USA > Virginia > Tazewell County > Tazewell County > Annals of Tazewell County, Virginia from 1800 to 1922 > Part 2
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ANNALS OF TAZEWELL COUNTY, VIRGINIA.
bell says further: "The law itself that gave occupants a privilege to obtain donation lands was extorted from the legislature by the representations of a numerous band of emigrants which the affairs of America at the time made it good policy to concilate, although not a few of them were deserters from the danger their eastern brethren were then involved in." Of Arthur, himself, it was said that he was "land mungering," for it was reported that he "was a sur- veyor himself and had white and black persons chain carriers with a chain, part made of rope and part of leather wood bark, and run- ning as he pleased through other persons' claims, making corners and measuring lines at will, that a number of his marks were about the land in controversy." The land involved in this suit is that locally known as "Campbell's Choice."
It was customary for the large proprietors to give distinctive names to their own lands. James Patton named his "Smithfield." Dr. Thomas Walker gave the name "Wolf Hills", which is the site of the present town of Abingdon. "Burke's Garden" was the seat of James Thompson in the present county of Tazewell. It had been originally that of Thomas and John Ingles, who settled there in 1749.
One of the difficulties of determining accurately the dates and circumstances of the first settlement of any of these regions is that frequently a whole district in which a community established itself would be entirely depopulated by an incursion of the Indians, those of the settlers who were not killed, abandoning their improvements, which were then relocated by those who came in after the Indians had retired. These later claimed by their own, a new right, all trace of the former being wiped out. It was characteristic of the people that after each Indian attack, not only fresh adventurers came and occupied the land but in larger numbers than before. But at times there would be several years before the recovery. That there were settlers in considerable numbers before the grant to Patton and others in 1741, and the Loyal Company, south and west of that, in 1749, is sufficiently evident from many sources; but they were fre- quently and disastrously driven back. In 1753 and 1754 all the settlements were disturbed, but there was a return tide immediately after. After Pontiac's war and the treaty with France, there was a very large migration.
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BEFORE THE GATES OF THE WILDERNESS ROAD
Among the very early settlers on Roanoke (or Stanton) River was John Robinson, who came in 1743. He was killed by the Indians in 1756. His brother, Thomas Robinson lost his life at the Big Defeated Camps on the west of the Cumberland Mountain, and all his family were destroyed. In 1753 he qualified as captain of a company of foot, which would indicate that his section was fairly well settled in that year. He was the son of James Robinson, of Pennsylvania, and was sent by his father to purchase land upon Roanoke as a settlement for the children of James, who followed John, and they together with their friends and relatives, the Crocketts, the Loves, the Pattersons, the Calhouns, the Pattons and the Montgomeries, were prime agents in the establishment of civili- zation. As is usual in such communities the neighbors were very apt to fall out and say unkind things about each other, but fort- unately, these people took their troubles into court, which became a clearing house of bad feeling. James Patton, who was president of the County Court, vestryman, member of the General Assembly, coroner, sheriff, county lieutenant, and a captain of cavalry in the militia service, all at the same time, could give and take hard knocks. In 1746 he haled into court all the Calhouns -- Hames, Ezekiel, Wil- liam and Patrick, on the charge that they were divulgers of false news, to the great detriment of the inhabitants. Apparently the Calhouns were in the habit of "crying worlf." In 1750 James Cal- houn started the "news" that Colonel Patton had made over all his estate to his children to defraud his creditors, and that Patton could give no good title to purchasers. Patton instituted proceedings im- mediately against Calhoun for slander, which hung fire by reason of hung juries in the county court until 1754, when a mandamus was issued by the General Court to dismiss the cause. In the same year, 1750, James Calhoun contracted with Patton for two surveys of land, but before they were made out and signed by the governor the law was changed so as to give the governor a fee of one pistole for signing each patent. This Patton charged to Calhoun, but Calhoun refused to pay. Suit was brought by Patton in 1752 and a trial had. The jury, having been four days in retirement, asked to be dis- charged, but Patton's attorneys objected and they were ordered to consider further and if they could not agree, to return next court. In March 1753, the same jury was called and John Smith, being absent was fined. Defendant's attorney moved the court to dismiss Har-2
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ANNALS OF TAZEWELL COUNTY, VIRGINIA.
the jury and impanel a new one, but patton in person objected and the court was of opinion that the cause be continued and the same jury try the issue. The cause of John Smith's absence was that when the jury were called by the sheriff to take their places in the box, John jumped out of the back window of the courthouse and escaped At the succeeding court none of the jurors appeared, and an order was entered to summon them to the next court, and at the next court, August, 1753, a mandamus was received from the General Court to dismiss the jury, which was done, and the case continued. Shortly afterwards the matter was submitted by parties to arbitration and the finding was that each party pay one pistole, which was entered by the court as its judgment in August, 1754.
By November, 1746, the settlements southwest of the Roanoke had become so important that on the 19th of that month four roads were ordered to be built leading from the Roanoke settlements. The first was run from Reed Creek to Eagle Bottom and thence to the top of the ridge that parts the waters of New River and those of the South Fork of the Roanoke, and these settlers were ordered to work it. George, Ezekiel, William and Patrick Calhoun, Bryant White, William Hanlow, Peter Rentfro and his two sons, George and Tinker, Jacob Woolman and two sons, John Black, Simon Hart, Michael Claine, John Stroud, Samuel Stalkner and all the Dunkers. James Calhoun and Charles Hart were to be overseers. The second road was ordered from Adam Harmon's on the new River, to the north branch of Roanoke, with these workers: George Draper, Israel Lorton and son, George Harmon, Thomas Looney, Jacob Harman and three sons, Jacob Castle, John Lane, Valentine Har- mon, Adren Moser, Humberston Lyon, James Skaggs, Humphrey Baker, John Davis, Frederick Sterling and his two sons. The third road was ordered to run from the ridge above Tobias Bright's that parts the waters of New River from the branches of Roanoke to the lower ford of Catawba Creek, with these workers: William English and two sons, Thomas English and son, Jacob Brown, George Bright, Benjamin Ogle, Paul Garrison, Elisha Isaac, John Donahy, Philip Smith, Mathew English and others to be nominated by George Robinson and James Montgomery. The fourth road ex- tended from the ridge dividing the waters of New River from the waters of South Branch of Roanoke to end in a road that leads over the Blue Ridge, which was the state highway to Richmond, James
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BEFORE THE GATES OF THE WILDERNESS ROAD
Campbell and Mark Evans were the overseers, with these workers: Old Mr. Robinson and his sons, Thomas Wilson and his two sons, William Beus and his brother, all the Ledfords, Admuel and Henry Brown, Samuel Niely, James Burk, James Bean, Francis Estham, Ephraim Voss and servants, Francis Summerfield, John Mason, Tasker and Thomas Tosh, John and Peter Dill, Uriah Evans' sons, Methyselah Griffiths and sons, John Thomas, Peter Kinder. These names belong among those of the fathers, whose homely virtues and faithful manhood were the foundation of a free and virtuous people. Peace to their ashes.
In 1747 Valentine Sevier petitioned for license to keep an ordi- nary at his own house, alleging that "he is very much infested with travelers." He was probably living at that time to the north, on the waters of the Shenandoah. In 1746 his lands were processioned in that section. 1747 he was indicted for swearing six oaths, and at the same time appointed inspector of pork and beef. In 1747 he was arrested for raising a riot in the court yard, whereupon he begged fitting pardon and was discharged. He owned about 1600 acres in the present counties of Rockingham and Shenandoah.
On the third of September, 1747, Captain James Campbell and Erwin Patterson were appointed processsioners of lands on the waters of Roanoke. These were the most southern bounds for which processioners were appointed, so that it must be taken that there were few settlers actually living upon New River, Holston, Clinch and Powell on that date. In July, 1748, Michael and Augustine Price purchased land on New River from Israel Lorton. In 1749, Thomas and John Ingles settled at Burke's Garden, now in Tazewell County. At that time Samuel Akerling owned lands in Dunker Bottom on New River, and in 1750 sold to Garrett Zinn, who moved almost immediately to Carolina to escape massacre at the hands of the Indians. In the same year Adam Harman entered four hundred acres on New River, six miles above Wolf's Creek. The population must have been there, however scattered, as there was a justice of the peace, Thomas Ingles and a constable, William Ingles. In the same year, 1750, a road was ordered from Ezekiel Calhoun's to Woods (New) River, John McFarland and Joseph Crockett were to be surveyors and the following were the workers: Henry Batton, Mordecai Early, Jacob Goldman, John Downing, John Goldman, Charles Sinclair, Nathaniel Wilshire, William Sayers, William
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ANNALS OF TAZEWELL COUNTY, VIRGINIA.
Hamilton, Humbertson Lyon, Frederick Carloch, Robert Norris, James Miller, James Cove, Samuel Montgomery, Steven Lyon, John Conley, Andrew Linam, James Willkey, Samuel Stanlick, James Maies, Robert McFarlin, James Harris, John Vance, John Stride, Robert Miller, Alexander Sayers, John Miller, Jacob Castle, Robety Alcorn, John Forman, William Miller.
