Jerry Bryan's Web Pages

Deeds, Anderson County, Tennessee

Anderson County Deed Book A-1  p.84
1 Jan 1803 James Scarbrough of Anderson County
to Tobias Peters of Anderson County, for $1.50,
120 acres in Anderson Co., west side of Clinch
River, near the river bank, running up the
river, including the meanders, near top of ridge.
120 acres part of 600 acre tract that James
Scarbrough now lives on.  James Scarbrough does
not warrant should an older and better title
take said land.  7 Dec 1803
wit: Daniel White   James Scarbrough

James Scarbrough was the father of Elizabeth Rachel Scarborough, and hence the father-in-law of Tobias Peters. This deed was also mentioned on p.71 of the County Court Minutes. The same court minutes also mentioned 200 acres from William Reed to James Scarbro proved by Tobias Peters.

I have not been able to identify where exactly where this land was located. The Peters and the Scarbroughs first moved to the area of Anderson that is now called the Scarbrough Community. Scarbrough is bounded both to the east and to the south by the Clinch River. The Clinch River flows west from Clinton to the Elza Gate community, it flows south from Elza Gate to Scarbrough (roughly where the Bull Run steam plant is now located), and then flows west into Roane County. The steam plant itself is not in Scarbrough. The plant is east of the river, on the opposite bank from Scarbrough and just before the river makes its big turn to the west towards Roane County.

The reference to " west of the Clinch River" suggests that Tobias's land may have been along the part of the river that runs south from Elza Gate to Scarbrough. If the land were on the part of the river that runs west from Bull Run to Roane County, then it would probably have been described as "north of the Clinch River". For example, the land might have been across the river from where the steam plant is now located.

Also, the reference to "running up the river, including the meanders, near top of ridge" is suggestive. In its southbound run from Elza Gate to Scarbrough, the Clinch River flows through gaps in two ridges, Pine Ridge and Chestnut Ridge. Community boundaries are not very precisely defined. But west of the Clinch River between Pine Ridge and Chestnut Ridge is usually described as Bear Creek Valley, and west of the Clinch River south of Chestnut Ridge is usually described as Scarbrough. So Tobias's land was probably west of the river and south of Chestnut Ridge. Again, this land is across the river from where the steam plant is now located.

Anderson County Deed Book A-1 page 113
1 July 1803 Joseph McKinley of Anderson Co. to Joseph Cross
of Jefferson Co., for $75, 250 acres in Anderson Co. on Cain
Creek, branch of the Clinch River, on bank of Cane Creek, with
dividing line, to south fork of Cane Creek, across it to side of
a Ridge, to James Taylor's corner on the ridge, north to where
Can Creek buts in against said ridge, up Cane Creek to the
beginning.  22 May 1804
Wit:  John McBride                       Joseph McKinley
      Oliver Dotson

Joseph Cross Deed, Book A, page 113, 1 Jul 1803

I do not know how or if this Joseph Cross was related to the other Cross family members in Anderson County. A Joseph Cross was married on 3 Jan 1803 in Jefferson County. Brittain Cross who later moved to Anderson County was married on 2 Jan 1800 in Jefferson County. One would suspect that Joseph and Brittain were related. Indeed, I have suspected that Joseph and Brittain were brothers, and that perhaps this would be a clue to Brittain's father.

There was a Joseph C. Cross enumerated in the 1830 census in Jefferson County, age 59. That's the right age to have been the brother of Brittain. However, it is clear that the Joseph Cross who purchased these 250 acres in Anderson County died shortly thereafter and therefore couldn't have been the Joseph Cross who was enumerated in the 1830 Jefferson County census. Anderson County court minutes dated 14 Sep 1804 state that an inventory of the property of Joseph Cross deceased had been received. Also, in the 1806 tax list for Anderson County, taxes for 250 on C. Creek were paid by Polly Cross.

Cane Creek is about half way between Norris Dam and Clinton, and empties into the Clinch River. The creek is north and west of the river (the river flows southwest from Norris Dam to Clinton). At one point, the creek flows through Dutch Valley. I haven't figured out exactly where this parcel of land was.

I do worry that the Cane Creek mentioned in this deed was not in modern day Anderson County. In 1804, Anderson County was much larger than it is today and included all or parts of a number of different modern day counties, extending all the way north to the Kentucky state line. There are Cane Creeks in several different modern day counties, but my best guess is still that the Cane Creek in this deed was near Norris Dam as described above.

In any case, the metes and bounds description in the deeds is so vague that I'm not able to draw the shape of the property very precisely nor am I able to place the property very precisely on a modern map.

Anderson County Deed Book A-1 p.162
18 Aug 1818 Joseph England & Jane England to
Spencer Keith for _____, to each one paid,
200 acres, their claim to the place where
John England, father of said Joseph and Jane
England lived and deceased, on South side
of a ridge, corner of a tract conveyed by
James Russell to William Wyatt, thence
on dividing line formerly run by James & Brice
Russell, being the closing line of Wyatt's
conveyance.  Reg. 16 Apr 1825.
Wit:  Zipporah England   Joseph England
      James Scarbrough   Jane England
      Abraham Hagler

Zipporah England was Vesta Zipporah Choate, widow of John England. John England had died about 1816. Joseph and Jane England were children of John and Zipporah. Joseph married Malinda Lankford. Jane England married Spencer Keith.

Anderson County Deed Book A-1   p.188
21 May 1821 William Scarbrough to Tobias Peters,
John Scarbrough, Caleb Low, Robert Scarbrough,
Spencer Keith, James Richmond, and Henry Peters,
trustees of bethel meeting house for the
Methodist Church of Anderson and Knox
Counties, for the good will and feeling I have
for the cause of religion, 1 acre and 26 poles
in Anderson Co., on north side of Clinch River,
passing through the head of a spring, to a
stake near the road, to the beginning.
Reg. 11 Apr 1821
Wit: Thomas Peters  William Scarbrough
     Robert Scarbrough

(Tobias was Tobias Peters who married Elizabeth Rachel Scarborough, daughter of James Scarborough and Rachel Wood. Tobias Peters, Jr. would have been too young. Henry Peters was probably Henry Peters, Sr., although Henry Peters, Jr. would have been old enough. Thomas Peters was the son of Henry Peters, Sr.)

Anderson County Deed Book B-1   p.10
21 June 1804.  Charles J. Love of Loudon Co., Va. (by his atty.
Benj. Wheeler), to Micajah Cross of Anderson Co., for $500, 209
acres and 20 poles, in Anderson Co., in Walnut Cove, in a sink on
line of John English, dividing line between 5000 acre and three
150 acre surveys, part of grant to Stockley Donelson in 1793, No.
362.  Reg. 4 Jun 1805
Wit.  James Finley                       Charles J. Love by
      John Inglish             his atty  Benjamin Wheeler

Anderson County Deed Book B-1   p.90
10 June 1805.  Micajah Cross of Anderson Co. to Charles
Crabough of Anderson Co., for $650, 150 acres in Anderson Co. in
Powels Valley, on brushy fork of Poplar Creek, corner to Craven
Johnson, west on his line, to stake in John Ashurt's line.  Reg.
23 Aug. 1805
Wit: (none listed)                      Micajah Cross

Anderson County Deed Book B-1   p.101
22 Jun 1804.  Charles J. Love of Loudon Co., Va., by attorney
Benjamin Wheeler, to James Finley of Anderson Co., for $450, 182
acres in Anderson Co. on Big Walnut Cove, beginning in a sink
hole on John English's line, and corner to Micajah Cross' parcel
of land, part of grant to Stockley Donelson in 1793, No. 362.
Wit:  Micajah Cross                       Charles J. Love,
       H. Montgomery     by atty. in fact  Benjamin Wheeler
       Sam. Crawford

Anderson County Deed Book B-1   p.134
10 Sept. 1805. Charles J. Love of (Fairfax), state of
Virginia, to Hugh Montgomery of Anderson Co., for $2000, tract in
Walnut Cove, Anderson Co., part of 5000 acre grant to Stockley
Donelson, containing 2754 acres, excepting out of the 5000 acres,
1500 acres formerly sold to Hugh Montgomery, on which he now
lives, 357 acres sold to John Englis, 209 acres sold to Micajah
Cross, and 182 acres sold to James Fendly, leaving a balance of
2754 acres.  Reg. 22 Feb 1806
Wit:  James Trimble                   Charles J. Love

p.70
1 Sept. 1807  John Underwood, high Sheriff of Anderson Co.,
by writ of 2nd Monday in April, 1802 in County Court of Knox Co.,
was ordered to make $42.91 1/2 judgment, received by Thomas
Englis against Robert Young, from the goods and chattels of
Young.  Tract containing 3863 acres in Knox Co., part of 5000
acres tract granted 10 Sept. 1796 by North Carolina to Robert
Young, on north side of Clinch River in Powels Valley, on a small
creek that pours into the Mountain Fork of Poplar Creek, near the
creek, sold at auction.  Micajah Cross of Anderson Co., bid and
bought for $25.25.  Reg.  12 Mar 1808
Wit:  James McCampbell                    John Underwood
      James Trimble                       Shff. And. Co.

p.86.  8 Jan 1807.  James Finley of Anderson Co. to Thomas Wheeler,
for $800, 182 acres in Anderson Co., Big Walnut Cove, in sink
hole on John Inglish's line, corner of Micajah Cross's parcel,
Cross's line, Inglish's line, part of deed granted to Stockley
Donelson in 1793, No. 362. Reg. 6 Jun 1808.
Wit:  Daniel Martain                        James Finley
      Hugh Montgomery
      John H. Madeson

Anderson County deed book D, pages 329-331,  18 Oct 1817.  Mitchel Childress of Knox Co., to William Cross
of Knox Co., for $500, 114 acres in Anderson Co., on East Fork of
Poplar Creek, conveyed to Mitchell Childress by Squire Hendrex, 5
Jun 1809, Registered in Anderson Co., Book D, p. 58, 59, on line
of 1500 acres survey granted by North Carolina to Col. Stokely
Donelson, with the survey line, to Thomas Jones' corner, with his
line to the beginning.  Reg. 13 Jul 1818.
Wit:  Caleb Low                        Mitchell Childress
      Robert Scarbrough

William Cross Deed, Book D, page 319, 18 Oct 1817

William Cross Deed, Book D, page 330, 18 Oct 1817

Book E-1, page 139, 8 April 1820.  John Tovrey of Anderson Co., to William Cross,
for $50, 20 acres in Anderson Co., on East Fork of Poplar Creek,
below Rueben Goldson's spring, on line of a 1500 acre survey,
with survey line, to a stake on a hill.  Reg. 20 July 1820.
Wit:  P. Oliver                           John Tovrey
      John White
      Bretain Cross

