Individual Details

1820 Census, Jackson Co TN
William Porter: 2m -10, 1m 26-45. 1f 16-26

1830 - William Porter: 1m -5, 2m 5-10, 1m 10-15, 1m 40-50; 2f -5, 1f 5-10, 1f 30-40

1840, District 11 - William Porter: 1m -5, 1m 5-10, 1m 15-20, 2m 20-30, 1m 50-60; 1f -5, 1f 5-10, 1f 10-15, 1f 15-20, 1f 40-50

1850 Census. Dist 12, Jackson Co TN, Hh 731
William "Poter", age 60, b. NC. Ruth, 52, b. NC
John, 29. Sally, 23. William 20. Martha 18. Letha 16. Logan 12. Elizabeth 10. All born in Tennessee.

A bill for divorce filed by Sarah Ann Dennis in 1853, against her husband William Dennis, describes her as yet undivided inheritance from her father - so he had died by then. Her father was not specifically named in the court case, but four tracts of land were described in great detail - the first of them matched the description of this record found online:
http://tngenweb.org/jackson/court_reels/court_reel_89.htm

In the divorce case of daughter Sarah Ann Dennis in 1853 filed by her next friend John C. Porter, there is a lengthy description of the lands of her father who died intestate but seized and possessed of four tracts of land in Jackson Co. Her father was not named. The complaint states that there are eight heirs including Sarah besides the widow who is still living and that William M. Porter is administrator of the estate. Note: William Porter was still living in 1850, his widow Rutha in 1860. These tracts are described as following:
One Tract of 60 acres on the North side of Flynns Creek. North boundary line of Benjamin Fox's 150 acre tract; East boundary line of Abner Chaffin's 100 acre tract.
One Tract of 162 acres. West boundary line of a 50 acre survey of Joseph Chaffin. North boundary line of survey entered by Abner Chaffin. West boundary of said Chaffin. North boundary of William Craig's survey. This tract granted to William Porter, grant #7701 dated 3 Dec 1839.
One tract of 125 acres on Flynns Creek. North boundary of a survey entered by Abner Chaffin, NW corner of said Chaffin's survey, West boundary of Chaffin. Granted to William Porter #7723 dated 5 Dec 1839
One tract [acreage not stated] on Flynns Creek. Granted to said William Porter #7724, 5 Dec 1839.


TENNESSEE LAND GRANT NO. 3207.
11 March 1834.
Summary: For the sum of 12 1/2 cents per acre, paid and entered on 28 Aug. 1824, by No. 445, there was granted by the State of TN to William Porter 60 acres in Jackson Co. TN on the waters of Flynn's creek and on the north side of same . . . bounded by . . . Benjamin Fox's 150 acre tract . . . Abner Chaffin's 100 acre tract . . . including said Porter's improvement . . .

In 1860, Rutha was a widow with only Logan still at home.

Birth	1790	North Carolina
Death	Bet 1850 and 1853	Jackson County, Tennessee

Spouse	Ruth Chaffin (1798 - )
Child	John C. Porter (1821 - )
Child	Abner Porter (1823 - )
Child	Sarah Ann "Sally" Porter (1827 - 1865)
Child	William Porter (1830 - )
Child	Martha Porter (1832 - )
Child	Letha Porter (1834 - )
Child	Logan Porter (1838 - )
Child	Elizabeth Porter (1840 - )