William Ussery and his Three Wives


William Ussery was born about 1786 in Montgomery Co, NC to Peter Ussery and Milly Jarvis. He died Nov 7, 1859 in Lewisburg, Marshall Co., TN. He is buried in the Marsh Cemetery. .

His first wife was Ellen Nance who died December 1855 in Giles Co., TN. His second wife was Jennie/Jane Marsh who was born Dec 22, 1792 in Montgomery Co, NC. She died Nov 15, 1850 in McNairy County, TN and is buried in the Clear Creek Cemetery. They were married about 1811 in Montgomery Co, NC. William's third wife was Elizabeth Mahala Houston Tillman who was born about 1800. She died Jan 14, 1884 in Marshall County, TN. They were married Dec 27, 1857 in Marshall Co., TN. All of William's children are believed to have been born to he and Jennie Marsh.

William served in the War of 1812. In 1878 his third wife, Eliza Tillman filed for widows pension based on his service.

William Ussery W O 24896; W C 29118 Widow: Eliza M. Ussery. Service Pension, War of 1812; claim No. 24896, Act. of March 9, 1878. Widow's Brief:
Eliza M. Ussery, widow of William Ussery, Private, Capt. Steel, Mil., Tenn. P.O. Globe Creek, Marshall County, TN. Application filed May 31, 1878/ Service: Enlisted at Lynnville, Giles County, TN., for 9 months. Served under Capt. Steel from Sept 28, 1814 till 27 Apr 1815. Length, 143 days. Admitted March 17 1880, to a pension of $8 per month, from March 9, 1878

Letter from ZG Wilson, postmaster at Globe, TN Dec 21, 1885: Mrs. Eliza Ussery died January 14, 1884. Claim, 25 May 1878: Eliza M. Ussery, aged 78, a resident of Marshall County, TN, widow of William Ussery who enlisted at Lynnville, TN for 9 months. Married to William Ussery who enlisted at Lewisburg, Marshall County, TN on 27 Dec 1857 by BF Houston, a J.P.; that her name was Eliza M. Tillman; that her husband had been twice married: 1st to Jennie March; 2nd to Ellen Nance; both of whom died in Giles Co. TN; that William Ussery died near Lewisburg, TN Oct 1859.

Affidavit, Dec 15, 1878 by Eliza M. Ussery: That William Ussery lived with Ebenezer Perkins, who lived in Hardin County, TN after the death of his first wife Jennie; also that he lived with his son Thomas Ussery about 12 months in Texas.

Affidavit by Peter L. Houston Dec 15, 1879: That William Ussery's wife Ellen Nance died in 1855

Affidavit by George W. Smith, Dec 16, 1879: That Jennie (March) Ussery, the former wife of William Ussery died in McNairy County, TN about 1847; that after her death William Ussery moved to residence of Ebenezer Perkins in Hardin County, a son-in-law.

Affidavit of John L. Fowler, 67, Marshall County, TN 15 Dec 1879; That William Ussery had two sons in Texas, Thomas and Eli.

Affidavit of Peter Lee Houston, Marshall County, TN, Oct 13, 1879:

Descendants of William Ussery and Jennie Marsh :

  1. Elijah Ussery mar. Faithful Massey
  2. Lucinda Ussery mar. Felix Grundy Braden
  3. Sally B. Ussery mar. David H. Holbrook
  4. Eleanor Ussery mar. Tobias Grider
  5. Elizabeth Jane Ussery mar. Ebenezer M. Perkins
  6. Robert Thomas Ussery mar. Mary Jane Winbourn
  7. Caledonia Ussery
  8. Eliza Ussery mar. David Michie
  9. Mary Ann Ussery mar. Moses C. Brooks
  10. William P. H. Patrick Ussery

Robert Thomas Ussery and Mary Jane Winbourn

Robert Thomas Ussery was born about 1822 in Tennessee. His parents were William and Jane Ussery. He is listed, along with his family, in the 1860 Wood Co., TX Census. In 1846, he married his wife Mary Jane Winbourn, (b. abt 1826) in McNairy Co., TN. They had the following children:

  1. Nancy J. Ussery b. abt 1846 TN
  2. John P. Ussery b. abt 1850 TX
  3. James L. Ussery b. abt 1852 TX
  4. Caledonia Ussery b: Abt. 1854 TX
  5. William R. Ussery b. abt 1859 in TX
  6. Ellen Ussery ?
  7. Omega Ussery ?


