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.
Appalachia was the 18th century backcountry and many settlers were Scots-Irish. It includes southern New York, western Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Virginia, West Virginia, eastern Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee and northern Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.
Isaac Bacon, Sr. was born on January 10, 1754 in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
He married Abigail Barnes.
Abigail and Isaac's children included:
Charles Bacon (1784, married Martha Hale),
Thomas Bacon (1785, married Julia Ann Hardeman),
Nancy Bacon (1796, married Joshua Hunt),
Isaac Bacon, Jr. (1790, married Sarah Hunt daughter of Jesse Hunt),
Joseph Bacon (1791, married Nancy (Agnes) Crouch daughter of John Crouch).
7/5/1789
Mark Mitchel to Isaac Bacon,
110 acres on waters
of Boons Creek.
100 lbs VA money. part of larger tract granted to G
Russell.
Wit Joshua Harris, Robert Beard, [illeg] (x) Hunt.
6-91
Isaac Bacon to William Bulington.
Wit Joseph Brown.
November 1795
John Bell to Isaac Bacon,
100 acres
6/8/1797
North Carolina to Isaac Bacon,
200 acres on sinking
Creek.
50 shillilngs per 100 acres
adj Charles Dunham, John Gautt, Wm
Jackson, Richard Caswell, Wm Barron, Benjamin Archer.
8/19/1797
Joseph Barnes/Barns to Isaac Bacon.
100 acres.
300
Spanish milld dollars.
adj Morgan Murray, William Horner.
Wit John (x)
Melvin, Elisabeth Hunt, Joseph Barron
8/21/1797
Isaac Bacon, farmer, to Charles Bacon,
180 acres on
Sinking Creek.
126 pounds.
adj John Bell, William Casson.
Wit Joseph
Brown, Saml Harbison.
John Brown to Isaac Bacon,
150 acres Boons Creek,
58 lbs.
adj Mark Mitchel,
George Russle,
Vincent,
Petter Brown
May 1795
William Carson to Jona Bacon
200 acres
8/16/1795
William Carson, Green Co, to Jonathan
Bacon/Backon.
on north fork Sinking Creek known as Lyno Bottom.
10£ Viginia money
adj Joseph Dunkan, John Barron, John Bell, Anthony Dunkan, Richard
Caswell.
Wit Jas Sevier, Nathl Davis.
Isaac was listed on the 1797/8 tax list for Washington County, Tennessee.
Isaac, Sr. died on January 24, 1830 in Washington County
Washington County, Tennessee,was established in 1777 as Washington County, North Carolina. From 1784 to 1788,it was part of the State of Franklin.
American pioneers migrated west to settle areas not previously inhabited by European Americans.
from History of McDonough County, Illinois
Another early settler is found in the personage of the deceased Joshua Hunt, who came to McDonough county in 1831, and settled about a mile west of the town of Colchester, on the farm now owned by John Myers. Here the family remained until 1839, when Mr. Hunt entered 370 acres of land, located in Hire and Tennessee townships, erecting his house on section 3 of the latter township. ... Both Joshua and his wife died at the old homestead, on section 3, and are interred in the Bean cemetery, one mile east of the town of Colchester.
Joshua Hunt was a man of intelligence and considerable intellectual capacity, and was a much respected citizen of McDonough county. Joshua Hunt, deceased, was born in Washington county, Tennessee, in 18–. His parents were natives of England, and from there came to America, where Joshua was reared.
He was married to Nancy Bacon, by whom he had 11 children—Abbie, Isaac B., Samuel A., Mary, Sarah, Thomas J., John B., Simon W., Harriet, deceased, Wancy, deceased, Manda C., deceased. Mr. Hunt died in this township.
James Bacon was born in Maidencreek Township, Berks County,
Pennsylvania.
He married
Magdalena Neumann in 1793 in Maidencreek.
Thomas Bacon (1793, married Sarah Barron),
James Bacon (1795)
Elizabeth Bacon (1795)
Catherine Bacon (1797)
Mary "Polly" Bacon (1799, married Daniel Barron),
Nancy Bacon (1800),
Jonathan Bacon (1802, married Deborah Barron),
Isaac Bacon (1805), and
Charles Bacon (1814).
In 1797 James purchased 125 acres on the
headwaters of the Big Limestone Creek in Washington County from William Bullington.
In 1846, James swapped
55 acres to his son, Isaac, for 42 acres, and deeded
approximately 184 acres to his son Charles, for care of himself and
Magdalena, burial expenses and $10 to several heirs.
Thomas Bacon was born about 1793. His parents were James Bacon and Maddalena Neumann.
Jesse Bacon (1824, married Mary Keefauver),
Phoebe Ann Bacon (1825, married William Thompson Cox),
Mary F. Bacon (1827, married Elbert Douglass),
Isaac Bacon (1831, Nancy Mary Keeble),
Daniel B. Bacon (1831, married Cynthia Fitzgerald),
James Bacon (1834 ),
Sarah Ann Bacon (1835, married John Harrison),
Thomas Bacon (1839),
Jonathan (Daunt) Bacon (1843, married Mary Elizabeth Jones),
Amanda Jane Bacon (1844 married Henry Martin Walker),
Jacob Bacon (1846, married Mary Elizabeth Gresham), and
John Bacon
Jesse Bacon
from Jonesboro Herald-Tribune
June 26, 1895 Jesse Bacon, oldest son of Thomas Bacon, and a brother of John Bacon, who died just a month ago, died Saturday night of lung trouble, at the age of seventy-two. Mr. Bacon had eight brothers; only two of them survive him - Jake and Jonathan, both of whom are well known in this county. Mr. Bacon has lived a widower for a number of years. His remains were interred Sunday in the old family cemetery.
