Chapter XI

William Scalf

William Scalf II

William Scalf, son of John Scalf and Edeah Carlisle Scalf, was born about 1805 probably in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Another son named William had been born earlier to John and Edy, however, he had died young. William was removed from his home in 1820 by a court order. It seems William's father, John Scalf, Sr., had become indebted to one Stephen Gose in Russell County, Virginia. Gose had his friend, John Smythe, Overseer of the Poor for Russell County, write a letter recommending that several of William's brothers in addition to William be apprenticed. This recommendation was made on the basis of alleged unfit conditions in the John Scalf, Sr. home. There is no record to indicate that any one of the Scalf children was actually taken out of the home with the exception of William who was removed and bound out to Gose. In some way, William's father found him and took him home prompting a court action which followed in which Gose charged John Scalf, Sr. in court for unlawfully taking William from his possession. John Scalf, Sr. was acquitted. William died sometime between January 6, 1844 and July 17, 1845. As he was born about 1805; this would put his age at nearly 40 when he died. William probably died in Hawkins County, Tennessee. On January 6, 1844 William Scalf and James Trent witnessed a deed in Hawkins County for the sale of a tract of land along the Clinch River. This area was later included in Hancock County when that county was formed in 1844. In this deed, Alexander Trent sold a parcel of land to John Scalf, Jr. who was William's older brother. The author, after studying all available records, believes William Scalf did marry before he died sometime in 1844 or early 1845. From the previously mentioned deed, it is apparent that William was closely associated with the Trent family. It is the opinion of this writer that the Matilda Scalf who married Zachariah Trent on February 12, 1850 in Claiborne County, Tennessee was the daughter of William Scalf. It is also the opinion of the author that, the Tebitha Scalf who married Cornelius Trent in Claiborne County on January 6, 1854 was the daughter of William Scalf. There were probably other children as well including Hannah Scalf and Benjamin Scalf

Children of William Scalf (wife unknown)
    Matilda Scalf m. Zachariah Trent (2-12-1850 Claiborne Co., Tn.)
    Tebitha Scalf m. Cornelius Trent (1-6-1854 Claiborne Co., Tn.)
    Hannah E. Scalf m. John Croffon (1866 Hawkins Co., Tn.)
    Bennie Scalf (D. 1932, Hawkins Co., Tn.)