Like most Wiseman researcher I read Tom Chapman book “A Wiseman Story” date 1992. I even read Eugene Wiseman book on "the Wiseman family of North Carolina."
When I say read I mean but really reading it. I am redoing my webpage times in the last few years and will be redone many more times as new facts are unearthed.
I starting this time with William Wiseman Ledger, that he wrote himself.
William Wiseman did the book for his son Davenport Wiseman who was moving away from home for parts west. I think William probably thought it a good idea for Davenport to have a record of his family to carry with him. However, it is obvious that Davenport did not take the note or ledger book with him and it remained in the Old Family Home on Sunny Brook Farm until Stanhope Carson Wiseman took it with his belongings when he made his journey to Missouri. The Ledger has made it way back to many family members now. I am not sure who owns the original or if it is still around.
TOM CHAPMAN SEND ME COPY THE LEDGER THAT HE HAS IN HIS UNPUBLISHED BOOK.
William wrote: "Wm William,Lin (unclear) was born in City of London. In St James's Clerkenwell Parish, in the year Our Lord 17”40” Freb the Second"
It looks like someone wrote over and tried to chance it to 1736. Some folks think the date is 1749 even 1730 to start with. But if William was born 1739 and came to America as Stowaway at the age 13, as the family legend says, the date for the ship would be 1751. Now if the date is 1736 add 13 the date would be 1749. Now for 1730 add 13 the date would 1743. With story of the stowaway William’s date of born was chance to fit the story. So I think the date is 1740 making William 12/13 in 1751
William states I was born in City of London on Nov 2,1730/49 in St James’s Clerkenwell Parish.
Christening in Saint James, Clerkenwell, London, England
JOHN WISEMAN m'd MARY STORY on 29 SEP 1719 Saint Mary The Virgin At The Walls, Colchester, Essex, England
Child
WILLIAM WISEMAN Christening: 18 MAY 1725 Saint James, Clerkenwell, London, England
Extracted birth or christening record for locality listed in the record. The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the birth or christening date.
This christening date of is too early to be our William Wiseman. 1725 coming to America as stowaway at the age 13, date would be 1738, marry Mary Davenport in 1762 and still have children 1814. Back then; having children at the age of 89 is unheard of. Man now a days with medicine could have a child in late 80s. But there was no medicine back then.
NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT CHURCH RECORDS WERE BURNED. SO WE MAY NEVER FIND THE CHISTENING RECORDS
Now we back to drawing. I hope one day to find some record of William Wiseman birth but until then all we have is his ledger.
There are many stories on William Wiseman and how he came to America. As I search the net, and read books: I have found the following stories. Take each one of them with a GRAIN OF SALT. I will take story and write them.
1A Tom Simpson has posted the Davis family story with William Wiseman and William Pendley on the net:
The book “Cabins in the Laurel” by Muriel Sheppard, states that William Davis, William Penley and William Wiseman stowed away on a sailing ship in London in approximately 1751. The young teenagers had to turn themselves in to the captain of the ship when they got hungry only a few days out of port. The 3 were sold as indentured servants in the city of Boston from where they made their way to the hills of NC all settling in what is now Mitchell and Avery Counties. (This version Billy was borne in 1727/27 and dying in 1841.)
NEXT:
1B.William Davis, b. 1741 in London, England stowed away on a ship with his 2 friends, William Penley and William Wiseman. This was ca 1751. The Wiseman descendants have William Wiseman as being born Feb. 2, 1741 and in 1745 the family, mother and son (father dead and daughters were all married) were living on St. James Street in London, England. Note from Janet. The date of birth for William Davis is in question as will as the place of his birth
Next
1C. North Carolina Historical review Volume XXIV Number 4 October, 1947 State Dept. of Archives and history Raleigh NC pg 433
"Probably the first grant taken out by an actual resident was that obtained by Samuel Bright, March 5, 1780 for 360 acres lying in the valley of the North Toe. Bright was a loyalist who lived three miles from McKinney Gap. Very soon after Bright's grant was issued, others were taken out by William Wiseman, William Davenport, William Davis, and William Pendley. Wiseman, Davis and Pendley were co-adventures, having left London together as boys and having remained together thereafter. They landed in New England, made their way south, lingered for a while on John's River, became guides to hunting parties going into the mountains, and eventually took up land near each other in the Toe River Valley. Davis and probably Wiseman also, was a soldier in the Revolution. Wiseman was appointed the first magistrate in the valley.”
By email I been in touch with descends of William Davis and William Pendley family. Both families have researched this story have prove it wrong. The Pendley and Davis family has been in America from 1600- early 1700. So the Wiseman, Davis and Pendley men being stowaway together just doesn’t compute. Now land in New England and working there way down as guides.
Note from Janet: Oh come on, they had families why would they be guiding folks and not home clearing the land or working on their farms. Remember the date of this Story 1780 that during the Revolutionary war. I know William was making shoes for the militia and he would near home to do this or even with the militia. William Davis is said to in the militia so he would not be out guiding folks either. Wonderful story but sorry it will not work.
2.John Comer has posted the Pendley family story with William Wiseman and William Davis on the net:
2A.The older William Pendley Sr. married a Christana. his son, William Jr. was the one that lived in the Toe River Valley area. William Jr. married Lurana Smith from (now) Caldwell County (then Burke) I have his Will naming all his children. This William Jr.(ca1765) owned much acreage in Burke County including the Toe River Valley. Three or four of his children stayed up there in the HIGH Country tending Sheep and Cattle. The rest remained in the Caldwell County area.
3B.Another link to the Wisemans is: my Nancy Pendley GGranDaughter of this William senior married James (River Jim) Wiseman. so, another tie-in.
4. Tom Chapman wrote in book: “Gene Wiseman several years ago met a Robert Wiseman from Australia and told him the story about three brothers coming to America and one stayed and the other two when on to Australia. Here is same story I found on the net and just about everywhere
4A, the many stories that have been told about William Wiseman came to America at the age 13 as a Stowaway. He was either sold by the shipping company or indentured himself to pay for his passage. With William were two other men. Could these men be William's older brothers? They were found on the ship or when they land in America. Not sure when they were found but it is know they were found and put to work to pay for their passage.
William's older brothers escape and board another ship for Australia. Williams stay in America. William met in Virginia or Maryland, His life- long friends: William Pendley and William Davis. Their families probably traveled together to N.C. down the Great Wagon Road. The Davis's family, siblings, in Virginia and birthdates. So we know positively Davis was born in Virginia.)
Now abound hearing this story, Robert Wiseman interrupted Gene Wiseman and told I have hear this story before. He explained that the tale had been passed down in his family, only hey called the stowaway a “runaway.” This Robert Wiseman of Australia was the descendant of one of the older brothers of William Wiseman. Unfortunately, Gene Wiseman did not get Robert Wiseman address.
I posting this here and hoping some from Australia who has the same story will email me.
The date for the Australia story would have to be after 1750s for the Australia open up for settlements after 1750.
5th and last family story is:
The Wisemans of England were of the landed gentry; William's father was not wealthy. William's formal education ended at about 12 years of age, but it appears that his parents gave him a substantial education for the times. He wrote extensive prose and verse and is said to have exhibited an unusual degree of maturity for his age. When William was born, his mother was already in her mid-forties, his father somewhat older, and his sisters almost grown. William was quite talented by nature and his father must have recognized this at an early date, for he arranged for young William to work with some of the best carpenters and woodworkers available in England. During this early learning period, he developed many intricate and skillful woodworking patterns that he would use throughout his life.
William's father died when he was young and life became very burdensome for the boy. His mother had a difficult time managing and was not as indulgent of the boy as his father had been. She kept demanding more from young William each day. At this time his sisters had married and were living in the London vicinity. They also pressured William to do more for his mother, and eventually he made the decision that he had no choice but to leave
The three boys (brothers) slipped aboard a ship and found a hiding place. Within a short time the ship embarked, the hiding stowaways afraid to breathe for fear that they would be caught. As each day passed, the ship moved further out into the Atlantic Ocean, and the boys, who had no idea of the length of the voyage before they had sailed, ran out of their food supply. They decided to make night raids on the galley, but the ship's cook soon suspected that some one was taking supplies. Hiding close by to watch for the culprits, he captured all three, and immediately took them to the Captain, who put them to work. Before the journey ended, William is known to have said many times that he wished to be back in old London. It seemed to be years before land was sighted, but eventually, the ship docked, probably at Charleston, SC.
In those days, it was customary for stowaways to serve indentures for passage money to America, probably the type which would expire after a set number of years. Very often the captain of a ship would grant the passage to someone coming to the new world, and upon arrival, would sell the person for a profit. The passenger was considered a slave while working aboard the ship. The only difference between white and black slavery at that time was that the white could eventually work and pay off his indenture, gaining his freedom, while the black was property of the master for the rest of his life.
After William landed, the Captain took the boys around the city and looked for the best offer for them. William was sold to a blacksmith for the sum of two pounds sterling (about eight dollars). Stories have it that the blacksmith took all three boys, but it is more likely he only took William. Nevertheless, it was a difficult situation for these youngsters. It is certain that William worked and paid passage for his journey, but the fate of the others is not clear. While one story has it that they escaped into the wilderness never to be heard from by William again.
Note from Janet: This missing boys could not be William Pendley and William Davis as some think for William Wiseman and these boys were friends until death. But could they be his brothers who made the way to Australia
The man who purchased William was not just a blacksmith; he had several small businesses in progress as well one being for the repair and construction of furniture. William started woodcarving shortly after he began work for the blacksmith, hoping to sell his work for a good price to buy his freedom. The stories at this point differ. Some say that William made the wager with his new master, convinced that he could produce a better piece of work from the start. Others say that the boy possessed great skill and, in order to encourage talent, the blacksmith initiated the bet, offering William his freedom against the balance of his sentence if the youth could surpass the master's expertise. The plan was that each could choose any piece of furniture, and William decided that he would make a dining room table. He carved the legs for the table just like that of a panther, and created the foot exactly like a panther's foot, defining each individual claw. Inside the foot he carved a loose, round bail that would stay within the claw and serve as a caster to move the table from one place to another. He only had limited time to work, but finished ahead of his master, then hid his work until it was time for both pieces to be shown.
When the day came for presentation, William and his master selected three judges to determine which work was of the best quality. As these were unveiled, William's was immediately chosen the winner, for the judges had never seen such a masterful piece of woodworking. The table, with the panther leg and bail built into the claw was so unique that it sold for a very good price. It is no wonder that William used this same pattern many times over in the years to come, for it was that factor which gained his freedom.
Note from Janet: The only thing we know for sure is the William Wiseman was born in England. William Davis and William Pendley were life-long friends. They may or may not have travel from England together. If this story above is true, could the Davis and/or Pendley family done business with blacksmith seeing William Wiseman work had him work for them? When William got is freedom he moved to Culpeper area work making furniture and other things. Met Mary Davenport and married her. So many question. Only time will tell. This end of all the family stories or legend
This interesting fact about the Wiseman family:
“William and Mary (Davenport) Wiseman built a cabin on the banks of the North Toe River on what is now known as the Aden Wiseman Farm. Since James Davenport, the squatter, did not own the land where the cabin was built, William and Mary were not owners of that first Wiseman homestead. Some accounts set the date of arrival for the Wisemans on Toe River as coinciding with the purchase of the Bright property by William Wiseman. However, records show that William did not actually purchase the Bright property.
William Wiseman settled had been a stronghold of the Cherokee and Catawba Indians, and in 1763, in an effort to keep peace with these tribes; the British King passed a royal edict that the mountain country was closed to white settlers. William had settled in this region in 1760, thus, with the passing of this law, was in violation of British Law and considered a squatter on Indian lands. The rights of these squatters -- Wisemans, Davenports, Brights, etc -- were never contested until almost twenty years later when Colonel Ferguson ordered them to come out and to swear allegiance to the crown. This, of course, lead to the Battle at King's Mountain at which Colonel Ferguson and his troops were defeated by the American Patriots.”
Note from Janet: Now we read that 1763 that Wiseman, Davenport and Brights were in NC then 1780 story date does not work
The first record of William Wiseman in America is found in Culpeper County, Virginia in 1760. “Abstracts of Culpeper County Court Minute Book, 1763-1764”. Compiled by A. M. Prichard and printed at Staunton, Virginia in 1930. “John Tackett vs. Richard Price mentions William Wiseman as a jury” page 347. 21 May 1763, page 355 is the name of Thomas Davenport. Note slightly less than a month from May 1763, William and Mary Davenport Wiseman son Thomas was born.
William and Mary Wiseman move from Virginia late 1763-1764, going first to North Carolina seeing that was not safe for his family, William took the family near to South Carolina border. The family stay there for a while, the date for the family move back to North Carolina can found with birth date of their daughter Mary 1769, or can it in Census she state born in SC and then the other NC. So much Census. The records for land grants were destroyed by fire but a few can be found like the one below.
William WISEMAN moved to the John's River area of old Burke County with the Davenports, Whites and Brownings by 1777 when Burke became a county. Thomas Davenport had 6 daughters and one son Martin. Mary had family all around her. In 1790, Samuel Bright sold land to three of these families and they moved to the Ingalls area
There is a land grant, dated 1778, was made out to a Davenport Wiseman. Now Davenport Wiseman was only 8 years old so it could not be him. I wonder if it should read: “Land grant, dated 1778, Wiseman, Davenport.” Now on page 8 of the same book is land granted to Thomas Davenport and William Wiseman’s name appeared on the record as a chain bearer. I seen a copy of the land grant which states: “Burke county, Name Wiseman, Davenport 100 acres grant # 1301, issued Nov 16,1790 entry no 660 Entered 3rd September 1778, Book # 77 page 129 Location on Toe River near Samuel Bright in bent of River. Note: Some researchers think the name is Davenport Wiseman. I do not think so, I think it was both Wiseman and Davenport get land at the same time in the same place as family.
Listed as well are the names of the earliest settlers in that Toe River area: Jonas Davenport; John Vance; Sam and Wm Bright; William Pendley; Dan Harris (Minister); William Davis; and William Wiseman
Tom Chapman told me that William Wiseman would travel back and forth from North Carolina to Virginia with seedlings for sale. Question how far into Virginia did William travel?
William Wiseman had a LEDGER BOOK. Which has been past down through the family. William Wiseman wrote this ledger book for his son Davenport Wiseman because it was thought that Davenport Wiseman was moving away from North Carolina. William probably thought it a good idea for Davenport to have a record of his family to carry with him. However, it is obvious that Davenport did not take the note or ledger book with him and it remained in the Old Family Home on Sunny Brook Farm until Stanhope Carson Wiseman took it with his belongings when he made his journey to Missouri. Stanhope Carson Wiseman, son of Alexander Wiseman and his wife Manetta Viola Childs and grandson of William Wiseman and Lydia Bedford. Stanhope Carson Wiseman died 4 Nov 1893, Sarcoxie, Missouri. After his death Manetta took their children to New Mexico. Where the ledger was found at the ranch of Gene Wiseman’s uncle in New Mexico a descendant of Stanhope and Manetta Childs Wiseman.
