52 Ancestors: Week 21 "Military": Thomas J. Tarkington

Because I have not yet been able to prove the parentage of my 3rd-great-grandfather Joseph Tarkington, I cannot be sure of the relationship between myself and Thomas J. Tarkington. But if my theory is correct and Joseph S. Tarkington lied on his Southern Claims Commission claim because he thought his claim would not be approved if he admitted to having a son who was in the Confederate Army, Thomas was my 3rd-great-grandfather's brother, and my 3rd-great-grandfather's son Thomas was probably named after him.

Thomas J. Tarkington was the son of Joseph S. Tarkington and Amelia Owen, who married in Williamson County, Tennessee on 6 June 1818. In 1830, the family was living in Giles County, Tennessee. Thomas was under 5 years old at the time of the 1830 United States census. In 1833, Joseph S. Tarkington married Nancy (Sanders) Theall in St. Mary's Parish, Louisiana. Thomas was not in his father's household at the time of the 1840 United States census. I am not sure who he was living with. In 1843, Joseph S. Tarkington, who had remained in Louisiana, deeded Thomas 380 acres of land on the Big Harpeth River in Williamson County, Tennessee. (Armistead, Sarah Peery; Sawyer, Ova Lee Peery; and Russell, Lorraine Peery. Boyer, Penny Russell, ed. Tarkington-Kersey, Theresa, photo ed. Tarkingtons of Tennessee: Genealogy of John G. Tarkington. 2001.)

On 30 November 1843, Thomas married Rosanah (or Rosannah or Rosanna) Midyett in Williamson County, Tennessee. He gave B. H. Harrison power of attorney to sign and seal his name to obtain a marriage bond.

Power of attorney to sign bond to obtain marriage license. Nomination and appointment of B. H. Harrison by Thomas J. Tarkington. 30 November 1843. Ancestry.com. Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Original data: Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002. Nashville, TN, USA: Tennessee State Library and Archives. Microfilm.

Marriage, Thomas J. Tarkinton and Rosanna Midyett. Williamson County, Tennessee. 30 November 1843. Ancestry.com. Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Original data: Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002. Nashville, TN, USA: Tennessee State Library and Archives. Microfilm.

Thomas and Rosanah had two daughters, Nancy and Elizabeth.

On 16 June 1846 in Alton, Madison County, Illinois, Thomas enlisted in the army. Alton is close to the Missouri border, near St. Louis. Two of Rosanah's half-brothers had left Tennessee and gone to Missouri; maybe Thomas had taken his family to stay with one of them, and then left to enlist. Thomas was a private in the 2nd Regiment of Illinois Volunteers.

Record of the Services of Illinois Soldiers in the Black Hawk War, 1831-32, and in the Mexican War, 1846-8. Prepared by Isaac H. Elliott, Adjutant-General of the State of Illinois. Springfield, IL: H. W. Rpkker, 1992. Page 235. Available from Google Books.

Indexes to the Carded Records of Soldiers Who Served in Volunteer Organizations During the Mexican War, compiled 1899 - 1927, documenting the period 1846 - 1848. Thomas J. Tarkinton, Wheeler's Co., 2 Illinois Foot Vols. (Bissell's), Mexican War. NARA M616. Available from Fold3.

In his Southern Claims Commission claim, Joseph S. Tarkington stated that his only son (I am skeptical about the "only" claim) was killed at the Battle of Buena Vista.

Orleans Parish, Louisiana claim no. 12265 (Joseph S. Tarkington), Allowed Case Files, Southern Claims Commission, 1871-1880; Settled Accounts and Claims, Third Auditor. Records of the Treasury Department Accounting Officers, Record Group 217. National Archives, Washington, DC. Page 4. Available from Fold3.

Orleans Parish, Louisiana claim no. 12265 (Joseph S. Tarkington), Allowed Case Files, Southern Claims Commission, 1871-1880; Settled Accounts and Claims, Third Auditor. Records of the Treasury Department Accounting Officers, Record Group 217. National Archives, Washington, DC. Page 19.  Available from Fold3.

The Battle of Buena Vista (also called the Battle of Angostura) took place in Puerto de la Angostura, Coahuila, Mexico on 22-23 February 1847. It was the last major battle in northern Mexico during the Mexican War. Major General Zachary Taylor and General John E. Wool led the United States troops to victory over the Mexican army.

Battle of Buena Vista. Lithograph published and printed by Henry R. Robinson, from a sketch by Major Eaton. Available from Library of Congress and Wikimedia Commons.

Map of Battle of Buena Vista. Available from Wikimedia Commons.

Rosanah married Thomas E. Adams on 3 January 1850 in Panola County, Texas. Thomas and Rosanah's daughter Nancy lived with her paternal grandfather and his wife in St. Mary's Parish, Louisiana at the time of the 1850 United States census.