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FIRST SETTLERS OF YE PLANTATIONS OF PISCATAWAY AND WOODBRIDGE OLDE EAST NEW JERSEY - 1664-1714 : A PERIOD OF FIFTY YEARS By Orra Eugene Monnette
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Five parts, or volumes, paged consecutively. have already been issued, totaling more than 900 pages. The series will have eight or more volumes, or parts. This series includes source records and genealogical founda- tions in New England, particularly, Piscataqua Region, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts; England and Scotland pro- genitors, with West Indian migrations, as applied to lineages, and especially, the Huguenots, French Protestant Emigres from France, before 1700.
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NORTH CAROLINA
HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
A GLEANER IN NORTH CAROLINA HISTORY
Published By CLARENCE GRIFFIN FOREST CITY, N. C.
VOL. II
APRIL, 1933 No. 2
TIME OF BUILDING OLD FORT QUESTIONED
MISS MARY M. GREENLEE Old Fort, R 4, N. C.
We frequently hear and see the --- statement that the origin of the town of Old Fort, N. C., was a fort built in 1756 by the Province of North Carolina for the protection of the Catawba Indians against their enemies, the Cherokees. The accept- ance of the story as a historic fact led a worthy civic organization of that community to erect, in August, 1928, a beautiful arrowhead monument. The wording on the copper plate at- tached to the monument is as fol- [ who doubt or who are ignorant about lows:
. "This marks the site of The Old Indian Fort Built A. D. 1756 The Western Outpost of the United States of North Carolina Until 1776
From Which This Town Was Named."
The writer, having so little know- ledge of history, feels somewhat pre- sumptuous, overbold, to challenge the truth of the statement, but she is aware that there are others who doubt the authenticity of the story, or, who feel, at least, that if on that date a fort was built at Old Fort, history is silent about the matter.
If by reason of a challenge posi- tive proof is uncovered or produced, that the claim is correct, then those the matter will be grateful for the same.
It might be well to study a few facts relative to the Catawba and Cherokee Indians and to fit the pieces, if fit they will, into the puz- złe.
About 1756 the Catawbas were a small but brave little tribe between the North and South Carolina set-
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N. C. HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
tlements, around what is now Fort and frequently during the hunting Mill and Rock Hill. S. C. They were season thereafter, the Indians roam- friendly to the early English settlers ed over fields and trails East of the mountains and frequented old camp sites at convenient watering places. Bishop Spangenberg, who was most likely the first white man to set foot
to the extent of taking up their tomahawks and aiding them in war against their enemies. Arthur Dobbs, governor of North Carolina, believed that their friendship could be kept by in the Western Catawba vallies, while kind and fair treatment and by 'in camp at Quaker Meadows, Burke handling them . with justice and , county, on November 19, 1752, re- square dealing. Records show that corded in his diary: "We are now in the forest 50 miles from all settle- ments. The whole woods are full of Cherokees. They are now engaged in hunting." (Col. Rec., Vol. 5, page 6 and 7). Fifty miles from all settle- |ments! The woods full of Cherokees!
the N. C. province often made "pre- sents" to them and often furnished them with ammunition and provi- sions. However the "overmuch at- tention" to them in the solicitation their friendship made them of
"haughty" and they were guilty of ' And that only four years prior to the insolent behavior toward their bene- date that it is claimed the North factors, and guilty of pillaging and , Carolina province built a fort for the stealing from them. Catawbas at what is now Old Fort.
The Cherokees on the other hand were a treacherous, savage Trading with the Indians was a tribe ' lucrative business for the white set- with which the settlers early began to 'tler. There was keen rivalry between have trouble. The English and the the provinces for trade in pelts with French were contesting with each the different tribes. The practice of other over the possession of the Ohio 'sending presents to tribes in an ef- valley. The French had built a cor- fort to keep their friendship and trade grew up. Forts were built by
don of forts from their Canadian made friends with the Cherokees who were in proximity to their forts and trading posts, and encouraged them in their depredations and mur- derous attacks upon the English set- tlers.
settlements to the Ohio river. They provinces for the protection of small tribes in an effort to keep their friendship that they might profit by trade with them in time of peace, and secure their assistance in time of war. Annually the Cherokees jour- neyed to S. C. for their "presents" and Virginia built Fort Loudon for their protection. The N. C. province often supplied the Catawbas with provisions and ammunition, and un- dertook the erection of a fort for
Since their existence depended so largely upon hunting, the Cherokees resented and resisted the encroach- ment of. the white man. Though the crest of the Blue Ridge had for some time been considered by the fron-| their protection against the Chero- tiersman as the Eastern boundary of kees. Was the location of that fort the Cherokee territory, it was not what is now Old Fort, N. C .? Or did General Griffith Rutherford build a fort there at the time of his expedition against the "Over Hill Cherokees?" Or was the fort which was built there, built by the early until 1767 that Gov. Tryon and cer- tain commissioners together with the Cherokee chiefs fully agreed on the crest of the Blue Ridge as the boundary line. Prior to that date,
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N. C. HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
settlers as a place of refuge and We have had no attacks or insults protection for themselves" It is the yet upon our Frontier, owing princi- location of that fort that is the sub- pally to our frontier company and the ject of discussion.
