The Name of Cutburth, in Our Family, Is Traditionally Known to Be Scotch-Irish. It Is Thought

INTRODUCTION

The name of Cutburth, in our family, is traditionally known to be Scotch-Irish. It is thought to have been originally spelled Cuthbert as a variant of Gut-Barth. The true meaning of the name Cuthbert is not known, but most surnames originated in one of the following ways: from the father, a locality, an occupation, a rank of office or a nickname. The name is variously spelled Cuthbert, Cutbert, Cutbeard, Culbuth, Culbouth, Culbirth, Cutberth, Cutbirth and Cutburth. Of these, the last two are the forms most often used today.

The Scotch-Irish were among the frequent early arrivals in the colonies. Between 1715 and 1775, over a quarter million Scotchmen (who had been sent to Ulster in Northern Ireland by James I to keep the Irish under control) settled in places like the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, the Piedmont country of North Carolina and all along the Eastern seaboard. By the time the colonies declared their independence from England, one out o ften American settlers was Scotch-Irish. These hearty people helped their new homeland in another way-- when they found all the good land along the coast was already taken, these Scotch-Irish became the corps of pioneers who took wagon trains west to settle America's heartland.

Although it is not known exactly when our Cutburths came to America, it is thought they may have come about 1715 to Pennsylvania or Virginia, and may have come from Castle Hill, Inverness, Scotland by way of Ireland and England.

The author of this history would remind its readers that her work is that of an amateur, and that she has only tried to put together, in chronological order, findings and recollections that have come her way through her research of the Cutburth family name. This book attempts to capture this family's heritage and preserve it on the written page, so that future generations may expand its contents, thus it is not meant that the final chapter be found here, but that it will be used to keep alive this heritage in the years to come. The author would encourage each person who receives this book to write down something about their own lives and include it in this history.

----Melvina Cutburth - Arnett

BENJAMIN CUTBIRTH, SR.

Revolutionary Patriot

Benjamin Cutbirth, Sr., the earliest known ancestor of this history, was born about 1740, more than likely in Pennsylvania. In a letter written on June 10, 1845, by Benjamin's son-in-law, Elijah Calloway, to Lyman C. Draper*1, Elijah states that, "Benjamin Cutbirth, the great hunter and explorer of the West, was born in Augusta County, Virginia, about the year 1740." However, Elijah's son, Dr. James Calloway writes in his letter of February 19, 1852*2 "My grandfather, Benjamin Cutbirth, as I have always heard my mother say, came from Pennsylvania to the fork of the Yadkin...."

There was a large Scotch-Irish settlement in South central Pennsylvania early in the eighteenth century, and the Penn family literally owned the state at that time. The Scotch-Irish, not finding the freedoms they so yearned for began a mass exodus South in the 1750's, over the Great Wagon Road, which led most of them to North Carolina. Their journey, in fact, took them through Westem Virginia along the Blue Ridge Range where Augusta County is situated. Some of the immigrants settled in the Valley of Virginia, and others followed the Trading Path into the Yadkin River area of North Carolina. Dr. James Calloway further states, "My Uncle Daniel (Benjamin's oldest son) was sent back to Pennsylvania when he got large enough and went to school." It is most likely that Benjamin hailed from Pennsylvania, although he may have lived in Augusta County, Virginia at some point in time.

Much of what we know about Benjamin Cutbirth's personal life comes from the Draper Manuscripts. Lyman C. Draper was a great historian of the 1800's. He spent years traveling through the country in search of pioneer history. He gleaned his information from interviews with old settlers, collecting letters, etc., which is evidenced by the letters from Benjamin's son-in-law, Elijah Calloway, and grandson, Dr. James Galloway. Draper's vast collection of manuscripts was deposited with the Wisconsin Historical Society, of which he was secretary and librarian for many years (1854-86). The manuscripts have been released on microfilm to select libraries across the country, and can be viewed only at those libraries.

Elijah Calloway tells us Benjamin was a young boy when his father died*3 "---as his father died when he was young and his widowed mother married when he was grown to manhood and his being an interprising nature he early left his step-father's house and emigrated to Roan County, N.C.when he immediately became acquainted with Daniel Boone, the great hunter. As the woods was Cutbirth's great delight and as he was a hunter himself he set out to hunt with Boone. They ranged the forest far and wide and were frequently among the Indians who very often expressed dissatisfaction with them for killing their game and in one of their hunting tours and when they had killed and caught a great deal of fur on Roan Creek, a branch of the Watauga River. The Indians came upon them and took everything they had. The author (Elijah) has been many a time where the robbery was committed as Cutbirth long afterwards became the author's father-in-law, and as he and Cutbirth was frequently together they frequently covered these subjects." Reuben G. Thwaites, in his book, "Daniel Boone", also tells of Benjamin's father dying while the son was yet young. Benjamin's parents have yet to be identified. Church records indicate Benjamin lived near Mocksville, near John and Sarah (Boone) Wilcoxson, his future "in-laws". Cutbirth and Boone hunted in the early 1760's in the Watauga region of westem North Carolina and eastem Tennessee.

At this point, we start noticing the different variations, in spelling, of the Cutbirth name. In the early days record keepers spelled the names as they sounded. The Rowan County Tax List of October 8, 1761 spells the name Cutbeard.

It was about this time that Benjamin met and married Elizabeth Wilcoxson. From Thwaite's notes*4 --"At the close of the French and Indian War there arrived in the Boone settlement a Scotch-Irishman named Benjamin Cutbirth, aged about twenty-three years. He was a man of good character and a free hunter. Marrying Elizabeth Wilcoxen, a niece of Daniel Boone, he and Boone went upon long hunts together, and attained that degree of comradeship which joint life in a wildemess camp is almost certain to produce."

And from Elijah Calloway's letter

BenjaminCutbirth,Sr.andElizabethWilcoxsonweremarriedabout1761andsoonbegantoraiseafamily.Theywouldbetheparentsoffourchildren.Theirfirstchild,DanielBooneCutbirth,wasbornabout1762,followedbyanotherson,BenjaminCutbirth,Jr.,in1764.

Intheearly1760'stheYadkinRiverareabegantoseeit'spopulationrapidlygrow.Thismeantoneimportantthingtoahunter;morecompetitionforadwindlingamountofgame.In1765agroupofNorthCaroliniansfromtheRoanokeRiverareasetsailforNewOrleansandestablishedasettlementjustnorthofBatonRougeontheMississippiRiver.Hearingofthis,Benjamindecidedtoinvestigatethisnewwildernessforhimself.*6So,intheSpringof1766,historywatchedasBenjaminCutbirthandthreeother"leatherstockings"fromtheYadkin,JohnBaker,JamesWard,andJohnStewart(DanielBoone'sbrother-in-law),saddledtheirpackhorses,settheirbackstotherisingsun,andsetofffortheMississippi.Boonehadbeenaskedtogoalongbutdeclined,andspentthenextfewmonthsberatinghimselffornotgoing.
TheytraveledwestalongalittleknownIndiantrailacrossSouthernKentuckyandNorthemTennessee,passingthroughmanyIndiannations,mostofwhomhadneverseenfirearmsbefore.ViewingtheGreatRiversomewhereneartheMissouribootheel,thefoursomebecamethefirstwhitesevertoaccomplishthisfeatoverlandfromtheAtlantic.UponreachingtheMississippi,theyfoundagreatdealoflumberandgamegoingdowntherivertofeedthegrowingcityofNewOrleans.Sensingagreatopportunity,theyfollowedtherivernorthtoalargetributary,probablytheOhioorMissouriRiverandestablishedawintercamp.Thespringandsummerof1767foundthefouraccumulating..."agreatdealofbearbacon,andbearoil,buffalobeefandtallow,venisonhams,fursandskinsandpeltryofeverykind...",whichtheytookdownriverintheirwatercraftstoNewOrleansandtradedorsold.Inthefalltheyagaintraveledupstreamandwintered.
Benjamin,thoughhepreferrednottotalkabout"thingspastandgone",didrelatetohisson-in-law,ElijahCalloway,severalinterestingdetailsabouthishistoricjourney.Mostofthestorieshetold,ascouldbeexpected,wereabouthisexploitsontheriver,suchasthetimetheywereonatributarytryingtoentertheMississippiRiver--"TheyhadmetthebackwatertwodaysbeforetheyreachedtheMississippiRiver,whichwasveryhardrowingagainst,butwhentheycameinsightoftherivertheyfounditwasextremelyhigh.They,beingallgoodwatermen,pressedontogetintothemainstreamoftheriver,butthebackwaterwassostrongitdrovethembackuptheriver.Again,theymadeanotherattemptandgotalmostintothebottom,buttheyallbeinggoodwatermen,andashealwaysthoughtthehandofProvidencepreservedhim,theyextricatedthemselvesfromthedanger.Beingdrivenuptheriveragain,theydoubleddiligentlyandlaunchedoutintothemainstreamandwentonsafelytotheOrleans."
AsBenjaminandhiscompanionswerepronetotravelingattimesbothnightanddayontheriver,theyfoundthemselvesonceontheMississippiatmidnightwhenaviolentwindandrainstormovercamethemwithsuchdarkandlowcloudstheycouldneitherseenorfindeitherbank.Theirvesselquicklyfilledwithwater,butthenatureoftheircargooflumber,causedthevesseltofloat.Atlengththeysawabreakinthecloudswhichrevealedtheland,andafterrowingwithalltheftmight,finallyreachedtheshore,atwhichtimeBenjaminrepeatedoneofhisfavoritesayings..."Thatnomancoulddieuntilhistimecame".
AnotherstoryBenjaminrelatedoccurredwhilehewasstandingononebankoftheMississippigazingacrossattheotherside,whensuddenlyaboutthreeacresoflandshelvedintotheriver,"asquickasthecrackofagun".Benjaminalsotoldofthetimehecameuponabankthathadbeenwashedawayandhesawtheendofacanoestickingoutofthebankabouttwentyfeetbelowthesurfaceofthegroundwithlargetreesgrowingaboveandrootsentangledaboutthecanoe.Benjaminguessedthatitmusthavebeenthereatleastahundredyears.
Havingspentthewinterupstream,theydescendedtheMississippiinthespringof1768withalargeamountoffursandskins.ReachingNewOrleanstheysoldtheirgoodsforasmallfortune.Inthewordsofanewspaperreporteroftheday,theygained*7"...quitearespectablereward".Itisevidentthatthenewsofthissuccessreachedthewrongears.ShortlyafterthefourleftNewOrleansforhome,theyweresetuponbyanumberofSpanishsoldierswhorobbedthemoftheirmoney.Theybarelyescapedwiththeirhorsesandtheirlives.
Regrouping,theyleftagainforhome.FollowingtheMississippiNorth,theyreachedaFrenchman'shousewheretheycouldrestandspendthenight.Laterthatevening,agroupofChoctawIndiansoutonahuntalsocalledontheFrenchman.AstheChoctawsweremoreinfavoroftheFrenchratherthantheSpanish,oneoftheIndiansendeavoredtoingratiatehimselfintothegoodgracesofhishostbyridiculingBenjamin.ThemoreBenwouldtrytoremaincalm,themoretheIndianwouldincreasehismockinggestures.TheChoctawIndians,ajollylot,traditionallyenjoyedlaughingatthemisfortunesofothers,andthisnighttheirentertainmentwasatBenjamin'sexpense.Finally,havingenduredenough,BenjaminwalkedovertotheIndian,grabbedhimaroundthearms,carriedhimtothebankoftheMississippiandthrewhimin,muchtothedelightoftheotherIndians.ThedrenchedIndiancameoutoftheriverlaughingandallseemedwell.ThefourCarolinianssoonlefttheFrenchman'shomeoncemoreintentonreachingtheirhomes.Theywerefollowedhowever,bytheChoctawIndians,whowereintentonkillingthefour"longknives".Afewnightslater,theIndianscaughtupwithBenjaminandcompany,butonlysucceededinstealingtheirhorsesandgear.BenjaminthenproceededtotheChoctawtownofQuanshito,wherehemadehiscomplainttothegreatheadchief,hopingtoretrievehisbelongings.Theonlythinghereceivedwasmoreridiculeandabusefromthechief,whowastryingtoimpresshisbraves.TheonlythingleftfortheYadkinhunterstodo,wastosetoutforhomeonfoot,whichtheydid,travelingthroughtheCreekNation,presentdayMississippiandAlabama,finallyreachinghomelatein1768.Findingtheirfamilieswell,thefouradventurersvowedneveragaintoretumtothatpartofthecountry.
