First Settler of Crockett County, Tennessee
Defining the areas of Haywood, Madison, Dyer and Gibson counties that were to become a part of Crockett County required a close look at the boundaries of all four counties. In addition, a search was made into the settlement patterns and timeline that took place in the settling of the counties. In order to determine the person that history reveals as the first settler, it was necessary to determine the first county settled. After a close examination of early records, it was evident that Madison County was the first county formed of the four counties that became a part of Crockett County.
Records reveal that the first settler who took up his land grant in the area that became Crockett County was Major Joel Henry Dyer, who moved to his tract of land, in the fall of 1821.
Major Dyer and his large family can be given credit for making the most impact on the early settlement and civil affairs of three of the counties, Madison, Dyer and Haywood, that gave up some of their territories for the establishment of Crockett County.
Major Dyer’s former homestead, located in the area that encompasses the first civil district of the county, was the first plantation established in the area that was to become Crockett County. A grant of 831 ½ acres was made to Joel and Sallie Jones Dyer and they moved onto the tract of land, 28 Sep 1821. The grant was located south of the Middle Fork of the Forked Deer River in northwestern Madison County (later Crockett County), Tennessee. The grants read as follows: To all whom these presents shall come greeting. Know ye that by virtue of Certificate No. 1941, dated the 10th day of October 1820, issued by the Board of Commissioners of West Tennessee to Joel Dyer and Sally Jones Dyer, his wife and their heirs a certain tract or parcel of land containing eight hundred and thirty one and one half acres by survey bearing date the 10th of Feb 1821, lying in the 10th/surveyor’s/district in _ county (left blank as the land when entered was technically a part of Stewart County, but became part of Madison County when it was established late in 1821) in range three and section ten and bounded as follows, to wit, Beginning at William Pillow’s north boundary line of Entry No. 12232 poles west of his north east corner at a sweet gum and black oak, thence north three hundred and twenty poles to a black walnut and black gum, thence west four hundred and nineteen and five tenth poles to a dogwood and black oak, thence south two hundred and forty four poles and five tenths of a pole to a black oak and post oak on the line of Entry No. 64, thence east nineteen and four tenth poles to his corner, then south seventy five and five tenth poles to Pillow’s corner, thence east four hundred and one tenth poles to the beginning with the hereditaments and appurtenances. To have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land with its hereditaments and appurtenances to the said Joel Dyer and Sally Jones Dyer and their heirs forever. In witness whereof William Carroll Governor of the State of Tennessee hath hereunto set his hand and caused the Great Seal of the State to be affixed at Murfreesboro on the 11th day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty two, and of the independence of the United States the forty sixth. Signed by the governor, William Carroll and Daniel Graham, Secretary of the State. (Note: This was during the period of time Murfreesboro was the capitol of the State.)
The above survey indicates that there were no inhabitants living on the adjoining properties, since Colonel William Pillow, a soldier of the War of 1812, had received the grant for his services and settled elsewhere. A current map would locate the plantation split by the present Adair Road and split again by Pearson’s Creek.
Major Dyer owned many additional acres of land in West Tennessee, but this was his home-place. His grave has no marker and the location is in doubt, but he was probably buried in an unmarked grave in the Pearson Cemetery, on Joe Edwards Road. Major Dyer’s farm was located in this area and this was the place where he and his second wife, Sarah Jones Dyer raised their large family. Their children were Dracula C. Dyer, Joel S. Dyer, Charles C. Dyer, James M. Dyer, Cornelia J. Dyer, and Sarah Ann Dyer.
Major Dyer’s oldest son, Colonel Robert Henry Dyer, preceded his father to Madison County arriving in 1820. Colonel Dyer was one of the motivating citizens who help to form the new government of Madison County, and was one of the first Commissioners. The remainder of Major Dyer’s children by his first wife followed him to Madison County.
Joel Dyer, William H. Dyer, and Robert Henry Dyer signed the petition, dated, 18 day of August 1821, to the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee asking that the assembly relieve them of their hardships in living in the unorganized state of the area and requesting that the area be formed into counties to better serve their needs. Robert H. Dyer andWilliam H. Dyer were sons of Major Joel Dyer by his first wife. Major Dyer’s daughters, by his first marriage, were Maria Dyer who married Daniel Madding; Charlotte Dyer, who married Blackman Coleman; and Mary Henrietta Dyer, who married Henry L. Gray.
