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1. James DURHAM was born on 10 Mar 1786 in Warren County, North Carolina.1,2,3,4 He died on 3 Sep 1856 in Sumner County, Tennessee.4,5 Some Early Settlers of Upper Sumner County, Tennessee
The Hobdy, Cotton, Durham, Gillespie, Perdue, Absher, Mattox, Cochran and Mayes Families
Compiled by Lee Alton Absher, M.D.
Knoxville, Tennessee
© Copyright 1966
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tnsumner/sdurham.htm

James, Durham, the author's great grandfather, was born in Warren County, North Carolina, March 10, 1786. He died September 5, 1856. He came to Sumner County, Tennessee with his father in 1809. He married Lydia Gillespie, July 14, 1820. They were married by John Rutherford, J. P. at the home of George McGuire. Lydia was born September 18, 1796 in North Carolina, according to the census records and died in Sumner County, Tennessee April 14, 1880. Both James and Lydia Durham are buried in the Durham cemetery on the old Durham farm, near Mount Olive Church.
Some Early Settlers of Upper Sumner County, Tennessee
The Hobdy, Cotton, Durham, Gillespie, Perdue, Absher, Mattox, Cochran and Mayes Families
Compiled by Lee Alton Absher, M.D.
Knoxville, Tennessee
© Copyright 1966
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tnsumner/sdurham.htm

War of 1812 Bounty Lands and Pension Application, James Durham, Lydia, 39 U.S. Infantry, in National Archives.

James Durham, Sumner County, Tennessee, applied for bounty lands under the Act of 28 Sept. 1850, on 31 March 1852, when 68 years old, declared he served in the War of 1812 from 13 Dec 1813 to 12 Dec 1814, as Pvt., in company of Capt. John Jones, 39 U. C. Infantry, under Col. Walker, enlisted in Sumner County, Tenn., and was discharged at Fort Montgomery.

A. G. Sarver, J. P. cerified 5 April 1852, said county and state.

Discharge certificate in file: Montgomery, M Territory, 12 Dec 1814, Jas. Durham, Pvt., Capt. Jones' Co., 39 U. S. Inf., signed Wm Walker, Col. 39 Inftry Commanding.
James Durham was admitted to Bounty Land Warrant No. 21596 for 160 acres under Act of 28 Sept 1850.

Lydia Durham, 9 April 1878, before W. T. Lafferty, Deputy Clerk, Sumner County, Tenn., declared she was the widow of James Durham, who served 60 days as above described; her maiden name was Lydia Gillespie; she married in Sumner County, Tenn., 18 July 1820, and her husband James Durham died 3 Sept. 1856; she was still his widow and applied for a pension under the Act of March 1878; appointed Thos. Barry, Gallatin, Tenn., P. O. New Roe, Allen County, Ky., her attorney; she stated she resided just over the state line in Kentucky from Sumner County, Tenn., P. O. New Roe, Allen County, Ky.; she was married by John Rutherford, J. P., and all present at the wedding are now deceased; she is 81 years old; has no Bible record of marriage or age. She signed: Lyda Durham, her mark X.

E. Duffer and J. W. Durham attested.
W. T. Lafferty, Deputy Clerk of Jesse Cage, Clerk, Cumner County, Tenn., certified; Jesse Cage also certified.

Ed Duffer and J. W. Durham deposed they were aquainted with both James Durham and his wife Lyda for 40 years; knew of service of James Durham in the War of 1812 and that he died 3 Sept. 1856; both real and personal estate of James Durham descended to Lyda his wife and their children (children not named).

Copy of marriage bond certified on reverse by W. T. Lafferty, Deputy clerk and Jesse Cage, Clerk of Sumner County, Tenn. (no date)

James Durham and George McGuire - bonded to Joseph McMinn, Governor of Tennessee, for intended marriage of James Durham and Lydia Gillespie. Bond dated 14 July 1820.

Adjutant General's Office reported 21 Sept 1878 and 23 Sept 1878, that Recruiting Return, Nashville, 26 Dec. 1812 showed James Durham, 5 feet 11 1/4 inches tall, age 30 years, born in Warren County, N. C., and enlisted by Capt. Jno. Jones; on recruiting return of Nashville 25 Dec. 1813, James Durham enlisted 39 U. S. Inf., 13 Dec. 1813, Capt. John Jones, no record of his service, no personal description; "Record of Capt. Jones' company for time alleged is not on file".

Little Absher, 6 November 1878, 56 years old, declared before O. H. Foster, Clerk of the Court, Sumner County, Tenn., that he was the son-in-law of James Durham, soldier in the War of 1812, and John W. Durham, 44 years old declared that he was the son of James Durham. John W. Durham declared his father, James Durham, showed him a wound he had received during the War of 1812. Both declared that James Durham and wife Lydia always reputed to be husband and wife, and that Lydia Durham a joint distributee with "ourshelves" in the estate of Jas. Durham and dower assigned to her in his land; she was still after James Durham died 3 Sept 1856.

Lydia Durham, 11 April 1879, before A. B. Dinning, J. P., declared she was 82 years old, resident of Sumner County, Tenn., widow of James Durham, deceased, who served 12 months in the War of 1812, gave description of her husband at enlistment as 30 years old, farmer, born in N.C., 6 feet tall, blue eyes and fair complexion; that she was married at the residence of George (page 21) McQuaire (?), Sumner County, Tenn., on 18 July 1820, by John Rutherford, Esq., J. P., that neither were ever married before (underlining supplied); that husband died at his residence in Tenn., on 3 Sept 1856; they had always lived in Sumner County, Tenn., since the war. She signed "Liddia Durham."

She appointed Thomas Barry Gallatin, Tenn., her attorney; her post office is New Roe, Allen County, Ky.; she lives 20 miles from Gallatin, Tenn. Philip Mabry and Williamson Hull attested.

