William Cornutt

William Cornutt* died January 15, 1855 supposedly at 85 and 7 months, His wife, Mary Hatfield, died May 20, 1861 at age 84 and 2 months. The family Bible has no definite date of birth for either William or Mary. On William deducting age from death we have 1769, however the Ashe County, NC 1850 Census report shows William’s age as 79, or born in 1771, or 23 years old when married. William and Mary’s grandson claim William was 8 years old when his father reached the Big Elk Creek Valley. David paid first taxes in 1782 so he no doubt arrived in 1781 which would make William born in 1773 and not as claimed by others. February 27, 1874 a marriage bond was entered into a request of Jeremiah Hatfield, as Mary was only 17 years of age. It was attested by a John Cornutt, a brother of William’s, and on June2, 1795 and was married by Charles Hardy, Minister. The marriage bond authorized “Section 23 of the 1792 Act to regulate Solemnization of Marriage” and under which early marriages were contracted and preformed by early Grayson County settlers, especially when ministers were only available a part of the year. Records covering above taken from Independence Court House files. Now William Cornutt, the first child of David, and Mary Hatfield undoubtedly set up housekeeping near his father’s farm on Big Elk Creek, Grayson County and moved to Ashe County, NC about 1808.

William Cornutt was probably born June 1769 in Henrico County, VA and died January 15, 1855 at age 85 and 7 months in Grayson County, VA (birth calculated from death record). He was married (bond) on February 27, 1794 or on June 2, 1795 in Grayson County, VA to Mary Hatfield and she was the daughter of Jeremiah Hatfield. Mary was born in March in either 1776 or 1777 and died on May 20, 1861 at age 84 and 2 months. They had 14 children.

From Grayson County records: William Cornett, Mary Hatfield married June 2, 1795 by Chares Hardy. Marriage register: No. 1, page 1. William Cornett died January 18, 1855, probably born in June 1769, about 25 years old when married. Mary Hatfield died May 20, 1861, probably born March 1777.

14 Children
Lydia Cornutt December 11, 1794
John Cornutt January 3, 1796
Fanny Cornutt March 25, 1797
Reuben Cornutt May 16, 1798
Feraby Cornutt March 6, 1800
Sally Cornutt December 18, 1801
Hiram Cornutt* April 7 1804
William (Billy) Cornutt March 24, 1806
Nancy Cornutt June 22, 1808
Mary Cornutt December 4, 1810 (twin)
David Cornutt December 4, 1810 (twin)
Jeremiah Cornutt April 27, 1813
Thomas Cornutt April 25, 1817
Wesley Cornutt August 18, 1819