Archer Jordan was the oldest child of William and Sallie Wood Jordan. He is NOT in my direct line, but is my fourth great-uncle. My ancestor, William Jordan (1792-1863), was Archer’s youngest brother by 22 years and the youngest child in the family. He gets a page because I have a bunch of info on him.

Birth

Archer was born on August 29, 1770, in Lunenburg, Virginia. He emigrated to Tennessee with his parents in the 1790’s.

Marriage

Archer married Elizabeth Walker on September 18, 1795.

Children

Children of Archer Jordan and Elizabeth Walker are as follows:

  1. Susan Jordan, b. July 1, 1796; d. ?, m. October 30, 1815 Johnson Wood.
  2. John Jordan, b. June 10,1798; d. September 17, 1868; m. (1) Lucinda Turner (2) 1847 -Margaret Jeffries.
  3. Sarah Jordan, b. Jan. 24, 1800; d. May 6, 1886; m. Jan. 31, 1818 Alexander Ralston, who was a Major under Andrew Jackson in War of 1812; later moved to Ralston Station, West Tennessee.
  4. Clement M. Jordan, b. Feb. 25, 1801; d. after 1886; m. Dec. 1821 Martha Mathews. (Doctor)
  5. Garner M. Jordan, b. Mar. 1, 1803; d. ?, m. (1) Dec. 23, 1824 Rebecca G. Burton; (2) Mary Stephens Petway; (3) Basheba Helland Turner.
  6. Freeman Jordan, b. Nov. 18, 1804; d. ?, m. June, 1837 Martha A. Caruthers.
  7. Mary G. Jordan, b. Dec. 22, 1805; d. Feb. 12, 1866; m. Oct. 27, 1824 her cousin, Newton Jordan, son of Stephen C. Jordan.
  8. Elizabeth Jordan, b. Jan. 3, 1808; d. Oct. 17, 1858; m. Oct. 20, 1829 to Thomas W. Pettus.
  9. Nancy Jordan, b. April 24, 1809; d ?; m. I. or J. B. M. Allen.
  10. Jane W. Jordan, b. Feb. 23, 1811; d. Sept. 3, 1846; m. Nov. 16, 1837 to James Moore.
  11. Coleman J. Jordan, fifth son of Archer and Elizabeth (Walker) Jordan was born Jan. 13, 1813, died Jan. 23, 1878. He married Mary A. Ingram, born Dec. 25, 1820, died Nov. 26, 1887. One record states Mary A. Ingram was born in Louisiana, but she was a member of the Ingram family who came to Tennessee before it became a state. Both were buried in Old Jordan Cemetery.Children of Coleman J. and Mary A. Ingram Jordan:
    1. William Archer Jordan, b. Mar. 3, 1841; d. July 23,1893; m. Dec. 12, 1866 Susan Jane Chunn, his cousin, of Bedford County, TN. William Archer was buried in Burns Cemetery. Susan C. Jordan buried in Hazel Cemetery, Bell Buckle, TN.
    2. John Alexander Jordan, b. Jan 11, 1845; d. Feb. 22, 1919, Rutherford Co. TN. Married Martha Susan Winn Winsett, b. Mar. 27, 1838; d. Mar. 15, 1910, Rutherford Co., TN.
    3. Isom Jeffries Jordan, b. Oct. 8, 1854; d. Sept. 6,1921; m. Jan. 19, 1876 Rhoda Putman, b. Oct. 10, 1860; d. July 3, 1943. Both were buried in Triune Methodist Church Cemetery.
    4. Gentry Jordan
    5. Tabitha Jordan, m. _______ Glenn
    6. Ophelia Jordan, m. _______ House.

    Coleman appeared in the 1850 Census of Williamson Count, Tennessee as “C.J. Jourdan,” 36 years old, with wife M.A., 27, and four children. Williamson County, Tennessee -Will Book 19 -1884/1888 – May 14, 1888 -I.J. Jordan appointed Administrator of Coleman Jordan Estate.

