Arlene Eakle’s Tennessee Blog

The military district in Tennessee which shows on most historical maps is actually District #2–along the Cumberland River where it first crosses the present TN-KY boundary all the way west to the spot where the Cumberland turns north back into KY.

At the time District #2 was created, the Tennessee-Kentucky boundary line did not exist as it does today.  Tennessee extended well north and included the areas that would eventually become Allen, Simpson, and Warren counties (among others) in Kentucky.  Actually, the TN-KY line was not finalized until many years later, when TN citizens discovered that they now lived in KY and were given a choice which state they wanted to conduct their legal business in.

This district includes the Red River with branches beginning across the current KY boundary line in old Simpson county, as well as in Sumner county TN.  These branches join to form the Red River.  And it eventually empties into the Cumberland in present-day Montgomery county TN (originally Davidson county).

Military District #1 was created in 1780 as a military reserve by North Carolina to award lands in lieu of pay to soldiers who served from NC in the Revolutionary War.  It lay between the Powell and Holston Rivers along the Clinch in East Tennessee and may have originally crossed the current Virginia boundary line.  These rivers joined to form the great Tennessee River.

District #2 was created in 1783 by North Carolina for two reasons:

1. Military District #1 was inadequate to supply enough land to fill all the claims that were submitted.
2. A substantial area in District #1 became involved in what is known as the Glasgow Land Frauds and grants ceased for a time, to allow for investigation into the charges and claims arising from those charges.

See my Genealogy News Sheet Blog on Genealogy Evidence, Monday August 21, 2006: Exact Proof:  Little-Known and Never-Used Military Records for more details and a short bibliography of source materials to document your ancestors in these military districts.  There is also a checklist of Bounty-Land Records, revised in my blog of 28 Feb 2008.

Your favorite Tennessee genealogist, Arlene Eakle  http://arleneeakle.com

PS  Watch for my cute and clever tee shirts, mugs, and tote bags–you will surely want something with my picture on it!  HA!

Between 1-13 November 1835, some 31 Texas colonists, calling themselves Texians (many of them from Tennessee), met to discuss and decide what to do about grievances with Mexico.  Frontier defense was a major problem–Indian raids and general lawlessness both plagued these democratic settlers.  And provision for the Texas Rangers was included in the Organic Law of the Republic of Texas signed on 13 November 1835.

The Texas Rangers were founded by a hand-written call-to-arms from Stephen F. Austin.  The Governor of Tejas, Jose Trespalacios, had approved the formation of a small force of militia to protect settlers from marauding Indians.

The first group of Rangers, referred to as a ranging company, included American frontiersmen, Mexican vaqueros, and a few friendly Indian scouts. But this militia was inadequate to the need as settlers from the American states flooded into Texas over the next few years.

As the discussion proceeded, the number of Rangers was to be 25, then 35, and finally set at a battalion of 150, divided into three detachments under the command of a Major.  The Rangers were a military force for the express purpose of frontier protection.

Over the next 100 years, with changes in the law in 1844, 1874, 1901, 1911, and 1935 (amended in 1937), the Texas Rangers moved from the jurisdiction of the Adjutant General to the Department of Public Safety under a Public Safety Commission.  From a largely volunteer frontier militia force to a highly trained, paid law enforcement organization recognized world-wide for its special nature.

Most of us owe our knowledge of these Rangers to John Wayne and Chuck Norris.

Afton Reintjes, who worked with me for many years and still accepts phone calls for me when I am out of town, has researched George Washington Smith.  This worthy ancestor served not only in the Texas Rangers.  He was a veteran of the War of 1812,  First Seminole War, 1816-18, the War for Texas Independence, the Mexican War,  and served in the Greys during the War Between the States (Civil War).  And he may have served in Johnston’s Army to Utah.  General Johnston was in Collin County TX when he received orders to take that mission–and if George Washington Smith was available, Afton is certain he would have served.   She hasn’t found a roster yet to confirm it!

A few years back, she was instrumental to getting a Texas Star/DAR headstone for his grave.

If you suspect that an ancestor or other relative may have served in the Texas Rangers, contact the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, I-35 and University Park Drive, PO Box 2570, Waco TX 76702-2570.  254-750-8631 http://www.texasranger. org

This website is beautifully organized with the right links and access to lists of men, history, books to buy, and bibliography.  Your favorite Tennessee genealogist, Arlene Eakle   http://arleneeakle.com

PS  If your Tennessee ancestor had kin who joined the Texas Rangers, their files and data may unlock your pedigree.  So please don’t conclude that this archive has nothing for you until you check it!  In a library survey at the Fort Worth Public Library conducted by Donald Martin, then Genealogy Librarian,  over 75% of Texas respondents were seeking Tennessee ancestors.  Break your losing Streak!

PPS  Even if you don’t have a true Texian in your family, check the Texas Rangers for your Tennessee roots.