Ninth Generation

390. Ephraim OSBORNE⁴ was born on 23 August 1723 in Williamsburg, York County, Virginia, BCA.⁷¹ He died in 1796 at the age of 73 in Independence, Grayson County, Virginia, USA.^85,86,87 He was buried in 1796 in Osborne Fort Cemetery, Grayson County, Virginia, USA. Not specifically named, however most of family is buried in cemetery.

OSBORNE, Enoch ca 1745-50 Sep 1818 Capt Am Rev; s/o Ephraim Osborne
OSBORNE, Jane Hash ca 1750/1753 after 12 Apr 1822 d/o John Hash; w/o Capt Enoch Osborne
OSBORNE, Enoch, Jr. 22/27 Dec 1774 1852/1853 s/o Enoch and Jane Hash Osborne
OSBORNE, Mary Livesay 1780 1813 "Polly"; d/o Thomas and Margaret Livesay; w/o Enoch Osborne, Jr.
OSBORNE, Millie a slave, owned by Cpt. Enoch Osborne
OSBORNE, Solomon ca 1800/1802 1878/1879 s/o Enoch, Jr and Mary Livesay Osborne
OSBORNE, Hannah Cox 1801 1876 d/o Joshua and Ruth Osborne Cox; w/o Solomon Osborne
OSBORNE, Ephraim 1720 1795 possibly buried here but not listed on the monument Ephraim appeared in the census in 1820 in Worchester County, Massachussets, USA. He has reference number 1298. He was a Furtrader in Yadkin Valley, Yadkin County, North Carolina, USA. http://www.osborne-origins.org/biograph/bio_rel.htm
Osbornes of Grayson Co., VA

Pioneer Settlers of Grayson County, Virginia, Bristol, TN, King
Printing Co., 1914. Page 171. (transcript)

THE OSBORNE FAMILY
Esquire Enoch Osborne settled on New River, near Bridle Creek; this for
many years was known as the Osborne settlement. Enoch Osborne had three
brothers, Solomon, Ephriam, and Johnathan, who came to this country with
their families about the same time, and settled on New River, near together.
A fort was built on the farm now occupied by Joshua Osborne and son,
John, at Ancella Post Office. Indian depredations were common on the border
settlements, and preparations for protection and defence were necessary.
It was fortunate for society that the first settlers were people of moral
worth and piety.
Enoch Osborne’s wife was a Miss Hash. He and his wife were Christians,
and aided very much in planting the standard of Christian civilization over
the land that was so recently inhabited by savages.
Their home was a resting place for the wayworn traveling preachers. The
venerable Bishop Asbury called with them, rested, and took refreshments, as
he was making his ministerial tours through this newly settled country,
preaching the gospel.
It was at the old Fort where Esquire Enoch Osborne, Sr., first located a
home.
An incident occurred with the Osborne brothers, in their newly occupied
territory, that tells of the dangers and exposures to which pioneer settlers
were subjected.
Enoch Osborne and brothers, Solomon and Ephriam, went into what is now
Watauga, N. C., on a hunting trip, deer being plentiful in that section.
Getting wet by a shower of rain, and wet bushes, they struck up camp in the
evening, and lay down to sleep and rest, hanging up their clothes by the
camp fire to dry. The Indians surprised them by shooting into the camp and
killing Solomon Osborne; an Indian chased Enoch some distance, and lost him
in the dark. Ephriam, alter fleeing from camp carefully crept back in the
dark to his horse that was fastened with a hickory bark halter to a tree,
loosed him and rode home. Enoch returned home without shoes, and in his
night clothing. These facts are gathered from Mrs. Mary McMullen, wife of
Hon. Lafayette McMullen, member of Congress, from Scott county, Va., for
several sessions. Mrs. McMullen, hefore her marriage, was Miss Mary Woods,
granddaughter of Solomon Osborne, who was murdered in the camp by the
Indians.
Up to the present day, the Osborne family have lived in Grayson county;
some have moved to the West, while quite a number have remained as worthy,
industrious citizens of their native county. Solomon Osborne, Jr., married
Hannah Cox, lived at the old fort on New River, and on the same farm his son
Joshua now lives; others of this family live in the same community.
Zachariah Osborne married Miss Jincey Burton, a lady of deep piety, a
faithful wife and affectionate mother. Zachariah Osborne and wife brought
up a large family on the river near the fort; three daughters, Mary, Nancy,
and Phoebe, married three brothers, Alexander, Galloway, and Samuel Cox, Jr.
Mahala married Joshua Cox; Biddie married David Cox; one married Daniel
Boyer; Caroline married Johnston Hale. Margaret married John Phipps, of
Saddle Creek.
Their son, Enoch Osborne, married Miss Cox; Allen married; Floyd married
Miss Rosa Hale, daughter of Warner Hale and wife, Miss Mary Cox; Preston
married Miss Isabelle Cox; Zachariah, Jr., married Miss Mollie Cox; both the
above Isabelle and Mollie were daughters of Enoch Cox and wife, Miss Susan
Thomas.
Floyd Osborne and Preston Osborne both settled on Meadow Creek, near Old
Town, and have brought up their families there. Emmett P. Osborne, son of
Floyd Osborne, married Miss Mary Williams, daughter of Hyram Williams and
Miss Jane Brown. He lived on the old Brown farm on Meadow Creek; died at
the Jefferson Hospital, Roanoke, Va., from an operation for appendicitis; he
leaves a wife and six children.
Thomas H. Osborne, youngest son of Floyd Osborne, lives at the old
homestead on Meadow Creek.
John H., another son, lives on Rock Creek, Va.

