1841 Tax List, Anderson County, Tennessee

Dist. 9 is in the southwest corner of Anderson county.  The Clinch River forms the eastern and southern boundary of Dist. 9 (there is a big bend in the river at the southeast corner of Dist. 9).  South of the river is Knox County.  A surveyor's line running roughly north by northwest forms the western boundary of Dist. 9.  West of the surveyor's line is Roane County.  The crest of Pine Ridge forms the northern boundary of Dist. 9.  North of Pine Ridge is Dist. 8.  Scarbrough Road goes through a gap in Pine Ridge.  Just south of the gap is the Y-12 plant in Dist. 9, and just north of the gap is the intersection of Scarbrough Road with Illinois Avenue in Dist. 8.

The age limit for white polls in Anderson County in 1841 was age 21 to age 50.  Henry Peters Sr. was about 72.  Henry Peters Jr. was about 46.  Thomas Peters was about 51.  John Wesley Peters was about 26.

Henry Peters Jr. and Thomas Peters were brothers, sons of Henry Peters Sr.  Both Henry Jr. and Thomas were my fourth great grandfathers, and Henry Sr. was my fifth great grandfather.  I am descended from both Henry Jr. and from Thomas because of cousin marriages in later generations.

There were two John W. Peters in Anderson County in 1841.  The one in this tax list was the son of Thomas.  I am descended from the other John W. Peters, the one who was the son of Henry Jr.  He was about 19 years old in 1841, and he was therefore too young to pay a poll tax.

The 134 acres owned by John Wesley Peters in 1841 is extremely significant for puzzling out early Peters family history.  The 134 acres had been owned by Thomas Peters.  Subsequently, taxes were paid on the 134 acres by John W. Peters, and then the 134 acres were sold by John W. Peters and William Peters.  This is strong evidence that the John W. Peters who paid the taxes and who sold the land, and also the William Peters who sold the land, were sons of Thomas.