Person Sheet

Name Mary BARBER Birth 1767, Anson County, North Carolina Death 1829, North Carolina Father Capt. John BARBER (1738-1802) Mother Mary Ann ALLEN (1739-1807)
Spouses
1 John CURLEE  Birth 1761, North Carolina Death 1812, Rutherford County, Tennessee Father William CURLEE (1700-)
Marriage 1781
Children Rhoda Tabitha (1781-) Elizabeth (-1847)
Notes for John (Spouse 1)
Who Are You? Curle The arms we show here are found on the tomb of one Thomas Curle, Gentleman,Justice, of Elizabeth City, buried at Pembroke Farm, near Hampton, Virginia. He was born in 1640 in the Parish of St. Michael, Lewes, County Sussex, England, and died in 1700. It is recorded that he left his property to his nephews Pasco and Joshua. Another brother, Samuel Curle, was also a settler in Virginia. The coat-of-arms is found to be the same as those of the Curle family of Kyle, London. The name of Curle, or Curlee, was originally Norman French, but was established in England at a very early period. One of the first ancestors was John De Curly, who lived in Warwickshire. The name is spelled differently in almost every country. The Danish form Krolle, Dutch; Curjel, Old English; Crull, Teutonic; Kerling, Karl and Curl. In America it has taken the form of Curle and Curlee. It is believed that the name of Curle originated as a nickname applied to one with curly hair, as the earliest definition of the word signified a ringlet of hair. This is a well-known name in America today and most of those who bear it are descendants of the Virginia immigrants herein mentioned. ------------------ (This information followed information taken from the John Curlee family bible in the possession of Miss Katherine Curlee of Corinth, MS.) Calvin Curlee and his wife settled eight miles south of Woodbury in what was Rutherford Co. TN (later Cannon Co.). He gave five acres of his farm for a church and graveyard. He and his wife are buried at Curlee's, as it is called, in graves marked only by a roofed covering. His home was noted for miles around for its hospitality. No traveler was ever turned away and people sent them for miles to spend the night at his house. His table was bountifully spread and his negroes always fed and housed the traveler's animal. The guest was always given food for himself and for his animal when he left if needed. It was Calvin Curlee's custom to make the rounds of the house to see whether guests were comfortable. The story is told that he once found a guest with a large pistol beside his head on the pillow. When Calvin Curlee asked what this meant, the guest replied that he did not know where he was. he was told that he was in the house of people who tried to serve God and trusted in him for protection, and that vengeance was God's. The man was reminded that he had been taken in for his own protection. Shamed the man and he put the gun away. Calvin Curlee was low in stature, so low that he had to have a box behind the pulpit on which to stand so that he could see over the pulpit. He could stand under the outstretched arm of his wife. His stirrup had to be a short as those of a child. He was said to have been a very eloquent and forceful preacher; first, in the Baptist Church, and after he heard Alexander Campbell in Nashville in the Chruch of Christ. When he returned home from Nashville, he read his Bible, walked the floor, and read his Bible. Finally, he paused in his walking and remarked to his wife, "Becky, somebody is wrong, and I think we are." He preached the first sermon (Christian) in McMinnville in the courthouse which was cleaned out for the occasion. The other churches refused to allow him to use their buildings. He held a "big meeting" there and came back every year to hold their meeting. The story is told that he learned early never to judge of the success of his meetings by the humbers converted. One day on his circuit, a young man wearing a handsome broadcloth suit and riding a fine black horse came into the main highway from a cross road and Calvin Curlee passed. The two roade along together for some time in company until the your man, who was very polished in his manner said "You do no know me, do you?" Calvin Curlee replied that he did not. Then the fellow traveler asked whether he recalled a certain meeting. Calvin Curlee said he did, that it was the one failure of his life and he had never know why. Only one was converted and he was a green awkward country lad. Thereupon his companion introduced himself and said he was that lad. He was a young preacher about whom Calvin Curlee had been hearing much; he was converting people by the dozens. Afterwards Calvin Curlee claimed that as his most successful meeting, because this young preacher was doing more than he himself ever could do. He is said to have been taken sick away from home and to have died soon after he was brought home. His name is not on the census of 1860 and his grandson who was born in 1852 does not remember him. He and Talbot Fannie were warm friends. They had in common their love of the truths in the Bible and their love of good horses. Any information as to his character, personality, his personal appearance, his teachings, and his life will be appreciated, as will a picture of him. "unmarried; killed by a horse; very popular & handsome" Burton Smith's wife was a McFerrin, a sister of Eleanor McFerrin, wife of Cullen Curlee. Burton Smith and his McFerrin wife had children. So later great Aunt Annie and Burton Smith married and had children there were three sets of Smith children in the family, a large and happy family. Enclosure of Eleanor Katherine Curlee in letter of April 17, 1929. "John Curlee. Revolutionary Soldier b. Tryon Co. North Carolina, 1761, d. 1812 m. 1781 Mary Barber b. 1767 d. 1829" Land Grants to Soldiers of Rev. War. Recorded at Nashville, Tenn John Curlee, Private, 640 acres. Warrant No. 1974. North Carolina Rev. War Service No Record of John Curlee's ever having come to Tenn. His two sons, Cullen & Calvin, came and perhaps took up their father's grant. Cullen Curlee, son of John Curlee was soldier in War of 1812. We know the two brothers were living in Rutherford Co. Tenn. 1814. The two brothers witnessed deeds &c. from time to time - bought & sold land &c. in same county all along up to 1828. The names of Berry and Arnett - married into the family - occur along with theirs. SEAL) The University of Texas Austin, Texas Inventory of the Estate of John Curlee August the 1st 1812. This is an inventory of the property of John Curlee deceased one Negro girl about 14 or 15 years of age one negro boy about 11 or 12, 1 Girl about 9 or 10 years old, 3 beds & furniture, 1 chest, 1 shelf of books, 1 Shot bage & Powder Horn, 1 dresser & furniture, 2 cotton wheels, 1 flax wheel, 2 pails, 1 tin cup, one dutch oven, lid hoop & two skillets, 2 pr cotton cards, 1 loom 1 pot & hooks & stirrup? iron 1 pr saddle bags 1 shove plow 1 log chain 1 iron wedge 1 poll axes 1 tormahawk, 2 weeding hoes 1 pr iron gears 5 bells & collars 1 single tree & clevis 1 double & single tree 6 chairs 1 table 1 cooler 1 bottle 1 smothing iron 1 heifer 1 cow & calf 1 heifer 1 cow 1 middlin of bacon 11_____ open sows in a _______ 56 pigs & shortes 1 sorrel horse 4 years old one sorrel filley 2 years old last spring 1 sorrel mare 9 years old 1 bridle & saddle 1 yearling Bay Filley 1 bay filley 3 years old last spring 1 ten gallon cask 1-2 gallon cask 1 note 16 1/2 Bu corn one order for 6 bushels corn a debt on Joseph _______ for about eight dollars & 80 1/4 cents one order on Thomas Knox for five shilling, an account on David Arnett for three dollars 62 1/2 cents a note on David Arnett sum for $6.28 on Michael Austin for Thirteen gallons whiskey a note on William Stokes for $1.70 one account against Calvin Curlee for $10.00 4 salt barrles 1 pr shot moles 1 pocket book some feathers & ducks some leather 2 1/2 gallons whiskey Cullin Curlee Calvin Curlee This is to certify that the foregoing is a true and accurate copy as found in Record Book 2-3-4 Page 209. J. P. Leathers County Court Clerk Rutherford County Murfreesboro, Tenn. (SEAL)