Wythe County, Virginia, Biography: William Gleaves Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Dennis Glaves dglaves@yahoo.com ==================================================================== Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ==================================================================== To view entire article with photos, visit http://www.gleavesfamily.com/pages/content/sub_d.html The Family of William Gleaves About 1748 - 1820 William was the second child and oldest son of Matthew and Esther Glaves. Records involving William list him at various times with four different spellings of his last name, although it is clear that the most predominant spelling was "GLEAVES". The extensive documentation makes it clear that these records all pertain to one person. William is thought to have been born in England, although there is no proof of this. In 1932, an application for membership to the Daughters of the American Revolution by Estelle Howe Winkler (National # 262024) claimed William was born in Ireland. As proof, Ms. Winkler submitted a "Verbatim copy from a family bible now owned by Taylor Gleaves, Roanoke, VA". The application does not state the name of the original owner of the Bible. The copy lists William and Elizabeth and their children giving birthdates for all except William. This author does not know if this Bible exists today. Ms. Winkler's application contained a number of facts that we today know to be incorrect. There are also some researchers who list William's middle name as "Benjamin". While this may be correct, this author knows of no historical document that confirms this assertion. No records pertaining to William's life have been uncovered prior to him becoming an adult. The earliest entry referencing William appears in the Augusta County, Virginia Court records. On August 20, 1770 "William GLAVES" purchased 164 acres on the South River of the Shenandoah from John Lewis of Albemarle, Virginia for the sum of 40 pounds. The document was filed with the court in March of 1771. Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia Augusta County Court Order Book #14 contains an entry dated March 22, 1771, where "William GLAVES, is appointed guardian ad litem for Esther GLAVES, orphan of Matthew GLAVES, deceased". While the subsequent 1772 lawsuit, Turk vs. Raferty establishes that William was also named guardian for all his younger siblings, no record has been found documenting the event. Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia The last documented record of William in Augusta County appears to be the first instance where the extra "E" appears in the family surname. On January 24, 1775, "William GLEAVE", apprenticed his youngest brother, "Matthew GLAVE", to a wheelwright named John Finley. Both William and Matthew's signatures appear on the document and are remarkably similar. William had already left Augusta County by 1775, so his signature may be a forgery. It is not clear if either brother could read or write at this time. While there is no record of the document being filed with the court on that date, it was entered into the record as part of the lawsuit GLAVES vs. Finley in March of 1794. This lawsuit is explained in detail in Chapter 6, which details the life of Matthew Glaves. Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia Elizabeth Turk 1753 - 1840 William married Elizabeth Turk in Augusta County, Virginia on May 3, 1770. He would have been approximately 22 years old and Elizabeth about 17. There does not appear to be any public record documenting this event, although it is recorded in the James Turk Bible. Elizabeth, born in 1753, was the daughter of Thomas Turk Sr. and his first wife, Margaret. In 1758, her father indentured her to his brother, James. Although the details of the agreement are not known, a subsequent lawsuit established Elizabeth's age at the time of the indenture as 5 years and 2 months. Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia Four years before William and Elizabeth's marriage, William's older sister Mary, became Thomas Turk Sr.'s second wife. This made Thomas Turk both William's brother-in-law and his father-in-law. Likewise, Elizabeth's stepmother became her sister-in-law. A more detailed account of the Turk family is contained in the previous chapter. Elizabeth appears in one additional Augusta County Court entry when her father's will is probated in August of 1808. She is listed as "Betty GLAVE". Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia Southward to the Cripple Creek Valley Some time in the early 1770s William and Elizabeth left Augusta County for the area 150 miles further down the Shenandoah Valley known today as Wythe County, Virginia (pronounced WITH). There is no record yet found of William selling the land he acquired previously in Augusta County. Wythe County was not created until 1790, so the earliest entries appear in a variety of counties as they were subdivided. The area settled by William was located in Botetourt County until 1773, Fincastle until 1780, and Montgomery until 1790. Settlers began arriving in the early 1770s and many of them were Scotch-Irish and German immigrants, who like William, were looking for free land. After the French and Indian War (1750-1763) the southern part of the Shenandoah Valley was given to the Shawnee & Cherokee Indians as hunting grounds. Col. John Chiswell had discovered lead in the area by 1757 and he was mining the metal when the truce was declared. England required that all settlers leave the area, but this decree was ignored. The only settlers in the area after this treaty was ratified were the miners at the lead mines, in what would become Wythe County. In 1770, the treaty was repealed and a land rush ensued. The first documented record of William in the Wythe area occurs in 1772 when "William GLEEVES" is listed in a member of Captain Herbert's company of the Botetourt County Militia. The list is not dated. Captain Herbert's list for the previous year does not include William. Early Adventurers on the Western Waters This would mean that William and Elizabeth moved south shortly after the Turk vs. Raferty lawsuit was heard in March of that year. If this date is correct, the only children of William and Elizabeth born in Augusta County, Virginia would be their oldest son, Thomas born March 18, 1771 and possibly Matthew, born November 9, 1772. It appears that William's middle brother, Michael came with him, or shortly thereafter, as he appears on militia rolls by 1774. The militia organization was very important to the community and William was heavily involved. "It was from this group that men were selected to serve as scouts, Indian spies, fort and frontier protectors and from this group that taxes were levied, road workers selected and overseers were appointed. Educated men of the community were officers and leaders." Early Adventurers on the Western Waters William settled on land adjoining a watercourse known as Cripple Creek. A Montgomery County land entry some years later reads; "William GLAVIS, assignee of Roger Oats, 200 acres on Mill Creek, branch of Cripple Creek, settled 1772". The entry is not clear as to who settled the land in 1772, but it would be consistent with William's arrival to the Cripple Creek Valley. This entry appears to legally transfer title to William for lands he had settled in 1772. Early Adventurers on the Western Waters The minutes of the April 4, 1776 meeting of the Fincastle County Committee of Safety appointed three men to make a list of the inhabitants for militia rolls. They were "to go as low on Cripple Creek as William GLEEVES'S and return the lists to the County Lieutenant Certify'd". Montgomery County, Virginia; The First 100 Years "William GLAVES" is listed as a member of the first Grand Jury ever empanelled in Montgomery County, during the Court's May term, in 1779. There is no record of who the defendant was or the charge they considered. Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia William & the War of Independence During the Revolutionary War each county was required to keep a list of those individuals who took the Oath of Allegiance to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Between September 30, and December 5, 1777, James McCorkle recorded names from several militia companies for this purpose. The Preamble reads as follows: "We whose names are hereunto subscribed do swear or affirm that we renounce and refuse all allegiance to George third King of Great Britain, his heirs successors and that, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Commonwealth of Virginia as a free and independent State and that I will not at any time do or Cause to be done any matter or thing that will be make known to some one Justice of the Peace for the said State all treasons or traiterous Conspiracies which I now or hereafter shall known to be formed against this or any of the United States of America." Appearing on the list of nearly 90 names is "William GLAVES" with the notation "of Thompson's Company". Militia of Montgomery County, Virginia; 1777-1790 As referenced above, the earliest report of William's militia service appears in 1772, in Captain Herbert's Company, in what was then Botetourt County. He shows up on lists of thithables throughout the 1770s. In 1779, he was recommended for the rank of second lieutenant in Captain Francis' Company and on November 7, 1781, an entry in the Montgomery County Court records reads: "Ordered that William GLAVES be recommended to his Excellency the Governor as a proper person to serve as first lieutenant…in Captain Newell's Company". Seventeen years later, on March 13, 1798, Wythe County Court records show "William GLEAVES qualified as Captain, 35th Regiment, 17th Brigade of the Militia of Virginia". Annals of Southwest Virginia While all three brothers served in county militia units during the Revolutionary War (1775-1783), William Gleaves is the only one of the three brothers who appears to have served in the regular army (Continental Line) during that period. The Daughters of the American Revolution recognize William for his service as a private in Captain Thomas Hamilton's Company, 1st Virginia Regulars. Payroll records show his service was from December 1, 1779 to July 31, 1780. It is not clear why an officer in the militia would choose to enlist as a private in the regular army, as the record suggests. Some have suggested that this could have been another William Gleaves, although no evidence found thus far corroborates this theory. War Department Payroll #1996107 & #1856474 William may not have spent much time with his unit, if at all. In December 1779, General George Washington dispatched 1,400 Continentals including the 1st Virginia Regiment, to aid in the defense of Charleston, South Carolina, against the impending British siege. The