The Sheets Family

 

 

The Gunsmith and the Stockade: A 250-Year Search for Identity in the Allegheny Highlands

There is a persistent, quiet curiosity that draws us to the landscapes we inhabit—a need to understand the hands that first cleared the "primitive, densely unbroken forests" to build a life. In Pocahontas County, West Virginia, this curiosity is not merely academic; it is tangible. We look at the rolling ridges of the Allegheny Mountains and see what local historian William T. Price famously called a "wilderness paradise" fashioned by a divine hand. For the Sheets family, this landscape has served as both a home and a historical repository for over two centuries. Their story provides a profound lens through which we can view the evolution of the American frontier, transforming the raw data of census records into a living narrative of resilience and community.

The "FAN Club": The Original Social Network of the Frontier

Long before digital connectivity, the settlement of the American backcountry relied on the "FAN club"—an essential network of friends, associates, and neighbors. For the Sheets family, migration was not a solitary leap into the unknown but a strategic, "multi-generational drift" guided by the Virginia land laws of the 1730s. These laws incentivized westward movement by offering substantial land grants to those who could bring families into the southern backcountry from outside the colony.

The Sheets lineage, likely of Germanic or Scotch-Irish descent, utilized the Shenandoah Nexus to move from Shenandoah County into the Allegheny Highlands. John Sheets and his wife, Jane Tomblinson (sometimes recorded in the vernacular as "Jane Jane"), were the progenitors of the Pocahontas branch, yet they never truly severed ties with their original hearth. Correspondence from the mid-to-late 19th century shows family members writing from Solomon Church and Mount Clifton in Shenandoah County to their kin in the west. This "rippling out" effect allowed the family to expand into the Upper Greenbrier Valley while maintaining the social and economic safety net of their previous homes—a necessity for survival in the unpredictable backcountry.

"The territory of Pocahontas County extends from the Ohio Valley to the Blue Ridge, encompassing some of the most remarkable terrain in the habitable world... a 'wilderness paradise' fashioned by a divine hand." — William T. Price

The Gunsmith’s Dilemma: Tech Support in the 1860s

While many pioneers focused strictly on the agrarian demands of the soil, the Sheets family provided "essential frontier infrastructure" through specialized industrial skill. Jacob Sheets, the son of John and Jane, emerged as a technologically pivotal figure during the Civil War mobilization of 1861. As a master gunsmith, his expertise became a critical military asset in a county facing a sudden, desperate pivot toward conflict.

When local militia and Confederate units faced a shortage of modern weaponry, the burden of "tech support" fell on Jacob. He was commissioned to convert outdated flintlock rifles—many of which were salvaged from the county courthouse—into the more reliable percussion cap system. This was a labor-intensive, visceral craft; it required replacing spark-based flint ignitions with a copper cap system, a task demanding high-level precision. Jacob’s shop, positioned near Confederate camps to ensure proximity to his production, quickly saw "more business than he could handle." In a society that was primarily agrarian, Jacob’s ability to bridge the gap between primitive tools and the requirements of modern warfare made his craft an indispensable part of the county's survival.

Speculative History and the "Lost Tribes"

The early settlers and chroniclers of Pocahontas County did not view the land as a blank slate. Instead, they were struck by a "profound sense of wonder and historical gravity" regarding the indigenous mounds scattered across the landscape. Lacking modern archaeological science, early 20th-century historians like William T. Price engaged in evocative, speculative theories to explain these ancient features.

Price and his contemporaries famously speculated on Hebrew origins, suggesting that the "Lost Tribes of Israel" might have been the ancestors of the region’s original inhabitants based on perceived linguistic and traditional similarities. While these theories tell us little about the actual indigenous history, they reveal a great deal about the settler mindset. The land felt too significant, too ancient, to be merely "new." They sought a grand origin story to match the scale of the mountains they now called home.

The Fortress in the Backyard: Archaeology as a Family Legacy

The history of the Sheets family is literally buried in the soil they have farmed for generations. This connection to the land was epitomized by the "stewardship of the female line" and the legacy of the Kerr family. Asbury Sheets (Jacob Asbury Sheets) eventually occupied the original Thomas Kerr home place, representing a direct continuation of land stewardship that prioritized the preservation of the homestead over individual mobility.

