Sidneh Rosine (Brown) and George Fleming

Soon after I began this “addiction” called family genealogy research I came to realize that there were many things about the process of discovery that contributed to my obsession. But I think for me, the most rewarding part is when I find stories about my ancestors, especially those of personal triumph against foes and odds, be they of man or of nature. These are two such stories of two remarkable people who I and so many others of us share DNA. At times in my life when I meet challenges along the way, I find strength in my ancestors, even my 6th great grandparents!

First, here’s the descendant line: It migrates from Chester Co. SC to Gadsden Co. FL.

George Fleming married Sidneh Rosine, who was the widow Brown. Their daughter, Sidnah Fleming married Matthew W. McClintock. Their daughter, Jane McClintock married Alexander P. Clark. Their son, David Clark married Mary Alice McKeown. Their daughter, Sidnah Clark married Robert V. Suber. Their daughter, Annie Lee Suber married Walter Washington Rudd, my great grandfather Rudd.

That’s how this line of Rosine, Fleming, McClintock, Clark, McKeown, and Suber blood become one with my Rudd blood. And that’s really the way I like to look at it. All that DNA is mixed up in me. I strive to be worthy of it!

George Fleming

George Fleming, a native of England, sailed from Ireland for America with a gentleman named Kelso. They were men of wealth and George Fleming belonged to the aristocracy, his family crest being a gauntleted hand and a flaming sword. The ship they sailed on was wrecked three miles from the American coast (where about is not known).

A day or two before the wreck, a boy on the ship said he was troubled about a dream he had had the night before -- he dreamt that a rat bit off his big toe. During a terrific storm the vessel was driven on the rocks. The boat's crew tore up planks and made a raft and put off, leaving the passengers to their fate. George Fleming and his friend emptied their chests and their gold (a large amount) overboard and lashed their chests together and, tying a rope to them, heaved them overboard. They asked the boy who had had the dream to jump into one of the chests but could not prevail on him to try, but he said, "I'll hold the rope for your." Fleming jumped and caught the chests, although he was large and heavy. Kelso, the more active of the two, jumped and missed them and sank to rise no more. The boy went down with the wreck. Fleming floated to shore as the tide was coming in. One good swimmer swam to shore. One woman with two children drifted to shore on the quarterdeck. One of the children was dead. Only one of them was her own. The long-boat had been lost on the voyage. When the storm arose, the Captain sent out a boat for a Pilot but it was never heard from again.

George Fleming went first to Charlestown, South Carolina, and afterwards to Virginia, where he bought convicts from England. In Virginia he became acquainted with and married a Mrs. Brown, whose husband and child had been killed by Indians. She was Sidneh Rosine. George Fleming was a widower, with one son named James, when he met Mrs. Brown

Sidneh Rosine (Brown)

During Sidneh Rosine's first marriage, while living with her husband, Brown, and a little son, a party of six Indians and one Frenchman, disguised as an Indian, came to the house one day as the snow was falling at the commencement of winter and knocked on the door. One of them said, "Who keeps house?" Brown, deceived by the English words, opened the door and they rushed in and attacked the family. Brown killed one Indian with a sickle. The rest emptied their rifles into him and he fell dead. They then took the two year old boy from his cradle and dashed his brains out against the jamb. They tied Mrs. Brown, set fire to the barn where the cattle were and burned them. She said the moans and cries of the burning beasts were terrible to hear. They then took what clothing they wanted. They caught up a feather bed, cut it open and shook the feathers out in the storm, laughing and yelling like demons to see the feathers fly. They then started with Sidneh Rosine Brown, a prisoner, her house a desolation and her dead lying unburied, to meet some stronger parties of Indians who were going to Canada.

After some days their provisions gave out. One night, when they were almost perishing with hunger, a young Indian roasted a skin shot-pouch and, dividing it, offered some of it to all the rest. All took some, except one old Indian and the captive woman, Sidneh. When she refused to eat of it, the old Indian patted her on the back in approval of her power of endurance. She one day asked the Frenchman how he could be so cruel, saying she knew he was a white man and a Frenchman. "How do you know that?" he said. She replied, "I know you are white by the color of your eyes. No Indian ever has blue eyes."

They crossed the Ohio River high up at a narrow point on a raft and one of the Indians shot a buffalo across the river, which was considered by them a good shot. Sidneh Brown gave birth to a son on the wearisome journey. The Indians broke the ice on a stream and after plunging him in the water, returned him to his mother. Afterward, having performed the entire journey on foot, they arrived at Quebec and sold her to the French for five French crowns. (One crown = $1.06 1/2).

The French Governor kindly invited her to stay with his family, which she did. She was always grateful for their kindness. They were Catholics. The daughter of the house, having by some means obtained a Protestant Bible, asked Mrs. Brown to read it to her as she could not read English.

In the year 1759 Mrs. Brown was exchanged and tried to start home on foot, but one of her feet had been badly injured with cold and the long journey on foot, she gave out one day. At the same time General Wolfe's army came up on their way to Quebec and General Phillip Schyler, moved with noble generosity, took her back and told General Wolfe to send a surgeon to her. The surgeon sent an apprentice. Schyler would not be put off but told General Wolfe her history and insisted that the surgeon must come himself. The surgeon was sent immediately and she was taken to a hotel for English officers, where she remained until she was well. Then she started home again and, as she said, "back to the old desolation."

She was still young and, as stated before, became acquainted with and married George Fleming, an Englishman and a high churchman (Episcopalian). He had a brother in England whose name was Richard. In conformity with English custom, he wore a wig. He belonged to the nobility and his family crest was a gauntleted hand and a flaming sword. His grandfather owned a war horse and a coat of mail and had been a soldier in some of the English wars.

George Fleming and his wife settled near Bull's Run, Virginia, and at the close of the Revolutionary War they moved to Winsborough, South Carolina. Two daughters were born to them, Margaret and Sidneh. Margaret Fleming was married to Robert Stuart Coulter, and Sidneh Fleming was married to Matthew McClintock. George Fleming and his wife died and were buried at Winsborough, South Carolina. Her son, young Brown, who was born during her captivity, lived to become an Indian fighter of note. He determined to go into Governor Dunsmore's war with "Cornstalk". His mother opposed, but he hid an old gun in the woods and went although he was only a boy. In battle he was so rash and incautious that the soldiers, on several occasions, jerked him back out of danger. No more is known of him except that he married a widow and went to live away from his own people.

They had the following children:

Margaret FLEMING, female, born in 1764 and died in 1835.

Sidneh FLEMING, female, born before 1772 and died January 20, 1839.

George and Sidneh Fleming were buried in Winsborough, South Carolina.

Did you notice the irony in the story of George Fleming? He first went to Charleston, SC and later to Virginia where he BOUGHT CONVICTS FROM ENGLAND!

I want to thank my fellow researcher who shared this story with me. I apologize that I’m not certain I can recall who it was. I believe it was a couple of people. And if you are reading this posting and it was you, please let me know so I can express my appreciation publicly. Like I’ve said before, we are all so much richer in our research when we work together and share information.

And if you’re reading this and recognize any of these names but you don’t know if you’re connected, email me. Maybe I can help. I’m always looking for more cousins!!