It flows southwest through the Great Appalachian Valley, joining the French Broad River near Knoxville to form the Tennessee River. Johnson City: The Watauga Press, 1928. In 1799 there was a petition in Washington County asking for marriages performed under the State of Franklin to be recognized. He had brought a packhorse loaded with goods with In 1772 Jacob Brown located on the north bank of the Nolichucky River. The John Carr family came from South Carolina, and was one of the first in Washington County, Tennessee. 4509 West Stone Drive. Of the coming of Governor Blount and of William Cobb, Ramsey says as follows: Receives Commission Places OnThisDay, March 1, 1792, in the village of Ranning Water, Southwest Territories (now Tennessee) died TREASONOUS CANOE. James Miller and others left the church. Franklin, Banks & Stephens County, Georgia Settlers. 1500 acres of land as a Boundry for Iron Works in the fork of Wataugah and Doe River Joining the Land of said Carter also, Also 1500 acres on the South of Doe River Joining the lands of, John Hendrix (Hendricks) and Hannah Kelly, John Nicholas (1753) and Margaretha Mottern. The First Settlers in Tennessee Largely Scotch-Irish.The Holston and Watauga were not colonized, as the Cumberland afterward was, by strong companies moving in concert, under organized leaders. territory. Valentine Sevier, Sr. came from the Shenandoah Valley. Sakowski, Carolyn. North Fork of Holston (1783) Rich Valley (1802) South Fork of Holston or St. Clair's Bottom (1791), . Jacob Brown, Robert Allison, Leonard Hart, Jacob Womack, Jesse Walton and Benjamin Gist were among these as well. The community was first known as Blue Plum. In 1775 Michael Bawn and James Pearn were each granted permission by the county to build a grist-mill on Little but during the following summer and fall large numbers began to come and the Watauga association was formed, In 1772, Lucas Massengill was a member of this association either at the time of its formation or as a later addition. Pictured above is a current photo of Fort Watauga which was formally known as Fort Caswell. The following is a list of major road crossings on the Holston River: The following is a list of major road crossings on the South Fork Holston River: The following is a list of major road crossings on the Middle Fork Holston River: On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. In 1790 Reverend Samuel Doak and Hezikiah Balch organized the Hebron Add . Security agreement. Mordecai Price received a patent for four hundred acres on Sinking There are two different special regulation trout fishing sections within the upper portions of the river. Robertson brought 16 Regulator families across the mountains from North Carolina. The exodus from the land was dramatic. According to Masengill, Henry Massengill, Sr. settled in 1769 as one of the first settlers. Limestone. Thanks for sharing your research and knowledge. I wish you well on your research and best wishes on correcting the mistakes concerning your ancestor, George Brown. Fort Nashborough was among the first settlements but it wasnt the earliest one. By the early 1770s, four different communities had been established in northeastern Tennesseeon the Watauga River, the North Holston, the Nolichucky, and in Carter's Valley. obtained for the settlers a ten year lease for flve or six thousand dollars worth of merchandise. His equipage was unpretending. History and Genealogy are all around us. Change). Im looking for paths that might have been best for travel between 1750 and 1800 to TN. These settlements were the culmination of the treaty of Hard Labor in 1768 with the Cherokee Indians as well as the experimental survey which was had of the Virginia-North Carolina line in 1771. There were three main settlements in the area known as Watauga, Carter's Valley, and Nolichucky. Jacob Range improved land in 1779 on the Big Harpeth River and later petitioned for a grand to that land. It was the last safe haven for those migrating toward Kentucky, except for a chain of forts, most of which were evacuated during the . Kingsport, TN 37660-1048. filed in the court office. . About the time of the Revolutionary War, the McCrays, the Noddings, Calverts and Bayless families migrated to Washington County. WRITINGS ON TENNESSEE COUNTIES. 5-400 acres-Washington County-waters of Nobb Lick Branch and Lick Creek, David Reese-#6, Book 36, pg. Two sons of Noah Range were early settlers. In 1775, the Wataugans secured their lands by purchasing it from the Cherokee Nation, and by August 1776, had petitioned North Carolina for recognition of their government, now termed "Washington District." The following petition is undated, but is believed . Those who were unable to escape were captured by the Cherokee and the fate of these souls remain unknown. law, known as the Land-Grab Act, was in effect In 1784, William Ellis purchased 325 on Boones Creek. Boones Creek Christian Church started because of a controversy over the baptism of Fanny Renfro. The road SW from Roanoke, VA came to be known as the Wilderness Road that ran on down into Eastern TN and then turned Northward into KY through the Cumberland Gap. In August, 1784 delegates from Washington and two other western North Carolina counties (all now in Tennessee), declared their Independence from North Carolina because of perceived neglect, and misuse by North Carolinas legislature. East Tennessee College was established by law on the 26th of October, 1807, as one of the two colleges in the State, for which one hundred thousand acres of land, south of French Broad and Holston, and west of Big Pigeon river, had been set apart by act of Congress the previous year. They traveled in small groups with other family members and friends. Thank You so much for visiting Piedmont Trails and be sure to stay up to date by subscribing to the website. So many families arrived in Washington County during the war years. men. A map detailing the Holston River Valley through Sullivan County and surrounding areas. By their presence, those early settlers saved the west for the United States. 