John Toliver
& Tablitha Howell

John Toliver, possibly a son of John TOLIVER, was born abt. 1764 in North Carolina, and died 1862 in Alleghany Co., NC. He married Tabitha Howell, daughter of James HOWELL, around 1784. She was born 1765, probably in Virginia or North Carolina, and died 1845 in Ashe Co., NC. Tabitha Toliver is buried at the Toliver Cemetery, Road 1403 in Alleghany Co., NC. The location of John's grave is unknown.

Children of John Toliver and Tabitha Howell:

1. William Toliver, b. abt. 1785, Wilkes Co., NC; d. July 6, 1875, Alleghany Co., NC; m. Elizabeth LONG, daughter of William & Catherine LONG, Mar. 24, 1814, Grayson Co., VA (b. Sept. 1, 1791; d. Apr. 11, 1878); bur. Crouse Cemetery, Rd. 1403, Alleghany Co., NC.
2. Mary Toliver, b. abt. 1794, Wilkes Co., NC; d. Mar. 21, 1887, McLean Co., IL; m. Daniel CHANCE (b. abt. 1794; d. Dec. 6, 1876).
3. James Toliver, b. abt. 1795, Wilkes Co., NC; d. 1861, Alleghany Co., NC; m. Mary "Polly" BALDWIN, daughter of William BALDWIN & Jane LANDRETH, Feb. 18, 1821, Lawrence Co., IN (b. abt. 1805; d. 1868).
4. George Toliver, b. abt. 1798, Wilkes Co., NC; d. abt. 1826; m. Margaret Ann BLEVINS, daughter of John BLEVINS & Catherine COX, Apr. 13, 1824, Grayson Co., VA (b. Oct. 26, 1800; d. Mar. 26, 1895). Margaret m. (2nd) Solomon TOLIVER, son of Jesse TOLIVER & Franky STAMPER.
5. Charles H. Toliver, b. June 16, 1800, Wilkes Co., NC; d. Dec. 12, 1877, Alleghany Co., NC; m. Patience JONES, daughter of Daniel JONES & Eleanor LONG, Jan. 2, 1823 (b. Sept. 5, 1802; d. Sept. 1, 1891). Children: Amanda Melvina Toliver (1825) m. C.G. FOWLKES (clerk of Alleghany Co., NC); Tabitha Toliver (c.1830), John M. Toliver (1831) m. Matilda EDWARDS; James F. Toliver (1831), Leah Toliver (1834, m. Allen WAGONER), Phebe Toliver(1836), Emily Toliver (c.1839), Eleanor "Nelly" Toliver (c.1841), Mazy Toliver (1846).

Notes

ohn Toliver (1764) is one of the "Five Toliver Brothers" of Wilkes County, NC.  For more information see notes under John Toliver (Sr.).  The name "John Toliver" first appears on the 1771 Tax List of Surry County, although this might actually be the Five Brothers' presumed father, i.e., the elder John Toliver.  On the 1774 Tax List of Surry Co., NC, John Toliver and Jesse Toliver are listed in the same household, in all 2 polls (i.e., two white males between the ages of 16 and 60).

Like his brother Jesse Toliver, John Toliver fought in the Revolutionary War.  He never sought a pension but he did apply late in his life for bounty land.  In his application, dated June 17, 1856, in Ashe County, NC, John Toliver states that he enlisted during the latter part of the war as a private in the company commanded by Capt. Martin GAMBILL and Col. Benjamin CLEVELAND.  Declarations supporting his application were submitted by his nephews Jesse Toliver and Charles H. Toliver as well as Nancy GAMBILL (the widow of Capt. Martin Gambill), and Mary BAKER (widow of Thomas Baker who served with John Toliver).  (NARA B.L.Wt. 67685-160-55.)

John Toliver also submitted a declaration in support of an application for a widow's pension filed by Mary JOHNSON, widow of Capt. Samuel JOHNSON of Wilkes County.  In this declaration, which is dated Sept. 20, 1856, John Toliver provides a number of interesting facts about himself and his activities during the war.  He identifies two older brothers, Jesse Toliver and Moses Toliver, and also mentions their mother (though not by name).  (NARA Pension File No. W5012.)

