CAMPBELL COUNTY, VA - HISTORY - Campbell Chronicles and Family Sketches Preface and Introduction ----¤¤¤---- CAMPBELL CHRONICLES and FAMILY SKETCHES Embracing the History of CAMPBELL COUNTY, VIRGINIA 1782-1926 By R. H. EARLY With Illustrations J. P. BELL COMPANY LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 1927 Preface No Virginia county has more of interest to offer the historical student than Campbell, from its formation till the present time—in beauty of situation, staging of events and number of notable citizens. It was the first county formed after the Yorktown surrender, at the period when history making was proceeding with rapid strides; in selection of county officials, survey of boundary lines, choice of meeting places, erection of public buildings, payment of war claims, locating military land warrants; opening roadways, and establishing settlements, with selection of names, and here popular sentiment zealously used those of heroes who had achieved renown in the Revolution, christening the Washingtons, Jeffersons, Lafayettes, Henrys, etc., which mark discontinuance of English designations. Patriotic fervor luxuriated in the opportunity for displaying its breadth of nationalism, even thus with generous impulse Virginia donated her northwest territory to the general government. So with diminished boundary, state and county were meeting the requirements of a new era, each in its adjustment to the situation which had developed. Receiving at baptism the distinguished name of Campbell, the county has condoned nothing that could tend to dishonor it, and during the course of its one hundred and forty-odd years, can give proof of much that adds to its luster. That its annals have lain dormant must not be construed as signifying lack of abundant records, but rather to the long continued custom of storing them in the guarded shelves, of the county clerk's office. Virginia, indeed, has not been backward in creating history, but, though proud of her achievement, tardy in circulating information concerning it. From experience we know that history, in process of making, provides as many thrills of risk and rescue as the pen of fancy can picture, which if seized in passing [1] would afford sufficiency of eventful material. As residents of Bedford, Campbell citizenry were busy contributing1 their quota to county annals long before the Assembly decided that Bedford was too large and must be divided; many of the inhabitants had been among the most active citizens of the old county, the slicing of which did not change the location of their residences, though disconnecting them from former associations, and from their records of service in the development of Bedford, which remain incorporated in the minutes of that county, civil as well as military. Thus Campbell started with a blank register in the year 1782, and only what transpired from that date onwards is there inscribed, with names of those who contributed towards the promotion of county interests; including some "who descended from worthy forefathers and made good the promise of heritage; others, without known heredity, or apparent encouragement, who sprang into the limelight of public approval and accompanying renown, by meritorious action, and thus furnish example of what determination and energy, guided by due ability, may accomplish. In the opening of new country, many of the later settlers, overflow from more populous communities, were homeseekers attracted by the lure of its opportunities, who also contributed to its industrial advancement. The effort is made in the following pages to set forth the cause of what happened as -well as the matter of fact details of occurrence and while completeness has been the aim of collection, there cannot be surety of that element where information is dependent upon the preservation and accuracy of accessible material. Towards furtherance of full record, family sketches, as far as obtainable, have been included, since much county history is embraced in the activities of private citizens. To the information which has come under my observation and of -which free use has been made, county people have contributed, yet the instigation to continued research is due to the suggestion of the librarian of William and Mary College, E. G. Swem, "whose familiarity with and interest in Virginia records encouraged me to follow his advice in completing this history of Campbell county as far as possible. Many of the illustrations have been secured through the assistance of Herman Wells of the J. P. Bell company, and these accurately reproduce originals, as now