Marty and Karla Grant

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John Tanner (c1802-aft 1880) and Susannah Stroud and Rachel Potts of Burke and Macon Co., NC and Union and Towns Co., GA

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John Tanner and his 1^st wife Susannah Stroud are my 4 times Great Grand Parents.

John Tanner was born ca 1802 per census analysis. This is a combination of all his census entries except 1880 which is way off from the others.

∙           1830 census age 20-29 born ca 1800/1810.

∙           1840 census age 30-39 born ca 1800/1810.

∙           1850 census age 48 born ca 1801/1802.

∙           1860 census age 57 born ca 1802/1803.

∙           1870 census age 67 born ca 1802/1803.

∙           1880 census age 70 born ca 1809/1810.

His census entries agree that he was born in North Carolina. I believe he was born in Burke Co., NC, likely in the section that later became McDowell County, though he was long gone before that change occurred.

I have no definitive proof who John Tanner’s parents were, but my prime suspect is Joseph Tanner who was also in Burke Co., NC in the same area where John resided and at the same time. John would have likely been named after his paternal grandfather John Tanner (1755-1811).

The connections to Joseph are entirely circumstantial, but it fits well. First, Joseph did indeed have a son John’s age with him on the 1810 and 1820 census. That isn’t solid proof of course, but it helps. Two, there were no other Tanners in Burke Co., NC until 1820 when Michael Tanner (1759-1849) from neighboring Rutherford Co., NC moved there. Since Michael also wound up in Union Co., GA it’s highly tempting to try to make him John’s father, but as best as I can tell, he isn’t. Nor does it seem likely that those Rutherford Tanners are closely related to Joseph and John. I could be wrong about that.

The next connection is even more circumstantial. John Tanner moved to Macon Co., NC by 1830. There was a widow Elizabeth Tanner there at the same time and in the same section, clearly connected to him. However, she’s too young to be the widow of Joseph Tanner unless she was a 2^nd wife married after 1820, and as best as I can determine that seems to be the case, thus she might be John’s step-mother.

None of the above is conclusive, but I feel that it’s right. More evidence would be helpful of course.

John Tanner would have been about 8 for the 1810 census. Joseph Tanner had a male under 10 with him on that census.

John would have been about 18 for the 1820 census. Joseph had a male aged 16-25 with him on that census. That could be John.

The first record I’ve found (thus far) for John Tanner is July 1822 court in Burke Co., NC when he was ordered to help oversee the road leading from “Rutherford line to the fork above Blacks plantation.” It was a dim page, but I believe I’ve made out all the names correctly. These other names would have been neighbors in the same area:

Daniel Hicks, Henry Floyd, Jonathan Nickles, Christopher Nickles, Adam Nickles, Carroll Grigg, James Arwood?, John Arwood?, Jesse Grigg, Woody Grigg, John Hogan, James Smithy, Larkin Johnson, Logan Johnson, Cornelius Welch, John Curry, John Ingle, John Tanner, James Black, John Black, John Allen, John Smalls?, Wm Foutch & Joseph Wilson.

John Tanner married Susannah Stroud ca 1824, presumably in Burke Co., NC, though no marriage record was found. Her maiden name is proven by the death certificate of their daughter Mary L. Tanner Fouts (1836-1925) which lists her father as “John Tanner” born Ireland, mother “— Stroud” born Towns Co., GA. Obviously the birth places are wrong, but there are grains of truth there. They did live in Towns Co., GA, but she wasn’t born there. John Tanner wasn’t born in Ireland either, but perhaps of Irish ancestry.

Susannah Stroud was born ca 1805/06 in Burke (now McDowell) Co., NC. Her parents aren’t known. It seems obvious she must be part of the extensive Peter Stroud (Sr) family of Burke Co., NC (now McDowell Co., NC). However it isn’t clear where she fits in. She isn’t a child of Peter Sr as he had a proven daughter named Susanna Stroud Mashburn (c1766-aft 1850), who of course might be the namesake of our Susannah. After careful analysis, I think she might be a daughter of David Stroud (c1777-1859) and his first wife, name unknown. I originally thought she was a child of Peter Stroud (Jr) and Margaret Curtis, but I was wrong about that. She doesn’t fit in that family, nor does she fit into the family of any of their brothers. See my Stroud pages for more on that subject.

