USA > North Carolina > Historical sketches of North Carolina : from 1584 to 1851, Vol. I > Part 73
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He selected his burial place, on the way side, many years before his death ; a spot of land, from its poverty, least likely to be cultivated, and employed two of his neighbors to make his coffin, of the plainest material, and directed that they should be paid for it before it was used. He ordered that a parcel of rock should be brought from a certain field, and piled upon his grave, so as to keep the cattle from molesting it. And there he sleeps 'till the resurrection of the just !
"They carved not a line, they raised not a stone, But left him alone in his glory."
JAMES TURNER was a resident and representative of this county.
He was born in Southampton County, Virginia, in the year 1766. His father, Thomas Turner, removed with his family to Bute County (since di- vided into Franklin and Warren), when this son was quite a youth.
His early education was as good as the state of the county afforded. The elevated positions he was called upon in subsequent life to fill, and the ability with which he discharged his duty, is more to be attributed to his native strength of mind, than to the advantages of education.
Young as he was, he was not an idle or indifferent spectator to the trials of his country in her Revolutionary struggles. He joined, as a private, the army, and served in that humble capacity. In the same company, and in the same capacity, was Nathaniel Macon.
He entered public life in 1800 as a member of the House of Commons, and in 1801 and 1802 as Senator, at which session he was elected Governor of the State.
In 1805, he was elected Senator in Congress, and served until 1816.
He was in Congress during a troubled and excited period, and gave the war of 1812 a firm and vigorous support, while his colleague, Gov. Stone (see Bertie), differed from him, which conduct of Stone received the disappro- bation of the General Assembly of the State. He was a man of great personal worth, a faithful representative, and a sincere friend.
He died on the 15th of January, 1824, at Bloomsbury, his residence in this county, in the 58th year of his age.
Governor Turner was thrice married; first, to Mary Anderson, of Warrenton, in 1793, who died in 1802, leaving him four children, Thomas, Daniel, Rebecca, (who married George E. Badger), and Mary. Second, to Mrs. Ann Cochran, who died in 1806, leaving no issue; and thirdly, to Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson, who survived him, and who bore him two daughters, Sally P. (wife of Hon. Mark Alexander, of Virginia), and Ann (wife of Henry Coleman, Esq., of Virginia).
His son, Hon. DANIEL TURNER, was born in Warren County, 26th Septem- ber, 1796. His early education was conducted at the Warrenton Academy, which he left in 1813 to join the Military Academy at West Point, New York. In 1814 he was promoted to a Lieutenancy of Artillery. IIe was stationed on Long Island, under General Swift, who was superintending the lines on Brooklyn Heights for defence of New York City. He was then ordered to Plattsburg, under General McComb. The war being over, he was retained on the peace establishment, but he resigned, in September, 1815, his commission.
37
440
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
After leaving the army, he spent two years at William and Mary College, - in Virginia.
From 1819 to 1823, he was in the House of Commons, and was elected, from this district, as a member of Congress, from 1827 to 1829. He married in 1829, Anna Arnold, daughter of Hon. Francis S. Key, of Washington City, an able lawyer, of distinguished literary attainments, and the author of the " Star Spangled Banner," written during the war of 1812 with England.
Mr. Turner has now charge of the Warrenton Female Seminary.
Governor WILLIAM HAWKINS Was a son of Philemon Hawkins, who was the brother of Colonel Benjamin Hawkins, whose biography we have already re- . corded. He was elected member of the Assembly in 1805, and Speaker of the House of Commons. In 1811, he was elected Governor of the State, and took an active and prominent part for the war. He died in 1812, leaving several children, one of whom married, the second time, Hon. Henry W. Conner, of Catawba County.
General MICAJAH THOMAS HAWKINS, who has also been already referred to in the sketch of Colonel Benjamin Hawkins, son of John Hawkins, entered public life in 1819, as a member of the House of Commons, and from 1823 to 1827, as member of the Senate. From 1831 to 1841, he was a member of Congress.
In 1846, he was again elected to the Senate of the Legislature.
KEMP PLUMMER, Esq. was born in Gloucester County, Virginia, in 1769; educated at William and Mary College, and read law with Chancellor Wythe. He entered the Legislature in 1794, as a member of the House of Commons, and in 1815 and 1816, was a member of the Senate.
