Capt. John Chisum was reportedly a woodsman, land viewer, and Army Scout (Spy). He associated many years with Valetine Sevier II, who was listed in one Virginia payroll as a 'spy'. Information on John Chisum was obtained from county histories, and other pertinent records of the pre-Revolutionary epoch. His personality and skills, which include his education, business, and military talent, mark him as being quite different form the half-dozen or more John's who flourished on frontiers of the Cherokee nations. Two Chisum Bibles and the public record of the Watauga Association plus those of Washington Co., NC, prove 'paper proof' for many incidents in his life. John spend most of his life on the frontier. The Tax List in 1772 show him owning two properties in Botetourt Co., VA, his address being Reid's Island. Five years later he assisted Gov. John Seiver organize Washington Co., TN, comprising all of the land due west of North Carolina in 1777. He was also Justice-Of-The-peace, member of the new court, and deputy surveyor during this time. There are 11 reverences to John Chisum in the earliest minutes of the Washington County Court up to 1782. In 1782 he left eastern Tennessee to visit his parents in Amelia Co., VA. While there, his father gave him 217 acres of land purchased in the adjoining Prince Edward County. It is supposed that this deed of gift represents the son's portion of the family inheritance. John, however, had made plans to settle on his bounty land in southern Kentucky, he disposed of the Prince Edward acreage. Late in 1782, accompanied by his brothers Elijah and Obadiah, he returned to eastern Tennessee, his brothers having business in Rogersville, Hawkins Co., TN. Capt. John continued on to Jonesboro, where the 'over-the-mountain-men' were making a strenuous effort to gain recognition from both the Federal and North Carolina governments, annoucning the new State of Franklin. John was invoved in the debate and political activity, as a loyal supporter of Gen. John Sevier, he was also busy entering several land grant petitions. Child of Captain John Chism: Captain John “Red Buck” Chism, Captain John Chism‟s son, with wife, Margaret Chism (Davis) Captain John “Red Buck” Chism received letters, as a young man, from Andrew Jackson while he was President, telling of his exploits at Horseshoe Bend. Captain John "Red Buck" Chisholm lived out his last days with his favorite son Ben Frank Chism, at his home, in Texas. Captain John took his family bible, containing family records, and other personal belongings to Texas with him when he moved. Captain John “Red Buck” Chism & Sarah Greenwood Chism (Kilpatrick, another one) Rufus King Chism John M. Chism Lucinda F. Chism Norton G. Chism Enoch Parsons Chism Alexander Claiborne Chism James Elijah Chism Colonel Ben Frank Chism Angelina C. Chism Izilla Kilpatrick Chism Joseph McHenry Chism Louisa Jane Kennedy Chism John “Red Buck” Chism, grave Here is a brief sumary of his life: ¥ 1732: Born in St. Margaret's Parish, Caroline Co., VA. ¥ 1745: Attended school in Fredericksburg, VA. Home in Sherando Valley, associated with Seivers and Harisons. ¥ 1753: 'Land Viewer', Augusta County frontier. ¥ 1758: Solider form Augusta County Record: Capt. Mosby's Company, Colonel Robert Slaughter in command. Served as Private. Scout with Valentine Seiver, spending much time in the woods. ¥ 1772: Two land grants in Botetourt Co., VA. Reid's Island, Dist. 15 (in floyd Co., VA. today) and District 16, New River and Sinking Creek, one poll. ¥ 1773-1774: Deliquent on Tax List. August County record, Order Book says: "the defendant is in the service, going out on the Expedition", replying to a writ, William Boyer vs. John Chism. this was the Point Pleasant Expedition. ¥ 1777: John Chisum and Elijah, his brother, took the Oath of Allegiance in Henry Co., VA. ¥ 1778: Washngton Co., NC organized with boundaries co-extensiave with present day State of Tennessee. John Chisum named a Justice of Peace. First court held February 23, 1778. ¥ 1780: Washington Co., NC. May Term of court. Robert Sevier, John Chisum, and John Waddle bondsmen for William Nelson. 10,000 pds. each. John Chisum, Esquire fined 100 pds. for strking Abranahm Denton in the court yard. ¥ 1780: John Chisum in battle of King's Mountain, October 6, 1780. (Note: This was later proved to be John D. Chisholm whose grandson was Jesse Chisholm of Chisholm Trail Fame. This John Chisholm was also closely associated with John Seiver.) ¥ 1781: Visits parents in Amelia County, reciving his family inheritance, land in Prince Edard Co., VA. After selling this land, he goes with brothers Elijah and Obadiah to Hawkins Co., TN. ¥ 1783: Visits General John Seiver at the general's home at Mount Plesant, on Nollchucky River. ¥ 1784: Two land grants to John Chisum, entered by Absalom Chisum. 100 acres, August 10, 1784, Flat Lick Branch (this later in Simpson Co.), KY. 200 acres, December 7, 1785, Forks of Red River, Logan Co., KY. ¥ 1787: Appears on Hawkins Co., TN Tax List with his brother, Elijah Chisum. ¥ 1789: Entered three different paces of land for Bounty Land Grants. #264, 626, 875 with the Tennessee Land office. ¥ 1792: Joins his brother Abasalom in Logan Co., KY. ¥ 1793: Sells 200 acres in Logan Co., KY to David Standly. ¥ 1795: On Tax List, Logan Co., KY. One male over 21, one man over 16. ¥ 1797. John Chisum, with power-of-attorney from his brother Absalom, files a suit in Davidson Co., Mero District, to obtain title to 640 acres of land on Richland Creek (afterwards designated as the Sulphur Fork of Red River) for which he had been granted preemption under the laws of North Carolina. Absalom and John mentioned as brothers in this writ. ¥ 1803. Joined his brother Elijah in Jackson Co., TN. This region would soon be organized into White Co., TN. ¥ 1804: Gives a power-of-attorney to his nephew, James Chisum (Deputy Surveyor for Mero District, TN), to sell the 640 acres of preempton land on the Sulphur Fork of Red River. The Jackson County court registered the power-of-attorney. ¥ 1806: The above land sold to John Long, May 3, 1806. since the land is in Robertson Co., TN it was necessary to registered the deed in that county. There John Chisum is designated as of White County. Evidently he died in the home of Elijah chisum (his brother) who lived in Sparta, White Co., in 1806. Source: HISTORICAL SOUTHERN FAMILIES, Edited by Mrs. John Bennett Boddie ADDITIONAL SOURCE: 1. Title: John (Red Buck) Chisholm, Recipient: Carol Niven, Author E-mail: Warann@worldnet.att.net Abbrev: Chisholm Author: Ron Crooker Publication: 15 Feb 2001