Authentic Appalachian Storyteller, This is the first time ever that I have seen an explanation of settlement of early Virginia that made sense. I hope you'll continue to share. I would like to know more about Draper's Meadow. I have a suspicion that was where my 5th g-grandfather was killed. Thanks, Jemima G. Lee Hearl" <[email protected]> wrote June 29, 2000 Subject: General Locations of Settlements 1755-1774 > Jemima, > As Patton and Walker explored the grants they had obtained on Woods (New) > River and the three branches of the Holston 1749-50 a few settlers also went > along looking for land and some tracts were surveyed along New River for > them.. The first settlement were made near present-day Blacksburg and > Pulaski along New River.. > The Dunkards appear to have been the first group to settle along that river > about 1749.. By 1755 many families had settled there.. The Indians attacked > all of the settlements from 1750 to 1760 and many of the settlers had to > leave for their safety.. Some retreated back to the James River basin while > others crossed the Blue Ridge and into Carolina, some never returned to to > the lands on New River.. > By 1769 the Indians were generally peaceful toward the whites and many moved > to the three branches of the Holston river, further southwest.. By 1770 many > were living in present-day Tennessee, it was NC in 1770.. Settlements had > been established near present Kingsport, Tn., Johnson City and Elizabethton > (Watauga Settlement). > In Virginia, settlements were established at Wolf Hills (Abingdon), Sapling > Grove (Bristol) and Castles' Woods (On the Clinch River).. In 1773-74 the > Indians became a menace to the settlements in that area as well as the New > River area and many settlers on the Clinch and Powell Rivers retreated. Many > returned to North Carolina, including several from the group led by Daniel > Boone in 1773.. James Harrod and a few others had established settlements > in Kentucky in 1774 but there was little migration to that area until 1775 > when the purchase by Henderson spurred settlement there.. Many people went > there but found the situation to hostle and returned to the east of > Cumberland Gap.. > Lead and other minerals were discovered near Wytheville, Va. and mining > employed many in that area between 1770 and 1800.. This accounts for many > who lived in that area but owned little or no land because they were not > engaged in farming and just needed enough land for a cow and a garden.. At > least half the people who migrated into Ky and Tenn.. probably passed down > the valley of Va. across New River and down the branches of the Holston... > Hope this explains some things about early settlement of the west.. > G. Lee Hearl > Authentic Appalachian Storyteller > Abingdon, Virginia >