First Generation 
_________________________________________

1. Thomas SHARP. [1]

Thomas married Cynthia WALLACE.

They had one child:
	2	i.	John (1720-1796)

Second Generation 
_________________________________________
Family of Thomas SHARP (1) & Cynthia WALLACE

2. John SHARP. Born in 1720 in Scotland. John died in Sullivan County, Tennessee in July 1796; he was 76.   Revolutionary War. Resided in Scotland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee.

In 1740 when John was 20, he married Jane HAMILTON, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Born in 1721. Jane died after 1788; she was 67.

They had the following children:
	3	i.	Eleanor “Nellie” (1740-1816)
		ii.	Thomas. Born on August 1, 1742 in Washington County, Virginia. Thomas died in Logan County, Kentucky on September 6, 1813; he was 71.
			On March 9, 1775 when Thomas was 32, he married Jean MAXWELL.
		iii.	John. Born on August 30, 1746 in Pennsylvania. John died on December 1, 1823; he was 77.
			On March 21, 1771 when John was 24, he married Elizabeth LAUGHLIN, daughter of John LAUGHLIN.
		iv.	Mary. Born on September 24, 1747 in Pennsylvania. Mary died in Hawkins County, Tennessee in 1818; she was 70.
			Mary married Arthur GALBREATH. Born in 1728. Arthur died in 1818; he was 90.

			Surname also spelled “Gilbreath.” [2]
	4	v.	Elizabeth (1749-1827)
		vi.	Ann. Born on March 10, 1751 in Pennsylvania. Ann died on February 18, 1834; she was 82.
			In 1769 when Ann was 17, she married Alexander LAUGHLIN.
	5	vii.	Sarah “Sallie” (1754-1834)
		viii.	Susan. Born on March 22, 1756 in Pennsylvania. Susan died in Sullivan County, Tennessee on April 3, 1822; she was 66.
			In 1783 when Susan was 26, she married Rev. Thomas KING. Born in 1754. Thomas died in 1847; he was 93.

			Thomas is the brother of William King, husband of Susan’s sister, Elizabeth. [2]
		ix.	Benjamin. Born on January 22, 1762 in Pennsylvania. Benjamin died in Warren County, Missouri on January 1, 1844; he was 81.
			On November 16, 1787 when Benjamin was 25, he married Hannah Fielkerson DEBUGH.

Third Generation 
_________________________________________
Family of John SHARP (2) & Jane HAMILTON

3. Eleanor “Nellie” SHARP. Born on October 28, 1740 in Pennsylvania. Eleanor “Nellie” died in 1816; she was 75.

In 1761 when Eleanor “Nellie” was 20, she married John DUNKIN, son of Thomas DUNKIN (-1756) & Elizabeth ALEXANDER (1709-), in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Born circa 1742 in Chester County, Pennsylvania. John died in Washington County, Virginia in 1818; he was 76.

Notes By Gregory K. Laughlin: 

The following was taken verbatim from "The Talbot - Garton Duncan - Laughlin Families," compiled by Otis Anderson, a copy of which he has kindly supplied to me. Otis has collected many more stories about Captain John Dunkin/Duncan, which I hope to make available in a future update of this site. He was a fascinating man who lived a life full of adventure. 

"Several years ago the writer was most fortunate in procuring a copy of the diary of Samuel Hervy Laughlin, born in 1799 and a grandson of Captain John Dunkin. The diary was written in 1845 by Laughlin, a well educated man, from details related by his mother and grandparents who were prisoners of the British in Canada during the Revolutionary War. The contents of this paper are the unedited words of James H. Laughlin, and a copy of the diary is filed in the Southwest Virginia Historical Society Archives at Clinch Valley College, Wise Virginia. 

Captain John Dunkin (1743-1818) settled in Elk Garden about 1769. He was an only son of Thomas. This Thomas Dunkin, in early life had immigrated from Scotland to Ireland, having married in Ireland, Elizabeth Alexander, (born about 1710) also of Scottish descent. About 1740 he immigrated to Pennsylvania, eventually settling in Lancaster County where he died in 1760, leaving a wife, one son and four daughters. 

Captain John Dunkin, subject of this sketch, married Eleanor Sharp, daughter of John Sharp, and sister of John, Jr., Thomas, and Benjamin Sharp, the latter a King's Mountain soldier. The Sharp family were also immigrants from Pennsylvania, settling near Wallace, in Washington County, Virginia before moving to Kentucky and westward. Captain Dunkin died on Spring Creek in Washington County, Virginia in 1818 and his wife Eleanor in 1816. 

The Sisters of Captain John Dunkin were Elizabeth who married Samuel Porter and lived at Castlewood in Russell County, Virginia. Martha who married Solomon Litton, lived at Elk Garden, Russell County. Mary Jane married James Laughlin, son of John and Mary Price Laughlin and lived in Washington County, Virginia. There was a younger sister, name , who married a Mr. Robinson in Russell County, Virginia, and returned to Pennsylvania. 

The Dunkin family claim descent from the "Good King Dunkin" of Scotland and contend the true patronymic name to be spelled "Dunkin" and not "Duncan". About 1765, this family, along with the Laughlins, Sharps, and Prices, and perhaps others, left Pennsylvania, first settling in Botetourt County, Virginia, and later immigrating to Washington and Russell Counties. 

By 1769, young John Dunkin, with his mother, his wife and children, three of whom were born before leaving Pennsylvania, had reached Elk Garden and here he was made first a Sergeant and later a Captain in the frontier militia of Washington County. He was very active in protecting the frontier against Indian forays from 1774 to 1778. When Powell Valley was evacuated in June 1776 because of the Cherokee war, he led a party of settlers and militia into the valley and guarded them while they brought out their personal property, which they had been unable to do because of the sudden evacuation of the valley. 

** From Jerry Jone, via e-mail received October 23, 1998: 

About 1749, John emigrated to Pennsylvania, eventually settling in Lancaster County. He settled in Elk Garden, Russell County, Virginia in 1769 ["Indian Atrocities along the Clinch, Powell, and Holston Rivers of Southwest Virginia, 1773-1774" researched and complied by Emory L. Hamilton]. 

In Orphans Court on February 1, 1763, petition of John Dunkin, eldest son & heir at law of Thomas Dunkin late of Sadsbury Twp in Lancaster Co., Yeoman, decd, that Thomas Duncan died intestate owning 127a in Sadsbury Twp and left several children, some of whom are yet minors, that petitioner is willing to pay the shares of the other children for the land; petition to appraise the land and determine if it could be divided among all the children without spoiling the whole. On March 1, 1763, the court declared: Ann Duncan, infant over 14, dau. of Thomas Duncan late of Sadsbury Twp, chose John Duncan her brother to be guardian; court appoints Andrew Moor of Sadsbury Twp to be guardian of Elizabeth Duncan and Martha Duncan, minor children under 14 of Thomas Duncan late of Sadsbury decd. Appraisal of land returned; it cannot be divided. [Mary Ann Dobson file-- Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Orphans Court Record]. 

About 1765, this family, along with the Laughlins, Sharps, Littons, and Prices, and probably other families left Pennsylvania and settled in Botetourt County, Virginia, near the town of Fincastle, later moving westward to Washington and Russell Counties ["Indian Atrocities along the Clinch, Powell, and Holston Rivers of Southwest Virginia, 1773-1774" researched and complied by Emory L. Hamilton]. 

After leaving Pennsylvania in 1769, he moved to Russell County, Virginia on the waters of Clinch River, and settled at a noted place called the Elk Gardens. This was the most remote northwesterly settlement of Virginia west of the Blue Ridge at that time. At Elk Garden he was appointed a Captain of Rangers by a Committee of Safety. This company was a small band of choice spirits, always ready as minute men and qualified by experience and bravery for defending a frontier settlement against the cunning and barbarity of Indian enemies. ["A Diary of Public Events and Notices of My Life and Family etc." by Samuel Hervey Laughlin, from Jan. 1 1845 to ---; file from Duncan Surname Association] 

Sgt. John Duncan, commanding fifteen men, including Jeremiah Price, manned the home station at Glade Hollow Fort sometime between 1766 and 1774. ["William King and Virginia Watkins, Their Ancestors and Descendants" by Maellen King Ford; file from Duncan Surname Association] 

Minutes of the Washington County Court on January 29, 1770 "ordered that Isaac Shelby, Robert Craig, John Dunkin and John Adair by recommended to his Excellency the Governor as proper persons to be added to the Commission of the Peace of Washington County." 

On May 5, 1773, John Duncan was added to the committee to find the best way for a horse road between Town House on the Holston and Castlewoods. The committee reported back to the court on July 6, 1773. The road was partially established, beginning at John Duncan's house in Elk Garden and going to the Town House. ["Twenty-one Southern Families: Notes and Genealogies" by Elizabeth Pryor Harper, 1985, page 76] 

Capt. Dunkin lived in the New Garden section of Russell County, Virginia at the time of his capture by the British. He had served as a militia officer on the Clinch since at least 1774, and in 1776 led troops of soldiers to Powell Valley to help people who had evacuated the valley because of Indians, bringing in their belongings. He later moved to Abingdon, Spring Creek, where he died. ["James Litton, 'The Wayfaring Stranger'" by Dorothy Gable, 1964, page 181+; file from Duncan Surname Association] 

In June, 1776, just prior to the outbreak of the Cherokee War, Captain Dunkin led a party of militia and settlers into Powell Valley. "Captain Dunkin and his little faithful band, frequently went out and remained for different periods on tours of duty protecting the settlers in this valley and on the road. On one of these tours, he and his company fell in with a band of Indians whom they instantly attacked, killing four and wounding a fifth. They followed the wounded Indian some distance to a place where he had entered a cave. Captain Joseph Martin was along, having with other Rangers, met Captain Dunkin, when it was agreed between the two, that while others kept guard outside, they would enter the cave and take the Indian or kill him. They entered, each with a blazing torch in one hand and a pistol in the other, cocked and primed. After going in sixty or seventy yards, Captain Dunkin saw the Indian's eyes shining in the distance, and take deliberate aim, not knowing that the Indian had a gun, and supposing others to be with him, was so lucky as to shoot him right through the head." ["Indian Atrocities along the Clinch, Powell, and Holston Rivers of Southwest Virginia, 1773-1774" researched and complied by Emory L. Hamilton]. 

In January, 1777, John Duncan was named as one of the appraisers of the estate of Isaac Chrisman. In February, 1777, John was recommended to the Governor as a proper person to be added to the Commission of the Peace. This Commission was similar to a committee of justices of the peace. Four or five of them would hold court together, and they were considered important men in the county. These courts did more than examine criminals, who were sent to Williamsburg for trial, if the evidence justified the expense. They set prices for food, lodging and liquor. They recommended to the governor names of militia officers, who he then commissioned. John Duncan was commissioned a Captain in 1777. 

On July 23, 1777, John Duncan was sworn in as justice of Peace and of the County Court in Chancery. He was present at court sessions November 1777, April 17778, and November 1778. In April, 1778, he was appointed to collect the tithables for the road from Two Big Springs on Copper Creek to the head of Mockison, and the road from Montgomery's old place through Mockison Gap to the North Fork (of the Holston River). ["William King and Virginia Watkins, Their Ancestors and Descendants" by Maellen King Ford; file from Duncan Surname Association] 

At a Court held for Washington County of February 26, 1777 "Ordered that John Campbell, James Montgomery, Robert Buchannan, John Dunkin, Gilbert Christian, James Shelby, John Kinkead, John Anderson, William Bowman, Robert Craig, and James Robertson, Gent. be recommended to his Excellency, the Governor as fit and proper persons for Captains of the Militia in the County of Washington." 
["Twenty-one Southern Families: Notes and Genealogies" by Elizabeth Pryor Harper, 1985, page 76] 

By 1777, Harrodsburg, Boone's Station, and St. Asaph's (Logan's Station) were established, but still depended on the Holston settlements for supplies. In the summer of 1777, the Indians carried on a long siege of these forts. Ammunition ran low, and there were not enough men to dislodge the Indians. Logan slipped out of his fort and took the news to the Holston. The militia responded with 100 men. Col. Bowman, with two companies under Capt. Henry Pauling and Capt. John Duncan, arrived at Boonesborough on August 1. Capt. Duncan was soon succeeded by Capt. Isaac Ruddell, who later moved to Kentucky and established Ruddell's station. With the settlements so strengthened, and winter approaching, the Indians finally gave up and went home. ["William King and Virginia Watkins, Their Ancestors and Descendants" by Maellen King Ford; file from Duncan Surname Association] 

On November 25, 1777, John Dunkin and John Kinkead were named as sureties in the sum of 200 lbs for the faithful administration of Henry Sword's estate. 

At a Court held for Washington County on November 26, 1777 "Ordered that James Laird be constable in Capt. Dunkin's Co. Ordered that William Robinson be overseer of the Road from Castle Run to the 2 springs that John Dunkin, Gent. give him a list of tithables." ["Twenty-one Southern Families: Notes and 
Genealogies" by Elizabeth Pryor Harper, 1985, page 76] 

In 1777, he went to Kentucky, raised corn and made improvements by erecting cabins in the fork between Hingston's and Stoner's forks of the Licking River. He had removed his mother and sister with him to Clinch. After thus preparing in Kentucky in 1777-78, he removed his family, including his aged mother and two sisters, Elizabeth and Martha, along with their husbands out from Clinch to Kentucky in 1779. John removed them because, for besides being the head of his own family, he was the commander and leader of the company of immigrants, though Porter and Litton and others went along, were men of enterprise and good soldiers and woodsmen. These two had farms also begun by improvements near Martin's Station. Martin's Station was on Stoner's River (a fork of Licking) five miles above its confluence with Hingston on Licking--Ruddles Station (pronounced Riddles) was three miles below the junction of the forks. Consequently the forts were eight miles apart. ["A Diary of Public Events and Notices of My Life and Family etc." by Samuel Hervey Laughlin, from Jan. 1 1845 to ---, pages 167-168; file from Duncan Surname Association] 

At the November 18, 1778 Court, John Duncan was named as one of the appraisers for the estate of John Barksdale. He, Samuel Porter, and Andrew Colvill were sureties in the sum of 600 pounds for the faithful administration of the estate by John Kinkead. John Duncan was also appraiser for the estate of Humphrey Dickinson. ["Twenty-one Southern Families: Notes and Genealogies" by Elizabeth Pryor Harper, 1985, page 76] 

In the spring of 1780, the British decided to destroy the army of John Rogers Clark, which had been causing them so much trouble in the Ohio Territory. Clark was thought to be at Louisville, so an expedition under Capt. Henry Byrd set out. Figures vary, but there were at least 150 British troops, 700 Indians, and several cannon in the expedition. The Indians insisted on first destroying the forts in central Kentucky, claiming they were a threat to their villages north of the Ohio River. So the army traveled up the Licking River to Ruddell's Station, a large fort containing about 300 people. The Indians had never been able to take a Kentucky fort, but when cannon fire knocked down the gate, the station was forced to surrender. Capt. Bird promised that if the men surrendered, the women and children would be allowed to go free. The terms were accepted, but the Indians ignored them. Many of the settlers were killed before the British could stop them. They also killed all of the livestock and burned the supplies of food. 

A week later on June 26, this army, with their prisoners, marched on Martin's Station, a much smaller fort with only about 50 people. Here were the John Duncan and Francis Berry family. Capt. Bird laid down the law to the Indians. Unless they promised that the British would have the prisoners and the Indians would have the loot, he would not use the cannon. The Indians knew they could not take the fort without the cannon, so they agreed. Martin's Station also surrendered. Burdened with prisoners and plunder, and being short of supplies, the expedition was cut short ["William King and Virginia Watkins, Their Ancestors and Descendants" by Maellen King Ford; file from Duncan Surname Association] 

"The prisoners taken at Martin's were united to the prisoners from Ruddle's. There was understood to be an agreement between the British and Indians, that the prisoners taken at Ruddle's should belong to the Indians, and those at Martin's to the British. The whole of the property of the Americans including their Negroes, were given to the Indians. My grandfather, John Dunkin, had ten or twelve likely Negroes, and a fine person property in stock and furniture, etc., of which he was altogether plundered. After the Treaty of Greenville I think he got back an old African woman named Dinah, and a boy. I remember Dinah on the Holston, but am not sure as to the boy. This robbery and captivity, reduced my grandfather to poverty. As I have hereto stated, nothing but a few rags of clothing was left to him or his family. (Samuel Hervey Laughlin's diary) ["Indian Atrocities along the Clinch, Powell, and Holston Rivers of Southwest Virginia, 1773-1774" researched and complied by Emory L. Hamilton]. 

There are no official figures of how many prisoners Bird started out with, but only 100 of them reached Detroit. Those who would not keep quiet or could not keep up were killed along the way. Chief Logan, whose family was murdered in 1774, was a member of the raiding party. Capt. Duncan had several conversations with him during the captivity. The conversations must have been friendly--Logan told him that he had two souls, the good one made him kind and humane, the bad one made him savage and cruel. From Detroit they were sent to Montreal to be held as prisoners of war until 1784. Benjamin Sharp said: "The families came to no harm." John Duncan, Jr., escaped from captivity and made his way to the American side in New York. 

According to a letter from Adelaide Berry Duncan to her son George: "As the prisoners were leaving Canada, they crossed Lake Ontario in a ship which was very crowded and manned by French-Canadian sailors. A storm arose and the sailors got frightened, and quit work. They started to pray, and cross themselves, when an Englishman, perhaps an officer, came on them and cursed and swore and ripped and tore around and kicked them, and made them get to work. Finally they got safely to land. Francis Berry laughed about it. Sarah Sharp said there were piles of feathers floating in the eddies on the lake shore that looked like white houses--the shedding of many waterfowls on the lake. As our ancestors were coming home they passed near Niagara Falls. All heard its roar and some of them men went to see it but the women and children were too weary to go. ["William King and Virginia Watkins, Their Ancestors and Descendants" by 
Maellen King Ford; file from Duncan Surname Association] 

On return from Canada the prisoners came by way of Lake Champlain, by Saratoga, the place where Burgoyne's surrender in 1777, down the Hudson by water and across through New Jersey to Philadelphia, at the final achievement of our national independence as they passed through that city, and of the kindness everywhere of the people to them on their journey. ["James Litton, 'The Wayfaring Stranger'" by Dorothy Gable, 1964, page 181+; file from Duncan Surname Association] 

Upon returning to Kentucky after being help captive in Canada, Capt. John Dunkin made the following statement: "June 26, 1780, I was taken from Licking Creek in Kentucky County by Captain Henry Bird of the 8th Regiment of his Majesty's forces in conjunction with about eight hundred Indians of different Nations--Viz. Mingoes, Delawares, Shawnees, Hurons, Ottaways, 'Taways and Chippeways. We marched from our village the 27th, being in number 129 men, women and children. We marched down Licking about 50 miles to the Ohio and from thence up ye Big Miami River about 170 miles to the Standing Stone, and from thence up said river to Larramie's (Lorimer's) Store 14 miles on the head of the Miami; and from thence across by land 18 miles to the Landing on the River Glaise--and from thence down said river passing a Taway village and to the mouth of said river about 80 miles at a small village to Miami Indians on the River Miami; from thence down said river about 40 miles to an Indian village called Rose de Boo--and from thence down said river about 18 miles to Lake Erie, where we went on board the Hope, mounted six pounders, Captain Graves, Commander; and so across the said lake to the mouth of Detroit River, and 18 miles up to the same to the fort and town of Detroit, which place we arrived at the 4th of August, 1780--where we were kept until the 24th when 33 of us were put on board the Gage, Captain Burnit commander, mounted 8 guns, and from thence to Fort Erie and thence in battles 18 miles down the River Niagara to Fort Slusher, at the head of the great fall--and from thence in wagons, 9 miles, where we again went in battles down said river to Fort Niagara at the mouth of said river on the 19th; and on the 5th of September we were again put on board the Ontario, Captain Cowan commander and so across the Lake Ontario to Carlton Island on the 8th, and on the 10th we sent off down the long Sac and into Sandijest Lake, and so down Rapids into Grand River and through a small lake and so the Lasheen. From thence by land 9 miles to Montreal on the 14th of September, 1780, and on the 17th we were sent into Grant's Island and remained there until the 25th of October, when we were again taken back into Montreal and billeted in St. Lawrence suburbs. I was put in confinement in the Long Gaol (???gh) September 1st, and remained in close confinement until the 17th day of October, when I was permitted to go and live with my family with the privilege of walking the town and suburbs." ["Destruction of Ruddle's and Martin's Forts in the Revolutionary War" by Maude Ward Lafferty, The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, Vol. 54, No. 189, Oct. 1956, page 312] 

An unfactual story states that John Dunkin and Soloman Litton all were captured by Indians and taken to near Detroit as prisoners. Soloman's wife, learning of this, journeyed and solicited the help of Daniel Boone and others to secure their release. After quite an ordeal, Boone's party liberated the group of men, some of which returned to Kentucky with him. It is said that Capt. Dunkin and Soloman Litton remained in Detroit through the winter and returned to the Clinch in the spring of 1781. During his absence, not having word from the family, and believing them to still be prisoners of the enemy in Canada, James Laughlin and John Litton (his kinsmen) were appointed guardians of the estates of John Dunkin and Soloman Litton on March 20, 1781, according to the Washington County, Virginia records. At a Court held for Washington County on May 15, 1781, and inventory and appraisement of the estate of John Duncan was recorded. ["A Diary of Public Events and Notices of My Life and Family etc." by Samuel Hervey Laughlin, from Jan. 1 1845 to ---, page 174; file from Duncan Surname Association] 

After the war was over, the Duncans and Berrys returned to the Holston area. They had lost their land, their possessions, and their slaves. They were never repaid for their losses. ["William King and Virginia Watkins, Their Ancestors and Descendants" by Maellen King Ford; file from Duncan Surname Association] 

"My grandfather (Captain Dunkin) considered Ruddle, not Riddle as the name is commonly written, as a bad man. When confined on parole, or in close prison at Montreal, he often saw Ruddle, who was his senior officer in the station when it surrendered, walking the streets, finely dressed, and under no restraint, or associating with the British officers." (Samuel Hervey Laughlin Diary) ["Indian Atrocities along the Clinch, Powell, and Holston Rivers of Southwest Virginia, 1773-1774" researched and complied by Emory L. Hamilton]. 

At a Court held for Washington County on 20th Mar 1781 "On motion of James Litton and James Laughlin, and by consent and order of the Court, they were appointed Guardians of the estates of Capt. John Dunkin and Solomon Litton, prisoners of the enemy in Canada, and to use all their legal methods for saving and securing the said estates ..." ["Twenty-one Southern Families: Notes and Genealogies" by Elizabeth Pryor Harper, 1985, page 76] 

In 1786, Hawkins County was taken from Sullivan County, Tennessee. A Commission including Joseph Martin, James McNeil, John Duncan, William King, Evan Shelby, Samuel Smith, and John Scott were selected to find a site for the county courthouse. Apparently, they did nothing about it, and a new commission was named in 1795. 

In 1788, North Carolina held a state convention to consider ratification of the Federal Constitution. The conservative North Carolinians were not in favor of the Constitution as it stood, and hoped a refusal to ratify would force Congress to add the Bill of Rights and other amendments. Three of the representatives from Sullivan County were Joseph Martin, John Sharp, and John Duncan. Martin did not vote, but Sharp and Duncan voted no, and the Constitution was not ratified by North Carolina until another convention was held in 1789. ["William King and Virginia Watkins, Their Ancestors and Descendants" by Maellen King Ford; file from Duncan Surname Association] 

John Dunkin s will stated: John Dunken of Washington Co. VA, weak in body, ... executors should sell my personal property all and singular at twelve months credit the product to be disposed of as hereinafter mentioned. ... daughter Sally Laughlin, $100; daughter Elenoar Campbell, $50; balance divided among my nine children, to wit, Betsy Laughlin, John Dunken, Peggy Laughlin, Joseph Dunkin, Polly Hignite, Sally Laughlin, Ann Martin, Faithful Lock and Elenor Campbell. Executors to convey to John Laughlin the track of land on which I now live in compliance with a bond given by me to the said Laughlin for that purpose. Appoint my beloved friends Stanton Pemberton and Jonathan King executors. Dated October 2, 1817. /s/ John Dunken. Wit. Thomas McChesney, John Sharp, Jonathan King. Recorded 27 October 1817. Security for executors by Thos. McChesney. [Mary Ann Dobson file-- Washington Co. VA, District Court Record of 
Deeds book B, vol. 8, pg. 418]. 

John Dunkin was described as a "taciturn, serious and rather melancholy man. He was a large stout man and in his tougher days and until his spirit was broken and his health impaired by his Canadian captivity, and the loss of his property, had been a man of great vigor of mind and body, and fond of hazardous and arduous enterprise." ["James Litton, 'The Wayfaring Stranger'" by Dorothy Gable, 1964, page 181+; file from Duncan Surname Association] 

Information from Dick Buckard gives death date as 6-August-1818 in Whitley Co., Kentucky. 

From Proceedings and Debates of the Convention of North-Carolina, Convened at Hillsborough, on Monday the 21st Day of July, 1788, for the Purpose of deliberating and determining on the Constitution recommended by the General Convention at Philadelphia, the 17th Day of September, 1787, Edenton, 1789: 

On Friday, August 1, 1788, the convention met according to adjournment, and voted on a motion "on behalf of the state of North-Carolina, and the good people thereof, and by virtue of the authority to them delegated," to ratify "the constitution proposed for the future government of the United States of America by the federal convention, lately held at Philadelphia, on the 17th day of September last." On a voice, vote the motion failed. The delegates were then polled, with the "Iohn Dunkin" and "Iohn Sharpe" listed as nays. Coincidently, also listed among the nays was a Richard Nixon. As the president's ancestor lived in North Carolina during this period, perhaps our ancestors served with his at this convention. See Proceedings, pp. 276-79.
-----
Note: The following file was copied from the DUNKIN file drawer at the John Fox, Jr., Library, Paris, Kentucky, by Robert E. Francis, June, 2000.

INDIAN ATROCITIES ALONG THE CLINCH, POWELL AND HOLSTON RIVERS OF SOUTHWEST
VIRGINIA 1773 - 1794

Researched and Compiled by Emory L. Hamilton 1965 to 1971

LITTON, DUNKIN, AND PORTER FAMILIES CAPTURED

Captain John Dunkin, who settled in the Elk Garden in 1769, was an only son of Thomas Dunkin. Thomas Dunkin in early life emigrated from Scotland to Ireland, having married in Ireland, Elizabeth Alexander, also of Scottish descent. About 1740 he emigrated to Pennsylvania, eventually settling in Lancaster County, where he died in 1760, leaving one son, and four daughters, viz:

John Dunkin, subject of this sketch, who married Eleanor Sharp, daughter of John Sharp, and sister of John, Thomas and Colonel Benjamin Sharp, who also came from Pennsylvania and settled in Washington Co., Va. Captain John Dunkin died an Spring Creek in Washington Co., in 1818, and his wife Eleanor, at the same place in 1816.

Elizabeth Porter who married Samuel Porter and lived at Castlewood.

Martha Dunkin who married Solomon Litton and lived and died in the Elk Garden, Russell Co., Va.

Mary Jane Dunkin who married James Laughlin, (brother of John Laughlin who married Mary Price), and lived in Washington Co., Va.

The youngest sister whose name is not known, but who married a Mr. Robinson or Robertson, in Russell Co., and who took her back to Pennsylvania whence he had come.

This family of Dunkin claim descent from "Good King Dunkin" of Scotland, and claim the true patronomic name to be spelled Dunkin, and Duncan. About 1765, this family, along with the Laughlins, Sharps, Littons and Prices, and probably other families left Pennsylvania and settled in Botetourt Co., Va., near the town of Fincastle, later moving westward to Washington and Russell Counties.

By 1769, young John Dunkin, with his aged mother, wife and children, three of whom were born before leaving Pennsylvania, had reached Elk Garden and established a home on the extreme frontier of Virginia. Here in 1774 he was appointed a Captain by the Committee of Safety and was active in protecting the frontier against Indian attacks from 1774 to 1778.

When Powell Valley was evacuated in June of 1776, just prior to the outbreak of the Cherokee War, Captain Dunkin led a party of militia and settlers into Powell Valley and guarded them while they brought out their personal possessions which they had to leave behind because of the sudden evacuation of the valley.

Samuel H. Laughlin, grandson of Captain Dunkin; born in 1799, states:

"....Further to the northwest where Powells Valley had begun to be settled, in what is now Lee County, Va., the Indians were in the habit of murdering travelers. Before the settlement had become permanent, the great buffalo trace to Kentucky, or that part of Virginia forming Kentucky by way of Cumberland Gap, from 1766 to 1776, was a route for hunters and adventurous explorers, on which numerous murders and robberies were committed by various tribes of Indians, but mostly Cherokee and Shawnee.

"Captain Dunkin and his little faithful band, frequently went out and remained for different periods on tours of duty protecting the settlers in this valley and on the road. On one of these tours, he and his company fell in with a band of Indians whom they instantly attacked, killing four and wounding a fifth. They followed the wounded Indian some distance to a place where he had entered a cave. Captain Joseph Martin was along, having with other Rangers, met Captain Dunkin, when it was agreed between the two, that while others kept guard outside, they would enter the cave and take the Indian or kill him.

"They entered, each with a blazing torch in one hand and a pistol in the other, cocked and primed. After going in sixty or seventy yards, Captain Dunkin saw the Indian's eyes shining in the distance, and taking deliberate aim, not knowing that the Indian had a gun, and supposing others to be with him, was so lucky as to shoot him right through the head.

"In the year 1777 he vent to Kentucky, raised corn, and made improvements by raising a cabin in the forks between Hingstons and Starters Forks of Licking River. After thus preparing in Kentucky in 1777, 1778, he moved his family, including his aged mother and two sisters and their husbands, Samuel Porter and Salomon Litton, out from Clinch to Kentucky in 1779. I say he moved them, for besides being the head of his family, he was the Commander and leader of the emigrants, though Porter and Litton, and others who went along, were men of enterprise and good soldiers and woodsmen. These two (Porter and Litton) had farms also begun by  improvements near Martin's Station. Martin's Station was on Stoner's River (or fork of Licking) five miles above its confluence with Hingstons or Licking River. Ruddle's Station (pro- nounced Riddle's) was three miles below the junction or forks, consequently the forts were eight miles apart.

"The winter of 1779-80 was unusually severe, and is remembered in the history of the time, and traditionally as the "hard-winter". The rivers and streams were all frozen up. Cattle and domestic animals died by the hundreds and thousands, as doubtless did the wild game. Wild meat when it could be procured by the border settlers was very poor, and the corn and grain were early consumed, and the people put to great straits to procure subsistence of any sort, however common or coarse. Settlers were reduced to the very point of starvation, so much so that they were compelled to live on the most unwholesome meats without bread. Many families traveling out to Kentucky by way of Cumberland Gap and the Wilderness were compelled to encamp, erect huts as temporary camps were called, and such other shelter as they could obtain, and subsisted on the dead carcasses of their cattle, sheep, etc., as died from the effects of the weather and want.

"When the spring of 1780 was ushered in there was an unusual bustle among the new settlers of Kentucky. They had the finest lands in the world to cultivate, much of it easily cleared so as to fit it with corn crops, potatoes, etc. The previous winter had admonished them of the necessity of making as much provisions for the next winter as possible. In the spring there seemed to be but little danger from the Indians. In the vicinity of the forts, the planters pitched or planted large crops, and everything seemed to smile and promise future prosperity. They seemed to be removed from the constant dangers and troubles, which the Revolutionary War still in progress, brought to the neighborhoods and doors of their brethern in all the country east of the mountains.

"Early the crops of corn began to ripen and heaven seemed to be suspending the cornucopia over the famished land. There was a smile on every man's countenance, as he looked out upon the luminescence of the graving Indian corn. There was happiness and security in the forts. Happiness there really was and security there seemed to be, where they all lived, each fort like a great family. While living there in snug and fancied security, they sang their domestice (sic) to deums (sic) around blazing wood fires, around which were placed innumerable rich roasting ears of corn arranged at proper distances and positions for being nicely roasted. While this happy sylvan state of things existed upon this fair frontier, Colonel Byrd was busily engaged at Detroit, plotting their destruction in combination with the Northern nation of Indians in alliance with Great Brittain in our Revolutionary War - a conspiracy against the peace and happiness of these unoffending frontier settlers which was soon to turn all their rejoicing and supposed security into a scene of sorrow and mourning.

"In or about the first of June, 1780, Colonel Byrd, a British officer, collected a body of 600 Canadians and Indians, at or near Detroit, and after marching by land to the great Miami where it was navigable,they took canoes, boats, pirogues, etc., and floated down that river to the Ohio. They roved up the latter river to the mouth of Licking, opposite to where Cincinnati now stands, and on the banks of which at its mouth now stands the two thriving towns of Newport and Covington; thence up the Licking to the mouth of the south fork of that river, a short distance below Ruddle's Station and thence by land. On the 22nd of June, they appeared suddenly before Ruddle's Station, as if they had fallen from the clouds or rose out of the ground by enchantment. The people of the fort hastily closed their gates and began to prepare for defense, but the show of artillery and the overwhelming number of the enemy appalled the stoutest hearts. They therefore surrendered on pledges of personal safety from the Indians, but the whole of their property was given up to the plunder and rapine of the savages. After the fort was sacked, and the march was commenced, many of the prisoners were forced to carry the spoils on their backs for their captors. Every kind of property was taken.

"Hearing the roar of artillery at Martin's Station which greatly surprised the people, two runners, a man named McGuire, and Thomas Berry, a relation of my grandmother, were dispatched to ascertain what was the matter at Ruddles Fort. They were met on the way by the enemy, and on attempting to retreat were fired on. McGuire's horse was killed and he taken prisoner. Berry escaped back to the fort. On his report the best preparation for defense was made which the time permitted. On the next day (June 23rd), the enemy appeared before the fort and summoned them to surrender, and they were notified that if they did not surrender, that the Indians would be let loose upon them to deal with as they pleased. They surrendered without firing a gun. (Withers in his Border Wars says that Colonel Byrd took pain and had to exert all his authority to save the prisoners from slaughter).

"The prisoners taken at Martin's were united to the prisoners from Ruddle's. There was understood to be an agreement between the British and Indians, that the prisoners taken at Ruddle's should belong to the Indians, and those at Martin's to the British. The whole of the property of the Americans including their Negroes, were given to the Indians. My grandfather, John Dunkin, had ten or twelve likely Negroes, and a fine personal property in stock and furniture, etc., of which he was altogether plundered. After the Treaty of Greenville I think he got back an old African woman named Dinah, and a boy. I remember Dinah on the Holston, but am not sure as to the boy. This robbery and captivity, reduced my grandfather to poverty. As I have hereto stated, nothing but a few rags of clothing was left to him or his family.

"The prisoners were all taken down the Licking River by the route by which the British had ascended, to the Ohio; down that river to the mouth of the Great Miami, up that river as far as navigable, and thence to Detroit; and thence to Montreal. My grandfather and my mother, who was old enough to remember, often described to me the sight of the falls of Niagara as they passed round by a portage on their way to Detroit. My mother used, in recounting these adventures to myself and my brothers, to dwell upon the hardships of the whole journey from Kentucky.

"When the march was first commenced my grandfather carried one of his children. All packed what few clothes were allowed them. He said the British treated them humanely. The Indians who had the Ruddle's Fort prisoners, sold most or all of them to the British for trifles. The British wanted them to exchange for their own prisoners, them in possession of our armies in the then colonies.

"I do not know, nor do I remember from the realtions (sic) of my grandfather, or from the statements of my mother, or her older sister, Aunt Betty Laughlin, whether all the prisoners were carried down to Montreal. My grandfather was however, with his family, and a letter from Uncle Benjamin Sharp gives the reason why he was imprisioned in jail while at that place. His eldest son, John Dunkin made his escape from the British in Montreal, and his father, who was known to have been a soldier and officer of standing, was suspected of having aided his son to escape and carry communications across the wilderness through New York to General Washington's army. Major Sharp says that Uncle John and another had agreed to make their escape together; the young man's heart failed and after they started he went back. Not so says Major Sharp with little Dunkin. He made his way through the wilderness and over rivers to General Washington's army, the headquarters being then, perhaps in Pennsylvania, and reported himself to General Washington, by whom he was well provided for until his father and family were exchanged, and met him in Pennsylvania, on their return home, they having come through western New York and Philadelphia, and thence through Pennsylvania and Maryland and to that part of Washington Co. in western Virginia, where, or nearly where he had moved from when he went to Kentucky, and there he continued to live for the remainder of his life. After his return he never went back to Kentucky to look after his lands and improvements, and thereby lost a "head-right" to one of the best tracts of land on Licking River.

"My great-grandmother, the mother of my grandfather Dunkin, came from Pennsylvania with him, removed to Kentucky with him, was a prisoner with him in Canada, and returned to Holston with him, being seventy when captured, and lived for many years after their return.

"On return from Canada the prisoners came by was Lake Champlain, by Saratoga, the place of Burgoyne's surrender in 1777, down the Hudson by water and across through New Jersey to Philadelphia. My mother has often told of the astonishing scenes of rejoicing witnessed as they passed through the city, and of the kindness everywhere of the people to them on their journey.

"My grandfather considered Ruddle, not Riddle as the name is commonly written, as a bad man. When confined on parole, or in close prison at Montreal, he often saw Ruddle, who was his senior officer in the station when it surrendered, walking the streets, finely dressed, and under no restraint, or associating with the British officers.

"On the march to Canada and at Detroit and Montreal, he often saw among the Indians, and associating with the British officers of rank, that renegade and incarnate devil, Simon Girty. This demon in human shape dealt largely in the scalps of American men, women and children, bought and paid for by the British authorities. Girty's influence among the Indians was very great. In history, his name descends enbalmed in the execrations of all mankind.

"My grandfather Dunkin, ever after I knew him, was a rather taciturn, serious and rather melancholy man. He was a large, stout man, and in his younger days, and until his spirit was broken and his health impaired by his Canadian captivity, and the loss of his property, had been a man of great, vigor of mind and body, and fond of hazardous and arduous enterprise."

The exact date the prisoners returned to the Clinch and Holston is not known, but Solomon Litton, Jr., on the 1850 census of Russell Co., Va. lists the year of his birth as 1783 and the place of his birth as "Detroit". This being so, they then were held prisoner some three years or more.

The children of Captain John Dunkin (1743-1818) and his wife, Eleanor

Sharp, who died in 1816, were:

1. Elizabeth Dunkin who married Thomas Laughlin.
2. John Dunkin, Jr., married Mary "Polly" Laughlin, daughter of John Laughlin.
3. Mary "Polly" Dunkin married James Hignight, who died in Powell Valley, eight miles from Cumberland Gap.
4. Faithful Dunkin who married Abraham Locke and lived in Chariton Co., Mo.
5. Eleanor Dunkin married Samuel Campbell. Lived in Chariton Co., Mo.
6. Anne Dunkin married William Martin. Lived-in Missouri.
T. Joseph Dunkin married Ann Laughlin, daughter of James Laughlin, and lived in Coffee Co. , Tenn.
8. Peggy Dunkin married John Laughlin, called "Big John" and son of James Laughlin. -
9. Sarah Dunkin married John Laughlin, son of John Laughlin, Sr., and brother to Polly Laughlin who married John Dunkin, Jr.

As previously stated, when John Dunkin moved to Elk Garden he was accompanied by his widowed mother and four sisters. These sisters were:

1. Elizabeth Dunkin who married Samuel Porter, and was a prisoner in Canada. After returning from Canada they lived and died near Temple Hill in Castlewood. His children were:

1. James Porter
2. Thomas Porter
3. Hugh Porter
4. Samuel Porter
5. John Porter
6. Martha "Peggy" Porter married a Mr. Dickenson of Castlewood.
7. Tabitha Porter who married a Mr. Smyth

Some of Samuel and Elizabeth Porter's sons moved to Rutherford Co., Tenn., and at least two became Methodist ministers.

2. Martha Dunkin married Solomon Litton, and after their return from captivity lived and died in the Elk Garden of Russell Co., Va.

Their children were:

a. John Litton
b. Thomas Litton
c. Burton Litton
d. Solomon Litton, Jr.
e. Elizabeth Litton
f. Hiram Litton
g. James Litton
h. Mary Litton
i. Alexander Litton
j. Caleb Litton
k. Jennie Litton

3. Mary Jane "Polly" Dunkin who married James Laugh1in, a brother of John Laughlin who married Mary Price. This couple lived and perhaps died at the mouth of Spring Creek in Washington Co., Va.

The fourth and youngest sister of Captain John Dunkin, whose name is not known, married a Mr. Robinson or Robertson in Russell Co., Va. and returned with him to Lancaster Co., Penn., from whence he had come to Russell County.

The Laughlin family had probably emigrated from Ireland at the same time Thomas Dunkin came over. John Laughlin emigrated from County Down, Ireland, and arrived at Philadelphia, in 1740, with three sons and three daughters. He also emigrated with the Dunkins, Sharp, Price, and other families from Pennsylvania to Botetourt Co., Va., and the family scattered from there to Washington and Russell Counties. I do not know the name of the wife of John Laughlin, the emigrant, but his children were:

John Laughlin, Jr., who was about 16 when they arrived in Pennsylvania. He married Mary Price before leaving Pennsylvania. The other two sons were: Alexander Laughlin and James Laughlin, the latter dying in Washington Co., Va., around 1831. The daughters were: Jane Laughlin who married Richard Price and lived in Elk Garden. Elizabeth Laughlin who married John Sharp, brother of Captain John Dunkin's wife Eleanor Sharp, and moved to Missouri. Margaret Laughlin who married Samuel Vance. Vance died near Abingdon about 1834, at the age of around 90 years.

The children of John, Jr., and Maxy Price Laughlin were:

John Laughlin, born November 4, 1766 and married Sarah Dunkin, born September 3, 1773.

Alexander Laughlin the youngest son, married Levina King of Washington Co. , Va, and lived in Coles Co. , Ill.

Thomas Laughlin married Elizabeth Dunkin and lived in Whitley Co., Ky. where he died about 1844.

Hanna Laughlin, the youngest child, married William Early and lived in Whitley Co., Ky.

Jane Laughlin married Samuel McGaughey and lived in Alabama.

Sally Laughlin married Robert Boyd of Blount Co., Tennessee.

Martha Laughlin married George Singleton, moved to Whitley Co., Tn., and from there to Louisiana.

A daughter whose name is unknown married William McFerrin and lived in Tennessee.

After returning from imprisonment in Canada, Colonel Arthur Campbell, Militia Commandant for Washington Co., brought courts martial charges against Samuel Porter, accusing him of adhering to the enemy cause while a prisoner in Canada. None other than that staunch patriot Captain, later General William Russell went to the defense of Porter in a letter which may be found in the Campbell-Preston Papers, Volume 3, Reel 3. Item 392. wherein he writes-to the Governor of Virginia:

"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 had lived ever since the year sixty nine (1769), in credit and esteeming his neighbors, and all who knew him considered and 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 (sic) 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 all his neighbors and acquaintenances.

"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 enquiry thereto, perhaps by the convenancy 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 any support of bread but what the generosity of the neighborhood furnished.

"Thus circumstanced, Sir, the pore (sic) man has continued attending two courts for trial by Colonel Campbell's direction; yet wood (sic) not suffer the injuiry to take place, and did last court pass over it without fixing on a time for that purpose or assigning his reasons for so doing. Having always been led to think, with the rest of Porter's acquaintenances in this country that he is unjustly charged, and being his security for appearance, I have advised him to wait upon your Excellency to pray your further attention to his case; to direct his trial in a reasonable time, to grant him any other indulgence which from the nature of the times, your Excellency may in wisdom judge right. Pardon me, Sir, to say, I fear Colonel Campbell's present close attention to affect a new state in this country will engage his time to the neglect of any individual among us. I am, with due respect, your Excelliencies most obedient and very humble servant

W. R. Russell

NOTE: The story of the capture of the foregoing families is from the personal diary of James H. Laughlin written in 1845, photo copy of which is in the Historical Archives, Clinch Valley College, Wise, Virginia.
NOTE:  At the above time Colonel Campbell was busily engaged in trying to create a new and separate state in Southwest Virginia and one can easily follow his efforts in this through the Calendar of Va. State Papers. The charges against Porter apparently never amounted to a conviction.

They had the following children:
	6	i.	Elizabeth (1762-1850)
	7	ii.	John Thomas (1765-1832)
		iii.	Margaret “Peggy”. Born in 1767. Margaret “Peggy” died in 1819; she was 52.
			Margaret “Peggy” married John “Abe” LAUGHLIN, son of James LAUGHLIN & Mary Jane DUNKIN.
	8	iv.	Joseph (1769-1847)
		v.	Sarah “Sally”. Born on September 3, 1773. Sarah “Sally” died on November 5, 1843; she was 70.
			On September 3, 1793 when Sarah “Sally” was 20, she married John LAUGHLIN Jr., son of John LAUGHLIN & Mary PRICE. Born on November 4, 1766.
		vi.	Anne. Born in 1775. Anne died in Livingston County, Missouri after 1851; she was 76.
			In 1796 when Anne was 21, she married William MARTIN, in Washington County, Virginia.
		vii.	Faithful. Born on March 18, 1778. Faithful died in Chariton County, Missouri on November 20, 1845; she was 67.
			Faithful married Abraham LOCKE.
		viii.	Eleanor. Born in 1780 in Canada.
			On August 29, 1805 when Eleanor was 25, she married Samuel CAMPBELL, in Washington County, Virginia.

