USA > Tennessee > Williamson County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 14
USA > Tennessee > Maury County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 14
USA > Tennessee > Rutherford County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 14
USA > Tennessee > Wilson County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 14
USA > Tennessee > Bedford County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 14
USA > Tennessee > Marshall County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 14
USA > Tennessee > History of Tennessee from the earliest time to the present , together with an historical and a biographical sketch of from twenty-five to thirty counties of east Tennessee, besides a valuable fund of notes, original observations, reminiscences, etc., etc. V. 1 > Part 14
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In 1772 Virginia made a treaty with the Cherokees by which it was decided to run a boundary line west from White Top Mountain in latitude thirty-six degrees thirty minutes. Soon after a deputy agent for the Gov- ernment of Great Britain, Alexander Cameron, resident among the Cher-
*Sec chapter on organization.
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okees, ordered the settlers on the Watauga to move off. But some of the Cherokees expressing a wish that they might be permitted to remain provided no further encroachments were made, the necessity for their re- moval was avoided. But being still uneasy the settlers deputed James Robertson and John Boone to negotiate with the Indians for a lease. The deputies succeeded in effecting a lease for eight years for about $5,000 worth of merchandise, some muskets and other articles.
About this time the Nollichucky Valley was settled by Jacob Brown and one or two others upon the northern bank of the river. These fami- lies were from North Carolina. Brown bought a lease of a large tract of land with a small quantity of goods which he had brought from his for- mer home on his pack horse. A little before Brown made his settlement on the Nollichucky, Carter's Valley was settled by Carter, Parker and others from Virginia, Carter's Valley being north of the Holston was thought to be in Virginia. Carter & Parker opened a small store which was soon afterward robbed by the Indians, it was supposed by the Chero- kees, but no serions consequences followed. But the wanton killing of an Indian at the time of the execution of the Watauga lease, came near precipitating a conflict between the two races, which might have entirely destroyed the frontier settlements. James Robertson came to their re- lief and by his wisdom and intrepidity saved them from extermination by the outraged Cherokees. Robertson made a journey of 150 miles, and br his courage, calmness and fairness, by his assuragos to the Indians that the white men intended to punish the murderer as soon as he could be found, saved the settlers from the fury of the savages.
Two important events followed, viz. : The battle of Point Pleasant, and Henderson's Treaty. (For account of these events see elsewhere. ) By this treaty of Henderson' all that tract of country lying between the Kentucky and Cumberland Rivers was relinquished to Henderson and his associates. This purchase was named Transylvania, and the estab- lishment of an independent government was at first contemplated. Dur- ing the progress of this treaty which was concluded at Sycamore Shoals. Carter & Parker whose store had been robbed by Imlians, as narrated above, demanded, in compensation for the loss inflicted upon them, Car- ter's Valley, to extend from Cloud's Creek to the Chimney Top Moun- tain of Beech Creek. The Indians consented to this upon the condition of additional consideration, and in order to enable them to advance the price Messrs. Carter & Parker took Robert Lucas into partnership. These lands were afterward found to be in North Carolina.
The Watauga Association, holding their lands under an eight years' lease, were desirous of obtaining a title in fee. Two days after the Hen-
TENNESSEE INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND.
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derson purchase they succeeded in securing a deed of conveyance to Charles Robertson of a large extent of country. It was made March 19, 1775, and is recorded in the register's office of Washington County, This deed was signed by Oconostota, Attakullakulla, Tenassee War- rior and Willinawaugh in presence of John Sevier, William Bailey Smith, Jesse Benton, Tillman Dixon, William Blevins and Thomas Price, and conveyed for the sum of £2,000 lawful money of Great Britain, all that tract of land, including all the waters of the Watauga, part of the waters of Holston and the head branches of New River, or Great Kanawha. These lands were afterward regularly patented to the settlers, the first patentee being Joshua Haughton. But it is proper here to refer to a deed to Jacob Brown by which for the consideration of 10 shillings, a "principality" was conveyed to him embracing much of the best land in Washington and Greene Counties. This deed was dated March 25, 1775.
