The first available US Census for Monroe Co. TN, 1830, shows a Marr
family with a Benjamin Marr as the patriarch. In these early days the population
of the counties in Tn were never more that a few thousand and hence the
families were relatively easy to follow even if the family name was not
always spelled the same. Analysis of the 1830 census and following census's
verifies that Benjamin was born in SC and that his children were all born
in TN. The 1830 census shows Benjamin still had two boys between 15 and
20 years old and five daughters living at home. David Smith's records show
that Benjamin had four boys by the names of John, Robert, Joseph and William.
By 1840 all the boys and two oldest girls had grown and left the family
home. The 1850 census for the first time lists all the names of the individuals
in the household and shows names of his remaining children.
| US Cen 1830 | US Cen 1840 | US Cen 1850 | US Cen 1860 | US Cen 1870 | US Cen 1880 |
| Monroe Co | McMinn Co | McMinn Co | McMinn Co | McMinn Co | McMinn Co |
| Marrs, Benjamin | Marr, Benjamin | Marr, Ben | Mars, Benjamin | Marr, Benjamin | |
| 2 males, 15-20 | 1 male 50-60 | Ben 56, b. Ga | Ben 67, b. SC | Ben 87 | |
| 1 male, 30-40 | 1 fem 40-50 | Frances, 55, SC | Frances 67 | ||
| 1 fem > 5 | 1 fem 5-10 | Bettie 27 | Elizabeth 40 | Elizabeth 65 | |
| 3 fem 10-15 | 1 fem 10-15 | Nancy 23 | Nancy 36 | Nancy 60 | |
| 1 fem 15-20 | 1 fem 20-30 | Mary 12 | |||
| 1 fem 30-40 | Harrison 10 |
Benjamin is shown as resident of Monroe Co in 1830 and in McMinn Co
for the remaining Census's. Either he moved to the neighboring county or
the county lines were changed as they did when the counties were restructured.
His wife Frances must have died after 1860, however, two of his daughters
never married and were still with him on his farm after 1880. Data from
1870 census was never found for him nor were his grave or death date discovered.
The two young children, Mary and Harrison, that showed one time in the
1860 census could have been children of one of his older children or other
family relatives. Benjamin lived to be in his 90's and in 1883 he applied
for a pension for service as a soldier in the War of 1812. His address
at this time was in Williamsburg, McMinn Co. The Government turned his
down his request although other state records were found that seem to support
his claim. His Uncle Loyd Marr, (youngest son of James Marr) according
to Dave Smith's records, was a soldier in the War of 1812 in the East Tn
State Militia. Apparently Benjamin died shortly after 1883 since a record
was found that shows Elizabeth Marr (one of his daughter remaining at home)
sold the family property in return for support for her lifetime.
Others records of Monroe county help confirm his location as one petition record shows Benjamin's signature on 1825 petition for land for a county seat of Monroe Co. Also the McMinn deed book shows that in 1853 he agreed to allow copper prospectors explore his land for copper ore.
The 1840 census for Monroe Co. listed two new Marr families, one led by a Joseph Marr and the other by a William Marr. These two young men were eldest sons of Benjamin. Their families lived next to each other and they appeared to have a recorded joint business deal and a loan which is covered by the stories elsewhere in this file. This unique record is shown on this page.
The other two sons, John and Robert show up in the McMinn Co. 1850 census and each was married and has children..
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