Blevins family discussions

These are copies of messages posted on Prodigy sent to me by the submitters. There is some interesing information supplied by Owen Blevins that I wanted to make availible. If you would like a copy of the info on this page send me a note. Rkinnie@aol.com
To: WCWD50A SHELIA STEELE HUNT
From: GNNN37A PAT POTTER
Dear Shelia,
I'm not sure if this is my Wm. or not. Gatewood is a name I've seen on the anc. file but not in any family doc. My gggrandfather was the son of Wm. Blevins and Mary Thompson. According to other Blevins researchers Wm. was married 1-Rachel Skaggs and had three children, later to Mary and had 12 children. Except for my GGGr. Daniel, I was unaware of the rest of the children.According to Daniel's cem records he was born in Green Co.Ky, but I think that is an error, he lived there, but doubt he was born there. I think Sullivan is more likely.I'm looking for any family to try and put this line in order. His father was also a Wm.
To: ADQS39A C WHITEHEAD
From: GNNN37A PAT POTTER
Alicia, thanks for the tip, I will look in Polk Co.,my Blevins were in Sullivan Co for sure in 1794-1796 and probably much later. The children ended up in Green Co. Ky by 1816, don't know why and except for GGGrfather who moved to Mo. I don't know where the rest went. There seems to be alot of Blevins and feel that they are probably connected. i just wish I could get this one generation in some sort of order!
Pat
To: HKHS72A STUART FLETCHER
From: DWWN08A OWEN BLEVINS
Stuart,
I have Zacheriah BLEVINS (b.c. 1837 - ) as the son of Napoleon Bonaparte BLEVINS (b.c. 1804 - Aug 12 1892) and Catherine MCQUEEN (b.c. 1805 - ) who were married Dec 26 1822 in Carter Co. TN. Parts of Carter Co. TN became Johnson Co. TN where members of their family are found in the 1850 and 1860 census. By 1870, Bonaparte BLEVINS and some members of the family had settled in nearby Lee Co. VA and also in KY. Bonaparte BLEVINS died in Lee Co. VA.

Their family as far as I know: Napoleon B. Blevins

Napoleon Bonaparte BLEVINS was the son of William R. BLEVINS (b.c. 1774 - 1854) and Mary "Polly" (Cawood?) (b.c. 1785 - aft 1860). William R. BLEVINS lived in the Iron Mountains and was listed as an Iron Master in the 1850 census. Again, he lived in Carter Co. TN (originally Sullivan Co. TN, I believe) and this region became eventually Johnson Co. TN. There is a will listed for William R. BLEVINS dated as 1854 in Will Book I of Johnson Co. TN. I have only an abstract of this will but will try to get a photocopy of it when I can get a chance. Most of his family, I have pieced together from this will.

Their family as I know it: William R. Blevins

As for the parents of William R. BLEVINS, I can only hazard a guess at this time from the deeds of Sullivan Co. TN as a son of Col. William BLEVINS or John BLEVINS. Both families intermarried and I am not clear which BLEVINS family belongs to whom.
Owen


To: ADQS39A C WHITEHEAD
From: DWWN08A OWEN BLEVINS
Alicia,
I am interested in what you have on your line as I have been helping a descendant of this branch of the BLEVINS family. I have been sending information to Judy Whitt (PXCK71A) on *P, who I am sure would like to hear from you.

Her branch is descended through William Riley BLEVINS, the son of Andrew Jackson BLEVINS, the son of Richard BLEVINS and Elizabeth "Betsy" JONES. From record abstracts taken the Eastern Cherokee Ancestry U.S. Court of Claims, Richard BLEVINS and Elizabeth JONES were said to have been married in Monroe Co. TN and lived there until 1837 when they moved west to AR. Betsy was said to be half-blood Cherokee. From various records, I have pieced together only a piece of their family.

Their family as I know it:

  • 1. Armstead (b.c. 1811 - )
  • m.Delilah SCHULTZ (b.c 1817 - )
  • 2. Andrew Jackson "Jack" (b.c. 1815 - )
  • m.Susan SCHULTZ (b.c. 1819 - )
  • 3. Betsy Jane (b.c. 1817 - )
  • 4. Lige (b.c. 1819 - )
  • 5. John Hagen (b.c. 1821 - )
  • As for the SCHULTZ family, I know very little. The two sisters, Delilah and Susan, were said to be daughters of Martin SCHUTZ and Sarah T. ROWDEN. Martin was said to be the son of Valentine SHULTZ. The family is said to be from AL. What information do you have on the SCHULTZ family?