He married Susan Martin, by whom he has had a large family, one of whom is wife of Hon. William H. Battle, of Chapel Hill.
Hon. JOHN HALL, late of Warren County, was a native of Virginia. He removed early to North Carolina, and was appointed a Judge of the Superior Courts of Law in 1809, and a Judge of the Supreme Court in 1818, which he resigned in 1832, and died soon after. He was distinguished for his patience, learning, and purity of character. He left a large family, among whom is
Hon. EDWARD HALL, now a resident of Warren. He was educated at the University, and graduated in 1815, in the same class with Judge Mangum and Gov. Spaight. He studied law, and was appointed Judge in 1840. His commission expired in 1841.
Hon. BLAKE BAKER represented Warren County in the House of Commons in 1807. He was the Attorney-General of the State from 1794 to 1803. In 1808, he was appointed a Judge of the Superior Court, and his commission expired in the same year. He was again appointed in-1818, and died that year.
Hon. WILLIAM MILLER, late of this county, represented it in 1810, in the House of Commons, and in 1811 to 1814, at which session he was elected Governor of the State. He served until 1817. He was appointed by the President of the United States Chargé d'affaires to Guatemala (Central Ame- rica), in March, 1825, and died while on this mission.
Hon. WELDON NATHANIEL EDWARDS was born in 1788, and was educated at the Warrenton Academy.' He read law with Judge Hall and came to the bar in 1810; succeeded Governor Miller in the House of Commons in 1814; re-elected to the House of Commons in 1815.
In 1816 he was elected to Congress, and served until 1827, when he retired from Congress.
In 1833 he was elected Senator in the Legislature, in which he served con- tinuously until 1844.
441
WARREN COUNTY.
In 1835, with the venerable and distinguished Nathaniel Macon, he was a delegate from Warren, to amend the Constitution of the State.
In 1850 he was again elected to the Senate, and was chosen to preside over its deliberations ; a compliment well deserved, for his long and faithful ser- vices in the councils of the State.
Hon. JOHN BRAGG, now of Mobile, Alabama, is a native of Warren. He was educated at the University of North Carolina, and graduated in 1824, in - a distinguished class, of which James W. Bryan, Thomas Dews, William A. Graham, Matthias E. Manly, David Outlaw, and others, were members. He read law with Judge Hall, and entered the Legislature in 1830 and served continuously to 1834.
He removed to Mobile, Alabama, and has been Judge of the Superior Courts there for many years ; presiding with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the citizens of his adopted State. He is now a member of Congress from the Mobile District.
He is brother of Colonel Braxton Bragg, who with his Artillery saved the battle of Buena Vista, and distinguished himself in the Mexican war; and also brother of Thomss Bragg, Esq., of Jackson, Northampton County, mem- ber of the House of Commons in 1842; and now a member of the Board of Internal Improvements of this State.
North Carolina may bragg of these sons.
Members of the General Assembly from Warren County.
Years. Senate.
House of Commons.
1780. ' Nathaniel Macon,
John Macon, Jason Hawkins.
1781. Nathaniel Macon,
Jason Hawkins, John Macon.
1782. Nathaniel Macon,
Joseph Hawkins, John Macon.
1783. Herbert Haynes,
Joseph Hawkins, John Macon.
1784. Nathaniel Macon,
Henry Montfort, Wyatt Hawkins.
1786. John Macon,
Wyatt Hawkins, Sol. Green. Philemon Hawkins.
1790.
John Macon,
Ransome Southerland, Brittain Sanders.
1791. John Macon,
Wyatt Hawkins, Sol. Green.
1792. John Macon,
Wyatt Hawkins, Henry Montfort.
1793.
John Macon,
Wyatt Hawkins, William Person.
1794.
John Macon,
William Person, Kemp Plummer.
1795.
John Macon,
William Person, Wyatt Hawkins.
1796.
James Payne, Solomon Green,
James Collier, William Person. James Collier, William Person. James Turner, Oliver Fitts.
1799. James Collier,
James Turner, Oliver Fitts.
1800.
Jamer Collier,
James Turner, Thos. E. Sumner.
1801. James Turner,
1802. James Turner,
1803. Solomon Green,
Philemon Hawkins, John Harwell.
1804. William P. Little,
William Hawkins, John Harwell.
