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An American Family History

Early Families on the Watagua

 
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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. The families are connected through a century of marriages. It is difficult to study one without the others.

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.

 

Jonesborough, Washington County, Tennessee was founded in 1779. In 1784, it became the capital of the State of Franklin.

Tennessee was admitted to the Union on June 1, 1796. It was initially part of North Carolina.

Fincastle County, Virginia was created in 1772 from Botetourt County and abolished in 1776. It was divided into Montgomery, Washington and Kentucky Counties.

Johnson City, Tennessee is in Washington, Carter and Sullivan Counties. It was known as Brush Creek for the Creek than runs through it.

Teter Nave: East Tennessee Pioneer: His Ancestors and Descendants

Family Residence Prior Residences year Church, Neighbors & Related families Military
Akard       Latture  

Alison/Allison *

Finley 1750
Finley 1774
John 1710
John 1755
Robert 1749

1779 Jonesborough

Piney Flats

Beaver Creek

Frederick, Maryland  

Piney Creek Presbyterian Church

New Bethel Presbyterian, Piney FlatsMcKinley
Deery
McCorkle

1793 Sullivan Militia

Arrants 1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee        
Bacon Washington - Sinking Creek Berks, Pennsylvania   Crouch, Webb, Barron  
Baker Washington County, Virginia Pennsylvania   Shelby, Worley,
Head
 
Barron * Sinking Creek Montgomery County, Virginia 1812 bought land Bacon, Epperson, Cox, Jobe Hartsell in 1812
Bayless
Daniel 1716
John 1746
Reuben 1754
Samuel 1751
         

Bean *
John 1745
Russell 1769
William 1700
William 1721

Washington-
Boones Creek
Northumberland, Virginia 1769 Robertson 1813 McLin's Company
Berry 1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee Augusta, Virginia 1777 Petition Crow,
King

1774 Fincastle Militia

1776 Cherokee Expedition

1790 Sullivan County Militia

Bledsoe 1782 Washington County, VirginiaMoccasin Creek Orange, Virginia 1777 Petition Fulkerson, Head 1774 Looney's Company
1776 Cherokee Expedition
Blevins * Sullivan Virginia

1777 Petition

1786 Petition

Humphreys
Massengill
Odell
Wallen
 
Bogart          
Booher * Sullivan & Washington,Virginia Washington, Pennsylvania   Stanfield
Deck
 
Boring/Boren Absalom 1750
James
William 1737
Joshua 1773 *
Washington
Brush Creek
    Little
1813 McLin's Company

Bowman

Jacob 1745
Jacob 1773

Washington
Boones Creek,
Knob Creek
Rockingham, Virginia 1783    
Boy Sullivan County, Tennessee York, Pennsylvania
Virginia
    1835 pension Sullivan, Tennessee
Broyles * Washington and Greene - Little Limestone Creek Orange, Virginia 1789 Humphreys  
Calbaugh Washington County
Carter County
Pennsylvania   Smith
McCorkle
Nave
Massengill
Hendrix (Hendricks)
1793 Sullivan Militia
Carmack*

1782 Washington County, Virginia

Sinking Creek

Beaver Creek

Frederick, Maryland

 

1774-Land Survey

1777 Petition

 

1774 Fincastle Militia

1782 Womack's Militia

 

Carr
John 1737
Richard 1783
William 1755
William 1785

Washington
Boones Creek
Charleston, South Carolina 1777 Petition Humphreys
Denton
Jobe

1774 Looney's Company

1835 pension Sullivan, Tennessee
Carter          
Carriger

1792 Washington County,Virginia

1794 Washington County, Virginia

Brunswick, Pennsylvania 1782 Nave  
Cawood Sullivan Charles, Maryland
Frederick, Virginia

1777 Petition

1786 Petition

Sevier 1790 Sullivan County Militia

Cobb

John 1737
Richard 1783
William 1755
William 1758

1792 Washington County,Virginia

1794 Washington County, Virginia

Washington
Sullivan - Piney Flats

Isle Of Wight County, Virginia 1771 Massengill
Deery
1782 Womack's Militia
Colbaugh *

1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

1840 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

Berks , Pennsylvania   Hendrix (Hendricks)
Humphreys
McCorkle
Nave
Massengill
 

Cole *

Amos 1814
Elisha 1791
James Allen 1834
John 1810
Joseph 1760
William
Solomon 1753

1779 Jonesborough

1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

Maryland

1777 Petition

1786 Petition

Smith
Malone
Deck
Cross
1790 Sullivan County Militia

Cox

Edward 1758
James 1760
James 1774
James d. 1777
John 1724
John 1762
William 1770
William 1755

1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee
Maryland 1777 Petition Carr
Cross
1774 Looney's Company
Crocket 1771 Head of Holston  

