The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
Author: Joseph J. Tankersley
Joseph Tankersley was born abt. 1756 in Virginia, and died bet. 1837 - 1840 in Troup County, Georgia. He married Catherine Buckner. She was born Bet. 1760 - 1770 in Virginia, and died Bet. 1847 - 1850 in prob. Troup County, Georgia.
On Sept. 16, 1828, Joseph Tankersley, Sr. of Columbia Co. made a declaration for a Revolutionary soldier's pension, saying he served as a private in Capt. James Armstrong's company of light-horse in Col. Henry Lee's regiment. The application was later rejected because his name could not be found on the rolls. Proof of service is documented in NARA, M881, COMP MIL SERV RECS, ROLL #93. These records show that Tankersley was in fact a private and dragoon in Captain James Armstrong’s company of Lee’s Legion.
On the 1830 Columbia Co. census, Joseph's household included 4 males aged 20-30, 1 male 40-50, 1 male 70-80, 1 female under 5, 2 females 20-30, 1 female 60-70. This would place Joseph's birth between 1750-60 which would be about the same time frame as his brother John (SAR Patriot #P-330607).
Between 1830-1840, most of this family moved to Troup County, Ga. and Joseph is not on the 1840 census. Catherine is a head of household with her children Elizabeth Patterson, John, and Baldwin nearby. Info from that census is listed under each child and appears on pages 324 and 332 of the Troup Co. 1840 Census.
The estate records of Troup County include several references to the estate of Joseph Tankersley, starting with inventory and appraisement on 8 April 1840. Joseph owned 132 acres of land with a reserve of one-half acre for a graveyard. This graveyard has not been found by Troup County genealogists in 2001. On September 7, 1841, Jesse Patterson, husband of Joseph's daughter Elizabeth, was the administrator of the estate. In following records the widow is listed as Catherine Tankersley and the legatees were: Buckner Tankersley, George W. Tankersley, Baldwin Tankersley, James E. Camack, John Tankersley, and Jesse Patterson in right of his wife. There is a Troup County deed from 1840 conveying land bought by Joseph in 1837 to Jesse Patterson for settling the estate. The deed was signed by William, Buckner, John, G.W., Joseph, and Baldwin. James E. Cammack signed with his mark and Jesse Patterson signed as administrator. William Tankersley was a witness.(6) Bill Tankersley
Children of Joseph Tankersley and Catherine Buckner are: i. John Jackson Tankersley, born Abt. 1785; died Aft. 1840. ii. George W. Tankersley, born Abt. 1800; died Bef. 23 Jan 1879 in Harris County, GA. iii. Joseph Tankersley, born Abt. 1800; died Unknown. iv. Ann "Nancy" Tankersley, born Abt. 1800; died Bef. 1832 in Columbia County, GA. v. Baldwin Tankersley, born Abt. 1805 in Columbia Co., GA; died Bef. 1860 in prob. Troup Co., GA. vi. Elizabeth Tankersley, born Abt. 1810; died Sep 1873. vii. Susan Tankersley, born Abt. 1810; died Unknown. viii. William Tankersley, born Abt. 1810 in Columbia Co., GA; died 1847 in Columbia Co., GA. ix. Buckner Tankersley, born Abt. 1813; died Unknown.
Source: Our Tankersley Ancestors: Georgia and South Carolina Descendants of Joseph Tankersley, Sr, by Melodey Mozeley Hauch and Joseph Jordan Tankersley, 2003.
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