William Arnett Family

The Arnett Family

of Smith County Tennessee 1813-1853

Written By Robert Arnett - 16 May 2003

William Arnett was born in 1787 in Virginia. He arrived in Smith County Tennessee about 1813 when he was 26. His name is listed in Carthage Gazette newspaper on 23 July 1813. He was listed among people who had mail at the post office that had not been picked up.

He lived in Smith County for forty years.

William Arnett’s neighbors for the period 1813-1853 included: Thomas Porter, William Porter, Johnson Dellihay, John Halliburton, L. D. Ballow, Leonard Ballow, B.P. Lipscomb, Elizabeth Cartwright, George Thomason, Joseph Coker, William Herod, John Turner, Elijah Russell, William Sloan, Enoch Cartwright, John Russell, Hopkins Richardson, John G. Andersan, Harry Williams, William Dement, And’w J. Massey, James M. Taylor, William A. Taylor, William C. Taylor, Hampton Wakefield, Micajah Kittle, Robert Russell, William Russell, Charles S. Long, Thomas D. Gregory, John Nixon, Rusty Chaffin, William Chaffin, Abel Gregory

He served on jury duty a variety of times in the 1815-1818 timeframe. In May 1816, he filed a lawsuit against Americus Dixon—the son of Tilman Dixon, one of the largest landowners in the County and a local Revolutionary War hero. His lawsuit was unsuccessful. He is listed in the Smith County census in 1820, 1830, 1840, and 1850.

In 1821, he and his wife, Rosa, had a son, William P. Arnett born January 3rd. They had another son, John, born 7 October 1826.

In August 1829 , William Arnett and his wife Rosa are listed as heirs in the will of Thomas Porter. The evidence suggests that Rosa was Thomas Porter’s daughter.

In 1832 William Arnett acquired a 100 acre land grant from the State of Tennessee on the “west fork of Peyton’s Creek.” This is in the northern central part of Smith County about 2-3 miles northwest of the town of Pleasant Shade. [Note: “The west fork of Peyton’s Creek,” as it is often referred to in 1800s documents, is known today as Little (Peyton’s) Creek which runs along Little (Peyton’s) Creek Road.]

In 1832, William and Rosa Porter had a son, James.

In 1833, William and Rosa Porter had a daughter, Susan.

In 1835, William and Rosa Porter had a daughter, Artemia.

In 1837, William and Rosa Porter had a son, Richard.

In May 1844, William Arnett is listed as a member of the Mt. Tabor Missionary Baptist Church which was located very near the location of the current church about two miles south of Pleasant Shade. William Arnett lived about three miles northwest of the church.

The members of the Mt. Tabor Church in the 1840s included: William Arnett, Daniel Smith, Robert Smith, Joel Gregory, Wiseman Smith, John Nixon, Stather Settle, John Shoulders, Malcom Smith, Ranol Smith, Harian Gregory, D.W. Smith, Alen Smith, Bartley Beal, Henry Morgan, Randal Smith, Johnson Dellihay, John Halliburton, Abel Smith, L.A. Smithwick, Enoch Cartwright, Alexander Dilcha, Obediah Smith, John Edens, William C. Nixon, Huw Massa.

On August 23rd 1845 William Eden sold William Arnett a crop of tobacco for one dollar. William Arnett is listed as a “Trustee”. The crop was sold to pay a $20 debt William Eden owes to a Wright and Hixan which was due by August 23rd 1845. William Arnett was to send the crop to New Orleans and get the best price he could to pay the debt. In the 1840 Smith County Census, there is a William Edens [age 30-40] living near William Arnett’s farm.

In 1847 William Arnett acquired a 32 acre land grant on Little Peyton’s Creek from the State of Tennessee.

In November 1849 James Williams sold 20 acres to William P. Arnett, the son of William Arnett, who at that time was 28.

On 1 December 1849, Daniel Smith deeded 37 1/2 acres to William Arnett.

The 1850 census provides a variety of information about the William Arnett family. The farm was valued at $400. William Sr. was then 63. Although William P. Arnett purchased his own farm in November 1849, he is listed as living in the William Sr. household. This makes sense in two respects. First, William Sr. is 63 and certainly needed help in handling the farm. Second, William P. Arnett’s farm is collocated and thus easy to handle. Also living at the household are William Sr.’s wife Rosa, age 46, James age 18, Susan age 17, Artemia age 15, and Richard age 13.

John, age 24, is not listed in the 1850 census. He apparently moved out of the home by then.

In the 1850 Smith County Census, William P. Arnett and family are listed, just ahead of the William Arnett family. This strongly suggests that the family farms were adjacent. Also William Porter is listed as age 44 while Rosa is listed as 46—available information suggests they were brother and sister.

On 25 October 1850, eleven months after purchasing 20 acres from James Williams, William P. Arnett sold the same 20 acres plus 50 adjoining acres to John G. Andersan. John G. Andersan is a witness [twice] to this 1849 deed transfer. He is clearly a friend/neighbor to William P. Arnett. William P. Arnett’s farm bordered on William Arnett’s farm. His farm did not border Peyton’s Creek. [The deed does not mention Peyton’s Creek, but it is clearly near Peyton’s Creek because William Arnett’s farm is on “the left fork of Peyton’s Creek”. He sold his farm for $_____.

Two months after selling his farm in Smith County Tennessee, William P. Arnett bought 120 acres of land from Joseph Eden in Graves County, Ky for $380. The land was very probably near Panther Creek in eastern Graves County.

Sometime during 1852, William Arnett decided to follow his son, William P. Arnett, and he move the remaining members of the family to Graves County, Ky. A January 1st, 1853 land deed shows that William Arnett sold three plots of land-- one of 100 acres, one of 32 acres, and one of 37 ½ acres. [Note William got a land grant in 1832 of 100 acres, a land grant of 32 acres in 1847 and in 1849 he bought 37 ½ acres. These are the same tracts he sold in this deed.] William Arnett received $406 for the tracts of land. In the 1850 census the value of his farm is listed as $400.

It is interesting to note that the Arnett farm(s) were to stay in nearby relatives possession for years to come. William Arnett sold his [3] farms to Dick Oldham. Dick Oldham was married to Nancy Delia [Porter] who was William Arnett’s niece. [William Arnett’s wife was Rosa Porter. Her brother was William Porter. William Porter’s daughter was Nancy Delia.] In 1856, Dick Oldham sold the Arnett farms to William Porter—i.e. his father-in-law and William Arnett’s brother-in-law.

The move to Graves County, Kentucky was a major event in William Arnett’s life. He had moved to Smith County, TN as a young man by himself—that is neither his parents nor siblings moved with him. That was a bold move striking out on his own. Now 38 years later he was moving his entire family to a completely new area about 160 miles west of Smith County, TN. If the move did occur in 1853, then William was 66, rather late in life to make such a move. If Rosa were still alive and made the move, she would have been 49. Moving also were their children, , Susan age 20, Artemia age 18 , James age 21 , and Richard age 26. Son, John age 27 was not living with the family at the time of the 1850 census, but he also moved with the family to Graves County. As noted above, eldest son William P. age 33, was already in Graves County.

William Arnett settled near Panther Creek near Pritchard in eastern Graves County. At the time, the Graves County population was 11,397

William Arnett, born 1787, died in the 1860s. It is believed that he is buried in the Arnett cemetery in Graves County Kentucky.

Robert Arnett

6101 Edsall Rd # 1104

Alexandria, VA

22304

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