EARLY ADVENTURES ON THE WESTERN WATERS, Volume I, by Kegley, continued from last time. I will be more selective in what I report, as the period of time gets later and becomes less relevant.
Page 74, Military Warrants in Fincastle. John Hill Sargeant 200 acres assigned to Andrew Reid and James Stuart, 1774, Alexander Stewart 200 acres 1774 assigned to Samuel Meridith, Captain.
Page 84, lists of names of "Longhunters" who went to hunt (and speculate in land) 1760-1775. (quite a few were prominent people), John Stuart/Stewart.
Page 85, 1770 signers of a petition for soliciting Rev. Charles Cummings to head a Presbyterian Church. This represents people who have moved west into the headwaters of the Holston: George, Arthur and William Blackburn, John and Nathaniel Davis, Samuel and Thomas Evans, John Patterson, Joseph Black, George Adams. (All surnames associated with the Harrisons in Augusta County).
Page 87, Deaths on New River and branches from Augusta County, records: Col. John Buchanan 1769. (one of the most prominent men around)! His widow Margaret was to have the land when Walter Stewart lived at the Ferry (she was the daughter of Col. James Patton).....James Conly, appraisal of the estate by Thomas English (Ingles), TOBIAS BRIGHT, and Richard Hall 1752....Israel Lorton, Jacob Harman and Jacob Lorton administors 1752 with bond by TOBIAS BRIGHT, and Thomas Inglish.
Page 88, John Noble, 1752, Widow Mary administor. Sureties will and Patrick Calhoun. Mentions land on Cripple Creek. His brother-in-law, James Callhoun was named executive with the widow. (I mentioned because these Calhouns moved to SC at the 96 district, where Patrick headed the highly advertised, in Europe, Long Canes area, billed as the new Garden of Eden). This is the family of John C. Calhoun.
Col. James Patton, who was killed by Indians, in 1775. His will was written in 1750, and witnesses include Thomas Stewart. Thomas Stewart was one of the appraisers of this hugh estate in 1758.
Page 91, Botetourt County was formed in 1769. John Stewart was made the Justic of the peace in 1771. Robert Davis was appointed Constable for Holston and the upper branches of Reed’s Creek in 1770. James Davis was the surveyor of roads from his house to Royal Oak.
Page 93, list of Tithables in the Lower District of New River: John Davis...at the head of Little River, John Evans, John Patterson and Cornelus Davis.
Page 94, list of tithables in William Herbert Company of 1771, JEREMIAH HARRISON. (I do not know just what location, but this is Botetourt County, indicating that Jeremiah had moved west from his place on the Linville Creek area of Augusta County....and on his way to Greene County, in Tenneesse).
Page 99, Deaths from Fincastle records: John Cravens, widow Neoma Cravens administor with John Fowler and Robert Cravens sureties, 1775.
Page 100, Fincastle Stock Marks. ARTHUR GALBREATH, 1773.
Page 104, a list of delinquents returned by Daniel Reigg, Department Sheriff of 1773. (a Very long list--many had moved?) JEREMIAH HARRISON, CAROLINA....I wonder if this means that Jeremiah spent some time in Mecklenburg, before moving further west into Greene County, Tennessee? After all, many of his children were in Mecklenburg county and many of his relatives....Thomas Davis, runaway; William, Ashel, John, Edward, another John, Jonathan Davis; Robert Stewart, runaway; Morgan Bryan on waters of the Cinch River. (If the same Morgan Bryan was closely involved and related to Daniel Boone and a large developer and important in the move to Kentucky from Rowan County).
Page 107, the formation of Montgomery County, VA, in 1776, when Fincastel abolished and three new counties were formed: Montgomery, Kentucky, and Washington. Kentucky County became the state of Kentucky. Washington County seated at Black’s Fork (Abingdon, VA).
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Page 118, Montgomery County of 1786, there is a reference to Captain Davis’s Company....in 1787 William Patterson added to Davis Company....(This was Robert Davis)... Deaths: James Bean Sr. Will was probated in 1790. John Stewart was the appraiser.
