Harris, Malcolm, comp. Old New Kent County: Some Account of the Planters, Plantations & Places in King & Queen County, St. Stephen's Parish, West Point, VA: Harris, 1977
The Family of James Taylor - James Taylor, the immigrant to Virginia, came from Carlisle, England. He appeared in Virginia about 1680, and signed the petition for the removal of the Vestry of St. Stephen's Parish, and by 1686, he was established on land which he purchased, which was located on Whorecock Creek (now called Garnett's Creek), which is on the upper side of the Mattopony River.
He had a family before he settled in King & Queen, who came with him to Virginia. His first wife died in 1682, and he married for his second wife, Martha, daughter of Richard Gregory of Essex County. This alliance had something to do with his settlement in this area, for the Gregory's had land in this section.
James Taylor, the first, died in 1698.
James Taylor, the younger, spent his early years in St. Stephen's Parish where he was born in 1675. In 1699, he married Martha, daughter of Col. Roger Thompson, of St. Peter's Parish, New Kent County. James Taylor was recommended to the governor to be justice of the county court, but was too young to serve. Later, when of age, he became a justice, sheriff and was elected Burgess in 1702.
He was surveyor for the counties of King & Queen and King William, and ran the lines dividing the two counties. He explored the back country and took out patents to many acres in the counties of Caroline, Spotsylvania and Orange, which built up for him a large estate.
In June 1725, he moved from King & Queen where he had lived all his life, to Caroline County and established his second home in Drysdale Parish, where he died in 1729.
It was century later that the sons of John Taylor of Caroline returned to large estates in King William County.
The Taylor Plantation - The large tracts of land along the upper Mattopny River can be identified with reasonable accuracy after three centuries. But a knowledge of the locale and a familiarity with the names of the creeks at that time and the natural landmarks is necessary to do so.
In 1653, Edward Digges Esq: received two patents to grants of land in St. Stephen's Parish: one for 700 acres called Mantypoick (commonly called Mantapike) and the other for 2,350 acres called Mattapony Fort. The second tract was regranted to Col. Thomas Walker in 1665, and the description of the tract is the same given in the Digges Patent.
On April 18, 1653, Col. William Taylor (Tayloe), one of the Council of State, was issued a patent to 1050 acres, which was called Rickahock.
The same year John Madison was granted 600 acres on the north side of the Mattapony River, beginning at Col. Taylor's Creek (Garnett's) and running down the river. Later in 1657, he added to his plantation 800 acres adjoining the above and next to the land of Adam Holland.
Behind these tracts which lay on the Mattapony River and the creek, Thomas Peck was granted 1000 acres along the back lines of Digges and Taylor. Edward Lockey was granted 1600 acres on Whorecock Creek in 1658, and to this he added in 1662, another tract of 1600 acres which joined this. Col. Abrahall had 200 acres in this area along the Whorecock Creek, next to Digges and William Taylor.
James Taylor, the second, in 1704 was charged with 4,000 acres in St. Stephen's Parish.
The home of the Taylors was located in this general area, probably near the present village of Stevensville. He had moved on to Caroline County sometime before his death which occurred on 23 January 1730.
Harris, Malcolm, comp. Old New Kent County: Some Account of the Planters, Plantations & Places in King William County, St. David's Parish, West Point, VA: Harris, 1977
Lot No. 10 - This lot was leased by Mr. Breeden in 1791 and it joined the lots of Whitlock, Dowle, and John Duggins, making a total acreage of 111 acres. - possibly Priscilla's brother or other relative, probably not her father.
Lot No. 12 - Moody Breeden was the lessee of this lot which had 259 acres of land. This property was next to the lots leased by Nunn and Spencer and it was crossed by the Gravelly Run. This tract was conveyed by the College to James Nunn, with Lots Nos. 8, 9 and 13.
Moody Breeden was a brother of Enoch Breeden and Caleb Breeden, who came to Virginia from Maryland. Their mother lived with Moody Breeden in King William County. Enoch Breeden lived in Spotsylvania and was security for his brother, Moody Breeden, during the Revolution. - possibly Priscilla's brothers, probably not her father.
The Butler Family - Thomas Butler and Alice his wife of King William County were the parents of Samuel Butler, Sr. of King William County.
Samuel Butler, Sr. had four sons, Samuel B. Butler, Jr. who made his will on 4 August 1756 in which he named his wife Mary, and his three brothers Thomas, Isaac, and Reuben Butler who were living in King William County.
These three brothers were of age in 1772 when they sold a tract of land in Chesterfield County.
The Butler family had been granted land, 470 acres, which lay next to Mr. Croshaw's in the narrows on the south side of the York River, behind John Meridith's land. This was in the name of John Butler and dated July 20, 1727.
In the Tithe Lists for 1704, Thomas Butler was charged with 150 acres of land.
In 1782, Isaac Butler was charged with 490 acres of land in King William County; Joseph Butler, with 210 acres in King William County; Phoebe Butler with 226 acres of land in King William; Reuben Butler with 575 1/2 acres, and Thomas Butler with 600 acres in King William County.
Col. Reuben Butler was born January 27, 1750 in King William County. He enlisted in the Continental Army and served from February 25, 1777 to October 1, 1778 as a Lieutenant of Infantry in Col. William Grayson's Continental Regiment. He was at the siege of Yorktown and served as a Captain. He remained in service until the surrender of Cornwallis in October 1781.
In 1787 Reuben Butler conveyed to Robert Pollard his tract of land which contained 475 1/2 acres and which was the Edge Hill plantation.
On January 27, 1780 Capt. Reuben Butler married Anne Lisle Smelt, daughter of Rev. Mr. John Smelt of Caroline County. She was born February 24, 1758 in Essex County, and died in 1843. The Butlers lived in King William until they moved to North Carolina.
Family record in pension papers:
- John S. Butler b. -- d. childless
- Samuel Waring Butler b. Nov. 6, 1780
- Martha Butler b. March 6, 1782, d. Nov. 6, 1782
- Ann Smith (Satterwight) b. Oct. 17, 1783
- Thomas Perion Blunt Butler, b. Nov. 1, 1792
- Henry Todd Butler b. Nov. 9, 1794, d. May 29, 1870
- Catherine Butler b. April 24, 1796
- William S. Butler b. March 26, 1798
- Lucy Robinson Butler b. Oct. 12, 1793, d. July 19, 1865
[Reuben is not our grandfather, but he may be our uncle]
Two of the daughters of Capt. Reuben Butler married in Virginia: Catherine Butler married on Dec. 4, 1823, Warner Lewis of Essex County and Lucy Robinson Butler married, on May 16, 1821, William Overton Harris of Cedar Hill, Hanover County. These marriages have preserved the Butler family relationships through marriages of Caroline H. Harris of Cedar Hill and Camm Garrett of King William County, who were the parents of Camms S. Garrett, and grandparents of the late Ben C. Garrett who served the County of King William in the clerk's office for many years.
Two of the brothers of these ladies, Henry Todd Butler and William S. Butler moved from North Carolina to Tennessee.
Harris, Malcolm, comp. Old New Kent County: Some Account of the Planters, Plantations & Places in King William County, St. John's Parish, West Point, VA: Harris, 1977
Delaware Town - The third town to occupy this site was called Delaware Town. It was established by an Act of the General Assembly passed in 1705. The act established a town on the York River at West Point to be called Delaware and set aside Tuesdays and Thursdays for market days and the second Tuesday in September and four days following for the annual fair.
The town lands of King & Queen had been prorated as to the cost and King William County reimbursed King & Queen for its share. The details of laying out the town of Delaware fell to the county surveyor, Harry Beverley, who divided the fifty acres into one half lots which faced the two rivers. It is not known but the town probably coincided with the previous town.
The County Court of King William appointed members of the court to act as trustees of the lots in the town and these three men were well known in the county: Thomas Carr, John Waller and Philip Whitehead.
There are among the old records at King William about thirty deeds from the Trustees of Delaware Town to purchasers of the lots. These deeds bear the date June 20, 1707 and set forth that "the grantee pay to the Trustees 480 pounds of sweet scented tobacco, and an annual rental on the 10th day of October of each year one ounce of flax seed and two ounces of hemp seed and build one good house twenty feet square in one year from the date of the deed or forfeit the right of sale without the consent of the Trustees."
The following grantees on June 20, 1707 received from the Trustees of Delaware Town, deeds to the lot numbers, purchased by the grantee.
- Lot No. 36. Col. James Taylor
- Lot No. 37. James Taylor
There are very few records relating to the town but there was enough activity around the place to bring travellers to the stores and the ship landing. Ships came into York River and often came to anchor in the Mattapony, near the public quay. Sales were publicized at West Point of property and lands as well as goods.
Harris, Malcolm, comp. Old New Kent County: Some Account of the Planters, Plantations, & Places in New Kent County, Vol. I, West Point, VA: Harris, 1977
Will of Samuel Shepherd, of King & Queen County dated 9 Nov. 1751 and proved 11 Feb. 1752 by Richard Tunstall, clerk of King & Queen County Co. Named wife, Mildred and gave her land or the disposition thereof; Sons: Robert & Samuel, Daus: Elizabeth, Ann, Mary, Mildred and Francs Shepherd.
This place was the site of a warehouse, which was operated by the Shepherds from 1731 until the warehouses were abandoned. The site of the early warehouse was on the upper side of the Matttapony River, a short distance below the mouth of Arracaico Creek, which is now called Burnt Mill Creek.
Harrison, Fairfax. Landmarks of Old Prince William, no imprint.
Footnote - Thomas Speke (1603-1659) was of a Somersetshire family (Wm. & Mary Qtrly, iv, 41). He had the distinction of being the first of the four husbands of Frances Gerrard, the last being Col. John Washington. His dividend here in question (Patents, 3:68, elucidated by 4:176, 177, 264) passed successively to Thomas Brererton, Clerk of the Council (1657, Patents, 4:202), Richard Bushrod of Gloucester (1660 and 1662, Patents, 4:450; 5:14. See the record of Bushrod & Brererton, 1660, in Hening, i, 545), and ultimately to the Masons. Thomas Owsley's grant on Pohick in 1694 (N.N., 2:58) recites the upper part of the Speke dividend to be "now in tenor and occupation of Capt. George Mason,' thereby identifying it as the site of Pohick residence of the second George Mason, to which reference was made in the Iroquois treaty of 1722. Before the entire Dogue neck was consolidated in the ownership of the Masons, other titles had been carved out of it. Thus it appears from N.N., 5:192, that Bushrod conveyed a parcel of 520 acres 'on Potomack river side opposite Nump's Island' to Robert Colson, who in turn conveyed in 1693 to John Withers, Clerk of Stafford. The widow of William Withers, son of John, married Francis Cofer who took a renewal grant in 1719; whence the name 'Mrs. Cofer,' indicated opposite 'Crane Island,' on Robert Brooke's Potomac map of 1737. that map also indicates as 'Mr. Brenaud's' the residence of Jeremiah Bronaugh, originally of King George, who had married a daughter of the second George Mason and was seated on his lands before 1733, when he was a member of the Truro Vestry (Truro Vestry Book, ed. Goodwin, p. 6).
Footnote re: Bacon's Rebellion - Minutes of Stafford Court, March 14, 1676/77 in Windsor Abstracts (Va. State Library), ii, 235. Those pardoned were: 'Capt. Roger Marshall, Simon Thomas, Chas. Hicks, Mr. Wm. Wilford, John Wheatley, Thos. French, Mr. Jonathan Randall and James Whitman, wch two last entered into bond and gave security, Nathan Thornton, Tho. Merrideth, Tho. Walter, Richd. Wall, John Holmes, Tho. Baich, Joseph Baxter, Evan Jones, Mr. Will Kay, Steph. Haward, Wm. Downeham, Joel Stribling.' There was, moreover, one recalcitrant who refused to take the oath, Jonah Revett
Norris, J.E. ed. History of the Lower Shenandoah Valley Counties of Frederick, Berekeley, Jefferson & Clarke, Chicago, IL: Warner & Co., 1890
Scott, W.W. A History of Orange County Virginia, Richmond, VA: Everett Waddey Co., 1907.
Maulding, Taylor, Taliaferro, Robertson
Stoner, Robert. A Seed-Bed of the Republic: A Study of the Pioneers in the Upper (Southern) Valley of Virginia, Roanoke, VA: Roanoke Historical Society, nd
The First White Settlers & What They Found - The Great Valley of Virginia lies between the Blue Ridge Mountains on the east and the numerous interrupted ranges on the west; and extends from the Potomac River on the northeast to the Virginia-Tennessee border on the southwest, a distance in Virginia of 305 miles. This belt of limestone lands averages in width some twenty miles. Because of the location of the ridges, it is difficult to set up exact limits of the width of the Valley, but Buchanan and Cloverdale, in Botetourt County are, if not the narrowest points, certainly among the narrowest. The county lines of the political subdivisions of the Great Valley usually run from the top of the Blue Ridge on the east to the top of the second or third range west of the Valley proper.
Although the boundaries of the Great Valley are defined by the mountain ranges, it is not the valley of one river, or of one system of rivers, but of five. The length of these river valleys within the Great Valley are: Shenandoah, 136 miles; James, 50 miles; Roanoke, 38 miles; New, 54 miles; and Holston, 52 miles. Part of the Holton River Valley is in the State of Tennessee.
These five separate river valleys within the Great Valley of Virginia are divided by mountain ridges. The Shenandoah, the longest, runs from Harpers Ferry to Northern Rockbridge County. The Valley of the James is knowns as the Fincastle Valley, which is the area through which the Cowpasture, Jackson and James Rivers flow. Roanoke Valley lies in Roanoke County and in Southern Botetourt. In Montgomery, Pulaski and Wythe counties is located the New River Valley. The Valley drained by the Holston River lies in Smyth and Washington counties.
The elevation varies from 242 feet at the break-through of the Shenandoah with the Potomac River, to 1678 feet where the waters of the Holston leave Virginia and pass into Tennessee. It can be seen from this that the Valley as a whole rises to the south-west. The Valley has a south-eastern inclination, its western side being from 500 to 1000 feet higher in surface elevation than its eastern side, making the drainage hug the western base of the Blue Ridge ranges. The entire Valley is a series of ascending and descending planes, subdivided into many minor valleys giving "facings" in all directions.
These mountains west of the Valley are incorrectly called by so many people the Alleghany Mountains. The "Alleghany Mountains" is a well-defined range that passes approximately through central Pennsylvania, its southeast edge being in the northwestern portion of Highland and Bath counties, but this range at no point borders on the Great Valley of Virginia.
