East Tennessee is part of Appalachia. At the end of the French and Indian War, colonists began drifting into the area. In 1769, they first settled along the Watauga River. During the Revolution, the Overmountain Men defeated British loyalists at the Battle of Kings Mountain. The State of Franklin was formed in the 1780s, but never admitted to the Union.
Jesse Cross was born about 1790 in Sullivan County, Tennessee. His parents were Elijah Cross and Nancy Lane.
He married Nancy Ann Unknown and Susannah Hicks. Susannah was the daughter of Jacob Hicks.
His children may have included:
James Cross (married Elizabeth Mock),
Samuel Cross (1817, married Susan Colbaugh),
Abraham Cross (1820),
Nancy Ann Cross (1821, married Henderson Millhorn),
Rachel Cross (1822),
Rebecca Cross Campbell (1824),
Reese B. Cross (1828, married Harriet Cox),
William A. (Black Will ) Cross (1833), and
Jacob Cross (1838).
At the time of the 1830 census the Jesse Cross family was in Sullivan County, Tennessee. The household consisted of
a man between 30 and 39 -Jesse born 1790
a woman between 20 & 29 -Susan born 1805
a girl between 15 and 19
2 boys between 10 & 14 - Samuel & Abraham
2 boys between 5 & 9-
2 girls and a boy under 5 - Reese
an enslaved boy or man between 10 & 23
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.
