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THE CHRISTOPHER KIRBY FAMILY
From The Green County Pioneer, a Journal of Greene County (TN) History
and Genealogy
A publication of the Greene County Genealogical Society, Route 3, Box
243, Limestone, TN 37681
Christopher, or Kit, Kirby, born in Halifax Co., Virginia on September
10, 1760, was a son of Henry Kirby. Christopher’s mother, it is said, without
supporting evidence, to have been a lady of Huguenot ancestry, Ann Witt. Christopher had
at least three brothers: Philip was born in 1763, and married Jeriah Potter. Josiah was
born 1766. Joseph was born in 1770. Their surname is also spelled Kerby, Kerbie or Curby
in old documents.
Henry Kirby was a son of John Kirby (c 1714-) and Joanna Owen
(1710-1772). Henry died in 1803 in Rutherford Co., TN, leaving Ann as his administrator.
Bartholomew Owen (c 1630-1677), the grandfather of Joanna Owen Kirby,
had emigrated to Surry Co. Virginia after the capitulation of the royalist governments of
Maryland and Virginia to Cromwell’s Protectorate in 1652, but before the restoration
of Charles II in 1660. Bartholomew was a warden in Southwarke Parish in 1661 but he is
said to have supported the Old Parliamentary Party. Philip Alexander Bruce, in
"Social Life in Old Virginia," page 32, speculates that Bartholomew may have
been a Quaker because he was cited in 1675 by the Surry Co. grand jury for non-attendance
at church. A Thomas Owen, from Lower Norfolk Co, had been arraigned by the General Court
in 1662 for subversive activities as a Quaker. Bartholomew is said, also without
supporting evidence to be related to the London gun founder, Robert Owen.
Christopher’s father and grandfather, Henry and John Kirby had
belonged to the South River Monthly Meeting of Friends in Virginia. The weekly gathering
of Halifax Co. Quakers was called either the Dan River or Kirby’s Particular Meeting.
In the hierarchical society of 18th century Virginia, the
Quakers were subversive. Their silent meetings generally in homes, contrasted with
elaborate Anglican vestments and liturgy. Their plain speech and simple dress made no
distinctions of class or "quality." Because their word could be trusted, the
Quakers were widely respected. Their dealings with Indians were as scrupulous as with
other Europeans. Many refused to keep slave. Quakers held that two essential tenants of
Christianity were (1) service to one’s fellow man, which precluded all violence, and
(2) rigid obedience to the "inner light’ of one’s own conscience,
regardless of worldly advantage.
In 1768, Christopher’s grandparents were disowned by the South
River Meeting for worshipping with Baptists. I have found no record that Christopher
attended a Quaker meeting as an adult.
During the American Revolution, Quakers had to choose between breaking
their vow of non-violence or losing the trust and respect of their neighbors. Many changed
denominations and fought. During the Revolution, Christopher Kirby served in several
companies drawn from Wilkes and Surry Counties in North Carolina.
In 1776, Lt. William Lenoir and Benjamin Cleveland served in a mixed
force of 5300 men from South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia, which attacked the
Catawba Cherokee village. After the battle of Kings Mountain, Lt. Lenoir wrote memoirs of
his Revolutionary experience, which I have not read. His career must have arrayed that of
many serving from the same area. Lenoir was born in Virginia in 1751 and settled on
Fishing Creek, 4 miles east of present-day Wilkesboro, NC, after 1771. At that time, the
only church within 40 miles was at Mulberry Fields, now called Wilkesboro. Baptists built
the church, but allowed other Christian congregations to use it. I do not know if church
records are extant. This may be the church in which Christopher was married. I do not know
the religious affiliation of his wife.
In July 1779, Christopher enlisted in the Surry Co., NC militia at the
Old Store near the Yadkin River. For two months he served as a Private before he was
commissioned as an Ensign in the light horse Dragoon Company of Captain William Underwood.