TOM CHAPMAN SEND COPY OF THE LEDGER BOOK FROM HIS UNPUBLISHED BOOK
The Ledger tells the name of William’s two wives with names and dates of their children.
Note: William writes in 2nd person but this handwriting has been proven to be his. There was a Wiseman Bible to compare his handwriting to. But The Bible has been lost with the years. This is so sad. Let us pray that one day it will show back up.
1,There is William Wiseman LEGEND: That William at that age 17 married Sadie Brown and that they had two children. That William took the children to her sister took and raised the children. This marriage was add to make the song that was written about him true or the song of the times to fit William Wiseman family. (Tom Chapman, who has been researching this family since 1930's states" That older gentleman told him that this marriage was add to make song correct.) The famous song was "GREAT GRANDDAD" Some of the song fit but some did not. William did not have 21 children. Robert Wiseman told that the age of the man in song fit William Wiseman age. The last line of the song is "Great Granddad died at eighty-nine, Twenty-one boys he left behind; Times have changed but you never can tell; You might yet do half as well."
Please read the Ledger, William starts with his wife Mary Davenport Wiseman. The name Sadie Brown as his wife is not mention. The only reason of any one thinking there was three wives is to match the old ballad “Great Granddad” which mentions that there was three wives to a Great Granddad. One more thing on William Wiseman descends, Scottie Wiseman sang this ballad. Because of this many people think that William Wiseman had three wives.
2nd WILLIAM EDWARD WISEMAN LEGEND: William didn't have middle name Edward because in the 1700's only the Royal families of that time had middle names. The middle names for others did not start until mid 1800's. Now if William had middle name would not have written it in his ledger?.
3rd Legend is William Wiseman of Avery, Co, NC. born in London, England. c1741 to Francis and Dorothy( Housley) Wiseman. Francis Wiseman b 1684-1720 d 1745-1805 m 13 Nov 1733 in London to Dorothy. Note from Janet: I not seen where or who started this story but like must of Wiseman legend once is starts there is no way of stopping it.
“WILLIAM WISEMAN LEDGER” by William Wiseman
"Wm William,Lin(unclear) was born in City of London. In St James's Clerkenwell Parish, in the year Our Lord 1740 Freb the Second"
About Mary Wiseman, William wrote: " Mary Wiseman the wife of Wm Wiseman deceased June 17,1796 in the fifty- fourth year of her age.”
The first entry in the William Wiseman Ledger Book:" Davenport Wiseman, His Book, July 17,1796,Was born August 25,1771."
" A Register of Names"
"Thos.Wiseman son of William Wiseman and Mary his wife was born April 30,1763.
Dorothy Wiseman daughter of William Wiseman and Mary his wife was born Feb 5,1765
Wm. Wiseman son of William Wiseman and Mary his wife was born Aug 5,1767
Mary Wiseman daughter of William Wiseman and Mary his wife was born April 11,1769
Davenport Wiseman son of William Wiseman and Mary his wife was born Aug 25, 1771
Martin Wiseman son of William Wiseman and Mary his wife was born Aug 24, 1773
James Wiseman son of William Wiseman and Mary his wife was born August 18,1775
John Wiseman son of William Wiseman and Mary his wife was born Feb 21,1777
Celestial Wiseman daughter of William Wiseman and Mary his wife was born Oct 22, 1779
Susannah Wiseman daughter of William Wiseman and Mary his wife was born Dec 16,1781
Robert Wiseman daughter of William Wiseman and Mary his wife was born July 14,1784
Nancy was born Oct 31,1792 (Note this was not their daughter but granddaughter)
Bedford Wiseman son of Wm. Wiseman and Lydia his wife was born Oct 1,1799
Alex (Alexander) Wiseman son of Wm. Wiseman and Lydia his wife was born March 28,1802
Jemima Wiseman daughter of Wm. Wiseman and Lydia his wife was born May 6,1804
Josiah Wiseman son of Wm. Wiseman and Lydia wife was born July 31,1806
Elizabeth Wiseman daughter of Wm. Wiseman and Lydia wife was born April 25,1809.
Lydia Wiseman daughter of Wm. Wiseman and Lydia wife was born May 25,1812
Anthony Senter Wiseman son of Wm. Wiseman and Lydia wife was born Feb 9, 1814"
(Note middle name, Senter, is generally spelled Center by later Generations. Also note date of birth when middle was being use in the family)
J. Myron Houston of Sunny Brook Store has another notebook which has several things written concerning the work of William Wiseman. (Myron's aunt mother was Jemima Carolina (Wiseman)Houston). Myron Houston obtained many of the things he recorded from Robert Wiseman, who lived on Sunny Brook Farm and took a great interest in the history of the Wiseman family and a special interest in the life and times of William Wiseman.
Mary Davenport was pioneer woman born abt 1741 in Hanover County, Virginia. She and her husband William Wiseman were the parents of eleven children; tradition relates that Mary Wiseman died of “MILK POISONING” on June 17.1796. Mary’s grave was located in the Old Wiseman garden at Sunnybrook Farm not far from Spruce Pine, North Carolina but Highway 19E was improved; the grave is now under the paved highway of 19E.
Employment of William Wiseman:
Many researchers know that William Wiseman was 'Teacher, made furniture and did some farming. He also served as a Justice of the Peace in his District of Burke County and skilled craftsman. William was very busy man for he would work from 14-16 hours a day and sometime far into the night.
William built a power dam on the TOE RIVER and installed an Old-fashioned up and down sash saw mill that was pulled by water power, and this mill cut the first lumber that was cut in this section (Toe Valley. William was inventor too. William built woodworking machines and he had a blacksmith shop that stood near his mill. It was long building-twenty foot square. He had a gristmill and a mill for grinding flour. William also tanned leather using his own process. The usual school term in those days was three months, so much of his evening work was school related.
Myron Houston has a plow that William Wiseman made on his anvil. It measures 38 inches from the tip to the moldboard. Myron has the anvil that belonged to William Wiseman too.
In the same notebook it is written that there were six graves in the family cemetery on Sunny Brook (now are under the highway 19E at this time) Three of the graves were adults and three were children. It is thought that the adults are William and his first wife Mary. The third could be Lydia or William and Mary oldest son Thomas.
William Wiseman 2nd wife was Lydia Bedford; her father is thought to be Jonas Bedford a Tory. There is no prove of this link but there was not many Bedford families in this area with daughter the age of Lydia.
“The Courtship of William and Lydia” is found in J. Myron Huston notebook. The story goes like this: “William and his three oldest sons (oldest at home) were cutting timber down on Karem’s Knob. They had to walk through the Bright’s farm to get to the place to work. As they walked by the barn Lydia had the cows and calves all mixed up and was trying to separate them. She was not making much headway getting them back in the stalls where they belonged, so William told the boys to go on to the job and he will help the girl separate the cows and calves. Some two hours later he joined the boys at work. So, the next morning as they went to work, Lydia and the cows and calves were in the same mix-up. William sent the boys on to work as he had the day before. Some three hours later he joined the boys at work. Then the third day they found the situation same as it was before. When William stopped to help, the oldest boy suggested that Dad go to work and let one of boys help separate the cows and calves. William said “NO!” So the boys went to work as usual. On the fourth day William found work at the mill and shop for the boys to do, so he put on his Bib and Tucker and went to Sam Bright’s and got Lydia, and they walked to Harris Creek and the Rev. Dan Harris “tied the knot” and when William returned home be brought with him Lydia as his wife.” Why was Lydia at Samuel Brights home? It was thought that Bedford and Brights family or just friends and Samuel Brights wife was sick, so Lydia was there helping out.
