More has been written about the history of Reverend John Tanner, Jr., than any other early Kentucky preacher. He was one of the first Baptist preachers to come to the state of Kentucky. He probably began his ministry as a circuit preacher traveling from church to church between Virginia and North Carolina. Later he became a pastor at several early churches which spanned Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Missouri. It could be said of Preacher John Tanner that he was an early missionary during his lifetime. He truly believed in the "Great Commission" when Jesus said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" ... (Matthew 28:19).Reverend Tanner's parents, were John (Sr.) and Dianah (Beary or Berry) Tanner. Mrs. Marguerite Hussey, in her book entitled The Family of Rev. John Tanner-Baptist Preacher Virginia-North Carolina-Kentucky-Missouri, says that John Tanner, Jr., was born in 1732 in Chesterfield County, Virginia. However, I believe he was born about 1740 in Virginia. My reasoning for this date is because the first time he was ever mentioned as John Tanner, Jr., was on June 14, 1760, in Halifax County, North Carolina. He was a witness to a deed between James and Sussanah Benton and his father. He had to be about 18 years old at this time to be listed on this deed. Sometime between 1753 and 1757 the Tanner family moved from Chesterfield County, Virginia, to Edgecombe County, North Carolina. John Tanner, Sr., was a plantation owner in Halifax County as early as 1763. On October 30, 1765, in Edgecombe County, John Tanner and his son, John (Jr.), were mentioned as witnesses to a deed between Nathan and Delilah Horn and Duncan Lamon.
When Reverend Tanner began his ministry is uncertain, but his father's involvement in the church probably had influence on young Tanner. In 1732, in Henrico Parish, John, Sr., was mentioned in the Vestry Book of St. John's Church. This first experience of church life was an important part of the Tanner family history, at least as far back as 1732. After moving from Virginia to North Carolina, the Tanner family began their involvement in local churches. On a partial list of members of the Falls of the Tar Primitive Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, Edgecombe County, from 1757 to 1777, was John Tanner. This was probably John Tanner, Sr., as he lived in the Tarboro area of Edgecombe County. Toward the end of his life he had a will, dated October 20, 1805, in Warren County, North Carolina. In this will he left money for the rebuilding or repairing of a Baptist meeting house. This will proves that John Tanner, Sr., and his family were involved with the church and probably were all of their lives. The Tanner family's Baptist roots obviously go back to Virginia and North Carolina.
Reverend Tanner, like many preachers of this time period, was persecuted and imprisoned for his religious beliefs in Virginia and North Carolina. He was a Calvinist (Separate Baptists) who believed in predestination and the eternal decrees which were found in the New Testament. He also believed in the concept of God's will for man, determined by rigid adherence to the Scriptures. He would not give in to compromises, rules, agreements, covenants, or anything that was not taken directly from the Bible. He would not be a part of revivals, as he thought they were "the work of the devil." Because of his strong convictions, he often was at odds with other clergymen and the local authorities. Reverend Tanner's first account of being persecuted involved his being jailed in 1770 in Chesterfield County, Virginia, for preaching the gospel along with six other men.
The first church that Reverend Tanner established was a Baptist church in Rocky Swamp, Halifax County, North Carolina, in 1773. Soon after, he became the pastor of a church of Separate Baptists in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. On May 15, 1773, he and John Weatherford were again arrested for preaching and assembling people together without having a license in Chesterfield County, Virginia. One of the men who secured the release of Tanner was John Clay. He was the father of Henry Clay who later became a Kentucky statesman and lawyer. Robert S. Duncan wrote an article in 1882 about Elder John Tanner and stated that he was a favorite pastor of the mother of Henry Clay, Elizabeth Hudson Clay. On a side note, on July 31, 1925, the Middle District Baptist Association erected a monument to the imprisoned preachers in Chesterfield County, Virginia. Reverend Tanner must have traveled from one church to another during this time as Chesterfield County, Virginia, about 100 miles from his home in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. About four years later, in 1777, in the town of Windsor, North Carolina, he was shot by a man named Dawson for baptizing Dawson's wife. He almost died from the injuries of this incident and carried several pieces of the buckshot in his leg for the rest of his life.
The first account of Reverend Tanner coming to the part of Virginia that would later become Kentucky was recorded by William Chenault, who wrote The Early History of Madison County. According to Chenault, John Tanner, Jr., and his brother, David, were in Kentucky in April of 1775. They might have come with Colonel Richard Henderson's group or might have later followed that group into Kentucky. The Tanner brothers probably came to Kentucky. The Tanner brothers probably came to Kentucky as most pioneers did at that time, searching for land on which to settle. John must have returned to North Carolina soon after, because he was in Windsor, North Carolina, in 1777, as mentioned earlier. On March 12, 1780, a survey was done for a 1,000-acre tract of land for John Tanner (Land Office Treasury Warrant No. 4177) and was entered on July 3, 1780, in the county of Fayette on the waters of the Licking River.
According to Marguerite Hussey (mentioned earlier), when the Tanner family came to Kentucky there were at least four children with them: Edward, Lucy, Agatha or Agnes, and John.
