Little John Wilkins & Lucy Tanner

Submitted by: Catherine Edwards

Little John Wilkins, b. 12-30-1799 in Orange Co., NC, died 2-7-1847 in Trenton, TN married 10-19-1822 in Rockingham Co., NC Lucy Tanner, b. 5-3-1800 in Pittsylvania Co., VA, died 4-10-1870 in Trenton, TN. Lucy was the dau. of Thomas Tanner & Kerenhappuch Turner Morehead.

Lucy and John moved to Maury Co., TN in 1822 and to Gibson Co., TN in 1832, settling 8 miles north of Trenton, living there until 1836 when John volunteered to go to Florida to fight in the Seminole Indian War, serving as a 1st Sgt. in Capt. Baber's Co., 1st Regt. TN Mounted Militia. When he went to fight his family moved to Trenton to live. Upon his return, he formed a partnership with J. M. Carthel in a dry goods business, buying Carthel out in 1838, and operating the store until a fire on Jan. 25, 1845 destroyed the business. With no insurance to rebuild, he moved his family back to the farm.

In 1846, he and a son fored a partnership under the title of L. J. Wilkins & Son. A fire destroyed his residence on the night of Jan. 14 1847 and again the family moved to Trenton. John died soon after, as a result of exposure on the night his house burned.

Lucy and John had 11 children:

[1] Mary Ann Kerenhappuch Wilkins, b. 8-30-1823 in Columbia, Maury Co., TN, died 2-16-1873 in Alamo, Crockett Co., TN. She married 10-28-1847 in Trenton, Gibson Co., TN, Wesley Fletcher "Wes" Jones, b 2-29-1824 in Haywood Co., TN died 6-23-1917 in Gibson Co., TN, the son of Rev. John Washington Jones & Elizabeth Perry. Wes & Mary had 11 children

[2] William Thomas "Tommie" Wilkins, b. 12-28-1824 in Maury Co., TN, died 2-3-1902. He did not marry

[3] John Asa Wilkins, b. 6-17-1826 Maury Co., TN and died 4-24-1862, while serving as a Capt. in Co. D, 13th TN Inf, CSA, of a severe wound to the face, per Col. A. J. Vaught.

[4] Sarah Louisa Wilkins, b. 3-6-1828 Maury Co., TN, died 4-7-1868 in Trenton, Gibson Co., TN. She married 10-28-1847 in Trenton, John Steeld McCulloch, b. NC, died 5-7-1873 in Trenton, TN. They had 6 children. (Sarah and her sister, Mary Ann had a double wedding)

[5] Harriett James Wilkins, b. 10-11-1829 in Maury Co., TN, died 8-8-1865. She married 3-15-1851 in Trenton, Robert Porter "Bob" Caldwell,, b. 1821 in NC, died 1885. He was a lawyer in Trenton. They had 5 children.

[6] Lucy Jane "Janie" Wilkins, b. 2-14-1832, died 4-22-1899 Gibson Co., TN. She married 6-30-1857 in Trenton, William Marshall "Buck" Senter, b. 4-11-1831 in Lexington, Henderson Co., TN and died in 1901. THey had 4 children.

[7] Lucius Jerome Wilkins was born 2-14-1832 in Trenton, Gibson Co., TN and died 8-8-1863 in Trenton, Gibson Co., TN, burial in Oaklnad Cem. in Trenton. He married 1-30-1863, Josephine Adelaide "Addie" Jones, b. 8-30-1843 in Memphis, Shelby Co., TN, died 9-24-1937 in Trenton, TN. They did not have children. (Lucius was unable to enlist in Confederate service due to an old injury to his arm. He was a lawyer in Trenton and raised thoroughbred horses. As the Yankees were approaching Trenton, he rode west out of town to hide some of his horses and was chased down, beaten to death and robbed by Yankees - (See the Gibson Co., TN rootsweb page)

[8] Samuel David Wilkins, b. 12-10-1834 in Gibson Co., TN and died 10-11-1880. He married Ann Judson Blackwell, b. 1844 and died in 1875. They had 5 children.

[9] Joseph Henry Wilkins, b. 5-16-1838 in Gibson Co., TN and died in 1838 in Gibson Co., TN

[10] Emily Hess Wilkins, b. 1-16-1840 in Gibson Co., TN and died 7-4-1848 in Gibson Co., TN

[11] Martha Alice Wilkins, b. 11-15-1841 in Gibson Co., TN and died 12-8-1860 in Gibson Co., TN

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