Early American colonists and pioneers had to make everything necessary for daily life and skilled craftsmen of all kinds were essential.
Tennessee was admitted to the Union on June 1, 1796. It was initially part of North Carolina.
Mary (Polly) Smith Malone was born about 1789 in Tennessee. Her parents were Henry and Mary Smith.
She married George Malone about 1810. George was born on August 28, 1796 in Tennessee. His parents were George and Rachel Malone.
George and Mary's children included:
Catharine Malone (1812, married John Cole), Mary (Polly) Malone (1813), married Elijah Cross, Jr.),
George Malone (1818),
Jacob Malone (1821, married Elizabeth (Billie) Webb daughter of Nathan Webb), and
Thomas Malone (1824).
According to her father's will, after her mother died on remarried, she was to inherit
one hundred dollars ... in money and the other half in good trade, also such a part of the household furniture as their mother in her lifetime may think proper to give them.
At the time of the 1830 census the household was in Sullivan County, Tennessee. The household consisted of
of a girl under 5, Polly
a boy between 5 and 9, Thomas age 6 or Jacob age 9
a boy between 10 and 15, George age 12
a girl and a boy between 15 and 19, Catharine age 18 or Mary age 17
a man between 20 and 29,
a man between 30 and 39, George age 34
and a woman between 40 and 49 - Mary age 41
In 1840 the household consisted of
a girl between 5 and 9 Polly
a boy between 15 and 19, Thomas age 16 or Jacob age 19
a man between 40 and 49, George
a woman between 50 and 59, Mary
a free black girl between 10 and 23
At the time of the 1850 census the household was in Division one of Sullivan County. The household consisted of George age 52, Mary age 61, Thomas age 23 and his wife Martha age 24 and a 75 year old black woman named Catharine. Thomas was a blacksmith.
George died on June 21, 1859 in Sullivan County.
In 1860 and 1870, Mary was living with her daughter and the rest of the Cole family in Piney Flats.
Sullivan County is in far northeast corner of Tennessee between North Carolina and Virginia and was originally part of those states. It was formed in 1779 when it was divided from Washington County.
A blacksmith forges and shapes iron with a hammer and anvil.
