day of 
 March, 1801, and a verdict rendered in behalf of 
 the plaintiff. 
 
 In the County Court Feb. 2, 1807, in case of 
 George Creel against Harman Blennerhassett, the 
 entry reads ; "On an attachment, the sheriff hav- 
 ing returned executed on one negro man named 
 Ranson Reed, and the defendant fails to reply, it 
 is therefore considered by the court that the plain- 
 tiff recover against the defendant $35.25 for his 
 debt ; also his costs in this behalf expended, and 
 that the sheriff expose to sale the property afore- 
 said and render unto the said plaintiff his debt 
 aforesaid, on the first Monday in April term next. 
 
 Ransom who was long the faithful waiter upon 
 Mrs. Blennerhassett, and became the property of 
 James M. Stephenson, an indulgent master, was a 
 swarthy, dwarfish negro, a good fiddler, and a fav- 
 orite with the youngsters of the vicinity, and many 
 were the Virginia reels under his music and in- 
 struction, and when tired of the dance, the young 
 (listened to his wonderful stories of the stately 
 queen now far away from her own isle of sorrow. 
 
 April 6, 1807, three commissioners were ap- 
 pointed to appraise the property in the hands of 
 Sheriff Hugh Phelps, seized as that of Aaron Burr. 
 
 The sale bill of the Blennerhassett property,
 
 102 
 
 Aug. 24, 1807, in case of Robert Miller against said 
 defendant showed : 
 
 Accounts and notes, 34 in number $140.88 
 
 Stock, farm utensils, &c 850.34^ 
 
 Total -$991.221/2 
 
 Which property the Court ordered returned to 
 Blennerhassett, or the value thereof, on surrender 
 by Nathaniel Gushing of the island rented by him, 
 and he is directed to deliver up all at the expiration 
 to Robert Miller or his attorney. 
 
 The entry Nov. 5, 1810, is: 
 
 Ichabod Griffin having heretofore been ap- 
 pointed to collect and deposit in the Bank of Mar- 
 ietta the money arising from the sales of certain 
 property of Aaron Burr, and which was then in 
 controversy between Robert Miller and the United 
 States, but which has since terminated in favor of 
 the United States; it is therefore ordered that the 
 said Ichabod Griffin pay the money by him received 
 as aforesaid to the Secretary of War, or to John G. 
 Jackson, agent for the United States, or to his or- 
 der. 
 
 The Monthly Court, 4 Feb., 1811, with Geo. D. 
 Avery, Richard Neale, Bennett Cook and Robert 
 Edelen, general justices, on the bench.
 
 ISLAND HOME 103 
 
 George Miller, 
 
 vs. 
 
 Harman Blennerhassett and Robert Miller In 
 Chancery. 
 
 Ordered that Robert Miller be inhibited from 
 paying, delivering or secreting any goods or chat- 
 tels in his possession belonging to Harman Blen- 
 nerhassett, &c. 
 
 The county court, 6 April, 1807, appointed 
 Peter Anderson, William Weedon and Samuel 
 Weld to appraise property seized by Col. Hugh 
 Phelps, as the property of Aaron Burr. They made 
 return schedules, nth of April, 1807, of 25 barrels 
 of whiskey 756 gallons at an average value of 31 
 cents per gallon, $273.41 ', n t> bls - pork, $361.41; 
 5 bbls. beef, $30.00; other sundries, incuding two 
 boats ($60.25), making a total of $1,056.38^. These 
 articles were for the expedition from the Island to 
 the South. 
 
 SEIZURE OF FOUR BOATS BY BUELL. 
 
 Marietta, 2 Feb., 1807. 
 
 I certify that the four unfinished batteaux, late 
 the property of Harman Blennerhassett, began to 
 be built by Col. Jos. Barker, were seized by au- 
 thority of the State of Ohio, by special warrant 
 from the Governor's agent, and a return thereof
 
 104 
 
 has been regularly made to the Secretary of War 
 and to the governor of the State of Ohio. 
 
 JOS. BUELL, Maj. Gen., 
 3rd Division Mil., State Ohio. 
 
 John Clark, sheriff of the county of Washing- 
 ton, Ohio, makes the following return: 
 
 '1 do hereby certify that on the 2Oth day of 
 Feb., 1807, I served a writ of foreign attachment 
 on Dudley Woodbridge, as garnishee of Harman 
 Blennerhassett, attaching all lands, tenements, 
 goods, rights and credits, moneys and effects which 
 the said Blennerhassett might have in his, the said 
 W'oodbridge's hands or possession." 
 
