53. David "Tinker Dave"
Beaty(1) was born on 19 Feb 1817
in Boatland, Fentress County, Tn.(2)
He died on 22 Aug 1876 in Boatland, Fentress County, Tn, Beaty-Lacey Cemetery.
Captain David Beaty, known as Tinker, was born near Boatland, TN, in 1820,
and lived in the Glenobey Community during the Civil War. According to reports
General Hawk came to Fentress County in 1860, and organized a company of men
and elected Tinker Dave as Captain. Later, the men became known as Independent
Scouts. Their purpose was to protect the mountain community from invasion by
the Confederates. According to Mr. Stevens, President Andrew Johnson invited
Beaty to Washington at the close of the War. After the war, Beaty took up farming
and lived peacefully until his death in 1876. He was buried in the family cemetery
on his farm. The photograph of Beaty was taken when he was about 40 years old.
Tinker Dave's band was one of a half dozen to operate in this territory during
the Civil War. On the Union side was Tinker Dave's Scouts, Dowd's Men and the
Wolf Gang. On the Confederate side was Champ Ferguson, Hughes Company, and Scott
Bledsoes Company.
Hogue Relates Tale of War of Tinker Beaty, by the LFentress County Leader Times,
about 1965
Tinker Beaty was one of the most famous men in Fentress County, who participated
in the Civil War (1861-18165). He was Captain of a company of men who were enrolled
as "David Beaty's Independent Scouts". The services of the company
were recognized through the war by union commanders, and about 1872 by the Congress
of the United States. Many members of the company were placed on the pension
roll of the government. Tinker Beaty was the Captain of the Company of Home
Guards during the War. Home Guards wee provided for to an act of Congress.
In every country in the United States, Yankee Counties had Yankee Guards. Rebel
Counties had Rebel Home Guards.
My cousin, Judge John R. Hogue, late of Overton County, a native of Fentress
Country and a son of Vard Hogue, lived near Tinker Beaty, and was at the home
of Captain Beaty in his last moments. The final illness of Calptain Beaty lasted
for several days. He retained his mind and memory until the end. His last thoughts
and his last words were about the company he commanded. He said that he and
his company had a bad reputation, but that they did not deserve it. He said
he was not afraid to die and that he realized his time was up and that he was
ready to go. He said that he never robbed nor stolen during the war or at any
other time. He said that he had never harmed anybody and that he had always
fought in self-defense, and that some of his men did things they should not have
done and of which he did not approve. His company was organized to protect the
women and children and the homes of the people and was used for that purpose.
Within twenty minutes after the conclusion of this statement, he was dead.
He was married to Avey Collier (daughter of David Collier)
in 1839 in Boatland, Fentress County, Tn. Avey Collier
(1) was born on 11 Mar 1820 in Boatland,
Fentress County, Tn. She died on 22 Feb 1893 in Boatland, Fentress County, Tn.
David "Tinker Dave" Beaty and Avey Collier had the following children:
+127 i.
Charlotte Jane Beaty.
+128 ii.
James M. Beaty.
+129 iii.
Clairborne Beaty.
+130 iv.
Harvey Beaty.
+131 v.
John Flemming Beaty.
+132 vi.
William Jones Beaty.
133 vii.
Collier Beaty(1) was born on 21
Mar 1861 in Boatland, Fentress County, Tn. He died on 26 Dec 1937 in Boatland,
Fentress County, Tn.
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