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Somehow, our forefathers settled wild North America and probed the far corners of seven continents equipped with little more than animal skins, oil cloth and fulled wool. The Age of Exploration mostly preceded internal combustion engines and the fabulous array of high tech outdoor gear we fuss over today. I like to touch base with historical travel and camping methods from time to time to regain perspective.

These entries, made in June and December of 1772 and early in January of 1773, are from the travel journal of Reverend David Jones. Jones made two journeys west, the first with George Rogers Clark by canoe, a ways down the Ohio River. During his second and most eventful journey, Jones hitched a ride on a dugout canoe loaded above the gunwales with trade goods and traders paddling down the Ohio River, then upstream along the Scioto River, and overland to Shawnee communities in central Ohio.

Jones’ journeys coincided with the onset of a particularly cold interval within a larger historical cold period known as the Little Ice Age. During the Little Ice Age, average winter conditions were significantly cooler than today and extremes of winter weather more severe.

Jones was a missionary determined to save the souls of truculent Shawnee Indians. Offended Shawnee’s did not feel the need to be saved. Jones barely escaped with his life!

Jones’ narrative of his first tour mentions supplies and equipment obtained from George Croghan, one of the most traveled frontiersmen of the day:

Went to see colonel Croghan; was received by him very courteously; next day dined with him; his habitation was then four miles from Fort Pitt up the Allegini river—consulted with him about my visit to the Indians; found him well disposed, and willing to assist; was pleased to hear the colonel speak on matters relative to religion. He was kind enough to make me a present of a bear’s skin to sleep on, a belt of wampum to present to the Indians, and 60 pounds of biscuit to supply me in my journey.

Croghan must have sized-up Jones and decided he’d offer material assistance to the frontier greenhorn, he was a preacher, after all. The bear skin was of service, no doubt. After setting out down the Ohio with George Rogers Clark, Jones offered a hint of camping conditions:

This night my bed was gravel stones by the river side. . .

All the way, our lodging was on the banks of the river, which at first did not suit me, but custom made it more agreeable.

Jones returned to Fort Pitt (today’s Pittsburgh), then recrossed the Alleghenies to his home in the east to visit and to prepare for a longer journey by land in the autumn to fulfill his promise to the Indians to return. He purchased a covered wagon and other trail truck and set off with a companion, but he soon broke an axle in the Alleghenies and struck off by foot to the Ohio. Later, Jones intercepted a canoe floating down the Ohio and began a new journey the next day, December 27, 1772.

A canoe came along bound for the Shawanee towns. It partly belonged to Mr. John Irwine, an Indian trader with whom I was acquainted. It was 60 feet in length, and at least 3 feet  in breadth; fitted out with six hands and deeply loaden. The name of the chief hand is James Kelly, who offered to take me along…

The weather was snowy and severe, yet being lapped up in blankets received no damage. At night encamped on the west side of Ohio,  and by the assistance of a large fire, slept more comfortably than could be imagined, by those who are strangers to such lodging.

Monday, December 28…

This night was severely cold–the canoe was loaded near 18 inches above its sides; on this was my lodging, though well furnished with blankets, was afraid my feet would have been frozen. It may be well supposed that thoughts of sleep in such apparent danger were not the most pleasing; for moving a few inches in sleep, would have made the bottom of Ohio to be my bed… In the morning found myself safely preserved…

Wednesday, 30th…

This morning, took breakfast of chocolate, using rum as an ingredient instead of milk, and seemed very useful here in the wilderness,  where flesh was our chief provision.

Somewhere in Lawrence County, Ohio downstream from the mouth of Great Sandy River…

Saturday, Jan.2, it rained so that we were obliged to remain in camp: and tho’ we stretched our blankets, the rain was so excessive, that we lay soaking wet in our beds through great part of the night. No night seemed more uncomfortable than this, yet was not sensible of any damage received.

January 3, it rained most part of the day, so that part of us remained in camp; but others, being worse disposed, went out to hunt, though we were not in real want of provisions: is was so ordered that they killed nothing.

March 26, 27, 1773, Jones’ homecoming in New Jersey was preceded by the sorrowful news that his favored son Benjamin had passed. This was the third child Jones and his wife had lost, he was overwhelmed with grief.

Ideas of my darling came fresh into my soul–I knew not how to go home and miss him…

In closing his account, Jones summarized hardships of his second tour of Ohio:

This tour contained six months and one day, in which greater hardships were endured, than are spoken of, but may be conceived by remembering that in rainy and snowy weather blankets stretched were all my house: and in fair weather no other shelter than the open air: but in many respects, have learned more in this time, than in all my life before.

The Reverend David Jones’ journal offers us a unique glimpse of frontier life on the Ohio River and along the Ohio Country frontier. He did not remain a greenhorn. Jones did not fade into obscurity after his Ohio “tours”. Throughout his long life, he demonstrated intrepid resourcefulness and patriotism in support of the cause of independence. His battlefield sermons rallied and energized battered soldiers and his national service continued heroically as army reverend and as army doctor for armies through and including the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, well into uncommonly old age.