History treats the feats by men as fact; whereas woman’s accomplishments are legends. Women’s actions come with an accompanying tag line ‘fact or fiction,’ or are described by highlighting the myth. More often than not, a women’s achievements are either downplayed, or left out of history entirely. There is a simple reason for this; men recorded history.
Primary male sources are sacrosanct. They became ledgers and memoirs. Whilst women’s recorded accounts are diaries, frequently cast aside and shelved as romantic genres. Men strongly faced their demons. Women were fragile and prone to hysteria, from the Latin hystericus meaning the uterus. Because of this void in reporting women’s historical accomplishments, modern writers have a choice to either dig deeper for answers, or, as in most cases, ignore the woman’s role entirely; a quick search of the web will show the later is alive and well on the internet.
That said, we come to Rachel Silverthorn and her Paul Revere-ish ride to warn frontier residents of danger – in this case “the British are coming” was replaced with something along the line “the Indians are coming.” There is one recorded fact that on August 8, 1778, at least one frontier settler, David Aspen, was warned by Rachel Silverthorn of an impending attack by Native Americans and Loyalists. Outside of that, what we know of her ride is almost non-existent, having fallen victim to the hearsay/folklore category.
The few references to her actions appeared in writing nearly a hundred years after she grabbed the horse’s reins and rode off. But true to form, they were exaggerated by eighteenth century romantic flourishes, portraying her beauty accompanied by elongated, dramatic dialogues to quicken the hearts of gentlemen and ladies alike. With no famous poet or artist to give substance to her deed, she became a faded mythos. Basically ignored by historical accounts of the events that surrounded her, she has been left to a few mentions on the internet and one mural in a post office near where she lived, depicting her courageous act.
Background Leading to the Wilderness War in 1778
Rachel Silverthorn’s ride to warn western settlers of an eminent attack by Native Americans and Loyalists occurred during the summer of 1778. By then, the American Revolution had erupted into a series of brutal attacks on pioneer homesteaders all along the western frontier. This was particularly true for western New York and north central Pennsylvania. During the winter and spring of 1777-1778, Loyalist Colonel John Butler formed a Tory band of wilderness fighters called Butler’s Rangers. Similarly, Mohawk Chief and Dartmouth educated Joseph Brant, armed and organized large bands of the Iroquois Nation (Haudenosaunee); tribes aligned with the British in the war that included the Mohawk, Seneca, Cayuga, and Ongaonga (the Oneida allied with the rebel patriots and the Tuscarora declared neutrality). By May of 1778, Native Americans and Loyalists had joined forces to begin a series of attacks, both small war parties and large-scale assaults, on settler communities who supported the rebellious cause.
These attacks resulted in settlers’ homes torched, many horrendously killed, and many others taken captive. By 1778, the new American government had their hands full as they continued to reorganize their armies to keep an eye on the British in New York and to rid the redcoats from Rhode Island and Philadelphia. General Washington had very limited resources to dispatch along the frontier. This left the settlers on their own to form local militias and construct forts and blockhouses for defense. These farmers were severely hampered in these efforts for with the outbreak of war, many of the frontier’s young males had marched off to join Washington’s armies.
In colonial times, the Susquehanna River, 444 miles long, became a main throughfare for frontier commerce and development. It runs from Lake Otsego in western New York, southwest through north and central Pennsylvania, until emptying into the Chesapeake Bay at Havre de Grace. The Wyoming Valley of northeast Pennsylvania, present day Wilkes-Barre, thrived as did its sister community, the West Branch Valley, sixty miles further west and at the limit of frontier settlements. Along this western branch of the Susquehanna, Northumberland and Lycoming Counties were settled in the early 1770’s.
In 1778, this whole area along the river was subject to the most severe wilderness violence of the war. By July and August, both communities, northern and western branches of the Susquehanna, would be basically wiped out; torched to the ground with around four hundred total killed and hundreds more taken captive.
Events that Led to Rachel Silverthorn’s Ride
The West Branch of the Susquehanna River was protected by a dozen forts, blockhouses, and fortified houses; defended by local militia units. This region began with the spacious Fort Augusta where the west and north branches of the river separate, to Fort Reed at Bald Eagle Creek, about eighty miles north then west. Along this stretch, at where the river bends west, were two important outposts that served as safe havens for settlers during an attack; fortified houses called Forts Brady and Willis’ House also called Fort Muncy, about 30 miles north of Fort Augusta.
