In 1817, Joseph and Catherine Litton and their nine children (ranging in age from almost eighteen years old to two months old) left Ireland and came to the United States landing in Philadelphia. The following statement is copied from the funeral notice of Elizabeth Litton Thomas, which appeared in a Nashville paper in 1898.

Joseph Litton left Dublin, Ireland, July 16, 1817, and with his wife and nine children came to Nashville, all children grew up in Nashville. In Ireland, Mr. Litton, prominent member of Wesleyan Methodist Church when he emigrated to America, was accredited with the following letter: ‘To the preachers and members of the Methodist Church in America: The bearer, Mr. Joseph Litton, removing from this city to live in America, we have commissioned him as our steady friend to take with him a large quantity of the Methodist Magazine to sell for us in this time of our difficulty, and we know that our friends beyond the Atlantic will encourage Mr. Litton as far as possible. By so doing they will greatly serve our connection in Ireland. Praying that the great head of the church may crown our brother in America with all of blessings of the covenant, we remain dear and respected brethren, yours affectionately in the lord.

Signed by order of the Conferences, S. Wood Secretary. July 15, 1817 After spending a short time in Pittsburg, Mr. Litton came to Nashville and was for many years a prosperous and successful merchant. He was the most prominent Methodist in his day and was the moving spirit in the erection of McKendree Church in 1833. It was said that he saw every brick laid. Mr. Litton was a sweet singer, teacher of music to the congregation.

The Litton family reached Nashville by July 1818 and Joseph Litton soon opened a store on the west side of College Street (3rd Avenue) a short distance south of the Square. The family lived over the store. Ann was the housekeeper and remained such after her marriage in 1839 until the death of Joseph in 1846. Catherine died in 1845 and was followed by Joseph in 1846. Both are buried in the Old City Cemetery on 4th Avenue at Oak Street. (Information from Vaughn Washington Cooper, a great grandson).

An article in the Nashville Banner (3/17/1995) quotes Historian Dorothy Gable as saying: “There is a check in the amount of $110. On the back, it said, ‘Presented by Andrew Jackson to his friend Joseph Litton.’ It’s dated June 6, 1845, written two days before Jackson died. According to the Library of Congress, that’s the last known signature of General Andrew Jackson. “

To find the Litton lot in the Old City Cemetery, go from the office to Central Avenue and turn right. The lot is several hundred yards on the right. A stone path runs through the middle. The Bostick stones are more legible than most of the Litton one. Catherine Litton’s stone (a table style matching Joseph’s) is gone.

Litton Family.History
Prepared by Sarah Frost Stamps, 2008.

Obituary of Joseph Litton from the South-Western Christian Advocate
Nashville, July 3, 1846

Died, in this city on the 23 ult., Mr. Joseph Litton, in his 69th year. Mr. Litton was a native of Dublin, Ireland; emigrated to the United States in the year 1817, and settled in Nashville in the Spring of 1818. He became a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Society, in his native land, in his nineteenth year, and when he settled in this city united himself with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he continued a steadfast member till he closed his early pilgrimage. He was very efficient in all the enterprises of the church, acting in the capacity of Steward, Class Leader and Trustee. He was, properly speaking, the father of the Methodist Sunday School in this city, and for many years was most zealous employed in superintending that nursery of piety. He has raised and educated a large family of children, several of whom he lived to see members of the church. A few months since he buried his beloved wife, with whom he had lived in sweet harmony for about forty-eight years. A few days before his death, he was visited by a stroke of paralysis which suddenly prostrated him, and which terminated in his death. He was able to articulate but little, yet he retained, in a good degree, the exercise of his mental faculties to the last. He gave assurance that “all was well.” He said, just before his departure, “I am in safe hands.”

His funeral was attended by a large number of his fellow-citizens, who deplore the loss of one of the most pleasant, cheerful and happy members of this community. His body was deposited in the city grave yard beside the remains of his excellent wife, who preceded him only a short time in her exit to a better land.

