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53
TOPICAL ANALYSIS.
TOPICAL ANALYSIS-CHAPTERS VII TO IX.
I. THE PIONEERS.
A. Visitors-
I. Explorers. (2) Traders. (3) Hunters, Daniel Boone, the first Negro.
B. Settlers-
I. Anglo-Americans Approach from the East.
2. The Scotch-Irish. (a ) Their Origin. ( b) Character. (c) Exodus from Ulster. (d) Their characteristics in America.
II. THE WATAUGA SETTLEMENTS.
A. North Holston.
B. Carter's Valley.
C. South Holston. ( a) Watauga. ( b) Brown's.
I. William Been and his Cabin, 1769.
2. James Robertson.
3. Watauga Settlers Ordered off.
4. Adopt Written Constitution.
5. Lease Lands from Cherokees.
6. Jacob Brown Leases Lands.
III. WASHINGTON DISTRICT, 1776, 1777.
A. First Geographical Division named in honor of George Washington.
B. Supersedes Watauga Association.
C. Petitions North Carolina for Annexation to the State.
D. Recognized as Part of North Carolina by Admission of Delegates in Legislature.
E. Transition Period.
F. Indian Wars.
I. Incited by Great Britain - Purpose to destroy the western settlements and then invade the eastern colonies.
2. Information received from Nancy Ward, the "Pocahontas of the West," and confirmed by other testimony.
3. Preparations for Defense.
4. The Invasions-
(a) Dragging Canoe defeated at Island Flats. Retreats.
(b) Old Abraham of Chilhowee repulsed at Fort Watauga. Incidents of the battle. Captures Mrs. Been.
(d) Raven's Indian force moves to Holston River, and retires.
(e) A fourth Indian army invades Carter's Valley, ravages the country and retires.
5. The Southern States combine and invade the Indian country with strong armies.
6. Avery's Treaty, or the Treaty of Fort Henry, near Long Island.
64
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
CHAPTER X.
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
97. North Carolina Asserts Jurisdiction .- In November, 1777, the General Assembly of North Carolina asserted jurisdiction over her western territory by forming Washington District into Washington County, with boundaries co-extensive with the present State of Ten- nessee. The new county was made a part of Salisbury Judicial Dis- trict. Courts of justice were established. Civil and military officers were appointed, land offices were opened, and the county organization was completed.
98. Military Preparations .- The militia was organized for defense against the Indians, and John Carter was appointed Colonel of Wash- ington County. Companies of rangers were sent out to protect the country against the incursions of the Indians. This wise precaution brought security to the settlers against petty marauding parties of Indians. Bodies of "Tories" who had been driven from the more thickly settled portions of North Carolina committed depredations upon the settlements. These were restrained by the military authori- ties, and by Vigilance Committees, and brought before the courts and tried for "toryism." 1
99. Influx of Population .- The State granted land to the settlers on very favorable terms, as will appear in the following quotation from the History of Tennessee by John Haywood, the father of Tennessee history : " at the rate of forty shillings per hundred acres ; each head of a family was permitted to take up six hundred and forty acres for himself, and one hundred acres for his wife and each of his children. The law was so worded as not to oblige the Watauga people to enter and pay for their occupancies until January, 1779; and then for any surplus entered above the quantity before mentioned, the purchaser was required to pay five pounds per hundred. Great numbers of persons came to Holston from the eastern parts of North Carolina to enter land." 2
100. The Immigrants .- The above quotation from Haywood shows the cheapness of the lands, and how the title to them was obtained. The following quotation from Ramsey shows the character
1 Ramsey, pp. 177, 181.
" See Haywood's Civil and Political History of Tennessee, chap. 2, pp. 69, 70.
.....
65
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
of the pioneers: "The facility of taking up the choice lands of the country induced great numbers of persons, principally those without means, to emigrate to the frontier. A poor man, with seldom more than a single pack-horse on which the wife and infant were carried, with a few clothes and bed quilts, a skillet and a small sack of meal, was often seen wending his way along the narrow mountain trace, with a rifle upon his shoulder, the elder sons carrying an axe, a hoe, somne- times an auger and a saw, the elder daughters leading or carrying the smaller children. Without a dollar in his pocket when he arrived at the distant frontier, the emigrant became at once a large land-holder. Such men laid the foundation of society and government in Tennessee. They brought no wealth with them, but, what was far better, they had hardihood and enterprise, and fearlessness and self-reliance. With such elements in the character of its pioneers, any community will soon subdue the wilderness to the purposes of agriculture."1
101. Development .- The early pioneers had traveled on horse- back and on foot. The scanty articles of comfort, and the few work- ing tools which they imported, were carried on their persons, or on pack-horses. They followed trails which had been "blazed" by hun- ters or previous travelers. No road for vehicles had been opened, and there were no adequate means of transportation. As soon as they were well settled in their new homes, they began to turn their thoughts to the improvement of their condition. They felt the need of some means of transportation to connect them with the outside world. The first effort at internal improvement was the appointment of commissioners by the Legislature to lay off a road from the Court House of Washington County extending into Burke County. Says the historian : "After that road was opened, emigrants of larger prop- erty began to reach the country, and the settlements assumed the appearance of greater thrift and comfort." ?
