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Family of Thomas Finch

(This person can be viewed within the Melton/Sharp Ancestry Chart by clicking here)

 

 

 

 


SCRAPBOOK

 

 

1.  COL. THOMAS4 FINCH, SR.  (WILLIAM3, ADAM2, EDWARD1)1,2,3,4 was born Nov 27, 1796 in Mecklenburg Co, VA, and died Nov 17, 1871 in dau. Susan's home in Estill Springs, Franklin Co, TN.  He married (1) EDNA SCRUGGS5 1818 in Bell Buckle, Bedford County, Tennessee6, daughter of MATTHEW SCRUGGS and MARY ELAM.  She was born Bet. 1794-1801 in Edgefield Co, SC, and died Sep 1832 in Winchester, Franklin Co, TN.  He married (2) FRANCES B. HUDSPETH7 Bet. Dec 1832 - Jun 1833, daughter of WILLIAM HUDSPETH and SABRA SHROPSHIRE.  She was born Jun 9, 1813 in Franklin Co, TN, and died May 9, 1846.  He married (3) ANNE ELIZA UNKNOWN8 Dec 17, 1846 in Franklin Co., TN.  She was born Abt. 1810 in GA, and died 1867.

 

Notes for COL. THOMAS FINCH:

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Obituary of Thomas Finch (1796-1871)

 

The Home Journal, Winchester, TN                                   November 30, 1871

 

GATHERED TO HIS FATHERS.–On the 17th of this month Thomas Finch, Esq., of this place, breathed his last. The long residence of the deceased among this people, and the prominence of his name, render a brief biography quite appropriate.

 

He was born Nov. 12, 1796, in Mecklenburg county, Virginia. His father and mother emigrated in 1798 to Bourbon county, Kentucky, and here our subject was reared to manhood, and was one of fifteen children. At the age of 21 he came to Tennessee, and married Miss Edna Scruggs, of Bedford county. It was the Fall of 1818 when he settled about one mile and a half from Winchester, and has been a resident in our midst ever since. Most of his life was spent in farming, but he has filled several offices of honor and trust.

 

About the year 1828 he was elected to the office of Coroner. From the year 1830 to July 1839 he served as Sheriff, which office he then resigned, and was elected in August following as one of two Representatives to which Franklin county was entitled in the

Legislature, Thomas Howard, Esq., being the colleague of our subject.

 

After serving his time in the Legislature, Thomas Finch retired to private life, but in 1846 he was elected Justice of the Peace for the first civil district of this county, in which office he served, with the exception of six years, until his death.

 

Thomas Finch was married three times. His first wife died in 1832. In ‘33 he married Miss Francis [sic] B. Hudspeth. In 1846 she died and he married Miss Ann E. Moffett, and she died in 1867. In that year he joined the Baptist church in this place and continued a consistent member up to the departure of his soul into the shadowy realms of eternity.

 

Thomas Finch was the father of eight children, five of whom are living. Six were born to him by his first wife, the other two were the offspring of his second wife. Of the five living, two are male, one of whom is Capt. Thos. H. Finch, our Clerk & Master. The other, named Matt, went to Texas in 1849, and lives there still. He was one of the first to volunteer in the war against Mexico, and fought bravely at Buena Vista.

 

And Thomas Finch, Esq., is "gathered to his fathers."

 

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The following is from The Goodspeed History of Franklin County, Tennessee:

"A committee, consisting of W. W. Brazelton, L. W. Gonee, John T. Slatter and Thomas Finch was then appointed by the county court to erect a new jail. Accordingly at the July term, 1855, of the county court, this committee reported that they had sold the old jail for $300, and that the new one had been constructed on Main Street and was then completed and occupied by the jailor and his prisoners. The new jail was built under contract by John Steele, of Lincoln County. "

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1840 census shows Frances replacing Edna, and the two older children are gone. Of interest is the 30-40 year old man found living in the household at this time.

1850 census shows Thomas with his 4 youngest children (Thomas Jr., Susan, Nancy, and Francis), as well as with his third wife Ann and her children, Gabriel & Frances.

