Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: User Home Page Book: Norfleet, Campbell, Mayfield and Mortier Ancestors of Philip C. Norfleet: NGS Quarterly Report of Thomas Northfleete

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Descendants of Thomas Northfleete

120. James (Major James)⁵ Norfleet (James⁴, John³, John², Thomas¹ Northfleete) was born 14 September, 1767 in Nansemond County VA, and died 02 September, 1846 in Robertson County TN. He married (1) Sallie Williamson Lawson Abt. 1801 in Robertson County TN, daughter of John Lawson. He married (2) Jane Bailey Aft. 1821.

Notes for James (Major James) Norfleet:

Major James was the son of James Norfleet (1734-1780) and Mary Battle (d. after 1811) of Nansemond County, Virginia and a grandson of John Norfleet (1699-1753) and Elizabeth Riddick of Chowan County, North Carolina.

JOHN NORFLEET - ELDER BROTHER OF MAJOR JAMES

In 1780, When Major James's father died intestate in Virginia, the Law of Primogeniture was still was in force. Accordingly, his older brother John Norfleet (1765-1790) inherited his father's entire estate. John came of age late in the year 1786. By 1790, John had sold all the property inherited from his father in Nansemond County, Virginia (537 acres) and Gates County, North Carolina. However, that same year, John did acquire 640 acres of land from his step-father, Lemuel Lawrence. This land had previously been acquired by Lawrence from James Tatum on 28 April 1789. The land was then located in Davidson County, in the Middle Tennessee area of North Carolina (Tennessee did not became a separate State until 1796). The indenture, dated 29 July 1790, states that the land was located:

"……between the Clay Lick and the Battle Ground in the head drafts of Sycamore."

Unfortunately, before he could depart for Tennessee, John died intestate in the latter part of 1790. Pursuant to a 1784 Act of the NC General Assembly, the real property of John Norfleet would have been inheirited by his surviving brothers, i. e., Major James and Cordall. Cordall was still a minor at the time; since he was now an heir to real property, a guardian would have to be appointed for him. There is an entry in the Northampton County Court Order Book (June Court, 1793) indicating that "Cordy Norfleet" had chosen Randolph Maddra to be his guardian.

EMIGRATION TO TENNESSEE

The first mention of James Norfleet being physically present in TN is on 18 January 1790. On this date, James appeared in the Tennessee County Court to prove, by oath, the 640-acre land conveyance from James Tatum to Lemuel Lawrence (see above). This means that Major James must have arrived in TN after the Tatum-Lawrence land transaction of 28 April 1789 but before his 18 January 1790 court appearance. He probably arrived in the Autumn of 1789, thus making him the first Norfleet to enter Tennessee. Thus, James arrived in TN before his older brother, John Norfleet, acquired the land from Lemuel Lawrence in July 1790.

James was apparently accompanied on his trip to TN by another brother (William). The brothers settled in what was then called Tennessee County, but which would, in 1796, become Robertson County. William was apparently killed by Indians soon after his arrival [see the 1891 memorandum of Julius Allen for details].

After the death of his older brother, John, late in the year 1790, Major James inherited half of John's 640-acre property. Brother William already being dead, the other half went to Cordall Norfleet. The land John Norfleet had bought from Lemuel Lawrence was on the waters of Hollis Mill Creek in what is now Robertson County.

TINER/NORFLEET INDENTURE

Shortly after emigrating to Tennessee, Major James apparently also acquired an additional tract of land in the Middle Tennessee area. By an indenture, dated 16 August 1791, Nicholas Tiner of Northampton County, North Carolina conveyed 274 acres of land in Tennessee County (then also part of North Carolina) to James Norfleet of Northampton County. Major James did not retain this land for long, because, on 27 September 1796, Major James, then of Robertson County, sold this same 274 acres of land to his brother-in-law, Isaac Dortch, also of Robertson County. The land was then located in Montgomery County TN. Today the land is located in Stewart County TN and the indenture is recorded in Book B, page 346 of the Stewart County land records.

