Payne – Shelby County, TNGenWeb

PEYTON, Presley Ross (Biography)

Presley Ross Peyton “P.R.,” 20 years old, lived with his 45 year old, widowed mother, Sarah Peyton, in Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee by 1850 (5^th District). (The 1840 Shelby County, Tennessee Census lists Sarah Peyton with several children.) Presley was born 14 Nov 1828 in Kentucky and died bef. 1870 Shelby County, Tennessee. He married (1) Indiana Leake and (2) Martha Brooks, both daughters of early settlers to Shelby County.

Presley Ross Peyton married (1) Indiana Herodine Leake 31 Jan 1854. She was born ca. 1823 in Goochland Co., Virginia to Richard Leake (ca. 1794 VA – July 1850 Shelby Co., TN) and Sophie T. Anderson (24 Jan 1797 – 27 Oct 1830). Richard, his second wife/sister-in-law, Mary T. Anderson, and his brother, Col. Samuel Leake, migrated to Shelby County ca. 1833. Indiana died bef. 1867 in the Morning Grove (Richard’s property) / Morning Sun area (Col. Sam’s property). Issue: Ellen S. Peyton (1857 Shelby, TN – 12/30/1931 Memphis) and India Leake Peyton (b. ca. 1859 Shelby, TN).

Indiana H. Leake married (1) James W. Lenow (25 Oct 1809 Southampton County, VA – 1850, Louisville, KY) ca. 1842. Issue: Josephine Lenow (b. ca. 1844 Shelby, TN) and James Horace Lenow (b. ca. 1850 Shelby, TN). James W. Lenow married (1) a Virginian,Elizabeth Babb, bef. 1837. Issue: Frances Louisa Lenow (b. ca. 1837 VA) and John Henry Lenow (b. ca. 1839 TN).

Presley R. Peyton married (2) Martha A. Brooks “Mattie” (6 Jan 1847 Memphis – 15 Aug 1940 Memphis) bef. Nov 1867 and died shortly after their marriage. Mattie was the oldest daughter of James Monroe Brooks and Mary Ann Kingston of Memphis and Fisherville, TN. She attended St. Agnes Academy and Calvary Episcopal Church. Widowed early in marriage, Mattie lived with her parent’s family from 1870 to 1920 and never re-married. In 1863 she witnessed the property confiscation by Union soldiers on the Brooks’ plantation and testified to the Southern Claims Commission in 1872 in Memphis. She is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Memphis. (See Brooks)

Issue of Martha Brooks and Presley Peyton

Walter R. Peyton (18 Nov 1867 – 22 Apr 1938 Memphis). A produce merchant for George Bloom Produce Co., he was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Memphis.

Dr. May L. Peyton (22 January 1869 Fisherville, Shelby, TN – 23 July 1948 in Memphis) was the 1^st woman dentist to practice in the city of Memphis (1903-1938). She married Dr. William Wyatt Brooks before 1897 in Memphis and entered dental school after their marriage. She graduated from Northwestern University in Chicago with 2^nd honors in a class of 300 men. She was a lifetime member of the State Dental Society and the American Dental Association. “Aunt May” was described small woman who always wore black. Fiercely independent, assertive, and demanding respect, those who visited her dental chair remained quiet and compliant. She and her husband, Wyatt, divorced after which time May lived at the luxurious Gayoso hotel with her parents and remained there after their deaths. They are buried in Forest Hill Cemetery.

May’s husband, Dr. William Wyatt Brooks (3 May 1859 – 18 March 1927), son of John H. Brooks and Margaret J. Wright, was the foremost pyorrhea specialist in the south. Wyatt’s step-father, Dr. Shelton Hinson, one of Memphis’ first dentists, inspired Wyatt, May and others to enter the field of dentistry. May mentored her younger cousin, Dr. Ardenne Hinson, who, in turn mentored her nephew, Dr. Robert Black, in shared dental practices. Their only child, Dr. Ruth Brooks (ca. 6 Jan 1897 Memphis – ca. 15 Dec 1971 CA), attended Randolph Macon, the University of Chicago, and the University of Tennessee to become a dentist. She met Dr. John H. A. Campbell, D.D.S., Ph.D. at the University of Chicago and married in Memphis. They moved to Los Angeles and had a daughter, Mary L. Campbell. (See Wright and Hinson)

PEYTON ANCESTRY

This line descends from Capt. Valentine Peyton of Virginia (1687-1751) and Henry Peyton of Lincoln’s Inn, London (1590-1656).

Presley Ross Peyton was the son of Craven Peyton (1794 Jefferson Co., KY – 1833) and Sarah Fleming Payne (1795 VA – 1853 Memphis) who married in Shelby County, KY in 1813. Craven Peyton’s (1794) parents were William Peyton (1753 Loudoun Co., VA – 18 Aug 1811 Bullitt Co., KY) and Mary Ross (21 Nov 1769 Loudoun Co., VA – 25 Dec 1841 Hartford, Ohio Co., KY). William Peyton’s parents were Craven Peyton (b. 1732 Aquia Creek, Stafford Co., VA) and Ann West. Mary Ross’ parents were Lawrence Ross and Susannah Oldham. Craven Peyton’s (1732) parents were Col. Valentine Peyton and Frances Linton. Sarah Fleming Payne’s parents were Dennis Payne and Nancy Combs. Dennis Payne’s parents were Cuthbert Combs and Sarah Evans.

Presley Ross Peyton’s older brothers were Dr. William Peyton (b. 1817), Dr. Craven Peyton (b. 1821), and Dr. Thomas Fleming Peyton (10 May 1823 Mount Vernon, KY – 14 Feb 1878 Shelby, TN). Thomas married Martha Custis Woolsey (1832 Brunswick County, Virginia – 1892 Shelby, TN) and lived in Shelby County. The 1860 Shelby, TN Census lists Thomas F., 37, b. in KY, Martha, 27, b. in VA, Emma, 4, b. in TN, James, 24, attorney, b. in VA, and Virginia, 20, b. in MS. By 1870 the children listed were: Emma, 12, Fanny, 9, Sally, 6, Anna, 4, and Ashby, 2. “During the Civil War when medicine was so scarce, Martha Woolsey Peyton slipped through the Yankee lines in Memphis to secure some badly needed quinine for her husband’s patients. She was able to get the medicine which she put in the hem of her petticoat but was caught by the Yankees and put in jail. Martha was forced to pledge allegiance to the U.S. Army before they would release her.”

Sources

Edna Barney, “Peytons Along the Aquia Genealogy”

Shirley Sigler Chamberlin, “A History of Cuba, Tennessee with Family Accounts and Genealogy,” Millington, TN

The Peyton Society of Virginia, “The Peytons of Virginia II”

Submitted by Brenda B. Watson

PEYTON, Sarah Fleming Payne (Biography)

Sarah Fleming Payne (29 Sep 1795 VA – 14 Sep 1853 Shelby Co., TN) and Craven Peyton (20 Oct 1794 Jefferson Co., KY – 23 Jan 1833) married in Shelby County, Kentucky Dec 1813 and bore their children in that state. Issue: Emily (1815), Dr. William (1817), Mary Chichester (1819), Dr. Craven (1821), Dr. Thomas Fleming (1823), Valentine Miner (1825), Presley Ross (1828), and Volney H. By 1840 Craven Peyton had died and Sarah and seven children migrated from Kentucky to Shelby County, Tennessee. By 1850 Sarah and her son Presley lived in the 5^th District of Memphis near her daughter and son-in-law, Emily and George Y. Smith. She may have run a boarding house; there were seven unrelated residents in her home.