TheCutbirth'sfirstdaughter,namedMary,wasbornabouttheyear1770.Mary,accordingtorelatives,tookaftertheBoonefamily,evenmorethantheBoonechildrenthemselves.
ItwasJune1770beforeBenjaminventuredoutonanotherhuntingtrip.InherhistoryoftheWilcoxsons,DorothyFordWulfeckstates*8,JaniceHoltGilesin"TheKentuckians"givesthisaccountoftheLongHunters;"Price'sMeadow,KentuckywasthesiteselectedbytheLongHunters,(so-calledbecauseoftheirlonghuntingexpeditions),astheircentralcamp.Acompanyofabout40menfromVirginiaandNorthCarolina,attractedtothewildernessforthesakeofadventureandreportsofplentifulgame,setoutinJune,1770,forKentucky.TheypassedthroughCumberlandGapandestablishedtheirbase,wheretheyfoundanexcellentsupplyofspringwater.Fromthispointthemenwentoutinpartiestohunt,andtothisbase,theybroughttheirfursandhideseveryfullmoon."
"OneeveninginFebruary,1771,agroupofhuntersheardavoicesingingintheforest.Theycautiouslyapproachedthespotwhencethesoundscame,andthere,stretchedfulllengthontheground,wasDanielBoone,singingatthetopofhislungs.BoonejoinedtheLongHunters,andtheyweremetbySquireBoone,Daniel'sbrother,whohadgonehometogetsupplies.Aboutamonthlater,afteranabsenceoftwoyears,thebrotherssetoutforhomewithalargequantityoffurs.AtCumberlandGaptheyweremetbyCherokeeIndianswhoappropriatedallthepeltries.Dejected,andwithoutsuppliestoenablethemtoreplacetheirloss,theBoonesmadetheirwayhomeempty-handed."
"While,asawhole,theLongHunters'stayinKentuckywasprofitable,itwasnotwithoutseveraldisasters.Afteratwo-monthtripawayfromthebase,theyreturnedtofindtheirpeltriesspoiled,andtheirdogswhichtheyhadlefttoguardthecamp,apackofwildanimals.Withcharacteristicpioneercalm,oneoftheBledsoesinscribedthismemorandumonanear-bytree:"2,300deerskinslost;Ruination,byGod."
"In1772,someofthecompanybecamediscouragedanddepartedforeasternsettlements.RovingIndianscapturedtwooftheremainingandplunderedthecamp.Thesemisfortunesdidnotdiscouragethehardysurvivors,however,asitwasnotuntilAugust1772thatthelastofthemreturnedhomeward.
NamesofafewoftheLongHunters:AnthonyBledsoe,IsaacBledsoe,DanielBoone,DanielCooper,SquireBoone,JimKnow,BigJoCopeland,BenLogan,BenjaminCutbirth, KasperMansker,HenryScaggs,Col.JamesSmith."
Benjaminreturnedhomeearlyin1772,andlaterthatsameyearheandElizabethbecametheparentsofaseconddaughter,namedSarah,whowouldbetheirfourthandfinalchild.Stilllaterthatyear,Benjamin,DanielBooneandJohnTatesetoffagain,tohuntinKentucky.
Churchrecordsshow,thatin1771,Rev.GeorgeSoelle,aMoravianHomeMissionary,stoppedattheCutbirthhomenearMocksvilletopreach,andtheFallof1772aBaptistminister,JohnMcGlamreoftheDutchmanCreekcongregationstoppedbyBen'splace.BenjaminwasbaptizedonMarch7,1773byRev.WilliamCook,andElizabethCutbirthdedicatedherselftoChristonAugust7,1774.*9
Inthespringof1773,BenjamintookoffforKentuckyagainwithDanielBoone,delvingevenfurtherbeyondtheCumberlandGap.Danielremarkedthathewas"greatlypleased"withthelandandplannedatripthatfalltocolonizeKentucky.
Havinggatheredtogetherfriendsandkinfolk,includingBenjamin,Boonestartedofffor"Kain-tuck"onSeptember23,1773.Thistripwasnotdestinedtofarewell.Acoupleofweekslaterthegrouphadsplitintotwohuntingparties;oneunderBooneandtheotherunderhisbrother-in-law,WilliamBryant.OnOctober9,Bryant,tiredofshortmeatallowances,splithisgroupintothreesmallgroupstosearchforgame.Thatnight,BenjaminandanunknowncompanionstoppedatanoldcampsiteheandBoonehadusedonprevioushuntingtrips,aplacecalledWallen'sRidge.But,theycouldn'tfindanywoodconvenienttomakeafirewith,andhavingnoaxe,theyproceededabitfurtherbeforecampingforthenight.TheywereawakenedthenextmorningbythesoundofgunfirefromthedirectionofWallen'sRidge.Boone'sscatteredpartyquicklyrespondedtothegunshotsandcameuponthecampsite,findingallfivehuntersdeadandscalped,includingDaniel'syoungson,James,whowastorturedtodeath.AtthistimeBenjaminstated,"Oh!IseethatIcannotdieuntilmytimecomes,foriftherehadbeenanarmfulofwoodhere,weshouldallhavesharedthesamefate".DanielandhisgroupreturnedtoNorthCarolinatoinformhiswife,Rebecca.HethenretumedwithBenjaminandWillGrant,toproperlyburythedead,andthencontinuedontoKentucky,winteringinacaveinwhatisnowJessamineCounty,andwhereDaniel,inkeepingwithhiscustom,carvedhisinitialsintothecavewall--"D.B.1773".DanielandhisfriendsfoundthelandinfestedwithhostileIndiansandabandonedtheirsettlementplans,retumingfornowtotheYadkin.
