Massey Harbison
This site is significant because Massey Harbison lived on this property that spanned the creek for 16 years from 1801 to 1820. The property was called Mt. Joy probably because it was the most joyful place in which Massey had ever lived. She raised her family here. If you look across the creek you can see what local people claim to be the old Harbison Grist Mill. Up the hill is a piece of property sold by John and Massey to the William Colmer family on March 20, 1819. When her husband John left May 19, 1819 he had already begun transferring the rest of the property to an elder son William on January 8, 1819 which was finally recorded on May 1, 1820.
William sold the property one year later essentially leaving Massey penniless and homeless. She and her younger children (as young as 5) lived with William for a while then moved on to another child then another and so on for the rest of her life. She wrote a book about her life and the incident recorded below. For more information about the book which has been republished and her life go to www.saxonburglocalhistory.com or call 724-816-4913
Massey was 22 years old, had three children, was pregnant with a fourth and was asleep on that fateful day of May 22, 1792 near Freeport, PA. Due to hostilities along the Allegheny River between Indians and white folks a number of Indians from various tribes and at least two white men dressed as Indians began a raid on the pioneer fort Reed’s Station. Massey’s cabin, being near the fort, was where the attack began.
One of Massey’s children was killed at the cabin. Massey and her other two children, all in nightclothes and barefoot, were taken captive. Two Indians were put in charge of the captives while the rest of them continued raiding in the Puckity Creek area. On a forced march to an Indian encampment near Butler, PA another of Massey’s children was murdered and scalped.
Her last living child was a year old and still nursing. Massey carried him to the encampment. After 2 nights in captivity Massey managed to escape on the morning of the third day. She began her trek home by following the creeks, stars and sun and by remembering places her husband had mentioned. The third night she spent in Renfrew, PA waiting to get her direction from the North Star. While preparing to sleep near Mars, PA on the fourth night Massey and her child barely escaped being recaptured. Fear from this encounter drove her to travel all night.
The fifth night she slept along the banks of Squaw Run Creek in the pouring rain. The morning of the sixth day Massey found herself on the banks of the Allegheny River. After walking along the bank for a while she was finally rescued by her nearest neighbor who did not recognize her.