"SUNNY BROOK FARM"
A traveler from Spruce Pine, North Carolina can reach Sunny Brook by traveling north on highway 19E about five (5) miles. The gravesite of William Wiseman is not quite as far as the house and on the same side of the road. When William and family members were buried the little family cemetery was at the southern end of the family garden, but in recent times that portion of the Old Wiseman farm was taken over for highway. The sad thing is when Robert Wiseman died his wife burn many of his old papers. So much of his collection was lost.
William Wiseman died 1823 not 1830 (for more read below) in Ingalls, Burke Co. NC buried in the family cemetery on Sunnybrook Farm near Spruce Pine NC in what is now Avery Co. NC. The burial grounds are said to be under highway 19E. The first evidence of William being in this country is when he was a witness to a legal paper (a will?) when he was about twenty. His wife Lydia Wiseman filed the estate of William Wiseman Sr in Morganton in the month of March 1823. The papers for estate that Lydia filed were burn, but fortunately the information recorded in the court minutes survived. This does not tell us much but it does establish an approximate time of death for William Wiseman. THE WILL OF WILLIAM WISEMAN SR WAS PRESENTED FOR PROBATE IN 1823. Note: Wiseman is spelled with a Y not i.
#567 " William Wiseman Sr. Presented for probate March 1823 by Lidia Wiseman. Proved by Thomas Baker, witness, Lidia Wyseman,widow,qualified as exrcutor."
Burke County, Mins, County Court
Years 1818-1829
Pages 1-148
Page 405
March Term 1823
“Lida Wiseman presents the last will and Testament of William Wiseman Sr. dec’s which was presented in Court by the oath of Thomas Baker with ext. trustee order to be recorded and that letters establishing issue unto Lida Wiseman widow of Tester and executor there in recorded and who qualified as testify in open Court”
So therefore William Wiseman was died before March of 1823 not 1830 as tombstone states
Thomas Baker, a senator from North Carolina, was one of William Wiseman's sons-in-law; he married Susanna Wiseman. It is safe to say William Wiseman died 1822-1823. Most likely died during the final months of 1822. If you use the date of birth as 1736 and the date of his estate papers were done his age would be 86 years old at the time of his death.
William WISEMAN and wife Mary DAVENPORT moved here from Culpeper Co, VA, with other family members by 1777 when old Burke County was formed. By the 1840 census we were Yancey Co, by 1870 census, we were Mitchell and by 1920 census we were known as Avery. William's land along the Toe River, west of the Blue Ridge here in Western North Carolina has stayed the same since 1793. 2nd son
William, during the Revolution War, furnished supplies. Military Record: Rev War Accts NC Archives # 348 and NC Rev. Sol, Sailors & Patriots pg 212. I joined the Daughters of the American Revolution with him.
I joined the DAR with William Wiseman family.
Click here for DAR
William did serve in the NC Militia during the Revolutionary War. The only service for which he received pay was for the time he took a wagon, his shoemaking tools and leather, went down where the troops were quartered and made shoes for them. This is recorded in the NC Dept. of Archives and History. This service has allowed his descendants to become DAR ladies
THE PAMUNKEY DAVENPORTS OF THE COLONIAL VIRGINA" (Hopkinsville, KY" The Pamunkey Davenports Family Associaton, 1998) page 14 Mary Davenport( A3e), was the daughter of Thomas Davenport(A3) and his wife Dorothy, surname unknown. Thomas, in turn, was the son of Martin and Davenport (A) and his wife Dorothy Glover. Martin, who die din Hanover County in 1735, was the eldest son of Davis Davenport of Pamunkey Necking King William County, Va. Dorothy, wife of Martin, lived for at least 45 years after his death, moved from Hanover to Cumberland County with her son David in the 1760's.
John Scott Davenport thank you again for adds to my WebPages.
Click here for Davenport
2nd wife Lydia Bedford B? D?. She family came from England. Her family history of one her grandparents wayback was one of the original signers of the Mayflowers Compact. Lydia's parents were Jonas Bedford and Mercy Raymond (born June 3 1740 in Middleboro, Mass)
Children of William and Mary Davenport Wiseman:
(1) Thomas b 30 April 1763 in Culpeper County, Virgina, d 1806 in Burke Co. NC m Cordelia Ann Davenport b ca 1764 is said to be the dau of Glover Davenport and Ann
(2) Dorothy b 5 Feb 1765 in SC d 23 Aug 1855in Burke Co, NC m David Davenport Baker Sr b 9 Aug 1793 in Burke Co. NC d 3 Jun 1749 in Orange (Culpeper) Co.NC. David's parents were Thos and Dorothy Davenport Baker. Thos was killed in gunpowder explosion making powder for revolutionaries in 1777.David 1st wife was Mary Webb and 2nd wife was Dorothy Wiseman. For more information Email Geri Kennedy Young at [email protected]
(3) William Edward JR b 5 Aug 1767 in SC, d ? Cumberland Co, KY? m 1st? 2nd Sophia Sims.
Note Wm prob in SC. giving rise to the family story of "2 children being born in Sc. The 1800 Wm Jr was living on the Lower Creek of now Caldwell Co. NC & the 1810 census of Burke Co NC pg 130 gives him with 5 sons. By 1820 census was listed in Cumberland Co KY. (JR not by birth but by county records. This way County Records keeper could tell the William the older and William Younger apart)
(4) Mary b 11 Apr 1769 VA/NC, d 1865 m 1st John Puett; and 2nd James Craig who died in few yrs. She is buried at Littlejohn's church. Caldwell Co. NC. 1850 census of Caldwell Co. NC she says she is born in Virginia but in 1860 Census states I was born NC.
(5) Davenport b 25 Aug 1771 m Sophia White (Sims) b 24 Nov 1779 . Davenport Wiseman became an Attorney 1771-1820 in MS. Wife was dau of Thomas White & Sarah White (dau of Wm and Sophia D White) the 1st wife and mother of children is unknown.
(6) Martin b 24 Aug 1773, d 1834 m 1st Sarah White b ca 1776 2nd? . Sarah White dau of Benjamin White.
(7) James b 18 Aug 1775, d aft 1820 lived in Caldwell co., KY was alive at the age of 23 in 1798 in Burke Co>NC in 1811 in Livington Co, KY & in 1820 KY census in Caldwell Co. KY.
(8)* John b 21 Feb 1777 in NC m 1st Rachel last name could have been Roundtree or Hammontree. ( NOT WISEMAN OF PA)2nd Elizabeth White.( Robert Dale Sweeney says that Rachel is not her name but Rochelle Hammontree)(pg13)John married Rochelle in c1800.The date of their marriage is unknown but their old son was 1803. **For more information on Hammontree go to the bottom.
(9) Calastial b 22 Oct 1779 or 1781 in Burke Co, NC m She was born on the John's River & nothing else is know of her.
(10) Susannah b 16 Dec 1781 in John's River, Burke co NC m Thomas Webb Baker b ca 1780 on 15 Jul 1801. Thomas was Senator is son of David Baker & 1st wife Mary Webb. David Baker 2nd wife was Dorothy Wiseman a sister of Susannah.
(11) Robert b 17 July 1784 in John's River, Burke Co. NC m unknown nothing more is known of him.
