Robert Neely

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Husband Robert Neely ¹

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           Born: Abt 1743
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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         Father: [Father] Neely (      -      )
         Mother: 

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Wife

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           Born: 
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Children

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General Notes: Husband - Robert Neely

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He was captured by Indians, about 1750, being at the time only seven years old. He was brought up by the tribe and married an Indian girl. The following letter written by Col. James Perry, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a cousin of William Neely, and of the captured boy, (the original of which was later in the possession of Margaret J. Neely, of Galveston, Indiana), furnished the information which led to the identification of Robert Neely as the captive:
"PITTSBURG, Oct. 22, 1805.
Dear Cousin:
Tho' you and I are so nearly related, I do not know that ever a line passed from you to me or from me to you. I have often tho't that it could not be for want of friendship or natural affection, as I conceive we are both possessed of it. I would rather impute it to thoughtless negligence. I came to live in this place last spring, to keep store. I, perhaps, may continue some time. My family, a number of girls, are grown up, three of them married. My two sons are now beginning to be able to do business for me. This day William Cinnev called on me, on his return home. He told me you were anxious to hear from your brother, Robert, which I do not in the least doubt. I have, a few weeks since, received information of him. I had often heard of such a person, somewhere near the lakes. After I came to this place last spring, I heard of him on Buffalo Creek, about five miles from the Lake and eighteen above Niagara. I wrote a few lines to him, to know whether he was the same Robert Neely, which I suspected he was, and received an answer from Mr. Granger, Indian Agent, informing me he was the same. I had not given him any account of his friends until I was certain he was the person. A copy of Mr. Granger's letter you have, as follows:
BUFFALO CREEK, Aug. 13, 1805.
Sir: Your letter to Robert Neely, dated April 21, was lately put into my hands. There is no doubt but the person, by the name of Robert Neely, living with the Seneca Indians, about five miles from this place, is the person whom you inquire for. He has often mentioned to me the place where he was taken and some circumstances respecting his family, which correspond with your description. Previous to reading your letter to him, he was questioned on the subject. He said he lived near Connocogeague Creek, that he went with his uncle, Perry, to feed cattle, that his uncle was killed by the Indians and he was taken; that his father and mother were dead, that he had a sister and he thinks he had a brother. Robert does not appear to have a perfect recollection of his family relations, but says he believes you are his cousin. He has mentioned to a person here that his father used to make whiskey. He is a man of about sixty years and his looks indicate living a long time with the Indians. He has imbibed their habits. He is very honest and industrious and gets a good living in their way. He still retains his native language, but speaks the Indian tongue better. He was very glad to hear from you, and requests me to write to you for a more particular account of his family; says he thought his relations were all dead. He does not recollect anything about Braddock's defeat.
"I am Sir, your obedient humble serv't,
"ERASTUS GRANGER,
"Agent of Indian Affairs."
Col. James Perry.
"I have written to him as particular account of his friends as I could collect. I have never heard anything of your sister, Mary, since she went to Virginia, so that I could give very little account of her. I wrote to him that I thought you or some of your sons would go and see him as soon as you heard where he was.
I am, dear cousin, with respect,
Your humble serv't,
JAMES PERRY."
James Neely, son of William Neely, upon the knowledge contained in this letter, visited his uncle and tried, by every inducement to bring him back to his family, but in vain. Devoted to his squaw, and inured to the life of the red men, neither the ties of blood nor the attractions of civilized life had any power over him.

1 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley (Chambersburg, PA: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897), Pg 784.