Hearne History - Page 584

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His wife also died of dropsy 1841, and both were buried in the old Hearn burying ground on his farm. These two old negro women were also buried there. He owned a large tract of land, and a gristmill, and was a prosperous farmer. The people called his corn crib "Hold Out" because he always kept plenty of corn. He and his wife were both members of a Baptist church, and raised a family of twelve children, three boys and nine girls. I am unable to give the dates of their births or to name them in the order in which they were born, his old family Bible being lost. The first record we find of John Hearn in Virginia is in the purchase of 130 acres of land Sept. 29, 1806, from Walter Elam and wife on Walker's Creek, Wythe Co. The second purchase, 130 acres adjoining the first tract, from John Lambert and wife, Aug. 7,1809, and also 50 acres adjoining, from James Lambert. He also bought 200 acres on Laurel Creek, Taswell Co., Va. He sold some of his negroes before his death, and gave some of them to his son, William, to take care of his wife (Annie) till her death. His personal property was appraised after his death for $2,722.84 1/4 as of record. He was a large muscular man, 5 feet, 10 inches high, and weighed two hundred pounds, dark hair, blue eyes, a prudent, provident hard working man, and was wont to boast of his rail splitting. His wife, Annie Chesney was full blooded Irish, being born in Ireland; black hair and brown eves, weighed 170 pounds, a ruddy complexion and great worker. John and Annie Chesney Hearn had children as follows: Sarah, married Joshua Bruce; Catherine, married Henderson Justice; William, born July 17, 1793, married Susannah Hicks; James, married Esther Griffin; Martha, married James Jones; Celia, married James Copley; Elizabeth, married Vincent Bruce; Jeremiah, married Miss Whitehead.

Catherine, daughter of John and Annie Chesney Hearn, married Henderson Justice and lived in Mercer Co., W. Va. I only remember two sons, John and Henry. Henry married Polly Ann Brown and died 1863. Susan, daughter of John and Annie Hearn, married James Burket; and I have no further record of them.

William, son of John and Annie Chesney Hearn, born July 17, 1793, married Susannah Hicks, June 3, 1813, died May 27, 1865. He was a member of the Methodist church, and his life was that of a devoted Christian. He lived at his father's old homestead and came to own most of the land, and was well-to-do in life. Their

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Copyright (c) 1999, 2007 Brian Cragun.