Michal M. Farmer, William Sims

34. Susannah5Sims (William4, Bruster3, Edward2, William1), was born 4 March 1789, Hanover County, Virginia,[249] died between 1860 and 1870, Washington County, Tennessee. She married circa 1808, Washington County, Tennessee, to James McAlister, born circa 1780, Frederick County, Maryland. He made his will 18 April 1850. It was proved December 1851, Washington County, Tennessee.

James and Susanna McCalister lived in Washington County, Tennessee, in 1850.[250] Susan McAlister lived with her son, Samuel R. McAlister, in Broylesville, Washington County, in 1860.[251]

Will of James McAlister, 18 April 1850, weak in body. Wife: Susan. Sons: Samuel R. McAlister and James McAlister. Daughters: Frances Murray, Eliza R. Harper, Lueza Crockett, Eleanor R. King, and Margaret C. McAlister. Negroes: Polly and her son Alexr., Minerva, Rachel, Samuel, and Sarah. Notes on A. A. Broyles, Miller or Millard of Sullivan County, and Bonells. Executors: George W. Telford and E. L. Mathes. /s/ James (x) McAlister. Witnesses: Pleasant W. C. Greenway, Saml. G. McCraken. Proved December 1851 by both witnesses.[252]

Susan McAlister was the daughter of William and Judith Sims of Maury County, Tennessee. Neither William or Judith applied for a Revolutionary pension based on his service. In 1856, their daughter, Susannah McAlister of Washington County, Tennessee, applied for bounty land based on her father’s service in the Revolutionary War. She stated that she was the only living heir of William Sims. This wasn’t true. Her sister, Nancy Harlan, was living in Dallas County, Texas, in 1856.

[249] Viola Winn Hunt, Sims Family History, 1913.

[250] 1850 U.S. Census, Washington County, Tennessee, p. 160, #792/820. McCalister, Jas., age 70, farmer, $3000, born Md.; Susanna, age 61, born Va.; Saml., age 25, born Tenn. Margaret H., age 21, born Tenn.; Jas., age 17, student, born Tenn.

[251] 1860 U.S. Census, Washington County, Tennessee, p. 155, #357/357, P.O. Broylesville, District 3. McAlister, Samuel R., age 35, farmer, $10,000/$8,000, born Tenn.; Jane, age 25, born N.C.; Tennessee, age 5, male, born Tenn.; James, age 3, born Tenn.; Charley McAlister, age 4/12, male, born Tenn.; Richard Humphreys, age 66, physician, born Va.; Susan McAlister, age 67, born Va.; Caroline McAlister, age 30, born Tenn.; Ellen King, age 12, born N.C.

[252] Betty Brandon Davis, “Washington County, Tennessee, Wills. Abstracts from Will Book A, 1770-1860,” Ansearchin News (Tennessee Genealogical Society, Fall 1979), p. 133.