Pillow Family, pg 3

Manoah Bostick Hampton and Cynthia Mitchell Hampton

“Lilie” Hampton 4 oldest children of Lilie Hampton & Walter McClure Lilie Hampton McClure and her family, 1923

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PILLOW FAMILY continued, (page 3)

The children of John and Ursula Johnston Pillow (continued)

4.    Mordecia Pillow was born about 1776.     He married Mary Baker Johnson (his cousin) 04 Aug 1808 in Rockingham County, NC.     I have no first hand information about the descendants of Mordecia and Mary. Please feel free to send me any additions or corrections!    The children I show for them are:

1)     Joseph H. PILLOW
2)     Richard PILLOW
3)     William PILLOW
4)      Wiley Green PILLOW
5)      Andrew J. PILLOW
--------------------------------------

5.   Mary “Polly” Pillow, was born 19 Feb 1777 in Rockingham County, NC. She died 3 Jan 1867 in Almaville, Rutherford Co., Tennessee (at home of her daughter - Louisa Vaughan.)    Others have posted information about her descendants, but I have never been in touch with any of them.

Named by Anderson Miles in 1922 Civil War veteran Questionaire as grandmother "who had a son killed in Injun(sic)Wars"(this would be Alanson T. Miles, killed in Seminole War in 1820's); named as daughter of John Pillow and Mary Ursula Johnson in Tennessee DAR records on John Pillow, Volume III.; have copy of the marriage contract between her father(John)and Hartwell Miles for her marriage from 1798;

Mary married Hartwell M. MILES (b.17 Apr 1774-Cumberland Co,VA d.7 Mar 1839-Rutherford County,NC) on 13 May 1798. Their children were:

1)      Nancy MILES (b.19 Apr 1799-Davidson Co.,Tennessee)
2)      John Byrd MILES (b.21 Jun 1802-Davidson Co,TN)
3)       Alanson T. MILES (b.12 Oct 1806-Florence,Rutherford Co.,Tennessee)
4)      Thomas W. MILES (b.28 Mar 1810-Florence,Rutherford Co.,Tennessee)
5)       Louisa Polly MILES (b.12 Aug 1817-Florence,Rutherford Co.,Tennessee)

This is all I know of their descendants:
1. Mary "Polly" PILLOW (b.19 Feb 1777-Rockingham Co.,NC d.3 Jan 1867-Almaville,Rutherford Co.,Tennessee(at home of dau))
sp: Hartwell M. MILES [disabled War 1812] (b.17 Apr 1774-Cumberland Co,VA (or Caswell,NC) m.13 May 1798 d.7 Mar 1839-Arrington,Williamson Co.,Tennessee)
|-2. Nancy MILES (b.19 Apr 1799-Davidson Co.,Tennessee d.1826-Williamson Co.,Tennessee)
| sp: David KAIGLER (KEGLER) (b.1790 m.8 Sep 1816 d.Jul 1830-Woodville,Wilkinson County,Mississippi)
| |-3. Isabella KAIGLER (KEGLER) (Mrs. Coney) (b.18 Feb 1817-Williamson Co.,Tennessee d.2 Sep 1895-Summit,Pike County,Mississippi)
| | sp: Louis Newsom (Sr.) CONEY (b.31 Jul 1813 m.2 Apr 1835 d.4 Mar 1841)
| | |-4. David Aquila CONEY (b.18 Dec 1835 d.24 Nov 1924)
| | | sp: Mary Jane WALKER
| | | |-5. Lucy CONEY
| | | |-5. Jerry CONEY
| | | |-5. William Louis CONEY
| | | |-5. David Cicero CONEY
| | | |-5. Leon Josephus CONEY
| | | |-5. Henry Eugene CONEY
| | | |-5. Lena May CONEY
| | | |-5. Morgan Jefferson CONEY
| | | +-5. John Thomas CONEY
| | |-4. Lewis (Louis) Newsom (Jr.) CONEY (C.S.A.) (b.31 Jul 1837 d.31 Jul 1861-CSA Camp,Corinth,Mississippi)
| | |-4. John Hancock CONEY (C.S.A.) (b.13 Jun 1839 d.17 Mar 1862-Charity Hospital,Gordonsville,Virginia)
| | +-4. William Jefferson CONEY (C.S.A.) (b.13 Jun 1839 d.10 Jul 1862-CSA Hospital,Columbus,Mississippi)
| +-3. William W. KAIGLER (KEGLER) (b.27 Nov 1820)
|-2. John Byrd MILES (b.21 Jun 1802-Davidson Co,TN)
|   sp: UNKNOWN
| +-3. Powhatan P. MILES
|-2. Alanson (or Landson) T. MILES (apparently died young) (b.12 Oct 1806-Florence,Rutherford Co.,Tennessee d.circa 1825)
|-2. Thomas W. MILES (b.28 Mar 1810-Florence,Rutherford Co.,Tennessee)
+-2. Louisa Polly MILES (b.12 Aug 1817-Florence,Rutherford Co.,Tennessee d.22 Nov 1867)
   sp: Henry A. VAUGHN
    |-3. Thomas A. VAUGHN (b.Abt 1837)
    |-3. Mary B. VAUGHN (b.Abt 1840)
    |-3. Richard H. VAUGHN (b.Abt 1842)
    |-3. Anderson N. VAUGHN (b.Abt 1846)
    +-3. Louisa T.A. VAUGHN (b.Abt 1849)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6) Ursula Pillow was born circa 1780 in Whetstone Creek, Guilford (now Rockingham) Co., North Carolina, and died May 1854 in Davidson Co., Tennessee. She married Capt. William Rains on 09 Sep 1795 in Davidson Co., Tennessee, son of John Rains and Christiannah Gowen. He was born circa 1774 in Virginia, and died 09 Jun 1812 in Davidson Co., Tennessee. Col. William Pillow was the bondsman for this marriage. The only child I have seen for them was Hance Hamilton Rains.
----------------------------------------------------

