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COPYRIGHT.
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[Pg 3]

PREFATORY NOTE.

I ACKNOWLEDGE my indebtedness to a friend of theForman family for calling my attention to the interestingnarrative of Major Samuel S. Forman’s earlyjourney down the Ohio and Mississippi, and for aidingme in securing a copy for publication. The manuscriptof this monograph, as now presented, has been submittedto friends and kindred of Major Forman, who knew himlong and well, and they have accorded it their warmapproval.

With their kind approbation, I feel encouraged to offerthis little contribution to western historical literature toan enlightened public.

L. C. D.

Madison, Wis.

[Pg 5]

MEMOIR
OF
MAJOR SAMUEL S. FORMAN.

EVERY addition to our stock of information touchingearly western history and adventure, and of the pioneercustoms and habits of a hundred years ago, deservesa kindly reception. The following narrative of a journeydown the Ohio and Mississippi, in 1789-90, was not reducedto writing till 1849, after a lapse of sixty years;but an unusually fine memory enabled Major Forman torelate such incidents of his trip as left a lasting impressionupon him, alike with interest and general accuracy.A sketch of the writer will give us a better insight intohis trustworthiness and character.

Major Forman, the third son of Samuel and HelenaDenise Forman, was born at Middletown Point, Monmouthcounty, New Jersey, July 21, 1765. He was too youngto participate in the Revolutionary war, during the stirringperiod of 1776 to 1780, in New Jersey; but his elderbrothers, Jonathan and Denise, were prominent andactive throughout the great struggle. Major Formanhas recorded some incidents of the war that occurred inhis region of New Jersey, and within his own knowledge,[Pg 6]worthy of preservation as interesting scraps of Revolutionaryhistory. At one time, a cousin of his, TunisForman, about seventeen years of age, met two Toryrobbers, and after one had fired at him and missed, he,getting the advantage of them in the adjustment of hisgun, forced them to throw down their weapons, when hemarched them several miles before him, and lodged themin jail at Freehold. For this brave act, young Formanreceived a large reward.[1]