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 1759 - 1842 (83 years)
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| Name |
John Denton |
| Suffix |
Sr. |
| Birth |
17 Jun 1759 |
Shenandoah County, a British Colony in Virginia  [1, 2] |
| Gender |
Male |
| Military |
Revolutionary War Patriot [1, 3] |
| Death |
2 Jul 1842 |
Monroe County, Tennessee [1, 2] |
| Burial |
Hopewell Cemetery, Monroe County, Tennessee [1] |
| Person ID |
I37290 |
The Hennessee Family |
| Last Modified |
12 Feb 2019 |
| Father |
Abraham Denton, III, b. 1726, Orange County, New York d. 1828, Perry County, Tennessee (Age 102 years) |
| Mother |
Elizabeth Ann Hogg, b. 1742, Shenandoah County, British Colony of Virginia d. 1770, Obion County, Tennessee (Age 28 years) |
| Marriage |
1757 |
Virginia [1, 2] |
| Family ID |
F13776 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family |
Mary Moore, b. 22 Feb 1766, Virginia d. 1851, Monroe County, Tennessee (Age 84 years) |
| Marriage |
8 Jun 1782 |
Shenandoah County, Commonwealth of Virginia [1, 4] |
| Residence (Family) |
1830 |
Monroe County, Tennessee [1] |
| Residence (Family) |
1840 |
Monroe County, Tennessee [1] |
| Residence (Family) |
1850 |
Monroe County, Tennessee [1] |
| Children |
| | 1. Isaac Denton, b. 28 Feb 1794, Tennessee d. 11 Feb 1883, Catoosa County, Georgia (Age 88 years) |
|
| Family ID |
F13779 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified |
30 Apr 2023 |
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| Notes |
- John Denton was born 17 June 1759 in Dunsmore County, Virginia. He was a son of Abraham and Mourning (Hogg) Denton. About 1775 John Denton moved with his family to the Watauga settlements, where he resided during the period of the Revolution. He moved a short distance south to the Nolichucky settlements about 1780, and then into what is now Cocke County, Tennessee about 1791.
During the earlier part of the Revolution, the inhabitants of the Watauga and Nolichucky settlements were driven back to the older and safer settlements in Virginia by the Cherokee Indians at the urging of British agents among the Indians.
The settlers of the Watauga and Nolichucky settlements were warned of the impending onslaught of the Cherokees by four traders from the Cherokee Nation. It appears that the traders who carried the warning were Isaac Thomas, William Falling, Jarret Williams and probably John Bryan(t). The warning was given to these traders by Nancy Ward, who helped them to escape from the Indian towns on the Little Tennessee and Tellico Rivers in present Monroe County, Tennessee. This was a three-pronged invasion by the,Indians with the main force led by the implacable foe of the settlers, the war chief of the Cherokees, Dragging Canoe. It was his intention to fall upon the settlers near the Long Island of Holston in what is now Sullivan County, and then carry the battle to the lower Virginia settlements. Thanks to the warning, conveyed to them by the traders and Nancy Ward, militia of the region had gathered.
On 20 July 1776 at Island Flats near Long Island of Holston, the frontier militia under command of Captain James Thompson, who lived on the island, met and defeated the Indians. The militia was apparently composed of five companies commanded by Captains John Campbell, James Shelby,
William Buchanan, William Cocke, and Thomas Madison in addition to that of James Thompson who was in overall command.Dragging Canoe's party was composed of about 170-200 warriors.
A second force of Indians, under command of The Raven, raided the settlements in Carter Valley in present day Hawkins County. Settlers there had been warned of the holocaust and had fled their homes, with the men going to the nearest fort, and the women and children back to what i@ now
Wythe County, Virginia. Finding little to deter them, the Indians made inroads into the settlements on the Clinch River, and in the neighborhood of The Wolf Hills (present day Abingdon), Virginia. The tide of Indian invasion rolled up to the Seven Mile Ford of the Holston. This took place in the
late summer and early fall of 1776, And in early 1777 the Indians returned and raided Poor Valley.
A third party of Indians, under command of Old Abram of Chilhowee, raided Fort Caswell on the Watauga 21 July 1776, but was beaten back. Although unable to accomplish any objectives of their invasion, the Indians remained for some time around the Nolichucky settlements.
It appears that John Denton was not involved in any of the battles of July 1776 against the Indians. Probably he had accompanied the women and children back to the Virginia settlements.