			A brother to the famous Colonel William Campbell. [3]
		ix.	Mary “Polly”.
			Mary died in Powell Valley, 8 miles from the Cumberland Gap. [3]

			Mary “Polly” married James HIGNIGHT (HIGNIBE?).

4. Elizabeth SHARP. Born on October 3, 1749 in Pennsylvania. Elizabeth died on July 27, 1827; she was 77.

On March 9, 1775 when Elizabeth was 25, she married William KING, son of Edward KING (1720-1790) & Elizabeth NICHOLS (ca1728-1808). Born on August 1, 1752 in Pennsylvania. William died in Holston River, Sullivan County, Tennessee on November 5, 1840; he was 88.

They had the following children:
		i.	Margaret “Peggy”. Born on February 15, 1786.
			In 1803 when Margaret “Peggy” was 16, she married Benjamin BERRY, son of Francis BERRY (1754-<1819) & Sarah “Sallie” SHARP (5) (1754-1834). Born on January 30, 1785.
		ii.	Isaac Newton [4]. Born on March 13, 1777 in Virginia. Isaac Newton died in Whitley County, Kentucky on March 2, 1862; he was 84.
			On March 1, 1808 when Isaac Newton was 30, he married Sarah Jane LAUGHLIN, daughter of Thomas Price LAUGHLIN (1763-1844) & Elizabeth DUNKIN (6) (1762-1850), in Knox County, Kentucky. Born on December 3, 1788. Sarah Jane died on February 4, 1864; she was 75.

5. Sarah “Sallie” SHARP. Born on January 18, 1754 in Pennsylvania. Sarah “Sallie” died in Whitley County, Kentucky on May 13, 1834; she was 80. Buried in Whitley County, Kentucky.

about 1775 when Sarah “Sallie” was 20, she married Francis BERRY [1], in Virginia. Born in 1754-1755 in England. Francis died before October 8, 1819; he was 65.   Revolutionary War.

Francis Berry and Sarah Sharp were taken captive on June 26, 1780, at Martin’s Station.
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ACCOUNT OF OUR ANCESTORS ON TRIP TO CANADA AS WAR PRISONERS by Mrs. Adelaide Berry Duncan

Written to her youngest son, George Duncan

September 11, 1893

Dear George: Your papa's grandfather and grandmother, John and Nellie Duncan, and grandfather and grandmother, Frank and Sally Berry moved from Virginia during the Revolutionary War to Kentucky. I don't know just where, but it was somewhere in the best part of the state. There was quite a little colony of them but I do not know the names of any except these families. They took up claims of land and complied with what was necessary to secure their claims. I don't know what it was nor how long they had been there til they were compelled to move for safety to a fort or blockhouse where they were taken by British officers and soldiers who had Indians with them to whom the British gave all their household goods except two suits of clothes and two blankets to each man and the same to each woman.

I remember hearing my grandmother tell how the Indians would toss the pillows in the air after they had ripped the ticking to make the feathers fly in the wind and how they would laugh. They wanted the cloth but not the feathers.

They then started on their march to Detroit, where they stayed awhile and then on to Montreal where they stayed until peace was declared. They were liberated to get back as best they could. There was one family along who had a young woman, a daughter who complained of a toothache for some weeks. When someone examined her mouth, they found a cancer had eaten through her cheek, all but the skin. She died soon after and the officers only allowed them to stop long enough to pile up a few rocks on her body. Charles Gatliffe was the father's name. He came back to Kentucky and I saw him after he was eighty years of age. I also saw two of his daughters, Betsy Martin and Sally Feris. I also saw his sons, Moses, Aaron, Reece, Jim and Cornelius. I suppose Joe remembers having seen one of his grandsons, Charles Gatliffe, who moved to Missouri a short time before we left Iowa for Princeton. His wife was papa's cousin, Polly Early, and your Uncle Harvey Green married their daughter, Lillian.

I heard my grandmother say she saw the Indians kill two children. It was very cold for part of their journey and once when a great fire of logs was burning where they camped, an Indian picked up a child that was standing near and threw it on the fire. No one dared to try to get it out. On another occasion, a woman was carrying a little babe and she was almost exhausted when an Indian jerked it from her arms and thrust his tomahawk in its head and threw the child to one side of the road and drove her on.

While they were in Montreal, the men were made to repair the English ships and the women cooked and washed for the English officers. On one occasion, the men found a case of wine on the ship and drank the wine. The officers put them in prison or the guard house and my grandmother Berry went to the guard house and begged for their release until they were released. I don't know what their punishment would have been.

I don't know if any of the young men were put on the English ships to make them fight against their own country or not. Your Grandfather Duncan and four other young men were going to be put on a man-of-war in the morning and your grandfather's oldest sister baked bread and fixed up some provisions. They stole a canoe and crossed the St. Lawrence to the American side and got away. They traveled through the hostile Indian country til they reached the settlement in Pennsylvania. On the outskirts of the settlement they found a deserted place, an iron pot, and a potato patch. I heard your father tell how they boiled potatoes and ate with such appetites. Your Grandmother Duncan told me that their friends did not know, til after peace and they returned from Montreal whether these young men were drowned in the St. Lawrence, whether they were killed by Indians, whether they were lost in the wilderness and perished, or whether they were safe. She did not know the name of a single one of her husband's companions and I never heard her say who they were. I am sorry I did not ask your Uncle Harve Duncan for he may have known. I do not know whether there was any fighting at the fort or not in Kentucky or whether they surrendered to the greater number without fighting.

All the way, I can approximate the time they moved from Virginia to Kentucky. My Grandfather Berry fought in the battle at King's Mountain and he was also a scout before they moved to Kentucky. After my papa got to practicing law, he got a pension from a Duncan McFarland who was a scout with my grandfather. I remember how the hair seemed to stand on my head as I lay in my trundle bed and listened to McFarland tell papa of their exploits. At one time, he and a Charlie Miller ran with the Indians after them thirty miles to a blockhouse.

As the prisoners were leaving Canada, they crossed some lake in a ship which was very crowded and manned by French-Canadian sailors. A storm arose and the sailors got frightened and quit work. They started to pray and cross themselves when an Englishman, perhaps an officer came on them and cursed and swore and ripped and tore around and kicked them and made them get to work. Finally, they got safely to land. I remember hearing grandfather tell of hearing his father laughing about it. Grandmother said there were piles of feathers-floating in the eddies of the lake shore that looked like white houses; the shedding of many waterfowls on the lake.

My Uncle Lewis Berry was born in Montreal. He died in the American Army in the War of 1812. As our ancestors were coming home, they passed the Niagara Falls. All heard its roar and some of the men went to see it but the women and children were too weary to go. They went back to Kentucky to where they had been captured and found men on their claims. Both your great grandfathers, John Duncan and Frank Berry, sued at law for their claims but lost their suit. Berry's long tongue made him say the judge was a perjured scoundrel. The judge sued him for slander and got judgement for eight hundred dollars.

Then, the poor-weary souls went back to Virginia where they had lived before they went to Kentucky and raised their families there.

Quite a number of the children afterwards moved to Whitley County, KY where your papa and I were born and raised and married. My Grandmother Berry, in her old age, also came there and died in 1834. 1 only remember of seeing your Grandfather Duncan twice. Alec Laughlin, your Papa's cousin, married in Whitley Co. and moved to Tennessee where Elinor Litton was born. He came back on a visit and stopped at his Uncle's (your Grandfather Duncan's) and they both came to Watt's Creek where my papa and your papa's Uncle Tommy Laughlin lived.

They stopped at our house and it was a hot day and your Aunt Candice and I had taken off our dresses and were running around in our chemises, which were long and long sleeved. They came on us unaware and we went to the back of the house and sat on a chest while they laughed at us. I remember how your grandfather looked. He was very much the make and size of your papa but his hair was black and I think his eyes were blue. I afterwards saw him riding past our house on a white horse. He wore a high bell crowned hat and a blue jeans frock coat. (I have seen the hat and coat after I was married and ridden the white mare whose name was Ginger.) He was a dear nephew to my grandmother and I know she loved him. I know my papa loved him too. He died from dry salivation caused by taking a dose of calomel measured out on a case knife blade by an old woman who had more confidence in herself then good sense. I remember when word came to us that Johnny Duncan was dying. My papa hurried off and took a handful of nails. Mama asked him what he did that for. He said to put in the coffin. Years afterwards, I learned that was an old country superstition but its meaning I never heard. He got there in time to write his will before he died and moved him after his death. He had been dead six years when your papa and I were married; that would have made his death to have occurred in 1832. Your papa and I lived with your Grandmother Duncan the first year after we were married and she loved to talk about him. She said he was a remarkably strong man for his size. When he was a young man, it was the custom for the neighbors to all unite and help each other cut small grain with sickles and the young women would do the cooking and sometimes they would go to the fields and use the sickles to good purpose. Then, each night they would have a dance. Your grandmother said your grandfather worked all day and danced all night for two days and two nights without sleep. I don't believe his sons or grandsons or great grandson could do that, even if they can ride a bicycle.

