Several months ago I offered to copy for interested researchers James W.
Hagy's thesis on the frontier settlement of Castle's Woods, Virginia. I had
searched for many long years before finding an actual copy of this work at a
rare book dealer in North Carolina. This thesis was presented to the Faculty
of the Department of History, East Tennessee State University in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts, 1966. The
original thesis contained no copyright provision as did the 1979 Russell
County Historical Society printing which contained landowner maps and local
Russell county info. that did not appear in the 1966 version. This one
unfortunately can not be copied. I thought I was done with this
project but recently have received a number of additional requests for this
material so I have decided to make ONE more printing and then retire from
the copying business. For all of those folks who for one reason or another
failed to secure a copy of this work, this is the last chance.
"This thesis is a narrative account of the frontier settlement of Castle's
Woods. The community is an interesting case study of the ideas of Frederick
Jackson Turner regarding the frontier.
Castle's Woods in many ways fits the pattern of the typical frontier
community. Apparently first settled by a long hunter, Castle's Woods, like a
magnet, drew westward the classic frontier types, hunters, farmers,
speculators, surveyors, artisans, and preachers. Even some aristocrates
settled there. The usual frontier customs and activities were observed in
the community. These included a considerable amount of lawlessness. The
greatest problem for the settlers in Castle's Woods was the Indians who were
a menace from the time of the first settlement until nearly the end of the
eighteenth century. After the Indian problem had been eliminated, the
frontier stage quickly passed away......
A large amount of primary materials were used in this study. The most
important sources were county records, state archives, national archives, and
the Draper Manuscripts."
The importance of Castle's Woods is twofold. First, it had its day of importa
nce as a stepping stone to the West. Secondly, it is important as a case
study of the American frontier. It was the first permanent settlement in
Russell County, Virginia, founded in 1769 and located on the Clinch River.
Many of the early southwest Virginia families are discussed in detail
including Russell, Walker, Cowan, Porter, Moore, Campbell, Stuart, Houston,
Montgomery, Snoddy, Thompson, Robinson and many, many more.
Detailed accounts of many of the Indian battles are described in great detail
and this research material makes interesting reading. If anyone would like
information on how to acquire a copy of this 140 page thesis please contact
me privately at cscunc(a)aol.com.
Regards,
Robert Cowan
525 Harrogate Rd.
Matthews, North Carolina 28105