Samuel Conner

Notes:

It is believed that Samuel Conner was named for his grandfather Samuel Conner. Family tradition says "Samuel Conner is said to be of red Irish ancestry while some of his younger generations is crossed with 'Black Dutch'." Samuel Conner was listed in the 1790 Federal Census of Lincoln County, North Carolina.

On 24 September 1819, Samuel Conner bought 100 acres of land from John Hyde for $150.00. This land was located "on South West side of Natahala Johns Fork of the Oconaluftee River..." in Haywood County, North Carolina, now part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Samuel Conner was listed in the 1820 Federal Census of Haywood County, North Carolina. There was one male and two females born 1810/1820; one female born 1794/1804; one male born 1775/1794; and one male born before 1775 in the household.

Samuel Conner was listed in the 1830 Federal Census of Haywood County, North Carolina. There was one male and two females born 1825/1830; one female born 1820/1825; one male and one female bor 1815/1820; two females born 1810/1815; and one male and female born 1780/1790 in the household. Their eldest daughter, Susannah, was already married to John Watson and lived next door to Samuel Conner in the 1830 census.

On 4 April 1834 Samuel Conner bought 84 acres of land from Jacob Couches for $120.00. This land was located "on both sides of the North Fork of Oconaluftee River" and joined his land in Haywood County, North Carolina, now part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Oconalufty Baptist Church was organized on 6 June 1836. Samuel Conner and his wife Nancy Swearingen joined the church as charter members.

The Oconalufty Baptist Church "resolved that we have our Church meetings at Both Brothers Samuel Conners & Jacob Mignes (Seigor) Each one in their turn for conven[ience] of the Aged & infirm until we get a Regular meeting house and that we have a prayer meeting at Brother S. Conner & Brother Minges on each Fork of sd river Between Each Monthly meeting Each one in its turn."

Samuel Conner died at his homeplace on the waters of Ocanalufty River. Exact date of death and burial site have not been located.

It was indicated that one of Samuel Conner's heirs had not received their share in the estate. There is a Power of Attorney in Jackson County, North Carolina - it is given below:

"State of North Carlina)
Henderson County )

"Know all men by these presents that we Busrod Conner & wife Massee Conner heirs at law of the estate of Samuel Conner Deceased have this day constituted and appointed B. M. Enloe our legal and lawful attorney to settle with Joel Conner in all matters pertaining to our interest in the said estate of Samuel Conner Dec'd as full & as lawfully as if we were present at the settling thereof and we further authorzie the said B. M. Enloe to sell and dispose of all our interst in the land owned by sd Samuel Conner Dec'd as full as if we present doing thereof

"In testimony whereof we have set our hands and seals this the 12th June 1859

"Attest His
Joseph Masewell Bushrod X Conner (Seal)
James Masewell Mark
Her
Massee X Conner (Seal)
Mark

"State of North Carolina)
Jackson County )

"Court of Pleas and Quarter Session - June Term 1859, the foregoing power of attorney was duly proven before me by the oath of James Maxwell subscribing witnesses thereto & recorded - let it be registered - certified the 22nd September 1859

A. M. Enloe, Clear"

From the Abstract of Titles for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, "we do not find any conveyance from Samuel Conner for either of the tracts conveyed to him by the foregoing deeds. He was one of the earliest settlers on Ocona Lufty River and he and those under whom he claims have been in the continuous posession of these lands for nearly a century." (This note was written in 1920's/1930's)
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Reference:
"Ownby-Watson Family History", Percival David Park, May 1985, p 66.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 183-184, 185, 217.
"Sevier County, Tennessee and Its Heritage", 1994, p 285.

Samuel — Nancy Swearingen. Nancy (daughter of Samuel Swearingen, III and Massey) was born 1792, Burke County, North Carolina; died Jan 1854; was buried White Oak Flats Cemetery, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

1. Susannah "Susie" Conner was born 1810, Buncombe County, North Carolina; died 11 Feb 1871; was buried White Oak Flats Cemetery, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee.
2. Mary "Polly" Conner was born 1813, Buncombe County, North Carolina.
3. Massey Conner was born 1816, , Buncombe County, North Carolina.
4. Joel Samuel Conner was born 14 May 1819, Haywood County, North Carolina; died 30 Apr 1899; was buried Chambers Cemetery, Swain County, North Carolina.
5. Jane "Jennie" Conner was born 1820, Haywood County, North Carolina; died 19 Feb 1898, Sugarlands, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried Sugarlands Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee.
6. Nancy "Nan" Conner was born 11 Feb 1823, Haywood County, North Carolina; died 28 Mar 1890, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried White Oak Flats Cemetery, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee.
7. Elizabeth "Betsy" Conner was born Abt 1826, , Haywood, North Carolina; died 13 Dec 1891, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee.
8. Rebecca "Becky" Conner was born 1828, Haywood County, North Carolina; died 13 May 1892, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried White Oak Flats Cemetery, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee.
9. Robert R. "Bob" Conner was born 15 Apr 1830, Haywood County, North Carolina; died 31 Mar 1914; was buried White Oak Flats Cemetery, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee.
10. Andrew J. "Andy" Conner was born Nov 1832, Haywood County, North Carolina; died 25 Nov 1887; was buried Forks of the River Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee.