Family names Scobey/Scoby/Scobie, Northington, Bradshaw, Norvel ?, Grizzard, Parnell, Looney, Edmunds, Briggs, Sterling, Harmon, Blount, Jones, Moore, Marlett, Llewellyn, Liewellen

This memoranda helped to staart the search and find out much about our line of Socbey’s. As you will read James states that this is written from what he remembered from his grandfathers' conversations.

This is a Record written by Professor James Edward Scobey Born Jan 5 1834 Died July 6 1925 was written around 1920 and compiled by John Edward Scobey in 1956

MEMORANDA PERTAINING TO THE SCOBEY FAMILY

As Written by James E. Scobey on October 28, 1920

The progenitors of this family, in the United States, were a man and woman, who emigrated from Ireland to America and settled in the Colony of North Carolina before the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The given names of these original Scobeys I do not know, and what I do know, I gathered from statements made by my grandfather in his conversations with others, when I was quite a lad.

My great grandfather, the original Scobey, when the Revolutionary War broke out, joined the Colonial Army to fight the British, and for the independence of the Colonies. He never returned to his family. He either died from disease or was killed in battle. His wife was left a widow with a family of seven boys, most of whom were small children.

After independence had been achieved, several families and others without families, conceived the idea of emigrating to Tennessee, then a part of the state of North Carolina. Others had already preceded them and had settled in an exceedingly fertile valley, near the Cumberland river, which is now in Trousdale County. They had built a strong fort, to protect themselves from the hostile Indians who roamed the county at large, and often attacked the settlers whom they would massacre, if possible.

The fort was located at a point now between the towns of Gallatin, in Summer County, and Hartsville in Trousdale County. They named the fort Bledsoe. There is a fine flowing sulfur well near where the fort stood, and the village settlement near by is called Castalian Springs.

My great grandmother with her seven boys formed a part of the emigrating party, which made a start from North Carolina, with Fort Bledsoe, in Tn., as their objective. There seemed to be a community interest in the means of transportation. Mrs. Scobey furnished a one-horse cart, and those of her family unable to walk, and herself, with what supplies and plunder could be loaded in the cart, where pulled into Tn., by a faithful old horse.

Over the mountains of western North Carolina and East Tennessee the train of emigrants came into the fertile valleys watered by streams uniting farther south forming the great Tennessee River. In these valleys were prosperous settlers, who bestowed on them a genial hospitality. Here they replenished their dwindling supplies, and though besought to remain and settle there, they had started to Fort Bledsoe and to Fort Bledsoe they would go. So resuming their journey to the west. in due time the Cumberland Mountains were reached and after a rough passage, together with some delay in travel, they finally reached the long sought fort.

Here Mrs. Scobey reared her family of boys to manhood. However, one of the boys was killed by the Indians, leaving her only six. Their names as I now remember, having heard my grandfather call them, were Hamilton, Matthew, Madison, James, John and Joseph.

After the country had been rid of hostile Indians, immigrants flowed in, and the country was being rapidly settled up. Matthew Scobey settled on the banks of the Cumberland River south of Gallatin established a ferry called then Scobey's Ferry. He subsequently sold his possessions to a Mr. Bender, and the ferry, still in operation, for years past, and until now has been called Bender's Ferry.

James and John settled in Wilson County, Hamilton soon went west to the territory of Missouri, Joseph ( if that be his name) went to Texas, then a state of Mexico. Matthew, after selling out, emigrated to the territory of Illinois, Michigan and contiguous states. Madison Scobey went to West Tennessee, and settled in or near a village called Mooresville. There are several families of Scobey's living in and around Newbern, of whom he is the progenitor.

James Scobey - my grandfather - reared a large family in Wilson County, consisting of seven daughters and one son, whom he named John Berry; after his brother John and his wife's maiden name. for he had married a Miss Berry whose parents had emigrated from Ireland to Kentucky, settling near the village of Adairsville, Ky.

My father, John Berry Scobey, was born ten miles east of Lebanon April 9, 1809. He lived and died in Wilson County. He was twice married. His first wife - My mother, died when I was seventeen months old. My father married the second time and from that union there were five children, three boys, - Joseph, John and Robert - two girls, Mary and Sallie. Of my father's children only two are living, - the youngest. Mrs. Sallie Colyar of Mt. Pleasant, Texas, and the oldest, myself. My half brother, Robert died leaving one child living, a son - Loyd, married and living in Nashville.

