User:Schmelzer/Susanna Smelser

Susanna was born 17 September 1774. Early sources state she was born and married in Pennsylvania. Reference is from an interview taken from her in her senior years while she was knitting and from a family Bible. However, it's fact that she was married in Knox County, Tennessee. In 1850 she is enumerated in Fishing River Township, Clay County, Missouri. Her state of birth listed is VA (Virginia). I personally question whether the writing in the family Bible was by the same person.

The majority of the data on this page will be records gathered for her husband Harmon Gregg.

Records Gathered

Marriage

Knox County, Tennessee
Harmon Gregg to Sus Smellser
Marriage Bond: David Smelser, Security

Census

Jackson County, Missouri

• 1830
  MALES: 1 10-15, 1 20-30, 1 50-60
  FEMALES: 1 10-15, 1 50-60

• 1840
  MALES: 1 20-30, 1 60-70
  FEMALES: 1 50-60

• 1850

Tax

Overton County, Tennessee

• 1802 Harmon GRAGG

Land

Overton County, Tennessee

• Overton County was part of Smith County when the land was bought
  
  Original Deed Book 17/18 20 November 1800. $200.00 200 Acres.
  John Sevier Sr. & George Gordon, Jr. of Knox to Harmon Gregg of Smith
  On Sinking Fork of Eagle Creek a branch of Obey's River.
  Signed: John Sevier, Geo. Gordon
  Wit: John McDonnold, Geo Strother
  Proven: Mar 1801 by akn; rec 15 Apr 1801
  
  Original Book B, Page 224
  Harmon Gregg to James Fansher
  
  Deed - 200 Acres
  On Sinking Fork of Eagle Creek
  & branch of Obeys River
  
  This Indenture made this twenty-third of October Eighteen Hundred and nine between Harmon Gregg of the County of Overton, State of Tennessee of the one part and James Fansher of the County and State aforesaid of the other part, Witnesseth: That the said Harmon Gragg, for and in Consideration of the sum of Seven hundred and fifty dollars alies an improvement of land where he now liveth, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, hath for the same bargained and sold, and by these presents doth bargain and sell alien and confirm unto the said James Fansher his heirs and assigns forever a certain piece or parcel of land, containing two hundred acres, be this same more or less lying in the said County on the sinking fork of Eagle Creek, a branch of Obey's River, including of an improvement where he now lives, beginning at a poplar and hickory, thence north ten degrees East, one hundred and sixty poles to a dogwood on a ridge; thence south eighty west, two hundred poles to a poplar and hickory; thence ten west one hundred and sixty poles to a white oak, thence a direct line the beginning, with all and singular, the woods, waters, water courses, profits, commodities, hereditaments whatsoever to the said tract of land belonging or appertaining, and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders issues and profits thereof, and all the estate, right, title, interest and property claim and demand of the said Harmon Gregg, his heirs and assigns forever, of, in and to the same and every part and parcel thereof, either in law or equity, To have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land, with its appertenances, unto the said James Fansher, his heirs and assigns fore against the lawful title, claim and demand of all and every person or persons whatsoever, shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents.
  
  In Witness Whereof, the said Harmon Gregg hath set his hand and seal the day and year above written.
  Harmon Gregg (seal)
  Signed, Sealed and
  Delivered in presence of
  James B Meredith
  Thomas Arnett
  Rutherford Witt
  
  
  State of Tennessee
  Overton County
  August Term 1810
  
  Then was the due execution of the within deed from Harmon Gregg, to Thomas Arnett, duly proven in open court by the oath of James B Meredith and Thomas Arnett contracting thereto, and ordered to be certified. Let it be registered
  ?. Totten, Clk
  
  Registered the 16th day May, 1811.

Chariton County, Missouri

• The United States of America
  To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting:
  Whereas Harman Gregg of Howard County Missouri has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States, a certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Franklin State of Missouri whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said Harman Gregg according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled "An act making further provision for the sale of the Public Lands," for The East half of the South West quarter of Section thirty four, in Township fifty three of Range Seventeen, in the District of Franklin and State of Missouri, Containing Eighty Acres according to the official plat of the survey of the said Lands, returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General, which said tract has been purchased by the said Harman Gregg
  
  NOW KNOW YE, That the United States of America, in consideration of the premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress, in such case made and provided, have Given and Granted, and, by these presents do give and grant, unto the said Harman Gregg, the said tract above described: To Have and to Hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances, of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging, unto the said Harman Gregg and his heirs and assigns, forever.
  In Testimony whereof, I James Monroe PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, have caused these letters to be made Patent, and the seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed.
  
  Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the twenty seventh day of March in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty two, and of the Independence of the United States the forth sixth.
  
  By the President J.M.
  
  J Meigs Commissioner of the General Land Office.

History

Rootsweb Biographical Sketches

• Harmon and Jacob Gregg, 2 brothers with families, cleaned their long muzzle-loading rifles, loaded their wares into prairie schooners, and moved to the frontier land.
  
  Harmon Gregg later related: "It has been a long, long time since I first came to the county of Jackson in 1825, but I have not forgotten the lives that we lived in the backwoods - those woods in which the tracks of the Indians could still be seen and the warwhoop had scarcely died away." He spoke of the days of hog and hominy, especially hominy, which his own hands many times, had made; of the hunting excursions for wild game and wild bees and their honey.
  
  Source:Rural Rhymes and Olden Times p. 59

History of Clay and Platte Counties, Missouri

• Page 285
  A paragraph from the biographical record of Samuel Hardwicke
  
  Samuel Hardwicke was born in Clay County, Mo., September 3, 1833. His father was Capt. Philip Allen Hardwicke, from Brooks County, Va., and his mother, Miss Margaret (usually called Peggy) Gregg, was born in Tennessee, but was reared in Howard County, Mo. She was the daughter of Harmon Gregg, whom Gen. A. W. Doniphan pronounced one of the strongest men in native Intellect he ever met. Her brother, Josiah Gregg, was distinguished in science and as the author of "Commerce Of The Prairies" . Mrs. Hardwicke accompanied her parents to this State in childhood, and for a time they lived in Cooper's Fort for protection against the Indians. She witnessed the death of Capt. Cooper, who was shot by the Indians in the fort.
  
  

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