"State of North Carolina, County of Ashe.  On this 20th day of September A.D. 1856 personally appeared [. . .] John TOLIVER a resident of said county who after being duly sworn according to law states that he has no record of his age but that from the best information he has he thinks he is now ninety one or two years of age -- he states that he lived in the county of Wilkes state of N.C. in the time of the war of the Revolution -- that he was well acquainted in the time of said war with Capt. Samuel JOHNSON of Wilkes County [. . .] that he was well acquainted with the father of said Capt. Samuel JOHNSON in the time of said war -- that he lived in the Yadkin River some four miles below Wilkes boundary that he was an old man in the time of the said war and that his name was Jeffrey JOHNSON -- that he died in said county many years ago --

"He further states that he was well acquainted with with one Mary HAMMONS daughter of Ambrose HAMMONS of Wilkes County N.C. in time of said war and that sometime towards the latter part of said war that the said Capt. Samuel JOHNSON and the said Mary HAMMONS got married -- he did not see them married but heard of it at the time -- nor can he fix the precise date of said marriage -- but that he knows that it was before the Battle of Kings Mountain and he knows that it was before he removed with his mother to the west side of the Blue Ridge (now Ashe County) [. . .]

"He further states that after he came to this side of the Blue Ridge to live that the said Capt. Samuel JOHNSON and some of his men was on one or two occasions on this the west side of the Blue Ridge after the Tories -- about the Peach Bottom in the State of Virginia -- that he was with Capt. Martin GAMBILL & others after the Tories [. . .] that it was not far from the section of county where he then lived -- that he was well acquainted with the county and acted as a guide to the parties -- that on one occasion they came for the Tories by discovering their smoke of their campfires -- that they had were cooking their Breakfast -- that they surrendered then fired on them killed some -- and some escaped -- that this was in the state of Virginia now Grayson County -- that on one other occasion they came upon the Tories -- killed some -- that Capt. Martin GAMBILL shot one Tory by the name of GREEN -- that he was left at the house of one John COX who lived at the Peach Bottom and died of the wounds -- that at that time they hung a Tory by the name of MCKINNY that they hung him with a grape vine tied around his neck and fastened to the limb of a tree -- and had him placed on a large rock -- and that while they were considering which of the men should shove him off the rock -- that the said MCKINNY jumped off and hung himself -- and that they hung one GOSS a Tory on the gate post of the said John COX near the river in the north side in the state of Virginia -- and many other things too tedious to mention --

"He states that he knows positively that Capt. Samuel JOHNSON did service in these expeditions for that he was also in said service that it was near the close of the War of the Revolution [. . .] he states that his two older brothers Jesse TOLIVER & Moses TOLIVER were both with him on these two expeditions -- that they at that time also lived on the west side of the Blue Ridge -- and that they had been in much of said war -- that they were both in the expedition to Kings Mountain and got to the foot but did not reach the Battle ground until the Battle had been fought and the victory won -- he states that his two said brothers are now dead".

John Toliver lived well into his 90's.  His estate was probated in Alleghany Co., NC, in 1862.  (NC Archives, Box No. CR.004.508.27.)  His wife is buried at the Toliver Cemetery on Road 1403 in Alleghany Co., NC, under a stone that reads TABITHA HOWELL TOLIVER, b. 1765, d. 1845.  It is possible that John is buried in the same cemetery in an unmarked grave or under a stone that has been lost.

Records

July 26, 1783. Wilkes Co., NC. Deed from Johnathan STAMPER to Andrew CANADY, 150 acres on Bugabo Creek, pine marked in the presence of John TOLIVER. (Wilkes DB A-1, pp.264-265.)

Oct. 29, 1784. Wilkes Co., NC. Deed from Thomas ROBINS to Richard ALLEN, 157 acres Bugaboo Creek, for £130. Pine marked in presence of John TALIFERO. Upper part 314 acre tract entered by Jonathan STAMPER, including improvement where STAMPER formerly dwelt. Wits: John BROWN, Benjamin HERNDON, James FLETCHER. Signed Thomas ROBINS. (Wilkes DB B-1, pp.349-359.)

