A documentary look at the eight children of William Terry,
A "first marriage" has been theorized but unproven by local or regional records. Looking at social customs the fact was that couples could, and did, marry in private settings in social contracts (public witness to exchanged vows; in some cultures called a "hand-fast" ; they also married in religious settings without regard to state requirements of bonds, licenses, etc. Such could be expensive and discontent to paying money to a distant government was always a rankle). I have found evidence, just in examining early Quaker records, of instances where a couple had two weddings - months apart - because one was conducted out side the union of the fellowship in a state or other church setting. A complete wedding was conducted in a meeting house and the only marriage date recorded was the religious one.
With the many non-conformists (political and religious) who swept down the Appalachian trails prior to the Revolution (the Scots-Irish being just one such group) such an action in Botetourt would not be beyond possibilities. The assumption is that William is a son based on Wm and Rachel claiming him as such in a deed record. That is unproven and he could be a child fostered by Wm ; perhaps a child related by family but not William's.
Children of WILLIAM TERRY and RACHEL MANSON are:
i. William Terry jr, b. circa 1755; d. c 1825, Montgomery Co., Va; m. Patience COOPER.
1. Mentioned in deed of gift in 1771 for 100 acres on Black Run Branch of the Roanoke River, Augusta Co., Virginia. His birthdate is based on an assumption that he, according to British Common Law, would have been 21 to buy or own land (creating a 1750 birthdate). There were, however, some exceptions to this practice, and he could have been younger especially if this was a “deed of gift”. He is mentioned as son of William and Rachel and listed as a Wm J, inferring a “junior” designation. In this time period the Sr and Jr terms are not limited to father-son but can be used to designate a younger or older man with the same name. It can infer relationship but does guarantee it when seen in records.
2. He is mentioned in the will of James Cooper, Botetourt County, Va of 1782 where he is named both an administrator and as husband to James’ daughter, Patience Cooper.
3. Primarily a farmer, some of the military support, participation, and surveying work of the 1780’s through the 1790’s, may refer to this William and not his father (who is exempted from taxes after 1782 due to his age). The “other” possible for the more energetic activities of that time period is from the son of another set of Terry in the same locale (a second Jasper Terry with wife Margaret had a son, apparently, named William and noted in his will of 1819).
4. On the 1782 Tax List is a Wm Jr, wife Patience, 290 acres and 650 acres. Early Settlers Botetourt Co., Va.
5. His will was written in 1824 and probated in 1826 suggesting he died likely in 1825 or early 1826. He apparently had no children but names his wife Patience, her two nieces (daughters of her brother Washington Cooper)
iii. John Terry, b. 1760, Botetourt Co., Virginia; d. December 07, 1842, Perry Co., Indiana. He married Esther BROWN in Botetourt Co., Va in 1781. He appears only about four or five (found so far) times in local records.
1.One is when he married Esther Brown in Botetourt Co., Va 2 February 1781, with her brother, it is believed, standing surety for the couple (that means that John had to post a bond for the marriage license and if he failed to pay the required fees or failed to follow through with the marriage the costs, Thomas Brown agreed to meet the debt.).
2. The second time is when it is noted that in 1781 William Terry, John Terry, and Miles Terry were all in Militia Company 12. Botetourt Co., Virginia, its Men1770-1777 by Charles Burton.
3. In 1782, in District 13, under Capt. Neeley's company were Miles Terry, John Terry and a William Horton (of note due to fact Miles marries a Hannah Horton)
4. In 1792, John Terry is listed as plaintiff in a case against John Velhart (defendant). Def found guilty paid court costs.
5. May 11, 1805, Botetourt Co., Va, John Terry by use of his brother-in-law Thomas Brown conveyed his 1/8 share of Wm Terry estate to John Persinger (who purchased a lot of land in the region); said estate land of Wm Terry was on Murray Run (alias Black Run), branch of the Roanoke, At the time John was living in Anderson (Formerly Knox and former general area of Hawkins Co. where his son William was born in 1785) Co., Tennessee.
6. 1805, Anderson Co., Tennessee John Terry and Josiah Terry are listed. It is assumed this is his oldest son Josiah (who will move to Scott Co., TN). Tax list.
7. 1814, Anderson Co., Tennessee, John Terry listed. This is about the time he and his large family, minus some of the oldest children, will migrate into Perry Co., Indiana. Sons Josiah, William, John Jr. will all move away from the main group (although John Jr. and William will be in Indiana for a time) before migrating to Arkansas.
8. In 1820 the Perry Co., Indiana census will reflect the presence of John Terry, his sons Thomas and Elias.
iv. Miles Terry, b. 1762, Botetourt Co., Virginia; md Hannah HORTON, d. Aft. 1810, Elliott Co., Kentucky.
1. Miles Terry is listed in 1781 in Company 12 along with William Terry and John Terry. Burton's Botetourt Co., Va, its Men 1770-1777.
2. Jan 30, 1782, Miles married Hannah HORTON, probably daughter of the William Horton or Joseph Horton in the area. Witnesses and surety was provided by William Johnson, Caleb Wallace and Susannah Hancock (Diary Aug 26).
3. In the 13th District under Capt. Neely August 31, 1782.
4. In 1783 he is listed for tax purposes in District under Capt. Neely's company (in the vicinity of Big Lick).
5. In 1785, tax enumeration had him again listed in Neeley's District. William Terry was also list but his was crossed out - supporting the idea this was the senior or elder William Terry who had been exempted from paying taxes due to his age.
6. In 1786, on March 14, Miles Terry was fined 20 pounds for breach of peace. Imprisoned for 8 days and bonded for 12 months and I day for insulting Samuel Eason (Capt. Easom), Gent. in execution of his office as magistrate. Acquitted of the 8 days on March 15. Annals of SW Virginia by Summers.
7. In 1787 listed on tax list.
8. February 13, 1793, Miles Terry , Botetourt Co. Order Book, 1793-1797, pg8, "Miles Terry versus Terrys Ord. On motion of Miles Terry by his attorney it is order that, Rachel Terry, widow and relict of William Terry deceased, Jasper Terry, William Terry (of Montgomery Co), and Thomas Brown and wife Susannah Terry Brown (if this ciunty) by summoned to appear at April Court next to shew cause (if any they can) why the noncupative will of Said William Terry deceased shall not be admitted to record.
9. 1793-1794 several cases, apparently stemming from issues related to estate and land, involve Miles.
10. Next records seem to show him in Floyd Co., Kentucky circa 1808 (about the time the last of the estate was being sold by the eight heirs).
11. He is mentioned, in passing, in the Will of William Terry with wife Patience Cooper Terry in 1825 when William leaves an amount to Miles son Isaac Terry,
v. Susannah Terry, b. 1763, Botetourt Co., Virginia md Thomas BROWN, Jan.21, 1783, Botetourt Co., Witness and surety was Isaac Taylor. She died after 1793 and before 1818.
1. She is mentioned in marriage record of Botetourt Co.
2. She is mentioned in action of February 13, 1793, Miles Terry , Botetourt Co. Order Book, 1793-1797, pg8, "Miles Terry versus Terrys Ord. On motion of Miles Terry by his attorney it is order that, Rachel Terry, widow and relict of William Terry deceased, Jasper Terry, William Terry (of Montgomery Co), and Thomas Brown and wife Susannah Terry Brown (if this county) by summoned to appear at April Court next to shew cause (if any they can) why the noncupative will of Said William Terry deceased shall not be admitted to record.
3. She is primary in a document of April 20, 1818 a "Bargain of Indenture" filed in Botetourt Co., by her children Henry Brown, Keziah Brown Hannan, Esther Brown Blain and Mary Brown Thompson. The document explicitly identifies her as a) a child of William Terry and one of eight heirs, b) it specifically identifies the land in question as part of a 400 acre land patent given to William Terry in Sept of 1755 (identified in Kegley's as 10 Sept 1755) and c) identifies her children involved in the document (and the spouses in the case of female children).
vi. Jemima Terry, b. Abt. 1775, Botetourt Co., Virginia; m. Ezekiel Boucher, June 30, 1796, Botetourt County, Virginia; d. before May of 1797, Botetourt Co., Va.
1. She apparently dies before May of 1797 when Ezekiel remarries a --- Graham. Possibly related to a Graham who marries one of Jasper and Margaret Terry's daughters (Montgomery Co.). See discussion about there being possible two Jasper family groups.
2. Jemima, Keziah and Karon-Happuck were actually very popular names around the mid-1700's and they come from the Bible (the book of Job; they refer to daughters given to Job as a blessing after a time of great trial).
vii. Mercy Terry, b. Abt. 1762, Botetourt Co., Virginia; m. Jonathan Harrison.
Some gaps for Mercy Terry Harrison, marriage date, etc. She was alive in about 1808 to acquire other sibling's shares (as she is mentioned in the deed) and other documents state she and husband were in Claiborne, Tennessee. Some researchers are, apparently, confusing this Jonathan Harrison with another one in Surray Co., NC who married a Mildred. but they are two different ones according to the descendant line of Mercy and Jonathan. They had one son, Elisha Harrison, (c1780-1848) who married
1."Mercy Terry, wife of Jonathan Harrison, [received] her 1/8 share in her father William's estate."
2. They had a son Elisha Harrison, born 1780's, probably Virginia or Tennessee or Kentucky, who removed to Madison County, Kentucky where he married on 28 August 1805 to Ifa "Sookotosh" Baker, born 8 Aug 1790 in NC, the daughter of John "Renta" BAKER. Elisha and Ifa Baker Harrison raised their family of twelve in Madison and Estill Counties, Ky. Elisha died in Estill Co. in 1848, and Ifa Baker Harrison died in 1866 at the home of one of her sons, William Canady Harrison,
viii. Rachel Terry, b. Abt. 1770, Botetourt Co., Virginia; m. John Martin.
Some gaps for Rachel Terry Martin, marriage date, place, etc.
1. In 1808 (May 16) Jonathan Harrison, husband of Mercy Terry, sells land to John Persinger that had been land from John Martin and Rachel Terry Martin, representing her 1/8 share of the 300 acres of land belonging to her father, Wm Terry.
2. A John Martin (Jr. and Sr.) will show up in Hawkins Co., Tennessee (where her brother John Terry will see at least three children born circa 1785-1790); oddly, John's son William Terry in northern Arkansas will write a letter noting he had visited his cousins of "the old stock of Martin's" on a place called Pea Ridge. The Martin's there circa 1850 did indeed come from Hawkins Co., TN. It has long been theorized that there may be a connection to Rachel Terry Martin in that group.
3. Where and when she died, who her children were, is largely a mystery.
4. It may be of interest to note that in 1782 that in Botetourt there was a Capt Joshua Martin heading up one of the militia companies. Could this be a father to John? A relative?
CONCLUSION:
As can be clearly seen producing information about each child can go a long way toward clarifying family trees, outline areas where research is needed, and places where DNA could really be beneficial.
So, add only those "facts" that can be supported by documentary evidence, superior family traditions, and solid DNA leads.
Before you "click and connection" in an online tree ask the question "Where is the evidence?"
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