Kegley, F.B. Kegley's Virginia Frontier, Roanoke, VA: Southwest Virginia Historical Society, 1938.
Early Adventurers on the Roanoke 1740-1760 & the Land They Occupied
May 2, 1745, the first deed conveys from John Buchanan, yeoman to David Cloyd yeoman, from Newcastle County, Pennsylvania, 400 acres, all that tract lying and being in Orange County called Augusta on the west side of the Blue Ridge west of the James River on the head of a branch of Goose Creek. - Orange County Deed Book 10, p. 33
From these early grants we learn that the main river of Roanoke was called Goose Creek, that its north branch now called Tinker Creek was called Buffalo Creek with its lower part designated Smith's Creek, and the south branch of Roanoke as later, called the South Fork of Roanoke. From later land records we learn that Captain George Robinson started the community by settling on a small tract of land, 191 acres, on a branch of Buffalo Creek where William Preston afterward established his home called Greenfield, adjoining the tract at the head of this branch which John Buchanan sold to David Cloyd. The Cloyd land and home place afterwards become the Withrow-Mitchell and Firebaugh place, and the upper part of the branch was called Turkey-cock Creek.
John Cloyd - In November, 1759, the property of John Cloyd, deceased, was appraised by Edward, Joseph and Bryan McDonald. David Cloyd was appointed guardian for the orphans, John and Mary Cloyd, and the administrator of John's estate. He report of the settlement made in November, 1764,
