William McTeer

Notes

In an address given at a reunion of the McTeer family, Major McTeer gave this personal appraisement; 'My grandfather, William McTeer, was about five feet ten inches in height. He was of very slender build, and carried himself erect, even in his old days. He had small hands and feet, very blue eyes, was quite active and very quick in his movements. He was neat and particular in his dress and personal appearance.

'He had a great regard for religion, and was Presbyterian of course, but never became a member of the church. I have been told that when a young man a minister offended him, and for that reason he never became a member. While born and raised in America, he had a strong Scottish accent, and used the plainest and often strongest language when expressing his thoughts.

In politics he was a Whig of the most pronounced type. A circumstance in the closing hours of his life illustrates his character. When the Civil War came up, he took a decided stand for the Union. He owned slaves by inheritance from grandmother's side of the family, to the value of $12,000 to $15,000. That made no difference with him. He had taken his stand and was ready to sacrifice his all in maintaining the stand taken.

'He was confined to his bed on the day of the election as to whether the State should secede. The election ground was near his home, but he was quite sick and 82 years of age. An old friend of the family, Mr. W. C. Davis, who was the officer holding the election, got an opportunity and went to the house to see how the old man was getting along.

'Grandfather was deeply interested in the result of the election, especially of that precinct. He asked Davis how the election was going, and whether there was any danger of that precinct voting for secession. Being told that it was almost solid for the Union, he replied, 'That's all right, and that being the case I will not try to vote; but if there is any danger I will readily give my life to save the Union.' That proved to be his last sickness. He died soon after.'

During the War of 1812 William McTeer was First Seargeant in Captain Jehu Stephen's Company of Mounted Riflemen; they were in active service from Tennessee down into Florida.

On 7 June 1816 John White Jr. deeded to William McTeer, both of Blount County, for $570, a Negro woman named Lucy aged about 23 years, and a Negro boy child named Henry aged about seven months. Witnesses: Samuel Bogal, John White.

In the 1830 census of the Eastern Division of Blount County, William McTier was listed as 50-60 years; his household had two boys aged 5-10 years; females 40-50, 20-30 and a little girl under five years. In 1840 he was listed as 60-70 years, his wife 50-60, two sons 15-20, and a daughter 15-20. His sons are listed in 1850 in separate households, but William and his wife do not appear in that enumeration. In 1860 they were listed in a separate household at Ellejoy P. O., William was aged 80 years born in Pennsylvania and Mary was aged 75 born in Tennessee. Mary's sister Ann McTeer (widow of Martin McTeer) was living next door, then son James McTeer, and in the second house down the road son Andrew.

Apparently William McTeer was a much larger land owner than is evident in the Blount County deed records. By his father's will he inherited 260 acres 'of the home plantation, including the old improvement, and he bought in some additional acreage when the lands of his brother Robert were foreclosed.

There were four Blount County land grants from the State of Tennessee to William McTeer; on 25 November 1824, 100 acres; on 5 July 1826, 132 acres; on 20 January 1840, 22 acres; and on 17 July 1843, three acres. The first two of these grants were filed on 21 July 1824 in the Blount County Entry Takers Book, 100 acres surveyed 24 September 1824 on Ellejoy Creek bounded by the original survey to Robert McTeer, and on 9 January 1826, 132 acres, surveyed 28 April 1826, bounded by Samuel Bogle, Adam Kuns, William Cummings, John Williams and James Wilson.

On 5 September 1830 Mathew H. Bogle conveyed to William McTeer, both of Blount County, for $500, 114 acres 15 perches on Ellejoy Creek, and on 11 October 1843 William Garner deeded to William McTeer, for $50, 36 acres 'where I now live.'

On 1 August 1836 William McTeer sold to Elizabeth Cummings, both of Blount County, for $100, 132 acres on Ellejoy Creek, adjoining lands of Samuel Bogle, Adam Kuns, Willim Cummings, John Williams and James Wilson.

On 23 June 1837 William McTier, Benjamin Tipton and William Davis jointly obtained from the State of Tennessee a grant of 2230 acres, surveyed for them 18 October 1836 partly in Blount County and partly in Sevier County. On 1 Jun 1852 William McTeer transferred to Andrew B. McTeer and James A. McTeer, jointly and equally, for $100 his 'interest and claim', being a two-thirds part of this large undivided tract.

On 2 May 1836 William was listed among Blount County Justices of the Peace and was at the same time chosen as County Chairman.

William McTeer performed marriage 20 November 1851 of John Townsend to Nancy Hubbard.

Evidently William McTeer died intestate and his two sons A. B. and J. A. McTeer were then appointed as Adminstrators of the estate. The Blount County Court Minutes for December 1866 record an inventory and sale, and for March 1869 a report and settlement of the Estate of William McTeer deceased. The only papers in this probate file are disconnected receipts, the earliest dated 13 August 1862 and the latest 4 January 1869.

Some time after the Civil War these two sons (then his only surviving children) set up four deeds making a division of their father's real property. All of these lands were located in Blount County on Ellejoy Creek. On 2 January 1869 Andrew B. McTeer to James A. McTeer, two tracts totaling 676 acres, adjoining lands of M. Kounts, Samuel Kounts, Cummings and heirs of William Perry, consideration a 'quit claim from James A. McTeer for land on which I now live.' On 26 February 1869 two deeds from James A. McTeer to Andrew B. McTeer for three tracts totaling 469 acres bounded by lands of John Heddricks, J. A. McTeer, J. H. Gillespie, Cummings and Caleb Davis, total considerations $1000. On 18 May 1869 Andrew B. McTeer to James A. McTeer, 318 1/2 acres bounded by John Heddrick, A. B. McTeer and J. H. Gillespie, consideration $500.

Finally, twenty years after the old man's death, on 6 November 1882 Andrew B. McTeer and James A. McTeer were reappointed Administrators of the Estate of William McTeer deceased; George C. Davis and Will A. McTeer signed the bond for $1000. On 12 May 1883 small amounts of cash were distributed to A. B. and J. A. McTeer.

Buried in Eusebia Cemetery.

Source: McTeer - Mateer Families of Cumberland County Pennsylvania, Frances Davis McTeer, 1975, p 60-61. 'The Townsend Heritage,' Kathy Townsend, 1984, p 22.