John
Gordon & Related Family Documents
Goodspeed's
History of Tennessee
Smith
County History
Goodspeed
Publishing Company
Nashville,
TN. 1887
Transcribed
by Timothy R. Meador, Jr.
For
The Smith County TNGenWeb Project
SMITH
COUNTY
The county of Smith is bounded north by
Trousdale and Macon Counties, east by Jackson and Putnam, south by DeKalb, and
west by Wilson. It lies mostly in the central basis, and is drained by
the Cumberland River, which flows through it from east to west, and so divides
it as to leave about three-fourths of its area on the south side, and the other
fourth on the north side. The tributaries flowing into the Cumberland from the
north are Peyton Creek and Defeated Creek, and other smaller streams. The
principal one flowing into it from the south is Caney Fork, which is navigable
for small vessels about forty miles from its mouth, which is just above the
town of Carthage. The spurs of the Highland Rim extend far into the
county from the north and east, thus making that part lying north of the
Cumberland and east of Caney Fork extremely hilly and uneven. The balance
of the county has a more even surface. The streams have broad valleys,
and the “the soil of the county, with the exception of the caps of the ridges,
rests everywhere on limestone belonging to the Nashville and Lebanon
formations, but principally the former. The tops of the ridges present
the siliceous rocks of the highlands, being the sub-carboniferous.
Immediately below these siliceous rocks, and separating them from the
limestone, is the black shale formation.”* [“Resources of Tennessee.”]
The lands having a limestone soil are rich and productive, and those on the
highlands produce an excellent quality of tobacco, but the yield is
light. The timber is similar to that of Trousdale County.
William Walton, original proprietor of the site of Carthage, settled, according
to best information, on the north side of the Cumberland, opposite the mouth of
Caney Fork in 1787. He is said to have been the first settler in the
territory now composing Smith County. Daniel Burford, Richard Alexander,
Tilman Dixon, William Saunders and Peter Turney were among the first settlers
in the vicinity of Dixon Springs. Peter Turney was the father of the
noted lawyer, Hopkins L. Turney, and grandfather of Judge Peter Turney, now of
the supreme bench of the State. The best agricultural lands being
in the vicinity of Dixon Springs, that locality soon became the most thickly
settled one in the county. Micajah Duke was an early settler in what is
now the Second District; David Apple in the Eight; William McDonald in the
Eleventh; Armstead Flippen in the Thirteenth; William Goodall, and James
Hodges, with his son Richard, and Arthur S. Hogan in the Fourteenth; and
Zachariah ford in the Fifteenth. Other early settlers were David Cochrane, John
Baker, Thomas Dies, George T. Wright and also all persons hereinafter mentioned
in connection with the organization of the county. “The grandfather of S.
M. Fite, with his family, and two other men, with their families, made the
first settlement on Smith Fork, fifteen miles south of the Cumberland
River. The first night after camping Mr. Fite had family worship, no doubt
the first Christian worship ever made in the vast region.* [“Resources of
Tennessee.”] When the first settlers appeared in Smith County, they found
the territory inhabited with Indians, and many kinds of wild animals, such as
bears, wolves, panthers, wild-cats, deer, etc. Wild game was also
abundant, and those hardy pioneers, during their struggles to subdue the forest
and establish civilization in a vast wilderness, often supplied their families
with meat secured by means of their rifles. Bear meat, venison and wild
fowl were then common articles of food. The Indians were here about ten years
after the first settlers located, and during this time the pioneers, no doubt,
had many encounters with them; the history of which, unfortunately, has not
been preserved. One incident which occurred in this county before it was
settled, between citizens of Sumner County and the Indians, may be related
here. “In February, 1786, John Peyton (father of the late Hon. Bailie
Peyton); Ephraim Peyton, his twin brother; Thomas Peyton, another brother;
Squire Grant and John Frazer were out hunting and surveying. They
encamped on an island in Defeated Creek, near where Capt. C. N. West now
resides. On Sunday night they sat up late playing cards, when they were
attacked by the Indians. Four out of the five were wounded—all
except Ephraim Peyton. They separated and fled leaving their horses
instruments. The Indian party was commanded by Hanging Maw. All
made their escape and survived, and the next year John Peyton sent word to Hanging
Maw to return the stolen horses, to which the chief replied, ‘that the horses
were his, that he (Peyton) had run away like a coward and left them, and as for
his ‘land-stealer,’ the compass, he had broken that against a tree.” *
[“Reminiscences of Gen. William Hall.] Robert Smith and Lucy Gordon were
the first couple married in Smith county, and Richard Hodges and Delilah Risen
the second. The latter were married by Arthur S. Hogan, Esq, in 1803.
Large tracts of the best land in the country were entered by surviving soldiers
of the war of the Revolution, or by their assignees, by locating the land
warrants granted to said soldiers by the State of North Carolina. These
tracts ranged from 640 to several thousand acres. The early settlers of
Smith County were mostly from North Carolina, Virginia, and East Tennessee, and
after erecting their rude log cabins, they began the clearing of their lands,
and the raising of the cereals. Subsequently, and for many years,
including the decade of the twenties, they raised cotton to a considerable
extent, and afterward abandoned its cultivation. The cultivation of
tobacco was early introduced and this crop has always been, and still continues
to be, a staple production of the county, which ranks as the sixth county in
the State in the amount of that article produced. The cultivation of
blue-grass, and the raising of fine breeds of cattle were introduced into the
county in 1836, by Dr. F. H. Gordon, who was then a teacher in Clinton
College. He went to Kentucky and on his return, brought to the farm on
which the college is located, a herd of Durham cattle, and began to sow
blue-grass for pasture. Since that time considerable attention has been
given to the raising of fine breeds of stock of all kinds, and to the
cultivation of the grasses. The cereal, and other productions of Smith
County, according to the census of 1880, were as follows: Indian corn,
1,071,050 bushels; oats, 47,240 bushels; rye, 3,228 bushels; wheat, 104,945
bushels; orchard products, $11,927; hay, 2,730 tons; Irish potatoes, 13, 817
bushels; sweet potatoes, 29,335 bushels; tobacco, 1,799,981 pounds; live stock
and its production—horses, 5,112; mules and asses, 1,973; cattle, 8,623; sheep,
10,234; hogs, 31,871; wool 40,393 pounds; butter, 221,381 pounds. The
population of Smith County in 1860, including that part which has since been
attached to Trousdale County, was a follows: White, 12,015; colored, 4,342;
nearly all of the latter were then slaves, and in 1880 it was—white, 14,215;
colored, 3,578. Notwithstanding the reduction of the territory, and the
ravages of civil war, the white population of the county increased 2,200 in the
twenty years following 1860, while the colored population decreased 764 during
the same period. The transportation of produce and merchandise to and
from Smith County has always been by way of the Cumberland River. But the
citizens are now anticipating the early completion of the Middle & East
Tennessee Central Railroad, and also the Nashville & Knoxville Railroad
through the county by way of Carthage. These railroads when completed will be
of great advantage to the county, in hastening its future development.