Lydia Durham, Sumner County, Tenn., 5 June 1879, declared that the correct way to spell her given name is "Lydia" as spelled in the Bible.

A. D. Dinning, J. P. attested.

Lydia Durham was allowed a pension on widow's certificate No. 25146; her application widow's original 17566.

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Some Early Settlers of Upper Sumner County, Tennessee
The Hobdy, Cotton, Durham, Gillespie, Perdue, Absher, Mattox, Cochran and Mayes Families
Compiled by Lee Alton Absher, M.D.
Knoxville, Tennessee
© Copyright 1966
<http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tnsumner/sdurham.htm>

THE DEED OF SALE OF THE DURHAM FARM
I. N. Durham & others heirs deed to G. J. Durham this deed of Conveyance made and entered into this the 24 day of September 1860 between Little Abshear & Martha T. Abshear his wife of William County Illinois & H. D. Snow & Malinda M. Snow his wife of the county of All & State of Kentucky James M. Durham, Dilly Durham his wife Polly Ann Gant of the County of Sumner & State of Tennessee Isaac N. Durham and G. J. Denning & Liddy J. F. Denning his wife John W. Durham & George J. Durham of the County of Sumner and State of Tennessee of the second part.

Witnesseth that for the sum of Eight hundred Dollars in hand paid the party of the first part hath sold unto the party of the second part the following tract of land the tract which the said J. W. & G. J. Durham now has the other two tracks joining thereto Beginning at a bush on the State line running thence S 100 « poles to a Dogwood then South 71 poles to a small white oak M. Denning and Rite Border corner thence with Braders line E. 312 poles to a sugar tree another poplar James Angles corner thence with his line N 148 poles to 3 white oaks on the State line thence with said line to the Beginning Containing three hundred & forty six acres be it the same Moore or less.

To have and to hold the same a purrtenances thereunto belonging and the said J. W. Durham and G. J. Durham their heirs and assignes forever and the said party of the first part Being heirs of James Durham Decd warrant the Rights and title J. W. and G. J. Durham lands with General warranties. In witness of all of which the said parties of the first part hath hereunto set their hands the Date and year above written.

Polly Ann Graves
I. N. Durham
J. M. Durham (his X mark)
H. D. Snow (his X mark)
M. Snow (her X mark)
Little Abshear
Mahala T. Abshear (her X mark)
G. J. Denning
Liddy J. F. Denning
M. M. Snow (her X mark)
Witness for by M.M. Snow by us in the 21st day of March 1877
A. B. Denning
Maderson Denning
State of Tennessee
Sumner County

To A. B. Denning Exqr you are hereby authorized to take the examination of Mahaly Abshear and Lidy Denning privately and apart from their husbands Relative to the free execution of the foregoing instrument and the same so taken to certify under your hand and seal Witness my hand at office this the 4 day of May 1875 Jesse Cage Clerk<
State of Tennessee
Sumner County

Mahala Absher wife of Little Absher and Lidy Denning wife of Granville Denning having personally appeared before me and having by virtue of the authority in me vested been examined privately and apart from their husbands and they having acknowledged the due Execution of the within deed by them freely voluntarily and understandingly without Compulsion or Constraint by their said husbands and for the purposes therein Expressed the same is therefore Certified Witness my hand and seal this 13th day of Nov 1875. A. B. Denning J. P. Sumner County, Tennessee
State of Tennessee
Sumner County

Personally appeared before me Jesse Cage Clerk of the County court of said County Maderson Denning and Wm A. Cline subscribing witnesses to the attached instrument who being first sworn depose and say they are acquainted with Polly A. Graves, I. N. Durham, J. M. Durham, H. D. Snow, Little Absher, G. J. Denning and bargainors and that they acknowledged the Execution of the attached instrument in their presence to be their act and deed on the day it bears date of the purposes therein contained Witness my hand at office this 29th Oct 1877 Jesse Cage Clerk
State of Tennessee
Sumner County

Personally appeared before me Jesse Cage Clerk of the County Court of said County A. B. Denning and Maderson Denning subscribing witnesses to the foregoing instrument who being first sworn depose and say they are acquainted with M. M. Snow the bargainor and that she acknowledged the execution of the foregoing instrument in their presence on the 21st day of March 1877 to be her act and deed on the day she Resigned the same for the purposes therein contained. Witness my hand at office this 29th day of October 1877. Jesse Cage Clerk
Recd for Registration 29 Oct 1877 at 12 « O'Clock PM
Registered and Examined the same day Recd R. O. Hallum Regr S. Coty

James DURHAM and Lydia "Liddy" GILLESPIE were married on 14 Jul 1820 in Sumner County, Tennessee.3,4,6 Lydia "Liddy" GILLESPIE was born on 18 Sep 1786 in Rowan County, North Carolina.1,2,5,7 She died on 14 Apr 1880 in Sumner County, Tennessee. In the 1860 Census for Sumner County, Tennessee (District 16), Liddy Durham, age 68, is listed in the household of "G. Durham", age 24 (b. 1836 - could be George Durham).

The death certificate of Mahala Durham shows her parents as "James Durham" and "Lydia MORAN". James DURHAM and Lydia "Liddy" GILLESPIE had the following children:

+2

i.

Mary "Polly" DURHAM.

+3

ii.

Isaac "Ike" Newton DURHAM.

+4

iii.

Mahala DURHAM.

+5

iv.

Matilda M. DURHAM.

+6

v.

James M. DURHAM.

+7

vi.

John W. DURHAM.

+8

vii.

George Jasper DURHAM.

9

viii.

Lydia J. "Liddy" DURHAM was born about 1840 in Tennessee.1,3,5