    Also you might be interested to know that Martin BLEVINS, a son of Armstead and Delilah, was the father of the BLEVINS family that was involved in the Pleasant Valley War in Holbrook, AZ. They were almost wiped out in a series of infamous gunfights, most notably the gunfight with Commodore Perry Owens on their homestead near Holbrook, AZ. I have more detailed information if anyone is interested.
    Owen


    To: HKHS72A STUART FLETCHER
    From: RSGE93A ROBERT BRAITHWAITE
    Hi Stuart, I also have a John Huston Blevins that was born 11/04/1860. My John died 06/25/1949 in Bentonville, Arkansas. He was married to Zulina Catherine Cash. John had 7 children: Stella (my grandmother), Lucina, Rosy, Nathaniel, Altha, Frona and Elsie. If any of the above rings any bells, I will be happy to exchange data or send you what little data I have. I know nothing about John's parents.
    Joe
    To: WCWD50A SHELIA STEELE HUNT
    From: DWWN08A OWEN BLEVINS
    Shelia,
    Here is the information I have on Gatewood BLEVINS.

    There are two BLEVINS by that name, the eldest born about 1789 and the other born about 1813, both probably in Sullivan Co. TN. I will assume you want information on the elder.

    Gatewood BLEVINS (c. 1789 - aft 1860) apparently married at least twice, as he has several children listed in the census that were born prior to the marriage I have for him. He apparently married Catharine HUGHS (c.1796 - aft 1860) on May 8, 1834 in Carter Co. TN. He is listed in the 1850 census of Washington Co. VA and the 1860 census of Independence Co. AR.

    His family is follows: Gatewood Blevins

    I do not know that Gatewood BLEVINS was a son of Col. William BLEVINS but I do know that he was a descendant. Here is an abstract from the deed Books for Sullivan Co. TN which are the only early records from the courthouse in Blountville that survived when the courthouse was destroyed in the Civil War.

    "Indenture made 2 Jan 1812 between Gatewood BLEVINS, descended from and heir to Wm BLEVINS, commonly called Colonel, late of Sullivan Co. Tenn, dec'd, on one part and John BLEVINS, son of the said Wm BLEVINS, on the other part. The said Gatewood BLEVINS, ... for $50.00 relinquishes to the said John BLEVINS ... "all my individual share ... in land belonging to the estate now in possession of Ann BLEVINS, widow of the said Wm BLEVINS deceased." Wit: Caleb MORRELL, Nathan MORRELL, Jesse MORRELL. Proved in court, May session of 1812 by oaths of Caleb MORRELL and Nathan MORRELL. (Bk. 6, p. 220)"

    Gatewood BLEVINS is also mentioned in another deed.

    "This Indenture made and entered into this 20th day of November, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighteen by and between William BLEVINS, James BLEVINS, John BLEVINS, John BLEVINS Snr and Gatewood BLEVINS, Wanters BLEVINS, Sarah BLEVINS, Clary BLEVINS, Pattsy BLEVINS, Elizabeth BLEVINS, John CAWOOD & wife Happy CAWOOD, James LOVELACE & wife Nancy of the one part and William MACKEY and Joseph RHEA of the County of Sullivan and State of Tennessee of the other part. Witnesseth that the said William BLEVINS & James BLEVINS, John BLEVINS & John BLEVINS snr & Gatewood BLEVINS, Wanters BLEVINS, Sarah BLEVINS, & Clary BLEVINS, Pasey BLEVINS, Elizabeth BLEVINS, John CAWOOD & Happy CAWOOD, James LOVELACE and Nancy LOVELACE for and in consideration of the sum of two Hundred dollars to them sold and delivered unto the said William MACKEY and Joseph RHEA their Heirs, Executors, administrators and assigns all that tract or parcel of land containing Two Hundred Never more or less lying and in the County of Sullivan and State of Tennessee on the top of the Iron Mountain. Beginning at three chestnut trees, thence South Seventy degrees East One Hundred and Eighty Poles to a Chestnut and Chestnut Oak Tree, thence North thirty degrees East One Hundred and Seventy six Poles to a Sourwood near a small Branch, thence up the same North Forty degrees West Sixty One Poles to a White Oak, thence on the same course sixty five Poles to a Stake, thence a straight line to the Beginning. We the said William BLEVINS, James BLEVINS, John BLEVINS, John BLEVINS Snr & Gatewood, Wanters BLEVINS, Sarah BLEVINS, Clary BLEVINS, Pattsy BLEVINS, Elizabeth BLEVINS, John CAWOOD and Happy CAWOOD, James LOVELACE for our selves our heirs, executors, administrators and assigns and all manner of Persons claiming or to claim said Grant of land of two Hundred Acres with all its appurtenances or any thing thereunto belonging will warrant and for ever defend unto the said William MACKEY and Jospeh RHEA their Heirs, Executors, administrators and assigns. In Witness whereof we have hereunto by our hands and Seals this day and Year Sent above written.

