West Family
John West (Sr.) (son of Levi WEST and Mary WILLIAMS), was born in Maryland on 12 March
1763. The family moved to Onslow Co. N. C. when he was a small child. In the spring of 1781 at
age 18, he volunteered for 3 months service in the Revolution. At the expiration of that 3 months
he returned home and was then drafted for an additional 3 months.
He was married to Rachel _ (daughter of Samuel _). Marriage record has not been found. State
census of N. C. 1784-87 shows John with 1 male, 1 female, no slaves. In Jones Co. N.C. 1790 he
is found with 1 male under 16, 1 male over 16, 2 females, 2 slaves. In 1798 Andrew and John
West of Jones County and Levi West of Onslow County sold land on White Oak River on the east
side of Cranberry pond. Several family deeds mention this river and cranberry pond. On 6 August
1800, John, Jacob and James sold to Andrew 48 acres on "east side of White Oak River, south
side of black swamp, being land formerly belonging to Levy West, our father."
Apparently John West came to Sumner County, Tn. in 1806, purchased land and built a cabin.
There is a family legend told to me by Brode Cantrell (1875-1965), a descendant, that John was
such an admirer of Andrew Jackson that he walked from his home at the village of Rock Bridge
to Logan County, Ky. to see the Jackson-Dickinson duel, which was on 28 May, 1806. In pension
application, John says that they moved to Sumner Co. in 1807. I suppose that is when he brought
his family. We do not know if Rachel died in N.C., or if she came here.
Other family legends are that John fought under Jackson at New Orleans and that Jackson
affectionately called him "Red Coat Johnny" because he killed so many British. He also went with
Jackson in the Creek Expedition and while on this trip was bitten by a poisonous snake on his
ankle. The place never healed completely and each summer it would become swollen and painful.
Another story told by Mr. Cantrell was that John was out in the woods hunting. He heard a man
splitting rails and went to investigate. He found that the man was his brother, Andrew. He did not
know until then that his brother had moved here. John had come up Drake's Creek to the
headwaters and Andrew had come up Bledsoe and Brushy Fork Creeks to the headwaters and
they lived about 15 miles apart. Both John and Andrew remained in Sumner County until their
deaths and have many descendants here now. Two other brothers, George and Jacob lived here
for a short time. George was here in 1812 and moved to Rutherford County, Tn. before 1830.
Jacob moved to IL where he had a lawsuit tried by Abraham Lincoln in 1837.
On 9 August 1810 John married Susannah Freeland (daughter of Thomas FREELAND, 1755-1781 of Orange Co. NC and his wife, Mary PHILLIPS),. Susannah was born 2 Aug. 1780 in
Orange County N.C. died August 1850 in Sumner Co. TN. John died Feb. 1854. They are buried
in unmarked graves near Rock Bridge.
Known children of John WEST and 1st wife Rachel _ are:
Children John WEST and 2nd wife Susannah FREELAND are:
John West Jr. (son of John WEST and Rachel _ ) was born in 1798 NC. He died 20 September
1852 in Sumner Co. TN. He is buried in the Browning Cemetery, in what is now Trousdale Co.
TN. John married twice. First to Polly Allen (daughter of William ALLEN and Elizabeth and
granddaughter of Clifton ALLEN and Susannah JONES). Polly was born abt. 1801 in Sumner
Co. TN. She died abt. 1832/1833 in Sumner Co. TN. She is buried in the Allen family cemetery,
Brushy Fork Creek, Bethpage Tn. This cemetery was destroyed about 1900. John married second
to Sarah "Sally" Bywaters BROWNING (daughter of Thomas B. BROWNING and Elizabeth
ALLEN, granddaughter of Clifton ALLEN and Susannah JONES) b. 19 February 1805. In 1878
Sarah moved to Dallas Co. TX with her two surviving children.
Children of John WEST Jr. and 1st wife Polly ALLEN are:
Children of John WEST Jr. and 2nd wife Sarah "Sally" Bywaters BROWNING are:
1425 Wrights
Lane
Gallatin, TN 37066
©1999
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