Dear Aldersonians,

Doctors Kim and Stephen McBride are originally from our area and have taught/researched archaeology at the University of Kentucky for many years.  One of their areas of special interest is French and Indian War to Revolutionary War era frontier forts.  They have located and done extensive research on Arbuckle’s Fort at Blaker’s Mill and have also located Jarrett’s Fort near Alderson in Monroe County.  They have tried to locate “Baughman’s Fort,” built in 1754 and attacked and burned in 1755 during the French and Indian War, in the Alderson area but it has not been found.  Some have thought it was located on the FPC grounds, perhaps where the training center is, but the artifacts found there to date have not been old enough. 

They have discovered that the Baughman land went eventually to James McDowell, who rented a northern tract of 420 acres to James Hill and a 360 acre southern tract to his brother, Joseph Hill. These properties were divided by a “dry run” or gulley, which deed research suggests is located a bit south of the FPC (and north of a water tank which shows on the USGS topo map).  The fort would have been on the northern tract.  

James Miller’s (1908:42) history of Summers County includes a 1905  letter from David Graham, who said that “There was a fort on the first farm below Alderson on the Greenbrier River…the dwelling house of said farm … was occupied for a long time by Mr. James Hill.  I recollect of being at Mr. Hill’s about seventy years ago [so about 1835] and was shown some of the bounds of the old fort. I don’t suppose that the old fort site had at that time ever been plowed, as there was a nice grove there at that time. There were indications of the shape of the fort by the creases and depressions in the ground.”  

Another supportive clue comes from Morgan Bunn's new book "The Old Lewisburg Academy Sketches by Marcellus Zimmerman."  On page 201, there is a reference by Zimmerman to the Baughman Fort "a little below Alderson in the McDowell Bottom…”    Possibly this reference to the “bottom” is a clue?, making them wonder if—maybe—the fort was located closer to where Glen Ray or the old stock yard of Alderson is now.  They would greatly appreciate your help if anyone knows the location of the old “James Hill house” or any Hill descendants.  Research suggests that James Hill was deceased by 1843, with sons Joseph R, and James T. Hill.  The McBrides would also love to make contact with any local historians who have knowledge of the Baughman’s Fort site.   Thanks to John McCurdy for previously sharing his interest.  You can contact Kim McBride at kim.mcbride@uky.edu; the McBrides say thanks very much in advance for any help.

This is a “history mystery” and maybe someone can help the McBrides solve it!

Thanks,

 

Margaret Hambrick