Combs Family

Text from the Combs Family (1658-1930):

Alexander and Fanny Clendennin) Trousdale:
*Mary (Polly) Trousdale had been born 6 July 1793 in Tennessee to Alexander and Fanny (Clendennin) Trousdale. Alexander Trousdale had been born in Lancaster (now Dauphin) County, Pennsylvania on 23 June 1766 and was taken as an infant by his parents to Orange (now Alamance) County, North Carolina, the birthplace of Fannie Clendennin. The Trousdale and Clendennin properties were close to each other, and many early records show the two families sometimes working and serving side by side. Thus it was certainly likely that Alexander and **Fannie, daughter of William and Mary Clendennin, had known each other while growing up; they married in 1790 and headed west.

*A connection identified in the Combs book; Thomas Combs married Sarah Anderson, who was the sister of my ancestress, Alice (Alsey) Anderson.  Their son, Jonathan Pettit Combs, married Icyvilla Dolan, daughter of Mary (Polly) Trousdale.

**Note Added: Fannie was the widow of John Clendenin when she married Alexander Trousdale (was she also the daughter of William and Mary Clendenin?).  Alexander and Fannie were my ancestors.

Scroggins, Rices, And Tarrants

Harold Rice research sent (eventually) to me...:

"I think the Scroggins, Rices, Tarrants and Ransoms moved together from Virginia to Rutherford County, North Carolina, to Greenville and Pendleton District South Carolina to Green, Franklin and Juniper Counties, Georgia, then spread out to Franklin County, Tennesse, and to Gallatin County, Illinois.  I think the Mt. Airy people could have been ours.  Mt. Airy is in Sequatchie County, Tennessee, some of which had been Marion County, which is next to Franklin County, Tennessee.

I found an Ephraim Reese in 1790 in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, and there is an Ephraim Rice in Marion County, Tennessee, in 1840, in the Pendleton Distict of South Carolina.  On its list is Tarrants.

The 1790 census of South Carolina 96th District, Greenville County lists Humphrey Scroggins, David Reese, Benjamin Tarrant and John Rice.

The 1782 Henry County, Virginia, Military records lists the following in S. Tarrant Company:  Humphrey Scroggins, Thomas Scroggins, John Farris and Joseph Rice.  Oglethorpe Company, Georgia, 1794-1800: Phillip Scroggins, Thomas Rice, Humphrey Scroggins.

Stonemans' Raid

 

Source

Source

See Stoneman's Raid Historical Marker in Hendersonville, North Carolina

Garden In Hendersonville, North Carolina

Hostilities At Alamance Creek

From Documenting the American South (Description by Morgan Edwards of the North Carolina Baptists in the Battle of Alamance [Extracts] Edwards, Morgan, 1722-1795, Volume 08, Pages 654-657):

“Next to Virginia Southward is North Carolina, a poor and unhappy province where superiors make complaints of the people, and the people of their superiors... .” These complaints rose to hostilities at Alamance Creek May 16th 1771, where about 6,000 appeared in arms and fought each other 4,000 Regulators killing three Tryonians and 2,000 [Tryonians] killing twelve Regulators besides lodging in the trees an incredible number of balls which the hunters have since picked out and killed more deer and turkies than they killed of their antagonists.”

Edmund Fanning, Loyalist

Historical Review of The Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, Volume 30, By Stephen Beauregard Weeks:

UEL...by Fraser included Ed. Fanning (first person listed above):

Held The Whole British Army At Bay

 Early on the 26th [September] his [William Richardson Davie's] patrols were driven in by the enemy's light troops, and in a few moments the legion and light infantry were seen advancing, followed by the whole army. Davie was reinforced in the night by a few volunteers under Major Joseph Graham. Charlotte was then a village of about twenty houses, built on two streets, which crossed each other at right angles. At their intersection stood the court-house.

Colonel Davie dismounted one company and stationed it under the courthouse, where they were protected by a stone wall. The other two companies were advanced about eighty yards and posted behind some houses and gardens. The legion formed at a distance of three hundred yards with a front to fill the street. On sounding the charge the enemy's cavalry advanced at full gallop, but at sixty yards from the courthouse the Americans opened fire and drove them back with great precipitation. A second and third charge had the same result. Yet, being outflanked by the legion infantry, Davie withdrew his companies in good order, successively covering each other, and retreated on the Salisbury road.

1770 Map Of North Carolina (LOC)
See Salisbury Road

The enemy followed with great caution and respect for some distance, when they at length ventured to charge the small rear guard. In this charge Lieutenant Locke and four privates were killed and Major Graham and five privates wounded. The coolness and skill of Davie in this ever memorable combat, in which, with a mere handful of men, he held the whole British army for hours at bay, and drove back repeatedly its best troops, and finally brought off his command unbroken and in good order, stamp him as a soldier of no ordinary capacity. [Source]

25th Of September In Charlotte

See earlier post from A biography of General Davie (1756 - 1820) which was found in the Magazine Of America here. 

On the evening and night of the 25th he [General William Davie] took a number of prisoners, and at midnight took up his position at Charlotte, seven miles from the spot where Earl Cornwallis had encamped.

Source

24th Of September

M. Fiffers (Top Center) and Rocky River (Lower Right) (Source of 1770 Map - LOC)

See earlier post from A biography of General Davie (1756 - 1820) which was found in the Magazine Of America here. 

On the 24th of September the American patrols gave notice that the force of the enemy was in motion on the Steele creek road, leading to Charlotte. Generals Sumner and Davidson retreated by *Phifers on the nearest road to Salisbury. Colonel [William] Davie, with one hundred and fifty mounted men and some volunteers under Major Joseph Graham, was left alone in front of the British army, and he was ordered to observe the enemy and skirmish with his advance.

*Phifer's beyond Rocky River and now in Cabarrus County [Source]

Colonel Davie After His Brillance At Charlotte

Source

See earlier post from A biography of General Davie (1756 - 1820) which was found in the Magazine Of America here.


Generals Sumner and Davidson continued their retreat across the Yadkin, while [Colonel William Richardson] Davie returned towards Charlotte, and he so vexed the British by cutting off the forage parties, and beating up their advanced posts, that Cornwallis began to feel great distress for want of forage and supplies.* [*Tarleton's Campaigns] 

When General Greene took command of the southern army in December, 1780, he met Colonel Davie for the first time. The commissary department became vacant by the resignation of Colonel Thomas Polk. The subsistence of the army had become very difficult, and Colonel Polk declared that it had become impossible. General Greene having formed a high estimate of Colonel Davie's abilities, earnestly and in most flattering terms solicited him to relinquish his hopes of brilliant service in the field, and accept the vacant office. At the call of patriotism he abandoned the tempting career which lay before him, and assumed the not less important but more unpleasant and arduous duties of a station which offered no distinctions. General Greene had himself set the example, having relinquished a brilliant career in the field to assume for years the duties of quartermaster-general of the army. Colonel Davie assumed the duties of his new post in January, 1781, and continued with the army for the next five months. Hardly any combination of circumstances could exist presenting greater difficulties to the commissary of an army than those under which he began. 

 

On The 5th Of September

On the 5th of September, 1780, [General William] Davie was appointed by Governor Nash colonel commandant of cavalry in the western district of North Carolina, with instructions to raise a regiment. When he had collected only about seventy men, with that force and two small companies of riflemen commanded by Major George Davidson, he took post at Providence, twenty-five miles from the British camp.

Remnants Of  Tree In Camden, South Carolina

Cornwallis, after resting at Camden till the first week in September, had advanced to the Waxhaws, forty miles below Charlotte, while the fragments of the American army were slowly gathering at Hillsboro, two hundred miles distant. South Carolina was wholly subjugated and North Carolina had not recovered from the shock of Gates's defeat.

See earlier post from A biography of General Davie (1756 - 1820) which was found in the Magazine Of America here.  

Legend That Daniel Boone Was There (Fort Hamby)

"The house ('Fort Hamby') was situated on a high hill commanding a fine view of the Yadkin valley.... . There is a legend that this point was chosen by Daniel Boone as a splendid military post to protect himself against the Indians.  At any rate it would have been almost impossible to have chosen a stronger location both offensive and defensive than this." [Source]

Cabin In A Garden, Boone, North Carolina

Source

Fannie's First Husband, John Clendenin

Mary (Fannie)'s first husband was Lt. John Clenden(n)in. 

John Clendenin: This one and/or this one (from earlier blog posts).....

North Carolina Revolutionary War Soldiers

Clendenin, John, Ensign

Company: Emmets'

Date of Enlistment & Commission: 15 April 1776

Occurrences:  Lt. 23 Dec 1777; Quartermaster, 13 Dec 1779; Prisoner, 8 September 1781; 

Deranged, 1 January 1783

The American historical magazine:

Heirs sold Clendenin land to James Frazier of Sumner, Tennessee

Witnesses: George Kinnard, Ephraim Young, 11 June 1818

Regulators

John Allen cabin at the Battle of Alamance site

"General Griffith Rutherford...was a distinguished actor in the struggle for American independence."  "He was one of the band of Regulators organized to suppress toryism in his part of the State [North Carolina] under the guidance of Hermann Husbands." American Historical Magazine, Volume 5

Source

An Illustration In The James Otis Novel

A fictional version of the activities in North Carolina is entitled, With the Regulators: A Story of North Carolina in 1768, by James Otis.

Kittagusta's Speech

Speech of the Cherokee Chief Kittagusta to Indian Agent Alexander Cameron and Ensign George Price.  Fort Prince George, [South Carolina]; May 8, 1766. Great Britain Indian Department Collection.

At a Congress at Fort Prince George 8th. May 1766 

Present Alexander Cameron Esqr Deputy agent for the Cherokee Indians.  Ensign George Price Commanding Officer of Fort P.G. Kittagusta or the Prince of Choteh head (see link to view transcript of the speech online)

(Brief bio of Kittagusta AKA Skijagustah) Source

The Colonial Records of North Carolina has a letter from Alexander Cameron explaining some of the issues raised in Kittagusta's speech.

Camped Near Fort Hamby

Source

"In March 1865, General Stoneman left East Tennessee, moving by the turnpike leading from Taylorsville, Tenn through Watauga county to Deep Gap on the Blue Ridge."  "On the 26th of March he entered Boone, N.C....".

Boone, North Carolina

"During the march through this section of the State, Stoneman's men committed many depredations, and after leaving Wilkesboro a number of the lawless element of his command deserted." "These marauders were divided into two bands. One led by Simmons had its headquarters in the Brushy Mountains, and the other, led by Wade, had its headquarters near the Yadkin river in Wilkes county."

Yadkin River in North Carolina (LOC)

"The house which Wade had chosen and fortified was situated near the road which leads from Wilkesboro to Lenoir...where valley road crosses the Yadkin river."  "This house belonged to some dissolute women by the name of Hamby, and after Wade had fortified it the name by which it was known was Fort Hamby." [Source]

Note: We noticed a Fort Hamby historical marker near our campsite.

Howard Gap Road In Hendersonville

The following information can be seen on the Howard Gap Road Historical Marker in Hendersonville, North Carolina:

"Route used by Indians & settlers in crossing the Blue Ridge. Named for Capt. Thomas Howard, 1776 militia leader."

Howard Gap Road was part of our journey to Bullington Gardens.

Bullington Gardens, Hendersonville, North Carolina

Howard's Gap reference in the Colonial and Revolutionary History of Upper South Carolina:

Source

Alexander Trousdale, Second Husband Of Mary (Fannie)

Alexander Trousdale in the Descendants Of John Trousdale manuscript:

ALEXANDER TROUSDALE, s John Jr. & ____, b. Lancaster (?) Co., Pa 23 Jun 1766....m. 1st Orange Co, NC c 1790 - *Fannie Clendenin, dau John Clendenin....

*Fannie Clendenin was John Clendenin's widow (she died ca 1796)

 Estate of John Clendenin(g) stated that he died in 1787 at "Big Harpeth" in Sumner County, Tennessee.  Military Land Warrant #1803-200 for 200 acres was given to his two daughters and only heirs, Rose Brisby and Ann Martin.

CLENDENING, John - Died before 6 Apr 1786 when Mary Clendening was appointed administratrix. (Dav TN, Co Ct Min, A/119) 14 Oct 1794 Alexander Trowsdell, administrator in right of his wife, made a settlement. (Ibid B/214)
TROWSDELL, Alexander - Married before 14 Oct 1794 to Mary Clendening, widow of John Clendening, deceased. (Dav TN, Co Ct Min, B/214) 

Per [Tennessee Tidbits, 1778-1914, Vol. I, compiled by Marjorie Hood Fischer, Southern History Press]
 

Captain James Trousdale's Land

Portion Of 1817 Map Of Tennessee From The Library Of Congress

Captain James Trousdale in 1784 obtained from North Carolina a grant for 640 acres of land situated in what was then Davidson County, now Sumner County, Tennessee. This land was paid for in scrip or certificates issued by North Carolina to him for services in the war for independence. James Trousdale moved from North Carolina and settled on this tract of land in 1796. The land was then covered by a dense forest. Here he cleared land and began to cultivate the soil. But, on the 6th of November, 1801, the Legislature of Tennessee appointed commissioners to select and purchase land upon which to lay out a town to be named Gallatin, which was to be the county seat of Sumner County. The commissioners selected the farm of Captain James Trousdale, and the town of Gallatin now stands upon the old Trousdale farm. [Source]

Samuel Newell And King's Mountain

From King's Mountain and Its Heroes:

I saw Samuel Newell, a little before we got to the wagons, on horse-back, his thigh very bloody from the wound he had received, encouraging the men to advance-- I thought him a brave soldier. He was a man of the strictest veracity and of very correct deportment.

Source

Source

Trousdale And The Regulators

An excerpt from the Descendants of John Trousdale mentioned William Trousdale (son of John the elder) and the "Regulator troubles."

"In the Regulator troubles the disastrous battle on 16 May 1771 took place a few miles from his home.  He is not listed as a participant but he did refuse to take Tyrone's oath of allegiance following the rebellion."  "With John Trousdale, he petitioned Gov. Martin, who succeeded Tyrone, for clemency in the case of John Fruit, the outlawed Regulator leader."

Documenting the American South (online) has a transcript concerning the pardon of John Fruit:

Petition from inhabitants of Orange County concerning the pardon of John Fruit, Johnston, Charles; Et Al.  Volume 09, Pages 93-95  [From MS. Records in Office of Secretary of State.]

To his Excellency Josiah Martin his Majestys Captain General, Governor, Commander in Chief in and over the Province of North Carolina

The petition of Sundry of the Inhabitants of Orange County Humbly Sheweth.

That whereas John Fruit one of the out Lawed Regulators, hath ever since he came to years of Maturity behaved himself as a useful member of Society and in all things becoming a subject of great Britain, until he unfortunately fell in with that most Extraordinary set of Enthusiastick people Called Regulators... most gracious pardon and we your Humble petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray

Charles Johnston

Andrew Patterson

Robert Cate

Malcomb Baldrige

John Baldrige

Alexr Mebane

William Blackwood

Samuel Allen

Jeremiah Horton

Philip Jackson Junr

Jno Temple

Abraham Allen

William Trousdale

William Mathis

Thomas Lockhart

William Reney

Joseph Holloch

W Phillips

Alexr Mebane Junr

Robert Rea

John Hopkins

Jno Trousdale

(Etc.)