Michael Elliott

Family

https://wc.rootsweb.com/trees/158896/I132/-/individual

Michael Elliott was born ABT 1754 in Maryland, and died 1823 in Obeys Creek,Scott Co., Va.. He married Mary Trim on 1774 in Maryland. She was born 1755 in New Jersey, and died 1830 in Obeys Creek,Scott Co., Va..

Children of Michael /Elliott/ and Mary /Trim/ are:

1. Thomas Elliott was born BET 1775 AND 1794, and died UNKNOWN.
2. James B. Elliott was born 5 DEC 1775 in Russle County, Virginia, and died 18 JAN 1829 in Russle County, Virginia.
3. Elizabeth Elliott was born ABT 1776 in North Carolina, and died UNKNOWN.
4. Wilson Elliott was born ABT 1777, and died UNKNOWN.
5. William T. Elliott was born 28 AUG 1778 in Russell Co. Va., and died DEC 1860 in Copper Creek, Scott Co, VA.
6. John M. Elliott was born BET 1781 AND 1790 in Scott County, Obeys Creek, Virginia, and died 13 JAN 1850 in Big Mud Creek, Floyd County, Kentucky.
7. Asal Elliott was born 17 SEP 1781 in Washington County, Virginia, and died JUL 1850 in Knox County, Kentucky.
8. Francis Elliott was born ABT 1783, and died UNKNOWN.
9. Jesse Elliott was born BET 1784 AND 1785 in Russell Co. Va., and died UNKNOWN.
10. Michael Elliott was born ABT 1785 in Russell Co. Va., and died UNKNOWN.
11. Daniel Elliott was born BET 1790 AND 1794, and died UNKNOWN.
12. Henry Elliott was born 8 MAR 1790 in Russell Co. Va., and died 19 DEC 1865 in Madison Township,Washington Co.,In..
13. Catharine Elliott was born ABT 1795, and died UNKNOWN.
14. Stephen Elliott was born ABT 1799 in Russell County, Virginia, and died BEF 1852

Biography

The earliest and best information about Michael Elliott and Mary Trim comes from a biographical sketch of Asa Elliott, the great grandson of Michael and Mary, which was contained within "The Centennial History of Washington County, Indiana, 1916" by Warden R. Stevens. Given the time frame, I would assume that Mr. Stevens had access to some very good first hand information and it would follow that we can give credence to the information contained within that sketch. The following excerpt gives us a good starting point for our research; "Henry Elliott was born in Russell County Virginia on March 8,1790, son of Michael and Mary (Trim) Elliott. Michael Elliott's father having been a native of England and Mary Trim a native of New Jersey, and Michael and Mary having moved from Maryland to Russell County, Virginia, where their family of 12 sons and 4 daughters were reared. Four of these sons, Asa, Thomas, Henry and Michael, emigrated to Kentucky, and locating in Knox County, and it was there they met and married the four charming daughters of Jehu Reese."

Several points can be gained from this sketch, first of which is the fact that Michaels father was a native of England, this fact alone could fly in the face of my theory that Michael was of Scotch-Irish descent, or it could mean that Michael's father immigrated to America from England and it was assumed that he had been born there. Secondly it tells us that Mary was a native of New Jersey and since there is no information to contradict that, I assume it to be correct. What the sketch does not tell us is that Michael was a native of Maryland, it only tells us that Michael and Mary moved from Maryland to Russell County Virginia (Washington County at that time). It is possible that Michael was born elsewhere and moved to Maryland. A good example would be, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (later Dauphin County) where in the late 1700's there was a large concentration of Scotch-Irish. The 1790 census lists Elliotts, Laughlins, Kings, Berrys, Sharps, Earlys, Duncans and Logans. All of these surnames are closely associated with one another, not only in Washington County Virginia, but also later in Knox and Whitley Counties, Kentucky. This is by no means conclusive evidence of Michael's origins but is something that should be considered in future research.

Michael was probably born about 1754 and Mary about 1755. It is believed that he married Mary in 1774 at Saint John's Parrish Church in Baltimore County Maryland. Neither Michael nor Mary's parents have been documented at this time, but some researchers believe that Michael's parents are James Elliott and Mary Weeks of Baltimore County Maryland. This is a good assumption since we believe Michael was living in Maryland, but it is still only an assumption.

