U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
Name Samuel Porter
Spouse Name Elizabeth Duncan
Spouse Birth Place PA
Spouse Birth Year 1750
Marriage Year 1775
Marriage State KY
-----
Names of some children:
John Porter 1783–1853
Tabitha Porter 1785–1847
James Porter Rev 1786–1851
Hugh Porter
Samuel Porter
Thomas Porter
Peggy Porter
-----
Samuel Porter came from Pennsylvania to Russell Co. in 1769, with his wife's Dunkin family and his brother's in law, Solomon Litton, and James Laughlin.
Together these families further migrated to new lands in Kentucky in 1779. In June 1780, Samuel was captured by the British and Indians and marched to Detroit and Montreal, Canada and held hostage until the end of the Revolution. Upon release, Samuel returned to Russell Co., having apparently lost his land in Kentucky.
Charges were brought against Samuel after he returned home by Colonel Arthur Campbell, Militia Commandant of Virginia, accusing him of adhering to the enemy cause while a prisoner in Canada. General Russell went to Samuel's defense in a letter which may be found in the Campbell-Preston papers, Volume 3, Item 392, wherein he writes to the Governor of Virginia. The letter quotes:
"Please Your Excellency - the bearer Samuel Porter, is one of the unhappy prisoners who returned from Detroit last winter, in a state of distress, he having lost all his property by the enemy, just before and at the time he was taken. This attachment to his country and particular attention and care and welfare of his family, led him to embrace the earliest opportunity to return to this country, where he lived ever since 1769, in credit and esteem among his neighbors, and all who knew him considered an honest and industrious man, and was a near neighbor of Mine till I engaged in the Continental Service and repaired to the northward to prosecute my duty in the enemy: which was in the beginning of seventy-seven and when I left him, considered him a firm friend to the American cause and was respected as such by his neighbors and acquaintances.
Since his return, Colonel Arthur Campbell I have reason to think through malice, exhibited information against him, to your Excellency of malconduct, in adhering to the enemy while in captivity at Detroyet (sic). Your Excellency, I have understood upon the information was pleased to direct Colonel Campbell to an inquiry thereto perhaps by the covenancy of Mr. John Read, sometime in April last: and was immediately ordered by Colonel Campbell to the confinement of the plantation he then lived on, his helpless family without support of bread but by what the generosity of the neighborhood furnished ... ."
All charges against Samuel were dropped.
-----
In the 1790 tax lists he had 10 horses, and in the 1794 tax list, he had 13, more than any other individual in the county. The 1796 tax list indicates he had 3 slaves.
-----
The following is a quote from The Southwest Corner, by Coodridge Wilson.
"Among the earliest settlers of Castlewoods in the Clinch (River) was one Samuel Porter. Sitting in the room of the log house which Samuel Porter built and lived in there, his great grandson, the late Mr. S.N. Dickenson, told me all that I know about him. Dickenson told me that Samuel Porter and his family were among the first who formed that settlement at Castle's Woods when it was the farthest west outpost in the wilderness;
That he was a sort of lay or local Methodist preacher; that he had four sons, all of whom became Methodist preachers and moved to the Missouri country in later years where they became prominent ministers of the Methodist Church;
That while Porter was erecting the house in which Mr. Dickenson himself lived at the time he was telling me this, his four sons were working on the rafters when a party of Indians came upon them and would have captured them had not some great bear dogs attacked the Indians and engaged their attention while the four boys made their escape;
They had a red headed daughter named Margaret who was Mr. Dickenson's grandmother, and a black haired daughter and they came near being captured by Chief Benge, Indian scourge of the border, one night as they were going from the fort (Moore's Fort) to a spring after water, Benge later telling some white men that while they were ... on that occasion that he was spying on the fort from a hiding place near the spring path, and a black headed squaw and a red headed squaw passed within arm's reach of him, but he decided to let them pass;
That Samuel Porter was a staunch Tory, refusing to go on the King's Mountain expedition, and otherwise consistently holding his stand for the crown and parliament, but in such a manner as to retain the respect and confidence of his ardently revolutionary patriotic neighbors.
