Enoch Payne

Male 1796 - 1863  (~ 67 years)


Personal Information    |    PDF

  • Name Enoch Payne 
    Born ca 1796  Scott Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died ca 1863  Hancock Co. TN Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Payne Cemetery, Looneys Gap, Hancock Co. TN Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • CENSUS RECORDS

      1820 Census
      Name: Enoch Payne
      Home in 1820 (City, County, State): Scott, Virginia
      Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820
      Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 1
      Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 3
      Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 1
      Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 1
      Free White Persons - Under 16: 3
      Total Free White Persons: 5
      Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 5

      1830 Census
      Name: Enoch Payne
      Home in 1830 (City, County, State): Hawkins, Tennessee
      Free White Persons - Males - Under 5: 2
      Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9: 1
      Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 1
      Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39: 1
      Free White Persons - Females - Under 5: 1
      Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9: 1
      Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14: 2
      Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39: 1
      Free White Persons - Under 20: 8
      Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
      Total Free White Persons: 10
      Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 10

      1840 Census
      Name: Enoch Payne
      Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Hawkins, Tennessee
      Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9: 2
      Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 2
      Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 1
      Free White Persons - Males - 40 thru 49: 1
      Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14: 1
      Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 1
      Free White Persons - Females - 40 thru 49: 1
      Persons Employed in Agriculture: 4
      No. White Persons over 20 Who Cannot Read and Write: 1
      Free White Persons - Under 20: 6
      Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 3
      Total Free White Persons: 9
      Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 9

      1850 Census
      Name: Enoch Payne
      Age: 54
      Birth Year: abt 1796
      Birthplace: Virginia
      Home in 1850: Subdivision 33, Hancock, Tennessee
      Gender: Male
      Family Number: 281
      Household Members:
      Name Age
      Enoch Payne 54
      Sarah Payne 54
      Ann Bigby 31
      James Bigby 21
      Henry Bigby 18
      William Bigby 5
      James Bigby 3

      1860 Census
      Name: Enock Paysse [Enock Payne]
      Age: 67
      Birth Year: abt 1793
      Gender: Male
      Birth Place: Virginia
      Home in 1860: Click, Hancock, Tennessee
      Post Office: War Gap Hawkins County
      Family Number: 871
      Household Members:
      Enock Paysse 67
      Henry Paysse 25
      Arther Chick 33
      Mary Chick 32
      Louisann Chick 10
      James cl Chick 4
      Ann begley Chick 40
      William Chick 15
      James Click 13
      James Johnson 31
      John D Johnson 24
      Lavina Fields 21

      MILITARY RECORDS

      War of 1812 Service Records, 1812-1815
      Name: Enoch Payne
      Company: BRADLEY'S REGIMENT VIRGINIA MILITIA.
      Rank - Induction: PRIVATE
      Rank - Discharge: PRIVATE
      Roll Box: 161
      Microfilm Publication: M602

      TAX LISTS

      1836 Hawkins Co., Tax List Civil District 4: Beginning at the top of Clinch mountain at Little War Gap thence with the road leading to Lee county line to the ford of the creek below James Collier's, down the creek to the river, up the river to Kyle's ford, across the river and with the road by John Wallen's to a small schoolhouse thence a due course north to the VA state line thence east with said
      line to the top of Clinch mountain. Election to be held at George Anderson's.

      Enoch PAYNE; Reubein PAYNE; Hiram PAYNE;

      HISTORY BOOKS

      Source: Hancock County and Its People, Vol. II 1994:

      Big Springs-Upper Clinch, Hancock Co., TN

      Enoch and Sarah England Payne were married in late August, 1818. Their marriage bonds are in the records of Scott Co., A. The bonds were dated Aug. 22, 1818, secured by Enoch Payne and George George. In the bond the name Payne is spelled as Payn. George George was a well-known man of Scott County. He was keeper in the early 1800's of the ferry across Clinch River where the river was crossed by the Great Western Road to Cumberland Gap. He was also an officer in Scott Co. militia. There seems to be a close relationship between George and the Payne family. We know that in Tidewater VA there was some connection between the Paynes, the Georges, and Moores before they came down into southwestern VA but we do not know just how.

      Enoch Payne was the son of John Payne and Rachel Parker Payne. They were married in WAshington Co., TN on August 6, 1794. John and Rachel Payne evidently bought land and settled in VA near the Clinch River in Lee County (now Scott).

      Sarah "Sally" England Payne was the daughter of John England and Mary Parsons. The marriage bonds for John and Mary were dated Feb. 22, 1786, in Amherst Co., VA. In the early 1790's they moved to the area of Lee Co. (later Scott) south of Stickleyville, a little north of the present Tenn/Va line and not far from Clinch River. The area where they settled is still known today as England Valley.

      Enoch and Sally Payne very soon after their marriage, possibly in the early 1820's moved to an area a little south of England Valley just across into Tennessee. They were there in the 1830 Hawkins County, TN census. As they established their home and started their family, Enoch began to acquire tracts of land until he had accumulated considerable acreage in the upper northeast corner of present-day Hancock Co. Their lands extended down along the Clinch River, taking in all of the Big Springs area. Most of the tracts of land were in the State of TN but a portion extended into Scott Co., VA. The lands were somewhat remote, even today the roads into them are not very good and are not heavily traveled.

      In the 1830's and 40's there was an exodus west from the area. Many people despaired of the difficult life in that remote region and decided to move further on with the hope that life and opportunity would be better. This movement no doubt had much to do with tracts of land becoming available for purchase from time to time.

      Enoch and Sally apparently decided to stay where they were and to try to make the most of what they had - with hard work. They did not have very much in the way of personal wealth and assets when they began their life as a family. But, as the tracts of land became available, Enoch somehow managed to add them to his holdings.

      "Find attached a copy of the signature portion of fragments of an original land grant to Enoch Payne for fifty acres from the State of Tennessee, dated Feb. 15, 1833, No. 19090, recorded in Hawkins Co." The grant is signed by William Carroll, the governor of TN. The large acreage of land which Enoch and Sally acquired land west and south of lands owned by other families who had settled in that area of present-day Hancock Co: Church, Edens, Roller, Sons, Purcell.

      One of the most valuable portions of the Payne properties was the Big Springs. It was a huge spring formation from which may families had water rights. There was then, and still is today, a valley without water resources, known as Dry Valley, not far from Enoch Payne's home. The Big Springs was of great importance to the people who settled there. Even before white men first went into the area, Big Springs was known to the Indians and was a source of water for them. The Big Springs is an unusual, natural formation of great interest even today.

      Enoch and Sally and their family were well known in the area, and their children married into the nearby families. They had seven children, possibly eight. Enoch only mentioned seven in his will but there may have been another one.

      Among the 34 charter members of Independence Baptist Church, on Nov. 8, 1851, were members of the Payne family: Polly Click, their daughter who married A.Y. Click; William Church, a son-in-law who married daughter Isabel; Henry Payne their son; James D. Payne believed to be their son; William G. Payne their son; Sarah Payne; Elias Roller, a son-in-law who married Elizabeth.

      There is a picture Enoch and Sally Payne's home as it was when they lived in it with their family (1800's). The picture is taken from a water color painting by Miss Ida Begley, a Payne great granddaughter. The home was a beautiful two-story log house. It was later restructured about 1900 with white clapboards.

      Following is a brief summary of the lives of Enoch and Sally's children:

      (1) Elizabeth, born 1818/1819; married Elias Roller. The family probably moved west in the late 1850's or 60's. Elizabeth was still living at time of 1890 census.

      (2) Ann, born 1819/1820; married Christian Begley. They had two sons, James and William. Anne Payne Begley died about 1870. Her sons inherited her portion of Enoch Payne's property, including his home.

      (3) Isabel "Ibby", born ca 1821; married ca 1839 William Church and had eight children. Ibby died Dec. 1859. She was buried in a marked grave on the hill above her parents' home.

      (4)William G., born 1823/1824; married Mary Anderson, Dec. 16, 1847 and had four children. William died during the 1850's. He was still living Nov. 1851. He was probably buried on the hill with his mother and sister Ibby, and later his father.

      (5) Mary "Polly", born 1826/1827; married 11848, Arthur Young Click and had five children. Polly died Nov. 1894. She is probably buried in the Weedon Cemetery very close to her home.

      (6) Hiram E., born ca 1825. There is a record in Hawkins Co. dated Feb. 9, 1845 of a marriage of Hiram E. Payne to Mary Anderson. The records also show his brother William as marrying a Mary Anderson. It's possible the names of one of the wives is a mistake (or the brothers married the same woman). We do not know when Hiram died. He is probably buried in the Begley Cemetery very close to his parents' home.

      (7) Henry, born ca 1832. According to his father's will, he moved west.

      (8) There is some indication that Enoch and Sally had a son named James, born ca 1829, but he is not mentioned in his father's will.

      Enoch and Sally were both born about 1796. In the 1850 census the age for each of them was listed as 54. Enoch and Sally did not live to old age, and neither did some of their children. Sally died about 1855. Enoch's will is dated Feb. 24, 1863, and it was proven at the April term, 1863, of Hancock County Court; recorded in Book 6, pg. 3-6. The original will has been preserved by Begley descendants of the Payne family. The recorded copy was lost when Hancock County Courthouse burned in the 1870's.

      Enoch and Sally were no doubt buried up on the hill above their home, with their daughter Isabel Payne Church and most likely their son William G. In his will Enoch made the following bequests:

      (1) to my daughter Polly all of the lands that ly west east of my dwelling house. (this is the portion of Enoch's land which was in Scott Co., VA)

      (2)to my daughter Ann Begley all of my home plantation lying west of the lands I give to my daughter Polly.


      (3) to the four minor heirs of my son Wm. G. Payne (dec.)...all my lands west of the lands I give my daughter Ann with the improvements that was nade by my son...my daughter Ann to see to the letting out and collecting the rents and see that the proceeds thereof is secured for them till they shall become of age.

      (4) to my son Henry Payne three hundred dollars and some over which he owed me when he left this country and still owes, all of which I give to him.

      (5) to the lawful heirs of my daughter Ibby Church two hundred dollars.

      (6) to my daughter Elizabeth Roller two hundred dollars.

      (7) the remainder of my estate...be equally divided between my son Hiram E. Payne, Ann Begley, and Polly Click.

      Enoch Payne appointed James L. Purcell as the executor of his will. James Purcell was a close friend and neighbor.

      The home of Enoch and Sally passed down to their two grandsons, James and William Begley. James inherited the Payne home in his part of his mother's estate. He lived the greater part of his life in the home. James was born ca 1847 and died ca 1937. He was the father of 11 children, 10 of whom lived to be grown. James was in his upper teens during the Civil War and was a little young for active military duty but he mined saltpeter to make gunpowder for the Confederate Army. James and his wife Margaret, with other members of their family, are buried in the Begley Cemetery close to the Enoch Payne home.

      The restructured home of Enoch and Sally still stands today, a part of which is about 170 years old. The home and lands have now passed into other hands. The name Payne is almost forgotten in the area. Very few today know that the large white house was once known as the Enoch Payne home. The history of the Enoch Payne family is written to preserve the memory of a wonderful good couple who made the most of their lives in the Big Springs area of Hancock County.


      Written by Mildred Horton Street, 3x great granddaughter, Florida.

    Person ID I29706  Master File
    Last Modified 28 Mar 2017 

    Father John Payne,   b. ca 1776, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aft 1850, Hancock Co. TN Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 75 years) 
    Mother Rachel Parker 
    Married 06 Aug 1794  Washington Co. TN Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Dodd, Jordan. Tennessee Marriages to 1825 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1997.
      Name: John Payne
      Spouse: Rachel Parker
      Marriage Date: 6 Aug 1794
      Marriage County: Washington

      Tennessee State Marriages, 1780--2002. Nashville, TN, USA: Tennessee State Library and Archives. Microfilm.
      Name: John Payne
      Gender: Male
      Marriage Date: 6 Aug 1794
      Marriage Place: Washington, Tennessee
      Spouse: Rachel Parker
    Family ID F12616  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Sarah (Sallie) England,   b. ca 1796, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. ca 1859, Hancock Co. TN Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 63 years) 
    Married 1818  Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Yates Publishing. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com
      Name: Enoch Payne
      Gender: Male
      Birth Place: VA
      Birth Year: 1796
      Spouse Name: Sally England
      Spouse
      Birth Place: VA
      Spouse Birth Year: 1796
      Marriage
      Year: 1818
      Number Pages: 1
    Children 
     1. Hiram E. PAYNE,   b. ca 1824, Scott Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aug., 1865, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 41 years)
    Last Modified 31 May 2015 
    Family ID F12614  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart