History Around Us: Fort McDowell (McDowell's Mill)

   Located in the village of Marks is the site of the Pennsylvania frontier fort at McDowell's Mill.

    From the marker
    This strong marks the sight of the fort at McDowell's Mill. Erected by John McDowell before 1754 it was used as a base of supplies and as a magazine until the erection of Fort Loudon in 1756. The military road from Pennsylvania connecting with the Braddock at Turkey Foot was built from this point in 1755 under the supervision of Col. James Burd. During the period of Indian hostility the fort at McDowell's Mill was the scene of many thrilling events.

From the book The Indian Wars of Pennsylvania by C.Hale Sipe
Pg.292
Massacre Near McDowell's Mill 
Early in November, 1756, the beautiful valley of the Conococheague, in Franklin County, was again devastated and many of 
its inhabitants were killed by the hostile Indians. Robert Callender, writing from Carlisle, on November 4th, thus informed Governor Denny of these atrocities: 
"This Day I received Advice from Fort McDowell that, on Monday or Tuesday last, one Samuel Perry, and his two Sons went from the Fort to their Plantation, and not returning at the time they proposed, the Commanding Officer there sent a corporal and fourteen Men to know the Cause of their Stay, who not finding them at the Plantation, they marched back towards the fort, and on their Return found the said Perry killed and scalped, and covered over with leaves.
 Immediately after a Party of Indians, in Number about thirty, appeared and attacked the soldiers, who returned the Fire, and fought for sometime until four of our People fell ; the rest then made off, and six of them got into the fort, but what became of the rest is not yet known; there are also two families cut off, but cannot tell the Number of people. It is likewise reported that the enemy in their retreat burnt a Quantity of Grain and sundry Houses in the Coves." 
(Pa. Archives, Vol. 3, page 29.) 

Four days later. Colonel John Armstrong wrote Governor Denny, from Carlisle, giving the list of the killed and missing in this bloody raid, as follows: 
"Soldiers Kill'd — James and William McDonald, Bartholomew McCafferty, Anthony McQuoid. 

ATROCITIES IN THE SUMMER AND AUTUMN OF 1756 293 
"Of the Inhabitants Kill'd— John Culbertson, Samuel Perry, 
Hugh Kerrel, John Woods, with his Wife and Mother-in-law, 
Elizabeth Archer, Wife to J no. Archer. 
"Soldiers Missing — James McCorkem, William Cornwall. 
Of the Inhabitants Missing — Four Children belonging to 
John Archer, Samuel Neely, a Boy, James McQuoid, a Child." 
(Pa. Archives, Vol. 3, pages 40 and 41.) 

Within sight of the location exists the remnants of an old cemetery with stone markers in the corner. I can only wonder if the remains of some of the mill inhabitants lay here.

Stay safe

Bob