The Earnest Fort house

Another one off the beaten path. Welcome back to the banks of the Nolichucky river. The Earnest Fort house. Built by Henry Ernest (Heinrich Ernst) in 1782 in what was then “Indian Territory” North Carolina, now extreme NE Tenn. Earnest served with the Virginia Militia in the French & Indian War & was loyal to the patriot cause during the American revolution. The 1st story of this home is built with thick limestone slabs & mortar. The 2nd & 3rd stories are built of notched logs & mortar complete with a 3 story limestone chimney. There is not a window in either end of this home. One of the first toll bridges across this river was located here. This home is just downstream from the David Crockett birthplace. The Earnest family were large farmland holders & were also slave holders which are unusual for this part of Tenn. Not far from this site East Tennessee’s own CS General “Mudwall” Jackson captured several Ohio troops in a skirmish over the E TN & VA RR. Jackson’s troops would have moved thru this area before & after this engagement. This home has always been in private hands.