Gorham Citations After 1820

Robertson County, TN

Notes:

Only the records that appear to have potential genealogical value are included below. Court records are not indexed and, with a few exceptions, were not read.
See also the Logan County file. Several members of the Gorham family appear in both counties. Also see the pre-1820 file, in which Robertson County records are included.
Unless otherwise noted, all parties are residents of the county in which the document is recorded.

15 Jan 1821 Jane, Nicholas, and William Norris, legal representatives of Thomas Norris deceased, to William B. Gorham, $800, 357a, …Brown’s Fork of Karr’s Creek. Witness: William Wilson, Jacob Carter. (Robertson County Deed Book Q, p340)

24 Feb 1823 Thomas Gorham of Howard County, Missouri, to John Boyd of Logan County, $375, 150a beginning at the northwest corner of Gorham’s survey known as Grant #9251…adjoining Elias Fort. Witness: W. B. Gorham, Solomon Payne. (Robertson County Deed Book R, p39)

3 May 1823 Thomas Gorham of Howard County, Missouri, to Thomas Hill of Davidson County, Tennessee, 825a north side of Red River adjoining Elias Fort, 175a adjoining Lockert. Witness: Bernard Vanleer, J. H. Lanier. (Robertson County Deed Book S, p33)

28 Dec 1823 Thomas Gorham of Howard County, Missouri, to Alexander B. Porter, $1200, 300a on Red River, adjoining William Crofford, …to stake in road leading from Elk Fork to Springfield. Witness: J. H. Fort, John Bell. (Robertson County Deed Book R, p435)

4 Feb 1824 Joel Ragsdale to William B. Gorham, $15, 5a on Buzzard’s Creek. Witness: J. W. Hicks. (Robertson County Deed Book R, p333)

20 Oct 1824 Thomas Gorham of Howard County, Missouri to Solomon Clark and T. Hill’s heirs, $11,734, 1039a, being the same tract of land on which sd. Gorham last resided before his removal to Missouri and which includes his mill the same being now occupied by J. H. Fort and Pleasant Easley. Witness: R. Hood, John F. Ryland, L. Boon. (Robertson County Deed Book U, p352)

12 Apr 1825 A. B. Porter to Thomas Gorham of Howard County, Missouri, $900, 390a (same description as the land deeded 28 Dec 1823). Witness: Solomon Payne, John L. Cheatham. (Robertson County Deed Book S, p45)

Note that this land was not sold until 1834 – see entry for 5 May 1834.

17 Oct 1827 Jonathan Hardin to William B. Hutchinson, 330a on Sulphur Fork of Red River…where Port Royal Road crosses Sulphur Creek…on road leading from Springfield to Gorham’s Old Mill… (Robertson County Deed Book T, p322)

3 Dec 1827 John Hutchinson to William B. Gorham, $800, 150a and 150 poles, on Sulphur Creek of Red River…road leading from Springfield to Port Royal. Witness: William Seal, John Hutchinson, Jr. (Robertson County Deed Book T, p320)

3 Dec 1827 William B. Gorham to John Hutchinson, $800, 357a on Brown’s Fork of Kerr’s Creek…where Samuel Crockett now lives. Witness: William Seal, John Hutchinson, Jr. (Robertson County Deed Book T, p321)

The above two deeds are obviously a trade. William B. Gorham must have acquired a business on the land, since the acreage is half what he traded away. This was probably his purchase of the mill referred to in later deeds.

14 Aug 1832 Thomas Yates to William B. Gorham, $200, 81a on Carr’s Creek. Witness” James Doss, Yearby Hudson. (Robertson County Deed Book X, p97)

5 May 1834 Thomas Gorham of Hines County, Mississippi to James Gooch, $636, 390a on Red River (same land purchased from Porter in 1825). Witness: W. H. Fort, E. A. Fort, Benjamin Gooch. (Robertson County Deed Book Y, p63)

Note that Thomas Gorham is still alive, thus can’t be the one who died in 1833 in Howard County, Missouri. Also note that the price of this land dropped steadily.

