Marty and Karla Grant
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Joseph Tanner (1765/74-c1828) and Unknown and Elizabeth — of Mecklenburg Co., NC, Oglethorpe Co., GA, Burke, McDowell and Macon Co., NC
[Tanner Home] - [Table of Contents] - Joseph Tanner (c1765/74)
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Joseph Tanner and his 1st wife are my 5 times Great Grand Parents.
Joseph Tanner was born ca 1765/1774 per census analysis. This is a combination of all three of his census entries:
∙ 1800 census age 26-44, born ca 1755/1774.
∙ 1810 census age 26-44, born ca 1765/1784.
∙ 1820 census age 45+, born before 1775.
Joseph Tanner was possibly born in Mecklenburg Co., NC, though perhaps he was born in Georgia instead. Joseph’s suspected son John Tanner (c1802) was listed on the 1880 census wherein he reported his father’s birth place as Georgia. If so, it would have been in Wilkes (now Oglethorpe) County, though I’m reasonably sure the Tanners didn’t move to Georgia until ca 1787 or just after that, so Joseph wouldn’t have been born there, more likely born in Mecklenburg, perhaps in the section that is now Cabarrus County.
Joseph is a proven son of John Tanner (Sr) as named in John’s 1811 Will. Joseph was also named in his brother John (Jr)’s will of 1799. Proof that this is the same Joseph Tanner in Oglethorpe Co., GA and Burke Co., NC can be found in an 1801 deed. More on that later.
Joseph’s family moved from Mecklenburg Co., NC to Wilkes Co., GA ca 1790, apparently just prior to the 1790 census since they were not listed on it in North Carolina. Their section of Wilkes County became Oglethorpe County in 1793.
The 1790 census is lost for Georgia. Joseph might not have been a head of household yet then anyway.
There were no Tanner households in Burke Co., NC in 1790. There were some nearby, namely Michael Tanner Sr and Jr in neighboring Rutherford Co., NC, and Comfort Tanner in neighboring Wilkes Co., NC. I don’t know that either of those are closely related to our Tanners.
Joseph Tanner is listed on an 1797 tax list in Oglethorpe Co., GA in Cpt. Waters District. He had no land.
Joseph is listed on an 1799 tax list in Oglethorpe Co., GA in Cpt. Joseph Waters District.
# 1 John Tanner Senr, 425 acres 3rd rate land on L. C. (watercourse), 7 Negroes
ditto - 237 ½ acres 3rd rate on B.C.
Ditto - 120 acres 3rd rate on B.C.
# 2 John Stroud, 64 acres 2nd rate and 64 acres 3rd rate on F. C., 1 Negro, adj. John Tanner
# 3 Sherwood Stroud, 30 acres 3rd rate on F. C., adj. John Tanner.
# 89 Archibald Tanner, 1 white poll
# 99 Joseph Tanner, 1 white poll
# 109 John Tanner Junr, 1 white poll
I include the Strouds above as they were associated with the Tanners, and Joseph’s oldest son John married a Stroud.
On 18 Jun 1799 John Tanner of Oglethorpe Co., GA made a deed to Joseph Tanner of the same place for $500 for land on west side of Big Creek being 140 acres. Mentions Henry Pope’s line and George Martin’s line. It was signed John Tanner. Witnessed by James Walker, John Ramsey and Wm Campbell. (Oglethorpe Co., GA Deed Book C, pp. 518-519.)
It isn’t clear whether the above is John Tanner Sr (Joseph’s father) or John Tanner Jr (his brother), though with the lack of suffix, it’s probably his father.
Joseph’s brother John Tanner (Jr) made his Will on 25 Nov 1799 in Oglethorpe Co., GA and named, among others, his brother Joseph Tanner.
Joseph Tanner married someone, name unknown, before 1800, perhaps in Burke Co., NC or perhaps in Oglethorpe Co., GA. No marriage record was found in either place for him.
She was born ca 1755/65 per her combined ages on the 1800, 1810 and 1820 censuses. That could make her as much as ten years older than her husband. I have yet to find any record with her name on it.