At this time the colonial government claimed the exclusive right to purchase lands of the Indians as one of the prerogatives of sovereignty. and Gov. Martin pronounced the purchase, at Watauga, of the Cher- okee lands illegal, alleging in his proclamation against it that it was made in violation of the king's proclamation of October 7, 1763, the effect of which proclamation has been already described as a brutum fulmen. This proclamation of Gov. Martin was equally harmless.
The Watauga settlement constantly increased in numbers, and the tribunal consisting of five commissioners chosen by themselves settled all controversies arising among the people. Its sessions were held at regular intervals, and its business increased with the growth of the colony. No records of this court have been discovered, but while searching among the public papers of North Carolina, Dr. Ramsey found a petition from the Watauga settlement praying to be annexed to North Carolina as a county, as a district, or as some other division. This petition is without a date, and is in the hand-writing of John Sevier. The chairman of the meeting which adopted it was John Carter, whose grandson was chairman of the Constitutional Convention of 1834. The petition was received by the general assembly of North Carolina, August 22, 1776, and was signed by 112 persons. It commences thus: "The humble petition of the inhabitants of Washington District, including the River Wataugah, Nonachuckie, etc., in committee assembled, humbly sheweth, etc." The committee who drew up this petition were as follows: John Carter, chairman; Charles Robertson, James Robertson, Zachariah Isbell, John Sevier, James Smith, Jacob Brown, William Bean, John Jones, George Russell, Jacob Womack and Robert Lucas. The name Washington Dis-
8
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trict is believed to have been suggested by John Sevier, and thus the pioneers of Tennessee were probably the first to honor Washington.
The Provincial Congress convened at Halifax, November 12, 1776, and continued in session until December 18. From "Washington Dis- trict, Watauga Settlement," were present John Carter, Charles Robert- son, John Haile and John Sevier; Jacob Womack was elected, but did not attend. A bill of rights and a State constitution were adopted, in the former of which the limits of the State are made to extend westward "so far as is mentioned in the charter of King Charles the Second, to the late proprietors of Carolina." The following clause is also in the Declaration of Rights, "That it shall not be construed so as to prevent the establishment of one or more governments westward of this State, by consent of the Legislature."
While these events were in progress, other events were either tran- spiring or in embryo, which were of transcendent importance to the three centers of settlement-at Carter's at Watauga, and at Brown's. Difficulties between Great Britain and her American colonies had already commenced, the dawn of the American Revolution was at hand. Every means was to be employed by the mother country in reducing to submis- sion her refractory subjects, one of those measures being to arm the neighboring Indian tribes and to stimulate them to fall upon and destroy the feeble settlements on the frontier.
The war with the Cherokees having happily come to an end, and prosperity having returned to the settlements, a treaty was made with them, and signed July 20, 1777. In April of that year the Legislature of North Carolina passed an act for the purpose of encouraging the militia and volunteers in prosecuting the war against the Cherokees.
At the same session an act was passed establishing Washington Dis- trict, appointing justices of the peace, and establishing courts of pleas. and quarter sessions. In November following, Washington County was created, to which was assigned the entire territory of the present State of Tennessee. A land office was provided for in Washington County, and each head of a family was permitted to take up for himself 640 acres of land, for his wife 100 acres, and 100 acres for each of his children. The ease and small expense with which land entries could be made, led numerous poor men westward, for without a dollar in his pocket the immigrant, upon arriving at the distant frontier, and upon selecting a homestead, at once became a large land-owner, and almost instantaneously acquired a competency and an independency for himself and his family. These men brought no wealth, but they did bring what was of more value-industry, frugality, hardihood, courage, economy and self-reli-
f
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ance -- and of such material was the foundation of society in the future great State of Tennessee composed. During this year a road was laid out and marked from the court house in Washington County to the county of Burke; and the first house covered with shingles was put up a few miles east of where Jonesboro now stands. In 1778 the Warm Springs on the French Broad were accidentally discovered by Henry Reynolds and Thomas Morgan.
