William "Trader" Springston

http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/h/i/c/James-R-Hicks-VA/BOOK-0001/0028-...

WILLIAM TRADER1 SPRINGSTON was born Abt. 1736, and died Abt. 1796.He married (1) WHITE WOMAN Abt. 1760.She was born Abt. 1740. He married (2) SISTER OF NANCY WARD Abt. 1760, daughter of FIVE KILLER and TAME DOE.She was born Abt. 1740.

Notes for SISTER OF NANCY WARD:

Questionable Entry: Based on the visit of the Moravian Missionary, Br Schneider, to the household of Gen Joseph Martin in 1784 where he found the half-blood wife of Joseph Martin.Her father was the white trader, William Springston, and who apparently lived in the Martin household for some years afterwards.All of these people living in the household are almost certain to be Clan related (Maternaly related) to his other known Cherokee wife, Betsy Ward, daughter of Nancy.Dr Starr also mentions Martin had another Cherokee wife, Mary Emory.Martin also had two white wives.A later visitor to Martins house [c1796] noted the presence of an old white trader, name not mentioned, living in Martins house with a Cherokee nurse.The trader was probably William Springston.There are later mentions of "Springston's Trading Post" or "Town" but not of the trader William Springston which indicates that he had died about that time.

Children of WILLIAM SPRINGSTON and WHITE WOMAN are:

2. i. EDWARD2 SPRINGSTON, b. Abt. 1760.

3. ii. _____ SPRINGSTON, b. Abt. 1762.

Child of WILLIAM SPRINGSTON and SISTER WARD is:

iii. _____2 SPRINGSTON, b. Abt. 1760; m. JOSEPH L MARTIN, JR, BGEN, Abt. 1783; b. September 18, 1740, Charlotteville, Albemarle Co, VA; d. December 18, 1808, Martinsville, Henry Co, VA.

Notes for JOSEPH L MARTIN, JR, BGEN:

Within Starr's biographies there is a typo in the birth year of Joseph, the text reads 1840 but should be 1740.

• ******************************************* Records of the Moravians in North Carolina, vol V, 1784-1792, Adelaide L Fries, The North Carolina Historical Commission, p1981:"...by signs found out from him where Colonel Martin was.The Colonel soon came creeping out of an Indian sweat-house, and welcomed me in very friendly fashion. ..He took me to his lodgings with a trader, Mr Springston, who had married an Indian wife; Colonel Martin had married their daughter."\
  • ****************************************** Early Travels in the Tennessee Country 1540-1800, Samuel Cole Williams, Watauga Press, p249: "...he explained to me by Signs in which House of the Town on the other Side which is called Sitiko, Col Martin was to be found.Having got on the other Side, I saw him soon creeping out of an Indian Hothouse, & he came to welcome me very friendly & having read Col Armstrong's Letter he said he would be at my Service in my Concern as much as possibly he could. .. He took me with him to his Lodging in the House of a Trader, Mr Springston, who has married an Indian Woman, but whose Father in Law was not at home during my Stay there."\

More About JOSEPH L MARTIN, JR, BGEN:

• Occupation 1: Fur Trader and Planter
• Occupation 2: 1777, VA Commissioner to the Cherokee
• Occupation 3: December 11, 1793, Brigadier General, VA militia
• Residence: June 1788, Chote