I May Be Bound, But I Survived: Lannie's Story

The mystery and questions surrounding my third great grandmother, Lannie Cheatham’s life are slowly but surely unraveling into a very interesting and complex story.

Lannie was born in Stewart County, Tennessee in 1828 during slavery. Through oral history from her granddaughter, Katie Shemwell, we know that she was a cook, servant, and took care of the children in the big house on the slave plantation. I am still searching for her slaveholder’s name, which would give me her maiden name.

According to the 1870 census (first census taken after slavery) Lannie is living in Roaring Springs, Kentucky with Henry Pinner and his five sons ( Samuel, John, Stephen, Lewis, William) and one daughter, Narcissus. Henry and Lannie were not married, according to this census. However, it makes sense that Lannie is taking care of Henry and his children because she had gotten into the habit of caring for children during slavery.  

Within the next five years, between 1870 and 1875, Henry must have died because Delena (Lannie) Pinner (widow) married Kit Cheatham (widower) on December 4, 1875 in Trigg County, Kentucky according to the Trigg County, KY Marriage License and Bond Book 1873-1887.

According to my cousin, Janet Cheatham Bell’s biography, The Time And Place That Gave Me Life on page 28, it says that Lannie bought into the marriage two sons and Kit bought in two sons. Lannie’s sons possibly were Aaron Pinner (stepson) and Noel Cheatum (son). Kit’s two sons were Frank and Sam Cheatham. Although Lannie and Kit had children from previous relationships, together they had seven more children- five boys (John, Stephen, Thomas, Jimie, and Dac) and two girls ( Frances and Lizzie). Kit had other children before and during their marriage including two boys Green R. Cheatham ( 1882-1955) ,Will Cheatham (1885) and two girls Mattie Cheatham (1860-1957) , Carrie Greenway (1888-1937).

Later in life, Lannie was noted in the 1910 census as being blind. This fact was also verified by her granddaughter, Katie Cheatham Shemwell.

In 1920, as Lannie’s health started declining she went to live with son, Thomas and his family in Bumpus Mills, Stewart County, Tennessee. Sadly, on August 6, 1928 she died of senility at the ripe age of 100.

I do not know if Lannie had any happy times in her life, but what I do know is that her life was hard, in constant transition, and filled with taking care of others. Lannie went from being a slave to being free to taking care of seventeen children and two men throughout her lifetime. NO WONDER SHE DIED FROM SENILITY, SHE WAS TIRED!!!!