From Anson Co., NC (1772)
to Davidson Co., TN (1805) to Williamson/Hickman/Humphreys Co. of middle TN...
...and eventually to Madison County, Tennessee (Early 1820's)
I will begin with what I know of my early MAY ancestors:
On Feb. 8, 1998: May researcher Gene May-Boswell: geneboswell@earthlink.net who is an active southern U.S. May family researcher, has discussed and provided information which states that my John MAY (b. 1772) below is most probably the son of William MAY, Jr. (the sheriff beginning 1794), whose father William, Sr. also served as sheriff before him (from 1789-1794). William MAY, Sr. (the sheriff) died in 1796 in Anson Co. NC according the the "NC State Gazette". The 1790 NC census of includes 5 William MAY's. Discerning all the various William and John MAY's has been very difficult, Gene says, but it is most likely that William Jr. is the son of William May, Sr. who is most likely the son of John and Ann Pleasant MAY.
John and Ann Pleasant MAY were most probably the parents of these children:
1. James, (b. 1735-45, VA; d. 1789 Wilkes Co., VA) mar. Lydia Bishop (there is a possibility that
this James was the son of John MAY who d. 1785 in Richmond Co. GA) leaving a will naming his son James
along with his other children.
2. William Sr., b. c1740, d. 1796, who served as "sheriff" in 1789 until 1794 when his son Wm. Jr. was
made sheriff. (1 February 1997) I received a letter from a "very distant" MAY relative, Murray May of Jackson, TN
, that my John MAY, Sr. (b. 1772) was a son of William MAY who married Mable ALSOBROOK, daughter of John
and Elizabeth ALSOBROOK on 11 January 1764 in Franklin Co., NC... although researcher Gene Boswell thinks
that evdience points away from this connection.
William Sr.'s children were most likely: (1) Sterling/Starling MAY b. c1765, d. 1841 Cabin Creek, Johnson Co. AR
, was residing in Dickson Co. TN in 1820-30 census; (2) William MAY, Jr. b. ca1767 (bef 1775), was residing
in Dickson Co. TN 1820 census; (3) Mary MAY b. 1770 VA or NC mar. Robert JARMAN in 1790, Anson Co. NC,
buried near Hurricane Creek in Humphreys Co., TN at the Jarman family cemetery. children of Mary MAY and
Robert JARMAN were: Stephen, Thomas, William, Sallie, Robert Jr., John, Rochard Bogan, Joe, Asa, Jesse,
Mary, Elizabeth B. and Nancy JARMON; (4) John MAY, Sr. b. 1772, Anson Co. NC - my ancestor (see below);
(5) Thomas MAY b. c1775, was residing in 1820 census of Dickson Co. TN; (6) Phillip MAY b. 1774-90 d. 1803
in Davidson Co. TN, not sure if he ever married (no wife mentioned in will); (7) "male" MAY b. 1774-90;
(8) "female" MAY b. bef 1790; (9) female MAY b. bef. 1790; (10) Elizabeth MAY (b. bef 1790. She was listed as
the youngest sister of Phillip MAY in his 1803 will, which named Sterling as his brother. No other names were
mentioned.
3. Judith (Judette) "Judy" b. 1743
4. Pleasant, Sr. b. c1745
5. Benjamin b. c1754?
6. John, b. c1756
7. Peter b. c1760
8. Susannah b. c1772 d. 1868 Anson Co. NC (buried at Slaughter Cem.); married 1st John Boggan
in 1791 (children were: Sarah, Joseph, Judith L., John, Pleasant, James and Louisa BOGGAN. Susannah
married 2nd Joel McLendon in 1808-09. (Their children were probably: Edmond and Lewis M. McLENDON.
(there is a possibility that Susannah could be the dau. of Pleasant MAY, Sr.)
