Tavner Martin was born between 1785-1790 in North Carolina or
Tennessee. His name might be "James or John Tavner Martin". There
is some evidence that his father was Zachariah Martin and that a
sister married Shadrack Phillips. Tavner Martin married Cynthia
League, the daughter of Edmund League and Mary Beadle, about 1808
(some say 1810) in Warren County, Tennessee. Cynthia League was born
about 1794 in Amelia County, Virginia. They came to Warren Co., TN and
settled for awhile before going to Hamilton Co., TN. They had a log
house near Wauhatchie. It is not known whether Tavner Martin or the
Indians built the original log cabin. This house stood on a knoll
about 400 yards from the Georgia State Line. (Information given by
Sarah Little Parker.) - [[ I do know there were association of Edmund
League with Tavner Martin early in 1800's. Tavner served as "chain
carrier" for Edmund on land survey. Normally chain carriers were
close relatives and normally teen age sons. Land was extremely
important to a man and therefore he selected chain carriers he could
trust. This is the only thing I have seen in records that point to a
connection. This land being surveyed was in what is now DeKalb Co,
Tennessee. The records for this area is poor due to fires in both
DeKalb County and Smith County courthouses.]]
In 1805 the Treaty of Tellico gave the title to land and now open to
settlement. At one time this included all the territory east of the
Summit to Walder's Ridge to the southern boundry of the state. Warren
County was, indeed, frontier country during this time. The county had
been formed from White County in 1806 and McMinnville was established
as a post office in 1811. The Black Fox Trail ran through the county.
According to Hale in "Early History of Warren County" the Treaty of
Holston in 1791 annexed the area from a point on the Cumberland
southwest of a line ...that divides the waters of the Cumberland and
Duck Rivers 40 miles above Nashville.
A BICENTENNIEL HISTORY OF DEKALB COUNTY, TENNESSEE, by Thomas Gray
Webb, published 1995 by Bradley Printers of Smithville gives more
information about Edmund League, Tavner Martin, John and Zachariah
Martin, Joel Cheatham and Riley League. Thomas Webb is known as the
Historian of DeKalb Co., Tenn.
page 33: Ebenezer Snow moved across the mountains by pack horse in
1806. EDMUND LEAGUE came the same year with horses.
1806 - page 43: small settlement on Allen's Ferry Road about two
mile north of present Smithville....EDMUND LEAGUE located there in
1806. TAVNER MARTIN was there by 1812. JOHN MARTIN and ZACHARIAH
MARTIN by 1816. Most of the best land had been claimed by speculators
before the real settlers arrived.
1809 - All the following is from TN First Surveyor Dist Survey books
BK D p 522. Entry 3857 2 Sep 1809 for Edmund League 70A in Warren
Co., TN on head waters of Holmes Creek branch of Caney Fork River.
Beg @120P S93 1/2P W120P N93 1/2P. 14 Dec 1810. Patrick MacEachern
DS Scc: John Boon & Tavener Martin.
1810 - BK D p 474. John Boon 186A Warren Co., TN on head waters Homes
Creek. Beg B. Oak & P Oak W220P W Walnut N135P Lynn E220P two
Chestnut Oaks S136P to beg. Including his improvement survey as his
Occupant Claim 18 Sept 1810. A Harris DS Scc: Tavenor Martin & John
Boon.
1810-14 Dec-Entry 3857-2 Sep 1809-Survey for Edmund League 70A in
Warren Co. on head waters of Holmes Creek branch of Caney Fork
river. Begin E120P S93 �P W120P N93 1/2P. Patrick MacEachern DS.
SCC John Boon & Tavener Martin. P 552 Survey Book D 1st Surveyor
District, Early Tennessee Land Records
1812 - Tavner Martin was listed on the 1812 Warren County, Tennessee
Tax List taken by Thomas Burgess, Esquire, on August 30, 1812. There
are other names on Burgess' List that could possibly be connected to
the Martin family: Jacob Hollingsworth, John Martin, James Lockheart,
and Peter Ethredge. Alexander, David, Jacob, James, John (2), and
William Martin were also found on other tax lists in the county. A
'Tavener Rodgers' also listed in the county.
