Iredell County NcArchives History .....Rev. E.F. Rockwell Historical Address 1876 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carolyn Shank carolynshank@msn.com June 20, 2007, 11:41 am From The Landmark of Stateville, N. C. Issue of June 1, 1876 IREDELL COUNTY Historical Address Delivered by Rev. E. F. Rockwell in Statesville on the 4th of July 1876 RST Settlements in Iredell County The people who originally settled in this Mesopotamia between the Yadkin and Catawba rivers, and the ancestors of many who now reside here, were mostly of the Scotch-Irish race; soon after, however, some of the Highland Scotch came. But times have greatly altered since the latter appeared here in their peculiar costume; with their bonnets, kilts, sport clothes, with their long stockings and large silver buckles. In 1772 about a dozen to twenty families settled not far from the Catawba, in the vicinity of where Sterling Church is. There were the McKays, McIntoshes, the Matthewsons, the Campbells, etc. Colin Campbell was a kind of chieftain among them. Another settlement of them, so far as we can learn, formed about the same time, was about the same distance south or southeast from Statesville. They continued to come till within the present century. Some who came in 1804 returned to Canada: they were disappointed or deceived it is said by the reports sent them concerning the great wealth of those that were here before them. They did not remain long enough to lose their attachment to the government under which they were raised. Others have emigrated to the westward and there are at present but few families remaining. The settlers came in Colonies. The prevailing names below here in Center congregation were Davidson, Houston, McPherson, Brevard, Templeton, Etc. Those in this vicinity were Simonton, Hall, Roseboro, Archibald, Tomlin, Gaither, Summers, Fitzgerald, Giddings, Bell, Etc. who came here about 1784. Mr. Wheeler says he has a petition from Rowan County to Gov. Dobbs 1754 in which they say that the inhabitants of Rowan County were comprised of almost all the nations of Europe. How far this statement applies to this part of the Country may be doubted though the settlements in this region had been begun several years before that. Our early settlers came principally from Pennsylvania. Williams History of North Carolina, Vol. 2, page 71 explains the cause of this migration. Land could not be obtained in Pennsylvania without much difficulty. For the proprietors of that province purchased the soil by small parcels from the natives, and the lands were soon taken up. They could not cross the mountains, so they kept south of the Alleghenies until they found unoccupied lands to settle on. "Land in North Carolina where the soil was cheap presented a tempting residence to people of every denomination." The German settlers came about the same time and for the same reasons. Rev. Mr. Bernheim in his story of the Lutheran Church in North Carolina makes an acute observation with regard to the settlements of the Germans and Scotch-Irish: "The eastern portion of North Carolina having been settled at an early date by various colonies of English, Swiss and German Palatines at Newberne, French Huguenots and Scotch refugees, and these colonies having in process of time located their descendants as far inland as Hillsboro on the North and the Pee Dee on the South, with a number of Quakers and Scotch Irish among them, an entirely new class of colonists, the Germans from Pennsylvania, arranged themselves on vacant lands to the East and North of the Yadkin River, whilst the Scotch Irish from the same province, who had always lived on friendly terms with their German neighbors in Pennsylvania soon followed them south and occupied vacant lands mostly to the West of the Germans, and Scotch-Irish at a latter day formed settlements of their descendants in the Western part of the state. The first arrival of the Pioneer strain may have occurred about the year 1745, but the larger part of these colonist didn't commence to settle in North Carolina until 1750. It was not far from the time that the Davidsons, Morrisons, Simontons, Allisons Etc. came and began to settle the best lands in this region. Col. T. A. Allison's tract was laid off in February 1751. BRADDOCK'S WAR --1755 FORT DOBBS They very soon found war on their hands of the worst kind. About three miles north of Statesville is a locality of some interest. There Fort Dobbs was built in this French and Indian War, 1755-'63. After the defeat of Gen. Braddock at Pittsburg, July 1755, the Western settlements of the Southern provinces were left exposed to the attack of the savages, which they renewed with vigor. In the course of that summer, Gov. Arthur Dobbs, who came into office the year before, visited the Western counties to ascertain what locations were most favorable for the erection of forts; and when the Legislature met at Newberne on the 28th Sept., he