The Bartholomews were early settlers of Knox County, Tennessee. Joseph Bartholomew, the family patriarch, was a saddler. He had a much younger wife, named Ann. They are my fourth-great-grandparents and I would love to know more about them. They have always been surrounded by mystery to me, as my third-great-grandfather, Andrew Jack “A.J.” Bartholomew, changed his last name to Carroll in his 60s. While the name change is unsolved, I believe Jack was indeed the son of Joseph and Ann. Using the DNA of my great uncle (Jack’s great grandson) and other descendants, I have positively linked Jack to his siblings Mary and Susan.

I wrote this post to document the known records of the Bartholomew family up until 1847. First, there is a timeline of records, followed by my notes and maps comparing where Joseph’s land was then and what stands there now.

The Bartholomew Family

Joseph Bartholomew married Ann, last name unknown

Their children:
Unknown Son *From the 1830 census
Joseph Bartholomew [Carroll], abt. 1814–1898 *Name change speculated. Assumption he moved to Nashville and changed his last name.
Mary Ann Bartholomew McKenzie, 1818–1889
Peggy Bartholomew, abt. 1820 – abt. 1841 *Years approximate
Nancy Jane Bartholomew, 1821–1830
Andrew Jack [Jackson?] “A.J.” Bartholomew Carroll, 1823–1910 *Changed his last name to Carroll
Susan E Bartholomew Sword, abt. 1828–1900
George Washington Lafayette Bartholomew, 1829–1830

Timeline – Until 1847

This article is compiled thanks to the help and research of Rick Tidwell! He gathered the newspaper articles, deeds, court minutes, etc. and I am very appreciative of the work he’s done on the Bartholomew family.

*According to Family Search, the Knox County 1800, 1810 and 1820 census records were lost.

1764: Joseph was born.  (Source: Tennessee, Early Tax List Records, 1783-1895, Ancestry,  The footnotes for this document state for Joseph: “(1764-May 11, 1831); a saddler; Revolutionary soldier. Knoxville Register, May 18, 1831.”)

1806: Joseph Bartholomew is listed in Knox County, Tennessee with one free poll on the 1806 tax list.  (Source: Tennessee, Early Tax List Records, 1783-1895, Ancestry, The footnotes for this document state for Joseph: “(1764-May 11, 1831); a saddler; Revolutionary soldier. Knoxville Register, May 18, 1831.”)

6 Apr 1812: Joseph was appointed grand juror (jury duty). (Source: Knox County Court Minutes)

7 May 1814: Joseph Bartholomew bought from Robert Houston one fourth of an acre, half of lot 52 in Knoxville. (Source: Knox County Deeds)

1815: “Joseph Bartholom” is listed in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee on Petitioner’s List. (Source: Tennessee, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1810-1891, Ancestry)

18 Oct 1815: Gabriel Brown was apprentice bonded to Joseph. (Source: Knox County Court Minutes)

21 Dec 1816: James White sold Joseph Bartholomew a half acre lot opposite of lot 48 on the river for $150. (Source: Knox County Deeds)

12 Oct 1818: Joseph Bartholomew sold his part of lot 52 in Knox County to Etheldred Williams of Grainger County, Tennessee for $1,800. (Source: Knox County Deeds) This lot is later referenced in the will of Etheldred Williams as being purchased from “Bartholomew” and described as being located on Prince and Main Street. (Source: United States, Freedmen’s Bureau, Records of the Assistant Commissioner, 1865-1872, Roll 30, Applications for restoration of property, C-H, Aug 1865-Jan 1868, Family Search)

2 Feb 1819: The Knoxville Register states, “Joseph Bartholomew, Saddler, Respectfully informs the public that he has removed to the house next door to the building lately occupied as the Globe Tavern, on Gay street, nearly opposite the Bell Tavern”