1500 acres of land as a Boundry for Iron Works in the fork of Wataugah and Doe River Joining the Land of said Carter also Isaac Lincoln, Godfry Carriger, Teter Nave, Leonard Bowers, William Duggard, Elisha Humphreys, David Matlock, Deceased and Emanuel Carter, Deceased. Along with its three major forks (North Fork, Middle Fork and South Fork), it comprises a major river system that drains much of northeastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia, and northwestern North Carolina. James B. Many settlers came to the Holston and Watauga Settlements after the Battle of Alamance in May, 1771, when there was a mass migration of settlers from central North Carolina to the frontier regions. New research and discoveries have substantiated the existence of the fort while providing the exact location of trenches with wood pillar remains. (History of Southwest Virginia). Jacob Range improved land in 1779 on the Big Harpeth River and later petitioned for a grand to that land. Fort Loudon was the furthest point on this supply chain of about 400 miles. The first Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia arrived in the 1720's primarily from Pennsylvania, Maryland and Eastern Virginia. The settlers were warned and stopped the first attack at Heaton's Station. This Other documents reveal the deaths of some family members during Indian raids from 1775 to 1776 by the Cherokee. The State of Franklin was an unrecognized, independent state in what is now eastern Tennessee. In 1779, Tidence Lane established the Buffalo Ridge Baptist Church. The sun peeks through the tall majestic Tulip Trees as they reach for the blue horizon. In 1791, the Treaty of Holston proclaimed a treaty with the Cherokee in At day-break, when there were a large number of people gathered there, and the women were out-side milking the cows, a large body of Cherokees fired on the milkers; but they all fortunately escaped to the fort, the gates of which were thrown open for their reception. Eastern Tennessee. Fort Loudon was supplied in colonial times out of Charleston South Carolina on a route that also ran through Fort Prince George. the title rested for a long period in Michael Massengill the second son of Hal. White, Robert S. Shoaf, and Marvin H. Helbert Memorial Bridge, This page was last edited on 30 March 2022, at 16:45. It was created in 1784 with the intent of becoming the fourteenth state. In 1799 the Knob Creek Brethren Chruch was established. Church in the Knob Creek settlement. on farms nearby. The reason is the topography itself, where, Author of 100+ genealogy books. "The counties of Rockbridge, Augusta, Greenbrier and Fred-erick were frontier regions, occupied by a sparse population, When the war began, Virginian settlers had established communities stretching from the Holston River valley (now mostly in Tennessee) to the western "district" of Augusta County (now primarily southwestern Pennsylvania) and the colony had every intention of asserting its claims. Quitopahilla (Hills) Church Marriages in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania 1733-1745 Oath of Allegiance taken by Palatines in Pennsylvania to King George II, 4th September, 1728. I have been able to discover 75 surnames from the time period of 1776 to 1782. The waters of the Watauga River forms its boundaries to the north and the peaks of Buffalo Mountain, Jump Hill and Jackson Mountain border the eastern edges. Like other tailwater rivers, it maintains an optimum water temperature year round, providing outstanding trout habitat and angling opportunities in all seasons. Tennessee offers many local attractions and business for you to explore. Sinking Creek Baptist Church was organized 1772 in Washington County (now Carter County).. The Holston River is a 136-mile (219km) river that flows from Kingsport, Tennessee, to Knoxville, Tennessee. He served in Shraedel's Company during the Revolution. It is well documents that in that settlement, Rhoda Alexander was born November 6, 1785, and possible other females were born in that settlement before John Weaver, his wife and child, Jacob, arrived in late fall of 1786. The John Miller-Adam Sell house was built in 1788 on Knob Creek. The Washington DistrictCommittee of Safety was created in 1775 and included John Carter, Zachariah Isbell, Jacob Brown, John Sevier, James Smith, James and Charles Robertson, William Bean, John Jones, George Russell, and Robert Lucas. As a result, patriot leaders throughout the Southeast called for their destruction. In 1788, however, a road was cut directly east from the settlement at Knoxville to the settlement on the Cumberland River. Robert Blackmore, John Miller,William B. Carter, Christian Carriger, Moses Humphrey, James Kelly, Jahu Humphrey, Daniel Moore, Leonard Bowers, John Lyons, Richard Webster, David McNabb, Leonard Hart. Among the dams and associated reservoirs on the South Fork Holston River are Boone Dam and Boone Reservoir; Fort Patrick Henry Dam and Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir, and South Holston Dam and South Holston Reservoir. Draper's manuscript Life of Daniel Boone appears to have brought him into the Valley that bears his name. The group included his brothers and brother-in-law. Also, sickness and accidents attributed to early