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@@chrismusselwhite133 I mean, yes and no, the revolver was invented 200 years prior but its likely these ole boys didnt have them. They mainly killed folks with knives, brute force and the easily accessible guns. I just took a historical event with lots of facts and no story, and told it in my own words. Nothing more, nothing less. A lot of folks lost their mind about revolvers not being invented... well, they were... although these boys probably didnt use them. Thanks for watching the video. Ill try to do better to provide better entertainment for the cost that everyone paid to watch this video.... oh yeah, it was FREE to watch. Just saying...
When I was a teenager (35 years ago) in Kentucky, my father would tell me stories about the Harpe Bros that he heard from his father. One day he took me and my brother into the woods to a large mossy boulder. As he begin to wipe the moss away we began to see old carvings. Little Harpe and Big Harpe had carved their names into the rock. His father had shown him as a child and it is still there to this day. Covered in moss again, but it's there. I still know the location but never showed anyone else for fear that they would vandalize it. The last time I took the short hike through the woods and found the stone was about 12 years ago.
Thanks for your excellent story. I’m a Harp(e). My grandfather told me as a kid that we dropped the E off of the end of our name as we wanted to distance ourselves. Sure was crazy when about 20 years later when I was asked if I was related to the Harpe brothers, then handed a book to read. Then I was floored. Many thanks for the story telling. The video is really great too.
My maiden name was "Earp" rhymes with harp. It came over in 1669 with Thomas Earpe jr. Census records have listed it as Arp, Harp, Earp, Earpe, etc. My third great-grandfather was listed in various census records as Arp, Earp, and Harp. We are probably cousins. We are pretty thick on the ground. Hello!
Please keep making these you have a wonderful way of telling the stories and I love the voice over that’s speaking it really takes me to the Appalachian mountains u really do have a great channel 👍🏻
I'd 'bout reckon that them Harp boys ain't exactly hearing nary a bit of music from an Angel's Harp, if you smell what I'm stepping in. Thanky once again JD for another fascinating, but brutal tale of those no good for nothing Scallywags.🤠
I'm not sure if JD cares whether I ever sleep another wink or not! But I'll still share as soon as this is public fare bc I'm nothing if not generous to my friends. If they stop sleeping too, at least I'll have somebody to talk to.
You truly have such a gift of story telling!! I was captivated from the opening lines. I could seriously listen to you read the dictionary. Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful, sad, and now even gruesome history of the people of Appalachia.
Stories like this are true pages of history. I like hearing it from here. Good or bad history must be told in its entirety so that people in this generation and generation to come must know, learned and benefits the lessons history.
I live along side the Natchez Trace National Historic Parkway. There have been books written about the goings on along the Trace, including the revolution that Arron Burr tried to start using slaves, and his capture and trial close to the Trace. Each of the books claim that the Harp brothers operated on the Trace as far down as Natchez. Natchez is the second oldest city in the United States and as soon as it became part of the United States a town named Washington, just a five minute ride today from Natchez became the legal capital of the territory. It was there, according to the books that Little Harp came in to identify his brother's head to collect the bounty for positive identification. Back then it was too hard to haul a body the entire way to the distant law office, so heads were cut off, rolled in clay and transported that way. When Little Harp identified his brother there was someone present who could identify Little Harp and he was arrested, hung from a tree on the Trace and left to rot. When there was nothing left except skull and bones, the skull was stuck into a place in the tree and a sign was put up saying something like "This is what is left of Little Harp, this is what we do to murderers. Of course, over the years I have seen books and videos about the Harp story taking place all the way up the Trace to the Cumberland Trail and beyond, so I doubt that even though there are old records from newspapers of the day, that we will ever know where they really roamed and were caught. Of interest, in the Natchez Trace park office in Tupelo, Mississippi, the half way point from Nashville to Natchez, I was allowed to check out the original map made by the Park of the original Trace and where route that the Parkway takes. Along with that I checked put an actual travel guide to the Trace that was put together in the late 1700s. It listed miles between each stand (or inn, hotel, B&B) with a description of what each was like. Some provided travelers with the best and others nothing more than a lean to to sleep under and one even carried the warning, "It is best if you keep going and make your way to the next stand because the owner here is a nasty sort." So we think that since the automobile arrived that such things were invented but truth is, these guides existed long before our great, great, great grandparents were born.
I love hearing about the stories of the Scots-Irish settlers in the Northern Appalachian American Colonies. So much history that is documented, but not nearly as known of but instead spoken of between townsfolk and passed down generations.
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller I absolutely love the true stories you tell, even though some may be harsh and brutal. That's what our heritage and country consists of. Good and the, even terrible.
I just found your channel and I'm hooked. I'm from Michigan and I love learning about the Appalachian history. You have a way of taking us right to that moment in time. Thank you.
The book American Nations by Colin Woodard devotes a lot of the story of different groups to those who came to America from the Borderlands of Scotland and Ireland due to poverty. These people were independent and many as mean as could be but their story makes up a huge part of what our country is today.
They didn't. The narrator is taking a lot of license with his imagery, which bears no reality to the weaponry of the era. There are no known images of the brother's, just descriptors. The abbreviated version is best told via Wikipedia, and on other sites.
