Turpin Tree

A Man Called King: The Life and Legacy of King Turpin, Jr.

2011-02-08T06:42:00.000-08:00

A Man Called King: The Life and legacy of King Turpin, Jr. This book would make a great gift for any of King's children, grandchildren, great grandchildren or great-great grandchildren.It would also be of interest to students of Appalachian culture, to Turpin family history researchers (especially those who are focused on the East Tennessee Turpins) and to members of the Solway Church of God. The book contains much information about King's Aunt Laura--one of the charter members of the Solway church.

The book is 234 pages long, and the list price is $14.95. Orders may be placed at CreateSpace.

Book Description:

A Man Called King: The Life and Legacy of King Turpin, Jr. What difference can one life make? Born in 1903 as the son of a wanderer in East Tennessee, King Turpin, Jr.’s childhood was everything but stable. However, an encounter with God’s grace instantaneously transformed his life, and for the remainder of his days, faithfulness to the God who had saved him became his highest ambition.

This narrative is based on the memories and stories of the people who knew King and is informed by thirty years of research conducted by his grandson, J. Randolph Turpin, Jr. The book contains enlightening descriptions of King’s life as a vagrant in the Tennessee River Valley, as a cotton mill worker in Knoxville, as a miner in Kentucky, Arizona and West Virginia, and as a farmer-miner-preacher in the Appalachian mountain region. It is a story filled with amazing incidents of faith in the midst of hardships and dramatic manifestations of God’s power in the midst of impossibilities. The story of King Turpin, Jr. demonstrates the significance of a life devoted to God.

Although this book was written as a tribute to King Turpin with the intent of inspiring faith in God, it also contains valuable information for researchers exploring Appalachian culture and the history of other East Tennessee Turpins.

https://www.createspace.com/3513359

A Directory to this Site

2010-08-06T13:54:00.000-07:00

Turpin Tree is a place to share information related to the genealogy and history of the Turpins and allied families. You are invited to submit relevant items via email, or you may post "comments" below.

For a view of our family tree, visit turpintree.tribalpages.com. You are invited to submit additional information for possible inclusion in this growing family tree database; however, please be sure to include your source information. Only verifiable information will be "grafted" into this tree.

New:

A Man Called King. The Life and Legacy of King Turpin, Jr. The release of a biographical book written as a tribute to King Turpin, Jr.
More Martin Turpin Speculation. Did Martin Turpin (1783-1858/59) move from Virginia to Knox County, Tennessee with the Love family?

Contents:

Family Tree
Family Tree Overview

Solomon Turpin
The Life of Solomon Turpin: A Chronology

Martin Turpin
Martin Turpin of Anderson County, Tennessee
More Martin Turpin Speculation

James Turpin
James Turpin of Anderson and Roane Counties

Serelda Turpin
The Life of Serelda/Rildia Turpin: A Chronology
Serelda and Amanda Turpin

King Turpin
The Life of King Turpin: A Chronology

"Little King" Turpin
A Man Called King. The Life and Legacy of King Turpin, Jr.
Turpin Origins in Chattanooga, TN
Runaways at Mullins Cove
The Kindness of Captain Frazier
Long Boy
King Turpin an Insurance Agent?

Laura Turpin
A Directory to Articles about Laura Turpin
"Aunt Laura" Turpin
Laura Turpin's Walk to Church
Randy Tinch Recalls the Days of Laura Turpin
A Visit to Solway Church of God
Return to Hardin Valley
Aunt Laura "Robbed" of Her Childhood Home
Various Notes about the Life of Laura Turpin

Others
In Search of Elizabeth Belle Magsby
A Famous First Cousin, One Time Removed (Amanda Jane Raby Pearson)
Bloody Affray: the Death of William G. Turpin
The Blockhouse Valley Turpins
Wayne M. Turpin
Another Martin Turpin Descendant
Indiana Turpins
The Patesville, Kentucky Incident
The Irish Ancestry of Elizabeth Russell
Elizabeth Russell's Ancient Ancestral Lines
Joshua King Christenberry's Grave Located
Obituary of Virginia N. Turpin Burks
Obituary of Henry Turpin, Jr.
Descendants of Isaac Turpin

Places
Where Was/Is Lues Well and Welcker Mill?
Turpin Properties in Knox County, TN
The Blockhouse Valley Turpins
Places Named "Turpin"
My Interest to Oak Ridge, Tennessee
En Route to Oak Ridge
A Visit to George Jones Memorial Baptist Church (Wheat, TN)
A Visit to Scott Cemetery
A Visit to the Clough-Christenberry Cemetery
A Visit to Bethel Valley
A Visit to Solway Church of God
Laura Turpin's Walk to Church
A Visit to Fort Blackmore
Return to Hardin Valley
Turpin Origins in Chattanooga, TN

Video Tours

En Route to Oak Ridge

A Visit to George Jones Memorial Baptist Church (Wheat, TN)

A Visit to Scott Cemetery

A Visit to the Clough-Christenberry Cemetery

A Visit to Bethel Valley

A Visit to Solway Church of God

Laura Turpin's Walk to Church

A Visit to Fort Blackmore

Return to Hardin Valley

Turpin Origins in Chattanooga, TN

Descendants of Isaac Turpin

2010-04-30T01:37:00.000-07:00

I have recently heard from a descendant of Isaac Turpin, son of Martin Turpin and Elizabeth Russell. She is Lisa Brock of Clinton, Tennessee.

According to Lisa Brock, she is the daughter of Elmira Letisha Cagley, son of Lydia Alice Thacker (who married George Isaac Cagley), daughter of Sarah Clementine Turpin (who married Elias Bragg Thacker), daughter of Isaac Turpin. That makes Lisa the great-great granddaughter of Isaac.

[The photo to the left of Sarah Clementine Turpin, daughter of Isaac Turpin, has been provided by Lisa Brock.]

Lisa reports:

First, according to a court document, Isaac Turpin owned land that adjoined Amos Thacker in 1869. It was located on Chestnut Ridge in the 15th district of Roane County, Tennessee. The second document I have is a marriage bond for Isaac's son, William H. who married Nancy Crawford in 1877 in Roane County, Tennessee. This marriage bond was signed by William Turpin and Isaac Turpin.

Obituary of Henry Turpin, Jr.

2010-04-26T15:56:00.000-07:00

I never knew Henry Turpin, but I do have a great deal of interest in any of these Kentucky Turpins. Our East Tennessee Turpins and many Kentucky Turpins share a common ancestry, descending from Solomon Turpin in Gap Valley, Virginia in the late 1700s. Simply stated, Henry Turpin is probably a distant cousin.

Henry Turpin Jr., 78
Turpin, Vice & Fritz Funeral Home

Not Specified — Henry Turpin Jr., 78, of Waco, husband of 55 years to Betty Lou Thomas Turpin, died Monday, April 19, 2010, in his home.

Mr. Turpin was born March 14, 1932, in Estill County, Ky., the son of the late Charles Henry and Nora Bell Hatton Turpin. Mr. Turpin was a member of the Waco Nazarene Church and was dedicated to his family. He was a veteran of the Korean War where he served four years in the U.S. Marines. Mr. Turpin loved to play bluegrass music. He retired from IBM after 30 years of service and he was a member of the Masonic Order.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Turpin is survived by: four daughters, Debra Clark (Carl), JoAnn Hedges (Larry), Paula Elkins (Scott) and Cheryl Casteel (Joel), all of Waco; four brothers, Eugene Turpin (Charlotte) of Richmond, James Turpin (Betty), Forest Turpin (Faye) and Johnny Turpin (Brenda), all of Waco; two sisters, Catherine Kaylor and Christine Gentry, both of Waco; eight grandchildren, Bobbi Agee of Irvine, Crystal Hedges of Richmond, Matthew Agee (Harley) of Beattyville, Ky., Aaron Bryan of Indianapolis, Ind., Heather Hedges of Waco and Travis Casteel (Sarah) of Berea, Jerred Elkins and Jessica Hunt, both of Richmond; and three great-grandchildren, Chelsea, Brittany and Andiria Agee, all of Waco.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Turpin was preceded in death by: one brother, Charles Turpin; and one sister, Eva Jo Turpin Schoenrock.

Funeral services for Mr. Turpin will be conducted at 11 a.m., Thursday, April 22, 2010, at Turpin, Vice & Fritz Funeral Home with Pastor Bob Mills and Bro. Kenneth Bishop officiating. Burial will follow in Turpin Cemetery in Estill County.

Pallbearers will be Matthew Agee, Aaron Bryan, Travis Casteel, Larry Hedges, Scott Elkins, Carl Clark and Joel Casteel. Honorary pallbearers will be Earl Barnes and John and Sally Congleton. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, April 21, 2010, at the funeral home, with a Masonic service at 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: the Compassionate Care Center, 350 Isaacs Ln., Richmond, KY 40475.

www.TurpinViceFritz.com

[Source: http://richmondregister.com/obituaries/x563626324/Henry-Turpin-Jr-78 ]

More Martin Turpin Speculation

2010-04-25T16:18:00.000-07:00

We are still trying to make sense of why Martin Turpin would show up in Knox County, Tennessee in 1805 (the year that he married Elizabeth Russell in Knox County at 22 years of age) with no other Turpins in sight. Many hold that he was the first of two sons named Martin born to Martin Turpin of Gap Valley, Virginia. The rest of the Gap Valley Turpins ended up in Kentucky. How did our Martin get separated from the rest of the family and end up in East Tennessee?

Could it be that our Martin Turpin had become legally obligated to accompany some other family in their move from Virginia to Tennessee? For instance, could he have been something like an indentured servant? Or could it be that our Martin Turpin as a child had been legally placed under the guardianship of another family?

On May 2, 1797, a person named Martin Turpin was "bound to David Love" for purposes yet unknown in Montgomery County, Virginia. [Source: Lewis Preston Summers' Annals of Southwest Virginia, 1769-1800, vol. 1. Johnson City, Tennessee: The Overmountain Press, p. 868.] If this person was in fact our Martin Turpin, he would have been about 14 years old at this time.

There was a David Love born on March 25, 1763 in Augusta County, Virginia who married a Mary Draper on July 9, 1784 in Montgomery County, Virginia. [Source: familysearch.org] If this David Love is the same one to whom Martin Turpin was bound, Love would have been 34 years old at the time. According to Judi K. Ramsey, (Lakewood, California), David Love died April 3, 1827 in Maury County, Tennessee (Middle Tennessee). [Source: familysearch.org]

David Love's father was Joseph Love who settled at Campbell's Station (west of present-day Knoxville) in 1798 and died November 10 (or October 11), 1804 in Knox County, Tennessee. [Source: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=1940love&id=I0373 ] Worth Ray's Tennessee Cousins notes that Joseph Love was Sheriff of Knox County and that David Love was Deputy Sheriff of Joseph Love of Knox County [Page 230].

If this is the family to whom Martin Turpin was bound, then it is conceivable that Martin moved with the Love family to Knox County. In 1805 Martin Turpin married Elizabeth Russell.

Did Martin Turpin move to Knox County, Tennessee with the Love family?

Obituary of Virginia N. Turpin Burks

2010-04-03T11:54:00.000-07:00

The following is the obituary for my father's half-sister, Virginia N. Turpin Burks. Some of the information given is not accurate.

Burks, Virginia N.
Homemaker

Virginia N. Burks, 69, formerly of South Sandusky Street, died at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2000, in the Autumnwood Care Center, where she had been a resident since Feb. 1, 1998.

She was born June 12, 1931, in Miami, Ariz., to the late King and Nellie (Griggs) Turpin. Her step-mother, Bertha Green, survives. On Oct. 1, 1948, in Pikesville, Ky., she married Curtis Burks, who also survives.

