Early East Tennessee Connections

Who is in my 4^th great-grandparent’s F.A.N. club (that’s short for family, associates and neighbors) that many people overlook?  Which grandparents you say?  Joseph and Jane (Walker) Epperson who lived near Thomas Epperson of Hawkins.  There are so many connections so why has it taken so long for me to realize this?  All I can say is if it was a snake, it would have bit me! Read about Thomas’ path to East Tennessee and if you are related tell me if you agree. There are some fascinating connections to early Tennessee history.  Yet Thomas is showing us where the family lived along the way.  First, there is some explanation as to why I call him Thomas of Hawkins (Hawkins County, Tennessee).

Source: Olddesignshop.com

He is often confused with Thomas Epperson of Charlotte County, Virginia because both served in the Revolutionary War and survived the war; however, Thomas of Hawkins served for the state of North Carolina as a private and died around 1848 in Tennessee while Thomas of Charlotte served for Virginia as a lieutenant and died in August 1805 in Virginia.  The proof is in the documents (a will and pension files).  

Thomas of Charlotte’s will was written on September 15, 1791 and proven in court on October 7, 1805.  He left 20 shillings to his sister Martha Wood and her heirs and 20 shillings to his nephew Carlos Wood.  His wife, Martha, inherited his real and personal estate.  Upon her death the estate is left to his nephews named Thomas and William Atkins.  The executors are his wife along with Quin and Jacob Morton (Source: W. B. 2, Pg. 316, Charlotte County Courthouse).  His pension application was filed by his widow on December 10, 1838 and we learn that Thomas and Martha, daughter of John Cardwell, were married on July 20, 1778 in Charlotte County, Virginia.  This is definitely not the Thomas Epperson who lived in Hawkins County, Tennessee!

 

Thomas of Hawkins’ pension was granted in 1834, Hawkins County, Tennessee.  He tells us he was born in Buckingham County, Virginia in 1760 and entered as a volunteer in 1779 under the command of Col. Joseph Williams, Capt. Pleasant Henderson, Lt. John Colbert in Surry County, North Carolina.  He was discharged at the Long Island of the Holston after serving four months.  He volunteered again in 1780 in the Regiment of Col. Henry Clark, Capt. Benjamin Clark, Lt. John Wheeler in Sullivan County, North Carolina “now Tennessee Broad River on the big island...” and served three months.  Thomas was living in Washington County, North Carolina now State of Tennessee when he volunteered in September 1782 under the command of Col. John Sevier (the future governor of the State of Franklin and State of Tennessee), Capt. Amos Bird (one of the first Justices of the Peace in Greene County, Tennessee and owned over 1,000 acres of land in Tennessee), and Lt. Gragg.  Thomas also mentioned that he moved to Greene County, Tennessee and then Hawkins County when questioned for his pension.

Thomas Epperson Pay Voucher 12 Jun 1783 Washington Sullivan, NC

He purchased 200 acres in Hawkins County, Tennessee while residing in Greene County, Tennessee on June 13, 1809, from Jonathan Hale of Hawkins County.  The tract is described as bounded on War Creek the waters of Clinch River.  The document one of the witnesses for this transaction was Jesse Epperson.  Who is Jesse?

 

Curiosity compelled me to read through the catalog of documents for Greene County, Tennessee.  There is a tax list for 1783 with the names of David and Joseph Epperson. Could that be one of the David Eppersons of Albemarle County, Virginia (The story of David Epperson & his family of Albemarle County, Virginia)?  A discovery of not one but two Joseph Eppersons was made in court records.  The entries were found in the May term Minutes 1784:

 

Joseph Eppison Junr Vs David Black, Henry Conway, Jno. Bird, James Gillasby, William Gillaspy, Saml Glass, and Adam Kuykendol } T.A.B. damage 5000 £ LB atts issd. and on the following page another entry for Joseph Eppison Senr. Vs The Same Adam Kuyl Exd}…

 

Source: Ancestry.com

Since Thomas mentioned Washington County then it would be interesting to see what can be found there.  A land record dated 3 Jul 1792 for 200 acres on Lick Creek for Joseph Epperson that was surveyed by Alex Outlaw (a veteran of the American Revolution, served in the assembly of the State of Franklin, delegate for North Carolina that ratified the US Constitution in 1789, and represented Jefferson County, Tennessee in the Tennessee Senate).  Fascinating!

