Tilford McConnell (1807 - 1882)

Born 13 Apr 1807 in Botetourt, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Nancy (Billue) McConnell — married 19 Dec 1829 in Blount County, Tennessee

Husband of Nancy E. (Harris) McConnell — married before 1868 in Blount County, GA

Descendants

Died 5 Apr 1882 at age 74 in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett, Georgia, United States

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Biography

Background

Tilford McConnell was born April 13, 1807, in southwestern Virginia in Botetourt County, ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} where his parents Moses McConnell ^{[1] [5]} and Elizabeth Draper McConnell ^{[1] [6]} were living in 1810, as shown by the 1810 U.S. Census Records. ^[5]

When Tilford was around 8 to 9 years old his parents moved the family to Hawkins County, Tennessee around 1815 to 1816 where the earliest reference found for Moses McConnell in Hawkins County records was in April 1816 when Moses served on a jury. ^[7] His father Moses bought 343 acres of land (which later became known as the McConnell Farm) in Blount County, in 1819 just east of the settlement of Maryville in southeast Tennessee, ^[8] but it is believed that Moses did not move his family right away as he was directly involved as plaintiff in multiple suits in Hawkins County until around 1823. (see Research Notes for further discussion)

History indicates that the settlement of Blount County begun in 1785 and the earliest settlers were mainly Scotch Presbyterians and that no other section of Tennessee was settled by more heroic, fearless, and energetic people and no other county is richer in traditions and honorable achievements by its pioneers than Blount County. ^[9]

Tilford was married in Blount County, Tennessee, near Maryville, on Dec I9, 1829, to Nancy Billue (Ballew), born Feb 2, 1812 in North Carolina. Officiating at their marriage was the uncle of the bride, Reverend William Billue, well known in his day as a Baptist minister of Blount County, Tennessee. Thomas Billue also lived in this county and was believed to be a brother of William Billue and possibly the father of Nancy. (see research notes for discussion)

The U.S. Census records for 1830 show that Tilford McConnell and 1st wife were living in Blount County, Tennessee on the original McConnell home-place. It is here that the first 3 of their 10 children were born William Thomas, Moses and Andrew C.

Tilford McConnell moved to Georgia with Nancy, and their three young sons, around 1837, ^{[1] [10]} as the Cherokee Indians were in the process of being removed from Georgia as part of the “Trail of Tears.” They were among the early pioneer families that founded and settled Gwinnett County, Georgia located east of Atlanta. They settled near Nancy's parents, Thomas and Margaret Billue, and her brother Stephen Billue, who had preceded them and established their home about 4 to 5 miles south of Lawrenceville. Tilford is believed to be the only one of the Tennessee family of McConnells who is known to have moved to Georgia.

Adjoining Nancy’s parent’s property on the east, Tilford McConnell acquired a large tract of land and erected a home located about one-mile from the center of Grayson. It is here their other seven children were born, Elizabeth Susan, Mary E., Philo W., Sarah C., Robert T., John Calvin and James Patterson.

Tilford McConnell was listed among the larger land owners of the county as indicated in the tax digests of 1860 and 1866, with a plantation of 575 acres. He did not own slaves until 1860 according to the census records, where he was shown to be the owner of 2 slaves. It is recorded that one of these two was called "Mart", who in 1865 celebrated his newfound freedom by reportedly assaulting a young white woman of the neighborhood, and attained the doubtful distinction of being the first of his race lynched in Georgia for such a crime. He was hanged by some Ohio Union soldiers encamped at Lawrenceville, to whom he had fled to for protection. These facts were brought to light in a speech by Hon Charles Brand in 1922, in the U.S. House of Representatives, and retold in Flannigan’s History of Gwinnett County, Vol I Pages 233-234.

Federal troops returning from Stoneman's raid on Macon, Georgia visited the McConnell farm July 23, 1864, and among other things made off with four mules valued at $ 605, leaving only one colt named "Peg". Before his death Tilford McConnell filed claim (No. 11665) with the Southern Claims Commission for reimbursement, but it was denied. ^[11] As executors of his estate, his sons Moses and Philo W. McConnell continued the pursuit of this claim through the 51st Congress, and the U.S. Court of Claims until 1890 or later, with no better success.

