Biographies

Henry Mayes (1720 - 1787)

Henry Mayes (Maise) was born in 1720 in Brunswick County, Virginia. He migrated to Henry County, Virginia in 1773. He bought land on Marrowbone Creek, 10 or 12 miles SW of Martinsville VA. He died on May 5, 1787 in Martinsville, Henry County, Virginia. Henry Mayes was married to Phoebe (Pheby, Phebey). The marriage produced Abraham, Sherwood (Sherrod), Littlebury, Henry, Gooding (Goodin), Liggen (Liggin), Susannah, Elizabeth, Frances (Fanny), and Phoebe (Pheby). Henry Mayes, with his three sons took the oath to support the American Revolution, August 30, 1777. He was of the fifth generation of the family in America. (Note: At least one record reflects Henry’s birth year as 1725, and death date as March 3, 1787.)

 

Sherwood (Sherrod) Mayes (1746 - 1836)

Sherwood (Sherrod) Mayes was born in Henry County, Virginia in 1746. Sherrod migrated from Henry Co VA to Hawkins Co TN, later to become Grainger Co TN and settled West of Morristown on Young's Creek and South Holston River.  He died at Holston River, Grainger County, Tennessee, in 1836.  Sherwood was married to Elizabeth Nancy Smith who was born in 1752, in Henry County, Virginia. Sherwood and Elizabeth  (Nancy) were married on November 25, 1773 in Henry County, Virginia.  Elizabeth (Nancy) died at Holston River in 1848. Their children included Thomas Deux, William, Patricia Jane (Patsy), Goodwin, Dudley, Nancy, Jane, Jonathan, Priscilla, and Elizabeth. Sherrod was said to have been of French and English origin. (Note: Some records reflect Sherrod's birth in 1737.)

On August 30, 1777, Sherrod Mayes was one of the Henry County citizens to sign and state the Oath of Allegiance.

"I do swear or affirm that I do renounce and refuse all allegiance to George the Third, King of Great Britain, his heirs and successors, and I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the commonwealth of Virginia, as a free and independent State, and I will not at anytime do, or cause to be done, any manner or thing that will be prejudicial or injurious to the freedom and independence thereof, as declared and make known to someone, Justice-of-the-Peace of said State, all treasons and traitorous conspiracies which I know or shall hereafter know to be formed against this or any of the United States of America, so help me God".

Sherrod Mayes received state and federal payment for food and feed that he furnished to the Revolutionary Soldiers under the command of Captain Daniel Lanier and Lt. Colonel Lee's Light Dragoons. Sherrod furnished Captain Lanier 16 barrels and 1 bushel of corn and 19 3/4 pounds of bacon on his march to join General Greene in the Battle of Guilford Court House, North Carolina against Cornwallis in March 1781. He also furnished 15 pounds of bacon to George Carrington for the use of Lt. Colonel Lee's Light Dragoons. After the War, Sherrod migrated from Henry County Virginia to Grainger County, Tennessee.

 

William Mayes (1776 - 1861)

William Mayes was born in Henry County, Virginia on October 31, 1776 and died in Sumner County, Tennessee on November 18, 1861. He was the first to be buried in the Mayes Cemetery located in northern Sumner County. William Mayes was married twice. William was married to Susannah Mayes Bridges of Virginia on August 31, 1800, in Grainger County, Tennessee. Susannah was born on August 20, 1777.  Susannah's maiden name was also Mayes, and she was a widow at the time of her marriage to William. Her father was William Mayes of Kentucky. William and Susannah had the following children:  Pleasant Franklin,  Mahala Melvina, Joel Crowder, and William Smith.  William and Susannah immigrated to Sumner County, Tennessee about 1815, where they engaged in farming.  Susannah died about 1845 and is presumed to be buried in the family cemetery. William was married to Nancy May on May 31, 1847 in Sumner County. Nancy May was 46 at the time of the 1860 census. They had two children.  Their names were: Frances Marion and Texanner. Nancy died on November 1, 1907 at the home of her son, Frank Mayes.