Proffitt

Notes:

----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 78.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 207.

Other Events:

• AFN: 1TQQ-17

Notes:

Died of smallpox.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 53.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 69, 78.
Rosa Lee Downey notes, 16 June 1983, p 64, 92.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 51.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 202, 207.
Proffitt GEDCOM, Joe Payne, 14 December 1995.
"Proffitt Family History", Jeff Bridgett, p 9.
Bob Parton Family Group Sheets, 11 January 1996, p 8.

William married Elizabeth L. McCarter 22 May 1867, , Sevier County, Tennessee. Elizabeth (daughter of Joseph Benjamin McCarter and Nancy Reagan) was born 1840, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee; died 1880/1889, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried Glades Lebanon Baptist Church Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Burial place not confirmed.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 53.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 69, 77.
Rosa Lee Downey notes, 16 June 1983, p 64, 92.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 202, 206, 207.
Proffitt GEDCOM, Joe Payne, 14 December 1995.
"Proffitt Family History", Jeff Bridgett, p 9.
Bob Parton Family Group Sheets, 11 January 1996, p 8.

Other Events:

• AFN: 1TQN-WF

Notes:

Co E, 2nd Regiment of Tn. Cal.

Died of typhoid fever in Civil War and is buried in National Cemetery.
----------
Reference:
T. D. W McMahan records, Johnny Scott Large, p 64.
Rosa Lee Downey notes, 16 June 1983, p 13, 58, 64.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 48.
Proffitt GEDCOM, Joe Payne, 14 December 1995.
"Proffitt Family History", Jeff Bridgett, p 8.
Bob Parton Family Group Sheets, 11 January 1996, p 8.
"Mountain Ways", Gene Aiken, 1983, p 195.

James married Celia McMahan 4 Mar 1841, Sevier County, Tennessee. Celia (daughter of James Balford "Jim Bally" McMahan and Mary Ann "Polly" Wilson, "Granny Mack") was born 7 Mar 1827, North Carolina; died 5 Jun 1895, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried Aaron Proffitt Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• AFN: 1TQN-XL

Notes:

----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 48.
T. D. W McMahan records, Johnny Scott Large, p 64.
Rosa Lee Downey notes, 16 June 1983, p 13, 58, 64, 105.
Proffitt GEDCOM, Joe Payne, 14 December 1995.
"Proffitt Family History", Jeff Bridgett, p 8.
Bob Parton Family Group Sheets, 11 January 1996, p 8.
"Mountain Ways", Gene Aiken, 1983, p 195.

Notes:

----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 53.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 51, 62, 69.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 201."The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 37, 201.

Joseph married Nancy Reagan Abt 1828, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee. Nancy (daughter of Richard Reagan and Julia Ann Shults) was born Abt 1810, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee; died Abt 1854, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried White Oak Flats Cemetery, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Nancy and Joseph McCarter are listed in the 1830, 1840 and 1850 census records of Sevier County.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 6a, 53.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 51, 62, 69.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 37, 201.

Other Events:

• AFN: 1TQP-3F

Notes:

----------
Reference:
Rosa Lee Downey notes, 16 June 1983, p 58.
Proffitt GEDCOM, Joe Payne, 14 December 1995.
"Proffitt Family History", Jeff Bridgett, p 7.
Bob Parton Family Group Sheets, 11 January 1996, p 8.
"Sevier County, Tennessee and Its Heritage", 1994, p 325.

Benajah married Sarah Byrd Webb 1811. Sarah was born 17 Sep 1799, Virginia; died 20 Apr 1879, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried Proffitt Cemetery, Jefferson County, Alabama. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• AFN: 1TQP-4L

Notes:

In 1850 age 56.

Some researchers list birth as 1794 and death as 1859.
----------
Reference:
Proffitt GEDCOM, Joe Payne, 14 December 1995.
Rosa Lee Downey notes, 16 June 1983, p 58.
"Proffitt Family History", Jeff Bridgett, p 7.

Other Events:

• AFN: BGW1-D9

Notes:

James Balford "Jim Bally" McMahan went from Sevier County, Tennessee to Greenville, South Carolina via Yancy County, North Carolina to help his father, Archibald McMahan II, taking a drove of mules to market. In Yancy County, North Carolina Ned Wilson, father of Polly Ann, had a "stop" (a place for drovers to bed down, and a pen to keep the livestock). Jim Bally and his father stopped at Wilson's. Polly Ann helped serve breakfast the next morning. Jim Bally liked her looks so much that when his father paid him for his work, he bought himself a fine suit of clothes and came back to Wilson's, as Granny Mc said, "this time he came a-courting." Later they were married and he took his bride to Sevier County, Tennessee to live.

