1840 Census, Anderson County, Tennessee

Jesse L. Lea age 20-29 married Harriet Tandy in 1846 in Johnson County, Missouri. Catherine Lea age 20-29 married John Wesley Peters in 1841 in Anderson County, Tennessee. Jesse L. Lea, Catherine Lea, and John Wesley Peters all moved to Johnson County, Missouri in 1844. Robert H. Lea age 40-49 may also be found on the 1850 census for Johnson County. I assume that he moved at the same time as the rest of the family. Indeed, as the head of the Lea family, Robert probably led the expedition.

There were two men named John W. Peters in Anderson County at the same time. One of them almost certainly was the son of Thomas Peters and the other one almost certainly was the son of Thomas's brother Henry Peters Jr. It's difficult to be 100% sure, but the weight of the evidence suggests that the John W. Peters who married Catherine Lea was the son of Thomas.

I collect data on Smith family members in Anderson County because my third great grandparents were John W. Peters and his wife Ruby M. Smith and I do not know the identity of Ruby's parents. Ruby was born about 1816. If the ages for Ruby in the 1850 and 1860 censuses were correct and if the ages for the individuals in this census entry were correct, then Ruby was not the daughter of this William Smith.

1840, Anderson County, Tennessee, page 6a

John Cross age 30-39 was the son of Brittain/Britton Cross and Mary (Polly) Parks. John was born 15 Sep 1803 in Anderson County. John married Mary Ann (Polly) Shinlever age 30-39 on 1 Dec 1831 in Anderson County.

1840, Anderson County, Tennessee, page 8a

Jonathan Lupton Scarbrough Sr. was the son of William Scarbrough and Mahala (Emily) Wood. I am not descended from Jonathan, but a number of his descendants married into various of my families. For example, Jonathan's grandson Tolbert Ross (Ross) Scarbrough married Cordelia Rene (Cordie) Cole who was the sister of my great grandmother Sallie Jane Cole. Lucille (Curly) Holloway and Edna Pearl Holloway were Jonathan's second great granddaughters.

William Scarbrough was one of the Scarbroughs who along with Henry Peters Sr. and Tobias Peters Sr. moved to Anderson County, Tennessee from Greenbrier County, Virginia in 1797. Jonathan Lupton Scarbrough himself was born in Greenbrier County and was two years old at the time of the move to Tennessee.

My third great grandparents were John W. Peters and Ruby Smith who were married on 26 Jun 1840. A John W. Peters was living two houses away from William B. Smith in 1840 (see below). However, Ruby was born about 1816, and she does not seem to appear either in the home of William B. Smith nor in the home of John W. Peters. So Ruby's parents remain a great mystery.

This John W. Peters may have been my third great grandfather who married my third great grandmother Ruby Smith. John W. Peters married Ruby Smith on 26 Jun 1840. John who married Ruby was born about 1822 in Tennessee. If this was the John who married Ruby, he appears not to have been married yet at the time of the census. Also, the age of this John W. Peters does not quite match the age of my John W. Peters.

The situation is complicated by the fact that there were two John W. Peters marriages in Anderson County in the 1840 timeframe. One of the marriages was John W. Peters to Catherine Lea and the other one was John W. Peters to Ruby Smith. I don't know if this was the John W. Peters who married Catherine Lea, the John W. Peters who married Ruby Smith, or yet a third John W. Peters.

John W. Peters married Catherine Lea on 26 Jan 1841. So they should not have been listed as a couple on the 1840 census.

Nancy M. Bradley married George D. Messamore about 1857. George was the son of James Messamore and Sarah (Sary) Heath. James was the brother of my third great grandmother Anna F. Messamore.

Elijah Cross was the son of my fourth great grandfather William Cross the Revolutionary War drummer boy. As such, Elijah was the brother of my third great grandfather Alfred Carter Cross. I believe Elijah's mother's name was Mary, but this is not proven. Mary (Polly) Winters was the daughter of Moses Wineters Jr. and Elizabeth Jane Charleton. It's not totally clear which generation anglicized the Wineters spelling (German, I think) to Winters.

