yesterday's tennessee
1. John W.[2] Lomax (Samuel, 3). Born, circa 1785, in GA. Died, 10 Feb 1854, in Dunklin Co., MO. Occupation: Stonemason.
He married, first, Elizabeth Horner (2), circa 1810, in Hickman Co., TN. Children:
He married, second, Phoebe Huffstedler, daughter of Jacob Huffstedler and Unknown, 1826, in Perry Co., TN. Born, circa 1808. Census: 1850, in Perry Co., TN. Children:
2. Elizabeth[2] Horner (John, 5). Born, circa 1791, in Hawkins Co., TN. Died, circa 1825, in Perry Co., TN.
She married John W. Lomax (1).
3. Samuel [3] Lomax. Born, 16 Dec 1762, in England. Died, 26 Aug 1833, in Perry Co., TN.
Samuel Lomax was born in England. He came to Georgia where he married Temperance Bugg, and afterwards came to Tennessee. He was large, portly, and strong. He moved from Georgia to Williamson County, Tennessee, then to Hickman County on the Duck River, and afterwards to Perry County. He was a farmer. A family tradition was that he was in the Revolutionary War. It is probable that he dropped out of the British army when it was in the South. [Hufstedler Family and Allied Families]
He married Temperance Bugg (4), circa 1783, in Wilkes Co., GA. Children:
4. Temperance[3] Bugg (John, 7).
She married Samuel Lomax (3).
5. John[3] Horner (William, 9). Born, circa 1770, in Randolph Co., NC. Died,
15 Apr 1822, in Beardstown, Perry Co., TN.
John Horner, Sr. was born ca 1770 (he was of age in 1791) in Randolph County, North Carolina, he died on 15 April 1882 at Beardstown, Perry County, Tennessee on the Buffalo River.…
"John Horner, Sr. was a farmer, surveyor, pioneer and Captain in the Tennessee Militia near Beardstown, Jefferson, Grainger and Dickson Counties in Tennessee. John Horner, Sr. left east Tennessee in 1804 and never returned. In 1809 Captain John Horner, Sr. was buying land at Only, Tennessee. Another purchase of land was in 1810, property that later became part of Hickman County, Tennessee.
"About 1812-14 a scouting party came up the east bank on the Tennessee River, their mission being to clear the County of any Indians that might be found along the western border of what is now Middle Tennessee. Some of those in the party were John Horner, Sr., Tom Ammons and John Lomax. The two latter were sons-in-law of John Horner, Sr. All of the party, and others, later settled in the County.
"When this surveying party came to the northern part of what is now Perry County, Tennessee to a creek that had a crook in it, they called it Crooked Creek. They camped overnight on the next creek south, and during the night a roan horse ran into the camp. Everyone took the incident as a sure sign of Indians approaching, so a campfire was made, chunks were laid about it can clothing laid on them to fool the Indians, but no redskins came. The creek was called Roan Creek for the roan horse.
"The next creek reached had banks that were crumbly. Tom Ammons rode too near the bank and it gave way, throwing him and the horse into a deep hole of water. The other boys laughed and called her Tom's Creek.
"Whether Deer Creek was named at this time we cannot say, but it was a great place for deer, and near the head of the creek is a spring that never goes dry, known as Buck Horn Spring. Tradition has it that two powerful bucks of the antlered tribe net there on a hot sultry summer day and the question arose who should drink first. A battle royal followed in which their horns got locked and both were found near the spring dead.
"Next we find our scouting party without provisions. They are on an unknown creek, to go hunting. They found a place eaten out in the earth, known as a deer lick. As they rested near the lick, Mr. Lomax of the party cut his name and carved a picture of a deer head on a big birch. Both could be seem for a few years after the Civil War. The lick can now be seen, and located on the farm of Jesse Sparks and the creek they named Lick. The scouting party did not stop there but continued south giving Spring Creek its name because of its many springs.
"Cypress Creek was named for the many cypress near the mouth; Marsh Creek, because there were many marshy places that made it difficult for them to continue on their way; Cedar Creek for its many cedars, which were scarce in those days. And last but not least of the Tennessee River Creeks they called White Oak for its large white oak trees.
"John Horner, Sr. came to the county later and settled on Buffalo River in 1810 near Beardstown, Tennessee. While living there a family from some place east was moving on west...it is thought they were going to Missouri. There were no ferries, so they had to ford the streams. They attempted to ford Buffalo River but found the water too deep and swift. They were swept away down the stream...lost their wagons and teams. They saved themselves by catching on a drift that had lodged against some obstruction in the river. It was only a little way from the house of John Horner, Sr. He heard their cries for help and ran down to find the people in great danger. He did not have a boat. They could not swim. He told them if they would do as he said he would try to bring them out; they readily agreed. he swam over and brought the woman out first, then rescued the rest. He carried them to his house and kept them until they were able to proceed on their journey. A few months later he received a letter from the folks, saying that they had a son and his name was John Horner Pillow." [A Horner Legacy]
He married Elizabeth Russell (6), 7 Feb 1788, in Jefferson Co., TN. Children:
6. Elizabeth[3] Russell (William, 11). Born, circa 1772, in Watauga, Washington Co., TN. Died, after 1830, in Perry Co., TN.
