Proud to be a Texan

 

Flag of Texas - Lone Star State Symbol of Pride and Heritage 73425415 Vector Art at Vecteezy

PROUD TO BE A TEXAN

Once upon a time…
A love story began in the Red River Valley of the South. Like countless love stories before and after, this one is different as it is my love story. Mother and Daddy met and married in North Texas where just a few years before, their parents and grandparents, had migrated to a land that was wide open, where wilderness was still plentiful. This was a place where cotton and cattle would reign supreme.
 
My people arrived in Texas, a mighty state, full of proud people with a strong heritage. They were not afraid of hard work to establish themselves and sink their feet into solid ground to establish their homes and livelihoods. Most arrived in covered wagons, arriving anywhere from the early 1880s to the late 1890s. They came from Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia and Tennessee.
 
And some of these were people I knew as a young child.
My story begins with a handsome young man, Truman Quillin, and a beautiful young nursing student, Carolita Jones. Both of them were born in Texas in the early 1920s and both of them knew their grandparents who were born in the 1850s-1870s. These were the ancestors who migrated to the great State of Texas. They arrived along about the time that the planning and construction of the State Capital in Austin was occurring.
 
It’s hard to wrap my head around that these people arrived in a place where just 50 years prior, Texas had defeated Santa Anna in the Battle of San Jacinto and the Republic of Texas was established 1836, and in 1845, Texas was admitted to the United States as the 28th state.
 
Here is a brief timeline of Texas just shortly before my people arrived:
May 13, 1865 – The last land engagement of the Civil War was fought at the Battle of Palmito Ranch in far south Texas, more than a month after Gen. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, VA.
 
1866 – The abundance of longhorn cattle in south Texas and the return of Confederate soldiers to a poor reconstruction economy marked the beginning of the era of Texas trail drives to northern markets.
 
March 30, 1870 – The United States Congress readmitted Texas into the Union. Reconstruction continued, however, for another four years.
 
At 70 years of age, I stand amazed at how my family history is intertwined with the history of the land. I only wish that our young people would take an interest to truly understand what it took to carve out these areas to prepare the way for the rest of us. We must not lose our heritage. We must never forget where we came from because their footsteps lead straight to our front doors.
 
Timeline of My Family’s Arrival in Texas
Quillins – from Virginia – early 1880s
Sprowls – from TN – early 1880s
Jones – Alabama – early 1880s
Bridges – Georgia – 1880s
McNair – Arkansas – 1890s
Kings – Georgia – late 1880s
Hulsey – Georgia – late 1890s
Haney – Georgia – late 1890s
 

Terry Family Bible - Price/McNair Connection

VALUABLE OLD FAMILY BIBLE

Information given from an OLD family Bible. They are connected
to the Price family through our James McNair and his daughter, Hannah. Hannah was the sister to our John "Jack" McNair.

James McNair's Baptismal Record April 1747

This Baptismal Record was found in the Augusta Stone Church records in Virginia. 

Daniel McNear baptized a child named James. 

Sources for James McNair

 May not be a complete list, but it is what I had from 1993. 

Source Sheet:  JAMES MCNAIR 1747 – 1817

 
"Leaves of the Family Tree-McNair" by Penelope Allen, 1937, 1982, page 175-176. The McNair family of East Tennessee.
 
Chalkley's Chronicles - Volumes I & II, JAMES MCNAIR - (p. 481)     MILITARY SERVICES.
Job Bennington's Declaration, May 5th, 1823: Aged 67; in the Pennsylvania Service; Capt. Porter, Lieut. James McNair, Colonel Proctor.
 
The McNair, McNear, and McNeir genealogies by James Birtley McNair, Chicago: 1929, p 299.
 
Reminiscent History of the Ozark Region. This Goodspeed Brothers collection of sketches was originally published in Chicago in 1864. Southern Historical Press, Inc. reprinted the book from an 1894 edition in 1978, 1984 and 1995.
 
Department of Cultural Resources: North Carolina. Division of archives and History. Certificates of payment for military service.
 
1790 United States Federal Census. Mecklenburg, North Carolina; Series: M637; Roll: 7; Page: 360; Image: 538; Family History Library Film: 0568147
 
Calendar of the Tennessee and King’s Mountain Papers of the Draper Collection of Manuscripts, Vol. III, pp 330-331.  (Draper Collection is highly recognized.)
 
Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Early Tennessee/North Carolina Land Records; Roll: 5; Book: C
 
Tennessee Genealogical Records: Stewart and Sullivan Counties, p. 271 by Edythe Rucker Whitley, compiled originally in 1930. Combined in 1980.
 
Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Series Number: 02; Series Title: Entries. Original data: Tennessee. Division of Archives, Land Office, and Museum. Early Tennessee/North Carolina Land Records, 1783–1927, Record Group 50. Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.
 
Find A Grave. Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi.
 
https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/h/a/y/John-Haynie-GA/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-1089.html
 
Daniel’s descendants by Bryan Douglas McNair, Garland Texas. http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~mcnair/genealogy/

James McNair, His Father Daniel, His Grandfather David (1747-1690)

 Information from John Haynie

JAMES MCNAIR
 
http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/h/a/y/John-Haynie-GA/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-1089.html
 
James McNair (son of Daniel McNair and Hannah Allen) was born April 29, 1747 in Ft. Defiance, Augusea Co. VA, and died Bef. August 27, 1849 in Knox Co. TN.He married (1) Martha Price on March 07, 1773.He married (2) Rebecca Walker on July 11, 1811 in Kingston, Roane Co. TN, daughter of William B. Walker.

 Notes for James McNair:
According to the book "Leaves of the Family Tree-McNair",page 175-176 is the following:The McNair family of East Tennessee traces it's ancestry to James McNair, a Revolutionary soldier who lived and died in Knox County, Tennessee.James McNair was one of the stalwart pioneers who braved the perils of the wilderness on the southwestern frontier, where he was one of the early white settlers of Hoston Co.Records show that this James McNair served with the milia on the western frontier of North Calolin during the Revolutary Warand he was probably of the intrepid band that followed Captian John Sevier to Kings Mountain.In 1774 he was living in Sullivan Co. Tennessee but as the settlements were pushed further and further down the TennesseeValley, he removed his family to Knox County where he was residing in 1794.

More About James McNair and Martha Price:
Marriage: March 07, 1773
More About James McNair and Rebecca Walker:
Marriage: July 11, 1811, Kingston, Roane Co. TN.
Children of James McNair and Martha Price are:
 Notes for James McNair:

1. Mary McNair, b. 1776, Sullivan Co. Tn, d. date unknown.

1. Bryce McNair, b. 1780, Sullivan Co. Tn, d. date unknown.

1. Hannah Price McNair, b. 1781, Sullivan Co. Tn, d. date unknown.

1. Elizabeth McNair, b. March 31, 1785, Sullivan Co. Tn, d. date unknown.

1. James Price McNair, b. Abt. 1787, Sullivan Co. Tn, d. date unknown.

1. Myra McNair, b. Abt. 1790, Sullivan Co. Tn, d. date unknown.

1. Robert Huston McNair, d. date unknown.

1. John McNair, b. July 20, 1783, Sullivan Co. Tn, d. date unknown.

Children of James McNair and Rebecca Walker are:

1. Tillie McNair, b. Bef. 1812, Tenn, d. date unknown.

1. +Nancy McNair, b. August 16, 1812, Tenn, d. June 1899, Duck Springs, Etowah Co. AL..

1. James Price McNair (Jr), b. March 01, 1815, Sullivan Co. Tn, d. date unknown, Hixson Cemetery Hamilton Co. Tenn.

1. Narcissus McNair, b. 1818, Tenn, d. date unknown.

1. David McNair, b. January 07, 1825, d. date unknown.

 
DANIEL MCNAIR
 
http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/h/a/y/John-Haynie-GA/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-1439.html
 
Daniel McNair (son of David McNair ll) was born Abt. 1720 in County Donegel,Ireland, and died Abt. 1791 in Churchville, Augusta Co., VA.He married Hannah Allen on Abt. 1741 in Augusta Co. VA.
More About Daniel McNair and Hannah Allen:
Marriage: Abt. 1741, Augusta Co. VA.
Children of Daniel McNair and Hannah Allen are:
More About Daniel McNair and Hannah Allen:
Marriage: Abt. 1741, Augusta Co. VA.
Children of Daniel McNair and Hannah Allen are:

1. David McNair, b. Abt. 1741, Augusta Co. Va., d. date unknown.

1. +James McNair, b. April 29, 1747, Ft. Defiance, Augusea Co. VA, d. Bef. August 27, 1849, Knox Co. TN.

