West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 9

West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 9 by Charlie Miller

Virginia Military Lands: At its October 1783 session, the General Assembly of Virginia passed an act to convey their rights of the territory northwest of the Ohio River to the United States, Congress accepted on the condition that the territory be formed into states and admitted to the Union and that some of the lands would be reserved for the Virginia veterans of the Revolutionary War. The area of the surveys included the lands between the Ohio River and north of Logan County. This included the lands between the Scioto and Mad rivers. Madison County is in this area. The land was granted according to rank, time of service, etc. A Major General received between 15,000 and 17,000 acres, a Lieutenant received 2,000 to 2,666 acres. Non-commissioned officers who served through the entire war received 400 acres, and every soldier or sailor who served the entire war received 200 acres. Anyone who lost their lives during the war share passed to their heirs according to the amount that they were entitled to. The veteran entitled to a warrant could select the location and shape of whatever he wanted. 

Lucas Sullivant, one of the first settlers on the site of Columbus, who died on August 8, 1823, surveyed the land that comprises Madison County and most of West Jefferson. In some of his first attempts, he was driven back by the Indians. He eventually gathered a crew of 20 men to help with the surveying and keeping back the Indians. On one occasion while surveying in Madison County, they were attacked by a party of Indians, and they killed a Frenchman who was with them, probably a fur trader. The Mingo Indians sent out a party of warriors to capture or destroy the surveying squad. On the fourth day after the murder, they found them. Mr. Sullivant held a council with his men to determine whether they should attack them or not, and it was decided not to initiate the attack. They remained quiet and decided not to fire a weapon unless attacked. Later one of the men fired at a wild turkey and the Indians rushed upon them. 

Sullivant swung his shotgun around that he always carried and fired upon an Indian who was rushing upon him with an uplifted tomahawk. Looking around he saw his men fleeing so he joined them. In about a quarter of a mile he caught up and they journeyed all night and most of the next day. Two of the men were killed when the Indians first attacked. Mr. Sullivant had some other experiences with the Indians, but none so dangerous or nearly fatal as this one.

Mr. Sullivant surveyed VMS 2836 which contains most of West Jefferson for Mr. Jacob Woolston, of Burlington, New Jersey. Mr. Woolston was not a Virginia veteran of the war but he purchased 1,300 acres from 6 different veterans. Two of the warrants were withdrawn leaving 1,000 acres. The warrants were all dated 1784. The survey reads as follows: Surveyed for Jacob Woolston assignee, 1000 acres on six military warrants, on Treacles Creek. (This was the name of Little Darby before it was changed.) June 24th, 1797 to April 2nd, 1798, so it took him a little over 9 months to do the survey. 

Jacob Woolston died before ever seeing his land, and in 1801 a patent was issued from the United States to Samuel Jones, Michael Woolston, and Jacob Woolston and their heirs in trust for the estate of Jacob Woolston, deceased. (Samuel Jones had married one of Woolston’s daughters). To be cont.d