Many people have received copies of Professor James Hagy's thesis on the
early frontier settlement at Castle's Woods. It has been a very popular item
for those with Virginia ancestry. What makes the story fun for me is the
fact that I was able to locate the good professor thirty-seven years after he
wrote the thesis and discuss my 6-great grandfather's participation in it.
Samuel Cowan was killed and scalped by Indians returning to Houston's fort to
warn of an impending attack.
According to Hagy, "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
importance 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.
What this thesis does not have is an INDEX. So I spent the better part of a
day extracting ALL the names in the thesis and made an index. It contains
about 175 names so I will not fill up your e-mail with a complete list but if
you want the index simply e-mail me and request it. It is yours for the
asking. If you don't have a copy of the thesis you should get one.
Regards,
Robert Cowan
525 Harrogate Rd.
Matthews, North Carolina 28105
cscunc(a)aol.com