1813 - BK F pgs 267-168. Entry 8473 24 July 1812 for Tavenor Martin
assigne Yancey Thornton 5A in Warren Co., TN on Hurricane Creek of
Caney Fork. Beg S20P E40P N20P W40P including first bottom above
Isaac Blantons Entry 10A. 22 Mar 1813. A. Harris DS Scc John
Blanton & Tavenor Blanton (this could be error on last name by
District Surveyor)BK F pgs 268-269 Entry 9630 10 Dec 1812 for Edmond League assigne
Clement Stubblefield 40A in Warren Co., TN on branch of Holmes Creek
of Caney Fork nearly adjoining Joseph Frazers line. Beg about 1/4
mile from said Frazers line W40P S with boundary 66P W sd boundary 70A
S34P e110P N100P including all good land between Boones Sugar Camp &
sd Frazers line. 22 Mar 1813. A. Harris DS Scc John Childers &
Edmond League.
1815 - Goodspeeds "History of Warren County, Tennessee", p. 814, lists
all the settlers in the county by 1815. Tavner Martin is not listed
as an early settler. Tavner is thought to have been living with one
of the other Martins, possibly his father. On page 816 Adam Title
(sic) is stated to have had a corn Mill on Charley Creek in the 13th
District.
1820 - When the 1820 Census Warren Co, TN. was taken, Tavner's family
was listed on page 21 and consisted of two sons under 10, 4 girls
under 10, a male and a female between 26 and 45 years old. Next door
was the Edmund League family. From the 1820 census Tavner's age would
have been between 26 and 45 years, i.e., 1774-1794. [MARTIN, TAVNER
State: TN; Year: 1820; County: Warren County; Record Type: Federal
Population Schedule; Township: 200010-40010; Page: 21 Database: TN
1820 Federal Census Index]
In the 1820 Census he was living next door to his wife's parents,
Edmund League.
The children of Tavner Martin and Cynthia League were: 1) Zacharia
1812; 2) Hixie, June 26, 1813; 3) Edmund, March 1815; 4) Sarah
"Sallie", November 25, 1818; 5) Elizabeth "Eliza" 1820; 6) Dabney, May
29, 1824; 7) Mary Ann "Polly", January 26, 1826; 8) Surletha Ann,
January 28, 1828; 9) George Washington Canaan, March 8, 1830; 10) Jane
Carolyn (Caroline), February 28, 1832; 11) Richard (Robert) League,
July 31, 1834. All 11 children were born in Warren County, Tennessee.
Tavner and Cynthia--and several members of their family--were members
of "The Little White Church at the Top of the Hill Down in the
Valley": Lookout Valley Primitive Baptist Church. [You may already
have this information. If not, you might find it interesting.
Carolyn Bowers bowersc@fastdata.net July 03, 2002 6:45 AM.]
1825 Warren County, Tennessee Plat Book records Tavner Martin's farm
on Eagle Creek along the road between Sparta and Liberty.
On Jan. 19, 1826 it was recorded in the Warren County Plat Book 1,
page 350: Entry Bi, 1501 a survey of 180 acres for Tavner Martin
including 20 acres where he now lives "in Warren County on Eagle Creek
adjoining Easterage and Standege on the North side of the road leading
from Sparta to Liberty, including the said Martin Plantation. It was
surveyed Jan. 18, 1827 by Micijah and Martin Phillips.
State of Tennessee
Warren County
Tavner Martin
180 Acres; Plat Book 1, page 350, 1827
By virtue of an entry No. 1503 dated 19 January 1826 - I have surveyed
one hundred and eighty acres of land for Tavner Martin, including
twenty acres of a appropriate land whereon he lives, in the County of
Warren on the waters of Eagle Creek. Beginning on a Black Oak on the
south boundary line of a tract of land in the name of Easterage L.
Standedge on the north side of the road leading from Sparta to Liberty
running thence East one hundred and sixty poles to a Chestnut thence
south two hundred poles to a Post Oak and Black Oak thence West one
hundred and sixty poles to Black Oak thence North two hundred poles to
the beginning, including said Martin Plantation.
Surveyed the 18 January 1827 - Miajah Philllips and Martin Phillips
SCB. J. B. Perkins, D.N. B.