The steep ridges of the Blue Ridge Mountains that have hindered and dissipated Nature's storms, held back for many years the advancing civilization from eastern Virginia. This advance was also delayed by laws prohibiting settlement of the Valley of Virginia by the white man - its territory having been guaranteed to the Indian.
When civilization finally came, it advanced chiefly from Pennsylvania and Maryland up the Valley from its northern end rather than through the eastern elevated gaps, often called the "wind gaps." The nature of the soil throughout this lng valley is similar, being primarily of stiff red clay-limestone formation. Also similar were the principal occupations of its early inhabitants.
Furthermore, the blood of the majority of its present citizens is the same blood that coursed through the bodies of the pioneers, for they are the direct descendants of those men, and still cling to the religious beliefs of their ancestors, and retain those ancestors' inclinations and prejudices.
The first records we have describing the Valley were made by John Lederer, a German explorer, who wrote in Latin about his three tours from Tidewater Virginia. These tours were made in 1669 and 1670, and he may have penetrated the Valley as far south as present Augusta County. Of interest in connection with the animal life of the area at this period is his record of March 1669, noting that there were red and fallow deer, bears, small leopards (probably wildcats), beaver and otter, grey foxes and wolves. . . .
Besides these animals named by Lederer, there were buffalo, elk, panther and all kinds of animals and wild fowls common to forested countries. Waddell, in his Annals of Augusta County, page 18 says: "There were no crows, blackbirds, nor song birds, and no rats, nor honey bees till the coming of the white people." . . .
Probably the first white adventurers who ever laid eyes on northern Botetourt County were those explorers spoken of by Governor Spotswood when, in writing to the Council of Trade in London on December 15, 1710, he stated that a company found the mountains "not above a hundred miles from our upper inhabitants, and went up to the top of the highest mountain with their horses, though they had hitherto been thought to be impassable." These adventurers were supposed to have ascended the Blue Ridge somewhere near the James River Gap (Balcony Falls) and could have viewed the northeastern part of Botetourt County.
These early explorers were followed by many others, the most spectacular being the cavalcade known as the "Knights of the Golden Horseshoe" led by Governor Alexander Spotswood, in 1716. A marker at Swift Run Gap shows the point at which he is supposed to have overlooked the Valley. . . .
Samuel Kercheval, who probably had more personal knowledge and was closer to the early history of the Valley than any other historian, seems to think that in many places in the Valley timber was scarce. He speaks of some sections in the middle of the Valley being one vast prairie, like the West, affording the finest pasturage. He further asserts that this prairie produced grass five or six feet high, and that pea vines grew on the hilly and mountainous land. There are also references to ancient oaks, with large spreading branches, which must have grown up in an open field, the surrounding trees being of later growth; the presumption was that had these oak trees grown up in the midst of other trees they would not have had large branches near the ground. Kerchaval further states that these open tracts grew up in trees after the arrival of the first white settlers. It is also known that the Indians burned off large areas to afford pasturage for wild animals. Although this may be true, there can be no doubt that the first white man found dense forests at many places. This fact is evidenced by the timber used in the first log houses, and the width of boards used therein that must have taken centuries to grow. This abundance of forest must have been particularly true of present Botetourt, substantiated by the additional evidence of names given to sections by early inhabitants such as Big Timber Ridge, Little Timber Ridge, Flat Woods, Cedar Bluff, and others.
Although numerous earlier expeditions were made beyond the Blue Ridge and into the Valley, and there were a few bona fide settlers as early as 1717, the first substantial settlement by white men in the lower end of this Valley began about 1730.
Since the first glance of Botetourt by those adventurers, many have traversed it from north to south. It has been described both as the ending of the Shenandoah Valley and as the beginning of Southwest Virginia. Through its confines has passed most of the population that settled Southwest Virginia, Southern West Virginia and Kentucky. . . .
The London Company in 1618 had made provision for the headrights system which became a basic feature of the land policy of the colony, by granting 100 acres of land to each person as a dividend for paid-up stock, those already here to receive the same amount of land if they had come to the colony at their own expense. . . .
The British government did not grant a fee simple title to the land. As late as 1772, as shown in patents lodged in a book captioned Historical Writings of Botetourt County, a grant from Lord Dunmore to James McClure - and in 1773 from Dunmore to George Washington, the Governor-General uses the following words in the habendum clause:
To be held of us our Heirs and successors as of our Manor of East Greenwich in the County of Kent in free and common Soccage and not in Capiteor by Knight's Service yielding and paying unto us our Heirs and Successors for every fifty acres of land and so proportionately for a lesser or greater quantity than fifty acres the Fee Rent of one Shilling Yearly to be paid upon the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel and also cultivating and Improving three Acres part of every fifty of the ract above mentioned within three Years after the Date of these Presents.
"Manor of East-Greenwich" refers to the residence of the English King at the Royal Palace at Greenwich, and indicates that the land in America was considered part of the demesne of the king. "Free and common socage" is defined as "a species of tenure whereby the tenant held his lands of the lord by any certain service" and later any fixed service not of a military nature, "as by the annual payment of a rose" or the payment of quit rents in money; and socage tenure in effect did not subject land to the rules of escheat, or return of the land to the king if inherited by minors or widows.
There were two ways to acquire land during the formative period of Botetourt County. The individual could purchase directly from the agent of some company, or person, who had previously been awarded a large grant by the king; or he could proceed on his own by securing a survey and a grant independently of a company. Whichever way the individual proceeded, the land intended either to be patented or granted to him had to be surveyed by a public surveyor, and the length of the tract could not be more than three times its width. The patentee was required within three years from the date of the grant to clear and tend three acres for every fifty acres owned, besides paying the fee rent, which was paid yearly upon the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel. Upon failure to comply with these conditions, the grantee's rights were forfeited and he lost his land. . . .
If the individual desiring land chose to act on his own initiative, he could base his claim in any of three ways:
- Under the Importation Right, he could claim 50 acres of free land if he was a free immigrant, that is, if he came of his own free will and paid his transportation cost to America. Proof of this was made before the County Court; and the law order books of Botetourt County contain many records showing the oaths of persons claiming thereunder. Indentured or imported servants, after their term of service had expired, could also make claim.
- He could also proceed to purchase land by paying five shillings for every fifty acres, to the Receiver-General of the Colony, or
- If he qualified as a soldier in the Indian wars, he could make claim for a military grant for meritorious service to the British-Crown; an example of which being the granting of lands along the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers, then in Botetourt County, to George Washington for such services . . .
The two large grants of land in Botetourt from which the sale of land was actively pursued, belonged to Benjamin Borden, and to a company which in the end was controlled by Col. James Patton.
Borden's first grant in present Botetourt was made in November 1739, containing 8100 acres on Catawba Creek of the James River. He later (March 9, 1740) secured two other grants - one for 3553 acres and another for 2880 acres to which he still later added small ones on Borden's Run and Spreading Spring Branch of James River. Here, the first settlements on land purchased from Borden on Catawba were made, beginning in 1740 by John McPharron (McFerran), James Montgomery and James Davids. . . .
A tract coming under Patton's control later was granted to John Smith and others under date of November 3, 1740, and was for 100,000 acres on the Roanoke and James Rivers and on the their branches.
This was apparently a blanket grant of the acreage, to cover specific lands to be selected later; and a year later was re-affirmed but extended to include lands to be taken on New River also. This grant finally played out, but in 1755, we find John Smith aiding Col. Buchanan (Patton's son-in-law) to build a fort at Looney's Ferry.
