“THE LAND WAS ALL BEFORE THEM” Ch:13

“THE LAND WAS ALL BEFORE THEM” Ch:13

Chapter 13

“THE LAND WAS ALL BEFORE THEM WHERE TO CHOOSE THEIR PLACE OF REST, AND PROVIDENCE THEIR GUIDE.”

High in importance of the many contributions that Ulster settlers and their descendants made to the development of the U.S.A. must be the part they played in the Westward extension of her territory and influence. Ford, the historian, who has paid many tributes in his writings to those bold and determined pioneers, attributed largely to them the expansion of the nation from a costal strip to a vast continental area. For several reasons, a short time after their arrival at one of the East coast ports, the majority of the people who had left Ulster to travel to America in the 18th century were to be found in the Western frontier regions of most of the coastal colonies trying to build productive farms, especially in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the Carolinas. Their work was very hard and of ten dangerous, because of Indian raids, which, at times, involved heavy loss of lives among the settlers. When the attacks became more frequent, the men from neighbouring stockaded villages banded themselves together to form companies of Rangers, under recognised leaders, and set off on punitive raids against Indian encampments, from which their attackers had come.

For these forays they had little or no support from the State Government establishments. Indeed, at times, there were attempts made by those in the East to prevent such actions. However, among the settlers this demanding life built up a sturdy and courageous self-reliance, and the development of skills in warfare that were to serve them well later. They found that daring attack was often the best form of defence, and scomed the more tactful approach by those in authority. However, in spite of the savage fighting which generally took place between the frontiersmen and the Red Indians, the relationship between them was not always hostile, and, on occasions, there would be bartering of goods between them for mutual benefit. There would be exchange of pelts, furs, clothing, and food. Outside many stockades there was a log cabin built near the strong gates and, in this trading between the two peoples would take place. As time went on, some of the bolder spirits among the settlers would go off on hunting and trapping expeditions, taking with them their long-barrelled guns and hunting knives. On these trips they would stay longer and longer, even up to months, and ranging farther and farther into the lands beyond the mountains. The pelts of the animals killed would be sold or bartered for other goods on their return.

These intrepid hunters brought back home to the settlements reports of excellent fresh hunting grounds and suggestions that places visited would make good areas Surveyor for further settlement. Some surveyors would, at times, go with them on their later journeys and the call of the West became more and more compelling for others. Of such adventurers were several Ulstermen, John Harris, his son-in-law John Finley, James Robertson, Thomas Walker, John Lewis, George Rogers Clark, and many others of the same race. There were also John Sevier, a Huquenot, and Daniel Boone, probably of English extraction. John Harris and John Finley would seem to have been among the earliest of these, travelling far into Western Pennsylvania, and at a later date reaching even the Yadkin River in Western Virginia about 1760. Indeed Thomas Walker may have been earlier into the Tennessee River area than they were. John Finley is thought to have inspired Daniel Boone, who later surveyed many regions for a company of speculators in the East coastal areas, and is credited with widening what became the famous Wildemess Road connecting Cumberland Gap with the lands around the Cumberland River. The lands beyond the gaps in the mountains soon provided access to the network of tributaries of the Tennessee, the Cumberland and even the Ohio itself.

It was James Robertson, of Ulster descent, bom in Virginia, who about 1770, travelling on horseback alone reached the Watauga and Holston branches of the Tennessee River. Although it must have been a ‘most exhausting joumey – it is recorded that he saved his life by living on berries – he was so impressed with what he found in that fertile area that he decided to retum to it Mer a short time he set off again with his family and other friends, some eighty persons in all. It was an historical event, as it was the first step towards the founding of the largely Ulster Scottish states of Kentucky and Tennessee. Other families followed including that of John Sevier, who was to become a co-worker with Robertson in the work of establishing a progressive community. It is an indication of the commonsense, courage, optimism, and foresight of those early settlers, especially of Robertson, that within two years, in 1772, they decided to set up in the settlements what they named as the Watauga Association, a memorable combination of very great importance. The Articles of Association were drawn up by Sevier and Robertson so that consistency was given to the activities of this miniature government. It was the first free and independent organization of people on the continent. There were to be thirteen representatives, one from each fort or stockaded village. From these were elected a committee, with a chairman,’ and a group of five to whom they gave the title of arbitrators.