     Richard SEVIER                     | William BLEVINS
     James BLEVINS                      | James BLEVINS
     William BLEVINS, John BLEVINS,     | Milly BLEVINS
     John CAWOOD, Walter BLEVINS,       | John BLEVINS
     Gatewood BLEVINS, John BLEVINS,    | Elizabeth BLEVINS
     Milly BLEVINS, Cary BLEVINS,       | Gatewood BLEVINS
     and Pattsey BLEVINS                | Clary BLEVINS
     Acknowledged the Execution of the  | John BLEVINS
     above Deed of Conveyance in our    | John CAWOOD
     Presence this 14th day of Aug 1819 | Happy CAWOOD
                                        | Wanters BLEVINS
     Ireson LONGACRE                    | James LOVELACE
     William CARR                       | Nancy LOVELACE
                                        | Henry BLEVINS
                                        | Catherine BLEVINS
    

    State of Tennessee Persuant to the annexed commission Hawkins County to us divided from the Worshipped Catherine BLEVINS wife of Henry BLEVINS privately and
    (the rest cut off from my Xerox copy)


    To: DWWN08A OWEN BLEVINS
    From: WCWD50A SHELIA STEELE HUNT
    Owen,
    I'll bet your fingers are worn out from all this wonderful typing! THANKS for sharing!!! Looks like you've really been working on this line of BLEVINS for many years! I had seen some abstracts of Carter Co. Court Minutes which indicated Gatewood and Caty were making land transactions long before the date of their marriage... Of course, this may well be one of those cases where the marriage was recorded several years after said marriage was actually performed, but I doubt it. In other documents I find Caty in that same time-frame referred to with her maiden name.

    Let me absorb what you have posted and I'll get back to you. Thanks ever so much for your generosity in sharing all this data.
    Best regards,
    Shelia


    To: DWWN08A OWEN BLEVINS
    From: HAYS82A ROBERT BLEVENS
    Hi, Owen! I'm also interested in William Blevinses from Sullivan Co., TN, but it doesn't appear that the Colonel's from my line. Do you have anything on the following?
    William Blevins, b. ca. 1660, where?
      William Blevins, b. ca. 1690, where?
        William Blevins, 1735-1825, d. Sullivan Co., TN; married  Agnes Walden
          William Blevins, b. 1760,Halifax Co., VA, married
          Rachel Skaggs
            Charles Blevins, b. 1790, KY, married Sarah Roark in
            Green Co., KY, 1816
               Charles Blevins, b. ca. 1825, Green Co., KY, died
               1891, West Point, Hardin Co., KY, married Mary
               Thompson, 1845, Green Co., KY
                 William Henry Blevens, b. 1852, Hardin Co., KY,
                 d. 1943, Louisville, KY, married Viola Bell
                 Mulkins, 1876, Harrison Co., IN
    Any info would be appreciated. Bob
    To: HAYS82A ROBERT BLEVENS
    From: DWWN08A OWEN BLEVINS
    Robert,
    The BLEVINS families who settled in Green Co. KY have always been a puzzle to me. I am not at all certain that the William BLEVINS who married Rachel SKAGGS is the son of William BLEVINS who married Agnes WALDEN. I am quite certain that the Col. William BLEVINS who married Ann is a son of the William BLEVINS who married Agnes WALDEN on the basis of land records in Pittsylvania Co. VA.

    On May 10, 1771 there is a deed between George LUMKIN and his wife Mary, and William BLEVINS "the youngest son of William the Elder of the said Colony". On Aug 29, 1771 there is a deed between William BLEVINS, Son of William BLEVINS and Ann his wife of Pittsylvania Co. VA and George LUMKIN of the same county and Colony.

    I would also make William BLEVINS, the Elder much older. If his youngest son Col. William BLEVINS had been married to Ann by 1771, that should make William BLEVINS, the Elder probably in his late 40's or 50's at that time. He had settled in the area around 1748 and if Elisha WALDEN/WALLING "the longhunter", who was born about 1735, was his son-in-law, I believe William BLEVINS, the Elder would have to be born around 1710.

    Now back to Green Co. KY. The only biographical sketch of a family in the area comes from the sketch of Thomas J. BLEVINS.

