The William Ernest Hudson Family Homepage:Information about Andrew Connatser
Andrew Connatser (b. September 17, 1790, d. November 22, 1862)
Notes for Andrew Connatser:
NOTES:
Andrew's mother was Catherine Cooper. At that time his last name was spelled Kinnetzer, Knatzer or Knortzer. Don't know for sure which spelling. He also had a brother Joseph and
two half brothers Abraham and John.
Andrew Connatser, son of Nicholas (Johann Nicholas Knortzer) and Catherine (Cooper) Connatser, was born 1790 in Tennessee.His father left Rowan County, NC before the 1790 census and was in the area which became Sevier County, Tennessee by 1801 and earlier.Andrew, Nicholas, and Abraham Connatser joined Nicholas's brother John Balser, in Wayne County, Kentucky by 1809 and remained there through 1812.
Andrew Kinnetzer (Knatzer) married Mary Ann Blevins on November 26, 1809 in Wayne
County,
(Marriages in Wayne Co., KY 1801-1860, Pg. 66).
Andrew Connatser left Wayne County and was in Sevier County, Tennessee by 1813.1.
"Andy Knatcher" was one of the signers of an 1813 Petition by "citizens of the District South
of the rivers French Broad and Holston"
(Ansearchin' News, spring 1977 Vol. 24, pp.26-7).
In March, 1819 a group formed the Bethel Baptist Church in Sevier County.A list of members,
given in the records of the Forks of Little Pigeon Baptist Church, includes Andrew, Mary, and Cathy Connacher
(Ansearchin' News, Vol. XI, No. 4, Oct., 1964, p. 156).
THE BOOK"Tennessee's Pioneer Baptist Preachers" written in 1919 by J.J. Burnett, says:
Andrew Connatser was a preacher in Sevier County in the early half of the last century, noted in several
ways, and particularly gifted in exhortation and prayer.He was of German descent, and could speak
the German language, but was born in this country.He was ordained deacon of Bethel Church,
Sevier County, " Fourth Sunday of August 1829", and later was ordained to the ministry by authority
of the same church.For a number of years he was a messenger of Bethel Church to
the Tennessee Association.He was pastor of Alder Branch and other churches.In physical build he
was rawboned, muscular and sinewy, a man of rare physical strength and endurance.Before
his conversion, according to the custom of his day and neighborhood, he drank some, and would
"treat" his associates and receive "treats" in return, on special occasions.After his conversion,
even after he had become a preacher and "had preached his third sermon" I was told, seven of
his companions undertook to get him to drink with them and to "treat" in the old-time way.To
prove his hospitality and to show that he was not stingy, he yielded to their solicitations and
furnished the "treats".But they were not satisfied; they wanted him to drink "Nolen and Volens", and
undertookto force him.Thinking he had gone far enough on the "two mile" road with his
persecutors, or had taken enough of their abuse to satisfy the law of "non-resistance to evil",
instead of turning the other cheek to the smiters, with his good fist he landed blows on the cheeks
of about seven of his assailants, knocking them down as fast as they approached him.After that
they let him alone, the argument of hard knocks proven a failure.
For many years before his death Andrew Connatser lived pioneer style in an old house in Sevier
County which had been used as a fort in fighting the Indians.It had holes in the sides, corresponding
to the port holes of a ship, through which the whites could poke their guns and fire in case it was
necessary to defend themselves from the Indians.
In 1851 he was pastor of Tuckaleechee Church (Min. Tenn. Association).He was also pastor of
Bethel and Bethany Churches.He has a number of descendents in Sevier County.
1810 Census records for Wayne County, KY. record:
Andw Canatzer1male age 16-26
1 female age 16-26
Apparently he had no children yet in mid 1810.
1830 Census records for Sevier County, TN record:
Andrew Kenatcher1 male under 5
1 male 5-10; 1 male 10-15
1 male 40-50
In the 1840 census, there are 2 male children, 1 female child under the age of 5 years old,
2 male sons, Rueben and Andrew Jr., between the age of 5 - 10 years old, 3 female children,
between the age of 10 -15 years old these would be Catherine, Emma and Martha..... 2 male
sons, between the age of 15 - 20 years old, Amasa and Daniel.... 1 man, between ages of
40 - 50 years old, Andrew Sr. and one female, age 30 - 40 years old, Mary... can't figure out
who the 2 males and 1 female, under the age of 5 years old are at this time.
1850 Census records for Sevier County, TN record:
Andrew Connater,head
Mary Ann,wife
Martha,dau20
Reuben,son 16
So we can add Reuben to the above children as Andrew's son.
WILL BOOK 1 PAGE 78-79
WILL OF ANDREW CONATZER:
I Andrew Conatzer, knowing the uncertainty of life and the certainty of Death, do make
and ordain this my last will and Test-, amend hereby revoking and making void all
former wills by me at any time heretofore made by me.
