Welcom USSERY and Lucy GROSS


Welcome was born about 1752, either in Virginia or Anson Co., NC. About 1770, he married Lucy Gross, daughter of Edmond Gross and Sarah Childress. The marriage took place, possibly, in Anson Co., NC or maybe in Jackson, TN.

By the following Survey, we know Welcome was in Anson Co., NC in 1779:
Abstracts of Land Grant Surveys: #4138. Anson Co., NC: Mentions property of John Ussery and William Ussery. Wm. and Welcome were chain-carriers for survey of property of Wm. Pickett. 28 Jan 1779. (Source: Abstracts of Early Records: May Wilson McAbee Collection Vol I)

By 1798 he had already settled in Jackson Co. TN:
Pioneer Baptist Church Records, South Central Kentucky and Upper Cumberland of TN: 1799-1899. . Chapter: History of Brimstone Baptist Church, Jackson Co., TN. p 501-504, 613: "Welcome Ussery bought 150 ac on Line Creek, on 12 Nov 1798. He was a member of Brimstone Baptist Church. In 1802, he appears in the record of that church as a messenger to the Green River Association. The church had a membership of 27. It was founded by Philip Mulkey on the waters of Brimstone Creek. The congregation met in homes of the members until they were able to build a log church on the property of Robert Kirkpatrick. Dissension in the church caused it to be excluded from the Green River Association in 1812 and the members joined other congregations, many of them forming Old Bethel Church which met in the log church on the Kirkpatrick property.

Further research of this township reveals that the original church, the Old Mulkey Church was initially formed in 1773 by settlers from the Carolinas. Barren Co., KY Deed Book AA (From Vol. 11 #1 Traces-South Central KY Quarterly-Spring 1983:p.77 )15 Sept 1804: Welcome Ussery of Jackson Co., TN for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred dollars to him paid sold to Joshua Pennington of Barren Co., KY a certain tract of land granted to Welcome Ussery by virture of certificate No. 1170 granted by the Commissioners in 1799, on Line Creek on the waters of Big Barren River, containing one hundred fifty acres by survey bearing date 4th April 1799 lying and beginning in James Button's east line...with its appurtenances. Signed: Welcome Ussery
Test: Daniel Pennington, Steward Pennington and Jacom Chism.

Biography References: "Genealogy of the Fowler Family" by Frank Fowler (as told to him by his grandmother, Mary Ussery Fowler)

Abstract of Welcom Ussery's Will - Hardeman, TN
(Usry Bul 74) Book 5, page 94, 10 Nov 1858

  1. Funeral and just debts to be paid.
  2. Wife and 3 youngest children, William C., Wincey E., James S Ussery, the negroes Nap and Emily and her children (7), Grandison and Martin and Delia and George the son of Rose and Bowser and Louisa, and my girl Mary Ann, 16.
  3. To son James, the negro boy Tom
  4. All my land to the youngest children of Wincey E. and James S and and my wife. To son William, land bought of T.D. Dammouls. To son John and Frances and Sarah I. Cantwell, rest of the negroes. Have given John 1132 and Frances 1444.
  5. John D. Ussery as Executor.

Welcom and Lucy's children:

  1. Rhoda Ussery
  2. Francis Fanny Ussery b: Abt 1781 m. 1793 to James Butler
  3. Welcome Ussery b: Abt 1782
  4. Lucy Ussery
  5. Mary Ussery
    (Mary and Lucy were twins)

Mary Ussery and Sylvanus Fowler

See Jackson Co., TN Census Records

Mary Ussery was born about 1785 in NC, probably in Montgomery Co. to Welcome Ussery and Lucy Gross. She died in Jackson Co. TN. About 1800 in Monroe Co., KY, at the Brimstone Baptist Church she married Sylvanus Fowler, the son of John and Glorianna Fowler. It is believed that Sylvanus was born about 1772 in Newburgh, NY Ulster Co. He died about 1819 Jackson Co, TN. The Fowler Cemetery where Sylvanus and Mary are buried is located on the property that Sylvanus and his descendants owned which is located near Celina & Gainsboro Rds. in Tinsley Bottoms.

According to the Pioneer Baptist Church Records, South Central Kentucky and Upper Cumberland of TN: 1799-1899. p 501-504, 613, the Fowlers bought land on the south side of the Cumberland River (adjoining land of Philip Mulkey, the founder of the Brimstone Baptist Church) in the Tinsley Bottoms opposite the mouth of the Brimstone.