    Our first record of Michael and Mary in Virginia is the 1785 tax list for Washington County. Our first un-official record is when one of his daughters, Elizabeth, indicates on the census that she was born in the Holston area in 1776 .  In the 1850 census Elizabeth states that she was born in North Carolina. It should be noted that there was a lot of confusion as to the location of the boundary between Virginia and North Carolina, and this was never truly resolved until Tennessee became a state. We find this same situation with other family members that were in this area. What this does tell us is that Michael and Mary had to be in the area of Washington County as early as 1776. In 1786 Russell County was formed from part of Washington County and Michael appears on Russell County tax lists in the years 1786 through 1802 in the upper district. In the 1810 Tax list he is listed in the lower district along with his sons Jesse, Michael and William. It was probably about 1808 or 1809 when Michael Moved to the area that became Scott County.His son James was listed in the upper district 1798 through 1810.

    There were other Elliotts in the Washington County area before Michael shows up. The surveyors record for Fincastle County, from which Washington County was formed, shows a survey dated February 12,1774 to William Elliott for 270 acres on Reedy Creek, also, Margaret Elliott had a survey for 430 acres on Reedy Creek on February 9,1774. There is a Reedy Creek that begins in present day Washington County and runs into Tennessee. It is located near where Washington and Scott Counties adjoin the Tennessee line. On February 9,1774 a survey for a James Elliott shows 560 Acres on The Holston. A Richard Elliott is listed on the 1782 Washington County Tax list in Captain John Kinkead's Precinct.

    Are these Elliotts related to Michael? I have no idea, but Richard Elliott did grab my attention when I realized that many of the people on the 1782 Tax List were neighbors of Michael's. At this time Michael was living on Little Cedar Creek, about 6 miles west of Elk Garden, he didn't move to Obey's Creek until about 1809. The Russell County, Virginia Surveyors Books for 1786-1808 shows surveys that list Michael as having property adjoining those described in the surveys. All of these properties were located on Big Cedar Creek. Ten of the people mentioned in these four surveys were among the sixty or so on the 1782 tax list with Richard Elliott. It would seem that Captain John Kinkead's Precinct covered the area where we find Michael living. Reedy Creek is something like 25 or 30 miles away, so the Elliotts there could be a coincidence. The Holston covers a lot of area, so there is no way to know where James Elliott was located. Richard is another thing altogether. I don't know what their relationship might be, but for both of them to be found in such a small area would indicate that they most likely have a connection or that they are actually one and the same (mistakes do happen you know).

    It seems that Michael was very active in the community, between 1795 and 1802 Michael served on at least 12 juries, in 1797 we find a Presentment against Champ Faris for profane swearing on the information of Michael Elliott & George Francisco, and then in 1805 we find The Commonwealth vs. Michael Elliott, presentment, dismissed. I wonder what that was all about?

    On June 8, 1793 Michael Elliott was granted 147 acres by patent from Russell County. This property was located on Little Cedar Creek near Big Cedar Creek. This property would be located very near present day Lebanon Virginia, which is about six miles west of Elk Garden. A survey record dated September 28, 1790 for Michael's neighbor Francis Browning mentions Michael's property as a boundary. Michael could have had possession of this property for quite some time. As new counties were formed, the newly formed county would sometimes issue new grants for property located in that county and this was not always done in a timely manner. Survey records for Washington County show that several of our ancestors, along with Michael Elliott, owned property located on Cedar Creek, Thomas Price, Benjamin Sharp, and John Laughlin Jr. and his brother James all had property located on Cedar Creek.

    On July 8, 1795 Michael was granted 130 acres as the assignee of Jacob Crabtree. This was part of 3 Treasury Warrants: 50 acres by 12668, 50 acres by 8482 and 30 acres by a grant to John Jamison 15152 dated March 21, 1783. The property was located on the north side of the House And Barn Mountain, near the head of the Hurricane Branch, which runs through the Turkey Hollow. The head of Hurricane Branch is located near Jahile Virginia, which is 10-12 miles North West of Lebanon. Lebanon is where the Big Cedar and the Little Cedar come together. Michael now has 2 tracts of land about 10-12 miles apart.

    On October 22, 1800, George Pucket and his wife Lucy sold Michael 50 acres on both sides of a branch of Cedar Creek. This property joined the property he received a grant for in 1793 on Little Cedar Creek

    On October 15, 1801 James Elliott bought 100 acres located on the north side of the Clinch River.

