Felix Weidman Earnest (1762 - 1842)

Born 20 Sep 1762 in Frederick, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (North) Ernst — married 15 Aug 1786 in Greene, Tennessee, United States

Husband of Sarah (Oliphant) Earnest — married 14 May 1808 in Greene County, Tennessee

Descendants

Died 16 Feb 1842 at age 79 in Chuckey, Greene, Tennessee, United States

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Biography

Ensign Felix Earnest served with Washington District Regiment, North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.

Felix Earnest is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A035541.

Felix Earnest was born September 20, 1762, in Frederick county, Virginia, a son of Heinrich "Henry" Earnest and Mary Stephens. Felix served as an Ensign in the Naval forces, during the American Revolutionary War, and also enlisted as a Soldier, in the company of Captain Williams and Captain John Smith, and served under the command Colonel Sevier, Colonel Shelby, and Colonel Campbell. ^[1] Ensign Earnest is honored for his military service by the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, as DAR Ancestor #A035541.

On August 15, 1786, in Greene county, Tennessee, Felix married Sarah North, a daughter of John North and Ester Tubling. ^[2] DAR records indicate that Felix Earnest married, secondly, Sarah Oliphant. Applications for membership in the Society of the DAR have been made by the descendants of his sons, Henry F. Earnest, who married Hannah Bitner; Steven Warren Earnest, who married Mary McKinney; and of his daughters, Rebecca Ann Earnest, who married Thomas Jefferson Reeve; Hannah Jane Earnest, who married John Robinson; Anna Earnest, who married John Lotspeich; and Mary "Polly" Earnest, who married Peter Whittenberg. ^[3]

Reverend Felix Earnest Will was probated July 4, 1842, in Greene county, Tennessee. ^[4] He is buried in the in the churchyard of the Ebenezer Methodist Church at 1695 Earnest Road, in Chuckey, Greene county, Tennessee, as are his parents. His Find A Grave memorial is connected to that of twelve children. ^[5]

Researcher's Notes

Some notes need to be matched with their sources: Felix Ernst was born in Newtown, Virginia (now known as Stephens City) on September 19, 1762 -the first child of Henry Ernst and Mary Stephens. When Felix was about 15 years old, his family moved to the territory which later became the State of Tennessee. Details regarding this move can be read in his father's biographical notes. The family located on the south side of the Nolichucky River, a few miles east of what is now Greeneville. At that time there were very few families north and west of the Allegheny Mountains.

Felix is first heard of as a soldier at the great Battle of King's Mountain, a pivotal battle in the winning of the Revolutionary War. He was 18 at the time and joined the "Over-mountain Men", who gathered at Sycamore Shoals in 1780 to march into South Carolina and attack British Major Patrick Ferguson. On the morning of September 26 the men gathered in their companies with their families. Felix was in Colonel John Sevier's Regiment, Captain Daniel Williams' company. The Reverend Samuel Doak conducted a religious service and the contents of his prayer and sermon can be found in the Alderman book, The Overmountain Men. The battle cry of these frontiersmen became "The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon!" A description of the appearance of these men is found in Ramsay's Annals of Tennessee. "Each man, each officer, set out with his trusty Deckhard on his shoulder. A shot pouch, a tomahawk, a knife, a knapsack and a blanket completed the outfit. At night, the earth afforded him a bed and the heavens a covering; the mountain stream quenched his thirst; while his provisions were supplies acquired on the march by his gun." The Sycamore encampment as described in The Overmountain Men by Alderman says that "the whole countryside seemed to be gathering for the muster. Most of the men were accompanied by their families. Beefs for meat were driven to Sycamore Shoals. So many wanted to go that a draft had to be made. Sevier and Shelby knew that the frontiers were in constant danger from Indian raids. So the very young boys and older men were drafted to stay home to protect the women and children. It was some gathering as the people arrived from every cove, valley and hillside. Mothers, sisters, sweethearts and children were present to see their men folk off to battle. This would be the last farewell for some." Then an Ensign, he was afterwards promoted to a lieutenancy and was presented by his friend and commanding officer, Col. Sevier, with a "HORSE PISTOL," now in the possession of Colonel Felix Alexander Reeve.

In Lyman Draper's book "King's Mountain and Its Heroes" there is a quotation from Felix Earnest in regard to an investigation of the conduct of a Colonel Campbell. He certifies that "I was ... at the battle of King's Mountain - that I was at the surrender, and saw the enemy stacking their arms, and a guard placed around them, but that I did not see Col. Campbell at the place of surrender, for some minutes afterwards." These Overmountain men caught the British encamped on the low ridge at the border of South and North Carolina. With their knowledge of the terrain they attacked uphill and in a terrible two hours of fighting, the American riflemen crushed the British with a defeat which greatly influenced Cornwallis' military objectives in this country. Felix's participation in this event is well documented. He served first as a Private and later as an ensign. See references mentioned previously. There are also documents from the National Archives through which he and his widow both applied for the pension resulting from his service. He had enlisted twice after King's Mountain, i.e. in the fall of 1781 under Captain John Smith he was at the Battle of Boyd's Creek and in the summer of 1782 he enlisted again under Col. Sevier and served as a spy against the Cherokees. Then an Ensign, he was afterwards promoted to a lieutenancy and was presented by his friend and commanding officer, Col. Sevier, with a "HORSE PESTO." Was in the possession of Colonel Felix Alexander Reeve. The Daughters of the American Revolution has for many years fully accepted his record for membership. All of his descendants should feel great pride in his bravery and dedication to the establishment of this nation.