Dr. Thomas Fleming Peyton (10 May 1823 Mount Vernon, KY – 14 Feb 1878 Shelby Co., TN), son of Sarah and Craven, married Martha Custis Woolsey (1832 Brunswick Co., VA – 1892 Shelby Co., TN). He practiced medicine in Memphis and in north Shelby County. The 1860 Shelby, TN census lists Thomas F., 37, b. KY, Martha, 27, b. VA, Emma, 4, b. TN, James, 24, attorney, b. VA, and Virginia, 20, b. MS. By 1870 the children listed were: Emma, 12, Fanny, 9, Sally, 6, Anna, 4, and Ashby, 2. “During the Civil War when medicine was so scarce, Martha Woolsey Peyton slipped through the Yankee lines in Memphis to secure some badly needed quinine for her husband’s patients. She was able to get the medicine which she put in the hem of her petticoat but was caught by the Yankees and put in jail. Martha was forced to pledge allegiance to the U.S. Army before they would release her.” (A History of Cuba, Tennessee, Chamberlin, Millington, TN)

Presley Ross Peyton (14 Nov 1828 KY – bef. 1870 Shelby Co., TN), son of Sarah and Craven, married (1) Indiana Herodine Leake 31 Jan 1854 in Shelby County. She was born ca. 1823 in Goochland County, Virginia to Richard Leake (ca. 1794 VA – July 1850 Shelby Co., TN) and Sophie T. Anderson (24 Jan 1797 – 27 Oct 1830). Richard, his second wife and sister-in-law, Mary T. Anderson, and his brother, Col. Samuel Leake, migrated to Shelby County ca. 1833. Indiana died bef. 1867 at Morning Grove (Richard’s property) in the Morning Sun area (Col. Sam’s property). Issue: Ellen S. Peyton (1857 Shelby Co., TN – 30 Dec 1931 Memphis) and India Leake Peyton (b. ca. 1859 Shelby Co., TN).

Indiana H. Leake married (1) James W. Lenow (25 Oct 1809 Southampton Co., VA – 1850 Louisville, KY) ca. 1842. Issue: Josephine (b. ca. 1844 Shelby Co., TN) and James Horace (b. ca. 1850 Shelby Co., TN). James W. Lenow married (1) a Virginian, Elizabeth Babb, bef. 1837. Issue: Frances Louisa (b. ca. 1837 VA) and John Henry (b. ca. 1839 TN).

Presley R. Peyton married (2) Martha “Mattie” A. Brooks (6 Jan 1847 Memphis – 15 Aug 1940 Memphis) bef. Nov 1867 and died shortly after their marriage. Mattie was the daughter of James M. Brooks and Mary Ann Kingston. She attended St. Agnes Academy and Calvary Episcopal Church. Widowed early, Mattie lived with her parent’s family from 1870 to 1920. In 1863 she witnessed the property confiscation by Union soldiers on the Brooks’ plantation and testified to the Southern Claims Commission in 1872 in Memphis. She is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Memphis. (see Brooks)

Issue of Martha Brooks and Presley Peyton

Walter R. Peyton (18 Nov 1867 – 22 Apr 1938 Memphis), a produce merchant for George Bloom Produce Co., was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Memphis.

Dr. May L. Peyton (22 January 1869 Fisherville, Shelby Co., TN – 23 July 1948 Memphis) was the first woman dentist to practice in Memphis (1903-1938). She married Dr. William Wyatt Brooks before 1897 in Memphis and entered dental school after her marriage. She graduated from Northwestern University with 2^nd honors in a class of 300 men and was lifetime members of the State Dental Society and American Dental Association. “Aunt May” was described as a small woman who always wore black. Fiercely independent, assertive, and demanding respect, every patient remained quiet and compliant. She and her husband, Wyatt, divorced after which time May lived at the luxurious Gayoso Hotel until her death. May mentored her younger cousin, Dr. Ardenne Hinson, who in turn mentored her nephew, Dr. Robert Black, in shared dental practices. She is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery. May’s only child, Dr. Ruth Brooks (ca. 6 Jan 1897 Memphis – ca. 15 Dec 1971 CA), attended Randolph Macon, the University of Chicago, and the University of Tennessee and became a dentist. She met Dr. John H. A. Campbell, D.D.S., Ph.D. at the University of Chicago and married in Memphis. They moved to Los Angeles and had a daughter, Mary L.