Other survivors include: six sons, Allen Burks of Harriman, Tenn., Jerry Burks of Pemberville, Jack Burks of Tiffin, Joe Burks of Bloomville, Rick Burks of Sandusky and Randy Burks of Fostoria; 19 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; six half-brothers, Jim Turpin of Princeton, W.Va., Robert Turpin of Burgoon, Melvin and Doug Turpin, both of Fostoria, Wayne Turpin of Kansas, Ohio and Roger Turpin of Fremont; a sister, Pauline Davis of Virginia; and five half-sisters, Kathryn Graham of Kansas, Alice Hatfield of Findlay, Teresa Halcomb of Gibsonburg, Linda Halcomb of Fremont and Sandra Turpin of Alabama.

A brother, Jack Turpin, also is deceased.

Mrs. Burks, a homemaker, was a member of the Pentecostal Church.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in the Turner-Engle Funeral Home, with the Rev. Thomas Ramsey officiating. Interment will be in Seneca Memory Gardens.

Visitation is 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. today and one hour before the service Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the family.

Source: http://www.fostoria.org/CalBits/Obituaries/archive/2000/a_b.html#47

Various Notes about the Life of Laura Turpin

2010-02-11T14:34:00.000-08:00

Over the years I have collected various notes about the life of Laura Turpin:

Laura was among the first to receive the Pentecostal blessing in the Hardin Valley region. To this day many remember her as one of the godliest women they have ever known. Everybody knew her affectionately as "Aunt Laura."

Reverend Bobby Scott recalls his association with Aunt Laura during the 1960's when he served as the minister of youth at Solway Church of God:

You won't find a more godly woman on the earth. When she stood to testify, she would speak no more than ten words, and the Spirit of God would fall on the congregation.

She was very supportive of the youth ministry. She was always praying for me.

Many times when the Holy Ghost would come upon her, she would start walking the church floor swinging her hands. Her experience with God affected every facet of her worship as well as her daily life.

Charolette Hinshaw adds, "She was a blessed Saint of God. I can see her walking up and down the aisle of the church clapping her hands ever so gently and just saying, 'Wooo wooo wooo.' As she would pass by you, the power of God could be felt coming from her."

She and her brother, Frank, attended the Church of God at Solway, about four miles from their home. She would visit the sick and go from house to house inviting people to church. For years to come long-time residents of the valley would recall seeing the light of Laura's lantern at night, knowing that she was about doing the work of the Lord.

Wherever one found Laura, Frank was usually there as well.

Laura and Frank would leave home for the Sunday evening service at about 4:00 p.m.; the service started at 7:00 p.m. They would cross the field from their house there on the edge of Hardin Valley, walk about a mile down Steele Road, ford Beaver Creek or take a boat across when the water was up (later a swinging foot
bridge was added), walk about a mile down Swafford Road, take a turn onto Guinn Road and finally end up on Solway Road where the church is located. It was a total distance of about four miles.

One of the early preachers for the Church of God, George Britt, recalls Laura letting him ride her mule to church along this route when he had come to do some special revival services there at Solway. She and Frank still walked, but they insisted that Brother Britt ride the mule because he had been feeling ill.

In the late 1930s the doors of the church closed. Laura and Frank came anyway. They came to the empty church to pray. One time while they were praying, the Holy Ghost came upon one of them and a message came forth in tongues. The interpretation followed: "This church will grow, and it will become greater than it has ever been before. Great and mighty things will become of this church." In 1942 a pastor finally came, and from that point onward the church began to progress. [These dates need to be verified.]

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Aunt Laura "Robbed" of Her Childhood Home

2010-02-11T13:36:00.000-08:00

It probably happened in the 1890s--at some point after King Christenberry's death. Serelda Turpin and her children (King, Frank, Laura and perhaps others) experienced what Laura Turpin has described as "the worst robbin' case I've ever heard tell of."

Serelda and her children lived in several different places, and it seems that for awhile King Christenberry (and perhaps one or two other wealthy men) supplied Serelda and her children with whatever they needed. "We had money as far as that went," Laura recalls. However, in one single day their situation drastically changed.

The two boys, King and Frank, had begun to work, and Serelda had helped them get their jobs which paid $5 per week for both of them combined. Times were hard. It was difficult for a white man to get a job that would pay much because the freed slaves would work for so little pay.

Serelda and her children were able to move into a house owned by a wealthy man near the place where the boys were working. One day after King and Frank had only worked a week or two, they went to pick up their pay. A man named "Avery Crabapples" [the name has not yet been verified] saw them getting paid, and he followed them home. When he reached the house, he told their mother that she would have to give him the money that her boys had brought home. He took their money and said, "You'ns will have to move from here! You'll have to leave the house and leave everything, and go right now!" In Laura's words, "He broke a hickory, and the children that couldn't walk much way, he whooped them and made them move."

Avery Crabapples drove the Turpins away from the house and deep into the woods. They spent the whole night in the woods, and the next morning they ventured back toward the house. When they arrived back at the house, everything had been taken, and Avery Crabapples had taken over the house. Serelda and her children were left homeless.

When Laura Turpin provided me with this account, she closed by saying, "Avery Crabapples was his name. That was the worst robbin' case I've ever heard tell of. I've heard tell of them robbin' people to get their money, but they ain't ever taken the house with them.... Well, I hope he's in heaven. I tell you, people have got to do awful good to get there. You really have to do good."

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A Directory to Articles about Laura Turpin

2010-02-06T19:32:00.000-08:00

The following are a few of the articles posted about Laura Turpin, daughter of Serelda Turpin:

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Randy Tinch Recalls the Days of Laura Turpin

2010-02-03T14:38:00.000-08:00

Over the past several days I have received three Facebook messages from a gentleman I have never met in person. His name is Randy Tinch, and he knew my great-great-aunt, Laura Turpin, personally. Here is a compilation of the stories that he tells:

My wife Sharon and I were saved in Solway Church of God [located in Solway, Knox County, Tennessee] in March 1971 and knew Aunt Laura Turpin quite well. I would spend time at Aunt Laura's tiny home when she lived on Dogwood Road just a short distance from Solway Church of God. I would go there several times a week just to talk with her about the Lord, about sanctification and the Holy Ghost.

Sometimes the presence of God would become so strong in her house that it was overwhelming. She shared a lot of stories about things the Lord did for her and Frank. [Frank was Laura's brother.]

One story was about a light that came to them one night as they were returning home from church, when they lived at the old home place on the other side of Beaver Creek. They had walked across the old mill dam without a light. Once they reached the other side, because of the woods it became so dark they couldn't see how to go on. So Laura and Frank knelt down and prayed for the Lord to help them. When they finished praying, she said a light came to them.

She said it wasn't a bright light, but it was bright enough for them to see how to go on up the creek, cross a fence, and then it went with them until they reached an old wagon road that went from the creek up to the old home place. The light remained at the bottom of the hill as they walked on up the hill. When they reached the top, the light vanished.

Laura said she knew the Lord sent that light to help them. I asked her to tell me that story over and over. I never got tired of hearing about it.

A few weeks before she died as I visited her in the nursing home, she laid her hand on me and prayed for me. Over the years, I have known, been around, and been prayed for by people such as Rod Parsley, Jesse Duplantis, Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Billye Brim, T. L. Lowery and a few others, but when Aunt Laura laid her hand on me--just skin and bone--that probably had the greatest impact on my life.

I asked Randy Tinch if he knew when Laura came to faith in Christ. Here was his response:

I don't remember when she was saved, but she received the baptism of the Holy Ghost at home.

A revival had broken out at Chandlers View Baptist Church which was located in what is now the Solway Methodist Church cemetery. A sister by the name of Anna Cagley had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit which caused quite a stir in the church.

[Anne Cagley was born August 25, 1893 and died December 13, 1961. She is buried at Solway Methodist Church cemetery. Source: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/knox/cemeteries/solway.txt]

Others, including Laura, began praying and asking the Lord to do the same for them. Laura said they began to pray and ask the Lord to send someone to the church that knew something about this experience.

In a short period of time after they began to pray, Sam C. Perry, who had just received the baptism at the Azusa Street revival, got off the train there at the Solway depot. Without anyone knowing him and without him knowing them, he walked into the Chandler View Church and began to preach about the infilling of the Holy Ghost.

Laura said she was so hungry for the Lord but did not receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit at church.

She had gone home after one of the services and had gotten behind the front door to pray. As she was praying, she was filled with the Holy Spirit.

She said the Lord led her to either a piano or organ they had in the home, and she played and sang in tongues.

Aunt Laura's testimony was always, "I thank the Lord I am saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost with the Bible evidence of speaking in tongues." I heard that many many times during Wednesday night testimony services.

When I asked Randy Tinch when this encounter with the Holy Spirit took place, he responded with this note:

The year was probably around 1906 or 1907. [Note that the Azusa Street Revival began in April of 1906.] Sam C. Perry had returned from Azusa Street back to his home in Fort Myers, Florida and started preaching the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He had preached his way up into Tennessee when he came to the church Laura and Frank Turpin attended.

Sam C. Perry became a Church of God minister. I understand that he came back to that church many times. There is a lot of information about him in the history of the Church of God--Like A Mighty Army. He had apparently gone to Azusa Street in 1906, came back and was preaching about the experience. I would assume that he came to where Laura was in the latter part of 1906 or first part of 1907. So, it was during that time frame that she received the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

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The Life of Solomon Turpin: A Chronology

2009-11-22T12:56:00.000-08:00

The following is the beginning of a chronology for the life of a Solomon Turpin--possibly an ancestor of the East Tennessee Turpins.

October 16, 1765: A payment was made to Solomon Turpin from the sale of the Robert Harrison estate. [Source: http:// freepages. genealogy. rootsweb. ancestry.com/ ~newman/ virginia.htm ]

November 8, 1774: Solomon Turpin (along with Edward Carvin, Moses Higgenbotham, John Henley and Henry Smith) were ordered to view the several ways from Robert Caldwell's near Craigs Creek Mountain / Potts Creek Mountains to Sweet Springs. He, along with the others, were to report to the next court. [Source: Ann Bruxh Miller, Botetourt County Road Orders, 1770-1778, Charlottesville, Virginia, 2007]

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Joshua King Christenberry's Grave Located

2009-11-18T06:43:00.000-08:00

After years of searching, on June 23, 2009 my daughter, Miranda, and I finally located the grave site of Joshua King Christenberrry.

Below are two videos related to this find. The first was recorded with a video camera, and the second was uploaded from my mobile phone at the time that we made the discovery. In both videos I erroneously state that Joshua King Christenberry was my "great-great-great-grandfather." Actually, one of those "greats" can be dropped; he was my "great-great-grandfather"--the father of King Turpin who was the father of "Little King" Turpin (my grandfather).

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A Famous First Cousin, One Time Removed

2009-11-02T06:37:00.000-08:00

I just discovered that I have a somewhat famous first cousin, one time removed. Her name is Amanda Jane Raby Pearson.

Amanda is the daughter of Rosie/Rosa Bell Turpin who married Charles Raby, and Rosie was the daughter of my great-grandfather, King Turpin, and his first wife, Sarah Morrow.

I first heard about Amanda through my great-aunt, Laura Turpin. Aunt Laura told me that she had a niece who had seven sets of twins plus several other children! However, she never told me the name of the niece, and I did not understand her significant place in history until today.

According to Time Magazine's website, with the birth of Amanda's seventh consecutive set of twins on July 21, 1961, she broke the U.S. record for consecutive births of twins.

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"Aunt Laura" Turpin

2009-09-13T14:00:00.000-07:00

At some point between 1977 and 1980 while I was a student at Lee College (Cleveland, TN), I learned that I had a great-great aunt living in the Knoxville / Oak Ridge area who was approaching 100 years of age. Her name was "Laura"--"Aunt Laura" Turpin (1881-1982).

The television mini-series, Roots, had already inspired me to begin digging for my own family roots, so my close proximity to this newly discovered relative provided a great opportunity to initiate my own genealogical search.

To place Laura's own story into historical context, she was born March 1, 1881, the daughter of Serelda Turpin. Serelda was the daughter of James and Jerusha Turpin, and James was the son of Martin and Elizabeth (Russell) Turpin. (Martin was the first of our Turpins to settle in East Tennessee sometime between 1796 and 1805.)