MILITARY SERVICE

The first documentary evidence of Major James's military service is a Mero District militia roster (roll of Captain John Rains's Company of Mounted Infantry) which shows him entering service on 14 April 1793, as a Private. In September 1794, Major James participated in the Nickajack Expedition sent to attack and destroy the Cherokee towns of Nickajack and Falling Water. James served in the company which had been raised in the Port Royal area by James Ford (the biological father of Philip Ford Norfleet). Ford himself did not go on the expedition, but placed his troops under the command of Captain William Miles. The expedition was successful and the back of Indian resistance to the Middle Tennessee settlements was broken. James undoubtedly distinguished himself during the attack, which at least in part, resulted in his later appointment as a 2nd Major in the Militia for Robertson County (1796).

POLITICAL ACTIVITIES

Soon after the end of the Indian wars, James entered politics; he was elected as a representative for Robertson County to the Tennessee 2nd General Assembly (1797-1799). He was elected to the 3rd General Assembly (1799-1801), as a senator, representing both Robertson and Montgomery Counties. In 1813-1817, he again represented Robertson County in the House, during the 10th and 11th General Assemblies. In January 1798, Governor John Sevier commissioned him as a Justice of the Peace for Robertson County.

FREEMASONRY

The Masonic activities of Major James Norfleet are summarized in the following quotation from "The History of Freemasonry in Tennessee 1789-1943," by Charles Albert Snodgrass, page 434:

"James Norfleet was a member of Royal Edwin Lodge No. 5 at Windsor, North Carolina ... He apparently did not affiliate with any Tennessee Lodge until the Organization of Western Star lodge No. 9 at port Royal, being a Charter member and senior Warden of that Lodge under its Dispensation and its first Master under its Charter (N. C.), february 12, 1813."

BUSINESS ACTIVITIES

Major James was a surveyor as well as a successful farmer and merchant. In 1796, in his capacity as one of the town commissioners, he drew the plat for the new Robertson County Seat, Springfield. For several years, he and fellow Commissioner John Young issued and signed most of the deeds for town lots sold in Springfield.

MILL CONSTRUCTION

In 1811 he surveyed and built a grist/saw mill on the Sulphur Fork, which he retained until the time of his death in 1846. To construct such a mill, the law required that the builder of a water powered mill possess land on both sides of the watercourse. As Major James's land was only on the south bank of Sulphur Fork Creek, he acquired one acre of land on the north bank from his ward, Olivia Polk. Olivia was the first cousin of James Knox Polk, eleventh President of the United States. The mill was known as Norfleet's Mill until 1853, when it passed into the hands of owners who were not members of the Norfleet family. The mill continued in operation until 1963, having been of service to the area for 152 years. It had been known as Hill's Mill since 1937. In 1967, the mill burned and virtually no trace of it exists today.

WIVES

In about the year 1801, Major James married his first wife, Sarah Williams Lawson (1769-1821), a niece of Colonel Eppa Lawson. Eppa Lawson (1747-1814) had held the rank of Colonel in the Revolutionary War, hence he was always thereafter referred to as "Colonel Lawson." Eppa Lawson's wife, Elizabeth, was a daughter of Elias Fort, the patriarch of the socially prominent and numerous Fort family. Elias was an active member of the historic, old Red River Primitive Baptist Church and his son, Sugg Fort was the Clerk and later (1816) became the Pastor of the Red River Church. Eppa Lawson's plantation and that of Elias Fort both adjoined the farm owned by Major James. Major James had five children by Sarah Williams Lawson. After Sarah's death in 1821, Major James married Jane Bailey; they had one child.

CHILDREN

Major James and Sarah Norfleet had five children: one son (Willie Lawson) and four daughters (Elizabeth, Sally, Lucy Louisa and Martha Battle). Major James and his second wife, Jane Bailey, had one child, William Bailey Norfleet.