 

More Eppersons were found in Washington County Tennessee prior to 1800 (William, Peter, Samuel, Thomas, and Benjamin).  Apparently, Anthony Epperson was among the members of the Buffalo Ridge Baptist Church that was formed in 1779 and the pastor was Tidence Lane.  Joseph and Jane Epperson have a connection to Tidence Lane as he was involved in the organization of the Big Springs Baptist Church located in Claiborne County, Tennessee where they were listed as members in the Minutes of August 4, 1802.

 

Source: Piedmonttrails.com

One Joseph Epperson purchased 500 acres on Cedar Creek in Hawkins County, Tennessee on July 20, 1792.  He sold 200 acres to Jno. Rainey on April 3, 1793 and another portion (amount is not legible to Jno. Terry the same day.  Could this be my 4^th great-grandfather or is this Joseph Sr. mentioned in that Greene County, Tennessee lawsuit?  The land purchase on March 31, 1803 in Hawkins County was definitely my 4^th great-grandfather Joseph.  One hundred acres was purchased from Neal McCoy for 20 pounds and described as situated on Indian Creek on David McCoy’s line.  John Walker who was Joseph’s father-in-law was a witness along with William Paine.

 

Thomas, Jesse and Joseph Epperson appear on the 1811 tax list of Capt. Allen’s Company in Hawkins County, Tennessee.  My theory is these three men were brothers.  Jesse was also named as an executor in Joseph’s will dated September 26, 1814.  Was Jesse living nearby?  Yes, he purchased 200 acres from William Lea merchant of Leasburg, North Carolina on December 14, 1803, in Hawkins County “…in the valley between Clinch Mountain & the Copper Ridge in a part of War Creek…”.  This deed was witnessed by William Byrd and Jonathan Hale (connection to Thomas’ land purchase).  

 

After Joseph died, he left 100 acres to Jane (most likely the 100 acres purchased from Neal McCoy) and indicated that the land should go to his sons John and Thomas after her death.  After Joseph’s death, Jane purchased an additional 140 acres from Thomas Johnson on the waters of Indian Creek in Hawkins County.  This purchase took place on September 3, 1819 and was registered on January 26, 1824.  Jane Walker is enumerated within a few households of Thomas on the 1830 census.  

 

What else is known about Thomas of Hawkins?  His wife is said to be Mary Cross but I have not confirmed this; however, his wife was definitely named Mary (she was mentioned in the lawsuit of William Mills vs Jeremiah Sims and Peter Elrod in Hawkins County April, 1819).  Thomas and Mary’s known children are Shadrach M. Epperson, Esq. and Elizabeth Epperson. Possibly another daughter named Lydia Epperson. Shadrach married Jane (maiden name said to be Orick). Elizabeth married Walter Allen on April 29, 1802, in Greene County, Tennessee and enumerated on the same 1830 census page as Thomas in Hawkins County.  Lydia Epperson married John Hayes on March 14, 1818, in Hawkins County, Tennessee and died in 1888 in Indiana.

