- FIRST SETTLEMENTS AND ORGANIZATION OF TENNESSEE
- Continued from Early Explorations and Settlements
of America.
As has already been stated, the French claimed the territory of Tennessee, and had been endeavoring to establish this claim, by the erection of forts. The English, not only began the erection of forts, but set about as was one of their characteristics, to planting settlements. The first fort built in the state by the English was Fort Loudon, by General Andrew Lewis in 1756. This fort was located at the junction of the Telico and Little Tennessee Rivers in what is now East Tennessee. A small settlement soon sprang up under the protection of the fort, but in 1760 was destroyed by the Cherokee Indians. The massacre of Fort Loudon was one of those unfortunate events in the history of our state, which should have been averted.
A number of friendly Indians had gone as British allies to take part in the battle of Fort DuQuense. On their return homeward through western Virginia, having lost some of their horses in the expedition, they stole such horses from the settlers as they happened to find, to supply the ones they had lost. This enraged the back-woodsmen who pursued the Indians, overtaking them and killing many of them in order to recapture the stolen horses. This resulted in frontier hostilities, and led to the massacre at fort Loudon; only one of the garrison escaping to tell of the horrible slaughter. Hence, the fate of what might otherwise have proven the first permanent settlement of Tennessee. But this bloody act was avenged by Colonel Grant the next year, who invaded their country and burned the Indian village of Etchoe. The first land to be granted in the territory of Tennessee was issued to John Buchanan in 1753, for 1250 acres in what is now Sullivan county; and as early as 1760 the celebrated Daniel Boone in one of his hunting trips; explored a portion of East Tennessee. On a large beech tree on Boone's creek near Jonesboro, the following inscription: "D. Boone cilled a Bar on tree in the year 1760," is yet visible.
In the year 1769 William Bean built his famous cabin on the Watauga River, and in this same year his son Russell Bean was born, the first white child to be born in Tennessee. In the following year, James Robertson, the noted Indian fighter who it is said slept with one eye open, in order to watch for the attacks of Indians, came and settled on the Watauga. The Watauga settlements were augmented by the arrival of other parties in search of horses and soon after this the settlements of East Tennessee formed themselves into the "Watauga Association." Thus, the spirit of local self-government manifested itself early, and finally resulted in the establishment of the state of Franklin in 1794.(?) But these events, together with the subsequent struggles to form an independent state, with John Sevier as its first Governor, are familiar facts in our early Tennessee history, and will not be dwelt upon here.
In the same year that Boone visited the eastern section of the state, Timothy Demonbreun, a French soldier came to the French Lick, and was later the first settler at Nashville. The first white man to plant a crop here, however, was the noted Thomas Sharp Spencer who located at Bledsoe's Lick in 1776. There are many stories related concerning Spencer. It was he who lived in the big sycamore tree. Some historians gave him as the first settler at Nashville; and it is told of him, that when his comrade, John Holiday, became discouraged and desired to leave, that Spencer broke his own knife, so as to divide with Holiday, who had no knife. Spencer is said to have been a giant in stature, and seems also to have been as brave as he was strong. He was unquestionably a daring man, and had many encounters with the savage, with hair-breadth escapes. He was killed by the Indians in 1794, in what is now called Cumberland county, and the place where he was slain is known as "Spencer's Hill." Connected with the memory of the courageous Spencer is the sad fact that his burial place is allowed to remain neglected and uncared for, now being grown up and covered with bushes and briars.
Many of the parties who came to join the East Tennessee settlements, did so hoping to avoid British oppression in the older states. The struggle between England and the colonies was then becoming eminent. On may 20, 1775, a body of North Carolina patriots met and adopted the famous "Mecklenburg Resolutions." This was a year before the adoption of Declaration of Independence, and is said to embody many of the same clauses afterwards incorporated in that historic document. There are even now many Tennesseans who boast of ancestors who were present and took part in the passage of the "Mecklenburg Resolutions." The early settlers of Tennessee were therefore not without that true spirit of American patriotism, as was afterwards so clearly demonstrated on October 7, 1780, when the rugged East Tennessee mountaineers commanded by John Sevier and Isaac Shelby, defeated the British under Ferguson, at the battle of Kings mountain--one of the turning points in the Revolutionary struggle.