102. 1779 .- The year 1779 was pregnant with events of impor- tance to the pioneers of Washington County.
The Indian chief, Dragging Canoe, who had refused to take part in the Treaty of Holston, established a force of banditti, 1,000 strong, with headquarters at Nickajack Cave, and began a series of depreda- tions. The expedition of Evan Shelby was made to destroy this rendezvous. Sullivan County was formed. The. Cherokees became hostile. Campbell, Sevier, and Shelby invaded their territory.
1 See Ramsey's Annals, pp. 175, 176.
2 Ramsey's Annals, p. 176.
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
The capture of Savannah, in 1778, followed by the defeat of Gen- eral Ashe in 1779, opened communications with the Indians, and renewed their hostilities. James Robertson, with a party of pio- neers from the Watauga, began the permanent settlement of Middle Tennessee at French Lick on the Cumberland, now Nashville; John Donelson began his famous voyage on the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers ; Jonesboro, the first incorporated town in Tennessee, was laid off, and established as the county-seat of Washington County ; the courts having been previously held at the house of Charles Rober- son; and the Commissioners of Virginia and North Carolina began the location of the boundary line.
103. The Expedition of Evan Shelby .- This expedition was un- dertaken under the authority of Virginia and North Carolina, and consisted of one hundred and fifty men under Col. Montgomery, with three hundred and fifty men under Col. Evan Shelby, the whole expe- dition being under the command of Col. Shelby. This movement had been rendered necessary by the depredations of the lawless bands of Indians associated with a few white renegades, who had settled along the banks of the Tennessee River, and had formed an associa- tion of pirates or banditti for the purpose of robbing boats which were beginning to navigate the river, and the further purpose of invading the white settlements. The villages which they inhabited were known as the Five Lower Towns-Running Water, Nicajack, Long Island. Cow Town, and Look Out. Their famous stronghold was Nic-a-jack Cave. Col. Hamilton, the British Governor at Detroit, had, through his agents, accumulated a store of goods valued at $20,000, which had been placed in the vicinity of these towns to be distributed to the neighboring Indians, who had been called to attend a council. a: which it was proposed to enlist them to invade and destroy the Ten- nessee settlements. Col. Shelby foiled the purpose of the British by capturing their stores, burning eleven Indian villages, destroying the crops of the Indians, and prostrating their resources. 1
104. A Dangerous Crisis .- The Revolutionary War had now assumed a phase which threatened danger to the Tennessee settlers. The British commanders had decided to invade the country from the south. Savannah had fallen, and the siege of Charleston was con- templated. The Indians had become the allies of the British. The
I Read full account in Haywood, Ramsey, and other historians. Evan Shelby was the father of Isaac Shelby, who was the first governor of Kentucky.
67
THE CUMBERLAND SETTLEMENT.
feeble western settlement could hardly cope with their Indian enemies. What must be the result when these savages were rein- forced with strong bodies of British troops? The sequel will be told in future chapters. In the meantime, the fearless settlers pur- sued their plans. They calmly continued the location of the bound- ary line, and the extension of their settlements on the Cumberland. At the same time that they maintained their ground as the "Rear- Guard of the Revolution," they threw forward into the wilderness the "Advance-Guard of Western Civilization." 1
CHAPTER XII.
THE CUMBERLAND SETTLEMENT.
105. Early Visitors .- On March 17, 1775, the Cherokees ceded to Henderson & Co. the land known as the Transylvania Purchase, which extended between the Kentucky and Cumberland rivers. 2
This treaty was not recognized as valid, either by the British government or by the States of Virginia and North Carolina. Never- theless, the Henderson Company sent pioneers to occupy the country which they claimed. Daniel Boone and others were among the pio-
neers. (As early as 1768 Isaac Lindsay, Urialı Stone, and others visited the Cumberland River, and gave the name of one their party to Stone's River. )3 In 1769 Jolin Rains, Kaspar Mansker, Abra- ham Bledsoe, John Baker, Joseph Drake, Obediah Terril, Urialı Stone, Henry Smith, Ned Cowan, and others, made extensive explorations, and, among other places, they visited the Cumberland country. Members of this party made subsequent visits to the coun- try. Their names are retained in "Drake's Pond," "Drake's Lick," "Bledsoe's Lick," "Mansco's Lick," "Stone's River," etc. There were other visitors at times previous to the permanent settlement.
