DANIEL
SUMMIT
SON OF FRANCIS SUMMIT
BORN APRIL 5, 1795, LINCOLN COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
DIED SEPTEMBER 30, 1838, MONROE COUNTY, TENNESSEE
by
Paul C. Summitt
February, 1999
Note: Numerous individuals have contributed to the information on Daniel Summit. Especially
helpful have been my daughter, Julia Summitt Miller, the late Mark Smith, historian for the St.
John's Lutheran Church in Conover, North Carolina, Evelyn D. Rhodes, genealogy services
librarian with the Catawba County library in Newton, North Carolina, Harless Brakebill in
Monroe County, Tennessee, LaRue Summit Williford in Houston, Texas, Helen Summitt Galyon
in Sweetwater, Tennessee and her sister, Flora Mae Keene in Knoxville, Tennessee, James Bruce
Summitt in San Antonio, Texas. Comments, additions, or corrections are solicited. Please mail
to Paul C. Summitt, P. O. Box 99, Freeport, Fl. 32439 or e-mail Psumm@aol.com. This article
was published in a revised form in the Summitt Family Quarterly, Vol. 2, Issue 1 (Spring 1996).
The Summitt Family Quarterly
website
INTRODUCTION
Daniel Summit moved with his family to East Tennessee about 1817. He was the
youngest son of Francis Summit, also known as Frantz Sammet, a German Lutheran immigrant
to North Carolina west of the Catawba River (Lincoln County) born in February 1741, probably
in Germany, arriving in North Carolina probably about 1768 or 1769, and died in Lincoln County
on February 27, 1818. The German name "Sammet" means "traders in velvet". Francis Summit's
wife was identified as Dolly and their children all probably born in Lincoln County, North
Carolina in estimated order of birth were: Christian (1769), Dolly and Jacob (both in the 1770s),
Margaret (in 1880), Francis Jr. (ca. 1783), John (ca. 1785), an unmarried Elizabeth (ca. 1787),
Henry (ca. 1789-1790), an Elizabeth married to David Dronbarger ( ca. 1790-1791), Mary
Magdaline (ca. 1793), Daniel (April 5, 1795), and Catherine (ca. 1797). An article on Francis
Summit and his family was published in the Summitt Family Quarterly, Vol. 1, Issue 4 (Winter
1996) and may be reviewed on the
Catawba County, North Carolina Rootsweb site.
DANIEL AND SARAH MOSER SUMMIT
1. In Lincoln County, North Carolina
Marriage bond of Daniel Summit & Sarah Moser
Grave Site of Daniel Summit
Grave Site of Sarah Moser Summit
Daniel Summit was born on April 5, 1795 in Lincoln County, North Carolina. Daniel's
birth no doubt occurred while the family lived on the original farm land on Leepers Creek
obtained by his father at the time he first came to what would now be Lincoln County, North
Carolina, prior to the family move to the St. John Lutheran Church area on Lyles Creek just north
of Conover, in current Catawba County, North Carolina around 1802. Daniel and Sarah Moser
obtained a marriage bond on December 3, 1813 in Lincoln County, with his father, Francis,
serving as surety and witnessed by Philip Henkel, St. John's Lutheran pastor at the time. Both
Francis and Daniel signed the marriage bond with a "X" mark. Whoever wrote the name spelled it
"Sommit" for both of them. Sarah was just short of a year younger than eighteen year old Daniel,
having been born in Lincoln County on May 24, 1796, the daughter of Francis Moser, Sr. Daniel
and Sarah were married shortly thereafter, probably in the St. John Lutheran Church by Rev.
Philip Henkel.
Daniel and his brother Francis Jr. served as privates in the War of 1812 in a regiment from
Lincoln County in Captain Daniel Hoke's Company apparently recruited in 1814.[1] [Footnotes
located at end of article] The war duty of this part of North Carolina has been described as
follows [2]:
The outbreak in the South was with Shawnee Chief Tecumseh and the Creek
Indians, who raided Fort Mimms, Georgia, and scalped over 500 inhabitants. Tennessee was the
quickest to react, and General Andrew Jackson mustered a large army and marched in the
direction of the uprising. The Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi Militias joined Jackson's forces,
and they defeated the Indians at the Battle of Horse Shoe Bend in Alabama. [Ashe's "History of
North Carolina", p. 235]
The Western North Carolina troops mustered at Salisbury on February 1, 1814,
marched under General Joseph Graham to Fort Hawkins, Georgia, and arrived by the end of
March. By the time they reached Alabama, Jackson's troops had claimed the victory. The North
Carolinians could only help in gathering up the scattered warriors, and they assisted in
construction of four forts along the Alabama River. They began their return on June 25, and
arrived back in North Carolina by the middle of August, with few casualties and injuries.
