The sons of Greenwood and Sarah Payne
             It would be difficult for me to explain the lives of Greenwood and Sarah Payne’s children without mention of the research that others have done on this family and how they tie into other Paynes in the area. I in no way wish to discredit the research done by others who have worked equally hard on the Paynes of the Davidson County, Tennessee area in the 1785-1815 time period. I feel that with the input of other researchers and their thoughts, conclusions and access to records that others may not have had, that we now have new conclusions for consideration. That is by no means to say that the following is in any way a true depiction of the involved families or that it is error free. Logic tells us that in any undertaking that concern events that happened over 200 years ago and can be accurately recounted are nearly impossible.
            I feel it would perhaps aid us to understand the conditions of the late 1700’s. Of how and why  some of our families may have entered early Tennessee. Maud Carter Clement explains that the government of Virginia was concerned that the settlement of the western Virginia was not progressing at a desired pace. Finding that their earlier attempts were not producing the desired effects it was decided to grant immense areas to men of influence, with the understanding that they were to bring about their speedy settlement. These lands were sold to the incoming settlers at a neat profit, and comfortable fortunes were amassed. As early as 1738 some of the first settlers to western Virginia were the Quakers of Chester County, Pennsylvania.[1] In later years one of these families from Chester County, PA. was that of Mathew and Mary Payne. They came to the Russell County, VA. area where they meet up with John Donelson, Lewis Green and Andrew Davis at probably Fort Blakemore and then were among the first settlers in the area of what later was to become Nashville, Tennessee. It was during the journey from Russell County, VA. to Davidson County that Lewis Green executed his nuncupative will.[2] This Lewis Green is found in the Pittsylvania County Tithe list in 1767 and it was his daughter Sarah Green that married Josiah Payne the son of Mathew and Mary Payne of Chester Co. PA. With the appearance of Lewis Green in the 1767 Tithe list of Pittsylvania County, I feel that he was known to the John Payne family and also to John Donelson. It was on the Tithe list of John Donelson that we also find the names of John and Mildred Payne’s sons. John Payne was the son of Thomas and Catherine Lydford Payne of Middlesex County, VA. and he died in 1807 in Robertson County Tennessee.
            It is easy to see how some of the erroneous conclusions were reached in regards to the Josiah and Sarah (Green) Payne family and that of the John and Mildred Payne family. John Donelson and Lewis Green, are two names that were acquainted with both the Mathew Payne and John Payne families. Both Matthew and John Payne had sons named Josiah and their birthdays were very near one another. Both these Josiahs were at least, known to John Donelson. Therein lie the facts that have caused so much confusion for those trying to research these two families in Davidson County.
            I must digress for a moment and mention another Josiah Payne appears in the records of Davidson County in this time period. It is the Josiah Payne who received several land grants in 1785 and 1793 and by one DAR applicant said to be the son of Josiah Payne who died 1785 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. The Josiah Payne who died in Pittsylvania County, VA. in 1785 was married to Anna Fleming and was from Goochland County and that distinguished family. This Josiah Payne d. 1785 did have a son named Josiah as proven by his will.[3] This Josiah Payne Sr. family lived in the southern part of Pittsylvania County near the North Carolina line and research indicates they came to Pittsylvania County after John and Mildred Payne had left in 1778 for Henry County, VA. Several individuals as the basis for their conclusions have cited the DAR record. After careful comparison of the records of all the involved counties, that is Goochland and Pittsylvania Counties of Virginia, Caswell County of North Carolina and Davidson and surrounding counties in Tennessee I have come up with a different conclusion. There was only one group of Paynes found in the records Davidson County in the 1785-1790 time period and it was that of Mathew Payne and his sons Josiah and George. There is no other Josiah shown on the tax lists of that time frame. Also the Josiah Payne that is cited in the DAR record from what I have found, returned to Goochland County to claim his share of his father’s estate, land that his father inherited. At this time the identity of the Josiah Payne that received the Military Land Grants from North Carolina and married Mary Barnett May 4, 1789[4], is still being researched. (Updated information; after obtaining copies of these land grants it is found that this these land grants were to other men and were purchased by a Josiah Payne of Chester County, Maryland and the grants were not to him. It was he who married Sarah Green) (It may be noted that this marriage contradicts my earlier statement that there were no other Payne’s in the area of Nashville 1785-1790. Obviously there was for this marriage to occur, but this is the only appearance of any other Payne in that time and he is not found in any later documents for the area). To me there are 2 possibilities to his identity, one that he was the brother of Mathew Payne of Chester County, but I would think he would have been rather old to have had served in the Revolution but perhaps not. The other possibility for him is that he is the son of John and Mildred Payne of Pittsylvania County, VA. but that also seems rather remote as this family did not appear for another 7-8 years. What is known is that the Josiah Payne who purchased the Military Grant sold 640 acres of it in 1789. It was in 1789 that a Josiah Payne married a Mary Barnett. Another researcher has found that this couple lived in Robertson County, Tennessee for time and that they were in Christian County Kentucky by 1810. His research has found that this Josiah Payne died in Todd County Kentucky in 1821 where his Will is on file and that one of his daughters was named “Lettuce” (Letticia) which is a name common to the family of Thomas and Catherine Payne of Middlesex County, Virginia. So if his research is correct then there are some parallels that could lead one to believe that he was in fact the son of John and Mildred Payne. Research continues on these theories for now. (The problem with this last theory though, is that Josiah the brother of Greenwood, is shown in several documents in Caswell County covering the years 1786, 1787, 1794 & 1796.)
