Family:John Hays and Rebecca Unknown (2)

Research Notes for John & Rebecca HAYS of Wilson Co. Tennessee

One of several documents received from Donna G. Ferrell, former president of the now-defunct Mt. Juliet-West Wilson County Tennessee Historical Society, who sent the collection of research completed by the late Madelon Wright Smith, former president of the same historical society. The research deals with the descendants of John & Rebecca Hays of Wilson Co. and proves the connection to Harman A. Hays, and his son, Colonel John Coffee Hays. --motohays 23:16, 24 July 2014 (UTC) (Mark A. Hays)

JOHN AND REBECCA HAYS of WILSON COUNTY TN.

John Hays, born ----, died ca 1811. Rebecca Hays, born '----- , died ca 1819

1749 - 220 acres surveyed for Charles Campbell, called Buffalo Bottoms. Signed by Thomas Lewis, initialed by J.B.(John Buchanan?) In present Montgomery Co. then was Fincastel, Botecourt, Montgomery formed in 1776.

[Note: In 1749 this was Augusta Co., then successively was Botetourt, Fincastle and Montgomery. Later it was Wythe and today this area is in Smyth Co. --motohays 23:16, 24 July 2014 (UTC)]

1779 - After being untied from Campbell estate,the 220 acres deeded to John Hays, Jr. then Montgomery Co. Va.

1781 - Nov. 7, John Hays promoted capt. of militia on the head of the N.Fork of Holston. (William Hays to Lt.)

1781 - Washington Co. Va. John Hays Sr., John Buchanan, Wm. Bates & Robert Bowen appraise estate of John Campbell, dec'd (not necessarily father of John, Jr.!)

1782 - April - May? Capt. Thomas Naxwell killed by Indians.

Somewhere around here, not long after Maxwell's death, John Hays and Rebecca Maxwell were married. (Her maiden name unknown)

1786 - Aug. William Hays promoted to Capt. in room of John Hays.

1786 - July 1, John Hays and Rebecca sell to John Garwood 220 acres ,called Buffalo Bottom on N. br Indian River, otherwise called Holston. (land next to Wm. Hays)

1786-1793 (exact date unknown)- John Hays assessee, originally of Reuben Mandel, on the ridge about two miles above Cedar Lick, adjacent to entry by Samuel Dandford Bk A, p.27, Davidson Co. This known to be where John and Rebecca lived. (Was Davidson now Wilson Co.) 1793 BK F, 347 Wilson Co.

1802 - John Hays buys from Joseph Camp of S.C. near Hays' house in Col. Donelson's line. wit. Ebenezer and Humphry Donelson.

1803 - John Hays listed on tax list for Wilson Co. Tn. for 1000 acres. Capt. Echols' dist.

1804 - Tazwell Co. Va., Dd Bk 1, p.186, a deed of gift to Sarah & Newett Drew of Wilson Co. Tn. from John & Rebecca Hays also of Wilson Co., land was a posthumous grant to Thomas Maxwell for military service.

1807 - John Hays to Newet Drew, 200 acres on Cedar Lick Cr. Dd Bk C, p 23 (Newt Drew also bought land from John Brownlee in Wilson Co.)

1811 - (approximate) John Hays died, intestate.

1812 - Rebecca Hays administrator of John Hays sells land Dd Bk D, p 483

1816 - Dd Bk F, p.41, Wilson Co. - "...the John Hays land in Sumner Co. now Wilson, on both sides of Cedar Lick Cr. beginning on Wm. Donelson's east boundary. Heirs of said deceased John Hays -Isham (T) Davis and wife, Rachel, Julius Alford and wife Ann, Harmon A. Hays and Thomas Thompson Hays. Rebecca Hays executrix, widow of John Hays

JOHN & REBECCA HAYS (pg 2)

1816 - Dd Bk F, p.109, Newt Drew to Sam Steele 200 acres on Cedar Lick Cr.

1816 - Bk F, p.293 Newt Drew to Robt. Mann both of Davidson Co. ...on Cedar Lick Cr. wit. Harmon A. & Thomas Thompson Hays
(Clayton's history of Davidson Co. shows Newt Drew in dist 16, 1816)

1819 - (will recorded in 1817, proved in 1819), Will of Rebecca Hays, names in order, daughter, Sarah Drew, daughters - Rachel Davis and Ann Alford, sons Harmon A.Hays and Thomas Thompson Hays. T.T. to receive home plantation.

Marriages of Hays children:

Rebecca Maxwell Hays' daughter, Sarah to Newet Drew, date unknown , place unknown
Julius Alford and Ann Hays, sureties Julius Alford, Harmon Hays BM, Feb. 18, 1806
Isham F. Davis and Rachel Hays Oct.10, 1809
Thompson T. Hays (his first names constantly reversed in records, he was evidently called Thompson) and Sarah (Sally) Drake, Nov. 27, 1816.
(no marriage found for Harmon A. in Wilson, Sumner or Davidson Co. He married Elizabeth Cage, d/o Wm. Cage of Sumner Co. Very prominent, a Rev. War Officer)

The only clue to John Hays family (at least the only evidence) is that Col. Robert Hays of Davidson Co. was John's brother.

1. Wilson Co. Dd Bk E, p.169, refers to land "formerly purchased by Robert Hays and John Hays".

2. Copies of original letters in Hermitage Andrew Jackson Papers, copied from Andrew Jackson papers in National Archives - written by Harmon A. Hays to Col. Robert Hays, one of which is signed "your nephew". This letter written in 1819 and refers to his three oldest children, John Coffee, Wm. Cage and Mary Ann. (John Coffee(Col. Jack) was born in 1817).

3.Col. Robert named a daughter, Martha Thompson Hays and John named a son Thomas Thompson Hays. Some sources say Col Robert's mother was a Thompson.

Col. Robert Hays is said to have been born in 1758, Salisbury,N.C. Died c 1819

In Dd Bk H, p.147, Wilson Co., A sale of land on Cedar Lick Creek - part of tract that M. Stephenson purchased from Capt. John Hays, the only instance where this John Hays is referred to as Capt., further confirming he is the sane John Hays who was in Montgomery Co.

No exact birth names of children of John & Rebecca -

1830 census shows Harmon Hays and his wife to have been born between 1780 & 1790

1850 census shows Thomas Thompson Hays born ca 1794.

1850 census - Rachel(Hays) Davis 63, Harmon 38, Gibson Co. Tn. (she born ca 1787)

(her husband, Isham Fielding Davis, died 1843, Gibson Co. age 71

No indication of age of Ann Hays Alford, (she married 1806)