Mary Ann Bridger

(1836-1848)

oregonpioneers.com
Compiled by Stephenie Flora
copyright © 2004

Mary Ann Bridger
b. 18 Nov 1835 Rocky Mountains
d. Mar 1848 Oregon City, OR
d/o James “Jim” Bridger (1804-1881) and Cora Insala (1820-1845)

Cora Insala was the daughterof Insala, Chief of the Flathead Nation (Little Chief or Scar Face).

James “Jim” Bridger was born March 17, 1804, probably in Richmond, VA. He was the son of James and Chloe (Tyler) Bridger. He entered the Fur Trade in 1822 when 17 years old when he joined William Henry Ashley’s Expedition.

He had conversational knowledge of French, Spanish and several native languages. He would come to know many of the major figures of the early west, including Brigham Young, Kit Carson, John Fremont, Joseph Meek, and John Sutter.

In 1830, Bridger and several other trappers bought out Ashley and established the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, competing with the Hudson Bay Company and John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company for the beaver pelt trade. In 1838, Bridger and Louis Vasquez built a trading post, later named Fort Bridger, on the west bank of the Green River to serve pioneers on the Oregon Trail.

Jim Bridger was to marry three times resulting in six known children. Mary Ann Bridger was his first child. Mary Ann’s mother, Cora, died in 1845 at Fort Bridger, Unita Co, WY, shortly after delivery of her third child, Josephine. Jim Bridger died in Washington, MO on July 17, 1881.

Notes:

Mary Ann is of a mild disposition and easily governed and makes but little trouble. She came here last August. Helen has been here nearly a year and a half. The Lord has taken our own dear child away so that we may care for the poor outcasts of the country and suffering children. We confine them altogether to English and do not allow them to speak a word of Nez Perces. [Narcissa Whitman, Letter to Sister Jane Mar. 1, 1842]

Mary Ann Bridger, 11; recovering from measles, was in kitchen at time of massacre, died a few months after she was rescued and taken to Oregon City. She was the daughter of the well known mountain man, Jim Bridger and his Indian wife, Chloe Tyler. Mary had been left at the mission to attend school.

With Mary Ann Bridger, Helen Mar Meek and little David Malin, it brought Narcissa's half-breed family up to five.

John Sager came into the sitting room to wind twine for brooms while Mary Ann Bridger came in to dust. In the kitchen, Mrs. Hayes was preparing the noonday meal while Joe Stanfield stood by. Stanfield had proposed marriage and had been smartly turned down. She had an intense dislike for him, partially brought on by the fact that he was baptized as a Catholic and was too friendly with Nicholas Finley and Joe Lewis, who she considered troublemakers.

As Mary Ann Bridger and Catherine Sager were setting the table for the midday meal there was a knock at the outside door. Whitman answered the door to find Green Cap standing in the cold drizzle, hunched up under his blanket. "A son of Tilaukait is dead," he said. "He is being taken to the burial grounds now." Whitman must have received the news with dread. Tilaukait had already lost two young sons to measles and dysentry and the loss of another was troubling news. The doctor picked up his well worn bible, put on his coat and hat and accompanied Green Cap into the returning fog.

As the doctor went to the medicine cabinet, Narcissa went to the pantry to get a cup of milk for Elizabeth. Mary Ann was washing dishes in the kitchen and John had moved into the kitchen with his broom twine.

As he entered the kitchen he was engaged in a brief parley with Tilaukait. While his attention was diverted, Tomahas dropped his blanket that had been concealing a tomahawk and brought it down upon the head of the unsuspecting doctor. Mary Ann Bridger, still in the kitchen, ran outdoors. John Sager leaped for a loaded pistol on the wall but was shot by Tilaukait before he could reach it. Sager fell to the floor, arms sprawled out, face upward. Calmly Tilaukait drew a kife and slit the boy's throat.

Crowding through the doorway at the same time was Mary Ann Bridger, breathless and white faced. She ran to Mother Whitman crying "They're killing Father!"