https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/osborne/4091/
Osborne family

Ephraim Osborne, the patriarch of the Osborne families in the New River valley and three of his sons, Enoch, Jonathan, and Robert along with Ephraim's brother Stephen were members of the Herbert company.This family came to the New River valley very early (1765 or 6) from the Yadkin River valley (i.e. the "Jersey Settlement" in Rowan Co., NC).Before North Carolina, their origin is more obscure, but Rita Sutton2says that family legends place them as from New Jersey.Their naming pattern is quite consistent with the New Jersey Osborne family that originated in Connecticut and before that in England, but the connection to this family has not been established.It is possible that they instead are more recent immigrants from England or Scotland or Ireland who migrated to North Carolina from Pennsylvania (Charles Osborne hypothesis).It is now believed that the supposed connection to a Jonathan Osborne and a Greta Holman is a genealogical hoax played on a customer by a "professional" genealogist sometime before World War II, and propagated like wild-fire via the internet.In fact we know the names of the parties involved in the hoax.

Osborne's fort was on New River near the mouth of Saddle Creek.This is located a mile or two west of Independence, Grayson County, Virginia and is marked by a small monument to the cemetery that used to be there.If you take the bridge a few hundred yards west of this marker you are in North Carolina.This fort was one of two built along New River in today's Grayson County for protection from Indians and Tories during the Revolution.The other was built downstream (to the NE) at Cox's place.

The Osborne's religious affiliation was changeable gravitating from Presbyterianism to the Baptists and later to the Methodists.

The Jersey Settlement has an interesting origin which is discussed HERE.
The most authoritative genealogy (IMO) on the internet for the Osborne family is Osborne Origins by Lee Osborne.

References: (1) Wiley Winton Osborne - His Ancestors and Descendants by Carol Osborne Hackett and Myrtle Greer Johnson (thanks Emily). (2) Early Osborne Alley Families On Clinch & New River by Rita Kennedy Sutton.

Unlike many members of Herbert's company, the Osbornes appear to have been consistent Whigs during the Revolution.Enoch was a Captain on the Whig side in the Revolution.The pension applications of Jonathan Osborne, David Cox and John Osborne son of Robert, indicate this as well.The one question mark is how enthusiastic they would be in the attack on the Cherokee, to which their family later was tied to in marriage (the lack of enthusiasm of the New River men was noted by the commanders of the attacks on the Cherokee in 1777, and Robert Osborne refused to take the oath of allegience in 1777).Other questions along this line remain as well as it appears that the mixed race Cherokees they were associated with later on fought on the Whig side as well.

