Person:Lewis Tackett (4)

Information on Lewis Tackett III

Built Fort Tackett, located at Tackett Creek and Coal River in the Kanawha Valley region of Virginia. The fort was one of the first forts built in the valley and the scene of a bloody tragedy when it was destroyed by Shawnee Indians on August 27, 1790. Many people were killed including Lewis' brother, Christopher, grandaughter, Mary Townsend, and son-in-law, John McElheny.

Ft. Tackett once stood near St. Albans. Fort Tackett was built in 1786 on land that originally belonged to George Washington and deeded to him for his service in the French and Indian War. 31 people lived there in 1790 when the Shawnee Indians attacked and captured several settlers and took them to Michigan. Most of them eventually escaped and returned to this area. Six months later they attacked again and killed Christopher Tackett and several children, kidnapped several others and burned the fort. Several hid from the attack and managed to escape to Ft. Clendenin, later Charleston. The first white child born in the Kanawha Valley was born here to Kizah Tackett. [History of St. Albans, West Virginia; http://www.stalbanswv.com/history.shtml]

Acquisition of Land in Prince William County, VA

Acquisition of Land from Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants 1742-1775, Vol. 2:

• F-274: Lewis Tacquet of Prince William County, 142½ acres, half of late Father's land, in Prince William County. Surv. Mr. James Genn. Father, Lewis Tacquet, dec'd, at his death had Grant for 243 acres dated 28 Aug. 1711 - half of 486 acres Lewis Tacquet & Lewis Renoe divided & recorded in Stafford County. Lewis Tacquet, the father, being an Alien and not naturalized, his lands are Escheated, His two surviving sons, Lewis & William moved to have lands equally granted to them by a surv. by Mr. James Genn. On Cedar Run adj. Rence. 29 Aug. 1747. [Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1742-1775, Vol. 2, pg. 15].

Records of Lewis Tackett in Augusta County, VA

From Chalkley’s Augusta County Records:

• Vol. 2 - List of Delinquents and Insolvents in the Revenue Tax for 1786 given in by Thomas Hughart, Sheriff, in Second Battalion. These removed, viz: Charles Ash, Jos. Bennett; Ephraim Beats, to Kentucky; Henry Baker, John Been, Henry Casebolt; Jno. Denison, to French Broad; Francis Graham, to Kentucky; James Hicklen, to Kentucky; John Jordan, to Kentucky; Andrew Moody, to Kentucky; James Lambert, Henry Morrison, John Nelson; Jno. Pourtlock, to Kentucky; James Rucker, Lewis Tackett, Francis Tackett, Thos. Tackett, George Stout, Jno. Awfold, Jacob Bennett; Thos. Bleake, to Greenbrier; Jno. Brinkely, Jno. Collins, Thos. Davis, Jacob Elsworth; David Gregory, to Kentucky; Wm. Hicklin, to Kentucky; Thos. Jervis; Hennly Null, to Kentucky; Jno. Lambert; Cornelius Miller, deceased; Cornelius Vansdale, Wm. Robenson, Chas. Ramsey, James Tanner, Richard Bennett, Robert Stuart. (Note: Lewis, Francis and Thomas Tackett had apparently removed from the Augusta County area prior to 1786).

1.   Johnson, Erna Young. The Tacketts in Kanawha County, Virginia. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1971).

   http://www.education-network.us/files/Tacketts_in_Kanawha_County_Virginia.pdf