William Cross Deed, book E-1, page 139, 8 April 1820

William Cross Deed, book E-1, page 140, 8 April 1820

William Cross the Revolutionary War drummer boy was my fourth great grandfather. This 50 acre parcel was one of four parcels of land that he owned on District 8 of Anderson County. I'm about 99% sure that all four parcels were adjacent, and I continue to seek evidence to be 100% sure that the parcels were adjacent. The 174 acres were in what is now downtown Oak Ridge and encompassed what is now the well known intersection of Illinois Avenue and Scarbrough Road.

p.153, 13 Feb. 1816.  Nancy Brazel of Anderson Co., to John Cross, for
$150, 85 acres in Anderson Co., Brush fork of East fork of Poplar
Creek, part of grant by North Carolina, patent No. 107, of 3000
acres, and the 85 acres conveyed from Charles McClung to Nancy
Brazel, 18 April 1809.  Reg. 15 Dec. 1820.
Wit:  Abraham Hagler                     Nancy Brazel
      Mathew Hawkins
      Jacob Peek

John Cross was the son of Brittain Cross and Mary (Polly) Parks. Something seems not quite right about either the deed or about my identification of John Cross because the John Cross who was the son of Brittain Cross and Polly Parks was born in 1803. So John would have been 13 years old at the time of this deed. Well, the deed was registered in 1820 when John was 17 years old which makes a little more sense, but not much.

p.176, 17 June 1820.  John Hauskens, Marget Hauskins, George & Jimima
Hauskins, Briton & Mary Cross, Joseph Parks, James & Nancy King;
I, Mary Parks, widow of William Parks, dec'd., relinquish right
of dower freely to John Parks and content myself with a child's
part;  Henry & Elizabeth Eter, of Anderson Co., to John Parks, for
$200 to each of us, all our undivided share of tract in Jefferson
Co., Tenn., on White horse fork of Bent Creek, 332 1/2 acres,
formerly property of William Parks, including a small survey that
John Parks, deseast, bought from Jacob Kirkpatrick and excluding
a small survey that Jacob Kirkpatrick bought of John Parks;  above
the mouth of a certain branch running into the white horn fork of
Bent Creek, along James Roddy's line, on one other entry of said
Roddy's.  Reg. 12 Mar. 1821.
Wit:  Joseph Sincler                 John Hauskins
      William McKamey                Margaret Hauskins
                             George & Jemimah Hauskins
                             Bretain & Mary Cross
                                     Joseph Park
                                     James & Nancy King
                                     Mary (x) Parks
                             Henry & Elizabeth Eter
Polly Cross, Jemima Hoskins, Nancy King, Marget Hoskins, & Mary
Parks were examined before John Gibbs & Michael Clardy, 11 July
1820.  Elizabeth Etter was examined by Joseph Sincler & William
McKamey, 9 Dec 1820.

p.202, 14 Nov 1825 Isaac Low to John, William, and Alfred
Cross for $1500, 400 acres, north side of Clinch
River opposite mouth of Buffalow Creek, beginning
of the Ford of the River, Crabtree's corner, down
the river bank, part of a tract granted to James
Coner 20 Sept 1787, Grant No. 207 Reg 12 Apr 1826.
Wit:  Robert McKamey   Isaac Low
       John Parks

(John, William, and Alfred Cross were brothers, sons of Brittain and Mary (Polly) Parks. I am descended from Alfred Carter Cross, who was a different Alfred Cross.)

p.202.  30 Aug 1830.  Andrew Breeden & Isaac Breden to John Cross,
for $300, 150 acres in Buckhorn Valley, north side of Clinch
River, including the place where Andrew Breden now lives,
beginning at the head of a spring, to a conditional line between
James Breden & Andrew Breden & Isaac Breden, to a sink hole.  Also
4 acres on north side of Clinch River, beginning near a spring,
to the side of a hill, to the head of the clear branch.  Reg. 16
Feb 1831.
Wit:  Robert McKamey                  Andrew Breden
      George Hoskins                  Isaac Breden

Anderson County Deed Book I-1 p.109
30 Aug 1834  John Peters of Anderson County to Jesse Nod of
Anderson County (probably was Jesse Noel, the index is
probably incorrect).

