William Varnell Family
South Carolina, Tennessee, & Alabama
William Varnell
b. probably before 1765 Chowan Co., NC
d. possibly before 1830 Sevier Co.,Tennessee
m. c1790 Lydia Sullins
b. 1765 Dismal Swamp area, Virginia
d. 1829 Sevier Co., TN
her parents: unknown
his father: Richard Varnell
Jr. (b1730 VA - 1829 Sevier Co., TN)
his mother:Mary (1735 VA - 1807 Sevier Co., TN)
| Children |
| John Varnell |
b. 8 Apr 1791 Sevier Co., Tennessee |
d. 24 Feb 1832 Calhoun, Tennessee |
m. Elizabeth Nelson* (b.20 Oct 1796 - d24 Feb 1865)
sister of other Nelsons (dau. of David Nelson) |
| William M. Varnell (preached among Indians in Cherokee
Co., AL) |
b. 1 Jan 1795 Tennessee |
d. 18 Nov 1863 Goodsprings, TN
bur.-Presbyterian Cem., Calhoun , TN |
m. Margaret Nelson* sister of other Nelsons (dau. of
David Nelson) |
| Richard Bayless Varnell |
b. 22 Dec 1797 Tennessee |
d. Nov 1880 Millers Grove, TX. |
m. Arty Macy Fowler
|
| James Varnell (preached among Indians in Cherokee Co.,
AL) |
b. 18 Jan 1799 Tennessee |
d. 12 Jul 1869 Tennessee |
m. Lavinia Nelson 13 Oct 1824 sister of other Nelsons
(dau. of David Nelson) |
| Isaac Varnell |
b. Abt 1800 Tennessee |
d. |
m. Margaret Clark* |
| Josiah Varnell |
b. 1805 Tennessee |
d. 28 Nov 1895, Jeff. Co., TN
|
m. Margaret Roberts
|
| Sarah Varnell |
b. 1803 Tennessee |
d. Oct 1886 TN
|
m. William Brookshire |
| Thomas Varnell |
b.1805 |
d. |
m. |
| Lydia Varnell |
b. 30 Oct 1812 Tennessee |
d. 12 Aug 1882 Tennessee |
m. Pleasant Pierce |
*marriages according to Morton Rose
Most of the information below has been provide through the
extensive research, lengthy correspondence and generosity of
Morton Rose.
1806- Land entries were made to Richard Varnell, William's father
who was deeded 138 acres on Gists Creek. William was deeded 84
acres just north and adjacent Richard.
Forks of Little Pigeon
Baptist Church (This is a list of deacons rather than
members. The Forks of Little Pigeon church was constituted
in 1789, records begin in 1807.)
1803 Richard Wood, Isom Guin, Ebenezer Leath, Spencer Clack;
1804 Richard Wood, Elijah Rogers; 1805 Richard Wood, Henry
Haggard, John H. Scruggs, John Hatcher, John Chasteen, George
Oldham; 1806 Richard Wood, Elijah Rodgers, Abraham Slover,
George Oldham, Spencer Clack; 1807 Richard Wood, John Hatcher,
George Long, Spencer Clack, George Oldham; 1808 Richard Wood,
Daniel Duggan; 1809 Richard Wood, Spencer Clack, Daniel Duggan,
Steven Oldham, Abraham Slover; 1810 Richard Wood, William
Maples, George Oldham; 1811 Richard Wood, Elijah Rodgers, Eben
Leath, Stephen Oldham, George Oldham, Spencer Clack; 1812
Richard Wood, Ebenezer Leath, H. Parrott, John Selvage, Stephen
Oldham, Spencer Clack; 1813 Richard Wood, John Hatcher, Joseph
Bishop; 1814 Richard Wood, Jonas Moon, William Wood, John
Hatcher; 1815 Richard Wood, Jonas Moon, John Hatcher, Thomas
Williams, William Maples, Spencer Clack, Ebenezer Leath, George
Long, William Wood, John Roberts; 1816 Richard Wood, William
Wood, John Roberts, Henry Parrott, George Long; 1817 Richard
Wood, George Long, John Lindsey, William Wood; 1818 Richard
Wood, Daniel Layman, Thomas Williams, George Long, Henry
Parrott, William Wood; 1819 Richard Wood, George Long, Daniel
Layman, Henry Parrott; 1820 R. Wood, G. Long, W. Henderson,
Henry Parrott; 1821 Richard Wood, Jonas Moon, John Moon, J.P.
