Week 8: Michael Frederick Zeh
Michael Frederick See (Zeh) Little was the son of George Ludwig Zeh and Margaret Tschudy. It is believed he was born somewhere around 1710 and died 15 Jul 1763. It is generally thought that Michael married Catherine Vanderpool in Augusta County, Virginia, but it is possible the marriage took place in Tulpehocken (Palatine) settlement in Pennsylvania. Children born to this marriage included:
About 1743 Frederick and his family migrated to the lower branch of the Potomac, not far from Moorefield in Hampshire County, Virginia. It is said soon after this territory was open for settlement Frederick, perhaps with his father, journeyed there. He is thought to have made the entire trip on foot, which is a distance of 500 miles round trip. In 1750 this family of Sees journeyed to Virginia to the Kanawha Valley when the land opened up for settlement. Listings of Greenbrier District of county settlers show Frederick See had 480 acres on 1 May 1751. His nephew Felty Yokeham also had 480 acres near him at this same time. Five months later George See (a brother of Michael's) is listed with 368 acres and another brother, John See, with 250 acres. Other See families who came settled in different counties nearby which later formed into one county.
In 1755 many settlers retreated from the Greenbrier settlement due to the English-French war going on around. It is believed Frederick See with his family remained and continued to raise their family of seven children. It is possible there were other children born to this couple, but I have been able to document seven. In 1761 those settlers who had retreated returned to find their peace shortlived. The following account of what has become known as "The Muddy Creek Massacre" has been gleaned from various accounts, primarily "A Chronicle of the See family and their Kindred", written and compiled by Irene See Brasel (1892-1963).
On Saturday, 16 Jul 1763, a party of 80 or 90 Shawnees, led by Chief Cornstalk and assisted by the great War Chief Puksinwah, having crossed over the Ohio River, swept up the Kanawha on a murderous rampage. Simultaneously they hit the Frederick See family and the Felty Yocum family (Felty was a cousin of Frederick Michael See) whose cabin was nearby. According to all accounts, the Indians approached the See home under the guise of friendship. After being kindly entertained by Frederick See, their home was attached. Frederick See, his son-in-law Greenberry Roach, and his nephew Felty Yokeham were massacred by Indians on 15 Jul 1763 in what has been called the Muddy Creek Massacre. (To learn more on the Muddy Creek Massacre, visit https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Muddy+Creek+Massacre&*).
The massacre completely destroyed one of Greenbriars' first settlements. A stone marker in a field on a hill marks the site of the massacre. Frederick See's name, spelled "Sea" is listed. The graves of the victims may still be seen in what is known as the McKee burying ground.
The women and children of these and other victims of this massacre were taken prisoners, leaving the dead where they were slain. They marched their prisoners back to their camp. Any women or children who were unable to keep up were killed. The first born child of Margaret (See) Roach, a boy, was killed in a most brutal fashion after being snatched from her breast.
- Margaret See, born about 1745
- George See, born about 1748
- Michael See, born about 1750
- Elizabeth See, twin, born 26 Feb 1754
- Catherine See, twin, born 26 Feb 1754
- Lois See, born about 1755
- John See, born 10 Oct 1757
About 1743 Frederick and his family migrated to the lower branch of the Potomac, not far from Moorefield in Hampshire County, Virginia. It is said soon after this territory was open for settlement Frederick, perhaps with his father, journeyed there. He is thought to have made the entire trip on foot, which is a distance of 500 miles round trip. In 1750 this family of Sees journeyed to Virginia to the Kanawha Valley when the land opened up for settlement. Listings of Greenbrier District of county settlers show Frederick See had 480 acres on 1 May 1751. His nephew Felty Yokeham also had 480 acres near him at this same time. Five months later George See (a brother of Michael's) is listed with 368 acres and another brother, John See, with 250 acres. Other See families who came settled in different counties nearby which later formed into one county.
In 1755 many settlers retreated from the Greenbrier settlement due to the English-French war going on around. It is believed Frederick See with his family remained and continued to raise their family of seven children. It is possible there were other children born to this couple, but I have been able to document seven. In 1761 those settlers who had retreated returned to find their peace shortlived. The following account of what has become known as "The Muddy Creek Massacre" has been gleaned from various accounts, primarily "A Chronicle of the See family and their Kindred", written and compiled by Irene See Brasel (1892-1963).
On Saturday, 16 Jul 1763, a party of 80 or 90 Shawnees, led by Chief Cornstalk and assisted by the great War Chief Puksinwah, having crossed over the Ohio River, swept up the Kanawha on a murderous rampage. Simultaneously they hit the Frederick See family and the Felty Yocum family (Felty was a cousin of Frederick Michael See) whose cabin was nearby. According to all accounts, the Indians approached the See home under the guise of friendship. After being kindly entertained by Frederick See, their home was attached. Frederick See, his son-in-law Greenberry Roach, and his nephew Felty Yokeham were massacred by Indians on 15 Jul 1763 in what has been called the Muddy Creek Massacre. (To learn more on the Muddy Creek Massacre, visit https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Muddy+Creek+Massacre&*).
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| Location where Frederick See and his brother-in-law Felty (Valentine) Yoakum were killed by Shawnee Indians in 1763 pursuant to WikiTree (https://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/See-8-1) |
The massacre completely destroyed one of Greenbriars' first settlements. A stone marker in a field on a hill marks the site of the massacre. Frederick See's name, spelled "Sea" is listed. The graves of the victims may still be seen in what is known as the McKee burying ground.
The women and children of these and other victims of this massacre were taken prisoners, leaving the dead where they were slain. They marched their prisoners back to their camp. Any women or children who were unable to keep up were killed. The first born child of Margaret (See) Roach, a boy, was killed in a most brutal fashion after being snatched from her breast.
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