  12. Archer Jordan, (Jr.), b. Dec. 20, 1814; d. Aug. 20, 1815.
  13. Edward Leland Jordan, b. July 23, 1817; d. Oct. 9, 1899; m. (1) 1840 Martha H. Fletcher; (2) Jane C. Cook; (3) 1858 Mildred Williams. (Merchant in Triune -later a banker in Murfreesboro, TN)

Biography

This info is from Wilma Vaughan Chunn’s A Treasury of Kith and Kin:

The Jordan family was so large that we had to decide how many could be recorded in this history-genealogy without becoming cumbersome. We decided to record, for the most part, only our direct line, and/or any other Jordan family who had lived in Bedford County, TN, or who had intermarried with the Chunns.

William Jordan, (Sr.’s) great grandson, William Archer Jordan, of Williamson County, TN, married after the Civil War, his cousin, Susan Jane Chunn, of Bedford County, TN. This family of Jordans lived in Bedford County for their entire married lives and have descendants still in this county. Therefore, it was decided to include this collateral section of the Archer Jordan, Coleman J. Jordan and William Archer Jordan families in recognition of their descendants now living in Bedford County and elsewhere.

The descendants of William Archer Jordan have two Jordan bloodlines in their lineage; one through John Jordan, (1773-1804) whose daughter, Susan Gates Jordan, married Lancelot Chunn, (III); and one through Archer Jordan, (1770-1835) whose grandson, William Archer Jordan, (1841-1893) married his cousin, Susan J. Chunn.

This collateral section of “A Treasury of Kith and Kin” is devoted entirely to these families.

# ARCHER JORDAN, eldest son and eldest child, of William and Sallie (Wood) Jordan, was born August 29, 1770 in Virginia; died September 15, 1835 at Triune, Williamson Count, TN; m. September 18, 1795 Elizabeth Walker, dau. of Thomas, by Rev. Wm. Ellis, Methodist, Lunenburg County, VA. Elizabeth was born January 13, 1774, died July 10, 1832. Both were buried Old Jordan Cemetery, Old Possum Trot Road, now known as New Road in 18th District, 2 miles Southeast of Triune.

About 1795, Archer Jordan and wife, together with his father, William Jordan and his family, decided to leave Virginia and emigrate to the West. It is said they located first in the Lexington area of Kentucky, but the following year came to Tennessee. One record states they lived for a time in the Maxwell Community of Davidson County, TN. Another states they crossed the Cumberland River on the ice with all their earthly possessions, which were limited to a few essential household articles, but soon settled in Williamson County, TN.

Archer Jordan was quickly elected a magistrate in which capacity he served until his death in 1835.

After the death of his father, Archer Jordan bought the homeplace. Sometime in the 1830’s, the brick house that William built about 1810 burned.

In 1824, Archer’s daughter, Mary G. (Polly) (1805-1866) married her cousin, Newton Jordan, (1803-1888), and they built on their grandfather’s land

“one of the finest brick houses in a community where great houses abounded. The most careful attention was given to the construction of this place. Stairways, fireplaces, doors and porch columns were perfectly proportioned and balanced. Deserving special notice are the fine staircase and many distinctive handcarved mantles, no two of which are alike in the house.

“Three stories tall, the house originally fronted on the old Murfreesboro Pike, a roadway long since abandoned. Newton Jordan was a man of considerable means. He owned a hundred slaves and operated a full-scale plantation. However, his fortune was swept away during the war years, his wife died and he was never able to recover his former state of well-being.

The house is located one mile East of Hwy. 31-A on the Possum Trot Road. Two excellent log outbuildings, smokehouse and a wash room remain in the back yard. There was no outside kitchen since the cooking and dining area was in the basement. This was an arrangement the early settlers copied from their homes in Virginia and was often found to be more convenient than the detached kitchen. (From “Historic Williamson County: Old Homes & Sites” by V. Bowman.)

Of the countless elegant structures that once graced the countryside in the Triune area, this house is one of the few left standing. Although it has been sold several times, it has never been out of the hands of William Jordan’s descendants. It is owned in 1978 by Mrs. Leroy Pierce.

It is apparent, after searching the records of Williamson County during the early 1800’s, that Archer Jordan was a “tower of strength” for his family, friends and neighbors. His name appeared countless times in the records as guardian, executor or administrator. Wherever there was a gathering in the interest of worship or education, his name appeared in the records.

