Van Buren County, Tennessee

Next we have a news story in the Southern Standard in 1933 based on statements made by Uncle Rance Martin who was 92 on September 12, 1933.  His grandfather, George W. Martin came to Warren County from North Carolina in 1802.  He built a mill and ran a ferry and lived at Rock Island.  Rance further states that his father, William, was born on the night of the Great Earthquake in 1811 when a huge portion of the mountain slid from the top of the mountain into the Caney Fork and formed the island.  As a result William was called "Rock" Martin.  It is true that there was a great disturbance at the time, (See New Madrid Earthquake of 1811.) but the Rock Island had been formed by the waters of the Caney Fork and Rocky Rivers ages before.

Uncle Rance also told the story of how General Jackson appeared at the ferry with a company of Confederate soldiers and how his mother made $75 ferrying them across the river.  He probably was referring to the time when a large number of men crossed the ferry on their way to join Jackson and go with him to New Orleans.  The Martins were not living at the Island during the Civil War.

And now, let's look at a few records.  The Sheriff of Warren County sold the property around the Island including the ferry in October 1812 for $101.  (Deed July 12, 1814)  Martin failed to pay a crop bill to Thomas Hopkins in October 1827 for $92.70 and Hopkins came into possession of the property in 1830.

William Martin received lands (Grants 6251 and 6252 "on the South side of the Collins River in the open Barrens near Rock Island" which he sold to Epps Gibbons in 1816.  The Martins moved to the Mud Creek area on the McMinnville Road when William bought land there in 1825 and during the next few years.  This was referred to in later years as the Squire Miller place.  The first purchase was from Uriah York and ____ McCall.

A receipt dated McMinnville 1867 mentions "William Martin, son of George Martin."  Another dated November 17, 1860 reads "Received from their father, William Martin" and lists the following names and dollars, James Martin $2880., G.W. Martin $2811., Elijah Martin $3350. and Maryan Duncan $3350.  Does G.W. mean G. William?  Would he have been "Rock?"  The William referred to by Uncle Rance would not have been born in 1811 and have engaged in land transfers mentioned in the story while he was still a small boy.

The writer has gone into some detail to illustrate the difficulty of arriving at the real facts involving the early settlers when written records, tradition and what a man remembers or thinks he remembers get mixed together.

Allen's Ferry - Jesse Allen was P.M. in 1830.
Bone Cave - In Van Buren County a little over one mile east of the old Blank's Mill on Rocky River.  The Bone Cave was not far distant.
Falls City - On the left bank of Caney Fork at the Great Falls built to serve the Cotton Mill and community surrounding it.  It was established February 14k, 1893 and discontinued November 7, 1901.  Hugh L. Walling was the P.M.
Horse Shoe Falls - On the road west from the present Great Falls Power House and about 1/2 mile south of Bailiff Ferry.  Arsey Womack was the P.M. in 1877.  The name was changed to Horseshoe Falls September 20, 1895 and it was discontinued in 1904.
Shippingport - Jesse Allen, Jr. was P.M. in December 1833.  The office was closed in November 1835.
Rock Island - Peter Buram was the first P.M. when the office was established in December 1832.  James Rodgers was P.M. in February 1835.  John B. Rodgers in December 1834 resigned and was reappointed in September 1843.