Week 26 #52Anestors: Legend

Moonshiners!  They have been around since the birth of our nation when homemade whisky began as a way to avoid the taxation on liquors and spirits.  Revenuers were despised and often attacked (tarred and feathered) when they came-a-calling to collect the taxes.  In fact, the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 saw President Washington call for the use of military force to quell the uprising of settlers (about 500) who had burned the home of a regional tax inspector in Pennsylvania.

Given the number of Scots-Irish who settled in East Tennessee then it isn't surprising to find this activity in the stories of our ancestors.  The ownership of stills is mentioned in court documents of the Suttons and Eppersons.  In fact, Henley Sutton not only owned a still but he was also a revenue officer!  Many of us are familiar with the famous moonshiner who lived nearby on Newman’s Ridge named Mahala “Big Haley” Mullins.  Stories abound about her.

Mahala "Big Haley" Mullins

According to Tennesseanencyclopedia.net, “With corn the primary crop, particularly among semi-subsistence farmers in the Appalachian backcountry, it was only natural for the production of distilled liquor to become the occupation or avocation of many farmers.  Coupled with poor or corrupt local law enforcement and inhospitality to federal “revenuers,” a tradition was formed that would last to the present.”  The link below is to a very long article published on November 22, 1891 in The Sun (a New York newspaper) about Hancock County, Tennessee.  It reads like the articles found in present day tabloids: 

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030272/1891-11-22/ed-1/seq-27.pdf

I also found this interesting article in the archives of Newspapers.com and would be very curious to know who the bachelor revenuer was:

Published in The Comet (Johnson City, Tennessee) 18 Feb 1897

History repeats itself when a 2002 documentary featured “Popcorn” Sutton in This is the Last Dam Run of Likker I'll Ever Make.  In 2007 his fame went mainstream with the History Channel documentary Hillbilly: The Real Story. Now I am told this legendary modern day moonshiner is a cousin.  

Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton photo found on tripster.com

Is he related to my Sutton family?  Popcorn was born to Vader Sutton and Bonnie Cagle in 1946 in Maggie Valley (Haywood County), North Carolina and died near his place of birth in 2009.  His home was in Parrotsville, Cocke County, Tennessee. Apparently, Vader’s father is unknown but his mother is Martha Jane Sutton who was born in Haywood County, Tennessee to Solomon Sutton and Easter Williams of Haywood County, North Carolina. Solomon’s parents were Jonas Sutton and Nancy Grooms of Haywood County, North Carolina.  Now we are at his 3x’s great-grandparents who were born about 1800 - Cornelius Sutton and Mary of Cocke County, Tennessee but later moved to Haywood County, Tennessee.  Where is Haywood County?

Hmmm…I’m not seeing it but he could be a very distant relative given his relatives lived near East Tennessee. Popcorn’s death ended by his own hand when he refused to serve time in prison.  Perhaps his cancer diagnosis also played a part in his decision.  Popcorn left explicit instructions on where he was to be buried and how to conduct his burial:

“That I get buried…beside My Dad Vader Sutton …haul me on the Back of A Pick up Truck to the Grave yard and get Drunker than Hell while they bury my Ass…I do not want No viewing or Preaching or Singing or nothing when they Bury me.”  Published on www.appalachianhistory.net

Popcorn Sutton's gravemarker found on his Find A Grave Memorial

Rest in Peace, my friend.

Week 25 #52Ancestors: Earliest

This year’s blog has been dedicated to my East Tennessee ancestors so finding the earliest verifiable line is my goal this week.  Perhaps it is time to apply for First Families of Tennessee membership.  It is open to anyone who can prove direct descent from an ancestor living in any part of what is now Tennessee before or by statehood in 1796.  

Sounds easy peasy, right?  Consider this, unless there is a family bible with proof of the marriages, births, and deaths then it will require some digging to prove the family lineage as these were not recorded statewide until 1914.  Some marriage records may be available through the County Court Clerk and I have found a few through online sources but they are scarce.  Census records are available for some counties beginning in 1820 but for the first census for East Tennessee is 1830.  Census records before 1850 record the head of household only.  Gotta love looking at those old census records with a mark under the age range in the appropriate gender category.

1830 Hawkins County, TN census that list several ancestors including Jane Walker Epperson

The 1850 census was the first to name every person in the household along with the age and birthplace.  Wills, taxes, military, church, and court records might also be available on microfilm or paid online sites.  Another option to prove the earliest ancestor is land records and plats.  The Epperson family line appears to be the earliest in East Tennessee, the following land record will be used for my fourth great-grandfather, Joseph Epperson:

Joseph Epperson's Hawkins County Land Record dated 20 July 1792 from Ancestry.com

No. 249

The State of North Carolina

To all whom these Presents shall come. –––GREETING:

Know ye, that we, for and in consideration of the sum of Fifty Shillings for every hundred acres of land hereby granted, paid into our Treasury, 

By Joseph Eperson

Have given and granted and by these presents to give and grant and the said Joseph Eperson a tract of land containing five hundred acres lying and being in the county of Hawkins on Cedar Creek Beginning at a Pine and running west eighty six poles to a Black oak  Then South one hundred and six poles to a Hickory on Browns line Then East twenty poles to a Pine  Then South sixty East forty four poles to a Red oak  Then East twenty poles to a White oak  Thence South ninety four poles to a White oak Then East one hundred and fifty poles to a stake  Thence North sixty seven poles to a Black oak and thence to the Beginning.

As by the plate hereunto annexed doth appear together with all woods watters Mines Minerals Hereditaments and Appurtenances to the said land belonging to hold to the said Joseph Eperson his heirs and assigns forever yielding and paying to us such sums of money yearly or otherwise as our General Assembly from time to time may direct Provided always that the said Joseph Eperson shall cause this grant to be registered in the registers office of said Hawkins county within twelve month from the date hereof otherwise the same shall be void and of no effect,

In testimony Whereof, we have caused these, our letters to be made patent and our Great Seal to be hereunto affixed.

Witness Alexander Martin

Esquire our Governor, Captain General and Commander-in-Chief at Danbury this 20^thday of July, in the 16^thyear of our Independence and in the year of our Lord 1792.

By his Excellency’s Command.

J. Grasgow                                                                                                          Alexander Martin

Secretary

Now as luck would have it, Joseph’s will was filed in Hawkins County and was not destroyed so it points the way to the next generation.  I have tried to transcribe it word-for-word as follows: 

Will of Joseph Epperson

Dated Sept 26, 1814

In the name of God, Amen. 

I Joseph Epperson of the County of Hawkins and State of Tennessee, planter, being in and imperfect health of body but in and of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed once for all men to die do make and ordain this my last will and Testament, that is to say, principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul to the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my body I give it to the Earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Exec_ors, nothing doubting but as the General Resurrection I shall raise the same again by the mighty power of God.  As touching such as my worldly estate whereas it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give devise and dispose of in the following manner and form,

First  I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved wife Jane Epperson and her children all my stock of horses cattle hogs cows house furniture and movable effects together with my plantation on which I now live containing one hundred acres to be by her freely possessed during the time of her widowhood.  At the expiration of her time or at her death I will that the same property except the land should be sold and equally be divided between the eight children  Betsey Allen, Nancy Epperson, John Epperson, Polly Epperson, Peggy Epperson, Thomas Epperson, Hester Epperson, Patsey Epperson.  Then I will said land to John & Thos Epperson my two sons as their right and property.  I also constitute and ordain my dearly beloved wife Jane Epperson and Jesse Epperson the sole Executor of this last will and testament.  And I do hereby utterly revoke and disannul all and every other former will testaments beques Executors by one before named willed bequeathed, ratifying & confirming this and no other to be my will & Testament.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.  This 26^thSept 1814

Signed sealed published and pronounced and declared by the said Joseph Epperson as his last will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto set our names in the presence of each other—                      Joseph Epperson [Seal]

Attest

Henry Crawley

Francis Antrikin

Joseph Davis

Joseph Epperson married Jane Walker sometime before 1795.  John Epperson is my third great-grandfather and listed as one of Joseph’s eight children. John married Famy or Phanny Ogan around 1825.  Famy died before 1850 and John married a second time to Anna Jennings. The family is enumerated on the 1850 census in District 11, Grainger Co., Tennessee:

John Epperson, Anna Epperson, James N Epperson, Wm C Epperson, Fama A Epperson,  Emily J Epperson

John died intestate in Grainger County, Tennessee in 1852 so having the 1850 census helps to prove the connection to his children as his probate document does not mention his children.  None of John and Famy's children lived long enough to have a death certificate listing their parents' names. Luckily, Famy Ogan, daughter of John Ogan, was mentioned as a legatee in her father's will, "John Epperson who intermarried with Pharney Ogan one of the legatees."  Additional information is learned about John's land ownership from this excerpt from John Ogan's will:

“Also one other tract containing about 300 hundred acres lying partly in Hawkins & partly in Grainger a part of which was conveyed to said John Ogan by Thomas Johnson by Asabel Johnson his attorney in fact, for the boundaries whereof reference is had to said deed of conveyance, the balance by grant from the late of Tennessee. – That the said John Epperson has bought of the widow of said John Ogan her right to dower to all of said lands and holds her deed for the same and John Epperson has also purchased of the said Peter Ogan his entire interest in the three first described tracts of land & holds his conveyance for the same.”  John Ogan's probate file also includes this sketch of the property:

Excerpt from John Ogan's 1835 Probate file found on Ancestry.com

The remaining generations for the application for First Families of Tennessee can be proven with marriage, birth, and death records as these documents exist for the later generations.  If approved the application and proof of lineage will be placed in the FFT Collection housed in the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection at the East Tennessee History Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Now I just need to quit procrastinating!

Week 24 #52Ancestors: Dear Diary

PJ Helton, Lewis Sutton, and unknown man

My grandfather, Lewis Henry Sutton, was born in Tennessee but grew up in Fannin County, Texas.  He married Trentie Alice Leonard in 1916.  After struggling to support his family as a farmer, he became an employee of the Carter Oil Company and moved the family to Wolf, Oklahoma. Although he didn’t keep a diary, I like to think he may have made this entry one chilly November evening in 1935:

November 18, 1935

I’ve been thinking about my life and family lately cause Trentie and I have been blessed.  Farming back home in Lamasco, Texas was no good. Dad taught me all he knew but times have changed so I was sure happy cousin Shade Epperson told me about the oilfield jobs in Oklahoma. I got hired at Carter Oil.  Been there several years now and got a promotion to engineer.  Trentie was sure happy cause it afforded a move to a larger home for us.  That little camp house just wasn't big enough for us and the six kids.  Our oldest son, Doyle, is almost 18 and full of adventure. Nina is my little 16 year old songbird.  PJ is my 10-year old hunting sidekick.  Myrtle turned seven this year and started school.  Little Dorothy Jean has such pretty blue eyes and she’s 4.  My youngest, Donald Ray, will be two soon.  I've been looking at the family photos:

Lewis, Trentie and Doyle Sutton

Nina and Doyle Sutton

Lewis Sutton, PJ Sutton and Myrtle Sutton

Myrtle, Paul and Dottie Sutton

Nina Sutton

Trentie, Lewis and Donald Ray Sutton

Me and Trent got back into church.  She loves to play the piano at church and maybe I’ll buy her one soon.  After Doyle and Nina move out then I can afford it.   I am worried about Doyle as he is a little too adventurous.  Hopping the trains and staying away for days is worrying his mother to death.  I sure hope he gets a job soon and stays out of trouble.  

Carter Oil Postcard

Writing on the postcard

I sure miss seeing the family. Things haven’t been the same since my sister, Laura, and PJ Helton split up.  They lived close to us a few years ago here in Oklahoma but Laura left for Ranger, Texas where our sister Jessie lives.  She just married a man named Ray Todd about two years ago.  Jessie and her husband, Check Kelley, have lived there several years with their son Palmer Ray.  Trent stays in touch with Jessie.  My sister Lissie and her husband Pete Henderson have been in Denison, Texas several years.  Pete is a policeman and their kids are grown up now.  Their daughter Ethel married a man named Curley Broyles and moved to Missouri.  Guess that little brother of mine is taking his time finding someone to marry so Mom and Dad are lucky to have Jack's help on the farm.  I sure miss seeing Mom and Dad.  Maybe we’ll go for a visit soon...

November 19, 1935

Lewis is buried in the Willow Wild Cemetery in Bonham, Texas

I think Stephen King's quote sums it up best, "Life turns on a dime. Sometimes towards us, but more often it spins away, flirting and flashing as it goes: so long, honey, it was good while it lasted, wasn’t it?”

Many thanks to Susie Kelley Clarke for sharing many of these photos with me as the family lost many photos in a couple of house fires.

Week 23 #52Ancestors: Namesake

McHenry is an unusual given name and found in several families in my East Tennessee branches.  McHenry Sutton, the subject of Week 22, was the first person in my research with this name sowhen the Bray connection came to light then I knew McHenry Sutton was most likely named after his uncle McHenry Bray.  My first assumption was McHenry must be a combination of “Mc” from the surname of his mother, Margaret McDaniel, and the first name of his father, Henry Bray.  Now I believe there is a deeper cultural meaning to the name. According to Wikipedia, “McHenry is both a surname and a given name, an anglicized name of the Scottish Clan Henderson.”  A traveling Henderson might use the surname MacEanruig in the Scottish Highlands, Henderson in the Lowlands, McHenry in Ulster, and Henry in England according to Clan Henderson – Wikipedia.  Another site, thinkbabynames, says the meaning is “son of Henry”. It is also described as a variant form of MacHenry (Scottish, Gaelic).  Could it be that the Bray’s were also Scottish like the McDaniel's (as mentioned in John McDaniel's Revolutionary pension paperwork)? 

McHenry Bray is the older brother of Malissa Wolfe Sutton.  He was born in Hawkins County, Tennessee in 1823 and, like many listed as head of household on census records in Hancock County; his occupation was “farmer.”  However, digging deeper in documents tells us much more about this man.  He was a postmaster, sheriff, and may have been a lawyer as he is mentioned in many Hancock County court documents. Cynthia Wolfe, daughter of George Stumpy Wolfe and Margaret McCoy, was his first wife and Mary Montgomery was his second wife.  

During the Civil War, McHenry Bray was one of many men in East Tennessee who supported the Union as this part of Tennessee was unique and did not support succession from the Union. He enlisted as a sergeant in Company I, Tennessee 8^th Infantry Regiment of the Union Tennessee Volunteers. His son, George Bray also enlisted in this regiment.   Unfortunately, George was mortally wounded in action in August 1864 at the Battle of Utoy Creek, in Georgia.  McHenry went onto serve as a first lieutenant and survived the Civil War.  He was listed as a pensioner in 1890.

Battle of Utoy Creek by Civil War Artist Marc Stewart

Another position that McHenry occupied was Church Clerk for the Baptist Church of Christ at Briar Creek.  He is mentioned on several pages of Hancock County and its People, Vol. II and Alonza Jason Tyler, a judge of Hancock County, described him as “a fine man and well thought of by everyone who knew him.”  McHenry died in Hancock County, Tennessee in 1909.  Like his sister Malissa, he is buried in the Wolfe Cemetery by Providence Church.   

McHenry Bray headstone submitted by Ancestry.com member kellerjm224

In review of those I have found in the family branches who share this name:  McHenry Bray Jr., two McHenry Suttons, McHenry Allen, McHenry Coffey, and then variations such as Mack Henry Seal, and a couple of Mack Henry Bray’s.  I wonder if most were named as a tribute to the man who was well thought of and a community leader.

Week 22 #52Ancestors: At the Cemetery

There is a road located in the Caney Valley that runs through the counties of Claiborne and Hancock County, Tennessee and perhaps Grainger County too.  It is peppered with cemeteries and would be a fine place to spend Memorial Day honoring the dead.  The road is the Upper Caney Valley Road.

Upper Caney Valley Road

Some of the cemeteries found along this road are the Barnard Cemetery, Clark Cemetery, New Bethel Cemetery, Brogan Cemetery, and the Cook Cemetery.  It is also the road we traveled on before turning to on the Jackson Ridge Road to navigate to the old Epperson family farm where Nelson and Martha Epperson are buried along with their daughter, Gracy.

Cook Cemetery (aka Pleasant Valley Missionary Baptist Church Cemtery) located
on the Upper Caney Rd. & Jackson Ridge

It was a cool fall day in October 2018 when Pam Epperson and I stopped at many of these cemeteries to look for relatives.  As I was strolling through the Cook cemetery lo and behold I was pleasantly surprised to find headstones for McHenry Sutton and his wife, Sarah Wilburn Sutton.

Sarah Sutton

McHenry Sutton

McHenry Sutton is my 2^nd great-uncle and the fourth child born to James and Malissa Sutton.  Like all of his siblings, he was born in Hancock Co., Tennessee but, unlike brothers John, James, and Noah, he remained there along with several other siblings.  He married Sarah Wilburn in 1875.  True to his roots, McHenry farmed the land that he obtained from his brother, Peter Sutton in the following land deal:

We Peter Sutton and wife Emley Sutton have this day bargained and sold to McH Sutton a certain tract or parcel of land lying in the 7^thdistrict of Hancock County and State of Tennessee for and in consideration of the sum of Fifty Dollars to us in hand paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, said land lying in the Caney Valley it being Peter Sutton’s part of a tract of land formerly belonging to his father James Sutton decd.  We Peter Sutton and Emley Sutton doth bind our selves our heirs and representatives to warrant and forever defend the title to said land and every part thereof to McH Sutton his heirs and assignes  representatives against the lawful complaints of all persons whatever.