recommended the erection of a fort between Third and Fourth Creeks near the South Yadkin in the county of Rowan now that of Iredell, a central spot between the northern and southern boundaries of the Province. (Martin's History, Vol. 1, pp 32-33). When he came into office, he brought from England 1,000 firelocks and a few pieces of cannon, as a present from the Crown to the Province. The year before the Legislature had appropriated 1,000 pounds for the frontier counties Anson and Rowan for purchasing arms and ammunition for the use of the poorer inhabitants of said counties, 500 to Mr. Caleb Howell and Mr. Charles Robinson of Anson County, and 500 to Mr. James Carter and Mr. John Brandon of Rowan Co. to be by them applied for the use of the respective counties. The spot where Fort Dobbs was built is nearly in the middle of the State, north and south. It was a block house of an oblong shape, 53 feet long by 43 feet wide; 24 feet high and had three floors, each of which muskets to the number of 100 could be discharged at once. Williamson's History of North Carolina, Vol 1 p. 83 says that the garrison generally consisted of 50 men. The families of the surrounding country fled there for protection and more or less remained there while the war lasted. An old lady, Rachel Watts, born there in 1758 died in 1850. There was no safety for the people anywhere else; they were kept in a constant state of alarm; did they go out to cultivate their lands, they carried their weapons of war, as well as their implements of agriculture. Did they carry their grain to the mill, they bore their arms and imagined every stump by the side of the road an Indian lying in ambush for them. Did they assemble a "stand" to hear a sermon their firearms were stacked near at hand. They carried their lives in their hands; they were waylaid and killed in all circumstances. The most disastrous attack of the enemy, of which any tradition is preserved was when a party of twenty men went out to forage to Moses Potts' place on a branch of Fourth Creek. They were very suddenly attacked at the house and seven of their number were killed and buried there. Some of the others escaped and reached the fort, but one fell mortally wounded, died and was buried in front of the house where the late Mr. Alexander Huggins lived, where his grave is still seen. There is one account of an attempt by the Indians to storm the fort. Their approach was indicated by the unusual barking of the dogs. An officer was directed to take a squad of men and drive them away. When he was reluctant to go, the officer in command said that he would go himself. He drew up his men in a line outside the fort, with the highest officers at each end, these the enemy aimed most of all to kill. Being in large force, they fired once and advanced with their usual war whoop and drove the men back into the fortification. They then made a desperate effort to take it, but in vain. The well directed fire of muskets from three floors, with the execution of two cannon, was too much for them. Their reception was too hot for them, and they soon drew on. It is supposed that they lost a large number of men, as the next morning a great deal of blood was found on the leaves and on the ground. But they carried off their dead and retreated to the mountains. After the close of the war the building was burnt and according to the tradition in the country, the cannons were thrown into the well, and it was filled up. In February 1847, an effort was made by the citizens of Statesville to recover them, but without success. They opened a well, but not the right one. As the Indians had been troublesome for some time before this it is probable that several neighborhood forts had already been built before Fort Dobbs. The other end of Rowan began to be settled in 1720, thirty years before this. The county was cut off from Anson in 1753, and the first grants of land here were in Anson, Salisbury being the nearest town, and the Courthouse, of course, there would be a good road between that and the forts. This road came out on the track of the present Sherill's Ford road for fourteen miles, near the house of the late Abel Cowan in Back Creek. It then turned to the right, crossed Withrow's Creek and a branch called Beaver Dam. Here was one of the neighborhood forts, about two miles to the right of Third Creek station going east. Near this Fort two men were killed and buried, one by the name of King, and another by the name of Lowrance. From there the fort road came out by the Porter Graham place, crossed Third Creek at the present place of crossing near the railroad bridge, formerly called Kerr's bridge. It then followed up the Salisbury road to Mr. Lingle's four miles from town when it forked. The right hand road as you come west went in near Col. Allison's and J. H. McLaughlin's crossed the branch that runs from town at the same place as the Mocksville road, the branch that goes north