John Glenn Anderson (abt. 1783 - bef. 1859)

Born about 1783 in Rutherford, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Murray) Anderson — married 19 Oct 1804 in Barren County, Kentucky, United States

Descendants

Died before 1859 before about age 76 in Hickman, Tennessee

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Biography

John Glenn Anderson was the son of another John Anderson who in turn was a descendant of the Colonial Andersons in New Kent and Hanover County, VA. His name is regularly recorded as John G. Anderson, and the full middle name might be a mystery were it not for one record, an 1804 land grant in Barren County, KY, that identifies him as "Jno. Glenn Anderson." Kentucky, U.S. Land rants, 1782-1924.[3] The Glenn portion of his name almost certainly comes from his mother or grandmother's maiden name, as there is a clear connection with the Glenns in Hanover County running through the names and history of John G.'s grandfather Elkanah Anderon.

John G.'s father moved away from Virginia as a young man and raised his family in Rutherford County, NC. When the older children came of age, father John moved the family to Mercer County, KY (site of Harrodsburg), almost certainly traveling along the famous Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail. John G.'s two older siblings, Elkanah and Mary Polly, both married in 1798 in Mercer County shortly after the family arrived there. The family did not stay long in Mercer County, however, as by 1800 they appear in Barren County further to the south. John G. married Elizabeth "Betsy" Murray in Barren County in 1804. She was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Murray, friends and colleagues of the Andersons from Rutherford County who moved together to Kentucky. John G. and his brother (Elkanah) and sister (Mary Polly) moved again around 1806, this time to newly opened land in Dickson County, TN. John G's older brother Elkanah died in 1815 following the Battle of New Orleans.

A few years later, John G. moved his family to nearby HIckman County, one of the earliest and most respected citizens of that new county. The following is taken from A History of Hickman County, Tennessee, by Spence and Spence, Southern Historical Press, 1900, p. 292: "John Anderson was a hunter, a shoemaker, and a cooper. he made and mended shoes for the pioneers; made barrels, washtubs, water buckets, churns, etc., for them; and made for himself the well-earned reputation of being one of the best hunters in the (Cane Creek) settlement."

John Glenn appears in multiple census reports through 1860 in Hickman County, so it appears that move was his last. He died after 1860 as that is the last census he appears in. In this last census, John G. is living with his daughter Sarah Bates and her husband Samuel, 76 years old. Elizabeth died between the 1850 and 1860 census reports.

Marriage

John G. married Elizabeth (Betsy) Murray on October 25, 1804 in Barren County, KY. Kentucky, U.S. Compiled Marriages, 1802-1850[4]. She was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Murray who were lifelong friends of the Andersons.

Children

In the 1820 census, John G. and Betsy had one son under 10, 3 daughters under 10, and 2 daughters 10-16. It is not clear who all these children are. The couple's known children include the oldest daughter Jenny Anderson, b. 1804, d. young at in 1833, married Samuel Bates; Sarah Anderson, b. 1809 d. 1887, married Samuel Bates after Jennie died; Elkanah b. 1811 d. about 1844; and John Aaron Anderson, b. 1827, death unknown. The census accounts for Elkanah (son under 10) and the two girls (age 10-15), but there are 3 more daughters under 10. John Aaron born 1827 was not alive in the 1820 census.

In the 1830 census, John and Betsy have 2 males under 5 - one of these is John Aaron, the other is unknown; 1 male 5-9, unknown; 1 male 10-14, unknown; no males of Elkanah's age (19), he must have moved out; 1 female 5-9 unknown; 1 female 15-19 (Sarah? should be 21), and 1 female 20-29, probably Jennie age 26 but she should be married.

In the 1840 census there are still 4 children at home - 1 male each for 5-9, 10-14 (John Aaron), and 15-19, and 1 female 20-29 probably Sarah. The youngest male and older male are unknown.

In the 1850 census, not surprisingly, the children are all gone except for John Aaron, still at home age 23.