Anderson County Deed Book K-1  pp.52-54 31 Dec 1841
p.52
We Wilbern Peters and John W. Peters
have this day bargained and sold and do hereby
convey to George W. Keith for the sum of $244.00
dollars to us in hand paid and the other consider
ations herein after mentioned a tract of land
in the state of Tennessee Anderson County District
No. 9 containing by Estimation one hundred
and Eighty four acres more or less and being
as follows.  Beginning on a sweat given?
conditional corner between Thomas Peters
and William Scarborough on the North side
of Johnathan Scarboroughs Mill Branch run
ning thence with the meanders of said branch
to a line between Jonathan Scarborough and
Thomas Peters thence with said line crossing
said Mill Branch to an elm on the south
side of said Branch thence North west
counce? 10 Poles to a Sycamore thence North
p.53
22 poles to a Spanish oak thence a North East
course to a dogwood Thomas Peters line thence
with said line to a Black oak pine and white
oak at the old mill Dam thence with Jonat
han Scarboroughs line to a white oak the
beginning of Thomas Peters fifty acre Entry
thence with the line between said Entry and
Jonathan Scarborougs land to a black oak
including the same to a Red oak in Thomas
Peters line.  Corner to a two hundred acre survey
thence 118 poles to six hundred acre survey
thence East with said line 40 Poles to a Post
oak thence a direct line a few feet to a
Black oak and thence with a conditional line
between Thomas Peters and William Scarbor
ough to the Beginning to have and to hold
the same to the said George W. Keith his
heirs and assigns forever we do covenant
with the said George W. Keith that we are
lawfully Surveyed of said land and have a
good right to convey it and that the same is
unincumbered we do further covenant and
bind ourselves and heirs and Representatives
to warrant and forever defend the title to the
Said land and every part thereof to the said
George W. Keith his heirs and assigns against
the lawfull claim of all Persons whatever.
But this Deed is made for the following
uses and trusts and for no other purpose
that is to say we are indebted to one William
B. Smith in the sum of $244.00 Dollars by
Note under seal of this date due on the 21
p.54
Day December 1841 and are desirous to secure
and make certain the payment of this amount
now if we should pay the said debt at that
time aforesaid then this Deed to be void
but if we should not the said George W.
Keeth after giving 50 days notice in writing
at the Court House door of said County and at
the Election grounds of the said 9th Destrict and
three other publick places in the Neighbour
hood may expose the said Land to publick
Sale and sell it to the highest bidder for cash
and appropriate the proceeds to the
payment of the necessary expences and costs
Secondly to the payment of said debt of $244.00
dollars and thirdly to pay the balance if
any there be to us seigned sealed and acknow
ledged in
Presents of
James Noel                           John W. Peters (seal)
          his
James x Teller                     William Peters (seal)
        mark

State of Tennessee  >
Anderson County     >       Personally appeared before
me William Cross Clerk of the County court of
Anderson County John W. Peters and William
Peters the within named Bargainors with whom
I am personally acquainted and who acknow
ledged that they made and Executed the within
named deed of Trust for the purposes therein
Expressed on the day its Bares? date witnessed
my hand at office in Clinton this thirty
first day of December 1840.
                                         William Cross Clerk

There were (at least) two John W. Peters in Anderson County at the same time. I am not sure which one this one is. I don't recognize Wilburn/William Peters at all. One might suspect that this is the John W. Peters who married Ruby Smith rather than the one who married Catherine Lea, due to the debt that was paid to William B. Smith. Indeed, one might suspect that William B. Smith was Ruby's father, but I cannot find any evidence to support this suspicion.

Anderson County, Tennessee, film #31,
Deed Book K-1, Nov 1837 - Nov 1842, pp. 301-304.

p.301
This indenture made and entered into
this 26th day of January 1842 Between
Joseph H. Bray and Edward P. Bray both
of the County of Anderson and State of
Tennessee and John Ashlock of the
County and State aforesaid of the other
part witnesseth that the said Joseph
H. Bray and Edward P. Bray for and
in consideration of the sum of fifty
Dollars Due and owing from them the
said Brays unto John Cross

p.302
and Richard Andrews of the
County and state aforesaid hath granted
Barganed (sic) and sold and by these presents
doth convey unto the said John Ashlock
the following describe property viz
nine head of hogs of various discriptions (sic)
three head of sheep one bed and furniture
and bedstid (sic) one large Kettle one
pot one Cupboard seven geese and
seven ducks one man's saddle and
saddle blanaket also the Interest of
the said Joseph H. Bray in a
Certain tract of land on which
he now lives five hundred bundles of
fodder one Sorrell mare five head
of Sheep nine geese one mans sadd-
le and blanket one bed and furniture
two Bedstids Eleven head of hogs of
various Kinds never the less the fore
going condition that is to say if the
afore said Joseph H. Bray and
Edward P. Bray doth pay or cause
to be paid unto John Cross and
Richard Andrews the afore said of fifty
Dollars on or before the first day
of July next 1842 and also all
legal costs and charges touching the
primices (sic) then this conveyance to be
concluded and of no effect but in case
of failure to pay the aforesaid sum
of fifty dollars then the aforesaid John
Ashlock his Executors or administrator
is here by authorized and impowered (sic)

p.303
to sell the following describe property
that is to say nine head of hogs of
various description three head of sheep
and bed and furniture and bedstied (sic)
and one large kettle and pot one
cupboard seven head of geese seven
sacks one mans saddle and saddle
blanket also the Interest of the afore
said Joseph H. Bray in a certain
tract or tracts of land on which he
now lives and five hundred bundles
of fodder and one Sorrell mare five
head of sheep nine geese one mans
saddle and saddle blanket one bed
and furniture two bedstids Eleven
head of hogs or so much thereof as
may be necessary there off of agreed
to law to raise the aforesaid sum of
fifty dollars due and owwing as afore
said to gether with all lawful costs
and charges witness our hands and seal
this 26th  January 1842 date first a-
bove written signed sealed and delivered
in presents of something of us Interlined? before assigned.
Attest
          his mark
Joshuaway J. x Bray                          Joseph H. Bray
     her mark
Emilia x Bray                                Edward P. Bray
State of Tennessee  ) personally appear before me
Anderson County     ) William Cross clerk of the County of Anderson
aforesaid the within named Joseph
H. Bray and Edward P. Bray with whom I am
personally acquainted and who acknowledged that
they executed the within deed of Trust

p.304
for the purposes therein Contained
witness my hand at office this 16th
day of March 1842 William Cross Clk
                  By his deputy C. Y. Oliver

Edward Payne Bray was my third great grandfather. Joseph H. Bray was Edward's brother. The witnesses Joshua J. Bray and Emilia Bray were Edward's brother and sister. Emilia married in 1844, but in 1842 she was not yet married and was therefore using her maiden name.

