Greenbrier Company

From West Virginia (WV) Cyclopedia

In 1745, the Virginia council made two grants of 100,000 acres each, to James Patton and John Robinson. In 1751, Robinson formed the Greenbrier Company to market this land. Thus, on October 29, 1751, the Greenbrier Company was authorized claim to 100,000 acres of land along the Greenbrier River.

In 1751, surveys were made for the company by John Lewis, and his son, Andrew. During this journey, the Lewis expedition found Stephen Sewell and Jacob Martin living at the present-day site of Marlinton, WV. Marlin was living in a cabin, and Sewell living in a hollow sycamore tree.

The French and Indian War stopped the Greenbrier Company's efforts, but by that time the company had surveryed one-half of their original grant.