John Gilliland, fellow longhunters, and frontiersmen left the colonies and settled in the western Appalachian Mountains in total defiance of King George's orders. They were a hardy, brave, and intelligent bunch who did not take kindly to tyranny, taxation without representation, oppression, corruption, etc. They had established the first true democratic government in the new world at Fort Watauga when they established the Watauga Association. They elected leaders, established treaties with the natives, bought land from the natives, established relationships and traded with the natives, maned forts, had militias, held elections, etc. The forts and militias were necessary because the British army did not operate on the western side of the Appalachian Mountains, so the Europeans had no protection. Nonetheless, the Revolutionary War had not directly affected them that much, until the British began negotiating with the natives, promising them certain rights and privileges if they would attack the forts and settlements in order to keep the settlers busy and keep them out of the war.
The Revolutionary War had been going on for about five years. Cornwallis had under his command a British Major named Patrick Ferguson who was tasked with recruiting southern men to join the British militia, and he was pretty effective. He was Scottish and, in all rights, was a brave and effective commander. He was also quite a design engineer, and designed the Ferguson Rifle that loaded from the breach (rear) of the barrel. He amassed about 1200 men and issued a warning to the Overmountain Men that said, "Lay down your arms and surrender to the King, or we will come over the mountains and lay waste to your land with fire and sword and hang your leaders from the trees". Major Ferguson had underestimated his enemy. This threat did not rest well on the ears of our ancestors. They were enraged, so they decided to take the fight to Ferguson.
Our Patriots who included John Gilliland, his sons, his father-in-law, Robert Young, and his sons mustered at Fort Watauga where they joined other Overmountain Men and fell under the command of their good friend, John Sevier. Everyone wanted to go and fight the British, but one out of every seven men stayed behind to defend the fort. Whilst enduring cold, rain, and hunger our ancestors made the 263-mile journey from September 25th to October 7th 1780 over the Appalachian Mountains from Fort Watauga to the area known as Kings Mountain, South Carolina, to engage Patrick Ferguson and his 1200 Loyalists.
Our ancestors, John Gilliland and Robert Young, along with John Sevier and other militia units under Colonels Shelby, Cleveland, Campbell, Winston, McDowell, Lacey, and Hambright numbered about 900 men. Our Patriots surrounded the base of the mountain. Each leader told his men that once the battle began, each man was to be his own commander. Each man had learned to fight like the Cherokee. Guerilla warfare. None of that standing lined up in an open field opposite each other and firing. Each man was told to "give 'em hell and fight like the devil", and each man knew exactly how to do it! These were seasoned, rugged, brave men. And they were ready for battle! They were angry and eager! On the third push up the mountain, John Gilliland, WHO HAD BEEN SHOT THREE TIMES WITH 69 CALIBER MUSKET BALLS, made it to the top alongside Robert Young. John Gilliland, badly wounded, was the first to spot Major Ferguson atop his big white horse and wearing a red checkered shirt with a sword in one hand and his whistle in his mouth. John Gilliland took aim and fired, but his rifle misfired (probably his powder was wet from all the rain or his flint needed napping again from all the firing he had no doubt been doing during the battle)! He quickly called out to Robert Young, "There's Ferguson; shoot him!" Robert Young said as he raised his rifle, "Let's see what Sweet Lips can do! (His rifle was named after his wife, Mary, who he called Sweet Lips.)" Robert Young fired and shot Major Patrick Ferguson in the head and knocked him out of his saddle. His foot was caught in the stirrup, and his horse began running wildly down the hill. By the time our men stopped the horse, Major Patrick Ferguson had seven more bullet holes in him! Earlier that day, Patrick Ferguson had declared that God Himself and all His angels couldn't get him off that mountain…and he was right…he's still there to this day, buried under a pile of rocks.
Our Patriots killed or captured 1200 Tories that day; our men had just defeated a third of Cornwallis' army, and twenty-eight of our Patriots did not see the sunset that night.
This victory was a major pivotal battle in the Revolutionary War; Thomas Jefferson named it the most crucial battle of the entire war. You see, it swayed the whole momentum in our favor. With this victory the enthusiasm increased tremendously, and more and more Patriots joined the cause. One year and twelve days later, Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown.