John Cross to whom the Bray brothers owed money was the son of Brittain Cross and Mary (Polly) Parks. John was known as a merchant. The court clerk William Cross was a lawyer, and he was John's brother. I do not know who Richard Andrews was to whom the Brays also owed money.

I do not know what relationship (if any) there might have been between the Bray brothers and John Ashlock to whom they were selling their property. The deputy court clerk Charles Yarbrough Oliver was the son of Douglas Oliver and Mildred (Milly) Carnalle.

Anderson County Deed Book M-1 pp.140-142
26 Mar 1842 Jason Peters of Anderson County to John Key (from estate
of Tobias Peters)

Anderson County Deed Book M-1 pp.142-145
8 Nov 1836  Wesley Peters of Anderson County to John Key
(from estate of Tobias Peters)

Anderson County Deed Book M-1 pp.143-145
2 Sep 1836 James Peters of Morgan County to John Key
(from estate of Tobias Peters).

James Peters was the son of Tobias Peters Sr. With this deed, James was selling his undivided share of his inheritance from Tobias, so this deed is the evidence that James was the son of Tobias.

Anderson County Deed Book M-1 p.145
30 Jul 1834 John Peters and Polly Peters of Anderson County,
and Agnes McCart (nee Peters) of Morgan County to John Key
(from estate of Tobias Peters).

This deed establishes that John Peters, Mary (Polly) Peters, and Agnes Peters were children of Tobias Peters Sr. and Elizabeth Rachel Scarborough. John, Polly, and Agnes were each selling their equal and undivided share of their father's estate. Agnes had already married a McCart whose given name is unknown. Polly married James Madison Cobb on 6 Nov 1834 in Anderson County, shortly after this deed was executed.

Anderson County Deed Book M-1 p.147
Mary Cross legatee of William Cross and also Jessee Cross.

This indenture made and Entered into this 24th day of February
1847 Between Mary Cross of the county of Anderson and State of
Tennessee of the One Part and Jesse Cross of the same county and
state of the other Part, Both Legatees of the real Estate of
William Cross Dc'ed the said Mary Cross Witnesseth that for and
in consideration of twenty dollars to her in hand paid the
Recepit Whereof is hereby acknowledged Hath Bargained and Sell
and Convey unto the said Jesse Cross his heirs and Assigns all
her Rite Title Claim Interest claim and demand in and to a
certain tract or parcel of undivided land supposed to be ten
acres and forty five Pols it being the Real Estate of William
Cross deceased lying & Being in the county of Anderson and state
of Tennessee in district No 8th Beginning for the same Of two
white oaks and Chestnut Running thence South 5 w 70 poles to two
White Oaks on the North East line of a fifteen hundred acre
Survey granted by the state of North Carolina to Stokely Donelson
line thence North the line of said Survey 50 e 310 poles to Two
Hickerys thence north 45 W 90 poles to Post Oak & pine thence
South 40 W To Thomas Jones corner on a post Oak thence with
Thomas Jones line to the Beginning. also one other Tract
containing Twenty acres Equal Share supposed to be one acre &
three fourths Beginning on a poplar between Reuben Goldson spring
Running North 25 west 44 Pols to two Beeches on a line of fifteen
hundred acre Survey thence with line of said survey North 50 East
74 poles to two post Oaks on Said line thence South 115 East 44
poles to a stake on a hill thence South 50 West 74 poles to the
Beginning.  Also, one other Tract of land being and lying in the
county of Anderson civil district No 8th beginning on two post
Oaks on Michael Childress old line and Stephan Rileys corner
thence with the same North 50 East 126 poles to two Hickerys
Rileys Corner to another Survey thence South 40 East 26 poles to
a hickery and two Black Oaks on the side of the pine Ridge thence
With the same and Natural Bondery (sic) South 50 West 126 poles to a
stake thence North 40 West 26 poles to the Beginning.  Also One
other Tract containing 20 Acres my undivided Share Supposed to be
one and three quarter acres be the same more or less Beginning on
Michael Childress line thence North 50 East 60 poles to two
hickeys on Said line South 40 East 53 1/2 poles to stake South 50
West 60 poles to a Stake North 40 West 53 1/2 poles to the
Beginning to have and (sic) to hold the same to the same
Jesse Cross his heirs and assigns for ever I do further covenant
and bind my Self my heirs and any Representatives to warrant and
for Ever defend the Title to the Said above described land also
Every part there of to the Said Jesse Cross his heirs and assigns
against the Lawful Claims of all persons Whatsover this 24th day
of February 1847 Executed and delivered in the presents of us.
J.G. Whitson                               her
William Cross                         Mary  x  Cross
                                          mark

State of Tennessee ) Personally appeared before me
Anderson County    ) John Key clerk of the county
Court for the county of Anderson aforesaid Mary the within named
Bargainer with whom I am personally acquainted who Acknowledged
that she Executed the Within deed of conveyance for the purchases
therein contained Given under my hand at office this 24th day of
February 1847.