My ancestor John MAY, Sr. (born 1772 in Anson Co., NC; died 13 Oct. 1843 Spring Creek community, in northeastern Madison Co., TN - May Family Cemetery). He settled in Davidson Co. (by 1805), Williamson Co., Hickman Co. (adjacent to Humphreys, where some land records are found with his name), Carroll and Madison Counties of TN in the early 1800's. He married in 1805 in Davidson Co., TN to Nancy GREER (b. 2 Jan. 1788, Virginia; d. 30 Jan. 1868 in Spring Creek community, Madison Co., TN - buried in May Family Cemetery). Nancy GREER was the daughter of Martin and Mary GREER of Davidson County, TN.
John MAY, Sr. and his wife Nancy resided in Hickman Co. through the year 1819, when he sold his land on Tumbling Creek of Duck River including the place he lived and was next located in Humphreys Co. TN Census of 1820. (Madison Co. had not yet formed until 1821) - He was located in Madison Co., TN during the census of 1830 and 1840, and resided near the Spring Creek community in N.E. Madison Co. TN until his death in 1843. His Will was recorded in Madison Co., TN.
The following information on the John MAY, Sr. family is known (including their six "known" children) through my research through wills, deeds, census records, etc.:
1. William Benjamin MAY, Sr. (my line), (born 1805-1810), married Nancy Newsom (widow of Jeremiah BROWN on 3 March 1829 in Madison Co., TN. Wm. MAY died about 1839 and his will identified the following minor children (all born between 1829-1839): Newett, Christopher E., John, Mary C. and Wm. B. Jr. Wm. Sr.'s wife Nancy remarried to Wm. Brookshire and two of her children by her MAY marriage were living with them in TN in 1850 (Mary C. and Wm. B.).
Children of Wm. B. MAY, Sr. and Nancy (Newsom):
(1) Newett N. MAY (middle name probably NEWSOM, named for his mother's brother),
was born abt. 1832.
He married Sarah "Sallie" A. Lanier on 3 November 1858 in Madison
Co., TN. They had one "known" child named Katie MAY (b. 7 December 1859, TN). A few months after
their daughter Kate's birth, they appeared in 1860 Drew Co. Arkansas (located in the S.E.
section of that state).
Newett N. May was found on a Madison Co., Tenn. deed in 1868 (Deed Book 25, Page 535) in
which he sells his portion of his inheritance ("one fifth more of less of one sixth of the whole") of his father’s
interest of Nancy Greer-MAY’s Estate (approx. one month after her death).
Newett's daughter Kate May (b. Dec. 1859) appeared to have been left an orphan by 1880 and was found residing with her Lanier grandparents
on the 1880 Madison Co. TN Census. Katie MAY later married Norris Reinhardt
WARLICK; (they were my
great-great grandparents).
UPDATE - August 2001: According to a new-found cousin, Newett N. MAY remarried sometime in the late
1870's to Cecilia Ann BOWERS, b. 1836. They had one son, Newitt Newsom MAY, born Jan. 23, 1870 in Memphis, Shelby Co., TN.
Newitt (Jr.) spent some time in Newport, KY and later Cincinnatti, OH.
(2) Christopher E. MAY, b. abt. 1830, married Martha Ann Neill in 1852, Madison Co., TN. Nothing else is known of this line at this time.
(3) John MAY, born Bet. 1830 - 1835 (nothing further is known about him at this time.)
(4) Mary C. MAY, b. abt. 1835, married Doddridge Trader 1859 in Madison Co., TN. They moved to Memphis (Shelby Co., TN) and had at least two children: Kate and John Z. MAY.
(5) William B. MAY, Jr., b. abt. 1837 in Madison Co., TN. (We previously had thought he had died during the Civil War,
but he appeared in the 1860 Drew Co., ARK census with his wife M.A. BARHAM (mar. 1858) and
appeared in the 1870 Shelby Co. (Memphis) TN census with his wife M.A. Barham and children. By 1880 it appears that
Benjamin and his wife M.A. had died and we found his children residing with his eldest son Wm. B. MAY, Jr. as head of household.
Children of Wm. Benjamin MAY and M.A. Barham were: (1) Wm. Benjamin MAY, b. 1859, TN, mar. Caroline H. "Carrie" SEARCY.. (2) Henry B. MAY, b. 1862, Ark.,
(3) Milton R. MAY, b. 1867, TN. (4) Myrtis G. MAY, b. 1870, Memphis, (Shelby Co.), TN, mar. __ McFARLAND.
(5) Eunice A. MAY, b. 1873, TN. (for add'l details on this line, please contact me)...
2. Philip M. MAY, b. abt. 1809, TN, married Mary "Caroline" DENT (dau. of ? and Catherine (Zeigler) Dent) on 26 May 1830 in Madison Co., TN. They had one "known" son named C.E. MAY. After Philip's death she later married a Mr. Bush sometime bet. 1860-70. Philip M. MAY was identified in 1840 Panola Co., MS, 1850 census of Blossom, Caddo Par., LA and 1855 TX (as listed in 1855 Crawford Co. GA probate records as an heir in the estate of Wm. Zeigler, (through his wife's mother who was Wm. Zeigler's sister).
3. John P. MAY, (Jr.) b. abt. 1809 in TN, (and according to Imogene MAY Boswell),d. 1863 of pneumonia in Marion, Crittenden Co. AR while running a blockade for provisions out of Memphis during the Civil War. He was buried at old Mt. Zion Cem. near Vanndale, Cross Co., AR. He m. Cynthia M. Cook in 1835. She was b. 1817 in Mecklenberg Co. NC d. 1892 in Poinsett Co., AR and was buried in Vanndale, Cross Co., AR.
John was located in 1840 census in Madison Co. TN. They moved to Lafayette Co. MS in 1845 and Cross Co. AR bef. 1860. They purchased land on the L'Anguille River in the western part of that county. Cynthia is in the 1870 census of Cross Co. AR living with their son John.
Children of John and Cynthia were: Wm. C. b. 1837; Sarah Jane, b. 1838; Mary B. "Mollie" b. 1841; possibly a Taylor MAY, b. 1842, TN; John P. MAY b. 1844, Madison Co., TN, d. Dec. 11, 1901 in Vanndale, AR. This is the line of Milton D. MAY and C. Scott MAY (see e-mail links below).
4. Elizabeth MAY (b. 1814, TN) married William C. HUTCHISON (b. 1805, VA) on 25 May 1830 in Madison Co., TN. The following was found of their "possible" children on census records:
(1) Jane Hutchison b. after 1830
(2) Nancy W. Hutchison, b. after 1830
(3) Thomas Hutchison b. after 1830
(4) William "Bill" M. Hutcheson, born 1836.
(5) Ann "Annie" Elizabeth Hutchison b. 1844, Tn.
(6) Laura Virginia Hutchison b. 1847, Tn.
(7) Tennessee A. Hutchison b. 1849, Tn.
(8) Adelaid J. Hutchison b. 1851, Tn.
(9) Ida Hutchison b. 1851, Tn.
(10) Rebecca Hutchison b. 1855, Tn.
5. Mary MAY, fifth child of John and Nancy Greer MAY, was born abt. 1806 in TN. She married Newett NEWSOM in 1825 Madison Co., TN Their daughter was Nancy Tennessee NEWSOM. After Newett's death, Mary later married a Mr. George (Samuel?) Taylor by 1843. So far nothing else is known of this line.
6. Nancy G. MAY, the youngest known child of John and Nancy Greer MAY, married Dawson D.
BENNETT (b. 1806, VA) sometime before 1843. The following children were found enumerated with them on
the 1850 census. Nothing is known of this line after 1850.
