John Woods Nance -- Julia Ann Jackson

John Woods Nance married 14 Dec 1857, Julia Ann Jackson, born 12 Nov 1837, daughter of Williams Jackson and Drucilla Lytle and the granddaughter of Francis Jackson I and Elizabeth W Childress. The family lived at the Old Nance place where the first three of their children were born and until John volunteered for service in the 24th Infantry Regiment, 24 Aug 1861, at which time Julia Ann returned to her father's residence in Bedford County until John W returned in May 1865. John served under Capt. John W Jackson as a forager; spent two months in a Nashville hospital; was discharged at Corinth, Miss; reenlisted under Col. Bratton; became adjutant and first lieutenant for which the pay was $100.00 per month in Confederate money. He was with his units at Camp Trousdale, Nashville, Bowling Green, Murfreesboro, Stones River, Shiloh, Farmington Road, Perryville, Chicamauga, Sweetwater, Missionary Ridge, Dalton, Jonesboro, GA where he was wounded, Granny White Pike, and Smithfield, NC. He was paroled at Greensboro NC, May 1865, after taking the oath of allegiance and returned to Versailles on foot.

The family reunited and lived in the house on the hill behind the store and purchased in partnership with Frank (B.F) Nance the 450-500 acre tract in Versailles from the court $10,466.00, when father Richard's mortgage was foreclosed. After Frank died in 1869, John assumed responsibility for the three households. When Julia Ann died 4 Aug 1873, John and Richard's households were combined in the colonial house. John Nance slowly but surely prospered until he was considered quite well-to- do by 1890. With the help of Richard, Elizabeth, Sarah Smotherman, Nannie Hight, Rachel Leathers, Hezekiah Hill, Washington, Vincent, and the black James Nance family and others, they went through reconstruction, severe drought and an economic depression and survived by hard work. The family operated the store, farm, sawmill, timber sales, cotton gin, small distillery, saloon in the store and John was postmaster from 25 March 1874 until death with cancer of the jaw, for which he was quite sanative the last years.

Julia Ann was buried in the Poplin Cemetery, John W in the Nance Cemetery. Their seven children were:

1 Thomas Wesley Nance (29 Sept 1858-28 May 1889)
2 Cassie Elizabeth "Bet" Nance born 8 Feb 1860. (See the John Dejarnett family.)
3 Albert Sidney Nance (12 Nov 1861-30 July 1868)
4 Otho French Nance (16 March 1867-19 Feb 1898) buried in the Nance Cemetery, he was a teacher and accountant.
5 James Lee Nance (24 Dec 1868-22 April 1917), the first to grow alfalfa in the area, he set out a peach and pear orchard, kept an outstanding horse (Old Toy) and buggy, operated a photography shop in the store, and made barrels of wine. "Old Toy" was left by will to Mittie Cothran, Mace Cothran's widow. Jim operated the store from 19 Jan 1914 until his death, diagnosed as Parkinson's Disease. A two-horse drawn, glass enclosed hearse led the half mile long procession to the Nance Cemetery for his burial. His funeral may have been the largest ever in Versailles.
6 Frank (Benjamin Franklin) Nance (29 JN 1871- 13 Jan 1914 with mastoids.) (See the Frank Nance - Parrie Read family.)
7 Drucilla Lytle Nance (21 Jan 1873-29 May 1917) married Read Comer, and is buried in the Nance Cemetery.

From the same source and notes left bu Evalina Josephine Christopher Nance.


The John Woods Nance -- Nannie Hight Nance Family

John Woods Nance was left with six children ranging in ages from less than two months to thirteen years when first wife Julia Ann Jackson died in 1873, and Nannie Hight Nance was left with four children ranging in age from three to nine years when husband Frank (B.F) died in 1869. John Woods and Nannie were married 20 May 1875, the second for both. They combined in the colonial house at that time and the children were raised as brothers and sisters, although some were first cousins. To this day some of the cousins are referred to as aunts and uncles. Nannie continued to live in the colonial house during her 33 years of widowhood and until death at age 88. John W Nance and Nannie Hight Nance had three children:

1 Mary Frances Nance (10 Nov 1875-1922) (See the Neri Lowe family).
2 Cap (Hezekiah John) Nance (14 Aug 1877-16 Dec 1954) (See Cap Nance -- Evie Joe Christopher family).
3 Naomi Ruth Nance (14 June 1880-12 Aug 1949), was a stenographer in Nashville and is buried in the Nance Cemetery. Her daughter's surname, married name and present whereabouts are not known. Returns to Versailles continued regularly throughout her life.

From same source as John Woods Nance and Julia Ann Jackson.


