I would first like to offer my condolances
to the families whose members were harmed or murdered by members of
my family. It is not my intent to harm further anyone involved in these
issues or their families. The full truth of the matter is that our history
books do not discuss just how it has affected the generations
that have followed. These issues are still extremely sensitive and I
certainly have no harm in my heart. It's history, and we're all a part of
it. I just never realized how close the Civil War really was to
my immediate family. I am the great granddaughter to a Civil
War Veteran.The intent in my heart is to heal some
wounds.
The Civil War has left it's indelible mark
on our country's history and unraveling all of the pieces is yet another
story. This story came to light during genealogical research of my Click
family who were living 10 miles East of Madisonville, Monroe Co. Tennessee
during the Civil War.
As a child, I would stand in my grandmother's
bedroom and admire the large oval photo of an older man with a cane that
hung over her bed. I would just stare and wonder who he was, never bothering
to ask . Not until later in my life, did I learn he was my great
grandfather, William Reginald Click.
As I began my genealogical research, I made
contact with my 2nd cousin, Gary D. Click, and he filled in some blanks for
me on William. He told me a story about the Civil War and William being involved
in a shooting and believed he had left Tennessee in flight of prosecution.
As I have studied and researched this course
of events, my heart has sunk into sorrow of the lives that were lost, through
war and murders amongst their neighbors, friends, & families.These poor
people lived through some of the most horrible atrocities, not only
during the war, but for many many years after, right here in the good
ole' USA!
THE
STORY
With the War Between the States beginning in
the Spring 1861, Eastern Tennessee was extremely divided between Union &
Southern sympathizers. The Confederacy decided in order to avoid conspiracy
against them, they would disarm these mountain men who were pro Union. They
were also conscripting these men against their will into their army.
Needless to say, the battles among themselves ensued. In order to avoid
fighting they would hide in the mountains or they completely left the state
to enter the Northern armies, deserting many times from the Confederate Army.
As the rosters indicate many of the men were in both the Confederate
and Union armies.
The general consensus of everyone was the
war would be over soon and all would be back home. However, as we all
know that was not the case. Dissension continued to grow in East
Tennessee as their friends and family members sided one against the other.
Not only were the men fighting amongst themselves, but entire families.
Robbing, stealing, and pillaging were commonplace amongst each other.
Many of the women & children were taken to the hills
for their safety.
The 3rd Tennessee Mounted Infantry Regiment
Confederate States of America, Company B was organized at Knoxville,
Tennessee on 29 May 1861, and the men were mustered into service on 6
June 1861. Some of William's cousins, John and Charles Denton, William H.
Hartsell, & Louis A. Murr joined this company, along with some other
Monroe Co. residents, Henry W. Curtis (brother of Riley & Burton Curtis)
& the Kirkland brothers who were notorious bushwackers and lived in the
neighborhood. By 13 Oct 1861 John Denton was sent to the hospital at Manassas,
Virginia by order of the surgeon, but in Jan 1862 both John & Charles
Denton were present for duty. I think they both probably took the Confederate
side in the beginning and later decided to change sides. Their father, Alpherd
Denton, was a Union man and this may have been the reason for them changing
sides after they had joined. It is unknown which side the father of Louis
Murr took at the time, but this undoubtedly stirred trouble among the family
members. We know that Jeremiah Murr and his wife, Rachel Click (sister of
Wm Columbus Click) left Tennessee in 1863 right in the middle of the war,
and moved to Union Co. Illinois and this may have been a contributing
factor.
William Reginald Click's father, Wm "Billy"Columbus
Click, took his stand on the Union side. He had supported the Union army
by hiding soldiers & giving them supplies from the very beginning on
his farm, which was situated along the Tellico River. During the time of
conscription, one son, James Gray Click dressed in women's clothes and would
go to the field and hoe corn to escape detection of the Confederate Army.
Sometime in the fall of 1862, great great grandpa Billy Click gave his 2
eldest son's money and good horses to join the Union army and sent them off
to Kentucky. By this time Charles Denton was no longer in the Confederate
Army and joined Wm. Reginald Click, along with Jackson Denton & a neighbor,
Edward Grief Ragsdale (later the brother in law of Jackson Denton) where
they joined the 10th Kentucky Cavalry Union Army, Company M in Covington,
Kentucky on 2 Nov 1862.
They were captured by Confederate Colonel Clark
in 1863 at Mt. Sterling, Kentucky and released with a promise of not fighting
anymore. The records later show Wm. Reginald in prison camps, first at Camp
Chase and then at Camp Dennison, Ohio, the largest Civil War encampment in
Ohio about 18 miles northeast of Cincinnati near the town of Milford. On
the night of July 13th, 1863 Confederate Kentucky Cavalry General John H.