Wood, William Ogle; 1822 Richard Wood, Henry Parrott; 1823
Richard Wood, Henry Parrott, John Roberts, John Lindsey; 1824
Richard Wood, William Henderson; 1825 Richard Wood, Richard Varnell, Isaac A.
Miller, John Roberts, Jacob Denton, Joseph Wood; 1826 Richard
Wood, Isaac A. Miller, Layman Jones; 1827 minutes missing; 1828
Richard Wood, I.A. Miller, 1829 Richard Wood, J. Adams, I.A.
Miller; 1830 Johnson Adams, I.A. Miller; 1831 minutes missing;
1832 W. White, E. Roberts, I.A. Miller; 1833 W. White; W. Bogle,
I.A. Miller; 1834 William Henderson, I.A. Miller; 1835 E.
Roberts, I.A. Miller; 1836 E. Roberts; 1837 E. Roberts, W.
Toonar, R.S. Shields; 1838 William White, Eli Roberts; 1839 C.
McKenzie, E. Roberts; 1840 R. Shields; 1841 E. Roberts, H.
McKenzie; 1842-1843 none; 1844 Eli Roberts
Richard Varnall (sp.
Varnall, also Vannal) shows as a member in other church records
in 1807
Liddy Varnall 1807
Wm Varnall 1807
Jamy Nelson 1807
David Nelson 1807
Betsy Varnall 1812
Peggy Varnall in 1812
John Varnall 1812
Richard Varnall 1818
Sarah Varnal 1820
1813- Peggy Nelson, Richard and William Varnell join the Forks of
the River Baptist Church, Sevierville, TN.[Forks of the River
Baptist Church records, Sevier Co. TN]
1817, April - William Varnell is installed as deacon in the
church. [Forks of the River Baptist Church records, Sevier Co. TN]
1818- Richard Varnell requests a letter of dismissal. He moves to
Franklin Co., TN. [see the notes of 1840 on this page]
1819 - John Varnell requests dismissal for himself and his wife
from the Forks of the River Baptist Church. Along with him is also
request of dismissal for his brother William and his wife and
David Nelson and his wife. They apparently are moving on to Rhea
Co., TN at this time.
1820 - US Census, Tennessee, Humphreys. Series: M33 Roll: 122 Page: 162
William
Varnell
males -
- - - 1 -
females - - - 1
- slaves - 1 - -
- -
1822 - Sarah Varnel Brookshire requests her letter of dismissal.
They move to McMinn Co., TN. and are listed there with other
Varnells in 1830.
1830 - William is not listed in the Tennessee census with his
wife Lydia and probably dies after 1812 and before 1830.
1832- John Varnell dies and his brothers James and William Varnell
moved to Cherokee Co., AL to "minister to the Indians" along with
David Nelson, their father-in-law. The David Brookshire family,
their sister moved to Boone Co., Missouri.
1836 - Isaac and Thomas Varnell moved from Sevier County to Bradley
County. [ROSE]
1840 - Lydia is listed in the Tennessee census of Sevier Co, TN.
"In 1855 the court house of Sevier Co. burned and most of the
primary records were lost. Deed Book H which spanned 1847 to the
fire in 1855 for some reason was not in the court house and we are
thankful for this. In this deed book H and the next book J the land
grant of William was sold and there are various deeds of the
children transferring the land grant of 84 acres to a third party.
As in the case of Richard his deed in book H page 472 it states "I
Richard Varnell by virtue of my attorney and being a heir of William
Varnell I sell my interest in the two following tracts of land.
Signed Josiah Varnell, attorney (brother of Richard). Tract #1 of 84
acres was the grant of his father, William. The other deeds were
similar. "
[Morton Rose email 4/7/98] "These deeds prove that the nine children
were the children of William except for John. John died in 1832 in
McMinn Co., TN and naturally could not have issued a deed. There is
no doubt about John being a son of old William. James, William Jr.,
and John all married Nelson sisters. They left Sevier County and
went to Rhea Co., TN together and later they went to McMinn Co., TN.
John died in McMinn but James and William Jr. went Cherokee County
AL to minister to the Indians and returned to Tyner, TN about 1843
where they belonged to the same church and lived next to each other.
A listing of William and Lydia children are as follows: Lydia Varnell Pierce by Deed
Book H-166; Sarah Varnell
Brookshire by H-355; Isaac
Varnell by H-155; Thomas
Varnell by I-325; James
Varnell by H-177: William
M. Varnell by H-154; Richard
Varnell by H-472; Josiah
Varnell by power of attorney of Sarah Varnell Brookshire
and by a letter from Josiah to Richard in TX that was signed my dear
brother; and finally John information in the first part of this
paragraph. In 1819 John request a letter of transfer from the Sevier
Co., Church for himself, his wife, William M. Varnell, his wife,
David Nelson and his wife. We must assume that James Varnell , now
20 years old, was not a member of the church because he had never
been mentioned in the church minutes and did not get a letter of
transfer. This whole group went to Rhea Co., TN and James married
the third Nelson sister in Rhea Co., TN in 1824. At the time they
left Sevier the last Nelson sister was only 13 years old. "
[Morton
Rose,
email
7/4/98]
1850 - US Census, Tennessee, Sevier Co.. (no page number
available)
Pleasant Pierce is listed with Lydia, Melvina, John, William, Nancy,
Martha, Louisa, Albert, and Andrew.
1860- US Census, Tennessee, Hamilton Co., 15 Dist. Sugarville.
Series: M653 Roll: 1253 Page: 146
James Varnell
60
m
farmer
$300
Tennessee
Vina
53
f
"
William
25
m
"
Margaret
18
f
"
US. Census, Tennessee,
Hamilton Co., 15 Dist. Series: M653 Roll: 1253 Page: 143
William
Varnell
63
m
farmer
$2000 $2000 Tennessee
Margaret
"
60
f
"
G. W.
Varnell
26
m
"
US Census, Tennessee, Sevier Co., Cannons Store. 
Series: M653 Roll: 1270 Page: 375
Josiah
Varnell
55
m
famer
$200
Tennessee
Margaret
56
f
"
Elizabeth
28
f
spinster
"
John
26
m
farmer
$500
"
Martha
22
f
spinster
"
Albert
18
m
farmer
"
Margaret
16
f
spinster
"
William
14
m
"
Mary
12
f
"
Harriet
10
f
"
Josiah
8
m
"
US Census, Tennessee, McMinn, 16 Dist., Calhoun P. O., Series: M653 Roll: 1262 Page: 336 (This should the widow of John Varnell)
Elizabeth Varnell
64
f
farmer
$3000
500
Tennessee
H. F.
Varnell
32
m
farm
laborer
"
Mary Jane Pearce 14
f
"
Zacariah
Pearce
12
m
"
John F.
Pearce
9
m
"
William M. Varnell was a Baptist minister at the Goodsprings Baptist
Church at Tyner, Tennessee where he died in 1863.
The Harrison County (Tennessee) history gives more information on
William and his children.
"William Varnell, a Baptist preacher among the Cherokee
Indians at Center, Alabama, near teh Georgia line, moved to
Hamilton County and lived behind the old Tyner High School.
He died in 1863 and was buried in the Varnell Cemetery. Two of his
children, James and Josiah, became well-known in the area.
James Henry Varnell, born November 26, 1818, had a farm in Old
Harrison where the Loret Villa is now located. He was a wealthy
man before the Civil War and owned forty slaves. During the
war, a Union Cavalry soldier rode up to his house and and wanted
to buy silver for use in the war. James let him have all his
silver and the soldier wrote out a voucher for it. The voucher was
later lost and Varnell never received any compensation.
James brother, Josiah Varnell, was born in
Sevierville, Tennessee, Jan 8, 1823. Josiah married Caroline
Shropshire, daughter of John Jackson Shropshire, in Harrison,
Tennessee, August 23, 1850, and worked for judge Lewis Shepherd,
He fought in the Confederate Armey while another brother, Glasego
(Glassco W.), served in the Union Army. They both
participated in the Battle of Chichamanga where Josiah, a member
of the First Tennessee mounted Infantry, was wounded. He was
treated by a Union Doctor who told him that his wounds weren't
serious and the he would recover, but at 5:00pm. every day he
would have a shill the rest of his life. This diagnosis was
correct; Josiah chilled every afternoon at that time the remainder
of his life.
John Varnell and Elizabeth Nelson had nine children before he
died at the age of 41.
David Nelson Varnell (10 Oct 1813- 30 Aug
1872) m. Mary Lowery; 2m. to Mary F. Porter
Lydia Ann Varnell (1816 TN - 8 Feb 1857 TN)
m. William Pierce
William P. Varnell(1819 TN- ) m. Elizabeth May
Zachariah Nelson Varnell (1820 - ?
)
m.
Sarah
E. Cate
James S. Varnell (7 Feb 1822 -20 Jul
1885)
m.
Mary
Jane Atkins
Isabella Vanell (1830 - 27 Mar
1871)
m. (unknown)
H. F. Varnell (6 Oct 1826TN- 26 Jun 1862 in battle) m.
(unknown)
Dr. John M. Varnell (11 Oct 1824 - 16 Jul 1857)
m. (unknown)
Mary E. Varnell (1 Mar 1832 - May 1886
TN) m.
Rev. Larkin W. Crouch
1870-US Census, Tennessee, Hamilton, Harrison PO. Series: M593 Roll: 1532 Page: 558
Varnell,
Margaret
71
f
w
Keeping
house
(widow of William Varnell)
"
, William C.
32 m
w
farmer
11000 355
Alabama
Tennessee, McMinn Co., Athens PO. Series: M593 Roll: 1549 Page: 182
Crouch, L. W. (Larkin W.)
48m
minister
1000
270
Tennessee
"
, Mary(Varnell) 37
f
keepinghouse
"
same page
Varnell, D.
N.
56 m w
farmer
6000 1120
Tennessee
"
, Mary
S.
35
f
keepinghouse
page 182, top of page
Varnell,
Susan
19 f
w
Tennessee
" ,
James
16 m
w
"
" ,
William
6 m
w
"
Tennessee, Syness P. O. , Series: M593 Roll: 1532
Page: 636
Varnell, William R. 35 m
w
farmer
150
Alabama
"
,
Sarah
24
f
w
keeping
house
Tennessee
"
,
James
R.
6 m w at
home
"
"
, John
L.
4 m
w
"
"
,
William
H
2 m
w
"
Varnell, Levina
63 f w domestic work
"
Source:
Forks of the River Baptist Church
records, Sevier Co. TN , included in the Heritage of Sevier
County, TN.
Rose Morton D., 3510 Taliluna Ave., Knoxville, TN 37919 email -
dmrosejr@aol.com
US Census records,
Wilson, John. "Hamilton County Pioneers", p. 45 Chelsea, Michigan,
BookCrafters, 1998
Cheryl's
Family Index |
Ancestor Chart 13 | email to
Cheryl Grubb
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