Notes for Burton Caleb LITTON
Served Dunmore's War, Battle of Point Pleasant.
The Killing of Burton Litton and William Priest
at Glade Hollow Fort
By Emory L Hamilton
From an unpublished manuscript,
"Indian Atrocities Along the Clinch, Powell and Holston Rivers"
pages 60-62
Burton Litton was a member of Captain Daniel Smiths
militia company in 1774, while that part of Russell County was then
Fincastle Co.
Of William Priest little is known, except that he lived on Priest Mountain,
at Elk Garden. He served in the militia company of Captain Daniel Smith, at
the Elk Garden Fort from the 13th of August to 18th of November, 1774 (2),
along with Thomas and David Priest, who were probably brothers, or maybe
sons. During this term of service, sometime between August and October
of 1774, he was paid for 7 days as an Indian Scout.(3) The only court record
I find relating to him was in the court of Fincastle Co. On November 2, 1773
where he, along with others was appointed to view a road from the Maiden
Springs settlement in to the Great Road, the latter perhaps, being the
Fincastle main road leading from the east to the western country.
The details of this killing are best told in the words of Isaac Crabtree
in his pension statement filed in Overton# Co., TN, September 27, 1832.
Isaac was born in Baltimore Co., MD in 1757. (4) Crabtree says: ...In the
next year, 1778, he again turned out a volunteer ranger, he thinks about the
last of May, and went to the Elk Garden Fort and joined Captain John Kinkead
(Kincaid) and ranged about that fort. He states that Colonel (then Captain,
later Colonel) Daniel Smith came to the fort and took him and several other
men, making ten, and went down Clinch, and as they came to Glade Hollow
Fort, they met about the same number of Indians. He, and Burton Litton and
William Priest were some distance in front of the others when they met the
Indians. The Indians were laying in ambush in two sink holes (5), and on
each side of the Trace (6) and when they arose and placed themselves in a
fighting attitude and fired on him. When the firing commenced Colonel Smith,
and the balance of the men with him, wheeled and ran. He, and his company
kept their ground waiting for them to come up, until the Indians, or some of
them, were within 30 or 40 yards of affiant and the balls flying around him
like hailstones from a thunder storm. He began to think it was time to take
care of himself, seeing by this time the whole of his company had taken
flight and left him. He retreated a short distance and was closely pursued
by the enemy, and he wheeled to see how close they were to him and saw one
within thirty yards. He immediately raised his gun and taking aim at his
breast, he fired, and the Indian fell back and uttered some coarse, loud
noise. He then overtook some of his company and tried to rally them, but
without effect. They continued their retreat and two of them were killed
while they were running before him. He then began to mend his gait and soon
overtook the foremost men and went by Col. Smith, but was unable to rally.
Thence the two men killed were the two who went in advance of himself,
Burton Litton and William Priest.
At a court held for Washington Co., VA, on August 17, 1779, is entered
this order:
On motion of Elizabeth Litton and James Laughlin (7), administration is
granted them on the estate of Burton Litton, deceased, who made oaths
thereto with John Kinkead and Samuel VanHook as securities.
Appraisers of the estate were, Thomas and Richard Price, James Scott and
John Lewis.
(1) Washington Co., VA Order Book 1, page 69 & Survey Entry Book 1, page 75.
(2) Draper Mss 6 XX 1 06L
(3) Draper Mss 5 XX 2L
(4) Crabtree statement also in Draper Mss 3 DD# 40L
(5) There are huge sink holes around the upper end of Glade Hollow.
(6) This suggests that Glade Hollow Fort lay on the Kentucky Trace.
(7) James Laughlin was a brother in law of Burton Litton, having married
his sister, Elizabeth Laughlin.
Contributor: Rhonda Robertson
BURTON HAD 3 CHILDREN WHEN HE DIED.
1)Child William Oliver Litton b 30 apr 1775
2)Child James Thomas Litton b 19 Dec 1778 Washington Co., VA d 22 Sep 1854
Jacksonville, Morgan Co., IL
3)Child Elias "Smith" taken prisoner by British & Indians with Solomon C. Litton Sr. family in 1780, Bourbon Co., Paris, KY.
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
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Revised: 27 Dec 2004 by Bonnie L Schermer