The map of 1775

An Accurate Map of North and South Carolina With Their Indian Frontiers, Shewing in a distinct manner all the Mountains, Rivers, Swamps, Marshes, Bays, Creeks, Harbours, Sandbanks and Soundings on the Coasts, with The Roads and Indian Paths; as well as The Boundary or Provincial Lines, The Several Townships and other divisions of the Land in Both the Provinces; the whole from Actual Surveys by Henry Mouzon and Others shows Elkin River in 1775. So the Overmountain men would have known Elkin and possibly written about it in their journals. I wonder if papers of Joseph Winston are still not yet transcribed they may yield everyday clues about the area of Elkin. I wonder if the Revolutionary veterans referred to Elkin in their pension statements. We do know, in some papers somewhere, the gathering of the militia in 1780 was on Big Elkin Creek near the iron works because the National Park Service says so. So, who has those papers? I guess it is easy enough to look up. I'd like to see the document myself.

I see that Elkin River has been demoted to Big Elkin Creek by the time of the Civil War. The industrial revolution tended to reduce our fear of currents of rushing water I suppose. The library sits on the Creek now and somewhere around is also a Little Elkin Creek. The library sits on the spot that was originally the textile mill powered by the Big Elkin Creek. And Thus a town was born that still nurtures good citizens today.