1805. Wm. P. Little,
1806.
Wm. P. Little,
1807.
Philemon Hawkins,
1808.
Philemon Hawkins, Henry Fitts,
Blake Baker, Wm. R. Johnson. Wm. R. Johnson, John Harwell. John II. Hawkins, Wm. Miller.
1810.
Philemon Hawkins, William Miller, Wm. R. Johnson.
1811. Philemon Hawkins, William Miller, Wm. R. Johnson.
1812. Joseph Hawkins,
Wm. R. Johnson, William Miller.
1813. Joseph Hawkins,
Wm. Miller, Wm. R. Johnson.
1814. Wm. Williams,
Wm. Miller, Wm. R. Johnson.
1815. Kemp Plummer,
Weldon N. Edwards, John II. Walker.
1788. John Macon,
Philemon Hawkins, Wyatt Hawkins.
1789. John Macon,
James Paine, John Macon.
1785. Nathaniel Macon,
1787. John Macon,
Wyatt Hawkins, Henry Montfort.
1797.
1798. James Collier,
Thos. E. Sumner, Robert Parke. John Maclin, Robert Parke.
William Hawkins, Philemon Hawkins. Philemon Hawkins, John Harwell.
1809.
442
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Years. Senate.
House of Commons.
1816.
Kemp Plummer,
Robt. H. Jones, John H. Walker.
1817.
Robert R. Johnson,
Robt. H. Jones, Philemon Hawkins.
1818. Robert R. Johnson,
Robt. H. Jones, Philemon Hawkins.
Daniel Turner, M. T. Hawkins.
1819. 1820. 1821.
Robert R. Johnson, Robert R. Johnson, William Miller, William Miller, M. T. Hawkins,
Daniel Turner, Robt. H. Jones.
1824. 1825.
M. T. Hawkins,
Gideon Alston, Ransom Walker.
1826. M. T. Hawkins,
Robt. H. Jones Thomas J. Green.
1827.
M. T. Hawkins,
Robt. H. Jones, Ransom Walker. Wm. G. Jones, Ransom Walker.
1828.
Richard Davis, Richard Davis,
Wm. G. Jones, John H. Green. John Bragg, Ransom Walker.
1831.
John H. Hawkins,
John Bragg, Thomas J. Judkins.
1832. John H. Hawkins,
John Bragg, Thos. J. Judkins.
1833. 1834.
W. N. Edwards,
John Bragg, Thos. J. Judkins.
1835.
W. N. Edwards,
John H. Hawkins, Thos. J. Judkins.
1836.
W. N. Edwards,
John H. Hawkins, Thos. J. Judkins.
1838. W. N. Edwards,
1840. 1842.
W. N. Edwards,
Wm. Eaton, jr., Samuel A. Williams. Wm. Eaton, jr., John H. Hawkins. John H. Hawkins, Oliver D. Fitts. John H. Hawkins, A. C. Brame.
1844. W. N. Edwards,
1846. M. T. Hawkins,
A. A. Austin, John H. Hawkins.
1848. A. B. Hawkins,
J. L. Mosely, F. A. Thornton.
1850.
W. N. Edwards,
F. A. Thornton, Wm. Eaton, jr.
CHAPTER LXXVII.
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
1
WASHINGTON COUNTY was formed in 1799, from Tyrrell County, and called in honor of the Father of his Country, General George Washington, who was born on the 22d of February, 1732, and who died on the 13th December, 1799.
It is located in the north-eastern part of the State, on the south side of the Albemarle Sound ; and is bounded on the north by the Sound; east, by Tyrrell County ; south, by Hyde and Beaufort ; and west, by Martin and Bertie counties.
Its capital is Plymouth, and is distant one hundred and sixty- two miles from Raleigh.
Its population in 1850 was 3,216 whites, 235 free negroes, and 2,215 slaves ; representative population, 4780.
Its products in 1840 were 155,023 bushels of corn ; 79,925 pounds of cot- ton ; 3,425 pounds of wool; 4,760 barrels of fish ; 2,257 barrels of turpentine ; 25,328 dollars' worth of lumber.
Members of the General Assembly from Washington County, from the formation of the County to 1851.
1822.
Daniel Turner, F. A. Thornton.
1823.
M. T. Hawkins,
Gideon Alston, R. H. Jones.
1829. 1830. John H. Hawkins,
Weld. N. Edwards,
John Bragg, Thos. J. Judkins.
W. N. Edwards,
Micajah T. Hawkins, Daniel Turner. Francis A. Thornton, Daniel Turner.
443
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Years.
Senate.
House of Commons.
1800. Benj. Davenport,
1801.
Samuel Chesson,
1802. Samuel Chesson,
Daniel Davenport,
1803. 1804.
Daniel Davenport,
1805.
Daniel Davenport,
1806.
Daniel Davenport,
1807.
Daniel Davenport,
1808.
Miles Hardy,
1809. Ebenezer Pettigrew,
1810.
Ebenezer Pettigrew,
1811.
Levin Boyman,
1812.
Thomas Johnson,'
1813.
William Garrett,
1814.
Thomas Johnson,
1815. Thomas Norman,
1816.
Thomas Norman,
1817. Downing Leary,
1818.
Downing Leary,
1819.
Charles Phelps,
1820.
Charles Phelps,
1821.
.Thomas Walker,
1822.
1823.
Benjamin Phelps, Thomas Cox, : Thomas Johnson,
1824.
1825. 1826.
Samuel Davenport, Samuel Davenport,
Peter O. Picott, Wm. A. Bozman. Wm. A. Bozman, Wm. J. Armistead.
1827.
Samuel Davenport,
1828. 1829.
Samuel Davenport, Samuel Davenport, Samuel Davenport,
1832.
Josiah Collins,
1833.
Josiah Collins,
1834.
Charles Phelps, ›
U. W. Swanner, A. Davenport.
1835.
John B. Beasley,
U. W. Swanner, A. Davenport. .
1836. Hezekiah G. Spruill, Joshua T. Swift.
1838.
Hezekiah G. Spruill, David C. Guyther.
1840. Hezekiah G. Spruill, David C. Guyther.
1842. Hezekiah G. Spruill, Joseph C. Norcum.
1844. Joseph Halsy,
David C. Guyther.
1846. Joseph Halsy,
Thomas B. Nichols.
1848. Joseph Halsy,
Thomas B. Nichols.
1850. Thomas E. Pender,
Uriah W. Swanner.
Miles Hardy, Isaac Long. John Guyther, Miles Hardy. Miles Hardy, John Guyther. Edmund Blount, Miles Hardy. Levin Bozman, Joseph Christopher. Levin Bozman, Joseph Christopher. Levin Bozman, Joseph Christopher. Levin Bozman, John Frazer.
Joseph Christopher, Edmund Blount. James Freeman, Josiah Flowers. Josiah Flowers, Samuel Blount. Samuel Blount, William Garrett. James Freeman, Daniel Bateman. Ezekiel Hardison, Daniel Bateman. Miles Hardy, Daniel Bateman. James Freeman, Daniel Bateman.
Daniel Bateman, Taylor H. Walker. Daniel Bateman, Thos. B. Haughton.
Daniel Bateman, Thos. B. Haughton. B. Tarkinton, Thos. B. Haughton.
Benj. Tarkinton, Aaron Harrison. Wm. A. Bozman, Abner N. Vail. T. H. Walker, S. Davenport. T. H. Walker, S. Davenport. A. N. Vail, P. O. Picott.
1830.
Samuel Davenport,
Wm. A. Bozman, Abner N. Vail. Abner N. Vail, Thos. Sanderson. James A. Chesson, Uriah W. Swanner. James A. Chesson, U. W. Swanner. Watrus Beckwith, U. W. Swanner. Samuel Hardison, Jos. A. Norman. Samuel Hardison, Charles Phelps.
1831.
444
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
CHAPTER LXXVIII.
WATAUGA COUNTY.
WATAUGA COUNTY was formed, in 1849, from Ashe, Caldwell, Wilkes, and Yancey, and derives its name from the river that runs through it, which is an Indian name, and signifies "the River of Islands."
It is situated in the extreme north-western part of the State,, and is bounded on the north by Ashe County, east by Wilkes, south by Yancey and McDowell, and west by the Yellow Mountain, which separates it from the State of Tennessee.
Its population in 1850, was 3,242 whites ; 29 free negroes; 129 slaves ; 3,348 representative population.
