Jeremiah Jeffrey (abt. 1766 - 1852)

Born about 1766 in Virginia

Descendants

Died 11 Nov 1852 at about age 86 in Arkansas, on the way to Texas

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Biography

This biography was auto-generated by a GEDCOM import.^[1] It's a rough draft and needs to be edited.

Name

Name: Jeremiah /Jeffrey/^[2]

Note

Note: #N372

Sources

1. ↑ Jeffrey-644 was created by Patrick Spreng through the import of spreng_2014-06-14.ged on Jun 14, 2014. This comment and citation can be deleted after the biography has been edited and primary sources are included.
2. ↑ Source: #S96

• Source: S96 Author: Doug Jeffery Title: Doug Jeffery DJeff95263 at aol dot com Repository: #R6 NOTESource Medium: Internet CONT
• Repository: R6 Name: djeff95263 at aol dot com Address: E-Mail Address: Phone Number:

Notes

Note N372Source: Doug Jeffery DJeff95263 at aol dot com

Jeremiah Jeffrey was born in Virginia about 1766, according to the 1850 census. The date of his death is uncertain. He died "on the 11th day of November 1852", according to a statement given by John B. Jeffrey to the Probate Court of Caldwell County, Texas. The Autobiographyof Richard Cole, quoted below, indicates his death on the trip to Texas occurred in October of 1851.

I found reference to him being in Anderson County, Tennessee, in 1792through at least 1805. I think he was in Blount County, Tennessee in 1785-1792.

Jeremiah Jeffrey was in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama Territory before 1818. There he was one of the organizing members of the Bethel BaptistChurch,

which was organized on 31 January 1818 in Jeremiah's home "on the side of the Black Warrier River near the falls". Jeremiah's children are reported to

have been born in Tennessee. That puts the family in Tennessee from 1795 through at least 1816. The families of Jesse and John B. Jeffreywere apparently in Alabama from 1831 through 1842 and in Mississippi by 1842.

Jeremiah Jeffrey's wife was named Sarah. Her date of birth is unknown. She died in April 1850. Judging from the name given her third daughter, she may have been from the Bishop family. Oliver Bishop, who married her granddaughter Mariah Catherine Fleming, was quite possiblya nephew of Sarah Bishop Jeffrey.

Jeremiah Jeffrey's wife was probably a widow when they married. WhenJeremiah's son Matthew died, his estate was divided among many heirs. In the Caldwell County Probate Book G, page 143, J. W. Jeffrey as administrator "alleges that Matthew Jeffrey died intestate on April 29, 1881, in Caldwell County, Texas, without issue or surviving wife, father or mother, leaving as his heirs-at-law his brothers and sisters and their descendants, to wit: 1st John B. Jeffrey, a brother of the deceased, a resident of Williamson County, Texas" and a list of over one hundred other heirs. At the end, "administrator further states that Stephen, John and Jesse Russell [previously named] are children of Lydia Russell, deceased, a half sister to intestate. That he thinks said Lydia had other children, whose names and the number of the same are unknown to administrator. Nor does he know whether they are livingor dead."

C. Judson Shook cites a letter from Lula (Mrs. C. B.) Jeffrey Box 596, Devers, Texas. 77538, which says that Jeremiah Jeffrey married "Sarah Bishop, a widow with two small daughters". One of those small daughters could have been Lydia who married Henry Russell and left children named Stephen, John and Jesse Russell. Before James Jeffrey moved to Arkansas, he sold his land in Alabama to Stephen B. Russell. Russell may have been James' half sister's son.

The same letter says Sarah Bishop was a sister to Abigail Bishop who married Nathan Roberts, [they, the grandparents of] Brother Bruce Roberts. Nathan Roberts was one of the minister founders of the Baptist Church of Bethel at Jeremiah Jeffrey's house in Alabama in 1818. Several Jeffrey descendants have been named Nathan Roberts.

In 1850, Jeremiah was living in Tippah County, Mississippi, with his son Matthew. Nearby were the families of his children John B. Jeffrey, Jesse Jeffrey, and Sarah Jeffrey Cole with her husband, Richard Cole.

The Autobiography of Richard Cole reports that

In the fall of 1851, my brother-in-law, Matthew Jeffrey, left Tippah County, Mississippi, and started to Texas with his helpless father andthree negro women and their children, himself and his father being the only whites of the family, his mother having died in April, 1850. His youngest brother, John, and family and another man named White andhis family traveled in company with him.

