About this episode

This episode covers the little-known story of Claypool's Rebellion, an armed uprising by Appalachian settlers against the Virginia government in 1781.

In 1781, as the American Revolution raged, Appalachian settlers in what’s now West Virginia rose in armed rebellion against the Virginia government. Angry over crushing taxes, forced military service, and wartime demands, John Claypool led an Appalachian backcountry revolt that sparked panic across the Shenandoah Valley. This is the little-known story of Claypool’s Rebellion, another one of the Stories of Appalachia.

People in this episode

Hosts: Steve Gilly, Rod Mullins

Topics covered

• Appalachian history
• rebellion
• taxation
• military service
• Virginia government
• Claypool's Rebellion

Keywords

• Claypool's Rebellion
• Appalachia
• American Revolution
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• taxes
• military service

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Virginia, West Virginia

More episodes of Stories of Appalachia

• 47 Years a Hermit: The Strange Afterlife of William Hewitt · July 17, 2026 · 16 min
• The Untamable Monster Well of 1894: Big Moses · July 10, 2026 · 15 min
• The Devil in the Mountains- The Story of Vincent "Clawhammer" Witcher · July 3, 2026 · 32 min
• A Witness to History: The Frontier Life of Captain William Asher · June 26, 2026 · 14 min

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