Macon County was formed in 1828 from Haywood County and recently opened up Indian Territories. Settlers flocked to that region in the 1820s, as did John Tanner and family. They are listed on the 1830 census in Macon. The only other Tanner there is Elizabeth Tanner, who I strongly suspect is his recently widowed step-mother, which suggests that perhaps his father Joseph Tanner had also moved to Macon where he died in the late 1820s. John and Elizabeth were not listed near each other, however, they each had numerous neighbors who were known to live in the same general region.

John’s neighbors on either side in 1830 were Andrew Younts and James Holt. Christopher Setzer who was two houses away owned land on Ellijay Creek, and some other nearby neighbors owned land on Rabbit Creek.

John had an older female living with him in 1830. She was born ca 1780/90. She could be his widowed mother (though much too young to be Joseph Tanners wife), or perhaps Susannah’s widowed mother. We can only speculate who this woman might have been. She could be an unrelated boarder, or an older sister to either John or Susannah or perhaps a widowed or single Aunt.

1830 Census, Macon Co., NC

Page	Name (Males first row, females on second)	0-4	5-9	10-14	15-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50-59	60-69	70-79	80-89	90-99	100+
32	John Tanner	~	1	~	~	1	~	~	~	~	~	~	~	~
		2	~	~	~	1	~	1	~	~	~	~	~	~

My analysis (who each person *might* be):

1m 20-29 (1800/1810)       John Tanner (c1802)

1m 5-9 (1820/1825)            James M. Tanner (c1825) son

1f 40-49 (1780/1790)         Mother? Mother-in-law? (1780/90)

1f 20-29 (1800/1810)         Susannah Stroud Tanner (c1806) wife

2f 0-4 (1825/1830)              1. Malinda Tanner (c1828) daughter

                                               2. Matilda Tanner (c1830) daughter

On 28 Mar 1834, the Sheriff of Macon Co., NC summoned John McClure, John Tanner and James Boyd, to appear at the court house in March in the matter of John Day vs. Joab L. Moore. They were presumably needed to testify as witnesses.

The above shows people that John Tanner would have been associating with, perhaps related or perhaps not.

John Tanner was listed as a voter in the 1835 Congressional Elections. He voted in Franklin Precinct in Macon County. An Archibald Tanner was also listed as a voter in the same precinct. I believe he is John’s brother. He was in Madison Co., AL by 1838.

Peter Stroud voted just three places ahead of John Tanner, so that means they were probably at the voting precinct at the same time. I don’t know which Peter Stroud this was as there were several men of that name.

John Tanner and family moved to neighboring Union Co., GA between 1835 and 1836. Yes, at that time the two counties bordered each other across the state line. That changed once Cherokee County was formed in 1838, furthermore, that section of Cherokee later became Clay County.

At the time, they were in th ethe Lower Hiwassee area of Union (now Towns) Co., GA, which was close to the border with Rabun Co., GA.

They are on the 1840 census in Union Co., GA. Michael Tanner (1759-1849) and his son Abraham Tanner (c1805-aft 1880) are also listed, but not nearby. They lived on the other side of the county.

John and Susanna were not listed near any known relatives of his or hers.

1840 Census, Union Co., GA

Page	Name (Males first row, females on second)	0-4	5-9	10-14	15-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50-59	60-69	70-79	80-89	90-99	100+
17	John Tanner	~	~	1	~	~	1	~	~	~	~	~	~	~
		2	1	1	~	~	1	~	~	~	~	~	~	~

My analysis (who each person *might* be):

1m 30-39 (1800/1810)       John Tanner (c1802)

1m 10-14 (1820/1825)       James M. Tanner (c1825) son

1f 30-39 (1800/1810)         Susannah Stroud Tanner (c1806) wife

1f 10-14 (1825/1830)         Malinda Tanner (c1828) daughter

1f 5-9 (1830/1835)              Matilda Tanner (c1830) daughter

2f 0-4 (1835/1840)              1. Sarah Ann Tanner (1834) daughter

                                               2. Mary Lucinda Tanner (1836) daughter

There may have been a temporary move back to Macon Co., NC because John Tanner is listed on a 3 Aug 1843 voter list in Franklin Precinct, Macon County.

They were back in Georgia again by 1845 (birth of son John).

John Tanner is listed on the 1849 tax list in Union Co., GA in Hiwassee 833^rd District, along with Peter Stroud, James Tanner and Joseph Tanner, each taxed for one white poll. James is John’s son. Joseph is probably John’s half brother. Peter G. Stroud is probably Susannah’s 1^st cousin, though I’m not sure of their exact connection.

They were still in Union County for the 1850 census. John’s half brother Joseph Tanner was residing with them.

Based on their neighbors, they seem to be on the other side of Union County in the part that later became Fannin County. This may mean they moved around a bit before settling in the Towns County area, or else this is just a census quirk. I think it’s a quirk because in 1850 Samuel T. Jameson (c1831) was next door, and in 1860 he was also nearby, but in Towns Co., GA. Samuel wasn’t related to the Tanners as far as I’m aware, but they were neighbors, and I’m related to him via the Carter family which also married into the Tanners.

1850 Census, Union Co., GA, 85^th District, House 907, Family 907

Towns County was formed in 1856 from eastern Union and western Rabun. They were listed there for the 1860 census, next door to son-in-law James Barnes.

1860 Census, Towns Co., GA, Hiwassee PO, House 155, Family 155

Susannah Stroud Tanner died in the 1860-1866 time-frame in Towns County, Georgia.

On 8 Jul 1866, John Tanner Senr married Rachel E. Potts in Towns Co., GA. Rachel was born ca 1844/45 in White Co., GA per her son’s death certificate. However, White County didn’t exist in 1845. It was formed 1857 from Habersham, so if truly born there, it would have been Habersham at the time.

I have not been able to identify Rachel’s parents. I couldn’t find her on the 1850 census. Backing up a bit to the 1840 census, I find three Potts households in the northeastern section of Georgia. Rachel wasn’t born yet for this census, but this does show Potts families were in the area already. There were none in Union or Rabun Counties.

1840 Census, Cherokee Co., GA

p. 13 Young Potts                000001-00001     * Still here in 1850, no daughter Rachel with him.

p. 33 Hiram Potts                110031-111001   * Still here in 1850, no daughter Rachel with him.

1840 Census, Habersham Co., GA

p. 123 Joel Potts                  20001-10001        * Still here in 1850, no daughter Rachel with him.

The only Potts in Union Co., GA in 1850 was the family of F. Wilson Potts (1807-1859) and wife Margaret Allison Potts (1815-1892). They had no daughter named Rachel or similar with them in 1850. They were in Haywood Co., NC for the 1840 census, apparently the section that later became Jackson Co., NC (in 1851) because they went back there after 1850. I don’t know if they are closely related to Rachel or not. An old book lists Wilson Potts as a child of Henry Potts and Margaret Henry who married ca 1798 in Iredell Co., NC. Perhaps Rachel is part of that family as well.

I also checked the 1860 census for Rachel E. Potts. I found a potential match in nearby Hall Co., GA, but I can’t say if it’s her or not.

1860 Census, Hall Co., GA, 411 District, Gainsville PO, House 773, Family 647

Is that Rachel ? It certainly could be, but there is no way to be certain from this record alone. Is she related to the McCarleys? I found them on the 1850 census in Franklin Co., GA. It was just John and Frances and Keziah Duncan 73 born VA.

John and Rachel Tanner are on the 1870 census in Towns Co., GA.

1870 Census, Towns Co., GA, Hiwassee PO, House 484, Family 486

They are on the 1880 census in Towns County near several of his children and grandchildren.

1880 Census, Towns Co., GA, Lower Hiwassee, Dist 833, House 42, Family 42

John Tanner died sometime between the 1880 census and the 1900 census, presumably in Towns Co., GA.

Rachel is listed on the 1900 census in Towns County as a widow.

1900 Census, Towns Co., GA, 833 District G. M., House 91, Family 96

I was unable to find Rachel on the 1910 census, so she may have died between 1900 and 1910, presumably in Towns Co., GA.

I don’t know where John, Susannah or Rachel are buried.

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Children

John and Susannah had five children together as proven by the 1850 and 1860 censuses. Two more older children are strongly suggested by the 1830 and 1840 censuses and proximity. John and Rachel had five together as shown by the 1880 and 1900 census. One of those is yet unidentified, probably died young. Her 1900 census entry showed that only three of her five were still living at that time.

I’ve never found a Will, probate, estate or other record that officially names the heirs of John Tanner, thus the census records are all we have to go on.

I once thought that Joseph Tanner (c1824) was also his son, as he was with them in 1850. However, it’s much more likely he’s a younger half brother (or a nephew) and not a son.

 

1.         James M. Tanner was born ca 1824/25 in North Carolina, presumably Burke (now McDowell) Co., NC. He seems to be with is parents in 1830 aged 5-9 (1820/1825) and with them in 1840 aged 10-14 (1825/1830). He married Elizabeth Hooper in Union Co., GA on 30 Sep 1849. They are found on the 1850 census in Union Co., GA, and in Towns Co., GA in 1860, 1870 and 1880. He died before 1900. She was listed on the 1900 census in Towns Co., GA with her son Robert.

 

Elizabeth Hooper was born ca 1827/28 per her age on the 1850 census (22), somewhere in North Carolina. I haven’t yet identified her parents. There were many Hoopers in Union Co., GA at that time, all seemingly part of the same extended family. I don’t know where she fits in though. Her Find-a-grave entry has a notation that she was a daughter of Enos and Matilda Burrell Hooper. I don’t know what the proof of that is. The same entry has her death as 1902 and buried in Banks Co., GA.

 

2.         Malinda C. Tanner was born 12 Sep 1828 in Macon Co., NC. She was seemingly with her parents in 1830 age 0-4 (1825/1830) and in 1840 aged 10-14 (1825/1830). Malinda married James R. Barnes on 30 Nov 1848 in Union Co., GA. He was born ca 1824/25 in North Carolina, perhaps Burke Co., NC. I don’t know who his parents were for certain, but I suspect he’s a brother of John A. Barnes (1818-aft 1900) of Macon Co., NC who was next door on the 1850 census in Union Co., GA but in Macon after that. Both John and James could be children of Thomas Barnes (c1780) and Elizabeth (c1780) of Macon Co., NC, but that isn’t proven. They do fit into that household quite well though.

 

James Barnes and family are on the 1850 census in Union Co., GA, in Towns Co., GA in 1860, and in neighboring Clay Co., NC in 1870.

 

Malinda Tanner Barnes died on 9 Sep 1876 and is buried at the Carter Cemetery in Towns Co., GA. I don’t know when or where James died, though apparently in the 1870s.

 

3.         Matilda Tanner was born ca 1829/30 per her age on the 1850 census (20). She was born in North Carolina, so likely Macon County where her parents were in 1830. She seems to be with them on the 1830 census, aged 0-4 (1825/1830) and with them in 1840 aged 5-9 (1830/1835). She was home in 1850 “Matilda” age 20, and still home in 1860, “Matilda” age 26.

 

She was actually listed twice in 1860, once with her parents in Towns Co., GA, and again with John and Rebecca Fouts in Macon Co., NC, as “Matilda Tanner” 30, born GA. The Fouts are not related to her, but her sister Mary had married into that family ca 1859, and was living next door in 1860.

 

I wasn’t able to find Matilda after 1860. She might have died in that decade or married someone yet unidentified (or both). I checked the marriage records for both Towns Co., GA and Macon Co., NC and didn’t find one for her in either location.

 

4.         Sarah Ann Tanner was born 13 Oct 1834 in Macon Co., NC. She was seemingly with her parents for the 1840 census, aged 0-4 (1835/1840), and home in 1850 “Sarah” age 12, but gone from home by 1860. She was probably already married by then, but I didn’t find her on the 1860 census.

 

Sarah married John Oliver Stroud ca 1860, presumably in Towns Co., GA. No marriage record was found for them. He was born 13 Oct 1838 in Polk Co., TN, likely a son of Merritt B. Stroud. John and Sarah were cousins to some degree since her mother was also a Stroud. John Oliver Stroud was on the 1850 census in McDowell Co., NC residing with Enoch C. Stroud (c1827), relationship to him unknown. (The Strouds have been very difficult to sort out.)

 

As noted already, I couldn’t find them on the 1860 census. They are listed in Towns Co., GA in 1870, 1880, 1900 and 1910. She died 1912 and he died 1919.

 

5.         Mary Lucinda Tanner was born 2 Jun 1836 in Union (now Towns) Co., GA. She was seemingly with her parents for the 1840 census, aged 0-4 (1835/1840), and home in 1850, “Mary” age 15.