He served four months as Ensign under Captain Underwood. The regiment was commanded by
Colonel Martin Armstrong and Joseph Williams, who signed Christopher’s first
commission as Ensign. / The regiment pursued a part of North Carolina Tories who
terrorized Henry, Patrick, Wythe and Washington counties in Virginia. Christopher’s
company was discharged in December 1779, at Capt. Garland’s home, near Flower Gap,
Virginia.
Lyman Draper described the Revolutionary Militia in his book,
"King’s Mountain and its Heroes": "Mostly armed with the Deckard
Rifle. . . . They were little encumbered with baggage—each with a blanket, a cup by
his side . . .and a wallet of provisions, the latter principally of parched corn meal,
(which) mixed.....with maple syrup, (made) a very agreeable repast . . . an occasional
skillet was taken along for a mess, in which to warm up in water their parched meal, and
cook such wild or other meat as fortune would throw in their way." Draper notes that
"The Deckard or Dickert rifle was largely manufactured at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It
was, for the period, a gun of remarkable precision for a long shot, spiral grooved, with a
barrel some thirty inches long, and, with its stock, some three and a half or four
feet."
In July 1780, Christopher re-enlisted in the "United States
Army" at the Surry Co., NC Courthouse. Later he stated that he had no recollection of
any regular officers being with the troops where he served, but that General Green and his
staff were briefly with them in Guilford, NC. Christopher served for a month as a Private
in horse dragoon company of Capt. James Shepherd. Shepherd’s company proceeded to
Freeman’s house on the Yadkin River, where they joined the companies commanded by
Joseph Phillips and Minor Smith. The 3 companies were then placed under the command of
Major Joseph Winston, and proceeded to the Wilkes Co. Courthouse. There they joined
Colonel Benjamin Cleveland’s regiment of North Carolina Militia Volunteers. The
combined force totaled about 800 men, but on a given day perhaps 350 men were present and
able to fight according to Lyman Draper, who cites General Joseph Graham’s account of
those present at the battle of King’s Mountain (p 547)
In August 1780, Christopher was appointed to replace Wm. Hewlett as
Ensign of Capt. Shepherd’s company at the Wilkes Co. Courthouse and he served another
two and a half months as Ensign. Christopher later stated that Colonel Cleveland signed
this second commission. Colonel Cleveland’s regiment then moved to the Catawba River
to join the regiments of Colonels Isaac Shelby, John Sevier and William Campbell. The four
regiments then proceeded to Cowpens, a South Carolina village which got its name from the
cow pens of a wealthy Tory named Saunders. There they were joined by a small force of
South Carolina volunteers under Colonel James Williams.
1780, October 7: Christopher served as ensign in Captain
Shepherd’s company at the time of the battle at King’s Mountain, North Carolina,
in which backwoods hunters defeated Major Ferguson’s professional British soldiers.
This was a major turning point in the Revolutionary War. Christopher may not have been at
the scent of the battle, however. A group of foot soldiers under Major Joseph Herndon, of
Wilkes Co., NC, had been left behind on October 4 bear the Green River to obtain beef for
the army, which traveled on as lightly and quickly as possible to intercept Major
Ferguson. Lt. Lenoir’s company of foot was among those commanded by Major Herndon,
but Lenoir had left his men behind when he joined the mounted advance guard.
Herndon’s orders were to obtain the needed beef and bring the foot men up to the main
body of mounted troops as soon as possible. On October 9, the foot men met the mounted men
just returning from the battle on the 7th and almost dead from fatigue and
three days without food. It may be that others of Herndon’s foot party left memoirs
of their experience in their pension papers.
Three Lewis brothers, Major Micajah Lewis, Captain Joel Lewis and
Lieutenant James M. Lewis, all officers in Cleveland’s Surry and Willkes Co.,
regiment, were wounded at King’s Mountain. Joel Lewis was born in 1760 in Albemarle
Co., VA. A colored free man named Bowman in Joel’s company claimed to have killed
Major Patrick Ferguson, the British Commander.
