Complex Family Ties - Edward Pennington Family

Edward Pennington is probably one of the more well-known children of Micajah Pennington and Rachel Jones.  Edward and Micajah, Jr are the only sons of Micajah, Sr and Rachel that we can be sure of the majority of their descendants.   After the family moved to Lee Co., VA from Ashe Co., NC – the area where Edward lived was called Pennington Gap and is still called that today.  “Neddy” Pennington as he was called married Martha “Patsy” Flanary and they had eleven children.  As the area was not too largely populated – it is not surprising to find a few intermarriages.

Neddy and Martha had six daughters and five sons.  There are several family connections with their marriages – here are a few.

• The first such family that is found in close connection with this group of Penningtons is the Parsons.  Phoebe Pennington married William Simmons Parson on 18 Aug 1814 in Lee Co., VA Phoebe’s younger sister Rebecca married William’s younger brother John “Jack” Parsons around 1826 in Lee Co., VA.  John and William were the sons of John Parsons and Mary Simmons.   
• The eldest son, Thomas F. Pennington married Mary Smyth on 29 Jan 1818.  When she died in 1848, he married Mourning Minerva Jones who was the daughter of Abraham Jones and Mary Kyle.  His younger brother, Elijah also married a daughter of Abraham Jones and Mary Kyle.  Elijah and Sarah Elizabeth Jones were married around 1831 in Lee Co., VA.    Thomas sister, Elizabeth married George Smyth, the brother of Mary Smyth who were the children of Edward Smyth and Hannah Crabtree.
• Then there is John Dees Pennington who married Rachel Zion on 2 Jan 1823 in Lee Co., VA.  Rachel was the daughter of John W. Zion and Lucy McCormick.  Rachel’s niece (by her brother John W. Zion and wife Susannah Davis) married John Dees Pennington’s younger brother Levi Pennington (m. Elizabeth Zion abt 1831)

The other children of Neddy and Martha did not intermarry with the in-laws…but by the time you get to the next few generations…it really gets messy.  When you start to throw in more Zions, Parsons, Jones, Grahams, Russell’s, Bishops,  Caltons and Flanary’s – then the tree really gets complicated.  It has been a while since I last tackled this family.  It is an imposing prospect think of pursuing these lines again!

Descendants of Edward "Neddy" Mitchell Pennington

Generation No. 1

1.  EDWARD "NEDDY" MITCHELL³ PENNINGTON  (MICAJAH², BENAJAH¹) was born 29 Dec 1769 in Wilkes Co., NC, and died 05 May 1860 in Lee Co., VA.  He married (1) AGNES LITTLE.    He married (2) MARTHA "PATSY" FLANARY Abt. 1793 in Wilkes Co., NC, daughter of JOHN FLANARY and PHOEBE BOGGS.  She was born 30 Dec 1779 in Wilkes Co., NC, and died 25 Dec 1852 in Lee Co., VA.

More About EDWARD "NEDDY" MITCHELL PENNINGTON:

Burial: May 1860, Pennington Cemetery, Lee Co., VA

Census 1: 1850, 1850 - Lee Co., VA, Pg 356, Family #621

Census 2: 1820, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 16 - 201-10133001

Census 3: 1830, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 315, Ln 11

Emigration: Went to Lee Co., VA...Pennington's Gap named for him

More About MARTHA "PATSY" FLANARY:

Burial: Dec 1852, Pennington Cemetery, Lee Co., VA

Census: 1850, 1850 - Lee Co., VA, Pg 356, Family #621

       

Child of EDWARD PENNINGTON and AGNES LITTLE is:

                   i.    ANN LITTLE⁴ PENNINGTON, b. 1792, Ashe/Wilkes Co., NC; d. 1796.

       

Children of EDWARD PENNINGTON and MARTHA FLANARY are:

                  ii.    PHOEBE⁴ PENNINGTON, b. 26 Sep 1794, Wilkes Co., NC; d. 1863, Lee Co., VA; m. WILLIAM SIMMONS PARSONS, 18 Aug 1814, Lee Co., VA; b. 16 Nov 1789, Ashe Co., NC; d. 06 Jan 1856, Lee Co., VA.