Revolver is often used as a synonym for handgun. It drives me crazy to hear people still say police revolver when modern police almost exclusively use semi automatic pistols.
That's some bad ass music in the background, pretty cool knowin you wrote that part to, these remind me of a modern version of the old radio programs our grandparents listened to. There just as entertaining to.
This story was really good. It kept you involved in the storytelling. These brothers were pretty gruesome on the people they killed and the way they did it. I've heard other stories about the cave in the wall. Have a great weekend.
I'm not originally from the Appalachian's. My parents were French and we could trace our genealogy back to the mid 1770's to Normandy France where our ancestors started. Then two brothers sailed to Canada and our families eventually settled across the Saint John River into Maine at Van Buren, Aroostic County. My parents were from there, but after WWII they moved to Los Angeles, California where I was born and raised. But my parents have pasted years ago and to be closer to my own granddaughters I have retired and have settled in the Southwestern Appalachian's of NC. I've been in many countries across the world and this area is quite beautiful. Autumn is my favorite time of year here. I've always enjoyed the histories of places were I have lived, and the Appalachian's are no different. I enjoy hearing the stories from the really older people who remember what it was like. But I'm no spring chicken, I'm one of those old people too. LOL. My own history has been an adventure, but my family here are as redneck as they come. They are just the newer generation of the Appalachian's and they survived these difficult times. But I am blessed as I have gotten to watch my granddaughters grow up here. So I love your tales of the times that are now gone. It wasn't an easy life. But, like people everywhere they made do, survived their own ups and downs, and the children of today learn from the stories you tell and record so others may know. Thank you. It would be fun to sit at a campfire and listen to the stories you tell.
Thank you Foggy Mountain Witch. I have never been one to follow rules of templates of the way things are supposed to be, so I did my best to breathe life into this story into a way that I thought it should be told
Factual inconsistencies aside, and there were a few. This story I had never heard before and I thank you for telling it so well. Keep up the good work. Because history needs you.
As a Danish boy from 1959, when I was a child I learned about America from the TV, and most of our outdoor playtime was spend playing cowboys and indians. (We vere alvays playing around) Later I watched Sergio Leones movies and Soldier Blue, and found out, that the word isn't black and white. Now in an age of 64, I found your channel. I must say: You are an incredible good storyteller. There are a lot of stories to be told, and you do it incredible good. Thanks. :-)
This is the best documentary style story ever. I wonder they should do a mini series about Appalachian history. I'm from the Caribbean but my ancestors came from Spain. But like you guys I'm always looking for the family history. Congratulations on your accomplishments and successful story narratives. Love it !!!!
I've heard of these brothers before but I didn't know all the details! I don't think many people realize just how brutal the Revolution was, especially in the back country.
J.D, I don't know how you can top this story but I have a feeling you will. My daughter lives close to Cave in the Rock and we camped there back in August and we heard the Illinois version of this story but yours is the best. Stay safe out there my friend 🙏
Wow! What a crazy pair! Thanks for another great story! I much appreciate every story. Even the bad ones. God bless and Happy Holidays to you and yours.
Great Story!!! & gruesome as hell smh 💯🍻👍🏻... I love your channel as it is very informative & yet Educational for anyone interested in more about "Our" ancestors. We're all different & each has a unique story of they're own. Too bad Soo much has been lost in my family, It's going to take a lot of work tracking down. I've Soo far managed to find somethings out & still better than nothing. I think my family came right before the Civil War & they fought for the South, as most of my family over here are from The South - Maryland, Carolina's, Virginia, Tennessee, & Texas. Keep up with the outstanding research & awesome stories. I just love the American Wild West 💯🍻.
This was a very interesting story I thoroughly enjoyed hearing it. Unbelievable how crewel people were in those days. I'm not saying they aren't today just different 🙏💕
Really an awesome story. I enjoyed the history. How horrible. I am Appalachian and I traced my ancestors to 1785 Scotland and Cherokee Virginia. I am so sorry for what your parents went through.
Excellent history! This all happened right around where I am.. crazy to think about I've passed by some of these spots hundreds of times. Would definitely make a good trip finding all these places following their steps. Maybe one day! Thanks for sharing
I wanted to bring the story to life and have the story told by the killers themselves, I must admit that when I finished recording the narration for this video I felt physically sick
16:48 Certainly there were very rare (and very heavy) prototype flintlock revolvers in Europe in 1799 owned by a few very rich people, but I don't think revolvers were in common usage in America until Sam Colt came along in the 1830s with his percussion cap revolver.
Yep, it's a pity the style of firearms are so inaccurate as to distract from the authenticity of the narrative. The lever action rifle was 1873+, for example.
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller Question, I have heard of a bootlegger/moonshiner named Lewis Redmond but can't find out much about him. Do you know where I could?
