James Chitwood

James Chitwood (1751-1839) was a Revolutionary War veteran who founded the present-day Town of Winfield.

See Also: Revolutionary War Veterans

Biography

Chitwood was born June 21, 1751 in Powhatan County, Va. He was the son of Richard Chitwood Sr. (1722-1785) and Winnie Randolph (1724-1754).

Chitwood married Martha White (1749-1834) and they moved to present-day Scott County after the Revolutionary War had ended.

Revolutionary War

Chitwood was part of a family with split allegiance during the Revolutionary War. While he was a Patriot, his dad, uncle, and two cousins were Tories. All four of them fought at the Battle of Kings Mountain and were captured. His uncle, Capt. James Chitwood, was one of nine Tories hanged by the Patriots after the battle. Two of his sons were sentenced to hang but were granted 99-year reprieves after higher commanders intervened and stopped the hangings. His father was also sentenced to hang but was granted a reprieve.

Chitwood fought under Gen. Thomas Sumter of South Carolina. Sumter was named the “Carolina Gamecock” by the British because of his fierce fighting style, which began after the British burned his home. Lord Charles Cornwallis called Sumter his “greatest plague,” and Sumter is credited with helping drive Cornwallis out of South Carolina, turning the tide of the war.

After the War

Chitwood and one of his cousins who had been sentenced to hang, Shadrach Chitwood, made the move to present-day Winfield after the war — perhaps as early as 1795. Although they were on opposing sides during the war, they lived side-by-side after the war. Shadrach Chitwood would later move to Missouri.

James and Martha Chitwood had at least six children — Pleasant (1775-1851), Winnie Webb (1780-1840), William (1787-1871), Daniel (1794-1852), Elizabeth (1796-1884) and Richard (1813-1891) — and perhaps one more.

The family lived at what is now known as Pine Grove, and Chitwood ran the community’s post office from his home. The Town of Winfield was first known as Chitwood, for James Chitwood. Chitwood Mountain is also named for him. Pleasant Grove, located across the mountain from Pine Grove, is named for his oldest son.

Chitwood died on March 4, 1839, at the age of 87. He was buried at Chitwood Cemetery.

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