1 Apr 1819: The Knoxville Register runs that Joseph Bartholomew has a letter waiting for him at the post office.

9 Apr 1819: Gabriel Brown vs. Joseph Bartholomew brought to court so that Gabriel can be released from his service. (Source: Knox County Court Minutes)

7 Jul 1819: Joseph Bartholomew serves jury duty. (Source: Knox County Court Minutes)

5 Jan 1821: George Wilson vs. Joseph Bartholomew for the debt he owes. (Source: Knox County Court Minutes, Book 11, page 91)

12 Dec 1823: Joseph ran an ad in the Knoxville Register newspaper wanting corn in exchange for saddles.

4 Jan 1825: William Morrow vs. Joseph Bartholomew for the debt he owes. (Source: Knox County Court Minutes, Book 13, page 176)

5 Jan 1825: James and William Park vs. Joseph Bartholomew for the debt he owes. The sheriff made a levy on the houses and lots on the bank of Holston River in which said Bartholomew and Luke Mitchell now live. (Source: Knox County Court Minutes, Book 13, Pages 179-180)

11 Feb 1825: Joseph is named in a sheriff’s sale for debts owed. (Source: Knoxville Register)

1830: Joseph and his family are listed on the census in Knox County, Tennessee.

Free White Persons – Males – Under 5: 1 *son, George Washington Lafayette 
Free White Persons – Males – 5 thru 9: 1 *son, A.J.
Free White Persons – Males – 10 thru 14: 2 *sons, Joseph [Junior] & ?
Free White Persons – Males – 60 thru 69: 1 *Joseph
Free White Persons – Females – Under 5: 1 *daughter, Susan
Free White Persons – Females – 5 thru 9: 2 *daughters, Peggy and Nancy Jane
Free White Persons – Females – 15 thru 19: 1 *daughter, Mary Ann
Free White Persons – Females – 30 thru 39: 1 *wife, Ann
Free White Persons – Under 20: 8
Free White Persons – 20 thru 49: 1
Total Free White Persons: 10
Total – All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 10

15 Oct 1830: Joseph’s son, George Washington Lafayette Bartholomew, passes away. The obituary was in the October 20 edition of the Knoxville Register.

20 Oct 1830: On October 27, the Knoxville Register publishes an obituary for another child of Joseph:

Died on Wednesday morning the 20th inst., Nancy Jane Bartholomew, aged 9 years, 3 months and 17 days, daughter of Mr. Joseph Bartholomew of this town.

11 May 1831:  Joseph dies in Knox county, Tennessee. His death is reported in the Knoxville Gazette on May 18, 1831.

“Knoxville Gazette. May 18, 1831, Wednesday
Died Knoxville last Wednesday evening, Jos Bartholomew, aged about 66 years, an old Revolutionary War soldier.” 

7 Oct 1833: An appropriation for winter clothing is provided in court for Peggy Bartholomew, described as a “poor foolish girl”. (Source: Knox County Court Minutes, Book 16, Page 316)

31 Oct 1833: Joseph Bartholomew [Junior] marries Nancy Willis in Knox County. (Source: Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002, Ancestry)

8 Jan 1834: Joseph Bartholomew [Junior] Assault and Battery -> Knoxville, Tennessee; “Beat William DeArmond to death (or close to it) with a stick. Joseph told witnesses that he beat him with a stick until he killed him, and if he was not dead, he’d go back and kill him. But, in the end, Joseph was not prosecuted.” (Source: Knox County Court Minutes and Rick Tidwell’s research)

1 Apr 1835: The Knoxville Register 8 Apr 1835 edition lists two letters awaiting Mrs. Ann Bartholomew at the Knoxville Post Office as of 1 Apr 1835.