Generally, this marked the conclusion of local participation in the War, but still served to disrupt
many households during the prime agricultural season. [Ibid.]
It is not clear whether Daniel participated in all or part of this foray into Georgia and
Alabama from February 1, 1814 through the middle of August 1814. His eldest son, Jacob
Eusebius was born on February 10, 1815, indicating Daniel was presumably with his wife
sometime around May 1814.
2. In Greene County, Tennessee
It is believed that Daniel and Sarah went over the mountains to Greene County,
Tennessee, around the latter part of 1816, with Sarah Moser's father, Francis Moser, Sr.
(Revolutionary War soldier),[3] whose first wife, Elizabeth Miller, had died about 1812 in the
Conover area of North Carolina, and Francis Moser's married sons Peter (wife Polly
Balliet) and John (wife Barbara Hunsacker), unmarried sons Joseph and Francis Jr., and daughter
Mollie. Some have suggested that this move was made as early as ca. 1812.
The author believes this date is too early. Daniel did not get married until December 1813. He
was serving in the North Carolina militia in the War of 1812 during the spring and summer of
1814. Daniel and Sarah's eldest son, Jacob Eusebius, was born in North Carolina February 10,
1815 and his eldest daughter Sara Jane, was born on January 26, 1816, probably in North
Carolina. In addition, Francis Moser Sr. indicated in his application for a Revolutionary War
pension that he moved to Greene County Tennessee about 1816 "staying a year and upwards in
Greene County, when he moved into Jefferson where he lived ten years" before moving on to
Monroe County. Francis Moser first appears in a list of communicants in the St. James Lutheran
Church Book in Greene County for Sunday, September 7, 1816.[4] We know from the same St.
James Lutheran Church Book that Daniel Sumat and Johannes Samat (probably Daniel's father
Johannes Frantz Sammet), as well as Peter Moser were communicants on Sunday, May 4, 1817;
that Daniel Sammet, and Francis, Peter, and John Moser were communicants on Sunday, April
11, 1818, the last time Francis Moser is reflected in the St. James Lutheran Church Book; that
David [Daniel] Samat and Peter, John, and Jacob Moser were communicants on Sunday
November 7, 1818; that Daniel Samat and Peter and John Moser were communicants on Sunday
May 1, 1819; that Daniel Sammet was a communicant on Sunday September 2, 1819; that Daniel
Sammet and Peter Moser were communicants on Sunday October 13, 1820; and that Daniel
Samet is listed as a communicant on April 28, 1821, the last time Daniel is reflected in the St.
James Lutheran Church Book. Francis Moser was married to Mary (Polly) Sipes on May 24,
1920 in Jefferson County where he was then living.
The Church Book also records that Daniel and Sarah's third child, Jonathan (the author's
great great grandfather), was born in Greene County on January 27, 1817 and baptized on March
22, 1817; that Daniel and Sarah's fourth child, Lity (Lydia) was born in Greene County on
February17, 1818 and baptized March 11, 1818; and that Daniel's fifth child, Lusinda, was born in
Greene County on December 13, 1819 and baptized on February 6, 1820.
While it is clear the Mosers and Summits ended up in Greene County together for a period
of time, is it not settled that they all came to Greene County at the same time. One source notes
that Francis Moser lived in Lincoln County, North Carolina at least by 1790 near his brother,
Jacob, and, that after the death of his first wife, took his three youngest children to Greene
County, Tennessee where his two older sons were then living.[5] Information collected by
Pauline M. Shook organized from various genealogists of the Moser family noted that John
Moser, the second eldest son of Francis Sr., married Barbara Hunsucker in Lincoln County at her
father's home on Lyles Creek in 1815 and then moved to Greene County. She also notes that
Francis Sr. sold his farm in Lincoln County in 1816 and moved with his young children to be near
his son, John.
Some researchers have noted that these early North Carolina migrants to East Tennessee
also took with them their Lutheran Pastor at St. John Lutheran, Philip Henkel, who then rode
circuit to serve a number of Lutheran Churches in Greene County, including the one attended by
Daniel and his family (St. James Lutheran). It is probably closer to the truth that many of German
descent came from the land west of the Catawba River in Lincoln County, North Carolina to join
Philip Henkel already serving a growing German community in the rolling hills of south Greene
County. Philip Henkel is recorded as commencing his ministry in the St. James Lutheran Parish
on Sunday, November 17, 1814 and continuously serving until his death in 1834--the Church
Book duly noting that "[o]n the 20th of July, 1834, Pastor Philip Henkel's memorial service was
held, in the German and English languages, by Pastor Adam Miller." It is quite clear that Daniel
and his family were active involved members of the Lutheran church in both North Carolina and
Tennessee. Other Lutheran Churches in the area were Old Solomon's Lutheran, Salem Lutheran,
and Sinking Creek Lutheran.
Daniel's father, Francis, died on February 27, 1818 in Lincoln County. Deeds settling the
estate show that at the time Daniel lived in Greene County, Tennessee. He paid one hundred and
fifty dollars to other of the legatees and received 125 acres of land on Lyles Creek.. It also
appears that Daniel returned to Lincoln County, North Carolina on occasion after his father's
death since Daniel shows up as an active supporter of David Henkel, the brother of Philip, in a
controversy arising in the local Lutheran community in 1819. He signed as Daniel Sammit a June
2, 1819 resolution of support for David Henkel as a participant on a council of members of St.
John Lutheran Church on behalf of the whole congregation.[6]
3. In Jefferson County, Tennessee
After a substantial period of confusion, it is now clear that Daniel and Sarah Moser
Summit moved to follow Francis Moser Sr. to Jefferson County, Tennessee, probably in the
middle of 1822. Margaret, Daniel and Sarah's sixth child born on September 17, 1821, was
not listed in the Greene County St. James Lutheran Church Book family listing but probably was
born in Greene County before the move to Jefferson County the next year. Both Daniel Summit
and Francis Moser are listed in the 1822 tax list for Jefferson County, the first year such tax lists
are available. Daniel sold the land he had obtained as a part of his father's estate settlement in
1818 to Henry Huit, husband of his sister Catharine, February 2, 1822. He is listed in the deed as
a residence of Greene County, Tennessee. Tax lists have been used in East Tennessee for that
period as a substitute for missing 1820 Federal Census records for the whole region. Daniel is
consistently listed in the Jefferson County tax lists as an owner of 130 acres of land from 1822
through 1833, missing from the list only in 1825. Daniel was Captain of a Company from 1828 to
1831 as reflected in the tax lists. Whether this was some military connected service or just a
county organizational unit is not known. Francis Moser is also listed through 1827 as an owner
of 196 acres of land, also missing from the list only in 1825. This information is consistent with
Francis Moser's Revolutionary War Pension statement that he left Jefferson County for Monroe
County in 1827.
Daniel is listed as a head of household in the 1830 Federal census for Jefferson County,
Tennessee, with two males under five (Joseph and Francis), one male ten years and under fifteen
(Jonathan), one male fifteen years and under twenty (Eusebius); one male thirty years and under
forty (Daniel as head of the household); two females under five (Susanna and Elizabeth); 2
females five years and under ten (Lucinda and Margaret); 1 female ten years and under fifteen
(Lydia); 1 female fifteen years and under twenty (Sara), and one female thirty years and under
forty (Sarah, Daniel's wife). For those researchers who are fascinated with census records and
indexes, look in the index under "Sumsjutt, Danl" to locate the census entry for Daniel Summit.
During the same approximate period covered by the tax lists, Daniel Summit is reflected in
Jefferson County, Tennessee court records (Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions Minute
Book, Book 8, 1824-1831 in the courthouse located at Dandridge) during the period 1825-1831,
including service a number of times as juror and a petition by him in the June 1830 session of
court to have a jury appointed to layoff a road through his farm leading from Newport to
Sevierville. This places Daniel and family as living northeast of Sevierville just across the county
line in an area known as Chestnut Hill in the southeast corner of Jefferson County on current
highway 411 that no doubt was the road to pass through Daniel's farm and became the primary
line of commerce and communications between Newport and Sevierville. To a visitor today, one
is impressed with what must have been splendid isolation in rolling farm country right on the edge
of mountains cut off from the rest of Jefferson County and some distance from Sevierville. Just
across the county line in Sevier County lay the head waters of Flat Creek that empties into the
French Broad River North of Sevierville. A publication in the Sevier County Library noted that
Bird's crossroads at the head of Flat Creek was the center of an early German community
composed of Jacob Bird, Adam Fox, James Baker, Michael Hoak, and Jacob Derrick. St. James
Lutheran Church was near Jacob Derrick's mill.[7] Some have speculated that the Old Fox Church
and cemetery located on route 411 just inside Sevier County on the head of Flat Creek close to
Bird's crossroads was the site of an early Lutheran Church, but this author has not been able to
confirm that theory.
While other regular land transactions that must have occurred have not been located, both
Daniel Summit and Francis Moser Sr. received Tennessee land grants in Jefferson County, with
surveys lodged in the county records, that confirm the Chestnut Hill general location. Daniel's
land grant for 50 acres was as follows:
The State of Tennessee
To All to Whom These Presents Shall Come; Greetings
Know ye, that in consideration of an Entry made in the Entry Taker's Office of
Jefferson County, of No. 861 dated the 17th day of January 1828 by James G. Baker the plat of
survey being assigned by said Baker to Daniel Summitt there is granted by the State of Tennessee
unto the said Daniel Summitt and his heirs, a certain tract of land containing 50 acres, lying in the
county aforesaid on the south side of French Broad river on the waters of Muddy Creek,
Beginning at a cucumber tree Francis Mosier's corner, thence with the line of Daniel Summitt
north sixty four East twenty four poles to a white oak Summitts corner thence with his line East
one hundred and forty six poles to a buck corner to the same thence north forty seven poles to a
stake under the side of a high shrub then under the south side of the knob west one hundred and
sixty eight poles to a stake on the said of said shrub thence south fifty nine poles to the beginning.
Surveyed this 21st of July 1829 with its appurtenances, to have and to hold the said tract
or parcel of land with its appurtenances, to the said Daniel Summitt and his heirs forever. In
witness whereof, William Carroll, Governor of the State of Tennessee, has hereunto set his hand
and caused the Great Seal of the State to be affixed at Nashville on the 17th day of February in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two and of American Independence
the fifty sixth.
Sam S. Smith, Secretary
By the Governor
Wm Carroll
[Land Grant Book 17, Grant No. 17398, page 218, February 17, 1832. This is apparently the
transaction noted in Jefferson County Court Minutes Book 8 (1821-1831), p. 392 noting a
transfer of a plat [Sept. Session 1829] and certificate of survey from James G. Baker to Daniel
Summett for 50 acres of land duly proven in open court and order to be certified. The survey
itself dated July 31, 1829 is indexed to James G. Baker in the county records.]
The land grant to Francis Moser (Francis Mosier) for 80 acres was earlier in time, but
similar language indicating that he was a farming neighbor of Daniel.
The State of Tennessee
To All to Whom These Presents Shall Come; Greetings
Know ye, That in consideration of an entry made in the entry taker's office of
Jefferson County, of No. 518 dated the 3d day of January 1826 by Francis Mosier there is
granted by the State of Tennessee unto the said Francis Mosier and his heirs, a tract of land
containing fifty acres lying in the county aforesaid South of French Board river, on the waters of
Muddy Creek. Beginning at a white oak on Adam Sonelser's line of a thirty acre tract and on
Mosier's line, thence with Mosier's line, South seventy eight East, fifty two poles to a dogwood,
corner to the same, and on the line of Daniel Summit, thence with Summit's line, North thirty
seven West, six poles to a white oak, Summit's corner, thence with his line, North sixty East
seventy eight poles to a stakes on said line, near two dogwoods and a cucumber, thence, North
thirty West seventy poles to a stake, then West sixty four poles to a stake, thence a direct line to
the beginning.
[Land Grant Book 13, Grant No. 13600, page 179, January 6, 1827. The tract was surveyed by
Wm Taylor, County Surveyor, and recorded on December 7, 1826, witnessed by Miles Castiller
and Daniel Summit.]
Finally, perhaps the Daniel Summit family's last contact with Jefferson County was the
marriage of Daniel's eldest son, Eusebius, to his first wife, Elizabeth Rader, in Jefferson County
on noted by marriage bond and license dated December 24, 1835 at age 20. The originals of both
the marriage bond and marriage license are still kept at the county court. The clerk recording the
bond and license had some trouble with Eusebius' name--spelling it "Isabius Summit". Elizabeth
was probably the daughter of John Rader who signed the marriage bond and was listed in the
same tax district with Daniel over the years he was in Jefferson County.
