Jefferson County GaArchives Biographies.....Key, Tandy Clarke May 19, 1763 - February 4, 1801 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Lois Harrison Colwell http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007623 February 10, 2012, 6:59 am Source: Unpublished Family Biography Author: Lois Harrison Colwell TANDY CLAKE KEY JEFFERSON COUNTY, GEORGIA Tandy Clarke Key was born 19 May 1763 in Amherst County, Virginia to Henry and Mary (Clarke) Key.[family bible] About 1774 Tandy removed, with his family, to the 96th District/Edgefield County, South Carolina. [father's land sale deed]. Tandy was young when the Revolutionary War broke out. “Henry Key, Jr. and William Key, brothers of Tandy Clark Key, joined Marion's band and became early members of Marion's army. Tandy Key was only 12 at the beginning of the war but he was eager to join the Patriots. He had grown up on the farm of his parents and was adept at handling farm animals, including horses and mules. Finally, after much wrangling, he was permitted to join then Lt. Colonel Francis Marion's forces at the age of 14 in 1777. Because of his youth he was taken in as a wagoneer in support of Marion's and his brothers forces.” [Jim Holt's SAR paper] By 1783 we believe Tandy has moved to Burke County, Georgia where he marries Mary Harvey, the daughter of Blassingame and Drucilla Harvey, residents of Burke County.[DAR Lineage Chart by Jacksonia Watt Wood]. On the 23rd of October 1784, Elizabeth Key, daughter of Tandy and Mary is born. [Bostick Bible Record, 1850 Shelby Co., TN census] In 1785, June 25 issued to Tandy Key twenty one pound fifteen shills g and Eight pence , ½ Sterling for Militia Duty also for waggon service per account audited Principal L21..15..8 ½ annual In s..L1..10..5. [Stub Entries to Indents issued in payment of Claims Against South Carolina growing out of the Revolution – Books R-T – Edited by A. S. Salley, Jr., Secretary of the Historical Commission of South Carolina, printed for The Historical Commission of South Carolina by The State Company, Columbia, S.C. 1917] In September of 1789, Tandy is listed with the rank of 2nd Lt. Militia of Burke County, Second Battalion, Sixth Company. [Georgia Governors' Journals 1789-1798 County, State and Militia Officers, abstracted by Judy Swaim Kratovil, p. 186 & 187] Tandy is still dealing in land outside Georgia when in April of 1791, Tandy buys 100 acres on Cuffey Town Creek in Edgefield, South Carolina from Joseph Tucker. [Deed Book 5, p. 59] About 1791, Tandy and Mary have another daughter, Mary E. Key, born in Burke County. [year date based on Guardianship papers at GDAH] On August 9, 1791 Tandy Clarke Key sells land to his brother, Henry. Edgefield County Deed book 20, p. 59 shows: “Tandy Clarke Key and wife Mary of Burke County, Georgia, planter, to Henry Key of Edgefield, planter. Deed, 9 August 1791, L200, two hundred acres on Turkey Creek, granted by Gov. Thomas Boone. Wit John Paullett, Marshall Martin. /s/Tandy Clark Key, /s/ Mary (x) Key. Proven 9 December 1791 by Marshall Martin; Aquilla Miles J. P. Rec. 3 August 1801.” In the same Deed Book, pgs 59-60 is the sale of land Henry Key left to his son, Tandy Clarke Key. “Tandy Clark Key & wife Mary of Burke County, Georgia, planter, to John Burress, planter. L&R, 9 August 1791, L150, 500 acres Coon Creek a branch of Turkey Creek being the residue of 950 acres granted to Henry Key decd by Lt Gov Wm Bull 21 April 1774 whereof 450 being part thereof given by the deceased to Millinda Letcher [daughter], the remaining 500, hereby to be sold, by will of sd Henry Key bequeathed to Tandy Clark Key, sd 500 acres bounded by lands of Yarbrough & Waring, sd Key, Millinda Letcher. Wit Marshall Martin, Henry Key. /s/ Tandy Clark Key, /s/ Mary (x) Key. Proven 9 December 1791 by Marshall Martin; Aquilla Miles J.P. Rec 3 August 1801.” From The Headright and Bounty Grants of Georgia, 1756-1909, Revised Edition, Edited by The Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas, Jr, we find on page 360, Tandy C. Key being granted land in Burke County, 400 acres in 1792. That same year, 1792, Tandy and Mary have a son, Henry Key born in Burke County, Georgia.[Probate court documents, Jefferson County, GA.; Key and Allied Families Book by Lane.] In 1794 Tandy Clarke Key looses his dear friend, Thomas Drake. He is appointed Executor, with others, on the Will of Thomas Drake. That same year he and Mary become parents to a son, William Key, born in Burke County, Georgia. On February 20, 1796 Louisville is no longer located in Burke County, now in Jefferson County and the lands of Tandy C. Key are also now located in Jefferson County, Georgia. Louisville became the capitol of Georgia from 1796 to 1804. That same year, 1796 Tandy and Mary have son, John Key, born in Jefferson County, Georgia. John, we believe, died young. [Jefferson Co., Probate Papers] Tandy is listed among others as one of the Grand Juror in Jefferson County, Georgia July 3, 1797. Others listed who are family members or good friends, Bass Harvey, Sr., John Dupree, John Paulett, James Neely, Jesse Paulett, William Paulett, John Neely, Robert Fleming, John Hargrove and Cherly Bostick. [Some Georgia Records, Vol. 1, by The Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas, Jr., published by Southern Historical Press, p. 178] About 1798, Tandy and Mary have another son, Thomas Homer Key, born in Jefferson County, Georgia. That same year, 1798, Tandy is again listed as a Grand Juror in the October Term 1798 in the Superior Court. [Genealogical Material from Legal Notices in Early Georgia Newspapers, Abstracted by late Judge Folks Huxford, F.A.S.G.: The Augusta Chronicle & Gazette of the State – Augusta, Ga. (pg. 285) Jefferson County.] In the year, 1800 Blassingame Harvey dies and Drusillar Harvey, Tandy C. Key and John Paulett present the court with his Last Will and Testament. On December 23rd, 1800 Tandy and Mary became parents to Alice Naomi Key, their youngest known child. The Tax Digest Index for Jefferson county also list Tandy C. Key as paying taxes in 1799 and 1800. His estate is shown as paying taxes from 1801- 1816. Tandy's obit appears in the Louisville Gazette, 21 March 1801 [at U. of GA library]: “Died on the 4th February last, at his plantation in the neighbourhood of Louisville, Capt. Tandy C. Key, in the 36th [38] year of his age, he was an affectionate husband, a tender parent, a respectable and valuable officer.” At the time of his death, Tandy C. Key, owned [from the Probate Court Tax Digest Books 1802] 541 ½ acres on the Ogeechee waterway, neighboring Drake's land. He had 11 slaves and was located in Capt. Prince's district or 97th district which was on the east side of the creek/river. Tandy died in Testate. In March of 1801 it was ordered that Mary Key, George Jones and Samuel Andrew are Administrators of the estate of Tandy C. Key. The estate was finalized on the 4th day of November 1816. His children, all 21 now, received their divisions of property. “...to wit Lott Numbers one to be set a Side for the Widow of Said deceased now the wife of Frederick Morris, Lott No. 2 to Henry Key, Lott No. 3 to Mary E. Key, Lot No. 4 to William Key, Lott No. 5 to Naomi Key the wife of Samuel Key, Lot No. Six to Thomas H. Key...” dated 1st March 1819. His daughter Elizabeth was not mentioned, her husband, John G. Bostic signed the land division. It was somewhat difficult to find information on Tandy Clarke Key. The early records of both Burke and Jefferson Counties have been partially destroyed by fires. The Court House at Waynesboro was destroyed by fire in 1870, all records lost, except for a Will book and Deed book which the Clerk had taken home. According to the Georgia Dept. of Archives and History Jefferson county “had a fire and records were destroyed”. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/jefferson/bios/key377bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 8.2 Kb