He was born May 25, 1824 in Jonesborough, Washington Co., Tennessee to Thomas Bacon and unknown mother, believe she died when Jesse was born & Thomas later marries Sarah Barron who knew him like her own child and died Jun. 22, 1895, in Leesburg, Washington Co., TN.
He married Mary Keefauver on Aug 5, 1851 in Jonesborough and was father to Julia Catherine "Julie", Nancy Jane and James M. Bacon.
from Kingsport Times-News, April 15, 1973
Rich Or Poor All Who Came Lived In Tents
By Lyndia Frazier Times-News Staff Writer
I couldn't make it now without my memories of the past especially the good ones and the funny ones said Mrs C B Armstrong as she sat in her home at 3309 Memorial Blvd. Mrs Armstrongs memories stretch across a time span of 85 years but she speaks of events as though they only happened yesterday and frequently adds whether good or bad but it was fun.
She was born near Jonesboro on Feb. 27 1888 the daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Jesse Bacon. Her parents owned a big farm in Jonesboro and my mother used to go out and shear the sheep wash the wool spin it and knit our yarn stockings. On Aug 15 1909 Miss Emily Bacon married C B Armstrong in Jonesboro.
Michael Bacon was born about 1765.
In the 1780 Washington County Court:
On petition of Michl. Bacon setting forth that three children, to-wit: a boy named Charles Hill, aged 16 years, a girl named _ Craft aged 9 years, and a boy named Achilles Craft were orphan children and desired that the girl and the youngest boy should be bound to himself and the oldest bound to some tradesman.
The court have considered that Michl. Bacon keep sd. two youngest children, in his possn. and that sd Michl. also take the oldest boy who is now out of his custody at this time into his custody also.
from American Miller and Processor, Volume 36, Issues 7-12
The picture represents what is claimed to have been the first grist mill ever built in Washington County, Tennessee. It was erected by Michael Bacon on Little Limestone Creek, six miles southwest of Jonesboro, and served the farmers of that section for many years. The original picture is a wood cut in a history of Tennessee printed in 1779. It is not known how much older the mill, is than the book, but it is probable that it was built in the early part of the eighteenth century—nearly 200 years ago.
... It will be observed that the mill was built entirely of wood, no metal entering into its construction. The logs were dovetailed together, and the roof was held in place by other logs, which were secured by wooden pins. Even the gearing was of wood, the drive from the water wheel being clearly outlined in the picture. The flume that carried the water to the wheel is also shown.
from Washington County, Tennessee Deeds
7/10/1778.
Joseph Buler to Michael Bacon,
143 acres
at mouth of Little Limestone.
100 lbs.
adj Duncan/Dunkan.
Wit Mathew
Tabbot, Edward Hughs, James Graham.
Feb 1779
Joseph Buller to Michael Bacon,
143 acres
from Washington County Deed Book 36
Courtesy of Robert Wells, Transcribed by Margaret Job
This Indenture made and entered into this the 19th. day of May one thousand eight hundred and fifty six [1856] between Thomas Barron Junior of the one part, and Jonathan Bacon of the other part both of the County of Washington, State of Tennessee
witness of that the said Thommas Barron for and in consideration of the sum of nine hundred and forty four dollars & fifty nine cents good and lawful money by note here to for given do by these presents bargain sell and transfer all manner of right title plain and interest thats in him vested that belonging to a certain tract & parcel of land lying and being in the County and State aforesaid
on the Waters of Sinking Creek being part of the farm in which said Barron now resides unto the said Jonathan Bacon his heirs and assigns (with the exceptions herein after to be expressed bounded as follows to Wit
Beginning at a planted rock in a land on said Bacons line with two conditional lines North twelve and a half West along a fence row seventy four and a half poles
to a fork North fifty one West seventy five & a half poles
to a large white oak and small walnut on Jacksons, line with his lands several courses South twenty five and three fourth poles to a fell chesnut, West thirty three & a fourth poles to a Stake on a back chesnut & Sassafras pointers South thirty four poles
to a Sowrwood and chesnut West thirty poles cross the creek to a planted rock South fifty five & a half poles with Baynes line to a stake small dogwood pick? by pointers with said Jonathan Bacon North seventy six East one hundred and thirty one poles
to a rock in the end of a land along the same North Eighty four, East sixteen and three four ths poles to the Beginning
containing (?) estimation sixty six and one eight acres more or less with the here detaiments appurtenances belong to the same to have and to hold unto the said Jonathan Bacon his heirs and assignee forever,
Excepting the said Thomas Barron gave reserves unto his father, Thomas Barron son and wife Phebe Barron the full possession and privelidges of all the above discussed price of land and improvements during their natural lifetime, to have and to hold unto The Said Thomas Barron and his wife Phebe Barron of the said to hold and to ocupy and enjoy as they now have in as full and ample a manner as to the said Thomas Barron Jr. is bound to do in the deed. Thomas Barron Senr. to said Thomas Barr on Jr and I their agent?.
The land and improvements there on to be the property of said Jonathan Bacon his heirs and assigns.
I the Said Thommas Barron Jr. do covenant to warrant and defend against all titles, claims or demands whatsoever excepting as show States unto him the Said Jonathan Bacon as a tru Clear and indefeasible inheritance in fee simple as given under my hand and seal this day and date above given down.
Signed Sealed & delivered in the presents of Test.
Thomas Barron (Seal)
Jacob Hart
Ephriam Murray Personally appeared before me Henry Hoss, Clerk of State of Tennessee T he County Court of said County, Washington County, Thomas Barron Jr. bargained to the foregoing deed whom I am personally acquainted and acknowledged the execution of the same for the purposes there in espressed.
Witness my hand at office this 1st. day of September, 1856