Source: https://tslaindexes.tn.gov/search-all-collections

Back to Jane and another connection to Thomas.  On June 6, 1853, his son, Shadrach M. Epperson, was a witness to the sale of a tract of land owned by Jane to her son-in-law Archibald McCoy.  This sale became the issue of a lawsuit, Claiborne Walker & Others Vs. Archibald McCoy & Wife, in 1859.  Claiborne was the son-in-law of Jane Epperson and administrator of her estate.  The heirs mentioned in this suit were Hester Walker (Claiborne) and Polly Walker (John A.) County of Hawkins, Nancy Bowman County of Grainger, Thomas Epperson who resided in Missouri, the children of her son John Epperson (my 3^rd great-grandfather) who was deceased (Calvin Epperson, Elizabeth Allen, Thomas Epperson, Nelson Epperson, Phamy Hipshear wife of Martin) all living in Grainger County except Elizabeth who resided in Hancock County.  

 

Thomas of Hawkins lived a long life and died around 1848 in Grainger County.  He has proven to be a great resource for connecting the whereabouts of my Epperson ancestors in the early development of the State of Tennessee.

 

Note to self:  Follow Ancestry genealogist Crista Cowan’s advice and don’t create your own brick walls!

 

A Murder in Kentucky

I suspect that Bailey Sutton is my 3^rd great-granduncle which makes him a brother to my 3^rd great-grandfather Thomas Sutton of Claiborne County, Tennessee, and Zacheus Sutton who settled in Scott County, Indiana.  A few descendants of Bailey shared a story on Ancestry.com about one of his sons.  It was published in many newspapers.  Before I share the sad details, please consider updating your family tree if it has John Sutton and Nancy Coleman as the parents of these men.  Ponder this, the 1813 tax list for Lee County, Virginia shows Bailey and Smith Sutton as the only two Sutton’s there. They are also defendants in a lawsuit in 1815.  Smith is also much older than Bailey.  So where are the sources for John Sutton and Nancy Coleman?  Hmmm…onto the story.

Bailey’s son, George Washington Sutton, age 16, appears on the 1850 Claiborne County, Tennessee census in subdivision 7 (p. 53 on Ancestry and Uncle Thomas is on p. 100) along with his parents and siblings.  The following year he became a married man as he wedded Martha England in Claiborne County.  The marriage was performed by James Cheek, J.P.  By 1860, he is employed as a laborer, head of his own household, and the father of six in subdivision 9, Claiborne County.  His personal estate is $125.  At the age of 27, he enlisted in the infantry for the Union during the War between the States.  George survived the war and mustered out on February 23, 1865.  Sadly, the 1870 census will be his last enumeration.  He and Martha have eight children in their household ranging from 5 to 18 (three girls and five boys). He is working in a shoe shop with a personal estate of $200.  He applied for a military pension on May 7, 1878.

The newspaper presses were turning and the hacks writing their stories on January 17, 1879, when the body of George W. Sutton, a native of Tazewell, Tennessee was found.  The story published in The Memphis Evening Herald wrote that his body was found about four miles from Hall’s Gap with a rifle ball through the skull.  Another story mentions that the body was found near the house of Mr. John Warren with a load of 10 d. nails in his head (I believe this was meant to be John Weaver who owned the tavern where George had spent the night).  The suspects names are Ike Stapleton and a man named Ferrill and goes onto say Sutton was a shoemaker by trade from Tazewell, Tenn. but goes out peddling liniment. They say he is an unoffending and sober man.

 

Halls Gap Station 1879
Source: shop.old-maps.com

The papershake.blogspot.com has posted a few more articles about the murder.  

 

January 24, 1879:

Sutton, Ferrell, and Stapleton spent the night at John Weaver’s (5 or 6 miles from Crab Orchard), “a frail damsel being the object of their visit.”  Hmmm…  Sutton left the next morning and Ferrell followed with the intention to kill and rob him.  The deed was done, and Sutton’s pockets were emptied, and his body dragged from the road to the woods.  Fortunately, the shot was heard.  Ferrell apparently returned to Weaver’s with blood on his coat and said it was from a rabbit he had killed.  Stapleton and Ferrell were arrested and questioned.  Stapleton admitted that he knew Ferrell was going to murder George.  Ferrell was held without bail.