Theyearof1775provedtobeaneventfuloneforBenjaminCutbirth,Sr..JudgeRichardHendersonmadeatreatywiththeCherokeesatSycamoreShoals,purchasingonehundredsquaremilesoflandinKentuckyfromthem,andcommissionedDanielBoonetoleadaseasonedgroupofbackwoodsmentocutaroadforfuturesettlers.TheCherokeechieftookBoonebythehandandsaid,"Brother,wehavegivenyouafinefield,butyouwillhavetroubleinthesettlingofit...".Anunderstatement,tosaytheleast,consideringthefactthattheCherokeedidnotownthatparcelofland,theShawneedid;afactthatBoonewouldlaterfindoutforhimself.OnMarch10,1775,Daniel,MichaelStoner,SquireBoone,BenjaminCutbirthandothersrendezvousedattheLongIslandofHoistonandembarkedontheirexpeditiontocutaroadthroughtheKentuckywilds.TheyblazedatrailthroughPowell'sValleyandpassedthroughtheCumberlandGap,thenwidenedtheoldWarrior'sPathforaboutfiftymilesbeforeheadingwestnearHazelPatch.FollowinganancientbuffalotracenorthwesttheycameupontheRockcastleRiver,wheretheyhadtocuttheirwaythroughtwentymilesofcountrycoveredwithdeadbrush,whichaccordingtoFelixWalker,thechroniclerofthegroup,wasa"difficultandlaborioustask".Theythenhadtocutthroughthirtymilesofthickcaneandreedbeforetheyeventuallyreachedtheirobjective,themouthofOtterCreek,onthesouthbankoftheKentuckyRiver.ThisdestinationwasreachedonMarch31,1775.Workwasimmediatelybegunontheerectionofafort.CaptainRichardCallawaygraciouslyofferedhisnameforward,astalkofwhattocallthefortbegan.Butthankfully,themajorityoftheroadcuttersdisagreed,andposteritycametoknowthesiteasFortBoonesborough,andthetrailtheycreatedastheWildemessRoad,bothnationaltreasures.
Theirjourneyhadnotbeenwithoutincident,however,asonMarch24,campedoutsideofwhatisnowRichmond,Kentucky,theywereattackedbyIndians.Theybeatthenativesback,butsufferedinjuriesandfatalities.ItwasherethatBenjaminwasabouttobekilledbyanIndianwhenDanielBoonesavedhislife.Anothernight,amadwolfenteredcampandattackedJamesNail.Boone,Cutbirth,andtwoothersfn-edatthewolf,killingit.Nailsurvivedtheattackandmiraculouslydidnotcontracttherabies.
AMemorialerectedbytheDaughtersoftheAmericanRevolutionofNorthCarolina,Virginia,TennesseeandKentucky,undertheAuspicesoftheTransylvaniansofHenderson,Kentucky,1935*10readsasfollows:
"InTestimonyoftheGratitudeofPosterityfortheHistoricServiceofcuttingfortheTransylvaniaCompanytheTransylvaniaTrail,thefirstgreatpathwaytotheWest,March-April,1775,fromtheLongIslandofHoistonRiver,Tennessee,toOtterCreek,Kentucky,bytheGallantBandofAxemen,PioneersandIndianFighters,whoattheRiskandLossofLifeopenedtheDoorsofDestinytotheWhiteRaceinKentuckyandtheWest.
"DanielBoone,SquireBoone,EdwardBradley,JamesBridges,WilliamBush,RichardCallaway,SamuelCoburn,JacobCrabtree,BenjaminCutbirth,DavidGass,JohnHart,WilliamHays,RebeccahBooneHays,WilliamHicks,EdmundJennIngs,ThomasJohnson,JohnKennedy,JohnKing,ThomasMcDowell,JeremiahMcPeeters,WilliamMiller,WilliamMoore,JamesNail,JamesPeeke,BartlettSearcy,ReubenSearcy,MichaelStoner,SamuelTate,SamuelTate,Jr.,WilliamTwitty,JohnVardeman,FelizWalker,ANegroMan,ANegroWoman."
Asevent-filledasthisundertakingwas,itwasjustthebeginning.OnJune13,1775manymenretumedEasttobringtheirfamiliestoBoonesborough,justasIndianattackswereresuming.
TheContinentalCongressrefusedtorecognizethesettlementasthefourteenthcolony,effectivelydestroyingthedreamofTransylvania.
Theyear1776turnedouttobejustashazardous.Duringthesummer,outsidethefort,Boone'sdaughter,Jemima,andtwoCallowaygirls,BetsyandFanny,werekidnapedbyIndians.TheyweresoonrescuedbyBooneandothers,whokilledthekidnappersintheprocess.
Theyear1777broughtmoreofthesame.IndianraidsmountedinveracityandBoonewaswoundedandnearlykilledinanattackonthefort.Anescapedslaveledonesuchattack,andwhenDanielwastoldofthisduringtheattack,helefthisposition,walkedtoanotherwall,aimedhisrifleattheblackmanstandingattheedgeoftheforestsurroundingthefort,andplacedabulletintotheslave'sforehead,andthenreturnedtohisoriginalposition.Thesettlersalsosufferedasaltshortage,sosevere,thattheywerecompelledtodraftapetitiontoCongressaskingthegovernmenttotakeoverthesaltlicksownedbyindividuals,sothatsaltcouldbedistributedtoeveryoneequitably.
