University of Virginia Library

Greendale.

Greendale is situated six miles northwest of Abingdon on the
Russell turnpike, in the Rich Valley. The name of this town
was suggested by the location, and the town boasts of an excellent
high school, several stores, two mills, several churches and many
good citizens.

Boundaries of Washington County.

The boundaries of Washington county, with the exception of
the southern boundary, between this county and the State of Tennessee,
formerly the State of North Carolina, have been fully
given at other places in this history, and as to them there has been
no serious controversy.

The southern boundary of Virginia, extending from Steep Rock
creek, now the Laurel Fork of Holston river, to Cumberland Gap,
has been the subject of controversy since the coming of the first
settlers to this portion of Virginia, and, therefore, it is deemed
proper that a history of this controversy should be preserved.

The first charter of Virginia was granted by King James in
the year 1606 to Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Somers, Richard
Hackluit, Edward Maria Wingfield, Thomas Hanham, Robert Gilbert,
William Parker and George Popham, and embraced all the
lands lying and being all along the sea coast between 34° of north
latitude from the equinoctial line, and 45° degrees of the same
latitude, and in the main land between the same 34 and 45 degrees
of latitude and the islands thereunto adjacent or within one hundred
miles of the coast thereof.

The second charter of Virginia was granted by King James in
the year 1609 to the treasurer and company of adventurers and
planters of the city of London for the first Colony of Virginia.

The territory thus granted was described as follows: "All those
lands, countries and territories situate, lying and being in that
part of America called Virginia, from the point of land called
Cape or Point Comfort all along the sea coast to the northward
two hundred miles, and from the said point of Cape of Comfort
all along the sea coast to the southward two hundred miles, and
all that space and circuit of land lying from the sea coast of the
precinct aforesaid up into the lands throughout from sea to sea
west and north west, and also all the islands lying within one hundred
miles along the coast of both seas of the precinct aforesaid.

"In the year 1663, Charles II., King of England, granted a
charter to Edward, Earl Clarendon, George, Duke of Albemarle,
William, Lord Craven, John, Lord Berkley, Anthony, Lord Ashley,
Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkley and Sir John Colleton,
of all that territory or tract of ground situated, lying and
being within our dominions of America, extending from the north
end of Lucke Island, which lyeth in the southern Virginia seas
and within six and thirty degrees of the northern latitude, and
to the west as far as the South seas, and so southerly as far as the
river St. Mathias, which bordereth upon the coast of Florida and
within one and thirty degrees of northern latitude, and so west in
a direct line as far as the South seas aforesaid."

A second charter was granted by King Charles II. in the year
1665 to the same persons, and by this charter the northern boundary
of Caroline was fixed at 36° and 30 minutes north latitude
and so west in a direct line to the South seas.

Considerable difficulty was experienced by the two colonies in

agreeing upon the true location of this line previously to the year
1776, but, notwithstanding these difficulties, the line was extended
as far west as Steep Rock creek, now Beaver Dam creek,
in this county, by Joshua Fry and Peter Jefferson, commissioners
upon the part of Virginia, and Daniel Weldon and William Churton,
commissioners on the part of North Carolina.

It will be observed that the lands included in the Carolina
charter had been previously granted by King James to the treasurer
and company of adventurers and planters of the city of London
for the first Colony in Virginia, and a similar condition existed
as to the colonies of Maryland and Pennsylvania.

When the delegates and representatives from the several counties
in Virginia met in Williamsburg and adopted a Constitution
for the Commonwealth on the 5th day of May, 1776, section 21
of that Constitution contained the following provision:

"The territories contained within the Charters, erecting the
Colonies of Maryland, Pennsylvania, North and South Carolina,
are hereby ceded, released and forever confirmed to the people of
these colonies respectively, with all the rights of property, jurisdiction
and government, and all other rights whatsoever, which
might, at time heretofore, have been claimed by Virginia, except
the free navigation and use of the rivers Patomoque and Pokemoke,
with the property of the Virginia shores and strands, bordering
on either of the said rivers, and all improvements which
have been or shall be made thereon. The Western and Northern
extent of Virginia shall in all respects stand as fixed by the Charter
of King James I., in the year one thousand six hundred and
nine, and by the public treaty of peace between the courts of
Britain and France, in the year one thousand seven hundred and
sixty-three; unless, by Act of this Legislature; one or more governments
be established westward of the Alleghany mountains.
And no purchases of lands shall be made of the Indian natives,
but on behalf of the Public by authority of the General Assembly."

