The Herrin Family

Compiled by Marylee W. Knight,
who gratefully acknowledges a wealth of assistance from
Mary Frank Dunn & Charles Blakley.

Generation I

MOSES HERRIN was reportedly born in Wales, dates unknown, details of arrival in America unknown. In Oglethorpe Co, GA he married AGNES GRESHAM. She was born 1735, died 1825 in Benton Co, TN and is buried in Rushings Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Agnes was the daughter of (?) and MARY (?) GRESHAM. The will of Mary Gresham filed in Oglethorpe Co, GA mentions, "my beloved daughter Agnis Herring. "The 1820 Census of Illinois shows MOSES HERRIN and LOUIS HERRIN both living in the Silver Creek Township of St. Clair Co. The relationship of these two men is unknown, but it is assumed that the Moses is "our" Moses.

Generation II

It is assumed that this generation is totally missing at this time. Previous genealogistshave believed that Moses and Agnes were the parents of our next known generation. However, since Agnes was born in 1735 (this info substantiated by her tombstone), it is doubtful that she was the mother of the four sons in the next known generation since they were born in 1779, 1780, 1787 and 1789. She would have been 44, 45, 52 and 54 years of age when these men were born - a highly unlikely probability. It is more probable to assume that the parents of these men met an early, unfortunate fate and that, as the grandparents, Moses and Agnes raised them.

Generation III

1 - ABNER HERRIN was born ca 1779 in GA. He married KIZIAH HENDON on August 16, 1802 in Oglethorpe Co, GA. Kiziah was the daughter of WILLIAM and (?) HENDON and a sister to Mary or "Polly" who married Lemuel Herrin, Abner's brother. Kiziah was born ca 1780 in Wake Co, NC. Abner and Kiziah moved to Benton Co, TN. They were affiliated with the Rushings Creek Baptist Church near Camden as they were "Disjoined" from the membership there on July 10, 1830. The August 1848 land records deeding land to the Macedonia Baptist Church in Panola Co, TX listed Abner as being a trustee of that church. Abner's will is contained in Panola County Probate File #60 and is dated March 22, 1849. He died October 24, 1849 and is buried in Old Macedonia Cemetery located on County Road #225, west of Carthage, Panola Co, TX. The date of Kiziah's death is unknown, but she is believed to have been buried beside Abner in Old Macedonia Cemetery.

2 - ELISHA HERRIN was born ca 1780 in GA. He married SARAH (?), probably in GA. He was reportedly the first of the Herrin brothers to leave GA and go to the area of present day Benton Co, TN somewhere around 1800. This was quite an adventuresome thing as 1800 was the first year that Anglo people settled in that area of TN. Prior to that, the Benton Co area was part of the Chickasaw Indian Lands. In 1809 Humphreys Co was organized and in 1821 Henry Co was formed. In 1835, Benton Co was created from parts of Humphreys and Henry counties. When the Rushings Creek Baptist Church near Camden, Benton Co TN was organized on the second Saturday in May of 1825, Elisha was listed in the minutes as being the Church Clerk. Elisha's wife Sarah died in 1837 and Elisha died in 1855 and both are buried in the Rushings Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Benton Co TN. Their graves are marked by a single tombstone giving the names and dates of both of them plus the name of Agnes Herrin and her birth and death dates.

3 - LEMUEL HERRIN was born ca 1787 in GA. On Aug 26, 1806 he married MARY "POLLY" HENDON in Oglethorpe Co, GA. Mary the daughter of WILLIAM and (?) HENDON was born ca 1787 in Wake Co NC. Lemuel and Polly were in Benton Co TN by 1826 as they joined the Rushings Creek Baptist Church by letter on July 8, 1826. Lemuel was ordained to preach by that church on Dec. 9, 1826. The presbytery consisted of Jacob Browning, John Horne, Megowen and Hales. He became very popular with the church members and, when he was ready to leave TN, the members called the day of his last sermon "Blue Sunday. "Lemuel and Polly and their children left TN along with the family of his brother Abner and the family of the Rev. Isaac Reed, Sr. Reed was not of the Rushings Creek congregation, so it is unknown how their friendship was established. Early Alabama church records indicate that the traveling group was in Jackson Co, AL for a while. Most probably they did not come directly to TX because, until TX declared her independence on March 2, 1836, there could be no public church service except Catholic services. After the Mexican domination ended in 1836, Isaac Reed preached a public sermon in Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches Co, TX and Lemuel Herrin organized the Macedonia Baptist Church in Panola Co, TX. When three acres of land were deed by Sihon House to the Macedonia Baptist Church in August on 1848, Lemuel was listed as the pastor and his brother Abner was shown as one of the three trustees. It is unknown exactly how many churches Lemuel Herrin and Isaac Reed organized during their careers in TX, but they are recognized as being the men who brought the Baptist religion to the large strip of East Texas running from Marshall in Harrison Co. to Nacogdoches in Nacogdoches Co. In an odd quirk of reasoning, Lemuel was a slave owner as his will leaves the "Negroes" to his wife for the duration of her life. After her death, the will specified that the "Negroes" were to be divided equally among his children. (See Panola County Probate Records, Book B, pp 183-184)Lemuel died August 25, 1852 and is buried in Old Macedonia Cemetery. Then the 1860 Census of Panola County was taken, Polly was living in the household of her son William. According to family tradition, upon her death, she was laid to rest beside Lemuel in Old Macedonia Cemetery.

4 - ABIMLICK HERRIN was born July 13, 1789 and died April 13, 1862. His wife was SARAH (?). She was born October 20, 1790 and died in September 1864. No further details known at this time other than that they are buried in the Rushings Creek Cemetery, Benton Co TN. Their graves are marked by a single stone giving both their names and dates, plus the name and dates of an individual noted as being their son.

5 - ELIZABETH HERRIN marriedJOHN. SMALLEY, allegedly of Ireland. According to family tradition, he spoke English with such a thick brogue that he could barely be understood. After their marriage they lived in or near Paris, Henry Co TN. Sometime in the 1860's the dreaded night riders came to the Smalley house and called him outside. In a few minutes, the rider went away, but Mr. Smalley did not come back inside the house. As soon as his wife felt it was safe, she ran outside only to see her husband swinging from a noose that was hanging from a tree in the yard. He was still alive when she cut him down, but died a few hours later. Mrs. Smalley always insisted that she never knew the reason for the visit of the night riders.

6 - DAUGHTER HERRIN - No further information known

7 - DAUGHTER HERRIN - No further information known

8 - DAUGHTER HERRIN - No further information known

Generation IV

Children of ABNER & KIZIAH (HENDON) HERRIN:
1 - SARAH HERRIN married ELIJAH ALLRED on Dec 28, 1842 in Harrison Co TX. Elijah was born ca 1825 in NC. Sarah must have died prior to 1860 as the Census of that year lists only Elijah. He was a farmer whose property was valued at $15, 500 - a fortune for that day and time!

2 - MOSES HERRIN was born ca 1804. He married LOUISA (?). Moses was killed by Indians ca 1840 and is said to be buried in the piney woods 1-1/2 miles south of Appleby, Nacogdoches Co, TX. His estate was settled in Nacogdoches Co.

3 - PREVILLA HERRIN married ISAAC REED, JR., son of the Rev. Isaac Reed, Sr. Isaac and Previlla lived in what is known as Reed's Settlement about two miles northwest of the present day Clayton Community in western Panola Co, TX. The settlement first consisted of Isaac Reed, Sr, his wife, his three sons and four sons-in-law, plus their families. Reed's Settlement included a log fort for protection from Indian attacks. In 1837 an Indian raid showed the wisdom of building such a fort. In that confrontation, an Indian shot and killed Isaac Reed, Jr., but before he died, it is said that Isaac raised up and fatally shot the Indian. Isaac Reed, Jr. Was the first person to be buried in the Old Bethel Cemetery, Clayton Community, Panola Co TX. The cemetery is on a hill near the site of the home of Isaac Reed, Sr.

4 - ELIZABETH HERRIN was born in 1804 and died in 1898 and is buried in Waldrop Cemetery, Brooks Community, Panola CoTX. She married CHRISTOPHER BARBEE in 1821 in Winchester, Franklin Co TN. By the 1860 Census of Panola Co, Christopher was dead and Elizabeth was the head of the household with property valued at $2, 900.

5 - ABNER HERRIN, JR. Was born ca 1819 in TN. He married LUCINDA "LONSY" LYDIA on May 15, 1845 in Harrison Co TX. Lucinda was born ca 1828 in AL. In 1850 Abner, Jr. was shown on the census as being a farmer with property valued at $4, 000.

6 - EMILY HERRIN married a MR. RUSHING, no further information known

7 - KIZIAH HERRIN was born ca 1824 in TN. She married WILLIAM FIELDS on Nov 16, 1848 in Panola Co TX. William was born ca 1825 in TN. On the 1850 Census of Rusk Co TX he was listed as a farmer with property valued at $1, 000. On the 1860 Census of Panola Co TX he is shown as still being a farmer, but with property valued at $7, 600.

Children of ELISHA & SARAH (?) HERRIN:
1 - ABNER C. HERRIN was born Dec. 22, 1825 and died Oct 6, 1890. He lived in Benton Co, TN and is buried in Rushings Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. He married NANCY (?). She was born Dec 22, 1825 and died Oct 26, 1890.

