Several members of a South Carolina family with the surname of Free--John and Mary Free and their children--settled in Cocke County in the early 1800s. They built homes south of Newport near the base of English Mountain in the general area of present-day Epley Road. Some family members moved on to Sevier and Jefferson counties.
John and Mary's children who raised families in Cocke County were James, George, Elizabeth "Betsy" and Isaac.
Allen F. Free, one of Betsy's brothers, either remained in or returned to South Carolina.
An online source (Kirksey Database) provides detailed data on the James Free family.
In the early 1830s, Betsy married Alexander Clevenger, son of Elias and Nancy (Wood) Clevenger. They had about 10 children, most of whom remained in the Cocke County communities of English Creek, Cave Hill, Wilsonville and Carson Springs. One online source lists 9 children for Elizabeth and Alexander, 6 of whom are buried in this cemetery.
One of Betsy's nephews (son of James), Marion Free, a prominent Cocke County preacher, was a cofounder of Manning's Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. He is buried in the nearby Pleas Morris Cemetery, even though his death certificate lists Union Cemetery. (Rev. Free performed the wedding ceremony for Alex Clevenger Jr., Betsy's son, and his second wife Eliza Jane Bridges.)
Betsy's brother Isaac and wife Mary Cooper also raised a family in Cocke County. (For an online family data sheet, click here.) At least 4 of their children are buried in East Tenn. with Find-A-Grave memorials and family links: Elbert, Elijah, Isaac Jr.. (with portrait), and Alice (with portrait).
[Research (including exploration and photography of the abandoned Free-Clevenger Cemetery) by Gene Bryant, whose mother, Mary Florence (Clevenger) Bryant, is a great-great-granddaughter of Elizabeth "Betsy" (Free) Clevenger.]
John and Mary's children who raised families in Cocke County were James, George, Elizabeth "Betsy" and Isaac.
Allen F. Free, one of Betsy's brothers, either remained in or returned to South Carolina.
An online source (Kirksey Database) provides detailed data on the James Free family.
In the early 1830s, Betsy married Alexander Clevenger, son of Elias and Nancy (Wood) Clevenger. They had about 10 children, most of whom remained in the Cocke County communities of English Creek, Cave Hill, Wilsonville and Carson Springs. One online source lists 9 children for Elizabeth and Alexander, 6 of whom are buried in this cemetery.
One of Betsy's nephews (son of James), Marion Free, a prominent Cocke County preacher, was a cofounder of Manning's Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. He is buried in the nearby Pleas Morris Cemetery, even though his death certificate lists Union Cemetery. (Rev. Free performed the wedding ceremony for Alex Clevenger Jr., Betsy's son, and his second wife Eliza Jane Bridges.)
Betsy's brother Isaac and wife Mary Cooper also raised a family in Cocke County. (For an online family data sheet, click here.) At least 4 of their children are buried in East Tenn. with Find-A-Grave memorials and family links: Elbert, Elijah, Isaac Jr.. (with portrait), and Alice (with portrait).
[Research (including exploration and photography of the abandoned Free-Clevenger Cemetery) by Gene Bryant, whose mother, Mary Florence (Clevenger) Bryant, is a great-great-granddaughter of Elizabeth "Betsy" (Free) Clevenger.]
Several members of a South Carolina family with the surname of Free--John and Mary Free and their children--settled in Cocke County in the early 1800s. They built homes south of Newport near the base of English Mountain in the general area of present-day Epley Road. Some family members moved on to Sevier and Jefferson counties.
John and Mary's children who raised families in Cocke County were James, George, Elizabeth "Betsy" and Isaac.
Allen F. Free, one of Betsy's brothers, either remained in or returned to South Carolina.
An online source (Kirksey Database) provides detailed data on the James Free family.
In the early 1830s, Betsy married Alexander Clevenger, son of Elias and Nancy (Wood) Clevenger. They had about 10 children, most of whom remained in the Cocke County communities of English Creek, Cave Hill, Wilsonville and Carson Springs. One online source lists 9 children for Elizabeth and Alexander, 6 of whom are buried in this cemetery.
One of Betsy's nephews (son of James), Marion Free, a prominent Cocke County preacher, was a cofounder of Manning's Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. He is buried in the nearby Pleas Morris Cemetery, even though his death certificate lists Union Cemetery. (Rev. Free performed the wedding ceremony for Alex Clevenger Jr., Betsy's son, and his second wife Eliza Jane Bridges.)
Betsy's brother Isaac and wife Mary Cooper also raised a family in Cocke County. (For an online family data sheet, click here.) At least 4 of their children are buried in East Tenn. with Find-A-Grave memorials and family links: Elbert, Elijah, Isaac Jr.. (with portrait), and Alice (with portrait).
[Research (including exploration and photography of the abandoned Free-Clevenger Cemetery) by Gene Bryant, whose mother, Mary Florence (Clevenger) Bryant, is a great-great-granddaughter of Elizabeth "Betsy" (Free) Clevenger.]
John and Mary's children who raised families in Cocke County were James, George, Elizabeth "Betsy" and Isaac.
Allen F. Free, one of Betsy's brothers, either remained in or returned to South Carolina.
An online source (Kirksey Database) provides detailed data on the James Free family.
In the early 1830s, Betsy married Alexander Clevenger, son of Elias and Nancy (Wood) Clevenger. They had about 10 children, most of whom remained in the Cocke County communities of English Creek, Cave Hill, Wilsonville and Carson Springs. One online source lists 9 children for Elizabeth and Alexander, 6 of whom are buried in this cemetery.
One of Betsy's nephews (son of James), Marion Free, a prominent Cocke County preacher, was a cofounder of Manning's Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. He is buried in the nearby Pleas Morris Cemetery, even though his death certificate lists Union Cemetery. (Rev. Free performed the wedding ceremony for Alex Clevenger Jr., Betsy's son, and his second wife Eliza Jane Bridges.)
Betsy's brother Isaac and wife Mary Cooper also raised a family in Cocke County. (For an online family data sheet, click here.) At least 4 of their children are buried in East Tenn. with Find-A-Grave memorials and family links: Elbert, Elijah, Isaac Jr.. (with portrait), and Alice (with portrait).
[Research (including exploration and photography of the abandoned Free-Clevenger Cemetery) by Gene Bryant, whose mother, Mary Florence (Clevenger) Bryant, is a great-great-granddaughter of Elizabeth "Betsy" (Free) Clevenger.]
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