Letter from Nancy Sevier to Mr. Turner
(C. Avis Catalog entry #478)
Dear Mr. Turner,
Pardon me for seeming indifference to your letters. I am interested, and would thank you for any information you can give me. Today is my first opportunity to search some old papers in my possession(?). I'm(?) afraid the information I can give you must(?) be very unsatisfactory. Mrs. Mary Hoss Headman of Philadelphia, daughter of the late Bishop E. E. Hoss of the M. E. Church South made a family tree of the Sevier family - possibly she could give you some information. Unfortunately, I can not give you her address. You might get in touch with her through her brother, a prominent physician of Muskogee, Okla., Dr. Sesler Hoss.
My maternal great grandfather was one of two nephews and namesakes of Gov. John Sevier and was known as devil Jack on account of his violent temper. The other was black Jack, being dark complected. Great grandfather was very dissipated and on one of his "sprees" went with Jackson's army to New Orleans. His family never heard from him. After a few years his wife married a Mr. Maloney - her children lived with their Sevier relatives. Sallie, the oldest daughter, married Mr. Smith and lived in Greene County. Elizabeth Mariah (my grandmother) lived with her uncle Maj. "Alex" Sevier of the U. S. Marine Corps, and married Lewis Hayes Broyles at Greeneville, Tenn. came to this country about 1820. Narcissa and Nancy were twins. Nancy came to this country with her sister Mariah and married Mr. James Irwin. Narcissa married Mr. Herring of South Carolina and moved here later.
Ambrose Hundley Sevier, the only brother, moved to Little Rock, Ark., where he soon rose to prominence being U. S. Senator and representing Pres. Polk in the treaty between the U. S. And Mexico. Unless I am mistaken, my great, great grandmother was Naomi Douglas and my great grandmother was Susannah Conway. I wish I had written this down during my precious Mother's life. I fear I have forgotten. I have heard her speak often of "Aunt Rector" and her terrible experience with the Indians and cousin Eliza Throckmorten of Philadelphia. My grandmother had an "Uncle Jimmy" Sevier who lived in Washington, Co. He had a magnificent farm and the most beautiful home in the lovely mountains of East Tenn. He had a large family and it may be that he is the ancestor you are looking for. I hope so for he was a grand man. There are some very fine minds in the present generation of Sevier's and I am proud of them as well as our ancestors. My Mother was poetical and a talented musician but never wrote for publication. I have her music in manuscrip [sic]. I congratulate you on your talent and I hope it will (be) a great pleasure to you. I also hope your health will be restored. I was named for my two grandmothers Nancy for grandmother Sevier and Mariah for grandmother Broyles. The Sevier's call me Nannie and the Broyles call me Mariah.
Sincerely,
N. M. Sevier