Volume 13 , Issue 21

Davy Crockett (1786-1836)

Remember the Alamo? Remember "Davy! Davy Crockett! King of the Wild Frontier?" Remember Davy Crockett? Did he really wear a coonskin cap? Did he kill a bear when he was three? I believe that last to be only a myth.

My next journey of genealogy research takes us to the surname of CROCKETT, since it has been popping up in the research for our Craighead, Warwick, Dunlap and McGill ancestry. I found the following, A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett, of the State of Tennessee, written by David Crockett, and published in 1834, entered according to the Act of Congress, 1 February 1834, By David Crockett, in the Clerk's office of the District Court of the District of Columbia.

This is a quote that Davy Crockett had on one the front pages, "I leave this rule for others when I'm dead, be always sure you're right -- Then go ahead!"

In the Preface of the book Crockett writes, "In the following pages I have endeavored to give the reader a plain, honest, homespun account of my state in life, and some few of the difficulties which have attended me along its journey, down to this time. I am perfectly aware, that I have related many small and, as I fear, uninteresting circumstances; but if so, my apology is, that it was rendered necessary by a desire to link the different periods of my life together, as they have passed, from my childhood onward, and thereby to enable the reader to select such parts of it as he may relish most, if, indeed, there is any thing in it which may suit his palate." (Quote taken from page 6. preface runs through to page 11 and was written February 1, 1834, Washington City, by David Crockett. Chapter I begins on page 13.)

Crockett's father was John Wesley Crockett, of Irish descent, either born in Ireland or on a passage from that country to America across the Atlantic. John Crockett was by profession a farmer, spending the early part of his life in Pennsylvania. John Crockett married Rebecca Hawkins, an American woman, born in the state of Maryland, between York and Baltimore. John Crockett was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, fighting in the Battle at "Kings Mountain" against the British and Tories. John Crockett at some time lived in Lincoln county, North Carolina, before he moved from there to the country, which embraced the east division of Tennessee before it was a state.

Davy's Grandfather and Grandmother were both murdered by the Creeks, in their own house, and on the very spot of ground where Rogersville, Hawking county now stands. John Crockett had a brother, Joseph, who the Indians wounded by a ball which broke his arm. Another younger brother of John Crockett was James, (deaf and dumb) and could not make his escape from the Indians, was taken prisoner and remained with the Indians for 17 years and 9 months. James was discovered and recollected by John Crockett and his eldest brother, William Crockett, when he was purchased by them from an Indian trader.

David Crocket was born 17 August 1786, where is folks lived at the mouth of Lime Stone, on the Nola-chucky River. Davy Crockett's father and mother had six sons and three daughters with David being the fifth son. Davy's family was very poor, living far back in the back woods, with limited schooling opportunities for the children.

During another move of the family, John Crockett settled in Jefferson county, Tennessee where he opened a tavern on the road from Abbington to Knoxville. His tavern was small and the principal accommodations he kept, were for the waggoners who travelled the road. This is where Davy lived until he was 12 years of age.

Narrative of the Life of David Crockett
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