This family page is an attempt to make sense of the confusing information that is on the internet and on census records for the 3 marriages of Isaiah Harrison of Greene Co. TN. I have access to online scans of the original census records and some pages of the Tunis Hood book, but do not have copies a this point in time of actual scans of Isaiah's probate documents, or Bible records so I have relied on reports from others concerning those documents. As I get copies of those documents I will post them. If you have copies of original records concerning Isaiah and would like to share them, please email me at kari.northup@sbcglobal.net
Isaiah
Harrison was born on February 01, 1762 in Old Augusta Co., Virginia. He was the
son of Jeremiah Harrison & Catherine Adams
Mary Reagan was born
about 1763 in Rockingham Co., VA. She was the daughter of unknown parents
Elizabeth Whittenburg was born on December 10, 1770. She was the daughter
of Fredrick Whittenburg &
Margaret Benson.
Mary Jones was born on April 12, 1812. She was
the daughter of unknown parents.
THE FAMILIES OF ISAIAH HARRISON
First marriage:
THE FAMILY OF ISAIAH HARRISON & MARY REAGAN
 | Isaiah Harrison & Mary Reagan | Isaiah Harrison
& Mary Reagan were married about 1782 in VA or TN and they had at least 6
children. The Tunis Hood book listed this
first marriage, but did not know Mary's name. In the early 1780's, Isaiah Harrison
was one of the pioneer settlers of the Harrison community, Nolichucky River, ten
miles south of Greeneville, (Greene County) Tennessee. Isaiah was a minister in
the Quaker church, and later in the Methodist church. He was founder of the Harrison
Community Church and he was a contemporary of Bishop Francis Asbury. The Bethesda
United Methodist Church in Greene Co., TN, built in 1884, has a marker stating
that the original church was called Harrison's Meeting House, and that it was
established in 1792 and stood 300 feet to the west of the current building. Mary
Reagan Harrison died sometime between the birth of her last child in 1796 and
1800 when Isaiah was remarried to Elizabeth Whittenburg. Isaiah Harrison is
listed on Tax Rolls for Greene Co., TN in 1798. Notes for Isaiah Harrison Photos of Bethesda United Methodist Church (originally Harrison's Meeting House) Another photo of the Bethesda United Methodist Church Tunis Hood Book - Thanks to John G. Wehmeyer for the scans of selected pages from this book. |
Children of Isaiah Harrison & Mary Reagan
 | Eleanor Harrison | Eleanor Harrison was born on March
10, 1783 in VA or Greene Co., Tennessee. Census records in 1850, 1860 &
1870 all list her birthplace as Tennessee. She is listed in the Tunis
Hood book as being a probable daughter of Isaiah Harrison. In the early 1780's,
her father Isaiah Harrison was one of the pioneer settlers of the Harrison community,
Nolichucky River, ten miles south of Greeneville, Greene Co., Tennessee. Eleanor's
mother died between 1796 to 1800, when Eleanor was age 13-17. Eleanor married
John Kelley Jr on March 11, 1799 in Greene Co., TN and they had at least 8
children. No census records exist for Tennessee before 1830, but John Kelly
Jr. is listed on 1812 tax records in Greene Co., TN along with his father John
Kelly Sr. John Kelley Jr. died in 1822 in Greene Co., TN. Isaiah Harrison
(Eleanor's father) probated his will, and there is a document dated July 22, 1822
that refers to Isaiah Harrison as administrator for the estate of John Kelly,
deceased. Eleanor is listed as head of household on the 1830 &1840 censuses
of Greene Co., TN. Eleanor is listed at age 66 living with married daughter Cynthia
(Mrs. Frederick) Dewitt on the 1850 census of Greene Co,. TN. She is listed as
age 73 and living with married daughter Eliza Ann (Mrs. Wyley) Kelley on the 1860
census of Division 9, Greene Co., TN. She is living with Frederick & Cynthia
Dewitt at age 87 on the 1870 census of 22nd District, Greene Co., TN. Eleanor
Harrison Kelley died November 12, 1871, probably in Greene Co., Tennessee. There
are varying spellings of Eleanor's name including Elinor, Eloner, Ellender &
Allinden, and I have found at least one source that indicates that John's name
also may have been Sean. Thanks to Neil Long of Wichita, KS for the 1822 probate
document for John. The Family of John Kelley Jr. & Eleanor (Ellender) Harrison Notes for John Kelley Jr. Notes for Eleanor (Ellender) Harrison Kelley 1822 Probate document for John Kelley Jr. |
| William "Billy" Harrison | William "Billy"
Harrison was born on January 20, 1784 in Rockingham Co., VA or Greene Co., Tennessee.
