HAWKINS COUNTY, TN - Biographical Sketches - Buck Stubblefield b. abt: 1824 d. 1890 ----¤¤¤---- A Biographical Narrative of William M. "Buck" Stubblefield Hawkins County, Tennessee Wife: 1st: Sarah Long d/o -?- 2nd: Nancy Northern d/o Davis & Sarah (-?-) Northern Parents: Probably Thomas & Martha (Bond) Stubblefield William M. Stubblefield was the son or possibly a grandson of Thomas and Martha (Bond) Stubblefield; Thomas was the son of Robert Loxley and Sarah (Easley) Stubblefield. William M. Stubblefield was one of Thomas' heirs and received Lot No. 1 in the division of his land. This division was directed by item six in Thomas' last Will and Testament, dated June 5, 1833. This research has been done in order to identify William M. Stubblefield after his last known Hawkins County land sale in 1849 and after his family was listed in the 1850 Hawkins County census. Based on the information that has been found to date, William M. "Buck" Stubblefield who wrote his last Will March 3, 1890 was William M. Stubblefield one of the heirs of Thomas Stubblefield. William M. Stubblefield married first Sarah Long, 1844, at Grainger County Tennessee. He married second about 1861, Nancy Northern. Buck was a blacksmith and lived in the 12th district near Galbraith Springs. Following is a summary of the information that has been found related to William M. Stubblefield. Starting with Thomas Stubblefield's Will, the division of Thomas' land among his eleven children, William M. Stubblefield's land transactions, William and Sarah's separation and divorce, William M. "Buck" Stubblefield's last Will, and finally a list of Buck Stubblefield's children. The identification of William M. Stubblefield is an on going project and new information when found will help us to better understand his life, in particular his birth parents. Partial Will of Thomas Stubblefield, Hawkins County, Tennessee. Will Book 1, Page 441. I, Thomas Stubblefield --- to my wife Patsey Stubblefield -- to my daughter Sally -- daughter Willemoth (who is in a helpless condition) -- Sixthly. It is my will that the balance of my land not hereby otherwise appropriated shall be equally divided amongst all my children as soon as may be convenient. -- Martin Moore and William Thompson of Grainger County and William Mayes, Hawkins County to be --- Executors --- the fifteenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three. Thomas X Stubblefield Witnesses present: John McAnally, Arthur X Bond, Flemming X Mayes Division (Partial) of Thomas Stubblefield's land as directed by his will, dated June 15, 1833. Hawkins County Tennessee, County Court Minute Book, Nov. 1824 to May 1837 Monday 5th September 1836, pg. 235 to 238 (Some words and boundary descriptions for the eleven lots have been omitted.) The Commissioners appointed at the last term of the court to divide the real estate of Thomas Stubblefield Decd. in conformity to the last will & Testament of the said Stubblefield, return their report to court and is in the words and figures as following to wit. -- and the following described lots of land was drawn and allotted to the following persons, to wit, Lot No 1 described in the plat here unto annexed was drawn and allotted to Wm Stubblefield -- containing 45 acres, Lot No 2 -- to Willemoth Stubblefield -- containing 34 acres, Lot No 3 -- to Orleana Stubblefield -- containing 31 acres, Lot No 4 -- to Mary Haywood formerly Mary Stubblefield who intermarried with Samuel Haywood -- containing 30 acres, Lot No 5 -- to America Stubblefield -- containing 27 acres, Lot No 6 -- to Thomas Stubblefield -- containing 40 acres. Lot No 7 to Nancy Mays formerly Nancy Stubblefield who intermarried with Fleming Mays -- containing 35 acres, Lot No 8 -- to Sally Long formerly Sally Stubblefield who intermarried with James Long -- containing 34 acres, Lot No 9 --- to Robert L. Stubblefield -- containing 33 acres, Lot No 10 -- to Susan Bridgewaters formerly Susan Stubblefield who intermarried with Henry Bridgewaters -- containing 26 acres. Lot No 11 --- to Martha Stubblefield -- containing 36 acres. Given under our hands & seals this 3rd day of September 1836. G. McCraw (Seal), Elisha Dodson (Seal), James L Etter (Seal), Thomas Cocke (Seal), William X McCarver (Seal) William M. Stubblefield's Sale and Purchase of Land (Prior to 1850) in Hawkins County, Tennessee 1. #William M. buys Lot No. 11 from James Long Sr. Deed Book 20 pg. 63, 1847 2. +William M. buys land adjacent to the heirs of Thomas Stubblefield from James Long Sr. Deed Book 20 pg. 63, 1847 3. William M. sold his interest in Lot No. 1 to James Long Sr. Deed Book 20 pg. 64, 1847. 