03/18/2026
The Learn Family Massacre – July 3, 1781
One of the lesser-known tragedies in Pocono history occurred on July 3, 1781, during the American Revolutionary War. The event, now known as the Learn Family Massacre, took place near present-day Tannersville in what was then Northampton County, Pennsylvania (today Monroe County). During the attack, several members of the Learn family were killed when a small group of Native American warriors raided their homestead.
Much of what we know about the event comes from a letter written on July 8, 1781, by Easton official Robert Levers to Joseph Reed, the President of Pennsylvania’s Supreme Executive Council. In it, Levers described the attack based on reports from survivors and local witnesses.
The Learn Family
The family patriarch, John Learn, was originally Johannes Martinus Lerner, born in Munich, Germany in 1719. After immigrating to Pennsylvania around 1750, he settled in the Pocono region and eventually purchased land in the Tannersville area. His home stood on land that would later become the site of Brown’s Hotel.
Learn and his wife had a large family, believed to include between 10 and 13 children. Among those connected to the tragedy were:
John Learn Sr., the father
George Learn, his eldest son
Young John Learn, another son who survived the attack
George Learn’s wife and young child
Life on the frontier was dangerous at the time. Raids by Native American war parties—sometimes allied with the British during the Revolutionary War—were not uncommon in isolated settlements.
Tensions Before the Attack
Before the massacre, John Learn had reportedly asked Colonel Jacob Stroud, the local militia commander, to station soldiers at his property because of its exposed location. According to later reports, Stroud refused the request and accused Learn of being a Tory, or Loyalist supporter. The accusation created tension between the two men, and Learn even pursued legal action over the claim.
Some local officials later wondered if this feud played a role in the lack of protection for the family.
The Attack
According to the surviving account of young John Learn, the violence began suddenly.
George Learn was cutting grass in a meadow near the house when he was ambushed. He attempted to run back to the house but was overtaken, killed, and scalped.
Not far away, John Learn Sr. and young John were working in a rye field when they were fired upon. The elder Learn attempted to defend himself but was shot and killed. Young John managed to escape.
While hiding and watching the scene unfold, young John spotted one of the attackers in the field adjusting his rifle. Seizing the opportunity, he fired and struck the man in the head, killing him. Fearing the remaining attackers and realizing he was alone, he fled the area rather than continue the fight.
Meanwhile, George Learn’s wife and child were taken captive from the house. Tragically, both were killed a short distance away.
The Pursuit
After the attack, Colonel Stroud organized a group of roughly 50 men to track the attackers. The group followed their trail toward the Great Swamp in the Pocono region, but the pursuit ultimately failed.
According to reports, some members of the search party had brought a keg of whiskey and became intoxicated during the chase. Their noise reportedly alerted the attackers, who fled deeper into the swamp, abandoning some stolen items but escaping capture.
A Dark Chapter in Pocono History
The Learn Family Massacre was one of many violent episodes that occurred along the Pennsylvania frontier during the Revolutionary War. At the time, the region was caught between colonial settlers, Native American tribes, and the larger conflict between Britain and the American colonies.
Though not as widely known as the Wyoming Massacre, which happened three years earlier, the Learn tragedy serves as a reminder of how dangerous life was for early settlers in the Pocono Mountains.
Today the story remains part of local history. A mural in the Penn-Stroud Hotel commemorates the event, and John Learn Sr. is believed to be buried near Cold Springs in Tannersville.
The story of the Learn family is a sobering glimpse into the hardships and conflicts that shaped early life in the Poconos.
Information came from
The Pennsylvania State Archives-
The personal correspondence between Robert Levers to the President of the Supreme Council of PA. Dated July 8, 1781 (series 1, vol. 9 pages 257- 260)
