State of North Carolina, No. 79
To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting:
Know that we, for and in consideration of the sum of ten pounds for every hundred acres, paid into our treasury by Jeremiah Chamberlain, have given and granted, and by these presents do give and grant unto the said Jeremiah Chamberlain, a tract of land containing one thousand acres, lying and being in the County of Greene.
This land lies on the north side of the Holston River, on Stallion Creek, beginning at a post oak, thence west one hundred and seventy-four poles to a large white oak on the west bank of said creek; thence south forty-four degrees west one hundred and fifty poles to a white oak on the spur of the House Mountain; thence along the mountain to a hickory; thence north forty degrees west three hundred and twenty poles, crossing the west fork of Stallion Creek; thence north sixty degrees east two hundred and fifty poles, crossing Stallion Creek, to the beginning.
Together with all woods, waters, mines, minerals, hereditaments, and appurtenances to the said land belonging or appertaining.
To have and to hold the said land to him, his heirs and assigns forever, yielding and paying to us such sums of money, yearly or otherwise, as our General Assembly may from time to time direct.
Provided always that the said Jeremiah Chamberlain shall cause this grant to be registered in the Register’s Office of our said County of Greene within twelve months from the date hereof; otherwise the same shall be void and of no effect.
In testimony whereof, we have caused these our letters to be made patent and our great seal to be hereunto affixed.
This was a purchase, not a gift
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Jeremiah Chamberlain paid £10 per 100 acres
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Total paid: £100 for 1,000 acres
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That was a significant sum in 1786
This matters because it confirms:
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Jeremiah Chamberlain was financially established
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This was not merely a speculative or honorary grant
Issued when this land was still part of North Carolina
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Greene County later lost territory when Knox County was formed in 1792
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Today, this land is located in Knox County, Tennessee
That explains why later records may appear under different county names.
🇺🇸 Revolutionary War context
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Issued 11 years after Independence
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Governor Richard Caswell personally authorized it
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Chamberlain’s known service as a surveyor during the Revolutionary War aligns perfectly with:
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His ability to acquire large acreage
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His precise boundary descriptions
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His familiarity with frontier land
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This was part of how North Carolina:
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Paid debts
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Rewarded service
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Converted western lands into settled, taxable property
The above photo was taken Feb. 2026
The old barn with House Mountain in the background. Photo taken 1940s.
The above Funeral Card was for-
DOD - Feb. 12, 1903
.jpg)
MILITARY INFORMATION for FRANK ARMSTRONG LITTLE-
Frank Armstrong Little joined the Union Army from July 16,
1862, to July 6, 1865. He belonged to the 2nd Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry,
Company L, first as a Private and then as a 2nd Lt.
He was a Private from July 16, 1862, until his Commission was accepted on Nov.
15, 1862, in which he was mustered in to take effect on that date.
Nov. 15, 1862-Jan. 26, 1863 - Company Muster-in Roll in
Murfreesboro, Tenn. for a period of 3 years. on Nov. 15, 1862.
Muster-out Roll in Nashville, Tenn., July 6, 1865.
film # M392, roll 9
US Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
( Frank A. Little's Union cap is now at the East Tenn. History Center in
downtown Knoxville)
Regimental History
Second Cavalry
TENNESSEE
(3-YEARS)
Second Cavalry. -- Col., Daniel M. Ray, Lieut.-Col., William
R. Cook Majs., George W. Hutsell, Charles Inman, William R.
Macbeth, William F. Prosser.
This regiment was organized at Cumberland Gap in the months of
Aug. and Sept., 1862, and was composed of loyal citizens of
Knox, Blount, Sevier, and surrounding counties, numbering in
the aggregate about 1,175 men.
Shortly after the organization of the regiment, Gen. Morgan
began his retreat to the Ohio River and the 2nd cavalry,
although dismounted, rendered efficient service in protecting
the flank and rear of the retreating column. Not long after
its arrival at Gallipolis, Ohio, it was ordered to Louisville,
where it was mounted and armed, and pushed on to join
Rosecrans at Nashville.
It arrived in time to participate in the battle of Stone's
River, where it lost several officers and men. From that time
until June 23, 1863, with the remainder of the Federal cavalry
under Gen. Stanley, it was employed on the front and flanks of
Rosecrans' army, doing severe duty. At the latter date, it
moved with the army from Murfreesboro to Tullahoma and pursued
Bragg across the Cumberland Mountains.
About July 10, it was ordered to report to Gen. Sheridan for
special duty, and was employed in the vicinity of Bridgeport,
Ala., and Chattanooga until the early part of September, when
it rejoined the cavalry under Gen. Stanley participated in
the Battle of Chickamauga. After doing some escort duty, it
was ordered to Washington and Kingston and assisted in the
defense of the latter place against Gen. Wheeler.
It was then ordered to Nashville, hastily refitted and
forwarded to Gen. William S. Smith at Memphis for an
expedition into Mississippi, in the course of which it
participated with credit in engagements at Okolona, West
Point, the Tallahatchie River, and elsewhere.
In June, 1864, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th regiments of Tennessee
Cavalry, with Battery A of the 1st Tenn. light artillery, were
ordered to northern Alabama and remained on duty in that
district until the end of the year.
In the numerous engagements with the Confederate cavalry
during that time, the 2nd cavalry displayed great gallantry and
received the commendation of all the general officers under
whom it served. In the pursuit of Hood's retreating army from
Nashville, the command to which it was attached, marched 280
miles in 7 days and nights of unusually severe weather, and
during that time were engaged in six different actions,
capturing a large number of prisoners and material of every
description.
