About two miles north of this spot stood Fort Dobbs, erected in 1755 by Captain Hugh Waddell and named for Arthur Dobbs, royal governor of North Carolina. The fort was 53 feet long, 40 feet wide, and 24½ feet high, containing three floors from which 100 muskets might be discharged at one time. Rachel Davidson was born there in 1758 and Margaret Locke in 1776, and their descendants became prominent citizens of this county. As an important outpost of white civilization, the fort gave pioneer settlers refuge from Cherokee raids during the French and Indian War. On February 27, 1760, a night attack by about 70 Cherokees was repulsed by Waddell's garrison of about 10 men, ending Indian raids on the fort.