I don't know whether the Gatliff family moved from Virginia or Tennessee to Kentucky or not. I only know that they were together in their captivity. I don't know whether the British gave them any money to get home on or not. Grandfather Berry never paid the $800. He somehow got a farm in Sullivan County, Tennessee where his family was raised, but it was always in-the name of Billy King, grandmother sister's husband.' My papa said your Grandfather Duncan was so far gone when he got there he was in no condition to make a will, but your Uncle Harvey and Joe Duncan said for your grandmother's sake, to have it done to not add to her distress by breaking up her home by taking two thirds of everything, the farm, the Negroes, and dividing it amongst the children, as they knew your Uncle Joe Sullivan would insist on doing if there was no will. So, the will was written giving your grandmother everything, the farm, the Negroes and everything else as long as she lived and at her death all was to be equally divided amongst the children. I guess it was pretty hard for Sullivan not to try and break the will. After I was married, I heard your Aunt Mareissa say "the children ought to have had the little that was coming to them a long time ago." But he knew that your Uncle Harve and Joe would not give him any child's play if he undertook the law with them. They were the executors.

Well, as I am writing in order, seems I will shift the plot and go to Maine on the Kennebee River. One night, Lincoln Ryder was with us til bedtime and he and Lillie got to telling of their ancestors. Lillie started and made me tell of your grandfather's escape from Montreal. He told of one of his grandfather's straying too far from the settlement up the Kennebee and being captured by the Indians and kept about a year. They treated him kindly in their way and got to trusting him to some extent. On a cold day, when the river was frozen over, they were skating with Indian skates and after a while, had him try it. He was very awkward and stumbled and fell and gave them great amusement til he saw his chance. He then bid them good-bye and struck out down the river. He watched when none of then had their skates on and got away but they shot arrows at him and at his feet to entangle them with the arrows but he got away safely home.

At one time, there were four generations living at his father's house; a great-grandfather, his grandparents, his parents, and their children. His grandmother lived to be I think one hundred and four years old. The manager of the county fair had her put on the platform to exhibit herself after she was a hundred years' old. I heard my Papa tell of a man getting away from those who had him in custody and by the same kind of skating maneuver, but I think he was a criminal and got away from officers. Lillie wanted to know afterwards why I didn't tell my story . I told her I believed he was telling the truth and if I told my story, he would have thought perhaps that I did not believe him and was capping off one big story with another.

If I were back to ten or twelve years of age and knew more than I did then, how I would ply my grandmother and parents with questions.

I guess I will close my pioneer stories.- Nellie Duncan and Sally Berry were sisters. Sharp was their name before they were married.

Much love to all,

Mother.
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2nd Letter

Sunday P.M.

Sept.17, 1893

Dear George:

In looking over your letter, I find I did not answer all your questions. I don't know whether your Grandfather Duncan was much of a woodsman or not or whether he was much of a hunter for I think I would have heard talk of it if he had been.

Your grandmother's oldest brother, Tommy Laughlin, was a great hunter. His children used to sit on the woodpile when he went out with his gun and listen to hear a shot and then each would claim separate parts of the deer, such as the milt, the heart, the liver, or the ribs. Isaac King, his son-in-law, told this and he said he neglected his cornfield to hunt, like my papa did. I don't believe your Grandfather Duncan did this.

I don't know how long they were in the wilderness nor whether the family got together in Kentucky or not til after the old folks went back to Virginia.

Decatur Dryden's mother was the first child my Grandmother Berry had after her return from captivity and it may be he has heard her tell things she certainly heard her mother talk of.

Before our ancestors moved to Kentucky, they in Virginia, had to seek safety in a blockhouse. Your Grandmother Duncan told me this after I was married. She was a little girl and was drinking sweet sap, that was dripping from a sugar tree near her father's house. She had left one shoe and stocking in the house and a runner came galloping by calling out, "To the blockade house, the Indians are coming". Her father picked her up and poor lame man that he was, carried in her arms. By the time they got pretty near the blockhouse there was quite a crowd of neighbors. They stopped to drink at a little stream and your grandmother's little tin cup that had in her hand was all they had to drink out of. One woman pulled off her shoe and gave her children a drink out of it.

I do now know whether your Grandfather Duncan's family was in the blockhouse or not. My Grandfather and Grandmother Berry were; also Billy King whose wife was Betty Sharp before she was married.

There were five men killed by the Indians while they stayed in the blockhouse. They would go to their fields to get food and those inside would hear the shooting, and after a while, would go out and bring in their slain friends. They tied their feet together; also their hands and on a pole, then, two men would carry them. Your grandmother told of one poor German woman whose son Fritz was all the family she had. He was brought in that way. Your old grandmother would choke and stop, then with tears running down her cheeks, would tell how this poor woman would wring her hands and say, "Oh, my Fritz, my Fritz."

This Billy King was the one who afterwards held the deed to Grandfather Berry's farm. I heard Mama say he was as faithful as if grandmother's children had been his own, never took advantage of them. Your grandmother told me that one Sunday morning in the blockhouse, he dressed in his clean white flax linen pants and hunting shirt and laid the corner of his hunting shirt across his knee and took Isaac, his baby, on his knee. The baby had bowel complaint and stained his hunting shirt. He jumped up and tore around as if the Indians were after him.

my grandmother and his wife flew at him and got the baby away and the hunting shirt off him for he took out his knife and they had hard work to keep him from cutting off the corner that was so badly soiled. Did any of them ever think that any of their descendents would write this down more than a hundred years after it occurred. Your grandmother said to me, "Your grandmother was a beautiful women then

Isaac King moved to Whitley Co., Kentucky before my papa did and lived four miles from where I was raised.

I remember when I was a little girl of riding behind him to Williamsburg on a gib white stable horse. We were going to hear a Presbyterian preacher. I was going to ride behind Mama and Ellen Carr behind Papa when he said, "Put her behind me". I was so much afraid of him and of the horse too that it was anything but a "pleasant" ride to me. We crossed the Cumberland River, which was pretty full too.

Decatur Dryden's Grandmother Dryden was a Berry. I think my father's sister, but perhaps a cousin. Your Grandmother Duncan's mother was Polly Price before she was married to that lame weaver Jack Laughlin. She is the only one of your ancestors whose nationality I do not know. When your grandmother was a little girl, this Polly rode a fine young mare, that was a great favorite in the family, some miles to a neighbors and as she was coming home a bull that was roaming in the woods took after her and she ran the mare and got home safe. She wanted to keep the mare up til the bull left, but no, her husband turned her out, saying she would keep out of the bulls way. The next day, they found the mare dead -- gored to death by the bull.

They had the following children:
		i.	John Wesley. Born on June 20, 1776 in Virginia. John Wesley died in Whitley County, Kentucky on January 4, 1860; he was 83. Buried in Craig’s Chapel Cemetery, Whitley County, Kentucky.
			On September 20, 1804 when John Wesley was 28, he married Nancy Agnes CLARK, in Bourbon County, Kentucky.
		ii.	Isabelle. Born on March 10, 1778 in Virginia. Isabelle died on November 26, 1858; she was 80.
			Isabelle married James KING, son of Edward KING (1720-1790) & Elizabeth NICHOLS (ca1728-1808). Born in 1762.
		iii.	Lewis. Born on November 2, 1781 in Montreal, Canada.
		iv.	Benjamin. Born on January 30, 1785.
			In 1803 when Benjamin was 17, he married Margaret “Peggy” KING, daughter of William KING (1752-1840) & Elizabeth SHARP (4) (1749-1827). Born on February 15, 1786.
	9	v.	Elizabeth (1786-1865)
	10	vi.	Sally Sharp (1788-1874)
		vii.	Marie Ann.
		viii.	Ann.
	11	ix.	Francis (1791->1880)
		x.	Lucinda.
			Lucinda married OWENS.
	12	xi.	Dele Lafayette (1796-)
		xii.	Louisa.
			Louisa married Charles OWENS.

Fourth Generation 
_________________________________________
Family of Eleanor “Nellie” SHARP (3) & John DUNKIN

6. Elizabeth DUNKIN. Born on July 14, 1762. Elizabeth died in Whitley County, Kentucky on December 29, 1850; she was 88. Buried in Berry Cemetery, Whitley County, Kentucky.

about 1785 when Elizabeth was 22, she married Thomas Price LAUGHLIN [5], son of John LAUGHLIN & Mary PRICE, in Washington County, Virginia. Born on May 6, 1763. Thomas Price died in Whitley County, Kentucky on May 29, 1844; he was 81.   Revolutionary War.

They had the following children:
		i.	Sophia. Born on November 3, 1786. Sophia died in Laurel County, Kentucky on September 16, 1836; she was 49.
			On March 19, 1807 when Sophia was 20, she married Andrew CRAIG.
		ii.	Sarah Jane. Born on December 3, 1788. Sarah Jane died on February 4, 1864; she was 75.
			On March 1, 1808 when Sarah Jane was 19, she married Isaac Newton KING [4], son of William KING (1752-1840) & Elizabeth SHARP (4) (1749-1827), in Knox County, Kentucky. Born on March 13, 1777 in Virginia. Isaac Newton died in Whitley County, Kentucky on March 2, 1862; he was 84.
		iii.	Thomas. Born on March 30, 1791.
			Thomas married Nancy R. MADDY.
		iv.	Joseph D. Born on October 13, 1795. Joseph D. died in 1820; he was 24.
			Joseph D. married Jane DUNKIN.
		v.	Eliza. Born on June 1, 1798. Eliza died circa 1879; she was 80.
			In 1820 when Eliza was 21, she married Harvey Boyd DUNKIN, in Whitley County, Kentucky.
		vi.	Alexander. Born on March 7, 1801. Alexander died on February 18, 1865; he was 63.
			In 1826 when Alexander was 24, he married Ann H. MADDY.
		vii.	John S. Born on May 8, 1803. John S. died on April 16, 1878; he was 74.
		viii.	Elinor. Born on November 14, 1804. Elinor died on December 11, 1893; she was 89.
			On March 16, 1830 when Elinor was 25, she married Preston Clark BERRY.
		ix.	Green. Born on March 31, 1808. Green died on December 19, 1849; he was 41.
			In 1832 when Green was 23, he married Cynthia RODGERS.

