Mary (Polly) Crockett A Legend in Her Own Right

Many stories have been written and Hollywood movies made about the life of David Crockett, but very little has been recorded about his first wife Mary Finley of Jefferson County, Tennessee. It is often said behind every successful man is an enterprising woman and the Crockett family was no exception. Mary was born on January 4, 1788. She was the fourth of seven children and the first of two daughters born to William and Jean Kennedy Finley. Mary’s father nicknamed her Polly. She was born in what is now East Tennessee. The year 1788 was a great year to be born in America. It was the year the Constitution was ratified and George Washington was elected our first President. She was also born in the proposed State of Franklin, which of course did not succeed in actually becoming a state. In many respects Polly Finley was born the year thirteen independent states became the United States of America. Polly’s early childhood was very typical of the frontier family life. She was raised on a homestead in a log cabin. Families in the area lived far apart but there were still primitive schools and churches. Most family get together were for church activities, barn building, and for harvesting crops. Harvest time also included evening parties and afforded the young folks the opportunity to meet one another. It was at one of these harvest gatherings that Polly met David Crockett, a resident of nearby Greene County. It was love at first sight for Polly and she married David one year later on August 12, 1806 in her parent’s home. She was 18 years old. The Crocketts lived in East Tennessee for several years, then moved to Southern Middle Tennessee; first in present day Moore County and then to Franklin County. It was while they lived in Southern Tennessee that the Creek Indian War and War of 1812 started. David volunteered for the conflicts leaving Polly at home to raise two children with another on the way. Polly lived all her life in Tennessee. She died in the early spring of 1815 in Franklin County shortly after her third child was born. She was 27 years old. Polly Crockett embodied the frontier woman’s spirit. When her husband was away fighting for his country, Polly was left at home in the wilderness with the awesome tasks of safeguarding their children, tending the livestock, farming and foraging for food, and keeping the home fires burning. The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce’s Polly Crockett Festival is more about the spirit of this frontier lady than about the wife of the famous Tennessean. Mary (Polly) Finley Crockett is a legend in her own right. Steve Pearson, Franklin County Historical Society FESTIVAL

ASCEND FEDERAL CREDIT UNION LODGE CAST IRON ISWA: REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE CITIZENSCOMMUNITY FRANKLIN COUNTY UNITED BANK BANK SERNICOLA’S THE FRANKLIN-PEARSON HOUSE DR. JAMES EXTINE

TRIGREEN EQUIPMENT COWAN POLICE DEPARTMENT FRANKLIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT GOLF CART SALES & SERVICE COWAN FIRE DEPARTMENT CUSTOM DESIGNS FRANKLIN FARMERS CO-OP CITY OF WINCHESTER RURAL METRO SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS CAMP #72 WINCHESTER UTILITIES FRANKLIN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL INTERACT CLUB UNITED DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY CHAPTER #327 WZYX HUNTLAND HIGH SCHOOL INTERACT CLUB AP STEWART CHAPTER 1411 TENNESSEE NATIONAL GUARD FRANKLIN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADERS DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY UNITED STATES ARMY PETER TURNEY CHAPTER 1927 COUNTRY BARN CONSTRUCTION PO Box 280 / 44 Chamber Way FESTIVAL ATTRACTIONS Winchester, TN 37398 Artisan, Crafters ··················· Friday @ 12:00 noon through Sunday at 4:00 pm 931-967-6788 FRIDAY www.franklincountychamber.com Crafters Arrive ··············································· 12:00 noon [email protected] Radio X @ Polly’s Stage ····································· 3:30 pm Rumor Has It @ Polly’s Stage ··························· 4:00 pm Skeeter Drain @ Polly’s Stage ·························· 5:00 pm Free Movie “King of The Wild Frontier” ··········· 7:00 pm “ BEHIND EVERY GOOD MAN IS AN ENTERPRISING SATURDAY WOMAN!” OPENING CEREMONIES WITH SPECIAL GUESTS, OFFICIAL SKILLET TOSS & OTHER ACTIVITIES CANONS FIRE ·························································································· 9:00 am FESTIAL OPENS ·························································································· 