Yahoo Falls Massacre

Several months ago we started a serious search of government archives, various state archives, and two private collections that deal with Native Indian affairs circa 1790 to 1840 - we were trying to prove documentation existed, or at least a second person accounting of the Yahoo Falls Massacre.  To date, we have found nothing that even suggests a massacre of that magnitude ever took place.  We then began trying to learn whenever Kentucky and Tennessee authorities become involved ... as of yet, we have found nothing of significance to indicate anyone was even aware of the Massacre until mid 1995. We do not seriously believe an event of such magnitude could occur without evidence of it becoming available to the public ... for even in 1810 there were many people of all ethnic groups actively trying to help Indians through a terrible nightmare, often suffering horrible living conditions, and lifestyles.

It appears from what we have learned the first step taken was a move by a group of select people to have Yahoo Falls declared a Native American Sacred Place, which to our knowledge has not took place.  The area is supposedly on the National Register of Historic Sites ... but, for some reason Yahoo Falls is not listed among the many historic treasures sponsored by governments across this nation.  We started with several hours of detailed search on the National Register of Historic Places - and found nothing.  Finally in McCreary Kentucky we managed to locate two places.... 

Follows is what we learned from the National Register of Historic Sites

Barren Fork Coal Camp and Mine Archeological District ** (added 1997 - District - #97001125)
Also known as 15MC808;15MC809
Address Restricted, Whitley City
Historic Significance: Information Potential
Area of Significance: Black, Agriculture, Historic - Aboriginal, European, Commerce
Cultural Affiliation: African-American, Euro-American
Period of Significance: 1875-1899, 1900-1924, 1925-1949
Owner: Federal
Historic Function: Industry/Processing/Extraction
Historic Sub-function: Processing Site
Current Function: Landscape
Current Sub-function: Forest

 

Stearns Administrative and Commercial District (added 1988 - District - #88002528)
Old US 27, Stearns
Historic Significance: Event
Area of Significance: Community Planning And Development, Commerce
Period of Significance: 1900-1924, 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture, Social
Current Function: Commerce/Trade

We too as many others have been were awe stricken when reading about the Yahoo Falls Massacre 1810 ... 110 Cherokee women raped and mutilated, and children butchered as if they were animals.  After researching the event, we believe the information so widely available on the Internet has far too many of what we perceive to be ... exacting descriptions of the defenders actions.  The narrative is so exacting, it is most difficult to believe oral tradition could in any way account for the descriptive words used.  Moreover, there seems to be only one source concerning the Yahoo Falls Massacre, a descendent of Jake Troxell, the husband of Cornblossom - the supposed sister of Chief Doublehead; however, the question remains unanswered, did George Jacob Troxell marry a woman named Cornblossom?    Chief Doublehead was 1/2 Cherokee, 15/32 Shawnee, and 1/32 White Metis.  If Big Jake had married Doublehead's sister as was presented in the Yahoo Falls narrative, she would have the same lineage as her brother.  Few people actually know anything about Big Jake Troxell so here we reveal the information that we have on the family.

George Jacob Troxell was the son of David Troxell Sr. & Anna Elizabeth Saeger, he was most assuredly not a half-breed Indian.  Several charts we have seen make Big Jake out to be the son of immigrant Peter Troxell married to Juliana Trauthager.  Peter and his wife Juliana, along with their two sons, Peter age 9, and Daniel age 7 immigrated to America on the sailing ship Samuel of London under the command of Hugh Persy, Master from Rotterdam, late of Deal.  Upon landing at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 17, 1733, Peter and his family proceeded to Egypt in then Bucks County Pennsylvania, which would become Whitehall Township, Northampton County Pennsylvania in 1752, and Lehigh County in 1812.  Little is known of Peter and his family during their stay in that location. The Egypt Reformed Church, founded in 1734, carried records referring to Peter as a Censor in 1736 and as a Deacon in 1737. Peter and Juliana had eight children, all of them being named in Peter's will. Except for Peter and Daniel, who were born in Germany, all the remaining children were born and thence baptized in Egypt, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The name of Peter appears in the church records at Egypt until 1744.  Follows is a list of their eight children.