As the pioneers pushed westward they immediately erected forts to 5, page 560).
which they might flee for safety when Indians would make incursions into the newly made settlements. The first fort built on what was then con- sidered the western frontier was Fort Dobbs which was built by Hugh Wad- dell in 1756.
In the summer of 1755 Governor Arthur Dobbs set out to visit his ty-five warriors and young braves painted and arrayed in the manner of going to war marched to Salis-
lands on the western frontier as the region around Salisbury and States- ville was then called. He selected the bury and asked for a conference with site of Fort Dobbs while on that trip Chief Justice Hendley. At the con- "west," and reported, "I fixed upon ference they pledged undying friend- ship and requested that North Caro- that as a most central to assist the back settlers and to be a retreat to lina furnish the Catawbas with "am- them as it is beyond the well settled munition and build a fort for secur- country only struggling settlements ing our old men and women and behind them." (Col. Rec .. Vol. 5, children when we turn out to fight page 357). When the assembly met the Enemy." (Col. Rec., Vol. 3, page in the autumn of that year it appro- 579).
priated 10,000 pounds for the erec- tion of the fort and for providing a garrison to be stationed .there. Hugh Waddell was appointed by Governor Dobbs to build the fort and to command the garrison of men en- listed to defend the western part of the province.
Governor Dobbs in a communica -; on the frontier, one from settlers on tion to Earl of Loudon dated July 10, ! the South Fork of the Catawba and 1756, said, "We are erecting a small i the other from settlers on the Broad. River. Both petitions set forth the hardships they were enduring and the dangers to which they were ex- posed from strolling bands of In- -- dians. (Col. Rec., Vol. 5. page 605). fort upon our Western or Indian Frontier where we have a company of 50 men" . "I hope when this war is over our Frontiers will be ex- tended beyond the mountains." (Co !. Rec., Vol. 5, page 597).
In January of that year, January, 1756, Governor Dobbs wrote to Wil- liam Pitt; "We are erecting a small fort, Fort Dobbs, on our Western Frontier against the Indians . ..
neighborhood of the Catawba In- dians, our friends." (Col. Rec. Vol.
As stated above the Catawba In- dians were our friends. They were allied with the English in the French and Indian War. They and some friendly Cherokees took part in the expedition against Fort Du Quesne.
On May 26, 1756 "King Haglar of the Catawba Nation with about for-
Two months later July 18, 1756, Governor Dobbs replied to their re- quest. "If the Catawbas insist upon having a fort you may let them know I shall recommend it to the Assembly in Case they Continue our fast friends." He, the governor, referred to the other petitions from settlers
The Assembly which met in the autumn of that year, 1756, were cog- nizant of the dangers of the West- ern settlers. It not only appropriated for the defence of the frontier but in a special message advised the
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N. C. HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
King of England of its fears and inventory of goods and tools left at anxieties for the Western settlers. the fort is given. Another entry in (Col . Rec., Vol. 5, page 710). That the Journal of 1762 Reads, "Mr. same body advised Governor Dobbs Frances Brown having made appear to appoint a committee to inspect the by a sufficient voucher that he had western country and recommend a paid to one Martin Fifer the sum of place for building a fort or forts. 13 pounds for provisions for the men (Col. Rec., Vol. 5. page 728).
at the Fort in the Catawha Nation."
Acting upon the advice of the (Col. Rec., 'Vol. 6, page 832).
Assembly Governor Dobbs appointed
The fort for the Catawbas was the committee which made the in- not completed by North Carolina for vestigation and reported to the next legislature. The report was dated Dec. 21, 1756, and signed by Frances Brown and Richard Caswell, mem- bers of the committe. In part in read "All the Western Sett ements were in Defenseless Condition except that part near Fort Dobbs . . . and re- commended to the House a certain place for building a fort near the Catawba Nation." An attached sheet co this report was likely specific about the location of the fort but it seems to have been lost. (Col. Rec., Vol. 5, page 849). under the date of August 30, 1757, the governor wrote the Board of Trade saying, "After having agreed and desired that we should build them a Fort and their King and Sachems fixed upon the spot and laid out the Ground and we had wrought three or four months upon the Fort sent down to Governor Littleton to stop building the Fort. They will not have it huilt by us but by them and by Governor Littleton's advice I have stopped." (Col. Rec., Vol. 5, page 784). The governor to the Assembly said, "A former Assembly appropriat-
Going back to October 31, 1756, ed a sum of money for building a Governor Dobbs in a letter to the Fort near the Catawbas. for Defense Board of Trade referred to the mon- of their Nation; but soon after the ey appropriated by the Assembly Fort had been begun we learned that then in session for providing a fort
the Indians . . . were much dis- for the Catawbas said, "This is to pleased." (Col. Rec., Vol. 5, page 1040). The inference is that work on the project was discontinued.
