"Tennessee Varnell's Veteran of the Revolutionary War, Richard filed for pension. Richard Varnell first shows up on a tax listing for Henry Co., VA. and later shows up on a tax listing for Franklin Co., VA. Franklin Co., VA was carved out of Henry Co., VA. It is unknown where he was before Henry Co., VA. From 1771 thru 1774 Richard shows up on a tax listing for Franklin Co., VA. Richard Varnell and wife Mary sign deed of sale of their property in Franklin Co., VA, 1787.

After Richard Varnell and his wife Mary sold their land in Franklin County, VA in 1787 they proceeded to Sevier County, TN. Spencer Clack and Elijah Rogers came to Sevier County, Tennessee in 1787 from Franklin County (formerly known as Henry County) Virginia. The move from Virginia to Tennessee is recorded in the Clack Family History.

In TN the Varnells settled on Gists Creek which is about 1 1/2 miles NW of Sevierville, TN and later got land grants on this Creek in 1807. Shortly after 1800 the Varnells were very active in the Forks of the River Baptist Church, which they organized with the Clacks and Rogers. This was before Sevierville, TN was established. Records show that Richard Varnell, Jr. and William Varnell joined the church by experience in 1813. Elijah Rogers was the minister of the Church. Richard and Mary are show to be husband and wife in the church records of Sevier Co., TN. These records give a lot of information on the Varnell Family of Tennessee. At that time, and in most cases the records show when Varnell Families left that area for places further west.

The area was known at the time as the "State of Franklin". The state did not succeed and the settlers where left without land titles although they had possession of the property. In 1806 the state of Tennessee started issuing land titles to the settlers. Land grants were stored at the State Capital. Unfortunately, early local records do not exist since the county courthouse burned and all the records were destroyed in the fire of 1855.

Varnells sign petitions in the French Broad and Holston Country 1813 to the general assembly of the state of Tennessee at the session of 1813. The memorial signers citizens of the District South of the rivers French broad and Holston state: They are indebted to the state for their lands, and since they have been indebted from the scarcity of spicie in the country and the reduced price of property and the fettered and stagnated situation of the commerce--- prevented their farm procuring so much money---and further that nearly one half of the land for which owe the state would not sell for the debt---that the state removing the land would turn many hundreds of families out of the houses and homes they have had for many years---many land grants were issued by the state of North Carolina for lands in this district which cover nearly one half of the land. Several residents signed this petition and the following Varnell family members did as well, William Varnell, John Varnell, Sr., William Varnell, Jr., Richard Varnell, Jr., Joseph Varnell, Richard Varnell, Sr. John Varnell, Jr., also listed is a Richard "Varnall." It is unclear if this is a repeat signature or if it is another Richard Varnell. Finally all debts owed on the 1807 land grants are forgiven in 1830 by the State of Tennessee.

For years it has been said that our Richard Varnell of London England was the ancestor of the Tennessee Varnells. Richard was to have stolen a handkerchief at London Bridge and was tried and deported to America in 1755. THIS IS NOT A FACT. There was John Varnell b1639 that was transported to America in 1657 as a convict.

This London story relates to the James Varnell Bible. This bible was in the hands of Margaret Varnell Berg (his grand daughter) and later in the hands on Mrs. David Blackman of CA. Mrs. Blackman has since died. In the bible there is no information about any Varnells before James Varnell. There was a piece of paper inserted in the bible that states "Richard Varnell was born at London Bridge 7 August 1730 and died 1 March 1829. He came to America when a young man." below this is written " my father's grandfather-Margaret Varnell Berg". One of the problems is that Richard would have to have been 99 years old and this is not very likely. The second problem is that Margaret Berg missed a generation when she said that Richard was my father's grandfather.

Richard Varnell and Mary--William Varnell and Lydia-James Varnell and Lavinia, Zachariah Varnell and Hulda Smith and finally Margaret Naomi Varnell and Evan Berg. This is the line of descendants in the James Varnell Bible.

Actually William would have been this: Lydia Varnell was born ca 1770 so we can assume that her husband William was about the same age. This would mean that Richard would have been ca 40 when William would have been born. William would have been ca 21 when his first child was born. This is all reasonable but it is a little stretched out for Richard to have his first known child at ca 40. I look at the piece of paper as a research note that Margaret Berg had inserted in the bible as her opinion of who her ancestor was. There was a Richard Varnell that was actually born at London Bridge on 7 August 1730. There was a Richard Varnell christened 11 October 1731 at Stephen St., Dubston, England. Was this the same Richard or another? I see no proof that this Richard was the same Richard that we are concerned with. Remember Margaret confused her relationship with Richard. Was this a guess on Margaret's part to find a relationship? Remember too that the piece of paper was not a bible record but something that had been inserted in the bible by her. Since Margaret was married in 1913 and she used her married name, we must remember that she was covering more that 180 years with nothing more than the names matched and there was a Richard born at London Bridge in 1730.

A Richard Varnell was convicted of some crime and was sentenced at London Bridge and was transported on the ship Trial in Sept. 1755. The destination was not shown. Further records are not available. Research of M. T. W. Yelland shows that there was a proceeding at the Old Bailey 10-16 Sept 1755. No Varnell, Vernell nor Varnall entry but noted: #338 where by Richard Vernam was indicted for stealing a linen handkerchief from John Hodson near St. Andrews Church and was arrested. He was proven guilty. No sentence was shown. Was Vernam and Varnell confused or were they different persons?

We now know that Richard Varnell was born in VA and was the child of William Varnell b 1699 in England."  [Pedigree Resource Files of the LDS. file submitted in 2011]

Richard Varnall shows as a member in other church records in 1807
Betsy Varnall 1812
Peggy Varnall in 1812
John Varnall 1812
Richard Varnall 1818
Sarah Varnal 1820