(12) Nancy b 30 Oct 1792 m David Hunt b ca 1784
This is the Children of William and Lydia Bedford Wiseman
(13) Bedford b 3 Oct 1739 or 1 Oct 1779 in Toe River, Burke Co., NC d 1881 m Mary Chambers Jenkins ca 1816. He married & left home at age of 16. Bedford married for 2nd time to Mary Croson
(For more Bedford and his family and the WISEMAN MUSIC MAKERS look at the bottom of this page)
(14) Alexander b 28 Mar 1802 d 1877 m 1 Dec 1830 Deliah Fox born 7 Jul 1813 He was 21 when his father died.
(15) Jamina Jennie Mae b 6 May 1804 m Daniel English
(16) Josiah b 10 July 1806 in Burke Co.,NC m 1st Sarah Carvers, 2nd Martha Gilbert, 3rd Eliza Gilbert(pg 14) He was 17 yrs old when his father died.
(17) Elizabeth b 25 Apr 1809 in Burke Co.,NC d 1889 m Boston Ollis b ca 1805(pg 14) She was 14 when der fathe died.
(18) Lydia b 25 May 1810/1812 m U K Baker b ca 1810. She was 11 yrs old when her father died.
(19) Anthony Canter/Senter b 9 Feb 1814 d 1883 m Lensey Dillinger widow of Mc Canless b ca 1816 He was 9 years old when his father died.
Next Gen
*John and Rachel Wiseman move to Lincoln County, Tennessee before 30 Aug 1810. Rachel died 3 July 1822. John married his second wife Elizabeth White born 3 Dec 1792 dau of Thomas White of Franklin County, Tennessee. She was 15 years his JR. The deed of the heirs of Thomas White in Franklin County Deed Book L, pg 372 proves John and Elizabeth (Betsy) White were married before 1824.
John Wiseman was appointed to justice to take a list of the taxable property in Lincoln County, TN in 1812. In the Nov Session 1814, he was charged double tax 15 acres, having not paid tax on this land earlier. This land was on Farrar Creek. The will of John Wiseman was dated 26 Oct 1864. However it was not probated until 6 Aug 1891 after the death of his second wife. Elizabeth White Wiseman died 13 Apr 1890. JOHN HAD 17 CHILDREN ALL TOTALED.
JOHN AND RACHEL CHILDREN: A-K
A. William b 2 Jan 1803 in NC He must have died young.
B. Mary D b 19 Aug 1804 in NC She must have died young.
C. Thomas b 5 July 1806 d Jan 1866 in Lincoln Co. TN.1st wife ? 2nd wife Sarah Eliza ? D. Matilda H Wiseman b 17 Apr 1808
E. John C Wiseman b 1809, Tennessee d 7 Apr 1894, Tennessee m 1 Apr 1841 Sophia Hickman b 23 Apr 1817 d2 Jan 1900 Tennessee
F. Joseph M b 13 Oct 1811 m Martha ?
G .James Tyler b 20 Mar 1813 died During the Civil War in Texas. Legend has him dying with a large estate in TX.
H. Andrew Jackson b 6 Oct 1814 d Oct 1893. He married Rachel Scivally. Rachel was daughter of John and Leah Scivally and the brother to Benjamin Scivally who married Amanda Wiseman, sister of Andrew Jackson. They had two daughters and one son. Rachel died abt 1840. Andrew married 2nd time to Martha Carolina Smith, to this marriage there was born 7 children. Martha died after Jul 1855. Andrew married for third time to Ann Smith the widow of Elijah Baker. Ann and Martha were sister and daughters of William Smith and Elizabeth Woodard
This is where you can find Rachel and Benjamin father John.
Click here for JohnScivally
I. *Amanda M b 16 Oct 1816 dead abt 1870 m Benjamin Scivally. Benjamin b abt 1813 dead 15 Nov 1865.They had fourteen children. James Calvin Scivally their 11th child. James was my great-grandfather.
For more information on Amanda and Benjamin Scivally their son James.
Chick here for JamesScivally
J. Elizabeth b 12 May 1817 died as child
K. Wilson D b 26 Dec 1820 d before 1880 m 1 st Rachel. On 24 Jan 1850 married 2nd Nancy M Hammontree.
L-S is Elizabeth White and John Wiseman children
L. Francis W. Wiseman b. 1 Aug 1824 d. 16 Aug 1824
M. Albert G. Wiseman b. 16 Dec 1825 never married. Albert was handicapped
N. Charles Monroe "Roe" Wiseman b. 13 May 1828 d. 11 Apr 1877 married 10 Oct 1850 Franklin Co. TN to Elizabeth Jane Wakefield dau of Barret Hamilton Wakefield and Lucy
O. Robert C. Wiseman b. 6/3/1830 d. 3/3/1909 lived in Moore Co., TN married 1/18/1859 to Mary Elizabeth Smith. Mary is daughter of William Smith and Elizabeth Woodward and sister to Ann Smith and Martha Carolina Smith
They had daughter name Fannie Victoria Wiseman b 1859 d 1946 in Texas. m'd Rev Martin Leonides Scivally 1885 in Marble Hill, Lincoln County (now Moore) TN. Martin Scivally parents were Rev Martin Luther Scivally and Mary Thompson. Rev Martin Luther Scivally was the son of John and Leah Scivally. Rev Martin Luther sister was Rachel and brother Benjamin. Rachel m'd Andrew Wiseman and Benjamin m'd Amanda Wiseman. Andrew and Amanda's step-brother was Robert C Wiseman.
P. Martin Van Buren Wiseman b. 12/17/1832 d. 16 Mar 1864 in Confederate Hospital, Cassville, Georgia married 1 Sep 1856 Mary Ann Wakefield. Mary dau of Barrett Hamilton Wakefield and Lucy. Mary is Elizabeth Wakefield
Q. Wiley M. Wiseman b. 1/21/1835 d. 1/6/1894 bur. Marble Plains Cem. married 18 Sep 1859 Nancy Caroline Taylor
R. Maryann Wiseman b 1841
S. Sarah Wiseman b 1842
ROCHELLE HAMMONTREE: ** Ron Talbot sent me this: "I am descendent of John and Mary Hammontree pf Franklin County Tennessee. Mary was born 1798 in Virginia and was FULL BLOODED CHEROKEE INDIAN. John and Mary’s daughter NANCY b 1825 m'd JOHN D WISEMAN 27 Jan 1850 in Franklin County, Tennessee ROCHELLE HAMMONTREE m'd JOHN WISEMAN and raise their family in Lincoln County, Tennessee. There was WILSON WISEMAN and NANCY HAMMONTREE WISEMAN raised their family in both Lincoln and Franklin County, Tennessee"
"Avery Journal 's Heritage edition"
"MUSIC A WISEMAN GENE
by Elaine Steere
When his father died around 1750, the only son William Wiseman decided to leave England for the New World. Family stories say he stowed away and was caught and had to be indentured to work off the passage. We do know he met and married Mary, daughter of Thomas Davenport, in 1761 in Culpeper, VA.
William moved to the John’s River area with the Davenports, Whites and Brownings by 1777 when Burke became a county. Thomas Davenport had 6 daughters and one son Martin. Mary had family all around her. In 1790, Samuel Bright sold land to three of these families and they moved to the Ingalls area. William only lived at Sunnybrook Farm where he is buried.
William did serve in the NC Militia during the Revolutionary War. The only service for which he received pay was for the time he took a wagon, his shoemaking tools and leather, went down where the troops were quartered and made shoes for them. This is recorded in the NC Dept. of Archives and History. This service has allowed his descendants to become DAR ladies.
