My 4th great grandfather, Reverand James Copus opened his door and was providing cover for three soldiers as they ran to get in the Copus cabin. As he exchanged fire with the Indians, he was shot by one of them and died about an hour later. When he fell, his fifteen year old daughter, Nancy shut the door but before she got it closed, a ball caught her in the knee, which caused her to have a slight limp for the rest of her life. Two of the soldiers tore out some of the floorboards and barricaded the door with them.
Nancy was lucky. Although the shot in her knee did not kill her, it could have. It was not a vital organ but it was quite common in those days to get infection or gangrene and die or have to have the injured limb amputated. Amputations were often unsuccessful back then and the patient died as a result of the amputation.
Nancy was lucky. Her mother, Amy Church Copus must have been skilled or at least, very vigilant at keeping her daughter’s wound clean and dressed to prevent infection. Nancy healed with no more than a slight limp. She grew to womanhood, married, and had a family and a normal life. And a heck of a good story to pass down to her children and grandchildren.
My 3rd great, great aunt, Nancy Copus was born on November 2, 1797 in Greene County, Pennsylvania. She and her husband, James Archer, Jr. raised a family of eleven children. Nancy died on August 22, 1875 and is buried in the Bethel Cemetery/Ten Mile Cemetery outside of North Baltimore, Wood County, Ohio.