As the boundary line between Virginia and North Carolina had not been run to this point, Robertson believed that the site he had chosen lay within Virginia and was in the disposal of General Clark.

To protect the settlers, therefore, he journeyed into the Illinois country to purchase cabin rights from Clark, but there he was evidently convinced that the site on the Cumberland would be found to lie within North Carolina.

He returned to Watauga to lead a party of settlers into the new territory, towards which they set out in October.

After crossing the mountain chain through Cumberland Gap, the party followed Boone's road--the Warriors' Path--for some distance and then made their own trail southwestward through the wilderness to the bluffs on the Cumberland, where they built cabins to house them against one of the coldest winters ever experienced in that county.

So were laid the first foundations of the present city of Nashville, at first named Nashborough by Robertson.