Three special all-day sessions are offered as part of the full 3-day program -
OR you can register for "Saturday only" for either of the following. Note the
registration information; watch those dates .. No door registrations for the following.
1) DNA. If you'd like to know more, and possibly begin a Family DNA Study, this session is for you. The preliminary plan is that the 37-marker Y-DNA test will be reduced from $149 to $119 for the Angelina Conference. You will be able to purchase the DNA Kit at the conference. http://www.angelina.edu/genealogy.htm
2) CEMETERIES. If you have a family cemetery or are working to restore and preserve a church or community cemetery, this session will give you what you need to do it properly. Presented by the Texas Historical Commission, you will also learn how to apply for the official designation of Historic Texas Cemetery.
We'll also discuss genealogical research within & without the cemetery gate.
Note: There is no Saturday only registration for anything other than the two listed above. The two above may also be substituted for the multi-track Sat sessions at no extra cost with your full registration.
3) SEAT OF JUSTICE (courthouse research). John Sellers. This is *not* available as a Saturday only registration but you may substitute for the multi-track Sat sessions at no extra cost with your full registration.
13th annual Angelina College Genealogy Conference in Lufkin, Texas.
Kathy Lyday-Lee did her Phd dissertation on Dromgoole; here is an email we received from her concerning the article we postedWednesday, May 13, 2009, from The Murfreesboro Post.
Kathy wrote:
Anyone who has read the Melungeon articles automatically assumes that these cost her the clerk job (some senators claimed that she “wrote agin' the mountains" (not Melungeons, as has been quoted sometimes)--that the women were barefoot and the men spoke a "diurlect," but an article in the San Jose Mercury, dated Sept. 20, 1889, seems to negate that by saying she lost her seat (the election of 1889) before the Melungeon articles were published (unless there are Melungeon articles no one has found yet). Ironically, I used this article in my earliest research (found in one of the Dromgoole material (boxes and "scrapbooks") in the UT library), but it has no date or newspaper name on it), The only story that I've been able to find that would be considered unflattering to mountain people in general before 1890 is an early and pretty sappy Appalachian Christmas story called “Mad Moses Heroism,” printed in 1887 published (as far as I can tell) only in the Birmingham Herald; others claim it was her story "The Heart of Old Hickory" that did the damage, but the date on that is 1891 (with the story collection appearing in 1895). When I did the Dromgoole entry for the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, I added possibly to my sentence about this because I couldn't for sure prove that the Melungeon articles caused her defeat.
From The Murfreesboro Post Thanks to Kevin Mullins for bringing this to our attention!
Dromgoole changed her middle name to Allen when she was 6, and throughout her life was known as Will Allen or "Miss Will." In 1876 Dromgoole graduated from the Clarksville Female Academy and studied at the New England School of Expression in Boston.
She began her writing career after the death of her mother and will caring for her aging father.
She published her first novel, “The Sunny Side of the Cumberland,” under the name Will Allen in 1886. Her first short story was published that same year and awarded a cash prize by Youth's Companion in 1886.
Her life then took an unusual twist for the day. She studied law with her father and won terms as engrossing clerk for the Tennessee State Senate. But an unflattering series of articles she wrote about the Melungeons of East Tennessee caused her defeat in 1889 and 1891 and she relocated to Texas where she wrote for newspapers. Entire Article
The weekend of June 12-13 will feature two events focusing on the Melungeons, the multi-ethnic people that have been a part of Appalachia folklore for over generations, and the subject of scientific research for the last half-century. The Melungeon Historical Society will hold their first annual conference on Friday, June 12, in Rogersville, Tennessee, while the Vardy Community Historical Society holds their Spring Fling at their museum on Vardy Road in Hancock County, Tennessee.
History, genealogy, and the latest DNA technology will come together at the first annual Melungeon Historical Society conference o June 12. "For nearly two hundred years, writers and researchers have speculated about the origins of the Melungeons," says Wayne Winkler, president of MHS. "For the most part, the story of the Melungeons has been told through myths and legends. The Melungeon Historical Society believes that answers will be found through scholarly research."
The public is invited to this event, which will be held at the Hawkins County Rescue Squad meeting room, 955 East McKinney Avenue, Rogersville, Tennessee. Registration begins at 9:30 am, and the conference will run until about 8:30 pm, with lunch and dinner breaks.
Presentations at the MHS conference will begin at 10 a.m. and will cover topics such as the origin and historical uses of the term "Melungeon," DNA research on Melungeon families, and other topics related to the multi-ethnic people first documented in the Clinch River region in the early 19th century. The use of DNA technology in genealogy will be covered by Roberta Estes, founder of DNAExplain, a Michigan company that analyzes and interprets individual DNA tests.
