Augusta County was taken from Orange County in 1738; but due to the unsettled state of the territory the first county court did not convene until 9 December 1745. When the first settlers came into the New River Valley, the territory was a part of the County of Augusta. The boundaries of this huge county were ill defined. Based on the original British claim to the western empire, then being challenged by the French, Augusta County might have been considered as extending from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Pacific. The county seat of this vast area was Stuanton - and Staunton remains the county seat of present-day Augusta.
1770-1772 - Pulaski County Area a Part of Botetourt County:
The Botetour County Court was organized 13 February 1770. Botetourt, carved out of Augusta County, was also a sizeable county. The western border of the county was the Mississippi River.
Its area included southwesern Virginia, parts of the present states of West Virginia, Ohio and Wisconsin, the greater parts of Indiana and Illinois, and all of the present state of Kentucky. Miller's Mill, later Fincastle, was the county seat. Fincastle is still the county seat of a much smaller Botetourt County.
p. 2 1773-1776 - Pulaski County Area a Part of Fincastle County:
The now non-existent county of Fincastle was formed from a part of Botetourt County. The first court of Fincastle County met on 5 January 1773. Fincastle County took in the southwestern corner of Virginia, part of the present state of West Virginia, most of the present state of kentucky and spilled over the into the edge of preesnt Tennessee. The county seat was at the Lead Mines on New River, in present Wythe County.
1777-1790 - Pulaski County Area a Part of Montgomery County:
The first Montgomery County Court convened 7 January 1777. Fincastle County had been abolished and the territory divided into three new counties: Montgomery, Washington and Kentucky. What is today Pulaski County fell into the Montgomery County territory. Montgomery at that time contained nearly 12,000 square miles, extending to the Ohio River. THe first county seat was Fort Chiswell, in present Wythe County. In 1790 it was moved to Hans Meadow, the present site of Chiristianburg in Montgomery County.
1790-1839 - Pulaski County Area a Part of Montgomery and Wythe Counties:
During this period the eastern part of present Pulaski County lay in Montgomery - the western part in the newly formed county of Wythe. The name of the county seat of Montgomery was changed from Hans Meadow to Christiansburg in 1792. The county seat of Wythe County was the village of Evansham, which later became Wytheville.
1839 - Pulaski County Comes Into Being:
In 1839 the County of Pulaski was created from portions of Montgomery and Wythe Counties. The first Pulaski County Cour convened at Newbern on 9 May 1839. Newbern remained the county seat until 1895 when it was moved to Pulaski.
p. 3 The county is named in honor of Count Casimir Pulaski, a Polish patriot, who came to America in 1777 and joined Washington's army in the cause of American freedom. Count Pulaski was mortally wounded at the Battle of Savannah in 1779.
The area of Pulaski County is approximately 340 square miles. The county is at present divded into five magisterial districts: Massie, Cloyd, Ingles, Draper and Robinson. The Robinson District probably takes its name from George Robinson, an early land speculator, wo in 1748 acquired from the Wood's River Company 2675 acres on the north side of Peak Creek.The other four districts are named for families that owned large tracts of land in the area and played important roles in its development. Many of their descendants still live in the county.
p. 21 By 1755 many surveys had been made within the bounds of present Pulaski County, and a number of land patents issued. Some of those receiving patents were land speculators who had no intention of settling in the area. But there were those who had come to stay, some of whose descendants still live in Pulaski County. Others were moving westward where larger tracs of unpatented lands were to be had.