“In 1804, Archer Jordan helped organize the Wilson Creek Primitive Baptist Church, and was its first treasurer. Garner McConnico, who was probably from Lunenburg Co., VA was one of its first ministers. The first building was log, but in 1812 a brick building was erected. The members upheld the doctrine of predestination. They opposed Sunday School, instrumental music in church and missionary work. Women sat on one side of church and men on the other. Before the Civil Wan many slaves were members.

“During the War Between the States, the church was used by both armies leaving Confederate and Federal flags, names and regiments inscribed on columns and seats. Several of these old pews are still in the building. It is a wonder that Wilson Creek Meeting House escaped the fate of the Triune Methodist Church which was burned by the Yankees, and the Concord Baptist at Nolensville, which was torn down by Steedman’s men and material used to build flues for their winter quarters after the Battle of Nashville.” (From Historic Williamson County: Old Homes & Sites” by Virginia Bowman.)

Residence

1850

Archer Jordan had seven sons. Archer, Jr. died in infancy. The remaining six sons and one daughter were recorded in the 1850 Census of Williamson County as follows:
John Jourdan, 52 yrs. M. 26; W. 22; J.H. 19; J.T. 18; S. 14; C. N. 12; J. 8; TN/TN.
C. (lement) (physician) 49 yrs. M. 45; J.A. 25; J. 23; L (Fern.) 21; M.A. (Fern.) 18; E. (Fern.) 14; 1. 6; W. Moore 7; M. 4; TN/VA.
G. (arner) M. 47 yrs.; Mary M. 45; Eliz. 23; Wm. Pitnay (Petway) 22; is Rebecca 21; Sarah J. 20; Nancy J. 17; John Pitnay (Petway) 18; Ann Eliza 15; Susan 13; Garner 11; Mary T. C. 1; TN/TN.
Freeman W. Jordan, 45 yrs. Martha A. 26; Mary J. 9; Robt. A. 7; Sara P. 5; Martha P. 3; William A. 1; Sarah E. Moore 7; Richard Brown 13; TN/TN. –”
C. (oleman.) J.
E. (dward) L. 33 yrs; M.H. 27; M.F. 9; M.E. (Fern.) 6; L.L. 4; F.A. (Fern.) 2; J.A. Moore 10. TN/TN.
Mary G.
N. (ewton) 47 yrs; M.G. 44; A. 19; LL. 13; C. 11; N.A. (Fern.) 8; N. 5; J. Moore 5; M.J. Overall (Fern.) 37; M.P. Overall (Fern.) 5.TN/TN

Archer Jordan’s daughter, Jane, married James Moore. She died in 1846, and from the above census records, it seems that some of Jane’s brothers and sisters took a child.

Death

Archer Jordan died on September 15, 1835, in Williamson County, TN.

Will

ARCHER JORDAN’S WILL followed very much along usual lines. He requested his sons John and Clement and son-in-law, Thomas W. Pettus to act as executors. He instructed that they sell his real and personal property and divide proceeds equally among his children. He instructed that his daughter, Sarah Ralston’s share be put out to interest and same paid her annually. He made cash bequests to his daughters Nancy and Jane W., and son Edward L. to make their shares equal to the others. Will dated January 15, 1835 – probated October, 1835 term of court.

Published Info

“The first dirt road from the Davidson County line was laid out in 1805 by Archer Jordan and others by the County Court, leaving the pike location at the John Page place and running through the Boyd farm, later Josiah T. Jordan farm, immediately west of his house, continuing down the hill and across the valley on the James Bostick and Andrew King places (now Cherry and Ben Bennett) to the present Franklin Road in front of Ben Bennett’s home, where Allison’s Mill stood on the bank of Wilson Creek. This was later known as King’s Mill and disappeared about 1895 from disuse. It was a flour and grist mill, run by water power, a tread wheel on which eight mules walked, to furnish power. Later this old mill was owned by W.W. Crockett and the site is now owned by Ben Bennett.”
Source: Rick Warwick, “Triune: Two Centuries at the Crossroads” (Franklin, Williamson County Historical Society, 2004), page 5.

Sources

  • Virginia Bowman, “From Historic Williamson County: Old Homes & Sites”
  • Wilma Vaughan Chunn, “A Treasury of Kith and Kin,” (1979)
  • Rick Warwick, “Triune: Two Centuries at the Crossroads” (Franklin, Williamson County Historical Society, 2004)