The Draper's Meadows Massacre of 1755

The French and Indian War was underway in 1755 with colonial forces attacking the French in Nova Scotia, New York and on the Ohio River.  On the Ohio River, operations were conducted by General Edward Braddock who had arrived earlier in 1755 from England with two regiments of regular British army.  Braddock marched an army of British soldiers and colonial militia to Pennsylvania to attack the French at Fort Duquesne, however, his army was ambushed by the French and Indians and defeated.

Ruth Scaggs Bishop

Bishop family legend has it that John Bishop was married to a Ruth Skaggs (Scaggs), who was previously captured by Indians, possibly having 1 or 2 children by the Indian.  To my knowledge there isn't any proof of this Indian capture story, however there is evidence that Ruth Scaggs existed, came to the marriage with John Bishop with two children, Rachel Scaggs and Darky Gothrin, and had a child of her own with John Bishop, David Bishop.

Lord Dunmore's War

Many of the Scaggs family of Virginia were involved in the militia during Lord Dunmore's War in 1774.  Lord Dunmore was the Governor of colonial Virginia.  White settlers and the Indians were in conflict over land disputes on the Virginia frontier in present day West Virginia and Kentucky.  Lord Dunmore decided to put an end to this frontier conflict with an attack against the Indians using Virginia militia.

The Chickamauga Expedition of 1779

The Revolutionary War for the settlers of the frontier in Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia and the future states of Kentucky and Tennessee consisted of many battles against hostile Indian tribes led by British agents, military and Tories.  A major campaign in 1779 against the Cherokee was the Chickamauga Expedition.  The Virginia militia was involved in this mission to float down the Tennessee River to attack the Cherokee near present day Chattanooga.

John Skaggs, father of Zachariah?

Many researchers speculate that Zachariah Scaggs was related to Old Peter Scaggs in some way, either his father or his brother.  If so, we would like to know who Zachariah's father was.  There is evidence that Zachariah Scaggs likely had a father named John.

UPDATE: The Skaggs DNA Project has demonstrated that Zachariah Skaggs was NOT the father of Old Peter.

Zachariah Skaggs

Zachariah Skaggs is one of the more popular suggestions as father of Old Peter Skaggs, however, to my knowledge no-one has proven or even made a solid circumstantial case.  There does appear to be some relationship between the two men, however, a father/son relationship seems remote.  If so, why didn't Zachariah post surety of Peter's marriage like he did for his documented son Jerimiah's marriage earlier in the year?