EncouragedbytheBritish,theIndiansrenewedtheirattackthroughout1778.SointenseweretheattacksthatBoonewenttotheBritish,andtheIndians,stayingamongthemforseveralmonths,tryingtopersuadethemnottoattackthefort.Hiseffortsprovedfruitless,however,andheescapedtoretumtothefortjustintimetohelprepulsetheattack.AttheinstigationofCaptainRichardCallaway,whowasintenselyjealousofBoone,Danielwascourt-martialedfortreason.DuringthetrialBenjaminCutbirthwascalledasawitnessinBoone'sdefense,totestifyastoCallaway'sulteriormotives.TheprosecutionneutralizedBen'stestimony,however,bringingupthefactthatDanieloncesavedBenjamm'slife,andwasrelatedtoBenjaminbymarriage.Boonewas,"none-the-less",exoneratedbytheJudgeAdvocate,Col.DanielTrabue,andwaspromotedtomajor.CallawaywaskilledbyIndianstwoyearslater.
In1779thenewKentuckysettlersgavethewholeoftheirsavings,twentythousanddollars,toBoonesothathemighttraveltoRichmond,Virginiaandpurchaselandwarrants.Tragically,beforehereachedRichmond,hewassetuponbythieveswhorobbedhimofthemoney.Ashorttimelater,landspeculatorsfromPennsylvania,VirginiaandNewYorkwouldpurchasetheKentuckylands,thistimefromtheShawnee,therebyvoidingthesettler'soriginalclaims.Dispirited,Benjaminandhisbrother-in-law,SamuelWilcoxson,retumedwiththeirfamiliestoNorthCarolina.
WhenBenjaminfirstcametoNorthCarolina,helivedontheForkoftheYadkin.Uponleavingthere,hewenttothemountains,andfirstsettledontheBlueRidge,sometwomilesnortheastoftheDeepGapinAsheCounty.FromtherehewenttotheSouthForkofNewRiver,sometwoorthreemilesabovetheOldFields,wherehelivedthroughtheendof,andfollowingthewar.*11Thisareacalled"OldFields"*12,waspreviously,anoldIndiancamporclearing,andcanbefoundnearthepresentdayborderofAsheandWilkesCounties,NorthCarolina.
TheAmericanRevolutionhadbeenragingsince1775andmuchofthenewnationwasdividedinit'sloyalties;thosefavoringindependenceandthoseremainingloyaltotheBritishCrown,theTories.Eventhoughthemajorityfavoredindependence,bandsofarmedToriesroamedtheYadkinarea.TheBritishpaidwellforRebelprisoners.InApril,1781,aToryleader,Capt.WilliamRiddle,camethroughWilkesCountyfromhiscampattheheadofMeatCampCreek,withhisarmedbandandRebelcaptives,onthewaytoNinety-Six,SouthCarolina,wheretheywouldcollecttheirbounty*13.WelearnfromaletterofWilliamCallaway's,toDraper,that"TheCallaway's,Cleveland's,Cutbirth's,Shirley's,Taney's,Thompson's,andBaker's,whoconstitutedtheprincipalfamiliesofWhigswholivednearthemountains...werekeptbusytoprotectthemselves."RiddlefoundoutthatalocalRevolutionaryhero,Col.BenjaminClevelandwasinthevicinityandsetouttocapturehim.OnApril14th,RiddlecameuponBenCutbirth'splace,lookingforinformation.AsdescribedinJohnCrouch's"HistoricalSketchesofWilkesCounty"*14--"Riddle,withhispartyofsixtoeightmen,reachedBenjaminCutbirth'ssomefourmilesaboveOldFields,afineoldWhigandanassociateofDanielBoone,whowasjustrecoveringfromaspelloffever.TheToryCaptain,probablyfromCutbirth'sreticenceregardingsolicitedinformation,shamefullyabusedhimandplacedhimunderguard....".
RiddleandtherestofhismenthenlefttocaptureCol.Cleveland.Inthemeantime,DanielCutbirth,Benjamin'seldestson,whohadbeenabsentduringthoseevents,returnedhome.Enraged,youngDanielandafriendofhisnamedWaiters,armedandpositionedthemselvestoambushRiddleonhisremmtrip.However,whentheboysheardRiddleandhispartyreturning,(Riddleandhismenwerecomingthroughtheforest,stilloutofsight.),theyheardsomanymilitarycommandsandcommotion,theyreckonedthatRiddlehadincreasedthesizeofhispatrolanddecidednottoattack.Asittumedout,Riddlehadn'tanymoremen,buthadcapturedCol.Cleveland.Onceagain,comingtoBenCutbirth's,Riddleordereddinner,forhimself,hismen,andhisprisoners.OneofBen'sdaughters,MaryCutbirth,notwillinglyservingtheTories,receivedverbalabuseandkicksfromRiddletomakeherhurrythepreparationsforthemeal.FinallyleavingBen'shouse,Riddle'sgroupproceededfourteenmilesalongNewRivertoaplacenearElkCreek,calledtheWolf'sDen.Buttheyhadbeenfollowedthistimebyagroupofteenagers,includingDanielCutbirthandacoupleofCallawayboys.AstheycreptuponRiddle'scamp,theyspiedCol.ClevelandsittingonalogslowlywritingoutpassesforRiddleandhismarauders.Clevelandknewassoonashefinishedwriting,hisusefulnesstoRiddlewasthrough,andhislifewouldbeinjeopardy.SuddenlyClevelandsawtheyouths,threwhishugeframebackwardoverthelog,andbarelyescapedthehailofbulletsrainingdownonRiddle'smen.Whentheshootingended,Riddlehadescaped,butleftbehindamortallywoundedmemberofhisparty,ZachariahWells.AsyoungDanielandhiscomradessaddledup,toretumwiththerescuedCleveland,itwasdecidedthattheywouldalsoleavebehindthewoundedWells.AshorttimelaterRiddleandtwoofhismenwerecapturedandtakentoWilkesboro,wheretheyweretobehung.Theeveningbeforethehangings,RiddlesaidtoCleveland,"Colonel,youwon'thangsuchamanasIam.",towhichClevelandreplied,"IwillbedamnedifIdon'thangyouwhenbreakfastisover."Clevelandwastreetohisword.The1782WilkesCountyTaxListshowedBenjamin(Cuthbert)livinginCaptainRobertCleveland'sDistrict(RobertbeingabrotheroftheaboveCol.BenjaminCleveland).