Other presenters include Jack Goins, Hawkins County Archivist and author of Melungeons and Other Pioneer Families; Kathy Lyday-Lee, a professor at Elon University who taught a course on Melungeons; and Kathy James, who will present DNA information on the Gibson and Collins families.
"This conference is of special interest to those who want to learn more about the Melungeons," said Winkler, "but it is also designed to benefit anyone interested in genealogy and especially in the use of DNA technology to trace family lines." The conference is free, but donations are suggested to help promote the work of the Melungeon Historical Society.
On Saturday, June 13, the Vardy Historical Society will hold its Spring Fling from 10 am until 2 pm. The location is the Vardy Church Museum, which features displays from the Presbyterian mission which provide education opportunities for Melungeon children from 1899 to the early 1970s.
The Spring Fling features Appalachian crafts such as basket and chair weaving, apple butter making, corn grinding, shuck dolls, hominy making, a tractor show, and plenty of music.
For more information on the MHS conference, contact Winkler at 423.439.6441 or winklerw@etsu.edu. For information on the VCHS Spring Fling, contact Claude Collins at claudefreeda@aol.com or 423.733.2305.
History, genealogy, and the latest DNA technology will come together at the first annual Melungeon Historical Society conference. The public is invited to this event, which will be held on June 12 at the Hawkins County Rescue Squad meeting room, 955 East McKinney Avenue, Rogersville, Tennessee.
"For nearly two hundred years, writers and researchers have speculated about the origins of the Melungeons," says Wayne Winkler, president of MHS. "For the most part, the story of the Melungeons has been told through myths and legends. The Melungeon Historical Society believes that answers will be found through scholarly research."
Presentations at the MHS conference will begin at 10 a.m. and will cover topics such as the origin and historical uses of the term "Melungeon," DNA research on Melungeon families, and other topics related to the multi-ethnic people first documented in the Clinch River region in the early 19th century. The use of DNA technology in genealogy will be covered byRoberta Estes, founder of DNAExplain, a Michigan company that analyzes and interprets individual DNA tests.
Other presenters include Jack Goins, Hawkins County Archivist and author of Melungeons and Other Pioneer Families; Kathy Lyday-Lee, a professor at Elon College who taught a course on Melungeons; and Kathy James, who will present DNA information on the Gibson and Collins families.
"This conference is of special interest to those who want to learn more about the Melungeons," said Winkler, "but it is also designed to benefit anyone interested in genealogy and especially in the use of DNA technology to trace family lines."
The conference is free, but donations are suggested to help promote the work of the Melungeon Historical Society. For more information, contact Winkler at 423.439.6441 or
On Saturday, April 25 at 2 p.m. Fort Christanna Historical Site will officially be opened with a gala event at the site. The public is heartily invited to come and see the historic opening of this new Brunswick attraction.
Why is this piece of land hidden on a dirt road in the woods so important? Why will hundreds of people celebrate its existence on the 25th?
In 1714 Virginia was a colony of Great Britain. The area that now is Brunswick County was wilderness, with only a few settlers and with wandering groups of Native Americans displaced from their Tidewater lands. Virginia's governor, Alexander Spotswood, was concerned about the safety of settlers and wanted to provide a safe place for more people to come. He was also concerned about the wandering groups of Indians, known as the Tributary Indians, who were often attacked by their enemies, the Nottoway and Meherrin tribes. He additionally wanted to provide a trading site for the Native Americans of the area. He found the ideal spot on a cliff above a bend in the Meherrin River. The colony's legislature provided funding, and in 1714 the fort was built. At that time it was the farthest western outpost of the British Empire. The fort was five-sided with each side some 300 feet long and made of a palisade of split logs. At each corner small bastion houses held a 1400-pound cannon apiece. Twelve rangers under the command of Captain Robert Hicks were housed in the fort. They were young men who rode around the neighboring settlements to offer some protection to the new settlers. Spotswood built a house for himself about a mile from the fort.
The fort was large, covering over three acres, and probably had many buildings inside, such as a storehouse, a dormitory for the rangers, a blacksmith, stables, and perhaps there were gardens, pig pens and chickens. There was certainly an Indian School.
With Spotswood's encouragement, the Tributary Indians moved to Fort Christanna and banded under the name Saponie. They built a village not far from the fort, described as a circle of buildings. Over 200 Native Americans lived in the village. Governor Spotswood paid from his own pocket to hire a teacher, Charles Griffin, to educate the Indian children who numbered as many as 100 at one time. He taught them the Anglican catechism and prayers as well as the three "Rs". .