out of town at the same place as the Bethany road to Davis' mill, the south fork of Fourth Creek about the middle of the present Mill pond, and at the same ford as the old Bethany road from town. Near this Mocksville road, about two miles from town on the other side of Fourth Creek, where a branch from the house of the late Colonel John H. McKee comes down into the creek, a short distance above the present ford, and where the house of Robert of which we shall speak further on. Another road from Guilford, through Davidson and Davie, crossed the South Yadkin either at Rencher's Ford or above there at Mrs. Smoot's, came out into Salisbury and Wilkesboro road at Squire Hawkins' turned off from that to the left going west, and followed the ridge that separates the waters of the river and Fourth Creek. It came out near New Union Church, where there are traces of it and came into what is called the Georgia road near Mr. May's. It followed the tract of that road about a mile east of Captain Eagle's, was another neighborhood fort. A man by the name of Henry Reed lived here, whose house is put down on the old map of Fourth Creek congregation in 1773. Near the spot is a family grave yard. There is no trace of the fort in a cultivated field. Mrs. Mays (1873) says that she remembers seeing the building before it fell down, and heard an old man by the name of James Wilson, say that he was born there. From this fort there was a road on that side of the creek connecting with the fort last mentioned and with Fort Dobbs from which in case of danger a part of the military force stationed there was sent out to the subordinate block houses. From the Fort near Captain Eagle's the road we were describing going south turned from the Georgia road to the right; it came out by where Squire Andy Allison lived above Blend's bridge crossed Fourth Creek there then passed Wm. Murdock's came to the Salisbury at the point above mentioned at Mr. Lingle's where it forked. It then went on south and crossed Third Creek at Harkey's branch, thence it passed on till it met the south road from the main fort through town; that followed the present Charlotte road four miles when it turned to the left going south, leaving the poorhouse on the right and coming into the present road , not far above it, St. Michael's Church on the old road, not far from the point where the eastern road met it, and near the dwelling of the late Joseph Murdock was another fort for the protection of the vicinity. As we follow the road down south until it meets the Sherill's Ford road, that we left some distance back fourteen miles from Salisbury and turn up this latter to the right about a mile, near where the late Andrew Nail lived we find another fort. The left hand fork on the Salisbury road four miles from town came up on the present road near there; then kept along the ridge west of town, then up the road to Concord Church to a place called "Beattie's Old Field" four miles from there where the road from Fort Dobbs to the old Morrison Mill on Third Creek met it and went on by the mill to the Island Ford on the Catawba. We have thus shown the connection between the old system of roads in this region, some of which have ceased to be used in modern times, and about a half of a dozen structures erected for the early settlers to flee to when exposed to the murderous attacks of the savages. In the days of Fort Dobbs there was also a neighborhood fort, on Fifth Creek, eight mile northeast of Statesville at what is now known as the "Somer's Old Mill." It was near Andrew Reed's on the old map of Fourth Creek congregation. He is supposed to have built the mill, and that the fort was there to protect it. The location is an admirable one: in coming to it from the south we descend for a quarter of a mile and come to the present barn, back of which begins a deep ravine that runs down to the left of the creek, where it comes around the point of a hill and coming against a high and steep ridge of a hill is turned out of its course more to the north; where the end of the ridge slopped down into the bottom was the mill pond, a little more around to the right of the mill. Then the creek flows partly back on the lower or right hand side of the ridge and turns on again nearly in the direction it would have gone if these hills, projecting across its course had not interfered with it. It was nearly in the shape of the letter S with the middle part of it on the upper side of the bluff or ridge, that slopes away more gradually on the other or southeastern side, down which the road goes in front of the house, crossing the creek below the mill. The shape, too, made in passing round the end of the ridge is very much like that of an ox-bow with the open end to the south at the barn where the ridge begins to jut out, or a little lower down, on the highest part, or a little lower down on its highest part, or a little lower still than the house, where there appears