Friday, February 13, 2026

Four William Harrisons and their land records(Bedford Co. TN Dist.9)

I am currently working through the grants, deeds, and land records for William Harrison in Bedford County, Tennessee, focusing on the period 1812–1833. This is not an easy task, largely because four men named William Harrison appear as heads of household within just three pages of one another in the 1830 U.S. Federal Census for Bedford County.

I can confidently identify two of these men. On page 83, the enumerations include my fourth great-grandfather, William Harrison, as well as his son, William Harrison, who appears in a younger age category. The remaining two William Harrisons, however, are more difficult to separate. All four households are clustered along the Alexander Creek waterway, share overlapping neighbors, and are located in District 9, which provides little help in distinguishing them.

1830 US Federal Census
From my spreadsheet of the
1830 US Federal Census of Bedford Co. TN
Sorted on the Surname Harrison

The four William Harrisons enumerated in Bedford County in 1830 appear as follows:
Page 81: William Harrison, age 40–49, neighboring Tyre Harrison (b. 1780-1789)
Page 82: William Harrison, age 50–59 (b. 1770-1779)
Page 83: William Harrison, age 20–29 (my third great-granduncle b. 1808)
Page 83: William Harrison, age 80–89 (my fourth great-grandfather b. 1750 )

Additional men of the same name appear in neighboring counties. Just north of Bedford County, a William H. Harrison (age 20–29) is enumerated in Rutherford County, Tennessee. To the west, Williamson County includes two William Harrisons (ages 30–39 and 40–49), as well as a William P. Harrison (age 40–49).
1820 US Federal Census

Stepping back to the 1820 US Federal Census for Bedford County TN shows there is only one Wm Harrison as head of household.  His son William is still living within his household at this point.  The two William Harrisons and William P. Harrison are already established in Williamson County in 1820.

William H. Harrison does not appear in the 1820 Rutherford County census, suggesting that he was likely still residing in his parents’ household at that time. In later years, this William H. Harrison interacted with the Culverhouse and Primrose families and is on the 1836 and 1837 Bedford County District 9 Tax List. This is important to note since in later years Thomas Culverhouse married Nancy Harrison Hight, the widowed daughter of William Harrison (my fourth great-grandfather). It is unclear how or if this William H Harrison is connected to my Harrison line.

Interestingly enough, there are NO William Harrison head of households in the 1840 US Federal Census for District 9 of Bedford County TN.  The elder William Harrison died in 1833 and his son was dead before 1851 and possibly before 1840 unless he moved off to another area. I have written notes following each of the land record citations on anything I thought could help to distinguish which Wm Harrison was involved in each record.

Officers Ordered to New Orleans(Oct 29th 1814)


The Clarion and Tennessee State Gazette, November 1, 1814, p 3,Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-clarion-and-tennessee-state-gazette/191243030/ : accessed February 13, 2026).

Transcribed as published complete with misspellings 

Sunday, February 01, 2026

Will of John William Manier- Marshall Co TN(1843)


Abstract of the Will of John William Manier / Manire
My 4th Great Grandfather


Marshall Co TN Wills

To daughter, Elizabeth Bennett
Negroes--Mary?(woman) Narcissa(girl) Jack(boy)
other items:  desk, bedstead, bed and furniture.

To son, John:
Negroes--Bob and Syntha
other items--Bed(which I now lie on), cupboard and one wooden clock
The land(whereon I now live) if he will move and live on it or if not to sell with proceeds split among heirs.

To lawful heirs of son, Lemuel:
Negroes--Jenny and her children(Sam, Mary and Edmond)
other items--2 plain beds and one sugar chest

To son, Thomas' daughter Nancy Freeman:
Negroes--Angeline(girl) and Henderson(boy)
other items--2 plain beds & furniture and one bureau

Written:  31st March 1843
John W Manier
Proved:  April 1844

Test:
Jas Williams
J F Ferguson
M D Wilson

From his Will  --11 Enslaved
Adult Females: Syntha, Mary, & Jenny (3)
Adult Males: Bob (1)
Children female: Narcissa, Mary, Angeline (3)
Children males:  Jack, Sam, Edmond, Henderson  (4)

Enslaved From 1840 Census entry of John W Manier of Marshall Co TN.
Males- Under 10  3  
Males- 24 thru 35     1  (Likely Bob)
Females- Under 10   1  
Females- 10 thru 23  2  
Females- 24 thru 35  2  


Sources:

1840 US Federal Census, Marshall County Tennessee, p 186, John W Manier household; images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YYL-9RMT accessed: 28 Jan 2026), IGN 5154903,image 377 of 814. 