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BRIEF HISTORY OF THE 4TH REGIMENT OF THE TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER MILITIA:

 

COLONEL SAMUEL BAYLESS, COMMANDER

DESIGNATION: 4th Regiment of East Tennessee Militia

DATES: November 1814 - May 1815

MEN MOSTLY FROM: Washington, Jefferson, Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, and Sullivan Counties

CAPTAINS: Joseph Bacon, John Brock, James Churchman, Joseph Goodson, Joseph Hale, Solomon Hendricks, Branch Jones, James Landen, Joseph Rich, Jonathan Waddle

BRIEF HISTORY:

This regiment, along with Colonel William Johnson's Third Regiment and Colonel Edwin Booth's Fifth Regiment, defended the lower section of the Mississippi Territory, particularly the vicinity of Mobile. They protected the region from possible Indian incursions and any British invasion. These regiments were under the command of Major General William Carroll. They manned the various forts that were located throughout the territory: Fort Claiborne, Fort Decatur, and Fort Montgomery, for example. Sickness was rampant in this regiment and the desertion rate was high. The regiment mustered in at Knoxville and was dismissed at Mobile.

 

Thomas' pension claim for War of 1812 service was rejected, but in the list of drafted militia of this group.

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1880 census - Hill County, TX shows Matt Finch living in house of cousin Ann Shaw and her son James & dau Annie

 

More About COL. THOMAS FINCH:

Burial: November 1871, Finch Cemetery, Franklin Co, TN

Census 1: 1830, Winchester, Franklin Co, TN9

Census 2: 1814, Washington Co, TN?

Census 3: 1819, Washington Co, TN?

Census 4: 1820, Franklin Co, TN10

Census 5: 1840, Town Dist, Franklin Co, TN11

Census 6: 1850, District 1, Franklin Co, TN12

Census 7: 1860, Winchester, Franklin Co, TN13

Census 8: 1870, Decherd, Franklin Co., TN14,15

Elected 1: August 1839, Member of the Tennessee Assembly

Elected 2: Abt. 1828, Coroner

Elected 3: Bet. 1830 - July 1839, Sheriff

Elected 4: 1846, Justice of the Peace

Occupation 1: atty., Finch & Branan of Westchester

Occupation 2: 1850, Farmer

Religion: 1867, Joined the Baptist Church

 

More About EDNA SCRUGGS:

Burial: September 1832, Finch Cemetery, Franklin Co., TN

Cause of Death: She suffered a fall

Christening: Bedford County, Tennessee

 

More About THOMAS FINCH and EDNA SCRUGGS:

Marriage: 1818, Bell Buckle, Bedford County, Tennessee16

 

More About THOMAS FINCH and FRANCES HUDSPETH:

Marriage: Bet. December 1832 - June 1833

 

More About ANNE ELIZA UNKNOWN:

Census 1: 1850, District 1, Franklin Co, TN17

Census 2: 1860, Winchester, Franklin Co, TN18

 

More About THOMAS FINCH and ANNE UNKNOWN:

Marriage: December 17, 1846, Franklin County, Tennessee

     

Children of THOMAS FINCH and EDNA SCRUGGS are:

              i.   MARY ELAM FINCH 19, b. January 28, 1820, Winchester, Franklin County, Tennessee; d. October 01, 1840, Tennessee; m. COL. HAYDEN MARCH20, February 25, 1838, Franklin County, Tennessee; b. December 03, 1812, Kentucky; d. August 18, 1889.

 

Notes for COL. HAYDEN MARCH:

Served in the Tennessee legislature from 1871 - 1875

 

More About COL. HAYDEN MARCH:

Census 1: 1850, Franklin County, Tennessee21

Census 2: 1840, Franklin County, Tennessee22

Census 3: 1860, Franklin County, Tennessee23

 

More About HAYDEN MARCH and MARY FINCH:

Marriage: February 25, 1838, Franklin County, Tennessee

 

              ii.   MATT SCRUGGS FINCH 24, b. September 08, 1822, Winchester, Franklin County, Tennessee; d. November 08, 1880, Milford, Hill County, Texas.