city fell on May 12, 1780 and the continental troops, including the 1st Virginia Regiment, surrendered in what was the most significant victory in the British Southern Campaign. There is no evidence yet uncovered that would suggest that William ever went to Charleston. If William was present at Charleston he somehow avoided capture and made his way back to Virginia. We know that by July, he was back in Montgomery County, Virginia. A letter from a Colonel Preston to Captain Isaac Taylor, dated July 13, 1780, directed Taylor to lead an expedition to disarm the Tories (British Loyalists) at several locations along the New River in Montgomery County. He was "to have the assistance of William GLAVES, Lieutenant, and John Ward, Coronet. They were to immediately engage 30 men each, to find a good horse fit for service and proceed up the New River and to disarm all the Tories that resided in the four companies of militia there". Early Adventurers on the Western Waters Some family genealogists place William and his brother Michael at the Battle of King's Mountain, October 7, 1780. This author is reasonably sure that Michael was not present since he participated in the Battle of Shallow Ford one-week later. This author has not found evidence to confirm William's participation in this battle either. The Battle of Guilford Courthouse Lt. William Gleaves is however documented in several sources, as participating at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina, on March 15, 1781. A number of Virginia militia units, including companies from Montgomery County participated in the battle under Colonel William Campbell. They were joined by militia units from North Carolina and some regular soldiers from the Continental Line. The force, some 4,400 men strong, was under the Command of General Nathaniel Greene. The British Army, under the command of Lord Charles Cornwallis was inferior in number (about 2,400 men including some German allies) but vastly superior in training, equipment and experience. The British soldiers, who fought in tight formation, also had a weapon for close quarter fighting that the militia did not possess, the bayonet. While their rifles could fire at greater distances than the British muskets, the Colonials were no match when the fighting became hand to hand. After several costly engagements early in the war, the lesson learned was that the militia should retreat when the British legions closed in on their position. Only the soldiers of the Continental Line were equipped with bayonets and were able to meet Cornwallis' troops on equal footing. Nathaniel Greene had been sent by George Washington to command the Southern Campaign after the disastrous Battle at Camden, where Horatio Gates lost most of the Continental Army sent to meet the British in the Carolinas. Cornwallis wanted a set-piece engagement to deal with the rebels. A great tactician, rather than a charismatic leader, Greene avoided a conflict for weeks until his troops were ready to fight on their own terms, on ground he had scouted previously. In the following description of the events of March 15, 1781, all quotes are taken from the book The Road to Guilford Courthouse by John Buchanan. Greene deployed his troops in three lines, one behind the other, spread out over half a mile. The first line was made up of his least reliable troops, 1,000 North Carolina Militia. Their role assigned by Greene was very straightforward; "He spoke of liberty and the cause and their honor and all he asked of them was to volley twice. Then he told them, they could retire". To anchor these inexperienced troops and provide moral support while they performed this task, Greene placed more experienced troops on each flank. "On the right, next to Butler's regiment, were Colonel Charles Lynch's 200 Virginia riflemen supported by William Washington's ninety dragoons and Captain Robert Kirkwood's eighty man company of the Delaware Line. On the left, next to Eaton's regiment, were Colonel William Campbell and two hundred Virginia riflemen (this was Lt. William Gleaves' Montgomery County unit), augmented by Lee's Legion of seventy-five horse and eighty-two foot." The second line was made up of Virginia militia and the final was 1,400 Continentals from Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. When the battle was joined about 1:30 PM, most of the North Carolina militia gave a good accounting of themselves and inflicted heavy losses on the British before retreating in disarray in the face of the advancing bayonets. "One company stayed and fought; they were stationed next to Campbell's riflemen and were perhaps inspired by those veteran mountaineers." "The British, however, could not take immediate advantage of their rout of the North Carolinians. The riflemen and Continental infantry on their flanks stood firm and delivered galling enfilading fire that had to be dealt with." Cornwallis deployed units to address this threat but had to carry the fight on the Patriot's terms. Nowhere was this more evident than on the left flank with Colonel Campbell's Montgomery County Militia. "The contest was fierce, degenerating into a backwoods fight in woods and hills in which the British and Germans some times found themselves assaulted from behind after clearing their front. But it quickly became a sideshow, and only affected the main battle by depriving both generals of badly needed units." The Virginia Militia in