Governor Dinwiddie refers to Smith as an experienced woodsman whose judgment could be followed in planning against the Indians, and therefore we presume that he was the first experienced Indian scout of Botetourt County. . . .
If we examine the location of the first settlers, we shall find that in their preference for home sites they worked out the patterns of a rough triangle. This triangle was located in the heart of present Botetourt, and a concentration of population would be evident along its left side from Looney's Mill Creek Ferry (Buchanan) roughly following the present Lee Highway (US Route 11) to the old Dr. SImmons Place and then following an old road southwesterly to Amsterdam. From this point, the right side of the triangle would follow the settlements across the divide between the waters of the Roanoke River and Catawba Creek (a branch of James River) and following northwardly the watershed of Catawba and Patterson Creeks to the mouth of Craigs Creek at Eagle Rock, with the base meandering down James River to Looney's Ferry. Since most of this region was open for settlement by individuals, rather than by land companies, this fact enabled the individual to take land in single small surveys, and made the homesteads more scattered than had been the case in present Augusta and Rockbridge Counties where the Beverley and Borden grants covered so much of the counties and limited the homesteader to a definite area. . . .
The earliest settlement around Amsterdam grew up around the home of Captain George Robinson. It has been said that when the very first pioneer reached a given place, a Robinson was ready to leave it for an even more remote frontier. The Great Road that carried the early civilization forked in this community. Those wanting to go southward took the Carolina Road which follows somewhat the present US Route 220. Those going westward turned to their right and skirting Tinker Mountain, took the road up Catawba Creek. This important junction probably had as much to do with the locating of its early inhabitants as did the productivity of its soil.
The second concentration of population Catawba and Patterson Creeks and the upper part of James River. Though there was a road here which led westward, it was of much less importance than either the Carolina Trail or the Main Road up Catawba. The most compelling reason for the settlements here were the richness of the Catawba and James River bottoms. Since most of these early settlers were also Presbyterians, whose roots went back to Scotland . . .
The course of the James River, which constitutes the third population concentration, or the base of the triangle, was first settled by the Scotch-Irish Presbyterian, attracted by the richness of the James River bottom land. They were shortly replaced by the German Lutherans, who acquired not only his farm lands, but his church properties as well.
In 1745, George Robinson was granted 191 acres . . .
Augusta patents under the Royal Government show that . . . David Cloyd 262 acres on Persimmon Run (Lapsley's Run) of James River on August 20, 1747 . . .
The Formation of County Government & the Religious Beliefs of Those Forming It - The mother-daughter relationship between Augusta and Botetourt was much more personal than mere geographical lines. One of the first magistrates appointed by Lt. Governor Gooch to govern the new county of Augusta was John Lewis. A quarter of a century later, Lord Botetourt appointed John's son, Andrew Lewis, to be one of the first magistrates of Botetourt. Of the twenty-one magistrates appointed on October 30, 1745 to govern Augusta County, at least nine - [including] George Robinson - were either themselves or their immediate descendants among the most noted citizens of Botetourt County at the time of its organization.
This county was just the next step up the Great Valley of Virginia for those Scotch-Irish Presbyterians who so many decades ago left Ireland, and after landing in the Atlantic Coast ports filtered down from Pennsylvania and Maryland. Most of them crossed the Potomac River and came up the Valley, which was settled chiefly by Germans and Scotch-Irish. Generally speaking, the Germans came first in the northern end of the Valley and the Scotch-Irish came first to Botetourt. . . .
Original Boundaries of Botetourt County - In 1734, Orange County was formed from Spotsylvania and since the western boundary went to the utmost limits of Virginia, it was to become the grandmother of Botetourt. . . .
At the Session of the General Assembly which opened November 1, 1738, an act was passed establishing Augusta County. A county government was not established in Augusta until 1745, its first session of Court being held on December 9, 1745 and it was then that the mother of Botetourt County was born. Twenty-five years later, Botetourt County was formed from the southern and western part of Augusta territory. . . .
When Botetourt was established in 1770, it inherited this claim to all land lying south of a line running approximately through the center of the present county of Rockbridge, crossing the road between Warm and Hot Springs and crossing the present State of West Virginia on the established course of N 55 W, to the Ohio River some thirty miles north of Point Pleasant. Projecting this northwest division line between Augusta and Botetourt, we find it would, roughly, run through central West Virginia; Columbus, Ohio; Fort Wayne, Indiana; crossing Lake Michigan north of Chicago; through Wisconsin to the Mississippi River; thereby including much of what was at one time was known as the Northwest Territory. . . .
The eastern boundary of Botetourt County, as originally established, was the watershed of the Blue Ridge Mountains which as of this day somewhat follows the Blue Ridge Parkway Road.
The southern boundary of the county was the North Carolina - Virginia state line, probably as shown by Governor Dinwiddie as "a due west line from the mouth of Curratuck Inlet, w'ch lies in the Lat. of 36 D and 30 M . . . " This line also was not extended on the ground westwardly through the territories that later became the states of Kentucky and Tennessee, which occasioned some confusion among settlers of that area, who thought they were residents of Virginia, when in fact they were residents of North Carolina.
- 18th District made up of people in Capt. Watterson's Company - William Robinson
- Captain Galloway's Company, 20th District - Thomas Tipton, William Tipton
- 21st District made up of Capt. Galloway's men - John Herbert
- 26th District made up of Capt. Ballar's Company - David Robinson, James Robinson
- Men of Capt. Smith's Company made up the 32nd district - John Wilson, William Wilson
- 40th District, Capt. Robinson's Company - Capt. James Robinson
Other People Furnishing Materials or Service in War Effort: (Services and materials more or less duplicating those set out heretofore, and omitted here in the interest of brevity and avoiding repetition) Order Book 1780-1784:
- Cloyd, James
- Cloyd, Michael
Although the fact that Fincastle was not on the "Great Road" might give the reader cause to think that most of the migration westward would have by-passed the town, this was true only for the very early pioneer. There was an "alternate road," which crossed the James River several miles northwest of Buchanan, coming westerly up the Spreading Springs Valley, thence to Fincastle and southward from Fincastle connecting with the Great Road; first at David Cloyd's . . .
Ordinary Keepers in this County - Licenses, effective for a period of one year, were issued by the Court:
- James McGavock & James McDowell at their house at Fincastle, May 10, 1770.
- Joseph Cloyd at Botetourt County Court House, August 13, 1771
- Wm. Linton at Red Spring, July 12, 1796
The Cloyds - David, Joseph and Michael resided in the vicinity of present Amsterdam. In March of 1764 the Indians raided the home of David, killed his son and wife, and took about 200 pounds in gold and silver coins. These Indians were pursued and overtaken on John's Creek, and part of the money recovered. The party of pursuing neighbors show us the names of the early settlers here. They were: Lanty Armstrong, John Artus, John and Andrew Neely, John Crockett, John Clark, Michael Cloyd, John Fowler, Samuel Gatliff, Benjamin Hawkins, Wm. Montgomery, Jr., James Montgomery Jr., Joshua McCormick, William McMullin, Samuel McFerrin, Samuel McNabb, John McRoberts, Jeremiah Puckett, Samuel and William Robinson, Francis Smith and Philip Watkins.
George Robinson, along with Robert Poague and John Mathews came into Botetourt County even before any petitions for large grants were considered by the Council. In 1742 we find him the captain of the militia made up of the first settlers south of the James. He was a Justice of Augusta County from the beginning and actively engaged in the development of the Woods River grant with Col. Patton.
