Working Paper on Martin Ridenour of Campbell Co. TN
I am really stuck on this one!Mel mentions in Ancestors are Forever that there is a record that says Jacob Sharp's wife is Martin Ridenour's sister.I have not been able to find this record at the library and don't know when it occurred nor the exact wording.Did it say her sister's name was Elizabeth? or just Jacob's wife?There were 3 to 4 or more Jacob Sharp's in Campbell Co. TN and upon further research I am pretty certain that Nancy Smith d/o Aly Smith is NOT Martin's wife (see analysis below).If anyone can help, I would sure appreciate it.
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Working Paper on Martin Ridenour
By Becky Mason Walker
Martin Ridenour was named in John Ridenour’s will along with his brother, John. In 1799, he administered his father-in-law's will so was of age then placing his birth some time before 1778.In the 1830 Campbell Co. TN census he was listed as age 50-59 indicating that he was born after 1770.These two facts narrow his date of birth to 1771-1778.
He married first on May 2, 1799, Sarah Clark daughter of William & Lucy (Scurry) Clark in Knox Co. Tennessee.Shortly afterwards, on 16 May 1799 at Well's Station, Tennessee, a band of Indians fired upon Judge David Campbell's party killing William Clark. Martin Ridenour, one of the party, had four bullet holes through his hunting shirt. William Clark's widow, Lucy, and his son-in-law, Martin Ridenour, were appointed administrators of William Clack's estate.[From Ancestors Are Forever,A Ridenour Collection From 893 Ad To 1997 AD by Melvin O. Ridenour]
Martin's second wife is listed as Nancy Smith d/o Aly Smith by "Ancestors are Forever" and says that Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Aly Smith and wife of Jacob Sharp is listed in one record as sister to Martin's wife.In the 1830 census, Martin’s wife is listed as age 40-49 or born 1781-1790.Nancy Smith was born November 8, 1799 in Russell Co. Virginia and would have been age 31 in 1830.
Nancy Smith married William Archer June 17, 1819 in Campbell Co. Tennessee.In the Campbell Co. TN Circuit Court Minutes of Jun 20 1839 in a suit brought to force sale of plantation left by Aly Smith, she is named Nancy "now the wife of William Archey of Hamilton Co, Tn".In the 1850 Itawamba Co., Mississippi census her age is listed 51 born TN and in 1860 age 61 born VA.Given the consistency in reporting her age, the 1819 marriage record and the court records, it is unlikely she is the same Nancy that married Martin Ridenour.
In the 1830 census, Martin’s wife is listed as age 40-49 or born 1781-1790.Martin died in 1838 and in 1840, there is an older female listed in Jeremiah Ridenour’s census age 50-59.This is likely Martin’s wife.
Also from Ancestors are Forever, Elizabeth Scruggs/Scaggs, m. Jacob "Long Jake or Big Jake" Sharp, listed in one record as sister of Martin's wife.Perhaps, Martin’s wife was sister to another Elizabeth Sharp.Having the date and source of this record would help sort this out.
A Jacob Sharp & Elizabeth Smith were married Sept 28 1820 in Campbell Co. TN.In 1830, there were two Jacob Sharp’s listed in the Campbell Co. TN census.
Jacob Sharp 0010001-212001 (Jacob age 40-49, wife age 30-39)
Jacob Sharp 10001-20111 (Jacob age 20-29, wife age 20-29)
Elizabeth Smith d/o Aly Smith was born Sept 25 1796 in Russell Co. Virginia.She would have been age 34 in 1830 so the older Jacob Sharp record is probably theirs.
In 1840, there were three Jacob Sharp’s listed in the Campbell Co. TN census.Elizabeth (Smith) Sharp would have been age 44 and Jacob age 50-59.They seem to be missing from this census.
1. Jacob Sharp 00001-10101101 (Jacob age 20-29)
2. Jacob Sharp 1000011-0 (Jacob age 40-49 living near Jeremiah Ridenour)
3. Jacob Sharp 001021-222001 (Jacob age 30-39, wife age 30-39)
On May 1, 1843 there is a record of Jacob Sharp and wife Elizabeth Sharp, formerly Elizabeth Smith, sell to John Kincaid, all of Campbell County, for $200 that tract of land descended to Elizabeth as one of the lawful heirs of Aly Smith then in a Campbell Co. TN Chancery Court record on June 15, 1847, Elizabeth Sharp d/o Aly Smith Sr. is identified as the widow of Jacob Sharp.This indicates that both Jacob & Elizabeth (Smith) Sharp were alive in 1840 but Jacob had died by 1847.
In 1850, there are two Jacob’s and an Elizabeth listed as head of house.
Elizabeth Sharp, 57, VA with William King 11 TN & David Ridenour 22 TN
Jacob Sharp, 42, TN & Rebecca 42, VA & children (#3 in 1840)
Jacob Sharp, 36, TN & Barbara 33, TN & children (#1 in 1840)
In summary, the names of the wives of the other Jacob Sharps were not Elizabeth.However, I did find that there was another Jacob Sharp living in Campbell Co. TN after 1840 married second to Elizabeth Nash on March 13, 1840 in Claiborne Co. TN and that Elizabeth is married to Isaac Sharp by the 1850 census.She was b.c. 1811 TN.
Without knowing the date, source and actual wording of the record mentioning Martin’s wife’s sister, I cannot go any further in this analysis and I have not been able to locate it.
From Ancestors are Forever, family lore says that "Martin went on a note or mortgage with either a relative or a friend.When the party did not pay up the law foreclosed on Martin's household furniture, etc., completely wiping him out - except for a pot of hominy cooking in the fireplace. Martin drifted off and was last heard of working in a salt mine in Kentucky".He died 1838 in Clay Co. Kentucky and is buried Mt. Moriah Cemetery, Anderson Co. Tennessee.
Timeline:
1799Married Sarah Clark in Knox Co. TN, bond by Michael Miller
1799Administrator for William Clark and named son-in-law in Knox Co. TN
1801Anderson Co. TN created from Knox & Granger
1802Listed on tax list
1806Campbell Co. TN created from Anderson & Claiborne
1810Census for Campbell Co. TN unavailable
1815Listed in John Grants Clinch River Ferry account book in Campbell Co. TN
1817Witnessed John Ridenour Sr sale of 200 acres on Clinch River
1818Witnessed John Ridenour Sr of Campbell Co. TN sale of 100 acres on Clinch River to Henry Ridenour
1820Listed in John Grants Clinch River Ferry account book in Campbell Co. TN
1820Census for Campbell Co. TN unavailable
1823Security for William Miller for judgment and costs on charges of Bastardy in Campbell Co. TN
1828Named in father, John's will along with brother, John in Campbell Co. TN
1830Listed on Campbelll Co. TN census - 121100010-0010001
1834Son, Daniel Webster married in Campbell Co. TN
1838Died in Clay Co. KY per "Ancestors are Forever"
1838Son, Jeremiah Ridenour married at age of 20 in Campbell Co. TN
1840Martin's family is listed in Jeremiah Ridenour census in Campbell Co. TN - 01211-10001001
1850Henry, Andrew, Margaret, Nelson, DW on Mercer Co. MO census
1850Jeremaih on Decatur Co. IA census
Please email me with additions or corrections!