the second line was not as successful. Confusion in the ranks due to the thick underbrush caused one regiment to be outflanked and suddenly found the British in their rear. Retreat was ordered to avoid being cut off. This left the other regiment with no one to guard the flank. After firing several volleys, they too had to retreat to avoid being overrun. The third line, the Continentals, had better luck. As the first battalions of British troops cleared the woods into an open area, they formed and marched straight at the Americans who held their fire until the units were 100 feet apart and shattered them with a thunderous volley. The British were repulsed in disorder. The first Maryland Regiment now went on the offensive. A fierce bayonet charge across the open field ended in hand to hand combat with the additional British troops that had cleared the woods. Upon arriving at this scene, Cornwallis surveying the melee feared that he was losing the battle and made a decision to regain the initiative, he fired his artillery into the crowd. "....Cornwallis ordered McLeod to fire grapeshot into the mass of struggling men, into friend and foe alike. ..... The cannons roared, spewing grape into the flesh of Britons and Americans. The melee dissolved as soldiers from both sides scattered. Cornwallis had done what he had to do. The crisis passed." "Cornwallis had to win. But Greene had only to avoid serious defeat while making Cornwallis pay too dearly for victory. He decided that he accomplished both and at 3:30 PM ordered a withdrawal from the battlefield. .... What was important, the army was unbowed. Their morale unbroken, the Continentals tramped off, ready to fight another day. Greene's army had suffered seventy- nine killed and 184 wounded, about a mere six percent casualty rate." The battle was a tactical victory for the British, but the losses were too heavy and proved to be the end of the British Southern Campaign. "Cornwallis had set out in January with between 3,200 and 3,300 men. Despite Tarleton's disaster at Cowpens he had pushed on with some 2,550 men. Now his force was reduced to slightly over 1,400 effectives, and they were no longer fit to campaign. Charles, 2nd Earl of Cornwallis, had ruined his army." The Road to Guilford Courthouse Cornwallis was forced to abandon his Carolina campaign and march the remnants of his army to Virginia where he surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown some six months later. The American Revolution was similar in many ways to the Vietnam War. The British were superior in manpower in their regular army, better equipped and better trained. The Americans on the other hand, had the advantage of the home field and the resources of the civilian population. The British had some success in enlisting the support of Tory Loyalists, but the vast majority of the citizens backed the Continental Army and the Militia units that supported them. It became a war of attrition. Despite their tactical victories, the British could not crush the resistance to the Crown or the resolve of the people. In the end the English forces were just worn down. A Militia roll of Captain James Newell's Company dated April 5, 1781 lists "William GLEAVES". This appears to be his unit that participated in the battle. North Carolina Biographical Sketches of Soldiers and Patriots in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse On May 8, 1782 "William GLEAVES" was among a group of men who appeared in Montgomery County Court and "...produced sufficient proof to this Court that they ought to be paid 10 pounds for provisions furnished themselves when on Duty in North Carolina to join General Green". Annals of Southwest Virginia 1769-1800 There is no record of William or his brother Michael ever applying for a pension based on their service in the Revolutionary War, although both brothers are mentioned in several applications by others. Ewing, John. S. 31015 "3 April 1833. Logan Co., Ky. John Ewing of said county, aged 72, declares he was born in Prince Edward Co., Va., in June 1761. The foregoing is extracted from his father's family record. When he was ten years of age his father re- moved to Montgomery Co., Va., to that part which is now Wythe County. Here he continued until he entered service in 1778. He volunteered in a company of militia under Capt. Henry Francis and Lt. William GLAVES. They rendezvoused at the lead mines in said county and marched to the head waters of Yadkin River on the northern boundary of North Carolina. Col. Crocket and Gen. William Campbell were in command. They dispersed the Tories who had collected in the neighborhood. A captain of the Tory party was taken and hanged under one Coxe's gate, for the Tories had assembled in Coxe's settlement, as it was called. After they did the work assigned them they returned home. He served thirty days. In 1780 he entered service in a company of militia (volunteers) commanded by Capt. James Newell, Lt. William GLAVES and Ens. John Whitlock (who did not go with them). They rendezvoused at a place on the south' side of New River called Harberd's Ferry, at the mouth of Poplar Camp Creek. Here they were placed under Colonels Preston, Crockett and Cloyd. They marched across the mountains into Guilford Co., N.C., where they were joined by Gen. William Campbell who had about eighty men under his command. They marched to the Court House of Guilford County. They were ordered from