Colonel John Tipton

Yesterday, I walked in the footsteps of the Colonel in Hillsboro, North Carolina, periodic seat of that state’s government.  It was here in 1788 at St. Matthews Church that North Carolina legislators met to consider ratification of the US constitution.  With the majority, Tipton voted not to ratify because the constitution did not include a Bill of Rights.  As in Virginia, Tipton was dedicated to the rights of the citizens and represenative government.  He was now serving in the legislature of a second state.

Last week, I was in Williamsburg, Virginia.  This historic site is marvelous!

It was amazing to stand in the Virginia House of Delegates.  In that Hall, 15 May 1776, John Tipton Esquire, voted with 111 other men, to instruct the Virginia Delegation to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia to declare independence from British rule.  Virginia was the first colony to do so.  In the following weeks these Delegates, Tipton among them, dratfted and adopted a Declaration of Rights of every citizen.  The largest, richest and most populous colony in North America had moved decisively for what would become Democracy.

Tipton stood early for the rights of the colonists.  16 Jun 1774, he signed the Woodstock Resolutions in defiance of tyrannical English rule.

Note the Woodstock Resolutions follow the bio of Colonel John and there are links to Virginia Gazette articles regarding the Resolutions and John Tipton’s election.

In the Sons pages, I added Benjamin, Colonel John’s second son, and updated information for John Tipton (Jr.).  I have added links for Colonel John’s friend, French botanist Andre Michaux, and the Harpers Magazine article about the Tipton House.  Look in the Appendix for other new info.

hover your cursor over the link momentarily to see important information

I made a trip to West Tennessee to research the life of General Jacob Tipton (1790-1839), son of Captain Jacob Tipton (1765-1791), the namesake of the County.  General Jacob was the grandson of Colonel John Tipton.  He organized Shelby County in 1819 and Tipton County in 1823, was the Surveyor General of the 11th District of Western Tennessee and Brigadier-General of the 14th Brigade of the State Militia.  In 1818, he married Lorina Taylor, daughter of General Nathaniel Taylor, prominent early settler in Carter County, Tennessee.  See links at bottom right for more information

Last month, I visited with Carroll Van West, PhD., Director of the Tennessee Center for Historic Preservation in Murfreesboro. Dr. West encourages new research and writing about Tennessee history and particularly believes the early settlers and legislators’ lives and times deserve to be more fully researched and the findings published. He encouraged me to continue my research on Colonel John Tipton and to publish the results as soon as possible.

Jonathan Tipton (1639-1727), grandfather of Colonel John Tipton, immigrated to Maryland about 1670.  He settled in Anne Arundel County.  Records indicate he owned a plantation called “Paschal’s Chance” in Herring Creek Hundred.  Exciting archaeological research is taking place in the vacinity of Jonathan’s land by the Anne Arundel County Lost Towns Project.  For more information on the research go to www.losttowns.com and see some of the results of their research at  http://anthropology.si.edu/writteninbone/leavy_neck.html

Recently, I added new links and an Appendix Section which has a variety of stories and entrys of note.  For more interesting information, be sure and visit the comments of the site visitors.

I am informed by Jean Martin, Archivist at the Shenandoah County Library in Edinburg, Virginia that the correct year for the change of Shenandoah County’s name from Dunmore County is 1778.  I erroneously stated it as 1777 in paragraph four on page 3 of Colonel John’s bio.  Thanks, Jean!

For all the visits and comments you have made to this site.  I have received excellent new information about Col John and his sons.  Please visit the Contact Section for info about this site’s purpose and other pertinent info.