Samuel Cecil was a grandson of Thomas Witten, the pioneer settler, and was born in 1788 at a point within less than a mile of where his grandfather lived. He was told by his grandfather, and by his mother, who was Nancy Witten previous to her marriage with William Cecil, that Thomas Witten gave the powder to the Indians.
Samuel Cecil, son of William, after his marriage with Sally Poston, in 1814 built his home on the north side of and overlooking the Clinch, and opposite the mouth of Plum Creek. The house is still standing, is known as the Mays place, and is now owned by Mrs. Otis E. Hopkins, a great-granddaughter of Samuel Cecil. My mother was born, reared and married to my father in this house. Samuel Cecil did not care for public life, and was never an officeholder, civil or military, but was esteemed by all persons who came in contact with him as one of the nicest gentlemen they ever met, and one of the best citizens the county ever produced. His home was among the most noted in the county for its delightful hospitality, where the poor and humble received the same courteous treatment as was extended to the richest and most distinguished.

NOTE: A SAMUEL CECIL et al. shows up with an acquisition of two parcels in McDowell Count (1860 & 1862)
see SIMS INDEX page 441 of 867 (access through ancestry dot com) The locations: 94 acres on Cucumber Creek and 260 acres on Whitley's Branch

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Source(s):
- Excerpt from Pendleton William C. 1920. History of Tazewell County and Southwest Virginia : 1748-1920. Richmond Va: W.C. Hill Print.
- Virginia, Death Registers, 1853–1911. Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Nov 24 2022, 16:01:18 UTC