Of course the use of this term does not imply any sharp social distinctions in backwoods life, for there were none such.
The poorest and richest met on terms of perfect equality, slept in one another's houses, and dined at one another's tables.

But certain families, by dint of their thrift, the ability they showed in civil affairs, or the prowess of some of their members in time of war, had risen to acknowledged headship.
The part of Washington County northwest of the Holston was cut off and made into the county of Sullivan by the North Carolina Legislature in 1779.

In this part the Shelbys were the leading family; and Isaac Shelby was made county lieutenant.

It had been the debatable ground between Virginia and North Carolina, the inhabitants not knowing to which province they belonged, and sometimes serving the two governments alternately.

When the line was finally drawn, old Evan Shelby's estate was found to lie on both sides of it; and as he derived his title from Virginia, he continued to consider himself a Virginian, and held office as such.