1880 Census, Knox County, Tennessee

George W. Peters age 40 was the son of Nathaniel Peters and Mary Elizabeth Sharp.  This line of Peters moved to East Tennessee from North Carolina, and there is no known connection between them and my Peters family in Anderson County, Tennessee.

I have not been able to identify Saffronia age 40, nor do I know when and where George and Saffronia were married.

Nancy Isabella Crawford age 48 was the widow of Sampson David Cole who had died in 1874.  Thomas Lamar Cole age 13 was the father of Thomas Clyde (Clyde) Cole.  Clyde Cole married Ella Mae Peters.  I remember them as Uncle Clyde and Aunt Ella.

Ella Mae Peters was the daughter of my great grandparents Alva Edward Peters and Sallie Jane Cole.  As such, Aunt Ella was the sister of my grandfather Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr.

There is no known connection between Sallie Jane Cole and the family of Clyde Cole.

Rebecca Almeda Cole age 21 and John F Cole age 20 were the children of Sampson David Cole and his second wife Martha Jane Crawford.  The remaining children were the children of Sampson David Cole and his aforementioned third wife Nancy Isabella Crawford.  One might suspect that the two Crawford women were sisters, but I have not researched the Crawford family to verify one way or the other.

Mary Jane Peters age 56 was the daughter of my fourth great grandparents Henry Peters Jr. and Jane England.  As such, she was the sister of my third great grandfather John W. Peters.

At the time of the 1880 census, Mary Jane was a two time widow.  She married first William England who died in the Civil War.  She married second John Jackson Letsinger.  I don't have John's exact date of death, but it was before 1880.

William England was the son of my fourth great grandparents Titus England and Elizabeth.  As such, William was the brother of my third great grandfather John England.

Robert Letsinger age 8 was Mary Jane's son with John Jackson Letsinger.  Samuel Letsinger age 23 and James W. Letsinger age 19 were John Jackson Letsinger's children with his second wife Isabella C. Jones.  Louise Elizabeth England age 28 was the daughter of Mary Jane Peters and William England. Louise Elizabeth England married John Marion Crass age 30.  Mellie age 10, Mollie age 5, William age 3, and Martha age 1/12 were their children.

John Jackson Letsinger was the brother of Danial (Dan) Letsinger.  Dan was the great grandfather of Samuel Mabry (Sam) Letsinger who married Elza Cordelia (Elzie) Peters.  Aunt Elzie was the sister of my grandfather Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr.

Vesta Clay England age 37 was my second great grandmother  In 1880, Vesta was the widow of my second great grandfather William Cole.  Vesta's age at this point was really 41.

Vesta was the daughter of my third great grandparents John England and Jane (Jennie) Peters.

Cordie R. age 11 was Cordelia Rene (Cordie) Cole.  Her twin Ida Rhoda Cole was living in Anderson County with one of Vesta's aunts at this point.

Mary C. age 7 was known to family members as Mollie.  Mollie's middle name was Caroline.  This census entry is the only known record where her name was listed as Mary rather than as Mollie.  Mollie was a common nickname for Mary in 1880, but I do not believe her name was Mary.  I believe that her name was just Mollie.

The fourth daughter Sallie Jane (my great grandmother) was living in Anderson County with another of Vesta's aunts at this point.

William Cole had died between 1873 and 1880, although I have not found a record of his death or burial.  He is said to have been buried at the Ebenezer Cemetery in west Knox County.  I have not been able to verify this possibility.  However, the 10th civil district was in west Knox County, including the Concord community.  This is the same general area as the Ebenezer Cemetery.

The fact that Vesta was living with only two of her daughters and that the other two were living with family in Anderson County suggests that as a widow she was living in considerable financial distress.  It seems unlikely that she would have had a source of income, and it is not clear how she and her daughters would have managed to live.

I think Vesta was living in the Loveville community in 1880.  p.387b of the census doesn't say "Loveville", exactly.  However, p.387a says "Concord" at the top of the page, and it says "Here ends the Village of Concord" at the bottom of the page.  p.388d says Loveville at the top of the page, and it says "Here ends the Village of Loveville" at the bottom of the page.  So I think Vesta must have been living in the Loveville community.  I may be misinterpreting what the census pages are saying because Loveville may have been only p.388d itself.  So Vesta may have been living neither in the "Village of Concord" nor in the "Village of Loveville", but rather "out in the county" near both Concord and Loveville.  In any case District 10 was in the west end of Knox County including a portion of Kingston Pike.

Susan H. Peters age 41 was the daughter of my fourth great grandparents Henry Peters Jr. and Jane England.

Gabriel Winston Holder age 41 was the son of John W. Holder Jr. and Nancy Sumners Howard.  Susan and Gabriel were married on 4 Nov 1860 in Anderson County, Tennessee.

I believe that Henry Peters Jr. and Jane England were both born in Virginia, but this census entry suggests that both of them were born in Tennessee.

Capt. John H. Cross age 36 was the son of William Cross and Jane (Jennie) Black, both of Anderson County, Tennessee.  Ann Augusta (Annie) Pate age 36 was the daughter of John Frank Pate and Margaret Marley.  John H. Cross and Ann Augusta Pate were married 28 May 1868 in Knox County, Tennessee.  I wonder why they have only one child, and a child who was not born until about 1877 at that.

John H. Cross's father William Cross was a lawyer.  I tend to call him William the lawyer to distinguish him from my fourth great grandfather William Cross the Revolutionary War drummer boy whom I call William the drummer.  William the lawyer was the son of Brittain Cross and Mary (Polly) Parks.  There is intense speculation and intense research as to how Brittain Cross might have been related to William the drummer.  Many researchers believe that Brittain was the son of William the drummer, but I believe that there are strong contrary indications that suggest that Brittain was not the son of of William the drummer.  My best guess is that Brittain Cross was the son of a Henry Cross, and that Henry and of William the drummer were first cousins.

Arminta Dorma Peters was the daughter of my fourth great grandparents Thomas Peters and Sarah (Sallie) England.  As such, Arminta was the sister of my third great grandmother Zipporah Peters, and also Arminta was the sister of my third great grandmother Jane (Jennie) Peters.

Arminta was probably born in Anderson County, Tennessee.  Many of my Anderson County families ended up in Dist. 10 of Knox County (the Concord community).  In 1880, Arminta was the widow of Thomas L. Seaton.  I don't know when Thomas L. Seaton died, but the census suggests that it was between 1871 and 1880.

Newton J. Peters was the son of Landon C. Peters and Amie Bennett.  This line was from Carter County, Tennessee and I am not aware of any connection to my Peters lines in Anderson County, Tennessee.

Elizabeth J. Walker was the daughter of William Walker and Margaret R. Seaton.  Elizabeth J. Walker married Newton J. Peters on 13 Mar 1872 in Knox County, Tennessee.  The four children were from Newton's first marriage to Margaret Ann Lane.  Margaret was enumerated in the 1870 census, so she must have died between 1870 and 1872.

William Phelps Coleman age 5 married Olah Bryan Mynatt.  Olah Bryan Mynatt was the daughter of Martha Cordelia (Delia) Bryan and Frederick Alonzo (Fred) Mynatt, and the granddaughter of my third great grandparents Peter Hubbard Bryan and Mary Ann (Polly Ann) Cate.  As such, Olah Bryan Mynatt was the niece of my second great grandfather William Allen (Will) Bryan.

William Phelps Coleman was the son of William M. Coleman age 32 and Mary J. Raughthuff age 27.

Sarah J. Minge age 19 married Phillip Hancher Wells on 20 Jun 1886 in Knox County, Tennessee.  Sarah died on 16 Sep 1889, and Phillip married second Ida Rhoda Cole.  Aunt Ida was the daughter of my second great grandparents William (Will) Cole and Vesta Clay (Vestie) England.  As such, Aunt Ida was the sister of my great grandmother Sallie Jane Cole.

Sarah was the daughter of Elkanah H. Minge age 38 and Elkanah's first wife Holly A. Harmon.  Elkanah's third wife was Margaret J. Childress age 35.  Elkanah and Margaret were married on 29 May 1878 in Knox County.

Saline Adeline (Adeline) Huffaker age 49 was the daughter of Henry Huffaker age 75 and Mary P. French age 72.  In 1880, Saline Adeline (Adeline) Huffaker was the widow of Thomas C. Bryan Jr.

Thomas C. Bryan Jr. was the son of my fourth great grandparents Thomas C. Bryan Sr. and Mary Ann (Polly Ann) Cate.  As such, Thomas C. Bryan Jr. was the brother of my third great grandfather Peter H. Bryan.

William F. Bryan age 17 and Charles T. Bryan age 15 were the the sons of Thomas C. Bryan Jr. and Saline Adeline (Adeline) Huffaker.

Thomas C. Bryan Jr. died in 1864 according to the family bible of his brother Robert Reedy Bryan.  William F. Bryan and Charles T. Bryan were mentioned in the will of Thomas C. Bryan Sr. in 1867, although not by name.  They were referred to as the "the two heirs of T. C. Bryan Deceased".

Because William F. Bryan and Charles T. Bryan were mentioned in the will of Thomas C. Bryan Sr. but not by name, they have been a bit of a mystery.  The mystery was solved by the discovery of a 1916 Hamblen County death certificate for W. F. Bryan, son of Thomas Bryan and unknown.  It is unfortunate that the death certificate did not also list William F. Bryan's mother.  But the name of his father plus his own name from the death certificate plus this 1880 census entry are sufficient to establish William's parents.

Frederick Alonzo (Fred) Mynatt age 26 was the son of Dotson Preston Mynatt age 66 and V. Lucinda Corum age 63.  Martha Cordelia (Delia) Bryan age 25 was the wife of Fred Mynatt and the daughter-in-law rather than the daughter of D. P. and Lucinda Mynatt.

Delia Bryan was the daughter of my third great grandparents Peter H. Bryan and Mary Ann (Polly Ann) Cate.  As such, Delia was the sister of my second great grandfather William Allen (Will) Bryan.

Delia Bryan and Fred Mynatt were married 23 Oct 1873 in Sevier County, Tennessee.  Ola age 5 was Olah Bryan Mynatt.

Cordelia A. (Delia) Weaver age 10 married William Daily (Will) Peters on 23 Nov 1890 in Knox County, Tennessee.  Will Peters was the brother of my great grandfather Alva Edward Peters.  Members of my family who are still living and who remember Will and Delia refer to them Uncle Will and Aunt Delia.

Mary Effie (Effie) Oakes age 5 was the daughter of William H. Oakes and Myra Ellen Weaver.  Myra was Delia's sister.  Myra died between 1874 and 1880.  Effie was living with Will and Delia Peters in the 1900 census.

Mary J. Cross age 37 was the daughter of my third great grandparents Alfred Carter Cross and Zipporah Peters.  As such, Mary was the sister of my second great grandmother Hulda Asberine Cross.  Mary married James Grills on 26 Aug 1866 in Knox County, Tennessee.

Adda Jane (Addie) England age 3 was the daughter of James William (William or Wilburn or Bill) England and Fannie Lea.  In 1880, Addie was living with her grandparents rather than her parents.  That is, Fannie was the daughter of James Crawford Lea age 54 and Rebecca Adaline Starky age 53.  Addie died in 1948, and her parents have been confirmed from her death certificate.

It seems that Addie's surname in 1880 should have been listed as England rather than Lea (or Lee), but otherwise this census entry along with the 1870 census entry for the same family seem to confirm that the Fannie Lea who was That is, in the 1870 census entry for the family, Fannie Lea age 10 was listed as the daughter of James Crofford (Crofford) Lea and Rebecca Adaline Starky.

Bill England was the son of my third great grandparents John England and Jane (Jenny) Peters.  As such, Bill was the brother of my second great grandmother Vesta Clay England.

Bill England married first Fannie Lea on 14 Jul 1875 in Anderson County, and he married second Margaret Jones on 17 Aug 1878 in Morgan County.  I believe that Fannie died in 1877 after her daughter Addie was born (perhaps during childbirth, although this is not proven), and that Bill England remarried the next year.  Addie England then appears to have been raised by her grandparents rather than by her father and stepmother.

A fly in the ointment of this theory is that a Fanny Lee married B. B. Owens on 17 Jun 1890 in Knox County.  Some researchers show this Fanny Lee as the daughter of James Crofford Lea and Rebecca Adaline Starky.  I can't find any other records for B. B. Owens and his Fanny Lee.  But it seems unlikely to me that the Fanny Lee who married B. B. Owens was the same Fannie Lea who married Bill England.

Martha M. Key age 53 married first Warren J. Hyden, married second William Cole, and married third Joseph Yarnell.  Victoria and Maggie Hyden were Martha's children with Warren J. Hyden.  The other children in the family were the children of Joseph Yarnell and his first wife Almira (Mira or Mary) Beats.

My interest in Martha M. Key is her marriage to William Cole.  I think there's a good chance that the William Cole to whom she was married was related to my second great grandfather William Cole.  To be specific, I believe that my William Cole and the William Cole who married Martha M. Key were first cousins.

Michael Cate Jr. age 42 was the son of Joseph Cate and Sarah (Sally) Bailey.  Many records list his name as Jr as a way to distinguish him from his uncle, Michael Cate.

Joseph Cate was the son of John Cate Jr. and Mary Ann Koontz.  As such, Joseph was the nephew of my fourth great grandfather Joshua Cate.

Michael Cate Jr. married first Ruth Lemira Langford, daughter of Rev. James Langford and Ruth Gambol/Gamble.  Ruth Langford's sister Rebecca Adaline Langford married Robert Reedy Bryan, and there are many Langford records in the family bible of Robert Reedy Bryan.  Included in the bible is a record of the marriage of Michael Cate Jr. and Ruth Lemira Langford.  Robert Reedy Bryan was the brother of my third great grandfather Peter H. Bryan.

Michael Cate Jr. married second Jane Henry age 39, daughter of Albert Henry and Nancy Routh.

Isaac Cate was the son of Joshua Cate and Elizabeth (Betsey) Tankersley.  His wife was Susan Ann Doane.  Alvin Powell Cate was born in 1875.  It is not clear why his age does not show up.  Isaac was the grandson of James T. Cate and Elizabeth Lindsey, and the great grandson of my fifth great grandparents John Cate Sr. and Mary.

Thomas P. Bray age 40 was the son of Joshua J. Bray and Anne M. (Annie) Hall.  As such, Thomas was the grandson of my fourth great grandparents John Bray and Jane, and the nephew of my third great grandfather Edward Payne Bray.  It seems extremely likely that Thomas was 35 or 36 years old in 1880 rather than 40 years old.

Mary Cloninger age 29 was the daughter of Daniel Cloninger and Mary Ann (Polly) Wilson.  Mary Cloninger was Thomas's first wife, and she died shortly after the census.  Thomas married Melinda Pratt on 19 May 1881.

Malinda Pratt age 16 married Thomas P. Bray in 1881.  Thomas was the son of Joshua J. Bray and Anne M. (Annie) Hall.  As such, Thomas was the grandson of my fourth great grandparents John Bray and Jane, and the nephew of my third great grandfather Edward Payne Bray.

Malinda was the daughter of Calvin Pratt and Elizabeth Reed age 47.