USA > Alabama > Revolutionary soldiers buried in Alabama > Part 4
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Extract from Flag of the Union, published at Tuscaloosa, Jan- uary 17, 1838:
Horseshoe Robinson-Who has not read Kennedy's delightful novel of this name, and who that has read it would not give an half day's ride to see the venerable living IIero of this Tale of "Tory Ascendency," the immortal Horseshoe himself-the exter- mination of "Jim Curry" and Hugh Habershaw? The venerable Patriot bearing the familiar sobriquet, and whose name Mr. Ken- nedy has made as familiar in the mouths of American youths as household words, was visited by us in company with several
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friends one day last week. We found the old Gentleman on his Plantation about 12 miles from this city, as comfortably situated with respect to this world's goods as any one could desire to have him. It was gratifying to us to see him in his old age after having served through the whole war of Independence thus seated under his own vine and fig tree, with his children around him and with the Partner of his early toils and trials still continued to him enjoying in peace and safety the rich rewards of that arduous struggle, in the most gloomy and desponding hour of which he was found as ready, as earnest, as zealous, for the cause of liberty as when vic- tory perched upon her standard, and the stars of the "Tory ascend- ency" was for a while dimmed by defeat-and in which he contin- ued with unshaken Faith and constancy until it sank below the Horison never again to rise. The old gentleman gave us a partial history of his Revolutionary adventures, containing many interest- ing facts respecting the domination of the Tory party in the South during the times of the Revolution, which Mr. Kennedy has not recorded in his Book. Bin it will chiefly interest our readers, or that portion of them at least to whom the history of the old hero's achievements as recorded by Mr. Kennedy is familiar, to be as- sured that the principal incidents therein portrayed are strictly true.
That of his escape from Charleston after the capture of that city, his being entrusted with a letter to Butler, the scene at Wat Adair's, the capture of Butler at Grindal's Ford, his subsequent escape and recapture, the death of John Ramsey, and the detection of the party by reason of the salute fired over his grave, his cap- turing of the four men under the command of the younger St. Jermyn, his attack upon Ines' camp, and the death of Hugh Ha- bershaw by his own hand and finally the death of Jim Curry, are all narrated pretty much as they occurred, in the old veteran's own language: "There is a heap of truth in it, though the writer has mightily furnished it up." That the names of Butler, Mildred Lindsay, Mary Musgrove, John Ramsay, Hugh Habershaw, Jim Curry and in fact all most every other used in the Book, with the exception of his own, are real and not fictitious. His own name, he informed us, is James ; and that he did not go by the familiar appellation by which he is now so widely known until after the war, when he acquired it from the form of his Plantation in the Horseshoe Bend of the Fair Forest creek, which was bestowed upon him by the Legislature of South Carolina in consequence of the services he had rendered during the war-this estate, we in- derstood him to say, he still owned.
He was born, he says, in 1759 in Virginia, and entered the army in his seventeenth year. Before the close of war, he says, he com- manded a troop of horse, so that his military title is that of Cap- tain. Horseshoe, although in infirm health bears evident marks of
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having been a man of great personal strength and activity. He is now afflicted with a troublesome cough, which in the natural course of events must in a few years wear out his aged frame. Yet, notwithstanding his infirmities and general debility, his eye still sparkles with the fire of youth, as he recounts the stirring and thrilling incidents of the war, and that sly, quiet humor so well described by Kennedy may still be seen playing around his mouth as one calls to his recollections any of the pranks he was wont to play upon any of the "tory vagrants," as he very properly styles them. The old Gentleman received us with warm cordiality and hospitality; and after partaking of the Bounties of his board and spending a night under his hospitable roof we took leave of him, sincerely wishing him many years of the peaceful enjoyment of that liberty which he fought so long and so bravely to achieve. It
will not be uninteresting, we hope, to remark that the old hero still considers himself a soldier, though the nature of his warfare is changed ; he is now a zealous promoter of the Redeemer's cause as he once was in securing the independence of his country.
Since the above was in type we have heard of the death of the aged partner of this venerable patriot. An obituary notice will be found in another column.
The novel Horseshoe Robinson is interesting reading even in this critical and blasé twentieth century. Judge A. B. Meck, a fine literary critic, says that "Mr. Kennedy, the author of 'Horse- shoe Robinson,' has in that inimitable 'Tale of the Tory Ascend- ency' in South Carolina proved the suitableness of American sub- jects for fictitious composition of the most elevated kind. Al- though in his incidents and characters he has done little more than presented a faithful chronicle of facts, using throughout the veritable names of persons and places as they were stated to him by his hero himself, yet such is the thrilling interest of the story, the vivid pictures of scenery, manners, customs, and language, the striking contrasts of characters and the pervading beauty and power of style and description throughout the work, that we think we do not err in saying that it is not inferior in any respect to the best of the Waverly series."
The home of James Robertson in South Carolina, where he lived for a third of a century, is still standing. It is in Oconee county a few miles from Westminster. It is now owned by a Mr. Cox and travelers frequently visit the place, drawn thither by the fame of "Horseshoe Robinson."
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GOVERNOR JOUIN SEVIER.
"They carved not a line, they raised not a stone, But left him alone in his glory."
This hero of the Revolution, whose life was a romance, was not one of the pioneer settlers of Alabama. He died in this State and his remains lay buried here for seventy-three years "without a stone to mark the place of their repose or an enclosure to protect them from unhallowed intrusion." In 1888 his body was removed by the State of Tennessee and laid to rest beneath the sod of the State he had loved and served so faithfully. He is now buried in Knoxville, and the State has erected a stately monument as a memorial of her everlasting though tardy gratitude to her honored SO1.
Valentine Xavier, the father of John Sevier, was a descendant from an ancient Huguenot family in Navarre; he was born in London and emigrated to America about 1740; settled on the Shenandoah, Virginia; removed thence to Watauga, N. C., and finally settled on the Nola Chucka, at Plum Grove .- See Pioncer Women of the West.
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John Sevier was born in Rockingham Co., Va., 23rd of Septem- ber, 1745, and was educated at the academy in Fredericksburg. He was married at the early age of seventeen to Sarah Hawkins; soon afterwards he founded Newmarket, in the valley of the Shenandoah; he became at once celebrated as an Indian fighter, and was made captain of the Virginia line in 1772. That spring (1772) he removed to Watauga, now Tennessee, served in Lord Dunmore's war and was in the battle of Point Pleasant, 1774. "His work began at the dawn of the Revolution and lasted to the end." It is said he was in thirty battles, His wife's health was delicate and she never removed from Virginia, but died in 1779, leaving him ten children. In 1780, he married Catharine Sherrill, daughter of Samuel Sherrill of North Carolina, who was oneof the pioneers in the valley of the Watauga. She was beautiful, tall, strong and courageous as became the wife of John Sevier. She always boasted that the first work she did after she was married was to spin and weave and make the suits of clothes which her husband and his three sons wore in the memorable battle of King's Mountain. She became the mother of eight children, three sons and five daughters. After the battle of King's Mountain, John Sevier received a vote of thanks and a present of a sword and pis-
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tol from the North Carolina legislature. A fellow soldier said of his appearance during the battle: "His eyes were flames of fire, and his words were electric bolts crashing down the ranks of the enemy."
