Jacob Forney, Sr.

(Condensed and edited from Wheeler's "Historical Sketches.")

Among the early settlers of Lincoln County (formerly Tryon) was Jacob Forney, Sr. He was the son of a Huguenot and was born about 1721. His life was checkered with an alteration of fortunes bordering on romance. At the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, his father fled from France, preferring self-expatriation to the renunciation of his religious belief, and settled in Alsace, on the Rhine where, under the enlightening influences of the reformation, freedom of opinion in matters of conscience was tolerated. The family name was initially spelled Farney, but afterward, it was changed to Forney in Alsace, where the German language is generally spoken. Here his father died, leaving him an orphan when four years old. At fourteen, he left Alsace and went to Amsterdam in Holland. Becoming delighted there with the glowing accounts that crossed the Atlantic respecting the New World and allured with the prospect of improving his condition and enjoying still greater political and religious privileges, he came to America by the first vessel having that destination and settled in Pennsylvania. He remained actively employed until his maturity when he returned to Germany to procure a small legacy. Having adjusted his affairs there, he again embarked on a voyage to America on board a vessel, bringing many emigrants from the Canton of Berne to Switzerland. Among the number was a blithesome, rosy-cheeked damsel, buoyant with the chains of youth, which particularly attracted young Forney's attention. His acquaintance was soon made, and, as might be expected, a mutual attachment was silently but undoubtedly formed between two youthful hearts so congenial in feeling and similarly filled with the spirit of adventure. Prosperous gales quickly wafted the vessel in safety to the shores of America, and soon after they arrived in Pennsylvania, Jacob Forney and Mariah Bergner (for that was the fair one's name) were united in marriage. At this time, the South's fertile lands and healthful climate attracted numerous emigrants from the middle colonies. Influenced by such inviting considerations, Forney joined the great tide of emigration a few years after his marriage and settled in Lincoln County (formerly Tryon) about 1754.

The first settlers of Lincoln County suffered greatly from the depredations and occasional murders by the Cherokee Indians. Several times, many inhabitants temporarily abandoned their homes and moved to the more populated settlements east of the Catawba River. Others, finding it inconvenient to remove, constructed rude forts for their mutual defense. A repetition of these incursions having occurred a few years after Forney's arrival, he removed his family to a place of safety east of the river until the Indians could be severely chastised by military force. The next day, he returned to his former residence, accompanied by two neighbors, to search for his cattle. After proceeding about a mile from home, they spied a small Indian just ahead of them, running rapidly and not far from the spot now well known as the "Rocky Spring Camp Ground." Forney indeed suspected more Indians were in the immediate vicinity. After progressing but a short distance, he and his party discovered, in an open space beyond them, ten or twelve Indians, a part of whom, at least, were armed with guns, apparently waiting for their approach. Forney, being a good marksman and having courage equal to any emergency, favored giving them battle immediately. Still, his two companions overruled him, contending it would be impossible to disperse such a large number. It was, therefore, deemed advisable to retreat and make their way to the fort, about two miles in their rear, where several families had assembled. After proceeding a short distance, the Indians approached somewhat nearer and fired upon the party but without effect. Forney directed his companies to reserve their fire until the Indians approached sufficiently near to take a sure and deadly aim and maintain an orderly retreat in the direction of the fort. Soon after they commenced retreating, the Indians again fired upon them, and unfortunately, one of the party, Richards, was dangerously wounded. At this critical moment, when one or two well-directed fires might have repulsed their enemy, the courage of another companion failed him, and he made his rapid departure. Forney, however, continued his retreat, assisting his wounded companion as much as he could, and, although fired upon several times, managed to keep the Indians at some distance off by presenting his unerring rifle when their timidity was manifested by falling in the grass or taking shelter behind the trees, each one, no doubt, supposing the well-aimed shot might fell him to the earth. At length, poor Richards, becoming faint from loss of blood and seeing the imminent danger of his friend's life, directed Forney to leave him and, if possible, save himself. He reluctantly complied with this advice and pursued his course to the fort. But the Indians did not pursue him much farther, being probably satisfied with the murder of the wounded Richards.

Forney only received a small wound on the back of his left hand but, on examination, discovered that several bullets had pierced his clothes. This adventure shows what cool, determined bravery may affect under the most discouraging circumstances and that an individual may sometimes providentially escape, although made the object of a score of bullets or other missiles of destruction. When he reached the fort, he found the occupants greatly frightened, having heard the repeated firing. After this adventure and narrow escape became generally known, a belief was widely entertained by the surrounding community that Forney was bullet-proof. It was even affirmed, and received additions by repeating, that after he reached the fort and unbuttoned his vest, a handful of bullets dropped out. In subsequent years, Forney was accustomed to smiling at this innocent credulity of his neighbors but frequently remarked that the impression of his being bullet-proof was of excellent service to him on more than one occasion preceding and during the Revolutionary War.