In 2004, Bob Sheets, a retired educator and descendant of the pioneer William Warwick, brought this history to the surface. Using a metal detector on the family farm, he rediscovered the foundations of Fort Warwick—a 140-by-100-foot frontier stockade built in June 1774 by the Augusta County Militia. The search yielded a wealth of colonial artifacts, including buttons, buckles, and a unique glass fob featuring the profile of King George III.

"The location of the fort was a matter of local lore until Bob Sheets began a systematic search... uncovering a wealth of colonial artifacts and the fort's foundations."

This discovery transformed the family farm from a private agricultural space into a site of national historical significance, proving that the past often lies just inches beneath the surface of the present.

From Timber and Gunpowder to Maple Syrup and Agritourism

The economic trajectory of the Sheets family mirrors the broader shifts of the Appalachian experience. The early pioneers were task-oriented survivors who cleared "primitive, densely unbroken forests" of white pine and sugar maple. Over time, the family moved from this labor-intensive land clearing and industrial employment—including work at the Howes Leather Company—to a more sophisticated engagement with their heritage.

Today, history has become a sustainable resource. Bob’s sons, Jake and Jed Sheets, constructed the Fort Warwick Museum, a rustic facility that houses recovered artifacts and narrates the family's deep ties to the Greenbrier Valley. Simultaneously, the family continues the Appalachian tradition of making "Fort Warwick Maple Syrup." By blending agritourism with historical preservation, they have ensured that their family’s legacy is not just remembered, but is economically and culturally viable for the 21st century.

The Living, Breathing Legacy

The Sheets family remains committed to the mandate of "keeping the memories alive," a goal personified by the late Charles Asbury Sheets. As a pillar of the community and a leader in local civic and religious organizations, Charles embodied the family’s transition from frontier survivors to modern stewards. Their legacy is found in the restored foundations of Fort Warwick, the headstones of the Arbovale Cemetery, and the ongoing stewardship of the Upper Greenbrier Valley.

As they bridge the gap between the 18th-century frontier and the modern world, the Sheets family reminds us that history is rarely a distant, static thing. It is an "unwritten oral history" waiting to be recorded and preserved.

What history might be hidden under your own feet? What legacy is waiting to be rediscovered in the soil of your own backyard?

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The Sheets Family of Pocahontas County: A Historical and Genealogical Briefing

Executive Summary

The Sheets family represents a foundational lineage in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, illustrating the broader American frontier experience from the late 18th century through the modern era. Originating from the Shenandoah Valley, the family established itself as a cornerstone of the Green Bank and Arbovale districts. Their history is characterized by a transition from pioneer agriculture and skilled trade—most notably the gunsmithing contributions of Jacob Sheets during the Civil War—to modern historical stewardship. Today, the family’s legacy is preserved through the archaeological recovery of Fort Warwick and the management of regional landmarks, bridging the gap between ancestral heritage and contemporary agritourism.

Geographical and Environmental Context

The Sheets family settled in the Upper Greenbrier Valley, a region defined by the rugged topography of the Allegheny Mountains. Historical accounts by William T. Price describe the area as a "wilderness paradise" featuring noble forests and diverse wildlife.

• Geological Foundation: The region’s landscape evolved from ancient seas to land during the Carboniferous age, which deposited significant coal beds. The soil, composed of disintegrated sands and clays from frost and torrents, provided the necessary base for pioneer agriculture.
• Aboriginal History: Long before European settlement, the land was occupied by indigenous tribes and an earlier class of occupants evidenced by mounds. Early 20th-century chroniclers speculated on these origins, reflecting the historical gravity with which the land was viewed.

Migration and Lineage Foundations

The Sheets migration followed the Great Wagon Road and the Shenandoah Valley corridor, incentivized by Virginia laws offering land grants to those moving into the southern backcountry.

The Shenandoah Nexus

The family likely possesses Germanic or Scotch-Irish roots. Even after establishing themselves in the Allegheny Highlands, the Pocahontas branch maintained strong ties to Shenandoah County. Correspondence from the late 19th century confirms ongoing contact with relatives in locations like Solomon Church and Mount Clifton.

The Household of John Sheets and Jane Tomblinson

By 1850, the family of John Sheets and Jane Tomblinson was firmly established in Pocahontas County. This household served as the central hub for a generation that would influence the county through the Civil War era.

