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BACK TO CHAPTER 5 JAMES AND JOHN FINNEY: FINDING KENTUCKY 1770-1780

January 1781  Those Virginia militia men and companies who lent support to the American army in the Carolinas were home for a reason, they had been called back to Virginia to defend its inhabitants from the American traitor Benedict Arnold.   Arnold had arrived at Hampton Roads, Virginia in late December and by January 1781, with a combined party of British and Tories sixteen hundred strong, plundered across the countryside to caused panic and fear among Virginia citizens. 

Virginia was ordered to select 3,000 men for General George Washington’s Continental Army to defend against this new British maneuver.  Culpeper County was to contribute 106 men to be included in this total.  They decided to split their county militia into 106 lists or classes, each composed of about 13 men from the same area of the county.  One man was drawn from each list or one could volunteer.  James Finney was on list number 85 as a Lieutenant in the Culpeper County militia (Appendix 32).  Finney was a land owner in Culpeper County and had also served as a sergeant in the Battle of Point Pleasant.  Most of the men on his list were close neighbors and friends of the Finneys.  George Copher’s name was drawn from list 85 and would join Washington’s army.  James brother, William, was on list number 101 and was also, like  his older brother, not chosen. (see Appendix 32 for details of James Finney’s class 85)

Noticeably absent from the Culpeper County classes was John Finney.  Finney’s absence could be contributed to either current army service or his allegiance was held by another county.  John Finney could have been a part of the Western Corp fighting on the western front against the British in Detroit and their Indian alliances.[i]  There was no list of these soldiers.   Finney is also known to have been in the western counties before and early in the war.

In addition to the new Virginia contribution of men, two events occurred to aid in the defense of Virginia.  First, General George Washington detached and sent 1200 troops from New England and New Jersey to Virginia.  He held the remaining troops at his own location in New England, still unsure as to the intended target of the British leader Lord Cornwallis’ and his next big move. Second, Virginians became motivated by Arnold’s lack of humanity and the atrocities he committed as he worked way through Virginia.  Virginia men began to volunteer for militia duty at epic proportion.  They volunteered as patriots, fighting for a principle, but also fought to protect their family, their land, and all they had worked so hard for.  They would guard their homes at all costs (see Appendix 33 for a detailed description of Virginia militia movements in 1781).

March 1781  A James Finney enlisted (technically he was drafted) into the 9th Virginia Regiment. This James Finney stated he was 26 years of age and born in Culpeper County.  He enrolled for a year and a half.  This was likely James Finnell as the record also states he was previously a member of the 1st Light Dragoons. This man’s service was really with the 7th Virginia Regiment as the 9th Virginia Regiment had been renamed a month before in February (Appendix 34). 

March 1781  By mid-March, General Lafayette arrived in Yorktown, Virginia via barge transport.  His march south from New York was anticipated by representatives of the Virginia colony.  Culpeper County raised militia companies that were to join Lafayette’s army for the protection against a British invasion sweeping up the James River.  Those companies known to have been active at this time were under the leadership of captains Fisher Rice, Rucker, Mark Finks, Robert Pollard, John Waugh, Ambrose Bohannon, Elijah Kirtley, James Browning, Benjamin Lillard, William Rice, Lewis Yancey, Gabriel Green, and Edmund Covington.[ii]  They were marched by Major Henry Hill through Fredericksburg and Bowling Green before encamping at Sandy Point on the James River near Richmond.  Here, the Culpeper companies joined Colonel James Slaughter’s regiment which was a part of General Peter Muhlenburg’s militia brigade, one of two brigades, the other led by General Nelson.

21 March 1781  Further west, the Greenbrier County, Virginia Court in Lewisburg ordered James Mayze to compensate John Finney for his role in Mayze’s court case.  The compensation amounted to 650 pounds of tobacco because John Finney had traveled 150 miles to court and then departed and amassed 150 additional miles returning home.  Also interesting to note – George Blackburn was ordered to serve as a jury member for a court case.  This serves as roof that his home at this time was Greenbrier County.

14 April 1781  Letters from the Virginia government were sent to the western Virginia counties requesting more militia companies to be formed to defend against a rapidly growing and more dangerous British threat.  Western counties issued protests, stating that they already had more men in service than they could afford.  Though the excuse was issued, the counties continued to implore for men to join and form militia companies to defend their homes.

25 April 1781  About 2300 British troops defeated about 1000 Virginia militia who were fighting under direct orders of the Baron von Steuben and General Muhlenburg fought the British in the Battle of Petersburg in southeast Virginia.  The Virginia militia companies fought with bravery but eventually were chased away from Petersburg and on the 27 April, the Virginia militia, including those from Culpeper County, was at Chesterfield Courthouse.  General Lafayette had attempted to march his troops to assist but arrived in Richmond on April 29, his army including only a small portion of Virginia militia.

