278 The Winning of the West 



tion alike went armed, the latter leaning their rifles 

 in their pews or near their seats, while the pastor 

 let his stand beside the pulpit. On week-days the 

 clergymen usually worked in the fields in company 

 with the rest of the settlers ; all with their rifles close 

 at hand and a guard stationed. In more than one 

 instance when such a party was attacked by Indians 

 the servant of the Lord showed himself as skilled 

 in the use of carnal weapons as were any of his war- 

 like parishioners. 



The leaders of the frontiersmen were drawn from 

 among several families, which, having taken firm 

 root, were growing into the position of backwoods 

 gentry. Of course the use of this term does not im- 

 ply any sharp social distinctions in backwoods life, 

 for there were none such. The poorest and richest 

 met on terms of perfect equality, slept in one an- 

 other's houses and dined at one another's tables. 

 But certain families, by dint of their thrift, the 

 ability they showed in civil affairs, or the prowess 

 of some of their members in time of war, had risen 

 to acknowledged headship. 



The part of Washington County northwest of the 

 Holston was cut off and made into the county of 

 Sullivan by the North Carolina Legislature in 1779. 

 In this part the Shelbys were the leading family; 

 and Isaac Shelby was made county lieutenant. It 

 had been the debatable ground between Virginia 

 and North Carolina, the inhabitants not knowing 

 to which province they belonged, and sometimes 

 serving the two governments alternately. When 



