Migratory Group from Spotsylvania Co. VA to Smith Co. TN

There seems to have been a migratory group who came to Smith Co. TN from Spotsylvania Co. VA about 1807-1808.  These included:

1) William HEROD, who came between 22 September (sold land in Spotsylvania) and 21 November 1808 (name appeared in Carthage newspaper dead letter notices).

2) John WALTERS who sold 37 acres to Claiborne HALL sold his 379 acres in Spotsylvania Co. on 29 October 1807 to William HILLMAN. 

            Spotsylvania Co. VA Deed Book R, page 291.

                29 October 1807. John WALTERS of Spotsylvania Co. VA to William HILLMAN

            of same. 246 lbs. 7 shillings, 379 acres.... BAYLOR’s line, borders Richard LANE.

            Signed: John WALTERS.  Witnesses: John LIPSCOMB, John DAY, Charles NICKSON,

            Daniel M. LANE.  Proven 4 January 1808 by oaths of John DAY and Charles

            NICKSON.

            Spotsylvania Co. VA Deed Book R, page 292.

           

            4 January 1808. William HILLMAN of Spotsylvania County, VA to John LIPSCOMB

            of same.  Deed of Trust.  In order to secure payment of the following debt to John             WALTERS formerly of Spotsylvania County “now removed to the western country” of            82 lbs. 2 shillings 4 pence.  land purchased of John WALTERS – 379 acres.  Signed:     William HILLMAN, John LIPSCOMB.  Witnesses: John A. BILLINGSLEY, Charles            NICKSON, Gabl. LONG.  Deed of trust acknowledged by parties in open court 4 January

            1808.

            NOTE: John WALTERS of Stafford County, Virginia had purchased this land on 5

            April 1796 from Walter CHILES and wife Phebe.  That deed was witnessed by William

            HEROD, Thomas DUNAWAY, and William CHILES.

3) William WALTERS

           

            Spotsylvania Co. VA Deed Book R, page 364

           

            11 Nov. 1807. William WALTERS and wife of Spotsylvania County to William

            BOXLEY and wife Ann of same, for 150 lbs., 38 acres.  on Sophia BOXLEY’s line,

            Thomas BOXLEY’s corner.  Signed: Wm. WALTERS, Ann WALTERS. Witnesses:

            Waller HOLLADAY, Saml. SALE, Geo. BOXLEY.  Ann cannot conveniently travel to   court – Saml. SALE and Waller HOLLADAY appointed to privately examine her.            Registered by oath of George BOXLEY on 14 November 1807.

            Smith Co. TN Deed Book C, pages 220 – 221

            7 December 1808 – Augustine CARTER of Smith Co. TN to John PORTER of Smith       Co. TN, $500 on north side of Cumberland River by survey bounded by the lands of John   & William WALTERS, by Augustine CARTER and by Richard TAYLOR.  Witnesses:            William WATERS, Green H. TRAMP. 

4) Charles NICKSON – in 1807 personal property tax list (May 30) of Spotsylvania Co. with

            1 white male tithable, 4 blacks above 16; 1 black above 12 and under 16; 5 horses.  Also

            on May 30 was taxed – William HILLMAN. 

            Charles NICKSON was 70 and under 80 in 1830 census of Smith Co. TN with a female  

            50 and under 60. He is buried in Earps Cemetery, Pleasant Shade, Smith Co. TN. 

            He was born 1763 in Aquia, Stafford County, Virginia and died in 1835 in Pleasant

            Shade, Smith County, Tennessee.  Find-a-grave indicates his parents were Charles            PORTER (1729 – 1781 Stafford Co. VA) and Ruth NICKSON who married John      SMITH???  Charles’ wife is given in online trees as Mary CARTER.

5) Joseph FLEMING???

            Smith Co. TN Deed Book C, pages 91 – 92

            10 June 1808 – Joel DYER To Joseph FLEMING, 274 acres on road from Carthage to      Dixon Springs, borders Richard TAYLOR and WALTON.   NOTE: This land was sold             by FLEMING to Thomas K. HARRIS and then to John WALTERS – becomes the         land he gifted to daughter Jane/Jean WALTERS and sold 37 acres of it to Claiborne         HALL.

            There is a Joseph FLEMING in 1804, 1805 personal property tax list of          Spotsylvania Co. VA.  He is not there in 1806 or 1807.

5) Augustine CARTER

6) John PORTER

            Spotsylvania Co. VA Deed Book has a deed 1798 from Daniel LANE and wife to

            Thomas PORTER. Witnesses included John WALTERS, John DAY, Joseph

            HERNDON, Jr., Thomas WINSLOW and Jonathan JOHNSON. 

            Important to remember Asa HALL witnessed a 1791 John PORTER will in Louisa Co.

            in which he left bequests to grandsons (brothers) named John and Thomas PORTER,

            sons of William and Rebecca PORTER.

Another Question: Shortly after arriving in Smith County, William WALTERS, James HEROD, and William FAGG witnessed the will of Samuel BRIGGS on 8 May 1809.  BRIGGS leaves his estate to his wife Betty and mentions children Zillah, Amy, Richard, Polly, Nancy, Betsy, and Samuel as well as 1/8 to children of his daughter Martha CROW and Martha CROW to receive interest annually until the children receive it.  Son Richard BRIGGS and wife Betsy BRIGGS executors.  Admitted to probate September term 1809.  

According to Ancestry.com trees, Samuel BRIGGS was born 16 May 1738 in Sussex Co. VA and married on 19 June 1798 in Sussex Co. VA to Elizabeth A. BLOW.  He was the son of Nathaniel BRIGGS and Mary LANIER who went from Sussex Co. to Brunswick Co. VA.  Mary LANIER was the daughter of Lemuel LANIER and Hannah PETERS. 

Question: Why are all the connections of the HEROD’s signing this will within a few months of their arrival in Tennessee?  Is there a connection of the BRIGGS/LANIER family to the Herbert LANIER who was in a dispute in the Dixon’s Creek Baptist Church records with John HALL?