Page 120, Montgomery County, Richard Harrison also had a will dated 1783. (no details...William Patterson was the appraiser in 1788, William Ward the administor, Sureties were William Loe and James Newell. William Ward was to pay Joseph Patterson, the orphan of William Patterson, part of the estate when he came of age, Surety James Campbell in 1787. (I mentioned William Ward, because he may be my wife’s ancestor on her paternal side. He was a Justice and French and IndianWar veteran and had spent some years in SC, but he returned to Montgomery. Her Fugate ancestors, also on her paternal side were also here and ended up in Cocke County, Tennessee).
Page 138, (Problem with the many Tories on New River during the Revolutionary War)....On April 18, of 1779, Michael Henninger made a deposition to Col. William Campbell regarding the activities of the Tories. Two of the people reported were BENJAMIN JOHN and FREDERICK MOORE.
Page 143, (Most of the Tory problem was solved without bloodshed) On August 8, of 1780, Walter Stewart was charged with treason and required to post a bond. Another was Roger Oats. (I mentioned Oats, because an Oates was Court Clerk of early Mecklenburg and associated with the Harrisons, and another Oates was Clerk of Court of Murray Co. GA, when Rev. Nathan Harrison was there and mentioned in Rev. Nathan’s will as owing him a note as did numerous other people there).....Page 144. Toloman Harrison, Roger Oats and several Fannings were named as Tories in the confession of Robert King and Andrew McWilliams. Trials were conducted on many, such as: Col. William Ingles, Abraham Morgan, (my wife also has Morgan ancestry through Fugates), JOHN HARRISON, Walter Stewart, Nathaniel Brittian. Some of the punishment were 39 lashes or being sent to jail in Augusta, bonds to be in force until final determination, forgiveness for enlisting in the military service. Col. William Ingles was not proven as a traitor, but kept under very heavy bond. Acquitted were JOHN HARRISON, Walter Stewart and others. Some had property confiscated but mostly later returned to them.
Page 146. Oaths of Allegience was given by EDWARD JONS in 1778, James Mulkey, JEREMIAH HARRISON, in 1778. (I mentioned Mulkeys, because many were pro-rebellion against the King, but in a non-violent way. Some were labeled Tories, some went to Florida. The most important was Rev. Phillip Mulkey, one of the most important Baptist preachers of NC and SC---Very charismatic with many followers. He had many Baptist preacher descendants, especially in the states of Tennessee and Kentucky. Since he was chased out of South Carolina during the Revolutionary War.
Page 147, Oaths were taken in December of 1777 by: John Adams, James Davis, William Calhoun, William and Robert Love (Robert Loe came to Buncombe and William Love went to East Tennessee). Oaths taken in September of 1777 included: Josiah Fugate, Frederick Oates, and several Simpsons. From page 149, oaths in 1777 were also taken by: Col. James Robertson; James Moore; Thomas Ingles; James Evans; George Parks; and George Paris. (If this is the same George Paris, an officer in the French and Indian War, he became a famous Indian trader and an agent in the far west of SC and GA. He had property confiscated as a Troy. He married a Cherokee woman, and there are many Paris descendants in Buncombe County, even today). From page 151, Oaths were taken in Montgomery County in 1777, from : SOLOMON HARRISON, AND JOHN HARRISON. (I wonder if Solomon Harrison and Toloman Harrison are the same person.)
