Notes for JAMES (MAJOR) TATE:
Excerpt the Tate Families of Southern States, Volume II, LauraMetzel and Ethel Speer Updike, 1984, and transcripts from TennesseeMilitia Muster Rolls, Source location: NA, Washington DC, RG NO. 94,Stack Area 9W3, Row 17, Compartment 20, Shelf Bottom, Box 239 No. NNRI/M,described under record identification as 1 Brown NA Box, Copelands W.Tenn Militia Muster Rolls. ) More information is annotated and displayedat http://www.rootsweb.com~combs/records/tn-war14.htm.
"Born in 1778 in Big Moccasin Creek, a spur of Clinch Mountain onthe Holston River, some 15 miles from Lebanon, Russell County, VA. Son ofRobert and Mary Tate. Here he grew up and married Ruth Davidson, daughterof James Davidson (Davison) of Russell and Scott Counties, VA (1826 ScottCounty, VA Wills), in 1798. It is believed that he migrated to WarrenCounty, TN before his father died in 1806 with Ruth and children.
In 1806 he met with some of his brothers (he and four of hisbrothers, Aaron, Alexander, John and Robert, are listed on the 1820Warren County, TN tax rolls) and others to petition for a New Countywhere they lived, consequently in 1807 Warren County was organized. Jamesand his brother Robert settled in a remote section of the County, onTaylor Creek, until after he married his second wife (Elizabeth Smith)and moved to the mountains, in what later became Grundy County, TN. Heaccumulated a considerable amount of land (over 20,000 acres) in thevalley, as well as on the Cumberland Plateau where he maintained adistillery. (Warren County was a major producer of apple brandy duringhis lifetime.)
He served in the War of 1812 at the rank of Captain, later promotedto Major and was known as Major Tate from that time on. He served as aJustice of the Peace for Warren County and was prominent in business andpublic affairs. Warren County Militiamen in the Creek Indian Wars of1814, Captain James Tait's (Tate) Company, Col. Stephen Copeland's 3rdWest Tennessee Regiment, General Thomas Johnson Brigade. The Creek IndianWars of 1814 were classified by the U. S. Government as a "sub-war' ofthe War of 1812. Several militia companies were organized from the areaof Warren County, TN and it's adjacent counties, including that of Capt.James Tait. Not only did Capt. Tait muster and pay rolls survive, but sodid his personal pay voucher which specified dates, actual miles traveledand locations. The militia records of 1814 are particularly valuable toresearchers because so many of these men were under 20 years of age--tooyoung to have appeared on the 1812 Warren County tax lists, and oftengone by 1820. The following is an exact transcription from the originalrecords:
Voucher: The United States to James Tait, Capt.
For transporting 1100 lbs. his private baggage as a Captain in theRegiment of West Tennessee Militia, commanded by Col. Stephen Copelandcomposing part of Genl. Thos. Johnson's brigade; ordered into service ofthe United States, on an expedition against the hostile Creek Indiansfrom the 28th Jan to the 18th day of May 1814 viz.
From Fort deposit (?) to Fort Strother 53
From Thence to Fort Williams 59
From thence to Tahopehsa & back to Ft. Williams 105
From Ft. Williams on ti---m March
by way of Caharvlea (?) to Fort Deposit (?) 157
From thence Fayetteville the primary
place of rendevious 57
Miles --------miles is 431
$34.48
Less $ 4.24
/s/James Tait $30.24
I do swear that the witin account is just and true, and that Iperformed the different marches, agreeable to the distance hereincharged; and that on no part of the said several routes and distances wasI allowed any public transportation whatever, for my private baggageallowed me as a Captain owing to a deficiency of the public means oftransportation (sic) in said regiment or brigade, and that I have neverreceived any money or other compensation from the United States in lieuthereof, or any part thereof herein charged, to the best of my knowledgeand belief.
James Tate Capt.
Sate of Tennessee
Warren Caunty (sic)
Sworn to and subscribed before me

this 9th day of Jan 1817
John Cunningham
Justis of the peace
I certify that James Tait (sic) who filed this Claim served aCaptain in the Regiment under my command which Regiment composed a partof Genl. Thomas Johnstons Brigad of West Tennessee Militia in the serviceof the United States and that he performed the different marches asherein charged or stated.
Signed Stephen Copeland - Col
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Recd. May 22nd 1818 of Howell Tatum agent for the department of War,Thirty dollars and Twenty four cents in full for this acct.
Signed James Tait
Test H L A (?) Gamble
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He and Ruth Davidson had thirteen children. They were divorcedbefore February 23, 1829 when he married Elizabeth Smith. He andElizabeth were the parents of five children.
That he was the son of Robert and Mary Tate of Russell Co. VA was recitedin a deed dated October 14, 1816, Russell Co., VA, when the heirs ofRobert Tate decided to dispose of certain land. James and wife Ruth; Johnand wife Dicey; Robert and wife Susannah; Alexander and wife Delilah andMary "Polly" and husband Marady Price, met and sold the land to theirbrother Joseph Tate. The mother Mary who was also in Warren Co., TN,signed her dower to the son Joseph Tate who remained on the oldplantation in Russell Co., VA.
Major James Tate also executed a will. He died testate April 19,1849, buried in Philadelphia Cemetery, 13 miles south of McMinnville, TN.The will was contested, went to the Supreme Court of TN. The widow,Elizabeth received most of the estate. However, all of the children werenamed. Robert and Davidson Tate were named administrators.
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In an email dated February 16, 2001, Bill Ansley writes:
Major James Tate married Ruth Davidson. Her maiden name furnished byfults@infoave.net on 7/1998 (Ruth Savage Fults). Ruth's father was JamesDavidson, per same source. Major James Tate is buried at PhiladelphiaBaptist Church Cemetery in either Grundy Co TN or county just to thenorth of Grundy?...I've visited the cemetery and have viewed hisstone...a large oblisque? He divorced Ruth, a matter that went to the TNstate legislature, almost unheard of during that era.
After the Major's death, his former wife and children by thatmarriage fought his will (which left them nothing) but lost. The Majorowned some 26,000 acres on Grundy Mountain.
More About JAMES (MAJOR) TATE:
Burial: 1849, Philadelphia Cemetery, Grundy County, TN
Military service: 1812, War of 1812 (Tennessee Militia)
Notes for ELIZABETH (BECKY) SMITH:
In the Will of her son, J. W. M. Tate, book 5, Warren County, TN, hestates that his mother died and was buried in West TN.
Source: Thomas Jefferson Barnes Papers, Tennessee State Archives, Film#634-2, H101-V192N

• Married: 1798 in Scott Co., Virginia

1. Robert Hood Tate b: 9 Jan 1799 in Russell Co. Virginia
2. Mary Tate b: 11 Dec 1800 in Russell Co. Virginia
3. Sarah Tate b: 22 Jan 1801 in Warren Co., Tennessee
4. Davidson Tate b: 27 Dec 1802 in Russell Co. Virginia
5. Joseph Tate b: 2 Jan 1809 in Warren Co., Tennessee
6. Margaret (Peggy) Tate b: 10 Dec 1810 in Warren Co., Tennessee
7. James M. Tate b: 7 Feb 1811 in Warren Co., Tennessee
8. Jahaziel H. Tate b: 9 Mar 1813 in Warren Co., Tennessee
9. Johnzeel O. Tate b: 9 Mar 1813 in Warren Co., Tennessee
10. Samuel Jackson Tate b: 15 Jun 1815 in Warren Co., Tennessee
11. Elan H. Tate b: 15 Oct 1817 in Warren Co., Tennessee
12. John Gooleman Tate b: 16 Jan 1820 in Warren Co., Tennessee
13. Eveline Tate b: 1823 in Warren Co., Tennessee

• Married: 23 Feb 1829 in Warren Co., Tennessee

1. William James M. Tate b: 17 Aug 1827 in Grundy Co., Tennessee
2. Francis Asberry Tate b: Aug 1830 in Warren Co., Tennessee
3. Meredith (Mereda) Price Tate b: Aug 1830 in Warren Co., Tennessee
4. Nancy Tate b: ABT. 1833 in Warren Co., Tennessee
5. Elizabeth Tate b: 25 Dec 1835 in Warren Co., Tennessee