Colonel (abbreviated as Col. , Col , or COL ) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
121-671: Colonel David Crockett (August 17, 1786 – March 6, 1836) was an American politician, militia officer and frontiersman. Often referred to in popular culture as the "King of the Wild Frontier", he represented Tennessee in the United States House of Representatives and fought in the Texas Revolution . Crockett grew up in East Tennessee , where he gained a reputation for hunting and storytelling. He
242-585: A Freemason . He entrusted his masonic apron to a friend in Tennessee before leaving for Texas, and it was inherited by the friend's descendant in Kentucky. In 1967, the U.S. Postal Service issued a 5-cent stamp commemorating Davy Crockett. Tennessee Texas Miscellaneous Walt Disney adapted Crockett's stories into a television miniseries titled Davy Crockett , which aired in 1954 and 1955 on Walt Disney's Disneyland . The series popularized
363-453: A cattle drive to Front Royal, Virginia , for Jesse Cheek. Upon completion of that trip, he joined teamster Adam Myers on a trip to Gerrardstown, West Virginia . In between trips with Myers, he worked for farmer John Gray. After leaving Myers, he journeyed to Christiansburg, Virginia , where he apprenticed for the next four years with hatter Elijah Griffith. In 1802, David journeyed by foot back to his father's tavern in Tennessee. His father
484-532: A cowboy on a 400-mile (640 km) trip to near Natural Bridge in Virginia . He was well treated and paid for his services but, after several weeks in Virginia, he decided to return home to Tennessee. The next year, John enrolled his sons in school, but David played hookey after an altercation with a fellow student. Upon learning of this, John attempted to whip him but was outrun by his son. David then joined
605-555: A Crockett surrender and execution circulating as far back as just a few weeks after the battle. The counter myth picked up historical steam, when, in 1955, Jesús Sánchez Garza discovered the memoirs of José Enrique de la Peña , a Mexican officer present at the Battle of the Alamo, and self-published it as La Rebelión de Texas – Manuscrito Inédito de 1836 por un Oficial de Santa Anna . Texas A&M University Press published
726-655: A Quaker named John Canady — an Irish surname with variant spellings; for example, Crockett’s autobiography referred to the property owner as “John Kennedy”. At Morristown in the Southwest Territory , John built a tavern on a stage coach route; the Crockett Tavern Museum now stands on that site. When David was 12 years old, his father indentured him to Jacob Siler to help with the Crockett family indebtedness. He helped tend Siler's cattle as
847-485: A bullet in half on the blade of an ax 40 yards (37 m) away, and concluded that it would indeed be possible to do so. In films, Crockett has been played by: Colonel In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of a regiment in an army. Modern usage varies greatly, and in some cases, the term is used as an honorific title that may have no direct relationship to military. In some smaller military forces, such as those of Monaco or
968-410: A clue to its location; from there, Smith had noted the distance downstream to Werowocomoco. Based upon his description, at one time scholars thought the former capital was located near Wicomico (site of Powhatan's Chimney ), about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of present-day West Point. Smith also noted that Jamestown was 12 miles (19 km) from Werowocomoco "as the crow flies." Using that measure,
1089-672: A concession stand operated by an independent business that is open during the summer months. Located in Gloucester Point, Tyndall's Point Park was the site of a fort set up by the English in the 1660s to protect the area in case of invasion by Holland. In addition, this location was used as a fort during the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Woodville Park is a large park with walking trails, athletic fields, and
1210-498: A dispersed village community occupying the site from AD 1200 through the early 17th century. They recovered artifacts (including native pottery and stone tools), as well as floral and faunal food remains from the large residential community. The research group has also recovered English trade goods produced from glass, copper, and other metals originating in Jamestown. The colonists' accounts of interaction at Werowocomoco during
1331-691: A fine rifle presented to him by friends in Philadelphia. ... He seemed very confident the morning he went away that he would soon have us all to join him in Texas. Crockett traveled with 30 well-armed men to Jackson, Tennessee , where he gave a speech from the steps of the Madison County courthouse, and they arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas , on November 12, 1835. The local newspapers reported that hundreds of people swarmed into town to get
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#17327760758441452-617: A look at Crockett, and a group of leading citizens put on a dinner in his honor that night at the Jeffries Hotel. Crockett spoke "mainly to the subject of Texan independence", as well as Washington politics. Crockett arrived in Nacogdoches, Texas , in early January 1836. On January 14, he and 65 other men signed an oath before Judge John Forbes to the Provisional Government of Texas for six months: "I have taken
1573-509: A memorial garden. Facilities available include soccer fields, sand soccer, sand volleyball, a memorial garden, a community garden, and a pond. Woodville is the newest park in Gloucester County and some areas are still under development. On October 17–19, 2008, some 2,000 Revolutionary War re-enactors were scheduled to converge on Warner Hall in Gloucester County to commemorate the defeat of Banastre Tarleton and his British legion by
1694-485: A military contract with a sovereign. The colonel purchased the regimental contract—the right to hold the regiment—from the previous holder of that right or directly from the sovereign when a new regiment was formed or an incumbent was killed . As the office of colonel became an established practice, the colonel became the senior captain in a group of companies that were all sworn to observe his personal authority—to be ruled or regimented by him. This regiment, or governance,
1815-404: A professional military rank that was still held typically by an officer in command of a regiment or equivalent unit. Along with other ranks, it has become progressively more a matter of ranked duties, qualifications, and experience, as well as of corresponding titles and pay scale, than of functional office in a particular organization. As European military influence expanded throughout the world,