"Thunder Over Louisville" is a sign that it is indeed Spring in Kentucky. Thunder kicks off two weeks of events/ parties that lead up to the Kentucky Derby.
It’s time to read up on the horses or if you bet the jockey (like I do), check to see who has the most wins, and if you like the color of his silks, that’s a plus. I’m sure others use a more calculated reason to bet on a horse, but this seems to work for me.
The thoroughbred industry in Kenntucky really took off during the Civil War, when horse breeders in Maryland, the Carolinas and Virginia moved their horses "west" for safety. They discovered that their horses thrived in the Bluegrass, thanks to the rich lime content of the soil, the gently rolling terrain and the favorable weather conditions.
The Thoroughbred is a breed of horse whose ancestry traces back more than 300 years to three foundation stallions -- the Darley Arabian, the Godolphin Arabian and the Byerly Turk. Named for their respective owners -- Thomas Darley, Lord Godolphin and Captain Robert Byerly -- these stallions were imported into England from the Mediterranean Middle East around the turn of the 17th century and bred to the stronger, but less precocious, native mares. Yes thoroughbred race horses can trace their lines to three stallions, amazing if you figure how many there are now.
So what does this have to do with Melungeons?
Mary T. Brewer in her book, Rugged Trail to Appalachia, writes that Eli Boggs was living in Wise County, Virginia, and, “tradition has it that he was implicated in the murder of Alexander Goins, a man of the Melungeon people of southwest Virginia and Tennessee.” According to which side was doing the telling, Alexander Goins was either a horse thief, and worse, who deserved killing (mountain justice), or he was a respectable trader, dealing in fine horses, which he drove from Kentucky to South Carolina to sell. He supposedly lived in what is now Lawrence County KY and operated a race track and breeding farm in Louisa. He also had $9,000. with him the day he was killed, according to some of his descendants. This tragedy occurred around November 1844 at a place on a ridge of Nine Mile Spur of Black Mountain, known as Goins’ Ridge, about 300 yards northwest from where Mud Lick Creek empties into Callahan Creek. Gabriel Church, born 1814, backing Goins’ side, memorialized the event in a ballad named “Poor Goins.”
I can’t trace Alexander Goins, or Eli Boggs back as far as these thoroughbred race horses can be traced, but when Thunder Over Louisville kicks off Derby week, I think of these men. Goins, with his race track must have known Kentucky raised strong horses but I doubt if he knew it was because of lime soil. Boggs was never convicted or even indicted with the murder of Goins, but it had to have a big influence on his life, whether he did it or not. So this year when you attend or watch the Kentucky Derby on television, and while trying to gag down a Mint Julep, tip your hat to Goins and Boggs!
William Gibson Son of Gideon Gibson and Mary his Wife Born
September IS*'' 1743 Baptised October 9^^ 1743
Sarah Gibson daughter of Gideon Gibson & Martha his Wife
Born July the IQ^'^ 1744/5 Baptized Oct' the 20*'' 1745
Gibson Gidion Son of Gidion Gibson and Martha his Wife Born
March y^ 12"' 1750 Baptized June y« 2^ 1753
Gibson Mary Daughter of Gidion Gibson and Martha his Wife
Born October y*^ 2^ 1752 Baptized June y« 2^ 1753
Gibson Ruben Son of Giddian Gibson and Martha his Wife Born
November y« 29**^ 1751 Baptized May 29*'" 1753
Gibson Gibson Son of John Gibson and Jamima his Wife Born
February y« 25*'' 1749 Baptized May y'' 29^"^ 1753
Gibson John Son of John Gibson and Jamima his Wife Born
February y« 23^ 1751 Baptized May y« 29**^ 1753
Author: Prince Frederick Parish (S.C.); National Society of the Colonial Dames of America; Pringle, Elizabeth W. Allston (Elizabeth Waties Allston), 1845-1921
Published: Huntington, W. Va, Standard PTG. & Pub. Co., 1906
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER I
1654-1753
VAST UNEXPLORED DOMAIN WEST OF THE ALLEGHANIES - CROWING AND CROSSING THE
SAME - FIRST WHITE MAN TO SEE NEW RIVER - FIRST WHITE MAN WEST OF THIS RIVER - ORIGIN OF NAME - PORTER SETTLES AT MOUTH OF EAST RIVER - SALLEY, HOWARDS AND ST. CLAIR ON MIDDLE - LOWER NEW RIVER - CLINCHE AND CASTLE IN CLINCH VALLEY PRIOR TO 1748 - THOMAS WALKER AND PARTY CROSS NEW RIVER, 1748 - SAME YEAR DRAPER'S INGLES' SETTLEMENT MADE - ADAM HARMAN AT GUNPOWDER SPRING - 1750 DR. THOMAS WALKER AND OTHERS ON THE HOLSTEIN AND AT CUMBERLAND GAP - CHISTOPHER GIST ON THE OHIO AND VISITS MOUNTAIN LAKE -PHILIP LYBROOK SETTLES AT MOUTH OF SINKING CREEK - JOHN LEWIS AND HIS SON ANDREW ON THE GREENBRIER - JAMES BURKE DISCOVERS BURKE'S GARDEN - SAMUEL CULBERTSON ON CULBERTSON'S BOTTOM - THOMAS FARLEY ON NEW RIVER - BUILDS A FORT - JAMES ELLISON BORN IN FARLEY'S FORT - FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR -WASHINGTON ON THE OHIO - INDIAN DEPREDATIONS.