 

Now picture this, the reporter writes of threats of lynching the prisoner as it was the most brutal murder that happened in Lincoln County, Kentucky.  The writer goes onto say that Ferrell acts like a wild man, pacing his cell ever and amen, apparently fearful that a moment’s rest would be too much for his over-burdened conscience as to leave but little doubt that he is not wrongfully accused.  Ferrell is described as a young man of passably fair exterior and not looking the person capable of such a deed.

 

An acquittal was published on February 7, 1879, for Jacob Weaver, Sarah Jane Weaver, Ike Stapleton, and Elizabeth Stapleton who were arrested as accessories to the murder of George.  Apparently, Ferrell told them he planned to kill Sutton and then informed them that he had done so, and they were afraid to report it.  Nice.

 

On Friday, May 2, 1879, John Ferrell was convicted of the murder of George Washington Sutton and given a life sentence.  It is thought he was given leniency for confessing to the murder.  However, another story was published on August 8, 1879, informing us that William Barnett, Moses, Barnett, and John Ferrell, life prisoners, and James Martin and Jos. Lambert, sentenced for five years, had escaped from the Penitentiary.  Moses, Martin, and Lambert were captured but the others were at large.  Still yet another story on August 15, 1879, describes John Ferrell’s conviction and blames the jury for the escape as it says, “Ferrell would have long since dangled from the end of a rope, instead of being loose, seeking whom he may destroy.”

 

September 5, 1879, a reward is offered by the Governor of $250 and another of $100 by the Keeper of the Penitentiary.  One-week later Ferrell is captured in Hawkins County, Tennessee and now in his “old quarters at Frankfort.”

 

Kentucky State Penitentiary in Frankfort 1846-1860
Source: Wikipedia

“July 2, 1897, Pardoned. – John Ferrill, who killed a shoemaker named Sutton in the East End [of Lincoln County] in 1879 and got a life sentence, has been pardoned.  The reasons given for his pardon are his long imprisonment, his bad health and his heroic behavior on the occasion of Fires and other disasters in the prison.”

 

According to the author of the papershake blog, Governor Bradley’s list of pardons indicated that Ferrell was pardoned on June 29, 1897, from the Eddyville Penitentiary.

 

It is such a shame that George survived the Civil Way only to be shot down by a thief.  For those who descend from this line, I would encourage you to order the court documents regarding his murder as they are probably available.  Also, if you are a male Sutton of Bailey Sutton's line, please consider submitting a Y-DNA kit to Family Tree DNA.  Thank you!

 

In remembrance of a life taken much too soon.

 

Researching the research

I've been trying to throw away unnecessary paper documents but when it's related to genealogy then that is hard to do. Can anyone relate to this? I have inherited some paperwork that my dad collected when he participated in the research of Thomas Sutton and Hannah Lawson. This group was led by Charlie Sutton of McPherson, Kansas along with Edgar Sutton of Oakridge, Tennessee, and Lillie Carpenter (nee Savage) of Pharr, Texas who are descendants of Thomas and Hannah. Charlie descended through their youngest son Thomas Jr. who married Matilda Brown. Edgar's line was through the couple's oldest son Nathan Sutton who married Nancy Virginia Dodson (parents of the infamous Henley Sutton). Lillie and my dad shared the same great-grandparents, James and Malissa Sutton (nee Wolfe through her stepfather Peter Wolfe). All but one member of this group has gone on to join their ancestors and learn the real story. 

