John Lewis Fielder was probably born in Surry County, North Carlina, in the 1770's probably about 1775, his brother Nimrod was born in 1771 or 1772 and his sister was born in 1780.
He apparently emigrated to the Nashville area at the same time as his parents John Fielder and Elizabeth Lewis Fielder did. Little is known of his early life, he first appears in land records in the late 1790's.
He married Mary Jane McCutchen on July 19, 1800. We do not know the names of any children that may have been born of this marriage. According to family tradition there were seven children, but we have no names.
In September of 1813 there was a call for volunteers to campaign against the Creek Indians. This campaign was led by Andrew Jackson who was also from the Nashville area. Other well known names in American History such as Sam Houston and Davy Crockett were in this group of men. John L. Fielder was a Private in Captain John Gordon's, Independent Company of Mounted spies. He was mustered into service September 24, 1813, and apparently participated in the entire campaign. He was discharged at Huntsville, Alabama on April 30, 1814.
In September of 1814 the call again went out for volunteers. Again Andrew Jackson was the Commanding General. John L. Fielder again volunteered and was mustered into service in Captain John Gaut's Company of Mounted Gunmen, in the Regiment of Colonel Henderson (Henderson was killed in the Battle of New Orleans). John L. Fielder apparently also particpated in the Battle of New Orleans but I have not been able to locate his unit for this time. He was again discharged from service on April 15, 1815.
We have very little information about John L. Fielder's life except for military and land records. On February 13, 1813 he married Mary Campbell. Her maiden name is believed to have been Denton. Mary Campbell also is said to have had seven children by a former marriage and after her marriage to John L. Fielder she had seven more.
John L. Fielder was the executor of his father's estate and we have several court records that he filed conceerning the settlement of the estate.
John L. Fielder died in Maury County Tennessee on September 17, 1835. We do not as yet know the cause of his death or the place of his burial.
RESEARCH NOTES
War of 1812
Fielder, Abraham-5 reg. Va. Militia-private
Fielder, Andrew-Sergeant-Private orig filed under Fields, Andrew
5 Reg. Va. Militia
Fielder, John-Private-1 reg't (Scott's) Ky volunteers
Fielder, John- Private-1Regt. (Scott's) Ky volunteers, original
filed under-Brady, Charles.
Fielder, John-3 Regt. (Alston's) S.C. Militia
Fielder, John Jr-Private-3 Reg't (Dodge's) Mass Militia
Fielder, John-Private-13th Reg't (Nixon's) Mississippi Militia
original filed under Felder, John
Fielder, John L.-Private-Captian Gordon's Mounted Spies, Tenn, Militia
.Fielder, John L.-Private-Capt. Mason's Co. Calvery-Tenn. Militia
Fielder, John L.-Private-2 Reg't Mounted gunmen (Cannon's) West
Tenn Volunteers (see also Capt. Gordon's Co of spies
Fielder, John L.-Private-2 Regt.I (Cockes) W. Tenn Militia
Fielder, Josiah-Corporal-3 Regt. (Wimberly's) Ga Militia
Fielder, Knott-Private-Lieut. Pritchard's Detachment Mass. Militia
Fielder, Knott-Private-3 Regt. (Dodge's) Mass Militia
Fielder, Obediah M. B.-3 Regt.(Wimberly's) Ga Militia. Lieutenant.
Fielder, William-Private-Lieut. Col. Nixon's Regt. Mississippi Militia
Fielder, William-Private-Lieut. Prichard's Detachment, Mass. Militia
Fielder, William 1st-Private-3 Regt.(Dodge's) Mass Militia
Fielder, William Jr-Private-3 Regt. (Dodge's) Mass Militia
Fielder, William-Private-4th Regt (Washington's) Va Militia
Fielder, William-Private-5 Regt. Va Militia
Fielder, William-Drummer-7 Regt. (Saunder's) Va Militia
Fielder, William-Private-13th Regt.(Nixon's)Miss. Militia
Fielder, William-Private-Lieut. Col. Nixon's Regt Miss. Militia
Page 294 Davidson County Tennessee Wills.
American Genealogical Lending Library microfilm.
John Fielder decd inventory.
A list of property of John Fielder deceased sold on the 19th
of December 1818.
