Eli PERDUE was born 1790 in Franklin Co., Virginia to Meshack PERDUE and Eleanor DILLON. He married on the 3rd of April 1815 in Franklin County - Sarah Sally CHITWOOD the daughter of William CHITWOOD and Susannah NOWLIN.

On the 16th of Sept 1813 - Eli volunteered in Franklin County for a term of six months service in the Virginia Militia and was given the rank of private under Captain William Pepper - his brothers - Isaiah, Daniel and Asa were in the same company. In order to obtain bounty land - Eli appeared before a Justice of the Peace in Sumner Co., TN on the first of Nov 1850 - he was 60 years old. He applied for additional bounty land on the 16th of April 1855 - in all he received 160 acres for his service.

Eli remained in Virginia until around 1825 - his father gave him three negroes before leaving for Sumner Co., TN. Eli purchased land on the 16th April 1830 along Dry Fork of Drakes Creek - he would eventually own in excess of 500 acres situated along "old" Franklin Road - west of Brackintown. In 1860 - he owned 15 slaves and three slave houses. Eli gave each of his sons a tract of land. He also deeded land to Boiling Springs Presbyterian Church.

Eli sued the estate of Leroy BRIZENDINE in 1841 for work done in 1839/1840 - the work list consisted of tasks associated with blacksmithing.

On the 20th Dec 1856 - Eli witnessed a codicil alleged to have been written by his brother Daniel. The codicil favored the children Daniel had by his first marriage. It was contested by Daniel's second wife - Harriet and sit aside in her favor. This disagreement became the basis of a lawsuit in 1858 - Eli vs. Green PERDUE. Daniel Green had threatened his step mother Harriet and it appears Eli was disclaiming his involvement.

In 1859, Eli was again involved with the courts, this time against William CLENDENNING for $10,000 in damages for referring to him as "OLD SCREW PLATE". When ask to explain William claimed Eli had stole a screw plate from his brother in Virginia and brought it to Tennessee. Eli stated William had defamed his good name by making this charge in front ot other good people of Sumner County.

In July of 1864, Eli's eldest son Reason was charged by The United States as a - "Citizen Rebel". The military commission, District of Tennessee in Gallatin charged Reason with the following...."being a Guerilla...feeding and harboring Guerillas and Bush Whackers...violating his Oath of Allegiance".

Eli and Sally both died before 1870. Eli left no Will - in the "loose records" of Sumner County a document dated 1869 names J. B. Hobdy administrator for Eli. A small family cemetary located across from Boiling Springs Church maybe the resting place of Eli and Sarah.

1-- Eli Perdue (1790-1870) Franklin Co., VA
  sp- Sarah Sally Chitwood (1794-1870) Virginia
       2-- Louis Perdue (1817-1886)  Franklin Co., VA
         sp- Rachel M. Smith (1820-1840) Virginia
         sp- Martha Booker Smith (1825-?) Virginia
       2-- Elvinia Perdue (1819-1897) Franklin Co., VA
         sp- Daniel Perdue Jr. (1820-?) Kentucky
       2-- Reason Ewell Perdue (1821-1887) Franklin Co., VA
         sp- Nancy W. Perdue (1817- 1900) Franklin Co., VA
       2-- Giles Reed E. Perdue (1824-1901) Franklin Co., VA
         sp- Mary Jane Vaughn (1828-1864) Virginia
         sp- Martha Keen   
         sp- Mary Prudence Brackin (1846-1912) Sumner Co., TN
       2-- Charles Wylie Perdue (1825-1890) Sumner Co., TN
         sp- Julia A. Wattwood (1829-1906) Sumner Co., TN
       2-- Marcus W. Perdue (1827-1900) Sumner Co., TN
         sp- Mary Ann Mattox (1829-1910) Sumner Co., TN
       2-- Randolph H. D. Perdue (1829-?) Sumner Co., TN
         sp- Lettitia Mattox (1842-?) Sumner Co., TN
       2-- Adaline E. Perdue (1833-?) Sumner Co., TN
         sp- George Chitwood (1810-?) Virginia
       2-- Illa W. Perdue 1837-1916) Sumner Co., TN
         sp- Isaac F. Wattwood (1832-1924) Sumner Co., TN