Zachariah Moorman Candler (c1773-1845) is the first Candler pioneer settler of North Carolina (although some authors claim that his grandfather Daniel lived in North Carolina before immigrating to Virginia). His father was Zedikiah Candler (c1746-c1825) and mother, Anna Moorman (1756-1804, daughter of Zachariah Moorman and Elizabeth Terrell) were married in Bedford Co, VA in 1772.

North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky Candlers.

A good deal of legend has been written about Zachariah Candler. This legend includes a trek to North Carolina to settle in the 1770s, Revolutionary War service, and the dating of his marriage to Mary Polly Boon[e] as early as 1778. Mary has also been reputed to be a relative of the famous pioneer Daniel Boone (which to date has not been established though many have tried). Zack, being born after 1772, certainly could not have fought in the Revolution.

Zachariah Candler married Rachel Thornhill in Bedford County on 19 Jan 1791 (Bedford County Marriages).

In the Virginia archives, there exists a record of Zacheriah C(h)andler redeeming a bounty certificate for land in Bedford County. The grant document is dated 1794, but it states that the survey of the 266 acres on Otter River, was made in March 1791 -- two months after Zachariah married Rachel Thornhill. The grant was based on a 1782 treasury land warrant, probably issued to his father Zed). Zedikiah Candler made a public service claim in Bedford County Court (sometime between 1781 and 1783) seeking reimbursement for supplies he provided in the War effort. This may be the source of the treasury land warrant. It may also be a wedding present from his father.

Alas, the marriage did not last long. By the winter of 1792, Zack was in the Ohio Territory with the Bedford County militia. There is a notice in the January 1, 1793 Kentucky Gazette that mentions "Zachariah Candler" as a soldier stationed at Fort Hamilton (Ohio). The notice says that he was about 20 years old and that he enlisted in Bedford County, VA. [This was during the Indian War in the Northwest Territory that ended in victory for the American Army under General Anthony Wayne at Fallen Timbers in 1794. The treaty of Greenville that followed the military victory opened Ohio to white settlement.]

Zack was married a second time to Rhoda Pelham in Green County, Kentucky in April of 1793 (Green County Marriage Book#1). The marriage book says "Zachariah Moman Candler." It is from this source alone that one can know his middle name. In 1798, Rhoda (Pelham) Candler married Richard Carlisle (again the citation appears in the Green County marriage book).

Zachariah married Mary "Polly" Boone (b. 1786) sometime around the turn of the century. The date and place of this marriage is not documented, but tradition states that it took place at Ft. Pickens, SC. This is the location where her father, Ratliffe Boon, was in residence at that time. Their known children were all born in the 19th century.

In 1799, the first of many land grants and deeds appears in the Buncome County, North Carolina record books. Zack would eventually acquire a vast amount of land (over 300,000 acres) in the present-day Asheville area.

The children are listed in order as mentioned on Zachariah's will.

Candlers in the West Table of Contents Essays