WILLIAM and MARY’s CHILDREN
William and Mary had 12 children before she died in 1796. They were: (1) Thomas b. April 30,1763, (2) Dorothy b Feb. 5,1765, (3) William, Jr. b. August 5, 1767, (4) Mary b. April 11, 1769, (5) Davenport b. Aug. 28, 1771, (6) Martin b. Aug. 24, 1773, (7) James b Aug. 18, 1775, (8) John Feb. 21,1777, (9) Celestial b. Oct. 22, 1779, (10) Susanna b. Dec. 16,1781, (11) Robert b. July 14, 1784. and (12) Nancy b. Oct. 31, 1792 . Mary and two of her younger children died in June 1796 from Milk Poisoning.
WILLIAM and LYDIA’s CHILDREN
William then married Lydia Bedford and they had seven children: (1) Bedford b Oct. 3,1799, (2) Alexander b March 28, 1802, (3) Jemima b. May 6, 1804, (4) Josiah b July 31, 1806, (5) Elizabeth b April 25, 1809, (6) Lydia b May 24, 1812 and (7)Anthony Senter b. Feb. 9, 1814.
William died early in 1822 according to Burke County Records. His tombstone says 1830.
William taught school by subscription (parents paid him to tutor the child), made beautiful furniture, could make shoes, was a local Justice of The Peace, wrote poetry, and was a Methodist. It is said around the county that "The Wisemans are musically inclined". Maybe William sang and played too, we don’t know, but some others sure have made a name for themselves doing so.
MUSIC MAKERS
Bedford was a "Fiddle" Player. He lived on lower Three Mile Valley, married twice and fathered 14 children. Bedford’s son "River Jim" was the ancestor of two very Musical Wisemans, Jesse who lived in Three Mile not only played but made instruments and his brother James of Hanging Rock Road. James’s had 10 children. Five played and sang, five didn’t. Son Kent was well on his way to a national music career when he and his family were killed in a car wreck. A Kent Wiseman Memorial Park existed during the 1970’s.
Bedford’s son William was the ancestor of the beloved and talented "Honey Waites", the left-handed fiddle and banjo player. Real name Waitstill, he got the nickname because he called everybody ‘Honey’. He played at square-dances and taught his cousin’s son to play too. That boy was Scott , eighth child of Edward G. and Josie Wiseman.
Edward descended from Alexander, Bedford’s brother, through James Gaither, better known as "Gusher". Gusher's brother Josiah LaFayette, is the one who Wiseman’s View is named for. Scott grew up hearing the story of how he camped and saw the mysterious "Brown Mountain Lights". He wrote the song that became so popular based on the version ‘Uncle Fate" told him.
Gusher married Elmira Pyatte and their son Edward G. went away to school. While at Rutherford College he met and married Josie Etta Shields. They had eight children grow to maturity., Scott was born Nov. 8,1909. His father was an excellent school teacher and Scott thought he’d be one too. He graduated from Crossnore High in 1927 and attended Duke one year before everything changed.
SCOTT WISEMAN MOVES INTO MUSIC
Scott’s older brother Earl attended Berea with Bradley Kincaid. Earl mentioned his brother enjoyed singing and collecting old Mountain songs. Bradley came to the Wiseman home in the summer of 1928 and encouraged Scott to join him on WLS in Chicago. Scott at that time thought making music was for fun and knew he needed an education if he was going to be a teacher or maybe a Lawyer. He did think it would be easier to play over the radio than wash dishes to finish school and the die was cast.
Scott learned how to play ‘by ear’ from "Honey Waits" and was asked to come play and sing at square dances and other local events. When his mother realized where Scott was going with music, she insisted that he learn to read music and started giving him lessons on her pump organ. He would be so glad she insisted he learn notes when he started writing music. His first hit from his on compositions was "Home Coming Time In Happy Valley" , about the church he attended back home, Pine Grove Methodist Church in Ingalls..
He was introduced to a girl singer who became his wife and they became one of the biggest husband and wife teams in America from 1934-1959... LuLu Belle and Scotty. One of the Wiseman’s who truly had Music in his Genes.
Scott Wiseman is a descendant of William Wiseman and 2nd wife Lydia Bedford. William father 19 and Scott those old stories and wrote about them
Avery Co. North Carolina has a Museum, located in the original Avery County Jail in Newland, NC. Featuring the famous WISEMAN team of LuLu Belle & Scotty. They were STARS OF THE WLS NATIONAL BARN DANCE out of Chicago for over 25 years and he wrote the beautiful " HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY THAT I LOVE YOU" for her.
The wonderful song that Scotty and his wife Lula Bell sang called" GREAT GRANDAD" was the song that family try to link William Wiseman too. Some of the song fit but some did not. William did not have 21 children. Robert Wiseman told that the age of the man in song fit William Wiseman age. The last line of the song is "Great Grandad died at eighty-nine, Twenty-one boys he left behind; Times have changed but you never can tell; You might yet do half as well."
When Scott died in 1981, he was buried in the churchyard that inspired him to write" HOMECOMING TIME IN THE HAPPY VALLEY" Lulu Bell died this year(1999) and rests beside him. They were a team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 365 days a year "THIS IS FOR NOW AND FOREVER". It's good to know those love songs were for someone as special as a beautiful mountain girl who was real Lulu of a Belle.
My Thanks to Elaine Steere and Bob Wiseman for all the help on the Wiseman family history and about Scott Wiseman
There are books called "William Wiseman and the Davenports: Pioneers of Old Burke County,North Carolina" Vol I and Vol II by Marbeth Lang Vineyard.( "The Wiseman Family and Allied Lines" by Eugene Wiseman (Genealogy Publishing Service 1991" has William middle name Edward but in Vol II, Eugene makes statement that William middle was not Edward. But some say he middle was Edward and some say not). Tom Chapman book “A Wiseman Family”
I mention the Legends above but I would like to do one more here some
This story is another one the LEGENDS that seem to go with the Wiseman family. The people of this area have an "ORAL" tradition and it never occurs to them to check census and land records. Samuel Bright owned thru grants 640 acres and additional 360 and 150 at one time. He then sold part of his land to the three known members of Thomas Davenports family...Wm Wiseman, husb of Mary, Martin Davenport, son of Thomas and John Browning husb of Dorothy also daughter of Thomas. It was this group that comprised "Bright's Settlement"
A History of Watauga County, North Carolina
Arthur John Preston : Page 53 Chapter V
Samuel Bright, Loyalist.-- We should not be surprised, therefore, to learn that there is a tradition still preserved at Ingalls and Altamont post offices, in what is now Avery County, but which formerly was a part of Watauga, that Samuel Bright, along whose "trace," according to Draper (p. 177), Sevier's men passed on their way to king's Mountain, September 27-28, 1780, was a Tory of the Tories, and while he might have claimed the Crab Orchard,(1) a mile below the confluence of the Roaring Creek __________ Note: (1)Owing to the several counties in which this land has been it is impossible to get record evidence of Bright's ownership, if he ever held title. Local tradition claims that the Crab Orchard was embraced in both the Cathcart and Waightstill Avery grants, and that the representatives of these two claimants compromised the matter by Avery paying John Brown, Cathcart's representative, 12 1/2 cts. per acre for the tract, and taking possession. John Ollis, father of W. H. Ollis, helped to clear it "back in the Forties." with the North Toe River, his home was two miles northeast of Alta Pass, where the C. C. & O. R. R. crosses the Blue Ridge, and stood near what is now a tram-road for lumber hauling. Joe Lovin now lives one-fourth of a mile southwest from the old Bright chimney mounds, which are still distinguishable.
