IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN

I being weak in body but sound in judgement and memory and calling to mind that it is appointed for all men once to die I therefore recommend by Soul to God that gave it hoping to receive the same again at the resurrection and my body to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executors herein after mentioned. And now as to my worldly substance I do divide as followeth I do thereby give and bequeath unto Arsbold SLOAN three pounds my Brother John SLOAN eldest son and to my Brother James SLOAN ten pounds to be paid three years after my decease I do give and bequeath unto my Brother Arsbold SLOAN thirty pounds to be paid two years after my decease and I do hereby give and bequeath unto Arsbold SLOAN all my Plantation that I now live and adjoining to Swatara Creek and John Winter and Samuel His that is to say Arsbold SLOAN the only son of my sister Elizabeth SLOAN with all my right and title unto the aforesaid Plantation unto the said Arsbold SLOAN and unto his Hirs and assigns for evere, and he the said Arsbold SLOAN is to pay the sums before mentioned and the sums after mentioned and I do hereby give and bequeath unto my Sister Mary SLOAN three pounds but if she dies before her Husband James Mitchels Arsbald is not to pay said three pounds, and I do hereby give and bequeath unto my nice Elizabeth SLOAN my Brother William SLOANs Daughter Eight Pounds to be paid two years after my decease and I do hereby allow that all my personal estate be sold by my Executors to pay my debts and what remains to pay part of the Legacys before mentioned and I do hereby appoint and allow the Arsbold SLOAN and David Allen and John Campbell to be the Executors of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby Disanul all wills that might be maid by me formarly in witness I have set my hand and Seal this 22nd Day of August 1771.

Signed Sealed and Delived in the Presence of us

William Young
Adam Shally
Samuel SLOAN, X his mark

Will Proven 7 Nov 1771

Archibald SLOAN, Sr., dated 28 July 1786, proved 1788

Wife Marget to have all property in North Carolina, Son-in-law Joseph SHARPE to have my equity in the estate of my father, the late Archibald SLOAN, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and legacies from the estate of my late brother, Samuel SLOAN, of the same place Executor: son-in-law Joseph SHARPE.

Witnesses: Daniel MCEWEN, William Clements and William Robson.

James SLOAN, of Hanover Township, Lancaster (now Dauphin) County; wife Mary, daughter Mary, sons William and James were designated as executors. Son-in-law Peter HASTINGS. Probated 27 December 1775. Witnesses; John Smiley and William Murlin.

Alex SLOAN and John Smiley conducted the inventory of James SLOAN's estate.

Archibald SLOAN, Sr., dated 28 July 1786, proved 1788

Wife Marget to have all property in North Carolina, Son-in-law Joseph SHARPE to have my equity in the estate of my father, the late Archibald SLOAN, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and legacies from the estate of my late brother, Samuel SLOAN, of the same place Executor: son-in-law Joseph SHARPE.

Witnesses: Daniel MCEWEN, William Clements and William Robson.

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN.

I John SLOAN of the County of Rowan of State of North Carolina being in Health of Body and of perfect mind and memory, Thanks be given unto God, calling unto mind the Mortality of my body, & knowing that it is appointed for men once to die, Do make and Ordain this my last Will & Testament. That is to say, principally and first of all, I give and recommend my Soul into the hand of Almighty God that giveth, and recommend my body I recommend to the Earth, to be buried in a decent Christian Burial at the Discretion of my Executors, nothing doubting but at the general Resurrection I shall have the same again, by the mighty power of God. And as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it has please god to bless me in this Life, I give devise and dispose of the same in the following Manner & Form. First, I will that all my lawful debts be carefully discharged. Second, I give and bequeath to Mary my dearly beloved wife, one bay mare called Phenia, and Sorrel Mare, three milk cows, one heifer & two stears, taking her choice, all the sheep and Hogs together with all my household goods, and Plantation utensils, & ther thirds of the plantation while she lives unmarried. allowing her to keep the children and school them, having them taught to read, right & Cypher xxxxxx, but if she marries, I will the children to be put to trades, such as they may choose, under good guardians Masters & Mistresses, the boys to serve until eightteen & no longer, and the girls until fifteen years of age & no longer and her right to the plantation then to be void and none Effect. And only one third of --- sheep, hogs, Household goods and Plantation utensils to be her property, with her saddle and bridle, the other two thirds to be equally divided amongst the children I also wish her to a sixth part of my books, ------- to be her property forever. I give to my well beloved son Archibald, my lot of Books in the Grammer School, & the sixth part of my other books, together with the choice of the spring colts & that Entry of land where Jane ---- they now live with all my Clothes, a rifle gun & the new saddle & Bridle when finished & one hundred --- pounds lawful money of this state to carry him on in his learning, also I give to my well beloved sons Jonn & Jeremiah my Lot of Books, in fourth creek ------- (lawful money of the state to carry on in their learning.) New Library with their equal part of the other Books, and the plantation on which I Dwell, to be Divided equally between them, if it cannot be divided, into two places, in that casee three honest men are to be chosen, to value said Land, at the time it falls in their hands, & John must pay Jeremiah half of the value abd take all the Land for his part: but if any of the boys die before thir Estate comes in their hands, their part shall be equall divided betwixt the surviving Brothers; I give the smooth Bore to John & my sword to Jeremiah, and a xxxxxx of Bus (?) to each of them, and I give my Sun Dial to John.. also I give my well beloved daughters, Margaret & Mary the other two sixth part of my Books, together with one hundred pounds each, lawful money of this state, to be raised & levied out of my Estate. Also I will that the House creatures & Meat Cattle, not herein bequeathed, be sold & that sum thence arising, with my other debts to Repay the xxxxxmoney herein mentioned & the remainder equally divided amongst all my children; I likewise constitute and make and ordain Mary my dearly beloved wife Execrutrix, Patrick J. Archibald SLOAN executor of this my last Will and Testament, And I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke, & disannul all and every other former Testament, Wills, Legcies, Requeast and executed by me in my ways before - named willed and bequeath, ratifying and confirming this and not other to be my last Will and Testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & Seal, this Seventh Day of August in the Year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Seventy-nine.

Signed, Sealed published, pronounced, by the said John SLOAN, as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his Presence and in the Presence of each other have hereto subscribed our names.