RIDDLE KNOB, in this county, derives its name from a circumstance of the capture of Colonel Benjamin Cleaveland, during the Revolution, by a party of Tories headed by men of this name, and adds the charm of heroic associa- tion to the loveliness of its unrivaled scenery. Cleaveland had been a terror to the Tories. Two notorious of their band (Jones and Coil) had been ap- prehended by him, and hung. Cleaveland had gone alone, on some private business, to New River, and was taken prisoner by the Tories at the old Fields, on New River. They demanded that he should furnish passes for them. Being but an indifferent penman he was some time preparing these papers, and he was in no hurry, as he believed that they would kill him when they had obtained them. While thus engaged, Captain Robert Cleaveland, his brother, with a party, followed him, knowing the dangerous proximity of the Tories. They came up with the Tories and fired on them. Colonel Cleaveland slid off the log to prevent being shot, while the Tories fled, and he thus escaped certain destruction.
Some time after this, this same Riddle and his son, and another was taken, and brought before Cleaveland, and he hung all three of them near the Mul- berry Meeting-house, now Wilkesboro'.
The depredations of the Tories were so frequent, and their conduct so savage, that summary punishment was demanded by the exigencies of the times. This Cleaveland inflicted without ceremony. General Lenoir relates a circumstance that occurred at Mulberry Meeting-house. While there, on some public occa- sion, the rumor was that mischief was going on by the Tories. Lenoir went to his horse, tied at some distance from the house, and as he approached, a man ran off from the opposite side of the horse. Lenoir hailed him, but he did not stop ; he pursued him and found that he had stolen one of the stirrups of his saddle. He carried the pilferer to Colonel Cleaveland, who ordered him to place his two thumbs in a notch for that purpose in an arbor fork, and hold them there while he ordered him to receive fifteen lashes. This was his peculiar manner of inflicting the law, and gave origin to the phrase, " To thumb the notch." The punishment on the offender above was well inflicted
* Haywood's Tennessee (p. 29).
-
445
WATAUGA COUNTY.
by Captain John Beverly, whose ardor did not stop at the ordered number. After the fifteen had been given, Colonel Herndon ordered him to stop, but Beverly continued to whip the wincing culprit. Colonel Herndon drew his sword and struck Beverly. Captain Beverly drew also, and they had a tilt which, but for friends, would have terminated fatally.
There is a tree on the public road in Wilkes, which to this day bears the name of "Shad Laws' Oak," on which the notches, thumbed by said Laws under the sentence of Cleaveland, are distinctly visible.t
Its capital is Boone, and is called in remembrance of the celebrated Daniel Boone, who once lived near Holeman's Ford, on the Yadkin River, about eight miles from Wilkesboro'.
DANIEL BOONE was born, in 1746, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, near Bristol, about twenty miles from Philadelphia. When he was but a child, his father emigrated to North Carolina, and settled in one of the valleys of the South Yadkin. Here Boone was reared, and here he married Miss Bryan.
In May, 1769, Boone informs us himself, " accompanied by John Findley, John Stuart, Joseph Holden, James Monay, and William Cool," left his home and quiet joys for " the dark and bloody ground" of Kentucky, then inhabited only by wild animals and savages. But in the boundless forests he seemed to be. in his appropriate sphere. Here he pursued the deer, buffalo, and wild beasts. After a hard days' hunt, as Boone and Stuart were returning to their camp, they were seized by a horde of savages, who made them prisoners: that night they escaped, but what was their surprise when they came to their camp, they found that their comrades were gone, either prisoners or murdered ; for the camp was deserted. But the spirit of Boone knew no despair. He called all his resources into action, husbanded his game and ammunition, and prepared to return to North Carolina. At this time Boone's brother, fired by the same ardor for wild excitement, came out to their camp with one com- panion. This infused fresh joy and new hopes. But soon after Stuart fell in a foray with the Indians, no persuasions could induce their companion to remain, and he left Boone and his brother alone in the vast wilderness. They erected a house to protect them, and supplied plentifully with game, they passed the winter in comfort. But their ammunition and salt becoming scant, the brother of Boone returned for a supply, and Daniel Boone was left alone in the wild forests of Kentucky. This voluntary exile was not unpleasant to his temper. In his Journal he assures us, that his mind was filled with admiration of the boundless beauties of nature. The magnificent forest was clothing itself in the rich attire of spring, the gorgeous flowers were un- folding their glories to his eye alone, the wild deer and buffalo were not fear- ful of his presence.