After the great victory at King’s Mountain, Christopher’s
company returned to head of King’s Creek in Wilkes Co., NC. There Christopher was
given command of a small detached party of men and charged to "disperse, take or kill
a party of Tories near Fisher’s Gap in Surry County, commanded by one Goins." By
the time Christopher’s party reached Fisher’s Gap, however, Goins had already
fled the area. Christopher returned to the Surry Courthouse, where he discharged his
little party by October 31, 1780. The main body of troops had previously been discharged.
In the summer of 1781, Christopher served another 2 months as a
volunteer in Captain Joel Lewis’ horse dragoons. It was an honor to serve as a
private again under this distinguished officer, who moved to Nashville in 1789 and held
may positions of public trust before his death in 1816. Christopher’s Revolutionary
service totaled 9 months 20 days, of which he had acted as Ensign for 6 months and 20
days.
By 1785 Christopher Kirby was married. Mr. C. T. Chambers of San Diego,
CA, suggests that Christopher’s wife may have been a sister, born about 1764 of Jesse
and Absolom Franklin. Mr. Chambers points out that Jesse Franklin sold Christopher 50
acres in Surry County, NC, just before Jesse left the area for Tennessee about 1794.
Often, men leaving for the frontier transferred their land holdings to close relatives
remaining behind.
In 1786, Christopher’s father, Henry Kirby had land on the Little
Yadkin River in Surry Co., NC, near Thomas East, John and Jesse Horn, and a little farther
from James, John and Mallachey Franklin and Edmund Kirby.
In 1786, Christopher’s first child, Jesse Kirby, was born in Surry
Co., NC. Jesse married Nancy Davis on March 16, 1811, in Greene Co., TN. Benjamin
Williams, Jr. provided bond. )GCTM, 33) Jessee’s name appears frequently in Greene
Co., TN court minutes. Jesse died October 29, 1853.
In 1787, Christopher resided in Capt. Hardin’s district in Wilkes
Co, NC near his father, Henry Kirby and Jesse, James, George and Barnard Franklin. There
were 21 white females in six Franklin households. In Christopher’s household were one
white male 21-60 (Christopher), one white male under 21 (Jesse), and two white females
(his wife and perhaps a hired white girl).
In neighboring Wilkes Co. districts were households of several men
connected to Christopher by blood, marriage or service: Edward Cross, Giles and John
Parmily, William Witt and William Lenoir. All these households are described in the census
taken 1784-1787. (SCNC; 172-173)
In May 1787, Absolom Franklin Married Margaret Gullet in Greene Co., TN
In 1789, Christopher’s second child, Sarah Kirby, was born in
Surry Co., NC. Sarah married Thomas Poague on December 5, 1806, in Greene Co., TN. Their
bondsman was Jacob Gray. (GCTM, 27)
In 1793, Christopher’s third child, Patsey Kirby, was born in
Surry Co., NC. She first married Philip Babb, son of Thomas Babb, on September 21, 1813,
in Greene Co., TN. William Jones, J. P. officiated and Philip Babb provided bond. (GCTM,
38). Patsey later married James Anderson.
In 1795, Philip Babb and Thomas Brotherton lived near Greenville, TN.
By 1795, Christopher had sold his last 50 acres in Surry Co to Jesse
Franklin and moved to Greene Co., TN. There he served as Judge, justice of the peace and
clerk off and on for the next 30 years. His name appears frequently in Greene Co court
records.
Justices of the peace in North Carolina, the parent state of Tennessee,
had exercised the same authority as did English "justices of the quarter
sessions" since 1739. Justices met four times a year to "hear and determine all
petit larcenies, assaults, battery, breaches of the peace and behavior, and all
misdemeanors and crimes of all inferior nature" by information, grand jury
indictment, or presentiment, as described in the act of 1738. County courts after 1739,
became vital social and legal institutions, censuring misbehavior as well as handling
everyday civil affairs.