Now the sound of splitting doors filled the air. The women screamed and began pushing the children toward the stairway. Mary Ann and Catherine carried Helen and Louise upstairs. There Lorinda Bewley sat on her bed, wrapped in a blanket, mouthing words without sound. Kimball regained his feet and followed with the pitcher of water as Andrew Rodgers lifted Narcissa to her feet and moved her toward the stairway. In the crowded room upstairs Rodgers fell to his knees and began to pray

“Mary A. Bridger, daughter of Captain Bridger of Fort Bridger, aged about 13 years, died at the residence of Mr. A.L. Hedges in this city.” [Oregon Spectator Mar 23, 1848 p.3:6]

Notes:

“She would take Mary Ann, the Indian-dark child of Jim Bridger.” . [The Great Command by Nard Jones, Boston, 1959, p.235]

“Mary Ann is of a mild disposition and easily governed and makes but little trouble. She came here last August. Helen has been here nearly a year and a half. The Lord has taken our own dear child away so that we may care for the poor outcasts of the country and suffering children. We confine them altogether to English and do not allow them to speak a word of Nez Perces.” [Narcissa Whitman, Letter to Sister Jane Mar. 1, 1842]

With Mary Ann Bridger, Helen Mar Meek and little David Malin, it brought Narcissa's half-breed family up to five.

November 1841 was one of the first confrontations with the Indians. “Narcissa and Helen Mar and Mary Ann were in the kitchen when they burst in.” . [The Great Command by Nard Jones, Boston, 1959, p.239]

In 1843, sick and with her husband away Narcissa was taken to Fort Walla Walla by McKinlay. “He made a bed in the wagon and led the poor woman to it, bidding Helen Mar and Mary Ann and David Malin to come along.” . [The Great Command by Nard Jones, Boston, 1959, p.267]

After a stay at Fort Walla Walla an invitation came from the Methodist mission at the Dalles to come stay there. “On October 29, she and the two girls were welcomed by the Reverend and Mrs. H.K.W. Perkins, the Daniel Lees, and the Henry Brewers. The McKinlays agreed to keep David Malin at the fort until spring.” . [The Great Command by Nard Jones, Boston, 1959, p.267]

“So it was arranged and, filled with misgivings, Narcissa and Helen Mar and Mary Ann left for Waiilatpu on April 3 (1844).” . [The Great Command by Nard Jones, Boston, 1959, p.270]

Without Whitman the prospect at Waiilatpu was bleak so Narcissa consented to go down river. “Gentle Myra Eells ovvered to take Mary Ann Bridger and David Malin, but little Helen Mar was kept by the side of the only mother she would ever know.” . [The Great Command by Nard Jones, Boston, 1959, p.272]

Sun. May 11, 1845 “Dr. Whitman had the five orphan sisters & Mary Ann B. baptized.” .” [Shallow Grave At Waiilatpu: The Sagers West by Erwin N. Thompson, The Press of the Oregon Historical Society, Portland, OR, 1985 p.73]

“Except for three very sick girls, Louise Sager, Helen Mar Meek, and Mary Ann Bridger, who were kept in the living room, the rest of the children made their beds in the attic over the main part of the house.” .” [Shallow Grave At Waiilatpu: The Sagers West by Erwin N. Thompson, The Press of the Oregon Historical Society, Portland, OR, 1985 p.91]

John Sager came into the sitting room to wind twine for brooms while Mary Ann Bridger came in to dust. . [The Great Command by Nard Jones, Boston, 1959, p. 327]

“Mary Ann Bridger and Catherine Sager were setting the table for the midday meal when Father Whitman got the dread news that came daily now. There was a knock at the outside door and Whitman answered. Green Cap stood impassibely in the cold drizzle, hunching blanketed shoulders against his cheek. "A son of Tilaukait is dead," he said. "He is being taken to the burial grounds now." [The Great Command by Nard Jones, Boston, 1959, p.327]