Smith County was organized in accordance with an act of the General Assembly of
the State, passed October 26, 1799, providing “That a new county be established
by the name of Smith, to be contained within the following described bounds:
Beginning on the south bank of Cumberland River, at the south end of the
eastern boundary of Sumner County; thence north with the said eastern boundary
to the northern boundary of the State, and with the said boundary east to where
it is intersected by the Cherokee boundary, run and marked agreeably to the
treaty of Holston; thence with that boundary to the Caney Fork of Cumberland
River; thence with said fork, according to its meanders, to the mouth thereof;
thence down the south bank of Cumberland River, according to its meanders, to
the beginning.” According to this description Smith County originally
contained a portion of what is now Trousdale, DeKalb, Putnam, Jackson, Clay and
the greater part of Macon Counties. By an act passed November 6, 1801, the
county was changed in size by attaching to it a large portion of Wilson
County, lying south of the Cumberland River and west of Caney Fork, and by
cutting off a portion on the east side to constitute the county of
Jackson. And by a subsequent act of the same session of the Legislature
Smith County was extended southward to the line between Tennessee and Alabama—thus
causing the county to embrace a strip of territory extending from the northern
to the southern boundary of the State. In 1805 an act was passed to
reduce the county to its constitutional limits of 625 square miles, still
allowing its northern boundary to reach the Kentucky line. And by an act
passed January 18, 1842, the northern portion of Smith County became a part of
Macon County in its formation. And in 1870 a tract in the northwestern
part of the county was cut off to form a part of Trousdale County. And
thus by these and other acts of the Legislature Smith County has been reduced
to its present limits, embracing about 360 square miles. In accordance
with the act of creation the first bench of justices of the peace for Smith
County, consisting of Garrett Fitzgerald, Wm. Alexander, James Gwinn, Tilman
Dixon, Thomas Harrison, James Hibbetts, Peter Turney and Wm. Walton, met at the
house of Tilman Dixon, near Dixon Springs, on the 16th of December,
1799, and organized the court of pleas and quarter sessions by electing Garrett
Fitzgerald, chairman thereof, and Moses Fisk clerk pro tempore.
The next day the following county officers were permanently elected by said
court, to wit: Sampson Williams, clerk; John Martin, sheriff; Chas. F. Mobias,
coroner; James Gwinn, trustee; Daniel Burford, register; Bazel Shaw, ranger,
and Benj. Sewell, State’s attorney. Amos Lacy, Silas Jonokin, Robt.
Cotton, James Strain, James Wright, Wm. Levington and Henry Huddleston were
then appointed constables, and thus the organization of the county was
completed. Then on motion of Tilman Dixon it was “ordered that all
tavern-keepers be allowed to sell spirituous liquors at the following rates:
Good whisky and brandy, 12 ½ cents by the half-pint; for breakfast, dinner and
supper, 25 cents; for corn and oats by the gallon, 12 ½ cents; for two bundles
of fodder, 2 pence; for pasturage twenty-four hours, 12 ½ cents; for lodging, 6
¼ cents.” The next action of the court was to grant to Tilman Dixon, the
mover of the aforesaid motion, a license to keep a tavern at his house.
License was then granted to Edmond Jennings to keep a ferry near the mouth of
Jennings Creek, at the following rates: “For man and horse, 18 1/3 cents;
single man and single horse, each 9 cents; wagon and team, $1.25; cattle, hogs
and sheep, 6 ¼ cents each.” For many years after the organization of the
county no person was allowed to keep a tavern, or a ferry, or to build a
mill-dam without license from the court, which also established the rates to be
charged by the persons obtaining such privileges. Henry McKinsey, Wm.
Saunders, Samuel Caruthers, Elisha Oglesby, Wm. Gillespie, Wm. Gilbreath and
others were then appointed overseers of certain public roads.
The first grand jury in Smith County, consisting of Grant Allen, Willis Haynie,
John Barkley, James Draper, William Pate, Anthony Samuel, James Ballow, William
Kelton, Daniel Mungle, John Crosswhite, Thomas Jemison and Nat Ridley were
impaneled by the court of pleas and quarter sessions at its March term,
1800. The county not being then divided into civil districts, assessors
were appointed to list the taxable property in each captain’s company of the
militia. The following persons were then appointed assessors for the year
1800, to wit: Garrett Fitzgerald, for the Flinn Creek company; Charles
Hudgspath, for the Obed and Roaring River company or settlement; William
Walton, for Capt. Vance’s company; Thomas Harmand, for Capt. Pate’s company;
Peter Turney, for the Peyton Creek company; Tilman Dixon, for Capt. Bradley’s
company; James Hibbetts, for Capt. Shaw’s company, and James Gwinn, for Capt.
Gwinn’s company. Several persons then appeared in court and had their
stock marks recorded, it being the custom then to allow the stock to run at
large on the unoccupied lands, and each man had his own peculiar stock
mark. The bounty on wolf scalps was then established at $1. And
David Venters was allowed to build a mill on Goose Creek near the Big
Spring. The same year, 1800, William Saunders was permitted to build a
saw and grist-mill on Dixon Creek, about 200 yards below the Blue Spring.
The dam was not to be over twelve feet high, and the water was to be drawn off,
if requested by Mr. Dixon, by the 15th of June each
year. At the June term, 1801, of said court the sheriff returned a
long list of delinquent tax lands belonging to non-resident owners. Many
of their tracts contained several thousand acres, and all were ordered to be
sold to satisfy the taxes and costs charged thereon. The court of pleas
and quarter sessions continued to be held at the house of Tilman Dixon until
June, 1802, when it was held at the house of William Saunders. And from
that time till 1806 it was held alternately at the houses of the said Dixon,
Saunders, William Walton and Peter Turney. At the December term, 1804,
Willis Jones, Benjamin John and Wilson Cage were appointed commissioners to
select and purchase a site for the seat of justice, and to lay out a town
thereon, and to sell the lots and appropriate the proceeds to the payment of
the land, and the erection of the public buildings. These commissioners
selected the site of the present town of Carthage, then owned by William Walton
and from him purchased the same, consisting of fifty acres, for the
consideration of 1 cent, and secured title thereto by deed dated December 28,
1804. And during that winter they laid out the town of Carthage and sold
the lots thereof and erected the first courthouse for the county, on the public
square, in 1805. This courthouse was constructed of brick and was about
fifty feet square, with four offices and a hall on the first floor, and two
offices and the court room on the second. All the rooms had large wood
fireplaces. The first term of the court of pleas and quarter sessions held
in the courthouse was in March, 1806. This courthouse stood until 1877,
when it was taken down and the present one erected in its stead at a cost of
about $18,000. This is a substantial two-story brick building of
considerable architectural beauty, with the county offices and hall on the
first floor and the court room and some small rooms on the second. Col.
