| Notes |
- SOURCE CITATION:
Title: (See source comments)
Source Comments: "Montgomery and James of Southwest Virginia", by David B. Trimble
2506 Hartford Road
Austin, Texas 78703
"Montgomery and James of Southwest Virginia", by David B. Trimble;
2506Hartford Road; Austin, Texas 78703 on page 336 writes that this
is theJohn Montgomery that was born in Augusta, now Botetourte
county Virginia,later moved as a child to Reed Creek in present
Wythe county Virginia.About 1775 married Phoebe Ramsey, and lived
near Ft. Chiswell in 1782.He explored in the Cumberland area of
Kentucky and Tennessee, to theneglect of his family. As early as
1771 was a member of Col. JohnDonelson's expedition to the
Cumberland in 1780. He signed the compactof government created for
the area and was elected sheriff in 1783 (alsoin the History of
Montgomery County Tennessee, page 759).
1 CONT He received a warrant for 437 acres on the South Fork of the
Elkhorn
He received a warrant for 437 acres on the South Fork of the
ElkhornRiver in Fayette County Ky. from Joseph Montgomery 3/31/1783.
Received amilitary warrant from North Carolina1,120 acres and made
an entry on theNorth Rork of the West Fork of the Red River in
present day MontgomeryCounty, Tennessee 3/31/1785 which he sold to
James Davis in 1787.
1 CONT He was a militia colonel who fought in many early Indian
battles and was
He was a militia colonel who fought in many early Indian battles and
waskilled by Indians on Nov. 27, 1794 near Eddyville, Kentucky.
MontgomeryCounty, Tennessee was named for him in 1796. Likely the
very sameKentucky Colonel who fought with Gen. George Rogers Clark
and BenjaminLogan. His wife Phobe and her children moved to
Livingston county, Ky.after his death where she died in 1810.
1 CONT From the "History of Caldwell County, Kentucky" pages 14 - 19:
From the "History of Caldwell County, Kentucky" pages 14 - 19:
"Four authorities on the early history of the Cumberland River
valley,Williams, Haywood, Ramsey, and Arnow, all credit Montgomery
to haveaccompanied various groups of "Long Hunters" to the
Cumberland RiverRegion almost continuously from 1767 through 1771.
It is believed that aconsiderable amount of this time was spent
hunting on the lowerCumberland. History has revealed that, over the
ensuing quarter of acentury, Montgomery was most knowledgeable and
closely associated withthe settlement and the affairs of the lower
Cumberland Valley. JohnMontgomery and his brother-in-law, James
Davis, jointly established inthe early 1780's of Western Kentucky's
earliest settlements. Thissettlement was known as Davis Station and
was located near what is nowthe Christian and Todd county boundary.
A creek near this settlementstill bears Montgomery's name. A
Caldwell County tributary of theTradewater River, which was probably
one of Montgomery's favorite huntinggrounds, also bears Montgomery's
name. In the middle 1780's, JohnMontgomery and Martin Armstrong
established a town on the CumberlandRiver at the mouth of Red River,
which Montgomery named in honor of afrontier leader for whom he held
the highest esteem, General GeorgeRogers Clark. Clarksville is the
county seat of Montgomery County, apolitical unit named in the honor
of the frontiersman, John Montgomery.
1 CONT John Montgomery was a Revolutionary patriot of considerable
renown. In
John Montgomery was a Revolutionary patriot of considerable renown.
InOctober, 1777, Captain John Montgomery's Company from the
"Wholestons's"of Virginia arrived at Logan's Station to strengthen
the defenses ofKentucky. The next year, Montgomery commanded one of
the four companiesof General George Rogers Clark's "Big Knives" who
succeeded, in graspingby surprise the entire Northwest from the
hands of the British. Aftertheir initial success, Clark entrusted
Montgomery to escort the capturedRocheblave, the former British
lieutenant governor of the Illinois, tothe Virginia capitol at
Williamsburg, and to acquaint Governor PatrickHenry with the
conditions prevailing in the Northwest, and to pleadClark's case to
Governor Henry for reinforcements and supplies. GovernorHenry was so
impressed with Captain Montgomery's capabilities that heimmediately
elevated him to the rank of lieutenant colonel, knowingfull well
that this promotion would place Montgomery in the position ofsecond
in command of the Virginia Regiment in the Illinois.