For some reason they moved to Burke Co., NC between 1799 and 1800. I’m not sure why Joseph left his family in Georgia to move to North Carolina. Perhaps his wife was from Burke County and they inherited some land, or perhaps there was some other reason.
They are on the 1800 census in Burke Co., NC, the only Tanner listed in that county.
Unfortunately, the 1800 Burke census was alphabetical so we can’t determine neighbors, nor figure out where they might have lived within the county though other records give us clues about that. They had no children yet, suggesting a very recent marriage.
1800 Census, Burke Co., NC
Page |
Name |
M0-9
|
M10-15
|
M16-25
|
M26-44
|
M45+
|
F0-9
|
F10-15
|
F16-25
|
F26-44
|
F45+
|
FPC
|
Slaves
|
799 |
Joseph Tanner |
~ |
~ |
~ |
1 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
1 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
My analysis (who each person *might* be):
1m 26-44 (1755/1774) Joseph Tanner (1765/74)
1f 26-44 (1755/1774) Wife (1755/65)
They apparently lived near the Rutherford County line in the part of Burke (and Rutherford) that later became McDowell County (1842) as Joseph is also found in Rutherford records. It isn’t clear if he moved back and forth, or if the boundary line wasn’t well defined yet.
Joseph is listed on an 1801 tax list in Oglethorpe next to his father John.
1801 Oglethorpe Co., GA, Cpt. Joseph Waters District
# 97. Joseph Tanner, no pole, 141 acres 3rd rate land, Oglethorpe County, Watercourse = B. C., granted to William Rufsaw, adj Alexander Reid
It says “No pole” because he wasn’t living there so he didn’t have to pay a poll tax, only a land tax. It’s interesting that he was taxed for 141 acres, but it was 140 acres when he purchased and sold it.
On 21 Nov 1801, Joseph Tanner of Burke Co., NC made a deed to John Tanner (his father) of Oglethorpe Co., GA for 140 acres of land in Oglethorpe on Big Creek. Joseph signed the deed. Witnesses were David Patrick and Gideon Tanner (Joseph’s brother). (Oglethorpe Co., GA Deed Book E, pp. 196-197.)
The above deed proves that our Joseph of Burke Co., NC is the same one previously in Oglethorpe Co., GA. This is the same land that John Tanner sold him in 1799.
On 7 Oct 1802, Joseph Tanner and Daniel Black were chain carriers for a survey made for Matthew Black of 150 acres on the waters of Broad River and Rock Creek adjoining John Bradley.
On 7 Jun 1806, Joseph Tanner witnessed a Burke County deed from Elijah Green to Henry Verner. Unfortunately all the early Burke deeds were destroyed in the Civil War, but the court records showing the recording of deeds have survived, and Joseph proved this deed in January 1811 Court. On the same date (7 Jun 1806), Joseph witnessed another deed, this one from Permenter Morgan to Henry Verner. It was also proven in January 1811 Court. (From “Burke Co, NC Deeds Registered 1804-1813" by Kathy Gunter Sullivan, 1995)
On 2 Mar 1808 a survey was made for Thomas Wallace’s land entry of 50 acres on Second Broad River joining Joseph Tanner on the west and Richard Ledbetter on the east. Chain Carriers were Joseph Tanner and Joseph Noblett.
In July 1808, the Rutherford county court ordered a road crew under Mark Moore to work on the public road from James Jones up Second Broad River to Joseph Goodbread’s. The “hands” of Joseph Tanner, Thomas Plemmons, James Black, Daniel Black, Moses Black, Henry Varner, John Bradley and Samuel Pickrell were ordered to help. (Rutherford Co., NC Road Dockets.)
Of those listed, James Jones, Joseph Goodbread, Joseph Tanner and Thomas Plemmons were on the 1800 census in Burke Co., NC, while James Black and John Bradley were on the 1800 census in Rutherford. I didn’t find Daniel Black, Moses Black, Henry Varner or Samuel Pickrell listed in 1800.
In 1807 part of Burke County was annexed to Rutherford and the description included Second Broad River and mentioned James Jones and Joseph Goodbread, the very men mentioned in the 1808 road record. However, this annexation was amended in 1809 modifying the line in such a way as to put Joseph Tanner back in Burke County. (“The Formation of the North Carolina Counties 1663-1943" David Leroy Corbitt, Raleigh, 1950 pages 44-45.)