    "Thomas J. BLEVINS was born Juen 29, 1851, in Green County, near the Taylor line. He is the fifth of six sons and four daughters, eight of whom lived to be grown, born to Gabriel and Mary E. (MEARS) BLEVINS. Gabriel was born in April 1817, in Green County, and with the exception of two or three years in Indiana, has constantly lived here, engaged in farming, although a mechanic. He represented Green and Taylor Counties in the Legislature in 1877-78, and has served as magistrate for twelve years. He is a son of Charles BLEVINS, who was born in 1790, in Green County, and was a minister of the United Baptist Church; also served as magistrate for sixteen years (was a teacher in his younger days), and was a substantial farmer and slave-holder. He married Sarah ROARK, a native of Kentucky, by whom four sons and three daughters were reared, and died in 1884. He was a a son of William BLEVINS, a native of Ireland, who married a Miss SKAGGS; he first settled in South Carolina, was a soldier under Gen. Marion in the war for independence, and was one of the earliest settlers of Green County, Ky.

    Mrs. Mary E. BLEVINS was born in September 1817, in Green, now Taylor County, Ky.; she was a daughter of Moses MEARS, a native of Taylor County, who married Eda HAMILTON, a native of Tompkinsville, Ky. He died in 1873, aged sevety-six. He was a son of Thomas MEARS, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was also engaged in the many battles with Indians in the early settlement of Green County. He was of Irish descent, and died just before the late civil war, at the advanced age of one hundred and five years. Mrs. BLEVINS first married Garrett UNDERWOOD, to whom one son was born. Thomas J. BLEVINS was born in Green County, and was reared on a farm. After he became old enough to support and educate himself, he successfully taught for seven years in the common schools of the county. His first school was taught in a cabin, the door of which was not sufficient in height to admit a grown person erect. In 1874 he purchased his first farm of 100 acres, but now owns 200 acres, which he has procured by his own efforts, and has it substantially improved with good buildings. August 9, 1880, he married Margaret T., a daughter of Ferris BENNETT, a native of Taylor County. This union is blessed with tow bright children. Mr. BLEVINS now resides eight miles northwest of Greensburg, where he has constantly lived since his marriage. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. In 1876, he commenced the study of law, and in 1877 received license to practice. In politics he is a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Tilden."

    I have also searched the tax lists of Green Co. KY

    (1795 - abt. 1834) to find clues.
    
    1795 -
    1796 - Nathan BLEVINS - 100 a. on Pittman Crk.
    1797 - "            "
    1798 - "           "
    
    1802 - "           "
    1803 - "           "
    1804 - none
    1805 - Nathan BLEVINS
    1806 - "            " - 109 a on Pitman
    1807 - none
    1808 - Nathan BLEVINS
    1809 - "            "
    1810 - "             "
    1811 - Charles BLEVINS
    1812 - "          "
    1813 - "          "
    1814 - Charles BLEVINS, Lewis BLEVINS
    1815 - Charles BLEVINS
    1816 - Daniel BLEVINS, Charles BLEVINS
    1817 - "            ", "             "
    1818 - "            ", "             "
    1819 - "            ", "             "
    1820 - "            ", "             "
    1821 - Nathan BLEVINS
    1822 - Nathan BLEVINS, Charles BLEVINS, Nathan BLEVINS
    1823 - Daniel BLEVINS, Nathan BLEVINS
    1824 - 1826 missing
    1827 - Nathan BLEVINS, Charles BLEVINS, Hugh A. BLEVINS, Daniel BLEVINS
    1828 - Hugh BLEVINS, Daniel BLEVINS, Charles BLEVINS, Nathan BLEVINS
    1829 - Charles BLEVINS, Dillon BLEVINS, Daniel BLEVINS, Nathanl BLEVINS, Hugh A. BLEVINS
    1830 - Daniel BLEVINS, Chas BLEVINS, Nathl BLEVINS
    1831 - 1833 missing
    1834 - Charles BLEVINS, Nathan BLEVINS
    The Nathan BLEVINS mentioned above from 1796 - 1810 is the Nathan BLEVINS who settled in Ashe Co. NC. In his Revolutionary War Pension Application, he mentions having "moved to KENTUCKY in GREEN COUNTY staying fifteen years, then moved to this county (Ashe) where he has lived ever since." I have a few more details if you are interested.

