Loading...
EatonKIS THE SMRY OF AN EATON FAMMY 1683-1983 A' op 0 AN .. �► Aa • � Q�A�er .�(eeilu •' Ofous a ���r� • �oost� �3�c ! 9 �not s ���rL �oonc 7A 6 Bn.(1149H. SetCLeyrcessf iwayc Couss� THE STORY OF AN EATON FAMILY by Joan Eaton Forinasg (1987) Charlotte in Mecklenberg County. The area was not settled, strangely enough, by families from the coastal settlement but mainly by families which arrived from the north or south. This trading path was known as the Great Wagon Road. *An early map, drawn by William Kizzah of Salisbury, shows t that John's property was not far from the trail of the Great Wagon Road. The land that John purchased was part of the original land grant given to the Earl of Granville. The Earl was one of a group of eight English Lords who had the full disposition of this land in the colonies. James Forbes first purchased the land from the Earl of Granville's representatives and sold it then to John in 1763. The land was conveyed to John and his family from James Forbes on December 22, 1763. (Can you imagine what a Christmas that was for them that year?) Rowan County, during the Revolutionary War, was the scene of much political unrest, similar to conditions in the rest of the colonies. Unfair taxes had been imposed by the British Parliament and reached even into the new developments of the then "western" area of North Carolina. Money was scarce in the colonies but Parliament demanded pay- ment of the taxes by whatever means the people could raise the funds; crops, cattle, etc. Finally, the time came when they demanded only money and strained relations became harder to live with. The Regulators of North Carolina came into stronger power as the impending break with England became more and more apparent. Most people in Rowan County were still *T= Rowan Stogy - J. S. Brawley IDAAVIE CO. PUBLIC LIBRARY MMKSVIL.LE„ NC 13.. six miles out of town on Route 601 is the Eaton Baptist Church, built on Eatoni property and deeded to the church. The Eaton land holdings in this area were ex- tensive. There are several recorded land transactions between Isaac Eaton, Micahel Clifford and Johnathon Boone. I do not believe it is too far off the track for us to think that Daniel Boon's expeditions into the Tennessee territory; combined with their natural in- clination and curiosity to seek new land were influential in Abraham and Issac's desire to leave Rowan County and go into the wilderness of western North Carolina. Somewhere, inside them, they were touched by a sense of adventure. It had already brought them to a new colony ... to North Carolina, and now to western North Carolina...They were ready to move on. So they left Rowan County ... they headed west. West to the mountains that were and are so beautiful. But we know that was not the end of.their quest. They con- tinued to move on, in future generations, to Tennessee, to Missouri, to Texas, and to California during the gold rush days. Twelve generations have now become a part of this line, a part of this heritage. L THE BEAR CREEK MARKER Located on .the outehihte o6 MocksviUe, North CwcoEina. Eaton p2opehty tinea were divided by .thio nirven. Li igC). PUBLIC LlEl ttl0kggr KsvjLLE, N( IAbout the author... Joan Eaton Forinash is the eldest daughter of Willard and Thelma Eaton. She was born in Leadwood. She graduated from the yeadwood Public Schools and attended Mineral Area College. She presently lives'in Virginia Beach, Virginia with her husband, Bill, and their son Michael. A daughter, Melissa, is married to Dr. Barry Gillen and they live in Norfolk. Jo works for tfie Chaplain of Medical Center Hospitals. She is also -a Scherenschnitte -(papercutting) artist. Her work is shown throughout the Tidewater area, in North Carolina, and Washington D.C. She has recently written a book about Scherenschnitte, has designed some cuttings for notepaper and stationery and lectures on the art form. People, antiques, history, psychology, philosophy, geneology, needlework, folk art and other art forms'ihterest her. She is a member of the Eastern Shore Epis- copal Church, Past -President of the Princess Anne Plaza Garden Club, the Organizing Regis- trar of Francis Land Chapter, National Society' Daughters of the American Revolution, the past Senior Treasurer of Cavalier Society, National Society Children of the American Revolution, Past National Defense Chairman of Princess Anne County, N.S.D.A.R., the Organi- zing Vice -President of Battle off the Capes, N.S.C.A.R. and a member of the Tidewater Calligraphy Guild. pAVIE CO. Yif`3Lk: LIBRABV MOGKSViLLE. No