In 1752 Samuel Stalnaker, after whom a fort was named quali- fied as a captain in the militia. William Richey and John Vance were living on Reed Creek. The same year, Obadiah Garwood and two sons, Noah and Samuel (or Samuel Garwood and two sons, Noah and Obadiah) made a settlement on Clinch River in the present Tazewell County. Shortly afterward they returned to the north to bring their families; but the Indian war broke out and the country became untenable. Jeremiah Pate helped the Garwoods improve their land.
In 1753, William Leeper was appointed constable on New River in the place of Adam Harman, who had already served one year, so that during this troublous period the government was kept in opera- tion nominally even if the reign was not tight. This Adam Harman had qualified as a captain of foot in 1747; had been the accuser in proceedings against Jacob Castle in 1749, charged with threatening to aid the French, and in 1752 had qualified as captain of a troop of horse. In the same year, 1753, a road was ordered from Samuel Stalnaker's on Holston River, to James Davis', with these workers: James Davis and his sons, Frederic Garlock, David, George and Conrad Carlock, Frederick Stern, Jacob and Adam Stalnaker, Jacob and Henry Goldman, Isaiah Hamilton. Hamilton Shoemaker, Tim- othy Cole, Humphrey Baker and son, George Stalnaker, Adam Andrews, Mathias Larch, Michael Hook, Martin Counce and Jacob Mires.
In March, 1754, a road was ordered on Reed Creek, on Holston River and on Craig's Creek. Immediately after the clouds burst and the Indians committed frightful massacres in all the settlements, in some cases destroying all the inhabitants. The Holston River community was almost annihilated. James Patton was killed; mem- bers of the Draper and English families were murdered or taken prisoners. Fort Vause was taken. Valentine Harmon was killed. The list through 1745, 1755, 1756, 1757, 1758, is well known. In 1755 Court process was returned "not executed by reason of the
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BEFORE THE GATES OF THE WILDERNESS ROAD
murder done on New River by the Indians." But there was re- turned to the court in 1755 the valuation of the improvements on the "naked farm" on Roanoke, the property of Peter Evans, which is quite interesting. The improvements consisted of 18 acres cleared and well fenced, under corn and rye, and ten acres of clear meadow; 100 fruit trees value at £1 ; one hay house, 15 x 10, £1.10; one corn crib, fifteen by four feet, £0.10; one spring house, 18 feet by 12 feet, £0.15; five head of horses and one breeding sow, £40.15; one wagon and gears, one axe and grubbing hoe and two plows and gears, £33. During the years 1756, 1757, 1758, 1759, there is not a single entry in the current orders of the court relating to these settlements.
In 1760, Captain John Blagg commanded a company of the Vir- ginia Regiment under Col. John Smith and Colonel Byrd at Dunkard Bottom on New River. Among the soldiers were Lieutenants, Hansley, John Smith, John Lukis, Samp Evans, Richard Dodd, Richard Newport, Thomas Deigs, John Contrel, Captain Blagg commanded at Long Island in 1761. James Huston was armorer, and Frederick Elphistone was purveyor to the army at Reed Creek, Stalnaker's and Long Island. In the same year effort was made to serve judical process, but without success.
On November 19, 1762, John Wiltshire, Alexander Sayers and Jacob Castle were appointed to view and report as to the valuation of the improvements made by John Staunton on New River, and three days afterwards John Thompson, Henry Ferguson and Hugh Mills were appointed to view the nearest and best way from the Stone House to the Bedford line. In the same year, James Robinson, whose relations had been, some taken prisoners, some killed and some dispersed, returned to the Roanoke country from Pennsylvania.
In 1763, the country had been freed of the enemy and settlers began to return. In March, William Beard was there. In April, William Grymes, Jas. Neilly and William Robinson were appointed road overseers from Grymes' clearing to Madison's; John Craig, thence to New River, on the lands of John Buchanan; Alexander and William Sayers, thence to Fort Chiswell; William Preston, to apportion the tithables as far as Fort Lewis and William Thompson, thence to Fort Lewis. In November, John Smith, William Grymes, James Neally, Israel Christian were appointed to view the roads that lead from Vause's over the New River on the lands of John
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ANNALS OF TAZEWELL COUNTY, VIRGINIA.
Buchanan and likewise by Ingles' Ferry to the lead mines. In this year Michael Kimberling's father made a settlement on Walker's Creek in the present county of Tazewell, and was there killed by the Indians.
In 1764 the most southern district for which processioners were appointed was Roanoke.
