The Bobbitt Family In America

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Articles of agreement made this first day of October 1798, between, Greenberry G. McKenzie and Caleb Bobbitt of the County of Grayson, and Thomas Blair of the County of Wythe. Whereby they agree to join in a co-partnership in errecting and carrying on an iron furnace at poplar camp on the land McKenzie and Bobbitt purchased from William Ross. The said Thomas Blair is to have the management of errecting the  furnance McKenzie, Bobbitt and Blair to have equal parts  of the expenses and profits there is to be good castings and hollow ware for merchandising .... if the said furnace shall answer a tolerable good purpose..otherwise this agreement is to be void.

                                             G. G. McKenzie 

Attest: John Hill                            Caleb Bobbitt 

John Farse, David Ballard.                   Thomas Blair

There is no record as to what success the furnace had, but the men involved remained good friends throughout the business investment. Greenberry George McKenzie and his wife Rebecca went to Pulaski County Kentucky along with Caleb Bobbitt and his family. Thomas Blair was the father of Nancy Blair the wife of Caleb Bobbitt. Caleb named his first son after Thomas Blair and another of his sons has the complete name of Greenberry George McKenzie.

In August of 1814, Caleb Bobbitt and his son Thomas Bobbitt joined the state militia to serve in the war of 1812. Caleb Bobbitt served as sergeant from August of 1814 till March of 1815. Caleb, his son Thomas, his brother Lacy, his brother Robert, and several of his relatives marched from Grayson County Virginia to Norfolk Virginia where they were stationed for the duration of their service. Lacy Bobbitt died in this war, in Norfolk Virginia.

After the war, Caleb returned to Grayson County where he farmed until the year of 1827. In that year Caleb and Nancy and their family, with the exception of Greenberry George McKenzie Bobbitt, their son, moved from Grayson County Virginia to Pulaski County Kentucky.

There were indications that Caleb was not well in the year of 1827 and he was not in good health the year of 1829 when he wrote to his son Greenberry Bobbitt from Pulaski County. In 1830 Caleb died in Pulaski County Kentucky and is buried in the Bobbitt cemetery with a marker that can be seen and easily read today. Shortly after the death of Caleb, Nancy Bobbitt their daughter died, and she was buried beside her father in Pulaski County Kentucky.