Extracts from Journal of an Exploration in the Spring of the Year 1750, by Dr. Thomas Walker, of Virginia, with a preface by William Cabell Rives, LL. B. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1888.
[Extract from note of Rives]
His [Walker's] general course was as follows: -
After ascending the Staunton River - the northern branch of the Roanoke - to the settlement of William English (often spelled Ingles or Inglis), he crossed the New River not far from the present village of Newbern, in Pulaski County, Virginia. Continuing in a southwesterly direction through Virginia, he reached the junction of the Forks of the Holston River in Tennessee. Turning in a direction somewhat north of west, and crossing the Clinch River, he came to the Cumberland River. Travelling along or near the river for some distance, he then moved northward, and, after reaching perhaps even branches of the Green and Salt rivers, turned eastward and crossed the head-waters of the Kentucky River. Thence he passed through the mountainous region of West Virginia, from which flow the sources of the Big Sandy, Guyandotte, and other rivers, and finally arrived at the junction of the Greenbrier and New River. The rest of his journey, up the Greenbrier River, Anthony's Creek, by the Hot Springs, Panther's Gap, Augusta Court-House (the modern "Staunton"), and Rock Fish Gap, to his home in Albemarle County, may be easily traced on the maps of to-day.
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[From Walker's journal]
[June] 28th. It continued raining till Noon, and we set off as soon as it ceased and went down the Branch we lay on, to the New River, just below the mouth of Green Bryer. Powell, Tomlinson and my self striped, and went into the New River to try if we could wade over at any place. After some time having found a place we return'd to the others and took such things as would take damage by Water on our Shoulders, and waded over Leading our Horses. The Bottom is very uneven, the Rocks very slippery and the Current very Strong most of the way. The River is nigh 500 yards over. We Camped in the Low Ground opposite to the mouth of Green Bryer.
29th. We kept up Green Bryer. It being a wet day we went only 2 miles, and Camped on the North Side.
June 30th. We went 7 miles up the river, which is very crooked.
July ye 1st. The Sabbath. Our Salt being almost spent, We travelled 10 miles sometimes on the River, and at other times some distance from it.
2d. We kept up the River the chief part of this day and we travelled about 10 miles.
3d. we went Up the River 10 miles to day.
4th. We went up the River 10 miles through very bad Woods.
5th. The way growing worse, we travelled 9 miles only.
6th. We left the River. The low grounds on it are of very little Value, but on the Branches are very good, and there is a great deal of it, and the high land is very good in many places. We got on a large Creek called Anthony's Creek, which affords a great deal of Very good Land, and it is chiefly bought. we kept up the creek 4 miles and Camped. This Creek took its Name from an Indian, called John Anthony, that frequently hunts in these Woods. There are some inhabitants on the Branches of Green Bryer, but we missed their Plantations.
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Exploration, Settlement and Conflict (1600-1799)