1. John McNair, b. Aft. 1747, d. date unknown.

1. Joanna McNair, b. December 19, 1742, Ft. Defiance, August Co. NC, d. date unknown.

1. Martha McNair, b. June 30, 1745, Ft. Defiance, August Co. NC, d. date unknown.

David McNair ll (son of Unknown Mcnair) was born Bet. 1690 - 1699 in Ulster, Donegal Co. Ireland, and died date unknown.
Children of David McNair ll are:
Children of David McNair ll are:

1. +Daniel McNair, b. Abt. 1720, County Donegel,Ireland, d. Abt. 1791, Churchville, Augusta Co., VA.

 

James McNair's Will

 

His will was written with his own hand January 5, 1817, and proved at the July term of the Knox Co. Court, 1818. The will in full is recorded in Knox Co. Estate Book, Vol. 2, pages 351 and 352. His wife's will was written March 23, 1817, and was proved at the same session of the Court. The following is included in Gerry McNair Crow's notes: "Tenn. Census taken from NC land grants 1787-1791, No. of Grant 2442, James McNair, 200 acres 1790 on the south side of Holstein (River) opposite the mouth of German Creek." James' last will and testament is recorded in "Leaves From The Family Tree" by Penelope Johnson Allen and is as follows: "In the name of God., Amen, I, James McNair of the County of Knox, State of Tennessee, being in a low state of health, but of sound memory, do make this my Last Will and Testament. First I wish all my just debts and funeral charges to be paid from my moveable property and my daughter Myre to have a horse worth 100 dollars or the money. "To my true and well beloved wife, Martha, I give and bequeath my dwelling house as it stands with all and every part of furniture, the kitchen, smoke house, crib and Garden and the half of all kind of stock and farm tools, also old Cipeo, Rhoda and her child Cubit, all of which is to be at her disposal in her life time or at her death--I do will that my land at the death of my wife be sold to the highest bidder and also my boys, Bob and Austin, and from the sale, my son John is to have and receive one half of the purchase money, my son James on third, my son David and my daughters Polly, Hannah, Betsy and Myre shall have equal shares of the other third part. "My son John is to have one half of the stock and all untensils with his mother and have full care of her. He has Bob and Austin as assistantsand the whole plantation to cultivate for which he, the said John, is to let her have a full third part of all produce. "I choose my true and trusted friends Asahel Chapman and my son John as my executors to see that my last will and testament be carefully executed. All former will being made void and of no effect. This I say, is my last will and testament wrote with my own hand and sealed with my seal this 5th day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen. "Signed Jas. M'Nair, in the presence of Ro Armstrong, Fras. Bounds."

James McNair History Cont.- Military, Marriage, Family

 James McNair - Continued

Sources:

Leaves of the Family Tree by Penelope Johnson Allen, 1937.

Chalkley's Chronicles

The McNair, McNear, and McNeir genealogies by James Birtley McNair, Chicago: 1929.

Reminiscent History of the Ozark Region This Goodspeed Brothers collection of sketches was originally published in Chicago in 1864. Southern Historical Press, Inc. reprinted the book from an 1894 edition in 1978, 1984 and 1995.

Department of Cultural Resources: North Carolina. Division of archives and History. Certificates of payment for military service.

So let's take a look at the stories of this wonderful man and his legacy:
 
According to the book Leaves of the Family Tree by Penelope Allen, McNair Chapter, page 175-176 copyright @ 1937 is the following: "The McNair family of East Tennessee traces its ancestry to James McNair, a Revolutionary soldier who lived and died in Knox County, Tennessee. James McNair was one of the stalwart pioneers who braved the perils of the wilderness on the southwestern frontier, where he was one of the early white settlers of Holston Co.  Records show that this James McNair served with the militia on the western frontier of North Carolina during the Revolutionary War and he was probably of the intrepid band that followed Captain John Sevier to Kings Mountain. In 1774, he was living in Sullivan Co. Tennessee, but as the settlements were pushed further and further down the Tennessee Valley, he removed his family to Knox County where he was residing in 1794."
 