106. Thomas Sharp Spencer .- Among the most noted of these early pioneers was Thomas Sharp Spencer. He came in 1776, and
1 The pupil should read in this connection two interesting books by J. R. Gil- more-"The Rear-Guard of the Revolution," and the "Advance-Guard of West- ern Civilization." These works present a vivid picture, but should be read with caution, as they are not reliable in matters of fact.
? Haywood; Ramsey's Annals, p. 191, and especially Putnam's History of Middle Tennessee, pp. 62, 63; also Report of Bureau of Ethnology, 1883-IS84, pp. 148, 149.
3 Compare ₹63.
68
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
remained until the arrival of the permanent settlers in 1779. Many anecdotes are related of him which border on the marvelous. He was said to have been a man of gigantic size and strength. He had an immense foot. It is related that a hunter, chancing to see Spencer's footprint in the mud, fled in terror. He remained in the Cumberland country at one time with only one companion. It is said of him : " When this last comrade concluded to return home, Spencer decided to remain. He accompanied his comrade for a short distance, and in parting, divided with him his scanty store, and broke in half the only knife in the Cum- berland country, giving the comrade one part and himself retaining the other. He then re- turned to his camping- ground, and lived in a large hollow sycamore tree." "Spencer's Choice," in Sumner County, still bears his name. By a singular mistake of the "father of Tennessee history," some confusion has arisen in regard to Spencer's name. Judge Haywood unfortunately inserted a comma at the wrong place, and wrote : " Thomas Sharp, Spen- cer, and others." This SPENCER'S TREE. seemed to indicate two men, Thomas Sharp, and another named Spencer. Later historians copied the mistake. Mr. John Carr, author of "Early Times in Mid- dle Tennessee," being himself a pioneer, was personally acquainted with Spencer. He relates many stories about him, and gives his name cor- rectly. 1
107. Other Noted Pioneers .- John Holliday was Spencer's friend and companion. Captain Demonbreun, a Frenchman, hunted in this
1 See Ramsey, p. 192; Haywood, pp. SI, S2; Putnam; Carr; American His- torical Magazine, Vol. I, pp. 199-201.
69
THE CUMBERLAND SETTLEMENT.
country as early as 1775. He bore an important part in the early settlements, and lived in Nashville until 1823. One of the streets of Nashville is named in honor of him. Richard Hogan, William Bowen, John Duncan, James Ferguson were noced pioneers. Ill 1778, a settle- ment of less than a dozen families was formed near Bledsoe's Lick. "About the same time a number of French traders advanced up the Cumberland River as far as the 'Bluff,' where they erected a trading post and a few log cabins." Richard Hogan, Spencer, Holliday, and others, planted corn near Bledsoe's Lick ill 1778. Dr. Ramsey called this the "first plantation in Middle Tennessee."
108. Nashborough .- The way was now cleared for permanent settlement. In 1779, a band of adventurers from Watauga, led by James Robertson, the father of Tennessee, reached the Cumberland River early in the spring. James Robertson, George Freeland, Will- iam Neely, Edward Swanson, James Hanley, Mark Robertson, Zachia- riah White, and William Overall, accompanied by a "negro fellow," constituted the party. Soon after their arrival, they were reinforced by another party, led by Kaspar Mansker. The names of this latter party are not given by the early historians. They laid the founda- tion for the settlement by planting corn, and returned home to bring their families, leaving Overall, White, and Swanson to guard their crops from the ravages of wild animals.