1936-511: A scout for a term of 90 days with Francis Jones 's Company of Mounted Rifleman, part of the Second Regiment of Volunteer Mounted Riflemen. They served under Colonel John Coffee in the war, marching south into present-day Alabama and taking an active part in the fighting. Crockett often hunted wild game for the soldiers, and felt better suited to that role than killing Creek warriors. He served until December 24, 1813. The War of 1812
2057-671: A seat in the General Assembly representing the counties of Carroll, Humphreys, Perry, Henderson and Madison. He served in the first session, which ran from September through the end of November 1823, and in the second session that ran September through the end of November 1824, championing the rights of the impoverished farmers. During Andrew Jackson's election to the United States Senate in 1823, Crockett backed his opponent John Williams . On October 25, 1824, Crockett notified his constituents of his intention to run in
2178-580: A steady fire. The battle was over within 90 minutes, and the Mexican soldiers retreated. There were limited stores of powder and shot inside the Alamo, and Alamo commander William Barret Travis ordered the artillery to stop returning fire on February 26 so as to conserve precious ammunition. Crockett and his men were encouraged to keep shooting, as they were unusually effective. As the siege progressed, Travis sent many messages asking for reinforcements. Several messengers were sent to James Fannin who commanded
2299-408: A tale that is backed up by some historical evidence. For example, a former African-American slave named Ben, who had acted as cook for one of Santa Anna's officers, maintained that Crockett's body was found in the barracks surrounded by "no less than sixteen Mexican corpses", with Crockett's knife buried in one of them. There is, however, historical evidence countering the popular myth, with stories of
2420-518: A volley and a charge with bayonets , Mexican soldiers pushed the few remaining defenders back toward the church. The Battle of the Alamo lasted almost 90 minutes, and all of the defenders were killed. Santa Anna ordered his men to take their bodies to a nearby stand of trees, where they were stacked together and wood piled on top. That evening, they lit a fire and burned their bodies to ashes. The ashes were left undisturbed until February 1837, when Juan Seguin and his cavalry returned to Bexar to examine
2541-621: Is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia . As of the 2020 census , the population was 38,711. Its county seat is Gloucester Courthouse . The county was founded in 1651 in the Virginia Colony and is named for Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester (third son of King Charles I of England ). Gloucester County is included in the Virginia Beach – Norfolk – Newport News , VA– NC Metropolitan Statistical Area . Located at
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#17327760758442662-410: Is a large park with many trails, located on a reservoir. Hiking, bicycling, boating, fishing, horseback riding and picnicking are available. The Whitcomb Lodge may be leased for special events. The park is home to a collection of geocaches hidden near the trails surrounding the reservoir. Small boats are available for rental, and non-gasoline-powered craft may be launched for a nominal fee. Brown Park
2783-626: Is a small skate park located on Foster Road off of Route 14 near Gloucester Courthouse. The park currently only features skateboarding facilities; however, the Parks and Rec department eventually wants to add disc golf and dog park facilities. Situated on the York River adjacent to the VIMS campus, Gloucester Point Beach Park is a small park consisting of a beach, fishing dock, playground, and boat landing. In addition, there are bathrooms on site and
2904-528: Is home to an assortment of parks with a diverse array of activities available. Abingdon Park is a small park located next to Abingdon Elementary on Powhatan Drive in Hayes. Facilities include picnic area, soccer field, softball field, picnic shelter, and restrooms. Ark Park is a medium-sized park located off of US Route 17 near the small community of Ark. Facilities include a basketball court, playground, soccer field, softball field, and restrooms. Beaverdam Park
3025-633: Is important to the state as well. It has a retail center located around the main street area of the county seat . Gloucester County and adjacent York County are linked by the George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge , a toll facility across the York River carrying U.S. Route 17 to the Virginia Peninsula area. Gloucester County is self-nicknamed the " Daffodil Capital of the World"; it hosts an annual daffodil festival, parade and flower show. This area
3146-439: Is linked to the word column (from Latin : columna ; Italian: colonna ; French: colonne ) in a similar way that brigadier is linked to brigade , although in English this relationship is not immediately obvious. With the shift from primarily mercenary to primarily national armies in the course of the 17th century, a colonel (normally a member of the aristocracy) became a holder (German Inhaber ) or proprietor of
3267-462: Is now Gloucester. This complex, stratified society had developed in part due to the cultivation and processing by women of varieties of maize, beans and squash . With these crops, the women produced a surplus that, together with the game and fish collected by the men, supported a dense population in a number of settlements. The people also gathered nuts, berries and other foods of the region. Around 1570, Spanish Jesuits attempted to establish what
3388-490: Is of uncertain origin. Residents in this area have been referred to as "Guineamen" at least since 1730. As noted by George Dow in 1969, London physician George Pinckard referred to the master of a ship containing slaves from the Guinea coast as a "Guinea Man" in letters dating 1795. It is likely this area was called Guinea after being used as a landing site for importation of slaves from that area. Another story, passed among
3509-487: Is the College of William & Mary 's Marine Science post-graduate school. Despite an influx in development, Gloucester still maintains a large amount of rural and farmland (especially in the northern end of the county) which contributes to the county's rich agricultural tradition. Gloucester County's Comprehensive Plan cites both Gloucester Point and Gloucester Courthouse as development districts. Gloucester County
3630-425: Is the Virginia public school division serving the county. It comprises nine public schools: five elementary (grades K -5), two intermediate (grades 6–7, grades 8) and one high school (grades 9–12). The five schools are: Classes of about 20 students are assigned to a teacher for an academic year. The middle schools (Peasley and Page) have block scheduling and teams (a division of the grade). Page Middle School
