The American Revolution military history of this man is difficult at best.

Most historians accurately assert that Evan Shelby, Sr. served in the Virginia Militia, however, very few ever mention, much less openly acknowledge that he also served in the North Carolina Militia during the Revolutionary War.

For those intrepid pioneers who settled along the Holston River in what was the expanding Watauga Settlement of the 1760s and 1770s, there was no question to themselves that they were Virginians, no matter from where they originated. However, the NC/VA State Line had not been surveyed that far westward, and as the settlement grew, a few settlers began to consider that they just might, indeed, actually be living in North Carolina. By the time that the American Revolution erupted, many in this area admitted that they lived in what they called the "Squabble State."

Surviving pensioners of the 1830s recalled - admittedly nearly fifty years after the war - that they considered themselves Virginians first and foremost, then begrudgingly acknowledged serving under officers that were well known (at least by that late timeframe) to be commissioned by the state of North Carolina. Some later pensioners openly admitted that they truly never knew whether they served in the Virginia Militia or in the North Carolina Militia - but they could name most of their commanding officers. Many surviving pensioners did recall the creation of the Washington District (later and most often simply Washington County), and if applicable, many recalled the creation of Sullivan County out of Washington County, North Carolina in 1779. Very few later recalled the creation of Greene and Davidson counties of North Carolina in early 1783.

To make things even worse, at around the same time that North Carolina established the Washington District on the western side of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the state of Virginia created its own Washington County, in the same general vicinity. Men who were neighbors along the Holston River later claimed different origins - one said he was from Washington District (or County) North Carolina, while another said he was from Washington County, Virginia - and they both served under the same officers.

As the two-pronged Cherokee Expedition of late Summer of 1776 was getting underway, with Col. William Christian of Virginia leading the Holston men and others on the western side of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Brig. Gen. Griffith Rutherford of North Carolina leading a large contingent of North Carolina Militiamen on the eastern side of the Blue Ridge Mountains, leading men of the Holston settlement petitioned the state of Virginia to create a new county. At that time, Virginia refused. Therefore, these same men then sent an envoy to petition the state of North Carolina for a new county in the Holston River area.

It was several months later before the NC General Assembly would finally meet and when they did, they agreed to create the Washington District on 12/23/1776. Soon thereafter, they commissioned the field officers of the Washington District Regiment - Col. John Carter, Lt. Col. John Sevier, 1st Maj. Charles Robertson, and 2nd Maj. Jacob Womack.

Nowhere in any readily-available official state records has this Author seen mention of Evan Shelby, Sr. being commissioned by the state of North Carolina leaders. So, it is entirely possible (however, quite unlikely in my opinion) that Even Shelby, Sr. was never commissioned by North Carolina, and therefore, was only a Virginia officer. A Virginia officer who clearly lived in North Carolina.

However - yes, the big "but" - many later pensioners asserted that they did serve under Col. Evan Shelby, Sr. and that they considered themselves to be North Carolinians. Furthermore, when the NC/VA State Line was eventually surveyed out to the Holston settlement and beyond in 1779/1780, it was properly evident that most of these people were truly within the boundaries of North Carolina - not in Virginia.

Additionally, North Carolina created Sullivan County - out of Washington County - on October 30, 1779. Col. Isaac Shelby - son of Evan Shelby, Sr. - was commissioned as the first (and only) Colonel/Commandant over the Sullivan County Regiment of Militia.

Later pensioners once again clearly recalled being under Col. Isaac Shelby - and many admitted to serving under his father, Col. Evan Shelby, Sr. - who was certainly living within the boundaries of Washington County, North Carolina prior to 1779. Similar later recall included mentions of other officers known to have served under Col. Evan Shelby, Sr. and at the same time being known as North Carolina officers.

To bring this to the logical conclusion, it is this Author's acknowledgement that Evan Shelby, Sr. was originally commissioned as an officer by the state of Virginia. Most historians agree (as does this Author) that he was a Major under Col. William Christian during the Cherokee Expedition of 1776. Soon after that expedition, Evan Shelby, Sr. was commissioned as a Colonel in the Washington County, Virginia Militia, a position he retained for a considerable time, duration currently unknown to this Author.

It is also soon after the Cherokee Expedition Expedition of 1776 that this Author begins to diverge from most other historians on the subject of Evan Shelby Sr.'s military career.

With the creation of the Washington District, North Carolina on 12/23/1776, Evan Shelby, Sr. and his fairly large family living along the Holston River were now citizens of North Carolina. OK, it took a few days or weeks for the settlers along the Holston River to learn about the formal creation of the new district, and when they did many continued to "believe" that they were not affected and thusly continued to consider themselves as Virginians. Ergo, the "Squabble State" continued from 1776 well into 1779, probably mostly to further the ambitions of those who had greater ties to Virginia.

Constant tensions with the Chickamaugas on the western side of the Blue Ridge Mountains caused constant demands upon the local Militia units of Washington County, North Carolina. Many forts were constructed to protect the growing population, and these forts had to be manned. North Carolina Militia Law required men to only serve three months at a time, then be released. If still required, then new units must be raised for another three-month stint. From inception in late 1776 until the end of the war in 1783, Militia units were called up almost constantly in Washington County, North Carolina. The same is true for Sullivan County after 1779. One fourth of the appropriate male population (from age 16 to age 50) were on Militia duty at any given time.

As stated earlier, many later pensioners (of the 1830s) attested that they served under Col. Evan Shelby, Sr. from 1776 to 1783, and they lived in Washington County, North Carolina. Many pensioners attested to serving under Col. Evan Shelby, Sr. at the battle of Chickamauga Towns in April of 1779 - almost all named Captains are known to have been North Carolina officers. A few men mentioned that they "think" Col. Evan Shelby, Sr. "retired" after that significant engagement on the western side of the Blue Ridge Mountains, but then go on to assert that Col. Evan Shelby, Sr. "took up arms again" to protect the homefront while the rest of the "Overmountain Men" went after the Loyalist army under Maj. Patrick Ferguson and met up with them at the battle of Kings Mountain, SC on October 7, 1780. Other pensioners mentioned that Col. Evan Shelby, Sr. continued in similar fashion for the remainder of the war - if men left the area to go help South Carolina or other locales, Col. Evan Shelby, Sr. led the local units that remained back at home to protect the settlers.

In conclusion, it is the Author's "humble opinion" that Evan Shelby. Sr. was a "de facto" (if not an actual) Colonel in the Washington District/County Regiment of Militia alongside Col. John Carter, then Col. John Sevier from late 1776 to 1783. This Author acknowledges that Evan Shelby, Sr. might have "retired" from active duty (VA and/or NC) in 1779, but circumstances kept him "involved" in Washington County Regiment military matters probably until the end of the war.

That's all I have to say about this. I leave it to the Reader to decide this one on their own.

Click Here for a brief biography of Evan Shelby, Sr. provided by Tennessee GenWeb.

Click Here for a photo and brief writeup about Evan Shelby, Sr.'s gravesite.