Robert Brashears & Sarah Hankins
Preponderance of evidence suggests son of Isaac, grandson of Robert Samuel Brashears
From the research papers of Charles Brashear, San Diego
Generation No. 1
1. ROBERT8 BRASHEARS (ISAAC7 BRASHEAR, ROBERT SAMUEL6 BRASHEAR, ROBERT C.5 BRASHEAR, SAMUEL4 BRASHIER,SR., ROBERT3 BRASSEUR, BENJAMIN2 BRASSIEUR, ROBERT1 BRASSEUR) was born 05 Jan 1787 in Guilford Co. NC, and died 1852 in Lawrence Co. TN. He married SARAH R. HANKINS 11 Nov 1808 in Roane Co. TN.
Robert B. Brashears was a son of Isaac Brashears, of Guilford Co, NC, Sullivan Co, TN, and Roane Co, TN and a grandson of Robert Samuel Brashears, the Rolling Stone . Robert was born 5 Jan 1787 in Guilford Co, North Carolina, just before the family moved to the North of Holston settlements of Sullivan Co, TN. He grew up on the banks of the Clinch River in Roane Co, TN, where his father lived after 1794. About 1817 or 18, he moved to a homestead southeast of Leoma, in Lawrence County, Tennessee, where he made his home, raised his family, and died on 26 Aug 1852. He and his wife are buried in the Richardson Cemetery, alongside their son, Jesse, who died of wounds received in the Mexican War. To get to the cemetery from Leoma, go south through Center Point, turn left at the first road, take the left fork and go (eastward) 4 miles to the old Richardson farm. Cemetery is on north side of the road. (Ref: a book about Lawrence Co, Cemeteries: At Rest, by Alexander & Grecham, p.354) On Sarah Brashears' tombstone: "Sarah, wife of R. B. Brashears..."
Soon after he arrived in Lawrence Co, Robert Brashears began acquiring land. On 28 Sep 1821, a State of Tennessee grant of 160 acres was made to Robert Brashears, he being the assignee of John C. McLemore, Jesse Blackman, and Matthew Barrons. The land was situated between Sugar Creek and the road, in the 7th District of Lawrence County, Range 3, Sections 1 & 2. /signed/ Joseph McMinn, Governor, at Murfreesboro.
(Lawrence Co, Deeds, Book A, p.163)
In July 1822, Robert bought from Alex McDonald and John McDonald of Giles Co, TN, another 73 acres on Sugar Creek, being land granted by the State of Tennessee to McDonald, plus other parcels. The land is described as being several small tracts, amounting to 160 acres, in "Sugar Creek three forks." Consideration: $1. /signed/ Alexndr. McDonald, John McDonald. (Lawrence Co Deeds, Book A, p.74)
Robert's brother, Walter Brashears, had also moved to Lawrence County, but he soon sold out. On 8 Apr 1823, he sold 36 acres to John McMasters, 30 acres crossing Sugar Creek and a second tract of 2 acres north of the 30 acres entry in the name of McDonald. (Lawrence Co, Deeds, Book A, p.129) About this time, Walter moved to Perry (later Decatur) county in West Tennessee, where Isaac, their father, and several of their brothers, had taken up land.
Over the years, Robert was involved in quite a number of land transfers, including a number of deeds of gift to his children. It seems they used land deeds in those days almost as currency, which was in short supply. It is not at all uncommon to find a particular piece of land deeded from one person to another, and a few years later, the same land deeded in return to the first person. Hard cash seems to have seldom changed hands; but land, in small and large parcels, was their unit of barter. By the time he died in 1852, he had amassed an estate of 1700 acres and 15 slaves.
Robert served on the court, was assigned to make tax lists, etc. and participated actively in the affairs of the county. He became known as Robert Brashears, Esquire. For example, in 1836, following a general assembly resolution of 11 Dec 1835, commissioners (including Robert Brashears) were appointed to divide Lawrence County into civil districts, for tax, voting, census, and court jurisdictions. The commissioners divided the county into twelve districts, three from east to west and four from north to south, following natural features like water courses and dividing ridges. The commissioners located District #1 in the southwest corner of the county, bordering Alabama and Wayne Co, Tn. Dist #2 was immediately to the east of Dist #1 and lay along the Alabama border; District #3 was east of #2 and bordered Alabama and Giles Co, TN. Robert Brashears and his clan lived in District #3. District #4 was immediately north of Dist #3, along the Giles Co, line. Dist #5 was immediately west of Dist #4, more or less in the south central portion of the county. Henry Brashears and his clan lived in District #5. District #6 was west of #5 and lay along the Wayne County line. District #7 was immediately north of #6, and #8 immediately east of #7. The numbering went on zagging back and forth, until District #12 ended up in the northwest corner of the county, on the west side of the Natchez Trace. (See Lawrence Co, Hist. Soc. Bulletin, Jan 1966)
On 1 Jun 1827, Robert Brashears was appointed Justice of the Peace, and confirmed on 2 Oct 1827 (Lawrence Co. Court Minutes Book, 1827-1828, p.7, p.167.) About the same time, he was made guardian of the minor heirs of William Basham (p.36); part of this duty, however, was soon turned over to James Basham: "Johnston, Susan, and Wm. Basham, minor heirs of Wm. Basham, Dec'd. The two boys to have two years of schooling and learn blacksmith trade. The girl to be taught to read and write. To be bound until she comes of free age." (p.52) Another part of the duty: Ezekial and Malinda Basham, also minor heirs of Wm. Basham, were assigned to Nathan Basham, "boy to become a carpenter, girl to learn to read and write." (p.53)
I think we should not confuse this William Basham with the William Brasher who died c1832: "Jan 3d, 1832. I, Robert Brashers, guardian of the heir of William Brashers, dec'd, do state to the court that the amount of said estate at this time is five hundred and ninety dollars and thirteen cents, all of which is now loaned out at the rate of six per cent annum." (Lawrence Co, Wills and Inventories, B:36, 1829-1847)
To the County Court of the County of Lawrence, setting at Lawrenceburg in the said County of Lawrence, on the first monday in September, 1852.