"I'm ninety-nine years old!" Laura began in my first interview with her. Then she proceeded with the telling of stories that would answer many of my questions and stir up many new ones.

Prior to meeting Laura, all I knew was that my grandfather's name was King Turpin, that his father's name was King, and that his father's name might have been King as well. Laura opened a whole new world to me, introducing me to two additional generations of family history.

It was from Laura that I learned that her mother's name was "Rildy," or "Serelda." With King Turpin, Sr. (my great grandfather) being her brother, that meant that Serelda was my great-great grandmother. Regarding Serelda, Laura said, "You see, my mother [Serelda] never was married. She just stayed around here with these rich folks and had children by them."

Laura went on to inform me that their father's name was King Christenberry. (While I have found a great deal of evidence supporting the claim that King Christenberry was the father of her brother, King Turpin, Sr., I have not found the same degree of support for the claim that Mr. Christenberry fathered Laura and her other brother, Frank.)

Laura shared with me many stories about her life that I will include in upcoming updated versions of this post.

Today a number of people at Solway Church of God in Solway, Tennessee still remember Laura Turpin and her brother, Frank. I will include their stories in updated versions of this post as well.

A Chronology of Laura Turpin's Life:

March 1, 1881: Born in Tennessee, the daughter of Serelda Turpin and King Christenberry.

1906 or 1907: At 25 or 26 years of age, she received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at home during a time when revival had broken out at Chandlers View Baptist Church. Sam C. Perry, who had been impacted by the Azusa Street Revival in California, was ministering there. (Source: Randy Tinch)

1907: Her brother, Frank Turpin, purchased 8 1/2 acres in Hardin Valley where both she and Frank would live.

1909: We know that Laura was married to Henry Dunaway during this time, but we do not yet know the exact year of their marriage.

November 16, 1909: At 28 years of age, she gave birth to a son--William Sherman Dunaway. (Source: Randy Tinch)

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)

1913: The founding of Providence Church of God--later known as Solway Church of God (Solway, Knox County, Tennessee). A man by the last name of Kirby donated the land for the building. According to Jake Popejoy, a former pastor of the church, Laura and Frank were charter members.

1924: her aunt, Mary Elizabeth Turpin Potter, died in Custer County, Oklahoma.

September 27, 1926: Laura's mother, Serelda, died of cancer at the age of 75 in Frank and Laura (siblings) Turpin's home in Hardin Valley. Serelda (Rildia) was buried in the Providence Church of God cemetery.

October 27, 1926: Laura's aunt, Amada (Mandy), died at home (where Serelda, Laura and Frank had lived as well). She suddenly spun around and around in the floor, suffering from both a heart attack and a broken blood vessel in her head. They managed to get her to bed, but within a short time she was dead. She was 78 years old. Amanda was buried in the Providence (Solway) Church of God cemetery.

March 29, 1933: Laura's brother, King Turpin, died in Knoxville and was buried in the Providence Church of God cemetery in Solway.

August / September, 1934: A revival took place that led to the reorganizing and reopening of Providence Church of God after it had been shut down for some time.

November 4, 1934: The reorganizing and reopening of Providence Church of God after it had been shut down for some time. Laura Turpin and her brother, Frank, were instrumental in the reopening of the church.

August 4, 1951: Laura's brother, Frank Turpin, died.

1956: The name of Providence Church of God was changed to Solway Church of God.

April 12, 1979: The day I (Randy Turpin) first met Aunt Laura.

1980: My second and last visit with Aunt Laura.

November 1, 1982: Laura Turpin died and was buried in the cemetery at Solway Church of God.

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Martin Turpin of Anderson County, Tennessee

2009-08-11T23:00:00.000-07:00

A major concern in my research has been to form a more complete picture of the life of Martin Turpin (b: abt. 1783 in VA)--the first of our Turpins to settle in East Tennessee. On the basis of what we know thus far, we can construct the following timeline for Martin Turpin's life:

Abt. 1783: born in Virginia.

1783: end of the Revolutionary War.

(?) Abt. 1783 - unknown date: may have lived in Gap Valley, Virginia--present-day Gap Mills, West Virginia [connection with the Gap Valley Turpins uncertain]

(?) March 1783: land dispute at Second Creek between William West and a man who was possibly Martin's father--Martin Turpin. [Source: http:// files.usgwarchives.org/ wv/ greenbrier/ court/ record1.txt citing The History of Monroe County West Virginia, by Oren F. Morton, B. Lit., Originally Published: Staunton, Virginia, 1916, Reprinted, Regional Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1988, pages 68-78.]

(?) 1783-1785: a woman who was possibly his mother, Agnes, either died or was divorced from a man who was possibly Martin's father--Martin Turpin.

(?) March 8, 1785: when our Martin was about 2 years old, a man who was possibly his father, a Martin Turpin, married Nancy Jane Fleming at Linville Creek in Rockingham County, Virginia (or Richmond, Virginia). (Source: familysearch.org)

(?) June 16, 1785: when our Martin was about 2 years old, a man who was possibly his father, a Martin Turpin, was "placed under bond for good behavior for a year and a day." [Source: http:// files.usgwarchives.org/ va/ botetourt/ court/ minutes129gwl.txt citing Annals Of S W Virginia, June 1785. Botetourt County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Court, Minutes, County Court June 1785.]

(?) 1785: when our Martin was about 2 years old, the elder Martin (possibly our Martin's father) and his wife, Nancy, had a son named James.

(?) 1786: when our Martin was about 3 years old, it is noted that the elder Martin (possibly our Martin's father) had 1 slave, 2 horses and 3 head of cattle.

(?) 1788: when our Martin was about 5 years old, the elder Martin (possibly our Martin's father) and Nancy had a daughter named Tabitha. (Some records show the name as Talitha.)

(?) Bef June 29, 1789: recorded on this date, some of Solomon Turpin's (possibly our Martin's deceased grandfather) land was conveyed to his son, Martin, who may have been our Martin's father.

(?) Aft. June 29, 1789: when our Martin was about 6 years old, Solomon's son, Martin (possibly our Martin's father), sold out along with several other Gap Valley Turpins (i.e., Moses, James, Solomon, Jr., Aaron).

(?) 1790: when our Martin was about 7 years old, the elder Martin (possibly our Martin's father) and Nancy had a son named Martin, giving the senior Martin two sons bearing his name.

(?) Bef. July 31, 1792: when our Martin was about 9 years old, recorded on this date, a land transaction showing a Martin (possibly our Martin's father) and wife Agness (or Agnes--possibly our Martin's mother) Turpin selling 147 acres for 5 shillings to William Haynes. This transaction probably took place prior to 1785. (The land was part of the Solomon Turpin survey on the head of Second Creek adjacent to David Johnston.)

Time Gap: 1792-1805: transition from Virginia to Tennessee.

(?) 1792: when our Martin was about 9 years old, the man who may have been his father, Martin Turpin, moved to Madison County, Kentucky in 1792--the same year in which Kentucky became a state. (This elder Martin later moved to Garrard County, Kentucky and then to Pulaski county, Kentucky.) [Source: http:// jwebber.tripod.com /pafdata/ pafn197.htm]

May 2, 1797: A person named Martin Turpin was "bound to David Love" for purposes yet unknown in Montgomery County, Virginia. [Source: Lewis Preston Summers' Annals of Southwest Virginia, 1769-1800, vol. 1. Johnson City, Tennessee: The Overmountain Press, p. 868.] Our Martin Turpin would have been about 14 years old at this time. (See "More Martin Turpin Speculation")

1792-1800?: the elder Martin Turpin (possibly our Martin's father) moved from Madison County, Kentucky to Pulaski County, Kentucky. [1800 Census as cited at http:// jwebber.tripod.com/ pafdata/ pafn197.htm.]

May 2 1797 - 1798?: at 14 or 15 years of age [based on the possibility of the aforementioned Love family connection], entered Tennessee by raft on the Clinch River [according to oral tradition].

1798: Martin may have settled at Campbell's Station with the Love family. David Love's father was Joseph Love who settled at Campbell's Station (west of present-day Knoxville) in 1798. [Source: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=1940love&id=I0373 ] Worth Ray's Tennessee Cousins notes that Joseph Love was Sheriff of Knox County and that David Love was Deputy Sheriff of Joseph Love of Knox County [Page 230].

1800: when Martin was about 19 years old, the elder Martin Turpin (who may have been our Martin's father) lived in Pulaski County, Kentucky. [1800 Census as cited at http:// jwebber.tripod.com/ pafdata/ pafn197.htm.]

1803?: when Martin was about 22 years old, Andrew Russell (possibly the father of Martin's soon-to-be wife) had come from Virginia to visit his son, Matthew, in Knox County and died there. [Source: http:// joepayne.org/ houston.htm citing Dorthy Day Gillespie, "Biref History of the Family of William Gillespei, Sr. (1734-1826)", in Ther Heritage, 20th Anniversary (Hot Spring County, AR: Hot Spring Historical Society), vol. XV, 1988, p. 35-47.] [This Matthew Russell, Martin Turpin's brother-in-law, may have been the same Matthew Russell noted as the first known settler in the Concord, TN area (1787). He settled on land granted by the government for serving in the Revolutionary War. Source: http:// www.knoxcotn.org/ knoxcotn/ 2001/ knoxcodigestv1_182.htm and Centennial history of First Baptist Church, Concord (published in 1991).]

1803: "The Last Will and Testament of Andrew Russell" of Augusta County, Virginia was probated in Knox County, Tennessee. Elizabeth Russell (possibly the same Elizabeth as the soon-to-be the wife of Martin Turpin) is listed as his daughter, possibly implying the Russell family's presence in Knox County in 1803. [Worth Ray, Tennessee Cousins, a History of Tennessee People, 212]

October 28, 1805: At about 22 years of age, Martin Turpin married Elizabeth Russell in Knox County, Tennessee. The marriage certificate was signed by both Martin Turpin and James Scarborough. (Eleven years later in a court record dated October 14, 1816, both James Scarborough/Scarbro and Martin are listed as workers on a road. Source: Anderson County Tennessee Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions Minutes, 1814-1819, page 111.)

Time Gap: 1805-1812?: transition from Knox County to Anderson County.

1805-1812?: moved from Knox County to Anderson County, Tennessee.

Abt. 1807: At about 24 years of age, Martin's son, James Turpin, was born.

Abt. 1809: At about 26 years of age, Martin's son, William Turpin, was born.

Abt. 1811: At about 28 years of age, Martin's son, David Turpin, was born.

1812: At about 29 years of age, Martin Turpin was drafted to serve as a Private in the East Tennessee Militia, 5th Regiment (Col. E. Booth's Regiment; Capt. Richard Marshall is also noted in the record). However, the record shows that he was "discharged for inability." (Source: Noted by Barbara Oliver. Also Sarah Turpin citing listing from Tennesseans in War of 1812, page 503.)

Abt. 1812: At about 29 years of age, Martin Turpin's son, Thomas Turpin, was born.

Oct. 12, 1812: At about 29 years of age, Martin Turpin was appointed as a juror in Anderson County, Tennessee.

Oct. 13, 1813: At about 30 years of age, Martin Turpin was appointed as a grand juror in Anderson County, Tennessee.

Abt. 1816: At about 33 years of age, Martin Turpin's son, Martin Turpin, was born.

October 14, 1816: At about 33 years of age, Martin Turpin, James Scarbro/Scarborough and others were associated with work on a road in Anderson County, Tennessee. (Eleven years earlier on October 28, 1805, James Scarborough signed Martin and Elizabeth's marriage certificate. Source: Anderson County Tennessee Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions Minutes, 1814-1819, page 111.)

Abt. 1819: At about 36 years of age, Martin Turpin's son, Isaac Turpin, was born.

Abt. 1822: At about 39 years of age, Martin Turpin's son, Henry Turpin, was born.

