Individual Details

Tradition says he was named for a friend of his father's who was a Captain. This was evidently Captain John Foushee of Northcumberland Co. VA who was appointed a Captain of Militia in 1749, the year of John's birth. James may have served under Captain Foushee.

Before a notary February 9, 1833 he applied for his pension, S1821, for serving in the Rev. War. He stated that he was born in Prince William Co. VA where he lived five or six years when he moved to Orange Co. NC about 1754. He entered the service in the Co. of Randolph in Carolina on the first day of Sept 1782 as a Volunteer soldier in a company of Rangers commanded by Capt. Charles Gholson and Benjamin Pough, Lieut. He stated he had frequent skirmishes with the enemy (Tories) but no general engagement. He was discharged in Chatham Co. NC in 1782, but received no certificate of discharge. He immediately on the same day, again entered the service in Co. of Chatham NC as a volunteer soldier in company of Mounted Rangers commanded by Capt. William Gholson and continued in the service through to 1783 when he again was discharged only to re-enter March 3, 1783 under the command of Major Croften and was attached to (can't read). This time he had one skirmish with the Tories and was again discharged, this time in Moore Co.? NC June 5 or 6, 1783.

He moved to Randolph Co. NC from Chatham in 1795 and then to Blount Co. TN
He further stated he has no discharge papers or proof that he served except for family members. The document is signed John F. Garner. He served as a private in "The Virginia Line" and there is proof as the official record of his service can be found in the Virginia State Library in Richmond VA.

He acquired a large farm about ten miles northeast of Maryville TN near the junction of Little River and Ellijoy Creek. This farm contained about 800 acres at the time of his death. Three hundred acres of it are still in the possession of some of his descendants, the Henrys. (circa 1945)

Family says that John F. was a man of unquestioned character and common sense. Among records collected a few years ago by the WPA is one which shows that John served one year as a justice of the peace in Blount Co., his commission having been signed by Gov. Sevier. In a book by Austin P. Foster entitled "Counties of Tennessee states that John was on of the early lawyers of Blount Co. Records show he served on numerous juries.

About 1789 he moved to Blount Col, TN near the mouth of Ellejoy Creek, where he lived the rest of his life. He is buried on this farm where he lived most of his life and the same house which he built. This old house was torn down in 1890 and was 100 years old. He is buried near all three wives.

Found in the 1790 Randolph Co., NC census with 2 head of household, 3 free white males over 16, and 3 slaves.

The marker to the grave of this Revolutionary soldier was unveiled by the DAR on May 18, 1941 at the Henry-Headrick Cemetery near the mouth of Ellijoy Creek. Will E. Parham read the soldier service named some of the children and descendants. Mr. Z. R. Farmer did the actual unveiling as a descendant who came from Washington D. C. with photostatic copies of the Bible record, the Revolutionary and home record, the will, and many communications from descendants. Descendants present were Herbert S. Garner, Moe Garner, Robert H. Garner, Mrs. Mary Garner Jenkins, Frank Henry, S. W. Henry, Joe Farmer, Nathan Farmer.

John F. was married three times. He married first Nancy Whittle who is thought to have been the mother of all his children. He is found listed in the Census for the year 1830 as living alone. Other wives are said to have been Betsy Donaldson and Gracie Conrad. (All are said buried near him in Blount Co, TN)

"Garner Keene Families of Northern Nect Virginia", Ruth Ritchie & Sudie Rucker Wood, 1952


Book: Garners of Tennessee and Texas
Will of John Fushee Garner of Blount County, Tennessee.
In the name of God Amen, I, JOHN F. GARNER, of the State of Tennessee and County of Blount, being far advanced in years but of sound mind and disposing memory for which I thank God and calling to mind the uncertainty of human life and being desirous to dispose of such worldly substance as it has pleased God to bless me with, I give and bequeath the same in manner and form following, that is,
First: It is my will that after my death my body shall be b uried in a decent Christian manner.
Second: It is my will that all my just debts shall be paid.
Third: It is my will that SAMUEL HENRY who married my daughter ELIZABETH shall have my black people named as follows: PPEGGY, ELEXANDER, JANE, BILL, and POLLY, and that said SAMUEL HENRY shall pay my son JAMES GARNER three hundred dollars: also my granddaughter NANCY WILLIAMSON two hundred dollars.
Fourth: Some time past I gave my daughter POLLY FARMER what I considered to be her part of my black people and bill of saled them to ANDREW BOGLE and my daughter POLLY and her husband received the proceeds of said sale. Therefore I allow my exector to pay NATHAN FARMER and his wife POLLY two dollars.
Fifth: It is my will that my son WILLIAM GARNER shall have my black boy ABE and my black girl RACHELl and all her issue heretofore and hereafter.
Sixth: It is my will that my exectors pay my son JOHN two dollars.
Seventh: It is my will that JAMES WILLIAMSON who married my daughter DOLLY have one dollar.
Eighth: I bequeath to my son BRADLEY GARNER three hundred dollars in cash to be made out of cash notes that I may [possibly hold at my death or out of the perishable property that I may die possessed of and the tract of land I now live on, and in case that BRADLEY is now dead or should it be ascertained that he is dead before he should get in possession of the above legacies, it is my will that my exectors will sell at public sale the property I have left him and divide the proceeds of said sale equally amongst JAMES GARNER, JOHN GARNER, William Garner, Polly Farmer, Elizabeth Henry's heirs, and Nancy Williamson, daughter of my daughter Dolly.
Ninth: It is my will that my black woman Ferabee shall be free at my death and that my exectors shall attend to her getting her freedom, and it is also my will that my son William Garner and Samuel Henry shall execute this my last will. In witness I have herunto set my had and seal this 13th day of April 1835. signed: John F. Garner
Signed, sealed, published, and declared to be the last will and testament of the above John F. Garner in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request have herunto set our names as witness to the same attest. Witnesses: Hugy Henry, William Wilson
Blount County, TNWill Book I, page 53

The Garner Cemetery is located fifteen miles South of Maryville off the Calderwood Highway, near Lanier High School. It was started by William Garner, who owned the land, in about 1835. Three graves marked with field stones, about 75 unmarked. Copied by Hylddred H. Stinnett, Maryville, Tennessee January 20 1938. Garners buried there are: John F. born 28 June 1820, died July 31, 1875, Temperance Garner, born December 9, 1829, died February 28, 1903, F. R. Garner, born February 18, 1864, died March 8, 1889. also buried there with an unmarked grave is William Garner, born 25 December 1749, died 25 November 1839.

Birth	25 Dec 1749	Prince William County, Virginia
Marriage	1770	Orange County, North Carolina - Nancy Whittle
Death	25 Nov 1839	Blount County, Tennessee

Spouse	Nancy Whittle (1752 - 1792)
Child	James Wyatt Garner (1772 - 1856)

Father	James Garner (1717 - 1800)
Mother	Elizabeth Freeman (1721 - 1794)
Sibling	Mary Garner (1751 - )
Sibling	Henry Garner (1753 - )
Sibling	James Garner (1754 - 1843)
Sibling	Rileigh Garner (1756 - )
Sibling	William Garner (1756 - 1850)
Sibling	Joseph Garner (1759 - 1830)
Sibling	Job Garner (1760 - 1800)
Sibling	Henry Garner (1761 - 1745)
Sibling	Jesse Garner (1762 - )
Sibling	Parish Garner (1763 - )
Sibling	Elizabeth Garner (1765 - )
Sibling	Amos Garner (1766 - )