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.
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| 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:
I also found this interesting article in the archives of Newspapers.com and would be very curious to know who the bachelor revenuer was:
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| 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.
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| 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
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| Popcorn Sutton's gravemarker found on his Find A Grave Memorial |
Rest in Peace, my friend.
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