Appalachian Native American Stories to Tell

There is one area I will be delving into in the future and it will not be easy. Not only because of the shape I am in, but also because it is a part of history that is just not easy to research or tell, but it's on my heart. That is what I know about the history of Indians in Appalachia.

A Native friend called me today and asked me if I had seen the special on C-Span about Werowocomoco Village. Powhatan's chief residence that was recently identified in the last 10 to 12 years. They are preserving and studying the site which is located on the York River and is SUCH an important historical site for Native American history in Virginia. Most of the tribal chiefs of the state tribes in Virginia were there at this event whose tribes were once part of this federation of tribes that dealt with the colonists at Jamestown. It brought up the remembrance of a long neglected history of our Appalachian mountains.

How many of us have the oral tradition that we had ancestors that were Native American? Yes, I know, there are many who laugh at that. Mainly because all we have are stories and not the actual proof of that history. Though DNA is helping. It is always told to be Cherokee, which those in the Native American community ridicule each time they hear it. I understand, but the history of the Cherokee in this area is pretty predominant. John Ross, one of the chiefs of the Cherokee at the time of removal in 1836, was actually 3/4 white and many were especially in the North Carolina mountains connected to that tribe.

I also think some of that is because in the early 1900's the Cherokee plight became so well known that the actual history of Native Heritage became mixed up with, "they had to be Cherokee". So many of those who did have a Native ancestor in the mountains had become so assimilated into white culture. They did not know the history that so many tribes were wiped out of existence. They didn't understand that the Cherokee were not the only tribe here or connected to Appalachia. 

It is also talked about as if it was most recent. When it could have occurred generations ago before the removal policies. It is also hard for those who are west of the Mississippi, in a later history that included segregated reservation systems, to comprehend what it was like to live in the East prior to and after those removal policies. But those stories need to be told.

In my own family it was something not to be talked about but more to be feared if it was found out. We knew and that was enough. In Virginia especially there was the assimilation with not only white but black ancestry with the persecution that follows that.

Natives were people of color.  I once was helping a woman trace her family tree. In some of the records she found, their family would be listed as white. In others listed as black or mulatto.  She did trace to some Saponi names but was quite upset when I told her they would be at times listed as people of color. She told me, "Those records could not be my family," because, " my ancestors were "white" Indians!" 

I really don't know what that is. Though it's popular today to claim Native ancestry, it is hard to get folks to understand this aspect of who they were and the times in which their ancestor had to live.

Mary Kegley wrote a wonderful book entitled, "Free In Chains", the story of Rachel Findlay who was Native American and enslaved. It is the story of Rachel and her family going through Virginia courts to gain their freedom before the Civil War. It is hard for some to come to grips that Virginia Indian history is tied to black history.

The records of Virginia and America still need to be combed to find and verify the history about Native Americans in Virginia and the mountains. It would also have to be an international search with England and France records, prior to the Revolutionary War. Plus we know there was a time in Virginia records were destroyed to hide native ancestry.

The history of the Native Americans in Virginia is a very long one and in modern times very much tied to race issues. In Virginia, we have a history of eugenics in our state government that had a big impact on Native Americans in our state.

But they are STILL HERE and we who are descendants are still here! The Virginia Indian Tribes the Pamunkey and the Mattaponi actually have the oldest reservations in the United States but they are not recognized by the federal government. They have fought to keep their culture and history.  An interesting article click here for the Pamunkey. One of the best sources about Pocahontas's people is to read Helen Rountree's works. But we are in the mountains and that story is just not yet written in it's entirety. Historians and researchers today are only scratching the surface.

I remember as a child looking at maps of where the Native Americans were located in the United States and always so disappointed because our part of Appalachia would say, "Unknown Tribes". In my research I have found it wasn't as much an uninhabited "wilderness" as once thought.

Wolf Creek Indian Village and Museum, where I worked, was based on an actual archeology site in Bland County. It was the first state recognized archeology site in Bland County but didn't occur until 1970. We are way behind the coast of Virginia on documentation and archeology in telling the Native American story in Appalachia.

