Map of the Great Philidelphia Wagon Road

Joe Burns home

Pa Bates father died when he was 12 years old. His morther returned to her fathers home in Beardstown, Tennessee.

It was not a good experience for him. He told us about it, but unfortunately I did not write down the details. I just don't want to record the information incorrectly.

It must have been a huge change for a 66 grandfather who was born before the civil war to parent a twelve year old boy who was probably grieving for his father and friends. He grew up in Lobeville, Tennessee which is about six miles away.

Washington Marion Harry

According to the 1850 census, he was a miller. His mill was in Grover, NC. There may be a picture of the property, but I don't think you can recognize a structure.

In 1860, he is showing as a farmer with $550 in real estate and $1780 in personal property. He was living in , Cleveland, NC.

According to the 1880 census Washington M Harry's father was born in Maryland and his mother in Virginia. His wife's parents were born in South Carolina.

Cleveland County, Rutherford County were the same place.

Fort Benning

Carter M & Miriam Bates and infant Andrew Lafayette Bates

These photos were probably taken on the same day. Miriam has on the same dress and your Granddaddy Bates, the baby in arms, is the same size in both pictures.

The DePriest family is all together in the picture.

Her father was LaFayette DEPRIEST and her mother was Eugenia SUTTON Depriest.
Her siblings included: Albert Carter Depriest, Roffie Lorene Depriest King, Robert Caswell Depriest, Bernie Ferndale Depriest, Caleb Clement Depriest, Melville Enloe Depriest, Roy Ray Depriest, George Dewey Depriest and Susan Villa Depriest.

Miriam was born 21 years after Albert Carter, but Villa was born when she was five.

Andrew Rutherford Bates

William Grady Bennett

This is the photo of Granddaddy Bennett that ran in the Spartanburg Herald when he retired after 43 years. He was 73 years old.

Granddaddy Bennett was Superintendent of Spartanburg Water Works. His home was within walking distance of the complex that processed the water for the county. It was just above Rainbow Lake.



My dad and his sisters enjoyed summers with all the people who came to the lake. My Dad was a life guard at the lake. Probably his sisters had jobs at the concession stands.

Serena Parkman - Civil War

Serena Parkman fought in the 2nd Cavalry Regimen, which was organized during the summer of 1862 by consolidating the 4th South Carolina Cavalry Battalion and the Cavalry Battalion of Hampton's South Carolina Legion. The unit served under the command of Generals Hampton, M.C. Butler, P.M.B. Young, and Gary. It fought with the Army of Northern Virginia at Second Manassas , South Mountain , Sharpsburg , Fredericksburg , Brandy Station , Second Winchester , Upperville , Gettysburg , Bristoe , Mine Run , Todd's Tavern , The Wilderness, Ground Squirrel Church, and Brooks' Church. In May, 1864, the Infantry Battalion of Hampton's South Carolina Legion was mounted and united with the 2nd Cavalry.

It was then redesignated the Hampton South Carolina Cavalry Legion. After fighting at Cold Harbor, it participated in numerous conflicts south and north of the James River and the Appomattox operations. This unit contained 220 effectives at Brandy Station , took 186 to Gettysburg , and surrendered 14 officers and 225 men.

Julia Frances HARRY Bennett

Julia, my mom, is a wonderful, gentle lady who is loved by so many. Daily she strives to make good choices. Her family, faith and Savior come first in her life. Her service and sacrifices have eternal value in the lives of her children, grandchildren and even her great grandchildren.

She must have always been the good, well taught, obedient daughter.

I will come back and edit this... more photos..more thoughts... What do you guys think I should add???

Robert DePriest 1665 - 1708/1711

Robert DePriest and Elizabeth
Robert DePriest was born in France about 1665. Robert died between 1708 and 1711 in VA, at about 43 years of age.

He married 1st... Elizabeth (Unknown Maiden Name) before 1689. Elizabeth died 27 September 1689 in the St. Peter's Parish in VA shortly after childbirth.
He then married Mary (Unknown Maiden Name) abt 1690.
Robert DePRIEST was a French Huguenot who immigrated to VA before 1689. The earliest mention of him in Virginia records is in the St. Peter's Parish Vestry Book when the land of Robert Deprosse was among the property to be processed. Based on the date of immigration, he was probably among the group of Huguenots sent to the New World by the British government to quiet unrest in England over the Huguenots who had arrived from France taking prime English jobs.

Where in France he emigrated from is uncertain. Virginia DePriest said in June, 1990 that he came from a village between Nimes and the Mediterranean coast. This was a very active Huguenot area and several villages were designated "free cities" for Protestant worship in the Edict of Nantes. Robert most likely left France for England in 1685 when the Edict of Nantes was revoked and violence broke out against the Huguenots. When Robert arrived in Virginia, he acquired land in New Kent Co., VA. On the 1704 Quit Rent Rolls he has 354 acres of land there. In Colonial Virginia the planters (small farmers) generally had 100 to 200 acres; the gentry had 500 to thousands of acres. Obviously, in a world where a man's place in society was partially determined by the amount of land he owned, Robert was not a part of the gentry, but he was considerably better off than most of the common planters.
The early records of this family are contained in the St. Peter's Parish records. When St. James' Parish was formed from St. Peter's, Robert and his family were in the new parish on land that eventually would become Hanover County. At the time of Robert's death, the family lived on or near the Pamunkey River. They were near the juncture of the present day boundaries of Hanover, New Kent and King William Counties.
Among their closest neighbors were Jerome Dumas, a fellow French Huguenot, and John Shelton, whose daughter would marry Patrick Henry. The name was spelled variously as DuPresse, DePress and DePrest. It was only in the generation of the children that it became DePriest.

Robert's Huguenot heritage has been proven to the satisfaction of the National Huguenot Society. He is one of about 450 out of thousands whose origins have been proven to their standards. All of Roberts descendants are eligible for membership in the Society.

--Robert DePriest and Elizabeth had the following child: i. William DePriest was born 24 Oct 1689. Robert DePriest and Mary had the following children: i. Mary DePriest was born in New Kent County, VA 9 November 1690. ii. Sarah DePriest was born 4

David Harry - obituary

David Harry lived from 1750 - 1843 in Hagerstown, Maryland.
No pictures are available :) But I thought you guys might enjoy his obituary.

"Another Revolutionary Patriot Gone!

On Saturday last in this town, Mr. David Harry, in the 93rd year of his age. Thus has another link which connected this present generation with their patriot fathers of that glorious revolution been dissolved, and in a few years faithful history will supply the place of the small remnant of living witnesses, in testifying to the chivalrous deeds of our noble sires in the days which tried men's principals in a just but doubtful contest -- The deceased retained his physical powers and mental faculties to an extraordinary extent. Previous to the late winter he was not limited to his house, nor was he confined to his bed or helpless prior to his last indisposition, which was of short duration, and until which he was conversant intelligent and cheerful.Mr Harry was for more than half a century a communicant in the Lutheran Church and possessed those noble traits of moral character and industrious habits which constituted him as one of the most respectable and useful members of religious and civil society. On Monday last his remains were accompanied from his late residence by numerous relatives and friends, by the military companies of the town, the Mechanics Band, a vast concourse of ------ and strangers to the Lutheran Church where an appropriate and impressive discourse was delivered from Revelations 7th Chapter from the 14th verse to the end of the Chapter by the Reverend Mr. Winter of Clearspring, the Reverend Mr. Douglas and the Reverend Mr. Startzman. After his remains were committed to their parent dust with military obsequies.

Leaves for cousins

Fall has arrived in New Hampshire and trees are losing their beautiful leaves. Joey and Thomas helped me find pretty leaves to add to others I am sending to Michael, Zack, Daniel and John.

