The Choate Line

The Choate Line

My Choate line arrived in Casey County with my Grandfather George Christopher Choate.  He moved up to Casey from Jamestown, Fentress County, TN around 1933, at about 22.  He met my grandmother Dorothy Bell Allen soon after, and they eloped on a mule borrowed from her uncle.  They had eight children, including one that died soon after birth.

All my life Grandpa was a deeply religious man.  He was a leader in the community, a veteran of WWII, and an honorary Kentucky Colonel.  But in his time, I understand he had had his share of trouble.

Grandpa was from a rather rambunctious family known for handling trouble and making good whiskey.  My great-uncle Jim Choate told me once of a couple of young men who once stole the family still.  They came at night, loaded it in a truck and drove away.  My grandfather and his brothers gathered the mules and took a short cut down the mountain, waiting in the road, shotguns in hand, when the truck arrived.  The older boys piled in the truck with the thieves, and made the men take the still back and set it up.  Grandpa, being the youngest, had to take the mules back.  The older Choate boys convinced the miscreants that stealing their still was a bad idea.  They also impressed upon them that if anything else happened to the family business, that they would know who did it, and the appropriate action would result.  The still was left alone there after.

While watching "Sergeant York" Grandpa told me he used to deliver to the bar featured in the movie.  It was divided down the middle with Kentucky on one side and Tennessee on the other.  He would take loads of moonshine from the still and travel cross country, avoiding the roads and revenuers to deliver to the local drinking establishments.

Grandpa's parents were Andrew Jackson Choate and Judy Ann Gunter.  Judy was the daughter of the largest store owner in the country.  From what I understand she loved G-Grandpa, but her father didn't care for him.

Through Judy Ann Gunter to her mother Lady Ann Smith to her mother Juda Garrett to her mother Margaret Lovice Flowers to her mother Anna Garret to her father Stephen Burton Garrett to his Mother Susannah Burton, we reach our Burton line.  This line follows back to the knights Sir Burtons and back to Thomas De Burton of Langner Hall Salop England, born in 1250.  The De Burtons first arrived in England with William the Conqueror.

Andrews parents were George Washington Choate and Nina Ann Scroggins.  I have come across a picture of Nina Ann Scroggins and it mentions George Washington Choate was in the Civil War, but no more.  He had several sons that went west, and there were a few Texas Rangers that were his decendents.

George Washington Choate's parents were John Choate and Nancy Tidrow.  John's parents were Christopher Choate and Nancy Pyburn.  Christopher was the first Choate, of my line, to move to Fentress County, TN.

Christopher's parents were Austin Choate and Elizabeth Naomi Pyburn.  I can find no record of Christopher in the Revolution, but his brothers David and Isaac are both documented volunteers, and his brother Squire Thomas was murdered by Tories.  His brother Moses moved to Oklahoma and many Cherokee and Choctaw Choates are his decedents.

Austin's parents were Christopher Choate and Prudence Staley.  Prudence was full blooded Cherokee and her father was Chief Standing Turkey.  I kid you not.  His picture hangs in the Smithsonian.  Christopher was the first Choate to move south out of Maryland to Virginia.

Christopher's parents were Christopher and Flora Susannah Hawkins they were very successful farmers and land owners in Maryland.  At one time they owned a large part of Anne Arundel County.

Christopher's father was Christopher Choate (Christopher has been a very popular name in the Choate family).  He came to America as an indentured servent in 1676.  His father was also Christopher and his mother Jane.  They were from Essex County, England. The family goes back through three more Christopher Choates, all in Essex County.  The farthest of my line was born in 1530.  He had three sons, John, William, and Christopher Choate.