Philip Sitton
Birth: Nov. 7, 1770
Chatham County
North Carolina, USA
Death: Jun. 19, 1843
Henderson County
North Carolina, USA
Pioneer Iron-Maker of Western North Carolina
Philip Sitton and his family were among the early settlers of the beautiful Mills River Valley, and he left his mark on the area. He came to Mills River before the age of 30, and established one of the first iron forges in Western North Carolina. In 1788, the General Assembly of N. C., passed an act granting three thousand acres of land for "every set of iron works, as a bounty from the state to any person or persons who will build and carry on the same." This bounty may have enticed Philip to come to North Carolina. In 1804, the court of Buncombe County ordered that 3000 acres of land be granted to Philip Sitton for the iron works which he was operating, on what is now Forge Mountain in Henderson County, N. C.
The establishing of this iron works was one of the most important contributions made to the development of this section. Iron mined from this place, some on the side of the mountain where the Sittons lived, and other obtained on the Boyleston side, then hauled over the roof-like ascent and downward pitch of Forge Mountain, was manufactured under the direction of Philip Sitton, much of it by his own hands. From the loops and bars of iron made at the Sitton forge, early settlers were furnished with tools of every description to aid them in taming the wilderness and adding refinements to their primitive mode of living. I have copies of the land grants given to Philip Sitton by the state of North Carolina for the use of Iron-works, one deed is for 2186 acres, the other for 1000.
Philip and Winifred Sitton's family continued to grow until 1809, when their eleventh child was born, a total of eight sons and three daughters.
When Philip Sitton settled at Mills River, the nearest church was the French Broad Baptist Church, located just off N. C. Highway 191, and some 10 miles from where Sitton lived. The Sitton family attended the French Broad Church for many years, making the long trip by horseback or buggy. As more families settled in the Mills River Valley, it was natural that they thought of establishing a church nearer home. Philip Sitton and his family were instrumental in the establishment of the Mills River Baptist Church in 1833. On June 27, 1835, the church was officially organized, with Philip, his wife and several members of his family making up about half of the charter membership.
Philip Sitton was very active in the Mills River Church, being mentioned many times as a delegate to the conventions and was a church leader. The following statement is recorded on page 51 of the first book of minutes of the Mills River Baptist Church. "We are called on to record the death of Brother Philip Sitton Sr., who departed this life 19th of June 1843." Philip was buried upon a hill near his home place, overlooking the site of his old Iron forge. He was laid to rest beside his wife who preceded him in death. The old grave yard is now known as the "Sitton-Gillespie Cemetery."
Family links:
Spouse:
Winifred Bradley Sitton (1766 - 1841)*
Children:
Elizabeth Sitton Gillespie (1787 - 1857)*
Ambrose Sitton (1787 - 1825)*
Lawrence Sitton (1794 - 1873)*
Joseph Wilson Sitton (1801 - ____)*
James Sitton (1802 - 1886)*
Winifred Sitton Souther (1804 - 1853)*
Sarah Sally Sitton Rickman (1809 - 1878)*
https://old.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11754314