12 May 1834 William B. Gorham to Daniel Clark and Joseph E. Winfield, $100, 100a on Wartrace Branch of Sulphur Creek. (Robertson County Deed Book Y, p10)

16 May 1834 Commissioners of the Town of Springfield to William B. Gorham, by virtue of a contract entered into by sd. Gorham and Commissioners on 18 January 1815…2.5a lying on the east of the Town of Springfield bounded by the town on the west, by the public road on the south…being part of the public land belonging to the Town not laid off in lots and now occupied and known as Gorham’s Tanyard. (Robertson County Deed Book Y, p8)

16 May 1834 William B. Gorham to Daniel Clark and Joseph E. Winfield, $600, 2.5a (same as described above). (Robertson County Deed Book Y, p9)

7 Nov 1834 State of Tennessee to Thomas Gorham, assignee of William Lyth, Jr., 150a bearing date 19 March 1814…north side of Red River. Recorded 7 November 1734. (Robertson County Deed Book X, p522)

Thomas Gorham obviously still alive on this date. The grant appears to have been recorded to perfect title to one of the earlier sales.

4 Nov 1835 William B. Gorham deed of trust to William Seal. Gorham states that on 10 Oct 1829 he was appointed guardian of Michael Traughber, a minor, and posted $1,000 bond with Alexander Gunn and John Hutchinson as securities. In the latter part of 1820 Gorham executed two notes, each for $200, with Jane Norris and Nicholas Norris, with John Hutchinson security. These notes were due in October 1831 and are now in suit in Superior Court in Nashville. Gorham now places on security with William Seal two tracts of land on Sulphur Creek, of 53a and 330a, to be used to relieve Hutchinson if he should become liable for either of the notes or for the guardianship when the minor comes of age. Mentions “Gorham’s Old Mill”. (Robertson County Deed Book Y, p268)

Michael Traughber’s graveston reads 12/20/1815 – 8/29/1856, so he would have been a minor in 1829 and approaching majority in 1835. Seal did not have to sell either lot, so Gorham apparently was unscathed.

1 June 1838 Miles Kirby to John W. Gorham, $30, Springfield town lot #60. (Robertson County Deed Book 1, p98)

29 Mar 1839 Green Benton to John W. Gorham, $80, Springfield town lots #28 and #62. (Robertson County Deed Book 1, p218)

19 May 1841 John W. Gorham to Jesse Davis, town lot #60 for $365, town lot #58 for $35. (Robertson County Deed Book 3, p15)

18 Nov 1841 Marriage of John Morgan to Laura Gorham, by J. B. Pitts, JP. License issued same date. (Robertson County Marriage Book 1, p43)

26 Sep 1842 John W. Gorham to W. H. Johnston, $525, town lots #28 and #62. (Robertson County Deed Book 3, p549)

21 May 1843 Marriage license: John W. Gorham to Lydia Traughber, no return. (Robertson County Marriage Book 1, p73)

21 Nov 1845 William B. Gorham to Anderson Matthews, $175, 58a on the road leading from Springfield to Port Royal. (Robertson County Deed Book 5, p26)

4 Apr 1848 Survey for Sanford Gorham 14a in Robertson County on Red River. (Book 4, p268)

10 Jan 1849 Marriage of John L Yates to P(riscilla) Gorham, by Thomas Farmer, JP. License issued same date. (Robertson County Marriage Book 1, p167)

9 Mar 1849 See 1849 deed in Logan County file to William B. Gorham of Robertson County, Tennessee.

5 Mar 1850 Marriage license: Derias Gorham to S. V. Harrison, solemnized __ March 1851 by James Woodard, JP. (Robertson County Marriage Book 1, p172)

25 Feb 1851 William B. Gorham, for the love and affection I entertain for my children Emily L. Braden and her husband Daniel P. Braden, James T. Gorham, John W. Gorham, and Priscilla E. Yates and her husband John L. Yates…for the consideration that my said children and their husbands relinquish all right to my estate property, I convey to said children my tract of land…on Sulphur Fork on which I formerly lived and on which I had my mill west of Springfield containing between 200 and 300 acres…adjoining the land of John W. Ferguson. (Robertson County Deed Book 7, p26)

The four children to W. B. Gorham, …accept the foregoing gift of our father, William B. Gorham, upon the condition in said gift… (Robertson County Deed Book 3, p549)

25 Feb 1851 James T. Gorham to John W. Gorham, $400, my interest in the land deeded to me by my father William B. Gorham… (Robertson County Deed Book 7, p27)

It appears that James owed money to his brother John – he was paid $100 less than his sisters for the same interest.