The following was written by Bryan Douglas McNair of Garland Texas
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mcnair/
Bryan states: Nothing here is 100%. Just a collection from times gone by...
"James McNair, the eldest son of Daniel and Hannah McNair.  Baptismal records of Rev. John Craig state that James Sr. was baptized on 29 Apr. 1747 at the Stone (Prebysterian) Church in Ft. Defiance, Virginia (Staunton VA).  James McNair was a pioneer of East TN and for many years a Free Mason.
James was imbued with the spirit of adventure, having begun to make explorations to the South when a youth of twenty. It is known that he made more than one trip to the "Indian Country" Tennessee, with his boyhood friend and neighbor, John Anderson, and a few other young men from Augusta Co., VA. It is of record that they made one trip as early as 1769 when they went down as far as what is now Hawkins Co., TN, where they "saw so many signs of the Indians" they "deemed it prudent to return." Among the members of the exploring expedition, who soon settled in Sullivan Co., TN, were James McNair, John Sawyers, and Gilbert Christian, while John Anderson located just across the disputed border line in Virginia. Of this adventure, The ANNALS OF TENNESSEE by Ramsey states, "The beauty and fertility of the valley of the Holston proved a temptation to some men of the regiment as a region for settlement. Gilbert Christian and William Anderson, accompanied by John Sawyers, John Anderson, Robert Christian, James McNair, and Nathan Page, shortly after the troops were disbanded, explored the valley. They crossed the North Fork at the ford and penetrated as far down as Big Creek in the present County of Hawkins, where they met a large party of Indians, and turned back."
 
James McNair served with the militia on the western frontier of NC during the Revolutionary War. He was probably one of the followers of John Anderson to King's Mountain.
Chalkley's Chronicles - Volumes I & II, JAMES MCNAIR - (p. 481)                MILITARY SERVICES.
Job Bennington's Declaration, May 5th, 1823: Aged 67; in the Pennsylvania Service; Capt. Porter, Lieut. James McNair, Colonel Proctor.
 
 
About 1773, James McNair married Martha Price. John Anderson married Rebecca Maxwell on 12 Jan 1775. These boyhood friends of the Middle River neighborhood in Augusta County now took their brides to make homes in the wilderness along the border line between VA and NC, now TN, where they continued as neighbors. Their lifelong friendship was sealed with the marriage of their son and daughter, Elizabeth (Betsy) McNair and John Anderson, Jr., a Lieutenant-Colonel in the War of 1812.
 
James acquired a considerable quantity of land in the upper counties of what is now East TN, before he finally located in Knox County. There is record of various locations of land grants in the counties of Hawkins, Green, and Sullivan where he made his home, and where his children were born. These grants were military and were from NC.
 
The McNair Family genealogy book by James Birtley McNair recalled these stories of James and Martha Price:
"James McNair was a pioneer of east Tennessee, a soldier of the Revolutionary War and for many years a Freemason.  He married a woman of Welsh extraction.  His wife was an excellent shot with a rifle.  On one occasion during the absence of her husband, she heard their dogs barking at some little distance from the house, and started out to learn the trouble.  She soon discovered that they had treed a large bear.  She returned to the house for her bun, and very soon the bear fell a victim of her marksmanship.  After skinning the animal without assistance she made meat of the bruin.
 
Mr. McNair returned home one night, after quite a protracted absence, to find that his horses had been stolen by Indians.  Early the next morning he started in pursuit, and after following their trail for three days, he came upon them in camp, the horses grazing some little distance away.  He succeeded in catching his bell-mare, muffled the bell, and led her a short distance away, then returned for vengeance.  He managed to get his rifle in range of two Indians, fired, and brought them both to the ground; the others fled, after which he captured the rest of horses and returned home with them."
 
As the settlements were pushed farther down the TN Valley, James McNair moved his family from Sullivan Co. to Knox Co. in the early 1790's. Here also he acquired much land. The minutes of Knox Co., 1792-95, show that he served as a Juryman Aug. 6, 1794. Other legal documents show that he was active in public affairs in Knox Co. until his death sometimes between Jan. 5 and Mar. 23, 1817. His will was written with his own hand January 5, 1817, and proved at the July term of the Knox Co. Court, 1818. The will in full is recorded in Knox Co. Estate Book, Vol. 2, pages 351 and 352. His wife's will (Martha Price McNair) was written March 23, 1817, and was proved at the same session of the Court. The following is included in Gerry McNair Crow's notes: "Tenn. Census taken from NC land grants 1787-1791, No. of Grant 2442, James McNair, 200 acres 1790 on the south side of Holstein (River) opposite the mouth of German Creek."