I hope in the future to tell the story of what I know about Native American history in Appalachia, but this Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is an awful disease. No two ways about it. It has robbed me of so much. There are days when I can hardly move, days when it is an effort to get dressed or do the simplest of things. Days when the sun is shining and I want to do SO MUCH and the old body just won't cooperate. I fight it every day and I can tell you it is no fun to feel like I have the nightmare of this achy awful flu that never goes away.

This blog I have to say is kind of a saving grace. You see, I was just laying around, trying to figure out how to get better. A lot of times just in tears because I just felt so worthless. I felt I had become this shadow of my former self. Days turned to weeks, that turned to months and now a couple of years since I felt really well. The internet and TV were all I had. This spring, when I found my blog again, that I started before and just as I got ill, I thought ...ok I will just share a few things on it and tell some family history to see how it goes. It will be something to do, other than cry and watch T.V.

Little did I know that it is has become something I can put my attention on, rather than just laying here hurting and being sick.  Even when the illness is so bad and I can't even think. At those times I don't write too well I have to go back, edit, over and over again. But I feel I'm on a mission once more.

If you all see any sentences that are backwards, literally, please tell me. My thought processes with this disease are really weird to me. But though it is a real challenge to do this, it's giving me new hope. That my life is not over. I'm not totally useless.  Especially the nice comments I have received from readers. SO THANK YOU! THANK YOU ALL.

I can't be as prolific a blogger as some. This week will be 3 posts...whoo hoo.... been the most I've ever accomplished.  I know I have several hundred articles in me with added recipes and crafts. Yep, I can keep this going for quite a while.

I don't know how much I can do these days to expound on these things. Being ill has hampered me in more ways than one. I miss the ability to do my job and I really miss my job MONEY!  I will be limited to research on the internet, and as long as I can keep the internet on, it's a story I will surely try to tell.   I hope you will join me for the journey.

Copyright 2007-2016 Denise Smith

King's Men - Revolutionary War Loyalists in Appalachia

I've been battling my CFS symptoms last couple of weeks. So I'm taking it a bit easy and recycling some things I wrote quite a few years back.  There are two sides to every story and there are two sides to every war. I have seen researchers forget to look for ancestors participating on the other side of a popular conflict. Family research shows during the Revolutionary War and the Civil War I had family members who served on opposite sides in both wars. The history that emerges always leaves me wondering whether those wars were worth the damage it did to my family in the end but it is fascinating history.  The following is the story of a few of those ancestors who remained Loyalists and did not fight for Independence from England during the Revolutionary War in Appalachia.

This is looking towards the area these Loyalist Ancestors lived. Taken from the Tower on Big Walker Mountain.

One of the most fascinating stories I have found about some of my ancestors is the story of those that lived in the Appalachian mountains who refused to join the Continental Army or take an oath of allegiance to the new colonies in the Revolutionary War. I was always led to believe that everyone fought in the Revolutionary War to be free from Great Britain.  Nicholas Wyrick, Jacob Kettering (Kitts) along with Duncan Guillion were kin and ancestors who did not. 

It seems not everyone embraced the cause of liberty from England. Many in the area of New River were “disaffected” citizens and maintained that the King of England still had authority. There is a theory that many of these disaffected citizens had been on the frontier for many years and had assimilated with Native Americans by intermarriage. They were also concerned that the treaties under which they lived would be altered and their grants or claims rewritten by a new colonial government putting France in control of the frontier.

In searching lands transactions later, some would have those fears realized after the Revolutionary War. Many after the war would have property confiscated, leave or lose their lands because of stiff penalties leaving them to try to purchase their lands back. 

England was promising to honor surveys long since held up in land disputes for those on the frontier and also to negotiate with the Natives (pay them for squatters) while at the same time move the line of the frontier back to the Falls of the James River (Proclamation of 1763) preventing further encroachment into Native American territory unless under new treaties. This was one of the main reasons many of the Cherokee and other Native tribes sided with the British.

Whatever their reasons, many citizens in our area became enemies of the state and of the American Colonial government and to the American Cause. 

