Submitted by: Ken Tyner
From Historical Collections of Georgia. Pg. 440:
" In 17__ there lived upon the banks of Coody's Creek, in the flat
woods in what is now called Elbert Co., Mr. Richard Tyner, a poor, though
respectable man. During his absence one day, a party of savages attacked
his house. They immediately killed Mrs. Tyner. They then seized the
youngest child, and dashed its brains against a tree. Another child they
scalped, and left it for dead. A little boy, the son of Mr. Tyner, named
Noah, amidst the confusion escaped the notice of the Indians, and crept into
a hollow tree, which for many years afterwards was known by the name of
Noah's Ark. An elder son of Mr. Tyner fled to the Savannah River, and was
pursued by some of the Indians, but he effected his escape. Mary and Tamar,
the daughters of Mr. Tyner, the Indians carried off to the Coweta towns.
There they remained for several years, when an Indian trader named John
Manack purchased Mary, who returned with him and became his wife. When he
returned to the Indian nation he offered to purchase Tamar, but the Indians
refused to sell her. The main employment of Tamar was to bring wood. Upon
a certain occasion, an old Indian woman informed her that her captors,
suspecting that she was trying to escape, had resolved to burn her alive.
The feelings of the poor girl can better be imagined than described. She
determined at all risks to escape. The Indian woman supplied her with
provisions and a canoe, accompanied with directions how to proceed down the
Chattahoochee River. Bidding adieu to her benefactress, Tamar launched her
canoe, and commenced her perilous voyage. During the day she secreted
herself amidst the thick swamps of the river, and at night pursued her
course. She finally reached Applachicola Bay, embarked on board of a
vessel, and arrived in Savannah. By the assistance of some of the citizens,
she was enabled to reach her home in Elbert, where she afterwards married a
Mr. Hunt. Many of her descendants are still living, who will vouch for the
truth of this story."