Osborn, Ephraim

There are two possibilities for this Ephraim and they are father and son.It is likely that the man in Herbert's company is the younger Ephraim, based on age.Both are discussed here.

Ephraim Osborne Sr.
Ephraim Osborne is the patriarch of the Osborne families of the New River valley.One local historian says he was a fur trader based in the Yadkin River who made trips into the wilderness to the west.By the time of Lord Dunmore's war he was no longer a young man.

Charles Osborne: "Concerning the origin of my ancestor Ephriam Osborn Sr. died ca 1795 Grayson Co Va.He was in Rowan Co NC in 1753, and in a series of moves ended up on the Virginia side of New River about 1766. Before North Carolina, family legend places him in Pennsylvania, but for a short time before North Carolina, in Virginia on his trip south. He had no connection to the established Thomas Osborne line of Chesterfield Co Virginia."

Note that in both the Hackett and Sutton family histories they have family legends for a New Jersey origin instead of Pennsylvania as given by Charles above.

Rita Sutton, "Early Osborne Alley Families" and Carol Hackett's documentation for Ephraim Osborne:
1) In Rowan Co. NC by 1753 (RW pension #58912 for Jonathan Osborne).
2)On 1759 Rowan tax list.
3) 1761 - Ephraim Osborn found in Capt. Caleb Osborn's tax district, Forks of the Yadkin
4) 1762 - Ephraim is a witness in a court case - last record in North Carolina
5) 1765-6 presumed to have moved to Virginia based on documentation of his sons (e.g. RW pension #58912)
6) 1772 - On Fincastle Co., VA tax list.
7) 1774 - Ephraim has land surveyed in Montgomery Co., VA (largest of the Osborne tracts, Loyal Land grant)
8) 1774 - William Scott filed suit against Ephraim (suit abated 1779)
9) 1777 - An Ephraim Osborne Sr. and Jr. both appear on Capt. Enoch Osborne's militia list, Ephraim Sr. took the oath of Allegience
10) 1779 - paid for patrolling while in the militia.
11) 1781 - Ephraim Osborne Sr. is on the militia list marked "not fit", and as a Lieutenant.
12) 3 Mar 1786 Ephraim Osborn on revenue tax list in Montgomery Co. VA (now Grayson Co.)
13) 28 Oct 1789 still living in same area with property on both sides of Saddle Creek.
14) 23 Apr 1794, exempted from paying the county levy.
15) 1795 - His land is transferred to David Pew (presumably he has died)

Ephraim's wife was named Betty (Elizabeth).Some oral histories (e.g. Osbornes of Harlan Co., KY) say she was a Howard. She is not Elizabeth WELLS Howard.The Elizabeth Howard who married a Wells and is mentioned in Joshua Howard's will is documented to have stayed married to Mr. Wells in Maryland having many children there and never went to North Carolina.
Ephraim and Betty's documented children are Robert Osborne m. Ann (see below); Solomon Osborne (killed by Indians while hunting, 1764) m. Nancy Davidson; Enoch Osborne m. Jane Hash (see above); Jonathan Osborne m. (1) Nancy Howell, (2) Agnes Wells and (3) Mary;Ephraim Osborne (Jr.) (see below) m. Mary Brock (daughter of Aaron Brock[aka Cutsawah or Red Bird] and a Cherokee mother) - died in Harlan Co., KY.There may have daughters, but there is little documentation.The ones proposed are Ellender Osborne m. William Hash; Nancy Osborne m. George Livesay; and Chloe Osborne m. George Howard. It is thought that Ephraim's children were born between 1743 and 1765.

The Clinch River Valley line originates with Caleb Osborne m. Hannah (Howard?).He is suspected to be the brother of this Ephraim Osborne as they appear together in Rowan Co., NC (Rita Sutton).