Elizabeth Ussery and Ebenezer Perkins

Elizabeth Jane Ussery was born Apr 15, 1820 and died Nov 18, 1893. Her parents were William Ussery and Jennie Marsh. Ebenezer M. Perkins, her husband was born Mar 1, 1810 to Elizabeth Marsh and Samuel Perkins. He died Nov 9, 1895. Location of birth and death is unknown at this time.

After the death of Elizabeth's father William Ussery on Nov 7, 1859 in Marshall Co., TN, his widow filed for a pension:

Affidavit, Dec 15, 1878 by Eliza M. Ussery:
That William Ussery lived with Ebenezer Perkins, who lived in Hardin County, TN after the death of his first wife Jennie; also that he lived with his son Thomas Ussery about 12 months in Texas.

Affidavit by George W. Smith, Dec 16, 1879:
That Jennie (March) Ussery, the former wife of William Ussery died in McNairy County, TN about 1847; that after her death William Ussery moved to residence of Ebenezer Perkins in Hardin County, a son-in-law.

Elizabeth and Ebenezer had the following children:

  1. Lucinda Perkins
  2. Ellen Perkins
  3. Callie Perkins
  4. Jane Perkins
  5. Thomas Perkins
  6. Elisa Perkins
  7. Patrick Henry Perkins
  8. Elizabeth Perkins
  9. Sarah Jane Perkins b: Apr 27, 1846 in Giles Co., TN d: May 5, 1900 in Booneville, MS Mar. James Terry Miller b: Jul 23, 1841 in Marshall Co., MS d: Mar 22, 1909 in Booneville, MS
  10. Amanda Perkins?
  11. Molly Perkins?

Elijah Ussery and Faithful Massey

Elijah Ussery, son of William Ussery and Jennie Marsh was born about 1811 in Tennessee. Eli and his family can be found in the Cass Co., TX 1850 U.S. Census. It is believed he possibly died in Texas. His wife, Faithful Massey was born about 1811 in South Carolina.

In the Giles Co., TN Court Records, the following is found:

Found in Usry Bul. 108, pg 1, is a copy of the Potter Family Bible mentioning Faithful. Mrs. John H. Alkek Jr. copied this information from her grandmother's Bible:

Mary Jane (Ussery) Potter married John D. Potter on Nov. 28, 1865.
They had two children: Ida Potter, born Sept. 26, 1866 and Ella Potter born Jan. 1869
Mary Jane Potter was a daughter of Eliajah and Faithful Ussery and was born Mar. 12, 1847 and died June 6, 1871.
There is also a note that Theodore A. Ussery was born Jan. 18, 1844 and Eli Ussery was born Oct. 25, 1850, and _____Ussery was born June 29, 1852.
(They were probably brothers of Mary Jane).
Also, a note that T.A. Ussery died Saturday night March 2, 1872; Eli Ussery died Thursday, 4 o'clock, Mar. 7, 1872 and the word "meningitis."

Elijah and Faithful Ussery had the following children:

  1. E.M. Ussery b: Abt 1831 in Tennessee
  2. William C. Ussery b: Abt 1833 in Tenn
  3. James A. Ussery b: Abt 1835 in Tenn
  4. Clarinda Ussery b: Abt 1837 in Tenn
  5. P.H. Ussery b: Abt 1840 in Missouri
  6. Theodore A. Ussery b: Jan 18, 1844 in Missouri d: Mar 2, 1872
  7. Jack Ussery b: Abt 1847 in Texas
  8. Mary Jane Ussery b: Mar 12, 1847 in Cass County, Texas d: Jun 6, 1871 in Marion Co., TX mar. John D. Potter b: Feb 26, 1841 in East Texas d: Aug 2, 1869 in Marion Co., TX m: Nov 28, 1865
  9. Eli Ussery b: Oct 25, 1850

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