May 1781  In the first days of May (and even possibly in late April), new Culpeper County militia companies rendezvoused at the Culpeper Courthouse.  This muster was a direct result of the call for militia from April 14.  Men were asked to volunteer for a three month tour of duty to protect Virginia after the recent defeat at Petersburg.  Elijah Kirtley was the captain of one of these companies and was assisted by lieutenants Simeon Buford, James Finney, and Reuben Moore.[iii]  Kirtley had a militia company that had been active but many were reassigned after Petersburg and others were leaving after two month enlistments had expired and therefore needed reinforcement.  Other companies in action at this time from Culpeper County were led by Captain Ambrose Bohannon, Captain Robert Pollard, Captain William Green, Captain Francis Nalle, Captain Henry Towles, Captain Joseph Woods, Captain Duncan, Captain William Stanton, and Captain Joel Early.  The men that formed these companies marched with Colonel Thornton and Colonel Robert Alcock and joined General Lafayette’s army east of Richmond at Bottom’s Bridge.  The militia companies were placed under the immediate supervision of Colonel Dick and Major Boyce.  At their time of arrival, Lafayette’s burgeoning army was just beginning their retreat from an aggressive British push led by Lord Cornwallis.

27 May 1781  With an army of 3000 (about 1000 regulars and two brigades of militia totaling about 2000 volunteers), mostly made up of Virginia militia, Lafayette abandoned Richmond and marched to the north, followed by Cornwallis and his army of over 7000 troops.  A week later, Lafayette’s army reaches the Rapidan River and crosses Ely’s Ford into Culpeper County where the army camped at Culpeper Courthouse.  Two days later they re-crossed the Rapidan at Raccoon Ford and were soon joined by General Anthony Wayne marching from the north with nearly 1000 troops.  The army’s appearance in Culpeper County encouraged even more local young men to volunteer and join the militia under Lafayette.

14 June 1781  Culpeper militia men marched valiantly in Lafayette’s army during what many referred to as the “marching tour.”  Volunteers under Captain Elijah Kirtley were also led by Lieutenant James Finney and Sergeant Reuben Twyman.[iv]  Julius Gibbs was a private in Kirtley’s company.  Cornwallis began to withdraw from a strengthened American army under Lafayette.  In their pursuit of the British back towards the south, Lafayette camped at Colonel Dandridge’s house and fields for several days and then moved to New Kent Courthouse where they camped until the first of July.  All during this time, new Virginia militia volunteers were arriving to defend their homes while others left after their tours had ended.  Many of the captains serving from Culpeper County merely stayed and accepted the new troops as replacements.  Captains such as Elijah Kirtley, Mark Finks, William Johnson, Fisher Rice, George Johnson, and Lewis Yancey were among those accepting new troops.  Meanwhile, Cornwallis’ army had retreated to Williamsburg.

June 1781  During this month, 25 pounds of beef was taken from John Finney to be used by the Revolutionary soldiers.  The beef was taken by J. Strother[v], a Culpeper County farmer doing impressment of goods and services for the government.  John received a receipt from Mr. Strother that he could use to claim a reimbursement for the beef after the war.  Beef had actually been taken from John back in January but no record exists.  Although no actual battles took place in Culpeper County, the citizens were affected by the war in more than just combat.  Throughout much of the war, there was a constant need for supplies for the men serving.  The General Assembly of Virginia required citizens or county governments to act as procurement agencies who were charged with taking, or impressing, needed supplies from county citizens for the malnourished soldiers.  These supplies included food, arms, wagons and livestock.

What is even more interesting about this impressment record is that the item was taken from John Finney in Culpeper County. All evidence prior to this record indicates that John Finney had not been in Culpeper County for some time.  Now, it seems that John Finney had returned.  Since James Finney was serving in the militia in Lafayette’s army, John Finney would have been needed on the farm during key planting times.  John Finney may have also returned home for a reason.  Several years later, he would marry for a second time after having at least two children from a first marriage.  That would make 1781 a possible time frame for his first marriage.  So, planning to raise his new family would have been good cause for returning to Culpeper County to start things off.

July 1781  The American army under Lafayette crept forward and reached Williamsburg while Cornwallis had continued the British retreat to Portsmouth.  By mid-July, Lafayette stationed the main body of his army (2200 troops) at Malvern Hill between Richmond and Williamsburg while General Wayne was sent with a force of Virginia recruits and riflemen to shadow Cornwallis’ movements.

Men from Culpeper County continued to send a steady stream of volunteers marching southeast to join Lafayette’s army. Militia companies received reinforcements (e.g., Captains Elijah Kirtley, Henry Towles, Ambrose Bohannon, and William Green) while new companies were marched by new captains; Joseph Early, Benjamin Lillard, Gordon, Cadwallader Slaughter, Fisher Rice, and Jonathan Cowherd.[vi]  These men volunteered for three month tours and therefore, the expected to return in early October.  Most of the Virginia militia was stationed at Malvern Hill between Richmond and Williamsburg.

1 August 1781 At this time, Culpeper County volunteers were coming and going almost continuously, as were militia troops from all Virginia colonists.  Many of the militia men’s tours were expiring and though many elected to stay and volunteer for an additional tour, many also returned to their homes.  Cornwallis arrived at Yorktown where the British army began preparations to build a port for the British navy. 