As the doctor went to the medicine cabinet, Narcissa went to the pantry to get a cup of milk for Elizabeth. “Mary Ann was washing the dishes that Mrs. Hays had stacked before returning to the mansion house for the afternoon. John Sager brought his broom twin into the kitchen, for Bridger’s daughter was already a dark beauty, as much a woman as had been her Indian mother at eleven.” . [The Great Command by Nard Jones, Boston, 1959, p.330]

“John Sager, who was just recovering from the measles, was out in the kitchen preparing twine for new brooms. With him was Mary Ann Bridger. She should have been in school but she too was feeling ill, but well enough to help by washing the noon-time dishes.” [Shallow Grave At Waiilatpu: The Sagers West by Erwin N. Thompson, The Press of the Oregon Historical Society, Portland, OR, 1985 p.95]

As he entered the kitchen he was engaged in a brief parley with Tilaukait. While his attention was diverted, Tomahas dropped his blanket that had been concealing a tomahawk and brought it down upon the head of the unsuspecting doctor. “The Bridger girl raised the window sash, screaming, and fell outside.” . [The Great Command by Nard Jones, Boston, 1959, p.331] Note: most accounts state she used the door and it would certainly make more sense.

“When Mary Ann got to her feet beneath the kitchen window, and ran screaming around the house, carpenter Hall slid down from the roof…..”. [The Great Command by Nard Jones, Boston, 1959, p.328]

“Crowding Elizabeth through the same doorway was Mary Ann Bridger, breathless and as white as any paleface girl, her dress smeared with mud after the leap from the kitchen window. She ran to Narcissa, crying, `They’re killing Father!’” . [The Great Command by Nard Jones, Boston, 1959, p.333]

“Mary Ann Bridger was in the kitchen when the Indians attacked Father. She ran out doors and around the house and came in at the west door. She was too much frightened to speak, but when asked if Father was dead, said `Yes’!” [The Whitman Massacre of 1847 by Catherine, Elizabeth and Matilda Sager, Ye Galleon Press, Fairfield, WA 1986 p.59]

“Mary Ann Bridger was sitting by the Doctor when he was attacked. She says that he fell where he was sitting.” [The Whitman Massacre of 1847 by Catherine, Elizabeth and Matilda Sager, Ye Galleon Press, Fairfield, WA 1986 p.62]

Mary Ann Bridger was the only eye-witness of the attack on Dr. Whitman and John Sager, which had occurred just before the attack on the men at the beef. She ran out of the kitchen door and around the house and got into the room where Mrs. Whitman and the rest of the family were and cried, `Oh, the Indians are killing father and John!’ [The Whitman Massacre of 1847 by Catherine, Elizabeth and Matilda Sager, Ye Galleon Press, Fairfield, WA 1986 p.116]

Crowding through the doorway at the same time was Mary Ann Bridger, breathless and white faced. She ran to Mother Whitman crying "They're killing Father!"

The Indians talked those upstairs to come down. “They all went down with the exception of Mr. K., Marianne Bridger, three children that were sick, and myself (Catherine Sager)”. [The Whitman Massacre of 1847 by Catherine, Elizabeth and Matilda Sager, Ye Galleon Press, Fairfield, WA 1986 p.61]

Late in the evening “Mary Anne and Elizabeth fell asleep.” [The Whitman Massacre of 1847 by Catherine, Elizabeth and Matilda Sager, Ye Galleon Press, Fairfield, WA 1986 p.66]

The remaining women and children were transferred to the mission house. “Poor Mary Ann Bridger was tottering along by herself.” [The Whitman Massacre of 1847 by Catherine, Elizabeth and Matilda Sager, Ye Galleon Press, Fairfield, WA 1986 p.124]

“Mary A. Bridger, daughter of Captain Bridger of Fort Bridger, aged about 13 years, died at the residence of Mr. A.L. Hedges in this city.” [Oregon Spectator Mar 23, 1848 p.3:6]

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