James L. Churchman

Shiloh Methodist Church	Churchman Family Cemetery
James L. Churchman	Mary O. Churchman

• Sex: M
• Born: May 20, 1812 in Jefferson County, Tennessee
• Died: February 28, 1874 in Grainger County, Tennessee
• Buried: In the gated Shiloh Methodist Church Cemetery in Grainger County, TN
• Notes: James L. Churchman and his wife Mary are buried in a family graveyard, along with many of their family members, at the Shiloh Methodist Church in Rutledge, Tennessee. For pictures of the church and graveyard, click here. The reason for the family graveyard at the church has been a matter of speculation until the recent discovery of the original deed of the property to the church.
  
  In a deed between Henry E. Kinder wife and others to the Trustees of the Shiloh Church, approximately one and one-half acres of land was given to the Trustees of the Methodist Church at Shiloh. This parcel of land is in the state of Tennessee County of Grainger District #5.
  
  The land was originally owned by James L. Churchman. James had given the land to Henry Kinder, but no deed was ever made and posted. As a result, this deed to Shiloh Methodist Church required signatures from Henry Kinder,Mary Kinder (Henry's wife), James L. Churchman, and Mary O. Churchman (James' wife). James agreed to the transfer with the stipulation that part of this parcel of land be reserved for a family graveyard. He also stipulated that the Trustees and their successors in the office of Trust promise to maintain the land and to always utilize the land as a place of divine worship.
  
  To view a copy of the original deed, please click HERE. To view a transcription of the original deed, please click HERE.
  
  Heritage of James L. Churchman
  
  For awhile, we had difficulty determining the parents of James L. Churchman. By process of elimination, it appears that James L. Churchman was one of the two 15-20 year-old sons of Stephen Churchman listed in the 1830 Tennessee Census. Based on his birthdate, he would have been 18 in 1830. The 1830 Census indicates that Stephen had seven children: 1 son between the ages of 5-10, 2 sons between the ages of 15-20, 1 daughter younger than 5 years old, 2 daughters between the ages of 10-15, and 1 daughter between the ages of 15-20. All of the sons of Reuben Churchman, James Churchman, and John Wesley Churchman have been accounted for in the 15-20 year age group of the 1830 Tennessee Census. Joseph Churchman had a son in this age group, but it could not have been James L. because Joseph married Polly Brittain on May 9, 1812, only 11 days before James L. Churchman was born. We therefore conclude that James L. is the son of Stephen Churchman.

Father: Stephen Churchman, b. ca 1785

Mother: Levice Smith

Family 1: Mary Oglebeam Young, b. February 21, 1810 -- d. January 4, 1897 -- buried in the gated Shiloh Methodist Church Cemetery in Grainger County, TN

• Married: July 25, 1834 in Grainger County, Tennessee

1. William A. Churchman, b. July 24, 1836 in Grainger County, Tennessee
2. James P. Churchman, b. ca 1842 in Grainger County, Tennessee
3. Pleasant W. Churchman, b. September 26, 1846 in Grainger County, Tennessee
4. Mary Jane Churchman, b. October 31, 1850 in Grainger County, Tennessee

Sources:

1. Marriages of Tennessee 1800-1890
2. Research by Robert B. Puryear, III
3. Research by Mark D. Corum
4. 1830 Tennessee Census
5. Land deed found in the Grainger County Records, Rutledge, TN.