The beginning of a chronology of the life of Serelda/Rildia Turpin follows:
- March 4, 1851-1853: born in Tennessee, the daughter of James (Jim) Turpin and Jerusa/Jerusha (J'rusy)--a Cherokee. (Her gravestone shows the birth year of 1851, but the 1860 Roane County census shows Serelda as 7 years old.)
- February 1, 1854: When Serelda was 3 years of age or younger, her father, James Turpin, transferred to her mother, Jerusha, the title of the land previously purchased on July 7, 1845. (Source: Sarah Turpin citing Anderson County, Tennessee Deed Book Q-1, Pg. 593-594)
- Bef. August 5, 1854: When Serelda was 3 years of age or younger, her father, James Turpin, acquired/built a new house in Anderson County. (Implied by Sarah Turpin citing Anderson County, Tennessee Deed Book Q-1, Pg. 588-589)
- August 5, 1854: When Serelda was 3 years of age or younger, Samuel C. Young sold her father, James Turpin, 33 acres in Anderson County for $20. The parcel was adjacent to James Turpin's newly built house. (Source: Sarah Turpin citing Anderson County, Tennessee Deed Book Q-1, Pg. 588-589)
- January 25, 1855: When Serelda was almost 4 years old or younger, her brother, Martin Turpin, married Juliann Qualls in Roane County, Tennessee. (Source: familysearch.org)
- November 6 1858: When Serelda was about 5-7 years of age, her parents, James Turpin and Jerusha Turpin, sold William Gallaher 250 ¾ acres in Anderson County, Tennessee on the north side of the Clinch River for $300. The land description seems to indicate that the property had frontage on the river. "This may have been when the family moved to Roane County." (Source: Sarah Turpin citing Anderson County, Tennessee Deed Book S-1, Pg. 65)
- 1858-1860: When Serelda was about 5-9 years old, her grandfather, Martin Turpin, died. (Her grandmother, Elizabeth, appears alone in Anderson County in the 1860 census.)
- August 26, 1860: according to the census, living in Roane County at or near Welcker Mill with her parents, James and Jerusa/Jerusha, and her siblings--William (age 21), John (age 17) and Amanda (age 12). (Welcker Mill was located at the confluence of East Fork and Main Poplar Creek adjacent to the present-day site of the K-25 Oak Ridge plant on the northeast side.)
- 1861: Tax List shows her father, James Turpin, living in Roane County, Tennessee. (Source: Sarah Turpin)
- 1861-1864: Death of Serelda's father, James Turpin, when she was abt. 8-13 years of age. 1864 Tax List shows James Turpin heirs in Roane County, Tennessee. (Source: Sarah Turpin)
- 1861: At the age of 8-10, the American Civil War began.
- 1861: Serelda's brother, William, began to incur debts owed to their mother, Jerusa. [Inferred by a court case settled in August 1879. Information provided by Sarah Turpin.]
- 1861: When Serelda was 8-10 years of age, her brothers, William G. Turpin and John Turpin, swam across the Clinch River to escape the Confederates. They walked to Kentucky to join the Union Army.
- August 9, 1861: Serelda's brothers, William G. Turpin and John T. Turpin, enlisted in the Union Army, First Regiment, Company K. [Report of the Adjutant General of the state of Tennessee : of the military forces of the state, from 1861 to 1866. Ancestry.com]
- August 21, 1861: Serelda's brothers, William G. Turpin and John T. Turpin, mustered for service in the Union Army, First Regiment, Company K. [Report of the Adjutant General of the state of Tennessee : of the military forces of the state, from 1861 to 1866. Ancestry.com]
- March 2, 1864: When Serelda was 11-13 years of age, her brother, William, had returned home from the war and married Louisa Isabella Christenberry.
- May 12, 1864: Her brother, William, writes a letter to his wife, Leona Isabella (Chrisenberry) Turpin, from the battlefield in Kingston, Georgia. This was two months after their marriage. In the letter he says, "Isabele, when you rite, tell me how my mother an sisters is gitting along.... John [his brother] sends his best respect to you an all his friends."
- September 1864: Her brother, William, mustered out of the army, having served his term of enlistment. [Source: Mary Morris McCafferty]
- May 4, 1865: When Serelda was 12-14 years of age, her brother, Martin, at age 32/33 was mustered to serve the Union, Seventh Regiment Mounted Infantry, Company I. (Source: http:// www.tngennet.org/ civilwar/ rosters/ minf/ minf7/ coi5.html) The Seventh Tennessee Mounted Infantry was... organized at Athens, Tennessee and stationed at that point the greater portion of its term of service. It was actively employed in hunting guerrillas, with whom it had frequent engagements. [Report of the Adjutant General of the state of Tennessee : of the military forces of the state, from 1861 to 1866. Ancestry.com]
- 1865: at the age of 12-14, the American Civil War ended.
- Time Gap: 1865-1871?: journey west and back.
- 1865-1871?: At some point between the age of 12 and 20, Serelda was taken to Kentucky by Absalom and Elizabeth (her sister) Potter. (According to John Strunk, the Potters' made this move after the Civil War. In 1869 Absalom Potter is shown on the Tax List in Roane County, which may place their departure after 1869. Serelda and Amanda Turpin are absent from the 1870 Anderson County census.)
