The Joyner Family

THE JOYNER FAMILY

My direct descendants are in bold type.

This is a work in progress. Much of my direct line is documented, but some may not be. If there is a question, I usually include words like "seems likely" or "possibly" in hopes that it may help someone else or eventually get me closer to documentation. Also, I do make errors when transferring info to my files or to the site. If you find errors that you can correct, please e-mail me and I'll gladly make the changes or if you have more information on anyone mentioned here and can share it, I would be really appreciative.

Among the troups that moved into England with William the Conquerer in 1066 was a man named Allen Le Joygnour who was chief carpenter. Many think he likely came from France, having fled during the Heugenot persecution. It is thought he was possibly the first of the Joyner line in England. Source

It is likely that Thomas Joyner of Dorset is the ancestor of the original Joyner family in the United States. Thomas was born around 1600, most likely in England. He had at least three wives, the final being Maude Marye. In the later years of his life, Thomas was the keeper of an inn called "The Royal Oak" which can still be found in Bere Regis. Source for some of the early Joyner research.

From 1654 - 1656 Thomas Joyner was the innkeeper of "The Royal Oak" in Bere Regis. His widow, Maude Joyner continued to run the inn after her husband's death until her own death in 1674. After that, the inn stayed in the family for a number of years being managed first by William, then his brother Barnabas, then, after his death, Barnabas' widow, appears to have moved to London in 1699, but continued to pay the rate or taxes until 1705. Owing to its long association with this family the inn was known as "Joyners" until 1712 when it is referred to by its present name, The Royal Oak. Source

St. John the Baptist Church, Bere Regis Source

Thomas died about 1657 in Bere Regis, Dorset County, England. He was buried St. John The Baptist Church at Beere Regis close to his two previous wives.

As well as being a charming medieval church it has several claims to fame.

The most notable of these is its later connection with Thomas Hardy's classic book, "Tess of the d'Urbervilles." The novel by Thomas Hardy, first published in 1891 initially appeared in a censored and serialized version, published by the British illustrated newspaper, "The Graphic."

Now considered a great classic of English literature, the book received mixed reviews when it first appeared, in part because it challenged the sexual mores of Hardy's day.

In the book of fiction, a poor farmer exploits his daughter's beauty for social advancement. The church and surrounding area is featured in many parts of the book. More about Bere Regis

Will Of Thomas Joyner

Recorded In The Prerogative Court Of Canterbury, Somerset House, London, England 5th day of August 1657

Thomas Joyner, of Bere Regis, in the County of Dorset, Taylor, being very sick of bodie but of very good and perfect memory, blessed be the Lord, do make, constitute and ordain this to be his last will and testament in manner and form hereunder declared (that is to say) first, he bequeathed his soul into the hands of God, and his bodie to the Christian burial in the churchyard at Beere Regis as near to the place where two of his wives hath been formally buried as possible may be;

I bequeath all my goods that I posset of in the Joyner house, beasts, two swine, wheat, barley, oats, furniture, wood and other fuel in my Barkside and great firebrand (?) at Whitesbury, copper shard, and one hattern of oats at the house of Charotte Drew, widow, worth four shillings, together with a furner and ham fat, rovells, fondalls, caddors, one feather bed in the new chamber, several floxx beds, several blankets, feather boulsters and all the goods that he the said Thomas Joyner, is now lawfully possest of into the hands and possession of Maude Joyner, his loving wife,

first to and for the end to pay off and discharge all the debts that he said Thomas Joyner, now standeth indebted unto several persons as the date hereof together with all his books, mault and other goods, moveable and immovable; and after his own debts are paid next, to and for her own use for and during the term of her natural life and at her departure out of this world she is to leave all the goods that she shall be then possest of to and for the use of Barnabas Joyner, Joseph Joyner, Jonathan Joyner and Hannah Joyner, if they live, so long, or to as many of them as shall be then living, equally and by even portions;

and bequeath to his daughter Elizabeth, one-half head bedstead with cord and matt thereunto belonging, in the house of John Gould, the butcher, lived in with one very good chest of spine oak with three or four shelves in the chamber together with three shelves in the lower room and one bench together with one feather bed, feather boulster, coverlets, five pairs of sheets and one of the smallest brass potts, one kettle, two blankets, a little brass pofnett and a frondell, Chonnel and payl and other things of earth severally one of oak sorf which shall go presently to Versille to soon and Maude Joyner, her mother-in-law shall suffer her quietly to occupy the little house that John Gould lived in and so shall my son William Joyner also after the death of her the said Maude Joyner, if she shall happen so long to live and to this will and testament performed the said Thomas Joyner aforesaid designates constitutes and ordain his loving brother George Ryled of Lide and William Wilcox of Beere Regis, the overseers hereof and according to the full intent and meaning in that behalf for which they are to receive out of the estate ten shillings apiece.

Signed sealed and delivered this day and year above written as the last will and testament of said Thomas Joyner in presence of Thomas Joyner, Roger Willington, Senro (?) Miller HIS MARK The possibility that Thomas of Isle of Wight Virginia was his son exists because a Thomas Joyner was a witness of the will and Thomas of Isle of Wight named his children after what would be his brothers.

Source

The children of Thomas Joyner and Maud Marye were:

Last	First	Born	Location Born	Died	Location Died	Spouse
Joyner	Thomas	14 Nov 1619	Bere Regis, Dorsetshire, England	1694 Age: 75	Isle of Wright, VA	Possibly Sara Edwards
Joyner	William	Abt 1617

More about Thomas Joyner and Sara Edwards Joyner

Thomas Joyner was born in Bere Regis, Dorset, England on November 14, 1619. At aged 16, he sailed from the Port of London, September 30, 1635 on a ship called Dorst, headed for Bermuda. This was likely the Thomas Joyner who eventually settled in Isle of Wright, VA by 1650.