The challenging days of reconstruction after the Civil War, were further embittered by the death of his wife Nancy (Billue) McConnell on May 27, 1867, ^{[3] [12]} with their youngest child James Patterson McConnell being only 13 years of age. Though a member of Fairview Presbyterian Church, Nancy’s remains were laid to rest at the New Hope Methodist Church, where Tilford was a member. She was preceded in death by Mary E and Andrew. This too became the last resting place of Tilford McConnell, who died of unknown causes on April 5, 1882, ^{[1] [3] [4]} and of his second wife Mary E. (Harris) McConnell, to whom he remarried sometime after the death of Nancy. There were no children by the second wife, who survived until Feb 24, 1908. The old home-place she lived until her death was called by locals as the "Aunt Mary McConnell place".

Tilford left a will which was probated at Lawrenceville on May 1, 1882, ^[13] where he provided for his widow, "Aunt Mary" a life interest in the home-place which was reduced to 100 acres, $l00 cash and a year's support, a horse, a cow, and the house-hold furniture. Beds and bedding were given to the sons Robert T and James P., and the remaining lands were to be sold and divided in equal shares among all the children.

The beginning part of Tilford's Will reads as follows, "In the name of God. I, Tilford McConnell, of said State and county, being of advanced age but of sound and disposing mind and memory, knowing that I must before a great while depart this life, deem it right and proper both as respect myself and family that I should make a disposition of the property with which a kind Provider (?) has helped me. l do therefore make this my last will and testament hereby revoking and annulling all others by me here...." "I desire and direct that my body be buried in a decent and Christian like manner, suitable to my condition and circumstances in life. My soul I trust shall return to rest with God who gave it. As l hope for salvation through the merits and atonement of the blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ".

Tilford Key Events

Parents:

Father Moses I McConnell and Mother Elizabeth (Draper) McConnell.

Siblings:

Siblings include:

1. Brother Newton McConnell
2. Brother Moses II McConnell
3. Sister Elizabeth McConnell
4. Sister Susan McConnell
5. Sister Ferdilla McConnell
6. Brother James McConnell
7. Brother Calvin McConnell
8. Brother Alfred McConnell

Marriage and Children:

1st Marriage: Married to Nancy (Billue) McConnell (1st wife) on 10 Dec 1829 in Blount County, Tennessee They had 10 children ^{[1] [13] [14]}

1. William Thomas McConnell
2. Moses III McConnell
3. Andrew McConnell
4. Elizabeth Susan McConnell
5. Mary E. McConnell
6. Philo W. McConnell
7. Sarah C. McConnell
8. Robert T. McConnell
9. John Calvin McConnell
10. James Patterson McConnell

2nd Marriage: Married to Nancy E. (Harris) McConnell (2nd wife) sometime between 1868 to 1869 in Blount County, Tennessee. They had no known children

Occupation:

Tilford’s reported occupation was Tanner ^[2] which included preparing and tanning hides which was a long and difficult process. Many early pioneers greatly depended on the tanner. Leather was used by shoemakers so they could make shoes for settlers and farmers who used leather to make saddles and bridles. ^[15]

Death and Cemetery:

5 April 1882 at New Hope Methodist Cemetery in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia

Chronology for Tilford McConnell

1807 Tilford is born to Moses McConnell and Elizabeth (Draper) McConnell

1809 - James Madison is inaugurated, succeeding Thomas Jefferson as President of the United States

1812 - U.S. President James Madison asks Congress to declare war on the United Kingdom

1810 to 1814 Tilford and his parents along with his younger brothers Newton, John and Moses and sister Elizabeth (Betsy) were still in Botetourt County, Virginia.

1814 - Francis Scott Key writes the words to the Star Spangled Banner

1815/16 Tilford and family are in Hawkins County, Tennessee

1816 Sister Susan was born

1817 - James Monroe is inaugurated as the President of the United States

1818 Sister Firdella was born

1818 - The flag of the United States is officially adopted by Congress with the configuration of thirteen red and white stripes and one star for each state in the union

1821 Brother James was born

1823 Brother Calvin was born

1823/24 Tilford and family are in Blount County, Tennessee on the McConnell Farm on Crooked Creek near Maryville.

1826 Brother Alfred was born

1828 - The first passenger railroad in the United States, the Baltimore and Ohio, begins.

1829 Tilford marries Nancy (Billue)

1830 1st son William Thomas McConnell is born

1832 2nd son Moses McConnell is born

1835 3rd son Andrew McConnell is born

1836-38 Tilford and family move to Gwinnett County, Georgia near Nancy’s family

1839 - The first university west of the Mississippi River is established, the University of Missouri.