Further details of his service are found in the documents from the Archives, such as he then joined in two forays against the Cherokees. His widow received a pension of $44.44 annually from 1831 until her death in 1871.

In the words of an early chronicler in Methodism in Tennessee, "a very peculiar circumstance took place some time in July (1792-93]." On the Nolichucky there was a rich and thickly settled neighborhood, which afterward went by the name of Earnest's neighborhood. There was only one Methodist in this area, and it was the wife of Felix Earnest (Sarah North] who attended preaching whenever she could. There was generally none available within five or six miles. The story goes that Felix was a very wicked man. Sarah, on the other hand, was very religious and despaired of saving her husband's soul, although she prayed for him often.. One day, we are told, he was at a local distillery and greatly intoxicated when "the Spirit of God arrested" him. Perhaps Sarah was at that moment praying for his soul! He went home and inquired of his wife where he could find a Methodist meeting and went there immediately. This event is recorded in the journal of Rev. William Burke, who was on the Greeneville Circuit. It happened that the Rev. Stephen Brooks of Kentucky was in the adjoining neighborhood and when Felix arrived there, he stood in the door with his shirt collar open, his face red, and the tears streaming down his cheeks. Felix invited Brother Brooks to visit his community. Brooks did so and the "word of God had free course and was glorified." At this time the "whole family of the Earnests was brought into the church."In a short time they had built a meeting house and in the spring of 1795, the western Conference had their annual sitting at this meeting house and Felix had become a local preacher!!

The following is taken from Bishop Francis Asburys journal. "Tennessee - Monday April 27, 1795. We hastened to Felix Earnest's at Nolachuckey River. Our brethren have built a meeting house, and I must needs preach the first sermon; which I did on Exodus 22:24, notwithstanding it was a time of great scarcity, we were well and most kindly entertained." At this time he also dedicated the building. It had been built on Felix's land and on October 15, 1806, he deeded it over to the church. Felix was ordained by Bishop Asbury at Ebenezer on September 16, 1806 and became an Elder in the Methodist Episcopal South, at Jonesboro on October 3, 1825 with Bishop Soule presiding. Felix's son, Stephen was a minister; four of his sisters married ministers; as did several of his nieces. Bishop Asbury became a good friend of the Earnest family, staying in their home whenever he visited the area and mentioning them often in his journals. The Tennessee Conference of the Methodist Church met at Ebenezer in 1795, 1801, 1805,1807, and 1822. An old record book shows that in 1843, 69 people named Earnest (not including those married with a different name) were members of Ebenezer.

Stone Dam Camp Ground was established about a mile and a half north of Ebenezer Church, about six miles east of Greeneville. The meetings that were held annually at this Camp Ground were famous for 40 years. Among the first to erect tents at this spot were the five Earnest brothers, including Felix, who left their comfortable homes annually to enjoy the feast of tabernacles. Thousands were brought to Christ here, among whom were nearly all of the children of the Earnest families. The name originated from a stone dam across a creek in the area. The "camp meetings" of this time period were well known and an important part of the religious life of communities.

Felix Earnest's Pistol Presentation brass-mounted flintlock pistol, elaborate trigger guard and butt plate with engraved battle scenes, octagonal barrel 8-3/8 in., French, third quarter 18th century, marked "LECAT...," trigger guard inscribed "Felix Alexander Reeve/Felix Earnest from Col. Sevier," in dovetailed mahogany case; Felix Earnest (19 Sep 1762-16 Feb 1842) was a Private, Captain Williams Company, North Carolina Militia, 1780, and Captain Smith Company, Sevier and Campbell's Regiments, North Carolina Militia, 1780 and 1781. Cracks in trigger guard, old repairs to stock, several screws added, barrel reduced, cracks, losses, other damage to stock.

