Samuel Tanner

1759 - 1850  (90 years)

• Name	Samuel Tanner
  Born	15 May 1759	Augusta County, Virginia, USA   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Died	1850	Roane County, West Virginia, USA   [1]
  Notes	Rev War pension claim # R10389 "Pioneers in Roane County, WV by John A. House Samuel Tanner was the first settler at Spencer, and the first in Roane County, barring a little cluster of cabins built near Osborne's Mills on Big Sandy, about 1810. Tanner is usually credited as coming from Randolph County. I think it is pretty well established fact that he sojourned for a time on Mill Creek or at Warth's Bottom, and if Jesse Carpenter was a brother to his wife, he may have spent from one to several years in Meigs County, Ohio, before coming to try his fortune in the wilderness of what was then Wood County. Tanner had been living under the 'rock' at what is now Spencer, over a month before war had been declared against Great Britain, the War of 1812. On the 14th day of May, 1812, Samuel Tanner, Sudner Carpenter Tanner, his wife, Jonathan Wolfe from Hacker's Creek settlement, and a boy named Tate, came to the site of Spencer and camped under the rocks at the end of the point near the residence of Harry C. Woodyard. This 'cave' - so called - had long been used by both white men and Indians as a camping spot. Logs were cut and split into puncheons and stood up along the edge of the overhanging rocks, for an outside wall. The rocks overhead served for a roof and the floor was of stone. A rude fireplace was constructed at one end and the smoke was allowed to go up through a crevice of the rocks or out into the room, as might happen. Another portion was into a stable. Leaves were piled into the back corners of the living room, a puncheon table and a few stools were added and they were ready for housekeeping. They lived under this rock until the next spring. A field was cleared on the table land between the 'house' and where the Ravenswood Pike now is. This was planted in late corn and the little family prospered. Most of their sustenance being provided from the surrounding forests. It was while living under this rock that their eldest daughter, Elizabeth Tanner, is supposed to have been born, and it is said that she was the first white child born in Roane County. Jonathan Wolfe later married Bridget Runyan, and lived on Spring Creek. The boy, Tate, is lost sight of altogether. Next spring the Tanners erected a cabin across Tanner's Run and nearly on the site of what was long known as 'the old Fisher House', an old frame building unpainted and weather beaten, which was still standing in 1872. This building was then the first house in town, and was used as a court house when the county was organized in 1856. The log cabin which was built by Tanner stood until about 1855. In this cabin on May 9, 1813, Tanner's son, Elijah, was born. Some claims are that Elijah was the first white child born in Spencer District. There was a trail up Spring Creek which led to the Kanawha Salt Works above Charleston. Another trail, from Weston and Hacker's Creek settlements, passed through Gilmer County to the Ohio River settlements and crossed the Kanawha River trail at what was long known as Bowman's Corner, now occupied by the Trader's Trust Company Bank. This point was not far from the Tanner cabin, and from this fact the place was long known as Tanner's Crossroads. Later it became Cassville, and then, perhaps about 1850, Rolls Butcher, having sold his store at Reedyville with the announced purpose of going to the gold fields of California, but instead having gone into business at Cassville, the place was ironically referred to as 'Californy' or 'New Californy', a name later adopted 'officially' and continued as California until the village was made the county seat of the new 'County of Roane', when it was named Spencer, this being the first name of Judge Roane, for whom the county was named and who was then in service on the Judicial Circuit. Samuel Tanner, said Susy Miller, was buried on the hill above town in what is known as the Bartlett Extension, and his bones, she said, were unearthed while grading for a street back of the Clay Smith house. Samuel Tanner married a Carpenter, a sister of Joe Carpenter, and an aunt (Susan DeHart has crossed out 'an aunt') of Amos Carpenter. Of their children, I have heard names but not much further account of them: Elizabeth; Elijah; William; Jesse; and James.
  Person ID	I2902	WVPioneers
  Last Modified	31 Dec 2007

  
  