standing. Should the circulation of this volume lead to the discovery of any omission of actor or deed in the making of the county, one aim of its publication will then become effected through the acquirement of unknown fact. If it were possible to peer through the hedge of silence and secrecy which screens much of Campbell's past, more of it might be recovered from the obscurity into which it has fallen. Lynchburg, 1926. R. H. EARLY. Errata Page xvii, line 10, "foot"soldiers for fortsoldiers. Page 38, line 13 from bottom, "Josephine" for Josaphine. Page 153, line 4, full "of" for full or. Page 235, title of illustration, "Poplar" Forest for Popular Forest. Page 381, bottom line and 3rd from bottom, "Sextus" for Sixtus. Page 403, line 14 from bottom, "son" for grandson. Page 431, line 2, "1783" for 1873. Page 47O, line 11, "Gustavus" for Gustavas. Page 478, line 14 from bottom, "Henrianne" for Hennanne. Page 512, line 3 from bottom, should be "married" at Penn's Store. Introduction BY backward glance into the colonial period we discover what had been transpiring in the section before Campbell was launched into countyship, when the red man used it as a camping ground; for there is proof that the white invader came in contact with him at an early date and needed to dispute occupancy with the savage owner. The finding of arrow-points and other Indian native stone relics, still brought to earth surface by the farmer's plow, has induced the belief that Indians camped in the locality and this presumption has become confirmed by investigations of the Bureau of Ethnology, which gives the names of the especial tribes that have inhabited the county at earliest times of which there is knowledge, and John Lederer, discoverer, is quoted as authority. Lederer made an expedition May 2O, 167O, from the James river falls with a party of "2O Christian horse and 5 Indian," and was received by the Monakins -with volleys of shot. Near their village was a pyramid of stones piled together that the tribal priests told Lederer was the number of an Indian colony drawn out by lot from a neighbor country over-peopled, and that they had been led hither by one Monack, from whom they took the name of Monakin. The Monahassans of the Monacan Confederacy, occupied the northern part of the county in the 17th century, on the upper waters of James river. The name, variously spelt, was derived from an Algonquin word signifying a spade; they were allies of Manahaoc and enemies of Powhatan, but spoke, a different language from either. Their encampment was on the south side of the river near the Bedford and Buckingham mountains. In person they were tall and war-like, and their totem was three arrows. They were next in importance to Monocan in the Confederacy. In 1671 they were settled 25 miles from the Saponi on Staunton river and a small number of the tribe were living a few miles from Lynch's ferry at the time of Campbell's establishment. These Monocans were better known by the name of Tuscaroras. The Saponies (Jefferson says were families of Wanamies who had moved down from New Jersey)—an Eastern Siouan tribe—had a village on Otter creek which flows into Staunton river. Continuing his travels in 1670, Lederer tells that he reached Sapon, a village of the Nahyssans, about 100 miles from Manock and situated upon a branch of the Shawan, alias Rorenocke river. The tribal name of Saponi was originally applied to the whole group of Fort Christianna tribes and occasionally included under Tutelo. Their language appears to have been the same as Tutelo to the extent that the two tribes could readily understand each other. Lederer states that as early as 1654-56 the Saponi were at war with the Virginia settlers, at the time of the attack by the Cherokees, probably in alliance with them; that Sapon was a Tutelo town and Pintahoe was another nearby village, giving evidence that the Saponi and Tutelo were living in close and apparently confederated relation. In 1671 they were visited by Thomas Batts with guides. After traveling nearly due west from the mouth of Appomattox river—about 140 miles—they came to Sapong or Sapony's town. Having been harassed by the Iroquois in this locality, the Saponi and Tutelo at a later date moved to the junction of Staunton and Dan rivers, where they settled near the Occaneechi, each tribe occupying an island in Roanoke river in what is Mecklenburg county. The Saponi tribe is now extinct. In later times other Indian tribes were temporarily in Campbell but not there long enough to leave any remains of consequence. Between Alta Vista and Leesville there are indications