PEYTONS and PAYNES of VIRGINIA

The Peyton Society of Virginia

“The Paynes of Virginia,” C. J. Carrier Co., Harrisonburg, VA 1990

Craven Peyton (1794) was the son of William Peyton (1753 VA – 1811 KY) and Mary Ross (1769 VA – ca. 1841 KY). William Peyton was the son of Craven Peyton (b. 1732 VA) and Ann West. Mary Ross was the daughter of Lawrence Ross and Susannah Oldham. Craven Peyton (1732) was the son of Col. Valentine Peyton of Virginia (1687-1751) and Frances Linton.

Sarah Fleming Payne was the daughter of Dennis Payne (1789 KY – bef 1825 KY) and Nancy Combs (b. ca. 1788 VA). Dennis Payne was the son of William Payne (1755 VA – 1829 KY) and Mary Grymes. Nancy was the daughter of Cuthbert Combs, Sr. and Sarah Evans.

Submitted by Brenda B. Watson

FLETCHER, Payton (Biography)

Peyton Fletcher (ca. 1800 – ca. 1855 Fisherville, Shelby, TN), a former soldier of one of the Indian Wars, arrived in Shelby County by 1836 (Tax List) after marrying in 1830 in Davidson Co., TN. He became a highly successful planter in eastern Shelby County with large land holdings. Reported to have been born in Kentucky, Tennessee was listed as his state of birth on the 1850 Census, and Georgia, in his daughter’s 1880 Census. He married Sarah W. Graves (ca. 1795 Virginia – 1853 Fisherville, Shelby, TN) on 26 Jan 1830 in Davidson County, TN. Because he was listed in the Davidson County Census in that same year (1830) with 6 children under the age of 20, Peyton and/or Sarah probably had been previously married and widowed. (Graves may not have been Sarah’s maiden name.) Peyton and Sarah lived in Fisherville May 1836 through 1850. Peyton was appointed to several positions of public service: determined term of court elected officials, made a list of taxable property, and held elections.

Issue of Sarah Graves and Peyton Fletcher

Mary Jane Fletcher (7 Feb 1831 – 27 Feb 1907) married (1) James M. Rodgers (ca. 1830-1853) on 22 Jun 1850. Issue: Sallie Peyton Rodgers (b. 12 Aug 1851) married Mr. Brittingham. Mary Jane married (2) William George Hooker (1822 Amherst Co., VA – 1861 Fayette Co., TN) on 7 Jan 1855, brother of Frederick Augustus Hooker (ca. 1816 Henrico Co., VA – 1877 Fisherville). Issue: John Hooker (b. ca. 1849), William Hooker (b. ca. 1852), Alice Hooker (b. ca. 1859) and Andrew T. Hooker (b. 1860). Alice married John A. Nolley (b. 5 Mar 1850 TN). Issue: William T. P. Nolley (b. ca. 1879 TN), Nannie Lou, Georgia, Arrie Virginia, and Alice Alabama. John A. Nolley was the son of William Norris Nolley and Sarah G. Smith of Virginia.

Virginia Adeline Fletcher (1834 Shelby, TN – bef. 1870 AR) married James A. Brown. “James A. Brown of Saline County, was born in Lincoln County, Tenn., in 1829, and is the son of John and Nancy Brown, born in NC in 1807 and in TN in 1825, respectively. The parents were married in Lincoln County, and a few years after their union, moved to Fayette County, West Tenn., where they resided until the year 1853, then coming to Arkansas. His wife died in 1853, and he followed her two years later (1855). He was a son of James Brown, of North Carolina. In 1851 he was married in Shelby County, Tenn., to Virginia, a daughter of Payton and Sarah Fletcher of Kentucky, who settled in Tennessee after their marriage, the father becoming one of the largest planters in Shelby County. Mr. Fletcher was also a soldier in one of the Indian wars. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were the parents of seven children” (continued in Biography from Goodspeed’s “History of Saline County, Arkansas”)

