A Tennessee Legacy...
—"Be always sure you are right, then go ahead!" —
In the 49 years that David Crockett called Tennessee his home he migrated from one end of the Volunteer state to the other. From his birthplace near Limestone on the banks of the Nolichucky River to his last home in present day Rutherford (Gibson County), the Crockett story weaves and twist across East, Middle, and West Tennessee for five decades. In November of 1835 he exited his native home for Texas and eventual martyrdom at the Almo.
PIONEER. SOLDIER. STATES MAN
The American Pioneer
Born into grinding poverty within the vast and dangerous American wilderness, David Crocket embodied the upbringing and Scot-Irish culture combined to define his physical strength, determination, and persistence to outlast the many setbacks he encountered in his lifetime.
The Frontier Soldier
David Crockett's call into military service during the War of 1812 was unlike his father's duty forty-three years earlier in the American Revolution. Upon hearing that hostile atrocities would reach his home on Beans Creek, David enlisted for two terms of service and fought in several hard-pitched battles in Alabama, including Talluwshatchee and Talladega.
Statesman: The Gentleman from the Cane
Despite being known as a famous bear hunter, David Crockett invested almost forty percent of his life in public service. His career began in 1817as Justice of the Peace, then moved on to be Colonel of the 57th Militia, State Representative, and finally as a United State Congressman where he served for three terms. His primary focus was to help squatters acquire land at affordable prices. He bitterly opposed President Andrew Jackson's policies, especially his Indian Removal Bill which later cost Crockett his political career.
Tennessee State Parks-Crockett Related Sites
Davy Crocket Birthplace State Park - Limestone Born here on August, 17, 1786
Sycamore Shoals State Park - Elizabethton John Crockett (David's father) assembled here with other Patriots to fight British Tories at Kings Mountain.
Warrior Path State Park Kingsport David took this route as an indentured servant (1798) and runaway (1799). He returns home through this site 1802.
Cumberland Mountain State Park - Crossville David, his wife Polly and two sons migrated to Middle, TN through the Cumberland Plateau here.
David Crocket State Park - Lawrenceburg david and his second wife Elizabeth and five children moved here in 1817. Crockett begins career in politics, elected Colonel of Militia in 1818.
Chickasaw State Park - Chester County Colonel Crockett campaigned for Congress in the area and rode by this site in 1835 on the way to Texas.
Reelfoot Lake State Park Created by the New Madrid Earthquakes of 1811-12, this became Crockett's primary hunting ground for large Black Bears.
"It was here that I began to distinguish myself as a hunter, and to lay the foundation for all my future greatness but mighty little did I know what sort it was going to be."
David Crockett
From his Narrative, 1834
David Crockett's first rifle, "Old Betsy"
Crockett's United States Congressional District
Rheatown Crocket family moves five miles to Lick Creek, 1792
Rogersville Crockett's grandparents killed in Indian attack, 1777
Mounted Riflemen Riding to fight British Tories, 1780
Cove Creek Crockett-Galbraith mill destroyed by flood, 1793
Finely Gap David & Polly marry and live her for five years.
Chickasaw Warriors Indian Woodland tribes contested settlers for this region.
Jefferson County family moves here to start over from the mill disaster in 1794
Morristown Crockett lived here for then years, 1796-1806
Bean Creek Crockett and family settle here in 1813
Mulberry Creek First home in Middle TN 1811
Fayetteville
General Andrew Jackson Camp Blount, Fayetteville
General Andrew Jackson's army organizes here in 1813 and 1814
McMinnville
Murfreesboro State Capital of Tennessee until 1826
Columbia Home of President James K. Polk
Nashville Became state capital of Tennessee in 1826
Gordon's Ferry David Crockett gave his first stump speech here in 1821 while campaigning for state representative
Waynesboro The Natchez Trace connected the Mississippi and Cumberland Rivers.
Crockett's Mill was destroyed by a flood in 1821, forcing David and his family to move to Obion River Country
Jackson Crocket often ventured 40 miles or more from home to get supplies and the latest information
Bolivar Almo survivor Susanna Dickinson left home from here for Texas with her husband Almaron I 1831
Trenton Crockett's last home in present Day Rutherford
Dyersburg Hunting friend and future Texas hero Ben McCulloch lived here.
Crockett's United States Congressional District
Reelfoot Lake Created by the New Madrid Earthquakes of 1811-12, this became one of Crockett's favorite hunting areas.
Crockett the Bear HunterV
Randolph Crocket attempted to get a canal built here
Crockett Stumping for votes.
Memphis c. 1830 site of Crockett's flatboat disaster (1826)
Marcus Winchester First mayor of Memphis (1826-1829), he financially supported Crockett for Congress.
Gone to Texas Crockett & Company head for Texas (1835)
Crockett Fiddle eyewitness say David played the fiddle at the Almo during the siege.
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