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EIGHTH GENERATION

242. Hillery MASTERS ⁽²¹⁷⁾⁽³¹⁹⁾ was born in 1758 in Montgomery Co, MD. At plantation, "Thoroughfare". He died in 1813 in Overton Co, TN. He was buried in Overton Co, TN. The following quotes are taken from "Masters Family History" by Jack Masters.

"Notley's Revolutionary War service is well documented. No proof has been located to determine Hillery's involvement, but family tradition holds that he in fact did serve. The 640 acres of land Hillery secured in Tennessee from the state of North Carolina was for his services as a soldier, according to family tradition."

"Twenty-four years passed between Hillery's marriage and his move to middle Tennessee. The slender evidences of his whereabouts during the period indicate he moved a number of times. Many family historians have noted that Hillery came from 'Wiles County, Virginia'. There has never been a Wiles County in either Virginia or the Carolinas. It is possible that the reference is to Wilkes County, North Carolina, which originally was part of Rowan. The name may have become altered in spelling and pronunciation as it passed through generations in the recollections of Masters descendants." Hillery is found on a 1788 Tax list for Montgomery Co, VA. He lived in the area of Chestnut Creek, which appears to be in modern Carroll County, established 1842. Wythe County, set off from Montgomery in 1789, may hve included the area of Hillery's residence then.

"There is evidence that Hillery lived in more than one state before his eventual move to middle Tennessee. An indenture deed in the Hawkins County, Tennessee archives at Rogersville shows that Hillery and Mary paid $333 for some 240 acres from John Thompson on 10 Sep 1794. Hillery's land was on Beech Creek on the south side of the Holston River, not far from Rogersville. Why he left is unknown, but he stayed just a little more than a year, selling the land for $500 to Andrew Smithers in a deed recorded 17 Dec 1795. It is possible that Hillery and Mary never took up residence on the land."

"Rogersville was close to two major trails, the 'Daniel Boone Trace' into Kentucky, where many North Carolinians had settled, and the 'Great Indian
Warpath', the avenue to middle and western Tennessee. A decade later, according to tradition, Hillery and his family would travel this second trace."

"Hillery Masters is known, by census records, to have been living in Surry County, North Carolina in 1800. Surry in 1800 also included what is now Yadkin County, so it cannot be said with any certainty that Hillery lived within the present boundaries of Surry County. Earlier tax lists (1788-89) locate him in nearby Montgomery County, Virginia."

"What ever the point of departure, Hillery removed with his family into Jackson County, Tennessee in 1803 (Overton County was not established until 1806 and is located in northern middle Tennessee), according to family tradition. 'He first settled in what is now the Second District of Overton County, near what is known as the M.A. Hardy home place,' according to Oscar Eldridge, and later moved to 'near Flatt Creek in the Mt. Gilead community, about four miles southeast of Hilham and five or six miles west of Livingston'. Cleo Long, who currently owns the old John S. Masters (son of Hillery) property recalls family tradition as locating the final homesite of Hillery as 'just across the little road from the Oscar Nivens place'. The Nivens built a house in the early 1900's near the exact location of the John S. Masters homeplace. According to Mae Bilbrey, Hillery's house was close enough to John S. that they used the same spring for water."

"Hillery pursued farming here for the remainder of his life. Records of his ownership of land have not been discovered. Apparently they were destroyed in fires that consumed many records of Jackson and Overton Counties."

"Hillery's burial place is near Flatt Creek on what is known as the Gore place or Charlie Allred farm. Today the exact site of the grave in the abandoned, overgrown burial ground cannot be determined."
He was married to Mary (Coe) DAVIES on 23 Dec 1779 in Salisbury, Rowan Co, NC.⁽³²⁰⁾ He had marriage banns published on 23 Dec 1779 in Rowan Co, NC.⁽³²¹⁾ ⁽³²²⁾ On 23 Dec 1779, a marriage bond was executed in Hillary's behalf at Salisbury, Rowan Co, NC. Notley Masters pledged jointly with Hillery, the 500 pounds required, as attested by their signatures. The witness was B. Booth Boote on Bond # 000127606.

