Rev. John Fly - North Carolina, Tennessee
3b.
Rev. John Fly 5
(William 4, John 3, Jeremiah 2,
William 1)
According to his
tombstone, John Fly was born in 1772.[1]
His father was William Fly, but
his mother’s identity is a mystery.
She may have been an Indian from one of the tribes in the
Northampton Co. area. The
claim that the Flys were Indian or at least part Indian has been passed
down among this John and his brothers, Elisha, Jr. and Jeremiah Fly.
Lawrence Fly was
born to the couple on Nov. 11, 1791 in
Jan. 15, 1796.
John Fly sells to John Mongar for fifty
one pounds and six shillings land on the north side of Kirby’s Creek
bordered by Moses Odom, the Mill branch, John Darden, the Poplar Spring,
Joseph Futrell.
Eighty-five acres.
Wit: Henry Mungar, John Watkins,
Jurat, William Howell.
Signed:
John (his X mark) Fly, Sarah (her X
mark) Fly
Reg. June 21, 1797
[2]
On March 5, 1796, John witnessed a deed from James Barnes to Elisha Fly
in Davidson Co. Tennessee.
Oct. 6, 1807. Hardy
Murphree sells to John
Fly for $______, 2 parcels of land each containing 640
acres granted to Nancy Shephard, conveyed by deed from her and her
husband ______Smith to Hardy Murphree.
The land was on
Wit:
Jeremiah (X) Fly,
Isaac Tignor
Signed: H. Murphree. Proved: Oct. 12, 1807
Rec.: Dec. 24, 1807
[3]
John had already purchased some land from his brother:
July 25, 1799.
Elisha Fly
of Davidson Co. sells to
John Fly
for 60 pounds, 100 acres.
Bounded
by Ebenezer Titus line,
Wit:
Spencer Hill, John Warren
signed:
Elisha (his D mark) Fly
Rec.: May 9, 1800
[4]
Some of Spencer Hill’s descendants would later be closely associated with the Fly family.
John appeared on the
May 7 1807.
John Fly of Maury Co. to
Lawrence Fly of Williamson
Co. for $500, 100 acres on
Mill Creek.
Wit:
Spencer Hill, William Black.
Signed:
John (X) Fly
Proven: Oct. 17, 1811
by Wm. Black & Spencer Hill
Rec.: Nov.30, 1811[5]
John Fly is sometimes called Rev. John D. Fly.[6]
John did not have a middle
initial. This is simply an error.
John was a faith healer and very devout:
The first mention of Duck River
Circuit in the Minutes is 1808. That year, Zadok B. Thaxton was appointed, but the circuit could not have included the
neighborhood in which
On the north side of the river,
the houses of Andrew Mitchell, William Edmonson and James Doty were preaching places. In the absence of Oglesby and Craig, who
succeeded him, John Fly, a local preacher, served the people regularly. His
descendants are numerous and many of them gifted ministers. The wives of the Reverend Mr. Seat and
the late Rev. A. Davidson of
John and Sarah had Mary in 1797 presumably in
John may have donated land to his church because Sarah was buried there:
There is no record of the
transaction at the Maury county courthouse but in Century Review, 1807-1907,
John Fly, a
pioneer from
Feb. 15, 1810
Jeremiah Fly 217 acres
on Turkey Creek
conveyed by John Fly &
rec. April ______
John Fly sells to
Jeremiah Fly for $217, 217 acres bounded by Edmondson, Grays.....
granted to Nancy Shepherd & conveyed to Hardy Murphree & by Murphree
conveyed to John Fly.
Wit: Wm. Edmondson, jurat, James Doty, jurat.
Signed:
John (his X mark)
Fly. Proved: May 1814
[10]
Also on Feb. 15, 1810, John recorded seven more deeds. He sold land in the two Grant sections to Brittain Garner, William Edmonson, Moses Holmes, William Gray, James Doty, & Goodin Mayes. Several of these names are associated with the Fly family in Northampton Co., NC.
The 1811 Tax List for Maury Co. listed John Fly as
the owner of 251 acres on Leeper’s (or Leiper’s) Lick Creek and Fishing
Creek.
In 1812 he owned 140
acres.
The next year he
owned two tracts, one of 110 acres and one of 140 acres. John had
obtained the 140 acres by grant.[11]
This was not a Federal government grant to him, but a state of
On June 18, 1811, John married Lydia Newton in Maury Co. They did not have any children.
John served in the War of 1812:
June 28, 1814.
John Fly. Private with
Col. Robert Steele, Capt. Robert Campbell- Infantry. Appointed hospital stewart Nov. 16 and furloughed April 6.
Nov. 19, 1814.
Know all men by these presents that I
John Fly of the County of Davidson in the State of Tennessee do hereby constitute and appoint James Harris
of the town of Nashville in the
state of Tennessee my true and Lawful attorney for me and in my
name to ask demand & receive
from the district paymaster in the Army of the United States for
the district of Tennessee, the full
amount of such pay, sum or sums of money as may be due to me from
the said United States for my services as a private & Hospital Steward in Capt Campbell’s
Company of militia Infantry in the service of the United States under the command of Major Gen
Andrew Jackson for the term of three months & fifteen days and on receiving the same a receipt
or other Voucher therefore to execute and deliver in my name & behalf.
Hereby ratifying confirming all that my said attorney may or shall do touching the Pre___- in virtue hereof.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand
& seal this 19th day of Nov. 1814:
Witness present: R. Parrish, Benj Patteson.
Signed: John Fly
[12]
Lydia Newton Fly died before November of 1847 since John married Sarah Lavina Daniels on the 25th of that month. Sarah was a widow who had been previously married to Elijah C. McCoy. The 1850 Census listed John with Sarah and John J. Fly, and E. M. Fly. John and Sarah did not have any children. The children in the Census were actually McCoy children. John died on Dec. 1, 1855.
Children of Rev. John Fly and
Sarah Jane Trader Fly
3b.-i.
May 7 1807.
John Fly of Maury Co.
to Lawrence Fly of Williamson
Co. for $500, 100 acres on Mill Creek.
Wit:
Spencer Hill, William Black.
Signed:
John (X) Fly
Proven: Oct. 17, 1811
by Wm. Black & Spencer Hill
Rec.: Nov.30, 1811
[13]
He married
Catherine Mabry in
In Sept. of 1813,
Then his uncle Jeremiah sold him more land; this
time in
July 25, 1822.
Laurence Fly Deed for
187 acres of land executed by Jeremiah Fly & recorded Oct. 22, 1839_____
Jeremiah Fly of Maury
Co. sells to Laurence Fly of
Williamson Co. for $1500, 2 tracts of land in Maury Co.
1....Leepins
Creek a branch of
Signed: Jeremiah his (X)
mark Fly. Proved: Oct.
22, 1839
[14]
Sterling Brown Fly was born on May 5, 1823. William Henry was born on Dec. 8, 1825. Lawrence and Catherine would eventually have thirteen children! Joshua Newton was born about Aug. 12, 1827. Andrew Jackson was born on Feb. 2, 1829 and on March 18, 1832 Benjamin Franklin was born. Elizabeth F. was born on March 6, 1834.
Later that year,
Nov. 14, 1834.
waters of Little Harpeth executed by
Jason C. Wilson.
Reg.
Oct. 5, 1835
___________________________________
Jason C. Wilson sells to
Laurence Fly of Williamson co. for $550, 500 acres land.
Bounded by Laurence Flys.......50
acres allotted by comm. that divided
Wit: John N. Harrell, James H. Wilson, Duns(?)
Duffee, Wilie Jones.
Signed: J. C. Wilson.
Proved: Sept. 14, 1835
[15]
The family continued to grow.
Mary Catherine was born on July 28, 1836 and their last child, a
daughter Nola, was born in 1837.
Jan. 31, 1840.
Thomas J. Nolen and George Davis Exrs. of David Nolen, Decd. sell to
Lawrence
Fly for $1039.06 and 1/4, land on west fork of Mill Creek-125
acres. Bounded by Peter
Barnes, Waggoners West.
Wit:
H. Hill, Jeremiah Hill.
Signed: Thos. J. Nolen, G. Davis Execs. of David Nolen.
