Family:William Bean and Lydia Russell (1)

They lived in the western portion of Halifax County, Virginia whereWilliam and others were ordered to lay out a road from William's houseto the courthouse. In 1766 the area in which they lived becamePittsylvania County. In 1768 and 1769 they sold their land inPittsylvania County and moved into the wilderness of the Great SmokeyMountains in what woudl later become eastern Tennessee. They built acabin on a point between Boone's Creek and the Watauga River. It issaid that William had hunted there with Daniel Boone and was familiarwith the area. They were the first permanent white settlers inTennessee. That same year their son Russell was born. The firstwhite child born in Tennessee. Soon they were joined by Lydia'sbrothers John and George. In 1787 Lydia owned 400 acres of land inWashington County, Tennessee

1767: First List of Tithables, Pittsylvania County, Virginia 1768: Tennessee The Volunteer State Vol. 1 - Biographies ofprofessional individuals residing in Tennessee from 1769-1923. Page50 1769: The Overmountain Men, Pat Alderman, The Overmountain Press,1970, Page 13 1769: Tennessee The Volunteer State Vol 1 - Biographies ofprofessional individuals residing in Tennessee from 1769-1923, Page 63 1776: Tennessee The Volunteer State Vol. 1 - Biographies ofprofessional individuals residing in Tennessee from 1769-1923, Page166, 247 1776: DAR Patriot Index - Centennial Edition, Part 1, 1990 1782: last Will & Testament of William Bean, Jonesboro, ennesseeCourthouse, Vol. 1, page 4

Records of Record of Births 1661-1810 Northumberland County, Virginia,abstracted and published by Beverly Fleet. Notes: Lydia Russell, sister of George Russell was probably NOT bornin North Farnham Parish. Parish records indicate that the Lydia bornthere was the child of Joseph and Sarah Russell. There was a GeorgeRussell born in North Farnham Parish around the same time (30 Nov1720) but parish records indicate his parents were George and MaryRussell. This research has also not found proof that William andLydia married in Guilford County, North Carolina.

Lydia and husband William are credited for being the first permanentwhite settler in Tennessee. Most authorities say that William Beancame to Watauga in 1769 and erected a log cabin at the mouth ofBoone's Creek. Gradually a settlement grew up around him composedlargely of the families of the Regulators whom the tyranny of GovernorTryon had driven out of North Carolina. Their son Russell is creditedas the first white child born in Tennessee. They were participants inthe forming of the Watauga Colony, a response to the lack of NorthCarolina government protection. In July 1776 militantCherokeesprepared to attack illegal white communities on the Watauga River.The famous Cherokee, Nancy Ward, disapproved of intentionally takingcivilian lives. Nancy was able to warn several of the Wataugasettlements in time for them to defend themselves or flee. Lydia wasunfortunate enough to be taken alive by the Cherokee warriors as shemade her way from her home on Boone's Creek to Sycamore Shoals. Shewas taken to an Indian Camp were she found 13 year old Samuel Moore,also a prisoner. The Indians, with Samuel as interpreter, asked Lydiamany questions concerning the strength of the whites-how many fortsthey had, how many soldiers in each, whether they had powder, etc.She answered these questions so as to leave the impression that thesettlers were able to take care of themselves. She was then condemnedto death, bound, taken to the top ofo one of the mounds and was aboutto be burned, when Nancy Ward, then exercising in the nation thefunctions of the Beloved or Pretty Woman, interferred and pronouncedher pardon. Her life was spared. Samuel was not so lucky and wasburned at the stake.

1. ↑ Marriage also found on ordinance index as 1759, Greensboro, Guilford
   County, NC, ss 15 Oct 1977 Idaho Falls Temple.