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Mr. John Mathews, a nephew of General Putnam, came on from Massachusetts to assist in the survey under the directions of General Tupper. We present herewith a number of extracts from a journal which he kept, showing the progress of, and difficulties attending the survey, and points of interest to this locality.
"Saturday, 29th July, 1786. Arrived at Pittsburgh about three o'clock P.M. Found the Surveyors had gone down the Ohio to Little Beaver Creek. Received directions from General Tupper, by Colonel Sherman, to go down the river."
"Monday, 31st. Arrived at the camp, on the east bank (Southside, near Georgetown) of the Ohio, this morning; where the surveyors were waiting for the troops, from Mingo (see Footnote) which are to escort them in the survey."
"Saturday, August 5th. The troops arrived from Mingo, crossed the river and encamped on the other side."
Mathews began the survey of the second range of townships on the 16th, under the superintendence of Captain Adam Hoops, the surveyor of Pennsylvania. He camped that night five miles from the river, on the east and west line. In his journal he gives daily the progress made, and an accurate description of the land passed over.
On the 6th of September he made arrangements to go out with General Tupper on the survey of the seventh range of townships. His party consisted of fifty men, thirty-six of whom were soldiers. On the 18th of September the party was at "Nine Shilling Creek," in what is now Tuscarawas County. Here an express rider reached them from Beaver, announcing that the Shawanese had taken up arms, were re-assembling at their old towns, and dancing the war dance, preparatory to moving on the surveyors, and lifting as well their scalps as those of all white men around west of the Ohio. Surveying was suspended, and all retreated to Fort McIntosh.
Footnote: This was Fort Steuben, but was not then completed. See extract from May. Beatty's diary, February, 1787, given in the sketch of Fort Steuben.
History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties