David FIne and Ann Corder

Fine's Ferry, built in the 1780s, would have been located somewhere along this stretch. (photo by Brian Stansberry)

 "Although the pioneers of Cocke County suffered less from Indian incursions than some of the more exposed counties, numerous instances of massacres and other depredations might be detailed.  In the latter part of 1783 the Indians began to steal the cattle and horses of the few persons who had that year settled along the French Broad and Nolachucky.  They then retreated across the mountains to North Carolina.  Maj. Peter Fine and William Lillard raised a company of thirty men and pursued them.  After killing one Indian and wounding a second, and having regained the stolen property, they began their return and encamped.  During the night the Indians who had followed them made a sudden attack killing Vinet Fine and wounding Thomas Holland and Mr. Bingham.  The savages remained in the vicinity until near morning when they took their departure.  The members of the company then broke a hole in the ice of a creek upon which they had encamped, and put body of Vinet Fine in the water of the stream, which has ever since borne the name of Fine Creek". (Goodspeed's History of Cocke County)

David Fine, John's 4th G Grandfather (1764 Virginia- 1845 St Louis, Missouri) was the son of Thomas Fine and Agnes Merchant.  Thomas Fine and Agnes Merchant had nine children: Vinette 1750-1783, Phillip 1751-1825, Peter 1753-1826, John 1755-1829, Weden "Wenden" 1757-1787, Euphremeas 1759-1785/95, Elizabeth 1761, Jacob 1763, David 1764-1845.

Thomas, Sr, Peter and Vinot Fine are listed in the Virginia Military Records(Revolutionary War Records: Virginia, Section IV, p. 608)

Peter Fine early land records 20 Sep 1787, Greene County, North Carolina: Warrant # 559 200 acres on the North side of the French Broad River.
In 1797 Peter Fine was named a commissioner for Cocke County (source: Acts of Tennessee 1797-1850)
Peter Fine was commissioned as a 1st Major in the Cocke County Regiment on Jan 11, 1798. (Record of Commissions of Officers in the Tennessee Militia, p. 70)
In 1806 Peter Fine was appointed an Anderson Academy Trustee (source: Acts of Tennessee 1797-1850)
In 1812 Peter Fine was names a  Commissioner for New Port--Cocke County (source: Acts of Tennessee 1797-1850)

Peter Fine early land records 22 Oct 1819, Cocke County, Tennessee: Warrant #6280 50 acres 
Marker for Peter Fine:
THE NEW PORT

Here, near the ford below Major
Peter Fine's ferry, the town was
established in 1799. It was the
head of flatboat navigation on
the French Broad; each spring a
fleet went downriver. The townsite
moved about 1867, after the rail-
road was built along Pigeon River.
Peter Fine died in 1826 and is buried in Roadman Cemetery

Peter remained in Cocke County, but Phillip and David left New Port for St Louis.  They were early settlers in this area.

 

Chronological History of St Louis

15 Feb 1764 Foundation of St Louis under the French government
1764 Treaty ceding Louisiana to Spain
1765 Government assumed under French organization by St Ange
1768 Spanish troops, under d'Ulloa take possession of St Louis
1770- 1800 series of lieutenant governors
1 Oct 1800 Louisiana ceded by Spain to France
30 April 1803 Louisiana ceded by France to the United States
The first grant in St Louis was made by St Ange to Joseph Labuxiere on April 27, 1766. (Livre Terrein Number One). Source

Phillip Fine (1754-1824) (Houck's History of Missouri, vol ii p. 284) Phillip Fine, John Coons and Anne Camp, who had come to the village of St Louis in 1787 were the only white settlers. (Lion of the Valley: St. Louis, Missouri, 1764-1980
 By James Neal Primm p. 55)
Territory of Missouri county of St Louis Philip Fine of the township of St Louis in said county being duly sworn upon his oath declares and says that he well knows the tract described in the annexed petition of Sophia Bolaye and has known it for at least forty years past and that Sophia Bolaye about thirty years ago opened the ground planted corn and potatoes and built a house on said tract. PHILIP FINE his mark Sworn to and subscribed this 13th day of August 1819 before me a justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid (Congressional Edition, Volume 280, p. 41)

Supreme Court Case : This testimony tended to show that the said Philip Fine was in possession of and cultivated the tract of land in controversy prior to December 20th 1803 that he possessed and cultivated the same up to the time of the falling down of the fence about six years before the change of government when he removed from St Louis to the mouth of the Maramec river where he continued to reside until his death. ( Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of ..., Volume 23 P. 571)



David Fine married Ann Corder (1770-1853)

1781. Elisha Baker met David Fine, brother of Philip Fine, members of the family from near New Market, Virginia, that settled in the French Broad River area near present Newport, Tennessee. (See 1802 below) (American State Papers, Public Lands, May 6, 1807; Peter Fine Grant No. 2088, 1787, 200 acres, mouth of Clear Creek, north side of French Broad River; John Fien (Fine) Grant No. 2519, 200 acres, north side of French Broad River)

In testimony regarding the settlement of David Fine, brother of Philip Fine [early settlers in the French Broad River area near present Newport, Tennessee] in Upper Louisiana, on May 6, 1807, Elisha Baker said he knew David Fine “about twenty-six years ago” [1781], that he arrived in Upper Louisiana with Fine “in April of the year 1802” and in February or March, 1803, he saw Fine on his land and in July corn was growing on the tract. Elisha’s first land grant in Upper Louisiana was on Little Rock Creek, eight miles south of David Fine’s settlement. (American State Papers, Public Lands June 13, 1812 – April 12, 1814)

Transcription of text

Tuesday October 13 1807 On application of a claimant the board met by common consent Present the lion Clement B Penrose and Frederick Bates David Fine claiming 5,040 acres of land situated on the river Matlss produces in support of said claim a plat of survey dated the 25th February 1806 and certified to be received for record by Anthony Soulard February 28 1806 Philip Fine being duly sworn says that speaking with the Spanish lieutenant governor Mr Delassus early in the year 1802 on the subject of settling on vacant land was informed by said lieutenant governor that no concession should be granted at that time but that any person coining to the country might settle on vacant land that his brother the claimant arrived shortly after in Louisiana and was informed by him the witness of what had passed between him and the lieutenant governor in consequence of which his brother settled on the land claimed in the year 1803 built a cabin and raised a crop that year and has inhabited and cultivated the same ever since and had at that time a wife and six children I Theodore Hunt recorder of land titles in the State of Missouri do hereby certify that the foregoing transcript consisting of 25 lines and parts of line is faithfully coined from the record of the proceedings of the board of commissioners for ascertaining and adjusting titles and claims in Missouri as will appear by reference to Book III page 4 in my office Given at my office in St Louis the 25th of November AD 1824 Theodore Hunt Source

1810 US Reconstructed Census Records David Fine St Louis District, Louisiana and Missouri Territory " Name on memorial, 27 Dec 1805, to the President by citizens of the territory (apparently most are from the District of St. Louis) expressing their support and confidence in Governor Wilkinson [pages 3"
1830 US Federal Census St Louis, Missouri
1835 Missouri Plat map

Plat showing David Fine's land

In 1850 Ann Corder Fine is living with her daughter Elizabeth, who married Hugh Glenn (John's 3rd G Grandparents). They are living in Johnson Township, Crawford County, Missouri. Ann Fine is listed as owning land worth $500.