Susannah Epperson age 70-79 was my fifth great grandmother. In 1840, Susannah was the widow of my fifth great grandfather James C. Moore Sr.

Susannah was the daughter of Robert Epperson and Elizabeth Lewallen.

1840, Anderson County, Tennessee, page 11a

William Cross age 20-29 was the son of Brittain Cross and Mary (Polly) Parks. William Cross married Jane Black age 20-29 on 12 May 1836 in Anderson County. William was the brother of Alfred Cross who married Jane's sister Elizabeth Black. This would be the "other" Alfred Cross, not the Alfred Carter Cross who was the father of my second great grandmother Hulda Asberine Cross.

Thomas Peters and Sarah (Sallie) England were my fourth great grandparents. Thomas was the son of Henry Peters Sr. and Mary Wiatte. Sarah (Sallie) England was the daughter of John England and Vesta Zipporah Choate.

Thomas was the great grandfather of my Alva Edward Peters, but it is not a paternal line. Rather, the line was Thomas, father of Zipporah Peters, mother of Hulda Cross, mother of Alva Peters. Zipporah married in 1840, probably before the census was taken.

Alfred Carter Cross age 20-29 and Zipporah Peters age 20-29 were my third great grandparents. They were the parents of my second great grandmother Hulda Asberine Cross and the grandparents of of my great grandfather Alva Edward Peters. Alfred was 30 years old and Zipporah was 26 years old in 1840. They were married 2 May 1840.

Nancy Ann Cross age 20-29 was the daughter of my fourth great grandfather William Cross the Revolutionary War drummer boy. As such, Nancy was the sister of my third great grandfather Alfred Carter Cross.

Adison Leath was one of the people who proved William Cross's will, and there subsequently were some years when Adison's father Willis Leath paid the taxes on the portion of William's land that was inherited by Nancy Ann Cross. Adison's mother was Ruth (Ruthy) Keith.

Wesley M. Peters was the son of Tobias Peters Sr. and Elizabeth Rachel Scarborough. He was born in 1816. His wife Katherine Paul was born 2 May 1820. They were married 26 Jun 1836 in Anderson County.

1840, Anderson County, Tennessee, page 14a

John Altum and Obedience Hall were the parents of Susannah Ann (Annie) Altum who married James Messamore. John Altum died before the 1850 census, so this census entry is currently the best indication I have for his birth date.

 

William Cross the Revolutionary War drummer boy age 70-79 was my fourth great grandfather. I believe that Elizabeth age 20-29 and Amanda Melvina ate 20-29 were his daughters. However, there is at least a remote chance that one or the other of them was a much younger second wife, or that either or both of them were widowed daughters-in-law.

Mary age 20-29 is a tougher puzzle. Emilia Jane Cross age 10-14 and Safrona C. Cross were Mary's heirs and presumably they therefore were her daughters. Emilia was enumerated in the 1840 census and Safrona wasn't born until 1843. The question is, who (and where) was the father of Emilia and Safrona? Were Emilia and Safrona William's granddaughters who were born out of wedlock? Or was Mary a much younger second wife of William, and Emilia and Safrona were his daughters by Mary? Or was Mary William's daughter-in-law, and Emilia and Safrona were his granddaughters by Mary?

Jesse C. Cross age 30-39 was the son of my fourth great grandfather William Cross the Revolutionary War drummer boy. As such, Jesse was the brother of my third great grandfather Alfred Carter Cross.

Amelia (Milly) England age 30-39 was the daughter of my fifth great grandparents John England and Vesta Zipporah Choate. As such, Millie was the sister of my fourth great grandfather Titus England and also the sister of my fourth great grandmother Sarah (Sallie) England.

Milly Cross signed an affidavit on 17 Feb 1872 as a part of Thomas Peters pension application for the War of 1812. The affidavit stated that she had attended the wedding of Thomas Peters and Sarah (Sallie) England in Anderson County, Tennessee in 1812.

The 70-79 year old female appears to have been Milly's mother Vesta Zipporah Choate, widow of John England.

Vesta Clay England was my second great grandmother who married my second great grandfather William Cole. John England and Jane Peters were my third great grandparents. Jane Peters was the daughter of Thomas Peters and Sarah (Sallie) England. John England was the son of Titus England and Elizabeth. There were a number of Titus Englands. This was not the Titus England who married Elizabeth Anderson. This Titus England was the son of John England and Vesta Zipporah Choate.

Larkin Hackworth was the great grandfather of Anne Jo (Jo) Hackworth who married William Birchel (Birchel) Peters. Uncle Birchel was the brother my grandfather Ernest Lester Peters Sr. Jo Hackworth is known in the family as Aunt Jo.

Robert Milligan and Malinda Messamore were married 17 Feb 1835 in Anderson County, Tennessee. Malinda was the daughter of my fourth great grandparents William/Wilhelm Messamore and Margarethe Elizabeth (Peggy) May. As such, Malinda was the sister of my third great grandmother Anna F. Messamore.

Rebecca Peters was the daughter of Tobias Peters Sr. and Elizabeth Rachel Scarborough. Rebecca was the second wife of Michael Clardy. I have not yet identified the children age 15-19, but they must have been Michael's children with his first wife Nancy Comer.

 

Ame Hall married Joshua Bray. I believe she was the daughter of the elder David Hall (the one from page 20). I believe that the younger David Hall and James Hall were sons of the elder David Hall.

Joshua J. Bray was the son of my fourth great grandparents John Bray and Jane. As such, Joshua was the brother of my third great grandfather Edward Payne Bray.

Anne M. (Annie) Hall was the daughter of David Hall and Obediance Braswell. Annie's parents were living three houses away (see above).

James Messamore was the son of my fourth great grandparents William/Wilhelm Messamore and Margarethe Elizabeth (Peggy) May. As such, James was the brother of my third great grandmother Anna F. Messamore who married my third great grandfather Edward Payne Bray.

Sarah (Sary) Heath was the daughter of William Heath and unknown.

Joseph H. Bray was the son of my fourth great grandparents John Bray and Jane. As such, Joseph was the brother of my third great grandfather Edward Payne Bray.

George Washington Moore was my fourth great grandfather in Anderson County. However, I don't know if this was him or not. The problem is that the 1840 Anderson County census has two George Moores, both about the same age. Further research will be required to figure out which was which, based on the ages of the children and based on who the neighbors were.

 

Mary Ann (Polly) McGee was born on 7 Jun 1839. She married Jasper Newton Cobb on 18 Nov 1866 in Sullivan County, Missouri. Jasper Newton Cobb was the son of Mary (Polly) Peters and James Madison Cobb, and the grandson of Tobias Peters Sr. and Elizabeth Rachel Scarborough. A large contingent of Anderson County folks moved to Missouri in the 1840's, including several Cobbs and Peters. Jacob McGee and his family were a part of the move, and they moved to Missouri in 1841.

Joseph Elvin Moore and Elizabeth Braden were my third great grandparents. I am descended through their daughter Ferriba Salina (Salina) Moore who was not born until 1849. I do not know who the extra female age 20-29 might have been.

Joseph Elvin Moore was the son of George Washington Moore and Winiford (Winnie) Peak.

Elizabeth Braden was the daughter of John Andrew (Andrew) Braden and Dorothy McNeely.

1840, Anderson County, Tennessee, page 27a

Alfred Cross age 15-19 was the son of Brittain Cross and Mary (Polly) Parks. Elizabeth (Betty) Black age 15-19 was the daughter of Joseph Black Jr. and Elizabeth (Betty) Henry. Alfred and Polly were married 1 Jan 1839 in Anderson County, Tennessee. The birth date for John Allen (Allen) Cross is often listed as 15 Apr 1837, but it must have been 15 Apr 1839. The date comes from his tombstone, and it must have been hard to transcribe.

John Andrew (Andrew) Braden and Dorothy McNeely were my fourth great grandparents. I have not identified parents for either one of them. I am descended through their daughter Elizabeth Braden who married Joseph Elvin Moore in 1836.