My fourth great grandfather William Cross the Revolutionary War drummer boy paid taxes on 174 acres in Dist. 8 of Anderson County prior to his death in 1844. William's 174 acres were acquired as a deed for 114 acres, a deed for 20 acres, a land grant for 20 acres, and a second land grant for 20 acres. It's difficult to know for sure, but the four parcels appear to have been located either adjacent to each other very close to each other.

Mary Cross was selling a portion of four different parcels of land to Jesse Cross. Both Mary and Jesse were described as legatees of William Cross. The metes and bounds descriptions of the four parcels of land in this deed match the metes and bounds descriptions from William's two deeds and two land grants. Therefore, Mary was selling her inherited share of William's land to Jesse Cross.

Mary was conveying her undivided share of each of the four parcels of land to Jesse. If you do the arithmetic, you will discover that one of the undivided shares being conveyed by Mary was approximately 1/11 of 114 acres and that the other three undivided shares being conveyed by Mary were each approximately 1/11 of 20 acres. This information is totally consistent with William's known land holdings in Dist. 8, and it indicates that there were 11 heirs to William's land at the time of his death.

As a legatee of William Cross, Jesse Cross was almost certainly William's son.

As a legatee of William Cross, Mary's relationship to William seems less clear. The most obvious possibility is that she was William's daughter. However, she had at least two and probably three children whose surname was Cross. She was listed in censuses from 1850 through 1870 with her children and no husband. That leaves several possibilities for the father of her children:

She was William's daughter so that her own surname was Cross, and in addition she married and was the widow of a man whose surname was Cross.
She was William's widowed daughter-in-law.
She was William's daughter so that her own surname was Cross, and in addition the children were born out of wedlock and her children used the Cross surname rather than their father's surname.
She was William's widowed wife. In this case, she was much younger than William and was William's second wife.

In all four cases, Mary's children were William's descendants, either grandchildren or children.

Anderson County Deed Book R-1 p. 55
11 Oct 1855 Elijah Peters  of Fannin County, Texas grants
Thomas Cobb power of attorney to sell his land in
Anderson County (from the estate of Tobias Peters).

Anderson County Deed Book R-1 p.162
12 Oct 1856 Elijah, son of Tobias, of Fannin County,
Texas to John Key (from estate of Tobias Peters).

Anderson County Deed Book R-1 p.345
14 Jan 1840  Tobias Peters and wife Louisa of Anderson County
to John Key (from estate of Tobias Peters)

Anderson County Deed Book R-1 p.346
3 Mar 1855  Rebecca Clardy (nee Peters) of Anderson County to John Key
(from estate of Tobias Peters)

Anderson County Deed Book R-1 p.398
1 Jun 1839 Silas Peters and Anna of Lafayette County,
Missouri to John Key (from estate of Tobias Peters)

Anderson County Deed Book R-1 p.399
12 Oct 1856  Elijah Peters of Fannin County, Texas
to John Key (from estate of Tobias Peters)

Anderson County Deed Book R-1 p.464
8 Jan 1858 John Peters of Anderson County, Agnes McCart
of Morgan County, and Polly Peters of Anderson County to
John Key (from estate of Tobias Peters)

    (One of these various deeds, not sure from my notes which
    one, makes a reference to "John Peters and Mark Peteres (sic)
    undivided parts of said above mentioned land.  I need to look
    at the deeds again and figure out which one, and see if I
    can figure out who Mark Peters is.)

Anderson County Deed Book S-1 p.582-583
12 Dec 1863 Urany Peters (nee Unary P. Bonham) to Henry Holloway

Anderson County Deed Book Z-1  pp.116-118
20 Dec 1872 Susanah Peters from M.W. Yarnel et. at. including Chesley
Scarbrough.  Susanah Peters is Susanah Yarnel
who married William F. Peters.  William F. Peters was born
about 1821.  He was probably a grandson of either Tobias
Peters Sr. or Henry Peters Sr.  I suspect William was a son
of Thomas Peters and a grandson of Henry Peters Sr.

Anderson County Deed Book B-2 pp.142-143
12 Feb 1875  Chesley Scarbrough from C.M. Smith and wife Elizabeth
170 acres in Bear Creek Valley.  Chesley's heirs sold the land in
March 1900, shortly after his death in December 1899.  Wit.  J.W.
Scarbrough, H. Holloway, and Francis Kirby as to E.Smith.

Anderson County Deed Book C-2, pp.309-310
Know all men by these presents
That Elijah Cross, Amanda Cross, and John E. Cross
On this 22nd day of Feby A.D. 1881
Of the county of Anderson and state of
Tennessee for an in consideration of the
Benefits to be derived to the grantor by the
Location of the Knoxville and Cincinnati
Southern Rail Road through said County or
In the vicinity of our lands and of one
Dollar to us paid the receipt whereof is hereby
Acknowledged have given, granted, bargained,
and sold and by these presents give, grant,
bargain, and sell to the Knoxville and Cincinnati
Southern Rail Road Company a body Corporate
under the laws of Tennessee their successors
and assigns to the right of Way for said Rail
Way through that certain tract of land
Situated in the Eighth Civil district of Anderson
County, State of Tennessee and adjoining the
Land of John Tadlock and on the north C.W. Peak
on the south P. Jordan on the east Wm.
Goldstein & Garison on the West it being the
Same tract Known as Wm. Cross heirs upon
which A.M. & Mary Cross now reside and
Containing one hundred & seventy acres
more or less with right of access from the
Same to the public road provided said Rail
Way shall be located on said land said
right of way hereby conveyed being one
hundred feet in width also the right and
privilege of quarrying from the aforesaid tract
of land such rock and using of said land for
such ditches Borrow pits Spoil banks and
deposit places for material as may be nec-
essary to the construction of said Railway
the right of way hereby conveyed shall not
exceed one hundred feet in width except
where the necessary slopes for cuts ????? and
or ditches require a greater width in which
case it shall be such width as may be
necessary and such right of way shall extend
through the aforesaid tract of land along
the line of the aforesaid Railway as it
may be finally located and the said
hereby bind them Selves to convey
by specific boundaries the fee of the afore
Said land conveyed by the aforesaid right
of way as soon as the final location of
the Said Rail Way line shall be made
should said company and its assigns
desire Such further Conveyance to have
and to hold the Same to the Said grantor
and their Successors and assigns forever
and We hereby warrant the right and
title to aforesaid easements against all
persons Claiming by through or under us.
Signed sealed acknowledged
and Delivered in the presence of
W.C. Walker           Elijah Cross  (seal)
Wm. McCloy            John E. Cross (seal)

State of Tennessee) Personally appeared before me
Anderson County    ) A.J. Queener clerk of the County
Court of said County within named
bargainer Elijah Cross with whom I am
personally acquainted and who acknowled-
ged that he executed the within instrument
for the purposes therein contained Witness
my hand A.J. Queener clerk of said county
at office this 6th day of September 1881
                        A.J. Queener clerk

State of Tennessee) Personally appeared before me
Anderson County   ) A.J. Queener clerk of the County
court of said county John E. Cross the within
named Bargainer with whom I am
personally acquainted and who acknow-
ledged that he executed the within
instrument for the purposes therein
contained Witness my hand at office this
7th day of September 1881.

Received for Record Sept. 15th, 1881, A.J. Queener clerk

Anderson County Deed Book E-2 p.139
Susanah Peters to James H. Peters.  This was probably
Susanah's son James Harvey Peters who married
Sarah Ellen (Sallie) Messamore.

Anderson County Deed Book G-2 p.566
Sam T. Peters from Henry Clear Jr.  Samuel T. Peters
was the son Tobias Peters Jr. and Martha Marinda Mays.

Anderson County Deed Book G-2 p.592
Sam T. Peters from Adam Black

Anderson County Deed Book H-2 p.185
F.A. Peters from M.T. Ellis
Francis Asbury (Frank) Peters was the son of Henry Peters, Jr.
and Sarah Jane (Jane) Scarbrough.

Anderson County Deed Book H-2 p.410
H.C. Peters from Sarah Norman.  Henry Clark (Clark) Peters was
the son of Henry Peters, Jr. and Jane England.

Anderson County Deed Book K-2 p.535
Sam Peters from Alice Hollingsworth.

Anderson County Deed Book K-3  pp.348-350
A.E. Peters from W.E. Peters et. al.  W.E. Peters of Summit County,
Akron, Ohio.  This was my great grandfather Alva Edward Peters.  W.E.
Peters was W. Elmer Peters, son of Alva's brother Robert.

M-2 p.114 Sam Peters to Alice Hollingsworth.

M-2 p.387 S.T. Peters to Sarah C. Peters.

Anderson County Deed Book N-2 p.387
Sarah C. Peters from S.T. Peters.
This appears to be Sarah C. Rodgers who married a Peters.
I am not sure which Peters she married.  S.T. Peters is
Samuel T. Peters.

S-2  p.72 B.G. Peters et.ux. to Sarah Hughes.

U-2 p.358 Mollie Peters from R.A. Peters of Clinton.

U-2 p.138 R.A. Peters from J.C. Wallace et.ux.

X-2 p.556 J.H. Peters from J.N Messamore et.ux. Dist. 4

D-3 pp.512-513 Hulda A. Peters from S.C. Davidson 18 July 1895

J-3 p.385 5 Nov 1918 between G.W. Conner & wife M.E. Conner
          of Anderson County & Elsie May Peters of Knox County

Anderson County Deed Book K-3 pp.342-343
20 Feb 1920 H.H. Peters, W.D. Peters, Delia Peters to A.E. Peters

This is Henry Hutsell (Hutsell) Peters, Hutsell's brother William Daily (Will) Peters, Will's wife Delia (Weaver) Peters to their brother Alva Edward Peters. Alva was my great grandfather. Hutsell died 25 Mar 1920. The property was the farm that had been purchased by their mother Hulda Asberine Cross in 1895. The four brothers inherited their mother's land, and Alva was buying his brothers' shares. Alva was already living on the farm and had been doing so since Asberine purchased the property in 1895.

Anderson County Deed Book N-3 p. 137 et. al.
Mollie Peters et. al.  Mollie is Mollie Cole, sister of Sallie Cole,
husband of Alva's brother Robert.  Also mentioned is Mollie's son
W. Elmer Peters and Mollie's daughter Recie (Peters) Jones.

Anderson County Deed Book T-3 p.297 8 Feb 1928
W.J. Letsinger & wife Fannie of Knox County to E.L. Peters
and wife Lola Ethel Peters 90 acres.

Lester Peters and Lola Williamson were my grandparents. William Johnson Letsinger and Elizabeth Frances (Fannie) Meade were the parents of Samuel Mabry (Sam) Letsinger who married Lester's sister Elza Peters (see next entry). Uncle Sam and Aunt Elzie bought the land adjacent to my grandparents on the exact same day.

Anderson County Deed Book T-3 p.298 8 Feb 1928
W.J. Letsinger & wife Fannie to S.M. Letsinger &
Elza Letsinger 75 acres on one parcel plus 10 acres
on another.

26 Nov 1894
J.L. Pyatt and Sabra A. Pyatt, L.W. Brooks and
wife Hiley Brooks to Columbus Giles

Vol. O2, pp.9-11

J.L. Pyatt et. al. |
      To          |  This Indenture made this 26 day
Columbus Giles    |  of November A.D. 1894 Between J.
------------------|  L. Pyatt  Sabra A. Pyatt  L.W.
Brooks and wife Hiley Brooks of Anderson Co.
in the State of Tenn of the fist part and
Columbus Giles of the same place of the second part.
   Witnesseth that said party of the first
part for an in consideration of the sum of
seventy five Dollars to them in hand paid by
the said party of the second part the receipt
of which is hereby acknowledged have granted
bargained sold and conveyed and do hereby
grant bargain sell and convey unto the said
party of the second part the following described
premises to wit, Situated in District no. 8 of
Anderson County, Tennessee a certain piece or tract of
land bounded and described as follows.
  Beginning on a rock the Southwest corner of
J.B. Tadlock's farm, runs then South 50 West
20 poles to a stake, then South 40 East 29 poles
to George Hooks (now C. Giles) line, then with
said line a north course to a stake, then
north 40 west 26 1/2 to the beginning and
being a portion of the farm purchased by
J.L. Pyatt at chancery sale of land in said
county in the case of Eligah Cross against
Joseph Cross et. al. and which piece of land
was contracted to the said L. W. Brooks by the
said J.L. Pyatt, but said deed never was ac-
knowledged and is now destroyed and the
said J.L. Pyatt joins in this deed instead of
making deed direct to the said L.W. Brooks and
containing three and one half acres more or less,
with the hereditaments and appurtenances thereto
appertaining, hereby releasing all claims to
homestead and dower therein.  To have and
to hold the said premises to the said party
of the second part his heirs and assigns forever.
  And the said parties of the first part for
them selves and for their heirs Executors and
Administrators do hereby covenant with the
said party of the second part, his heirs, and
assigns that they are lawfully Seized in
fee simple of the premises above conveyed
and have full power authority and right to
convey the same that said premises are
free from all encumbrances and that they
will forever warrant and defend the said
premises and title thereto against the
lawful claims of all persons whomsoever.
  In Witness Whereof the said parties of the
first part have hereunto set their hand
seal the day and year first above written,
Signed Sealed and delivered in presences of
Jos. R. ????                    J. L. Pyatt
S.W. Leath                    Sabra A. Pyatt
                                L.W. Brooks
                              Hiley Brooks

This is the land purchased at auction by Joseph L. Pyatt as the result of the 1888 Cross family law suit. Sabra A. Pyatt was Sabra Ann Scarbrough, d/o Priestly King Scarbrough and Nancy Temple Smith.

This Indenture Made and entered into the ?
of February in the year of our Lord one ?
eight hundred Seventy Two By and Between ?
Smith and his wife Elizabeth Smith of the County of Anderson and State of ?
of the one part and C.J. Scarbrough of the ?
and State aforesaid of the other part ?
for and in consideration of the Sum ?
hundred and fifty dollars to him ?
the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged ?
and by these presents doth grant, bargain,
and convey unto the said C.J. Scarbrough ?
hers and assigns forever a certain tract
of land situate and lying in Bear ?
Valley containing one hundred and seventy acres
more or less and bounded as follows. ?
on a stake known as Mattons ?
Corner thence 41 E 100 poles to ?
oak on the side of the ridge thence ?
the ? line 120 poles to ?
thence north  48 1/2 W to a stake and ?
George W. Johnson's beginning corner ?
31 E with the Branch 30 poles to a
white oak Painters? thence N
chestnut, hickory, and black oak) ?
line thence north 15 west with ?
line to a small hickory thence north ?
???????

(Chesley Scarbrough buys his 170 acres)

pp.46-47

State of Tennessee)  To the worshipful
Anderson County   )  County Court of Anderson
County now in session  --  We, Saml. C.
Young & Rebecca Clardy executor and
executrix to the last will and testament of
Michael Clardy Deceased hereby
make the following report (Viz.) We,
according to the will, sold one part of the
land and paid the following debts.
To Milton Tate                 $60.00
To James Hall                   15.00
To Rebeca Hall                  12.05
To Saml. C. Young                9.75
Paid Riley Goans               131.75
   for coffin                    4.00
To paid W.W. Walker              1.00
  again paid Milton Tate        12,50

sworn in open court.
John Key Clerk )               Rebecca Cardy
               )             & Saml. C. Young
               )            Executor & Executrix

Anderson County, Tennessee: Joseph Cross, Book A-1, page 113, 1 Jul 1803

Anderson County, Tennessee: William Cross Deed, book E-1, page 139, 8 April 1820

Anderson County, Tennessee: William Cross Deed, book E-1, page 140, 8 April 1820

This page last edited on 24 Jul 2021.