Morgan's raiders slipped through the Northern suburbs of Cincinnati without
opposition. Shortly after this battle on 17 Sept 1863, William Reginald Click
and his cousins with the entire company were mustered out at Maysville, Kentucky.
After William returned he was a scout for the Union army for approximately
18 months.
On 7 May 1863, John Denton had enlisted with
the 11th Tennessee Union Cavalry Company D in Lebanon, Kentucky for 3 years.
The 15 July 1863 John was listed as a deserter from Camp Nelson, Kentucky
and Aug 1863 the muster rolls reported Private John Denton absent on recruiting
duty. James Pinkney Gentry also served in this unit.
IN THE SOUTHERN CLAIMS COMMISSION REPORT FILED BY WILLIAM CLICK, SR. HE STATES
THE REBELS THREATENED TO KILL HIM AND HIS FAMILY AND BURN DOWN HIS HOUSE
Excerpt from a letter found in Cocke Co Tennessee, Stokely Memorial Library:
"WHILE ON LEAVE (FROM UNION ARMY) IN MONROE COUNTY HE WAS CAPTURED BY A BAND
OF CONFEDERATE GUERILLAS OR BUSHWACKERS FROM THE AREA. THEY STRIPPED UNCLE
JOHN, TIED A ROPE AROUND HIS NECK, THREW IT OVER A TREE LIMB AND PULLED HIM
OFF THE GROUND UNTIL HE ABOUT CHOKED. THEY'D LET HIM DOWN AND THEN REPEAT
THE PROCESS. WHILE THIS AMUSEMENT WAS GOING ON WORD CAME THAT A UNION PATROL
WAS IN THE AREA. TWO MEN WERE ASSIGNED TO TAKE UNCLE JOHN DEEPER INTO THE
WOODS AND SHOOT HIM. WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT A RAIL FENCE UNCLE JOHN MANAGED
TO PUSH ONE OF HIS GUARDS OVER THE FENCE AND KNOCK THE OTHER ONE DOWN AND
RUN AWAY. INSTEAD OF HIDING IN THE DEEP WOODS HE MANAGED TO GET TO A LIGHTLY
WOODED SECTION AND COVER HIMSELF WITH LEAVES WHILE THE SEARCH FOR HIM WENT
ON IN THE MORE HEAVILY FORESTED AREA. SUBSEQUENTLY HE MANAGED TO GET TO THE
CABIN OF A COUPLE OF UNION WOMEN WHOSE HUSBANDS WERE GONE AWAY TO SERVE IN
THE UNION ARMY. THEY DRESSED HIM IN WOMEN'S CLOTHES, PUT A BONNET ON HIS
HEAD AND MANAGED TO SMUGGLE HIM THROUGH THE LINES.
A SEQUEL TO THIS STORY IS THAT SOME TIME AFTE THE WAR KNOWING SOME OF
HIS CAPTORS, THEY BEING FROM THE SAME AREA, HE KILLED A COUPLE OF THEM AND
WAS SENT TO PRISON FOR A FEW YEARS UNTIL PARDONED."
The 4th July, 1863 their Murr cousins were
captured at Vicksburg, Mississippi by the Union Army, and William Murr decided
to join the Union Army because the "grub was better!" Louis Murr signed up
23rd October with the 3rd Tennessee Union Cavalry Company L and was sent
to Chattanooga shortly thereafter, where he lost his life a year later with
sickness.
The exact details of what transpired will
only be known to those who were the particpants in the events about to occur.
The closest family connection I have been able to make to the people involved
was a marriage between a Denton girl and a Trotter gentlemen, who was the
brother of the victim. We know the Denton girl was a cousin in some way of
the Denton brothers, because all of the Denton's are
related.
On the 10th of April 1864, William Click, along
with his cousins, Charles & John Denton, and another associated family
member, Pink Gentry murdered Mr. Patrick T. Trotter, abt 58 years old, with
a brutal beating and shooting in the presence of his elderly mother.
According to information passed down to our family, the men hung Patrick
T. Trotter by the thumbs & severely beat him, before shooting
him.
Then on the 4th of July ,1864 two
brothers, William Riley & David Burton Curtis were home on leave from
the Confederate Army. Upon their arrival, they were attempting to assist
one of the women in their family who was being raped & assaulted
by bushwackers. Consequently, the two boys were shot and killed on their
front porch while the bushwackers escaped. Apparently there were family members
"dressed in women's clothing" waiting across the river for the offenders
and helped them escape. Jackson Denton, Grief Ragsdale, and William Hartsell
aka William Bumgartner were later charged with this murder, but it is thought
that John Denton also may have been involved.
