Generation 5

GENERATION 5   JOHN AND ELIZABETH HELM FOLLOWELL

PREVIEW
This is an epic story about John and Mary Elizabeth Helm Followell's journey through the Virginia/Kentucky/Indiana wilderness.  This newly married early pioneer couple faced enormous struggles but survived and prospered.  Because they survived, many thousands of their descendants populated Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Utah, and Texas.


JOHN FOLLOWELL (1747-1787)
John Followell was born about 1747 in Fincastle Virginia the son of John Followell (1717-1799 b. Fincastle Va.) and Phyllis Blondel Followell (1731-1807 b. Northhampton, Northhamptonshire England).  John (b. 1747) had at least one other sibling, Marquis (b. 1757).   (Information for John Followell and Phyllis Blondel and children can be found at: http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/13335648/family?cfpid=12469674034)  and at:  http://genforum.genealogy.com/followell/messages/144.html).  The Phyllis Blondel information is not confirmed but is the best information available.

Fincastle was a small town of about 80 people but it played an important role in Virginia.   It was the county seat of much of the land between the Mississippi River and the 13 British Colonies.  On occasion, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson  would send emissaries or arrive in person at the Fincastle courthouse to purchase land.   Fincastle also served as the western outpost and launching point for pioneers starting their journey into the western wilderness.  John Followell would become one of the earliest pioneers. 

Location of Fincastle Virginia

MARY ELIZABETH HELM
Elizabeth Helm was born around 1756 in Frederick County Virginia the daughter of Leonard Helm (Born 1704, Fredrick Virginia) and Elizabeth "Betty" Calmes (Born Jan 1 1732, Stafford Co, Virginia).  Elizabeth had 6 siblings, all brothers.  Her older brother Marquis and her younger brother Leonard would become her neighbors in the Kentucky wilderness. 



Frederick County Virginia

JOHN FOLLOWELL AND ELIZABETH HELM ARE MARRIED IN 1772
John Followell (about 25 yrs) and Mary Elizabeth Helm (about 16 yrs) were married in Fincastle in 1772.  It is not clear how they met but perhaps there was an added purpose to their marriage.  Within a short time, probably a few months, they started their epic journey to Kentucky.


JOHN AND ELIZABETH HELM FOLLOWELL LEAVE FINCASTLE VIRGINIA AND JOURNEY TO THE KENTUCKY WILDERNESS
During 1772 John Followell and Elizabeth Helm Followell were among the earliest pioneers that migrated from the Thirteen Original British Colonies into what would become the central United States.  They left the village of Fincastle in 1772 (most likely in the spring or early summer) and traveled about 400 miles to the wilderness of central Kentucky (at that time called Fincastle County, Virginia).  The journey probably took about 2 - 4 months.  While there are no records, I believe it is likely John and Elizabeth traveled with several other people.  I suspect that Elizabeth's brothers Marquis Helm (about 22 yrs.) and Leonard Helm (about 17 yrs.) traveled with the Followells. In addition, I suspect John's younger teenage brother, Marquis Followell (about 14 yrs.) may have traveled with the group. These pioneers made the perilous journey on foot and horseback.  There were improved trails and even some primitive roads in Virgina but they ended prior to reaching the Virginia - Kentucky border.  The trails through Kentucky were unimproved Indian paths. These paths were later widened (1775) by Daniel Boone allowing future pioneers to use ox drawn wagons.  The threat of Indian attack from Shawnees and Cherokees was relentless. Hundreds of pioneers were killed between 1770 and 1820.  (See the story of the Wilderness Road at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilderness_Road)  While the Followells did not have the benefit of Daniel Boone's Wilderness Road they probably followed a similar path.  They almost certainly traveled through the Cumberland Gap.  See an interactive picture of the Wilderness road in Virginia at https://www.virginia.org/wildernessroad/wrMap.asp




Wilderness Road In Kentucky And Virginia

To put this in perspective, Daniel Boone tried to move his family into Kentucky in 1773 but failed due to Indian attacks. Nine people were killed including two of his sons.  While Daniel Boone's family was being ambushed in Kentucky(1773), John and Elizabeth Followell were raising their family in central Kentucky.

Daniel Boone's Wilderness Road was started in 1775 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilderness_Road). Boonesborough (about 80 miles east of Followell Creek) was started in 1775 and was under Indian siege in 1778.  The Daniel Boone story can be found at: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Boone#Youth).    (See a timeline for the Wilderness Road at:  https://www.virginia.org/wildernessroad/wrTimeline.asp)


JOHN AND ELIZABETH ARRIVE IN KENTUCKY IN 1772
I believe it is likely John and Elizabeth settled in unpopulated central Kentucky south of  present day Washington County Kentucky (See http://genforum.genealogy.com/followell/messages/173.html).  Their first child, Marquis (Marcus) Followell was born in 1773.  Our fourth grandfather William F Followell was born around 1776.  Between 1773 and 1786 John and Elizabeth had nine children, a total of five boys and four girls.  I believe the Followell traveling companions became neighbors upon arrival in Kentucky.  They supported each other and were dependent on each other.  They helped each other build homes, harvest crops, shared food, and defended each other during periods of Indian violence.  (See Kentucky tax records: http://genforum.genealogy.com/followell/messages/173.html).


