WALTER BRASHEARS & ELIZABETH ROBERTS
From research of Charles Brashear, San Diego
Generation No. 1
1. WALTER BRASHEARS was born Abt 1790 in Sullivan Co., TN(NC), and died 04 Oct 1837 in Perry Co, TN. He married ELIZABETH ROBERTS 05 Dec 1816 in Roane Co. TN by Alex. Nesmith JP, daughter of Elias Roberts and Rebecca Brashears.
Walter Brashears (c1790--4 Oct 1837) was the third son and fourth child of Isaac Brashears (1760--1833); and the grandson of "The Rolling Stone," Robert Samuel Brashears (1731--1816; ) On Dec 5, 1816, in Roane County, Tenn., he married his first cousin, Elizabeth Roberts (1799-1855 ), daughter of Elias and Rebecca (Brashears) Roberts. Rebecca (Brashears) Roberts was a sister of Isaac Brashears and daughter of Robert Samuel Brashears.
Walter was probably born in Sullivan County, TN. before Tennessee became a state, for his father, Isaac, bought the "home place" on Reedy Creek from his father in 1793. But he surely grew up in Roane County, where his father lived on the banks of the Clinch River, near where "Brashears Creek" flowed into the river. He apparently left shortly after he married, for he is in the 1820 Census of Lawrence Co., Tenn., and then in the 1830 Census of Perry Co, TN (in that section that, in 1846, became Decatur Co). In 1838, shortly after his death, the Court at Perryville, Perry County, ordered his widow, Elizabeth, to sell the slaves and divide the money among the heirs, three of them married, five of them minors.
Walter was a War-of-1812 veteran. About Sep 1, 1813, he volunteered for three months service as a private in the company of Capt. William C. Neilson and in the Regiment of East Tenn. Militia commanded by Col. John Brown, in the "campaign against the hostile Creek Indians." His military record shows that he served from Sep 30, 1813 to Jan 1, 1814. He was discharged at Kingston, Tenn., on Dec 30, 1813. He was paid for 3 mos. and 2 days service, at $8 per month: total, $24.51.
Elizabeth benefited considerably more from Walter's war service than he did. On June 25, 1851, and on the basis of Walter's Creek War service, she applied for and got a grant of 40 acres of bounty land, under the provisions of the Act of Sep 28, 1850. She swore on 28 Jun 1851 that she was 52 years of age and the widow of Walter Brashears. On March 29, 1855, she applied for more bounty land under the Act of Mar 3, 1855 and, on Oct 25, 1855, got another 120 acres. In support of the 1855 petition, John B. Rice and Sarah "Sally" (Brashears) Rice (Walter's sister) made affidavit in Decatur Co. that they were present at the marriage of Walter and Elizabeth, that they had known and lived near them since, and that Walter and John B. Rice were in the same company and fought in the same battles in the War of 1812.
(These were indeed old friends, as well as intertwined cousins. John B. Rice's sister, Polly Rice, had married Zaza Brashears Jr. in Roane Co., on 25 Mar 1808. Zaza was a cousin to Sally and Walter. John and Sally Rice's daughter, Ethalinda, later married Isaac E. Brashears, Walter's son. Walter and Elizabeth's daughter, Permelia, married Houston Roberts, son of Robert S. Roberts, Elizabeth's brother, and grandson of Elias Roberts, Elizabeth's father, for whom Isaac E. Brashears was named.)
In the 1850 Census of Decatur County, Elizabeth was in the household of her son, Philip R. Brashears. In 1855, she deeded a gift of two acres to Methodist Church, Gray's Chapel, Decatur Co., at its founding. Elizabeth's name appears in numerous deeds in Decatur Co., indicating that, in her later years at least, she was a well-to-do woman and head of a family clan.
Elizabeth Brashears, The matriarch, was living in District 10 of Decatur Co., at the time of the 1850 Census, 16 Sep, as were John and Sarah Rice (sister of Walter). Isaac Rice (son of John and Sarah) and his family were Elizabeth's closest neighbors. John (brother of Walter) and Charity Brashears and their five children and their families are listed in the same district, forming a second extended family clan.
The 1850 Census of District 1, Decatur County, taken 26 Sep 1850, contains most of the clan.
ROBERT S. BRASHEARS, b. 1818, TN; m. ELIZABETH. In Decatur Co, TN 1850 census.
MARY JANE BRASHEARS, b. 07 Aug 1821; d. 01 Nov 1921, Bergman, Boone Co. AR; m. JAMES PERRY RUSHING. She lived to be slightly over 100. He died of malaria at an early age, leaving young widow in her 30's with six little children. Mary Jane is buried in the Rushing family plot in York Cemetery, Bergman, Boone Co, AR.
ISSAC ELIAS BRASHEARS, b. 29 Jan 1824; d. 18 May 1887; m. ETHALINDA RICE. Only one child, John Walter Brashear b 4 July 1848 who m Virginia Currin. After John died at age 27, his widow married Philip Roberts, son of Houston Roberts & Permelia Brashear
PHILLIP R. BRASHEAR, b. 1827; d. 08 May 1891; m. ARIE RUSSEL. 2nd Lt. in Capt. John McMillan's Co., 52nd TN Regiment, C.S.A. Battle of Shiloh. Wounded in 1863.
HANNAH BRASHEARS, b. Abt 1828; m. WILLIAM R. RUSHING. brother to James P., son of Elijah Rushing. She probably died before 1850, and William m2 before 1850, Hannah Rushing, dau. of Isaac Rushing and Rebecca Saint. See Rushing web site http://web.utk.edu/ddonahue/gene.htm
PERMELIA E. BRASHEARS, b. 11 Nov 1829; d. 04 Dec 1887; m. HOUSTON ROBERTS, 31 Dec 1845, Roane Co. TN. son of Robert Samuel Roberts & Margaret Gardner Roberts.Sgt. Union Army. Buried in Morgan Cemetery in Decatur Co., TN.
ABSOLEM E. BRASHEARS, b. 1832.
JESSE W. BRASHEARS, b. 31 Mar 1834; d. 19 Nov 1892; m. MARTHA B. WHITE. Both buried in Crawford Cemetery, Scotts Hills. TN.