Donna Spindel’s study, "Crime and Society in North Carolina,
`663-1776," describes justices of the peace as the symbol of the law within their
county. He derived his authority from a commission issued by the governor and from
statutes. According to a 1774 manual by James Davis, of Newbern NC, a justice of the peace
should be a name of "substance and ability of body and estate; of the best
reputation, good governance and courage for the truth." He served as a magistrate,
examining officer, judge on the county court and chief police officer of his county. He
was usually a substantial landowner, with at least 300 acres.
Originally a justice of the peace could order suspects in criminal
matters brought before him for a hearing, and either bind them over to the next session of
the court with jurisdiction or settle the case himself. He had authority to fine drunks,
swearers and those who profaned the sabath. Two J\justices could examine and fine
unmarried pregnant women and bind over the fathers to the precinct courts. Three justices
could try petit larcenies, assaults, trespasses, breaches of the peace and misdemeanors.
together with local freeholders, justices could conduct a summary court to try slaves
suspected of crimes. (Slaves were not entitled to a jury)
In 1796, Christopher’s fourth child, Andrew Kirby, was born in
Greene Co., TN. Andrew married Nancy Roberts of January 9, 1817, in Greene Co., TN.
In November 1797, Christopher was appointed with Levi Carter, Caleb and
Jesse Carter, William Jones, John Foisha, John Allen and Jacob Harty to assist John Nelson
and Richard Robbins in maintaining the road from Casteel’s Creek by the Greene Co.,
TN. court.
By 1798 James Franklin had moved to Greene Co., TN.
When Levi Carter was appointed a Greene Co, constable for a two-year
term in April 1798, Christopher and Benjamin Anderson provided $625.00 in security for
Levi’s faithful discharge of office, of which $1.00 was actually tended to the court.
In the July 1798 session of the Greene Co., TN court, Christopher was a
juror in the case of John Sheffey vs. James Taylor and Robert Carson. Sheffrey was awarded
$38.34, plus 6 cents costs, for a broken contract by the jury. Another jury including
Chris Kirby and Seth Babb awarded $109.50, plus 6 cents costs to Gabriel Phillips pursuant
to a writ of inquiry, presumable about the ownership of land, against Solomon Reed.
Another jury including Chris Kirby and Seth Babb awarded James Gillespie damages of
$109.50 against John Ewing. (GCTMC 1797-1807)
In 1798 Christopher’s fifth child, Elizabeth Kirby, was born.
Elizabeth married Benjamin Brotherton on November 8, 1811, in Greene Co., TN. their
bondsman was Elijah Billingsley. (GCTM, 34)
In April 1799, William Brotherton was a juror in a writ of inquiry by
Seth Waddel against Fred Talbott. Christopher Kirby and John Sevier were jurors in a claim
by Abraham Broyels against James Penney and Daniel Kennedy, in which the jury awarded
Broyles $262.93
1800, January 3, Christopher’s sixth child, Nancy Kirby, was born.
(Bible). Nancy married Aaron Hughes July 1 1822 in Greene Co., TN. (GCTM 59) Nancy died
September 9, 1863, in Washington Co., AR. (Writer states this was his ancestor).
In October 1803, Christopher served on a jury which awarded Hugh Dunlop
$22.26 in damages from John Sevier, who had failed to provide a deed to land he had sold
to Dunlop.
In January 1804, Chris Kirby, John Gragg and William Wilson were
commissioned by the governor as Justices of the Peace. They took oaths of office before
Benjamin McNutt, James Hays and David Robinson. That same month Chris served on the grand
jury with John Rodgers and Cap. John Wilson.
In July 1804, Levi Carter was appointed as Constable for Greene Co.
Christopher and John Jones stood surety for Levi in the amount of $625.00, of which they
paid sixty cents.