Few persons during the war suffered heavier losses than Jacob Forney. By persevering in industry and strict economy, he had surrounded himself and his family with all the comforts and, to some extent, luxuries of the substantial farmer. When Cornwallis marched through Lincoln County in the winter of 1781, endeavoring to overtake Morgan with his large number of prisoners captured at the Cowpens, he was arrested in his progress by the swollen waters of the Catawba River. Being thus foiled in his expectations, supposing he had Morgan almost in his grasp, Cornwallis fell back about five miles from the river to Forney's plantation, having been conducted there by a Tory well acquainted with the neighborhood. Here, Cornwallis remained encamped for three days, consuming, in the meantime, Forney's entire stock of cattle, hogs, sheep, geese, chickens, a large amount of forage, forty gallons of brandy, &c. His three horses were carried off, and many thousands of rails and other property were destroyed. But the extent of his losses did not end there. Cornwallis had been informed that Forney had a large amount of money concealed somewhere in his premises and that if a diligent search were made, it might be readily found. This information set the British soldiers to work, and, aided by the Tory conductor's suggestions, they finally found his gold, silver, and jewelry buried in his distillery, the more significant portion of which he had brought from Germany. While this work of search was going on without, his Lordship was quietly occupying the upper story of the family mansion, making it his headquarters. Forney and his wife, who were old, were graciously allowed the privilege of living in the basement. As soon as he was informed his gold, silver, and jewelry were found, amounting to one hundred and seventy pounds sterling, he was so exasperated for the moment that he seized his gun and rushed to the stairsteps with the determination to kill Cornwallis. Still, his wife quickly followed and intercepted him, thus preventing the most deplorable consequences: the loss of his own life and perhaps that of his family. But the prudent advice of his wife, "Heaven's last, best gift to man," had its proper, soothing effect and caused him to desist from his impetuous purpose. It is hardly necessary to inform the reader he was punished in this severe manner because he was a zealous supporter of the cause of freedom, and his three sons were then in the rebel army.

The log house where his lordship made his headquarters for three days and four nights still exists, though removed many years ago, from its original site to a more level location in the immediate vicinity. In this humble building, he, no doubt, cogitated upon the speedy subjugation of the rebels and that subsequent glorification that awaits the successful hero. Little did Cornwallis then allow himself to think that he and his whole army, in less than nine months from that time, would have to surrender to the "rebel army" under Washington as prisoners of war!

It is said Cornwallis, after finishing his morning repast upon the savory beef and fowls of the old patriot's property, would come down from his headquarters upstairs and pass along his lines of soldiers, extending for more than a mile in a northwest direction, and reaching to the adjoining plantation of his son Peter, who kept "bachelor's hall," but was then absent, with his brother Abram, battling for their country's freedom. About midway of the extended lines and only a few steps from the road on which the British army was encamped, several granite rocks protrude from the ground. One is about four feet high, with a rounded, weather-worn top, and a convenient place to receive his lordship's cloak. Another nearly adjoining rock is about two feet and a half high, with a flat surface gently descending and five feet across. At this spot Cornwallis was accustomed to dine daily with some of his officers upon the rich variety of food seized during his stay, and washing it all down, as might be aptly inferred, with a portion of the forty gallons of captured brandy previously mentioned. This smooth-faced rock, on which his lordship and officers feasted for three days, is known in the neighborhood to this day as "Cornwallis' Table." On visiting this durable remembrance of the past quite recently, the writer looked around for a piece of some broken plate or other vessel, but sought in vain. The only mementoes of this natural table he could bear away were a few chips from its outer edge, without seriously mutilating its weather-beaten surface, now handsomely overspread with moss and lichen. Where once the tramp and bustle of a large army resounded, all is now quiet and silent around, save the singing of birds and gentle murmurs of the passing breeze in the surrounding forest.

After Cornwallis left, Forney ascertained that the Tory informer was one of his near neighbors with whom he had always lived on terms of friendship. Considering the heavy losses he had sustained attributable to his agency, he could not overlook the enormity of the offense and accordingly sent a message to the Tory that he must leave the neighborhood; if not, he would shoot him at first sight. The Tory eluded him for several days by lying out, knowing that the stern message he had received meant action. At length, Forney, still keeping up his search, came upon him unawares and fast asleep. He was immediately aroused from his slumbers when beholding his difficult situation, he commenced pleading most earnestly for his life and promised to leave the neighborhood. Forney could not resist such touching appeals to his mercy, so kindly let him off. In a few days afterward, the Tory, true to his promise, left the neighborhood and never returned.

Jacob Forney, Sr., died in 1806, aged eighty-five. In his offspring flowed the blood of the Huguenot and the Swiss people.