Part #2 This posting includes the surnames of GREENE, LYTLE, SAUNDERS, PERKINS, SMALL, WILSON, SMITH, DIX, CUMMINGS, DELAY Mill Sites in Simpsonville Township Rockingham Co. NC IRON WORKS Mill (site) is located on Troublesome Creek, NC State Road 2423, approximately 1.5 miles north of Monroeton. In operation as early as 1770. *************************************************************************** In August 1782 Colonel Peter PERKINS received permission from the county court to "build a mill over Troublesome Creek at a place known by the name of "SMALL'S Saw Mill", he owning land on both sides of the creek. There not being another mill site above or below the Iron Works for several miles, SMALL's Sawmill must have been on that property. Perhaps the earliest known sawmill in Rockingham County, the mill was operated by Robert SMALL who was living in the area by 1779, and who received state land grants on nearby Piney and Glady Creeks in the 1780's. As Colonel LYTLE had entered and was granted the Iron Works tract, it seems reasonable to assume that he and Colonel PERKINS were partners in developing the property, or that PERKINS had purchased LYTLE's claim to the land before it was granted. Colonel Peter PERKINS and his brother, Constantine, were involved in a wide range of business ventures and land speculation in both North Carolina and Virginia. The sons of Nickolas PERKINS, who settled on Dan River in Pittsylvania County, Virginia in 1755, they inherited land there at their father's death in 1762. Peter PERKINS, who married Agness WILSON. During the Rev. War his home "Berry Hill" was used by General GREENE as a military hospital. Colonel PERKINS and his company of militia were at the Battle of Guilford Court House in 1781, when perhaps he first observed the opportunities presented by the Iron Works tract. As early as 1782 a bridge was built over Haw River on the road leading from Guilford Court House to the Iron Works. After the new county of Rockingham was formed in 1785, the new county court minutes reflect how important the new iron works was considered. In August 1786, a jury was appointed to lay a road from the Iron Works to the Surry (present Stokes) County Line near Lemuel SMITH's mill. Peter PERKINS daughter, Bethenia, had married Lemuel SMITH in 1778. In May 1787, a jury appointed to "view a road from DIX's ferry on Dan River to PERKINS Iron Works". In February 1788 a road jury was appointed that "the road leading from Iron Works to Betheny may be turned from its old course striking Robert CUMMINGS on a ridge between Haw River and Troublesome and falling in the road again above James DELAYS". Sources: Guilford Court Minutes, May 1782 Rockingham County Court Minutes Aug 1786, May 1787, February 1788 NC State Records, X1X, 209, 210, 221, 223, 340, 358, 360 Rockingham Co. Deeds A 63, 129. Book C 149 Book D 261, 262, 263 History of Pittsylvania Co. VA page 95 To be continued...