Who Really Founded Nashville?

James Robertson and John Donnelson. “Founding of Nashville” statue commemorates the pioneers’ historic journey west and the establishment of Fort Nashborough.

Even as a little girl many years ago, I was told my 4th great-grandfather founded Nashville, Tennessee. But it wasn’t until I became interested in joining the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution through my North Carolina/Tennessee patriot that I began researching James Robertson. He and his wife, Charlotte Reeves Robertson, served with bravery and resolve in the early years of our great nation.

James Randolph Robertson was born in 1742 in the Virginia Colony. He was the oldest of ten children born to Mary Gower and John Randolph Robertson. Steeped in their Scots Irish traditions of hard work and independence, the family later moved to Wake County, North Carolina where they farmed 320 acres along the Neuse River.

At age 26, James won the heart of Charlotte Reeves, the 17-year-old daughter of a Presbyterian minister. They married in 1768, and Jonathan, their first of thirteen children, was born the following year.

James, his siblings, and their families were disillusioned with the royal government and worked to distance themselves from its tyranny.

Exploring west beyond the Allegheny mountains with his friend, Daniel Boone, in 1769, James found fertile ground along the Watuaga River. After negotiating with the Cherokee Nation, he led 16 families to the Watauga River Valley, establishing the Watauga Settlement, far from colonial life. Later, the Watauga Association was spearheaded by Robertson.

Photo: Brian Stansberry / Creative Commons

Theodore Roosevelt wrote of the Watuaga Association, “. . . they were the first men of American birth to form a free and independent community on the continent.” — The Winning of the West, Theodore Roosevelt

In 1776, the North Carolina Governor appointed Robertson as Indian Agent to live among the Cherokee. In this role he prevented the Indians from forming an alliance with the British during the Revolutionary War.

Three years later, James, with fellow explorer John Donelson and a group of Wataugan settlers, built a fort on Cedar Bluff along the Cumberland River near a trading post called French Lick. Fort Nashborough was named after General Francis Nash who had fought with Robertson at the Battle of Alamance in 1771.

Fort Nashborough

Forming Fort Nashborough’s representative government, 256 men signed and adopted the Cumberland Compact in 1780.

Chickamaugan Indian attacks continued against the Cumberland settlers for several years. In the Battle of the Bluffs between the settlers and the Indians, Charlotte Robertson became known for her heroic actions of releasing the pack of hunting dogs, chasing away the Indian warriors and preventing the attack.

The Robertson’s twelve-year-old son, Jonathan, was found scalped, but alive. James treated his son’s wounds by drilling holes into his skull with an awl and draining the fluid which allowed tissue to heal. Charlotte nursed her first-born back to health.

After two of James’ brothers were killed in Indian attacks and two of his sons were beheaded, he was given the opportunity to abandon the settlement, but, committed to the success of Fort Nashborough, General Robertson and his family stayed, and Fort Nashborough was renamed Nashville in 1784.

As tensions calmed and population grew, Tennessee earned statehood in 1796. James was finally able to fulfill his promise to Charlotte, building a large brick home called Traveler’s Rest.

Matthews, Thomas Edwin, General James Robertson: Father of Tennessee, The Parthenon Press, 1934

In 1804, James was appointed Indian Agent to the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations, where he helped establish schools for the Indian children.

Years later, toward the end of the War of 1812, the silver-haired soldier became ill with a serious skin infection while traveling to the Chickasaw Agency in Pontotoc, Mississippi. James sent word to Charlotte that he needed her. She traveled alone and cared for him until his death on September 1, 1814.

James Robertson died in public service just as he had lived most of his life.

In Nashville’s Centennial Park stands a 50-foot granite obelisk honoring James and Charlotte Robertson.

Photo: E.B. Shelton Centennial Park, Nashville, TN

It is said that Charlotte taught her husband how to read and write. She must have been a good teacher because James was prolific in writing letters and documenting his deeds. Many of his writings are preserved in the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville.

Charlotte’s family commissioned her portrait in 1834 when she was age 83. She liked it so well that she commissioned the artist, Washington B. Cooper, to paint her husband’s portrait, though he had died twenty years earlier. James’ portrait, based on family resemblences and Charlotte’s loving memory, was declared by Charlotte to be an exact likeness of her husband.

General James Robertson

Charlotte Reeves Robertson

Kelley, Sarah Foster, Children of Nashville: lineages of James Robertson, Blue & Gray Press, 1973

Matthews, Thomas Edwin, General James Robertson: Father of Tennessee, The Parthenon Press, 1934

Author’s Note: You may be wondering, as I did, if the Robertsons were able to enjoy music. After all, Nashville is known as Music City USA. As a matter of fact, there was a piano in the Robertson home, played by family members. Musical talent has been passed down through many generations, although I don’t think these Robertsons had anything to do with Nashville’s music reputation.