Thomas Jefferson Denty

The last of the "Southern Dentys" to have been a native Virginian, Thomas Jefferson Denty was born on 17 Sep 1802 in Fairfax County, the second child and eldest son of John and Susannah Denty. Like all their children, Thomas had to make his own way in the world. He did so not by purchasing land, as all of his younger brothers eventually did, but by working as a plantation overseer. We're introduced to Thomas in a letter written by him from Maury County, Tennessee on 18 Aug 1825, when he was a twenty-three year old bachelor.

It is with pecular satisfaction I embrace the opertunity to write you a few lines hoping when they reach you they may find you all well as I am at present. I have nothing of great importance to write you. I am in very good health at this time. I reached home the next day after I left you. I promised I would let you know at this time whether I would come home to live next year or no but as I am not determined it is out of my power to give you answer, but don't miss renting that plantation on my account as it is uncertin what I shall do next year. So no more at present but wish to be remembered to you all. Your affectionate son.

Is Thomas referring to the Dentys as renters or landlords? In light of the amount of acreage already owned by John Denty, landlords would seem the most probable.

Because of that letter, we know that Thomas was definitely in Maury County in 1825. It's more than reasonable to assume, therefore, that the Thomas Denty who was listed that year in the Maury County Tax List and served in Atkins Company, Maury County Militia was our Thomas. But what can't be explained is why there was a 30-40 year old Thomas Denty enumerated on the 1830 Census in Maury County with two males 5-10, two females under 5, one 10-15, and one 30-40. Did the census taker get his households confused? Was there another individual with a similar name erroneously identified as Thomas "Denty". Was Thomas, with age recorded incorrectly, working a farm with no slaves for a widow with several children, or simply boarding with a widow with several children while working as an overseer? Whatever he was doing, as he hasn't been discovered in any other location on the 1830 Census, it must be Thomas Jefferson Denty.[1]

By 13 Feb 1831, he'd relocated to Giles County, Tennessee, where he was employed as overseer by Cynthia Rhodes at Clifton Place, just north of the county seat of Pulaski. (See map, Counties Significant to the Southern Dentys.) The widowed Mrs. Rhodes married a lawyer, Peter R. Booker, who, in a letter dated 20 Oct 1833, declined to re-employ Thomas for the coming year. Booker's justification was two-fold: that Thomas had refused to send a slave to Mrs. Booker on several occasions when requested and that he was absent from the plantation at an inopportune time. What's strange is that Peter Booker referred to Thomas' ability and integrity and offered to recommend him for another overseer position. In a second letter written only two days later, Booker referred to the first incident as a "misunderstanding" and stated that he had recommended him "highly" to an Alabama planter at the same wage.[2] How long Thomas might have stayed at Clifton Place after this "misunderstanding" is unknown. He did not go to Alabama.

Not long before this, on 28 Feb 1833, Thomas had married Elizabeth Abernathy, daughter of Jesse and Rebecca Jackson Abernathy, who lived just north of Clifton Place on Big Creek. The next letter we have from him was written to his parents on 7 Jul 1834, seven months after the birth of Thomas and Elizabeth's daughter Susannah Rebecca on 9 Dec 1933.

It has been some time since I attempted to write you a letter & now I have nothing of much importance to communicate to you more than we are enjoying pretty good health at present & I hope when these lines reach you they may find you enjoying the same blessing with us. We have not heard from you for sometime, neither from either of the boys. Brother John is the only one that does write & from him we have had no letter for some time. We would be glad to see you all but as we can not see each other we could write & hear oftener than we do. We have had it in contemplation to pay you a visit this summer but I fear it will be out of my power to do so. I have lost my saddle horse and my plow horses are so indifferent I should be ashamed to ride them to your cty for I know you have good ones there, but if you will come and see us I will show you as pretty a crop of cotton as you have in Madison I expect. You must write to us shortly & if Sister Ward & family will be up about the last of August or the first of Sept perhaps we can make some arrangement to see you all together. Our little daughter will be 7 months old Wednesday and can sit alone & has two teeth & is among the largest children of her age, very fleshy and healthy.