Note: Ephraim Osborne Sr. (1723-1794) made a living as a fur collector working the Yadkin Valley with Daniel Boone?s colleague, Christopher Gist. Around 1761, Osborne and his family moved from Rowan County, NC to Grayson County, Virginia. Their new land, between Bridle Creek and Saddle Creek (tributaries of the New River) was a favorite hunting and fishing spot of the Cherokees, who were reluctant to forfeit the land without a fight. So, to protect themselves and nearby settlers, the Osbornes built a fort on their farm.
The Osbornes did experience a deadly encounter with the Cherokees in 1764, while Ephraim Osborne?s sons were deer hunting in nearby Watauga County, NC. Enoch, Solomon and Ephraim Jr. got drenched by rain, so they set up camp and hung their wet clothes by the campfire. Sometime during the night, Cherokees shot into their camp and killed 21-year-old newlywed Solomon Osborne. After fleeing into the darkness, Ephraim crept back to retrieve his horse, while Enoch returned home without shoes and in his night clothes.

https://www.anamericanfamilyhistory.com/TennesseeFamilies&Places/Osborne%20Family.html
Ephraim Osborn, Sr. was born about 1723.

Enoch Osborne (1741, married Jane Hash),
Solomon Osborne (1743, married Nancy Davidson),
Robert Osborne (1745),
Stephen Osborne (1746,)
Zachariah Osborne (1748),
James Osborne (1750)
Ellender Osborne (1751, married William Hash),
Ephraim, Osborne, Jr. (1752),
Jonathan Osborne (1753, married Nancy Howell),
Jeremiah Osborne (1755),
Nancy Osborne (1756, married Jesse Lane),
George Osborne (1762),
Cornelius Osborne (1764), and
Chloe Osborne (1765, married Samuel Howard).

In 1759 to 1768. Ephraim Osborn was on the tax list of Rowan County, North Carolina.

Enoch Osborne and brothers, Solomon and Ephraim, went into what is now Watauga, N.C., on a hunting trip, deer being plentiful in that section. Getting wet by a shower of rain, and wet bushes, they struck up camp in the evening, and lay down to sleep and rest, hanging up their clothes by the camp fire to dry.

The Indians surprised them by shooting into the camp and killing Solomon Osborne; an Indian chased Enoch some distance, and lost him in the dark. Ephraim, after fleeing from camp carefully crept back in the dark to his horse that was fastened with a hickory bark halter to a tree, loosed him and rode home. Enoch returned home without shoes and in his night clothing.

The 1771 tax list for Botetourt County, Virginia included Robert, Enoch, and Jonathan Osborn.

In 1772, he was on William Herbert's tax list in the short-lived Fincastle County.

In 1773, he was on the delinquent tax payer list for Fincastle County, Virginia.

On December 14 1774, Ephraim Osborn, Sr. was granted 260 acres, in Fincastle County on Saddle Creek, a Branch of New River.

In 1774 Enoch, Ephraim, and Stephen were in David Looney's Company in Fincastle County, Virginia.

In 1777, Jeremiah Ozburn, Capt. Enoch Ozburn, Sr., and Stephen Ozburn, Sr. took the Oath of Allegiance in Montgomery County, Virginia.

In 1777, Enoch was a justice in Montgomery County and he served as a captain in the Montgomery County militia.

Stephen, Ephraim, and Enoch Osborn were on a list of surveys presented by the Loyal Land Company to the Land Office in Augusta County, Virginia before May, 1783.

In 1786, Ephraim, Sr’s. name was on the Montgomery County tax list.

In, 1794, Ephraim, Sr. was exempted from paying tax in Grayson County, Virginia.

Augusta County, Virginia was formed in 1738 from Orange County and was vast territory including West Virginia and Kentucky.
1770 - southern part became Botetourt.
1776 - parts became Monongalia, Ohio, and Yohogania.
1778 - area west of Ohio River became Illinois County.
- northeastern part became Rockingham.
- southwestern part was combined with part of Botetourt to form Rockbridge
1788 - northern part combined with part of Hardy to become Pendleton.
1790 - western part was combined with parts of Botetourt and Greenbrier to form Bath.
Virginia county formation was complex and some of the above counties were further divided or disbanded.

Fincastle County, Virginia was created in 1772 from Botetourt County and abolished in 1776. It was divided into Montgomery, Washington and Kentucky Counties.

North Carolina was one of the thirteen original Colonies. It was first settled by small farmers and grew quickly in the mid 18th century.

