Also on 04 October 1787 William Bohannon of Franklin County sold 134 acres on the
branches of Town Creek adjoining Henry Bohannon and Edgecombe Guilliams to James
Young of the same place for 10 pounds. The deed was witnessed by Wm. Mullings,
Daniel Brown and Edgecomb Guilliams. William Bohannon signed the deed with his W
mark. It was recorded on 05 May 1788.1
This second generous conveyance suggests that James Young was a son-in-law of
William Bohannon. When James Young and his wife Anney sold this tract in 1811 it was
worth 100 pounds. On 02 September 1811 James Young and Anney his wife of Franklin
County conveyed 134 acres on branches of Town Creek in Franklin County, adjoining
lands of Henry Bohannon and Edgecomb Guilliams, to William Calloway, James
Steptoe, Christopher Clark, Henry Callaway, John Callaway and George Callaway,
executors of the will of James Callaway, who had previously paid 100 pounds to James
Young and Anney his wife. There were no witnesses shown. James and Anney signed the
deed with their X marks. It was acknowledged by James and Anney Young, who
relinquished her dower right, in Franklin Court on the same day and recorded.2
Henry Bohannon (Bohanan) of Franklin County sold his 110 acres to Edgecombe
Guilliams (Edgecomb Guilliam) for 30 pounds in July 1788. The deed, which was proved
on Monday, 07 July 1788, by Henry and his wife Mary, who did not sign it, shows no
witnesses.3 This land contained an iron ore bank that supplied the Carron Furnace near
Ferrum, Virginia, for many years.4 When Edgecombe Guilliams sold the ore rights on the
land to Swinfield Hill, Walter Bernard, Charles Doughton and William Armstrong for
$333.00 on 31 August 1798, he indicated that he had acquired the land from William and
Henry Bohannon. It was described as being at the head of Town Creek.5
William Bohannon left Franklin County, Virginia, about 1787 or 1788. Because he was
moving, he issued a power of attorney there to Richard Stanley on 05 October 1787
which was witnessed by Wm. Ferguson, Joseph Hale, Henry Bohannon (Bohanan) and
John Hall and recorded on 05 May 1788.6 William again signed with his W mark.
The issuance of a power of attorney to Richard Stanley implies a familial relationship.
Richard Stanley was a son of William and Judith Stanley of Henry County, Virginia,
where the will of William Stanley was dated 17 August 1784. His wife Judith and son
Richard were executors. His heirs were children Mary, John, William, Moses, Richard,
Hannah Roberts, Jesse, Jane Mullins, Judy Buck and Ann Atkins, and grandson William
Stanley. The will was witnessed by John Turner, William Hunter and William Mullins.
Judith Stanley and Richard Stanley were taxed in Franklin County, Virginia, on 16 April
1787.7
Lucy Bohannon married John Mullins on 03 September 1787 in Franklin County,
Virginia.8
William Bohannon may have gone to Kentucky, where William Bohannon (Buckannon)
entered 150 acres on Hickory Nut Branch in Mercer County, which was surveyed for him
on 20 October 1788. He relinquished the land to Edward Armstrong, who obtained title
to it on 08 January 1799.9 This must pertain to either William Bohannon, Sr. or Jr., since
the land was not far from the places where John and Helen Cook Bohannon lived.
Hickory Nut Branch was in the north part of Mercer County which became Anderson
County in 1827. A tributary of the Salt River, it is downstream from Wilson's Station
where John and Helen Cook Bohannon lived from 1779 until 1783, when they moved to
Woodford County, which is across the Kentucky River from Anderson and Mercer
counties.10 John Bohannon also had 150 acres of land, entered, surveyed and granted to
him, on the Salt River in Mercer County, which he conveyed to Joseph Edrington, his
brother-in-law, before 19 July 1797, when Edrington was taxed for it.11
In any event William Bohannon, Sr. settled in Tennessee by 08 April 1790, when he
acquired a North Carolina land grant for 500 acres in Hawkins County on Flat Creek near
House Mountain.12 The area which became Hawkins County, North Carolina, in 1788
adjoined Virginia and lay on both sides of the Holston River.13 Flat Creek and House
Mountain were in the part of Hawkins County which became Knox County, Tennessee.