4 Apr 1836: Peggy Bartholomew granted support for the next year. (Source: Knox County Court Minutes, Book 11-2, Page 122)

6 Jun 1836: Patsy McAffrey sells to Nancy Bartholomew [maiden name Willis, wife of Joseph Jr.] land that is 179 feet in length and 22 feet in width for $30. The land is beside Hugh Brown and Matthew Henley. It is part of the same that James White conveyed to George Terrigatt, Terrigatt to Thomas Claibourne, Claibourne to Patrick Campbell on a deed bearing the date of 1 Aug 1801. (Source: Knox County Deeds)

4 Nov 1836: Nancy Bartholomew deeds for $30 to David Willis land that is 179 feet in length & 22 feet width by Matthew Henley and H. [Hugh] Brown, same as the land she bought in June. [Nancy Willis married Joseph Bartholomew Jr. and is selling land to a father or brother?] (Source: Knox County Deeds)

Apr 1837: Peggy Bartholomew granted support for the next year. (Source: Knox County Court Minutes, Book 11-2, Page 206)

13 Feb 1838: Deed of Conveyance between David Willis of Lincoln County, Kentucky and Nancy Bartholomew of Knox County, Tennessee. This is the same land from the 1836 deed. (Source: Knox County Deeds)

2 Apr 1838: Peggy Bartholomew granted support for the next year. (Source: Book 11-2, Page 263)

6 Sep 1838: The Knoxville Register runs an obituary stating death of Mrs. Bartholomew of this city. [Ann]

1 Jul 1839: Peggy Bartholomew granted support for the next year. (Source: Book 11-2, Page 360)

6 Jul 1840: Peggy Bartholomew granted support for the next year. (Source: Book 17, Page 29)

5 Jul 1841: Peggy Bartholomew granted support for the next year. (Source: Book 17, Page 77)

11 Nov 1841: Mary A. Bartholomew marries Roderick McKenzie in Knox County. (Source: Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002, Ancestry)

11 Jun 1842: Nancy Bartholomew sells above parcel of land to Andrew Showalter due to judgment against her. (Unknown judgement?) (Source: Knox County Deeds)

10 May 1843: Nancy Bartholomew paid for the above land with labor and is now selling it to Amanda Collins. Same land beside “Arthur Henley and Hugh Brown”.

8 Dec 1844: Susan Bartholomew marries Henry Sword in Knox County. (Source: Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002, Ancestry)

1845: Joseph Bartholomew [Junior] is listed as insolvent. (Source: Knox County Court Minutes, Pages 374 – 375)

5 Aug 1847: “John Bartholomew” AKA A.J. marries Mary Brown in neighboring Jefferson County, Tennessee. (Source: Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002, Ancestry, supported to be A.J. by 1850 census)

Notes

• Although Joseph’s obituary lists he was a Revolutionary War veteran, he does not have a pension record. No records tying him to service have been positively identified.
• Joseph’s father and mother are unknown.
• Joseph is not on the 1804 tax list for Knox County, but is listed in 1806, so he must have came to the county between those years.
• Records prior to 1806 have no been located for Joseph.
• On the 1880 census, Susan Bartholomew Sword listed her father’s birthplace as North Carolina and mother’s birthplace as South Carolina. All other census records for known children give their parents’ birthplace as Tennessee.
• Joseph’s wife’s name was Ann, not Alcey Boothe. Alcey Boothe lived nextdoor to the Bartholomew family on the 1830 census. This is Alcey Massengill, the widow of Colonel Edwin Boothe.
• We assume Joseph’s wife’s name was Ann since after his death there were letters at the post office for “Mrs. Ann Bartholomew”.

Joseph Bartholomew’s Lots

To learn more about where Joseph Bartholomew lived and worked, I emailed the East Tennessee Historical Society. Thanks to Lisa B. at ETHC for her help:

“Lot 52 is on present day Market Street and is pretty much the entrance to the Knoxville City/County Building. The half acre lot opposite of 48 would be exactly where the City/County Building is located now.”

Map circa 1800:

Current Map:

 

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Thanks again to Rick Tidwell — without him this article wouldn’t be possible!

If you are also related to the Bartholomew or Carroll family, or have research information, please reach out to me at downhomegenealogy@gmail.com.