The Corbly family lived one mile north of Garards Fort, in southwest Pennsylvania at the John Corbley Farm. The massacre occurred on Sunday morning, May 10, 1782, as the Corbly family traveled on foot to their place of worship. The Corbly family had left their home and were on their way to worship at a place where Reverend John Corbly was to preach. When Corbly discovered that the Bible, which he thought was in Mrs. Corbly’s care, had been left at home, he returned to get it and then followed his family, meditating upon the sermon he was to preach.
A party of Indians were on Indian Point, an elevation of land from which they could see John Corbly’s cabin. The Indians descended the hill, crossed Whitely creek and filed up a ravine to the place, about forty-nine rods north of the present John Corbly Memorial Baptist Church, where the helpless family was massacred. Two of Corbly’s daughters, Delilah and Elizabeth, lived after brutal scalpings. Mrs. Corbly and the three remaining children were killed.
Because of the rise of ground the fort was out of view of the massacre, but was within hearing distance. The screams of the Corbly family were heard there and in a few minutes men on horseback rushed from the fort to give help.
The John Corbly Memorial Baptist Church was built in 1862. A plaque erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in 1923 and set in a boulder reads: “Fort Garard built about 1774”. The Corbly massacre took place about 279 yards north on May 10, 1782. A family reunion of John Corbly descendants takes place every year on the last Sunday in June, at the John Corbly Memorial Baptist Church in Garards Fort, PA. A historic review follows the 9:30 AM church service at 11:00 AM with a potluck dinner afterwards.
Delilah lived to age 65 and reared ten children with Levi Martin. Elizabeth died at age 21, a few days before she was to marry Isaiah Morris of Garards Fort. Only John Jr escaped unharmed.
On wikipedia, I found a transcript of a manuscript which was a handwritten account of the Hanna and Corbly families, with the following passage [misspellings are as they were written]:
My History on My Mothers’ Side – She was a grand daughter of the Rev John Corbly.
A copy of a letter from Mr John Corbly a Baptist Minister to his friend in Philadelphia – dated Muddy Creek Sep 1 1792 (Whitley was called Muddy Creek at the time).
“The following are the particulars of the destruction of my unfortunate family by the savages on the 10th day of May last 1791. Being my appointment to preach at one of the meeting-houses about a mile from my dwelling house, I set out with my loving wife and five children for public worship, not suspecting any danger. I walked behind a few rods with my bible in my hand meditating. As I was thus employed on a sudden I was greatly alarmed by the frightful shriks of my dear family before me. I immediately ran to their relief with all possible speed vainly hunting a club as I ran. When within a few yards of them my poor wife observing me cried out to me to make my escape. At this instant an Indian ran up to shoot me. I had to strip and by so doing out ran him. My wife had an infant in her arms which the Indians killed and scalped after which they struck my wife several times but not bringing her to the ground. The Indians who attempted to shoot me approached her and shot her through the body after which they scalped her. My little son about six years old they dispatched by sinking there hatchet into his brain. My little daughter four years old they in like manner tomahawked and scalped. My elder daughter attempted an escape by concealing her self in a hollow tree about six rods from the fatal scene of action. Observing the Indians retiring, as she supposed, she deliberately crept out from the place of her concealment when one of the Indians who yet remained on the ground espying her ran up to her and with his tomahawk knocked her down and scalped her. But blessed be God she yet survives as dose here little sister whom the savages in like manner tomahawked and scalped. They are mangled to a shocking degree but the doctors think there are some hope of their recovery. When I supposed the Indians gone I returned to see what had become of my unfortunate family whom also I found in the situation above described. No one my dear friend can form a true conception of my feelings at this moment. A view of a crime so shocking to humanity quite over come me. I fainted and was unconsciously boarn off by a friend who at that moment arrived to my relief. Thus my dear Sir I have given you a faithful though short narrative of the fatal castraphe amidst which my life is spared but for what purpose The Great Jehovah best knows. Oh may I spend it to the praise and glory of his grace who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. The government of the world and its church are in his hands. I conclude with wishing you every blessing and subscribe myself your affectionate though afflicted friend and unworthy brother in the gospel ministry. John Corbly. “
I found part one of Lindsey Corbly’s obituary. I still find it really interesting that they not only list his parents and their information but also his grandfather and some of his history. The article is over two pages and includes information about his grandfather’s children that were massacred by the indians. I think the long obit was because he was a well known pillar of the community. He was one of the first settlers of this area in Illinois and outlived two wives. (Married three times) Lindsey Corbly’s grandfather Rev. John Corbly was a settler before 1776 and was one of the first members of the state congress. A museum is dedicated to his history near his family farm “Slave Gallant”.
