Sevier County property of William Moon (1744-1822) and his descendants

 

The proof of the line from William Moon (1744 - 1822) to son John (1774) to William (abt1800)
is attributed to the land that was passed down from father to son.

• William (1744-1822) had 385 acres surveyed in March 1807, and this land was granted
   to him in October 1808 as Tennessee State Land Grant No. 385A

   

• William (1744-1822) dies, and there is some disagreement between his sons John and
  Jonas about their father's estate. The issue (and satisfactory resolution) is recorded in
  the minutes of the Forks of the Little Pigeon Baptist Church in 1824-1825.

   

• In 1827, John Moon acquires an additional 45 acre land grant in Sevier county TN
  adjoining the original property owned by his father William Moon (1744-1822).
  
  

• In 1837, John Moon's wife Susannah appears in the tax list as property owner of the above
  land. It is assumed John has passed away. William Moon (1800) also appears, though
  without any property.
  
  

• Susannah passes away sometime after 1837. William (1800) and his family appear in the
  1840 census. However, about 1841, William dies and his widow Asenith marries Tunis Scott.

• An indenture filed in 1846 describes Asenith and Tunis Scott as selling the property of
  "the deceased William Moon" to pay debts. Asenith Scott is described as the widow of
  William Moon.  In the 1850s after the death of Asenith Scott, there are a several quit claim
  deeds by the children of William and Asenith Moon relinquishing their claim to the same
  land from the original land grants.

   

Chronological information about William Moon (1744 PA - 1822 TN) of Sevier County TN and related people

 William Moon of Sevier County TN (1744 PA -1822 TN)

1744 - William Moon born February 22 in PA 
(Birth dates from letter written by William Harvey Moon in 1880 at Norman's Store)

1770 - birth of Jesse Moon son of William Moon (b. 1744)

1773 - birth of Mary Moon daughter of William Moon (b. 1744)

1774 - birth of John Moon son of William Moon (b. 1744)

1777 - birth of Jonas Moon, son of William Moon (b. 1744). 
Birth date from Johnson family bible and Norman’s Store letter dated 1880.

1779 - birth of Sarah Moon, daughter of William Moon (b. 1744)

1782 - death of Sarah Moon daughter of William Moon (b. 1744)

1783 - birth of Joseph Moon son of William Moon (b. 1744) 

1788 - William Moon and his son Jesse signed their names to a
"Petition of Sundry the Inhabitants of French Broad River". 
No Moon appears on the 1783 Greene County tax list, so it seems
William Moon arrived in that area after 1783 and by 1788.

1789 - Will of Samuel Horn, of Greene County, North Carolina (later Tennessee),
of 1 May 1789. Executors were Andrew Horn and John Moon (Jefferson County Wills, 1: 77-78).
Included in the estate inventory was "One debt due the estate of Michael Inggill of Pennsylvania
in the County of Northumberland which the said Samuel Horn decd went to collect...
(Jefferson County Wills, 1: 214-217).

1802 – Power of attorney executed in Cocke County TN signed by seven people
believed to be the children of Catharina Meyer and Johannes (John) Parrot. 
These people are the legatees of Henry Meyer, Catharina’s father. The seven people
are Elizabeth Moon, Mary Shever, John Parrot, Henery Parrot, Barbary Loveday,
George Parrot, Susanna Moon.
Elizabeth Moon first married William Henderson, Sr. They had William, Jr who is named
with his mother as the heirs of Jesse Moon. (information concerning this power of attorney
was obtained from Deborah M S Brown)

Sevier County

1805 - The first record of William Moon (b. 1744)  in Sevier County is in September 1805
when he witnessed and signed the nuncupative will of his eldest son, Jesse Moon. 
Jesse leaves his entire estate to be divided equally between his wife Elizabeth Moon and
William Henderson her son. 

(I learned Nuncupative means that it was stated aloud and transcribed rather than written
because the person is gravely ill or mortally wounded.)

1805 - Jonas Moon in the Paw Paw Baptist Church records, Sevier County

1806 - Jonas Moon 400 acres Knox County, TN - on Knox Co tax list

1807 - On 20 March 1807, William Moon had 385 acres surveyed on the East Fork of the Little
Pigeon River in Sevier County. This land was then granted to him on 6 October 1808 as
Tennessee State Land Grant No. 268 upon payment of the sum of $38.55. 
William Moon, 1808 Sevier County, TN Land Grants, Book 1, page 268
(This land is next to William Henderson’s land).

1807 - On 5 September 1807, Saphire (sic=Sophie) Moon, wife of William Moon, along with
John Moon, Polly Moon and Nathaniel Moon, were received as members by the Forks of the Little
Pigeon Baptist Church in Sevier County....

1811 - William Moon and John Parrott witness the will of Robert Gentry in Jefferson Co, TN
signed 9 May. Will found in Jefferson Co, TN Wills 1811-1826 Project No 65-44-1466 pg. 9-12

1812 - Jonas Moon and wife Lydia received by letter Little Pigeon Baptist Church, Sevier County

1813 – William Moon, Jonas Moon, John Moon, Samuel Moon and Jasper Moon signed a
Petition from Residents of French Broad and Holston Country Regarding Indebtedness

1820 – Sevier County TN manufacturing census lists a John Moon as operating a still

1821 - In November 1821, the Forks of the Little Pigeon Baptist Church decided to hold future
meetings at the homes of various members. Included was the home of William Moon.
Though he was not a member of the church, his wife and children were.

