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.
James Moore was born about 1730. He could be the son of Riley Moore. A Riley Moore of Frederick County, Virginia's will was probated on July 1, 1760. It mentioned sons James and Reuben.
He married Martha Denton. Martha was the daughter of Abraham Denton and Mary Odell.
James and Martha's children probably included:
Phebe Moore (1760, married William Tipton, her step-brother),
Martha Moore (about 1760, married Samuel Denton, son of John Denton),
Reuben Moore (1764, married Mary Bird),
Mary Moore (1766, married John Denton, son of Abraham Denton),
Samuel Moore (1770), and
Jesse Moore (1775, married Margaret Denton, daughter of Abraham Denton)).
from Washington County, VA Survey Records Abstracts 1781-1797, submitted to the USGenWeb archives by Rhonda Robertson
James Moore, assignee of John Huston 210 ac
treasury warrant #19218 dated September 8, 1783
on the head of Indian Creek and the head of Cedar Creek, the waters of Clinch River
corner to Adam Lash by a large cave
survey of Patrick Kindrick
April 25, 1786
James Moore 176 ac
treasury warrant #1968 dated December 20, 1781
in Ray's Valley on the Sinking waters, the waters of the north fork of Clinch River by a sinking branch corner to Joseph Ray near a sinking branch
April 20, 1786
James Moore & John Pickens 180 ac
treasury warrant #16519
dated May 19, 1783
on the waters of the Middle Fork of Holstein [Holston] River joining said Pickens & Andrew Smothers corner to Smothers land Pickens linin the gap of a ridge