1770-1836
Agnes DENTON was born in 1770. Died in Jul 1836. Agnes' mother Ann, brothers Isaac and Jeremiah and sister Martha settled on Spring Creek in Washington CO, Tn in 1798. Both Denton brothers purchased land clams from earlier claimants and prepared to farm. The young Rev. Isaac, Jr. and been invited to preach to a small band of settlers in the valley. She married James CROUCH. James CROUCH was born in 1768 in Halifax CO, VA. Died in Mar 1855. James lived in Henry CO, VA where two of his older brothers served in the county militia during the Revolutionary War. The family moved in 1781 to the western part of North Carolina that later became Washington CO, TN. He and Agnes married during the time the short-lived State of Franklin existed in that part of NC. James and Agnes left their farm on Sinking Creek in Washington CO, TN in 1800 and made their way over the Wilderness Trail and through the Cumberland Gap to join her family in Stockton's Valley, Cumberland CO, KY. James purchased the claim of John Silvertooth on Clear Fork of Spring Creek of Obey's River in Cumberland CO, KY. On April 1, 1802 they joined Rev. Denton and ten others in forming the Clear Fork Baptist Church. When the church decided in 1805 to erect a meeting house near the Crouch cabin, James was chosen as one of the five men to build it. He also served as deacon from 1807 to 1810. After he had made improvements on his land grant, Governor Scott signed the patent on 29 Nov. 1808. James and Agnes quarreled with Rev. Denton in 1822 and were excluded from the church. They sold their farm but remained in the area for a time. James is known to have served on juries in Burkesville in 1821, 1822 and 1823. He and Agnes moved to Monroe CO and then to Clay CO, TN where they had many relatives. They resolved their differences with the Clear Fork Church in 1834 and returned to make their home with their daughter Sarah and her husband John Wood who had purchased the original Crouch farm. James again became deacon of the church. They had the following children: Elizabeth CROUCH
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