1777 Petition

1786 Petition

   
Cross

1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

1840 Buffalo Ridge, Washington, Tennessee

Baltimore, Maryland

1777 Petition

1786 Petition

Cole
Hicks
Smith
Malone
Looney
Cox
Milhorn
Webb

 

1835 pension Sullivan, Tennessee

1836 Cherokee Removal

Crouch *

1840 Carter, Tennessee

Sinking Creek

King George, Virginia 1790 land grant Webb
Denton
Hunt
 
Crow       Hart  
Cunningham          
Curtis Carter
Boones Creek
Virginia 1792 Hendrix (Hendricks)
Humphreys
Pitts
 
Deck 1840 Buffalo Ridge, Washington, Tennessee Lincoln, North Carolina   Smith
Booher
Cole
Shrite
 
Deery
Sullivan Ireland   Alison  

Denton *

Abraham 1700
Isaac 1768
Isaac 1774
Isaac 1733
John 1715
Jonas 1690
Joseph 1729
Samuel 1631
Samuel 1734

 

Sinking Creek
Brush Creek

Tom's Brook

1785 Big Pigeon Settlement

1775 land survey Little
Tipton
Odell
Moore
Jobe
Carr
Robertson
Crouch
Jobe
1775 Tipton's Company
Devault

1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

1840 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

York County, Pennsylvania   Range
Massengill
Crouch
Giesler
Hughes
 
Doak       New Bethel Presbyterian, Piney Flats  
Doty
Alpheus 1824
Azariah 1744
James 1686
Greene - Lick Creek Rowan/Burke, North Carolina   Smith  

Dungan *

Elisha 1735
George 1703
Jeremiah 1731
Thomas 1635
Thomas 1690

Washington & Carter Rhode Island
Pennsylvania
Virginia
1778 Hendry
Humphreys
Smith
 
Dyer

1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

1840 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

Ireland  

New Bethel Presbyterian, Piney Flats

King
Emmert

 

Edmondson/Edmiston
John 1699
Moses 1739
William 1734
Samuel 1738
Samuel 1767
Solomon 1744

         
Eaves *         William - King's Mt.
Ellis Boones Creek     Bean
Crouch
Cox
 
Emmert *

1794 Washington County, Virginia

1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

Sinking Creek

Maryland 1792 bought land Massengill
Webb
 
Epperson         1813 McLin's Company
Feathers 1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee        
Fleenor     1777 Petition    

Ford *

Barney 1750
John
Lloyd 1727
Lloyd 1748
Lloyd 1783

Sinking Creek Baltimore, Maryland 1784 land grant   1793 Sullivan Militia
Fulkerson 1782 Washington County, Virginia   1777 Petition Livingston
Bledsoe
1793 Sullivan Militia
Glaze Washington County
Boones Creek
    Humphreys  
Gregg

1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

1840 Buffalo Ridge, Washington, Tennessee

    New Bethel Presbyterian, Piney Flats

1790 Sullivan County Militia

1836 Cherokee Removal

Greenway * 1830 Carter, Tennessee Frederick, Virginia   Dungan
Looney
Humphreys
 
Hammer          
Hammett Washington     Keen
Pitts
 
Hart *

1830 Carter, Tennessee

1840 Carter, Tennessee

Sinking Creek Baptist Church

Beaver Creek

Virginia   Hendrix (Hendricks)
Mottern
Tipton
Emmert
Webb
 
Hawkins     1777 Petition    
Hendrix (Hendricks) * Carter Virginia 1780 Emmert
Hart
Dungan
 

Hendry *

Abraham 1766
William 1760
George 1725

  Frederick County, Virginia   Dungan
Humphreys
McCorkle
 

Hicks

Isaac 1753
Jacob 1760
John 1747
Nathaniel 1785
Nehemiah 1700
Reuben 1817
William 1727

 

Sullivan Baltimore, Maryland

1777 Petition

1786 Petition

Malone
Cross
Emmert
Smith
Miller

 

1776 Cherokee Expedition

1793 Sullivan Militia

1836 Cherokee Removal

Hodge/Hodges

1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

1840 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

1840 Buffalo Ridge, Washington, Tennessee

New Bethel Presbyterian

Ireland
Lancaster, County, Pennsylvania
 

New Bethel Presbyterian, Piney Flats

King
Smith

 

Hughes

David 1758
Francis 1759
William 1745

1779 Jonesborough

1782 Washington County, Virginia

1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

1840 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

New Bethel Presbyterian

 

1777 Petition

1786 Petition

New Bethel Presbyterian, Piney Flats 1835 pension Sullivan, Tennessee
Humphreys *

1792 Washington County,Virginia

1794 Washington County, Virginia

Virginia   McLin
Smith

 

 

1776 Cluggage's Company

1793 Sullivan Militia

1813 McLin's Company

Humphreys, William 1809 Carter County        
Hunt Sinking Creek Bedford County, Virginia which became Franklin County, Virginia early 1790s Crouch
Humphreys
Smith
 
Isbell *
Henry 1724
James 1720
Zachariah 1722
Zachariah 1745
Washington Virginia
North Carolina
Surry, North Carolina
  Carr 1782 Womack's Militia
Jackson
Sinking Creek
Virginia

1786 Petition

1794 bought land

Jobe  

Jobe *

Abraham 1702
Andrew
Caleb 1704
David 1744
Enoch
Jacob 1737
Samuel 1735

Washington- Brush Creek

Tom's Brook

1785 Big Pigeon Settlement

  Cox
Little
Tipton
Carr
Humphreys
Denton

1775 Tipton's Company

1790 Sullivan County Militia

Johnson       Denton  
Jones 1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee       1782 Womack's Militia
Keen Washington Maryland   Barron
Cox
 

King *

Edward 1720
Isaac 1765
John 1758
William 1752
William 1785
Thomas 1754

1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

1840 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

1840 Buffalo Ridge, Washington, Tennessee

Pennsylvania 1777 Petition New Bethel Presbyterian, Piney Flats

1790 Sullivan County Militia

1793 Sullivan Militia

1813 McLin's Company

1835 pension Sullivan, Tennessee

Lacy/Lacey          
Latture

1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

1840 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

Pennsylvania     1835 pension Sullivan, Tennessee
Lincoln          
Little *

1771 Head of Holston

1794 Washington County, Virginia

1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

1840 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

1840 Buffalo Ridge, Washington, Tennessee

New York
Shenandoah , Virginia -Tom's Brook

1777 Petition

1786 Petition

Denton
Tipton
Boring

1774 Looney's Company


1782 Womack's Militia

 

Livingston 1782 Washington County, Virginia   1777 Petition    

Looney
David 1735
Moses 1745
Robert 1692
Robert 1721

Sullivan

Beaver Creek

Augusta, Virginia 1795 Rhea
Shelby
Renfro
Cross
 
MacKay
Zachariah
  1785 Big Pigeon Settlement 1777 Petition Jobe
Whitson
 

Malone

George 1750
John 1720
John 1749

1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

1840 Buffalo Ridge, Washington, Tennessee

Maryland

1777 Petition

1786 Petition

  1774 Looney's Company
Martin          
Massengill *
Henry 1726
Henry 1758
1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee Virginia 1769 New Bethel Presbyterian, Piney Flats 1782 Womack's Militia

Matthews

William 1775
William 1790

Greene Virginia   Stanfield  
Mauck * Sullivan Shenandoah, (was Orange, then Frederick) County, Virginia - Tom's Brook     1835 pension Sullivan, Tennessee
McClellan    

1777 Petition

1786 Petition

  1790 Sullivan County Militia
McCorkle
John
John 1789
Joseph 1790
Joseph 1792
Samuel 1760
Samuel 1790
Samuel 1819
James 1720
1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee Frederick , Maryland - Piney Creek Presbyterian Church   Rhea
Webb
1774 Looney's Company
McKinley * 1840 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee Maryland   New Bethel Presbyterian, Piney FlatsKing
Alison
Smith
 
McLin   Pennsylvania   Humphreys 1813 McLin's Company
Milhorn 1840 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee   1788 Smith 1836 Cherokee Removal
Miller
John 1750
Knob Creek Baltimore, Maryland   Webb
Hicks
Mottern
 
Miller
Jacob 1779
John 1771
  Virginia   Range
Bowman
 
Miller
Peter c. 1753
Knob Creek Pennsylvania      
Miller
Peter
  Maryland   Reeves
Range
Hunt
 
Moore Washington Virginia 1780 Denton
Tipton
Odell
Reno/Reneau
Alison
Pitts
 
Morrell          
Mottern 1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee        
Mulkey* Sinking Creek 1785 Big Pigeon Settlement   Denton
Odell
Reno/Reneau
1776 Cherokee Expedition

Naff
Jonathan 1771

Nave
Abraham 1769
Conrad 1713
John 1771
Teeter 1745

1792 Washington ,Virginia

1794 Washington , Virginia

1830 Carter, Tennessee

Augusta County, Virginia
Rowan, North Carolina
1771   1774 Fincastle Militia
Odell
Caleb 1725
Caleb 1753
John 1711
Samuel 1670
Samuel 1690

Washington - Brush Creek New York
Frederick County, Maryland
1778 Denton
Boring
Tipton
1775 Tipton's Company
Osborne          
Pitts *