  Father	Edward TANNER,   b. Between 1720 and 1730,   d. 1790  (Age ~ 70 years)
  Mother	Rachel [Tanner],   d. 1796/7
  Married	Abt 1749	Augusta County, Virginia, USA
  Notes	Land grant #8 Edward Tanner ...July 22, 1788 (1782?) Harrison Co. 1,000 acres In the forks of the West fork of the Little Kenhawa. Grants 18, pg. 173 Militia from Hackers Creek Area in Dunsmore's War - 1774: Capt. William Lowther's Company: Pvt Edward Tanner served 132 days Harrison County Tithable List 1784-1800: 1784 William Tanner James Tanner Edward Tanner 1785 James Tanner 1786 James Tanner William Tanner 1787 William Tanner James Tanner 1788 Tanner, William 1789 Tanner, James 1790 Tanner, Edward Jr. Tanner, Edward, Sr. 1791 Tanner, Edward Jr. Tanner, James Tanner, Edward Sr 1792 Tanner, James Tanner, Edward Harrison county deeds July 1798, page 97. James & Margaret Tanner, Arnold & Elizabeth (can't see it but he signs later as Cain), George and Nancy Hyde, Jesse & Grace Hewes, James & Rachel McDade, Edward & Wife Tanner, and Samuel & Wife Tanner, all of Harrison co, Virginia, to Alexander Sleeth for $1000.00, 1000 Acres. . in the forks of the west fork of the Little Kanawha River. . . signed James Tanner, Edward Tanner, Samuel Tanner, Jesse Hewes, James McDade, Arnold Cain. Recorded January 1799. March 1797, page 98. James & Rachel McDade, of Covington Co, Virginia, appoints Alexander Sleeth his attorney, to receive of the heirs of Edward Tanner, deceased, 125 acres of land, his part of 1000 acres just described. Signed James (X) McDade and Rachel (X) McDade, Wit: James and Margaret Tanner. Recorded January 1799 [If each child received 1/8, where is the 8th child? Only 7 signed. Did one of them get 2 parts? Or was the 8th, William, and his children received the money - but who signed for them?!? . .bb] History of Harrison county: Land Grant certificates issued in 1781: George Peck, assignne to Edward Tanner, 400 acres on the Buckhannon, adjoining lands of George Jackson, to include his settlement in 1774. Edward Tanner, 300 acres on Buckhannon River, on the bottom called Grannery Bottom to include his improvement made in 1773. Edward Tanner, 400 acres on the Buckhannon River, adjoining lands of Elias Panter to include his improvements made in 1776. "FIRST CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES (1790)" 1782 Monongalia County, Virginia Tanner, William 02 Tanner, Edward 06 whites Henry Flesher was in between them 1785 Harrison County Tanner, William, 3 Tanner, James, 1 Tanner, Edward, 5 Hacker's Creek Journal: Vol XV Issue 4 pg 206 Harrison Co Court Minutes Vol 2, 1792-1797 pg 106 3rd Mon Feb 1794 Jesse Hughes, Thomas Hughes, & Wm. Racliff came into court and entered into bond in due form in the sum of £100 for said Jesse Hughes administrator of the estate of EDWARD TANNER, deceased. Said Jesse Hughes took the oath required by law.. . . From Vol XV Issue 2 pg 88 Harrison Co Court records Vol.1,1784-1792 pg 590 21 March 1792 ordered that WILLIAM TANNER son of WILLIAM TANNER be bound an apprentice to Thomas McCann until he arrives to the age of 21 yrs he being of the age of four years the 22d day of this present month & to be taught the occuption of a farmer and have learning and freedom according to law. John Simms came into court & proved one days attendance as a witness, Edmond West Sr. JAMES TANNER, EDWARD TANNER and Mary Campbell one day as a witness between Simon Arnold and Jesse Hughes. EDWARD TANNER came into court & proved 3 days attendance as a witness in a suit between Simon Arnold & Jesse Hughes at last March court. That Sarah Richard dau of Arnold dec'd be bound to Thomas McCann according to law. Harrison Co Court Order Book #1 1784-1792 3rd Tues Nov 1784 Jacob Westfall vs Edward Tanner, con't 6/21/1785 James Tanner vs John Vandering. Attachment, judgement is granted plaintiff. 11/17/1785 William Radcliff issued a summons to suppoene James Tanner to appear at next court and answer complaint of land dispute.