    The Daniel BLEVINS mentioned above from 1816 - 1820 is probably the Daniel BLEVINS (Jul 18 1794 - 187-) who married Lucy ROBERTS (Oct 11 1798 - 187-) and moved to MO. This is the line Pat Potter (GNNN37A) is descended from. The Hugh A. BLEVINS is most probably Hugh Armstrong BLEVINS, son of Armstead BLEVINS and Keturah CARTER, son of Dillon BLEVINS and Ann ARMSTRONG. He married Emily KING and later Sarah COOPENDER and settled Blevins, Hempstead Co. AR in 1832.
    Owen


    To: HAYS82A ROBERT BLEVENS
    From: GNNN37A PAT POTTER
    Bob, it was good to see your note on P*, I owe you a letter and have just been behind getting things out to you. I received Daniel's pension papers around Christmas and thought you may be interested in them, thou they really don't tell much

    What puzzles me is that in the papers he states he was married to Lucy Robertsin Green Co. Ky, in 1815, in family records it was stated he was married in Greensburg, 1815, but I can find no proof of that at all. Have found brothers but not him. I wonder if he was there before 1816. The pension papers do mention some pieces of land. Hope all is well, still haven't heard from my Troy and Bendena relatives!
    Pat in MOnterey


    To: HAUT51A BRIDGET BLEVINS
    From: HAYS82A ROBERT BLEVENS
    Hi, Bridget! Sorry for butting in here, but I ran across a book called Blevins Ancestry by Bill Dwayne Blevins published in Mountain Home, AR, in 1972. I found it at the Library of Congress during one of my visits there when I lived in MD 1972-9. He indicated that the Blevinses moved into TN from Virginia and split with some going to KY and others going into AL and then on to AR. This book will probably give you some leads. The only problem that I had with it (other than that there wasn't anything on the KY Blevinses) was that he indicated a coat of arms with three crescents as being in the Blevins line. These arms were sold by one of the firms that specialize in selling "family" arms and, if I remember correctly, were French in origin. However, my research has indicated that Blevins is a Welsh name. Given the info by Owen Blevins, they probably came to this country via Ireland. Bob
    To: DWWN08A OWEN BLEVINS
    From: HAYS82A ROBERT BLEVENS
    Owen, I'm going to try using the Scratch Pad for the first time--I got cut off in the middle of my message while on line. Anyway, re Blevins/Walden, another possible surname for Walden is Walling according to another correspondant. No documentation, tho. Also, how are William the Elder and Col. Wm. Blevins related besides both (the same?) hailing from Pittsylvania Co., VA? And in the Aug 1771 transaction, does it refer to William the Elder and William/Ann, or William/Ann and a son William? In the statement "William Blevins, son of William Blevins and Ann his wife", a comma placed after the second Blevins could make quite a difference. Is is possible that one is missing?

    Re the biographical sketch, is it the 1884 biographical sketch by Perrin? If so, where is the sketch taken from and who's Perrin?

    The sketch indicated that Charles was born 1790 in Green Co. However, Green Co. wasn't formed until 1793 from Lincoln and Nelson Cos. The Green Co. tax lists indicated that Charles was on Brush Creek, Little Brush Creek and Pitman Creek at various times. If he was born in any of those locations, all of which are north of the Green River (the dividing line between Lincoln and Nelson Cos. in 1790 with Nelson Co. north of the river), then Charles was born in Nelson Co., VA. (Kentucky was a part of Virginia until 1792.)

    The sketch also indicated that Charles "reared" four sons and three daughters. But the 1830 census indicates five sons (1 10-15, 1 5-10, and 3 under 5) and two daughters (1 5-10 and 1 under 5. They have been identified to me as Gabriel, b. 1817; Nathan, b. ca. 1821; Charles, b. ca. 1825 (mine); Reuben, b. ca. 1828; an unnamed son b. late 1820's; an unnamed daughter b. early 1820's; and an unnamed daughter b. late 1820's. The 1850 census also shows a daughter, Narcissa, age 18, which would place her birthdate about 1832 and bring the number of daughters up to three. The word "reared" may indicate that the unnamed son died early.

    Re. Thomas Mears, the sketch indicated that he was a soldier in the War of 1812. However, it also says that he died at age 105 just before the Civil War, which I'll say is ca. 1860. That would mean that he was born ca. 1755 which would make him 57 in 1812. I wonder if perhaps there was an error here and the Revolutionary War was meant, although it's possible that he missed it and possibly fought in 1812, or even both wars. Most of my Blevins info from this far back has come from Blevins Ancestry by Bill Dwayne Blevins of Mountain Home, AR. However, not much is documented for the Kentucky Blevinses, so it's dig for whatever's there. If you run into anything more on Charles and Blevins/Skaggs, I'd appreciate it.

    Hey, the scratch pad worked! I'll use it from now on for these lengthy discourses.
    Bob


    To: HAYS82A ROBERT BLEVENS
    From: DWWN08A OWEN BLEVINS
    Robert,
    As to your questions about the land transactions I posted about, I am quite certain they refer to William BLEVINS, "the youngest son of William the Elder", who married Ann and is later referred to as Colonel when he moved to Sullivan Co. TN. Both transactions refer to the SAME piece of land, the first when George and Mary LUMKIN sold the property to William BLEVINS for 150 pds and the second when William, Jr. and Ann BLEVINS sold the property back to George LUMKIN for 100 pds. Both William BLEVINS, Jr. and his wife Ann made their mark on the later transaction. This is also around the same time that William BLEVINS moved from Pittsylvania Co. VA to Sullivan Co. TN.

