THOMAS ALLEN USSERY/USARY AND NANCY HOBBS


Compiled for the Carter County, Tennessee History:

THOMAS USARY (USSERY, USURY, USRY, URSERY) FAMILY

Thomas USARY first appeared in Tennessee records in Carter County in 1812. He was born abt.1798 in North Carolina and moved to Tennessee (from Madison County, N.C. on the waters of Big Ivy). He married 1812/13 to Nancy Hobbs (born abt. 1790 in Virginia) in Louisville, Claiborne County, Tennessee. Thomas enlisted in the Army June 1, 1813 in Carter County under Ensign Jacob Tipton. He was nineteen years of age, six feet and one inch high, dark complexion, hazel eyes, black hair and by occupation when enlisted, a farmer. He was a private soldier of Captain Lewis B. Willis' Company of the Eighth Regiment of United States Infantry and was placed in the 30th Rifle Regiment of N. C. Troops of Col Hamilton in the war with Great Britain. He served at Buffalo, Plattsburg, Salisburg, N.C., Washington, D. C., Lower Canada, Camp Cool Springs, and Elk River, Alabama. He was discharged September 3, 1817 at Big Shoal Creek.

On March 13, 1873, Nancy filed for widow's pension based on Thomas' service. Her application is abstracted as follows:

Thomas Ussery enlisted on 1 June 1813 at Carter Co., TN to serve five years and was assigned to 10th Regt. of U.S. Infantry. Reported enlisted by Ens. Tyston and served in Capt. Robert Mitchell's, Brittain's and L.B. Willis' companies. Return of 8th U.S. Infantry dated Camp at Shoal Creek, Oct. 31, 1817, reports him discharged Sept. 3, 1817, having furnished George Miller as a substitute. The 10th U.S. Infantry was made the 8th U.S. Infantry after May 17, 1815.

Widow's brief, Gallepolis, Gallia Co., Ohio, filed 1, 1873: In Capt James Brittain'sCo. Her husband was a pensioner of the U.S. (invalid) on the rolls of Louisville, KY., agency. States in letter he was originally on the rolls of Jonesboro, TN, agency.

Thomas Ussery was enlisted 1st June 1813 in Carter Co., TN for five years. Assigned to 10th US Infantry. Description Roll: Nov 27, 1814,Feb. 16 and Inspection. Return Feb 28/15, absent from Buffalo. Left sick at Plattsburg Aug 29/'14. Description roll, Capt. Brittain's Detach., 10th US Inf., Feb 16, and Inspection return, Plattsburg, April 13/15. Present, Inspection return,Capt. J. Macherney Co. of US Inf., Plattsburg,NY, June 13, 1815. Inspection return, Capt. D. Riddle Co., 8th US Inf., Feb 29 and April 30, 1816. Inspection return and Semi-Annual Muster Roll, Capt. John Nieks' Co., June 20, 1817. Present, Inspection Return Muster Roll, Capt. Miller Co. G., June 30 and Aug. 31. Present Iinspection return, Camp Shoal Creek, Oct 31, 1817. Discharged Sept. 2, 1817 by furnishing a substitute. Length of service 4 years, 82 days.

Admitted August 20, 1879 to a pension of $8 per month from March 9, 1878.

Affidavit: by Nancy Ursury, 21 July 1873: That she was married under the name of Nancy Hobbs to Thomas Ursury in 1812 or 1813 by William Graham, at Louisville, Claiborne Co. That her husband died at London, Laurel Co., on Nov. 1865; that she has not remarried.

Affidavit of Reubin Hobbs, 28 July 1878: That he knew Nancy Usury for 40 years. Became acquainted when they lived in Knox Co., TN and up to the time they moved to Laurel Co. in 1862.

Affidavit of Susan Swaney, 28 July 1878: That she is the daughter of Thomas and Nancy Usury. She married about 26 years ago. Parents had 8 living children, three now dead: 1 in South Carolina, 2 in Kentucky, and 2 in Gallipolis, Ohio.

Thomas Ussery, Invalid Pension Claim No. 9114.