He continued in these solitary quarters until the 27th of July, when his brother returned loaded with ammunition and salt, to them more precious than the mines of California. They made an expedition to the Cumberland River, naming the rivers they passed, and making such observations as might be of future use.
In March, 1771, they returned to North Carolina. He was so charmed with the rich soil, the bountiful productions of nature, and the abundant game, that he sold his farm on the Yadkin, and by his representations, five families and his own, set out for their return to Kentucky on the 25th of September, 1773; as they passed Powell's valley, then one hundred and forty miles from the settled parts of Virginia, forty hardy sons of the forest joined him. They pursued their journey until the 10th of October, when they were furiously attacked by a large body of Indians. By their skill, unflinching courage, and resolution, the superior force of the savages was beaten off, but Boone's party lost six men killed and one wounded. Among the killed was Boone's eldest son, a youth of much promise and daring.
1 MSS. of General Wm. Lenoir.
446
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
This repulse forced them to retreat to the settlement on Clinch River.
Here he remained with his family until the 6th of June, 1774, when the Governor of Virginia (Dunmore) engaged him and an adventurer by the name of Storer, to conduct a party of surveyors to the falls of the Ohio, near eight hundred miles; this he performed on foot in sixty-two days. On his return, Dunmore gave him the command of the garrisons on the frontier, which he maintained during the war at this period against the Shawnee Indians.
In March, 1775, he attended, at request of Judge Richard Henderson and others, a council of the Cherokees, by which they ceded their lands south of Kentucky River.
In April, he erected a fort at the spot where the town of Boonesboro' now stands ; the Indians were very much dissatisfied at the erection of this fort. After it was finished, he returned in June for his family on Clinch River. Mrs. Boone and her daughter were the first white women that ever stood on . the, banks of the Kentucky River.
In December, the Indians made a furious assault upon this fort, by which Boone lost one man killed and another wounded; but the Indians were re- pulsed with great slaughter. This defeat was so severe that the Indians treacherously appeared reconciled, and seemed to give up all ideas of assault- ing the fort or molesting the whites. This caused the inhabitants of the fort to be less guarded, and they made frequent visits and excursions into the forests around. `On the 14th of July, 1776 (just seven months from their last attack), as three young ladies, two, daughters of Colonel Caloway, and the third, of Colonel Boone, were leisurely strolling in the woods, they were pursued by the Indians and caught before they could reach the gates of the fort. At this moment, Boone was off hunting, but when he returned, without any aid, he followed alone the tracks of the Indians. He knew that if he waited to collect a force, the cunning robbers would be entirely beyond pur- suit. With a sagacity peculiar to hunters, he followed their trail without the least deviation, while the girls had the presence of mind to snap off small twigs, from time to time, as they passed through the shrubbery in their route. At last, he came in sight of them, and by the aid of his unerring rifle, killed two of the Indians and recovered these young ladies, and reached the fort safely ; one of these, Elizabeth Calloway, married Samuel Henderson, the brother of Judge. Henderson and Major Pleasant Henderson. This ro- mantic incident afforded Mr. Cooper, in his "Last of the Mohicans," an inci- dent in his tale.
The crafty foe now made open war. On the 15th of April, 1777, the united tribes made an attack on the fort, but it was unsuccessful.
In July, twenty-five men arrived from North Carolina, and in August, Captain Bowman, with one hundred men, arrived from Virginia. By this powerful reinforcement they no longer dreaded the savages, but sallied out and made attacks on the Indians and drove them from the vicinity.
On the 1st of January, 1778, Colonel Boone, with thirty men, commenced making salt for the first time in that region, at the Blue Licks on Licking River; and he made enough of this essential of life for all the civilized inha- bitants of the infant community.
On the 7th of February, as Colonel Boone was hunting alone, he was sur- prised by one hundred Indians and two Frenchmen. They took him pri- soner. He learned then, that a furious attack was to be made by a strong force on Boonesborough. He capitulated for the fort, knowing its weak state, as it had only twenty-seven men, the rest had gone with salt into the settle- ments in Virginia.
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