Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-11-21
AN OLD RECORD.
Part Of the Division Line Between Wash
ingtOn and Montgomery counties.

part of Montgomery county. In 1913
the county of Washington was
formed, and a line run between
the new county and Montgomery. We
expect that very few persons living in
Tazewen know where these lines run.
We are under obligations to Mr.. W. M.
Spoor, of Marion, Va, for copy of a
survey made by Hugh Fulton, bearing
date May 6, 1888, recorded in the clerk s
office of Washington county. Mr.. Spoor
IS 4 native of Herkimer county, New
York, but for nearly thirty years has
been residing at Marion, Va. He has
been a careful Investigator and student
of the old records in the clerks offices
of Washington, Smyth and other coun-
ties of this section, and accidentally
came upon this survey of Hugh Fulton,
which, strange to say, was recorded in
the Will Book. 1t is as follows:
Extract from the records of Wash
ington County Court, Virginia, of the
courses, distances, and boundaries of the
dividing line between the counties of
Washington and Montgomery, as shown
by report of Hugh Fulton, surveyor,
bearing date on May 6, 1888 and record
ed in Will Book No. p. of said court.
Beginning at a White Walnut and
Buckeye at the ford of Holstein next
above the Royal Oak, and runneth
thence.
N. 80 w. over Brushy Mountain,
one creek, Walkers Mountain, North
fork of Holstein, Locust Cove, Poor
Valley Cove, Clinch Mountain, and the
south fork of Clinch, to double and
single sugar tree, two Buckeye Saplins,
one Barr grass hill, west end of Morris
Knob, fifteen miles and three quarters
Thence from said Knob, North, crossing
the spurs-of the same and Paint Lick
Mountain, the North fork of Clinch by
John Hines plantation, and over the
river ridge by James Rouxes, in the
Baptist Valley to sugar tree and two
white oaks, on the head Of Sandy, five
miles one quarter, twenty poles.
Thence beginning at said Walnut and
Buckeye above the Royal Oak, and
running south, crossing the middle fork
of Holstein, Cambells Mill creek, three
Mountains the South fork of Hol-
stein above Jones Mill, his Mill
Creek, four Mountains and Fox Creek
to six White Pines on top of the Iron
Mountain by a Laurel thicket eleven
miles, three quarters and sixty poles.
The distance of said line from the
head of Sandy, to the top of Iron Noun
tain is thirty-three miles. Executed
and returned May 6, 1888"
HUGH FULTON.
A copy of test:-W. M. S.
The beginning point of this survey is
at ford of the Holston about two miles
east of Marion, Va. Royal Oak receiv-
ed its name from very large oak tree,
the largest, according to tradition, that
was ever seen standing in Southwest
Virginia. Near where the oak stood was
erected what was known as Royal Oak
Presbyterian Church, log structure,
which was still standing when this
writer was a small child. The church
was surrounded by an old grave yard
which is still used to limited extent
by people in the neighborhood. A grove
of oaks and other trees is still there, but
the old log church has long since dis
appeared.
All the points mentioned in the sur
vey on both of the lines run from the
ford on the Holston are known to US.
Does any person in this county know
the location of Bar grass hill'' at
the west end of Morris Knob? And can
any one tell US the location of the John
Hines plantation? We suppose the
James Roux referred to by Fulton was
james Roark, who lived in Baptist
Valley at what is now known as Roark' 8
Gap.
Since the above was written, Judge
S. c. Graham has furnished us the fol-
owing interesting historical sketch of
James Roark;
MASSACRE OF THE RoARK FAMILY.
"James Roark lived at the gap of the
dividing ridge, between the waters of
the Clinch and Sandy Rivers, through
which passed the Dry Fork road, and
which has since been known as Roark' s
Gap. Early in 1889, band of Shawanoe
Indians left their homes in the West,
and ascending the Dry Fork, fell upon
the defenseless family of Mr.. Roark,
and killed his wife and seveTalchildren.
Two sons and Mr.. Roark were from
home. and, it may be, thus saved theil
own lives, as the Indians were rather
numerous to have been beaten off BY
them, even if they had been at home
This Is the only instance that have
met with, of the the Indians visiting
settlements of Tazewell before the
winter had clearly broken. There was
heavy snow upon the ground at the
time.
From this time forward, the Roarks