I am, I believe, the patriarch of all the living Scobey's. Born January 3, 1834, I am now past 86 years, in the enjoyment of splendid health, and retain in a wonderful degree all my facilities. I graduated at Franklin Collage near Nashville, under the Presidency of Tolbert Fanning, July 4th 1885, past the age of twenty-one years.

I chose teaching for a profession. I began my work in the fall of 1855 and taught continuously till 1862. In the meantime, on the 31st day of August, 1859, I married Sallie Alice Harris, a daughter of Major Jas. s. Harris, and a graduate of Mrs. Fanning's School and of Franklin College. She was my assistant teacher after our marriage till the first year of the Civil War, I enlisted in the Confederate Army, Was Elected Captain of my company, and led them in the battle of Shiloh.

After the war I began to teach again in February, 1867, and since then I have taught continuously up till I was seventy years old, having been the principal of two academies, the president of two colleges, and a professor in another. I have taught forty-seven years in my life. In 1871 I began to preach some, as opportunity offered or occasion required, and this I continued during my school work: but since I quit teaching I have mainly given my time to preaching. In the last eight years, I have failed to preach only on nine Sundays. So far this year I have not missed a single Sunday.

I have been twice married. My first wife bore me seven children, four girls and three boys. Of these I have lost two, an infant girl and grown daughter, Alice. The other five have all been married, and three have living children. I will give the names of these living children in the order of their birth, Sarah Jane, Mary, Augusta, James Berry, John Edward, (Alice dead) and Robert Harris. My first wife died in Murfreesboro, August 26th, 1881, when I was President of Murfreesboro Female Institute for thirteen years. On June 25, 1884, I married Miss Fannie P. Sowell, daughter of Col. W. L. Sowell of Maury County. She had been a pupil of mine at Murfreesboro some ten years previous to our marriage.

We have had born to us five sons and one daughter. All of these have reached to age of manhood and womanhood, save an infant boy which died when five days old and all are actively engaged in business, save the youngest, Herndon, who is a twenty-two years old. He is now a student at Vanderbilt University. Carrie Gates, the girl, belongs to the faculty at Peabody College, and teaches there. Edward and Wilburn are both businessmen of the city. Only one of my last wife's children is married, the oldest boy, William Powell, who belongs to the U.S.Army. He is a Captain in the 44th Infantry, and he now, with his wife, is at Schofield Barracks near Honolulu, NT

All of my children live in Nashville, where I now live, except the one in the Army, and a daughter in Hopkinsville, Ky. Both married daughters have reared families.

I do not know at what age or here my grandfather's mother died: whether in the fort, or at the home of one of her sons. I would be glad to know. There is no son or daughter of James Scobey living: there are only five grandchildren, three women, and two men, and I am the only one bearing the name of Scobey.

I have given few dates, for I did not know them, I could only have made a rough guess at best. But I will give you the dates of birth and death of some of those I have mentioned. James Scobey bore in North Carolina Feb. 24, 1777. Died in my father's home in Wilson County, Tn. (were he and his wife had made thir home for a few years) Sept. 2, 1861. His wife Polly Berry Scobey died just eight days after he died both being 85 years old.

My mother, Sarah Caroline Sweatt was the daughter of Edward Sweatt born in North Carolina, May 13. 1786, his wife, Mary Rash born Aug. 15, 1793. My mother born Dec. 21, 1817. My stepmother Sarah Neal (Widow Branch) my father's second wife born January 11, 1818. She died June 7th, 1897. My mother Sallie C. Scobey died Sept. 30, 1835.

My great grandfather, Sweatt was of English and Irish decent. My grandfather, Edward Sweatt, was well educated and taught school both in North Carolina and Wilson County, Tn. He had represented the County of Yadkin in the Carolina Legislature prior to his coming to Tennessee. He became a preacher after he had been converted and baptized by Barton W. Stout. He was twice married. He reared a large family of seven children by his first wife, and seven by the last wife. He emigrated to Texas in 1852, and died in Ellis County, Jan. 12th, 1854.

