Little Family History and Genealogy
Some Descendants of Samuel Little and Elizabeth "Betsy" Boone
Samuel Little, born 4 Feb 1777 in Rowan County, North Carolina, died 8 May 1831, possibly in Smith County, Tennessee. His parents have been tentatively identified as John Little, Sr. and Bellany Erwin.
He married 14 Aug 1801 in Rowan County, North Carolina Elizabeth "Betsy" Boone, born 3 Mar 1786 in Rowan County, North Carolina, died 23 Mar 1827, possibly in Smith County, Tennessee. She was the daughter of John Boone and Rebecca Bryan. By 1811, the family was living in Lincoln County, Tennessee where a number of deeds are recorded for Samuel Little. One dated Nov 1811, appoints Samuel Little as overseer of the road from Touchstone's to Swan Creek. In November 1814, Samuel Little is again overseer of the road in the Swan Creek area. A Deed of Sale dated 31 Dec 1811 [Vol C1, pp 147-148], Samuel Little buys from John Wilson (Samuel's brother-in-law?), 100 acres on a creek that runs into Swan Creek and Elk River. The land was part of a grant of 3400 acres to John Wilson from the state of North Carolina, patent dated 6 June 1797 No. 1423.
Lincoln County Pioneers, Vol II, No 3 contains an article on the Hephzibah Reform Presbyterian Church. It states: "This once flourishing congregation was situated along the Elk River, near Fayetteville...The congregation was organized June 12, 1812, as the Elk Congregation, by Rev. John Reilly of South Carolina, and Elder William Edgar, of Duck River, with eighteen members. At this time Samuel Little and Alexander Morton were chosen ruling Elders."
The dates of birth and death for Samuel and Betsy and their children are from information assembled by their gr-gr-granddaughter, Ethel Richardson. It is not known where she obtained the dates, possibly from a family Bible. If you can provide additional documentation for these facts, please contact Pat.
Children of Samuel and Elizabeth (Boone) Little:
i. John Angus Little, born 3 July 1802 in Rowan County , North Carolina, died 20 Oct 1874 at West Fork, Washington County, Arkansas, buried at West Fork Cemetery, West Fork, Washington, Arkansas. John married Margaret Johnson about 1829 in Lincoln County, Tennessee. Margaret was born in 1809 in Lincoln County, Tennessee. She died on 20 Mar 1884 in West Fork, Washington County, Arkansas. She was buried in West Fork Cemetery, West Fork, Washington, Arkansas.
John is mentioned in a Bedford County TN court decree [Minute Book 1863-66] dated 15 August 1864 that is part of the Montgomery Little estate. Another entry dated January 1866 indicates John is NOT a resident of the state of Tennessee.
John's descendants in register format.
RESEARCHERS:
Mary Clark mclark@locl.net
Janet Lindeman Fiore jitters344@@yahoo.com
ii. Rebecca Little, born about 2 April 1804, died in Middle Tennessee. She married Joseph Davis. Rebecca is mentioned in a Bedford County TN court decree [Minute Book 1863-66] dated 15 August 1864 that is part of the Montgomery Little estate. Another entry dated January 1866 indicates Rebecca Davis is NOT a resident of the state of Tennessee.
The 1850 Census of Polk County Tennessee lists a Joseph Davis (38) with Rebecca (34) and the following children: Elizabeth (14), Wm (9), Isaac (6), Frances (4), and John (1 month).
iii. William Little, born 29 Jan 1806 in North Carolina, died 1 Sep 1875 in Bedford County, Tennessee, buried at Willow Mount Cemetery, Shelbyville, Bedford, Tennessee.
He married 9 Jul 1837 Lucy Caroline Clary, born 4 Feb 1818 in Alabama, died 28 Jan 1876 in Bedford, Tennessee, buried at Willow Mount Cemetery, Shelbyville, Bedford, Tennessee.
William Little served in the legislature as a member of the House, 31st General Assembly 1855-1857 representing Bedford County, Tennessee. William was the administrator or the estates of both of his brothers, Montgomery and Benjamin.
William's descendants in register format.
RESEARCHERS:
Joyce Ann Fletcher (last known e-mail addy) freckles@onslowonline.net
iv. Benjamin Little, born 10 Jul 1808, died 19 May 1861 in Columbia, Arkansas, buried in Willow Mont Cemetery, Shelbyville, Bedford, Tennessee.
Benjamin and his brother Chauncey were killed in the explosion of the Confederate ship Kentucky. The Fayetteville Observer dated May 30, 1861 contained the following obituary: "On Sunday morning 19th inst. the Steamer Kentucky exploded her mad receiver at Columbia Arkansas on the Mississippi River by which eleven persons were killed. Benjamin and Montgomery Little (brothers) of Bedford County were so badly scalded that they died....defective iron caused the accident. (Note wrong name, Montgomery did not die until 1863.)
