COVINGTON FAMILY
By Elaine Covington Martin

Brothers John and William, and probably David, Covington left Pittsylvania County, VA with their families, ca 1807, en route to Tennessee. Families that left with them were the Hayes, Love, Marlin, Austin, and others. They stayed several months in Wytheville, VA waiting for the wagon train to assemble. Here they were joined by families from other southern Virginia counties and some of the Covingtons and kin from Rockingham Co, N.C. They traveled in large groups because of the Indian raids.

William Covington and wife, Catherine "Caty" Roberts, and family settled near Collete Grove, TN. They are the ancestors of Mabrey Covington.

David Covington, believed to be the oldest brother of John and William, married Judith Kendrick in Rutherford County, 30 Jan 1817, and settled near the area that is now Smyrna, TN.. He left a will, dated 28 May 1830, and presented in Court, 16 Aug 1830, naming his brother, William, as executor. He asked that his minor children get an education out of the proceeds from his land. Two of his sons, William and James, were apprenticed in 1837. James, was apprenticed again, in 1839, to saddlers. Both brothers later migrated to Kentucky and Missouri.

John Covington and his family settled in Rutherford County, TN, on what is now Hwy 99 and Jackson Ridge Road, where the Wray-Covington Cemetery is located.

John Covington (15 Feb 1772-24 Jan 1847) was one of ten children born to Edmond Covington (?- 1803) and wife No. 1, Annie, and wife No 2., Frances "Fannie" Pruitt. He was one of seven children born to Edmond and "Annie, and the grandson of Thomas Covington (ca 1708-1781) and Mary (?-31 Oct 1788) who married in 1734 and settled in Halifax County VA. William was the son of William (?-ca 1707) and Rosamond Covington of Old Rappahannock County (now Essex), VA. William was the son of William (?-ca 1669) and Dorothy Covington of the same county. William and Dorothy are first found in Old Rappahannock County records in 1669.

John Covington and Jane Davis Hankins were married 20 Jan 1793. Jane (13 Sept 1776-14 May 1883) was the daughter of William Hankins (1754-1824) and Elizabeth Davis, and the granddaughter of Daniel "Nial: Hankins. Both William and Nail aided in the Revolution, William served as 2nd Lt. in the Militia, Halifax Co., VA, Capt. Peter Rogers Company. Nial served in collecting provisions and other such services. Issue of John and Jane:
I Jesse Covington (20 Dec 1793-28 March 1824) married 22 Oct. 1816 to Levisia Beasley (24 Oct 1801-18 Nov 1866). They settled in Unionville, TN. Issue: 3 daughters and 4 sons.