11 August 1781 James Finney, if he had indeed enlisted in Kirtley’s company for a three month tour in early May, would have arrived home in the first few weeks of August.  He may have been just in time to witness the birth of his newest child, the fourth child that had been born to James and Elizabeth Finney.  Having just returned from militia service and having witnessed Elijah Kirtley in action, James Finney elected to name his child Elijah.  Elijah was not only a welcome sight to James and Elizabeth, but to his big sister Nancy, who was now nearing two and a half years old and could walk and talk.

August 1781  By the end of August, it was estimated that nearly all young men in Virginia, and certainly those in Culpeper County, were either serving in Lafayette’s army or are just returning home from service.  New recruits were arriving to serve under the captains that were stationed between New Kent Courthouse and Malvern Hill along the James River.  Culpeper County sent replacement troops to captains already in Lafayette’s army while others arrived following new captains: Armistead White, William Triplett, Thomas Covington, Edmond Covington, James Clarke, Francis Coleman, William Watts, and Hankeson Reed.[vii] 

August 1781  Lafayette’s army observed the happy landing of a French fleet that added 7000 troops to the rebel army.  The militia companies were relatively free of combat except for a few reported “skirmishes” during their time at and around Malvern Hill.

September 1781 General Washington arrived at Williamsburg on September 14 followed a week later by the American troops marching from New York.  By this time, the combined American army included 5700 continental troops and 3100 militia.  With over 7000 French troops recently added to the ground force, the British were looking at nearly 16000 strong.

October 1781  John Finney was again called upon to give to the government. This time he and his horse were called upon to aid Washington’s army by impressing goods and services in Culpeper County.  He was to serve 105 days in this position, or about three and a half months.  John Finney would join other Culpeper County men, such as Reuben Beale, Birkett Davenport, and J. Strother, to impress goods such as livestock from farmers and other county citizens in Culpeper County to feed troops and prisoners of war.[viii] 

October 1781  Many militiamen from Culpeper County left the army at the end of their three month tour, which for some had began in July to join a large army that had been amassed for General Lafayette.  Shortly after these troops tour had ended and they had departed, the siege of Yorktown began as American cannon directed at British troops in Yorktown commenced.  Before the siege, the Culpeper militia men had helped to construct the breastwork around the outskirts of Yorktown that would defend against British cannon.  And then during the siege, militia companies conducted fatigue duty, provided provisions, and were assigned to assist in the artillery barrage.  The men in Captain Elijah Kirtley’s company were involved with helping the artillery man the cannons. 

On October 19, the British surrendered to the Americans and after the terms were negotiated, the American force lined the roads from Yorktown as the British marched out.  Along the right side of the road and standing at attention behind the continental regulars were the Virginia militia and all the volunteers from Culpeper County.  Across from them on the left side of the road were the French allied troops.  After the British marched out of Yorktown between the line of victorious troops, the British had officially surrendered.  The militia troops were assigned to escort the British prisoners to barracks.  Some of the prisoners were escorted to the barracks at Frederick County, Maryland and others to Winchester, Virginia at Albemarle Barracks.  Those militia men who had enlisted for three months after July were kept on duty and primarily spent their time guarding prisoners.

28 November 1781  James and John Finney were once again in Williamsburg to buy treasury warrants.   They were joined in the treasury warrant office by fellow Culpeper County resident Joseph Hensley.  James bought the first warrant for 7,000 acres, paying 11,200 pounds.  Hensley bought the next warrant for 500 acres followed by John Finney’s purchase.  John paid 31,200 pounds for 19,500 acres.  Together James and John Finney spent over 40,000 pounds at the treasury office (Appendix 35).[ix]  This gives a pretty good idea of how well the Finney farm was producing.[x]  It should be remembered that these two men were only about 30 years old.  And, it must have been quite a risk moving about the countryside with that type of currency.  In the treasury warrant log book, future president James Madison and his brother Ambrose bought the next few warrants, though it appears those transactions occurred on the following day.

January/February 1782  Even though the ground war was over, there were still many troops away from home and on active duty.  John Finney was doing impressment work for Culpeper County but finally returned home from his service.  He was specifically impressing supplies for troops that remained active and to maintain prisoners at Albemarle Barracks in Winchester, Virginia. Upon completing his duties, the Culpeper County court began processing claims of county citizens for goods they had impressed from them during the war. 

There were many Finney men that participated in the Revolutionary War.  Though no clear relationship can be made to any of these men, Appendix 36 gives a review of these men and their service.

1 March 1782  John Finney was compensated by the Culpeper County court for beef taken from him back in January 1781 by an impressment agent in the army.  Later, on 20 March, John was again compensated by the county court for his assistance in impressing goods for the county in late 1781.  John Finney and his neighbors brought written claims or certificate receipts before the Culpeper County war claims board for provisions either voluntarily given or, possibly, forcibly impressed to support the war effort.  There had been a provision law enacted by the Virginia legislature that allowed items to be taken from citizens with certificates left in the item’s place as a promise of restitution.