Indeed, Robert Lee Wiseman, a direct descendant of William Wiseman, the first settler of that locality, has the original grant and knows the location of the old Bright place not only from tradition, but from having surveyed the lands originally granted to Samuel Bright. One of these grants is numbered 172 and calls for 360 acres in Burke County. The grant is dated March 5, 1780, though the land was processioned June 28, 1774, by Will Davenport, who owned "the noted spring on the Davenport place, since Tate's, and now known as the Childs place," spoken of by Dr. Draper (p. 178). The grant is registered in book No. 3 of Burke County, and was signed by J. C. Caswell, Governor, and counter signed by "In Frank, Pri. Sec." The land was surveyed by C. W. Beekman, county surveyor of Burke, August 10, 1778, while the chain carries were Thomas White, afterwards Major White, of McDowell's regiment, and James Taylor White. The land granted lies on both sides of Toe River, and a part of it is now owned by W. H. Ollis as part of his home tract, and the balance by J. L. Wiseman. The seal attached is of chalk or plaster of Paris and bees was, one-quarter of an inch thick and three inches in diameter. One one side is a female figure with staff and liberty cap in one hand and an open scroll in the other. The obverse face contains a female figure, a cow and a tree, while beneath these figures are "Independence MDCCLXXVI." This seal is not impressed upon the paper, but is detached from it, being connected with it by a double tap ribbon. Around the border is what appears to be E Pluribus Unum and Sua Si Bona, though a defacement of the wax renders some of the letters uncertain. Tradition is here borne out by the State and Colonial Records in Volume XXII (p. 506), which records that Samuel Bright, after having witnessed the trial and conviction at Salisbury before Judge Samuel Spencer, March 6, 1777, of one William Anderson, of having stolen from one Jowe, and the branding of the said Anderson on the ball of the thumb of his left hand with the letter T, signifying thief, was brought before the same stern judge to answer the charge of having committed sundry misdemeanors against the State by encouraging the enemies of said State. But Samuel evidently knew on which side of his bread was buttered, and took the benefit of the governor's proclamation, promising amnesty to all who would come in and take the oath of loyalty to the patriot cause, and got off scott-free.
Thirty-Nine Lashes on the Bare Back.--Now William Wiseman, who had been born in London, England, on St. James Street, Clarkville or Clarkwell Park, February 2, 1741, and apprenticed to a joiner, fearing service in the British army, stowed himself away on a merchant vessel in 1761, and, after lying concealed three days and nights, revealed himself to the captain, and upon arrival at a port in Connecticut was sold to pay his passage money; was bid in by a master joiner, who gave him his liberty and a box of tools upon proof that Wiseman could make as good a chest as he could himself. "What those old fellows were after," said an old citizen in speaking of Wiseman, "was freedom;" and as there was much religious persecution in the northern colonies about that time, William Wiseman took his tools aboard a sailing vessel and finally settled at the place at which W. H. Ollis now lives. Here he married a Davenport, sister, no doubt, to the Davenport of Davenport Place spoken of by Dr. Draper. He was the very first settler in that locality, and became a justice of the peace. To him was brought one day the wife of Samuel Bright, charged with having stolen a bolt of cloth from a traveling peddler. She was convicted by him, and as the peddler insisted that he should pass sentence upon her, he did so, and as there was no sheriff to inflice it, he enforced it himself--"thirty-nine lashes, well laid on."
Patriots Feared the Indians.-- Now, the Cherokees had ceded the lands on the Watauga and its waters to the Watauga settlers, Page 56 but, Roosevelt tells us (Vol. II, p. 74) that they "still continued jealous of them." and that the Cherokees "promptly took up the tomahawk at the bidding of the British" (p. 75). As Bright and Wiseman lived south of the ridge which divided the Toe from the Watauga, their home were within Indian territory at this time. Therefore, Magistrate Wiseman had been afraid to lay the lash on Mrs. Bright's bare back during the absence of her husband, who was on a hunting expedition at that time, lest upon his return he should incite the Indians to burn his cabin and scalp him in the bargain. But he was worse afraid of the peddler, who threatened to report him to the great judge, Samuel Spencer, at Salisbury, if he did not carry out the sentence he had himself imposed. He was, therefore, much perturbed till Bright and a family named Grand left the country, passing over the Bright Trace and by the Bright Spring on the Bald place of the Yellow into Tennessee. Aunt Jemima English, who was born Wiseman, daughter of the original William, justice of the peace, etc., May 6, 1804, but lived to a great old age, not only preserved these traditions, which she had at first had from her father, but she believed that the Grant family which left with the Brights were the family from whom Gen. U. S. Grant, of the U. S. army, sprang. Bright's Spring and the Shelving Rock.-- We must not forget that "the gap between the Yellow Mountain on the north and the Roan Mountain on the south" (Draper, p. 177) was once a part of Watauga County (see chapter X on Boundary Lines).
It was here that two of Sevier's men, James Crawford and Samuel Chambers, deserted and went ahead to tell Ferguson of Sevier's approach. It was here also, according to local tradition in the mouth of everyone in May, 1915, that one of Sevier's men froze to death and was buried in the edge of the bald of the Yellow. Draper, however, says nothing of such an occurrence, though he does say (p. 177) that the "sides and top of the mountain were covered with snow, shoe-mouth deep, and on the summit there were about one hundred acres of beautiful table-land, in which a spring issued [Bright's], ran though it and over into the Watauga." This latter fact, not generally known, coupled with the still more important fact that all of Watauga County on the Page 57 waters of Watauga River was once a part of Washington County--formerly Washington District--of the famous and immortal Old Watauga Settlement of Sevier, Robertson and Tipton, may well "stir a fever in the blood of age and make the infant's sinews strong as steel." For Col. Henry H. Farthing, of Timbered Ridge of the Beaver Dams, and Col. Joseph C. Shull, of Shull's Mills, have each a grant from the State to lands in their neighborhood, described as being the Washington County, North Carolina. Shull's grant is numbered 841 to Charles Asher for 300 acres in the county of Washington on both sides of Watauga River, and dated 11th July, 1788. It is signed by Samuel Johnston, Governor, and counter signed by Jas. Glascow, Secretary of State. On it is a certificate from the county register, Samuel Greer, dated May 28, 1819, that is a true copy from the records.
The Farthing grant is to John Carter for 300 acres in the county of Washington, beginning on two white oaks standing near the path that leads across Stone Mountain to Cove Creek and on the west side of the Beaver Dam Creek. It is dated November 17, 1790, and is numbered 947, and recorded in the office of the Secretary's office, page 234. For, when the Watauga settlers set up house-keeping on their own hook, they had named the territory they had acquired from the Indians by lease and purchase Washington District, and in 1777, before they tried to secede, calling the new State Franklin, North Carolina converted Washington District into Washington County. (Laws 1777, ch. 126.) Dr. Draper continues: "Thence from Talbot's Mill to its head, where they bore somewhat to the left, crossing Little Doe River, reaching the noted 'Resting Place,' at the Shelving Rock, about a mile beyond the Crab Orchard, where, after a march of about twenty miles that day, they took up their camp for the night. Big Doe River, a bold and limpid mountain stream, flowing hard by, afforded the campers, their horses and beef cattle abundance of pure and refreshing water. Here a man of the name of Miller resided who shod several of the horses of the party."
