John Tucker (1755-1802)

Here's what I know about John Tucker...

He was born in 1755 and it is thought that he was born in NC in either Wilkes or Rowan county. According to Rowan County's website, Wilkes county was part of Rowan county at the time John would have been born.

There is no documentation of who John's parents were but I found one family tree that indicated it may have been a Samuel Tucker (possibly 1730-1802), but I haven't been able to find anything about a Samuel that would fit into that puzzle piece other than the tree. This tree (Rowley Family tree by berke3) also suggested Samuel's father was born in 1704 but there is no name or location associated with that.

There was also a tree that show's Samuel Tucker Sr. (1730-1795) and show's a sons John and Samuel Tucker Jr. (1750-1803) and links a 1784 census report showing:

Wilkes, North Carolina, United States

Samuel Tucker Family: WM 21-60 = 3, WM -21 & + 60 = 3, WF All = 4. At this time Samuel is between 55-57 so, there are three adult males in the household, 3 male minors, and 4 females. It's unknown if the mother is still alive.

This would have been after John had moved to TN.

 

As I had said in my previous post, the first actual documentation found on John is from his marriage to his first wife Keziah Breshears (1756 - ?) on August 31, 1772 in Rowan County, NC. They had a daughter, Mary and a son (possibly John) that died young. I noticed today that I have Mary being born in 1780 however that is the same year that John signed the Cumberland Compact so I question if this is accurate because items I read indicated that Mary was the eldest so I'm not sure how this would fit into the timeline of where John was at.

 

John went west to French Lick (now Nashville) and was a signer of the Cumberland Compact on April 24, 1780. I have not found out if he was part of the group that went overland or via river to French Lick.

 

John married Jenny (Jane) Harrod in the second marriage ceremony in the new settlement. There is no record though that John divorced Keziah or if she had died before he married Jenny. Most of what I have read indicates that Keziah was abandoned and John and Jenny were not legally wed. Though I don't know...was polygamy legal in NC at that time?

I found a great resource, 1770-1790 Census of the Cumberland Settlements by Richard Carlton Fulcher.
 

John and Jenny had 10 children:

Enoch (1784-1855) my ancestor
Hannah (1787-1872)
Nancy (1788-1840)
Henry G. (1790-?)
Sarah Sally (1790-1862) I assume Henry and Sarah Sally are twins but I haven't done a lot of research on all the kids yet to confirm dates.
Margaret "Peggy" (1793-1810)
Phoebe (1795-?)
William Riggs (1795-1860)
Samuel Alexander (1800-1891)
John (1801-1819) this doesn't match info I've read indicating he died young like his half-brother John.

1770-1790 Census of the Cumberland Settlements also states on page 125 that John was wounded by Indians, who shot him, breaking his arm, at the Battle of the Bluffs, April 2, 1781. It also references another source that says he was wounded and his arm broken during an Indian ambush while returning from Freeland's Station in the Bluffs in February 1782.

In 1794, there is a roll call for Ford's Regiment in the volunteer Militia in the Territory South of the Ohio River with John's name on it. I have not been able to confirm if this is my John Tucker, however with the new information from the 1770-1790 Census I'm starting to believe it may have been one in the same.

John died in January 1802 leaving a will that apparently created a lot of debate as it was held up in court for some time. There is apparently quite a bit in the court records from the time but I have not done a lot of research to find it yet. This is what his will said though:

Will of John Tucker
Signed Oct-1798
Recorded January Term 1802

Source: Robertson Co. Tenn., Film # 0425197, SLC
Contributed by Carolyn Carlisle
© September 25, 2007

Pg. 77 Will of John Tucker 1802

In the name of God Amen,
I John Tucker of Robertson County & State of Tennessee Being very sick and weak in body,
but of a perfect mind and memory, allowing that it is for all men once to Die I recommend my Soul into the hand of God that gave it and my body & I commit to the Earth to be Buried in a Christian like & Descent manner hoping to raise at the morning of the Resurrection, and first of all I give and bequeath unto my Dearly beloved Wife Jenny Tucker, her choice of one of the Negro’s Man or Woman , also Two Horses or Two Mares, also Three grown Cows & Calves, one feather bed, half dozen of Pewter plates and also a pewter Dish, one large Kettle & one Oven one Trunk, one set of plough irons, Two Hoes, one Mattock & one Ax, also one Iron Wedge, & other such tools as the plantation must be tended During her Natural Life, and also the use of the Plantation during her life. I also give & bequeath unto

Mary Tucker my eldest daughter &
Enoch Tucker my eldest son,
Hannah Tucker,
Henry Tucker,
Nancy Tucker,
Sarah Tucker,
Margaret Tucker,
Phebe Tucker,
Riggs Tucker,

All the land Negros, money horses cows calves hogs and everything that I possess after my Just Debt is paid to be equally divided among them, and I also do appoint my true and trusted friend Samuel Hollig to be my sole executrin of this my last will and testament In writing where of I have here unto set my hand and seal this seventeenth day of October One Thousand seven Hundred & Ninety eight -----

Signed John Tucker

Signed sealed and delivered in presence of us
Dan’l Bogan Peter Spinner George G y ger

This will was proved in Open Court by the oath of Peter Spinner at the Jany Term 1802.
Order to be Recorded

This is all I have at this time but will update as I continue with my research.