It is presumable that in 1755 there were a number of settlers in the area of whom no records remain. Promoters, like Colonel James Patton, brought in families to settle on the vast tracts they had reserved. Land surveys were time consuming, and patents were slow in being issued. Among those who had established ownership to land in the Pulaski County area prior to the French and Indian War were: Jacob Harman, 985 acres called the Horseshoe Bottom and 160 acres on neck Creek; James Patton 4000 acres (The Springfield Tract), 900 acres called Thorn Spring, 440 acres on the west side of New River, 4500 acres at Peak Mountain and 500 acres on the wes side of New River known as the Starn Place; George Robinson, 2675 acres on the north side of Peak Creek; Samuel Eckerlin, 900 acres on New River at a place called Mahanaim, 100 acres east of New River opposite Dunker's Mill and 50 acres on the river at a big spring above Dunkard Bottom; James Wood, 400 acres in the Little Horseshoe Bottom; John Buchanan 100 acres on Little River and 150 acres on Reed Island; John Neagle, 41 acres above the outh of Peak Creek; Humbertson Lyon, 650 acres on the south side of New River; Cornelius Brown, 350 acres on Neck Creek; George Sifford a sizeable patent on Neck Creek; John Miller, 380 acres (part of the Dunkard Bottom tract); William Stroup, 124 acres on Peak Creek.
William Ingles and his brother-in-law John Draper had acquired from James Patton large tracts of land in the present Pulaski County area prior to 1755. But they did not settled in the area until near the close of the French and Indian War.
p. 24 On the site of Smithfield Plantation (near Blacksburg in present Montgomery County) lay Draper's Meadows, a flourishing frontier settlement, founded some seven years earlier by Colonel James Patton. On the fateful day of 30 July 1755 Colonel Patton chanced to be visiting the settlement. Aware of the French and Indian threat to the British colonies, he had brought with him powder and lead for defense of the frontier settlements. Since the first of the month over two dozen settlers on New River had been killed, wounded or captured by Shawnees. But Patton apparentley was not too apprehensive of an attack on Draper's Meadows. Heretofore small bands of Shawnees had occasionally passed the settlement without show of hostility.
Colonel Patton sat before a table in one of the cabins writing. John Draper and WIlliam Ingles, youthful heads of families whom Patton had settled on the land, were away working in the fields - both unarmed. The women of the settlement were going about their household chores - the two little INgles boys playing happily around the log cabins.
The small settlement in the clearing on this bright summer morning was a picture of tranquilty, when, without warning, a Shawnee war party materialized from the surrounding woods and attacked the settlement. According to tradition, Colonel Patton met them, brandishing his broadsword. A man of great strength, despite his 63 years, he is said to have killed two of the foremost raiders, only to be shot down and scalped by those following. John Draper and William Ingles, some distance away from the cluster of cabins, and unarmed, were powerless to help. The raid [p.25] was soon over and the settlement left in flames. The Shawnees, with their prisoners and loot, vanished into the forests.
Left dead among th eburning cabins were Colonel Patton, Mrs. George Draper (the widowed mother of John Draper), John's baby with its brains dashed out, and Casper Barrier. James Cull lay among the debris, alive but seriously wounded. Carried off as prisoners were Mrs. Mary Draper Ingles and her two young boys, Mrs. John Draper [Bettie], her arm broken by a rifle-ball, and one man, Henry Leonard.
Word of the massacre was sent immediately to Colonel John Buchanan, Colonel Patton's son-in-law, and deputy in command of Augusta County militia. But by the time he arrived on the scene wit a posse of militiamen, the Indians, with the stolen horses bearing the captured women, children and lott, were far down New River, across the presen West Virginia line.
p. 42 A battle with Indians - probably the last in the Pulaski County area - was fought on Little River near the present site of Snowville in 1763.
The summer of 1763 found William Ingles and a few neighbors still holding out at Fort Hope, on the rise overlooking Ingles' Ferry fromthe east. . . .
As summer drew to a close a frontiersman, scouting the countryside about Fort Hope, discovered a band of Shawnee camped on Little River. Hurrying back to the fort he reported his discovery. There were only a few men at the fort, but Captain Ingles succeeded in enlisting ten volunteers from a militia company in the area. The next morning before daybreak a small band of determined frontiersmen left the fort in search of the Indians.