By the treaty made at Watauga in March, 1775, which has been al- ready alluded to, the Cherokees deeded to Henderson & Co. all the lands between the Kentucky and Cumberland Rivers. A portion of this pur- chase was within the supposed boundary of North Carolina, and numbers of explorers continued to pass through Cumberland Gap on their way to Middle Tennessee. Among them Mansker renewed his visits in Novem- ber, 1775, and accompanied by Bryant and others encamped at Mansker Lick. Mansker and three others remained hunting and trapping on the Sulphur Fork of Red River. Thomas Sharp, Holliday. Spencer and others came in 1776 to the Cumberland and built a number of cabins. The rest returning, Spencer and Holliday remained until 1779. Capt. De Munbreun came to Middle Tennessee about 1775 and established his residence at Eaton's Station. He hunted through Montgomery County, and during the summer of 1777 he saw some parties at Deacon's Pond, near the present site of Palmyra. In 1778 a settlement was formed near Bledsoe's Lick in the heart of the Chickasaw Nation, and about the same time a party of French erected a trading post at "The Bluff," with the approval of the Chickasaws. Other parties kept coming to the lower Cumberland. Richard Hogan, Spencer, Holliday and others were there. and in the spring of 1778 they planted a small field of corn, the first plantation in Middle Tennessee. A large hollow tree stood near Bled- soe's Lick in which Spencer lived. Holliday, becoming dissatisfied, was determined to leave the country, and Spencer, unable to dissuade him from his purpose, accompanied him to the barrens of Kentucky, breaking and giving to Holliday one half of his own knife, and returned to his hollow tree, where he spent the remainder of the winter. Spencer was a very large man, and one morning, having passed the cabin occupied by one of De Munbreun's hunters, and left his immense tracks in the rich alluvial soil, which were discovered by the hunter on his return, the hun- ter became affrighted, immediately swam the Cumberland and wandered through the woods until he reached the French settlements on the Wa- bash.
In 1779 there was nothing in the valley of the lower Cumberland. except the hunter's camp and the lonely log habitation of Spencer.
But
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in the spring of that year a small party of brave pioneers left the parent settlement on the Watauga, crossed the Cumberland Mountains, and, ar- riving at the French Lick, pitched their tents and planted a field of corn on the present site of Nashville. This was near the lower ferry, and the party consisted of Capt. James Robertson, George Freeland, William Neely, Edward Swanson, James Hanly, Mark Robertson, Zachariah White and William Overall. A number of others, piloted by Mansker, soon joined this party. Having put in their crop of corn White, Swanson and Overall remained to care for it, while the rest returned to their families, Capt. Robertson by the way of Illinois to see Gen. George Rogers Clarke. Upon their return to the Watauga John Rains and others were persuaded to accompany Robertson to the French Lick. Other companies also were induced to join them, and at length a party of from 200 to 300 was collected, which in the fall started to the new settle- ment where Nashville now stands. Their route lay through Cumberland Gap and along the Kentucky trace to Whitley's Station; thence to Car- penter's Station, on Green River; thence to Robertson's Fork; thence down Green River to Pitman's Station; thence crossing and descending that river to Little Barren, crossing it at Elk Lick; thence past the Blue and Dripping Springs to Big Barren; thence up Drake's Creek to a bitu- minous spring; thence to the Maple Swamp; thence to Red River at Kilgore's Station; thence to Mansker's Creek and thence to the French Lick. The time consumed in this journey does not appear, but it was longer than was anticipated, on account of the depth of the snow and the inclemency of the weather, and they did not arrive at their destination until about the beginning of the year 1780. Some of them remained on the north side of the Cumberland and settled at or near Eaton's Station, but most of them, immediately after their arrival, crossed the river upon the ice, and settled where Nashville now stands. Both parties, those who remained on the north side of the river and those who crossed over to the south side. built block-houses, connected by stockades, as a defense against possible, and as they believed probable, future attacks upon them by the Indians, and the logic of events proved the wisdom of their course. Freeland's Station was established about this time, and likewise Dead- erick's Station by John Rains.
While these brave and hardy adventurers were pursuing their peril- ous journey through the wilderness of Kentucky and Tennessee, several boat loads of other adventurers, no less brave and no less hardy, were pursuing even a still more perilous journey down the Tennessee, up the Ohio and up the Cumberland, having in view the same objective point. This latter party was composed of friends and relatives of the former to
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a considerable extent. . They started from Fort Patrick Henry, near Long Island, and were commanded by Col. John Donelson, the projector of the voyage. Col. Donelson kept a journal, giving full particulars of the remarkable adventure, the principal parts of which are here inserted:
" Journal of a voyage intended, by God's permission, in the good boat 'Adventure,' from Fort Patrick Henry on Holston River to the French Salt Spring on Cumberland River, kept by John Donaldson.
" December 22, 1779 .- Took our departure from the fort and fell down the river to the mouth of Reedy Creek, where we were stopped by the fall of water and most excessive hard frost, and after much delay and many difficulties we arrived at the mouth of Cloud's Creek on Sunday evening the 20th of February, 1780, where we lay by until Sunday, 27th, when we took our departure with sundry other vessels, bound for the same voyage, and on the same day struck the Poor Valley Shoal, to- gether with Mr. Boyd and Mr. Rounsifer, on which shoal we lay that afternoon and succeeding night in great distress.
" Monday, February 28, 1780 .- In the morning, the water rising, we got off the shoal, after landing thirty persons to lighten the boat. In attempting to land on an island we received some damage and lost sundry articles, and came to camp on the south shore, where we joined sundry other vessels, also bound down. * * *
"March 2d .- Rain about half the day; passed the mouth of French Broad River, and about 12 o'clock, Mr. Henry's boat being driven on the point of an island by the force of the current, was sunk, the whole cargo much damaged and the crew's lives much endangered, which occasioned the whole fleet to put on shore and go to their assistance, but with much difficulty bailed her in order to take in her cargo again. The same af- ternoon Reuben Harrison went out a hunting and did not return that night, though many guns were fired to fetch him in.
" March 3d .- Early in the morning fired a four-pounder for the lost man; sent out sundry persons to search the woods for him; firing many guns that day and the succeeding night, but all without success, to the great grief of his parents and fellow travelers.
"Saturday 4th .- Proceeded on our voyage, leaving old Mr. Harrison with some other vessels to make further search for his lost son. About 10 o'clock the same day, found him a considerable distance down the river, where Mr. Benjamin Belew took him on board his boat. At 3 o'clock P. M., passed the mouth of Tennessee River. and camped on the south shore about ten miles below the Tennessee.
"Sunday 5th .-- Cast off and got under way before sunrise; 12 o'clock passed the mouth of Clinch; came up with the Clinch River Company, whom he joined and camped, the evening proving rainy.
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. " Monday 6th .- Got under way before sunrise. * * * Camped on the north shore where Capt. Hutching's negro man died, being much frosted in his feet and legs, of which he died.
"Tuesday 7th .- Got under way very early, the day proving very windy, at S. S. W., and the river being wide occasioned a high sea, inso- much that some of the smaller crafts were in danger; therefore came to at the uppermost Chickamauga town, which was then evacuated, wherewe lay by that afternoon and camped that night. The wife of Ephraim was here delivered of a child. Mr. Peyton has gone through by land with Capt. Robertson.
" Wednesday Sth .- Cast off at 10 o'clock and proceeded down to an Indian village, which was inhabited, on the south side of the river; they insisted on us to 'come ashore,' called us brothers, and showed other signs of friendship, insomuch that Mr. John Caffrey and my son then on board took a canoe, which I had in tow, and were crossing over to them, the rest of the fleet having landed on the opposite shore. After they had gone some distance a half-breed, who called himself Archy Coody, with several other Indians, jumped into a canoe, met them, and advised them to return to the boat, which they did, together with Coody and sev- eral canoes which left the shore and followed directly after him. They appeared to be friendly. After distributing some presents among them. with which they seemed much pleased, we observed a number of Indians on the other side embarking in their canoes, armed and painted in red and black. Coody immediately made signs to his companions, ordering them to quit the boat, which they did; himself and another Indian re- maining with us, and telling us to move off instantly. We had not gone far before we discovered a number of Indians armed and painted, pro- ceeding down the river as it were to intercept us. Coody the half-breed and his companion sailed with us for some time, and telling us that we had passed all the towns and were out of danger, left us. But we had not gone far until we had come in sight of another town situated likewise on the south side of the river, nearly opposite a small island. Here they again invited us to come on shore, called us brothers, and observing the boats standing off for the opposite channel, told us that 'their side of the river was better for the boats to pass.' And here we must regret the unfortunate death of young Mr. Payne, on board Capt. Blackmore's boat, who was mortally wounded by reason of the boat running too near the northern shore opposite the town, where some of the enemies lay con- cealed, and the more tragical misfortune of poor Stuart, his family and friends, to the number of twenty-eight persons. This man had embarked with us for the western country, but his family being diseased with the
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small-pox, it was agreed upon between him and the company that he should keep at some distance in the rear, for fear of the infection spread- ing, and he was warned each night when the encampment should take place by the sound of a horn. After we had passed the town, the Indians, having now collected to a considerable number, observing his helpless situation, singled off from the rest of the fleet, intercepted him, and killed and took prisoners the whole crew, to the great grief of the whole company, uncertain how soon they might share the same fate; their cries were distinctly heard by those boats in the rear.