In 1765 William Robinson, James Neeley, William Bryans were appointed to view a road from Vause's by Ingles' Ferry to Peake Creek. William Bell was living at Colonel Chiswell's mines. Andrew Baker settled on land in the present county of Grayson, within the grant to the Loyal Company. It was originally sur- veyed in 1753 for Peter Jefferson, Thomas and David Meriwether and Thomas Walker. It was the Peach Bottom tract. John Cox settled there the same year. George Collins and George Reeves set- tled there in 1767.
In March of that year Samuel Moody, Thomas Goodson, John Richards, William Ward, Hugh Crockett, Jacob Kent, Robert Crockett, Philip Love, Joseph Crockett petitioned for a road from Vause's to Samuel Woods'. In May, John Buchanan appealed to the General Court against the establishment of the road from Vause's to Peak Creek on the ground that it is on the land of the western waters and it is contrary to His Majesty's proclamation to grant any order for clearing any road thereon. In November, Joseph McMurtry and George McAfee reported that there were not enough tithables to make a wagon road from McMurtry's Mill through McAfee's Gap to the wagon road; and it was only practicable to clear it for carrying loads on horseback until the country is better settled. In that year Anthony Bledsoe built a mill at Fort Chiswell.
But by 1768 the settlers were beginning to petition the County Court of Augusta to assume jurisdiction over the territory which had been disputed land and by treaties recognized as belonging to the Indians. In that year the inhabitants of Reed Creek, of Hol- ston, filed their petition: "That whereas we, your petitioners, for some time past, have been debarred settling and improving and cul- tivating our patent lands on the western waters, the reason whereof is best known to our legislators, but by virtue of the late treaty held to the northward, we hope we may, without offense, petition your worships to give orders that there may be alterations and amend-
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BEFORE THE GATES OF THE WILDERNESS ROAD
ments made on the old road leading from Captain Ingles' Ferry to James Davis' on the head of the Holston River, and appoint such surveyors as you in your wisdom shall think fit, and your petitioners, as in duty bound will pray. Joseph Black, James Holice, John Montgomery, Robert Montgomery, James Montgomery, George Breckinridge, Alexander Breckinridge, Robert Breckinridge, Robert Campbell, Robert Doack, William Doack, William Sayers, Arthur Campbell, William Davis, James Hayes, Samuel Hopes, William Leftwich, Jasper Gender, George Gender, Jacob Kinder, William Phips, John Houncal, Barnet Small, John Smith, John Bets, Robert Buchanan, Robert Davis, Samuel McAdam, James Davis, Nicholas Buchanan, Alexander Buchanan.
John Campbell, on his way to the Holston, in 1768, overtook a number of persons, who informed him they were coming to settle on a tract owned by Dr. Thomas Walker, known as the Wolf Hill Tract. In 1768, Robert Doack sowed turnips on Reed Creek, but made no settlement. In the same year constables were appointed on New River. In that year Michael Hoofacre settled in Rich Val- ley, a north fork of Holstein. When he came there was no improve- ment nor anything like an improvement except a hunter's cabin.
In 1769 the whole section embracing the head waters and sources of the New River, Clinch, Holston and Powell Rivers was erected into a separate county, and the surveyor was ordered to run the dividing line between Augusta and Botetourt as far as the western waters. Robert Doack was Dr. Thomas Walker's agent for the Wolf Hill Tract, and Thomas Armstrong was one of the earliest settlers. In the same year, John Smith, John Morgan and a large party settled on Moccasin Creek. Daniel smith and Josiah Gamble succeeded Doack as agent for the Wolf Hill Tract. Daniel Smith was the school teacher of the community.
In 1770, William Herbert settled on Cubb Creek, in the present Washington County. The first settlement on the land had been by James McCarthy. Patrick Porter moved to Clinch in 1770. In the same year Jacob Young, who had settled on Reed Creek in the present county of Wythe, soon moved to Holstein. William McGhee (McGaughey) made a settlement in 1771 in Turkey Cove of Powell's Valley in the present Lee County. Peter Cloud and Thomas Love- lady had been living there some time before. McGee moved in from Holsten River, where he had been living. In the same year Valen-
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ANNALS OF TAZEWELL COUNTY, VIRGINIA.