John Gilliland survived his wounds and lived an honorable life. This rugged yet educated frontiersman demonstrated all that is good in our cherished heritage. He was an upstanding man with exemplary character and, destined by his brave Scotch-Irish roots, was a beloved hero and true Patriot who fought diligently for our independence. He and the other brave Overmountain Men who formed the militia won a significant victory against the British Loyalists that turned the tide of the war in our favor. He was a loving husband to Elizabeth Young. He was a member of the convention of 1785 which penned the constitution of the state of Franklin. He donated fifty acres of land for the first county seat of Cocke County. He was a trusted surveyor. He was a Cherokee interpreter. He lived a full life, but he and his wife, Elizabeth Young, were both killed by the Cherokee on their way back from Fort Wear to Newport, their home.
Documentation has been found that offered another, very plausible, version of Elizabeth Young's death. It is as follows: I wanted to share with you another account of Elizabeth Young's death. Quite some time age, we discovered a written article entitled, "The Reminiscences and Autobiography of John Wilkinson" that reads as follows:
John & Elizabeth Gilliland were the parents of Samuel Wears second wife. John was killed by Indians about 1790 and buried in the Fort Wear Cemetery. Elizabeth, his wife, moved to south Ala. Many years later she returned to E. Tn to visit her daughter, Col Wear's widow. Within 8 miles of her home, she became very ill and died. One of her last wishes was to be buried beside her husband in the Fort Wear Cemetery. In the yrs since John Gilliland's death, there had been many burials in the cemetery and no one was alive who could recall which grave was his. Finally Frank, the old slave who had accompanied the Wear family into the wilderness, and who had helped construct the fort and house "bethought himself" of a large tree which stood near John Gilliland's grave. Thus Elizabeth was laid to rest beside her husband after the lapse of many years.
The Revolutionary War had been going on for about five years. Cornwallis had under his command a British Major named Patrick Ferguson who was tasked with recruiting southern men to join the British militia, and he was pretty effective. He was Scottish and, in all rights, was a brave and effective commander. He was also quite a design engineer, and designed the Ferguson Rifle that loaded from the breach (rear) of the barrel. He amassed about 1200 men and issued a warning to the Overmountain Men that said, "Lay down your arms and surrender to the King, or we will come over the mountains and lay waste to your land with fire and sword and hang your leaders from the trees". Major Ferguson had underestimated his enemy. This threat did not rest well on the ears of our ancestors. They were enraged, so they decided to take the fight to Ferguson.
Our Patriots who included John Gilliland, his sons, his father-in-law, Robert Young, and his sons mustered at Fort Watauga where they joined other Overmountain Men and fell under the command of their good friend, John Sevier. Everyone wanted to go and fight the British, but one out of every seven men stayed behind to defend the fort. Whilst enduring cold, rain, and hunger our ancestors made the 263-mile journey from September 25th to October 7th 1780 over the Appalachian Mountains from Fort Watauga to the area known as Kings Mountain, South Carolina, to engage Patrick Ferguson and his 1200 Loyalists.
Our ancestors, John Gilliland and Robert Young, along with John Sevier and other militia units under Colonels Shelby, Cleveland, Campbell, Winston, McDowell, Lacey, and Hambright numbered about 900 men. Our Patriots surrounded the base of the mountain. Each leader told his men that once the battle began, each man was to be his own commander. Each man had learned to fight like the Cherokee. Guerilla warfare. None of that standing lined up in an open field opposite each other and firing. Each man was told to "give 'em hell and fight like the devil", and each man knew exactly how to do it! These were seasoned, rugged, brave men. And they were ready for battle! They were angry and eager! On the third push up the mountain, John Gilliland, WHO HAD BEEN SHOT THREE TIMES WITH 69 CALIBER MUSKET BALLS, made it to the top alongside Robert Young. John Gilliland, badly wounded, was the first to spot Major Ferguson atop his big white horse and wearing a red checkered shirt with a sword in one hand and his whistle in his mouth. John Gilliland took aim and fired, but his rifle misfired (probably his powder was wet from all the rain or his flint needed napping again from all the firing he had no doubt been doing during the battle)! He quickly called out to Robert Young, "There's Ferguson; shoot him!" Robert Young said as he raised his rifle, "Let's see what Sweet Lips can do! (His rifle was named after his wife, Mary, who he called Sweet Lips.)" Robert Young fired and shot Major Patrick Ferguson in the head and knocked him out of his saddle. His foot was caught in the stirrup, and his horse began running wildly down the hill. By the time our men stopped the horse, Major Patrick Ferguson had seven more bullet holes in him! Earlier that day, Patrick Ferguson had declared that God Himself and all His angels couldn't get him off that mountain…and he was right…he's still there to this day, buried under a pile of rocks.
Our Patriots killed or captured 1200 Tories that day; our men had just defeated a third of Cornwallis' army, and twenty-eight of our Patriots did not see the sunset that night.
This victory was a major pivotal battle in the Revolutionary War; Thomas Jefferson named it the most crucial battle of the entire war. You see, it swayed the whole momentum in our favor. With this victory the enthusiasm increased tremendously, and more and more Patriots joined the cause. One year and twelve days later, Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown.
John Gilliland survived his wounds and lived an honorable life. This rugged yet educated frontiersman demonstrated all that is good in our cherished heritage. He was an upstanding man with exemplary character and, destined by his brave Scotch-Irish roots, was a beloved hero and true Patriot who fought diligently for our independence. He and the other brave Overmountain Men who formed the militia won a significant victory against the British Loyalists that turned the tide of the war in our favor. He was a loving husband to Elizabeth Young. He was a member of the convention of 1785 which penned the constitution of the state of Franklin. He donated fifty acres of land for the first county seat of Cocke County. He was a trusted surveyor. He was a Cherokee interpreter. He lived a full life, but he and his wife, Elizabeth Young, were both killed by the Cherokee on their way back from Fort Wear to Newport, their home.
Documentation has been found that offered another, very plausible, version of Elizabeth Young's death. It is as follows: I wanted to share with you another account of Elizabeth Young's death. Quite some time age, we discovered a written article entitled, "The Reminiscences and Autobiography of John Wilkinson" that reads as follows:
John & Elizabeth Gilliland were the parents of Samuel Wears second wife. John was killed by Indians about 1790 and buried in the Fort Wear Cemetery. Elizabeth, his wife, moved to south Ala. Many years later she returned to E. Tn to visit her daughter, Col Wear's widow. Within 8 miles of her home, she became very ill and died. One of her last wishes was to be buried beside her husband in the Fort Wear Cemetery. In the yrs since John Gilliland's death, there had been many burials in the cemetery and no one was alive who could recall which grave was his. Finally Frank, the old slave who had accompanied the Wear family into the wilderness, and who had helped construct the fort and house "bethought himself" of a large tree which stood near John Gilliland's grave. Thus Elizabeth was laid to rest beside her husband after the lapse of many years.
John Gilliland, fellow longhunters, and frontiersmen left the colonies and settled in the western Appalachian Mountains in total defiance of King George's orders. They were a hardy, brave, and intelligent bunch who did not take kindly to tyranny, taxation without representation, oppression, corruption, etc. They had established the first true democratic government in the new world at Fort Watauga when they established the Watauga Association. They elected leaders, established treaties with the natives, bought land from the natives, established relationships and traded with the natives, maned forts, had militias, held elections, etc. The forts and militias were necessary because the British army did not operate on the western side of the Appalachian Mountains, so the Europeans had no protection. Nonetheless, the Revolutionary War had not directly affected them that much, until the British began negotiating with the natives, promising them certain rights and privileges if they would attack the forts and settlements in order to keep the settlers busy and keep them out of the war.
The Revolutionary War had been going on for about five years. Cornwallis had under his command a British Major named Patrick Ferguson who was tasked with recruiting southern men to join the British militia, and he was pretty effective. He was Scottish and, in all rights, was a brave and effective commander. He was also quite a design engineer, and designed the Ferguson Rifle that loaded from the breach (rear) of the barrel. He amassed about 1200 men and issued a warning to the Overmountain Men that said, "Lay down your arms and surrender to the King, or we will come over the mountains and lay waste to your land with fire and sword and hang your leaders from the trees". Major Ferguson had underestimated his enemy. This threat did not rest well on the ears of our ancestors. They were enraged, so they decided to take the fight to Ferguson.
Our Patriots who included John Gilliland, his sons, his father-in-law, Robert Young, and his sons mustered at Fort Watauga where they joined other Overmountain Men and fell under the command of their good friend, John Sevier. Everyone wanted to go and fight the British, but one out of every seven men stayed behind to defend the fort. Whilst enduring cold, rain, and hunger our ancestors made the 263-mile journey from September 25th to October 7th 1780 over the Appalachian Mountains from Fort Watauga to the area known as Kings Mountain, South Carolina, to engage Patrick Ferguson and his 1200 Loyalists.