The Petition of Robert Newton, Adm. of Robert Brashers dec. and Sarah Brashers, widow of said dec'd; and Jesse Holloway and his wife, Mary; Fountain Crabb and his wife, Elizabeth; Jonas Springer and his wife Anna; Aaron Comer and his wife Ethelinda; Miller F. McKinney and his wife, Lucinda; James Crabb and his wife Decia; James Thompson and his wife, Caroline I.; and Sarah J. Wilburn, wife of Jasper Wilburn, dec'd, all citizens of said county of Lawrence; and Walter Brashers, a citizen of the state of Missouri, and Isaac Brashers, a citizen of the state of Arkansas, all children and heirs at law (and ??) of said Robert Brashers, dec'd, and Robert, Frances, Sarah, William, Jesse, and Mary Jones, his grandchildren and the children of Elenor Jones, dec'd, who are minors and file this petition by their father and next of kin, William Jones; and Robert Brashers, the only child of Jesse Brashers, dec'd, a minor under 21 who files by his grandmother and next of kin the said Sarah Brashers of Lawrence Co... Robert Brashers died in Lawrence Co. Aug 26, 1852, intestate. He left 1700 acres on waters of Sugar Creek, 15 slaves... etc.
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Roane Co. will of Jos. Hankins - decd Oct 1822. Will 10 May 1822 names wife Kizeriah and children: James, Joseph, George, John Smith T, SARAH [m 1808 Robert Brashear] Anna Ballard, Dicey Hankins and Elizabeth Hankins. Children are named in order by "eldest". Witnessed by Wiley Tuten, Isaac Baley. [Wiley Tuten is most likely the father in law of Samuel Brashear (1798), Robert's brother. ]
Children of Robert Brashears and Sarah Hankins are:
ELENOR BRASHEARS, b. 1811; m. WILLIAM
JONES. . Lived in Morgan Co. AL
[this link seems to be dead now???]
WALTER BRASHEARS, b. 23 Jan 1814, Roane Co, TN; d. 16 May 1863, MO, by bushwackers; m. ELIZABETH BASHAM, Lawrence Co, TN. Moved to Lawrence Co., MO
ISAAC BRASHEARS, b. 1816; m. MARY BASHAM, 04 Dec 1833, Lawrence Co, TN. (Mary and Elizabeth Basham were daughters of James M. Basham and Arta M. Holloway Basham) Moved to Pope Co., Arkansas
ANNA BRASHEARS, b. 27 May 1819; d. 07 May 1883; m. JONAS SPRINGER, 18 Feb 1833, Lawrence Co. TN.
JESSE BRASHEARS, b. 19 Apr 1820; m. MARGARET SCHOLES, 09 Dec 1842. Died 1847 as result of wounds received in the Mexican War.
ETHELINDA BRASHEARS, b. Jan 1824, Lawrence Co. TN; m. AARON COMER 1 Jan 1844 Lawrence Co., TN
ELIZABETH BRASHEARS, b. 11 Jun 1822; m. FOUNTAIN ROGERS CRABB. brother of James H.
LUCINDA BRASHEARS, b. 1827; m. MILLER F. MCKINNEY 15 Apr 1841 Lawrence Co. TN
DECIA BRASHEARS, b. 1830; m. JAMES HURD CRABB 7 Jan 1847 Lawrence Co. Son of Joseph and Katherine Rogers Crabb. James H. Crabb m2, Lucinda McDonald Hathcock
SARAH JANE BRASHEARS, b. 1831; m. JASPER WILBURN. 4 Oct 1845 Lawrence Co. TN
JOSEPHINE MALISSA CAROLINA BRASHEARS, b. 03 Jun 1833; m. JAMES W. THOMPSON, 09 Dec 1850, Lawrence Co. TN, H. F. Appleton, JP.