1780 - Wallace to leave Va and ministry

1780 - I Do Not Therefore Think of Spending Another Winter in This Quarter

Botetourt County, Virginia archives indicate that by 1778, Wallace was now licensed to preach in this county as well, where he fell under the influence of Capt. Israel Christian , who had moved there about 1770 after having taken part, as one of the town’s original Burgesses, in the founding of Staunton - and that of Israel's young daughter, Rosanna. Israel Christian was a pioneer entrepreneur who has been styled "The Merchant Prince of the Frontier"; he facilitated the establishment of Botetourt County with the donation of the plot of land on which the town of Fincastle was laid off. We begin to see the guiding hand of Israel in Caleb's widening sphere of interest, which came to include land speculation and other business ventures. The courthouse at Fincastle also holds Caleb's original "marriage license", which is a declaration of intent to wed - "There is a Marriage shortly intended to be had and Solemnized" - bound by a pledge of 50 lbs. The declaration was dated "this Tenth Day of May 1779", and witnessed by Henry Pawling , who was the husband of Caleb's only sister. The wedding was solemnized the following day, sparing Caleb the forfeiture of his bond. A deed of land from Israel to Caleb and Rosanna was recorded on Aug. 13th - wedding gift?

The new Wallace family was thus established in the area of what was known as Tinker Creek or Buffalo Creek, and Caleb was made a Justice of Botetourt County. He, like his father before, then developed an interest in the flour business, and built and operated a grist mill near his home, which he called "Green Spring", on Buffalo Creek. Now about forty years old, he was beginning to feel the constraints of his allegiance to his church. He had arranged with the congregations he served in this area to receive part of his pay in grain for the mill, but found himself frequently shorted of the grain. Annoyance with this circumstance surfaced in a letter written in Feb. of 1780 to another brother-in-law, husband of Rosanna’s sister Annie, Col. William Fleming, who was then in Kentucky. Fleming, an early physician educated in Edinborough, had become a field officer, and was severely wounded in the Battle of Point Pleasant. "Mr. Trigg" (Col. Stephen Trigg), to whom Caleb refers in this letter, was yet another brother-in-law, husband of Rosanna’s sister Mary.

The following is excerpted from "Frontier Retreat on the Upper Ohio", from the Draper Manuscript Collection of the Wisconsin State Historical Society. This provides Caleb’s account of his turn from the Presbyterian ministry to the practice of law (though not so stated therein). His complaint regarding compensation for his services is probably the "tip of the ice-burg"; in the course of the Revolution, he had also assumed care of families of relatives who were actively engaged in conflict in other parts of the country. This necessitated a great deal of time and travel in the course of procuring food and supplies, and maintaining the homes. Upon his arrival in Kentucky, he and his family remained for some time at the established "station" of Col. Trigg near present Danville, Ky.

" HARD WINTER IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA

[Rev. Caleb Wallace to Col. William Fleming. 2U74. A. L. S.]

15th Feby 1780

Dr SIR:

The Opportunity forbids me being so particular as I wish. We have recd your Letters inclosing Two Certificates for Milatary Warrants and one for a preemption, which we have sent to Wmsburg agreeable to your Directions, and now expect a return every Hour. When the Warrants come to hand they shall be Fowarded to you by the first safe opportunity. Mrs Fleming and all your Family are in good health. I removed my effects from Charlotte about the begining of the long spell of very hard Weather which we have had. And Capt Christian's sudden and unexpected removal, the Humphries keeping possession of your places this Winter with some other Circumstances, laid me under the necessity of removing immediately to Green Spring.—The Inclemency of the Weather, Getting the old Houses in a condition so that we could subsist in them, and riding almost continually on the hunt of Corn for my Family, made it impossible for me to do all the Services for your Family which I anxiously desired. Nothing however shall be neglected that is in my power. Your Fodder and Straw is nearly gone. But Dr Smith & myself have lately bought you 20 or 30 Bushels of Corn, and as the most of your Stock are yet in pretty good Case and Mrs Fleming has a good Supply of Salt, I hope your loss will not be great if the Winter should end favourably. The Condition of this Country is truely 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.

My Affairs have taken a different turn from what I expected, I need only mention my being disappointed of the Grain which I was encouraged to expect from the congregation, and which I had made the Condition of my settlement with them, I do not therefore think of spending another Winter in this Quarter. ] have therefore wrote to our friend Mr Trigg to seek a settlement for me at Kentucky, if he can make a valuable purchase and obtain Credit until I can raise it and Transmit it to him. I have directed him to advise with you, and as the Bearer is gone on his Way and I must follow him quickly with my letters, I beg leave to refer you to his Letter. If you find it in your power to serve me in the Case, I shall thankfully acknowledge the favour, and shall give you my thoughts more fully by the next medium of Conveyance that offers. I expect land will rise in value very fast as a great many are going out as soon as the winter Breaks to purchase. If I could get a Convenient Tract of Land in a Good Neighbourhood, I would not pay much regard to the Prospect of a Congregation. Should however desire to officiate as a Clergyman among them, upon proper encouragement, But more of this when I write again. If I do not remove to Kentucky next Fall, I purpose to go as far as Houlston, for here I cannot,—I may say, I will not stay. The truth in a Word is, I shall sink in one year the Earnings of my Life among an ungrateful People, and the greatest part through their Default.

I am Dr Sir, Your's most Affectionately

CALEB WALLACE

To COL. Wm FLEMING, Kentucky"

© 1998, Dennis Boyer

Return to Boyer Chronologists Home Page

Return to Table of Contents