9:00 am DAVY’S CREATE & TAKE ························································· 9:00 am-6:00 pm  Arnold Air Force Base & ATA/Aerospace Testing Alliance: Rocket Launch Build & Contest  Home Depot: Wood Crafts  Interlocal Solid Waste Authority: Crafts with Recycled Materials POLLY’S FUN & GAMES ··························································· 9:00 am - 6:00 pm LIVING HISTORY ····································································· 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Storytelling, Antique Sewing Machine Displays, Military Uniform Display, Reenactment, Cannoneers, Civil War Surgeon and Book Signings DAVY’S CORNHOLE COMPETITION Behind Davy’s Stage ·· 9:00 am - 6:00 pm DAVY CROCKETT CALABOOSE: SHERIFF TIM FULLER ··· 9:00 am - 6:00 pm $5 to issue arrest warrant for lockup in Davy’s Calaboose. $2 Bond Fee for Davy’s Bear Protection Program Immunity Button FREE MONEY DIG ····································································· 9:00 am—4:00 pm Kids 48 inches & under. Dig for loot and redeem for cash! Radio X Band @ Davy’s Stage (Pick & Play Session) ············· 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Cody Keel @ Polly’s Stage ··········································································· 9:30 am DAVY’S DUNKING BOOTH ············································ 10:00 am—4:00 pm Roger Guess: 10:00 am, Jim Parrish 10:30 am, Kevin Lockmiller 11:00 am Mike Danley 11:30 am, Senator Eric Stewart 12:00 noon, Brian Daniels 12:30 pm, Phil Young 1:00pm, Charles Spaulding 1:30 pm, Mark Ledbetter 2:00 pm, Franklin County Sheriff’s Department 2:30 pm, SKILLET TOSS COMPETITION Across from Polly’s Stage 10:00 am—11:00 am Guys & Gals Clogging @ Polly’s Stage ······················································· 9:45 am Franklin County Cloggers @ Polly’s Stage ·············································· 10:30 am Julie Taylor @ Polly’s Stage ······································································ 11:15 am Wayne Sinard @ Polly’s Stage ·································································· 11:45 am CANNONS FIRE ···················································································· 12:00 noon Class Act: Sunny’s Dance Studio @ Polly’s Stage ································· 12:30 pm Good Shepherd Jazz Band @ Polly’s Stage ··············································· 1:00 pm LIVE DEMONSTRATIONS ·································································· 1:00-4:00 pm Janie Lovett: Falls Mill Spinning Wheel & Crocia Robertson SKILLET TOSS COMPETITION Across from Polly’s Stage ·· 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm FCHS Cheerleaders & Totally Tumblin’ @ Polly’s Stage ························· 2:00 pm Estill Springers Square Dance @ Polly’s Stage ····································· 2:30 pm Arheala Taylor @ Polly’s Stage ································································ 3:00 pm SKILLET TOSS COMPETITION Across from Polly’s Stage ·· 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Spirit Field @ Polly’s Stage ······································································ 3:45 pm Robert Clarkson @ Polly’s Stage ····························································· 4:15 pm 4 Miles Gone ······························································································ 5:00 pm CANNONS FIRE ························································································· 6:00 pm Sunday FESTIVAL OPENS ·························································································· 11:00 am STORY TELLING @ CABIN ········································································· 11:00 am SKILLET TOSS COMPETITION Across from Polly’s Stage ······· 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm Turkey Creek Ramblers @ Polly’s Stage ················································· 1:15 pm Agape Ministries Choir @ Polly’s Stage ·················································· 2:00 pm CASH WINNER ANNOUNCED @ Polly’s Stage ·············································· 2:00 pm SKILLET TOSS YOUTH COMPETITION Across from Polly’s Stage ·· 3:00 pm The Grace Notes ························································································ 3:00 pm Canaan Land Singers ··············································································· 3:30 pm FESTIVAL CLOSES ··················································································· 4:00 pm