1 CONT In the absence of General Clark, Montgomery assumed the
command of the
In the absence of General Clark, Montgomery assumed the command of
theIllinois Regiment. In the spring of 1780, the British launched an
attackon Cahokia destined to annihilate the Americans. They were
successfullydefeated by Montgomery. Montgomery aggressively took the
offensive,pursuing the attackers north to Rock River, where he again
defeated hisadversaries, destroying their crops and their villages
in what was thewesternmost battle of the Revolution. The above
information on ColonelJohn Montgomery, for whom it is believed that
Caldwell County'sMontgomery Fork was named, illustrates that he was
not just arun-of-the-mill pioneer.
1 CONT During the "Long Hunter" era, what is now Caldwell County was
a portion
During the "Long Hunter" era, what is now Caldwell County was a
portionof the colony of Virginia. In 1779, Virginia enacted a series
of landlaws directing the manner in which the Kentucky lands would
be disposed.One of these laws created a reservation, setting aside
all of the landswithin its bounds to be given as bounty lands to the
officers, sailors,soldiers, and marines who had served Virginia in
the course of theRevolution. This reservation was to be bounded on
the east by a line fromthe headwaters of Green River to the
Cumberland Mountains and thencegenerally south along the crest of
these mountains to the Carolina line,thence to the west along the
Carolina line to the Tennessee River, thencedown the Tennessee to
the Ohio, thence up the Ohio to the mouth of GreenRiver, thence to
the point of beginning. The name that was associatedwith this
reservation was the "Lands South of Green River." It is mostobvious
that what is now Caldwell County fell within the bounds of the"Lands
South of Green River."
1 CONT No provisions were made for the granting of these bounty
lands until
No provisions were made for the granting of these bounty lands
untilafter the close of the Revolution. Since the Virginia veterans
were theonly individuals eligible to be granted title to the "Lands
South ofGreen River," no legal settlements could be established
within thismilitary reservation until after the close of the
Revolution. InDecember,1783, the Virginia legislature appointed
Colonel Richard CloughAnderson, Sr., the principal surveyor of the
"Lands South of Green River." By the following July, he had
perfected his organization and proceduresand opened an office in
Louisville for the purpose of disposing of thesebounty lands. Each
veteran was issued a Military Warrant stating thenumber of acres
that he was to be granted. This warrant was entered atthe Land
Office and a surveyor would be assigned to survey the
desiredspecific tract in order that a legal description could be
recorded of thetract to be granted. Soon after the opening of the
land office for thedisposal of the bounty lands, the "Lands South of
Green River" wereliterally teeming with surveying parties. We are
indebted to the diary ofMajor William Croghan, from September 29
through December 11, 1784, whoconducted surveys on the lower
Cumberland River during that period, forthe only known firsthand
information relating to existing conditions inthe "Lands South of
Green River" at the time that these surveys were madeand any insight
on the military surveyors' operations. This diary shedssome light on
trade and travel on the Cumberland and Indian movements inthis
region in that era.
1 CONT It is fascinating to learn that physical features in this
region in that
It is fascinating to learn that physical features in this region in
thatperiod were identified by the same names as today. Examples
areCumberland Island, Straight Creek, Clay Lick Creek, The Big Eddy,
EddyCreek, and Little River. Croghan's staff included a surveyor,
two chaincarriers, a marker, and a full time hunter. Even with a
full time hunter,the party would sometimes go a day or so without
food. When the hunterwas successful, the table would be laden with
venison, buffalo beef, bearmeat, wild turkey, ducks and geese. At a
point a short distance upstreamfrom the mouth of the Cumberland,
this diary notation was found, "weCaught Cat fish daily, one of
which we all supposed, 90 pounds, one ofthe men put his foot and
part of his leg in his mouth with ease."Complaints were made of
going without bread for as long as two weeks.Occasionally "musty
meal" would be obtained from a passing boat. One ofthe chain
carriers was bitten by a copperhead snake on October 18 and
wasunable to perform his duties for several weeks. The surveying
party waswithout "snakebite medicine" as Croghan often complained of
having nowhiskey.
1 CONT Travel between tracts to be surveyed was principally
accomplished via
Travel between tracts to be surveyed was principally accomplished
viaboats. Boat traffic along the Cumberland in the fall of 1784 was
muchmore than one would imagine. Croghan's diary notes "boats and
canoesdaily going up and down the river.'' It must be recalled that
numeroussettlements had been established by 1784 around the French
Lick,presently Nashville, and up Red River. For example, in 1782
Princeton's"God Father," Captain William Prince, had established
Prince's Station onthe Sulphur Fork of Red River at a place that was
later known as PortRoyal, Tennessee. The Cumberland River was the
chief avenue ofcommunications for the French Lick and Red River
settlements. While inthe vicinity of Clay Lick and Goose Creeks,
Croghan mentioned that M.L.Clark's salt boat was headed downstream.
Six days later it was noted thatClark's salt boat was returning
upstream, having gone to the Salines,taken on a load of salt, and
was returning upstream. Croghan's diarymakes mention of a merchant's
boat passing along the Cumberland fromwhich they obtained coffee but
no sugar. On one occasion, mention wasmade of a "well-behaved part
of Delawares" falling in with Croghan'sparty. On at least two
occasions, the surveyors became alarmed because ofthe close
proximity of two Chickasaw parties. Quite often, notation wasmade of
making contacts with other parties of surveyors.
1 CONT Croghan's survey party made great haste in completing their
surveying
Croghan's survey party made great haste in completing their
surveyingassignments. Most often they would complete a 1,000 acre
survey in oneday. This was a short time to complete a survey of this
size consideringthe timber and undergrowth existing at that time in
the Cumberland Riverbottoms where the majority of their surveys were
made. The mostastounding fact revealed in Croghan's 1784 diary was
his discovery of asettlement of cabins at the mouth of Little River.
The only personmentioned by name to have been living in this
settlement was a Mr.Harlan. Later in the diary, Croghan mentioned a
"camp of poor people"that was located on Little River upstream from
its mouth. Discussion thusfar of the pioneer days has related
primarily to the Cumberland andTennessee River valleys. Let us
glance at the Tradewater River that hasbeen the eastern boundary of
the county since its formation.
1 CONT The first mention of the name "Tradewater" appeared in the
first military
The first mention of the name "Tradewater" appeared in the first
militarysurveys that were made in this watershed in 1784. The fact
that the term"Tradewater" was attached to this stream at this early
date tickles one'simagination as to why the assignment of this title
to this stream. Theterm itself suggests that the bosom of this
stream was utilized for thepurpose of carrying on trade. Since this
term had surfaced as early as1784, it is suggestive that this trade
was occurring at least at thistime or prior to this date Since no
documentary evidence has beendiscovered as to why this name was
given to this stream, we can onlyspeculate on circumstantial
evidence There is much evidence that Indianhabitations had
previously existed in the Tradewater valley. Some of theearlier ones
were possibly permanent and the later ones were probablyutilized
only during the late fall and early winter hunting seasons. Itmust
be recalled that the French established Poste Vincennes on the
lowerWabash in the early 1700's and that this outpost was only
slightly overone hundred miles down the Wabash and Ohio to the mouth
of Tradewater.From the earlier established and large French
settlement at Kaskaskia, itwas only slightly farther down the
Mississippi and up the Ohio to themouth of Tradewater than from
Poste Vincennes. These two river routesafforded a convenient avenue
over which the coureurs de bois could travelvia boat, favorite mode
of conveyance, in conducting their principaloccupation hunting and
fur trading. It is believed this stream receivedits name from
trading conducted by these coureurs de bois on the surfaceof
Tradewater River.