One negro man by the name of Stephen 47 years of age. Sold for
$551.00. Bought by John L. Fielder, executor of the said deceased.
State of Tennessee-Davidson County Court of Sessions 1818.
This additional inventory of the estate of John Fielder, deceased,
was ???? into court by John L. Fielder, heir executer, and
ordered to be recorded.
From: THE HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY TENNESSEE
.
Capt. John Gordon was a man whose prominence has given him a place in Tennessee history, and he is certainly entitled to a prominent place in a history of the county in which he lived during his latter days, and with the early settlement and development of which he and his family had much to do. Captain Gordon was born in Virginia, and, tradition says, was a descendant of Pocahontas, as was also his wife, Dol!ie Cross, whom he married in Davidson County.
He came to Nashville between 1780 and 1790, and died in Hickman County prior to 1823, as Judge Haywood, writing at this time, said: "Captain Gordon was a brave and active officer, distinguished through life for a never-failing presence of mind, as well as for the purest integrity and independence of principle. He had much energy, both of mind and body, and was in all, or nearly all, the expeditions from Tennessee which were carried on against the Indians or
other enemies of the country, and in all of them was conspicuos for these qualities. He now sleeps with the men of other times, but his repose is guarded by the affectionate recollections of all who knew him.'' One of his expeditions against the indians, not already mentioned, started from Nashville on June 11,1794. He followed a party of Indians, who had killed Mrs. Gear, nearly a hundred miles before he overtook them. Later in this year he was out with the Nickajack Expedition, which resulted in ihe destruction of the upper Cherokee towns. Before crossing the Temnessee River, Colonel Orr, who was the nominal commander of this expedition, called a council of war, in which were Colonel Mansker, John Rains, John Gordon, and other veteran Indian fighters. Captain Gordon was among the first. to swim the river on this September morning before daylight, and he stood on the bank and counted the whites as they reached the bank and fell into line preparatory to making the attack. In this expedition were Joseph Broom and William and Gideon Pillow, ancestors of prominent Maury County families, Gordon's future commander, Andrew: Jackson, served as a private in this expedition. In 1796 he was a justice of the peace in Davidson County, and was Nashvi!le's first postmaster, serving from April 1, 1796, to October 1, 1797. Following this came his trading-post venture near what is now Gordon's Ferry, and his removal to Hickman County, which became his home.Here he evidently hoped to end in peace an eventful life, satisfying his love for adventure by an occasional trip to New Orleans on a flatboat. Before he came to Duck River he had made at least one trip to New Orleans. He had a loaded flatboat tied up at Nashville. He and one of his negroes, while attempting to fasten it more securely, allowed it to drift from its moorings and out into the current of the Cumberland River, They had provisions already on board, and, without attempting to again bring it to the shore, these two set out for New Orleans, a thousand miles away. They reached this point after a voyage of many days, and when, as was the custom, an offer was made to assist them in landing, Gordon replied: " Ned and I have brought this boat from Nashville, and I think we are able to land it." they were.
Whatever may have been his dreams of peace, they were rudely interrupted in September, 1813, by the news of the horrible masscre at Fort Mims, Alabama, of five hundred whites by Creek Indians. He was now advanced in age, and nearly a score of years had passed since he had last heard the vengeful crack of a Tennessee rifle followed by the death cry of a savage; yet the feelings of indignation with which he heard the horrible news rolled back the tide of the years, and the hero of 1794 became the hero of 1813.. His ancestors in old Scotland never ra!lied around the bearer of the cross of fire with more alacrity than did "Old Captain Jack~ Gordon answer the call to arms. He reported for duty and was made captain of a company of scouts, or spies, which rendered such service in the war which followed that the name of Gordon became inseparably linked with those of Jackson, Carroll, and Coffee. On November 6, 1813, at the battles of Tallushatchee and Talladega, the troops, worn out by fatigue and weakened by lack of food, demanded that General Jackson lead them back home. He was on the point of acceding to this demand and abandoning Fort Strother, when thinking how much the desertion of the fort would encourage the Indians, he declared that he would remain at the post if only two men would bear him company. Captain Gordon was the first to volunteer, and, moved by his example, over a hundred agreed to remain. Later, when Jackson's command was reduced by desertion in the face of the enemy to about 800 men, Gordon's spy company was "faithful among the faithless found." At Enotachopoo Creek, on December 24,1813, when the Indians made a spirited and unexpected attack upon the rear guard, recrossed the creek and assisted in changing what bade fair to be a disastrous defeat into a complete victory. Referring to this affair, one historian calls him "the famous spy captain of Duck River, Gordon;" another refers to him as "Capt John Gordon, an old pioneer hero." In August 1814 a treaty had been concluded with the Creeks, Gordon was called upon to perform one of the most hazardous duties of his whole career. Clayton, referring to this, says: 'General Jackson, being anxious to make sure of the fruits of his important victories, now sought to make the Spanish Governor of Pensacola a party, as it were, to the treaty with the Indians, so as to hold him to a stricter responsibility for his future conduct. But to reach him it was necessary for the bearer of his messages to traverse a long stretch of tropical wilderness, unmarked by road or path, and rendered doubly difficult of penetration by an area of numerous swamps, lagoons, and rivers. Capt. John Gordon, who, with a single companion, undertook the dangerous and seemingly desperate mission. At the end of the first day's journey the companion of Captain Gordon became so much appalled by the prospects ahead that the Captain drove him back and continued his misslon alone. After many difficulties and dangers from hostile Creeks, he reached Pensacola. On his arrival he was surrounded by a large body of Indians, and it was only by the greatest presence of mind that he escaped instant death and reached the protection of the commandant. His mission being ended, he returned as he came, and reached General Jackson in safety." The information obtained by Gordon resulted in General Jackson's marching against Pensacola, attacking it, and bringing the Spaniards to terms. As to whether Gordon participated in the fights around New Orleans, we do not know, but later in the year 1815 we find him engaged in operating a cotton gin, which was located on Dunlap Creek between Duck River and Shady Grove. Eight years later Judge Haywood refers to him as one who is no more.
LOOSE RECORDS
Letitia, Alfred, Nancy, Jesse amd Mary Ann, persons of color
held in slavery
vs. Abraham P.Maury 13 June 1837
Deposition of B. H. Jackson- Letitia who is the mother of the other pltfs. is the grandchild of Jane Scott, a free woman of color, who was brought to this state from North Carolina many years ago by William T. Lewis. The wife of the deft. being the grand daughter of said William T. Lewis. Abram P. Maury
has held them in slavery.
Depo. of Mrs. Miriam Myra Crabb- 16 Sept. 1837- I know Letitia who is the daughter of Rebecca, who is the.daughter, of Sally who was drowned in the Holston River coming to this country who was the daughter of Jane Scott. I also know Alfred. I don't recollect Jesse belonging to the family nor Mary Ann or
Nancy. I knew Jane Scott, a woman of color, in the possession of William T. Lewis. I heard she was purchased by Lewis from a man named Blunton. She was said to be free. She remained in Lewis' possession many years and had a large family. I think she was sent by Lewis to Natchez or the lower country somewhere. The children of Jane Scott were Priscilla, Kiseah who was lame, Sally who was drowned, Gabrel. Priscilla was given to Gov. Claiborne. Kisiah had several children. Sally drowned in the Holston River supposed intentionally. The man that hired her wrote the family to that effect. Sally had 2 children, Jo and Rebecca who were in the possession. of William T. Lewis. Jo and Rebecca were given to Doctor Claiborn who married William T. Lewis' daughter. I think Mr. Crutcher bought Jo from Dr. Claiborn and sent Rebecca to Natchez and sold her. Rebecca who was in the possession of William T. Lewis was sold at Natchez by Thomas Crutcher. Her mothers' name was Sally that drowned in the Holston River. Rebecca had 2 children Alfred and Letitia. I think Alfred died in Nashville but not certain. Letitia is in the possession of A. P. Maury. I removed to Tennessee in the fall that Buchanan's Station was taken and settled in the neighborhood of Nashville. Jane Scott was in the family of William T.Lewis at that time and for years afterwards. We lived about 1 1/4 miles from Lewis's. I heard William Lewis' sister and my husband Joel Lewis say Jane Scott ought to be free, that the man who sold her to William T. Lewis did not do her justice. She intended to sue for her freedom and I think in consequence thereof she was sent off. Kisiah was lame(called limping or hopping Kizzy). She was the aunt of Rebecca. I married Joel Lewis. a brother of William T. Lewis and lived as neighbor's to him in North Carolina 6 or 7 years and neighbors many years near Nashville. Sally, the daughter of Jane Scott,assisted me in making my wedding garments. She afterwards drowned herself or was drowned. She was born before Lewis removed to Nashville.. Rebecca raised and suckled Macajah Claiborn, and I think Letita was her child at her breast at the same time.
James Abercrombie
Legislative Petition # 78-1823-1
To the Honorable the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee now in session your peitioner Hartwell Miles humbly complaining sheweth to your august body that he is now and has long been a citizen of the County of Davidson in the State of Tennessee. That until the year one thousand eight hundred and thirteen he was a stout, strong, healthy and active man. That as such at that time he entered into the service of the United States as a volunteer private in Captain John Gordons spy company and was entitled to an Honorable discharge therefrom. That he has ever since and is now a cripple by reason of paines in his limbs so that he is unable by labor (or any thing he can do) to maintain himself and family who have been reduced to poverty in consequence of your petitioners affliction which he verily believes was occasioned by the fatigues and privations which he underwent during said campaign. The premises considered, your petitoner would humbly request your honorable body to grant him a small portion of vacant and unapproppiated land somewhere in this state, and such other and further relief as you in your wisdom and justice may think he deserves. And your petitioner is duty bound will ever pray & C.
Hartwell Miles
I do hereby certify that I belonged to Capt. John Gordon's spy company in the Creek War and that, Hartwell Miles too belonged to the same company and I do believe that the said Miles took his complaint by the hardships that he underwent in that campaign in the year 1813 and 1814 and when we were
on our return home he the said Miles was not able to walk home consequence of his pains in his limbs. Given under my hand this18th. October 1823.
Hickman County
John L. Fielder
FROM: The McCutcheon Trace (a genealogy of the McCutcheon Family)
0n October 19, 1800, marriage license was issued to Mary Jane
McCutchen to John Fielder, while at the same time Elizabeth Burrows, widow of the late William McCutchen, and Grizzel McCutchen are found deeding property to John Fielder. Thus, it is believed the Mary Jane is the same person, Jane, mentioned in William's will as one of the daughters.
The Lewis Family History lists one William T. Lewis Sr. of Surry County, North Carolina. In 1793 he emigrated to Nashville, Tennessee he had married Sarah Martin about 1739 in Surry County. Their daughter Elizabeth married John Fielder, and they lived in Williamson county, Tennessee. Their son, John Jr., who is listed as Jack married a Miss McCutchen. (This we believe is Mary Jane McCutchen.). April 28, 1791, a record is made in the Land Office, County Court House, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, that getting property were Elizabeth, Grizzel and Jane McCutchen. family of the deceased William McCutchen, Thomas Denton land was in the description.
We find Grizzel McCutchen's will in the Davidson County Courthouse Nashville, dated March 21, 1822. All her possessions were left to her beloved brother, John McCutchen, including the legacy left her in Patrick McCutchen's will. John, himself to be the executor. Naturally when we found a John McCutchen marrying Rhoda Denton on February 23, 1808, we believed this John to be the son of William and for some reason he was not mentioned in his father's will, perhaps too young or else had not yet been born. (There was one William H. McCutchen who wrote letters to my great Uncle James McCutchen. whom we had never been able to identify. After discovering the above information, we immediately began trying connect him with William McCutchen's famly and found we were correct in doing so.
We find a John L. Fielder connected with James McCutchen's will of 1811, Williamson County, Tennessee (This James being the son of Samuel and Elizabeth Fulton McCutchen) We do not know why, but James McCutchen named one of his children John Fielder. I have also found recently where one John S. Fielder was marrying Sally Howlet, Nov. 9, 1818; that John L. Fielder married Mary Campbell. Feb.13,1821. This might indicate that Mary Jane McCutchen had died a short time before her sister Grizzel made her will which would account for her not being mentioned in the will. It may also indicate that Mary Jane McCutchen Fielder left no descendants. even though the Lewis Family History said there were many descendants to be found all along the Duck River area. I have never found anyone knowing about McCutchen-Fielder descendants
John Lewis Fielder