Legend

------- = Approximate route followed by Mary Shotwell from Scotch Plains New Jersey to Washington, Virginia, (now MASON COUNTY KY) IN 1788

Base Map by John Carey circa 1805 approx. Scale 1 inch = 50 Miles

 

A journey of the Drakes, Morris and Shotwell Families of Scotch plains, New Jersey to Washington (then VA.), Mason county.

From the Wise Collection

Journal of Mary Shotwell's Journey, 1788

Contributed by the Wise Family in Maysville, Ky.

KENTUCKY ANCESTORS

BY THE GENEALOGICAL COMMITTEE OF THE KENTUCKY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

OLD STATE HOUSE, BOX H, FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY

VOLUME 1, NO.4

 

 

Monday: May 6th. Left our habitation at eleven in the morning; our friends and neighbors attended with us with heavy hearts, the morning appeared like a funeral. we traveled about 15 miles and put up at the tavern at the place called Two buckeyes; all were well.

Tuesday: May 7th. Went on our journey and traveled to the hickory Tavern and put up. All were well.

Wednesday: May 8th. Went on our journey, 10 miles and crossed the Delaware in the most favorable manner and then traveled 5 miles and reached Suridges Tavern in Springfield and there we put up. All was well.

Thursday: May 9th. Raining and chilly; I took sick. We traveled 5 miles and put up at Wagoner's Tavern.

Friday: May 10th. Rain; Went on our journey and traveled 15 miles and put up at martin Reider's Tavern and stayed there till Sunday.

Monday: May 12th. Lost a day; Went on our journey, traveled 28 miles and stopped at Robert Weidenhauser's Tavern in Madison Township, Bucks Co., Penn.

Tuesday: May 13th. Went on our journey 9 miles and then crossed the Schuylkill in the most favorable manner and then traveled 9 miles with some difficulty occasioned by the sickness of the children, then put up.

Wednesday: May 14th. Went on our journey, traveled to Miller's Tavern 22 miles and there put up.

Thursday: May 15th. Went on our journey, and traveled 21 miles. part of us crossed the ________ at harris Ferry: the others crossed in the morning , all safe.

Friday: May 16th went on our journey, traveled 21 miles and put up at Andrew mcCullough's , a private home.

Saturday: May 17th. Went on our way, traveled through Shippensburg to Andrew Probst's Tavern, having traveled 21 miles and staid over Sunday.

Monday: May 19th. Went on our way, traveled through Chamberstown an so on, then through Greencastle 2 miles, and then put up at a private house, having traveled 21 miles

Tues. May 20th. Went on our way, crossed the Concocheague and so on to the Green Springs, ferried, and and went on two miles in a heavy thunder gust. We sat in our wagons till the shower was over, then traveled on two miles and put up at Carlisle's Tavern on the bank of the Potomac river.

Wed. : May 21st. Went on our way and crossed Licking creek and so on 9 miles, and put up at Aunt Eddy's .

Thursday. may 22nd. Traveled 5 miles and crossed the big__________and met our company at Hancocktown; went on 11 miles and there put up.

Friday: May 23rd. Went on to the banks of the potomac and crossed Sidealong creek and then to the place called _______ so on 15 miles, stopped the wagons in the street and there put up at a place called the Feeding rock.

Saturday: May 24th. Rain, but we went on our way, crossed Mill creek and so on to Old town and there put up.

Sunday: May 25th. Went on our journey, traveled along the banks of the Potomac, some difficulty attended us, going down a hill and four-horses wagon ran over a child with both wheels. the child was taken up for dead but soon came to and was admirably preserved, no bones broken and no wounds appeared. We then went on and crossed Will's creek, 11 miles and so to cumberland town and there put up, having traveled 15 miles.

Monday: May 26th. Went on but 5 miles in the forenoon by the reason of two wagons breaking down; traveled but 9 miles and there put up.

Tues. May 27th. Went on our way, traveled through the place called the shades of the Death and so on 5 miles to Tomlinsong' tavern. Put up about 12 by reason of the breaking of a wagon.

May. 28th. Went on our way: crossed what is called __________ mountain; traveled but 7 miles by reason of the rocks on the road.

Friday: May 29th Detained until 12 O' clock by reason of the horses straying away; set out on our way , crossed the Great Crossing and so on 8 miles and put up.

Sat. Went on our way; and travel 15 miles and put up.

May 31st. Went on our way; and traveled 13 miles and put up. At a private house.

June 1st. _______________

Monday: Went on our way and traveled 5 miles and put up at philip pearce's , Where we staid un till Saturday the 7th., then went three miles and went aboard our boats at Sandy Creek.

Sunday: June 8th. Went on our way but sailed only _________miles the water being to shallow.

June 9th. We still went on with difficulty, the water being low, we grounded on a log and lay there till morning We got half off and went on our way.

Tues. June 10th. We went on but there water being low and the wind contrary we got but ______miles in four and twenty hours.

Wed. June 11th. We reached Fort Pitt and were there detained until Saturday waiting for another boat.

June 14th. at nine O'clock. We set sail, the river had risen six feet. We made Wheeling in 20 hours, which is 95 miles. There took on our horses; started at 9 O'clock, next morning. about sunrise next day reached Muskingnum. went on shore and staid until 9 O'clock. went on board and next morning at 9 O'clock reached the Great kanawha: the cone went ashore at the Garrison, next morning at 7 reached the Scoito ( Tuesday).

June 18. About 90 miles and reached the Limestone about 12 O'clock at night and there staid till Friday, then went to the town of Washington.

....................

On the back of last page is the date April 1, 1809. This is evidently a copy of the original paper written in 1788. it is on legal size paper.

Also on back is David , Sen. David, Junior

" 1___15 _______" 22

"22 Songs Sol. 582

Mch 1 "_______Acts 8 4th

Monday Mch 2, A Man gave gave an exhortation, in a afternoon Heard mr. Gano from Job.

Mrs. Weis. ( wise) " The diary was in some old papers of old Mr. Billy Hixon who was the first librarian of our public Library. He died ab out 1920 or maybe earlier. .... He was going to write a history of Mason County and went all around Mason co. talking with old people and he did have a lot of material. Some of it was burned after he died but a box of papers were found and we have kept them.

It also states Mary Shotwell, John's daughter married John Wise,, His daughter Lydia M. Sanford Mitchell and are the ancestors of miss Elizabeth Mitchell. of May's lick.. Mary was a twin of Charlotte, and they were born 8-4 1774

......John's mother Ann Shotwell came with them and was on of the first members of the particular Baptist church in May's Lick. The church was organized in 1789 - and John joined in 1791. The church was built on land given by John Shotwell. The site of the old church is now part of the May's lick Cemetery and stood on the site of Rex. Walter Warden's monument it is said. the home John built is still standing but has been added to and is very lovely old home, owned by Mrs. Anna Looney, a descendant.

This was copied from the kentucky Ancestors news letter.