FOURTH GENERATION

110. James Marshall Hunter was born on 12 Aug 1826 in White's Creek, Davidson County, Tennessee. ⁽¹²⁶⁾ He appeared on the census in 1860 in Williamson County, Tennessee. ⁽³⁸⁵⁾ He died on 3 Feb 1863 in Fort Donelson, Tennessee.⁽¹²⁶⁾

This biography, and other information, was contributed by Mrs. Bettye Brown (brown237@bellsouth.net) of Columbia, Tennessee, a descendant:

JAMES MARSHALL HUNTER


JAMES MARSHALL HUNTER, the son of Isaac Hunter, was born Aug. 12, 1826. Most of what is known about James Marshall Hunter was found in a diary that he kept. This diary contained many dates and a day-by-day account of his life for part of the years of 1849, 1850 and 1851. No one knows how much of the diary is missing.

He was a farmer, a preacher and perhaps a teacher. He could make shoes and bridles. He often visited in Nashville and Whites Creek, which is not far from Nashville. He had Hunter and Marshall relatives living there. He lived in Williamson County, Tennessee and one land deed mentioned him as being of Rutherford County, Tennessee. He owned land east of Franklin, Tennessee. He is buried in Williamson County, but the location is not known.

In Williamson County, he married a cousin, Elizabeth Norris on Sept. 15, 1847, They had the same great-grandparents, Gilbert and Martha Rowan Marshall. Elizabeth Norris was the daughter of Andrew Wiggins and Elizabeth Larkins Norris. The date of Elizabeth Norris Hunter's death is not known, but it is known that she visited in the home of her son, John Marshall, after he married. So, she lived until after 1886. A great-great- grandson says his grandfather said she died in 1895, but it is not known for sure if this is right.

According to the diary "James Marshall professed religion Oct. 11 1843 joined the presbytery April 14, 1845, was licensed to preach Oct. 16, 1846 and was ordained Oct, 20, 1849." In the Session Minutes and Church Register Old McKay Cumberland Presbyterian Church the following was found: "In 1849 July, Rev. James Marshall commenced a protracted meeting which was held in a grove in the daytime and in William McKay's house at night. He was assisted by the Reverend James M. Hunter" (See July 1849 in diary). The minutes Book of College Grove Presbyterian Church states the following were accepted as members of the Church upon its organization; Elizabeth F. Hunter, Isaac Hunter, Andrew Hunter, Jas. M. Hunter, Jas. Hunter.

"James Hunter joined the army and left home the 9 Oct. 1862 and was killed Feb. 3rd 1863 at Fort Donelson," This is a quote from the diary. It has been told down through the family that his wife went by wagon to where he was killed, had his body dug up and brought it back to Williamson County. She had to pay a certain amount for each grave that was dug into until she found his body. So far, no official army records have been found for him.

[Note - Bettye Brown has now found evidence that he was in Company F. 4th Tennessee Cavalry (McClemore's)]

In the August Term of Court 1865 in Williamson County, there was the inventory of the personal property of James M. Hunter, deceased. The items listed were: one mare and one 2 yr. old colt, 2 milk cows, and calves, 3 plows and gear, 1 axe, 1 hatchet, 1 hoe, 1 hammer, 1 saw, 1 drawing knife, 3 beds and clothing, 12 chairs, 1 bureau, 1 dining table, 1 candle stand, 1 clock, 1 small lot of books, 1 small lot of cooking vessels. 1 cupboard & ware. Elizabeth Hunter received $135.35 from the estate of James M. Hunter, August 30, 1870.

Elizabeth Hunter was listed with her children living in the 21st district of Williamson Co. on the 1870 census. The value of her real estate was 'listed at $4,000 and her personal property at $1350. She divided her land between her four sons before her death. She was living with her son Andrew when she died.


[Please note: James Marshall Hunter may have been a member of the 11th Tennessee Cavalry, Gordon's Company, a guerilla unit that fought behind enemy lines in the war. This unit had major casualties on February 3, 1863, at Fort Donelson, the same date and place of James Marshall Hunter's death. Records of this unit were not properly kept, perhaps accounting for the lack of records for J. M. Hunter's Civil War service.]

Update:

James Marshall Hunter's Civil War service has been documented as follows by Bob Hunter of Mobile, Alabama, rthala@aol.com.


The Williamson County Cavalry- "A History of Company F , Fourth Tennessee Cavalry Regiment,CSA , BY MICHAEL COTTEN(c) 1994 BY DM COTTEN Page 65-"a brief biography for James Marshall"Jim" Hunter
WILLIAMSON COUNTY CONFEDERATES BY MICHAEL COTTEN, (C)1996 BY DM COTTEN . PAGE 218- "ENLISTED OCT 9 1862 KILLED AT FT DONELSON FEB 3 1863"
Confederate Soldiers of Williamson County, Tn, final resting places, By Dennis J. Lampley, copywrite 2004, page 71 Lists James M Hunter Birth Date, Death, Place of Burial.
Newspaper Article, "The Franklin Tennessee Review Appeal": OCT 9 1902 - Lists an account of the reunion of Co. F, 4th Tennessee Cavalry - Starnes McLemore Regiment, and a list of those attending and those killed during the war.

ROLL OF COMPANY F , 4TH TENNESSEE CAVALRY "STARNES" PUBLISHED BY T.R.TULLESS MARCH 16 1922, "CIVIL WAR COLLECTION, CONFEDERATE BOX 17 FOLDER 13" TENNESSEE STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES , 403 7TH AVE NORTH, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE- "TENNESSEE- CAVALRY-REGIMENT 4"

He was married to Elizabeth F. Norris (daughter of Andrew Wiggins Norris and Elizabeth F. Larkin) on 15 Sep 1847 in Williamson County, Tennessee.⁽³⁸⁶⁾ Elizabeth F. Norris was born on 24 Oct 1826 in Davidson County, Tennessee.⁽¹²⁶⁾ She appeared on the census on 19 Jul 1870 in Williamson County, Tennessee. ⁽³⁸⁷⁾ She appeared on the census on 17 Jun 1880 in District #14, Williamson County, Tennessee.⁽³⁸⁸⁾ She died after 1886 in Williamson County, Tennessee. James Marshall Hunter and Elizabeth F. Norris had the following children:

457 i. Mary Elizabeth Hunter was born on 29 Jul 1848 in Williamson County, Tennessee. ⁽¹²⁶⁾ She died on 2 Sep 1848 in Williamson County, Tennessee.⁽¹²⁶⁾
+458 ii. Isaac Andrew "Ike" Hunter.
459 iii. James M. Hunter was born on 8 Jul 1851 in Williamson County, Tennessee. ⁽¹²⁶⁾ He died on 25 Nov 1873 in Williamson County, Tennessee.
460 iv. John W. Hunter was born on 14 Nov 1853 in Williamson County, Tennessee. ⁽¹²⁶⁾ He died on 30 Jun 1854 in Williamson County, Tennessee.
+461 v. Andrew Norris Hunter.
462 vi. Martha Loussa Ann Hunter was born on 10 Feb 1858 in Williamson County, Tennessee.⁽¹²⁶⁾ She died on 15 Jul 1875 in Williamson County, Tennessee.
+463 vii. Gilbert Larkins Hunter.
+464 viii. John Marshall Hunter.