of an Indian camp at a place where are piles of periwinkle shells scattered around, which might have been left there by the Saponi; there are two wigwams noticeable near the Ridge road towards Evington. An Indian trail led through the Blue Ridge into Goose Creek valley, and from an excavation near Goose creek a half dozen skeletons, stone tomahawk and arrow points were exhumed, in proof of their burying -with the Braves their implements of war. Tradition reports that an Indian fort stood near the point of excavation. Jefferson wrote that he knew of no Indian monument, only of the barrows, some of earth, others of loose stones, which they used as repositories for their dead. A tradition handed down from aboriginals that when they had settled at a place, the first of their number who died was stood erect and covered with earth for support and others following him similarly buried against the first one, determined Jefferson to open one of the barrows in the low grounds of the Rivanna—on the opposite hills of which had been an Indian town—in order to satisfy himself as to their manner of burial. His examination convinced him that burials were made in strata; the first collection of bones had been deposited on the surface of the earth, with a few stones put over it, and then a covering of earth, a second collection had been laid on this, again covered with earth, and so continued. The apparent process convinced him that bodies had not been placed upright and the fact that children's bones mingled with older ones proved that they were not merely bones of those who had fallen in battle. A party of Indians passing through that part of the country where the barrow was found, went into the woods directly to it, without enquiry and having staid about it for some time, with expressions construed to be those of sorrow, they returned to the high road, which they had left about half a dozen miles to pay their visit, and pursued their journey. There are many of these barrows in various parts of the country. Numerous pipes, as well as other Indian relics, have been found in Buckingham county; among these native stone objects unearthed is a "pipe of peace," having a central bowl with a number of extending stems, proving the purpose for which it was intended, and the fact of its being recovered in perfect condition, indicates that its careful secretion in that locality had some special significance. It is said that one collector alone has obtained seventy-five pipes in the same locality; and many more arrow points, tomahawks and axes. Bedford county also has yielded arrow points. Through discovery of such relics, traces of Indian abodes are located, traditions concerning -which could not otherwise become confirmed, and these remains point to the one-time occupancy of Campbell and adjoining lands by nomadic Indian tribes. It is noteworthy that of the members of the House of Burgesses sent from Bedford, the majority of them were domiciled in that part of the county which became Campbell. These sessions embraced the period 1754 to 1775: William Callaway, Sr.: sessions Aug. 22, 1754; Oct. 17, 1754; May 1, 1755; Aug. 5, 1755; Mar. 25, 1756; Sept. 2O, 1756; April 3O, 1757; Mar. 3O, 1758; Nov. 3, 1761; Jany. 14, 1762; Mar. 30, 1762; Nov. 2, 1762; May 19, 1763; Jany. 12, 1764; Oct. 3O, 1764; May 1, 1765. Samuel Hairston, Sr.: sessions Sept. 14, 1758; Nov. 9, 1758; Feb. 22, 1759; Nov. 1, 1759; sessions of 176O and 1761. John Talbot: sessions Nov. 3, 1761; Jany. 14, 1762; Mar. 30, 1762; Nov. 2, 1762; May 19, 1763; Jany. 12, 1764; Oct. 3O, 1764; May 1, 1765; Oct., 1765: Nov. 12, 1766; Mar. 12, 1767; Mar. 31, 1768; May 8-17, 1869; Nov. 7, 1769; May 21, 177O; July 11, 1771; Feb. 1O, 1772; Mar. 4, 1773; May 5, 1774; June 1, 1775. James Callaway: sessions Oct., 1765; Nov. 5, 1766; Dec. 18, 1766; Mar. 12, 1767; Mar. 31, 1768; May 8, 1769; May 17, 1769; Nov. 7, 1769; May 21, 177O; July 11, 1771, which was prorogued to the fourth Thursday in October, and dissolved Oct. 12, 1771. Charles Lynch, Jr.: sessions Nov. 7, 1769; May 21, 177O; July 11, 177O; Feb. 1O, 1772; Mar. 4, 1773; May 5, 1774; June 1, 1775. The sessions of 1758-61 prorogued seven times, the last session continuing- until October 2O, 176O, when the Assembly prorogued, met again for one day and was then prorogued till March 5, 1761; remained in session till April 1O, when it was dissolved. The Assembly of 1761-65 first convened Nov. 3, 1761; met by seven successive adjournments, on June 1, 1765, not long after the adoption of the famous resolutions of Patrick Henry, it was dissolved. There was but one session of the