(1) Mary E. BENNETT b. 1834
(2) Nancy T. BENNETT b. 1836
(3) Lydia A.? BENNETT b. 1840
(4) Ann A. BENNETT b. 1843
(5) John D. BENNETT b. 1845
(6) Helen E. BENNETT b. 1848
MAY, Benjamin.........030001-30001
MAY, John.............00011001-0011101
MAY, Reuben...........01100001-200111
MAY, Robert...........101001-322001
Information on a John MAY/Mary BOGGAN line - (provided by Melba - link
below)
In McLendon book published in 1957 by a Mrs. Redfern of Anson Co. (she was a good and
thorough researcher, she died before her book was printed). This is what she gave about
Susannah May, and I hope it help you. Susannah May, wife of Joel McLendon first
married John Boggan in 1791, (then it list her children by Boggan.)
Upon the death of Boggan she married Joel McLendon. Susannah May was a daughter
of John May and wife, Mary Boggan May, who was a daughter of REV. soldier,
Patrick Boggan. Susanna's father John May lived on Jones Creek in Anson County
about five miles from Wadesboro and Dr. J.H. Bennett, deceased, said many years ago
that he was buried near th spot where he (John May) operated a mill. Susanna May
McLendon died 1858 and is buried on Slaughter Hill which was a tract owned by a William
Slaughter and which later changed hands between McLendon and Boggan, as shown in deed
books at Anson Co. NC
Susan McLendon died March 16, 1858 in her 84th year. (this would indicate that
she and Laura's ancestor John May are possibly brother and sister, she being born in
1774 two years older than JOHN.) I extracted the above partial info. from the
McLendon's of Anson Co. NC.
I realize another researcher has linked this John to William. I am not sure he is correct, from all records I have seen, this John is not from the William of Bute and Franklin, WITHOUT, he is a nephew of Thomas May, who died in Gibson Co. and the son of JOHN and not William. I would not rule this out, remember Mrs. Redfern said that Susannah May's father was a John May, and the time is right for Susannah and John Jr. to be brother and sister. I would count on Mrs. Redferns records as being accurate, she lived in the time frame where there were old family members around and she did research almost all her life. Now, the twister, GA., researchers are claiming the William who was in Bute and fell into Franklin is the William who was in Chatham, and this William's son John is the one who was in Anson Co. When records were checked William May who was in Bute never moved from that County.
And too, Thomas May my ancestor, states in his pension record that he lived in Franklin Co. all his life until 1830, and he names his father as William. I say the GA. clan of May's are wrong. BUT, the William who is in Chatham Co. could be the father of John, but they would not descend from the William in Franklin. Therefore, I do not know where that William came from, probably VA. Does any of this make sense to you? Therefore, watch out for John of Franklin Co. and brother to Thomas, watch for a list of his children, I do not have them. Some researchers put anything down and don't do any checking and take the word as gospel, you can not do that. Being I am working the May's of Franklin Co. I will watch out for any clues...
She also interested in corresponding with descendants of Sterling's siblings who also married into the King family, most of them moving to Arkansas.
MAY, Minnie, b 11 May 1883, father-Isaac, c 1845-1860(NC), mother-PAULER, Irena, c.1852 VA Marriages: Wm. S. Ames, George Eckles, Jack (John) Wilkins. Child- Velma Z. Ames. al1@ponyexpress.net 1296
My Benjamin May's first 2 or 3 children were born in NC, about 1821 - 1824. The rest were born in TN. I've been interested in the May families of Franklin and Pitt Counties, NC, based on the occurences of the names Benjamin, Reubin, John, etc.
Earlier this year, I stopped at the courthouse in Jackson, TN and had only about an hour or so to dig, so I looked through the land indexes and a few of the actual deeds. I had found the May-Greer connection. I also noticed one deed regarding John May (yours?) that listed him as being "of Hempstead Co., AR" in 1836 (grantor index, John May, et al, to Charles Hickox, book 5 page 201, 12/22/1836, lot in Denmark, TN). In this record, John May appointed John Ingram attorney concerning this lot in Denmark.