109. The Permanent Settlement .- Early in the winter of 1780, the settlers above named returned from Watauga, and were joined by "John Rains and others," the entire party numbering from two to three hundred.1 The winter of 1780 is famous as the " cold winter." The colonists were subjected, during their journey, to much incon- venience and suffering on account of the cold and snow, and found the Cumberland River frozen over. Most of the party crossed the river and settled along the bluffs where Nashville now stands. Others, among whom was Amos Eaton, remained on the east side, and founded Eaton's Station. John Rains settled on Brown's Creek. The colony was strengthened by the arrival of a party from South Carolina. Among these, were John Buchanan, Alexander Buchanan, Daniel Will- iams, John Mulherrin, James Mulherrin, Sampson Williams, and Thomas Thompson. 2
110. Awaiting their Families .- While actively at work, hewing down trees, building cabins, and making preparations for permanent
1 Ramsey, pp. 184-195; Putnam's, pp. 66, et seq.
2 Ramsey, 196; Putnam, 66.
3
70
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
residence, the settlers were anxiously awaiting the arrival of their families. When they left Watauga, they had provided, as they thought, a safer and more pleasant mode of transportation for their women and children. They decided themselves to march on foot through the wilderness, expecting to encounter danger, toil and privation. They wished to spare their families this toilsome journey. They, therefore, constructed vessels, on which, they placed their women and children and weaker members of the party, under the protection of a strong escort commanded by Col. John Donelson. This little fleet also afforded the means of transporting a few articles of comfort or luxury for which no other means of transportation could be provided.
111. The Voyage .- Fortunately for history, Col. John Donel- son kept a diary, in which is recorded the events of this remarkable voyage. This journal is headed as follows :
"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 Springs, on Cumberland River, kept by John Donelson."
The narrative begins December 22, 1779, when "The good boat, Adventure," left Fort Patrick Henry. After mnuch delay, caused by "excessive hard frosts, the Adventure was joined at the mouth of Cloud's Creek by sundry other vessels bound for the same voyage." February 27, 1780, the little fleet started on the voyage which was destined to incur unexpected dangers. A complete account is given by Col. Donelson of the perils of the voyage, the atttack by the Indians, and the unforeseen dangers and discomforts of pioneer navi- gation, especially in passing through Mussel Shoals. Finally, the fleet arrived April 24, 1779, "at our journey's end at the Big Salt Lick. where we have the pleasure of finding Capt. Robertson and his company."
112. The Cumberland Fleet .- The fleet of Donelson, which accomplished the first navigation of Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, came nearer than any other flotilla to being the State navy. While its exact relation to the Cumberland Colony was not accurately defined, it was, at least, a flotilla of thirty or forty vessels engaged in public service, and used in hostilities with the Indians. Posterity should honor the names of those who accomplished this famous voyage. They are given by Col. Donelson, as follows : John Donelson, Sr., Thomas Hutchings, John Caffery, John Donelson, Jr., James Robertson's wife and children, Mrs. Parnell, M. Rounsifer, James Cain, Isaac Neelly. Jonathan Jennings, Benjamin Belew, Peter Looney, Capt. John Blacke-
7/
--
DONELSON'S BOATS DESCENDING THE TENNESSEE RIVER.
72
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
more, James Renfroe, William Crutchfield, Mr. Johns, Hugh Henry, Sr., Benjamin Porter, Mrs. Henry, Frank Armstrong, Hugh Rogan, Daniel Chambers, Robert Cartwright, - -- Stuart, David /
Gwin, John Boyd, Reuben Harrison, Frank Haynie, -- Maxwell, John Montgomery, Daniel Dunham, John Cotton, Thomas Henry, Mrs. Cockrill, John White, Solomon White, Solomon Turpin, John Gibson, Isaac Lanier, --- Payne (killed). There were other names not put down, women, children, and servants. 1
CHAPTER XII.
GROWTH OF THE CUMBERLAND SETTLEMENTS.
113. Preparing for Government .- Six days were allowed for the rejoicings over the arrival of the Donelson voyagers, the reunion of families, and the installment of the new comers in their homes. On the seventh day, May 1, 1780, the settlers entered upon the stern duty of inaugurating a government for the Cumberland settlements. In taking this wise action, they were moved by the natural instinct of all Anglo-Saxon peoples, which has made them, wherever found, con- stitution-makers, law-makers, and abiders of law and order. In addi- tion to this, their situation demanded prompt and decisive measures. They were beyond the reach of any organized government. They were, says Ramsey, "Equi-distant from the most warlike and fero- cious tribes on this continent, tribes that had frequently wasted the frontiers of Carolina, Virginia, and Pennsylvania with tomahawk and fire, and were now aided in the unnatural alliance of Great Britain, by the arts and treasures of the agents of that government." Their position rendered them peculiarly exposed to attack from the Indians of the North, and the Indians of the South. Their fears were quick- ened by the presence of a large hunting party of Delawares, who encamped on a branch of Mill Creek, a few miles south of Nash- borough.