            The sons of John and Mildred Payne of Pittsylvania County Virginia and their migration routes have been well preserved in the records of Pittsylvania and Henry Counties of Virginia, Caswell County of North Carolina and lastly in Davidson and Robertson Counties of Tennessee. Greenwood Payne (SR.) who died in 1797 in Davidson County Tennessee is found on the Tithe list of Pittsylvania County both in his parents home and in other homes serving as Overseer. He disappears from the records of Pittsylvania County in 1778, the same year that his siblings and parents relocate in Henry County, VA. He appears in Caswell County on the 1784 tax lists and is found in various deeds, is mentioned in the Court records having served as a Constable for a time and as bondsman for his sister Clary’s marriage to Augustine Cook. One of the names that appear with Greenwood is that of his brother Josiah Payne who for a time is found with their parents on the tax lists of Pittsylvania and Henry Counties, VA. and then on the tax lists of Caswell County, NC. It is from these tax lists of Caswell County that we know that Greenwood and Josiah were both married men with families. Careful examination of the records of Caswell County and Davidson County show that Josiah son of Mathew and Josiah the son of John and Mildred simultaneously appear in the records of both their respective counties. (One mentioned in the will of Lewis Green of 1785 while the other is found on the 1784-1786 tax lists of Caswell County.) The reason for Greenwood and his father’s migration to Davidson-Robertson County is unknown but one must suspect that John Donelson and Lewis Green somehow influenced their decisions. We know that Greenwood Payne was in Caswell County in 1796 and that by 1797 he has died in Davidson County. (One source stated that he drowned in the Cumberland River.) It is also known that his wife survived him by a few years and that his estate was settled by his sons Greenwood Jr., John and Reuben. It was also about this time that Greenwood Payne’s sisters and their husbands along with his father John Payne and his brother Josiah Payne appear in Robertson County.
            So in recap it is very easy to see how one researcher became confused in his conclusions about Josiah Payne the son of John and Mildred and Josiah the son of Mathew and Mary. They were both born very nearly at the same time and I feel that when he found a Josiah Payne and Greenwood Payne in the records of Caswell County. And again with those same names appearing together in Davidson County, it was an easy mistake to make. Also in the southeast corner of Caswell was another New Garden Monthly Meeting of Quakers that would tend to add credence to his conclusions. But with as stated previously, a comparison of the records it is shown these are two different Josiah Paynes.
            After the death of their father Greenwood Payne Sr., the sons remained in the Nashville area. For it was on August 5, 1802 that John Payne married Polly Cain.[5] Reasons for placing this marriage as being the son of Greenwood Payne Sr. is the estate sale of 1819 of Andrew Davis wherein a Joseph Payne is named the nephew of Andrews wife.[6] It is my contention that Andrew Davis married Nancy Cain the sister of Mary “Polly” Cain that married John Payne. (Also there were no other John Paynes in the area with the exception of John of Bedford County and the John who was the grandfather of this John, in Robertson County.) Andrew Davis is another name that is found with close association with the Mathew and Mary Payne family dating back to 1784 and Russell County, Virginia. In April of 1803 Reuben Payne is among those listed as making purchases at the estate sale of Jesse Morris.[7]
            We find that Sarah Payne the widow of Greenwood has died by December 6, 1804[8] when Greenwood Payne Jr. returned the inventory of Greenwood and Sarah Payne deceased. When I first saw this document I mistakenly thought that Greenwood and his wife has died together. On reflection and comparing the dates it has been determined that in fact the heirs of Greenwood waited until their mother passed on before settling their parents estate. On December 28, 1804 we find “we John Payne, Ruben Payne and Greenwood Payne, all of Davidson County” sold unto William Webb a Negro woman named “Lucy”.[9] It is my opinion that this slave was the property of Nancy Carter and her husband Jesse who remained in Caswell County, North Carolina and was given back to serve her mother in her widowhood and then sold a last time upon the death of her mother. Earlier in January of 1804 we find that at a sale of the estate of John Blackamore/Blakemore that Greenwood Payne along with his soon to be father-in-law Josiah Payne and Henry Bradford the brother-in-law of Josiah, make purchases.[10] By January of 1805 we find that Greenwood Payne, administrator, returned the inventory of the estate sale of Greenwood and Sarah Payne.[11] It was also at this sale that Sarah Payne the widow of Josiah of PA. and the sons of Greenwood and Sarah make purchases. This would be a good place to point out just how confusing these two families can be to do research on. Not only do we have two Josiah Paynes that were born near the same time but also we have a plethora of Sarahs. One Sarah Green that married Josiah Payne of PA. then we have the widow of Greenwood Payne Sr. of Va. and North Carolina. And as we will see shortly there appears another that married Squire Payne the son of Josiah and Sarah (Green).