He was elected governor of the State of Franklin in 17844; but, as this State was not long allowed existence, Sevier was cap- tured and imprisoned because of alleged disloyalty. However, he was rescued and soon made his escape. That section of coun- try was then given the name by the United States government of "Territory south of the river Ohio," and he was made brigadier- general of this section in 1789. He was the first delegate sent to represent the Territory in Congress in 1790. During all this time he was incessantly and successfully engaged in defending the set- tlements from the Indians until their spirit was broken and peace was fully established. No man was ever more feared or respected by them, and as for the white people of the settlements, they loved him as a father, friend and protector. When the State of Ten- nessee was established he was elected the first governor in 1796, and served three terms. In 1815, in spite of his age and infirmi- ties, he was appointed by President Monroe to act as United States commissioner to settle the boundary line between Georgia and the Creek territory in Alabama. He died while engaged in this work, September 24th, 1815. He was attended during his illness by only a few soldiers and Indians. He was buried near Fort Decatur, Alabama, on the cast side of the Tallapoosa river, at an Indian village called Tuckabatchee, with the honors of war by the troops under command of Capt. Walker, United States army. He was in the active service of his country from a boy of eighteen until he died at the age of seventy.
A handsome monument was erected to his memory in the city of Nashville by an ardent and patriotic admirer; but his lonely grave in Alabama remained unprotected and unmarked for more than seventy years.
GEORGE TAYLOR. "Ye, who boast In your free veins the blood of sires like these, Lose not their lineaments."
-Sigourney.
This Revolutionary soldier is mentioned in Northern Alabanta Illustrated, p. 261. He is buried ten miles east of Huntsville, near
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the bank of the Flint river ; there is no tombstone over his grave. Family records give the facts of his history. George Taylor was born in Virginia, exact date not known but about 1762, and died in Madison county, Alabama, 1826. He entered the Revolutionary army in his seventeenth year, was first under fire at the battle of Monmouth, 1778, then came to South Carolina with "Light Horse Harry" Lee's command and engaged in many battles and skir- mishes with Lee, and at the close of the war he was a lieutenant. "He was in the disastrous charge at King's Bridge, where, owing to misdirection of orders, the advance was not supported and out of twenty, only five mnade good their retreat." Soon after the Revolution he married Miss Jennings, of Lexington, Oglethorpe county, Georgia, and she was probably born in Lexington. Miles Jennings, a famous Indian fighter, who is described in White's Historical Collections of Georgia, and who lived in Oglethorpe county, is perhaps of the same family as the wife of George Tay- lor. It is stated that George Taylor commanded a scouting party for defense against the Indians, for more than ten years after the close of the Revolutionary War; this party being organized at Lexington, Georgia. He was also captain in the militia. He moved from Georgia to Winchester, Tenn., in 1805, and came to Madison county, Ala., in ISIo, and settled on the banks of the Flint river, where he is buried. His wife died in Alabama sev- eral years before his death. He died in 1826. A grandson of this couple was the late Judge Thomas J. Taylor, of Huntsville, pro- bate judge of Madison county. The inherited courageous and pa- triotic spirit of the family is shown by the fact that Judge Taylor 'and six brothers were gallant soldiers and officers in the Confed- erate States army. A great-grandson, Douglass Taylor, is now living in Huntsville, and other descendants are living in Louisiana.
WILLIAMS TRUITT.
"A grave that lies so lone, Without a name, without a stone." -Father Ryan.
Williams Truitt lies buried at Teller's ferry on Lynch's creek. His daughter married William Chancellor, son of Jerry Chancel-
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lor, who has been already mentioned. The Chancellors of Coosa county are de cendants.
These facts were furnished by D. B. Oden, Childersburg, Ala.
JOIN WEBSTER.
"And some there be which have no memorial. With their seed shall con- tinually remain a good inheritance."-Ecclesiasticus.
John Webster was born in Caroline county, Va., in 1743. Early in the struggle for independence he enlisted in the Continental army and served under General Washington. He was with the American army at Yorktown, and witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis. In 1817 he came to Alabama and during the last ten years of his life he lived in Tuscaloosa with his son, John J. Web- ster. He died in Tuscaloosa. September 6, 1839, in the 97th year of his age .- See Tuscaloosa Flag of the Union, September 14, 1839.