PO Box 280 / 44 Chamber Way FESTIVAL ATTRACTIONS Winchester, TN 37398 Artisan, Crafters ··················· Friday @ 12:00 noon through Sunday at 4:00 pm 931-967-6788 FRIDAY www.franklincountychamber.com Crafters Arrive ··············································· 12:00 noon [email protected] Radio X @ Polly’s Stage ····································· 3:30 pm Rumor Has It @ Polly’s Stage ··························· 4:00 pm Skeeter Drain @ Polly’s Stage ·························· 5:00 pm Free Movie “King of The Wild Frontier” ··········· 7:00 pm “ BEHIND EVERY GOOD MAN IS AN ENTERPRISING SATURDAY WOMAN!” OPENING CEREMONIES WITH SPECIAL GUESTS, OFFICIAL SKILLET TOSS & OTHER ACTIVITIES CANONS FIRE ·························································································· 9:00 am FESTIAL OPENS ·························································································· 9:00 am DAVY’S CREATE & TAKE ························································· 9:00 am-6:00 pm  Arnold Air Force Base & ATA/Aerospace Testing Alliance: Rocket Launch Build & Contest  Home Depot: Wood Crafts  Interlocal Solid Waste Authority: Crafts with Recycled Materials POLLY’S FUN & GAMES ··························································· 9:00 am - 6:00 pm LIVING HISTORY ····································································· 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Storytelling, Antique Sewing Machine Displays, Military Uniform Display, Reenactment, Cannoneers, Civil War Surgeon and Book Signings DAVY’S CORNHOLE COMPETITION Behind Davy’s Stage ·· 9:00 am - 6:00 pm DAVY CROCKETT CALABOOSE: SHERIFF TIM FULLER ··· 9:00 am - 6:00 pm $5 to issue arrest warrant for lockup in Davy’s Calaboose. $2 Bond Fee for Davy’s Bear Protection Program Immunity Button FREE MONEY DIG ····································································· 9:00 am—4:00 pm Kids 48 inches & under. Dig for loot and redeem for cash! Radio X Band @ Davy’s Stage (Pick & Play Session) ············· 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Cody Keel @ Polly’s Stage ··········································································· 9:30 am DAVY’S DUNKING BOOTH ············································ 10:00 am—4:00 pm Roger Guess: 10:00 am, Jim Parrish 10:30 am, Kevin Lockmiller 11:00 am Mike Danley 11:30 am, Senator Eric Stewart 12:00 noon, Brian Daniels 12:30 pm, Phil Young 1:00pm, Charles Spaulding 1:30 pm, Mark Ledbetter 2:00 pm, Franklin County Sheriff’s Department 2:30 pm, SKILLET TOSS COMPETITION Across from Polly’s Stage 10:00 am—11:00 am Guys & Gals Clogging @ Polly’s Stage ······················································· 9:45 am Franklin County Cloggers @ Polly’s Stage ·············································· 10:30 am Julie Taylor @ Polly’s Stage ······································································ 11:15 am Wayne Sinard @ Polly’s Stage ·································································· 11:45 am CANNONS FIRE ···················································································· 12:00 noon Class Act: Sunny’s Dance Studio @ Polly’s Stage ································· 12:30 pm Good Shepherd Jazz Band @ Polly’s Stage ··············································· 1:00 pm LIVE DEMONSTRATIONS ·································································· 1:00-4:00 pm Janie Lovett: Falls Mill Spinning Wheel & Crocia Robertson SKILLET TOSS COMPETITION Across from Polly’s Stage ·· 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm FCHS Cheerleaders & Totally Tumblin’ @ Polly’s Stage ························· 2:00 pm Estill Springers Square Dance @ Polly’s Stage ····································· 2:30 pm Arheala Taylor @ Polly’s Stage ································································ 3:00 pm SKILLET TOSS COMPETITION Across from Polly’s Stage ·· 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Spirit Field @ Polly’s Stage ······································································ 3:45 pm Robert Clarkson @ Polly’s Stage ····························································· 4:15 pm 4 Miles Gone ······························································································ 5:00 pm CANNONS FIRE ························································································· 6:00 pm Sunday FESTIVAL OPENS ·························································································· 11:00 am STORY TELLING @ CABIN ········································································· 11:00 am SKILLET TOSS COMPETITION Across from Polly’s Stage ······· 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm Turkey Creek Ramblers @ Polly’s Stage ················································· 1:15 pm Agape Ministries Choir @ Polly’s Stage ·················································· 2:00 pm CASH WINNER ANNOUNCED @ Polly’s Stage ·············································· 2:00 pm SKILLET TOSS YOUTH COMPETITION Across from Polly’s Stage ·· 3:00 pm The Grace Notes ························································································ 3:00 pm Canaan Land Singers ··············································································· 3:30 pm FESTIVAL CLOSES ··················································································· 4:00 pm Mary (Polly) Crockett A Legend in Her Own Right

Many stories have been written and Hollywood movies made about the life of David Crockett, but very little has been recorded about his first wife Mary Finley of Jefferson County, Tennessee. It is often said behind every successful man is an enterprising woman and the Crockett family was no exception. Mary was born on January 4, 1788. She was the fourth of seven children and the first of two daughters born to William and Jean Kennedy Finley. Mary’s father nicknamed her Polly. She was born in what is now East Tennessee. The year 1788 was a great year to be born in America. It was the year the Constitution was ratified and George Washington was elected our first President. She was also born in the proposed State of Franklin, which of course did not succeed in actually becoming a state. In many respects Polly Finley was born the year thirteen independent states became the United States of America. Polly’s early childhood was very typical of the frontier family life. She was raised on a homestead in a log cabin. Families in the area lived far apart but there were still primitive schools and churches. Most family get together were for church activities, barn building, and for harvesting crops. Harvest time also included evening parties and afforded the young folks the opportunity to meet one another. It was at one of these harvest gatherings that Polly met David Crockett, a resident of nearby Greene County. It was love at first sight for Polly and she married David one year later on August 12, 1806 in her parent’s home. She was 18 years old. The Crocketts lived in East Tennessee for several years, then moved to Southern Middle Tennessee; first in present day Moore County and then to Franklin County. It was while they lived in Southern Tennessee that the Creek Indian War and War of 1812 started. David volunteered for the conflicts leaving Polly at home to raise two children with another on the way. Polly lived all her life in Tennessee. She died in the early spring of 1815 in Franklin County shortly after her third child was born. She was 27 years old. Polly Crockett embodied the frontier woman’s spirit. When her husband was away fighting for his country, Polly was left at home in the wilderness with the awesome tasks of safeguarding their children, tending the livestock, farming and foraging for food, and keeping the home fires burning. The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce’s Polly Crockett Festival is more about the spirit of this frontier lady than about the wife of the famous Tennessean. Mary (Polly) Finley Crockett is a legend in her own right. Steve Pearson, Franklin County Historical Society FESTIVAL

ASCEND FEDERAL CREDIT UNION LODGE CAST IRON ISWA: REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE CITIZENSCOMMUNITY FRANKLIN COUNTY UNITED BANK BANK SERNICOLA’S THE FRANKLIN-PEARSON HOUSE DR. JAMES EXTINE

TRIGREEN EQUIPMENT COWAN POLICE DEPARTMENT FRANKLIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT GOLF CART SALES & SERVICE COWAN FIRE DEPARTMENT CUSTOM DESIGNS FRANKLIN FARMERS CO-OP CITY OF WINCHESTER RURAL METRO SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS CAMP #72 WINCHESTER UTILITIES FRANKLIN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL INTERACT CLUB UNITED DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY CHAPTER #327 WZYX HUNTLAND HIGH SCHOOL INTERACT CLUB AP STEWART CHAPTER 1411 TENNESSEE NATIONAL GUARD FRANKLIN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADERS DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY UNITED STATES ARMY PETER TURNEY CHAPTER 1927 COUNTRY BARN CONSTRUCTION