 Among those who were upon the island when 
 so much devastation occurred, were Major Robert 
 Kincheloe, Matthias Chapman and Jacob Beeson, 
 men of sterling worth and integrity, education and 
 probity. The character of these citizens was such 
 as in part to controvert insinuations so often made 
 that the militia of the county were guilty of rude- 
 ness and incivility to the Blennerhassett hostess 
 and family. 
 
 One of the pioneer natives of the county, be- 
 yond four score years of age (now dead about ten 
 years), Mrs. Clementine (Saunders) Neale, stated 
 that these officers of the command in later years, 
 who were eye witnesses of the event, assured her 
 that so far from Mrs. Blennerhassett being insulted 
 or rudely annoyed, as as been so repeatedly alleged,
 
 ISLAND HOME 
 
 she was courteously addressed, that the Major 
 asked an interview, and she came out from her 
 room for a few minutes and treated him with much 
 hauteur, and was herself answered with mildness, 
 but firmly. The Major was a most kindly and gen- 
 ial gentleman, as were the others named, and in- 
 capable of any breaches in this regard. 
 
 There was a pier at the landing whence the flo- 
 tilla embarked on that Memorable December night, 
 the steps to which were of stone, but till recently 
 could not be located. For many years interested 
 parties had been searching at times for these steps 
 which led down to the stream and were known to 
 exist somewhere upon the shores of the island. 
 Lew Shaefer, during the summer of 1894, in wan- 
 dering about the supposed vicinity, came upon a 
 nicely dressed stone, one end of which protruded 
 above the earth. Upon excavating he discovered 
 the old stone steps, built nearly a century ago by 
 the barister-farmer, Blennerhassett. They are 
 about seventy-five yards below the present landing, 
 and appeared only recently to be yet firmly joined 
 by the cement originally brought from the old 
 country. 
 
 George Simms, of Tfockingport, Ohio, has an 
 old kettle which once belonged to Blennerhassett. 
 
 Israel Waldo Putnam, of Rockland, the vicin- 
 ity of the site of Farmer's Castle, in Ohio, has an 
 old settee given his grandmother by Mrs. Rlenner-
 
 106 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 hassett, after she left the island and for kindness 
 bestowed on her by the grandmother and family. 
 It is made of wild cherry, then abundant in the 
 woods, is six feet long, three feet high and fifteen 
 inches wide, with waved slats, three inches wide, of 
 solid wood, and is highly prized. With it, received 
 in a similar way, he owns a small table of black 
 walnut, native to the island farm. He has also two 
 glass plates, with figures of leaves and vine, with 
 gold leaf, given to his oldest sister. One of the 
 plates is in the hands of Dr. Curtis, of Marietta. 
 Descendant Putnam has also the old parchment 
 deed executed and signed by Patrick Henry to 
 Alexander Nelson, in trust for Nelson, Heron & Co., 
 assignee of Henry Banks, dated 16 May, 1786, for 
 269 acres, by survey dated 17 May, 1784, by virtue 
 of Treasury Warrant No. 5,851, issued 5 July, 1780, 
 for second island below mouth of Little Kanawha 
 river, in the couny of Monongalia." This descrip- 
 tion would indicate that the island is a combina- 
 tion by gradual fills and freshets of several insular 
 tracts. 
 
 George Alfred Townsend, the famous corres- 
 pondent "Gath," owns a set of Blennerhassett, old 
 style, blue back, split-bottomed chairs, bought of 
 Miss Ellenwood. 
 
 There is still preserved in front of the tenement 
 upon the island several blocks of dressed stone, 
 which were portions of the pillars at each side- of
 
 ISLAND HOME 107 
 
 the landing. Nearby the original location of these 
 shafts are tall sycamore trees, across the straight 
 and almost limbless trunks of which are numerous 
 slats nailed to serve as rests for wild duck snares 
 of the bird hunters. The bank has crumbled away 
 from the "Narrows." There exists a huge syca- 
 more tree still, which started from the cellar of the 
 mansion soon after its destruction, and must be 
 104 years old. The same well and a locust tree 
 nearby will cause one to imagine the years of a 
 century to have been rolled backward, and Blenner- 
 hassett to be enjoying the cool waters of the one 
 and the shade of the other as he leans slightly in 
 his chair at evening or sultry noon, and meditates 
 upon the loveliness of his island home and the 
 quietude and inspiration of peace ere the spoiler 
 came. 
 
 Quite a number of Blennerhassett relics and 
 souvenirs are in the families of the citizens of Mar-, 
 ietta. The college has some in the Fearing collec- 
 tion. 
 
 Dr. B. F. Harte has a sofa, once the property 
 of D. C. Skinner ; Miss Mary L. Skinner owns 
 several handsome knife cases ; Mrs. J. D. Cadwall- 
 ader has a folding garden chair, which from Blen- 
 nerhassett passed into possession of Dudley Wood- 
 bridge ; Mrs. Frich of Fifth street has a table ; and 
 the government order for the arrest of Blenner-
 
 108 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 hassett belongs to Mrs. M. N. Buell, of Fifth street, 
 Marietta. 
 
