Current Surname

The Current name is supposed to be Scottish or Irish in origin. I am not aware of its linguistic origin or translation. The name has been a rather difficult line to trace. This is in part because of the fact that it is the same as a common word in the English language (which makes internet searching quite a challenge).

The earliest Currents in our family line were in North Carolina in the late 1700's and any connection to earlier Currents is entirely speculation. In a branch of Current family we may be related to, there is story that there were three Cannon brothers of Scotch-Irish origin who moved to Maryland together in the mid 1700's. It is not known if that story is true, but there were several different Current families in Maryland during this time period whom we may be related to. I believe that our John Current was either the son of Martin and Matilda Current or Hugh and Ann Current (both couples lived in the same general area and were about the same age.)

Hugh Current was born circa 1720's. He died after 1764 in Maryland.

We know hardly anything about this generation of Currents. They were living in Montgomery Co., Maryland at one point and in Frederick Co., Maryland in 1760 and 1764.

They had at least the following children:

1	John Current
2	Tabitha Current was born on February 17, 1760 in Frederick Co., Maryland.
3	Lydia Current was born on November 23, 1764 in Frederick Co., Maryland.

John Current was born probably between 1755 and 1765 in either Virginia, Maryland or North Carolina. He died before October 15, 1829 in Iredell Co., North Carolina ².

Father: Hugh Current
Mother: Ann

Warning: The identity of John's parents is not known. The possibility of Hugh and Ann Current being his parents is presented as the best educated guess. The same general geographic location and time frame (Maryland c. 1760's) and the continued use of two relatively uncommon names (Hugh and Tabitha) makes this connection seem so likely. Proceed with caution. More research is needed.)

We know nothing of his parentage or place of origin. Some have posited that he was the son of James and Margaret Current (of Maryland and later West Virginia), yet that was not the case. John was probably either the son of Martin and Matilda Current who were in Dorchester Co., Maryland in the early 1760's or of Hugh and Ann Current who lived in Prince George's Co., Maryland during the same time. (Note that John named two of his children: Hugh and Matilda).

As a youth in the late 1770's or early 1780's John came by himself to central North Carolina, which may have had something to do with the American Revolution (perhaps he served in the war?) where he was married to Susannah Remington in 1782. They settled in a part of Rowan County that became Iredell County in 1788 where they apparently spent the rest of their lives. In the IGI, there is a baptismal record for a Mary Current, daughter of John and Susanna Current, baptized on November 14, 1787 in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Frederick Co., Maryland. Apparently this child was born on May 14, 1786 (according to IGI). At this same location in 1787, a Sarah Current was married to William Worselick. (Could she have been John's sister?). They may have traveled back to their hometowns of Maryland to baptize their child, but there is no proof. They were in Iredell Co., North Carolina by 1790, and remained there. If Mary Current was their daughter, she had died by this time. John died sometime before October 15, 1829, the date that his estate was inventoried. His wife Susannah appears to have died during the 1820's.

If her husband came from Maryland, then Susannah may have been from there as well. She was probably the sister of a Richard Remington, who married in 1784 in Iredell Co., North Carolina, and died there in 1791.