3751-430: Is the graduate school in marine science for the College of William and Mary (the country's second-oldest university), which is headquartered in nearby Williamsburg . VIMS is located at Gloucester Point along the county's shorefront, where samples and measurements for Chesapeake Bay are taken and specimens put on display. The institute's annual Marine Science Day attracts many visitors. Gloucester County Public Schools
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3872-620: The Courthouse regions of Gloucester. Gloucester's Main Street and U.S. Route 17 have served as vital corridors of commercial and community growth in the county. Between 1970 and 2000, the county's population grew by over 60% and this additional influx of new residents encouraged mass commercial and residential development, and subsequently has become an important commercial center for the Middle Peninsula , upper Hampton Roads , and
3993-745: The Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park John continually struggled to make ends meet, and the Crocketts moved to a tract of land on Lick Creek in 1792. John sold that tract of land in 1794 and moved the family to Cove Creek, where he built a gristmill with partner Thomas Galbraith. A flood destroyed the gristmill and the Crockett homestead. The Crocketts then moved to Mossy Creek in Jefferson County, Tennessee , but John forfeited his property in bankruptcy in 1795. The family next moved on to property owned by
4114-608: The Episcopal churches of Ware (1690) and Abingdon (1755), where Presidents Washington and Jefferson worshiped. Some early colonial buildings at the county seat on Courthouse Green continue to be used for public purposes. During the 17th century, the tip of land protruding into the York River was named Tyndall's Point by Robert Tyndall , mapmaker for Captain John Smith . In 1667, colonists built fortifications there, at what
4235-608: The Northern Neck areas. Canon Virginia has a recycling facility in the White Marsh area of the county, which processes old printer cartridges and recycle their parts for new cartridges. Peace Frogs , based near Gloucester Courthouse is an apparel brand that makes a full line of apparel and accessories sporting frog designs. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science is based in Gloucester Point . VIMS
4356-629: The Vatican , colonel is the highest rank . Equivalent naval ranks may be called captain or ship-of-the-line captain . In the Commonwealth 's air force ranking system, the equivalent rank is group captain . By the end of the late medieval period, a group of "companies" was referred to as a "column" of an army. According to Raymond Oliver, c. 1500 , the Spanish began explicitly reorganizing part of their army into 20 colunelas or columns of approximately 1,000–1,250 soldiers. Each colunela
4477-664: The Virginia Department of Historic Resources , and Virginia tribes descended from the Powhatan Confederacy. Initial testing included digging 603 test holes 12 to 16 inches (30 to 41 cm) deep and 50 feet (15 m) apart. They found thousands of artifacts, including a blue bead which may have been made in Europe for trading. Combined with the historical descriptions by English colonists of Werowocomoco, researchers believe these discoveries have established
4598-676: The "Guineamen" is that people on the Guinea Neck were continuing to use golden Guineas to pay for things up from about 1781–1860, the start of the American Civil War . At one time, the name was thought to have derived from the period of the American Revolutionary War. Loyalists quartered Hessian mercenaries here who were attached to Cornwallis ' army; they were paid one guinea per day. The Hessians were thought to have occupied lower Gloucester during
4719-409: The "enormous weight of evidence" is in favor of the surrender-execution hypothesis. However, several survivors and first-hand witnesses to the battle claimed Crockett fought to the death. Furthermore, no other officer under Santa Anna's command mentions Crockett's surrender not even his personal secretary Ramon Caro. Later in life Santa Anna wrote a memoir only stating that Davy Crockett's body was "among
4840-515: The 16th century, the French army adopted this organizational structure, renaming colunelas regiments. Even so, they simply Gallicized colunela to the French colonel and pronounced it as written. The English then copied the unit and rank from the French. However, for reasons unknown, the English adopted the Spanish pronunciation of coronel , and after several decades of use shortened it to its current two-syllable pronunciation "kernel". Colonel
4961-541: The 1825 election for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives . He lost that election to incumbent Adam Rankin Alexander . A chance meeting in 1826 gained him the encouragement of Memphis mayor Marcus Brutus Winchester to try again to win a seat in Congress. The Jackson Gazette published a letter from Crockett on September 15, 1826, announcing his intention of again challenging Rankin, and stating his opposition to
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5082-454: The 1830s, and the handwriting matched that on other documents in the Mexican military archives that were written or signed by de la Peña. As for those who have questioned de la Peña's ability to identify any of the Alamo defenders by name, historians believe that de la Peña likely witnessed or was told about executions of the Alamo survivors. And while some claim neither he nor his comrades would have known who those men were, others conclude that
5203-521: The 20th century to television and film portrayals, and he became one of the best-known American folk heroes. Davy Crockett was paternally of French and Scotch-Irish descent, while maternally of English descent. The Crocketts were mostly of French- Huguenot ancestry, although the family had settled in Ulster in the north of Ireland before migrating to the Americas. The earliest known paternal ancestor
5324-430: The Alamo walls. The soldiers intended to use the huts as cover to establish another artillery position, although many Texians assumed that they actually were launching an assault on the fort. Several men volunteered to burn the huts. To provide cover, the Alamo cannons fired grapeshot at the Mexican soldiers, and Crockett and his men fired rifles, while other defenders reloaded extra weapons for them to use in maintaining
5445-462: The Commonwealth of Kentucky bestows the honor of a colonel's Commission, by issuance of letters patent. Perhaps the best known Kentucky colonel is Harland Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame. The rank of colonel is also used by some police forces and paramilitary organizations. Gloucester County, Virginia Gloucester County ( / ˈ ɡ l ɒ s t ər / GLOST -ər )