Elizabeth was baptized in January 1790 at Bent Creek Church, Whitesburg, TN.
She married John Horner (5).
7. John[4] Bugg. Resided in Wilkes Co., GA.
He married Unknown (8). Children:
8. Unknown [4].
She married John Bugg (7).
9. William[4] Horner. Born, 30 Oct 1746, in York Co., PA. Died, 12 Oct 1824, in Jefferson Co., TN. Burial in Bent Creek Cem., Whitesburg, Jefferson Co., TN.
"The earliest records in Tennessee show William and Elizabeth's residence in Washington County, Tennessee, on lands in the 'Holstein' on Sinking Creek." [The Dentons also lived on Sinking Creek.]
William Horner "was a Deacon of the Bent Creek Baptist Church. He was a surveyor and came to Greene County, Tennessee in 1782. [He] donated the land which became the Bent Creek Cemetery in 1810 near Whitesburg, Jeffersonn County, Tennessee." [A Horner Legacy]
He married Elizabeth Alred (10), 1767, in Randolph Co., NC. Children:
10. Elizabeth[4] Alred (John J., 13). Born, 17 Aug 1747, in Randolph Co., NC. Died, 11 Mar 1823, in Jefferson Co., TN. Burial in Bent Creek Cern., Whitesburg, Jefferson Co., TN.
She married William Horner (9).
11. William[4] Russell (George, 15). Born, circa 1750, in Pittsylvania Co., VA. Died, Dec 1804, in Dickson Co., TN.
"William Russell was a member of the Bent Creek Baptist Church; he asked for dismissal in 1794." [A Horner Legacy]
He married, first, Agnes (12). Children:
He married, second, Charity Witt. Children:
12. Agnes [4].
She married William Russell (11).
13. John J.[5] Alred. Born, circa 1736, in Randolph Co., NC. Died, 1792, in Randolph Co., NC.
He married Margaret Chaney (14). Children:
14. Margaret[5] Chaney. Born, 1736, in Randolph Co., NC. She married John J. Alred (13).
15. George[5] Russell. Born, 1720, in Loudon, Fairfax Co., VA. Died, circa 1798.
George Russell "was killed by Indians while hunting in the fall, in a hunting party in Kentucky with Daniel Boone; his skeleton was found years later.
"George Russell's place of residence during the Revolutionary War was Watauga Settlement, Washington County, Tennessee. He moved there in 1770, then to Grainger County, Tennessee. [He] lived on Buffalo Hide Creek in Grainger County. .
"George Russell was a Captain in the Militia in the Washington District of watauga, then North Carolina, now Tennessee. George fought in the Battle of Point Pleasant on 6 October 1774, under General Andrew Lewis, Captain Evan Shelby and Sergeants James Robertson and Valentine Sevier. He was in the Battle of King's Mountain, on 7 October 1780, serving as Captain under Colonel John Sevier. He also was in the Battle of Boyd's Creek in December 1780 serving again under Colonel Sevier, and in the Battle on Lookout Mountain [Battle of Wauhauchee] in September and October 1782, the later battle was the last battle of the Revolutionary War west of the Appalachian Mountains. George received several thousand acres for his service in the Revolutionary War, among which was a grant upon which the town of Russellville, Tennessee is located.
"George Russell was Justice of the Peace in 1778 in Washington District, North Carolina." [A Horner Legacy]
George Russell and his wife Elizabeth Bean had 14 children.
He married Elizabeth Bean (16).
16. Elizabeth[5] Bean (William, 17). Born, 25 Nov 1723, in Northumberland C, VA. Died, before 1800, in German Creek, Grainger Co., TN.
Elizabeth Bean was a member of Bent Creek Baptist Church in Hamblen County, Tennessee.
She married George Russell (15), before 1750. Children:
17. William[6] Bean. Born, circa 1700, in VA. Died, Jan 1782, in Washington Co., TN.
He married Unknown (18). Children:
18. Unknown [6].
She married William Bean (17).
