"James Chitwood went to Buckingham Co., Virginia, thence to Rutherford Co., N.C., where he was the founder of a family of Chitwoods who went west through Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri and from there they joined the forty-niners who went to California."

"Matthias' son James was born in Virginia but at some point moved to Rutherford County, North Carolina. He was a Loyalist during The Revolutionary War and was hanged by the local militia."

Captain James Chitwood was a Loyalist , or Tory, in the Revolutionary War. He was in the battle of Kings Mtn in SC and was captured and hung. (Kings Mtn and It's Heroes, Lyman C. Draper.) He was one of 8 men hanged by the American Patriots (Overmountain Men) after the defeat of the Loyalists, the hanging taking place at Aaron Bickerstaff's Farm in Rutherford County, NC.

There are varying accounts of where the hanging actually took place. According to the following website and the book, "Descendants of Daniel Chitwood" (by Claudia Weller) the hanging took place in Gilbert Town after a week of walking. So the date would have been around Oct 21, 1780. http://www.overmountainvictory.org/Gtown.htm

His friends carried his body a half mile to Benjamin Bickerstaff's place and interred him on a hill that was used as a cemetery. It is near present day Sunshine, NC.

Source: Morgan District, North Carolina, Superior Court of Law & Equity; Misc. Records, Book III. Transcription of court proceedings against suspected Tories.

"State of North Carolina, Rutherford County. At a County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions began and held for said county on the Second Monday of July in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven Hundred and Eight two, before the Worshipfull William Gilbert, James Whitrow & Jonathon Hampton and Other Justices asigned & Duly Commd. With full Power and Authority and Jurisdiction to hold the Said Court and to hear try and determine all petit larceny assault batteries trespasses breaches of the peace and Other Misdemeanors of What Kind So ever of an inferior nature AND also duly Authorised and Impowered by an Act of Assembly in such case made & provided to hear try adjudge & Determine all Cases of Confiscated Property in the County aforesaid. The Jurors for the State on their Oath present & say that

...

• James Chitwood, Sr. Hanged at Bickerstaff Farm
• Joseph Chitwood
• Richard Chitwood ....

all late of the County of Rutherford Planters, not reguarding the Duty of their Allegance to the said State & her laws of fearing the pains and penelties therein Contained on the first day of October in the year of Our Lord One thousand Seven Hundred & Eighty with force & Arms in the County aforesaid Wickedly & treacherously entending and Designing as for as in them lay to Overturn the present free Government of this State & reduce the inhabitants thereof Under the Power of the Army of Great Britain then & now at Open War with this State and the United States of America did then & there with force and Arms feloniously & treacherously Knowingly & Willfully did aid & assist the said King by Joining his Army Commanded by Major Ferguson and by bearing Arms in the Service of the said King Against the Good Government Peace and Dignity of this State, and the Jurors aforesaid on their Oath aforesaid do further Present & say that by their felony and treason by them respective in Manner & form aforesaid Committed have Severally forfeited their Goods & Chattles lands & tenements to the State according to a form of An Act of Assembly in Such Case made & provided A True Bill-

William Porter, foreman"

A true Copy of the inquisition found by the Grand Jury - certified by me

Felix Walker CC

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https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/chitwood/1107/

There are pictures of both Captain James Chitwood Sr and his father Matthias in this video of Chitwood geneology.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGpOidZFHUQ

See the Media section of this profile for an explanation of 3 men named James Chitwood.