WILLIAM NICHOLAS DEMASTUS

 and Descendants

 

 

William Nicholas Demastus was born 22 June 1836 in Lawrence Co., AL, the son of Nicholas Demasters (1788-1840) and Rebecca (1797-1851). He was the grandson of Revolutionary War soldier, John Demasters (1754-1831) and Martha Patsy Moran (1760-1850) of Nelson Co., VA. William Nicholas "Nick" Demastus went from Lawrence Co., AL to Maury Co., TN to join Capt. Bradshaw W. Porter's Company, Tennessee Volunteers, CSA, when the Civil War began. When the company subsequently became Co. B, 9th (Gantt's) Battalion Tennessee Cavalry on 28 November 1861, Nick Demastus enlisted.

After the war ended, Demastus remained in Maury County. On 22 January 1867, he married Annie Eliza Crews (Jan 1846, Maury Co.-1900, Maury Co.). Annie was the daughter of William A. Crews and Mary A. Parrish. William was born 1808 in Granville Co., NC, the son of William Littleberry Crews and Elizabeth Earl. Mary was born 1809 in Granville County, the daughter of Shadrack Parrish and Elizabeth Smith.

Children of Nick and Annie Crews Demastus (all born in Maury County) were:
Mattie (1868-1870)
Walter Sylvester (1868-1944), m. Sarah E. Harris
Cora L. (1870-1952), m. William Goodman Hight
James Tilman (1874-1938), m. Minerva Louanne Hight
Isaac Fletcher (1878-1951), m. Jesse Hester Howell
Edward Daniel Carter (1881-1966), m. Carrie Elizabeth Hight
William Alexander (22 Aug 1875-13 Aug 1943), m. on 31 Dec 1896 to Annie Lou Rieves (22 Aug 1879-17 Aug 1965).
Annie Lou was the dau. of Civil War veteran Nathaniel Green "Devil Horse" Rieves, Co. H, 1st Tenn. Infantry (Maury Greys) and Susan Alice Crawford. Green Rieves was mentioned in Sam Watkins' book, Co. Aytch. He was the son of Thomas Jefferson Rieves and Sarah Bernetta Murphy.

Children of William and Annie Rieves were:
Mary Louise (1897-1996)
William Clyde
Alton Bernard
Elizabeth Mae (1906-1977)
Robert Ernest (1909-1965)
Lester Floyd (1913-1968)
Annie Lorena
John (b. 11 Jun 1919), m. Mary Pal Kirk
John and Mary had children: Linda Hope, Sandra Gail, and John Kirk)
Mildred Virginia (1921-1987)
James Clayton (3 Oct 1899-2 Feb 1989), m. Elizabeth Mae Jeter (8 Feb 1900 - Nov 1992).
Elizabeth was the dau. of Samuel Wilson Jeter (1871-1925) and Frances Morgan Binkley (1874-1917). Samuel Wilson Jeter was the son of Civil War veteran John Robert Jeter (1837-1912), Co. B, 8th Tenn. Infantry, and Elizabeth Ann Wells (1838-1903). Frances Morgan Binkley was the dau. of Civil War veteran John Wesley Binkley (1835-1907), Huggins' Tennessee Light Artillery Co., and Mary Ellen Cosby (1840-1910).

William Nicholas Demastus died about 1900. He and Annie Eliza Crews Demastus are buried at Friendship Baptist Church in Culleoka, TN with many of their descendants.

Submitted by: Charles Allen Demastus
546 White Ash Dr.
Southaven, MS 38671-5409
(601) 342-0878