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller He was a child during the CW, he became a Robin Hood moonshiner in the late 1800"s after the CW. As you may guess he pissed some people off, who hunted him down like a dog. He had many successful escapes. The last time he got in a shootout with LEO's. They left him for dead in his corn field. He got well and was tried and sent to prison. He made good whiskey, so a manufacturer wanted him to work for him. I believe the story goes Gov Wade Hampton of SC pardoned him or he got a presidential went to Columbia SC and lived a quiet life for the rest of his life. I heard it a story telling around a campfire in Jackson County NC. I have found some of the story goggling him, but not much
My grandfather did fight in the revolutionary war and so did two of his sons. One of them fought at kings mountain as well. My grandfather helped keep the British from coming around in a counter move from the British. My grandfather was out of the wheeling fort area when this was the wild open west. You can find him when you goggle. Moses Williamson. He actually knew Lew Wetzel.
@Keith Olsen: Yeah, I agree! There is NO WAY that someone who is alive today that had a grandfather who fought in the Revolutionary War! I suspect this person is full of s**t! It makes me wonder whether the story of the Harpe Brothers was true also! Throughout the story, which supposedly took place around 1790 or so, they kept showing pictures of men with lever-action rifles, which weren't invented for another 100 years! People are so gullible, they wanna' believe anything they're told!
Wow 😳 I was watching Tucker the other day and he had James Wood, the actor on his program. James said he was going to be inducted into the Sons of the Revolution..bc his ancestors was in that war. When I saw the James Wood in your story I was wondering if that was who he was talking about. It could be! Thanks JD for another great story! 🖐😃
Geez... that's nightmare material for me! Being 30% Scots, I never thought about how bad it could have been for new settlers back then... Thanks JD for the history 🤗❤️
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller I'm a big fan, greatly appreciate you! Still hoping to see if you do something on the topics I mentioned before... The one about the WV coal wars & shootings, I sent you some info in email about it & the sheriff that was gunned down on the courthouse steps in the aftermath... & especially about the origins of Lake Shawnee & the first settlers there & the Shawnee Indians ... And the haunted amusement park that's there now, you had a video had the Ferris wheel picture in a frame of the video... Thats a very interesting place!!! Very close to my home also, just on the other side of the county line of Wyoming & Mercer County... But I really enjoy your content & you can tell a story good & got the voice for it! Your full blooded hillbilly like me I can tell! Lol
That picture of two mountain men that is on your Wanted poster is a cartoon by Frederic Remington who put the caption as the man without the feather in his cap says to the man with the feather in his cap saying, "I almost mistook you fer and Injun."
“Take a big tall tree and a short piece of rope. Hang em up high and let em swing til the sun goes down.” Charlie Daniels- “Simple Man” *** Great story. 👍
Delightful young men ? Murdering women, children and babies ? Murdering people who gave them hospitality ? Yeah, they were "delightful" alright. The story was told very well though, and like someone said , history, good or bad is still history and shouldn't be cancelled out. Many thanks to the Appalachian Storyteller for it..
Cutting a man's head off while he's still alive enough to insult you during the process is truly hard core.😳 Then putting the head on a stick in the road! 🤯 I can't believe that someone hasn't made this story into a movie yet.
WOW ! These brothers were maniac's . I'm glad they were eventually caught and killed . Great story telling that's why I have been a subscriber for some time now . Looking forward to more.
I'm very thankful for the story thank you. I love anything like this or about civil war are native Americans or mtn ppl Appalachian ur very Awesome story teller thank you
Wikipedia knows. I'm surprised that the storyteller is fast and loose with his depictions, and can't even tell us what happened after the brothers were finally dead.
SEE THIS IS WHAT I"M SCREAMIN ABOUT...! AWESOME STORYTELLING....! GREAT STUFF! KEEP ROLLIN & I'LL KEEP LISTIN...! STEVE, CHARLOTTE, N.C. P.S. I'M HITTIN THE LIKE BUTTON.. TWICE! IF I CAN... GOOD LUCK....
Stopler revolver is arguably the world's oldest revolver known and existing today. It was made in 1597 by a German gunsmith named Hans Stopler. He made the gun in his shop in Nuremberg.
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller Just because it was invented doesn't mean they had them. No army up to the 1840s had them. Please just admit you were wrong on that part.
Good tale...unfortunately Chattanooga didn't exist in the 1780s, nor did Tennessee as a name of a State. Originally part of western North Carolina and then the SW Territory until 1796. Chattanooga was a small town in 1819 and then a trading post after Chief John Ross established it near Moccasin Bend in 1838.
Enjoy the content. My Brother Section Hikes the APPALACHIAN TRAIL a couple of times a year. Recently while I was sightseeing after Dropping him off at Hot Springs North Carolina, I came across a marker about the Shelton Laurel massacre. DO you have any content on this. It may be something interesting to cover!
Yeah I remember reading about these guys. I read that one of them bashed one of their own newborn babies against a tree when it wouldn't stop crying...
yup thats the one. Said it busted the babies head into a dozen pieces and he flung the body as far as he could into the woods, then went back to eating breakfast. I didnt include that murder in the story because I felt like most folks couldnt handle it. Good thing I didnt, because a lot of folks already couldnt handle this video.
My family is from. Cote Azur. They moved during the French Revolution from the French Riviera to Hoggs mountain ga. Can you believe it. ? But none of my family were as hideous as this.