Pigeon Roost 06

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The Pigeon Roost Massacre
1812

June 17, 2006

Photos by Jim and Kathy Cummings

Issac Coffman and Elias Payne were in the nearby woods searching for bee trees when the Indians attacked, Payne though wounded managed to escape while Coffman was killed instantly.

Captain John Norris was visiting at the home of William Collings when the attack began. Collings son John was bringing in the cattlle and came running toward the cabin screaming “Pa, Pa. Indians!”






	One young Indian donned some women’s clothing stolen from one of the cabin to disguise himself. He was killed by Collins.




			Captain Norris started off with the children. Collings managed to shoot four Indians from his porch before his rifle was hit.

Henry Collings was shot while working in his flax field.He was found two days later nearly dead but did manage to name his attacker before he died.

Mrs. Jane Collings Biggs, her baby and two other children were out looking for their cow when the Indian attack occurred. She returned to her clearing to find her cabin on fire. She stumbled back into the woods and hid. As the Indians were passing her she tried to stifle her baby's cries with the edge of her shawl, only to find after the Indians had moved on that she had suffocated her baby. She wandered the woods all night with her dead baby in her arms.