It is shown by the records in Washington, D. C., that one John Webster served as a private in Captain Alexander S. Dandridge's troop, Ist regiment of Light Dragoons, commanded by Colonel Bland, Continental troops, Revolutionary War. He was "ap- pointed" July 20, 1777, to serve until December 1, 1778, and his- name last appears on a pay roll for the month of November, 1778. It is also shown by the records that one John Webster served as a private in Captain Thomas Pry's company in a regiment of foot commanded by Colonel Moses Hazen, Continental troops, Revo- lutionary War. He enlisted April 16, 1777, to serve during the war; joined the company June 17, 1777, and his name last appears on an account covering the period from June I to July 31, 1779.
It is further shown by the records that one John Webster served as a carpenter in Captain Low's company, Corps of Artificers, Con- tinental troops, Revolutionary War. He enlisted April 3, 1777, to serve to January 1, 1778, and his name last appears as that of a clerk on the roll for the period from August 3 to November 27, 1778, with remark, "Appointed September 1, 1778."
It is hardly probable that these are one and the same individual.
ROBERT WESTON. "Their deeds of fame reviewed Bankrupt a nation's gratitude."
Robert Weston, a soldier from North Carolina, is buried at "Shady Grove," Sumter county, Ala. His topib records simply
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his birth and death and "A Revolutionary Soldier." A few brief facts of his history have been furnished by Mrs. M. C. Carpenter, his granddaughter, of Eutaw, Ala. Robert Weston was born in England, August 29, 1763, and died in Suniter county, Alabama, July 21, 18.15, aged SI years, 5 months and 8 days.
He came to America when a mere lad, with his two brothers, Isaac and Frank Weston. Although very young, he fought in the Revolution in North Carolina; was brave and quick-witted; was captured three times and sentenced to death, but inade his escape each time through shrewd ability in disguising himself. He mar- ried Mary Ogilvie of South Carolina, who was born June 26, 1769, and died January 11, 1845, aged 75 years, 5 months and 15 days. The young couple settled in Fairfield district, S. C., where they resided until their children were grown. They had a large family and many descendants are still living in South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas. One son, I. M. Weston, settled in Co- lumbia, S. C., but the other children all removed to Alabama. Naturally the old couple followed their children and came to Sum- ter county, Ala., in 1833, where they purchased a home near their children and spent their old age in peace and contentment sur- rounded by children and grandchildren. Robert Weston was a man of intelligence and excellent education and his grandchildren remember him with the deepest affection and respect. His thril- ling stories of Revolutionary times are yet remembered and told in the family.
CAPT. ANTHONY WINSTON.
"The riches of the Commonwealth Are free strong minds and hearts of health, And more to her than golden gain, The cunning hand and cultured brain."
Captain Anthony Winston, of Hanover county, Virginia, a member of the Virginia convention of 1775, and a gallant captain in the Revolutionary army, lies buried in the old Winston family burying ground just out of Sheffield, Alabama. Vol. xiii, Daugh- ters of the American Revolution Lineage Book, states that An- thony Winston was born in Hanover county, Virginia in 1750, married Keziah Jones and died in Alabama in 182S. He was a delegate from Buckingham county to the convention of 1775; he
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afterwards served in the militia and rose to the rank of captain. Brewer's Alabama says that "he was a colonial officer of 1776 and the owner of the celebrated Portuguese giant, Peter Francisco. Capt. Winston removed first to Tennessee and subsequently set- tled in Madison county, Alabama, about the year ISIo. Ile was a man of marked and elevated character." He died in 1828. He left seven sons, Anthony, John J., William, Joel W., Isaac, Ed- mund and Thomas J., and two daughters, Mrs. John Pettus ( Alice T.) and Mrs. Jesse Jones. Capt. Winston was nearly related to Patrick Henry (a first cousin) and distinction is hereditary in the Winston family. He has many honored descendants ; one of his grandsons was Governor John Anthony Winston of Sumter, the "first native born governo" of Alabama." Another grandson is General Edmund Winston Pettus, now senator in the United States Congress. Another distinguished grandson was the brother of Gen. Pettus, Governor John J. Pettus, the war governor of Mississippi. Other descendants of Capt. Anthony Winston are scattered all over the Southwest, filling honorable positions with credit.