Provenance: General John Sevier (23 Sep 1746-24 Sep 1815), to his friend and neighbor Ensign Felix Earnest (1762-1842), son of Henry and Mary (Stephens) and his wives: 1st Sarah North (18 Feb 1770-Abt. 1806) married 15 Aug 1786 and 2nd Sarah Oliphant "Sallie" (16 Jul 1784-7 Mar 1871), married 14 May 1808 to Sallie's daughter Rebecca Ann Earnest (18 Oct 1811-15 Sep 1886), who married on 4 Aug 1835 to Thomas Jefferson Reeve (2 Jul 1812-12 Jul 1888), to their son Colonel Felix Alexander Reeve (4 Sep 1836-15 Nov 1920), Undersecretary of the Treasury and his wife, Wilhelmenia Maynard Donelson born 30 Jan 1836, to their daughter Wilhelmina Agnes Reeve born 15 Jul 1846 and her husband, Greer Baughman born 19 Feb 1874, to their son Greer Baughman "Beau" born 12 Feb 1912; to a private collector, Beverly Burbage of Knoxville, Tennessee to consignor, Brunk Auctions of Asheville, North Carolina. This pistol has a history of descent from General John Sevier, hero of the Battle of Kings Mountain and first governor of Tennessee, to his neighbor and friend, Felix Earnest, of Chuckey, Greene County Tennessee, and thence by descent through the family. It is accompanied by the Reeve's family copy of Lyman Draper's "Kings Mountain and Its Heroes" (Cincinnati: Peter Thompson, Publishers, 1881). The book includes numerous references to Col. Sevier (pp. 568, 572, 581) and Ensign Earnest and several 19th century drawings that have been added to the binding, including one of Ensign (later Reverend) Felix Earnest, dated 1892. Lot accompanied by 19th century case calling card of the grandson, The Honorable Felix Alexander Reeve, Undersecretary of the Treasury of the United States. The card is inscribed on the reverse in pen and ink: "This pistol was presented by Colonel John Sevier, first, and several times Governor of Tennessee, to Ensign Felix Earnest who fought under him at the Battle of King's Mountain on 7th of October 1780. It is now the property of Colonel Felix Alexander Reeve, a grandson of Felix and Sarah Oliphant Earnest." This pistol was auctioned off last Saturday 21 Aug 2002 in Ashsville, North Carolina by the Brunk Auction House.

It was bought by the East Tennessee History Society and will be on display in their Museum in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was sold for $25,000.00! Three family members were present at the auction: Wilhelmina Williams, Pauline Prosser and Howard H. Earnest.

Felix's first wife was Sarah North, whom he had married on August 15, 1786. Her parents were John and Ester North from Virginia. Sarah died in 1807 after having given birth to nine children, the youngest being less than a year old.. Following her death, he married Sarah "Sally" Oliphant on May 14, 1808 and fathered nine more children. She was twenty-two years younger than Felix and outlived him by twenty nine years.

Felix Earnest died on February 16, 1842. He and both of his wives were buried in the cemetery adjacent to the church which he had caused to be established and which had meant so much in the lives of his family members. Sally's parents as well as many members of the Earnest family will be found in this peaceful, well-kept cemetery beside the Nolichucky River and the Ebenezer Church. This church was named Ebenezer which means "stone of help." After God gave the Israelites victory over the Philistines, Samuel took a stone and set it up as a memorial of the occasion, calling it Ebenezer. The third and present building was built over one hundred years ago and is still an active church. According to most authorities Ebenezer is the oldest Methodist Church in the State of Tennessee.

Sources

1. ↑ Application for Revolutionary War Pension S*W7066
2. ↑ https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/KFYQ-H9D/felix-wells-earnest-1762-1842
3. ↑ DAR Ancestor # A035541
4. ↑ Wills, 1828-1931; Author: Greene County (Tennessee) County Court Clerk
5. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8187770/felix-earnest

• Tennessee marriage records Creekmore, Pollyanna, Editor Knoxville, Clinchdale Press, 1965- v. maps. 28 cm.
• "ANSCARCHIN" NEWS. Vol. 30 Summer 1983, No. 2 1840 Census, Washington Co., TN. US Census The Tennessee Genealogical Society
• Some Tennessee Heroes of the Revolution. Compiled from pension statement 1975 Zella Armstrong Chattanooga, Tenn., The Lookout publishing company [1933-] v. 23 cm. Baltimore : Genealogical Pub. Co., 1975. 162 p. ; 23 cm. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore, ND 1975 Compiled from Pension Statements Five Parts in One Volum Originally Published in Five Pamphlets Chattanooga, Tennnessee, 1933
• One heroic hour at King's Mountain 2nd ed (2990) Pat Aleerman Ovfermountain Press Johnson City, TN
• King's Mountain and its heroes: history of the battle of King's Mountain, October 7th, 1780, and the events which led to it Draper, Lyman Copeland, 1815-1891 Cincinnati, Ohio Peter G. Thomson, 1881. xv, [16]-612 p. front., illus., plates, ports., map, plan. 24 cm. Reprint Company Spartanburg, SC 1982
• The King's Mountain men: The story of the battle with sketches of the American soldiers who took Part 1977 White, Katherine Keogh Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.1966. 271 p. 23 cm. Baltimore, MD
• Genealogical abstracts of Revolutionary War pension files, Vol 1 A-E White, Virgil D. National Historical Publishing Company Waynesboro, TN
• History of Methodism in Tennessee, Vol. I, 1783-1804 M'Ferrin DD, John B. Southern Methodist Publishing House, 1869 [n. p.] 1869-73. v. cm.
• Much history of Methodism in the Earnest, Brooks, Wells, Whittenburg & Warren's Families. The history of the Ebenezer Church.
• Graves, William T. Backcountry Revolutionary, Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution Press, Woodward Corporation, Lugoff, South Carolina, 2012, p. 212.

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Earnest-50 created through the import of The Sammons Family Tree.ged on Jun 9, 2011 by Steve Sammons