October 28, 1920 James E. Scobey

Records show two Scobey/Scoby families in Orange Co. NC in the late 1800's. They were John & Matthew Scobey, John and his wife went to KY. There they started spelling their name as Scobee. Some records say that Matthew came from New Jersey but there is no proof. Matthew's will written about ten years prior to his death mentions sons David and Robert, daughter Margaret Tait and "the girls". The latter no doubt refers to Mary, Jane and Elizabeth the youngest. Neither Mary nor Jane made the move to Tennessee but married the Baker brother’s in 1792 and 1794 respectively in Orange County NC. Tennessee public records establish other sons Matthew, James, John and Joseph and daughter Elizabeth. Record shows that David and Robert served in the North Carolina Militia, Robert was listed as a Lieutenant, for short enlistment towards the end of the Revolutionary War.

Robert when captured by the British during the Revolutionary war managed to escape. His father's will written in October 1782 implored him to return to the "plantation" and help care for his mother. In 1786 he married Lucy Debow the widow of Rev. John Debow and mother of sons Solomon and Stephen. They had daughters Elizabeth (Betsey), Jenny & Anne. However, the Federal Census for Orange County NC taken in 1800 snowed but one Scobey household, That of Lucy,

John married Mary (or Polly) Rice in Orange Co. 1792 He and Polly had John, David, Esther. Mary and Cathy in the next few years. It appears she died. In 1806 John married Ann Speers, They had children Joseph, David W. John D, a daughter Jane A.. John and Ann was living in Dyer Co. in 1830 then moved to Carroll Co. and lived there till their death. The oldest John married and moved to close to Marion, IL. The younger married and moved to Dunklin Co. Mo south of Kennett. A petition to congress by John helps to show some of the relationships also the petition was presented to congress by the then congressman David Crocket, the petition is listed below.

The Scobey family consisting of Janet, sons David and wife Esther, Matthew, James, John and John's wife, Joseph and sister Elizabeth. Headed for TN. the final destination Bledsoe’s fort near the present village of Castallian Springs in Summer Co. It seems they had been at their destination only about a week or so when a group of renegade Indians attacked outlying farms, looting, burning the cabins and killing the settlers. David joined a paramilitary group formed to rid the area of Indians. In an encounter with them in late November {1792] at Rock Island (Warren Co.) on the Caney Fork River he and one other were killed.

David’s family consisted of his wife Esther children James born 1784, daughter Jinnet 1787 and John 1789. No information is known about James or Jinnet. John and James first settled in Smith Co. where John married and had eleven children.

With David's death Matthew, age 23 became the oldest male in Tn.. He was active In both business and public affairs and his name appears as witness on many public records. He established a ferry on the Cumberland River south of Gallatin and operated it for several years. He became romantically involved with the daughter of one of the leading families of Summer Co. Elizabeth Douglas. She had a illegitimate son by him. He was named Jesse Douglas and was raised ln the Douglas household as Elizabeth's brother. That is how he appears in the Douglas family history. This is brought to light in her father William

Douglas' will probate August 1814. A history of the Douglas family states that Jesse Douglas drowned. However, later Mattnew did the honorable thing and marries Elizabeth. He sold the Ferry and moved to LaFayette Cco. Ar. Where they had three daughters.

James Scobey settled at Tucker's Crossroads six miles east of Lebanon in Wilson County, having married Polly Ann Berry. They had eight childen 7 daughters and one son. James was a successful dealer in real estate, He accumlated a large fortune, which he left to his only son James Berry Scobey, father of Professor James Scobey.

Joseph Scobey married Elizabeth Looney around 1798 Elizabeth’s father Peter Looney was a large landholder in Summer Co. also her unkle was the Captian of the Military which controled the country there at that time. They were living in Sumner Co. when the 1820 census was taken showing five sons and six daughters. Later records show sons Harvey L.. Matthew C.. William J. and five daughters. It is not clear where Joseph got the title of Captain that appears on his gravestone. It is thought that he moved his family from Sumner Co. to Dyer Co. about the same time or soon after his brother John moved there in the late 1820’s. Joseph and Elizabeth are both buried in McCorkle’s cemetery at Newbern

a few miles northeast of Dyersburg.

Elizabeth ls presumed to have lived with her mother Janet in the home of one of her brothers in Sumner County until she married Robert Dougan in 1796, This coulpe had ne son Robert and seven daughters.