II Larkin Anderson Covington (24 Feb 1796-ca 1869) married 12 March 1817 to Ann S Menifee (6 Aug 1799-?). They settled at Versailles, TN. Larkin and Ann were divorced, after years of marriage, and he married Diana Smotherman, 17 April 1866. The wedding was solemnized by Frances Jackson, J.P. Issue of Larkin and Ann:
1 Naomi Crick Covington (28 Dec 1817-?) married 17 Oct 1847 to William Lamb (15 Jan 1817-20 May 1873). Issue (8 children):
(1) Mary Ann Lamb (9 May 1838-?). Issue (6 children)
--------Richard Hatten Lamb (24 March 1857-1923), son of Mary Ann Lamb, married 1882, Melinda Gentry (13 March 1866-25 Sept 1917). Issue: 8 children, 3 of which remained in the Versailles area.
a Robert Benjamin Lamb (1895-12 April 1971) married 19 Dec 1915 to Alta Carlton. Issue: Rothwell Elizabeth; Deanie Myrtle; Bennie Mae; Mary Frances; Joyce Runez; Billy Doyle; Ruth.
b Fannie Latitia Lamb married Harve Jones. Issue: Emmett; Richard; Pearlie Mae married Clifford Uselton.
c Thomas Marion Lamb (18 March 1898-11 March 1979) married 13 April 1922, Mattie Ella Martin (13 Jan 1900-Jan 1981). Issue: Mealla married Oliver Jones; Bessie Louise; Bobby Bartin; Marion Evelyn married Thomas Clay Mathews. Issue; Ann married Melvin Hatcher.
2 Thomas H P Covington (15 Aug 1819-ca 1897) married 5 Oct 1858, Melissa Ann Hendrix (ca 1833-?). (See Hendrix.) They lived on a farm west of North Road, near Puckett's store. Their son John told about his father riding horseback into Eagleville, to find out what was happening, when he heard that the Yankees were there. He was captured, but they let him go when he told them he had a new baby (Emery) and was looking for the doctor. John also told about his mother, Melissa Ann, using the spinning wheel, copper wire, and a bowl of cotton to start fires; and about neighbors borrowing coals to start their fires. Issue of Thomas and Melissa
(1) William Emery Covington (3 Sept 1862-9 Feb 1943) married Fanny (Taylor) Hale (16 April 1850-11 March 1912), daughter of Joe Taylor and wife No. 1. See Hendrix. Every was a farmer when his family was together. They lived near Old Jackson Ridge Road and Windrow Rd. Later, Every drove a horse- drawn peddling wagon in the community for many years. Issue of Emery and Fanny:
a Roscoe Covington (19 April 1886-1954) married 11 Nov 1908, Lillie Pearl Wilson (21 Nov 1888-15 Dec 1976). Issue:
(a) John Covington, never married
(b) Vera Covington, school teacher and never married
(c) Grady Covington married (1) Frances Wagner, (2) Inex (brother to) Lynch, (3) Mary (Thornton) Townes.
(d) James, Covington married Ada Mae Lamb
b Jeff Covington (2 Feb ca 1888-ca 1980) married 25 July 1907, Susie Rowland (7 Feb ca 1888-?) Issue:
(a) Evelie Covington married Grady Jennings.
(b) Rubye Covington married Russell Redmon.
(c) Ellen Covington married Lionell Zumbro.
(d) Jesse Covington married Julia Frances Jackson.
c Annie Covington (4 July 1890-3 April 1960) married Minos Brannon (12 Jan 1883- 5 Jan 1970). Issue. (See Brannon.)
(2) James Hendrix (10 Feb 1864-ca 1950) married Eudora Moses and moved to Marshall County. James H died in Hesperia, Michigan. Issue:
a James Covington, officer in regular army.
b Clara Covington married ___________ Collins..
(3) Annie Laura Covington (13 March 1866- ca 1957) married Ben Bullock and lived at Rover, TN. No issue.
(4) Cora Franklin Covington (2 Sept-1867-died an infant).
(5) Thomas Adam Covington (15 April 1869-ca 1933) married Maggie Lee Holton (17 March 1877-ca 1952), daughter of John R Holton, and wife No 2. They lived on Swamp Road near Eagleville TN. Issue:
a Corinne Covington, No 1 wife of Edgar Frost.
b Ether Covington married Talmage Wilson, son of John T Wilson, J P
c Howard Covington married Mary Lou Maxwell
d Harry Covington married Rachell Harrison
e Robert Covington married Mary Elliott
(6) John Nathan Covington (25 March 1871-1962) married 23 July 1916, Nora Carlton (26 Oct 1891-3 Nov 1953). See Carlton. They lived on Jackson Ridge Rd in the Versailles area. John was a farmer, and he served as deputy sherif under Rutherford County Sheriff Wash Powers for eight years. Issue:
a Nathan Homer Covington (7 Aug 1917-8 Dec 1918)
b Alfred Covington (20 March 1919-7 July 1920)
c Elaine Covington (13 Feb 1921-___) married Fred J Martin (31 Oct 1910-_____) Issue:
(a) Pamala Elaine Martin married Randall Corum
(b) Ronald F Martin d John Warner Covington (24 Dec 1922- 15 may 1949)
e Cora Mai Covington (20 March-___) married No 1, Buford Clinton, and No 2, Horace Hicks. Issue:
(a) Frances Clinton married Morris Lackey
(b) Nancy Clinton married Ray Littrel
(c) Rachel Clinton married No 1, Paul Crosser, and No 2, Larry Peters
(d) Buford Clinton Jr married______
(e) Margaret Elaine Clinton married David Butler
f Eugene Covington (13 April 1928-___) married Reba Messick
(a) Nathan Richard Covington
g Pauline Covington (13 April 1928-___) married Sam Brown
h Thomas Adam Covington (7 Sept 1934-Dec 1934)

3 Newell P Covington (15 Sept 1821-1840). No further knowledge.

4 Mary Ann Covington (15 June 1823-?). No further knowledge.

5 John A Covington (6 Jan 1825- 28 Jan 1899) married Malvira D _______ (7 March 1840-27 Feb 1869). John A was a carpenter. He moved to Covington TN ca 1861, and is buried there.