"We still perceived them marching down the river in considerable bodies, keeping pace with us until the Cumberland Mountain withdrew them from our sight, when we were in hopes we had escaped them. We were now arrived at the place called the Whirl or Suck, where the river is compressed within less than half its common width above, by the Cumber- land Mountain, which juts in on both sides. In passing through the upper part of these narrows, at a place described by Coody, which he termed the "Boiling Pot." a trivial accident had nearly ruined the expedition. One of the company, John Cotton, who was moving down in a large canoe, had attached it to Robert Cartwright's boat, into which he and his family had gone for safety. The canoe was here overturned and the little cargo lost. The company, pitying his distress, concluded to halt and assist him in recovering his property. They had landed on the northern shore at a level spot, and were going up to the place, when the Indians, to our astonishment, appeared immediately over us on the oppo- site cliffs, and commenced firing down upon us, which occasioned a precipitate retreat to the boats. We immediately moved off; the Indians lining the bluffs along continued their fire from the heights on our boats below, without doing any other injury than wounding four slightly. Jennings' boat was missing.
" We have now passed through the Whirl. The river widens with a placid and gentle current, and all the company appear to be in safety except the family of Jonathan Jennings, whose boat ran on a large rock projecting out from the northern shore, and was partly immersed in water immediately at the Whirl, where we were compelled to leave them. perhaps to be slaughtered by their merciless enemies. Continued to sail on that day and floated throughout the following night. * *
" Friday 10th .- This morning about 4 o'clock we were surprised by the cries of " help poor Jennings " at some distance in the rear. He had discovered us by our fires, and came up in the most wretched condi- tion. He states that as soon as the Indians discovered his situation they turned their whole attention to him, and kept up a most galling fire at
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his boat. He ordered his wife, a son nearly grown, a young man who accompanied them, and his negro man and woman, to throw all his goods into the river, to lighten their boat for the purpose of getting her off. himself returning their fire as well as he could, being a good soldier and an expert marksman. But before they had accomplished their object his son, the young man, and the negro, jumped out of the boat and left them. Mr. Jennings, however, and the negro woman succeeded in unloading the boat, but chiefly through the efforts of Mrs. Jennings, who got out of the boat and shoved her off, but was near falling a victim to her own intrepidity on account of the boat starting so suddenly as soon as loosened from the rock. Upon examination he appears to have made a wonderful escape, for his boat is pierced in numberless places with bullets. It is to be remarked that Mrs. Peyton, who was the night before delivered of an infant, which was unfortunately killed upon the hurry and confusion consequent upon such a disaster, assisted them, being frequently exposed to wet and cold then and afterward, and that her health appears to be good at this time and I think and hope she will do well. Their clothes were much cut with bullets especially Mrs. Jen- nings' .. *
"Sunday 12th .- Set out, and after a few hours' sailing heard the crowing of cocks and soon came within view of the town; here they fired on us again without doing any injury.
" After running until about 10 o'clock came in sight of the Muscle Shoals. Halted on the northern shore at the appearance of the shoals, to search for the signs Capt. James Robertson was to make for us at that place. He set out from Holston early in the fall of 1779, was to proceed by the way of Kentucky to the Big Salt Lick on Cumberland River, with several others in company, was to come across from the Big Salt Lick to the upper end of the shoals, there to make such signs that we might know he had been there and that it was practicable for us to go across by land. But to our great mortification we can find none-from which we conclude that it would not be prudent to make the attempt, and are determined, knowing ourselves to be in such imminent danger, to pursue our journey down the river. After trimming our boats in the best manner possible we ran through the shoals before night.
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