William Sharpe
Jacob Sharpe
J. CATHEY

N.B. What ever tools of any kind I have, I allow to be divided amongst the three boys, & kept for the use of the family, intil some of the boys come of age & want their part --- Excepting the loom &lacklinger I give to Mary my beloved wife for ever ----- I also allow my watch & Gold & Silver I have to be sold at Publick sale & divided among the children- whatever kind of grain Flax Hay or fodder, I leave for the support of the family & stock, and none to be sold unless my wife sees fit to do so.

Jn SLOAN.

Will proved February 1780

The State of North Carolina to Capt. Joseph Sharpe & Company
To 48 Days in the Light Horse Service
From the 26th Day of January until the 11th of March, 1781,
Under the Command of Col. Francis Lock

From the State Records of North Carolina, Vol. XVII, 1781-1785, pub. 1899, p. 1056.

Macon County Times
13 November 1952

* Cal's Column *

by

Stephen Calvin Gregory
(8 July 1891, Mace's Hill, Smith County, Tennesse - 16 November 1957, Lafayette, Macon County, Tennessee)

______

We continue this week with the old records of the County Court of Smith County, and the Court of Pleas. The time is Wednesday, June 23, 1802, and the place of meeting was in the home of William Saunders in the vicinity of the present Dixon Springs. The next item is as follows: "Ordered that Archibald SLOAN be Overseer of the road from Michael Murphy's to the top of the Ridge between Peyton's Creek and Defeated Creek, and that all the hands living on the fork of the road leading up, including Michael Murphy's hands, and all the hands on the fork that George Thompson lives on, and the fork William KELTON lives on, and the fork that said SLOAN lives on from his own house down to the said road, work under said overseer. "This rather long item is of peculiar interest to many in the Pleasant Shade section, and there is still an Archibald SLOAN in the family. We have known this man for many years. He is the father of Oval, Clyde, Henry and Dwight SLOAN, young men of the Pleasant Shade community. Another early SLOAN of that section was Patrick SLOAN, but we do not know their relationship. Still another member of the family in the years long gone by was Jason SLOAN.

The present Pleasant Shade is said to have derived its name from the shade trees about the home of Jason SLOAN, which stood on the site of the present Billy SLOAN residence, not far from Pleasant Shade to the east up what is still called the SLOAN Branch. It had been called Herod's Cross Roads before the establishing of a post office there. The shade trees about the Jason SLOAN home were of the weeping willow variety, so we were informed many years ago.

Ramsey, in his Annals of Tennessee, gives the following : "Houston's Station stood six miles from Maryville . . . It was occupied by the families of James Houston, McConnell, MCEWEN, SLOANE and Henry. It was attacked by a party of Indians, one hundred in number. They had, the day before, pursued the survivors of the Citico massacre, in the direction of Knoxville, many of whom they had killed. Elated with their preceding success, they determined, on their return, to take and murder the feeble garrison as Houston's. A vigorous assault was made upon it. Hugh Barry, in looking over the bastion, incautiously exposed his head to the aim of an Indian rifle. He fell within the station, fatally wounded, having received a bullet in his forehead. The Indians were emboldened by this success, and prolonged the conflict more than an hour. The garrison had some of the best riflemen in the country in it, and, observing the number and activity of the assailants, they loaded and discharged their guns with all possible rapidly. The women assisted them as far as it was possible. One of them, Mrs. MCEWEN, Esq., of Nashville, and since the wife of Senior S. Doak, D. D., displayed great equanimity and heroism. She inquired for bullet moulds, and was busily engaged in melting the lead and running bullets for different moulds. A bullet from without, passing through the interstice between two logs of the station, struck the wall near her, and rebounding, rolled upon the floor. Snatching it up and melting and moulding it quickly, she carried it to her husband and said: "Here is a ball run out of the Indian's lead; send it back to them as quick as possible. It is their own; let them have it in welcome."

The road above mentioned in the old records began at Michael Murphy's and extended to the top of the dividing ridge between Peyton's Creek and Defeated Creek. Michael Murphy lived, so we are informed, just to the rear of the site of the present Bob Williams house in the present Pleasant Shade. We would presume that the road to be worked by Archibald SLOAN and the hands under him extended northeastward, by way of the present Sanderson's Cumberland Presbyterian church, there up by the old home of Barnett Cornwell to the top of the hill just above the old Wakefield home. The writer once carried the mail over this very road. The reason for judging that the road referred to in the order, of the Court led up this valley is that the road leading down by the SLOAN home was part of the old Fort Blount Road and would have doubtless been so designated. Then the picture as given above of the various groups of hands seems to fit into this sort of a pattern. Three sections are mentioned in the locating of the places of residence of the various hands. From Archibald SLOAN's down to the Michael Murphy home would be exactly in keeping with the location of the SLOAN home of 150 years ago. The expression, "from his own house down to the road," could not be understood in any other light. The fork that George Thompson lived on was either the present Saunderson Branch or the present Boston Branch. The same may be said for the branch on which William Kelton lived. These two branches come together about a quarter of a mile northeast of the location of the old Murphy home.

"Ordered that Lewis MacFarland be allowed the sum of twenty-eight dollars in full compensation for his services for twenty eight days' labor in marking the county line, as provided by the act of the Assembly, and that he be paid out of any County monies in the hands of the County Trustee."

