Note: From information compiled by Christine (Paradise) Sumner, wife of William Parks Sumner Jr. and mother of Ann Elizabeth (Sumner) Shook and John William Sumner.

Joseph John Sumner's remains were brought home to Nashville and buried at "Sylvan Hall" the home of Captain Joseph Philips, Revolutionary soldier. The farm is located on Dickerson Pike, 6 miles north of Nashville, Tennessee. His tombstone reads
"Beneath this inscription lies the unfortunate Joseph John Sumner who was born August 14, 1780 and perished in the Gulf of Mexico on the Morning of December 28, 1813 ...."

Buried beside him is a son, William Henry Sumner, September 24, 1813, June 30, 1816.
Other inscriptions found in this old cemetery are:
Joseph Phillips (spelled with two l's), October 31, 1763, May 22, 1822, born in North Carolina and settled on this place in 1791.
Milbiry (Horn) Phillips, wife of J. Phillips, December 4, 1764, December 19, 1851, born in North Carolina and settled on this place in 1791.
William D. Phillips, son of Joseph and Milbiry Phillips, born on this farm April 19, 1804, died where he was born and lived, June 15, 1879.
Eliza Dryer, wife of William D. Phillips, daughter of Daniel and Bridget Dryer, born at Roscrea, Tipperary County, Ireland, August 3, 1801, died May 10, 1871.
Margaret Thomas, wife of Josiah F. "Williams, and daughter of Joseph and Milbrey Phillips, September 30, 1799-1844.
To the Memory of Josiah F. Williams, this monument is erected by his children, he was born on the 2nd day of February, 1780 and died on the 29th day of November, 1851. His life was characterized by inflexible honesty, sterling , the most unpretending , etc.
Sally Phillips, August 1, 1783, January 19, 1859, William Williams and Sally Phillips married February 11, l807.
William Williams, April 15, 1776, March 6, 1872.
In Memory of Charlotte Phillips, who died July 23, 1811 in the 16th year of her age.
Henry Williams, a moral and intelligent youth, l May 3, 1814, July 14, 1826
Elisha Williams died August 17, 1811, age 72 years, married March 25, 17?5 and had 6 children, William, Betsey, Joshua, Elisha, Josiah, Martha
Sacred to the Memory of Eliza N., daughter of William Williams, wife of Evander McIver, departed this life March 28, 1826, in the 19th year of her age. (Evander is mentioned in the old collection of Sumner letters owned by the late Emmett Sumner).
Mary, daughter of William and Sarah (Sally) Williams and wife of Robert M. Porter, born October 26, 1816, married December 4, 1838, died March 21, 1839.
Martha H. Williams, November 29, 1809, November 3, 1833.
Robert, infant son of J. F. and M. T. Williams
Evander McIver Williams, May 5, 1829, December 27, 1855
David D., son of J. F. and M. t. Williams, January 11, 1829, February 17, 1829
William, son of William D. and Eliza Phillips, September 3, 1846, July 11, 1862
"Father" William P. Harding
"Mother" Milberry C. Phillips (It is interesting how many different ways this name is spelled all in the same family)
Sarah, infant child of William D. and Eliza Phillips who died July 1823, age 6 months.

Joseph Phillips to Martha Williams, October 14, 1812 by Edmund Crutcher. Able Williams and Joseph Phillips, Sureties.
When Sarah Catharine (Parks) Sumner, wife of James Exum Sumner Sr., died she left her old trunk to Emmett Sumner who later moved to Amarillo, Texas. The old trunk was full of old letters and papers dating back to the 1800s. I will always be grateful to Emmett for sharing these old letters with me. From them I was able to glean the names of James Exum's brothers and sisters and it gave me a good foundation on which to build the Sumner family tree.

Contained in the old trunk was the original will of Martha Philips-Sumner-Williams

The last will and testament of Martha Williams in the name of God Amen!
I, Martha Williams of the County of Davidson and State of Tennessee being in a low state of health but of a sound mind and disposing memory do make and publish this as my last will and testament revoking all others by me heretofore made, Vis1st. It is my will that all my just debts and burial expenses including an enclosure around my grave and such other things as may be deemed proper and necessary about the same be first paid out of any monies that I may leave or out of the first that shall come to the hands of my executors

2nd. It is my will that all my land together with my stock of every kind, my household and kitchen furniture and farming utensils and crop of every kind that I may leave on hand be sold by my executors on such terms as they may deem best and the proceeds to be equally divided among all my grandchildren share and share alike.

3rd. I will to my grandson Jacob S. Sumner the following slaves, viz--Aaron, Daniel, Nancy and Sally and their future increase now in his possession..

4th. I will to my grandson James E. Sumner the following slaves viz--Henry, Anna, Harriet and Nelson and their increase now in his possession.

5th. I will to my grand daughter Eliza P. Sumner the following slaves viz--Patty, Anthony, son of Patty, John, Levi and Frank and their increase now in her possession and also Mose now in my possession for and during her natural life and at her death to her children if she shall leave any, but if she shall leave none of the said slaves are to go to her brothers and sisters of their lawful h- eirs

6th. I will to my grand daughter Martha Ann Lanier, my slaves Celia, Ben, Sam and Jessie and their increase now in her possession and also Edna and increase now in my possession for and during her natural life and at her death to her children and in case she dies without children the same is to go to her brothers and sisters or their lawful heirs--

7th. I will to Grand daughter Jane Love the following Claves viz Judy, Biddy, Pompey, Henry and Randall now in her possession and their increase and also Milberry now in her possession and their increase and also Milberry now in my possession and increase for and during her natural life and at her death to her children and if she shall die without children then the same is to go to her brothers and sisters and their lawful heirs.

8th. I will to my Grand daughter Maria Hinton, my slaves Sterling and Betsy now in her possession and their increase and also Ellen now in my possession and increase for and during her natural life and at her death to her children and if she shall leave no children then to her brothers and sisters or their lawful heirs

9th. I will to my Grand Daughter Susan Williams my slaves Hannah, Penny, Bob and Cherry now in her possession and increase and also Jane now in my possession and increase for and during her natural life and at her death to her children and if she shall die without children the same shall go to her brothers and sisters or their lawful heirs.

10th. I will the residue of my property consisting of slaves Cherry, Lucy, Sam, Lizette, Nalinda, Rhoda, Rose, Davy, George, Bias, Peter, James, Taylor and Jordan and any money or other things not hereuntofore specially bequeathed to be equally divided among my seven grandchildren viz
1. Jacob B. Sumner
2. James E. Sumner
3. Eliza P. Sumner
4. Jane Love
5. Mariah Hinton
6. Martha A. Lanier
and
7. Susan Williams the portions falling to my Granddaughters Eliza P. Sumner, Susan Williams, Jane Love and Mariah Hinton to be subject to the same restrictions as contained in items 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, of this my will and that all the property above given to my said Grand Daughters shall be to their sole and separate use and free from the debts of their husbands.

11th. It is my will that a division of my property as above set forth shall take place as soon after my death as possible. I do hereby ordain and appoint Jacob B. Sumner and James E. Sumner executors of this my last will and testament and it is my will that they be not required to give security Given under my hand and seal this the 17th Day of April 1855.
Martha X Williams (Seal) Test }William D. Phillips
}S. S. Hall
A true copy attest
T. (F?) R. Chattam? Cheatam?) Clerk

On the outside of the third page "Martha Williams, Copy of Will, fee $1-----------"

All the grandchildren named in the above Will seem to be brothers and sisters, however, I have not found anything to prove that Susan Williams was a sister although I think she was. A Susan was mentioned in the old Sumner letters. This Susan was married to J. J. Abernathy by then. He writes to James Exum Sumner and reminds him not to forget Susan's ladies book. In another letter he mentions Susan's condition.

It seems that James Exum Sumner may have been a foreman over a farm in Murfreesboro for J. J. Abernathy in the mid-1850s.

Susan Abernathy left a will in Lincoln County, Tennessee, 9 March 1876, naming husband J. J. Abernathy and children Henry J., Mary and Ida (I also copied a child as "Susan E. Sumner" or "Susan and S. m. Sumner"), all the land I possess to be divided equally.
(Signed) Susan E. Abernathy
Witnesses Sherrod Williams
David L. Gipson
This record was taken from Lincoln County, Tennessee, microfilm records and I failed to note the book and page.

MARTHA ANN SUMNER married Churchill Lanier. She is believed to have been the oldest child of Exum P. and Temperance (Drake) Sumner. Many members of this family are buried at Springhill Cemetery, Madison, Tennessee, near Opryland. I found these stones quite by accident. We had taken the children to Opryland June 5, 1976, and by the time we got there it had started to rain. We were riding around waiting for the rain to stop when we passed this large cemetery. I suggested we ride through it and see if I could recognize any names as so many of our families came from Davidson County. I immediately recognized names that I had become so familiar with on paper
Church S. Lanier, born July 7, 1855, died May 23, 1903 "A man true to every position in life."
Annie Gray, wife of Church Lanier, died February 2, l899 (These graves are on the Gray lot There are more Grays buried here; buried near Jacksons. An Andrew Jackson Gray buried here).
Martha A. Lanier, wife of C. Lanier and daughter of E. P. and Tempy Sumner, November 1, 1818, August 26, 1857
Chl Lanier, September 22, 1806, September 14, 1889
W. I. Lanier, born April 19, 1831, died February 26, 1908
Margaret Lanier, born April 20, 1841, died May 5, 1917
James M. Lanier, born March 27, 1870 (failed to copy death date)
William O. Stratton, 1840-1908
Lizzie Hall Stratton, 1843-1921
Carrie M. Stratton, 1866-1877
Susan E., wife of Willis S. Stratton, August 12, 1822, Oct. 4, 1873
Mary (Heat?), daughter of W. S. & s. E. Stratton, June 27, 1855 (infant)
Willis Swann died April 13, 1832, age 65 "father, son and daughter reinterred in one grave"
(Willis Swan Jr. and Jane Swann on lot with Morgans)
William Swann born Powhattan Co., Va. 1790 died August 6, 1853, Davidson Co., Tenn.
Mary A., Wife of Madison Stratton, March 13, 1815, March 6, 1874 (failed to copy stone for Madison Stratton)
Madison, infant son of Mary A. and Madison Stratton

In another part of the cemetery
C. D. Sumner, 1872-1930
Elizabeth Sumner, 1874-1937
Hubbard Saunders Sumner, May 16, 1876, April 19, 1941
Gertrude Buckner Sumner, November 9, 1894, December 24, 1966
DOROTHY JANE SUMNER married Nicholas O. Love. They, too, are buried at Springhill on a beautiful plot with a towering monument "LOVE."
Dorothy Jane Love, 1824-1897
Nicholas Osborn Love, born 1822, died 18907
William E. Love, born December 18, 1857, died December 17, 1911
James Benjamin Love, 1853-1858
Newton Herbert Love, 1850-1881 (He is shown on the 1850 census with Dorothy Jane and N. O. Love)
Minora Love, 1855-1889 Jennie Love Anderson, July 20, 1861, August 7, 1893
Jennie Love Anderson, July 20. 1861, August 7, 1893

ELIZA P. SUMNER, born about 1826, married William H. "Billie" Adams. It is believed they lived in Jackson County. If memory serves me correctly I think Lena Smith Johnson told me they lived here. Many early Jackson County marriages were performed by W. H. Adams. After the Civil War Eliza and Billy moved to Cordova, Mexico, along with Robert "Bob" Russell where they homesteaded land but conditions were terrible there according to letters Eliza wrote back to her family and she may have returned to Nashville. Nothing is known of any children.

MARIAH SUMNER, born about (1816?), married Harrison B. Hinton in Davidson County, Tennessee, on 30 November 1837. Among their children (1850 census) were Joseph C. (E?), born about 1838; Sarah S., born about 1840 William H., born about 1842 (he was a doctor...sent prescription to James Exum Sr. while he was in Arkansas) Jacob L., born about 1847.

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