7. John Thomas DUNKIN. Born on February 25, 1765 in Washington County, Virginia. John Thomas died in Whitley County, Kentucky on April 4, 1832; he was 67.

John Thomas married Mary “Polly” LAUGHLIN.

They had one child:
		i.	Dixon Sharp.
			Dixon Sharp married Adelaide BERRY, daughter of Dele Lafayette BERRY (12) (1796-) & Polly PORTERFIELD.

8. Joseph DUNCAN. Born on May 16, 1769 in Holston River Valley. Joseph died in Old Cave Spring, Near Hillsboro, Tennessee on May 16, 1847; he was 78.

Joseph married Ann LAUGHLIN, daughter of James LAUGHLIN & Mary Jane DUNKIN. Born on January 9, 1774. Ann died on September 9, 1827; she was 53.

They had the following children:
		i.	Alexander. Born in 1793 in Tennessee.
		ii.	Joseph. Born in 1795 in Tennessee. Joseph died in 1827; he was 32.
		iii.	Albert. Born in 1797 in Tennessee.
		iv.	Salina. Born in 1799 in Tennessee.
			Salina married James G. LUSK.
		v.	Alfred Harve. Born on May 26, 1805 in Tennessee.
			Alfred Harve married Eleanor Charlotte DUNCAN.

Family of Sarah “Sallie” SHARP (5) & Francis BERRY

9. Elizabeth BERRY. Born on October 27, 1786. Elizabeth died on May 18, 1865; she was 78.

Elizabeth married Thomas SHARP. Born on December 4, 1773 in Virginia. Thomas died on April 6, 1833; he was 59. Resided in Whitley County, Kentucky.

Will proven 1834, Whitley County, Kentucky.

They had the following children:
		i.	John L. Born in 1794 in Kentucky.
			John L. married Margaret KERR.
		ii.	John F.
		iii.	Monroe. Born in 1809 in Kentucky.
		iv.	Benjamin F. Born in 1812.
			On November 28, 1833 when Benjamin F. was 21, he married Emily BROWN, in Whitley County, Kentucky.
		v.	Frankie Caroline. Born circa 1817 in Kentucky.
			Frankie Caroline married Abraham WELLS.
		vi.	Sarah. Born in 1820 in Kentucky.
			Sarah married Kerby DOUGLAS.
		vii.	Amanda Melgaine. Born in 1821 in Kentucky.
			On January 4, 1836 when Amanda Melgaine was 15, she married Hiram J. HICKEY, in Whitley County, Kentucky.
	13	viii.	Thomas J. (ca1821-)

10. Sally Sharp BERRY. Born on March 12, 1788 in Washington County, Virginia. Sally Sharp died in 1874; she was 85.

In 1806 when Sally Sharp was 17, she married William DRYDEN, son of David DRYDEN Jr.. Born on October 18, 1784 in Washington County, Virginia. William died in Linn County, Missouri on December 21, 1858; he was 74.

They had one child:
		i.	Decatur.

11. Francis BERRY Jr. Born on October 14, 1791. Francis died after 1880; he was 88. Resided in Linn County, Oregon.

On November 2, 1823 when Francis was 32, he married Permelia MAHAN, daughter of James MAHAN Sr. & Nancy Ann GOODWIN, in Whitley County, Kentucky. Born in 1807 in Kentucky. Permelia died after 1880; she was 73.

They had the following children:
		i.	James. Born in 1828 in Missouri.
		ii.	John. Born in 1829 in Missouri.
			John married Martha FRANCIS.
		iii.	Josephine. Born in 1846.
			Josephine married Saul M. McLANE.

12. Dele Lafayette BERRY. Born on June 23, 1796. Buried in Jacks Fork Cemetery, Whitley County, Kentucky.

Dele Lafayette married Polly PORTERFIELD.

They had one child:
		i.	Adelaide.
			Adelaide married Dixon Sharp DUNKIN, son of John Thomas DUNKIN (7) (1765-1832) & Mary “Polly” LAUGHLIN.

Fifth Generation 
_________________________________________
Family of Elizabeth BERRY (9) & Thomas SHARP

13. Thomas J. SHARP. Born ca 1821/1824 in Whitley County, Kentucky.

Thomas J. married Margaret.

They had one child:
		i.	Nathan J. L. Born on December 20, 1826 in Kentucky. Nathan J. L. died on January 20, 1910; he was 83. Buried in Nathan Sharp Cemetery, Whitley County, Kentucky.
			On April 27, 1848 when Nathan J. L. was 21, he married Margaret McKEEHAN, daughter of James McKEEHAN (1807-1890) & Eliza BLACK (1813-), in Whitley County, Kentucky. Born in 1829.

Sources 

1. Source: Steven H. Alsep, 143 Oak Grove Church Road, Corbin Kentucky 40701-9574
2. Steven Alsip Genealogy Family Group Record 762, “John Sharp”
3. Steven Alsip Genealogy Family Group Record 762-1, “John Dunkin/Duncan”
4. Steven Alsip Genealogy Family Group Record 762-5-2, “Isaac Newton King”
5. Steven Alsip Genealogy Family Group Record 762-1-2, “Thomas Laughlin”

Index 

? 
	Margaret	spouse of 13
BERRY 
	Adelaide	child of 12
	Ann	child of 5
	Benjamin (1785 - )	child of 5
	Dele Lafayette (1796 - )	12
	Elizabeth (1786 - 1865)	9
	Francis (1754 - <1819)	spouse of 5
	Francis Jr. (1791 - >1880)	11
	Isabelle (1778 - 1858)	child of 5
	James (1828 - )	child of 11
	John (1829 - )	child of 11
	John Wesley (1776 - 1860)	child of 5
	Josephine (1846 - )	child of 11
	Lewis (1781 - )	child of 5
	Louisa	child of 5
	Lucinda	child of 5
	Marie Ann	child of 5
	Sally Sharp (1788 - 1874)	10
DRYDEN 
	Decatur	child of 10
	William (1784 - 1858)	spouse of 10
DUNCAN 
	Albert (1797 - )	child of 8
	Alexander (1793 - )	child of 8
	Alfred Harve (1805 - )	child of 8
	Joseph (1769 - 1847)	8
	Joseph (1795 - 1827)	child of 8
	Salina (1799 - )	child of 8
	Sarah “Sally” (1773 - 1843)	child of 3
DUNKIN 
	Anne (1775 - >1851)	child of 3
	Dixon Sharp	child of 7
	Eleanor (1780 - )	child of 3
	Elizabeth (1762 - 1850)	6
	Faithful (1778 - 1845)	child of 3
	John (ca1742 - 1818)	spouse of 3
	John Thomas (1765 - 1832)	7
	Margaret “Peggy” (1767 - 1819)	child of 3
	Mary “Polly”	child of 3
HAMILTON 
	Jane (1721 - >1788)	spouse of 2
KING 
	Isaac Newton (1777 - 1862)	child of 4
	Margaret “Peggy” (1786 - )	child of 4
	William (1752 - 1840)	spouse of 4
LAUGHLIN 
	Alexander (1801 - 1865)	child of 6
	Ann (1774 - 1827)	spouse of 8
	Elinor (1804 - 1893)	child of 6
	Eliza (1798 - ca1879)	child of 6
	Green (1808 - 1849)	child of 6
	John S. (1803 - 1878)	child of 6
	Joseph D. (1795 - 1820)	child of 6
	Mary “Polly”	spouse of 7
	Sarah Jane (1788 - 1864)	child of 6
	Sophia (1786 - 1836)	child of 6
	Thomas (1791 - )	child of 6
	Thomas Price (1763 - 1844)	spouse of 6
MAHAN 
	Permelia (1807 - >1880)	spouse of 11
PORTERFIELD 
	Polly	spouse of 12
SHARP 
	Amanda Melgaine (1821 - )	child of 9
	Ann (1751 - 1834)	child of 2
	Major Benjamin (1762 - 1844)	child of 2
	Benjamin F. (1812 - )	child of 9
	Eleanor “Nellie” (1740 - 1816)	3
	Elizabeth (1749 - 1827)	4
	Frankie Caroline (ca1817 - )	child of 9
	John (1720 - 1796)	2
	John (1746 - 1823)	child of 2
	John F.	child of 9
	John L. (1794 - )	child of 9
	Mary (1747 - 1818)	child of 2
	Monroe (1809 - )	child of 9
	Nathan J. L. (1826 - 1910)	child of 13
	Sarah (1820 - )	child of 9
	Sarah “Sallie” (1754 - 1834)	5
	Susan (1756 - 1822)	child of 2
	Thomas (1773 - 1833)	spouse of 9
	Thomas	1
	Thomas (1742 - 1813)	child of 2
	Thomas J. (ca1821 - )	13
WALLACE 
	Cynthia	spouse of 1