The Watauga
Watauga County
Watauga County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 51,079. Its county seat and largest town is Boone. Watauga County comprises the Boone, NC Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Holston River
The Holston River is a 136-mile river that flows from Kingsport, Tennessee, to Knoxville, Tennessee. Along with its three major forks, it comprises a major river system that drains much of northeastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia, and northwestern North Carolina. The Holston's …
What is the legacy of the Watauga settlement?
The legacy of the Watauga Settlement remains strong in western North Carolina, where many people adamantly retain their clannish nature but tourism now largely fuels the economy. Western counties that once composed the settlement area now carry the names of early pioneers, such as Henderson and McDowell.
When did Watauga become part of North Carolina?
North Carolina annexed the Watauga settlement area, by then known as the Washington District, in November 1776. Within a year, the area was placed under a county government, becoming Washington County, North Carolina, in November 1777.
Why did settlers come to the Holston and Watauga settlements?
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. These early settlers formed the Watauga Association which was was semi-autonomous government created in 1772.
Who were the first settlers of Watauga County?
The first five men appointed to administer the Watauga settlement were John Sevier, James Robertson, Charles Robertson, Zachariah Isbell, and John Carter. Sinking Creek Baptist Church was organized 1772 in Washington County (now Carter County). In 1772 Jacob Brown located on the north bank of the Nolichucky River.
When was the Watauga Settlement?
settled in 1769 as one of the first settlers. In 1771, Colonel James Robertson brought 16 Regulator families across the mountains from North Carolina. The group included his brothers and brother-in-law.
Who came from the Watauga Settlement?
John BARLEYJoseph DUNHAMJohn MOOREWilliam CLARKGeorge HUTSONValentine SEVIERJames COOPERMichael HYDERAdam SHEERRILLAbraham COXZachariah ISBELLSamuel SHERRILL, Sr.Edward COXJohn JONESSamuel SHERRILL, Jr.28 more rows
Who signed the Watauga compact?
All were known as the "Wataugans." Two such hale and hearty pioneers were my ancestors, namely Christopher Columbus Cunningham, Sr. and Isaac Wilson, Sr. Both were signers of the Watauga Petition to the state of North Carolina.
What does Watauga mean?
beautiful waterA North Carolina State University web page (the Watauga Medal) says the word "Watauga" is a Native-American word meaning "the land beyond". Local references say the name means "beautiful river" or "beautiful water".
What did the settlers of Watauga do in July of 1776?
The Committee acquired arms and oversaw the construction of Fort Watauga (initially named Fort Caswell and located at present day Elizabethton, Tennessee), where they thwarted one wing of the Cherokee invasion of July 1776.
What was the impact of the Watauga Association?
The primary focus of the Watauga Association was the practical needs of routine government; it made no claims to independence from Great Britain. Even so, Wataugans were under the authority of no other government and thus represent the first autonomous white government in the British colonies.
Why did the Watauga settlers send a petition to North Carolina?
In 1775, the Wataugans secured their lands by purchasing it from the Cherokee Nation, and by August 1776, had petitioned North Carolina for recognition of their government, now termed "Washington District." The following petition is undated, but is believed to have been signed in 1776.
Who settled Boone NC?
When Daniel Boone was a youth his family moved to North Carolina. The exact date of this move is not known, but it is thought to be around 1752, when Daniel was about eighteen. Squire Boone invested in land close to the Yadkin River, about eight miles from Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
How long did the Watauga Association last?
The court existed for four years, regulating affairs of the Watauga community. The court probably concentrated on judicial business, since the adoption of Virginia laws alleviated the need for legislative action; the only surviving record of the association is a lawsuit handled by the court.
How did Watauga get its name?
The county was formed in 1849 from parts of Ashe, Caldwell, Wilkes, and Yancey counties and was named for the Watauga River, whose name is said to be a Native American word often translated as "whispering waters," "beautiful waters" or "land of the beyond," all of which describe the region.
How deep is the Watauga River?
2 feet deepAt the Valle Crucis Community Park, the Watauga River is approximately 40 feet wide and 2 feet deep, although there is variation throughout the year. Water flow and quality is greatly dependent on precipitation events. On average, water flow is higher in the spring and early summer than during other seasons.
How cold is the Watauga River?
45-65 degreesBeing a tailwater, it flows from the bottom of the dam, maintaining a cold and consistent temperature ranging from 45-65 degrees year-round. The Watauga River offers great fishing all year.
Who settled Boone NC?
When Daniel Boone was a youth his family moved to North Carolina. The exact date of this move is not known, but it is thought to be around 1752, when Daniel was about eighteen. Squire Boone invested in land close to the Yadkin River, about eight miles from Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
How were the Cumberland settlements similar to the Watauga Settlement?
How were the Cumberland Settlements similar to the Watauga Settlement? They both had their own system of laws known as a "compact." They were both located near a river. They were both started after the Revolutionary War.
What is the significance of the Cumberland settlement?
In 1779, Henderson planned a settlement in order to take advantage of the region's rich natural resources including fertile soil and abundant animal life. Henderson's settlement was named the Cumberland Settlement for the Cumberland River which served as main transportation route in the region.
Why was Dragging Canoe unhappy with the Watauga settlers?
Q. Why was Dragging Canoe unhappy with the Watauga Settlers? He feared they would not trade with the Cherokee.
Where was the Watauga settlement located?
The Watauga settlement was was south of the Holston River, on the Watauga and Nolichucky Rivers in the colony of North Carolina. There were three main settlements in the area known as Watauga, Carter's Valley, and Nolichucky. Most settlers came down the Great Valley through Virginia, while others went through gaps in the Unaka Range ...
When was the Watauga Purchase made?
On March 25, 1775 the Watauga Purchase of the East Tennessee lands from the Cherokees was made.
Why was Fort Watauga built?
Fort Watauga (or Caswell) was built at the Sycamore Shoals of the Watauga River in 1775–1776 by the Watauga Association, to defend settlers from Indian (primarily Cherokee) attacks, which were in part instigated by the British. It was a group of cabins arranged in a rectangle connected by stockade walls of sharp pointed poles.
Why couldn't the Indians buy the land?
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. ( History of Southwest Virginia)
Who were the first white men to settle in the Watauga Country?
Julius Dugger and Andrew Greer were the first white men to settle in the Watauga Country. They settled about three miles above the present town of Elizabethton. The first permanent settlement in Tennessee was made in 1769 on Boones Creek by Captain William Bean, and his wife Lydia.
Who was the British agent who ordered the settlers to move to the Watauga Valley?
In the fall of the year 1771, Anthony Bledsoe ran the boundary line between the Colonies of Virginia and North Carolina, far enough west to ascertain that the Watauga settlement was in North Carolina, and Alexander Cameron, the British agent, immediately ordered the settlers on the Watauga to move oflf of the Indian lands. 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. 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. ( History of Southwest Virginia)
Who owned Fort Watauga?
After the battle with the indigenous people at Fort Watauga in 1776, a second fort was built upriver on lands owned by Valentine Sevier, Sr ., but later owned by Solomon and Abraham Hart, sons of Leonard Hart. Legislative Journal of the Provincial Congress at Halifax, North Carolina Monday, December 23rd, 1776.
Where was the Watauga settlement located?
The Watauga settlement was south of the Holston River, on the Watauga and Nolichucky Rivers in the colony of North Carolina. There were three main settlements in the area known as Watauga, Carter's Valley, and Nolichucky.
Who settled on the Watauga River?
On July 13, 1792 Moses Humphreys purchased a tract of land on the north side of Boones Creek in Washington County from William Ellis for 50 "current money.". Bowlin and Mary (Lee) Curtis settled by the Watauga River about 1792.
Where did John Carter settle?
John Carter and his son, Landon Carter, settled on the western side of the Holston River about 1770. 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.
When did John Tipton move to Watauga?
Colonel John Tipton moved to the Watauga settlement in 1783.
When was Fort Watauga built?
The Committee acquired arms and oversaw the construction of Fort Watauga (or Caswell) which was built at the Sycamore Shoals of the Watauga River in 1775–1776. On March 25, 1775 the Watauga Purchase of the East Tennessee lands from the Cherokee was made.
When did Mary and Bowlin settle in Watauga?
Bowlin and Mary (Lee) Curtis settled by the Watauga River about 1792.
Who were the first white men to settle in the Watauga Country?
Julius Dugger and Andrew Greer were the first white men to settle in the Watauga Country. They settled about three miles above the present town of Elizabethton. The first permanent settlement in Tennessee was made in 1769 on Boones Creek by William Bean, and his wife Lydia Russell.
What county was the Watauga Settlement in?
Early Tennessee Settlers of the Watauga Settlement of Washington County. The brisk winds cascading through the Beech trees embrace the scenery as they flow through the air in eastern Tennessee. Washington, the oldest county of the state, allows the echoes of familiar sounds from the mockingbird and the bobwhite.
When did the first Cherokee settle in Fort Watauga?
Fort Watauga. The first settlers arrived to the area during the years after 1765. They corresponded with the Cherokee and leased properties with mutual agreements during the year of 1772.
What is the name of the fort in Watauga?
Pictured above is a current photo of Fort Watauga which was formally known as Fort Caswell. It’s original location has been the topic of debate for over two hundred years. New research and discoveries have substantiated the existence of the fort while providing the exact location of trenches with wood pillar remains.
How many people were living in Washington County in 1776?
According to records, over 200 people were living in the Washington County area during the year of 1776. I have been able to discover 75 surnames from the time period of 1776 to 1782. Other documents reveal the deaths of some family members during Indian raids from 1775 to 1776 by the Cherokee.
When was Washington District annexed?
A Committee of Safety was organized and during the spring of 1776 , Virginia was asked to annex the area. Virginia refused and in November of the same year, North Carolina agreed to annex the area. The Washington District was now known as part of the Royal Colonies.
Was it illegal to buy land from Native Americans?
Of course, it was illegal to purchase lands from the Native Americans, so this procedure seemed to work well for them for a short time. Once the Royal authorities found proof of their existence past the Proclamation Line, soldiers responded by informing the settlers to return to North Carolina and Virginia.
Was the Watauga settlement a success?
Yes, the Watauga Settlement of Washington County was a success in every aspect of the word. As the settlers made their way from North Carolina and Virginia, they traveled along many hunting trails of the Cherokee and the Catawba Indians.
Why was the Watauga Association established?
The primary reason given for the establishment of the Watauga Association was to prevent the Watauga and Nolichucky regions from becoming a haven for debtors and felons, and for conducting "public business" such as the recording of deeds and wills.
What chapter is Watauga in?
Chapter II , Watauga—Its Settlement and Government — in The Annals of Tennessee to the End of the Eighteenth Century by J. G. M. Ramsey, 1853.
What was the name of the settlement that the Cherokee negotiated with the Cherokee?
As settlement on lands west of colonial boundaries violated the Royal Proclamation of 1763, the Watauga and Nolichucky settlers were ordered to leave. In May 1772, the Watauga and Nolichucky settlers negotiated a 10-year lease directly with the Cherokee, and being outside the claims of any colony, established the Watauga Association ...
What did the Cherokee do in 1777?
In 1777, the Cherokee signed the Treaty of Long Island, ceding control of the Watauga and Nolichucky valleys to the American colonies.
How many Wataugans were in the Battle of Point Pleasant?
Wataugan militiamen were present at multiple engagements on the frontier and throughout the American Revolution. A company of 20 Wataugans took part in the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774 during Lord Dunmore's War, and another contingent aided in the defense of Boonesborough and Harrodsburg later in the decade.
What was the name of the district that the settlers organized themselves into?
With the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War (April 1775), the settlers organized themselves into the "Washington District," loyal to the "united colonies," and formed a Committee of Safety to govern it, marking the end of the so-called "Watauga Republic".
Was the Watauga Association a British colony?
While there is no evidence that the Watauga Association ever claimed to be outside the sovereign territory of the British Crown , historians have often cited the Association as the earliest attempt by American-born colonists to form an independent democratic government.
Why did the Wataugans create the Watauga Association?
The Wataugans were still beyond the bounds of any organized government, and to address this problem, they created the Watauga Association in 1772. Based on the Virginia legal system, a panel of five commissioners regulated all judicial activities in the settlement, including court cases, legal documents, and land titles. The primary focus of the Watauga Association was the practical needs of routine government; it made no claims to independence from Great Britain. Even so, Wataugans were under the authority of no other government and thus represent the first autonomous white government in the British colonies.
Why did the Wataugans appeal to Virginia?
In hopes that their lost lands could be regained, the militant faction of the tribe soon afterward garnered enough support to form an alliance with the British during the American Revolution. With the threat of a Cherokee attack imminent, the Wataugans appealed to both Virginia and North Carolina for assistance.
What battle did the Overmountain men fight?
Many "Overmountain Men," former members of the Watauga Association, fought in the Battle of King's Mountain. Image courtesy of the North Carolina Office of Archives and History, Raleigh, NC. In 1787, the Watauga Association sent a petition to the North Carolina General Assembly ...
Where did the Cherokee settle?
The inhabitants of these settlements believed, or at least claimed to believe, they had settled within the boundary of Virginia. A survey revealed, however, that all except the North Holston community were situated south of the boundary part of North Carolina’s western claims—the same land that had been guaranteed to the Cherokee Nation. Thus, the new settlements were told to disband and relocate to the north of the boundary. Instead, they consolidated in the Watauga settlement and approached the Cherokee with a request to lease land along the Watauga River. The Cherokee agreed.
Who was the first white settler in Tennessee?
Image courtesy of the North Carolina Office of Archives and History, Raleigh, NC. The first permanent white settler in what is now Tennessee was William Bean, who settled in 1769 on Boone’s Creek, near where it flowed into the Watauga River.
Did Virginia negate the Transylvania Purchase?
Virginia and North Carolina eventually negated the Transylvania Purchase, but it still had significant repercussions for the Wataugans. In the aftermath of the transaction, Watauga leaders approached the Cherokee to ask that their lease be converted into a purchase, and once again, the Cherokee agreed. But the Transylvania Purchase created serious dissension within the Cherokee Nation. In hopes that their lost lands could be regained, the militant faction of the tribe soon afterward garnered enough support to form an alliance with the British during the American Revolution.
Who settled in Boone Creek?
Settlers were now able to travel to the area legally in accordance to Royal law. Captain William Bean and his wife settled the area and welcomed the birth of their son, Russell during that first year. Other families followed such as Samuel Masenngill, Henry Masengill, Julius Dugger and Andrew Greer. Many of these families arrived from both the Carolina area and the Virginia area. These lands were not purchased but leased as it was illegal to purchase lands from the Cherokee. James Robertson and John Sevier were known to lease lands from the Cherokee however, I’ve not been able to locate a written source for such documents which would prove this theory. Jonathon Tipton, John Carter, Charles Robertson and Zachariah Isbell all arrived in the area prior to the year ending in 1771. Jacob Brown, Robert Allison, Leonard Hart, Jacob Womack, Jesse Walton and Benjamin Gist were among these as well. It is known that the family of John Carr arrived from the South Carolina area and is believed that other South Carolina families made their way to this area during the years of the American Revolutionary War.
Who were the Cherokee people who leased land?
James Robertson and John Sevier were known to lease lands from the Cherokee however, I’ve not been able to locate a written source for such documents which would prove this theory. Jonathon Tipton, John Carter, Charles Robertson and Zachariah Isbell all arrived in the area prior to the year ending in 1771.
When were land grants issued in Tennessee?
Land Grants from Tennessee dating from 1778 to 1780 are listed below consisting of several entries. Do you see your ancestor among those in the list? If so, please drop us line and let us know in the comment section or by contacting Piedmont Trails. The list contains name, grant number with book and page number for reference. Acreage, location by way of county and description is also given.
How many people were killed in the Cherokee raid?
By August of 1760, the Cherokee attacked the fort and was able to force the surrender of Captain Raymond Demere and others. Records indicate as many as 24 individuals were killed in the raid. Those who were unable to escape were captured by the Cherokee and the fate of these souls remain unknown.
Where did the Watagua family come from?
The families came from Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Settlement in the Watagua area on the south of the Holston began about 1769. At that time it was in North Carolina. Jonesborough and Piney Flats were settled in the late 1770s.
Where did the American family settle in Tennessee?
An American Family History. Click on image to enlarge. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries families settled on southern the Watauga River in what is currently eastern Tennessee. The area is on the border of Washington and Sullivan Counties.
Who defeated the Cherokee in 1780?
In 1780, while the militia was away at the Battle of Kings Mountain, the Cherokee raided the setttlements. When the militia returned, Colonel John Sevier 's men defeated the Cherokee at Boyd's Creek and destroyed most of the remaining towns.
Where did the Cherokee live?
The Cherokee were indigenous people who lived in the southern Appalachian mountains. European Americans called their towns in eastern Tennessee, the Overhill Towns. The towns included Chota, Tellico and Tanasi.