REVOLUTIONARY WAR 1775 - 1883
While the Revolutionary War was primarily fought on the east coast, the Indians (mostly Shawnees) seized on the war as an opportunity to drive the settlers out of Kentucky.  Some settlers fled Kentucky but some stayed and fought for their homestead.  By the spring of 1776 fewer than 200 settlers remained in Kentucky. (See Daniel Boone history, scroll down to "American Revolution": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Boone )  Most of these settlers were at the fortified settlements of Boonesborough, Harrodsburg, Logan's Station, and Helm's Station (see map).  There are no records identifying the location of the Followells during the heat of the fighting.  The Followells were not among the list of Boonesborough residents.  We know they stopped having children between 1777 and 1781.


JOHN TAKES EXTENDED LEAVES FROM THE FAMILY
During the 1780s John started taking extended leaves from the family to raise corn in another location.  During John's absences Elizabeth's brothers, Marquis and Leonard Helm watched over the family and farmed the land that John had cleared.  See: http://www.pricegen.com/finding-genealogical-jewels-in-court-records/ .


JOHN FOLLOWELL DIES
John Followell (40 yrs.), father of William F Followell died in 1787 in Lincoln County Kentucky.  The cause of his early untimely death is uncertain.  John's death left his wife Elizabeth (31 yrs.) with ten fatherless children ages 1 to 21 (Winifred 21 yrs. was adopted)  in the wilderness of Kentucky.  Fortunately, Elizabeth had the support of her brothers, Marquis Helm and Leonard/Katy Helm who were living nearby.  I suspect that Marquis and Leonard watched over the Followell family after John's death.  Most of John's estate went to Elizabeth, however, some of John's livestock and land went to his children.


ELIZABETH HELM FOLLOWELL MARRIES SQUIRE BAKER
Around 1791 Squire Baker (48 yrs.) arrived in central Kentucky after fighting in the Revolutionary War in Massachusetts.  I suspect that he moved to Kentucky to be near his family (Baker Family).  In 1792 Elizabeth Helm Followell (36 yrs.) married Squire Baker in Lincoln County Kentucky. (See Squire Baker biography: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=110608288)
Their first child Alexander Baker was born in 1794.  (See a short Alexander Baker biography at:  http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=109136576)

Alexander Baker and Lydia Hoover
On Their Marriage Day April 1 1819
In Crawford County Indiana

SQUIRE BAKER AND ELIZABETH MOVE TO WASHINGTON COUNTY KENTUCKY
Around 1794 the Baker family started leaving Lincoln County Kentucky and moved north to Washington County Kentucky.  Around 1795 the Followell family, including Squire and Elizabeth Helm Followell Baker followed the lead of the Baker family and moved to Washington County.  (See details at: http://genforum.genealogy.com/followell/messages/173.html)


ELIZABETH AND SQUIRE BAKER SEPARATE
Squire and Elizabeth lived together for about 15 years until they separated or divorced around 1807.  Squire (63 yrs.) was starting to suffer from memory loss and confusion.  After their separation Squire moved to Tennessee and applied for a war pension.  Most likely Elizabeth lived with one of her children (probably William F) after her separation from Squire Baker.



FOLLOWELL - HELM LAWSUIT
A lawsuit was filed by Marquis Followell (John's first child) against Marquis Helm (Marquis Followell's uncle) in 1807.  Marquis Followell claimed that he had inherited land from his father John Followell.  Marquis Helm claimed that he had farmed the land for many years and owned the land.  Marquis Helm started farming the land when John Followell took extended leaves from the family during the 1780s. There was a second Followell - Helm lawsuit in 1811.  A short description of the lawsuits can be found at: http://www.pricegen.com/finding-genealogical-jewels-in-court-records/


WAR OF 1812
Indian fighting in Kentucky during the War Of 1812 was fierce.  Elizabeth's son, William F fled Kentucky in 1811 and moved to Harrison County Indiana (later split to form Crawford County).  John Followell followed his brother William F. and moved to Crawford County Indiana in 1812.  The 1820 census shows an older woman living with William F and Margery Miles Followell in Crawford County.  This most likely was Elizabeth Helm Followell Baker.  She was not listed in the 1830 census.   

ELIZABETH HELM FOLLOWELL BAKER DIES
I believe Elizabeth died during the 1820s in Indiana.  I believe she was living with her son and daughter-in-law William F and Margery Miles Followell when she died.  She either died in Crawford County Indiana during the early 1820s or in Monroe County Indiana during the late 1820s.


POSTSCRIPT
John and Elizabeth lived extraordinary lives.  They took huge risks, their struggles were enormous, the dangers were overwhelming, but they were successful and their family grew and prospered.  Elizabeth was a heroine.  After John's untimely death she raised 10 children in the middle of the wilderness.   The family remained strong and they survived.  Sometimes ordinary people do extraordinary things.

John and Elizabeth's descendants spread the Followell name across the western United States. William F, and John's descendants primarily live in Kentucky and Indiana.  The descendants of William F's son, William, live in Southern Illinois.  Marquis and Abraham's descendants live in Kentucky.  Marquis Followell's (John's brother) descendants live in Missouri, Oklahoma, Utah, and Texas.


         DESCENDANT CHART FOR JOHN AND ELIZABETH FOLLOWELL

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