  Family ID	F992	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Sudna Elizabeth Carpenter,   b. Abt 1765, Augusta County, Virginia, USA ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Married	5 Dec 1791	Harrison County, West Virginia, USA   [2, 3, 4]
  Notes	Harrison Co Marriages: Samuel Tanner & Sudney Carpenter, 12/5/1791 Harrison Co Tax list Samuel Tanner 1794, 1796 Mason Co tax list Samuel Tanner 1805-06-07-09-10-11-12 1810 Census, Mason County, Virginia (West Virginia) Tanner, Samuel 373 1810 3 males under 10 (Jesse, James, Tate?) 1 male 16-25 (William) 1 male 26-45 (Samuel) 2 females under 10 (Mary, ?) 2 females 10-16 (? ?) 1 female 16-25 (Jean?) 1 female 26-45 (Sidney) no slaves 1820 Wood Co index, pg 194, along with James and Jesse. Wm is in Mason Co 1840 Jackson, VA 1m 0-5 1m 5-10 1m 70-80 1f 5-10 1f 70-80 1850 Jackson, VA # 126-130 Tanner Samuel 96 M Farmer Va Tanner Sudner 85 F Va Tanner James 17 M Va Tanner Semantha 24 F Va Tanner Saml 18 M Farmer Va Tanner Nancy 1 F Va Farr Geo W 21 M Farmer Va Fore or Farr ~~ land grant #31 Samuel Tanner....Mar. 14, 1825 Kanawha Co. 380 acres On Spring Creek, a branch of Little Kenawha. Grants 73, pg. 535 ~~~ "Jackson County in the Wars" Revolutionary Soldiers Samuel Tanner. born in Augusta (now Rockingham) county, VA, May 15, 1759. Moved to Greenbrier, then to Monongalia, and spent his last years in Jackson (now Roane) county at present Spencer, then known as Tanner's Crossroads, for Jacob Tanner. Elijah Runnion and Jesse Carpenter testified for him in connection with his pension application, but it was rejected. Enlisted in the Rockbridge County Militia, April 1777. . . Bishop's 'History of Roane county' - page 318
  Children	1. William Tanner,   b. 1790, Virginia, USA ,   d. Virginia, USA   2. Jesse "Buffalo" Tanner,   b. 1795, Harrison County, West Virginia, USA ,   d. 26 Mar 1885, Roane County, West Virginia, USA  (Age 90 years)   3. James Tanner,   b. Abt 1802, Virginia, USA ,   d. Aft 1880, Virginia, USA  (Age ~ 79 years)   4. John Tanner,   b. Abt 1804/5, Kanawha Co, VA or Mason Co, Va ,   d. Yes, date unknown   5. Elizabeth Tanner,   b. 1812,   d. Yes, date unknown   6. Mary Polly Tanner,   b. Abt 1810, Virginia, USA ,   d. Yes, date unknown   7. Samuel Tanner,   b. Abt 1810,   d. Yes, date unknown   8. Joseph Tanner,   d. Yes, date unknown   9. Elijah Tanner,   b. 9 May 1813, Roane County, West Virginia, USA ,   d. Yes, date unknown   10. Sidney Grace Tanner,   b. Abt 1814, Kanawha County, West Virginia, USA ,   d. 20 Feb 1892, Roane County, West Virginia, USA  (Age ~ 78 years)   11. Samantha Tanner,   b. Abt 1825, Wood or Kanawha Co WVA ,   d. Yes, date unknown   12. Sarah Tanner,   b. Aft 1820, Kanawha or Wood Co, VA ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F1062	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Sources

  [S384] Don Norman. [S1205] Census, 1850 JC annotated. [S72] Marriage Records, Harrison Co, WV. [S56] Beth Campbell Stemple.