My great grandfather George W. Pritchett left Rhea Co. for Oklahoma in 1909. George was the son of William and Priscilla Essex Pritchett. William had lived in Rhea Co. from 1859 until his death 13 March 1916. Priscilla died in Rhea Co. 11 May 1905. William and Priscilla where married 1 April 1863. Priscillas parents were William and Mary Long Essex. They where married in Rhea Co. 4 Nov 1838.
William and Priscilla had the following children: George W., James Lindsay, William J., and Polly. William was married to Laura and according to my grandfather he went to Georgia.
James Lindsay Pritchett married Mary Texana McMillan and had the following children: Inda Bessie, Samuel A., Charles Benton, James Harvey, Jesse, George Levi, Robert, Alvin H., Joseph Manuel, Johnny, Daniel, Milton. James and his family also went to Oklahoma in 1909 and appear on the 1910 McClain Co. census. However they returned to Rhea Co. not long after that and many of James and Marys descendants still live in the county.
George married Martha McMillan 28 Feb 1886 and had the following children all born in Rhea Co: Andrew J., Wealthy Ann, James H., Joseph, Oscar William, Minta, Carol Roy, Lydia, and Viola. Wealthy died in Tennessee before the move to Oklahoma. The family settled in McClain Co., Oklahoma. Minta and Carol Roy died in just a few years. During the depression James H. Pritchett moved his wife Bertha Johnson Pritchett and his children to Eddy Co., New Mexico for several years and then to Fresno Co., CA. Oscar also came to Fresno Co. but most of the other children stayed in Oklahoma.
My father, James Edward Pritchett used to say that when they left Oklahoma they looked like the Grapes of Wrath except the car in the movie looked better than the one they actually had. They where very poor and worked at anything they could. James H. and Bertha eventually bought a boarding house. Their children have all been prosperous and hard working.
Submitted by
Letrman5@aol.com
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I would like to have someone in Rhea County TN contact me, about either Tobe or Simpson Essex, Simp son Essex wife was Lousettie Wassom. and some of his children are buried in Putnam County, Cookeville TN. At the Essex Cemetery. Family stories say Tobe and Simp went back to Spring City Rhea County TN.
Some of the Certificates of Death for this family stated they were born in Putnam County TN
Any help would be appreciated
Thank you
bettie in TN
Hi Bettie – thanks for your comment. Can you clarify exactly what your question is about the Essex family? What are you trying to find? Thanks!
I am trying to find a burial location for Simpson Essex, he left a wife, Lousettie Wasson and children , and family said he went back to Rhea County and reared another family.
The land was Wasson land.
I found a certificate of death for a daughter , Nellie Mae Essex born 1889, died 10 Feb 1920, buried Spring City, her mother was Louise Snarenberg born in OH.
Family story is Lousettie had a child after Simpson left her, Hilary and he was a school teacher and used to fight the school boys, my dad had him as a teacher.
One of Hilary’s sons is married to my cousin. This is what I have been told I have no proof, except a school picture with Hillary as teacher and my dad born in 1904 was a student.
Thank you for any help.
Bettie in TN
Hi Bettie,
What would you like to know about Simpson Essex? He Simpson Essex was my great-great-great-grandfather.
Bettie
I have information about Simpson Essex. From the Putnam County family and history whle here until about 1880. Are you from the Rhea County(second) family or Putnam County?
In the article above a Charles Benton is mentioned. My grandfather was Charles Benton Pritchett Born in Rhea county he was born on Jan. 26, 1898. I was curious if this could be the one you mentioned in your article? If so I would love to chat and learn more from you about my family.
I am not related to the Essex family, except through marriage one of my mom’s nieces married Talmadge Essex, s/o Hillary Essex.
No one knows or will not tell who Hillary Essex father was, if they even know. I was told that a funeral home owner that lived in Monterey was, but in 1885 there was not a funeral home owner in Monterey until 1920 and he was much to young to have fathered a child in 1885.
My dad 1904 ,-1991 remembered Tobe Essex and thinks he went back to Spring City. My dad worked with Robert Brown, his mom was mom was Delia Essex.
You can see the pictures of the Old Wassom Cemetery at “TN Gens.net.” or type in Mitzi Price Freeman Putnam Cemeteries on the search engines. There are 2 Wassom cemeteries.
If you should find old Simpson Esssex I would like to have any information about him.
His wife Lousetti Wasson owned a very large tract of land and he may have gotten tired of her letting him know it was her land.
Bettie Sue Goolsby, archivist
Putnam County TN Cemetery Records
TN Gen Web Cemetery Database
Hi my grand father was Benton Pritchett if you have any information pertaining to his grand parents would be greatly appreciated.