Jerry and Linda Butler

The 1830 census shows:

1 male under 5
3 males 5 to 10
1 male 30 to 40 - Samuel

1 female under 5
1 female 5 to 10
2 females 10 to 15
1 female 30 to 40

Samuel kept a trading post and owned a considerable amount of property on Brashears Creek (a branch of the Clinch River in Roane Co. TN.

After the Chickasaw Indians were pushed out of West Tennessee in 1818, Isaac and at least five of his children moved across the Tennessee River. They immediately began to take up land. Samuel's land was southwest of Decaturville (near Bath Springs). At one time he owned as much as seven sections (4200 acres).

Samuel Brashears and Hannah Tuten had 12 children. His second wife was Nancy Barber and to this union 6 children were born. Samuel was the father of 18 children.

A literate and intelligent man, Samuel was a leader in establishing Decatur County. He helped to lay out the county boundaries and was one of the first county commissioners and trustees. In 1846 Decatur County was established and Samuel was recognized as the county's first judge.

Prior to the Civil War, Samuel was the owner of approx. 20 slaves. He freed a favorite slave named "Uncle Bill" for who he purchased a wife of his choice. Samuel did not think of "Uncle Bill" as a slave; he, in fact, gave him one dollar for a marriage license and insisted the couple legally marry. The marriage was the first Negro marriage in West Tennessee. When the war broke out Samuel deeded land in Hardin County to his slaves. He told them they could settle on this land and farm or they could leave, but if the left, the could not return.

The cause of Samuel's death is not clear. One description depicts an attempted hanging by Civil War fugitives which was foiled by "Uncle Bill". This attempt was not fatal. The other account does not include "Uncle Bill" but cites the hanging as a factor contributing to Samuel's death.

Slave schedule, 1850 census Decatur Co. TN
Samuel Brashears, slave owner

1. 23, M, B
2. 20, F, B
3. 5, F, B
4. 3, M, B
5. 1, F, B

Slave schedule, 1860 census Decatur Co. TN
Saml Brashears, slave owner

1. 22, M, B
2. 28, F, B
3. 14, F, B
4. 13, M, B
5. 11, F, B
6. 7, M, B
7. 4, M, B
8. 17, F, B