Moving silently through the forests Ingles and his men came upon the Shawnees on Little River. The Indians, unaware of their presence, were preparing breakfast when the crack of Henry Harman's flintlock rang out and one of the redskins fell mortally wounded. The Indians seized their rifles, and for half an hour the battle raged. Two of the frontiersmen were wounded, one dying from his wound. Several Shawnees were killed before the remaining Indians gave up the fight and made their escape. . . .
p. 42 After the battle a cavacade of thirty stolen horses, recovered from the Indians, filed down the river with the frontier soldiers. Also with them were several settlers from Smith's River who had been freed from their captros. The frontiersmen, with their two wounded comrades and freed prisoners, were welcomed back to Fort Hope.
That evening, with the day's events fresh in mind, William Ingles took up a quill pen and wrote an account of the battle to Colonel William Preston of Greenfield. . . . The letter, written in a clear, precise hand, is without punctuation. Captain Ingles' spelling and capitalization are most unique. Following is a verbatim copy of his report of the battle:
"I have the Plesher to inform you that I had the hapyness to falling in with a party of Indians in thire Return from Smiths River with sum prisoners and a great maney horses and after Exchanging about seventy shots we got possestion of of the Ground and all the plunder we Kild two on the Ground and I Expect to find severl more to morrow as I am convinst that there is meney more Kild but as the Ground where they tuck Refuge in was so weddy and full of shrubs we did not search it we had two men wounded and one very mortal the men all behaved Like [p.43] Good Solders anthe Indians was as loath to give way the Battel Lasted more than half an owor and the shouts of Boath parteys could be hard I Dare say Neer two miles we areinformed by one of the prisoners hat there is a Nother party of Indians Gon Down the meho River and the are to follow those and I think God willing to try my Corage wanst more with them. If Providence would be so Kind as to Direct our steps in so frendly a maner up to there Camp Mr. Robinson can give you the particulars as he Came up just as we had Drove the of I sent you a shot pounch that we tuck in the plunder wich I belive was the Captain's it is but a small presant and I Beg you will Except it as it is a small trophie of our Victory we Got 30 horses and abundance of small Plunder We are in Great wont of Sum Powder and Lead for we are just out I hope sir you will Indever To porswed Colo Lewis to cintinew me at this Post as I find I can be of Great Sarves to the settlements Both of hallafax and that of yours for I find that the go within a littel ways of this place when they go to Smiths River and thataway and we ly as handy to the Narrows as of aney other place Colo Phelps Refused to Cumply with your ordors and would Not Recave mr. armstrong nor send anney of his men with mr. Cloyd But would go with this own men wheare he thought fit But at Last I prevaild with him to Let a few of his men that WOuld CUm as Volenters with me and ten of them turnd out wich I Left at the fort all but three and one of them was so unfortunate as to be shot Sir your Instructions as oftin as you can convenently send them will Give Great Sattesfaction to your obedient Sarvet - W Ingles" "Sept ye 13th 1763"
p. 48 The beginning of the story of New Dublin Presbyterian Church has been lost in time. The church was formally organized in 1782 - but its story reaches further into the past.
In 1768 Hanover Presbytery sent the Reverend John Craig into Virginia's wild frontier counry on a preaching mission. His itinerary called for "six Sabbaths at Craig's Creek and Reed Creek and places interjacent; . . . "
During his travels Reverend Craig probably preached to the New Dublin congregation. This is suggested by the fact that he made a report on its status at a meeting of Hanover Presbytery the following year. Reverend Craig's report on the New Dublin congregation showed that at that time it consisted of 45 families. He estimated that they could contribute 45 pounds (presumably for the support of a pastor). Representatives of the New Dublin congregation were lised as: Joseph Howe, Samuel Colville, John Taylor, Samuel Cloyd and James Montgomery.
It was a number of years before the New Dublin Church had its first regular pastor. But the church remained alive and is today the oldest church in Pulaski County - and one of the oldest west of the Alleghenies.
p. 49 Joseph Cloyd Gives Land to New Dublin Congregation
Today the picturesque New Dublin Church gleams white through the dark green foliage of a grove of ancient oaks. It stands some two miles north of present Dublin. This location is about six miles northwest of the site of the now nonexistent village of New Dublin.
In a well kept cemetery adjacent to the church are laid to rest many who worshipped in the historic old church in generations past.
The present church building has stood in the oak grove for over a century. It is the third to be erected there - on land given to the congregation by Joseph Cloyd who settled on Back Creek in 1773.
The first church erected on the land given by Joseph Cloyd was built about 1781. It was a log building with seats fashioned from split logs without backs.
Men of the New Dublin congregation were active in campaigns against the Indians and served their Country in the Revolution. This may be why the building of the first church on the present site was delayed until the close of the Revolution.
The old log church served the congregation unil about 1840, when it was replaced by a brick church built on its site. In 1875 this building was replaced by the present brick and stucco structure - built on the foundation of the preceding building.
p. 55 Who lived in present Pulaski County when it was a part of Botetourt? Lists of tithables taken in the area during that period [p.56] partially answer the question. . . . [Mary Kegley, New Rivier Tithables 1770-1773 - William Ingles list 1770]
Another list, taken two years later, contributes more to the story of the land that is now Pulaski County. This is the list of tithables in Captain James Thompson's Company taken by Stephen Trigg. James Thompson was captain of the militia in his area. At this time Captain Thompson was living on Back Creek. Stephen Trigg lived at Dunkard Bottom (now beneath the waters of Claytor Lake). So, this list presumably includes most of the heads of families of the present Pulaski County area in 1772, while a part of Botetourt County. Tithable lists did not include the names of children, indentured servants and slaves. Stephen Trigg's list of tithables in Captain Thompson's Company follows:
James Allison, John Allsup, John Bradshaw, James Boylestone, Josiah Baker, John Blackmore, Richard Brindley,
William Cicil, William Cleary, Samuel Cicil, Robert Carr, Dale Carter, Samuel Cobun, William Christian, Samuel Cloyd, John Cloyd, David Crouch,
John Draper, Ephraim Drake, John Denton, Henry Dooley, Joseph Edgington,
Joseph Grey, Charles Gorden, Henry Grub, Jacob Harman, Joseph How, Adam Hance
Daniel Johnson, Samuel Ingram, William Longley, William Lockart, Robert Miller, Joseph Maires, Samuel McGeehee, James Moonee, Joseph Martin, John Madison, Joseph Montgomery Sen., James Montgomery Sen.
John Norris, James Newell Sen., John Norris, Samuel Pepper, James Patton, Thomas Patton, Alexander Page, Hugh Patrick, George Pearis, Samuel Piercifull, George Parks, Jeremiah Patrick
James Roarke, Benjamin Ray, Michael Riziner, Samuel Shannon, James Skaggs "Little", William Stewart,
John Taylor, Stephen Trigg, William Thompson, James Thompson, James Walker, Samuel Walker, John Wigal, Peter Wyley, Addam Waggoner, William West, Samuel Woodfin
James Hoge and Holbert Allison who lived in the present Pulaski County area do not appear on Trigg's list - but are on William Ingles' 1770 list.
p. 61 While preent Pulaski County was a part of Fincastle numerous roads were being planned, opened and maintained. Following are Fincastle County Court road orders applying to the area:
5 January 1773 - Major William Ingles is appointed Surveyor of the Road from his house to the County line and that Stephen Trigg appoint the Tithables to work there on.
[rest are abstracted]
- 5 January 1773 - Stephen Trigg, surveyor from New River to Sinking Spring . . .
- 5 January 1773 - Henry Skagg & Jacob Lorton - nearest/best way from Sinking Spring to Peek Creek . . .
