tomotley first appears in the european colonial historical record in 1756 under the governorship of attakullakulla. that same year, a small english force under captain raymond demeré arrived in the area to build and garrison fort loudoun. the garrison was greeted at tomotley by conocotocko (old hop), who told demeré, "i am now old and lie upon a bad bearskin. my life is not more than an inch long." william de brahm, who designed the fort, resided at tomotley while the fort was being constructed in late 1756.