Saturday was lots of fun. Matthew brought the children over. They threw the football, played with matchbox cars and Chutes and Ladders, had mac and cheese, threw the football again.

Matt's only opportunity to studay came while Anna took a nap. I asked the boys to help me clean my car. I am sure he needed more study time.

Papa and Mama Ben

. .......................................................................... When we were children, we always called our grandparents Grandmama & Grandaddy Bennett. Our cousins called them Mama & Pappa Ben. We didn't live very close to them; so we missed out on a lot of love and learning. You can’t make up for missed experiences. No matter how you try, it is shared experiences that build relationships.

When we came to visit, the whole family came to see Daddy & his girls. Daddy was the only boy in a family of girls. He always had that twinkle in his eye that made his sisters really love him. It showed.




Grandmama would have several cakes and probably homemade pie for meals. Daddy’s favorite was coconut cake. Umm Umm! Her potatoes had lumps in them. I remember that because Mother’s were always smooth and creamy. Fresh vegetables. Several types of meat. Homemade biscuits and fresh churned butter. Whole milk and butter milk (which I never liked, but my Dad did).

My mother-in-law always had a spread when we ate with her. But Grandmother Bennett would have had twice the food. I’m sure my aunts brought over food from their homes, but I always thought of it as Grandmother’s doing.

How I wanted to feel a part of things when we visited. But it is a little like visiting a club. Everyone tries to make you feel included, but it is still a little foreign or awkward. My cousins were much older or much younger, male (except Paitie) and had very different lives. They shared a familiarity with my Grandparents that we would have enjoyed. We were very formal little girls.

My dad and his sisters always had chores growing up. They were busy feeding the pigs & horses, helping with the garden, helping prepare meals, hanging out laundry. Life was very manual. Daddy told me he walked dinner to his dad at the water works.

Somewhere I recorded a story Aunt Lois told me about how the children all laughed at Grandmama trying to learn to drive their first car. That tells me that they were very familiar with horse & wagons. My parents generation witnessed the transportation transformation from horse & wagon to model T’s to space travel. From listening to radio broadcasts to television to cable to satellite.

When my Dad, Jim Bennett, was a boy, he had an air rifle. This type of gun shoots pellets (I think). A handle was pumped to create a vacuum to provide power. Behind his house the family had a pig pen. He and a buddy put some mud or dirt in the front of the gun & really pumped it. They were shooting the little pigs in the rump. The pigs would squeal and run around the pen. The boys thought that was so funny.

When Pappa Ben heard them, he decided to teach them about fun. He came outside laughing. He told Jim to “Go put that tin can on the fence post. I’ll show you something really funny.”

My dad leaned over to pick up the tin can. When he leaned over, his jeans were really tight across his backside. That’s when it happened. Pappa Ben shot the air rifle at Jim’s bum. Pop! Jim felt a sharp sting right where you sit down.

Pappa Ben said, “Now that’s how it feels. It’s not fun to hurt people. It’s not fun to hurt animals. Don’t shoot the pigs anymore.” And Jim never did.

My dad’s generation lived through the depression. They always had a garden to grow fresh vegetables. They would can food for the winter. Life was certainly not easy for anyone during that time. One thing he mentioned was wearing out the soles on his shoes. His mom would take card board and cut it to fit inside his shoes. She would rub the side facing the holes with lard to “waterproof” them a little bit. At least it kept his feet from actually touching the ground as he walked.

In the summer my dad spent a lot of time out doors playing with his friends. When it was too hot to keep playing, they had to rest for a while. People didn’t have air conditioning. They might take a break and sit in the shade on the lawn or covered porch. They would enjoy a chance to talk while rocking in a rocking chair or porch swing. A good glass of cold well water would taste so good. One of his favorite summer treats was watermelon. His grandpa had a large garden. When it was really, really hot, his grandpa would let him go find a good ripe watermelon. Grandpa Poteat might even let him use his pocket knife to cut it open for all to share. He used to joke with his grandchildren if they swallowed the seeds a watermelon would start growing in their tummies.

My grandmother, Paitie Bennett, was a gifted seamstress. She made all her clothes and all her girls’ clothes. She could see a dress in a store window and come home and make it without a pattern. Like lots of folk, they used floor sacks for fabric.

My dad got his first “store bought” clothes as a teen. He thought he looked really sharp. He was wearing them when some girls drove up a model T. Just before they came up, my dad had lit some fire crackers. He quickly snuffed out the flame on the fire crackers & stuffed them in his back pocket. He was walking over to talk or maybe flirt with the girls when the firecrackers blew up. They blew a hole in the back of his pants.



When I was in elementary school, I was afraid to go out on their side porch. There was a large drop off the side. The big issue for me was her cactus plants. She had a large collection. All I saw were the spikes. I never liked any kind of stickers or thorns. I wonder if cactus seemed exotic to her. Connecting her to places she might never visit. Travel was limited during this time. People might relocate to another area of the country. But travel was limited by the available types of transportation. Interstate highways were just getting developed. Planes were for the very wealthy and adventurous. Trains travel still took multiple days. So her interest in cactus must have come from an interest in the world. Of course she may have been too busy to worry about plants that took too much time.

My earliest memories of my Grandparents home seemed bright and light. But later the house was always dark. My grandmother developed glaucoma. After a visit while we lived in Greenwood, my dad questioned aloud how long my Grandmother Bennett might live. Glare gave her terrible headaches. Perhaps she didn’t have a diagnosis yet and he was afraid because no one could explain what was wrong. When I was in high school, she had more medicine bottles than I had ever seen. My dad was wrong about her dying young; she lived until age 83.

My aunts told me that once my Grandmother became ill. Her hair turned white with a streak of black. Eventually it returned to all black with a white streak.

My dad was an all around athlete. He was captain of the football, baseball, basket ball teams all four years of high school. Of course he attended a very small school. He was also competed and won State high school diving championships.



His dad was the superintendent of the Water Works. He was responsible for making sure the water was pure for the whole county. Daddy grew up swimming at Rainbow Lake was just across the road from his home. He must have spent a lot of time swimming and playing here. At some point he learned a neat trick of cupping his hands together & squirting water. He could aim at someone a good distance away and hit them with a squirt every time. I tried to learn how to do it, but never could.

This wasn’t an ordinary lake. It was a very, very large swimming pool. I will try to insert photos here.

During high school Daddy became a life guard there. A four tier diving tower was positioned in the center of the lake. Each level was closed off on three sides; so divers could only dive off one side. It was designed this way to prevent injuries from someone jumping on swimmers below. It didn’t always work out.

Once a swimmer got into trouble swimming. My dad swam out to bring them back to shore. Unfortunately lifeguards position the person they assist in the crook of their arm. Then they use a side stoke to return to shallow water. A boy on the diving tower took a running leap off and into the water. He landed on my dad jamming his jaw into the head of the person he was rescuing. His front four teeth had to be pulled and he had four false teeth anchored to his jaw. My dad never had a cavity. But later in life he had to have oral surgery to repair damage that resulted from this incident.

My dad was an excellent math student. Mr. Dorman, who later became superintendent of schools for Spartanburg County, was his high school principal and math teacher. He taught my dad math – one-on-one. My dad taught the students in the grades below him. Later when my dad went to Officers’ Candidate School, he and Bob Moore scored perfect math scores. The officials, who were administered the tests, thought they cheated and required them to retake the test with close supervision. They repeated the perfect score.

Perhaps they thought these country boys couldn’t cut the grade. My dad struggled with English in college. The southern dialect that he grew up using was not the Kings English. But it never interfered with his mathematical abilities. Both young men had that southern sound that folks from the north associated with illiterate people. However, Bob Moore ended up at the Pentagon as the youngest general in WWII. My dad retired as a Lt. Col.