6 Jamina Jane Covington (6 Nov 1826-17 Nov 1858) married 10 June 1843, John R Holton. They lived in the Versailles area. Jamina Jane and infant daughter died in childbirth, and were buried in the same grave at Mt Pleasant Baptist Church Cemetery. Issue of Jamina Jane and John R:
(1) Susan H Holton (born ca 1844) married James Gillespie.
(2) Charlie Holton (born ca 1846) married Caroline Wilson, sister of John T Wilson, J.P. Issue:
a Robert Holton married Jeanie Pugh
b Charlie Mead Holton (Aug 1873-March 1954) married Lillie Sharber (ca 1873-May 1942). See Sharber. They lived on Windrow Rd near Old Jackson Ridge Rd.
(a) Pearl Holton married Robert Watson
(b) Estin Holton married Etta Underwood
(c) Lee Holton (7 Oct-1897-___) married Sally Taylor (21 July 1902-11 Feb 1975), daughter of Joe Taylor and No 2 wife. See Hendrix. Issue: Leon; Mildred; Wallace; Earl; Florene; Betty.
(d) Alta Holton married Homer Wilson
(e) Howard Holton married Emma Denny
c Marion Holton married_____Vincent
d John Larkin Holton married Emma Jane Freeman
e Annie Holton married Webb Pugh
(3) Ann Eliza Holton (born 1847) married Meed Braden
(4) Larken Holton died in Texas
(5) John William Holton married Susanna Elmore
(6) Martha Elizabeth Holton, no knowledge
(7) Thomas Andrew Holton (born 18 Feb 1856) married Willie Bell Russell

7 Sarah Ann America Covington (7 June 1828-?) married 7 Jan 1851, Prier Fears. No further knowledge

8 Emily E Covington (1 May 1830-died prior to 1869) married 21 Nov 1854, Larkin A Covington , son of John and Jane Marlin Covington of Limestone Co., Texas, and grandson of John and Jane Hankins Covington.

9 Larkin M Covington (born ca 1833) married 12 June 1851 Sarah E Fagan. A letter from John Covington, Covington, TN, dated 1893, said that Larkin M moved to Florida.

10 Julia Elizabeth Covington (born ca 1836) married 30 Jan 1859, William Ransom Ray (17 Sept 1837-19 June 1894), son of Elizabeth Jane Jackson (daughter of Thomas and Ruthie Hendrix Jackson) and William M Ray. See Hendrix

11 William Franklin Covington (born ca 1838-died as POW at Camp Morton, IN during the Civil War) married 22 June 1858, Ruth F C Hendrix (ca 1835-1913). See Hendrix Issue:
(1) Mary "Molly" S Covington married Rev Hardy Simmons.
a Herbert Simmons (killed as a young man, when his gun accidentally fired as he set it down on the store at Jackson Ridge.)
b Annie Ruth Simmons, died with tuberculosis while young
c Mitchell Simmons, moved to Knoxville, TN
d Luna Simmons married Will D Smotherman, son of Price Smotherman and Leota Sharber Smotherman. See Sharber.
(a) William B "Jack" Smotherman married M Catherine Neal
(b) Alma Smotherman married Clyde Barnes
(c) Devara Smotherman married Bob Covey
(d) Fred "Pete" Smotherman, killed in World War II
Luna died with tuberculosis, leaving young children. Will D lost his sight, in 1921, when he contacted 44,000 volts of electricity on his job with the Power Co. He married Annie Lee Wright, 28 Nov 1925, and they had one son.
(e) Clyde D Smotherman married No 1, Bobby Edna Burnes, and No 2, Linda (Spurlock) Steagall.
(2) James Robert "Jim Bob" Covington married Viola "Ola" Vaughan, granddaughter of Thomas Lowe and Elizabeth Hendrix. See Hendrix. Issue:
a Beulah Covington married Joe Richardson.
b William Richard Covington married Bessie Frazier, daughter of W R "Cap" Frazier
(a) W R Covington
(b) Nathan Covington
(c) Ola Mae Covington
(d) Donnie Covington
(e) Martha Ruth Covington, adopted by W R and Virgie (Williams) Frazier

