John Overton (judge)
John Overton | |
---|---|
Tennessee Supreme Court Judge | |
In office 1804–1810 | |
Preceded by | Andrew Jackson |
Succeeded by | Robert Whyte |
Personal details | |
Born | Louisa County, Virginia | April 9, 1766
Died | April 12, 1833 Nashville, Tennessee | (aged 67)
Spouse | Mary McConnell White[1][2][3] |
Profession | Judge, lawyer, banker, slave trader |
John Overton (April 9, 1766 – April 12, 1833) was an American planter, and a friend/advisor of Andrew Jackson, a judge at the Tennessee Supreme Court, a banker and political leader.
Early life and education
Overton was born on April 9, 1766, in Louisa County, Virginia. His parents were James Overton and Mary Waller; his father was a great-grandson of Robert Overton, the Parliamentarian military commander during the English Civil War (and friend of Marvell and Milton).
Career
In 1787, he began his law career and moved to
He was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1820.[5]
Overton engaged in the slave trade and became one of the wealthiest men in Tennessee.[6] Emily Berry was sold by Overton in Memphis. Her children Mary, Martha, Billy and Minerva were looking for her years later.[7]
Personal life
He was married to Mary McConnell White, the daughter of Knoxville founder, James White.[3] He built Greenlevel in Collierville, Tennessee, although he continued to live at Travellers Rest in Nashville.[8]
Later life and death
He died April 12, 1833, at
Legacy
Overton Park in midtown of Memphis was named after John Overton.
The
Living direct descendants include the Overton family in
Overton descendant as well, was American geologist William R. Dickinson.
References
- ^ a b "TN Encyclopedia: John Overton". The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Archived from the original on 2008-12-27. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
- ^ "John Overton". MemphisHistory.org. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
- ^ a b Samuel G. Heiskell, Andrew Jackson and Early Tennessee History (Nashville: Ambrose Publishing Company, 1918), p. 53.
- ^ "Memphis History and Facts". Memphis Public Library. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
- ^ American Antiquarian Society Members Directory
- ^ "John Overton | Tennessee Encyclopedia". Tennessee Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
- ^ The Southwestern Christian Advocate. New Orleans, LA. October 1, 1885.
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Greenlevel". National Park Service. Retrieved July 21, 2018. With accompanying pictures
External links
- Overton, John. "[Letter] 1802 June 11, Nashville, [Tennessee to] Gov[ernor Archibald] Roane of Tennessee / Jno. [i.e., John] Overton". Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842. Tennessee State Library and Archives. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- John Overton Papers, 1797-1833, Tennessee State Library and Archives.
- Claybrooke and Overton Papers, 1747-1894, Tennessee State Library and Archives.
- Murdock Collection of John Overton Papers, 1780-1908, Tennessee State Library and Archives.