"A Thomas Joyner (age 16) was among passengers on the ship "Dorst" (or "Dorset") which embarked from London on 30 Sep. 1635 bound for Bermuda." "Complete Book of Emigrants" by Peter W. Coldham

This Thomas possibly remained in Bermuda or continued working as a sailor until about 1650 when he first appears as a resident of Isle of Wight Co.,VA, on the James River across from Jamestown.

He is thought to have possibly married Sarah Edwards about 1651 although some think he married Elizabeth Robbins.

Eventually, he was able to acquire a large amount of land in the area including 1,300 acres in Cypress Swamp in 1675.

He died before June 19, 1695 because it was testified on that day by a witness that, “she heard Thomas Joyner say in his last illness that what he has was to be his sons.” Source

When Thomas Joyner began his life in the mid-1600s in Isle of Wight, VA he began a legacy in that area that would last nearly 100 years. Many future generations of his offspring would be born, live, work and die in Isle of Wight. The area also played a pivital role in the birth of America.

In 1608, Captain John Smith crossed the James River to obtain food for the famishing colonists at Jamestown from a tribe of Indians called Worrosquoyackes who lived where Isle of Wight, VA would be located. Three years later, in the spring of 1611, after five hundred of the colonists had died of starvation and disease, sixty emaciated, half-famished men, who had determined to abandon the colony settled in with this same tribe. The first English settlement was made there in 1619.

By 1635, the population of the county was five hundred and twenty-two. In 1658, eight years after Joyner's arrival, the population was still just a little over two thousand.

The names, dates and some details for the next few generations of this family include conflicting information in online research, in books and in historic documents. There was more than one Thomas Joyner in Isle of Wight at the time, which certainly contributes to the inconsistencies.

The likely children of Thomas Joyner and Sara Elizabeth Robbins were:

Last	First	Born	Location Born	Died	Location Died	Spouse
Joyner	Thomas	1655	Isle of Wight, VA	21 Apr 1708 Age: 53	Isle of Wight, VA	Elizabeth Leagden b. 1657 m. 1677

Thomas, like most of the other Joyners, aquired a great deal of land.

Thomas Joyner, Jr. made his Will April 21, 1708, rec. Aug. 09, 1708, as follows: to wife, ELIZABETH, my plantation where she now lives, after her death to son THOMAS JOYNER. To eldest dau. CHRISTIAN, plantation where she lives; to son BENJAMIN, land between William Kinchen and Arthur Purcell; to son JAMES, land where Charles Berkett lives; to youngest daughter Martha Joyner, land where the widow Lother lives; to son John, plantation where he lives; to son NEMIAH, land; to son THOMAS, where he lives not given to Thomas Williams; to grandson Thomas Joyner, a horse; to cousin (niece) Lucy Joyner, a heifer; to daus. CHRISTIAN, ELIZABETH AND DEBORAH, 5 sh. apiece; James, Nemiah, Benjamin and Martha to have their parts at age 16.

Witnesses: William West, Jenkins Dorman, and James Barnes. Source: Historical Southern Families, Vol. V, Page 35 and 36

Joyner	Elizabeth	1650	Isle of Wight, VA	175- Age: 100	Isle of Wight, VA	Possibly William Kinchen
Joyner	Ann	Arnd. 1645	Isle of Wight, VA		Isle of Wight, VA	Possibly Henry Turner
Joyner	Theophilus	1660	Isle of Wight, VA	Abt: 1739	Isle of Wight, VA	Eleanor Mann abt 1662 m. abt 1689 Henrietta Griffin b. abt 1690 m. abt 1694

Theophilus and Henrietta Joyner’s daughter, Mary, married Robert Tynes. He and Mary built “The Tynes Plantation” which is still standing today.

Their son, Timothy Tynes, after the deaths of his two brothers, inherited the bulk of his father’s extensive estate and a large number of slaves. He never married. When he died in 1802, his will greatly outraged his family because it freed all of his slaves and bequeathing most of his land and money to them. This was the origin of most of the black Tynes families of Virginia. Source

Joyner	Bridgeman	Abt. 1655	Isle of Wight, VA	Oct 1719 Age: 64	Isle of Wight, VA	Ann Harris b.abt 1660 m. abt 1680 d. before 1684 Ann Mayo b. abt 1661 m. 1684
Joyner	John	Mid-1650s	Isle of Wight, VA	1745	Isle of Wight, VA	Elizabeth Brown
Joyner	William	Late 1650s	Isle of Wight, VA	21 May 1698	Isle of Wight, VA	Mary Bodie b. abt. 1655

William made a will on 2 May 1698 which stated: Plantation adjacent William West to two oldest sons, William and Abraham, to son Isarel 100 acres, to youngest son, Joseph, plantation I dwell on. Legacies to wife, Mary, and three daughters (not named). Witnesses William Boddie, Theophilius Joyner. His will was probated on 9 December 1698. Boddie, John Bennett. Source: Historical Southern Families. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1967.

More about Bridgeman Joyner and Ann Mayo/Ann Harris

Bridgeman Joyner was born 1656 in Isle of Wight County, VA. He married Ann Mayo.

In some cases the historical documents refer to him as “Bridgman.”

In October of 1677, Bridgeman Joyner and his brother Thomas Joyner Jr. both signed a petition for the pardon of William West.

William West had been very active in Bacon's Rebellion, the uprising in 1676 in the Virginia Colony over the colonist’s anger at Virginia Governor William Berkeley for his friendly policies towards the Native Americans. The West family strongly opposed Governor Berkeley during Bacon's Rebellion because Henry West, the family patriarch, had been murdered by Indians

West led a rebel force to attack an English-loyal fort, but was captured on January 16, 1677. He was sentenced to death but before the verdict could be carried out, he escaped from prison. A petition for his reprieve was circulated in October of 1677.

