Thomas Coleman
I mentioned a maple syrup killing before; here is an article I found that
talks about it. It doesn’t say maple syrup exactly but it does mention John
Coleman being boiled to death in a kettle. I recently found this web page
that mentions Thomas Coleman in their history of Logan Township. I added
the web address to where I found this article. We also have a picture of
Thomas Coleman’s tombstone. I visited it once with my aunt Becky. The
photo was emailed to my father from my cousin, Tammy.
Thomas Coleman
Early settlers in our area were English, Pennsylvania German, Scot-Irish,
and Irish. Most of these settlers came from elsewhere in Pennsylvania and
from Maryland. The earliest explorers/settlers in the Logan Township area
were brothers, Thomas and Michael Coleman. Previously, the two, along with a
younger brother John, had resided along the west branch of the Susquehanna
River. One day while the older brothers hunted, John was attached by Native
Americans and boiled to death in a kettle. After burying their brother, the
Coleman brothers moved to what is now the northern part of Logan Township;
where they settled permanently around 1770.
Although he was known to be a good friend of Captain Logan, Thomas Coleman
became a greatly feared Native American killer. He was reputed to be the
greatest Native American fighter in this section of Pennsylvania. Much of
his success was due to his method of waging warfare on the Native Americans
in their own style of fighting. In the period of unrest on the frontier in
the late 1700's, Coleman was unwavering in his protection of settlers by
spotting Native American war parties, warning settlers, and defending
frontier forts such as Fort Fetter. Coleman's reputation may also be a
strong reason why there was only one settler killed by Native Americans in
Logan's Valley, as compared to several in nearby areas like the Cove area.
Fort Fetter was built in 1777, near where Hollidaysburg is now. It was not
in Logan Township, but was crucial to the survival of the residents of the
area that is now Logan Township. This fort was not an official military
fort, but was built by nearby settlers as a gathering place for protection
of families during times of trouble.
Thomas Coleman served in the Bedford County Militia during the Revolutionary
War. The Supreme Council of Pennsylvania commissioned him as an Ensign in
the Continental Army. He volunteered his services as a spy and guide for
countless missions, traveling as far west as Fort Pitt. He died in 1833, and
is buried in the Grandview Cemetery in Logan Township. Descendants of Thomas
Coleman remain on the Coleman farm in northwestern Logan Township.
Here is the link to this Logan Township History:
www.logantownship-pa.gov