TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS FROM BLACK CEMETERIES
IN BENTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE
(Revised Edition with Maps)
Compiled by Jonathan K. T. Smith
Copyright, Jonathan K. T. Smith, 1995

(Page 71)

THE SETTLES SLAVES

DANIEL SETTLES was born in Virginia in 1779 and had moved with his wife, JANE HARMON SETTLES, from Loudoun County, that state, to the Beaverdam Valley settlement in what became Benton County. Jane Settles had brought slaves and other property to the marriage and when she died about 1846 the Settles children expected to benefit from their mother's estate. However, Daniel Settles remarried, to Lucy Howe, in 1848 and most of his children took issue with him about what should be their inheritance through their late mother. Through court action, the slaves were sold in June 1850: JESSE to Ichabod Farmer for $562; LINZY to Briggs Barker for $650; JOHNSON to Briggs Barker for $623; SUSANNA to Thomas K. Wyly for $100; HANNER to Anderson Lash-lee for $570; LIZA and child, CARY to T. K. WYLY for $650; MARGERETT to FELIX HAGLER for $545; CAROLINE to Susan L. Settles for $340; MARY to Daniel L. Settles for $277. (Benton County Court Minute Book A, pages 453, 455; 456-457459; 461) Daniel Settles tried to deny his son, Benjamin C. Settles any occupancy in the Settles dwelling and the case was carried to the West Tennessee Supreme Court with the result that Benjamin C. Settles recovered possession of the east room of the Settles dwelling and the old man had no other recourse. (West Tennessee Supreme Court Minute Book, 1841-1850, page 653)

To pay his legal fees, Daniel Settles had to mortgage his land in Beaverdam Valley (near present day Eva); he also had to sell much of his personalty to meet his obligations. One daughter, MARY FRANCES SETTLES HORN, had remained faithful to her father and he made his final home with her in civil district three where he died in the early 1860s.

 

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