These are a few of the activities surrounding this couple:

35 Apr. 1804: Sylvanus Fowler has a letter at the Nashville Post Office
12 Apr. 1811- The Carthage Gazette, Vol. 2 No. 97: Strays reported in Jackson Co. Sylvanus Fowler on the Cumberland River has taken up a bay horse.
18 Jan 1811: Bay Horse appraised at $11.
1812: Listed on Jackson Co., TN tax list.
1820: Mary listed as widow

Mary and Sylvanus had the following children:

  1. Anna Fowler b: Nov 9, 1802 Jackson Co TN Celina d: Dec 10, 1870 Jackson Co, TN mar. Ellis Kirkpatrick b: Tennessee *2nd Husband Jonithan Roberts d: Sep 5, 1834 Jackson Co, TN
  2. John Fowler
  3. Glorianna Fowler b: 1808 Jackson Co, TN d: Celina, Jackson Co, TN mar. James Tinsley
  4. Samuel Bailey-Mars (Maxey) Fowler
  5. James Tucker Fowler b: 1812 Celina, Jackson Co., TN d: 1812 Celina, Jackson Co, TN
  6. Mary Fowler b: 1814 mar. B.F. Holmes *2nd Husband mar. Alex Masters
  7. Sylvanus Christopher Clark Fowler
  8. Martha Matilda Fowler

Martha Matilda Fowler and George M. Davis

Martha Matilda Fowler was born in 1818 Jackson Co, TN to Sylvanius Fowler and Mary Ussery Fowler.. She married George M. Davis who was born around 1811 in Missouri . They had the following children:

  1. William L. Davis b: 1834
  2. Anna Davis b: 1835
  3. Glorianna Davis b: 1838
  4. Susanna Davis b: 1840
  5. Mary Davis b: 1842
  6. Lucy A. Davis b: 1844 mar. H.H. Milson
  7. Sarah Davis b: 1845
  8. Lyda Davis b: 1847
  9. Silvanus C. Davis b: 1849

Sylvanus Christopher Clark Fowler and Elizabeth Hamilton

Sylvanus Chrisopher Clark Fowler was born Jan 25, 1816 in Celina, Jackson Co, TN to Sylvanius Fowler and Mary Ussery Fowler.. He died May 4, 1857 in Jackson Co, TN. He married Elizabeth Hamilton who was born Sep 10, 1823 in Jackson Co, TN and died Jul 19, 1906 in Clay Co, TN. They are both buried in the Hamilton Cem. Celina, TN, 3 miles south on Gainsboro Rd. They had the following children:

  1. Sarah Fowler b: Jan 22, 1842 Jackson Co, TN d: Apr 17, 1864 mar. L. P. Williams
  2. Mary D. Fowler b: Aug 19, 1843 Jackson Co, TN d: Commerce, TX mar. Elijah Mulkey
  3. Martha A. Fowler b: Dec 14, 1845 Jackson Co, TN d: Nashville, TN mar. Elisha Chastaine
  4. L.Francis Fowler b: Mar 25, 1848 Jackson Co, TN d: Celina, TN mar. Matthew Smith
  5. Ava Gloriana Fowler b: Jan 19, 1851 Jackson Co, TN d: Mar 18, 1875 Clay Co, TN mar. J.L. Browntay d: Mar 25, 1880 Celina, TN
  6. Dr.Samuel Benjamin Fowler b: May 24, 1853 Jackson Co, TN d: Hendersonville, TN mar. Betty Reeves d: Glasgow, KY
  7. Egnardius C. Fowler b: Nov 27, 1855 d: Sep 19, 1890 mar. Belle Sargent d: Feb 9, 1938 Celina, TN

John Fowler and Wives:
Parmelia Davis and Lydia Holman

John Fowler was born Mar 29, 1806 in Jackson Co, TN to Sylvanius Fowler and Mary Ussery Fowler. He died Mar 6, 1878 in Jackson Co. TN and was buried at the Fowler Cemetery at upper end of Tinsle's Bottom.

He had two wives: Parmelia Davis and Lydia Holman. As I have no definite dates of marriages, I'm not sure which was the first wife.

By Parmelia Davis these children were born:

  1. Martha Jane Fowler mar. Brant Bigerstaff
  2. Lucy Adeline Fowler
  3. Nannie Parmelia Fowler mar. W.H. Hampton

John's other wife, Lydia Holman, was born Aug 7, 1813. She died May 20, 1853 in Jackson Co. TN and is also buried at the Fowler Cemetry at upper end of Tinsle's Bottom. They had the following children:

  1. Sarah Isabell Fowler mar. James Whitesides b: KY
  2. Franklin Fowler b: Nov 2, 1833 Jackson Co, TN d: Mar 1, 1923 Hickory Co MO- Reynolds Cemetery Dallas Co. mar. Rachel Ann Sadler b: Feb 8, 1834 d: Jun 5, 1890 Dallas Co, MO Reynolds Cemetery
  3. Henry Butterworth Fowler b: Abt. 1836 Tennessee d: 1913 Dallas Co., MO Reynolds Cemetery mar. Lucinda Tinsley b: 1843 Missouri d: 1918 Dallas Co., MO Reynolds Cemetery
  4. Julia Ann Fowler b: Abt. 1838 Tennessee mar. T.S. Tinsley, Sr b: MO
  5. Eliza (Louisa?) Elizabeth Fowler b: Abt. 1839 Tennessee mar. G.W. Mitchell *2nd Husband of Eliza (Louisa?) Elizabeth Fowler: Perry Staggs
  6. Samuel Columbus Fowler b: Abt. 1841 Tennessee mar. Nan Hall
  7. Mary Glorenna Fowler b: Abt. 1843 Tennessee mar. Dr.Thomas Hale b: KY
  8. Vanus Miah Fowler b: Abt. 1845 TN mar. Lieu Cunningham
  9. Christopher Clark Fowler b: Dec 25, 1847 Jackson Co. TN Tinsley Bottom So. of Celina d: Sep 1, 1927 Quinton, OK Rosedale Cem. Ada, Okla mar. Sue M. Johnson b: May 14, 1849 Willow Grove, TN Clay Co. d: May 29, 1927 Quinton OK Rosedale Cem. Ada, OK

Samuel B.M. Fowler and Adaline Butler Means

Samuel B.M. Fowler was born in Tinsley's Bottom, Jackson Co., TN. His parents were Sylvanius Fowler and Mary Ussery Fowler. .

