 The James Roark Massacre March 1780 from the book, History of Tazewell County and Southwest Virginia 1748-1920, William c. Pendleton, The Overmountain Press, Johnson City, Tennessee, 1989, pages 440- 443 The year following the massacre of the Evans family another frightful tragedy was enacted in Baptist Valley, when the Roark family experienced a fate similar to that which befell the family of Jesse Evans. Tradition is very apt to err in fixing the dates of incidents similar to those of which I am writing, though it be accurate as to the locality where such events take place and the circumstances connected therewith. Bickley, who had to depend on tradition, places the massacre of the Roarks in the year 1789, when it actually occurred in 1780, as I have ascertained from existing records. The following account of the tragedy is given by Dr. Bickley: "James Roark lived at the gap of the dividing ridge, between the waters of the Clinch and the Sandy rivers, through which passed the Dry Fork road, and which has since been known as Roark's Gap. Early in 1789, a band of Shawnee Indians left their homes in the west, and ascending the Dry fork, fell upon the defenseless family of Mr. Roark and killed his wife and several children. Two sons and Mr. Roark were from home and, it may be, thus saved their own lives, as the Indians were rather numerous to have been beaten off by them, even if they had been at home. "This is the only instance that I have met with, of the Indians visiting the settlements of Tazewell before the winter had clearly broken. There was a heavy snow upon the ground at the time. "From this time forward the Roarks became the deadly enemies of the Indians, and sought them, even beyond the limits of the county. Mr. Roark and one of his sons (John), were afterwards killed in a battle, fought at what was then known as the Station bottom, within the present limits of Floyd county, Kentucky." In a publication of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, gotten out in 1917, I have found a report which shows that the Roark massacre occurred on the 18th of March, 1780. The report was made by Major John Taylor to Colonel William Preston, then county lieutenant for Montgomery County, and is official. The original report, now in the possession of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, was procured by the late Lyman C. Draper from the descendants of Colonel Preston. The report made by Major Taylor to Colonel Preston is as follows: "Sir : "The 18th Instant the Indians was In this Neighborhood and Fell in at James Roark's where they Scalped seven of his Children And his wife. They are all Dead only one Girl. They took Seven Head of Horses Five of which was the property of Wm. Patterson. This part of yr. County is In a scene of Confusion And I make no doubt but the Country will Break up without they Can Get Some Assistance. I am as yet Living at home but Capt. Maxwell's Compy are Chiefly Gathered together in Small Parties. Corn is very Scarce Here but if a few men could be raised I think they Could be found, Sir if you have resigned yr Commission Pray let the County Lieut. Have this Letter or a few lines from yr. self which I think will Answer a better End. I expected a few lines from you By Capt. Moor but Dont hear of any My family is In Health As I hope yours and I am Sir yr. Most Hum Srt. Jno Taylor Head Clinch 23rd March 1780 C B the Murder was Committed In seven Miles of here." Major Taylor was the same man at whose home Mrs. Jesse Evans and her daughter sought refuge after her children were killed by the Indians in 1779. This report, made by letter to Colonel Preston, not only gives the date of the Roark massacre and the number of victims but furnishes valuable information as to existing military and economic conditions in the Upper Clinch region at that time. The military authorities of Montgomery County had given no assistance to the inhabitants of the Clinch Valley in repelling the repeated invasions made by the Shawnees; and the Evans and Roark massacres had resulted, as the forts and stations maintained by the settlers were so widely separated that the Indians were able to steal in between the forts and murder the occupants of the outlying cabins. Evidently there was a serious scarcity of corn in the Clinch Valley, which gave a shortage of food for both men and animals. The scarcity of grain seemed to be general throughout Montgomery, owing, possibly, to a bad season, or to the employment of so many of the inhabitants in the performance of military duties. In a letter written the 15th of Feb., 1780, by Rev. Caleb Wallace, who was then living near the present town of Christiansburg to Colonel William Fleming, then locating lands under military grants in Kentucky, the Reverend Wallace says: "The Condition of this .Country is truly distressing. Corn has risen to 10, 12 & 15 pounds the Bushel, and it is to be feared that Multitudes will not get it at any Price." James Roark must have lingered for several years upon the scene after his wife and children were murdered by the Indians. He was living there in 1783 when Hugh Fulton ran the line between Montgomery and Washington counties. The last course in Fulton's survey is from the west end of Morris' Knob, and is as follows: "Thence from said Knob north crossing the spurs of the same, and Paint Lick mountain the north fork of Clinch by John Hines plantation, and over the river ridge by James Roark's in the Baptist Valley, to a sugar tree and two white oaks on the head of Sandy." Timothy Roark was a juror on the first grand jury impaneled in Tazewell County, in November, 1800. Whether he was a son or brother of James is not disclosed by any existing record. | Return Home | Great Links | Calendar | History Page | |
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