In July 1805, Christopher was appointed to collect lists of taxable
property and polls in Capt. Randolph’s district during the coming year. Cornelius
Newman was to do the same in Capt. Starne’s district and John Newman in Capt.
Newberry’s district.
In November 1805, Christopher Kirby and John Newman were among the
justices hearing Charges of trespassing brought against Thomas Temple by prosecutor John
Balch. Temple was fined twenty five cents and prosecution costs.
In 1806 Christopher’s seventh child, Mary Jane Kirby was born in
Greene Co., TN Mary married John Stout on March 27, 1823, in Greene Co., TN. I believe
John died about 1837 in Washington Co., AR.
In August 1806, Christopher was one of eight jurors appointed by the
court to mark out a road from Perkin’s Mill near Greeneville to Clack’s Gap on
Bays Mountain. Oversees were appointed to supervise the building of two segments of the
road: Anthony Beety was to oversee construction on the segment from the main
Greenville-Rogersville road to Frazier's Ford on Lick Creek. Elijah Willoughby was to
oversee construction on the segment from Frazier’s Ford on Lick Creek to Clacks Gap.
From there the road would proceed to Allen’s Cabins near the Hawkins Co. line.
Later that August, James Jack prosecuted William Baker, county
solicitor, for trespass before a jury including George Rinker, Nathan Carter and John
Pogue and before nine justices, including Cornelius Newman, Joseph Carter, Giles Parman
and Christopher Kirby. the jury found Baker guilty of trespass, but Baker argued that no
judgment should be rendered against him because his acts did not "conclude against
the peace and dignity of the state."
In October 1806, Christopher Kirby and Caleb Carter, esquires, were
order to designate the bounds of a public road, which local residents would be obliged to
maintain, from Grassy Creek to Richard Robin’s and provide both the court and road
oversee, Caleb Carter, with a copy of the survey.
On October 27, 1806, Justices Moses Moore, James Penney and Christopher
Kirby dismissed a group of grand jurors including Jacob Bowman, Anderson Walker, Moses
Hughes and Seth Babb. Seth Babb had not appeared in court and was fined $5.00 for
non-attendance, unless he could show cause for his failure to appear. The court then
approved a petition of Thomas McCollum Jr. and Anthony Armstrong to replace May McCollum
as administrator of the estate of Thomas McCollum Sr. Tom’s 15 year-old brother,
James, chose their mother Mary McCollum as his guardian. Tom’s 14 year-old sister,
Elizabeth, chose James Jones as her guardian.
On October 28, 18-06, Joseph Carter and Christopher Kirby were ordered
to designate the bounds of an extension of the public road from Zachariah Casteel’s
farm to Grassy creek and submit a list of residents subject to work on the new road before
the next court session. Carter and Kirby were also to lay out a public road from the mouth
of Grassy Creek to Lick Creek, Puncheon Camp Creek, Benjamin William’s farm, across
to Moses Harmon’s farm, Hugh Kee’s , Richard Robin’s, Lick Creek, including
John Shaver’s, Hugh Hartley, Absalom Templeton, Anthony Bewley and James
Goodwin’s and back down to the mouth of Grassy Creek.
The last action heard by justices John Gass, Joseph Carter and
Christopher Kirby that day concerned an attachment for $3.33 obtained by Alexander
Newberry against Moses Kennedy in June 1805 from Judge Cornelius Newman. Constable James
Hays reported that he had levied that amount on 100 acres, help by "improvement"
belonging to Kennedy. However, Newberry did not appear to prosecute his suit so it was
dismissed by the court and Newberry was ordered to pay court costs.
Dec 5, 1806, Christopher’s second child, Sarah Kirby married
Thomas Pogue. Their bondsman was Jacob Gray.