Thus, we know of 4 of the children (Jennie, Sarah Jane, Elkanah, and John Aaron), but this couple apparently had 3 daughters and 2 sons who are not accounted for.

Historical References and Sources

• 1783 - John's estimated birth year, based on the ages recorded in the 1850 census (67) and 1860 census (76).

• 1790 - John G. first appears in any record in the 1790 Census of Rutherford County, NC. HIs father John is listed as head of household. There are two males over 16 (John and eldest son Elkanah); one male under 16 (younger brother John G., who was 7 or 8); and 4 females (wife unknown, daughters Elizabeth, Janet, and Mary Polly. ^[1].

• 1798 - John G., his father, and his older brother and sister all moved to Mercer County, KY this year, likely over the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail. Elkanah and Mary Polly both married that year in Mercer; John G. was too young and married a few years later in Barren County, see below. ^[2]

• 1800 - John G. and his family have moved to Barren County, KY but this time. A John Anderson was shown on an 1800 Tax List in Barren Kentucky, but this is likely John G.'s father as John G was born in 1783 and was only 17 in 1800.^[3]

• 1804 - John's marriage to Elizabeth (Betsy) Murray in Barren County, KY in 1804 is recorded in U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 [5]. Also in "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2QD-MGSH : 16 January 2021), John G. Anderson and Betsey Murry, 25 Oct 1804; citing Marriage, Glasgow, Barren, Kentucky, United States, various county clerks and county courts, Kentucky; FHL microfilm 209,767.

• 1804 - John appears in 1804 in a land grant in Kentucky under the name "Jno Glenn Anderson." This likely John G because of the location (Barren County) and year, when the Andersons were all in Barren County. Kentucky, U.S. Land Grants, 1782-1924 Book 21 [6] This record is the only one containing John's full middle name, which was likely the maiden name of his mother or grandmother.

• 1820 - John G. next appears in the 1820 Census for Hickman County, Tennessee. 1820 U S Federal Census; Census Place: Hickman, Tennessee; Page: 193; NARA Roll: M33_122; Image: 155 [7] In the 1820 Census, There were three female children under 10 and two ages 10 to 15, and one male child under 10. Curiously, and probably erroneously, the entire family was listed as "Foreigners not Naturalized." The two female children 10-15 could have been (Anderson-11761) Jenny Anderson b. 1804, who married Samuel Bates, and (Anderson-11239) Sarah "Sallie" Anderson b. 1809 who married Jennie's husband after Jennie died [Bates-4154]. In the 1840 Census, John and his family were neighbors of Samuel O. Bates and family. The male child under 10 was Elkanah Anderson, b. 1815 (not yet in WikiTree). The identity of the three females under 10 is unknown. The Anderson's neighbors included John Murray and John Curry, both in-laws.

• 1830 - John G. and family are included in the United States Federal Census : 1830; Census Place: Hickman, Tennessee; Series: M19; Roll: 176; Page: 273; Family History Library Film: 0024534, located at[8]. 1 male 40-49 (John G. age 47); 1 male 10-14 (Elkanah b. 1815, age 14-15); 1 male 5-10 (unknown); 2 males under 5 (John Aaron b. 1827 age 3; other unknown); 1 female age 50-59 (unknown, mother in law?); 1 female 40-49 (Betsy age 43); 1 female 20-29 (probably Jennie age 26); 1 female 15-19 (Sarah? B. 1809 should be 21, not 19); 1 female 5-9 (unknown, may be the Nancy Michael appearing in the 1850 census).