Returning to the Cumberland Settlement at French Lick, we find that even prior to Spencer's settlement at Bledsoe's Lick, a party of hunters and trappers had explored this same region, as early as 1776 naming Stone's river for Uriah Stone. After having figured conspicuously in the Indian wars around the Watauga settlement, James Robertson in company with his brother Mark Robertson, Zachariah White and many others from East Tennessee and southern Kentucky, settled in the winter of 1779, at this place. On December 22, of this same year, John Donaldson and his party began their famous voyage down the Holliston and Tennessee Rivers and up to the Cumberland, landing at the present site of Nashville April 24, 1780. the real settlement of Middle Tennessee then began in earnest. Robertson's wife and children made the trip on boat with Donaldson. The new town was called "Nashboro" in honor of General Francis Nash of North Carolina. One of the early settlers afterwards prominent in the history of Tennessee, and of the Nation as well, was Andrew Jackson, he being one of the first lawyers to locate in Middle Tennessee. Davidson county's first representative in the North Carolina Legislature was James Robertson in 1783. In the following year by an act of the North Carolina Legislature the name of Nashboro was changed to Nashville. In the year 1779, North Carolina by an act of its legislature ceded the present territory of Tennessee to the Federal Government, and William Blount was appointed its first Governor.
Tennessee was admitted as a state into the Union June 1, 1796, a constitution having been previously adopted in a convention assembled at Knoxville, the name of Tennessee having been suggested by Andrew Jackson, who was in attendance at the convention as a delegate. John Sevier was elected first Governor of the new (state) and Andrew Jackson was commissioned its first representative to congress
Along the "Natchez Trace" Prior to the Settlement of the county:, We have seen in a general way the conditions under which the territory of Tennessee was first explored by the white men; with what difficulty they planted their first settlements; and how these were united and organized into a form of government and admitted as a state into the Union in 1796. But even as late as this, there were comparatively few people living in the state, many of the present counties being then unsettled. Those which had been settled were, as a rule, thinly populated and therefore subjected to all the dangers and hardships of frontier life. At this time Lewis County had not been organized and strange as it may seem to some of the younger residents not a white man resided here. This really dates the beginning of our county's early history, owing to the fact that it was soon afterwards settled as we shall see later. The present limits of the county had been explored prior to this however, but no attempts to make a settlement had been made. There is no definite records ad to who was the first white man to visit this part of the state; and since the historic old "Natchez Trace passes through the center of the county, and had been traveled for many long years before this, by soldiers and others, there is no certain way by which this date can be ascertained.
In 1782 Absalom Tatum, Isaac Shelby and Anthony Bledsoe were appointed Land Commissioners of the territory of Tennessee, clothed with power to select and lay off the lands for the old Revolutionary soldiers. These lands had been granted to the soldiers by the North Carolina Governor prior to the Cession Act of 1779. The Commissioners reached "Nashboro" in the spring of 1783, and at once entered upon their duties. Accompanied by one hundred soldiers as guard, and other prominent individuals and citizens of the Cumberland settlement, they proceeded on their way to lay off the boundaries of what has since been known as the "North Carolina Military Reservation." They first went to the southern boundary of the state, to a point on the Elk river in Giles County, in order to obtain correct latitude. This place has since been called Latitude Hill. They next laid off the 25,000 acres of land given Nathaniel Green by the North Carolina Government, afterwards known as the "Green Reserve," and which is located in Maury county.
