Andrew Jackson Anderson (abt. 1788 - 1832)

Born about 1788 in Wilkes County, North Carolina [uncertain]

Ancestors

Died 17 Mar 1832 at about age 44 in Claiborne County, Tennessee

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Biography

Andrew's parentage has been a longstanding question. We can now say that he was probably born out of wedlock around the year 1788 to a daughter of Thomas Anderson Sr. of Wilkes County, North Carolina. Andrew's father was one of several young men named Lay who were living nearby, most probably David Lay. Around the year 1795 the Lays and Andersons moved to Claiborne County, Tennessee, where Andrew grew to adulthood and raised his family.

This conclusion is based on Y-DNA (paternal line) results of the Lay family.^[1] They show that two descendants of Andrew are very closely related to descendants of David Lay of Claiborne County.^[2] Indeed, we would say Andrew's father was definitely a Lay. To identify which one we must find a way to put Andersons and Lays in the same place at the same time. We must turn back the clock to 1787 when Thomas Anderson first appears in the Wilkes County tax list in Capt. Ferguson's district with numerous Lays.^[3] In the 1790 census he is found next door to Jesse Lay Sr., David Lay Sr., and Thomas Lay Sr. and Jr.^[4]

Andrew and Rhoda's tombstone says he was born in the year 1776. When his grave was moved in 1935 for the TVA project his tombstone had 1832 as his death year but there was no birth year.^[5] A granddaughter gave approval for the reburial and also provided the birth year of 1776 from a family bible. This date implies that Andrew's father was either Jesse Lay Sr. or Thomas Lay Sr. Their connection to the Anderson family in 1776 is not known.

On the other hand, the arrival in Wilkes County of Jesse's neighbor Thomas Anderson in 1787 suggests Andrew's birth around the year 1788. This estimate is consistent with the 1830 census where Andrew says he was born in the 1780's. As well, his wife Rhoda was born in 1794, so 1788 is a better match for her husband age-wise. A birth around 1788 provides the following candidate fathers, all born in the 1760's: David Lay and his brother Jesse Lay Jr., Thomas Lay Jr. and his brother William. All of them moved from Wilkes to Claiborne County in the 1790's, with some moving on from there. David is perhaps the best candidate-- he was unmarried at the time and would be brought up on a bastardy charge in 1792. The others were all married with young families.

Rhoda had two children by her first husband. She and Andrew were parents of the following:

1. Elizabeth Jane Anderson, 1818–1883
2. Genetta Anderson, 1820–
3. King David Anderson, 1822–1905
4. James Anderson, 1830–1870
5. George Washington Anderson, 1832–1890

1814 - Andrew serves in the War of 1812 from January to July. He was a private in Bunch's Regiment of the East Tennessee Militia.^[6]

17 Feb 1818 - Andrew marries the widow Rhoda Johnson, nee Giddings, in Claiborne County.^[7]

1830 - Andrew heads a household in the federal census of Claiborne County, Tennessee.^[8] He gives his birth as 1780-90. He and his wife have five children and his mother or his mother-in-law is part of the family.

17 Mar 1832 - Andrew dies.^[7]

1840 - Rhoda Anderson is in the census. There are five children at home.^[9]

1850 - Rhoda Anderson is in the census. Nancy Anderson, 33, and John W. Anderson, 18, are living with her.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ Lay Family DNA results at FamilyTreeDNA. The "Green Group" which has descendants of Jesse Lay Sr. and Thomas Lay Sr.; Kits 242531, 519978
2. ↑ 111 marker test with genetic differences of zero and two.
3. ↑ Wilkes tax list 1787, p27
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKB-RJY : accessed 3 February 2019), Jesse Lay, Wilkes, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 162, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 7; FHL microfilm 568,147.
5. ↑ Ancestry.com, Tennessee Valley Cemetery Relocation Files, 1933-1990
6. ↑ Ancestry.com, U.S., War of 1812 Service Records, 1812-1815
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Ancestry.com, War of 1812 Pension Application Files Index, 1812-1815
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHP9-47Y : 7 September 2017), Andrew Anderson, Claiborne, Tennessee, United States; citing 132, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 180; FHL microfilm 24,538.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHT1-Q1S : 18 August 2017), Rhoda Anderson, Claiborne, Tennessee, United States; citing p. 217, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 518; FHL microfilm 24,542.
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCDH-DPH : 12 April 2016), Rhoda Andersen, Claiborne county, Claiborne, Tennessee, United States; citing family 1319, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

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