    The Perrin Article is from "Kentucky - A History of the State" by W. H. Perrin, J. H. Battle, and G. C. Kniffin, published in 1887 by F. A. Battey and Co. of Lousiville, KY and Chicago, IL. The old Xerox I have is evidently from the Biographical Sketches of this book.
    Owen


    To: ALL
    From: PPWT25A DIANA WILLIAMS
    Owen, I have appreciated your recent postings. They will be a help to a lot of people and show that for Blevins at least *P is still alive. I am desc from Elisha Walling Sr. and would like to be your on-line Walling resource. 1st don't you have the John Redd, "Draper" interview where Redd says that Elisha Jr. the Longhunter was accompanied by his father -in-law 'Jack' Blevins. This would be the one on the 1767 tithe list of Robert Chandler which lists John as son of Daniel Blevins as Elisha Jr is also on that list, nearby. I am desc from Elisha Jrs brother Joseph who m. Milly Jones. There were 5 brothers: Thomas m. Mary Cox; Elisha m. Catherine Blevins; Joseph; James and John (1st w. killed by Indians, 2nd wife was Elizabeth Roberts. There were 3 sisters: Margery m. Isaac Rice; Betsy m. William Roberts; and Sarah m. Clement Lee. This all came from a sketch written in 1868 by a Rice desc.

    Joseph was killed by Indians in 1792. I think this is the source of a great many garbled Indians killing Wallings stories and I am trying to collect all I can in hopes of condensing out the truth. Please contact me if you have any Walling questions. I can probably help on anybody but Agnes. She is a complete mystery. I plan to be on *P for a long time.
    Diana Williams in Dallas


    To: PPWT25A DIANA WILLIAMS
    From: DWWN08A OWEN BLEVINS
    Diana,
    Thanks for your information. I believe most of what you say is substantiated in the book, ELISHA WALLEN, THE LONGHUNTER by Carolyn D. WALLIN, 1990 by the OverMountain Press, Johnson City, TN. This is WELL annotated and has a great deal of information in it. I assume the source you referred to is the notes of Mattie (RICE) HOWARD of Feb 16, 1868 (located in Chattanooga, TN?), which I personally have not seen except for pieces printed in the above book. I do have an abstract of Major John REDD's interview taken from Vol. 6? of the VIRGINIA HISTORICAL MAGAZINE which, in turn, was taken from the manuscripts of Lyman C. DRAPER. Although, you quote REDD as saying Elisha WALDEN/WALLING's father-in-law was John (Jack) BLEVINS, he actually says that his father-in-law was Will BLEVINS. I have seen several sources on the BLEVINS side that claim that John (Jack) BLEVINS was Elisha's father-in-law, but every early source that I know says it was William BLEVINS. This has been the subject of controversy for years and is probably complicated by the fact that there were at least two Elisha WALLING's and at least two William BLEVINS in this time frame (early 1760's) of the longhunters. Also, I have seen the assertion that the wife of Elisha WALLING, Sr. (the father of Elisha WALDEN, the longhunter) was Mary BLEVINS and the wife of William BLEVINS was Agnes WALDEN. Both are to me unproven as yet until I can find a reliable source.

    For everyone's information, I will post some abstracts taken from Draper's notes. I have yet to look through the microfilm of Draper's notes myself but I will to do so in the near future. Taken from Vol. 6? of the VIRGINIA HISTORICAL MAGAZINE, the interview with Major John REDD:

