Solomon Reese Estate Settlement Notes

© Kathy Duncan, 2018

These are my notes on the estate settlement of Solomon Reese who died in Lincoln County, Tennessee around 1834. They shed light on who his children were. They may not look like much, but the Chancery Court records of Lincoln County, Tennessee were not indexed until the 1850s. Some of this is hard won information.

Lincoln County, Tennessee – 1840s

1840. Cullen E. Sugg guar for minor heirs of Solomon Res dec.

[Source: Lincoln County, Tennessee; Guardian Settlements, 1836 – Dec. 1846, p. 19]

1841. Cullen E. Sugg guar for Solomon Reese heirs. Hire of slave Allen.

[Source: Lincoln County, Tennessee; Guardian Settlements, 1836 – Dec. 1846, p. 41]

1841. Cullen E. Sugg guar for Solomon Reese children

Merchandize for Mary Reese, Eliza Reese, John Reese, Eleanor Reese, Phebe Reese.

[Source: Lincoln County, Tennessee; Guardian Settlements, 1836 – Dec. 1846, p. 56]

3 Feb 1841. Cullen E. Sugg & others complainants Petition for sale of negro

Complainants: Cullen E. Sugg, William W. Reese who resides in the state of Arkansas, Mary, Eliza, John, Ellen & Phebe Reece infants under the age of 21 years by their next friend and guardian Cullen E. Sugg and Drury M. Perkins all citizens of Lincoln County, Tennessee. On 11 Oct 1834 Solomon Reece dec made his last will and testament--…among other things a negro man slave named Allen bequeathed to the seven following legatees: William W. Mary, Eliza, John, Eleanor, Phebe Reece and Elizabeth Reece who intermarried with one James Cunningham and has since departed this life intestate leaving no children.  Complts state that Cunningham some time in the month of January 1839, said Elizabeth being living made a ?   assignment of Elizabeth’s undivided interest in said negro slave to Complt Perkins… in the month of Oct 1840, which was long after the death of said Elizabeth … that said William W. Reece is now of age … [the point of this document is that Sugg want to sell the slave man Allen in order to settle amounts owed to William W. Reese and to Perkins]

[Source: Lincoln County, Tennessee; Chancery Court Minutes, Feb. 1840 – Jan 1844, p. 111]

William W. Reese, who was of age, had removed to Arkansas by 1841. Elizabeth (Reese) Cunningham, who was also presumably of age, had married before January of 1839 and died between January, 1839 and October, 1840. A guess is that Elizabeth was a newlywed who died in childbirth or shortly after her first child. Two daughters, one named Eliza and the other named Elizabeth, is a mystery.

22 Jan 1842. Cullen E. Sugg guar for Solomon Reese children dec’d

Articles furnished for Mary, John, Eleanor, Phebe.

[Source: Lincoln County, Tennessee; Guardian Settlements, 1836 – Dec. 1846, p. 91]

25 Aug 1842. Solomon Reece decd. Bill for Sale of Real Estate

Complainants: William W. Reece of the State of Arkansas, Mary Reece of Fayette County, Tennessee, Charles C. Coupland and Eliza his wife of said County of Fayette all of full age, and John Reece, Eleanor Reese and Phebe Reese of said County of Lincoln infants under the age of 21 years with their guardian Cullen E. Sugg…that about Oct 1834 Solomon Reece then of said County of Lincoln departed this life having first duly made and published his last will and testament…”said testator was twice married at the time of his death he left him surviving seven children by his first wife to wit your complainants William W., Mary, Eliza who has since intermarried with complainant Charles C. Copeland, John, Eleanor, & Phebe, the last being minors for whom said Sugg has been regularly appointed guar by the County Court of said Lincoln together with Elizabeth who has departed this life leaving no issue … [Solomon] died seized of three tracts of land on which he lived bought of Gabriel Seahorn 23 May 1831—total about 168 acres in Lincoln Co., Tennessee

[Source: Lincoln County, Tennessee; Chancery Court Minutes, Feb. 1840 – Jan 1844, p. 363]

By 25 August 1842, Eliza Reese has married Charles C. Coupland and is living in Fayette County, Tennessee. Fayette County, Tennessee records indicate that Charles C. Copeland married Miss Eliza Reese on 23 November 1841. Sister Mary Reece is also living in Fayette County, Tennessee. Fayette County, Tennessee records indicate that James M. Miller married Evelina Reese on 24 December 1844.

[Source: Fayette Co., TN Marriages 1838 - 1857 by Helen Smothers Swenson]

Was Mary living with sister Eliza Copeland? Or had both girls been living with another family member in Fayette County, Tennessee prior to Eliza’s marriage? Would that be a relation of their mother’s?? The remaining Reese siblings are all underage at this time and still in Lincoln County, Tennessee. With whom were they living??

This narrows Solomon Reese's death to October, 1834.

Jan 1843. Cullen E. Sugg for the minor heirs of Solomon Reese.

Received July 29, 1842 of Peter McMullen admr of Mary Reece dec’d for John, Eleanor, & Phebe Reece each $3.65 in all $10.95 interest to date $11.23

Articles furnished for John Reece, Ealenor Reece, Phebe Reece

[Source: Lincoln County, Tennessee; Guardian Settlements, 1836 – Dec. 1846, p. 132]

6 Feb 1843. Articles sold by Cullen Sugg guar for minor heirs of Solomon Reece sale on 26 Oct 1842. Notation: “William W. Reece was entitled to one sixth part of that rent for 1841 which amount due last Christmas was $3.33. Mary Reece one of the heir that is of age is entitled to property sold and the rent for 1842, $18.31. Charles C. Couplin and wife Eliza one of the said heirs is entitled to their part of the rent of 1842, $6.59.

[Source: Lincoln County, Tennessee; Guardian Settlements, 1836 – Dec. 1846, p. 139]

1844. Cullen E. Sugg guar for minor heirs of Solomon Reese dec’d,

Amt paid

Charles C. Copeland in right of his wife Eliza

William E. Natior [Nation] in right of his wife Mary

William Hamilton for boarding John Reese

William Reese, share

[Source: Lincoln County, Tennessee; Guardian Settlements, 1836 – Dec. 1846, p. 158]

John Reese is boarding with William Hamilton. Is he a relative? John seems to be the only Reese minor living with Hamilton. Where are the others living? Mary Reese was also evidently living in Fayette County, Tennessee since at least 1842.

By 1844 Mary Reese has married William E. Nation. Mary Reese is very likely the “Mary Ann Read” who married W.E. Nation in Fayette Co., TN on 22 Mar 1843.

[Source: Fayette Co., TN Marriages 1838 - 1857 by Helen Smothers Swenson]

James Cunningham, admr of Elizabeth Cunningham, deceased

1 Jan 1845 – James Cunningham admr as above states that nothing has come to his hands as administrator of Elizabeth Cunningham deceased since the administration on said Estate and the object was of his administration was to convey a negro sold before the death of the said intestate.

Signed James Cunningham    W. B. Rhea, chairman

[Source: Lincoln County, Tennessee; Settlements, Administrators & Exec’s; Dec. 1842 – Oct 1847, p. 96]

1 Jan 1845. Cullen E. Sugg guar. Of minor heirs of Solomon Reese

Due Phebe Rees for settlement with John Reese

 [Source: Lincoln County, Tennessee; Guardian Settlements, 1836 – Dec. 1846, p. 243]

25 Jan 1845. No. 50, Peter G. McMullen &Robert McCala, Admr of Mary Rees, deceased,

Amt paid

-           C.T. Rees

-          Henry Kimes, Guard of his own children

-          Hiram Rees

-          Joseph Huff, Guard heirs of Robert Rees

-          John Lauderdale

-          Cullen E. Sugg, Guard of heirs of Solomon Rees, decd

-          Paid for postage & will of Desha it being the will of said deceased’s father

[Source: Lincoln County, Tennessee; Settlements, Administrators & Exec’s; Dec. 1842 – Oct 1847, p. 114]

1846. Cullen Sugg guar of minor heirs of Solomon Rees

- due Phebe Rees from Ellen Rees

- amt paid James M. Miller who enter married with Phebe Rees one of the minor heirs of Solomon Rees including the $28.00 due from John Rees & 82 cents due from Ellen Rees

[Source: Lincoln County, Tennessee; Guardian Settlements, 1836 – Dec. 1846, p. 277]

Eleanor/Ellen Rees is still living in 1846 and appears to not be married.

Fayette County, Tennessee records indicate that James M. Miller married Evelina Reese on 24 December 1844.

[Source: Fayette Co., TN Marriages 1838 - 1857 by Helen Smothers Swenson]

Was Phebe living with one of her sisters, or is there another family unknown member in Fayette County, Tennessee???

27 Jan 1847. Cullen E. Sugg, guar of Eleanor Reese minor heir of Solomon Reese dec’d

-Amt furnished Ellen to go to Blount Co. Alabama 25 Jan 1844

-Amt allowed you [Sugg] for trouble on guardian for 8 years which is up to the time said Ellen intermarried with Walder W. Sherrer

-Amt paid Alexander Smith admin of Ellen Sherrer deceased who intermarried with W.W. Sherrer of Alabama 27 [month?] 1847

[Source: Lincoln County, Tennessee; Guardian Settlements, 1836 – Dec. 1846, p. 356]

Why did Eleanor/Ellen Reese go to Blount County, Alabama? Is there a family member there? Did she marry Sherrer in Tennessee and then move to Blount County? Did she go to Blount County to visit a family member and then meet Sherrer and marry him there? If she was unmarried in 1846, then she had been in Alabama for at least two years prior to her marriage. In any event, she is deceased by 1847.

Lincoln County, Tennessee – 1850s

No. 1666

25 Jan 1857

Peter G. McMullin, Admr of Mary Reese dec’d

-paid Jas Reese in full of his distributive share 19 Dec 1856

- paid Jacob and Cynthia M. Hollius in full of their distributive share as per receipt 19 Dec 1856, $11.97

[Source: Lincoln County, Tennessee; Settlements, Administrator’s and Exec’s, Aug 1856-1861, p. 136]

Mary Reese was the wife of Charles T. Reese, mother of Solomon Reese, and grandmother to the Reese heirs. James Solomon Reese and Cynthia M. (Reese) Hollis are the children of Solomon Reese and his second wife Mahala.

Lincoln County, Tennessee – 1860s

No. 1649 – 17 Aug 1857, L.D. Sugg Admr with the will anxd of Solomon Rees decd

No. 1650 - 17 Aug 1858

No. 1651 – 17 Aug 1859

No. 1652 29 March 1860 – amt paid Robert Rees Admr of Thomas P. Rees in full of the proceeds as per rect. Of this date

[Source: Lincoln County, Tennessee; Settlements, Administrator’s and Exec’s, Aug 1858-1861, p. 129]

Carroll County, Tennessee – 1860s

22 Feb 1866. I Solomon Reece am held firmly bound unto John M. Covington in sum of $3,350 – sold Covington for $1,675 at $25/acre a tract of land in Carroll Co. TN containing 67 acres bounded by Isreal Snead, Henry P. Gaines, Covington, George T. Ridley, Phillip Turner  Attest: Luke Thomas, W.R. Snead

Signed J.S. Reese

[Source: Carroll County, Tennessee, Deed Book P., p. 252]

1 Oct 1866. I Synthia M. Hollis of the County of Barry and state of Missouri have for the sum of $1,000 paid by James S. Reese of Carroll County in the state of Tennessee sold a tract of land bordered by Thomas Hamilton, G.T. Ridley, Phillip Turner, H.P. Gaines.

Signed Cynthia M. Hollis

[Source: Carroll County, Tennessee, Deed Book P., p. 348]

J.S. or James Solomon Reese and Cynthia M. (Reese) Hollis are the children of Solomon Reese and his second wife Mahala. In these records, they are selling their inheritance from father Solomon Reese.

It looks like I need to focus on Fayette County, Tennessee and on Blount County, Alabama in the hopes of locating relatives of Solomon Reese's first, unknown wife. Still looking for a needle in a haystack!!