Guilford Court House to the neighborhood of Gen. Greene's army but did not join his army, which was then on the waters of Haw River. They had previous to this dispersed a parcel of Tories not far from Guilford Court House. Gen. Pickens from Georgia joined them about this time. They contemplated capturing Col. Tarleton but a Tory deserted from our army and gave information of the contemplation and Tarleton left his camp in the night and crossed Haw River at the High Rock Ford. They pursued him until they met Col. Lee who informed them that they must retreat for they were in the immediate neighborhood of the main British army under Lord Cornwallis. They accordingly crossed Haw River and encamped in the vicinity of Gen. Greene's army. The morning after they reached the camp Gen. Greene sent his aide to them and advised them to send their horses home as it was probable they would soon come to a general engagement with the British. They complied with his directions and were ordered to Whitsell's Mills on the Reedy Fork of Haw River. Here they formed the line of battle and met the army of Lord Cornwallis. They formed near the old mills and fired two rounds and were then ordered to retreat as they were by this time almost surrounded by the overwhelming army of Cornwallis. On the retreat an old Irish man named Buckhannon took shelter in the old mill and fired upon and killed an Englishman as he came down the hill on the opposite side of the river. They were defeated and dispersed. They had orders from their officers in the event of a defeat to rendezvous at Guilford Court House. They there rallied and were ordered homeward. He was out thirty or forty days." Virginia Revolutionary Pension Applications, Vol. 35 Copenhaver, Thomas. R. 2311 "6 May 1834. Lincoln Co., Mo. Thomas (X) Copenhaver of said county, aged 71, declares he entered service in Aug. 1780 under Capt. William GLAVES for two months. He resided in Montgomery Co., Va., and was a volunteer. They rendezvoused at the Lead Mines in Montgomery County and marched into North Carolina to Hoozier Town where he was taken sick and left behind. They were to keep in subjugation the Tories who had nearly overrun North Carolina. The company was discharged in North Carolina and many of the men came back by way of Hoozier Town and he returned with them." Virginia Revolutionary Pension Applications, Vol. 23 The Family Grows and Prospers The 1780s were a busy time for William and Elizabeth. During this period many of their children were born and William acquired a number of tracts of land. His elevation to an officer's rank in the militia leads us to believe that he was becoming a respected leader in the community. Bob Carver's research finds that William became a Justice of the Peace in Wythe County some time after 1790. This author does not have that documentation and cannot establish an exact date. In 1781, Montgomery County records show that "William GLEAVES" was appointed to be the Overseer for the road "from Lapsely's shop to Michael Lees". Early Adventurers on the Western Waters On April 2, 1782 William filed three Public Service Claims in Montgomery County Court. "William GLEVES came into Court and made satisfactory proof that he furnished Captain Campbell's Company of light horse Militia of Montgomery County with sixteen diets, sixteen sheves of Oats, 200 pounds of Beef, and the Washington Militia sixteen Diets, corn and hay for Eight horses one night, also Twenty-four Diets for a Company of patrollers under Sergt. Brumit, the whole amount, 5 pounds, 2 Shillings". Early Adventurers on the Western Waters, Commissioner's Book Captain Isaac Campbell's Company was sent to North Carolina and participated in the Battle of Shallow Ford, October 4, 1780. One, of two lieutenants listed as participating in that battle was William's brother, Michael GLEAVES. The details of the battle appear in the chapter on Michael. www.cbiinternet.com/shallowford/soldiers On September 11, 1782, an entry in Montgomery County, Virginia Court Records grants "William GLAVES" a Commissioner's Certificate for an additional 300 acres of land on Mill Creek, branch of Cripple Creek. The entry just above it granted a certificate to "Michael GLAVES for 200 acres on branch of Cripple Creek, adjoining William GLAVES' line". Early Adventurers on the Western Waters The Montgomery County personal property tax records from 1782 list "William GLAVES" and his brother Michael. To this day, Virginia collects a personal property tax on cars, boats etc., however, in the 1700s the tax was on slaves, horses and cattle. The 1782 rolls show William owning 2 slaves, 20 horses and 33 head of cattle. Montgomery County, Virginia Tax Records Portrait of William Gleaves, date unknown provided by Betty Gleaves Rhodes Portrait of Elizabeth Turk-Gleaves date unknown, provided by the Dunkley Family Kentucky? One of the more interesting land acquisitions by William did not occur in Montgomery County, Virginia. On March 13, 1783, a deed was recorded in Fayette County, Virginia where William acquires 562 acres. Under the column where the watercourse on the property is located, the word "none" is entered. At that time, Fayette County was part of the Kentucky District of Virginia. The three counties in the District became the state of Kentucky in 1792. Virginia had opened the area to settlers in 1779 with the passage of "The Land Law" which allowed individuals to claim free land. Old