My dad had a football scholarship to Wofford College & later to Clemson College. The scholarship paid for books and tuition. In addition to his practice, he had to work to pay for his living expenses. Plus he helped his sister cover her college expenses. To do this he had a variety of jobs. He worked at Floyds Mortuary. Part of his responsibility was to drive the ambulance/hearse. In the winter when folk couldn’t make it to the hospital because of snow, he might be dispatched. He actually delivered several babies when they didn’t make it to the hospital. He also worked in a local mill in the summers. He washed dishes and cleaned in a local boarding house to cover his housing. He said he ate lots of pork and beans during college. Perhaps that was the equivalent of Raman Noodles.

Once dad told me that he might work all week and try to put aside a quarter for a date. He still might not have an extra quarter; so he could ask a girl out. One thing he did that really impressed me. One summer he saved enough to buy a car. Then he rented the car to other students for their dates. Perhaps his was really the first Enterprise Car Rental company.

Study, Practice and Work must have been exhausting. Not many students had the challenge that he had. It was not always appreciated by others. Once while he was attending Wofford, he came late to a class. He had been delayed at one of his jobs. The professor choose to make a snide remark about football players thinking they were so special they could sleep in and come to class late. My dad was embarrassed and offended! He picked up his books, left class, and went directly to the President of the College to complain. He refused to return to class until the professor apologized. This is exactly what happened.

Throughout WWII my dad had half his paycheck sent home. He thought his dad was putting this money aside for his return. After he was discharged, he learned his dad had used the money for the family. He had spent it all. There were no savings. Daddy said he never said anything to Granddaddy. He knew how much his family had needed the money.

While he had been overseas my Granddaddy Bennett’s sister, Candace & her husband, who was my Grandmother’s brother, died. Their minor children lived with my grandparents for a while. Evelyn Seay (married name),my dad’s double first cousin, was one of them. She told me about this when we lived in Spartanburg. She is also a member of the church and we have exchanged some family history.

My dad had hoped to go to medical school after the war. He saw the living quarters for married students. He described them as the size of a nice walk-in-closet. He decided to go back into the army. Even though he came out of the war as a Major, he returned to the army as a Captain. The military would not use his field commission as his status on his return to active duty.

One of the memorable moments after his return from the war must have been when he learned he was engaged. Not that he knew anything about it. He met my mother before the war. He wrote her throughout the war. But his sister Lee had been writing love letters “from him” to a young woman. I don’t remember how the whole thing started. A girl wrote him. Aunt Lee opened a letter and wrote back as if he had written the letter. The girl wrote back and it just snowballed. I can only imagine his reaction when the story came out. Finally Lee had to confess what had happened and write the truth to the girl. Oh what a mess!

Daddy was stationed in England before D-Day. I don’t know if he visited Ireland, but he sent his mother a green Irish linen sheet set with pillowcases. I don’t think she ever used them. She saved them for a special occasion. After she died they were given back to daddy. Eventually Mother gave them to me. Only the top sheet made it to Utah. But it is still like new.

Bullochville

As a girl the only images of stagecoaches were in "wild west" movies. It stands to reason that they were used throughout the country. I never pictured a stagecoach in Warm Springs.

My grandmother, Mabel Bulloch, was born May 12, 1894. Four months later this photograph of a stagecoach filled with people was taken in front of the Meriwether Inn.

The stagecoach was known as the "Tally-Ho" and was used to transport patrons of the inn to and from the railroad station. Meriwether Inn was built ca. 1870 on the site of another hotel that had burned. It closed ca. 1920s due to the decline in the number of visitors wishing to take advantage of the warm springs in the area.
















Warm Springs was a tiny little place with dirt roads. Yet the most influential man in the world chose to retreat here. At one time Warm Springs was described as the Poconos but in the south. But that day came and went with the significance of the Railroads.

Trains brought all these people to vacation in the Inn. They also brought Roosevelt to Warm Springs.

Kilcrease / Gilcrease Family History

I received an email this week from a lady who is tracing her family history. Her ancestors were slaves of William E Gilcrease. William E,a son of John Kilcrease (Gilcrease) and Mary Holmes Kilcrease and brother of Jane/Jincy Gilcrease Glanton, was a large planter and slave owner in Florida. His son, Albert, had an distinguished career and became the governor of Florida. If you read through this part of the document, you will see the family lost contact with William. There is a good bit of interesting information about William and Albert posted on the internet.

Gilchrist, Albert Waller (1858-1926) — also known as Albert W. Gilchrist — of Punta Gorda, Charlotte County, Fla. Born in Greenwood, Greenwood County, S.C., January 15, 1858. Son of William E. Gilchrist and Rhoda Elizabeth (Waller) Gilchrist. Democrat. Civil engineer; real estate dealer; orange grower; member of Florida state house of representatives, 1893-96, 1903-06; Speaker of the Florida State House of Representatives, 1905; served in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War; Governor of Florida, 1909-13; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Florida, 1912; candidate in primary for U.S. Senator from Florida, 1916. Member, Freemasons. Died in New York City (unknown county), N.Y., May 15, 1926. Interment at Indian Springs Cemetery, Punta Gorda, Fla. Gilchrist County, Fla. is named for him.
See also: National Governors Association biography; Wikipedia article.

This posting is a copy of a Family History written in the 1930's by Grandmother Harry's cousin, Ida Mae Bussey. I have only keyed in part of it. I hope to scan additional information (wills, etc) to send to the lady doing research. I made copies for Matt and Andy a few years ago.

"Kilcrease / Gilcrease Family History compiled by Ida Mae Bussey Brooks

I had been working on my family history for some time, in a more or less haphazard way, until about two years ago, when I realized that my Aunt Julia (Parkman) Bulloch, of Warm Springs, GA, was the only one of the older members of our family living. I then decided to see how complete a record I could obtain, while she was with us. Hoping to finish it during her lifetime. I took the information that I had written down, that was told me by my Grandmother and Grandfather Parkman, came from and showed it to Aunt Julia. She told me more and helped me in many ways. I am sorry that she did not live to see this completed work. She was a noble character and though eighty-three years old, at the time of her death, she retained her full mental faculties and guided her household competently and lovingly, until the last. If we had only listened to our Grandmother Parkman (who was Mary Ann Glanton), we would know all that we are now trying to find out. She was proud of her ancestry, and we find from the records that she had a right to be.
Mary Ann Glanton, whose mother was Jane Gilchrist (Kilcrease), came to Georgia. First going to Cherokee County about 1847. They lived there one year. Because of much sickness there among their family, they decided to move to Meriwether County and settled near Bussey, Georgia. This Post office was discontinued after we had Rural Free Delivery.

This history is written for the descendants of their daughters who were Jane Elizabeth (Barnes), Mary Ann (Bulloch), Julia Cornelia (Bulloch), Sarah Josephine (Bussey), and Alice Ida (Johnson).

I give full credit to my cousin Mrs Mabel Bulloch Harry of Warm Springs, Georgia for her assistance in this work. She arranged with Mrs D.B. Hollingsworth, Genealogist of Edgefield, SC who has completed the records for us. Compiling records from South Carolina courts, such as wills, deeds and other court papers, copies of which you will find attached. The original will is in the possession of Mrs Mable Bulloch Harry or myself and accessible when necessary. This gives us correct and authentic record and gives us the Revolutionary Record of our ancestor John Kilcrease.