The New River flows through North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia .In 1755, Mary Draper Ingles (1732-1815) was captured by Shawnee warriors near Blacksburg and taken to Ohio. She escaped and made her way home by following the Ohio, Kanawha, and New Rivers.

James Osborn was born on January 4, 1765 in Rowan County, North Carolina. He was the only child of Solomon Osborne and Nancy Davidson. Soloman was killed before James was born and Nancy married Jonathan Wood.

In 1767, James went with his mother and step-father, from Virginia to Big Moccasin Creek near Fort Houston.

On November 11, 1782, James Osborn settled on 230 acres in the Castlewood's section of Russell County, Virginia. Scott County was created from parts of Washington, Lee, and Russell Counties in 1814.

Solomon Osborne (1785, married Henrietta Livingston),
Samuel Osborne (1788, married Winnie Ratcliff),
Tabitha Osborne (1791, married Zedikiah Coody),
Delila Osborne (1796, married Silas Ratcliff),
Wood Osborne (1797, married Catherine Livingston),
Henry Osborne (1799, married Sarah Dixon),
John Osborne (1803, married Nancy).

European and indiginous American fought fierce battles as the Europeans expanded their territory.

from Pioneer Settlers of Grayson County, Virginia by B.F .Nuckolls

Esq Enoch Osborne settled on New River near Bridle Creek; this for many years was known as the Osborne settlement. Enoch Osborne had 3 brothers, Solomon, Ephraim, and Jonathan, who came to this country with their families about the same time and settled on New River near together.

A fort was built on the farm now occupied by Joshua Osborne and son, John, at Ancella Post Office. Indian depredations were common in the border settlements, and preparations for protection and defense were necessary.

It was fortunate for society that the first settlers were people of moral worth and piety. Enoch Osborne's wife was a Miss Hash. He and his wife were Christians and aided very much in planting the standard of Christian civilization over the land that was so recently inhabited by savages. Their home was a resting place for the wayworn traveling preachers. The venerable Bishop Asbury called with them, rested, and took refreshments, as he was making his ministerial tours through this newly settled country, preaching the gospel. It was at the Old Fort where Esq Enoch Osborne, Sr, first located a home.

An incident occurred with the Osborne brothers in their newly occupied territory that tells of the dangers and exposures to which pioneer settlers were subjected. Enoch Osborne and brothers Solomon and Ephraim went into what is now Watauga North Carolina on a hunting trip, deer being plentiful in that section. Getting wet by a shower of rain and wet bushes, they struck up camp in the evening and lay down to sleep and rest, hanging up their clothes by the campfire to dry. The Indians surprised them by shooting into the camp and killing Solomon Osborne; an Indian chased Enoch some distance and lost him in the dark. Ephraim, after fleeing from camp carefully, crept back in the dark to his horse that was fastened with a hickory bark halter to a tree, loosed him, and rode home. Enoch returned home without shoes, and in his night clothing. These facts are gathered from Mrs. Mary McMullen, wife of Hon Lafayette McMullen, member of Congress, from Scott County, Virginia for several sessions. Mrs. McMullen, before her marriage, was Miss Mary Woods, granddaughter of Solomon Osborne, who was murdered in the camp by the Indians.

Rowan County, North Carolina was formed in 1753 from the northern part of Anson County. In 1770, the eastern part was combined with the western part of Orange County to become Guilford County. In 1771 the northeastern part of what remained of Rowan County became Surry County. In 1777 the western part of Rowan County became Burke County. In 1788 the western part became Iredell County. In 1822 the eastern part became Davidson County. Finally, in 1836 the part of Rowan County north of the South Yadkin River became Davie County.

The American Revolution was ended in 1783 when the Treaty of Paris was signed.

Elizabeth "Betsy" HOWARD and Ephraim OSBORNE were married in 1740 in Yadkin River, Yadkin County, North Carolina, USA.^86,87,99

391. Elizabeth "Betsy" HOWARD⁴ was born in 1726 in Virginia, USA.^85,86,87,89 She died in 1796 at the age of 70 in Independence, Grayson County, Virginia, USA.^85,86,87 She has reference number 4646.

Children were: