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Third Generation


22. William DURHAM was born about 1776 in Tennessee.14 This document was transcribed as written by Michele Durham, 2010.

THE DURHAM FAMILY

The word Durham is Scotch.

Durham, England was before the War of the Roses, Durham Scotland, when England subjugated and annexed Durhamshire, we have been told by a grandmother who was born in 1796 in Westmoreland County, Virginia, that three brothers by the name of Duncan, rather than accept English subjugation, left Scotland, immigrated to America, and adopted the name of their beloved city, Durham.

One of three brothers settled in what is now Virginia, one in what is now North Carolina, and one in Pennsylvania.

The Durhams of Sumner County, Tennessee are of the North Carolina family.

Our great-grandfather, William Durham, a descendant of the brother who settled in North Carolina, came to Sumner County sometime prior to 1809, in which year he purchased a large tract of land in this (Sumner) County on which is now located Mt. Vernon Church. He died and is buried in Mt. Vernon Church Cemetery. He had a large family of sons, one of whom was our great-grandfather, William Durham, who possessed to a great extent Scotch characteristics, was a frugal and industrious man and died leaving quite a large estate of both real and personal property. He was a consistent Church man and gave to the Methodist Church the land on which Mt. Vernon Church is now located.

He was the father of seven sons, one of whom was our grandfather, William Goolsberry Durham, who was the father of the following sons and daughters; James, William, France, Samuel, John, Alfred, Jane, Mary and Martha.

James, the oldest, was the father of Emily Durham Gray, now deceased, leaving children; Mollie Durham Kirkham, now deceased, leaving children; Bate Durham, now in Los Angeles, California, with children; Susie Durham Bell, now living in Sumner County, with children; Breck Durham, now living in Sumner County with one child, a daughter; Fannie Durham, unmarried, now deceased; and Joseph Durham, now deceased, leaving one child, a daughter.

William, the second son of William Goolsberry Durham, was the father of Alice Durham Martin, now deceased, leaving children; Flora Durham, unmarried, now deceased; Laura Durham, unmarried, now living in Sumner county; Tom Durham, unmarried, now deceased; Lonnie Durham, now living in Sumner County with children; and Charlie Durham, now deceased, leaving one daughter.

France, the third son of William Goolsberry Durham, was the father of John Durham, now living in Sumner County, with children; William Durham, now living near Richardson, Texas, with children; Sarah Durham Equals, now deceased, leaving children; Ella Durham Martin, now deceased, leaving one son; Gran Durham, now deceased, leaving children; Cora Durham Sherron, now living in Sumner County with children; Mattie Durham Dobbs, now deceased, leaving children; and Houston Durham, unmarried, now living in Sumner County.

Samuel, the fourth son of William Goolsberry Durham was the father of Nora Durham Thomerson, now living in Sumner County with children; Carrie Durham Hunter, now deceased, leaving one son; and Floyd Durham, now deceased, leaving two sons.

John, the fifth son of William Goolsberry Durham, was the father of Calvin Durham, now living in Sumner County with one son; Edward Durham, unmarried, now deceased; Lou Durham, unmarried, now living in Sumner County; Thomas Durham, now living in Sumner County with children; Charlie Durham, now living in Sumner County with children; Henry Durham, unmarried, now living in Sumner County; and Russel Durham, now living in Sumner County with children.
Alfred, the sixth and youngest son of William Goolsberry Durham, moved to Todd County, Kentucky years ago, and died there leaving one daughter, Leona Durham Harris, who has since died leaving no children.

Jane, the oldest daughter of William Goolsberry Durham, married Polk Reddick and was the mother of Julia Reddick Wells, now living in Sumner County with children; Bunyan Reddick, now deceased, leaving two daughters; Sallie Reddick Thomerson now living in Sumner County with children; Caroline Reddick, unmarried, now deceased; Milton Reddick, now living in Sumner County with children; Samuel Reddick now living in Sumner County with children; Ada Reddick Hunter, now deceased, one daughter; Susie Reddick Kirkham, now living in Sumner County, one daughter; Olie Reddick Hunter, now living in Sumner county with children; Frank Reddick now living near Richardson, Texas with children; and James Reddick, now deceased, leaving children.

Mary, the second daughter of William Goolsberry Durham married Henry Gant and was the mother of Morgan Gant, now deceased, leaving children; Luther Gant, unmarried, now deceased; Lola Gant Garret, now living in Sumner County with children.

Martha, the youngest daughter of William Goolsberry Durham married Ewing Gant and was the mother of one son, Willie Gant, now living in Sumner County with children.

The sons and daughters of William Goolsberry Durham all lived and died in Sumner County, Tennessee, except Alfred Durham, as before stated moved to Todd County, Kentucky, and died there.

All of the grandsons and grand-daughters of William Goolsberry Durham who are now living, as before stated are now living in Sumner County except Bate Durham, son of James, and his descendants are now living in California, and William, son of France, and his descendants are now living near Richardson, Texas, also Frank Reddick, son of Jane Durham Reddick, married a daughter of William Durham of Texas, and grand-daughter of France Durham and is now living near Richardson, Texas.

The Durhams are an honest, patient, hard-working and steady people, not given to excitement and trouble; they are a happy, sociable and kind people. They are no trouble makers and prefer a quiet life, more especially they are noted for their honesty and uprightness and can be trusted any where you find one by the name.

This history of the Durham family in Sumner County and elsewhere is written by one of them and one who knows the statements in the foregoing to be true and as they exist today.

This October 30th, 1939.
J. BRECK DURHAM,
Gallatin, Tennessee.
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William DURHAM and Francis MARSHALL were married on 13 Jul 1808 in Sumner County, Tennessee.15 William Durham <https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VNCQ-9RD>
Tennessee, State Marriage Index, 1780-2002
marriage: 15 Jul 1808 Sumner, Tennessee, United States

spouse: Frances Marshall
name: Frances Marshall
event: Marriage
event date: 15 Jul 1808
event place: Sumner, Tennessee, United States
gender: Female
spouse: William Durham
page: 31
Francis MARSHALL was born about 1789 in Tennessee.14,16 William DURHAM and Francis MARSHALL had the following children:

+99

i.

Rodney B. "R. B." DURHAM.

+100

ii.

William Gooseberry "Goolsberry" DURHAM.

101

iii.

Nancy DURHAM was born about 1820 in Tennessee.14

+102

iv.

Ezekiel Morgan "E. M." DURHAM.

103

v.

William DURHAM was born about 1830 in Tennessee.14 Listed as Teacher in the 1850 Census for Sumner County, Tennessee (District 12).

+104

vi.

Robert W. DURHAM.

105

vii.

Julia DURHAM was born about 1846 in Tennessee.14