John Tanner, Jr., was involved in many land transactions in Kentucky. Collin's History mentions that in 1781 John Tanner had a station called Tanner's Station located 80 yards from General Green Clay's residence (on land that later would become Whitehall), six miles from Richmond, which at the time was in Lincoln County, Virginia (now Kentucky). On November 19, 1781, Green Clay had a land entry of 5,000 acres on the watercourse of Tates and Jack's Creek. John Tanner had land north and west of this property. As a result of having land and living near Boonesborough, John Tanner's name is etched in the monu-ment that stands in front of Fort Boonesborough today.
On January 6, 1784, John Tanner, Jr., had a Kentucky land grant for 400 acres on Otter Creek and another 1,000 acres in Lincoln County. He also had a Kentucky land grant for 400 acres on Four Mile Creek on February 11, 1784, in Fayette County. On October 3, 1785, he had a Kentucky land grant for 1,000 acres on the Licking River in Fayette County. Daniel Boone signed the survey and Samuel and Daniel Morgan and Jesse Bryan Boone were mentioned as chairmen and marker, respectively, for this survey. On October 24, 1786, in Madison County a deed from John Tanner to Archibald Woods was proven by Samuel Estill and John South. On May 22, 1787, in Madison County a deed from John Tanner to Charles Ballew was proven by Absolom Crook. Also, on this date a deed from John Tanner to Absolom Crook was proven by John White. John and Rachel Tanner sold land to Archibald Woods on August 26, 1788, in Madison County. On this same date John and Rachel Tanner deeded land to David Crews, William Hoy, and Charles Ballou in Madison County. On September 2, 1789, John and Rachel Tanner deeded land to James Hendricks in Madison County. On September 6, 1790, in Madison County, there was a mortgage from Higgason Grubbs to John Tanner, Jr. These two men were involved in 10 suits over this mortgage until November 1, 1791. Green Clay was involved with both John and David Tanner in several deeds and court cases in Fayette, Lincoln, and Madison counties during the 1780s and 1790s. In 1785 Tanner's Station was sold to Clay, which was located on land that was adjacent to Clay's. On June 18, 1786, John Tanner, Jr., sold his plantation of 1,200 acres to Clay. In a court case involving Tanner and Green Clay on June 12, 1806, in Fayette County, Clay received 400 acres of land in Garrard County from John Tanner, Jr. It seems that most of the land in Kentucky that Tanner acquired was eventually sold or lost in court cases to Green Clay. Green Clay, a second cousin to Henry Clay, became the wealthiest man in Kentucky during this time, in large because of his land purchases.
After the first wife (name unknown) of Reverend Tanner died, about 1782, the family moved to the Elkhorn area of Fayette County. He married a woman named Rachael (last name unknown and date unknown). To this union were born two children, James and Rachael.
Not only did Reverend Tanner acquire many land holdings and participate in several court cases, he also continued his ministry after coming to Kentucky. On June 18, 1782, in Lincoln County, Virginia (Kentucky), James Smith and John Tanner were granted a license to solemnize the rites of matrimony and took the oaths as such. Recorded by J. H. Spencer in 1885 was an article entitled, "Frontier Baptist Preacher," which tells about John Tanner becoming the pastor of Tates Creek Church of Regular Baptists in Madison County (this occurred hi 1783 in what was then Lincoln County). According to Tim Capps, who wrote A History of Boone's Creek Baptist Church, on November 13, 1785, Elders John Tanner and John Taylor helped form the original church. At this gathering were Samuel Boone (Daniel Boone's brother) and his wife, Sarah. At this time the church was located in Fayette County. Also, in 1785, Reverend John Tanner participated in organizing the Elkhorn Association, which was the first Baptist association west of the Allegheny Mountains. In Meade County, on October 6, 1787, Reverend Tanner and others were listed as messengers for the Elkhorn Association which met at Coxes Creek.
Because his ministerial work at different churches in Kentucky required his traveling from one place to another, Reverend Tanner had to have someone tend his land and provide food for his family while he was away. On a county tax roll he was credited with owning 21 slaves, who probably worked his land and tended his family while he was away. Tanner was quite the entrepreneur, as he owned and sold land, owned slaves, and raised crops; all the while spreading the gospel through his ministry in many early churches in Kentucky.
For all the traveling that Reverend John Tanner did in early Kentucky, nothing has been written about him ever being attacked or captured by Indians. At a time when many early pioneers who entered Kentucky were killed and scalped, including women and children, I find it interesting that he survived. He traveled back and forth between several early churches during this time, yet nothing can be found indicating he ever personally encountered Indians. One possible reason is that he may have been known by the Indians to have special powers through the Bible that he carried and may have been seen reading from it as he traveled through Kentucky. It has been said that one of the reasons Daniel Boone was never killed and scalped by the Indians was that he often read his Bible when he stopped to rest when exploring in Kentucky.
In 1789 Reverend John Tanner established a second station which he again called Tanner's Station, located on the banks of the Ohio River. John Taylor, another Baptist preacher, and John Tanner purchased 2,000 acres of land which at that time was part of Woodford County. The deed of sale for this land was not recorded in Woodford County until July 5, 1791. This site is now the present town of Petersburg in Boone County. A historical marker commemorating Tanner's Station is located in the yard of the Petersburg Elementary School on KY Hwy 20 in Boone County. According to Richard Collins' 1878 Historical Sketches of Kentucky, it was here at Tanner's Station in May of 1790 that Reverend John Tanner's son, John Tanner, at the age of nine was taken prisoner by the Indians, where he wound up living most of his life.
On August 29, 1790, in Madison County, John and David Tanner were involved with the inventory of the estate of William Hoy. Also on this list was Daniel Boone.
In 1791, a year after the younger son of Preacher John Tanner had been captured by Indians, [This is described in a book titled The Falcon] another son, Edward Tanner, nearly 15 years old,, was also taken prisoner by a party of Indians, some of whom were the same ones that had taken the younger brother. Unlike his younger brother, Edward escaped his captives and made his way back home.
Rachael died some time after July of 1791, probably in Woodford County, where she and John were living at the time. It is assumed she died during childbirth, as the second child that she bore was named Rachael.
In July of 1792, Reverend Tanner married Sally Rucker in Woodford County. This was his third marriage. She was only 16 years old and John was in his 50s. Sally was the daughter of James Rucker, another Baptist preacher from Virginia and a friend of John's.
Probably because of the heartache of the capture of his son and the death of his second wife, John decided to move from Woodford County to Shelby County, where he was active in yet another church. About this time James Rucker moved his family to Caldwell County, Kentucky, where soon after John and Sally Tanner joined them. While living in Caldwell County, John wrote dated letters to his son, Edward, in 1802 addressing the letter to Shelby County and in 1806 to Woodford County.
The Tanner's Station historical marker in Boone County reads that John Tanner went to Missouri in 1798. Marguerite Hussey mentioned in her book that John may have gone to Missouri in search of "new fields." John had a will, dated August 30, 1810, in Caldwell County, Kentucky. In this will he names his children who were Polly (Mary) Minett or Merritt (deceased), Agnes Hogan (deceased), Diannah Morton, Millie (Mildred) Martin, and Edward. Also, mentioned in this will were the children from his marriage to Sally Rucker: Nancy, Polly, Pamelia, Tabitha, and Joseph. The will was filed in probate court on July 18, 1812, in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. Another will was later found dated June 20, 1812, written shortly before John died. In this will, James Tanner was also mentioned as a son. This will was probated on October 7, 1812. According to Mrs. Hussey, John also had other children: Elizabeth (Betsy) Dougherty, Sarah (Sally) Dougherty, and Rachael. Altogether John Tanner, Jr., fathered 16 children with his three wives.
About 1810 the heirs of John Tanner brought a suit against Lawrence Owen over a land transaction. Henry Clay was commissioned to represent the family. David Tanner had claimed to have power of attorney and sold land to Owen. Clay brought suit against Owen, claiming that the brother did not have legal power of attorney to sell this land. By the time the judgment was rendered the two pioneer brothers were dead.
In 1812 a series of earthquakes occurred in the New Madrid County, Missouri, area. It was then that John Tanner, Jr., moved his family from there to higher ground in Cape Girardeau County and settled in the neighborhood of Bethel Church where he preached on occasion. In June of 1812 he died and was buried in the Bethel Church cemetery. In the summer of 1959, Marguerite Hussey, the great-great-granddaughter of John Tanner, and her daughter drove from their home in California to Missouri to locate the old Bethel Church and to find the area of the old cemetery in Jackson, the county seat of Cape Girardeau County. With some help they found the marker that was placed at the site in 1906 commemorating the centennial founding of Bethel Church. It was probably here on this hill, looking down into the valley, that Preacher John Tanner was laid to rest. Unfortunately, he died not knowing that his son, John Tanner, the Indian captive, was still alive. After John Tanner died, Sally returned to Caldwell County and joined her father and other relatives who were living there. She married two other times.
Of all that has been written about Reverend John Tanner there has not been one story mentioning his demeanor. He was known as a strict Calvinist preacher, from which he never wavered. Never was anything written about him ever physi-cally fighting over his religious beliefs or the persecutions he endured in Virginia and North Carolina. Nor was anything recorded concerning the prosecuting of the Dawson man who nearly killed him for doing God's will or his taking revenge on this man. John Tanner, Jr., went about his life living out the New Testament gospel that he preached. The one thing I am sure of is that on that day when the old preacher met his Creator he did not have to be asked the one question we all will be asked on that day, "Did you tell them about my Son?" God probably said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:23).
I am proud to know that for over 255-plus years my Baptist roots can be traced back to Reverend John Tanner, for he was my great-great-great uncle.
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[By Gary M. Tanner, 2918 Windsor Forest Drive, Louisville, KY, 40272; via The Kentucky Explorer, September, 2012, pp.44-48, Used with permission. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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