Those Places Thursday - A Corner of Hamblen County

In my continuing search on the Jones line, an area of focus is on the border of Hamblen and Jefferson Counties in Tennessee, around White Pine (Jefferson County) and Witts Foundry (Hamblen). Hamblen County was created in 1870 from Greene, Grainger and Jefferson Counties. Back in November, I emailed the Hamblen County, Tennessee Archives, and they recently sent back two deeds. My query was focused on two deeds involving my third-great-grandfather, Joseph Thomas Jones. The result included many more names that may of interest to researchers tracking families from this part of Tennessee.

DavidRumsey.com  - Rand McNally New Shippers' Railroad Map 1891

A year after appearing in the 1870 US Census (taken 1 August 1870) in Witts Foundry, Jefferson County, Tennessee, Joseph Jones and wife Mary Catherine sold land in Hamblen County, Tennessee in 1871. It took a while, but after comparing the 1870 Census with the names on the deed below it become apparent that Joseph and Mary Catherine had not moved to Hamblen County. The part of Witts Foundry in the 1870 census became part of Hamblen County later that year. So, their location in 1870 was on the same land as sold in 1871. It is also interesting to see Joseph & Mary Catherine's neighbors were Mary Catherine's uncle Benjamin F. Hickey and his wife (Joseph's cousin) Louisa P. Thornhill Hickey.

Deed Vol. 1, Page 150 - Joseph Jones to Joel Duncan, 15 August 1871

For and in consideration of the sum of seven hundred dollars to us in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged we have this day and date below bargained and sold and do hereby bargain sell and convey unto Joel Dunkin a certain tract or parcel of land situated in the County of Hamblen State of Tennessee Civil District No 3 and adjoines lands with George McFarland, Benjamin Hickey and others.

Beginning at a stake on the line of John McFarland Jr. thence N 22 E 86 poles to a stake in Wm S. Hanson's line. Thence with the same West 34 poles to a black oak. Thence with Hanson's line N 88 poles to a white oak. Barton's corner. Thence with his line W 80 poles to his corner. Thence South with Barton's line 72 poles to his corner. Thence with Barton's line W 38 to his corner. Thence with Hickey's line S 76 W 8 poles to a hickory, Hickey corner. Thence with his line South 16 1/2 E 74 poles to a dogwood and Post Oak Hickey's corner Thence with his line South 57 W 40 poles to a stake McFarland's corner. Thence with his line E 130 poles to the beginning containing one hundred acres be the same more or less, and we warrant the title to said land against all persons whomsoever. Given under our hands this the 15th day of August 1871.

Joseph [X] Jones
Mary C. Jones

Attest A. G. Taylor
S. B. Smith

State of Tennessee}
Hamblen County} Personally appeared before me W. S. Reece Deputy Clerk of the County Court of said County, Joseph Jones, bargainor to the foregoing deed with whom I am personally acquainted and who acknowledged that he executed the same for the purposes therein expressed witness my hand at office this 15th day of August 1871.
W. S. Reece, DC
Received for registration at one o'clock P.M. Aug 15, 1871

And Mary C. Jones wife of Joseph Jones having also appeared before me privately and apart from her said husband and acknowledged that she executed the foregoing deed on her part freely voluntarily and understandingly without compulsion or constraint from her said husband and for the purposes therein expressed. Witness my hand at office this 15th day of August 1871.
W. S. Reece, DC of Hamblen County Court
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The photo below is of a home near Morristown, Hamblen County. This is not of the Jones land, as far as I know, but is probably typical of a farm in the county at this time.

Library of Congress - Hamblen County, Tennessee

Deed Volume 2, pg 316-318
State of Tennessee}
Hamblen County}
Eliza Line wife of Madison Line, having personally appeared before me and having by virtue of the authority in me vested, been examined privately and apart from her said husband, and she having acknowledged the due execution of the deed by her freely, voluntarily and understandingly, without compulsion and constraint by her said husband and for the purposes therein contained, the same is therefore certified.
Witness my hand and seal, this 5 March 1878
W. A. Howell

State of Tennessee}
Hamblen County}
Personally appeared before me D.W.C. Davis, Clerk of the County Court, the within named Bargainer Madison Line & David Line with whom I am personally acquainted, and acknowledged that they executed the annexed instrument for the purpose therein contained. Witness my hand of office in Morristown this 5th day of March 1878

D.W.C. Davis, Clerk
Received for registration at 5 PM March 11, 1878
Samuel B. Noe
Registrar
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Deed Madison Line to Joseph Jones
Know all men by these presents that we have this day bargained and sold and do hereby transfer and convey to Joseph Jones his heirs and representatives for sum of one thousand dollars to us in hand paid a certain tract and parcel of land [?] and being in the county of Hamblen and State of Tennessee District No. 1 and bounded as follows.

Beginning on a rock W. A. Howell and Madison Line corner in J. W. Turners line thence west with W. A. Howells line to a post oak Howell and W. C. Looney corner. Thence westernally with Looneys line and Looney corner then with a conditional line between said Line and Looney to a rock Line and Looney corner. Thence Eastwardly with the Shelton line to a rock Line and Shelton corner. Thence southwardly with the Shelton line to a rock M. Line and Joseph Line corner. Thence Eastwardly with a conditional line between Madison Line and Joseph Line to a rock in a sink hole. Southwardly with a conditional line between said Madison Line and Joseph Line to a rock mean the corner of the lot know as the Watson lot. Thence a straight line eastwardly to James Hays and Line rock and painters corner. Thence eastwardly with Hays line to a rock John Kimbrough and Hampton Younger corner. Thence northwardly a straight line to a sink in the ground with painters J. M. Turners and John Kimbrough corner. Thence northwardly with Turners line to the beginning. To have and to hold the said tract a parcel of land to the said Joseph Jones his heirs and assigns forever.

We do covenant with the said Joseph Jones that we are lawfully seized of said land have a good right to convey it and that the same is unencumbered that we will warrant and forever defend the title to the said land against the claims of all forever whatsoever.

This the twelfth day of February one thousand eight hundred and seventy eight.

In witness whereof we have hereunto office on day and date before written.

Madison Line [Seal]
Eliza Line [Seal]
David C. Line [Seal]
Emma Line [Seal]
Joseph E. Line [Seal]
Martha A. Line [Seal]
Alfred M. Line [Seal]
Elizabeth Line [Seal]

Witness
W. A. Howell
E. C. Riggs

State of Tennessee}
Hamblen County}
Personally appeared before D.W.C. Davis Clerk of the County Court of said County, the within named Madison Line Joseph Line and Joseph Line the bargainor with whom I am personally acquainted, and who acknowledged that they executed the annexed instrument for the purposes therein contained.
Witness my hand at office this 5th day of March 1878
D.W.C. Davis, Clerk

The State of Tennessee}
Grayson County} Before me E. E. Miller J.P. and Grayson County Ex oficio notary public and for said county personally come Alfred M. Line and his wife acknowledged the signed and delivered the foregoing deed for the consideration and purposes therein stated.

Given my hand and notary seal on this the 21 day of February 1878
E. C. Miller J.P. and ex oficio notary public

State of Tennessee}
Hamblen County} W. A. Howell esq.
You are hereby authorized and empowered to take the examination of Mrs. Madison Line & Jos. E. Line privately and apart from her husband relative to the free execution of the annexed deed, and the same as taken to certify under your hand and seal. Given under my hand at office March 5, 1878.
D.W.C. Davis, Clerk

State of Tennessee}
Hamblen County} Eliza Line & Martha A. Line, wives of Madison Line & Jos. E. Line having personally appeared before me and having by virtue of the authority in me vested been examined privately and apart from her said husband, and she having acknowledged the due execution of the annexed deed by her freely, voluntarily and understandingly, without compulsion or constraint by her said husband, and for the purposes therein contained, the same is therefore certified.
Witness my hand and seal, this March 5, 1878.
W. A. Howell [Seal], J.P.
Received for registration at 5 PM, March 11, 1878.
Samuel B. Noe, Register
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The next deed in the series at the bottom of page 318 was between Madison Line and John Kimbrough. This deed shows that Eliza Line was the wife of Madison Line, Martha A. Line was the wife of Joseph E. Line, Elizabeth Line was the wife of Alfred Line.

Of the many things interesting about this deed, is knowing the history between Madison & Eliza Line and Joseph Jones. As earlier referenced from Joseph's Civil War pension file, Madison Line was a witness to Joseph's shooting in 1864, and Eliza Line was a witness in the case file. It's worth seeing why all of the Lines needed to sign the deed with Joseph Jones (and afterward with John Kimbrough). Perhaps this land had been passed down to the Line family, and they all needed to relinquish their claims to the land.

One last connection, Samuel Noe, the register of the deed in 1878, was an ancestor of Joseph Jones' last wife, Pearl Cox.