From Jan. to July 1865, the regiment was on duty at
Vicksburg
and New Orleans, and was then mustered out.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 4, p. 382
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A Report of Col. Robert K. Byrd, First Tennessee Infantry, commanding Second
Brigade. HDQRS.,
Kingston, Tenn., November 24, 1863—4.30 p. m.
"A rebel force attacked us this morning about daylight,
and we drove them back, taking 12
prisoners, killing 8 of them. The force is said to be from 5,000 to 6,000
strong; we saw a large
number. Wheeler is in command. I sent the hull of a steamboat last night. I
hope it will arrive safely. I hear of 20 mules below here; all safe. Gen.
Burnside is still in Knoxville; said to be surrounded. We have no communication
with him.
Your obedient servant,
R. K. BYRD, Col., Cmdg. Post.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 31, pt. I, p. 422.
On the night of the 23rd, Gen. Wheeler came down the Knoxville
Road to attack Kingston. The Second [Tennessee Cavalry] was in camps on the old
Knoxville Road about two and a half miles out of Kingston. Wheeler came in with
a pretty heavy force and got in between us and town, before daylight in the
morning [24th], and had us cut entirely off. Our only chance was to fight our
way through. We soon ascertained his weakest point, made a bold front and
dashed through his lines while his principal force was engaged with the
infantry
was engaged with the infantry on the old Knoxville Road, on
the opposite side of the town, or rather on our right. We gained a strong
position near the residence of Maj. Thomas Tipton. Lieut. Frank A. Little, who
was then in command of Company C, reached Tipton's house, where he and his
command took refuge and boldly held their ground. The enemy made repeated
attempts to drive them from their position, but were repulsed every time by the
gallant Lieutenant Little and his gallant men. The fight was kept up here from
daylight until about 4 p. m., the enemy having made several unsuccessful
charges. Lieut. Little had a few men wounded, but none killed. The enemy left
twenty-five dead on the field. The wounded were carried away. Our entire force
at Kingston at the time did not exceed 2,000 men. The infantry was commanded by
Col. Byrd and did some gallant fighting. Gen. Wheeler had about 5,000 men.
Knoxville Daily Chronicle, March 11, 1879.
TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR SOURCEBOOK November 1863 — Page 181
~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Official Records
PAGE 911-50 KY., SW. VA., TENN., MISS., ALA., AND N. GA. [CHAP. XLII.
[Series I. Vol. 30. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 50.]
Battles Fought:
STONE'S RIVER, TENN
DEC. 31ST, 1862 - JAN. 3RD, 1963
DECATUR, ALA
OCT. 26TH - 29TH, 1864
Fought on 17 Dec 1864 at Nashville, TN.
Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, & Rebel Ventilator,
Knoxville, TN
4 Oct. 1865
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Information researched by Suzan Persons
My 2nd Great-Grandfather
MARRIED
At the residence of the bride's father, in Knox County, Tenn.,
October 1st, 1865, by James M. Carter, Esq.,
Lieut. F. A. LITTLE, 2d Tenn. Cavalry,
and Miss M.A. CHAMBERLAIN, Daughter of N. Chamberlain, Esq.
Photo -1896
 |
| Suzan Persons - wearing Julia (White) Little's Wedding Dress, which is worn in the above Little Family Portrait by Julia (White) Little, seated. This photo was taken in 1972, on the farm of Lucy (Little) Dunsmore. Lucy was Julia's daughter. The wedding dress was donated to the McClung Collection in Knoxville, Tenn. |
Ara Jane "Worthy" Love, Daniel "Dan" Lynville,
The Littles
(Frank A. Little passed Oct. 21, 1923)
Frank Armstrong Little (1833-1923)
He attended college at the Holbrook Normal College for Teaching.
Adam met his future wife, Jennie Alora Shelton, while both were attending Holbrook Normal College.
Adam's wife, Jennie Alora, had TB, as did two of her sisters in Hamilton Co., Tenn. The Dr. told Ninnian that he needed to move to Florida for the weather to help Jennie with her condition. About 1908-09, Adam moved his family down to the central part of the state to
The following was copied from Memories, Dedicated to the Memory of our Loved one Whose life has been Dear to Us. A Memory Book supplied by Pastor Rev. L.C. Chiles. Place of Services in the Home of Miss Worthy Little. Final Resting Place is in the Family Cemetery, behind the house where Adam was born in the cow field, on August 28, 1936.
"Mr. N.A. Little was born July 31, 1866. He was married to Jenny Shelton in 1899. That good wife went on to the other side, leaving her devoted husband and three children and his wife's people are here today, and they said they never knew anything about Uncle Adam that was wrong. I can't recall having heard anyone criticize Uncle Adam Little.
To this happy union was born two sons, little Frank was taken to Heaven when just a few months of age, and Paul, who lives at Grand Island, Florida, and two daughters, Mrs. W.B. Persons and Miss Sarah Little.
He was saved in his childhood and joined the Church. He remained active in the Church and these last few months he took his place in the church. He went to the Church of his childhood in Washington and found the preacher and had them sing the song, "Blessed Assurance Jesus Is Mine." He loved that song. He taught school for several years successfully before moving to Florida. Like other members of his family, he had sterling qualities. He was a member of the Methodist Church at Grand Island, Florida. He was Post Master and Depot Agent for twenty-five years.
When Squire Zachary came in a minute ago, he could hardly walk, and he said, "I remember when he (N.A. Little) was superintendent of the Sunday School for years and years, and he was a good one." He said, "Adam was a true and faithful superintendent." Some of us people think of him in this light. Several people have told me that they went to school with him, and he was a wonderful boy and a good boy."
-Ninian Adam Chamberlain (1792-1877) m. Margaret (Watkins) Chamberlain (1790-1863)
