Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-02-20
HAYWOOD'S
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
[coNTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.


In 1772, the settlement on the Wa
tauga, being without Government,
formed written association and arti-
cles for their conduct; they appointed
five commissioners majority of whom
was to decide all matters Of con troversy,
and to govern aud direct for the com.
mon good in other respects; the settle.
ment lived under these articles for some
time. James Robertson was one OF the
five commissioners; he soon became
distinguished for sobriety and love Of
order, and for firmness Of character
which qualified him to face danger; he
was equally distinguished for remarka-
BILE equanimity and amenity of man.
ners, which rendered him acceptable to
all who knew him. Early in 1772, the
colony of Virginia held a treaty with
the Cherokees, and agreed upon q
boundary between them, to run west
from the White Top Mountain, in lati.
tude thirty six deg. thirty min. Soon
after this, Alex. Csmmeron, a deputy
agent for the Government Of Great
Britain, resident among the Cherokees,
ordered the Watauga settlers to move
off. Some Of the Cherokees expressed
q wish that they might be permitted to
stay, II they would make no further
encroschments; this avoided the neces-
sity for their removal. The settlers,
uneasy at the precsrious tenure by
which they occupied their lands, de-
sired to obtain a more permanent title.
For this purpose, in the year 1772, they
deputed James Robertson and John
Boon, to negotiate with the Indians for
a lease; and for certain amount in
merchandise, estimated at 5000 or 8,
900 dollars, muskets and other articles
OF nvenience, the Cherokees made a
lease to them for eight years, of all the
country on che waters of the Watauga.
In the same year, Jacob Brown. with
one or two families from North Caro-
lima, settled on Nolachucky river, where
keeping small store of goods, he in
gratiated himself with the Indians,
and made with them contract for
lands on the waters of that river, simi-
lar to the former. In both instances,
the property advanced to purchase the
goods, was re imbursed by selling out
the lands leased, in parcels to individ-
uals for the time the lease was to last.
Soon after the arrival Of Mr.. Robertson
on Watauga, some persons settled in
Carter's valley, fourteen or fifteen
miles above where Rogersville now is;
the country was all then supposed to
be part Of Virginia, and soon became
settled from the Wolf Hills, where Alb
ington, in Virginia, now is, to Carter q
valley. The river was deemed the
boundary between North Carolina and
Virginia. Parker and Carter opened a
store in the valley, which the Indians
robbed. When Henderson . treaty was
held with the Cherokees, in 1774, and
again in 1775, these merchants come to
it, and demanded Csrter's valley, as a
compensation for the injury they had
sustained, to extend from Cloud q
Creek, to the Chimney Top Mountain,
Of Beech Greek. The Indians were
willing to give the valley, provided an
additional price were thrown into the
bargain. Parker and Carter agreed to
the proposal, and took Robert Lucas in
as partner, to enable them to advance
the additional price. There were al
this time three settlements in the coun-
try; one at Wataugs, and Browns and
Carter settlements. Parker and Garter
leased their lands to job purchasers
but when, some time afterwards, it be.
gan to be suspec ted that the lands lay
In North Carolina, and not in Virginia,
the purchasers refused to hold under
them, and drove them off. Prior to
this time persons emigrating to Natchez,
frequently stopped at Holston for q
year or two, cleared land, and made
crops of corn, and disposed of the crops
and Of the lands on which they were
made, to Parker and Carter. Such i'm
provements were understood by the
law of Virginia, to entitle the improveri
or their assignses, to right of pre- emp
ton. These rights fell to the ground
the moment it was discovered that the
lands lay in North Carolina. Parker
and Carter after making the purchases
usually sold to other emigrants, who
had come to reside permanently in the
country, demanding a price for the
lands, and for the improvements, which
conferred the right of pre- emption,
When Henderson held the treaty with
the Indians, those who were seated or
lands leased by the Indians, purchased
them out. and paid the Indians fol
them. Their deed was made to blacl
Charles Robertson, in behalf OF the
Watauga settlers. Jacob Brown also
purchased a tractof land of the Indians
beginning at the Chimney Top; thence
to Camp Greek, and to the boundary
afterwards called Browns line, which
in IT'S, was specified in an act of the
Legislature Of North Carolina as the
boundary between the Indians and th,
white people. After the lease made by
the Indians Of lands on Watauga, Z
great race wasagreed to be run there
at which, on the appointed day, wer,
numbers of persons from all the adj
A..