Ring Family History

 (last update 5 Jul 2003)

Second Generation

[ WILLIAM¹]

1. Lt. Col. William Russell [14223] was born about 1714 in Halifax County, Virginia, and died between 1775 and 20 March 1777 in Halifax County, Virginia. He married (1) Anna Buckner before 1748. She was born about 1720, and died before November 1800. He married (2) Elizabeth Henry after 1759, daughter of John Henry and Sarah Winston; sister of the Governor of Virginia, Patrick Henry, of "Give me liberty or give me death" fame. She was born 10 July 1749 in Hanover County, Virginia, and died 18 March 1825.

3. GEORGE RUSSELL [1921] was born 1720 in Loudon County, Virginia. He married ELIZABETH BEAN about 1748, daughter of WILLIAM BEAN. She was born 25 November 1723 in St. Stephens Parish, Northumberland County, Virginia,. George was killed by Indians in the fall 1796 or early 1797 while on a hunting trip from his home German Creek, in Grainger County, Tennessee with Daniel Boone. Elizabeth died after January 1800 in German Creek, Grainger County, Tennessee.

Children of GEORGE RUSSELL and ELIZABETH BEAN are:

1. GEORGE RUSSELL, b. 1748, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; d. 1820.

2. Maj. WILLIAM RUSSELL, b. 1750, Tyron (now Rutherford), North Carolina; d. Bef. 13 Dec 1804, Dickson County, Tennessee.

3. SARAH RUSSELL, b. 09 Nov 1760, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; d. 05 Nov 1857, Riota, McMinn County, Tennessee; m. ISAAC LANE, Bet. 1778 - 1782, Washington County, North Carolina; b. 14 Feb 1760, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; d. 09 Nov 1851, McMinn County, Tennessee.

4. LYDIA RUSSELL, b. 1764, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; d. 1824, Rhea, Greene County, Tennessee.

5. MARY RUSSELL, b. 1767, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; d. 1829, Grainger County, Tennessee; m. NOEL JARNAGIN, Abt. 1782; d. Grainger County, Tennessee.

6. JEMIMA RUSSELL, b. 1770, North Carolina; d. 1850, Perry County, Tennessee.

7. ELIZABETH RUSSELL, b. Abt. 1772, Watauga Colony, Washington County, Tennessee; d. Aft. 1830, Perry County, Tennessee.

8. LEWIS RUSSELL, b. 05 Apr 1774, Watauga Colony, Washington County, Tennessee; d. Bef. 17 Jun 1855, Denton, Denton County, Texas.

Bibliography:

• 1767: List of Tithables, VA, Pittsylvania County.

• History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas; Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889

4. LYDIA RUSSELL [1277] was born 29 September 1726 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, and died before 18 June 1788 in Washington (now Grainger) County, Tennessee. She married  Capt. WILLIAM BEAN 1744 in Guilford County, North Carolina, son of WILLIAM BEAN and MARGARET HATTON. He was born 09 December 1721 in St. Stephens Parrish, Northumberland County, Virginia, and died May 1782 in German Creek, Washington (now Grainger) County, Tennessee. Lydia and husband William are credited for being the first permanent white settlers in Tennessee. Most authorities say that William Bean came to Watauga in 1769 and erected a log cabin at the mouth of Boone's Creek. Gradually a settlement grew up around him composed largely of the families of the Regulators whom the tyranny of Governor Tryon had driven out of North Carolina. Their son Russell is credited as the first white child born in Tennessee. They were participants in the forming of the Watauga Colony, a response to the lack of North Carolina government protection. In July 1776 militant Cherokees prepared to attack illegal white communities on the Watauga River. The famous Cherokee, Nancy Ward, disapproved of intentionally taking civilian lives. Nancy was able to warn several of the Watauga settlements in time for them to defend themselves or flee. Lydia was unfortunate enough to be taken alive by the Cherokee warriors as she made her way from her home on Boone's Creek to Sycamore Shoals. She was taken an Indian camp where she found 13 year old Samuel Moore, also a prisoner. The Indians, with Samuel as interpreter, asked Lydia many questions concerning the strength of the whites--how many forts they had, how many soldiers in each, whether they had powder, etc. She answered these questions so as to leave the impression that the settlers were able to take care of themselves. She was then condemned to death, bound, taken to the top of one of the mounds and was about to be burned, when Nancy Ward, then exercising in the nation the functions of the Beloved or Pretty Woman, interfered and pronounced her pardon. Her life was spared. Samuel was not so lucky and was burned at the stake.

Children are listed under William Bean.

6. JEMIMA RUSSELL [2425] died after 1803. She married VALENTINE SEVIER, son of VALENTINE SEVIER and MARY SMITH. He was born 1 February 1701/02 in St. Giles Parish, London, England, and died 30 December 1803 in Watauga, Carter County, Tennessee.

Children of JEMIMA RUSSELL and VALENTINE SEVIER are:

1. ROBERT SEVIER, b. 1749, Augusta County, Virginia; d. 16 October 1790, Kings Mountain, South Carolina.
2. JOHN SEVIER, b. 23 September 1745, Augusta County, Virginia; d. 24 September 1815, Fort Decatur, Alabama.
3. VALENTINE SEVIER, b. 1747, Augusta County, Virginia; d. 23 February 1800, Clarksville, Tennessee.
4. MARY SEVIER, b. 1751, Augusta County, Virginia; d. Unknown; m. ROBERT RUTHERFORD; d. Unknown.
5. CATHERINE SEVIER, b. 1755, Augusta County, Virginia; d. 06 September 1824, Overton County, Tennessee; m. WILLIAM MATLOCK; d. Unknown.
6. ABRAHAM SEVIER, b. 14 February 1760, Frederick County, Virginia; d. 18 June 1841, Overton County, Tennessee; m. MARY LITTLE; d. Unknown.
7. JOSEPH SEVIER, b. 1764, Frederick County, Virginia; d. 18 June 1826, Overton County, Tennessee.