Gilchrist is a Scotch name, and we know that Nimrod Gilchrist,the father of John, came from Scotland to America, by 1751, as he was granted land in Georgia, on Fishing Creek near the South Carolina line as early as that date.
After the Scotch insurrection, known as the Rebellion of 1745, a large number of Highlanders, came to America settling in North Carolina and probably Virginia and Georgia. So we think he came with these people.

It is said that there were five brothers who came from Scotland to this country- the three older ones coming south and the two younger going to the north. These two being better educated than the three who came South always spelled their name Gilchrist. While the three brothers in the South being uneducated could not write their names, made their cross and the person who wrote their names for them spelled it like they pronounced it, Kilcrease or Kilchrist, as a few of the early records show it.

I have been told that the Gilchrist's belonged to the Ogilvie Clan in Scotland and we think the three who came South stayed in Virginia a while and later came to Georgia and South Carolina. Tradition says these three were named John, Rob and Nimrod, we only have accurate proof of Nimrod, but I find reference that Robert Gilchrist was a lay member of St. Mary's Virginia and 1785 and 1786. ( From Vol 1-409, page 44. Wise's Index to Bishop Meads' Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia, Article 37).

I do not know whether Nimrod ever lived in South Carolina but two of his sons, John, and Abraham B came from Georgia to South Carolina and settled in old Ninety Six District, SC. In March 13, 1785 this District was divided into six counties one of these is Edgefield County. This county has established a record to be proud of having produced nine governors and six lieutenant governors and unequaled by any other county in the United States.

Mrs. Hollingsworth, genealogist, tells us that all the births, and all the deaths, but two, of the children of John Kilcrease (Gilchrist) and his wife Mary Holmes, occurred in Edgefield County, SC. They were married in Stevens Creek Section of Savannah River, where he resided all his life. There is now a large tract of land near Parkeville, SC known as the “Kilcrease Place”, one of its boundaries is Stevens Creak. She says the Gilchrist family of West Edgefield, Co. was a wealthy and influential family, intermarried with old VA families who immigrated to SC before the War of the Revolution.

Notice in court papers, attached that John Kilcrease signs his name to his will, showing by this that he had some education. There were not schools in those days – the wealthy families had private teachers or sent their children to England to school. We often find court papers in those days were signed by the persons making their mark.

In the second clause of John Kilcrease’s will, he mentions giving his wife land on the Main Market road to Augusta. This old road is still in use and parallels the Savannah River, other main branches intersecting this road, and leading on to the main markets, Hamburg, and Augusta. Among these, all still bearing names of the old days, is what is known as the Martin Town Road, famous in Revolutionary history.

Regarding the children of John Kilcrease, landowner, and planter, we find from the settlement of his son, Sampson’s estate, that he died unmarried in Gadsden Co, Fla., Apr 25, 1849 leaving all of his property to his brother, William E. (who had gone to Quincy, Fla. To live) supposedly to be divided among his brothers and sisters. (I do not know whether this division was ever made or not). He left his brother Davis (some time called David), as Executor in his will. I have heard all my life that Wm. E. Gilchrist died in Fla., leaving each of his living nieces and nephews, several thousand dollars. Possibly this was supposed to have been part of Samson’s estate. My Grandmother, Mary Ann (Glanton) Parkman, one of his nieces never received her share, as the War Between the States, begun shortly afterwards.

Abraham, another son of John Kilcreae, married Judith Buress, a daughter of John Buress. His estate was settled in 1857.

Jincy or Jane, our great grandmother, , a daughter of John Gilchrist, was the first wife of Lewis Glanton. She had only two children, Mary Ann, and Martha. After the death of Jane, which occurred in Edgefield Co, SC, Lewis Glanton married agiin, and later a lawsuit accued in regard to their property (see notice among court papers). Lewis Glanton left many children by his second wife, Mary Roper. He was killed in 1846 by a runaway horse and left a very large estate, which decreaed, of course, after the War between the States.

Elizabeth Kilcrease married Mr. Mackay, and secondly, Daniel Prescott in 1845. This date is recorded in the Prescott and Middleton family Bible. Daniel Prescott died Jan 29, 1861. She perhaps died later, as her death is not recorded in the family Bible.

Matilda Gilchrist married Tandy Burkhalter, his will is dated 1871.

Maria, another daughter, married John W Parks. This family settled Parksville, a little town on the Savannah River, now cut off in McCormick Co.

Lucinda, the last daughter, mentioned in her fathers will, married John B. Harrison.

The last three named daughters in the will, were unmarried at their fathers death in 1829. Wm., Abraham and Davis (David), were not of the age of 18 at the death of their father in 1829.

Some of the dates of the children of John Kilcrease, and his wife Mary (Holmes) had to be approximated.

There are many descendants of this family still residing in Edgefield.

The Gilchrist family line:
Children of John Kilcrease (Gilchrist) & wife Mary Holmes
James E., _____ died 1843, married Elizabeth ____.
Samson, _____ died 1849, never married.
Wm. E., died at Quincy Florida. He was a large land owner and slave holder, was a State Senator from Florida. Married Rhoda Elizabeth Waller of SC. They had one child, Albert Waller Gilchrist, born in Greenwood, SC, Jan 15, 1858, while his mother was visiting her people. He never married. Was Grand Master of Masons in Florida in 1911 to 1913. Govenor of Florida 1909 to 1913. Died in New York City, May 17, 1926, where he had gone for treatment. Buried at Punta Gorda, Florida in Indian Springs Cemetery on the bank of the Allapatchee River.
Abraham B, _____ died 1857, married Judith Burress.
David (Davis) J., never married.
Jane (Jincy) born 1795, died 1823, married 1816, Lewis Glanton of Edgefield, SC, born 1785 died Sept 7, 1846.
Elizabeth, died after 1861, married first, --- McKay, second, Daniel Prescott He died Jan 29, 1861.
Matilda, died after 1871, married Tandy Burkhalter, his will dated 1821.
Marie – married John W. Parks.
Lucinda married, John B Harrison.

The Children of Jane (Jincy) Kilcrease, and her husband Lewis Glanton,
Mary Ann, born Oct 22, 1819, in Edgefield Co, SC died in Meriwether Co, GA, Oct 27, 1903, and is buried at Macedonia Cemetery, near Manchester, GA. She was married about 1842, in Edgefield Co, SC to Henry Valentine Parkman, born in the same county and state Feb 14, 1814. (hence the name, Valentine), died July 28, 1892 in Meriwether Co, G. He is also buried in the Macedonia Cemetery. After coming to this settlement at Bussey GA, they lived there until their death. Henry Parkman has deed recorded in Meriwether Co, Dec 3, 1849.
Martha, married S.W.Broadwater.

The children of Mary Ann (Glanton) and Henry V. Parkman
Jane Elizabeth born in Edgefield, SC, May 22, 1844; married Wm. A. Barnes in Meriwether Co, GA. She died in the same county. Both are buried at Macedonia Cemetery.

Mary Ann, born in Cherokee Co, GA, Aug 21, 1848; married Hood Bulloch, born Nov 21, 1841, in Meriwether Co, GA Both buried at family cemetery ***me Place, in Meriwether Co, GA.

Julia Cornelia, born in Meriwether Co, GA, March 21, 1853 died in the same county Sept 16, 1936. She married Cyprian Bulloch, Jr. Oct 7, 1869. He was born Dec 3, 1848, died March 19, 1903. He lived his entire life in Meriwether Co, they are both buried in Warm Springs Cemertery.

Lewis died in childhood.

Sarah Josephine born on Feb 18, 1859, died in the same county Oct 10, 1915; married March 6, 1879 to Wm. Thomas Bussey, who was born March 10, 1846,; died Friday August 6, 1897. He lived his entire life in Merierther Co., GA. They are both buried in Macedonia Cemetery.