7) JOHN PILLOW, Jr. * was born 25 May 1781 in Rockingham Co., NC. He died 20 Jul 1854 in Giles Co., TN and was buried in Old Brick Church Cemetery, Giles Co., TN.

JOHN, married Mary FITZPATRICK * "Polly", daughter of Samuel FITZPATRICK and Sarah DAVIS *, on 29 May 1806 in Williamson Co., Tennessee. Polly was born 1781 in Stokes County, NC. She died 2 Oct 1850 in Giles Co. and was buried in Old Brick Church Cemetery, Giles Co., TN.

              John and Mary had three children:
                      A.) ROBERT W. PILLOW (our line)
                     B.) Ruth Jones Pillow
                     C.) Dr. Levan Crabb Pillow


      A. ROBERT W. PILLOW: was born 14 Dec 1809, died 1 Jul 1895 in Marshall County, TN.    Robert married Dorothy “Dolly” Ann HALL on 24 Apr 1834 in Williamson County, TN.   Dolly was born 24 Apr 1815, died Feb 7, 1900.    (I don’t know the parents of Dolly Hall)     Robert and Dolly had 3 daughters:    1) Mary Orlena Pillow (20 Sep 1836-23 Sep 1905 in Cornersville, TN) 2) Ruth Elizabeth Virginia Pillow (13 Jan 1835-25 Feb 1904 in Maury County, TN), and 3) Harriet E. (1839-1896)

B. Ruth Jones Pillow was born 3 Jul 1811. I know nothing else about Ruth. We have copies of pages from the Pillow/Walker Bible, but nothing else is mentioned about Ruth.

C. Dr. Levan Crabb Pillow was born 2 Aug 1818, was a physician in Cornersville, TN. 8 Apr 1854, Giles Co., Tennessee, Deed Book X, p. 95. Deed of Gift. John Pillow to "my beloved son L. C. Pillow" one negro boy named Henry about 13 years old and one negro girl named Tennessee about 9 years old. Witnesses: John B. Neely, John C. Osburn. Registered 13 Apr 1854. He married Mariah Massey ca 1846. Dr. Levan C. Pillow and his wife, Mariah M., have a large and beautiful monument in Beechwood Cemetery, Cornersville, TN. (his tombstone is pictured below) There are numerous smaller stones around theirs, but it is impossible to read the names.

Their only living child was Lt. Gov. Ernest Pillow, of TN.

Ernest PILLOW - Lt. Gov of TN was born 14 May 1856 in Cornersville, Marshall Co., Tennessee.