More About PHOEBE PENNINGTON:

Census: 1850, Lee Co., VA, Pg 340, Fam # 538

More About WILLIAM SIMMONS PARSONS:

Census 1: 1850, Lee Co., VA, Pg 340, Fam # 538

Census 2: 1820, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 16 - 200-0101-0100

                 iii.    THOMAS F. PENNINGTON, b. 05 Jul 1797, Wilkes Co., NC or Ashe Co., NC; d. 27 Mar 1858, Lee Co., VA; m. (1) MARY SMYTH, 29 Jan 1818; b. 09 Jan 1793; d. 16 May 1848, Lee Co., VA; m. (2) MOURNING MINERVA JONES, Bef. 19 Jun 1849; b. Abt. 1825, Lee Co., VA; d. 1906.

More About THOMAS F. PENNINGTON:

Burial: Mar 1858, Pennington Cemetery, Lee Co., VA

Census 1: 1850, Lee Co., VA, Pg 347, Family #626

Census 2: 1820, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 16 - 0001-001-0010

Census 3: 1830, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 315, Ln 12

More About MARY SMYTH:

Burial: May 1848, Pennington Cemetery, Lee Co., VA

More About MOURNING MINERVA JONES:

Census: 1850, Lee Co., VA, Pg 347, Family #626

                 iv.    DAVID PENNINGTON, b. 11 Mar 1799, Ashe Co., NC; d. 28 Apr 1886, Lee Co., VA; m. VIRGINIA "JENNIE"JANE STAMPER, Abt. 1819, Lee Co., VA; b. 1803, Lee Co., VA; d. 30 Mar 1893, Ocoonita, Lee Co., VA.

More About DAVID PENNINGTON:

Burial: Apr 1886, Ocoonita Cemetery, Lee Co., VA

Census 1: 1850, Lee Co., VA, Pg 351, Fam # 683

Census 2: 1820, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 16. 1001-000100

Census 3: 1830, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 315, Ln 2

Census 4: 1870, Jonesville, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 15, #95

Census 5: 1880, District 41, Jonesville, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 204A

More About VIRGINIA "JENNIE"JANE STAMPER:

Date born 2: 14 May 1808, Lee Co., VA or NC

Burial: Mar 1893, Ocoonita Cemetery, Lee Co., VA

Census 1: 1880, District 41, Jonesville, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 204A

Census 2: 1870, Jonesville, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 15, #95

                  v.    ELIZABETH H. PENNINGTON, b. 19 Jan 1801, Ashe Co., NC; d. 31 Jul 1818, Lee Co., VA; m. GEORGE P. SMYTH, Abt. 1817, Lee Co., VA; b. 25 Nov 1790, Lee Co., VA; d. 08 Aug 1849, Zions Mill, Lee Co., VA.

                 vi.    JOHN DEES PENNINGTON, b. 05 Oct 1802, Lee Co., VA; d. 29 Dec 1891, Greene Co., TN; m. (1) REBECCA ZION; m. (2) RACHEL ZION, 02 Jan 1823, Lee Co., VA; b. 22 Jan 1807, Washington Co., VA; d. 15 Jun 1885, Dryden, Lee Co., VA.

More About JOHN DEES PENNINGTON:

Burial: Dec 1891, Greene Co., TN

Census 1: 1850, Lee Co., VA, 31st District, Pg. 340 Fam #542

Census 2: 1830, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 315, Ln 20

Census 3: 1870, Yokum Station, Jonesville, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 39, #247

Census 4: 1880, Yocum Station, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 313A, # 206

More About RACHEL ZION:

Burial: Jun 1885, Pennington-Zion Cemetery, Lee Co., VA

Census 1: 1850, Lee Co., VA, 31st Dist. Pg 340, Fam. #542

Census 2: 1870, Yokum Station, Jonesville, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 39, #247

Census 3: 1880, Yocum Station, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 313A, # 206

                vii.    REBECCA PENNINGTON, b. 12 Jul 1805, Pennington Gap, Lee Co., VA; d. Abt. 1886, Pennington Gap, Lee Co., VA; m. JOHN "JACK" PARSONS, JR., Abt. 1826, Lee Co., VA; b. Abt. 1802, NC; d. 05 Feb 1857, Lee Co., VA.