1830: according to census, lived in Anderson County (Source: http:// www.geocities.com/ Heartland/ Meadows/ 9081/ 1830AN.html)

Apr. 26, 1832: When the senior Martin Turpin was about 49 years old, his first grandson, Martin Turpin (son of James Turpin), was born.

November 12, 1836: When Martin Turpin was about 53 years old, he sold a parcel of land (50 acres located on the north bank of the Clinch River in Anderson County) to Joseph Harden for the sum of $300. (Source: Sarah Turpin citing from Anderson County, Tennessee Deed Book I-1, Pg. 253)

February 6, 1837: When Martin Turpin was about 54 years old, he acquired 300 acres (Anderson County) from the State of Tennessee. (Source: Sarah Turpin citing Land Grant No. 712)

1840: according to the census, lived in Anderson County

January 4, 1843: A severe earthquake in the Memphis, Tennessee area was strongly felt in Knoxville, caused considerable alarm, but did no damage. (Source:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ regional/ states/ tennessee/ history.php)

1850: according to census, lived in Anderson County

August 23, 1853: When Martin Turpin was about 70 years old, Abraham J. Hagler and Jacob C. Hagler sold him 100 acres of land for $100 in Anderson County on the side of Chestnut Ridge (on the north side of the Clinch River). (Source: Sarah Turpin citing Anderson County, Tennessee Deed Book Q-1, Pg. 564)

May 28, 1857: At abt. 74 years of age, Martin Turpin gave his son, Henry Turpin, a parcel of land in Anderson County, Tennessee as a gift for Henry living with him and taking care of him in his old age. No acreage amount is mentioned in the record. (Source: Sarah Turpin citing Anderson County, Tennessee Deed Book S-1, Pg. 397)

April 17, 1858: At abt. 75 years of age, Martin Turpin sold William Turpin (son?) 100 acres in Anderson County, Tennessee on the north side of the Clinch River for $165. (Source: Sarah Turpin citing Anderson County, Tennessee Deed Book P-1, Pg. 570-572)

1858: Martin Turpin appears in the 1858 Tax List for Anderson County owning 200 acres valued at $500. (Source: Sarah Turpin)

1858-1859: presumed death at abt. 75-76 years of age. (Source: Sarah Turpin: Martin's widow (Elizabeth) appears in the 1859 Tax List for Anderson County, owning 210 acres valued at $420. Elizabeth also appears in the 1860 census alone.)

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James Turpin of Anderson and Roane Counties

2009-08-10T20:14:00.000-07:00

The following is a chronology of the life of James Turpin of Anderson and Roane Counties, Tennessee:

Abt. 1807: born the son of Martin Turpin and Elizabeth Russell Turpin.

Abt. 1809: When James was about 2 years old, his brother, William Turpin, was born.

Abt. 1811: When James was about 4 years old, his brother, David Turpin, was born.

1812: When James was about 5 years old, his father, Martin Turpin, served in the East Tennessee Militia, 5th Regiment (Booth's Regiment). (Source: Barbara Oliver)

Abt. 1812: When James was about 5 years old, his brother, Thomas Turpin, was born.

Abt. 1816: When James was about 9 years old, his brother, Martin Turpin, was born.

1816: When James was about 9 years old, his father, Martin Turpin, worked on the construction of a road in Anderson County, Tennessee.

Abt. 1819: When James was about 12 years old, his brother, Isaac Turpin, was born.

Abt. 1822: When James was about 15 years old, his brother, Henry Turpin, was born.

1830: The Indian Removal Act was passed.

Bef. 1832: James' marriage to Jerusha/Jerusa--reportedly a Cherokee woman. Someone has noted that in light of the Indian Removal Act of 1830, James married Jerusha to prevent her removal.

Apr. 26, 1832: When James was about 25 years old, his first son, Martin Turpin, was born.

1838: The removal of the Cherokee from the southern Appalachian Mountains began. Someone has noted that when Jerusha's sisters (and possibly other Cherokee family members) were forced to move as a result of the Indian Removal Act, she became imbittered.

Abt. 1839: When James was about 32 years old, his son, William G. Turpin, was born.

Abt. 1843: When James was about 36 years old, his son, John Turpin, was born.

January 4, 1843: A severe earthquake in the Memphis, Tennessee area was strongly felt in Knoxville, caused considerable alarm, but did no damage. (Source:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ regional/ states/ tennessee/ history.php)

July 7, 1845: At the courthouse door in Clinton, Tennessee (Anderson County), as the highest bidder James Turpin purchased 170 acres (the property of Mary Millers' heirs) for the amount of four dollars thirty-three and 3/4 cents (the amount owed in taxes for 1842-1843). (Source: Sarah Turpin citing Anderson County, Tennessee Deed Book Q-1, Pg. 593-594)

August 31, 1847: James sold 75 acres to Harbard H. Crawford for the sum of $100.00. (Source: Sarah Turpin citing Deed Book N-1, pgs. 15-16)

January 1848: When James was about 41 years old, his daughter, Amanda, was born. (Source: Amanda Turpin's tombstone)

March 4, 1851-1853: When James was abt. 44-46 years of age, his daughter, Serelda, was born in Tennessee. (Her tombstone shows a birthyear of 1851, but the 1860 Roane County census shows Serelda as 7 years old.)

February 1, 1854: James Turpin transfered to his wife, 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: James Turpin acquired/built a new house in Anderson County. (Implied bySarah Turpin citing Anderson County, Tennessee Deed Book Q-1, Pg. 588-589)

August 5, 1854: Samuel C. Young sold 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)

November 6, 1858: James Turpin and wife, 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 they moved to Roane County." (Source: Sarah Turpin citing Anderson County, Tennessee Deed Book S-1, Pg. 65 )

1858-1860: Presumed death of James' father, Martin Turpin. (James' mother, Elizabeth, appears in the 1860 census alone.) James would have been abt. 51-53 years of age at the time.

August 26, 1860: according to the census, living in Roane County at or near Welcker Mill. (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 James Turpin living in Roane County, Tennessee. (Source: Sarah Turpin)

1861: At the age of 54, the American Civil War began.

1861: His sons, William and John, swam across the Clinch river to escape the Confederates. They walked to Kentucky to join the Union Army.

August 9, 1861: James' sons, 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: James' sons, 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]

June 7, 1862: James Turpin's land in Roane County, Tennessee (75 acres) was valued at $250. (Source: Sarah Turpin citing Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918, Ancestry.com)

July 9, 1862: James' brother, Martin, Jr., "died of disease" as Private in Co. K, 1st Regiment, Tennessee during the Civil War. (Source: Sarah Turpin citing Ancestry.com, "Report of the Adjutant General of the state of Tennessee; of the military forces of the state from 1861 to 1866")

1862-1864: James' death at abt. 55-57 years of age. 1864 Tax List shows James Turpin heirs in Roane County, Tennessee. (Source: Sarah Turpin)

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The Life of Serelda/Rildia Turpin: A Chronology

2009-08-09T15:25:00.000-07:00

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 tombstone shows a birthyear 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, transfered 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 12, 1864: When Serelda was 11-13 years of age, her brother, William, had returned home from the war and married Louisa Isabella Christenberry.

November 8, 1864: When Serelda was 11-13 years of age, her brother, Martin, at age 31/32 enlisted in Anderson County, Tennessee to serve the Union, Seventh Regiment Mounted Infantry, Company I. (Source: http:// www.tngennet.org/ civilwar/ rosters/ minf/ minf7/ coi5.html)

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.

June 15, 1865: When Serelda was 12-14 years of age, her brother, Martin, at age 32/33 was discharged from his service to the Union in the Civil War. (Source: http:// www.tngennet.org/ civilwar/ rosters/ minf/ minf7/ coi5.html)

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: affair with Joshua King Christenberry.

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.]

March 16, 1873/75: at the age of 22/24, gave birth to Joshua King 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.

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The Life of King Turpin: A Chronology

2009-08-08T22:08:00.000-07:00

The beginnings of a chronology of the life of King Turpin follows:

March 16, 1873/1875: born in Tennessee, the son of Serelda Turpin. His biological father was Joshua King Christenberry.

March 16, 1876: his biological father, Joshua King Christenberry, married Annie McKamey.

1876: his mother, Serelda Turpin, sued Frank Hardin for support.

October 12, 1877: birth of his brother, Frank Turpin.

1880: lived in the home of his grandmother, Jerusa (a.k.a. Jerusha) Turpin in Roane County, Tennessee.

March 1, 1881: birth of his sister, Laura Turpin.

August 3, 1895: married Sarah Morrow in Anderson County, Tennessee.

January 11, 1896: death of his father, Joshua King Christenberry, in Roane County.

March 1898: a daughter, Rose/Rosie/Rosa B., was born to King and Sarah.

Between 1898 and 1900: Sarah Turpin and her daughter, Rose, were taken to the Anderson County asylum for the poor--the poor farm. (In the 1900 census Sarah and Rose are enumerated with James Garrett at the county asylum.)

One Turpin researcher notes that Sarah and King's daughter, Rose/"Rosa Bell," died in 1977. She also notes that Rose married Charles Raby and by that union had a daughter named Amanda Jane Raby (Pearson).

May 1899: a son, William McKinley Magsley/Magsby, was born to King and Elizabeth Belle Magsley/Magsby.

1900: lived in the home of his aunt, Amanda Turpin, in Anderson County, Tennessee. Elizabeth Belle Magsley/Magsby and her son, William, lived there as well.

February 2 or 3, 1902/03: a son, "Little King" Turpin, was born to King and Elizabeth Belle Magsby in a houseboat on the Tennessee River in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

March 1, 1906: a daughter, Minnie Belle Turpin, was born to King and Elizabeth Belle Magsby in a houseboat on the Tennessee River someplace in Alabama.

1906-1910: divorced or separated from Elizabeth Belle Magsby.

1906-1910: death of Elizabeth Belle Magsby at 525 Market Square/Street in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

(1906-1916?: lived at "Tile Town;" lived at Mullins Cove.)

1907: his brother, Frank, bought 8 1/2 acres in Hardin Valley.

1910: lived in Roane County, Tennessee and is listed in the census as a farmer.

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)

1916: lived in North Chattanooga.

January 11, 1916: his son, "Little King," arrived at the Bonny Oaks boys home in Chattanooga, Tennessee after being taken from King.

May 6, 1916: removed his son, "Little King," from the Bonny Oaks boys home in Chattanooga, Tennessee. "Little King" was sent to Concord / Hardin Valley to live with his uncle, Frank Turpin. The record at Bonny Oaks shows that King lived in North Chattanooga at this time.

May 14, 1916: married Ida Belle Conatser in Walker County, Georgia. Justice of the Peace, D. H. Hixon, officiated. (Source: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/walker/vitals/marriages/grtys.txt)

1917/18: birth of son, John W. Turpin. (Source: 1920 census)

1920: lived in Knox County, Tennessee.

About 1920: birth of daughter, Grace Turpin, in Tennessee. (Source: 1930 census)

About 1921: birth of daughter, Georgia L. Turpin, in Tennessee. (Source: 1930 census)

1923: purchased 12 1/2 acres in Hardin Valley area from Amanda Stubbs for the price of "one dollar and love and affection." (Source: registry of deeds)

About 1926: birth of son, Albert D. Turpin, in Tennessee. (Source: 1930 census)

September 27, 1926: death of his mother, Serelda Turpin, in Concord, Tennessee

October 27, 1926: death of his aunt, Amanda Turpin.

About 1927: birth of son, Daniel N. Turpin, in Tennessee. (Source: 1930 census)

1929: moved to Knoxville.

1930: lived in Knoxville, Tennessee and is listed in the census as a moving picture operator.

March 29, 1933: died in Knoxville, Tennessee.

More information about the life of King Turpin is contained in the book about his son, A Man Called King: The Life and Legacy of King Turpin, Jr.

