Stokely Donelson Hays-- Part 5: A Big Man

From Find-A-Grave

One source called him "the finest looking man in Jackson (Tn) in the early days of the city."  Another said he "Possessed much personal magnetism."

He was described as over six feet tall and weighed 200 pounds.

Stokely Hays died of bilious fever after returning home from Clinton, Mississippi, where he was tending to his business as a land registrar

Burial is at Riverside Cemetery in Jackson, Tennessee.

His gravestone reads:  S.D. Hays, Qtr.Mr. Gen. Jackson's Div., Tenn Vols., Creek War War of 1812, Dec. 1788, Sept. 8, 1831.

Stokely Donelson Hays-- Part 4: Rose Through the Ranks

Even though he was a private in that last story, he did rise through the ranks as can be seen here:

Coffee's Brigade, Cavalry and Mounted Gunmen, Tennessee Volunteers

Coffee's Regiment, Cavalry, West Tennessee Volunteers, Lieutenant, paymaster

Jackson's Division, Tennessee Volunteers, Quartermaster General

--Brock-Perry

Stokely Donelson Hays-- Part 3: A Good Story

There was a good story about Stokely Hays and Andrew Jackson.

Hays was serving as a private and on sentry duty once when Andrew Jackson rode up to him, stopped and handed hays a letter.  Hays read it while the general waited, then handed it back to him.  Jackson then rode away.

A nearby officer watched what was happening and afterwards called out to Hays, asking his name.

"Hays, sir," was to reply.

"You seem acquainted with the general."

"Oh yes, sir.  He is my uncle -- that is, you know, my uncle up home in Tennessee."

The officer asked, "What is he here?"

"Oh here he is the the general, sir."

Then the officer asked why hays was just a private.

"Well, sir.  That doesn't make any difference to him.  So long as I am here with a gun, he's satisfied."

That Old Jackson!  --Brock-Perry

Stokely Donelson Hays-- Part 2: The Fight Between Andrew Jackson and the Bentons

OIn September 1813, Andrew Jackson, Gen. John Coffee and Stokely hays deliberately strolled by the Nashville City Hotel where they knew Thomas Hart Benton and his brother Jesse were staying.  A feud had been brewing between Jackson and the Bentons and they were there to provoke it even more.

Both sides had threatened the other.  And, a confrontation occurred.  never one to back down from a fight, Andrew Jackson was wounded and the others fought.  Jackson just barely survived his wound.

Sounds like the making a a good book.

Stokely Hays fought with Jackson and Coffee in the Creek War and at the Battle of New Orleans.

--Brock-Perry

Stokely Donelson Hays-- Part 1: Along With Aaron Burr

From Genealogy Trails.

1788-1831

First son of Col. Robert Hays and his wife Jane Donelson, daughter of Nashville pioneer John Donelson.

Robert hays was a close and personal friend and brother-in-law of Andrew Jackson.  Stokely spent his time growing up between his parents' plantation and Andrew Jackson's Hermitage with his aunt and uncle.

In 1806, Andrew Jackson permitted his nephew to accompany Aaron Burr to Louisiana to keep an eye on him and report anything suspicious that Burr might do.  This led to Burr's arrest for treason.

--Brock-Perry

Andrew Jackson's Nephew's Grave Marked: Stokely Donelson Hays

From the November 10, 2017, Jackson (Tennessee) Sun "Daughters of 1812 mark grave for Andrew Jackson's nephew at Riverside" Gail Bailey.

The Tulip Chapter, Tennessee Society of the United States Daughters of 1812 had a grave marking ceremony for Stokely Donelson Hays, nephew of Andrew Jackson.  He was a spy on Aaron Burr during the incident in Louisiana for which Burr was later tried for treason.

He was the son of Col. Robert Hay and Jane Donelson Hays and born in December 1788 and saw service in the Creek War and the War of 1812.

After the war, he was a surveyor, lawyer, commissioner and land register in Jackson and Madison County.

He died September 8, 1831 in Jackson.

One of the early settlers in Jackson after having moved there from Nashville.

--Brock-Perry