Maps It was created in 1784 with the intent of becoming the fourteenth state. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The South Fork Holston River originates in Smyth County, Virginia near the community of Sugar Grove, where it is formed by the combination of several coldwater streams. The certificate that grants the land rights is also called first-title deed and final certificate. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: North Fork Holston River, U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: South Fork Holston River, U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Holston River, Introduction to the Upper Tennessee River Basin, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Holston_River&oldid=1080160670, Articles with empty sections from April 2014, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, The Olen R. Marshall Bridge is one of two bridges to cross, Bridge does not have a name; final crossing over the main Holston River, Two sets of bridges over the River, connected by the, Two bridges over the river, connected by the, Sgt. The list contains name, grant number with book and page number for reference. Nashville: The Tennessee Historical Commission, 1964. In 1765, Jesse Duncan was scalped by the indiginous inhabitants. It is one of the largest counties in the State, having an area of 570 square miles. James Miller and others left the church. At the time, they were usually referred to as "The Holston Militia". Jacob Range improved land in 1779 on the Big Harpeth River and later petitioned for a grand to that land. On March 25, 1775 the Watauga Purchase of the East Tennessee lands from the Cherokee was made. The hunters came from there and the adjacent valley of the Clinch River, where they were land owners or residents. As the settlers made their way from North Carolina and Virginia, they traveled along many hunting trails of the Cherokee and the Catawba Indians. The reason I bring up water is that I have another ancestor and his brothers-in-law who I think traveled by water from the area of Roane County TN to Madison County AL around 1809. The group included his brothers and brother-in-law. At the Treaty of Lancaster the Six Nations of Indians gave up their claim to land . Annexed from Rowan County in 1771, Surry has been an important county to the state of North Carolina, with particular regard to granite production and the historic Andy Griffith Show. When colonists settled on Cherokee lands in the Holston River Valley of northeastern Tennessee, Cherokee forces attacked their settlements. Thanks for sharing your research and knowledge. In 1799 there was a petition in Washington County asking for marriages performed under the State of Franklin to be recognized. In 1780, while the militia was away at theBattle of Kings Mountain, the Cherokee raided the setttlements. The first settlers on . Evidently my Ancestor got there a little to late for the 1778 tax list , but here is what I found: Vachel Dillingham entered two tracts of land, in 1778, and in 1779. Borden's Grant Sixteen counties were established by 1824. to what, in that day was called style. When Governor William Blount came as territorial Governor in the fall of 1790 he established his official residence here. It was a group of cabins arranged in a rectangle connected by stockade walls of sharp pointed poles. law, known as the Land-Grab Act, was in effect Among the dams and associated reservoirs on the South Fork Holston River are Boone Dam and Boone Lake, named for the explorer Daniel Boone; Fort Patrick Henry Dam and Fort Patrick Henry Lake, named for the Revolutionary War hero; and South Holston Dam and South Holston Lake. THE BRISTOL HERALD COURIER: BOONE TRAIL EDITION He sold this land to settlers. Yes, the Watauga Settlement of Washington County was a success in every aspect of the word. He came here from North Carolina, secured quite a boundary of land on the river, near the place first selected to build the Court House for Grayson county. in 1776, a second fort was built upriver on lands owned by Valentine The Jobe family was also among the early settlers. Pictured above is a current photo of Fort Watauga which was formally known as Fort Caswell. Abraham Hendry was Chairman of the Court, he and all other members were bound to the agreement. If so, please drop us line and let us know in the comment section or by contacting Piedmont Trails. I wish you well on your research and best wishes on correcting the mistakes concerning your ancestor, George Brown. It was known as Brush Creek for the Creek than runs through it. Colonel William Christian commanded 2,000 men in a punitive expedition against the Cherokee towns, suppressing their resistance. Settlers were now able to travel to the area legally in accordance to Royal law. In August, 1784 delegates from Washington and two other western North Carolina counties (all now in Tennessee), declared their Independence from North Carolina because of perceived neglect, and misuse by North Carolinas legislature. Thank You so much for your kind words !! The construction of the fort was initiated during the spring of 1776. Its first capital was Jonesborough. I have tried to get people to delete this mistake from my George Brown to no avail. His servants, his rooms his grounds, were all at their bidding. It is possible that Lucas Massengill came first, as he was a member of the Watauga association and there is no evidence known to me that William Cobb was a member. John Nicholas (1753) and Margaretha Mottern were from Berks County Pennsylvania. Isbell, and Benjamin Gist appointed to lay off the place for erecting the Court house, prison stocks, and the said return is ord. (LogOut/ 1-240 acres-Washington County-north fork of Doe River, David Reese-#2, Book 36, pg. Thank You so much for visiting Piedmont Trails and be sure to stay up to date by subscribing to the website. TVA projects have greatly changed the waterways in E TN so that the direct water routes of our ancestors are not so apparent on modern maps. His note cards, which reference more than 4,000 early settlers of the Holston-Clinch River area and East Tennessee (1770s-1790s), are held at the Library of Virginia. The first five men appointed to administer the Watauga settlement were John Sevier, James Robertson, Charles Robertson, Zachariah Isbell, and John Carter. Plan your next trip to Flag Pond, TN and be sure to visit Fort Loudoun State Park. The first settlers on document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Be the First to Know of new additions on Piedmont Trails, Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Early Tennessee Settlers of the Watauga Settlement of Washington County, https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Old_South_Carolina_State_Road, The Early Settlers of Stokes County, North Carolina, Early Settlements & Surnames of Tennessee 1756-1780, First Major Route of The Colonies-The King's Highway, Early Settlers Along The Catawba River Segment 2, 18th Century Settlers of Stokes County, NC, John Wallace-#1, Book 36, pg. By May, 1785 they had petitioned to be admitted to the United States as the State of Franklin. The Holston flows southwest towards Knoxville where it meets the French Broad River creating the mighty Tennessee River. [9] Both the South Fork in Virginia and the first 20 miles (32km) of the Holston in Tennessee below South Holston Dam are quality brown trout and rainbow trout fisheries. Perhaps you have heard about the Overmountain Men traveling party of 1779. . They fought as units of the Virginia Militia, a formally organized arm of the Commonwealth. Among the dams and associated reservoirs on the South Fork Holston River are Boone Dam and Boone Reservoir; Fort Patrick Henry Dam and Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir, and South Holston Dam and South Holston Reservoir. territory. The Holston River valley has been greatly developed for electrical power generation, both with hydroelectric dams and coal-fired steam plants. WELLS, ANN HARWELL. North-of-Holston(now Sullivan County) was settled by those who came down the valley from Virginia and thought themselves to be in Virginia. Carter's Valley(now Hawkins County) was named for a trader, John Carter, who later moved to the Watauga Settlement where he was prominent in its affairs. Fort Loudon began as a British fort located in present day Monroe County. The settlers believed they had settled in Virginia. The first permanent settlement in Tennessee was made in 1769 on Boones Creek Eastern Tennessee. The settlers were from Pennsylvania. Valentine Sevier, Sr. came from the Shenandoah Valley. Mine is Mathew Brooks, 1743 1797. As a result, patriot leaders throughout the Southeast called for their destruction. He kept his horses, his dogs, his rifles, even his trap for comfort and entertainment of his guests. 141-300 acres-Washington County-fork of Big Limestone Creek, Adam Orth-#217, Book 53, pg. Fort Loudon was supplied in colonial times out of Charleston South Carolina on a route that also ran through Fort Prince George. 1st Class O.B. Flower Swift was one of the pioneer settlers of the New River Valley. North Carolina authorities seized some of the people who John Sevier had enslaved. Each head of household received 640 acres and 100 acres for his wife and 100 for each child. It was erected by the settlers of Reedy Creek and Cook's Valley, and was one of the first structures of the kind in the county. All three forks in Virginia, South Holston Lake, and the Holston River in Tennessee below the South Holston Dam offer relatively easy-to-reach recreation opportunities. The Holston's confluence with the French Broad River at Knoxville marks the beginning of the Tennessee River. Settlers were now able to travel to the area legally in accordance to Royal law. Beverly Bastian, Jenna Tedrick Kuttruff, and Stuart Strumpf, Fort Loudoun in Tennessee: 1756-1760: History, Archaeology, Replication, Exhibits, and Interpretation-Waldenhouse Publishers, Inc., 2010. By the early 1770s, four different communities had been established in northeastern Tennesseeon the Watauga River, the North Holston, the Nolichucky, and in Carter's Valley. The original Blockhouse, built by John Anderson near the North Fork of the Holston River in what is now Virginia's East Carter's valley, was where the Wilderness Trail began. February 1, 1796 Leonard Hart obtained 239 acres next to the Hendrix (Hendricks) Family in the Turkeytown. A land patent is an exclusive land grant made by the government. In 1824 Jerial Dodge baptized her at the Sinking Creek Baptist Church, and the Baptist Association decided against the baptism. this continued for a time, but when it . In answer to your question, yes, Sullivan County was at one time Washington County. History and Genealogy are all around us. Several furious members of the Cherokee tribe refused to adhere to the current 10 year leases and with the leadership of Dragging Canoe, they let their outrage be felt upon the early settlers. The sun peeks through the tall majestic Tulip Trees as they reach for the blue horizon. Also associated with him as judges were David Campbell and Joseph Anderson and their session were also held here. His equipage was unpretending. History North Fork of Holston (1783) Rich Valley (1802) South Fork of Holston or St. Clair's Bottom (1791), . Most settlers came down the Great Valley through Virginia, while others went through gaps in the Unaka Range from North Carolina. By their presence, those early settlers saved the west for the United States. In 1784, Zachariah Isbell, John Sevier and Jesse Walton were appointed to confiscate the properties of Tories in Washington County. Virginia refused and in November of the same year, North Carolina agreed to annex the area. Tagged as: #northcarolina, #washingtoncounty, #wataugafort, #wataugariver, #wataugasettlement, Genealogy, history, Tennessee. Places They could not buy the lands from the Indians, because the purchase was prohibited, but there was no law prohibiting a lease of the land, and in the year 1774, the Indians leased to the settlers on the Watauga the lands in the Watauga Valley and all was peace once again. Nearby, the Great Indian Warpath, a major trail leading to the northeast from central Tennessee, brought many natives past this island. In its upper reaches some of these plants are controlled by private interests; in the downstream portion they are owned by the United States Government's Tennessee Valley Authority. The main cabin was probably built as early as 1774. The Holston River is a major river system of southwestern Virginia and East Tennessee. Tennessee. Watauga Petition, 1776. 4-320 acres-Washington County-waters of Lick Creek, Samuel Harris-#5, Book 36, pg. Jacob Womack, Jesse Walton, Geo. Register The Watauga settlement was south of the Holston River, on the Watauga and Nolichucky Rivers in the colony of North Carolina. The Middle Fork flows 56.5 miles (90.9km) from near the western border of Wythe County, Virginia, joining the South Fork in Washington County, Virginia, southeast of Abingdon. Julius Dugger and Andrew Greer were the first white men to settle in the Watauga Country. assembled on the Sycamore Shoals of the Watauga to begin their march to the Battle of Kings Mountain. His information has been so corrupted I doubt it will ever be corrected. Boones Creek Christian Church started because of a controversy over the baptism of Fanny Renfro. In 1772 Jacob Brown located on the north bank of the Nolichucky River. Early Efforts. A Committee of Safety was organized and during the spring of 1776, Virginia was asked to annex the area. Jonesborough is part of the Johnson City metropolitan statistical area, which is a component of the Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN and VA combined statistical area . by William Bean, and his wife Lydia Russell. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Over the next several months, Piedmont Trails will explore the early trails leading into Tennessee. Most settlers came down the Great Valley through Virginia, while others went through gaps in the Unaka Range from North Carolina. The Holston River begins in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and flows for 274 miles through Virginia into Tennessee. James Robertson and John Sevier, two of the leading members of the Watauga settlement, immediately set about to devise ways and means by which they could avoid the order of the British agent. The accompanying picture shows the north view of the house, which does not include the "L" which is visible from the pike. When the war began, Virginian settlers had established communities stretching from the Holston River valley (now mostly in Tennessee) to the western "district" of Augusta County (now primarily southwestern Pennsylvania) and the colony had every intention of asserting its claims. The North Carolinians rebuffed them and this signaled the end of the State of Franklin. These early settlers formed the Watauga Association which was was semi-autonomous government created in 1772. On July 13, 1792 Moses Humphreys purchased a tract of land on the north Tennessee holds a vast amount of history and genealogy. [12] The Donelson Party passed the Indian Cave entrance on their way down the Holston River in 1779 to settle present-day Nashville, Tennessee. Jacob Range improved land in 1779 on the Big Harpeth River and later petitioned for a grand to that land. "The Battle of the State of Franklin" took place at John Tipton's house in 1788. Thank You so much for sharing your family history with us today. John Sevier settled on the Nolichucky. In 1775 Michael Bawn and James Pearn were each granted permission by the county to build a grist-mill on Little The State of Franklin was an unrecognized, independent state in what is now eastern Tennessee. From there the river flows roughly southwestward, just north of Bays Mountain, until it reaches its confluence with the French Broad River just east of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. By August of 1760, the Cherokee attacked the fort and was able to force the surrender of Captain Raymond Demere and others. 1500 acres of land as a Boundry for Iron Works in the fork of Wataugah and Doe River Joining the Land of said Carter also Isaac Lincoln, Godfry Carriger, Teter Nave, Leonard Bowers, William Duggard, Elisha Humphreys, David Matlock, Deceased and Emanuel Carter, Deceased. The community was first known as Blue Plum. Washington County was once part of North Carolina prior to Tennessee statehood. James Miller and others left the church. A map detailing the Holston River Valley through Sullivan County and surrounding areas. After the battle with the indigenous people at Fort Watauga The first permanent settlement in Tennessee was made in 1769 on Boones Creek And on Sept. 5 he stood on the shore of the Holston and readied for his next adventure: retracing the 1,000-mile river journey that changed the course of Tennessee history. It would be a stop and go sort of pace, much slower versus crossing land only in this particular area. ATTN: JMHS-AO. The of each family was William Cobb and Lucas Massengill, brothers-in-law. Dungan, acquired land in the area in 1778 and built a mill on Brush Creek in the present town of Watauga. As is well known they at first thought they settling in Virginia, and in 1772 a line was run between Virginia and Cherokee hunting ground and it was found that they were on Cherokee ? They were aware of their presence as they would gaze upon trail markers, arrowheads and remnants of villages left behind. The following is a list of major road crossings on the Holston River: The following is a list of major road crossings on the South Fork Holston River: The following is a list of major road crossings on the Middle Fork Holston River: On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Plan your next trip to Flag Pond, TN and be sure to visit Natchez Trace State Park. Beverley Manor The largest stream is the Holston River, which traverses the eastern portion of the county, flowing in a southwesterly course until it reaches the Washington County line where it is joined by the Watauga. In 1788, however, a road was cut directly east from the settlement at Knoxville to the settlement on the Cumberland River. The settlers claimed that they were living on land that was part of Virginia, but a land survey showed that claim to be false. So if you are researching your family history in this area, be sure that youre looking in the correct location. Each head of household received 640 acres and 100 acres for his wife and 100 for each child. Would Sullvan County at one time been included in Washington County. Read More. The certificate that grants the land rights is also called first-title deed and final certificate. Many settlers came to the Holston and Watauga Settlements after the Battle of Alamance in May, 1771, when there was a mass migration of settlers from central North Carolina to the frontier regions. Michael married first Louisa a daughter of Caswell Cobb, son of Pharoah [Cobb], son of William Cobb. 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