That sums up all I know about the Porter Family that lived in the old log house that still stands near Castlewood, a house where Daniel Boone was often a visitor, and which is the oldest house now standing in Russell County."
-----
Samuel Porter House
Samuel Porter's house in Castlewoods was described as a two story house about forty feet square, made of hewed square poplar logs. A winding,enclosed stairway is in the kitchen. The floors are hand sawn poplar lumber. The house had two large chimneys, one in the kitchen, one in the"front' room. There are two small windows in each room. The overhead ceiling is beamed. A large lower porch runs along the north side of the house, which faces a level lawn dotted with old fashioned flowers. It was still standing in the 1930's.
-----
Samuel Porter's will in Russell county (1815) lists his beneficiaries:
Wife, Elizabeth:
Children: James, Thomas D., Hugh, Samuel, John, Peggy Dickenson, Tabitha Smith
Grandchildren: Nathaniel Dickenson, Betsy Dickenson, Tabitha Dickenson, Dunkin G. Dickenson
Executors: none named (his son James Porter appointed): witnesses: Beny Robinson, Charles Bickley: probated March 8, 1820, Russell county,Virginia: (page 320 - abstracts of wills of Russell county, Va.
WILL OF SAMUEL PORTER
Russell County, Virginia
Will Book 3, Page 328
Executed 08 Mar 1820
I Saml. Porter of Russell County and State of Virginia do hereby make my last will and testament in the manner and form following. that is to say.
1st I give to my wife Elisabeth Porter, the plantation and orchard, on which I now live; with the buildings which are thereon, and my negro boy named Fields. and one mare choise of all my horses. and two cows choise of all my cattle, and such a part of my hogs, sheep and fowls as she may desire, And all my household furnature, during the term of her natural life, and after her decease, I give the same (the household funature only excepted, which she may dispose of as she pleases) to my sons James and Thomas D. Porter to be divided between them as herein after specified.
2d. I give to my sons James and Thos. D. Porter all my lands and (after my wifes death) I give to my sons James & Thos. the platation and orchard on which I now live with the buildings thereon; and my negro boy Fields I give to James Porter, and the rest that my wife shall possess at her death I give to them to be equally divided between them, which I give to them and their heirs forever.
3dly. I give to my grandson Nathaniel Dickerson one third part of all my estate not herein before particularly disposed of which I give to him forever.
4thly. I give to my grand-children, Betsey, Tabitha and Dunkin G. Dickerson all the rest of my estate not herein before particularly disposed of, to them and their heirs for ever.
5thly. I have given to my sons Hugh, Samuel & John all that part of my Estate which I intended for them - And I have given to my daughters Peggy Dickerson and Tabitha Smith all that part of my Estate which I intended for them - In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this (blank) day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifteen
Samuel Porter (Seal)
Signed seal published and declared as and for the last will and testament of the above named Sam'l. Porter in the presence of us
Berry Robinson
Charles Bickley
Virginia
At a court held for Russell County the 8th day of March 1820 -
This instrument of writing was exhibited in Court as and for the last will and testament of Sam'l. Porter deceased and proven by the oath of Charles Bickley one of the subscribing witnesses thereto; and the hand writing of Berry Robinson the other subscribing witness, who is absent from the commonwealth, being proved to the satisfaction of the court; the said will is ordered to be recorded: And no executors being named in said will, and the widow of the testator refusing to administer as is satisfactorily proven in court.- on the motion of James Porter, a son of the testator who made oath according to and together with John Porter and Charles Beckley his securities, entered into and acknowledged their Bond in the penalty of 2,000$ conditioned as the law directs certificate is granted him for obtaining letters of administration of the estate of the decedent with the said will annexed in due form.
Teste
James P. Carrell D.C.