243. Mary (Coe) DAVIES ⁽²¹⁷⁾⁽³²³⁾ was born about 1760. She died on 15 Jun 1845 in Overton Co, TN. She was buried in John Masters Cem, Mt Gilead, Overton Co, TN. Mary lived with her grandson, John S. Masters, in Overton County, Tennessee. Her great grandson remembers her children as saying that Mary was spiteful and hard to get along with. She made the children promise not to bury her beside her husband, Hillery, but on the farm plot. After she died, they tried to exhume his body and place it beside her, but it was too decayed, so they left him alone.

The following records were found in Overton Co, TN:

"Sarah McRoberts to Mary Masters, 33 1/4 acres of land on Flat Creek, $100.00, on 12 January 1815, including the Sarah McRoberts improvements.

"William Fleming, sheriff, to Mary Masters, 60 acres on Flatt Creek, $20.30. Sold by Millen Francis against James McRoberts, 4 July 1815.

"Mary Masters to John (S.) Masters, 33 1/4 acres on Flatt Creek 'including the plantation wheron the said John Masters now lives containing 33 1/4 acres' 25 Nov 1834, in consideration of $150.00
Her
Mary X Masters
Mark

"Received of Mary Masters, relict and widow of Hillery Masters, deceased, one fourth part of the estate of Hillery Masters, which is the full amount of my legacy in said Masters will to me.
This May 10, 1838 Davis Masters
Her
Mary X Masters
Mark

"State of Tennessee, Overton County:
This day personally appeared Mary Masters, before me, Robert S. Windle, one of the acting Justices of the Peace for said county, and made oath in due form of law, that she was present and saw John Masters pay to James Masters, one hundred dollars, which was the amount the said James agreed to receive, and did receive from the said John as the full payment for his interest of the estate of Hillery Masters, deceased, both real and personal.
Her
Mary X Masters
Mark
Sworn to and subscribed before
me 15 May 1838
signed: Robert S. Windle, J.P." Children were:

i. Robert MASTERS⁽³²⁴⁾⁽²⁶³⁾ was born on 9 Mar 1783 in Rowan Co, NC. He died on 19 Feb 1870 in Morgan Co, IL. He was buried in Diamond Gr. Cem., Morgan Co, IL. Robert Masters is listed on the Overton Co, TN census for 1820 as between 26 and 45 years of age, with 2 males under 10, 1 male 10 to 16, 2 females under 10, and 1 female 16 to 26.

The following property transactions were recorded in Overton County, Tennessee:

"John Gore to Joseph Goodbar and Robert Masters, 239 acres of land on Roaring River, $717.00.

ii. Thomas MASTERS⁽²¹⁷⁾⁽³²⁵⁾⁽³²⁶⁾⁽²⁶³⁾ was born on 1 Aug 1787 in Montgomery Co, VA. He died on 9 Jan 1849 in Morgan Co, IL. He was buried in Bethel Cem, Murrayville, Morgan Co, IL. The following property transactions were recorded in Overton County, Tennessee:

"State of Tennessee to Thomas Masters, Grant of land of 25 acres on Flat Creek, March 30, 1813, signed by Willie Blount, Governor of Tennessee.

"Drusis Riggs to Thomas Masters, Bill of Sale for one Negro girl "Vincy", 12 years old, $500.00, 15 Sep 1819.

"William Masters to Thomas Masters, 30 acres of land on Flatt Creek of Roaring River (a part of the John McNary 640 acres tract granted to him on 10 Oct 1810 and sold to William Masters on 2 May 1817 --- and William Masters to Thomas Masters, 13 Jan 1823.) $80.00. John Masters, witness.