5566-644: The Duc de Lauzun's legion and Mercer's battalion of Virginia militia grenadiers. The Battle of the Hook cut off Cornwallis's supplies and escape forcing his surrender on October 19, 1781. One hour after the surrender at Yorktown, British and Hessian forces in Gloucester surrendered. The Gloucester Daffodil Festival is held annually. Many visitors visit Gloucester for its notorious local Ice Cream shoppe and Antique Mall The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS)
5687-763: The English translation in 1975 With Santa Anna in Texas: A Personal Narrative of the Revolution . The English publication caused a scandal within the United States, as it asserted that Crockett did not die in battle, but was executed soon thereafter. The translator of the English publication, Carmen Perry, the former librarian of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas , was harassed with anonymous letters and intimidating phone calls by Crockett loyalists who considered
5808-788: The General Assembly, a flood of the Tennessee River destroyed Crockett's businesses. In November, Elizabeth's father Robert Patton deeded 800 acres (320 ha) of his Carroll County property to Crockett. Crockett sold off most of the acreage to help settle his debts, and moved his family to the remaining acreage on the Obion River , which remained in Carroll County until 1825 when the boundaries were reconfigured and put it in Gibson County. In 1823, he ran against Andrew Jackson's nephew-in-law William Edward Butler and won
5929-584: The James River to the north, they soon came into conflict with local Indians. The newcomers competed for land, game and other resources in the Powhatan territory, and the two cultures did not understand each other's concepts of property, particularly in land use. In late 1607, John Smith was captured and taken to Chief Powhatan at Werowocomoco, his eastern capital. According to legend, Powhatan's daughter Pocahontas saved John Smith from being executed by
6050-626: The Late Woodland Period and determined that the area was the possible site of Werowocomoco. More than 20 years later, a different landowner authorized archaeological excavation on the property. Between March 2002 and April 2003, the Werowocomoco Research Group conducted excavations and analysis at the Werowocomoco site. The research group is a collaborative effort of the College of William and Mary ,
6171-539: The Life of David Crockett Crockett was re-elected for the 1829–31 session, once again defeating Adam Rankin Alexander. He introduced H.R. 185 amendment to the land bill on January 29, 1830, but it was defeated on May 3. On February 25, 1830, he introduced a resolution to abolish the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York because he felt that it was public money going to benefit
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#17327760758446292-561: The Mexican state of Tejas ) shortly thereafter. In early 1836, he took part in the Texas Revolution and died at the Battle of the Alamo . It is unclear whether he died in battle or was executed after being captured by the Mexican Army. Crockett became famous during his lifetime for larger-than-life exploits popularized by stage plays and almanacs. After his death, he continued to be credited with acts of mythical proportion. These led in
6413-541: The Regiment (to distinguish it from the military rank of colonel) continues to be used in the modern British Army. The ceremonial position is often conferred on retired general officers , brigadiers or colonels who have a close link to a particular regiment. Non-military personnel, usually for positions within the Army Reserve may also be appointed to the ceremonial position. When attending functions as "Colonel of
6534-500: The Regiment", the titleholder wears the regimental uniform with rank insignia of (full) colonel, regardless of their official rank. A member of the Royal Family is known as a Royal Colonel . A Colonel of the Regiment is expected to work closely with a regiment and its Regimental Association . Some military forces have a colonel as their highest-ranking officer, with no 'general' ranks, and no superior authority (except, perhaps,
6655-488: The Virginia Company divided its developed areas into four incorporations, called "citties" [ sic ]. At that time, most of the area which became Gloucester County would have been considered part of "James Cittie" (although it was not yet settled). In 1634, by order of King Charles I the colony was divided into the eight shires of Virginia. First named Charles River Shire by the English, York County
6776-428: The area has been the center of the county's seafood industry. (The Atwell,Shackelford, Rowe, West, Jenkins, Green, Kellum, King and Belvin families are chief among those who have worked in the fishing industry here). Although the industry has declined, it remains a cultural core of the community. The fishermen are known locally as "Guineamen". They speak a distinct form of non-rhotic , Southern English. The name "Guinea"
6897-456: The battle differ on the manner of Crockett's death, with stories ranging from Crockett putting up a heroic last stand to the account that he surrendered along with several other men and was executed. To further confusion, historians have been able to back up opposing theories with "voluminous evidence". The popular mythology of Crockett's death in American culture is one of a heroic last stand,
7018-511: The closing days of the Revolutionary War, or to have settled here after deserting the British. Cornwallis sent British troops and cavalry to occupy Gloucester in October 1781; Hessians may have been a part of that contingent due to Gloucester's strategic importance at the mouth of the York River. The history of the daffodil in Gloucester County is nearly as old as the county. When Gloucester
7139-526: The colonel of the division. Kentucky colonel is the highest title of honor bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky . Commissions for Kentucky colonels are given by the Governor and the Secretary of State to individuals in recognition of noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to a community, state or the nation. This is the equivalent to a full colonel in the militia. The sitting governor of
7260-485: The corpses" without giving context to how he died. Santa Anna further wrote “Not one soldier showed signs of desiring to surrender.” One of Crockett's sayings, many of which were published in almanacs between 1835 and 1856 (along with those of Daniel Boone and Kit Carson ), was: "Always be sure you are right, then go ahead ." While serving in the United States House of Representatives, Crockett became