We have some reason to believe that the marking of the boundary line of the county had reference to those parts of Smith County bounded by the newly formed county of Jackson and by Wilson County. Jackson County was formed in 1801, and there is no record previous to the above, so far as we have found, to indicate that the boundary line had been established. Moreover, the next item which reads as follows : "Ordered that William Jones be allowed the sum of fifty-six dollars as surveyor for running the boundary line between the counties of Smith and Wilson; and also between Smith and Jackson Counties, as provided by act of Assembly," shows that these were the two lines under consideration. Lewis MacFarland was, we think, a relative of Dr. Sam MaFarland, of the hospital at Lebanon, Tenn., which bears his name. Some early MaFarlands in Tennessee, including the following : "July 15, (1791) Issac Pennington and Milligen were killed, and McFarland was wounded, on the Kentucky Road." "Major McFarland, in 1792, Sept. 27th, was included in the group of officers to have in charge two regiments of men to fight Indians." His name was John McFarland. Again we read : "Colonel Doherty and Colonel McFarland, in direct disregard of the orders of the Territorial authorities, raised 180 mounted riflemen, with whom they invaded the Indian country." "But to provide for the worst, it was settled before hand, that each man, on discharging his piece (or gun), without stopping to watch the flight of the Indians, should make the best of jos way to Knoxville, lodge himself in the blockhouse, where 300 muskets had been deposited by the United States, and where two of the oldest citizens of the fort, John McFarland and Robert Williams, were left behind to run bullets and lead. "This was in 1793. An earlier member of the same family was Robert McFarland. Of him we have the following record : "Jefferson County, as known at present, received its first settlers in this year (1783). These were Robert McFarland, Alexander Outlaw, Thomas Jarnigan, James Hill, Wesley White, James Randolph, Joseph Copeland, Robert Gentry and James Hubbard." We read also of Robert McFarland as Sheriff of Jefferson County,Tennessee, in 1792. Four years later he was still Sheriff.

Now we do not know if Lewis McFarland was a relative of the above named early Tennesseans, but presume that he was. We have no information as to William Jones, although there was a Leonard Jones in Smith County as early as 1800.

Bill of sail (sale) John L. Martin as Sheriff, to Sampson Williams, acknowledged and ordered to be registered." No comment.

"Deed, 320 acres, Lemuel Hogan to David Hodges, proven by the oath of John Ward, one of the subscribing witnesses." "Early Hogan men in Tennessee were Edward, Humphrey and Richard. Hogan's Creek in the south side of the present Smith County, empties into the Cumberland just below Carthage. We believe that perhaps it was named for Arthur Hogan, but we are not sure of this. Hogan's Creek Baptist church was formed in 1810, and has continued to the present time. The writer was pastor of the church for a number of years, beginning in 1919. It is the oldest "daughter" of Dixon's Creek Baptist church, formed on March 8, 1800. Benjamin Johns was its first clerk, serving as such while the group worshipped as an arm of Dixon's Creek, from 1806 till the constitution and then for 18 years more. Benjamin Johns was the son of Elias Johns, who married our own great-great-great-aunt, Esther Ballou, who was born in Botetourt County, Virginia, about 1780, and died in Smith County, Tenn., about 1852.

David Hodges, the purchaser of the 320 acres of land, is supposed to have been the ancestor of the David Hodges, who died not long ago near Carthage. The name is the same and this is one indication that it was the same family. Genealogists or those who make a specialty of tracing family history, use the given names of a family, to trace particular families, to quite a large extent. In my own family, my given name is Stephen Calvin. My grandfather was Stephen Calvin Gregory, who had an uncle Stephen. One of our grandsons is named Stephen and we have a cousin or two with the same given name.

In our mother's family, the name, Leonard, was applied to some male member of many families. We have a history of the Ballou Family in America, and there are listed 14 Leonard Ballous. We have named one of our own sons, Leonard, to keep the name from ceasing to be used and in line with some 300 years of our family history.

"Sevier and Gordon vs. John _____ and Aaron Robbins de po to issue for deft., to take the deposition of William White, of North Carolina; and Archibald Roane, Esq. Gov., and 30 days notice to be given the plaintiff in taking the deposition of White, and 20 days in taking the deposition of Governor Roane." Sevier was the first Governor of the State, and Gordon was his partner in land deals. We do not know the defendant John _____ , nor Aaron Robbins.

We learned from an early entry in the old records of the Court that William White was secretary of State for North Carolina. The Governor was named Williams.

"The same order as above in the suit, Sevier and Gordon versus Alexander Suite." From another entry in the old records, it appears that the three defendants had taken up their abode on lands claimed by the complainants. We will learn later the outcome of the suit.

"Court adjourns until tomorrow, nine o'clock."

____________________________________

Transcribed by Janette West Grimes

Macon County Times
4 December 1952

* Cal's Column *

by

Stephen Calvin Gregory
(8 July 1891, Mace's Hill, Smith County, Tennesse - 16 November 1957, Lafayette, Macon County, Tennessee)

_______

The next item in the old records is as follows: "John Douglass, Esq., Sheriff, is appointed collector of the State and County Taxes for the year 1802,who came into Court,gave security and qualified according to the law." Here we learn that taxes were collected by the early Sheriff's of Smith County instead of as today, by the County Trustee.We do not know if this man Douglass was a brother of Elmore Douglass, an early member of the County Court of Smith County. The same man was a member of the first Court in Wilson County,in 1799. Other early members of the Douglass family in Tennessee were: Edward,James and William Douglass. Edward Douglass was a member of the Constitutional Convention which met on January 11, 1796 for the purpose of forming the new State of Tennessee. He and William Douglass were both from Sumner County. Edward was also a senator from the same county in the first legislature of the new State.

Ramsey's Annals of Tennessee has the following item about James Douglass: "On the 31st of August, (1792) an attack was made on John Birkley (Berkley?) and his son, in his peach orchard, near Bledsoe's Lick (Castalian Springs now); the former was wounded,but bravely returned the fire and killed an Indian in the act of scalping his (Birkley's) son. On the night of the 27th of August, a party of 15 Creeks put fire to Captain Morgan's home, near the same place; but the fire was extinguished and the party repulsed by the aid of Captain Lusk's company, stationed for the protection of the frontiers. On the preceeding night the same party opened the stables of James Douglass and took his horses. The next day Samuel Wilson fell in with them, wounded one, put the party to flight and regained the horses, a gun and a bloody blanket. Shortly before 11th August, 1792, the Indians killed a boy and wounded a man near Bledsoe's Lick."

We do not know that Sheriff Douglass was a relative either of the Douglass men mentioned in the above items, but presume that he was. As we have already set forth in these writings, Miss Elizabeth Gregory,daughter of Thomas Gregory, and a sister of Bry Gregory, our own great - great- grandfather married a Douglass, but we do not have his name, although Sisco's history of Sumner County gives the name of the Douglass who married Miss Gregory. We do know that Thomas B. Douglass was one of the heirs of Thomas Gregory,Sr., whose estate was settled in 1827.