Assembly of May, 1769, -which met on May 8, and was dissolved on May 17, 1769. On the preceding day the House of Burgesses adopted vigorous resolutions asserting1 Colonial rights, and on the 17th the governor, Lord Botetourt, called the members before him and said: "Mr. Speaker, and Gentleman of the House of Burgesses: I have heard of your resolves and argue ill of their effects. You have made it my duty to dissolve you, and you are dissolved accordingly." The delegates sent to the Convention of 1775-6 from Bedford were: March 2O, 1775, John Talbot and Charles Lynch. July 17, 1775, John Talbot and Charles Lynch. Dec. 1, 1775, John Talbot. May 6, 1776, John Talbot and Charles Lynch. John Talbot became a captain of militia and Charles Lynch colonel in the Revolutionary army. Upon the formation of Campbell, they were among the first justices to receive commissions, as were also Samuel Hairston and James Callaway (the son of Colonel William Callaway, Sr.). A general idea of the state of affairs in the locality, preceding the division of Bedford and the formation of Campbell, may be gathered from the following extracts: James Callaway in May, 1779, gave information that one Robert Cowan, Scotchman and a Tory, who had been refused admission into the state, had in defiance come and settled upon his land. John Mead, county jailer, in 178O petitioned for reimbursement of expense incurred while keeping certain persons in jail the past summer, who were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy against the United States. At the same time, Harry Terrell claimed that the allowance of the auditor had been insufficient when he, and others employed, had been ordered to serve as guards in conveying a number of prisoners, suspected of treason, to jail. This year the various states had been called upon to furnish in lieu of money, determinate quantities of beef, pork, flour, etc., for the use of the army, called "a tax in kind." Commissioners had accordingly made collections in order to furnish the Continental troops on their march northward from Greene's army; militia under Baron Steuben; Colonel Among's Legion; Bedford Militia; Henry Drovers, etc., all were provided with supplies from this tax, as they passed through the country. On August 10, 1781, Colonel James Callaway wrote to Colonel William Davies from New London that he had discharged the militia which had been ordered to the south, inasmuch as those from the adjoining counties had been discharged, but ordered them to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's warning. He thanked Colonel Davies for the compliment paid to the militia of Bedford, assuring him that if the enemy ever made it necessary they would entitle themselves to credit. A letter from Captain Angus Rucker, of Madison county, written in September of the same year, reported to Colonel Davies that his instructions in regard to collecting supplies and establishing a magazine at Lynch's ferry had been received, but he recommended Stovall’s ferry, fifteen miles below, as a more fitting place on account of less danger from high water. He found abundance of flour and grain, but unless the people were assured of payment those articles could not be procured; Bacon was scarce for want of salt. An act was passed in May, 1782, for ascertaining the losses and injuries sustained from depredations of the enemy within the commonwealth during the period embraced by the Revolution. Many county people availed themselves of this legislation and presented their claims for reimbursement. Anthony Bledsoe reported that he had wagons in the service of the state in 1776 and entered bill for them at the same rate as was allowed in the Cherokee expedition, but the auditor refused to pay his charge and reduced the rates-Caleb Tate asked for payment for whiskey and writing paper furnished Virginia troops in South Carolina at the last battle of Camden; 55O gallons of whiskey and 5 reams of paper; also two teams, which were lost. William Dudley presented a certificate for 114 lbs. of bacon given to Henry Ward, commissioner of supplies: Robert Baber claimed that he supplied Captain Gammell, Continental officer, with 4O lbs. of bacon: John Connefax furnished Henry Ward with 5O lbs. of beef for the Bedford militia; Charles Lynch, Junior, furnished 3 lbs. of powder; Peter Hennessy supplied Christopher Irvine, commissioner, with 6O flour casks. John Richardson provided 4 bundles of fodder for the Augusta militia. Vincent Glass furnished a wagon and team five days, during which they were employed in removing military stores from Prince Edward to Bedford; also