7381-570: The county's daffodils are celebrated every year with the annual "Daffodil Festival". The whole county comes out during the first weekend in April to celebrate the county's history. \. Gloucester is a growing and increasingly changing county that is an integral part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. Growth in the Peninsula area has encouraged development in the Gloucester Point and
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#17327760758447502-511: The county's history. Both the newly identified site on Purtan Bay and Powhatan's Chimney at Wicomico are within the territory which Indians have considered as part of Werowocomoco. In the Algonquian language, the "village" of the chief was not defined as a small place, but the term referred to "the lands" where he lived. The custom of the Powhatan tribes was to relocate their villages within a general area to allow lands to recover from cultivation or move to better sources of water and game. In 1619,
7623-433: The defenders were sleeping. The daily artillery bombardment had been suspended, perhaps a ploy to encourage the natural human reaction to a cessation of constant strain. But the garrison awakened and the final fight began. Most of the noncombatants gathered in the church sacristy for safety. According to Dickinson, Crockett paused briefly in the chapel to say a prayer before running to his post. The Mexican soldiers climbed up
7744-404: The earliest ancestor arrived in Gloucester County, Virginia in 1658. John Crockett was active in local politics and an advocate of the independent State of Franklin . Davy Crockett was born in that area, which is now in Greene County, Tennessee , close to the Nolichucky River and near the community of Limestone . A replica of Davy Crockett’s birthplace cabin stands near the site, situated in
7865-667: The early days of Jamestown emphasized Powhatan's interests in acquiring English objects (particularly copper, which the Indians used to create their own objets d'art . The project is noted for the researchers' consultation and collaboration with members of the local Indian tribes – the Mattaponi and Pamunkey , descendants of the Powhatan Confederacy. Such archeological sites often contain burials and associated sacred artifacts important to these tribes: When I step on this site folks...I just feel different. The spirituality just touches me and I feel it. Gloucester County has celebrated Werowocomoco and other Powhatan-heritage sites as part of
7986-414: The east end of the lower part of the Middle Peninsula , it is bordered on the south by the York River and the lower Chesapeake Bay on the east. The waterways shaped its development. Gloucester County is about 60 miles (97 km) east of Virginia's capital, Richmond . Werowocomoco , capital of the large and powerful Powhatan Confederacy (a union of 30 indigenous tribes under a paramount chief ),
8107-432: The eastern county line. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Gloucester was developed as a major tobacco -producing area; this was the chief commodity crop and the basis of the wealth of major planters. Many of the old plantation houses and private estates have been preserved in good condition. These establishments are periodically open to public visitation during Historic Garden Week. Examples of colonial architecture are
8228-436: The family moved to northeast Tennessee , in the area of modern Hawkins County . John was one of the Overmountain Men who fought in the Battle of Kings Mountain during the American Revolutionary War . He was away as a militia volunteer in 1777 when his parents David and Elizabeth were killed at their home near modern Rogersville by Creeks and Chickamauga Cherokees led by war chief Dragging Canoe . John's brother Joseph
8349-579: The first session that ended November 17, as well as the special session called by the governor in the summer of 1822, ending on August 24. He favored legislation to ease the tax burden on the poor. Crockett spent his entire legislative career fighting for the rights of impoverished settlers who he felt dangled on the precipice of losing title to their land due to the state's complicated system of grants. He supported 1821 gubernatorial candidate William Carroll , over Andrew Jackson's endorsed candidate Edward Ward. Less than two weeks after Crockett's 1821 election to
8470-524: The garrison. There was a skirmish between Mexican and Texian troops that same night outside the Alamo. Historian Walter Lord speculates that the Texians were creating a diversion to allow their courier John Smith to evade Mexican pickets. However, Alamo survivor Susannah Dickinson said in 1876 that Travis sent out three men shortly after dark on March 3, probably a response to the arrival of Mexican reinforcements. The three men—including Crockett—were sent to find Fannin. Lindley states that Crockett and one of
8591-418: The group of Texian soldiers at Presidio La Bahia in Goliad, Texas . Fannin decided that it was too risky to reinforce the Alamo, although historian Thomas Ricks Lindley concludes that up to 50 of Fannin's men left his command to go to Bexar. These men would have reached Cibolo Creek on the afternoon of March 3, 35 miles (56 km) from the Alamo, where they joined another group of men who also planned to join
8712-451: The head of state as a titular commander-in-chief) other than the respective national government. Examples include the following (arranged alphabetically by country name): The term colonel is also used as a title for auctioneers in the United States; there are a variety of theories or folk etymologies to explain the use of the term. One of these is the claim that during the American Civil War goods seized by armies were sold at auction by
8833-419: The image of Crockett, portrayed by Fess Parker , wearing a coonskin cap , and originated the song " The Ballad of Davy Crockett ". The first three parts of the series were edited into a feature-length movie for theaters. Crockett's stories were used by the French animation Studios Animage for a 1994 animated series titled Davy Crockett . A 2009 episode of MythBusters tested whether Crockett could split
8954-523: The institution of slavery in the United States , he did enslave people. By December 1834, Crockett was writing to friends about moving to Texas if Jackson's chosen successor Martin Van Buren was elected president. The next year, he discussed with his friend Benjamin McCulloch raising a company of volunteers to take to Texas in the expectation that a revolution was imminent. His departure to Texas
9075-545: The main action because they were days behind the rest of the troops and were focused mostly on foraging for food. Crockett returned home in December. He was still on a military reserve status until March 1815, so he hired a young man to fulfill the remainder of his service. In 1817, Crockett moved the family to new acreage in Lawrence County , where he first entered public office as a commissioner helping to configure