4. *William M. sold his interest in Lot No. 11 to Hardy Johnson (Including his 1/11 share of dower land.) Deed Book 20 pg. 270, 1849 Land Transaction Notes: # James Long Sr. purchased Lot No. 11 from Hardy & Martha Long, 1842, Deed Book 18/12. +Disposition of this tract is not known. William T. Johnson & wife Minerva sold it in 1900 to Fen Stubblefield, Deed Book 50/311. No sale of this land by William M. Stubblefield has been found. The 1900 deed indicates that Hardy Johnson bought the land in 1849 from Thomas Stubblefield. This reference is a probable error. Minerva (Johnson) Johnson was one of Hardy's daughters and heir. Hardy is said to have removed to the southwest (Texas or Arizona) in the early 1860's. A will or division of Hardy's land needs to be located. They may give a clue as to how this section of land left William's possession. *This deed by William M. Stubblefield is informative because in it he states that he sells both his interest and any claim he may have to his mother's interest in Martha's dower land. He makes the following statement: "--- and also all the right title interest and claim that I the said William M. Stubblefield has in and to the Dower assigned to my mother Polly Stubblefield Deceased being a part of the tract of land on which Thomas Stubblefield died Seized and possessed of to the Said Hardy Johnson his heirs and assigns forever it being one 11th part of said Dower ---". This seems to indicate that William's mother was not Martha but the Polly Stubblefield deceased who was also assigned a one 11th share of the widows dower land. This Polly who was assigned a dower share must have been Thomas' daughter Mary "Polly" b. Apr 20, 1810. She married Samuel Haywood ca. 1830. Samuel and Mary moved to Greene County Ind. ca. 1832/33 and she died there in 1860. Mary would have been about fourteen years old at the time of William's birth ca 1824. The Greene County Indiana 1850 census, Taylor Twp., indicates that Samuel & Mary's daughter Martha, age seventeen, was born (ca 1833) in Indiana and also all other children after that date. William would have been about six years old when Polly married Samuel Haywood, and about eight years old when they removed to Indiana. It appears that William was raised as one of Thomas and Martha's own children and perhaps he thought Polly was dead when he sold any interest he had in her dower share. Hardy Johnson may have also thought she was dead and had William give up any claim to her one 11th share to gain a clear title to the dower land (Why did he not also give up any claim to Lot No. 4?). Samuel and Mary Haywood had sold her Lot No. 4 and her one 11th share of the dower land to Fleming Mays, 1837, Deed Book 16/5. Fleming and Nancy Mays sold Lot No. 4 & dower interest to William Mays, 1842, Deed Book 18/95. William Mays sold the same to Hardy Johnson, 1845, Deed Book 19/188. The fact that William M. Stubblefield was a child of Thomas Stubblefield is confirmed by Henry & Susannah Bridgewater, Deed Book 16/102 where this statement is made: "-- the deceased (Thomas Stubblefield) made a last will and testament leaving a widow and eleven children --". William M. Stubblefield being one of the eleven children to share in the division of Thomas' land. William M. Stubblefield, son or grandson of Thomas and Martha (Bond) Stubblefield? William M. Stubblefield married his first wife Sarah Long, 4 May 1844 at Grainger County, Tennessee. She apparently was a resident of Grainger County and may have been related to the Long husbands of four of his sisters. (Sarah m. James Long (Sr.), Orlena/Orleana m. Robert Wesley Long, America m. (another) James Long, and Martha m. Hardy/Hardin Long) When the 1850 census was taken William and Sarah were living adjacent to Thomas' widow Martha Stubblefield. William Stubblefield, age 26, laborer - Sarah, age 26 - Martha, age 4 - John, age 2. This is the only William Stubblefield with wife Sarah listed in the 1850 Hawkins County census and is surely William M. Stubblefield although no middle initial is given. No other William and Sarah Stubblefield are listed in the 1850 Grainger County, Tennessee census. By 1850 William M. Stubblefield had apparently sold all