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My lengthy epistle has just been sent out, and I am greatly embarassed.
I apologize for my terrible typing I did not edit the letter. I was
using a remote keyboard, which was in my lap while I was sitting in
a recliner. Please forgive me and I will try try to edit it next time.
I will still appreciate any help you can give me concerning Isaac.
Doyle Chatham
My name is Doyle Chatham, and I live in Nashville, TN. Iam trying to
find out something about him before 1850. Isaac was born in NC, about
1810, we suspect in Caswell County. We first find him in the Wilson
Co., Tn. l950 census, listed like this:n 17, Benjamin l8, Mar 17,
William l6, Nancy 9, James 7. We know that Susan ws a second wife.
The Wilson County marriage records show that on 8-8-49 Isaac married
Susan Jonsn, daughter of Pleasant Johnson of Wilson County, who lived
near Isaac. Someone else has also discoverd that they were neighbors i
Caswell County, N.C.
The legend handed down in my famil was that Isaac married before he
came of age and his father disinherited him. He may have married under
age, but we now believe he was disinherited because he married a
Cherokee indian girl. We don't nknow when he left North Carolina, but
later on we fid mt grandfather, William listed as born in Tn. This
means Isaac must have been in T as early asl834.We do not know what
happened to the Cherokee first wife.. We do not know if she was absent
because of death,anulment or divorce. Presumably she is the mother of
all the listd children.
I have been in touch withwith a Ray Chatham in Va, who is the
grgrgrandson of Isaac, through his son Benjamin. Anded Raay says he
knos definitely that we have Indiam blood. I have found a cousin in
Arizona, ho is the great grandaughter of one of my father's sisters. I
ave found another cousin in West Salem. Ohio. who is the geandaughter of
my Dad's oldest sister, and who says we do have Indian blood, and she
is chief of an indian group
In the 1860Daqvidson Co., Tn Census we find Isaac listed as a Shoemaker,
living in the house with son William, a boileraker (my grandfather).also
in same house is son Jame b. tenn.; A James M. 36, bb. N.C. whom I
would presume to be Isaac's brother, aqnd a Mary A. 9, born Cherokee
Nation, whom I would guess to be brother James' daughtrer, and Isaac's
niece.
There is no mention or sign of second wife Susan.. Isaac is not listed
with William in the n1870 0r 1880 Census. The last record I have of
Isaac is in the 1882 Nashville City Directory with same home address as
William. I do not know when Isaac died , or where He was buried.
My grandfather William died in Nashville in 1911 before I ws born, and
I do not know where he was buried.
The younger son wh inherited instead of Isaac, is that branch of the
family thyat had the textile mills that manufactured Chatham Blankets.
My dad's sister, Miss Mattie Lee Chatham, who was a schoolteacher in
Nashvillen for many years, went to Nc one summer to try to find out
something about the family roots.. One morning while there, she was
walking down the street and an old black man stopped her and asked if
her name was Chatham. When she replied tht it was, he said, "I knew
it, you look just like my master."
I do not know exactly where it was in NC this happened. When I heard
this I was young and not particularly nterestedn in family ackground,
and did not ask any questions, and now those who could have answered
them have passed on.
Since I have connected with a descendent od Benjamin. I feel that there
must be descendents of Nancy, Mary and James out there somewhere, and
that they know somethiings We do not know. There are some Chathams
still in Wilson County, and I have not located them but am still trying.
Ionce talked to a James Chatham who was from McKenzie in west Tennessee,
but he said he knw nothing about his forebearers.
I* feel reasonably sure that there are ther descendents of Isaac out
there, whohave information that will help us get Isaac bacl earlier than
l849. If you are one of these,
or know of someone who is, we would be most appreciative if you would
help us out
by getting us in connection witth them.
Thank you for any help you can give us
E. Doyle Chatham