Our ancestors, John Gilliland and Robert Young, along with John Sevier and other militia units under Colonels Shelby, Cleveland, Campbell, Winston, McDowell, Lacey, and Hambright numbered about 900 men. Our Patriots surrounded the base of the mountain. Each leader told his men that once the battle began, each man was to be his own commander. Each man had learned to fight like the Cherokee. Guerilla warfare. None of that standing lined up in an open field opposite each other and firing. Each man was told to "give 'em hell and fight like the devil", and each man knew exactly how to do it! These were seasoned, rugged, brave men. And they were ready for battle! They were angry and eager! On the third push up the mountain, John Gilliland, WHO HAD BEEN SHOT THREE TIMES WITH 69 CALIBER MUSKET BALLS, made it to the top alongside Robert Young. John Gilliland, badly wounded, was the first to spot Major Ferguson atop his big white horse and wearing a red checkered shirt with a sword in one hand and his whistle in his mouth. John Gilliland took aim and fired, but his rifle misfired (probably his powder was wet from all the rain or his flint needed napping again from all the firing he had no doubt been doing during the battle)! He quickly called out to Robert Young, "There's Ferguson; shoot him!" Robert Young said as he raised his rifle, "Let's see what Sweet Lips can do! (His rifle was named after his wife, Mary, who he called Sweet Lips.)" Robert Young fired and shot Major Patrick Ferguson in the head and knocked him out of his saddle. His foot was caught in the stirrup, and his horse began running wildly down the hill. By the time our men stopped the horse, Major Patrick Ferguson had seven more bullet holes in him! Earlier that day, Patrick Ferguson had declared that God Himself and all His angels couldn't get him off that mountain…and he was right…he's still there to this day, buried under a pile of rocks.
Our Patriots killed or captured 1200 Tories that day; our men had just defeated a third of Cornwallis' army, and twenty-eight of our Patriots did not see the sunset that night.
This victory was a major pivotal battle in the Revolutionary War; Thomas Jefferson named it the most crucial battle of the entire war. You see, it swayed the whole momentum in our favor. With this victory the enthusiasm increased tremendously, and more and more Patriots joined the cause. One year and twelve days later, Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown.
John Gilliland survived his wounds and lived an honorable life. This rugged yet educated frontiersman demonstrated all that is good in our cherished heritage. He was an upstanding man with exemplary character and, destined by his brave Scotch-Irish roots, was a beloved hero and true Patriot who fought diligently for our independence. He and the other brave Overmountain Men who formed the militia won a significant victory against the British Loyalists that turned the tide of the war in our favor. He was a loving husband to Elizabeth Young. He was a member of the convention of 1785 which penned the constitution of the state of Franklin. He donated fifty acres of land for the first county seat of Cocke County. He was a trusted surveyor. He was a Cherokee interpreter. He lived a full life, but he and his wife, Elizabeth Young, were both killed by the Cherokee on their way back from Fort Wear to Newport, their home.
Documentation has been found that offered another, very plausible, version of Elizabeth Young's death. It is as follows: I wanted to share with you another account of Elizabeth Young's death. Quite some time age, we discovered a written article entitled, "The Reminiscences and Autobiography of John Wilkinson" that reads as follows:
John & Elizabeth Gilliland were the parents of Samuel Wears second wife. John was killed by Indians about 1790 and buried in the Fort Wear Cemetery. Elizabeth, his wife, moved to south Ala. Many years later she returned to E. Tn to visit her daughter, Col Wear's widow. Within 8 miles of her home, she became very ill and died. One of her last wishes was to be buried beside her husband in the Fort Wear Cemetery. In the yrs since John Gilliland's death, there had been many burials in the cemetery and no one was alive who could recall which grave was his. Finally Frank, the old slave who had accompanied the Wear family into the wilderness, and who had helped construct the fort and house "bethought himself" of a large tree which stood near John Gilliland's grave. Thus Elizabeth was laid to rest beside her husband after the lapse of many years.
The Revolutionary War had been going on for about five years. Cornwallis had under his command a British Major named Patrick Ferguson who was tasked with recruiting southern men to join the British militia, and he was pretty effective. He was Scottish and, in all rights, was a brave and effective commander. He was also quite a design engineer, and designed the Ferguson Rifle that loaded from the breach (rear) of the barrel. He amassed about 1200 men and issued a warning to the Overmountain Men that said, "Lay down your arms and surrender to the King, or we will come over the mountains and lay waste to your land with fire and sword and hang your leaders from the trees". Major Ferguson had underestimated his enemy. This threat did not rest well on the ears of our ancestors. They were enraged, so they decided to take the fight to Ferguson.