1 CONT A likely candidate for participation in Indian fur trade
along streams in
A likely candidate for participation in Indian fur trade along
streams inthe well County region was Timothe' Monbruen, a French
Canadian who hadsettled at Poste Vincennes while a lad. In 1760, at
about the age oftwenty-three, he began trading up and down the
Cumberland. It is believedthe name of Demumbers Creek, a Cumberland
tributary that now lies in theLand Between the Lakes section of Lyon
County, is a colloquialanglicization of de Monbruen. It is surmised
that de Monbruen from timeto maintained a temporary trading on or
near the mouth of that stream.When General George Rogers Clark was
conducting his Northwest Campaign,de Monbruen had moved his
residence to Kaskaskia. He rendered valuablemilitary services to
Clark's forces at Kaskaskia. For these services, hewas awarded
military land grants for acreages to be located in the LandsSouth of
Green River.
1 CONT In 1797, de Monbruen utilized his military warrants for the
location of
In 1797, de Monbruen utilized his military warrants for the location
ofthree parcels of land in the Caldwell county vicinity. Four
hundredtwenty two acres were located on Skinframe Creek, a
watercourse thatreceived its name from the many wooden frames that
lined its banks thatwere utilized by Indians for the drying of their
skins, pelts, and furs.Four hundred fifty acres were located at
Leeper's Grove Fork onDonaldson's Fork of the Tradewater. In
November, 1802, Felix Grundyreported to the Kentucky General
Assembly that the saline waters flowingfrom Leeper's Lick on the
Donaldson Fork of the Tradewater waspotentially sufficient to
support a salt works. It is believed thatLeeper's Grove upon which
de Monbruen's claim was made was near Leeper'sLick. The other tract
contained seventeen hundred seventy-seven acres andwas located on an
east branch of Little River and the "Old Eddy Trace!'It is believed
that the "Big Buffalo Crossing" of Muddy Fork was on ornear this
tract.
1 CONT It is most obvious that each of these three tracts afforded
excellent
It is most obvious that each of these three tracts afforded
excellentamenities that would have been attractive to fur traders
and/or huntersin the pre-settlement era. It is our opinion that de
Monbruen hadpreviously operated temporary trading posts on or near
these tractsduring the fall hunting seasons and chose to locate his
military grantsnear these sites. A most intriguing reference has
been noted in amilitary survey completed for Major William Croghan
in 1797. This surveywas for a five hundred acre tract that was
located at the head of theSinking branches of the Middle Fork (sic,
Muddy Fork) of Little River.This interesting reference was to a
large spring that was "near GeorgeFlinn's Old Encampment."
Apparently his "old encampment" was on or nearthe dividing ridge
separating the Cumberland and the Tradewater Riverwatersheds and was
located very near what is now the Caldwell andChristian County
lines. It is interesting to note that on the Tradewaterside of this
ridge is a creek designated as Camp Creek which flows intoSand Lick
Creek, a Tradewater tributary.
1 CONT Limited knowledge has been assembled on George Flinn (sic,
Flynn).
Limited knowledge has been assembled on George Flinn (sic,
Flynn).Sufficient bits of knowledge has been assembled to determine
that Flinnwas a very early frontier pioneer spy, guide, and lone
hunter who wasmost knowledgeable of this region. He was a member of
Kaspar Mansker'sLong Hunters who ranged in the lower Cumberland
region in 1771. It isbelieved that George Flinn was the second son
of Laughlin Flinn. LaughlinFlinn, an Irish immigrant, came to
America in 1718 and settled in AmeliaCounty, Virginia. Laughlin
Flinn died in about 1758 or 1759, leaving twosurviving sons, George
and James, both of whom inherited land inMecklenburg County,
Virginia. In January 1798, George Flinn of ChristianCounty appointed
James Yates of Robertson County, Tennessee, his attorneyto
investigate Flinn's potential interest in a 450 acre tract of
landlocated in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. George Flinn was
credited tohave been in Mecklenburg County, and was charged by the
court of thatcounty for not taking proper care of his children. It
seems that manyLong Hunters were guilty of failing to properly
provide for theirfamilies while they were absent from home for long
periods of time onthese extended hunts.