The first test of loyalty to the American Cause, at least for some on the New River frontier, probably came in 1777, when all males over sixteen were required to take the Oath to the state. The County courts were required to keep lists of those who had taken the oath, and those who had refused.  Those who refused to sign the oath were to be disarmed.  In addition, they would lose their right to hold office, vote, serve on juries, or acquire lands.  Their taxes would be doubled.

As the Loyalist or Tory problem continued, penalties were increased and under a new act of treason, the penalty was death without benefit of clergy, and forfeiture of property. In this case treason meant actually waging war against the Americans or aiding the enemy. Those “maintaining the authority of the King” were subject to fine and imprisonment, and it was the duty of the county lieutenant to see that the Loyalists were arrested and disarmed. (Virginia Hening, Statutes, IX, 281-283) 

There were those that took the Oath but William Preston, in our area of Virginia made it clear when he wrote to William Fleming in December 1777 that there was a problem with the men of Captain Thomas Burke’s militia company.  Preston noted that Burke and almost his entire company minus four or five, or “nearly forty of my neighbors have positively refused the Oath of Allegiance to the States” (Virginia Papers, Draper Mass., 2 ZZ.43) 

Preston went on to state he had tried to reason with them. He intended the following week to order them to be disarmed and had given them another week to come by and take the oath.  Preston was concerned because the punishments seem not to have much of an affect on those that refused.  He wrote, “all such will stand out until their property or Persons can be more affected than what the Law subjects them to. The present punishment is really a matter of diversion to them. They bring no suits, they never elect (vote), they don’t attend court, they can dispose of their arms, (trap and hunt without them), and they don’t want to purchase land: by these means they entirely evade the force of Law to which I sincerely wish some amendments could be made to stop this growing Evil.” 

Such was the alarm of how many who would not take the oath, the courts tried to make examples early. My grandfather, Jacob Kettering (Jacob Kitts) the miller was bound over on suspicion of being an enemy of the state in September 1777. He declared himself as such, and also admitted refusing paper currency. He appeared before a local jury of citizens and neighbors who returned their verdict in these words; “We the jury fine the said Kettering in the sum of Two hundred and fifty pounds, and to lie in Prison one year.”  (Summers, Annals, pp. 684,-686) 

Because the newly organized county of Montgomery had not yet built a prison, the court decided to send Kettering to the prison in Staunton, in Augusta County, where he was to remain until January 6, 1779.  They also were afraid to keep Kettering so near his friends.

But this example and others did nothing to stop the tide and the Tory problems continued.   In April 1779, James McGavock reported to William Preston the action that had been taken against the Tories and the companies they belonged to, (These Tories were considered Continental Soldiers and militia under previous orders on the frontier) John Henderson, Nathaniel Britain, and Philip Lambert of Montgomery’s Company were admitted to bail; Joseph McFarland, John Etter, John Stephenson, and Joseph Erwin of Captain Stephen’s Company admitted to bail; Duncan Gullion, and Nicholas Wyrick of the same Company were “put in irons”.   

The day after Gullion and Wyrick were put into irons, they confessed that it was a John Griffith who lived on the South Fork of the Holston River who was the person who had enlisted them for the King, and he had administered the oath of allegiance to the King.  John Griffith was brought into court but the testimony of Gullion and Wyrick were not believed and he was admitted to bail. 

Later it was found that Gullion and Wyrick were speaking the truth and it was indeed John Griffith who stirred up agitation and had raised an army for the King to March on Ramsour’s Mill in North Carolina.  He did it by telling all who would listen that every bystander should be alarmed and expect themselves in great danger. “Rumors that the County was sold to the French were prevalent, and the feeling was that they may as well fight under the King as to be subjects of France.” (Preston Papers, Archives, Virginia State Library) 

It also helped that the Tories promised their followers twenty shillings six pence Sterling per day and 450 acres of land clear of quitrents for twenty-one years.   The Gullions, Wyricks and Ketterings were kin and close neighbors, the family members can be found on court records for each other along with the Kitts. (Ketterings) 

According to the records many were afraid of Duncan Gullion and Nicholas Wyrick. Duncan Gullion had even threatened to scalp William Preston and James McGavock. Gullion declared he would join with the Indians, and threatened to proceed to kill and destroy all before them.   Duncan Gullion’s sentence for treason was to be further heard in Williamsburg, but on the 140 mile trip to the public prison in Williamsburg, Gullion escaped.  This caused great alarm and guards were posted at McGavocks and Preston’s home. He was never caught but did eventually take the Oath. They also sold Gullion's horse to pay for the trip to Williamsburg. After the war he argued that he should be refunded the price of his horse because he never made it to Williamsburg.

