Jesse Birdsong was the fifth son of Major John and Mary (Armistead) Birdsong. He was born about 1774, probably in Chatham County, North Carolina. He was still living with the family when Major John moved into Union County, South Carolina. His brothers, William and Henry, were living in Union county when Mahor John died in 1790. Jesse wuld have been there also, about the age of sixteen. His brothers, John, William and Henry, left South Carolina after Mahor John's death and migrated to Kentucky and Tennessee. Captain Batte, Jesse's oldest brother remained in South Carolina. Jesse left Union County, South Carolina and migrated to Livingston County, Kentucky (also Caldwell & Trigg Counties), then moved for a time to Clark County, Mississippi Territory (now Alabama) and finally to Fayette County, Tennessee.

1798 Jesse appeared in Kentucky records about 1798 (date questionable). This fact was discovered in a History of Trigg County, Kentucky publication.

" Jesse Birdsong, a brother in law of Grasty came about the same time and made his first improvements on the Baker place, setting on a hill not far from the old graveyard. He sold this farm several years later to Blake Baker ...Blake Baker, a brother of Freeman, came about the same time and settled northeast of Rock Castle on land he purchased from Jesse Birdsong....

The Trigg Publication appears in error as to when Jesse Birdsong arrived in Trigg County, Kentucky. Jesse and his family were enumerated in the 1800 Union County, South Carolina census, therefore, it is believed that he arrived in Trigg County about 1802. Additionally Trigg County, Kentucky, was not created out of Christian and Caldwell counties until 1820. (Teagrden Book)

Jesse married Elizabeth Grasty. Together they had 5 children, John Proctor, Alexander Miles, Lucy, Jesse Jr., John Crittenden.

The photograph is of Jesse Birdsong Junior.