Early Settlers in the West Watauga Settlement/Association

Who came to Tennessee and Kentucky? (before the war) The first colonial people to come into what is now TN and KY were called longhunters. Longhunter- someone who stays gone for months, collecting animal skins, and drying meat to sell back to the colonist They came in parties of two or three men looking to hunt Longhunters would tell other colonist about the abundant amount of land west of the Appalachian Mountains

Why were people leaving? Regulators, farmers from NC, would disagree with taxes being raised. This will bring about rebellions Regulators and NC Militia will clash in 1771 in a Battle known as the Battle of Alamance Militia will win, they are more organized This is believed to be a reason that many wanted to leave NC and go west

Dr. Thomas Walker Organized the first known English expedition through Cumberland Gap Named the gap after the Duke of Cumberland, the son of King George II Worked for the Loyal Land Company and set out to claim 800,000 acres of land Ended up not staying on the land, interest wouldn’t be renewed again until Daniel Boone came through the Cumberland Gap

First Permanent Settlers 1769, William and Lydia Bean William was a longhunter Their son Russell Bean, is believed to be the first European child born in TN This region that they settled in would become known as the Watauga Settlement Most settlers who came west would travel with their families and even full communities

The Watauga Association 1772 many settlers were living in the Watauga settlement. Decided they needed a government to establish law and order Settlers met at Sycamore Shoals, to form the Watauga Association They created the Watauga Compact

The Washington District When the American Revolution began settlers in TN were in favor of the rebellion The five who led the Watauga compact honored General George Washington by naming their land the Washington District

Watauga Petitions North Carolina created a state government to replace the colonial government of England Washington District petitioned to become part of the new state Washington District became North Carolina’s Washington County

Thomas Sharp Spencer Considered one of the first settlers in Middle Tennessee He was a longhunter Known for his strength, encountered many Indians who would attack him on his hunts

Daniel Boone Was a longhunter, served in the French and Indian War Would take settlers through a trail that ran through the Cumberland Gap-a notch in the Appalachian Mountains located near the intersection of Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. This trail would become known as Wilderness Road It would serve as the pathway to the western United States

Wilderness Road Complications The actual trail was created by herds of buffalo that roamed around in the area Native American tribes would start to use this trail to attack each other When Boone set out to take his family to settle west, the Indians attacked the group Killing two, including Boone’s son James The travel was dangerous, but people would still want to settle west

James Robertson Explored lands called Sycamore Shoals close to the mouth of the Watauga River Called the area “The Promise Land” because he thought it would provide a good home and life Brought his family along with 16 other families to live in the Watauga Settlement Known as the “Father of Tennessee”

Transylvania Company Takes place after Boone’s attempt to settle in Kentucky Boone will be hired by Richard Henderson, Judge of North Carolina because he has great knowledge of the Cumberland Gap area They want him to find a new trail Henderson will approach the Cherokee to negotiate a land purchase to eliminate aggression Henderson will purchase land between the Cumberland and Kentucky rivers, a total of about 20 million acres This is known as the Transylvania Purchase Would be nullified, or voided

The Transylvania Purchase Cherokee leaders rented the land to the settlers in exchange for goods Dragging Canoe, son of the Cherokee Chief, Little Carpenter, will disagree with this purchase and will warn that he will begin fighting

Cherokee War of 1776 After colonies rebelled, British encouraged the Cherokee to make war on the Washington District Numerous Cherokee, led by Dragging Canoe, planned to attack Not all Cherokee wanted war. Nancy Ward (Cherokee) warned settlers about the initial attack Most of the battles would be small groups of settlers and warriors

Nancy Ward Cherokee Woman Worked toward peace between Cherokee and settlers Saved Lydia Bean, Wife of William Bean from execution She is buried in Polk County, Tennessee

John Sevier Elected as one of the five leaders of the Watauga Association Helped defend Fort Watauga against an assault Chosen to help govern the Washington District during the American Revolution Served six two-year terms as Tennessee’s governor

The Robertson/Donelson Party After the Transylvania Purchase, James Robertson will lead a group and John Donelson will lead another group to settle in TN Robertson took the men, Donelson had the families of the men They planned to travel by boat down the TN River to the Cumberland River Donelson’s group would be the first settlers attacked by Dragging Canoe in present day Chattanooga

The Battle of the Bluffs Native American strikes against those in Middle TN were regular 1781, Dragging Canoe and the Chickamaugans planned to ambush the settlers at Fort Nashborough. Two Indians fired at the fort, which caused James Robertson and about 20 other men to chase after them. They were led right into a trap where 5 settlers were killed and two wounded They managed to get back into the fort where Mrs. Robertson let the settler’s dogs loose to attack the Indians The Native Americans made off with at least 19 of the settlers horses The battle lasted about 2 hours