On the 1st of August, 1864 another tragedy
ensued. The sister of Charles & John Denton, Amanda Denton's husband
James R. Strickland was murdered by shooting. About the same time more of
the Click cousin's enlisted in the 3rd Tennesse Mounted Infantry Union Regiment
Company H, William Hartsell, Abraham Burris, John Hawkins, and Andrew
Murr.
James Pinkney Gentry married Elizabeth Kimbrough
on 18 August 1864 in Monroe Co.
In September, 1864 a letter was sent by Josiah
I. Wright from Macon, Georgia describing some of the robbing and shootings
that were going on in Monroe County. He mentions the worst of the Union men
in Madisonville being Dr. Bicknell, B. Kimbrough, & Dr. Cook. The
Click, Denton, & Burris boys the worst of the "Tory" bushwackers. They
were evidently chased into Kentucky when the Confederates came into Monroe
County trying to protect their families.
On Sept 23, 1864 Charles & Jackson Denton
were arrested in Monroe Co for horse stealing and murder, but doesn't list
which murder but probably the Curtis brothers, who were from Hopewell
Springs and a private in the 10th Kentucky Cavalry Company M Union
volunteers.
On October 3, 1864 brought the arrest of John
& Charles Denton in Roane Co. for the murder of Patrick T. Trotter,
by the Union Army Troops. By February, 1865 they had been released at
Knoxville.The Spring finally brought the end of the Civil War.
On 13th of April 1865 John Denton takes a bride,
Miss Cordelia Howard, the daughter of Johnston W. Howard, a wealthy landowner
and slaveholder. Then on December 21st, 1865 Charles Denton married Nancy
Melissa Donohoo, daughter of Henry Donohoo and Martha Ann Glenn. The war
was officially over, but the tension raged on with all that had
happened.
By this time "Fightin' Joe Divine" had been
beaten and shot by the Confederates, with Bill Burris to be administrator
of his estate. Then came the indictments for countless murders, one after
the other. Monroe County history is full of these records listing postponements,
charges dropped, convictions, and prison sentences. The families involved
continuing to bind together to support their loved ones, which lasted for
many years thereafter.
In May 1866, William Reginald Click, with
his cousins John & Charles Denton, and Pink Gentry were among those
indicted for their part in the murder of Patrick Trotter. Bonds being posted
by their families with their homes and possessions as collateral. In
the September Court Term 1866, the sheriff was directed to arrest and bring
them to court. And the chase was on!! They ran from county to county with
the sheriff at their heels. Indictments for the murder of the Curtis boys
were issued for John & Jackson Denton, William Hartsell, and Grief Ragsdale,
as well as, indictments for the murder of James Strickland issued for Alpheas
M. Crowder and Mary Birchfield in the January Term of
1867.
In January, 1868 the sheriff was still searching
for William Click & Pink Gentry to no avail. William Reginald Click
apparently left right after the indictment in 1866 and went to Missouri,
Arkansas, and finally appeared in Montgomery Co. Kansas 1870. He died 1921
there. Pink Gentry headed for Hot Springs, North Carolina where he laid
for about 35 years before coming back into Tennessee around 1906. He died
in Grainger Co. Tennessee in 1930. Neither one of which was ever brought
to trial for the murder of Patrick T. Trotter.
Charles and John Denton finally appeared in
court and the trial was moved to Blount County, Tennessee with numerous witnesses
called from both sides of each family. The witnesses for the state were:
A. Jack Mullins, Oliver Ragsdale, George White, Wesley Trotter, C. B. Taylor,
E. and Minerva Wauldrige, W. J. Hutchisen, Joel Williams, Jesse Isbill, Edwin
Hall & J. A. Burris. Additional state witnesses were: J. M. Snyder, Huston
Williams, Joseph Steed, John Birchfield, Thomas Crowder Jr, J. A. Sharpe,
Nancy Jacob, Samuel Howard, Emeline Snyder, Nancy Divine & William
Click, Sr. They were convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 10
years in the penitentiary. However, they filed an appeal with the Supreme
Court over the change of venue for the trial being held in Blount County,
and the conviction was overturned, sent back to Monroe County for further
disposition in 1869.