Now being fifty five miles from the southern boundaries of the state, they began running an East and West line parallel with the southern boundary of the state so as to set apart the North Carolina Military Reservation above referred to. The west end of this line crossed Duck river and passed through the territory of Hickman and Perry counties, to the Tennessee River. This original line was known as the Commissioners Line, and was intended to enclose and set off that part of the northern portion of the state of Tennessee, reserved for the Continental soldiers.
The celebrated James Robertson, Anthony Bledsoe, Daniel Smith, Thomas Spencer, James Clendenning, Ephriam McClain and many other parties prominent in the early Cumberland settlement were among those who helped to run this line; many of them passing through the present borders of Lewis county on their way to the Elk River in Giles county. It seems however that the soldiers were not satisfied with this reservation, it being too small) and therefore, in accordance with another Act of the North Carolina Legislature, another line was run in the following year, 1784, and has since been known as the continental Line.
The Act of the Legislature re-authorizing this new survey, fixed the boundaries as follows; Beginning on the Virginia (Kentucky) line where the Cumberland river intersects same thence south 55 miles; thence west to the Tennessee river, thence down the Tennessee river to the Virginia (Kentucky) line; thence with the said Virginia line to the beginning. The running of this line was supervised by General Rutherford. He and his party starting on the Virginia line, ran south a distance of 55 miles to a point then known as Mount Pisgah, near Carters Creek in what is now Maury County. Here the party divided, one crown running the line Eastward the other West line. This was in the month of February and the ground was covered with a deep snow, making the surveying difficult work.
The party which had undertaken the running of the East line became confused and finally gave up in despair, and this part of the line was not run as provided by the Act until as late as 1807, when the work was successfully done by William Christmas, one of the pioneer surveyors of the state. The West end of the line, although seven miles further south than the original commissioners line, also passed through Hickman and Perry counties, striking the Tennessee river near Denson's Landing. This line crossed the old Natchez Trace, not a great way from the present count line between Hickman and Lewis. Among the parties who helped to survey and mark this line, was Ezekiel Polk, grand father of President James K. Polk. This is an old establishment line and its exact location still familiar to many people in Hickman, Lewis and Perry Counties. It is spoken sometimes as the "Military Line.", also the congressional line. But the two reservations should not be confused as they were set apart for different purposes.
The reason why this part of the "Continental Line" is some times spoken of as Congressional Line is because that part of the Continental Line, passing through Maury, Hickman and Perry Counties, is also used as the Northern boundary of the "Congressional Reservation, provided for by Act of Congress passed April 18, 1806, and surveyed the same year. Much confusion grew out of the first two lines run, because they were run for the same purpose, and as the two were close together, disputes often arose as to which was the correct one, and frequently the courts were called upon to settle these controversies. It was some of these questions which involved John Sevier in land litigation that brought about the charge against him of "Dealing in fraudulent land Warrants." However the courts decided that the Continental Line was the true one. But since the laying off of the Congressional Reservation which includes Lewis as one of the counties in its boundaries, there has been more or less confusion, and our courts have from time to time had to settle these intricate questions in our land laws.
Before leaving this subject it might be well to add, that the Congressional Reservation included a certain portion of the Southern territory of the state, starting somewhere near "Latitude Hill" in Giles county, on the state line, and running due North to a point in Maury county where it intersected the old "Continental Line," which it ran with to the Tennessee river thence up the Tennessee river to the State line and thence to the beginning thus making the second line run through Hickman and Perry counties fill the double office of "Continental Line" and Congressional Line or the dividing line between the two reservations. The purpose of the Congressional Reservation was to fix the boundaries separating the public lands of the state. In order to acquire a more thorough knowledge of these various reservations and their respective boundaries, the reader is referred to some standard work on Tennessee history with appropriate maps, representing them. By examining the titles to many of our early grants issued for lands in what is now Lewis county, these reservations are frequently mentioned. And the reason for the recital; "South and West of the congressional Reservation Line:, is apparent. It simply means that the land entered or granted lies West from the line which starts at state line at "Latitude Hill" and runs North to Maury county; and that it lies south of the line running through Hickman and Perry counties.