John Denton volunteered in a company of infantry commanded by Captain James Young at Riddles Fort of Holston River in Virginia. While on the march to join the army being assembled to march against the Cherokees on Little Tennessee River, Captain Young was killed, about 20 miles below Riddles Port. Lieutenant William Young commanded until they reached Long Island of the Holston where the company was placed under command of Captain James Shelby and Major Evan Shelby, in the army being assembled under command of Colonel William Christian. This army left the Long Island about 1 Oct 1776, and the first day marched six miles up Horse Creek, past the divide-with Lick Creek, and camped at Double Springs. Here they were joined by Watauga and Nolichucky troops under Captains James Robertson and John Sevier. The companies of James Robertson, John Sevier, James Thompson, Daniel Smith, and Gilbert Christian were formed into a battalion under Major Evan Shelby. The army of Colonel William Christian was made up of about 1800 men and marched 6 Oct 1776 from the Double Spring camp toward the Indian towns. They went down Lick Creek, in present Greene County, to its junction with Nolichucky River. During the night while the army was camped here Ellis Hardin, a trader at the Cherokee towns, came into camp with information that the Indians were waiting on the south side of the French Broad to contest the crossing of the river. From the camp at the mouth of Lick Creek the army marched across the Nolichucky and up Long Creek to its head, then down Dumplin Creek to the French Broad River. The army's march was evidently along the Great War Path of the Indians, and the ford across the French Broad was near Buckingham Island.
Before the army reached the ford they were met by Fallin, a
trader who had a white flag, but this was disregarded by
Colonel Christian. The Cherokee Nation was divided. One
faction, led by Chief Dragging Canoe who had been wounded at
the Battle of Island Flats 20 July 1776, wanted to abandon the
towns along the Little Tennessee and withdraw further down the
Holston (now Tennessee). The elders and other of the tribe
wanted to remain in the beloved towns along the Little
Tennessee. This faction prevailed, and the Cherokees sent
Nathaniel Gist to seek peace from Colonel Christian. Later,
Dragging Canoe, with many young Cherokees and some Creeks,
would prevail and make many vicious raids against the settlers
from the Chicamauga towns in the vicinity of the present day
Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Colonel Christian, having been told the Indians were prepared
to contest the fording of French Broad at Buckingham Island,
attempted a ruse. He had his men light a fire and pitch tents
for each mess, as if the army meant to remain in camp on the
north side of the French Broad River for several days. At
8:00 P.M. he took 1100 men, marched about four miles below
Buckingham Island and crossed the river at the ford discovered
there by some scouts from John Sevier's company. It was the
intention of Colonel Christian to attack the Indians drawn up
to oppose the crossing of the river from behind before
sunrise. To Christian's surprise there was no Indian force
there. It is possible the crossing of the French Broad was
made the night of 15 Oct 1776, Colonel Christian had stated in
a report from the Bouble Spring camp 6 Oct 1776 that it was
his intention to cross French Broad October 15. Christian
allowed the men to remain in camp that day to dry their
equipment and clothes which had gotten wet at the crossing
made at the lower ford. While in camp on the south bank of
French Broad, in what is now Sevier County, the scouts and
traders from the Cherokee towns came in and reported that many
of the Indian warriors had taken their families and fled south
to the Hiwassee River, in present day McMinn, Meigs, and
Bradley Counties.
After spending the day following the crossing of French Broad
in camp, the army resumed the march to the towns of the
Overhill Cherokees along the Little Tennessee River, probably
on 16 or 17 Oct 1776. From the fording of the French Broad to
Toqua Ford on Little Tennessee the march led the army up the
valley of Boyds Creek, in present day Sevier County, and down
Ellejoy Creek from its source in Sevier County to where it
runs into Little River in present day Blount County. The army
passed the present site of Maryville, Tennessee, and on
Friday, 18 Oct 1776, crossed the Little Tennessee River near
Toqua, probably at Tomotley Ford. The night of 18 Oct 1776
was spent at Tomotley a site of a Cherokee village downriver
from Toqua. No opposition was found and next day the forces
of Colonel Christian marched downriver, on the south side of
Little Tennessee passing through Tuskegee, then past the site
of old Fort Loudon which was destroyed by the Cherokees in
1760, to the Great Island Town (Mialaquo). Colonel Christian
made his headquarters at Great Island Town near the present
Vonore, Monroe County, Tennessee. The army camped near the
Indian towns about six weeks and probably returned to their
homes about 1 December 1776.
The Nolichucky and Watauga settlements were the scene of more
turmoil in 1777. May 7, 1777 the General Assembly of North
Carolina provided that four companies of rangers or scouts,
composed of to men each, should be raised among the people
settled west of the mountains. One of these companies was
commanded by James Stuart, and apparently was based, or was
responsible for the present area of Unicoi County. John
Denton was a member of a company of 40 rangers commanded by
Captain Thomas Price and Lieutenant Jarrett Williams. It
appears that Captain Price's company ranged through Greene and
Hawkins Counties, and was on duty six months, probably being
released in late 1777. It was the duty of these companies to
keep the Indians in check.
John Denton took part in another campaign which appears to be
that of the winter of 1780. Monday, 25 Sep 1780 the riflemen
of the Watauga and Nolichucky settlements gathered at Sycamore
Shoals at the foot of Yellow Mountain near Elizabethtown in
present Carter County. Their purpose was to meet and defeat
the British under Colonel Patrick Ferguson. On Saturday, 7
Oct 1780, the riflemen of Watauga, Nolichucky, Southwest
Virginia, and western North Carolina along with some South
Carolina and Georgia patriots met the British of Ferguson and
defeated them at Kings Mountain in South Carolina. The men of
Watauga and Nolichucky were commanded by John Sevier. There
is no indication that John Denton was among the riflemen at
Kings Mountain, but he was among those who were called to meet
the threat of the Cherokee almost as soon as the victors of
Kings Mountain returned to their homes "west of the blue
hills."
