A Story For The Fourth of July and for Cuz!

[Shooterman]

Before the lead in to the War For Independence, i.e. a few years before, a fellow by the name of William Bean, being somewhat of a move around type, presumably looking for a better place to live and set down roots, moved his family into the western regions of North Carolina, known as the Indian Lands. He already had a family, but being the industrious type fellow he was, he continued to add therefore unto. He and his wife, Lydia, had the first white child born in what is now the State of Tennessee. Well, Old Will had a lot of good friends and family that moved into the area with him over a period of time. It so happens Lydia had a brother by the name of George who had married Will's sister Elizabeth, so they were double brother and sister-in-laws.

The area they moved into was too far from the seat of government of North Carolina as it was on the other side of the mountains and quite a far piece, and it was quite a far piece to the seat of government in Virginia, as well, so they formed their own government through an organization that became known as The Watauga Association. Life was good, fishing and game and good land was plentiful and they settled in for a fine and lasting stay.

Alas and alack, the best laid, as Wee Robby Burns had said, messed around and gang agleyed. The country became embroiled in a little tete'-e-tete' called a fight for Independence. Now it seems Cornwallis, I presume had sent a fellow by the name of Ferguson into the South with a force of 1500 of the best trained and equipped soldiers in the world; the famed British Red Coats.

Ferguson, being the brash fellow he was, made the statement he was going to come south and hang anyone that did not swear fealty to the King and lay down their arms. Now, the good folks of The Watauga, being somewhat independent, having defended their homes from marauding bands of Indians and criminals, took umbrage, formed a militia of 1100 men under John Sevier, and marched forthwith to teach that upstart a thing of two.

After a forced march over the mountains, hence the name Over Mountain Men, they caught Old Fergy asittin' on top of Kings Mountain, and with a loss of very few men, whupped those Red Coat boys somethin' fierce and hung Ferguson and all his officers. ( very un-PC by todays standards, but doubtful any of the ACLU types were around )

They heard an attack was imminent on their settlements, so the force was split, half then force marched back over the mountains to defend their homes and families, and the other half went on to Cowpens.

John Sevier later became the First Governor of The State of Tennessee.

The back of the incursion into the southern part of the country was pretty well broken, and the rest is history.

On a personal note, the aforementioned George and his wife Elizabeth were my Fifth Great Grandparents on my Pappy's side, and I presume more than likely about the same kin to Cuz.

Dadburn and Doggone me, but Happy Birthday America.

[Woodmonkey]

What a great story, Mr Shooterman!

[SherryGrace]

I'm with Katie...what a wonderful story! Pretty awesome kinfolk you have there, Mr. Shooterman and Blue. Pretty awesome.

[Shooterman]

Originally Posted by SherryGrace

I'm with Katie...what a wonderful story! Pretty awesome kinfolk you have there, Mr. Shooterman and Blue. Pretty awesome.

Yeah, and then this Ol' Curmudgeon came along and really scred the gene pool.