1 CONT From 1771, while George Flinn was accompanying Kaspar
Mansker's party of
From 1771, while George Flinn was accompanying Kaspar Mansker's
party ofLong Hunters on the lower
Cumberland, we find no record of Flinn's whereabouts until 1779,
when hewas on active service with Captain Benjamin Logan's Company
of LincolnCounty Militia. George Flinn's expertise as an experienced
frontiersmanwas recognized on numerous occasions when he was chosen
to perform rareand difficult missions that required unusual
knowledge and skills. Inlate summer 1781, he served as a spie (sic,
frontier scout) for theLincoln County Militia Company of Lieutenant
Benjamin Pettot. In Januarythe next year, Flinn was granted 400
acres of land on Green River inLincoln County. It is surmised that
Flinn was in the Lincoln County areaat least from 1779 to about
1783. It appears that in 1783 his activitieswere concentrated more
in the Cumberland River region. On November 4,1783, at Fort
Nashborough; George Flinn issued a receipt for the paymentof
services for having served as a guide from the Cumberland to
the"Choctaw Nation." He received payment at the rate of one dollar
per day.On February 1784, Flinn gave a receipt in the amount of
fifteen pounds,six shillings for having served as a
guide for John Reid to the Chickasaw Nation. By the next year it
appearsthat his activities had moved further down the Cumberland for
in August,1785, he entered a claim at the Land Office for 1000 acres
of land onEddy Creek. An interesting promissory note was executed
by RobertSimpson to Robert Mossely that bore a date of September 12,
1792, wasattested to by George Flinn and Benjamin Davis. For the
advancement offourteen pounds (English Sterling), Simpson promised
to deliver to RobertMossely or his agent "good Market Buffalow Beef,
free of Boone" of valueequal to the money advance. This buffalo
beef was to be delivered to"Red Banks on the Ohio (present site of
Henderson, Kentucky) or any otherplace that he (sic, Mossely) or his
should salt beef on the Banks of saidriver, an aney time in the
ensuing fawl before the fawl hunt is over."
1 CONT It is believed that Simpson was associated with Flinn as a
professional
It is believed that Simpson was associated with Flinn as a
professionalhunter during the 1792 fall hunting season and that
their activities wereconcentrated in the Tradewater River valley.
Knowledge of Flinn's longand very early association with the
Tradewater region was so widelyrecognized that J. Russell's 1795 Map
of the State of Kentucky designatedthe Tradewater River as "Flinn's
Creek." A Tradewater tributary, Flinn'sFork, perpetuates the name of
this famous Tradewater valley frontiersman.It is believed that
George Flinn also maintained a hunting camp at thesulphur lick that
is located on the East Fork of Flinn's Fork and is nowknown as the
Gum Lick. No one knows how long George Flinn lived on andhunted the
Tradewater valley prior to the settlement of Caldwell County,but it
is felt that it was for at least a decade.
1 CONT George Flinn died in Livingston County in 1799 and the
inventory of his
George Flinn died in Livingston County in 1799 and the inventory of
hisestate lists a "great boat ". It is believed that the old
frontiersmanestablished a ferry during the early 1790's on the Ohio
immediately belowthe mouth of Tradewater River. He probably operated
the ferry at thatpoint intermittently while not hunting. Sons of the
old frontiersmanoperated a ferry at this point after their father's
death.
1 CONT During the 1790's, two renegades known as the Harpe brothers
rampaged
During the 1790's, two renegades known as the Harpe brothers
rampagedacross the Kentucky and Tennessee frontiers killing,
pillaging, andleaving all types of hideous crimes in their wake. The
frontier was up inarms and posies were organized to hunt down and
kill these desperadoes. Aparty of vigilantes was successful in
killing "Big" Harpe at a place thatis now located in Webster County.