12 Robert Weston Covington (born ca 1839) married 31 Dec 1863, Elizabeth Graham. They moved to the Nashville area.


III Elizabeth Covington (born 1798) married 21 Man 1818 to John Maxwell. Issue:
1 Albert Maxwell (born 1818) married Sarah "Sally" Owens
2 John Anderson Maxwell (born 2 Dec 1820) married Margaret Redding.
(1) Tom Maxwell
(2) Richard "Dick" Maxwell married Catherine "Cassie" Lane
a James Porter married Maxwell Martha Ada Wray
b Willie Maxwell Dudley Hall, brother to Tempie Frost, Pearl Williams and Pauline Sewell.
(a) Buford Hall
(b) Bessie Hall
(c) John D HAll
(d) Lottie Hall married Willie Sharber. See Sharber
(e) Florance Hall
(f) Louise Hall married Joe Snell
(g) Bob Hall
(h) Virginia Hall
Other children of Dick and Cassie are:
Walter, Elgie, Nina, Maggie, Mattie, Sue Mai, and Grace
(3) John Anderson Maxwell, moved to Kentucky
(4) Green "Bud: Pinkerston Maxwell married Mary______
(5) James "Jim" Madison Maxwell (1 May 1861-11 Jan 1900) married Mary Linnie Carlysta Winn (1867-1959). Issue:
a Eula Josephine Maxwell married Irving L Carlton
b Vera Maxwell
c Bess Maxwell married Emmett Williams
d Jimmie D Maxwell married Justin Carlton Hale
(a) Justin Hale married Mary Ann McKnight
e Joseph Maxwell married No 1, Gladys Paten, No 2, Mary Bell Quarles
(6) Joseph Maxwell married Cora Glenn
(7) Ella Maxwell married Walter Scott Winn, brother to Linnie
(8) Fannie Maxwell married Willie "Bud" Clark. Issue:
a Mary Clark married Vernal Ogles
b Ada Clark married Will Ramsey
c Jimmie Clark married Minnie Hall, sister of Dudley Hall
d Willie Clark married Virginia Taylor
e Tommy Clark married Julia Mae Drye, granddaughter of John A Carlton. See Carlton.
f Young Clark married Nanny "Louie" Lou Burns, daughter of G W and Ellen Burns, and granddaughter of John A Carlton. See Carlton
(a) Ralph Clark married LaRue Webb
(b) W W "Bill" Clark married Myrtle Pope
(c) Rubye Clark married John Jackson Sharber
(d) Effie Clark married Tereance Price
(e) Elaine Clark married Clarence Elrod
(f) Y Burns Clark married Catherine Powers
(g) Robbie Alene Clark, died young
(h) Henry Clay Clark married Artie Insel
(i) Horace Clark married Annie Watkins
(j) Herman Clark married Mary Ella Vaughan
(k) Nona Clark married Jack Derouen
(l) Sylvia Clark married Thomas Alva "Buddy" Taylor
(9) Mary Jane Maxwell married Hughie Haynes
(10) Garner Maxwell married Kate Peterson

3 Martha Jane Maxwell (born 1 Jan 1823) married Roger D Snell

4 Mary Williams Maxwell (born 18 Jan 1825)

5 William "Billy" Franklin Maxwell, stone mason (born 22 March 1827) married Sally K Butts. Issue:
(1) Edward Lake Maxwell (15 Feb 1848-8 March 1877) married Josephine Mathis (13 Feb 1852-8 Aug 19_4)
a John Edward Maxwell (1870-1944) married No 1 wife, Mattie Flora Cothran. Issue:
(a) Homer Maxwell
(b) William Lake Maxwell married Mattie Hayes. Issue: W L; Flora; Julia; Homer; Florence; Evelyn; Anna; Robert M "Bobby".


IV Martha Covington (10 Jan 1801-12 Sept 1863) married 24 Dec 1817, Ingram Collier. They remained in Rutherford County and are the ancestors of Mrs Sarah King.


V John Covington (born ca 1803) married 17 Feb 1824, Jane Marlin and moved to Limestone County, TX. VI Eliza Covington married 20 Nov 1822, Jeremiah W Kirby.


VII Mary Covington married 3 Dec 1827, Thomas B Porter and moved to Arkansas.


VIII Talitha Jane Covington married 6 Nov 1829, Owen E Austin and moved to Texas.


IX Edmond Joseph Covington (born 1810) married 20 Dec 1830, Emilia D Underwood and remained in Rutherford County.


X William Franklin Covington (5 Dec 1813-16 Jan 1897) married Margaret Wilson Demonbreum (5 Dec 1820-3 Jan 1897) and settled near College Grove, TN. They are the ancestors of the late John Weakley Covington.


XI Marquis Lafayette Covington (26 Aug 1815-16 July 1844) married Mrs Elizabeth Snell Ransom. Their home was at Versailles, TN. Elizabeth had two sons by her first marriage (Willis Ransom, born ca 1832; and Richard Ransom. Born ca 1835).
1 Mary Jane Covington (born ca 1803)
4 Susan A Covington (born ca 1803)


XII Julia A Covington (15 April 1820-16 July 1859) married 4 Aug 1836, William Archibald Haynes (15 Aug 1820-1887) and they remained in Rutherford County.

Many Covington descendants still live in the Tenth District area. Through the generations, they have been short to medium stature, with broad shoulders, and proud, erect carriage. They can be described as amiable but stern.