After numerous delays and postponements, Charles
and John Denton were brought to trial in Monroe Co. for the murder of Patrick
T. Trotter. They were found guilty of first degree murder. They filed an
appeal, but the appeal never transpired. John Denton went to prison early
in 1873 until about 1880. Charles Denton apparently fled to Texas Co Missouri
where it is reported that he died, but I have never found any burial records
for him. Jeremiah Murr and Rachel Click, his aunt and uncle, moved there
in 1869, and it is presumed that is the reason he went there. He might possibly
be buried in the Murr Family Cemetery in an unmarked grave. Or if he did
go to prison, he may have died in prison. I have tried to check the prison
records but have not found anything on either one of them. The records of
the trial are listed below with other crimes and arrests during this
time.
Jackson Denton and Nancy P. Ragsdale married
the 14th of January, 1869. It is believed they left shortly thereafter
for Texas Co. Missouri. The other family members involved in these trying
times evidently wanted to escape either prosecution or the continued
hostilities in the area and went to Texas Co. Missouri as well. It is assumed
that some may have went together or possibly all at once. The families, and
some associated families, that ventured to the beautiful Ozarks
in Missouri were the Murrs, Ragsdales, Dentons, and Burrris'.
What seems so uncanny to me is the fact that
my great grandfather's children knew nothing of these occurrences, until
long after he was gone. William's brother, James Gray Click and his wife,
Elizabeth Gorman lived in Greene Co. Missouri and a sister Northwest of Wichita,
Kansas before his death and visited with him over the
years.
William had definitely changed his way
of living after he left Tennessee. He was a prominent figure in his
community ,church, and respected for his honesty. I can't imagine the fear
he must have lived with everyday of his past being discovered. He was probably
glad he didn't have any curious george's, as his grandchildren were, in his
immediate family while he was alive. But as we all know, the times for open
verbalization have changed immensely.
One of the saddest feelings in my
heart is the poor orphaned children and widows that had to bear
the pain of the loss of their loved ones, with no justice served for the
murders of their husbands, the Curtis boys. And the sorrow in the heart of
Patrick Trotter's elderly mother & father before their deaths a few years
later.
MAY PEACE BE WITH US
ALL
MONROE COUNTY, TENNESSEE
CIRCUIT COURT MINUTE BOOKS
VOL. SEPTEMBER 1866 - MAY 1868 (Indexed)
VOL. MAY 1868 - MAY 1873
CHARGE NAME
Assault & Battery Charles Denton
" " J. Denton
Larceny John Denton & Gideon Burriss
" " John Denton
Murder Wm Click & Denton
? John Denton & Gideon Burriss
Felony Gideon Burris
Robbery J. Denton, Gideon Burriss, Wm Click
Assault & Battery Pinkney Ivy (poss.
Gentry)
STATE INDEX NEW BOOK - 1869
CHARGE NAME
Murder Wm. Click & others
Robbery John Denton & others
Murder Charles Denton
Murder Jackson Denton
Horse Stealing Charles Denton
Robbery John Denton
Murder 127 (Trotter) John Denton
Robbery Newton Gray
Assault & Battery Miles Gray & J.
Kimbrough
Murder William Heartsell, Ragsdale,&
Denton
Robbery Wm Heartsell & Gideon Burriss
Murder Wm Heartsell & Burriss
Larceny Bumgarner & John Denton
Horse Stealing Gideon Burriss
Murder E. G. Ragsdale & John Denton
STATES CASES
STATE VS.
Robbery John Denton, et al
Murder Wm Click et al
Larceny Bumgarner & John Denton
Larceny Wm Heartsell & John Denton
? J. Denton & Robt. Harden
? J. Denton & L.O. Henley
? G. M. (Gideon) Burriss
? Wm Heartsell & Gideon Burriss
Murder Wm Heartsell, Grief Ragsdale,
J. Denton
********************
MURDER TRIAL OF JOHN & CHARLES DENTON IN MONROE
CO. TENNESSEE
Case #127 Patrick T. Trotter Murder
15 JAN 1870 CASE CONTINUED TO MAY TERM
10 MAY 1870 CASE CONTINUED TO SEPT TERM
10 JAN 1871 CASE CONTINUED TO MAY TERM
9 MAY 1871 CASE CONTINUED TO SEPT TERM
12 SEPT 1871 CASE CONTINUED TO JAN 1872 TERM
State vs. John Denton and Charles Denton
Wednesday, 10 January 1872
Came the Attorney General who prosecutes the pleas
of the State as well as the defendants, CHARLES DENTON AND JOHN DENTON in
person and who having counsel present defending them. Who being arraigned
and charged on the indictment exhibited against them for plea thereto say
they are NOT GUILTY and for their trial put themselves upon the County and
the Attorney General doth the like. Thereupon to try said issue came the
following jury of good and lawful men, Citizens of Monroe County
Court:
1) Thomas Webb 2) Thomas N. Crowder 3) William R. Webb
4) W. R. Williams 5) George Kile 6) A. N. Hunt 7) Noah Orten 8) William E.