be applied to erect a Fort on our Frontier to protect and secure the Catawbas and to pay two companies Either South Carolina completed the fort begun by the North Caro- lina province or built another. When of 50 men each to garrison this fort and another (Fort Dobbs?) which was built this year. (Col. Rec., the boundary line was finally est- Vol. 5, page 639).
tablished between the two provinces of the Carolinas, the Catawba Na-
That the fort of the Catawbas was at least begun, we have the following tion was fixed in the South Carolina entry in the Journal of 1762 (Col.
Province. Lord Charles Grenville Rec., Vol. 5, page 970) "Mr. Frances Montagu, of South Carolina, wrote Brown exhibited his accounts relat- to Governor Tryon of North Caro- ing to the Fort at the Catawba Na- lina, "The Catawbas had often ex- tion and asked Assembly for re- pressed their desire to be within this imbursement for money spent in province which built a fort for them work towards building fort and for and fed and clothed them and their goods delivered to the Indians." An'families during the Cherokee War."
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N. C. HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
{Col. Rec .. Vol. 11, page 220).
Griffith Rutherford the latter part of August, 1776, while on his expedi- tion against the "Overhill Chero- kees." David L. Swain, who was born and reared in Buncombe county and who was a student of Western Car- olina history. seemed to think so, writing in 1852, less than a hundred years after. (U. N. C. Magazine, Vol. 1, No.4).
In the year 1776 North Carolina had been divided into military dis- tricts and General Griffith Ruther- ford had been appointed Brig. Gen- eral of the Western district. He, with Colonel Christian of Virginia. and Colonel Williamson of South Carolina, by simultaneous action made an effort to break the power of the Cherokees. They invaded their territory, lay waste their fields and burned their towns . .. completely subdued them!
We have letters of Griffith Ruth- erford which were written prior to that expedition. They tell of the "Alarming Condition" on the fron- tier. . . the vicinity of Oid Fort twenty years after the erection of Fort Dobbs! On "July ye 12,
1776" Gen. Rutherford wrote the Council of State as follows:
From the standpoint of numbers it does not seem likely that the small. Honered Gentlemtn. This is fur- der to acquent you of our trubles; this day I rec'd an Express from Col. Backman and it gives account. that Last Weak there was 40 Indens on Crooked Creek and that one Middle- seventeen fifties. They would have ton is killed there. Indens was seen meney miles furder Down the Ca- tawba River. I am app.id Daley two for Relefe; ancesly waiting for youre instructions; prey send, if Possible at Lest 1000 lbs. more Powder be- sides what you first voted, for Peo- . a'most extinct. Catawba tribe living in upper South Carolina at least 125 miles away, would venture from their nation into Western North Carolina as far west as O.d Fort during the been venturing dangerously near the much stronger tribe of Cherokees. For in 1755 the Catawbas. under King Hagler, numbered only about 240 warriors, while at that date the Cherokees in their different settle- ments numbered 2390 warriors. (Col. ple in the frunters will move off if Rec., Vol. 5, pages 320 and 742). I not supplied with that article.
There is the possibility that the Plead for Expedition" . . etc. stockade at Old Fort was built by (Col. Rec., Vol. 10, page 662).
Two days later, July 14, 1776, Gen. Rutherford again wrote the Council of State:
Honorable Gentlemen. I am un- der the nessety of sending you by Express the Allerming Condition, this Country is in, the Indians is murdering, in the frunters of this County, 37 I am informed was killed Last Wednesday and Thursday on the Catawba River. I am also Informed that Col MeDowell, 10 more men and 120 women and children is Beshaged in some kind of a fort and the In- dens Round them, no help to them before yesterday, and they were sur rounded on Wednesday . . . Pray Gentlemen Consider oure Distress, send us Plenty of Powder and I Hope under God. we of Salisbury District is able to stand them." (Col. Rec., Vol. 10, page 669).