 

Notes for MATT SCRUGGS FINCH:

unmarried

 

More About MATT SCRUGGS FINCH:

Burial: Milford Cemetery, Hill County, Texas

Census: 1860, Nacogdoches, Texas - unmarried

Emigration: 1849, Texas

MILI: Military: Bet. 1847 - 1848, Mexican-American War Fought at Buena Vista

 

             iii.   REBECCA CLAY FINCH 25, b. February 10, 1825, Winchester, Franklin County, Tennessee; d. July 16, 1851; m. ALFRED HENDERSON JOHNSON25, December 18, 1845, Franklin County, Tennessee25.

 

More About ALFRED JOHNSON and REBECCA FINCH:

Marriage: December 18, 1845, Franklin County, Tennessee25

 

             iv.  SARAH ELIZABETH FINCH26, b. 1826, Winchester, Franklin County, Tennessee; m. GEORGE W. SHARP27, December 19, 1844, Franklin County, Tennessee; N. P. Modrall, M. G.; b. 1822, Tennessee; d. Aft. May 05, 1869.

 

More About SARAH ELIZABETH FINCH:

Census: 1850, Franklin County, Tennessee28

 

More About GEORGE W. SHARP:

Census: 1850, Franklin County, Tennessee28

 

More About GEORGE SHARP and SARAH FINCH:

Marriage: December 19, 1844, Franklin County, Tennessee; N. P. Modrall, M. G.

 

             v.   CAPT. THOMAS HENRY FINCH.29,30,31,32, b. August 22, 1829, Winchester, Franklin County, Tennessee; d. April 07, 1889, Texas33; m. AMELIA ANN HILL34, February 08, 1854, Franklin County, Tennessee; b. Abt. 1832, Tennessee.

 

Notes for CAPT. THOMAS HENRY FINCH:

Enlisted in Company E of the 3rd Regiment Tennessee Volunteer Infantry in 1847 in the War with Mexico. The following was taken from a Franklin County newspaper printed in 1888:

"In the brief but brilliant war with Mexico it is learned that Franklin County furnished Capt. George T. Colyar's Company E. of the Third Regiment Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Col. B. F. Cheatham. This company, consisting of 116 men, rank and file, left Winchester in September, 1847, and was mustered into the United States service near Nashville about October 10,1847, and left for Mexico in the same month. Capt. Colyar died January 8, 1848, in the city of Mexico. His remains were sent to his home in Winchester. First Lieut. Sherrod Williams then became captain, and continued as such to the close of the war. The company was discharged about July 22, 1848. The following is a list of the survivors of the company now living in this county: A. J. Caldwell, John Thurman, F. M. Williams, Ed Jackson, William Adcock, David Smith, Nathan Boone and Gordon McCutcheon. The following are living elsewhere: T. H. Finch, Texas; ..."

 

Early in September, 1860, while court was in session at Winchester, two or three public meetings of a political nature were held, and speeches were made by M. Turney, A. S. Colyar, T. W. Newman, H. T. Carr, Jesse Arledge, Dr. B. W. Childs and others. Much excitement prevailed, and the following was offered by H. T. Carr:  " Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting, that in the event of any  of the Southern States,  should, under the grievous wrongs now pressed upon by the sectional States of the North, secede from the Union, we hold it to be our duty to sympathize with, aid and assist our Southern brethren if an attempt is made to coerce them into submission. "

 

Pending the discussion of the resolution the meeting adjourned without action thereon. The citizens of Franklin County were mostly extremely Southern in sentiment, and as soon as South Carolina and other States seceded from the Union, were anxious that Tennessee should do likewise.

 

In the spring of 1861, Thomas Henry Finch enlisted as Captain, Company D of the 17th Tennessee Confederate Infantry Regiment. The most intense excitement over the pending conflict prevailed at that time period. Companies began to form and drill; and soon Capt. Miller Turney's Company C, Clem Arledge's Company F, Capt. Jos Holder's Company I and Capt. N. L. Simpson's Company D, of Col. Peter Turney's First Regiment Tennessee Infantry, were completely organized and ready for the service. These companies were led with their regiment into the Confederate service long before Tennessee seceded from the Union. Then followed Capt. A. S. Marks' Company E, Capt. James Engle's Company I and Capt. Thomas H. Finch's Company D, all of the Seventeenth Regiment Tennessee Infantry. Many joined the Forty- first Regiment Tennessee Infantry, some joined Forrest's cavalry, and many others joined other commands. Including all of the foregoing, together with the recruits that subsequently joined these and other commands, it is safe to say that the county furnished over 8,000 soldiers for the Confederate Army.