Hardin 9) T. C. Davis 10) James Love 11) William Hunt, Jr. 12) J. W.
Yeates
Who being elected, impounded, tried, and sworn well
and truly to try the issue joined and the evidence in the cause not being
closed. The jurors aforesaid are respited until the meeting of court tomorrow
morning and placed under the charge of DEWEY S. SMITH, a Deputy Sheriff for
Monroe Co. who took an oath to keep them together separate and apart from
other citizens and not permit them to converse with other citizens or other
citizens to converse with them, nor would he himself converse with them on
the subject of this suit until he returns them into court on tomorrow
morning.
Thursday, 11 January 1872
ELIJAH T. HALL, JUDGE
Came the Attorney General for the State and the defendants
being at the bar in proper person and having counsel present defending them.
Came the same Jury of good and lawful men, citizens of Monroe County who
on yesterday were respited until today court.
(NAMES ALL JURORS AGAIN)
And the evidence being heard and argument of counsel
not being closed. The jury aforesaid are again respited until the meeting
of court tomorrow morning and placed under the chage of James M. Browder,
Depty Sheriff of Monroe County, who took an oath to keep them togethre separate
and apart from other citizens and not permit them to converse with other
citizens or other citizens to converse with them, nor would he himself converse
with them on the subject of the suit until he returns them into Court on
tomorrow morning. Court adjourned until tomorrow morning 8
o'clock.
ELIJAH T. HALL (Judge)
Friday, 12 January 1872
Came the Attorney General who prosecutes the pleas
of the State and the defendants, CHARLES DENTON AND JOHN DENTON in proper
person being at the bar and having cousel present defending them. Came the
same jury of good and lawful men, citizens of Monroe County, Tennessee who
on yesterday were respited until today to wit: (NAMES ALL JURORS
ABOVE)
And argument of counsel being closed and the jury having
received the charge of the court. The jurors aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid
due say they find that the defendants CHARLES DENTON AND JOHN DENTON are
GUILTY in manner and form AS CHARGED IN THE INDICTMENT in this cause of MURDER
IN THE 1ST DEGREE. And the jury aforesaid due further say that they find
that there are mitigating circumstances in the cause and recommend the defendants
CHARLES DENTON AND JOHN DENTON to the mercy of the court. Thereupon the
defendants were ORDERED INTO THE CUSTODY OF THE SHERIFF.
FRIDAY, 12 JANUARY 1872
Bill of Costs for $36.00 for boarding and lodging the
jury for 3 days @ $12.00 per day.
(JURY SEQUESTERED FOR 3 DAYS OF TRIAL)
Tuesday, 16 January 1872
Came the Attorney General for the State and the defendants
being at the bar in CUSTODY OF THE SHERIFF and having counsel present defending
them. Thereupon the defendants by their attorney presented to the court reason
in ARREST OF JUDGMENT in this cause which is ordered by the court to be spread
on record and made a part of the record which reasons in arrest of judgment
and in the ____ and figures following to wit.
State vs. Charles Denton & John Denton INDICTMENT
FOR MURDER. The counsel for the defendants came and filed the following reasons
in arrest of the judgment of the court.
1st) the record shows that the court which is being
held at the time the indictment proports to have been found in this cause
if held at all was held at the Masonic Hall in the Town of Madisonville and
no reason is given in said record for not holding the court the place designated
by law for holding said court.
2nd) The record does not show at the time it is alledged
that said indictment was found that the Circuit Court was open and held or
that said court was held by the Circuit Judge or any judge that was authorized
to open and hold said court.
3rd) The record does not show that the court was held
at the time said indictment purports to have been found was held at the place
designated by law for holding Circuit court.
4th) There is no venue facias in the record when it
is alledged that said indictment was found.
5th) The said record does not show that Grand Jury
was elected from a venue facias as required by law.
6th) The record does not show that the Grand Jury came
into open court in a body and returned an indictment against the defendants
as required by law.
7th) The record does not show that there is any prosecutor
marked on the back of said indictment.
8th) The record does not show that there was a
prosecutor.
9th) There is nothing in the record in this cause to
show that the Grand Jury found a true bill against the defendants.
10th) Record does not show that any witnesses were
sworn in this cause and sent to the Grand Jury to testify.
11th) Records does not show that the venue facias was
proven as required by law.
12th) The minutes of the court does not show that the
indictment was spread upon record as required by law.
For these and other reasons to be shown from the record
the defendants moved to arrest the judgment of the court and the finding
of the jury.
BRISON T. HICKS, ATTORNEY FOR DEFENDANTS
And thereupon came on for argument the defendants motion
to arrest the judgment of the court and finding of the jury in this court
as the reasons in arrest filed by the defendants which having been argued
by counsel and considered by the court. The court being of the opinion that
said motion and reasons in arrest of judgment in this cause are well taken.
They are thereupon ordered to be sustained by the court. And said judgment
and the finding of the jury in this cause is hereby arrested by the
court.
It is therefore ordered by the court that the Clerk
make out and certify the costs accruing in this cause on behalf of the State
for the inspection of the court and Attorney General. But in compliance of
Section 5245 of the Code it is ordered by the court that WILLIAM M. SMITH
FORMER CLERK of this court be allowed no costs in this cause. The record
having been made by him being imperfect.
Thereupon the Attorney General on behalf of the State
excepts in law to the action of the court in sustaining said motion and reasons
in arrest of judgment plea in this cause and prays an appeal in the ____
of a ___ of ____ to the next term of the SUPREME COURT for the State of Tennessee
to be held at KNOXVILLE on the 2nd Monday of SEPTEMBER NEXT (Sept.
1872).
Thereupon came the defendants in open court CHARLES
DENTON AND JOHN DENTON and brought with them CHARLES R. HARTSELL, JOHNSTON
W. HOWARD, REUBEN GILES, & ISAAC LINDSAY who acknowledge themselves owing
to be indebted to the State of Tennessee as follows to wit:
The said CHARLES DENTON AND JOHN DENTON jointly and
severally in the sum of $5,000 and the said Charles R. Hartsell, J. W. Howard,
Reuben Giles, & Isaac Lindsay their appearance bail jointly and severally
in the like ___ sum of $5,000 to be levied of their respective goods and
chattels, lands and tenements to the use of the State yet to be void on condition
that the said CHARLES DENTON AND JOHN DENTON do each MAKE THEIR APPEARANCE
BEFORE THE JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT of the State of Tennessee at a court
to be held at the place designated by said judges for holding said court
in the CITY OF KNOXVILLE, TENN on the 2nd Monday of September next and then
and there answer the State on a CHARGE OF MURDER exhibited against them by
indictment and shall not ___ the court without leave first had and
obtained.
And thereupon said APPEAL IS GRANTED and it is ordered
by the court that the Clerk make out and certifiy a transcript of the 2nd
and proceedings in this cause and transmit the same together with a bill
of costs in this cause to the Clerk of the said Supreme Court at
Knoxville
NOTE: SEARCH OF THIS SUPREME COURT CASE AT THE TENNESSEE
STATE ARCHIVES FAILED TO FIND THIS CASE IN MONROE COUNTY, TENN OR KNOX CO.
TENN WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HELD. PINK GENTRY AND WILLIAM REGINALD CLICK
WERE NEVER TRIED FOR THIS MURDER BECAUSE THEY BOTH FLED
REF: MONROE CO. TENN RECORD BOOK 1872-1875 TAX RELEASES
MONDAY, APRIL TERM 1872 PG 11 DISTRICT 15 - JOHN DENTON OVERSEER (FOR THE
ROAD MAINTENANCE)
VOL. MAY 1868 TO MAY 1873 (NOT INDEXED)
WEDNESDAY, 15 MAY 1872
PAGE 656
State vs. John Denton - Felonius Assault #561 Against
Grayham Lemons on 11 May 1872. Pulled a gun and attempted to shoot Grayham
Lemons
PAGE 671 State vs. E. Cooke, Thomas Eaken, & John
Denton - Assault and Battery - Alias capias awarded (ARREST)
SATURDAY 18 MAY 1872
PAGE 685
State vs Charles Denton Murder
Keeping Charles Denton from 12 Jan 1872 to 16 Jan 1872
in all 5 days @ 60 cents a day $3.00
4 turnkeys @ 50 cents $2.00
TOTAL $5.00
State vs. John Denton Murder
Keeping John Denton from 12 Jan 1872 to 16 Jan 1872
in all
Same as above Charles Denton
PAGE 688
State vs. John Denton Robbery
Case continued by consent of party to await the outcome
of the State of Tenn against Charles & John Denton on a murder charge
pending before the Supreme Court at Knoxville to the JAN TERM
1873.