CHAPTER II
1753-1766
EXPLORING THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY - FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR - WASHINGTON ON THE OHIO - VIRGINIA RAISES TROOPS - COLONEL FRY SICK AND COMMAND DEVOLVES ON WASHINGTON - FORT NECESSITY - GENERAL BRADDOCK DEFEATED ON THE MONONGAHELA - DEPREDATIONS ON THE VIRGINIA BORDER - DESTRUCTION OF DRAPERS MEADOWS SETTLERS - MRS. INGLES A PRISONER - PHILLIP BARGER KILLED - MRS. INGLES ESCAPES - CAPTAIN WILLIAM INGLES AND GOVERNOR DINWIDDIE PLAN AN EXPEDITION AGAINST THE OHIO INDIANS - MAJOR ANDREW LEWIS ORDERED TO RAISE A FORCE FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE INDIAN TOWNS ON THE OHIO - LEWIS MARCHES IN FEBRUARY, 1756, CROSSES NEW RIVER, NORTH FORK OF THE HOLSTEIN, THROUGH BURKE'S GARDEN, OVER THE HEAD OF THE CLINCH AND ON THE SANDY -
VAUX'S FORT DESTROYED - 1756 SETTLEMENTS WEST OF NEW RIVER - JOSEPH HOWE AND OTHERS ON BACK CREEK WEST OF NEW RIVER, 1760 - INDIAN MARAUDING PARTY NEAR INGLE'S FERRY ATTACKED BY INGLES, HARMAN AND OTHERS - CAPTAIN HENRY HARMAN, ADAM HARMAN - HERRMAN - ONE BRANCH OF THE FAMILY FROM NORTH CAROLINA AND THE OTHER FROM VIRGINIA VALLEY - NEW RIVER LEAD MINES DISCOVERED BY COLONEL CHISWELL - INDIAN INCURSION INTO JACKSON'S RIVER, ROANOKE AND CATAWBA SETTLEMENTS - PACK, SWOPE AND PITMAN ON THE NEW RIVER -
CAPTAIN AUDLEY PAUL ON LOWER NEW RIVER IN 1763 - MASSACRES BY INDIANS IN GREENBRIER SECTION IN 1763 - BUTLER, CARR AND OTHERS, HUNTERS ON HEAD OF CLINCH, 1766 - THIS YEAR FAMILY OF JOHN SNIDOW SETTLE AT MOUTH OF SINKING CREEK ON THE NEW RIVER.
