hv_swaynej_diary_1798_012

on the Ground 13th of the Month rode about 35 miles to Ft. Franklin having a difficult Road and horse feed very dear, oats being about two Dollars per Bushel; we put up and lodged at John Andrews Tavern where we got pretty good accomodations tho very dear 14th of the Month went to the Garrison to see George Fowler who appeared very oblidging, and furnished us with what provender we wanted for ourselves and Horses, and expressed a willingness to take care of all our Letters and Goods that came to his hands, and forward them to us if convenient, he also provided us a pilot to go to Conewango, through an uninhabited wood except by a few families, in the afternoon we set forward with our pilot and reached the House of James Tite[a?]s on the fertile banks of Oil Creek where we were kindly entertained without money or price, here we put bells on our Horses and let them run loose in the woods, the Man of the Hous informed us that he had gathered three Barrells of Oil in one year off the Waters of Oil Creek, and