Volume 14 , Issue 8

Fort Dinwiddie & Farm Chronology (1727-1829)

Gerald McLaughlin sent us these images of the Fort Dinwiddie historical sign. Fort Dinwiddie is located up the dirt road from this sign about one-half mile. Fort Dinwiddie was known also as Byrd's Fort and Warwick's Fort. It was probably built in 1755. It was also known for it's visit in 1755 by George Washington.

Starting in 1727 Beverley Robinson, Robert Brooks, William Lynn, Robert and William Lewis petition for 50,000 acres west of James River. No action taken.

In 1732 John Lewis (born in donegal, Ireland, 1678; married margaret Lynn, 1715) settled in Staunton. Their children: Samuel, Thomas (4/27/1718), Andrew (10/9/1720), William (11/17/1724), Margaret (1726), Anne (1728), Charles (3/11/1736, only one born in America).

In 1743 there was an "Order of Council," 10/24/1743, 30,000 acres above mouth of Cowpasture Thomas & Andrew Lewis, James & Henry Robinson, James Wood.

In 1745, 9/26/1745, Thomas and Andrew do first Bath County (then Augusta county) survey (above nimrod Hall) for Adam Dickenson.

In April, 1746, Thomas & Andrew Lewis survey tract for William Jackson, only man living on Jackson's River. His children were Jane and William.

In 1750, William Warwick comes from Tidewater (Jacob is his son) acquires 50 acres on Jackson's River. 1 June 1750 William Jackson dies. The ownership is unclear.Thomas & Andrew Lewis survey Jackson's land.

In 1755, Construction of Fort Dinwiddie (also called: Warwick's Ft., Hogg's Ft., Byrd's Ft.) around William Warwick's house. Captain Hogg is in charge; on 9 July 1755 there is Braddock's defeat at DuQuesne; on 25 july 1755 Washington visits Fort Dinwiddie; and December 1755 Washington orders Lewis to take command, but orders unclear; Hogg resists.

In 1756 of February, Hogg leaves Dinwiddie to join Lewis; 18-28 February 1756 is the Sandy Creek Voyage; 27 July 1756, There was a decision made to garrison 60 men at Fort Dinwiddie. It was increased to 100 after the September, 1756 raid. On 18 October 1756, it was Washington's second visit to Fort Dinwiddie, with Thomas Bullitt in command.

On This Date:

• 1757 - Byrd Massacre
• 1758 - 25 Nov 1758, Washington takes DuQuesne
• 1759 - 10 Oct 1759, Keer's Creek raid by Cornstalk
• 1763 - End French and Indian War
• 1774 - Battle of Point Pleasant
• 1776 - John Lewis in command of Fort Dinswiddie.
• 1778 - Jacob Warwick signs petition for creation of Bath County, along with Robert Hall and Charles Cameron.
• 1780 - Part of stockade burned with Capt. McKitrick in command.
• 1783 - Last Indian raid
• 1784 - Robert Hall acquires jackson's 1100 acres
• 1788 - Robert Hall sells tract to Jacob Warwick for 1500 P. Jacob Warwick is "road overseer" from Warm Springs to Cowpasture River.
• 1789 - Fort Dinwiddie abandoned
• 1791 - Bath County created 14 Dec 1790
• 1792 - On 3 May, Charles Cameron marries Rachael C. Warwick
• 1795 - Jacob Warwick sells 261 acres to Cameron who names it Fassifern after ancestral Scottish home.
• 1800 - Jacob Warwick leaves for Pocahontas County
• 1809 - Andrew S. Warwick acquires Jackson's tract
• 1810 - Andrew S. Warwick builds Dinwiddie mansion
• 1826 - Jacob Warwick dies and is buried near Fort
• 1828 - Andrew S. Warwick dies
• 1829 - Charles Cameron dies and is buried near Fort.

After Andrew Warwick's death, his widow, martha Dickenson, married James Ervin. While the property had been left to Warwick's children, legal battles broke out. James Ervin controlled the property until 1873 when he sold out to his son-in-law, William McAllister. At that time it was known as Walnut Grove, the Ervin Place, and subsequently, the McAllister Farm. In 1913, S. M. K. Fulton bought the property, naming it Fort Dinwiddie Farm. Hazel Sterrett owned controlling interest after 1931, and Allan M. Hirsh completed purchase on 6 December 1945.

So . . . the legal battles over land runs deep in our family through our distant ancestors to our family in Oklahoma! BUT . . . That is another story altogether!   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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