State vs. John Denton - Felonius Assault
Case continued pending outcome of Supreme Court case
against Charles & John Denton for murder charge pending at Knoxville
to the JAN TERM 1873.
TUESDAY 14 JAN 1873
PAGE 728 State vs. John Denton Robbery No.
146
Court orders bill of costs for this case to date for
inspection by the court and attorney general. (THIS IS WHERE HE WENT TO PRISON,
AND OTHER CASES CLOSED)
PAGE 731
State vs. John Denton - Felonious Assault No.
561
Attorney general entered a nolle proseque in this cause.
Court ordered bill of costs prepared for inspection by the court and attorney
general (CASE CLOSED, JOHN TO PRISON)
REF: MONROE CO. TENN RECORD BOOK 1872 - 1875, PAGE
154 MONDAY APRIL TERM, 1873 DISTRICT 15 - "JOHN DENTON, IN PRISON" (REMOVED
FROM TAX LIST)
WEDNESDAY 14 MAY 1873
PAGE 785 State vs. John Denton Robbery
Bill of costs (CASE CLOSED, JOHN IN PRISON)
PAGE 787 State vs. John Denton - Felonious
Assault
Bill of costs (CASE CLOSED, JOHN IN PRISON)
(NOTE: This unindexed portion of the microfilm was
diligently researched page by page and nothing more was found. The next roll
of film indexes were checked and nothing more found, but did not diligently
search page by page.)
19 JUNE 1873 - LAST CHILD JOHN OTTO DENTON BORN (JOHN
IN PRISON)
REFERENCE: MONROE COUNTY, TENNESSEE COURT
RECORD
BOOK APRIL 1872 TO JULY 1875
PAGE 191 MONDAY JULY 1873
State vs. John Denton - Assault and Battery Case
#551
Costs:
Sheriff Hawkins .25
Clerk Griffith 7.25
Sheriff Houston .75
Sheriff T. D. Wilson .25
TOTAL 8.50
(CASE CLOSED)
*****************************************************
DEFINITION OF TERMS USED:
ALIAS CAPIAS - otherwise known as a legal writ or process
commanding the officer to ARREST the person named in it.
NOLLE PROSEQUI - an entry on the record of a legal
action denoting that the prosecutor or plaintiff will proceed no further
in his action or suit either as a whole or as to some count or as to one
or more of several defendants.
SCIRE FACIAS - a judicial writ founded upon some matter
of record and requiring the party proceeded against to show cause why the
record should not be enforced, annulled or vacated.
LARCENY - the unlawful taking & carrying away of
personal property with intent to deprive the rightful owner of his property
permanently.
FELONIOUS ASSAULT - very evil crime or
attack
ROBBERY - larceny from the person or presence of another
by violence or threat.
********************
HORSE CLAIM NO. 11725 Hopewell Springs, Monroe Co.
TN CHARLES DENTON
A claim filed with the Southern Claims Commission on
10 February, 1872 for the loss of a mule taken by Lt. James (M.) Giles, Colonel
Joseph Divine's Command on 20 September 1864. Value $150.00
The oral proof in support of the claim was taken at
Madisonville on 29 April 1872 by Special Commissioner L. C. HOUK, who was
also United States Commissioner of the Circuit Court for the Eastern District
of Tennessee
CLAIMANT'S STATEMENT:
Charles Denton stated he was 33 years old and served
in both Confederate and Union Armies, being first in Company B 3RD (VAUGHN'S)
Tennessee Infantry of the Rebel Army and then in Company M, 10th Kentucky
Cavalry of the Union Army.
Denton said that he was arrested in 1864 by authority
of the United States for killing a rebel. (PATRICK TROTTER)
*******************************************************************************
N O T E : IN FILE OF JOHN DENTON: Citizen CHARLES DENTON
of Monroe county had been arrested in Monroe County, 23 September 1864 on
a charge of HORSE STEALING AND MURDER. (PATRICK TROTTER)
CITIZENS CHARLES DENTON AND JOHN DENTON, both of Monroe
Co., were released by the Provost Marshal General at Knoxville on 2 February
1865.
******************************************************************************
Denton testified that he was captured by rebels and
taken to Haywood County, North Carolina, and tied up for execution and was
shot once, but broke the rope which bound him and escaped.
Denton said that he had two brothers, John and Jackson
Denton who were both in the Union Army.
