Before the outbreak of the American Revolution, bands of the Delaware tribe lived around the Hudson and Delaware Rivers. Due to white encroachment, they migrate west into Ohio territory, settling around the Tuscarawas and Muskingum Rivers. They established a large village named Coshocton. Life in the village was relatively peaceful, even with its close proximity to the British garrison at Fort Pitt. The peace may also have been due to fact that many members of the tribe were recently converted to Christianity by minister David Zeisberger. In 1742, Zeisberger was anointed as a minister and traveled to Ohio to build a missionary settlement named Gnadenhutten. He began to convert the local natives and became their minister. Zeisberger would act in this capacity until the outbreak of war.
When the American Revolution broke out in 1775, the fragile peace between the whites and natives in Ohio was broken. In 1781, British allied Lenapes attack Coshocton, capturing the tribe and Zeisberger. He was taken to Fort Pitt, where the British try and executed him under suspicion of treason. The Delawares were taken to a prison camp named "Captive Town." Life in the camp was miserable. By 1782, many members succumb to starvation. In March, "Captive Town" was captured by Pennsylvania militiamen under the command of Lieutenant Colonel David Williamson. The militia was hunting a band of natives responsible for raids in western Pennsylvania. When Williamson found the camp, he thought he had found his natives. A mock trial was held and the remaining natives were sentenced to death. The next morning, March 8, the natives were dragged to "killing houses," tied to posts, and killed with scalping knives. They proceeded to burn the bodies and huts, after looting them. In all, the militiamen murdered 28 men, 29 women, and 39 children.
Before the outbreak of the American Revolution, bands of the Delaware tribe lived around the Hudson and Delaware Rivers. Due to white encroachment, they migrate west into Ohio territory, settling around the Tuscarawas and Muskingum Rivers. They established a large village named Coshocton. Life in the village was relatively peaceful, even with its close proximity to the British garrison at Fort Pitt. The peace may also have been due to fact that many members of the tribe were recently converted to Christianity by minister David Zeisberger. In 1742, Zeisberger was anointed as a minister and traveled to Ohio to build a missionary settlement named Gnadenhutten. He began to convert the local natives and became their minister. Zeisberger would act in this capacity until the outbreak of war.
When the American Revolution broke out in 1775, the fragile peace between the whites and natives in Ohio was broken. In 1781, British allied Lenapes attack Coshocton, capturing the tribe and Zeisberger. He was taken to Fort Pitt, where the British try and executed him under suspicion of treason. The Delawares were taken to a prison camp named "Captive Town." Life in the camp was miserable. By 1782, many members succumb to starvation. In March, "Captive Town" was captured by Pennsylvania militiamen under the command of Lieutenant Colonel David Williamson. The militia was hunting a band of natives responsible for raids in western Pennsylvania. When Williamson found the camp, he thought he had found his natives. A mock trial was held and the remaining natives were sentenced to death. The next morning, March 8, the natives were dragged to "killing houses," tied to posts, and killed with scalping knives. They proceeded to burn the bodies and huts, after looting them. In all, the militiamen murdered 28 men, 29 women, and 39 children.
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