Thus Virginia disposed of all her rights in and to the large territory
included within the State of North Carolina.

By this time the lands west of the mountains and extending
far into the present State of Tennessee were being rapidly settled,
and disputes were frequent and oftentimes resulted in violence.

The first controversy as to the true location of this line in this

section of Virginia arose out of the election held for members of
the House of Delegates from Washington county, in the spring
of the year 1777.

The right of Anthony Bledsoe and William Cocke, the delegates
receiving the majority of votes in that election, was contested by
Arthur Campbell and William Edmiston, the principal ground of
their contest being that Bledsoe and Cocke were elected by citizens
living in North Carolina.

The contention of Campbell and Edmiston was not sustained,
and the citizens living as far down as the Long Island of Holston
were accepted as legal voters in said election.

In the following year Arthur Campbell and Anthony Bledsoe
were elected to represent this county in the House of Delegates
of Virginia and, upon the assembling of the General Assembly,
Anthony Bledsoe presented a bill for extending the boundary line
between Virginia and North Carolina, which bill became a law at
the same session of the General Assembly.

The bill as thus passed was as follows:

Whereas, the inhabitants of this commonwealth and those of
the State of North Carolina have settled themselves farther westward
than the boundary between the said two states hath hitherto
been extended, and it becomes expedient in order to prevent disputes
among such settlers, that the same should be now farther
extended and marked. Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly,
that two commissioners shall be appointed by joint ballot
of both houses of assembly, who shall have authority to meet with
others to be appointed on the part of said State of North Carolina,
and proceed to extend and mark the line between this Commonwealth
and the State of North Carolina, beginning where
Joshua Fry and Peter Jefferson, commissioners from Virginia,
together with others from North Carolina, formerly appointed to
run the said line, ended their work, and, if that be found to be
truly in the latitude of thirty-six degrees thirty minutes north,
then to run from thence due west to Tenasee river, or, if it be
found not truly in the said latitude, then to run from the said
place due north or south into said latitude, and thence due west to
the said Tenasee river, correcting the said course at due intervals
by astronomical observations. If either of the commissioners so
to be appointed shall decline or be unable to go through the duties

of his appointment, the governor and council shall appoint some
other to act in his stead; The said commissioners shall nominate
such skillful surveyor to execute their directions and such other
attendants as shall be necessary, and shall endeavor to procure the
most accurate instruments, which, if injured in said service, shall
be made good at the public expense, or wholly paid for, at the
election of the proprietor, if borrowed from an individual, or of
any such other person or persons, as shall have authority to make
such election, if borrowed from any seminary of learning. Each
commissioner shall be allowed for his trouble herein fifty shillings
per day for every day he shall attend. Each surveyor with the
chain carriers and other attendants, shall be allowed such sums as
the commissioners shall certify they respectively ought to receive
and be paid by the treasurer of this commonwealth out of any
publick money in his hands, together with the allowance to the
commissioners as aforesaid; and the said commissioners are hereby
directed to make a report of their proceedings to the general assembly.

And whereas, from the hostile disposition of the Indian nations,
it may be unsafe for the commissioners and attendants to
proceed on the business hereby directed, without a sufficient guard
to protect them, Be it further enacted, That the governor, with
the advice of the council, shall, on application of the commissioners
so appointed direct and order a sufficient number of officers
and men to be raised for that purpose, by voluntary enlistment, or
if that cannot be done, then to be furnished from the militia of
such counties as shall be convenient, to attend the said commissioners
as a guard, and, for their safe conduct in the prosecution
of the business by this act directed shall order them a sufficient
number of tents and camp utensils, and shall appoint a commissary
to furnish necessary provisions during the time they shall
be employed for the purpose aforesaid; which commissary shall,
previously to his entering on the execution of his office, give bond
with sufficient security for the faithful performance of his duty,
and shall receive for his services such allowance as is given to
other commissaries of this commonwealth.

