Day, Christopher Sr - This is the ancestor that
many living in East Tennessee by the name of Day are descendants. Stories
passed from generation to generation indicate he was born in Yorkshire, England
circa 1684.
He came to America with his wife Malti1a, by way of
Rhode Island to Plumstead Township, Bucks County; the eastmost county in
Pennsylvania.
Documentation: “History of Bucks County,
Pennsylvania” by James H. Battle Page 570 “Christopher Day and John Dyer bought
portions of the Cook Survey –
“Christopher Day settled in the township Plumstead in 1708, and
resided here until he died 1748.”
“History of Bucks County” P. 572 “The only burial ground in the township of
which traces yet remain is situated on the corner of the tract Christopher Day
bought of Clarence Dugan in 1708. In
his will proved March 25,1748, he gave “ten perches square. for a graveyard
forever.” One stone bears the inscription “Christopher Day March 6, 1748.”
Family history handed down from generation to
generation to Elizabeth Day McCoy Haynes, tells of a small copper bound, wooden
chest Christopher Day brought from his home in England. This chest was filled
with earth from his home site.
He would unlock the chest take a pinch of earth and
carefully let it drop back into the chest. He would then “smell” his thumb and
finger “to get the smell of home.”
He further requested that at his death the “chest
of earth” be spread in the bottom of his coffin and that he be placed on it so
that “his bones might rest forever in his native earth.”
Christopher Day and Martha ; b d by 1753, had six known
children as documented in his will “Bucks CO., PA Book 2 p.141” (There may have
been others)
The children of this marriage were Mathew Sr., Christopher Jr., Abigail, Nathanial Sr. and Ursula.
*Perch is a measure of length equal to 5 ½ yards.
NATHANIEL
DAY SR.
Day, Nathaniel Sr., b d. 1754
The fifth
child of Christopher and Martha Day. He was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania b
d March 1754. Married in Bucks Co circa 1740 to Susan Wylie, b- d 1756, daughter of James Wylie. There
were five known children. John Sr., David, Sarah, Nathaniel Jr., and Martha.
The first child John Day Sr. b June 30, 1742, d
December 4, 1833, age 92 years, in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Soldier of the American Revolution.
Documentation: National Archives File 5-3252.
Nathaniel Sr. died 1754, buried in Day plot set
aside by Christopher Day at Nathaniels death Susan and her family made their
home with her father James Wylie at Capon Springs near Winchester, V A before
going to Little Levels, Greenbrier Co. West VA.
In 1756 Susan, her daughters Martha and Sarah, also
her son David were taken captive by Shawnee IndianE. Captain Fry organized a
search party, including John Day. They found Susan and her son David, both were
killed, but the two sisters were rescued.
JOHN DAY SR.
Day John Sr., the first child of
Nathaniel and Susan Wylie Day was born in Bucks Co., P A, b June 30, 1742, December
4, 1833 in Jefferson Co., TN
He married twice -his first wife Polly Susan his second Ester
Drinnon. There are twelve known children. From incomplete records all were
thought to be by Polly Susan. They were John Day Jr, Thomas, Jesse Sr, David,
Joseph, Levi, Stephen, Mary, Nehemiah, Hannah, Elizabeth and (Hettie) Ester
Mehettibelle.
The Day family were known to be skilled wood
workers. John and Polly Susan lived for a time in Carroll and Grayson counties
VA. Furniture said to have been made by John Day Sr is still to be found in
this area.
John Day Sr. moved to Green Co., North Carolina
-later Jefferson Co., TN in 1785. -Recorded in- National Archives File No.
5-3252 is his application for a Revolutionary War Soldier pension. The affidavits
by John Sr. and John Jr. document much family history such as the year he and
his family came to Tennessee.
His own words tell a graphic account of the Shawnee
Indian attack an the rescue of his sisters.
John Day established a fort in the Hawksbill
Settlement called John Days Fort;, known in 1766 as Fort Cumberland and in 1772
as Kegleys and Prices Fort.
There is also this interesting account “Virginia
Malitia in Revolution from Kentucky, March 4, 1834 John Day Sr. died December
4, 1833 at 92 years, Jefferson Co., Tennessee.”
John Day Sr. moved his family from Virginia to
Green County, N.C. later Jefferson Co. TN “about four years after Cornwallis
was taken” (1785) “and lived here ever since.” documented in National Archives
File# 5-3252
This file also contains John Day Jr affidavit
confirming the year his family moved from Botetourt Co., VA to Jefferson Co.,
TN in 1785.
JOHN DAY JR.
Day John Jr. b -January 31, 1768 in Botetourt Co., VA
later Pocohontas Co., West VA d:_1839 in Hawkins Co.1N. He married circa 1794,
Elizabeth Howard b Nov. 28, 1776 d:.
To this marriage there were ten children of record.
John Day III, William, Elizabeth, Daniel, Eliza, Samuel,Isaac Newton Thomas,
Jemima and Lemuel.
John Day Jr. was seventeen years old when he came
from Pocohontas Co., V A to Greene Co., NC, later Jefferson Co., TN, with his
father and family in 1785.
Documentation see National Archives File 5-3252.
John Day Jr. was of the Baptist faith. Hew was also
a skilled worker in wood. He was in demand to organize a “barn raising”. He
knew how to size the barn for the farm, how to cut the timbers, including the
making of shingles, rafters, cross beams and all the wood parts.
He also could organize the men for the “barn
raising” and the women for the preparation for the food always a big part of
the “barn raising.”
He considered it a great honor to be called
“Carpenter” although he did much more than shape the wood.
He also was a busy farmer on his own acreage. He is
reported to have said -‘To feed the children, my wife and I, is a dawn to dark
job.”
Day, John III, born January 15, 1795 in Jefferson
Co. Tennessee. The first child of John Day Jr. and Elizabeth Howard, he died
April 26, 1853 in Treadway, Hawkins Co. Tennessee. Married May 30,1815, Frances (Fanny) Holdaway. Born November
28,1797 in Virginia, and died September 6, 1889 in Treadway. She was the
daughter of Timothy Holdaway.
Treadway is in a strip of land originally claimed
by both Hawkins and Hancock Counties.
Early maps show this strip of land as part of Hawkins County. About 1933 the maps show this strip of land
as part of Hancock County. The line following the top of Clinch Mountain. This
puts Treadway in Hancock County.
John Day III and Fanny Day lived much of their
lives in Hawkins County. They had thirteen children, two dying at infancy.
James Day b June 11, 1816, d September 7, 1841. Sarah Day b December 4,1817 d John Day IV b October 21,1819. d_. William Day b October
21, 1821 d :-- Elizabeth Day b August 15, 1823, d July 31, 1919. Madison Day b September 12, 1825 d Polly Day
b October 5, 1827, daughter died an infant 1829 d July 6 1913. Hugh Day b December 30, 1830. Elbert Day b April 27, 1833. Jesse Day b August 25 1835, killed in Civil
War. Martha Day b May 2, 1837. Barnett Day died infant.
John Day III was Baptist Minister. He was pastor of
several Baptist churches, among them Richardson’s Creek, War Creek and Bean
Creek. Recorded in Haynes Bible. “Elizabeth Day-professed faith in Christ June
1846, united with the Baptist Church as Richardson Creek was Baptized by Daniel
P. Morris. The 3rd Sunday in March 1846”
Records show John Day’s affiliation with Nolachucky
and Mulberry Gap Baptist associations.
John Day III died at Treadway April 26, 1853.
.
ELIZABETH DAY
Day-Elizabeth: Elizabeth
Day McCoy Haynes was born on August 15, 1823 and died July 31, 1919. She was born within one
mile of Flat Gap, Hawkins County, Tennessee.
She is a direct descendent of Christopher Day of Bucks County, P A.
thru Nathaniel, John Day Sr. who came to Tennessee in 1785, John Day Jr. and
John Day m. She was the fifth child of John Day Ill, a Baptist Minister, and
his wife Fanny Holdaway Day.
Elizabeth Day married on April 20, 1846. Claiborne
McCoy b January 19, 1811, d September 12, 1849. To this marriage two sons were
born. John McCoy b February 15, 1847, d December 16, 1932 at his home in
Knoxville and William Claiborne McCoy b January 20 1850, d December 3,1909.
After a laps of about four years she married
February 20, 1853. Abraham Haynes b
September 9,1811, d January 28, 1869. (This
Rootsweb database shows other children of Abraham Haynes first
marriage) To this marriage, one son was
born. Sterling Grant Haynes b August 30, 1866, d April 22, 1936.
While living on the farm the family entertained
soldiers of the Civil War. General Burnside and his Federal officers made their
headquarters on the Haynes farm during the siege of Knoxville. Later General
Longstreet of the Confederate army received much needed supplies from the large
Haynes farm. He also made his headquarters there for a time.
Mrs. Haynes was considered a close trader and a
shrewd investor. She began her business
activities taking advantage of the depressed prices after the Civil war. She was active in the real estate business
acquiring property she could improve with a new building, etc.
She purchased property on Prince Street later
506-508 Market Street now occupied by Krutch Park. (MetroPulse writer Jack Neely gives some
history of the Krutch
family)
She erected a three story
building known as the Haynes House. This was one of the early hosteleries in
Knoxville, where out of town guests could be assured of a warm welcome and good
old fashioned southern meals.
In the first floor she and her sons operated a
mercantile business, Haynes-McCoy-Emporium.
Mrs. Haynes was active in the First Baptist Church-
and also assisted in the reorganization after the Civil War. She was a generous
contributor but always in a quiet manner.
They made her home in the Haynes House for many
years until she slipped and fell, injuring her hip. She then decided to make
her home with her son John McCoy, at the corner of Fourth
Avenue and Morgan Street in Knoxville, living there for about three
years before her death at 96 years of age.
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