East Tennessee is part of Appalachia. At the end of the French and Indian War, colonists began drifting into the area. In 1769, they first settled along the Watauga River. During the Revolution, the Overmountain Men defeated British loyalists at the Battle of Kings Mountain. The State of Franklin was formed in the 1780s, but never admitted to the Union.
Tennessee was admitted to the Union on June 1, 1796. It was initially part of North Carolina.
Polly married James Webb about 1836. James was born about 1806 in Tennessee. His parents were Nathan Webb and Catherine Elizabeth Miller.
Polly and James children included:
Rodney A. Webb (1837, married Mary McCorkle daughter of Samuel McCorkle),
Ruth Ann Smith Houston (1841, married John W. Houston),
Nellie Catherine (Katie) Smith (1842, married William Monroe McCorkle son of Samuel McCorkle), and
David Webb (1845)
Polly died before the 1850 census when the Webb household was in Division 1 of Sullivan County. The family included James age 33, Catharine age 66, Benjamin age 28, Susan age 21, Jane age 17, Ruth age 9, Catharine age 7, and David age 5.
In 1860 the Webb household in District 8 included James age 54, Ruth Ann age 19, Catharine age 17, Rodney age 22, Mary age 22, Catharine age 65 and James' brother in law, George Smith, age 50.
In 1870, 65 year old James was living in Blountville with his daughter, Ruth's, family.
In 1880, 73 year old James was living in district 8 of Sullivan County with Ruth's family.
James died on March 31, 1884.
Polly and James are buried together at the Smith-Cross Cemetery in Sullivan County.
Smith-Cross Cemetery is located near Piney Flats on private property at Boone Lake, Tennessee
Sullivan County is in far northeast corner of Tennessee between North Carolina and Virginia and was originally part of those states. It was formed in 1779 when it was divided from Washington County.
The American folk hero, David "Davy" Crockett (1786 – 1836), grew up in East Tennessee.
Carter County, Tennessee was organized from Washington County on April 9, 1796. Elizabethton is the county seat.
The Massengills, Massengales and Variants, 1472-1931 by Samuel Evans Massengill, M.D. The King Printing Company, Bristol, Tennessee, 1931
Polly Elizabeth Smith m. James Webb.
Two children;
Katie m. a McCorkle of Carter County, Tenn.
Ruth Ann, who m. John Houston
Children: J. Nat, Tobe, Porter, Edward, Joseph, Sally and Bertha.
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