tine Harman improved a piece of land on Clinch in the present Tazewell County. Samuel Walker came at the same time, and Wil- liam Wynne was then living there. In 1771 Colonel James Dysart and Joseph Ray made a tour of nine months through Kentucky and of evelen months in 1772. In 1769 they made a similar tour of six months. Isaac Blangy (or Ballinger) had settled in App's (Abb's) Valley prior to 1771. It has borne that name since 1760. Robert Poage bought land there in the fall of 1771. Colonel James Maxwell and James Peerey settled on Clinch in 1772 and the same year John Stutler and Uriah Stone came. Maxwell lived there until 1784, and during that time two of his daughters were killed by Indians. The same land had been improved in 1760 and was called Ingles' Crabb Orchard, settled by John Ingles. In this year, 1772, Francis Fugate settled on Big Moccasin Creek. John Montgomery had gone there in 1771 with his father, Alexander Montgomery. The same year, John Tate settled. Francis Cooper settled there in 1770. Big Moccasin, about this time, became totally vacated for fear of Indians, and remained so about one year. In 1771 there was not a family on the north (west) side of Clinch Mountain for a distance of ten miles. Henry Dougherty made a stttlement on Laurel Fork of Holston River in 1773. Mrs. Nancy Tate, Robert Fowler and James Crabtree followed soon after.
The Indians became troublesome in 1774 and continued so for several years. William McAfee settled on Sinking Creek of New River in 1774. In the same year Andrew Cowan settled on the North Fork of Clinch, which was called Stim's Creek. Hugh Gul- lion had a settlement on Walker's Creek in 1774. He was killed at Point Pleasant. In 1775, William Fitzgerel made a crop of corn at Martin's Station in Powell's Valley and made an improvement near Cumberland Gap on a creek called Station Creek. William Herbert was living on Reed Creek in 1776.
The Indians attacked the settlement on Cubb Creek in 1776 and killed some people. They were very troublesome in Washington County from 1776 to 1779. Titus and John Benton were killed in Rye Cove in 1777. Charles Carter had settled there in 1775. This settlement was broken up by the Indians for several years. Felty Hoover and his sons, John and Abraham, settled on Black Water at the Flat Lick, a north branch of Clinch, in 1777. Thomas Rodg- ers was living on the land in 1765, when he was driven off by the
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BEFORE THE GATES OF THE WILDERNESS ROAD
Indians. The land lies in Lee County near Cumberland Gap, it had been originally improved by John Wallen about 1760. In 1778 Joseph Drake, who had moved from Sinking Creek to New River, on account of the Indians, moved to Kentucky, where he was killed by the Indians.
In the spring of 1781 all the settlers in Turkey Cove, in Powell's Valley, moved out because of Indians.
And thus the tide again receded. But when it returned, the breach in the barrier had been accomplished, the channel was open, the floods flowed in whirling and swirling and seething to the vortex from north, east, southeast; hordes of Presbyterian Irish, of Welsh and Dutch, of English Baptists and Episcopalians, of Carolina refugees, seeking surcease from persecution and convention in the land of freedom and fatness-Kentucky.
The Wilderness Road
Fort Chiswell is designated in the preceding article, by Judge Chalkley, as the point "where the imigrants reached the borders of the great wilderness." The road which connected Fort Chiswell with Long Island and the Blockhouse on the Holston was an impor- tant link in this great "primary highway system" connecting south- west Virginia and Kentucky. Crossing New River at Ingles' Ferry at Radford, the road passed southwest through the present towns of Pulaski, Max Meadows, Wytheville, Marion and Abingdon to the Blockhouse, the Virginia end of the Wilderness Road, which road followed "Boone's Path" from the Blockhouse to Boonesborough Kentucky.
William Allen Pusey, A. M., M. D., in his recent book, pub- lished 1921, entitled "The Wilderness Road to Kentucky," says: "The Wilderness Road proper began at the Blockhouse. The roads from the north and the south brought the traveler to this point. The Blockhouse was the last station before Moccasin Gap or Big Moccasin Gap, the gate to the Indian country, and about the same distance from the important western rendezvous of the Holston pioneers, Long Island, in the South Fork of the Holston River. It was, of course, for these reasons that the early travelers to Ken- tucky were used to gather at the Blockhouse in order to form parties for the trip to Kentucky."
"The Blockhouse was established about 1777, perhaps even in 1775, when Boone's party went out, by Captain John Anderson who lived in it from that time until his death. It was located in Carter's Valley at a point where the hills open out into a valley half a mile wide and a mile long. This little valley is today a meadow sur- rounded by wooded hills. " .
"The old road to the Blockhouse from Long Island, to the mouth of Reedy Creek still exists. This is the road which Boone Followed on his journey of 1775."
"From the Blockhouse the present road through Moccasin Gap, Gate City, Speer's Ferry, Clinchport, Duffield to Kane's Gap in
[26 ]
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THE WILDERNESS ROAD
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