NINTH GENERATION

12. Michael COONS ⁽¹⁾ was born about 1743 in Frederick County, Virginia. He died between 1803 and 1813 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. He was a in Blacksmith. Michael Counts >"purchased from The Honorable Thomas Lord Fairfax 236a in "Shannandoah" >County dated the 11th day of March 1779. "Michael Counts's Deed for 236 >Acres in Shannandoah County 1779". Names in deed: Morgan, Man__ham >Marshall, Richard Biggs or Riggs, Miller. > >Michael Counts sold this same tract in 1783, with his wife Rebecca Counts >signing ( to release dower). Michael was in Green (NC by 1784 he owned 640 >acres of land; this would become Jefferson Co., TN). Michael died abt. >1804. Michael and Rebecca Counts/Coons/Koontz had the following children: >Jacob Coons m. Judah Tackett ?, they moved to Tuscaloosa Co., AL Dec 21 1825 >John Coons, Sr. and Cathereine his wife moved to Overton Co TN 1825 >(Catherine may have been Carlock). >Rebecca Coons and Peter Tackett moved to Franklin Co., AL 1825. >Margaret Coons and Phillips Roberts lived in Sevier Co., TN. >Elizabeth Coons and Daniel Morrow to Bath Co VA 1826 >Michael Coons of Jefferson Co., TN (not sure who he married) >John Cate Jr. and Mary Ann Coons raised their family and are buried in >Dumplin Cemetery, Jefferson Co., TN. >George Coons "of Highland County, Ohio, March 26, 1827;" Deed Bk. 4 p. >204-205 >All of the above are from deeds recorded in Jefferson Co., when each of >Michael's children quit claimed their share of land to their brother >Phillips Coons. It seems there was a Joseph Coons also. >

The First Baptist Church of Dandridge - it was organized first as the Lower French Broad Baptist Church on March 25, 1786, three miles northeast of Dandridge in Coons' School House by two pioneer Baptist ministers, Jonathan Mulkey and Isaac Barton. The twelve charter members were: Michael Coons, James Randolph, Henry Haggard, John Cryder, Wesley White, Charles Gentry, Rebecca Coons, Margarette Smith, Sara Cryder, Dolly Haggard, Tabitha Gentry and Elizabeth Gentry.

In the book, Tennessee Cousins by Worth S. Ray: The French Broad Baptist Church was the second church organized around Dandridge and it was established about two and a half miles east of Dandridge in 1786 by Jonathan Mulkey and Isaac Barton. The following is what is said to be an authentic roll of its original members: Michael Coons, James Randolph, Henry Haggard, John Fryer, Tabitha and Elizabeth Gentry, Charles Gentry (the first clerk), Wesley Whiate, Rebecca Coons, Dolly Haggard, Margaret Smith, Sarah Fryer, Elizabeth Morrow, Alexander Morrow, Unius and Sarah Carlock, Elizabeth Johnson (Sr. and Jr.), Margaret Johnson, Joseph and Sarah Witt, Elizabeth Whitman, Catron McGirk, Duke Kimarough and Robert Gentry.

Also from the book, Tennessee Cousins by Worth S. Ray: In 1801 and prior thereto at Bean's Station some miles North and East of Rutledge, the Thomas Whiteside hotel flourished and became famous, being patronized by travelers on the road to and from Kentucky and Virginia. After the town of Rutledge was established the first house of entertainment (hotel) was that of Michael Coons, who was also a blacksmith. Michael Coons died in 1803, only two years after he opened his hotel and blacksmith shop in Grainger County.

Michael Counts "purchased from The Honorable Thomas Lord Fairfax 236a in Shannandoah (sic) County dated the 11th day of March 1779. "MichaelCounts's Deed for 236 acres in Shannandoah County 1779. Names in deed: Morgan, Man__ham Marshall, Richard Biggs or Riggs,
Miller.

Michael Counts sold this same tract in 1783, with his wife Rebecca Counts signing (to release dower). Michael was in Green, NC by 1784 he owned 640 acres of land; this would become Jefferson County,TN. Michael died abt. 1804. Michael and Rebecca Counts/Coons/Koontz had the following children:
Jacob Coons m. Judah Tackett ?, they moved to Tuscaloosa Co., AL Dec 21 1825
John Coons,Sr. and Catherine his wife moved to Overton Co TN 1825 (Catherine may have been Carlock).
Rebecca Coons and Peter Tackett moved to Franklin Co., AL 1825.
Margaret Coons and Phillips Roberts lived in Sevier Co., TN.
Elizabeth Coons and Daniel Morrow to Bath Co VA 1826
Michael Coons of Jefferson Co., TN (not sure who he married)
John Cate Jr. and Mary Ann Coons raised their family and are buried in Dumplin Cemetery, Jefferson Co., TN.
George Coons "of HighlandCounty, Ohio, March 26, 1827;" Deed Bk. 4 p. 204-205
All of theabove are from deeds recorded in Jefferson Co., when each of Michael's children quit claimed their share of land to their brother Phillips Coons. It seems there was a Joseph Coons also.

