Kentuckiana Genealogy: Biographies: Collings, William Elston

By Dee Pavey (Dee) on Wednesday, July 21, 1999 - 07:11 pm:

Extracted from "The Collings Story of Pigeon Roost Massacre" by Roy H.
Beldon, circa 1950 as printed in "The Collings, Richeys and The Pigeon
Roost Massacre" compiled and published by Constance Hackman, Leona M.
Lawson and Kenneth R. Scott. Used with permission of Alice R. Scott and
Constance Hackman. Copyright Alice R. Scott 1980.


"In 1809, William Elston Collings came from Kentucky across the Ohio
River at Louisville into Indiana bringing his family, the families of
his married sons and daughters and a few other families to make a
settlement. Moving northward from Jeffersonville, he crossed the
eastern spur of the Silver Knobs into the fertile valley of Pigeon Roost
Creek, located in the northern part of Clark's Grant."

"This site was called Pigeon Roost due to the type of wild pigeons
which, in countless numbers, gathered in this region to feed upon the
heavy beech mast, nest and rear their young in the great trees of the
primitive forest. These birds were called passenger pigeons due to
their migratory flights from one part of the region to another. Their
number was so great that often in flight their huge mass in the sky was
like unto a cloud darkening the sun. When lighting in trees their
accumulated weight was sufficient to break branches from the trees.
These falling branches would strike branches and pigeons below, killing
and crippling many fowl. The settlers then could take the pigeons with
club and sack. When marketed the price was twenty-five cents per
bushel. So abundant was this source of food the settlers considered it
inexhaustible. They feasted upon wild pigeon meat to the fullest extent
of their appetites, prepared as potted pigeon and pigeon pie. Thousands
of bushels were sold for years at the Ohio River markets."

"Upon arrival, the settlement was begun in the spring of 1809. One
quarter of a mile southeast of the present monument was constructed the
two room cabin of William E. Collings, the leader of the settlement, a
man nearing sixty years of age, but in rugged health and an expert
rifleman. He was an experienced soldier, having served in the
Revolutionary Army, and being a Virginian bore the name of "Longknife"
which name was used for him by both the settlers and the Indians. His
two youngest children lived with him, Lydia and John, fifteen and
thirteen years of age respectively, at the time of the Indian attack.
Henry Collings' house was located one hundred yards east of this, while
Richard Collings' house was located about three quarters of mile east.
West of William's home, about one-half mile, was the home of John
Morris. Two miles west was the home of John Biggs, while farther
southwest, three miles from the Collings home, was located the cabin of
Dr. John Richey; Biggs and Richey having married daughters of William
E. Collings. Two other homes near the settlement were those of James
Beal and Ben Yount. To the north of Pigeon Roost and along the creek
were the homes of the brothers, Jeremiah and Elias Payne, Isaac Coffman
and Daniel Johnson, who were relatives of William Collings."

"No Indian tribes were located near Pigeon Roost and the troubled
conditions of the frontier had caused no Indian troubles among these
settlers. The few groups of Indians who visited the settlement traded
with the settlers, held shooting matches with them and appeared very
friendly. William Collings, though often beating them in matches, won
respect and favor of the Indians by giving them some lessons in
marksmanship."

"For protection in case of hostilities three blockhouses had been
constructed in the Pigeon Roost area but none at Pigeon Roost. One was
located near Vienna, six miles north of Pigeon Roost, one on Silver
Creek, eight miles southeast and one at the home of Zebulon Collings,
son of William, five miles south."