Captain Christopher Houston, Biography by Dan Woodruff

Captain Christopher Houston served his country and created a long-standing impression on our culture:

Christopher Houston was born 18 February 1744 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to Robert and Martha Houston. He was the fifth of eight children. Christopher was well educated and raised in a devout Presbyterian home. He traveled with others of his family, settling near the Clinch River in VA before moving to North Carolina.

Christopher Houston and Sarah Mitchell married on 23 April 1767. Christopher built their home on Hunting Creek about 14 miles north of Statesville. By the onset of the Revolutionary War, they had four children, Martha, John, Lillias, and James. Their sons Placebo and Christopher, were born before the end of the war. Samuel and Sarah were born afterward. Education was essential to Christopher and his wife, Sarah. He built an additional room explicitly used as a school on to the house. Fortunately, an excellent young schoolteacher, Moses Waddell, moved to their area and accepted the position as the school teacher. Other local children attended classes here as well.

Christopher had become well respected in the area, and by the onset of hostilities between the Colonies and England, he held the rank of Captain of the militia. He was a Captain in the North Carolina Rangers throughout the Revolutionary War. He wrote in one of his letters that his horse suffered an injury, so he sent it home with another man and briefly rejoined another group of Patriots as a Private.

He was at the Battle of Ramseur's Mill, where his brother, James, was killed. There was another James Houston (believed to be a cousin) injured in the leg at Ramseur's Mill. Some accounts have Christopher Houston guarding captured Tories to prevent them from joining the troops gathered at Kings Mountain, where the Patriots gained a great victory against Major Patrick Ferguson, which caused a turning point in the war. He is reported to have been at Guilford Courthouse. Christopher lost most of his hearing during the war.

After the Revolutionary War, despite his handicap, Christopher was prominent in public and private affairs of the area. He was often called upon to help resolve disputes between others. He was instrumental in organizing the town and was the first Postmaster of Houstonville. This post office was the second in Iredell County. Christopher and his descendants held this office for over 100 years.

Christopher Houston's son, James, had moved to Tennessee and urged his father to move there as well. By 1814 James had convinced him, and at the age of 71, Christopher moved from his long-time home on Hunting Creek, North Carolina to Tennessee, where he purchased a piece of land from his son James. According to a letter written by Christopher and addressed to his son-in-law, Samuel Young, they settled on their new place, west of what is now Lewisburg in Marshall County, Tennessee, on 17 April 1815.

Christopher lost his precious Sarah on 18 May 1821. Sarah disliked Tennessee and never ceased urging her husband to move back to their place on Hunting Creek. Christopher writes in a letter to his daughter, Sarah Young, that his wife's last words to him were urging him to give their land back to Jamey. Her illness was brief, and she went quietly. She was 79.

Christopher remained a widower for a few years and did not feel people should marry in (his own words) "the eleventh hour" and had a "prejudice against old people's folly in marrying again." He admitted to receiving many "hints" to take another wife but not making "any attempt toward it, though the constitution of my affairs require a woman's care." He continues in his letter to ask for God's care and guidance in that and all matters.

In 1825, at the age of 81, Christopher married Elizabeth Simpson. She was in her 50's. In one of Christopher's letters, he describes her as "well respected, exceedingly well spoken of, and had never been married."

At the age of 93, Christopher Houston died of a stroke at his home on 17 May 1837. His grave is in the Houston Cemetery on James Houston's farm.  

- written by his 6th great-grandson, Dan Woodruff

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Citations include:

• NCPedia
• 1776 Patriot Project 

see Houston 
 Military/War Veteran Lineages


Sources: Find a Grave

John Chisum, 1732-1806, Biographical Information

In 1732, John Chisum was born in Margaret's Parish, Caroline Co., VA. His parents were John Chisum II and Eleanor Gillentine. He had several siblings.

In 1745, John attended school in Fredericksburg, VA. His home was in Sherando Valley, associated with Seivers and Harisons.

Capt. John Chisum was reportedly a woodsman, land viewer, and Army Scout (Spy). He associated many years with Valetine Sevier II, who was listed in one Virginia payroll as a 'spy'.