The next item that helps put the family together is this

The following is a report on a petition that John Scoby filed with the U.S. Congress it was presented by Congressman from Tn. Mr. David Crocket.

"To the Congress of the United States, now in session at Washington city:

Your memoirist, John Scoby, of the county of Carroll, and States of Tn., would most respectfully represent to the Congress of the United States, that an officer in the service of the colonial government ( now the United States) did, in the year 1780, press into service of the said colonies a wagon and team belonging to his father, Matthew Scoby, Then living in Orange County, and State of North Carolina, and that a brother of this memoirist, by the name of Robert Scoby, drove said team into the service of said colonies, which was pressed by Alexander Mabie, and appraised by James Trowsdale and Robert Hunter to be worth eight Hundred Dollars in specie.

Your memoirist would further represent unto your honorable body, that on the day or the day after Gates was defeated at Camden, the British took the wagon and team at Rudgles's mills, and that my brother, the driver, made his escape without bringing with him the before mentioned wagon and team.

Your memoirist would further represent, that the said Matthew Scoby, or any of his heirs, have never received any compensation or remuneration whatever for said lost property, and that he is the only heir, except Joseph Scoby and James Scoby, now alive of the children of the said Matthew Scoby, that he knows of.

And your memoirist will further state, that he is very old and infirm, and withal remarkably poor, and not able to support himself by labor; that the United States has had the benefit, and through the United States he has been deprived of a valuable wagon and team for a great many years, and that he never would have applied for pay for said lost property but for the fact above stated that he is poor, and not able to support himself, without your honorable body see fit to remunerate him for the loss of property which they were the cause of his father's losing.

All of which is most respectfully submitted to your honorable body for your just deliberation.

John Scoby

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 15th day of Dec. 1839. Nathan Williams, Justice of the Peace.

The Memoirist states as the reason of his not applying heretofore, that some of the property was taken; my father died; my brother that drove the wagon soon after the capture was taken a prisoner, and died; my brother, David Scoby, who administered on the estate, was killed soon after by the Indians; and fourth reason is, that I am old, poor, and very infirm.

Nov. 8, 1838, state of Tennessee, Dyer County:

This day personally appeared befor me, M.Dickey, an acting justice of the peace in and for Dyer Co., John Gwin, a respectable citizen of Dyer Co., and made oath in due form of law to the following facts, etc., relative to the losses sustained by Matthew Scoby, senior, in the battle that was fought near Camden, commonly called Gate's defeat. He certifies as follows; That on the way to the field of battle he put his gun in the wagon of the above-named Matthew Scoby to get carried for him, and that the above-named Matthew Scoby's son was driving the wagon, and that he afterwards got his gun out of the same wagon; and that he believes that the same, belonging to Matthew Scoby, was lost with the rest of the wagons at Rougesly's mill. at Gates's defeat.

John Gwin

Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and date above written Madison Dickey, J.P.

Annexed hereto are the petition of the claimant and the affidavit of his sole witness.

The committee deam the claim to be unsupported by legal proof, and are also of the opinion that, if proved, its allowance could not be recommended upon any established principle recognized by the Committee of Claims. The committee, therefore, find it to be its dudy to offer the following resolution. Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioner ought not to be granted. March 5 1846

Joseph Scoby born Dec 4 1775 N.C. died Dyer Co., Tn. Oct. 03, 1849, he married Elizabeth Looney born January 26, 1782 Tn. died May 11, 1851 Dyer Co., Tn. They are both burred in McCorkle Cemetery near Newburn Tn. Their children were Harvey L born 1800, Matthew C. b 1809, Caroline 1816, William Joseph 1821 there are three girls and one boy that is not known, the son is probably one of the ones in Dyer Co. 1850 census. Joseph & Elizabeth married around 1799 they lived in Summer Co till close to 1830 when they moved to Carroll and Dyer Co. I am not sure when Joseph was in the service but the inscription on his tombstone gives the words ACapt..