The above Survey includes 20 acres of appropriated land which is
pasture. JBP.
Tavner received Grant No. 310 of 180 acres of land on March 10, 1828
in Warren County as recorded in Book A, page 210. He later received
Grant No. 906, entry 867, 138 acres on Dec 11, 1839. (Book B, page 425).
1830 - He appeared on the 1830 census for Warren County, Tennessee.
Terrell Curtiss advances the theory that Tavner's first name was James
and that the family on page 347 of the Warren County census in 1830
was his family. While the family does not correspond directly with
that in the 1820 census it could well be the same family. We know
that Shadrach Phillips of Carmi, White County, Illinois wrote to his
son Martin Phillips on March 20, 1830 saying "I want Tavner Martin to
write to me as he said he would and let me know how he is coming on in
the world. Andrew wishes to be remembered to Zachariah Martin."
(Tavner's son) Terrell believed that Shadrach Phillips wife may have
been a Martin. We do know that Martin Phillips had married Sarah League.
Tavner and Cynthia Martin raised their family in their large home.
Mary Ann "Polly" Martin, the daughter of Tavner and Cynthia Martin
was raised, along with her sister, Sarah, (who married Peter Tittle)
and other siblings in their large home called ELMWOOD. Tavner Martin,
made quite a name for himself when he built his great home in
Wauhatchie, Hamilton County, Tennessee. Elmwood Farm was the heart of
the Wauhatchie Indian settlement and there are remains of Indian
villages on some of the fields. Wauhatchie was named for the chief,
Wauhatchie Glass, who lived within a mile of this farm. [Tom Tittle,
the grandson of Tavner Martin, the original owner of the house, who
died at the age of 87 a few weeks ago, said he could remember hearing
his Grandfather Martin tell of playing around the old log house with
Indians when he was a child. Reference: Texas1933@aol.com; Date:
Mon, 15 Jul 2002 18:45:13 EDT.]
On April 4, 1831, Tavner Martin enters 400 acres in Warren County on
the waters of Eagle Creek, South Side. (Tennessee Grant Book
#2427-4596): No. 3253. 28
Tavner, of Cannon County,sold to Edward W. Edge of Wilson County, on
Sept. 26, 1836, 20 acres for $100 in 1st District, Eagle Creek of
Caney Fork, with the improvements known as the old Tavner Martin
place, surveyed Feb. 26, 1814 by John B. Perkins, the said tract was
granted to Martin Brown and conveyed to Tavner Martin, Grant No. 5121,
dated 30 May, 1812. The transaction was witnessed by Edmund Martin
and Joseph Cameron and was registered at Woodbury, Oct. 6, 1836.
(Cannon County, Tennessee Deed Book A, p. 122 # 131. On the same day
and recorded on the same page as # 132, Tavner sold to Edge 180 acres
for $200 in Cannon County in the 1st Dist, Eagle Creek, boundary line
of Eastridge, standing on the North side of the road leading from
Sparta to Liberty, including 20 acres where said Martin once lived.
This deed was also witnessed by Edmund and Joseph Cameron and
registered at Woodbury, Oct. 6, 1836.) 1836 he sold land that was
then in Coffee County, Tennessee.
Tavner Martin moved his family from Warren County, Tennessee to Dade
County, Georgia area. to Lookout Mountain; his land was situated on
the Hamilton County, Tennessee/Dade County, Georgia line and bounded
by Lookout Mountain. He was there during the Civil War and died
there. They lived on the TN/GA line. [[Source: Margaret Ann Hudson
I am descended from his son Edmond, who went to
Sharp County, Arkansas about 1840. I have a copy of Tavner Martin's
will. I am looking for his parents - All records show him as Tavner
but there was a child named James Tavner.]] Dade County lies in the
extreme northwest corner of Georgia. It is bordered by Tennessee to
the north and Alabama to the west. Dade County was formed in 1837
from the western portion of Walker County. It was named after Major
Francis Langhorne Dade who was killed in an ambush during the Second
Seminole War in Florida in 1835. The county seat is Trenton.