9196-472: The men garrisoned in the Alamo, and the Mexican soldiers immediately initiated a siege . Santa Anna ordered his artillery to keep up a near-constant bombardment. The guns were moved closer to the Alamo each day, increasing their effectiveness. On February 25, 200–300 Mexican soldiers crossed the San Antonio River and took cover in abandoned shacks approximately 90 to 100 yards (82 to 91 m) from
9317-433: The mere suggestion that Crockett had not died fighting blasphemous. Some have questioned the validity of the text. Author and retired firefighter William Groneman III posited that the journals were made up of several different types of paper from several different paper manufacturers, all cut down to fit. Longtime John Wayne enthusiast Joseph Musso also questioned the validity of de la Peña's diary, basing his suspicions on
9438-472: The natives; however, some historians question the accuracy of much of Smith's account of that incident. Smith was accompanied by other Englishmen when he returned in a later visit to the Powhatan at Werowocomoco. After the Powhatan moved their capital to a safer, inland location and abandoned the village around 1609, knowledge of this site was lost. Researchers later tried to identify it by Smith's historic writings. The current site of West Point seemed to offer
9559-574: The new county's boundaries. On November 25, the state legislature appointed him county justice of the peace. On March 27, 1818, he was elected lieutenant colonel of the Fifty-seventh Regiment of Tennessee Militia , defeating candidate Daniel Matthews for the position. By 1819, Crockett was operating multiple businesses in the area and felt his public responsibilities were beginning to consume so much of his time and energy that he had little left for either family or business. He resigned from
9680-476: The north outer walls of the Alamo complex, and most of the Texians fell back to the barracks and the chapel, as previously planned. Crockett and his men, however, were too far from the barracks to take shelter and were the last remaining group to be in the open. They defended the low wall in front of the church, using their rifles as clubs and relying on knives, as the action was too furious to allow reloading. After
9801-515: The northwest of County Tyrone in the west of Ulster; Joseph Louis Crockett later married Sarah Stewart, who was also from west Ulster, she being an Ulster-Scot from just outside the village of Manorcunningham in the Laggan district in the east of County Donegal . Joseph and Sarah emigrated to New York, where their son William David was born in 1709. He married Elizabeth Boulay. William and Elizabeth's son David (paternal grandfather of Davy Crockett)
9922-687: The oath of government and have enrolled my name as a volunteer and will set out for the Rio Grande in a few days with the volunteers from the United States." Each man was promised about 4,600 acres (1,900 ha) of land as payment. On February 6, he and five other men rode into San Antonio de Bexar and camped just outside the town. Crockett arrived at the Alamo Mission in San Antonio on February 8. A Mexican army arrived on February 23 led by General Antonio López de Santa Anna , surprising
10043-545: The office of justice of the peace and from his position with the regiment. In 1821, he resigned as commissioner and successfully ran for a seat in the Tennessee General Assembly, representing Lawrence and Hickman counties. It was this election where Crockett honed his anecdotal oratory skills. He was appointed to the Committee of Propositions and Grievances on September 17, 1821, and served through
10164-476: The other men found the force of Texians waiting along Cibolo Creek just before midnight; they had advanced to within 20 miles (32 km) of the Alamo. Just before daylight on March 4, part of the Texian force managed to break through the Mexican lines and enter the Alamo. A second group was driven across the prairie by Mexican cavalry. The siege ended on March 6 when the Mexican army attacked just before dawn while
10285-481: The policies of President John Quincy Adams and Secretary of State Henry Clay and to Rankin's position on the cotton tariff. Militia veteran William Arnold also entered the race, and Crockett easily defeated both political opponents for the 1827–29 term. He arrived in Washington, D.C. and took up residence at Mrs. Ball's Boarding House, where a number of other legislators lived when Congress was in session. Jackson
10406-421: The position of the colonel as the figurehead of a regiment is maintained in the honorary role of "colonel-in-chief", usually held by a member of the royal family , the nobility, or a retired senior military officer. The colonel-in-chief wears a colonel's uniform and encourages the members of the regiment, but takes no active part in the actual command structure or in any operational duties. The title Colonel of
10527-410: The rank of colonel became adopted by nearly every nation (albeit under a variety of names). During the 20th century, with the rise of communism , some of the large communist militaries saw fit to expand the colonel rank into several grades, resulting, for example, in the unique senior colonel rank, which was found and is still used in such nations as China and North Korea . In many modern armies,
10648-407: The regiment has more importance as a ceremonial unit or a focus of members' loyalty than as an actual battle formation. Troops tend to be deployed in battalions (commanded by a lieutenant colonel ) as a more convenient size of military unit and, as such, colonels have tended to have a higher profile in specialist and command roles than as actual commanders of regiments. However, in Commonwealth armies,
10769-417: The remains. A local carpenter created a simple coffin, and ashes from the funeral pyres were placed inside. The names of Travis, Crockett, and Bowie were inscribed on the lid. The coffin is thought to have been buried in a peach tree grove, but the spot was not marked and can no longer be identified. David Crockett died at the Alamo on the morning of March 6, 1836, at the age of 49. Accounts from survivors of
10890-438: The site near Wicomico is about 12 miles from Jamestown. In 1977, archeologist Daniel Mouer of Virginia Commonwealth University identified a site on Purtan Bay as the possible location of Werowocomoco; it was also about 12 miles from Jamestown. He was able to collect artifacts from the surface of plowed fields and along the beach, but the landowner did not want any excavation. Mouer found fragments of Indian ceramics dating to
