The suggested word for this week is "I'd Like to Meet". There are many ancestors I would love to meet and have many questions for almost ALL of them! But, there is one in particular I would like to meet and get to know better. His name is Joshua Ferguson, ca 1785-1872.
This photo is the only one I have, I believe, of a direct ancestor born in the 1700's. He was born about 1785 in North Carolina, which in those days extended all the way to the Appalachia Mountain range.
There is a story about Joshua that is shared in the book, REMINISCENCES OF THE EARLY SETTLEMENT AND EARLY SETTLERS OF MCNAIRY COUNTY, TENNESSEE, by Gen. Marcus J. Wright written in 1883 that states:
On June 1, 1796 Tennessee became the 13th state in the newly formed United States of America. Joshua may have moved, or maybe the place where he was living changed names, but in Smith County, Tennessee on December 10, 1812, he enlisted in Capt Martin's Company of the Tennessee Militia for the War against Great Britain. He was honorably discharged on April 22, 1813 in Nashville. He reenlisted into the same unit on September 1, 1813 and was dismissed on February 1, 1814 in the Creek Nation. His service this time was in the Expedition against the Creek Indian Nation. For his service in the War of 1812, he was awarded land and a pension in later years of his life.
In 1816, in White County, Tennessee, he married Mary Herron or Herring. Joshua's father, James, and Mary's father, David, served in the Virginia militia and were both present at the surrender of General Cornwallis on March 23, 1791. I don't know if they knew each other then, but wouldn't I just love to ask Joshua, if I was able to meet him!
By 1830, Joshua and Mary were living in McNairy County, Tennessee, which had been formed on October 8, 1823 from Hardin County. At this time, they had 4 children.
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| Photo shared by Nancy Kennedy, McNairy County, Tennessee |
There is a story about Joshua that is shared in the book, REMINISCENCES OF THE EARLY SETTLEMENT AND EARLY SETTLERS OF MCNAIRY COUNTY, TENNESSEE, by Gen. Marcus J. Wright written in 1883 that states:
While quite a young man he lived awhile among the Indians, and "plowed and worked on the farm for an Indian family," and while staying there an Indian maiden fell in love with him and managed to get him unwillingly to promise to marry her. She would roast potatoes and carry to him in the field. But when she had invited the neighboring Indians to the wedding, and he saw them from the field gathering around the wigwam to witness his marriage, he mounted his horse and left the settlements.I would love to know if this is a true story and get his version!
On June 1, 1796 Tennessee became the 13th state in the newly formed United States of America. Joshua may have moved, or maybe the place where he was living changed names, but in Smith County, Tennessee on December 10, 1812, he enlisted in Capt Martin's Company of the Tennessee Militia for the War against Great Britain. He was honorably discharged on April 22, 1813 in Nashville. He reenlisted into the same unit on September 1, 1813 and was dismissed on February 1, 1814 in the Creek Nation. His service this time was in the Expedition against the Creek Indian Nation. For his service in the War of 1812, he was awarded land and a pension in later years of his life.
In 1816, in White County, Tennessee, he married Mary Herron or Herring. Joshua's father, James, and Mary's father, David, served in the Virginia militia and were both present at the surrender of General Cornwallis on March 23, 1791. I don't know if they knew each other then, but wouldn't I just love to ask Joshua, if I was able to meet him!
By 1830, Joshua and Mary were living in McNairy County, Tennessee, which had been formed on October 8, 1823 from Hardin County. At this time, they had 4 children.
Source Citation1830; Census Place: McNairy, Tennessee; Series: M19; Roll: 179; Page: 125; Family History Library Film: 0024537; Description: Township : Not Stated; Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1830 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
Joshua's second son, Henderson Ferguson, was my 3rd great grandfather. Not much is known about him because he died in 1852, age 31, leaving a wife and 4 children, one of which was born a few months after he died.
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| Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: District 6, McNairy, Tennessee; Roll: M432_888; Page: 15B; Image: 36. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. |
Here, in the 1850 census, you can see James, age 1. who is my 2nd great grandfather.
Joshua and Mary had 2 additional children and lived out their lives in McNairy County. Joshua died on August 31, 1872 and Mary died 6 months later on February 27, 1872. They are buried in Sulphur Springs Cemetery at the Sulphur Springs Methodist Church, not far from where they lived. There are no markers for either of them still visible today.
Joshua was about 87 years old and lived in 2 different centuries, lived through 2 wars and seemingly had a very productive and interesting life. I think it would be an honor and privilege to meet him and his wife Mary, and learn more about their lives.
'Til Next Time!
#52Ancestors
I am not sure where I got the March 23, 1791 date for the Surrender at Yorktown, but it is wrong! The surrender actually happened October 19, 1781. Sorry about that!
ReplyDeleteI am also a descendant of Joshua and James via Andrew J Ferguson (brother of your ancestor), and he and his son (also James) were Unionist during the Civil War, so I don't think that Marcus Wright was too keen in putting Joshua in a good light being that he was a Confederate General and Joshua was a "Union man". AJ actually died in a Military hospital in Bolivar TN from a disease he picked up while while stationed at camp.
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