He died 8 Jun 1904 in Nashville, Davidson Co., Tennessee and was buried in Mt. Olivet Cem., Section 6, Nashville, Davidson Co., Tennessee. Tennessee, The Volunteer State, 1769-1923, Vol. 2:

Ernest Pillow, lawyer and lawmaker, was in the course of his active life a prominent figure in connection with those events which shaped the history of Nashville and the state, and when he passed away the city mourned the loss of an honored and representative citizen. Tennessee numbered him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Marshall county, May 14, 1856, his parents being Dr. Le Van and Maria (Massey) Pillow. The father was a well known and prominent physician of Tennessee, where he practiced his profession until his death.
Ernest Pillow, an only child, was educated in the public and high schools until he had completed the regular course of study and then entered Lebanon College, from which he was graduated with high honors in the class of 1877, being made class orator. Soon after the completion of his preparation for the bar he was admitted to practice [p.877] and entered upon the active work of the profession in Lewisburg, Tennessee, where he remained to the time of his demise. As a lawyer he was clear-minded, well trained and displayed marked capability in the preparation and presentation of his causes before the court. His name appeared on the court records in connection with much notable litigation and he ever proved an able minister in the temple of justice. He served as United States district attorney of Lewisburg and he was an esteemed member of the Marshall County, Tennessee State and American Bar Associations. He also rose to prominence in the legislative field, serving in both the house of representatives and in the senate. He served as speaker of the former and his rulings were at all times strictly fair and impartial. In both branches of the state legislature he gave thoughtful and earnest consideration to all the vital questions which came up for settlement and his support of a measure was sure to win for it a large following from those who recognized the soundness of his judgment and the spirit of patriotic loyalty that actuated him in all of his political work. He was ever a stanch democrat, but he placed the general welfare before partisanship and the public good before personal aggrandizement.

On the 31st of March, 1887, Mr. Pillow was united in marriage to Miss Alice Hensley, a daughter of Henry C. Hensley, who was a prominent and well known merchant of Nashville, Tennessee, and also one of the officials of the Nashville Trust Company. Mr. and Mrs. Pillow became the parents of two children: Henry H., who was born July 29, 1890, and died February 5, 1892; and Rachael, who was born June 26, 1895, and passed away February 25, 1897. Mrs. Pillow resides at No. 1711 Broad street in Nashville and is prominent in the club and social circles of the city. Mr. Pillow and his family were members of the Presbyterian church and in that faith he passed away, his death occurring June 8, 1904, after which his remains were laid to rest in Mount Olivet cemetery. His entire life was passed in this state and the capability which he displayed in the practice of his profession and the sterling qualities which he manifested in connection with the legislative interests of the commonwealth gave him high standing and won for him deserved honor as a representative resident of Tennessee.

Ernest Pillow was a controversial figure, and often discussed, sometimes humorously, sometimes not very nicely, by the newspapers: May 12, 1895, Daily Journal and Journal and Tribune, wrote a blistering editorial: "Call It ERNEST PILLOW." "The idea of Ernest Pillow, the unworthy conscienceless speaker of the Tennessee senate, setting himself up as a critic in reference to questions of propriety, is about as consistent as it would be for the devil to pose as a model of righteousness. He, Pillow, the man who voted without showing his poll tax receipt, and then voted to disfranchise ten thousand East Tennesseans for voting without showing poll tax receipts, presumes to denounce men, the latchet of whose shoes he is not worthy to unloose, because they declined to be present and witness the final act in a notorious theft and a caricature of a gubernatorial inauguration. He characterizes better men than himself, better than he can be, as sneaks, because they refused to see a miserable fraud and the receiver of stolen goods, lay his impious hands upon the Holy Bible and swear to support the constitution that he was violating." [This was a huge issue, his refusal to show his poll tax receipt when he voted (he was under 50, and it was required of all men voting), and there are dozens of mentions of it in the newspapers]

Ernest married (1) Kate. They had the following children: Wesley P. PILLOW was born about 1879. I can’t find anything else on Wesley. Perhaps he died young, did the other two children of Ernest Pillow?