            Greenwood Payne on December 14, 1805 takes as his bride, Martha “Patsey” Payne the daughter of Josiah and Sarah (Green) Payne thus uniting two previously unrelated Payne families.[12] In February 10, 1806 we see Greenwood Payne selling a Negro man named “Caesar” to William Webb and this bill of sale was witnessed by Elisha Rice and B. Gleason.[13] Elisha Rice was an old neighbor of the John Payne family when they lived on Country Line Creek in Caswell County, NC. He goes on to become one of the moving forces in the early Courts of Davidson County. Also with this sale we see that the heirs of Greenwood and Sarah Payne have disposed of the last of their slaves.
            In April of 1806 the administrators of the estate of Josiah Payne deceased, are selling his perishable estate.[14] Among those who made purchases are the names of Squire Payne, George W. Payne, Mathew Payne, and Joel Payne, these men were all sons and uncles of Josiah of PA. Among others who participated were Greenwood Payne, Andrew Davis and Flowers McGregor. Among these men we see Andrew Davis but we find Flowers McGregor for the first time. Flowers McGregor married a Mary Payne October 5, 1793 in Davidson County[15]. Just who this Mary Payne was is difficult to determine. I do not feel that she was Josiah and Sarah Payne’s daughter as she is not mentioned in any of Josiah and Sarah (Green) Payne’s estate documents. Since Flowers was born about 1770 it is doubtful that she was an unknown daughter of Mathew and Mary Payne as she would have been too young. One possibility is that she could be the Mary Barnett that married Josiah Payne and that he died before 1793 leaving her a widow. This would also take care of the Josiah Payne that received the Military land grants. More research is needed to clear up this puzzle. What is apparent, is that this Mary Payne was somehow linked to one of the two Payne families in discussion, and Flowers McGregor.
            In January 24, 1807 William Donelson and James Byrns were appointed to settle the estate of Greenwood and Sarah Payne with Greenwood Payne, their administrator[16]. The total sum submitted to the Court was $1739.88 &frac12; a very nice estate for that period in history. By October 1807 an old friend and neighbor of the John and Mildred Payne family, Elisha Rice, has died and Greenwood Payne and John Payne Jr. were among those listed as owing money to his estate.[17] (The depiction of this John Payne Jr. was quite likely to distinguish him from the older John Payne of Bedford County, Virginia, another family of Paynes that was unrelated to either Mathew or Greenwood Payne’s family and lived in western Sumner County.)
            On October 18, 1810 Reuben the last son of Greenwood and Sarah Payne, marries Cinderilla Hudson and his brother Greenwood was the bondsman.[18] On March 7, 1811 William Donelson held an estate settlement sale for Josiah Payne deceased.[19] By November 10, 1813 Reuben Payne, William Donelson, Stephan Cantrell Jr., Paul Dismukes and Edward Saunders were appointed to divide the estate of Josiah Payne deceased among his heirs. The heirs drew by lot the land that was divided into 8 parcels. William Payne drew the 1st lot, Zachariah Payne drew the 2nd lot, George W. Payne drew the 3rd lot, Greenwood Payne drew the 4th lot, Minerva Payne drew the 5th lot, Squire Payne drew the 6th lot,  Ann Pillow drew the 7th lot, and Spencer Payne drew the 8th lot.[20] To me this last document is one of those rare documents that help us to determine family relationships. With the exception of William and Greenwood Payne the other males mentioned were sons of Josiah and Sarah (Green) Payne. William Payne was born c 1777 and he married Elizabeth Payne another daughter of Josiah and Sarah (Green) Payne. Greenwood Payne married Martha Payne another daughter of Josiah and Sarah (Green) Payne so these two men were representing the interests of their wives share of the estate. The relationship and parentage of William Payne has not been proven at this time. Some feel that he was a cousin of Elizabeth but just how we do not know.
