This Manuscript was prepared by James Orval Tatum, a descendant of Haley Tatum, and is presented with his permission. 
He states that he can't take credit for all the information because others assisted him in gathering it.

 

Haley Tatum

 

(1752 or 1760 – 1819)

 

of Rowan County, North Carolina

 

and his Descendants

 

1599-1995

 

 

George Tatum of Virginia

 

Brunswick County, Virginia Deed Book 6, page 315

"Indenture made the 13^th day of December 1758.

"Peter Daniel and wife Sarah of the Parish of St. Andrew and of the County of Brunswick for and in consideration of 30 pounds current money of Virginia, convey to George Tatum of Dinwiddie County and Parish of Bath a certain tract of land situate and being in the County of Brunswick on the Southside of Nottoway River beginning at Crablouse ------- Short’s, containing 136 acres. Proved January 1759 by John Daniel, Thomas Simmons and Randell Daniel."

Mrs. McCurley of Lawrenceville believes this land to be near the dividing line between Brunswick and Dinwiddie Counties near present day Warfield-Rawlings communities.

The personal property tax list from the 3^rd District of Brunswick County included George Tatum and James Tatum for the years 1782, 1783 and 1784. They were not listed in 1785. Each paid taxes for one person.

In 1782, George Tatum was taxed for 135 acres in St Andrew’s Parish.

A list of parishioners of St. Andrew’s Parish for May 24, 1773 contained the name of George Tatum, but not that of James Tatum.

Will Book 2, page 479 Brunswick County, Virginia.

"This indenture made this 28^th day of February 1785.

"George Tatum and wife Lucretia of the County of Brunswick for and in consideration of 140 pounds of current money of Virginia and confirm and convey unto Lewis Lanier a tract of land in Brunswick County beginning in the fish hole on Crablouse Run thence along the lines of Buckner Lanier, John Birdsong to a corner hickory on the great path that leads from George Tatum’s to James Tatum’s thence along the lines of Isaac House, Avery and Nat Gregory’s, containing 131 acres.

This indenture was acknowledged in Court by George Tatum and Lucretia Tatum, his wife. Previously, said Lucretia being examined, privately, as the law directs did voluntarily assent thereto. 28 February 1785.

We have found no explanation for the difference in acreage nor any record of the land on which James Tatum lived. There may have been an error on the part of the clerk or the five-acre difference may have been due to a resurvey of the tract.

We have no further record of this George Tatum. I believe that he moved to Rowan County shortly after he sold the land in 1785, but have found nothing to substantiate this theory. However, assuming that James also came to Rowan County with George, the following facts seem to fit into the puzzle.

Filed among the Rowan County Marriage Bonds is one for Lucretia Tatum to John Buckner, dated July 22, 1786. Haley’s will names his niece Centy Buckner and Haley is named administrator of George’s estate and guardian of Frankey Tatum, his child. This was in court records of Rowan County, North Carolina in 1801.

 

This establishment was located on the south fork of the New River at Old Fields in what later became Ashe County, North Carolina. For some time, "William was the clerk of the celebrated Watauga Association."

Tradition in our family and the surrounding country declared that Captain James Tatum, as a young man, had come from Petersburg, Virginia to Old Fields, North Carolina where he was employed as a supervisor of his "uncle’s" farm which was in a purchase from the Cherokee Indians prior to the American Revolutionary War. Thus James was in North Carolina during the war, as was Haley Tatum, his younger brother.

From North Carolina records: "James Tatom, Captain in the command of troops of the Continental Line of the State."

Following the war, James apparently went back to Virginia to make his home on or adjoining George Tatum’s farm in Brunswick County, Virginia. After the farm was sold on February 26, 1785, our next records of James are:

 

Records are not available, but apparently during the war, James married Amy Sharp of Virginia. Their first child, Sarah, was born in Virginia, January 10, 1780. Their fourth child, George, was born November 27, 1786, in Rowan County, North Carolina.

