Thomas ESLINGER

Thomas known as Tom was murdered in 1896. As reported in theWednesday, Sept. 16, 1896 Clinton Gazette, Thomas was killed by hislandlord, William Cross, in the Union Valley, Two miles below Lee'sFerry, after a dispute over his rent. He was shot in the temple with arifle and "...fell to the ground with his brains oozing from the wound."The shooting occurred about 11:00am Sept. 11, Friday and Tom lingeredalong until 3:30 Saturday morning Sept. 12 with his brains running out,at which time death relieved his sufferings. The murder was witnessed byhis father and a brother. According to family tradition Cross fled toArkansas to avoid prosecution. He later returned and was aquitted. Dockand Harley planned to take revenge, but never could catch him. Once, Dockwas walking home from the coal mines and saw Cross. Dock hurried home forhis gun but Cross had vanished and another opportunity never arose. Tomwas reported to be 36 years old at the time of death and to have leftbehind a wife and three (should be four) children. Buried in SouthClinton Northwest Knox County area at a church, Zion Baptist maybe, withno stone or record, under a oak tree acording to family. He paid a polltax of $2.00 in the 8th district of Anderson Co., TN in 1894 and 1896.The 1896 record says "dead" in the margin. There was no record of himpaying taxes in 1891, 1893 or 1895. His wife Martha Hall was supposed to be full blooded Cerokee. Somefamily said she was "Black Dutch" which is a race now known as Melungeon,people with native american, portuguese, and white blood.--TinaFonseca--Dennis Aslinger

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