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Major John Smith

and his wife Christiana Elkins migrated from Virginia to Hawkins County, Tennessee about 1790, it was a territory and not a state. It became a state in 1796. Hawkins County (Gray area on map), at that time extended from the Virginia border in the north to Kingston at the intersection of the Clinch River and the French Broad River.

The map below shows the area as the Smiths saw it in 1790. They settled in the Kingston area then Hawkins County, now it is Roane County.

CroppedTNmap


The Clinch River reached all the way to Montgomery County, Virginia and would have been a natural migration route. The surrounding land was Cherokee Indian Lands.



Major John Smith later purchased land across the Tennessee River opposite Kingston on the west shore near where the #105 points


The following information is provided by Joseph Smith.  Joseph's research is very meticulous and based on documents in his possession.

It appears that John Smith was born and resided on the Mayo River in (what is now) Henry County, Virginia. The Smiths lived in close proximity to the Ralph Elkins family who resided on Leatherwood Creek. It appears that the Elkins migrated to the New River area of Montgomery County, Virginia in the late 1770's or early 1780's and then to Hawkins County, Tennessee in the 1790's. This assumption would explain why Major John went to Montgomery County to marry Christiana and then on to Tennessee.

John Smith married Christiana Elkins in 1788 and they eventually migrated to Tennessee in the 1790's. The Smith family resided in Hawkins County, Tennessee for some time where the Thomas Gibbons and Ralph Elkins families were living. This connection to the Gibbons family explains Agatha Smith's marriage to William Gibbons in 1806.

According to Smith descendant/informant Elsie burkett, Major John led a group of settlers to Post Oak Springs in Roane County and later fought in the War of 1812 at the Battle of New Orleans along side Major General Andrew Jackson.

It seems that Major John migrated to Roane County (Post Oak Springs) around the year 1810 after the Treaty of Tellico opened up the land for the white mean. I believe Major Smith chose this location because of the fertile land, good water source (Cave Springs) and its close proximity to Fort South West Point and the Old Stage Road.

John Smith, along with Agred and Long, were the early founders of the first Christian church (Disciples of Christ) in the state of Tennessee. Major Smith and Mrs. Dr. J.C. Haley were some of the first members of the church. The early services of the "mother church" were held at Major John's home. Here they had their "foot washings" and an alter for "mourners".

As the congregation grew, Major John utilized his grist mill on Cave Creek for the services. The mill was stopped from the grinding of grain and the preaching would continue through the night. Later, Major Smith would donate land on which a permanent church was erected.

In 1819, William Gibbons, son-in-law of John Smith, died in Hawkins County. In July of that year, Major Smith, along with his sons traveled to Hawkins County and brought his daughter, Agatha and his granddaughters to his home and furnished them shelter and a living from his farm.

Major John Smith died quietly in a rocking chair on his front porch in August of 1840. It is said he had staked out his grave plot a few days earlier under a stand of large oak trees a short distance from his house. John Smith died intestate (without a will) and John Nethery, who married their youngest daughter, was appointed administrator of the estate. Nethery later drew up a false contract giving himself total control over the Smiths' assets.

After several years, Major John's sons testified in their mother's behalf against Nethery, and the contract was broken.




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