1776 Militia Roll, Womack's Fort, Fincastle and Washington County, Virginia (now Sullivan County, Tennessee)

According to Oliver Taylor's Historic Sullivan (1909), "In the spring of 1767, two years after the first settlers made their homes in the county, Jacob Womack built a fort two miles east of Bluff City on the land once owned by Sam Miller [not further identified]."

Womack's Fort was located in what is now Sullivan County, Tennessee, but was originally considered part of southwest Virginia. The Fort is also mentioned in Goodspeeds' History of Sullivan County, which states "Fort Womack, which stood two miles east of Bluff City, was built by Jacob Womack. It afforded protection for the people who lived in the territory now covered by the Fourth, Sixteenth, Ninth and Twentieth Civil Districts. It is said that when on one occasion its people were forted here a marriage took place between Hal [Henry] Massengill and Penelope Cobb. From this union have sprung a large number of descendants. many of whom still reside in the county."

In 1776, however, Womack's Fort was part of Fincastle County, Virginia, and that same year, upon war having been declared against the English, became part of the newly-created Washington County, Virginia, both of which counties are named in the following muster roll of Jacob Womack's Militia Company. By 1778, however, upon erection of Washington County, North Carolina (now Tennessee), Jacob Womack was one of the justices of the new county court (Washington County Court Minutes, 23 Feb 1778), with the 1778 Washington County, North Carolina Tax Return of Jacob Womack including a number of the following men in addition to himself, many of whom are also on the 1796 Sulivan County tax lists (See also Squabble State).

Pay Roll for Captain Womack's Company of Militia stationed at Womacks Fort in Fincastle County Names when inlisted when discharged Days on Duty Jacob Womack Captain 15 July [1776] October 12 90 George Russel Lieut " " 90 Henry Jones Ensign " " 90 Pharoah Cobb Sergt " " 90 Edward Russel do " " 90 Joseph Benson do " " 90 Landford Hezziah " " 90 Benjamin Gest " " 90 John Russel " " 90 John Benson " " 90 Robert Shirley " " 90 James Fowler " " 90 Aaron Benson " " 90 Richard Bennet " " 90 Andrew Thompson " 28 Sept 76 Geo Potts " 12 Oct 90 Caleb Powell " 28 Sept 76 Hadiah Russel " 28 Sept 76 Edward Shirley " 30 Sept 78 John Shirley " 12 Oct 90 Thomas Shirley " " 90 Absalom Thompson " " 90 Matthias Little " 28 Sept 76 Henry Massengale " 12 Oct 90 Bradley Cambell " " 90 John Reller [?] " " 90 [Page 2] Thomas Binson July 15 12 Oct 90 Jno McMahon " 4 Sept 52 Isham Irby " 28 Sept 76 James Stephenson " " 76 Charles Thompson " 12 Oct 90 Godfrey Isbell " " 90 Michl. Massengall " 28 Sept 76 Vallentine Little " " 76 John Chisolony (Commissary) " " 76 John McAdams 26 Aug 15 Sept 21 [Page 3] Arthur Cobb July 15 12 Oct 90 John Chissam " 23 Sept 71 Henry Massengall " 12 Oct 90 John Gibson " 28 Sept 76 Samuel Underwood " 12 Oct 90 William Russel " 28 Sept 76 William Hood " 28 Sept 76 Dempsey Ward " 12 Oct 90 James Ward " 12 Oct 90 Thomas Fletcher (Drummer) " 12 Oct 90 William Fletcher " 12 Oct 90 Joel Chalacham " 28 Sept 76 Sam Weaver " 24 Sept 72 Jacob Thompson " 12 Oct 90 William Shirley " 12 Oct 90 Geo Russel (a spy) " 28 Sept 76 Jno Russel (Ditto) " 28 Sept 76 Pat Hennifree " 12 Oct 90 Jno Calacham " 28 Sept 76 Sam Weaver " 12 Oct 90 Reuben Dunnam " 12 Oct 90 Jno Gist " 12 Oct 90 Thomas Jonekin " 12 Oct 90 Jordan Roach " 12 Sept 60 John Maroon " 28 Sept 76 Duke Pinson " 12 Oct 90 Jno Carrack " 12 Oct 90 Ezekl Potts " 12 Oct 90 Washington County Captain Jacob Womack makes Oath that the within is a just pay roll of the men called into duty under his command. Signed Thomas Maddison, 4 February 1777 I hereby certify the service of the within enrolled Company was necessary for the Protection of Fincastle County against the Cherokees and acted under my orders. Signed W. Russel, Febry 4th, 1777