 

Mary married William Riley Fouts ca 1858, presumably in Towns Co., GA. He was from Macon Co., NC, Burningtown area where the Tanners had lived before coming to Georgia, so perhaps their families were acquainted from back then. Or, perhaps the Barnes connection is how they met. Mary Tanner’s sister Malinda was married to James M. Barnes, who was an uncle to William Riley Fouts.

 

They lived in Macon Co., NC after marriage and are listed there on the 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900 and 1910 censuses.

 

6.         Emily A. Tanner was born 4 Sep 1840 in Union (now Towns) Co., GA. She was home with her parents for the 1850 census, “Emily” age 10, and still with them in 1860, “Emly” age 20.

 

She too married a Macon county man. Jacob Jackson Waters and Emily A. Tanner married ca 1860/61, presumably in Towns Co., GA. No marriage record was found. He was born 1842 in Macon Co., NC and resided there his entire life. He too was from the Burningtown region, so perhaps his family and the Tanners had known each other back in 1820s and 1830s. Alternately, he could have met her via William Riley Fouts who’d married Emily’s sister about 3 years earlier. He was Jacob’s 1^st cousin.

 

They are listed on the 1870 census in Macon Co., NC.

 

Emily Tanner Waters died in May 1875 in Macon Co., NC and is buried at Briartown Cemetery. Jacob married again just under 3 years later, to a cousin, Martha Jane Fouts.

 

Emily and Jacob are my ancestors.

 

7.         John S. Tanner was born 24 Jan 1845 in Union (now Towns) Co., GA. I don’t know what his middle initial “S” stands for, though “Stroud” would certainly fit. However, that’s just speculation on my part. John was with his parents on the 1850 census, “John” age 6, and home in 1860, “John” age 14.

 

John S. Tanner married Lavina A. Carter before ca 1865, presumably in Rabun Co., GA where she was from. No marriage record was found. She was born 29 Oct 1841, a child of Thomas W. Carter and Catherine M. Pendergrass.

 

They are on the 1870 census in Rabun Co., GA. They are in Towns Co., GA in 1880. He died 4 May 1900 in Rabun Co., GA and is buried in that county at the Head of Tennessee Baptist Church Cemetery. Lavina is on the 1900 and 1910 censuses in Rabun Co., GA. She died 26 Apr 1918 and is buried at the same place as her husband.

 

8.         Carl “Karr” Alonzo E. Tanner was born 8 Sep 1870. I base that year on two things. One, his death certificate lists his birth date as 8 Sep 1860 which is ten years too old. Two, he wasn’t listed on the 1870 census, so not born yet. He was on the 1880 census, age 9, which works fine for September 1870 birth date, thus I conclude the information provided for the death certificate was right, but ten years off.

 

He was with his parents for the 1880 census, “Alonzo” age 9.

 

He married Paulina Thomason on 17 Sep 1891 in neighboring Union Co., GA. She’d been previously married to a Mr. Brewster and a Mr. Redden. I haven’t identified either of those spouses yet.

 

The family is listed on the 1900 and 1910 censuses in Cherokee Co., NC, and in Union Co., GA in 1920. Carr Tanner died in Union on 5 Oct 1922. His place of burial is left blank on his death certificate. His wife, Paulina Thomason died on 8 May 1934 in Cherokee Co., NC. She’s buried at Bellview Community Cemetery in Cherokee Co., NC.

 

9.         Nancy Tanner was born ca 1872/73 in Towns Co., GA. She was with her parents on the 1880 census, “Nancy” age 7. I have no record of her after that.

 

10.       Eli Tanner was born ca 1873/74 in Towns Co., GA. He was with his parents on the 1880 census, “Eli” age 6. I have no record of him after that.

 

11.       Seaburn Tanner was born Sep 1879 in Towns Co., GA. He was with his parents on the 1880 census, “Ceburn” age 8 months, born Sept. He was with his widowed mother in 1900, “Seburn” age 21, born Sept 1878.

 

He married Tisha Hughes ca 1903, presumably in Cherokee Co., NC. They are listed in that county on the 1910, 1920 and 1930 censuses. He died there 17 Jan 1937, she in 1960. They are buried at the Notla Baptist Church Cemetery.

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For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for John Tanner and Susannah Stroud and Rachel Potts.

Revised: March 12, 2026

Copyright © 1996-2026 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.

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