CHAPTER III
1766-1774
FORMATIONBOTETOURTCOUNTY FROM AUGUSTA IN 1769 - COOKS, KEENEYS AND
OTHERS ON INDIAN CREEK AND THE GREENBRIER - BUILDING FORTS - COOKS ON
INDIAN CREEK AND KEENEYS AT KEENEY'S KNOBS - FORT AT LEWISBURG BUILT -
JOHN AND RICHARD CHAPMAN AND MCKENSY SETTLE AT MOUTH OF WALKER'S CREEK -
SNIDOWS, LYBROOKS AND CHAPMANS BUILD FORTAT THE HORSE SHOE - ABSALOM
LOONEY FROM LOONEY'S CREEK EXPLORES UPPER BLUESTONE WATERS - OTHER
SETTLERS ON THE HEAD OF CLINCH - JOHN MCNEIL FROM THE VIRGINIAVALLEY
LOCATES AT LITTLE LEVELS - ACCOMPANIES GENERAL LEWIS TO THE BATTLE OF
POINT PLEASANT - CAPTAIN JAMES MOORE, SAMUEL FERGUSON, THE PEERYS AND
OTHERS IN THE BATTLE OF THE ALAMANCE MAY 16TH, 1771 - IN 1772 EVAN SHELBY
AT KING'S MEADOWS, AND JOHN SEVIER FROM THE VALLEY, ON THE NOLICHUCKY -
REFUGEES FROM THE ALAMANCE, FROM FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA, ON THE
WATAUGA - OVER MOUNTAIN MEN - BACK WATER MEN - PEACE MEN - FINCASTLE COUNTY CREATED AND COURTS HELD AT LEAD MINES - DANIEL BOONE, FAMILY AND PARTY FROM THE YADKIN - SQUIRE BOONE A BAPTIST MINISTER, WITH THE PARTY -
ON THEIR WAY TO KENTUCKY ARE ATTACKED BY INDIANS AND PARTY SCATTERED -
DANIEL AND SQUIRE WINTER NEAR CASTLESWOODS - DUNMORE'S WAR BEGINS IN THE SPRING OF 1774 - DANIEL BOONE IN COMMAND OF THE FRONTIER - CAPTAIN WILLIAM
RUSSELL'S COMPANY FROM THE CLINCH - REECE AND MOSES BOWEN WITH RUSSELL -
EVAN SHELBY, HIS SON ISAAC AND JOHN SEVIER ALSO LEAD A COMPANY - SEVIER
FROM NORTH CAROLINA BUT SUPPOSES HE LIVES IN VIRGINIA - GOVERNOR DUNMORE
RAISES AN ARMY AND COMMANDS NORTHERN DIVISION - GENERAL ANDREW LEWIS THE
SOUTHERN DIVISION - MARCH TO THE MOUTH OF THE KANAWHA AND BATTLE OF POINT
PLEASANT - AUGUST 7TH, 1774, INDIANS ATTACK THE LYBROOKS AND SNIDOWS AT
SINKING CREEK - HARMAN'S FORT - SHANNONS SETTLE AT POPLAR HILL, 1774 -
GRANT OF CLOVER BOTTOM TO MITCHELL CLAY.
CHAPTER IV - Part A, Part B
1775-1794
MITCHELL CLAY AND FAMILY SETTLED ON CLOVER BOTTOM - MATHEW FRENCH AND
FAMILY SETTLE ON WOLF CREEK - DECLARATION OF THE FINCASTLE MEN - FINCASTLE
COUNTY ABOLISHED AND MONTGOMERY, WASHINGTON AND KENTUCKYCOUNTIES CREATED
- CAPTAIN JAMES MOORE VISITS ABB'S VALLEY - PETER WRIGHT, THE HUNTER, IN THE NORTHERN VALLEYS OF PETER'S AND EAST RIVER MOUNTAINS - GREENBRIER COUNTY CREATED AND ITS BOUNDARIES - REV. JOHN ALDERSON IN THE GREENBRIER VALLEY - JOSEPH CLOYD SETTLES ON BACK CREEK - THE FAMILY OF COLONEL JAMES GRAHAM ATTACKED BY INDIANS - DONNALLY'S FORT ATTACKED - MOREDOCK O. MCKENSEY AND FAMILY ATTACKED BY INDIANS - CAPTAIN THOMAS BURKE, MICHAEL WOODS, JOHN FLOYD, AND JOHN LUCAS IN COMMAND OF THE FORTS 1777-78 -LYBROOKS, CHAPMANS, SNIDOWS AND OTHERS ON THE FRONTIER - EDWARD HALE AND JOSEPH HARE IN NEW RIVER VALLEY 1779 - TORY UPRISING ON UPPER NEW RIVER SUPPRESSED BY CLOYD, CAMPBELL, CROCKETT AND CLEVELAND - DAVID JOHNSON AND FAMILY, FROM CULPEPER COUNTY, SETTLES IN THE NEW RIVER VALLEY - ILLINOIS COUNTY CREATED - THOMAS INGLES LOCATES IN WRIGHT'S VALLEY AND REMOVES TO BURKE'S GARDEN - IN SEPTEMBER 1779 JOHN PAULEY AND WIFE AND OTHERS ATTACKED BY INDIANS ON EAST RIVER - 1780, JOHN TONEY AND FAMILY, FROM LOWER VIRGINIA, SETTLE AT THE MOUTH OF EAST RIVER - FAMILY BY NAME OF CHRISTIAN SETTLE ON EAST RIVER - JOHN G. DAVIDSON AND RICHARD BAILEY WITH THEIR FAMILIES SETTLE AT BEAVER POND - WILLIAM WILBURN AND DAVID HUGHES, FROM NORTH CAROLINA, AND