Notes for Solomon Caleb LITTON, SR.
Occupations: Longhunter, soldier, farmer, prisoner of war.
1769 One of first settlers/"squatters" in what is now Russell County, VA.
5 Mar 1770 sold personal property to Wm Carven in Bottetourt Co., VA
1770 served as private in militia, Elk Garden Fort.
1774 Listed on muster roll of Daniel Smith's Fincastle militia, which served in Dunmore's War. May have fought 10 Oct 1774 in only battle of Dunmore's War at Point Pleasant, VA (later W.Va.), vs. Indians.
The militia captains for Dunmore's War were regional militia leaders. When the conflict started they recruited in their home area and travelled with their recruits to the rendevous area, in this case Camp Union. There were some reassignments there prior to their movement over the mountains to the Ohio River. Fincastle was most of southwest Virginia south and west of Botetourt county and Botetourt included the area at the headwaters of the Roanoke and James Rivers.
We could map the region by the home districts of the captains. Clinch and Holston - William Russel Watauga and Clinch - Evan Shelby (or brothers Isaac or James) Upper Holston or New River - William Edmonston Botetourt - John Stewart Kentucky surveyors - James Harrod Greenbriar - William McClanahan Clinch Forts - Daniel Boone and Daniel Smith
26 Feb 1777 Commissioned an Ensign of the militia, Washington Co., VA. May have gone to what is now Bourbon Co., KY to raise corn this year.
19 Aug 1778 Solomon a 2nd Lieutenant of Washington Co. Militia.
1779 Solomon raises corn in KY, builds cabin, moves family there in fall.
1779-80 Hard-Winter, severe cold and deep snow in KY.
1780, 26 Jun Solomon, wife, three sons, nephew Elias Litton (son of Burton) taken prisoner by the British and Indians near what is now Paris, Bourbon Co., KY. All forced to walk to Detroit, Solomon separated from family and sold to Indian called Big Fish. Solomon kept at "Shannee Town near Ft. Detroit", possibly present-day Pontiac, MI.
1781- Solomon writes letter to Elk Garden from captivity.
The following was transcribed from Solomon's original
letter, format and spelling is just as he wrote it...
Urgent Dispatch
Shannee Town near ye Fort Detroit
In Providence
ye Canada
1st ye March 1781
To my Kinsmen at ye Fort Elk Garden in ye Washington
County Virginia.
John Litton, Father & James McLaughlin, Brother in Law.
Explaining my long absence of communicay due to being
taken from the tilling of my field, by several breeds
of savages on ye 26 June 1780 as a captive of the
Shawnee's commanded by Brit. Gen. Harry Bird, under His
Majesty out of ye Canada. My family all were marched
a foot, 300 miles to ye Fort Detroit where I was sold
to a savage called Big Fish as a slave, is my reason.
I have been seperated from my family not knowing
whence they were being held. I am fearful of their
demise? The urgency of this dispatch, if delivered,
to have you take power of attorney to save and secure
my property together with that of Captain John Duncan,
also a prisoner of the enemy in ye Canada, from sezure
by ye Commonwealth of Virginia for taxes.
I had in ye spring marked out 400 acres joing Fran
Berry on ye Cooper's Creek near ye Fort Martin. I am
now fearful of sustaining it due to my absence. Present
this dispatch to ye Attorney at Law at Abington or
Blaksfort and take what ever steps needed to secure our
Estates there.
Ruddles and Martins forts were cannoned balled and
after surrender most inhabitants were massacred. Brains
of infants on trees, some crushed under cart wheels. Ye
older inhabited were gutted and drawn to the pleasure of
ye spectators. Ye lassies were raped and scalped by ye
savages. Fort burned and stock and fowl slautered. A
horrible massacre not yet equaled in this country.
On ye 27th June we marched down ye Licking 70 miles
to ye big Miani (down ye Ohio) thence, up ye Miami to ye
head of, thnnce over land 18 miles to ye Glaise [Auglaize]
thence down it ye Lake Erie, put aboard ye boat Goge,
floated across to ye River Detroit thence put aground at
ye Fort Detroit. At which place I was taken to ye Shawnee
Town, twenty miles distant. Of the 300 marchers taken 90
were count of reaching Fort Detroit. Me thinks Gen. Geo.
Clark will be pursuit and liberate us?
