The Captives of Abb's Valley
The Captives of Abb's Valley

Author: James Moore

Publisher:

Published: 2012-12

Total Pages: 104

ISBN-13: 9781782820406

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A tragedy of Virginian colonial frontier In the summer of 1786 a large war party of Shawnee Indians entered Abb's Valley, Virginia, and descended on the household of militia officer Captain John Moore which included members of his immediate family together with hired labourers. The family occupied a substantial log building and were well armed, so Moore believed that his family was well placed to fight off a small Indian attack. The nearest homestead was six miles away and Moore, relying on his own abilities, thought it unnecessary to follow the example of neighbours by taking refuge in the nearest fort. The attack achieved complete surprise and Moore was killed before he could reach the safety of the house. What followed was an appalling, but typical, Indian massacre of the colonial period frontier in the 18th century. Various family members, young and old, were slaughtered on the spot, the property was set alight and a substantial herd of livestock was taken. Surviving members of the Moore family were taken as captives to the Indian townships, several of them being murdered on the journey. Once the survivors reached the Indian village there followed another period of torture which for Mrs. Moore and a teenage daughter proved fatal. Two young women survived their ordeals to eventually be ransomed. The story of this notable frontier tragedy was written by James Moore, a son of Mary Moore, who was one of the two ransomed captives. This a vital account of the struggles endured by the early settlers of the American wilderness and will be of essential interest to anyone interested in the early history of the state of Virginia. Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket; our hardbacks are cloth bound and feature gold foil lettering on their spines and fabric head and tail bands.

The Rational Optimist
The Rational Optimist

Author: Matt Ridley

Publisher: Harper Collins

Published: 2011-06-07

Total Pages: 482

ISBN-13: 0061452068

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For two hundred years the pessimists have dominated public discourse, insisting that things will soon be getting much worse. But in fact, life is getting better—and at an accelerating rate. Food availability, income, and life span are up; disease, child mortality, and violence are down all across the globe. Africa is following Asia out of poverty; the Internet, the mobile phone, and container shipping are enriching people's lives as never before. In his bold and bracing exploration into how human culture evolves positively through exchange and specialization, bestselling author Matt Ridley does more than describe how things are getting better. He explains why. An astute, refreshing, and revelatory work that covers the entire sweep of human history—from the Stone Age to the Internet—The Rational Optimist will change your way of thinking about the world for the better.

History of Daviess County, Indiana
History of Daviess County, Indiana

Author: A. O. Fulkerson

Publisher:

Published: 2013-09-01

Total Pages: 794

ISBN-13: 9780788418402

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By 1919, Daviess County in southwest Indiana had 180 years of lively history to record and this voluminous collection of historical facts, opinions, lists, memories, biographies, data, and anecdotes is the result of that undertaking. Drawing from every available resource, this book offers an inclusive picture of life in what began as part of the Northwest Territories. The information is expertly organized and listed in the table of contents that includes general topics such as: Related State History, Physical and Geological Features, Political History, Daviess County at War, Educational History, and Townships. The subsections listed beneath include more specific topics on a myriad of subjects like Pontiac's Conspiracy, Natural Resources, Forts and Block Houses, and Amusements of the Pioneers. Subjects of particular interest include encounters with the Indians, the building of the Wabash and Erie Canal, and a lengthy description of the Underground Railroad including the names of families whose homes served as stations providing food and shelter along its routes. There is obvious pride reflected in the stories of citizens who risked their lives to help slaves reach Canada and freedom. A communal belief in liberty for all men is demonstrated by their service to the Union during the Civil War. This volume includes lists of members of each regiment, where they fought and where their soldiers were wounded or killed. On a more domestic level, the History of Daviess County contains complete lists of every kind of data gatherable from municipal and local resources including census numbers, teachers, auditors, physicians, attorneys, building costs, marriage and divorce records, and members of private organizations like the DAR along with the name of the ancestor who established their eligibility. Biographical sketches of many of the county's distinguished citizens are included.