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Bloody Affray: the Death of William G. Turpin

2009-07-27T19:13:00.000-07:00

The following account of the death of William G. Turpin (abt. 1839 - 1869) has been provided by Sarah Turpin:

The Tennessean, of the 19th, contains the particulars of a sanguinary encounter which occurred on the 8th instant [August], in the 14th civil district of Roane county, from which it appears that the two combatants in this case, named respectively TURPIN and HEMBREE, brothers-in-law, having had a misunderstanding between each other [according to John Strunk, it was a land/boundary dispute], they mutually agreed to settle their difference in a fair, square, stand-up fight, no knives or deadly weapons to be used.

In pursuance of this agreement, TURPIN threw his knife away. HEMBREE refused to do likewise, when TURPIN tried to arm himself with a club, and whilst in the act of picking up a stick, was set upon by his antagonist, and severely, if not fatally cut about the head, neck and shoulders. Notwithstanding TURPIN’S wounds are believed to be fatal.

HEMBREE is still at large, no attempt having been made to arrest him. Roane seems to be making rapid strides towards the reputation enjoyed by the frontier, where law is set openly at defiance, and its minions are powerless. Note: It is not known if Mr. TURPIN died or not.

(Source: Knoxville Weekly Whig, Wednesday, 25 Aug 1869, Vol. XX, No. 29.)

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Where Was/Is Lues Well and Welcker Mill?

2009-06-25T13:07:00.000-07:00

Where was/is Lues Well and Welcker Mill? I have located the site of Welcker Mill, but Lues Well has not yet been found.

What is the significance of these two places? The 1860 census shows Elisabeth Turpin (Elizabeth Russell Turpin) as living within the postal area of Lues Well in Anderson County (TN), and the family of James and Jerusa Turpin are found in the postal area of Welcker Mill in Roane County (TN).

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. We do not yet know how close James and Jerusa actually lived to the site of the mill and post office.

As far as Lues Well is concerned, the search continues.

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Turpin Properties in Knox County, TN

2009-06-23T04:33:00.000-07:00

A hurried search through the Registry of Deeds at the East Tennessee History Center (Knoxville, TN) has produced the following relevant finds for Turpin properties in Knox County (prior to 1931).

November 5, 1907 (Book 218, Page 270)

Grantee: Frank Turpin (King and Laura Turpin's brother)

Grantor: Robert Brashears

8 1/2 acres in district 9 (Hardin Valley area)

Purchase Price: $80

My Note: It appears that Frank Turpin is the first Turpin to own land in Knox County.

September 29, 1908 (Book 224, Page 102)

Grantee: Frank Turpin (same as above)

Grantor: Sarah Summers

Right of way for a road in district 9 (Hardin Valley area)

My Note: This road is today known as "Turpin Lane." It leads to Frank's previously purchased property.

August 22, 1923 (Book 382, Page 257)

Grantee: King Turpin

Grantor: Amanda Stubbs (husband was W. N. Stubbs)

12 1/2 acres in district 9 (Hardin Valley area)

Purchase Price: "One dollar and love and affection"

My Note: Could this "Amanda" be Amanda Turpin as a married woman? Until now, we have received no indication that Amanda Turpin ever married.

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In Search of Elizabeth Belle Magsby

2009-04-09T17:50:00.000-07:00

I am in search of my great-grandmother, Elizabeth Belle Magsby. Most of what we know about her life is intertwined in our record of the life of her son, "Little King" Turpin.

The following is a video update on my most recent research related to Elizabeth's life and death. After viewing the video, you may want to review the chronology below.

Here is all that we know thus far about the progression of events in Elizabeth's life:

Abt. 1880: born.

May 1899: gave birth to a son, William M. (McKinley?) Magsley. (According to Minnie Belle Turpin Hall, King and Elizabeth's first child was William McKinley Turpin--presumably the William M. Magsley noted here.)

1900: lived in the home of Amanda Turpin. (Amanda's nephew, King, lived there as well.)

February 2 or 3, 1902/03: gave birth to a son, "Little King" Turpin, in a houseboat on the Tennessee River in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

March 1, 1906: gave birth to a daughter, Minnie Belle Turpin, in a houseboat on the Tennessee River someplace in Alabama.

1906-1910: divorced or separated from King Turpin and united with John Selby.

1906-1910: died (?), presumably in Chattanooga, Tennessee. (According to an interview with Minnie Belle Turpin Hall in the early 1980's, her mother, Elizabeth Belle Magsby, died at 525 Market Square. See the video above for the reasons why this information is dubious.)

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Elizabeth Russell’s Ancient Ancestral Lines

2009-03-19T19:18:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: Much of the following information was gathered in the early days of my research at a time when I did not always adequately record my sources. Please review this article with a critical eye.

Martin Turpin and Elizabeth Russell (married 1805 in Knox County, Tennessee) were the progenitors of the East Tennessee Turpins. Elizabeth Russell’s lineage reaches back into ancient times.

Elizabeth’s father was Andrew Russell, Jr., and Andrew, Jr.’s mother was Florence Henderson. Florence Henderson’s parents were John Henderson and Rose Finley. From this point on back into the lineage, the history becomes very interesting.

Let us here consider the ancestral line of Elizabeth Russell’s great-grandfather, John Henderson.

The story of John Henderson's ancestry begins with a man named Adam of biblical fame. Yes, we are talking about the Adam that God made from the dust of the earth--the man whose wife's name was Eve.

Descendants of Adam. The descendants of Adam and Eve are in this order: Seth, Enos, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech and Noah.

Descendants of Noah. Prior to the Great Deluge of biblical fame, Noah had a son named Shem. Two years after the flood, when Shem was one-hundred years old, he became the father of Arphaxad.

Descendants of Arphaxad. The descendants of Arphaxad in our proposed family line are in this order: Salah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor and Terah. After Terah had lived seventy years, he had three sons: Abram (later renamed by God, "Abraham"), Haran and Nahor.

Descendants of Abram. Abram was born in Ur, Chaldea. He married Sarai, a daughter of Haran. The Book of Genesis in the Bible conveys the detailed account of Abram's life, including the record of how Yahweh, the God of Abram and his people, gave Abram his new name: Abraham.

Abraham had a son named Isaac, Isaac had a son named Jacob (also known as Israel), and Jacob had many sons, two of them being Judah and Levi.

Descendants of Jacob. At least three ancestry lines of the Turpin family seem to lead back to Judah (son of Jacob), and at least two proposed lines lead back to Levi. Levi (son of Jacob) had a daughter named Jochebed and a son named Kohath.

Kohath had a son named Amram.

Amram married Jochebed, his aunt--the daughter of Levi. Amram and Jochebed had two sons worthy of note: Moses and Aaron. Our Turpin origins connect to the descendants of Aaron.

Descendants of Aaron. The descendants of Aaron follow in this order: Eleazer, Phinehas, Abishua, Bukki, Uzzi, Zerahiah, Meraioth, Azariah, Amariah, Ahitub, Zadok, Shallum, Hilkiah and Jeremiah.

Descendants of Jeremiah. Jeremiah had a daughter named Hanutal who married Josiah (son of Amon and Jedidah). Hanutal and Josiah had two sons: Zedekiah and Jehoahaz.

Descendants of Jehoahaz. The descendants of Jehoahaz (son of Josiah and Hanutal) follow in this order: Salethiel, Zorobabel, Rhesa, Joanna, Juda, Joseph, Semei, Mattathias, Maath, Nagge, Esli, Naum, Amos, Mattathias, Joseph, Janna (daughter), Melchi, Levi and Mattan.

Some undocumented source in my files states that Mattan, son of Levi, was born about 58 B.C. in Jerusalem and died before 1 B.C. in Nazareth, Galilee. Mattan was the father of the man of biblical fame known as Joseph of Arimathea.

Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph of Arimathea, son of Mattan, was born about 38 B.C. in Bethlehem, Judea and reportedly died 82 A.D. in Glastonbury, Wales.

[Information related to the Joseph of Arimathea connection can be studied on the Early British Kingdoms Home Page (http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com). I have chosen to include the Joseph of Arimathea connection in this family tree seeing that many Russell family researchers deem his association with this line as credible.]

Descendants of Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph of Arimathea had a daughter named Anna.

Anna, daughter of Joseph of Arimathea, by some reports married Manogan, the son of Capoir, a Celtic. By the same account, they had a daughter named Penardim who married Lear (Llyr), son of Baran. Lear and Penardim had a son who became known as Bran "The Blessed".

(An alternate proposal is that Anna actually married Bran and that he became known as Bran “The Blessed” after receiving the blessing of his father-in-law, Joseph of Arimathea.)

Bran was a man of legendary stature. In fact, great care must be taken to separate fact from legend or fiction when studying his life. The Encyclopedia Americana reports the following regarding Bran "The Blessed":

"...A legendary king of Britain. He was the owner of a cauldron that reputedly could restore the dead to life, though without power of speech. An omnipotent god, who eventually sacrificed himself for his people, Bran is described as being of enormous size and strength; he could wade across the Irish Sea, his body was as large as a mountain, and his eyes were like two lakes. Forced into battle with Matholwch, King of Ireland, he was wounded in the foot by a poisoned arrow. Bran then ordered that Matholwch's head be cut off and carried to London, where it was to be buried as a talisman to preserve the land against invaders."

Possibly Bran was an actual historical figure whose story was later enhanced with such legends. Some report that the cauldron was actually the "holy grail" passed down to him from Joseph of Arimathea.

Descendants of Bran "The Blessed." The descendants of Bran "The Blessed" follow in this order: Caradoc Caractacus, Cyllin (also written Seal) the Britain, Coel (also written Coilus), Lucius, Cadwaller (also written Cadvan), and Friege Frea (daughter).

With inadequate documentation of my source, my records show that Friege married Woden, son of Frithuwald (a descendant of Memnon), about 236 A.D. Woden and Friege had a son named Skjold Odinsson.

Descendants of Skjold Odinsson. Skjold Odinsson (meaning "son of Odin" or "son of Woden") was born about 237 in Hleithra, Denmark. He married Gefion about 258. (As a note of interest, legend says that Gefion also had relations with a giant by whom she gave birth to four oxen.)

The descendants of Skjold Odinsson and Gefion follow in this order: Fridleif Skjoldsson, Frodi Fridleifsson, Fridleif Frodasson, Haver Fridleifsson, Frodi Havarsson, Vermund Frodasson and Olaf "The Mild" Vermundsson, Dan "The Proud" Olafsson, Frodi "The Peaceful" Dansson, Fridleif Frodasson, Frodi "The Valient" Fridleifsson, Halfdan Frodasson, Helgi Halfdansson, and Yrsa Helgi (daughter).

Yrsa Helgi (daugher of Helgi Halfdansson) married Adils Ottarsson (son of Ottar Egilsson--a descendant of Njord), about 593. Adils and Yrsa had a son named Eystein Adilsson.

Descendants of Eystein Adilsson. Eystein Adilsson was born about 594 in Sweden. His descendants, in this order, were Ingvar Eysteinsson, Braut-Onund Ingvarsson, Ingjald Braut-Onundsson, Olaf Ingjaldsson, Halfdan Olafsson.

According to one source (with inadequate documentation), Halfdan Olafsson was born in 725 in Romerike, Norway. He married Asa Eysteinsson, daughter of Eystein Haardaade and Solveig Halfdansson, about 745. They had two children: Eysteinn I "Fretr" Glumru Halfdansson and Gudrod Halfdansson.

The descendants of Gudrod Halfdansson, in this order, were Olaf, Rognvald and Aseda who married Eystein (Glumra) -- Eysteinn I Glumru Halfdansson's great-grandson.

The other son of Halfdan, Eysteinn I "Fretr" Glumru Halfdansson, was born about 746 and had
a son named Halfdan II "Milldi" Eysteinsson.

Halfdan II "Milldi" Eysteinsson was born about 767 in West Scandinavia. He had a son named Ivar Halfdansson, and Ivar had a son named Eystein (Gumra) Ivarsson.