1839 1st daughter Elizabeth Susan McConnell is born

1841 2nd daughter Mary E. McConnell is born

1842 4th son Philo W. McConnell is born

1845 3rd daughter Sarah C. McConnell is born

1848 - Gold was discovered in California and Gold Rush begins

1848 5th son Robert T. McConnell is born

1851 6th son John Calvin McConnell is born

1854 7th son James Patterson McConnell is born

1857 - The United States Supreme Court rules in the Dred Scott decision

1861 - Abraham Lincoln is sworn in as president of the United States and the start of the Civil War

1864 Federal troops returning from a raid on Macon visited the McConnell Farm and took livestock and other items

1865 – the end of the Civil War

1867 Tilford’s wife Nancy passes away

1868/69 Tilford re-marries to his 2nd wife Mary E. (Harris)

1870 - The last former state of the Confederacy, Georgia, is readmitted into the Union, and the Confederated States of America is officially dissolved

1881 - Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell form the Oriental Telephone Company

1882 Tilford passes away

1908 Tilford’s 2nd wife Mary passes away

Research Notes and Relationship Evidence

Relationship Proof Arguments – Tilford McConnell son of Moses I McConnell:

From the below it is the opinion that this constitutes a preponderance of evidence that Tilford McConnell is the oldest son of Moses McConnell as it appears that a document that conclusively lists the heirs of Moses McConnell does not exist.

1. Tilford makes a statement in 1878 to the Southern Claims Commission that he had a brother (Newton) in Tennessee who had a son (Moses Lamar McConnell) who was an officer in the Union Army. ^[11]
2. Moses L. McConnell per the records, was the only McConnell of the rank of Captain in the Federal (Union) F & S 2nd Cavalry troops from Tennessee. A listing of soldiers who served in Federal regiments in Tennessee, are listed in the books Tennesseans in the Civil War, Parts I and II, Nashville, TN: Civil War Centennial Commission, 1965 and 1985 ^{[16] [17]}
3. Moses L McConnell, according to the will ^[18] of Newton McConnell dated July 6, 1893, (Newton being the 2nd oldest son of Moses and brother of Tilford) and further substantiated by the census records, was the son of Newton McConnell.
4. The 1837 tax list of District # 8, Blount County, TN which shows Tedford McConnell and Newton McConnell living in the same district. In that year Newton was listed as the one who paid the taxes on the 343 acre that his father (Moses Sr.) had died possessing.
5. Proof that the 343 acres of the 1837 tax list was the same 343 acres that Moses McConnell had bought in 1819 is circumstantially provided by the data from the tax lists and from Deed BB 701 in which the 343 acres is described as the “old McConnell farm”.
6. Tilford named his second son Moses (the 1st son – William Thomas may have been named for Nancy Billue McConnell’s father, Thomas and her uncle, William Billue, the minister who married Tilford and Nancy
7. Moses and Elizabeth McConnell were in Botetourt County, VA during the time period Tilford was born and then moved to Hawkins County, TN then Blount County, TN where we find a marriage for Tilford to Nancy Billue and Tilford appears on the 1830 census.
8. Although there are other McConnells in Blount Co., TN, Elizabeth (widow of Moses) is the one older McConnell who is living close to Thomas Billue (father of Nancy)
9. Tilford named his first daughter Elizabeth
10. Last and probably least is the fact that the History of Gwinnett County gives Moses as the father of Tilford. This may have been family tradition or they may have just gathered this from the same records that are cited.

Migration Timing Discussion:

Botetourt County, VA to Hawkins County, TN

1. Tilford born 1807 in Botetourt, County, VA (source: Georgia Militia Record)
2. Marriage Records of Botetourt County, VA – marriage of Mary McConnell (daughter of Moses, by 1st marriage) to Ruben Green. Still in VA
3. 1811-1814 Tax Lists of Botetourt County, VA – Moses appears therein those years. Still in VA
4. 1814 7 November, Botetourt County, VA Deed 15,306-7 Moses McConnell and wife Elizabeth and Samuel Craig and wife Mary of Botetourt County to James Beard of Rockingham County, VA for $ 2730 sold 273 2/3 acres,….and 60 acres (of this) was granted McConnell by patent 9 October 1787. This deed proves two helpful facts: 1) The patent of 1787 indicates that this particular Moses was an adult by 1787, thus born by at least 1766-67 and 2) In 1814 this Moses was a resident of Botetourt County, VA and thus could not be the Moses who by 1810 was living in Rutherford County, TN. See Moses McConnell for discussion on reconciling the two different Moses McConnells in Tennessee.
5. So Moses McConnell is believed to have moved sometime in 1815 and 1816 to Hawkins County, TN.

