William Everett Slayden (abt. 1789 - abt. 1861)

Born about 16 Jul 1789 in Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 29 May 1861 at about age 71 in Slayden, Dickson, Tennessee, USA

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Biography

William and a brother Daniel Everett Slayden are both "traditionally" shown with middle given names as Everett in honor of the mother's family, but please cite any record confirming that for William, it can be seen in a tax record for Daniel. The use of Everett as a given name in descendants strongly suggests this, but it is not proven. Please do not cite plaques or family trees that cannot confirm this with documentation.

His father Joseph Slayden had clearly moved to Pittsylvania County, Virginia, by the date reported in a bible as William's birth, ^[1] but it is possible that his mother gave birth to him in Goochland County, as written in the bible, where his probable grandfather Arthur Slayden Sr had resided until Arthur Sr.'s death there in 1787. Sometimes, bible records are entered anachronistically, not based on knowledge of events.

William E. Slayden appears to have married at least twice, to Rhoda Shelton in 1815 and "Letsy" Washburn ^[1], almost certainly a widow ^{[citation needed]}. If you can find citation for either marriage in a civil record or ministrer's return, please post. One wife's given name is shown in census and the other in the Will cited below.

Issue derived from his Will and other records are: Letsy, Durinda, Joseph Shelby, Tolbert Everett, Arena, Calvin (infant death), Campbell C, and Wesley W. Slayden. A claimed daughter as Visa (Slayden) Vaughn is uncited; she is not found in the transcription of the family bible as a daughter. ^[1]

Note that daughter Letsy is reported born about 1816, while second wife Letsy (Washburn) is reported born about 1811, both in Virginia.

This 1812 record for a land sale is found in Pittsylvania County, Virginia: This indenture made the [Apr 16, 1812] between Daniel E Slayden of Pittsylvania county [and] William E Slayden of ditto county ... [Daniel acknowledges 45 pounds current money from William for land on the] waters of Lower Double Creek containing by estimate [81 acres] ... Joseph Slayden's line ... Pleasant Walters line ... Joel Mann's line [signed in presents of Tolbird F Slayden and William Slayden.] ^[2]

A soldier number for a similar name is reported as serving as private soldier in Capt. Nathaniel's 4th, Greenhills Virginia Volunteer Militia, War of 1812, soldier serial #1711666.^{[citation needed]} but no pension file, payroll or muster is yet found.

A move from Virginia to Dickson County, Tennessee by Jan 1817 can be inferred from records: After the Dec 1815 posting of a sheriff's auction, Nathan Nesbitt Jr was "best bidder" ($5.50) on 28 acres formerly owned by debt defaulter John Davidson, "on the middle fork of Barton's Creek" and transferred to William E. Slaiton, who paid the money and the deed was registered 28 Jan 1817 in Deed Book C, page 75 & 76. ^[3] However, it is unclear when the move was made, but before 1817.

William was a wagon maker, according to census.

There is little doubt that he spent some time in Maury County, see the road overseer order in Research Notes.

William's burial place is sometimes cited as Slayden Cemetery and sometimes Guerin Cemetery. ^[4]

Census Records

Census Year: 1820, Dickson County, Tennessee, United States ^[5]

Sladin William E 1820 Cen Dickson (10) TN m11021:f2001

William E. Sladin was enumerated as head of household consisting of one white male 0-10, one white male 10-16, two one white males 16-20, one white male 20-30, and one white male 26-45; Two white females 6-10 and one white female 26-45, 2 persons farming, no slaves.

Census Year: 1830, Dickson County, Tennessee, United States ^[6]

Sladen William E 1830 Cen Dickson (320) TN m2110101:f0211001

William E. Sladen was enumerated as head of household consisting of two white males 0-5, one white male 5-10, one white male 10-15, one white male 20-30, and one white male 40-50; One white female 5-10, two white females 10-15 and one white female 40-50.