Ackn: Jan. 3,
1840, Rec: Feb. 3, 1840
[16]
The 1850s were particularly hard on
The next year,
Feb. 18, 1856.
State of
County
On this 18th day of February A.D. one thousand eight hundred and
fifty six personaly appeared before me an acting Justice of the Peace with in and for the
county and state aforesaid.
Larance Fly aged sixty five years a resident of Williamson County in
the State of Tennessee who being duly sworn according to law declares that he is the identical
Larance Fly who was a private
in the company commanded by Captain James Shannon in the ____ Regiment
of Militia commanded by Colonel McCrory in the war with the Creek Indians in war of 1812
and 1815- that he was drafted at Liberty meeting House Williamson County State of Tennessee on
or about the 29th day of September AD 1813 for the term of three months and continued in
actual service in said war for the Term of more than fourteen day and was honorably discharged
at Fayettesville Tenn. on the ____ day of January AD 1814.
He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty
land to which he may be
entitled under the act approved March the 3rd. 1835 he also declares
that he has not received a warrant for bounty land under this or any
other act of congress nor made any other application there for.
Larance (his + mark)
Fly
We Sterlen L. Waller & John H. Green residents of
Sterlen L. Waller
John H. Green
The foregoing declaration and affadavit was sworn to and
subscribed before me on the day and year before written and I certify that I know the affants(?) to
be creditable persons that the claimant is the person he represents himself to be and I have no
interest in this claim.
John
Nolen
for W. C. _____?
State of
Williamson
There is no mention on the Bureau of Land Management Web site of any grant to a Lawrence Fly so apparently his application was rejected.
Jan. 24, 1860.
Hezekiah Hill sells 151 acres on Mill Creek to
Lawrence Fly bounded by said Hill, John Taylor, Jeremiah Hill, "to a corner of 50 acre tract
of land deeded to said Hill by
Elisha Fly", Thomas Holt, John W. Winstead
[18]
In the future, he continued to become involved in land transactions, but they have not been transcribed. Whether he supported or participated in the Civil War is not known. He stated that he did not support the Confederacy. However, the general destruction of the war may have prompted him to apply for a War of 1812 pension when they were offered by Congress.
June 2 1871.
War of 1812 Declaration for
Pension
_________________________
State of
Attest: B. F. Fly, Jeremiah Hill
Lawrence (his X mark)
Fly
Also, personally appeared
B.F.Fly residing in Williamson county, in Tennessee; and Jeremiah
Hill residing in Williamson County in Tennessee persons whom I certify
to be respectable and entitiled to credit, and who being by me duly sworn, say:
They were present and say
Lawrence Fly the claimant, sign his name (or make his mark) to the foregoing declaration;
that they have every reason to believe, from the appearances of said claimant and
their acquaintance with him, that he is the identical person he represents himself to be; that at no
time during the late rebellion against the authority of the United States, did he adhere to the cause of
the enemies of the Government, giving them aid or comfort; and that they have no interest in the
prosecution of this claim.
B.F.Fly
Jeremiah Hill
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 2nd. day of June A.D.
1871 and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration, &c., were fully made known and
explained to the applicant and witnessess before swearing, including the word ...........erased
and the words.......... added; and that I have no interest, direct of indirect, in the prosecution of
this claim.
Thomas F. Perkins Clerk of the
The B. F. Fly in the above pension declaration was
Will of
In the name of God amen.
I Lawrence Fly of the
County of Williamson and state of Tennessee
do make and publish this my last will and Testament hereby
revoking and making void all other wills by me at any time before made---
Item- it is my will and desire that my funeral expenses and just
debts be paid out of the first money
that shall come in to the hands of my Executor.
Item 2- It my will
that as soon after my death as practicable all of my land and personal
property be sold by my Executor the land to be divided in such lots as my
executor may think best--- for the interest of my estate and the proceeds arising from said sale to
be divided equally as follows
Viz- Sterling B. Fly, William H Fly, Joshua N. Fly, Benjamin F. Fly Andrew J. Fly, Matilda Hill, Martitia Ladd, Elizabeth Layne, Catherine Bennett and the children of my deceased sons George and Caleb, my grandchildren to receive such a share as their Father would have received had they been living
Item 3- It is my will and desire that the money loaned by my son
William to my two deceased
sons George and Caleb be paid to him by my Executor out of the shares
willed to my grandchildren.
Item 4- I do direct and it is my will that the amount willed to
my daughter
Lastly- I do nominate and appoint my son
Sterling B. Fly Executor of
this my last will and Testament
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my
seal to this my last will and Testament this 25th day of July A.D. 1871
Witnesses: Joel Champion, David J. Gray.
Signed:
Lawrence (his X
mark) Fly
[20]
Apparently his son, John, had died without issue by
this time so he was not mentioned, nor was his daughter Nola.
Apparently she had lost contact with her family or was deceased.
Children of
Lawrence
3b.-i.-1.
George Washington Fly 7 (Lawrence 6,
John 5, William 4, John 3,
Jeremiah 2, William 1)
George was born in 1811 and on Aug. 14, 1832 he
married Wineford Ann Eliza Lacy in
According to the 1840 Census, George was not a slave owner. He sold land in the late 1840s, but I have not located how he acquired these tracts:
Jan. 2, 1847.
George W. Fly sells to James
Henley, land on waters of Henley (?) Creek, 135
acres. Bounded by
Congressional line. Also one
other survey being a part of same tract. Bounded by se corner of the 35 acres tract whereon Stephen Hester
did live, R. Renneys, James Gray, Hesters.
Signed: G. W. Fly
Ackn.: Jan. 2, 1848.
Rec.: Nov. 30, 1848
[21]
June 5, 1849.
William M. Byrd sells to
George W. Fly for $5,
wagon.......mare.......colt...... Deed has one purpose...."I am in debt to William Younger in sum of $25
by notes due 25 of Aug. next, with Washington Oakley my security....to WW Coleman for $10 in a
judgment & to William P. West for 420 & to Joshua Burnham for $5 with William D. Oakley my
security......the above property is bound for them" If not paid,
George W. Fly to sell & pay
debts.
Wit: F. Fleming,
James W. Mays.
Signed: William M. Byrd.
Ackn.: June 5, 1849
[22]
George died on Aug. 14, 1852, the same year his
brother Caleb died.
They were
both relatively young.
Epidemics were not unusual in those days throughout the country and
perhaps he was a victim of Yellow Fever.
In 1852, the residents of
Oct. 2, 1852. The following is an inventory and account of
the sale of the personal property of
George W. Fly
deceased. Sales by _______
administrators on the 2nd day of October 1852 on 12
months credit.
Names of Purchasers:
(extensive list of items purchased left out here)Widow,
John Fly, Jr., Elizabeth
Oakley, William D. Oakley, William F. Oakley, Enos Cook, W.W. Deberry,
Norville Johnson, Mary C. Fly,
Washington Oakley, Israel B. Smith, Peter B. Ladd, J.D. Oliphant, J.M.
Gardner, Alexander Oakley, Thompson Fleming, Johnson Richards (?),
William Beard, Sparkman S. Kelly, B. G. Johnson, Robt. Baker, James N.
Jarratt, Thomas W. Wrenn
(duplicate names have not been repeated)
State of
I sware that the foregoing is a true and correct statement &
inventory & account of sales of the personal estate of George W. Fly deceased.
There are a number of fees due him as a Magistrate
of Maury Co. not in the
foregoing and with that exception it is a full and complete inventory.
P.S. Kelly
March 21, 1853. (Maury Co. Wills 4, p. 640-641)Oct. 28,
1854. George W. Fly, Decd.- Estate settlement Pro. Rata
People mentioned: (not all)
Wineford Fly for year's provisions
J. M. Priest - for making coffin
John W. Irwin & Co. for burial clothes
W.W. Fly for part of years allowance
Gabriel Mayberry note and interest
W. H. Fly note and interest
[23]
After George’s passing, Wineford Fly moved with the
children to
3b.-i.-2.
Caleb
Fly
7
(Lawrence 6, John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
This Caleb was probably named after his uncle
Caleb, son of John Fly.
He is
sometimes referred to as Jr.
Caleb Fly was born on Dec. 30, 1812 and married
Elizabeth Holland on
Jan. 23, 1834 in
Caleb and Elizabeth were the parents of:
John
(1836), Malvena (1838), William (1839), Mary E. C. (1844), Sarah Jane
(1845), and Mary A. (1848).
Caleb was apparently very supportive of his church:
May 12, 1841.
Church Commissioners Deed
Conveyed by
Recorded Sept. 7, 1842 filed Sept. ______ 1842
_____________________________________
Troy S. Brown sells to William Edmundson, James Lawry (?), Joseph
Edmundson, Lemuel Sherod, Washington Oakley,
Caleb Fly, jr., Rufus Gardner, John Hudspeth &
George W. Fly and
their successors for the use and benefit of the Gashion (?) camp
ground......& for the use of the Methodist Episcopal Church for 4102.50, land on the waters of
Leeper's Creek, 50 acres.
Bounded by William Edmundson, M_____ Willis.
Wit: S.W. Kilpatrick, Thos. M. Sowell.
Signed:
Rec. Sept. 5, 1842
[24]
Caleb died before Oct. 1, 1852 in
March 11, 1853.
Elizabeth
Fly purchases from Henry Tindol & wife for $250 (the cause being the account directed to be paid to the said Henry Tindol by a deed
from Gustavus Holland to sd.
Elizabeth Fly then
Elizabeth Holland executed July 3, 1833 within 12 months after the death
of sd. Gustavus Holland as the condition upon which the land herein
described was conveyed to the sd.
Wit: none.
Signed:
Henry Tindol & Mary Tindol.
Ackn & dower relinq.:- March 11, 1853.
Rec: Mar. 11, 1853
[25]
In 1880
Caleb’s male line
may have died out with this generation.
The
son John does not seem to appear in any records after 1850 and the son
William H. Fly’s will mentions only his sisters, but no wife or children
of his own:
I
William H. Fly
of the county of Williamson and State of Tennessee being of sound mind
and knowing the uncertainty of life do make this my last will and
testament.
Item 1st.
Out of my property consisting of Money I will to each of my sisters
Malvina
Matilda Barnes
and Sarah Jane Luch one hundred dollars, to be paid within
one year after my death and after the payment of ___ just debts and
burial expenses
Item 2nd.
The remainder of my estate I give and bequeath to my sister
Mary Elizabeth
Stryker and her heirs.
Item 3rd.
And I hereby appoint C. C. Stryker the husband of my sister
Mary Elizabeth
to be Executor
of this my last will and testament without being required to give any
security.
___ this May 21st. 1881 Written by me and
signed
William H. Fly (his mark)
in my presence.
Jesse B. Crockett
Thomas S. Whitfield
R. N. Richardson
Malvena married an
unknown man by the name of Barnes, and Sarah Jane married William Lush.
M. E. C. Fly married Charles C.
Stryker and they may have moved to
3b.-i.-3.
John Fly
7
(Lawrence 6, John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
This son married Frances Belcher on May 2, 1844. He was born in 1816, but apparently died about 1863 and is untraced.
3b.-i.-4.
Matilda Fly
7
(Lawrence 6, John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
Matilda was born in 1818 and married
Jeremiah Hill
on Dec. 25, 1838 in
According to Ralph Hill, descendant of Spencer Hill, Jeremiah and
Matilda lived in a house
built by Spencer Hill on land purchased from
Elisha Fly, Jr.
Lawrence Fly had
previously lived there and the cemetery is there on
Matilda Fly Hill died on Oct. 14, 1874.
She is buried in the
3b.-i.-5.
Martisha Fly
7 (Lawrence 6, John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
Martisha married
Peter Burton Ladd on July 2, 1837
in
3b.-i.-6.
Sterling Brown
Fly 7
(Lawrence 6, John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
As the Civil War approached
Feb. 22,
1859. Washington H. Layne sells to
Sterling B. Fly, for $1180,
negro Wilburn about 10 years old.
Wit: H. Hill, G. H. Goodrum.
Ack & Rec.: Mar. 26, 1859
[27]
A last child, Lily, was born in 1867.
Additional court activities by Sterling B. Fly have
not been transcribed.
However,
3b.-i.-7.
William Henry
Fly
7
(Lawrence 6, John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
William Henry was born in 1825 and married Mary Jane Kinzer on Oct. 11, 1849. Mary Jane was the daughter of George Kinzer who died in 1868 leaving a will:
Feb. 18,
1868.
Will of George Kinzer
1st. to wife Malinda bed, etc. (long list of items) plus dowry
right of 50 acres
2nd. tract of 230 acres to A.C. Kinzer, my son, for which he is
to pay $5000-- $1000 annually without interest until last payment is made-- money to be divided
among my children A.C.Kinzer being one of that number (to Wit:) George W. Kinzer,
Hannah Fly, Emerenthy Cooper,
heirs of James W. Trousdale & heirs of
W.H. Fly.
Last- Granddaughter Anna Trousdale to live with
grandmother Malinda. Wit: W.W.Joyce jurat, Henry Mayberry jurat, F.E.P McBride jurat.
Signed: George (his X mark) Kinzer I nominate.......my son George
W. Kinzer.....executor Dec. 1868.
Wit: A. M.
Kinzer, Henry Mayberry.
Signed: George (his X mark) Kinzer Prob.
March 2, 1868
[28]
Emily Catherine was born in 1850 and William J. was born in 1852. Petway J. K. was born in 1856. Another daughter, Mollie, was born in 1857 and a son, Benjamin, was born in 1861. Mary Jane Kinzer Fly predeceased her father's death in 1866.
William Henry remarried in 1870. His bride was a widow, Maria W. Yancy. She had been first married to William James Sandiford. Maria apparently died soon after because in the 1880 Census William Henry’s wife was named Ellen. There were no children from either his second or third wife.
William Henry died on Aug. 18, 1890.
3b.-i.-8.
Andrew Jackson
Fly
7 (Lawrence 6, John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
Andrew Jackson married Mary Jane Kinzer’s sister Hannah on Oct. 6, 1860. They had: Emma Callie (1852), John B. H. (1854), Ida (1859), Andrew James (1862), Elvira Josephine (1866) and Mattie (1866).
Andrew J. Fly died on Jan. 14, 1905 in
3b.-i.-9.
Joshua Newton
Fly
7
(Lawrence 6, John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
Joshua Newton was born in 1827 and died on Jan. 9,
1899 in
Soon after the wedding Miriam’s relatives sold land to Joshua:
Jan. 11, 1853.
Zachariah Allen & Elizabeth Smith sell to
Joshua N. Fly.......by last
will and testament of William Allen, dec. proved and registered in the
county court of Williamson .....land to widow of William Allen for her life and after to Zachariah
Allen and John W. Allen......to be equally divided.....since the death of sd. William Allen.......John W. Allen departed this life unmarried and with no children......& land passes to Zachariah
Allen, Elizabeth Smith, and
Mirah Fly wife of
Joshua N.
Fly being only brother and sisters of John W. Allen.
For $700 paid by Joshua N. Fly........to
them for land descended to them after the death of Susannah Allen widow of sd. William Allen....in undivided 2/3.
$400 to Elizabeth Smith and $300 to Zachariah Allen.
Wit: John M. Winstead, Isaac S. Pope.
Signed: Z Allen, Elizabeth (her X mark) Allen.
Prov.: Mar. 19, 1853.
Rec:
Oct 3, 1853.
[29]
The couple became the parents of Mary Lemizer in 1854 and William Lawrence in 1856. A deed revealed the identity of the maiden name of Miriam’s mother.
Sept. 15,
1856.
"For
love.......for my daughter
Myriam
W. Fly (wife of
Joshua N. Fly)
my life estate in a slave named Mariah" ......"which life estate I held
under the will of my deceased husband William Allen"
Also gives to
Myriam W.
Fly all right to her (Susannah Allen) rights in
estate of deceased uncle Samuel Winstead under & by his last will
as one of the children of his brother John Winstead.
Wit: R.B.B. Connors, William H. S. Hill.
Signed: Susannah her (X) mark Allen.
Proved: Sept.
15, 1856.
[30]
Joshua and Miriam then had: James Benjamin (1860), Robert Lee (1862), Hattie C. (1870), Laura Matilda (1877), and Susie L. (1880).
Joshua Newton Fly died on Jan. 9, 1899. Miriam had passed away on March 15, 1886.
