Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-06-05

lhose VINO signed, had considerable ad-
vantages over those who did not; they
were respectively allowed a tract of
land, in the quiet possession of which
the colony secured them; whilst those
who did not sign, were consider
ed as having no right to the lands they
occupied, and could be dispossessed by
a signer without any recourse. The
trustees received neither fees nor sala-
ries,b but they appointed a clerk to whom
they allowed very small perquisites to
pay the expense of paper and station
ary; the trustees, who were the execu-
tive of the country, had the whole gov
ernment in their hands; they also acted
as the judiciary, and their decisions
gave general satisfaction; they also
performed the functions of the clerical
office, and celebrated the rites of matri.
mony. Capt. James Robertson who
acted as a trustee, was the first who
married a couple, Capt. Leiper and his
wife; James Shaw afterwards married
Edward Swanson to Mrs. Carvin, Jas.
Freeland to Mrs. Maxwell, Cornelius
Riddle to Miss Jane Mulherrin and John
Tucker to Jenny Herod, all in one day.
The first child born in the country was
John Saunders, who acted not many
years ago as Sheriff of Montgomery
County, and who was killed on White
river by the Indians; the second, Miss
Anna Wells, who not many years ago
lived in Montgomery County.
The County of Davidson was included
in the following bounds; all that part
of North Carolina lying west of the
Cumberland Mountain, and south of
the Virginia line, beginning on the top
of Cumberland Mountain where the
Virginia line crosses it, extending west.
wardly along the said line to the Ten.
nessee river; thence up said river to
the mouth of Duck river; thepce up
Duck river, 10 where the line of marked
trees run by the comm issioners for lay
ing off the land granted to the cont.
mental line of North Carolina, intersects
said river, which taid line is supposed
to be in thirty five degrees fifty minutes
of north latitude; thence east, along
said line, to the top of Cumberland
Mountain; thence northwardly along
said line to the beginning. The Assem-
bly, directed that an entry taker be ap-
pointed by the County Court of David
son to receive preemption entries, and
the inhabitants of the county were al
lowed to pay in specie, or ia specie Ger.
tificates for thir preemptions; and they
were allowed the term of eighteen
months within which to make the pay
ment; the heirs of such as were dead,
were allowed one year after coming of
age to make their payments.
In giving this county the name of
Davidson, the representatives of the
people paid grateful tribute to depart
ed merit, in the person of Gen. David
son, a native of their own State. He
was gallant officer, who resided in
the western parts of North Carolina, on
the east of the Appalachian Mountains;
he had served with reputation as an Of
ficer of inferior grade in the continent
al army; had left it, and been appoint
cd a general of militia; he was emil
nently devoted to the cause of Ameri-
can liberty. Whenever the tories en-
bodied, as they frequently did; he was
soon at the place of their meeting, to
suppress them; and no impedirnent
which they could offer was ever able
to stop his progress moment. When
the British themselves were near, there
was no danger he would not cheerfully
encounter if it would but serve his
country's cause. When the British
forces made an effort to overtake con.
siderable body of their army which had
been captured at the Cowpens, and had
made sudden irruption into North
Carolina, the American army retreat.
ing before them, Gen. Davidson, in.
tending to retard the march of the
enemy, raised body of active militia
men, and at every river and creek,
caused them some delay. On the first
of February, 1881, the British forces
came to the CaJawba, at ford near
McCowan's, and began to cross the
river at that place. Davidson rode to
the river to reconnoitre the enemy on
the other side, in order to devise some
plan to keep them back awhile; one of
the German riflemen, unperceived by
him, for it was nearly dark, had cross
ed the river and got near to the bank
on which the General rode. and shot
him. Knowing that his wound was
mortal, he rode briskly back to place
where he had left part of his troops,
and gave to them the necessary direc-
tions what to do, and having done so,
soon after expired. Never was there a
more intrepid soldier; never greater
patriot; never did any man love bis
country with more ardent affection;
his name should be ever dear to the
people of North Carolina and Tennes.
see, and the posterity which he left,
should be dear to them also. The pub.
lie gratitude should be shown bv acts
and deeds,and not by professions alone.
Those who die for their country should
have death sweetened, not only by the
prospectof individual fame, but like.
| wise with the certain prosnaet of honor