Census Year: 1840, Dickson County, Tennessee, United States ^[7]

Slayden William E 1840 Cen Dickson (216 ) TN m01110001:00010001

Census Year: 1850, Dickson County, Tennessee, United States ^[8]

William E Slayden, 62, waggon maker, born Virginia, and Rhoda, 62, born Virginia)

Note: On same page as William Everett (50, born N C)

Census Year: 1860, Place: Middle Division, Dickson County, Tennessee, United States ^[9]

W E Slayden, 73, wagon maker, born Virginia, and Letsy, 49, born Virginia, and Marg or Mary E Washburn, 18, School Teacher, born Virginia

Note: William's daughter Letsy was already married by this date, so this is presumed second wife for William, and Mary or Margaret Washburn might be a daughter of the Letsy in census. Next entry is household of "T Slayden", certainly William's son Tolbert.

1860 Slave Schedule

Slayden W E 1860 Cen Dickson SlaveCen TN 1832 f 27 black
Slayden W E 1860 Cen Dickson SlaveCen TN 1848 m 11 black
Slayden W E 1860 Cen Dickson SlaveCen TN 1848 m 11 black
Slayden W E 1860 Cen Dickson SlaveCen TN 1854 m 6 mulat
Slayden W E 1860 Cen Dickson SlaveCen TN 1854 f 6 mulat

Last Will

Note: the jacket imaged online at citation is No. 107 for H(artwell) M(arable) Slayton from 1847, son of William's brother Daniel Everett Slayden but the will is No. 283 for William E. Slayden, 1857. In loose records at citation, but see Will Book B citation below transcription for another clerical copy.

No. 283 I, William E. Slayden of Dickson County, Tennessee, do make and publish this as my last will and testament, in manner and form following, hereby revoking all and every other or former will or wills by me made. In the first place, I direct all my just debts shall be paid,

Secondly, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Letsey Slayden, one thousand dollars in cash, two beds, bedsteads and furniture; also one press, her saddle (these beds, press and saddle, she had when I married her). I also give her one horse worth seventy-five or eighty dollars; also one cow or cow and calf; also one year’s allowance in the way of provisions, to have and hold in her own right forever. I also will and desire that my said wife shall have and enjoy during her natural life or widowhood, a home on my land, including fifty acres to be laid off as follows, beginning at the southwest corner of my home tract, formerly known as John Davidson’s, and which I bought of Montgomery Bell, and running north with Edwards and Mitchell’s line to Mitchell’s spring branch, thence east and south for complement. On this tract I direct there shall be built for my said wife, at the expense of my estate, a good, comfortable house of hewn logs, with stone chimney, and good floors and stairs.

Thirdly, I will and desire, as my son and myself hold three tracts of [120 acres], he shall have my share ... at valuation ... to be accounted for ...as so much of his share of my estate ... my son Tolbert shall have seventy acres more of my land bougth of Bradley Martin ... also as so much of his share of my estate ....

Fourthly, I will and desire the balance of the land I purchased of Montgomery Bell and of Bradley Martin, and a tract of twenty-five acres adjoining the Bradley Martin tract, also a tract of one hundred and fifty acres that I entered adjoining the Montgomery Bell tract on the north, shall be equally divided in value, amongst my three sons, Joseph Shelby, Campbell and Wesley Slayden, giving to Wesley the right to take his share, including the homestead where I now live. And all said land to be charged to them respectively as so much of my estate, in the same manner as directed to Tolbert.

Fifthly, I desire the balance of my lands, being one tract of two hundred acres or upwards I bought of William T. Reynolds, and a tract of twenty-five acres I entered, adjoining the Woods Valley tract, shall be sold to the highest bidder by my Executors; also my third interest in a tract of one hundred and sixty-five acres, owned by myself, Tolbert Slayden and Joseph Shelby Slayden, be also sold in like manner; also all my other personalty shall be sold, including my interest in the store and stock of goods, the proceeds of which shall be divided equally amongst all my children, that is to say, my daughter Letsey C. Adkins, having heretofore been advanced six hundred dollars by a tract of land, is to be charged therewith in a division. And my sons are also to be charged with the value of the land given them, and then all the balance and residue of my estate, including notes, money, etc., in addition to the sales of my property directed to be sold, shall be divided amongst my children herein named or their heirs, so as to make them all equal participants in my estate. And at the death of my wife, or her marriage, the home? of fifty acres assigned to her, shall go to my three sons, Joseph Shelby, Campbell and Wesley Slayden, at a fair valuation, they paying to the other three children their equal portion or part thereof. By which it is meant to divide the value of this land equally amongst all my children herein named, but to give my three sons last named, the privilege of keeping the land by paying to the other children their equal portion of the valuation thereof.