11011-514: The site of the ancient capital. "We believe we have sufficient evidence to confirm that the property is indeed the village of Werowocomoco," said Randolph Turner, director of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources' Portsmouth Regional Office in 2003. Two Gloucester-based archaeologists, Thane Harpole and David Brown, have worked at the site since 2002 and continue to participate in the excavations. Archeologists have discovered
11132-441: The sons of wealthy men. He spoke out against Congress giving $ 100,000 to the widow of Stephen Decatur , citing that Congress was not empowered to do that. He opposed Jackson's 1830 Indian Removal Act and was the only member of the Tennessee delegation to vote against it. Cherokee chief John Ross sent him a letter on January 13, 1831, expressing his thanks for Crockett's vote. His vote was not popular with his own district, and he
11253-477: The timing of the diary's release, and the fact that historical interest in the topic rose around the same time as the Walt Disney mini-series Davy Crockett was released in 1955. Some questions were answered when, in 2001, archivist David Gracy published a detailed analysis of the manuscript, including lab results. He found, among other things, that the paper and ink were of a type used by the Mexican army in
11374-506: The wedding in the Finley home. Crockett agreed only after Jean apologized for her past treatment of him. The newlyweds settled on land near Polly's parents, and their first child, John Wesley Crockett , who became a United States Congressman, was born July 10, 1807. Their second child, William Finley Crockett, was born November 25, 1808. In October 1811, the family relocated to Lincoln County . Their third child Margaret Finley (Polly) Crockett
11495-406: The wedding party, Crockett met Margaret Elder. He persuaded her to marry him, and a marriage contract was drawn up on October 21, 1805. However, Margaret had also become engaged to another young man at the same time, whom she married instead of Crockett. He met Polly Finley and her mother Jean at a harvest festival. Although friendly towards him in the beginning, Jean Finley eventually felt Crockett
11616-632: Was Gabriel Gustave de Crocketagne, whose son Antoine de Saussure Peronette de Crocketagne was given a commission in the Household Troops under King Louis XIV of France. Antoine married Louise de Saix and emigrated to the Kingdom of Ireland with her, changing the family name to Crockett. Their son Joseph Louis was born and raised in Ireland, possibly being born, according to local tradition, near either Castlederg or Donemana , both villages in
11737-720: Was being waged concurrently with the Creek War. After the Treaty of Fort Jackson in August 1814, Andrew Jackson, then with the U.S. Army , wanted the British forces ousted from Spanish Florida and asked for support from the Tennessee militia. Crockett re-enlisted as third sergeant for a six-month term with the Tennessee Mounted Gunmen under Captain John Cowan on September 28, 1814. Crockett's unit saw little of
11858-460: Was born September 16, 1816. Daughter Rebecca Elvira was born December 25, 1818. Daughter Matilda was born August 2, 1821. Andrew Jackson was appointed major general of the Tennessee militia in 1802. The Fort Mims massacre occurred near Mobile , Mississippi Territory , on August 30, 1813, and became a rallying cry for the Creek War . On September 20, Crockett left his family and enlisted as
11979-552: Was born in Pennsylvania and married Elizabeth Hedge. Historical records indicate that David and Elizabeth were the parents of William, David Jr., Robert, Alexander, James, Joseph, and John (the father of Davy Crockett); they may have had additional children whose records have not yet been found. John was born c. 1753 in Frederick County, Virginia . The family moved to Tryon County, North Carolina c. 1768. In 1776,
12100-527: Was born on November 25, 1812. The Crocketts then moved to Franklin County in 1813. He named the new home on Beans Creek "Kentuck". His wife died in March 1815, and Crockett asked his brother John and his sister-in-law to move in with him to help care for the children. That same year, he married the widow Elizabeth Patton, who had a daughter, Margaret Ann, and a son, George. David and Elizabeth's son, Robert Patton,
12221-494: Was commanded by a cabo de colunela or column head. Because they were crown units who are directly under the control of the monarch or sovereign of a country, the units were also confusingly called coronelas , and their commanders coronels . Evidence of this can be seen when Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba , nicknamed "the Great Captain", divided his armies in coronelías , each led by a coronel , in 1508. Later, in
12342-591: Was considered safe for settlement. By that time, Algonquian peoples had been pushed out of the area by colonists after many died in epidemics of infectious diseases. They had no immunity to the new diseases carried by the Europeans. George Washington 's great-grandfather received a Gloucester County land patent in 1650. Gloucester County was formed from York County in 1651. No legislative enactment has been found for its formation. Gloucester County consisted of four parishes: Abingdon, Kingston, Petsworth and Ware. It
12463-565: Was defeated in the 1831 election by William Fitzgerald . Crockett ran against Fitzgerald again in the 1833 election and was returned to Congress, serving until 1835. On January 2, 1834, he introduced the land title resolution H.R. 126, but it never made it as far as being debated on the House floor. He was defeated for re-election in the August 1835 election by Adam Huntsman . During his last term in Congress, he collaborated with Kentucky Congressman Thomas Chilton to write his autobiography, which
12584-486: Was delayed by a court appearance in the last week of October as co-executor of his deceased father-in-law's estate; he finally left his home near Rutherford in West Tennessee with three other men on November 1, 1835, to explore Texas. His youngest child Matilda later wrote that she distinctly remembered the last time that she saw her father: He was dressed in his hunting suit, wearing a coonskin cap , and carried
12705-450: Was elected as president in 1828 . Crockett continued his legislative focus on settlers getting a fair deal for land titles, offering H.R. 27 amendment to a bill sponsored by James K. Polk . I believed it was a wicked, unjust measure.... I voted against this Indian bill, and my conscience yet tells me that I gave a good honest vote, and one that I believe will not make me ashamed in the day of judgement. —David Crockett, A Narrative of
12826-401: Was formed in 1651 from part of York County, early settlers brought daffodils from England. Settlers soon discovered the soil and weather conditions were good for them. The bulbs were passed from neighbor to neighbor, naturalizing by the beginning of the 20th century. The daffodil industry (which earned the county the title "Daffodil Capital of America") developed during the 1930s and 1940s. Today,