Nicholas Wyrick at the age of 56, was fined 500 pounds and was sentenced to eighteen months in Prison. This occurred on May 5^th 1779. It is believed he served some of his time locally.  On November 2, 1779 the court of Montgomery County ordered that it be made public to all citizens of the county “all who came under the Denomination of Tories and are now or have been accused of offences against the Commonwealth be acquitted provided they appear before any Justice of the Peace of the County and enter into Bond and Security for their good behavior.” Particularly mentioned were John Davies and Nicholas Wyrick who were to be admitted to the same privilege. (Montgomery Co. Order Book 3, pg 81) 

“ There is no doubt that the Montgomery County settlements were much affected by the presence of the Loyalists in their community. For three years, the leaders such as Preston and McGavock, lived among them and suffered much harassment. The average citizens never knew when to expect trouble from his neighbor, but as Colonel Campbell foresaw, after the defeat of Ramsour’s Mills in North Carolina, Toryism on the New River came to an end, and all that remained to be done was round up the stragglers, obtain confessions, and process the suspects through the courts.

John Griffith, called Colonel Griffith by the insurgents, was the admitted leader of the group along the New River, but he escaped the full impact of the law because of the reputation of two of his companions, Gullion and Wyrick. 

David Campbell, writing in 1843 about the Tory activities on the Holston reported that Griffith was one of the most intelligent and influential of the Tories and received his commission from the British authorities. He raised a large company and joined the British somewhere in the Carolinas, but not meeting with the reception he had expected Griffith resigned and returned to his family. He was obliged to keep himself concealed for some time, and what became of his company is not known for certain, but it was believed that most deserted and returned to the Virginia Mountains.” (Early Adventures on the Western Waters, Vol 1. Mary B. Kegley; F. B. Kegley pages 137-152.) 
Note: My companion, Eddie Atwell today is a descendant of Duncan Gullion, where I am a descendant of Nicholas Wyrick and Jacob Kitts. I would love to hear your comments or stories of others who were Loyalists in Southwest Virginia or on the Frontier. It appears mine were not the only ones.

Copyright 2007-2016 Denise A. Smith

Appalachian Ghost Stories

I can remember a few of those that my great grandparents Stewart & Flora "Mae" Burress related to us when we were very young. Grandpa Burress used to sit in his chair outside and tell us stories. I was always facinated by his being able to hand roll a cigarette with one hand while he talked and shared with us so many things he knew.

 

The Haunted Rocking Chair

Grandpa Burress used to work for the city of Bluefield, West Virginia. He was a blacksmith by trade and made sure metal tools were kept sharp or made items they needed by welding etc.

 

He said one day he was delivering a couple of tools to some fellers working on some city street project and passed by a house where he noticed that someone had put out in the garbage a perfectly good rocking chair to be picked up. He delivered the tools and on the way back stopped and knocked on the door of the house to ask about the rocker in the trash. A man answered the door and grandpa said if they minded if he took the chair home with him. The man told him he could take "the infernal thing anywhere he wanted" and slammed the door. Grandpa thought the whole thing odd but it was a good chair.

Appalachian Heart Wood

Welcome to my blog. I am new to this. It was hard just trying to figure out a name to call the blog. Heart wood....the center of a tree. Strong and fine grained. Good "nough". I'm Appalachian by heritage. That is a deep subject in itself. I live in the heart of Appalachia as have nine generations before me on one family branch and Lord knows how many generations on others. But don't hold that against me. My grandfather told us that these mountains and waters were our blood. Not in our blood but "our blood". My family has seen many changes in the mountains. We are still seeing them. It's quite a bit to ponder. Since cold weather is upon us and winter is coming on soon and we have that new high speed internet...time to make it pay for itself and get some use out of it.

This blog will be for history, genealogy, issues that affect me and mine.