They had the task of drawing up laws for the community and enforcing them. They also made arrangements for the recording of deeds, wills, and marriage licences. It was certainly a democratic association, which would inspire the confidence and loyalty of all concerned. Not only intemal control of their own people was provided for, but also steps were taken to give authority for dealings with other nations, in their case, mostly Indians. It was through the activities of this Association that a very large tract of land was bought for the settlement from the Cherokee Indians for about £2,000.

Theodore Roosevelt had such a high opinion of the responsible work of these pioneers that he claimed “The Watauga settlers outlined in advance the nation’s work.” His was a considered judgment based on a long study of America’s history.The population of the settlements near the Watauga and Holston Rivers was greatly increased in 1771 by the influx of large numbers of Regulators following the Battle of the Alamance River. Among those who came after the original settlement were many whose family names were to become famous. From Virginia came the Crocketts, ancestors of Davey, always regarded as a typical frontiersman. On the day in 1772 when the treaty was signed with the Cherokees concerning the land, by way of celebration, a Sports Day was held to which the Red Indians were invited. It was to provide a challenge to those in authority in the settlement, which was met wisely and most successfully by James Robertson.

The chief, his braves, and their tamilies had come along to enjoythe proceedings and to take part in the events. Unfortunately there were a few whites who resented their presence, and one of the guests was shot. The chief immediately called on his people to leave. This they did, probably feeling angry and betrayed. However, with great courage and wisdom, Robertson set off after them, and in a while persuaded them to return. The Sports continued. Doubtless, too, the perpetrators of this crime were caught and punished. Another need was soon felt and arrangements made to cater for it. Groups of people who had been meeting together in different homes in the settlement for religious worship, decided to have a church built forthe use of all. Representatives were sent to a meeting and a committee was appointed. They assessed the amount of money needed, not only for the building but also for the minister’s salary and for other charges. Near the settlement named Jonesboro, the first church was erected, it was called Salem Church. The first pastor was a former Princeton student named Reverend Samuel Doak.

In 1776 Watauga, then renamed Holston, had a population of some 600 people. A petition was drawn up by John Sevier to be taken to the Virginia Congress. It outlined the history ot the settlement and the work that had already been carried out to have it administered in a proper manner. There was also a record of the achievement of James Robertson in providing effective defence for the area. The petition ended with a request that the community be taken over as a county under the Provincial authorities. Congress agreed to this and Washington County became part of Virginia, and remained thus until 1796. In that year, with almost the original boundaries, it became known as the State of Tennessee.

Robertson, himself, was not satisfied that all suitable regions had been settled. With some other adventurers he set off. They travelled some 200 miles by land and by the River Ohio to an attractive part at a bend on the River Cumberland. This place they named Nashborough. From there, they made many voyages of exploration along the branch rivers in the area. Many more families followed to this settlement and its population rose quickly. In 1780 all men there under the age of 21 signed what was called the Cumberland Pact. It had as its purpose the setting up of a local govemment rather like that at Watauga. It is recorded by Morison and Commager that of 256 men who signed, hardly a dozen were alive 10 years later, and only one had died of natural causes.