On Wednesday, 28 January 1807, Christopher was one of seven justices
who received John Kennedy’s bond of $2,000.00 guardianship of Peggy Kennedy, an
orphan born in 1793. Peggy chose John Kennedy, probably her uncle, as guardian but John
had to ask Absalom Haworth and Samuel Snapp to act as his securities for such a large sum.
the purpose of this large bond was to insure that Peggy’s property would be
preserved, and that she would not become an indigent ward of the court. The other six
justices hearing this guardianship petition were William Rankin, William Mott, James
Penney, Valentine Callahan, Thomas Love and John Newman.
On Thursday, 29 January 1807, Justices Christopher Kirby, William
Rankin and James Penney were the justices who heard a suit against Alexander Russell on
behalf of William Cavner, a minor. They then accepted the $2500.00 bond of the newly
elected coroner, James Gass. Then they heard suits against Jacob Gann (assault), John
Balch (for assault on Barbara Landers), John Bowman, Robert Kerr Jr. and Thomas Perry. The
court issued instructions regarding the new road from Lick Creek to the
Greeneville-Rodgersville Road. They accepted Valentine Sevier and Robert Rankin’s
account of the sale of personal property of James Dinwiddie Sr., deceased. Finally, they
set a special "poor tax" for the county. Each white poll was taxed 3 cents, 100
acres of land was taxed 9 cents, a stud horse was taxed 25 cents, and a retail store or
peddler was taxed $4.00. In addition, they set a tax to pay for the transcription of loose
court records into official court books. For this purpose, each white poll was taxed 3 ½
cents, a stud horse was taxed 7 cents and a retail store or peddler was taxed $1.55. It
was a typical day in a county court house.
On 16 May 1807, Justice Kirby issued an order to Constable Levi Carter
to collect $16.96 from David Noggle, as well as $1.18 2/3 in court costs. Constable Carter
reported later to the court that Noggle had no personal property to seize and that he had
consequently given legal notice of public sale of 100 acres owned by Noggle on the main
road between Bull’s Gap and James Guthrie’s farm, in order to satisfy a
judgement against Noggle granted to James McPheran.
In August 1807, the eight jurors selected for the next superior court
were Thomas Love, Valentine Callahan, John Newman, Giles Parman, Samuel Caldwell, John
Morriss, Valentine Sevier and Christopher Kirby.
In November 1807, Christopher was a witness to the marriage of John
Pogue and Lydia Jones. The other witness was Benjamin Williams. Later Thomas Pogue, said
to be John’s brother, stated that he had lived for twenty years only half a mile from
Christopher in Greene Co., and saw Christopher’s military commissions before they
were burned with Christopher’s house.
Land grant #1303, entry #250, date 9 March 1809, gives Thomas
William(s) 84 acres on the north side of Lick Creek, adjoining the lands of John Pogue,
Benjamin Williams, Caleb Carter and Christopher Kirby (p 66, No. 642). David Key and
William Jones also lived nearby. These neighbors often acted as witnesses for one another
on legal documents.
I December 1809, Christopher Kirby, David Key and William James
witnessed the will of Levi Carter. Carter, a Revolutionary veteran, stipulated that his
wife and executrix, Susanna, should have all his property during her lifetime. Carter also
stipulated that his older sons Jose-h and Elijah should received nothing more until the
rest of his children had each received $60.00 in trade.
In November 1811, Elizabeth Kirby was married to Benjamin Brotherton by
Elijah Billingsley.
In 1812, Christopher’s eighth child, Henry Franklin Kirby, was
born in Greene Co., TN. Henry Franklin married Rebecca Coulter in Arkansas after 1831.
They lived in Washington Co., AR, where Henry died on January 8, 1867. Henry farmed near
James Coulter and served as sheriff briefly in the 1830’s. Rebecca’s brother
James Coulter, served as treasurer of the Washington C., Bible society 1832-1833. James
Coulter
house was owned by Joseph Moore in the 1880’s.
In March 1812, Thomas Pogue was bondsman for the marriage of Nancy
Pogue with Benjamin Williams.
