1830 Census, Sevier County, Tennessee

Richard Catlett was the son of my fifth great grandfather Reuben Catlett.  As such, Richard was the brother of my fourth great grandfather Benjamin Catlett.  I do not know the names of Richard's wife and children.  Richard died in 1837, and I haven't been able to identify his wife and children in any census after 1830.

John Catlett was the son of my fifth great grandfather Reuben Catlett.  As such, John was the brother of my fourth great grandfather Benjamin Catlett.

I do not know John's wife's surname.  There is some guesswork in assigning Jane Catlett to John, but Jane was born in 1822 and seems to fit best as John's daughter.

Benjamin Catlett was the son of Reuben Catlett.  I believe that Benjamin was my fourth great grandfather.

Sarah F. (Sally) Nichols was my third great grandmother.  She had three children with a Catlett man.  But there was a Nichols-Catlett feud, there was a Nichols-Catlett lawsuit, Sally and her children kept the Nichols surname, and a courthouse fire destroyed all the records.

Circumstantial evidence suggests very strongly that the father of Sally's children was a son of Benjamin Catlett.  Of Benjamin's sons, James P. Catlett seems most likely to have been the father of Sally's children.  There are two pieces of evidence supporting the suggestion that it was James P. Catlett rather than one of his brothers who was the father of Sally's children.

One piece of evidence is the death certificate of John H. Nichols, which lists his parents as James C. Nichols and Sarah F. Nichols.  There was no James C. Nichols, and the reference to James C. Nichols was probably a reference to James Catlett Nichols who was really James Catlett.

The other piece of evidence is a Sevier County warrant sworn out on 2 Aug 1851 by Sarah Nichols against James P. Catlett.  1851 was shortly after Sally Nichols and her Catlett man were broken up by the Nichols-Catlett feud.  That is, Sally's youngest child was born in 1849, and in the 1850 census Sally and her three children were living with her parents and using the surname Nichols.  I do not yet know why the record of the 1851 warrant was not destroyed in the 1856 courthouse fire.

Benjamin Catlett died in 1834, so this is the last census in which he appeared.

Benjamin Catlett's wife was Nancy Loveday.  I do not know who her parents were.

Edward Nichols was the son of Flayl Nichols and Nancy Ann Hatcher.  As such, he was the nephew of my fifth great grandfather John James Nichols Jr.

I do not know who this John Nichols was.  He was too young to have been my fifth great grandfather John James Nichols Jr., and John James Nichols Jr. died 1808/1809 anyway.  He was too old to have been my fourth great grandfather John J. Nichols III, who was born about 1784.  In addition, John III's wife Margaret Scantling was born about 1800.  He was too old to have been John Jesse Nichols (son of Flayl) who was born in 1789.  So I don't know who he was.

Jesse Langston was the son of my fourth great grandparents Zorabable Langston and Frances (Fannie) Martin.  As such, he was the brother of my third great grandmother Martha Langston who married William Ramey Underwood.

I believe this was Rev. Elijah Cate, son of my fifth great grandparents John Cate Sr. and Mary (the John Cate Sr.).  As such, Elijah was the brother of my fourth great grandfather Joshua Cate.

Elijah's wife was Susannah Underwood, daughter of my fifth great grandparents John Underwood and Mary Kirby.  As such, Susannah was the sister of my fourth great grandmother Nancy Underwood who married her first cousin Enoch Underwood.

Lewis Reneau was the son of Thomas Means Reneau and Jane Ramsey.  As such, Lewis was the nephew of my sixth great grandfather John David Reno.

Benjamin Underwood was the son of George Underwood and Sarah (Sally) Lewis.  As such, Benjamin was the nephew of my fifth great grandfather John Underwood and also the nephew of my fifth great grandfather Thomas Underwood.  Which is to say that George, John, and Thomas were brothers, and I am descended from both John and Thomas.

Sarah F. (Sally) Nichols age 05-09 was my third great grandmother.  She was the daughter of John J. Nichols III age 40-49 and Margaret (Peggy) Scantling age 30-39.

John J. Nichols III was the son of John James Nichols Jr. and Sarah.

Peggy Scantling's parents are not known and almost surely will never be known.  She was found orphaned by Judge Scantling, and was raised in Judge Scantling's household.  Peggy's parents were killed by Black Tongue, a disease which also killed numerous deer about 1800.  There are conflicting stories about whether Margaret was found out in the woods by Indians, or was found out in the woods by Judge Scantling himself.  But in either case, Margaret's parents are not known.

Robert Nichols was the son of Flayl Nichols and Nancy Ann Hatcher.  As such, he was the nephew of my fifth great grandfather John James Nichols Jr.  I have no record of a marriage for Robert Nichols, but this census entry suggests that perhaps he did marry and have children.

William Pinckney Nichols was the son of Flayl Nichols and Nancy Ann Hatcher.  As such, he was the nephew of my fifth great grandfather John James Nichols Jr.

James Langston was the son of my fourth great grandparents Zorabable Langston and Frances (Fanny) Martin.  As such, he was the brother of my third great grandmother Martha Langston who married William Ramey Underwood.

John Jesse Nichols was the son of Flayl Nichols and Nancy Ann Hatcher.  As such, he was the nephew of my fifth great grandfather John James Nichols Jr.

I believe Jeremiah Harrison was the son of Isaiah Harrison and Mary Reagan.  As such, he was the nephew of my fifth great grandmother Lydia Donnell Harrison.  Isaiah and Lydia were the children of my sixth great grandparents Jeremiah Harrison and Catherine Adams.

I don't know who this John Williamson was.  He seems extremely unlikely to have been connected to my Williamson family.  Mine were in Moore County, North Carolina in 1830.  Later, some of them moved to Roane County, and later to Loudon County, in Tennessee.

I suppose it's possible that this was John Nelson Williamson who married Catherine R. Emmert.  They were married in 1827 in Sevier County.  But Catherine R. Emmert was born in 1812 (a minor discrepancy).  And they didn't have three daughters born between 1826 and 1830.  I suppose those three females didn't all have to be daughters, but it's still puzzling.  Even if this was John Nelson Williamson, I don't know who his parents were.

Samuel Catlett was the son of my fifth great grandparents Reuben Catlett and unknown.  As such, Samuel was the brother of my fourth great grandfather Benjamin Catlett.

The surname of Samuel's wife Hannah is unknown.

Enoch Underwood was the son of Thomas Underwood and Mary Ramey.  Nancy Underwood was the daughter of John Underwood and Mary Kirby.  Enoch and Nancy were first cousins who married, and they were my fourth great grandparents.  William Ramey Underwood was my third great grandfather.

Elisha Porter Cate Sr. was the son of John Cate Jr. and Mary Ann Koontz.  As such, he was the nephew of my fourth great grandfather Joshua Cate.  John Jr. and Joshua were the sons of my fifth great grandparents John Cate Sr. and Mary.  John Cate Sr. was the founder of the Dumplin Baptist Church, and was probably the most genealogically famous Cate in Sevier County or Jefferson County.

Elisha Porter Cate Sr.'s wife Mary Elizabeth Newman was the daughter of Joseph Newman and Catherine (Caty) Cate.  As such, Mary Elizabeth Newman was the niece of my fourth great grandmother Nancy Cate.  Caty and Nancy were daughters of my fifth great grandparents William P. Cate and Mary Enyard.  John Cate Sr. and William P. Cate are suspected of having been related, but no relationship has been proven.  Until and unless such a relationship can be established, it cannot be said that Elisha Porter Cate Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Newman were "cousins who married" (even if distant cousins).  I do believe that John Cate Sr. and William P. Cate were related, but I have had no more luck proving it than anybody else has.

Allen S. Bryan Jr. was the son of Allen S. Bryan Sr. and Elizabeth Hubbard.  As such, he was the nephew of my fifth great grandfather Peter Bryan.

Allen's wife Elizabeth Underwood was the daughter of John Underwood and Elizabeth Manifold.  John Underwood was my fifth great grandfather, but my fifth great grandmother was John Underwood's first wife Mary Kirby.  So Allen Bryan's wife Elizabeth Underwood was the half-sister of my fourth great grandmother Nancy Underwood who married her first cousin Enoch Underwood.

Joshua Cate and Elizabeth (Betsy) Wilhite were my fourth great grandparents.  Joshua was the son of John Cate Sr. and Mary.  Betsy was the daughter of Adam Wilhite and Missey/Patsey Batey.  Betsy was one of three Wilhite sisters who married three Cate brothers.

Mary Ann (Polly Ann) Cate was my third great grandmother who married my third great grandfather Peter H. Bryan.

I do not know who this John Cox was, nor if he was connected to my line of Coxes who go back to my fourth great grandfather Reuben Cox of Wilkes County, North Carolina.  Reuben Cox moved from Wilkes County, North Carolina to Greene County, Tennessee.  Some of his descendents later moved to Jefferson County, Tennessee.  It seems unlikely that this John Cox was related to Reuben.

I do not know who this Mary Pierce was, nor if she was connected to my Pierce family in Greene County, Tennessee.  My third great grandmother Nancy Ann Pierce married Riley Cox in Greene County.  Nancy Ann was the daughter of my fourth great grandparents James E. Pierce and Anny Greene.  In fact, I am not even certain if it was the female age 20-29 or the female age 50-59 who was the head of household for this family.

Ahaz Bryan Sr. was the son of Thomas Bryan Jr.  As such, he was the nephew of my fifth great grandfather Peter Bryan.  Thomas Bryan Jr. and Peter Bryan were both sons of my sixth great grandfather Thomas Bryan Sr.

I don't think Thomas Bryan Jr. ever moved from Virginia to Tennessee, just his son Ahaz.  Of the sons of Thomas Bryan Sr., I think the only two who moved from Virginia to Tennessee were Peter Bryan and Allen S. Bryan Sr.

Ahaz Bryan Sr. was born 29 Jan 1793 in Rockingham County, Virginia.  He died 29 Aug 1852 in Mercer County, Missouri.  He married Mary J. (Polly) Webb about 1815/1817 in Tennessee.  Polly Webb was born 29 March 1797 in Maryland.

I do not know exactly when Ahaz moved from Virginia to Tennessee.  It was probably sometime after his father died in 1800 and sometime before he was married in about 1815/1817.  He moved moved from Tennessee to Missouri between 1840 and 1850.

William Bryan was the son of my fifth great grandparents Peter Bryan and Betty Hubbard.  As such, he was the brother of my fourth great grandfather Thomas C. Bryan Sr.

William moved to McMinn County.  His descendants lived in the lower part of East Tennessee (McMinn County, Bradley County, etc.).  Thomas remained in Sevier County.  His descendants lived in the middle part of East Tennessee (Sevier County, Jefferson County, Knox County, etc.)

Thomas's wife Nancy Cate and William's wife Lucinda (Lucy) Cate were sisters, daughters of William P. Cate and Mary Enyard.  The respective children were double first cousins.

Amanda Keener later married William Enyard Bryan.  William Enyard Bryan was the son of my fourth great grandparents Thomas C. Bryan Sr. and Nancy Cate.  As such, William Enyard Bryan was the brother of my third great grandfather Peter H. Bryan.  William Enyard Bryan was living just a few houses away (see line 18 below).

Thomas C. Bryan Sr. and Nancy Cate were my fourth great grandparents.  Thomas was the son of Peter Bryan and Betty Hubbard.  Nancy was the daughter of William P. Cate and Mary Enyard.

The brothers Thomas C. Bryan Sr. and William Bryan married the sisters Nancy Cate and Lucinda (Lucy) Cate, respectively.  The respective children were double first cousins.

Betty Hubbard is said to have died in 1830.  I believe she was the 70-79 year old woman living with the family.  William P. Cate and Mary Enyard were living in McMinn County in 1830.

Peter H. Bryan was my third great grandfather.  It seems extremely likely that his middle name was Hubbard.  That his, his older brother William Enyard Bryan was named for the Cate grandparents, namely William P. Cate and Mary Enyard.  Therefore, it seems likely that Peter H. Bryan as the second son was similarly named for the Bryan grandparents, namely Peter Bryan and Betty Hubbard.

I don't know who this Alexander England was, nor if he was connected to either of my two England families in Anderson County, Tennessee.

John Underwood was the son of my fifth great grandparents John Underwood and Mary Kirby.  As such, he was the brother of my fourth great grandmother Nancy Underwood who married her first cousin Enoch Underwood.

I don't yet know who this George Underwood was.

Two children of Lynn Cowden married two children of Samuel Catlett.  Jane (Jennie) Cowden married Loftus Henry (Lofty) Catlett.  Wilburn Mayberry Cowden married Mary (Polly) Catlett.

Some researchers show Walker Cowden b. 1813 as the son of Lynn Cowden.  That seems extremely unlikely.  The 1830 ancestors does not show a male who was an appropriate age to have been a Walker Cowden who was Lynn's son.  Even if he was born as late as 1813, that seems too early to have been the son of Lynn Cowden.  The 1830 ancestors suggests that Walker Cowden was born as early as 1810.  I believe Walker Cowden was the brother rather than the son of Lynn Cowden.

Other researchers show Lynn Cowden and Walker Cowden as having been brothers, sons of Thomas Cowden.  This theory is much more in accord with the 1830 ancestors than that Walker was Lynn's son.

Allen Bryan Sr. was the son of my sixth great grandparents Thomas Bryan Sr. and Elizabeth.  As such, he was the brother of my fifth great grandfather Peter Bryan.

I do not know who this Charles George was, nor if he was connected to my George family of Stokes County, North Carolina.

A Charles George married a Susannah Russell about 1827 in Jefferson County, Tennessee.  Even if this is the Charles George who married Susannah Russell, it doesn't help very much in identifying who this Charles George was.

I believe this was Thomas H. Cate, son of John Cate Jr. and Mary Ann Koontz.  If this is correct, then Thomas was the nephew of my fourth great grandfather Joshua Cate.

I do not know who this Henry Cox was, nor if he was connected to my Reuben Cox family of Wilkes County, North Carolina and Greene County, Tennessee.

I do not know who this Nathan Cox was, nor if he was connected to my Reuben Cox family of Wilkes County, North Carolina and Greene County, Tennessee.  However, it seems likely that Nathan was the son or grandson of Henry Cox who was living next door.

James T. Cate was the son of my fifth great grandparents John Cate Sr. and Mary.  As such, James was the brother of my fourth great grandfather Joshua Cate.