1	Hugh Current was born circa 1783 in Rowan (now Iredell) Co., North Carolina. He died after 1840. He married Sarah circa 1805 in Iredell Co., North Carolina. (She was born circa 1792 in North Carolina. She died after 1850.) Hugh served in the War of 1812 out of North Carolina. He and his wife had no children. He probably died during the 1840's, but he may have been the Hugh Current in 1850 in Greene Co., Tennessee.
2	Unknown male Current was born circa 1785 in Rowan (now Iredell) Co., North Carolina. This child died between 1790 and 1800 in Iredell Co., North Carolina.
3	John Current was born circa 1787 in Rowan (now Iredell) Co., North Carolina 5. He died before December 12, 1865 in Iredell Co., North Carolina 3. He married Sarah Litton circa 1812 in Iredell Co., North Carolina. (She was born circa June 1790 in North Carolina 6. She died on April 23, 1856 in Iredell Co., North Carolina 6.) He had the following children: Sarah Current (c. 1813-1870's) md. Franklin Gatton Elizabeth Current (c. 1816-???) Alford Current (1817-1896) md. Elizabeth A. Eubanks unknown female Current (c. 1819-???) John C. Current (1821-1912) md. Armond Pope Matilda Current (c. 1823-???) md. ??? Wooten unknown female Current (c. 1825-???) Elvira Current (c. 1826-???) md. John O. Wooten Hannah D. Current (c. 1832-???) md. W.R. Moore Andrew Jackson Current (c. 1836-1862) md. June S. Renshaw Francis M. Current (c. 1839-1862) md. Clementine
4	Unknown female Current was born circa 1790 in Iredell Co., North Carolina. She died after 1820. This daughter's name may have been either Sarah or Susannah.
5	Andrew Current
6	Tabitha Current was born circa 1795 in Iredell Co., North Carolina 5. She died after 1860 in Wilkes Co., North Carolina. She married Warning Wallace circa 1812 in Iredell Co., North Carolina. (He was born circa 1790 in Wake Co., North Carolina 5. He died between 1850 and 1860 in Wilkes Co., North Carolina.) She had the following children: Hugh Current Wallace (c. 1814-???) md. Sarah M. unknown female Wallace (c. 1816-???) unknown female Wallace (c. 1818-???) unknown male Wallace (c. 1821-???) Andrew F. Wallace (c. 1823-???) md. Sarah J. Harriet Wallace (c. 1827-???) William Wallace (c. 1828-???) Tabitha Wallace (c. 1829-???) Catharine Wallace (c. 1831-???) J. F. Wallace (c. 1832-???) Milus D. Wallace (c. 1835-???) md. Barbra E. Robbins Richard H. Wallace (c. 1837-1865) md. Catherine Warren Martha Wallace (c. 1839-???)
7	Matilda Current was born circa 1795 in Iredell Co., North Carolina 5. She died between 1860 and 1870 in Overton Co., Tennessee. Tabitha married William Hayes circa 1820 in Iredell Co., North Carolina. (He died between 1827 and 1850.) She had the following children: Adeline Hayes (c. 1822-???) Joseph Washington Hayes (1825-1912) md. Ann Howard Grant Solomon Lee Hayes (c. 1827-???) md. Elizabeth Anderson Arta Hayes (c. 1833-???) Calvin Hayes (c. 1834-???)

Andrew Current was born circa 1793 in Iredell Co., North Carolina. He died between 1840 and 1850 in Iredell Co., North Carolina.

Father: John Current
Mother: Susannah Remington

Andrew spent his entire life in Iredell County, North Carolina and was born in about 1793. He married, probably in the mid 1810's, to a woman named Elizabeth. Andrew was a farmer of some sort and apparently was never very successful or wealthy. He participated in the sale of his father's estate in 1829 and purchased a bible, a howel, a chisel, a handsaw, a hand axe, a loom, 2 hats, a cotton pack, a bull, a colt, 68 bushels of corn, a stack of fodder, as well as $45.50 in property given to him by his father before his death.

Andrew died during the 1840's and in 1850 his wife was listed as head of household. Nothing further is known of Andrew. He and his wife left no estate records in Iredell County, North Carolina. Most of their children appear to have moved away from Iredell County after 1850.

Elizabeth was the daughter of John Allen Wallace and Sarah Granger of Iredell Co., North Carolina. There is no documentation that Elizabeth, wife of Andrew Current was their daughter. But, there is record that their daughter Elizabeth was married to someone named Current, and since the only Currents in Iredell County were our family, every other possibility can be eliminated. Also, Andrew Current's sister Tabitha Current was married to Elizabeth Wallace's brother Warren/Warning Wallace.

Aside from this, there is also no direct proof that Elizabeth Wallace was the mother of Andrew Current's children. She was his widow and head of household in 1850, and could theoretically have been a second wife.