1782  Taxes were assessed on property and recorded for the citizens of Culpeper County, Virginia.  James Finney was taxed for 163 acres, half of what remained from his father’s original land.  He owned two slaves, two horses and nine head of cattle.  His brother John Finney was taxed on 163 acres, the other half of his father’s remaining land.  John owned three slaves, three horses and seven head of cattle.  James mother, Elizabeth, was not taxed for any land.  She was living with her children on the combined 326 acres.  She owned one slave and one horse.  James and his wife Elizabeth had two small children.  John was certainly living on the Finney farm with his first wife.  The whereabouts of William Finney, brother of James and John Finney, is unknown.  He must have been at least 21 by this time and does not show up in the tax records.  Also unknown is whether or not Elizabeth Finney, sister of James and John, was still living at the Finney farm.

James and John often talked about their land in Kentucky.  At some point, they formulated a plan to migrate with their families west to settle in the wilderness.  More than likely, their plan did not include a specific date.  They needed to make sure that their mother was taken care of as well as the sale of the Finney farm.  The sale of their farm would need to be advertised and could take time.    

The Finneys heard news from Kentucky that Indian raids were continued at an alarming rate.  In August 1782, an Indian army of over 600 attacked Bryan’s Station north of the Kentucky River.  They killed two men and after two days the attacking party fled.  A party of about 75 men gathered quickly and included Daniel Boone with many other Kentucky officers.  They followed the Indian army and overtook them at Blue Licks on the Licking River.  Here, the Kentucky army walked into an ambush and nearly 70 men were lost.  James and John yearned to be a part of the party led by George Rogers Clark that marched north of Kentucky into Indian territory a little over a month later to exact revenge for the atrocities committed at the Battle of Blue Licks.   They knew many of their friends were probably in this party of over 1,000 men.  The effect of Clark’s march seemed mild when they heard that only villages were burnt and they were not able to avenge the deaths of so many good Kentucky men.  About 860 Kentuckians had met their death at the hands of the Indians since the start of the Revolution.  This was the greatest loss relative to population suffered by any section of the country during the war.

Who was George Rogers Clark?
George Rogers Clark was born in 1752 in Virginia, one of nine children.  His younger brother William was one of the leaders of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.  Clark grew to be six feet tall, red-haired with dark hazel eyes, slender and strong.  The preeminent American military leader on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War, Clark rose to the rank of general in the Revolutionary Army and was the only general never defeated in battle.  He was hailed as the conqueror of the Northwest Territory at the apex of his fame.  It has been said that Clark added three, perhaps five, states to the Union and that if there had been no George Rogers Clark, a vast expanse of America would, almost certainly, have been British, or even Spanish.  After the war, Clark lived very modestly in Southern Indiana and operated a grist mill until his death in 1818, having never married.

25 May 1782  On 25 May, John Finney entered 400 acres for Levi Lockhart at the land office that covered Greenbrier, Augusta, and Botetourt Counties.  Though the land was claimed for Levi Lockhart, the John Finney treasury warrant 9439 was used.  This is the first known use of this warrant, a forbearer of many entries to come as he began to claim monthly smaller parcels of land near his original claims from as early as 1774.  Some relationship existed between Finney and Lockhart and whether they had a partnership or Finney simply sold part of his warrant to Lockhart is unknown.  This 400 acres was described as adjoining the Little Meadow River, which was certainly in Greenbrier County then.  A Meadow Creek in present-day Fayette County enters the New River from the east and a Meadow River in Nicholas County enters the Gauley River from the south.[xi]  The land was likely on a branch of the Meadow River that entered the Gauley River as one branch was within a mile of the head of Sewell Creek, near where Finney originally settled with George Blackburn.



8 June 1782  John Finney began to use treasury warrant 9439 to claim parcels of land in western Virginia near his settlement dating from 1774 on the branches of Gauley River.  Only two weeks after recording his first entry, Finney entered three tracts of land at the Greenbrier County land office. The first was for 4000 acres seven miles northeast of Stroud’s on a branch that entered the Gauley River from its north side.  Another tract was described as 2000 acres on the middle fork of the Gauley River about 15 miles north of Stroud’s to include John Williams hunting camp.  A last entry was made for 1000 acres about 15 miles above Stroud’s on a south branch of the Elk River. Stroud’s may have been a reference to Stroud’s Creek, a large branch of the Gauley River that enters the Gauley on the north near present-day Camden-on-Gauley.  Fifteen miles north of the mouth of Stroud’s Creek is the Elk River in present-day Braxton County.  Also at the Greenbrier land office on 8 June was Abraham Haptenstall, a man the Finney’s later negotiated with regarding land in Kentucky.[xii]

Though John Finney paid taxes in Culpeper County in 1782, he was physically in Greenbrier County by May and into June.  Entries would have been made only after seeing the land and determining if it was available.  And so John Finney was moving about central Greenbrier County.  Whether or not he was living there with his first wife is unknown.

