Hugh Gibson (American pioneer) facts for kids

Hugh Gibson (1741 - 30 July 1826) was an early American pioneer. He lived in Pennsylvania. In 1756, when he was 14, Native Americans from the Lenape tribe captured him. He lived with the Lenape for three years. A Lenape chief named Pisquetomen adopted him as a brother. In 1759, Hugh escaped with three other captives.

Hugh Gibson later shared his amazing story. He first told a short version in 1811. When he was 85, he told a longer story. This longer story was published after he passed away. These stories are called "captivity narratives."

Hugh Gibson's Early Life

Hugh Gibson was born in 1741. This was in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. His father, David Gibson, came from Ireland. His mother was Mary McClelland. Hugh's father died when Hugh was a baby.

His mother then moved with Hugh and his siblings. They went to live with her brother. This was near Robinson's Fort. Today, that area is called Shermans Dale, Pennsylvania.

Hugh Gibson's Capture

Hugh Gibson was captured in July 1756. This happened when he was 14 years old. Lenape (also known as Delaware Indians) captured him. He was living near Robinson's Fort. Many people had gone inside the fort for safety.

Hugh, his mother, and a neighbor were outside. They were looking for lost cattle. The Lenape attacked them. Hugh's mother was killed. Hugh was taken captive by a son of Chief King Beaver. The neighbor, Elizabeth Henry, was also captured. Hugh never saw her again.

Adoption by Pisquetomen

Hugh was taken to a village called Kittanning. There, Chief Pisquetomen adopted him. Pisquetomen became like a brother to Hugh. Hugh was given a new Lenape name. It meant "Big-rope-gut-hominy."

He was taken to the river. This was to "wash away all his White blood." It was a ceremony to make him an Indian. Then, he was painted and given Lenape clothes. Pisquetomen spoke English well.

Kittanning Village Attack

Hugh and Pisquetomen were in Kittanning on September 8, 1756. Colonel John Armstrong's forces attacked the village. Hugh asked Pisquetomen what he should do. Pisquetomen told him to stay with the women.

Hugh was guarded with other white captives. These included Simon Girty, Marie Le Roy, and Barbara Leininger. After the attack, Hugh learned his mother had been killed.

Life in Lenape Villages

After the attack, Hugh was taken to Fort Duquesne. Later, he moved to "Kuskuskin" (Hog-Town). This village was on the Mahoning. One day, Hugh said he heard white people were coming. Pisquetomen's brother heard this. He wanted Hugh to be burned alive.

Instead, Pisquetomen took Hugh to live in a tent. This was outside Kuskusky. Hugh became good at hunting. He learned the Lenape language. He also took part in their dances and ceremonies.

In 1757, Hugh and Pisquetomen moved to Saucunk. They lived there for a year. Pisquetomen adopted a Dutch captive as his wife. Hugh was Pisquetomen's adoptive brother. But he was often treated like a servant.

Hugh refused to marry a Lenape woman. Pisquetomen beat him for this. Another time, Pisquetomen accused Hugh of being lazy. He knocked Hugh down and stepped on him. Hugh called him "brother" and accepted the beating. Pisquetomen felt bad and treated Hugh kindly after that.

Hugh became friends with another captive, Hezekiah Wright. Wright wanted to escape with Hugh. In 1757, they tried to steal a horse. They planned to cross the Ohio River. But Wright got scared. They returned to the village before anyone knew.

Pisquetomen suspected Hugh was planning to escape. He ordered Hugh to be burned alive. Men gathered wood for a fire. Hugh apologized. He said they were planning to build a plow. This would help grow corn. Pisquetomen believed him and let him go.

In late 1758, Hugh and Pisquetomen returned to Kuskusky. The Lenape were getting ready for war. Hugh wanted to join them. He thought it would be a chance to escape. But Pisquetomen would not let him go.

Hugh was sent to Fort McIntosh. He went with a Black slave. Even though people feared he would escape, he was sent alone. He walked 36 miles to deliver a message. This message was from Chief Shingas to Kuskusky.

Hugh later went with warriors to Fort McIntosh. But they watched him closely. He could not escape. Pisquetomen had warned them. If Hugh escaped, they would have to pay him. They would owe him "a thousand bucks" or another prisoner.

Hugh once went hunting with Shingas. Hugh killed a bear, but Shingas did not. Shingas still treated Hugh with respect. Hugh predicted a peace treaty. He said he dreamed about it. A few days later, Christian Frederick Post arrived. He came to discuss a treaty. Shingas saw Hugh as a prophet.

Hugh Gibson's Escape

In October 1758, Hugh and Pisquetomen moved to Muskingum. There, Hugh met Marie Le Roy and Barbara Leininger. They were two girls, about 15 years old. They had been captured in 1755. Hugh knew them from other villages. He also met David Brackenridge. David was 21 and had been captured in 1758.

In March 1759, Barbara Leininger was told she would marry a Lenape warrior. She told Hugh she would rather be shot. She and Marie Le Roy begged Hugh and David to escape with them. Barbara pretended to be sick. Marie volunteered to stay with her. They stayed in a small camp. This camp was about seven miles from the village.

Hugh asked Pisquetomen if he could look for his lost horse. Pisquetomen agreed. Hugh also asked to do some hunting. Pisquetomen gave him a rifle, powder, and blankets. He also gave him deerskin for moccasins. Pisquetomen mentioned he would be digging for peanuts near the girls' camp.

The next day, March 16, 1759, Hugh went to the girls' camp. David Brackenridge was also there. At sunset, the four of them set out. They passed close to where Pisquetomen was digging. They saw other Lenape but were not seen. They crossed the Muskingum River.

They headed south first to confuse anyone following. Then they turned east. They traveled over a hundred miles in four days. They reached the Ohio River. The journey to Fort Pitt was 250 miles. Leininger almost drowned crossing a creek. Hugh was wounded by a bear he shot. They ran out of food. Le Roy almost drowned in the Ohio River.

They built a raft to cross a river. Hugh lost his rifle and his flint and steel. This meant they had no fire. They spent the last four nights sleeping in the snow.

After fifteen days, all four made it to Fort Pitt. This was on March 31. The soldiers were suspicious. The four were dressed in Lenape clothing. They asked for proof they were captives. Hugh mentioned his brother Israel. Some soldiers knew Israel. So, they were allowed into the fort.

After the Escape

In May, Marie Le Roy and Barbara Leininger went to Philadelphia. David Brackenridge returned home. His family thought he was dead. All his belongings had been sold. But the buyers gladly returned them when they learned he was alive.

Hugh Gibson went to live with his uncle. His sister Mary was also there. This was in Tyrone Township, Perry County, Pennsylvania. On June 14, 1762, Hugh married Mary White. He returned to his mother's farm. This was near where he had been captured.

In 1763, he moved to Lancaster County. He heard the Lenape planned to capture him again. In 1794, he moved to Plum Creek. This is near Verona, Pennsylvania. In 1797, he moved to Wayne Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. He died there on July 30, 1826.

See also

• Pisquetomen
• Kittanning (village)
• Kuskusky
• Muskingum (village)
• Saucunk
• Penn's Creek massacre
• Captivity narrative