Alice Ida (Missie) born Feb 8, 1863, died Dec 31, 1886; married Robt. Johnson. They both lived their entire life in Meriwther Co, GA and are buried in the Macedonia Cemetery.

(Notice in the seventh clause of John Kilcrease’s will, he wills his two grand daughters, Mary and Martha Glanton, an equal share jointly of his estate and three negros, named Barbee, Eaton and Cato. This Cato came to Georgia with my Grand mother, Mary Ann (Glanton) Parkman. We remember our mothers talking about him. His wife was named Usley and their descendants are now living around Warm Springs, GA.) //note added in pencil – Hobson was a butler at the Foundation//


To Whom it may concern:
I hereby certify that the two sections of attached papers are exact copies of wills, deeds and other SC Court papers compiled by Mrs D.B.Hollingsworth of Edgefield, SC and sent to Mrs Mabel Bulloch Harry of Warm Springs, GA.
Witness my hand and seal this 4th day of September, 1937
Ida Mae Bussey Brooks
Witness: Dirbie M Gillis N.P.

Mabel's First Dance with Grady Harry

Grandmother Harry must have been impressed with Granddaddy very early. She saved her dance card and added it to her wedding journal. She danced two dances with "Harry", but only one with other young men.

Joseph Crenshaw - French and Indian War

The papers of his Commanding Officer state that Joseph died in a field near Fort Duquesne (now in the City of Pittsburg) on the night of 14 Sept 1758. A few days later his will was probated in the same courtroom which witnessed (summer of 1757) his swearing-in as a member of the Virginia Brigade. The certificate of his enlistment was with the other papers of his Commanding Officer and are now at the Library of Congress. His Commanding Officer was George Washington. It was not legal to draft Joseph into the British Colonial Army, so a court record exists to show that he was a volunteer and that record was found amid the papers of Washington along with the casualty list on which Joseph is first named. I uploaded a digital copy of this record and attached it to Joseph's record.

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Legal Records of Joseph Crenshaw:

Joseph Crenshaw, whose Will was entered into Probate October 4, 1758, was the same Joseph Crenshaw killed while serving under George Washington near Fort Duquesne in the French & Indian War. A recent finding in Virginia's Colonial Soldiers by Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck has left this researcher convinced it was one and the same man. Bockstruck reports on page 136 a list of enlistments relating to the French & Indian War. Detailed are the names of five men who enlisted in Lunenberg Co, VA on 25 July 1757. That list includes Joseph Crenshaw. So we can deduct with confidence that the man killed while serving under Col. Washington on September 14, 1758 was the same Joseph Crenshaw who enlisted on 25 July 1757 and whose Will was entered into Probate in Lunenberg Co, VA on October 4, 1758.

Early Settlers Mecklenburg County Virginia Volume I, Compiled by Katherine B. Elliott, South Hill Virginia
1752 Tithe List
Crenshaw, Joseph (& Joseph Crenshaw Jr, James Downing)
Crenshaw, Gideon

Early Settlers Mecklenburg County Virginia Vol II, Compiled by Katherine B. Elliott, South Hill, Virginia
Joseph Crenshaw, Deed Book 4, p. 317
Joseph Crenshaw & Sarah, his wife, to Benjamin Cook...cons 40 pounds...300 acres on north side of Roanoke River and on south side of Butchers Creek. Wit: Fran Bressie, Richd Palmer, Zachariah Baker, Signed: Jos. Crenshaw, Sarah Crenshaw, dated 7 Sept 1756, Recorded 7 Sept 1756. Sarah, wife of Joseph Crenshaw, released her dower.

Lunenburg Co, VA Will Book 1, Page 228. Will. I, Joseph Crenshaw of L and Parish of Cumberland -
To my wife - the liberty of the Plantation during the time of her widowhood. To my eldest son William Crenshaw - 5 £ sterling.
To my son Gedion - 5 £.
To my son Joseph - 30 shillings.
To my daughter Prisilla Duke - 1 feather bed and furniture, being the bed that my son Micajah usually lies on.
To my daughter Hannah Parkman - 1 feather bed and covering, being the bed she now lies on, and 1 horse and side saddle. If said Hannah's husband shall come and entice her away, that which I have lent her, I give to my daughter, Mary Cook. And if the said Hannah is so enticed away, Hannah shall not have any part of my estate.
To my youngest son Micajah - the land whereon I now live, and if he should have no heirs, then to my son Joseph and the heirs of his body. I also give Micajah my young horse colt and saddle and all my wearing clothes. I want my son Micajah to live under the care of his brother Thomas. The rest of my estate is to be equally divided among them all [all the children], except that my son William is to have only as above mentioned. I do not want my estate appraised. To my son Micajah - 1 feather bed and covering.
Executors - my son[s] Thomas and Gedion.
Signed [Blank month and day], 1757 - Jos. Crenshaw.
Witnesses - Gedeon Crenshaw, William Wilkins (W his mark), Ann Wilson (+ her mark).

At Oct 4, 1758 Court, the will of the deceased was exhibited in Court by both executors, and the same was proved by the oaths of 2 of the witnesses, and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of the said executors, who made oath, certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate of said will (they giving security), whereupon they, together [with] "Joseph Crenshaw Williams, Gentleman, their securities", entered into bond for that purpose.

Lunenburg Co, VA Will Book 1, Page 292. Account Current of the estate of Jos. Crenshaw, deceased. Debits. Includes payment of: William Crenshaw's legacy; Robert Langley, Merchant; David Garland; John Potter; John Bracy; Francis Bracy; Jeremia Claunch; John May; Fr's Wagstaff for ferriages; James Mitchel for ditto; Charles Cook; C. Read for tobacco; Thomas Anderson; Zach. Baker; Gideon Crenshaw's legacy; Jos. Crenshaw's legacy; Micajah Crenshaw's legacy; Hanah Bartman's legacy; Vallentine Mullins for selling the estate; returning the Works of Peace Land; Henry Parkman; Elisha Brooks; Hanah Satterwhite for weaving; Abner Nash for advice on the Will; Thomas Anderson for rum at the funeral; John Humphries; Maj'r Tabb; a bed etc delivered Robert Duk as a legacy; a bed etc delivered Hanah Parkman as a legacy; ditto delivered to Micajah Crenshaw as a ditto. Total: £ 46.10.4. Credits. Includes 1 Negro man, cash in Richd Wilson's hands, cash recd of John Noory, ditto of Richd Wilkins, ditto of Aony Erskine, ditto of Thos. Akin, ditto of ColoErby. Total: £ 79.6.6½. We have examined the accts of Thos. and Gideon Crenshaw, executors of Joseph Crenshaw, deceased, and do find a balance in the executors' hands of £ 27.5.11. Certified [blank month and day], 1759 - Richd Witton, Jos Williams.Recorded Feb 5, 1760

Margaret Lee Harry

Margaret Lee Harry was my Grandfather Harry’s sister. She was small in stature, perhaps five feet tall, but large in heart. She was unique. The actresses portraying the old ladies in Jimmy Stewart's "Arsenic and Old Lace", created a visual image of Aunt Margaret fussing aroung the house. However as a young woman she was ahead of her time.

Aunt Margaret’s brothers attended the University of North Carolina. She graduated from Massachusets General's nursing school in Boston, Massachusetts. She became a Red Cross nurse. In retrospect that must have required great strength of character and independence. Young women of this time period were just moving into careers of service. She began her nursing career riding a horse traveling in the rural parts of North Carolina in the early 1910’s. Once a bear frightened her horse and threw her off. The horse left her and returned to the barn. She spent the night in a tree.




It must have taken a great deal of spunk to attempt to educate the superstitious and distrustful rural folk in the mountains of North Carolina. Her job was to tell proud people that they needed to change practices that had existed for years. She had to persuade families to immunize their children. These people were uneducated and feared shots would harm their children. She had to educate folks about the importance of sanitary conditions for plumbing & outhouses. Asking men to relocate the outhouse because “a woman” thought it would be better must have been a tedious process. But she slowly gained their trust and admiration and made a difference.

Margaret Lee was very generous to these people. She arranged for a number of children to have cleft lips surgically repaired. She even paid for some to have the surgery. She helped others attend school and college. A practice she extended to family when she paid a lady in Woodbury to make most of mothers clothes while she was in college.

I have a magazine article that speaks of Lucinda, a poor mountain girl left to raise her baby sister after her mother died. Local people had a “silver tea” to start a fund to buy Lucinda a cow. Aunt Margaret taught her how to recognize and treat various infant illnesses. Margaret made frequent visits to the home to check on them. After three years of that responsibility, at the age of thirteen, Aunt Margaret took Lucinda to the Children of the Hills school at Tamassee, a school supported by DAR chapters. The baby was turned over to her grandmother’s care.

Aunt Margaret was in New Orleans when my mother was born. Her signature is on the birth announcement in mother’s baby book. She gave her a hand embroidered dress and cap as a baby present. She gave her a Korean embroidered dress which was one of her “first short clothes”. She must have been equally generous through the years to Margaret & Henry and all. I have a little thank you note from my Mom thanking Aunt Margaret for a silver baby cup she gave me when I was born. (I gave the cup to Julie.) I will try to scan the note here.


During the missile crisis (Cuba/Russia - 1961), my Grandfather built a “fall out shelter”. When I look back on it now, the room was really just a feeble excuse for a basement room. It wouldn’t have provided any real protection during a nuclear attack. There was a national hysteria after missiles were discovered in Cuba. The fear of nuclear attack seemed real because Fort Benning was about an hour away. If Benning had been targeted, the nuclear blast would not have impacted us. Radiation dust would have settled according to wind patterns, etc and I doubt that we would have had a very different outcome based on a stay in the shelter. But at least he didn’t sit back and bite his fingernails. He took action.

Eventually Granddaddy extended the side porch and added a room above the fall out shelter for Aunt Margaret to live in after she retired. It is interesting that she choose to live with Granddaddy Harry. She had been away from North Carolina for many years. I don’t know if she considered returning there after she retired. Her parents were gone. Her brothers had a successful textile mill and might have helped her with finances. Aunt Margaret had a lot of pride. I know they were a close family. Aunt Margaret and Granddaddy were both buried with their parents in Grover.

I loved her very corny & funny stories she told me, my sisters, and my cousins. One story that always got giggles was “Wishy, Washy, Wishy, Washy…”. The punch line involved underwear which always got a giggle. Unfortunately today’s children might think the joke was lame. Too bad. It was a good time and children were children.

I loved her & would drive out just to visit her & to listen to her stories. I wish I had recorded her stories; I would love to hear her voice. People talk differently today. She had a gentle “little old lady quality” that reflected a different time. It is something I remember, but can’t put into words.

There were times though that I went to visit my Grandfather and I didn’t take the time to walk back to visit for a moment.

Aunt Margaret gave me a lovey portrait of her in her red cross uniform. The picture was used in a magazine article about her Red Cross work during a flood in Ohio. There are other items (her diploma, the Red Cross article) she wanted me to keep. I think she wanted to be sure she was remembered. Unless the items are in mother’s family history files, the items were lost or thrown away when the family relocated to Spartanburg.

Aunt Margaret worked so hard to be helpful when she moved to Granddaddy’s. She originally moved there as a transition when she retired, but never left. At times she may have been too helpful for Till. Granddaddy Harry had remarried well before she moved in. There seemed to be a competition for his affection between Till & Aunt Margaret. It wasn’t easy on either of them. Granddaddy was caught in the middle. But there wasn’t really any other place for her to live. She became a bit of a recluse. Trying to be pleasant, but not quite feeling she belonged. Perhaps not feeling needed anymore.
Picture of the Lake at Granddaddy's house


I don’t remember when Aunt Margaret stopped driving. I don’t think I even noticed. Probably her car just got too old to operate and she was too old to drive. She never replaced it.

Aunt Margaret probably started the “regifting” trend. She had a small retirement and was frugal with her savings. Her gifts were a handkerchief, a slip, a bottle of perfume or sweet powder someone had given her. One Christmas she gave me a ring and Gay a hairbrush. I was oblivious to the disparity in value. I was in high school; Gay was in elementary school.

Gay quite naturally felt slighted; her feelings were hurt. Peggy, our cousin, and Gay were best friends. They must have talked about this together. Some time later they laughed about the hairbrush. My reaction was to come to Aunt Margarets defense; theirs was to critise me. They felt I was "favored" and that means the other person is not. It is how children (and we were children) think. Maybe I was, but I think Aunt Margaret appreciated my interest in her, her life, and her contribution. Everyone wants to be remembered.

I accepted her gifts were a sweet way to share with us. After all the sweet things she had done through the years, it hurt to hear them laugh about her. I dearly loved her.

One of my favorite gifts was a Hummel figurine of a little boy playing doctor. He had operated on a doll head. Aunt Margaret went into great detail about the friend who purchased it for her while traveling to Germany. She was truly touched they remembered her in such a special way & I was touched she gave it to me.


Because I loved it so much I purchased another Hummel with my hard earned babysitting money. Gaye threw a pillow at me & I skillfully ducked. The pillow missed me, but broke the head on the little doctor & the handle off the basket of the other Hummel. Both were super-glued back. Now I love the figurines even more since they remind me of my sister as well as Aunt Margaret. Amazing how “devastating” events with lots of tears can become sweet in retrospect. But sisters (and brothers) can grow to appreciate one another, not just because everything goes right, but because of the mistakes we make. There were lots of times we chased each other, laughing and giggling, as we ran through the house. Sometimes we might overdo it and end up unhappy. But other times we ran until exhausted and we were still happy. I might not remember those times without this incident or another like it. I still have the Hummel’s, but I also have the memories.

When Aunt Margaret Lee was quite old she had to be in a nursing home. My Aunt Margaret, mother’s sister, rode with her in an ambulance from Columbus Georgia and delivered her to Spartanburg on Gaye’s wedding day. There was already stress with the wedding. Aunt Margaret had been stressed with Margaret Lee’s care for a while & didn’t appreciate that Mother would be doing her part for the next two years. It might have been nice if she had waited one more day, but we humans don’t always do all the right things each and every time. What was important was that she had cared for Margaret Lee. The wedding went on and the world didn’t stop.

Mother visited Margaret Lee every day (literally) to be sure she was well cared for, to pick up her laundry and to feed her evening meal. I believe she was there for two years before her death.

Daniel Gold (Gould) represented his county at NC Constitutional Convention

Minutes of the North Carolina Constitutional Convention at Hillsborough North Carolina. Constitutional Convention (1788)
July 21, 1788 - August 04, 1788
Volume 22, Pages 1 - 35
________________________________________
-------------------- page 1 --------------------
THE JOURNAL OF THE CONVENTION OF NORTH CAROLINA. 1788.
At a Convention begun and held at Hillsborough, on the twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the thirteenth, in pursuance of a resolution of the last General Assembly, for the purposes of deliberating and determining on the proposed plan of Federal Government, and for fixing the unalterable seat of government of this state.
The returning officers for the several Counties certified that the following persons were duly elected as members of this Convention, viz:
For Anson County—The Hon. Samuel Spencer, Esq.; Lewis Lanier, Thomas Wade, Frame Wood, and Daniel Gould.
Beaufort—Nathan Keais, John G. Blount, Charles Crawford, James Bonner and Thomas Alderson.
Bertie—William Gray, John Johnston, Andrew Oliver, David Turner and William Johnston Dawson.

Wagon Roads in Colonial Times

(I saved this article for my personal use; so it is totally copied. I do not have the source, but I will try to find it. It was especially helpful as I looked at the migration of our ancestors from early immigrants to the mid 1900's. After that there is no pattern - easy transportation and communication has opened a window to the world.)

We take transportation for granted today. We forget how difficult it was to travel in days of yore, when a trip today to the opposite coast is only a few hours of flying or a few days of driving for us. Contrast this with the weeks or even months our ancestors spent in crossing the Atlantic, or the few months spent on the Westward trail.

Some trips in the eighteenth century were not finished in the year in which they were started. A family might start out from Pennsylvania and stop in Virginia for the winter and perhaps another year to grow crops.

Where there was the easier transportation, the first development occurred.

In Virginia, the first settlements were along the rivers, the Potomac, the Rappahannock, the James, and the York Rivers. Civilization in the first century proceeded inland as far as ships could sail. In other colonies, the Delaware and the Hudson Rivers attracted civilizations along their shores.

When river access reached its limits, limited roads were built. But usually, settlement came first and then the roads came. When the First Germanna Colony settled at Germantown, they reached the site by walking, probably following trails used by the Indians. Then they built roads. The Second Germanna Colony was entrenched in the Robinson River Valley before roads reached the area. As to how difficult it was to travel in the early eighteenth century, one has only to read John Fontaine's description of the expedition, in 1716, over the Blue Ridge Mountains.

What determined where roads were built? Several factors influenced the choice. Most roads originated with a petition by the settlers to the county courts for roads. They wanted roads that reached their homes and then reached commercial outlets for the goods they were selling and buying. Many times, a mill was one terminus, or a point along the road. So usually the pattern of settlement and commercial activity was the primary influence. As to the course that a road took, it was influenced by geographical factors such as hills and waterways.

In physically laying out a road, which often involved clearing trees and leveling ground, an existing trail was often the basis. Very commonly, these had been laid out and used by the Indians, perhaps for centuries. Many of our early roads were an elaboration of the early Indian trails.

To give an example from Pennsylvania, the Hans Herr party landed at Philadelphia in 1710 and paused there only long enough to ask where there was land for sale. To the west they were told. They went as far as they could using the available roads. As civilization thinned out, the roads became poorer until they were essentially non-existent. Then they followed Indian trails until they were past the bounds of civilization. Their settlement and the like settlement of others were the impetus for building roads.

The Great Wagon Road left Philadelphia in a westerly direction and ran through the communities with large German populations in Lancaster, York, Montgomery, Berks, Lebanon and, Adams. This is the flattest part of Pennsylvania and the path of least resistance was diverted to the south by the Blue Hills which are an extension of the Appalachian Mountains. Across the necks of today's West Virginia and Maryland on an easy route, the road reached northern Virginia. The road split then into routes on the west and east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Technically, the Great Wagon Road ran on the west of the Blue Ridge Mountains into the upper Shenandoah Valley and on into hills of southwest Virginia. It was the population pressures of Pennsylvania in the early eighteenth century that started settlers of all nationalities along this road. Later in the century, the Pennsylvanians were joined by the Marylanders and Virginians.

Before the Great Wagon Road was a road, it was a heavily traveled path used by the Indians from New York to the Carolinas. There were several purposes to which the Indians put the trails. One was intertribal trading. Another was hunting. Perhaps as important, it was the means by which the Iroquois confederation of nations exerted their dominance up and down the east coast. But for whatever reason they used the forest trails, the Indians found the best routes.

To keep some perspective on the number of people, it is estimated that the Five Nations of Indians ranged from 5,000 to 15,000. The Five Nations ended their internal struggles and fighting and united against the other tribes. Their forays ranged from their home ground in upper New York to the regions later known as Georgia and Alabama to the south and Ohio in the west. Depending upon the time, one might one remain for an extended period on the Great Road and not see an Indian. Another day though might show a party of hundreds of Indians.

Initially, the routes south from New York spread over many paths. By the early 1700's, the growth of European population east of the Blue Ridge led to a desire for separation of the Indians and Europeans. Gov. Spotswood, in conferences with the Five Nations Indians, sought and obtained their agreement to remain on the west side of the Blue Ridge. This led to a period of peace along the Warriors' Path. But after 1722, the date of the conference, white men began to use the Warriors' Path and thus started the process of converting it into the Great Wagon Road.

Thom Faircloth asked a good question, "What were the roads like that we have been talking about?" At the beginning, they were trails. When traversed by humans, not much improvement was needed as a person is very adept and can overcome many obstacles by his skills. When horses were used, little additional improvement was needed, perhaps some widening. When wagons entered the flow along the road, definite improvements were needed. Trees had to be cut to widen the road, some of the roughest spots had to be smoothed out.

But after all was said and done, the surface was still dirt and the tree stumps remained. The wagons rolled over the stumps. The tools that were used were the axe, the spade and the pickax (used for loosing up soil and rocks and for prying up roots). To quote Charles Teeter in a similar situation, "The pick and the shovel were frequently brought into use to grade down the sides of deep gutters (gullies) so that they might be crossed." He additionally says that the shovel and the pickax were the two tools that have done more toward developing the West (in the nineteenth century) than all others combined. But still, as you may imagine, little work was invested into the roads because the people doing the "investing" were not going to reap any rewards after they got their party or their wagon through.

So initially the roads were minimal, with unimproved surfaces. I have some personal experience with the conditions of such roads. I was born in Oklahoma in the first part of this century on a farm which was accessed by a dirt road. Periodically, the dirt was leveled or smoothed out to fill in the holes. But holes and ruts developed with regularity, especially after the rains which loosened or softened the soil. Then attempts to use the road by car, wagon, or tractor, would create ruts that were axle deep. Progress became next to impossible. Pity the poor mailman trying to make his rounds. He often found that the best roads were through the pastures or farmland.

Back in eighteenth century Virginia, rolling roads were used to get the tobacco to market. Very large casks, I believe about 800 pounds with tobacco was typical, were used. Imagine oversized barrels made of wood. The tobacco was packed into them firmly to relieve the stress on the cask. The barrel was tipped on its side and an axle was fashioned through the barrel. Shafts were fixed to the axle and the cask was pulled by animals, probably oxen. The road had to be a good road if the barrel was to survive the trip. It needed to be smooth so that the cask would not be destroyed or punctured by rocks and tree stumps. It needed to be dry to keep the tobacco dry. The road had to be reasonably level so the animals could pull it uphill and avoid be run over by the cask on the down slopes. So the economic necessity of getting the goods to market forced the best roads to be the tobacco rolling roads.

Overall, the state of the roads was primitive. Their design prevented travel many weeks during the year. Any one road would evolve toward something better as more people worked on it. To carry heavier loads, some surfacing was desirable but it was expensive. Later, to help with these expenses, tolls were charged. Perhaps the best image to have in one's mind is the picture of the two ruts of the Oregon Trail as it crossed the prairie. That was a typical road. In Virginia, I have visited the ruins of a road where the road bed has sunk or eroded so deeply into the earth that a wagon on the road would not be visible from a short distance away. You might say the early roads were a concept, not a reality.