Descendants of Eystein (Gumra) Ivarsson. Eystein (Gumra) Ivarsson was born about 810 in Maer, Norway. He married Aseda Rognvaldsson, daughter of Rognvald Olafsson and great-grand-daughter of Gudrod, about 831. Their children were Sigurd Eysteinsson and Rognvald I "The Wise" Eysteinsson.

Rognvald I "The Wise" Eysteinsson had at least three children: Sigurd the Stout, Turf Einer and Thorfinn. Turf Einer was Earl of Orkney and taught the Orkney people and neighboring islanders the use of burning peat for fuel. Thorfinn was also an Earl of Orkney. Rognvald I died in 890 in Orkney, Orkney Islands, Scotland.

Sigurd the Stout. Sigurd the Stout (son of Rognvald I "The Wise" Eysteinsson) held a great part both in war and in diplomacy. He was killed in the great battle of Clonfarf in Ireland. This battle was fought in 1014 and stands in the Irish histories as the crisis that saw the destruction of the Norse power in Ireland and the restoration of Celtic rule.

As the Earl, Sigurd the Stout was asked to join the confederacy of the Norse against Brian Boroomk, the leader of the Celtic party, but he stipulated as a condition that if the party he joined were victorious he should be king of Ireland, and have for wife the renowned Gormflaith, the Messalina of her day, who divorced from Brian, her third husband, was the inspiring spirit of the confederacy against him, and we are told that in promise both conditions were conceded.

Sigurd was reputed to have lived a charmed life invulnerable to weapons. Due to a magical banner, he supposedly bore an additional guarantee for immunity. He was killed in the contest.

He left several sons, but one of them, Thorfin (or Thornfinn), inherited Caithness, most northern part of Scotland, and other districts of the mainland, because of the fact that his mother was a daughter of King Malcolm of Scots.

Despite the fact that he had so liberal a share of estate he fought with his brothers for a share in the Earldom of the islands.

Descendants of Sigurd the Stout. Sigurd the Stout married Ingebiorg, daughter of Eriend (son of Thora, son of Sumarlidi Oepakson, son of Oepak). The descendants of Sigurd the Stout and Ingebiorg follow in this order: Thornfinn, Gunhold, and Snaekoll Gunnison. In light of Lucy Henderson Horton's research, there may be additional generations between these three three names (See Lucy Henderson Horton's Family History Compiled by Lucy Henderson Horton, Madison, Wisconsin: Press of the News, 1922, page 202.).

Snaekoll Gunnison. Snaekoll Gunnison lived in 1232 having fled then to Kilben Hougas Castle on the Island of Wier after slaying Earl Johnson, of Harald Maddason, the last of the Norwegian Earls of Orkney. Snaekoll Gunnison is regarded as the first Gunn. He had a son whose name we do not know.

Snaekoll's son had a son whose name was James DeGunn.

Descendants of James DeGunn. James' descendants, in this order, were Ingram DeGunn, Sir Donald Gunn, Sir James Gunn (of Ulster), George Gunn ("The Crowner"), Henry, and Robert Henderson, the first of the Hendersons.

Descendants of Robert Henderson. Robert Henderson was born about 1430. He married a woman named Janet. Robert Henderson was a well known poet of Scotland. He was the schoolmaster of Dunfernline, Fifeshire, Scotland. Robert Henderson died after 1486 in Inverkeithing.

The descendants of Robert and Janet follow in this order: James Henderson (1st of Fordell), George Henderson (2nd of Fordell), William Henderson, James Henderson (3rd of Fordell), Sir John Henderson (4th of Fordell), Sir John Henderson (5th of Fordell), Sir John Henderson, and Gentleman John Henderson.

Gentleman John Henderson. Gentleman John Henderson was born in 1650 in Fifeshire, Scotland. He married Margaret Hamilton, daughter of Sir John Hamilton. On July 15, 1664 it was noted that Gentleman John Henderson was Baron of Nova Scotia. Gentleman John Henderson and Margaret had a son named William Henderson of Fordell.

William Henderson of Fordell. William Henderson of Fordell was born April 30, 1676 in Fifeshire, Scotland. He married Margaret Bruce, daughter of Robert Bruce, a descendant of Robert de Bruce, on February 7, 1704. William and Margaret had at least three children: John, Samuel and James. William Henderson of Fordell died August 1, 1737 in Virginia.

John Henderson. John Henderson (son of William Henderson) was born February 9, 1705/06 in Northern Ireland. He married Rose Finley (daughter of John Findley and Thankful Doak) on June 23, 1738. They had at least three children: Florence, Mary and John. John and Rose left Scotland and came to Virginia in 1740. John, Sr. was an ensign in the Augusta Militia in the French and Indian War, and in 1758 received fourteen shillings pay. He died May 1, 1766 in Augusta County, Virginia.

Florence Henderson. Florence Henderson was born 1718. She married Andrew Russell in Beverly Manor. Andrew Russell and Florence Henderson had a son named Andrew Russell, Jr.

Andrew Russell, Jr. Andrew Russell, Jr. had a daughter named Elizabeth Russell—the mother of the East Tennessee Turpins.

[Sources: Encyclopedia Americana, (Grolier Incorporated: Danbury, Connecticut, 1986), vol. 4, p. 437; Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine (April 1937), 360-3611; Broderbund WFT Vol. 3, Ed. 1, Tree #0620, Date of Import: Oct 10, 1997; Judy Dill (dmerlin@wesnet.com); Broderbund WFT Vol. 2, Ed. 1, Tree #3702, Date of Import: Oct 10, 1997; Mary McPherson; and others]

The Irish Ancestry of Elizabeth Russell

2009-03-19T16:47:00.000-07:00

Martin Turpin married Elizabeth Russell in Knox County, Tennessee in 1805. Elizabeth has a rich ancestry extending back into Northern Ireland and by some accounts, even into biblical times.

The following article addressing the Irish part of Elizabeth’s lineage is comprised of many bits and pieces that I have compiled over the past thirty years. Unfortunately, in my earlier work on this project, I was not always good at documenting my sources. Please seek to verify this account before citing it as absolute fact.

Andrew Russell, Sr. Andrew Russell, Sr. was born 1716 in Northern Ireland. His parents are not yet known, but we do know that he had a brother named William.

Andrew came to America from Ireland, passing first through Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He and his family settled on Christian's Creek, Augusta County, Virginia as early as 1735. He was an agent for "Beverly," the British Governor or land agent in Virginia at that time.

Andrew Russell, Sr. married Florence Henderson, daughter of John Henderson and Rose Finley, in Beverly Manor. Andrew and Florence had the following children:

Joshua (born about 1738)
Andrew, Jr. (born October 28, 1740)
Robert (baptized August 15, 1742)
John (baptized February 24, 1748)
Martha (Baptized April 24, 1749)

Andrew Russell, Sr. and his wife, Florence, conveyed to their son, Joshua, 150 acres on Christian's Creek in Beverley Manor, part of 496 acres conveyed by Beverley to Andrew, September 24th in the 1740s [Source: Lyman Chalkley's Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia; extracted from the original court records of Augusta County, Virginia, 1745-1800. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1966, p. 384].

Andrew, Sr. died before November 20, 1780.

Andrew Russell, Jr. Andrew Russell, Jr. was born on October 28, 1740. He first married a woman named Margaret Christian on May 25, 1762. We do not yet have a record of any children born of that union.

Later Andrew, Jr. married Elizabeth White by whom the following children were born:

Elizabeth (born about 1782 in Virginia)
Matthew
Mary
Ann
William
John
Jean
James
Andrew
Alexander

[Source: http://www.familysearch.org]

Andrew Russell, Jr.'s last will and testament, dated July, 1803 (State of Tennessee, Knox County) reads as follows:

"The last Will and Testament of Andrew Russell was produced to court for probate, whereupon William Gillespie and William Henderson two of the subscribing witnesses thereto, made oath

that they saw the said Andrew Russell sign, seal publish and declare the same to be his last will and testament, and that he was at the time of publishing the same of sound and perfect mind

and memory, to the best of their knowledge and belief, which will is ordered to be recorded, and is in these words to wit.

"In the Name of God Amen, This 5th day of May in the year of our Lord 1803, I Andrew Russell of Augusta County and State of Virginia, being at this present time... (?) in body tho' in... (?) reason and knowing not how soon death may take hold of me. I think it necessary to make my last will and testament, when it shall please God to remove me I commend my spiritual part into

his hands, through the merits of his Son my Saviour Jesus Christ and my body to the earth to be desently buried in hope of a joyfull resurrection, and my worldly estate both real and personal I dispose of in the following manner.

"... (?) I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved wife Elizabeth Russell my dwelling house together with genteel... (?) washing and lodging during her natural life, and also five pounds of Virginia money. Also I give and bequeath unto my son Matthew Russell (or his heirs or assigns) my negro... (?) Also I give and bequeath unto my son William Russell or to his heirs or assigns my two negros Hannah and Rachel. Also I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ann Russell twenty five pounds money to her heirs or assigns. Also I give and bequeath unto my son John Russell my boy three years old... (?), to him his heirs or assigns. Also I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Russell my daughter forty pounds money a good horse saddle and bridle a good bed and furniture. Also I give and bequeath unto my daughter Jean Russell forty pounds money of good horse saddle and bridle a good bed and furniture. Also I give and bequeath unto my son James Russell one horse worth one hundred dollars. Also I give and bequeath unto my son-in-law James Robertson one hundred... )?). Also I give and bequeath unto my son Andrew Russell and Alexander Russell jointly my plantation and land in Augusta County, my negro Bob, my stock of cattle, sheep and hogs, household furniture and farming essentials, and all my other property of every kind after the above legacies are discharged, to them their heirs... (?) and assigns forever. Also I give and bequeath unto my son Matthew Russell my... (?) mare. Also I give and bequeath unto my grandson Andrew Russell my... (?) year old colt. I likewise constitute nominate and appoint Matthew Russell, Andrew Russell and Alexander Russell my

sons to be the whole executors to this my last will and testament, and I renounce all manner of will or wills made by me anytime heretofor, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament, under my hand and seal the date above."

Andrew Russell, Jr. died 1803 in Tennessee.

Elizabeth Russell. Elizabeth Russell was born about 1782 in Virginia. She married Martin Turpin on October 28, 1805 in Knox County, Tennessee.

[Sources: Judy Dill, dmerlin@wesnet.com; Lyman Chalkley's Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia; extracted from the original court records of Augusta County, Virginia, 1745-1800. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1966, p. 384; Mary McPherson; John T. Strunk, Interview with John T. Strunk; Joan Turpin, Turpin Workbook]

Long Boy

2009-02-22T13:55:00.000-08:00

Some of my fondest memories of my Grandpa King Turpin (1902/03 - 1977) were of the funny songs he used to sing. There was one song that he sang over and over again, but until recently I have not been able to find it anywhere. All I could remember were lines that went something like this: "Goodbye ma and goodbye pa. Goodbye mule...."

Grandpa Turpin would sing those lines while playing his guitar, and when he finished he would just laugh.

Isn't Google wonderful! By simply googling part of a line that I could remember, both the lyrics and an audio clip of the song were instantly on my screen!

The song's title is "Long Boy." It was a World War I song released in 1917. The lyrics are here (PDF document), and the audio clip is here (mp3 file).

I am assuming that these materials have passed into the public domain. If such is not the case, please let me know, and I will correct the situation.

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Serelda and Amanda Turpin

2009-01-22T14:48:00.000-08:00

Serelda Turpin (also known as "Relda", "Rildia" and "Rildy"), daughter of James and Jerusa Turpin, was born March 4, 1851 and died September 27, 1926 in Concord, Tennessee.

(Until recently it has been assumed that Serelda was born in Anderson/Roane County, Tennessee. However, ancestry.com suggests the possibility that she may have been born in Anderson County, Kansas.)

Serelda met (1) Joshua King Christenberry, son of Joshua Christenberry and Mary Boyd, and had at least one child by him. She met (2) Frank Hardin and had at least one child by him. There may have been other men as well whose children she bore.