In the year 1779, the Legislature of North Carolina concurred
in the action of the Legislature of Virginia and passed the following
Act:

"Whereas, the inhabitants of this State and those of the commonwealth

of Virginia, have settled themselves farther westwardly
than the boundary between the said two States hath
hitherto been extended; and it becomes expedient in order to prevent
disputes among such settlers, that the same shall be further
extended and marked. 2 Be it therefore enacted, &c., that Oroondates
Davis, John Williams (Caswell), James Kerr, William
Bailey Smith and Richard Henderson, or any three of them, be
and they are hereby appointed commissioners with full power and
authority to meet with other commissioners from the commonwealth
of Virginia, and to proceed to extend and mark the line
between that commonwealth and this State, beginning where
Joshua Frye and Peter Jefferson, commissioners on the part of
Virginia, together with Daniel Weldon and William Churton, from
North Carolina, formerly appointed to run the said line, ended
their work; and if that be found to be truly in the latitude of
thirty-six degrees thirty minutes north then to run from thence
due west to Tennessee or the Ohio river; or if it be found not truly
in said latitude, then to run from the said place due north or due
south, in the said latitude, and thence due west to the said Tennessee
or Ohio river; correcting the said course at due intervals
by astronomical observations. If either of the commissioners by
this act appointed shall decline, or be unable to go through the
duties of his appointment, the Governor and Council shall appoint
some other to act in his stead.

And the said commissioners are hereby directed to make report
of their proceedings to the General Assembly"[47]

The Governor of Virginia, pursuant to the authority vested in
him, directed Thomas Sharp and a company of militia to act as
guard to the commissioners while running the boundary line as
directed, and designated Anthony Bledsoe to act as commissary
to the commissioners and the guard while running said line.

The Governor of Virginia, pursuant to the authority vested in
him, appointed Dr. Thomas Walker and Daniel Smith commissioners
upon the part of Virginia, and the Virginia commissioners,
in the summer of 1779, met the North Carolina commissioners
at Steep Rock creek, and proceeded to discharge the duties directed
by the General Assemblies of the two States.

As to what occurred at this time and upon this undertaking, the

report of Dr. Walker and Daniel Smith is the best evidence, and
is here given:

This report of the Virginia commissioners accompanied the
Governor's communication to the Virginia House of Delegates in
the year 1780, and was received by the Legislature and ratified,
and, at the same time, Anthony Bledsoe, who had acted as commissary
to the commissioners, and Thomas Sharp and his company
of militia, who had acted as guard to the commissioners,
were allowed compensation for their expenses, etc.

If Richard Henderson and his associates made a report to the
General Assembly of North Carolina, I have not been able to obtain
it. The disorder that prevailed upon the failure of the commissioners
to agree was alarming. The criminals of the country
found a place of security between the lines as run by Walker and
Henderson, and the people living between said lines refused to
pay taxes or perform military services in either State.

The Virginia Legislature, on the 6th of June, 1781, adopted
the following resolutions:

"Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee that another
and more pointed representation may be made to the General Assembly
of North Carolina, in support of the title of the citizens
of Virginia as well as the title of others, circumstanced as they
are, to lands which, previous to the late extension of the boundary
line between this State and that of North Carolina were supposed
to be in this commonwealth, but since have been proved to lie in
the said State of North Carolina.

"Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, that such other
parts of the said memorial as pray that a public agent may be appointed
to present the same to the General Assembly of said State
of North Carolina, and receive their final answer thereupon, are

reasonable and that the Governor, with the advice of the Council, be
authorized and required to appoint such an agent."

