Thomas Overstreet, Sr. was the first person with this surname to
have an entry in any of the Bedford County records. Bedford County was
formed in 1754 from Lunenburg County, and in 1755 Thomas Overstreet, Sr.
records a purchase of about 400 acres near the headwaters of a small sized
tributary of the Otter River.
Thomas Overstreet, Sr. and Agnes were married before arriving in
Bedford County, possibly in Orange County, where their oldest child Thomas
Jr. was born. At the time of the move three of the six children had been
born.
This first Overstreet family farm on Orrix Creek was certainly in
wilderness. Life was very difficult, with any land that was to be planted to
crops having to be cleared by hand. This family had no other adults to
assist Thomas Sr., only Agnes and a twelve year old Thomas Jr. Neighbors did
exist, but they had a similar lack of labor available. The nearest community
was New London, more than ten miles away by trail. New London was not
identified as a village until 1757. The settlers of this day and area had to
be very self-sufficient in every respect.
Challenges from Native Americans were always a possibility. In 1774
the situation with the Native Americans became very difficult with the
English expansion pushing west of the nearby Appalachian Mountains, into an
area where the French felt they had authority and control. Both the British
and the French had friends among the native tribes. It was in this
environment that the Bedford Militia was mobilized and under the direction
of the British participated in the Point Pleasant Campaign.
It appears that William Overstreet was able to participate as a
private with the company of Thomas Buford in the Point Pleasant Campaign.
All of the known children in the Thomas Overstreet Sr. & Agnes
family were born by the end of 1760. When the American Revolution started in
1776 the Bedford militia was again mustered. This time Thomas Overstreet,
Jr. and the youngest brother John Overstreet answered the call for
excitement. By this time the farm was producing an ample supply of goods for
the family and they could share with others in need. This apparently is how
Thomas Overstreet, Sr. and Agnes were able to help the freedom cause, by
providing provisions to the forces.
It was about 1780 when Thomas Overstreet, Jr. returned from the war
effort with a wife Barsheba. There is no known record of where Barsheba was
born, or where and when the marriage took place. It seems to be a common
belief among family members that Barsheba was at least a partial Native
American, and possibly a full blood.
The youngest son John Overstreet probably returned from the war
about the same time.
By 1783 another Thomas Overstreet had arrived in Bedford County, to
take up residence. Thomas 'the hatter' Overstreet (1755-1833) & Judith
Walker (1765-1836) remained in Bedford County for at least ten years. Seven
of their children were born in Bedford County. Scott Swanson, a Butler
University history professor, recently distributed an excellent group of
working papers. In these papers he writes "Thomas apparently removed his
family from Bedford County VA about 1793, but where he lived until he showed
up in the 1808 Mercer County KY tax lists remains unknown." A different
source indicates Thomas, Judith and family were in Halifax County VA in the
period between 1793-1808. Convenient for us, this Thomas had the craft of a
Hatter, therefore being known today as the ''the hatter' or Thomas 'the
hatter'. Records seem to indicate that one or more of his male children also
had the craft of Hatter.
Regarding the male parent for Thomas 'the hatter' in Bedford County,
Scott Swanson writes "I'd say that the father of James and Thomas 'the
hatter' was the elusive Thomas Overstreet floating almost out of sight in
the records of Caroline County VA. James might well have named his eldest
son after his father. Thomas might well be the younger son bearing his own
father's name." In this situation, Scott is discussing a James Overstreet
that had three wives, and apparently did not spend any time in residence in
Bedford County VA.
The James Overstreet from Goochland County, Virginia moved into a
location near Suck Mountain in the northern part of Bedford County. This
line of Overstreets were often referred to in future decades as the
'Northern Overstreets' and were closely identified with Taylor's Mountain
and surroundings. The wife of this James Overstreet was Frances Eubanks.
# # #
"Overstreet-Hall Family"
Thomas Overstreet 1744-1842(From his pension application)
On the 29th day of October, 1833, personally appeared in open court, before
the county court, now sitting, Thomas Overstreet, as resident of Russell
Parish in this county and state aforesaid, aged 89 years, who being first
duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress, passed June 1833.
"That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named
officers and served as herein stated--That in the fall, probably in
September, he cannot recollect the day, 1777, he volunteered into the
Service of the United States in Bedford County, Virginia, where he resided,
under Capt. Samuel Campbell and Lieut. John Phelps, to march against the
Indians, who were said at that time to be collected together in the western
part of Virginia--His company rendezvoused at Bedford court house, and
marched from thence thro Botecourt (sic-Botetourt) to a place called
Benhevers Ford on Greenbrier River in Greenbrier County (now in West
Virginia), a distance of about 130 miles, where they remained stationed one
month--in expectation of the Indians--but not meeting with them, we were
then marched to a mill in the same county, where we stationed about two
months, still looking out for Indians, but they did not make their
appearance. He was discharged by Capt. Campbell sometime in December 1777,
but received no written discharge--There was no regular officers with the
troops, nor any Continental regiments or companies with the troops during
this tour--He was engaged in this tour three months--no other troops of any
line along, but his company & no field officers.
"Again in the winter of 1777, he thinks the last of December, but he cannot
recollect the day, he volunteered into the service of the United States, in
Bedford county, Va., where he then lived, under Capt. William Leftwich,
Lieut. John Phelps to march against the Indians, who were said to be still
collected in the western counties of Virginia. His company rendezvoused at
Anthony's Store in Bedford county & marched from thence thro Boutecourt to
the lead mines on New River in Wythe county, Va. They were stationed at this
place five weeks & were engaged in building a Fort, for the purpose of
protecting the country against the Indians, but no Indians making their
appearance, and the people becoming pacified, they were discharged by Capt.
Leftwich, but received no written discharge. He was engaged in this tour
five weeks--There were no regular officers, nor any continental regiments,
or companies with the troops--no field officers--The troops consisting of
his company alone--He was discharged at the expiration of his tour by Capt.
Leftwich.
"In the month of October, he cannot recollect the day, 1779, he again
volunteered into the service of the United States, in Bedford County, Va.
under Capt. Jacob Early of the Virginia militia, for three months . His
company rendezvoused at Maj. Ward's in Bedford County, Va. (now Campbell),
and marched thence thro Charlotte, Prince Edward, Cumberland, Powhatan &
Chesterfield counties to Petersburg, where (he) joined the army commanded by
Genl. Lawson. His other officers were Col. Charles Lynch, Maj. Leftwich,
latter of whom is the same officer he marched under at certain lead mines.
He was stationed about half mile from Petersburg during the whole time. Of
the regular officers he recollects, Genl. Lawson, Baron Steuben, Col.
Holcombe. He was discharged in December 1779 by Col. Lynch, but received no
written discharge--He refers to the affidavit of Maj. Samuel Mitchell, who
served with this tour, to prove his services. "In the past two first tours
mentioned above, there was but one company at any time in the service--He
served not less than the period mentioned below, to wit--the first tour
three months--the second tour, five weeks--& the third tour, three months,
for which he claims a pension--He has no documentary evidence of any of his
services--He refers to the affidavits of Maj. Sam'l Mitchell & John Turner.
Mr. Turner cannot recollect the time, in which, he served the two first
tours--"
'In answer to interrogatories he states
1. He was born in Orange county, Va.--he believes 15 Oct--1744
2. He never had any register of his age
3. He lived in Bedford county, Va. when he entered the service each time &
has lived there ever since the revolution & now resides there
4. He entered the service each time as a volunteer.
5. & 6. he has answered to the best of his recollection, in his declaration
7. William Leftwich & Samuel Mitchell are persons to whom he is known in his
present neighborhood, who can testify to his character, veracity and their
belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.' Record
After relinquishing his claims to any other pension or bounty, except for
the present one, he then declares that his name is not on the pension roll
of any other agency nor any other state, he signs his name.
William Leftwich, Samuel Mitchell, and John Turner all residents of Bedford
county then gave their affidavits as to their memories of Thomas' service
these in turn witnessed by various Justices of the Peace. The court then
certified the declarations.
Thomas Overstreet was allowed a pension of $22.88 per year. His allowable
service was seven months and forty-five days; the pension was dated back to
March, 1833. He died in April, 1842.
Marriage On November 23, 1826 he had married Fanny Roberts of his home
county. She was allowed a pension on her application, dated March 11, 1854,
at which time she was eighty-five years of age, and residing in Bedford
County.
The account of his War activities as given by Thomas Overstreet gives a good
idea of the type of services rendered by the militia forces.
(This page courtesy of Bob Overstreet.
E-mail Bob.