    "(Question) 6th. I hardly think it probable that WALDEN, with some 16 others, ever established a hunting camp in POWELL's Valley as early as 1761. there is no doubt but WALDIN was a long hunter as early as 1761, and probable before that day. the long hunters hardly ever went with more than two or three in a company, besides as you remarke at that period war existed between the Indians and whites, and it would have been the very highth of folly for 16 men to have gone at that time to POWELL's valley. It is vary probable that WALDEN, COX & BLEVINS established a hunting camp in POWEL's valley a few years after 1761, for the BLEVINSES & COXES were a vary numerous family, and many of them were long hunters; they lived on SMITH's river in the neighborhood with WALDEN, and they were connected to him by marriage. If WALDEN had of establish a station in POWELs valley in 1761, I am satisfied that I should have heard something of it. WALDEN was a man of darke skin about 5 feet 10 or 11 inches; a big, square built and weighed a bout 180 pounds, vary cours fetures, ordinary intellect and was regarded as a very honest and correct man in all his transactions. When I became aquainted with him in 1774, he was about 40 years of age. WALDEN had vary little property, he never cultivated the soil but lived entirely by hunting. I know not where WALDEN was from originally. When I first knew him he lived on SMITH's river at a place called the round-about, near the centre of the conty, and about two miles east of Martainsville, the present county seat of henry, he lived near his wife's fathers, Will. BLEVENES. WALDEN, the BLEVINES & COXES owned no land, but were squatters on land owned bu a company of speculators. During the revolutionary war the assembly of Va. passed a law taht all British subjects owning land in Va. must come in by a ceartin time and take an oath of alegance, and become actual setlers, or ther land would be confiscated. After the act was passed, two of the british subjects owning land in Pitsolvania (now henry), came in and complied with the act of the assembly, the BLEVINSES and COXES, for they feared they would have to pay many years rent they all moved off enmess. The BLEVINSES & COXES settled on the holston a bove the long Isleans. WALDEN settled on the holston about 18 miles above where knoxville now is. I know not how long he lived there. In the year 1776, I called by to see him, he was not at home, his wife informed me that he had gone on a hunt and had been absent for a month. A few years after this he moved to POWEL's valley, remained there a short time, removed from there to Missoura and settled in the vary extreme settlement up the Missoura river. I suppose his object in going to Missoura was to get where game was more plentiful; he followed up hunting as long as he was able to follow the chase; he died on the fronteers of Missoura at a very advanced age; he performed no military duty during the war."

    From Prentiss Price Papers, Kyle Collection, McClung Historical Collection at Knoxville, TN.

    Letter, 18 May 1854, Brice MARTIN, Rural Hill Post Office, Wilson County, Tennessee, to Lyman C. DRAPER, Madison, Wisconsin (Draepr MSS 14DD-16) "[p1] You wish to know what relationship existed between the old Pioneers WALDEN & BLEVINS. WALDEN's wife was the daughter of Capt. Wm. BLEVINS. The last I knew of the BLEVINS they lived in the Watauga region & some if not all of them died in there. But at what time I do not know. The last I knew of WALDEN he was living in Powells Valley, E. T. [p5] From my earliest recollection Capt Mortiker HORD lived and died on Smith's River 1789 or 90. Stephen HORD is not a son of his - neither do I know that he is of his descendants."

    Letter, 13 Oct 1853, A. F. WALDEN, Fairland, Livingston County, Missouri, to Lyman C. DRAPER (Draper MSS 6XX-74) " ... as to Old Uncle Elisha WALDEN, I never had any personal acquaintance with him and know very little about him more than hearsay (my Father & others). He moved from Va. to Tennessee, from thence to Ky, thence to Washington Co., Mo, in a very early day as I learned from a Mr. BREWER & Mr. JONES, and as to anything further I cannot say ... I have moved from Howard Co. & my address is as caption."

    Letter, 7 July 1842, William MARTIN, Dixon Springs, Tenn, to Lyman C. DRAPER (Draper MSS 3XX-4) "[p9] (HAYWOOD) speaks of WALLEN, BLEVINS and others having, at an early time, explored the West, and given names to rivers, ridges, creeks &c. And that WALLEN gave name to Cumbrland Mountain because he lived in a county of that name. Now it so happened, that I was intimately acquainted with the same WALLEN, in his latter days (the same man fro whom the Ridge and Creek spoken of by HAYWOOD was named). I used to hear him speak of his Western excursions and after I grew up and lived in Powels Valley, at the foot of the Cumberland Mountain, I used to see WALLEN frequently, who at that time lived not far from there; and often conversed with him about Powels Valley, Cumberland Mountain, the Gap &c, but no a word of his having named it. And furthermore, instead of Cumberland County, he at the time lived in Pittsylvania... [p15] Gov. HENRY lived ten miles from my father, Capt. HORD, a great friend of HENRY (as was my father) lived ten miles from us in the opposite direction. ..."

    Letter, 9 Mar 1780, Thomas WALKER, French Lick on the Cumberland River, to William PRESTON (Draper MSS 5QQ-21) " (about land entries) ... Thomas WALLING, Elisha WALLING Junior, Joseph MARTIN, Mordicai HORD & probably many others may be willing to inform you of such lands..."