Please respond by same messenger to Major DePayster
at ye Fort Detroit, a friend of the captives.
Your Kinsman & Patriot
Lt. Solomon Litton
March 20 Solomon's letter received and taken to Washington County court.
On motion of James Litton (brother of Solomon) and James Laughlin, and by consent and order of the Court they are appointed guardians of the estates of Captain John Dunkin and Solomon Litton, prisoners of the enemy in Canada, and to use all legal methods for saving and securing the said estates, whereupon they, together with William Davidson and John Vance entered into and acknowledged their bonds for eight thousand pounds for the faithful performance of the same.
1782 November Solomon reunited with Martha in Canada.
1783 Solomon and family on roster of "Rebel Prisoners at Quebec".
1784 Littons released from captivity, return to Washington Co., VA
Solomon sues in court to get KY land back, loses.
1785 Solomon signs petition to form Russell County, VA from Washington.
1786 Solomon appointed ensign of militia. Different note says captain.
Solomon signs petition opposing VA legislature's bill to provide for teachers of the Christian religion. Petition reflects concern for religious freedom.
1787 Russell Co., VA formed.
11 Apr 1788 bought 146 acres at "corner" of Clinch River and Big Cedar Creek, Lebanon Twp, Russell County. "Solomon Litton Hollow" on road 640 north of Lebanon.
1789 Solomon conducts court martial in Russell County.
Solomon builds double log house at Sol Litton Hollow.
1791 Solomon Captain in Russell Co. militia.
1818 deeded Litton Hill, Elk Garden, to son John Whitley Litton Sr.
Canie says Sol also m. Marta Mohawk b 1773 d 3 Apr 1850, an Indian slave which they brought home from captivity in Canada.
Will executed 2 May 1843
Russell County Library at Lebanon, call # R 975.5 Ru, W.P.A. Historical Material I,J,K,L,M, and N Vol 5.
1. Subject:
Solomon Litton Home
2. Location:
In section of county known as the "Corner". In Lebanon District, 5 1/2 miles northeast of Lebanon, Virginia, 1/4 mile west on Route #19, thence 1 mile northwest on Route #82, thence 4 1/4 miles northeast on Route #640.
3. Date:
1789
4. Owners:
John Wells to Solomon Litton Sr. 1789
Solomon Litton Sr to Solomon Litton Jr 1843
Solomon Litton Jr to Vince Broning 1866
Browning to Ferrell
Cowan
Buckles
Buckles to Frank Yates 1912
5. Description:
The Solomon Litton Home is a two story double log house. There is one large room, eighteen by twenty feet, and the kitchen which is small, connected by wide entry. The house was constructed out of square oak logs. The floors are wide poplar planks. The doors are of plain hand-sawn poplar, two in each room of the lower floor, these are placed opposite in the east and west end of the house. the front porch is built along the entire length of the east side of the house. A stairway is on the porch located on the right of the fron entrance door. It leads to the upstairs rooms, which are similar to the rooms on the first floor; these are connected by an entry; this entry unlike the one below, has a floor. Huge chimneys located, one at either end of the house, have wide and deep fireplaces with plain wooden mantels above. In those fireplaces the cooking was done. Heavy iron cranes supported the big kettles. The hearth-stones were ample to acommodate the various spiders and bakeovens for roasting and baking. Here many a haunch of venison was cooked. Here manya hoe-cake, Johnny-cake, and corn-pone were baked under the glowing coals on top of the bake-ovens.
Each room of the house has two windows; these were places on either side of the fireplaces. The rooms are ceiled and have immense beams overhead.
6. Historical significance:
Solomon Litton Sr served in the Revolution. His grandsons were soldiers of the Confederacy. One of them George Litton, who with his family, lived in the "Solomon Litton Home" was sent home on furlough sometime during the latter part of the war between the states. Hungry, footsore, ragged, and weary from the long journey, he sat down to rest on a hill overlooking his home, here he was met by his overjoyed, anxious wife, who after talking with him awhile, returned to the house to bring food and water to refresh his tired body. In the short time she was away, a band of Yankees captured the homeward bound soldier, carried him to camp, where he died soon after, never again seeing home and family.
7. Art:
8. Sources of Information:
Informants: Members of Litton family
Russell County Court Records
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Revised: 27 Dec 2004 by Bonnie L Schermer