Now I am not writing anything new in this story as I have mentioned some of this in previous blogs.  My dad must have had 10 draft copies of Charlie's book. I assume he was going to give copies to the relatives, but it was easy for me to put these in the recycle bin rather than share them. If anyone is using this book as a source for their research, then I suggest you find something else, but it is somewhat entertaining to read. His efforts did result in the discovery of a deed of the Sutton farm located in Claiborne County, Tennessee. He was assisted by Jim Lawson who also discovered an old will that was filed in May of 1870 in Claiborne County (Thomas didn't die until 1891). I believe Charlie also listed the children correctly but then he had to go and put the nonsense about the Sutton Native American ancestry. These stories will live on forever as people continue to copy and publish it on Ancestry.com. The next item I chose to look at was a letter dated 18 Nov 1992 from Edgar Sutton. He mentions sending Dad some information from the McClung Collection in Knoxville and that he paid a retainer fee to a woman who does research in Caswell County, North Carolina in hopes she can Thomas Sutton's father who is supposedly named John. Apparently, the letter was sent after a telephone conversation as Edgar replied to Dad's question about Henley Sutton. He said Henley was ambushed and killed by the Barnards in 1889 and even states that the Governor may have obtained money for the pardon of the Barnards. He obviously had not obtained a copy of the court documents. Included in them is a petition to Governor Taylor from about 500 men of the community who wanted the Barnards pardoned before their scheduled execution date of December 23, 1889. A sample of the signatures are listed below along with comments that were written beside a few names. Included are names of some of my distant relatives and those who have possible family connections:

Thomas Sutton (grandfather of Henley)

Isham Sutton (uncle)

James Sutton (first cousin)

John Epperson

McHenry Bray, Sr.

John Mills

Noah Mills

Peter Sutton (cousin)

Asa Purkey

Brownlo Epperson

Charley Epperson

George Epperson

Thom Epperson

Peter Jackson

George Barnard

Charlie Barnard

James Spradling

William Green

R.W. Greene

Excerpt from the Petition to Gov. Taylor in support of the Barnards

The final items I found in my father's genealogy collection was a letter from Lillie Carpenter dated 1 May 1994 and she had enclosed a summary of Sutton research she had received in 1985. Lillie is a second cousin to my father and descends from John Greenlee Sutton who was the older brother of Noah Sutton (my father's grandfather). Lillie grew up in Garland county, Arkansas and wrote about visiting Dad's Aunt Jessie Kelley. Apparently when Lillie began her research journey, she remembered a niece named Lydia Seals that had corresponded with her mother and knew she lived in Sneedville, Tennessee. However, she thought Lydia's brother, Henry, would be easier to find but she reached the wrong Henry Seals' household when she asked the operator to connect her to Henry Seals in Sneedville, Tennessee. The individual was kind enough to give her the name and address of a man who did genealogy research in the Sneedville, Tennessee area. His name was William P. Grohse and if anyone is reading this article who has researched their family in Hancock County, Tenneessee then you are probably familiar with this gentleman.  In fact, his collection was donated to the Tennessee State Library & Archives. In the summary he provided to her, I see many errors. The first error was the statement that Malissa Wolfe was the daughter of George S. Wolfe and Margaret McCoy--groan! The second error states Hannah Lawson is the daughter of Thomas Lawson--what?! The third error is partially true as he quotes information found in "Cherokee by Blood" which I assume is a reference to the many applications made by descendants of Drury Lawson. They claimed he was a half brother to Captain Benge (the son of a Cherokee woman and Scots-Irish trader). Unfortunately, all those applications were recorded as rejects. Yep. However, they contain great information on their families.

What is the moral of my story? Love the stories that are handed to you because there might be a bit of truth to it but put a disclaimer if you publish it. Get serious and verify what you can. After all, aren't you a little bit curious?  You never know what you may discover (wish I knew if Edgar gleaned any information from that retainer he mentioned).  Go one step further and consider buying a DNA kit so you can connect to others who may want to help you research (it's more than trying to figure out your ethnic background folks).  All you Sutton men could you please buy and submit a Y-DNA kit to Family Tree DNA? I would love to see more than one Sutton male in my dad's Sutton group cluster so we can connect to more Sutton ancestral lines. 

It is said that genealogy is the ultimate puzzle so enjoy the journey and gather kin along the way!