"Ordered that James Vance be Overseer of the road leading from John Lancaster's Ferry to the Walton Road, and that John Lancaster, Esquire, furnish said Overseer with a list of hands." The place for the overseeing by Vance was, we believe, between the Chaney Fork River and Walton Road, which lead down from the Chestnut Mound section to Carthage, and westward by way of Dixon Springs. We have no information on James Vance, although we find mention of John, Joseph and Samuel Vance very early in The history of Tennessee. Samuel Vance was a member of Capt. Evan Shelby's Company which fought with great bravery in the battle of Point Pleasant in 1774. John Vance was Clerk of the Court of Sullivan County, Tennessee, in 1788.

Joseph Vance was a member of the County Court of Sevier County, in which part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located, when the county was formed in 1794. The writer visited the county seat on last Saturday and found an ancient courthouse, in which are some old, old records. This county is said to be the most strongly Republican in the entire United States. It gave Eisenhower a majority of seven to one over Stevenson.

"Ordered that Wilson Cage, James Bradley and Andrew Greer be commisioners to divide the tract of land whereon Michael Murphy lives, between the heirs of William Young, deceased, agreeable to law; and also that they lay off one - third of the tract to the widow of the deceased, to include his mansion house." Here we have an item that is of interest. Michael Murphy lived near the present Pleasant Shade, there being some difference of the exact location of the home occupied by Murphy. Some state that it was located in the field at the rear of the Bob Williams house in Pleasant Shade. Others think it was located perhaps where Hugh Hackett now lives, or near the old Sanderson home. The evidence in favor of the first location is that one of the old court records says that Archibald SLOAN was to be overseer of certain roads, including the one down to the home of Michael Murphy, which would have signified the road leading from the present Billy SLOAN home down the present Sloan Branch to the field above refered to, a distance of about a quarter of a mile. On the other hand, if the Murphy home was on the farm now owned by Hugh Hackett, there is no way to reconcile the Court order to SLOAN as overseer, so far as we can see.

Wilson Cage is supposed to have been the ancestor of the Cages of Smith County of a later date. The same may be said for James Bradley. Andrew Greer is supposed to have resided on te lower part of Middle Fork of Goose Creek where an elevation is still called the "Greer Hill" William Young was the ancestor of Judge Sam M. Young, who died some years ago at Dixon Springs and who was perhaps the best historian Smith County ever had. Just where the lands of William Young lay, we do not know; but they were in the vicinity of the present Pleasant Shade. "The mansion house" must have meant the house in which he resided, as distinguished from tenant houses and from quarters in which slaves lived.

"Ordered that the accounts and vouchers allowed by Moses Fiske and Peter Turney, Esquires, in thew settlement by them, made with the administratrix and administrator, be received and the settlement entered of record." We do not recall the estate herein referred to, but a look back through the old records would perhaps give the name of the party whose estate was being administered. Moses Fiske and Peter Turney were both very prominent men in the history of Smith County. Fiske being a noted surveyor and Turney being a planter and owning Bud Garrett farm near Dixon Springs, and much adjoining land.

We find the following account in which the name of Peter Turney is mentioned by Ramsey in his Annals of Tennessee, "Knoxville, Tenn.

Sept. 24, 1794, Sir: - - On the seventh instant by order of General Robertson, of Mero District, I marched from Nashville with five hundred fifty infantry under my command, and prsued the trace of Indians who had committed the last murders in the District of Mero, and of the party that captured Peter Turney's negro woman, to the Tennessee, crossed it on the night of the twelfth, about four miles below Nickajack; and, in the morning of the thirteenth, Nickajack and Running Water, towns of the Cherokees." This was signed by James Ore, who was in charge of the expidition. No account is given of the fate of the negro woman.

Letter of Attorney, Joshua Knowlton of Sampson - , proven by the oath of Archibald SLOAN, one of the subscribing witnesses thereto."We would judge this to have been what we call today a power of attorney, which is a legal form by which one party authorizes another party to sign the first party's name to certain legal documents and to bestow upon the "grantee" the authority to act for the "grantor"as though the "grantee" were himself present and acting in his own behalf. The name of the party receiving the Letter of Attorney is supposed to have been Sampson Williams, although the surname is left out of the records. We have no information at all about Joshua Knowlton.

"Ordered that John Rankins be overseer where Fredrick Debow was Overseer, and that the same hands work under him."We know nothing of John Rankins, but believe that Fredrick Debow lived on the lower end of Big Goose Creek. There is an old Debow cemetery not far from the juncture of the two parts of Goose Creek, Middle Fork and East Fork.

"Ordered that be overseer of the road from Dixon Springs to the ford on Dixon's Creek on the Fort Blount Road, and the same hands work under him as were liable to work under the late Overseer." We do not know who Josiah Payne was. We do know that a young Mr. Payne was one of the number that started down the Tennessee River in the big flotilla that finally reached Nashville, that he died of wounds inflicted upon him by Indians who fired on the boat on which he was traveling. But do not know if Josiah Payne was related to Payne killed by the Indians in March, 1780. Another early Payne was Jesse who was one of the incorporators of Washington College in East Tennessee in 1794. William Payne helped to run the boundry line of Grainger County in 1796. The same man was a member of the County Court of Washington County in 1796. We are sorry that we have no information of a later date to give our readers concerning the Payne family which is still quite numerous in Smith County.

We know the road over which Josiah was overseer, having traveled it thousands of times in our early life. It began at Dixon Springs and ended just below the present brick church house on Dixon's Creek, where the old Fort Blount Road crossed the creek. This was near the homes of James Ballou and Elias Johns 150 years ago. We traveled this road for the first time more than 50 years ago and later walked over it to and from school at Dixon Springs, which we attended for a short time.

"Ordered that Henry Tooley be Overseer of that part of the road where Robert Bowman was Overseer and that the same hands work under him as worked under the late Overseer." Robert Bowman was a very early citizen of the vicinity of the present Riddleton, and lived on the stream that now bears his name, Bowman's Branch. It was called Spirited Creek for a time, but this name is now almost entirely forgotten. Henry Tooley lived at the rear of Riddleton, so we are informed. He was an early member of the County Court and was quite prominent in it's affairs. No trace of the family appears in the old records after 1820, and there is no member of the family listed in Smith County in the census for 1820.We suppose that the family emigrated to some other county or state. However, we are quite sure that our fellow townsman, Buford Tooley, is a decendent of the Henry Tooley, who was overseer of the road near Riddleton seven score and ten years ago.

