| Notes |
- Levi Douglass was born possibly in Virginia, but more likely on the eastern shore of Maryland in present-day Wicomico County. His date of birth is generally accepted as being around 1750, but may have been as late as about 1760. In about 1777, just prior to his 1778 marriage to Nancy Anne Merrick in Monongalia County, Virginia (now West Virginia), Levi Douglass signed a petition for the formation of Harrison County, which came about in 1784. In May 1785, a survey for Levi Douglass was recorded for 400 acres in Harrison County on the Brushy Fork of Elk Creek, adjoining the land of Benjamin Coplin. [1]
- Excerpts from "History of Harrison County West Virginia," by Henry Haymond, 1910:
"On the 31st December, 1771 a party of explorers consisting of John Merrick, Samuel Cottrill, Andrew Cottrill, Levi Douglass and Sotha Hickman, encamped on Ann Moores run near the present town of Grasselli in Clark District.
They were engaged in hunting and looking out for lands upon which to make permanent settlements. On New Year's day 1772 they turned out to hunt, and passing south through the low gap where Lemuel D. Holden afterwards lived for so many years, and near there killed a bear and several turkeys.
On the little bottom where Brushy Fork empties into Elk Creek their dogs discovered a herd of buffalo and in a short time the hunters had killed seven of them. One of the largest of the herd being fatally wounded in attempting to escape down Elk Creek fell dead into the bed of the little stream that puts into Elk below the mouth of Brushy Fork, and lay in such a position that they could not pull him out, and he was left to lie there with regrets that they could not get his robe.
The party remained in this camp all winter and were visited by a friendly Indian who hunted with them for some time.
They discovered the abandoned camp on the "West Fork River of Robert Lindsay a trapper, and also where he had made one or more canoes to transport his furs down to Fort Pitt.
In the Spring of 1772 they selected lands on which to establish permanent homes. Andrew Cottrill located his claim and built his cabin at the site of their camp, on Ann Moore's run, where Grasselli is now located. Samuel Cottrill just east of where Clarksburg now stands, near the Jackson grave yard. Sotha Hickman on the opposite side of Elk Creek near where the Elk View Cemetery now is, and Levi Douglas preempted four hundred acres on the Brushy Fork of Elk. John Merrick did not permanently locate in this country but probably went further West.
There are still residing in Harrison County many descendants of the two Cottrills, Hickman and Douglass, and they have the satisfaction of knowing that their ancestors were among the very first permanent settlers in the present limits of Harrison County." [p. 21]
"It appears that at the June Court 1787 appraisers were appointed for the estate of Levi Douglass and that at the September Court of the same year Mrs. Ann Burrowes was appointed guardian for Thomas Cottrill orphan of Andrew Cottrill, deceased. This indicates that both of these men died in that year, which is a
matter of interest as they were both among the original pioneer settlers of Harrison County, as is related elsewhere, and had borne the hardships of frontier life for sixteen years." [p. 208]
"Levi Douglass. In company with Sotha Hickman he was captured by Indians, an account of which is given elsewhere. He was a man of sterling worth and for that day accumulated considerable property.
The census of Monongalia County taken in 1782 before Harrison County was formed, shows that at that date his family consisted of four members.
The inventory of his estate was dated August 4, 1787, the exact date of his death being unknown.
His descendants still reside in the County." [p. 382]
"Sotha Hickman. ... While trapping on the Liitle Kanawha River in Company with Levi Douglass they were captured by a party of Indians and taken to their towns on the Sciota River in Ohio.
One night while the Indians were holding a grand dance and festival the prisoners were left in charge of an old man who fell off into a sleep. They each then quietly seized a gun and equipments and struck out for home and liberty.
Travelling only at night they were four days without food and after reaching the Virginia side of the Ohio River they were fortunate enough to kill a bear and ate so much of it that they both became very sick and were relieved by drinking what was called rock oil, which was found floating on the surface of Hughes River." [p. 383]
"To show the household articles in use, and the personal property belonging to a well to do pioneer, the following is taken from the appraisement of the estate of Levi Douglass, who died in 1787 :
2 horses, 1 colt, 2 steers, 2 heifers, 1 cow, 1 calf, 17 shoats, 1 plow, 1 negro boy, 1 rifle gun, shot pouch and powder horn, 1 woman's saddle, 2 bridles, 1 man's saddle, drawing knife, stillyards, pot and hooks, hackle-bell, pans, spinning wheel, wooden ware, knives and forks, pewter ware, beds and bedding, flax seed, wheat, hemp seed, beehives and hominy block." [p. 427] [4]
|
1750 - 1787 (~ 37 years)
[1]