According to Oliver Taylor’s Historic Sullivan (1909), “In the spring of 1767, two years after the first settlers made their homes in the county, Jacob Womack built a fort two miles east of Bluff City on the land once owned by Sam Miller [not further identified].”
Womack’s Fort was located in what is now Sullivan County, Tennessee, but was originally considered part of southwest Virginia. The Fort is also mentioned in Goodspeeds’ History of Sullivan County, which states “Fort Womack, which stood two miles east of Bluff City, was built by Jacob Womack. It afforded protection for the people who lived in the territory now covered by the Fourth, Sixteenth, Ninth and Twentieth Civil Districts. It is said that when on one occasion its people were forted here a marriage took place between Hal [Henry] Massengill and Penelope Cobb. From this union have sprung a large number of descendants. many of whom still reside in the county.”
In 1776, however, Womack’s Fort was part of Fincastle County, Virginia, and that same year, upon war having been declared against the English, became part of the newly-created Washington County, Virginia, both of which counties are named in the following muster roll of Jacob Womack’s Militia Company. By 1778, however, upon erection of Washington County, North Carolina (now Tennessee), Jacob Womack was one of the justices of the new county court (Washington County Court Minutes, 23 Feb 1778), with the 1778 Washington County, North Carolina Tax Return of Jacob Womack including a number of the following men in addition to himself, many of whom are also on the 1796 Sulivan County tax lists.
Pay Roll for Captain Womack's Company of Militia stationed at
Womacks Fort in Fincastle County
Names when inlisted when discharged Days on Duty
Jacob Womack Captain 15 July [1776] October 12 90
George Russel Lieut " " 90
Henry Jones Ensign " " 90
Pharoah Cobb Sergt " " 90
Edward Russel do " " 90
Joseph Benson do " " 90
Landford Hezziah " " 90
Benjamin Gest " " 90
John Russel " " 90
John Benson " " 90
Robert Shirley " " 90
James Fowler " " 90
Aaron Benson " " 90
Richard Bennet " " 90
Andrew Thompson " 28 Sept 76
Geo Potts " 12 Oct 90
Caleb Powell " 28 Sept 76
Hadiah Russel " 28 Sept 76
Edward Shirley " 30 Sept 78
John Shirley " 12 Oct 90
Thomas Shirley " " 90
Absalom Thompson " " 90
Matthias Little " 28 Sept 76
Henry Massengale " 12 Oct 90
Bradley Cambell " " 90
John Reller [?] " " 90
[Page 2]
Thomas Binson July 15 12 Oct 90
Jno McMahon " 4 Sept 52
Isham Irby " 28 Sept 76
James Stephenson " " 76
Charles Thompson " 12 Oct 90
Godfrey Isbell " " 90
Michl. Massengall " 28 Sept 76
Vallentine Little " " 76
John Chisolony (Commissary) " " 76
John McAdams 26 Aug 15 Sept 21
[Page 3]
Arthur Cobb July 15 12 Oct 90
John Chissam " 23 Sept 71
Henry Massengall " 12 Oct 90
John Gibson " 28 Sept 76
Samuel Underwood " 12 Oct 90
William Russel " 28 Sept 76
William Hood " 28 Sept 76
Dempsey Ward " 12 Oct 90
James Ward " 12 Oct 90
Thomas Fletcher (Drummer) " 12 Oct 90
William Fletcher " 12 Oct 90
Joel Chalacham " 28 Sept 76
Sam Weaver " 24 Sept 72
Jacob Thompson " 12 Oct 90
William Shirley " 12 Oct 90
Geo Russel (a spy) " 28 Sept 76
Jno Russel (Ditto) " 28 Sept 76
Pat Hennifree " 12 Oct 90
Jno Calacham " 28 Sept 76
Sam Weaver " 12 Oct 90
Reuben Dunnam " 12 Oct 90
Jno Gist " 12 Oct 90
Thomas Jonekin " 12 Oct 90
Jordan Roach " 12 Sept 60
John Maroon " 28 Sept 76
Duke Pinson " 12 Oct 90
Jno Carrack " 12 Oct 90
Ezekl Potts " 12 Oct 90
Washington County
Captain Jacob Womack makes Oath that the within is a just pay roll
of the men called into duty under his command.
Signed Thomas Maddison, 4 February 1777
I hereby certify the service of the within enrolled Company was
necessary for the Protection of Fincastle County against the
Cherokees and acted under my orders.
Signed W. Russel, Febry 4th, 1777