Elizabeth Norfleet: In July 1817, Major James's eldest daughter, Elizabeth (some sources believe she was the daughter of Cordall Norfleet), died at the tender age of 15. She was interred in the Elias Fort Burial Ground. This cemetery was located on the Elias Fort plantation, on a hill overlooking Major James's mill on the Sulphur Fork. Elizabeth's funeral sermon was delivered by the famous Baptist preacher, Elder Reuben Ross. Elizabeth had been a very popular young lady and was much beloved by the local community. Accordingly, her funeral service drew a very large audience. Elder Ross chose this occasion to publicly announce his rejection of the Calvinistic Doctrine of Predestination. Such a theological position was, of course, heretical to the Primitive Baptist congregation (most were members of the Red River Baptist Church), to whom he was preaching. This incident is considered to be a major historical event for the entire Baptist movement in Tennessee!

The other five children of Major James are mentioned by name in his will, dated 7 August 1844, which was probated in September 1846.

WILL OF MAJOR JAMES NORFLEET

" ... 3rd My will and desire is that my estate both real and personal be divided into five equal parts taking into estimation what I have heretofore or may hereafter give any of my children, an inventory of which may be found in my memorandum book in my desk, a fifth part of which I leave in the hands of my executors, to be herein named, in trust for the use and benefit of my daughter Martha B. Allen as long as she lives, the interest and increase of which is to be for her use and benefit, and after her decease, I give, devise and bequeath the same fifth part to be equally divided among her children.

"4th I give, devise and bequeath the other four-fifths of my estate to my four remaining children, to wit, Sally W. Allen, Lucy Louisa Norfleet, Willie L. Norfleet & William B. Norfleet, to them, their heirs and assignees forever.

"5th Lastly, I nominate and appoint my son William B. Norfleet and my two nephews, P. F. Norfleet and James Dortch executors and trustees to this my last will and testament. ... "

MESSAGE FRM CLEO HOGAN

The following is an excerpt from an E-Mail I received from Cleo Hogan on 15 August 1998:

"Dear Phil:

" ... Frank Phillips, only surviving child of Rev. W. W. Phillips (Clarksville's third Methodist minister) and Lucinda Norfleet Phillips Mickle, was a CSA soldier, and died at the Confed Vets home near Louisville in the (?1920's?), "AND WAS BURIED IN THE FAMILY CEMETERY NEAR PORT ROYAL" (sic), according to his obit (See Gannaway, again)--where is this? WHAT family cemetery? I've scoured the countryside looking for clues, and this is very important, for it would connect Frank, Lucinda, and James B. to Cordell, Maj James, etc!!!!!!!!!

"The only possibility I can muster is the Dr. PhilipFord Norfleet Cem, unless it's Maj. James' cemetery itself!! (There's no Phillips in the area at the time--or even since, I believe) Rev. Phillips was at what we call the "Early Methodist Church" [National Register property at the corner of Main and Fourth in Clarksville today--a brick apartment house], succeeded by our largest (1878, I think) Madison Street methodist church today. Incidentally, in 1998, Rev. Doug Norfleet came from Brentwood UM Ch,
Nashville to be senior pastor recently. I've not met him, but have spoken by phone, and referred him to your 'net Norfleet FamilyTreeMaker pages. [Which you've updated, I see!] Doug belongs to James B., thru Marmaduke, I believe.

"Oh yes: Frank Phillips was the cause of the 1878 fire that burned all of downtown Clarksville in 1878. A little known fact, but appears in the 1997 History of the Clarksville Police Department: After the War, Frank was a city patrolman, and in the line of duty arrested a black man who resisted, resulting in a shooting in the scuffle, after Frank was assaulted with a rock, I think, by the unruly arrestee. The arrestee was a formidable laborer with muscles, it seems, and Frank had to resort to his weapon to defend himself from the resisting of the arrest. As the defendant was
hustled off to jail, he was bleeding, and collapsed after arrival at the nearby jail (under the present Mayor's office, I think--perhaps a block from the scuffle). A mob gathered, and fire mysteriously broke out behind a wooden building fronting on Franklin Street, near the site of the 1878 (present) courthouse [which was built there after this fire burned down the Franklin St courthouse], and the rest is history. The man died, there was a trial, the record of which does not survive. Frank may have been absolved, as there were witnesses, and he returned to the force. Later, after 1880, he was a newspaper editor in Florida. Am still on his trail. had 6 or seven
children, two of whose obits are here in Gannaway's books. An interesting story you'll want to read in the Clarksville newspapers! Have never cheked the Nashville papers, but there may be more there?

