General Notes

As Samuel was dead before 1835 his children were listed in the Circuit Case #3977. His children were not in Green County in 1835/36. There was an unknown John DeSpain in the 1834 and 1837 tax list, but it is not known if this is Samuel's son, John P. Despain or not.

Samuel was in the 1811, 13, 15, 18, 19, 20, and 23 Green Co, KY tax lists. There was a Samuel in the 1827, 28, and 29 tax lists, but it is not known if this is the same Samuel or not. Although he was in the 1820 tax list he was not found in the 1820 Green County census. There has always been a question if there was more then one Samuel. Could one of Peter's unknown sons be named Samuel? As a professional Rutherford County genealogist could not find any references to Samuel or Margaret between 1811 and 1830 in Rutherford Co, TN, it is now believed that the Samuel mentioned in all of the Green County records is James Scott's son. As Samuel is not in the 1816 & 17 tax lists, it is possible they did go to TN for a few years. In several tax years, most notably 1827 to 1829, Samuel was listed with 100 acres of land. No records of this land being bought or sold has been found in the Green County land records.

His children were born between 1814 and 1824 and all listed their birthplace as TN, but they were probably born in KY and just considered TN their home state. Samuel's widow, Margeret, was found in Rutherford Co, TN in 1830 with no mention of Samuel. Ergo, Samuel died between the 1829 Green Co, KY tax time and the1830 Rutherford Co, TN census.....late 1829 to early 1830.

W. W. Whitaker stated in the Despain Log Chain that based on bible records the DeSpain family associated with Rutherford Co, TN was "Saul" & Levicey Grayham DeSpain. This is in error; it is "Sam'l" & Margaret Freeman DeSpain. Samuel was James Scott DeSpain's oldest son. Scott never had a son named Solomon. Based on the Rutherford Bible referred to by Whitaker there was another son names James Perterson DeSpain. As this individual is never again seen in the records, it suggest he died before 1830.

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Sources:

   1. Title: John B. Despain's Journal
      Author: John B. Despain
      Note:
      Written in the 1830 & 40
   2. Title: Despain Log Chain
      Author: W. W. Whitaker
   3. Title: Green Co, KY Circuit Court Case #3977
      Author: William DeSpain et al vs. L. DeSpain
   4. Repository:
            Name: Greensburg, KY
      Title: Green Co, KY Tax Lists
      Author: Green County Clerk
   5. Title: Despain Log Chain
      Author: W. W. Whitaker
      Note: W. W. Whitaker source is given as Green County marriage records. I have never found this source.
   6. Title: W. W. Whitaker's Notes
      Author: W. W. Whitaker