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Descendants of the Watauga Association

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This group is dedicated to the descendants of and those with historical interest in the Watauga Association. The association was located in present day Washington, Carter, and Sullivan Counties in Tennessee.

Members: 35
Latest Activity: Jul 31, 2022

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Watauga Association

The Watauga Association was formed in 1772 and was one of the first autonomous forms of government to exist before the establishment and outgrowth of the Continental Congress in 1776 and certainly a first form of government west of the Alleghenies. The settlement covered a wide area and was located near the Watauga River near present day Elizabethton in Carter County, Tennessee.

Settlers of Watauga originally thought that they were creating a new settlement in Virginia, however they were actually located on Cherokee lands. Since they were outside the boundaries and protection of a governmental body, the Wautugans created the Articles of the Watauga Association in 1772 and elected thirteen commissioners to oversee the settlement's affairs. The names of the original elected thirteen commissioners are:

John Carter, Charles Robertson, James Robertson, Zachariah Isbell, John Sevier, James Smith, Jacob Brown, William Bean, John Jones, George Russell, Jacob Womack, Robert Lucas, and William Latham

What resulted were a series of transactions with the local Cherokee and the leasing of the land that the settlement resided upon. This pact created internal unrest within the Cherokee that resulted in attacks on settlers in the area. During the Revolutionary War, local forts were created to protect settlers and their families from Indian attacks. Womacks Fort was one such fort that was established.

In 1776, the Watauga Settlement could no longer provide adequate protection to the inhabitants of the area and petitioned the North Carolina Provincial Council for annexaction. Soon after the Washington District was created that encompassed much of eastern tip of present day Tennessee and later became Washington County, Tennessee.

Discussion Forum

Wataugan Ancestors

Started by Heather Isbell Kramer. Last reply by brian paul cahill Jul 31, 2022. 18 Replies 0 Likes

Please list your Wataugan ancestors and if possible, where their families migrated to!

Tags: migration, ancestors, Watauga

Dalton and Simon Ridge

Started by Debbie Winchell (Loving Dove). Last reply by April Lee Payne Nov 19, 2015. 3 Replies 0 Likes

Is anyone researching the families of Dalton and Simon Ridge? They signed the State of Franklin petition. I believe the State of Franklin encompassed the region of the Watauga Association. I…Continue

Signers of the Watauga Petition to North Carolina (1776)

Started by Heather Isbell Kramer. Last reply by April Lee Payne Nov 19, 2015. 8 Replies 0 Likes

The people below all signed the Watauga Petition to North Carolina for annexation in 1776: John Carter John Sevier John Jones Charles Roberdson Jas. Smith George Rusel James…Continue

Tags: Petition, Tennessee, Watauga

Moved Graves

Started by Kristy Davis Aug 4, 2015. 0 Replies 0 Likes

I've noticed the shortage of info on Watauga also. I did find something on the internet that can possibly be of use to someone. It happened I believe, when the TVA was building a dam somewhere in…Continue

Finding the Children and Marriages

Started by Debbie Winchell (Loving Dove). Last reply by April Lee Payne Jun 30, 2015. 6 Replies 0 Likes

I wonder what records exist that would enable us to document the marriages and children of the families. I think my ancestor Joseph Peavler was actually the son of Ulrich Beeler. I'd like to find…Continue

Tags: peavler, ridge, beeler, marriage, baptism

Discrepancies and Limited History of Fort Watauga? Need Help/Answers, Please

Started by April Lee Payne. Last reply by April Lee Payne May 5, 2015. 3 Replies 0 Likes

I'm posting this here because I have reached yet another stumbling block in my family research. Online resources seem terribly limited and mostly conflicting. I even came across a thesis regarding…Continue

Tags: history, 1776, Siege, Watauga, Ft.

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You need to be a member of Descendants of the Watauga Association to add comments!

Comment by Margaret Clark on December 4, 2011 at 5:30pm: I am interested in the genealogy of William Bean. Is anyone following this line? I am trying to establish who was the father of Sarah (Sally) Bean who married 16 March 1789, Samuel Wear (not to be confused with his Uncle Col. Sam Wear.) I have seen sources which say her father was William and others who give her father as Jacob. She named her first son William and her second son Jacob. Any proof would be greatly appreciated.

Comment by mudd, larrry on December 4, 2011 at 3:00pm: Hi group i am a descendent of John Waddell

I also have the name cunningham in my linkage.

Comment by Debbie Winchell (Loving Dove) on August 20, 2011 at 9:37am: Thank you for creating this group. I just found a family involved with the Watauga Association and it looks like this may shed light on two other families in my mother's background.

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