Who was the first person 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 were the first settlers in Watauga County TN?
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 founded the Watauga settlement in East Tennessee?
What is the history of Fort Watauga?
The fort was originally built in 1775–1776 by the area's frontier government, the Watauga Association, to help defend Watauga settlers from Native American (primarily Cherokee) attacks, which were in part instigated by the British. Fort Watauga was originally named Fort Caswell after North Carolina Governor Richard Caswell.
Why was the settlement of Watauga important to North Carolina?
The settlers' energetic ability to defend their territory helped maintain the integrity of North Carolina's western border during the revolutionary period and advanced the cause of European settlement in the mountainous regions. An enterprising Virginian named William Bean was the first recorded traveler to the Watauga area.
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.
Who was part of the Watauga Association?
Historians disagree over the first five magistrates of the court, although most agree that it included John Carter, James Robertson, Charles Robertson, and Zachariah Isbell. The fifth member was probably Jacob Brown. Later court members included Andrew Greer, John Roddye, and John Sevier.
Why was the Watauga Settlement important to Tennessee history?
The Watauga Settlement was the first community established in North Carolina's western frontier and holds the distinction of being perhaps the first American settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains.
When was Watauga TN founded?
Disregarding the British mandate, the settlers negotiated a ten-year lease with the Indians for “all the country on the waters of the Watauga.” In 1772 the settlers established the Watauga Association to organize the region.
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".
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.
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.
What is the Watauga petition?
Watauga Petition, 1776. Hosted by USGenNet, Inc. Petition of the Inhabitants of Washington District, INCLUDING THE RIVER WATAUGAH, NONACHUCKIE, &C., 1776. In 1772, the white settlements south of the Holston River, although acknowledged to be an unorganized part of North Carolina, were without any form of government.
Which of the original 13 states did TN formerly belong to?
What is now Tennessee was initially part of North Carolina, and later part of the Southwest Territory. It was admitted to the Union on June 1, 1796, as the 16th state.
How do you pronounce Watauga River?
A tribal word for “beautiful river,” Watauga County is named after the Indian tribe and river of the same name. Pronounce it Wa-TAW-ga.
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.
How were the Cumberland settlements established?
CUMBERLAND SETTLEMENTS. The immense domain acquired from the Cherokee by the Transylvania Company in March 1775 by the Treaty of Sycamore Shoals covered lands on the Cumberland River and below.
What is the Watauga petition?
Watauga Petition, 1776. Hosted by USGenNet, Inc. Petition of the Inhabitants of Washington District, INCLUDING THE RIVER WATAUGAH, NONACHUCKIE, &C., 1776. In 1772, the white settlements south of the Holston River, although acknowledged to be an unorganized part of North Carolina, were without any form of government.
Which of the original 13 states did TN formerly belong to?
What is now Tennessee was initially part of North Carolina, and later part of the Southwest Territory. It was admitted to the Union on June 1, 1796, as the 16th state.
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.
What was the Treaty of Sycamore Shoals?
In 1775, Richard Henderson and Daniel Boone negotiated the Treaty of Sycamore Shoals, in which Henderson's Transylvania Company purchased a large part of modern Kentucky and part of Tennessee from 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 ...
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)
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)
When was the Watauga Purchase made?
On March 25, 1775 the Watauga Purchase of the East Tennessee lands from the Cherokees was made.
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 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.
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.
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 did early travels in the Tennessee Country begin?
Early Travels in the Tennessee Country, 1540-1800. Johnson City: The Watauga Press, 1928.
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.
When was the Tulip Tree built?
The construction of the fort was initiated during the spring of 1776. Tulip Tree in Tennessee. The above is just a brief description of the early history and origins of the area. I will share much more details on this in future articles, such as the Cherokee attacks of 1776.
What was the Watauga Historical Association?
The Watauga Historical Association, formed in the late 1950s, was instrumental in the creation of Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park.
Why was Fort Watauga built?
The fort was originally built in 1775–1776 by the area's frontier government, the Watauga Association, to help defend Watauga settlers from Native American (primarily Cherokee) attacks , which were in part instigated by the British. Fort Watauga was originally named Fort Caswell after North Carolina Governor Richard Caswell.
What was the name of the fort that the Cherokees attacked?
Two contingents led by Dragging Canoe and Old Abraham of Chilhowee (or Abram) proceeded up the Nolichucky where they burned the abandoned Fort Lee. This force then split up, with Dragging Canoe marching north to attack the Holston settlements and Old Abraham marching east to attack Fort Watauga. As Dragging Canoe approached Eaton's Station (in the vicinity of Long Island of the Holston ), the fort's garrison, led by Captain John Thompson, feared the Cherokees would bypass the fort and destroy their farms, and thus marched out to engage them at Island Flats. 13 Cherokee were killed and dozens (including Dragging Canoe) were wounded, and the Cherokee force retreated.
How long did it take the Cherokee to leave the Watauga?
Now well-armed, the Cherokee sent a message to the Watauga settlers, giving them 20 days to leave Cherokee lands or face attack. The Watauga settlers, meanwhile, had been anticipating a Cherokee invasion.
What is the original design of Fort Watauga?
Little detail is known of the original design of Fort Watauga. Ramsey described the fort as situated on a knoll, and Draper wrote that the fort was surrounded by an open glade within easy firing distance of the north bank of the Watauga River. The 1974 state excavations uncovered partial trench-like formations 300 feet (91 m) west of the D.A.R. marker that state archaeologist Carl Kuttruff believed to be the remains of Fort Watauga based upon the Ramsey description.
Where did the Overmountain Men fight?
The fort in later years. In September 1780, the Overmountain Men — the frontier militia that helped defeat an army of British loyalists at the Battle of Kings Mountain — mustered at Sycamore Shoals on the grounds around Fort Watauga.
Where is Fort Watauga located?
Fort Watauga, more properly Fort Caswell, was an American Revolutionary War fort that once stood at the Sycamore Shoals of the Watauga River in what is now Elizabethton, Tennessee. The fort was originally built in 1775–1776 by the area's frontier government, the Watauga Association, ...