Sarah

SARAH THE INDIAN KILLER

Written by: Barry P. Foley
Copyright © 17 Mar 2023

My 9^th Great Grandfather Dr. John Woodson was born in Devonshire, England in 1586. John fell in love with Sarah Winston, born in 1600. They married in Devonshire most likely in 1618. In January 1619, the ship "George" sailed from England heading to Jamestown with the new Governor, Sir George Yeardley, John and Sarah Woodson and about one hundred other passengers. Dr. Woodson came as a surgeon to the soldiers who were there the protection of the colonists from the Indians. When the ship with the first 20 Negro slaves landed on American soil, Dr. Woodson bought six of them. They survived the first Jamestown Indian Massacre of 1622. John told Sarah there would be no further Indian trouble. They moved to their 200 acres of land grant at Fleur de Hundred. They had two sons John and Robert.

Here’s Sarah – The Indian Killer.

John said to Sarah, please take me as your man
from his side pocket, pulled out a gold wedding band
I can get us on the next ship sailing to Jamestown
Gov Yeardley has offered me a job and I hate to turn him down

In January, Sarah kissed her mom and dad goodbye
As she walked up George’s brow with tears in her eyes
There were 60 young women, some were teenage girls
Tobacco Brides on their way to husbands in the new world

They lived first in Jamestown and were untouched this time
When the Indian Massacred more than 339
They moved on their land and built a cabin strong
Where sons John and Robert were born

All was well until April ’44, John was caring for the sick
The Cobbler Thomas Ligon stopped for a bit
They were startled, when the Indian whoops rang out
She bolted the door and windows and began to look around

TURNAROUND

She found a safe place to hide her boys, to keep them safe from harm
A wash tub and Potato Hole, she took stock of it all
Meanwhile Ligon was shooting and loading as fast as any man can
Sarah looked through the cabin window to saw her John go down

A cooking kettle was hanging from the fireplace crane
With the water scalding, the coals red hot, down the chimney the first Indian came
She tipped over the kettle and scalded him to death
She heard more noise in the chimney. Sarah grabbed a roasting spit

SPOKEN
She brought that poker it down with all the force she had
Split the braves head open, like a block of wood in the shed
When the noise ended, Ligon unbolted to door
They fetched John’s body, and laid it on the cabin floor

Outside, Sarah counted 7 dead, the rifle had served them well
Both her boys were safe, and she sent two Indian’s to hell
But her husband John was dead and she’d have to move on
No rest for the weary, a frontier woman must be strong