Capt. Robert Messer, “the Regulator” - William Thomas Messer

The 1850 census (images 177-8) for Cocke Co. TN has four Messer families together as next-door neighbors. All the older heads (Solomon, Thomas, and Jackson) and their wives, were from North Carolina; all the children were born in Tennessee:

SOLOMON Messer (age 48, m. Minky age 40) Children: Anne, Patsy Caldwell, John, Polly, Nancy, Sargent, Orenicia, Osborne, Almeida, Rebecca, Rutelia, and son-in-law, Thomas Caldwell.

THOMAS Messer (age 50, m. Mary age 45) Children: James, Eli, William, Matilda, Riley, John, George, Greenbury.

JACKSON Messer (age 38, m. Jane age 35) Children: Angeline, Lydia, Nelly, Polly, Oney, Solomon, John.

ELIHU Messer (age 25, m. Ann age 23) Child: Thomas.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-XXD3-J9G?i=177&amp...

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YB9-9ZMB?view=ind...

https://www.geni.com/discussions/264858?msg=1682179

Thank you for that - I have seen the 1850 Census, I think I just needed confirmation from another source.