Page 174, The beginnings of the BLACKSBURG neighborhood: On this page is a map that was made by Col. James Patton, it involves 7500 acres at the place called Draper (Draper’s Meadows). This is on the east side of the New River, where Col. Patton, himself resided as his extensive estate. The patent was dated in 1747, and was surveyed in 1753. This also involves bordering areas in addition to the 7500 acres. In one of these bordering areas which are not platted as are the 7500 acres to various settlers, but simply labeled as JOHN HARRISON. He is at the time living at the headwaters of Lick Creek, which runs into the New River, but also involves a divide where waters run into the James River and the Atlantic Ocean. This would be close to the town of Fincastle to the east, and a road through this pass---a prime location. I presume that this is JOHN HARRISON, JR., who acquired these prime pieces of property from his home town in Augusta County, Virginia, on the Linville Creek, before this
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subdivision began. However, John Jr. was murdered by a slave and never married, so he had no children, in 1763. ( on page 181 of LGT). Yet, either ANOTHER John Harrison (or John Harrison’s ghost) is in this same general area after 1763, such as on the previous page as being tried and acquitted of treason! I wonder WHO he is and Tolomon and/or Solomon Harrison. ??? LONG GREY TRAIL, does not list a Solomon or a Tolomon Harrison. It does of course list many John Harrisons, and I will admit that I have not scoured the book hunting for this particular John Harrison. I expect that one could find several who could possibly be this one. On the other hand, since this is Stewart territory and Stewarts in the area were politically involved with suspicions of Toryism as was John Harrison, and since we know that Stewarts and Isaiah Harrison, Jr., were closely involved, (Lydia Harrison married David Stewart and Isaiah Jr., was his executive and held the estate sale at his house.) it could very well be possible that Isaiah Jr., was the ancestor of this John and Toloman/Solomon Harrison.....This is at the site of the present city of BLACKsburg. Neighbors on this map included Richard Hall, Abraham Chrisman, Charles Taylors, James and John Preston, Drapers and Ingles, BLACKS, Harmons, and of course Col. James Patton. The book contains many photographs of the old and palatial homes in this area of Blacksburg.
Page 176, Cornelius Brown received from John Harrison, Jr., the first title to the land on the west side of the New River. (The previous one mentioned above was on the East side of the river, so represents two pieces of land). This grant to John Harrison Jr., was one of two he made in 1746, while this was in Orange County, VA, before Augusta was created. Cornelius Brown deeded this land to Abram Brown, who was the founder of the well known as Brown Family of Belspring.
On page 177, The Blacks settled on the William Lippard tract of 620 areas, establishing the town of Blacksburg, there in 1798.....Abraham Chrisman came to the Harrison-Hall place on Meadow Creek, in 1763, (the year John Jr., was murdered) where Christopher Gist (the intellectual adventurer and friend of George Washington) spent the night with Richard Hall, in 1750, saying that it was the home furthest west in that region. Chrisman’s land was divided by the family and part went to his brother-in-law Peter Spephens, Charles Taylor, a neighbor developed his extensive holdings from a number of small surveys, and a good part of Chrisman’s land and the Yellow Sulfur Spring......page 180. John Black was appointed overseer of the road from the glades to the foot of Sinking Creek Mountain in 1781....The main road from Blacksburg west, was towards Pepper’s Ferry, which became legally established as a public ferry in 1779. ( Pepper’s Ferry is due west of Blacksburg and the passage across the New River to the west).
Page 182, Augusta County Deeds. In 1750 RICHARD HALL FROM JOHN HARRISON JR., 400 acres on Meadow Creek (of Stroubles’ Creek. Patent is to John Harrison, 1746 of early Orange County survey). This would put, according to the map on page 174, as the 400 acres north of Lick Creek and south of Stroubles Creek, which are very close together at this point).
Page 184, Fincastle deed. 1772 Samuel Black of Botetourt County, from William Ingles and David Robinson 600 acres on Tom’s Creek, part of the large patent to James Patton. Part of the 620 acres was sold to William Lippard in 1775, adj to Phillip Barrier and Robert Gresham. ( I am familiar with the Barriers of Roman County, NC, who are still living there--perhaps part of the same family). Montgomery County Deeds. 1779. William Thompson and William Preston, executors of James Patton (this estate went on for a Very long time) following judgement against JOHN ADAMS for lapsed lands, 210 acres, part of the 7500 acres on Tom’s Creek, which title was reverted to the Patton estate. ( I mentioned here because Jeremiah Harrison’s wife was an Adams and her mother was a Patterson)...Alexander Stewart also was in this area of Draper’s Meadows, page 185, of the Montgomery Deeds. 1787 Richard Mynatt had 330 acres adjoining to Stoney Batter and some waters of the Crab Creek, ADJOINING JOHN HARRISON and Jacob Rowland. (Crab Creek is just south of Lick Creek, but parallel and very close, so there is a John Harrison very close to John Harrison, Jr.’s original land, that he sold to Richard Hall.
Page 186, Montgomery Surveys. 1798 deed on headwaters of Stroubles’ Creek adj to William and John Black...this would be Blacksburg from page 187, trustees of Town of
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Blacksburg: George Rutledge, JOHN BLACK, James Patton Preston, John Henderson, Edward Rutledge, WILLIAM BLACK, and John Preston, received from William Black and his wife Jane, 38 3/4 acres and 20 poles, including the Town of Blacksburg on Stroubles’ Creek the considerations being by virtue of Act of Assembly passed on Janurary 13, of 1798, for the sum of $1.00.
Page 194, The Black Family. The property they had acquired from William Lippard in 1745 was apparently uninhabited. David Robinson and William Ingles acquired this land from Lippard, but they did not inhabit it. They lived nearby. In 1772 Samuel Black bought the land, but he did not live on it either. He lived in Augusta County (where he belonged in order to associate with the Harrisons and the Cravens). His will probated in Augusta County in 1783, and he left this property to his sons, John and William Black. His will noted that his son, William was already living on this tract. John Black (1755-1849) came to the area in 1781, when he was appointed overseer of the road from "glade to the foot of Sinking Creek Mountain". John Black married first Jane Alexander in (1756-1804) daughter of Andrew and Katherine (Stuart) Thompson. Alexander married second, Mary Breeden (1765-1826) the daughter of John Breeden deceased in 1807. William Black was married in 1793 to Jane McBeth, the daughter of Andrew and Sarah Clinton McBeth. It was William, who petitioned the General Assembly of Virginia to incorporate the town of Blacksburg. In 1845, Blacksburg had a population of 250 people, one Presbyterian Church and one Methodist Church.
William Black and his wife Jane had six children: Samuel, John (a Methodist Minister), Agnes, who married Giles Thomas, Sallie, who married William Rayburn, William Porter Black and a child who died before the family moved "west", about 1814.
John Black remained in Blacksburg and in 1827, divided his land between his two sons Charles and Alexander. The rest of the children moved west, some going to Ohio, while others went to Washington, Wisconsin, and Missouri. John Black wrote his will in 1828 and it was recorded in 1849 in Montgomery County. He was about 94 at the time of his death. His wife Mary was to have the use of the house, which would go to her son, Charles, at her death. The daughters, Katherine Brown, wife of Michael Brown of Belspring, Jane Ross, wife of James Ross, Mary Crockett, wife of Walter Crockett, and Susanna McDonald, wife of Stephen McDonald, each were to receive $70. A son name Matthew died before the will was written. Son Samuel Black moved to Montgomery County, Ohio before 1806....Charles Black married Rhoda McDonald and remained in Blacksburg, dying there in 1853, with sons Edward and John. These sons sold the land for the creation of Virginia A & M College, which later became Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Alexander Black married Elizabeth McDonald and moved to Wisconsin.
The Black family was Scot-Irish and migrated from County Down, Ireland, about 1736, arriving in New Castle, Delaware and settled in Chester County, PA. After five years John Black, son of James of Ireland, moved to Augusta County, Va. There he took up lands which he later sold to his sons James, John , Samuel, and William. His son Anthony went to Scotland to be educated in the Ministry. John’s brother Anthony (son of James Black of Ireland), settled in Augusta County, VA. Another brother, Samuel, was educated at Edinburgh and licensed to preach in Glasgow. He moved to PA and was pastor at Brandywine Manor Presbyterian Church, in Chester County, PA, but in 1743 he came to visit his brother John in Augusta County, VA. and for four he traveled as a missionary among the Scot-Irish in that area. Later he moved to Albemarle County, VA., where he married and lived out his life. James Black, Jr., the fourth son of James Sr. died in Ireland. (unfortunately, this does not explain the Blacks, who moved with the Harrisons and married Harrisons and Cravens, in Mecklenburg County, NC, York County, SC. and Buncombe County, though we can be rather sure that this is the family, since they were in Augusta VA, LGT has little about the Blacks, but THE TUNIS HOOD FAMILY, does.
Page 201, Col. John Buchanan Family. He died in 1769 at the home of Col. William Preston. In his will, his widow was to have the land where Walter Stewart lived at the Ferry, including the mill and the profits from the mill, though she was to live at another place, wherever she chose on other lands he owned, or she owned as the daughter of Col. James Patton, and to construct for herself, a new house with an office.
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