• Aug. 10, 1836 - John received a 15-acre land grant in 1836 in Hickman County, TN, Aug. 10, 1836, to "John G. Anderson." North Carolina and Tennessee, U.S., Early Land Grants, Warrant Number 26689 [9]; see also North Carolina and Tennessee, U.S., Early Land Records, 1753-1931: Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Early Tennessee/North Carolina Land Records; Roll: 55; Book: FF. Warrant Number 26689^[4]

• 1837 - John was listed on tax records for Hickman County in 1837. Tennessee, Early Tax Records, 1783-1895, 435 acres.[10]

• 1840 - John G and family appear in the United States Federal Census: Year: 1840; Census Place: Hickman, Tennessee; Roll: 524; Page: 207; Image: 421; Family History Library Film: 0024545 [11]. 1 male 50-59 (John G. age 57); 1 male 15-19 (probably the “unknown” 5-10 in 1830; eldest son Elkanah is 25 and married); 1 male 10-14 (John age 13); 1 male 5-9 (unknown); 1 female 50-59 (mother Betsy age 53); 1 female 20-29 (Jennie or Sarah).

• 1850 United States Federal Census: Year 1850; Census Place: Hickman, Tennessee; Roll: M432_884; Page: 86A; Image: 510 [12] John G. listed as age 67, Elizabeth as 63, John A. as 23, Nancy Michael 29 – she might be one of the missing daughters who got married before 1840, lost her husband by 1850. Searches for Michael in 1840 census did not get a clear hit – one Joshua Michael in Perry County might be her husband. This census confirms that John G. was born in North Carolina, birth year about 1783.

• John is listed in 1850 in U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880, in the Agriculture schedule for Hickman County, taken June 1, 1850 [13]; and again on Nov. 23, 1850 [14]

• 1850 - Agricultural Census lists John G. Anderson https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/8548104:1276?tid=28323561&pid=12133907019&_phsrc=LYE1017&_phstart=successSource 40 improved acres, 70 unimproved, several sheep and horses, Hickman County.

• 1856 - John G. Anderson and Robert Bretton (sp?) granted 6.5 acres of land on Duck River, Hickman County, TN. North Carolina and Tennessee, U.S., Early Land Records 1753-1931, [15]

• 1857 - John received a land grant in Tennessee in 1857. North Carolina and Tennessee, U.S., Early Land Records 1753-1731, Warrant No. 24380 [16]; see also North Carolina and Tennessee, U.S., Early Land Records, 1753-1931. Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Early Tennessee/North Carolina Land Records; Roll109; Book 9, Occupant, Name: John G Anderson, Record Date: 18 May 1857, Location Hickman, Tennessee, Warrant Number 24380^[5] This seems pretty late in John's life to be obtaining a land grant, reason for the grant is not clear.

• 1860 - John is listed for the last time in a census report, as "J.G. Anderson," age 76, living in the residence of Samuel O Bates and Sarah Anderson Bates. Sarah was his daughter. 1860 United States Federal Census: Year: 1860; Census Place: District 10, Hickman, Tennessee; Roll: M653_1257; Page: 69; Image: 142; Family History Library Film: 805257 1860 United States Federal Census: Year 1860 [17]

Sources

1. ↑ William Eugene Anderson Ancestry Tree, under John Anderson 1753-1810 accessible at Ancestry.com, William Eugene Anderson tree.[1]
2. ↑ William Eugene Anderson Ancestry Tree, under John Anderson 1753-1810, Image from original Kentucky records copied and saved[2]
3. ↑ Kentucky, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1810-1890
4. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/32051:2882?tid=157200237&pid=232067422963&queryId=4800858694281fad5dc4c9727a67777a&_phsrc=SIt467&_phstart=successSource
5. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/158380:2882?tid=157200237&pid=232067422963&queryId=b5ad2517d1a7e0980c0ba85af22ec863&_phsrc=SIt470&_phstart=successSource

• Ancestry Site for William Eugene Anderson, John G. Anderson located at[18]

• A History of Hickman County, Tennessee, by Spence and Spence, Southern Historical Press, 1900, p. 292.

• Mercer County, KY Marriage Records for brother Elkanah and sister Mary Polly located at[19]

• Barren County, KY. Kentucky, U.S. Compiled Marriages, 1802-1850[20], marriage of John G. Anderson to Elizabeth Murray.

• Census reports and land records cited above.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Jeanne Aloia for creating Anderson-11284 on 19 Sep 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Jeanne and others. Current profile updated and edited by William Anderson (Anderson-68069