While still a young girl, Serelda's father, James, died. After the death of James, his daughter, Elizabeth Turpin Potter, and her husband, Absalom Potter, took Serelda with them to Oklahoma.

Eventually Serelda returned to Tennessee. After returning to Tennessee, she and her sister, Amanda, were seduced by older married men. Later Serelda would have affairs with two other wealthy young men: Joshua King Christenberry and Frank Hardin. The reputations of these two young women were ruined. They were regarded as "untouchables" and were even shunned by some of the members of their own family. When John Turpin, one of their older brothers, learned that his sisters had become pregnant, he separated himself from the family because of the disgrace. He played his fiddle as he walked down the road and away from home.

In 1873, Serelda Turpin sued Joshua King Christenberry for support. The case was entitled "State on relation of Surrelda Turpin vs. Joshua King Christenberry." Who this child might have been is not yet known; the date of this court case precedes the birth of King Turpin. Perhaps Serelda was pregnant with a child by King Christenberry at this time, or perhaps Serelda had another child by King Christenberry prior to her son, King, that has not yet been identified.

On March 16, 1875, Serelda gave birth to a child fathered by Joshua King Christenberry: King Joshua Turpin (our direct ancestor). Shortly after her son's birth, however, King Christenberry married Annie McKamey (March 16, 1876). Annie had eight children by her husband.

In 1876, Serelda Turpin sued Frank Hardin for support. The case was entitled "State on relation of Surrelda Turpin vs. Frank Hardin." One should note that this case took place the year prior to Frank Turpin's birth. Did Serelda have a child by Frank Hardin that has not yet been discovered in this research, or did she take him to court during the pregnancy?

Serelda had at least two more children following the birth of King: Frank Turpin (born October 12, 1877) and Laura Caldonia Turpin (born March 1, 1881). A daughter named Rosie was also born to Serelda, but the name of her father has not yet been determined.

In the words of her daughter, Laura, "My mother never was married. She just stayed around here with these rich folks and had children by them."

Both Serelda and Amanda were beautiful women. They were finely dressed, and had plenty of money. Part of Serelda's "wealth" was the result of her suing men for the support of the children which they fathered. The situation changed for Serelda, however, after King Christenberry died. As long as King was around, he kept the money coming in to them. After his death Serelda and her children found themselves in poverty, and at times they were even homeless.

For a good portion of her adult life, Serelda lived with her mother, Jerusa, and her sister, Amanda.

ROBBED OF THEIR HOME. About 1896 or later (the period of King Christenberry's death), Serelda and her children experienced what Laura Turpin has described as "the worst robbin' case I've ever heard tell of":

Serelda and her children lived in several different places, and it seems that for awhile King Christenberry and perhaps one or two other wealthy men supplied Serelda and her children with whatever they needed. "We had money as far as that went," Laura recalls. However, in one single day their situation drastically changed.

The two boys, King and Frank, had begun to work, and Serelda had helped them get their jobs which paid $5 per week for both of them combined. Times were hard. It was difficult for a white man to get a job that would pay much because the freed slaves would work for so little pay.

Serelda and her children were able to move into a house owned by a wealthy man near the place where the boys were working. One day after King and Frank had only worked a week or two, they went to pick up their pay. A man named Avery Crabapples saw them getting paid, and he followed them home. When he reached the house, he told their mother that she would have to give him the money that her boys had brought home. He took their money and said, "You'ns will have to move from here! You'll have to leave the house and leave everything, and go right now!" In Laura's words, "He broke a hickory, and the children that couldn't walk much way, he whooped them and made them move."

Avery Crabapples drove the Turpins away from the house and deep into the woods. They spent the whole night in the woods, and the next morning they ventured back toward the house. When they arrived back at the house, everything had been taken, and Avery Crabapples had taken over the house. Serelda and her children were left homeless.

When Laura Turpin provided the author with this account, she closed by saying, "Avery Crabapples was his name. That was the worst robbin' case I've ever heard tell of. I've heard tell of them robbin' people to get their money, but they ain't ever taken the house with them.... Well, I hope he's in heaven. I tell you, people have got to do awful good to get there. You really have to do good."

ACCOUNT OF HER DEATH. Serelda died on September 27, 1926 at 6:10 p.m. at Laura's house in Concord, Tennessee. According to Dr. A. R. Garrison, she died of cancer which had overtaken her nose and the right side of her face. He last saw her alive seven days earlier, on September 20th. She was buried two days after her death, in Providence Cemetery in Solway. The death certificate was signed by Laura Turpin Dunaway's son, Sherman Dunaway. Exactly one month later, Serelda's sister, Amanda, would die of a heart attack and stroke in the same house.

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The Blockhouse Valley Turpins

2008-09-23T14:25:00.000-07:00

On Blockhouse Valley Road in Anderson County, Tennessee there is a little place called "Turpin Spring." I first discovered it on Google Earth, and I had the opportunity to drive by it several months ago.

In an earlier post, I asked the question, "What is the origin of this place name? Could it have been the homeplace of one of the early Turpin households in Anderson County?"

If I were to find out that Martin Turpin (b: abt. 1783 in VA) or his son, James, lived there, that would indeed be a golden discovery. However, nothing seems to suggest that such was the case. In light of notes provided by John Strunk, we probably should be more inclined to believe that the homestead was closer to the Roane County line in the vicinity of present-day Oak Ridge.

Yet one reader has responded with some interesting comments regarding the Blockhouse Valley Road site:

I read your inquiry about the Turpin family on Blockhouse Valley Road. I live about 2 minutes from their old home place. Harrison and Bessie Beets Turpin had two children: Howard and Bess Turpin. They have all since died and the home place has been sold off in lots. There is a spring on the property. The farm is located in South Clinton on Blockhouse Valley Road, about one and a quater mile from 25W highway in South Clinton. Hope this helps you. Howard, the son, when he died had his ashes scattered over the farm.

A Ms. Taylor, who is a member of the Pellissippi Genealogical and Historical Society, provided this information by email. She lives on Blockhouse Valley Road.

The Above Photograph: The house shown in the Google Earth Street Level photograph above is at the site of the Harrison Turpin farm located on Blockhouse Valley Road near Clinton, Tennessee.

It has not yet been confirmed that Howard Turpin's ashes were scattered on the property. Carolyn Johnson notes that Howard does have a gravesite at Farmers Grove Baptist Church.

The previously cited statement by Ms. Taylor showing Howard's sister with the name "Bess" also needs to be confirmed. Carolyn Johnson notes that Howard's sister's name was actually "Mildred." While Ms. Taylor has stated that Howard's sister is deceased, it has not yet been verified whether or not she is still living. More work is needed to verify which body of information is correct.

Regarding the dividing of Harrison Turpin's farm, Carolyn Johnson notes that the farm was indeed sold off in lots, but that the house and a considerable amount of acreage went together.

After receiving Ms. Taylor's email, I spoke with her by phone. She described the Turpin property as beginning at the intersection of Blockhouse Valley Road and Lanes Bluff Road. When turning from Blockhouse Valley Road onto Lanes Bluff Road, the land running along the left hand side of Lanes Bluff Road is the area that once belonged to the Turpins.

When I asked Ms. Taylor whether or not she thought that this could have been the original homestead of the earliest Turpins to settle in the area, she stated that it very well could have been, seeing that this area is one of the oldest settled parts of Anderson County.

A quick search of the Social Security database at familysearch.org reveals that a Harrison Turpin of Clinton (Anderson County), Tennessee was born August 4, 1892 and died in December of 1970.

Carolyn Johnson has provided a few additional details about Harrison Turpin's life:

I checked the 1910 census and found Harrison Turpin living with my ggrandparents, John and Mary Johnson as a boarder. He was married in the 1920 and 1930 census.

When they [Harrison and Bessie Turpin] died, their son Howard Turpin continued to live there....

He [Howard] was crippled, I believe from polio, but he got around on a crutch and ran a service station in South Clinton for years. He was a very pleasant fellow....

When Howard died, the remaining heir was a sister whose son lived there. He died of cancer a few years ago, and the farm was sold. The beautiful old house that was there burned not long after, and the lady living there almost died in the fire. Although the house was not completely destroyed, it was razed and rebuilt. The farm is now for sale again.

A Google search of the name "Harrison Turpin" reveals a listing of gravesites at Farmers Grove Cemetery on Blockhouse Valley Road. There we learn that Harrison was born on August 4, 1892 and died on December 26, 1970. His wife, Bessie Beets Turpin, was born on November 17, 1894 and died on November 14, 1979.

Howard L. Turpin (Harrison and Bessie's son) was born June 30, 1917 and died January 15, 1985.

Readers are invited to submit any additional information regarding "Turpin Spring" and/or clues to locating the Anderson County (TN) homeplace of Martin Turpin and/or his son James.

Contact Randy Turpin at jrturpin2008@gmail.com.

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King Turpin an Insurance Agent?

2008-08-16T14:50:00.000-07:00

The Turpin name is a rare name, so whenever I see it, my eyes open wide in search for more clues to this great Turpin family history puzzle.

Well, today I did a Google search on my grandfather's name, "King Turpin," just to see what would come up. I have Googled that name many times before, but it had been awhile. My great-grandfather was also named King Turpin.

One of the first search results surprised me. A Google Book popped up with "King Turpin" listed as a life insurance agent for 1921-1922 in Carrollton, Kentucky.

Source: The Insurance Year Book, 1921-1922: Life, Casualty and Miscellaneous (New York: The Spectator Company, 1921)

Could this King Turpin be the same as one of mine?

My great-grandfather, King Turpin, was born in Tennessee on March 16, 1875. In 1921 he would have been about 46 years old. So, as far as age is concerned, he could qualify as a match. Aunt Laura did describe King as a very smart man; in fact she said that he was "too smart." However, we have always believed that King, Sr. lived in the Knoxville, Tennessee area during the time in question.

My grandfather, King Turpin ("Little King"), was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee in either 1902 or 1903. (The Social Security database says 1903.) In 1921 he would have been about 18 or 19 years old. I am not sure how old an insurance agent had to be in those days, but it is conceivable to me that he could have been an insurance agent at that point in his life. Years ago I saw an old photo of my grandfather dressed sharply in a suit and tie. Someone told me that in the photo my grandfather was 18 years old. Perhaps he could have been an insurance agent; however, until now, all we have known was that in Little King's early working years, he was first a worker in a Knoxville cotton mill, and then he became a coal miner. At some point prior to 1933 he did live in Kentucky, but as far as I know, his place of residence was Lynch, Kentucky in Harlan County--on the opposite side of the state from Carrollton.

So, where does that leave us? Was King Turpin ("Little King") ever an insurance agent? I don't know. If anyone out there has any clues, please let me know.

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Wayne M. Turpin

2008-08-15T15:38:00.000-07:00

A number of months ago my uncle (my father's brother) , Wayne M. Turpin, died. In an effort to make this blog site a more complete database for Turpin family history, I believe that it would be fitting to include his obituary here. The following has been provided by the Bluefield Daily Telegraph in Bluefield, West Virginia (Source: http://www.bdtonline.com/obituaries/local_story_362181118.html):

THORPE — Wayne M. Turpin, 63, of Thorpe, died on Thursday, December 27, 2008 in a Martinsville, Va., hospital.

Born on August 8, 1944 in Kimball, he was a son of Bertha Church Turpin of Gary, and the late King Turpin. He had been a resident of Thorpe for one year and attended the Church of God in Welch. He was a retired press operator with 42 years of service for the Roppe Corp. in Fostoria, Ohio.

In addition to father he was preceded in death by one son, Wayne M. Turpin, Jr.; one brother, Jack Turpin; and one sister, Virginia Burks.