Even Homer and Dr. Draper Sometimes Nod.-- Notwithstanding all the pains Dr. Draper took to get the facts for his excellent "Kings Mountain and its Heroes," his failure to visit Page 58 the actual scenes along the route of the King's Mountain men is responsible for the error in the statement that the Big Doe River, flowing hard by, afforded the campers, etc., abundance of pure and refreshing water." The nearest point from the Shelving Rock to the Big Doe River is at least one mile and a half where that stream flows through the crab Orchard, and route to it is over a rather high ridge and by a rough trail. But the Little Doe, with enough pure and refreshing water for all the men and stock then in what is now Tennessee, flows within one hundred yards of the Shelving Rock, on which there has been placed a bronze tablet about two feet square with the following inscription:
First Night's Encampment of KING'S MOUNTAIN MEN SEPTEMBER 26, 1780.
__________ They Trusted in God and kept Their Powder Dry. __________ Placed by John Sevier Chapter, D. A. R., 1910. A Busy Forge.-- But he was right in stating that a man of the name of Miller resided at the Shelving Rock and shod their horses, for Squire W. H. Ollis, of Ingalls, N. C., furnished this identical information to the Historical Society of New Jersey in 1872, saying that "Absalom Miller told me that his father lived at Shelving Rock in September, 1780, and shod the horses of some of the King' Mountain men while they camped under the Shelving Rock." As most of Sevier's men were practical blacksmiths, we may well imagine that Johnson's forge was a busy place early on the morning of September 27, 1780, and well up into that day, and that, while some were shoeing the horses, Page 59 others were busy at bellows and anvil, hammering out horse shoes and nails, thus leaving none of the available tools idle for a moment. For the way up what is now called Hampton's Creek to the gap of the Yellow was even steeper in those days that it is now, with rocks galore to wrench the shoes from the best shod horses. Dr. Draper tells us that on this day the men, weary of driving the herd of cattle with which they had started, killed such as were necessary for a temporary supply of meat and abandoned the rest, thus considerably delaying the march of the day, "following the well-known Bright's Trace, through a gap between the Yellow Mountain on the north and the Roan Mountain on the south. The ascent was not very difficult along a common foot- path." But, for three miles at least, it was very steep and rocky, as the same old Trace, now used as a "near cut." still bears witness most eloquently. Arrived at the gap, now grown up with trees, they had a parade on the Yellow and fired off their short Deckard rifles "for fun." This was but a short day's march--seven miles--making twenty-seven miles from Sycamore Shoals in two days. Here, at a conference of the officers, Colonel Campbell was appointed to the chief command.
On the 28th they descended Roaring Creek by Bright's Trace, then following the bank of the stream very much as does the rude and rough wagon road of today, to its mouth in North Toe River, one mile from the North Carolina Crab Orchard, or Avery's Quarter, as it is now known. Here, at the mouth of Roaring Creek, lives Tilmon McCurry, who thinks that the Samuel Chambers who had deserted the night before, finally settled in Buncombe County, North Carolina, but what became of James Crawford seems not to be known. Only a short distance from the mouth of Roaring Creek is that of Powder Mill Creek, a short distance up which later stream Dorry and Loddy Oaks made enough powder in the dim and distance past with which to buy a negro man, and, no doubt, obtained the bounty referred to in Wheeler's History of North Carolina (Vol. II, p. 52). From the mouth of Roaring Creek, however, Bright's Trace is now no longer followed, the Cranberry and Spruce Pine Road having usurped its usefulness, but it can be traced still as Page 60 it takes its almost straight course to the crossing of Toe River, almost a mile above Spruce Pine, at which place a small monument marks Sevier's route. They Did Not Camp on the Yellow.-- Bright's Spring in North Carolina is a mile north of the gap between the Yellow and Roan. It is in a field that in 1780 contained a bald place of about 100 acres, through the Humps, lying near, have since been cleared and the bald place is now much larger than it was then.
There is also another spring on the Tennessee side, near the gap, called also Bright's Spring. It is true the ground is said to have been covered with snow when they camped there, but that 1,040 men(1) and horses could have supplied themselves with water on the top of that mountain would have been an impossibility. Dr. Draper says in unmistakable language that they "passed on a couple of miles, descending the eastern slope of the mountains into Elk Hollow--a slight depression between the Yellow and Roan Mountains, rather than a gap-- and here at a fine spring flowing into Roaring Creek they took up their camp for the night" (p. 178). Yet, the general impression is that these men camped on the Yellow Mountain that night! Oliver Cromwell's Descendant.--Dr. Draper records the fact that Col. Benjamin Cleveland claimed direct descent from Oliver Cromwell, from a liaison with Elizabeth Cleveland, "a beauty of the time of Charles the First" (pp. 425, 426), but this story is doubted by the eminent historian. Cleveland was mistaken in acting as though cruelty was Cromwell's chief virtue. Cleveland's Capture at Old Fields.--Dr. Draper says that this doughty warrior was captured at this place, which he is said to have owned, on the 22 day of April, 1781, while on a visit to his tenant, Jesse Duncan, at the lower end of the Old Fields--probably the very spot at which the late Nathan Waugh lived and died. Captain William Riddle was the leader of the gang which captured him, they having stolen his horses from Duncan's barn the night before and led them up south fork of New River ___________
Note: (1) The force which started from Sycamore Shoals consisted of : Colonel Campbell's men, 200; Colonel Shelby's, 240 men; Lieutenant-Colonel Sevier's 240 men, McDowell;s party, who had retreated from Cowen's Ford, 160 men; (Draper, p. 149); Arthur Campbell, with 200 men (Id. p. 175), making in all 1040 men. Page 61 into a laurel thicket just above the house then occupied by Joseph and Timothy Perkins, about one mile distant. There were six or eight men with Riddle, and when they reached Benjamin Cutbirth's home the day before, four miles above Duncan's home, and failed to get any information from him, they abused him shamefully and left him under guard. Cleveland ran into the ambush prepared for him and was captured and taken into the Perkins house, which stood on the site of the house in which Nathan Waugh's son, Charles, now resides.
The illustration shows the present house and apple tree in its front under which it is said Cleveland was sitting when captured. Into this house of the Perkinses, Zachariah Wells followed Cleveland and attempted to shoot him, but that brave (?) man seized Abigail Walters, who was present, and kept her between him and his would-be assassin (p.440). Cleveland was then taken up New River to the mouth of Elk Creek, and thence to "what has since been known as Riddle's Knob." See Illustration.) This is some fourteen miles from Old Fields and in Watauga County. Here they camped for the night (441). But they had been followed by young Daniel Cutbirth and a youth named Walters,(1) Jesse Cuncan, John Shirley, William Calloway, Samuel McQueen and Benjamin Greer, while Joseph Calloway mounted a horse and hastened to notify Captain Robert Cleveland, Ben's brother, on Lewis' Fork of the Yadkin. Five of these in advance of Robert's party fired on Riddle's gang at the Wolf's Den early the next morning, and Cleveland dropped behind the log on which he had been sitting slowly writing passes for the Tories, fearing that when he should finish doing so he would be killed. Only Wells was wounded, the rest escaping, including Riddle's wife. As it was thought that Wells would die from his would, he was left on the ground to meet his fate alone. But he survived. About 1857 Micajah Tugman found a curious knife in the Wolf's Den, supposed to have been Riddle's. Greer's Hint.-- This "hint" is thus accounted for by Dr. Draper in a note at foot of page 442: "Greer was one of ___________ Note:(1) These boys had planned to rescue Cleveland, but they thought better of it when Riddle's force came in sight.
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