12947-546: Was home to numerous planters who were among the First Families of Virginia and leaders before the American Revolutionary War . Thomas Jefferson wrote early works for Virginia and colonial independence while staying at Rosewell Plantation , home of John Page (his close friend and fellow student at the College of William and Mary ). Gloucester County is rich in farmland. Its fishing industry
13068-450: Was in debt to Abraham Wilson for $ 36 (equivalent to $ 767 in 2023), so David was hired out to Wilson to pay off the debt. Later, he worked off a $ 40 debt to John Canady. Once the debts were paid, John Crockett told his son that he was free to leave. David returned to Canady's employment, where he stayed for four years. Crockett fell in love with John Canady's niece Amy Summer, who was engaged to Canady's son Robert. While serving as part of
13189-540: Was inhabited for thousands of years by successive cultures of hunter-gatherer Indian peoples; artifacts have been dated to at least the late Woodland Period (c. AD 1000). An important village site known as Werowocomoco was occupied by c. AD 1200 by the Algonquian -speaking peoples of the numerous emerging tribes in the area. Before the late 16th century, the Powhatan Confederacy had been formed. It
13310-489: Was known as the Ajacan Mission on the south shore of the York River across from Gloucester. They were killed by natives led by a Christian convert named Don Luis , who was affiliated with a village known as Chiskiack ( Naval Weapons Station Yorktown much later was developed at this site in present-day York County; the historic village site has been preserved.) When English settlers founded Jamestown in 1607 on
13431-420: Was located on this part of the peninsula. In 2003 archeologists established that dense village had been located at this site from AD 1200 to the early 17th century. The county was developed by colonists primarily for tobacco plantations, based on the labor of enslaved Africans imported in the slave trade. Tobacco was one of the first commodity crops but fishing also developed as an important industry. The county
13552-542: Was made a colonel in the militia of Lawrence County, Tennessee and was elected to the Tennessee state legislature in 1821. In 1827, he was elected to the U.S. Congress where he vehemently opposed many of the policies of President Andrew Jackson , especially the Indian Removal Act . Crockett's opposition to Jackson's policies led to his defeat in the 1831 elections. He was re-elected in 1833, then narrowly lost in 1835, prompting his angry departure to Texas (then
13673-399: Was made up of an estimated 30 tribes in the coastal region, who spoke distinct but related languages, and was led by a paramount chief, known as the Powhatan. The Powhatan Confederacy was estimated to total 12,000 to 15,000 people across the coastal region of present-day Virginia. Werowocomoco was the stronghold and capital of this confederacy, located on the north side of the York River in what
13794-402: Was named for Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester , third son of Charles I. Gloucester County figured prominently in the history of the colony and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Kingston parish was renamed as Mathews County in 1791, after the American Revolutionary War and independence of the United States. The remaining three parishes were retained in Gloucester; the county was split on what is now
13915-457: Was not the man for her daughter. Crockett declared his intentions to marry Polly, regardless of whether the ceremony was allowed to take place in her parents' home or had to be performed elsewhere. He arranged for a justice of the peace and took out a marriage license on August 12, 1806. On August 16, he rode to Polly's house with family and friends, determined to ride off with Polly to be married elsewhere. Polly's father pleaded with Crockett to have
14036-476: Was published by E. L. Carey and A. Hart in 1834 as A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett, Written by Himself , and he went east to promote the book. In 1836, newspapers published the now-famous quotation attributed to Crockett upon his return to his home state: I told the people of my district that I would serve them as faithfully as I had done; but if not, they might go to hell, and I would go to Texas. Despite Crockett’s lack of public support or opposition to
14157-688: Was renamed in 1642 during the English Civil War . The Pamunkey called the river of their territory "Pamunkey"; residents retained that name for the portion upstream from West Point. The English first named the major river the Charles River; during the English Civil War, it was renamed as the York River). The colonial government granted early land patents in the area in 1639, but it was not until after 1644 that Gloucester
14278-500: Was the colonel general , and, in the absence of the sovereign or his designate, the colonel general might serve as the commander of a force. The position, however, was primarily contractual and it became progressively more of a functionless sinecure . The head of a single regiment or demi-brigade would be called a ' mestre de camp ' or, after the Revolution , a ' chef de brigade '. By the late 19th century, colonel had evolved to
14399-461: Was then called Gloucester Point. These defenses were rebuilt and strengthened many times from the colonial period through the American Civil War . This site is also known for the "Second Surrender" by General Lord Charles Cornwallis to General George Washington at Yorktown. One area of Gloucester County is known as Guinea; it includes the unincorporated communities of Achilles, Maryus, Perrin, Severn, and Big Island. Located near Gloucester Point ,
14520-423: Was to some extent embodied in a contract and set of written rules, also referred to as the colonel's regiment or standing regulation(s). By extension, the group of companies subject to a colonel's regiment (in the foregoing sense) came to be referred to as his regiment (in the modern sense) as well. In French usage of this period, the senior colonel in the army or, in a field force, the senior military contractor,
14641-479: Was wounded in the skirmish. His brother James was taken prisoner and held for seventeen years. John married Rebecca Hawkins in 1780. Nine children of John and Rebecca have been verified by historians and Crockett descendants: Nathan, William, Aaron, James, David, John, Elizabeth, Rebecca, and Margaret Catharine. Their son David (nicknamed Davy) was born August 17, 1786 and was named after John's father. Crockett's English ancestry comes from his mother Rebecca Hawkins, as
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