- 5 January 1773 - William Sawyers (Sayers) surveyor Peek Creek to his house
- 4 May 1773 - William Thompson, Absolom Mounts & William Lockart nearest/best way from foot of Mountain by Joseph Cloyds to William Lockart on Walkers Creek
- 7 September 1773 - William Preston, James Adams, John Adams, James Montgomery, Joseph Montgomery, John Draper & Frederick Edwards or any three view way from John Taylor's Foard, Samuel Peppers and Horse Shoe and by Brown's bottom from the Glades by Draper's meadows into the Landing road betwixt Maj. Ingles Ferry and Read Creek
- 2 August 1774 - William Thompson, Henry Patton & Adam Waggoner from Fork of Taylors road & Peppers into the Great Road leading by Major Ingles's ferry up to fort Chiswell
- 2 May 1775 - Henry Thompson, Nathaniel [p. 62] Morgan & Saml Cecil nearest/best way from William Thompsons mill on Back Creek to the corner of Samuel Pepper up land Field
- 3 September 1776 - Alexander Robertson overseer of road from Col. William Ingles's Ferry to Sinking Spring
- 3 September 1776 - Samuel Ingram overseer Sinking Spring to Peek Creek
- 3 September 1776 - Robert Carr overseer Peek Creek to Little Pine run
- 3 September 1776 - Andrew Boyd overseer Little Pine Run to Reed Creek
"But I will take the liberty to mention som thoughts of my own which I think would answer a good purpose for some time. You seem to signify that you dont think yourself warrantable in ordering out the Militia unless we are actually invaded, that may [p.71] be so, but I think you could safely encourage men to rise and go without expresly ordering them to do so. From what I have heard I think one 100 might be got in a few days who would find their own provisions (& Each man a horse) sufficient to serve 2 or 3 weeks. If you approve of the Schme & write what you think proper for their encouragement, I will get all the Captains who you think could best spare the men out of their companies to call those together whom they have drafted, & see if they are willing to go & take their chance of pay; All this can be done this week as I supposse Herbert, Crockett, Trigg & Robertson would be enough, if you thought Cloyd & Taylor had better not spare any. Perhaps 50 would be enough - I could find ammunition as far as 80 powder & 80 of lead, which I would run the risque of being paid for. Then if you approved of it I would march down the War path on this side of new river, as far as the mouth, and if any Indians are coming in, we would be very apt to meet them, if any small Companies were coming & See our sign they would not proceed but immediately run home. . . . "
p. 73 - On 29 June an urgent communique was delivered to Captain Joseph Cloyd who had settled on Back Creek the preceding year. It came from Colonel Christian. A battle had recently been fought with Indians on the Greenbrier. Captain Cloyd was ordered to immediately send a messenger to Walkers Creek and Bluestone to warn settlers of their danger. He was further ordered to have his company meet at Mr. Thompson's the next morning. (William Thompson lived at nearby Springfield Plantation.)
Captain Cloyd's men were each to bring a horse and all the ammunition and provisions they could. The company was to wait at Mr. Thompson's for the coming of Colonel Preston who would give them further orders. . . .
p. 74 Early July found Colonel Christian's comand ranging the frontier far and wide.
Companies had separated - ranging in different areas, in compliance with the county lieutenant's orders. Down the Holston into the edge of Tennessee they went - along the Clinch River and Sandy Creek - over mountains and through valleys.
Nearer home, Captain Joseph Cloyd's company was patrolling down New River through present Giles County. And John Draper was leading a small band of rangers somewhere in the same area. . . .
p. 75 The rangers had met with no resistance. But the show of strength no doubt thwarted Indian raiders bent on murder and arson - and garrisons of frontier forts had been strengthened.
No blood had been shed - but perhaps the lives of many settlers had been saved by patrolling the frontier. . . .
An ominous silence hung over the frontier - a silence which would be broken by all-out warfare by early autumn.
