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”Here is a transcript
of the Collier Letter
(number 5) of which I
(Brenda Schwall) spoke.
I have tried to leave the
spelling and punctuation
as it was in the
transcription we read.
Since I retyped it, I
hope I haven't made any
mistakes of my own.
The words in
parentheses are
explanations, hopefully."
"To Mr. James Collier:
Paxton, Lancaster Co.,
Pennsylvania
Favored by Benjamin Heans
(sent by Benjamin Means?)
Randolph Co.,
N.C. Apl, 7 1782
Loving Father (James) and
Brother (Capt. James) and
Sister:
Having the
opportunity of the
Bearer, I thought it my
duty to let yo know that
I and my family are well
at present: blessed by
God for his mercies to
us! I received yours
which gave an account of
Mother's Death. It was
the will of god: and we
ought not to fret or
repine at the hand of
Providence. "The Lord
giveth and taketh away:
blessed be the name of
the Lord"! We had a son
born the 17th day of Feb
(1782). He lived about
48 hours. It was God's
will to call him out of
this troublous world,
which would be a happy
exchange for every person
prepared for the world of
spirits. As the affairs
of the state of N.C. I am
not able to give you a
true account of the
melancholy condition as
it now exists. I will
give a short narrative of
my own situation. The
Tories embodied, the 9th
and 10th of March last
about thirty in number:
marched forty or fifty
miles through our
country: came to my house
about dark. I had
sentries posted about
forty yards from my
house. The sentry hailed
them. They answered-,
"Friends to the United
States of America" and
fired on the sentry: and
the sentry fired on
them. I immediately
found by the Tories's
fire that we were too
weak to stand our
ground. We made our
escape to the woods and
with great difficulty, I
saved myslef from their
merciless hands. They
kept constant firing on
my house for two or three
minutes, filling my doors
with bullet holes. My
wife (Margaret) called
out to cease their firing
and she would open the
door and let them in, for
there was no person there
but women and childdren.
They rushed into the
house, Set fire to it,
and burned it to ashes
with article that was in
it but some few articles
that my oldest daughter
(Martha) threw out at the
door. This was the
fourth time that the
Tories had robbed and
plundered me and my small
family: but we have great
reason to be thankful and
bless God that our lives
are preserved from a
cruel and most merciless
enemy. They left my
house and killed one of
my captains (John Bryan)
one mile from my house,
they went to Aunt Mary
Doughan's: burned the
house and barn. They
killed the Lieut. Col.
(Andrew Balfour) of our
county the same day they
burned my house, But I am
not able to tell. Every
day they are murdering,
burning and plundering
the good citizens of the
state. I believe that
nine-tenths of our county
are enemies to the United
States of America. We
are daily in pursuit of
them but the situation of
the country and the many
harbors, makes it
difficult to come up with
them. If they would have
got me they would not
have burned my house, but
they would have instantly
put me to death for this
reason: that I have put
several of their leaders
to death for this year
past. My situation this
year is very
disagreeable. I have not
slept in my house this
five months without a
guard. I have my family
in a little guard-house
that I build last year.
I am afraid that I will
be under the disagreeable
necessity to move from
this part of N.C. with my
family to some place
where there are no
Tories, for sure I am-,
that I and they cannot
live together, for I am
in danger of my life
every moment, without I
be in public serv ice. I
have been in the army for
the most part, ever since
Gate's defeat (Aug 13,
1780) I am getting old
(49), and the features of
the Army in our state are
most disagreeable,
especially after the
Tories (...(illegible)...
for our country, and will
do my utmost endeavor to
have a bill enacted to
drive them, man woman and
child, within the British
lines and find out some
ways and means to have
our country settled with
people of some
principle: for these
people are no more than a
nuisance to civil
society. Were such a law
to be enacted we would
have an outlet for five
or six hundred families
within 30 or 40 miles of
my home: and it would
enable our settlement to
live in peace and plenty,
with God's bleessing's to
crown our endeavors. I
refer you to the bearer
for particulars.
Remember me to the Rev.
John Elder and family and
take my excuse and I had
to send and borrow this
sheet to write these few
imperfect lines on.
Remember me to all
inquiring friends without
exception, which is all
from your loving son and
daughter:
John and
Margaret Collier.
Bro' James: You would
oblige me much to send,
the first opportunity, a
good hat: as I am in
necessity for one."
"Note: In the
History of Randolph
County are excerpts from
Col. David Fanning's own
narrative. Page 36 of
this volume describes his
treatment of Col.
Collier, Captain John
Bryan and Major Dugin's
house.
Major Thomas Dougan was
first cousin to Col. John
Collier since the mother
of Col. John was Susannah
Dougan, sister to Thomas
Dougan Sr. (wife Mary
Kerr). The Dougans came
to this area in 1763 and
were followed by Col.
John Collier in 1772.
Col. Collier stuck it out
until 1792 when he
"removed to Greene
County, TN, in December
with two wagons. It only
took him 2 weeks to
travel from Randolph
County.
The Colliers were members
of the Paxton
Presbyterian Church in
present day Harrisburg,
PA. The parents, James
and Susannah Dougan
Collier are buried in the
adjoining cemetery. The
sanctuary used today was
built in 1740. The
pastor at the time was
the Rev. John Elder, the
fighting parson who was
the leader of the Paxtang
Boys."
Please note:
Brenda Schwall, the
contributor of this
letter, is a descendant
of Colonel John Collier.
Caruthers reference Fanning reference
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