to have been a building -- any of these three points would have been a good site for a fort; but where it was we do not know. When the country was nearly clear of timber, as it is said to have been at first, there must have been a very extensive prospect from this point, 85 feet by measurement above the stream up and down the valley to the creek. There is no other place in the whole region like this. Several families took refuge here in time of the war, among others the Archibalds. One of these William, whose house was on the western fork of the same creek, had gone one day down near where Turner's mill now is, and returning just on the edge of evening, but not yet dark, came to the ford near where the late James Hill lived. He was on horseback, and was shot through the breast. He jumped from his horse into the creek, and secreted himself under the bank where it projected over. He was well acquainted with the locality. The Indian who shot him was so far off, that in the dusk, he could not see where he went. Several of the Savages came to the bank and examined, went off some distance and returned again, trying to track him, but did not succeed. He crammed his handkerchief into the wound to stop the flow of blood and kept quiet expecting every moment that they would come and dispatch him. But after waiting a long time they departed. He, finding the way clear, came out, mounted his horse and rode to the fort two or three miles when he fainted with loss of blood. He survived, but did not recover from the effects of the wound that night. During the troubles with the Indians 1755-63, while the people above here were staying at Fort Dobbs, some men had a still in operation near Morrison's Mill on Third Creek above Watt's Mill, where Mr. Hart now lives. They had at one time some liquor read to finish off and went over one evening just at night to attend to it. They started the fire three times and it went out every time. Becoming alarmed, they thought it was an indication of danger. Returning to the still early in the morning they discovered a party of Indians leaving the still house who had been lying in wait for them. At the place where the late James S. Byers, Esq. lived and died, fourteen miles from town on the Beattie's Ford road, there was a mill in operation, it is said, in 1751. This is evidence that the country had been settled about there for some years to need a mill. It was owned by a man named Lambert, after whom the creek is now called, though it was owned subsequently by John Olyphant, who lived at Sherrill's Ford. Lambert was famous for hunting bears which abounded in the country at the time. At one time he came home and learned that the Indians had been at his house abusing his family and taking what they liked. He put his hounds on their track which soon came up with them and treed them. Having amused himself by pointing his gun at them, he called off his dogs and let them go. They did not trouble them anymore. In those early days soon after the first settlement of the country, some hunters passed through catching buffaloes. They fell in with a large drove about where Bethany Church is, at which they killed a great many, gave the meat to the inhabitants and took the hides away. Near where Captain Eagle lives was a blockhouse or fort, which has altogether disappeared. As above mentioned a man by the name of Henry Reed lived about that spot. One Sabbath day as the parents were at Church here some children were left at home, the oldest about fourteen. A large buffalo came near the house and the little boy ran his father's gun through between the logs and shot him; for which daring his father, the next morning, gave him a severe chastisement. A little below there on Fourth Creek a Mr. Beard was building a house. They had the walls complete and sent up a man called "hopping John" Wilson because one leg was longer than the other, to fix the rafters. While he was at work on the top of the house they sent up a bottle of liquor to him: but as he was raising it to his mouth he espied an Indian lurking in the bottom among the bushes. Without drinking he slipped down took his gun and ran off. No one knew what his object was till they heard the report of his musket. He killed the savage. There are people in the eastern parts of the county, who, from the traditions of their ancestors, think they can trace, through the woods, the trail followed in ancient times by the buffaloes from Retcher's Ford, on the South Yadkin, across to the Buffalo Shoal Ford on the Catawba. We have seen it in one place, and heard it spoken of in several others; so that they have left here almost as great a monument of themselves as their companions, the wild Indians, both of which have passed away never to return to their old haunts. In connection with Fort Dobbs and the forts near it, we may mention that at that time a line of forts was projected from Pennsylvania to this spot for the same object -- to restrain the inroads of the Indians who were incited by the French on the West to cut us off from the great valley. In Irving's Life of Washington, Vol 1, pp 216-219, 224 etc. that in 1756 Gov. Dinwiddie projected a chain of frontier forts from the Potomac to the borders of North Carolina. "The plan of 23 forts was persisted in "as it the site of the frontier forts they were decided upon by Washington and his officers." Etc. "He visited such as were in progress and near at hand." "In the autumn he made a tour of inspection along the whole line ...." Before we leave the subject of war with the Indians we may mention the expedition out against the Cherokees in the summer of 1776, just 100 years ago now. General G. Rutherford was the commander of the forces in this region; a goodly number of men from this vicinity joined them. The Southern settlements were laid waste by the savage foe -- men, women and children were murdered and it was a matter of necessity to subdue the enemy and check the havoc inflicted by the Indians. Rutherford returned in October and disbanded his troops at Salisbury having accomplished the object. Dr. James Hall raised a company, and went as Captain and Chaplain at the same time. He had prayers regularly morning and evening -- but had only one opportunity for preaching. He took his stand under the shade of a large tree, on an Indian mound with 1,000 soldiers seated on the ground around him -- every one having cut a green sapling to hold over his head to keep off the heat of a September sun. Since that time the Indians have made no hostile incursion into this part of the State. THE WAR OF THE REGULATORS Wheeler give a letter from Gov. Tryon from which we extract the following: Intelligence having been brought that the counties of Tryon, Mecklenburg and the north most part of Rowan, westward of the Yadkin were meditating hostilities, it was judged proper by a council of war that a strong attachment from the army should march through these parts and compel the inhabitants to take the oath above mentioned and to suppress any insurrection agreeable thereto I appoint Gen Waddell to that command with the troops he brought with him amounting to 350 men from the counties of Mecklenburg, Tryon, Rowan, Anson, reinforced with the company from Orange, the company of light infantry from Cumberland and the artillery company of sailors raised at Wilmington with one of the brass field pieces and six half swivel guns. The General marched on the 8th day of June, 1771. What success General Waddell had with all that force in compelling men to take the oath here, we are not informed. We have one of the bills of Proclamation money issued December 1771 ... with a vignette: a Dove with Olive leaf in her mouth and the Motto Pax red dito. May, 1771. Wheeler, p. 398, says that Captain James Knox, ancestor of James K. Polk, refused to accompany Gov. Tryon. Know lived about eight miles from Statesville. THE CONNECTION OF IREDELL THEN A PART OF ROWAN WITH THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY IN THAT COUNTY 1774-76 William Sharpe on Snow Creek, the maternal grandfather of the late Judge D. P. Caldwell, the Hon. J. P. Caldwell, one of the most prominent men at that time in this region all through, and for the latter part of the time was the Secretary, and kept the records -- these not being noticed among scores of old papers and pamphlets, were sold among his effects -- a few years ago they were in the hands of the late Silas Davidson Sharpe -- we obtained them from him -- while in our possession, Gov. Swain heard of them, being among the most important documents connected with the history of this part of the State -- he applied for them. The owner would not give them up -- we sent the Governor a copy -- afterward, Mr. Wheeler came in possession, published them in his sketches but cannot now find them for Colonel Chipley, who claims them. Other names on the list from this region are David Caldwell, the paternal grandfather of the above mentioned D. F. and J.P. Caldwell who lived, died and was buried near where Henry Turner's mill stands. John Archibald in same neighborhood; John Montgomery on Snow Creek, John Sloan, upper end of county; John Nesbit, grandfather of Richard A, John Perrviance, same vicinity; Robert King, Jacob Nichols, Ninian Steele. From lower end of county, Gilbraith Falls, Moses Winslow, Alexander Osborne, Addie Osborne, John Dickey, John Davidson, William Davidson, Francis McCorkle and probably others. The great number taken from that part of Rowan, which is now Iredell shows how strong a Whig region it was. Hence there is little doubt that the Resolutions in the record May 8, 1776 belongs to this region. [The second part of this address was published in a later issue]. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/iredell/history/other/revefroc3ms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ncfiles/ File size: 25.2 Kb