JOHN AND BENJAMIN WHITE, FROM AMHERST COUNTY, VIRGINIA, SETTLE ON SUGAR RUN - MAJOR JOSEPH CLOYD IN OCTOBER 1780 LEADS TROOPS TO NORTH CAROLINA AND FIGHTS BATTLES AT SHALLOW FORD OF YADKIN, CAPTAIN GEO. PEARIS WOUNDED - BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN, PART OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY MEN KILLED IN THIS BATTLE UNDER LIEUTENANTS REECE BOWEN AND JAMES MOORE, BOWEN KILLED IN ACTION - BATTLES OF WETZEL'S MILL AND GUILFORD COURT HOUSE - CAPTAIN THOMAS SHANNON LEADS A COMPANY OF NEW RIVER VALLEY MEN IN THESE BATTLES - CAPTAIN GEO. PEARIS SETTLES ON NEW RIVER IN THE SPRING OF 1782 - ADAM CAPERTON KILLED AT ESTILL'S DEFEAT - THE COUNTRY ALARMED BY THE ATTACK ON THOMAS INGLES, MILITARY CALLED OUT - SWARMS OF EMIGRANTS CROSS THE ALLEGHANIES IN 1782-3-4 AND SETTLE IN PART IN NEW RIVER VALLEY, AND OTHERS GO TO KENTUCKY - PETERS, WALKER, SMITH, STOWERS AND OTHERS COME IN 1782 - INDIAN RAIDING PARTY PENETRATE THE BLUESTONE AND UPPER WOLF CREEK SECTION, STEAL HORSES AND ESCAPE - MITCHELL CLAY'S FAMILY ATTACKED BY INDIANS AT CLOVER BOTTOM IN 1783 - CAPTAIN GEO. PEARIS KILLS AN INDIAN ON NEW RIVER - JAMES MOORE, JR., CAPTURED BY INDIANS IN ABB'S VALLEY - NEW STATE OF FRANKLIN, EFFORT TO ENLARGE ITS BOUNDARIES BY CAMPBELL AND OTHERS - "RUSSELL COUNTY CREATED IN 1785 - CAPTAIN JAMES MOORE AND HIS FAMILY ATTACKED BY FORTY SHAWNEE INDIANS IN 1786 AND KILLED, CAPTURED AND DESTROYED - 1787, FEDERAL CONVENTION ASSEMBLES IN PHILADELPHIA, FRAMES A CONSTITUTION AND SUBMITS IT TO THE STATES - 1788, NOVEMBER 12TH, CAPTAIN HENRY HARMAN AND HIS SONS FIGHT A BATTLE WITH THE INDIANS ON THE BANKS OF THE TUG - HARMAN'S BATTLE SONG - 1789, WILLIAM WHEATLEY KILLED BY INDIANS - FAMILY OF JAMES ROARK DESTROYED - 1789, OCTOBER, MRS. VIRGINIA WILEY CAPTURED - INDIAN MARAUDING BAND ON HEAD
OF CLINCH AND BLUESTONE IN 1790 - BIRTH OF JONATHAN BAILEY - WYTHECOUNTY
CREATED - FAMILY OF ANDREW DAVIDSON CAPTURED BY THE INDIANS IN 1791,
DAVIDSON'S LONG SEARCH FOR HIS WIFE AND HER RESCUE - UPPER CLINCH AND
BLUESTONE RAIDED BY INDIANS IN JULY, 1792 PURSUED BY MAJOR ROBERT
CROCKETT, GILBERT KILLED AND LUSK CAPTURED - LUSK AND MRS. WILEY ESCAPE IN
THE FALL OF 1792 - JOHN G. DAVIDSON MURDERED BY INDIANS AND A WHITE MAN,
ONE RICE, ON THE 8TH DAY OF MARCH, 1793 - INDIANS PURSUED, OVERTAKEN AT
ISLAND OF GUYANDOTTE, SKIRMISH FOLLOWS - PETITION OF ROBERT CROCKETT,
JOSEPH DAVIDSON AND FIFTY OTHERS TO THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA - ALARM IN THE NEW RIVER SECTION AND GOVERNOR CALLS OUT A MILITARY COMPANY UNDER CAPTAIN HUGH CAPERTON WHICH IS STATIONED ON THE KANAWHA, DANIEL BOONE THE
COMMISSARIAT - MARAUDING PARTY OF INDIANS IN 1793, THE LAST ON THE WATERS
OF THE UPPER CLINCH AND BLUESTONE - WAYNE'S GREAT VICTORY OVER THE UNITED
INDIAN TRIBES IN OHIO ON AUGUST THE TWENTIETH, 1794, BRINGS PEACE TO THE
VIRGINIA BORDER - SWARMS OF LAND SPECULATORS AND SURVEYORS ON THE OHIO
WATERS, NORTH AND WEST OF THE SETTLEMENTS - NUMEROUS AND LARGE GRANTS OF
LAND TO ROBERT MORRIS, THE PATRIOT AND FINANCIER - GRANTS TO POLLARD,
HOPKINS, YOUNG, MCLAUGHLIN, MOORE AND BECKLEY, BLISS, DWIGHT AND GRANGER,
RUTTER AND ETTING, DR. JOHN DILLION, DEWITT CLINTON, ROBERT MCCULLOCK,
WILSON CARY NICHOLAS, WILSON, PICKETT, SMITH AND OTHERS - MANNERS AND
CUSTOMS OF THE BORDER PEOPLE, THEIR RELIGIOUS LIFE - EARLY MINISTERS.
