Posted on: Jennings Co. In Biographies Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs//genbbs.cgi/USA/In/JenningsBios/100 Surname: Vawter, Watts, Rucker, Renfro, Barnett ------------------------- John Vawter's Life Story as Sketched by Himself "Miscellaneous reminiscences of a poor boy,--now an old man in his 81st year,--of his parents, his grand-parents, and great-grand-parents as far back as has come to his knowledge. "Our poor boy was born 8th January 1872. His deceased father was Elder Jesse Vawter; his mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Watts. His parents were poor, frugal, honest and industrious. Both were born in Culpepper, Orange county, Virginia. Jesse on the 1st day of December 1755; Elizabeth his wife on 30th December 1762. They were married 29th March 1781, and lived to see all their children--nine in number--raised and married, there being four sons and five daughters. The eldest is our poor boy, John, the others were William, James, Fanny, Mary, Sally, Julia, Achilles and Ann. "In order that the reader may learn of the origin and parentage of the poor boy we will just state that on his father's side they were the decendants of Saxon families. Toward the close of the 16th century, three brothers, John, Bartholomew and Angus, emigrated to the then colony of Virginia. The three brothers originally spelled their names 'Vawlter' but for reasons unknown to our poor boy dropped the 'l' out of their name after coming to the Virginia colony, and to this day the entire family and numerous descendants of the three brothers spell their names 'Vawter'. His great-great-grand-father's name was John also, as was his great-grand-father's who had 4 sons--Bartholomew, Angus, Richard and David, and two daughters, Winifred and Margaret. David was our poor boy's grand-parent. David had three sons, --Jesse, Philemon and William, and three daughters--Winifred, Margaret and Mary. "Jesse was the father of our poor boy. His children's names have already been mentioned. Jesse in his youthful days was naturally a mechanic and his father, David, consented to his going to learn a trade, and while pursuing his apprentice ship in 1774 or '5, during the Revolutionary war, (of which he was afterward a soldier). He heard of certain traveling preachers, preaching in Virginia. He attended one of the appointments. He soon after united with the Baptist Church and continued an exemplary member to the day of his death 20th day of March 1838. Aged 83." (This interesting narrative of an honored pioneer's early life will be continued in future numbers of the the Journal--EDITOR.) The Vernon Journal, June 26, 1901 "Our poor boy has no recollection of ever seeing either his grand-father or great-grand-father, on the side of his father, but has a distinct recollection of his grand-mother,--his father's mother. She was before marriage, a Rucker. On the death of her husband, David Vawter, she married a second time, her last husband's name was Renfro. They both closed their lives in Kentucky. Jesse was the first -born of six children, and all departed life before he did. His companion died before him, September 10, 1830. The reader may wish to learn something about the parentage of our poor boy's mother, her people and their origin. Elizabeth Watts, wife of Jesse Vawter,and mother of our poor boy, was a daughter of John and Sally Watts, of Orange county, Virginia. John Watts was a small man of English stock. His wife was a Barnett, of fine figure and form, mother partly of English descent. These were the grand-parents of our poor boy on his mother's side. He had many interview with them on their coming into Kentucky to live, in the year 1793. They lived to a good old age and both died in Kentucky. His grand-mother outlived his grandfather several years. Our poor boy recollects as far back as the year 1785, when his father and mother, with four of their children, went on a visit to Virginia, and left with his grand-parents, John and Sarah Watts. His brother William has a distinct recollection of the closing scenery, of bidding farewell, of the weeping and on their return to Holston of his feelings on crossing the New river, etc. He recollects being sent by his mother, in company with his brother James to bring up the milk cows and being lost and traveling for many miles and over many roads, finally coming to Reywood's mill, and then knowing the way home. Under the belief that they were not disposed to go home he abandoned the cows, yet they went directly home. He recollects his father's visit to Kentucky in 1787, when the country was known as the Levisa country. In the year 1788 or '9, his father went to Keywood's mill and placed the little poor boy on the back of a rough-going horse and while going down a steep descent off went sack and boy. He carried bruises made for many days, by the sharp stone where he fell. TO BE CONTINUED The Vernon Journal, July 3, 1901