More About REBECCA PENNINGTON:

Burial: Abt. 1886, Parsons-Smyth Cemetery, Lee Co., VA

Census 1: 1850, Lee Co., VA, Pg 349, Fam # 642

Census 2: 1870, Jonesville PO, Rocky Station, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 5, #27

Census 3: 1880, Rocky Station, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 212D

More About JOHN "JACK" PARSONS, JR.:

Burial: Feb 1857, Smith Cemetery, Woodway, Lee Co., VA

Census: 1850, Lee Co., VA, Pg 349, Fam # 642

               viii.    SUSAN "SOOKIE" PENNINGTON, b. 20 Mar 1808, Lee Co., VA; d. Abt. 1846, Jackson, Cape Girardeau Co., MO; m. ABRAHAM CHRISMAN, SR., 06 Jan 1825, Lee Co., VA; b. 22 Dec 1801, Lee Co., VA; d. 1850, Sacramento, Sacramento Co., CA.

                 ix.    ELIJAH B. PENNINGTON, b. 12 May 1810, Lee Co., VA; d. 04 May 1882, Poor Valley, Lee Co., VA; m. SARAH ELIZABETH JONES, Bef. 1832, Lee Co., VA; b. 12 Sep 1809, Lee Co., VA; d. 09 Jun 1891, Acuff, Union Co., TN.

More About ELIJAH B. PENNINGTON:

Burial: May 1882, Pennington Cemetery, Lee Co., VA

Census 1: 1850, Lee Co., VA, District 31, Pg 347, #625

Census 2: 1880, Rocky Station, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 217 B

More About SARAH ELIZABETH JONES:

Census 1: 1850, Lee Co., VA, District 31, Pg 347, #625

Census 2: 1880, Rocky Station, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 217 B

                  x.    LEVI PENNINGTON, b. 10 Oct 1812, Lee Co., VA; d. 16 Jun 1889, Pennington Gap, Lee Co., VA; m. (1) ELIZABETH ZION, Bet. 1831 - 1832, Lee Co., VA; b. 03 Apr 1815, Lee Co., VA; d. 29 Sep 1862, Lee Co., VA; m. (2) MARTHA AMANDA STEPHENS, 06 Dec 1864, Lee Co., VA; b. 22 Apr 1843, Bedford Co., VA; d. 07 May 1871, VA; m. (3) MARY VERMILLION LITTON, 09 Nov 1873, Lee Co., VA; b. 11 Sep 1820, Lee Co., VA; d. 09 Jun 1898, Lee Co., VA.

More About LEVI PENNINGTON:

Burial: Jun 1889, Pennington/Zion Cemetery, near Dryden, VA

Census 1: 1880, District 41, Jonesville, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 204B

Census 2: 1870, Yokum Station, Jonesville, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 38, #246

More About ELIZABETH ZION:

Burial: Sep 1862, Pennington/Zion Cemetery, near Dryden, VA

More About MARTHA AMANDA STEPHENS:

Burial: May 1871, Pennington/Zion Cemetery, near Dryden, VA

Census: 1870, Yokum Station, Jonesville, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 38, #246

More About MARY VERMILLION LITTON:

Census: 1880, District 41, Jonesville, Lee Co., VA, Pg. 204B

                 xi.    MARTHA "PATSY" PENNINGTON, b. 06 Jul 1815, Lee Co., VA; d. 15 Aug 1867, Lee Co., VA; m. ISAAC RUSSELL, 19 Jan 1833, Lee Co., VA; b. 22 Feb 1805, Lee Co., VA; d. 1863, Lee Co., VA.

More About MARTHA "PATSY" PENNINGTON:

Census: 1850, 1850 Lee Co., VA Census, Dist. 31, pg 350 #669

More About ISAAC RUSSELL:

Census: 1850, 1850 Lee Co., VA Census, Dist. 31, pg 350 #669

                xii.    MARY "POLLY" S. PENNINGTON, b. 11 Nov 1817, Pennington Gap, Lee Co., VA; d. 06 Feb 1901, Dryden, Lee Co., VA; m. MITCHELL CECIL, 11 Jul 1833, Lee Co., VA; b. 11 Jan 1803, Tazewell Co., VA; d. 04 Apr 1887, Dryden, Lee Co., VA.

More About MARY "POLLY" S. PENNINGTON:

Burial: Feb 1901, Ely Cemetery, Lee Co., VA

Census 1: 1850, 1850 Lee Co., VA Census, Dist. 31, pg 337 #501

Census 2: 1900, Dryden Precinct, Lee Co., VA, Pg 8B, #155

More About MITCHELL CECIL:

Burial: Apr 1887, Ely Cemetery, Lee Co., VA

Census: 1850, 1850 Lee Co., VA Census, Dist. 31, pg 337 #501

Finder's Delight

Imagine the delight of the researcher who one day decided to get a copy of the John Barton Revolutionary pension file.  You must imagine how it might have happened.  They have been vainly searching for more information on John Barton and Elizabeth Pennington.  Perhaps they didn’t even know Elizabeth’s last name or the names of her parents and siblings.  Can you imagine the frustration?  Then one day after waiting for several weeks, you get a package in the mail from the US Archives – and there it is – spelled out in black and white – a list of their children and Elizabeth’s family!

The early Pennington researchers spent a great deal of time trying to piece together families with sometimes limited resources.  It isn’t like now when there is a wealth of information available for sometimes for little money or for free.  I can download a copy of the entire John Barton pension on my library’s website through Heritage Quest.  I know that when I ordered two Civil War pensions that they cost me about $40 a piece.  You never quite know what you are going to get when you order a military pension.  Sometimes it is a bonanza of information and other times it can be merely a curiosity.  However, this particular pension has a wealth of information in the first two pages alone.  It lists the complete list of children for John and Elizabeth Pennington Barton and then on the second page it lists her entire family. 

This second page was particularly important to a lot of Pennington researchers.  It isn’t very often that you have exact birth dates or a complete listing of family members from a family who were all born in the 1700’s.  If it wasn’t for this record – we might never know about Rachel Pennington b.25 Dec 1771 because I know of no descendants for her.  Yet Elijah, Levi, & Benajah remain enigmas.  For many years it was assumed that my ancestor Levi Pennington b. 1794 was a son of Levi b. 1767 – but other evidence has suggested otherwise.  Levi b. 1767 disappears from records after 1815 – he may have gone elsewhere or passed away.  Elijah supposedly married a Susannah Kelley and went to TN. I’ve never found trace of him after 1800 or so and I have never been sure where the marriage record came from.  We have listings of descendants of the rest of the children, but only one stayed in Ashe Co., NC.  Benajah pretty much disappears from history after a power of attorney document was found in 1812 concerning his father.  After that, there is no further trace that has yet been found.

Micajah, Jr went to Lee Co., VA and Harlan Co., KY – we don’t know the name of his wife, but we do have several children who are attributed to him.  He died sometime after the 1850 census probably in Harlan Co., KY.  Mary Pennington married Jesse Bowling and ended up in Breathitt Co., KY and died in 1842.  Edward “Neddy” Pennington married Martha “Patsy”Flanary and moved to Lee Co., VA.  Elizabeth married John Barton, Jr and lived in Grayson Co., VA.  Sarah “Sarey” Pennington married Samuel Johnston, Sr and moved to Buckhorn, Perry Co., KY and died in 1817.  Johanna married Douglas Dickson and died sometime after 1860 in Ashe Co., NC

There are a lot more details that I can include on these families…and probably will sometime in the future – but imagine the delight of discovering the proof of the kinship of these brothers and sisters with their parents.  Much of this information was first spelled out by Bee Holmes who was one of the founding members of the Pennington Research Association.  I could easily put myself in her shoes and imagine the “genealogy high” she must have experienced when she saw that document for the first time.  I think that “high” is one of the reasons that so many of us out there spend so much time in genealogy research…that kind of experience can spur you on to even more devoted research in hopes of finding another great piece of documentation.

List of Micajah Pennington Family - Pg 1

List of Micajah Pennington Family - Pg 2