"Ordered that Joseph Shaw be Overseer of the road from Oldham's Cabbins (Cabins) to the Indian Boundary, and that the same hands living between said Cabbins and the Indian line work under him" We are not quite certain as to where Oldham's Cabins were, but the Indian Boundary lay to the east of Smith County and formed perhaps a part of the boundary of the county. We would judge that this Oldham family was the first of the name in Smith County, and there is some indication that Oldham's Cabins were on Snow Creek, just above the present Elmwood. We hope to have more information on this branch of the Oldham family.

We have some information on the George Oldham branch, came from Virginia in 1805 and settled at the present Herbert SLOAN place on Peyton's Creek. The family is of English origin and the name came from the earlier spelling of "Old Home" or "Hame" Gradually the name was changed to Oldham, as it is now spelled.

George Oldham came out of Virginia in October or November, 1805, with his wife and two children, the younger of whom, a daughter, Polly Ann, was only nine months of age. Mrs. Oldham was a Miss Sutherland prior to her marriage. She had a sister who married a man named Greanead, believed to have been the ancestor of all the members of that family still living in North Middle Tennessee.

Their children were: Polly Ann, married William Nixon; Judy, married Nelson Davis; Sam, married Nancy Nixon, a sister of William Nixon; and later married a sister of his first wife, Sallie Nixon; Tommie Oldham, married a Massey; William Oldham, married a sister of Tommie's wife; Celia Oldham, married Brice Piper; Willis Oldham, married first a Beasley and later a Richards; Letha, married James Gregory, son of Big Tom and Betty Gregory; James Oldham, married Mary Perkins; Jane Oldham, married a McKinnis; Betsy, married Payne, and removed to Georgia; Adeline, married Levi Shoulders, son of Malachi and Polly Gregory Shoulders, and George Oldham, a victim of infantile paralysis and who never married. Polly Ann and her husband, William Nixon, were the parents of: James C. Nixon, married first to a Miss Gregory, and lastly to Mrs. Polly Ann Russell Donoho; Celia Nixon, married a Taylor; Adeline Nixon, married Joe Taylor; Sam Nixon, married Harriet Cartwright, daughter of Richardson Cartwright; William Francis Nixon, killed in Mexican War; Tom Nixon, married a Hudson; Hamilton Nixon, killed by a horse; George Nixon, drowned in the Cumberland, about 110 years ago; Juno, and we have no further record of her; and John C. Nixon.

Judy Oldham and her husband, Nelson Davis, were the parents of: Willis Davis, married a Bowman; Celia Davis, married Jabe Gregory; and Emily Davis, married Ned Gregory.

Sam Oldham was the father of: Bob Oldham, married a Piper; Mary Oldham, married Tom Miller; Dick Oldham, no further record; Nancy Oldham, married William Piper; and Lou Oldham, married Alex Piper.

Tommie Oldham, whose real name we believe was Thomas Jefferson Oldham, was the father of: Hugh Oldham, married Em Dillehay; Ben Oldham, went to Oklahoma; Tom Oldham, killed during the Civil War; Sarah Oldham, married Jim Blackwell; Judy Oldham, married Arch Blackwell; William Oldham, no further report; and Jane Oldham, married a Smith.

William Oldham and his wife, the former Miss Massey, were the parents of: Sam Oldham, married Chib (Sallie) Gregory, daughter of Tom Gregory, a half - brother of the writer's grandfather, Stephen Calvin Gregory; Celia Oldham, married John Shoulders, Murray, no further record; Nancy Oldham, married Rufus Beasley, son of Calvin Beasley; Margaret Oldham, married Lon Dias; Candace Oldham, married a Richardson; Ann Oldham, married a Burris; Mima Oldham, no further record; and James Oldham, bitten by a rattle snake when he was a lad of about ten and died from the effects of the poison.

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Transcribed by Janette West Grimes

I Richard OLDHAM do hereby transfer and convey to Wm PORTER and his heirs forever for the consideration of Eight Hundred and Twenty-five dollars to me paid the several tracts of land all in the State of Tennessee and County of Smith District No. 6 and bounded as follows.¹ The first [tract] beginning on a birch marked W A [Transcribers’s note the original 1856 deed has a "W" and an upside down "V", but this same tree is marked W A in two previous deeds] on Peyton’s West boundary line² running thence west with said line one hundred and twenty-six and a half poles to a bunch of [sour?] woods thence north one-hundred and twenty-six and a half poles to a ________ Thence East one hundred and twenty-six and a half poles to a stake Thence south one hundred and twenty-six and a half poles to the beginning. Containing one hundred acres. Also one other tract or survey containing thirty-two acres and beginning on the same birch running thence west ninety-three poles to a stake in Andersan’s line.³ Thence south with Andersan’s line fifty-four poles to a sugartree in said ARNETT’s line of another tract or survey. Thence East ninety-five poles to a birch William PORTER’s corner. Thence north fifty-four poles to the beginning. Also one other survey containing thirty-seven and a half acres. Bounded as follows Beginning on a birch and Black Walnut and on the East boundary of a tract of land claimed by the heirs of Francis _______ [Transcriber’s note: The 1853 deed for the same land and point in the deed lists Francis Parker] and running thence north one hundred and nine poles to a Dagwood and two birches thence west fifty-five poles to a stake in the above mentioned old line thence south with the said old line to the beginning. To have the above land to hold the same to the said William PORTER that I am lawfully _______ of said land have a good right to convey it and that the _______ is unencumbered. I do further covenant and bind myself my heirs and ________ to warrant and forever defend the title to the said land _____ _____ _____ thereof to the said William PORTER his heirs and ________ against the lawful claims of all persons whatsoever this the 22nd day of December 1856.⁴

Executed and _______ in our presence this 22nd Dec 1856

__. R. SLOAN

W. A. Ballow⁵

Tennessee, Smith County

Personally appeared before me David C. Sanders clerk of the County of the County Court Smith county Richard OLDHAM with whom I am personally acquainted and who acknowledged that he executed the forgoing deed for the purposes therein contained. Witnessed my hand at office the 6th November 1857.