CHAPTER V
1795-1836
MARRIAGES, BY WHOM CELEBRATED PRIOR TO THE PASSAGE OF TOLERATION ACTS -
REAL CIVILIZATION BEGUN - MONROECOUNTY CREATED, ITS BOUNDARIES, BRIEF
HISTORY OF - FORMATION OF TAZEWELLCOUNTY, ITS BOUNDARIES, BRIEF HISTORY
OF - FORMATION OF GILESCOUNTY, ITS BOUNDARIES, AND BRIEF HISTORY THEREOF.
CHAPTER VI
1837-1861
FORMATION OF MERCER COUNTY - ITS BOUNDARIES, ETC. - COURTS ORGANIZED -
FIRST GRAND JURY EMPANELLED - POPULAR ELECTION - INCLUDING ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF SECESSION CONVENTION.
CHAPTER VII Part A, Part B, Part C, Part D
1861-1865
THE ORGANIZATION OF MILITARY COMPANIES - THE CONCENTRATION OF ARMIES - THE
WAR BEGINS - GREAT UNION UPRISING IN NORTHWESTERN VIRGINIA - RESTORED
GOVERNMENT OF VIRGINIA - FORMATION OF WEST VIRGINIA - VARIOUS BATTLES AND
ENGAGEMENTS - CAMPAIGNS OF 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865 - THE WAR ENDS -
PEACE RESTORED - RECONSTRUCTION IN MERCERCOUNTY.
CHAPTER VIII
1866-1905
RECONSTRUCTION IN MERCERCOUNTY, W. VA - CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
DISFRANCHISING CONFEDERATES - REGISTRATION LAW - COUNTY SEAT AGITATION -
THE "COMMITTEE OF SAFETY" - THE CREATION OF SUMMERSCOUNTY - THE
RESTORATION OF THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE - INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT - THE FLAT
TOP COAL FIELD - RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION - THE CITY OF BLUEFIELD.
APPENDIX A
THE COURTS, JUDGES, MAGISTRATES, ATTORNEYS, ETC.
APPENDIX B
COUNTIES IN VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA FORMED OUT OF THE TERRITORY
OF AUGUSTA AND FREDERICK, AND HOW OR FOR WHOM NAMED.
APPENDIX C - PART A, PART B
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
APPENDIX D
ELECTED OFFICIALS
APPENDIX E
A LIST OF ATTORNEYS FOR THE COMMONWEALTHFORGILESCOUNTY FROM 1806
Folks, this is just about the coolest thing I've seen lately. The Virtual Jamestown website has a ton of information, but a most interesting thing is where students at Salisbury State University used a technique to put the Indian towns on Google Earth. This is from their site:
Indian Groups/Towns
The towns or Indian groups (usually having the same name) located on this map were taken from John Smith’s Map of Virginia. Smith created the map in 1608 from two voyages he took up and down the rivers that feed the Chesapeake Bay.
Working under contract to Virtual Jamestown, geographer Mike Smith and students at SalisburyStateUniversity employed a “rubber sheet” technique to fit the towns onto a modern map of Virginia. During the 2007 fall semester, students in Crandall Shifflett’s undergraduate research history class at Virginia Tech collected data on 16 Indian groups or towns: Accomack, Accohannock, Arrohateck, Chesapeake, Nansemond, Kecoughtan, Kiskiack, Monacan, Mannahoac, Nottaway, Meherrin, Patawomeck, Powhatan, Rappahannock, Weanock, and Werowocomoco.