Around the same year that James Robertson had first travelled to the Watauga district, another young Ulster Scot already mentioned was setting out on a journey of exploration, which although begun from farther North, was to reach almost the same district that Robertson and the other families had colonized. This very tail, red-haired George Rogers Clarks MenVirginian was George Rogers Clark, who had been trained as a surveyor, and was thus equipped to assess areas for settlement. He started off in June, 1772 from Pittsburgh with a few other similarly bold young men. They went down the River Ohio approximately 130 miles and their impression of the possibilities of the area was such that the following year another attempt was undertaken. On this occasion Clark took only one companion and succeeded in reaching the region that was called by the Indians, “Kan-tuck-tee”.It was rather a foreboding name in English – “the dark and bloody ground.” This wide tract of land abounding in wild animals had become the happy hunting ground of several different tribes of Indians. There had been many battles fought over different parts of it. and thus the name given to it. It was to prove in 1782 to be even more so far the white settlers, and it was only through the strong leadership given to them by Clark that the attacks were finally repulsed. Of course the Red Indians were only trying to keep the area for their own use as a food supply, so their opposition to white settlements was a feature that the pioneers constantly had to face. In 1774 along with most frontier areas, Kentucky and Tennessee were subject to very determined attacks. and what became known as the Dunmore War began.

The commander of the white troops was Lord Dunmore, the governor of Virginia. The war was continued savagely for several years until the defeat of the Indians at Point Pleasant and the destruction of their town of Chillicothe forced them to sue for peace. At the Battle of Point Pleasant, the largely Ulster Scottish troops of some 1,000 in number were led by General Andrew Lewis from Stanton in Virginia. His father had fled from Ulster, after killing. in self-defence his landlord Robertson Sevier and Clark all served as officers of militia during the campaign. and this very much strengthened their positions as leaders in their communities afterwards Clark went about 1775 to Harrodsburg in what is now Kentucky. After speaking to some of the settlers, he called a convention of all interested to find out their general attitude towards trying to get a closer link with Virginia. He found that they wished to have this, but that they were very much against paying excessive money to the speculators of the Transylvania Company in Virginia. This company had claimed the most of the land in the region around Harrodsburg, because of large payments they had made to the Indians. Clark supported them in their opposition to this extortion. He and a Gabriel Jones were elected as representatives to go to Williamsburg. the colony’s seat of government to put the case for the settlers against these payments and also to take a petition from them for their territory to be included as a county of Virginia. The two men set off on a difficult journey of some 600 miles over very rough ways. Jones had to turn back, but his companion went on and after some time reached his destination. He pleaded both cases so well that. in spite of very clever opposition from the Company’s spokesman. the claim of the speculators’ to the territory was rejected, and it was accepted as part of Virginia.

In December, 1776. it was thus recognised, and authorised to send representatives to the Provincial Assembly. It remained a county until 1792 when it became the 15th State in the Union under the name of Kentucky. The population of the new county grew very rapidly, as did that of its neighbour Washington County, now Tennessee, after the threat of Indian attacks had been lessened. Around 1776 there were only a few thousand, but by 1790, the number of people in the latest Virginian territory had increased to around 120,000. As many of the newcomers had arrived by river-boat as had travelled by road through the mountain gaps. The increased travel by keel-boats, of much larger dimensions, was very much the result of the careful exploration of that river some years before by George Rogers Clark His knowledge of it and its tributaries had been greatly increased by the gun-boat patrols he had made during Indian troubles, as well as during the attacks that he had organised on Kaskaskia and Vincennes, to take them from the British. His victorious leadership of the colonial troops against General Hamilton’s forces owed much to the skilful use he had made of the river system in that region.

Thus his bold explorations of 1772 can be seen as the first step towards the bringing of the whole North West region under American control Tribute must be paid too, to the sterling work of General Anthony Wayne and his troopers from Kentucky who routed the Indians along with a detachment of Canadians at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794, and brought peace again in to what was becoming an unsettled area. At the treaty discussion between Britain, France, Spain, and America in 1782 and 1783, Franklin and Adams were able to claim by right of conquest what later became the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Soon after, was to be added without war an even greater area in 1803, and again largely by the skilful statesmanship of another Ulster Scot, Robert R. Livingston.

But to the daring military leadership of Clark and Wayne can be attributed the acquisition of the strategic land mass lying between the rivers Ohio and Mississippi. Clark died is 1818 at the age of 66. The name of the hallowed grounds in Louisville, Kentucky, in which his remains were interred will have a familiar and homely ring to all Ulster folk It was the Cave Hill Cemetery. The inscription on the headstone was simply George Rogers Clark.