The old man Jeffrey was very anxious to come to Texas. If he could get to Texas and his sons that were with him, then all his living children would be in Texas near together except one and he expected him soon to follow. But he was not suffered to realize his hope and great desire of meeting his children in Texas, some of whom he had not seen for many years. Somewhere in Arkansas, I don't recollect what county, he said to his son Matthew, that he felt tired and desired him to stopand let him rest till the next day, which was done. They stopped near a house on the road where they could get forage for their teams, but before the next day had dawned the old man had gone to his long rest. I suppose that he was just worn out and died of old age, as he complained not of sickness or pain. This I learned from his son, Matthew, together with all that I know of their travels on the road.

The man White that was with them was a workman and had his tools withhim and made the old gentleman's coffin where they were stopped. Theman where they were stopped made his servant assist in digging the grave in his own garden where lay some of his own near relatives, and where he said he expected to be laid himself.

I don't know that anything more out of the common course of travel occured with them on their way. Matthew and John and family got to my house in Cherokee County, I reckon, about the 1st day of November. White had parted from them before they got to my house and turned his course to some other county.

With the proceeds of my little crop in Cherokee County and the work Ihad done, I was enabled to get my wagon back and buy a yoke of oxen and I managed matters and got ready as quick as I could, then we all moved on to Caldwell County. Got to Abram Roberts, on the west side of Tinney's Creek December 13th, 1851.

In "Early East Tennessee Taxpayers" page 7, Anderson County, JeremiahJeffrey is shown owning 200 acres on the Clinch River and owes tax on one "free poll" (himself) and one "black poll," a slave.

In "Early Tennessee Tax Lists" page 105 he is shown living in Anderson County in 1805 and in Franklin County in 1812.

Hill Country Quarterly

Jeremiah Jeffrey died fall of 1851 Arkansas on way to Texas, buried Arkansas, married Sarah who died 1850 Tippah County, MS.

Children:

1. Jesse Jeffrey martied Annie Hellums

2. James Jeffrey married Mary Hellums

3. Matthew Jeffrey did not marry

4. Abigail Jeffrey married John Fleming

5. Cynthia Jeffrey married Abraham Roberts

6. John B. Jeffrey married Elander ______

7. Sarah Bishop Jeffrey married Richard Cole

145

1472

State

Vs.

Samuel Weatherington

Be it Remembered that heretofore to wit at a Court held by the Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County of Knox at the Court House in Knoxville on the Second Monday of April One Thousand eight hundred and one upon the Oath of Twelve Jurors, good and lawful men of the said County of Knox then and there sworn and charged to inquire for the State for the Body of the said County; It was presented as follows, that is to say;

State of Tennessee, Knox County: The Grand Jurors for the State sworn and impanelled to inquire for the County of Knox on their Oath do present and say

that Samuel Weatherington, yeoman, on the fourteenth day of April in the year One Thousand eight hundred and one at Knox, to wit in the County of Knox aforesaid with force and arms in and upon one Jeremiah Jeffery then and there being in the peace of God and the State an assaultdid make and him the said Jeremiah Jeffery he the said Samuel Weatherington did then and there beat wound and ill Treat so that his life was greatly despaired of and other wrongs he the said Samuel Weatherington then and there did to the said Jeremiah Jeffery to the evil example of all others in like manner offending and against the peace and dignity of the State of Tennessee.

Whereupon it was ordered that Process issue against the said Samuel Weatherington to cause him to appear Instanter to answer the indictmentfound against him by the Grand Jury on which the Sheriff returned notfound; Therefore it is ordered that an Alias Capias on Indictment issue against the said Samuel Weatherington to cause him to appear at thenext Court.

And now at this day to wit at a Court held by the Justices aforesaid for the County aforesaid on the Second Monday of July 1801 came the said Samuel Weatherington by his Attorney and the said Samuel Weatherington having heard the said Indictment read says he is not Guilty thereof and thereupon puts himself upon the Country and Edward Scott esquire, who prosecutes for the State in this behalf, doth the like and thereupon came a Jury to wit; Obediah Wood, William Overstreet, Greenham Crowder, Andrew McCampbell, Alexander Richey, Michael Hawlings, FrancisHamilton, John Hankins, William Haislet, Robert Holt, Edward Freal and William Hogshead who being elected tried and sworn the truth of andupon the premises to speak upon their oath do say the Defendant is guilty in manner and form as charged in the bill of Indictment; therefore it is considered by the Court that for such his offence he be finedfive dollars and that he pay the Costs of their prosecution and may be taken, etc.

