Who Do You Think I Am? Wow! part 14

Back to my Trammell line: As I said William A. Trammell/Hunter was raised by his grandparents Jacob and Polly Hogshead Trammell. Jacob “Jake” B. Trammell (1791-1860) and Polly Hogshead Trammell (c1800 – between 1850-1860).

Jacob was born in Sourth Carolina about 1790 and later moved to Buncombe County, where she married Polly Hogshead. They were present in Macon County by about 1822.

He tok oath as a constable in the December 1831 court. In 1835, the court appointed him Entry Taker (of land claims) for the county.
from LOG CABIN COURTm MINUTES OF THE COUNTY COURT, BOOK 1, MACON COUNTY, NC 1829-1832 by Barbara Sears McRae, p21.

In 1820, Jacob was granted land (Military Bounty Grants for the War Of 1812) in Independence County, Arkansas. There is no evidence that he ever went there.

Jacob bought land in Haywood County, N.C., January 1, 1828, later, to Macon County, N.C.

County Trustee. This seems to have been the same position as county treasurer. The first trustee was the magistrate Michael Wikle, who was elected during the first session of court, March 1829. The other candidate was Jacob Trammell. - Book LOG CABIN COURT, Minutes of the County Court, Book 1, Macon County, NC 1829-1832, p22. by Barbara Sears McRae.

From Macon County Court Records: Jacob Trammell was very active in the early day affairs of Macon County, served as juror often and helped to lay out the roads of Macon Conty.
Dec 23, 1831 - Jacob B. Trammell - Constable, 1 year
Mar 20, 1846 - Jacob B. Trammell - Constable, 1 year
- Thelma Welch Swanson

It appears that Jacob was involved in a land fraud scandal. Through a series of hearings and trials that lasted from 1828 to 1842 indicates that Jacob conspired with Macon County entry taker Jonathan Phillip. Phillips, after midnight, but before his office opened in the morning of 2nd of May, 1836, land purchases before was made by Jacob, who had the unfair of advantage of buying without competing. More than 100,000 acres of land was obtained illegally by Trammell. He had to face a jury and it appears he admitted his wrong doing, but there is no indication he was punished. - From MACON COUNTY ECHOS, Vol 17, No, 4, Winter, 2004.pp13-15.

Trammell became a wealthy farmer and landowner. In 1847, he and his partner B.W. Bell lost a suit in the Superior Court of North Carolina, and Trammell's property was sold to satisfy the judgement against them. Never the less, the 1850 Macon Country Census shows he still owned 360 acres worth $2,000.
He took the oath as a constable in the December 1931 Court. In 1935, the court appointed him Entry Taker (of land claims) for the county.
- from LOG CABIN COURT, p21, by Barbara Sears McRae.
In March 1829 Jacob ran for the office of County (Macon) Trustee and lost to Michael Wikle.
- from LOG CABIN COURT, p22, by Barbara Sears McRae.

Polly was a full blooded Cherokee Indian. I think she was either the daughter or the sister of their next door neighbor George W. Hogshead. Polly drowned in the Little Tennessee River near Franklin, Macon County, North Carolina, between 1850 and 1860, while tending to her fish traps.

Jacob and Polly were married in the late 1820s. They were married early enough that when land lots were only doled out to Indians. The only whites who could get land were spouses of Indians.. In that way, Polly was beneficial to Jacob. Then, only a few years later when the Trail of Tears came about, only Indians who had white spouses were allowed to stay. The favor was returned, in Jacob’s favor.

Jacob and Polly Trammell had 10 children.