"Abraham Goodpasture, Jr. to Thomas Masters, 329 acres on Flatt Creek, $700.00. 11 Oct 1826. John Goodpasture, attest. Thomas Masters sold this land to Samuel C. Mitchell on 26 Dec 1829 for $560.00.

Thomas is listed on the 1820 census of Overton Co, TN as between 26 and 45 years of age, with 2 males under 10, 2 females under 10, and 1 female 16 to 26.

Thomas moved his family from Overton County, Tennessee to Morgan County, in east-central Illinois in 1829.

iii. William Darroll MASTERS⁽³²⁷⁾⁽³²⁸⁾⁽³²⁹⁾⁽³³⁰⁾ was born on 26 Aug 1788 in Montgomery Co, NC. He died in 1860 in Jackson Co, TN. He was buried in On Mill Creek, Clay Co, TN. He was also known as Billy. The following property transactions were recorded in Overton County, Tennessee:

"William Masters was witness to a deed, Abraham Goodpasture to John Goodpasture, 26 June 1806.

"Joseph Goodbar to William Masters, Bill of Sale for one Negro slave, "Fanny", 7 years old, $400.00, 20 May 1813.

"John McNary to William Masters, 320 acres of land on Flatt Creek of Roaring River, $161.00, 2 May 1817, Registered 20 Jan 1818.

"George W. Rowan of Jackson County to William Masters, Bill of Sale for six Negro slaves, $2000.00, 23 Feb 1819.

"William Masters to Thomas Masters, 30 acres of land on Flatt Creek of Roaring River (a part of the John McNary 640 acres tract granted to him on 10 Oct 1810 and sold to William Masters on 2 May 1817 --- and William Masters to Thomas Masters, 13 Jan 1823.) $80.00. John Masters, witness.

William and Nancy were twins.

iv. Nancy Goodman MASTERS⁽³³¹⁾ was born on 26 Aug 1788 in Montgomery Co, NC. She died on 27 Oct 1855 in Overton Co, TN. She was buried in Goodbar Cem, Overton Co, TN. Nancy and William were twins.

v. Jesse F. MASTERS⁽³³²⁾ was born on 22 Nov 1791 in Wythe Co, NC. He died on 19 Nov 1829 in Cowan Ferry, KY. He was buried in Cowan Ferry, KY.
vi. Sarah Elizabeth MASTERS⁽³³³⁾ was born about 1793 in Wythe Co, NC. She was also known as Elizabeth.
121 vii. Debra Delong MASTERS.
viii. Davis MASTERS⁽³³⁴⁾⁽³³⁵⁾⁽²⁶³⁾ was born on 10 May 1796 in North Carolina.⁽³³⁶⁾ He died on 23 Nov 1882 in Overton Co, TN. He was buried in Overton Co, TN. Some family members have recorded Davis Masters name as Davis Coe Masters, but Ted Darwin, who is a direct descendant of Davis, has never proven the use of Coe with Davis Masters.

Davis is listed on the 1820 census of Overton Co, TN as between 18 and 26 years of age, with 1 male under 10, and 1 female between 26 and 45.

Davis and Susan are listed on the 1850 census of Overton Co, TN. Listed with them are six children: Simeon - 22; Lafayette - 17; Clinton - 14; Joseph - 7; Gordon - 5; and Sarah 18.

ix. James MASTERS⁽³³⁷⁾ was born about 1798 in Surry Co, NC. He died about 1838.
x. John Simon MASTERS⁽³³⁸⁾⁽³³⁹⁾ was born on 12 Mar 1801 in Surry Co, NC. He died on 25 Dec 1866 in Flat Creek, Overton Co, TN. He was buried in John Masters Cem, Mt Gilead, Overton Co, TN. John, and his family, are listed on the 1850 census of Overton Co, TN. Ten children are listed with the family: Amanda - 18; Margaret - 17; James - 13; Madison - 12; John - 10; Mary - 8; Elizabeth - 6; Malinda - 4; Thomas - 3; and J??? - 1.