1822 - William Moon (1744) died 28 April 1822 presumably in Sevier County.
A grave in Jones Cemetery marked with the name "Wm. M. Moon" and no dates may be his.
Buried in the same cemetery is Ben Manning who was also a signatory of the 1788
Greene County petition. this could also be the headstone of his grandson William Moon.

1824 - The Minutes of the Forks of the Little Pigeon Baptist Church of July 1824 record that
"Brother John Moon and wife came and informed the church that he has difficulty with his brother
Jonas Moon in the division of his father's estate.”

1825 - In February 1825 the Forks of the Little Pigeon Baptist Church minutes report that
"A report of committee to report of settled difficulty between brothers Jonas and John Moon.
Bro. Rogers arose and reported for the committee that the said brothers came to a mutual
settlement of their differences.”

1826 - Roane County TN, Jonas and wife in minutes of Prospect Church

1827 – Sevier County TN land grant 45A to John Moon

1830 – Sevier County TN census John Moon age 50-60, wife age 50-60, a female age 90-100,
4 girls ages 5-10, 1 girl age 15-20 and 1 girl age 20-30.

1830 - Roane County TN census Jonas Moon age 50-60, wife age 50-60, 2 boys age 5-10,
2 boys age 10-15, 1 girl age 15-20

1831 - Loudon County TN, Jonas Moon in Prospect Baptist church records

1836 - Jonas Moon sells land in Roane County TN

1837 – Sevier County TN tax list district 4.  John Moon is not listed and is presumed to have died. 
His widow Susannah is listed with John’s property.  Their son William Moon is also listed.

1839 - Jonas Moon buys land in Hamilton County TN

1840 - Hamilton County TN - Jonas Moon has migrated to Hamilton County.

1849 - death of Jonas Moon son of William (b. 1744)

John Moon of Sevier County TN b. Oct 29 1774 d. before 1837

I've been building an online tree for the Moon family on Ancestry.com and going through all of the info I've accumulated on each person as I enter them into the tree.  It is really helpful to see it in a time line fashion.  As I waded through the references I've found to "John Moon" from Sevier County TN during his life time, I begin to wonder how many different John Moons there might be.

I know that my John Moon was born October 29, 1774 because of information from the Sharp Collection at the McClung library in Knoxville.  One of John's nephews, William Harvey Moon (son of Jonas Moon), wrote a letter to his brother Thomas J. Moon giving birth and death dates of their grandfather, father, uncles and aunts.  This letter was transcribed and is in the Moon folder of the Sharp Collection.

John Moon signed a 1799 petition of Sevier Countians to the TN legislature.  My John would have been 25 years old.  This could be him.

In 1803 there is a reference to John Moon owing taxes on 100 acres of land in Sevier County.  Not sure if this is my John or not.   His father William received a land grant in 1808, but not sure if John himself owned any land at this time.

In 1807 a John is listed as a member of the Forks of the Little Pigeon Baptist Church, along with Jonas (his brother), Lydia (Jonas's wife), Nathaniel Moon, Saffire Moon (possibly his mother Sophie), and Susanna Moon (his wife).  I am pretty sure this is the same John described in the letter.  In 1825 the church minutes related a dispute being settled between brothers John and Jonas Moon over their deceased father's estate.

However, other references to John Moon in the same church minutes are confusing.  In January 1826 the church granted John Moon liberty to preach.  In February 1826 John Moon and his wife Polly were granted a letter of dismission.  And in October 1826 the church granted John Moon leave to preach the gospel "where so ever his lot may be cast."  First, the wife's name is given as Polly and not Susannah.  And the dismission implies they were leaving this church, perhaps to go preach elsewhere.  Is this a different John Moon from the brother of Jonas?  Perhaps John's son, John Jr?  Is this the John Moon who married Perlina Haggard and moved to Missouri that other researchers are tracing back to Sevier County?

Next, John Moon receives a land grant in 1827 adjoining the land his father was granted.  This doesn't sound like someone getting ready to leave the area.

John Moon is listed in the 1830 census for Sevier County.  There is also a John Jr and a William Moon listed in Sevier County who are about the same age, married with small children.  I assume these to be John's sons.


By 1837, I believe John Moon b. 1774 has died.  The tax list for the 4th district lists Susannah (his wife) and William (his son).  Another John Moon is listed in the ninth district, perhaps John Jr.

Going backward a bit, in 1813 John Moon signed another petition to the TN legislature. This is most likely John b. 1774.

In 1820 the Manufacturers census lists a John Moon in Sevier County operating a still.  John b. 1774 would be about 46.  John Jr. would 15-20 years old maybe.  Or is this another John?

There is a Jasper Moon who received an early TN land grant on Flat Creek.  The minutes of Bethel Church, which I believe is near Flat Creek, has references in 1825-1827 to both a Jasper and John Moon.  This seems to be a third John Moon.