IT IS BELIEVED THAT SAMUEL CAME TO THE VALLEY OF VIRGINIA IN 1730'S POSSIBLY WITH JOST HITE FROM PENNSYLVANIA. SETTLING IN THE NEW RIVER AREA OF AUGUSTA CO VIRGINIA.
1745 SAMUEL PURCHASED 100 ACRES OPPOSITE "YE OLDE BUFFALO POUND" FOR 3 POUND AND PAYING RIGHTS AND FEES ETC. Woods Ferry entry book. early adventures of western waters vol 2 pg 236.
IN 1748 THOMAS WALKER WHILE ON AN EXPEDITION INTO TENNESSE FOR THE VIRGINIA COMPANY CAME ACROSS SAMUEL BUILDING A CABIN ON THE HOLSTON RIVER IN VIRGINIA. WALKER HAD COME TO ASK IF SAMUEL COULD GUIDE THEM THRU THE MOUNTAINS. THEY STAYED TO HELP HIM RAISE THE CABIN AND LEFT WITHOUT SAMUEL. HE HAD GIVEN THEN THE DIRECTIONS THRU A PASS NOW KNOWN AS THE CUMBERLAND PASS.
SAMUEL AND HIS SONS JACOB GEORGE AND ADAM WERE ORDERED TO BUILD ROADS FOR THE COUNTY THRUOUT THE 1750'S.
NOV 21, 1752, SAMUEL QUALIFIED AS A CAPTAIN IN THE LIGHTFOOT MILITIA BY JAMES LOCKHART. DURING THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR, SAMUEL WAS CALLED TO LEAD THE EXPEDITION FOR CAPT LEWIS. 3 COMPANY OF MEN WERE RAISED FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE FRONTIER UNDER THE DIRECTION OF CAPT PETER HOAG. AFTER AND INDIAN ATTACK IN 1753. SAMUEL AND ADAM MOVED FURTHER WEST ON THE RIVERS OF THE HOLSTON
IN 1753 SAMUEL PETITIONED KING GEORGE TO ESTABLISH AN ORDINARY (INN) FOR THE TRAVELERS VENTURING HIS WAY.1752 Stalnaker, Samuel Holston River, Augusta Co.,VA 7 Nov 1752 granted ordinary license, Alexander Sayers posted 10,000 pound tobacco bond ": Know all men by these presents that we Saml. Stalnaker and Alexander Sayers are held and firmly bound to our sovereign Lord, George the Second, in the sum of ten thousand pounds of tobacco to the which payment well and truly to be made we. bind ourselves and every. of us and every of our heirs, executors, administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents sealed with our seals and dated this 7th day of Nov. 1752. The condition of this obligation is such that whereas the above bound Saml. Stalnaker hath ordained a license to keep an ordinary in this county; if therefore the said Stalnaker doth constantly find and provide in his ordinary. good, wholesome and cleanly lodgings and diet for travelers and fodder and provender, or pasturage and provender as the season shall require for horses, for and during the term of one year from this seven day of Nov. and shall not suffer or permit any unlawful gaming in his house on the Sabbath day or suffer or permit any to tipple or drink more than is necessary, then this obligation to be void and of none effect or else to remain in full force and virtue."
HE WAS THE FARTHEST WHITE PERSON LIVING IN THE WEST AT THE TIME. HE TRADED WITH THE CHEROKEE INDIANS AND OUTACITE CHEROKEE CHIEF.
IN JUNE 18TH 1755, SAMUEL WAS CAPTURED BY THE SHAWNEE INDIANS AND TAKEN INTO THE OHIO VILLAGES. HE WAS A PRIZED CAPTIVE FOR THEM BECAUSE OF HIS TRADING WITH THE CHEROKEE INDIANS, WHO WERE THEIR ENEMY. SAMUEL WAS RUN THRU THE GAUNTLET AND SURVIVED. HE WAS ADOPTED INTO THE TRIBE AS A BLOOD BROTHER.
OUTACITE WITH 140 CHEROKEEWENT ALONG WITH CAPT WILLIAM PRESTON TO RETRIEVE SAMUEL AND THE PEOPLE CAPTURED BY THE INDIANS FEBRURARY 1756. THE EXPEDITION WAS DOOMED BECAUSE OF LACK OF SUPPLIES, THE INDIANS FAIRED BETTER BECAUSE THEY KILLED AND ATE THEIR HORSES TO SURVUVE. BY THE TIME THEY REACHED THE BIG SANDY, SAMUEL HAD ORCHESTRATED HIS ESCAPE.
HE WAS FORCED TO WORK THE SALT FIELDS AND WAS WITNESS TO THE FRENCH AND WABASH INDIANS COMING TO THE VILLAGE TO STIR UP THE SHAWNEES TO GO AGAINST THE PEOPLE LIVING ALONG THE VIRGINIA FRONTIER. SAMUEL MADE HIS ESCAPE AND RETURNED BACK TO THE HOLSTON TO WARN THE SETTLERS. 25 JUN 1756 FORT VAUSE WAS ATACKED BY INDIANS WHO WERE FOR-RUNNERS LOOKING FOR SAMUEL AND THAT A LARGE FORCE WAS ON IT WAY UNDER THE DIRECTION OF CAPT. BABBEE OF FRANCE.
ONCE THE AREA WAS SECURE HE TRAVELED TO GOVERNOR DINWIDDIE TO REPORT WHAT HE SAW. SAMUEL WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING FORTS BUILT ALONG THE FRONTIER.1752 1768
Stalnaker,
SAMUEL STALNAKER 