Thomas died November 1865 in London, Kentucky. Nancy died October 28, 1890 in Cattlettsburg, Kentucky. They lived in Carter, Washington and Hawkins Counties, Tennessee, Laural and Boyd Counties, Kentucky, Washington County, Virginia and Gallia County, Ohio. They had eight children - four are known:

  1. Emeline who married Manuel Pitman in Hawkins County, Tennessee
  2. Learling
  3. Susan who married a Swaney
  4. Thomas Usary


Thomas Allen Usary and Saraphine Walker


Usry Bul #57, pg 1

Thomas USARY, JR. was born May 10, 1840 to Thomas Ussery and Nancy Hobbs. He married Saraphine Walker born Abt. Aug 18, 1837 in Carter County, TN), daughter of Yonce Walker (born 1801, N.C.) and Mary "Polly" Fritts Walker (born 1803, Tennessee) of Fish Springs, Carter County, Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Walker had eleven other children. Names of the first two are unknown: Christina Walker (born 1828); Rebecca Walker (born 1830), Susan Walker (born 1832), Elizabeth Walker (born 1833), Hannah Walker (born 1836), Patie Walker (born 1840), Martha Walker (born 1842) and John Walker (born 1845), Caroline Walker (born 1844).}

Thomas and his family can be found in the Washington County TN Census June 1880:

Usrie, Thomas age 47 
Saraphine age 38 (W) 
Joseph D. age 16 (S)
Nancy J. age 15 (D)
Mary A. age 12 (D)
Samuel P. age 9 (S)
Amis E. age 7 (D)
David A. age 5 (S)
Jenny Lell age 1 (D)

John Bell William Usary was another son who was approximately 22 years old at the time of this census.   

At some point, Thomas changed the spelling of his name to USARY

Thomas USARY is buried in the Hampton Cemetery, Shell Creek, Carter County, Tennessee. Grave is between Roan Mountain and Shell Creek Tennessee in a cemetery located on the right side of the highway, up a lane to a Tennessee Valley Power Station. Saraphine Walker USARY, along with some of their children, is buried in the Milligan College Cemetery, Carter County, Tennessee.

Carter Co., TN Marriage Records

   Thomas Usry, Jr. to Sarah Walker mar. June 6, 1856     
  Will Campbell to Annis Usser m. 20 July 1894 by D.W. Ellis, JP; WP Waters, Bondsman 
     W.M. Dempsey to Mollie Ursery mar 5 Aug 1894 by E.A. Potter, JP; Y.L Blackwell,
     Bondsman 
     Saml. Usary to Edy McInturff mar 14 Jan 1895 by N.G. Walters, M.G. 
     David A. Deck Usary to Sarah Holtsclaw mar 4 March 1906 by W.R. Gourley, JP 
     Ernest Usary to Hattie Butler mar 24 Dec. 1915 by ZC Campbell, JP 
     Sam Usary to Laura Pritchard mar 18 Aug 1922 by Frank A. Taylor, JP 
In 1900 Census of Sullivan Co., Bristol, Tennessee 17th Civil District, Thomas J., Sarah, and Deck A. USARY were living with Will M. and Mollie Dempsey and daughter Anna M. and niece, Maggie Snow.

Thomas and Saraphine USARY had nine children.

  1. John Bell William USARY (born either in 1854 or 1858, died after 1934 in Texas) married before 1880 to Alice Duncan in Texas. John and Alice USARY had three daughters, Maude, Beula and Pearl Henry Usary. [See Obituary below]
  2. Joseph David USARY
  3. Nancy J. USARY (born 1865) married Ruffus Bacon
  4. Mary A. USARY (born July 1869) married Will M. Dempsey. Mary and Will Dempsey had a daughter, Anna M. Dempsey (born 1898).
  5. Samuel P. USARY (born 1871, died 5/15/1937) married Jan. 14, 1894 to Rachel Eddie Row McInturff. Samuel and Eddie USARY had Joseph Ernest USARY (born 1896), Ollie Mae USARY (born 1900), Montie USARY (born 1904), an infant son (born and died 1903). Samuel USARY married second Laura Pritchard on 8/17/1922 and third to Hester Brown 3/24/1929
  6. Anis (Annice) E. USARY (born 2/14/1873, died 5/29/1955) married William Campbell. Anis and Will Campbell had Oliver Campbell, Sallie Campbell, Connie Campbell.
  7. David A. "Deck" USARY (born 11/7/1875, died 7/18/1942) married Sarah Holtsclaw on 3/4/1906.
  8. Jenny Lell USARY (born 1879) married Landis Slaughter and Tom Buckley
  9. Pearl Myrtle USARY

Betty Jane Usary Hylton, 1610 Seward Dr., Johnson City, TN contributed this obit in 1980 to Usry Bulletin. She found it in her great-grandfather's bible. Date of obit is unknown:

"J.B. Usary Laid to Rest Monday Afternoon"

Funeral services of J.B. Usary were conducted by Rev. J.J. Stickland at the First Baptist Church Tuesday afternoon at 5:30 after with the remains were interred in the City Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Fred Towell, J.W. McCarley, Homer Crowell, A.B. Jackson, Earnest Wilson and G.E. Brown.

