Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. Psalm 85:12
John Lewis and Peggy Hatcher (1792 - 1858)
The Family Inherits the Land
Walland, Blount County, Tennessee
John Lewis ca 9 Jan 1792 - Mar 9, 1858
married ca 1820
Peggy Hatcher ca 1792 - 14 Jun 1840
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| On the west fork of Pigeon |
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| On the west fork of Little Pigeon River |
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| On the west fork of Little Pigeon |
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| On the waters of Walden's Creek |
The Hatcher Papers
From "The Hatcher Papers (1793-1898)" abstracted and edited by Olga Edwards, 1964:
The Hatcher Papers, in possession of Glen Hatcher of Gatlinburg, Tenn. cover the period between 1793 to 1898, a span of 105 years. For the first 58 years, each year is represented by at least one document. The papers are well preserved and on most of them the ink bright and readable. Much of the writing is hard to decipher. They can be roughly divided into tax receipts, accounts, notes, deeds and contracts. Many of the early papers were signed by "mark" with two witnesses attesting the signature. This resulted in a wide variation in the spelling of the surname. An example is the many spellings of this name: Magloughlin, MagLowgerton, McGlaughton, McLawton, etc.
The barter system is shown in these papers. For example if John Huskey made rails for Reuben Hatcher, he might be given a note for $5. Huskey would trade the note to the store keeper for $5 worth of supplies. The store keeper in turn would buy $5 worth of corn from Reuben Hatcher and pay him with the original note. Reuben Hatcher would then tear off the signature, showing it had been paid. Some of these notes passed through many hands before they were paid and took the place of currency. The notes alone provide an excellent cross section of business as it occurred in early Sevier County, Tenn. It is interesting that up to 1819 debts were sometimes paid in pounds, shillings and pence.
The land owned by William Hatcher was in Wears Cove. Apparently he settled there about the same time as did his brother-in-law Aaron Crowson. He was a resident there in 1793 when it was still a part of Jefferson County. The name of this Cove has changed with the years. Inez Burns in her "History of Blount Co." says that the original name was "Crowsons Cove". This is verified by the Hatcher Papers. On the survey plat of Col. Samuel Wear's plantation made in 1807, the road up river is labeled "to Wears Cove". In the map of Tennessee made by Matthew Rhea published in 1832 in Columbus, Tenn., it is given as "Weirs Cove". By 1898 it was called Wears Valley. In 1941 the highway sign read "Weirs Valley", however, a recent map lists it as Wears Valley.
The Hatcher Papers help to clear up some vague points in the early history of Sevier County. Fred Matthews in his pamphlet entitled "History of Sevier Co." states that Thomas Buckingham, the first sheriff of Sevier County lived with his brother Alexander on Boyds Creek. He says the initials T. B. and A. B. are carved on their old home occupied in 1950 by Paul Trundle. In the Hatcher Papers there are tax receipts signed by Thomas Buckingham, sheriff and by Nath. B Buckingham deputy sheriff. A carved "N" and a carved "A" would look very much alike. Evidently the Alexander was in reality Nathaniel or else there was another brother.
The earliest census of Sevier County was made in 1830. One value of the Hatcher Papers lies in the fact that they give us pages of many of the residents prior to that date. They threw some light on the early subscription schools. Many of the aspiring teachers could hardly write a receipt for the dues. The results of their teaching, however, are evident as after 1850 very few people signed by mark.
It is known that there was an early Baptist Church in Wears Cove but a removal letter, in the Papers, verifies that there was a fully organized Church there in 1800.
Research by Robert Nave of Compton, California indicates that William Hatcher of Sevier County was the son of Edward Hatcher of Bedford County, Virginia. Edward's will is dated 1781 and was probated in 1782. In the will he mentions his wife, Sarah, and the following children: Reuben, Lucy, Edward, Josiah (perhaps this is Elijah. The actual will was not seen), William, Rhoda, Elizabeth and Farley. Records of this estate are probably on file in Bedford County, Virginia.
Relationships within the Hatcher and Crowson families of Wears Cove are clearly defined by letters and the estate settlement of William Hatcher and his wife Polly Crowson Hatcher. Wm. Hatcher made a will but it was lost when the Sevier County Court House burned in 1854. From the deeds we learn that the estate was divided into eleven parts and was kept intact until the death of William Hatcher's widow, or the youngest heir became of age. Their children were: Elijah, Reuben, John, Nancy (wife of Spencer McBryant of Blount Co), Rachel, Mary, Richard, William, Cally Elizabeth, Rebecca (wife of Jesse Renfrow who lived in Cole Co., Missouri), the wife (name not known) of John Husky.