1837 - The Cannon County, Tennessee. Court Minutes, Book 1, p. 158, in
Jan. 1837 Friley Martin, Overseer of the road from two mile post on
Allen's Ferry Road to Tavner Martin's old place, is to have the same
lands as Tavner Martin, former overseer, had. On 1 Jan., 1837, in the
Cannon County Deed Book A, p. 266, # 310 Tavner Martin sold to David
Crowder, both of Cannon County 60 acres for $250 in the 11th Dist of
Engine (Eagle) Creek. Witnessed by James McGuire, Thomas Bradford and
Wm. Be?orton and registered at Woodbury on July 22, 1857.
1839 - The State of Tennessee granted 138 acres in Hamilton County,
Tennessee, 4th range West of the Base Line, 3rd Township, Section 19
to Tavner Martin on Sept. 11, 1839. It was recorded as Grant No. 906,
Ocoee District No. 867 and was signed by Gov. James K. Polk at
Nashville of Dec. 11, 1839. It was not recorded until Jan. 1, 1886 in
Hamilton County Deed Book 46, pp 317-318.
Record T, Vol 2; Book 46.
State of Tennessee No. 906.
To all to whom these present shall come greeting. Know ye that in
consideration of an entry made in the undertakers of five of the Ocorr
District Number 867 dated the 11th day of September 1839 by Tavner
Martin a general entrer there is granted by the said State of
Tennessee to said Tavner Martin and his heirs a certain tract or
parcel of land containing one hundred and thirty eight acres lying in
the county of Hamilton in said District, situated in the fourth range
west of the basis line third fractional township and the nineteenth
section, being the southwest fractional quarter of said section.
Beginning at the southwest corner of said fractional quarter with its
appurtenances. To have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land
with its appurtenances to the said Tavner Martin and his heirs forever.
In witness whereof, James K. Polk, Governor of the State of Tennessee,
hath hereunto set his hand and caused the great seal of the state to
be affixed at Nashville on the 11th day of December in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine and of American
Independent the sixty fourth.
James K. Polk
A second grant was made on Oct. 3, 1839. Grant No. 1074, Ocee Dist.
No. 1044, 4th Range West of the Base line, 3rd Township, Section 10
was signed by Gov. Polk on Dec. 31, 1839. It was recorded in the Ocee
District office on Feb. 26, 1841 and recorded in Hamilton County Deed
Book 46, p. 318 of Jan. 16, 1886.
Tavner bought part of the land granted to Silas Williams by the State
of Tennessee in Grant # 1045 part of the SE 1/4 of Section 24, 2nd
fractional Township, in Range 5 West of the Baseline. The state had
granted the land to Williams on Dec. 30, 1839 and he sold it to Tavner
for $210 on 23 Oct. 1840. The deed was recorded Aug. 1, 1843, Hamilton
Co. Deed Book E., p. 154.
1840 Hamilton Co, TN, page 155; 1850 Hamilton Co, TN, Dist 4, page 948
; and from the 1840 census Tavner would have been born between 1779
and 1790.
A John Williams bought land joining Tavner Martin on Oct. 6, 1842,
according to Hamilton Co. Deed Book E., p. 198. It was joined on the
south west by the waters of Lookout Creek. John Martin deed land for
$125 in Hamilton County "on the top of the Lookout Mountain supposed
to contain six acres more or less beginning in the center of the
springs known as Holeman Springs, running down the spring branch in
the middle there of to the mouth of mother branch." The deed is
recorded in Book E. p. 424. (This land is located on the
Tennessee/Georgia line, bounded by Lookout Mountain.) There is a deed
of trust in Book E. filed on March 30, 1842, G. Woodward and R.
Rawlins to secure payments of $1000 debt to a Martin. The name is
difficult to read it is either I or J as the first initial and T. or
S. as the second initial.
The Martin family lived near the town of Wauhatchie, Tennessee north
of Trenton. The town was named for the Cherokee chief and the
monument placed there gives a biography of the man. i.e.,
"Wauhatchie, Chief of the Cherokees, served in the War of 1812.
He served in a company of Cherokees under Captain John Brown, Colonel
Gideon Morgan, and Major General Andrew Jackson fighting the Creeks
from 27 January to 11 April 1814. Wauhatchie was severely wounded 27
March and "lost his horse". He was a signer of the Hiawasse Purchase
of 8 July 1817. He is in the Census of the Cherokee Nation in 1835
and followed the Trail of Tears."