The above county descriptions helps show where Joseph Tanner lived. It is in present McDowell County somewhere on the west side of Second Broad River between there and Hickory Nut Mountain or in that general area.
On 19 Jan 1810, Joseph Tanner was one of the commissioners tasked with allotting dower lands to the widow Carter from the land of George Carter, deceased. The full list of commissioners included: Samuel Johnston, Charles Haney, William Haden?, Drury Mashburn, Thomas Morrison, James Daves, Mathew Black, Mathew Mashburn*, Joseph Tanner, David Mashburn, William Mashburn and Joseph Noblet. All of the above would have lived in the same general area as the deceased and would have been well acquainted, if not related to each other.
* Matthew Mashburn was married to Susannah Stroud, d/o Peter Sr.
Joseph Tanner is listed on the 1810 census in Burke Co., NC, again the only Tanner listed. Their “next door” neighbors are Eliza Smith and Samuel Johnson Sr. James Bright was just two houses away, and he’s a known resident of what later became McDowell County, so that’s where Joseph Tanner was as well.
It’s interesting that Joseph and wife have one boy and one girl in the 10-15 age group on this census, i.e. born ca 1794/1800, while they had no children at all with them in 1800. This suggests they were missed in 1800, or enumerated in the wrong age group in 1810, or that perhaps the first Mrs. Tanner had died in the 1800-1810 period and he married another woman who already had children from a prior marriage. Census analysis is not an exact science of course. I’m working on the assumption that they are simply enumerated a tad too old here.
1810 Census, Burke Co., NC
Page |
Name |
M0-9
|
M10-15
|
M16-25
|
M26-44
|
M45+
|
F0-9
|
F10-15
|
F16-25
|
F26-44
|
F45+
|
FPC
|
Slaves
|
32 |
Joseph Tanner |
1 |
1 |
~ |
1 |
~ |
~ |
1 |
~ |
~ |
1 |
~ |
~ |
My analysis (who each person *might* be):
1m 26-44 (1765/1784) Joseph Tanner (1765/74)
1m 10-15 (1794/1800) Son? * Probably John Tanner (c1802)
1m 0-9 (1800/1810) Son? * Probably Archibald Tanner (1804)
1f 45+ (before 1765) Wife (1755/65)
1f 10-15 (1794/1800) Daughter? (c1800) * No one this age with family in 1800.
On 9 Jan 1811, Joseph’s father John Tanner made his Will in Oglethorpe Co., GA naming his wife Mary and stepsons and sons and daughters, including son Joseph Tanner to whom he left cash.
A published muster roll for Burke Co., NC, 3rd Regiment (War of 1812) includes a “Joseph Lanner.” This is almost certainly Joseph Tanner instead. There was no one named Lanner or similar (Lanier, etc.) in Burke Co., NC at that time as far as I’ve seen.
On 17 Apr 1813, the heirs of John Tanner of Oglethorpe made a deed of agreement amongst themselves to divide the estate equally since there was insufficient funds left to distribute it exactly as John had wanted. “We, Joseph Tanner, Archibald (no surname listed), William Brewer in right of his wife Jane, Gideon Tanner, Hezekiah Tanner and Frederick Young in right of his wife Margaret, Archibald Tanner for his son John ... agreed by Mary Tanner acting executrix. Signed by all the heirs named except the wives and John son of Archibald. Witnessed by Wm Lumpkin and John Moore, JJC. (Oglethorpe Co., GA Deed Book H, pp. 111-112.)
Joseph Tanner is on the 1815 Burke Co., NC tax list in Cpt. Hemphill’s Company. He is listed as having 150 acres on Second Broad River, and 1 poll (himself, presumably), tax value $2100.
I don’t know when he got that land. The Burke County deeds were destroyed during the Civil War.