Name Samuel Porter
Spouse Name Elizabeth Duncan
Spouse Birth Place PA
Spouse Birth Year 1750
Marriage Year 1775
Marriage State KY
-----
Names of some children:
John Porter 1783–1853
Tabitha Porter 1785–1847
James Porter Rev 1786–1851
Hugh Porter
Samuel Porter
Thomas Porter
Peggy Porter
-----
Samuel Porter came from Pennsylvania to Russell Co. in 1769, with his wife's Dunkin family and his brother's in law, Solomon Litton, and James Laughlin.
Together these families further migrated to new lands in Kentucky in 1779. In June 1780, Samuel was captured by the British and Indians and marched to Detroit and Montreal, Canada and held hostage until the end of the Revolution. Upon release, Samuel returned to Russell Co., having apparently lost his land in Kentucky.
Charges were brought against Samuel after he returned home by Colonel Arthur Campbell, Militia Commandant of Virginia, accusing him of adhering to the enemy cause while a prisoner in Canada. General Russell went to Samuel's defense in a letter which may be found in the Campbell-Preston papers, Volume 3, Item 392, wherein he writes to the Governor of Virginia. The letter quotes:
"Please Your Excellency - the bearer Samuel Porter, is one of the unhappy prisoners who returned from Detroit last winter, in a state of distress, he having lost all his property by the enemy, just before and at the time he was taken. This attachment to his country and particular attention and care and welfare of his family, led him to embrace the earliest opportunity to return to this country, where he lived ever since 1769, in credit and esteem among his neighbors, and all who knew him considered an honest and industrious man, and was a near neighbor of Mine till I engaged in the Continental Service and repaired to the northward to prosecute my duty in the enemy: which was in the beginning of seventy-seven and when I left him, considered him a firm friend to the American cause and was respected as such by his neighbors and acquaintances.
Since his return, Colonel Arthur Campbell I have reason to think through malice, exhibited information against him, to your Excellency of malconduct, in adhering to the enemy while in captivity at Detroyet (sic). Your Excellency, I have understood upon the information was pleased to direct Colonel Campbell to an inquiry thereto perhaps by the covenancy of Mr. John Read, sometime in April last: and was immediately ordered by Colonel Campbell to the confinement of the plantation he then lived on, his helpless family without support of bread but by what the generosity of the neighborhood furnished ... ."
All charges against Samuel were dropped.
-----
In the 1790 tax lists he had 10 horses, and in the 1794 tax list, he had 13, more than any other individual in the county. The 1796 tax list indicates he had 3 slaves.
-----
The following is a quote from The Southwest Corner, by Coodridge Wilson.
"Among the earliest settlers of Castlewoods in the Clinch (River) was one Samuel Porter. Sitting in the room of the log house which Samuel Porter built and lived in there, his great grandson, the late Mr. S.N. Dickenson, told me all that I know about him. Dickenson told me that Samuel Porter and his family were among the first who formed that settlement at Castle's Woods when it was the farthest west outpost in the wilderness;
That he was a sort of lay or local Methodist preacher; that he had four sons, all of whom became Methodist preachers and moved to the Missouri country in later years where they became prominent ministers of the Methodist Church;
That while Porter was erecting the house in which Mr. Dickenson himself lived at the time he was telling me this, his four sons were working on the rafters when a party of Indians came upon them and would have captured them had not some great bear dogs attacked the Indians and engaged their attention while the four boys made their escape;
They had a red headed daughter named Margaret who was Mr. Dickenson's grandmother, and a black haired daughter and they came near being captured by Chief Benge, Indian scourge of the border, one night as they were going from the fort (Moore's Fort) to a spring after water, Benge later telling some white men that while they were ... on that occasion that he was spying on the fort from a hiding place near the spring path, and a black headed squaw and a red headed squaw passed within arm's reach of him, but he decided to let them pass;
That Samuel Porter was a staunch Tory, refusing to go on the King's Mountain expedition, and otherwise consistently holding his stand for the crown and parliament, but in such a manner as to retain the respect and confidence of his ardently revolutionary patriotic neighbors.
That sums up all I know about the Porter Family that lived in the old log house that still stands near Castlewood, a house where Daniel Boone was often a visitor, and which is the oldest house now standing in Russell County."
-----
Samuel Porter House
Samuel Porter's house in Castlewoods was described as a two story house about forty feet square, made of hewed square poplar logs. A winding,enclosed stairway is in the kitchen. The floors are hand sawn poplar lumber. The house had two large chimneys, one in the kitchen, one in the"front' room. There are two small windows in each room. The overhead ceiling is beamed. A large lower porch runs along the north side of the house, which faces a level lawn dotted with old fashioned flowers. It was still standing in the 1930's.
-----
Samuel Porter's will in Russell county (1815) lists his beneficiaries:
Wife, Elizabeth:
Children: James, Thomas D., Hugh, Samuel, John, Peggy Dickenson, Tabitha Smith
Grandchildren: Nathaniel Dickenson, Betsy Dickenson, Tabitha Dickenson, Dunkin G. Dickenson
Executors: none named (his son James Porter appointed): witnesses: Beny Robinson, Charles Bickley: probated March 8, 1820, Russell county,Virginia: (page 320 - abstracts of wills of Russell county, Va.
WILL OF SAMUEL PORTER
Russell County, Virginia
Will Book 3, Page 328
Executed 08 Mar 1820
I Saml. Porter of Russell County and State of Virginia do hereby make my last will and testament in the manner and form following. that is to say.
1st I give to my wife Elisabeth Porter, the plantation and orchard, on which I now live; with the buildings which are thereon, and my negro boy named Fields. and one mare choise of all my horses. and two cows choise of all my cattle, and such a part of my hogs, sheep and fowls as she may desire, And all my household furnature, during the term of her natural life, and after her decease, I give the same (the household funature only excepted, which she may dispose of as she pleases) to my sons James and Thomas D. Porter to be divided between them as herein after specified.
2d. I give to my sons James and Thos. D. Porter all my lands and (after my wifes death) I give to my sons James & Thos. the platation and orchard on which I now live with the buildings thereon; and my negro boy Fields I give to James Porter, and the rest that my wife shall possess at her death I give to them to be equally divided between them, which I give to them and their heirs forever.
3dly. I give to my grandson Nathaniel Dickerson one third part of all my estate not herein before particularly disposed of which I give to him forever.
4thly. I give to my grand-children, Betsey, Tabitha and Dunkin G. Dickerson all the rest of my estate not herein before particularly disposed of, to them and their heirs for ever.
5thly. I have given to my sons Hugh, Samuel & John all that part of my Estate which I intended for them - And I have given to my daughters Peggy Dickerson and Tabitha Smith all that part of my Estate which I intended for them - In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this (blank) day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifteen
Samuel Porter (Seal)
Signed seal published and declared as and for the last will and testament of the above named Sam'l. Porter in the presence of us
Berry Robinson
Charles Bickley
Virginia
At a court held for Russell County the 8th day of March 1820 -
This instrument of writing was exhibited in Court as and for the last will and testament of Sam'l. Porter deceased and proven by the oath of Charles Bickley one of the subscribing witnesses thereto; and the hand writing of Berry Robinson the other subscribing witness, who is absent from the commonwealth, being proved to the satisfaction of the court; the said will is ordered to be recorded: And no executors being named in said will, and the widow of the testator refusing to administer as is satisfactorily proven in court.- on the motion of James Porter, a son of the testator who made oath according to and together with John Porter and Charles Beckley his securities, entered into and acknowledged their Bond in the penalty of 2,000$ conditioned as the law directs certificate is granted him for obtaining letters of administration of the estate of the decedent with the said will annexed in due form.
Teste
James P. Carrell D.C.
U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
Name Samuel Porter
Spouse Name Elizabeth Duncan
Spouse Birth Place PA
Spouse Birth Year 1750
Marriage Year 1775
Marriage State KY
-----
Names of some children:
John Porter 1783–1853
Tabitha Porter 1785–1847
James Porter Rev 1786–1851
Hugh Porter
Samuel Porter
Thomas Porter
Peggy Porter
-----
Samuel Porter came from Pennsylvania to Russell Co. in 1769, with his wife's Dunkin family and his brother's in law, Solomon Litton, and James Laughlin.
Together these families further migrated to new lands in Kentucky in 1779. In June 1780, Samuel was captured by the British and Indians and marched to Detroit and Montreal, Canada and held hostage until the end of the Revolution. Upon release, Samuel returned to Russell Co., having apparently lost his land in Kentucky.
Charges were brought against Samuel after he returned home by Colonel Arthur Campbell, Militia Commandant of Virginia, accusing him of adhering to the enemy cause while a prisoner in Canada. General Russell went to Samuel's defense in a letter which may be found in the Campbell-Preston papers, Volume 3, Item 392, wherein he writes to the Governor of Virginia. The letter quotes:
"Please Your Excellency - the bearer Samuel Porter, is one of the unhappy prisoners who returned from Detroit last winter, in a state of distress, he having lost all his property by the enemy, just before and at the time he was taken. This attachment to his country and particular attention and care and welfare of his family, led him to embrace the earliest opportunity to return to this country, where he lived ever since 1769, in credit and esteem among his neighbors, and all who knew him considered an honest and industrious man, and was a near neighbor of Mine till I engaged in the Continental Service and repaired to the northward to prosecute my duty in the enemy: which was in the beginning of seventy-seven and when I left him, considered him a firm friend to the American cause and was respected as such by his neighbors and acquaintances.
Since his return, Colonel Arthur Campbell I have reason to think through malice, exhibited information against him, to your Excellency of malconduct, in adhering to the enemy while in captivity at Detroyet (sic). Your Excellency, I have understood upon the information was pleased to direct Colonel Campbell to an inquiry thereto perhaps by the covenancy of Mr. John Read, sometime in April last: and was immediately ordered by Colonel Campbell to the confinement of the plantation he then lived on, his helpless family without support of bread but by what the generosity of the neighborhood furnished ... ."
All charges against Samuel were dropped.
-----
In the 1790 tax lists he had 10 horses, and in the 1794 tax list, he had 13, more than any other individual in the county. The 1796 tax list indicates he had 3 slaves.
-----
The following is a quote from The Southwest Corner, by Coodridge Wilson.
"Among the earliest settlers of Castlewoods in the Clinch (River) was one Samuel Porter. Sitting in the room of the log house which Samuel Porter built and lived in there, his great grandson, the late Mr. S.N. Dickenson, told me all that I know about him. Dickenson told me that Samuel Porter and his family were among the first who formed that settlement at Castle's Woods when it was the farthest west outpost in the wilderness;
That he was a sort of lay or local Methodist preacher; that he had four sons, all of whom became Methodist preachers and moved to the Missouri country in later years where they became prominent ministers of the Methodist Church;
That while Porter was erecting the house in which Mr. Dickenson himself lived at the time he was telling me this, his four sons were working on the rafters when a party of Indians came upon them and would have captured them had not some great bear dogs attacked the Indians and engaged their attention while the four boys made their escape;
They had a red headed daughter named Margaret who was Mr. Dickenson's grandmother, and a black haired daughter and they came near being captured by Chief Benge, Indian scourge of the border, one night as they were going from the fort (Moore's Fort) to a spring after water, Benge later telling some white men that while they were ... on that occasion that he was spying on the fort from a hiding place near the spring path, and a black headed squaw and a red headed squaw passed within arm's reach of him, but he decided to let them pass;
That Samuel Porter was a staunch Tory, refusing to go on the King's Mountain expedition, and otherwise consistently holding his stand for the crown and parliament, but in such a manner as to retain the respect and confidence of his ardently revolutionary patriotic neighbors.
That sums up all I know about the Porter Family that lived in the old log house that still stands near Castlewood, a house where Daniel Boone was often a visitor, and which is the oldest house now standing in Russell County."
-----
Samuel Porter House
Samuel Porter's house in Castlewoods was described as a two story house about forty feet square, made of hewed square poplar logs. A winding,enclosed stairway is in the kitchen. The floors are hand sawn poplar lumber. The house had two large chimneys, one in the kitchen, one in the"front' room. There are two small windows in each room. The overhead ceiling is beamed. A large lower porch runs along the north side of the house, which faces a level lawn dotted with old fashioned flowers. It was still standing in the 1930's.
-----
Samuel Porter's will in Russell county (1815) lists his beneficiaries:
Wife, Elizabeth:
Children: James, Thomas D., Hugh, Samuel, John, Peggy Dickenson, Tabitha Smith
Grandchildren: Nathaniel Dickenson, Betsy Dickenson, Tabitha Dickenson, Dunkin G. Dickenson
Executors: none named (his son James Porter appointed): witnesses: Beny Robinson, Charles Bickley: probated March 8, 1820, Russell county,Virginia: (page 320 - abstracts of wills of Russell county, Va.
WILL OF SAMUEL PORTER
Russell County, Virginia
Will Book 3, Page 328
Executed 08 Mar 1820
I Saml. Porter of Russell County and State of Virginia do hereby make my last will and testament in the manner and form following. that is to say.
1st I give to my wife Elisabeth Porter, the plantation and orchard, on which I now live; with the buildings which are thereon, and my negro boy named Fields. and one mare choise of all my horses. and two cows choise of all my cattle, and such a part of my hogs, sheep and fowls as she may desire, And all my household furnature, during the term of her natural life, and after her decease, I give the same (the household funature only excepted, which she may dispose of as she pleases) to my sons James and Thomas D. Porter to be divided between them as herein after specified.
2d. I give to my sons James and Thos. D. Porter all my lands and (after my wifes death) I give to my sons James & Thos. the platation and orchard on which I now live with the buildings thereon; and my negro boy Fields I give to James Porter, and the rest that my wife shall possess at her death I give to them to be equally divided between them, which I give to them and their heirs forever.
3dly. I give to my grandson Nathaniel Dickerson one third part of all my estate not herein before particularly disposed of which I give to him forever.
4thly. I give to my grand-children, Betsey, Tabitha and Dunkin G. Dickerson all the rest of my estate not herein before particularly disposed of, to them and their heirs for ever.
5thly. I have given to my sons Hugh, Samuel & John all that part of my Estate which I intended for them - And I have given to my daughters Peggy Dickerson and Tabitha Smith all that part of my Estate which I intended for them - In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this (blank) day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifteen
Samuel Porter (Seal)
Signed seal published and declared as and for the last will and testament of the above named Sam'l. Porter in the presence of us
Berry Robinson
Charles Bickley
Virginia
At a court held for Russell County the 8th day of March 1820 -
This instrument of writing was exhibited in Court as and for the last will and testament of Sam'l. Porter deceased and proven by the oath of Charles Bickley one of the subscribing witnesses thereto; and the hand writing of Berry Robinson the other subscribing witness, who is absent from the commonwealth, being proved to the satisfaction of the court; the said will is ordered to be recorded: And no executors being named in said will, and the widow of the testator refusing to administer as is satisfactorily proven in court.- on the motion of James Porter, a son of the testator who made oath according to and together with John Porter and Charles Beckley his securities, entered into and acknowledged their Bond in the penalty of 2,000$ conditioned as the law directs certificate is granted him for obtaining letters of administration of the estate of the decedent with the said will annexed in due form.
Teste
James P. Carrell D.C.
Name Samuel Porter
Spouse Name Elizabeth Duncan
Spouse Birth Place PA
Spouse Birth Year 1750
Marriage Year 1775
Marriage State KY
-----
Names of some children:
John Porter 1783–1853
Tabitha Porter 1785–1847
James Porter Rev 1786–1851
Hugh Porter
Samuel Porter
Thomas Porter
Peggy Porter
-----
Samuel Porter came from Pennsylvania to Russell Co. in 1769, with his wife's Dunkin family and his brother's in law, Solomon Litton, and James Laughlin.
Together these families further migrated to new lands in Kentucky in 1779. In June 1780, Samuel was captured by the British and Indians and marched to Detroit and Montreal, Canada and held hostage until the end of the Revolution. Upon release, Samuel returned to Russell Co., having apparently lost his land in Kentucky.
Charges were brought against Samuel after he returned home by Colonel Arthur Campbell, Militia Commandant of Virginia, accusing him of adhering to the enemy cause while a prisoner in Canada. General Russell went to Samuel's defense in a letter which may be found in the Campbell-Preston papers, Volume 3, Item 392, wherein he writes to the Governor of Virginia. The letter quotes:
"Please Your Excellency - the bearer Samuel Porter, is one of the unhappy prisoners who returned from Detroit last winter, in a state of distress, he having lost all his property by the enemy, just before and at the time he was taken. This attachment to his country and particular attention and care and welfare of his family, led him to embrace the earliest opportunity to return to this country, where he lived ever since 1769, in credit and esteem among his neighbors, and all who knew him considered an honest and industrious man, and was a near neighbor of Mine till I engaged in the Continental Service and repaired to the northward to prosecute my duty in the enemy: which was in the beginning of seventy-seven and when I left him, considered him a firm friend to the American cause and was respected as such by his neighbors and acquaintances.
Since his return, Colonel Arthur Campbell I have reason to think through malice, exhibited information against him, to your Excellency of malconduct, in adhering to the enemy while in captivity at Detroyet (sic). Your Excellency, I have understood upon the information was pleased to direct Colonel Campbell to an inquiry thereto perhaps by the covenancy of Mr. John Read, sometime in April last: and was immediately ordered by Colonel Campbell to the confinement of the plantation he then lived on, his helpless family without support of bread but by what the generosity of the neighborhood furnished ... ."
All charges against Samuel were dropped.
-----
In the 1790 tax lists he had 10 horses, and in the 1794 tax list, he had 13, more than any other individual in the county. The 1796 tax list indicates he had 3 slaves.
-----
The following is a quote from The Southwest Corner, by Coodridge Wilson.
"Among the earliest settlers of Castlewoods in the Clinch (River) was one Samuel Porter. Sitting in the room of the log house which Samuel Porter built and lived in there, his great grandson, the late Mr. S.N. Dickenson, told me all that I know about him. Dickenson told me that Samuel Porter and his family were among the first who formed that settlement at Castle's Woods when it was the farthest west outpost in the wilderness;
That he was a sort of lay or local Methodist preacher; that he had four sons, all of whom became Methodist preachers and moved to the Missouri country in later years where they became prominent ministers of the Methodist Church;
That while Porter was erecting the house in which Mr. Dickenson himself lived at the time he was telling me this, his four sons were working on the rafters when a party of Indians came upon them and would have captured them had not some great bear dogs attacked the Indians and engaged their attention while the four boys made their escape;
They had a red headed daughter named Margaret who was Mr. Dickenson's grandmother, and a black haired daughter and they came near being captured by Chief Benge, Indian scourge of the border, one night as they were going from the fort (Moore's Fort) to a spring after water, Benge later telling some white men that while they were ... on that occasion that he was spying on the fort from a hiding place near the spring path, and a black headed squaw and a red headed squaw passed within arm's reach of him, but he decided to let them pass;
That Samuel Porter was a staunch Tory, refusing to go on the King's Mountain expedition, and otherwise consistently holding his stand for the crown and parliament, but in such a manner as to retain the respect and confidence of his ardently revolutionary patriotic neighbors.
