Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1916-04-07
Children CRY
FOR FLETCHER'S
CA 8 T Q RIA

heS, SapIalH CrockettS and James
Feery's, so nearly relevant to its ear
~ history. Capt. John Crockett was
-born and raised in Wythe county, Viz
; ginia. After the revolutionary war
, the State of Virginia established ,
chain of forts reaching from the heat
of James river to the Tennessee line
one of these forts was on Bluestone
one on Lincolnshire branch and one al
Rowark's Gap and one between Ce.
dar Bluff and Richards. These forts
were for the protection of the early
, settlers against the marauding In
dians. The troops occupying these
stations i'll the present limits of the
county were under the command of
Maj. Robert Croclett, OF Wythe, OF
Montgomery at that time. | have
heard from Capt. Croc,.ett's relatives
that he came here as soldier of the
Commonwealth, and was employed by
the garrlssons as scout. He belong
cd to the Bluestone garrison for u
while.
In March, 1893 Maj Robert Crock
EFT pursued band of Indians who had
invaded this section, murdered John
Davidson and stolen a number of
horses. When Crockett's force reach
ed point on Guyandotte river short
distance above the mouth of Gilbert
Creek he went into camp and sent
Joseph Gilbert, Samuel Lusk and Jno.
Crockett to a famous elk and deer
lick near the mouth of the creek TO
secure Il supply of meat for his men.
When they had reached point q
short distance from the lick, they
were fired on by concealed band of
Indians near the lick. Gilbert was
killed, Lusk was wounded and cap
tured and taken to Canada, but final
ly returned to the county. John
| Crockett made his escape.
Old Reese, faithful and humble
servant of the Captains, said he had
often heard his old "Boss," meaning
the Captain, say that all he had when
he came to Tazewell was rifle gun
and n silver quarter.
John Ward was the first clerk of
the county and l do not think he
served more than one term. Capt.
clerk and served until Geo. Brownies
term, which l think began about the
time or possibly after Captain Crock
ett's death.
James Peery, ST., came to Tazewell
| about the year 1897 OF '9S, and set
tied on Plum Creek at the late resi-
dence of William Pcery, Jr., deceas-
ed. He had seven children, Michael,
who went TO Mississippi and settled
near Meridian; James, Jr. who lived
| and died on Clinch river near PIs-
gan; William, ST., who lived and died
at his fathers home; Sallie, who mar
rled Thomas Bandy, LUCKY Tom;"
| Eleanor, who married William Whit
man November 10, 1874; Hannah, who
| married John l.. Daugherty; Mary,
who married Capt. John Crockett,
about the year 1907 or 90, very soon
after her father settled OH Plum
creek. My grandmother, Eleanor
Peery Whitman was born September
10, 1894, near Fincastle, Va, and was
the youngest child of James Peery,
ST.. She told me her sister, Mary, was
considered the Belle of the county and
was very beautiful and charming
lass, which accounted for the intelil-
gent, brave soldier, hunter and scouts
early attraction too, and fascination
OF the beautiful and charming Mary,
which resulted in early marriage.
OF this marriage nine children were
| born-Samuel Crockett, who died at
his home in Crockett's Cove; Rufus
Crockett, who died on the farm now
owned by Preston Peery; Addison
Crockett, wo died at his home near
Dial Rock; John l. Crockett, who died
at his home on Cavitt's Creek; Robert
| Crockett, who died at his home on
Cavitt's Greek; Julia Crockett Mat
ney; Jennie Crockett Gillespie, died at
their homes near Richlands; Marga-
| rett Crockett Lane died at her home
at Wittens Mills; Maria Crockett Tiff
fanny, died at her home near st. Clair
on Bluestone.
The births, ages and marriages of
these children are not relevant TO the
question as to who built the "Old Tav-
ern," but that some of them, if not
all, spent many happy hours within
It's walls, have no reason to doubt.
Captain John Crockett, after his
marriage to Mary Peery, built the
frst frame house built IN Iazeweil,
on Cavitt's Creek where Mr.. Charles
Reynolds now resides. 1t was framed,
f. weather boarded and brick, nogged,
but was burned a few years ago.
Robert Crockett ST., was the young
est child OF Captain John CrocNeCt,
therefore coulq not have built the
'Uld Inn"
Captain John Crockett died De-
cember 18th, 1889.
| MARY Ieery CfockcCC, MS VIE, died
June list, 1871. John Crockett and
Margaret Gillespie were married June
: 9th, 1888, ana went to i've at his
fathers home on Cavitt's Greek, and
have heard Mrs. Margaret Crockett
say that Robert Crockett lived with
! them until he married Eliza Moore.
Robert Crockett inherited the "Old
Tavern" and tract of land owned
later by Jack May, where Mr.. Crock
EFT lived before and during the war.
1t is a reasonable conclusion that
after Captain Crockett was elect
ed Clerk of the county that he would
desire residence at the county seat,
where he would be in close touch with
the business of the office, and the peo-
pie of the county.
Therefore, the date of 1920, found
upon one of the bricks in the wall of
the old building, in all probability
was the year OF its erection. After
Captain Crockett's wife died. his sis