3b.-i.-10.
Benjamin Franklin
Fly 7
(Lawrence 6, John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
Benjamin Franklin was born in 1832 and on Feb. 5, 1860 married Catherine E. Kinzer. Her specific relationship to the other Kinzer brides is not known. She died in 1861 before the death of George Kinzer so perhaps she was one of his daughters. There were no children.
Benjamin did not marry again until Aug. 2, 1888 when he wed Mary N. Champion. He died on Nov. 18, 1896 leaving no children. However, he did leave a will dated 1894.
I
Benjamin F. Fly of
1st.
All my just
debts & funeral expenses shall first be paid.
2nd. W. L. Layne owes me ($800) eight hundred dollars, _____ a
lien note on his farm.
I
will and desire that he as soon as convenient after my death pay to my
Executor $200.00 Two hundred dollars said money to be paid to my nephew
Tommie Layne who is a cripple, And that after paying to Tommie Layne the
aforesaid two hundred dollars out of the aforesaid ($800) note that he
W. L. Layne is to have the balance of the ($800) and I oder my Executor
to turn said land note over to W. L. Layne when he has paid in the
aforesaid ($200) for his Bro Tommie.
3rd.
My Bro
Joshua N. Fly owes me a note
of two hundred Dollars I will and desire this note to him & order my
executor to turn said note over to him.
4th.
I will and desire to my beloved wife
Mary L. Fly my entire landed estate for her use during her lifetime,
my lands consists of my home place, my Mullen (?) place, my Hill place &
some other small ____ & other lands. I mean to convey to her at my death
for her natural life all my lands, said land not to be sold by my wife
Mary F. Fly.
At the death of my wife I will & desire that my Executor sell my
land to the best advantage and divide it among my brothers & sisters &
others herein mentioned as I shall direct (1/7) of the proceeds of said
landed estate to
Joshua N. Fly-
(1/7) one seventh of the estate to Peter Ladd, (1/7) one seventh of the
estate of the proceeds of said landed estate to
S Brown Fly children, (1/7), one seventh of the proceeds of said
landed estate to
Lizzie Layne,
(1/7) one seventh of the proceeds of said landed estate to the children
of
Wm. Fly ((1/7) one seventh
of the proceeds of said landed estate to
Jackson Fly- (1/7) one
seventh of my said landed estate to the children of my brother
(deceased)
George
W. Fly--- These seven
legatees whom I have mentioned are my brothers & sisters, some of them
are dead—I mean for the legal heirs of my dead brothers and sisters
herein mentioned to heir the legacy given herein to said Bros & Sisters
as the laws of this state provide--- the seven person just named are my
brothers or sisters.
5th.
I will & devise to the heirs of
Caleb Fly the sum of one dollar out of my estate.
6th.
I will &
devise to my beloved wife
Mary F.
Fly all of the personal and perishable property of which I may die
possessed except the cash money & debts that are due me in any
shape----- be it in notes mortgages, accounts, bills or money owing to
me in any shape---- I will, direct & devise that my executor proceed to
collect what money that is due me on notes or otherwise & pay to my wide
Mary F. Fly Four thousand
dollars ($4000) out of the proceeds of the same.
I will & direct that my executor shall take time & use judgment
in collecting my notes & claims & et--- I further direct that my wife if
she chooses may receive said notes & other evidences of debt & not
requiring parties owing to pay them at once- If there be more than
$4000, Four Thousand Dollars worth I direct that the notes, claims or
money --- if converted into money be paid to my wife
Mary F. Fly
7th. I nominate
Jas. B. Fly to be my executor & to render my wife such assistance as
she may need in renting farms(?) & seeing after her business and
reasonable pay for his services.
Signed by me in the presence of these witnesses this March 19th
day 1894.
B F Fly
Witnesses
B. W. Bennett
H. W. Winstead
Ossian Crockett
Benjamin continued his father’s concern for his sister Elizabeth who had married Washington Layne. In this case, he left some money for Tommie Layne who was apparently disabled. Once Tommie was given his inheritance of $200, his brother W. L. Layne was to be forgiven a debt to Benjamin. He then left legacies to seven of his brothers and sisters or to their surviving children. His siblings John, Matilda, and Nola were not mentioned probably because they had no children or deceased leaving no offspring. He did mention the children of his deceased brother Caleb, but left them only one dollar. He does not give a reason for this, but it implies that there was an active family disagreement influencing him.
3b.-i.-11.
Elizabeth F.
Fly 7
(Lawrence 6, John 5, William 4, John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
This daughter was born in 1834.
Apparently Washington Layne was not able to
properly provide for
The exact date of
3b.-i.-12.
Mary Catherine Fly 7 (Lawrence 6,
John 5, William 4, John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
Mary Catherine was born in 1836 and married Dr. Joseph M. Bennett on Jan. 13, 1864. She was living at the time of her father’s will, but she has not been traced further.
3b.-i.-13.
Nola Fly 7 (Lawrence 6, John 5,
William 4, John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
Nola was born in 1836. She is said to have married Daniel Estes, but was not mentioned in her father’s will. Perhaps she was deceased by then or had lost contact with her family.
3b.-ii.
William Fly 6 (John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
William Fly seems to have been a natural leader. Of all of John’s sons, he became very wealthy judging by a history written by David Williamson Fly and David Harper Fly.
William was born in 1794 in
On Aug. 3, 1811, Andrew Tate Mitchell Fly was born
to the couple. Sarah Jane was born on June 21, 1814 and John Dalton was
born on Dec. 18, 1816 in
Mary Mitchell was the daughter of Andrew Mitchell and Mary Tate. Her father left a will and remembered her:
Oct. 3, 1817.
Will of Andrew Mitchell: wife Polly Mitchell; son James Mitchell, 120
acres where Archibald Holms now lives; son George, 120 acres where James
Mitchell, son of John, settled; son John Mitchell, 120 acres where he now lives; dau. Jennett
Holmes, 60 acres, the place whereon her husband Robert Holmes now lives; dau.
Polly Fly, 60 acres, the
place whereon James Reaves now lives; son David Mitchell , remaining part, including place
whereon I now live, except a tract of land on Beech Creek, joining the land of
Ephraim McKeachen, and a tract of 130 acres on Elk River; daughters Elizabeth and Peggy.
Wit: Archibald Holmes, Moses Holmes.
Signed: Andrew
Mitchell Prob. Jan. 9, 1824
[31]
William first appeared in the Tax Lists in 1817, but the amount of land he owned was not mentioned.
1817.
Tax
List:
John Fly- 240 acres
Jeremiah Fly- 227 acres
William Fly-
------------
[32]
However, it is obvious that William was acquiring land:
Mar. 27, 1818.
William Fly 238 acres
of land, on Lick Creek conveyed by James Hopkins
Reg: May 30, 1818
[33]
March 27, 1818.
James
Hopkins sells to William Fly
for $1250, 200 acres (sic) of land in three tracts. One tract....
130 acres on Lick Creek, a north branch of duck River bounded by Lick
Creek, Thomas Rowell
(Powell?), John Johnsons silver mine, bluffs.
Also tract of...20 acres on Lick Creek of Duck River.
Bounded by 130 tract, part of a 120 acres tract granted by
Signed:
James Hopkins
Ackn. & Rec.: April court 1818
[33]
David Williamson was born on March 8, 1819 in
He also purchased land from his Mitchell in-laws:
Aug. 9, 1821.
John Mitchell, jr. sells to
William Flye for $750, 128 acres.
Bounded by Andrew Mitchell, Snow Creek- 80 acres in second District 12 range 1st
section. 48 acres on west
fork of snow creek bounded by Andrew Mitchell, James Mitchell.
Wit: D.R. Mitchell, Jms. M. Owen.
Signed: John Mitchell. Ackn: Sept. Term 1831
[34]
Elijah Madden was born on May 17, 1823 in
This sale to Henry Kinzer is interesting because of several later intermarriages between Kinzers and some descendants of Rev. John Fly:
Jan. 25, 1823.
Henry Kinzer Deed 258 acres Conveyed by
William Fly Registered 29th of July 1825
______________
William Fly sells to
Henry Kinzer both of Maury Co...... for $655, land on south side of Duck River.
Bounded as
follows....... (unreadable-very faded)....containing 258 acres deeded to
sd. Fly
by John Winn and w......... to sd. Winn by his father together
with all the appurtenances......
Wit: D. R. Mitchell, George Kinzer.
Signed:
William Fly Ackn.: April
Term 1825
[35]
Mary Malinda was born on Jan. 21, 1826. And on Jan. 15, 1827, the twins, Benjamin Franklin and Sophia Lousiana were born.
William purchased the land that David R. Mitchell lived on in 1823 and then sold him another tract. This one was the home of the widow Mary Mitchell:
Jan. 22, 1828.
David R. Mitchell Deed 106 & 220 acres Executed by
William Fly
Registered Jan. 24th, 1828
______
William Fly sells to
David R. Mitchell for $500, two pieces of land....... on the west fork
of Snow Creek, one of 106 acres bounded by Andrew Mitchell........
including the farm where sd. Mitchell & his mother Mary Mitchell now live.
Also 120 acres sd.
Fly
purchased land from Mitchell & John McManus.
Wit: P.
Nelson, Ben Reynolds.
Signed: William Fly.
Ackn.: July Term 1828
[36]
Elvira Josephine was born on Dec. 7, 1831 in Maury County, Tennessee.
Sometime in 1834, William Fly moved to
Yalobusha Co. Tax List-
1834.
William Fly – 1
white poll, 16 black
1835.
William Fly- 1
white, 13 black
J M Fly- 1 white
1836.
William Fly- 1
white, 14 black
Joshua Fly- 1 white
ATM Fly- 1 white
William Fly was not the only member of the family
to move to Yalobusha.
His
brother Joshua T. Fly, a missionary, also made the move along with
William’s eldest son Andrew Tate Mitchell Fly.
William did begin to acquire and record land:
1836.
Edmund
Perry of Chickasaw Nation sells to
William Fly for $1100, one section.
Section 28 in township 11 and 5 west of the basis meridian.
Land Edmund Perry is entitled to under the Treaty of May 24, 1834.
Wit: J. Kerrys? (Kemps?), E. Pmalwell ?.
Signed: Edmund Perry.
April 7, 1836.
We the undersigned Chiefs.....certify that Edmund
Perry..... is capable to manage........his own affairs.
Signed: James Colbert, Henry Love.
Benj. Reynolds, agent......certifies that the above is true,
price is fair and paid by
W. Fly.
Signed: Benj. Reynolds
April 9, 1836.
Approved.
Signed: Wm
Carroll, E.A.
Reg: June 22, 1836
[37]
He purchased four more large tracts from the
Chickasaw Nation, one of the Five Civilized Tribes which also consisted of
the Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole.
The Treaty of May 24, 1834 stated that the Chickasaw would be
compensated for their land.
The Indian Removal Act had been passed in 1830 and the Chickasaw would
be compelled to move to the west side of the
William quickly began selling his land at a profit:
May 7, 1836.
William Fly sells to George
T. Taylor of Co. of Haywood & state of
Wit: Willis
T. Sommerville, T.S. Sommerville.
Signed: William Fly.
Ackn: Aug. 20, 1836 by William
Fly. Wife
Mary Fly examined
privately and gives consent.
Reg: Oct. 5, 1836.
Aug. 1, 1838.
Mary Fly for $5 relinq. dower & quit claim to land sold by husband
William Fly to George T. Taylor
[38]
Obviously, Mary Mitchell Fly was also enterprising. It is highly unusual for a wife to charge for relinquishing her dower right in a tract of land!
By the time of the 1850 Census, William was living
in
William was listed in the 1855
A more detailed view of William and his family, The Flye Records, written by David Williamson Fly, son of William Fly and Mary Mitchell can be viewed here. His son, David Harper Fly, added comments in parentheses.
Children of William Fly and Mary Mitchell Fly
3b.-ii.-1.
Andrew Tate
Mitchell Fly
7
(William 6, John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
Andrew was the first child of William and Mary,
born on Aug. 3, 1811.
He was named after his grandfather on his mother’s side.
On March 24, 1831, he married
Eliza Jones in Maury Co.,
Rev. Andrew and Eliza were the parents of: William
Jones (1832), Mary Elizabeth (1833), James Mitchell (1835), Malinda Jane
(1837), Martha Marie (1837),
Reverend Andrew married
Mary Ellen Rabb on March
10, 1847 in
Rev. A. T. M. Fly died on Oct. 1, 1855 apparently of Yellow Fever. Reverend Andrew and Mary Ellen were the parents of John Nicholas (1848), Henry Williamson (1850), George Brown (1853) and A. T. M. (1855).
3b.-ii.-2.
Sarah Jane Fly
7
(William 6, John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
Sarah Jane was born June 21, 1814 and died on April 12, 1829 at the age of 14.
3b.-ii-3.
John Dalton Fly
7
(William 6, John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
John Dalton was born in 1816 in Maury County,
Tennessee.
He went to
April 6, 1836.
Halah of Chickasaw Nation in State of
Wit: O. Kendrick, Alex. Shaw,
Edmund Perry.
Signed: Halah (X his mark)
April 7, 1836.
We the undersigned......commend the sale of land
....... from Halah
Wit: J.
Kemp, Epur Dowell.
Signed:
George (X) Colbert, Ishtehotopa (his X mark), James Colbert.
April 9, 1836.
Benj.
Reynolds, agent of the Chickasaw, approves sale as price is fair & money
has been paid by
Fly.
signed: Benj. Reynolds.
Wm. Carroll, Examining Agent.
Reg.: June 22, 1836
[39]
He was also a missionary to these Indians. The Reverend John Dalton married Martha J. I. Divine on Aug. 16, 1842. She was a daughter of Kinsman Divine and his wife, Elizabeth. John and Martha were the parents of: William Kinsman, who was born on March 1, 1845. Martha died on Oct. 26, 1845.
John Dalton Fly remarried on July 5, 1848. His bride was Julia Fletcher Stokes. According to the 1850 Census, they were living in Madison County, Mississippi. That census listed John and Julia in a household with five year old William K. Fly and one year old John M. Fly. The couple would eventually become the parents of: David Samuel (1850), Reuben Madden (1852), Mary Eliza (Oct. 12, 1853), Martha Lou (1855), Franklin Jones (1859). They also had a daughter, Sarah Jane, in 1848, who died in 1853. David Samuel, Franklin Jones and Reuben Madden died very young. Julia died on Aug. 24, 1865.
John Dalton married again in 1866 to Eleanora Compton. John and Nora were the parents of John’s last child, Thomas Compton Fly. He was born on March 19, 1867.
Eleanora died in 1871 and John Dalton passed away, reportedly, in 1899.
3b.-ii.-4.
David Williamson Fly
7
(William 6, John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
This son was born in 1819 in
David became a minister like so many members of the
family.
The couple lived in
Kosciusko,
David Williamson Fly died in
3b.-ii.-5
Elijah Madden Fly
7
(William 6, John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
Elijah was born in 1823 in Maury County, Tennessee.
He went to
During the Civil War, Elijah fought as a member of
the Confederate Texas Cavalry.
In 1880, the family was living in
He died on July 24, 1899. Nancy Fly died in May of 1801.
3b.-ii.-6.
Mary Malinda Fly
7 (William 6, John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
Mary was born in 1826 in
The 1860 Census indicates that the family had moved
to
Mary Malinda Fly passed away on Dec. 1, 1905 in
3b.-ii.-7.
Benjamin Franklin
Fly 7
(William 6, John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
Benjamin Franklin was born in 1827 in
On Nov. 26, 1856, he married his second wife,
Mary
Rutledge Chambless, in
Benjamin F. Fly was a Major in the Confederate Army enlisting in April of 1861. He served for the length of the war. On July 2, 1868, he applied for a passport. The application states that he was five feet ten and ½ inches tall and had gray eyes and dark brown hair. Why he needed the passport is not clear.
In 1880, the family was living in
3b.-ii.-8.
Sophia Lousiana
Fly 7
(William 6, John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
This daughter was born in 1827 in
By the time of the 1860 Census, the family had
moved to Austin, Travis County, Texas.
Four of the earliest born children had died by this time.
