Jesse Walton (1732 - 1789)

Born 16 Apr 1732 in Goochland, Colony of Virginia, America

Ancestors

Descendants

Died Jul 1789 at age 57 in Franklin, Georgia, United States

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Biography

Jesse Walton was a Virginia colonist.

Major Jesse Walton performed Patriotic Service in North Carolina in the American Revolution.

Jesse Walton is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A120276.

Jesse Walton was a founder of Jonesborough.

Jesse Walton was an early settler in Georgia.

Jesse Walton, born in colonial Virginia, was a pioneer frontiersman in North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia. He was active in what came to be known as the Cherokee-American wars (along with Griffith Rutherford). Walton also served as a militia officer during the semi- simultaneous American Revolution most notably in the Battle of Boyd's Creek with John Sevier. Active in civil frontier politics, he introduced the bill officially establishing the first town in what is now Tennessee - Jonesborough. There was (is?) a monument/drinking fountain in Jonesborough describing him as "A man of elemental force and dignity, of essential honor and true worth".

Jesse was born in 1732. He was the son of William Walton and Susannah Cobb. He passed away in 1789.

Jesse Walton, "youngest son" in will, was born in Goochland County, Virginia in 1740 and was killed by Cherokee Indians, July 1789 in Franklin County, Georgia. He was a frontiersman, and is credited with founding Jonesboro, Tennessee. He served in the Revolutionary War, and received 200 acres of land in Wilkes County, Georgia for his service. Jesse filed his will in Franklin County on June 13, 1789, and it was probated on Aug. 10, 1790. He married Mary Walker, who died in Franklin County in 1801. Their descendants lived in Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi.^[1]

[Editor's Note: BE CAREFUL - don't conflate - 3 different DAR individuals - this one often with Benjamin Cleveland]

This Jesse Walton probably was NOT the one at the Battle of Kettle Creek in February of 1779.

This Jesse Walton was most likely on the campaign to King's Mountain (Oct 1780) according to his nephew's pension - but it is unclear if he marched with Cleveland or Lenoir. It is also not known if he actually was in that battle.

What became of the ten plots of land Jesse purchased at the founding of Jonesborough, in 1781? And his property on the Nolichucky near John Sevier?

1784 - A 200 acre grant was made by Governor George Walton of Georgia to Major Walton in upper Wilkes Co GA. This was his first land in Georgia - Bk EEE p 10 GA Archives

The Jess. Walton that witnessed the Hopewell Treaties during the winter of 1785-86 very likely was this one.

Confirm political offices held in Georgia:
Associate Justice of Franklin Co., GA- 1785, '86
Member of the Executive Council of Franklin Co., GA - 1786,'87
Member of Franklin Co., GA House of Representatives - 1786,'87 & '89:
Associate Justice of Franklin Co., GA- 1785, '86
Delegate to the Constitutional Convention - 1787 (elected but did not serve)
Justice of the Peace, Franklin County, GA - 1788

Some sources say he was actually killed by Creek Indians not Cherokee. This really needs to be put into the context of the Georgia frontier.

What became of the twelve plots of land deeded in the Franklin County, Georgia - Plat Book 1784-1791?

In Franklin Co., Georgia, the other Waltons and Clevelands are as might be expected but are "Estang, Count D", Elijah Clarke and Bryan Ward who might be suspected? And who was "Hay, Wm" who had even more land deeds than Jesse?

Sources

1. ↑ Waltons of Old Virginia and Sketches of Families in Central Virginia by Wilmer L. Kerns, Ph.D. pg.15

• Jesse Walton in Revolutionary War Pension Applications
• Franklin County, Georgia - Plat Book 1784-1791
• Revolutionary War Era Jesse_Waltons

• William Lenoir Revolutionary War Pension Application
• The Rutherford Expedition
• Jesse Walton entry in Tennessee Encyclopedia
• William Walton Revolutionary War Pension Application
• The Battle of Boyd's Creek on Tennesseans in the Revolutionary War
• The Founder of Tennessee's First Town, Major Jesse Walton
• Letter in Draper MSS 2XX30 from Indian agent Joseph Martin to Patrick Henry.
• Bouwman, Robert Eldridge "Traveler's Rest and the Tugaloo Crossroads"

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:3C4N-B1G : accessed 2016-07-02), entry for Jesse /Walton/ Maj.
• Source: S1166902475 Repository: #R1151000561 Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=18269855&pid=1317
• Repository: R1151000561 Ancestry.com
• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 30 August 2019, 06:01), entry for Jesse Walton(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:L71H-NCC); contributed by various users.
• Source: S328378142 Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.Ancestry Family Tree Ancestry Family Tree 153674872