Durham/West
Submitted by Theda Pond Womack
1425 Wrights Lane
Gallatin, TN 37066
Mary WEST was born in Onslow County, N.C. in 1799. Her father, John WEST, Sr., was a native of Maryland but had moved to Onslow County when he was a child and had served in the Revolution from there.
In 1806 John came to Sumner County, Tennessee, bought land here, and built his house. The following year he moved his family here, including 9 year old John, Jr. and 7 year old Mary, and possibly some older children also. We do not know whether Mary's mother, Rachel, died back in N.C., or after coming to Tenn. In 1810 her father remarried Susannah FREELAND and they had four children.
About 1816 Mary married Thomas DURHAM, who was from Orange County, N.C. Thomas was born in 1791 and there is a legend in the Durham family that Thomas and five of his brothers fought in the battle of New Orleans. Mary's father also fought there. John WEST, being a personal friend and a great admirer of Jackson, followed him wherever he went. He also fought with Jackson in the expedition against the Creek Indians.
In 1818 Thomas received a grant of 25 acres on middle fork of Drake's Creek from the State of Tenn. We do not know whether or not they ever lived here. We suppose they did up until 1842 when Thomas purchased a 100 acre farm from Thomas PERRY. In 1843 Thomas died and is buried on this land. Three years later Mary's father gave an additional 771/2 acres adjoining this farm. And from this farm in 1870 Mary and her children gave a lot to Thomas M. HUNTER, Sr., James M. MINNIS, Andrew W. HUNTER, Issac M. ASHLOCK and Thomas J. MONCRIEF, Trustees for a "Methodist Episcopal Church South to be called Mt. Vernon." Mary and several of her children were members of this church. The church cemetery grew up around the Durham family cemetery.
By 1870 all of Mary's children were married and she was then living alone. She died in 1883 and was buried beside Thomas in the cemetery which by that time was being called "Mt. Vernon Church cemetery."
Thomas and Mary West DURHAM were ancestors of Donnelley employee, Ronnie MCWHIRTER.
Mary West DURHAM was the sister to my great great grandfather, John WEST, Jr. who was born 1798 in NC., m. 1st in 1821 to Polly ALLEN, 2nd to Sarah BROWNING 1834, and died 20 Sept. 1852 in Sumner County, TN.
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