While in the state of dying, the outlawstates, "...I feel the death
damp upon my brow; and before I die I wouldwish that old man Baldwin
might be brought here as he was the man whoinstigated me to the
commission of all of my crimes:' The old man Baldwinto whom "Big"
Harpe alluded was known as a suspicious character who livedin what
is now Caldwell County at a place known as Green Tree Grove. Itis
believed that Green Grove was generally located in a
triangleencompassed by Piney Fork, Donaldson
Fork, and Donaldson Creek. Additional research will be required to
shedmore light on this subject.
1 CONT During the 1790's, the only market for products produced in
the settled
During the 1790's, the only market for products produced in the
settledportion of Kentucky and the Cumberland Valley in Tennessee
was viaflatboat down the Mississippi to the port of New Orleans.
Spaincontrolled the navigation of the Mississippi which severely
restrictedAmerican trade at the port of New Orleans. In 1793, while
the FrenchRevolution was in full swing, the French government
dispatched CitizenGenet to the United States to solicit aid and
friendship. He was coollyreceived in the East but was accepted with
open arms in the West when heproposed to issue a French commission
of Major General to George RogersClark who would command a force of
Kentucky and Tennessee volunteers forthe purpose of capturing the
port of New Orleans and freeing thenavigation of the Mississippi.
The national government violently opposedthis scheme and President
Washington ordered the establishment andmanning of a fort at the
site of old Fort Massac to halt the passage ofany hostile force of
westerners bound down the Ohio to New Orleans.
1 CONT The only military force assembled for this proposed
clandestine invasion
The only military force assembled for this proposed clandestine
invasiondown the Mississippi was by Colonel John Montgomery. He
recruited a forceof Tennesseans during the winter and early spring
of 1794 and establishedthemselves at the mouth of the Cumberland
awaiting the arrival of Clark'sforces down the Ohio. Of course,
Clark's forces never arrived. Theestablishment of Fort Massac had a
quieting effect on Indian bands whowere roving freely in the
Caldwell County vicinity. The Fort Massaccommissary, which was
authorized to conduct trade with civilians,established this
vicinity's first mercantile outlet. Another effect ofthe above chain
of events on the pioneer Caldwell County region was thatColonel John
Montgomery cached a sizable herd of cattle at the "Big Eddy"that
were to be utilized in supplying of beef for the proposed
expeditiondown the Mississippi. It is believed that the facilities
of the
"old Hunting camp opposite the Big Eddy" were utilized by the
personnelwho guarded and cared for these beeves. It is believed that
these cattleremained at the "Big Eddy" for a considerable period of
time afterMontgomery's force at the mouth of the Cumberland
disbanded and returnedto their homes.
1 CONT Only one incident that has been found relating to Indian
mischief in the
Only one incident that has been found relating to Indian mischief in
theCaldwell County region was the murdering of Colonel John
Montgomery inDecember, 1794. A report of this incident states: "He
(sic, Montgomery)was out of the fort at that place (sic, Eddyville)
in company with JuliusSaunders who resided at this place also."
They were attacked byIndians and Saunders was wounded before he
could reach the fort.Montgomery was out of danger, but upon hearing
Saunders crying for help,Montgomery returned to his aid and was
killed in the course of events.
1 CONT Detailed research has failed to uncover any other information
pertaining
Detailed research has failed to uncover any other information
pertainingto a settlement or fortification of any type being located
in thevicinity of Eddyville at this early date. It is possible that
ablockhouse or some other type of fortification was erected by
eitherhunters or Montgomery's herdsmen at "the old hunting camp
opposite theBig Eddy." The above account of the murder indicates
that both Montgomeryand Saunders were residing at the "fort" at the
time of this incident. Ifthis be the case, they were possibly there
caring for or guarding thecattle. There are indications that these
cattle were eventually shippeddown the rivers to Natchez."
0
Submitted by Michael A. Montgomery, CMS 1712, on 9/6/98.
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Abt 1750 - 1794 (44 years)