Who were the parents of John R. Petty?
John R. Petty was born about 1836 in Tennessee. He married Margaret Thomas on September 20, 1857 in
Whitfield County, Georgia. Census records show John and Margaret in McMinn County, Tennessee in 1860
and Logan County, Kentucky in 1870. Based on birth places for their children (mostly listed in census
records), they moved from Tennessee to Georgia after the 1860 census was taken and before April, 1861
when their daughter, Samantha, was born in Dalton (Whitfield County), Georgia. Two other children were
born in Georgia in 1865 and 1867. Between 1867 and 1870, they moved to Kentucky and their 3 youngest
children were born there between 1871 - 1874.
John has not been located in the 1880 census and Margaret died in Hopkins County, Kentucky on July 28,
1876. Most of their children were living in Forsyth County, Georgia in 1880 with Margaret's sister, Mary
Echols. There is a record in Whitfield County for a marriage on April 25, 1878 of John R. Petty and M. C.
Bohanan. It is unclear if this is the same John R. Petty but it could be.
There were Petty's in Bradley County, Tennessee that could have been our John's family. In 1860, there is a
family headed by a John Petty (age 51) living with Martha (21), Rash (19), James (16), Joseph (14), Angeline
(12) and Mary (9). In 1860, our John and Margaret were living in adjoining McMinn County. Our John was 24
at that time making his age in line for him to be a sibling in this family.
Based on a newspaper clipping about Samantha Petty Hankins, we know that her father served in the
Confederate Army and that they lived in Dalton, Georgia during the Civil War.
The Tennessee 43rd Infantry, Company I had a Sgt. John R. Petty as well as Pvts, James, Joseph and R. P.
Petty. This company was formed in Bradley County, Tennessee. Our John R. probably lived in Whitfield
County, Georgia at the time he joined the Confederacy but Whitfield borders Bradley County to the south so
it's possible that he would have joined from there (especially if these other 3 Petty's were his brothers).
James, Joseph and R. P. are almost certainly the 3 brothers listed in 1860 in Bradley County. (Later census
records list Rash as Rash P. and R. P.)
In 1870 John and Margaret were living in Logan County, Kentucky and there was a Joseph Petty (born in
Tennessee) living near them. Joseph was the right age to be the Joseph from Bradley County and since he
was living near John, this seems to further indicate a relationship. Three of John and Margaret's children had
names found in the Bradley County Petty family. While Mary and Joseph were very common names, Angeline
(which was their daughter Samantha's middle name) is less so.
There are more details about the possible connection to John R. and the elder John Petty on my blog in a
series of four posts starting here. There are also several follow-up posts with additional information that can
be found here - the links to all related posts are at the end of this last post.
If you know anything about the Bradley County Petty's or John R. Petty, please e-mail me.
John R. Petty was born about 1836 in Tennessee. He married Margaret Thomas on September 20, 1857 in
Whitfield County, Georgia. Census records show John and Margaret in McMinn County, Tennessee in 1860
and Logan County, Kentucky in 1870. Based on birth places for their children (mostly listed in census
records), they moved from Tennessee to Georgia after the 1860 census was taken and before April, 1861
when their daughter, Samantha, was born in Dalton (Whitfield County), Georgia. Two other children were
born in Georgia in 1865 and 1867. Between 1867 and 1870, they moved to Kentucky and their 3 youngest
children were born there between 1871 - 1874.
John has not been located in the 1880 census and Margaret died in Hopkins County, Kentucky on July 28,
1876. Most of their children were living in Forsyth County, Georgia in 1880 with Margaret's sister, Mary
Echols. There is a record in Whitfield County for a marriage on April 25, 1878 of John R. Petty and M. C.
Bohanan. It is unclear if this is the same John R. Petty but it could be.
There were Petty's in Bradley County, Tennessee that could have been our John's family. In 1860, there is a
family headed by a John Petty (age 51) living with Martha (21), Rash (19), James (16), Joseph (14), Angeline
(12) and Mary (9). In 1860, our John and Margaret were living in adjoining McMinn County. Our John was 24
at that time making his age in line for him to be a sibling in this family.
Based on a newspaper clipping about Samantha Petty Hankins, we know that her father served in the
Confederate Army and that they lived in Dalton, Georgia during the Civil War.
The Tennessee 43rd Infantry, Company I had a Sgt. John R. Petty as well as Pvts, James, Joseph and R. P.
Petty. This company was formed in Bradley County, Tennessee. Our John R. probably lived in Whitfield
County, Georgia at the time he joined the Confederacy but Whitfield borders Bradley County to the south so
it's possible that he would have joined from there (especially if these other 3 Petty's were his brothers).
James, Joseph and R. P. are almost certainly the 3 brothers listed in 1860 in Bradley County. (Later census
records list Rash as Rash P. and R. P.)
In 1870 John and Margaret were living in Logan County, Kentucky and there was a Joseph Petty (born in
Tennessee) living near them. Joseph was the right age to be the Joseph from Bradley County and since he
was living near John, this seems to further indicate a relationship. Three of John and Margaret's children had
names found in the Bradley County Petty family. While Mary and Joseph were very common names, Angeline
(which was their daughter Samantha's middle name) is less so.
There are more details about the possible connection to John R. and the elder John Petty on my blog in a
series of four posts starting here. There are also several follow-up posts with additional information that can
be found here - the links to all related posts are at the end of this last post.
If you know anything about the Bradley County Petty's or John R. Petty, please e-mail me.
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| © 2007 - 2011 Linda McCauley. All rights reserved. |
| Last Updated: 16 Dec 2011 |
| :: Most Wanted - John R. Petty :: |