As soon as he could do so after the victory at Kings Mountain,
Colonel John Sevier detached the company of Captain George
Russell make a forced march to their homes. Nancy Ward had
sent the traders from the Cherokee towns to warn the settlers
that a large force of Indians had been instigated by the
British to march against the settlements on Watauga and
Nolichucky. Almost as soon as Sevier returned home he called
for a force to meet the impending invasion.
Among those called or volunteered was John Denton. He
volunteered in a company which elected Joseph Bullen Captain
and himself as First Lieutenant. The army rendexvoused at
Swan Pond on Lick Creek, marched down Long Creek in present
day Jefferson County, to the ford of the French Broad near
Buckingham Island where they crossed the rive@and marched on
to meet the Indians. In his application for a pension John
Denton states that the battle was fought at Cedar Springs in
Blount County. John Denton states that he pursued and killed
an Indian, taking a gun with "Georgis Rex" inscribed on the
barrel and a new British tomahawk from the man. This was the
engagement which has come down to us as the Battle of Boyds
Creek and it was fought Saturday 16 Dec 1780. According to
John Denton the contingent commanded by Colonel Sevier was
composed of 270 men. Very soon after the battle Colonel
Sevier received a message from Colonel Arthur Campbell of
Southwest Virginia stating that he would arrive within a week,
and asking Sevier to wait for his arrival before marching on
to the towns of the Indians. Sevier fell back to the ford of
the French Broad near Buckingham Island, but Colonel Campbell
did no arrive until Friday 22 Dec 1780, and provisions were
running short. Colonel Campbell and Major Martin from
Sullivan County arrived with 300-400 additional men, and the
march was resumed to the Little Tennessee River where a
crossing was made at Tomotley Ford Sunday 24 Dec 1780. Chota
was reached on Monday 25 Dec 1780 and a large store of
supplies was found. Resistance was slight and Thursday 28
December the villages of Chota, Tellico and Tuskegee were
burned and the army moved to Kaitee on Tellico River.
Hiwassee was also found to be abandoned and Monday 1 Jan 1780
the army turned homeward.
In 1782 John Denton married Mary Moore, a daughter of James
Moore and Martha Denton Moore, who was the second wife of
Colonel John Tipton. John Denton appears to have remained in
the Nolichucky settlements until about 1790 when he moved@
what later became Cocke County. He obtained two grants from
the state of Tennessee for land on Cosby Creek. About 1812-15
he moved to Overton County, Tennessee where he lived until
about 1820-25 when he moved to Monroe County, Tennessee,
perhaps to land which he had first seen while on the Indian
campaigns in 1776 and 1780. Little is known of the later life
of John Denton. He died 5 July 1842, in Monroe County, and
may be buried in Hopewell Cemetery. He was granted a pension
for his service during the Revolution as was his widow Mary in
1849. [1, 5]
- John Denton was a son of Abraham III and 1st wife Elizabeth.
From "Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Files:"
"John, Mary, W352, NC & VA? soldier was b. 6-17-1759 in Shenandoah CO, VA and at age of 15 moved to the Watauga River in what is now Washington CO, TN and lived there at enl. & lived there 8 years then moved to the Nolichucky River in TN for 8 years then moved to Cocke CO TN for 8 years then moved to Monroe CO,TN and sol appl there 18 Jun 1833 and wid appl there 30 Jan 1844 aged 77 in Feb 1843, sol & wid had m. 1 Apr 1782 and she was b. 27 Feb 1766, sold 2 Jul 1842, children were: Phebe b. 15 Feb 1783; Sarah b 1 Feb 1786, Reuben b 22 Jan 1788, Matthew b 21 May 1790 and Abigail b 11 Mar 1792."
"In the year 1779 or '80 he volunteered while living on Nolachucky River in what is now Washington CO, TN in the Cavalry under Col. John Sevier to go against the Cherokee Indians. When the company was raised, Joseph Bullen was elected Captain and applicant 1st Lt. in which offices they served. About 270 men were under Col. Sevier who marched from Long Cedar Springs -- in what is now Blount CO, TN, where they had an engagement with the Indians and killed 12 of them and wounded many more. He killed one Indian whom he had pursued some distance and from him he took a new gun with "Georgia Rex" on the barrel and a new tomahawk, said to have been furnished by the British. He then under Col. Sevier marched back to Buckingham Island in French Broad, where they were joined by Col. Campbell from VA with about 300 men. They then all marched down the Tennessee River in what is now Monroe CO and killed several Indians in the campaign. In this campaign he was engaged as 1st Lt. at least onemonth and a half. He received no discharge and no pay and served in all eleven months.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by theWar Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. Jeremiah Frazer, Thomas J. Caldwell, William James, William Tipton."
He died 2 Jul 1842 in Monroe CO, TN [3]
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