114. The Cumberland Articles .- In addition to the considera- tions above mentioned, the presence of Col. Richard Henderson, under whose purchase from the Indians the settlers claimed title, rendered a public meeting important. The meeting was held at Nashborough (now Nashville) May 1, 1780, and entered into "Articles of Agree- ment," or "Compact of Government." The assembly then adjourned
1 See Putnam, pp. 75, 76; Ramsey, pp. 202, 203.
--
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GROWTH OF THE CUMBERLAND SETTLEMENTS.
to meet May 13, 1780, at which time additional articles were adopted, and the entire instrument was signed by the white male settlers. Two hundred and fifty-six names were signed, nearly all in the hand- writing of the signers. In the printed copy published in Putnam's History only one signature by mark is found. 1
115. The Character of the Articles .- This was the second con- stitution framed by the Tennessee settlers, nearly all of whom were native Americans. Unfortunately the first constitution adopted by the Watauga settlers was lost, and we can judge of its features only by such meager evidence as we can glean from the institutions which were established under it. Thanks to the researches of Mr. Putnamı, we have the Cumberland Compact before us. In point of literary merit it compares favorably with any constitution that was ever writ- ten. In point of fitness to its purpose, it is a model of jurisprudence. It is framed with consummate wisdom, and is exactly adapted to the environments of the pioneers.
116. Some Features of the Compact .- It establishes a tribunal of twelve members, with certain judicial, legislative, and executive functions, which are limited and defined. It distributes the member- ship of this tribunal, or court, equitably between the eight stations, or settements, viz .: Nashborough 3, Gasper's 2, Bledsoe's I, Asher's I, Stone's River I, Freeland I, Eaton's 2, Fort Union I.
It confers the elective franchise on all free men over the age of twenty-one years. It makes careful provisions for the entry of lands, for the registration of land titles, and for the descent of lands, and takes care to bind Richard Henderson and his Land Company as par- ties to the compact. It provides for the administration of justice in civil and criminal cases. It renders justice accessible by instituting inferior courts, and courts of appeal. It binds all by a solemn agree- ment to abide by the decisions of the Cumberland Courts, and to re- nounce all right of appeal to North Carolina.
It adopts regulations for " the common defense and general wel- fare." It makes all males over sixteen years of age subject to mili- tary duty, and in consideration thereof confers on them the right to
1 This remarkable document was lost for many years. It was found in 1846 in an old trunk, which had once belonged to Col. Robert Barton, who had been in his lifetime one of the "Notables," and to whose custody this valuable relic had evidently been entrusted. The first page was destroyed, and second torn, but the remainder was in good condition and legible. To Mr. A. W. Putnam, the histo- rian, belongs the credit of the discovery. See Putnam's History of Middle Ten- nessee, pages 84-103.
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
hold real estate. It confers on each station the power to elect its own military officers, and empowers these officers to enforce military dis- cipline, and impress horses for military service. It provides for a commission to assure the General Assembly of North Carolina of "the felicity and attachment to interests of our country, and obedi- ence to the laws and constitution thereof." The commission is fur- ther instructed to express the desire of the Cumberland settlers to meet their ratable share of the expenses of the war, and the other expenses of government, to explain that the present organization is made to provide for the exigencies of their exposed position, and to petition the government of North Carolina to establish this country as a county of the State, and afford it aid and protection.
117. Government under the Compact .- Immediately after the adoption of the compact, the government was put into operation. The militia was organized by the election of the following officers: James Robertson, colonel; John Donelson, lieutenant-colonel; Rob- ert Lucas, major ; George Freeland, James Mauldin, Isaac Bledsce, John Blackemore, James Leiper, Andrew Buchanan, and John Rains, captains.
The tribunal provided for in the compact is generally styled "The Court and Government of Notables." It was probably organ- ized promptly, and entered at once upon its functions. It is certain that the rights of marriage were solemnized by its members. James Robertson performed the first marriage ceremony, uniting in marriage Captain James Leiper and his wife. Mr. James Shaw married four couples in one day. We have circumstantial evidence of other func- tions exercised by the "Notables," yet so careless were our ancestors that no record exists of the proceedings to January 7, 1783. On that day the court consisted of James Robertson, George Freeland, Thomas Molloy, Isaac Linsey, David Rounsevall, Heydon Wells, James Mati- ding, Ebenezer Titus, Samuel Barton, Andrew Ewin. James Robert- son was elected chairman, John Montgomery, sheriff, and Andrew Ewin, clerk. It was decided to pay the clerk for his services, and afterwards the records were better kept. It seems that the court had fallen into disuse, and the records show that it was revived January ,, 1783.1
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