In September 1813, Christopher’s wife is thought to have died, not
long after the birth of their 8th child. She is not mentioned in
Christopher’s land purchases or sales after this date, according to C. T. Chambers.
In January 1814, Thomas Pogue lived next to John Pogue, recently
deceased. John’s wife, Nancy, and his five sons, John, Farmer, William, Howell and
Thomas survived him.
In May 1816, William Jones was granted 78 acres on Grassy Creek
adjoining Joseph Carter and Christopher Kirby (entry No. 2432, dated 9 February 1815, p
332, No. 3801). This was part of 500 acres granted to George Gordon in 1814, by original
certificate $794. Some of Christopher’s land may also have been included in the 500
acres vacated by Mr. Gordon.
In 1816, Christopher performed at least five marriages:
Andrew Bryant and Polly Hunter.
John Carter Jr. and Betsy Dixon, bond by Thomas Perry and Jacob Carter.
Sion Coats and Catherine Musgrave, bond by John Musgrave.
Isaac Crumley and Rachel Brown, bond by William Crumley R. and William
Brown.
James Grant and Nancy Willoughby, bond by Michel Myers
Hervey Jail and Esther Brotherton, bond by William Brotherton.
In 1817,Christopher performed at least two marriages:
Johnson Frazier and Polly Mace, bond by John Frazier and Wm. Hatcher
James Kinner and Rebecca Yates, bon by John Gass
Caleb Witt, MG (minister of the Gospel), presumably a cousin of
Christopher’s performed many marriages in Greene Co., during this period. In October
1818, Caleb performed the marriage of Betsy Hawn with Pleasant Witt. Christopher Kirby was
a witness. In August 1818, Nancy Bowman married William Franklin. In October 1818,
Elizabeth Bowman married George Franklin.
In 1826 or 1827, Christopher’s house in Greene C., burned and his
military records and other documents were destroyed. He had 360 acres on Lick Creek and
was still Justice of the Peach.
The 1830 census for Greene Co., TN, Capt. Laughner’s Company or
census district, show Christopher, age 60 or 70, in a household with 3 men aged 10-3-, 3
ladies aged 15-30, two ladies aged 50-6- and a lady aged 60-70. Since Christopher’s
house had been burned, this may have been the house of one of his sons or sons-in-law,
perhaps Benjamin Brotherton, Philip Babb, Thomas Poague, John Stout, or Aaron Hughes. The
3 older ladies may have been widowed n-laws. If the reader has additions or corrections,
please let me know.
About 1831 Christopher arrived, presumably by riverboat, in Washington
Co., AR with a party including several of his children, their spouses and neighbors.
About 1833 Christopher first submitted an application for a
Revolutionary service pension. Mr. Bennett Martin had helped Christopher prepare his
application but Mr. Martin left Washington Co, AR about 1834, without posting
Christopher’s original pension application to the War department. Claim number S
32356 assigned to Christopher’s second pension application. A copy is on file with
the Washington C., Historical Society.
In 1835, Christopher made a deposition before Judge Archibald Yell in
Washington Co., AR, regarding his Revolutionary service to support his second pension
application. Thomas Poague (Christopher’s son-in-law), James Coulter Sr. (Rebecca
Coulter married Henry Franklin Kirby), John Dodson, Jonathan Newman, Robert Parks, Mark
Bean, Wm. Lasessions (sp?), Bryan Smithson, Clerk of court, James Crawford, John Campbell,
Lewis Evans, A. H. Lenir (sp?), L. C. Pleasants, J. M. Hoge, and Lewis B. Tully were able
to testify to Christopher’s character and veracity. Christopher’s contact with
the families of these witnesses had begun at least 30 years previously in Greene County,
Tennessee. Although he was a newcomer to Washington Co., he was no stranger.
In 1837, Christopher Kirby died at Cane Hill, in Washington Co.,
Arkansas. He was buried in the Russell Cemetery at Clyde, AR.
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