Major Joel Henry Dyer received his commission in the Tennessee State Militia, in Hawkins County, 4 Oct 1796. Colonel Robert Henry Dyer received his commission and appointment to the Regiment of Calvary, 5th Brigade, 16 Oct 1807, in Rutherford County, Tennessee. He received his promotion to Captain in the same brigade on, 5 August 1810. Colonel Dyer was commander of the 1st Regiment of Volunteer Mounted Calvary in the War of 1812.
Captain Blackman Coleman’s company served under the command of Colonel John Coffee’s Tennessee Volunteer Calvary. Captain Coleman served as County Court Clerk for Rutherford County, Tennessee from the founding of the county until he resigned to move to Haywood County where he became County Court Clerk, serving until his death.
On 20 Jun 1823, Major Dyer, with his wife’s consent, conveyed to Blackman Coleman, in trust for Mary H. Dyer, wife of Henry L. Gray and her son, James William Gray and any other children she might have, the western half of the 831 ½ acre tract granted to them, reserving for himself and his wife that portion (east) on which the “improvements,” residence and outhouses were located. The Grays took up residence on the property and were living there when Major Dyer died.
On May 19, 1825, a few days before his death, Major Dyer conveyed in trust to Daniel Madding of Haywood County, Tennessee, for his wife, Sarah J. Dyer, the 416 1/8th acre eastern portion of the 831 ½ acres that had been granted them in 1822, being the tract where I now live along with 274 acres on the Middle Fork of the Forked Deed River on which William L. Mitchell, of Dyer County, held a 54 acre claim and Robert Hay held a 60 acre location claim; also 910 acres in Haywood County on the South Fork of the Forked Deer River, being a residue of 5000 acres granted by North Carolina to Benjamin Smith and later bought by Joel Dyer; a bond of John McIver for 740 acres; several notes due him; household furnishings and farming implements and the slaves, Jacob, Lydia and Tilla.
The above 910 acres, located in Haywood County, was where Sally Dyer lived in the 1830 census of Haywood County. She owned twenty slaves. Nearby is her son, Joel H. Dyer, Jr., listed owning five slaves. In addition, found living in Haywood County, in 1830, were Joel Dyer’s older children, Charlotte, and her husband Blackman Coleman; and Mary L., with her husband, Henry L. Gray. Colonel Robert Dyer and Major William Dyer, sons of Joel Dyer remained in Madison County, Tennessee.
Major Joel Henry Dyer died, 11 Jun 1825. His obituary in the first newspaper for the new county follows: 18 Jun 1825: At his residence in this county on Saturday morning last, Major Joel Dyer, aged seventy-one, one of the few surviving soldiers of the Revolutionary War. Major Dyer was an early settler in Middle Tennessee, from whence he removed to this District in 1821. He was a man much respected for his benevolence of character and esteemed by all who knew him, as a good Citizen and an honest man. He has left an affectionate wife, and upwards of 100 descendants and a large number of relatives and friends to regret his death. He was confined with the dropsy for several months and although in great pain he bore his afflictions with fortitude and died without a murmur. Thus we see the soldiers of the Revolution falling around us like the leaves of the majestic oak, before an autumnal blast; but although they are consigned to their mother dust, their deeds of valour and the glorious result of their patriotic devotion to their country, will live in our recollections, and their names be handed down to the latest generation.
Sally Dyer sold the 415 acre plantation after her husband died, 15 Dec 1830, to Samuel Tomlin. She died on her plantation near Brownsville, 14 Dec 1831.
The Dyer plantation, in Crockett County, was sold several times finally winding up, for the most part, being owned by Henry J. Pearson, whose name the creek that runs through the property derives it name.
Major Dyer owned land in the area that was to become Dyer County, and the county was named in his honor.
(This short biography of Major Joel Henry Dyer has been excerpted from the book, “Early Settlers of Crockett County, 1821-1830”, being compiled for publication. The sketch was drawn by Harry Nichol Spraiter, my grandson, who is the illustrator of my book, “Campbell Station, Its Place In Time,” which will be published soon. All rights to this article remain the property of Margaret Nolen Nichol)