The Benjamin Franklin "Frank" and Parrie Read Family

Frank Nance, youngest son of John Woods Nance and Julia Ann Jackson, born 29 Jan 1871, in Versailles, married Parrie Read (22 Jan 1887-8 Oct 1939) daughter of (Singing) Jim Read and Judith Lamb. Frank was merchant in Versailles from 1 Feb 1896 until his death, 13 Jan 1914. He was postmaster from the death of his father until the office was relocated in Rockvale, 5 Sept 1906. Frank and Parrie had two children: 1 Otho French Nance, born 28 Nov 1911, married 1 Sept 1934, to Lela Mai Powers, youngest of four daughters of N.W. (Wash) Powers and Lela Brannon. Otho was born and has lived in the same house in Versailles to the present time. Their three children are:

a Leila Elizabeth "Betty" Nance, has tow children, Ellis Wright, Jr and Deborah K Wright
b James Franklin "Bud" Nance, has three children, Gregory Franklin Nance, John Patrick Nance (died an infant) and Jennifer Kay Nance.
c Edwin Lee Nance has three children: Lee Ann, Jo Beth Nance, and Edwin Brett Nance.

2 Bennie Frankie Nance, born 4 Feb 1914, married 13 Jan 1936, John D Pinkerton, born 2 Oct, 1913. They have four children: Sylvia Ann Pinkerton, John Pinkerton, Jane Pinkerton and Judy Pinkerton. (See Pinkerton family).

Following Frank Nance's death at age 43, Parried Read Nance married Vincent Powers and their two children are Katherine Powers Burns and William Powers, both born in Versailles and both have families.

Sources same as for John W Nance


The Hezekiah John "Cap" Nance and Evaline Josephine Christopher Family

Hezekiah John "Cap" Nance, (14 Aug 1877, in Versailles-16 Dec 1954), married Evaline Josephine "Evie Jo" Christopher (22 July 1887- 13 April 1972). (See the Christopher-Cromer family). Cap and Evie Jo lived in Versailles in the colonial house, and later its replacement, all except about two months at the Old Nance Place. Cap was a farmer, sawmill and blacksmith shop owner, merchant at Versailles from 1917-1923 and later at Rockvale in the Masonic Building from 1923-1926. Evie Jo lived in Versailles for 66 years of her life, the last eighteen alone. Cap was a Mason and a Shriner. Both are buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Murfreesboro. Cap and Evie Jo had four children: 1 An unnamed infant, born 9 March 1907, lived one day.

2 Richard Fred Nance, born 12 1910, married 25 Nov 1937, Frances McLain, born 13 June 1910.

3 William Henry Nance, born 31 Oct 1913, married 13 June 1941, Nancy Gentry, born 18 Dec 1914.

4 John Wesley Nance, born 17 July, 1923, married 24 Dec 1945, Frances Sylvia Riggs, born 17 Oct 1924 in San Diego CA. John and Frances have three daughters:
a Joy Burnette Nance, born 14 Dec 1946, has a daughter, Shannon Lea Booth.
b Mary Lou Nance, born 2 Nov 1948
c Karen Ann Nance, born 1 Dec 1952.

All three line in the Atlanta area. Joy and Mary Lou were born in Rutherford County.


POSTSCRIPT TO VERSAILLES NANCES

No questions arose during research of the Nance family to dispute the accuracy of Frederick Woodson Nance and second wife, Rachel Leathers, being the sole first Tennessee ancestors of the Versailles Nances, including Bedford Countians.

However, there were other Nances coming into and through Middle Tennessee as early as 1800. These were uncles, half-brothers, nephews, etc. of Frederick Woodson Nance since he was married twice. These were not followed because they did not lead to the Versailles area. William Nance, a brother, was followed into the Smyrna-Nashville-Davidson County area.

Other Nances not previously mentioned know to have been in Middle Tennessee at one time were: Isaac Nance sold in 1816 an acre tract of land on the east side of the now Midland-Crescent road to three church commissioners for erection of the Rock Springs Church, now extinct. Bird Nance bought part of a tract of land from John Smith which was part of a grant to John G Hain (?illegible) by N.C. This joined the William Nance corner, presumably in the Smyrna area. Isaac Nance of Rutherford County bought from John Smith of Williamson county a tract of land on the waters of Stewart Creek. William Nance bought from John Rucker a tract of land on the East Fork of Stones River. There are several others making similar purchases. Some of these were Allen Nance, Henry Nance, Jane Nance, a widow of Isaac Nance, etc. All of these occurred between 1808 and 1824, and are recorded in the Registers Office in Murfreesboro in Books F, G, H, K, L, M, O, Q, and others. One other worthy of mentioning is Joshua Nance, one of the first pastors (preachers) of the Mt Pleasant Baptist Church. (See that chapter.)