Mr. Usary passed away Sunday night at 9:30 after a serious illness of over two weeks at the home of his daughter Mrs. S.H. Rabon with whom he made his home for over the past nine years.

J.B. Usary was born in Montgomery, Alabama and was 75 years 11 months and 15days of age at the time of his passing. At the age of 25 he moved from Alabama to Texas. In 1882 he married Miss Alice Duncan in McKinney, TX. To this union were born three daughters, two of whom survive, Mrs. S.H. Rabon of Luling and Mrs. J.O. Phillips of Adell, Texas. His wife passed on to her reward on July 8, 1934." end of article

[PS] John Usary visited his brothers Joe, Sam, and Dick and sisters Nancy, Mary, Annis, Jenny and Pearl in Tennessee. Joe and his son William visited John's family in Texas and William had his picture taken with his two cousins, Maude and Beula. Their parents were Tom and Sarah Usary who are buried in Carter Co., TN


William Newton Usary and Elizabeth M. Goode

William Newton Usary was born Sep 12, 1882 to Thomas Usary and Saraphine Walker. He died Oct 11, 1960 in Broylesville, TN. He married Elizabeth Maie Goode who was born Oct 2, 1882 and died Sep 4, 1967 in Broylesville, Limestone Co., TN.

They had the following children:

  1. Samuel David Usary b: Apr 12, 1907 in Liimestone, TN mar. Leona Goode
  2. Harvey Otis Usary b: Aug 1909 in Limestone, TN mar. Floy Clara Steadman
  3. Margaret Marie Usary b: Feb 27, 1914 in Liimestone, TN mar. Roy Greenway
  4. Lyllian Pauline Usary b: Aug 27, 1917 in Liimestone, TN
  5. Dorothy Frances Usary b: Aug 6, 1920 in Liimestone, TN mar. Claude Moore

Pearl Myrtle Usary and John Morgan

Pearl Myrtle Usary was born 8/20/1884 in Limestone, TN and died Jan 2, 1958 in Fairmont, W. VA. Her parents were Thomas and Saraphine Usary. On April 15, 1900, she married John William Morgan. He was born Dec. 29, 1875 in Bristol, TN and died Oct 14, 1951 in Tara Alta, W. VA. They are both buried in Beverly Hills, Morgantown, W. VA.

Pearl and John Morgan had the following known children:

  1. Stella B. Morgan
  2. Willia V. Morgan
  3. Kathleen B. "Kitty" Morgan
  4. Harvey J. W. Morgan
  5. Arlie William Morgan
  6. Lee Barnard Morgan


Joseph David Usary and Mary Katherine "Cassie" Pierson

Joseph David Usary was born Aug. 29, 1858/59 in Boones Creek, Tennessee to Thomas Usary and Saraphine Walker. He died 11/21/1939 in Broylesville, Tennessee and is buried at Washington College, TN. He married 12/27/1882 to Mary Katherine "Cassie" Pierson. Cassie was born May 11, 1857 and died Jan 21, 1939 in Limestone, TN. She is buried in the Presbyterian Church, Washington College, TN. Her parents were Ambrose and Mary Brown Pierson. They had the following known children:

  1. John William"Newton" USARY
  2. Nannie Myrtle USARY born 9/271884, Limestone, TN., died 5/19/1908 at Broylesville, Tennessee
  3. Mollie Bertha USARY born 4/12/1890 (or 1892) Limestone, TN, and died 7/6/1961 at Broylesville, Tennessee
  4. Clyde Alvin USARY (Born 6/3/1899, Limestone, TN and died 9/24/1961 at Fairmont, West Virginia
    Usry Bul # 57, pg 1


CARTER COUNTY, TENNESSEE AND ITS PEOPLE, p. 252

(Submitted by Betty Hylton hyltonb@usit.net; submitted to the Carter County History by Bea Campbell)

William "Daddy Bill" Campbell and Annice USARY were married July 20, 1894. Daddy Bill Campbell attended church and liked the ole time revival meetings. At one of these meetings he met Annice USARY. Annice (1874-1955) was born in Chucky, Tenn. (Washington County). Thomas and Sarah moved their family from Chuckey to (Buffalo Creek) Milligan College, TN. Annice had two brothers Sam USARY and David "Deck" USARY. David (1872-1942) lived with his wife Sarah (1869-1968) in a small house on Buffalo Creek. Sarah lived to 99 years old. Part of their house still stands on the edge of the Milligan College Campus.

Submitted by Betty Jane USARY Hylton, 1610 Seward Drive SW, Johnson City, Tennessee 37604-7144. References: Family interviews, Bible records, census records, county records, military records.

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