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
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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.