His location in present Botetourt was an advantageous one in the fork of the roads leading south and west near present Amsterdam, the development of which he sponsored, bringing in among other settlers his brother-in-law Bryan McDonald Sr. . . .
Stonelea was given that name by Mrs. Howard Weeks present owner of the original David Cloyd homestead on the headwaters of Buffalo Creek, Rentfro's Branch. . . .
The walls at Stonelea vary from a thickness of 29 inches at their base to 22 inches above the foundation, with corner stones on the second floor estimated to weigh 500 pounds and over. The design and construction of the house is Pennsylvania Dutch, the two front doors leading, one into a large living room and the other into a room now partitioned into a dining room and kitchen with a fireplace opening from a triangular chimney. So well-constructed was it that today it boasts the original plaster, still uncracked. The Dutch oven and the five-foot fireplace in the basement indicate that the kitchen of the David Cloyd house was incorporated into the Edward Mitchell house now known as Stonelea. Originally, the second story was reached by two stairways.
David Cloyd was living at this location when the Indians murdered his wife and son in 1764. A vivid account of this massacre is set forth in a letter from Mrs. John Floyd in which she tells of Joseph Cloyd riding a plow horse, still in work harness, to Greenfield, about half a mile distant, for help. Col. Wm. Preston was not at home, but Mrs. Preston sent a messenger to notify the garrison of a small fort nearby and then sent a white man and two Negroes to Mr. Cloyd's. They found Mrs. Cloyd tomahawked but still alive and conscious and able to tell about two drunken Indians ripping open featherbeds and carrying off upwards of 200 pounds in gold and silver coins. The Indians were pursued by a posse and one of them, by whom was found over 137 pounds of the money, was killed on John's Creek. David Cloyd continued to live on this property until his death in 1790, although he had conveyed it to his son, Joseph in 1780. Joseph retained title to the property until 1797 when he sold it to Withrow and Shanks, who conveyed it to Edward Mitchell in 1799, when he built the stone house and barn. . . .
The fact that Joseph Cloyd reserved in his deed to David Shanks in 1797 "one-half acre where the graveyard now stands" indicates that some of the Cloyds were buried there, although David Cloyd, Sr., the pioneer was buried at Highbridge Church cemetery. There is still evidence of an old graveyard at the head of the draft west of the house.
Summers, Lewis. Annals of Southwest Virginia, 1769-1800, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. 1970 - available on Ancestry
In 1769 Augusta County was divided and all the territory south of Mary's River and to the west as far as Virginia extended was included in the new County of Botetourt. The county seat of the new county was established at Fincastle, and the orderly enforcement of the law and the development of our civilization began at this point.
At this time but few people had settled west of New River, but many settlements had been made east of New River. The early settlers of this portion of Virginia were Scotch, Irish, Dutch, German and Swiss, with an appreciable sprinkling of English people, coming from east and south of the Blue Ridge.
Between 1769 and the beginning of the Revolution great progress was made in the settlement and development of Southwest Virginia, and the opening guns of the Revolution found this section of Virginia in the possession of a people that might properly be termed the bravest, the heartiest of the races, the most fearless and determined patriots and advocates of liberty to be found in America.
The first settlers were, as a general rule, composed of people seeking a refuge from political and religious persecution. They were educated to an unusual degree; they were lovers of religious and political liberty, and they were ready and willing at all times to stake their lives and fortunes to attain these objects.
In this book will be found the journals of Col. Thomas Batts, who traveled as far at The Narrows in New River in 1671, and of Dr. Thomas Walker and Col. Christopher Gist who traveled through this section of Virginia in 1749-50, being the earliest and only explorers passing this way who preserved a record of their journeys; the minutes of the county court of Botetourt County, Fincastle County, Montgomery County and Washington County, the land surveys - marriage licenses, brief of deeds and wills from 1769 to 1800, and which, with but few exceptions, constitutes the entire official records of our people for a generation before the Revolution, during the Revolution, and for a generation after the Revolution. These records are incomplete in the following particulars: first, the early land surveys of Botetourt County are missing; second, the minute books of the County Court of Washington County from 1787 to 1819 are missing; third, four years of the minute books of the County Court of Wythe County are missing; fourth, the marriage records of Russell County from 1777 to 1853 are missing; and fifth, all of the records of Lee County, except one deed book, prior to 1800 are missing. These missing records were valuable, but were destroyed by fire in the Civil War.
Botetourt County - at a court held the 14th day of Febry., 1770 - Ordered that it be certified to his Excellency the Governor that Joseph Cloyd this day produced a certificate from Benjamin Hawkins, one of the Justices of the Peace of this County of his having duly weighed for him four hundred and ninety one pounds of winter rotted, dry, bright & clean hemp made on his plantation in this County and made oath according to law.
This court doth appoint the several persons to be Surveyors of the Roads as followeth, towit:
- Joseph Robinson from Capt. Flemings to Grahams Clearing
- William Herbert from his Ferry to the Forks of the Road, . . . from his house to the Pittsylvania line
- Jeremiah Pierce from Herberts Mill to the mouth of the Big Reed Island Creek
- James Montgomery from John Robinson's on the North Fork through the Den to the Main Road
- William Robinsons from John Robinsons to the head waters of Catawba
- Francis Smith from the sd. Ford [Catawba] to Col. Breckenridge's
- Michael Price from his house to William Robinson's.
- Michael Cloyd from the Fork of the Road by his plantation to the Branch below James Moore's
Ordered that the several rates following be observed by the ordinary keepers in this County, towit:
- West India Rum, 10 shillings / gallon
- Rum made on this Continent 2 shillings & 6 pence / gallon
- Madeira Wine 12 shillings / gallon
- Claret 16 shillings / gallon
- Teneriff Wine 10 shillings / gallon
- French Brandy 5 shillings / gallon
- Peach Brandy 5 shillings / gallon
- Apple Brandy 4 shillings / gallon
- Virginia Strong Malt Beer, bottled three months 7 pence half penny for bottle
- Same, not bottled three months 1 shilling & --- pence / gallon
- Bumbo with two gills of Rum to the quart made with white sugar 1 shilling & 3 pence
- For the same made with brown sugar 1 shilling / quart
- Virginia cider 1 shilling & 3 pence / gallon
- Bristol Strong Beer 1 shilling & 3 pence / bottle
- Warm diet with one bottle 9 pence
- Cold diet with small Beer 6 pence
- 2 in a bed, 3 pence & 3 farthings
- More than 2, nothing
- Corn 6 pence / gallon
- Pasturage a pence / 24 hours
- Stablage with plenty of hay or fodder 7 pence half penny / night
- Oats 3 pence / sheaf
Botetourt County - at a court held 15th of Febry. 1770:
This court doth recommend William Ingles, John Howard, Philip Love, James Robertson, William Christian, William Herbert, John Montgomery, Stephen Trigg, Robert Dooge, Walter Crocket, James McGavock, Francis Smith, Andrew Woods, William Matthews, John Bowman, William McKee & Anthony Bledsoe to his Excellency the Governor as fit persons to execute the office of Justices of the Peace for this County.
Botetourt County - at a court held 13th of March, 1770:
Patrick Denny proved a certificate accdg. to law for one thousand & seventy eight pounds of hemp made on his plantation in this County.
Ordered that John Robinson, Abraham Crismon & Samuel Willson do view the road from William Robinson's to the head waters of Catawba and make report of the nearest & best way to the next court.
Francis Smith, John Armstrong, Joseph Cloyd and Bryan McDonald to view and lay off the nearest & best way from the first ford on Catawba to the head waters thereof and make report thereof to the court.
Ordered that William Thompson, Joseph How, John Draper, Joseph Montgomery & Samuel Scott or any three of them to view the ground from Michael Price's by Taylors and the Buffaloe Pound ford by the head waters of Peek Creek to Buchanan's plow on Reed Creek and make report of the conveniences and inconveniences attending the same, especially of the fords to the next court. And the former order relating to the same set aside.
John Bowyer, David Robinson, James Cloyd, Francis Smith, Robert Doak, Philip Love, Matthew Aruikle, Anthony Bledsoe, Walter Crocket & Arthur Campbell produced commissions from his Excellency the Governor appointing them Captains in the Militia, whereupon they took the oaths &c. and subscribed the test respectively.
Botetourt County - court held 10th of May 1770:
Present: (--?--) Christian, Philip Love, William Ingles & William Herbert, Gent.
On the motion of James McGavock and James McDowell a license is granted them to keep an ordinary at their house at the Court House for and during the term and time of one near from this date and from thence till the next court to be held for this County, who together with Thomas Madison their security entd. into & acknd. bond conditioned as the law directs.
Botetourt County - court held 10th February, 1780 - Henry Pauling and John Drapper's claims who proved to the court that they served as soldiers in 1760 under William Byrd, Esqr., which is ordered to be certified.
Early Marriages in Botetourt Co., Virginia (1769-1800) from the Court Records:
- 1788 David Cloyd & Rachel Alderson, parents: Michael & Elizabeth Cloyd; Curtis & Elizabeth Alderson
- 1791 James Cloyd & Catherine Eagle
- 1795 John Cloyd & Mary Withers - daughter of Wm. Withers
- 1797 Joseph Cloyd & Sarah Bennett
- 1800 Benjamin Draper & Priscilla Caton
- 1780 Thos. Draper & Leiller Breeden - grandparents
Botetourt County Deeds - columns - date, grantor, grantee, acres, description:
- 1771, Aug. 13, David Robinson for Valentine Zinn & Chronomus Zinn of the Province of South Carolina to William Ingles, Gent., 400 acres, west side of New River, called Dunkar's Bottom
- 1772, Feb. 12 Joseph & Mary Cloyd to Wm. Fleming, John Bowyer, Thos. Rowland, John May, Philip Love, John Armstrong, Bryan McDonald, Len Bowyer, Anthony Bledsoe, Wm. English, James Rowland, Thos. Barnes, Vestry of the Parish, Co. of Botetourt, 400 acres to be a glebe for the use of said Parish, west side of the Blue Ridge on the branches of the James.
Fincastle County - court held the seventh day of September 1773:
William Preston, James Adams, John Adams, James Montgomery, John Daper [Draper?] and Frederick Edwards or any three of these being First sworn are appointed to view the Way from John Taylor's Foard, Samuel Peppers and Horse Shoe and by Brown's bottom from the Glades to Draper's Meadows into the Landing road betwixt Maj. Ingles Ferry and Read Creek and make report of Conveniences and Inconveniences that attend the same to the next Court.
A deed of Trust from Samuel Cloyd to Ross and Trigg was proved by the Oaths of William Christian and ordered to be Certified.
Montgomery County - At a court of Oyer and Terminer held on Saturday the 23d. day of January 1779 for the Examination of Samuel Denney being Charged with the felonious Stealing and concealing a mare the property of John Jackson.
Present: James McGavock, William Davies, Andrew Boyd & James Newell - Gentlemen
The above named Samuel Denney being brought to the barr in Custoday of the Sheriff it was demanded of him whether he was guilty of said Charge or not, he answered and said he was not guilty whereupon Witnesses were Sworn and examined as well for the said Samuel as against him, whereupon the Court were of opinion that he is not guilty of the sd. Charge and the Court did Rise. James McGavock.
Montgomery Court - Court continued and held October 25th 1785:
Johnston & Clyne vs. Reasoner disd. Eaton vs. Williams, John Montgomery, David Sayers, Robert Saunders, Albert Allison, William Foster & George Forbush having reported that they were mutually chosen by Joseph Eaton & Evan Williams to Arbitrate said suit which said Joseph commenced against the said Evan for slander against Hogs that are of opinion that the said Evans ought to pay the Cost Eighteen shillings to the said Joseph Judgment accordingly.
Colo. Walter Crockett came into Court & by the consent of the Court he relinguished Trust as Guardian to Thomas Herbert, orphan of William Herbert Decd. thereupon the sd. Thos. Herbert orphan of William Herbert Decd. with the consent of the Court chose his Brother William Herbert his guardian with Stephen Saunders & Capt. Newell his Securities entered into & acknowledged their Bond according to Law.
Montgomery County - court held 22d November 1785:
The Following claimes is allowd in the State of the Levey, Viz:
- Jacob Spanger for killing 1 old Wolf 350 lbs. Tob[acco]
- John Draper 1 Do [ditto] 700 Do [ditto]
The following claims upon the County is allowed, To-wit:
Griday Meeks 1 Do [ditto - 1 old wolf head, 350 lb. Tobacco]
Ordered that John Draper Senr. be allowed for 2 young and 1 old wolf heads proof being made to this Court that they were alld. by the last Court claims & neglected to be entered.
William Herbert appointed overseer of the road from Herberts Ferry to James Coxes in the room of John Jinkins and with the usual hands keep the same in repair.
Montgomery County - March 4, 1794 - Thomas Cloyd and John Matthews qualified as Deputy surveyors.
Montgomery County - May 3, 1796 - Thomas Cloyd recommended to the Executive as a proper person to be commissioned as Second Lieut. of a Company of Artillery to be raised in this County.
Gordon Cloyd same as Capt. of a Troop of Cavalry to be raised in this County.
Montgomery County - June 8, 1796 - Gordon Cloyd qualified as Justice of the Peace.
Montgomery County - July 5, 1796 - John Runnion bound to John King
Montgomery County - Nov. 6, 1798 - John Draper granted license to keep an ordinary at Drapers Ferry.
Montgomery County Deeds - columns: date, grantee, acres, location -
- 1782, Dec. 7, Charles Foster, 245 acres Walker's Creek Branch, New River
- 1782, Oct. 17, William Foster, 77 acres in Rich Valley on No. Fork Holston
- 1782, Oct. 17, William Foster, 200 acres, Lick Creek Branch South Fork Holston
- 1782, Oct. 17, William Foster, 200 acres, Lick Creek Branch South Fork Holston
- 1782, Oct. 16, William Foster, 200 acres Rich Valley waters of North Fork Holston River includes place called Paulings Camp.
- 1774, Jan. 28 Arthur Gilbreath, 255 acres, Middle Fork Holston River
- 1783, May 3, James Garral, 280 acres Crooked Creek Branch New River
- 1783, May 13, James Garral, 165 acres Branch Crooked Creek Banch New River
Montgomery County Deeds - columns: date, grantor, grantee, consideration, acres, location
- 1779, March 2, Wm. Thompson & Wm. Preston, Exors. of James Patton from John Draper, £230, 400 acres Pine & Mack's Runs, branches New River
- 1788, Sep. 3, Robt. Sayers from William Foster, £3000, 480 acres on Pine Run
- 1787, Oct. 10, John Cloid, from Geo. Wysor, £50, 55 acres, Montgomery County
- 1789, Apl. 7, Ninian & Mary Cloyd from Joseph Cloyd, £105, 170 acres on Back Creek
- 1789 Feb. 18, John & Mary Poage from James Robertson £50, 180 acres Meadow Creek
- 1789, Aug. 1, William Herbert from William Ross, £200, 130 acres Poplar Camp Creek
- 1789, July 7, Wm. Thompson from Joseph Cloyd, £60, 64 acres Back Creek
- 1789, Nov. 3, Nathaniel & Margaret Morgan from Joseph Cloyd, £250 388 acres Montgomery County
- 1789, May 5, Henry & Rebecca Harding from James Breeding £200, 300 acres Little Reed Island Creek
- 1789, May 4, John & Nancy Harding from James Breeding, £110, 100 acres Little Island Creek
- 1789, Feb. 2, Isaac Runnion from James Kennard, £45, 80 acres Peek Creek
Washington County - court held Nov. 19th, 1778:
John Crow vs. John Walker & James Fullen, William Bates Special Bail. A Jury sworn to by the issue joined between the Commonwealth of Virginia Plt. and William Huston defendant, Viz. William Edmondson, George Martin, Jeramiah Abel, Francis Dove, George Clark, James McFerren, James Fullen, David Gatgood, James Bryan, George Maxwell, Joseph Russell, Jacob Anderson returned verdict for the Defendant which is ordered to be recorded.
Washington County - Mary Phillips Plaintiff against John Young, Defendant - In Case
This day came the parties and thereupon came also a Jury To wit, Andrew Lammey, David Beatie, Thomas Hardwick, James Snodgrass, Richard Moore, James Kincannon, Robert Cloyd, Samuel Kincart, Joseph Gray, John Kerr, Robert Brown and William Walker who being elected tried and sworn the truth to speak upon the issue joined upon their Oaths do say that the defendant is not guilty in manner and form as the Plaintiff against him hath declared, On consideration whereof a New Trial is granted.
Margaret Cloyd proves Six days attendance in the above suit.
Washington County First Surveys of Lands - Columns: date, grantee, acres, location, actual settlement
- 1786, Jan. 18, John Breden, 300 acres on the Clinch River, nd
- 1786, Aug. 25, John Breden, 400 acres both sides Clinch River, nd
- 1786, Jan. 18, John Breden, 100 acres both sides Clinch River, nd
- 1790, Mar. 22 Samuel & James Bredan, 330 acres Rich Valley, nd
- 1790, June 29, Samuel Breden 240 acres Poor Valley, nd
- 1796, June 25, James Breden 150 acres Middle Fork Holston River, nd
- 1796, Nov. 15, John Bready, 74 acres on Pikes Branch, nd
- 1792, Sep. 18 Jacob Devault, 15 acres both sides Cowan's Branch, nd
- 1787, Jan. 18, Abraham Devault, 323 acres in Brushy Valley, nd
- 1795, Apr. 10, Jacob Devault, 155 acres on Opossum Creek, nd
- 1797, Feb. 18, John Stout, 80 acres, Opossum Creek, nd
Washington County - Brief of Deeds, Record of Deeds No. 1
Page 99, March 10, 1788, Robt. Houston to James Speer, 80 pounds, 200 acres between the Middle and South Forks of Holston River.
Page 331, Feb. 18, 1794. John Reamy and Priscilla his wife to John Spears. 150 pounds. 154 acres on both sides of the Middle Fork of Holston River
Page 354. August 19, 1794. Samuel Breden & James Breden to William King $170, 330 acres in the Rich Valley, on Fowlers Mill Creek, waters of the Holston.
Page 395. Dec. 15, 1794. James Weir & Margaret his wife to Wm. Speer, 70 pounds, 102 acres on a branch of the South Fork of Holston River
Page 429. Oct. 20, 1795. Henry Grymes and Catharine his wife to James Braydin, 50 pounds. 135 acres in the Rich Valley on a branch of the North Fork of Holston River
Page 56. August 2, 1793. Commonwealth of Virginia to John Blackburn and Garrot Fitzgerald of Jefferson County in the territory of the United States South of the Ohio River. Authority to take acknowledgement of Susannah Lathim, wife of John Lathim.
Page 157. Sept. 17. 1795. William Edmiston, Robert Craig, Andrew Willoughby, James Armstrong, Robert Campbell and Robert Preston, Trustees of the Town of Abingdon, to James Breeden. Lot No. 73 in the town of Abingdon, Virginia
Appendix I - Revolutionary Soldiers - The following list of Revolutionary Soldiers from Southwest Virginia has been compiled from sources believed to be absolutely reliable, and it is confidently believed that, while this list of soldiers is by no means complete or that it contains more than a small part of the men who participated in the war that won for us our independence and liberties, still that in every instance it will be found reliable.
This list was obtained from the following sources:
- The Court records of Botetourt, Fincastle, Montgomery and Washington Counties;
- The History of Southwest Virginia by Summers, Lewis; Battle of Point Pleasant, Dunmore's War by Thwaites; List of Revolutionary Soldiers published by the Virginia State Library and compiled by H.J. Eckenrode; and from fifteen bound books of letters received from descendants of soldiers by the author during the past twenty-five years.
- Blackburn, Arthur - Kings Mountain
- Blackburn, John - Kings Mountain
- Blackburn, Joseph - Kings Mountain
- Blackburn, William, Lieut. Killed, Kings Mountain
- Cornwell, Adam, Botetourt Co.
- Cloyd, Joseph, Captain, Guilford Courthouse, Montgomery Co., died 1833
- Cloyd, John, Montgomery Co.
- Cloyd, Robert, Montgomery Co.
- Cloyd, William, Montgomery Co.
- Draper, John captain
- Duncan, Charles, Montgomery Co.
- Duncan, John, captain, Continental service
- Duncan, William, Capt. Lewis Rangers, Botetourt Co.
- Dunkin, John, prisoner in Canada
- Duncan, John, captain, Continental
- Duncan, William
- Foster, James, Montgomery Co.
- Foster, John, Montgomery Co.
- Foster, Thomas, 1st Lieut., Under Pierce
- Herbert, William, captain, Montgomery Co.
- Hopkins, George, Guilford Courthouse
- McDowell, Samuel, colonel, Guilford Courthouse
- McDowell, Samuel, colonel, Botetourt Co.
- McDowell, John, Botetourt Co.
- McDowell, Robert, Botetourt Co.
- Morgan, Charles, captain, Botetourt Co.
- Morgan, Charles, captain, Botetourt Co.
- Morgan, Benjamin, Montgomery Co.
- Morgan, Robert
- Robertson, James, captain, Montgomery Co.
- Robertson, James, 10 VR Captain, Montgomery Co.
- Robertson, James, captain, Washington Co.
- Robinson, James, captain, Botetourt Co.
- Robinson, John, Botetourt Co.
- Robertson, Elijah
- Robinson, David
- Robinson, Julius
- Robertson, Thomas
- Robinson, David, Beattie's Company, Kings Mountain
- Robinson, John, Beattie's Company, Kings Mountain
- Robinson, Moses
- Spiars [Speers?], John
- Wolf, Henry Jr.
- Wolf, Henry Sr. killed in action
A list of Captain Evan Shelby's Company of Volunteers from the Watauga Valley, in the Fincastle County Battalion:
- James Robertson, sergeant
- Arthur Blackburn
- Julius Robinson
- Elijah Robison
French & Indian War - 1758-173 - A partial list of officers and men from southwest Virginia to whom lands were granted by the king of England by reason of services in the French-Indian War, Proclamation 1763
- 1774, March - John Draper, Ensign, 2000 acres
- 1763, John Draper
- 1774, Mar. 19, Daniel Morgan, ensign, 2000 acres
- 1774, Jan. 18, James Robinson, 200 acres
- 1774, Jan. 7, David Robinson, Lieut. 2000 acres
- 1774, Apr. 11, James Robertson, Sgt. 200 acres
- 1763, James Robertson, Lieut. Col.
- 1763, William Robertson
- 1763, David Robinson
- 1763, James Robinson, Capt. Hogg's Company
- 1774, Feb. 12 Zachery Taylor, 200 acres
- 1774, Feb. 12, George Taylor, 2000 acres
Cherokee Expedition - officers and a partial list of the privates accompany Col. William Christian upon the Cherokee Expedition in August 1776:
- (--?--) Duncan, private, killed
A List of Robert Doack's Company of Militia June 2nd, 1774
- William Meek - Sergeant
- Hugh Robinson, private
A List of Captain Shelby's Company of Volunteers from Fincastle:
- Arthur Blackburn, lieutenant
- Julius Robison private
- Elijah Robison private
A List of Men in Captain Daniel Smith's Company at Glade Hollow Fort, 1774
- John Dunkin
Battle between the Harmans and Seven Indians - In the fall of 1784 [Nov. 12th, 1788 is the correct date] Henry Harman and his two sons, George and Matthias, and George Draper left the settlement, to engage in a bear hunt on Tug River. They were provided with pack-horses, independent of those used for riding, and on which were to be brought in the game. The country in which their hunt was to take place, was penetrated by the "war-path" leading to, and from the Ohio river; but as it was late in the season they did not expect to meet with Indians.
Arriving at the hunting-grounds in the early part of the evening, they stopped and built their camp; a work executed generally by the old man, who might be said to be particular in having it constructed to his own taste. George and Matthias loaded, and put their guns in order, and started to the woods, to look for sign, and perchance kill a buck for the evening's repast, while Draper busied himself in hobbling and caring for the horses.
In a short time, George returned with the startling intelligence of Indians! He had found a camp but a short distance from their own, in which the partly consumed sticks were still burning. They could not, of course, be at any considerable distance, and might now be concealed near them, watching their every movement. George, while at the camp, had made a rapid search for sign, and found a pair of leggins, which he showed the old man. Now old Mr. Harman, was a type of frontiermen, in some things, and particularly that remarkable self-possession, which is so often to be met with in new countries, where dangers are ever in the path of the settler. So taking a seat on the ground, he began to interrogate his son on the dimensions, appearances, etc. of the camp. When he had fully satisfied himself, he remarked, that "there must be from five to seven Indians," and that they must pack up and hurry back to the settlement, to prevent, if possible, the Indians from doing mischief; and, said he, "if we fall in with them, we must fight them.
Matthias was immediately called in, and the horses repacked. Mr. Harman and Draper, now began to load their guns, when the old man observing Draper laboring under what is known among hunters as the 'Buck Ague,' being that state of excitement, which causes excessive trembling, remarked to him, "My son, I fear you cannot fight."
The plan of march was now agreed upon, which was, that Mr. Harman and Draper should lead the way, the pack-horses follow them, and Matthias and George, bring up the rear. After they had started, Draper remarked to Mr. H., that he would get ahead, as he could see better than Mr. H., and that he would keep a sharp lookout. It is highly probable that he was cogitating a plan of escape, as he had not gone far before he declared he saw the Indians, which proved not to be true. Proceeding a short distance further, he suddenly wheeled his horse about, at the same time crying out, "Yonder they are - behind that log:" as a liar is not to be believed, even when he speaks the truth, so Mr. Draper was not believed, even when he speaks the truth, so Mr. Draper was not believed this time. Mr. Harman rode on, while a large dog, he had with him, ran up to the log and reared himself up on it, showing no signs of the presence of Indians. At this second, a sheet of fire and smoke from the Indians' rifles, completely concealed the log from view, for Draper had really spoken the truth.
Before the smoke had cleared away, Mr. Harman and his sons were dismounted, while Draper had fled with all the speed of a swift horse. There were seven of the Indians, only four of whom had guns; the rest being armed with bows and arrows, tomahawks and scalping-knives. As soon as they fired, they rushed on Mr. Harman, who fell back to where his two sons stood ready to meet the Indians.
They immediately surrounded the three white men, who had formed a triangle, each man looking out, or, what would have been, with men enough a hollow square. The old gentleman bid Matthias to reserve his fire, while himself and George fired, wounding, as it would seem, two of the Indians. George was a lame man, from having had white swelling in this childhood, and after firing a few rounds, the Indians noticed his limping and one who had fired at him, rushed upon him thinking him wounded. George saw the fatal tomahawk raised, and drawing back his gun, prepared to meet it. When the Indian had got within striking distance, George let down upon his head with the gun, which brought him to the ground; he soon recovered, and made at him again, half bent and head foremost, intending, no doubt, to trip him up. But as he got near enough, George sprang up and jumped across him, which brought the Indian to his knees. Feeling for his own knife, and not getting hold of it, he seized the Indian's and plunged it deep into his side. Matthias struck him on the head with a tomahawk and finished the work with him.
Two Indians had attacked the old man with bows, and were maneuvering around him, to get a clear fire at his left breast. The Harmans, to a man, wore their bullet-pouches on the left side, and with this and his arm he so completely shielded his breast, that the Indians did not fire till they saw the old gentleman's gun nearly loaded again, when one fired on him and struck his elbow near the joint, cutting one of the principal arteries. In a second more, the fearful string was heard to vibrate, and an arrow entered Mr. Harman's breast and lodged against a rib. He had by this time loaded the gun, and was raising it to his face to shoot one of the Indians, when the stream of blood from the wounded artery flew in the pan, and so soiled his gun that it was impossible to make it fire. Raising the gun, however, had the effect to drive back the Indians, who retreated to where the others stood with their guns empty.
Matthias, who had remained an almost inactive spectator, now asked permission to fire, which the old man granted. The Indian at whom he fired appeared to be the chief, and was standing under a large beech tree. At the report of the rifle, the Indian fell, throwing his tomahawk high among the limbs of the tree under which he stood.
Seeing two of their number lying dead upon the ground, and two more badly wounded, they immediately made off; passing by Draper, who had left his horse, and concealed himself behind a log.
As soon as the Indians retreated, the old man fell back on the ground exhausted and fainting from loss of blood. The wounded arm being tied up and his face washed in cold water, soon restored him. The first words he uttered were, "We've whipped, give me my pipe." This was furnished him, and he took a whiff, while the boys scalped one of the Indians.
When Draper saw the Indians pass him, he stealthily crept from his hiding place, and pushed on for the settlement, where he reported the whole party murdered. The people assembled and started soon the following morning to bury them; but they had not gone far before they met Mr. H., and his sons, in too good condition to need burying.
Upon the tree, under which the chief was killed, is roughly carved an Indian, a bow, and a gun, commemorative of the fight. The arrows which were shot into Mr. Harman, are in possession of some of his descendants.
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