 Elijah Martin Trim |
In the year 1647, Mathew Trim, a ship's captain from Stepney, Middlesex County, England made several trips to America on his ships, the Judith, Robert and Samuel along with his brothers, Valentine Trim and Lafayette Trim. About 1689, Mathew married a second wife, Martha Davies Browne in Virginia. His first wife was probably named Judith for whom he named his ship. About 1725 they had a son, Joseph Trim born in Essex Co., Virginia. Joseph had a son named Elijah Trim, born in Culpepper Co., Virginia. Elijah Trim was the father of (James?)Henderson Trim of Person Co., NC |
James Henderson Trim had two children by his first wife (name unknown):
(James?) Henderson Trim was married a 2nd time to Martha Baldwin on 08/16/1794 in Person Co., NC and had the following children:
Anderson Trim was born in Greene County, Tennessee in 1797. He was married three times and was the father of twelve children. He was a Farmer, Methodist minister, and a Tavern owner. He lived in several counties in Tennessee, including Monroe, McMinn, and Bradley County where he died in the 1870's. It was thanks to Anderson that we were able to trace the whereabouts of Isaac & Phoebe Erwin during their early days of marriage as they seemed to move with him and his family.
Anderson first married Sydney Carter in Greene County, Tennessee on June 2, 1817. Sydney died sometime later in McMinn County. Anderson later married Matilda Cate in Washington, Tennessee (Rhea Co.) Anderson & Matilda were divorced in 1851 and Anderson then married Elizabeth Ann Thomas, also of Rhea County. They then moved to Cleveland, Tennessee in Bradley County.
While living in Washington, Tennessee (Rhea Co.), Anderson was proprietor of a local Tavern which was a place for eating, drinking, and also had rooms for rent to travelers.
We know from public records that Anderson was very active in his communities, including, being in charge of building roads and was appointed to a Jury of View (or survey crew.) He was also appointed to the Grand Jury in July of 1849 in Rhea County, District 3. On June 3, 1844 in Rhea County, Anderson is found in Court Records in which he and several other men sold four slaves for payment of Debts.
The total amount from the sale was $223.45 for the sale of four Negroes: Girl, Hila about 19 years of age; Girl Sophia about 13; Girl Nancy about 13; and a Boy, Robert about 10. Purchasers were not listed. This was the first indication that Anderson owned slaves but as shown in the 1870 Census of Bradley County, Tennessee, there were two blacks listed with his family. One was a Girl named Milly Caldwell, age 16 and she had a baby girl of 5 months which was listed as Mulatto (half white.) No indication as to who the father might be.
Court document, dated July 6, 1852, states that Anderson Trim and his wife, Eliza Ann Trim revoked the power of attorney of A.C. Day of Rhea County in the handling of Enoch & Hannah Thomas' estate. They were parents of Eliza Ann and had lived in Philadelphia, Pa., leaving their estate to Eliza Ann. A.C. Day was sited as not performing the duties he promised in this case.
James M. Trim appears in all census records as living with Anderson and was about 11 years younger than Anderson. He evidently never married and may have been a younger brother. Also, Anderson's daughter, Cynthia, was never married. His daughter, Sydney Johnson, also lived with him in the 1850's for a few years after her husband died and she later remarried and left home again.
Although most church records show Anderson as a Methodist Minister, he was also shown in a McMinn County Deed Book along with three other men as Trustees of the Pond Creek Baptist Church, including camp meeting grounds. (December 12, 1836.) After moving to Cleveland,( Bradley Co.,) Tenn., Anderson helped organize the Methodist Episcopal Church there on August 14, 1865.
Although all the Trim men found in the Civil War Archives were Confederates, "The History of the Rebellion in Bradley Co., Tennessee" listed Anderson Trim as a Union Methodist Minister. It was further stated that all these ministers listed as Union Sympathizers suffered their full share of persecution from the rebels.
Anderson Trim died in Bradley County, Tennessee around 1875, but the exact date and place of burial is unknown.
In 1875, a Steamboat named The Hugh Martin, blew up at the Washington Landing and several people were killed and many were wounded. During this incident, Cassandra Trim, daughter of Anderson, and Cassandra's husband opened their home for treatment of the wounded people from the boat.
Children of Anderson Trim & Sydney Carter
Children by Eliza Thomas
Early colonial records of the Trim Family (also spelled Trimm) indicate they came to America from the British Isles. Anderson's father & mother were (James?) Henderson & (wife unknown) Trim of Greene County, Tennessee. Charles Trim (wife Sarah), also of NC, was the brother of Henderson Trim. The brothers later moved to Caswell County in Northern North Carolina before the family ended up in East Tennessee.
Caswell County was formed in 1777 from the northern part of Orange County and land documents show that Charles & Sarah Trim sold 200 acres of land to John Womack for 60 pounds sterling on July 18, 1781. Charles again sold 240 acres of land to Lewis Green for 120 pounds sterling on September 13, 1787. This document was witnessed by Henderson Trim, Charles' brother.
Charles Trim fought in the Revolutionary War, serving with North Carolina Militia. Charles was listed in the British Provost Marshalls Report (Dated March 17, 1787) as having been captured by Lt. Col. Tarleton and sent to North Hycoo. It was noted that he was not in arms and was attempting to run when cut off by the Legion.
We have spent several weeks in East Tennessee researching the Trim family including the following locations and sources:
The Greene Co. Court house had a copy of Anderson & Sydney Trim's marriage license in their basement which had not been opened since their marriage was recorded in 1817. It was quite a touchy situation trying to copy it but we did obtain a copy.
This Page Published on 07/29/98
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