Old Tennessee Newspapers

Last Tuesday night was the meeting of our reading group at the library. It was good, as usual, but the best thing is I was able to come early and poke around in the genealogical section. Y'all know how I love old newspapers, and I found a book called Genealogical Abstracts from Tennessee Newspapers compiled by Sherida K. Eddlemon in 1989. It contained abstracts from several Tennessee newspapers from 1803-1812, over 200 years ago, or way back yonder, as some would say.

From the Carthage Gazette and Friend of the People (don't you love that?) in 1809:
January: Mrs Sally Anderson died in the town of Liberty on the 21st. She was the consort of Mathias Anderson of that town.

February: *For sale, salt petre. T. Dickson, Miller &Co., Glasgow, Barren County, Kentucky.

*Young Celah will stand this season at my plantation on Goose Creek. James Ware.

*For sale, Mann's Lick salt. Basil Shaw.

March: My wife Susannah Waggoner has eloped from my bed without just cause. I will not pay her debts. My son Daniel and my daughter Caty are acting for themselves. I will not be responsible for their debts. Cornelius Waggoner.

May: My wife Mary Calhoun has left my bed without just cause. I will not pay her debts. William Calhoun, Jackson County. (There seemed to be a lot of that going around. I wonder about Susannah's and Mary's side of the story.)

. . . .continued tomorrow

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