Many of the parties who helped to run these lines made numerous entries of land through this section. Some of the parties who helped run the original "Commissioners Line" made entries on what was then designated as Swan river, Cane Creek, and still others were made along Buffalo river. The Congressional Reservation Line runs from Giles county North to Maury county, like the old Continental line was marked with "mile Posts" every mile and these were afterwards used as old land marks early days could be be located. For instance, a Land Warrant could be "laid" many miles from the congressional Line, giving a certain mile post in this old line, the distance and degrees from it, as the locating point from which to start in order to locate the entry made.
In the early days it was no uncommon thing for the surveyor, in case of disputes to begin in the mile post, called for in the grant or entry, though miles away, and thus succeed in locating the tract of land in question, making due allowances, of course for the "Declination" of the compass. But in recent years our titles have been practically all settled, these old lines, like the original sections and Ranges are seldom referred to, and are only mentioned here as an example of what was done in the old days and to illustrate the manner in which the first lands were taken up in what is now Lewis County, and that the reader may understand more fully the details of these matters when referred to in the future.
- BEGINNING WITH NATCHEZ TRACE
- & MORE LOCAL LEWIS COUNTY INFORMATION
The "Natchez Trace," referred to already as passing through Lewis County and which will be mentioned at different times through these sketches, is the same path, or trace originally used by the Indians, and which ran from Natchez on the Mississippi river to the present site of Nashville on the Cumberland. It derives its name, possibly from the town of Natchez, else was named for the Natchez Indians, a tribe extinct at the time of the first explorations in the state, and about which little is known. It was possibly used by the Indians in their early hunting expeditions into the state, prior to the time they were disturbed by the advent of the pale face. There are many traditions handed down concerning this historic old trace. But the purpose of these narrations will be only to deal with such matters as are authenticated by the annals of our state history. While many soldiers, hunters, and early explorers passed along this Indian trail, on expeditions against the Indians in the "Creek" and other Indian wars, it was not opened up by the Government until as late as 1801. In this year the Natchez Trace was cut out and opened up by Capt. Robert Butler and Lieutenant Edward P. Gains. From this date on, the Natchez Trace was regularly used, many noted persons traveling along this road through what is now Lewis county. The Natchez Trace enters Lewis county on the north from Hickman county between the head of Blue Buck and Catheys Creeks
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crossing Swan creek at what is known as the "Barns Place" crossing Swan Creek at its head and by the Meriwether Lewis monument and then crossing Buffalo river at the site of old Napier Furnace. It was on this old trace about one mile North of the Meriwether Lewis Monument where General William Carroll, afterwards Governor of the state, dismissed his troops on his way home from the battle of New Orleans, in 1815. It is stated by those who witnessed the disbanding of these brave soldiers that General Carroll made them a touching farewell address, not only shedding tears himself, but which brought tears from the eyes of those who had served under him. General Andrew Jackson, General Coffee and many others who went to fight the Indians returned along this same road. So it is easy to see the important historic events connected with this noted old trace, and the stories which will ever relate to it especially when associated with the sad mysterious death of Meriwether Lewis, for whom our county was named, make hallowed these traditions, fixing them as sacred in the memory of all Lewis Countians. Meriwether Lewis
History also records that in 1805, that the noted Aaron Burr traveled over the Natchez Trace passing through the present limits of this county. At the time Burr was at Natchez, on the Mississippi river, he was laying the plans, or at work on the project of his "Western Expedition" or rather endeavoring to further his scheme to colonize Mexico. Desiring to see General Andrew Jackson on some important business, he made the trip from Natchez by horse back to the Hermitage near Nashville. Burr and Jackson were the warmest of friends and it was rumored that Jackson sympathized with Burr in his famous movement. That be as it may, they were close friends and afterwards when Burr had been arrested upon the charge of treason and when many of his friends forsook him it is reliably stated that Jackson stood by him, even unto death, paying no attention to what others might think or say.