University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER II.

FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE VALLEY.

In 1732, the first permanent settlement by whites west of
the Blue Ridge, was made near where Winchester now stands.
Sixteen families from Pennsylvania, headed by Joist Hite,
composed this little colony, and to them is due the credit of
having first planted the standard of civilization in Virginia,
west of the mountains.[4]

In 1734, Benjamin Allen, with three others, settled on
the North Branch of the Shenandoah, about twelve

miles south of the present town of Woodstock.
Other adventurers pushed on, and settlements gradually extended
west, crossing Capon River, North Mountain and the
Alleghany range, until finally they reached the tributaries of
the Monongahela.

The majority of those who settled the eastern part of the
Valley were Pennsylvania Germans; a class of people distinguished
for their untiring industry, and love of rich lands.

Many of these emigrants had no sooner heard of the fertility
of the soil in the Shenandoah valley, than they began
to spread themselves along that stream and its tributaries.
"So completely did they occupy the country along the north
and south branches of that river, that the few stray English,
Irish or Scotch settlers among them did not sensibly affect
the homogeneousness of the population. They long retained,
and for the most part do still retain, their German language,
and the German simplicity of their manners."[6]

Tradition informs us that the Indians did not object to the
Pennsylvanians settling the country. From the exalted character
for benevolence and virtue enjoyed by the first founder
of that State, (William Penn,) the simple-minded children of
the woods believed that all those who had lived under the
shadow of his name, partook alike of his justice and humanity.
But fatal experience soon taught them a very different
lesson. Towards Virginians, the Indians had a most
implacable hatred. They called them, by way of distinction,
"Long Knives," and "warmly opposed their settling in the
Valley."[7]

For twenty years after the settlement about Winchester,
the natives, inhabiting the mountains and intervening vales,
remained in comparative quietude.

Shortly after the first settlement at Winchester, a circumstance
occurred which speedily led to settlements along the upper
part of the Valley, and opened to the public mind the fine
regions lying west of the Alleghanies. Two resolute spirits,
Thomas Morlen and John Salling, full of adventure, determined
to explore the "Upper Country," about which so much
had been said, but so little was known. Setting out from
Winchester, they made their way up the valley of the Shenandoah,
crossed the waters of James river, not far from the
Natural Bridge, and had progressed as far as the Roanoke,
when a party of Cherokees surprised them, and took Salling
prisoner. Morlen made his escape, and returned in safety to
his friends. Salling was carried captive into Tennessee, and
finally habituating himself to the Indians, remained with them
several years. While on a hunting excursion with some of
his tribe, some years afterwards, they were attacked by a
party of Illinois Indians, with whom the Cherokees were
at bitter variance, and Salling a second time borne off a
prisoner.

These transactions took place in Kentucky, whither the

Southern, Western, and Northern tribes resorted to hunt.
By his new captors, Salling was carried to Kaskaskia; afterwards
sold to a party of Spaniards on the lower Mississippi;
subsequently returned to Kaskaskia; and finally, after six
years' captivity, was ransomed by the Governor of Canada,
and transferred to the Dutch authorities at Manhattan.
Thence he succeeded in making his way to Williamsburg, in
Virginia.

His captivity became the subject of general conversation.
The accounts which he gave of the extent and resources of
the great West, embracing almost every variety of soil, climate,
and production, and extending into remote parts, where
human foot had probably never penetrated; where majestic
rivers, issuing from unknown sources in the far North, rolled
their volumed waters in solemn grandeur to the South; where
vegetation was most luxuriant, and game of every description
inexhaustible,—were enough, as they proved, to excite a deep
interest in all who heard his glowing accounts.

Shortly before the return of Salling, a considerable addition
had been made to the population of Virginia by recent
arrivals at Jamestown. Of this number were John Lewis
and John Mackey, both of whom, desirous of securing suitable
locations, were much interested in the statements of
Salling. Pleased with his description of the Valley, they
determined to visit it, first having induced Salling to accompany
them as guide. The three penetrated the fastness
of the mountain, descended into the luxuriant valley, and
pleased with the physical appearance of the country, determined
to fix there their abode. Lewis selected the place
of his future residence on a stream still bearing his name;
Mackey chose a spot on the Shenandoah; and Salling, having
concluded to remain, made choice of a beautiful tract of
land on the waters of James river, and built his cabin.

Early in the Spring of 1736, an agent for Lord Fairfax,
who held, under a patent from James II., all that part of
Virginia known as the Northern Neck, came over, and after

remaining a short time at Williamsburg, accepted an invitation
to visit John Lewis. During his sojourn at the house of
Lewis, he captured, while hunting with Samuel and Andrew,
(the latter afterwards the distinguished General,) sons of the
former, a fine buffalo calf. Returning shortly after to Williamsburg,
he presented the mountain pet to Governor Gooch,
which so much gratified that functionary, that he forthwith
directed a warrant to be made out, authorizing Burden (the
agent) to locate 500,000 acres of land on the Shenandoah, or
James rivers, west of the Blue Ridge. The grant required
that Burden should settle one hundred families upon said
land within ten years. The grantee lost no time in returning
to England, and in the following year came out with the
required number, embracing among his little colony many
who became the founders of some of the most distinguished
families in our state. Of these were the McDowells, Crawfords,
McClures, Alexanders, Wallaces, Pattons, Prestons,
Moores, Matthews, &c.[8]

The spirit of adventure now slumbered for a season, and
but few additional improvements were made beyond the
limits of the Burden grant, until 1751, at which time an
influx of population took place; and then it was, the prophetic
line of Bishop Berkeley began to be realized,—

Many of the new settlers in the Valley had come in with
Governor Dinwiddie, and were men of undoubted worth, and

great probity of character. They embraced the Stuarts,[9]
Paulls, McDowells, etc., names distinguished in the annals
of Virginia. Most of those who thus forsook the pleasures,
refinements and enjoyments of comfortable homes
in the old world, to find a dwelling-place in the untrodden
wilds of the new, were Scotch Covenanters; those stern,
inflexible sectarians, who preferred religious freedom abroad,
to ease and oppression at home. How different was this
class of people from the Spanish adventurers who subdued
Mexico and South America; those bloody conquerors, whose
remorseless cruelty to the simple-minded natives, cast so
much obloquy upon Spain, and darken her history with some
of the foulest stains that ever disgraced a civilized nation!
Who can wonder, that the smiles of Heaven attended the
one, while the avenging hand of an outraged God smote the
other!