of the land that he had received as one of Thomas's heirs. In 1850 William and Sarah must have been living on land that he did not own. Why William M. would sell all of his land when he had just recently married in 1844 is an unanswered question. The sale could have been in conjunction with a plan to relocate. When William M. Stubblefield sold his land in 1847 and 1849 no wife is named relinquishing her dower rights to the property. (James Long Sr., husband of Sarah Stubblefield also did not include her in his land sales, even though some of the property was her inheritance from her father Thomas.) On 2 June 1858 William M. Stubblefield was tried for the malicious wounding of William S. Creed. The jury in the case was sequestered for several days before reaching a verdict on 5 June. William was found guilty as charged and sentenced to a term of two years in the "Penitentiary House" of the State. William entered a request for a new trial and was set free after he and his sister's husband, James Long, each posted a $1000 bond to guarantee his future court attendance. Both he & William Creed were placed under a $1000 Peace Warrant that stated they would "keep the peace towards the good citizens of the State of Tennessee" for a year and a day, and more particularly toward each other. At the 5 October 1858 Circuit Court session a ruling of Nolle Prosequi (We shall no longer Prosecute) was entered in favor of William. During the time William was charged and went to trial both William S. Creed and William's wife, Sarah (Long) Stubblefield were charged by the State with Lewdness & Adultery. Creed said at the 7 October 1858 Court: "..... he cannot deny but that he is guilty in manner and form as charged and submits to the mercy of the Court ...." He was fined $10 and ordered to pay the cost of the prosecution. A ruling of Nolle Prosequi was handed down in the State vs. Sarah Stubblefield case and William Creed paid the cost of her prosecution. On 11 February 1859 William Stubblefield reminded the court that William S. Creed remained under a Peace Warrant and Creed was charged with assault and battery upon James Long. Creed was given a trial by jury on 6 October 1859, found guilty, fined $15 and ordered to pay the cost of the prosecution. William and Sarah lived apart after this series of trials. No divorce has been found but it is assumed that it was final prior to William's 1861/62 second marriage to Nancy Northern. Sarah had removed to Hamilton County, Tennessee before 1860 where she was listed in the census of that county. Sarah Stubblefield, age 36, Domestic, Martha, age 15, John, age 12, & Mary, age 8. It is not known if Sarah remarried in or after 1860. She has not been found in the 1870 or 1880 census. William S. Creed continued to live with his wife, Tabitha, in Hawkins County. William Stubblefield, age 40, laborer, is listed in the 1860 Hawkins County census living with the Thomas Amis household. The 1870 census W. M. Stubblefield, age 50, can be readily identified as William M. Stubblefield because he is now married to Nancy Northern and his three oldest children are also listed. He is probably the 1860 census William Stubblefield listed with the Thomas Amis household because he is now 10 years older than the 1860 census William. The 1880 census lists Buck Stubblefield, age 56, his wife Nancy (Northern), and all seven of his known children. (Note that Buck's age gives a birth date ca. 1824 which is the same year as the 1850 census William Stubblefield.) Buck Stubblefield is clearly the William M Stubblefield who made his last will in 1890. In this will he names all of his living children who were listed in the 1880 census. His wife Nancy is not named and probably died prior to 1890. There is no other known William M. Stubblefield other than Buck Stubblefield of comparable age and with the same birth year living in either Hawkins County or Grainger County who could have been the descendant of Thomas and Martha (Bond) Stubblefield. Nor has a William M. Stubblefield been found to date in another Tennessee County or another state. Both William M. "Buck" Stubblefield and William M. Stubblefield (heir of Thomas) were literate or at least could sign their own names. Signatures of both that are found on recorded documents use their middle initial M. William M. Stubblefield on his marriage bond to Sarah Long, on his sale deeds made in 1847 and 1849, and on Buck's 