deaths as did childbirths. Named for Stephen Holston, who built a cabin on its banks in 1746, it is 115 mi (185 km) long and has two important Tennessee Valley Authority . [12] The Donelson Party passed the Indian Cave entrance on their way down the Holston River in 1779 to settle present-day Nashville, Tennessee. In The McGillivray Moment, President George Washington was worried that the Creek Nation was going to over inhabit the land to the west of the Mississippi river, also known as the land of America's future. by Captain William Bean, and his wife Lydia. The first permanent settlement in Tennessee was made in 1769 on Boones Creek The North Carolinians rebuffed them and this signaled the end of the State of Franklin. In 1784, Zachariah Isbell, John Sevier and Jesse Walton were appointed to confiscate the properties of Tories in Washington County. McLiem and You only have to look around to see their presence among artifacts, paper documents and so much more. When the militia returned, ColonelJohn Sevier's men defeated the Cherokee atBoyd's Creek and destroyed most of the remaining towns. Legislative Journal of the Provincial Congress at Halifax, North Carolina Monday, December 23rd, 1776. Little Limestone were Robert and James Allison. In August, 1784 delegates from Washington and two other western North Carolina counties (all now in Tennessee), declared their Independence from North Carolina because of perceived neglect, and misuse by North Carolinas legislature. Be the First to Know of new additions on Piedmont Trails, Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Early Settlements & Surnames of Tennessee 1756-1780, The Early Settlers of Stokes County, North Carolina, First Major Route of The Colonies-The King's Highway, Early Settlers Along The Catawba River Segment 2, 18th Century Settlers of Stokes County, NC, Early Tennessee Settlers of the Watauga Settlement of Washington County, Bean, William-lived along Boones Creek-400 acres, Blevins, William-lived along Holston River-1300 acres, Burleson, Aaron-lived along Lick Creek-200 acres, Butler, Thomas-lived along Lick Creek-274 acres, Campbell, Alexander-lived along Big Limestone Creek-200 acres, Carter, John-lived along Cane Creek-over 3,000 acres total, Christian, Gilbert-lived along Holston River-over 2,500 acres total, Clark, Henry-lived along Kindrakes Creek-300 acres, Cocke, William-lived along Sinking Creek-over 2,500 acres total, Coulter, John-lived along Holston River-400 acres, Dunham, Daniel-lived along Lick Creek-200 acres, Dunham, John-lived along Horse Creek-300 acres, Gray, Abraham-lived along Boones Creek-200 acres, Greer, Andrew-lived along the Watauga River-over 7,500 acres total, Hail, A?-lived along Sinking Creek-200 acres, Hart, John-lived along Nolechucky River-100 acres, Houghton, Joshua-lived along Watauga River-200 acres, Houghton, Thomas-lived along Cumberland River-640 acres, Inman, Abednego-lived along Big Limestone Creek-200 acres, Johnston, Isaac-lived along Lick Creek-200 acres, Lewis, Aaron-lived near Cedar Springs-146 acres, Price, Mordecai-lived along Watauga River-640 acres, Rawlings, Aaron-lived along Carrick Branch-200 acres, Sinking Creek-500 acres, Rise, Abraham-lived along Big Limestone Creek-100 acres, Robertson, Charles-lived along Cumberland River-640 acres, Robertson, James-lived along Lick Creek-200 acres, Sevier, John-lived along Nolchucky River-250 acres, Sevier, Valentine-lived along Watauga River-860 acres, Sherrill, Adam-lived along Onion Branch-400 acres, Walker, Felix-lived along Sinking Creek-500 acres, Williams, Curtis-lived along Lick Creek-98 acres, Williams, Edmund-lived along Buffalo Creek-1,100 acres, Williams, John-lived along Sinking Creek-200 acres, Wilson, Adam-lived along Big Limestone Creek-640 acres, Carl Kuttruff, Fort Watauga (Nashville: Tennessee Division of Archaeology, 1979, photocopied), 15. Captain William Bean and his wife settled the area and welcomed the birth of their son, Russell during that first year. Register Bundy, Josiah Clarke, Ralph Humphreys & Joshua Houghton, Sen. Also associated with him as judges were David Campbell and Joseph Anderson and their session were also held here. Johnson, Jefferson, Glasscock & Emanuel County, Georgia Area Settlers. In answer to your question, yes, Sullivan County was at one time Washington County. TNGenWeb Project, Washington District, East Tennessee Pre 1796. Among the dams and associated reservoirs on the South Fork Holston River are Boone Dam and Boone Lake, named for the explorer Daniel Boone; Fort Patrick Henry Dam and Fort Patrick Henry Lake, named for the Revolutionary War hero; and South Holston Dam and South Holston Lake. 182-300 acres-Washington County-Campbells Creek. "By the early to mid-1740's settlers had carved a rough wagon road through the Shen- andoah Valley as far Southwest as the Holston River Valley in SWVA. 2-90 acres-Washington County-both sides of Doe River, William Sharpe-#3, Book 36, pg. The Holston Settlements in Western Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee The first Holston settlement on the Holston River (in Virginia) became the county of Sullivan, Tennessee. Other landmarks include Smith Place, built in the early 20th century and the site of Carter's Store, home to the first settlers west of the Appalachians. The first five men appointed to administer the Watauga settlement were John Sevier, James Robertson, Charles Robertson, Zachariah Isbell, and John Carter. Others include, This setting was known to the early settlers as they first stepped upon the soils of Tennessee. Greer, His servants, his rooms his grounds, were all at their bidding. 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