1. Jesse[2] Moore (Thomas, 3). Born, circa 1785. Died, 13 Jul 1841, in Decatur Co., TN. Burial in Moore Cern., Perry Co., TN (fieldstone). Census: 1820, in White Co., TN. Census: 1830, in Perry Co., TN. Occupation: Blacksmith. Agnes Moore, daughter of Jesse, was born in 1812. In the 1850 census in Decatur County, she lists North Carolina as her state of birth. It is possible that Jesse is the Jesse Moore in Burke Co., NC, in 1810. The first clear record for Jesse Moore shown him living on the Caney Fork River in White County, Tennessee in 1817, where is also appears in the census of 1820. A letter has survived addressed to Jesse Moore in care of Samuel Moore, so Jesse may have lived on the south side of the Caney Fork in what is now Van Buren County.
He moved about 1821 to Perry County, living on Swindle Creek near its confluence with Cedar Creek. Jesse Moore was a blacksmith, possibly operating a livery stable. He also was a whiskey maker.
In 1840 he borrowed money from John Horner to purchase land on the Beech River in what is now Decatur County, using his Cedar Creek property as collateral. He died just after moving to Beech River. The Cedar Creek properties seem to have been forfeited to John Horner and been among the Perry County lands sold by Horner in 1843-1844.
He married Margaret "Peggy" Denton (2). Children:
2. Margaret APeggy@112] Denton (Abraham, 4). Born, circa 1790. Died, 25 Oct
1858, in Decatur Co., TN. Burial in Moore Cern., Perry Co., TN (fieldstone). Census: 1850, in Decatur Co., TN.
Margaret managed to hold the Jesse Moore property on the Beech River together during her life time, clearing past due taxes during the mid 1840s and getting the property deeds cleared and recorded in 1851.
She was a charter member of the first organization of New Hope Baptist Church.
She married Jesse Moore (1).
3. Thomas[3] Moore (Ancestor, 6). Born, circa 1762. Died, circa 1840, in White Co., TN.
Thomas Moore was a Revolutionary War veteran. He filed a pension application from White County, Tennessee.
He married an unknown woman. Children:
4. Abraham[3] Denton (Abraham, 7). Born, circa 1740, in Shenandoah Co., VA?. Died, after 1828, in Obion Co., TN.
The general view of Abraham Denton is as an individual born circa 1730 in Shenandoah County, Virginia, who died after 1828 in Obion County, Tennessee. This generally held view has two problems. First is the very late date for his marriage and the births of his children. He would have been at least 35 when the first of his datable children was born and almost 60 when the last was born. Second, there are Dentons in Western North Carolina who must be related to this family, yet all of Abraham's known children went west. To resolve this it seems best to make a father and son, both named Abraham, who have been merged in the historical record into a single individual. The father is the one active in western North Carolina, probably dying in the area around Burke County. The son is the one in Washington, White, and Obion Counties, Tennessee. The following concerns the younger.
"The records of Washington County [Tennessee], for the Court of Pleas and Quarter Session, 1776-1792 tell us on page 114, August 25, 1780 that Abraham Denton was on the jury. The same book records, page 116, 1780 show an order that a fine of one hundred pounds be imposed upon John Chisoln, esqr., for being guilty of striking and beating of Abraham Denton in the court yard; also disquieting the peace and decorom of the court and that the clerk issue an execution for the same.
"Page 117. of the same, 1780. Order that Abraham Denton have leave to build a Grist Mill on Sanking [Sinking] Creek on his own land and after the same being so built shall be entitled to take and receive tole which is due and entitled to be received by Public Gristmills.... [Some of the Horner family also lived on Sinking Creek.]
"Abraham Denton seems to have sold his lands and moved from Greene and Washington Counties, Tennessee, about the time that Tennessee became a State in 1796. He is not mentioned in the records after that date. It is not clear where he lived fron 1796 to 1809 the year he appears in White County, Tennessee. There is a tradition that he was in Kentucky during that period of time, yet nothing has been found to establish or verify the tradition. There is much evidence of his residence in White County, from 1809 to about 1821, probably a little earlier as he is not shown in the 1820 census of White County. He was living in Hickman County in 1821 and was in Perry County, shortly thereafter. Perry County was created Nov. 24, 1821 from a part of Hickman County, and parts of other counties. It is believed that Denton was in that part of Hickman County which became Perry County, and therefore, he did not move but merely was changed due to the formation of the new county. About 1827 or 1828 he moved from Perry County to West Tennessee and was living in Obion County, at the time of his death.... He left no will, nor is there anything regarding an estate he may have left, therefore, it is believed that he died without property. The place of his burial is unknown except for members of the family who state that he died and was buried in Obion County, Tennessee." [Some of the Descendants of Rev. Richard Denton]
He married Mourning Hogg (5). Children:
5. Mourning[3] Hogg (Gideon, 8).
She married Abraham Denton (4).
6. [4] Moore Ancestor.