1890 last Will. Both signed their first name as either William or Wm. Buck served in the Confederate Army and is listed as Wm. M. Stubblefield on a muster roll of Company D, 63rd Tennessee Infantry Regiment. My conclusion is that Buck and William M. are one and the same, William M. Stubblefield, one of the heirs of Thomas Stubblefield who died between 1833 and 1836 at Hawkins County, Tennessee. Buck Stubblefield, blacksmith, lived in the area of Galbraith Springs in the 12th district and was associated with the Galbraith family. The 1870 census shows that he was a near neighbor of Joseph Galbraith who is mentioned in the will. J. M. Hardwick who is the executor of his will was married to one of Joseph Galbraith's nieces. Buck sold his house and property to Joseph's sons E Andrew and Hugh. Buck's home and business was probably near the marble quarry because both the 1870 & 1880 census indicates that some of his neighbors were workers at the site. Perhaps his blacksmith shop supplied and repaired equipment for the quarrying operations. Will of William M. Stubblefield - Hawkins County, Tennessee - Will Book 1885 to 1921, Page No. 53 - 54 I William M. Stubblefield of the county of Hawkins and state of Tenn., being of sound mind do make this my last will. I give devise and bequeath my estate and property as follows, that is to say I have this day sold my house and land to E. A. & H. Galbraith for the sum of three hundred dollars ($300) and Joseph Galbraith is hereby instructed to make the deed to them for the land, the receipt of twenty fire dollars of which is hereby acknowledged, the balance of two hundred and seventy five dollars ($275) to be paid as follows in three equal annual installments of ninety one dollars, and sixty six cents ($91.66) each falling due in one, two and three years respectively, after possession is given of the place, with interest at the rate of six percent from the time possession is given of the place. To my son Thomas I give $20, to William I give one bed & my milk cow, to my son Andrew I give one bed and one third of all proceeds of sale of land, & one third of proceeds of sale of personal property, after all my debts are paid, to my daughter Amanda I give the same as to my son Andrew, -----, to my son Charley I give the same as to my son Andrew & my daughter Amanda, ----. I appoint J. M. Hardwick executor of this my last will. He will take charge of by business, and property immediately after my death. See that I have a decent burial then dispose of the property as he thinks to the best advantage. Pay all debts that I owe, then pay my son Thomas the sum of twenty dollars ($20) the amt. of his bequest. The balance will go to the three minors; Andrew, Amanda and Charley, and he will use his best judgment in paying to them, and is not to pay them any faster than their actual needs demand. It is agreed that I am to hold possession of the place where I now live to the end of my natural life. I will see that the buildings, fences, and fruit trees are properly cared for, then my executor will take charge of it as my will directs, and will secure suitable houses for the minor children. In witness hereof I have signed, and sealed and published and declared this instrument, as my last will. This March 3, 1890. William Stubblefield J. D. Laumer, Frederick Pangle I William M. Stubblefield of County of Hawkins and State of Tenn. hereby confirm my last will as made on the 3 March 1890. Wm Stubblefield Witt. Frederick Pangle, J. D. Laumer This will was presented at the Monday July 7, 1890 county court by J. M. Hardwick, and proved by J. D. Laumer & Frederick Pangle. Hardwick was approved executor thereof after providing bond and security. A recorded deed for the house and land sale to the E. Andrew & Hugh Galbraith has not been found in the Hawkins County deed books for 1890 through 1900. A deed for the purchase of the land has also not been found. William may have bought the property from Joseph Galbraith by way of a purchase agreement and didn't actually have the deed for the property in hand or he could have purchased the property from another and not registered the deed. In his will he stated that Joseph Galbraith was to make the deed for the property to E. A. & H. Galbraith. It may be difficult to determine William's land sale unless it is stated as such in the deed. There is one sale of land to E. A. & H Galbraith by Joseph that