Brittain Cross, RWS
This material is copied from handwritten notes by Snyder Roberts—some of which are faded. Please verify for yourself.
BRITTAIN1 CROSS was born 04 Oct 1776 in VA, and died 20 Nov 1825 in Anderson, County, buried in Cross Cemetery.
BRITAIN CROSS married 1/2/1800 in Jefferson County, TN, MARY PARKS (1778-1834). His name first appears on the Greene County, TN 1805 Tax List; however, some writers have listed him as being from Sullivan County (adjoins Greene). BRITTAIN CROSS was in Anderson County by 1808 because County Court Minutes p. 368 show that BRITTAIN CROSS proved in open Court a deed from SAMUEL WORTHINGTON to JAMES WORTHINGTON. Records show he was buying and selling farms in 1809. He became a prosperous, well-known farmer and slave owner. Brittain and Mary had three sons.
Thus, we know BRITTAIN CROSS was living in Greene (Sullivan) County, TN in 1805, but we do not know why he came to Anderson County where he was living by 1808. Of course, it was a short trip down the famous Emory Road from Sullivan to Anderson Co.
Children of Brittain Cross and Mary Parks are:
i. JOHN CROSS, b. 13 Sep 1803; d. 08 May 1851; m. MARY SHINLIVER, 25 Jan 1818, dau of Charles Shinliver.
ii. WILLIAM CROSS, b. 03 Apr 1807; d. 20 Mar 1904; m. (1) JANE BLACK, 21 May 1836; m. (2) CHARLOTTE GRIFFITH BUTLER, 1887.
iii. ALFRED CROSS, b. 02 Jan 1813; d. 13 Apr 1899; m. ELIZABETH BLACK.
iv. NANCY CROSS, m. WILLIAM HILL.