Rec’d [Recorded] Nov 6th 1857 at 4 pm.

D. C. Sanders _____

Notes by Robert Arnett:

3 October 1838 - James M. BALLEW to John A. SLOAN [Smith County, Tennessee Deeds 1800-1852, DB O, p395-396]

Macon County Times
15 September 1955

*THE BROCKETT FAMILY*

by

Stephen Calvin Gregory
(8 July 1891, Mace's Hill, Smith County, Tennesse - 16 November 1957, Lafayette, Macon County, Tennessee)

JOHN BROCKETT - the first person of the name of Brockett of whom any record can be found in this country, was born in England in 1609 and came to America in 1637, probably on the ship Hector, with Rev. John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton, which ship arrived in Boston, June 26, 1637. The list of passengers on that vessel was never published; and for prudential reasons, its clearance never appeared in the records of any English port, so far as can be ascertained. In regard tot he persons who accompanied Rev. Davenport to this country and who joined him in the settlement of New Haven, G. H. Hollister, in his history of Connecticut says, "They were gentlemen of wealth and character, with their servants and household effects. They were for the most part, from London and had been bred to mercantile and commercial pursuits. Their coming was hailed at Boston with much joy for they were the most opulent of all the companies who had emigrated to New England." Shortly after the arrival of the Hector in Boston, Eaton and a few others, unwilling to join the Massachusetts Colony, explored the coast along Long Island Sound, selecting a tract of land near the Quinipiac River, the present site of the city of New Haven, on which they left seven of their number to hold it for the winter. In the spring of 1683 (April 13) Davenport, with others among whom was John Brockett, followed. They purchased the lands at Quinipiac of the Indians, and, "taking the Bible for their guide," formed an independent government or "Plantation Covenant" upon strictly religious principles. Prosperity attended them and they dail the formation of a town and called it New Haven. John Brockett seems to have been one of the leading men of the company as his name more often appears in the records of the New Haven Colony than of any man in civil life, except that of Theophilus Eaton.

PARENTAGE OF JOHN BROCKETT

There is very little of official record in this country concerning his birth. The tradition has existed for 200 years in New Haven that John Brockett was the eldest son of Sir John Brockett of Brockett Hall, Hertfordshire, England, and that on account of his Puritanical ideas his father (who has been knighted by Queen Elizabeth) disinherited him, and that John then gave up all claims to the title and estate of the Brocketts of England, in order to join the Puritan Band which came with Rev. John Davenport to America. This tradition has never met any denial and the writer in receiving records from all parts of the United States of the early families of the name Brockett, has found them generally commencing with Sir John Brockett, of Hertfordshire, showing that all branches of the descendants have maintained this belief. From another source comes the statement that before coming to this country John Brockett fell in love with a Puritan maiden, that for her sake he gave up his right to the paternal estate, came to this country, established himself, provided a home for a wife, returned to England, married her and brought her to this country. In 1899 application was made to Parish Clerk at Hertfordshire, England to make research to establish these claims. In reply he writes, "I am told that the first son of Sir John was outlawed. Is it not possible that this first son is the son who emigrated to America and settled there between 1630 and 1639?"

From another source came the statement that Sir John Brockett not only disinherited his eldest son but had his name removed from all family records so that it should never appear in any published lists of family or the connection with himself ever be traced. In one of the Connecticut religious papers, published in 1868, we find the following: "John Brockett, the eldest son of Sir John Brockett of the county of Hertfordshire, England, who was a well-known loyalist of the time of Charles I, becoming convicted of the truth of the Gospel as preached by the Puritans, relinquished his birthright and all his prospects of honor and fame, joined himself to the little company of Rev. John Davenport, emigrated to New England and settled [...] him as Moses, it could be said that he preferred to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

John Brockett died in Wallingford, Conn., March 12 1690.

Children of John Brockett: John--Born 1642, married Elizabeth Doolittle; Benjamin and Be Fruitful, twins--Born Feb. 23, 1645, died 1645; Mary--Born Sept. 25, 1646, married Ephraim Pennington; Silence--Born Jan. 4, 1648, married Joseph Bradley Sept. 25, 1667; Benjamin--Born Dec., 1648, married Elizabeth Barnes; Abigail--Born March 10, 1650, married John Payne Jan. 22, 1673, died 7-4-1729; Samuel--Born Jan. 14, 1652, married Sarah Bradley; Jabez--Born 1654, died 1654; Jabez--Born Sept. 24, 1656, married Dorothy Lyman.

SAMUEL BROCKETT

Son of John Brockett, was born in New Haven, Conn., January 14, 1652; baptized Jan. 18, 1652; married Sarah Bradley, may 23, 1682, who was born June 21, 1665 and was the ninth child of William Bradley. Samuel was a public-spirited man and, like his father, took much interest in the political affairs of the times. He was also a large Real Estate owner. He died in Wallingford, Conn., Oct 27, 1742.

Children of Samuel Brockett: Samuel--Born Feb. 15, 1683, married Rachel Brown; Daniel--Born Sept. 30, 1684, probably died Feb. 8, 1740; John--Born Nov. 8, 1685, married Huldah Elis; Joseph--Born Oct. 25,1688; Josiah--Born July 25, 1691; Alice--Born April 23, 1693, probably married Stephen Curtis March, 1714; Benjamin--Born May 23, 1697, married Lydia Elcock; Josiah--Born July 25, 1698, married Deborah Abbott.

JOHN BROCKETT

Son of Samuel and Sarah (Bradley) Brockett, was born Nov. 8, 1685. On the first of March, 1711, he married Huldah Elis. She died March 29, 1757.

Children of John Brockett: Daniel--Born April 3, 1712; David--Born November 28, 1714, died 1761, unmarried; Anna--Born Feb. 2, 1716, married Gideon Hotchkiss; Ebenezer--Born circa 1717, died 1761; Christopher--Born April 9, 1718, lived at Weathersfield, Conn.; Mehitable--Born April 3, 1719, died before 1759; Lois--Born 1721, married a Mr. Dudley; Mable--Born circa 1723, married a Mr. Green, died April 21, 1806; Elisha--Born May 31, 1726; John--Born Feb. 14, 1728, married Jemima Tuttle.

