by Bruce Whitaker

William and Martha “Patsy” Gudger had moved from Virginia to Surry County, NC, which borders Virginia, by 1777. By that time, the Cherokee had become involved in the Revolutionary War on the side of the British. They were raiding the border settlements in both North Carolina and Virginia. The Watauga settlements in North Carolina (now part of Tennessee) were being attacked particularly often. The governor of Virginia ordered Col. William Christian to raise an army that would march deep into Cherokee territory and punish the Native Americans enough to stop them from attacking.

Surry County raised an army of 300 soldiers to reinforce Col. Christian’s army. Mostly riflemen, each soldier also carried a tomahawk and a knife. The Surry County Militia was under the command of Col. Joseph Williams, Col. Robert Love, and Major Winston. They were supposed to rendezvous with Col. Christian at the Great Island of the Holston River in what is now Tennessee. William Gudger volunteered to serve under his brother-in-law, Captain Edmund Sams (1750–1845).

The Virginia and Surry County Militia was involved in many encounters with the Cherokee. Col. Christian eventually subjugated the Cherokee and made peace with them. Many were critical of Col. Christian for the treaty he made with the Cherokee, as they believed he showed too much leniency.

Gudger moved to Jonesboro, TN, (then in NC) after the Revolutionary War. He lived there for several years before moving to what was then Burke County, NC, in 1790. Buncombe County was formed from Burke and Rutherford Counties in 1792.

William and Martha bought several thousand acres of land along the Swannanoa River. The land bordered the Forster/Foster land near Biltmore on the west. It stretched all the way to Christian Creek (which was part of Swannanoa) on the east. Gudger owned all the land where Beverly Hills, the recreation park, Oteen, and Azalea (between the exits for Charlotte Highway and Swannanoa) are now located. His house was built on the hill in Beverly Hills overlooking the golf course. The bridge across the Swannanoa River on US 70 was called Gudger’s Bridge until recently. Before interstate 40 was opened, it seemed like at least once a week the morning news would that announce there was a wreck at Gudger’s Bridge.

Gudger was a successful farmer and carpenter who served Buncombe in many ways. He applied for a Revolutionary War pension on October 19, 1832. Capt. Sams, his brother-in-law, appeared in court to testify that Gudger had fought under his command. Col. Robert Love, whose daughter married Gudger’s son James, also testified that William had served under him.

At 81, before his pension was approved, he died on July 12, 1833 and was buried on what was then called Cemetery Hill. Martha “Patsy” Young Gudger was 87 when she died on September 5, 1837. She was buried next to her husband. The construction of Wavery Court in Beverly Hills destroyed the cemetery. William has a tombstone at Piney Grove Presbyterian Cemetery in Swannanoa. I do not know if Gudger and his wife’s graves were moved to the cemetery or if a tombstone was put up to remember him.

William & Martha’s Eight Children
1. Stacy Gudger was born in Virginia in 1775. She married John Longmire (1755–1837), who was the sheriff of Buncombe County in 1810 and 1811. They moved to Marion County, Missouri. She died there on April 6, 1839.
2. Nancy Gudger was born on April 2, 1777 in Surry County. She married John Gash (October 17, 1769–October 21, 1856). She died on October 2, 1851. They lived in Azalea (between Oteen and Swannanoa).
3. Mary Gudger was born on March 3, 1779 in Washington County, Tennessee. She married Martin Gash (June 16, 1773–May 6, 1836). They moved to Marion County, Missouri, and she died there on September 29, 1828.
4. James Madison Gudger was born in Washington County, Tennessee, on January 6, 1782. He married Ann Dillard Love (November 6, 1787–March 2, 1861), the daughter of Col. Robert Love, who was his father’s former commander. He died in Waynesville on September 25, 1861 after being thrown from a mule.
5. Sarah “Sallie” Gudger was born in 1783 in Washington County, Tennessee. She married Joseph McDowell Whitson (December 12, 1782–December 12, 1861). Sallie died on March 14, 1862 in Buncombe County.
6. Elizabeth Gudger was born in Buncombe County on April 26, 1786. She married Rev. Thomas Jefferson Whitson (December 1, 1781–September 6, 1870). They moved to Fayette County, Alabama. Elizabeth died there on February 28, 1874.
7. William Gudger Jr. was born in Buncombe County in 1789. He married Nancy Henry (born in 1799). They moved to Elijay in Gilmer County, Georgia. He died there in 1860, and Nancy died in McMinn County, Tennessee after 1870.
8. Joseph Young Gudger was born in Buncombe County on June 10, 1792. He married Rachel Elizabeth McRee (born on April 6, 1795) in Iredell County, NC. She was the daughter of Rev. James McRee (1752–1840) and Rachel Cruser. His wife died on May 27, 1863, and Joseph died on July 18, 1869—both in Swannanoa.

Local historian Bruce Whitaker documents genealogy in the Fairview area. If you would like to get in touch with him, please contact the Crier at [email protected] or 828-771-6983 (call/text).