Who Was Captain Jack?

This name has appeared in the history of Pennsylvania many times. Books have been written about this man. Many times tales have been told about his reputation as an Indian hunter. Looking in many histories we found references to this name. First we found a famous Indian named Kintpush who was also known as Captain Jack. He was a leader in the Modoc War of 1872 in the California-Oregon region.

The Pennsylvania Archives, first series, page 122 has references to a Captain Jack mentioned in a letter dated May 31, 1779 to Colonel Archibald Lochry. The Captain Jack we wanted seemed to have existed much earlier, particularly in the 1740 and 1750 periods. We found some references that indicated that perhaps Captain Jack (John) Armstrong was Captain Jack; however, he and his small group of men were ambushed and killed band of Indians in 1744

According to stories we have read about this man, it appears that he first settled in what is now Huntingdon County in the vicinity of Aughwick, (now called Shirleysburg). Many rumors were that his ancestors were of British nobility. It seems that Captain Jack was very secretive about his full name, thus he was always known as Captain Jack. He was one of the earliest settlers in this area. He came here from the east, built a cabin for his wife, small son and daughter. He returned home from hunting one day in 1752 to find his cabin burned and the bodies of his wife and children massacred by a band of Indians.

This tragedy, according to historians, affected him mentally and physically. His aim in life, from that day, seemed to have been the extermination of the Indian. No red man was safe between the Susquehanna and the Potomac to the Allegheny rivers. It has been written that the lives of many settlers were saved by this man's cunning. His shelter at night would be under rocky ledges, hollow logs or in caves.

When the Indians began their raids during Pontiac's rebellion the settlers banded together and chose Captain Jack as their leader. He was considered one of the most remarkable characters on the frontier. He was regarded as bold, daring and intrepid in his pursuits. Thus the settlers attempted to resist the efforts of the Indians to chase the whites from the forests. So rapid were their movements that on one occasion they followed a band of Indians as far east as Conococheague Valley. The Indians tried every trick they knew to capture this man. Hervey Allen in his book 'Bedford Village' in chapters six and seven narrates the activities of this man while in the vicinity of Fort Bedford. He differs somewhat from that which appears in other stories written in the State's history. The story that appears in Jones' History of Juniata Valley and the Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania are practically the same. Another publication—Captain Jack, the Scout appeared years ago. This 501-page book makes an exceptionally interesting one to read, even though it was written as fiction. It is possible that it was based upon the many events in Captain Jack's life.

Several stories have been written that he was asked to serve as a guide and scout for Braddock's expedition against the French. One story is that when this rugged man, dressed in animal hides, was presented to the meticulously dressed British General he became very insulting and berated those who suggested this monstrosity. General Braddock was exceptionally rude and domineering. This type of treatment was resented by the backwoodsman thus he had a deep resentment toward the British.

Captain Jack was often referred to as 'The Wild Hunter of the Juniata', 'The Black Hunter', 'The Half Indian' and the 'Black Rifle'.

The company of rangers under Captain Jack dressed themselves in Indian style, leather hunting shirt, leggings and moccasins. They took no orders from the British; however, they did insist upon being supplied with lead, powder and some food necessities that they could not obtain for themselves. This was illustrated by Mr. Allen in the Bedford Village. He describes a typical meeting of Captain Jack and several of his men he chose to be in his they were to provide safety to the British army between the Fort and Fort Duquesne.

We mentioned previously that he and his men had selected an area south of the Fort where they could meet to hold contests between themselves as well as to hold contests in self survival in the mountains against the Indians.

No one seems to know what happened to this man. One theory existed that he left this area for the western frontiers. Another is that he died as an old man in 1772 and was buried at the foot of the Mountain that bears his name. Still another legend existed for years in the community. Many settlers in that section insisted that they saw his spirit come out of the mountain every midnight and visit the old spring which he loved so much. For almost a century the tales of this man were told around the campfires and cabins of the settlers who settled in this area.

Who was Captain Jack? Was he just a legend or did he actually exist? Either way, the story of this man will remain as one of our state's historical characters for future generations to read and enjoy.