Who was William Foster Tinker? Part One

Throughout the history of the TINKER family there have been many men whose first name just happens to be none other than William. My husbands brother included.
With so many men named William; doing family research has been confusing sometimes. Two different cousins have mentioned a gentleman by the name of William Foster TINKER who was believed to be the brother of Abraham TINKER SR and both of those men could possibly have been sons of one John TINKER of Burks, North Carolina.
Cousin Charlotte mentioned this person to me several years ago and then today Cousin Ray again mentioned him. Back when Charlotte sent me some information I set out to research him and my research was inconclusive regarding any man with this name. Since Cousin Ray has mentioned him again, I decided to revisit the possibility once again. This post may be somewhat lengthy as I have information to add from various sources.I will likely break it up into more than one post.
It appears as though this name has been handed down through the research of this Gentleman named Ralph, who is now Deceased. For as long as I can remember the only plausible parent for James Abraham TINKER has been one Abraham TINKER SR and his wife the elusive Polly. Some have adamantly stated her name is Polly HOBDAY. I think that my research has Disproved that theory time and again. I will not rehash that. If you wish to read the information I have concerning that you can find it HERE and HERE. If you wish to discuss my theories on that please message me using the Contact Form on this page.

Cousin Ray along with this Gentleman named Ralph had a second plausible set of parents for James Abraham TINKER and they were one William Foster TINKER and his wife Elizabeth FOSTER. The subjects of this post. Below are some notes that Cousin Ray had attached to his family tree by one Ralph PHILLIPS, I am uncertain if this is the same Ralph mentioned in this post who is now deceased.

Early settler Greasy Cove, along with Abraham Tinker, possibly a brother. He was on Greasy Cove Tax List 1792, 1796, 1805, 1810. Father thought to be John Tinker of Burke County NC but not proved. He is said to have been apprenticed to or adopted by the Foster family of Coffee Ridge and married Elizabeth Foster of that family.

Modified 26 August 2013 by wralph/phillips/2497979

He goes on to show that Elizabeth FOSTER-TINKER`s parents to have been one Kennedy Powell FOSTER and wife Rebecca KERSAWN. This couple were married 11 Feb, 1833 in Washington County, Tennessee. He lists four children for the couple, namely David, Kennedy, Emeline & Elizabeth.

It looks as though this theory may actually be based upon the following documentation which was listed in Cousin Ray`s notes:

Unicoi County Plat Book, 2/38/22: In 1848 James A. Tinker was granted a 640-acre section comprising the watershed of Mill Creek at Shallowford of South Indian Creek where he built a log structure for his home, with the help of his son Jesse P. Tinker and his nephew Samuel Tinker. Washington County Deed Book, Page ___, 25 Jan 1841: Deed; Heirs of Thomas FOSTER TO: James TINKER (RIN-1087), 3 adjacent tracts on Indian Creek FOR: $350. Washington County Deed Book 30, Page 383, 3 May 1848: DEED: Kennedy FOSTER TO: James TINKER. After his death in 1866 his home was occupied by son Philip Parks Tinker until his other children came of age. At that time, sons Philip P. Tinker and James P. Tinker acting as executors assigned his estate, with son James receiving the log home. It was occupied successively by Nelson Tinker, son of James, and by Heleanor (Ellen) Tinker who married Hezekiah (Kile) Corn and passed ownership to her Corn descendants. By 1985 it was occupied by Dewey Corn, during which it was damaged by a kitchen fire. In 1995 the log structure was stripped of its clapboard siding, dismantled, and the logs stored for future reassembly.

Modified 26 August 2013 by wralph/phillips/2497979

So, first we need to look at each of the folks being referenced in the above Deed Transcription.

1.James A. TINKER- James according to my records was son of Abraham & Polly TINKER. He was born about 1805 in Washington County, Tennessee. He married one Nancy PARKS.

2.Jessie P TINKER- Jessie was the son of the above James A. TINKER & Nancy Parks. According to my notes he was born 1836.

3.Samuel TINKER- the above transcription refers to this Samuel as being James nephew

4.Thomas FOSTER-. Thomas was the father of the above mentioned Kennedy Powell FOSTER SR and great grandfather of the Elizabeth FOSTER who was said to have married William Foster TINKER.

5.Kennedy FOSTER- I assume this is referring to Kennedy Sr.

6.Phillip Parks TINKER- James Abraham TINKER`s Son.

7.Nelson TINKER- son of James

8.Heleanor Ellen TINKER- Daughter of James Abraham TINKER

9.Hezekiah Kyle CORN- Son in law to James Abraham TINKER husband of Heleanor TINKER

10.Dewey CORN- A CORN Descendant

Cousin Ray also shared the following notation with regards to William Foster TINKER & Abraham Sr. TINKER:

Abraham Tinker was an early settler in Greasy Cove, along with William Foster Tinker who lived nearby, possibly a brother but not proved. !From Capt. Jacob Hartsell's diary, Muster Roll of Volunteer Company, East Tennessee, Company of Jacob Hartsell, First Regiment of Col. William Lilliard. "Abram Tinker inrolled himself as wagoneer in the United States Service out of my company on the 20 day of November 1813." As wagoneer in War of 1812, he hauled nitrates from mines in TN to make gunpowder. After the war, he and family relocated into Cocke County, TN, was in Cocke County census in 1850, !From Washington County Deed Book 24 Page 155, 29 June 1842: William PARKS deed TO: Abram TINKER. !From Washington County Deed Book 24 Page 193, 30 June 1842: William PARKS deed TO: Abram TINKER.

Modified
26 August 2013 by wralph/phillips/2497979

Note that the above Notation states that Abraham TINKER settled in Greasy Cove along with a William Foster TINKER who lived nearby and was possibly a brother, but not proven.

Summation

To date I have not seen any records with the name "William Foster Tinker" on them. Now, please note I am not saying this individual did not exsist, he may very well have. At this point I have never been able to find him. The second post on this subject will contain what I do know concerning my research into the TINKER & the FOSTER families. Yes, I have found some connections between these families. Stay tuned for part two.