We finally made it back to Hickman County last week. Based on Cousin Jean's directions, we located the home place of Robert Anderson, Jim's gggg-grandfather. In the History of Hickman County,Tennessee this home is believed to be the oldest house in Hickman County.
According to the History of Hickman County, Tennessee, Robert Anderson settled on the north side of the Duck River in the Little Lot bend near the river in 1804, but later relocated and built a house(the above house) on the other side of the river in 1805.
Robert married Jane Shinn, daughter of Colonel Joseph Shinn. Shinn served in a North Carolina regiment in the Revolutionary War. For his service in the War, Colonel Shinn was given by the North Carolina Legislature 2,500 acres of land. Robert inherited the lands from his father-in-law.
Robert and his brother, Richard “Kettle Dick”, bought other warrants granted by North Carolina for services in the Revolutionary War. Their lands were in the area of what became known as Anderson’s Bend.
If this house is a part of the original Anderson home, I wonder if the original walls exist under the exterior. Given the current condition and curb appeal of the house, I doubt anyone passing by gives this house a second glance.