Ernest also married (2) Alice HENSLEY. He married Alice HENSLEY 31 Mar 1887. She was born 29 Sep 1861, and died 30 Nov 1929. She was buried in Mt. Olivet Cem., Section 6, Nashville, Davidson Co., Tennessee. They had the following children: Henry Hensley PILLOW (died a child) was born 29 Jul 1890. He died 5 Feb 1892.; Rachel H. PILLOW (died a child) was born 26 Jun 1895. She died 25 Feb 1897.

8)    Maj. Abner Pillow was born 23 Jan 1784 in Rockingham County, NC.   Abner Pillow surveyed, owned and developed land across Middle and West Tennessee after serving as a major in the War of 1812.    He is in the War of 1812 records as having served in Robert’s Brigade, West Tennessee Militia, as a lieutenant.   He married married Mary S. Thomas, on 31 Mar 1808 in Nashville, TN, Portia’s sister. Mary was born 20 Jul 1788 in Cumberland County, VA; died ca 1828 in Maury County, TN.

As with so many of the Pillow men, he was an intrepid gentleman, and I found this newspaper article very interesting:

July 7, 1812, Enquirer newspaper gives a long account of recent hostilities with the Indians and the actions of Col. PILLOW and a party of men following the Indian murder of some children and their capture of a white woman, Mrs. Crawley:

"Nashville, June 9: After giving a narrative of the Murder of Manley's children, and the capture of Mrs. Crawley (which has given so severe a pang to the heart of the nation), the Editor proceeds thus:    INDIAN NEWS: At the instant of this massacre the detachment of Gen. Johnson, 600 strong, on their way to disperse a supposed hostile assemblage of Indians at the head of Sandy River, had arrived in the neighborhood, and the husband of one of the women was actually serving under his command. The report of the outrage drew out an additional force; and Brigadier General Thomas Washington, at the head of 300 men from the counties of Rutherford and Williamson, proceeded towards the place of massacre.   But the hands that struck the blow were not to be seen. The brigands with the captive had re-crossed the Tennessee, and buried themselves in the recesses of the forest. The detachments of Washington and Johnson were therefore compelled to return without having seen more than the track of their foe.

"On the 24th May, at the time when these detachments were returning from their fruitless expedition, an express with dispatches from the Chickasaw Chief, George Colbert, directed to Gen. Roberts, the nearest Brigadier, arrived at Columbia in Maury County. The informed the general that on the Sunday preceding, a party of Creeks, 18 in number, with the scalps of five children, a white woman captive, and a number of horses stolen from the whites, had passed through the Chickasaw nation, near the residence of Major Colbert, on the way to their own country.   These Creeks avowed themselves to be a war party, openly professed themselves to be authors of the massacre at the mouth of Duck River, paraded their captive in triumph, and displayed the scalps of the little children with pride of savage conquerors.

"Immediately on the receipt of Major Colbert's dispatches, Gen. Roberts, COL. PILLOW and forty or fifty citizens of determined character, armed themselves and proceeded directly to the Creek nation. They mean to penetrate the heart of the country, demand the brigands, and bring off the woman. The public are waiting with great anxiety for the return of this party.   The people of Tennessee will then know whether to consider the outrage as the act of the Creek nation, or the crimes of a few individuals.

"We deem it out duty to warn our citizens to prepare for the worst.   Let our guns, which have so long been lying in the rust, be scoured up and placed in complete order for service.   Let our young men practice firing the rifle at a mark. There is no telling what is to happen.

"Intelligence from the Party of COL. PILLOW:"   We understand, from a source which seems entitled to full credit, that Col. Pillow and his followers having arrived at the Tennessee River a little below Fort Hampton, had fallen in with a party of Creeks, eleven in number, returning from the battle of eh Wabash, and killed one and was in warm pursuit of the others.   The particulars of this affair we learn to be as follows:   COL. PILLOW having arrived at the bank of Tennessee met there the wagon of Merideth Helms, who had gone out from Williamson County with articles to trade with the Indians. At this wagon there were eight Cherokees, and one Creek. Ten other Creeks had been there and were then in the neighborhood. The Cherokees informed Col. Pillow that these Creeks were in the interest of the prophet! That they had spent the past winter on the Wabash, had taken a hand in the affair of Tippecanoe, and were now upon their return home.   Upon this information Col. PILLOW deemed it prudent to arrest the Creek there present.   It was done, and the fellow was directed to conduct the party of Col. Pillow to the camp of his comrades. He refused to do so; resisted every effort that was used to make him go forward, and gave ridiculous answers to the questions put to him.   Presently, however, he appeared to be in a good humor; complained that the band across his arms hurt him, and promised, if he was untied, to do as they wanted. He was immediately untied and the moment he found his limbs at liberty, he put off at top speed. Irritated at this treachery, the party of Col. Pillow, without waiting for orders, leveled their arms. Eight rifles fired at the same moment, and the flying villain received a ball through his back! The foremost of the company, said to be ABNER PILLOW, running up, gave him some ___ with a knife, and tore the scallop from his head, yet convulsed with the agonies of death!    ----So perish the assassins of the illustrious DAVIESS!

