Chapter 12 ends with this line: “Falling Water had lost its father. Its voice. Its very soul.”
The main characters in “Crockett’s Coin” are Henderson, Winnie and Kate and their parents’ generation. But when I researched the Bohannan/Bohannon family, following the genealogy, and I discovered that William Bohannon Sr. was Henderson’s grandfather, I was thrilled. This was truly an amazing American pioneer. So I took the time in “Crockett’s Coin” to give him his due – he gets to tell stories like “Booger Swamp,” play the saw, please his young wife even in his 80s (he had at least 18 children!), and it gives him a nice little place in the novel before the main characters take over.
I know some Bohannans/Bohannons are reading “Crockett’s Coin,” and if they make their way to this conversation I hope they will comment about this great man for all the rest of the readers. Readers, you might have questions to post for them. William Bohannon was a Revolutionary War veteran, a true trailblazer, and the patriarch of a huge family tree of Bohannans/Bohannons in the United States.
In the Photo Gallery section of this website, there is this: “Papa Bo” Bohannan – scroll down to William Bohannon information – note the directions to the old farm site along the Falling Water River, and a reference to Henderson (male b. 1804-1810 Henderson (10-16) b. ca 1805 TN)
MORE ABOUT THE BOHANNON FAMILY >>
Read more about the Bohannon Family in the Crockett’s Coin Back Story page. Check out “Henderson’s mother and father.”
Submit your questions and comments below!
— Mike Jordan
12 Comments. Leave new
Crockett’s Coin is a fascinating blend of history and story that brings you in to a family and events in their life. It is enjoyable to read and to become involved in their lives.
I love historical fiction. I found this book entertaining in the development of the fictional characters and was intrigued and fascinated by the development of the actual historical characters and places throughout the book. Very educational and entertaining.
I have been ask to give you some background on our William Bohannon Sr..William was the first son of Henry 1705 and Ann Booten Bohannon. William as born in Virginia 1730/33 and died 1816 in White co. Tennessee, where he, his 2nd wife, daughter Alice, Son-in-Law Thomas Barns are side by side. In the Bohannon Cemetery, which was known as the Games many year ago In front of the old tent grave markers is a head stone that reads “Bohannon- Barnes Pioneers” they were the first settlers to come into the Indian lands. They were send there by Va. along with two other men to buy land from the Indians that was 1751, this was 8 years before Danial Boone in 1759. William was in the Revolutionary War, but as a Minute Man and a Patriot. There is still a suite in Washington for the lose of William’s gun which was lost in the war. William was a family man with 18 children from 2 wives. From these reunions came a very large part of the Bohannon/Bohannan that now lives in the U.S. There was a letter send to one of the Bohannon Genealogist stating that ” William was a man of average height, broad across the chest, hair of dark color, a man of 80 still wanting to sour children.” I believe that he was a man that I would have loved to have met in his time. From some one of the Bohannon/Bohannan there must have left an impression in the 1700 hundreds because in the 1870’s the town of Bohannon was name with a post office that still stands to this day. The type of post that you walk into to get your mail. There were no Bohannon there at that time and out of the 168 people that live in Bohannon Va. there are still no Bohannon names there.There is much more about our William Bohannon 1730 to be told. I am proud to be part of this e Coffee Break and very touch that Mike Jordan asked me to do this for him. Thank you
Hi Darlene,
If memory serves, I think william was reimbursed for his rifle, I think. However, if you are a Goad, you are related to my wife!
I am a descendent of William sr and William Jr., who married a Choctaw girl, the daughter of a local Chief. This daughter married married Christopher Spring, of which I am. I might add that all of the Bohannon’s of fighting age were Revolutionaries, with two of William Jr.’s brother being at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-78. These hero’s were Captain Lieutenant Ambrose Bohannon and Private Joseph Bohannon. William Jr. fought at the battle of Guilford Courthouse after delivery a supply wagon provided by his father William sr., born 1730.
Lots more if others are interested…
I am a Bohannon descendant (Frances Bohannon wife of Washington Hudson). I’d be interested in learning more about William and his Choctaw wife and their descendants. And about William Sr. I’ve never heard about any of this before. My Work ancestors were early settlers (c 1720) in Lancaster County, PA and some of them also were Revolutionaries and Indian Traders in western PA.
Excuse me, the daughter of William Bohannon Jr and the Choctaw girl, Lapahona Botima Jancy was Susan Bohannon, who married Christopher Spring…
Hi Roger, I am also a descendent of William Bohannon through Susan Bohannon and Christopher Spring. Thank you for the information about the extended family’s military history. I would love to know if you have any more information like this!
Hi Shannon! My line after Christopher is levi, then Jesse James Spring, then Jesse James Jr., then me. The reason for the Jesse James name is that the James boys, Jesse and Frank James with gang, used to stay at Levi’s house across the Red River after making raids into Texas. All the Spring’s were staunch confederates due to the Indian removal from Mississippi to Indian Territory, slavery had nothing to do with it. Christopher Spring, a Swiss/German and married to Susan Bohannon 1/2 Choctaw, came to Oklahoma with his wife.
Great info, Roger. Feel free to post more about William Bohannon Sr. (Papa Bo in my novel “Crockett’s Coin).
That is pretty much what I know about William Papa Bo. A bit of interesting info though, our twins are adopted, I discovered their 4th great grandfather, John Hammontree, was also at Valley Forge and wintered in the same cabin as Joseph Bohannon 3x great uncle. I sometimes, in a spiritual way, wonder if they had a hand in our adoption. Close quarters in those days, they had to know each other…..
Another bit of info.. Darlene Goad Bohannon, who knows a lot about the Bohannon history is a relative of my wife if she is a Goad. Hannah Goad is in my wife’s line… Small World. To my ancestors and cousins alike, cheers…???
That is pretty much what I know about William Papa Bo. A bit of interesting info though, our twins are adopted, I discovered their 4th great grandfather, John Hammontree, was also at Valley Forge and wintered in the same cabin as Joseph Bohannon 3x great uncle. I sometimes, in a spiritual way, wonder if they had a hand in our adoption. Close quarters in those days, they had to know each other…..
Another bit of info.. Darlene Goad Bohannon, who knows a lot about the Bohannon history is a relative of my wife if she is a Goad. Hannah Goad is in my wife’s line… Small World. To my ancestors and cousins alike???