Historical character; born in Bedminster (now Lamington),
N. J., in 1753.
She was the victim of a tragedy that caused deep and wide-spread indignation in the colonies, while
Burgoyne was making his way to the
Hudson River.
Jane, a handsome young girl, was visiting friends at
Fort Edward when the invaders approached.
She was betrothed to a young Tory living near there, who was then in
Burgoyne's army.
When that army was near
Fort Edward some prowling Indians seized Jane in the house of her friend, and, seating her on a horse, attempted to carry her a prisoner to
Burgoyne's camp at
Sandy Hill.
A detachment of
Americans was sent to rescue her. One of a volley of bullets fired at her captors pierced the maiden and she fell to the ground dead, on July 27, 1777.
The
Indians, seeing her dead, scalped her and carried her glossy locks into camp as a trophy.
Her lover,
David Jones, shocked by the event, left the army, went to
Canada at the close of the war, and there lived, a moody bachelor, until he was an old man. He had purchased the scalp of his beloved from the Indians, and cherished it as a precious treasure.
Miss McCrea's, remains were buried at
Fort Edward, and many years afterwards were transferred to a cemetery between
Fort Edward and
Sandy Hill.
The incident was woven into a wild tale of horror, which, believed, caused hundreds, perhaps thousands, of young men, burning with indignation against the
British for employing savages to fight their brethren, to join the army of
Gates.