In addition to Bridgeman and Thomas Joyner, the petition below was signed by 86 other people. Apparently West was pardoned because in April 1708, he witnessed the will of Thomas Joyner Jr.

"Petition of His Majesties most loyal and obedient subjects of Isle of Wight to his Majesties Commissioners, in behalf of William West, a rebel absconding, who took up arms against the Indians by whom his father had been most barbarously murdered, was taken prisoner and carried aboard a ship, from hence to prison and was condemned to death, but has made his escape and as yet has not been found. We pray for his life and the restitution of his estate to his wife and children." Source: "Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight County Virginia" by John Bennett Boddie.

A "Quit Rent" was basically a tax paid by a land owner. During the colonial period the land in Virginia belonged to the King with the exception of the Northern Neck, which belonged to the Proprietor (Lord Fairfax for many years). Although colonists could claim the land, sell it, or keep it and pass it on to their heirs, they could hold it only if they paid a small annual quit-rent to the King (or to the Proprietor). If the quit-rent was not paid, the land was then reclaimed by the King (or the Proprietor), and could then be given to someone else. This system existed until the Revolution.

Listed in the Quit Rents of 1704 is:

Joyner, Bridgeman - 1,100
Joyner, Theopilus - 595
Joyner, Thomas (Jr.) - 1,400
Source

“In this book, Thomas J. Wertenbaker explains how the headright system, tobacco cultivation, and the importation of slave labor transformed the colony of Virginia from largely a society of yeoman farmers to a planter aristocracy. At the turn of the eighteenth century, however, most Virginia landowners were still self-sufficient small farmers holding a few hundred acres of land. This is borne out by the Rent Roll of Virginia, 1704-1705, a county-by-county breakdown of all landowners and their acreage in the Colony. The closest thing to a census of Virginia for the period, the Rent Roll identifies upwards of 7,000 Virginia landholders. The genealogical importance of this document, of course, cannot be overstated...”
Source

There are many records of land deals and other business activities of the Joyners of Isle of Wright during this time period. From the selling and trading of land to both their own wills and the witnessing of other's wills, the Joyner's made a significant impact on their new country.

Bridgeman died in October 1719 in Isle of Wight Co. at age 64.

The children of Bridgeman Joyner and Ann Harris/Mayo were:

Last	First	Born	Location Born	Died	Location Died	Spouse
Joyner	Bridgeman Jr.	1668/74	Isle of Wight, VA	before 11 July, 1754	Isle of Wight, VA	Deborah Hardy b. abt. 1661 m. abt. 1680

The children of Bridgeman Joyner Jr. and Deborah Hardy were Patience, Jacob, Bridgeman III, Jesse, Sarah, and Ann.

Joyner	ELizabeth	Late 1600s	Isle of Wight, VA		Isle of Wight, VA
Joyner	Nathan	early 1700s	Isle of Wight, VA	1770	North Carolina	Ann m. abt 1740
Joyner	Joshua		Isle of Wight, VA		Isle of Wight, VA	Mary Beale
Joyner	John	abt. 1690	Isle of Wight, VA	abt. 1748	Isle of Wight, VA	Elizabeth Brown b.1690 m. abt. 1719

More about John and Elizabeth Brown Joyner

John Joyner was born in Nottoway Parish, Isle of Wright, VA around 1690.

He married Elizabeth Brown who was the daughter of John Brown (b. 1669) and Elizabeth Sampson.

John appears in many land records in the early part of the 1700s.

He died about 1748 around the age of 58.

Will of John Joyner
Joyner, John: Of Nottoway Parish, Leg. - son Solomon; daughter, Elizabeth Lott; daughter Martha Clark; daughter Ester Beal. Es Son Absalom
Dated September 2, 1748
Recorded March 9, 1748
wit: Chaplan Williams, Henry Crafford, William Grizard.
Joyner, John; Estate appraised by Henry Dowaon, Joshua Dawson, James Turner
Signed Absalom Joyner
Recorded June 1, 1749
Source: "Wills of Isle of Wight County - 1800 - BOOK II" by Blanch Adams Chapman an abstract of Will Book 5 - page 163 and 187

The children of John and Elizabeth Brown Joyner were:

Last	First	Born	Location Born	Died	Location Died	Spouse
Joyner	Elizabeth	1724	Isle of Wight, VA	Nov 1795		John Aaron Lott Sr. b. 1732 m. 1740 d. 1810
Joyner	Absalom	1720	Isle of Wight, VA	1800 age: 70	Northampton Co., NC	Winifreda Elizabeth Beale b. 1732 m. d. 1799
Joyner	Solomon	1722	Isle of Wight, VA	1790 age: 68	Nash, NC
Joyner	Martha	1726	Isle of Wight, VA			Clark
Joyner	Ester	abt. 1728	Isle of Wight, VA			William Beale b. abt. 1750 m. abt. 1748
Joyner	Joshua	abt. 1720	Isle of Wight, VA	1797	Southampton, VA	Martha b. abt. 1725 m. abt. 1745

More about Absalom and Winifreda Elizabeth Joyner

Absalom Joyner was born in Isle of Wright Co., VA in 1720. He married Winifreda Elizabeth Beal/Beale in 1786. Her father was Hardy Beale. Hardy’s parents were William and Priscilla Beale.

In the slave schedule of 1790, Absalom is listed as having six slaves.

Absalom died in 1790 in North Hampton, NC.

The Will of Absalom Joyner

Northampton Co., NC WB 2-200: Absalom Joyner, dated 8 October 1790 June Court 1800
...to my daughters Cherry Broom, Ann Burn, Winnefred Hayes negroes each....to my daughter Martha Broom 5 shillings......to my granddaughter Rebekah Joyner negroes for her lifetime and then to her heirs, should she die without heirs said negroes to go to my son Thomas Joyner and Jesse Joyner...to son Jesse negroes, the plantation whereon he now lives, with the Mill and mill pond on Crossway branch and I also give to him my Brandy still.....to son Thomas Joyner negroes, stock and the land and plantation whereon he now lives.....to my grandson Absalom Hays 1 negro girl and her increase, Extrs: Jess and Thomas Joyner Wits: Exum Hollomon, William Cobb, Charles Hollomon.

Records of Estates, Northampton Co., NC, page 237: Absalom Joyner...Inventory June Ct., 1800 by Jesse and Thomas Joyner, exrs.

Last	First	Born	Location Born	Died	Location Died	Spouse
Joyner	Jesse	1758	Northampton, NC	Nov 1847	Sumner, TN	Priscilla Whitehead b. abt. 1778 m. abt. 1680 Dolly Harrison b. abt. 1797
Joyner	Ann	1761	Northampton, NC	1785 age: 24		Possibly Henry Bunn b. abt. 1730
Joyner	Thomas Littleton	1762	Northampton, NC	1824 age: 24	Sumner, TN	Mildred "Millie" Bunn b. 22 Apr 1765 m. 1780s d. 13 Apr 1829
Joyner	Cherry	1763	Northampton, NC	1824 age: 61	Sumner, TN	Mildred "Millie" Bunn b. 22 Apr 1765 m. 1780s d. 13 Apr 1829
Joyner	Martha	1764	Northampton, NC	1864 age: 100	Northampton, NC	Hally Broom b. 1764 m. bef. 1784
Joyner	Winifred	1768	Northampton, NC			William Beale b. abt. 1725

More about Thomas Littleton and Mildred "Millie" Bunn Joyner

Thomas Littleton Joyner was born in Northampton, NC in 1762. During the revolutionary war, he fought as a private in the North Carolina militia. He also furnished supplies for the army.

Service: NORTH CAROLINA Rank: PRIVATE
Birth: (CIRCA) 1760 NORTH CAROLINA
Death: 7-24-1824 SUMNER CO TENNESSEE
Service Source:
ROSTER OF REV SOL FROM NC,VOL 1 P 579; NC REV ARMY ACCTS,VOL IX, PART VII
Service Description:
NC TROOPS, MILITIA
Source: Daughters of the American Revolution Database
No.: 3551.
To whom granted and rank: The heirs of Thomas Joyner, Lt.
No. acres: 2,560
Service in months: 84
:ttt The warrants to Co. retndwtc

The United States Census of 1790 was the first census conducted in the United States. It was conducted on August 2, 1790 with records from 1782 – 1785. From this census can be seen that living in Isle of Wight is a Thomas and a John Joyner in 1782.

In 1786, Thomas married Mildred Bunn who went by the name of “Millie.”

Millie was the daughter of Owen Burn Bunn and his wife Sarah Daughtery. Owen Bunn also fought in the Revolutionary War.

Four years after his marriage, Thomas Littleton is listed in the 1790 United States census in North Carolina. Included in his household were one free white male under 16, two free white males 16 and over, four free white females and 11 slaves.

At some point after that, he moved his family to Sumner, TN where he died on July 24, 1824. Millie died four years later on April 13, 1829.

Thomas Joyner's Will

Thomas Joyner - March 10, 1824 Will
Son Littleton. Son Thomas. Son Absolam. Wife Milley. Daughter Sally White. Daughter Elizabeth Taber. Daughter Winifred Abston. Wife Milley. Proved Aug. 1824.
"SUMNER COUNTY, TENNESSEE, Abstracts of Will Books 1 & 2 (1788-1842)" Compiled by Edythe Rucker Whitley, 1980. The original will is found in Will Book 2, p. 15.

The children of Thomas Littleton Joyner and Mildred "Milly" Bunn Joyner were:

Last	First	Born	Location Born	Died	Location Died	Spouse
Joyner	Littleton Bunn	4 Apr 1782	Sumner, TN	Dec 1852 age: 70	Haywood Co., TN burried: Oakwood Cemetery, Brownsville, TN	Parthenia “Bethany” Cartwright b. 6 May 1785 m. 1804 d. 6 Dec 1852 burried: Oakwood Cemetery, Brownsville, TN
Joyner	Sarah "Sally" Bunn	1 Oct 1783	Sumner, TN	27 Apr 1854 age: 71	Waco, TX	Charles White b. 1780 m. 27 Jan 1808

It is likely that Sarah and her brother were actually adopted by Thomas and Milly Joyner and were actually the children of Milly’s brother (Henry Bunn) and Thomas’ sister (Ann Joyner). Ann died at the age of 24 in 1785 when Littleton was three and Sally was two.

Sally moved to Waco, Texas about 1820.

Sally Bunn named her daughter Henry Bunn.

Joyner	Susannah	19 Jan 1788	Sumner, TN	1805
Joyner	Elizabeth	15 Feb 1791	Sumner, TN	1891 age: 100		John Stapleton b. 1791 m. 1812 Edward E. Traylor b.1790 m.1817
Joyner	Winifred	1 Feb 1793	Sumner, TN	4 May 1854 age: 61	Marshall, MS	Josiah Harper Abston b. 1791 m. 26 Mar 1817 d. 1860
Joyner	Thomas	18 Jun 1802	Sumner, TN	7 Oct 1882 age: 61	Marshall, MS	Elizabeth McGee b. 1805 m. 1826 d. 1875

Thomas became a Methodist minister.

“Mrs. John Thomas Joyner had inherited from her first husband, Will Douglass, a large tract of land ten miles south of Brownsville, TN (in Haywood County) from which she donated five acres for a nonsectarian camp meeting ground. This land was near a big spring along muddy creek and on rising ground near the hills, an ideal location. In appreciation for the land, the promoters offered to name the meeting ground for her. The Henrietta Camp Meeting Ground (She had been Miss Henrietta Hare). But she requested that it be named Joyner’s Camp Ground in memory of her husband’s father, the Rev. Thomas Joyner because the Joyners had been indentified with the Methodist Church from early days and she wished to perpetuate the name in religious commission.” More info W.W. Stamps, Collierville, TN, 1944

Today, Joyner’s campground has a Facebook page and celebrated its 117th Anniversary during the summer of 2010.
Thomas’ wife Elizabeth was the daughter of Rev. John McGee, a once “wild young man” who was raised by strict Presbyterian parents but eventually became a well-known Methodist minister.

Rev. Thomas and Elizabeth Joyner’s grandson (son of their daughter Elizabeth) William W. Stamps served in the Mississippi State legislature from 1914 – 1920. As a young man, he opened a boarding school for young ladies in Iuka, MS but it was broken up by the Civil War.
From The Official and statistical register of the state of Mississippi, Volume 4
By Mississippi. Dept. of Archives and History, Dunbar Rowland

Joyner

Absalom

27 Nov 1805

Sumner, TN

Arkansas

More about Littleton Bunn Joyner and Bethany Parthena Cartwright Joyner

There exists the likelyhood that he and his sister Sarah were actually adopted by Thomas and Millie Joyner around the time Littleton was 18.

Some researchers beleive they were actually the children of Milly’s brother (Henry Bunn) and Thomas’ sister (Ann Joyner) who appear to have been married. Ann died at the age of 24 in 1785 when Littleton was three and Sally was two. Source: Tom Bunn

There is a court case involving Henry Bunn’s third wife and the children of Thomas Joyner. Henry and his third wife, Elizabeth were going through a divorce and she accused the Joyner children of stealing bed clothes she had made. They sued her for slander. Henry died before the divorce case was finalized.

In December 1806, at the age of 24, Littleton married Bethany Parthena Cartwright. She had been born in Haywood Co. TN and was the daughter of Matthew Cartwright (b. 20 Feb 1774 in St. Mary’s Co MD, d. 2 Feb 1812 in Wilson Co., TN) and Polly Grimmer.

According to notes from Mrs. J.E. Malvern in 1943, The Cartwrights were descendants of Jamestown colonist John Cartwright who was a lawyer in London in 1612 and witnessed the will of John Rolfe, the husband of Pocahontas.

Bethany’s father Matthew served as a member of North Carolina Committee of Safety of Pitt County. Proceedings of Committee of Safety of Martinsborough, August 23, 1775 are signed by Matthew and Peter Cartwright, his brother. Colonial State Records, Vol 10, pg 221

Matthew Cartwright is listed in Heads of Families in the first U.S. census. NC. By U.S. Bureau of the Census. Washington, 1908. (292p.):147 American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI)

Littleton Joyner served as a private in the War of 1812 in Captain Henry Hamilton’s Company of infantry, 3rd Raulston’s West Tennessee Militia. His service began Nov. 13, 1814 and ended May 13, 1815.

In 1827, he moved from Wilson County, TN to Haywood Co., TN. He was a merchant for a number of years, but failed. After his failure, he was elected county clerk of Haywood County, a position he held for twenty-two years. SOURCE: History of Southern Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed’s Publishing Co., 1889 and information from Mrs. J.E. Malvern, Arkansas, 1943

3rd Raulston’s West Tennessee Militia
in the War of 1812

November 1814 - May 1815
CAPTAINS: James A. Black, Matthew Cowen, Henry Hamilton, Elijah Haynie, Wiley Huddleston, Matthew Neal, Daniel Newman, Edward Robinson, Charles Wade, Henry West
Part of Major General William Carroll's division at the battles for New Orleans, this regiment suffered casualties during the skirmish of 28th December 1814 and had two of the handful of fatalities on the famous January 8, 1815 battle. General Carroll's report of the battle tells that Captains Elijah Haynie and Matthew Neal "had the honor of receiving and repelling the attacks of the British forces." After the war, James Raulston became a prominent member of the state legislature of Alabama.
Source

Image Source

In this 1828 publication from the postmaster general, Littleton Joyner is listed as the postmaster of Haywood County, TN.

Census Records for Littleton Joyner and Family

In the 1830 US Census, living in Littleton Joyner's home were 15 people, 4 of whom were slaves. It appears one of the older sons lived with Littleton and the three white males under five were likely grandsons or other relatives.
Free White Male Persons Under 5: 3
Free White Male Persons 5 thru 9: 1 (Albert)
Free White Male Persons 15 thru 19: 1 (Alfred)
Free White Male Persons 20 thru 29: 1 (Jesse)
Free White Male Persons 40 thru 49: 1 (Littleton)
Free White Female Persons 5 thru 9: 1 (Mary or Sarah)
Free White Female Persons 10 thru 14: 1
Free White Female Persons 20 thru 29: 1 (Possibly a daughter-in-law)
Free White Female Persons 40 thru 49: 1 (Bethany)
Slaves Male Under 10: 1
Slaves Male: 10 thru 23: 1
Slaves Female Under 10: 1
Slaves Female: 10 thru 23: 1

In the 1840 census, Littleton Joyner has 11 total people living
in his home 5 of whom are slaves
Free White Male Persons1 5 thru 19: 1
Free White Male Persons 50 thru 59: 1
Free White Female Persons Under 5: 1
Free White Female Persons 15 thru 19: 2
Free White Female Persons 50 thru 59: 1
Free White Female Persons 40 thru 49: 1
Slaves Male Under 10: 3
Slaves Female Under 10: 1
Slaves Female 24 thru 35: 1

In the 1850 slave schedule, Littleton was the owner of six slaves:
Littleton Joyner
Brownsville, Haywood, Tennessee Slave Information
Age Gender Race
48 Female Black
30 Male Black
17 Male Black
16 Female Black
14 Male Black
12 Male Black

From 1836-52, Littleton Joyner witness or executed thousands of documents in Haywood County. A great example is on November 3, 1845, as Clerk of Court for Haywood County, he executed a statement of Elizabeth Robeson for her Revolutionary War widow’s pension. Another example is:

State of Tennessee Haywood County

I Littleton Joyner Clerk of the County Court of said County, do hereby certify that foregoing is a true and perfect copy of the proceedings had in said Court upon the appointment of Richard Hill as guardian of Martha E. Hill. Witness my hand at office this 16th day of November 1850.

L. Joyner, Clerk

In this document from 1843 found in the records of the first session of the 25th General Assembly of the State of Tennesee, a dispute between the State and Littleton Joyner was settled. It appears he had been accused of collecting revenue as the clerk and not turning it over to the State.

Littleton and Bethany both died in December 1852. While I have not found the date of Littleton’s death, Bethany died on Dec. 6. They are both buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Brownsville, TN.

The children of Littleton Bunn Joyner and Bethany Cartwright Joyner were:

Last	First	Born	Location Born	Died	Location Died	Spouse
Joyner	Jesse D.	13 Aug 1805	Lebanon, Wilson Co., TN	22 Aug 1898 age: 93	Arkansas	Cynthia M. Talley b. 15 Nov 1805 m. 1828 d. 10 Nov 1887 age: 82

Jesse D. and Cynthia lived in Shelby County, TN and in 1850 moved to Dallas Co. Arkansas. Later they resided in Pleasant Plains, Independence Co., AR. They were charter members of the First Methodist Church in Pleasant Plains.

Their son was William F. Joyner was a captain in the Confederate Army and was a prisoner of war at Johnson Island. He was released and would eventually become a lawyer and editor of the Little River News.

Joyner	Alfred Bunn	29 Apr 1810	Lebanon, Wilson Co., TN	19 June 1899 age: 89	Madison Co., TN buried: Providence Methodist Church Cemetery	Mary Frances Stanfield b. 25 Aug 1813 m. 1838 d.6 Jun 1855 age: 42 Nancy Ross b. 22 Apr 1825 m.1858 d.25 Jun 1906 age: 81 buried: Providence Methodist Church Cemetery
Joyner	Thomas M.	1812	Lebanon, Wilson Co., TN	7 Feb 1885	Social Hill, Hot Springs AR	Frances E. McKendree b. 1812 d. 1840 Emma Elizabeth Sharp (Emmerson) b. 1836 m. 18 May 1857 d. 7 Jun 1885

Thomas Joyner was a confederate soldier in the 8 Regiment Georgia Calvary, Company C Film Number M226 roll 33.

He also became a doctor. When his brothers moved to Tennessee, Thomas moved to Rockport, Arkansas where he opened a pharmacy and practiced medicine.

His two sons, Henry and Jesse were shot by remnants of General Frederick Steele’s Union soldiers during an invasion in 1863. Jesse was a watchman of the local mill when he was shot at the age of 15. His brother, Henry, was included in a group of boys who were gathered together, marched up a military road unarmed and shot.

Joyner

Judge Littleton J.

1822

Lebanon, Wilson Co., TN

1902

Little River, AR

Mary G. Chiles
m. 1846

Anna L. Derrick
m. 1884

“Little J’s” literary education was obtained in the common schools of West Tennessee, followed by a collegiate course at Brownsville Institute. Dr. Elija Slack, president, from which institution he was graduated in 1842, and immediately after he commenced the study of law under J.W. Strother. He was admitted to the bar in 1845, by Judges Campbell and Reed, the former being chancery judge and the latter circuit judge.

This licensed Mr. Joyner to practice anywhere in the State of Tennessee. In 1850, he located in Princeton, Dallas County, Ark., and was occupied in teaching school at that place for four years, and at Washington, Hempstead County, for a period of six years. He located in this village in 1861, and for a period of three years between this date and 1867 he was employed in teaching school.

He opened up a law office in 1867 and practiced without interruption until 1874, when he was elected judge of the Eighth Judicial District, and served for a term of four years. In 1879 he moved to Texarkana and resumed the practice of law, in partnership with ex-Judge L.A. Byrne of that place, and together they conducted a good law business for four years.

Mr. Joyner then returned to this place in 1883, and engaged in the practice of his profession, not alone for the purpose of practicing law, but that he might gratify his taste for agricultural life on his farm on the Red River. This farm comprises 2,000 acres of tillable land, separated into three small farms in the hilly portion of this county, with eighty-five acres of improved land. The land is rented and worked on one farm to supply the demands of that place.

He is one of the substantial farmers in the county, and is liberal in religion and politics. He has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was married in 1846, was Miss Mary G. Chiles, daughter of Garland Chiles of South Carolina, and was born iin South Carolina. Her mother, formerly Eliza Haygood, was a member of one of the leading families of South Carolina, some of that family being among the most prominent men of that grand old State. The fruits of this union were seven children, but three of whom are now living. They are L. Garland (a resident of this place), Jesse R., and Estelle L. (widow of C.D. Johnson)

In 1881 Mrs. Joyner passed to her final home, and in 1884 he was joined in matrimonial bonds with Miss Anna L. Derrick, daughter of W.S. and Anna P. (Lyons) Derrick. (note: William S. Derrick (1802 - 15 May 1852) was an American politician. He held the post of Chief Clerk of the U.S. State Department four distinct times in the 1840s and 1850s. He held the post of Secretary of State ad interim for three days in 1843 (June 21 to June 23).

Her parents were Pennsylvanians, and for a number of administrations her father acted as chief clerk, under the Secretary of State. Mr. Joyner is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, as was his first wife, but the present Mrs. Joyner belongs to the Episcopal Church. The Judge is a demitted member of the A.F. & A. M., and once belonged to the I.O.O.F. He is a good man, and has the confidence and esteem of all who know him. SOURCE: History of Southern Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed’s Publishing Co., 1889.

Joyner	Albert	1824	Lebanon, Wilson Co., TN	1880 age: 56	Bear Creek Galatin, IL	Fredonia Whitehead
Joyner	Mary N.	1825	Lebanon, Wilson Co., TN	1844 age: 19	Marshall Co., MS	Josiah H. Abston m. 1834 d. 22 Oct 1860
Joyner	Sarah G.	1828	Lebanon, Wilson Co., TN	1844 age: 19	Marshall Co., MS	Josiah H. Abston m. 1834 d. 22 Oct 1860

More about Alfred Bunn Joyner and Nancy Ross Joyner

Alfred Bunn Joyner was born April 29, 1810 in Lebanon, TN in Wilson County.

He married Mary Francis Stanfield in 1838 and they had two children, Littleton and Sarah. Also in 1838, Alfred purchased the land that would come to be known as Joyner’s Hill Farm. Like others in his community, he farmed cotton, corn, hay and small grains.

By the time of the 1850 United States Federal Census, Albert was 40, Mary was 37 and they had two children at home, Littleton who was 11 and Sarah who was 9. The family farm was next door to the farm of Jacob O. White and his wife Martha A.E. Nowell. The value of Albert’s real estate was $1,200 which was significant.

According to the slave schedule, in October 1850, Albert owned six slaves. Five were females ages 23, 12, 2, 1, 6 months and one boy age 11.

Mary Frances died five years after this census on June 6, 1856 when her son Littleton was 15 and her daughter Sarah was 16. He headstone in Providence Methodist Church Cemetery in Madison Co., TN includes, “And her two children E.C. & W.E.” so it’s possible, she died after giving birth to twins who also died or these may have been children who died earlier.

Joyner’s Hill Farm
“The agricultural development of Joyner’s Hill Farm mirrors that of many other West Tennessee Century Farms. In the nineteenth century, the founders produced one perhaps two staple crops for market with all other commodities geared to home consumption. In the early twentieth century, however, the region’s farmers have attempted to produce a diverse range of commercial farm commodities.

Purchasing 160 acres located in the northeastern corner of Haywood County, Alfred B. Joyner established Joyner’s Hill Farm in 1838. The founder cultivated fields of cotton, corn, hay and small grains. The father of six children, Alfred married twice and his son Bob Joyner inherited the entire farm in 1904. A charter member of the Farm Bureau, Bob “was a progressive, substantial farmer interested in new ideas and methods.” He expanded his property to 423 acres and raised diversified products such as corn, cotton, soybeans, sorghum, wheat, strawberries and livestock. His wife Ada Thweatt was the mother of six children.

In 1963, Marvin and Virginia Joyner Mitchell received title to 154 acres of the original farm. Virginia is the granddaughter of the founders. Today, Marvin and Virginia’s sons, Robert and David Mitchell are co-owners of the farm.”
Source

Alfred married Nancy Ross about 1858 when he was 48 and she was 33. Together, they would have four children.

When the 1860 United States Federal Census was taken Alfred was now 50 and his new wife Nancy Joyner was 31. Littleton T Joyner was then 21 and his sister Sarah was 19. Robert F Joyner, their first child together, was two years old. The value of their real estate was $1,300 and the value of his personal property was $9,700.

Littleton and Sarah called Nancy, “Aunt Nan” and that is the name many in the community began calling her.

When the Civil War broke out, Littleton, who was studying medicine, left to join the Confederate Army and died on Saturday, June 28, 1862.

According to his headstone, he “Sickened & died in Holly Springs, MS while in the Confederate Service."

The headstones of Mary Frances Stanfield Joyner and Littleton Joyner in the Providence United Methodist Church Cemetery in Madison Co., TN.

Alfred Joyner’s son, R.F. “Bob” Joyner was a young child during the Civil War, would tell the story of Union troops coming to the door which was being blocked by one of the family’s slaves, named Aunt Callie.

Eight years later, from the 1870 United States Federal Census we see that Alfred was 60 and Nancy was 41.

Sarah had married Josiah Chambers and moved out. Alfred and Nancy’s oldest child Robert Joyner was 12 while his sister Mary was nine. The two youngest brothers were Albert Jr. who was six and Jessie who was two.

The value of his real estate had grown in 10 years to $2,400 but the value of his property had been reduced from $9,700 to $1,000 most of which was mostly likely from the loss of his slaves and the destruction from the war.

l to r: Elvira Lyson, who was raised by Joe and Sarah Joyner Chambers (she married Owen Thweat, brother of Ada Thweat), Joe Chambers and Sarah Joyner Chambers, Jesse and Sally Joyner with Jesse's son, Herman, Alfred Bunn Joyner holding Howell, and Nancy Ross Joyner (child standing died as a small child).
The family to the far right is Nancy “Nannie” Williamson standing in the back row, Janie Williamson Williams standing in the front row, Jessie E. Williamson standing in the back row, far right, Mai Edith Williamson Shelton is the baby and Joe and Mary Elizabeth Joyner Williamson are the parents. Their youngest daughter, Jo Williamson Ried, was not yet born. Janie Williamson Williams is my great grandmother.