May 11, 1785. John TOLIVER was a witness in the case of State v. William UNDERWOOD in Surry Co., NC; paid for 240 miles travel, 15 days. (Surry County Court Minutes.)

1786-1791. John TOLIVER is mentioned a number of times in the Minutes of the Old Roaring River Baptist Church in Wilkes Co., NC.  On Feb. 11, 1786, "The church seting in order thought it prudent to deny John TOLAVER felloship for evil zepors such as drunkness & etc."  On June 9, 1787, "Bro. John TOLEFARER came and made a recantation and the church received him into fellowship with his gift."  Unfortunately, Brother Toliver continued to misbehave: on Apr. 12, 1788, a delegation was appointed "to go to see Bro. TOLAFARE concerning some reports that we hear of him."  He tried joining a different church, and on June 13, 1788, a delegation from the Roaring River Church met at the Mitchells River Church and "gave Bro. TALEFARRER to that church as a transgressing member."  Just a few months later, on Jan. 12, 1789, a repetant "Bro. TALEFARRER" returned to the Roaring River Church "with a recantation and the church received him."  Alas, on Mar. 13, 1790, "a report came to the church that Bro. John TALIFARRO had lately been gilty of the sin of drunkness" and a delegation was appointed to look into it.  On Jan. 8, 1791, there was "some disscarse about Bro. John TALIFARO the church holds him a transgressor."  He was required to return his letter of dismission (i.e., the letter showing him to be a member in good standing of the church).  (Source: Minutes of The South Fork of (Old) Roaring River Baptist Church, Wilkes Co., NC transcribed by Hal Maynard.)

1790 Census, Wilkes Co., NC: JONATHAN TOLIVER

1 w/m over 16

3 white females

no slaves

July 28, 1791. Wilkes Co. NC. From Clizby Cobb of Surry Co., NC, to Charles TOLIVER, a tract of land [no acreage given], near Little River & mouth of Bledsoe's Creek, for £80. Wit: John TOLIVER, Richard WILLIAMS. (Wilkes DB B-1, p.393.)

July 17, 1798. Wilkes Co., NC. John TOLLIVER to William TOLLIVER of Grayson Co., VA, 118 acres adj. branch of Dog Creek, New River, and Moses TOLLIVER's corner, for £90. Wits: Moses TOLLIVER, Jesse TOLLIVER, William REVES. Signed: John (X) TOLLIVER [his mark]. (Wilkes DB D, p.392.)

Oct. 3, 1799. Wilkes Co., NC. Barnabas EVANS to William MAXWELL, 220 acres adj. Little Elk Creek & New River. Wit: James MAXWELL, John TOLIVER & James MAXWELL [Jr.?] (Wilkes Co., NC, DB D, p.783.)

1800 Census, Ashe Co., NC: JOHN TOLLIVER

3 w/m under 10	3 w/f under 1
1 w/m 10-15	1 w/f 26-45
1 w/m 26-45

1820 Census, Ashe Co., NC, p.24: JNO. TOLIVER

3 w/m 10-15	1 w/f under 10
1 w/m over 45	2 w/f 10-15
	1 w/f over 45

Aug. 9, 1821. Grayson Co., VA. A deed from the heirs of James HOWELL, dec'd, for a 100-acre tract of land on the New River. Signed: George HOWELL, John TOLIVER, Tabitha TOLIVER, Jonathan OSBORN, James HOWELL. Wits: Harden COX, Andrew OSBORN, Solomon OSBORN, Mary HOWELL, George HOWELL, Jr. (Grayson Co., VA, DB 4, p.442.)

1830 Census, Ashe Co., NC: not listed, but the household of Charles TOLIVER on p.9 includes a white male age 60-69.

1840 Census, Ashe Co., NC, p.29: JOHN TOLIVER SR.

1 w/m 70-79

1 w/f 70-79

Living with his son Charles in 1850 & 1860:

1850 Census, Ashe Co., NC, p.249 (Charles Tollaver): JOHN TOLLAVER, age 86, NC

1860 Census, Alleghany Co., NC, p.417 (C.H. Tollaver, HH#523): JOHN TOLLAVER, age 100, NC