In 1880, Rev. Seat and Sophia
were living in
In 1900, Sophia was living with her married
daughter Ida B. Tanner in
3b.-ii-9.
Elvira Josephine
Fly 7 (William 6, John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
Elvira Josephine was born in 1831 in Maury County, Tennessee. She married Thomas J. Catchings on Oct. 27, 1851 in Madison County, Mississippi.
They were the parents of:
Emma (1855), Silas Fly (1856), William Benjamin (1857), Harriet
M. (1860), Louella (1863), and Sarah F. (1867).
In 1860, the family was living in
Elvira Josephine Fly Catchings died on April 12,
1896 in
3b.-ii-10.
George Washington
Lafayette Fly 7 (William 6, John 5,
William 4, John 3, Jeremiah 2,
William 1)
G. W. L. Fly was born
June 2, 1835 in
In 1860, the family was living in
The character Major Cobb in James
Michener's novel
According to Kevin Fly Hill on Genforum,
Feb. 29, 2000:
George Washington
3b.-ii-11.
Jules Leonidas Fly 7
(William 6, John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
This son was the last child born to Col. William
and Mary Fly.
He was born in
1838 and died in 1847 in
3b.-iii. Mary
Fly
6
(John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
Mary was an ill-fated child.
Born in 1797, she married
James Mitchell on April 15, 1817 in
3b.-iv.
David Fly 6 (John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
According to his tombstone, David was born on March
18, 1799 in
They were the parents of a large family. William Maury was born to them on Oct. 17, 1820 in Maury Co. John Thomas was born on Dec. 19, 1821.
David Fly’s presence in the Maury County area can be seen in his activity as a purchaser at estate sales:
March 15, 1822.
In 1824, Elijah Kirkman was born and the next year David was selling some of his land.
Jan. 10, 1825.
David Flye sells to James
Younger for $400, 147 acres land south side of Duck River. "Willed to
John Winn by his father & transferred by sd. Winn to
William Flye & by him to David Flye".
Wit:
Wm. Flye, John Jelks.
Signed: David Flye.
Ackn.: June
Hezekiah Lindsay was born on Oct. 17, 1830 and Sarah M. was born in 1831. David also served as a Justice of the Peace:
May 15, 1832.
Abraham Mayes, dec. settlement, Elias P. Mayes admin. signed March 8,
1832 by George A. Peeler,
David
Fly, J.P. s
[42]
On April 1, 1834, Martha Caroline was born to the couple and on March 23, 1835 Lousiana Louvenia and Nancy Lou were born.
By 1838, David had moved to
July 18, 1838. Thomas William Barry Moore of Oakliblckaw
Co. & state of MS sells to
David
Fly, for $1508 "the northwest quarter of section 33 &
township 11 range 5 west of the basis meridian in the Chickasaw Nation Yalobusha Co."
Wit: Benjamin Desha, L. Daniel.
Signed: Thos. W. B. Moore, Elizabeth Moore
Proved & dower Relinq. July 19, 1838
Reg: July 31, 1838
[43]
The last child, Malinda Jane, was born in 1838 in
Aug. 6, 1838.
William Fly & Mary Fly his
wife sell to David Fly for
$1000, 1/2 section of land 320 acres.
The south
half of section 28, township 11, range 5 west of the basis meridian line
in the Chickasaw survey.
Wit: John Kelsey, Jehu T. Gray.
Signed: Wm. Fly, Mary Fly.
Aug. 6, 1838: Ackn. & dower relinq.
[44]
Sept. 12, 1839.
David Fly & Martha his
wife sell to William Fly for
$3500, 3 & 1/4 sections- 480 acres the s. 1/2 of section 28 & nw 1/4 of section 33 in
township 11 range 5.
Wit:
John J. Gray, Shadrack Hale.
Signed: David Fly, Martha (her X
mark) Fly. Ackn. & dower relinq.: Sept. 12, 1839
[45]
The 1850 Census showed a household in Yalobusha consisting of: David (52), Martha (50), Hezekiah (19), Martha (16), Nancy (14), Malinda (12), and Lousiana (8).
Martha Younger Fly died on Feb. 17, 1860 in Yalobusha and David passed away on March 18, 1870.
3b.-v.
Joshua T.
Fly
6
(John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
Joshua was born in 1800 in
He first appeared in the court records in 1832:
May 17, 1832.
John T. Moore, deceased- Inventory and account of sale taken Oct. 27,
183? ..................... good notes on ........
Joshua T. Fly...........
signed: Evan Young
[46]
A few years later, he sold some land presumably
because he was planning to move to
Aug. 1, 1834. Joshua Fly sells to Snowden Maddux for $550,
land on west side of Leepers Lick Creek a north branch of
Wit: John T. Faris, John H. Terrell.
Signed:
Joshua Fly.
Proved: Aug. 4, 1834
[47]
Frances Caroline Fly was born on Feb. 12, 1834 in Maury County, Tennessee.
The move to Yalobusha
Dec. 10, 1834.
James Brown of the one part & the undersigned of the other part.......
Whereas the undersigned, the citizens of the Chocktaw Nation were "entitled
under the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek & by the 14th article thereof to register our names
as individuals wishing to remain and become citizens of the state & become therefore entitled to
land.... we did comply.....by having ourselves registered as heads of Chocktaw families..... &
whereas it seems that our rights have been overlooked.... we have been deprived of our just land
claims..... we do appt. sd. James Brown our true and lawful
agent ____? & attorney in fact" to persue our rights.
James Brown will be entitled to 1/2 of all land he may secure for the
undersigned (more complicated provisions- FGF).
Wit: Dickson
Frazier, Manchester Colbert, George OH Berry, J. T. Brown, Dickson Frazier, WW Jorden,
Joshua
Fly, W Gi alGood urn ess (?),
John D. Fly, Dickson Frazier, J. T. Brown, Dickson Frazier, James Patterson, Joseph Perry, Erasmus P.
McDowell.
Signed:
Yeotah (his X mark), La Ho Key (his X mark), Hua key (his X mark),
Cunema Tubbi (his X mark), William Perry (his X mark), Yeo-Pah-Tab (his X mark), Anok
Natubbu (his X mark),
It was not unusual in the relationship between
Indians and the
Joshua would live for the rest of his life in his
newly adopted county.
Joshua and
Sarah Jane became the parents of Matthew Douglas on Dec. 1, 1835 in
Four years later, William Fly sold a large tract of land to his brother:
Aug. 6, 1838. William Fly & Mary his wife sell to Joshua Fly for $600, one quarter
section of land, 160 acres.
NW
quarter section 29 in township 11 & range 5.
Wit: Robert J. Lacy, John Kelsey.
Signed:
Wm. Fly, Mary Fly.
Aug. 6, 1838: Ackn. & dower Relinq
[49]
Washington Mitchell was born on Feb. 19, 1838 in
Joshua sold off some land in 1838:
Aug. 6, 1838.
Joshua Fly & wife Sary sell to Samandel Wood for
$1000, 38 acres of land off n side of nw quarter of section 29 town 11 range 5 w of the basis
meridian line in the Chickasaw survey.
Wit: James V.
Olds.
Signed: Joshua Fly,
Sarah Fly. Aug. 26, 1838:
Ackn. Aug. 28,
1838: dower Relinq
[50]
Jasper VanBuren was born on Aug. 9, 1840. Indiana Tennessee was born about 1843 and Isadora Fly was born about 1844. Mary Fly was born about 1849.
On the 1860 Census, Joshua and Sarah Fly were living with twenty-five year old Douglas Fly and eleven year old Mary Fly. Sarah died by the time of the 1870 Census and Joshua T. Fly was living with Anderson Fly. Sarah had passed away on June 23, 1863, and was buried in the Long Branch Cemetery. Joshua died five years later on Sept. 22, 1875, and was also buried in the Long Branch Cemetery in Yalobusha County, Mississippi.
3b.-vi.
John Fly
6
(John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
Born Jan. 28, 1802.
Unlike some of his brothers he stayed in
He married
Sarah McCracken on Jan. 24, 1824 in
Caleb Fly evidently had financial problems and his brother purchased his land:
May 2, 1843.
Jesse G. Raimey sells to
John Fly,
jr. for $25 received on Dec. 1, 1840, three tracts of land under the redemption laws of
Wit: J.E. Thomas, Nimrod Porter.