He is listed in the Tunis Hood book as being a
probable son of Isaiah Harrison. Several trees on the internet list his mother
as Elizabeth Whittenberg, but as his father did not marry Elizabeth until 1800
I think this is incorrect. The same trees also list William as being born in Rockingham
Co., VA, but the 1850 census lists his birthplace as Tennessee. I do not know
the exact year that his parents moved from Virginia to Tennessee, so am not sure
which one is correct. Also his mother Mary Reagan was from Rockingham Co., VA,
so it is possible that she went home to her family for the birth. William's mother
died when he was age 12-16, and his father remarried in 1800 when William was
age 16. William married Catherine Lentz/Lintz on December 28, 1807 in Greene
Co., TN and they had at least 7 children. On October 5, 1810, Isaiah Harrison
sold William 50 acres of land on the Nolachuckey River for $300. William Harrison
is on tax lists for Greene Co., Tennessee in 1814. He is listed as head of household
on the 1830 & 1840 censuses of Greene Co., TN. The family is listed on the
1850 census of 9th Division E District, Greene Co., TN. William Harrison died
on December 22, 1856 in Greene Co., TN. Catherine Lentz Harrison died on April
10, 1865 in Greene Co., TN, but I have not been able to find her on the 1860 census
at this time. |
| Jeremiah Harrison | Jeremiah Harrison was born on April
23, 1787 in Greene Co., Tennessee. He is listed in the Tunis
Hood book as being a probable son of Isaiah Harrison, and many Greene Co.,
TN Court records also connect them as father and son. Jeremiah's mother died when
he was age 11-15, and his father remarried in 1800 when Jeremiah was age 15. Jeremiah
married Elizabeth Jones on August 1, 1805 and they had at least 9 children.
He is on tax lists for Greene Co., Tennessee in 1809, 1812 & 1814. The family
is listed on the 1830 & 1840 censuses of Greene Co., TN. The family is listed
on the 1850 census of 9th Division E District, Greene Co., TN living near Isaiah
Harrison and several of his children & grandchildren. Jeremiah made a will
dated Jan 19, 1857 that was probated on July 21, 1868 in which he named his wife
Elizabeth, and son Benjamin W. Harrison. The son Benjamin W. was to have property
adjacent to John K. Harrison, Henry Brooks, Sary Lintz and David Bird. There is
a Josiah & Elizabeth Harrison that are the right age (75) who are listed on
the 1860 census of 2nd District, Greene Co., TN next to Benjamin W. Harrison &
his wife Catherine. I think this may actually be Jeremiah as I can not find a
Josiah Harrison that age who had wife Elizabeth and son Benjamin W. Harrison They
are living near John K. Harrison. Another of Jeremiah's sons, Alexander, is also
living nearby. Jeremiah Harrison died in 1868 in Greene Co., Tennessee. Elizabeth
Jones Harrison died in 1874 in Greene Co., Tennessee. She died without a will,
and her heirs are named in records of a petition to the court to divide the assets.