Peter Troxell, born 28 Dec. 1723
Daniel Troxell, born in 1726
David Troxell, born 27 July 1734
John Troxell, born in 1736
Christian Troxell, born in 1739, twin
Juliana Margaretha Troxell, born in 1739, twin
George Frederick Troxell, born in 1741
Margaretha Troxell, born 25 Oct. 1744

Children of David Troxell Sr.  & Anna Elizabeth Saeger

George Jacob Troxell b: 18 Jan 1759
Frederick Troxell b. 1762
Mary Troxell b. 1763
**Peter Troxell b. 20 May 1764
John Troxell b. 1767
David Troxell Jr. b. 1770
Catherine Troxell b. 1772
Abraham Troxell b.1774

Another peculiar factor we cannot substantiate is that about "Great War Woman Cutsuwah who fell at Burnside Kentucky."  From the famous narrative of the Yahoo Falls Massacre,

"The Lands from London to Cumberland Falls was ruled by many war leaders, among them was a great warrior and friend to Cornblossom, War Chief Red Bird called Chief Cutsuwah, descendent of Great War Woman Cutsuwah that fell during the French and Indian War at Burnside Kentucky. Red Bird was a close relative of Cornblossom, War Chief Peter Troxell and their descendents."

We cannot document such a great woman warrior at Burnside Kentucky during the French Indian Wars, and so far as we can discern, nobody else has either.  The deeper one researches the Massacre at Yahoo Falls, the trail of evidence slowly diminishes and points to a single source. 

Big Jake Troxell served in the Revolutionary War serving from Virginia - applied for a pension, and received it.  After his death, his wife hired an attorney to help her continue his pension on her behalf after Jake died July 1, 1843 in DeKalb County, Alabama - that wife was named Elizabeth.  The attorneys' name was William O. Winston.  Follows is a transcript of a letter included in the Military Records of Jacob Troxell, the letter is addressed to William O. Winston, Attorney for the widow, Elizabeth.

"Sir: In reply to your letter of the 21st instant, you are informed that according to the latest account rendered by the U.S. Pension Agent at Knoxville, Tennessee, the records of this office show last payment to have been made to Jacob Troxel, Pri. Army Rev, certificate No. 19080, at $43.33 per annum to July 1, 1843, the date of his death, to William O. Winston, Attorney for Elizabeth Troxel, widow.
Said pensioner died in DeKalb County, Alabama, where he had resided.

Respectfully, Oscar A. Price, Auditor"


There is another letter from the Treasury Department dated Sept. 9, 1845 to the Commissioner of Pensions, giving the same information stated above.

One of several questions asked of Big Jake in his pension application was: What battles were you engaged in?  His answer ... None

Several letters of Jakes' descendents are included with his Military Records, most of the inquiries were concerning his service - There was only one Jacob Troxell served in the Revolutionary War so there can be no doubt about these facts as presented.  From Jakes' Military Records.......

Full Pension Claim as submitted by George Jacob Troxell August 23, 1832 at Marion County, Tennessee