"[Ursula Beach, our venerable former County Historian, who wrote, "Along the Warioto", would not talk much about the causes of the fire, as she did not want racism to be raised as a spectre in her term. Maybe this wasn't racism, but just an unruly drunk--we'll never know. Ursula was born in 1900, and talked with survivors of the fire in the 1920's, 45 years later, and would have known all, as she was interested, and informed, and one of my heros.]

"BUT, where is that "Family Cemetery" Frank is buried in? I want to get him a military stone! I may put it in Dr. P.F. Norfleet's cemetery.

" ... Best wishes, Cleo"

RELIGION

Major James apparently was not religiously active until the latter part of his life. Unlike his brother Cordall, James never was a member of the Red River Baptist Church, although several of his slaves belonged. In September, 1838, probably as a result of urging by his daughters and his niece, Minerva Ann Norfleet (daughter of his brother Cordall, by then deceased), Major James joined the Harmony Baptist Church. His friend, Elder Reuben Ross was the Pastor. Major James continued membership in this church until his death in 1846.

THE BELL WITCH

Major James's mill was about five miles from the home of the successful planter, John Bell (1750-1820), whose land was located near the Red River and the modern town of Adams. John Bell had come to Tennessee, in 1804, from Halifax County, North Carolina. Back in North Carolina, two Norfleet women, Phereby Norfleet and Absilla Norfleet, had married relatives of John Bell. Phereby had married Joshua Bell, the brother of John Bell; Absilla had married Benjamin Bell, John Bell's nephew. Since 1816, John Bell had purportedly been plagued by a goblin-type of entity, which came to be known as either the "Bell Witch." or "Kate Batts's Witch." The fame of the Witch became so widespread that even Andrew Jackson was said to have visited the Bell household, in about 1819, to experience the "Witch" firsthand. John Bell had been an active member of the Red River Baptist Church since his arrival in Tennessee. However, in January 1818, he was excommunicated for the sin of usury, as the result of a court conviction involving the sale of a slave to a certain Benjamin Batts, whose wife was named "Kate." Some people suspect that the real reason he was excommunicated was due to his involvement with the Bell Witch phenomenon, which had become public knowledge by this time. In December 1820, the "Witch" supposedly killed John Bell. Major James, of course, knew John Bell well; he probated Bell's will in 1821 and was a buyer at the sale of his estate. Unfortunately, there is no record of what he thought about the strange "Bell Witch" entity.

Children of James Norfleet and Sallie Lawson are:

	265	i.	Elizabeth⁶ Norfleet, born Abt. 1802; died July 1817 in Robertson County TN.
	266	ii.	Sarah (Sally) Williamson Norfleet, born 07 July, 1808 in Robertson County TN; died 15 April, 1877 in Robertson County TN. She married Christian Allen.
+	267	iii.	Willie Lawson Norfleet, born Abt. 1813 in Robertson County TN; died Aft. 1860.
	268	iv.	Louisa Lucy Norfleet, born 15 October, 1815 in Robertson County TN; died 25 March, 1850 in Robertson County TN. She married Abraham C. Gaines.
+	269	v.	Martha Battle Norfleet, born 1817.

Child of James Norfleet and Jane Bailey is:

270

William B.⁶ Norfleet, born Abt. 1824 in Robertson County TN; died 1848 in Robertson County TN.

Notes for William B. Norfleet:

The following is an excerpt from an E-Mail I received from Cleo Hogan on 15 August 1998:

"Dear Phil:

" ... William Bailey Norfleet was born in 1824 (I think), ... and was a son of Maj. James' second marriage to Jane Bailey. The Bible confirms this, but my copy is in storage right now. Wm. B. was a member of the "Agatherian Society" at the Univ of Nashville, where he graduated before going to medical school at Philadelphia, where he died, or perhaps died here as a result of disease acquired there--don't know exactly which. I SAW the Agatherian Society HUGE sheepskin certificate, but it was discarded at the family auction afterwards, and is now lost! ... "

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