The Massacre in Official Reports
A little later Col. Weiser directed the officers at several forts to report to him a list of those who had been killed or captured by the Indians since the beginning of the war. The reports of these officers are now in the manuscript department of the Pennsylvania Historical Society at Philadelphia. Extracts were printed in the Pennsylvania Magazine for July, 1908. Captain Jacob Orndt reported among others, “Highstealer’s wife and one child killed and scalped; and three of his children taken captives in September, 1757, in Bern Township.” This list was made at Fort Allen, and its author explains that he gives names and dates as nearly correct as possible. Our family is mentioned also in the report of Captain Jacob Morgan, who says that in the district south of the mountains he is not absolutely certain of names and dates, but gives the best information he can. Among those in Bern Township appears under date of September 20, 1757, Jacob Houghstetler and family, five killed and one wounded. The magazine account gives his name as Houghstetter, and also fails to show that this report was made by Captain Jacob Morgan.
It will be noted that the dates given in the newspapers do not agree absolutely with the date given by Captain Morgan. The account in the Journal speaks of the event as “last Wednesday,” which doubtless refers to Wednesday, September 21. It is however possible that Captain Morgan’s report may have had in mind the attack that began during the night following September 20, and the actual deaths occurred shortly after daybreak of the next day. However, as Captain Morgan made an effort to get the correct date, and as his is an official report, we may accept his date as correct.
Taken from pp. 32,33 of Descendants of Jacob Hochstetler, by Rev. Harvey Hostetler, D.D., 1912. This portion was prepared by William F. Hochstetler.
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