 

The first command of Federal troops that made its appearance in this county was that of Gen. Lytle, who came here in the spring of 1862, with a small command from General Mitchell's division, then encamped at Huntsville. He was in search of Terry's Texas Rangers, who were encamped at Goshen. The day after the arrival of the Federal troops Col. Cox came in on the Decherd road with a squad of rangers. A sharp skirmish ensued, in which one ranger was killed. Col. Cox then retired, and two days later Gen. Lytle returned with his command to Huntsville. Soon thereafter Gen. Negley, with his command, passed through Winchester, on his way to Chattanooga Gen. Buell's army advanced to Decherd, but retired therefrom when he fell back toward the Ohio River in August, 1862. On July 2, 1863, the army of Gen. Rosecrans took possession of Winchester and in force occupied all the surrounding country. Gens. Rosecrans, Garfield, McCook and others had their headquarters at private houses in the town. The provost-marshal occupied the old office of Dr. Wallis Estill, and Rosecrans' staff occupied the building of the Mary Sharp College. The Normal School building (then Carrack Academy was used as a hospital; and when Winchester was in the rear of Bragg's army almost every available house was used as a hospital. Briggs & Herrick kept a store in Winchester while it was under Federal rule, and were allowed to sell goods to the citizens. Rosecrans was here about six weeks, during which time all the forage in the surrounding country was gathered in for the support of his army. Soon after the Federal Army left, a company of citizens galloped into town and gutted the store of Briggs & Herrick, carrying away nearly all its contents. Gen. Slocum and his command occupied the town a short time thereafter, and Gen. Sherman's army passed through Winchester, on its way to Chattanooga, in the winter of 1863-64.

 

Franklin County was directly on the line of the contending armies, and consequently her citizens suffered greatly from the ravages of war. No great battles were fought, nor were any extensive fortifications made within the county, and strangers passing through it now could not observe that there had ever been a war here.

 

Capt. Finch's outfit (17th Confederate Infantry Regiment) was involved in many battles during the course of the three plus years, including: Camp Wildcat at Rock Castle, Kentucky on October 21, 1861; Fishing Creek, near Mill Springs, Kentucky; Munfordville; Perryville, Murfreesboro; Chicamauga; Knoxville; Drewy's Bluff; and Petersburg on June 17, 1864.

 

Thomas Henry Finch's left arm was amputated on June 29th, 1864, and he was then retired from service.

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Mexican American pension application:

Finch, Thos H & Amelia - Tenn, Tex, 9/18/1888 # C17078

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Vickie Plyler of Oakwood Cemetery supplied the following data on him:

Thomas H. Finch is buried in Oakwood Cem., Ft. Worth at block 11 lot 33 space 5.

He was living in Bedford, TX in 1884.

He was a Lt. in the 24th Texas Infantry. (This is incorrect. As stated above, Thomas was a Captain when he resigned his commision from the 17th Tennessee.)

Original owner of plot: Col H. A. Finch (lived in Pasadena, CA), and another contact for Finch plot was Judith S. Finch also shown as living in Pasadena  at 260 No. Oakland Ave.

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More About CAPT. THOMAS HENRY FINCH:

Burial: Oakwood Cem, Ft. Worth, Tarrant Co, TX

Census 1: 1850, District 1, Franklin Co, TN35

Census 2: 1860, Estill Springs, Franklin Co, TN36

Census 3: 1880, Hill Co., TX

Medical Information: Amputation of left arm on June 29, 1864, as a result of wound at battle of Missionary Ridge.

MILI: Military 1: Bet. 1861 - June 29 1864, Co. D, 17th Inf. Regiment, TN CSA

MILI: Military 2: Bet. 1847 - 1848, Co E, 3rd Reg, TN Vol Inf - Mex American War

Residence 1: 1888, Texas

Residence 2: 1884, Bedford, Tarrant County, Texas37

 

More About AMELIA ANN HILL:

Census 1: 1860, Estill Springs, Franklin Co, TN38

Census 2: 1850, Franklin County, Tennessee39

 

Marriage Notes for THOMAS FINCH and AMELIA HILL:

by A. D. Trimble, M. G.