George Washington Moore was my fourth great grandfather in Anderson County. However, I don't know if this was him or not. The problem is that the 1840 Anderson County census has two George Moores, both about the same age. Further research will be required to figure out which was which, based on the ages of the children and based on who the neighbors were.

Edward Payne Bray and Anna F. Messamore were my third great grandparents. Edward was the son of my fourth great grandparents John Bray and Jane. Anna F. Messamore was the daughter of my fourth great grandparents William/Wilhelm Messamore and Margarethe Elizabeth (Peggy)May. My second great grandfather Joseph A. Bray was not born until 1849, and hence did not appear in the 1840 census.

Jane was Edward's mother. The older Rachel and Emilia were his sisters. The younger Rachel and Emilia were his daughters.

Titus England was the son of John England and Vesta Zipporah Choate. Titus and his wife Elizabeth were my fourth great grandparents. My third great grandfather John England, son of Titus and Elizabeth, was already married at the time of the 1840 census.

 

Henry Peters Sr. was my fifth great grandfather. Apparently, his wife Mary Wiatt died before 1830. I am doubly descended from Henry and Mary, being descended both from their son Thomas Peters and also from their son Henry Peters Jr.

The two females were probably daughters Millie Peters born 1795 in Virginia and Katherine Peters born about 1801 in Tennessee. The two women were listed with the surname Peters in census after 1850.

Another possibility is that either Millie or Katherine was a daughter-in-law.

I'm reasonably sure that this James Scarbrough age 30-40 was the son of David Scarbrough and Elizabeth Anderson, and therefore that this James Scarbrough's wife was Anna (Annie) Rice. The ages of the children don't match up perfectly to the ages of the children of James Scarbrough and Annie Rice. But I know of no other James Scarbrough that this could be, and I have found not found James Scarbrough and Annie Rice anywhere else in the 1840 census.

The discrepancies are that Chesley would have been 17 years old in 1840 and John would have been 15 years old, and that I have no record of two males who were born between 1831 and 1835. My best guess is that either Chesley or John was living elsewhere as a hired hand, and that the two males age 05-09 died before the 1850 census. Also, they could have been nephews or they could have otherwise been taken care of by James and Annie.

I am not descended from the Scarbroughs, but I have a lot of connections to the Scarbroughs. In the case of the James Scarbrough family, the connections are as follows:

• Chesley J. Scarbrough married second my second great grandmother Vesta Clay (Vestie) England. It was also Vestie's second marriage.
• John W. Scarbrough married Mary A. (Polly) Peters, daughter of my fourth great grandparents Thomas Peters and Sarah (Sallie) England.
• Sarah Jane (Jane) Scarbrough married Frances Asbury (Frank) Peters, son of my fourth great grandparents Henry Peters Jr. and Jane England.
• William V. (Will) Scarbrough married Sarah E. Cross, daughter of my third great grandparents Alfred Carter Cross and Zipporah Peters.

Henry Peters Jr. and Jane England were my fourth great grandparents. Henry Jr. is a part of my mother's direct paternal line. We are also descended from Henry's brother Thomas, but our line back to Thomas is not a direct paternal line.

Henry Peters Jr. was the son of Henry Peters Sr. and Mary Wiatt. Henry Jr. was born about 1795 and his wife and Jane was born between 1800 and 1805.

Jane England is currently a brick wall. I have several England lines in Anderson County. It seems extremely likely that Jane was connected to one of them, but I have not been able to determine which line, if any, it was.

John W. Peters age 15-19 was my third great grandfather. John had a first cousin also named John W. Peters. The "other" John W. Peters was the son of Thomas Peters. I have had a devil of a time figuring out which John W. Peters was which. My John W. Peters married Ruby Smith. The other John W. Peters married Catherine R. Lea. According to the 1850 census, the John W. Peters who married Ruby Smith born about 1822, and the John W. Peters who married Catherine R. Lea was born about 1815.

 

 

John W. Peters married Ruby Smith, and they were my third great grandparents. It seems likely that one of the above men was Ruby's father, but I have no idea which one (if any) it was.