Several court records in April 1815 (listed back to back) for Isaac Bradley vs. William Smith, and Samuel Johnson vs. William Smith and William Ervin & Levi Truitt vs. William Smith and Elijah Morris vs William Smith and William Wallace vs. William Smith all mentions land and a Grist and Saw Mill on Second Broad River joining Joseph Tanner and Richard Ledbetter. (Burke Co., NC Court Minutes 1807-1818.)
From the above we can narrow down a little where Joseph Tanner resided.
On 18 Oct 1816, a survey was made for a land entry for Elizabeth Smith for 50 acres on Beaver Dam Creek. Joseph Tanner and James Smith were chain bearers. You’ll recall that “Eliza Smith” was Joseph’s next door neighbor on the 1810 census.
There is a deed in Oglethorpe Co., GA dated 3 Nov 1817 between Joseph Tanner of (blank) and Henry Young of Oglethorpe for $100, he sold all his interest in a tract of land “whereon my deceased father John Tanner lived at the time of his death ...” that he had left to his wife Mary for her lifetime. She had died, so now the land went to his children. The deed was signed by Archa Tanner agent for Joseph Tanner. Witnesses were Solomon Coker and James Strawn, JP. On the same date, Archibald Tanner of Jackson Co., GA sold his interest in the same land to Henry Young. (Oglethorpe Co., GA Deed Book J, pp. 212-214.)
Joseph Tanner was listed as a juror in July 1819 Burke County court.
Joseph is listed on the 1820 census in Burke Co., NC. Michael Tanner (1759) formerly of Rutherford was also listed, but several pages away. “Next door” neighbors were John Hogan and Samuel Haney (one of Joseph’s daughters would later marry a Haney). Elizabeth Smith was two houses away. Many of the other nearby names were those well known to reside in the part of Burke that later became McDowell.
1820 Census, Burke Co., NC
Page |
Name |
M 0 - 9 |
M 10 - 15 |
M 16 - 17 |
M 16 - 25 |
M 26 - 44 |
M 45 + |
F 0 - 9 |
F 10 - 15 |
F 16 - 25 |
F 26 - 44 |
F 45 + |
F P C |
S l a v e s |
105 |
Joseph Tanner |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
~ |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
~ |
1 |
~ |
~ |
My analysis (who each person *might* be):
1m 45+ (before 1775) Joseph Tanner (1765/74)
1m 16-25 (1794/1804) Son * probably John Tanner (c1802) > m by 1825
1m 16-17 (1802/1803) * ^
1m 10-15 (1804/1810) Son * probably Archibald Tanner (1804) > m by 1827
2m 0-9 (1810/1820) 1. Son (1810/1815)
2. Son (1815/1820) * probably Hezekiah Tanner (1819)
1f 45+ (before 1775) Wife (1755/65)
1f 16-25 (1794/1804) Daughter?
1f 10-15 (1804/1810) Daughter?
2f 0-9 (1810/1820) 1. Daughter?
2. Daughter? * probably Jane Tanner (1815/1820)
Joseph Tanner was a chain bearer on a Burke survey dated 20 Aug 1821. However, it was too dim to make out details.
On 15 Jun 1824, William Higgins made a land entry of 10 acres in Burke County described as lying on the north fork of Muddy Creek joining Elijah Mashburn and Joseph Tanner on the west side of the Wagon Road. The survey was made 7 Feb 1825. It mentioned James Mashburn’s corner and line, but makes no mention of Joseph Tanner. Chain carriers were Squire Blalock and James Mashburn. This is the last mention I’ve found (so far) of Joseph Tanner in Burke Co., NC.
I believe that Mrs. Tanner died ca 1820/21, presumably in Burke (now McDowell) Co., NC.
I have no definite proof, but I think that Joseph Tanner married again to Elizabeth — by ca 1823, in Burke (now McDowell) Co., NC. She was born ca 1780/90, presumably in North Carolina. I don’t know her maiden name. I wonder if she was a Mashburn due to the Tanners being neighbors with them in both Burke and Macon Co., NC? Just speculation at this point.
I don’t know with any certainty that Elizabeth was the 2nd wife of Joseph Tanner, but she was an apparent widow by 1830, and she did live near Joseph’s likely children in Macon Co., NC at that time, so it does fit.
Joseph’s last known, or suspected, child was born ca 1828, so I believe he died around that time. Some of his children were already in Macon Co., NC then, so perhaps he too made that move before dying, or perhaps he died in Burke. I didn’t find any kind of probate or court records in either county mentioning his death.
His widow (or whom I think must be his widow), Elizabeth Tanner is on the 1830 census in Macon Co., NC. Joseph’s son John is also listed but not near her. However, their neighbors are names all known to live near one another in and around the Burningtown section of Macon County, so while not listed near each other on the census, they could have been rather close, as the crow flies. Elizabeth’s “next door” neighbors were David Dorsey and Jeremiah Mashburn. A widow Mary Mashburn was next to Jeremiah. They had also moved to Macon from Burke in the 1820s. Elisha Weeks was a few houses away. One of his daughters married Archibald Tanner ca 1827. My uncle John Stewart Waters was also a few houses away, not related to the Tanners, but would soon have several in-law connections with them.
1830 Census, Macon Co., NC
Page |
Name (Males first row, females on second) |
0-4
|
5-9
|
10-14
|
15-19
|
20-29
|
30-39
|
40-49
|
50-59
|
60-69
|
70-79
|
80-89
|
90-99
|
100+
|
22 |
Elizabeth Tanner |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
|
|
~ |
~ |
1 |
1 |
1 |
~ |
1 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
My analysis (who each person *might* be):
1m 15-19 (1810/1815) Son? (1810/1815)
1m 10-14 (1815/1820) Hezekiah Tanner (1819) son
1m 5-9 (1820/1825) Joseph Tanner (c1824) son
1m 0-4 (1825/1830) William Tanner (c1828) son
1f 40-49 (1780/1790) Elizabeth (—) Tanner (1780/90) widow of Joseph Tanner
1f 20-29 (1800/1810) Daughter?
1f 15-19 (1810/1815) Daughter?
1f 10-14 (1815/1820) Jane Tanner (1810/1820) daughter > m 1836
Elizabeth is on the 1840 census in Macon Co., NC. Her neighbors were different from 1830, but still in the same general area. Her “next door” neighbors were Daniel Gabby and Robert Morgan. My ancestor Jacob Fouts and his mother Catherine were just a few houses away. My ancestor Emilia Stewart Waters was also nearby. They all lived in or near Burningtown.
1840 Census, Macon Co., NC
Page |
Name (Males first row, females on second) |
0-4
|
5-9
|
10-14
|
15-19
|
20-29
|
30-39
|
40-49
|
50-59
|
60-69
|
70-79
|
80-89
|
90-99
|
100+
|
133 |
Elizabeth Tanner |
1 |
~ |
1 |
~ |
1 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
|
|
1 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
1 |
~ |
~ |
1 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
~ |
My analysis (who each person *might* be):
1m 20-29 (1810/1820) Hezekiah Tanner (1819) son
1m 10-14 (1825/1830) William Tanner (c1828) son
1m 0-4 (1835/1840) Grandson?
1f 50-59 (1780/1790) Elizabeth (—) Tanner (1780/90) widow of Joseph Tanner
1f 20-29 (1810/1820) Daughter?
1f 0-4 (1835/1840) Granddaughter?
I didn’t find Elizabeth Tanner on the 1850 census so she may have died by then, perhaps in Macon Co., NC. It’s possible she joined some of her children in Union Co., GA and died there instead.
There is an Elizabeth Tanner on the 1850 census mortality schedule in Union Co., GA, reported as dying in July (1849) of “Insanity,” 60 years old (born ca 1788/89), born NC. This is where her son Joseph was living at the time with his half-brother John Tanner. However, I’m reasonably sure this death record isn’t our Elizabeth. First, she was listed on that record as married. Ours was widowed. I believe this is almost certainly Elizabeth Wood, wife of George Tanner (son of Michael-1759).
Joseph Tanner and his first wife seem to have quite a few children. He and apparent 2nd wife Elizabeth also had several. However, I should note that not a single one of these is definitively proven. However, I think we can identify many of them circumstantially.
I’ve never found a Will, probate, estate or other record that officially names the heirs of Joseph Tanner, thus the census records and proximity and “fit” are all we have to go on.
1. Son born ca 1800/1804. This is almost certainly John Tanner born ca 1802. He would have been named for Joseph’s brother John Tanner Jr who died three years earlier, as well as for their father John Sr. John Tanner is home in 1810, aged 10-15 (1794/1800) which is a census error as there were no sons that age with the family 1800. He was still home in 1820, aged 16-25 (c1794/1804) and gone by 1830, which fits because John Tanner was married by then, having married Susannah Stroud ca 1824. They are on the 1830 census in Macon Co., NC in the same neighborhood with Joseph’s widow Elizabeth (though not on same page, but same section of the county). See John’s page for more on him.
2. Daughter born ca 1800/1804. She was home in 1810 aged 10-15 (1794/1800), which as in John above, has to be a census error since no one that age was with them in 1800. She was still home in 1820, age 16-25 (1794/1804). There was a daughter home in 1830, aged 20-29 (1800/1810) which could be this daughter, but it’s more likely a younger daughter (see below), meaning this one had married or died by 1830. I’ve not been able to identify this daughter.
3. Son born 1804/1810. Joseph had an apparent son this age with him in 1810, aged under 10 (1800/1810), and still home in 1820, aged 10-15 (1804/1810). He was gone from home by 1830. This is almost certainly Archibald Tanner (1804-1873) who married Sarah Weeks ca 1827 in Macon Co., NC. She might be a daughter of Elisha Weeks who lived near Joseph Tanner’s widow Elizabeth in 1830. Archibald appeared in a couple of Macon Co., NC records in the 1830s. I didn’t find them on the 1830 census, but they were in Madison Co., AL by 1840 and remained there until their deaths. Archibald would have been named for his father’s brother Archibald Tanner (c1776-aft 1850).
4. Daughter born 1804/1810. This one was not at home in 1810, but then again there are a few oddities about that census entry for Joseph Tanner, so perhaps she was simply missed. She was with him in 1820, aged 10-15 (1804/1810). She seems to be with her widowed step-mother Elizabeth in 1830 age 20-29 (1800/1810), but gone by 1840, so married or dead by then. I’ve not been able to identify this daughter.
There is a Matilda Mashburn (c1808/09 NC) on the 1850 census in Polk Co., TN who is either a single woman or a widow. She had Hetty M. Tanner (c1839/40 NC) with her and also Hulda J. Triplett (c1847/48 TN). She is next door to Jerry (Jeremiah) Mashburn who was in Macon in 1830 next to our widow Elizabeth Tanner. This can’t be a coincidence. If we assume that Hetty Tanner (c1840) is an orphaned grandchild of Joseph & Elizabeth, then why was she with Matilda Mashburn? Is Matilda her aunt, i.e. a Tanner who married a Mashburn who died prior to 1850? That works, but is it the answer? Who was Matilda’s husband? I would assume a brother to Jeremiah and Matthew Mashburn (c1803) who was also next to Matilda in 1850. See Hetty’s entry below. As for Hulda J. Triplett, she appears to be a daughter of James A. Triplett and Phoebe Mashburn (c1828), so perhaps Hulda is a niece of Matilda’s. Hulda was with her parents in 1860 Webster Co., MO.
5. Son born 1810/1815. Joseph Tanner had a son this age at home in 1820, aged 0-9 (1810/1820), and still home in 1830 aged 15-19 (1810/1815). He was gone from home by 1840, so probably married or dead by then. I’ve not been able to identify this son.
6. Daughter born 1810/1815. Joseph Tanner had a daughter this age at home in 1820, aged 0-9 (1810/1820), and still home in 1830 aged 15-19 (1810/1815). She still seems to be home in 1840, aged 20-29 (1810/1820). I’ve not been able to identify this daughter.
7. Daughter born 1815/1820. Joseph Tanner had a daughter this age at home in 1820, aged 0-9 (1810/1820), and still home in 1830 aged 10-14 (1815/1820). This has to be Jane Tanner who married Matthew Haney on 27 Aug 1836 in Macon Co., NC. He was born ca 1815/16 in North Carolina. Jane apparently died soon after marriage because he married again on 24 May 1838 in Macon Co., NC to Dicy Marr. I found Mathew on the 1840 census in Macon Co., NC, and the 1850 census in Walker Co., GA. The children with him in 1850 were too young to be Jane’s, so if they had any, they either died young, or they weren’t raised by their father. (See child born ca 1835/40 below.) Jane would have been named for Joseph Tanner’s sister Jane Tanner Brewer (1780s-1840s).
8. Son born 1815/1820. Joseph Tanner had a son with him on the 1820 census aged under 10 (1810/1820). He was with Elizabeth Tanner in 1830, aged 10-14 (1815/1820), and apparently still with her in 1840 aged 20-29 (1810/1820). This has to be Hezekiah Tanner (1819-1879). He married Delilah Norris before 1844, perhaps in Macon Co., NC or elsewhere. They lived somewhere in Tennessee from ca 1844 to 1846, then to Madison Co., AL by 1848. They are listed there on the 1850 census a few houses from his brother Archibald. Hezekiah and wife remained in Madison the remainder of their lives. He was likely named for his father’s brother Hezekiah Tanner (c1785-aft 1860).
9. Son born 1820/1825. Elizabeth Tanner had an apparent son this age with her on the 1830 census, aged 5-9 (1820/1825). He wasn’t with her in 1840 though I don’t think he was dead or married by then. I’m not sure where he was in 1840, but I believe this has to be Joseph Tanner (c1824-aft 1851) who was residing with his older brother John Tanner in 1850 in Union Co., GA. He was last found on an 1851 tax list in Union Co., GA. I found no further record of him after that.
10. Son born 1825/1830. Elizabeth Tanner had an apparent son this age with her on the 1830 census, aged 0-4 (1825/1830). He was still with her in 1840 aged 10-14 (1825/1830). I believe this must be William Tanner who married Rebecca Anderson on 11 Aug 1846 in Union Co., GA. Unfortunately that marriage record is all I’ve been able to find on him or his wife. If we assume he was at least 18 in 1846, then he was born ca 1827/28 which fits perfectly as this unknown child of Joseph and Elizabeth. Furthermore, he married in Union Co., GA where his brothers John and Joseph were residing at that time. However, a caveat. There was another Tanner family in Union Co., GA at that time (Michael Tanner (1759-1849)), but I don’t believe he’s part of that family. I could be wrong of course.
There is an alternate possibility for this son. There is an Obed Tanner age 21, born NC on the 1850 census in Union Co., GA as a laborer in another household. He is two houses from my uncle Moses Anderson, who might be connected to Rebecca Anderson of the 1846 marriage to William Tanner, maybe. Could William and Obed be the same person? Or brothers? Obed, presumably short for Obediah, is the sort of name that fits in perfectly with Hezekiah, etc. I wasn’t able to find anything else on Obed Tanner. He wasn’t on the 1860 census, at least not under that name.
11. Grandson born 1835/1840. Elizabeth Tanner had a male with her in 1840 aged under 5, (1835/1840). This was a likely grandson. I don’t know his identity, but is he a son of Jane Tanner Haney who died ca 1836/1838? He fits age-wise to be her son. I looked for a male Haney born ca 1835/1840 in NC on the 1850 census, but found none who weren’t already with their likely parents.
12. Granddaughter born 1835/1840. Elizabeth Tanner had a female with her in 1840 aged under 5, (1835/1840). This was a likely granddaughter. She could be a child of Matilda Tanner Haney if born ca 1836/38. However, I think it’s probably Hetty M. Tanner (c1840) who was residing with Matilda Mashburn (c1809) in 1850 Polk Co., TN, relationship unknown. Matilda is either a sister, or widowed sister-in-law to Jeremiah and Matthew Mashburn whom she was living between in 1850. They were from Macon Co., NC and Burke before that. In 1830, Jeremiah was a neighbor of our widow Elizabeth Tanner in Macon, so that ties them together somehow.
For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Joseph Tanner and Unknown and Elizabeth —.
Revised: March 8, 2026
Copyright © 1996-2026 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.
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