Caroline Fletcher (1837 Shelby, TN – aft. 1850)

Andrew Jackson Fletcher “A. J. Fletcher” (18 Sep 1842 Shelby, TN – 30 Dec 1881 Shelby, TN) was a farmer in Eads and a Mason in nearby Morning Sun. A.J. married (1) Nancy Annie Payne Hooker (ca. 1848 Fisherville, Shelby, TN – ca. 1869 Collierville, Shelby, TN) on 11 Sep 1863. She was the daughter of Frederick Augustus Hooker and Sarah Ann Payne (ca. 1817 Hopkinsville, KY – aft. 1870 in Shelby Co., TN), early settlers of eastern Shelby County. Issue of A.J. and Nancy: Andrew Peyton “Major” Fletcher (8 Jun 1866 – 10 Jan 1907 Fisherville, Shelby, TN) married Nancy Hooker (b. 1870), daughter of Joseph Stanton Hooker (1845 Fisherville, Shelby Co., TN – 1927 Fisherville, Shelby Co., TN) and Malissa Ann Pride (1849 Wilson Co., TN – 1917 Fisherville, Shelby Co., TN). Joseph was a son of Frederick A. Hooker. Issue of Major and Nancy: Llano Duette Fletcher (1904-1992) married John Bert Hooker. Andrew “Major” is buried in Bethany Christian Church Cemetery, Shelby, TN. Occupation???

A.J. married (2) Mary Elizabeth “Mollie” Brooks (6 Mar 1851
Fisherville, TN – 1 Sep 1920 Memphis) on 17 Dec 1873. She was the daughter of James M. Brooks and Mary Ann Kingston. Their children were born on the Fletcher farm in Eads, eastern Shelby County. After Mollie was widowed at an early age with 5 children, she lived in their home and built and taught at her own private school (ca. 1880-1900) behind their home in Eads. Mollie moved to Memphis, ca. 1900, and lived with her daughter Maggie. Mollie was a founding member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Memphis, organized in 1902. She is buried in Forest Hill. (See Brooks)

Issue of Mary Elizabeth Brooks and “A.J.” Fletcher

Kingston Fletcher (22 Nov 1874 – 24 Sep 1875)

Mattie Daisy Fletcher (13 Dec 1875 – 8 Jul 1925 Memphis) married Shelton Hinson, Jr. on 29 Aug 1893. Issue: Mary Ardenne, Henry Riner, Margaret Fleda, James Shelton, and Arlene. The family is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery. (See Hinson and Wright). Insert picture!

Maggie Coralline/Cecil Fletcher (12 Mar 1877 – 9 Apr 1950 Memphis) married (1) Henry Riner “H.R.” Eslinger (1841 Preble, OH – 1913 Memphis) in 1902. He
was the first Superintendent of Forest Hill Cemetery, Memphis.
Henry fought for Ohio in the Civil War (Private, Ohio Inf., Co. D, 184^th Reg.).
Maggie was Henry’s 3^rd wife. They lived in the home-mortuary on the
Cemetery grounds. The family is buried in the Hinson lot. Issue: Henry
Riner Eslinger Jr. (1905–1930). Maggie married (2) George William Campbell (1875 PA – 1932 Memphis) ca. 1915. Issue: Helen Jackie Campbell (1917-2000) who married J.C. Harrison from KY.

Patrick Earl Fletcher (30 Apr 1878 – 14 Nov 1910 Paducah, KY), railroad worker, married Mamie E. Issue: Earl Cleburn, Clarence, and Dorothy who moved to Texas with their mother after Earl’s death on the railroad.

Andrew Jay Fletcher (27 Nov 1880 Eads, Shelby Co., TN – 7 Aug 1943 Memphis), engine foreman with the IC Railroad, married Florence Marie Scarce (19 May 1908 Cayce, KY – 11 Jun 1989 Paris, TN). Issue: Riner Jay (b. 1936).

Submitted by Brenda B. Watson