Marshall County Tennessee Wills Vol. A-C 1835-1855, Vol A, p 72; images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S7WF-S22V-Q9 : accessed 28 January 2026), IGN 4776400, image 61 of 765.

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

George & Kate Solifelt's Divorce-Dauphin Co. Penn.(1869)

I found a Proclamation in Divorce to George T Solifelt several years back but I've finally found a newspaper personal that shows it was granted to his wife listed as Catherine A Solifelt. The Proclamation was published in the newspaper on December 9th  of 1868.  

Information from the proclamation
"Whereas Catharine A Solifelt, by her next friend David Pruner, plaintiff, did on the 23d day of June 1868, prefer  her petition to the Judges of our Court of Common Pleas of the County of Dauphin, praying for the causes therein set forth, that she might be divorced from the bonds of matrimony entered into with Gorge T. Solifelt:"

This was before the Honorable John J Pearson, President of our said Court at Harrisburg on the 27th of November, A.D. 1868
Below is my transcription of the newspaper personal which tells about the outcome of the case.

Image created using ChatGPT
Personal
Catharine A Solifelt vs. George T. Solifelt.--No. 223, August Term, 1868--Divorce--February 4, 1868--On motion of F.K. Boas, attorney for libellant, Court decree a Divorce in the above stated case, and order George T. Solifelt to pay the costs. Feb61t*

[Note: I believe there is an error in the February 4, 1868 date(above) and that it should be 1869.]

You can find out more about the lives of George Solifelt & Kate by searching on the name, SOLIFELT on the blog's search function in the upper left corner.

Sources:
"Personal Catharine A Solifelt vs George T. Solifelt," Harrisburg Telegraph(PA), 6 Feb 1869, p 2, c 7; digital images, Newspapers.com(https://www.newspapers.com/article/harrisburg-telegraph-divorce-catharine-a/189501437/: accessed 21 Jan 2026).

"Proclamation in Divorce to George T Solifelt," Harrisburg Telegraph, December 9, 1868, p 3, c 7; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/harrisburg-telegraph-proclamation-in-div/96980881/ : accessed January 21, 2026).

Wednesday, January 07, 2026

Wm C Cook's Receipt From Robert Mathews' Store

Robert Mathews was a Merchant in Shelbyville.  He was enumerated in District 7  of Bedford County, Tennessee during the 1850 & the 1860 censuses.  

1850 US Federal Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, 
District 7, Shelbyville, p 140(stamped), Dwelling 6 Family 6
Robert Mathews 36 M Merchant $10,000(Real Estate) Ireland
Mary Ann Mathews 30 F Tennessee
William V? Mathews 9 M Tennessee
Martha Mathews 7 F Tennessee
Virginia B. Mathews 5 F Tennessee
Margaret A. Mathews 3 F Tennessee
Robert Mathews Jr. 7/12 M Tennessee

1860 US Federal Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, 
District 7 Shelbyville p 185 (stamped), Dwelling 555 Family 555
Robert Mathews 45 M W Merchant  Ireland $10,000(real estate)  $5,000(personal estate)
Wm Mathews 19 M W Tennessee
Martha Mathews 17 F W Tennessee
Virginia Mathews 14 F W Tennessee
Robert Mathews 10 M W Tennessee
Margaret Mathews 12 F W Tennessee
Erwen Mathews 9 M W Tennessee

Robert is mentioned in  U.S., Freedmen's Bureau Records, 1865-1878 at Ancestry,  
  • A letter signed by C M Kingman 1st Lt 152 Illinois Vol Infantry and dated  25th of July 1865(Tullahoma TN) mentions that a mill that was thought to be owned by "Robert Mathews of Shelbyville an intense rebel" had been abandoned and not used by the government since October of 1864 and confiscation proceedings have been commenced."
  •  "Proceedings are filed against the estate of Robert Mathews of Bedford Co, his land condemned & ordered to be sold." according to the note of Horace H. Harrison US District Attorney.
It stands to reason that his store didn't fair very well and given that the claim was against his estate that would make me think that Robert Mathews didn't either. He is listed in several Ancestry trees(though no source is mentioned) as dying in Shelbyville TN on the 18th April 1862. I have not been able to locate him in the 1870 Census, so it is possible given that and everything that was going on at that time that his death occurred prior to 1870.

The image below is a photocopy of a receipt that was tucked in the Cook family Bible.  I received the photocopy from Hoyte Cook in May of 1997. The Cook Bible was passed to Cass B Cook from Wm C Cook and to the youngest son of Cass,  Thomas Clifford Cook. From Thomas Clifford Cook, the bible passed to his youngest son who is currently in possession. Copies of some of the pages and papers inside it were distributed to some descendants.



