Ed, Is anything left of the tree? The historical marker indicates that nothing is left - not even the hollowed out part.
Thanks for the story. Sounds cozy. Jenny On Apr 30, 11:48 pm, "Edward Frank" <[email protected]> wrote: > ENTS, > > A friend of mine was talking last night about the Pringle Sycamore in West > Virginia. I had not heard of it, so looked it up tonight. It is a simple > story of two army deserters living inside a hollow sycamore tree for three > years in the 1700's. The best reference was from Wikipedia: > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckhannon,_West_Virginia > > The history of Upshur County begins with the initial discovery and settling > of the Buckhannon River Valley. Englishmen brothers Samuel and John Pringle > were soldiers serving in the French and Indian War. In 1761, they decided to > abandon their post at Fort Pitt (present-day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). They > traveled southward and upstream along the Monongahela River and Tygart Valley > River. When they came upon a fork in the latter river, they took the > right-hand-side river that branched into the main river. This junction is > located at the mouth of the Buckhannon River. > > The two brothers arrived in present-day Upshur County in 1764. They took up > shelter and residence in an eleven-foot-deep cavity in a once-towering > American sycamore. The hollow of this botanical giant was made their sole > dwelling for about three years. This Sycamore, known as The Pringle Tree, is > now a third-generation tree. It stands beside a stream named Turkey Run in a > meadow beside the Buckhannon River. While living in this naturally beautiful > river valley, the Pringle brothers survived frigid winters. They hunted > rabbits, turkey, the once-plentiful American Bison, and fish-notably trout. > They also skillfully avoided prowling timber wolves. It is written that > Samuel survived hunting experiences with an American black bear and later a > Mountain Lion. > > In the Autumn of 1767, their ammunition was running dangerously low; two > charges of powder more exactly. Although they feared capture and > incarceration for desertion, it was John whom finally decided to return for > supplies. The closest settlements to their newfound home were on the South > Branch Potomac River or Wappatomaka, located north-easterly about two hundred > miles away. When he eventually returned to the Sycamore, he brought back news > that neither man was wanted by any military authorities. Peace had been > declared between the two warring parties and the brothers could safely return > to the nearest civilization. > > The Pringle Brothers decided to leave the river valley and move to the South > Branch settlements. John never returned to resettle at the Sycamore, but > later made a home in the Commonwealth of Kentucky instead. Samuel returned > with his wife Mrs. Charity Pringle (née Cutright). Settlers accompanying them > include John Cutright, Jr.- (Charity's brother), Thomas Hughes, John and > Elizabeth Jackson, and their sons George and Edward Jackson. A permanent > settlement was finally established by 1770 including the fortified structure > known as Bush's Fort. > > Also:http://www.hackerscreek.com/pringle.htm > > http://www.eg.bucknell.edu/~hyde/jackson/ > > http://www.aca-dla.org/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/WVWC&CISOPTR=320&R... > > http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMVTK > > pringle1a.jpg > 150KViewDownload > > hughes.gif > 17KViewDownload > > pringle.jpg > 60KViewDownload > > pringle_back.jpg > 39KViewDownload > > waymarker1.jpg > 78KViewDownload --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