He married Sarah Kilpatrick in 1754. Their son, John (Red Buck) Chisum was born January 28, 1779.

John spend most of his life on the frontier.

In 1753 he was considered a 'Land Viewer', in the Augusta County frontier.

John Chisum was found on the Soldier form of the Augusta County Record in 1758. He started out as a "Private" and was a Scout with Valentine Seiver, spending much time in the woods. He was in Capt. Mosby's Company, Colonel Robert Slaughter in command.

The Tax List in 1772 show him owning two properties in Botetourt Co., VA, his address being Reid's Island.

In 1777, John Chisum and Elijah, his brother, took the Oath of Allegiance in Henry Co., VA. He assisted Gov. John Seiver organizing Washington Co., TN, comprising all of the land due west of North Carolina in 1777. He was also Justice-of-The-Peace and member of the new court listed in the earliest minutes of the Washington County Court up to 1782.

1778: Washngton Co., NC organized with boundaries co-extensiave with present day State of Tennessee. John Chisum named a Justice of Peace. First court held February 23, 1778.

1781: Visits parents in Amelia County, reciving his family inheritance, land in Prince Edard Co., VA.

After selling this land, he goes with brothers Elijah and Obadiah to Hawkins Co., TN.

1783: Visits General John Seiver at the general's home at Mount Plesant, on Nollchucky River.

1787: Appears on Hawkins Co., TN Tax List with his brother, Elijah Chisum.

1797. John Chisum, with power-of-attorney from his brother Absalom, files a suit in Davidson Co., Mero District, to obtain title to 640 acres of land on Richland Creek (afterwards designated as the Sulphur Fork of Red River) for which he had been granted preemption under the laws of North Carolina. Absalom and John mentioned as brothers in this writ.

1803. Joined his brother Elijah in Jackson Co., TN. This region would soon be organized into White Co., TN.


Capt. John Chisum died in the home of Elijah Chisum (his brother) who lived in Sparta, White Co., in 1806.


Sources
https://www.familysearch.org/service/records/storage/das-mem/patron/v2/TH-904-79922-2242-37/dist.txt?ctx=ArtCtxPublic
HISTORICAL SOUTHERN FAMILIES, Edited by Mrs. John Bennett Boddie. ADDITIONAL SOURCE: Title: John (Red Buck) Chisholm, Recipient: Carol Niven, Abbrev: Chisholm. Author: Ron Crooker Publication: 15 Feb 2001'

See Also:
https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/chism/944/

Patriots A-L alphabetic

Source: WikiTree

John, Elijah James Chisum Mountain Men Who Saved the American Revolution

Deep in the Appalachian Mountains lived the Mountain Men with their families. They built a community. When the King's forces threatened the Mountain Men's way of life, the men took action.

After several defeats of General George Washington's Revolutionary Army against the well-trained and professionally outfitted British counterparts, the war for independence looked bleak of any positive outcomes. That is until October 7, 1870 at the Battle of Kings Mountain. Less than 1000 Mountain Men with their more accurate hunting long rifles and native guerilla tactics won the day against the over 1000 British forces. The day was the turning point in the American Revolution.

My kin fought on that day: Elijah James Chisum, Captain and Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) verified ancestor, and his brother my direct ancestor, John Chisum, III, Captain, is still awaiting his DAR designation.

Captain John Chisum, III
(5th Great Grandfather)
A Patriot of the American Revolution
Patriot Roster 

A short excerpt from "Hillbilly: The Real Story" tells of the mainly Scots-Irish Over mountain Men, the war of independence and the Battle of Kings Mountain during the American revolution which turned the tide of the war.

A decisive patriot victory. This episode is one of the four of the "Decisive Battles : Frontier" series. 1. Kings Mountain 2. New Orleans 3. Fallen Timbers 4. Black Hawk's War.

Primary Source: Drapper, Lyman C. King's Mountain and its heroes; The History of the Battle of King's Mountain and the Events that led to it. 1881.