|
William Randolph Mayfield and his wife Sarah Amanda Davis ca. 1900. |
Mayfield Family Genealogy |
Tombstone of Micajah Mayfield (1748-1838), Revolutionary War Veteran. |
|
|
Isaac Mayfield (d. 1794) of Middle TennesseeBy Phil Norfleet
1. Isaac5 Mayfield (James4, Isaac3, Robert2, Robert1) was born Abt. 1752 in Albemarle County VA, and died 06 July 1794 in Davidson County NC. He married Elizabeth Perkins Abt. 1784 in Davidson County NC.
Significant Events in the Life of Isaac Mayfield (d. 1794)
13 July 1780: James Mayfield and four
of his sons (Isaac, Elijah, Elisha and James) are discharged from George Rogers
Clark’s Illinois Regiment, at the Falls of the Ohio (Louisville), Kentucky.
Another son of James, Micajah Mayfield, remains with the Illinois Regiment until
31 March 1783.
Late July or Early August 1780: James
Mayfield, his wife Ellender, and his son Isaac, migrate to the Cumberland
Settlements. James Mayfield and his wife settle near Eaton’s Station. August 1780: James Mayfield is killed, probably by a Delaware Indian raiding party. This death of James Mayfield is mentioned in one of the early histories of Tennessee. Judge John Haywood, in his famous book entitled The Civil and Political History of the State of Tennessee (first published in 1823), at page 125, says the following when discussing the events of the year 1780: " ... Soon afterward a party of Indians, supposed to be Delawares, killed Jonathan Jennings at the point of the first island above Nashville, in July or August. At Eaton's Station they killed James Mayfield, and at the same place, which is on the north side of the Cumberland River, a man by the name of Porter was shot by the Indians in the cedars, in view of the station, ... "
1783: Davidson County is formed out of
Washington County, North Carolina. 07 January 1784: Per an order of the Davidson County Court, Isaac Mayfield gave bond and securities to indemnify the county concerning a bastard child of Cheziah Jones of which he stands the reputed father [see Davidson County Court Minutes, page 8].
April 1784: The Law of Primogeniture
is abolished in North Carolina. Under the new law, in the case of intestate
death, the deceased’s real property is to be equally divided among all of the
deceased’s surviving male heirs (sons). 10 May 1784:
The North Carolina Legislature passes an “Act for the Relief of Sundry
Petitioners Inhabitants of Davidson County Whose Names Are Therein Mentioned.”
By this Act, James Mayfield was posthumously granted a tract of 640 acres in
Davidson County. His son, Isaac Mayfield was also granted a 640-acre
tract. These lands were granted without the grantees “ … being obliged to pay
any price for the same. Provided that every person receiving such grant shall
pay the surveyors and other fees of office.” [See Laws of North Carolina –
1784, Chapter LVIII.] 08 September
1784: Micajah Mayfield of Jefferson County VA grants power of attorney to
his brother, Isaac Mayfield, of Davidson County NC with respect to
Micajah’s interest in the 640-acre tract of land granted posthumously to their
father, James Mayfield. Isaac is to keep one hundred (100) acres for himself
and to equitably divide the remainder of Micajah’s share between their younger
brothers, Elijah and Elisha. 03 March
1785: A 640-acre tract is surveyed for James Mayfield by John Buchanan D.