The Wyoming Community along the North Branch of the Susquehanna River was destroyed in a massive attack on July 3, 1778. During what has been called the Wyoming Massacre, both Loyalist Butler’s Rangers under Colonel John Butler and Iroquois and Lenape Native Americans (Joseph Brant was not present) torched the entire valley with the death and scalping of just over 300 settlers and Continental troops. Many others were taken captive. A month prior to this, the West Branch Valley had suffered numerous smaller war parties attacking isolated settlements that culminated in the June 10th Plum Tree Massacre. In what was called the bloodiest day, three separate attacks left around twenty killed and missing; several among them women and children.
After numerous attacks and the huge raid on Wyoming Valley, sixty miles to the east, many of the residents in the West Valley feared they would be next and began to leave their homes. Militia leader Colonel Samuel Hunter, commander at Fort Augusta, so too believed that the settlements up river were more vulnerable than ever. He sent word to militia leader Colonel William Hepburn at Wallis’ fortified house known as Fort Muncy, to begin evacuation plans for the entire West Branch valley. Over the next few weeks, over a hundred settlers took heed and left their homes. They headed south along the river to the spacious fortification at Fort Augusta. This has been termed the “Big Runaway.”
While some ignored the order and remained at their homes, others went no further than the blockhouses, fortified houses, and small forts. With their families housed in these strongholds, the men returned to their farms each day to save their much-needed harvest and look after the livestock. Often they had militiamen accompany them for protection. This still left these farmers and militiamen, spread out throughout the valley, open for further attacks by roving bands of war parties.
Story of Rachel’s Ride
The account of Rachel Silverthorn’s ride to warn settlers of an impending large-scale attack by Native Americans and Loyalists occurred on August 8th. It was the same day as a violent attack on a half dozen settlers reaping oats. The attack by a war party scattered the party and left one gravely injured, James Brady, son of Captain John Brady who commanded the fortified house Fort Brady. Accordingly, those who escaped arrived at Fort Brady at around 5 PM. They told Captain Brady of his son and that they believed the attack was part of a larger one. While Captain Brady sent a party to see to his son, he called his small garrison together. Brady was concerned for those who had left to work their farms. He asked for volunteers to ride out and warn them of the possible threat and that they were to return immediately.
The 1873 Atlas of Lycoming County gave a romantically exaggerated account of what happened next:
“Who will volunteer to carry the news of danger to our friends?” Captain Brady asked. The garrison remained quiet. Brady continued, “This very night, the willey foe, serpent-like, will creep to their very doors, and tomorrow morning, when the first gleam of light rises over the Muncy Hills, the torch will be applied to their huts, the knife will gleam in the air, and scalps will be torn from defenseless heads…Who! Who!” he thundered to the garrison. No man stepped forward and then, “I captain. I will apprise them all of their danger,” said a gentle voice on his right. “I know the trails full well I can make the circuit…” And before the soldiers had time to recover from their astonishment and chagrin, she was mounted [on Capt. Brady’s white steed] and flying with the speed of the wind to the nearest cabin on the creek. “The timely warning given by the brave and beautiful Rachel Silverthorn no doubt saved some of her friends from the cruel tomahawk and scalping knife…”
Though the above is heavily lanced with 19th century drama, the fact Rachel Silverthorn either was the only volunteer to ride out to warn the farmers and their escorts, or one of many, has its foundation in fact. John F. Meginness’ 1876 History of Lycoming County, with an 1892 reprint, mentions Rachel’s ride, but in referencing another settler who later was killed by Native Americans. He wrote, “As far as is known David Aspen was the first settler within the limits of Wolf [Wolf township]. The exact time is not known, but it must have been as early as 1777, as on the 8th of August, 1778, Rachel Silverthorn was dispatched to warn him of the approach of the Indians. His cabin stood on or near the southern boundary line of the borough of Hughesville. Aspen took refuge at Fort Muncy, where he remained a few days, and then return to look after his effects. Not returning a searching party started out to look for him. Near his cabin his dead body was found.”
Most accounts relate that Rachel headed up Muncy Creek to the Wyalusing Path; an ancient much traveled route by Native Americans that connected the West Branch Valley to Tioga, a major Seneca Village 80 miles northeast on the northern Susquehanna River. However, Rachel’s home was on Lycoming Creek, twenty miles further west of Fort Brady, and it was from Lycoming Creek, not Muncy Creek, that the Wyalusing Path originated. If Rachel traveled up creeks to where the Wyalusing Path began, her circuit that evening, which in midsummer remained light until after 9 PM, would have encompassed about a fifty-mile ride. Quite a feat when the threat of attack by roving bands of hostile forces remained real and constant throughout her journey.
