Horrible Harpes: Murder on the Wilderness Road
Two Brothers Sharing Three Women Terrorized Kentucky and Tennessee
Micajah Harpe was born in 1768 and his brother Wiley in 1770, both in North Carolina. Their father fought with the British during the Revolution. After the war, neighbors persecuted the family. Some say this atmosphere of hatred made the boys wicked.
Brothers Shared Three Women
Wiley Harpe married Sally Rice, a minister’s daughter, in Tennessee. Micajah married Susan Roberts; her sister, Betsey, was auxiliary wife.
While frontiersmen carved communities from the wilderness, the Harpes launched a slaughtering binge. After discovery of the Cumberland Gap, pioneers swarmed through the mountains to Kentucky. Most were hardy, honest, hard-working people seeking new land, but a few tried to live off the toil of others.
Trail of Carnage Criss-Crossed Kentucky
After terrorizing Tennessee for three years, the Harpes came through the Gap to begin a trail of carnage which criss-crossed Kentucky many times.
In December of 1798, the Harpes started along the Wilderness Trail, killing and robbing travelers. They headed for Crab Orchard, gathering place for travelers. From there roads led to Louisville and Cincinnati.
They stopped at John Farris’s tavern. A well-heeled Virginian, Stephen Langford, had spent the night and was awaiting breakfast when the Harpes arrived. Miserable looking, they seemed objects of pity and their ferocious looks were attributed to hunger. Hearing them refused food for lack of money, Langford bought their breakfast and, being alone, asked them to join him on the trail.
Harpes Killed Benevolent Traveler
The three pregnant women led Langford to suspect they were a family out to settle in Kentucky. The Harpes not only joined him, but soon disjoined him from life. Langford’s battered, mutilated remains were found and taken to the tavern for identification.
A posse caught the Harpes. All five were taken to the Danville, KY jail under armed guard. The Harpes had a reputation for escaping custody. Jail records show that this jail purchased two horse locks, three pounds of nails for reinforcingt the building and a new front door lock.
Jail Became Maternity Ward
When the worst winter weather was past, the brothers broke through the wall, leaving the expectant women behind. All had been fed and sheltered most of the winter! The jailer was out the cost of repairs and now running a maternity ward!
There were more expenses for midwives and whiskey for the pregnant trio. Betsy delivered in February, Susan in March and Sally in April.
Justice took a strange twist at the murder trial. Based on the same evidence, Sally was acquitted, Betsy found not guilty and Susan found guilty. Susan’s sentence was later reversed. Motherhood gained sympathy and the three women were given clothes, money and an old mare to take them to Tennessee. They headed for the Green River, traded the mare for a canoe and joined their men in more foraging across Kentucky—but not for long.
Both Brothers Beheaded
Micajah Harpe was shot and beheaded at age 31 in 1799. Wiley was hanged and beheaded five years later at age 34. Sally Rice returned to the home of her preacher father, who packed up the family and left Tennessee shortly afterward.
The story of the Harpe brothers has been passed down in the families of the wives and the victims. Family researchers, including Tom Powell of Boise, Idaho, have verified names and dates through census and other records and documented such things as victims, jail stays and other details. Chief sources of this story are research conducted by the author and an article titled "A Tale of Bloodshed on the Wilderness Road," which appeared in Vol. 2. No. 4 (March, 1974) of The Rice Family News-Journal, published in Machias, Maine.