Given under our hands and seals August 31, 1886

Peter Sutton

Emley X (her mark) Sutton

Witness

J.B. Dodson

J.W. Givins

State of Tennessee, Hancock County: Personally appeared before me Henry Tyler deputy clerk of the County Court for said County, Peter Sutton and wife Emley Sutton with whom I am personally acquainted and acknowledged their signatures to the foregoing deed of conveyance for the purposes therein contained.  Also came Emley J. Sutton wife of Peter Sutton and after being examined separately and apart from her said husband acknowledged that she executed the same freely voluntarily and understandingly without compulsion or constraint upon the part of her said husband and for all the purposes therein expressed.

Witness my hand at office in Sneedville this the 31^stday of August 1886.  H. Tyler D.C.

State of Tennessee, Hancock County: the foregoing deed of conveyance with the clerks certificate was filed at my office in Sneedville August the 23^rd1887 at 11 o’clock A.M.  Entered in note book “A” page 2^nd Registered in book M:pages 156 & 157.  N.T. Baker Register.

We the undersigned heirs of James Sutton decd. have this day bargained and sold and doth hereby transfer and convey to McH Sutton and his heirs forever for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and forty dollars to us in hand paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged a certain tract or parcel of land lying in the 7^th District of Hancock County and State of Tennessee, containing by estimation twenty-five acres to be the same more or less. And bounded as follows:

Beginning on sugar tree & black walnut on the east side of the Cane Ridge.  Thence eastwardly to a buckeye and mulberry.  Thence straight to the “second class road” where George H. Seals now lives.  Thence north-westwardly with said “second class road” to a walnut corner.  Thence eastwardly with a marked line to a buckeye corner on top of a little ridge.  Thence with a marked line to the branch near where the aforesaid McH Sutton now lives.  Thence with said branch to a hickory corner on the aforesaid branch near a field.  Thence northwardly to the top of the Caney Ridge to a marked chestnut.  Thence westwardly with the top of said ridge to the “Old Wilson line.” Thence back with the aforesaid Wilson line to the aforesaid “second class road.”  Thence with Isham Sutton’s line back to the beginning corner.  To have and to hold the said to the aforesaid McH Sutton his heirs and assigns forever.  We do covenant with the aforesaid McH Sutton that we are lawfully seized of said lands.  Have a good right to convey it and that the same is unencumbered. We do further covenant and forever defend the title to said land.  Given under our bond and seals.  This August the 22^ndday 1887.

Malisa J. X (her mark) Sutton, James X (his mark) Sutton, Martelia X (her mark) Sutton, Noah Sutton, Aley X (her mark) Sutton

Attest: Joseph M. Seal, George H. Seal

McHenry and Sarah did not have any children but they may have helped raise one of John Sutton’s daughters, Sarah, after the death of her mother, Nancy Bray Sutton, as Sarah is enumerated with her uncle and aunt in 1900. I suspect that McHenry and Sarah were members of the Pleasant Valley Missionary Baptist Church as the Cook Cemetery is located by the church.

Pleasant Valley Missionary Baptist Church

Luckily, I can end this blog with a photo, provided by my 3rd cousin Betty Seal Turner, of McHenry and Sarah.  It is great to put a face to the name:

McHenry Sutton and Sarah Wilburn Sutton

I was looking at the photo and thought perhaps there was some resemblance to an unknown man photo from Susie Kelley Clarke's collection. The photo was taken at the Foster Studio in Bonham, Texas.  Could it be a younger McHenry?  Perhaps he visited Noah and Alley sometime during the land deal?  

Unknown man

There is something about the way he holds his jacket as a young man and then the way McHenry holds his jacket as an older man.  They both sport a mustache that appears the same and the hair texture that is a bit wavy.  Last but not least they are both handsome men.  Chime in and let me know if you see a resemblance.

Oh and the best thing about running across their headstones is I seized the opportunity to add their headstone photos to their Find A Grave profiles!