John James "Russ" Allison

Notes:

Died:
John J. Allison was killed by the Brazwell Brothers. They had robbed the Tax Collector in Putnam Co., and killed Russell Allison (bro of John J. Allison) They were followed by a posse and John J. Allison was killed the following day during the capture of the Brazwells. John was shot at the Still of the Brazwell bros and died instantly. His brother Russell was shot the day before and died at aprox the same time as John. Lee Ann never remarried after his death.

Only legal hanging held in Putnam Co., TN was the Brazwell Bros.

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:3360278&id=P3637140763



THE BRASSELL HANGINGS
By Donald E. Spurlock
Siftings from Putnam County, Tennessee
By Mary Hopson
Pg. 65 - 68
http://www.ajlambert.com
One of the most intriguing occurrences in the history of Putnam County involved the arrest, trials, and public execution of Joseph and George Brassell, on March
27, 1878. It intrigues primarily because of the coincidences involved. Second, the mysteries of this violent conspiracy have never fully been answered. And finally, the attitudes of this community toward crime and morality are perhaps the
most vivid aspect of the entire affair.

The public hanging of Joseph (Joe) and George (Teek) Brassell was the consequence of a conspiracy gone bad between Joe and George, and at least three other men which occurred during the evening of 29 November, 1875.

During the process of carrying out their scheme of crime and violence two other innocent men who were brothers were also murdered. The first, Russell Allison was shot during an attempted robbery of the inn where he resided. He died
about thirtysix hours later. The second, John Allison brother to the younger Russell, had been deputized as a posse member to capture and arrest the Brassell brothers. While attempting to subdue Teek, John was also shot and
died of his wounds early the following morning.

On 27 March, 1878, after having exhausted every appeal Joe and Teek Brassell were publicly hanged together on the same scaffold within one mile of the courthouse as the death warrant demanded. At 1:30 p.m. the rope which supported a trapdoor upon which the brothers stood, was cut with a hatchet.

After eleven minutes Joseph and George Brassell paid their debts to society the State of Tennessee, and the good people of Putnam County, for the crime of murder in the first degree.

http://www.ajlambert.com/allison/stryhang.pdf

John married Lean P. (Lee Ann) Maxwell on 18 Jan 1866 in Putnam Co, Tennessee. Lean (daughter of Amos Maxwell and Mary "Polly" Patton) was born on 28 Sep 1842 in Jackson/Putnam Co, Tennessee; died on 22 Oct 1915 in Putnam Co, Tennessee; was buried in Rhea Cem, Putnam Co, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Mary Allison was born in 1867 in Putnam Co, Tennessee; died after 1880 in of, Putnam Co, Tennessee.
2. Joseph Allison was born in 1869 in Putnam Co, Tennessee; died after 1880 in of, Putnam Co, Tennessee.
3. Eliza J. Allison was born in 1871 in Putnam Co, Tennessee; died after 1880 in of, Putnam Co, Tennessee.
4. Amanda A. Allison was born in 1873 in Putnam Co, Tennessee; died after 1880 in of, Putnam Co, Tennessee.

Joseph married Eliza Lyons Rhea (Wray, Ray), (dau of who?) on 4 Oct 1834 in White Co, Tennessee. Eliza was born on 16 Jul 1817 in Tennessee; died on 9 Nov 1868. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

descendants of this line found here:
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=vlkennelly&id=I4728

William married Margaret Stewart on 13 Jun 1807 in Orange Co, North Carolina. Margaret (daughter of Robert Stewart and Mrs. Ann (..) Stewart) was born on 24 Apr 1784 in Orange Co, North Carolina; died on 28 Jul 1845 in White Co, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
John Ellison, bondsman
William married in the name of Ellison

Other Events and Attributes:

• Property: 25 Jan 1808, waters of ENO, Orange Co, North Carolina
• Will: 1 Aug 1826, Smith Co, Tennessee

Notes:

Property:
Deed Book 14, page 656, 25 January 1808 Joseph ALLISON Sr. to Joseph ALLISON Jr. 150 acres on headwaters of ENO along John MADDEN's line. Proved May Term 1814.


Will:
Will August 1 1826, Smith County, Tennessee, USA
Will
State of Tennessee
Smith County
Court November Term 1820
This the last will and testament of Joseph Ellison; was produced and duly proven in open court by the oath of John Trousdale, Jr. one of the subscribing witnesses thereto and the signature of J. Owen the other subscribing witness was duly proven in open court by the oaths of John Gordon and Richard Alexander to be in the proper handwriting of then living J. Owen and recorded 18 Jany 1827 attest. J. Pickett Clk of Smith County Court.

In the name of God Amen, I, Joseph Ellison being weak in body, but of sound and perfect mind and memory Do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form (viz-----) I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Ellison during her natural life or widowhood the tract or parcel of land on which I now live being 1593/4 acres deeded to me by Thomas Smith and John Harvey all the Household and kitchen furniture Two horses, five cows, all the sheep I possess and as many Hogs as she may thing necessary for her support and that of the family also I give unto her the following negroes Jack and Dice at the death of my wife or her marriage the land abot divided is to be equally divided between my two sons, Robert Donaldson and Morgan Ellison.
I give unto Lavina McDad one hundred Dollars which is to be paid twelve months after my decease. Then all my lands, negroes and whatever other property belongs to the estate, (including the personal property that I have bequeathed to my wife at her death or marriage) is to be sold and conveyed by my Executors, at such credit as they may think proper and proceeds therof including money, bonds and claims to be equally divided amongst the following children (viz) John, William, Thomas, Joseph, James, Robert Donaldson and Morgan Ellison, Hannah Gray, Catherine McCalebs, Margaret Lindsey, Jane Stone and Martha Ellison. Except one hundred Dollars is to be paid to Martha Ellison to make her equal with the married daughters. Lastly to this my last will and testament I do hereby appoint and invest with full power to carry into effect all the provisions of the forgoing will Robert Lindsey and James Ellison to be my Executors and desire that they be not held to give security for their Executorship and having full confidence in them; hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 1st day of August 1826.
Witnesses present
Joseph Ellison (seal)
J. Owen
John Trousdale, Jr.


(did he not leave anything to his children by Elizabeth Madden?)

Joseph married Elizabeth Jane Donaldson in 1772 in Orange Co, North Carolina. Elizabeth was born in 1754 in Orange Co, North Carolina; died on 11 Nov 1807 in Orange Co, North Carolina; was buried on 14 Nov 1807 in Old Eno Presbyterian Church Cem, Cedar Grove, Chatham Co, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Other-Begin: 26 Aug 1787, waters of ENO, Orange Co, North Carolina

Notes:

Other-Begin:
Stephen Maddan (signed with "X"), late of Orange Co, took out a loan from Robert Stewart, pledging his land in Orange Co. So this Stephen had moved elsewhere (Rowan/Iredell, out of state??). The land was 250 ac bordering the Eno River, and had been purchased from George Thedford.
http://www.haygenealogy.com/hay/presidents/Maiden-Polk.html

Robert married Mrs. Ann (..) Stewart about 1773 in Orange Co, North Carolina. Ann was born about 1760; died after 1790 in of, Orange Co, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]