yesterday's tennessee

Joseph Adkisson - Ellender Brashears

from the research of Jerry L. Butler

Joseph Adkisson was born in Halifax Co. VA in 1788. He and his brothers moved to Roane Co. TN after their father, David Adkisson, purchased land for them there in 1810. He served as one of the original Tennessee "Vols" in the Creek Indian Wars during the War of 1812. Joseph was a Sergeant in the company commanded by Captain James McKamy which was part of the Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers commanded by John Brown.

Ellender Brashears was born in Roane Co. TN in 1795 as the youngest daughter of Zaza Brashears and Elizabeth Adkinson. On April 13, 1815, Joseph and Ellender were married by Esq. Soloman Geren, J. P. in Roane Co. TN.   They moved to Lawrence Co. TN for a short time and made their way to Wayne Co. TN by 1820.  In 1825, Joseph and Ellender received a land grant under the act of 1823 on the Tennessee River in Perry (now Decatur) Co. TN. They added to this initial land grant and had extensive land holdings in Perry and later Decatur Co. TN. 

Joseph and Ellender had seven known children:  Malinda married William N. Ore, Isaac married Charlotte Cooper, Sarah married B. W. Raney, Absalom A. married Kizzie M. Brasher, Joseph William Adkisson married "unknown", James J. never married, Yerby married Sarina Jane Aydelott. As one of the earliest settlers in Decatur Co. TN, Joseph and Ellender are the progenitors of the Adkissons and many other families in the area.

The Descendants of Joseph and Ellender Adkisson can be downloaded from this web site. The Adobe Reader is required for this file and the download may be slow for dial up internet connections.

Joseph and Ellender received pensions based on Joseph's service in the war of 1812.  Joseph died at the age of 49 on October 30, 1837. Following, Joseph's death, Ellender filed for a bounty land grant under the act of 1850. Ellender combined households with her daughter, Malinda after the death of William Ore between 1860 and 1870.  Ellender lived to the ripe old age of 90 and died October 31, 1885.

The Adkisson family gave the land for the Adkisson Cemetery in Decatur Co. TN. The cemetery is now known as the Pleasant Hill Cemetery and is the second largest in the county. It is believed that Ellender Adkisson is memorialized with the simple stone that reads "Granny, 1st grave in cemetery". It is not known where Joseph is buried.

Land Grant - Perry Co. TN

Recorded 8th September 1825
The State of Tennessee
To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting:
Know ye, That by virtue of part of certificate dated the 21st day of January 1824, filed by the registrar of west Tennessee unto George Jenkins for 220 acres and entered on the 17th day of May 1824 as an occupant claim under the act of 1823.

There is granted by the said State of Tennessee, unto Joseph Adkisson a portion of the said George Jenkins a certain tract or parcel of land, containing one hundred ten acres by Survey bearing date the 18th day of June 1824 lying in the ninth District of Perry County eighth range & seventh section & bounded follows to wit Beginning at a Black Oak six poles East and one hundred & twelve poles South of the three mile post, West of the north east corner of said Section Range. South one hundred & forty poles to a white oak thence West one hundred twenty eight poles to a Stake at hickory and Dogwood pointer thence North one hundred forty poles to a Poplar & Chestnut thence East one hundred and twenty eight poles to the beginning.

With the hereditaments and apperienances, To have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land with its apperienances to the said Joseph Adkisson and his heirs forever. In witness whereof William Carroll Governor of the State of Tennessee hath hereunto set his hand and caused the great seal of the state to be affixed at Murfreesborough on the 16th day of July in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty five and of the Independence of the United States, the 50th.

By the Governor, Wm. Carroll

Daniel Graham, Secretary

Bounty Land

Ellender Adkisson applied for bounty land on September 23, 1852 in Decatur Co. TN.

State of Tennessee
County of Decatur

On the 23rd day of September AD 1852 personally appeared before me John C. Yarboro a justice of the peace in and for the county and state afore said Elleanor Adkisson aged 58 years a resident of Decatur County Tennessee who being duly sworn according to law declares that she is the widow of Joseph Adkisson deceased who was a Sergeant in the company commanded by Captain James McKamy in the Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers commanded by John Brown in the war with the Creek Indians. That her said husband enlisted at Kingston Roane County Tennessee on or about the time is not distinctly recollected for the term of three months and continued in actual service in said war for the term of three months and was honorably discharged in Kingston Roane County Tennessee the time is not recollected. As will more further appear by the muster roll of said company his certificate of discharge has been in my possession since the death of Joseph Adkisson but has been lost or mislaid so that it cannot be come at. She further states that she was married to the said Joseph Adkisson in Roane County Tennessee on the thirteenth day of April about the year 1812 by Esqr. Gunn - a justice of the peace in and for Roane County Tennessee and that her name before her marriage was Elleanor Brashears that her said husband died in Perry County Tennesee on the 30 day of October 1837 and that she is still a widow.

She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the act past September the 28 AD 1850.

Elleanor Adkisson
Seal, her mark

Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written.

John C. Yarboro
(J. P.) for Decatur County

State of Tennessee
Decatur County

I Samuel A. Yarboro Clerk of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid do certify that John C. Yarboro, Esq. before whom the foregoing Declaration was made was at the time there of a Justice of the Peace in and for Decatur County Tennessee duly authorized to administer oaths for general purposes. In testimony where of I have here unto set my hand and the seal of Said County at office this 23th day of September AD 1852

Samuel A. Yarboro, Clerk
Of Decatur County

State of Tennessee
Decatur County

This day personally appeared before me John C. Yarboro a Justice of the Peace in and for said Decatur County. Nicholas Welch and Daniel M. Rushing Two credible witnesses unconnected with either of the parties and after being duly sworn according to Law declare that they were personally acquainted with Joseph Adkisson in his lifetime and that the said Joseph Adkisson and Ellender Adkisson did Live together as husband and wife and was so ? and that the Said Elleanor Adkisson is Still his widow Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 23rd day of September AD 1852.

Nicholas Welch
D. M. Rushing

J. C. Yarboro, JP
for Decatur County

State of Tennessee
Decatur County
I Samuel A. Yarboro Clerk of the County Court of Said County do certify that John C. Yarboro, Esq. before whose the foregoing appearance was made is and was at the time there of a Justice of the Peace in and for Said County duly authorized to administer oaths for General purposes.

The testimony where of I have here unto set my hand and the Seal of Said County at office this 23rd day of September AD 1852.

Samuel A. Yarboro, Clerk
of the County Court

Census records

1820 census for Wayne Co. TN
Joseph Adkinson, head of family
1 male under 10
1 male 26 to 45
2 females under 10
1 female 16 to 26
1 person engaged in agriculture
no slaves

1830 census for Perry Co. TN
Joseph Atkerson, head of family
2 males under 5
1 male 5 to 10
1 male 10 to 15
1 male 40 to 50
1 female under 5
1 female 5 to 10
1 female 10 to 15
1 female 20 to 30
no slaves

Voter and tax lists

The 1818 voters list in Lawrence Co. TN lists Joseph Adkisson.

The 1837 tax list for Perry Co. TN lists Joseph Adkerson.