1	Unknown female Current was born circa 1817 in Iredell Co., North Carolina. She died after 1830.
2	Unknown female Current was born circa 1819 in Iredell Co., North Carolina. She died after 1830.
3	Alpheus Current was born circa 1824 in Iredell Co., North Carolina 5. He died between 1880 and 1900, probably in Kentucky or Tennessee. Alpheus married Margaret H. Pool before 1860 in South Carolina. (She was born circa 1827 in South Carolina 5. She died after 1900.) He had the following children: John Andrew Current (1860-1930) md. Susan Elizabeth Current Coleman W. Current (1863-1910's) md. Mary Jane Lisenbee Alpheus was a farmer. In 1860, he was living with his family in Spartanburg Co., South Carolina. In 1870, they were in Jefferson Co., Tennessee. In 1880, they were in Christian Co., Kentucky. In 1900, Alpheus' widow was living with their son John in Montgomery County, Tennessee.
4	Sarah Current was born circa 1824 in Iredell Co., North Carolina 5. She died after 1850.
5	Martha Current was born in September 1827 in Iredell Co., North Carolina 5. She died after 1900 in Lincoln Co., North Carolina. Martha married Christopher Sherrill on June 11, 1854 in Catawba Co., North Carolina 7. (He was born in July 1833 in North Carolina 5. He died after 1900.) She had the following children: Marcus A. Sherrill (c. 1855-???) Lena Sherrill (c. 1861-1880's) md. John R. Queen Salome Sherrill (c. 1866-???) In 1860, they were living in Catawba Co., NC and by 1870 had settled near Ironton in Lincoln Co., NC, where they remained. Her husband was a farmer.
6	Hugh Andrew Current
7	William Cranshaw Current was born in January 1834 in Iredell Co., North Carolina 5. He died on December 30, 1908 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 8. He is buried in the Liberty Cumberland Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. He married Emma A. Brown circa 1865. (She was born on April 13, 1844 in North Carolina 8. She died on May 18, 1893 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 8. She is buried in the Liberty Cumberland Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.) They had the following children: Caddie Enette Current (1866-1925) md. John W. Lisenbee Susan Elizabeth Current (1870-1948) md. John Andrew Current [ABOVE] Andrew Brown Current (1872-1941) md. 1st. Tennessee Alice Robbins md. 2nd. Minerva Tippett Walsa William Waldo Current (1874-1897) Alpheus Alexander Current (1877-1946) Lela Current (1879-1916) md. William C. Cooksey Bessie Current (1883-1954) md. James Taylor Smith He and his family were near Monticello, Drew Co., Arkansas in 1870, then in Lincoln Co., Arkansas in 1880. In the 1880's they settled near New Providence in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. William was a farmer. He and his wife are buried in the Liberty Cumberland Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. His tombstone lists the birth date January 1, 1832, although he was actually born in 1834.
8	Elizabeth Current was born circa 1838 in Iredell Co., North Carolina 5. She died after 1850.

Hugh Andrew Current was born on October 13, 1832 in Iredell County, North Carolina 9. He died on May 11, 1911 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 9,11. He is buried in the Sango Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. Father: Andrew Current Mother: Elizabeth Wallace Sometime during the 1840's, Hugh's father died and it seems that sometime during the 1850's, most of Hugh's remaining family either died or moved away from North Carolina. Sometime between 1850 and 1859, Hugh moved himself west and settled in Montgomery County, Tennessee, in north-central Tennessee, close to the border with Kentucky. Hugh was married there to Miss Elizabeth Halliburton in 1859. They began living on a farm near her parents' at what is now the community of Sango. Hugh was primarily a farmer, but in 1860 his occupation was listed as carpenter and in 1880 his occupation was listed as chair maker. He owned a furniture (chair) store somewhere in the vicinity of Clarksville. An additional source indicates that Hugh was the "successful owner of a printing supply business." The 1860's and 1870's must have been a difficult time for Hugh, which is when his wife and three of his young children had died (as well as a number of in-laws.) His second marriage to Margaret Long Peterson was probably brought about out of necessity, since his young children needed a mother to care for them. Sometime between 1870 and 1880, Hugh moved with his family from the rural Sango area (District 11) to a home in what is now the city of Clarksville (District 12). Hugh built a large brick house at what is now the intersection of Current Street and Riverside Drive, although it is unclear when he or his family lived there. In 1900, Hugh was boarding at 110 2nd Street in Clarksville where and was working as a preacher (Baptist? Presbyterian?). Sometime between 1900 and 1910, he moved in with his youngest daughter Cordie Caroland, who lived northwest of Clarksville at the community of Ringgold. Hugh probably died there. Hugh married first to Elizabeth Grant Halliburton on March 31, 1859 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 11,12.