Fite was the general superintendent of the erection of this building, and Henry
C. Jackson, of Murfreesboro, was the contractor and builder. The first
jail in the county was built about the year 1812 by James Walton. It was
made of logs and contained two rooms, one above the other, and cost about
$700. It stood on the site of the present jail and was replaced by the
latter about the year 1835. The old poor-farm on Peyton Creek, consisting
of seventy-five acres, was purchased and fitted up in an early day. It
was sold in 1871 to Henry, William and Thomas Hacket for $761, and at the same
time another farm containing 211 acres was purchased in the horse-shoe bend of
the Cumberland River, in District No. 20 for $1,200. Buildings were
erected thereon and other improvements made, costing about $3,500. The
location of this farm being considered unhealthy, as well as very inconvenient,
it was afterward sold and the present one purchased. The latter is
situated two and a half miles west of Carthage and contains forty-five acres of
good tillable land. The poor asylum, which is a substantial and safe
brick building of modern architecture and heated with two furnaces, was erected
in 1885 at a cost of $9,000. At present writing there are fourteen
paupers in the asylum.
During the early history of the county, the revenues were not assessed and
collected according to the value of the property. To illustrate the
method, the rates for the year 1811, which are similar to other years of that
period, are here given as established by the then authorities. They are
as follows: For county purposes—on each 100 acres of land, 12 ½ cents;
each white poll, 12 ½ cents; each black poll, 25 cents; each town lot, 25
cents; each stallion, $1; each retail store, $5. For Jurors—on each 100 acres,
6 ¼ cents; each white poll, 6 ¼ cents; each black poll, 6 ¼ cents; each town
lot, 6 ¼ cents; each stallion 25 cents; each retail store, $1. Thus it will be
seen that the taxes were levied on specific property, without writing any
regard to its value. The taxable property of the county at present writing
consists of 202 town lots valued at $84,835, and 197,279 acres of land valued
at $2,335,195, and personal property valued at $347,125, and other property
valued at $25,755, making a grand total of taxable property of
$2,792,910. There are also 2,709 taxable polls. The total taxes
levied on the foregoing property and polls for the year 1886 amounts to
$32,788.51. The finances of Smith County have always been so well managed
that her warrants have seldom if ever been below par. The county is well
supplied with public buildings, all of which have been erected without the
issuing of bonds. And at present the county has no outstanding bonds or
warrants, and is entirely out of debt. The following is a list of the county
officers with dates of service: County court clerks—Sampson Williams,
1799-1804; Robert Allen, 1804-12; Joseph W. Allen, 1812, a few months and died;
Robert Allen, 1812-19; Jonathan Pickett, 1819-35; John I. Burnett, 1835-48; W.
V. R. Hallum, 1848-56; David C. Sanders, 1856-64; E W. Turner, 1864-68; John P.
Yelton, 1868-70; B. F. C. Smith, 1870-1874; Samuel Allison, 1874-82; John B.
Jordan, 1882-86; and re-elected. Sheriffs—John Martin, 1799-1802; Lee
Sullivan, 1802-04; George Matlock, 1804-12; John Gordon, 1812-16; Wm. Goodall,
1816-27; David Burford, 1827-29; S. B. Hughes, 1829-34; Samuel P. Howard,
1834-38; Wyatt W. Bailey, 1838-44; John Bailey, 1844-48; John Bridges, 1848-52;
Samuel Allison, 1852-58; John W. Hughes, 1858-60; B. B. Uhles, 1860-62; Larkin
Cornwell, 1862-64; H. S. Patterson, 1864-66; J. H. Smith, 1866-68; J. E. Clark,
1868-70; Wm. Arrington, 1870-72; J. H. Corder, 1872-76; John B. Wilson,
1876-80; Wm. T. Barrett, 1880-84; A. J. Dawson, 1884-86, and re-elected.
Registers—Daniel Burford, 1819-25; Alex Allison, 1825-32; Harvey Hogg, 1832-42;
A. S. Watkins, 1842-46; David C. Sanders, 1846-54; Quaintance C. Sanders,
1854-58; S. R. Thompson, 1858-62; J. P. McKee, 1864-70; W. P. Pettie, 1870-74;
A. N. Williams, 1874-78; Joseph P. King, 1878-80; W. W. Ford, 1880-82; E. B.
Price, 1882-86; D. C. Sanders, 1886. Trustees since 1840—David K.
Timberlake, 1840-52; A. W. Allen, 1852-54; John P. Haynie, 185-56; Ira W. King,
1856-62; J. H. Newbell, 1862-66; Joseph A. Pendarris, 1866-70; E. H. Knight,
1870-72; D. J. Lynch, 1872-74; D. A. West, 1874-76; S. R Johnson,
1876-78; N. J. Kemp, 1878-80; W. V. Harrell, 1880-82; W. J. Johnson, 1882-84;
J. B. Duke, 1884-86; W. M. Johnson, 1886. Circuit court clerks—Robert
Allen, 1810-13; John W. Overton, 1813-20; Charles Sherwood, 1820-23; Wm. Hart,
1823-48; Henry Wm. Hart, 1848-52; N. B. Burdine, 1852-56; Thomas Fisher,
1856-64; Ira W. King, 1864-65; John L. Arendall 1865, March to August; W. J.
Cleveland, 1856-66; Thomas Waters, 1866-68; W. B. Pickering, 1868-70; Thomas
Fisher, 1870-74; W. B. Pettie, 1874-82; T. B. Read, 1882-86; W. W. Ford,
1886. Clerks and Masters of chancery courts—Robert L. Caruthers, 1825-27;
John G. Park, 1827-37; Wm. C. Hubbard, 1837; one term; John G. Park, 1837-38;
A. Moore, Jr., 1838, to the civil war; D. H. Campbell, 1865-71; John A. Fite,
1871-77; Wm. D. Gold, present incumbent ever since 1877. For list of congressmen
see history of Sumner County.
The court of pleas and quarter sessions, for many years after its organization,
had jurisdiction over all kinds of business, both civil and criminal. One
of its early criminal cases was that of the State vs. Dr. Charles F.
Mabias. The defendant was indicted for stealing a cow bell, of the value
of 6 cents, from one Joseph Cannon. He was tried and found “not guilty,”
whereupon the costs of the prosecution were all taxed against Mr. Cannon, the prosecutor.
This occurred when the court was held at the house of Wm. Saunders. The
following novel resignation was discovered in the records of the May term,
1814, of said court:
A justice of the peace, you see,
No longer now I mean to be;
I therefore now resign to you,
As by these lines you see it true.
You therefore now your order may
Give to the clerk without delay,
That he may your right transmit
To the next session when they sit.
--Henry McWhorter.
The last term of the court of pleas and quarter sessions was held in February,
1836; and the first term of the county court, which was established instead of
and to succeed the court of pleas and quarter sessions, was held in May,
1836. The county court was then composed of forty-two justices of the
peace, all of whom were present and to whom the oath of office was administered
by Judge Abraham Caruthers. Exum Whitley was elected chairman of the
court. This court is now composed of forty-five justices of the peace, and its
present chairman is Irenus Beckwith. The Third Judicial District of the
State, including the counties of Smith, Warren, Franklin, Sumner, Overton,
White and Jackson, was formed by an act of the Legislature passed November 16,
1809. The circuit court, according to this act, was to be held in Smith
County, beginning on the fourth Monday of March and September of each year.
The first term of this court was probably held in March, 1810, but the records
thereof not being found among the records of the clerk the exact date cannot be
given. Hon. Nathan W. Williams was the first judge of the district, and
he continued to preside alternately for many years with Judges Archibald Roane,
P. W. Humphreys, Thomas Stewart, Bennett Searcy, J. C. Isaacks, Charles F.
Keith and others until 1834, since which time the court has been presided over
by the following judges, to wit: Abraham Caruthers, 1834-47; Wm. B. Campbell,
1847-51; Alvan Cullom, 1851-52; James T. Quarles, one term in 1852; John L.
Goodall, 1852-58; S. M. Fite, 1858-64; Andrew McClain, 1864-69; S. M. Fite,
1869-75; N. W. McConnell, 1875-86; John A. Fite, 1886. The chancery court
of Smith County was established by an act of the Legislature passed October 29,
1824, and its first term was begun and held on the third Monday of May, 1825,
with Hon. John Catron presiding as chancellor, and Hon. Robert C. Caruthers
clerk and master. Prior to 1840 this court was presided over by
Chancellors John Catron, Robert White, Nathan Green, Will A. Cook, Wm. B. Reese
and Thomas L. Williams, in the order here named. From 1840 to 1860 Hon.
Bloomfield L. Ridley was chancellor and presided for forty terms, and then
Smith County was changed by act of the Legislature from Ridley’s
district. Since 1860 the chancery court has been presided over as
follows: Josephus C. Guild, 1860-61; Jas. O. Shackelford, 1865-66; Thomas
Barry, 1866-67; B. C. Tillman, 1867-69; Charles G. Smith, 1869-70; W. W.
Goodpaster, 1870-72; W. G. Cowley, 1872-86; W. W. Wade, 1886—elected. The
bar of Carthage has contained many resident members whose reputation for
ability was widely extended. Among those who rose to eminent distinction
may be mentioned the Hon. Robert L. Caruthers, Judge Abraham Caruthers, Gen.
Wm. Cullom, Wm. B. Campbell, the noted jurist, soldier, and subsequent governor
for the State; Judge Samuel M. Fite, Hon. James B. Moore, Col. W. H. DeWitt,
Capt. W. W. Ward, Capt. J. W. McHenry, Col. Jordon Stokes, Judge John D.
Goodall and Hon. Andrew McClain; all too well known to need further mention
here. The present bar of Carthage consists of the following honorable
gentlemen: E. L. Gardenhire, A. A. Swope, John A. Fite, judge of the
circuit court; H. M. Hale, T. J. Fisher, Sr., J. B. Jordon, W. D. Gold, Col. A.
E. Garrett, C. W. Garrett, E. W. Turner, B. F. C. Smith, J. B. Luster, W. W.
Fergusson, J. M. Fisher, W. V. Lee, L. A. Ligon, the present representative in
the State Legislature, and D. A. Witt.
Smith County was represented in the war with Great Britain in 1812-15 by two
companies of soldiers commanded respectively by Capt.--Roberson and James
Walton. These companies went to New Orleans and participated in that famous
battle under the heroic Gen. Jackson. There were four companies of soldiers
raised in this county, which served through the Mexican war; two of them,
commanded respectively by Capts. Wm. Walton and L. P. McMurry, served in the
First Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers, commanded by Col. (since governor)
William B. Campbell. Capt. Don Allison’s company served in a Tennessee
regiment of cavalry, commended by Col. Thomas. And soon after entering
the service Capt. Allison was promoted to the office of lieutenant-colonel of
his regiment. Capt. John D. Goodall’s company served in the Fourth
Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers, commanded by Col. Waterhouse. The first
three companies entered the service in 1846, and the latter in 1847, and all
served to the close of the war. At the approach of the late civil war
there was a strong Union sentiment in Smith County, but being inside the
Confederate lines when the war began, no companies of soldiers were organized
for the Union Army. Several Union men subsequently joined Federal
commands. There were twelve companies raised in Smith County for the
Confederate Armies. The first one was raised in April, 1861, and was
commanded by Capt. (now judge) John A. Fite. It joined the Seventh
Tennessee Regiment. Two other companies, commanded respectively by Capts.
W. W. Ward and—Cossett, served in Col. Bennett’s regiment. Three
companies, commanded respectively by Capts.—James, H. W. Hart and Alex Dillaha,
served in the Twenty-fourth Tennessee Regiment. One company commanded by
Capt. W. H. McDonald, served in the Twenty-fifth Tennessee Regiment.
Capt. Q. C. Sanders’ company served in Col. Baxter Smith’s regiment of
cavalry. Two companies, commanded respectively by Capts. Tom King and A.
B. Cates, served in Col. Bartow’s regiment of cavalry, and two companies
commanded respectively by Capts. H. B. Haynie and William B. Burford, served in
other regiments. Including with the companies raised in the county, the
individuals who joined companies raised in adjoining counties, it is estimated
that fully 1,200 men served in the Confederate Army form Smith County.
Being outside of the direct line of march of the contending armies, Smith
County did not suffer as much as many other counties from the ravages of war.
The first occupation of Carthage by Federal troops took place in February,
1863, when Gen. George Crooks with his command took possession of the town. He
was relieved in June following by Gen. Spears, who commanded a brigade of East
Tennesseans, and subsequently the town was occupied by Col. Jordon Stokes and
his command. From the time Gen. Crooks first occupied it until the close
of the war, it was in possession of Federal troops.
Carthage was laid out as heretofore stated in the year 1805, on lands purchased
from William Walton, and being the oldest town in a large place of considerable
business importance. In 1830 it contained, according to the “Tennessee
Gazetter,” “about 700 inhabitants, eight lawyers, three doctors, one divine,
thirteen stores, four taverns, one grocery, two tailors, two blacksmith shops,
one printing office, one tanyard, one male and female academy, one church and a
steam grist and saw-mill.” As the country became settled other towns were
established, which took the trade away from Carthage, so that its business has
declined to that of a small village. It now contains, aside from the
county buildings, the general store of Joseph Myer & Son, the drug,
hardware and furniture store of Capt. T. P. Bridges, two groceries kept by E.
B. Price and T. B. Read & Son, the wagon and blacksmith shop of W. I.
Chandler, a few other mechanics’ shops, two printing presses, three hotels—the
Carthage Hotel, the McDonald Hotel and Fisher’s Hotel—two schools (one white
and one colored), four physicians, five churches (four white and one colored),
two livery stables and a lodge each of Free Masons and Good Templars. The
names of the physicians are J. S. Cornwell, Frank Swope, H. M. Blair and H. C.
McDonald. The population of the town is about 400. The Carthage
Mirror and The Record are weekly newspapers, both having a good
circulation and both being well sustained. The former was established in
May, 1883, by J. B. Luster, who continues its publication, and the latter was
established in the fall of 1883, by W. D. Gold, who continues its
publication. Dixon Springs contains three general stores, one drug store,
one grocery, one saddler’s shop, one livery stable, one grist and saw-mill, two
hotels, one union church, an academy and a colored school. Gordonsville
was established in 1804, and named after John Gordon, its first merchant.
It now contains two store, a livery stable, one school, two churches, a tobacco
factory, some mechanics’ shops, and about 175 inhabitants. Chestnut
Mound, in District No. 8, contains three stores, a cabinet shop, livery stable
and a school. Elmwood, located east of Cane Fork, contains two stores,
one church and the Elmwood Institute. Rome, situated on the Cumberland,
at the mouth of Round Lick Creek, contains several business houses. Monoville,
Riddleton, Stonewall, Grant, Lancaster and Middleton are post villages each
containing from one to four stores, etc.
According to the custom in all newly settled countries, the children of the
first settlers of Smith County were deprived of many educational
advantages. As soon, however, as a neighborhood became sufficiently
settled, a private school or academy was established therein. There being
no free schools, the children of the poor who were not able to pay “rate
bills,” continued to remain without school privileges. Among the first
schools of note in the county was the Geneva Academy established at Carthage in
the first decade of the century. This was a county school entitled to the
public school fund, meager though it was, of the county. The Carthage
Female Academy was established in 1842, and subsequently made a branch of
Geneva Academy in order to enable it to draw a portion of the aforesaid public
fund. The building of the original Geneva Academy was sold a few years
ago, and the Female Academy, which is still sustained, was then opened to both
sexes. The most noted school the county has ever had was Clinton College,
founded by Dr. Francis H. Gordon, James B. Moores and Willie B. Gordon, and
established in October, 1833, on the Lebanon and Trousdale Ferry
Turnpike. Dr. F. H. Gordon and Prof. James B. Moores (the latter of whom
became an eminent lawyer) were for many years the principal teachers in the
college, the doors of which were permanently closed some time during the decade
of the fifties. There are several high schools distributed throughout the
county, prominent among which are the Elmwood Institute and Dixon Springs
Academy. To show how the county is progressing under the free school
system, the following statistics are taken from the last published report of
the State superintendent of public instruction: Scholastic
population—White: male, 2,775; female,2,440; total, 5,215. Colored: male, 629;
female, 626; total 1,255; Number of pupils enrolled during the year—White:
male, 1,461; female, 1,338; total, 2,799. Colored: male, 398, female,
358; total, 756. Number of teachers employed—White: male, 44; female,
12. Colored: male, 14; female, 4; total, 73. Number of schools,
white, 56; colored, 17; total, 73. Amount of money expended during the
year, $11,916.79. By comparing the above figures it will be seen
that only a little over one-half of the white children attended the free
schools while a larger percentage of the colored children were in attendance.
It
is thought that the Baptist organized the first religious society in the
county, at the house of Grant Allen near Dixon Springs in the year 1799.
It is now known as the Dixon Creek Baptist Church. Rev. John McGee, a
noted pioneer minister of the Methodist Church, settled near Dixon Springs in
1798, and a meeting-house was built on his land, called the McGee’s
Meeting-house. And this was no doubt the first Methodist Church in the county.*
[Reminiscences of Dr. J. W. Bowen.] Rev. McGee was noted of the active
part he took in the great religious revival at the beginning of this
century. Other noted pioneer ministers of the county were Revs. John
Page, John Maffit, David K. Timberlake, John Mann, David Halliburton, Sr.,
Jesse Moreland, Stephen B. Lysle, Wm. Cherry, Wm. H. Johnson, Ira W. King and
Robt. Trawick. The first church in Carthage was built by the Methodists
at the upper end of Main Street soon after the town was established. The
next was the present Methodist Church built jointly by the Methodists and
Cumberland Presbyterians about the year 1830. The Cumberland
Presbyterians built their church a few years later. The Baptist and
Christian Churches in Carthage are both of recent construction. The first
camp-meeting ground, known as the Hodge’s camp-ground was established one and a
fourth miles west of Carthage. The site of it is now in possession of Horace
Oliver. A meeting-house was erected at that point soon after it was
settled. The noted evangelist, Lorenzo Dow, preached in Carthage to the
soldiers raised for Jackson’s army, just before their departure for New
Orleans. This was about the year 1813. The Methodists, Baptists and
Presbyterians were the pioneer Christian denominations of the county, and they
have always been, and still continue to be the leading religious sects.
The establishment of the Christian Church in the county has been of a more
recent date. The people of Smith County are primitive in their habits and
customs—generous and hospitable, and sustain a high standard of morality.
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Marriage License of
Ancestors on file at Carthage, Tennessee Library
Aron Webb Bond Issued Oct. 30, 1880
To No license or return recorded
Lean Gordon
J. H. Gordon Issued Jan. 21, 1880
To Sol. Jan 22, 1880
J. H. Perkins By D. N. Jarrard M.G.
Dop Gordon Issued Dec. 23, 1879
To Sol. Dec. 23, 1879
Susan Cowan By Gilbert Bridgewater M.G.
Philip Gordon, Col Issued Dec 15, 1880
To Sol. Dec. 16, 1880
Evaline Boulton, Col By C. L. Seward M. G.
Dillard McDonald Issued Dec. 23, 1879
To Sol. Dec. 25, 1879
Winnie Gordon By David Whitley M. G.
Harry Hogan Issued March 23rd 1877
To Executed March 24th 1877
Manerve Gordon By H. L. Trawick M.G.
Eli P. Gordon Iss. March 26th, 1866
To Sol. April 1st, 1866
Phillis Thomas By D, M Bradford, J. P.
John Haynes Iss. January 14th 1876
To Sol. “ 17th 1876
Rachel Webb By James A. Barrett, J. P.
Wm. Gordon, Col Iss. May 16th, 1873
To Sol “ 17th, 1873
Sarah Bridgewater, Col By J. A. Barrett, J. P.
Wm. Gordon, Colored Issued May 16,1873
To Solemnized May 17, 1873
Sarah Bridgewater, Col By James A. Barrett
Alfred Gibbs Iss Dec. 29, 1874
To Sol Dec. 30, 1874
Callie Gordon By D. W. Jarrard M.G.
John H. Gordon Issued June 25, 1868
To Solemnized June 25, 1868
Miss Susan Alexander By D. H. Suite, J. P.
Francis H. Gordon Issued February 13, 1838
To Solemnized Feb 22, 1838
Catherine C. Moon Moore By John W. Brown, M. G.
Mathew A. L. Gordon Issued March 20, 1849
To Solemnized March 22, 1849
Lucy L. Ward By J. R. James, J. P.
Francis M. Orange Issued April 27, 1853
To Solemnized April 28, 1853
Martha McGee By Wm. B. Whitley, J. P.
James Haynes (?) Issued November 17, 1847
To Solemnized Nov. 25, 1847
Mahala McCall By Joel Whitten, M.G.
Henry Givens Issued June 7, 1855
To Solemnized June, 1855
Elizabeth Gordon By Wm. B. Whitley, J. P.
George W. Gordon Issued Jan (?) 1864
To No return
Parnetha J. Massey
John W. Gordon Issued June 25, 1868
To Executed 25 June 1868
Susan Alexander By D. H. Suit, J. P.
John W. Glasgow Issued January 28, 1868
To Solemnized Jan. 28, 1868
Mary Gordon By Rev. W. J. Price
Felix G. Perkins Issued November 24th 1869
To Executed November 25th 1869
Frances E. Gordon By D. R. Timberlake, M. G.
Geo. W. Gordon Iss. Oct. 25, 1873
To Sol. Oct 26, 1873
Dialtha C. Coffee By Elijah Dickens, M. G.
H. C. Orange & Jane McDonald, July 24, 1881. R. A. Ware. J. P. Orange is 24 years old and a farmer; Jane is 16 years old and lives in Smith Co. at the time of the marriage.
Gilbert Gordon & Sarah Cowen, March 29, 1882. O. Green. (No other information given).
J. L. Orange & S. E. Orange, August 23, 1882. B. A. James, J.P.
R. H. Johnson & Ella Gordon, December 24, 1882. H. J. Perkins, J.P. Johnson, 23, a farmer, was born and lives in Smith Co., TN. Gordon, 21, was born in Leek (sic), Co., Mississippi; lives in Stonewall, Smith Co.., TN. Witnesses: James Johnson and Green Shepherd of Stonewall, TN.
Thomas Gordon & Ella McKinley, August 30, 1889. W. F. Wyatt, J.P.
William Clark & Phillis Gordon, March 23, 1890. H. J. R. Williams, M. G.
J. B. Allen & Mahala Green Orange, July 4, 1893. W. H. Lincoln, J. P.
Gentry Gordon & Bettie Bass, July 7 1894. Ned Seay, M. G.
W. G. Orange & Donie B. Roberts, December 27, 1894. C. K. Carlock, M. G.
R. H. Gordon & Maggie Sircy, July 19, 1896. W. M. Johnson, J. P.
Haskell Womack & Minnie Orange, November 8, 1903. A. L. Prewett, J. M G.
J. R. Chapman & Mrs. Donie Orange, January 4, 1905. W. P. D. Clark, M. G.
Bob Preston & Neily Orange, November 17, 1907. Robert Nixon, J. P.
Will Orange & Maye Smith, November 24, 1907. W. A. Davis, J.P.
G. W. Orange & Mrs. Dona Chapman, November 18, 1910. Orin Lynch, J. P.
Jessie Denney & Novia Orange, license issued June 12, 1915; no evidence of marriage solemnized.
Herbert Orange & Myrtle Manning, December 28, 1915. R. M. McDonald, J.P.
Cecil Nixon & Nettie Orange, February 18, 1917. J. B. Gwaltney, J.P.
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Joseph Gordon - 1802
The original deed
as copied from the Smith County, Tennessee Court House. The copy, and
transcriptions were done by, Gail and Vernon H. Drewa in August 2001.
This Indenture made this twenty eighth day July in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred & two between Dennis Kelley of the State Tennessee of Wilson County of the one part & Joseph Gordon the State aforesaid and Smith County of the other part Witneseth that the said Kelley for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and forty Dollars to him in hand paid the receipt whereof he doth give warrant sell and confirm unto the said Joseph Gordon a certain plantation on tract of land containing two hundred & eighty eight acres being granted to George Summers from States office in the State of North Carolina bearing Date the twentieth of May in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety three lying and being in the County of Smith situate on ___________ fork a fork of the Cany fork of Cumberland River Beginning at a white oak and _______ running North two hundred and forty three poles to an ash thence west one hundred and ninety poles to a stake thence South one hundred and forty three poles to an ash thence to the first station together with all woods water mines minerals hereditaments and appurtenances to the said land belong to of appertaining to hold to the said Joseph Gordon his heirs or assigns forever they yielding to & paying such sums of money yearly or other wise as the General Assembly from time to time May Direct and said Dennis Kelley and his heirs the said the tenniments and premises to and every part thereof against himself his heirs and against every other person or persons to the said Joseph Gordon his heirs or assigns shall and do hereby warrant and forever defend in witness whereof the said Kelley hath hereunto set they hand and seal in the Day and year above written
(His
Dennis X Kelley (Seal)
Mark)
Assigned Sealed Delivered in presence of
John Rooney |
Samson Bilhatt | State Tennessee Smith County
Sept Term 1802
The execution of the within Deed of Conveyance from Dennis Kelley to Joseph Gordon has acknowledged in open Court
Let it be Reg.
Reg 13 Dec 1802 F Williams
(Note: Every effort was made to transcribe the original document. Blank space is where no discernable word could be determined from copies of the documents. Rather than inserting what I think the wording should be, they are left blank for you interpretation. /s/ Vernon H. Drewa)
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Robert Harper Will – 1807
The original deed
as copied from the Smith County, Tennessee Court House. The copy, and
transcriptions were done by, Gail and Vernon H. Drewa in August 2001.
Robt Harper Dec will
In the name of God amen
I Robert Harper of the county of smith and State of Tennessee being of sound and perfect mind and memory do this twenty fifth day of May in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seven make and publish this my last will and Testamont manner and form as follows That is to say first of all it is my will for all my just-debts to be paid
Then I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Pheby Harper my gray mare and the faster horse and the 2 cows and calfs that I know I have and one feather bed and furniture that we commonly lay on and her side sadle and also equal part of all my property that is not mentioned exclusive of the legacy above mentioned I also leave to my wife Pheby during her widowhood my young Negro girl named Easter
Item I also give and bequeath to my daughter Mary McDonel five dollars besides what I have given her before. I also leave and bequeath to daughter Margaret Bird five dollars besides what I have given her before.
Item I also give and bequeath to my daughter Patsy Harper my mare known by the name of The Young Black mare and also a side sadle that was called hers and bridle and also one feather bed & furniture commonly called hers
Item I give and bequeath to my son Jonathon Harper one Sorl mare and colt and the young horse that he claims exclusive of his equal part
Item I also give and bequeath to my son Isaac Harper one horse that is called Jack also one young mare That has been called his Exclusive of his equal part
Item I also give and bequeath to my son Wm B Harper one young mare called Cale Exclusive of his equal part
Item I also give and bequeath to my son Mathew Harper one mare called Satfoster __________ her two first colts that said mare has The first colt I give to my son Sampson Harper and the second to my son Robert Harper Exclusive of their equal part
Item I also give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Harper one feather bed and furniture that is called her Exclusive of her equal part and also my will and desire is that my executors make _________ as they think proper for my son John Harper Exclusive of his equal part and my will and desire is that all the rest of my property that was not mentioned to be sold and equally divided at the discretion of my Executors between my wife Pheby Harper and my son Jonathan Harper & Isaac Harper & Wm B Harper & Sampson Harper and Robert Harper & John Harper and James Harper and my Daughter Sarah Harper and June Harper and each one of the children to receive their part as they come of age and also my will and desire is and do appoint Matthew Harper and James Boarland my Executors to this my last will & testament ___________Thereof I do set my hand and affix my seal in the presence of
Charles Mundine Robt Harper (Seal)
Test Shelton (his X mark) Craghead Jurat
Jesse (his X mark) Candy Jurat
State of Tennessee| September Term 1807
Smith County |
I do hereby certify that the Executors of the written will of Robert Harper Died was duely proven by the oath of Shelton Craghead and Jesse Crand_____ ______ of the subscribing witnesses thereto in open Court and admitted to record
Robt Allen Clk
(Note: Every effort was made to transcribe the original document. Blank space is where no discernable word could be determined from copies of the documents. Rather than inserting what I think the wording should be, they are left blank for you interpretation. /s/ Vernon H. Drewa)
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John
Gordon – Martin - 1807
The original deed
as copied from the Smith County, Tennessee Court House. The copy, and
transcriptions were done by, Gail and Vernon H. Drewa in August 2001.
Judgement in
behalf of the State and County against said lands for the ______ary and charges
and thereon amounting to eight dollars and thirty five and a here appoint a
writ of fieri facias executed to this Sheriff of said County Commanding him to
expose Said land to Sale or to __________ thereof as will satisfy said land and
did after having advertised ____________ _____________ ____________ place did
after of the sale of the said land according to Said publicity on the third day
of August 1807 at the Court house in Carthage upon said tract of land to sale
where and when John _______ offered to pay the aforesaid tax and Charges for
the same and ______ _________ offering to pay the same for ________ land he
then and there became the lowest and _________ bidder for the same and no
parcel having _______ land by paying the land and charges as aforementioned
within twelve months after the date of said sales _____ ________ Indenture made
this the month and day of august in the Yar of our Lord eighteen hundred
and eight between John Gordon Sheriff of Smith County and State of Tennessee of
the one part and John L. Martin of said County and ______ of the other part
Witnesseth that the said John Gordon Sheriff as aforesaid by virtue of his
office as Sheriff and by virtue of the _______ aforesaid & by virtue &
__________ of the act of the general assembly in ______
__________ _________ and provided and in consideration of the
________ of money aforesaid stated to him in hand said by said John L. Martin
the receipt whereof is hereby ______ ________ hath this day bargained sold _____
___________ conveyed and confirmed unto the said John L Martin his heirs and
assigns forever all the right title and interest of said Baumum to the
aforesaid six hundred and forty acres of land as before mentioned which is
______ and bounded as follows lying and being in the County of Smith on the
dividing ridge between Cumberland River and Bannon waters beginning at a
hickory and ash about a half a mile where a _________ road cropes said ridge
running South three hundred and twenty poles to a dogwood and red oak thence
North three hundred and twenty poles to a stake thence East to the beginning
together with all and singular the appurtenances here unto belonging and
appertaining to have and to hold the said and bargained premises
unto the said John L. Martin his heirs and assigns forever and as full and
affectual manner as the said John Gordon by virtue of the writ of firei facias
aforesaid and the act of assembly in such case made and provided hath
authorized and enable him to covenant and convey and transfer the said premises
in witness whereof the said John Gordon Sheriff as aforesaid hat hereunto set
his hand an seal this the day and year first above written convey and transfer
the said premises in witness whereof the said John Gordon Sheriff as aforesaid
hath hereunto set his hand and seal this the day and year first above
written
John Gordon Sheriff (Seal)
Signed Sealed and
Delivered
|
of Smith County
In presence
of
|
Marlo R
_____________
State of
Tennessee |
Smith
County |
September Term 1808 Then the within named John Gordon Sheriff acknowledged the
within deed of conveyance as his act and deed for the purposes within mentioned
and ordered to be registered
Test
Robert Allen
(Note: Every effort was made to transcribe the original document. Blank space is where no discernable word could be determined from copies of the documents. Rather than inserting what I think the wording should be, they are left blank for you interpretation. /s/ Vernon H. Drewa)
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John Gordon to Martin-1808
The original deed
as copied from the Smith County, Tennessee Court House. The copy, and
transcriptions were done by, Gail and Vernon H. Drewa in August 2001.