Looney-Elizabeth=s father was Peter H. born Nov 24, 1755 in Botetourt Co., VA died 1835 Summer Co., Tn. He married Rachel Harmon born June 26, 1761 Maryland died August 31, 1835 Summer Co. Tn. Their children were Elizabeth, Michael born 1785 Tn. died 1826 La. Wife Caroline Latimer, Isaac born 1788 Tn. Died 1879, wife Betsy Brigance, Polly born 1790 Tn., Jonathan Davis born 1796 Tn. Died 1857 Tn. Wife Harriet Hassell, Martha H. born 1799 Tn. Married Porter Baker, Edward Craven born 1804 Tn. Died 1862 wife Sarah Dewey Dempsey. In the 1780's in Summer Co. A Captain Looney was over the area where Peter lived and the Scoby’s settled.

Peter’s father was Absalon Sr. born 1729 Ireland died Va. 1791 wife Margaret (Peggy Eleanor Moore born 1729 Ireland died 1799 Va. There children were Elizabeth born 1753 Md married David Potts, Michael born 1751 Va. Died 1827 Tn married Temperance Cross, Peter H., Mary born 1757 Va. married Edward Carvin, Edward Swanson, Margaret born 1758 Va married Alexander Caldwell, Jonathan born 1761 Va died 1824 married Jane Harberson, Absalom Jr. born 1763 Va. died 1818 Al married Bettie Peggy Wills, Ruth born 1765 Va. married John McCormick, Ann born 1767 Va. married James Harbison, Catherine born 1769 Va. married John Summerfield, Priscilla born 1771 Va. married William Caldwell, Benjamin born 1773 Va. died 1845 Tn married Elizabeth McClure.

Absalom=s parents were Robert born 1692 Ireland died 1769 Va. married Elizabeth Llewellyn born 1696 Ireland died 1770 Va., children Thomas born 1718 Ireland died 1746 Va married Jane Harmon, Robert Jr. born 1721 Ireland died 1756, married Margaret Rhea, Daniel born 1723 Ireland died 1769, married Margaret Jane Evans, Adam born 1725 Ireland died 1770 S.C. married Hannah Wright, Samuel born 1727 Ireland died 1760, killed by Indian's married Ann, Louisa born 1728 Ireland married Capt. John Shelby, Absalom, Lucy Jane born 1730 Ireland married Stephen Holston, John born 1732 Ireland died 1817, married Esther Hettie Renfro, Peter Grancer born 1734 Pa died 1760 Va., married Margaret Lauderdale, David born 1735 Va died 1810 Tn., married Mary Ann McClellan, Joseph B. born 1740 Va died 1816 Tn., married Elizabeth Jean Bowen, James or Josiah born 1745 Va, Mary B. born 1750 Va.

Robert=s parents were John born in Ireland and Elizabeth Liewellen born in Ireland

Their children were Moses, Josiah, James, Peter, Jonathan, Adam. John, Benjamin, Michael, Samuel, David, Joseph, Abraham & Robert

Harvey L (Looney?)Scobey some of his children had the L. in their name as did some of his brothers children, some of his grandchildren also was named Looney. Harvey was born in 1800 in Tn died in 1880 Tn, married Patsey Parnell born 1801 Tn died abf 1860 Tn. Their children were two males born between 1820 & 25, William W., Harvey L. Jr. born 1838 Tn., died 1917 Tn., Married J.C., L.V. born 1840 & David Jasper born 1843 Tn Married Charlotte Rebeeca Huguely. It is not known for sure where Harvey and Patsey are buried but it is probably the same cemetery that Joseph and Elizabeth is in no tombstone has been found.

William W. born 1835 Tn. Died after 1890 Mo Married Francis A. (Norvell)? born 1836 Tn died BF 1890. Believe that Francis=s maiden name was Norvell as Norvell was used as middle names for several of the children and the story is that it was a family name. There was several families of Norvells in Dyer Co at that time there was also one with a daughter named Francis. There children were Columbus born 1859 Tn., William born 1867 Tn., Thressa May (Mary) born 1869 Tn., George Norvell , Ozella Y (Zella) born 1874 Tn died 1890 Mo., Married John Lee Thompson, Dora S. born 1874.

George Norvell born 1871 Tn., died 1897 Mo., Married Idella Northington born 1877 Mo. Died 1967 Mo. Idella married three men after George, she outlived all of them. George and Idella had two children William Norvell (Pete), and Lois born 1897 Mo. Married? Preslar.

Narvel Owen married Model Alice Tullos children Travis Buren, Melba Jane, Joseph Owen.