Survivors include: wife of 43 years: Joyce Palmer Turpin of Thorpe; five brothers: James Turpin of Princeton, Robert Turpin of Bergoon, Ohio, Melvin Turpin of Skygusty, Doug Turpin of Fostoria, Ohio, Roger Turpin of Kansas, Ohio; six sisters: Pauline Davis of Ridgeway, Ohio, Katherine Graham of Kansas, Ohio, Alice Hatfield of Elbert, Teresa Turpin of Gibsonburg, Ohio, Linda Holcomb of Ashland, Ohio, Sandra Young of Alabama.

Funeral service will be held at the Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell on Monday, December 31, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. with the Rev. Tim Akers officiating the service. Burial will follow on Wednesday, January 02, 2007 at Knollcrest Cemetery in Arcadia, Ohio at 1:00 p.m.

Friends and family may call at the Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluewell on Sunday, December 30, 2007 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The Cravens-Shires Funeral Home is serving the Turpin family.

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Runaways at Mullins Cove

2008-08-04T04:27:00.000-07:00

The story about King Turpin, Jr. and his sister, Minnie Belle, running away from home to stay at the home of Captain Samuel Frazier in Chattanooga, TN can be found in A Man Called King: The Life and Legacy of King Turpin, Jr.

Related Posts:

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Places Named "Turpin"

2008-07-26T17:05:00.000-07:00

Let's start a list of places bearing the name "Turpin." Identifying places bearing the family name may lead to additional information pertaining to the Turpin family history.

I have already gotten us started by identifying a few places:

Turpin Spring in Anderson County, Tennessee
Turpin Lane in Hardin Valley, Knox County, Tennessee
Turpin, Virginia -- an unincorporated community in King William County, Virginia
Turpin High School in Cincinnati, Ohio
Turpin, Oklahoma
Turpin Ridge in Oregon
Turpin Meadow in Wyoming
Turpin Hollow in Lauderdale County, Alabama
Turpin Hollow in Wayne County, Kentucky
Turpin Hollow near White House, Tennessee

To make a contribution, click on the "Comments" link below. If you know why the place bears the family name, please include that information as well.

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Another Martin Turpin Descendant

2008-07-19T15:05:00.000-07:00

Recently we have heard from another person who identifies herself as a descendant of Martin Turpin (Abt. 1783 - Aft. 1850). Her name is Ruby Murphy. Ruby reports,

Martin is my great-great grandfather. His son Henry who married Vicie Smith was my great grandfather. Henry's son, William Greer Turpin ,who is my grandfather moved from Anderson county to Blount county in 1915. My father, James used to talk about the Wheat community....

I have some information on Martin's father who also was named Martin. He was married to Nancy Fleming. He was drafted about 1778 as a Militiaman and served 3 months guarding the frontier. This information was obtained at the Blount county library. He was from Rockingham county, and also Greenbrier County Virginia, but moved to Pulaski county Kentucky....

My grandfather William and his children are buried in Maryville, here in Blount county.

The identification of Martin's parents as Martin Turpin and Nancy Fleming needs to be verified. That connection has been made by others before, but it seems to be lacking convincing supportive evidence.

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Turpin Origins in Chattanooga, TN

2008-07-02T12:12:00.000-07:00

On July 1st I spent the day in Chattanooga, Tennessee with a video camera in hand to search for sites of significance to our Turpin family history.

My grandfather, King ("Little King") Turpin, Jr. was born in a house boat on the Tennessee River in Chattanooga on Februrary 3, 1903. Until his early teens, Chattanooga seems to have been Little King's home town.

In addition to scenes of the Tennessee River, the following video also captures shots of (1) the approximate place where King's mother died, (2) the children's home where he lived after the authorities removed him and his sister from their father's home, and (3) the site of Captain Frazier's estate where Little King and his sister stayed after running away from home.

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Return to Hardin Valley

2008-04-17T11:38:00.000-07:00

I have located the place where Serelda Turpin reportedly died--thanks to an email from YouTube viewer Daron Long and a guided tour by property owner Mike Presley.

At some point in the latter quarter of the 1800's, Serelda Turpin and her children (Frank, Laura, and King) roamed homeless until they ended up in Hardin Valley (Knox County, Tennessee). We do not yet know exactly where Serelda and her children initially settled; however, contrary to my comments in the video, we do now know that it was not at the site identified here in this post and video.

A title search has uncovered the following information about the parcel of land shown in the video:

November 5, 1907 (Book 218, Page 270)
Grantee: Frank Turpin (King and Laura Turpin's brother)
Grantor: Robert Brashears
8 1/2 acres in district 9 (Hardin Valley area)
Purchase Price: $80
My Note: It appears that Frank Turpin is the first Turpin to own land in Knox County.

The home shown in the following video is the Hardin Valley home of Frank and Laura (siblings) Turpin--two of Serelda's children.

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A Visit to Fort Blackmore

2008-04-04T12:42:00.000-07:00

March Video Tour - Part 8

Finally, here is the concluding clip from my March family history video tour.

After leaving Solway Church of God in Solway, Tennessee, I continued on to Virginia in search for Martin Turpin's point of origination on the Clinch River. (Martin settled in Knox County sometime between 1796 and 1805).

Originally I had thought that Fort Blackmore was a possibility; however, it does appear that the Clinch is navigable even further upstream. In fact, even present-day Richlands, Virginia (over 50 miles further upstream) may have been a more likely starting point.

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The Kindness of Captain Frazier

2008-03-30T18:53:00.000-07:00

At some point between 1908 and 1915, "Little King" Turpin and his sister, Minnie Belle, ran away from their home at Mullins Cove on the Tennessee River and were embraced for several days by the kindness of a gentleman in Chattanooga, Tennessee referred to as "Captain Frazier."

The complete story is told in the post entitled, "Runaways at Mullins Cove."

Minnie described Captain Frazier as old, wealthy, and kind. She also reported that he had sons who became well-known lawyers. He had house servants as well.

In light of Minnie's words, Captain S. J. A. Frazier fits the description.

S. J. A. Frazier was a former Confederate captain residing in Chattanooga at the time of the runaway story. Some details about his life may be reviewed at Chattanoogan.com.

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Indiana Turpins

2008-03-26T10:53:00.000-07:00

My personal Turpin ancestry does not reach into Indiana; however, the Indiana Turpins are our "distant cousins." Because of the fact that I want this site to be of benefit to our "cousins" in Kentucky, Indiana, and elsewhere, I will from time to time include information such as what I am providing here in this post.

Researchers studying the Indiana branch of our family tree may be interested in accessing the "Turpin Family Papers" made available by the Indiana Historical Society.

Other relevant links for the study of Indiana Turpins include the following:

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Laura Turpin's Walk to Church

2008-03-21T18:05:00.000-07:00

March Video Tour - Part 7

My great-great aunt, Laura Turpin (1881-1982), used to walk at least four miles from her home in Hardin Valley to the Solway Church of God (Solway, Tennessee) every Sunday.

On March 3, 2008, I drove the exact route that Laura and her brother, Frank, used to walk. In the following video, you will join me as I drive from the Solway church to the approximate location of Laura's home in Hardin Valley.

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A Visit to Solway Church of God

2008-03-16T18:55:00.000-07:00

March Video Tour - Part 6

"Aunt Laura" Turpin and her brother Frank were responsible for the establishing (or re-establishing) of the Solway Church of God (Knox County, Tennessee) in the early twentieth century.

In the following video, you will be taken to the Solway church and to its adjacent cemetery where several notable Turpins are buried: Rildia (Serelda) Turpin, Amanda Turpin, King Turpin, Ida Belle Turpin, Laura Turpin Dunaway, Frank Turpin, and others.

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A Visit to Bethel Valley

2008-03-15T20:07:00.000-07:00

March Video Tour - Part 5

In the following video clip you will note my almost child-like excitement over the fact that I had stumbled across the eastern entrance to Bethel Valley near Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Please understand that I first heard about the significance of this place to our family history about ten years ago, yet I had never been there.

Bethel Valley is significant in that it may have been one of the places where the Turpins lived after arriving in the Knox County, Anderson County, and Roane County area in the early 1800s.

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A Visit to the Clough-Christenberry Cemetery

2008-03-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

March Video Tour - Part 4

Here is some very rough video work--the worst series of clips from my little family history video tour yet. Sorry. I really wish that I had taken more time, but I was in a bit of a rush.

On this part of my journey, I discovered the Clough-Christenberry cemetery located in a wooded area in the middle of the Oak Ridge Country Club golf course. Only a few of the grave markers were legible.

I discovered later that some of the Christenberry names that I mentioned on the clip are connected with the Christenberry families that I visited earlier in the day at the George Jones Memorial Baptist Church cemetery.

Note that the Scott Cemetery (where a number of Turpins are buried) and this Clough-Christenberry cemetery are within sight of one another. In view of the proximity, I am wondering if the country club site may be the site where the Turpins and Christenberrys once lived side by side. As you view the video, ponder that question with me. Hopefully somebody out there in cyberspace has some answers.

Okay, enough for the text. On with the show....

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A Visit to Scott Cemetery

2008-03-11T08:40:00.000-07:00

March Video Tour - Part 3

Join me as I search for the gravesite of Martin Turpin (the son of James Turpin, the son of Martin Turpin) at the Scott Cemetery near Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

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The Patesville, Kentucky Incident

2008-03-11T07:08:00.000-07:00

By Becky Jolly Vaught

About 1890, Vince Turpin visited his sister Nancy Turpin Newman, in Patesville, KY. Nancy lived across the street from the general store.

Vince was in the store when some one came in to tell him that a man was looking for him. He and this man had had trouble earlier. When Vince went out to the street, he was attacked by the other man who was drunk and waving a knife. Vince managed to pull his own knife and administer one blow. That blow was enough as it effectively gutted his opponent; a fatal blow.

The county sheriff was duly sent for and he took Vince back to the county seat to stand trial. After a short trial where Vince's young nephew, Will Newman, was called as a witness and even shorter deliberation by the jury, a verdict was reached. Not guilty by reason of self defense and besides that the man needed killing anyway!

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A Visit to George Jones Memorial Baptist Church

2008-03-10T05:31:00.000-07:00

March Video Tour - Part 2

My family history video tour continues with a visit to the George Jones memorial Baptist Church cemetery, located at the site of the Wheat Community near Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Here I am in search of Joshua King Christenberry's gravesite.

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Family Tree Overview

2008-03-09T08:24:00.000-07:00

To help place our information in context, I am providing the following concise overview of the family tree for my branch of the East Tennessee Turpins.

Correction: The name, "Mary Elizabeth Russell," should actually read, "Elizabeth Russell."

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En Route to Oak Ridge

2008-03-08T07:08:00.000-08:00

March Video Tour - Part 1

On March 3, 2008 I took a trip to the Oak Ridge, Tennessee area to explore possible sites where the Turpins may have settled near the Clinch River in the late 1700's and early 1800's. The following video (Part 1) documents the first part of my journey, taking the viewer to the site of the Wheat Community in Roane County.

In this video I make reference to a "Mary Elizabeth Russell" as being the wife of Martin Turpin. Since producing this clip I have learned that her name was simply "Elizabeth Russell"--"Mary" was not her first name.

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My Interest in Oak Ridge, Tennessee

2008-03-02T18:05:00.000-08:00

Has anyone heard of Oak Ridge, Tennessee? Does the term "Manhattan Project" sound familiar?

In the 1940s the United States government built this secret city called "Oak Ridge" to initiate the "Manhattan Project"--an endeavor that would result in the creation of the world's first atomic bombs.

So what does any of this have to do with the Turpin family?

Between the years 1797 and 1805, Martin Turpin entered Tennessee by raft on the Clinch River. He first lived someplace in Knox County, but soon he and his family were living in what is now Anderson and/or Roane Counties. According to family historian, John Strunk, the Turpins lived in Bethel Valley--the site where one day a high security plant known by code name "X-10" would be built.

(The property passed into the hands of the Christenberry family in the 1860s or 1870s; the Turpins lived elsewhere at the time when the government began the Manhattan Project.)

This week I am making a personal trip to Oak Ridge to gain a better sense of where Martin Turpin and his son, James, may have lived.

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