FIRST - It is my will that my four Sons Daniel, Amasa, Andrew and Rueben have my
farm where I now live in the 4th District of Sevier, Containing three hundred and ninety
two acres.
SECOND - It is my will that my wife Mary Ann Shall be allowed a home during her life where
I now live and that She shall have what money I may have on hand at my death for her
use and Support during her life.It is my desire that She have a support off of the aboved
named farm during the remainder of her life.
THIRD - It is my will and desire that immediately after my death that all my personal
property be sold by my Executor on a credit of twelve months requiring Security for the
Same-, and when collected I will that Said money be equally divided between my four
Sons and five Daughters (to wit.) Daniel, Amasa, Andrew, Rueben, Polly Hurst, Sarah
Long, Catherine Thomas, Emma Romines and Martha Webb.------------
FOURTH - It is also my will that my four Sons shall pay to my five Daughters Polly Hurst,
Sarah Long, Catherine Thomas, Emma Romines and Martha Webb each one hundred
dollars to make them equal and in Consideration of their getting the land.
FIFTH - It is my will that my wife Mary Ann shall have the use and benefit of all my
household and Kitchen furniture bedding and clothing during her life and at her death
to equally divided between all my living Children.
SIXTH - Should either of my Said Sons die before I do, then it is my will that the remaining
ones shall have the land they paying as before stated the Sum of one hundred dollars
to each of my living daughters.
SEVENTH - It is my will that my Son Daniel Conatzer act as my Executor.
EIGHTH - It is my will that my executor Daniel Conatzer take charge of three hundred
dollars of the money that may be on hand at my death and that he shall it ready as her
need may call for.If the Money is not all used he Daniel Conatzer shall gather all the
money and divide it equally among my living Children.
In witness whereof., I do this my will, Set my hand and Seal this
4th day of November 1862.
Andrew Conatzer
(SEAL)
Signed Sealed and published in our
presence and we have subscribed
our names here to in the presence
of the Testor -- this 4th of November
1862.
Nelson Fox
This document can be obtained from the Sevier County, Tennessee Courthouse.
The Surname:There have been several deviations of the surname from the original (or earliest)
one of Knorzer.Some of these are, Knortzer, Knertzer, Kanatzer, Knetzer, Cornatzer,Cornatzar,
Connatser, Canatser and Conatser.There have been others, although some were in all probability misspellings of census takers, etc., who had difficulty pronouncing or spelling the German name.
A first name of Nicholas is suggested by Joanne Romine ([email protected]).Since Germans were named for a Saint for a first name which was usually not used, this name
is very likely to be correct.Germans usually went by their middle name.
Rev. Andrew served in the War of 1812 as a Private under the command of Col William Johnson
and Capt. Andrew Lawson in the East Tennessee Drafted Militia, 3rd. Regiment.(roll box 44,
roll extract 602).
Sevier County Plat List - Andrew Conatser 1823 (section of land)/ Andrew Conatser (no date),
another section of land
ANDREW CONATSER
From Carolyn McKinney's notes 3/6/02:
Andrew Connatser was in Wayne Co., KY by 10 July 1806 when a land grant of 61 acres was
granted to him.The 1810 Wayne Co., KY census shows he was still there,He returned to Sevier
Co., TN after 1810.A Tennessee land grant which had been his father's was granted to him in
1809.
SOURCES:
SEVIER COUNTY, TENNESSEE COURTHOUSE:
MARRIAGES, WILLS, LAND TRANSACTIONS AND
OTHER RECORDED RECORDS
RESEARCH BY JIM HENRY - 1998
[email protected]
CAROLYN MCKINNEY
More About Andrew Connatser:
Date born 2: September 17, 1790
Burial: Unknown, Bethel Cemetery, Sevier Co., TN.
More About Andrew Connatser and Mary Ann Blevins:
Marriage: November 26, 1809, Wayne Co., KY.
Children of Andrew Connatser and Mary Ann Blevins are:
- Daniel Connatser, b. 1817, SevierCo,. TN, d. date unknown.
- Mary "Polly" Connatser, b. 1820, SevierCo,. TN, d. date unknown.
- Sarah Connatser, b. 1820, SevierCo,. TN, d. date unknown.
- +Amasa Connatser, b. 1825, SevierCounty, Tennessee, d. Aft. 1862, SevierCo, Tennessee.
- Catherine "Cathy" Connatser, b. August 21, 1826, Walnut Grove, Sevier Co., TN, d. date unknown.
- +Andrew Connatser,Jr., b. 1827, SevierCo,. TN, d. 1888, SevierCo,. TN.
- Emma "Emy" Connatser, b. 1828, SevierCo,. TN, d. 1866, SevierCo,. TN.
- Martha Connatser, b. 1830, d. date unknown.
- Nancy Connatser, b. 1830, SevierCo,. TN, d. August 23, 1893, SevierCo,. TN.
- +Rueben Connatser, b. 1834, SevierCo,. TN, d. Aft. 1862, SevierCo,. TN.