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John M. Bridgman was born November 14, 1789, in Henrico County, Virginia. He was the son of Franklin Bridgman and his first wife (name unknown).
John appears on the 1810 Wythe County, Virginia census with his family. He was shown to be a male 16-25 years old.
John was shown as a tithable with his father on the 1810 Wythe County personal property tax list.
John migrated to Tennessee about 1811.
Military records show that John joined the East Tennessee Militia at Washington, Rhea County, Tennessee during the War of 1812, where he served as a Sergeant. He was discharged May 14, 1814 after serving four months and eleven days.
John was in Campbell County, Tennessee in December 1815, when he gave a power of attorney to collect any payments due him for his military service.
John married Lavenia Cox at Bridgman's Mill, in Knox County, Tennessee. Lavenia Cox, born October 5, 1794, in Tennessee, was the daughter of Joab Cox and Margaret Wilhite.
John settled in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, where he appeared in the Bledsoe County court records in 1818, as a Commissioner for the town of Pikeville. Court records indicate that John bought and sold thousands of acres of land between the years 1818 and 1847. He also bought and sold a number of slaves between 1821 and 1837.
John was elected to the House of Representatives for Bledsoe County, for the 13th General Assembly in 1819-1821.
John was the administrator of the Estate of his sister Martha David
who died in May 1827. The following was filed in
Campbell County, Tennessee Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions:
Know all men by
these presents that I, John Bridgman of the County of Bledsoe,
Tenn. hereby nominate, constitute and appoint Joseph Hart of the Town
of Jacksboro, Tenn. my true and lawful attorney to use all lawful
means in collecting the debts of Martha David, deceased by
attachment or warrant and to receive receipts for all moneys may come
to his hands in my name and administration of the said Martha David
as I myself was personally present except receiving claims due by
sd estate. Given under my hand and seal this 11th day of
Sept. 1827.
J. Bridgman (Seal)
Admr. of the Estate of
Martha David, Deceased
Witness:
Sampson David
Caleb M. David
State of
Tennessee
)
Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions
Campbell
County
)
Sept. 12th 1827
The following was filed in Campbell County, Tennessee Court of Pleas
and Quarter Sessions (pgs. 76-77):
Know all men by
these presents that we John Bridgman & Mary Fortner legal
heirs of Martha David, Deceased having jointly agreed to
sell to the highest bidder one certain tract or parcel of land
whereon Richard D. Wheeler now lives containing 129 acres also
two entrys made in the name of Elisha Thomas one for 50 and
one for 31 acres on which there is not grants come out do hereby
covenant, promise and agree jointly as aforesaid to release,
rellinquish and forever Quit Claim the three above parcels of land to
the said Elisha Thomas, he also being one of the above heirs,
and to his heirs and assigns forever for the sum of $486.00 to us
paid etc. by his several promissory notes, each bearing equal date,
with these presents. Given under our hands etc.
this 4th day of Sept. 1827.
Sampson
David
J. Bridgman (Seal)
Moses
Simpson
John McCracken (Seal)
James Chandler (Seal)
Benjamin H. Wheeler (Seal)
Wm. Bridgman (Seal)
Mary Fortner (Seal)
State of
Tennessee)
Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions
Campbell
County
)
16th Sept. 1827
Execution of the
within Deed of Relinquishment etc this day proven in open Court.
Test: Jo Hart Clk.
John continued to remain active in politics after his time in the House of Representatives and was a leader of the Whig party in Bledsoe County through the 1840's.
John died October
8, 1847, at Pikeville, Bledsoe County, Tennessee.
Lavenia died in 1867, at Pikeville. They are
probably buried in the Pikeville Cemetery, where a number of their
descendants are buried.
Children of John Bridgman and Lavenia Cox
1. Benjamin Franklin Bridgman, b. Sept 25, 1813, TN; m. Narcissa Frances Massengill on Nov 2, 1830, Pikeville, TN. They div. Mar. 9, 1841. He may have then m. Martha A. Burk.
2. James W. Bridgman, b. Aug 5, 1815, TN; d. Mar 20, 1831, Pikeville, Bledsoe Co, TN; bur. Pikeville Cem.
3. Eliza C. Bridgman, b. Aug 1, 1817, Pikeville, Bledsoe Co, TN; d.Feb 19, 1891; m. Samuel W. Robinson on Mar 13, 1834, Pikeville, Bledsoe Co, TN
4. Sampson David Bridgman, (twin) b. Feb 24, 1822, Pikeville, TN; m. Priscilla Jane Ware. Children included: (1) John L. Bridgman, b. 1845, TN; (2) Sarah F. Bridgman, 1847, GA; (3) Benjamin L. Bridgman, b. 1850; (4) James Bridgman, b. abt 1852; (5) Lovina Bridgman, b. abt 1855; (6) Martha J. Bridgman, b. abt 1857; (7) Sampson David Bridgman, Jr., b. 1858, TN; (8) M. C. Bridgman (male), b. abt 1862; (9) Lula Bridgman, b. 1863 and (10) Haite Bridgman (male), b. abt 1867
5. Telford P. Bridgman, (twin) b. Feb 24, 1822, Pikeville, TN; d. Nov 5, 1823, Pikeville, TN; bur. Pikeville Cem.
6. Martha Margaret Bridgman, b. June 21, 1824, Pikeville, TN; d. Apr 15, 1900, McMinn Co, TN; m. David Cleage in July 1846, Bledsoe Co, TN. Children included: (1) John Cleage; (2) Samuel Cleage; (3) David Cleage; (4) Mary Cleage; (5) Martha Eliza Cleage and (6) Sarah Elizabeth Cleage
7. Rufus K. Bridgman, b. May 18, 1826, Pikeville, TN; d. July 7, 1826, Pikeville, TN; bur. Pikeville Cem.
8. John M. Bridgman, Jr., b. Nov 20, 1827, Pikeville, TN; d, Mar 12, 1872, Pikeville, TN; bur. Pikeville Cem.
9. Calvin L. Bridgman, b. Feb 5, 1836, Pikeville, TN; d. July 3, 1839, Pikeville, TN; bur. Pikeville Cem.