tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967679458595075615.post6863314164749206939..comments2023-03-22T05:54:31.913-05:00Comments on Never in Paradise: Wytheville, Virginia 16.10.93: Log Cabins and Shot TowersWilliam D. Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246026074693891965noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967679458595075615.post-37736447192464422012015-06-12T18:36:44.464-05:002015-06-12T18:36:44.464-05:00Hello likely cousin! I enjoyed your description o...Hello likely cousin! I enjoyed your description of Wythe Co VA, where I was raised.<br />Yes, Thomas and Hannah Whitlock went to KY to live near their daughter, Nancy Whitlock Bryson. <br />It is now believed that the New River is amongst the oldest rivers in the world.<br />My ancestor William Herbert (a Welshman) was enlisted in the mid 1700's to come from Bristol England, where he had assisted his boss, William Watt, in the design and building of the world's first Shot Tower. John Chiswell needed the expertise of Herbert in order to profit from the ore rich mines. The area ores did make a living for many families in the area for over 150 years. It was because of the later patented design of Watt that a Shot Tower was ever built in this country. Herbert also built and ran the first ferry there and the area still bears the name of his homeplace, Poplar Camp. A later owner, Thomas Jackson, has been mistakenly given credit for building the Shot Tower in 1820 there. However, historically correct documents show that if not for the Shot Tower and lead mining pre-Revolution, we may not have won the American Revolution as it provided much of the ammunition used.<br />I agree with all you said about Wythe County...and I was glad to see your blog.<br />Cousin<br />Deborah Shelton Wood<br />debs_mail@aol.comDeborahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15826296095989276305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967679458595075615.post-8990040726904660112015-06-12T18:36:23.520-05:002015-06-12T18:36:23.520-05:00Hello likely cousin! I enjoyed your description o...Hello likely cousin! I enjoyed your description of Wythe Co VA, where I was raised.<br />Yes, Thomas and Hannah Whitlock went to KY to live near their daughter, Nancy Whitlock Bryson. <br />It is now believed that the New River is amongst the oldest rivers in the world.<br />My ancestor William Herbert (a Welshman) was enlisted in the mid 1700's to come from Bristol England, where he had assisted his boss, William Watt, in the design and building of the world's first Shot Tower. John Chiswell needed the expertise of Herbert in order to profit from the ore rich mines. The area ores did make a living for many families in the area for over 150 years. It was because of the later patented design of Watt that a Shot Tower was ever built in this country. Herbert also built and ran the first ferry there and the area still bears the name of his homeplace, Poplar Camp. A later owner, Thomas Jackson, has been mistakenly given credit for building the Shot Tower in 1820 there. However, historically correct documents show that if not for the Shot Tower and lead mining pre-Revolution, we may not have won the American Revolution as it provided much of the ammunition used.<br />I agree with all you said about Wythe County...and I was glad to see your blog.<br />Cousin<br />Deborah Shelton Wood<br />debs_mail@aol.comDeborahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15826296095989276305noreply@blogger.com