Burton Litton, brother of Solomon Litton, was a son of John Litton, and this family were early settlers of the Elk Garden section of present Russell Co., VA. At the time of his death, Burton Litton had a brother, James Litton, and wife, Elizabeth.(1) Burton Litton was a member of Captain Daniel Smiths militia company in 1774, while that part of Russell County was then Fincastle Co.

Of William Priest little is known, except that he lived on Priest Mountain, at Elk Garden. He served in the militia company of Captain Daniel Smith, at the Elk Garden Fort from the 13th of August to 18th of November, 1774(2), along with Thomas and David Priest, who were probably brothers, or maybe sons. During this term of service, sometime between August and October of 1774, he was paid for 7 days as an Indian Scout.(3) The only court record I find relating to him was in the court of Fincastle Co. On November 2, 1773 where he, along with others was appointed to view a road from the Maiden Springs settlement in to the Great Road, the latter perhaps, being the Fincastle main road leading from the east to the western country.

The details of this killing are best told in the words of Isaac Crabtree in his pension statement filed in Overton# Co., TN, September 27, 1832. Isaac was born in Baltimore Co., MD in 1757.(4) Crabtree says: ...In the next year, 1778, he again turned out a volunteer ranger, he thinks about the last of May, and went to the Elk Garden Fort and joined Captain John Kinkead (Kincaid) and ranged about that fort. He states that Colonel (then Captain, later Colonel) Daniel Smith came to the fort and took him and several other men, making ten, and went down Clinch, and as they came to Glade Hollow Fort, they met about the same number of Indians. He, and Burton Litton and William Priest were some distance in front of the others when they met the Indians. The Indians were laying in ambush in two sink holes(5), and on each side of the Trace(6) and when they arose and placed themselves in a fighting attitude and fired on him. When the firing commenced Colonel Smith, and the balance of the men with him, wheeled and ran. He, and his company kept their ground waiting for them to come up, until the Indians, or some of them, were within 30 or 40 yards of affiant and the balls flying around him like hailstones from a thunder storm. He began to think it was time to take care of himself, seeing by this time the whole of his company had taken flight and left him. He retreated a short distance and was closely pursued by the enemy, and he wheeled to see how close they were to him and saw one within thirty yards. He immediately raised his gun and taking aim at his breast, he fired, and the Indian fell back and uttered some coarse, loud noise. He then overtook some of his company and tried to rally them, but without effect. They continued their retreat and two of them were killed while they were running before him. He then began to mend his gait and soon overtook the foremost men and went by Col. Smith, but was unable to rally. Thence the two men killed were the two who went in advance of himself, Burton Litton and William Priest.

Burton Litton, was a brother of Solomon Litton, who along with Captain John Dunkin, was captured by the Indians in 1780 at Riddles Station and carried to Canada, where they were held until the end of the Revolutionary War.

At a court held for Washington Co., VA, on August 17, 1779, is entered this order:

On motion of Elizabeth Litton and James Laughlin(7), administration is granted them on the estate of Burton Litton, deceased, who made oaths thereto with John Kinkead and Samuel VanHook as securities.

Appraisers of the estate were, Thomas and Richard Price, James Scott and John Lewis.