Accounts state that Rachel returned to the fort under the cover of darkness late that same night. That through her efforts all those who had gone to their farms that day had returned safely. Also, that at first light the next day, smoke and fire could be seen from the fort; the entire valley was in flames.
Afterward
The West Branch Valley, by mid-August 1778, saw an extensive destruction at the hands of Iroquois and Loyalist raiding parties. It was estimated that during the Big Runaway, four-fifths of the population of the West Branch Valley had deserted their homes.
Rachel’s family was among the earlier residents of the Valley. Their home was one of those torched during the summer of 1778. They would return the following year, as many of the West Branch’s residents did, to rebuild their homes on the burnt-out ruins.
In 1779, with the war heading south, Washington was able to turn his attention to the raids on western settlements. He organized a major raid of the Iroquois Nation’s villages led by New Hampshire lawyer turned warrior, Major General John Sullivan. The Sullivan Expedition destroyed over 40 Native American villages and amounted to genocide as much of the Iroquois Nation were driven west at the beginning of one of the coldest winters on record, leading to hundreds perishing of exposure and starvation. This did little to stem the tide of raiding parties as the next year would see some of the worst atrocities committed on the frontier. Another evacuation of the West Branch, called the Little Runaway, occurred in 1780 leading to the destruction of many structures that had been rebuilt after the 1778 raids.
Of James Brady, son of Captain John Brady, he was found still alive, though having been shot, speared, and scalped. He was taken down river by canoe to Fort Augusta where his mother remained for safety. He died five days later. Captain John Brady would be attacked a year later just outside his fortified home. He was killed instantly and buried not far from where he fell.
Rachel’s ride to warn local homesteaders happened a month after The Big Runaway began, which was shortly after the Wyoming Valley Massacre on July 3rd. After the attack on the Wyoming Settlement, as discussed, Colonel Samuel Hunter issued his order for settlers to abandon the West Branch Valley and head downriver to the safety of Fort Augusta. Hundreds of settlers did so. But how these settlers received word of the order to abandon their homes has led to some confusion over the years.
Some accounts mistakenly combine Rachel’s ride with that of a similar ride by Robert Covenhoven. The two events took place around three weeks apart. After Colonel Hunter issued his order for the Valley to evacuate, Colonel William Hepburn, militia commander at Willis’ Fortified Home, also called Fort Muncy, requested Robert Covenhoven in early July to carry the word to settlements further west along the river. Covenhoven was a wilderness guide and former Continental soldier. He and a young miller, whose name has escaped history, traveled to the furthest western settlements, past Fort Reed and onto Bald Eagle Creek, about forty miles from Fort Muncy, to warn settlements of Colonel Hunter’s order. Shortly after that, settlers began to evacuate the valley in mass leading to the Big Runaway.
Nothing more is mentioned of Rachel Silverthorn beyond her eventful ride and that her family returned to the valley to rebuild their home. We know nothing of her age at the time or later life, outside references of her ride a hundred years later. Here, her ride to warn the settlers, like other women’s deeds during the time, was left to word of mouth and local ‘folk lore’ in its telling.
In 1938, a public works painting by John W. Beauchamp, (1906 – 1957) titled “The Ride of Rachel Silverthorn,” was hung in the Muncy Post Office, Muncy, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. It remains to this day. Part of the Depression Era Public Work Program, Mr. Beauchamp’s murals were commissioned at other post offices throughout the country, one of his more famous being the “Life on the Plains” at the Beaver Post Office in Utah.
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RESOURCE
Benner, Katherine W. “Rachel Silverthorn from Stories of West Branch Valley.” Journal of the Lycoming County Historical Society Vol. VII (Winter-Spring 1970-1971) No. 1. Lycoming County Historical Society.
“The Legend of the Daring Ride of Rachel Silverthorn, 1778” Lykens Valley History and Genealogy: A Project of PA Historian.
Meginness, John F. History of Lycoming County. 1876: Press of J. D. Lippincott & Company and D. J. Stewart Publisher, Philadelphia, PA.
Nichols, Beach. Atlas of Lycoming County Pennsylvania. 1873: A. Pomeroy & Co., Philadelphia, PA.
Painter, Frank H. A Picture of Lycoming County. 1939: The Commissioners of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
“Rachel Silverthorn, Heroine of Fort Muncy.” History of American Women.
Smith, Don Everett. “I know the trails’: Woman’s 1778 Ride to Save Muncy Settlers.” Nov. 17, 2022. On the Pulse, Northcentral PA.
Yohn, Chris. “The Big Runaway: Turning Point of the Susquehanna West Branch Settlers.” Feb. 23, 2023. All Things Liberty.