Bedford County Tennessee, July 27th 1859
Wm C Cook bought of Robt Mathews, List of goods purchased, 
Looks like he purchased fabric, lace, sugar and rope?


Robert Mathews ran an ad in the Bedford Weekly Vol  No 16 (May 3 1854).  I had Gemini clean up this snippet of the ad.  I wonder if Wm C Cook saw this ad.  Wm C. Cook likely had a store tab given that the date of purchase and the date of payment were abt 6 months apart.  

Sources: 
"United States, Census, 1850", Bedford County, Tennessee, District 7, Shelbyville, p 140(stamped), Dwelling 6 Family 6, Robert Mathews Household; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DC6Q-L37 : 6 Jan 2026), IGN 4191095(Item 2), Image 117 of 391.

"United States, Census, 1860", Bedford County, Tennessee, District 7, Shelbyville, p 185(stamped), Dwelling 555 Family 555, Robert Mathews Household; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9BSF-YV1 : 6 Jan 2026), IGN 5171418, Image 374 of 565.

Sunday, January 04, 2026

Thos. Primrose to Wm H Harrison(Bedford Co TN-1830)



I started pulling together a Deeds listing for William Harrison (1750-1833) and, once I'd finished with the known deeds, I searched using the FamilySearch Full Text Search and found an interesting deed from Thomas Primrose (of Bedford Co, TN) to William H. Harrison (of Rutherford Co, TN).

There are many William Harrisons in this time period in the Bedford, Rutherford, and Williamson County, TN area. This isn't Wm Harrison(b. 1750), even though the land appears to be in the same area where he lived.. Is this Wm H Harrison related to my Harrison line, and if so, how? It will take some digging.

Source:
Bedford County TN, Deed Book BB, p 389, Thos Primrose to Wm H Harrison(97 1/4 acres West of Alexander Creek); Image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKX-QSCM-V : accessed 4 Jan 2026), IGN 8150802, Image 495 of 591. [Thos Primrose is likely the same Thos who marries Nancy Harrison Hight(a late in life marriage for both.  ]

Below is my attempt at transcribing(rough as it may be).

(15 Oct 1830)
This Indenture made this fifteenth day of October in the year of Our
Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty by and between Thomas Primrose of the
County of Bedford and State of Tennessee, of the one part, and William
H Harrison of the County of Rutherford and State aforesaid of the other
part Witnesseth that the said Thomas Primose for and in consider-
ation of the sum of Eight hundred and Seventy five dollars Twenty five
cent to him in hand paid by the Said William H Harrison the receipt where
of is hereby acknowledged hath given granted Bargained sold Conveyed
and Confirmed unto the said William H Harrison his heirs and assigns
forever a certain tract or parcel of land situated lying and being
in the County of Bedford on the West side of Alexander Creek it being
the place whereon the Said Thos Primrose now lives Begining at a stake in
the Center of said Creek near a ceder Elm ash and white oak marked as
pointers in the North boundary line of the Brandon family tract during
west with said line ninty four poles to a redbud, post oak, and two Cedars
thence South forty poles to a small ash and Witness? thence West
Twenty Nine poles to a walnut and Elm thence South passing a forked
Hickory at Seventy four poles same corner, ten poles in all eighty four poles
to a stake at the corner of a Division fence near a cedar thence North
Eighty six degrees East, thirty poles to a rock, Stake thence South four
degrees East thirty three poles to a rock stake, thence East passing
An ash and Elm at 44 poles, some Course? in all being ninety three poles to a
Stake in the center of said Creek, thence up the meander of the
Center of said Creek to the beginning, containing by Estimation
ninty seven and one-quarter acres it being the same more or less to
have and to hold with all & singular in right or whils
herediments and appertances of in and to the same beloning[sic]
or in anywise appertaining to the only proper use of him, the said
William H Harrison his heirs and assigns forever, and the said
Thomas Primrose for himself, his heirs, Executors and administrators
doth Covenant and agree to and with the said William H
Harrison his heirs and assigns, to Warrant and forever defend
the aforesaid land and bargained premises against the lawful
claim or claims of all and every person or persons whatever
in Witness whereof, the said Thomas Primrose that Exarience see
his hand and affixed his seal the day and date above written
Signed, sealed and acknowledged in presence of us

                                                   Thomas Primrose
John Thompson Jurat
Jas H Lile
L Puckett

August Term 1831
I certify that the Execution of the foregoing Deed of Conveyance
from Thomas Primrose to Wm H Harrison was proven in open
Court by the Oaths of John Thompson and James H Lile two
of the subscribing witnesses thereto & ordered to be so Certified for
registration given under my hand at office.  9th August
1831
Registered November 11th, 1831
Thos Davis R.B.C. & Jas. McKissick Clk