It would, therefore, appear after the sale of George Tatum’s farm in 1785 that James and his family moved to Rowan County where Jean (John) and Lawrence Tatum and their families, as shown in the U. S. Census of 1790, were living. Lucretia Tatum, apparently the daughter of George and Lucretia Tatum, married John Buckner in Rowan County in 1786. James bought land there in 1790 and 1791. Haley Tatum came to North Carolina from South Carolina where it is thought he went after the war. The records show Haley selling his holdings in Lancaster County, South Carolina in November, 1789 and then buying land in Rowan County, North Carolina in April, 1790. In Haley’s will, Lucretia Tatum, Buckner’s daughter, Centy Buckner, is named as Haley’s niece. James’ youngest son, born in 1802 was named Buckner. Buckner Tatum wrote a letter in 1845 to Elijah Tatum, grandson of James: "Cousin Hardy Tatum (son of Haley) come to see me. He lives in Dade County, Georgia."

Jesse Tatum, youngest brother of James, Haley and Lucretia came from Virginia to Rowan County at an unknown date. His and James’ descendants visited back and forth and were spoken of as "our closest relatives." All of these must have been the same family.

While there are no records to prove that Samuel III was the father of George, the use of the name Samuel also offers evidence. Two sons of George, Haley and Jesse, and James’ daughter, Sarah Tatum Wilcoxen, each named a son Samuel. James named his oldest son George. There is no record that the descendants of Nathaniell’s youngest son Nathaniel ever named a son Samuel. Although the will of Nathaniell Tatum of the Paget tribe Nov. 4, 1686 in Bermuda lists a son named Samuel.

Before the James Tatum cabin was dismantled by the Southern Appalachian Historical Association for removal to Boone, North Carolina, L. T. Tatum found a secret niche containing, among other things, family records which confirmed the following:

James Tatum, 1755-1829 Wife, Amy Sharpe, died July 6, 1853 Children: Sallie (Sary) born January 10, 1780 Lizey March 17, 1782 Elizabeth March 7, 1784 George November 27, 1786 Mathew February 18, 1789 James February 6, 1791 Tobaitha (Lottie) March 17, 1792 Patsey April 10, 17— Joseph August 6, 1796 Mary February 6, 1799 Buckner October 15, 1802

 

From "A Concise History of Fork Baptist Church" (Davie County) comes the information that James Tatum was a delegate to the Yadkin Association in 1800.

In Book 19, page 59, Rowan County is a record of land being sold on Weaver Creek next to James Tatum, on February 20, 1801.

On May 5, 1801, Haley Tatum, having been granted the administration of the estate of George Tatum, deceased, and having been made guardian of George’s orphan, Franky, Haley gave bond to James Tatum and Rudolph Neat.

According to the above information, James Tatum was a resident of Rowan County from November, 1786 until May 1801, at least.

In 1796, William Tatham left Old Fields and went to Spain and then to England where he remained until 1806. So far as is known, he never returned to Old Fields.

About 1800, James and his family left Rowan County and moved into the vicinity of Old Fields where they made their permanent home. There is no record of any purchase or transaction there until James, in 1802, bought a parcel of land adjoining property which he already owned. Evidently he fell heir to, or otherwise came into possession of "the Farm" which William had acquired from the Cherokee Indians, and which James, according to tradition, had supervised for William before and during the time of the American Revolution. James did not sell his land in Rowan County, North Carolina, until 1804, which further indicates that he came into possession of William’s farm without purchase.

Our best records seem to start with George and Lucretia Tatum in 1758, when they bought property in Dinwiddie County, Virginia. Haley Tatum was born there in 1760 according to the D.A.R. records, and he died March 20, 1819 in Rowan County, North Carolina. He fought in the American Revolution as a private in the line North Carolina, 1780-1782. He probably was with his brother, Captain James Tatum, who also fought in North Carolina. I cannot find Haley Tatum in the census of 1790 in North Carolina or South Carolina, but have found records of him selling 140 acres of land in Lancaster County, South Carolina on November 14, 1789 to Marthew Jones for 100 pounds sterling silver. Joseph Coates and Harwell Coates witnessed the deed on November 14, 1789, and on April 6, 1790 Haley Tatum bought 207 acres from Benjamin Kelly next to Joseph Garwood, Elijah Owens and Jesse Buckner for 100 pounds. His sister Lucretia married John Buckner and his brother Jessie married Elijah Owen’s daughter. So I assume Haley went to South Carolina after the Revolutionary War and farmed next to Joseph and Harwell Coates. We have no record of it, but he might have married one of the Coates’ daughters, because their first child was named Hardy Coates Tatum. He was born in Rowan County on September 2, 1793, and it was a tradition to pass on her family name. Following is a copy of the sale of land in South Carolina on November 14, 1789.