Signed: J.G. Rainey.
Ackn.: May 2, 1843
[51]
John purchased more land in 1844:
Jan. 15, 1844.
Henry Webb sells to John Fly for $60, 126 acres of land on waters of Leepers Lick Creek. Bounded by Micajah
Swin (?), Webb, John Williams.
Wit: George W. Fly,
Thomas his (X) mark Raker, Jones
Alford,
Signed: Henry his (X) mark Webb. Proved:
Jan. 3, 1849
[52]
With Serena, John had a large number of children: Sarah (1840), William H (1842), George W. (1843), Malinda Cyrina (1844), Margaret P. S. L. (1847), Martha Louise (1849), Maniley May (1851), David Thomas (1853), Benjamin Gant (1855), and Penelope Rosannah (1857).
John was sometimes called Captain John Fly and his service as Private in the Civil War was ignored. He had enlisted as a Captain and left as a Private. The Maury Democrat printed a quote apparently from him in 1896:
Old Captain
John Fly of Leiper’s Creek
once said “If a boy is brung up right he will do as his folks do.”
He died on June 24, 1884 in
The Maury Democrat printed a description of the Leiper’s Creek area many years later and mentioned Capt. John and his neighbors:
Monday morning, Sept. 22, 1861, I
first stood on the banks of Leipers Creek.
It was at the foot of one of those beautiful hills that rise up across the creek from
where Henry Montgomory now lives, and going up the valley to Bob Elam’s, two miles, all who lived
along the creek as the heads of families within that distance, with one exception, are not there
now. Snowden Maddux, Peter
Ladd, R. S. Elam, Widow Oakley, Capt. John Fly, Jack Fly, Henry
Oakley, Jack page, Squire Jim Page, Widow Gray, Jack Gardner and Jacob Gardner.
Of all those, not one remains, but that
grand old man Uncle Jack Gardner… He is a man of monumental
excellence of life and character. The
removal by death of all these people is a silent sermon upon the
certainty of death and the uncertainty of life.
[53]
3b.-vii.
Sarah L.
Fly
6
(John 5, William 4,
John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
Sarah was born on Oct. 6, 1803.
She married
William Blackburn, brother of Joshua Fly’s wife Sarah
Jane in 1820. William and Sarah
moved to
They were the parents of: Frances Elizabeth, John Madden, Mary Ann, Sarah Jane, William Trader, James Carpenter, Martha Caroline, & David Murray. They have not been traced further.
3b.-viii.
Caleb Fly
6
(John 5,
William 4, John 3, Jeremiah 2, William 1)
Caleb Fly was the last child of John and Sarah Jane Trader and was born in 1808. On Dec. 19, 1824 in Maury Co., he married Mary Belle Hester, daughter of Stephen Hester. Sarah Jane was born to them in 1825 and William M. in 1826.
Apparently soon after that, Mary Belle deserted her husband. Caleb may have tried to persuade her to return to him, but in 1832 a petition was submitted to the General Assembly requesting a divorce:
1832.
To the General
Assembly of the state of Tennessee now in session your petitioner
Caleb Fly a citizen of Maury County would respectfully represent to
your honourable body that he intermarried some time in the year 1824 with Mary Hester now
Mary
Fly that he lived with him and his wife together for about two years at which time his sd.
wife wilfully and maliciously deserted your petitioner without any just cause whatever and the
sd Mary has ever since continued absent without any good cause and she utterly refuses to live
with your petitioner Which facts your petitioner can establish in what ever manner your honourable
body may direct your petitioner
therefore prays that a special law may be passed divorcing him and his
sd. wife.
Signed:
Caleb Fly
We whose names are hereunto subscribed certifies that we are well
acquainted with Caleb Fly the above petitioner and we certify that the facts therein set forth
are true.
James Turner
(next page)
Elizabeth Bragg
William S. Garner
J.J. Grey Jane Garner
James Gray Stephen Oakley
W. Robinson
James Oakley, Sr.
Alexander Oakley
William Crawsley(?) Rebecker Ashworth
Isaac Mayes
_______ Ashworth
Elizabeth Oakley
_______ Mayes
Ann Oakley
Farriby Mayes
John Kinzey
Elizabeth Mayes Sarah Page (?)
William Folly William Kinzey
John J. Folly Drury Kinzey
James Lawry
Hartwell Porch
Jeremiah Turner
_____ Mayes
Rebecker Turner
Elizabeth R. Mayes, jr.
Benoni Adams
Laban Adams
(next page)
_______ Booker Charter
_______ Thomas J. Charter
Andrew Crittenden James J. Olifihunt
A Gray
John Mayes
Nowell Johnson Miles H. Mayes
A. K. Fitzjarrell
D. C. Oakley
Thomas Clendin
George A. Peeler
William Rives
John Hudgspeth
John Robinson
Mely Hudgspeth
William Fitzgerald William Edmondson
John Forgeson
Ailsey Turner
Abel Forgeson
Elizabeth Turner
Joseph A. Rives
Jacob G. Robison
________ Sparkman S. Kelly
Jane Reaves
_____ Oliphant
Ruth Reaves
Jesse Turner
William Daniel
Goodwin Mayes, Jr
(next page)
________ I was requested by Mr. Fly to go & see his wife _____
told me that she would never live with him again and under present sircumstances I think they
had better be divorsed as they have not lived together for five or six years & no
probabilbillity of there ever living together again Sept.
22nd. 1832.
signed: D. H. True (?)
Petition of Caleb Fly for Divorse 1832 no county
[54]
Soon after the filing of the petition, Mary Belle’s father Stephen Hester signed a deed of gift to his Fly grandchildren:
Oct. 27, 1834.
Stephen Hester "in consideration of the natural love and affection which
I have and bear unto my beloved grandchildren (to wit)
William M. Fly & Sarah Jane Fly"
gives.......
Wit: Wm. Edmondson, John J. Grey.
Signed: Stephen (his X mark) Hester.
Proved: Oct. 27, 1834 [55]
It has been claimed that Caleb and Mary Belle had daughters Melissa (1828) and Ruth (Sept. 19, 1834) while they were separated. If so, both had apparently died before Oct. of 1834 when Stephen Hester signed the deed of gift. Mary Belle rejoined her husband and they lived together until Mary’s demise.
Caleb was a strong supporter of Christianity:
Caleb Fly, John's son, also
preached under brush arbors before the first church building was erected. It is told that during one of the revivals held
under a brush arbor, the wind blew so hard that the preacher could not be heard.
Caleb prayed for the
wind to stop blowing so the people could hear. The wind stopped blowing. At the time another
revival was being held during a drought year on a clear night with bright shining stars,
Caleb
Fly again prayed and this time he prayed for it to rain. The next morning it was raining.
There is a mound of flat rocks marking a grave near the church
with the inscription C. Fly. No date is on this marker.
[56]
The inscription on the grave stone may mark the
resting place of Lawrence Fly’s son, Caleb.
John’s son Caleb moved to
A few years later, Caleb purchased land:
Dec. 23, 1837.
Jesse G. Rainey sells to
Caleb Fly for $175, land on waters of Leepers Creek, 160
& 1/2 acres. Bounded
by Davidson's Spring Branch, Wm. Gray,
Wit: R. L. Sutton (?), Simon Johnson.
signed: J.G. Rainey.
Ackn: Dec. 23, 1837
[57]
Caleb may have decided to follow some of his
brothers to
Feb. 28, 1840.
Eli Dodson Deed for 50 acres
conveyed by Caleb Fly
Registered
24th Sept. 1842 filed Sept. 20th, 1842
at 2 o'clock
_____________________________________
Caleb Fly, Sen. sells
to Eli Dodson for $85, land in district #18, 50 acres "more or less".
bounded by Brays east boundary, Wm. Edmondson's east boundary.
Wit: Robert A. Rease, James Caughron.
Signed:
Caleb Fly, Senr. Ackn: May 11, 1840
[58]
A Hester relative,
Eliza Hester, was included in another land sale. She may have been the
widow who perhaps wanted to move with Caleb and his wife.
Perhaps Eliza Hester was Mary Belle’s mother.
At any rate, Eliza did not appear in any
Aug. 31, 1843.