10 July 1782  Only one month later, James Finney was in Greenbrier County and entered two tracts for land on the Ohio River in the extreme northwest Greenbrier County.  Both tracts were for 2000 acres, made using his 7000 acre treasury warrant number 9437, and described as near the land of a Captain West and about three miles above Letart Falls.  The location of Letart Falls on the Ohio River was very near the spot where the Battle of Point Pleasant had taken place about eight years before. James Finney had these tracts surveyed but what happened to them is ultimately unknown.  Also at the land office was Jacob Lockhart who entered land for an associate John Perry on the Elk River the day before.  Finney and Lockhart certainly spent one or more days in the vicinity of the land office.[xiii]

10 August 1782  Exactly a month after making entries for 4000 acres, James Finney entered two additional tracts.  The first was for 50 acres on Richland Creek and the second, two days later, was on Anthony’s Creek, both adjoining the land of William Ward.  Finney again used warrant 9437 to make these claims for land.[xiv]  In all likelihood, Finney had arrived in Greenbrier in June and had remained there through July and into August.  His wife Elizabeth was probably at their farm in Culpeper County with their three year old and newborn baby.  They would have no children for several years, possibly related to the time he was spending away from home finding land and trying to improve the Finney status. 

21 August 1782  Joseph Davis came to the monthly Greenbrier County court bringing charges against two men.  He claimed that John Finney and George Blackburn had at one time been trespassers on his property.  The case was not found in later court meetings and we must assume that the disagreement was settled out of court.  This trespassing charge may have been a product of their search for land as they roamed a rough and wild countryside with very little sign of civilization.  Or, Finney and Blackburn may have been hunting.  On the same day in August, William Gilliland, an associate of John Finney, was named as the defendant in a case brought by George Stewart, claiming Gilliland committed assault and battery against him.

Fall 1782  John Finney remained a common visitor at the Greenbrier land office.  On 17 October, John Finney made a claim for 400 acres on the Cherry Tree Bottom.  This tract must have adjoined or been near the land he had originally settled as many as eight years before.  Then less than a month later on 13 November, he penned in new claims, this time for two 600-acre tracts.  One was on Laurel Creek and the other on Little Meadow River.  There were many waterways by these names but they were surely southern branches of the Gauley River in present day Nicholas County, West Virginia, as Finney seemed to focus on land in this area.  However, a Meadow River is known to enter the New River from the east in Fayette County just west of Nicholas County.  This waterway was only a few miles west of Sewell Creek flowing north to the Gauley.  Finney previously marked the location boundaries for each of these current tracts by carving his initials “J. F.” into trees to mark a corner.[xv]  George Blackburn joined Finney this day and made his own entry for 600 acres on Sewell’s Creek.  Blackburn’s entry was made with Finney’s warrant 9439, probably after being purchased from Finney. Others at the land office on this day were Thomas and William Lewis.[xvi]

14 November 1782  Though the relationship is unknown, the Finneys were close to the Lockhart family, particularly Jacob and Levi Lockhart.  Both Lockharts were contemporaries of John and James Finney, Jacob born about 1745 and Levi about 1753.  In 1781, Jacob Lockhart petitioned to have a station erected at the mouth of the Elk River to protect settlers about the mouth of the Elk River at the Great Kanawha River. John Finney would later own land at this same location.  On 14 November 1782, Jacob Lockhart, Levi Lockhart, John Finney, William Arbuckle, and others signed a petition for a road to be cleared in the Warm Springs, Ugly Creek, and Savannah area on the north side of the Greenbrier River, Howard’s Creek, and Anthony’s Creek.  These locales were presumably in the same location around Elk River.

Winter 1783  James Finney was once again in Greenbrier County and on 24 January, he entered 25 acres on warrant 9437.  The land adjoined Jacob Lockhart near the path that led to John Stuart’s land.  Many men were present at the land office this day, including James Jordan, James Anderson, James Stephenson, William Oldham, and William McClintock.[xvii]  Ten days later, James Finney, Levi Lockhart, and James Edmondson were back at the land office to claim more land.  Finney entered five tracts, all on warrant number 9437.  Each tract (unknown amount, 500 acres, 925 acres, 500 acres, and 500 acres) was located on the Ohio River and adjoined Captain West’s Creek and his two previous entries from July 1782.  These entries also adjoined land later claimed by Jacob Lockhart who himself entered land on West Creek adjoining James Finney’s land to include Rich Hill.  Levi Lockhart entered 500 acres with the John Finney warrant 9439 on the first creek that enters the New River (actually Kanawha which the New River becomes after meeting with the Gauley River) below the mouth of the Elk River near present-day Charleston, West Virginia.[xviii]  This would have been near the location of Jacob Lockhart’s Station.

With these entries, James Finney had entered at least 6450 acres not including the tract of unknown quantity entered in February.  His entries for land on Richland and Anthony’s Creek were lifted to make room for his interests on the Ohio River (2000 – July 1782, 2000 – July 1782, 50 acres – August 1782 removed, 50 acres – August 1782 removed, 25 acres – January 1783, ? acres – February 1783, 500 acres – February 1783, 925 acres – February 1783, 500 acres – February 1783, 500 acres – February 1783).  These were the last land entries the Finneys made for nearly two years. 

1783  Culpeper County taxes were assessed and recorded.  During this tax assessment, land was not listed.  James Finney was taxed on three slaves, two horses and eight head of cattle.  John was taxed on three slaves, three horses, and seven head of cattle.  Their mother, Elizabeth was taxed for only one horse and was listed with one male in her household over 21.  This was probably her son William Finney, who was listed in the tax assessment but had no taxable property.  Taxed citizens were found living in districts overseen by 15 Culpeper County gentlemen.  The Finney family was found in William Walker’s district listing.  Other men from the southern Culpeper County region near the Finneys home could be found in Robert Allcock’s district to the immediate east and Elijah Kirtley’s district to the immediate west.  See Appendix 37 for a detailed account of Culpeper County citizens in these districts.

John Finney would not have paid personal property tax if he were not living in Culpeper County.  The absence of records placing John Finney west of the Blue Ridge Mountains implies that Finney was not living there in 1783 and was in fact living in Culpeper County.  Therefore, we can assume that Finney was not moving his family back and forth across the mountains during such uncivilized times.  Finney’s time in western Virginia was extensive and purposeful but not permanent. His brother James Finney had not shown up in 1782 records as often as his brother John but we must assume he was there with his brother much of the time from the records that do show his presence.

25 July 1783  The Virginia Continental army totally disbanded.  The threat of war was over and a treaty would soon be signed between the Americans and the British.  Men were returning home to excited families.  Parties were occurring everywhere to celebrate their return and the end of the war.  Unfortunately, the American leaders were either not fully aware of the threats that remained in the west or they were just ignoring them.  There was a strong feeling among some American leaders that an army in times of peace was dangerous to liberties of free people and was an engine to establishing despotism.  They thought an armed citizenry, like the militia, that could be called to service when war was near would be the best defense of the new republic.  George Washington and Alexander Hamilton disagreed and drew up plans for regular a Continental army of nearly 2,500 troops that would be split up and stationed at strategic defensive positions to the west and south.  The members of Congress fully ignored their plan.

July 1783  Though a great deal of excitement and countless festivities were occurring, county courts were still business as usual.  James Finney and a Culpeper County neighbor Hadley Head reported to the Culpeper County court on the slaves and personal estate of recently deceased neighbor, Edward Leavell.  Head and Leavell were both neighbors of the Finneys in Culpeper County and lived closer to James Finney’s father-in-law John Gibbs.  The Leavells had been in Culpeper County for several decades and Hadley Head had just moved to Culpeper County from Orange County about 1778.

James and John Finney, and maybe their brother William, were still making plans to return to their lands in Kentucky.  They yearned for the open land and abundant game in the beautiful western county.  They may have even returned to make improvements on their lands or to prepare it for their family’s imminent move.  They were feeling safer from the Indians now that the British had been defeated and the British forts to the north were no longer supporting them, or so they thought.  However, a new variable was recently added into the mix: James’ wife Elizabeth was recently determined that she was pregnant and would be due in January or February of 1784.  Their plans would have to accommodate this happy news.

August 1783  James Finney returned to Williamsburg, Virginia with the intent of purchasing additional Virginia treasury warrants for Kentucky land (Appendix 38 reveals those with whom James Finnie may have been traveling with; those who bought warrants are the same time).  He bought a 5,740-acre treasury warrant from the Virginia land office on August 16 for $9,084.08.  It seems he was with Benjamin Finney, Hadley Head, John Campbell, and John Stogdell (Stockdell), who each bought treasury warrants for land they intended to enter in Kentucky.[xix]  The large amount of money James Finney spent was evident of his stature as a well to do farmer, with efficient crops and possibly a little deerskin hunting in western Virginia during the fall and winter months.

Who was Benjamin Finney?
Benjamin Finney may have been a brother to James and John Finney.  If so, he would have to have been born about 1764, after their father wrote his will.  If not a brother, Benjamin must have had some relation to the Finneys as they bought land warrants together.  The two men would not make entries on their treasury warrants at the same time but they were surveyed at the same time, which means their land was very close.  A Benjamin Finney was also associated with the Forks of the Elkhorn Church in Woodford County, Kentucky in the 1790s.  No other information has been found on Benjamin to tell us anything about his life or his past.  It is also possible that this man was actually Benjamin Finnell and no relation to the Finney’s.  There were several Finnell families in and around Culpeper County and a few moved to Kentucky.  A Benjamin Finnell was listed in the 1783 Culpeper County tax roll.  This Benjamin Finnell was known to have lived in Culpeper County, Virginia until after 1790 and was in Scott County, Kentucky by 1793.

August 1783  Just three days after purchasing the large treasury warrant in Williamsburg, James Finney negotiated a deal to pay Jacob Broyles 500 pounds for his claim to a 400-acre parcel of land entered in 1780 on the Main Licking River.  Since only one receipt exists it can be assumed that the same deal was made for the 400-acre tract of land James Finney purchased from Michael Broyles.  The Broyles were living in Green County, North Carolina at the time and either the meeting took place in Culpeper County or in Williamsburg.[xx]  James Finney wrote the receipt that was signed (or marked) by Jacob Broyles and witnessed by Reuben Medley and John Bohannon.  The presence of these men as witnesses tend to imply the deed was made in Culpeper County since these men were both Culpeper citizens.  Finney wrote that he was “James Finney of Culpeper County,” the last time he would make such claim.


Who were the Broyles?
Jacob and Michael were sons of Jacob Broyles, originally of Germany, and were born between 1736 and 1748, growing up about five miles north of the Culpeper County Finney’s on White Oak Run.  This area was the southernmost part of the Germanna settlement, where Germans had come to America seeking religious freedom.  They were known members of the county militia in Culpeper but did not fight in the Revolution.  All three brothers would move to Green County, Tennessee (claimed by descendants) between 1779 and 1780 and would never claim the grants to their Kentucky land. 

September/October 1783  James Finney and his family packed up all they could carry themselves and on horseback following his return to his home from Williamsburg.  They were preparing for the journey they would soon start that would end in their arrival in Kentucky.  They would leave in time to avoid the possibility of getting caught in foul wintry weather, which would seriously increase the difficulty of their trip.  At this time the Finney family included himself, his wife Elizabeth, four or five months pregnant with child, a four-year-old daughter Nancy, and a two-year-old son Elijah.  They would travel with Elizabeth’s brother, Julius Gibbs, and his family.  Others in their company on the trip to Kentucky may have included the families of James Smithey, John Martin, and Joseph Falconer.[xxi]

John Finney would stay for the time being to plant the crops at the Finney farm in Culpeper County.[xxii]  They thought it was important to have a full crop to fall back on if Kentucky did not pay off for them.  John would then come to Kentucky later this year or the following year if all went well.[xxiii]  Mrs. Finney was also still living at the farm.  They decided that she would move to Rockingham County sometime early in the next year to live with her daughter Mary Finney-Rice. 

The Finneys were excited, but were also regretful as they were leaving friends and relatives behind.  The family had fitted bulging packs, portmanteaus, haversacks stuffed with jerk (smoked meat) and knapsacks to horses, livestock and men’s back, loaded churns and kettles into ox driven carts.  They packed and gave away what they could not take.  John and family probably took care of the items they left behind.

The company with which James Finney traveled with certainly took the Wilderness Trail as their preferred route to Kentucky.  The other option would have been a trek to Pittsburg, followed by the building of a flatboat and then the loading of everything they brought onto the makeshift barge for a piggyback ride upon the Ohio River current.  This second option was out of the question in the fall since waters were much lower and flatboats could not navigate the entire distance to Kentucky.  The Ohio was only navigable in the spring when waters were much higher from snow melt and rain.  The Finneys took with them as much as they all could handle.  Fortunately, they had the help of their slaves to load the wagons, to lead their livestock, and to carry their fair share and more.  Within the entire traveling company, most of the men and some of the women and children traveled on foot, while the remainder were on horseback as wagons could not pass on the rough and tight trails leading to Kentucky.  As the journey progressed, the travelers were forced to abandon many of their items to lighten the load and increase their speed. 

Indians commonly scalped their victims

They were very careful of potential Indian ambushes all along the trail.  Even though official war was over and the treaty of peace signed, the Indians were still not happy over their land being torn from under them.  No treaty would keep all of the Indian tribes from war, as they themselves usually were fighting from one tribe to another.  An average of over 100 Kentucky immigrants had died violently on the Wilderness Trail each year at the hands of the Indians up to 1783.  Despite fears and hardships, westward immigrants displayed courage, bravery, and concern on the trail for fellow travelers.  One company reportedly stopped for a few days in 1784 to help and console a family whose four children had been tomahawked and scalped.  On clear nights families slept under blankets, buffalo skins, and deer hides.  On rainy nights, they erected half-faced tents topped with bark and fresh leaves.

Once they arrived at Cumberland’s Gap, they began to see “indolent ignorant people” who raised some corn but lived on hunting with a little salt and whiskey, sleeping mostly in small huts.  Past the Gap and on into the Kentucky wilderness, they saw less population with only a few huts here and there, mostly vacant except for the occasional use by hunters.  At the end of their journey and upon the rich land of the Bluegrass, the signs of hunters were replaced by families who planned to make Kentucky a permanent home.

September/October 1783  Word would reach the American population that the America and England had signed an official treaty.  This treaty, known as the Treaty of Paris, gave America its independence and England would recognize them as the new United States of America.   The terms of the treaty had taken two long years since the end of the war.  The cause: America, France, and England had great difficulty agreeing on issues that would make them all happy.

November 1783   Back in Virginia, John Finney was again called on by the government to give 100 days of service.  He would be impressing goods and services from the citizens of Culpeper County.  He was chosen by Burkett Davenport, a Culpeper County farmer who was impressing goods for the government throughout 1783, and became his assistant.  There were no crops to tend to during the winter months and food had already been gathered.  William Finney and the slaves were likely called upon to help take care of the John Finney family and Finney farm in Culpeper County.