Where as at a Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions held for the County of Smith at their June Session 1806 one Douglas Esquire former Sheriff & Collector of the publick Tax in said County for the year 1803 made report to said Court that the Tax remained Due and unpaid on one thousand acres of land in said County returned for taxation for said year in the name of Thomas Love & that he could find no goods & chattels of said Love in his County whereon to distress for the same whereupon it was ordered by the Court that their Clerk make out a Certificate of the same together with the amount of the Tax & Charges due thereon, & cause the same to be published in the Knoxville & Nashville Gazettes seting forth that the same would be sold & no person having come forward to pay the same the said Court did at their December Term 1806 enter up Judgement in behalf of the State & County against said land for the Tax & Charges due thereon amounting in all to Eight Dollars & 12 & ½ cents & thereupon & writ of fieri facias issued directed to the Sheriff of said County Commanding him that, he cause to be made said Tax & Costs out of said Land & and whereupon said Sheriff after duly advertising the time & place of the sale of said Land did on the twenty eighth day of February 1807 at the Court House in Carthage publickly offer the same for sale & then & there John L. Martin offered to pay said Tax & Charges for the whole of said land & no person offered to pay the same for a less quantity of said Land he therefore became the lowest & last bidder for the same & whereas afterward (to Wit) at March Term 1807 the aforesaid John Douglas Sheriff & Collector of the State & County for the year 1802 in said County did report to said Court that the Tax remained due & unpaid on one thousand acres of land in said County returned for taxation for the year 1802 in the name of Thomas Love and that he could find no goods & chattels of said Love in his County whereon to distress for the same, it was thereupon ordered by said that their Clerk make out a Certificate of the same together with the amount of the Tax & Charges due thereon seting forth that the same would be sold for the same and cause the same & cause the same to be published in the Knoxville & Nashville Gazettes according to law & whereas no person came forward to pay said Tax & charges the Court did at June Term 1807 enter up Judgement in behalf of the State & County against said Land for the Tax & charges due thereon amounting in all to Eight Dollars & two cents whereupon a writ of Venditioni exponas issued to the Sheriff of said County Commanding him to expose to Publick Sale said tract of Land or as much thereof as would be sufficient to satisfy said tax & Charges due thereon & whereupon said sheriff did after duly advertising the time & place of the sale of the same Publickly on the third day of August 1807 at the Courthouse in Carthage expose to sale said tract of One Thousand acres of land in the name of Thomas Love when & where John L. Martin became the lowest & last bidder for the amount of Tax and Charges as aforesaid and no person having within twelve months from the Date of the aforesaid Sales came forward & redeemed said land by paying said Tax & Charges this Indenture made this Ninth Day of September in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred & eight between John Gordon Sheriff of said County of one part & John L Martin of Smith County & Sate of Tennessee of the other part witnesseth that the said John Gordon Sheriff as aforesaid by virtue of his said office as Sheriff and by virtue of the Executions & Judgements & by Virtue & force of the act of the General Assembly in such case made and provided & in consideration of the aforementioned sums of money to him in hand paid by the said John L Martin the receipt where of is hereby acknowledged have bargained sold aliened executed conveyed & confirmed & does by these presents Bargain Sell, Convey Alien Execute & confirm unto the said John L. Martin his heirs & assigns forever all the right Title Claim & interest of said Thomas Love of in & to one thousand acres of land at the time of the taxation of the same for the years 1802 and 1803 which said land is butted & bounded as follows (to wit) lying & being in the County of Smith on the North side of Cumberland River beginning at a white oak & Sugartree Saplin South east corner to Anthony Harts track of two thousand and one hundred & ninety four acres North of Grant 440 thence North four hundred & twenty poles to an Ash & Lynn thence west three hundred & eighty one poles to a stake in the line of the patent thence East three hundred & eighty one poles along the line of the same to the beginning. To have & to hold the aforesaid bargained premises with the appurtances thereunto belonging unto the said John L. Martin his heirs & assigns forever in as full and effecutual a manner as the said John Gordon Sheriff as aforesaid & by virtue of the Executions affixed and the act of Assembly in such cases made & provided hath authorized & enabled him to Grant Convey & Transfer the said premises In testimony whereof the said John Gordon Sheriff as aforesaid hath hereunto set his hand & seal this day & year first above written. Signed Sealed & Delivered
John Gordon Sheriff ( Seal )
In Presence of of Smith County
T McNutt
State of Tennessee |
Smith County | September session 1808. then John Gordon Sheriff & acknowledged the within to be his act & deed for the purposes therein mentioned & was ordered to be registered
Test
Robert Allen Clk
Regd this 27th of Nov 1808
(Note: Every effort was made to transcribe the original document. Blank space is where no discernable word could be determined from copies of the documents. Rather than inserting what I think the wording should be, they are left blank for you interpretation. /s/ Vernon H. Drewa)
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John
Gordon-Chamberlain-1808
The original deed
as copied from the Smith County, Tennessee Court House. The copy, and
transcriptions were done by, Gail and Vernon H. Drewa in August 2001.
This Indenture
made this eighth day of June 1808 between John Gordon Sheriff of Smith County
in the State of Tennessee of the one part & William Chamberlain of the
County & State aforesaid of the other part witnesseth that whereas an
Execution issued and was levied upon two thirds of lott No 66 in the town of
Carthage the property of John Sims at the instance of Lewis Johnston dated the
19th Day of March 1808 and Sold agreeable to Law after having been
duly advertised on the 28th of May 1808 and whereas the said William
Chamberlain became the purchaser thereof being the last & highest bidder
agreeing to pay the sum of Thirty Seven Dollars Eleven Cents for the said two
thirds of said Lott levied upon as aforesaid & which grew up out of a
Judgement obtained by said Johnston against said Sims & Sterling Cato &
for in Consideration of the sum of aforesaid to him the said John Gordon in
hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath & doth by these
presents give & grant sell & convey to the said William Chamberlain his
heirs & assigns forever in as full & ample a manner as he the said John
Gordon can or ought to do as Sheriff aforesaid all the estate right title
interest & claim which the said John Sims had at the time of the sale
thereof to the aforesaid two thirds of said lott No 66 to hold to the said
William Chamberlain his heirs & assigns forever in witness where of the
said John Gordon Sheriff as aforesaid hath hereunto set his hand & seal the
day and date above
John Gordon Sheriff ( Seal)
State of
Tennessee |
Smith
County |
_____________ Term 1808 I Robert Allen Clerk of the County court of Smith
aforesaid do certify that the Execution of the within Deed was duly
acknowledged in open Court. Let it be registered
Robert Allen Clk
Regd the 1st
day of July 1808
(Note: Every effort was made to transcribe the original document. Blank space is where no discernable word could be determined from copies of the documents. Rather than inserting what I think the wording should be, they are left blank for you interpretation. /s/ Vernon H. Drewa)
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&n