4. In Monroe County, Tennessee
It would, therefore, appear that Daniel and Sarah probably moved to Jefferson County
Tennessee in mid-1822 to join the Francis Moser family "South of the French Broad River on the
waters of Muddy Creek" and did not move to Monroe County until perhaps as late as the
mid-1830s, with marriages of his children in Monroe County records beginning in April 1838
shortly before Daniel's death. An educated guess might have Daniel and family moving to
Monroe County in 1834, the year following his last appearance on the Jefferson County tax list.
This scenario discredits the idea that these early German Lutheran families first came to
Tennessee to exploit the expulsion of the Indians in Southeast Tennessee and explains the
unexpected absence of so-called Hiawassee grants of land to these pioneers in former Cherokee
territory.
At any rate, when they moved to Monroe County, Daniel and his family settled on land in
the Vonore area and were affiliated with the nearby St. Paul Lutheran Church which was
established probably around 1825 to serve families in the Island Creek, Bat Creek, and Fork
Creek areas of Monroe County.[8] The first record on St. Paul is a grant deed in 1825 in which
the County Commissions deeded four acres of land to the Lutheran Society, specifically to the
trustees for the Lutherans, Abraham Buch (Buck) and Adam Mowry. While Lutheran
congregations were generally dedicated record keepers, no records for St. Paul are known to exist
for the period from its founding until around the later 1840s. Some of the early families
instrumental in the formation of St. Paul are thought to have been the Clemmers, Vinsants,
Brakebills, Girdners, Sheets, Mowrys, Summits, Mosers, Gastons, Bogards, Boyds, Bucks, Kyles,
Cooks, Davises, and Michaels. The first church of logs was built by the congregation on the
Southwest corner of the four acres just to the west of the still existing old cemetery. Tradition
has it that this church was 40 x 60 feet, with dirt floors, walls of large tulip poplar logs, and a
hand-split cedar shingle roof. It is not known when the intersecting roads at the corner of the
property at the location of the church and cemetery acquired the names of Brakebill Road and
Summit Road. Summit road (note the one "t") acquired its name apparently because it led from
the old St. Paul Lutheran church to the farm of Eusebius Summitt, eldest son of Daniel, land later
inherited by his son, Martin Luther Summitt. The road still goes by that name.
By the time St. Paul Lutheran was organized, there were about fifteen Lutheran Churches
in Northeast Tennessee--all North and East of Monroe County. It is thought that several of the
Virginia and North Carolina pastors took turns servicing St. Paul, with Adam Miller, Daniel
Moser, possibly Daniel Summit, Philip and David Henkel, Robert J. Miller, David Gould and
others assisting until Jacob Shaffer became the permanent minister about 1840.[9] This author's
guess is that Daniel Summit did not have any role in the early operation of St. Paul Lutheran since
he did not move to the area until the mid-1830s some seven years after the Mosers and other
Lutheran families settled in Monroe County. Eusebius was in fact to become one of the long term
faithful leaders of this church--but that is another story.
Daniel died September 30, 1838 at age 43. Sarah is listed in the 1840 Federal census for
Monroe County, Tennessee, as a head of household consisting of 3 males 5 to 10 years old
(presumably Daniel, Peter, and John); 1 male 10 to 15 years old (Francis); 2 females 10 to 15
years old (Susanna and Elizabeth); 1 female 20 to 30 years old (Lydia, the only unmarried
daughter in this age range); and 1 female 40 to 50 years old (Sarah). She is again listed in the
l850 Federal census for Monroe County as a 54 year old female head of household with a 17 year
old Peter Summit listed as a male farmer age 17. It is a mystery to this author what ever
happened to Daniel and John. Sarah died June 30, 1856.
Both Daniel and Sarah are buried in the Old St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery with still legible
tombstones with the last name spelled "Summit". The tombstones for Daniel and Sarah were
made by Luther Blackman and John Moser in the tombstone trade in Monroe County using
marble mined between Loudon and Madisonville. The entries in the Luther Blackman's
Inscription Book show "Daniel Summit Born Apr 5 1795 Died Sept 30 1838. Stone 4 ft 6 in long
13 in wide delivrd at Shop Price 15.00" and "Sarah wife of Danl Summit Born May 24 1796 Died
June 30 1856. Stone 4 ft 6 in Long 13 in wide delivrd at Shop Price 15.00". [Information
supplied by Janelle Swearingen, Tulsa, Oklahoma]
There is no record of an administration of the estate of Daniel Summit. Eusebius was the
administrator of Sarah's estate in 1856. Her personal property was inventoried and sold, with
buyers including Eusebius Summit, Joseph Summit, Peter Summit, Francis Summit, John Moser,
David Lowry, Peter Moser, and Francis Moser.