He married an unknown woman. Children:
7. Abraham[4] Denton (Abraham, 9). Born, circa 1720, in Shenandoah Co., VA?. Died, after 1783, in Burke Co., NC?.
The general view of Abraham Denton is as an individual born circa 1730 in Shenandoah County, Virginia, who died after 1828 in Obion County, Tennessee. This generally held view has two problems. First is the very late date for his marriage and the births of his children. He would have been at least 35 when the first of his datable children was born and almost 60 when the last was born. Second, there are Dentons in Western North Carolina who must be related to this family, yet all of Abraham's known children went west. To resolve this it seems best to make a father and son, both named Abraham, who have been merged in the historical record into a single individual. (An alternative possibility would be for Abraham to have been married twice, with the first family forgotten.) The father is the one active in western North Carolina, probably dying in the area around Burke County. The son is the one in Washington, White, and Obion Counties, Tennessee. The following concerns the elder.
"The exact date that Abraham Denton came into Western North Carolina, Rowan County, is not certain. He was living there in 1774, for on August 4th of that year he was appointed a member of the Committee of Safety for Rowan which consisted of twenty-five members. In Davidson County, formerly a part of Rowan, was a place of about one hundred inhabitants called >Denton' which is believed to have been named for this family of Dentons." In 1783 Abraham Denton was in Burke County, North Carolina, which had been created from Rowan in 1777. He was named a trustee in "An Act to incorporate trustees for two academical schools in the district of Morgan." [Some of the Descendants of Rev. Richard Denton]
He married Unknown. Children:
8. Gideon[4] Hogg. Died, Apr 1793, in Caswell Co., NC.
"Just when Gideon Hogg and members of his family came into North Carolina, is not certain. The 1790 census does not list him as a resident of Caswell County, North Carolina; however, in 1793 in the month of April, Gideon Hogg died in Caswell County, leaving a will, in which he names his wife Judith, and children, John, William, Elizabeth, Thomas, Agnes, Gideon, Ann Denton, Mourning Denton, Judith Gibson, Rebecca Shelton, and Mary Yates." [Some of the
Descendants of Rev. Richard Denton]
He married an unknown woman. Children:
9. Abraham[5] Denton (Abraham, 11). Born, circa 1700, in NY. Died, 1774, in Shenandoah Co., VA.
This branch of the Denton family migrated to Shenandoah Valley, Augusta County, circa 1729.
He married Mary (10). Children:
10. Mary [5].
She married Abraham Denton (9).
11. Abraham[6] Denton (Samuel, 13). Born, 1668, in Hempstead, Long Island, NY. Died, circa 1730, in Orange Co., NY.
He married Unknown (12), after 1698. Children:
12. Unknown [6].
She married Abraham Denton (11).
13. Samuel [7] Denton (Richard, 15). Died, circa 1713, in Hempstead, Long Island, NY.
He married Mary Smith (14). Children:
14. Mary[7] Smith, daughter of John Rock Smith and Unknown.
She married Samuel Denton (13).
15. Richard[8] Denton. Born, 1586, in Yorkshire, England. Died, 1663, in Essex, England.
"Reverend Richard Denton was a preacher at Halifax, England. He came to New England between 1630 and 1635. He was among the first settlers of Wethersfield, Connecticut, and occasionally exercised his profession while in that place. He removed with a part of the church to Rippoowoms (Stamford) in 1641, and was the first of that place. After remaining at Stamford a few years, Mr. Denton, with some of the principal men of the plantation, again removed, went to Long Island, and began the town of Hempstead. He continued the minister of that place until his death." He received an A.B. at the University at Cambridge in 1623. He returned to England in 1659. [Some of the Descendants of Rev. Richard Denton]
He married Helen Windlbank (16). Children:
16. Helen[8] Windlbank.
She married Richard Denton (15).
Alexander, Fred and Margie. Early Marriage Records (1869-1921) of Decatur County. Tennessee. Decaturville, Tennessee: Authors, undated.
Cox, Freda R. "Minutes of New Hope Baptist Church Decatur County, Tennessee 1842-1925," unpublished manuscript, McClung Collection, Knox County Library, Knoxville, Tennessee, undated. (Abstracted from microfilm copy held by the Baptist Historical Commission, Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, Tennessee.)
Decatur County. Tennessee Cemetery Records. Parsons, Tennessee: Captain Nathaniel A. Wesson Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, 1984.
Glaser, Lena Joe Kelley (Mrs. Alfred W.). Hufstedler Family and Allied Families. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Xerox Reproduction Center, 1974.
Horner, Fredalene Cooper. A Horner Legacy. Cassville, Missouri: Author, 1988.
Whitley, Edythe. Some of the Descendants of Rev. Richard Denton. McMinnville, Tennessee: Womack Printing Company, 1959.
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