Hawkins County, TN to Blount County, TN

1. April Term: Moses McConnell on jury in Hawkins County, TN (Documentation: Hawkins County, TN Circuit Court Minutes 1810-1821, p. 182)
2. Signatures of Moses McConnell and Abra. McConnell appear on Legislative Petition of Hawkins County, TN (Documentation: Legislative Petition 21-1817)
3. Circuit Court Records for Hawkins County show Moses McConnell involved as plaintiff in multiple cases from around April 1816 to October 1823. ^[19]
4. The deed records show that Moses McConnell of Hawkins County, TN purchases land in Blount County in 1819 ^[8] as mentioned earlier and it is assumed by some researchers that he moved shortly after the land purchase. The lack of census record (1820 census for Hawkins County is missing) for this family and also the discovery that Moses was still involved in law suits in Hawkins County through 1823 leads to the strong possibility that he held the Blount County land for several years before he moved to it.
5. It is possible that Moses possibly may have removed to Blount County between sessions – perhaps returning on court days to pursue the matter.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} “History of Gwinnett County, Georgia (McConnell Family)”, by James C. Flanagan 1959, p. 540 – 548
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} The Georgia Genealogist, periodical, Vol 36, Issue 15 – includes Tilford McConnell’s Georgia Militia Record which gave his occupation as Tanner and his birth place as Botetourt County, Virginia
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} New Hope Methodist Church Cemetery (Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, GA): McConnell Family headstones. Photos by Joye Quinn, Stone Mountain, Georgia, taken in 1990
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} “Tilford McConnell”, Findagrave.com. URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15769988/tilford-mcconnell, accessed 28 January 2018 by Joseph Bryan McConnell
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} 1810 Federal Census, Botetourt County, Virginia, p. 639
6. ↑ Blount County, TN, Tennessee Marriages 1795 to 1910, by Edith B. Little, Whipporwill Publication, Evansville, IN, 1982, p. 185
7. ↑ Hawkins County, TN, WPA-Typed, Circuit Court Minutes 1810-1821 Index, April Term 1816, p. 182 – Moses McConnell on jury
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Blount County, Tennessee, Deed Index 1795-1857 – the following deeds for Moses McConnell were found: 1) McConnell, Moses from John Houston et al 2,66-67 1819 and 2) McConnell, Moses from Samuel Houston et al 2,66 1819. The only other Moses McConnell deed references are after the time of Moses, Sr.’s death (1827) and refer to Moses, Jr (his son).
9. ↑ ”Goodspeed’s History of Tennessee”, http://tngenweb.org/goodspeeds/blount-county-history/
10. ↑ 1830 Federal Census, Blount County, Tennessee, p. 296 -- Tilford McConnel – still in Tennessee
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Tilford McConnell Claim No. 11665, Records of the Commissioners of Claims (Southern Claims Commission) 1871-1880, National Archives, No. 87, Roll 13 - https://www.slcl.org/sites/default/files/scc%20claimants%20Georgia.pdf
12. ↑ “Nancy Billue”, Findagrave.com.URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15769786/nancy-mcconnell, accessed 28 January 2018 by Joseph Bryan McConnell
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Tilford McConnell Will, Gwinnett County, GA Courthouse, probated at Lawrenceville May 1, 1882, Book D, Page 242 – proves all of his children with his 2nd wife, Elizabeth Draper
14. ↑ Deed Book A, p. 69-71, Gwinnett County, GA – names heirs of Tilford McConnell
15. ↑ Colonial Trades, https://sites.google.com/site/colonialjobs/tanner
16. ↑ “Tennesseans in the Civil War, Part I”, Nashville, TN: Civil War Centennial Commission, 1985, p. 321
17. ↑ “Tennesseans in the Civil War, Part II”, Nashville, TN: Civil War Centennial Commission, 1965
18. ↑ Newton McConnell Will, Readerprint Copy, 6 July 1893
19. ↑ Circuit Court Minutes 1810-1821 Index and 1822-1825 Index)

See Also:

• 1800 American History http://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1800.html
• William E. Parham Papers (McConnell File) – a genealogical manuscript at the Lawson McGhee Library, Maryville, TN. This manuscript should be treated for clues only as it is not completely clear as to the relationships of some of the McConnells that it lists.

Acknowledgements

1. Alex Baird (CG), Huntsville, AL (research assistance in 1989-1991)
2. Shirley Wilcox (CG), Arlington, VA (research assistance in 1989-1991)
3. Gale Bamman (CG), Nashville, TN (research assistance in 1989-1991)
4. Joye Quinn, Stone Mountain, GA (research assistance in 1990)
5. Pam MIller, Maryville, TN (research assistance in 1990)
6. Mrs. Moore, Grayson, GA (related to James Patterson McConnell)
7. The Ballew Family Association, Atlanta, GA