| 1692 |
The Frenchman Martin Chartier traveled from Nashville up the Cumberland
to a point below the Cumberland Falls so he had to pass the mouth of the
Caney Fork. Byrd Douglas' book. |
| 1766-67 |
The Cumberland Basin was explored by Smith, Mansker, Bledsoe and Stone.
They must have learned of the Caney Fork. Byrd Douglas' book. |
| 1767 |
Isaac Lindsay and a party of four passed down the Cumberland River
to the mouth of Stones River and therefore saw the lower Caney Fork.
Haywood, p. 87. |
| 1769-70 |
A company of explorers explored southern Kentucky and then traveled
southwest to Roaring River and came to the Caney Fork at a point far above
the mouth and somewhere near the foot of the mountains. The country
was covered with tall grass. No trace of human settlements were found.
The party did find many bones under rocks in the caves along the creeks
and rivers. A stock fort on a mound was discovered on the Caney Fork.
They thought the Cherokees had built it. Haywood, p. 216. |
| 1780 |
Ramsey refers to a small party of Delaware Indians coming from the
direction of the Caney Fork. Haywood, p. 109. |
| 1780 |
Signs of Indians near Nashville. On being interviewed they said
they had been hunting on the Caney Fork. Hale's History of Tennessee,
p. 98. |
| 1780-81 |
A party of 20 men went up the Caney Fork as high as Flinn's Creek hunting.
(from Nashville) Gas was very plentiful and the party killed 105
bears, 7t buffalo, more than 80 deer. This furnished the families
on the Bluff with meat for the winter. Haywood, p. 129. |
| 1787 |
Colonel Winchester was sent out from Captain Hadley's command at Bledsoe's
Lick to the Caney Fork. This party of the defense troops for the
Cumberland Settlements. He had numerous encounters with the Indians
and ran across many trails. Haywood, p. 241. |
| 1789 |
White County's first settler, John White, wife and 6 year old son built
a cabin in Hickory Valley on a 7 acre tract. It was still standing
in the early 1900's. There was also a 17 year old daughter.
The cabin was built in the Fall of the year. History of White
County, Rev. M. Seals. |
| 1793 |
Battle of Rock Island at the Rock Island Ford of Caney Fork referred
to by Ramsey. |
| 1794 |
Ruben Roberts settled near Horseshoe Bend (near present Walling, Tenn.).
History
of White County, Rev. M. Seals |
| 1796 |
Grant 310 to Joe Rhea and Wm. Tyrell. 5,000 acres on Chicamauga
India Path on the Caney Fork called by King and Company the McClure's River.
March 7, 1796. This was a N.C. grant registered in Sullivan.
King and Company apparently did a lot of surveying on early grants in White,
Fentress, Overton and adjoining counties. Both Robert and Thomas
King are listed as surveyors. They worked in the above area
as early as 1788. |
| 1796 |
Rock Martin arrived at Rock Island. While crossing the Rock Island
Ford an Indian on the island shot one of his companions. Martin returned
to his home in Mecklenburg County, N.C. and with his family again made
the trip to Rock Island where they established their home. Mrs. Jennie
Hash Rucker. |
| 1796 |
North Carolina to Eliza Williams assignee of James Perrymore heirs.
Land warrant 1523 dated January 20, 1785 granted 640 acres on both side
of Caney Fork 7 and 1/4 miles from Roaring Spring. The grant
was surveyed by Johnathan Wood, D.S., June 17, 1796. From the description
and later transfers it was located above and near Tosh Bridge or Ferry.
The Ross Family and later John B. Rodgers came into possession of a part
of it. The Roaring Spring must have been what is now know as Reno
Mill Spring. |