25 Feb 1851 Emily L. Braden and husband Daniel P. Braden, and Priscilla Yates and husband John L. Yates to John W. Gorham, $500 each, our interest in the land deeded to us by our father William B. Gorham. (Robertson County Deed Book 7, p28)

11 Sep 1851 Marriage license: General Jackson Gorham to Jemima Ray, solemnized by James Woodard, JP (no date) (Robertson County Marriage Book 1, p212)

29 Nov 1851 Year’s provision for Priscilla Gorham and family of William B. Gorham, deceased, who died intestate. (Robertson County Will Book 15, p30) Estate sale dated 22 December 1851 (Will Book 15, p104). Final settlement recorded April 1855 (Will Book 15, p757.)

8 Dec 1851 Lentgthy statement by Daniel P. Braden, administrator of William B. Gorham, deceased. States William B. Gorham died intestate “in the spring of the present year” and Braden qualified as administrator. William B. Gorham was security for several notes by his son James T. Gorham (listed) “and your orator fears that there are notes of similar character which he has not heard of…that all of said notes are due unpaid and outstanding…the said James T. Gorham is and has been for many years most hopelessly insolvent and entirely unable to pay his debts…The said William B. Gorham was twice married and before his death he made provision for his children by his first marriage and none but his widow and his children by his last marriage are entitled to his estate…James T. is a son by the first marriage and consequently not entitled to any of the estate …was a wayward boy and did not improve in his habits in more mature years and consequently caused his father much trouble of mind as well as of means…” Braden states that James T. Gorham is due a settlement of about $300 from the estate of his grandfather James Gunn and asks the court to attach that settlement for the payment of Gorham’s debts. James T. Gorham “has recently removed with his family to the state of Missouri…” (Robertson County Chancery Court Minutes, Case #32)

14 Feb 1852 Will of Henry Johnson, proved 3 July 1852. To Mary E. Gorham, daughter of Sallie Ann Gorham, $200. (Robertson County Will Book 16, p277) This was the first wife of John W. Gorham.

Sallie Ann died before 1843 when John W. Gorham remarried to Lydia Traughber. Mary E. Gorham is in John W. Gorham’s household in 1850 and in 1857 marries (see below).

10 Mar 1852 Commissioners lay off dower land of Priscilla Gorham, widow of William B. Gorham. 83a including the dwelling house where W. B. Gorham lived. (Robertson County Order Book 1850-1856, p44)

This was 1/3 of the land he owned at his death.

3 Feb 1853 Marriage solemnized: William A. Cook and Susan M. Gorham, by David Henry, JP. License dated preceding day. (Robertson County Marriage Book 1, p223)

2 Oct 1853 Heirs of William B. Gorham petition to sell land. Heirs identified as Susan Gorham, C. Gorham, Sally Gorham, Victoria Gorham, and B. Gorham by their guardian L. J. Henry. Administrator Daniel P. Braden. Two tracts involved. (Robertson County Order Book 1850-1856, p125)

24 Aug 1854 Marriage solemnized: Eli Jones and Arena C. Gorham, by David Henry, JP. License dated preceding day. (Robertson County Marriage Book 1, p247)

26 Apr 1857 Marriage solemnized: Joseph Chapman and Martha V. Gorham, by John W. Smith, JP. License dated preceding day. (Robertson County Marriage Book 1, p289)

7 Sept 1857 Marriage solemnized: M. F. Marbery and Mary E. Gorham, by J. W. McCullom, MG. License dated same day. (Robertson County Marriage Book 1, p293)

9 Apr 1858 Marriage license: Richard Gorham to Winney Farharty. No return. (Robertson County Marriage Book 1, p303)

25 Apr 1861 Marriage solemnized: T. J. Drane to Nancy C. Gorham, by E. Burr, JP. License dated same day. (Robertson County Marriage Book 1, p352)

15 Nov 1861 Will of Sally Pope, proved May 1864, leaves 1/9 of her estate to her daughter Priscilla Gorham.

This was the second wife of William B. Gorham.