Notes for Jeremiah Harrison The Family of Jeremiah Harrison & Elizabeth Jones - this is not a direct line for me, but I have made a family page for him because many sources, including the Tunis Hood book, have listed some of Jeremiah's children as being children of Isaiah Harrison. |
| Sarah Harrison | Sarah Harrison was born on January 20, 1791 in
Greene Co., TN. She is listed in the Tunis Hood
book as being a probable daughter of Isaiah Harrison. Sarah's mother died
when she was age 5-9, and her father remarried in 1800 when Sarah was age 9. Sarah
married Henry Brooks on January 9, 1834 in Greene Co., TN and they had
at two sons, born in 1834 and 1836. Sarah Harrison Brooks died about 1837 in
Greene Co., TN She possibly died when her second son was born on March 13,
1836. On December 27, 1838, Henry was married second to Nancy Rinehart
in Greene Co., Tennessee, and they had 12 more children. Henry Brooks is listed
with his family on the 1840, 1850 & 1860 censuses of Greene Co., TN, near
the households of Isaiah, Jeremiah & Caleb Harrison. Sarah's son Thomas Newton
Brooks married Elizabeth George, who was a granddaughter of Sarah's sister Eleanor
Harrison Kelley. Notes for Sarah Harrison Brooks |
| Wesley Harrison | Wesley Harrison was born about
1793 in Greene Co., TN. He is listed in the Tunis
Hood book as being a probable son of Isaiah Harrison. Wesley married Mary
"Polly" Carter on May 22, 1815 in Greene Co., TN and they had 5
children. According to birth places of their children, they lived in Cocke Co.,
TN where Polly was born. The family moved to Indiana about 1822, and according
to the IGI on www.familysearch.com Wesley died that same year. A comment on a
tree on www.ancestry.com states "Wesley Harrison was a minister of the Methodist
Church at Carlisle, Indiana. When Mary and Wesley moved to Indiana they set their
slaves free.". Wesley Harrison died about 1822 in Carlisle, Sullivan Co.,
Indiana. Polly was remarried on October 10, 1824 to Samuel Hull in
Carlisle, Sullivan, Indiana. Samuel was the father of Nancy Hull, who was married
to Wesley & Polly's son Fenelon (various spellings). Samuel & Polly had
several children, and named their first child Wesley Harrison Hull. Samuel Hull
is listed as head of household on the 1830 census of Sullivan Co., Indiana and
the 1840 census of Honey Creek, Vigo, Indiana. Polly died on August 10, 1845 in
Honey Creek, Vigo Co., IN. In 1850 Fenelon Harrison is living with his family
in Honey Creek, Vigo Co., IN. Samuel Hull & Polly are both buried in the Hull
Cemetery, Prairieton, Vigo, Indiana. |
| John K. Harrison | John Kobler Harrison was born on April 27,
1796 in Greene Co., TN. There is a John C. Harrison, born 1796, who is listed
on some sites as being a child of Isaiah Harrison, but I believe that John K and
John C are the same person. He is listed as John C. in the Tunis
Hood book as being a probable son of Isaiah Harrison, but listed as John K.
on all census records. John's mother died when he was age infant-4, and his father
remarried in 1800 when John was age 4. John married Mary "Polly"
Brooks on August 24, 1819 in Greene Co., TN and they had at least 6 children.
The family is listed on the 1830 & 1840 censuses of Greene Co., TN. In 1830
they are living next door to the households of Isaiah Harrison & Josiah (Jeremiah?)
Harrison, and in 1840 they are living near the household of William Harrison.
The family is listed on the 1850 census of 9th Division E District, Greene Co.,
TN, living near Isaiah Harrison and several of his children and grandchildren.
They are listed on the 1860 census of District 2, Greene Co., TN, with John &
Mary both listed as age 64. John Kobler Harrison died on September 27, 1863,
probably in Greene Co., TN. Notes for John K. Harrison |
Second marriage:
THE FAMILY OF ISAIAH HARRISON & ELIZABETH WHITTENBURG
|  | Isaiah Harrison & Elizabeth Whittenburg | Isaiah Harrison & Elizabeth Whittenburg
were married on January 6, 1800 in Greene Co., TN and they had at least 5 children.
