January 2, 1753 The Pennsylvania Gazette
We have an Account from the North Branch of Rariton, in New Jersey, of a barbarous and cruel Murder committed there on Wednesday the 13th Instant, on the Body of Mr. Jacob Vaneste, by his own Negroe, in Conjunction with another of his Neighbours: It seems all the Provocation was Mr. Vaneste's taking a little of the Fellow's Tobacco; and that Evening having been on a Visit to Dr. Van Wagemen's, his Neighbour, the two Negroes Way laid him, and knock'd him off his Horse; they then with an Ax split his Skull, and dragg'd him a little out of the Road: The Horse coming home soon after without his Master, gave some Alarm, and the next Day proper Search being made, he was found. His Negroe was thereupon taken up, and brought before the Coroner's Inquest; and being made to touch his Master's Body, the Blood suddenly gushed out of the dead Man's Nose and Ears, as it likewise did from the Negroe's, who thereupon, being stung with Guilt, confessed the Crime, and was, together with his Accomplice, directly sent to Jail, in order to receive their just Demerits.
February 5, 1756 The Pennsylvania Gazette
By Captain Kennedy, from Norfolk, in Virginia, we have Advice, that the Captain of a Glasgow Vessel arrived there, spoke with the Master of a Ship from London, off of the Capes of Virginia, about a Fortnight ago, who had been then out seven Weeks, and informed him, that War was not declared when he left England, nor no particular News, only that the French Man of War (lately mentioned in this Paper to be taken by the Orford) was brought in.
Extract of a Letter from Easton, January 30.
"Last Friday a Party of Capt. John Van Etten's Men fell in with a Party of Indians in Upper Smithfield, and killed and scalped two of them, and have good Reason to believe they wounded four or five more mortally. They got a Booty of two Guns, one of which a Rifle, the other a smooth bored French Gun; a fine Pipe Hatchet, and three Match coats. One of the slain Indians is thought to be the famous Captain Jacobs. None of our People received any Hurt."
His Honour our Governor is expected in Town this Day. The following being a more particular Account of Mr. Thomas Cresap's Engagement with the Indians near Fort Cumberland, than they inserted in Number 1429 of this Paper, and taken from some of the Persons that belonged to his Party, it is thought proper to publish it.
Old Town, at Colonel Cresap's Fort, May 7, 1756.
"On the 23d of last Month Thomas Cresap, junior, marched out of Fort Cumberland with about Forty Voluntiers, all dressed in Indian Apparel, and red Caps; intending to go towards Ford DuQuesne, and having advanced about ten Miles, they discovered fresh Tracks of Indians, who appeared to have gone along about an Hour before; upon which it was agreed by the whole Party to pursue them with all Speed, and accordingly they pushed on, and having got as far as Savage River, about 15 Miles from Fort Cumberland, they heard the Death Hollow at a small Distance behind them, and in a short Time after saw a Party of Indians advancing boldly up towards them, when our People disappeared by the Bent of the Road, and put themselves in a Posture to attack them, with Orders not to fire, until they came to a certain Place in the Road, where they might have a fair Prospect of them, as the Trees and Bushes, which stood very thick, would have obstructed their Firing. When the Indians came within about a Rod of the Place appointed to fire at, one of the Party discharged his Piece, and missed them; and immediately after several others fired, and wounded one of the Indians, who was seen to fall and recover three times, but made his Escape in a thick Lawrel Swamp, which was within two Rods of the Road. The said Indian had a Looking glass on his Back, which was shot all to Pieces. They then saw another Party coming up on Horseback, whom they got ready to attack; but a Dog, which our Men had with them, ran off to meet the Indians, which made them stop, and get off their Horses, before they were near enough to be fired at by those of the Party appointed to fire. Upon this one of the Advance Parties, who were posted a Look outs, fired, which caused the Enemy immediately to break off and run. Out People pursued them directly different Ways; and Mr. Cresap, who was at a considerable Distance when the Indians went off, ran to the Place where the Firing was, and being informed of the Course they had taken, followed them. Our Men kept hollowing the Indian Hollow incessantly as they ran along; and Cresap, after running above a Mile, came in Sight of some of his Party, who were pursuing one of the Indians, and coming up gave his Pistol to one of them, and passed on till he saw the Indian, and getting with 20 Yards of him, the Indian got behind a Tree, and fired at him; Cresap also stopped and fired, but had not Time to take to a Tree. They fired at one another so close together, that it seem'd like one Gun. The Indian, with a fine French Gun, mortally wounded Cresap with a Bullet and seven Swan shot in the Breast. Cresap, with a Rifle, mortally wounded the Indian through the Right breast, being the only Part to be seen of him. The Indian had gone but a few Steps further, when tow of Cresap's Men came up to him, knocked him on the Head with one of their Guns, and scalped him. Cresap had not fallen when the two Men passed him, but told them he was a dead Man, and desired them to pursue, which were his last Words. They returned to him in about four Minutes after, found him dead, and buried him. On their Return to their Baggage they discovered a great Number of Indian Tracks, who had gone off the Road, and passed by between them and the Road; they also saw an Indian running after the Party that had passed. It appears, by all Circumstances, the Enemy took our Men to be Catawba's; and it is thought they killed two or three more of the Indians, but that they got into the Swamp, which was just by, where they could not be seen. One they shot in the Belly, as appeared by his matchcoat taking Fire, and his clapping his Hand to it; but he likewise got into the Swamp. Our Party got all their Baggage, with six Horses, and a white Man's Scalp. It was the Party that attacked Captain Mercer, and killed him the Sunday before. It appears by their Tracks, and by the Account of those that saw them, that there could not be less than 100 of them. Captain Ashby, on Patterson's Creek, says, that when they demanded a Surrender of his Fort, he thought there were as many, if not more, than ever he saw at a General Muster in Virginia; and the Indian Embassador told him, he had 400 Men with him, paraded on a Hill just by, three Men deep."
The Person that sent the above account says, that Mr. Cresap's Party behaved with the greatest Courage and Resolution: That his Death was reckoned a very great Loss, being a most active Man, an extraordinary Woodsman, able to undergo great Hardship, as good a Marksman as was in the Country, and beloved by all that knew him; and that is he had lived, he would have had a fine Company of Rangers as was to me met with any where.