In preparation for the expedition Gen. Rutherford advised Col. Wil- liam Christian, "I expect to rendez- vous at the head of the Catawba River (Col. Rec .. Vol. 10. page 651) and it was there (Oid Fort) that he camped and from there he wrote on Sept. 1, 1776 "Camp Head of the
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N. C. HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
Catawba River." (Col. Rec., Vol. 10, | county, was killed by the Cherokees page 788). on what is now the Wells place,
Circumstantial evidence speirs suf- three miles East of Old Fort. (Wheel- ficiently strong to suggest that Day- Ter's Historical Sketches of N. C., id Swain seemed not to know of the | page 238) (Samuel Davidson, page claim, now current, concerning the : 17).
Draper in his "King's Mountain able to believe that had the fort been and Its Heroes", (page 151) which
origin of Old Fort. It seems reason- in existence Griffith Rutherford -- was published in 1881, in telling of would have known about it and into would have made specific reference -- : Ferguson's expedition the mountains just before the battle of to it during that last campaign. King's Mountain said that he (Fer- guson) went "as far as Davidson's -- 'Old Fort' in the extreme western part of Burke, now McDowell Coun- ty." At the time of writing his his-
The besieged fort referred to in the communication quoted above. might have been Cathay's Fort, lat- er Wofford's, located in Turkey Cove, McDowell County, five or six miles | tory the place was called Old Fort. distant from the McDowell's. It | might have been the fort a mile or more from Pleasant Gardens, the
Last summer. 1932. it was the writer's happy privilege to talk with Mrs. Alice Walton, daughter of San- home of the McDowell's. The latter ! born Worthen who bought the site fort we know was occupied by the jof the town of Old Fort in 1871, divided the property into lots and sold them to members of the colony of which he was business manager. Old Fort was then the terminus of the Western North Carolina Pail- road. When asked what she as a girl
settlers of the community during the winter of 1779-80. In January 1780 Pioneer Jaines Logan accompanied by his ten year old son, John, was | trying to reach the fort at Pleasant Gardens when he was killed by the Cherokees. John, who had been tied ! had been told about the history of to the pony, by means of a cord the place she stated that she had 1 been told the Davidsons and their neighbors had built there a fort as a place of refuge for themselves and the people of the surrounding com- munity. which had been passed underneath the pony's stomach, reached the fort ; in safety. He lived to be an old man and often pointed out the location of the fort to his children and grand- children.
When was the fort built, by whom, and under what circumstances? It little matters whether it was built by the Province of N. C. for the
- ade for a place of refuge from the unfriendly Cherokees. The writer is inclined to believe the last named "When the Revolutionary War be- gan the Davidson families were liv- ing at what was afterwards called Old Fort, at the head of the Cataw- Catawbas, whether it originated dur- ba River." (Samuel Davidson, page ; ing Gen. Rutherford's expedition in 17, by Dr. F. A. Sondley). They ' 1776 or whether at that time or lat- owned the land around Old Fort and; er the early settlers built the stock- had a grist mill, by means of which the settlers were supplied with bread on Davidson's Mill Creek, the stream which runs through Old Fort. John possibility the most probable in the Davidson, with his entire family, | light of the fragments of fact and save one daughter who was visiting tradition which have been handed her grandfather Brevard in Lincoln ! down through the intervening years.
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VOL. Ii
JANUARY 1433
NORTH CAROLINA
HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
CLARENCE GRIFFIN FOREST CITY. N. C.
CONTENTS
Notes on Alsion and Hinton Families
Memorial to Teuton Dead
Anson County Wills. 1713-1830
Washington Portrait In House of Representatives 12
Miscellaneous
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Interad as
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VOL. II
APRIL, 1933 No. 2
NORTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
Published Quarterly By CLARENCE GRIFFIN FOREST CITY, N. C.
CONTENTS
Time of Building Old Fort Questioned 24 (By Miss Mary M. Greenlee, Old Fort, N. C.)
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Entered as second-class matter at the postoffice at Forest City. N. C., November 23, 1931.
FIRST VOLUME SONDLEY HISTORY
BUNCOMBE COUNTY
Dr. Foster A. Sondley, one of North Car- olina's greatest students of history and renowned for his researches and collec- tions, especially of the colonial period, crowned his life's work with a two vol- ume history. So far-reaching was his study, that these volumes are also a vivid account of the early explorers of the entire southeastern area of the United States. Every step leads to the pioneer settlement of the mountain area. New sources and new facts are interest- ingly presented in this monumental work. A very limited number of these sets are available for general purchase.
Two Volumes in Two Bindings
Imitation Morocco
$ 7.50
Full Morocco
$10.00
The Asheville (N. C.) Chamber of Commerce is cus- todian of these volumes and subscription funds. Mail checks payable to that organization. First volume will be sent postpaid and second volume when off the press
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