John Corbley Farm, also known as Slave Gallant, is a historic home located at Greene Township in Greene County, Pennsylvania. The house was built about 1796, as a two-story,five four bay, brick dwelling on a stone foundation. It has a gable roof. It’s builder, Rev. John Corbly (1733-1803), was a founder of the local Baptist church and rebel associated with the Whiskey Rebellion. In 1782, his family was massacred in the Corbly Family Massacre.[2] The farm name of ‘Slave Gallant’ derived from Slieve Gallion in Ireland, which was nearby where John Corbley was born and raised before emigrating to Pennsylvania.[3]
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
Additionally Rev. John Corbly’s family with his second wife was massacred by he indians near Fort Garrard. A monument still stands in remembrance of the event. I am descended from his third wife.
Lindsey Corbly passed Away this Morning
Lindsey Corbly, pioneer citizen of this community, passed away Friday morning at 12:15 at his home on W. State Street after an illness of but ten weeks. Had he lived until Nov 15 of this year, he would have been ninety-one years of age, Mr. Corbly’s death was due to the infirmities of old age and his final illness was without suffering. During this time the members of his family have been constantly at his bedside.
To the relatives who are left to mourn his sad loss the Record and friends extend the hand of sympathy.
Lindsey Corbly, an early settler of the territory now comprised in Ford County, is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born in Green County, that state on the 15th of November, 1831, and was the son of William and Rebecca (Stevens) Corbly, both of whom were natives of Greene county. His father was a son of the Rev. John Corbly, a minister of the Baptist church and a native of England, who emigrated to America some time prior to the war of the Revolution and settled in Greene county, Pa., which was then a wilderness.
He has three children massacred by the Indians, and his history has been commemorated by several centennial sketches of historic interest pertaining to the early settlement of that part of the Keystone State. He was an active and influential minister, and was the founder of several churches. Great energy and decision were his prominent traits of character. His death occurred in 1803.
William Corbly, the father of our subject, was born, reared and married in Greene county, and the same was true of his wife. They had a family of eight children, of whom Lindsey was the fourth. In 1837 the family emigrated to AThens county, O., now Vinton, and settled in McArthur, where the subject attended the public schools until sixteen years of age, at which time he left home and entered the service of …. The Sevens, who was iness in Fairfield county, Ohio, and with whom he made several trips across the mountains with stock to Philadelphia and New York. In 1853 he came to Illinois and first settled in Champaign county.
On the 24th of February, 1856 in Vermilion County, this state, Mr. Corbly was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Wood, a daughter of Henry Wood. This union was graced with three children: Henry L who married Julia B. Webber, is a farmer of Harwood Township, Champaign county; William Sherman who wedded Mary Youle, and who was for many years an agricultuist of Button township Ford and James …..
Newspaper articles are full of interesting information. These clippings are from my Aunt Margaret (Dad’s Sister)’s photo album.
The top left clipping shows my cousin Jo Ellyn coming in second in a contest for Tomorrow’s Children, Tomorrow’s Leaders.
There is an article about Lindsey Corbly – son of William Corbly – son of Rev. John Corbly. It’s interesting to me that the article seems to concentrate more on the family history than on Lindsey himself.
The article mentions that Rev. Corbly emigrated to the US before the revolutionary war, founded several Baptist churches, and had several children masacred by the Indians. Rev. Corbly is actually well known in history so all of this can be verified in several other places. It goes on to tell the history of the family and how they worked their way to Vermilion County. Lindsey was one of 8 children.
An article on the death of my great grandmother is very interesting as it lists one of Julia’s kids as Mrs. Lester Richter. My Grandmother was actually Mrs. Wesley Richter. My grandfather Wesley was a twin with Lesley and I suspect the author got them confused. I also noticed that she passed away the year before my father was born.
The final clipping is one of the most interesting. Apparently the newspapers considered it big news when family visited. You just have to read it to see what I mean. What I find interesting is this particular issue included my family in about half of the articles. I really love the line that Mrs. Eldridge was shopping in Danville on Tuesday. (and Frank Illk went to Fithian on Business Friday?) There are also lines that include information about family members visiting, so this can also be a great place to find information about family members…..