And on the 15th of December, 1783, when the situation was precarious
indeed, the General Assembly of Virginia adopted the following
resolutions:

"Resolved, That the Governor, with the advice of his Council,
be authorized and required to propose to the State of North Carolina,
either to confirm the boundary line extended by the Virginia
commissioners between the States of Virginia and North Carolina,
or to choose able commissioners from some other of the
United States, who shall begin where Joshua Fry and Peter Jefferson,
commissioners from Virginia, together with others from
North Carolina, formerly appointed to run the same line, ended
their work: And if the termination of the old line be found truly
in the latitude of thirty-six degrees 30′ north, to extend the same
to the river Mississippi, and should the termination of the old
line not be truly in the latitude aforesaid, then to run from thence
due north or south to the same, and from thence due west to the
river Mississippi; and that all necessary expenses incurred in carrying
this resolution into execution be paid out of any money in
the hands of the treasurer, not otherwise appropriated."[48]

But the General Assembly of North Carolina, for some reason,
delayed action as to the confirmation of the Walker line until the
year 1789. In the meantime the authorities of Washington
county were exercising all their energies in keeping the peace and
preserving order in the disputed territory.

Colonel Arthur Campbell, the county lieutenant of Washington
county, in answer to an inquiry, addressed the following letter
to the Governor of Virginia in the year 1787:

"Sir,—If I recollect right, about the year 1749, the boundary
line betwixt Virginia and N. Carolina was extended by Col. Fry
and Jefferson as far west as a place called Steep Rock creek, since
known by the name of Laurel Fork of the Holston River. This
line being extended on the true latitude by commissioners on both
sides, and mutually agreed to was returned and recorded in Public
Offices in both States.

"In 1779, the Commissioners, Thomas Walker and Daniel
Smith, on the part of Virginia, and Richard Henderson and

James Smith on the part of North Carolina, met at the place
where Fry and Jefferson left off, and, after spending many days in
making observations, agreed to continue Fry and Jefferson's line
as the true, or at least nearest the true latitude. Both parties proceeded
amicably about 40 miles, until they crossed the north fork
of Holston, near the Great Island. By this time the Pilots and
Hunters gave it as their opinion that both Cumberland Gap and
the settlement on Cumberland River, at the French Lick, would
both fall into Virginia. A halt was made and several days passed
in making observations, debating, and even abusing one another.
Henderson said the line must be run crooked, and insisted on delay
until a parallel at two miles distant, north of the line then
run, should be extended eastward back, which would prove whether
the surveyors had lost the latitude and run the line crooked. To
this Dr. Walker assented, that if the line was found crooked he
would rectify it. The surveyors ran back accordingly, accompanied
by two commissioners, and the line was found equi-distant
in all parts that was tryed. It was then acknowledged that the
error did not proceed from the surveyors. Notwithstanding which,
Henderson proceeded westwardly on the north line and Walker on
that of the South, it being a due west direction from Steep Rock.
The Commissioners, when they reached Cumberland mountain
again, had a meeting and spent many days in taking observations.
At length Walker proceeded on over the mountain with his line,
without being accompanied by Henderson, spent the winter in
the woods and, the next spring, continued the line to the Mississippi.
The Carolina Commissioners left off at Cumberland Mountain,
and when they found that the boundary run by Dr. Walker
left the French Lick upwards of twenty miles to the South, they
seemed well satisfied, and it was generally thought that Dr. Walker's
report would be agreed to and signed by both parties. But,
from what motive I know not, yet Henderson returned his works
as run only to the Cumberland Mountain to the Executive of North
Carolina. And I have been told that the papers have since lain
dormant, no opinion having been given one way or the other.

"The People settled between those lines have ever since adhered
to either State, as Interest, caprice and sometimes very unworthy
motives dictated. Although the public authority seems, in the

first instance, to be blamable, yet the evil amongst the people is
increasing, and prudence points out delay as improper."

In the meantime Daniel Smith had appeared before the General
Assembly of North Carolina and represented to that body the
true situation of affairs in the disputed territory, and, as a result,
the committee to whom the communication from the Virginia
authorities had been referred, reported to the General Assembly
of North Carolina at their session in the fall of the year 1789,
which report is as follows: