GALLIONS IN TENNESSEE

Grainger County

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INTRODUCTION

Several Galyean/Gallion families migrated from North Carolina to Tennessee in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. These families were not identified until recently. In 1998 the Grainger County heritage book “Grainger County, Tennessee, and its People, 1796-1998” was published. It contained articles about the “Galyon” families of Surry-Wilkes Counties of North Carolina. This referred to the five sons of Jacob and Elizabeth (Arnold) Gallion of Surry-Wilkes Counties of North Carolina. These have been identified as Jacob (Jr.), Joshua, Thomas, John and Amos. This connected the North Carolina Gallions migration to Grainger County, Tennessee. Thus this is a connection between The Thomas Gallion family on Surry County, North Carolina and the Thomas Galyean family of Wayne County, Indiana. All five brothers moved out of the area by 1820. Most moved to other parts of Tennessee. The descendants of the Burke County, North Carolina Thomas Gallion show up in Knox County, TN about 1840.

One of these early records listed a marriage of Elizabeth Gallion to John Moore. Previously Elizabeth’s parents were unknown. Since the lineage of these five Galyon/Gallions is identified, Thomas, the oldest, is the logical choice as the parent of Elizabeth. Earlier records show that Jacob Galyon/Gallion Jr.’s daughter, Elizabeth married Jesse Gentry in 1807 in Grainger County. Subsequence relationship with other members of Thomas Gallion/Galyean’s with John Moore’s family confirms this choice.

John Moore and Elizabeth Gallion

John Moore married Elizabeth Gallion 23 November 1803 in Grainger County, Tennessee. Samuel Williams was listed as bondsman. Elizabeth was born about1784, probably in Surry North Carolina. She died after 1862 in Henry County, Indiana. John was born about 1782 and died after 1862 in Henry County, Indiana. Both are buried in the Moore Cemetery. John and Elizabeth eventually migrated to Indiana. They ended up living next to Elizabeth’s brother, William, in 1835. Also, a daughter (Mary Moore Stanley) lived nearby in 1835. Indiana census records have John Moore residing in Wayne County, Indiana in 1820 and in Henry County in 1830. John’s father, James, migrated from Tennessee to Preble County, Ohio. Preble County is adjacent to Wayne County, Indiana. William Galyean purchased his land in Henry County, Indiana on 28 March 1827 from the U. S. Government. The Moore Cemetery is located on William’s land. The Moore family apparently migrated to Preble County, Ohio during the same general time frame as Thomas Galyean.

Thomas Gallion

The Grainger County Heritage Book confirms that Thomas’s parents are Jacob and Elizabeth (Arnold) Gallion in Surry County, North Carolina. Thomas sold his land in Surry County, North Carolina in 1802. From Grainger County, Tennessee Records:

· 23 Nov. 1803 – Elizabeth Gallian married John Moore

· 1804 Tax List – Galyean, Jacob, John, Josiah and Thomas

· 1804 – Thomas Gallion p.19 & Josiah Gallion p. 20, Free Taxable Inhabitants

· May 1805 – Thomas Galleyon sold James Ritcheson a Negro boy named Joshua

Records indicate Thomas removed himself from Grainger County after 1805. Thomas Gallion/Galyean migrated from Grainger County to Preble County, Ohio, then to neighboring Wayne County, Indiana. Thomas purchased land in what is now Wayne County, Indiana on 1 November 1811. Note: Indiana didn’t become a state until 1816.

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