With alarms and rumors spreading through the frontier, and militia companies on the march, people at home became jittery.
A letter from Colonel Christian to Colonel Preston, written from New Dublin, describes conditions in present Pulaski County in the summer of 1774:
New Dublin Thursday 21st July 1774
"Dear Sir
"The people on new river up to Mouth reed creek I understand are gone & going of to day to Fort at Bells meadows.
"Smiths, Ninian Cloyds, & Crouches families are there. Smiths wife & children are really distressed as the womann is helpless & unwell. Could it be possible to let them come home, I know you will, but how to relieve them I dont know - 6 men out of this Compy that went to Clinch are not returned, & I hear Draper got 15 with him - I expect the 6 at Clinch next week.
"Crouch has a large crop of oats now falling.
"Little James Skeggs, I am well satisfied saw an Indian last Thursday between Ninian Cloyds & Peter Poors, or some person dressed like one. - & some other signs, tho i might be horse-thieves or runaways.
"I am told just now that there is a report come that Some [p. 76] people were killed at muddy creek last week, but I never depend on reports unless well attested, there being so many false ones - . . . "
p. 89 The first meeting of the Fincastle County Committee made history. The committee issued the famous Fincastle Resolutions - a year and a half before the American Declaration of Independence was signed. . . .
p. 90 The Fincastle Resolutions conclude with these memorable words:
"We by no means desire to shake off our duty or allegiance to our lawful sovereign, but on the contrary shall ever glory in being the loyal subjects of a Protestant prince, descended from such illustrious progenitors, so long as we can enjoy the free exercise of our religion, as Protestants, and our liberties and properties, as British Subjects.
"But if no pacifick measures shall be proposed or adopted by Great Britain, and our enemies will attempt to dragoon us out of those inestimable privileges which we are entitled to as subjects, and to reduce us to a state of slavery, we declare, that we are deliberately and resolutely determined never to surrender them to any power upon earth, but at the expense of our lives.
"These are our real, though unpolished sentiments, of liberty and loyalty, and in them we are resolved to live and die."
From January 1775 until the signing of the American Declaration of Independence the Fincastle County Committee guided the affairs of the county. During the life of the commitee additional members were added. Most of the new members came from the present Pulaski and Wythe County areas.
Andrew Boyd, Joseph Cloyd and James McCorkle from the Pulaski County area became members of the Committee. . . .
The Fincastle County Committee was a revolutionary group in a British colony, which was swarming with British agents and Tories. The need for secrecy perhaps promtped them to meet at various locations: at the Lead Mines - at Fort Chiswell - at James McGavock's home in present Wythe County - at New Dublin in present Pulaski County - and possibly at other places.
Led by the County Committee, the men of Fincastle were preparing for revolution. With patrios from other Virginia counties, and the other American colonies, they were laying the foundation of a free nation. . . .
p. 92 The Fincastle County Committee by no means confined its activities to issuing resolutions. The Committe was busily fanning the fire of revoltion. Among its many activities were:
[abstracted]
- county census taken - raising troops
- lead from mines ordered distributed for public use
- quantity of lead hauled to Williamsburg
- Ephraim Dunlap appointed head of commisary stores for troops stationed in Fincastle County
- Salt procured and stored at Ingles' Ferry for distribution
- Militia officers commissioned, new companies organized
- 2 companies ordered to march into eastern Virginia under Captains Knox & Crockett
- 500 pounds of powder stored at Fort Chiswell and more at other designated points
- Tories were arrested and tried for being "unfriendly to the American Cause."