1	Franklin Current was born circa March 1860 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 5. He died between 1860 and 1865 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee.
2	Elizabeth Current was born on May 8, 1861 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 11. She died on February 19, 1937 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee 11. Elizabeth "Lizzie" never married. She worked as a clerk in a dry goods store.
3	David Halliburton Current was born on March 3, 1863 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 10. He died on July 16, 1915 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 10,13. He is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. He married Blanche B. Hunt on May 30, 1891 in Davidson Co., Tennessee 7. (She was born on December 15, 1864 in Kentucky 10. She died on November 1, 1946 10. She is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.) David and Blanche only had one child that died in infancy. David was a clothing tailor. I am also distantly related to David's wife Blanche Hunt. She was the granddaughter of John J. Hunt, who can be found here. That would make Blanche the second cousin once removed of Louetha Jones, the wife of David's nephew Newell Brown.
4	Esther Frances Current was born on July 3, 1864 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 9. She died on July 16, 1865 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 9. She is buried in the Sango Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. Esther is supposed to have been the first burial in the Sango Cemetery. She apparently died while visiting her grandparents and was buried there, which necessitated the creation of a cemetery.
5	Dora Current was born on December 11, 1865 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 11. She died on April 20, 1934 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee 11. Dora never married.
6	Georgia Current
7	Cordelia Ann Current was born on January 15, 1869 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 11. She died on July 19, 1938 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee 11. She was buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. Cordelia married Jefferson Crittendon Caroland on February 17, 1892 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee 11. (He was born on February 2, 1861 in Woodlawn, Montgomery Co., Tennessee 11. He died on April 18, 1931 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee 11. He is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.) They had the following children: Kathleen Caroland (1893-1920) md. Richard Thurman Martin Clay Redman Caroland (1895-1966) md. Ann Loving Morrison Jefferson Crittendon Caroland (1906-???) md. ??? Rogers Russell Caroland (1906-1963) md. Ann Jones She was called "Cordie."
8	Frances Current was born on June 17, 1870 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 9. She died on January 1, 1878 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 9. She is buried in the Sango Cemetery, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. She was called "Fannie."

5th Generation: Georgia Current was born in May 1867 in Montgomery County, Tennessee (see below). She died on April 8, 1910 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee 15,16. She is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee. Father: Hugh Andrew Current Mother: Elizabeth Grant Halliburton The only two known sources which reveal birth information for Georgia are the 1900 census (May 1868) and her tombstone (1867). Her death certificate does not list a date of birth, but records that she was 42 years old at the time of her death (which would indicate she was born between April 1867 and April 1868.) Georgia was only 6 years old when her mother passed away. She was raised with her father and step-mother on their farm near the town of Woodford in Montgomery Co., Tennessee. After her marriage to C.C. Brown in 1894, she lived with him on a farm southeast of Clarksville, Tennessee. In 1901, Georgia and her family moved to Duarte, California, for the benefit of C.C.'s health, but they did not like it there. In 1902 they returned to Montgomery Co., Tennessee, and purchased an elegant home from B.F. McKeage. Here, Georgia and C.C. spent the remainder of their lives. Although in their time it was outside of the city of Clarksville it is today within the city's limits. Georgia was a model citizen, wife, woman and mother. She was raised as a Baptist and retained her religious beliefs and affiliations, even after her marriage to a Presbyterian. Sadly, Georgia developed pneumonia, and died from the effects of this disease on April 1, 1910 at her home near Clarksville, Montgomery County, Tennessee, at the age of 42. She and her husband are both buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Tennessee. Georgia married to Christopher Columbus Brown on December 20, 1894 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee 18.

For information on their children, see his page.

1. North Carolina Marriages to 1825, Ancestry.com
2. Estate papers of John Current, 1829, Iredell Co., NC
3. Estate papers of John Current, 1865, Iredell Co., NC
4. Estate papers of Sarah Current, 1856, Iredell Co., NC
5. Assorted US Federal census records
6. Current family file, Genealogical Society of Iredell County
7. International Genealogical Index
8. Cemetery index, Liberty Cumberland Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Montgomery Co., TN
9. Tombstone Inscriptions, Sango Cemetery, Montgomery Co., TN
10. Tombstone Inscriptions, Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., TN
11. Rutherford, William K. and Anna C. Genealogical History of the Halliburton Family. Privately Printed, 1972
12. Tennessee Marriages, 1851-1900, Ancestry.com
13. Tennessee Death Index
14. Obituary of Christopher C. Brown, Clarksville Leaf Chronicle, October 11, 1938
15. Death Certificate of Georgia Brown, 1910, Montgomery Co., TN
16. Obituary of Georgia Brown, Clarksville Leaf Chronicle, April 8, 1910
17. Social Security Death Index
18. Marriage records, Montgomery Co., TN