 

 

More About THOMAS FINCH and AMELIA HILL:

Marriage: February 08, 1854, Franklin County, Tennessee

 

             vi.   SUSAN SCRUGGS FINCH 40,41,42,43,44, b. March 22, 1832, Winchester, Franklin County, Tennessee; d. April 22, 1882, Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas; m. WILLIAM WASHINGTON SHARP 45,46,47, April 08, 1851, Winchester, Franklin County, Tennessee; b. December 20, 1828, Winchester, Franklin County, Tennessee; d. July 08, 1863, Franklin County, Tennessee.

 

 

     

Child of THOMAS FINCH and FRANCES HUDSPETH is:

            vii.   NANCY K.5 FINCH, b. 1834, Tennessee; m. RICHARD S. HILL; b. Abt. 1826.

 

More About NANCY K. FINCH:

Census: 1850, District 1, Franklin Co, TN54

 

More About RICHARD S. HILL:

Census: 1850, Franklin County, Tennessee55

 

 

 

Endnotes

 

1.  Franklin County Historical Society, "Historical Tidings," Vol. XVI, no 4. Winchester,TN: October, 1984, pg 3, Thomas is deposed regarding his knowledge of James Sharp's family for the Nancy Hill vs James Sharp Heirs suit.

2.  Sands, John A., Jr., "Finch," Private publication, pg 12, Shown as "Thomas Finch", the location and year of birth and death are given.

3.  Goodspeed's History of Tennessee, History of Tennessee from the earliest times to the present,  (Easley, SC.: Southern Historical Press), Page 790, In Franklin County, Thomas Finch erected a new Jail in 1855.

4.  VWhite, Virgil D., Index to War of 1812 Pension Files,  (Waynesboro, TN, National Publishing Co. 1989), Vol 1, Thomas Finch, Old War IF-#14169 Rej, srv Capt Waddell's Co. 4th Regt TN Mil.

5.  Sands, John A., Jr., "Finch," Private publication, pg 12, Only her name and parentage are shown.

6.  Sands, John A., Jr., "Finch," Private publication, The year of marriage is given..

7.  Sands, John A., Jr., "Finch," Private publication, pg 12, The name, "Frances Hudspeth" is listed as Thomas' second wife.

8.  Sands, John A., Jr., "Finch," Private publication, pg 12, Listed as "Widow Moffatt", the third wife of Thomas Finch.

9.  Census, 1830, TN, Franklin Co, Winchester, Roll176, Pg113.

10.  Census, 1820, TN, Franklin Co, Roll123, Pg37, Shown on entry 442 as "Thomas Fynch."

11.  Census, 1840, TN, Franklin Co, TownDist, Roll523, Pg26.

12.  Census, 1850, TN, Franklin Co, Dist 1, Roll878, Pg07b.

13.  Census, 1860, TN, Franklin Co, Winchester, Roll1249, Pg73b, It's somewhat extraordinary to see him shown in the census as being a "Student of Law".

14.  Census, 1870, TN, Franklin Co, Decherd, Roll1527, Pg123a.

15.  Census, 1820, TN, Franklin Co, Roll123, Pg37.

16.  Sands, John A., Jr., "Finch," Private publication, The year of marriage is given..

17.  Census, 1850, TN, Franklin Co, Dist 1, Roll878, Pg07b.

18.  Census, 1860, TN, Franklin Co, Winchester, Roll1249, Pg73b.

19.  Sands, John A., Jr., "Finch," Private publication, pg 12, Shown as born in 1819, rather than 1/28/1820.

20.  Sands, John A., Jr., "Finch," Private publication, pg 12, Lived in Tennessee.

21.  Census, 1850, TN, Franklin Co, Dist 1, Roll878, Pg06b.

22.  Census, 1840, TN, Franklin Co, TownDist, Roll523, Pg27.

23.  Census, 1860, TN, Franklin Co, Dist 8, Roll878, Pg67b.

24.  Sands, John A., Jr., "Finch," Private publication, "Matt S. Finch born 1822. He died unmarried in Texas in 1880. He lived in Hill Co., Texas."