1782 Washington County, Virginia

1840 Buffalo Ridge, Washington, Tennessee

Beaver Creek

North Carolina 1777 Petition Stanfield
Smith
1774 Looney's Company

Plumley
Charles 1630
Daniel 1685
John 1677
John 1766
William 1666
William 1728

      Humphreys  
Range Washington - Knob Creek New Jersey   Humphreys
Pitts
 
Renfro     1777 Petition    
Reno /Reneau * Sinking Creek
Brush Creek
1785 Big Pigeon Settlement 1784 land grant Tipton William R.- McClellan's Co.
Rhea *
John 1753
Joseph 1715
Matthew 1755
Robert 1784
Samuel 1795
William 1761


1840 Buffalo Ridge, Washington, Tennessee

Beaver Creek

Frederick , Maryland - Piney Creek Presbyterian Church   New Bethel Presbyterian, Piney Flats 1790 Sullivan County Militia
Ripley Greene     Smith
Stanfield
Matthews
 

Robertson /Robinson

Charles 1733
Israel 1689
James 1770
John 1723
Charles 1745
James 1742

Washington Brunswick,Virginia 1777 Petition Sevier
Bean
Tipton
Cobb

1774 Fincastle Militia

1776 Cherokee Expedition

Royston          
Russell          
Sevier

1779 Jonesborough

1792 Washington County,Virginia

1794 Washington County, Virginia

     

1774 Fincastle Militia

1776 Cherokee Expedition

Shelby Beaver Creek Maryland

1777 Petition

1786 Petition

Looney

1774 Fincastle Militia

1776 Cherokee Expedition

 

Shrite          
Smith, Henry *

1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

1840 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee

Beaver Creek

       
           
Smith * (no established relationship with Henry Smith) Sullivan - Piney Flats - Evans' Branch   1777 Petition Malone
Cox
Cobb
Cole
Henry- Battle of Horseshoe Bend
Sproul 1782 Washington County, Virginia   1777 Petition    
Stanfield * Sullivan North Carolina      
Stewart          
Tipton *

1792 Washington County,Virginia

1794 Washington County, Virginia

1830 Carter, Tennessee

Sinking Creek

Baltimore, Maryland via Tom's Brook 1783 Reno/Reneau
Denton
Moore
Odell

1775 Tipton's Company

1836 Cherokee Removal

Torbett 1840 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee       1836 Cherokee Removal
Tullis * Washington New Jersey
Virginia
  Humphreys  
Waggoner

1771 Head of Holston


Russell, Virginia   Greenway  
Wallen          

Webb *

David 1744
George 1723
George 1757
John 1695
John 1749
Nathan 1784

1830 Piney Flats, Sullivan, Tennessee Berks, Pennsylvania

1777 Petition

1786 Petition

Miller
Emmert
Smith
Massengil
Malone


1774 Looney's Company

1793 Sullivan Militia

1835 pension Sullivan, Tennessee

1836 Cherokee Removal

West   Loudoun, Virginia   Humphreys  
Whitson   1785 Big Pigeon Settlement   Denton  
Womack*   Henrico, Virginia   Isbell

1776 Cherokee Expedition

1782 Womack's Militia

Woods          
Worley
Francis 1700
John 1755
Nathan 1730
1794 Washington County, Virginia        
Zimmerly          

 

East Tennessee is part of Appalachia. At the end of the French and Indian War, colonists began drifting into the area. In 1769, they first settled along the Watauga River. During the Revolution, the Overmountain Men defeated British loyalists at the Battle of Kings Mountain. The State of Franklin was formed in the 1780s, but never admitted to the Union.

Washington County, Virginia was formed from Fincastle County in 1777. It originally contained Sullivan County, Tennessee.

Boones Creek is a tributary of the Watauga River.

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.

In 1776, the Cherokee planned to drive settlers out of the Washington District. The settlers were warned and stopped the first attack at Heaton's Station. The second attack was stopped at Fort Watauga. In response to these attacks, the militia burned Tuskegee and Citico.

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.

 
 
 
Military Company Date Place
McClellan's Company    
King's Mountain 1780  
Sullivan County Militia 1790  
Pension Roll 1835 Sullivan County, Tennessee
Tipton's Payroll 1775  
Sullivan County Militia 1793  
William King's Muster 1814  
Cherokee Expedition 1776  
 
 

Church  
Piney Creek Presbyterian  
New Bethel Presbyterian  
Big Pigeon Baptist  

 
 
 
 
Places  
Knob Creek  
Sinking Creek  
Smith Cross Cemetery  
1786 Petition  
1780s Sullivan County land grants  
1777 Petition  
1778 Washington County Court  
1779 Jonesborough  
1781 Washington County Militia  
1782 Womack's Fort  
 
 

 

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Colonial Maryland
Colonial New England
Colonial Virginia & West Virginia
Quakers & Mennonites
New Jersey Baptists
 
German Lutherans
Watauga Settlement
Pennsylvania Pioneers
Midwest Pioneers
Californians
Jewish Immigrants

©Roberta Tuller 2024
tuller.roberta@gmail.com
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