In 1808, Isaiah deeded land for the Quaker meetinghouse in Greene Co., TN
to George Wells, Stephen Brooks, John Kelly Sr., John Kelly Jr., and John Whittenberg
as trustees in trust. Isaiah Harrison is on tax lists for Greene Co., Tennessee
in 1809, 1812 & 1814. Isaiah is mentioned as representing the Maryville Branch
of Quakers and the Hickory Valley Branch at an 1822 convention. The Quaker movement
was large but of short life, and stronger around Greeneville. This convention
had to do with abolition of slavery. James Jones was president. Isaiah Harrison
is listed as a head of household on the 1830 census of Greene Co., TN. Some websites
have stated that Isaiah had 2 slaves on this census, but I did not find this to
be true. Elizabeth died in 1838 in Greene Co., TN . She is buried in the
Harrison Cemetery, Greene Co., Tennessee. After her death Isaiah remarried Mary
Jones in 1839. Tombstone of Elizabeth Whittenburg Harrison |
Children of Isaiah Harrison & Elizabeth Whittenburg
| Josiah Harrison | Josiah Harrison was born on November
10, 1802 in Greene Co., TN. He is listed in the Tunis
Hood book as being a probable son of Isaiah Harrison. Josiah married Nancy
Henshaw on December 20, 1827 and they had at least 5 children. The family
is listed on the 1830 & 1840 censuses of Greene Co., TN. The family is listed
on the 1850 census of 9th Division E District, Greene Co., TN. Nancy died or they
divorced, and Josiah remarried Sarah. who was probably married first to
Woolsey and had a daughter Melissa from her first marriage. Josiah & Sarah
had at least two sons. They are listed on the 1860 & 1870 censuses of District
22, Greene Co., TN. Josiah Harrison died in 1872, probably in Greene Co., TN. |
| Caleb Harrison | Caleb Harrison was born in February
12, 1805 in Greene Co., TN. This birth date is taken from his tombstone, and
also is consistent with his age on all census records found for him. Caleb is
possibly the twin of Joshua Harrison, whose birthdate is also listed as Feb. 12,
1805. Caleb is listed in the Tunis Hood book as
being a probable son of Isaiah Harrison but Joshua is not. Caleb married Eliza
Henshaw on March 15, 1832 in Greene Co., TN. I do not have any children listed
for Caleb & Eliza. Caleb remarried second to Mary Broyles Bird on March
20, 1834 in Greene Co., TN and they had 6 children. The family is listed on the
1850 census 9th Division E District, Greene Co., TN, living near Caleb's parents
Isaiah & Elizabeth Harrison. Mary Bird Harrison died on March 18, 1859 in
Greene Co., TN. Caleb remarried third to Mary Winters Farnsworth on May
29, 1860. Mary was the widow of George Farnsworth. They are listed on the 1860,
1870 & 1880 censuses of 2nd District, Greene Co., TN. Caleb Harrison died
on March 03, 1884 in Greene Co., TN. He is buried in the Harrison Cemetery,
Greene Co., TN, and his tombstone, erected by Mary Winters Farnsworth Harrison,
states that he was 79 years and 19 days old at the time of his death. Notes for Caleb Harrison |
| Joshua Harrison | Joshua Harrison was born on February 12, 1805
in Greene Co., TN. He possibly was the twin of Caleb Harrison, who was also
born in February 12, 1805. Joshua is not listed in the Tunis
Hood book as being a probable son of Isaiah Harrison, so it is also possible
that he belongs to another family. I believe Joshua married Elizabeth about
1834 in Tennessee and they had at least 8 children. There is a family headed by
Joshua Harrison who is the right age and who was born in Tennessee on the 1840
& 1850 censuses of District 13, Henderson Co., TN. This family moved from
Tennessee to Illinois about 1852, and they are listed on the 1860 census of Town
9 Range, 4 East, Post office Grants Valley, Williamson Co., Illinois. I have not
been able to find them on the 1870 or any later census at this time. Joshua
Harrison died on December 18, 1871 in Williamson Co., Illinois. Notes for Joshua Harrison |
| James Harrison | James Harrison was born on September 26, 1808.
There are some trees on the internet that list him as a son of William Harrison
& Catherine Lentz, but he is listed in the Tunis
Hood book as being a probable son of Isaiah Harrison. James married Rebecca
Brooks on January 13, 1834 in Greene Co., TN. Rebecca was the daughter of
Rev. Stephan & Margaret (Whittenberg) Brooks, and her younger brother William
had married James' sister Grace in 1832. Margaret Whittenburg Brooks was sister
of James' mother Elizabeth Whittenburg Harrison. James & Rebecca had at least
7 children, who were born between 1835 to 1855. The family is listed on the 1840
census of 7th District, Greene Co., TN. The family is listed on the 1850 census
of 9th Division E District, Greene Co., TN. They are listed on the 1860 census
of District 24, Greene Co., TN, living near several Brooks families. James &
Rebecca are listed on the 1870 census of District No. 2nd, PO Gourley's Bridge,
Greene Co., TN at age 61 & 55, living next door to Martin Harrison who is
a son of William Harrison & Catherine Lentz. James Harrison died January
15, 1872, in Greene Co., TN. He was beheaded in his sawmill in an accident.
Rebecca is listed on the 1880 census of Greene Co., TN in the household of her
son James. Rebecca died on February 7, 1882. Both are buried in Greene Co., TN. Notes for James Harrison |
| Grace Harrison | Grace Harrison was born on November 11, 1811 in
Greene Co., TN. She is listed in the Tunis Hood
book as being a probable daughter of Isaiah Harrison. Grace married William
Brooks on March 8, 1832 in Greene Co., TN and they had at least 7 children.
William was the son of Rev. Stephan & Margaret (Whittenberg) Brooks, and William's
sister Rebecca married Grace's brother James in 1834. Margaret Whittenburg Brooks
was sister of Grace's mother Elizabeth Whittenburg Harrison. William Brooks is
listed as a head of household on the 1840 census of 7tah District Greene Co.,
TN living next door to the household of Stephen Brooks and on the same page as
the household of James Harrison. Grace Harrison Brooks died sometime between
the birth of her last child in 1848 and 1850 in Greene Co., TN. William &
the children are listed on the 1850 census of 9th Division E District, Greene
Co., TN living next door to Stephan & Margaret Brooks. There is an Elizabeth
Brooks, age 49, listed in the household after the children who may be William's
sister. William is listed with the children on the 1860 census of District 24,
Greene Co., TN, living near James & Rebecca (Brooks) Harrison and several
Brooks families. William & Grace's daughter Elizabeth later married Benjamin
F. Harrison, who was a son of John K. & Polly (Brooks) Harrison. Notes for Grace Harrison Brooks |
Third marriage:
THE FAMILY OF ISAIAH HARRISON & MARY JONES
| Isaiah Harrison & Mary Jones | Isaiah Harrison & Mary
Jones were married on February 26, 1839 in Greene Co, TN. If the birthdate
given for Mary in the Tunis Hood book is correct,
Mary was age 26 at the time of this marriage, and Isaiah was age 67. There are
no probable children from this marriage. Isaiah & Mary are listed at age 88
& 66 on the 1850 census of 9th Division E District, Greene Co., TN with Isaiah's
occupation listed as Preacher. Isaiah Harrison died on October 1, 1851 in Greene
Co., TN. This is the death date stated in the Tunis
Hood book. He is buried in the Harrison Cemetery, Greene Co., Tennessee. His
tombstone, erected by Caleb Harrison, lists his age at death as 86, which would
indicate a death date of 1848, but as Isaiah is age 88 and alive on the 1850 census
that must be an error. Mary died on April 12, 1890. She is buried in the Harrison
Cemetery, Greene Co., Tennessee. Tombstone of Isaiah Harrison |