Jim Bally McMahan was at the home of McNulty McMahan, Richardson Cove, Tennessee when he took sick and died (according to what Mrs. Lillie Templin told Fred O. McMahan).

He was buried in a little cemetery at the top of a hill in Richardson Cove near his brother, David. A native slate stone marks his grave with no inscription.
----------
Reference:
"McMahan Family Tree", Glenn F. McMahan, 10 March 1932, p 1.
T. D. W McMahan records, Johnny Scott Large, p 63.
Rosa Lee Downey notes, 16 June 1983, p 8, 13, 147."Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 143.
"In the Shadow of the Smokies", Smoky Mountain Historical Society, 1993, p 426.
Proffitt GEDCOM, Joe Payne, 14 December 1995.

James married Mary Ann "Polly" Wilson, "Granny Mack" Yancey County, North Carolina. Mary (daughter of Ned Wilson and Mary Ann Gilbert) was born 24 Nov 1796, Yancey County, North Carolina; died 25 Mar 1894; was buried Aaron Proffitt Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• AFN: BGW1-FG

Notes:

Born on Black Cane River and died of pneumonia.

Rosa Lee Downey states that Granny Mc's parents came from Ireland, via England, when she was six years of age, and that one of her sisters was buried at sea. She was past 97 when she passed away.
----------
Reference:
T. D. W McMahan records, Johnny Scott Large, p 63.
Rosa Lee Downey notes, 16 June 1983, p 8, 13, 147.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 143.
Proffitt GEDCOM, Joe Payne, 14 December 1995.
"Mountain Ways", Gene Aiken, 1983, p 195.

Notes:

No personal data was found about James McCarter except he died shortly after the birth of Jeremiah M. McCarter in 1815. Rebecca and James McCarter came from Edgefield District, South Carolina to settle the Cartertown section and owned it at one time. They did not take part in the settlement of White Oak Flats.

Burial at Cartertown Cemetery not confirmed.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1974, p 46.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 62.
"Sevier County, Tennessee and Its Heritage", 1994, p 229.

James married Rebecca Ogle Abt 1800, Edgefield County, South Carolina. Rebecca (daughter of William "Billy" Ogle and Martha Jane Huskey) was born 1782, North Carolina; died Abt 1870/1880; was buried P. A. Proffitt Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

According to the 1850 Federal Census of Sevier County, Tenn., Rebecca listed North Carolina as her birthplace.

Rebecca was already married to James McCarter by 1803 as indicated by the will of her father, William Ogle. Rebecca was willed "a cow and calf, bed and furniture, pot and some other furniture. Also I give unto my beloved grandson William McCarter a young sow."

Rebecca and James McCarter came from Edgefield District, South Carolina to settle the Cartertown section and owned most of it at one time. They did not take part in the settlement of White Oak Flats.

Rebecca and her second husband Middleton are listed in Sevier County Census 1830 to 1860.

Rebeccaa and Midleton were charter members of White Oak Flats Baptist Church.
----------
Reference
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 153.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 45.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 62.
Rosa Lee Downey notes, 16 June 1983, p 62.
"Sevier County, Tennessee and Its Heritage", 1994, p 229.

Other Events:

• AFN: BQLJ-VD

Notes:

The eldest son of Timothy and Elizabeth Reagan, Richard was born in Maryland or Virginia. He moved with his parents to Virginia, North Carolina, and then to Sevier County, Tennessee. Here he married circa 1796, Julia Ann Shults. Richard Reagan was one of the early settlers in the Emert's Cove, moving either with or very soon after Frederick Emert settled there circa 1800. They moved from there to White Oak Flats (now Gatlinburg) circa 1806.

It has been often stated that Richard's son, Daniel Wesley Reagan, was the first white child born in White Oak Flats but this seems to be an error. A granddaughter said that Daniel Wesley was about four years old when the family moved to the Mill Creek site in White Oak Flats. The land records indicate this to be correct. Daniel Wesley was born in 1802 in Emert's Cove area and this makes the date of the family settling in White Oaks about 1806.