1807, June 12: "James Worthington vs. Jeremiah Jeffrey. Edward Freels, Sr surrendered the defendant in discharge of himself as bail...." (Ibid, p. 313) Anderson County Court Minutes, 1801-1809

According to the Knox County, Tennessee (Territory South of the Ohio River, 1793-1809) Superior Court Minutes Book 3, page 91-93, on MondayMorning, 17 October 1796, one Jesse Jeffery (note the spelling) was convicted of horse theft by a jury of twelve men. The next day court was brought to order for sentencing Jesse Jeffery. The following was stated in the record: "Jesse Jeffery being brot to the bar and asked if he had anything to say why sentence of the law should not be pronounced upon him? Saith nothing. The sentence of the Law was therefore passed that he, Jesse Jeffery should stand in the pillory one Hour andshould be publicly whipped on his bare back with thirty nine lashes well laid on, at the same time should have both his ears nailed to the pillory and cut off, and should be branded on the right cheek with theletter H of the length of the quarter of an Inch and the breadth of half an Inch and on the left cheek with the letter T of the same dimensions of the letter H in a plain and visible manner and that the Sheriff of Knox County see that this sentence by put in execution on to morrow between the Hours of twelve and two of the Clock in the Afternoon."(sic)

According to Goodspeed on Anderson County:

The first grand jury summoned by the court of pleas and quarter sessions, was composed of the following men: John McAdoo, foreman; Richard Medlin, Nathamiel Hale, James Scarbrough, Page Portwood, N Davis, Samuel Worthington, Jeremiah Jeffrey, C Willhight, Richard Linville, Joseph Sharp, John Day, James Abbott and Henry Russell. The first indictment was found against John Vancy, who submitted to the court and was fined twenty five cents. The second was against Samuel Ussery for sending a challenge; upon trial he was acquitted. At the June term of the court, in 1804, Isaac Crane was put in the stocks two hours for contempt of court, and as he still persisted in his disorderly conduct he was committed to jail.

According to Knox County, Tennessee history by Tyler in his book HISTORY OF TENNESSEE:

Gov. William Blount ordered court of oyer and terminer to be held andcommence on August 1794. An order was therefore issued by Judge Anderson and the following grand jury was chosen: John Paterson, foreman;Andrew Hannah, Oliver Wallace, William Richie, Samue Hindman, Moses Brooks, George Walker, David Walker, George Stout, William Trimble, Jeremiah Jeffrey, John Steel, William Lea, Robert Kirkpatrick, Thomas Milliken, Thomas Richie, George Hayes, and James Cunningham. The jury immeadiately returned an indictment for murder against Abongphohigo, an Indian of the Creek Nation, late of the town of Zookeaucugee or Punk Knob on Oakfuskey River.

1805 JEFFERY JEREMIAH Anderson County Tennessee No Township Listed Tax list Tennessee

Early Census Index TNS1a1770801

1805 JEFFERY JEREMIAH Anderson County Tennessee No Township Listed Tax list Tennessee

Early Census Index TNS1a1770803

November 1826, letter of dismission from Bethel Baptist Church in Tuscaloosca County, Alabama. Where did he go between the time he leavesthe church and shows up in census in Tippah County, Miss. ? GrandsonJesse Thomas Jeffrey was b. in Mississippi in 1840. Jeremiah was probably in Ms by 1840.

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Family Traditions of the Death of Cornelius Roberts

Recent information shows that the tradition in the Roberts family came from another expedition against the Indians 25 years after the death of Cornelius Roberts in which Richard or Dick Benge, the son of Robert Benge, was killed by an expedition including Daniel Roberts and others.

"Settlers and Intruders On Cherokee Indian Lands 1801-1816"

"Abstracted from the Records of the Cherokee Agency in Tennessee

Correspondence and Miscellaneous Records, National Archives

Report in a letter from Col. Jonathan Meigs, Agent to the Cherokees 1801-1823"

Names of persons who were present and acting in the killing of two Cherokees on or about the 24th January 1813 in the Cherokee nation. The names of the Cherokees who were killed were Dick Benge a half Blood Cherokee and a Cherokee named Jacket.

Vizt Jeremiah Jeffrey and his son-in-law name not known at this time [Abraham Roberts], Daniel Roberts, [Jacob] Talley, Ragsdale, James Corvan, Condry.

Jonathan Meigs was from Middletown, Connecticut. The Agency was firstlocated at Southwest Point, then moved to Hiwassee garrison near Dayton, Rhea County Tennessee. Meigs County which adjoins Rhea County mustbe named for him. The letter is a description of what happened by Col. Meigs.

The Talley refers to Jacob Talley. Daniel Roberts and Jacob Talley were living in Franklin County Tennessee in 1813. The Cherokee lands were not far away in Rhea and Meigs Counties. Jeremiah Jeffrey was the father of Cynthia Jeffrey who married Abraham Roberts, son of Daniel Roberts. Jeremiah Jeffrey was later a member of the Bethel Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa County AL where Nathan Roberts was the pastor.

This 1813 record shows that the tradition in the Roberts family is correct, that Daniel Roberts did have an important role in the killing of Dick Benge. However, it was not Dick Benge who killed Cornelius Roberts. Dick Benge was Robert Benge's son. Lt. Vincent Hobbs is the one who killed Robert Benge.

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