ELISHA BROCKETT

Son of John and Huldah (Elis) Brockett, was born May 31, 1726 at Wallingford, Conn. He served in the French and Indian War in 1755-1756 in Captain Street Hall's company, which was attached to a New York Regiment. He was of patriotic spirit. The name of his wife is not known but his son enlisted in the Revolutionary War serving for the entire seven years.

Children of Elisha Brockett: William--Born circa 1750, married Martha Ives.

WILLIAM BROCKETT

Son of Elisha Brockett, was born 1750 in Wallingford, Conn. He left home in early life, settling in New Bern, N. C., where he married Patsey (Martha) Ives, Oct. 1, 1771, daughter and only heir of Thomas Ives William enlisted Nov. 17, 1774 in the Revolutionary War, seving until its close, in N.C. and S.C. He was made a Lieutenant and afterwards promoted to Captain. After the war he moved with his family to Carthage,Smith County, Tennessee, where he died May 3, 1821. He and his family were members of the United Presbyterian Church. His wife survived him and died at Effingham, Ill. in 1841. His three daughters married three brothers.

Children of William Brockett: John--Born Feb. 4, 1773; Benjamin--Born April 18, 1775, married Betsey Dickson; Jesse--Born Aug. 9, 1777, died Nov. 12, 1803; Sarah--Born Feb. 25, 1779, married Jonathan Parkhurst; William--Born March 24, 1783; Elisha--Born Nov 9, 1786, died 1864; Frederick--Born Feb. 7, 1789, married Elizabeth Vintress; James--Born Feb. 21, 1790; Thomas--Born July 21, 1793; Polly and Betsy--Born Aug. 15, 1795, married Daniel Parkhurst and Charles Parkhurst.

ELISHA BROCKETT

Son of William and Martha (Ives) Brockett, was born Nov. 9, 1786 and died Feb. 14, 1864. He married Celia Young, Sept. 21, 1809, who was born March 5, 1791 and died April 2, 1856. She was the daughter of Milton Young and Nancy (Witcher) Young.

Children of Elisha Brockett: Nancy--Born July 5, 1810, died Aug. 11, 1818; Patsey Ives--Born Aug. 30, 1811, married Jason R. SLOAN, Dec. 18, 1828; Sallie--Born Jan. 1, 1834, died Sept. 26, 1843; Cyrus Jackson--Born Nov. 10, 1814, married Elizabeth Williams March 25, 1831, died 9-30-1843; William Carroll--Born Jan. 1816, married Isabella Young, Dec. 5, 1844, died 2-10-1897; Milton Young--Born Sept. 14, 1818, married Martha J. Holford, Aug. 12, 1843, died 4-20-1864; Benjamin Franklin--Born Nov. 6, 1820, married Louise Good July 16, 1847, died 12-25-1851; Berlin Bonaparte--Born Dec. 4, 1822, married Sarah Ann Goad, Sept. 11, 1845, Previous records show he was married to Sallie Holiday which was in error. (He having died June 13, 1904). She having died Dec. 25,1913). James Harvey--Born Oct. 7, 1825, married Mary J. Wakefield Nov. 29, 1860; Elisha Hardin--Born Nov. 13, 1827, married Mary E. Ballou March 24, 1853, died April 26, 1864; Merlin Luther--Born Aug. 7, 1830, married Tabitha Kemp, Nov. 16, 1853; and Minerva Celia--Born March 3, 1836, married Wade Kemp, Oct. 9, 1856 and died March 3, 1859.

BERLIN BONAPARTE BROCKETT

Son of Elisha and Celia Young Brockett, was born Dec. 4, 1822. He married Sarah Ann Goad Sept. 11, 1845. Sarah Ann Goad Brockett died Dec. 25, 1913).

Children of Berlin B. Brockett: Elisha--Born Aug. 10, 1847, died July 25, 1869; Cyrus W.--Born June 27, 1849, married Margaret A. Thomas, Feb. 2, 1868, died Jan. 30, 1890; Milton W.--Born June 27, 1851, died Oct. 21, 1886; Martha I.--Born May 18, 1853, died Oct. 1, 1858; Coleman A.--Born Sept. 25, 1855, married Siviley Jane (Ritter) (Jenkins) Aug. 31, 1893, he having died Oct. 14, 1940; Berlin Hume--Born May 22, 1858, married Joann Benedict Sept. 15, 1881, died Sept. 27, 1946, she dying July 17, 1941; Wade M.--Born May 29, 1861, married Florella Moulder, June 18, 1885; Marlin I.--Born Dec. 13, 1863 married Georgiana Moulder July 26, 1888; Haley--Born Aug. 5, 1866, married Arzoey Brooks July 15, 1894; Sebastian B.--Born July 4, 1869, first married Lucy Jenkins, Dec. 20, 1888, second Married Minnie Sneed, March 14, 1937; Benjamin B.--Born Oct. 6,1871; and Cora L.--Born June 16, 1875, died Jan. 28, 1881.

BERLIN HUME BROCKETT

Son of Berlin B. Brockett and Sarah Ann Goad Brockett was born May 22, 1858. He married Joann Benedict Sept. 15, 1881, Joann being the daughter of Benjamin Yancey and Malinda Jane (Rush) Benedict, of Fountain Run, Ky. (B. Y. Benedict, born Jan. 19, 1831, died may 4, 1912, M. J. Benedict, born Nov. 9, 1827, died Nov. 4, 1912).

Children of Berlin H. Brockett: Ollie D.--Born Aug. 15, 1882, married Marjorie Steele, Nov. 26, 1905, he having died Sept. 29, 1937, she having died Dec. 17, 1925; Guy--Born May 29, 1884, married Ethel Louise Neal, Nov. 6, 1912; Willie--Born May 29, 1886, married Otis N. Osborn, Dec. 15, 1904, he being killed by lightning July 1, 1945; Bennie--Born Sept. 4, 1889, married Vallie Osborn, Jan. 5, 1913; Berlin--Born April 18, 1891, married Myrtie Bryon, Oct. 1914, he having died Oct. 27, 1936; Ezra--Born Feb. 9, 1896, married Audney Miller, Dec. 22, 1920; and Alda May--Born Dec. 17, 1898, married George W. Johnson, Sept. 22, 1920.