Most of Richard's adult life was spent in Sevier County, Tennessee and since the early records of the county have been lost only a few official records for him have been found. There are four land grant records in the Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee. The first of these four land grants, dated 1808 reads:

"...being in the county of Sevier and District South of French Broad and Holston on the East fork of Little Pigeon.... corner to Frederick Emmett....running with meanders of said river.... Then with the land of John Roberts on said river bank."

Richard paid 12 1/2 cents per acre for this land and although by the date of this grant it is known he had moved to the Mill Creek site in White Oaks, he retained this land and made the final payment in 1819.

The second grant in 1813 is for ten acres, part of an entry that had been assigned to Robert Wear. This was "in the county of Sevier in the White Oak Flats." This land ran up the river, crossed the same, and joined other lands of Richard Reagan, which indicates earlier land entries that have been lost.

The third land grant in 1813 was for fifty acres "...in the county aforesaid in the White Oak Flats on Stoney Creek..." From courses and directions in this grant, Stoney Creek must have been the name used for Mill Creek in the earlier days. It is now called LeConte Creek. The first is a very appropriate name.

The fourth land grant in 1828 reads: "...containing twenty-five acres, lying in the County aforesaid, on Mill Creek in the White Oak Flats." This land joined the land of Isaac Ogle, and Daniel W. Reagan as well as Richard's own lands.

In 1837 Daniel Wesley Reagan, Richard's son, had a grant surveyed for the purpose of joining the lands surveyed in Richard Reagan's name. It is apparent from this record that several of Richard's early records are missing. This grant for 100 acres included a narrow strip of land on both sides of the river from Mill Creek to Baskins Creek. (The grant is in a very legible handwriting and it is spelled BASKINS) At a line running along the upper side of the cemetery from Baskins Creek to "the lane" (Reagan Drive now) his land joined Thomas J. Ogle. From the lane to a point near Mill Creek, he joined lands of William and Isaac Ogle. Their land included what was once called the Airport Field.

Here on this farm in the heart of Gatlinburg, Richard's grandson, John H. Reagan, of Texas fame, was born in 1818. In the letter to his children written in 1865 while he was imprisoned after the Civil War, he said that his grandfather, Richard Reagan was of "....medium stature and good appearance, a very religious man, and member of the Methodist Episcopal church from his youth until his death...." He also said that Richard "owned the neighborhood mill and blacksmith shop; was justice of the peace for his precinct...." Richard was the class leader of the Methodist Society which met in his home before there was a meeting house built. He also kept the post office for the community. His grandson might have been writing his epithet when he said of Richard, "He was an upright good man....a contented and happy man, whose faith was in God and whose hope was in Heaven.."

Family records say that Richard died of a fractured skull in 1829. A family story handed down through the generations tells that "Richard Reagan died when as he was taking his horses from pasture to the barn, a limb flew off a beech tree and struck him in the head." Another family story tells the same thing at the same time - "A few days before the accident, a bird flew into the porch where he was sitting, smoking his pipe, and lit on his head. He sprang from his chair, declaring it was his 'death sign' and was greatly disturbed. Whether or not it was a warning, he thought it was. The accident happened and he died a few days after that."

Most sources say that Richard and Julia Ann Reagan had three sons and four daughters - it is possible there were others. One is thought to have been a son, Aaron Reagan, and a daughter named Barbara who died as a young girl. The other two daughters are unknown.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 2a, 5-6.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 6, 51.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 31-44.

Richard married Julia Ann Shults 1796, Sevier County, Tennessee. Julia (daughter of Johan Martin "Martin" Shults and Juliana Stentz) was born 1775, Tryon County, North Carolina; died 23 Apr 1845, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried White Oak Flats Cemetery, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• AFN: BQLJ-WK

Notes:

Julia Ann Shultz came with her mother, Juliana Shultz, and her brothers and sisters to Sevier County, Tennessee circa 1794/1795 from Sullivan County, Tennessee.

It is said that Julia Ann used a German Bible and hymn book and spoke German as easily as she did English.

Julia Ann was living with her son, Daniel Wesley, at the time of her death. It was thought that she had recovered from a spring cold but when she didn't arise as usual on the morning of April 23, 1845, the family found that she had passed away in her sleep.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 2a, 6.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 6, 51.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 407.