In 1743, two Moravians, Leonhard Schnell and Robert Hussey set out for Georgia from Pennsylvania. The journey was to take five months (but that included waiting for their baggage). They left on November 6, so the trip was definitely in the winter. From Bethlehem, they went to Philadelphia, thence to Lancaster and to York. In York, they recorded that all the inhabitants were "High Germans." They were going by foot, carrying what they needed with them. The trip was of a missionary nature. Because of the scarcity of ministers, it was not hard to obtain an audience. For example, at York, an innkeeper asked Schnell to preach a sermon which he did for an assemblage of villagers rounded up by the innkeeper.

Leaving York, the two pilgrims descended into Maryland and forded in succession three shallow rivers. At the third river, the Monacacy, Schnell had to carry his companion across because the two had walked forty miles since sunup and were very tired. Near Frederick, Maryland, they found many Lutheran and Reformed members who wanted a sermon and they were obliged by the missionaries. Between Frederick and the Potomac River they encountered only two houses in this twenty-mile stretch. They had gone without eating because no food could be obtained.

Near Winchester, in Virginia, the two stopped at the inn of Jost Hite. Jost described the road ahead as 150 miles of Scotch-Irish settlements (this would have been the route which became the Great Wagon Road), which discouraged the missionaries. Learning of an alternative way, they went east of the Blue Ridge Mountains and passed close to Warrenton, Virginia. This, we know, brought them close to Germantown, where the First Germanna Colony was living. One man here told them that a recent ship, bringing immigrants, had lost 150 of its passengers due to drowning. Schnell was requested to stay and preach in the church they had but for which they had no minister. The sermon was so well received that Schnell was requested to stay and become their minister, but he declined.

In the November rains, the two Moravians started southward again. Creeks were swollen. They crossed the Rappahannock in a canoe and stopped at an inn kept by Christopher Kuefer [who was this?]. They plodded along slowly, but were stopped near the Orange County Courthouse, where an English settler demanded to see their passports. Schnell declined and then several farmers of the region took him to a justice of the peace. Here Schnell and Hussey produced their passports and were allowed to leave. By early December they had reached southern Virginia.

In North Carolina, a German Reformed member persuaded them to give a sermon in German, saying that it had been several years since they had heard a sermon in German. Continuing the trip, the missionaries encountered snow, which at times forced them to remain indoors. Turning to the east, they reached Charles Town, South Carolina, on Christmas eve.

Along the way, the missionaries were discouraged that letters had been circulated by the Lutherans and Reformed people, which spoke of the Moravians in an evil manner. By January 21, they were still twenty miles from Savannah. In Savannah, they boarded a sloop, the John Penrose, for the return trip to Pennsylvania. They returned home to Bethlehem on April 10. Thus the trip by sea was almost as time consuming as the walk had been.

As Leonard Schnell and Robert Hussey (an English convert) walked to the south, sometimes covering up to forty miles per day, they encountered difficulties. Food was often scarce because they depended largely on residents along the road. Sometimes they encountered very few homes. Furthermore, food was not always available because the householders themselves had no bread.

At some of the larger rivers, ferries were necessary. At the Shenandoah, the ferryman was reluctant to take them across until he saw their money. At one point, Schnell used his hatchet to clear the vines from the pathway which was often overgrown. Once he felled a tree to serve as a footbridge across Goose Creek. At night they heard the howls of wolves and other wild animals.

In short, travel was primitive and often very unpleasant. Still, we have underestimated the degree of intercourse between the north and the south, most of which was provided by travelers going back and forth.

At the conference between the Governors of Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York, on the one hand, and the Indians of the Five Nations on the other hand, which was held outside Albany in 1722, the Indians agreed to stay on the west side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. There was no provision which limited the Europeans to the east side of the Mountains so that, for a period of years, both groups were in the Shenandoah Valley. At another major conference held at Lancaster, PA in 1744, the right of the Europeans to use the trails on the west side of the Blue Ridge was reaffirmed. At this time, the route on the west side was known as the Great Warrior's Path. In the famous map of Peter Jefferson and Joshua Fry, printed in England in 1754, the map showed the "Indian Road by the Treaty of Lancaster.

By the time the 1775 edition of the map was issued, this Appalachian pathway was labeled "The Great Wagon Road from the Yadkin River through Virginia to Philadelphia distance 435 miles." From the Yadkin River, several other routes extend the total length. The growth of the Moravian settlement of Wachovia after 1753 increased travel from Virginia into that region. This led to the establishment of Rowan County in North Carolina 1753. The Governor of NC could write in 1755 that Salisbury, the county seat of Rowan, is but just laid out, with a courthouse and seven or eight log houses erected.

Growth and development were not instantaneous. Needs were met in a variety of ways. Some enterprising citizens established ferries. In 1744, Virginia ordered that a ferry be maintained across the Potomac (the site is now Williamsport, Maryland). The first ferries were of limited capacities, later expanded so that wagons could be carried.

Year after year, along this narrow-rutted inter-colonial thoroughfare, there was a procession of horsemen, footmen, and pioneer families with horses, wagons, and cattle. The rumble of wagon wheels in the 1750's and 1760's mounted along the Wagon Road. In the last sixteen years of the colonial area, southbound traffic along the Great Wagon Road was numbered in the tens of thousands. It was the most heavily traveled road in all America and had perhaps more traffic than all of the other main roads together.

A point to be made here is that when the first of our Germanna ancestors moved south in the eighteenth century, conditions along the road were still very primitive and the development in the western areas of the southern states was very limited. It was almost like starting over again at Germantown or at the Robinson River.

NOTE: When Alexander Spotswood went to the Indian conference at Albany, New York in 1722, he went by the ship H.M.S. Enterprise. It was easier to go by water than it was by land.

In 1768, a chain of events was launched which was to lead to a spur or new branch of the Great Wagon Road. John Finley, an itinerant peddler, had told Daniel Boone that there was a big gap in the mountain range which the Indians used. That was all Daniel Boone needed to hear. Boone, Finley, and four others hacked their way through dense underbrush to prove that a route was possible.

Colonel Richard Henderson, a North Carolina lawyer, saw the possibilities. He purchased land from the Cherokees along the Ohio River in Kentucky. To provide access, he hired Boone and thirty workers to cut a road through. His actions were not universally acclaimed but Boone completed the road in short order.

This modest beginning quickly became the Wilderness Road, leading to what became Kentucky and Tennessee. The new road branched to the southwest at (today's) Roanoke, VA, leaving the Great Wagon Road, which continued in a southerly direction. In terms of today's locations, it passed Christianburg, Wytheville, and Abingdon, in Virginia, before branching in a westerly direction to pass through the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky and branching in a southwestern direction toward Knoxville.

By 1776, Henderson's company, Transylvania, petitioned the Continental Congress for admission as the fourteenth colony. Conflicting claims and rivalries doomed the request.

However, colonists from Pennsylvania to the Carolinas were undeterred by the political status of the new area. The lure of the new lands in the west added to the volume of the traffic on the Great Wagon Road. By 1790, when the first United States census was taken, 70,000 people had made new homes across the Appalachians.

The opening of Tennessee and Kentucky deflected much of the traffic on the Wagon Road for several decades, but the road continued to grow in importance. Indeed, the great years of the Deep South's settlement were yet to come. The ancient path which had led through the Carolinas to Georgia would continue to lead to green lands and golden opportunity. The Great Philadelphia Wagon Road would grow with the years." (Frank Rouse, Jr., "The Great Wagon Road," The Dietz Press, 1995.)

This history of the Wagon Road is of interest for its own story, but it was also the route by which many of Germanna people moved on to new life's away from Virginia. Germanna people were among the first in nearly all of the new areas.

Interesting? This all came about because of the group of people that are discussing the Germanna settlement in VA. on the Web.