Colonel John Sevier
The First Ford on the Watauga River in Tennessee
Colonel John Sevier was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, in 1734. His father descended from an ancient family in France, the name being originally spelled Xavier.About 1769, young Sevier joined an exploring and emigrating party to the Holston River in East Tennessee, then a part of North Carolina. He assisted in erecting the first fort on the Watauga River, where he, his father, his brother Valentine, and others settled.
While engaged in defending the Watauga fort, in conjunction with Captain James Robertson, so known and distinguished in the early history of Middle Tennessee, he espied a young lady of tall and erect stature, running rapidly towards the fort, closely pursued by Indians, and her approach to the gate cut off by the savage enemy.
Her cruel pursuers were doubtless confident of securing a captive or a victim to their blood-thirty purposes, but, turning suddenly, she eluded the savages, leaped the fortifications of the fort at another point, and gracefully fell into the arms of Captain John Sevier!
This remarkably active and resolute woman was Miss Catharine Sherrill, who, in a few years after this sudden leap and rescue, became the devoted and heroic wife of the gallant Captain and future Colonel, General, Governor and people"s friend, John Sevier. She became the mother of ten children, who could gratefully rise and call her blessed.
The Battle of Point Pleasant
Sevier fought fiercely against the Indians at the newly constructed Point Pleasant on the Kenhawa River (West Virginia). A regiment of about one hundred soldiers experienced a confrontation with two Indian chiefs, one of them known as Cornface, Chief of the Shawnee Indians.
A Temporary Government on the Watauga River
The first settlers on the Holston, Watauga, and other tributary streams were so far beyond the influence of the State laws of North Carolina as to induce them in 1772 to form a temporary government for their better protection and security. The people enjoyed the advantages of this Watauga government, as it was called, from 1772 until 1777. At that date, Colonel Sevier procured the establishment of courts and the extension of State laws over the Washington District (then in North Carolina), embracing an interesting section of the country in which he and other pioneers of civilization had cast their lots. These hardy pioneers opened roads across the mountains, felled the forests, built forts and houses, subdued the earth, and began rapidly replenishing it, for they married. The State of North Carolina confirmed these marriages years later.
Colonel Sevier served in the expedition under Colonel Christian to chastise the Indians for their numerous murders and depredations. In 1779, he raised troops, entered the Indian territory, and fought the successful battle of Boyd's Creek. A few days after this battle, Colonel Arthur Campbell and his Virginia regiment joined, and Colonel Isaac Shelby with troops from Sullivan County, then North Carolina. These active officers scoured the Cherokee country, scattered hostile bands, destroyed most of the Indian towns, and, after inflicting this severe chastisement, returned to their homes with greater assurance of peace and security.
In the brilliant victory of King's Mountain Mountain, Colonel Sevier, with his regiment, displayed the most consummate bravery. In June of the same year, he marched into South Carolina and assisted Colonel McDowell and other officers in the successful battle of Musgrove's Mill.
In 1781, Colonel Sevier was appointed by General Greene a commissioner to treat with the chiefs of the Cherokees and other tribes of Indians, which trust he faithfully performed. During 1781 and 1782, he almost constantly led expeditions into the Cherokee country.
The State of Franklin
On the 14th of December, 1784, a convention of five delegates from each County of the extreme western portion of North Carolina met at Jonesboro, now in Tennessee, of which body Colonel Sevier was made President. They formed a constitution for a new State, called Franklin , which was to be received or rejected by another body of similar powers at a meeting in Greenville in November 1785. As might be expected, this strange state of things caused Governor Caswell, a soldier and a statesman, to issue his proclamation against this lawless thirst for power. As a result, the opposing party's many angry discussions and violent acts disrupted the peace for about three years in western North Carolina.
Sketches of Western North Carolina, Historical and Biographical by C. L. Hunter
Colonel Sevier served in the expedition under Colonel Christian to chastise the Indians for their numerous murders and depredations. In 1779, he raised troops, entered the Indian territory, and fought the successful battle of Boyd's Creek. A few days after this battle, Colonel Arthur Campbell and his Virginia regiment joined, and Colonel Isaac Shelby with troops from Sullivan County, then North Carolina. These active officers scoured the Cherokee country, scattered hostile bands, destroyed most of the Indian towns, and, after inflicting this severe chastisement, returned to their homes with greater assurance of peace and security.
In the brilliant victory of King's Mountain Mountain, Colonel Sevier, with his regiment, displayed the most consummate bravery. In June of the same year, he marched into South Carolina and assisted Colonel McDowell and other officers in the successful battle of Musgrove's Mill.
In 1781, Colonel Sevier was appointed by General Greene a commissioner to treat with the chiefs of the Cherokees and other tribes of Indians, which trust he faithfully performed. During 1781 and 1782, he almost constantly led expeditions into the Cherokee country.