Our Patriots who included John Gilliland, his sons, his father-in-law, Robert Young, and his sons mustered at Fort Watauga where they joined other Overmountain Men and fell under the command of their good friend, John Sevier. Everyone wanted to go and fight the British, but one out of every seven men stayed behind to defend the fort. Whilst enduring cold, rain, and hunger our ancestors made the 263-mile journey from September 25th to October 7th 1780 over the Appalachian Mountains from Fort Watauga to the area known as Kings Mountain, South Carolina, to engage Patrick Ferguson and his 1200 Loyalists.
Our ancestors, John Gilliland and Robert Young, along with John Sevier and other militia units under Colonels Shelby, Cleveland, Campbell, Winston, McDowell, Lacey, and Hambright numbered about 900 men. Our Patriots surrounded the base of the mountain. Each leader told his men that once the battle began, each man was to be his own commander. Each man had learned to fight like the Cherokee. Guerilla warfare. None of that standing lined up in an open field opposite each other and firing. Each man was told to "give 'em hell and fight like the devil", and each man knew exactly how to do it! These were seasoned, rugged, brave men. And they were ready for battle! They were angry and eager! On the third push up the mountain, John Gilliland, WHO HAD BEEN SHOT THREE TIMES WITH 69 CALIBER MUSKET BALLS, made it to the top alongside Robert Young. John Gilliland, badly wounded, was the first to spot Major Ferguson atop his big white horse and wearing a red checkered shirt with a sword in one hand and his whistle in his mouth. John Gilliland took aim and fired, but his rifle misfired (probably his powder was wet from all the rain or his flint needed napping again from all the firing he had no doubt been doing during the battle)! He quickly called out to Robert Young, "There's Ferguson; shoot him!" Robert Young said as he raised his rifle, "Let's see what Sweet Lips can do! (His rifle was named after his wife, Mary, who he called Sweet Lips.)" Robert Young fired and shot Major Patrick Ferguson in the head and knocked him out of his saddle. His foot was caught in the stirrup, and his horse began running wildly down the hill. By the time our men stopped the horse, Major Patrick Ferguson had seven more bullet holes in him! Earlier that day, Patrick Ferguson had declared that God Himself and all His angels couldn't get him off that mountain…and he was right…he's still there to this day, buried under a pile of rocks.
Our Patriots killed or captured 1200 Tories that day; our men had just defeated a third of Cornwallis' army, and twenty-eight of our Patriots did not see the sunset that night.
This victory was a major pivotal battle in the Revolutionary War; Thomas Jefferson named it the most crucial battle of the entire war. You see, it swayed the whole momentum in our favor. With this victory the enthusiasm increased tremendously, and more and more Patriots joined the cause. One year and twelve days later, Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown.
John Gilliland survived his wounds and lived an honorable life. This rugged yet educated frontiersman demonstrated all that is good in our cherished heritage. He was an upstanding man with exemplary character and, destined by his brave Scotch-Irish roots, was a beloved hero and true Patriot who fought diligently for our independence. He and the other brave Overmountain Men who formed the militia won a significant victory against the British Loyalists that turned the tide of the war in our favor. He was a loving husband to Elizabeth Young. He was a member of the convention of 1785 which penned the constitution of the state of Franklin. He donated fifty acres of land for the first county seat of Cocke County. He was a trusted surveyor. He was a Cherokee interpreter. He lived a full life, but he and his wife, Elizabeth Young, were both killed by the Cherokee on their way back from Fort Wear to Newport, their home.
Documentation has been found that offered another, very plausible, version of Elizabeth Young's death. It is as follows: I wanted to share with you another account of Elizabeth Young's death. Quite some time age, we discovered a written article entitled, "The Reminiscences and Autobiography of John Wilkinson" that reads as follows:
John & Elizabeth Gilliland were the parents of Samuel Wears second wife. John was killed by Indians about 1790 and buried in the Fort Wear Cemetery. Elizabeth, his wife, moved to south Ala. Many years later she returned to E. Tn to visit her daughter, Col Wear's widow. Within 8 miles of her home, she became very ill and died. One of her last wishes was to be buried beside her husband in the Fort Wear Cemetery. In the yrs since John Gilliland's death, there had been many burials in the cemetery and no one was alive who could recall which grave was his. Finally Frank, the old slave who had accompanied the Wear family into the wilderness, and who had helped construct the fort and house "bethought himself" of a large tree which stood near John Gilliland's grave. Thus Elizabeth was laid to rest beside her husband after the lapse of many years.
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