G.W. Fly deed for 158
acres
executed by Caleb Fly
& others
Recorded this 6th day of Sept. 1843 & filed _____ at 11 Oct. 40m A.M.
____________________________________
Caleb Fly, Sr. Mary B. Fly
wife of sd. Caleb Fly Sen. &
Eliza Hester sell to George W. Fly for $400, land on waters of Turkey Creek, 135 acres.
Bounded by "congressional" line, & one other tract being part of the same tract of land......Bounded (35 acre
tract) by Stephen Hester, decd. line, Kenney, Thomas, James Georges ( dark & hard to read)
Wit: Thompson Fleming,
Caleb Fly, Jr.
Signed:
Caleb Fly, Sr.,
Mary B. (her X mark) Fly, Eliza (her X mark) Hester.
Proved: Sept. 2, 1843
Sept. 2 ,1843. Private exam of
Mary B. Fly (the femme covert) ordered
Sept. 4, 1843. Exam reported- consent given freely
[59]
Caleb moved to
The Louise mentioned was most likely Lorenzo Lafayette Fly. There was a daughter, Louise, born in 1850, who died the same year. Caleb and Mary Belle also were the parents of Frances (1837), A. G. (1843), who did not survive long.
Mary died about 1870 in Yalobusha and Caleb died after 1880. In 1880 he was living in the household of his son Fletcher Asbury Fly.
Rev. John Fly
Descendant Tree
m. Sarah Jane Trader
3b.-i.
m.
Catherine Mabry, 1810
3b.-i.-1
George Washington
Fly (1811-1852)
m.
Wineford Ann Eliza Lacy, 1832
3b.-i.-2.
Caleb Fly
(1812-1852)
m.
Elizabeth Holland, 1834
3b.-i.-3.
John Fly
(ca.1816-ca.1863)
m.
Frances Belcher, 1844
3b.-i.-4.
Matilda Fly
(1818-1874)
m.
Jeremiah Hill, 1838
3b.-i.-5.
Martisha Fly
(1818-1889)
m.
Peter Burton Ladd, 1837
3b.-i.-6.
Sterling Brown
Fly (1823-1884)
m.
Emeline Ann Barnes, 1842
3b.-i.-7.
William Henry
Fly (1825-1890)
m.
Mary Jane Kinzer, 1849
m.
Maria W. Yancy, 1870
3b.-i.-8. Andrew Jackson
Fly (1826-1905)
m.
Hannah Kinzer, 1860
3b.-i.-9.
Joshua Newton
Fly
(1827-1899)
m.
Miriam Warden Allen, 1852
3b.-i.-10.
Benjamin Franklin Fly (1832-1896)
m.
Catherine E. Kinzer, 1860
m. Mary N. Champion, 1888
3b.-i.-11.
Elizabeth F.
Fly (1834-aft.1900)
m.
3b.-i.-12.
Mary Catherine
Fly (1836- ?)
m.
Dr. Joseph M. Bennett, 1864
3b.-i.-13.
Nola Fly
(1836- ?)
m.
Daniel Estes
3b.-ii. William Fly (1794-1855)
m.
Mary Mitchell, 1810
3b.-ii.-1.
Andrew Tate
Mitchell Fly (1811-1855)
m. Eliza Jones, 1831
3b.-ii.-2.
Sarah Jane Fly
(1814-1829)
3b.-ii.-3.
John Dalton Fly
(1816-1899)
m.
Martha J. I. Divine, 1842
m. Julia Fletcher Stokes, 1848
m.
Eleanora Compton, 1866
3b.-ii.-4.
David
Williamson Fly (1819-1892)
m.
Frances Rachel Harper, 1849
3b.-ii.-5.
Elijah Madden
Fly (1823-1899)
m.
Nancy Edmondson McKie, 1848
3b.-ii.-6.
Mary Malinda
Fly (1826-1905)
m.
Rev. Asbury Davidson, 1844
3b.-ii.-7.
Benjamin
Franklin Fly (1827-1895)
m.
Sarah B. Robards, 1847
3b.-ii.-8.
Sophia Lousiana
Fly (1827-1905)
m.
Rev. William Henry Seat, 1848
3b.-ii-9.
Elvira Josephine Fly
(1831-1896)
m.
Thomas J. Catchings, 1851
3b.-ii-10.
George
Washington
m.
Mary Caroline Bell, 1857
3b.-ii-11.
Jules Leonidas
Fly (1838-1847)
3b.-iii.
Mary
Fly (1797-1827)
m. James Mitchell, 1817
3b.-iv.
David Fly
(1799-1870)
m. Martha McCarter Younger, 1818
3b.-v.
Joshua T. Fly
(1800-1875)
m.
Sarah Jane Blackburn, 1820
3b.-vi.
John Fly
(1802-1884)
m.
Sarah McCracken, 1824
m.
Serena Webb, 1839
3b.-vii.
Sarah L. Fly
(1803-1874)
m.
William Blackburn, 1820
3b.-viii.
Caleb Fly
(1808-1881)
m.
Mary Belle Hester, 1824
m.
m. Sarah Lavinia Daniels, 1847
[1]
Letter of Ralph
Hill, photo of John Fly’s tombstone
[2]
[3]
Williamson Co., TN Deed Book A 2, p. 512
[4]
Davidson
Co., TN Deed Book E, p. 204
[5]
Williamson.
[6] His name was not
John D. Fly! John
Dixon Fly was a cousin and son of the John Fly who died in
[7] McFerrin’s
History of Methodism in
[8]
Letter of Ralph Hill, descendant of Spencer Hill
[9]
Shouse, Jewel Baker, March 1984
[10] Maury Co., TN
Deed Book-F, p. 42
[11]
Letter of Ralph Hill
[12] National
Archives, War of 1812 file for John Fly
[13]
Williamson.
[14]
Maury Co., TN, Deed Book W
[15]
Williamson Co., TN, Deed Book N, p. 34
[16]
Williamson Co., TN, Deed Book P, 254
[17] National
Archives, Lawrence Fly pension application War of 1812
[18] Williamson Co.,
TN, Deed Book Z, p. 200
[19]
National Archives, War of 1812 Pension Application
[20] Family
Search.org- TN Probate Court Files, 1795-1927.
Williamson. County Court Wills Image 150
[21]
Maury Co., TN, Deed Book Vol. II
C, p. 457
[22]
Maury Co., TN, Deed Book Vol. II
D, p. 59
[23] Maury
[24]
(Maury Co. Deeds, Bk. Z-1, p. 126)
[25] (Williamson co.
DB V, p. 239)
[26]
Letter of Ralph Hill
[27]
Williamson Co., TN Deed Book Y,
p. 588
[28]
Maury Co., TN Wills F, p. 327
[29] Williamson Co., TN Deed Book V, p. 404
[30] Williamson Co.,
TN Deed Book X, p. 250
[31] Maury Co., TN
Wills, p. 71
[32] Letter of Ralph
Hill
[33]
Maury Co., TN Deed Book E, p. 283
[34] Maury Co., TN
Deed Book P, p. 253
[35]
Maury Co., TN Deed Book L, 311
[36]
Maury Co., TN Deed Book M, 418
[37] Yalobusha Co.,
[38] Yalobusha Co., MS Deed Book C, p.4
[39] Yalobusha Co.,
[40]
Maury Co., TN Wills, p. 114
[41]
Maury Co., Deed Book R, p. 295
[42]
Maury Co., TN Wills, p. 240
[43]
Yalobusha
[44]
Yalobusha
[45]
Yalobusha
[46]
Maury Co., TN Wills, p. 242
[47]
Maury Co., TN Deed Book R, p. 393
[48] Yalobusha
[49] Yalobusha
[50]
Yalobusha
[51]
Maury Co., TN Deed Book Y, p.609
[52]
Maury Co., TN Deed Book VII C, p. 524
[53] MD, Oct. 13,
1898
[54] Photocopy of
Petition, Letter of Barbara McCoy 2001
[55] Maury Co. TN
Deed Book R, p. 433
[56] Compiled in
March, 1984 by Jewell Baker Shouse
[57] Maury Co., TN
Deed Book U, p. 338
[58] Maury Co., TN
Deed Book Z-1, p. 137
[59]
Maury Co., TN Deed Book
Z-1, p. 598
