In July 2015, my husband and I were fortunate to enjoy three weeks in the United States. At the time, I had not fully 'pinned down' with confidence exactly who my biological father is. This became clearer subsequent to the trip. I know a lot more now than I did then. Today, while looking through photographs taken during that trip, I was prompted by the photos to consider how some of them link to my family history. This post arises from that and consists of snippets of family history-related information prompted by just a handful of the photos I took on that trip.
Marshall County, Tennessee
My Great Grandfather, George C. Chesser, was born in Lincoln County, Tennessee in 1825. However, by 1850, the US Federal State Census shows that George, at the age of 25 was a farmer living at Dwelling Number 711, District 4, Marshall County. He was living with his first wife, Mary Jane (born Nichols) then aged 19 and their daughter, Nancy Jane[2]. I descend from George’s second wife, Sarah Dellow Ray (see below). By 1860, George at the age of 35, had moved to Giles County (see below).
George’s parents (my 2nd Great Grandparents) are Samuel Gray Chesser and Nancy. Nancy appears in most people’s trees as Nancy Beschett. I have yet to see any evidence that Beschett was her family name. By 1880, Nancy, was living with her daughter (George’s sister), Nancy E. and son-in-law, John Franklin Wakefield at Dwelling 114 in District 2, Marshall County[3]. Nancy is listed as a widow. In 1870, Samuel and Nancy had been living with their youngest daughter, Louisa in Lincoln County[4]. It is likely, therefore, that Nancy moved to her daughter's in Marshall County when her husband Samuel died, sometime after 1870 and before 1880.
Giles County, Tennessee
In 1860, George and his wife, Mary Jane (born Nichols), were living at Dwelling 881 in the Northern Subdivision of Giles County (post office, Lynnville). By this time, they had 4 more children: Martha aged 9, William, aged 7, John aged 5 and Frances aged 2 in addition to Nancy J. aged 11. George is listed as a Farmer with a personal estate value of $200[6].
George’s 2nd wife Sarah Dellow Ray (my Great Grandmother) appears to have grown up in Giles County. My research suggests that her parents, my 3rd Great Grandparents, are Andrew R. Ray and Jane ‘Jennie’ Catherine (born Wilson). I have written about the research that has led me to this conclusion here.
The 1860 US Federal Census lists Andrew R. Ray and Jane ‘Jennie’ Catherine as living with their children, including Sarah A.D. Ray (who I believe to be Sarah Dellow Ray), at Dwelling 699 in the Southern Subdivision of Giles County (post office Bunkerhill). Andrew is listed as a Farm Labourer, aged 40, with a personal estate value of $226[7]. It is likely that Andrew was born in Giles County. His son Joel’s death certificate gives Giles County as Andrew’s place of birth[8].
Lynnville, Giles County, Tennessee
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| Lynnville Railroad Museum |
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| Lynnville Railroad Museum |
Ezell Martin was born at Lynnville on 3 June 1892[9] and grew up there[10]. He married Daisy in Giles County on 18 March 1916 at the age of 23[11]. In the 1920 US Federal Census, at the age of 27, Ezell is listed as a Foreman in the Railway Industry. He is living with Daisy and their daughter Mary at Main Street, Lynnville[12]. In the 1930 US Federal Census, at the age of 37, he is still with the Railroad and listed as a Pipe fitter, R. R. Shops. He is living with his wife, Daisy, and their three children, Mary, Dorothy and William at Main Street, Lynnville[13].
Union Station, Nashville, Tennessee
By 1940, Ezell and Daisy had moved to Nashville where Ezell continued to work for the Railroad. The 1940 US Federal Census lists Ezell as aged 47 and owning his own home valued at $1,350 at 407 Elgin Street, Nashville. He was living with his wife, Daisy, and two youngest children, Dorothy, aged 17 and William, aged 14, both still at school. His occupation is shown as Pipe Fitter, railroad yard[14]. At this time, Ezell would have been based at Union Station, Nashville which was then a railroad terminal. He retired from the railroad with a pension after many years of service[15].
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| Union Station, Nashville |
Nashville's Union Station was built in 1900 to serve the passengers of the eight railroads that provided passenger service to Nashville, at the time[16]. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, many railroad companies built and owned the stations on their lines. They were named ‘Union Station’ because that is where different lines met up[17].
Union Station, Nashville opened on 27 October 1907 and was completed in April 1908. It would have been a busy place when Ezell was working there.
