Arthur Campbell (1743 - 1811)

Born 3 Nov 1743 in Augusta, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Campbell — married 12 May 1773 in Fincastle County, Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died 8 Aug 1811 at age 67 in Middlesboro, Bell, Kentucky, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kevin Guy Campbell [send private message]

Biography

Colonel Arthur Campbell served during the French and Indian War.

Colonel Arthur Campbell served with Washington County Militia, Virginia Militia during the American Revolution.

Arthur Campbell is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A018552.

From Wikipedia:^[1]

Arthur Campbell (November 3, 1743 – August 8, 1811) was a soldier in the Indian Wars and the American Revolutionary War as well as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Campbell County, Tennessee was named after him.

He was a brother-in-law of General William Campbell. In the War of 1812 his sons Colonel James Campbell died in the service at Mobile, Alabama, and Colonel John B. Campbell fell at the Battle of Chippawa, where he commanded the right wing of the army under General Winfield Scott.

He was born in Augusta County, Virginia. When fifteen years old, he volunteered as a militiaman, to perform duty in protecting the frontier from incursions of the Indians. He was stationed in a fort on the Cowpasture river, near where the road crosses leading from Staunton to the Warm Springs.

While engaged in this service, he was captured by the Indians, who loaded him with their packs, and marched seven days into the forests with his captors, who were from Lakes Erie and Michigan, and were on their return. Campbell, at the end of seven days, was so exhausted that he was unable to travel, and was treated by the Indians with great severity. An old chief, taking compassion on him, protected him from further injury, and on reaching the Lakes adopted Campbell, in whose family the young man remained during his three years' captivity.

During this time, Campbell made himself familiar with the Indian language their manners and customs, and soon acquired the confidence of the old chief, who took him on all his hunting excursions. During these they rambled over Michigan and the northern parts of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.

In 1759, a British force marched towards the Upper Lakes, of which the Indians were informed by their scouts. Campbell formed the bold resolution of escaping to this force. While out on one of their hunting excursions, Campbell left the Indians, and after a fortnight's tramp through the pathless wilds reached the British. The British commander was much interested in Campbell's account of his captivity and escape, and with his intelligence, and engaged him to pilot the army, which he did with success. Shortly after he returned to Augusta County, Virginia after an absence of more than three years. For his services in piloting the army he received a grant of 1,000 acres (4 km2) of land near Louisville, Kentucky. At the same time Campbell, along with Joseph Martin began acting as an agent to the Indians, reporting back to Virginia governors Benjamin Harrison V, Edmund Randolph and others on the state of Indian-colonial relations.

In 1772, his father, David Campbell, and family, removed to the " Royal Oak," on Holstein river. In 1775 he was one of the 13 signers of the Fincastle Resolutions, the earliest statement of armed resistance to the British Crown in the American Colonies and in 1776, Arthur Campbell was appointed major in the Fincastle militia, and elected to the General Assembly. He was also a member of the convention for forming the State Constitution. When Washington County, Virginia was formed he was commissioned colonel commandant of a regiment more than 30 years, and during the time he was in commission commanded several expeditions, particularly that against the Cherokees, in December 1780 and January 1781, with whom he made an important treaty.

After 35 years' residence at Holstein, he removed to Yellow Creek, Knox County, Kentucky^[2] the present site of Middlesboro, Kentucky.

He was tall, of a dignified air, an extensive reader and good talker. He married his cousin, Margaret Campbell, a sister of Gen. General William Campbell. He died from the effects of a cancer in Yellow Creek, leaving a widow, six sons and six daughters to mourn his loss.

When Middlesboro first attracted the attention of the business people of this country, and great developments were in progress at that point, the grave of Colonel Campbell was discovered in an out-of-the-way place, and his remains were removed by his Tennessee relatives, and the grave newly marked.^[3][4][5]

Marriage: On May 10, 1773, Arthur Campbell married Margaret Campbell in Montgomery County, Virginia.^[6] Marriage Bond: May 10, 1773, Fincastle, Virginia. Bondsmen: Arthur Campbell and John Campbell. Consent: May 7, 1773, by Margaret Campbell for her daughter Margaret Campbell.^[7]

Children

In order listed in Last Will & Testament:

1. William Campbell (1774-1840); m: Sarah Adams (1779-1863)
2. John Buchanan Campbell (1777-1814); m: Polly Latham (1775-1849)
   Note: Died as the results of his wounds in the War of 1812
3. Arthur Lee Campbell (1779-1838); m: Sarah Thompson (1790-???)
4. Margaret Campbel (1782-1858); m: Isaac Sayers (1777-???)
5. Mary Campbell (1785-1850); m: William E Beard (1781-1853)
6. James Campbell (1785-1813)
   Note: Died in the War of 1812 in Mobile, Alabama
7. Jane B. Campbell (1787-1825); m: Andrew Campbell (1794-1818)
8. Martha C Campbell (1787-); m: Philo Beaman
9. Elizabeth Campbell.
10. Charles Lewis Campbell.
11. Augusta Campbell.
12. David Campbell (1781-1841); m: Catherine Campbell (abt.1785-1868

Wikipedia states that there were 12 children--6 boys and 6 girls. Tax Rolls:

1783: Washington County, Virginia, Capt. Arthur Bowen's Precinct.

Col. Arthur Campbell, 1 tithable, 8 slaves, 16 horses, 20 cattle.^[8]

Death and Burial: Colonel Campbell died on August 8, 1811 and was reportedly buried at the Hensley Cemetery #1, Middlesboro, Bell County, Kentucky.^[9] According to Wikipedia, his body was was removed to Tennessee, but another source states that "[h]is forgotten grave was discovered in 1890 by workmen who were building the new town of Middlesboro."^[10] “The grave of Colonel Campbell was discovered in an out-of-the-way place, and his remains were moved a few feet to allow for a new street to be built.”^[11] If so, this conforms with Colonel Campbell's Last Will & Testament which stated his desire to be buried in his "Garden part of what was called Gideon's Tenement westwardly of Cumberland Gap. . . ."^[12]

Land

Royal Oak Plantation, Marion, Virginia

Royal Oak Plantation, Marion, Virginia
15 Aug 1769: John Campbell of the County of Augusta to Arthur Campbell of the County of Augusta in consideration of the sum of five shillings current money of Virginia a certain tract of land containing 240 acres on a tract of land on Holston or Indian River called Royal Oak. which was first granted to John Buchanan by patent bearing the date 22 Aug 1753. witness: Pat Buchanan, Alex'dr Buchanan and James Cowan. ^[13]

Land Transactions of Arthur Campbell

Probate

On May 3, 1810, Arthur Campbell, "a Citizen of the State of Virginia now at time resident in the State of Kentucky," executed his Last Will and Testament in Knox County, Kentucky leaving his Estate as follows: first, to his wife Margaret $1,000, to be raised from the sale of his property for his wife to buy two Negro women to attend her and personal items, her right of dower in any lands conveyed to his children and all of his stock, horses, and cattle as well as personal goods except as specifically bequeathed to others; second, to his son William and daughter Elizabeth specific personal property, they having already received valuable lands; third, to his sons John B. Campbell and Charles Lewis Campbell, all of his lands lying in the State of Kentucky except his tract of 1,000 acres near the town of "Lewisville" and 600 acres in Hart County near Cumberland Gap, and to be used for his son Charles L. Campbell's education as his brother John may think proper; fourth, his son, Arthur, specific personal property, a 700 acres of a tract purchased by the testator from John Jones (?) and already conveyed by the testator to his son James, 7,000 acres that was conveyed to the testator by John Jones near Cumberland Gap, 600 acres in Grangier, Tennessee; fifth, to his daughter, Margaret Campbell, the whole of his land in Lee County called Lacks Cobb (?) containing about 700 acres; to his daughter, Mary Beard, $,1000, to be raised from the sale of his property or Negros, with any remaining after her death to her daughter Margaret C. Beard; ninth, to his daughter Margaret Campbell, a life estate in the lower tract of his tract near Cumberland Gap, containing about 600 acres, with a remainder estate in Martin Beard; tenth, to his daughters, Jane B. Campbell and Martha C. Campbell, a tract of land in Lee County called Glen Carin containing 2,000 acres, to be held as tenants in common to be divided by mutual consent or by the Executors or, if elected in writing, $1,000 each in lieu of said land and to each specific personal property; eleventh, to his daughter, Augusta Campbell, a tract of land near Cumberland Gap described by metes and bounds; thirteenth, to his son, James, specific personal property and lands already conveyed to him; fourteenth, a tract of land of 840 acres or at his election a tract of land of 430 acres in Lee County adjoining the land known as Glen Cairn; fifteenth, the 1,000 acres near Louisville, 625 acres near Glen Cairn and the testator's land in Virginia shall be sold and the proceeds divided among his four youngest daughters after their mother's death; sixteenth, he nominated John B. Campbell, Arthur L. Campbell, and Isaac Sawyer as Executors. Witnesses: William (Illegible) and Martin Beaty.^[12]

