"[L]iberty must at all hazards be supported.
We have a right to it, derived from our Maker.
But if we had not, our fathers have earned and bought it for us,
at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasure, and their blood."
-- John Adams, 1765
Tennessee was admitted to the Union on June 1, 1796. It was initially part of North Carolina.
TheAmerican Revolutionary War(1775–1783) was between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the 13 colonies which became the newly formed United States.
During the American Revolution a Tory or Loyalist was used in for those who remained loyal to the British Crown.
Elish served in the American Revolution in place of his brother Jesse who had been drafted. He went by horseback with his own rifle to North Carolina in Colonel William Campbell's unit. They were to participate in the Battle of Ramsour's Mill on June 20, 1780, but missed the battle by one day.
After that their unit
marched through various parts of North Carolina and was engaged in suppressing the Tories and disaffected to our Government and frequently dispersed through the Country through the day as Scouting parties, and took many prisoners, but generally returned to the Camp at night
And on one occasion our horses were kept all night Saddles on that we might make a rapid March if necessary.
And on another occasion the Army was reduced to the necessity of living for fifteen days without bread to the best of his recollection
He married Susan Elizabeth Broyles in April, 1788. They were married by "old Reverend Samuel Doak." She was probably the daughter of Jacob Conrad Broyles and Elizabeth Yowell.
In 1792, Elisha was taxed in Washington County, Tennessee for 300 acres.
They settled in Carter County, Tennessee and lived on the Doe River three miles north of Elizabethtown.
Susan and Elisha's children may have included:
Moses Humphreys (1792, married Rebecca Boyd),
Elizabeth Humphreys Glaze (1793, married Lawrence Glaze),
Eleanor Humphreys Houston (1795, married James Houston),
Jehu Humphreys (1798, married Celah Bayless),
John Humphreys (1799, married Mary Taylor),
Jemima Humphreys Scott (1800, married John Scott),
Jesse Humphreys (1803),
Susan Humphreys Carden (1808, married Ansel Carden),
Jefferson Madison Humphreys (1811, married Lydia Robinson),
Bluford Washington Humphreys (1813), and
Mary Lorina Humphreys (1813).
In the 1794 tax list, Elisha had 350 acres and one man of working age.
Elisha was on the 1798 tax list of Carter County.
In 1830 Elisha was in Carter County, Tennessee. The household consisted
of a man between 60 and 69,
a woman between 50 and 59,
a man and a woman between 20 and 29-
three boys between 15 and 19
a girl between 10 and 14
In 1832, two of their sons died.
Jonesboro', Tenn. Feb. 25.—Five or six young men in Carter county, about 15 miles from this place, were illy employed on last Sunday in chasing a fox, which they pursued to the mouth of a well known cave, not far from the residence of Col. Jas. P. Taylor. Four of the party entered the cave and never returned—it is supposed they instantly suffocated. Jesse Humphrys, Blufort Humphrys, Samuel M'Geeher and a Mr. Guin were their names. The cave was formerly used for making salt-petre and much frequented. There are, we understand, some particulars of interest in relation to this melancholy event with which we expect to be furnished in a few days for publication.—Journal.
(from North-Carolina Free Press, Tuesday, March 27, 1832, p. 4)
In 1840, Elisha was in Carter County, Tennessee. The household consisted of a man between 70 and 79, a woman between 60 and 69, a man between 30 and 39, and a woman between 20 and 29.
In 1843, he applied for his Revolutionary War Pension.
Carter County is in northeastern Tennessee. It was part of the Washington District of North Carolina organized in 1775. In 1777, the district became Washington County, North Carolina.
Washington County, Tennessee,was established in 1777 as Washington County, North Carolina. From 1784 to 1788,it was part of the State of Franklin.
North Carolina was one of the thirteen original Colonies. It was first settled by small farmers and grew quickly in the mid 18th century.
In the War of 1812 (1812-1815) the United States declared war on England because of trade restrictions, impressment, and British support for Indian attacks. They signed the Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814 after reaching a stalemate.