I have not found my Benjamin in any of the land records. It appears that the earliest May deed was for William May from Thomas Shute for 186 acres on 3/15/1820, book 2, page 30.
I also noted with interest the name Pawhatan May among the deeds. He is listed in 3 deeds, all in 1830, yet I had not seen that name on the census, etc. before. Recently, I ran across a webpage stating that some of Pocahontas's descendants included some May's! I want to find out more about this. Pocahontas's father was Chief of the Powhatan Indians. Could there be a connection?
This weekend I looked at a book, "Genealogical Abstracts from TN Newspapers, 1821-1828" by Sherida K. Eddleman. It had the following interesting references:
From the Feb Session, 1826, among the unpaid taxes for 1825" Heirs of Major May, 660 acres, entry 198, Dist. 10, Range 2, Section 7.
Walter Greer, 38 acres, entry 1107, Dist. 10, Range 2, Section 7.
Letters unclaimed at the post office in Jacskon as of Jan 1, 1827 - one for Reuben May. At the PO in Huntingon for Apr 1, 1827 - John May and Robert May.
In the Feb 12, 1818 issue, it says "Powhatan May, attorney at law, has settled in the town of Purdy, M'Nairy County".
Feb term, 1828, taxes unpaid for 1827 lists:
Major May's heirs, 360 acres, Entry 198, Range 2, Section 7.
Who was this Major May??? It appears some of the land was sold or otherwise disposed of between the 1826 entry and the 1828 entry. What does the "entry 198" refer to? Was this a land grant of some time and that is why it doesn't show up in the Madison Co. land record books?
F.Y.I. - did you know that President Bill Clinton is descended from a May family? He descends from a Benjamin May, b. ca. 1812 in NC that was in Hempstead Co., AR by the 1850's.
Thomas MAY, born 1761 Bute Co. N.C. died 1840 in Gibson Co. TN. He married
Elizabeth Ropere 7 Feb. 1782 in Wake Co. N.C. He was a Rev. Soldier and
received a pension for his service. In his pension application he states he was born 1761 in Franklin Co. but Franklin was not formed at that time,
(Bute) he lived there all his life until 1830 when he moved to Chatham Co. to be near his children.
He also states that his father William MAY, Sr. died shortly after the war, and that his
brother (William, Jr.) who lived in Franklin Co. received his father's family Bible, and that William Jr. was married to Penelope Stallings, dau. of Elias.
Thomas is listed in land records where he received land from his father, William by his father's will.
I am trying to prove the father of William MAY, father of Thomas who was
given reference to in the Court Minutes of Bute Co. as the elder William May of AMELIA Co. VA. Can anyone help on this line? Be willing to share information. This is my grand daugher Savanna MAY line and I plan to publish a small family book for her. Melba - mallen4896@aol.com.
I have ref. somewhere in my May records that John May of Anson Co. was a son of William May who lived in Chatham Co. N.C. It appears we are not working the same William May. Was a Susannah May who married Joel McLendon in Anson Co. - believe she was a daughter of John May. Sound familiar? (See above notation on this family provided by Melba!) Was hoping we were working on the same Willliam.
Her known ancestry:
1. Edd Ivan May, b. 1905, Tillman Co., I. T.
Doris F. Quattlebaum
2. Edd Irene May, b. 1870, Lebannon, TN
Nora Lee Sikes
3. William H. May, b. 1824, Wilson Co., TN
Louisa Jennings
Based on information supplied by Imogene May Boswell, she believes that her
ancestry goes on:
4. Craddock May, b. 1780/90, NC/TN
Margaret (Peggy) Nemo
5. Thomas May, b. bef 1755, ?
Elizabeth Roper
If you have any information on this MAY family, please contact Tommy Graham (at the e-mail link above)!
E-mail to Laura ...
(laurawg@gmail.com)
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This page was created 26 December 1996
This page was last updated on 1 January 2006