10 December 1783  James Finney made an entry for 5,740 acres at the Land Office in Kentucky (Appendix 39).  The land he had chosen to claim was located on Triplett’s Creek, a branch on the north side of the Licking River.  Most of the prime land in central Kentucky had already been claimed.  The Licking River was the only location where settlers could still claim such large land claims.  James Finney knew that this land was much too dangerous for his family to live on, nor was any of the land he now owned safe.  The tracts were too far away from neighbors or existing stations and forts and the lack of protection from neighbors made a move to these locations a foolish option.  As one person was quoted as stating from that time, “they (settlers) were afraid to live scattered.”  The Finney family may have stayed in a fort or station through the winter of 1783.[xxiv]  The last two years James Finney claimed land in late fall and winter.  Finney was certainly using his time wisely, searching for uninhabited land and hunting during the prime hunting months.

Later documents from the Lockhart family reveal interest in a tract of land located on Triplett’s Creek in the amount of 11,875 acres. Three children of Jacob Lockhart (born about 1745 and son of the elder Jacob Lockhart), including Charles, James, and John Lockhart, all had claim to one-third of this land and held claims until at least 1807. 






[i] John Finney later became a colonel in the Kentucky militia.  He would have either had to be a large land owner or have had a significant service record during Indian campaigns.  His colonel position could have also been related to the extensive work he performed at the end of the revolution impressing goods for the American army and the British prisoners.
[ii] Analysis of pension applications by men who volunteered or were drafter into service during this time
[iii] William Simpson pension listed Simeon Buford and Moore as lieutenants while Anderson Long listed John Finney as a lieutenant.  War veterans attempting to remember their service, dates, and officers often consisted of gross amounts of guesswork.  Remembering things that happened over 50 years before and at an age normally exceeding 70, men struggled with fact and often mixed and confused what actually had happened.  In reviewing many pensions, I have seen many instances when war veterans confused names.  I believe that Anderson Long confused John Finney for James Finney.  John Finney was not on the Culpeper County militia list in January, only a few months before, therefore, he was likely not an eligible Culpeper citizen to be a member of a Culpeper County militia company, much less a lieutenant.
[iv] Reuben Twyman’s pension listed James Finney as a lieutenant and Anderson Long listed John Finney but more than likely meant James Finney, since he had listed John Finney once before.
[v] This could be either John Strother or Joseph Strother.  Both were from Culpeper County.
[vi] Analysis of pension applications from men  who volunteered in Culpeper County
[vii] Analysis of pension applications from men  who volunteered in Culpeper County
[viii] William Rucker of Culpeper Co stated that he impressed after the war with Col Beale and Col Finney in his pension.  Could he have named “Colonel Finney” because he was known as Colonel Finney later in Kentucky?  Rucker, like others would have known John Finney as Colonel Finney for nearly 50 years.
[ix] No entry has been found for this land but it likely that James and John journeyed shortly afterwards to Greenbrier County to make the entry.  Future information may support this guess.  James Finney made two entries for 2000 acres and 4350 acres and the surveys were made on 1 and 2 June 1785.  John Finney made an entry with Levi Lockhart for 500 acres and the survey was made on 17 November 1784
[x] Actually the farm production is a guess.  The Finney’s could have had other assets and sold them or they could have received money from a relative in a will.  Other scenarios are sure to exist.
[xi] Greenbrier County, VA Land Entry Book page 83
[xii] Greenbrier County, VA Land Entry Book page 56-57
[xiii] Greenbrier County, VA Land Entry Book page 63
[xiv] Greenbrier County, VA Land Entry Book page 65
[xv] states the mark was “I. F.” according to the land record transcription
[xvi] Greenbrier County, VA Land Entry Book page 81
[xvii] Greenbrier County, VA Land Entry Book page 90 – 91
[xviii] Greenbrier County, VA Land Entry Book page 93-94
[xix] These men were all found on the same page as James Finney, buying treasury warrants.  They can be placed in Culpeper County by their inclusion in the January 1781 Culpeper County class list.  Benjamin Finnell was on class 105, Hadley Head was on class 103, John Campbell was on class 32, 62, and 69, and John Stogdell on class 79. There may have been other but the previous pages have not been seen.
[xx] This meeting probably took place in Culpeper County – that was where the Broyles were raised and the persons witnessing the receipt were from Culpeper County and did not buy land with James Finney in Williamsburg
[xxi] The Falconer Interview, Draper Manuscripts Collection
[xxii] As evident from the Culpeper County tax records
[xxiii] Again as evident from upcoming tax records and the appearance of John Finney in Kentucky records.
[xxiv] We know that the James Finney family was in Kentucky by this time since James did make entry on his Licking Creek land and that his son John Finney was born in Kentucky in February 1784.  There is no way that James’ wife Elizabeth could have made the trip in a more advanced state of pregnancy, not to mention the effect of December through February winter weather.