An American Family History

William King

East Tennessee is part of Appalachia. At the end of the French and Indian War, colonists began drifting into the area. In 1769, they first settled along the Watauga River. During the Revolution, the Overmountain Men defeated British loyalists at the Battle of Kings Mountain. The State of Franklin was formed in the 1780s, but never admitted to the Union.

William King was born August 1, 1752, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Edward King and Elizabeth Nichols.

He married Elizabeth Sharp.

Elizabeth and William's children included:

Elizabeth King McConnell (1775, married William McConnell),
Isaac Newton King (1777, married Sarah Jane Laughlin),
William King (1779 , married Sarah Garner),
Mary King Vance (1779, married John Vance),
Lavinia King Laughlin (1783, married Alexander Laughlin), and
Benjamin Harvey King (1784 - 1860, married Sarah Dinsmore).

In October, 1774, he moved from Lancaster County, to the western part of North Carolina (now Tennessee).

He entered the service on July 1, 1776, and served under Captain James Shelby and Colonel Christy in a North Carolina regiment. He was in a battle with the Cherokee. He was discharged November 1, 1776.

In 1776 he enlisted as a spy under General Russell in pursuit of the Cherokees. October 10, 1780, he again enlisted in an expedition under Captain Andrew Cowan, and Colonel Taylor in a North Carolina regiment. He was discharged January, 1781.

He was mentioned in John Sevier's diary in 1802

Wed., Oct. 13: Went up to William King's in company with Mrs. Nancy Keewood and returned in evening.

William died in 1840 in Sullivan County, Tennessee

The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) was between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the 13 colonies which became the newly formed United States.

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©Roberta Tuller 2026
tuller.roberta@gmail.com
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