James M. Giles testified that Charles Denton was a
loyal Union man during the war, but Giles did not admit taking Denton's horse,
but said that while he was out on a scout with a squad from Company D, 3rd
Tennessee Mounted Infantry, he met up with an officer named BETTS from
PATTERSON'S Scouts and that Betts took Denton's horse.
That John Denton was riding the horse at the time and
that Betts got on Denton's horse and rode him to Loudon, Tenn where his command
was camped in September, 1864.
John Denton, 28 years old, said that his brother's
horse was taken at Hawkin's Mill, two miles from Hopewell Springs and 18
miles from Loudon and that Isaac Betts who was with James M. Giles took the
horse from him and rode off.
REPORT OF COMMISSION:
The Commissioners of Claims reported this claim to
Congress as disallowed stating that the evidence was unfavorable to claimant
since he admitted going to Manassas, VA for 8 months with the Rebel Army
in the Spring of 1861, claiming he was conscripted but that no Rebel Conscript
Law was in effect at the time and that he claimed he bought the horse in
Kentucky, but that same was branded U.S. and that in view of the facts they
were not satisfied he was loyal to the Union or owned the horse.
CONFEDERATE SERVICE
Charles Denton enlisted in Company B, 3RD (VAUGHN'S)
Tennessee Infantry, Confederate Army at Knoxville, Monroe County, Tenn on
23 May 1861.
Charles Denton was sent to the hospital the same day
on duty by order of Colonel John C. Vaughn.
He was present for duty January & February
1862.
UNION ARMY SERVICE
Charles Denton enlisted in Company M, 10th Kentucky
Cavalry, Union Army volunteers at Covington KY on 3 November 1862 for a period
of 12 months at age 24.Mustered out at Maysville, KY 17 September
1863
PENSION - There is no record of Charles Denton filing
a claim for pension.
JACKSON DENTON
UNION SERVICE
Citizen Jackson Denton was from Hopewell Springs, Monroe
County and a PRIVATE 10th Kentucky Cavalry Company M, Union Army Volunteers
at Covington, KY on 3 Nov 1862 for a period of 12 months. Mustered out at
Maysville, KY 17 Sep 1863
PENSION
Jackson Denton subsequently moved to Alice, Texas County,
Missouri. Claim filed 4 December 1891 from Alice, Texas County, Missouri,
S.C.#801 217.
He said that he was born in Cocke Co. Tenn on 4 July
1839 and married NANCY ANN RAGSDALE of Hopewell Springs, Monroe County, Tenn
in 1869.
He received a pension of $8 from date of filing and
this was increased to $10 in 1903, then $12, $15, and $22.50 per month from
4 April 1915. He died 28 Nov 1916.
JOHN DENTON
Records of the Office of the provost Marshal General
for East Tennessee, Union Army of the Ohio, CITIZENS, shows the arrest of
Citizen (I THINK THIS WAS HENRY NOT ISAAC) Isaac R. Curtis of Monroe County
on 10 July 1864 on a charge of arresting John Denton of the 11th Tennessee
Volunteers. Curtis was sent north of the Ohio River on 24 July
1864.
The records show the arrest of CITIZEN JOHN DENTON
of Monroe County, arrested in Roane County 3 Oct 1864 by Union Army Troops
on a charge of murder of PATRICK TROTTER.
Citizens Charles Denton and John Denton, both of Monroe
County, were released by the Provost Marshal General at Knoxville on 2 February
1865.
PENSION
John Denton of Povo Post Office, Monroe County, Tennessee
filed a claim for pension under the number S.O. 890 236 on 8 August 1890.
Same was executed before Isaac Lindsey, Justice of the Peace. (OUT OF
PRISON)
The claim was rejected on 12 June 1891 for less than
required 90 days of service and did not have an honorable
discharge.
CONFEDERATE SERVICE
Enlisted in 3rd (VAUGHN'S) Tennessee Regiment of
Confederate Volunteers Company B at Knoxville 23 May 1861. (Company B raised
in Monroe Co.)(NOTE: ENLISTED WITH BROTHER CHARLES DENTON)
John Denton was sent to the military hospital at Manassas,
Virginia by order of Surgeon 13 Oct 1861 - complaint unknown. Present for
duty in January & February 1862
UNION SERVICE
PRIVATE 11TH TENNESSEE CAVALRY USA COMPANY D VOLUNTEERS
1863
Enlisted at Lebanon, KY on 7 May 1863 for 3 years,
age 20. Muster Rolls report Private John Denton absent on recruiting duty
in August 1863. Subsequently reported as a deserter from CAMP NELSON, KY
about 15 July 1863.
|