Fifteenth Generation

36. Col. John TIPTON^1,2,3,4 was born on 17 Aug 1730 in Baltimore, MD.¹ He died in Apr 1813 in Washington, County, TN.¹ He was buried in Tipton-Haynes Farm, Erwin Highway (just outside of Johnson City, TN. Col. John Tipton, as he is familiarly known in Tennessee history, many Virginia records, as well as North Carolina, assisted in establishing America's Independance in following capacities:

As Capt. at Battle of Connaway on Mt. Pleasant 10-1774 under command of Gen. Andrew Lewis.

As Co. Lt. or Col. of Militia of Shendoah Co., Va.

As member of committee of safety and correspondence of Shendoah Co, Va.

As one of the composers and signers of the Woodstock, Va., Declaration of Rights, 1774

As a member of the Va. convention acting as delegate from Dunmore (Shendoah Co., Va.) .

As a member of Va. House of Burgesses 1774-1780.

As Justice of the Courts of Dunmore Co., Va. 1772-1782.

As High Sheriff of Shendoah Co., Va. 1781-1783 .

He served as Capt. of Company in Rev. War but is always' spoken as Col. John in Tn., Va., N.C., histories for the reason that he served in three states as Col. of the county militia.

He was chosen to fill the highest office in the Co. Militia 4-1778, (that of county It. or Lt. Col.) .

He is referred to in nearly all Va. State Audit & Account Books where frequent reference is made to his service, both as Burgess from Dunmore of Shendoah Co., Va. and as recruiting officer for the Continental Army.

After moving to Watauga Settlement, he received from N.C. the appointment as Col. of Militia of Washington Co. in 1782 and as such played a very important part and much misunderstood part in rise and fall of the State of Franklin, which is now Tennessee.

In 1788, strained relations between Governor John Sevier and Col. John Tipton who opposed the Governor on the State of Franklin, had reached such a point that when they met one day on the street they decided to settle their differences "in the old fashioned way" with their fists. Col. John was a big and powerful man and was soon the victor. After this altercation, Sevier gathered some of the state troops under his control and began a march on the home of Col. John. He arrived in the neighborhood of Col. John's home early in the morning and ordered Col. John to surrender. Col. John and about fourty-five of his friends and neighbors had gathered at his home to help him. Col. Scott, Gen. Rutledge and Major Pemberton came from the adjoining county of Sullivan, to re-enforce Col. John Tipton. When Sevier sent word to Tipton to surrender, Tipton replied with an emphatic "No! In less than two hours you will be surrendering to me." Sevier had all the passes to Col. John's home guarded against reinforcements, but the Col. had already sent for them. Sevier ordered his men to charge and the battle was on. Just as the charge started it began to snow so thick and fast that they could hardly tell one person from another. Two or three were killed or wounded, and soon after Maj. Pemberton and Gen. Rutledge came with sufficient reinforcements and Sevier and his troops were defeated. Eighteen prisoners were taken, among them were three of Sevier's sons.

Some historians state that Col. John threatened harm to Sevier's sons but his son, Jonathan, says this is false. One of Sevier's sons was killed leaving a widow and Col John out of the generosity of his heart, gave a negro slave to the widow. A monument was erected in memory of Col. John Tipton and dedicated Oct. 12, 1946, near Johnson City, Tennessee, opposite the old Tipton home on Ashville National Highway, U.S.23. The following invitation was issued:

THE TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
The National Society of the Colonial Dames in Tennessee,
the John Sevier and the Sarah Hawkins Chapter, DAR,
the Daughters of the War of 1812,
and the United Daughters of the Confederacy,
would be pleased To have you attend the unveiling
of a monument erected by them at the TIPTON-HAYNES PLACE
on the Asheville National Highway, one mile south of
Johnson City, Tennessee. Saturday, October 12,2:45 p.m., 1946

The cost of the monument was $2,400.00, the contribution for it coming from the organizations mentioned in the invitations together with contributions from the Tiptons.

Upon the monument appears these words:

Revolutionary Period 1783-4. John Tipton moved to this site from Shenandoah County, Virginia and built his home; a two-story log house which is still standing. He was a native of Baltimore County, Maryland. Born in 1730. His family moved to the valley of Virginia in 1750. In 1771 he was a vestry man of Bedford Parish, was a soldier in Lord Dunsmore War, 1774. In 1775 he was Recruiting Officer for the Rebel. He was in several legislatures of Virginia and in the Constitutional Convention of 1776.

Col. John TIPTON and Mary BUTLER were married in 1750/51 in Fredrick County, VA.¹ Mary BUTLER¹ (daughter of Thomas BUTLER and Martha MOORE) was born in 1736.¹ She died on 8 Jun 1776 in Shenandoah Co., VA.¹ Col. John TIPTON and Mary BUTLER had the following children:

+55
i.
Samuel TIPTON.
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ii.
Benjamin TIPTON.
57
iii.
Capt. Abraham TIPTON¹ was born in 1756.³ He died on 10 Sep 1782.¹ Capt. Abraham Tipton killed by the Shawnee Indians near the falls of Ohio, in October 1782. Also served in the Revolutionary war.
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iv.
Col. William "Fightin' Billy" TIPTON.
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v.
Isaac TIPTON.
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vi.
Capt. Jacob TIPTON.
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vii.
John "Jack" TIPTON.
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viii.
Thomas TIPTON.
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ix.
Col. Jonathan TIPTON.

Col. John TIPTON and Martha Mary DENTON were married on 22 Jul 1777 in Shenandoah Co., VA.¹ Martha's name was really Martha Moore when she married John because she was the widow of Dr. James Moore. Martha Mary DENTON^1,6 (daughter of Capt. Abraham DENTON II and Mary ODELL) was born in 1736 in Shenandoah Co., VA. She died in 1794 in Washington County, TN. She was buried in Tipton-Haynes Farm, Erwin Highway (just outside of Johnson City, TN. Col. John TIPTON and Martha Mary DENTON had the following children:

64
i.
Abraham TIPTON⁷ was born in 1778 in Shenandoah Co., VA. He died in 1820.