- Example: "Ordered that William Preston, William Ingles, James McCorkle, James Robertson, Stephen Trigg, Andrew Boyd, Jos: Cloyd and Thomas Madison or any five of them be appointed a Sub Committee for the Trial of . . "
- Adair, Adams, Akers, Alderson, Allison, Alley, Almand, Armstrong, Axer
- Bailey, Barkley/Barclay, Barnutt/Barnut, Beaty, Beck, Becknal, Bell, Blackburn, Blackford, Blackmore, Bledsoe, Bonney, Bonyer, Bowles/Bowle, Boyd, Boydston
- p. 108 Brabston, Bradley, Brander, Brawley, Breckenridge, Briggs, Broadaway, Brown, Bruster, Buchanan, Buckley, Bundy, Burk, Bush, Byrd
- Campbell, Carter, Cavanaugh, Cecil, Chapman, Childress, Christian, Clements, Cockerill, Colvil, Compton, Connel, Conovan, Cooper, Coots, Copely, Cowan, Cox, Craig, Cravat, Creegar, Crockett, Crouch, Crow, Cusick, Cuthbertson
- Clark, Jno.
- Cloyd - John, Joseph, Ninian, Samuel
- Davereux, Davies, Davison, Day, Deforrest, Dickens, Dickeson
- p. 109 Dingus, Diskins, Dispain, Divin/Divine, Doak, Dooley, Dougherty, Doland, Douglass, Downing, Drake, Duggan, Dunkin, Dunlop
- Draper - James (John's son), John
- Edmonston, Edwards, Elkins, Elliot, Elswick, Evans, Ewing
- Fellman, Fields, Finley, Fleming, Floyd, Fowler, Francis, French
- Foster, Thomas
- Gamble, Garret, Gess/Gest/Gist, Gilbert, Gillahan/Gilleland, Glenn, Gordon, Gray, Grayson, Greenup, Girlls, Groce, Grub, Grysom/Graysom
- Hall, Halley, Hambleton/Hamilton, Harlem, Harman, Harrod, Haven, Hays, Henderson, Henry, Herbert, Hicks
- p. 110 Higins, Hill, Hogg/Hoge, How/Howe
- Ingles, Ingram, Innis
- Johnson/Johnston
- Keeough, Kelley, Kerr, Kincaid, Kincannon, Kinder, King, Knox
- Leech, Lester, Levengston, Lockhart, Logun, Longley, Looney, Lorton, Love, Lowder/Sowder, Lowry, Lydey/Sydey, Lyle, Lyth
- Madison, Magee, Mageehee, Mairs, Manifee/Manifeld, Menefee, Martin, Mastin, Matthews, May, Merideth, Miller, Michel, Montgomery, Moore, Morgan, Morrison, Mortimer, Mounts, Moyers
- p. 111 Muncy, McCaul, McCord, McCorkle, McCoy, McDonald, McFadin, McGavock, McKain, McNutte
- Nalle/Nall, Newberry, Newell, Newman, Nunum
- Oates, O'Daniel
- Paris/Pearis, Parick, Patton, Pate, Payte, Pepper, Philips, Pierce/Pearce, Pleek, Poage/Poague, Poor, Preston, Price
- Qualls/Quarrels maybe the same
- Ray, Reaugh, Reess, Reid/Reed, Reins, Reizner, Roberts, Rogers, Ross, Russel
- Robertson - Alexander, James, Major James (same?)
- Robinson - Col. David, Elizabeth, John
- Saintlarence, Sayer, Sayers/Sayer, Scotte/Scott, Severe, Shannon, Shaw, Shelby, Shell/Shull, Simpson
- p. 112 Skaggs/Skeggs, Smith/Smyth, Sonry/Lonry, South, Sowder/Lowder, Spratte, Stafford, Stephens, Stobo, Srother, Stull, Stutler, Suter/Sutter/Suiter, Sydey/Lydey, Syth
- Taylor - Capt. John
- Terrel, Thomas, THompson, Todd, Trigg, Trimble
- Vance
- Verdeman - John, William
- Waggoner, Walker, Wallace, Watson, Weather,s Whitton, Williams, Williamson, Woods, Wood, Wylie
- Wilson, John; Willson, Thomas
But on return of my scouts last evening they informed e the enemy had attempted to cross the Shallow Ford the day before (14th), when they were attcked and defeated by Major Cloyd with 160 of the Virginia and the North Carolina Militia. 15 of the Tories were found dead and four wounded. Our Loss: one Captain killed and four privates wounded. No prisoners were taken. The Tories being well mounted made their escape. . . . "
p. 127 Henry Trolinger's Account of the Battle of Shallow Ford [1832 pension deposition] . . .