They are in the northeast part of Knox County, near the lines of Grainger and Jefferson
counties.14 William Bohannon's tract was on Roseberry's Creek, on the north side of the
Holston River.
On 20 March 1794 William Bohannon, of the County of Joseph and Territory South
of Ohio River, bought 100 acres adjoining his old survey line in Knox County from
Joseph Beaird for 10 pounds.15 “Joseph” County probably is a clerical error.
The Knox County land of William Bohannon was adjacent to the land of Widow
Neville,16 who may have been Rachel Martin Neville. John Neville and Rachel Martin
were married in Henry County, Virginia, in 1786 by minister William Lovell, who
officiated at several Bohannon weddings during this period of time.17
Apparently never content to remain long in one place, William Bohannon moved west
from Knox County before 1804 when he appears on the tax list for Jackson County,
Tennessee.18 He disposed of part of his Knox County land in 1801-1803:19
26 March 1801 William Bohanon of Knox County, Tennessee, to Jacob Troutt for
$151 64 acres in Knox County on Roseberrys Creek on the north side of Holston
River being part of 500 acres granted to William Bohanon from the State of
North Carolina by patent No. 64 dated 08 April 1790
Witnessed by his
Thomas Woodward William W Bohanon
Thomas Barnes mark
Henry Bohanon
(Recorded 26 July 1801 Knox County Deed Book G1, pages 15-16)
27 March 1801 William Bohanon of Knox County, Tennessee, to Henry Bohanon
of same for $80 100 acres in Knox County on Roseberrys Creek on the north side
of Holston River being part of a tract of land granted to William Bohanon from
the State of North Carolina by patent No. 64 dated 08 April 1790
Witnessed by his
Thomas Woodward William W Bohanon
his mark
Jacob O Troutt
mark
(Recorded 26 July 1801 Knox County Deed Book G1, pages 14-15)
When William Bohannon died intestate in 1816, he left eighteen heirs, including John
Bohannon of Shelby County, Kentucky, and Abraham Bohannon of Henry County,
Kentucky:20
This indenture made the twenty seventh day of October, in the year 1829,
between John Bohanon of Shelby County and State of Kentucky & Abraham
Bohanon of Henry County and State aforesaid of the first part, and Thomas Barnes of
White County and state of Tennessee of the second part. Witnesseth that the sd. party of
the first part for in consideration of the sum of thirty dollars in hand paid the
receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath given, granted, bargained and sold
and by these presents do give, grant, bargain and sell unto the said party of the
second part all their interest in and to two tracts of land in the sd. County of
White and state of Tennessee the same of which Wm Bohanon deceased - died
seized and possessed (the interest hereby bargained is two eighteenth parts of the
two tracts afsd) and bounded as follows viz. beginning at two dogwoods the N.W.
corner of Nathaniel Taylors entry No. 53 for thirty five acres. Running thence S.
with the same one hundred and nine and a half poles to two hickories on a
conditional line between sd. William Bohanon decd. and Thomas Williams.
Thence N. 36 W. 220 poles to a hickory and two elms at the foot of Cumberland
mountain. Thence N. 55 E. 27 poles to a Mulberry and Spanish Oak. - Thence S.
65 E. 198 poles to the begng -. The other tract begins at Thomas Williams' N.E.
corner to a White Oak in a cornfield, thence N. 60 poles to a hickory and
dogwood at the foot of Cumberland Mountain. - Thence W. across a point of the
mountain 100 poles to a sassafras & dogwood on the side of the mountain.
Thence S. 60 poles down the point of the Mountain to a Poplar and White Oak.
Thence E. to the Begng both of which tracts contain 160 1/2 acres be the same more
or less, to have and to hold the two 18th parts afsd. together with all and singular
the appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining to the sd. Thomas
Barnes, his heirs and assigns forever - and the sd. John Bohanon and Abraham
Bohanon, for themselves, their heirs, Exs. or Adms. the afsd. tract of land and
appurtenances to the sd. Thomas Barnes, his heirs and assigns forever against the
claim or claims of all or every person or persons whatsoever do and will forever
warrant & defend by these presents. - In witness whereof the sd. John Bohanon
and Abraham Bohanon have hereunto (by their attorney) set their hands and
affixed their seals the day and year first above written.
Signed, sealed and acknowledged John Bohanon
in presence of Abraham Bohanon
his
Elijah X Bohanon
mark
his
Lewis X Bohanon
mark (Proved and recorded 15 October 1831)
Elijah Bohannon and Judith Bohannon, with her husband Isaac Welch, sold their 2/18ths
of William Bohannon's land to Thomas Barnes on 15 October 1831. The deed was
recorded 07 August 1832.21 Fourteen heirs of William Bohannon are identified in
another deed:22
This indenture made the 4th day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and thirty six between William Parker, Susannah Bohannan,
Rebecca Bohannan, Holla Bohannan, Lewis Bohannan, Henry Jones, James
Young, John Bohannan, Abraham Bohannan, Solomon Harp, Isaac Welch, Elijah
Bohannan, Thomas Barnes, all of the one part, and James Bohannan of White
County of the other part Witnesses, that for and in consideration of the sum of
(blank) dollars to them in hand, the receipt and payment whereof is thereof is
hereby acknowledged, hath given, granted, bargained, and sold, aliened, conveyed
and confirmed unto the said James Bohannan ... two certain tracts or parcels of
land, situate lying and being in White County and State aforesaid, on the waters
of falling water of Caney Fork of Cumberland River, the first tract was granted by
the State of Tennessee to William Bohannan, Decd. by Grant No. 3339 containing
one hundred and twenty three acres by survey bearing date, the 24th of March, 1809 ...
including where ... William Bohannan lived ... the second tract was granted by the
state aforesaid to the said William Bohannan by Grant No. 7563 containing
thirty-seven and a half acres by survey bearing date 10th of November 1814 ... We
the above named whose names are hereunto assigned as legal heirs or
representatives of the said William Bohannan, Decd, do sell all our right, title and
interest of in and to the above described pieces or tracts of land which belong to
us by heirship according to law ... In witness whereof we hath hereunto set our hands
and seals the day and year above written. his
Signed sealed &c Lewis B Bohannan
Thomas Barnes mark
her
Rebecca X Bohannan
mark
her
Holla X Bohannan
mark
Thomas Barnes
Since the signatures do not include all of the parties of the first part, perhaps Thomas
Barnes signed for the others as their attorney. The boundary descriptions in this deed are
similar to those in the previous one by John and Abraham Bohannon.
Solomon Harp, who married Sarah Bohannon, was born about 1789 in Granville County,
North Carolina. Although Sarah died on 19 August 1842 in Newton County, Arkansas,
she did not participate in the deed with her husband Solomon on 04 April 1836. Solomon
and Sarah had four known children. [E-mail data of Kathleen Malone Burns,
>[email protected]<.] Sarah Bohannon, who was born in 1790, and Solomon Harp
resided in Overton County, Tennessee. Their son Elijah Bohannon Harp was born in
1824 in Tennessee. [E-mail data of Terri Gonderman, >[email protected]<.]
The heir James Young must have been the grantee of the Franklin County deed from
William Bohannon and his wife Anney must have been Anna Bohannon, daughter of
William. James Young of Franklin County, Virginia, applied for a Revolutionary War
pension on 03 September 1832, aged 77 years. He was born in Orange County, Virginia,
on 16 June 1755 and moved to the area of Franklin County, Virginia, when he was 14
years old. His affiants were Moses Green, Sam. H. Woods and George Ferguson.23
Traditionally, the descendants of Henry Jones, who died in Floyd County, Virginia, in
1831, have considered the maiden name of his first wife Franky to be Bohannon, so
Henry Jones, the heir of William Bohannon, must have been a son-in-law. Frances
Bohannon Jones died in 1813 and is buried in the cemetery at Pigg River Primitive
Baptist Church. Henry Jones, who was a son of Robert Jones and Mary Van Meter,
married (2) Cassandra James.24
Previously, in April 1816, Thomas Barnes was named as administrator of the estate of
William Bohannon:25
April 1816
State of Tennessee
White County
By the justices of the county of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County of
White - It being certified to us that William Bohannon, late of said county is
deceased and hath made no will, and it being there upon ordered by the said
court, that Thomas Barnes have letters of Administration on the estate of the said
deceased, he have first given bond and security agreeable to law, in that case
made and provided.
These are therefore to enpower the said administrator to enter into and upon all
and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits of the said deceased, and
them into their possession take, wheresoever the same may be found in this estate,
and an inventory to return into this court within the time limited by law, and all
the just debts of the deceased to pay so far as the said estate will extend to mount to.
Witness, Jacob A. Lane, Clerk of our said court at office the third monday in
April A.D. 1816 and in the forty first year of American Independence.
Jacob A. Lane, Clerk
Thomas Barnes returned the inventory of the estate of William Bohannon to White
County Court in July 1816, but the recorded copy contains no evaluation:26
An Inventory of the Estate of William Bohannan Decd. returned upon oath by
Thomas Barnes Admr. in open Court on the (blank) day of July 1816
4 head of horses. - 13 head of Cattle. - 15 head of sheep.
9 head hogs. one cross - cut - saw. - 2 hand - saws
2 drawing knives. - 1 foot addz. - 2 pots. 1 Oven. 1 pan. some pewter and
household furniture. - 1 Waggon
2 Beds and furniture - Some farming tools. - 1 fifth chain
1 Log chain. - 1 pair of stretchers. 2 ploughs. 7 pair of drawing chains and one
chest.
Thomas Barnes Admr.
Recorded 3rd August 1816.
Test -
Jacob A. Lane Clerk
White County Court
An Account current of the proceeds of the estate of William Bohannan Decd.
returned upon oath by Thomas Barnes Admr. at (blank) Term 1816 of White
County Court To wit:
$
Juda Bohannan 67 56 1/4
Barton Harp 10 97 3/4
Joel Alexander 6 50
Isaac Bartlett 5 39
Lewis Bohannan 66 89 1/2
Loyd Rockhold 5 37 1/2
Icabod Harp 1 18 3/4
Bartlett Gentry 1 62 1/2
Absalom Norris 2 12 1/2
Joseph Thomas 3 37 1/2
William Mullins 6 18 3/4
Isaac Welch 18 50
Joseph Terry 4 25
Thomas Randolph 4 50 1/2
William Bradford 1 12 1/2
William Hunter Junr. 15 42 1/2
Henry Hunter 2 18 3/4
Daniel Parkison 7 50
William Hunter Senr. 29 12 1/2
Elijah Bohannan 14 44
William Dodson 33 82 1/2
Jacob Hyde 4 15
William Hunter son of William 7 87 1/2
Reuben Alred 5 25
John Moore 50
Susanna Bohannan 8 32
Amount carried up $334 17 3/4
Acct. current of the Estate of William Bohannan Decd. Continued -
Amot. brought from page 58 $334 17 3/4
Willis Wilkins 7 25
James H. Car 10 50
Charles Huddlestone 3 19
William Rash 3 79
John Hutchins 71 00
John Henry 5 12 3/4
William H. Quarles 68 3/4
James Hudgins 2 00
William Jones 12 1/2
Thomas Barnes 37 1/2
William Camron 2 00
Abner Norris 1 00
Thomas Burgess 1 41
Joseph Hunter 44
John Bullard 3 00
William Southward 4 00 1/4
Walker Bennett 2 50
John Bohannan 12
Total Amot. $452 75 1/2
Thomas Barnes Admr.
Recorded January 17th 1817
Test - Jacob A. Lane Clerk
White County Court
The estate of William Bohannan Decd.
To Thomas Barnes Admr. D.
$
To fee paid G. W. Gibbs Atto. 5 00
To fee paid upon the estate 3 30
To 2 years tax 2 95 3/4
To paid Cryer at Sale 2 00
To paid Clerk at Sale 1 00
To services as Administrator 25 00
Credit to Admr. on Settlement $39 25 3/4
Recorded 20th October 1817
Test - Jacob A. Lane Clk
Few of the purchasers of items from the estate of William Bohannon appear to be of his
immediate family. Since the widow was not mentioned in the administration of the
estate, she may have died before William, so the identity of Juda Bohannon has not been
determined. Thomas Barnes and Isaac Welch were sons-in-law. Lewis and Elijah
Bohannon were sons and Susanna Bohannon was an unmarried daughter. John Bohannon
must have been a grandson. The later deeds, disposing of his land, indicate that he was
survived by sons John, William, Lewis and Elijah Bohannon, unmarried daughters
Susannah and Rebecca Bohannon and sons-in-law James Young, Henry Jones, Isaac
Welch and Thomas Barnes. Solomon Harp was the husband of Sarah Bohannon. Family
genealogists also have been unable to positively identify the relationship of Hollis (Holla,
Holly) Bohannon. She could have been the wife of an unknown son or an unmarried
daughter. In 1830 she was enumerated on the White County census as the head of a
household:27
Bohannon, Lewis (40-50) M 2/1/1/0/0/0/1 F 0/2/3/2/0/1
John (40-50) M 1/2/0/1/1/0/1 F 1/1/0/0/0/1
Holly (20-30) M 0/1/1/0/0/0/0 F 1/1/0/0/0/2
Elijah (30-40) M 2/1/1/1/0/1/0 F 0/1/0/1/0/0/1
Elijah (30-40) M 2/3/0/0/0/1/0 F 0/1/0/1/0/1
Campbell (15-20) M 0/0/0/1/0/0/0 F 0/0/0/1/0/0
Thomas (30-40) M 1/2/0/0/1/0/0 F 0/2/0/0/1/0
Elijah (15-20) M 0/0/0/1/0/0/0 F 0/0/0/0/0/0
The columnar categories are age groups: -5, 5-10, 10-15, 15-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50 and
50-60. The female aged 50-60 living with the first Elijah may have been his unmarried
sister Susannah, who probably was born around 1780.
Elijah Bohannon, son of William, who was aged 40-50 on 1830 census for White County,
may have married Sarah Norris, daughter of Abner Norris, a Revolutionary War veteran.
Elijah went to Madison County, Arkansas, where he died before 1837. Rebecca
Bohannon married John Morrison and also moved to Arkansas, where she was listed as
age 55 on the 1850 census.28
Henry Bohannon died before 10 October 1810 when a document was recorded, probably
in White County:29
Oct 10, 1810. The request of Henry Bohannon was before he deceased that all
his property should be left in his wifes hands during her widowhood.
Test Henry Bohannon
William Parker
Juda Bohannon
The signer must have been Henry Bohannon, Jr.
Henry Bohannon and Mary Matlock were married by publication (banns) instead of a
license, as reported in the undated marriage returns of minister William Lovell of Henry
County.30
Helen Cook who married John Bohannon on 07 January 1774 in Pittsylvania County,
Virginia,31 was a daughter of William Cook, Jr. and Margaret Jones who moved from
Henry County, Virginia, to Kentucky about 1785. Margaret Jones appears to have been a
daughter of Robert Jones and Mary Van Meter.32
Rhoda Cook who married Joshua Bohannon was a sister of Helen Cook. Joshua died
before 16 October 1781, when Rhoda Bohannon (Buchanan) married John Jameson in
Lincoln County, Virginia.33
Jesse Cook who married Elizabeth Bohannon was a brother of Helen and Rhoda Cook.
Elizabeth and Jesse were married on 01 September 1785 by Robert Jones, Jr.34 Robert
Jones, Jr., son of Robert Jones and Mary Van Meter, was a Baptist preacher. Jesse Cook,
his brother Hosea Cook and their brother-in-law Lewis Mastin were killed by Indians in a
raid on the Cook settlement in Kentucky on 28 April 1792.35
Joseph Edrington, the second husband of Elizabeth Bohannon, was a son of John and
Margaret (Price?) Edrington, who moved to Kentucky from Louisa County, Virginia.36
Before the 1820 census, Joseph and Elizabeth Bohannon Edrington moved to Columbus,
Kentucky, on the Mississippi River in the part of Livingston County that became
Hickman County in 1821. Elizabeth died there on 02 August 1821. Sallie Belle Jones
Price, wife of
Joseph William Price, her second husband, was a daughter of Captain Andrew F. Jones
and Mary Belle Edrington. Mary Belle Edrington Jones was a daughter of John Price
Edrington and Sarah Beeler. John Price Edrington was a son of John and Margaret
(Price?) Edrington.
William Bohannon was security for John Mullins on his bond to marry Lucy
Bohannon:37
Know All Men by these presents that we John Mullins & William Bohanan are
held and firmly Bound unto Edmund Randolph Esqr. in the Sum of Fifty Pounds to be
paid unto the sd Edmd Randolph or to his Successors we bind Ourselves Our
heirs &c firmly by these Presents Sealed wth Our Seals and Dated this 3rd Day of
September 1787
The Condition of this Obligation is such that whereas there is a Marriage Shortly
Intended to be had & Solemnized between the above Bound John Mullins & Lucy
Bohanan, Now if there Shall be no Lawful Cause to Obstruct Said marriage then
this Obligation to be Void
Jno X Mullins (LS)
Wm X Bohanan (LS)
Tabby Bohannon who married William Parker by a Knox County bond dated 05
September 1799, with Thomas Woodford as security,38 was an heir and, undoubtedly, a
daughter of William Bohannon, whose estate was divided into eighteen parts, indicating
that he had eighteen children who either survived him or who had surviving issue. On 17
August 1816 in White County, Tennessee, William Parker of Jackson County, Tennessee,
issued his power of attorney to Lewis Bohannon of White County to collect the share of
the estate of William Bohannon due to his wife as a legatee. Joseph Hunter and Thomas
Barnes witnessed the act.39
Some of the family of William Bohannon were in Tennessee by 21 June 1798 when
Tabitha Bohannon was security on the Knox County marriage bond for Thomas Barnes
and Alice Bohannon:40
Know all men by these presents that we Thomas Barnes and Tabitha
Bucha(illegible; interlined “man” or “nan”) heirs &c are jointly and severally
held and firmly bound unto John Sevier Esquire Governor and his Successors in Office
in the penal sum of Twelve hundred and fifty Dollars Void on condition there be
no lawful objection why Thomas Barnes and Alice Buckhannon may not be
joined together as man and wife in the holy Estate - Witness our hands and Seals 21st
June 1798. his
Attest Thomas X Barnes (Seal)
H S White mark
her
Tabitha X Buchanan (Seal)
mark
This action suggests that Tabitha was the closest relative of Alice Bohannon residing
nearby and that she was of age which means she was born by 1777. Alice and Tabitha
may have been living with relatives at the time, instead of their parents, or, perhaps,
William Bohannon was away from home for an extended expedition, since he did not
secure the bond for his daughter's marriage. It seems very unusual for an unmarried
woman on the frontier to have assets that would qualify her to secure a bond.
There was a Didamy Bohannon, who married John Bates in Knox County, Tennessee, by
a bond dated 12 December 1796 with Lewis Brim as bondsman,41 who has not been
connected with William Bohannon.
Another unidentified, but probable, relative was James Bohannon who died in Surry
County, North Carolina, in 1774. At this time, Surry County and Pittsylvania County,
Virginia, adjoined on the provincial border, before being subdivided later. The will of
James Bohannon (Bohanon) was dated 03 August 1774 and proved in Surry County the
same month. It named three children, Jeremiah, Ann and Isabel Bohannon. Jeremiah,
who lived on the Pigg River, was to be bound out to Josiah Jones, with whom his
daughters were then living.42 Since the children appear to be young and motherless,
perhaps they were residing with their maternal grandparents, apparently in Pittsylvania
County.
James Bohannon seems to have died from blood poisoning:43
March 18, 1774, Br. Schaub has engaged the constable, Bohannen, to work for
some months at the Tavern.
Aug 1, 1774 Bohannen (“the constable from England”) who has been hostler in
the Tavern, ran a splinter into his foot fourteen days ago. Br. Bonn took it out, but he
has a wound-fever.
Aug 6th At five o'clock the body of James Bohannen was buried in our Parish
graveyard. Br. Fritz conducted the service in English.
The description, “from England,” by the Germanic members of the Moravian Church,
may imply that the Moravians determined the birthplace of James Bohannon or simply
his ancestral origin. Maybe it was just a linguistic identification. The Moravians may
have been particularly interested in nationality, because when they migrated from
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to Wachovia, North Carolina, in 1753, a group stopped for one
night with Robert Jones on the Pigg River and described him as a Welshman.44 Robert
Jones was born in Wales and emigrated to Pennsylvania with his parents when he was a
small boy.45
The executor of the estate of James Bohannon (Bohanon) was Tyree Glenn who filed an
inventory in November 1774.46
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