Transcript by Sarah Frost Stamps. 2008 – Click on portrait for more information
 

Joseph Litton History

Joseph Litton left Dublin Ireland July 16, 1817 and with his wife and nine children came to Nashville, all children grew up in Nashville. In Ireland Mr. Litton, prominent member of Wesleyan Methodist Church, when he emigrated to America, was accredited with the following letter: “To the preachers and members of the Methodist Church in America: The bearer, Mr. Joseph Litton, removing form this city to live in America, we have commissioned him as our steady friend to take with him a large quantity of the Methodist Magazine to sell for us in this time of our difficulty, and we know that our friends beyond the Atlantic will encourage Mr. Litton as far as possible. By so doing, they will greatly serve our connection in Ireland. Praying that the great head of the church may crown our brother in America with all the blessings of the covenant, we remain dear and respected brethren, yours affectionately in the Lord.

Signed by order of the Conference
S. Wood, Secretary
July 15, 1817

After spending a short time in Pittsburg, Mr. Litton came to Nashville and was for many years a prosperous and successful merchant. He was the most prominent Methodist of Nashville in his day, and was the moving spirit in the erection of McKendree Church in 1833. It was said that he saw every brick laid. Mr. Litton was a sweet singer, teacher of music to the congregation.

Copied from the funeral notice of Elizabeth Litton Thomas which appeared in a Nashville paper in 1898.

Transcript by Sarah Frost Stamps. 2008
 

Obituary of Catherine Warren Litton from the South-Western Christian Advocate,
January 2, 1846

Died in this City, on Friday evening, 26th ult., aged about seventy years, Mrs. Catherine Litton, consort of Joseph Litton. Mrs. Litton was a native of Ireland, but had resided in this city since July 1818. She had been a member of the Methodist Church FIFTY YEARS, and a more exemplary Christian we have seldom known. To modesty, intelligence and retiring manners, she had added the charms of piety and deep devotion to the service of God. Hence, she was well qualified to discharge the duties of wife and mother. The former relation she sustained forty-eight years, studying the interest and happiness of her husband, and fully complying to the requisition of the Apostle, “that aged woman be in behavior as becometh holiness;” hence, she taught her daughters to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers of home, good, obedient to their own husbands. And this we regard to be the highest accomplishment to which a woman can attain.

In her last hours, our sister was sustained by the Lord Jesus, whom she had faithfully served so long. She died trusting in the merits of a crucified Savior. Her funeral was attended by a vast crowd of our fellow citizens, who thus testified their esteem of the character of this departed saint.

Transcript by Sarah Frost Stamps. 2008 – Click on portrait for more information
 

From the Litton Family Bible, between the Old and New Testaments

Joseph Litton and Catherine Warren were married September 1, 1798

Benj Saml Litton born- August 13, 1799 633 Fishamble

Susannah Litton born- April 16, 1802 Amant Street

Margt Rebecca Litton- February 28, 1804 59 New Market

Ann Litton- June 28, 1806 59 New Market

Joseph Litton- July 10, 1808 89 Bride Street

Elizabeth Litton- April 8,1810 89 Bride Street

Isaac Litton- January 30, 1812

Abhm Litton- May 20, 1814 173 Church Street

Jacob Alexander Litton- May 19, 1817

(Note: Address listings in Dublin, Ireland)

Transcript by Sarah Frost Stamps. 2008
 

Nashville Banner
March 3, 1995

Speaking o’green

Here is a bit of the Irish in our own local history, in deference to Saint Patty’s Day.

Historian Dorothy Gable has been writing a history of the Litton family, as in Isaac Litton, for whom the high school was named. Litton was one of nine children all born in Dublin, Ireland, to Catherine and Joseph Litton. The family then made its way to Middle Tennessee via Philadelphia and settled here.

In her research, Gable (whose maiden name was Litton) discovered that Litton and Andrew Jackson were friends. Litton was a merchant, in addition to having several other business involvements, and Jackson traded with him.

This led to an interesting discovery.

“There is a check in the amount of $110,” Gable says excitedly. “On the back, it said, ‘Presented by Andrew Jackson to his friend Joseph Litton.’ It is dated June 6, 1845, written two days before (Jackson) died.

“According to the Library of Congress, that’s the last known signature of General Andrew Jackson.”