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Subject: [COULTER] Frontier Virginia Settlement, Castle's Woods 1769-1799
Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2003 22:13:45 EST

Many people have received copies of Professor James Hagy's thesis on the
early frontier settlement at Castle's Woods.  It has been a very popular
item for those with Virginia ancestry.  What makes the story fun for me is
the fact that I was able to locate the good professor thirty-seven years
after he wrote the thesis and discuss my 6-great grandfather's participation
in it.  Samuel Cowan was killed and scalped by Indians returning to
Houston's fort to warn of an impending attack. 

According to Hagy,  "This thesis is a narrative account of the frontier
settlement of Castle's Woods.  The community is an interesting case study
of the ideas of Frederick Jackson Turner regarding the frontier.  Castle's
Woods in many ways fits the pattern of the typical frontier community. 
Apparently first settled by a long hunter, Castle's Woods, like a magnet,
drew westward the classic frontier types, hunters, farmers, speculators,
surveyors, artisans, and preachers.  Even some aristocrates settled there. 
The usual frontier customs and activities were observed in the community. 
These included a considerable amount of lawlessness.  The greatest problem
for the settlers in Castle's Woods was the Indians who were a menace from the
time of the first settlement until nearly the end of the eighteenth century. 
After the Indian problem had been eliminated, the frontier stage quickly
passed away...

A large amount of primary materials were used in this study.  The most
important sources were county records, state archives, national archives, and
the Draper Manuscripts." 

The importance of Castle's Woods is twofold.  First, it had its day of
importance as a stepping stone to the West.  Secondly, it is important as a
case study of the American frontier.  It was the first permanent settlement
in Russell county, Virginia, founded in 1769 and located on the Clinch River.

What this thesis does not have is an INDEX.  So I spent the better part of
a day extracting ALL the names in the thesis and made an index.  It
contains about 175 names so I will not fill up your e-mail with a complete
list but if you want the index simply e-mail me and request it.  It is
yours for the asking.  If you don't have a copy of the thesis you should
get one.

Regards,
Robert Cowan
525 Harrogate Rd.
Matthews, North Carolina 28105

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