The Henry Earnest Family, a A Biographical Report, by David L. Taylor . TNGenNet Inc. TNGenWeb Project, Autobiographies, Biographies, and Diaries of Our Ancestors.

Henry Earnest’s birth name was Heinrich Ernst. He was born in Dättlikon, Switzerland in 1732, or perhaps 1730. The Wiss Village of Dättlikon lies in the Toes Valley at the foothill of the Alps. The Toes river itself runs into the Rhine and the countryside about the little town bears the typical Rhineland aspect; a surrounding forest of fruit trees, abundant vineyards nearby and yards full of flowers.[13]

The inhabitants were of German origin, descendants of the Alamannen who came into this region in the second and third centuries. In the fifth century, the immigration was particular heavy, perhaps the outstanding tribe was the Swablans, who were being pushed out of what is now Alsace, by the Gauls. Tatto or Tättilo seems to have been the tribal name from which developed the village’s name, Tättilinghovun. In the 15th century, it had become Tättenhof, and Tattenholz was the name for the adjacent forest. Dättlikon is the ultimate form of the name.[43]

In the 7th and 8th centuries, perhaps earlier, Christianity had spread into this land, which became dotted with chapels and churches. The Kloster Toss, a convent, was established here by the Bishop of Kostanz in 1233.

The name Ernst first appears in the records of Dättlikon in the year 1308. The 1318 a census shows that there were approximately 30 Mannlich and 32 Weiblich for a total of 62 adults in the town’s population. In the year 1634, a count shows there were 46 Ernst in Dättlikon, its largest family. Next were the Müllets with 36, 28 Schyurters, 23 Weidmanns, 18 Schmidlis, 13 Klingers. Other names are Kuhn, Crismann, Steiner, Herzog, Hilderbrand, Wahl, Wettstein, Dubendorfer. By 1707, the Ernst numbered 54, the Mullets 71. Popular given names among the Ernsts seemed to have been Hans, Tagli, Heinrich,. Kaspar, Abraham, Uli or Ulich, and Kunrat or Konrad. Heinrich seems to have been the all-time favorite name, a Heini Ernst being mentioned as far back as 1416. Hans Ernst Married Verena Krebser and they became the authenticated line that came to America.[3,18,44]

In the 1740’s the area of Dättlikon was becoming over populated. When work was found, the wage was not enough to support the household. A few families had left a few years earlier for America and some others, including the Ernst family were planning to try the trip.[40] It is recorded by their minister, Pastor Pestalozzi, “that they went contrary to my admonition, preached from the pulpit in a sermon specially devoted therein, and in spite of remonstrances in private.” But he adds sympathetically, “The paternal care of our gracious rulers is Christian, good, necessary, praiseworthy. But along with this, it is no less good and necessary, if one gives to the poor industrious but unemployed people enough work for their necessary sustenance, or otherwise gives them some needy assistance, then they would be glad to remain in their native land.”[17]

Felix and his family departed for America in the Spring of 1743 in spite of his pastor’s warning. The route of travel was no doubt a long hard one, starting down the Toes River to the Rhine River, leaving Switzerland at Basel. The trip up the Rhine, leading to Rotterdam must have taken weeks. Additional time was needed to make connections with Mr. George North, the Master of the ship, ‘Frances and Elizabeth,’ who was making preparation to sail.[39]

The trip to the Isle of Wright, off the south coast of England, to the debarking port of Cowes caused more delays.[2] The passengers were already tired before the rough six to eight week Atlantic crossing.[19] It is believed Felix, Elesbeth and others died during the voyage and were buried at sea. Only passengers who were male and 16 and above were listed (loyalty pledge to the King). Since Henry was only ten years old and Felix died on the trip over, neither are listed as passengers. But Heinrich Weymann and Heinrich Mûller, who left Dättlikon with them are listed. Jacob Wetzstein and Heinrich Bretacher, who had been in the group also obviously died at sea and are not listed.[39] The ship landed at Philadelphia on 30 Aug. 1743[47]

Henry and Anna, his little sister, must have arrived in a devastated state, having just lost their parents. They landed in a strange new world and did not speak the language or know what would happen to them . They were probably turned over to the orphan’s Court. One reference stated the court action between Henry Earnest (or the court in his behalf) and Stephens took place in York County, Virginia.[11 How or where Lawrence Stephens found Henry is unknown. His passage fee may have been paid to Mr. North before the voyage, but more likely, Mr. Stephens paid for his passage over, and bound him out until that was paid to him by Henry.

Anna must have been bound out to some other family at the same time. It has been stated in many places that Anna was never heard from again. In a letter from Joseph R. Earnest, in 1964, he wrote: “I found a statement to the effect that she did grow to adulthood and that the her brother heard of her, she was unmarried and was doing parish work in Virginia. It seems to me that this was supposed to be in Augusta County, but, that was a rather large territory in those days.”

Lawrence Stephens, his benefactor, who interned for his services not only taught him a trade, but gave him a basic education. Henry wrote and signed his own will. Here again, family legend tells how the Stephens became fond of Henry. Mrs. Stephens was about to be confined, the boy was told that if he could fetch a midwife, and if the baby was a girl, he could later have her as his wife. The midwife was found and the baby was a girl. Henry and Mary Stephens were married about 1761, when she was eighteen. Mary is believed to have been born in 1742, but with Henry arriving in 1743, that date might be off a couple of years.

While Henry was waiting for her to grow up, he seems to have engaged in another activity not known to most of the present members of the family. As a young man Henry served in the Colonial Virginia militia in 1854. His name is listed in Colonel George Washington’s Virginia militia as a private in the Company Muster under the command of Captain George Mercer, where he received a salary of two pounds, eight pence.[37] Washington’s force had just taken part in the Battle of Great Meadows, where they had been forced to surrender Fort Necessity to the French and Indians. This was an engagement in what is generally called the French and Indian War. Whether Henry was in Washington’s regiment the following year, when that group took part, a gallant one, in what is called Braddock’s Defeat, we have been unable to learn.[40] Washington at that time was not fighting the British, as he would be two decades later, but was a colonel under the British fighting the French for control of the frontier.

After Henry and Mary were married, they lived near Mary’s family in Newtown, VA. Later (and now) called Stephen’s City. On March 7, 1765 Henry Earnest of Frederick Co.. Conveyed to John Orr for 5 schilling lot No. 45 in the town of Stephensburg. Henry had obtained this lot May 2, 1755, from Lewis Stephens (Mary’s Uncle. The lot being part of a tract of 454 acres to Lewis Stephens from Peter Stephens, (Mary’s Grandfather) part of a greater tract of 674 granted by patent to Peter Stephens 3 Oct. 1734. Wits: John Allen, Daniel Bush.[1]

Henry Earnest is said to have left Frederick Co. with his family in 1769. About 1771, his name appears on a tax list in Lincoln Co. NC. TN. Henry was in Washington Co., NC at the time of Lawrence Stephens, Mary father’s death in 1776. Later Washington Co., NC became Washington Co. TN, then in 1883, Greene County was formed from Washington. One source says in April 1777, “When Henry Earnest became a pioneer in Greene Co., but one family was west of him on the North side of Unaka Mt. They had to depend on the forts for safety to avoid massacre by the Indians.”[4,14]

Henry built a home on the banks of the Nolachucky river near Chucky. The house has become known, as “Earnest Fort House,” because in times of stress and strain with Indians, early settlers would gather there for protection. It is an imposing three-story built around 1784. The first story is of stone, and the upper stories are of log. It is finished with an imposing stone chimney, and is one of the oldest and most impressive houses in the State of Tennessee. [21] There, Henry and His wife, Mary lived the remaining years of their lives. The home today, is a historical land mark and will be maintained by Henry and Mary’s descendants as a nonprofit corporation. There is hope the house may become a museum, but it will be preserved for a remembrance of a remarkable family and as part of our national heritage.[4]

The twenty five years Henry lived in Greene Co., he served his community in many capacities. His name is in the county records many times over: 1783-4 being appointed assessor for the fourth District, in 1784 on a jury: State vs. John Hammond, 1786 Hawthorn vs. Harrison, the same year appointed Justice of the Peace.[15] He served on a Grand Jury in 1791, 1793, 1795 & 1796.[26,27] No proof of Henry’s participation in the actual fighting in the Revolution exists. But he qualifies as a patriot. It’s been stated: “The intense loyalty of these pioneers to the American cause made this section extremely uncomfortable for Tory sympathizers.”

Numerous land records concerning Henry have been found in Greene Co. TN.[31] On 18 Nov. 10, 1784 Henry Earnest received from the State of NC grant No. 659 for 600 acres priced at 50 shillings for every 100 a. land lying and being in the county of Washington on the South side of the Nolichuckey River on a corner touching Alex. Ervin. This grant is recorded in Book III p. 84, Greene Co. TN.[32] Earnest had applied for this land while it was still a part of the parent county of North Carolina in 1777.

On these 600 acres Henry was a successful farmer growing corn, wheat, hay, etc. There were also swine, cattle, and horses raised on the farm. The land continued to be very productive, and this settlement where they lived was for many years was called “Earnestville,“ and the farm became known as “Elmwood Farm.“[5]

“There is an Historical Marker on a roadside in Greene Co. which reads: “EBENEZER” “1-½ miles south, the first Methodist Society in Tennessee was organized here in 1790. The family of Henry Earnest who settled here in 1777, by the 1800’s, comprised four-fifths of the membership. The annual convention of the Western Conference was held at the church and at the near by Stone-Dam Campground in 1795 was nearby.”[8,14,167]

In 1792, Ebenezer Church, was built on Earnest’s land, being located in one of the most picturesque spots in Greene County. Established high on a bluff overlooking the Nolichuckey River, the original house of worship was built of logs. Six sessions of the Holston Conference were held there, the first on April 27, 1795. Felix Earnest entertained most of the preachers at his home, among them was Bishop Asbury.[16] Asbury frequently made reference in his ‘Journal’ of the hospitality of this family.[7,8,26] The popularity of the church was illustrated by an early book that states; “Friday 5th Rode to Nolichucky, and attended a meeting at Squire Henry Earnest’s where I had about two hundred hearers.”[41] We have formed a society in this place of thirty-one members- most of them new. In 1806 the land that the church was built on was donated from Henry’s property by Felix, his son, to the Ebenezer Church.[22,25]

“The establishment of this Society was an important event in Holston Methodist history. It became a flourishing Church, and exerted a great influence in East Tennessee. The Earnest family has been financially, socially, and religiously one of the most prominent families in the State of Tennessee.”[42, 7]

Fittingly, Henry Earnest and his wife, Mary Stephens, are buried there. Their tombstones read: Henry Earnest born 1732; died March 6, 1809, Mary Earnest born 1742; died August 1838.[34] A new double granite marker has been placed in front of the two old marble ones and on this Mary’s name is given as Mary Stephens. Henry’s will was dated, February 5, 1808 mention all the children except Lawrence and Jacob, who were well established and had received some property prior to Henry’s death.[28]