The Hatcher Papers go on to identify the children, birth and death dates, spouses, and other miscellaneous facts relating to this family through the many rec
ords kept for over 100 years.
After John's Death
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This is the headstone in Hatcher's Cemetery that was shown to me,
Peggy Huskey is said to be buried there.
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| This is the headstone in Hatcher's Cemetery that was shown to me; John Huskey is said to be buried there. John Huskey unlikely would not be buried here. He died in Texas on Mar 9, 1858. His will has been located, which names his first and second wives names! |
Page 438: Isaac Huskey, Admr. Of John Huskey VS: M.L. Chambers, et al. Complnt. Dismissed his bill as to Defdts. James Walker and Houstin Walker and it is O & D that Complnt. and his security on the prosecution bond pay cost of making them parties for which execution may issue. The Defdt. M.L. Chambers and Elizabeth Chambers by leave of the court withdrew their demurrer filed in the cause and consent that the bill be taken as confessed against them which is now due. The Defdts. Mary McGill and Elijah Hatcher, Jane Hatcher, Albert Husky, Lewis Huskey, Levi Adams and Tilda Adams have been duly served with subpoena in this cause more than 5 days before present term court and that Defdt. John Huskey and William Huskey are nonresidents and that publication be made as to them, requring them to appear and answer said bill. They did not appear and it is O. that bill be taken as confessed and cause set for hearing ex parte as to them. It appears to court that the est. of John Hisky, dec'd is of value of more than $1,000.00 and that setlement thereof involves complicated matters of account. It is O. that an account be taken and case be removed from County court and administered by this court and all further proceedings in county court be injoined and by consent of parites it is O. that the injunction heretofore issued be dissolved.
Something to consider:
Just Exactly What Was Mrs. Huskey's First Name
There is a question about the validity of Mrs. John Huskey's first name. This so called "Rebecca Elizabeth" had sister's named Rebecca and Elizabeth, but the family has always called her Rebecca Elizabeth. I did speak to the man who owns the original Hatcher land in 2004 and he had copies of the "Hatcher Papers" and hand written on those papers was Rebecca Elizabeth Hatcher married John Huskey.
UPDATE!! We now know her name. She is Peggy Hatcher!!! She is mentioned in the will of John Huskey.
Something to consider: How Many Wives Did John Have?
This is a new one to me, I have always thought that there was one wife and she died in 1840! I haven't been able to find John's will as of yet, so be on the lookout for answers to this problem!! We will be looking for death records, marriage records, and the will! UPDATE!! The will has been located! John had two wives. His first wife was Peggy Hatcher and his second wife was Isabella.
John and Peggy had 11 children:
Rebecca ca 1822 - ca 1850
married ca 1845
Hercules "Hike" Ogle ca 1780 - ca 1850
Matilda "Tilda" ca 1823 - aft 1880
married ca 1843
Levi Leroy Adams ca 1820 - ca 1907
Unknown female child ca 1824
Isaac ca 1825 - 26 Mar 1909
married 3 Oct 1849
Delila "Eliza" Gibson 18 Jan 1826 - 11 Aug 1897
John A. ca 1829 - unknown
married ca 1848
Elizabeth Jane Hatcher 11 Dec 1829 - ca 1859
married ca 1860
Martha Malissa 17 Jun 1833 - 20 Oct 1884
Hannah Jane "Jennie" 31 Jan 1831 - ca 1901
married 9 Jan 1848
James Graham Gibson 10 Jun 1824 - unknown
married bef 1850
Elijah Hatcher ca 1828 - bef. 1880
Mary ca 1832 - unknown
married 28 Jun 1856
William McGill ca 1838 - unknown
Elbert Alderson ca 1832 - 18 Jun 1890
married 15 Nov 1860
Elizabeth Murphy ca 1843 - ca 1870
married 2 Nov 1875
Matilda Jane Webb ca 1839 - unknown
Lewis 18 Sep 1834 - 12 Sep 1894
married Oct 1855
Huldah T. Hatcher 7 May 1840 - 14 Nov 1903
Elizabeth "Eliza" 15 May 1837 - 20 Jan 1910
married ca 1858
Marcus L. Chambers 20 Mar 1836 - 15 Mar 1876
William ca 1837 - unknown
John and Isabella had 3 children:
Rachel
married before 12 May 1871
John Hatcher
Mary J. 8 March 1856 - 8 July 1887
married 4 January 1870
Jeremiah Carroll 1840 - 1911
John
The following records were found on the following website:
https://texashistory.unt.edu/
found in file folder 263
found in file folder 273