    Letter, 19 June 1869, Governor David CAMPBELL, Montcalm, near Abindon, Virginia, to Lyman C. DRAPER (Draper MSS 10DD-80) "[p1] BLEVINS - There were several old men of that name among the early settlers. They lived about twenty miles from here on the Holston, and were noted desperadoes. Two were named William, and one distinguished from the other by the nickname of Devil Will. These men settled on ancient surveys when they came to the country and held possession by force against the authority of the courts. Public officers could not dispossess them. I never heard of more than one or two of their descendants who occupied a respectable stand in society, and one of them, fifty years ago, cut off the ears of his own child, an infant, at Jonesboro, in a fit of jealousy. The Sheriff had to summon to his aid about a hundred men before he could take him. [p2] WALLEN - There wer several old men of that name in the country in early times, and gave the name to the mountain called WALLENS ridge. They were engaged much, I think, in taking up lands, and I know they were involved in land controversies in the courts of Tennessee at their first establishment. My recollection at present is that two of them were named Thomas and Elisha. I was acquainted perhaps with one of them, but am not certain. Their suits were in Superior Court at Jonesboro. Their descendants have made no figure in society." Letter, 6 Dec 1869, Governor David CAMPBELL, Montcalm, near Abingdon, Virginia, to Lyman C. DRAPER (Draper MSS 10DD-83)

    "[p3] Thomas and Elisha WALLEN. These two men of whom Major REDD has given you an account, are the same I have heard much about. I do not know whether they lived on the Tennessee or Virginia side of the State line. They resided according to my present recollection in Powells Valley and I think somewhere in the neighborhood of Cumberland Gap where the Kentucky trace, as it was called in early times, crossed the mountain and entered Kentucky country, passing by the Crab Orchard. Cumberland Gap is the point where the Kentucky line strikes the Virginia and Tennessee boundary. The WALLENS located lands in both Virginia & No Carolina and most of their claims lay, I think, near the line of the two States. In the early land controversies in the courts of East Tennessee, the names of the WALLENS, some way or other, seemed to be mixed up with almost every old land claim. They had been either first owner or locater or chain carrier when the Survey was made. I do not recollect ever seeing either of the old men, bu must have seen some of their descendants at the courts in Tennessee. I am under the belief that they died in Tennessee, but cannot speak positively on the subject. One or both the old men attended courts about the years 1798, 1799 & 1800."

    Pretty interesting reading. I do believe Gov. CAMPBELL might have been a bit biased in his opinions. If memory serves me correctly, the CAMPBELLS, MARTINS, and SEVIERS were quite active rivals both politically and in land speculation. I think this rivalry came to a head while SEVIER was territorial governor of the lost State of Franklin but I can't remember the exact details. Owen


    To: DWWN08A OWEN BLEVINS
    From: BWJW97A IDA SMITH
    Owen,
    The following was given to my husband by a Blevins cousin of his. Can you add or correct anything?
  • William Blevins, b. 1803 Wayne Co., KY d. 1860 Marion Co., TN
  • wife: Malinda Day, b. 1812 TN d. 1870
  • William and Malinda married in 1829 Marion Co., TN
  • Any help would be appreciated.
    Ida
    To: BWJW97A IDA SMITH
    From: DWWN08A OWEN BLEVINS
    Ida,
    There isn't much I can add at this time as you have provided names and dates that I don't have. I know this family was in Wayne Co. KY in the early 1800's, was in Marion Co. TN in the 1830's, and was alternately in Dekalb Co. AL and Dade Co. GA in 1840's on. They are in the 1850 census of Dade Co. GA and the 1860 census of Dekalb Co. AL. This you probably already know.

    I do know that this family is closely related to the families outlined in two books, BLEVINS ANCESTRY by Bill Dwayne BLEVINS, 1972 and JONATHAN BLEVINS, SR. OF VA AND HIS DESCENDANTS, by Laccie W. BLEVINS and Ray E. BLEVINS, 1982 OverMountain Press. In the book by Bill Dwayne BLEVINS, he traces the line of Richard BLEVINS (c. 1800 - aft 1870) and Rhoda SCOTT (c. 1798 - ), which is most probably a brother to this William BLEVINS. Richard BLEVINS was a Primitive Baptist Preacher in the Sequatchie Valley Association of Marion Co. TN. They moved in the late summer of 1839 to the Deer Head Cove Community of Dekalb Co. AL (and near Dade Co. GA as this borders the state line.)

    The other book covers the line of Jonathan BLEVINS (c1779 - March 21 1863) and his two wives Katy TROXEL ( - 1814) and Sarah MINTON (c. 1805 - ). Their families lived in Wayne Co. KY and Scott Co. TN and are probably close relatives.

    At the moment, I will only hazard a guess that the father of Richard BLEVINS and your William BLEVINS is Richard BLEVINS, SR based on the 1830 census records of Marion Co. TN. I will have to do more research as I have little or no information from Marion Co. TN
    Owen

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