    On August 28, 1804, Michael was approved as Executor for the will of Thomas Price. Thomas was one of Michael's neighbors on Cedar Creek and referred to Michael as his "friend" when he appointed him, as Executor in his will. It should be noted that Thomas was married to Jane Laughlin the daughter of John Laughlin and Jane Matthews. Thomas' sister Mary was married to John Laughlin Jr. son of John Laughlin and Jane Matthews. Mary's daughter Hannah married William Early; three of Mary's children married the children or John Thomas Duncan and Eleanor Sharp.  I mention all this just to show that the Elliotts had a connection to the Laughlins, the Earlys, Sharps and the Duncans before they all arrived in Knox County Kentucky.

    On April 6, 1808 James Elliott asked to be surveyor of the road from Cedar Creek to his house in place of Michael Elliott and that Francis Browning furnish him with a list of tithables. On that same day Abraham Fuller asked to be surveyor of the road from James Elliotts to Solomon Litton's in place of Michael Elliott and that Francis Browning furnish him a list of tithables. Given these requests, it is quite possible that Michael and Mary may have already turned their farm over to their son James. On October 2, 1809 Michael and Mary sold their son James Elliott 197 acres on the waters of Cedar Creek for $400. The land being 147 acres granted to Michael Elliott by patent dated June 8, 1793 and 50 acres, part of a tract of 380 acres, granted to Drury Puckett and by George Puckett, heir of Drury Puckett conveyed to Michael Elliott by deed dated October 22, 1800. It looks like Michael has sold James all his property on Little Cedar Creek. On the 1815 Tax assessment is found a description of this property and since it is also the former home of Michael and Mary I found it very interesting. It was described as follows; JAMES ELLIOT, one farm in Elk Garden, 197 acres having thereon one dwelling house of wood, one story, 20 feet by 18 feet, one barn of wood, 3 stables, one corn crib, one loom house, one smoke house, valued at $350. I just can't imagine raising a family as large as Michael and Mary had, in a house smaller than my living room.  

    On January 7, 1812 Michael and Mary sold John Lynch the property located on the north side of the house and barn mountain. This 130-acre tract was the same property granted to Michael Elliott in 1795. Now it looks like he has sold all his property in Russell County.

    Since in the 1810 tax list Michael is listed as being in the lower district of Russell County, I think it would be safe to assume that Michael and Mary moved to Obey's Creek when they sold their farm on Cedar Creek to John in 1809. I have no knowledge of how or when Michael obtained his property on Obey's Creek, or even why he would want to relocate there, but considering that he would be moving his family 35-40 miles I assume that he must have had good reason. Michael probably located 5 or 6 miles south of Fort Blackmore in the same general area that Mount Pleasant Church was located.  Scott County was formed from Russell and Lee Counties in 1814. Michael's name appears on the petition asking for the formation of this new County. Michael and Mary remained in Scott County for the remainder of their years. Michael wrote his will February 13,1823 and it was probated November 13,1823. In his will he named his Son Stephen as heir to his 70 acres after the death of Mary. Mary died in 1830.

Last will and testament of Michael Elliott In the name of God amen I, Michael Elliott of the county of Scott and state of Virginia being weak of body but sound of mind and disposing memory and calling to mind the uncertainty of life, and wishing to dispose of my estate that God has blest me with in the manner following. First after my decease I desire that my just debts and funeral expenses be paid out of my estate. Second, I desire that my beloved wife Mary Elliott have all my livestock consisting of one bay mare, 7 head of cattle, 6 head of sheep, 2 head of hogs, also my beds and bed clothes, c???ting together with all my household furniture and all the rest of my moneable property if any there be who is not here mentioned and I do hereby give and bequeath the same to her to have and to hold forever and for her to dispose with the same at her death according to her desire. Third I give to my wife 70 acres of land laying in the county of Scott the waters of Obey's Creek it being all the land that I own. It is to be understood that she is to have the land in her possession until her death, and after her surmise I give and bequeath the same land to my son Stephen Elliott to have and to hold the same forever. Lastly I hereby constitute and appoint my son Stephen Elliott executive of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and renouncing all former wills and testaments by me here to fore made as witness my hand and seal this 13th day of February 1823.

Witnesses: Abraham Compton Francis Strong Daniel Gahill Proved: 13th Nov. 1823 10th Aug. 1824 By: Thomas Strong Abraham Compton

• Updated from RootsWeb's WorldConnect by SmartCopy: Feb 26 2015, 7:44:36 UTC
• Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Nov 8 2019, 5:41:40 UTC