Sixthly, my will and desire [that should my wife predecease me, provisions made for her lapse and money and property equally divided amongst my children...]

Lastly, I nominate and appoint my sons Tolbert Slayden and Joseph Shelby Slayden, Executors to this my last will and testament. In witness of all which I have hereto set my hand and seal this 26th day of October 1857. Test: W. Lowe F. M. Binkley William (X mark) E. Slayden^[10]

Also recorded in Dickson County Tennessee Will Book B, page 42, ^[11]

Another digital error Online guardianship papers for Edna Slayden, widow of Daniel Everett Slayden, include in her folder the appointment of T & J. S. Slayden as executors of the Last Will of Wm. E. Slayden, undoubtedly Tolbert and Joseph S. Slayden, This is probably the result of loose papers being incorrectly stored. ^[12]

Burial

Buried in a family plot enclosure in yard sometimes called Slayden Cemetery, sometimes called Guerin Cemetery.^[13]

Research Notes, some flawed citations

Whether from their presence as landowners, or from services provided by several descendants (and his brother's descendants) who were medical doctors, the famously small community of Slayden, Tennessee in Dickson County is named for this family.

Family Chart with spurious claims

Charts compiled by Mary A. "Tonie" Slayden Green are a mixed blessing. She was a granddaughter by William Everett Slayden's son Wesley W. Slayden. Mrs Green published some theories about the origins of this family that do not stand inspection: some of the assumptions were reasonable enough, but some were wholly fantastic, citing connections back to England and Germany that confuse an English Joseph Sladen with Virginian Joseph Slayden. Genetic genealogy and traditional documentation do not support any ancestry for her forefather Arthur Slayden, while genetics suggests his male descent clearly. ^[14]
But Mrs. Green very fully named and dated many individuals from her immediate forebears and descendant family members, and her information regarding Tennessee is vouched for by many family members and verifiable.

From a Slayden family chart and letters by Mary A. Slayden Green (William E. Slayden's granddaughter) is information that the 1600's "Sladen" family came from Benjamin Sladen of Ripple Court, Folkstone, England. The chart by Mrs. Green can be seen in the Clark History Center in Frankfort, Kentucky, and copies are in possession of A. Lay and Clinton Slayton. Mrs. Green's research chart indicated that William E's father was a Joseph Sladden, 1735 of Folkestone, England who (she wrote) died in Virginia in 1827. She speculates that Joseph had two families, one in England (wife-Elizabeth Baker Sladden), and one in Virginia with Mildred Everett - he was a sailor/Mariner. Objections to this idea: Joseph Sladen J.P. (1736-1827) was not a sailor, and descendant/researchers point out that he was a mayor of Folkestone with no record of coming to North America, and that he died and was buried in Folkestone in 1828. William Everett Slayden was a son of Joseph and Millie (Everett) Slayden of Virginia, and Joseph is almost certainly the son or grandson of Arthur Slayden and wife Rachel. Joseph's estate was settled in 1819 Virginia. Joseph Sladen of England and Joseph Slayden of VIrginia cannot be the same man.

Let us hear from one of her genealogist cousins, with my italics: “Her record, insofar as the Tennessee Slaydens are concerned, is correct.” Note the qualifying clause.^[15]. The recipient of that quote is often referred to as "AJS," which are that compiler's initials (Arthur Jackson Slaton), and his treatment of the family of this entry appears on page 154 of the 1974 edition of Slaton Family Ab Antiquitas. ^[15]

BIBLE RECORD: b May 16, 1789 Goochland Co VA d Jan 29, 1861 Dickson Co TN, ^[1] A birth in Goochland and not in Pittsylvania County seems unlikely, but see Arthur Slayden.