"We understand that Col. Pillow's party was reinforced by 70 or 100 men from Giles County.   The total number to be 120.    An inconceivable anxiety is felt for the safety of this party; it is a daring project which they have undertaken.   Gen. Roberts has gone by the way of George Colbert's to take the trail of the fellows who are carrying off Mrs. Crawley.    That there should be one Indian more or less in the world is a matter of no moment.   That a white man should kill an Indian would, in common times, produce no extra-ordinary sensation; but at the present moment and under the present circumstances, the death of an Indian by the hands of white men may be attended with great consequences.

"Since the above was in type, we have seen several gentlemen who state that Gen. Roberts and COL. PILLOW and all their men had safely returned.   It seems they formed a junction low down in the Chickasaw nation, and proceeded to within about 30 miles of the Upper Creek towns where they met some Cherokee Indians who represented the danger of their further advance is such colors as to induce the party to return home immediately.    The death of the Creek above alluded to has had a dreadful effect on the frontiers. Whole settlements appear to be abandoning their homes, and although this is court day in Giles County, fears are entertained that it will be impossible to form court or jury - Capt. Crawford's rangers start today from Franklin to guard the frontier."

Abner and Mary’s descendants (as I know them) were:

Maj. Abner PILLOW (War of 1812) (b.23 Jan 1784-Rockingham County,NC d.25 Oct 1860-Columbia,Maury County,TN)
sp: Mary S. THOMAS (b.20 Jul 1788-Cumberland Co,VA m.31 Mar 1808 d.1828-Maury Co.,Tennessee)

|-2. William Harrison PILLOW (b.15 Apr 1809 d.5 Dec 1864-Maury Co.,Tennessee)
| sp: Elizabeth PORTER (d.(age 83))
| |-3. Dr. Robert L. PILLOW (b.4 Apr 1852-Columbia,TN)
| | sp: Sarah R. PARROTT/JARRATT of Cartersville, GA (m.7 Oct 1885)
| | |-4. Mary Marcella PILLOW
| | | sp: G. R. COWIE
| | +-4. Dr. Robert PILLOW (Jr.)
| |-3. Elizabeth "Lizzie" PILLOW (died young) (d.22 Sep 1871)
| |-3. Mary PILLOW (Mrs. Porter)
| |-3. Augusta PILLOW (Mrs. Pickard)
| |-3. Anna PILLOW (Mrs. Myers)
| |-3. (Mrs. John Dobbins) PILLOW
| |-3. (Mrs. W. E. Brown) PILLOW
| |-3. W. R. PILLOW
| |-3. Abner PILLOW
| +-3. Walter PILLOW
|-2. Mary Thomas PILLOW (b.23 Mar 1811)
|-2. A. H. PILLOW (b.18 Jul 1816)
|-2. Dr. Anthony L. PILLOW (b.7 Oct 1819-Maury Co.,Tennessee d.14 Jul 1904-Maury Co.,Tennessee)
| sp: Mary Frances YOUNG (d.Mar 1873)
| |-3. Eugene PILLOW
| |-3. James C. PILLOW
| +-3. Evan Y. PILLOW
|-2. James W. PILLOW (b.12 Apr 1822 d.1853-Maury Co.,Tennessee)
+-2. C.B. PILLOW (b.17 Apr 1825)
----------------------------------------------------------

9) Barbary Pillow. Supposedly there was a daughter named Barbary, but I have no further information on her.

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