REVOLUTIONARY WAR CLAIM R 10777

State of Tennessee
Marion County – County Court August Session 1832

On the 22nd day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the worshipful Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the County of Marion and the State of Tennessee now sitting, being a court of record, Jacob Troxel, a resident of Marion County and State of Tennessee, aged about 73 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth make on his oath the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed Jun 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and have as herein after served as herein after stated, to wit: First: He was drafted in Loudoun County in the state of Virginia in the winter he believes of the year 1777, his captain's name he can not recollect. He was with the company to which he belonged was ordered to guard and conduct some prisoners taken from the British to the lower parts of Virginia which services he performed then returned to Loudoun County and was dismissed by his officers but got no discharge was in service something more than one month. In the winter (as well as he can recollect), of the year 1778 he volunteered in a horse company at a place called Red Stone, the name of the county not recollected, he believes in the state of Virginia. His officers were Captain Ford and Colonel Crawford the same that was afterwards burned by the Indians.  Marched to Fort McIntosh and there joined the regulars commanded by Colonel Campbell and General McIntosh had the command of the troops and marched against the Shawnees and Delaware Indians after remaining at a Fort the name of which he does not recollect he returned and was dismissed by his officers about harvest in the same year after having served six months got no discharge. In the summer of the year 1781 he was drafted in Loudoun County and state of Virginia, His officers were Captain Lewis and Colonel West. He joined the troops under General Washington who was marching to York Town in Virginia and remained under Washington until after Lord Cornwallis was taken and for some time afterwards and was then dismissed by Captain Lewis some time in the fall of the same year after having been in service six months but got no discharge. He knows of no person living by which he can prove his services. He was acquainted with General Washington and Colonel Campbell and officers of the regular Army besides other officers whose names he does not recollect. He was born (from the best information he can collect) in the year 1759 in the county of Frederick in the state of Maryland and lived there 13 years and removed to Loudoun County state of Virginia where he lived 19 years removed back to the state of Maryland and remained there 4 years, removed to Sullivan County in the state of Tennessee and remained there 4 years, removed to Sevier County in the state of Tennessee and remained there 3 years removed to Pulaski County, Kentucky and remained there 2 years removed to Wayne County Kentucky and remained there about 20 years and removed to Jackson County Alabama and remained there 4 years and from there he removed to Marion County in the State of Tennessee where he has lived about 4 years. He states that he is known in his neighborhood to John Hail, Luke Hendrox, esquire, Richard Blevins, Josiah Conn a clergyman, James Cooper and Tarton Blevins who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution. He states that he has no record of his age nor never has seen one. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and declare that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

Jacob Troxell

We, Josiah Conn a clergyman, a resident of the county of Marion and John Hail and Richard Blevins, residents of the same county hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jacob Troxell who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 73 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and we concur in that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

Josiah Conn
John Hail
Richard Blevens

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Josiah Conn, who has signed this proceeding ________ is a clergyman resident in the county of Marion and that John Hail and Richard Blevins ____ has signed the same, are residents of the same county and are creditable persons and that their statements are ____ to credit.

John Mitchell
Jon_______
Amos Griffith

I, John P. Kelly, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for Marion County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Jacob Troxel for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and private seal of office for the time being no seal of office ____ at office in Jasper this 23tr day of August 1832.

Jno Kelly, Clk

Chronology of the Claim as Presented....

Jake was accurate in his life record as presented in the application.  One problem, when and how did he become a War Chief?  We can find no evidence Jake was sent to the Cherokee's by anyone.  Jake never lived in the Cherokee nation until moving to Sullivan County 1795-1796.  Peter, Catherine, Mary,  and Margaret were born in Loudon County, Virginia.  Elizabeth and Sarah were born in Sullivan County Tennessee.  Jane was born in Sevier County Tennessee, and Jacob William was born in Pulaski County Kentucky.  

There are several letters written over the years from Jake's descendants inquiring about his service in the Revolution. Records of one only Jacob Troxell exist for the Revolutionary War.  Jake died July 1, 1843 in De Kalb County Alabama where he resided.  Jacob was granted a pension of $43.33 per year. The date of the petition was August 23, 1832, Jacob was more than 73 years old when the pension was granted.  We found Jacob is listed on the 1835 Tennessee State Pensioner's Roll for the Revolutionary War, he was living in Marion County at time the pension started.  He served as a Private in the Virginia Line, received an annual allowance of $43.33.  Date pension started ... August 2, 1833. 

1810 US Census ... Wayne County, Tennessee

Jake Troxell ... 1 male under 10 ... 1 male 45+ ---------- 1 female under 10 ... 1 female 10-16 ... 1 female 26-45

Peter Troxell ... 1 male under 10 ... 1 male 16-26 ---------- 2 females under 10 ... 1 female 16-26

1830 US Census ... Marion County, Tennessee

Jacob Troxell ... 2 males 10-15 ... 1 male 60-70 --------- 2 females 5-10 ... 1 female 30-40

We are beginning to think the Yahoo Falls Massacre is a confabulation, or perhaps ... fantasy.