 

" This indenture made this fourteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand and seven hundred and eighty nine and in the fourteenth year of the Independence of the United States of America; Between Haley Tatum of the County of Lancaster of the State of South Carolina of the one party and Marthew Jones of the County and State aforesaid. Of the other party Wilheseth that the said Haley Tatum found in consideration of the sum of one hundred pounds Sterling Money to hand paid the receipts whereof he duly hereby acknowledge to be fully satisfied and has bargained aforehand enfeoffed and confirmed and by the LeFargants doth bargain sell when enfeoffed and confirm unto the said Marthers Jones to certain tract or parcel of land containing one hundred and twenty acres. Be it the same more or less situated in Lancaster County aforesaid on the waters of White Oak Creek being a part of two tracts, one granted to John Goodwin, the other to Joseph Coates and hath gulh ghapes forms and marks as the platt therof representing together with all that appertains therewith belonging or in anywise appertaining to wit an absolute estate in fee sample. To have and to hold this said one hundred and twenty acres of land. To him the said Marthew Jones and his heirs and assigns forever and I the said Haley Tatum do for myself and heirs, executors, administrators and assigns do warrant and forever defend the title of the land aforesigned to the said Marthew Jones and to his heirs, executors and assignees the lawful claim of any person or persons whatsoever claiming in, by, or under him in witness thereof. For I have thereto let my hand and seal to the day and year above written: signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us. Joseph Coates, Harwell Coates, Haley Tatum"

 

Haley (Hailey) Tatum

 

On April 6, 1790, Haley Tatum bought from Benjamin Kelly, a planter, both of Rowan, 207 acres of Dutchman’s Creek next to Joseph Garwood,
Elijah Owings (Owens), Edward Howard, John March and Jesse Buckner for 100 pounds. This was proved by Robert Foster in May 1791. (Book 12, page 369, Rowan County records)

This seems to have been an important move. For Elijah Owings was to become the father-in-law of Jesse Tatum and Haley’s sister had already married into the Buckner’s family. One applicant for membership in the D.A.R. claims that Haley married a Miss Buckner. I have no information on this but it’s my guess that Haley’s son Hardy Coates has his mother’s name.

From time to time Haley added to his lands until in 1809 he was paying taxes in Captain Samuel Foster’s Company, on 992 acres of land. Then in 1814 he had between one and two thousand acres of land. (Salisburg Post, March 18, 1954)

Perhaps the transaction most interesting to us was the sale of a tract of about 160 acres to Peter Miller which tract was situated in the Forks of the Yadkin. This could be in the general area where Jesse Tatum lived for Jesse and Leah are buried in a lovely grove of trees on the Miller place at Cherry Hill.

Haley’s daughter Permilla married Andrew Merrill, the marriage bond is dated June 4, 1810. The Merrills lived in the Potts Creek section of Rowan County which is now Davidson County. (W. C. Merrill in Capt. Benjamin Merrill)

Even though Haley bought land in Rowan County in April 1790, he was not listed in the census for that year as the head of the house. He probably married around this time for in 1800 he was listed as having one son and two daughters under 10 years of age, both Haley and his wife were listed in the age group 26-45 years of age. (Census)

In 1810 his household consisted of three males under 10, one male between 10 and 16, and one female between 10 and 16; one female between 16 and 26; his wife was between 26 and 45 while Haley was over 45 years of age. We know from records that Permilla married in 1810; Hardy was born 1793, and that Haley S. was born on Feb. 8, 1807 and Samuel were minor children at the time of their father’s death in 1820. We have no record of the other two children.

On May 6, 1801 Haley was granted the administration of the estate of George Tatum, deceased, and was made guardian of his orphan, Franky. He gave bond to James Tatum and Rudolph Neat in the amount of 100 pounds in each case.

Haley served as a private in the Revolutionary War from the Salisburg District. See page 344 N.C.D.A.R. Roster of Revolutionary War Soldiers, 1780-1782.)

Haley was apparently born between 1755 and 1760.

November 23, 1821, the will of Haley Tatum was proved by Jesse Tatum and Richmond Pearson. Haley S. and Samuel Tatum wished the will of Haley Tatum proved affidavits of Lawrence Owens, James Owens and Jesse Tatum witnesses, the will having been lost or mislaid they produced it as nearly as possible. Jesse Tatum was made administrator, giving $5000 bond to Thomas Deadmon and John Hughes as security.

Jesse Tatum was appointed guardian of Haley and Samuel Tatum, orphans of Haley Tatum in February 1821. He gave bond to Norman Owens and Frederick Foard for $4,000.

Haley Tatum’s will, Vol 22, page 27, Archives and History, Raleigh, North Carolina.

"To daughter Milly Merrill the land on which Moses Claybrooks now lives.

"To son Hardy all lands in Buncombe County, North Carolina.

"To niece Centy Buckner for her kindness to his family, furniture, etc.

"To sons Haley and Samuel all other lands, household and moveable effects for their use and benefit for their education and raising."

A deed dated August 3, 1819 in Buncombe County transfers to Hardy C. Tatum from Haley Tatum 230 acres on Big Ivy River. Book 14, page 312. On January 6, 1824, Hardy sold 130 acres of this land to Robert Roberts, Book 15, page 262. Then on January 14, 1832 Hardy C. Tatum sold the remaining 100 acres to Gabriel G. Coates.

From letters received from Edward Turner Tatum, Mrs Alice Lynch, Mrs. C. S. Tatum and Mrs. Crowell Sexton we have pieced together the following:

Hardy Coates Tatum, son of Haley Tatum of Rowan County, was born in Rowan County on September 20, 1793. He married Levica Roberts, daughter of Robert Roberts of Buncombe County, in or about 1816. The Roberts came to that part of Burke County which later became Buncombe then Madison Counties, in 1765 from Augusta County, Virginia (From Roberts and Crane families of Western N.C.) Robert Roberts was listed in the 1800 census for Buncombe County. About 1831 Hardy moved to Dade County, Georgia. He may have stopped for awhile in Tenn. For some of his children were born in that state and his brother Haley was living in Monroe, Tenn. In 1831. (Note: The 1830 Census show Hardy C. and Haley living next door to each other in Monroe County, Tennessee.)

Edward Turner Tatum said that Hardy’s children were Jackson, Pearson, Gains, George, Marion, Robert Haley, Lafayette, Ann Eliza, Nancy, Louise, Charles, Rebecca and Alford. The 1850 Census for Dade County, Georgia shows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

On June 10, 1827 Haley Sane Tatum married Elisabeth Ann Anderson, Rowan County, North Carolina. They moved to Monroe, Tennessee next to his brother Hardy Coates Tatum, who was living there. While living there they had two daughters, Mary Louisa Tatum and Martha A. Tatum. Mary Louisa was born October 10, 1830 and Martha on June 26, 1834. Mary Louisa married Lucillous Anderson Bryan; he died June 10, 1860 in Walker County, Georgia. Martha’s married name was Chastain. Haley S. Tatum and Samuel Tatum in 1831 sold land to Jessie Tatum. Haley S. was living in Monroe, Tennessee and Samuel was still living in Rowan County, North Carolina. But in 1835, when they sold the balance of the estate to Uncle Jessie, Samuel was living in Lumpkin County, Georgia and Haley was still in Tennessee. Sometime before 1838 he moved to Ringgold, Walker County, Georgia within a few miles of his brother, Hardy C. Tatum, who was living in Trenton, Dade County, Georgia. Hardy L. and sisters Emily and Queen Hester were born there.

Hardy Lucilius Tatum was born March 12, 1838

Emily (Emma) Elizabeth Tatum was born March 1, 1841

Queen Hester Tatum was born July 22, 1847

 

Their father Haley S. died there July 22, 1850. Haley’s widow Elisabeth, married Martin Camp, a widower, on April 18,1856. They then moved to Benton, Saline County, Arkansas. On February 9, 1860 Hardy’s sister, Emily Elisabeth, married Marion Pumphries. Emily out lived five (5) husbands and died at the age of 100 in Oklahoma. In the June census of 1860, it showed Hardy and his sister (Queen Hester) living on a farm with their stepfather and mother. Hardy was 23 and Queen was 13. On September 3, 1861, Hardy L. Tatum went to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Jefferson County and joining Company B, 2^nd Battalion, Arkansas Infantry and on the 18^th of July, 1862 near Petersburg, Virginia the remains of the 2^nd Battalion that was left after the battle of Beaver Dam Creek in which most of them were destroyed. They were transferred to the 3^rd Infantry of Arkansas. On October 16, 1862, Queen Tatum married John F. Lastor. On the 16^th day of August 1838 Almond A. Steel married Melinda Pelton in Saline County, Arkansas. Their only daughter was Lucretia Jane Steel, born April 7, 1840. She married John I. Gee on December 14, 1860. They had one son, John J. Gee. He was born in 1862. I could not find any record of John I. Gee. He could have been fighting for a local organization that had no records. Hardy L. Tatum had a son (Arlington Edgar Tatum), born in 1862 but can find no record of a marriage or wife. The next record I find is 1870 census where Lucretia and Hardy are married and have a family consisting of Edgar and John J. Both are eight years old, and Ambrose Haley Tatum, five years old, and Leonedas M., one year old. Ambrose was their first child born February 4, 1866.

Hardy’s war record shows he left the 3^rd Arkansas Infantry on furlough in May, 1864. Both he and Lucretia must each have had a two year old boy. I can find no record of marriage in Saline County, Arkansas. But in those days there were no marriage certificates. You were married by a Justice of the Peace, and it was his responsibility to record it at the county seat, therefore it might not have been recorded. Also, the Union soldiers were in control of that area, and Hardy was a Confederate soldier fighting them. I don’t know why Hardy didn’t return to the 3^rd Arkansas Infantry. But Sherman and Grant were blocking the way, and the 3^rd had returned to No. Virginia. It could have been that his wife had died, and he had to care for his two year old boy. And Lucretia had lost her husband and she had a two year old boy, so some way they got together and got married. I have a story told to me by J. W. Tatum, grandson of Hardy and son of Mark Tatum, Hardy’s youngest son. J. W. said he heard it from his father that Hardy continued to fight the Union soldiers even though he could not get back to his outfit which had been shipped back to Virginia while he was on furlough. He said Hardy and Lucretia had a signal when Hardy came around the house. His wife had a signal like a towel hanging up if it was safe to come in.

In the 1880 census Hardy was 42, Lucretia was 40, Arlington 19, John Gee 18, Ambrose 14, Leonidas 11, William Mark 8, Johnathan 6, Ina L. 5, Clio M. 3.

On the 26^th day of November, 1885, Ambrose Haley Tatum married Nancy Jane Humphries in Grant Co., Town of Belfast, Ark. Of this union the following children were born:

The first child was Olive. She died very young. (about 6 months)

 

Hardie Badger	February 7, 1888	1982
John Thomas	January 31, 1891	August 18, 1927
Ethel	August 4, 1894	February 1987
Joe	December 21, 1896	December 20, 1917
Maebell	August 27, 1898	October 26, 1985
Vern Haley	March 28, 1902	July 18, 1984
William Franklin	January 25, 1906	December 23, 1960

 

Emma Lou Shrader and John Thomas Tatum were married on November 21, 1909 in Benton, Arkansas.

 

Ola Eunett	August 27, 1910	December 24, 1982
Ona Magdalene	April 24, 1912	May 24, 1985
John Thomas	November 5, 1915	November 17, 1993
James Orval	December 4, 1921
Barbara Lou	November 19, 1924

The family moved to Tustin, California in January, 1916 in Orange County where James Orval was born on December 4, 1921. They then moved to Santa Ana where Barbara Lou Tatum was born on November 19, 1924. It was here on August 18, 1927 that John Thomas Tatum died at Santa Ana Valley Hospital exactly to the day Emma Lou Tatum died 42 years later on August 18, 1969 in the same hospital.

Nancy Jane Humphries is the daughter of Joshua B. Humphries and Mary Jane Moore. Mary Jane was born in Alabama in 1835. Her maiden name was McCool and she had three children before she married Joshua B. Humphries. Her father came from South Carolina. Joshua Humphries was also married before and had one daughter, Emile, five years old. Mary Jane and Joshua had three daughters by 1870. Nancy Jane was the youngest, she was 2. She married Ambrose in 1885. Joshua Humphries was born in Indiana in 1829. The Tatums and Humphries lived in Saline Co., Ark., but in 1870 they took up part of the county and made a new county. It was called Grant County. The county line ran between the two places. The Humphries lived near Belfast, Grant County, and the Tatums near Benton, Saline County. They were close enough that between 1885 and 1889:

October 24, 1885, Arlington Edgar Tatum (24) married S. S. Humphries (19)

November 24, 1885, Ambrose Haley Tatum (20) married N. J. Humphries (18)

March 23, 1889, Leonidas M. Tatum (20) married Mary A. Humphries (15)

March 23, 1889, Ima L. Tatum (14) married J. F. Humphries (19)

 

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