occurred in 1896. A detailed examination of this deed failed to determine if it was the William M. Stubblefield property. There is a possibility that Buck or Nancy could have received the land by way of an unknown person's last will. J. M. Hardwick the executor for William's estate was dead by October 1892 when James D. Wright was appointed administrator of his estate. E. A. Galbraith (at a date not yet determined) was appointed by the Court to be Administrator de bonis non of William Stubblefield's estate. April 1897, Order: "Whereas it appears to the Court now in session that there is Ten Dollars in the hands of T. J. Parrott clerk of this Court due Charles Stubblefield as an heir at law of W. Stubblefield Dec'd, and that his Guardian W. D. Russell has moved from the state it is ordered that T. J. Parrott clerk pay the Ten Dollars to said Charles Stubblefield and enter the same as a credit in favor of the Guardian W. D. Russell". In December 1897 as part of a Chancery Cause initiated by James & Amanda (Stubblefield) Earley, a new guardian was appointed by the Court to represent Charlie in the Case. The Chancery Cause by James and Amanda was brought against E. A. Galbraith to force an accounting of the money that came into his hands and also to the hands of the previous Administrator, J. M. Hardwick, from the estate of her father, William M. Stubblefield dec'd. The Case also requested an accounting of the amount that remained after debts and expenses were paid, the amount of each heir's share of the remainder and how much of each heir's share had not yet been distributed. At the 20 September 1898 Court a decree was handed down that stated: The share for each heir was $80.03 after all expenses had been paid from the estate funds. All funds had been distributed to each heir except Amanda Early was due $28.34 that included interest for the five years it had remained unpaid. This is the last known court entry pertaining to the final settlement of William's estate. His descendants know William M. as "Buck" Stubblefield. Buck married second, ca. 1861, Hawkins County, Nancy Northern b. ca. 1841, Tennessee, d/o of Davis & Sarah (-?-) Northern. Davis and Sarah had relocated from North Carolina to Hawkins County ca. 1840/41. Buck's last Will makes no mention of his children from his failed first marriage to Sarah Long. Buck Stubblefield's Children First wife: Sarah Long 1. Martha Stubblefield: b. ca. 1844, d. unk. m. J. M. King, 1860, Hamilton County, Tenn. 2. John Stubblefield: b. ca. 1848, d. unk. m. Lucinda Figgins, 1872, Hamilton County, Tenn. 3. Mary J. Stubblefield: b. ca. 1858, d. unk. m. David H. Murphy, 1874, Hamilton County, Tenn. Second wife: Nancy Northern 4. Thomas Stubblefield: b. ca. 1862, d. 1942, m. 1st Lou Mitchell, 1888, Hawkins County Tenn. m. 2nd Phoebe Jane Richards, 1907, Hawkins County. Tenn. 5. William M. Stubblefield (Jr.): b. Oct 31, 1864, d. Nov 1, 1956, m. Rachel P. Winstead, 1887, Hawkins County Tenn. 6. James Stubblefield: b. ca. 1866. James must have died between the 1880 census date and March 3, 1890, the date of William's will. 7. Alice Stubblefield: b. ca. 1870, died between the 1880 census date and March 3, 1890. Alice is said to have died in an accident on her wedding day when she was seventeen years old. This would have been about 1887. 8. Andrew Jackson Stubblefield: b. Jul 4, 1871, d. Nov 29, 1960, m. Fannie Kate Catren, 1897, Hawkins County Tenn. 9. Amanda Melissa "Mandy" Stubblefield b. Dec 25, 1873, d. Feb 22, 1969, m. James M. Early, 1894, Hawkins County Tenn. 10. Charles "Charlie" Stubblefield: b. ca. 1878, enlisted in the army and never returned to Hawkins County. After inquires by the family the US government is said to have supplied the information that Charlie had married and was dead at the time of the inquiry. Location and details of Charlie's marriage & death are not remembered. *********************************************************************** - Author's Notes - Spouses for Sarah's three children have not been proven and are presented only for future research. They were obtained from the marriage records of Hamilton County, Tenn. Rev. 0: 23 August 2004 Updates will be made as new information is found or errors corrected.) *********************************************************************** ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Roger T. 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