6 Mar 1866 James Woodard and wife Margaret to heirs of William B. Gorham, to wit Susan M. Cook, Sarah A. Cook, Caroline Jones, T. M. Gorham, Victoria Benton, and B. V. Holman, $800, 122 acres on Hopkinsville Road. (Robertson County Deed Book 13, p155)

c1938 Undated letter to the editor from Samuel J. T. Gorham (grandson of William B. Gorham) published in the Herald-News:

”…Major John W. Gorham…was my half-uncle and your great uncle. He was a good Christian man and a well-posted man on the Bible and many other subjects. Have heard him repeat passage after passage of scripture and have often wondered why he was never called on by the Lord to preach. He was a natural orator, a good stump speaker, and also a bookkeeper…Have heard him say that he never had the opportunity to attend school but three days in his like. He helped to fight the Indians in the Florida Indian war. Kept a tavern in Springfield for some time. He died in Russellville, Kentucky in 1893 and was buried there. He was the father of the late R. T. Gorham of Dover, Tenn., who died a few months ago at a ripe old age…I well remember hearing my father, uncle John W., and aunt Sue Cook and other older people speak of the LaPrade incident when I was a small boy…

…The tan yard Mr. Green makes mention of was first established there by my grandfather William B. Gorham, so I have been told by my father T. M. Gorham and that only a few houses were standing where Springfield now stands at that time…he came to Tennessee from the bluegrass region of Kentucky…stopping and hunting for a while at a place called Clifty, at that time but a short ways from Russellville, Ky., taking up his abode while there with some of the older Southern Kentucky Gorhams who were living in and near Russellville at that time; their names were Sheb, Tom , and Gladden. The Yankees killed Sheb Gorham during the Civil War…We were never able to trace our relations to these Gorhams, if any. Though my father used to tell all inquiring friends that he claimed kin with all the good ones among them but didn’t know anything about the bad ones. My grandfather William B. afterwards came to Tennessee, married, settled on a tract of land about one mile southwest of Springfield, so I have been told…He spied some rocks while hunting in Clifty he thought suitable for millstones, afterwards returning there getting these stones out, shaping and dressing them to his notion, brought them to his place on Sulphur Fork, building a mill there…[goes on to say his father T. M. Gorham later dug out the millstones and placed them in his yard 13 miles north of Springfield, where they can still be seen.]…My father died on August 8, 1913.

…Have heard my father say that when he was a small boy, my grandfather, William B., would place him on the back of a gentle old nag, walk and lead her for miles carrying his muzzle-loading rifle on his shoulder to these shooting matches and the best marksmen in the country for miles around would be there. Yet he seldom ever failed to drive the beef of on foot after the shooting match was over…other marksmen would say the thing is already settled when they would see him come walking up. He died on May 16, 1851 and was buried on the farm now owned by C. W. Cook, one of his grandsons, about 7 miles north of Springfield.

My great-grandfather, Jack Gorham, was one among the pioneer settlers in Fayette County, Kentucky, it was either in 1767 or 1776 when he came there from Lonadall (sic) County, Virginia, anyway it was in Daniel Boone days in Kentucky. I have been to his grave 4 miles north of Lexington near a railroad station called Dono Rail. I found but the one old grave there and it is under an elm tree, the old one-story brick house, his former home, still stands but a short distance from his grave. I was told by one of my oldest relatives living in the bluegrass region during my visit there, that he had heard an old aunt of his who had lived to be very old say that Jack and Nathaniel Gorham, whose name appears in history as one of the signers of the Constitution, were brothers….[continues, mentioning his great-grandfather John Scoggins – from a different branch – from North Carolina.]

14 Nov 1970 Letter from Sue G. Hendley of Gallatin, Tennessee to Mrs. Charles (Jean) Durrett of Robertson County. “…My brother Samuel J. T. kept some records of the family but he passed away a long time ago. I do not know what became of them. We only have a few notes of his…My grandfather William B….met Priscilla Pope whom he married. They had the following children: Susan, Sallie, Caroline, Martha Victoria, Beuna Vista and Thomas Marion, who was my father. My father married Margaret Scoggins. To this union were born the following children: William Davy, John Forest, Robert Lee. America, Martha Victoria, Samuel J. T., Margaret Sue, and Frances Birdie…