S. in consequence of Warrant Number 245. Land is located on the head of the
west fork of Mill Creek in Davidson County. 04 March
1788: Land Grant Number 101 is issued to James Mayfield for the 640-acre
tract cited above. [See Davidson County NC, Deed Book A, page 145.] 10 March
1789: Sutherland Mayfield and his son, William, are killed by Creek
Indians; another son, George Mayfield, is taken captive. [See Judge John
Haywood’s book entitled Civil and Political History of the State of Tennessee,
pages 248-249; and the Deposition of Benjamin Joselin, dated 27 January 1824,
from the Loose Court Records of Williamson County TN.] December 1789: The land that today forms the State of Tennessee is ceded (for the second time) to the United States by North Carolina. May 1790:
The United States Congress designates the area received from North Carolina as
the “Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio.” 26 May
1790: Isaac Mayfield of Davidson County conveys to George, John and
James Mayfield [surviving male heirs of Sutherland Mayfield] a tract of land
containing 480 acres in Davidson County on the waters of Mill Creek adjoining
the land of Thomas Denton, William Overall and John Henderson. [See Davidson
County Deed Book B, page 125.] Comment:
Since Sutherland Mayfield had already commenced construction of Mayfield’s
Station on this same land, prior to his death on 10 March 1789, he undoubtedly
had already reached an understanding with his brother, Isaac Mayfield, to
acquire said land. Accordingly, Isaac sold the land to Sutherland’s legal heirs
(his surviving sons) per the deed cited above. After this sale, only 160 acres
remained of the original 640-acre preemption grant of James Mayfield. 06 July 1794: Isaac Mayfield is killed by Indians about 5 miles from Nashville TN.
DEATH OF ISAAC MAYFIELD - JUDGE HAYWOOD'S VERSIONThe following account of Isaac Mayfield's death is taken from Judge John Haywood's "History of Tennessee" ( first published 1823), page 405: ... On the 6th of July 1794, Isaac Mayfield was killed by Indians within five miles of Nashville. He was standing sentinal for his son-in-law while he hoed his corn and got the first fire at the Indians, but there being from twelve to fifteen of them, and they very near him, he could not escape. Eight balls penetrated his body. He was scalped, a new English bayonette was thrust through his face, and two bloody tomahawks left near his mangled body. He was the sixth person of his name who had been killed or captured by the Creeks or the Cherokees. His wife was made a widow by their sanguinary cruelties. ...
DEATH OF ISAAC MAYFIELD - PUTNAM'S VERSIONA somewhat more embellished account of Isaac Mayfield's death is provided by A. W. Putnam in his "History of Middle Tennessee" (first published 1859), at page 473: ... On the 6th of July a case somewhat extraordinary occurred. It was the death of Isaac Mayfield. He was an early stationer; had often acted as a spy, had killed several Indians; a rash, passionate man, but brave, reliable, and a general favorite for what he had done, and was known to be ready to do, for the defense of the settlements. "Some thought he had a charmed life, and never would fall under the hand of the enemy. But on the day mentioned, as he stood sentinal for his son, who was engaged hoeing the corn, he discovered an Indian skulking through the bushes, evidently desiring to reach a place whence he could obtain a fair shot at young Mayfield. The father kept his eye upon the savage, and having advanced a few steps in that direction, fired and probably killed the one he fired at; but the moment thereafter, half a dozen Indians rushed upon Mayfield, shooting him through and through; other Indians came up and discharged their loads into his body, so that about fifteen loads seemed to have been emptied into him. Not content with this, they scalped him extensively, stuck a new English bayonette through his cheeks, and left it sticking there, and two good tomahawks, with which they had also hacked his body, and besmeared the handles with his blood. "He was the sixth of the name who had been killed or captured by the Creeks and Cherokees. He left a widow and several children. ...
Children of Isaac Mayfield and His Wife, Elizabeth PerkinsDetails regarding the four children of Isaac Mayfield may be found in the book by Marymaud Killen Carter entitled Fifteen Southern Families that was published in 1974. Her work is reasonably well documented and I consider it one of the best published Mayfield narratives that I have seen. 1. James6 Mayfield, born 06 November 1785; died 25 November 1835. He married (1) Sally Nunn 04 February 1808 in Williamson County TN; died Abt. 1830 in Williamson County TN. He married (2) Mary (Polly) Gooch 24 March 1831 in Williamson County TN. 2. Elizabeth Mayfield. She married William Patterson 01 October 1805 in Williamson County TN. 3. Sutherland Mayfield. He married (1) Sarah (Sally) Parks 02 February 1813 in Williamson County TN; died Abt. 1837 in Dyer County TN. He married (2) Sarah Pate Abt. 1838; born Abt. 1803 in Tennessee; died 1854 in Ellis County TX. 4. Elias Mayfield. He married Jenny Fleming 07 September 1811 in Williamson County TN.
|