2 - PARTHENA HERRIN, born 1818, died 1846, buried in Rushings Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Benton Co TN. She married W. K. PERKINS.

Children of LEMUEL & MARY "POLLY" (HENDON) HERRIN:
1 - EMALINE HERRIN was born ca 1829. She married JOHN REED on Dec 18, 1851 in Panola Co TX.

2 - AMANDA MELVINA HERRIN was born Oct 30, 1818 and died March 3, 1884. She married PLEASANT REED on Dec 29, 1842 in Harrison Co TX. After their marriage they lived in Rusk Co TX.

3 - ELIZABETH HERRIN was born Oct 29, 1820, died Aug 7, 1876, buried in New Prospect Cemetery on County Road #212, east of Beckville, Panola Co TX. She married CHARLES S. SCRUGGS on Sept 15, 1842 in Harrison Co TX. He was born ca 1815 in VA. In 1860 he was a farmer living in Panola Co TX. A small rural community about three miles east of Beckville is still called the Scruggs Community in memory of this family.

4 - TABITHA HERRIN was born ca 1815. She married a MR. PEARCE. Her father's will left everything after his wife Mary's death to be divided equally with only one exception... he left Tabitha 150 acres of land and a house stating, "As she is a widow and without a house furnished. "

5 - GRESHAM HERRIN was born ca 1812. He married MARTHA (?). In Lemuel's will in 1852, Gresham was named co-executor of the estate. As neither Gresham nor Martha is listed on the 1860 Census of Panola Co they must have either died or moved away.

6 - WILLIAM H. HERRIN was born ca 1825. He married MARY (?), who was born ca 1834 in AL. In 1860 William was still living in Panola Co. He was a farmer with property valued at $5, 000. He was named co-executor of his father's estate in 1852.

7 - KEREN HAPPOCK HERRIN was born ca 1826 in TN. Her name appears in various versions in the different records i. e. "Catherine" and "Kerenhappock". She married PETER M. C. WINDER on Nov 10, 1846 in Panola Co TX. Peter was born ca 1827 in TN. In 1860 he was listed as being a farmer in Panola Co with property valued at $650. Her unique given name is found in the Bible, in the last chapter of the Book of Job, where it is stated that Job's daughters Kiziah, Kerenhappock and Jemina were very beautiful.

Children of ABIMLICK & SARAHH. (?) HERRIN:
1 - JOHN D. HERRIN was born Sept 25, 1817, died Jan 6, 1839, buried in Rushing Creek Baptist Church Cemetery near Camden, Benton Co TX. He shares a tombstone with both of his parents, with his entries entitled "Son".

Children of ELIZABETH HERRIN & JOHN SMALLEY:
1 - MARY ANN SMALLEY was born 1823 in TN. She became the second wife of THOMAS C. JONES, they were married in Paris, Henry Co, TN. Thomas was born 1808 in NC, but later moved to Paris TN where he served as County Sheriff. Thomas and Mary Ann moved to Panola Co TX 1856-1858. While finding a place of their won, they lived with the Robert Wyatt family in their home beside the famous Trammel's Trace. Although no land deed has ever been found indicating that Thomas owned land in Panola Co, the 1860 Census of Panola Co valued Thomas' property at $1, 450. According to family tradition Thomas died on the Wyatt farm in 1861 and was buried in Sugar Hill Cemetery in the extreme western edge of Panola Co. A legal document found in the District Clerk's office of the Panola County Courthouse, dated October 1861 states that Thomas would be allowed to make written responses to interrogatories in a civil matter because "he soon would be leaving the county to serve"in the CSA. No military service record has been located for Thomas and, given the family tradition that he died in 1861, he may have died before he left for service. Mary Ann never remarried and after her death in 1906 was laid to rest beside Thomas.

2 - PEYTON SMALLEY was born in TN. He married MARTHA JONES, daughter of Thomas C. Jones and his first wife, her name unknown. Peyton's sister Mary Ann was Thomas' second wife. It is unknown if he came to TX or remained in TN.

3 - ELIZABETH SMALLEY married James J. Yarborough probably in TN. By the 1850 Census they were already living in Panola Co TX. In the early 1860's J. J. was accused of shooting from ambush and killing John Booty, a prominent school teacher in the Beckville area. After numerous escapes from custody, J. J. and Elizabeth finally moved with their family to the Corsicana TX area.

This history is presented as a work in progress and, as such, there may be addition facts later discovered that change what is presented here. I would be delighted to receive any corrections or updates to this material.
This history is to be used for research purposes only and is not to be published in any form without my consent.
Marylee W. Knight

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