The ancestry of Capt. Winston is thus given :
Slaughter's St. Mark's Parish states that Isaac Winston, the most remote ancestor, was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1620. A grandson of his pursued his fortunes in Wales, where he had a large family. Three of his sons emigrated to America, and set- tled near Richmond, Va., in 1704. Their names were William, Isaac and James. Anthony Winston was descended from Isaac.
(1) Isaac Winston, the emigrant, married Mary Dabney and died in Hanover county in 1760, leaving six children, William, Isaac, Anthony, Lucy, Mary Ann and Sarah. Sarah was the mother of Patrick Henry.
(2) Anthony Winston (son of Isaac) married Alice, daughter of Col. James Taylor of Caroline; issue : Sarah, died single; Capt. Anthony Winston; Alice, married Judge Edmund Winston ; Mary.
We are indebted to Gen. Edmund Pettus, of the United States Senate, for the following facts, and a copy of the inscription upon the tombstone:
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Sacred to the memory of Anthony Winston and Keziah his wife, He Was born on the 15th of Nov. 1750 She On the Ioth of Feb. 1700. They Were married on the IIth of Mar. 1776 She Died October 1826 and he in 1823 -( * This tribute of respect Is Paid to the memory of the best of parents By Their grateful and Affectionate sons.
They were buried at the family burying-ground on the planta- tion of their son, Anthony Winston, about one mile from Tuscum- bia, in Colbert county, in the direction of Sheffield. Anthony Winston, here mentioned on this tombstone, was the son of An- thony Winston of Hanover county, Virginia, who was born Sep- tember 29th, 1723, and married February 29th, 1747, Alice Tay- lor, daughter of James Taylor and Alice Thornton. He was born in Hanover county, but moved in his young days to Buckingham county, Virginia. He was a captain in the Revolutionary Wor. He was married in 1776, and went into the army a few months afterwards.
The family has now in their possession a counterpane made of cotton which Mrs. Keziah Winston raised. She picked the cotton, spun the thread and wove the cloth, and then ornamented it by needle work like a Marseilles counterpane, whilst her husband was in the army. This old heirloom is perfectly preserved, and looks as well as it ever did, but of course, it is not used.
Anthony Winston told his grandchildren many things about the Revolutionary War, and particularly about General Washington. Some of these stories would not do to print, especially about the freedom with which "The Father of his Country" used the Eng- lish language. But in his estimation no mortal man ever approxi-
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ihated General Washington as a great military chieftain. Sarah Winston, of Hanover, was the sister of Anthony Winston, of Hanover. She married John Henry and was the mother of Patricl: Henry. Capt. Anthony Winston was sheriff of Buckingham coun- ty, Virginia, which office at that time was given to the oldest justice of the peace of the county for one term, under the law of . Virginia. At that time a justice of the peace in Virginia received no pay, the principal business of that officer being to settle disputes among his neighbors without any lawsuit.
Alice Winston, the mother of Gen. Pettus, was born in Buck- ingham county, Virginia, but her father moved with his family about the beginning of the last century to Davidson county, Ten- nessee, and owned a plantation there, about one mile from the Her- mitage. John Pettus was born in Fluvanna county, Virginia, near where Anthony Winston lived. He also moved to Davidson coun- ty, Tennessee, about the first of the last century. Alice Winston and John Pettus were married in Davidson county in 1807, and General Jackson danced at the wedding. And in the early days of Senator Pettus he was frequently at the "Hermitage" and heard General Jackson tell of the early life of his mother and father, and of his father's serving in the Creek War under hin.
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