Person:John Essman (2)

Posted by: Gene Essman

In Reply to: Re: Charles Edward Essman Family by Barbara Caine

I've done a little research on the Essman's in TN and have some information. There were four Essman marriages between 1795 and 1805 in Greene County, TN. One was a boy named Benjamin who married a girl named Darkis Cross. The father of these folks seems to have been a Thomas Essman who died in 1824 in McMinn County, TN. John Essman, who is in the 1830 census in McMinn County, TN was assigned to dispose of Thomas' personal property by court order, of which I have a copy.

Benjamin seemed to disappear from McMinn County, TN and I have been wondering if that is not how the Alabama branch came to be. The Thomas YOU refer to was about the right age to have been the son of this Benjamin. John and William who was also in McMinn County, TN in 1830 both left there. In 1840 William was in Roane County, TN and John went to MO. He died there in 1846. Thomas and John, as mentioned above, were both in KY in the 1820 census. They seem to be either brothers or, more likely, father and son. I am descended from John who would be my ggg-gftr. Please feel free to contact me and I;ll share whatever else I have that might be of interest to you.

John died in 1846 in Greene County, MO and Nancy later got a bounty land grant based on John's service in the War of 1812. I have John's will and Nancy's application for the land grant. Actually, she got two such grants and I have both of them.

John and Nancy were still in, or back in, Hawkins County in 1814 because John entered the E. TN Militia in 1814 from Hawkins County. He only served six months and was discharged....(Later in the correspondance) John fought in the Indian Wars at Ft. William, AL and then accompanied the Cherokees to OK on "The Trail of Tears" as a musician, as did his son Huston, only 13 at the time....

Nancy later got a bounty land grant based on John's service in the War of 1812. I have John's will and Nancy's application for the land grant. Actually, she got two such grants and I have both of them.In the first application she gave her maiden name and where and when they were married. John served at Ft. Williams, AL in 1814 and was ordered back to Rhea County, TN to be discharged by Andrew Jackson. He was in the E. TN Militia with Davy Crockett, although not in the same unit. Davy Crockett enlisted from Hawkins County also. John and one of his oldest sons, Hutson J., were musicians who accompanied the Cherokee on "The Trail of Tears in 1838." It appears that John may have gone on the route that went up into MO and back down to OK, and saw something he liked 'cause he apparently went back home and moved the family to MO.

John Essman: 2 boys under 9 yrs; 1 boy 10-15 years; 0 boys 16-17; 1 male 26-44; 0 males 45+; two girls under 9 years; 0 girls 10-17; 0 girls 18-25; 1 woman 26-44; 0 women 45+.

193 House 71 Essman John 210010 20010
193 House 61 Essman Thomas 000001 00001

McMinn Co., TN records show where the will of Thomas Essman was probated 10 Dec 1824 and that John Essman was the administrator.

Taxable Property and polls in Capt. Firestone's Co. for 1829, returned by David Cantrell, Esquire. No. 8.
Lists: John Easmon for 160 acres WP1 $.91 1/4

...John and a William who was also in McMinn county, TN in 1830 both left there. In 1840 William was in Roane County, TN and John went to MO. They seem to be either brothers or, more likely, father and son....

Capt. Firestone's Co. for 1830 D. Cantrell, Esq.
lists: John Essman for 160 acres 1 WP $.91 1/4

Capt. Firestone's Co. for 1831 by G. Cantrell, Esq. No. 22
lists: Jno. Essman for 160 acres 1WP $1.13 1/4

John Essman owed $.50 to Seburn Senter, Tax Collector for McMinn Co. for 1833 "returned into Court a list of insolvents and run of persons and persons on 2 lists subject to tax."

1836 Tax List - Dist. 13
John Esmon .37.5 tax WP1

...as was Bradley County, TN which is where John was in 1840 with his name mispelled as Edmunds....