The recent discussion about the departure of Virginians for new homes in the west has omitted the emotional side. Charles F. Bryan, Jr., the Director of the Virginia Historical Society , wrote an article in Beyond Germanna based on an earlier talk in Tennessee, where he had lived. This captures the human drama of moving west. It is a factual story as it is based on the diary of a twenty-year old woman who made the trip. She was Elizabeth McClure, to use her name after she married James McClure in 1846.
Elizabeth has grown up in Carroll County, Virginia, the daughter of a land owner of some means and a public office holder. Though she was one of ten siblings, all had received good educations, especially for that time. She grew up with plenty of schooling, spinning, sewing, and other household chores. Many weekends were taken up with camp meetings and church. The family was close and affectionate.
In the fall of 1844, she met a blue-eyed young man named James McClure, who wanted to attend college. But after a year of courting Elizabeth, James set aside his college plans and married Elizabeth on February 15, 1846. The couple were urged to acquire property in Carroll or a nearby county. No desirable land could be found after constant looking. With no land in Virginia available to them, and with reports that Kentucky and Tennessee were filled up also, James and Elizabeth decided that the newly created state of Texas was for them.
Since the late 1820s, thousands of other people from the Old Dominion had been streaming to the western states. Stephen F. Austin, a Virginian himself, sent back glowing reports of that state. By the end of March in 1846, the McClures announced they would be leaving. It was not an easy decision for Elizabeth. She told her diary that she wanted to go to Texas, "But it seems like it would break my heart to leave all my friends behind." A few days later she recorded, "I am fixing to go to Texas . . . but to leave my DEAR old native land for a new and untried place, to quit my OLD, TRUE friends for new and untried love and friendship, makes my spirits dark and gloomy."
Despite these foreboding thoughts, the couple prepared for the journey. As they approached the day of departure, April 9, James and Elizabeth began to say their goodbyes. On April 8, "Many of our friends came by to see us start, and oh, how solemn was the scene. How hard it was to part, next to death, but we tore away."
The next day they took their loaded covered wagon and traveled to Elizabeth's parents' home where they spent the night. James went into the town to collect some money. Elizabeth's mother and sisters sat around and sewed quietly. Her brother read a book aloud and her father nervously fumbled through some papers. The next morning everyone got up before dawn and ate breakfast. After hugs, kisses, and goodbyes were exchanged amidst tears, Elizabeth and James started their 1200 mile trip to Texas. Elizabeth recorded, "It seemed like breaking my heart to leave my poor mother and father and grandmother, who had been always so kind, and loved me so well. I fear it is a sin to break off so abruptly — if so, may the Lord pardon us."
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.