That sums up all I know about the Porter Family that lived in the old log house that still stands near Castlewood, a house where Daniel Boone was often a visitor, and which is the oldest house now standing in Russell County."
-----
Samuel Porter House
Samuel Porter's house in Castlewoods was described as a two story house about forty feet square, made of hewed square poplar logs. A winding,enclosed stairway is in the kitchen. The floors are hand sawn poplar lumber. The house had two large chimneys, one in the kitchen, one in the"front' room. There are two small windows in each room. The overhead ceiling is beamed. A large lower porch runs along the north side of the house, which faces a level lawn dotted with old fashioned flowers. It was still standing in the 1930's.
-----
Samuel Porter's will in Russell county (1815) lists his beneficiaries:
Wife, Elizabeth:
Children: James, Thomas D., Hugh, Samuel, John, Peggy Dickenson, Tabitha Smith
Grandchildren: Nathaniel Dickenson, Betsy Dickenson, Tabitha Dickenson, Dunkin G. Dickenson
Executors: none named (his son James Porter appointed): witnesses: Beny Robinson, Charles Bickley: probated March 8, 1820, Russell county,Virginia: (page 320 - abstracts of wills of Russell county, Va.
WILL OF SAMUEL PORTER
Russell County, Virginia
Will Book 3, Page 328
Executed 08 Mar 1820
I Saml. Porter of Russell County and State of Virginia do hereby make my last will and testament in the manner and form following. that is to say.
1st I give to my wife Elisabeth Porter, the plantation and orchard, on which I now live; with the buildings which are thereon, and my negro boy named Fields. and one mare choise of all my horses. and two cows choise of all my cattle, and such a part of my hogs, sheep and fowls as she may desire, And all my household furnature, during the term of her natural life, and after her decease, I give the same (the household funature only excepted, which she may dispose of as she pleases) to my sons James and Thomas D. Porter to be divided between them as herein after specified.
2d. I give to my sons James and Thos. D. Porter all my lands and (after my wifes death) I give to my sons James & Thos. the platation and orchard on which I now live with the buildings thereon; and my negro boy Fields I give to James Porter, and the rest that my wife shall possess at her death I give to them to be equally divided between them, which I give to them and their heirs forever.
3dly. I give to my grandson Nathaniel Dickerson one third part of all my estate not herein before particularly disposed of which I give to him forever.
4thly. I give to my grand-children, Betsey, Tabitha and Dunkin G. Dickerson all the rest of my estate not herein before particularly disposed of, to them and their heirs for ever.
5thly. I have given to my sons Hugh, Samuel & John all that part of my Estate which I intended for them - And I have given to my daughters Peggy Dickerson and Tabitha Smith all that part of my Estate which I intended for them - In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this (blank) day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifteen
Samuel Porter (Seal)
Signed seal published and declared as and for the last will and testament of the above named Sam'l. Porter in the presence of us
Berry Robinson
Charles Bickley
Virginia
At a court held for Russell County the 8th day of March 1820 -
This instrument of writing was exhibited in Court as and for the last will and testament of Sam'l. Porter deceased and proven by the oath of Charles Bickley one of the subscribing witnesses thereto; and the hand writing of Berry Robinson the other subscribing witness, who is absent from the commonwealth, being proved to the satisfaction of the court; the said will is ordered to be recorded: And no executors being named in said will, and the widow of the testator refusing to administer as is satisfactorily proven in court.- on the motion of James Porter, a son of the testator who made oath according to and together with John Porter and Charles Beckley his securities, entered into and acknowledged their Bond in the penalty of 2,000$ conditioned as the law directs certificate is granted him for obtaining letters of administration of the estate of the decedent with the said will annexed in due form.
Teste
James P. Carrell D.C.
Gravesite Details
Thought to be buried in "old neglected" cemetery near his home.