WiththeconclusionoftheWarforIndependence,in1783,Benjamin'slifeappearedtobecomeabitmoretranquil.About1784Benjamin'soldestson,Daniel,marriedElizabeth"Betsy"Coleman.Benjamin,Sr.andhisson,Danielwerebothonthe1787WilkesCountyTaxList.Benjaminwaslistedashavingonemale21-60yearsold,twomalesunder21orover60,andfourfemales.Danielwaslistedashavingonemale21-60yearsold,twomalesunder21orover60,andonefemale.SinceDanielwasmarried,andlistedasaseparatehousehold,wehavetowonderwhotheextramaleandfemalelivingwithBen,Sr.?
Therewasnodoubt,atthispoint,thatBenjamintooktheteachingsofthechurchandtheHolyBiblerefreshinglyserious.TheDutchman'sCreekChurchminutesatDeepCreekforOctober,1787lists189names,includingBenjaminCutbeard.
OnJanuary30,1789,BenjaminHemdon,chairmanoftheWilkesCountyCircuitcourt,--"BindsuntoBenjaminCutbirthanorphangirl,ElenderHill,agecircasevenyears,daughterofSarahHill,nowSarahBoyd,tillage18years.Learnoccupationspinster,read,andwrite".PerhapsElenderwasalreadylivingwithBenandhisfamily,andwastheextrafemaleintheirhouseholdabove.NothingmoreisknownaboutlittleElenderHillatthistime.
InAprilof1789,twomoreofBenjamin'schildrenweremarriedinAsheCounty,N.C..InoneofhisletterstoDraper,BenjaminCutbirthCallaway,(anotherofBen'sgrandsons)statedthat,*15BenjaminCutbirth,Jr.marriedSalinaCallawayandMaryCutbirthmarriedElijahCallaway(afutureU.S.Senator),bothonthesameday,April7th,1789.Therewasmostlikelyadoublewedding,andthetwoCallaways,mostlikelybrotherandsister.
In1790theThreeForksBaptistChurchwasconstitutedinthehomeofRobertShearer.Fromchurchrecords,--"Abookcontainingthefaith(asmaybeseenintheCovenant)andconductoftheBaptistChurchofJesusChristinWilkesCounty,NorthCarolinaState,NewRiver,ThreeForksSettlement,whichchurchbeingconstitutedye6dayintheyearofourLordandSaviourJesusChrist,1790...atwhichtimereceivedandaddedbyexperienceandbaptismSarahColemanandAvisEggers:alsosisterLydiaCounselbyletter;alsobrotherBenjaminCutbirthbyexperience".RecordsshowthatBenjaminCutbirth,Sr.wentontobecomeadeaconofthissameThreeForksBaptistChurch.
AlthoughtheoldThreeForksBaptistChurchis"long-gone,"anewermodernchurchstandsinitsplace.Theoriginalchandelierandfumiturehavebeenpreserved,andarekeptinthebasementofthenewchurch.DanielCutbirthofIndependence,Missouri(anotherofBen'sdescendants),visitedthenewchurchin1992.YoungDanielhadtheprivilegeofsittingontheolddeaconsbench,andtoldoffeelingadeepsenseofprideandreverencefromhavingsatonthesamebenchashisancestorhad,sometwohundredyearsbeforehim.Whilevisitinginthearea,DanielwasalsoabletolocatethelandonwhichBenjaminCutbirthhadlived.Danielmarveledatthebeautyofthemountainoussetting.
ThefirstUnitedStatesFederalCensuswastakenintheyear1790.ThatcensuslistsBenjamin,Sr.inWilkesCounty,N.C.,Morgan'sDistrict,alongwithhistwosons,DanielandBen,Jr.,andson-in-law,Elijah.Notethevariationinnamespellings:
BenCulberthonemale6andup
onemaleunder16
onefemale
DanCulberthonemale16andup
onemaleunder16
threefemales
ElijahCalliwayonemale16andup
twofemales
EvidentlyBenbegantofeeltheurgetosearchfor"greenerpastures,"forsometimeinthenextfouryears,withouthavingsoldhislands,Benjaminpulledupstakesandstartedmovinghisfamilywest.RecordsshowtheCutbirthstobelivinginWashingtonCounty,Tennesseein1794.Atthattime,NorthCarolinacontinuedtoclaimTennesseeasherown,andthewholeofTennesseewasknownasWashingtonCounty.Benjamin'stwosons,DanielandBen,Jr.,traveledalongwiththeirfather.Benjamm'sdaughter,Mary(Cutbirth)Callaway,stayedbehindinNorthCarolina,whereshewouldliveoutherdayswithherhusband,Elijah,andtheirlargefamily.Benjamin'syoungestdaughter,Sarah,wouldbemarriedtoJosephWilson,inWashingtonCounty,onAugust27,1794.And,thatsameyearthenewRoaneCreekBaptistChurchlistedBenjaminasoneofitsfirstmembers.
Benjamin,andsons,werefoundagain,inCaptainReubenThornton'sDistrictonthe1795TaxListofWashingtonCounty,Tennessee.Benjaminapparentlywasdoingabitbetterfinanciallythisyear,forhehadacquiredaslave.Thereaderhastousealittleimaginationregardingthename-spellinginthe1795TaxList.
Cutbarth,Banjn.Sen.1blackpoll
Culbouth,Bugn.1whitepoll
Cutburth,Donnel1whitepoll100acres
OnJuly5,1796Benjamin,Sr.bought200acresfor100shillings,andsonDanielbought100acresfor50shillings.(Ashillingisequivalentto100centsor$1.00.)Inthatyear,Benjaminandhistwosonswerestilltogether,butwerenowlistedontheCarterCounty,TennesseeTaxList.WashingtonCountywasnowbeingdividedintosmallercounties.
TheCutbirthswerelistedasfollowsinthe1796CarterCountyTaxList:
BenjaminCutberth,Sr.1blackpoll
BenjaminCutberth,Jr.1whitepoll
DanielCutberth,Sr.1whitepoll
In1797CarterCountycommissionedaSlaveOwner'sCensusinwhichBenjamin,Sr.waslistedashavingoneslave.OnDecember14,1798thestateofNorthCarolinagranted200acresoflandinWashingtonCounty,TennesseetoBenjaminCutbirthforthesumof100shillings*16,NorthCarolinastillclaimingTennesseeinitsownrite.Subsequenttaxlistsin1798and1799showtheCutbirthfamilieswerestilltogether,asevidencedbythefollowing1799CasterCounty,TennesseeTaxList:
DanielCutbirth1whitemale21-50 100acres
BenjaminCutbirth1whitemale21-50
BenCutbirth,Sr.1slave10-50 200acres
Itwasn'tuntil1800thatBenjaminfinallysoldthelandhehadleftbehindinNorthCarolina.ApparentlyAsheCounty,N.C.hadbeenexpandedtoincludethepartofWilkesCountyinwhichBenjamin'spropertylaid."--BenjaminCutbirth'snameappearsontherecordsofAsheCounty,(N.C.)ashavingconveyed100acresoflandontheSouthForkofNewRivertoAndrewFergusonin1800.*17OnSeptember8,1800Benjamin,Sr.,nowabout60yrs.old,sold150ofhis200acresinCarterCountytoJohnMcElyeafor$330.However,onNovember12th,thatsameyear,Benpurchased,fromAbrahamByler,488acresontheLaurelForkofHolstonRiverfor$205.50.*18
1802foundBenjamin,Sr.andDanieldivestingthemselvesoftheirTennesseelands.OnFebruary18,1802Benjaminsold152acrestoBenjaminTompkinsfor$167*19,andonMay4th,1802sold336acrestoAdamWenselfor$1500.*20ThisleftBenwithjust50acresofland.OnJuly26,1802Danielsoldhis100acrestoJohnWilsonfor$440.OnMay10,1803,Benjaminarrangedtosellhisremaining50acresinCarterCounty,Tennesseetohisson-in-law,JosephWilson,for$300.*21ThislandborderedthatofBenjamin,Jr.Havingsoldalltheirlands,Benjamin,Sr.andDanielthenproceededtomovetheirfamiliesoverintoKnoxCounty,Kentucky,justNorthoftheCumberlandGap.The1803KnoxCountytaxlistshowsthemlivingon100acresborderingtheCumberlandRiverandlistsBenasowningoneslaveover16.
ThefollowingyearBenjamin,Jr.andbrother-in-law,JosephWilson,soldtheirTennesseelandstoo,andin1805werelivingnearBenjamin,Sr.inKnoxCounty,Kentucky.The1806KnoxCountyTaxListshowedthefollowing:
BenjaminCutbirth,Sen.1whitemaleover21
1totalblacks
4horses(mares)
BenjaminCutbirth1whitemaleover21
1whitemaleover16orunder21
3horses
DanielCutbirth1whitemaleover21
1whitemaleover16orunder21
4horses(mares)
100acres(3rdrate)onCumberlandRiver
Forsomereasonorother,Ben,Sr.'sthoughts,againturnedtowardTennessee.In1807Benjamin,Sr.hadeithersoldorfreedhisslavesand"struckout",onhisown,forpartsofTennessee,fartherSouthandWestthanbefore.August22,1807foundBen,Sr.signingapetitiontoformMauryCounty,Tennessee.Taxrecordsof1808indicatesons,DanielandBenjamin,Jr.stillresidinginKentucky,butby1809DanielhadleftforMauryCountytoo.BenJr.choseto"stayput",andneverventuredtofollowhisfatheranyfurther.Benjamin,Sr.,now70yearsold,waslivingonthewestforkofShoalCreek*22inwhatispresentlyknownasNorthernAlabama.AtthattimeitwasstillapartoftheCherokeeNation,andtheIndianstookexceptiontohimbeingthere.TheycomplainedtotheIndianAgencyandonMay23,1809U.S.GovernmentauthoritiesforcedBenjaminandother"intruders"offtheIndianland.
MauryCounty,Tennesseewasthehome,in1810,forbothBenjamin,Sr.andDaniel.TheylivedonBigCreeknearBigbyvillewhereDanieloperatedamill.The1811MauryCountyTaxListincludedbothBenjaminandDaniel.
TheAugust25,1814issueoftheColumbia,MauryCounty,Tennessee"Chronicle"mentionsapetitionsenttotheU.S.GovernmentonbehalfandsignedbythemenforcedoffCherokeelandsin1809.Benjamin,Sr.wasamongthesignersofthispetitionandthisisthelastpublicrecordtobefoundofhim.TheDaughtersoftheAmericanRevolutionsaythatBenjamindiedin1817.The1816MauryCountyTaxListincludesDaniel,butnotBenjamin,soitispossiblethathemayhavediedbetween1814and1816.Hewouldhavebeenapproximately76yearsold.Hiswife,Elizabeth,diedabout1818.
ThisstoryofBenjaminCutbirth,Sr.wouldnotbecompletewithoutmentioninghispersonality,physicalappearanceandwhathispeersandhistorianssaidofhim.Takingintoconsiderationthattheseeventsoccurredwellovertwohundredyearsago,weareindeedfortunatetohavethefollowingquotes.Fromhisgrandson,Dr.JamesCallaway*23,--"IhavenorecollectionofeverseeinghimbutIhaveheardmymothersaythathewasastout,squarebuiltman-aboutfivefeettenincheshigh-darkhairandratherdarkcomplexion.Thathewasamanofmostundauntedcourage-ofgreatindustryandperseverance-anhonestmanandagoodWhig-hewasamanoffewwords-ofrathermoroseandtacitumdisposition..."and"...Hetalkedverylittleexceptwhenhemetwithsomeoldacquaintanceorassociatefromahuntingtriporexcursionintothewildernessandthatonsuchoccasionshewouldsetupallnightonreligiousmattersorthescriptures.Helikedtotalkwithsuchofhisoldacquaintancesandthatwasthewaythefamilylearnedmostabouthistrips.Hewasamanofirreproachablecharacterandundoubtedveracity."
AgainquotingElijahCallaway,son-in-lawofBenjamin*24,"BenjaminwasoneofthefirstwhitementhatevercutastickoftimbertobuildafortfordefenseinKentuckyandamongthefirstevertoclearafootofgroundtomakecorninKentucky..."