The First Baptist Church of Dandridge - it was organized first as the Lower French Broad Baptist Church on March 25, 1786, three miles northeast of Dandridge in Coons' School House by two pioneer Baptist ministers, Jonathan Mulkey and Isaac Barton. The twelve charter members were: Michael Coons, James Randolph, Henry Haggard, John Cryder, Wesley White, Charles Gentry, Rebecca Coons, Margarette Smith, Sara Cryder, Dolly Haggard, Tabitha Gentry and Elizabeth Gentry

Michael was "Virginia Deutsch" (German). We know they were in Virginia for several years as sons, John and Michael, Jr. and daughter Elizabeth, were born there. Son George was born in Maryland per 1880 census for Highland Co., Ohio. Mary Coons Cate and Joseph Coons were born in N.C. (Tennessee was then called N.C.). They were charter members of the Church of Christ on French Broad River 25 Mar 1786. This church is now the First Baptist Church of Dandridge of the Southern Baptist Convention. The old church records refer to their meetings being "held at Coones Creek" or "Coons Meeting House".

The 1783 census for Virginia shows Michael Coonse, 13 whites, George Coons, 2 whites. Michael Coon's land grant No. 841, State of North Carolina for 640 acres, dated 2 Nov 1790 was sold to Michael 20 Oct 1788 for 10 pounds for every 100 acres (or for $64.00). This was also under warrent No. 1545. This land was in Greene Co., Tenn from 1783-1792, when Jefferson Co. , was formed. This land is now known as the Sullivan property and there is an old cemetery there.

Michael made his will 17 Mar 1803, Jefferson Co., Tenn., but there were several land transactions made up to 1813. Michael probably died soon after this date.

The book "Pioneer Preachers of Indiana" by Madison Evans, A.M. published 1862, on page 139 states "The Coonses were mostly Baptists noted for their piety and zeal for God. Among them were many preachers, one of whom, John Coons, was imprisoned in the days of the Revolution, by the English or Episcopal Church". Michael Coons would have been 32 years old when Elder John Coons died.

In the book, Tennessee Cousins by Worth S. Ray:
The French Broad Baptist Church was the second church organized around Dandridge and it was established about two and a half miles east of Dandridge in 1786 by Jonathan Mulkey and Isaac Barton. The following is what is said to be an authentic roll of its original members: Michael Coons, James Randolph, Henry Haggard, John Fryer, Tabitha and Elizabeth Gentry, Charles Gentry (the first clerk), Wesley Whiate, Rebecca Coons, Dolly Haggard, Margaret Smith, Sarah Fryer, Elizabeth Morrow, Alexander Morrow, Unius and Sarah Carlock, Elizabeth Johnson (Sr. and Jr.), Margaret Johnson, Joseph and Sarah Witt, Elizabeth Whitman, Catron McGirk, Duke Kimarough and Robert Gentry.

In the book, "Tennessee Cousins" by Worth S. Ray:
In 1801 and prior thereto at Bean's Station some miles North and East of Rutledge, the Thomas Whiteside hotel flourished and became famous, being patronized by travelers on the road to and from Kentucky and Virginia. After the town of Rutledge was established the first house of entertainment (hotel) was that of Michael Coons, who was also a blacksmith. Michael Coons died in 1803, only two years after he opened his hotel and blacksmith shop in Grainger County.

He was married to Rebecca GEOR about 1759 in Shenandoah County, Virginia. Rebecca GEOR⁽¹⁾ died in 1825 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Michael COONS and Rebecca GEOR had the following children:

22 i. Jacob COONS.
23 ii. Phillips COONS.
+24 iii. George Washington COONS.
+25 iv. Elizabeth COONS.
+26 v. Michael , Jr COONS.
+27 vi. John COONS SR..
+28 vii. Jacob Riley COONS Rev.
+29 viii. Mary Ann COONS.
+30 ix. Margaret COONS.
31 x. Joseph COONS⁽¹⁾ was born about 1780 in North Carolina. He died on Jan 12 1848 in Sevier County, Tennessee.
32 xi. Abigail COONS⁽¹⁾ was born about 1782 in Shenandoah, Virginia. She died about 1803 in Jefferson County, Tennessee.
+33 xii. Rebecca COONS.