Written by: Marie Maxie
Dorton's Branch Named For Early Settler
The family of William and Elizabert Dorton were living in Washington County Virginia, in 1778, where William was a County official, being the surveyor and overseeer of the roads. It seems logical the he surveyed many of the early roads. This couple were the parents of four Children, William Jr., Moses, Edward, and Sally. William Jr and Moses were in the American Revolution. Moses held the rank of Ensign, which is the same as Second Leiutenant. They were in several skirmishes in Virginia but the big battle was when the soldiers from that section of Virginia, which was a thousand strong marched to King's mountain, South Carolina to help the patroit army there.
The bravery and patriotism of these men soon showed itself, because the British was defeated there and the surrender of Cornwellis at Yorktown was not long in coming.
William Sr. died before June, 1773 and William Jr. was chosen to fill the vacancy, created by his Fathers death. Moses married Laodicea ? about 1782-83, and they were the parents of eleven children. Moses came to Knox County Kentucky before 1805. He bought one hundred acres, located across the river from the present town of Pineville, which was Cumberland Ford at that time. his boundary extended up to, or beyond Dorton Branch, which bears his name.
He was operating a tavern at the ford in 1805 when Bishop Asbury wrote in his journal: "Saturday Oct 12, 1805 we took the pathy about five'o clock in the morning, and came eighteen miles to dinner at Mr. Freeman's. We reached Johnson's upon Richland Creek. On the Sabbath day we were under necessity of moving alowly forward to ballenger's where we dined. The evening brought us to Dalton's crowed with company, but we kept good order. Dorton was often spelled, Dalton and Daulton but it was Dorton.
Bishop Asbury probably spent Friday night at the tavern of John Farris Sr. which was just north of the Rockcastle river. John Freeman's tavern was south of London, on the Wilderness road. This structure was still standing until a few years ago, when it burned.(see picture) Johnson's was probably about where the bridge over Richland Creek is today, and Dalton's (Dorton) was at Cumberland Ford. There were other places to spend the night, but these seem to have been the better places. All were licensed and charges set by the county.
There were other taverns along the way as time and the wave of humanity went by. With the coming of the "drover" most of the inn keepers built corrals and pens to accommodate the livestock. This brought in more revenue for the inn keeper. many of them were rich men when they died.
John Logan appiled for a license in 1800. his tavern was in Barbourville. Henry Woodson appiled for a license in 1806. his location was probably on the Wilderness Road between Turkey and Stinking Creek, where the old Woodson home was. It was a two story, ell shaped house with porches on the front and back, up and down. If I remember correctly the old Baughman house was built about like it, as was the old home place of Will Stewart, who was the father of the late D.D. Stewart. all three houses were in a half mile radius.
I have not documented proof of the first operator of the ferry across the Cumberland Ford, but it would not surprise me to find that Moses Dorton was the one. His tavern was right there by the ford. His son was operating it the ferry in 1812, after Moses had apparently moved to Barbourville, where he had a larger inn.
In the disposition of some property by Laodicea, several years later, she gave the "Mansion house" to her son James. She was living with her daughter Emily, at the time, who was my Great Grandmother. From the description of the location of the land in Barbourville, the tavern was about two blocks from the court house, out present route 11 south.
When moses died he was a very wealthy man for his time. The inventory of his estate was extensive. He was a slave owner, which was not good, but a freed slave had to work day and night, like some white people of that day, just to keep body and soul together. If they had a good master, they fared almost like a family. there were twelve indentured servents at the home of Moses Dorton when he died in the spring of 1826. Their names were: Alfred, Grange, Lewis, Matilida, Fanny, George, Ned, Ginny, Abram, James, Hannah and Charlotte. matilda was only two years old when the civil war ended.
Laodicea died in the 1840's
Their children were:
William married Mary ?
Elizabeth married David Hogan
Sally married Reuben Woods
Patsy married John Patton
James married Sarah McRoberts (James was a pioneer member of the Ky State Legislature)
Laodicea married Peter Wilson
Lucretia married John Herndon
Nancy married John Woolum
Lucindia married Felix Jefferson Gilbert
Moses married Maria Fortney
Emily married Wylie Hibbard
Emily and Wylie Hibbard were my great grandparents. Other descendants were the late Judge James M. Gilbert of Pineville. He was a descendant of Lucindia Dorton Gilbert. Judge Gilbert's children: the late Mrs. D.D. Stewart of Knox County and Mrs. murell Cawood, Mrs. James Pursiful, Sr. and James Gilbert
Other descendants of Emily and Wylie Hibbard are Mrs. Delbert Mullins and the late L.L. McDonald of Pineville Ky.
Another of the first taverns in this area was operated by Elizabeth and Richard Davis. It was on the Kentucky side of Cumberland Mountain.
Sources searched for this article: Knox County Court records. ANNALS OF SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA, By Summers. Excerpts from : LAUREL COUNTY KENTUCKY BY: I cant make out the name here.