            On August 27, 1813, just prior to the division of Josiah Payne’s estate, the inventory of the estate sale of his son George W. Payne was made by Flowers McGregor administrator. Among those listed as buyers at the sale were Sarah Payne wife of Squire, and Greenwood Payne.[21] In just a few months we find that Sarah (Green) Payne has died and that Flowers McGregor submitted her estate inventory on November 11, 1814.[22] And then 4 days later on November 15, 1814 the estate sale of  Sarah (Green) Payne that was held by Flowers McGregor, was submitted to the Court[23].  Among those making purchases were Greenwood Payne, Ruben Payne, Flowers McGregor and Sally Payne the wife of Squire Payne. On May 26, 1815 Reuben Payne and William Blakemore with other jurors were appointed to lay off 1/3 of the estate of John Beck for his widow.[24] Then on August 22, 1815 the account and sale of Josiah Payne deceased was presented to the Court by Flowers McGregor.[25] Those making purchases were, Sarah Payne who bought a slave for Spencer Z. Payne and another for Minerva Payne. Greenwood Payne and Squire Payne also purchase a slave apiece. As one looks at this last transaction we realize several things, one being that it was over 10 years ago that Josiah Payne had died. Another is that this document was presented to the Court over a year after the death of Sarah (Green) Payne. What we again see happening is that the heirs of Josiah and Sarah (Green) Payne waited until the death of both parents before submitting the estate division to the Courts. This accounts for the fact that Sarah (Green) Payne purchased several slaves from her deceased husbands estate, to protect the interests of their minor children. It is most likely that no money actually changed hands but that this was a means to explain how and who received their part of Josiah and Sarah (Green) Payne’s estate.
            We find another son of Josiah and Sarah (Green) Payne, Squire, has died by November 18, 1816. For on that date a sale of his estate was held by his widow, Sally Payne.[26] She and Greenwood Payne were among those who made purchases. Then on December 23, 1823 the final settlement of Sarah (Green) Payne was submitted by Flowers McGregor.[27] Payment was made for the guardianship of George W. Payne, which would indicate that he died shortly after his mother, and was a minor at that time. Also payments were made to Zachariah Payne, Greenwood Payne (husband of Martha daughter of Josiah), Gideon Pillow (husband of  Josiah’s daughter Anne), Spencer Payne and William Payne (husband of Josiah’s daughter Elizabeth). This accounts for all the living children of Josiah and Sarah (Green) Payne with the exception of Minerva who married Robert Booth, October 6, 1818[28] in Wilson County, Tennessee. She lived until 1862, when she died in White County, Arkansas. There is no explanation as to why she was not mentioned in the final estate settlement of her parents.
            Reuben and Greenwood Payne remain in the Davidson County area until their deaths. I find no mention of John Payne their brother who married Mary “Polly” Cain after 1807 when he was mentioned as owing money to the estate of Elisha Rice. It would seem that he remained in the area, if in fact it was his son Robert that was referred to by Andrew Davis as the “nephew of my wife, Nancy Davis”. When and where this John Payne and wife died is unknown. One son of Greenwood and Sarah remains unidentified. Nancy Payne possibly a daughter of theirs married Jesse Carter and remained in Caswell County, NC. That leaves one daughter who we know nothing of. There may have been other children of Greenwood and Sarah Payne because this accounts only for the children that were counted on the 1786 Caswell County, NC tax lists.
The sons of  Greenwood and Sarah Payne and their issue are;
             Greenwood Payne Jr. died September 1863 in Nashville. His wife Martha died November 6, 1855 in Nashville. They are both buried in the Old City Cemetery, Nashville. Issue of Greenwood and Martha Payne:
                        Zachariah, b. 1815 married Elvira Moore.
                        Margaret b. 1819 married Jefferson Cartwright
                        Greenwood b. 1822 died 1849 in Nashville.
                        John Spencer b. 1828 married Cinderilla __?__
                        Reuben W. b. May 24, 1830 died February 10, 1848 in Nashville.
             Reuben Payne died September 18, 1838 buried in Sumner Co. his wife Cinderilla died November 16, 1877 in Sumner County. Issue of Reuben and Cinderilla Payne:
                        Albert G. b. 1811 married Susan Green.
                        Reuben Sanders, b. April 23, 1820 married Sarah Lewis.
                        John Adams, b. September 1, 1825 married Ann Milam.
             John Payne died unknown, married Mary “Polly” Cain. Their possible issue:
Robert Payne, who was referred to in the estate of Andrew Davis as being the nephew of  my wife Nancy Davis.
William Payne born c 1796 in North Caroline and died 1861 in Sumner County Tennessee. He married Margaret Brown c 1821. They issued several children but it is the son “Greenwood” who was most likely named for his grandfather Greenwood Payne. It should be mentioned here that as of 2004 that I have not found the name of “Greenwood Payne” associated with any other Payne family other than the descendants of Greenwood Payne Senior who died in 1797. Another more compelling clue is the 100% match of the DNA of descendant of William and Margaret Payne and the DNA of a descendant of Ledford Payne. There is a solid paper trail for the descendant of Ledford Payne to his father Philemon Payne and on to his grandparents, Thomas and Catherine Payne of Middlesex County, Virginia.
Although we have found no document that names William as a son of Greenwood and Sarah Payne, I feel that this is a correct placement for his lineage. William would have only been 1 or 2 years of age when his father died in Davidson County Tennessee. His mother died just a few years later when he would have been 5-7 years of age. I am of the opinion that he was taken in by either the family of one of his older brothers, who were beginning to marry, or possibly that of a sister whom we cannot identify. We do know that Greenwood and Sarah had daughters but their names remain unknown to us today.
 Issue of William and Margaret (Brown) Payne all born in Sumner Co. Tn;
Robert Sounders b. 12 October 1823 m. Susan Gold
            Mary b. c. 1827 m R.S. Anderson
            Greenwood b. 1831 m. Mary S. __?__
            William b. c 1833
            Melvina Martha b 22 November 1836 m. William J. Montgomery
            Priscilla b. 25 December 1838 m. Robert Estes

[1] Abbreviated History of Pittsylvania County, VA. by Maud Clement, chapter 3 page 1-2.
[2] Davidson County TN. Wills and Inventories, by Helen & Timothy Marsh,  Vol 1, page 26.
[3] Pittsylvania County Will Book 11, page  150.
[4] Davidson County Tennessee marriage records.
[5] Davidson County Tennessee marriage records.
[6] Davidson County TN. Wills and Inventories, by Helen & Timothy Marsh, Vol 1, page 53.
[7] Davidson County TN. Wills and Inventories, by Helen & Timothy Marsh, Vol 1, page 109.
[8] Davidson County TN. Wills and Inventories, by Helen & Timothy Marsh, Vol 1, page 126.
[9] Davidson County TN. Wills and Inventories, by Helen & Timothy Marsh, Vol 1, page 130.
[10] Davidson County TN. Wills and Inventories, by Helen & Timothy Marsh, Vol 1, page 117.
[11] Davidson County TN. Wills and Inventories, by Helen & Timothy Marsh, Vol 1, page 128.
[12] Davidson County TN. marriage records.
[13] Davidson County TN. Wills and Inventories, by Helen & Timothy Marsh, Vol 1, page 138.
[14] Davidson County TN. Wills and Inventories, by Helen & Timothy Marsh, Vol 1, page 139.
[15] Davidson County TN. marriage records.
[16] Davidson County TN. Wills and Inventories, by Helen & Timothy Marsh, Vol 1, page 148.
[17] Davidson County TN. Wills and Inventories, by Helen & Timothy Marsh, Vol 1, page 152.
[18] Davidson County TN. marriage records.
[19] Davidson County TN. Wills and Inventories, by Helen & Timothy Marsh, Vol 1, page 189.
[20] Davidson County TN. Wills and Inventories, by Helen & Timothy Marsh, Vol 1, page 217.
[21] Davidson County TN. Wills and Inventories, by Helen & Timothy Marsh, Vol 1, page 216.
[22] Davidson County TN. Wills and Inventories, by Helen & Timothy Marsh, Vol 1, page 225.
[23] Davidson County TN. Wills and Inventories, by Helen & Timothy Marsh, Vol 1, page 228.
[24] Davidson County TN. Wills and Inventories, by Helen & Timothy Marsh, Vol 1, page 230.
[25] Davidson County TN. Wills and Inventories, by Helen & Timothy Marsh, Vol 1, page 225.
[26] Davidson County TN. Wills and Inventories, by Helen & Timothy Marsh, Vol 2, page 16.
[27] Davidson County TN. Wills and Inventories, by Helen & Timothy Marsh, Vol 2, page 131.
[28] Wilson County Tennessee marriage records. 
Contributed by Jerald Wilson &copy; 2005