Family Member	Role	Birth Year (Est.)	Notable Details
John Sheets	Head	1805	Pioneer patriarch of the Pocahontas branch.
Jane Tomblinson	Wife	1810	Matriarch; mother of eleven documented children.
Jacob Sheets	Son	1830	Master gunsmith; vital to Civil War efforts.
Henry E. Sheets	Son	1837	Ancestor of the Green Bank line; married Nancy Ann Kerr.
William R. Sheets	Son	1844	Veteran of the period; married Louisa Bumgardner.
George M. Sheets	Son	1849	Married Catharine Ratliff and Phoebe Adkison.

Technological and Military Contributions

The Sheets family provided essential infrastructure and technology to the region, particularly during times of conflict.

• Civil War Mobilization: Jacob Sheets, a master gunsmith, became a pivotal figure in 1861. Faced with a shortage of modern weaponry, the local militia and Confederate units commissioned Jacob to convert old flintlock rifles into more reliable percussion cap systems.
• Industrial Impact: Jacob’s shop, located near Confederate camps, was a focal point of the regional war effort. The conversion process was highly specialized and labor-intensive; historical reports indicate Jacob had "more business than he could handle," highlighting the scarcity of such industrial capacity in an agrarian society.
• Militia Service: Records from 1853 show family members, including another Jacob Sheets, serving in the Virginia Militia.

The Mid-19th Century Diaspora

While many remained in West Virginia, a significant portion of the family migrated to the Midwest, creating a "rippling out" effect of the Sheets lineage.

• Regional Expansion: Family correspondence between 1864 and 1897 details life in Edgar County, Illinois, and Vigo County, Indiana.
• Domestic Realities: Letters from Edith C. Sheets (based in Vermillion Station, Illinois) and her husband Jacob reveal the challenges of managing households and farming in new territories while maintaining links to the "old country" of Virginia.

Modern Stewardship: Fort Warwick and Archaeological Legacy

In the 21st century, the Sheets family has become synonymous with the preservation of frontier history, specifically through the stewardship of Fort Warwick.

Discovery and Excavation

Bob Sheets, a retired educator and descendant of William Warwick (who settled the land by 1774), used a metal detector in 2004 to locate the foundations of Fort Warwick on his family farm. This frontier stockade was built in 1774 by the Augusta County Militia as a refuge during the Revolutionary War era.

Feature	Historical/Archaeological Detail
Construction Date	June 1774
Dimensions	140 feet by 100 feet
Notable Artifacts	18th-century buttons, buckles, and a King George III glass fob.
Educational Impact	Over 1,200 students have participated in onsite excavations.

The Fort Warwick Museum

Opened in 2022 by Bob Sheets and his sons, Jake and Jed, the museum houses colonial artifacts and narrates the family's deep ties to the land. It also highlights the family's tradition of making maple syrup, an Appalachian craft they have integrated into their agritourism efforts.

Social, Religious, and Economic Evolution

The Sheets family's trajectory reflects the broader economic and social shifts of the Appalachian region.

• Religious Affiliation: The family has long been associated with the Methodist movement. The Green Bank United Methodist Church (est. 1854) served as a spiritual and social hub. During the Civil War, the congregation notably leaned toward the Southern cause.
• Economic Transition: The family originally cleared "primitive, densely unbroken forests" to establish homesteads. Over time, the economy shifted from timber and traditional farming to agritourism and historical education. The production of "Fort Warwick Maple Syrup" represents a modern engagement with the land.
• Civic Leadership: Family members have consistently served in leadership roles, including the Pocahontas County Landmarks Commission and the Arbovale Cemetery Association.

Genealogical Preservation in Arbovale Cemetery

The Arbovale Cemetery serves as a critical repository of family memory, with burial records documenting the family’s participation in national events:

• Lewis Wayne Sheets (1938–2022): A veteran of the Air Force and Army with over ten years of service.
• Charles Asbury Sheets (1942–2024): A civic leader known for his efforts to "keep the memories alive" for the community.
• Winfred Sheets (1915–1994): A lifelong resident whose life spanned the transformation of the Green Bank community.

Conclusion

The history of the Sheets family is a testament to the endurance of the pioneer spirit in Pocahontas County. From the industrial contributions of 19th-century gunsmithing to the 21st-century archaeological preservation of Fort Warwick, the family has maintained a continuous role as stewards of the Upper Greenbrier Valley’s heritage. Their story remains an integral part of the social and historical fabric of West Virginia.