- 1865-1871?: taken to Kansas or Red Cloud, Nebraska by Absalom and Elizabeth Potter.(Red Cloud, Nebraska was founded in 1871.)
- (?) 1865-1871?: taken to a reservation area in Oklahoma later known as Custer County. (We are not sure that Serelda joined the Potters in this part of the journey.)
- 1865-1871?: At some point between the age of 12 and 20, Serelda returned from the West to Tennessee.
- 1861-1869?: her mother, Jerusa/Jerusha Turpin, gave William Turpin the family land on the condition that he would take care of her until her death. (?) (It may be that Jerusha actually sold him the land and allowed him to make payment arrangements.)
- 1867: Serelda's grandmother, Elizabeth, is still living. Martin Turpin, Sr.'s widow (Elizabeth) is list in the Tax List for Anderson County as owning 105 acres of land valued at $200. (Source: Sarah Turpin)
- August 1869: her brother, William G. Turpin, was murdered by George Hembree over a land boundary dispute. (Source: John Strunk and newspaper article submitted by Sarah Turpin)
- May 26, 1870: The start of a series of court cases in which Serelda's mother, Jerusa, sues the heirs of William G. Turpin (deceased) for the payment of a debt. [Chancery Court Minute Book, Vol. 6 (1867-1870)]
- 1871 or earlier: had returned from Oklahoma.
- 1871 or earlier: she and her sister, Amanda, were seduced by a married man. Their promiscuous lifestyle brought a reproach on the family.
- 1871 or earlier: her brother, John, separated himself from the family because of the disgrace she and her sister had brought upon them. John left home walking down the road playing his fiddle.
- 1871?: her brother, John, was caught in a blizzard and died several days later from exposure.
- 1872: When Serelda was between the age of 19 and 21, she had an affair with Joshua King Christenberry, who was about 22 years old at the time.
- November 11, 1872: A compromise was reached on an unnamed matter related to the heirs of William Turpin (deceased) and Serelda's mother, Jerusa. [Chancery Court Minute Book, Vol. 6 (1870-1876). Information provided by Sarah Turpin.]
- July-August, 1873: sued Joshua King Christenberry for the support of his child, Joshua King Turpin.
- April 4, 1874: death of Serelda's sister-in-law, Leona Isabel Christenberry--William G. Turpin's widow.
- March 16, 1876: Joshua King Christenberry married Annie McKamey.
- 1876: sued Frank Hardin for the support of his child (name of child unknown; possibly Frank Turpin, if Frank).
- October 12, 1876/1877: at the age of 25/26, gave birth to Frank Turpin. (The tombstone shows 1877 as the date of death; however, birthdates on tombstones are not always accurate. The aforementioned 1876 court case may imply 1876 as the birthyear.)
- August 1879: Serelda's mother, Jerusa, sued J. H. Adams--guardian for the heirs of William Turpin--for debts incurred between 1861 and 1879 totaling $500. The court decided in favor of Adams, the defendant. Jerusa appealed the decision but lost. [Information provided by Sarah Turpin]
- December 1879: The State of Tennessee ordered the Sheriff of Roane County to acquire from Serelda's mother, Jerusa, an amount of $21.35 to cover the court costs incurred by J. H. Adams in the previous law suit. [Information provided by Sarah Turpin.]
- March 18, 1880: A search was made of Serelda's mother's home, but insufficient property could be found to cover the debt of $21.35. [Information provided by Sarah Turpin.]
- 1880: living in Roane County with her mother--Jerusa/Jerusha, her sister--Amanda, and her children--King, Frank and Caldonia (Laura). (Census)
- Aft. 1880: her mother, Jerusa, died after 1880.
- March 1, 1881: at the age of 30, gave birth to Laura Caldonia Turpin.
- Time Gap: 1881-1895?: she and her children were driven out of their home and became homeless. They spent the first night in the woods. (Source: Laura Turpin)
- August 3, 1895: when she was 44 years old, her son, Joshua King Turpin, married Sarah Morrow in Anderson County, Tennessee.
- January 11, 1896: death of Joshua King Christenberry.
- 1902: when she was 49-51 years old, a group photograph was taken in the Wheat community of her brother Martin's family. Her brother Martin and her sister Amanda are in the photograph, but Serelda is not. (Source on date: John Strunk)
- 1905: her brother-in-law (husband of Mary Elizabeth Turpin Potter), Absalom Potter, died in Custer County, Oklahoma.
- 1907: when she was 56 years old, her son, Frank Turpin, purchased 8 1/2 acres in Hardin Valley.
- 1913/1914: the founding of Providence Church of God (Solway Church of God).
- March 28, 1913: A strong earthquake shock centered at Knoxville was felt over an area of 7,000 square kilometers in eastern Tennessee. "Two shocks were felt in many places. Movable objects were overthrown, and bricks fell from chimneys. A number of false alarms were set off at fire stations. Buildings throughout the city shook violently. The Knox County Courthouse, a massive brick structure, trembled noticeably. People outdoors experienced a distinct rise and fall in the ground; there were some cases of nausea." (Source: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ regional/ states/ tennessee/ history.php)
- 1924: her sister, Mary Elizabeth Turpin Potter, died in Custer County, Oklahoma.
- September 27, 1926: died of cancer at the age of 75 in Frank and Laura (siblings) Turpin's home in Hardin Valley.