 In the relic room of the "Woman's Centennial 
 Association" in Marietta, are : 
 
 1. A fruit dish, presented by Mrs. Goodno, of 
 Belpre; 
 
 2. A silk fan, given to Miss Rowena Spencer, 
 of Vienna, who afterward became Mrs. Arius Nye, 
 by Lady Blennerhassett herself, afterwards the 
 property of Mrs. Shelton Sturgis, of Chicago, then 
 of her daughter, Mrs. E. H. Brush, of Chicago, who 
 presented it to the relic room ; 
 
 3. A parlor chair, white and gilt, cane-seated, 
 presented by Sarah (Norton or) Gaston, of Har- 
 mar; 
 
 4. Part of some chintz bed-hangings, present- 
 ed by Mrs. Mary Starr, of Marietta; 
 
 5. An old iron tea-kettle, presented by Miss 
 Ellenwood, of Belpre, O. 
 
 W. Park Andrews, as heir of the Mayberrys, 
 has the following relics of the mansion; 2 large 
 platters or waiters of sheetiron ; 6 stem goblets of 
 cut-glass for wine ; 2 of smaller size ; 2 decanters ; i 
 small, old fashioned, washstand, with hole in top 
 for basin. The descendant of James G. Laidley- 
 Alex. Thomas Laidley, of Charleston, West Vir- 
 ginia, till death owned a snuff box given by Blen- 
 nerhassett to his friend, in 1805, before the con- 
 spiracy culminated. It now is stored by the State
 
 ISLAND HOM E 108 
 
 Historical Society. Amos Gordon has his dresser, 
 to be seen in his home on the head of the island. 
 He claims the old house was two stories and the 
 wings two, but the circular approaches only one. 
 The wine cellar portion alone was dug out. 
 
 The miniatures from which photos were copied 
 and the engravings of the Blennerhassetts in this 
 volume produced, were taken in Europe in 1795, ere 
 debarkation for the new world of America. The 
 ^Mississippi plantation to which tfhe unfortunate 
 barrister fled, when driven from his cherished is- 
 land, in view of the shelter it afforded and promised, 
 was called "La Cashe," the hiding place. 
 
 In May, 1895, a Spanish silver coin, bearing 
 the date 1772, was found near the spot where prev- 
 iously had been dug up a number of pieces of 
 Indian pottery, which bore curiously carved fig- 
 ures thereon. 
 
 The old floating mill, which by the action of 
 the current ground the golden maize of the early 
 settlers, was on the Virginia side, away from the 
 present channel. The old miller, it is traditionally 
 stated, was killed by the Indians and buried on the 
 Ohio side of the river. 
 
 The county court of Wood, once authorized its 
 clerk. John Stokeley, to erect a dam over the south 
 channel of the Ohio river from the Virginia shore 
 to the island, for the purpose of constructing and 
 running a grist mill, but the enterprise was never
 
 110 BLENNERHASSETT 
 
 carried out. A wing dam, to deepen the channel 
 for steamer navigation, has been constructed there 
 to throw the volume of water pressing on the 
 south shore in the great bend to the north side of 
 the island. 
 
 Several of the young men from Belpre, six or 
 more ; returned in the spring from the Mississippi 
 territory. Two others, Charles and John Dana, re- 
 mained, and settling near Walnut Hills, purchased 
 land and cultivated cotton. 
 
 Burr, soon after his recognizance, in January, 
 1807, requested John Dana, with twenty others, to 
 take him in a skiff to a point twenty miles above 
 Bayou Pierre, and land him in the night, intending 
 to escape across the country by land. In order to 
 better conceal his identity; before starting he ex- 
 changed his broadcloth coat and beaver hat with 
 Dana for his coarser dress of a boatman, and an 
 old white wool hat. 
 
 One of Blennerhassett's attempts in chemistry 
 was to convert beef into adipocere, or waxy fatness, 
 by immersing large pieces of it in the still water of 
 the beautiful cove between the landing and the sand 
 bar at the head of the island. He fancied it might 
 be used for illuminating, but the cat fish and perch 
 so interfered with his experiments that he never 
 perfected the chemical change. 
 
 Charles Fenton Mercer, who was on the island
 
 ISLAND HOM E 111 
 
 in November, 1806, made a full statement, soon 
 after the Richmond trial, giving his opinion of the 
 object of the expedition, in which he clears Blenner- 
 hassett of any designs against the peace and quiet 
 of the United States.
 
 miVERSlTY ot 
 
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 island home 
 
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