CHILDREN OF DANIEL AND SARAH MOSER SUMMIT
Daniel and Sarah Summit's children were--[10]
1. Jacob Eusebius
Born: February 10, 1815 probably in Lincoln County, NC
Died: March 25, 1893 in Monroe County, TN
Buried: St. Paul Lutheran Old Cemetery, Monroe County, TN
Married:
(1) Elizabeth Rader, December 24, 1835, marriage bond issued in Jefferson
County, TN
Born: June 26, 1815
Died: March 30, 1845
(2) Sarah Boyd, May 21, 1846 in Monroe County, TN
Born: January 29, 1822.
Died: September 11, 1891 in Monroe County, TN
Buried: St. Paul Lutheran Old Cemetery, Monroe County, TN
2. Sarah Jane
Born: January 27, 1816, probably in Lincoln County, NC.
Died: November 15, 1899, probably Catawba County, NC
Buried: Probably St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery, Catawba County, NC
Married: Henry Lail, August 27, 1832, probably in Lincoln County, NC
Born: March 27, 1810
Died: February 1, 1892
Buried: St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery, Catawba County, NC
3. Jonathan Jonathan
Summit
Will
Born: January 26, 1817 in Greene County, TN
Died: June 17, 1896 in Loudon County, TN [Jonathan lived on a large farm in south Loudon
County just across the Monroe County border. This land was located in Monroe County prior to
the formation of Loudon County in 1870.]
Buried: St. Paul Lutheran Old Cemetery, Monroe County,
TN
Married: Bettie Saphiro Butler, November 5, 1837 in Monroe County, TN
Born: July 1, 1816
Died: September 13, 1902 age 86 yrs., 2 Mos., 12 days
[Burial place is unknown, but she probably died on the family farm in southern
Loudon County and was buried in the St. Paul Lutheran Old Cemetery where Jonathan was
buried. A tombstone has not been found. This entry was taken from a family bible and appears to
be a tombstone inscription format.]
4. Lydia
Born February 18, 1818, in Greene County, TN
Married: Parmenius T. Butler July 28, 1840 in Monroe County, TN
5. Lucinda
Born: December 14, 1819 in Greene County, TN
Married: Abraham Sipes June 29, 1839 in Monroe County, TN
[A marriage record exists for a Lucy Summit to Israel O. Smith October 17, 1844
in Monroe County, TN. It is not known whether this is Lucinda.]
6. Margaret
Born: September 17, 1821
Married: Daniel Moser April 12, 1838 in Monroe County, TN
7. Joseph
Born: May 17, 1824 probably in Jefferson County, TN
Died: June 6, 1898 in Monroe County, TN
Buried: St. Paul Lutheran Old Cemetery, Monroe County,
TN
Married:
(1) Hetty Ann Moser, July 26, 1844 in Monroe County, TN
Died: November 24, 1846 age 22 years, 8 months, 12 days
Buried: St. Paul Lutheran Old Cemetery, Monroe County,
TN
(2) Isabella Sheets
8. Francis Summit
Born: February 16, 1826, probably in Jefferson County, TN
Died: 1892, Sims, Arkansas
Buried: Barber Family Cemetery, Sims, Arkansas
Married:
(1) Emaline R. Shaffer, September 26, 1847 in Washington County, Virginia
Born: 1828, Virginia
Died: Probably in Fannin County, Texas about 1863
(2) Mary Lackey, June 26, 1866 in Fannin County, Texas
(3) Mrs. Delitha Moss (widow), October 4, 1891 Montgomery County, Arkansas
[Francis is noted in the marriage license as of Sims, Arkansas age 65; Delitha is noted as of Sims,
Arkansas age 41]
9. Susannah
Born: November 10, 1827, probably in Jefferson County, TN
Married: Martin Wolf, November 30, 1847 in Monroe County, TN
[This marriage is listed as Martin Cliff to Susannah Summet on FTM CD #229]
10. Elizabeth
Born: 1829, probably in Jefferson County, TN
Married: Peter Moser Jr., January 11, 1848, Monroe County, TN
11. Daniel [No information is available about this son.]
12. Peter
Born: February 11, 1833, probably in Jefferson County, TN
Died: June 5, 1910
Buried: St. Paul Lutheran Old Cemetery, Monroe County,
TN
Married: Nancy Jane Davis
Born: November 27, 1835
Died: August 31, 1915
Buried: St. Paul Lutheran Old Cemetery, Monroe County, TN
13. John [No information is available about this son.]
Note: Most lists of the children include Daniel and John taken from various family bibles, but no
one knows anything about them.
At least four of Daniel's sons remained in Monroe County vicinity and are buried in the
Old St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery--Eusebius, Jonathan (the writers great, great grandfather),
Joseph, and Peter. The wives of Eusebius, Joseph and Peter are also buried in this cemetery.
They have many descendants still living in the area. At least one son and probably daughters
departed for Arkansas, Texas, and other places. Daniel's oldest daughter, Sarah Jane, went back
at an early age to Lincoln County, North Carolina, married Henry Lail, and lived there all of her
life raising a large family. Francis was still in Monroe County in the 1850s since he is listed in the
1850 Federal census for Monroe County (along with wife Emaline and children Daniel and
Louisa) and bought items from his mother's estate in late 1856. Francis went to Fannin County,
Texas shortly after his mother died, where his wife, Emaline, died probably about 1863. He
married Mary Lackey in Fannin County, Texas and went to Sims, Montgomery County, Arkansas
prior to 1870. The author has a copy of a "Family Sheet" of unknown origins indicating that the
son, Daniel, started to California during the gold rush and never returned (information apparently
taken from a family bible).
Another interesting aside is the fact that, insofar as the writer knows, only descendants of
this Tennessee Daniel Summit have made the effort to join the Daughters of the American
Revolution (at least three) or the Sons of the American Revolution (at least two) based on the fact
that Daniel's father, Francis Summit Sr., was paid for reasons unknown some 9 pounds, 18
shillings, and 6 pence out of the North Carolina Revolutionary Army Accounts (part being
interest) approved July 4, 1782--thereby establishing him as a "patriot". They track back to
Daniel through his sons Eusebius[11], Francis[12], and Jonathan.[13] It is somewhat a mystery
why no one followed the Revolutionary War connection through the mother of all of Daniel's
children, Sarah Moser, daughter of Francis Moser Sr.--a known Revolutionary War soldier (see
note 3) with three brothers, Samuel, Michael, and Jacob, who also served.[14]
Footnotes
1 "Muster Rolls of the Soldiers of the War of 1812 Detached From the Militia of North Carolina,
in 1812 and 1814" (Raleigh, Time Office: 1851, reproduced 1976, Genealogical Publishing
Company, Baltimore, pp. 129-131). Mark Smith has noted: "I don't know much about Captain
Daniel Hoke, except he lived in today's Lincoln County, was son [or grandson] of a German
Reformed pastor in PA, and was a brother to Lyle's Creek's Frederick Hoke. Daniel Hoke also
served in the State Legislature a few terms. He moved out of Lincoln in about 1835, some say to
Alabama." Letter to Paul C. Summitt dated December 4, 1995.
2 Mark Smith's history of St. John's Lutheran Church published posthumously in 1998 on the
200th anniversary of the church, "Lifting High the Cross for 200 Years: St. John's Lutheran
Church" (1998)(edited by Robert C. Carpenter). [Hereinafter cited as History of St. John's
Lutheran Church] This War of 1812 reference is discussed at pp. 66-67.
3 Sarah's father, Francis Moser Sr. was born in Fredrick County, Maryland in 1763. He was the
son of Leonard Moser, who entered the colonies at the port of Philadelphia on the ship
"Adventure" on 23 September 1732, and Sarah Binkley. Francis was living in Surrey County,
North Carolina (where Leonard and Sarah had moved) when called into service in the
Revolutionary War. During the Revolutionary War he enlisted for 9 months in 1779 and served
that time in the company of Captain Micajah Lewis, Fourth North Carolina regiment, under the
command of General Benjamin Lincoln, a distinguished general of the Revolution whom George
Washington appointed to receive the sword of Cornwallis when he surrendered at Yorktown.
Lincoln County was formed in 1779 and named after General Lincoln. Francis' company was
marched to Moores Creek and later was in the Battle of Stono. In the winter of 1779 Francis
Moser served four months in the draft for Jacob Spoonhower under Captain Bostie, Major
Wilston, Captain Martin Armstrong, and General Rutherford. Francis and his two brothers,
Michael and Samuel, were at the Battle of Gates Defeat near Camden, S.C. in 1780. In 1781 he
returned to Maryland and volunteered in Captain Mardock's company of Maryland militia,
marched across the Potomac and joined the army of General Washington and witnessed the
surrender of Cornwallis in Yorktown, and returned to his home in Maryland. In about 1786 he
returned to North Carolina where he is believed to have lived in Lincoln County for some 30
years and moved to East Tennessee about 1816. A soldier pension certificate was issued to
Francis Moser effective August 2, 1833 and paid to him until the date of his death Oct. 22, 1836.
See Revolutionary War Pension file, Francis Moser, W 25719 and "The Ancestors of Claude
Rankin Moser--Pioneers of Catawba County, North Carolina" by James and Mary (Moser)
Beddingfield (1995).
4 The original St. James Lutheran Church Book was begun in 1814 and written by hand in old
classic German script. References in the book suggest that this church or the Lutheran parish in
the area may also have been known as St. Jacobus. A type written English transcription is located
in the Greene County Library in Greenville. The original apparently varied in quality and clarity,
so some latitude must be given in the spelling of names.
5 See "The Ancestors of Claude Rankin Moser, above note 3, pp. 22-23.
6 Mark Smith cites this information from "Memorial From St. John's Church to N. C. Synod",
June 2, 1819, obtained from Abdel Ross Wentz Library, Gettysburg Seminary and a transcribed
copy in the C. L. Coon Papers, Perkins Library, Duke University (History of St. John's Lutheran,
note 2 above, p. 105). Daniel's brothers, John and Christian, also signed position documents
supporting Rev. Henkel relating to the same controversy as John and Christian Sammet,
respectively . (History of St. John's Lutheran Church, note 2 above, pp. 111, 120).
7 "In the Shadow of the Smokies, Sevier County, Tennessee Cemeteries", compiled by the
Smoky Mountain Historical Society.
8 The summary relating to the early St. Paul Lutheran Church relies heavily (often taken
verbatim) on "ST. PAUL LUTHERAN, Lakeside, Monroe Co., Tn., A Small History", by Harless
Krauth Brakebill (1986). Mr. Brakebill's history covers much more than these obscure early years
of St. Paul and reveals the substantial connection of the local Summit(t) families in this Lutheran
Church well into the 20th century. Similar information concerning Summit(t)s in St. Paul
Lutheran Church for the period 1851 to 1909 is contained in a condensed form of the minutes of
St. Paul made by Walter C. Davis in 1962.
9 An interesting tale of the migration of some of the early German families from North Carolina
to Eastern Tennessee and the Lutheran service of the Shaffer's is set forth in Henry Grady Davis,
"Our Davis - Shaffer Kin" (1975).
10 This listing was taken from a family bible then in the possession of Chester A. Summitt, a
grandson of Jonathan. The Bible is now in the possession of his son, Moody Summitt, in
Cardwell, Missouri.
11 NSSAR 111024, by James Bruce Summitt, San Antonio, Texas (1976); NSDAR 730925 by
Helen Laverne Summitt Galyon, Sweetwater, Tennessee (June 8, 1990).
12 NSDAR 573387 by LaRue Summit Williford, Houston, Texas (1972); NSDAR 617558 by
Lea Ann Summitt, Corsicana, Texas (April 16, 1977). It is fair to observe that we all owe a great
debt to LaRue Summit Williford. She was the pioneer researcher who, among other things,
ultimately made the connection between Daniel Summit and his father, Francis, in North Carolina
and discovered Francis' Revolutionary War connection, as well as having been an inspiration and
prod to all of us laboring on the Summit(t) family history.
13 Application by James Nathan Summitt, Blytheville, Arkansas (February 4, 1995).
14 Moser researchers have indicated that Francis Sr., Samuel, and Michael were at the Battle of
Gate's Defeat near Camden, South Carolina in 1780; that Samuel was presumed killed in the
battle since he was never heard from again; that Michael was wounded at the battle of
Brandywine Creek on September 11, 1777 when a musket ball went through his leg and killed his
horse, spent the winter in Valley Force recuperating, and died in North Carolina on June 30,
1818; and that Jacob served almost three years and died in Tennessee on July 2, 1813. "The
Ancestors of Claude Rankin Moser", above note 3, pp. 22-23; and material supplied by Harless
Brakebill, Monroe County, Tennessee. Leonard Moser, the father of all four of these
revolutionary soldiers, would also have been considered a "patriot" for having been reimbursed
for expenses for furnishing clothing to the revolutionary troops in 1779. "Colonial and State
Records of North Carolina", Vol. 2, p. 1013.
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