a wagon and team belonging to him was impressed for Continental service and was not returned. He was allowed £83.16. Oliver Caldwell supplied Maj. John Ward with 35O lbs. of grass beef. Charles Roark was employed 32 days in New London as a butcher and taking care of tallow and hides. Aquilla Gilbert furnished Christopher Irvine a black and a bay horse, and wagon cloth for Bedford militia on the march to Petersburg which were not returned. Thomas Lewis furnished Christ. Irvine with 1/2 bu. salt, and Bedford militia, on the march to Cobham, 3 pecks of salt and a cask; shod eleven horses with his own iron; his wagon and team were twelve days in service removing stores from Prince Edward, the same was employed 126 days on the march to Cobham; he lost a wagon cloth, tar-bucket, keg and pot. Thomas McReynolds supplied the militia under Muhlenburg, a wagon and team 97 days, and militia with three gallons of brandy. Thomas Helms' estate also furnished Muhlenburg a wagon and team 97 days. Jacobus Early supplied the deputy commissary of prisoners with 2 1/2 bushels of meal and the "commissary law" with 6OO lbs. of beef for the army; Col. Jerry Early's estate furnished sundry Continental troops at New London with 1425 lbs. of beef; Mrs. Mary Stith-Early supplied beef, diets and pasturage and had the care of a sick horse left on her hands by the passing army for six weeks. Robert Alexander, executor of Samuel Hairston, found among the papers of decedent's estate claims against Peter Stubblefield for 3 1/2 gals. of corn, and 8 bundles of fodder; against Andrew Henry for 2 barrels of corn and 2O3 bundles of fodder, and a quantity valued at £3O.1O; against John Porter for pasturage of 62 head of cattle and 82 diets, the pasturage for 8 horses and 11 diets; against John Hills for 1O bundles of fodder, 4 quarts of corn, stableage for 1 horse, 2 diets and lodging; against Joseph Poindexter for 1 diet, 2 quarts of corn, and 18 diets; and 18 diets to Bedford Militia en route to Richmond. These apparently small claims, presented at the time when Virginia was impoverished through expenses incurred during the Revolution—when the state treasurer, Jacqueline Ambler, reported that there was not enough money in the treasury to supply him with the necessary fuel and stationery, and the government had to be maintained with borrowed money— would seem to indicate a lack of public spirit; but the question of making provision for their families justified the claims for reimbursement made by the poor farmers who were then stranded with no means of transportation even if successful in raising crops, and with no avenue for borrowing; even securing bounty land entailed discouragement, delay and often more expense than they were able to incur. Not for half a dozen years were they in circumstances to pay taxes into the treasury. Doubtless no colony sustained a greater blight to industry, because that source of revenue -was limited to agriculture. An instance of the difficulty attending the locating of warrants issued for their services to American soldiers after the wars, is to be found in the petition of one Alexander McCoy (or Mackey) to the Virginia Assembly. The first presentation of this claim was made in May, 178O, when McCoy proved that Captain Alexander McKinzie, a native of North Britain, served as an officer in the French war under Major Grant in 1758 when he was killed; also Roderick McKinzie served as sergeant at the same time and was killed. McCoy's wife, Jean, was second cousin to the two McKinzie's, and was their only relation in this country. On April 3O, 178O, John Talbot presented this claim which called for 3,OOO acres of land, sending it by Mr. Callaway (Richard Callaway, then in Kentucky county), but the latter could get no one to lay it. It was then laid before the registrar in Richmond, in order to prove that no one had before obtained a warrant for the same bounty land. By advice of James Steptoe, clerk of Bedford, on Nov. 2O, 1782, a note was added to the petition, more fully explaining the circumstances, in stating that Alexander Mackey and Jane, his wife, representatives of Alex McKinzie, who served under Major Grant as a captain and was killed near Pittsburg in 1758 while fighting for his state at a battle called "Grant's Defeat," petitioned for land granted to McKinzie as an officer. A certificate of the register from Bedford court in 178O had been sent to John Quarles, county lieutenant, but the registrar of the land office refused to grant the petition. In October, 1782, the same certificate was sent by John Talbot, who, upon the insertion of certain necessary words omitted from the original petition, presented it again at the registrar's office; again Talbot placed it in the hands of Christopher Irvine, Jr., of Kentucky to be by him laid, but too late to lay the warrant in good tillable land, so it was returned to the petitioners. The land was still due when Campbell was formed, and the warrant was sent, with other county petitions, asking that power be granted the claimants to lay their land fit for cultivation on the south side of Green river or any western river •where continental or state lines had lands laid off. This warrant presented for settlement many times was finally sent through the hands of James Steptoe, clerk, and Christopher Irvine, Jr., on March 6, 1784; as there is nothing found concerning it after that date we may presume that the land was obtained or the petition positively rejected. In 1754 Alexander Mackie patented 8O3 acres of land on the east side of Ward's fork. 1758 Michael Mackey patented 13 acres on Reedy creek. The McCoy family settled in Campbell at the time of its establishment, but their name, written indifferently McCoy and Mackey, is calculated to cause confusion in research; in the second generation a daughter, Catherine, married (1794) William Arthur, and her name is written Mackey. In 1790 Thomas McCoy married Catherine Strange and 1794 John McCoy married Lavinia Fuqua. In 1783 Martha McCoy sold Jesse Cobbs 1OO acres on Little Falling river. At the beginning of its distribution, land was acquired in various ways. Many of the earliest owners secured large tracts as investments which they afterwards sold in smaller parcels to settlers. Among these land investors were Colonel John Boiling, Nicholas Davies, Colonel Richard Randolph, Governor Benjamin Harrison, Sir William Skipwith, Joseph Ward, John Coles, Patrick Henry, John Alexander, Colonel William Byrd, Thomas Cocke, Drury Stith, Obediah Woodson, Richard Kennon, the Callaway brothers, Peter and Thomas Jefferson, Clement Read and others. Soldiers who served in the French and Indian wars were given bounty-land; also those who enlisted in Colonel William Byrd's defensive regiment raised in 176O. There was a special proclamation issued in 1763 allotting land bounties to reduced officers and soldiers of the late •wars, which gave to every captain 3,OOO acres; to every subaltern or staff-officer 2,OOO acres; to every non-commissioned officer 200 acres and every private 50 acres. In August, 1775, another allotment for pay to soldiers gave tobacco in place of land; to captain of horse 3O lbs. of tobacco; lieutenant 3O lbs.; cornet 25 lbs.: to captain of fortsoldiers, 30 lbs.; lieutenant 25 lbs.; ensign 2O lbs. In 1779 officers and soldiers were allowed twelve months to ascertain their claims to lands. During the period 1779-81 the Southern states became the theatre of war and Virginia was invaded. Army enlistment at this time does not seem to have been compulsory, for in October, 178O, additional bounty of 30O acres was promised soldiers •who would serve till the end of the war. On May 6, 1782, for recruiting the state's quota of troops in the Continental service, the call was made for 3,000 men of sound minds and able bodies at least 5 feet 4 inches high and between the ages of eighteen and fifty years, one man for every fifteen militiamen: then in 1784 the national government gave a bounty to each non-commissioned officer and soldier, 10O acres of land; to a. captain 3OO acres; to a lieutenant 2OO acres, to an ensign 15O acres. The state's bounty was also to each non-commissioned officer and soldier 1OO acres, to the officers just the same as the Continental agreement. Provision for settlers in 1779 allowed 640 acres of land whereon villages were situated and to which no other person had legal claim, in consideration of their settlement; and if such settlers desired to take up a greater quantity of land, upon payment to the treasurer of the consideration money, they would be entitled to the pre-emption of any quantity not exceeding 1,OOO acres, but no family should be entitled to that allowance unless they had made a crop of corn in that county or resided there one year since settlement. The certificates of settlement were delivered by commissioners stating the number of acres, time of settling, particular location, and adjacent lands, to which the claimant might have right of pre-emption. Commissioners' and clerk's fees were fixed at 1O shillings for each entry and warrant or survey as prescribed. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. 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