Samuel married Adaline Butler Means around 1836 in Butlers Landing, Jackson Co, TN. She had three small children from her first marriage to Simeon Means, who died about 1835. Adaline Butler was the daughter of a wealthy planter in Jackson Co., TN by the name of Bailey Butler, an early settler on the Cumberland River and a Colonel in the Tennessee Militia during the War of 1812.

Samuel B.M. Fowler and Adaline Butler had nine children of their own. They lived at Tinsley's Bottom until they moved to Collin Co., Texas ca 1859.

They were listed on the Collin Co., TX 1860 Census, where Samuel owned town lots and land. He also bought land there for his son-in-law Landon Ware Oglesby. Samuel had a General Merchandising store in Plano, Texas. All of his sons and sons-in-law served in the Confederacy.

Samuel Fowler was a prominent man in Collin County - an active member of the Church of Christ - a delegate to many of the Church meetings in Dallas, Texas. He died July 12, 1878 at the age of 68 and is buried in the Plano Mutual Cemetery. Adaline Butler Means died November 22, 1883, age 68 years and is also buried in the Plano Mutual Cemetery.

Lucy Ussery and John Fowler

See Biography of John Fowler

Lucy Ussery was born about 1785, possibly Montgomery Co, NC. to Welcome Ussery and Lucy Gross. She died about 1853 in Rockport, Atchison Co., MO. Around 1801, in Kentucky, she married John Fowler, the son of James Fowler. They were married at the Brimstone Baptist Church in Monroe Co., KY. John was born July 4, 1776 in Kentucky Co., VA and died December 1867 at Kelseyville, Lake Co., CA near Lower Lake Cemetery.

Lucy practiced medicine for forty years, using herbs and the laying on of hands as ways of healing people. She was in good health her entire life, but was suddenly taken ill about 1853/54 while living in Rock Port, Atchison Co, MO. This was shortly before her husband at age 79 traveled across the plains to California with the "Fowler Nation". John and Lucy had the following children:

  1. James Lee Fowler b: 1803 KY d: Apr 23, 1899 Tulare Co., CA mar. Margaret Walker b: Abt 1805 m: Jun 9, 1825 Hendricks Co., IN
  2. William Lee Fowler b: 1805 TN d: Aug 23, 1885 Yolo Co., CA Woodland Cemetery mar. Hester Dickson b: Abt 1807 d: Dec 23, 1897 Yolo Co., CA Woodland Cemetery
  3. John F. Fowler b: 1808 Jackson Co TN d: Aug 30, 1878 Tulare Co., CA mar. Elizabeth Benson b: Aug 17, 1808 d: Mar 3, 1882
  4. Thomas Fowler b: 1813 KY d: 1867 Virginia City, Lyon Co., NV mar. Caroline Virginia Allison b: 1825 d: 1862 m: Mar 3, 1843 Holt Co., MO
  5. Mary Malinda Fowler b: 1816 Hendricks Co., IN d: Mar 28, 1892 Dayton, Lyon Co., NV mar. Ruel Lathrop b: 1816 d: Abt 1855
  6. Christopher Fowler b: 1817
  7. Welcome Usury Fowler b: Oct 10, 1818 Jackson Co TN d: Mar 26, 1897 Santa Paula, Ventura Co., CA Santa Paula Cemetery, Ventura Co., CA mar. Melinda Jane Jamison b: Sep 30, 1828 Taylortown?, KY d: Mar 9, 1902 Santa Paula, Ventura Co., CA Santa Paula Cemetery m: Feb 11, 1851 Rockport, Atchison Co., MO
  8. Edmund Isaac Fowler b: Oct 1821 Hendricks Co., IN d: May 15, 1906 Hanford, Kings Co., CA Visalia Cemetery Tulare Co., CA mar. Kezia T. James *2nd Wife Phoebe Wilbur m: 1884
  9. Lucy Ann Fowler b: Apr 1826 Hendricks Co., IN d: Oct 1, 1895 Middletown, Lake Co., CA mar. William M. Farmer b: 1828 d: Dec 30, 1892 m: Sep 11, 1845 Atchison Co., MO
  10. Samuel Fowler b: Apr 1826 Hendricks Co., IN d: Aug 15, 1915 Santa Cruz Co., CA Visalia Cemetery, Tulare Co., CA Malinda A. Thompson b: 1833 Benjamin? Fowler
Return to:Ussery Home Page 1