COMMENT: dates corrected from Family Bible, out of order in AJS.

Dickson co TN Jury list, Circuit Court July Term 1817: William E Slayden ^{[citation needed]}
Dickson co TN Jury list, Circuit Court March Term 1818: William E Slayden ^{[citation needed]}

Maury Co TN Court records: Page 34, book uncited, Sept 1820, On motion against Abner Howell and William E Slaydon his securities [skip] ^{[citation needed]}
Page 93, April 1825 Appearance bond Wednesday April 6 1825 William E Slayden and Josiah Davidson, $125 each [skip] ^{[citation needed]}
No date, no page cited: William E Slaydon to [oversee] road in place of Joseph Harrison ^{[citation needed]}

Earliest use of Campbell (aka Camel) as a given name, which continues in more than a half dozen descendants. The childhood dentist of Clinton Slayton was Noel Campbell Hunt in Chattanooga, TN, who had an uncle named Slayden Hunt, and that family also came from Dickson co TN.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Bible of William E Slayden. once in possession of Dr Frederick Martin, Cumberland City TN, (transcribed by John O’Hara Guerin).
2. ↑ Pittsylvania County, VIrginia Deed Book 17, page 509.
3. ↑ "Dickson, Tennessee, United States Records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKX-FJT1 : January 8, 2022), image 581 of 817; Dickson County (Tennessee). Register.
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37153647/william-everett-slayden : accessed 08 January 2022), memorial page for William Everett Slayden (16 May 1789–29 Jan 1861), Find a Grave Memorial ID 37153647, citing Slayden Cemetery, Cumberland Furnace, Dickson County, Tennessee, USA ; Maintained by Harlene Soper-Brown (contributor 46880650) .
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLJ-QJG : accessed 8 January 2022), William E Stadin, Dickson, Tennessee, United States; citing 20 (stamped leaf 10, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm ..
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH5S-T2L : 20 February 2021), William E Sladen, Dickson, Tennessee, United States; citing 320, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 174; FHL microfilm 24,532.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," FamilySearch database with images accessed 2 March 2021. William E Slayden, Dickson, Tennessee, United States; citing p. 216.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCD8-FDN : 23 December 2020), Wm E Slayden, Dickson, Dickson, Tennessee, United States; citing family 636 , leaf 134, NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1860," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GBSC-9TGG?cc=1473181&wc=7QMS-CT7%3A1589422383%2C1589436164%2C1589422701 : 24 March 2017), Tennessee > Dickson > Middle Division > image 84 of 195; from "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
10. ↑ "Tennessee Probate Court Books, 1795-1927," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-2PXQ-D9?cc=1909088&wc=M6Q3-MW5%3A179638301%2C179638302 : 22 May 2014), Dickson > Wills, 1800-1899 > image 1158 of 1415; county courthouses, Tennessee. Note: the jacket imaged is for Hartwell Marable Slayton from 1847, but the will is for William E. Slayden, 1857
11. ↑ "Dickson, Tennessee, United States Records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9P9-2VMF : January 8, 2022), image 212 of 631; Dickson County (Tennessee). County Clerk.
12. ↑ "Dickson, Tennessee, United States Records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99PS-VSP5 : January 15, 2022), image 1847 of 2903; Tennessee. County Court (Dickson County).
13. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37153647/william-everett-slayden: accessed 11 December 2023), memorial page for William Everett Slayden (16 May 1789–29 Jan 1861), Find a Grave Memorial ID 37153647, citing Slayden Cemetery, Cumberland Furnace, Dickson County, Tennessee, USA; Maintained by Kathy S. (contributor 46944127).
14. ↑ https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/sssfp-ydna/dna-results
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} Slaton, Arthur Jackson, Slaton Family Ab Antiquitas: With Brief Notes on Some Allied Families (Whittier, CA: Slaton, 1974), page 148; (earlier editions under varying titles). Link to book