By a Codicil dated December 27, 1810, the testator also nominated his son Charles L. Campbell and his nephew David Campbell of Abingdon as Executors. Witnesses: Martin Beaty and Robert Gibson.^[12]

By Codicil date May 11, 1811, the testator again named Isaac Sawyer as an Executor. No witnesses appear.^[12]

The Will was proven and admitted to Probate in Knox County, Kentucky on September 2, 1811.^[12]

The Will and Codicil were domesticated for an Ancillary Probate in Washington County, Virginia on August 16, 1815. ^[14]

The 1815 sale of the 1,000 acre tract near Louisville yielded $23,306.56.^[15]

Research Notes

1779 Washington County, Virginia, Rent Rolls.^[16]

1810 U.S. Census, Knox County, Kentucky.^[2]

Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over: 1

Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 1

Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 2

Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over : 1

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia profile for Arthur Campbell available here
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "United States Census, 1810," (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2P-WM2), Arthur Campbell, Knox, Kentucky.
3. ↑ Hagy, J.W., Arthur Campbell and the West, 1743-1811,The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 90, No. 4 (Oct., 1982), pp. 456-471 (16 pages) Available here
4. ↑ Arthur Campbell, Tennessee Encyclopedia Available here
5. ↑ Profile of Arthur Campbell on waymarking.com Available here
6. ↑ Dodd, Jordan. Virginia, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1660-1800 Available on Ancestry here
7. ↑ Marriage Bond of May 10, 1773
8. ↑ Virginia, Washington, Tithables List, 1783 Available here
9. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #30454076
10. ↑ Bogan, D., History of Campbell County, Tennessee Available here
11. ↑ Linford, M., String of Pearls: A salute to Arthur Campbell -- Pioneer, patriot, judge, legislator and military leader, SWVA Today, 01/16/2016 Available here
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4} Kentucky, Knox, Will Book A, p. 39 Not Indexed on FamilySearch, but Available Here
13. ↑ John Campbell to Arthur Campbell-240 acres of the Royal Oak Plantation: "Deed books, 1745-1866; index to deeds, 1745-1930"
    Catalog: Deed books, 1745-1866; index to deeds, 1745-1930 Deed books, v. 14-16 1767-1770
    Film number: 007893721 > image 592 of 853
    FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS4Z-N7W9 (accessed 17 November 2023)
14. ↑ Virginia, Washington, Will Book 4, p. 89 Available here
15. ↑ Kentucky, Knox, Will Book A, p. 78 Not Indexed on FamilySearch, but Available Here
16. ↑ 1779 Washington County, Virginia, Rent Rolls Available on Ancestry here

• Resources on Native Americans at the Library of Virginia
• Campbell's Cherokee Expedition. New Jersey Gazette. 21 March 1781. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
• Col. Campbell to the Chiefs and Warriors. 4 January 1781. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
• Peyton, John Lewis, History of Augusta County, Virginia, Samuel M. Yost & son, 1882.
• Summers, Lewis Preston, History of Southwest Virginia, 1746-1786: Washington County, 1777-1870, J.L. Hill Print. Co., 1903.
• Drake, Francis Samuel, Dictionary of American Biography, including men of the time: containing nearly ten thousand notices of persons of both sexes, of native and foreign birth, who have been remarkable, or prominently connected with the arts, sciences, literature, politics, or history, of the American continent, J.R. Osgood and company, 1876.
• Ripley, George and Dana, Charles Anderson, The New American Cyclopaedia: a popular dictionary of general knowledge, Volume 4, Appleton, 1859.