Undoubtedly some readers will look at the Census records as listed, and think ... "Cornblossom died at Yahoo Falls"; however, if you honestly believe that to be true, order the Military Records of Jake Troxell.  Cornblossom, never existed! George Jacob Troxell married Elizabeth Chartier, the daughter of Renee (Pale Stalker) Chartier and  Shawnee Woman, a 7/8 Shawnee White Metis woman, who died at least a few weeks before 22 November 1806 in Sevier County, Tennessee.  Jake took another wife 22 Nov 1806 in Washington County Maryland.  Her name was Elizabeth Brewer who was considerably younger than Jake for she was born 1783, and was two years younger than his son, Peter.  Elizabeth Brewer either died or left Jake before March 20, 1823 when Jake married Elizabeth Blevins Steele, the widow of Christian Steel who she married April 12, 1806 in Wayne County, Kentucky (Richard Barrier was the Bondsman for the Blevins-Steele marriage).  This Elizabeth attempted to continue Jake's Pension for his Revolutionary War Service after his decease.  Elizabeth Blevins Steel was born 1796 Morgan, Ashe County, North Carolina.  She was the daughter of Wells Blevins, and Elizabeth Armstrong ... married 22 May 1789 in Patrick County, Virginia.  Jake and Elizabeth Blevins Steel had one daughter.

Known, Proven, and Validated Children of George Jacob Troxell & Elizabeth Cartier

Known, Proven, and Validated Child of George Jacob Troxell & Elizabeth Blevins Steele

Troxell Family Notes:

Commentary ... We have extensive records for the Troxell family, and know several people with additional resources.  We believe this is an accurate record as it stands concerning the many descendents of George Jacob Troxell and his three wives.  For those who still doubt, nearly every marriage record listed herein is readily available online and easily located.  Place Locations were proven by US Census Records for dates as listed.  What seems so preponderantly strange to us is that, only one person has come forward in recorded history of the Yahoo Falls atrocity.  We have calculated Big Jake Troxell has more than 50,000 living descendents today, and not one other living relative has validated the Massacre that day of infamy, August 10, 1810.  We also think the association of people who testified on Jake's behalf for the petition screams loudly about the personage of Jake, and the personages of those who testified.  We have never located a single historical reference to "Big Jake Troxell, War Chief Peter Troxell, Standing Fern, or Cornblossom."  

**Here we will try to straighten out a few facts that are seemingly missing from the historical record concerning the Troxell Family. Many people confuse Peter, the son of Jake and his first wife with Jake's half-brother, also named Peter Troxell.  Jake's half-brother, Peter, was the bastard son of David Troxell, and Anna Chartier. He was born 1764, and had remained single, he moved with Jake and Elizabeth.  Before Jake and Cornblossom continued on to Tennessee they traveled thorough Wayne County Kentucky  where  Peter met and married Jenny Stevenson (Standing Fern) 16 Jan 1803.  Peter stayed in Wayne County Kentucky.  Peter's mother was 7/8 Shawnee-White Metis, which proves Peter as 7/16 Shawnee-White Metis.  Peter, Jake's half-brother is the War Chief Peter Troxell as iterated in the Yahoo Falls Legend.

A bit of trivia here ... It is claimed by some that Frank Troxell, a grandson of Peter Troxell and Jenny Stevenson (Standing Fern) was killed at the Battle of Little Big Horn before Custer's forces were defeated by Lakota Sioux Chief, Crazy Horse ... 1876.  True or false?  We don't know but a man named Frank Troxel lived with the Sioux for several years.

The following question now must be asked....

Who of the Big Jake Troxell family died at the Yahoo Falls Massacre 1810?

The answer seems obvious to us..!

We found a website with pictures of Yahoo Falls, and the surrounding area ... Link follows.

Yahoo Falls

What really boggles our minds was the following,

"Summary: Some sources claim this is the highest waterfall in Kentucky, so that makes it significant. If you are in the Big South Fork Area in spring, definitely check this waterfall out, and go visit some of the nearby arches."

Yahoo Falls does not sound like a Sacred Indian site to us, and without finding one shred of evidence to prove the Yahoo Falls massacre took place, we will look no further into the subject ... unless a reader of this page can provide such information.

What do you think?

If you know of any valid evidence the Yahoo Falls massacre did happen, and can provide source of documentation, please email us.  If you cannot provide such information, emails that do not address the Yahoo Falls massacre, will be immediately deleted.  We do not have the time, or volition to respond to hundreds of emails referencing other information on this website.  Please put ... Yahoo Falls Massacre ... in the Subject Line of your emails.

You know the drill because of SPAM .... email ... tlagvga at yahoo dot com

Dagulaku

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