25.  Sands, John A., Jr., "Finch," Private publication.

26.  Sands, John A., Jr., "Finch," Private publication, shown as born in 1827.

27.  Sands, John A., Jr., "Finch," Private publication.

28.  Census, 1850, TN, Franklin Co, Dist 1, Roll878, Pg04a.

29.  Sands, John A., Jr., "Finch," Private publication, pg 13.

30.  Goodspeed's History of Tennessee, History of Tennessee from the earliest times to the present,  (Easley, SC.: Southern Historical Press), Page 791, T. H. Finch, Franklin County Chancery Court Clerk, 1871-1875.

31.  Goodspeed's History of Tennessee, History of Tennessee from the earliest times to the present,  (Easley, SC.: Southern Historical Press), page 795, T. H. Finch was in the Mexican-American War.

32.  Virgil D. White, Index to Mexican War Pension Files,  (1st edition, Waynesboro TN, National Publishing Company, 1989,), Thomas H. Finch, Amelia WC-6548, 7 Aug 1889 & SC-16078 both TX ser Colyer's & Williams Co. 3rd TN Vols.

33.  Cemetery Records, Records from Oakwood Cemetery show his date of death as April 7th, 1889.

34.  Sands, John A., Jr., "Finch," Private publication.

35.  Census, 1850, TN, Franklin Co, Dist 1, Roll878, Pg07b.

36.  Census, 1860, TN, Franklin Co, Estill Springs, roll1249, p135b.

37.  Cemetery Records.

38.  Census, 1860, TN, Franklin Co, Estill Springs, roll1249, p135b.

39.  Census, 1850, TN, Franklin Co, Dist 1, Roll878, Pg03b.

40.  Mills, Gary B., Civil War Claims by the South,  (Luguna Hill, CA.: Aegean Park Press, c1980).

41.  Mills, Gary B., Southern Loyalists in the Civil War: The Southern Claims Commission,  (Baltimore, MD.: Genealogical Publishing Co., c1994), Susan filed a claim which was disallowed by the commision. She then filed suit which was won, abeit in 1906, over 35 years later, and long after her death.

42.  Sands, John A., Jr., "Finch," Private publication, Minor differences in dates between Sands' information and that from other sources. Marriage date 4/10 vs. 4/8, death date 4/19 vs. 4/22.

43.  Chitwood-Corn-Sharp vs. U.S. Govt.,  (approximately 300 pages), Susan's loyalty to the Federal Government was addressed in the suit.

44.  US Court of Claims, Record Group 123, File 1559, Over 200 pages of documentation can be found in the Congressional Records Section of the National Archives at 8th & Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC, relating to the suit filed by Susan on behalf of her deceased husband's estate against the US Government for Civil War damages. The was finally settled in her favor in 1905.

45.  Sistler, Byron & Barbara, 1988, Early Middle Tennessee Marriages,  (Byron Sistler & Associates, 1712 Natchez Trace, Nashville, TN 37212), Vol. 1 Grooms, Page 487, Sharp, Wm. W. to Susan Finch 4-9-1851 (4-10-1851) [Fr].

46.  Sands, John A., Jr., "Finch," Private publication, Listed as "William W. Sharp."

47.  Chitwood-Corn-Sharp vs. U.S. Govt.,  (approximately 300 pages), William (i.e. the estate of Wm.) was a principle in this suit.

48.  Census, 1850, TN, Franklin Co, Dist 1, Roll878, Pg07b.

49.  Census, 1860, TN, Franklin Co, Elk River, Roll1249, Pg145a.

50.  Census, 1870, TN, Franklin Co, Decherd, Roll1527, Pg115b.

51.  Census, 1880, TX, Navarro Co, Roll1321, Pg318b.

52.  Census, 1860, TN, Franklin Co, Elk River, Roll1249, Pg145a.

53.  Census, 1850, TN, Franklin Co, Dist 8, Roll878, Pg63b.

54.  Census, 1850, TN, Franklin Co, Dist 1, Roll878, Pg07b.

55.  Census, 1850, TN, Franklin Co, Dist 1, Roll878, Pg05b.