As rail travel fell out of fashion, the station was abandoned and fell into disrepair[18]. In 1969, the station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its local relevance to the city of Nashville and the state of Tennessee. It remains on that list today[19]. In 1975 the station was condemned and closed. In 1976, along with the adjoining trainshed, which Amtrak continued to use for passenger traffic until 1979[20], Union Station was named as a National Historic Landmark. This status was withdrawn in 2003 due to the fire damage to the trainshed that occurred in 1996. This ultimately led to the demolition of that part of the property. In recent years, Union Station has been restored and converted into a hotel and restaurant; a function it continues to have[21].
Stiversville, Maury County, Tennessee
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| Columbia Highway, near Stiversville |
Daisy’s delayed birth certificate says that she was born in rural Giles County on 25 October 1898[22]. She was very likely born at this house. The 1900[23] and 1910[24] US Federal Census lists the family as living in District 15, Giles County. As far as I can determine, District 15 covered the area where Stiversville is and this conclusion is reinforced by the reference in the 1910 Census to their street being Columbia Pike[25].
Keeping the Flies at Away
Notice the plastic bag pinned to the door. It is there to keep the flies away. Up close it looks like a plastic sandwich bag with water and coins in it but I believe the method includes the addition of lime juice and salt as well.
I wonder if my ancestors used this ‘home remedy’ for keeping flies away?The Battle of Kings Mountain
The Battle of Kings Mountain was a military engagement between Patriot and Loyalist militias during the Southern Campaign of the American Revolutionary War. It took place on 7 October 1780, 9 miles (14 km) south of the present-day town of Kings Mountain, North Carolina in an area that is now rural Cherokee County, South Carolina.
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| Photo of a sign at the location of the Battle of Kings Mountain |
The Patriot militia achieved a decisive victory over the Loyalist militia that day. The Battle is considered to be an important turning point in the Revolutionary War (1775-1783)[26],[27]. The site of the Battle is preserved within the Kings Mountain National Military Park.
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| Battlefield Trail, Kings Mountain National Military Park |
In the South, many people were divided. When the war started, some fought for independence, others for loyalty to England. I have a number of ancestors who were engaged in the Revolutionary War in one way or another, some Loyalists and some Patriots. I have at least one who had an association with Kings Mountain. This was Samuel Gray, my 4th Great Grandfather.
Samuel fought for the patriots on the North Carolina line during the Revolutionary War. At that time, Tennessee had not yet become a state. Most of what is now Tennessee was a part of North Carolina. The area that became Tennessee was quite sparsely populated at the time. Soon after the war, many veterans were awarded land in Tennessee for their military service. At the time of commencing his military service Samuel was living in Wilkes County, North Carolina later moving to Bedford County, Tennessee.
On 6 November 1832, at the age of 81, Samuel appeared in open court before the Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in Bedford County, Tennessee to make declaration, under oath, about his Revolutionary War Service in order to obtain a pension under the 7 June 1832 Act of Congress[28] The entry in the Tennessee Pension Roll states as follows: Samuel Gray. Bedford. Private North Carolina Line. $43.33 Annual Allowance. $86.66. Received May 16 1833 Pension Started Age 82[29]. Much of what I know about Samuel’s service, as detailed below, comes from a transcript of the declaration he made in November 1832 and so has its basis in his personal recollection of events[30]:
In November 1776 or 1778, Samuel volunteered for 6 months with Captain Jesse Walton. He was engaged for some of the time in guarding settlements against the Cherokees and some of the time with Captain Joseph Herndon's Company of Rangers or Spies guarding Settlements of Wilkes and Burke County on the Yadkin (North Carolina).
In 1778 or 1779 Samuel was drafted for 3 months in the Summer. He was attached to Captain Joel Lewis' Company under the command of Major Hartgroves. They marched through Salem to Cross Creek "guarding against Tories who were extremely troublesome this season"[31]
In 1780, Samuel was drafted for 3 months and attached to Captain Richard Allen's Company in Colonel Cleveland's Regiment. The Regiment marched to Kings Mountain. They were joined on route by the Command of Colonel William Campbell.
Samuel's Company fought at Kings Mountain but he, along with some others, were ordered to remain on duty at Camp. After the engagement he was ordered to guard the Loyalist prisoners who they took to Salem or the Morovian town.
After that, Samuel was drafted for 30 days and joined General Griffith Rutherford near Salisbury, at the mouth of Little Rocky River. He remained there on duty to end of his term of service when he was permitted to return to his home in Wilkes County, North Carolina.
Notes
[1] Marshall County via TNGenWeb Project [Website]. Accessed 30 August 2022.
[2] Year: 1850; Census Place: District 4, Marshall, Tennessee; Roll: 890; Page: 147b Image via Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Accessed 1 September 2022.
[3] Year: 1880; Census Place: District 2, Marshall, Tennessee; Roll: 1269; Page: 324B; Enumeration District: 133 Image via Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Accessed 1 September 2022.
[4] Year: 1870; Census Place: District 11, Lincoln, Tennessee; Roll: M593_1544; Page: 329B Image via Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Accessed 1 September 2022.
[5] History of Giles County (The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1886) via TN GenWeb Project [Website]. See also: Giles County Tennessee Encyclopedia [Website]. Accessed 14 April 2022.
[6] Year: 1860; Census Place: Northern Subdivision, Giles, Tennessee; Page: 63 Image via Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Accessed 1 September 2022. Accessed 20 April 2022
[7] Year: 1860; Census Place: Southern Subdivision, Giles, Tennessee; Page: 149 Image via Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Accessed 1 September 2022. Accessed 20 April 2022
[8] Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1958; Roll Number: 68 Transcript via Ancestry.com. Tennessee, U.S., Death Records, 1908-1965 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Accessed 20 April 2022
[9] Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007 Transcript via Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Accessed 20 April 2022
[10] Year: 1900; Census Place: Civil District 14, Giles, Tennessee; Roll: 1572; Page: 14; Enumeration District: 0028; FHL microfilm: 1241572 Image via Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Accessed 20 April 2022; Year: 1910; Census Place: Lynnville, Giles, Tennessee; Roll: T624_1500; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0030; FHL microfilm: 1375513 Image via Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Accessed 20 April 2022
[11] Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002 Image via Ancestry.com. Tennessee, U.S., Marriage Records, 1780-2002 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Accessed 20 April 2022.
[12] Year: 1920; Census Place: Lynnville, Giles, Tennessee; Roll: T625_1740; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 40 Image via Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Accessed 20 April 2022.
[13] Year: 1930; Census Place: Lynnville, Giles, Tennessee; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0023; FHL microfilm: 2341982 Image via Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002. Accessed 20 April 2022.
[14] Year: 1940; Census Place: Davidson, Tennessee; Roll: m-t0627-03884; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 19-22 Image via Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Accessed 20 April 2022.
[15] The National Archives at Atlanta; Morrow, Georgia; Records of the Railroad Retirement Board, 1934 - 1987; Record Group Number: 184 Transcript via Ancestry.com. U.S., Railroad Retirement Pension Index, 1934-1987 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017. Accessed 20 April 2022.
[16] Union Station (Nashville) via Wikipedia [Website]. Accessed 20 April 2022.
[17] Why Do So Many Train Stations Have the Same Name? via Smithsonian Magazine [Website]. Accessed 20 Aprile 2022.
[18] The Union Station Nashville Yards via Historic Hotels of America, National Trust for Historic Preservation {Website] Accessed 20 April 2022.
[19] Union Station (Nashville) via Wikipedia [Website]. Accessed 20 April 2022.
[20] Nashville Union Station via Tennessee Encyclopedia [Website]. Accessed 20 April 2022.
[21] The Union Station Nashville Yards via Historic Hotels of America, National Trust for Historic Preservation {Website] Accessed 20 April 2022.
[22] Tennessee Delayed Birth Records, 1869–1909. Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee State Library and Archives Image via Ancestry.com. Tennessee, U.S., Delayed Birth Records, 1869-1909 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
[23] Year: 1900; Census Place: Civil District 15, Giles, Tennessee; Roll: 1572; Page: 7; Enumeration District: 0030; FHL microfilm: 1241572 Image via Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Accessed 20 April 2022.
[24] Year: 1910; Census Place: Civil District 15, Giles, Tennessee; Roll: T624_1500; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0031; FHL microfilm: 1375513 Image via Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Accessed 20 April 2022.
[25] Giles County, Tennessee, Civil Districts 1836 via TNGenWeb Project [Website]. Accessed 20 April 2022.
[26] Battle of Kings Mountain via Wikipedia [Website]. Accessed 20 April 2022.
[27] Kings Mountain National Military Park via National Park Service [Website]. Accessed 20 April 2022.
[28] Pension application W7574 as per Widows Pension Application File Image via Ancestry.com. U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Accesssed 20 April 2022.[30] This transcript was given to me by a relative. I have not seen the actual declaration under oath.
[31] Samuel’s words from his declaration in the Bedford County Court on 6 November 1832 – See Note 30.
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