Kentucky Entries and Deeds There is no record of William ever traveling to Fayette County, which was hundreds of miles from his home. Just over a month after the deed was filed, William is recorded in Montgomery County. On April 23rd and again on June 21st in 1783 "Lieutenant William GLAVES" is listed as one of the militia officers present at courts martials conducted in the County. After the Revolutionary War, the Federal Government and several states, including Virginia, awarded bounty lands grants to citizens and soldiers for services rendered. Most bounty grants went to soldiers in the Continental Line. Virginia gave its grants for lands in Kentucky. The person holding the certificate located unclaimed land and redeemed his grant for the title to the property. Over 30,000 such grants were issued. While these grants are well documented, there is no record of William receiving one. Many individuals, who obtained these rights, sold them to others. This could possibly be the case, although not likely, since the name of the person redeeming the certificate for land was recorded. A more likely scenario is that someone redeemed their grant and returned to Virginia, selling the property to William as a normal land sale. After William died in 1820, his son Absalom, who was living in Davidson County, Tennessee, traveled to Kentucky. He was to check on the land and report back as part of the settlement of the estate. He wrote the following to his brother James on April 19, 1834. "Dear Brother I take my pen in hand to rite you a few lines to inform you that I have been to the State of Kentucky to see about the land that Father had a claim to by a warrant which land is entirely lost by the works not been forwarded in due time for a patton (patent). It is now devoid the Statute of Limitations. The warrant was laid in by Connerkouick Creek the very lowest land in the State of Kentucky not worth paying taxes for." The Post War Years William continued his military service even after the War. The 1790 document below commissioned him as a Lieutenant in the Wythe County Militia. By the mid 1780s, William was continuing to acquire more land. Between 1785 and 1810, William obtained tracts through Commissioner's Certificates, Land Grants or Bounty Warrants associated with his service during the Revolutionary War. He acquired no less than ten additional tracts of land totaling 2,035 acres. All the tracts are listed as being "on the waters of Cripple Creek". All the deeds are in the name of "William GLEAVES". These deeds and those of some of his descendants may be viewed on the Virginia State Library Internet site: http://image.vtls.com/. The property where the family homestead was built was called the Willows. It is not clear if William or one of his descendants gave it this name. The Library of Virginia Land Records William Gleaves Sr.'s signature as it appeared on a document giving his consent for his daughter Esther to marry Asa Finley, dated August 18, 1806, Wythe County, Virginia. It is very different than the one that appears on his Brother Matthew's apprenticeship in 1775. William's son, William Jr. also signed the document as a witness. Gleaves Knob William and Elizabeth helped settle the Cripple Creek Valley. Several court entries refer to the "Gleaves Branch" of Cripple Creek. Although that name does not appear on maps today, there is a geographic feature that still bears William's name. Just north of the original family homestead is a summit rising 2,827 feet above sea level that bears the name Gleaves Knob. This hill appears on the USGS map titled "Cripple Creek". A view of the "Willows", the land settled by William and his family in the 1770s. Gleaves Knob is in the background. The Gleaves Cemetery, located on the property, contains the graves of no less than five generations of the Family. In a grove of trees, on a hill overlooking the homestead is the final resting place for approximately 20 Family Slaves. The graves are marked with small piles of stones. If any record of the names of those interred exists, this author is not aware of it. William and Elizabeth Gleaves had eleven children born between 1771 and 1792. Three of their older sons moved to Davidson County, Tennessee around 1800, near land settled by William's brother Michael. Another son settled in Kentucky. Some daughters married and moved westward as well. Those living at the time of William's death were all mentioned in his will. The details of his will are listed in the biography that follows. Sketches of the lives of the children are included later in this chapter. William's Will When he died in 1820, William was a very prosperous man. Family records place his age at the time of his death as 72. An inventory of his estate included notes held on the Bank of Washington in Lebanon, Kentucky. Sons, Absalom and James T. Gleaves certified the Inventory. Elizabeth lived another 20 years, passing away in 1840. Her will was probated on August 14, 1840. William and Elizabeth are buried in the family cemetery at Cripple Creek on land still owned by their descendants. William's grave has been marked and recorded by the Daughters of the American Revolution. A marker initially presumed to be the tombstone of his brother Michael is also located there. This appears rather to be a memorial honoring Michael, since he died in Davidson County, Tennessee in 1811. Revolutionary War Soldiers Buried in Wythe County, Virginia