Towns were chosen primarily on the basis of the quantity of data available on Smith’s towns. Students used research data from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and secondary sources. In addition, courtesy of a special Google Earth (GE) Education Initiative (GE provided each student in the class with a license to Google Earth Pro), students could add their findings to the map. GE Pro allowed students to create pop-up windows of information on their assigned group according to a template with the following features: name, alternative names, meaning of name, geographical coordinates, distance from Werowocomoco, population with dates and sources, language group, link to report, and notes.
We have compiled them into a single kmz file (Google Earth file).
In November 1682 the Virginia assembly enacted legislation specifying that
. . . all servants except Turks and Moores . . . whether Negroes, Moors, Mollattoes or Indians, who and whose parentage and Native country are not Christian at the time of their first purchase of such servant by some Christian, although afterwards, and before such their importation and bringing into this country they shall be converted to the Christian faith; and all Indians which shall hereafter be sold by our neighbouring Indians, or any other trafiqueing with us as for slaves are hereby adjudged, deemed and taken to be slaves to all intents and purposes, any law, usage or custom to the countrary [Hening 1809-1823:II:491-492]
Thus, all who were sold as slaves were considered slaves, whether or not they had been converted to Christianity. Moreover, Indians and other non-whites were considered slaves if they had been imported or sold as such. The new law also declared that Indian maid servants who were age 16 or older were considered tithables, i.e., they were considered taxable personal property.
Those who are serious Lincoln scholars probably already knew and the rest of us who watched "The Plot to Steal Lincoln's Body" last night on the History Channel now know that Lincoln's body is buried under 10 feet of concrete. This was done after a serious attempt to steal his body which could have succeeded and following many years of subsequent paranoia and anxiousness on the part of the custodians of his remains. Therefore one would assume that his DNA is safe from a prying public whose inquiring minds want to know. But that is not the case. Not all of Lincoln's earthly remains lie under those tons of concrete.
Quite a bit of Abraham Lincoln's DNA was left behind if it can only be retrieved. There is blood, hair and bone fragments capable of yielding their secrets if approached in the right way. And if today's technology isn't up to the job, tomorrow's probably will be. Of equal importance to learning whether or not Lincoln actually suffered from one or more of the three serious genetic diseases long suspected, is the possible answer to two other enigmas. What was his ethnic origin and who really was his father? Many have refused to believed a lowly uneducated farmer such as Thomas Lincoln could be his biological father. While others have speculated that the Lincoln surname and his grandfather's given name, Abraham, suggest the paternal line was Jewish. Maybe the questions will all be answered in the future, if not soon, then later.
The Secrets of Lincoln's DNA
Come along with me, past all the bicentennial hoopla, to a quiet place north of the White House. Here, at the National Museum of Health and Medicine, you'll find a glass case housing the most incredible Lincoln memorabilia on the planet: the man himself. His blood on the cuff of a surgeon's shirt. Snippets of his chocolate brown hair. A handful of bone fragments removed from his skull.
Yes, Lincoln! Guess what that might mean? Lincoln's DNA! Scientists have been speculating about the president's health for decades. It's believed he had malaria, smallpox and depression. Syphilis has been debated. And there are hypotheses about three rare genetic disorders—Marfan syndrome, spinocerebellar ataxia 5 and multiple endocrine neoplasia 2B (MEN 2B). If scientists had access to Lincoln's DNA, might they be able to clarify the medical history of one of the world's greatest historical figures? Could they also sequence his entire genome, and perhaps trace his genealogical roots back to their origins? Should the 16th president's mortal remains be put to the test?
I'm not the first person to ask this question nor am I the first to think it's a very intriguing idea. As far back as 1991, a panel of experts gave scientists a "qualified green light" to test Lincoln's DNA for Marfan syndrome—decades after a physician proposed that the president might have had it. At the time, researchers decided it wasn't technically feasible to move forward, but genetic testing is far more sophisticated today.
Experts say it might be possible to extract chopped-up bits of DNA from these museum remnants, assemble them into the gene they're looking for, then make a diagnosis. There are, of course, considerable challenges: nobody knows whether there's enough DNA in good enough condition to do a gene test, or to do one conclusively. As for sequencing Lincoln's entire genome, "I don't think it's doable," says Dr. Philip Reilly, author of "Abraham Lincoln's DNA," because there are such small pieces left and there would likely be large gaps.
If Lincoln had ataxia 5, a neurological disorder, he'd have something in common with 90 relatives descended from his paternal aunt and uncle. University of Minnesotagenetics professor Laura Ranum says there's a 25 percent chance. If so, the president would be a great example of somebody overcoming physical challenges to achieve greatness, she says. She'd love to see a test. So would Josephine Grima, of the National Marfan Foundation. "It would help raise awareness exponentially," she says. "Like what Roosevelt did for polio."