FromEckert's"TheCourtMartialofDanielBoone"*25,"Cladinfadedgraylinsey-woolseyshirtandtrousers,Cutbirthwasamediummaninmostphysicalrespects.Ofmediumheightandweight,hisfeatureswereregularandundistinctive,hishairapalebrown,andhiscomplexiontanned.Hesmiledeasily,showingevenwhiteteeththatwereatrifletoosmall.Hewasneithertensenortoononchalant,butsimplycalmlyalert."and,"BenjaminCutbirthwasshowntobeamanofhighmoralcharacter,averyhonorableman."
FromBillmgton's"WestwardExpansion"*26,"EvenmorespectacularweretheexploitsofanotherexpeditionledbyBenjaminCutbirdofNorthCarolina...theprincipleimportanceofthisboldjoumeywastointerestDanielBooneinKentucky."
FromClark's"Kentucky,ALandofContrast"*27,"AmongthencameJasperMansker,ElishaWalden,JackBlevins,BenjaminCutbirth,HenryScaggs,WilliamNewman,andWilliamPittman.Thesemenweremorethanhunters,theyweretheforerunnersofAnglo-Americancivilization..."and,"LonghuntingwasnotanunknownpasttimeforDanielBoone.HehadhuntedwithsuchseasonedwoodsmenasBenjaminCutbirthforgameandlandalongtheWataugainEasternTennessee."
FromElliott's"TheLongHunter"*28,"OneofthemostremarkablewestwardjoumeysofthelonghunterswasmadebyBenjaminCutbirth..."
ElijahCallawayalsodescribedBen'splaceofburial*29,"HeandhisoldladywhichwasanieceofDanielBoonehaslongsincelaiddowntheirbodiesuponElkRiverinTennesseeafterlivingintheBaptistChurchaboutfortyyears.TheyhearnomorethevoiceoftheoppressorandareperhapsashappyandasrichastherobbersatOrleansorthelandspeculatorsofKentuckyorTennessee."
OnesourcesaysElizabethWilcoxsonCutbirthdiedinKentuckyandisburiedthere,buttheconfusionseemstohavecomefromthelocationofElkRidge;therebeinganElk(e)RidgeinbothKentuckyandTennessee.TheElkRidgereferredtowastheridgeofmountainsandhillsrunningacrossmiddleTennesseebetweenMauryCountyandGilesCountyanddividesthewatersofDuckRiverwhichflowthroughseveralcountiesinMiddleTennessee.ElkRiverflowsthroughthesoutheastemcomerofGilesCountyintotheTennesseeRiverwhichloopsdownintoAlabama,comesbackintoTennesseeaboutFlorence,AlabamaandcrossesthestatewhereitemptiesintotheOhioRiveraftercrossingacornerofKentucky.TheDuckRiveralsoemptiesintotheTennesseeRiverbeforeitcompletesitscourseacrossthestate.MauryCountyandotherrecordssayElizabethandBenjaminCutbirth,Sr.wereburiedontheOldMajorHowellplacewhichisjustinsidetheMauryCountylineandonlyafewmilesfromtheDanielCutbirthplaceinGilesCounty,Tennessee.
1Lymanc.Draper,LL.D.,DraperMss,Vol.12,SeriesDD20.
2LymanC.Draper,DraperMss.,Vol12,SeriesDD60.
3LymanC.Draper,LL.D.,DraperMss.,Vol.12,SeriesDD20.
4ReubenG.Thwaites,DanielBoone,"KentuckyReachedAtLast",(NewYork:D. AppletonCompany,1903):ChapterV,p.66.
5LymanC.Draper,LL.D.,DraperMss.,Vol.12,SeriesDD20.
6ReubenG.Thwaites,DanielBoone,"KentuckyReachedAtLast".(NewYork:D. AppletonCompany,1903):ChapterV,pp.66,67.
7ReubenG.Thwaites,DanielBoone,"KentuckyReachedAtLast",(NewYork:D. AppletonCompany,1903):ChapterV,p.67.
8DorothyFordWulfeck,M.A.,WilcoxonandAlliedFamilies,CommercialService, 1958,pp.21,22.
9DorothyFordWulfeck,M.A.,WilcoxsonandAlliedFamilies,Commercial Service,1958,pp.22,23
10FilsonClubQuarterly,Vol.10,p.124,Tablet#2.
11LymanC.Draper,DraperMss.,Vol.12,SeriesDD60.
12JohnPrestonArthur,WesternNorthCarolina,AHistory(From1730to1913), "TheOldField",PublishedbyTheEdward BuncomeChapterofthe DaughtersoftheAmericanRevolution,ofAsheville,N.C.,1914,p.101.
13JohnPrestonArthur,WestemNorthCarolina,AHistory(From1730to1913), "Dr.Draper'sAccount",PublishedbyTheEdwardBuncombeChapterofthe DaughtersoftheAmericanRevolutionofAsheville,N.C.,1914,p.103.
14JohnCrouch,HistoricalSketchesofWilkesCo.,N.C.,(1902):p.20.
15LymanC.Draper,LL.D.,DraperMss,Vol.9,SeriesC.
16WashingtonCounty,TNLandGrant#1296,Vol.A,p.268.
17JohnPrestonArthur,WesternNorthCarolina,AHistory(From1730to1913), "BenjaminCutbirth",publishedbyTheEdwardBuncombeChapterofthe DaughtersoftheAmericanRevolutionofAsheville,N.C.,1914,p.80.
18CarterCounty,TNDeedBook,Vol.A,p.322.
19CarterCounty,TNDeedBook,Vol.A,p.432.
20CarterCounty,TNDeedBook,Vol.A,p.368.
21CarterCounty,TNDeedBook,Vol.A,p.434.
22NationalArchives,Microcopy208,Roll4,Misc.Records1808-1809,#2311.
23LyrrlanC.Draper,LL.D.,DraperMss.,Vol.12,SeriesDD60.
24LymanC.Draper,DraperMss.,Vol12,SeriesDD20.
25AllanW.Eckert,TheCourt-MartialofDanielBoone,(Little,Brownand Company/Boston/Toronto,copyright1973):ChapterV,page219.
26RayAllenBillington,WestwardExpansion,AHistoryoftheAmerican Frontier,ThirdEdition,"SettlementCrossestheMountains,1763- 1776",(TheMacmillianCompany,NewYork,Copyright1967):SectionI, ChapterVIII,page161.
27ThomasD.Clark,Kentucky:LandofContrast,"Hunter'sInterlude",(Harper RowPublishers,Inc.,NewYork,N.Y.,copyright1986):ChapterII,pages 1112.
28LawrenceElliott,TheLongHunter,ANewLifeofDanielBoone,"OMyDear Honeys,HeavenisaKentuckyofa Place",(Readers'sDigestPress, DistributedbyThomasY.Crowell,NewYork,1976):ChapterIII,page50.
29LymanC.Draper,LL.D.,DraperMss.,Vol.12,SeriesDD20.
Tuesday,01June,1999