There is two much negligence I fear and I acknowledge as a child I am two undutiful in not writing more frequent, but I hope you will excuse and for give me when you reflect on my confined situation. There is no time but I have a press of business on hand early and late I have to go, and more over its so seldom I write that I have neither use of my pen nor words to express what I wish to write. I hear from you frequently. Our old neighbor Bales is now my nearest neighbour. He is often in Alabama and I have an opertunity of hearing when he returns. Brother John was to see me a few days since. He informed me that Farther was quite unwell but was better than he had been. Farther, if you have James Leaths note for what he is owing you if you will send it to me perhaps in time I can get it for you, though I think he has no property not with standing I live near him and have a better chance to get it than you have. Also Harnbets note. They are both within my reach and as trifling as any other men in our county. I should not perhaps have troubled myself about eather note but I am informed from good authority that he or his wife has been using your name in a way that somewhat irritates my feelings respecting your chance against him, the partickulars of which is two tedious to mention in a short letter. I have nothing more of importance to communicate at present but we are in tolerable health. I hope these lines may find you and yours enjoying the same blessing with us. Write to us soon and write often.

I am ever Farther &

Mother your affectionate son

Thos J. Denty

Elizabeth requests to be remembered by you and espress a grate wish to see you all T.J.D.

By this date, and certainly by 1836, Thomas was the overseer for Aaron Venable Brown, law partner of James Knox Polk and a future Governor of Tennessee, probably at Brown's Aspen Hill Farm south of Pulaski.

Only six months after the above letter, younger brother William Harrison Denty in Meridian, Alabama, received the following from Jesse Abernathy, Thomas' father-in-law . . .

It has become my painful duty to inform you of the death of your Brother Thomas ‑ He died on Wednesday last after a most severe attack of seven days continuance of Conjestive fever. My Daughter, to whom he was the best of Husbands is inconsolable for his loss. I brought the Corpse, by his request, and buried it here, as his disconsolate Widow might have the mournful pleasure of viewing his grave.[3] As I know not where to direct a letter, so as to reach your Father, I will thank you to inform him and the rest of the family of the mournful event. I have written also to your Brother John. We will take pleasure in seeing you, or any of the family here, and shall expect you shortly. I am, dear Sir,

Jesse Abernathy

A "congestive fever" was the term normally used for malaria, although John Abernathy Smith believes that his death was due to pneumonia. His father-in-law was appointed Administrator of the estate, Thomas having died intestate. The inventory taken by Jesse Abernathy showed cash, notes and salary due Thomas to alone total in excess of $2,518.64. William Harrison Denty, the recipient of Jesse Abernathy's letter, was the only Denty to attend the estate sale on 27 Dec 1836.[4] He purchased Thomas' silver watch.

By 6 Oct 1843, the money from Thomas Denty's estate still had not been turned over to his widow and daughter. In fact, Administrator Jesse Abernathy owed the estate a total of $4,084.15, having obviously fallen into financial difficulties. He therefore took out a mortgage on his land and personal property (including slaves) but was unable to pay, resulting in the public sale of both on 11 Oct 1845. The buyer, undoubtedly prearranged, was the young widow, Elizabeth Abernathy Denty. Since the death of her mother in 1842, she had become the effective mistress of the Abernathy farm. Now she was also the legal owner. She died on that farm on 6 Apr 1899, age eighty-six, an "industrious, frugal housewife, and a model woman".[5]

Research Notes: Thomas Jefferson and Elizabeth Abernathy Denty

Birth and death dates of Thomas (17 Sep 1802-13 Oct 1836) and Elizabeth (24 Jan 1813-6 Apr 1899) from tombstone in Abernathy Cemetery. [Giles County Historical Society, Cemetery Records of Giles County, Tennessee, p. 2]

18 Aug 1825: Letter written by Thomas to parents is datelined: "Tennessee Maury Cty, 18th Aug 1825".

Thomas Denty served in Atkins Company, Maury County Militia in 1825. [Abernathy and Smith, The Descendants of Thomas Jefferson Denty and Elizabeth Abernathy Denty]

1830 CENSUS, Maury Co, TN: 2 males 5-10, 1 30-40; 2 females under 5, 1 10-15, 1 30-40. [Pg 415]

By autumn of 1830 was overseer for Cynthia Hallman Rhodes at Clifton Place on Richland Creek, north of Pulaski, Giles Co, TN. (Mrs. Rhodes later married Peter Booker.) [Abernathy and Smith]

27 Dec 1832: John R. Bittick took out trust deed to secure promissory note of $50.00 to Thomas J. Denty due 25 Dec 1832. (Note originally given to James Woodward, assigned by him to Thomas Denty.) [Book K, p. 13: Copy appearing in Abernathy and Smith]

Marriage date: 28 Feb 1833. [Obit of Elizabeth Abernathy Denty, The Pulaski Citizen, 13 Apr 1899: Copy appearing in Abernathy and Smith] Maury Historical, Maury County Cousins, Vol. 2, p. 51 claims that National Banner & Nashville Daily Advertizer, 17 Jan 1833 carried notice. But according to Rebecca Denty Abernathy's transcription from the TN State Library, the newspaper date was Mon, 25 Mar 1833.

2 May 1833: A second trust deed was taken out by John R. Bittick to cover debt owned to Thomas Denty. Two mares were added to rest of collateral, loan to be paid in ten days. [Book K, p. 14: Copy appearing in Abernathy and Smith]

20 Oct 1833: Peter Booker wrote to Thomas informing him that he would not be retained for the coming year, the reason being that he had refused to send a slave to Mrs. Booker when requested on several occasions and that he had been absent from the plantation at an inopportune time. On 22 Oct 1833, Booker wrote another letter that referred to the previous complaints as a "misunderstanding", and recommending him to an AL planter. [Copies appearing in Abernathy and Smith]

By 1836 had become overseer for Aaron Venable Brown south of Pulaski, presumably at Brown's Aspen Hill Farm. [Abernathy and Smith]

Death date inscribed on tombstone in Abernathy Cemetery; although letter dated 14 Oct 1836 from Jesse Abernathy to William Denty informing latter of his brother's death states: "He died on Wednesday last". In obit of Elizabeth, Thomas' death date given as 12 October. [Giles County Historical Society, p. 2; Obit, The Pulaski Citizen, 13 Apr 1899: Copy appearing in Abernathy and Smith]

(Location of cemetery: Highway 31 north, left into Milky Way Farm to Campbellville Road, then right onto a private road.) [Giles County Historical Society, p. 2]

Died intestate. Jesse Abernathy was appointed Administrator of estate during Nov court session. Total value of notes and salary and cash on hand = $2,518.64. [Abernathy and Smith]

6 Oct 1843: Admns Jesse Abernathy had still not paid the 1/3 dower to Elizabeth or the 2/3 share to Rebecca from the Thomas Denty estate. Total indebtedness of Jesse to them was $4,084.15. He took out a mortgage on his land and personal property to cover this debt. [Copy appearing in Abernathy and Smith]

11 Oct 1845: Sale of land and personal property belonging to Jesse Abernathy. Buyer was Elizabeth Denty. [Copy appearing in Abernathy and Smith]

1850 CENSUS, Giles Co, TN: "Elizabeth Denta" age 37, born VA, no occupation but with real estate worth $3,050; Susannah R. Denty 16; Jesse Abernathy age 72; Robert B. Abernathy 25; Avie Webb age 18; 12 slaves. [Pg 720]

21 Jun 1860 CENSUS, Giles Co, TN: Residing in household of James E. and Susannah Abernathy. (But home is actually the same house in which Elizabeth was born, the house she bought from father Jesse.) [Pulaski Citizen, 13 Apr 1899]

Elizabeth's will written 14 Mar 1899, proved 4 May 1899. Wits: A.M. Allen, W.R. Abernathy. Inventory submitted 24 Aug 1899. [Will Book C, p. 68: Copy appearing in Abernathy and Smith]

[1] Could this man have been Thomas, the son of Jonathan and therefore the uncle of Thomas Jefferson Denty? The age is correct. Did Thomas go to Maury County because his uncle lived there? There is no indication that his uncle ever went to Tennessee. And surely Thomas Jefferson would have made mention in his letter of such a close relative.

[2] Peter R. Booker, 20 Oct 1833 and 22 Oct 1833.

[3] In the Abernathy family cemetery.

[4] One item in the estate sale is especially interesting: a bugle. Was that a souvenir of Thomas’ days in the Maury County Militia?