WILLIE BROCKETT

Son of Berlin Hume and Joann (Benedict) Brockett, was born May 29, 1886, married to Otis N. Osborn Dec. 15, 1904.

Children of Willie Brockett: Elbert Ray--Born Feb. 11, 1906, married Beulah Bell Johnson, Nov. 27, 1932; Hershell Hume--Born Sept. 20, 1910, married Ruth Jenkins, Jan. 7, 1933; Willard; Newman--Born April 29, 1923, married Lucy Grimes, Aug. 30, 1951; and Bessie May--Born Oct. 22, 1924, died Oct. 26, 1924.

ELBERT R. BROCKETT

Son of Willie and Otis N. (Osborn) Brockett, was born Feb. 11, 1906, married Beulah Bell (Johnson), Nov. 27, 1932.

Children of Elbert R. Brockett: Phillip Wayne -- Born May 6, 1935, married Mary Jane Hoskins, Dec. 18, 1954.

Transcribed By Pamela Vick

Written by W. W. SLOAN, May 1914

Somewhere about A.D. 1750 my Great Grandfather SLOAN landed and settled in North Carolina from Scotland. He had several brothers whom were Presbyterians. In North Carolina my Grandfather Archibald SLOAN was born in about 1765. He had four brothers in the Revolutionary Army.¹ About the year 1795 - he with his family and a brother Jasper² left N.C. and moved to what was afterward Smith Co. Tenn. Here in 1803 On July 29 - my father Martin W. SLOAN was born. My father was I think, the third son. His brothers were born in the order named - William John - James D.- Samuel and Hugh. I think there were two daughters one of whom was named Margaret - the other Sophia who married a John SLOAN (not related) from Alabama. Margaret married a man by the name of Coker - they moved to Missouri.

The SLOANs all settled in Tenn. - James D. near Humbolt - Hugh died young. In later years Sam SLOAN moved to Comanche Co. Texas - I think about 1878.

My father in early life was prosperous and gathered together quite a nice property and retired from active Mercantile pursuits to a farm about two, miles from Carthage, Tenn. where he had been in business - but placing too much confidence in man - misfortune came and he lost about all he had saved - and so dispirited was he that he sold what little he had left and in March 1851 left Nashville to which place he moved in 1849 and came to Texas - landing at Indianola and in early 1851 removed to Seguín, Texas. After a few months sojourn here, my Mother becoming greatly dissatisfied - he returned to Indianola.³

In the year 1837⁴ my father was married to Eliza W. LUCAS in Carthage Tenn. To them was born Mary Lucas in Aug. 1839, Rebecca McClellan in Oct. 1841, Louis Phillips in 1843, William Wilson in Sept. 25, 1845, Samuella Eliza in Sept. 6, 1847, Martin Jennings in July 5, 1849, Joseph Dudley in May 1852. Of the children Louis died in Nashville in 1850, Mary in Fayette Co. Texas in 1864, Rebecca in Fayette Co. Texas in Dec. 1865, Samuella in Fayette Co., Texas in 1878,⁵ Martin in 1902.

My father died in Flatonia, Texas July 6, 1878 being 75 years of age lacking 23 days.

My fathers brother Jasper had a son Archibald but I do not know what became of them.

My mother's maiden name was Eliza W. LUCAS and her mother was Mary ALLEN, an aunt of Sam HOUSTON's first wife.⁶ My Grandfather on mother's side was Fielding W. LUCAS⁷ who died in New Orleans in about 1830 or 32. His mother's name (maiden) was Sarah Adrington JENNINGS⁸ and she was a lineal descendant of William or Humphrey JENNINGS the founder of the great Jennings Estate now held under tenure by the Crown of England. She, my Great grandmother, always prided herself on her pure English blood of Nobility.

My mother died in Flatonia, Texas - Jan 18, 1883.

My only brother now living is in Sweetwater, Texas.⁹

Editorial Notes:

Smith County, Tennessee. Chancery Court Enrollments. February, 1843: Martin W. SLOAN sues Orville Green. They were merchants and partners in the selling of goods and the freighting of tobacco to New Orleans for several years previous to 15 February 1838, when the firm was dissolved by mutual consent.

In February 1842, in Smith County, Martin W. SLOAN filed suit against a Mr. Nickson; and the case was heard in February, 1844. [Accordingly, Martin W. SLOAN and his family must have departed Smith County for residence in Davidson County between 1844 and 1850, that is, in 1849.]

W. W. Sloan Dies

W. W. SLOAN, 80, pioneer Texan and resident of San Antonio for 32 years, died Sunday morning November 29.

He was a native of Carthage, Tennessee, and came to Texas with his parents when five years old, and lived first at Indianola. He was married to Mary Frances SMITH of Mississippi in 1868. After joining the Texas 33rd Cavalry in 1863, he served through the remainder of the Civil War. After holding the offices of mayor, magistrate and public weigher for several years during his residence in Flatonia, he moved to San Antonio in 1893 and became associated with G. W. Hagy as a partner in an undertaking firm in 1900, from which he retired in 1917. He was a member of the first school board under the San Antonio independent school district, and was one of the founders of Prospect Hill Baptist Church, of which he was a member.

He was married to Mrs. Julia BARKLEY of Yoakum some years after the death of his first wife. Besides his widow, members of the family who survive him include two daughters, Mrs. Fred P. MILLER of Kingsville, Miss Louise SLOAN of Baltimore, Maryland; six sons, W. W. SLOAN, Jr. of Falfurrias, John J. of Des Moines, Iowa, Dr. Martin F. SLOAN of Baltimore, Sam D. of Fort Worth, Sid and Jean SLOAN of San Antonio, and 12 grandchildren.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Jessie Beryl Boozer, The History of Indianola, Texas (M.A. thesis, University of Texas, 1942). George H. French, comp., Indianola Scrap Book (Victoria: Victoria Advocate, 1936; rpt., Austin: San Felipe, 1974). Brownson Malsch, Indianola-The Mother of Western Texas (Austin: Shoal Creek, 1977).