". . . The troops on this tour (Major Cloyd's battalion) were to act against the British and Tories. The place of rendezvous for some days, was at the lead mines in Wythe County, Va. (Wythe County was part of Montgomery at that time.) Two companies on foot under the command of Captains Parris and Trigg (George Pearis and Abraham Trigg), consisting of nearly 200 men, performed a most fatiguing march up the New River nearly to its source, through a most rugged and mountainous country, with the purpose of joining the residue of our Regiment commanded by Col. Campbell but could not effect a juncture before the battle of Kings Mountain. We were ordered to intercept a force supposed to be nearly 400 strong of British and Tories, whom we met not far from the Yadkin River on what was called the shallow ford road. We met unexpectedly, hastily formed, the odds in numbers much against us, but having some as perfect marksmen as any perhaps in the world. The Commander of the enemy was immediately killed, five rifle balls having passed through him and his horse. The enemy fell back and formed again. After several rounds, the enemy fled and dispersed, leaving sixteen dead on the groung and 10 or 12 badly wounded - on our side, we had but one killed and 5 wounded. The sword of the slain officer, was a valuable one and was given to Captain Parris, he being considered the best marksman in the detachment and also having received a wound in the engagement. We ranged about a few days chastising the Tories, and then returned home. I was discharged sometime in the month of November."
p. 178 In February of 1781 Colonel William Preston ordered all effective officers and men of Montgomery County militia to assemble at the Lead Mines on New River. They were to march against the Tories and British in North Carolina. Among those answering he call was Major Joseph Cloyd of Back Creek, with a number of men from the middle New River Valley. . . .
At Whitzell's Mill Major Cloyd's riflemen, along with other militiamen, faced the British redcoats. Their objective was to hold up the British advance and prevent the capture of American provision wagons being loaded at the mill.
The riflemn formed their line at a ford some two hundred yards below the mill. . . . The British opened fire at a distance. Their fire went high - the rifle balls whistling [p.129] above the heads of the militiamen . . . The Americans held theif fire until the enemy came within eighty yards. Then the frontiersmen, raising their long-barreled flintlocks, caught the redcoats in their sights - and squeezed their triggers. British soldiers fell under the deadly fire, but the advance continued. The American stood their ground . . . When the British were within fifty yards another volley from the American rifles took devastating effect. The enemy advance was halted and the redcoats held at bay until the provision wagons got safely away. Then, their mission accomplished, the Americans beat a hasty retreat. As the Montgomery troops forded the stream, Major Cloyd saw that his commander, Colonel Preston, had been unhorsed during the conflict. Colonel Preston, ageing and portly was in danger of being captured by the rapidly advancing British. Bold Major Cloyd dismounted, aided his old friend and commander into the saddle, and both made their escape.
p 141 [Spring 1782] The renewal of Indian raids alarmed the whole frontier. Colonel Preston, on order from Governor Benjamin Harrison, assembled the field officers of Montgomery and Washington Counties at the Lead ines. At this meeting, held in July, plans were formulated for the defense of the frontier. Officers from the present Pulaski County area at the conference were Joseph Cloyd, Daniel Trigg and John Taylor. This conference of field commanders resulted in 200 militiamen being called to active duty.
p. 143 AMong the all-powerful gentlement justices serving Montgomery County during this era were: . . . Joseph Cloyd . . . John Taylor. . . .
Joseph Cloyd, who had succeeded William Ingles as county colonel of the milita, became colonel of the First Battalion Montgomery County Milita . . .
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