The family continued to grow in the following decade. According to the census, in 1880 Alfred was 70 and Nancy was 52. Robert who was then 22, Mary who was 19, Albert who was 17 and Jesse who was 13 were all still living at home.

Now living with the family was also Violet Joyner who was 35, James who was 15, Henry who was eight and Eli who was six. Their exact identity is not determined but they are listed as being black and their occupation is listed as “servants.”

Alfred died on July 19, 1899 at the age of 89 and was buried at Providence Methodist Church cemetery in Madison County, TN. His funeral preached by Rev. B.F. Poebles. Nancy died on June 25, 1906 at the age of 81.

Alfred B. Joyner Obituary
July 20, 1899

The departure of the pioneers of the county deserves more than passing notice. The citizens of Haywood County will read with interest a brief sketch of the last, but one of a noted and noble family-father, mother brother and sisters. You will, I believe, cheerfully lend space in The Graphic for this section of history.

Littleton Joyner, with his family, came to Haywood and settled near Wellwood in 1827. Here he operated a farm and was afterwards for a series of years County Court Clerk, the duties of which office he discharged with marked ability and fidelity. This family distinguished themselves in a notable degree for the tiniest qualities of head and heart; for intelligence, morality, sobriety, hospitality and piety. The direct subject of this sketch was about 18 years old when he came with his father from Wilson County, this state, to Haywood.

Another family from Bedford County, Middle Tennessee preceded the Joyners, coming in the winter of 1824-25. This was the Stanfield family. Ephraim A. Stanfield, Esq. and his wife Sarah, who brought a large family of children, all of whom, except for Dr. C.A. Stanfield of Toledo, Ark. have with the Joyners, passed over the river to rest under the shadow of the trees. This family settled north of Wellwood and were noted in many respects. Ten sons and three daughters; the boys grew to manhood, remarkable for their unusual physical and mental development, above medium size, erect, strong, active, healthy and intelligent, all except one lived to raise families, many of whose descendants are filling positions of trust and honor in Arkansas, Texas, Kentucky, etc. these two families were among the first settlers of this section. They with Rev. F. S. Brandon and others who soon came to their help, whose names ought not to be forgotten such as Uncle Thomas Bay Green; Freeman George and Jesse Cus (paper torn here unable to read) …the land and building houses in which to live; but not only those. Before the deer the catamount and the bear had been driven out of the land these brave people had erected a

Alfred B. Joyner Obituary, The Brownsville States Graphic, July 20, 1899

house of worship and in which their children were to be taught the rudiments of an education; not satisfied with this however, an academy was soon built near by and Prof. Johnson put in charge to teach higher mathematics, Latin, Greek, etc. This was one of the best high schools of the early times. One of the boys mastered seven languages and preached in four. The Joyners and the Stanfields were at the front of every enterprise; at their homes, in the schoolroom and the church – noted for filial and fraternal attachments – there were no broils or feuds.

(next page) It is said that no son of these old people was even seen intoxicated or heard to swear or fail to pay a debt. It is not strange that these families became friends. The second daughter, Miss Francis Stanfield, became Mrs. Alfred Bunn Joyner and lived most happily in the sacred relation of wife till she was called hence, leaving that brilliant and noble boy, Littleton T. Joyner who left his medical studies to give his life to the Confederacy; and Miss Sallie P. Joyner, now Mrs. Josias Chambers, to mourn with their devoted father the loss of one of the most affectionate of pious christian mothers.

Mr. Joyner, after some years, married Miss Nancy Ross, of Madison County a most practical, level-headed, considerate Christian lady; dear aunt Nan, as she was familiarly called, who, with three sons, survive their noble father. Mr. Joyner was from his youth a consistent member of the M.E. church, South, of unswerving faith to his God and Savior; his faith in himself sometimes weak. His strong temperance sentiments were conspicuous in life, and in the hour of death, when his physician gave him, toddy, he said, “I want pure water to drink”.

Uncle Alfred Joyner was blessed with an active, vigorous old age; though in his nintieth, year could walk or ride horseback; his mind was clear, and he was happy in society, or with his paper or his books. The whole community sorrow with Aunt Nan and the children and grand-children of this good old man., who went peacefully to reap his reward – the reward of the faithful, on August – His remains were interred at Providence cemetery; funeral by Rev. B.F. Poebles Commenting the bereaved to the God of --------- in love and sympathy.
Located in the Brownsville Public Library Genealogy Room

Alfred B. Joyner and Nancy Ross Joyner headstones located in Providence Methodist Church Cemetery in Madison Co., TN near Brownsville.

Last	First	Born	Location Born	Died	Location Died	Spouse
Joyner	Littleton T.	7 Jan 1839	Haywood Co., TN	28 Jun 1862 age: 23	Holly Springs, MS burried: Providence Methodist Church Cemetery, Madison Co., TN	Cynthia A. Unknown b. 15 Nov 1805 m. 1828 d. abt. 10 Nov 1887 age: 85
Joyner	Sarah P.	14 Feb 1840	Haywood Co., TN	7 Sept 1912 age: 72		Josiah Chambers b. 1838

The children of Alfred Bunn Joyner and Nancy Ross Joyner were:

The children of Alfred Bunn Joyner and Mary Frances Stanfield Joyner were:

Last	First	Born	Location Born	Died	Location Died	Spouse
Joyner	Robert Franklin "Bob"	13 May 1858	Haywood Co., TN	15 May 1954 age: 96	Madison Co., TN burried: Providence Methodist Church Cemetery, Madison Co., TN	Ada P Thweatt b. 1875 d. 1961 age: 86

Children were: Owen, Robert Alfred, Nancy Ruth, Mabel and William C.
William C. was the father of Joline Joyner Williams who married Jesse Williams, son of Lloyd “Bo” Williams and brother of Robert L. "Bob" Williams, my father.