Micajah Frost

b. June 11, 1762 at Bedford, Va, d. Feb 4, 1843. m. Nancy Robbins Sept. 11, 1786

Children:
Mary Frost 1788 – 1825
Thomas Frost 1790 – 1838
Isabella Elizabeth Frost 1792 – 1832
Nancy Frost 1792 – 1809
Nancy Frost 1793 – 1800
Thomas Micajah Frost 1795 – 1837
Elijah Frost 1797 – 1850

Micajah Frost was born in Bedford County, 3 miles from Lynchburg, Virginia on Jun 11, 1764, son of Thomas Frost, who was one of the first permanent settlers in Anderson County. His uncle, the Reverend John Frost, was one of the organizers of the Baptist Holston Association in 1786, and his brother, Rev. Joshua Frost was the guiding hand for the first Baptist churches in Anderson County, and helped to establish the Clinton Baptist Association in 1855. Micajah was also active in the Baptist Church.

Micajah Frost married Nancy Robbins, September 18, 1786 in Washington County, Virginia. They came to Anderson County in 1795.

Micajah and Nancy lived in Washington County, Virginia, during his service and until the year 1795 when he moved to Anderson County, Tennessee with his father and several brothers and sisters. He and his brother, Elijah Frost, bought 1,000 acres of land from Stockely Donelson in 1795 in a valley which was later named "Frost Bottom" north of Walden's Ridge. However, Indian title to land in that area had not been extinguished in 1795, and Micajah is shown in the Anderson 1802 tax list as owning 225 acres in Raccoon Valley near his father, brothers, and uncle, Rev. John Frost. Micajah Frost moved to Rockcastle County, Kentucky in 1828. In 1840, he was listed as a Revolutionary War pensioner in Lincoln County, Kentucky at the age of 79 years.

Micajah Frost died February 4, 1843 in Lincoln County, Kentucky.

Micajah Frost enlisted for service in the Virginia Line in the Revolutionary War, in Washington County, Virginia. He applied for a pension in Rockcastle County, Kentucky on November 26, 1832.

Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements Pension application of Micajah Frost S31043 Transcribed by Will Graves State of Kentucky, Rockcastle County On this 26th day of November 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the Rockcastle County Court being a Court of record, Micajah Frost a resident of said County aged 70 years past who being sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed the 7th June 1832. That he volunteered in the service of the United States service in the revolutionary war against the Cherokee Nation under Captain William Elliott, the year he does not recollect, but it was during what was called the Warm Winter.

He rendezvoused on Holston River – then marched to the Nation & joined Colonel Sevier [John Sevier]. They chased the Indians over the country occasionally coming in contact with them, took several of their towns. Captain Elliot was killed in a little engagement with the Indians on the Hiwassee River, a fork of the Tennessee. He also received a wound during the engagement from an Indian arrow. We had shot across the River and broke an Indian's thigh and Captain Elliot rode over to scalpe him thinking he was dead. The Indian had squatted in the sage grass and as Captain approached, he shot him in the head.

After this we scoured the country – were marched back and discharged having been in actual service as he believes upwards of three months. He volunteered again in the year 1780, as he believes, against the British & Tories under Captain Finley, and marched to the lead mines on New River and was stationed there as a guard and there came an express for us to march to King's Mountain and we immediately marched there & joined Colonel Campbell [William Campbell]. He states he was in the battle – that James Cuney, a Sergeant, was shot through the bowels and the night after the battle he carried water to him in his shoe and attended to him until he died which was just before daybreak. A Mr. Blackburn was also killed & four men by the name of Edmondson, with whom he was well acquainted, were also killed and Colonel Williams was killed likewise. With him he had no acquaintance.

Sometime after he was discharged having served out his tour of three months & being in actual service all the time. In 1782, as he believes, he was drafted and went out under Captain Tremble and marched to the frontiers Castle woods on Clinch River and was stationed there to guard the frontiers for two months during which time he served as a spy. He again volunteered in the same year under Captain Dorton and marched to the same place and served as a spy two months and again and was very near being caught by the Indians several times.

He states that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person living by whom he can prove his service. In answer to the interrogatories put by the Court, he says: he was born in Bedford County Virginia, 3 miles from Lynchburg in the year 1762. He has no record of his age. He lived, when he entered the service, in Washington County Virginia and lived there during his service and until the year 1795 when he moved to Tennessee, where he lived until 1828, when he moved to Kentucky, Rockcastle County where he now lives. He received four discharges, but they are all lost. He volunteered every time except one, he was drafted. He was not personally acquainted with any of the regular officers. He is acquainted with the Revd Richard Coyles & James W. Anderson, Esq. who can testify of his character. He hereby relinquishes all claim to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the roll of the agency of any State whatever. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. S/ Micajah Frost

Video of Frost Bottom in Anderson County, Tennessee by Jim Matheny at WBIR, Knoxville, TN on Jan, 8, 2011.

Watch the video here or read the transcript below.

Driving along Highway 330 northeast of Oliver Springs, the morning dew often freezes and creates a glistening glaze along the Anderson County landscape. The area also includes a small community with the equally frosty label of Frost Bottom.

"We get a lot of frost here in Frost Bottom. We get a lot more here than they do nearby on the mountain," said long-time Frost Bottom resident Albert Lively. "It has something to do with the humidity and the creeks."

The main thing that springs to mind for Lively about Frost Bottom is the natural water that rarely freezes.

"We have this old spring house. It is a natural spring where you can still get water even when it is freezing outside. Years ago it was used for wash water and house water. There are still a lot of old-timers who come back here and have a big personal attachment to this spring," said Lively.

Although the name Frost Bottom is fitting during the winter months, the moniker has nothing to do with the weather or anyone's frozen posterior. The origins of the community and its frosty nickname date back to the late 18th century.

"The Frost family moved here to Tennessee from Virginia," said Lively. "The father, Thomas Frost, bought a few hundred acres of land in the late summer of 1795. They lived near Raccoon Valley, not far from where the Bull Run steam plant is today. They were the first white settlers in what is currently Anderson County."

In the same year of 1795, two sons of Thomas Frost bought an additional 1,000 acres of land. The property chosen by Elijah and Micajah Frost was the flat land nestled between steep ridges. The community is now known as Frost Bottom. It is technically named for Micajah Frost since his name is on the deed.

"Micajah was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and he was a preacher. The whole Frost family was full of church-going people," said Lively.

The Frost clan's faith fueled life in Frost Bottom and beyond. The Reverend Joshua Frost played an integral part in establishing the first associational Baptist churches in Anderson County. All told, Joshua Frost is said to have played a part in the creation of more than 20 churches in East Tennessee. That includes churches in Oliver Springs, Clinton, and Frost Bottom.

Many of those original churches continue to exist today, although some of the church names have changed. Likewise, there are still descendants of the Frost family in Anderson County, but the surname Frost has evaporated from Frost Bottom."

Elijah Frost is the next ancestor in our lineage.