The 1850 Census of Hamilton County, 27th District, p. 948 lists Tavner
and Cynthia in Household 1504; Tavner as age 65 with $1000 worth of
real estate and born in NC; Cynthia as age 56 and born in Virginia.
For some unknown reason the census taker listed the Martin children in
a separate household, Number 1505. There is no doubt in my mind that
this is an error. Dabney, age 25; Surletha, age 21; Washington, age
20; Jane, age 18; and Richard, age 14, should have been included in
Tavner's household. [Census: 1850 Federal Population Schedule,
Tennessee, Hamilton Co, 27th Dist. page 477.]
Owin Holcoim deeded the NE quarter, Section 25, Range 5 West of Base
Line, Township to Tavner Martin on 23 Jan. 1852 for $200. The deed
did not include "about 34 acres in a deed of favor of McCallie and
Hook at Harrison, Tennessee." The deed was recorded on Feb. 17, 1852
in Hamilton County, Tennessee Deed Book 8, p. 601.
Tavner and Cynthia are listed on the 1860 Hamilton County, Tennessee
Census with Richard, age 25. (NOTE: the actual hand written census
lists "ROBERT", age 25, evidently this is "RICHARD") The family is
listed in Dwelling 166, District 4, page 26 and Tavner, age 70,
$6000, $12,000; is again listed as being born in NC and Cynthia, age
64, was shown being born in Virginia.[1860 Hamilton Co, TN, Dist. 1,
page 225, P.O. Chattanooga, family no. 1667.] Tavner is on the 1860
Slave Schedule, Tennessee, Hamilton Co, page 588. On the Slave
Schedule, District 17, Hamilton County, TN in 1860, it appears that
Tavner had several slaves.
Records indicate that Cynthia died July 1, 1862 in Wauhatahia,
Hamilton County, Tennessee.
The Dade Tax Records shows that Tavner paid taxes on $6000 in 1867 but
there was no land listed. Tavner died October 23, 1867 at the home of
his son, Dabney. Tavner died in 1867 at the home of his son, Dabney,
in Dade County, Georgia, and is buried in Wauhatchia, Hamilton County,
Tennessee. Tavner's estate was probated in Dade County, Georgia;
Misc. Estate Records, 1858-1877, page 588-641, Drawer 186, Box 25. On
Nov 19, 1867 the Dade County Will Book, p. 19, records, "Whereas
Tavner Martin late of . . . . . . The Index of Tennessee Probate,
Hamilton Co. 1864-76, p. 488 shows Dabney's attempt to collect monies
owed Tavner by Joel Cross.
"On the application of Dabney Martin, a citizen of Dade County,
Georgia, and it appearing from his petition which is sworn to that
Taverner Martin, his father, residing in said county of Dade and State
of Georgia in 1867, died intestate and that said Dabney Martin has
been appointed and qualified as administrator on said estate in
Georgia and that said intestate held at his death two notes for $2000
each and one for $1000 executed by Joel Cross for land in this county
in the Fourth Civil District to collect the same and to enforce
vendor's lien for the purchase and the said Dabney Martin having taken
oath and bond. It is ordered by the court that letters of special
administration be granted to the said Dabney Martin."
ARTICLES of SALE of TAVNER MARTIN, deceased
SUPERIOR COURT BOOK 'B':1865-76, p. 641.
1 Umbrella . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J.E. Patterson .50
1 Harness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robt. Paris .30
1 Bible, Testament, Hymnal . . . . . Hixie Martin Powell .10
1 Weims Life of Washington . . . . . Jas. Blevins .30
1 Dialogue of Devils
1 Pr. Hammer and Tongs
1 Small Lock Chain . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Shoab .55
1 Log Chain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J.E. Patterson 1.05
1 Drawing Chain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jas. Blevin .25
Tavner Martin lived right on the border of Dade and Hamilton Co, TN.
Peter Tittle, brother-in-law of Tavner's daughter, Hixie Martin
Powell, lived about 1/4 mile from Tavner. Hixie Martin & her husband,
Jesse Powell, lived next door to Peter Tittle. [Source:
"History of Dade County,Georgia" published by Espy Publishing Co. 1981
p.157.]