Benjamin Little died in testate and left a sizeable estate. His heirs are listed as his brothers and sisters. There are numerous court documents recorded in Bedford County Tennessee listing his heirs and the spouses of his sisters. One of them indicated that Benjamin owned land in Arkansas, Mississippi, the western part of Tennessee near Memphis and in the city of New Orleans.
As many of the loose court records in Tennessee have been burned, complete research of this estate was not possible.
v. Samuel Little, born 4 May 1810 in Rowan County, North Carolina, died 19 Nov 1888 at Mimosa, Lincoln County, Tennessee, buried at Alexander Cemetery, Lincoln County, Tennessee. Samuel's first wife has been identified as Martha Strong, the daughter of John Strong and sister of Mary Strong. Martha died sometime between 1940 and 1942.
Samuel married 19 Aug 1842 in Lincoln County, Tennessee Sarah Jane Jones, born 7 Jan 1821 in Tennessee, died 15 Aug 1897 at Fayetteville, Lincoln, Tennessee, buried at Alexander Cemetery, Lincoln, Tennessee.
She was the daughter of Daniel Jones and Mary Toney.
From A Standard History of Oklahoma Vol IV, By Joseph B. Thoburn. The American Historical Society, Chicago & New York, 1916. "Samuel Little is a native son of North Carolina...From North Carolina he moved to Smith County, Tennessee, and then to Lincoln County, where he was married, and where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a successful farming man and stockgrower, and was a leader in his community all his days. He was a relative of Daniel Boone, that historic old character, and was himself an interesting raconteur of pioneer tales. He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was for forty years a steward of its service."
Samuel died in testate but the probate records list his heirs and give his daughters married names. Samuel was a farmer and he and Sarah lived on the farm in which Sarah had a life estate by way of her father's will.
Lincoln County TN Pioneers (Vol VI, No 1) contains an article on the Providence Methodist Episcopal Church. Among those listed as members are Samuel and Sarah Jane Little; William R. Little; Benjamin G. and Emma Little; John Wesley and Elizabeth Jean and their children; and Martha Pitts and some of her family.
Samuel's descendants in register format.
RESEARCHERS:
Patricia Little Geary - all lines
Jeanette Taylor Vielhaber - (Samuel's daughter, Elizabeth) VielhaberJ@aol.com
Mary Jane "M. J." Rogers - (Samuel's daughter Sarah) crogers@nc.rr.com
vi. Martha "Patsy" Little was born 1 Jul 1812, died 20 Oct 1887. She is buried in the Rover Cemetery, Bedford County, Tennessee. She married Wiley Preston Chick. Wiley was born on 11 Nov 1812. He died in 1862.
Patsy Chick is mentioned in a Bedford County TN court decree [Minute Book 1863-66] dated 15 August 1864 that is part of the Montgomery Little estate. Another entry dated January 1866 indicates Wiley P. Chick is NOT a resident of the state of Tennessee.
Martha's descendants in register format.
vii. Chauncey Little, born 18 Jul 1814, died19 May 1861 at Columbia, Arkansas, buried at Willow Mont Cemetery, Shelbyville, Bedford, Tennessee. Chauncey was killed with his brother Benjamin listed above. The 1860 census shows Chauncey living with his brother in New Orleans.
viii Emily Little, born 19 Sep 1816 in North Carolina, died 17 Jun 1889, buried at Simpson Family Cemetery, Rover, Bedford, Tennessee. She first married 2 Oct 1834 Alfred S. Weaver, born 14 Oct 1809 in Tennessee, died 26 Feb 1848 in Tennessee, buried at Simpson Family Cemetery, Rover, Bedford, Tennessee.
She married again about 1851 to Alfred L. Little, born 1813.
Emily's descendants in register format.
ix. Elizabeth Little married a man named Taylor. He was probably dead at the time of the estate settlement of her brothers Benjamin and Montgomery as his name is never mentioned.
x. Montgomery Little, born 18 Jul 1825, died 8 Mar 1863 at Thompsons Station, Tennessee, buried at Willow Mount Cemetery, Shelbyville, Bedford, Tennessee.
From Tennesseans in the Civil War - A Military History of Confederate and Union Units with available Rosters of Personnel, Part 1; The Civil War Centennial Commission, Nashville, TN, 1964; pg 16-17 states: "FORREST'S ESCORT...This company was recruited at the instance of Nathan Bedford Forrest shortly subsequent to his promotion to brigadier general, by Captain Montgomery Little, a native of Bedford County who had been, before the war, a planter and business man in Memphis. It was made up mainly of men from Bedford County, a part of which is now Moore County, who were assembled in Shelbyville in September and moved from there to Murfreesboro just before the town was temporarily occupied by a Federal raiding force....After taking part in the demonstration against Nashville on November 6, they moved with Forrest to his West Tennessee Raid, and from there to the frequent fighting around Spring Hill, Thompson's Station, where Little was killed."
The 1860 census shows Montgomery Little living in New Orleans. His brother Chauncey is living with him Montgomery Little also died in testate and court records list his brothers and sisters as his heirs.
