John Tollett, Jr.[1, 2]
1790 - 1863 (72 years)-
Name John Tollett Suffix Jr. Born Oct 02, 1790 Montgomery county, Virginia, USA 
[1, 3] Gender Male Census Oct 11, 1850 Bledsoe county, Tennessee, USA [4] Census Jun 27, 1860 Pikeville, Bledsoe county, Tennessee, USA [5] Died May 01, 1863 Grassy Cove, Bledsoe county, Tennessee, USA [1] Buried John Tollett Cemetery, Bledsoe county, Tennessee, USA Notes - John Tollett was thirteen when his family moved to Tennessee. They settled in an area of Roane County that later became Bledsoe County and then Cumberland County. They were among the first settlers in the area and the land was still virgin forests. His brothers mark, David and Henry were all surveyors for Surveyors District 4 for east Tennessee.
He owned large tracts of land and owned a mill and a store. A town called Iredell was at Tollett's Mill and store in 1833. In 1824 John was given a power of attorney to settle his father's affairs in Tennessee.
John had a lot of slaves who worked around the place and in his home. Older members of the family remember how devoted his slaves were to him and his wife. John donated the land for the Tollett Cemetery. It had a section set aside for his slaves. The slave's graves were marked with field stones. The first person buried in the cemetery was john's wife, Nancy, in 1842.
A house he built near the cemetery was still standing in 1980. Most of his twelve children married and remained in Tennessee. Those that stayed remained in East Tennessee.
John was apparently a man of strong beliefs. It is said that when he rode up to a house, he wouldn't dismount until someone came out, welcomed him, and invited him in. He did this regardless of the weather; pouring rain, a blizzard, etc. John might have to wait a long time, but he would not dismount until he was invited to do so.
Tradition stays that sticking to his convictions led to his death. During the Civil War, bands of renegades plundered the countryside. John was well known for his wealth and he supposedly had gold buried near his home. Some renegades, possibly soldiers, tried to make him tell where his gold was buried. They put a chain around his head and slowly tightened it. He refused to tell as his skull burst and his brains spilled out. They didn't get the information and, as far as is known, the gold was never found [Tollett, Jane. "Of Such As These", 1980, pages 52, 53].
Person ID I149951 mykindred Last Modified Nov 29, 2008
Father Rev. John Tollett, b. 1757, Augusta county, Virginia, USA , d. Oct 16, 1824, Hempstead county, Arkansas, USA (Age 67 years) Mother Margaret Brown, b. 1760, Woods Creek, Bordens Grant, Lexington, Virginia, USA , d. May 02, 1844, Red River county, Republic of Texas, USA (Age 84 years) Married 1784 Montgomery county, Virginia, USA [6, 7, 8] Family ID F49252 Group Sheet | Family Chart
- John Tollett was thirteen when his family moved to Tennessee. They settled in an area of Roane County that later became Bledsoe County and then Cumberland County. They were among the first settlers in the area and the land was still virgin forests. His brothers mark, David and Henry were all surveyors for Surveyors District 4 for east Tennessee.
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Sources - [S2700] Descendants of Markus Tollett.
- [S2666] Gedcom - Coup, William.
- [S2667] Glenn Kennedy, email.
Change Virginia to Sevier Co, Ark - [S4251] 1850 US federal census, 1850 census, TN, Bledsoe, p 388 (M432-870), HH 506/506.
- [S136] 1860 US federal census, 1860 census, TN, Bledsoe, Pikeville, p 31, (M653-1240, 396), HH 241/241.
- [S2687] Joe Michael Tollett to George T. Brown, Jr., 1 Feb.
- [S2696] Of Such As These, page 51.
- [S2697] Texas Society, DAR Roster, "Revolutionary Ancestor, Volume VIII, page 2126.
- [S2700] Descendants of Markus Tollett.
