CLINE FAMILY ASSOCIATION

 Nicholas Cline Family

 of Wythe County, Virginia

Many researchers have claimed a connection between Nicholas Cline of Wythe County, Virginia and Peter Cline of the Tug River region of VA/WV/KY.  This theory was espoused by Dr. Marlin G. Cline (descendant of Peter Cline through William "Alum Billy" Cline) and Toney Cline, Esq. (descended through Peter "Heck" Cline, Jr.).  Marlin Cline wrote three books in the 1980's/early 1990's that presented Peter Cline and Michael Cline as sons of Nicholas Cline.

However, y-chromosome DNA tests conducted in August and September, 2008 between two descendants of Peter Cline confirm beyond any doubt that Peter Cline of Tug and Nicholas Cline of Wythe are not related in any way.  See "Cline DNA" above.

Background on Nicholas Cline: 

Nicholas Cline was born abt. 1740-1745.  Most researchers state that he was born in Germany.  He settled in modern day Wythe County, Virginia about the year 1771, according to the Virginia Supreme Court case of Cline's Heirs v. Catron (1873), Supreme Court of Appeals, June Term, Wytheville, VA (now the "Supreme Court of Virginia").

As per the Virginia Supreme Court:

“Nicholas Cline seems to have been one of those hardy adventurers who settled this country when it was a wilderness frontier, before whose advances the roving occupation of hostile savages receded, and gave place to the introduction of Christian civilization.  He settled upon the lands for which he afterwards obtained patents as aforesaid, at least as early as 1771, and lived upon them, cultivating and improving them until his death.  They then descended to his heirs, who, or some of whom, have held them in possession ever since.”

This case was filed in 1861 by John Catron against Jacob Cline and other heirs of Nicholas Cline.  The court record describes Nicholas as obtaining at least two grants of lant consisting of approximately 400 acres:

"Patent and certificate to Nicholas Cline.  The patent bore date of 28th of March, 1799 and recites that, by virtue of a certificate in right of settlement given by the commissionersfor adjusting claims for unpatented lands &c, there was granted the said Cline a tract of land containing four hundred acres by survey bearing date of 13th of April, 1783.  The certificate of the commissioners bears date of the 6th day of September, 1786 and states that the assignee &c, was entitled to the same by real settlement made in 1771."

The case further states, "the defendants also introduced into evidence another patent to Nicholas Cline for four hundred and fourteen acres of land which bore a date the 26th of Februrary 1828.  This patent was founded on a survey made on the 8th of December, 1774, and the land was described as to be an order of council granted to the Loyal Company to take up and survey eight hundred thousand acres which order of council was established and confirmed by a decree of the Court of Appeals made the 2nd of May, 1783."

The case further states that these two surveys constitute essentially the same land.

Revolutionary War Veteran

According to the Annals of Southwest Virginia, 1777-1800, Nicholas Cline served as an Ensign in Captain Stephen's Company of Militia during the Revolutionary War.  From the Montgomery County, VA records, it appears that Nicholas received his commission in the year 1778.

Nicholas Cline and Peter Cline of Tug 

Nicholas' military record and the Supreme Court case establishing Nicholas' settlement in Montgomery County (later Wythe) in 1771 provide additional evidence above and beyond the conclusive DNA evidence that Nicholas Cline and Peter Cline of Tug River are not related, as they did not appear in southwest Virginia at the same time.  While Nicholas was in living in Virginia and serving in the Virginia Militia, Peter Cline resided in Berks County, PA and was serving in the 12th Pennsylvania Regiment, Continental Army, during the Revolutionary War.  Moreover, according to Peter Cline's pension application, he was born around 1756.  If Peter was Nicholas' son, Peter either accompanied his father to Virginia in 1771 and then returned to Pennsylvania and then back to Virginia after the Revolution or Nicholas left Peter in Pennsylvania when Peter was just 15 years old.  Neither scenerio is likely. 

Finally, there is no question that Nicholas had a son Peter and a son Michael and these two men are not the same Peter and Michael Cline that lived in the Tug River region.  This is proven through census, land, marriage and tax records. 

Marriage/Children

According to Nicholas Cline researchers, Nicholas married Mary Creager.  They had at least nine children - six sons and three daughters: George, Jacob, Peter, Nicholas Jr., John, Michael, Mary, Margaret and Elizabeth.  According to the Wythe County Grantor/Grantee Index, in 1822, Nicholas and wife Mary Cline deeded 400 acres of land to six of their sons: George, Jacob, Peter, Nicholas Jr., John and Michael.