Revolutionary War Land Grant of Samuel Hays - Neighbor of Andrew Jackson & Col. John Donelson

North Carolina Revolutionary War Land Grants
Roll 10: Book G-7
Page 15
State of North Carolina
Grant No. 35
Know ye that we have Granted unto Samuel Hays six hundred and forty acres of land in Davidson County on the North side of Stones or Clover creek a branch of Stones River, Beginning at the spanish oak on the North bank of the Creek a corner of the land reserved for Stones lick, running thence along the line of the said land, West one hundred and twenty two poles to a large white oak, corner to Col. John Donelson, thence with said Donelson line North three hundred and twenty five poles to a hickory and hackberry, East three hundred and sixty eight poles to three small poplars, South one hundred and sixty nine poles crossing Clover Creek twice to a sugar tree and ash on the north bank thereof, down the same as it meanders to the Beginning. To Hold unto the said Samuel Hays his heirs and assigns forever dated the 17th day of April 1786.
R. Caswell
J. Glasgow, Sec.

*A little background information: This land grant is for the land between what is now know as the area of Donelson and The Hermitage. My ancestor, Samuel Hays, was a neighbor of both men: future-president Andrew Jackson and Col. John Donelson (father-in-law to Andrew Jackson). Samuel Hays' brother, Robert Hays, was also the son-in-law to Col. John Donelson. When Samuel Hays was murdered in February 1793 during an Indian massacre just outside Col. John Donelson's home, the future-president Andrew Jackson adopted the minor children of Samuel Hays.

Source:
Ancestry.com. North Carolina and Tennessee, Early Land Records, 1753-1931 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

My Connection To President Andrew Jackson

With the addition of today's new database on FamilySearch called "Tennessee Probate Court Books, 1795-1927", I've been scouring through the counties and records trying to find documents for my ancestors. I struck gold tonight! In the documents listing the sale of the personal estate of my 6th-great-grandfather, Samuel Hays, it lists that the future president Andrew Jackson had been made the legal guardian for Samuel Hays' children! How cool is that?

After reading through the entire document though, I found it a bit strange that the children were sent to live with Andrew Jackson and the entire personal estate of Samuel Hays sold... when his wife was still alive. Very weird. It makes no mentions of the sale of real estate, so I assume Samuel Hays' widow, Elizabeth, remained on the property. Did she remarry and when was the land sold?

Here is the extract of the typed record: 

SAMUEL HAY'S Estate Divided & C. May 29th 1795. Pursuant to an Order of Court made last January Term 1795 Authorizing and Impowering John Bosley Michael Glaves and Samuel Donelson to Divide the monies Arising from the Sale of the personal Estate of Samuel Hay's Deceased Amongst the Legattees and heirs of the Afsd. Saml. Hays. And We the aforementioned John Bosley Michael Glaves & Samuel Donelson do Certify that We have placed in the possession of Andrew Esquire Special Guardian for sd. Legattees The Sum of four hundred And Seventeen Dollars and three Shillings in Notes, but that One hundred and forty one Dollars and five Shillings of the Afsd. Notes are yet due but that the Remainder of the NOtes Two hundred and Seventy five Dollars Six Shillings have been long due W. do further Certify that each Childs Propertionable part is Eighty three Dollars Three Shillings and Eight pence; We further Say that Mrs Hays Widow is indebted to the Children One hundred fifty Dollars Six Shillings and Ten pence and that She has not given in her Note for the Same or any part thereof and that no more Notes Than mentioned Above, nor any money, have come to our hands Certificed this 11th day of April 1795. Errors and Mistakes Excepted. Signed John Bosley, Michael Glaves & Samuel Donelson